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Wine Country Mysteries #6
The Sauvignon Secret
The sixth mystery in Ellen Crosby’s series moves between Virginia wine country and the Napa Valley, as vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery teams up with winemaker, and former flame, Quinn Santori to solve two mysterious deaths.
When Lucie Montgomery finds the body of prominent wine merchant Paul Noble hanging from a beam in his art studio not far from her Virginia vineyard, she is unwittingly dragged into Noble’s murky past. Once a member of the secretive “Mandrake Society,” Noble might have aided in a cover-up of the deaths forty-years ago of a disabled man and a beautiful young biochemist involved in classified government research.
A seemingly innocent favor for an old friend of her French grandfather’s sends Lucie to California where she teams up with Quinn Santori, who walked out of Lucie’s life months earlier. Soon Lucie and Quinn are embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game that takes them from glittering San Francisco to the legendary vineyards of Napa and Sonoma, and back home to Virginia, as they try to discover whether a killer may be seeking vengeance for the long-ago deaths. As Lucie and Quinn struggle to uncover the mystery, they must also decide whether they have a future together.
Blending an intriguing mystery with an absorbing plot, vivid characters, and a richly evoked setting, The Sauvignon Secret should be savored like a glass of fine wine.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2011
50 people are currently reading
740 people want to read
About the author
Ellen Crosby
26 books486 followersEllen Crosby is the author of the Virginia wine country mysteries, the Sophie Medina mysteries, and MOSCOW NIGHTS, a standalone. DEEDS LEFT UNDONE, her 13th wine country mystery, will be out on August 5, 2025 in hardcover, as an ebook, and as an audio book from Tantor Media. Previously she was a freelance reporter for The Washington Post, Moscow correspondent for ABC Radio News, and an economist at the US Senate. She lives in the Washington, DC suburbs of northern Virginia after living overseas for many years and is currently busy writing the 14th wine country mystery which will be out in 2026. More at www.ellencrosby.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 168 reviews
May 12, 2020
What an interesting turn of events in the 'Wine Country Mysteries' book series by Ellen Crosby! The Sauvignon Secret is the sixth book and while it's just as good as all the rest, it pushed the cozy line more than usual. I kinda liked it... but then again, I'm quickly growing enamored with these characters and the author's writing style, so it makes sense.
In this one, immediately [as in the first line of the book] is where Lucie finds her dead body! We don't know who he is, but she does. We learn her grandfather is back (what a cool character) and she hasn't seen on/off-again boyfriend, Quinn, in months. Wow, a lot changed. As does the setting... while a third of the book takes place in Virginia like it usually does, Lucie visits San Francisco and Napa Valley for the rest. I loved reading about all the places I used to frequent when I lived in California... and nostalgia was definitely in need around here.
The mystery is good, but I wish we started a few weeks earlier. Many of the people in the group she's investigating were already killed / died under suspicious circumstances, so I felt like a latecomer to the game. I'm not sure it could've been done any other way, but it would have made it a 4.5 star instead of a 4 star for me. The focus on wine is high. The relationships between Lucie and her family are stronger. And there is a big surprise for her future at the end of this book.
Already ordered the next one from the library... will read it when I get back from Quebec City next week!
In this one, immediately [as in the first line of the book] is where Lucie finds her dead body! We don't know who he is, but she does. We learn her grandfather is back (what a cool character) and she hasn't seen on/off-again boyfriend, Quinn, in months. Wow, a lot changed. As does the setting... while a third of the book takes place in Virginia like it usually does, Lucie visits San Francisco and Napa Valley for the rest. I loved reading about all the places I used to frequent when I lived in California... and nostalgia was definitely in need around here.
The mystery is good, but I wish we started a few weeks earlier. Many of the people in the group she's investigating were already killed / died under suspicious circumstances, so I felt like a latecomer to the game. I'm not sure it could've been done any other way, but it would have made it a 4.5 star instead of a 4 star for me. The focus on wine is high. The relationships between Lucie and her family are stronger. And there is a big surprise for her future at the end of this book.
Already ordered the next one from the library... will read it when I get back from Quebec City next week!
December 7, 2012
This is the sixth tale in the intriguing, ‘Wine Country Mystery’ series, and readers will have an absolute ball with it!
Fans will find Lucie Montgomery, wine grower, hip-deep in yet another murder investigation, and this time the victim is a wine merchant who Lucie was not exactly fond of - Paul Noble. It’s when Lucie goes to visit him to talk about getting a better price for her wine, that she finds Paul hanging from a rafter in his barn. Under the body sits a bottle of Lucie’s very own sauvignon with an unusual wine glass beside it. At first, it’s thought to be a suicide by the authorities, but not for long.
While having dinner at the home of Charles, a friend, a conversation begins regarding an investigation into Charles’ past which includes Cold War research on humans. How does this affect the wine merchant’s death? Well, it seems that a small group known as the Mandrake Society, of which Paul was a member, are dying off one by one. And Charles asks Lucie to see if she can find out if the former owner of Rose Hill Vineyard was once a Mandrake member now using an alias.
Lucie, who’s going to California anyway to visit Rose Hill, reluctantly agrees to check up on the owner. But Quinn Santori, her sometime lover, is also there, and treats her to a romantic whirlwind tour of San Francisco, Sonoma and the Napa Valley while they join forces to investigate a very interesting situation. Soon, it comes to light that Paul’s death was not the only mysterious one connected to this strange society, but it just may hold the key to a cover-up, a murder and a really determined killer.
Anyone interested in the city of San Francisco and the wine country will absolutely love the descriptions and the history of winemaking in this novel. Readers will also love the romantic entanglement and the titillating mystery as they sit back, open up a bottle of wine, and enjoy this very fun story!
Fans will find Lucie Montgomery, wine grower, hip-deep in yet another murder investigation, and this time the victim is a wine merchant who Lucie was not exactly fond of - Paul Noble. It’s when Lucie goes to visit him to talk about getting a better price for her wine, that she finds Paul hanging from a rafter in his barn. Under the body sits a bottle of Lucie’s very own sauvignon with an unusual wine glass beside it. At first, it’s thought to be a suicide by the authorities, but not for long.
While having dinner at the home of Charles, a friend, a conversation begins regarding an investigation into Charles’ past which includes Cold War research on humans. How does this affect the wine merchant’s death? Well, it seems that a small group known as the Mandrake Society, of which Paul was a member, are dying off one by one. And Charles asks Lucie to see if she can find out if the former owner of Rose Hill Vineyard was once a Mandrake member now using an alias.
Lucie, who’s going to California anyway to visit Rose Hill, reluctantly agrees to check up on the owner. But Quinn Santori, her sometime lover, is also there, and treats her to a romantic whirlwind tour of San Francisco, Sonoma and the Napa Valley while they join forces to investigate a very interesting situation. Soon, it comes to light that Paul’s death was not the only mysterious one connected to this strange society, but it just may hold the key to a cover-up, a murder and a really determined killer.
Anyone interested in the city of San Francisco and the wine country will absolutely love the descriptions and the history of winemaking in this novel. Readers will also love the romantic entanglement and the titillating mystery as they sit back, open up a bottle of wine, and enjoy this very fun story!
September 20, 2011
I wasn't too crazy about this series of mysteries except for the relationship between Lucie and her wine-maker Quinn. As the series has continued (this is the 6th book), I think the writing and plots have greatly improved. This was more about uncovering past secrets and a hidden murder and I enjoyed the storyline.
"When Lucie Montgomery finds the body of prominent wine merchant Paul Noble hanging from a beam in his art studio not far from her Virginia vineyard, she is unwittingly dragged into Noble’s murky past. Once a member of the secretive “Mandrake Society,” Noble might have aided in a cover-up of the deaths forty-years ago of a disabled man and a beautiful young biochemist involved in classified government research. A seemingly innocent favor for an old friend of her French grandfather’s sends Lucie to California where she teams up with Quinn Santori, who walked out of Lucie’s life months earlier. Soon Lucie and Quinn are embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game that takes them from glittering San Francisco to the legendary vineyards of Napa and Sonoma, and back home to Virginia, as they try to discover whether a killer may be seeking vengeance for the long-ago deaths. As Lucie and Quinn struggle to uncover the mystery, they must also decide whether they have a future together>"
"When Lucie Montgomery finds the body of prominent wine merchant Paul Noble hanging from a beam in his art studio not far from her Virginia vineyard, she is unwittingly dragged into Noble’s murky past. Once a member of the secretive “Mandrake Society,” Noble might have aided in a cover-up of the deaths forty-years ago of a disabled man and a beautiful young biochemist involved in classified government research. A seemingly innocent favor for an old friend of her French grandfather’s sends Lucie to California where she teams up with Quinn Santori, who walked out of Lucie’s life months earlier. Soon Lucie and Quinn are embroiled in a deadly cat-and-mouse game that takes them from glittering San Francisco to the legendary vineyards of Napa and Sonoma, and back home to Virginia, as they try to discover whether a killer may be seeking vengeance for the long-ago deaths. As Lucie and Quinn struggle to uncover the mystery, they must also decide whether they have a future together>"
March 21, 2017
This series, even more than some of the others I've read, is very character driven and the background is --especially by this book -- fairly dense. Newcomers should definitely read them in order. I actually had read this before when it first came out but didn't remember the important things such as who-dunnit or why so it was still a good read. Since it was such a long time between when this one came out and the next in the series (which came out last year) I'm glad I "accidentally" re-read this one and refreshed my memory on all the various characters and relationships. These are not fast paced thrillers but well-thought out mysteries in a fully developed world.
January 29, 2018
Didn't like this book as much as the others in the series. Made me think too much of what an attack on our drinking water would do. I like to read for entertainment. Also, I sure can't figure where the romance between the two main characters is going...and I don't think they can either.
August 3, 2012
I like this mystery series. It has more sophistication than most mystery series I find nowadays. Although most of the action in this series takes place in Virginia, the action in California made me want to return to San Francisco and Napa Valley.
May 31, 2020
I’ve read a number of titles in this series. I like getting to know the characters and about wine making. This is the first one I’ve listened to and I had a difficult time adjusting to her southern drawl, which seems too strong for northern Virginia. Besides that this one has a very interesting story.
June 20, 2023
DNF - the chapter long exposition about the old white men Illuminati was too much.
February 16, 2019
Really? This series just keeps getting worse. Since I have lived both in the northern VA area and near San Francisco those parts were interesting but none of the ‘mystery’ was worth my time to read.
January 30, 2012
I decided to read two books this weekend that I had purchased awhile ago. They were by two different favorite authors and after reading them, I wondered why I waited so long. I think I may have saved them so I would have two books I could count on to enjoy and satisfy; something to look forward to for a rainy day, so to speak.
This was one of the books and it did not disappoint. I really love this wine country series. They mysteries have been complex and so far no outlandish endings, with a murder that comes out of left field. The various relationships are also satisfying, from Lucie and Quinn, the vineyard owner and her winemaker, to Lucie’s cousin, brother, young niece and this book, her maternal grandfather.
This book spends some time in California and the Napa Valley, thought Lucie’s vineyard is in Virginia. She is helping a neighbor and fellow vintner by tasting some grapes he would like to purchase and create a blend to sell. She is also helping a friend of her grandfathers who fears for his life. Members of a secret society he was involved with in his youth seem to be dying off one by one. This is the source of the mystery in the book, but there is also the side story, romantic mystery of Lucie and Quinn’s relationship. Quinn has been in California wrapping up some personal matters after the death of his mother; but he is taking so much time, Lucie fears he will not be coming back to her Virginia winery.
He does help her with her tasks in California and along the way proves a great tour guide not only in San Francisco but in the Napa Valley, as well. He grew up in California and worked in the Valley as well, but had to leave under a cloud after the collapse of one of the wineries where he was employed. It becomes apparent that he was collateral damage in the affair and not the cause, but his love of Napa is apparent, which only concerns Lucie more.
I have fond memories of Napa myself – no, I have no involvement in wine making, but I do love wine. My husband and I toured the valley shortly after we married, with his older brother, who now lives in Napa, as our tour guide. I would love to go back again.
This book resolves into a very satisfying conclusion, though it did seem to end a bit abruptly on the romantic front. I look forward to more and I certainly hope there will be more. In the meantime, I’m thinking of purchasing the current books that I don’t own in the series and starting all over again.
This was one of the books and it did not disappoint. I really love this wine country series. They mysteries have been complex and so far no outlandish endings, with a murder that comes out of left field. The various relationships are also satisfying, from Lucie and Quinn, the vineyard owner and her winemaker, to Lucie’s cousin, brother, young niece and this book, her maternal grandfather.
This book spends some time in California and the Napa Valley, thought Lucie’s vineyard is in Virginia. She is helping a neighbor and fellow vintner by tasting some grapes he would like to purchase and create a blend to sell. She is also helping a friend of her grandfathers who fears for his life. Members of a secret society he was involved with in his youth seem to be dying off one by one. This is the source of the mystery in the book, but there is also the side story, romantic mystery of Lucie and Quinn’s relationship. Quinn has been in California wrapping up some personal matters after the death of his mother; but he is taking so much time, Lucie fears he will not be coming back to her Virginia winery.
He does help her with her tasks in California and along the way proves a great tour guide not only in San Francisco but in the Napa Valley, as well. He grew up in California and worked in the Valley as well, but had to leave under a cloud after the collapse of one of the wineries where he was employed. It becomes apparent that he was collateral damage in the affair and not the cause, but his love of Napa is apparent, which only concerns Lucie more.
I have fond memories of Napa myself – no, I have no involvement in wine making, but I do love wine. My husband and I toured the valley shortly after we married, with his older brother, who now lives in Napa, as our tour guide. I would love to go back again.
This book resolves into a very satisfying conclusion, though it did seem to end a bit abruptly on the romantic front. I look forward to more and I certainly hope there will be more. In the meantime, I’m thinking of purchasing the current books that I don’t own in the series and starting all over again.
October 5, 2015
The Sauvignon Secret by Ellen Crosby is the 6th book of the Wine Country mystery series, set in contemporary Virginia and Northern California. Lucie Montgomery owns and operates the winery established by her parents, with its rich tradition of French culture adapted to Virginia terroir. Like any winery, hers is affected by fluctuations in weather, pests, and market price. When wine distributor Paul Noble plans to extort a high price that will not allow her to cover costs, Lucie goes to plead with him - and finds him dead.
Lucie's French grandfather comes to visit unexpectedly, on his way to giving a talk in California Wine country. An old friend of her grandfather pressures Lucie to accompany her grandfather on the trip, to investigate a Napa Valley winery. He believes its former owner was in a secret society, and is now seeking revenge for a past cover-up. Coincidentally (or is it?) a Virginia winemaker new to the business (and impatient for his own grapes to mature) has asked Lucie to help him purchase a blend of grapes from the same Napa Valley winery.
In San Francisco, Lucie reconnects with Quinn Santori, her winery's winemaker. In a pleasurable reunion, Quinn takes Lucie sightseeing along the coast:
"If Quinn could have ordered up a day to dazzle me, along with the breathtaking scenery of the coast road, it would have been this one. The highway wound in and out of one pretty little bay after another, the Pacific flashing cobalt and turquoise, whitecaps crashing onto a rocky shoreline dotted with drifts of wildflowers. In some places, the heathery Santa Cruz Mountains telescoped out into the ocean, and the serpentine road cut inland so deeply that it looked like we were driving straight into the mountains. Then the highway would make a corkscrew turn and we'd wrap around another bend where the outside edge of the road fell away to a vertigo-inducing drop off a jagged cliff to the ocean below."
Lucie clearly sees how and why Quinn loves his native California, but still fervently hopes he will return to Virginia and resume their relationship. So far he will only commit to honoring his promise to return for the harvest.
Quinn is reluctant to risk the danger of investigating the secret society, but Lucie feels she must right an old wrong, even if it costs her the relationship with Quinn.
Lucie's French grandfather comes to visit unexpectedly, on his way to giving a talk in California Wine country. An old friend of her grandfather pressures Lucie to accompany her grandfather on the trip, to investigate a Napa Valley winery. He believes its former owner was in a secret society, and is now seeking revenge for a past cover-up. Coincidentally (or is it?) a Virginia winemaker new to the business (and impatient for his own grapes to mature) has asked Lucie to help him purchase a blend of grapes from the same Napa Valley winery.
In San Francisco, Lucie reconnects with Quinn Santori, her winery's winemaker. In a pleasurable reunion, Quinn takes Lucie sightseeing along the coast:
"If Quinn could have ordered up a day to dazzle me, along with the breathtaking scenery of the coast road, it would have been this one. The highway wound in and out of one pretty little bay after another, the Pacific flashing cobalt and turquoise, whitecaps crashing onto a rocky shoreline dotted with drifts of wildflowers. In some places, the heathery Santa Cruz Mountains telescoped out into the ocean, and the serpentine road cut inland so deeply that it looked like we were driving straight into the mountains. Then the highway would make a corkscrew turn and we'd wrap around another bend where the outside edge of the road fell away to a vertigo-inducing drop off a jagged cliff to the ocean below."
Lucie clearly sees how and why Quinn loves his native California, but still fervently hopes he will return to Virginia and resume their relationship. So far he will only commit to honoring his promise to return for the harvest.
Quinn is reluctant to risk the danger of investigating the secret society, but Lucie feels she must right an old wrong, even if it costs her the relationship with Quinn.
August 16, 2014
Virginia vineyard owner Lucy only wanted to argue with her overbearing, price-gouging distributor when she visited him; she never expected to find him dead, hanging in his own barn, with a bottle of her wine next to him. She also doesn't expect the mystery to lead her to local bigwig Charles Thiessen (sp?), who draws in both Lucy and her visiting French grandfather to help him save his own life. Something happened in the past, with a secret government group to which Charles was adjunct, and now someone seems to be taking revenge on all the former members. Although protesting, Lucy goes to California with her grandfather under the guise of testing out some wine for a former lover turned vineyard owner; while she really is checking the wine, she's also checking out the California vineyard's former owner. In the meantime, she's also re-connecting with her colleague and lover Quinn, who moved back to California after his mother died. Will he return to Virginia? Will he return to her? Also, what really happened in the past? Is Charles really in danger?
This one surprised me by going a completely different route than I had expected--I thought it would be an investigation into the death by hanging of the wine distributor, and Lucy would be suspected because of her wine, but the hanged man turned out to be a really minor character. The book was only half about the mystery from the past, and half about Lucy and Quinn and their relationship. It made for an interesting book with wonderful descriptions of both Virginia and California, though I did sometimes get lost in the plot a bit--I was listening to it as an audiobook, so it was hard to go back and check on things. Mostly I checked this book out of the library because it was partially set in Napa and Calistoga, and I listened to it while returning home from a trip to that very area--we stayed in Calistoga ourselves. It's always fun to be familiar with the setting of a book. Anyway, enjoyable!
This one surprised me by going a completely different route than I had expected--I thought it would be an investigation into the death by hanging of the wine distributor, and Lucy would be suspected because of her wine, but the hanged man turned out to be a really minor character. The book was only half about the mystery from the past, and half about Lucy and Quinn and their relationship. It made for an interesting book with wonderful descriptions of both Virginia and California, though I did sometimes get lost in the plot a bit--I was listening to it as an audiobook, so it was hard to go back and check on things. Mostly I checked this book out of the library because it was partially set in Napa and Calistoga, and I listened to it while returning home from a trip to that very area--we stayed in Calistoga ourselves. It's always fun to be familiar with the setting of a book. Anyway, enjoyable!
January 2, 2016
I've enjoyed this series over the years and have put off reading this book for quite some time because I knew it was the final one. Lucie has always been a great character, insecure a lot of times, but overall smart and mature compared to other protagonist in cozy mysteries. I've loved the setting, learning little snippets about wine making and of course the hit and miss love interest with Quinn. With that said, I'm pretty dissappointed with how this one ended. The relationship aspect was very rushed, certain things were too easily forgiven and not everything was explained on Quinn's part. The only reason I gave this one three stars is because the mystery part was really intriguing. Lucie was trying to solve something that happened many years earlier and that isn't always easy to keep interesting for a reader especially when it doesn't invlove any of the usual characters! What I really liked in this addition, was the fact that a good chunk of it took place in San Franscico. I enjoyed reading about some familiar spots and learning about some new interesting ones. I really want to try one of those coffees from the Buena Vista now. It's always dissappointing when something doesn't end so great. Happy to finally cross this one off my list just wish it would have gone out with a bigger bang.
June 25, 2018
This story mostly takes place in San Francisco. The change of scenery is kind of nice for the overall story arc. It was nice to hear a bit more about the California wine story and to "see" a different wine field through Lucie's eyes. Interestingly enough, the trip also meant that Quinn was in this book and it was nice to see the progression of their relationship. I have to be honest, I think Lucie deserves someone who is more upfront and honest with her. I am not a huge fan of how Quinn treats her.
This book focuses on a mysterious death 40 years in the past linked to human experimentation and old friends of her Pepe. Though the mystery takes Lucie to the West Coast, the resolution is much closer to home. I enjoyed the mystery and really didn't figure out all of the who before the end. I appreciate a mystery that can keep me engaged and wondering. Looking forward to the next book.
This book focuses on a mysterious death 40 years in the past linked to human experimentation and old friends of her Pepe. Though the mystery takes Lucie to the West Coast, the resolution is much closer to home. I enjoyed the mystery and really didn't figure out all of the who before the end. I appreciate a mystery that can keep me engaged and wondering. Looking forward to the next book.
August 30, 2017
Ellen Crosby is still managing to maintain my interest and move me through her Wine country series. When I finished Book 5 I was thrilled to know I had Book 6 waiting and it didn't disappoint. I really enjoy the way Ellen weaves historical and setting information into her books, and this one is strong on that factor with a slight twist from the earlier ones because this time her main character Lucie goes to California and the Napa Valley. So there is a lot of local information shared as part of the story about things like Robert Louis Stevenson's honeymoon on Mt St Helens.
The romantic sub plot with Quinn gets an airing -and some resolution as well - won't spoil it for thos still reading... A good continuation of what is a fascinating series.
The romantic sub plot with Quinn gets an airing -and some resolution as well - won't spoil it for thos still reading... A good continuation of what is a fascinating series.
October 3, 2017
This series takes place, for the most part, in a Virginia vineyard and a lot of the story evolves around winemakers, growers and vineyard owner. In this novel, Lucie Montgomery, vineyard owner and main character, finds the body of a wine merchant hanging in his barn and this discovery draws her into a decades old mystery/love triangle and a trip to California with her French grandfather where she reunites with her vineyard manager/love interest, Quinn. A bit too much romance novel for my taste but a somewhat interesting plot with a few twists.
February 26, 2017
In this book, Lucie Montgomery and her grandfather,Luc, travel to San Francisco. Lucie is doing a favor for someone and her grandfather is giving a speech. While there Lucie contacts Quinn Santori her winemaker to see if he has come to any decisions. She also starts asking questions about an accident that happened forty years earlier but seems tied to a recent suicide. The book ties up some loose ends from previous books in the series. The book was a quick easy read.
October 27, 2018
Virginia vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery finds the body of a wine merchant she has argued with and despises hanging from a beam. This leads to long buried secrets and more deaths in Virginia and California, where Lucie visits wine country in Napa Valley along with her wine master and sometime flame Quinn. There are many bibulous meals with all the right wines. This is the first book in the series I have read, but I shall look for more as it was a pleasant read.
September 17, 2017
Lucie Montgomery travels to California wine country with her grandfather. Her grandfather gives a speech to a prestigious group. Lucie spends time with her winemaker, Quinn. Quinn is resolving personal issues in California. Lucie is also trying to solve a mystery about a young woman's death many years ago.
November 8, 2018
3.5 stars
This was a great installment in this series.
There are interesting developments in Lucie's relationship with Quinn. Eli and his daughter move in with Lucie. Luc, her grandfather, comes for a visit.
Can't wait to read the next one.
This was a great installment in this series.
There are interesting developments in Lucie's relationship with Quinn. Eli and his daughter move in with Lucie. Luc, her grandfather, comes for a visit.
Can't wait to read the next one.
October 1, 2011
I love this series and this addition was every bit as good as the past ones. I enjoyed the trip to California - especially having just spent a couple of weeks there myself. Highly recommended.
September 6, 2012
My least favorite in the series.
December 14, 2016
Fun, but much more is a chick book than those earlier in the series.
February 22, 2018
I am in love with Ellen Crosby. Informational & exciting all at the same time!
July 31, 2021
SPOILER ALERT
Lucie is pulled into a long ago secret research project by the government by a friend of Pepe, her grandfather, who is visiting from Paris, and speaking at the famous Bohemian Grove Club in CA. Charles Thiessman invites Pepe and Lucie to dinner, and it is clear to Lucie that Pepe is in love with his wife Juliette, though he is a gentleman and would never violate their marriage. Charles relates the early research into the development of biological warfare and the means to combat it, mainly anthrax. While the research was to cease, a small group continued on the project afterward. While performing a test on an autistic young man, Stephen Falcone, he dies. It is covered up, and so is the death of Maggie Hilliard, who was going to go to the police. She runs a car off a bridge and drowns. Charles asks Lucie to explore the Rose Hill Winery, where she is going with Luc, in Napa, California, to taste the wine that Mick Dunne proposes to by from Brook Hennessy. She will also bring Quinn Santori into the tasting and blending of the purchase. She agrees to look for the black roses that Charles thinks will be growing on the property, by the former owner Theo Graf, aka Teddy Fargo, who is a member of the secret Mandrake Society, the project name. So far Paul Noble, the wine importer and distributor has hanged, Mel Racine has died and Vivian Kalman died in France. Charles wants to find Theo.
While in CA, Lucie reconnects with Quinn, hoping to get him to agree to return permanently to Virginia. He is evasive. He is also wary of the meeting with Brook, the daughter of the man who was defrauded in the wine scheme Quinn's for employer, Allen Cantor went to prison for.
There are no black roses. They conclude the deal for the wine, and Lucie returns to Virginia thinking that Quinn slept with Brook, after they had reconnected. Once back in Virginia they determine that the new chef at Dominique's, Jasmine Nouri is the niece of Maggie Hilliard. She had found a diary and accuses Charles of killing the others. Then Juliette reveals that she has known about Charles' infidelities all along, and brings out a gun. She relates what happened all the years ago, that Charles had been driving the car that went off the bridge and had escaped the river, Maggie had drowned. He then convinced the others to cover it all up. Then she tells the group that she is put anthrax into Charles meal so he will die as Stephen did. She shoots herself.
This was a convoluted story, and overly dramatic. In the end Quinn returns to Virginia, telling Lucie she misunderstood his relationship with Brook, proposing that he move in with her. He is staying at Montgomery Winery as winemaker. I appreciate that this part of the saga is concluded, though I imagine their future relationship will be fiery; prolonged back and forth would have been boring.
Lucie is pulled into a long ago secret research project by the government by a friend of Pepe, her grandfather, who is visiting from Paris, and speaking at the famous Bohemian Grove Club in CA. Charles Thiessman invites Pepe and Lucie to dinner, and it is clear to Lucie that Pepe is in love with his wife Juliette, though he is a gentleman and would never violate their marriage. Charles relates the early research into the development of biological warfare and the means to combat it, mainly anthrax. While the research was to cease, a small group continued on the project afterward. While performing a test on an autistic young man, Stephen Falcone, he dies. It is covered up, and so is the death of Maggie Hilliard, who was going to go to the police. She runs a car off a bridge and drowns. Charles asks Lucie to explore the Rose Hill Winery, where she is going with Luc, in Napa, California, to taste the wine that Mick Dunne proposes to by from Brook Hennessy. She will also bring Quinn Santori into the tasting and blending of the purchase. She agrees to look for the black roses that Charles thinks will be growing on the property, by the former owner Theo Graf, aka Teddy Fargo, who is a member of the secret Mandrake Society, the project name. So far Paul Noble, the wine importer and distributor has hanged, Mel Racine has died and Vivian Kalman died in France. Charles wants to find Theo.
While in CA, Lucie reconnects with Quinn, hoping to get him to agree to return permanently to Virginia. He is evasive. He is also wary of the meeting with Brook, the daughter of the man who was defrauded in the wine scheme Quinn's for employer, Allen Cantor went to prison for.
There are no black roses. They conclude the deal for the wine, and Lucie returns to Virginia thinking that Quinn slept with Brook, after they had reconnected. Once back in Virginia they determine that the new chef at Dominique's, Jasmine Nouri is the niece of Maggie Hilliard. She had found a diary and accuses Charles of killing the others. Then Juliette reveals that she has known about Charles' infidelities all along, and brings out a gun. She relates what happened all the years ago, that Charles had been driving the car that went off the bridge and had escaped the river, Maggie had drowned. He then convinced the others to cover it all up. Then she tells the group that she is put anthrax into Charles meal so he will die as Stephen did. She shoots herself.
This was a convoluted story, and overly dramatic. In the end Quinn returns to Virginia, telling Lucie she misunderstood his relationship with Brook, proposing that he move in with her. He is staying at Montgomery Winery as winemaker. I appreciate that this part of the saga is concluded, though I imagine their future relationship will be fiery; prolonged back and forth would have been boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 29, 2023
In this story Lucy is lured into helping a person her grandfather knows and goes off to California to check some things out while her grandfather gives a talk at a prestigious camp. She is also helping fellow winemaker, Mick Dunn, buy some wine. She meets up with her winemaker, Quinn, and they rekindle their relationship as he gives her a tour of the area. He also helps her with the favor she is looking into. It involves the deaths of a group of people who worked for the government in a secret project years ago and the man asking the favor was their supervisor. He is a nonfeeling, arrogant person who is married to a woman that Lucy's grandfather has a special relationship with.
Lots of entanglements and Lucy has her hands full trying to figure out what is going on. In addition, her brother has lost his job and she invites him to move back home with his daughter. She is also managing other events with the winery with the help of her cousin and others.
As the story progresses, there is a point where the recanting of an incident is reminiscent of an actual event, this being the events surrounding Ted Kennedy and the accident in Chappaqua. The author does a good job of showcasing the San Francisco and wine country areas of California. Some good intrigue and also romantic tension between Lucy and Quinn.
Lots of entanglements and Lucy has her hands full trying to figure out what is going on. In addition, her brother has lost his job and she invites him to move back home with his daughter. She is also managing other events with the winery with the help of her cousin and others.
As the story progresses, there is a point where the recanting of an incident is reminiscent of an actual event, this being the events surrounding Ted Kennedy and the accident in Chappaqua. The author does a good job of showcasing the San Francisco and wine country areas of California. Some good intrigue and also romantic tension between Lucy and Quinn.
September 21, 2023
Good story with lots of twists, plus romantic complications with Lucie and Quinn. An old friend of her grandfather Pepe, former ambassador Charles Thiessman, asks her to go to California for Mick, and vet out a vinery before Mick purchases wines to sell. The tale Thiessman tells Lucie and Pepe is reminiscent of the Tuskegee Experiments, but with definite bioterrorism tests in the late 60s and 70s. And to top it off, Lucie has already found a dead body, a local wine distributor, who was connected to this secret group. The California trip lets Lucie connect again with Quinn, who's there to settle his mom's final estate issues. But the answers to this mystery aren't in California, they are back in Virginia, and Charles knows more than he is telling.
September 10, 2021
This is the second book in this series that I have read. I am reading this series out of order since the first one that I read was the latest. One of the things that I enjoyed about this book was that part of the story was set in northern California describing several very familiar locales such as Santa Cruz and San Francisco as well as the nearby wine country.
The plot involves high level government secrets as well as chemical warfare. Do not want to say too much about and spoil the adventure for future readers.
The plot involves high level government secrets as well as chemical warfare. Do not want to say too much about and spoil the adventure for future readers.
April 4, 2019
Finally, the characters are becoming more sympathetic. Lucy's friend Kit is not in the book much, so there are not repeated references to her weight.
Also, Luc, Lucy's French grandfather, is back which is a good thing since he is one of the best characters in the series. He and Lucy travel to California together. There, she again connects with Quinn. Finally, they both reveal actual emotional depth. Hooray!
Also, Luc, Lucy's French grandfather, is back which is a good thing since he is one of the best characters in the series. He and Lucy travel to California together. There, she again connects with Quinn. Finally, they both reveal actual emotional depth. Hooray!
April 25, 2021
Excellent read. I absolutely love this series though it tends to be a bit stressful - the main character is strong and sensible but very human, so she makes mistakes. But I definitely like her, and I really like the character meds around her. I love the setting of wine country - Virginia. I love the historical education (well researched). This book had a particularly satisfying ending, though the solved murder was quite sad. Anyway love the author’s writing.
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