The Bordeaux Betrayal

Wine Country Mysteries #3

by Ellen Crosby

Ellen Crosby's third tale of suspense set amid the vines of Virginia wine country involves a two-hundred-year-old bottle of Bordeaux that Thomas Jefferson may have purchased for George Washington and is turning out to be a wine to die for.
It has been a year since Lucie Montgomery took over running her family vineyard at the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. The Bordeaux Betrayal now sweeps her into a mystery that began more than two centuries ago in France and ends in murder not far from Montgomery Estate Vineyard.

When author and historian Valerie Beauvais turns up dead the night after a verbal brawl with a noted wine critic on the grounds of Mount Vernon, George Washington's home, Lucie is certain Valerie's death is related to something she knew concerning the authenticity of the priceless Washington Bordeaux.

As Lucie and her eccentric winemaker Quinn Santori bring in the last grapes of the season, Quinn's controversial past becomes intertwined with the murder and the rare wine, testing the bonds of their increasingly close relationship. New neighbors challenge Lucie for allowing a century-old hunting club to use her land for foxhunting; Mick Dunne, Lucie's ex-lover, comes back into her life; and her beloved French grandfather makes an unexpected visit that will rekindle painful memories some would prefer to forget.

As Lucie investigates the shadowy history of the Washington wine, she uncovers a web of deceit and betrayal and a long-forgotten scandal that affects not only the international wine world but her own as well.

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Cozy, Audiobook, Wine, Mystery Thriller

288 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2008

About the author

Ellen 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.

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love to read, learn about history, and drink wine. In the Wine Country Mysteries series by Ellen Crosby, I get all three at once... even better when I have a glass in one hand and the book in another. I found this series a few years ago, even though the debut book is approaching two decades in age, and read only the first two books. I enjoyed them but was searching to read a variety of cozies which meant I stopped... but now that I've picked a few series to finish out, catching up with The Bordeaux Betrayal happened this week. There are ~10 books in the series with a new one published just this year. I was glad to jump back into this lovely rural world in Virginia (not too far from Washington DC) where Lucie Montgomery is attempting to run a winery after her parents have passed away.

Lucie had a car accident years ago leaving her walking with a cane. Without it, she can barely move. With it, she feels at a disadvantage and works on her emotional and mental side to try to overcome the pain and loss. Her two siblings are distant, and a family friend turned out to be someone she shouldn't trust. Even Quinn, the winemaker her father hired before his death, is trouble, but Lucie has a crush on him and enjoys the banter. Sometimes it's a little too much reality in my opinion. In this book, Quinn's ex-wife shows up in town on the arms of a local winery owner. The owner's partner has donated a bottle of wine from the late 18th century intended for Thomas Jefferson from France. Is is authentic? It must be if someone wants to kill for it. New in town, Valerie, a woman flirting with Lucie's on-again / off-again love interest from England, tells Lucie the bottle is possibly a problem for someone. What does she mean? Unfortunately, a car accident takes her life before she can meet Lucie to explain. Who killed her to keep quiet?

The book is great. It's more of a slow-burner with a lot of focus on the winery business and comings and goings of the people around Lucie. The mystery is strong, but it's never the primary driver in the story (in a good way). And before anyone asks, I didn't have a Bordeaux, so I drank a Pinot Noir instead (my favorite red). Lucie's relationship with the Englishman and an attraction to Quinn heat up... who will win and keep her heart? Or who will save her if she needs help (tho she's usually good at protecting herself)? Just as she puts everything together, she encounters the killer(s) while visiting a nearby house with her elderly grandfather who's on a visit from France. (He's a great character, btw!).

Add in some WW2 drama over the German occupation of France, the spoils of war, the truth about how far people can be pushed, and some drama with fox-hunting, this book has lots of wonderful stories. I recommend the series and this book for anyone who likes a slower mystery with some drama and classic American rural history experiences. Lucie's plain and simple, but direct and smart. I like her a lot. I already ordered the 4th book for later this month.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although this book is a few books into the series, it's not hard to read and figure out what is going on. There are a few references to Lucie's past, but not something which (in my opinion) stops you from enjoying this book.

A lovely bit of information about the wine industry in Virginia and the past of the wine industry in early American history.

Mind-boggling it isn't, but it is an enjoyable mystery. Plenty of bodies being found amongst the grapes. A quick read.

[Jock Mcclees · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure how to rate this book so I gave it 3 stars. My wife said it was a really good book dealing with wine. We have read some really good books about wine like The Billionaire's Vinegar and Shadows in the Vineyard which were true stories but read like detective novels as well. If you want a mouthwatering book try Passion on the Vine.

So I wasn't expecting fiction when I started listening to the book. (Listened on CDs from the library) The author did a great job of capturing life in Virginia's hunt country which is also now Virginia wine country. There was a whole intrigue revolving around an old bottle of wine and a murder or two. It was actually an enjoyable listen while driving around but not something I would recommend to others.

[Excessivecharm · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was incredibly disappointing. Lucie Montgomery is a catty woman, with even cattier friends, and this is one of those soap opera books that remind me why I read books by women so rarely. Lucie Montgomery is a stick in the mud, who believes every man loves her and seems to love every man. She plays detective while directly interfering with police investigations. Her motivations are...well, she seems to be bored and believes herself to be smarter than just about every person she comes across. The best character of the book was the French Grandfather, but he exists for little other than to randomly shout out French phrases (which are plentiful in this book, I get it Ellen Crosby, you speak a little French) and get his granddaughter out of trouble.

The wine information in this book is interesting. What I should have done is put this book down after realizing it was the only part I cared about and picked up the Billionaire's Vinegar, a much more through and enjoyable read.

[Kitten Kisser · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is like so many other who-dun-it mysteries. It was a mildly interesting read. The characters were very flat. This isn't a story to get lost in. You know your reading a book. You never forget that they are simply characters. Once I put it down it was easy to forget about. At least 1/2 the book is about wine. Making wine, growing wine, tasting wine, etc. (A little Founding Father history is thrown in too but it's still all in relation to yep you guessed it, wine) Now if you are really into wine, then maybe this book is right up your vineyard. Unless you love to immerse yourself in all things wine, I don't think you should bother with this type of book.

Now I know it's called 'A wine country mystery' But I never imagined it would revolve entirely around wine. Maybe all the wine references wouldn't be so bad if the book was actually a good murder mystery!

[Tyrannosaurus regina · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is one of those times when I really wish there were more nuance in the ratings. I've read three books in this series now and given them all three stars, but I didn't like them all equally. This one falls on the low end of three, falling into some more tropes that I was so pleased it avoided in the first book. Particularly the protagonist pushing too hard with unjustified questions, for no real reason, and alienating her friends. There was also more of a disconnect between the main storylines, though Lucie's grandfather and the wine provenance did thematically link somewhat in the end.

The series is fortunate in one aspect in paticular: that it is set in a location where there is constant tourist traffic and international attention, including criminal attention, where being involved with murders regularly doesn't necessarily make you look sketchy as hell.

[Juniper · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5-stars

okay... so while the books in this series, so far, aren't super-awesome, there's a peculiar charm to them. the writing and plotting can be quite clunky, and things are pretty obvious. but there is something about the main characters that makes them just interesting enough to keep reading. the storylines are a bit recycled in each book, loose threads abound, and lucie finds herself in a serious pickle with each unsurprising denouement. at this point, though, the characters do need to evolve and grow, and the repetition of local history, plot points, and character traits needs to calm down. one thing that irritates me with each book is the physical description of lucie's best friend, kit. for whatever reason, crosby fixates on kit's weight - pointing out her weight gain every single time. come on. really? stop it.

[Christine · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really like this series....great to listen to as an audiobook, and also lots of neat info about wines, and viticulture.

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one had a better plot than the first two in this series. One thing I'm really enjoying about this series is learning some of the wine making vocabulary.

[Jeny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed the setting and the information on the wine, winemaking, etc. Will be reading more in this set.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This series continues to entertain me enough to continue reading it. This one is a nice complicated plot and our main character is a bit less self pitying. We also get to meet her charming French grandfather who comes for a visit and spends his time partying with his old friends as only an octogenarian can. 3.5 stars

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m disappointed in how this series is going. It start out with so much promise, but this one felt like the same storyline as the last two. If the next book doesn’t have some big surprises and growth, I think I’m done.

[Ramona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can’t wait to read #4

[Johnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some don’t believe there is a “wine country” in Virginia—in spite of the efforts of Jefferson and Washington to make their own vintages during the late 18th and early 19th century. The series of “Wine Country Mysteries” of which The Bordeaux Betrayal is the third such mystery I’ve read is delightful. All three which I’ve read have been fast reads and the mysteries themselves have been fairly strong. The Bordeaux Betrayal does a great job of motivating several characters to have committed the murder(s). The murderer helps put evidential chaff out enough that even protagonist Lucie Montgomery filters out the real murderer for a goodly portion of the novel.
Lucie is the heir to the Montgomery Estate, part of those wines in Virginia. Well, not the ones that Jefferson planted, but old growth vines nonetheless. She works with a California winemaker who left the cutthroat world of Napa-Sonoma winemaking for a simpler life, but he would like to attain that perfect blend for each wine nonetheless. These mysteries wind through their clever plots much like hoses wind through wineries. The stories have a lot of color with regard to harvests, brix scales, and pushing down the cap on a red wine.

The Bordeaux Betrayal is blended with a mystery concerning, appropriately enough, a bottle purchased in France for George Washington by Thomas Jefferson and the murder of a very aggressive, unlikable woman from one character’s past. Mix in Lucie’s tenuous relationship with the local constabulary and her unresolved issues with the charming neighbor and one has the necessary tension and emotion to make this one vintage.

Although it had nothing per se to do with the murder(s), I enjoyed one bit of conversation. One of the locals is lecturing Lucie on her use of Hispanic laborers to bring in the harvest and work the vineyards at others times. When he speaks, he uses the classic expression that I have always told my children and my students is a sure sign of racism. See if you know what I mean: ”Used to be so safe around here,” he said. “Now we’ve got all these people coming in from away. Including you bringing ‘em in—you’re hiring ‘em. I say we ought to send those folks back home where they belong. I’ll bet you one of them did it.” (p. 244) Did you see the phrasing I meant? It was “these people” and “those folks.” My youngest son had a very bad habit of saying, “those people” and I had to call him out on it a lot.

Readers of The Bordeaux Betrayal will learn a little bit about viticulture, a little about winemaking, a little about wine futures, and a little about con artists in this complex and satisfying mystery. It doesn’t offer the stark horror of some mysteries and/or thrillers and doesn’t feature a lot of clever lines, but it offers a better puzzle than a television mystery and a style to be breezed through.

[Ed · Rating 3 out of 5]

#3 in the Wine Country mysteries. This entry was published in 2008 after The Merlot Murders (2006) and The Chardonnay Charade (2007), however, all the action takes place within a single year at the Montgomery Estate Winery in Virginia's horse country. The winery is a dangerous place as two more murders take place, along with a major theft and several assaults. Lucie's love life may be settling down after the brief resumption of an affair with a neighbor. Some new neighbors (PETA card carrying Yankees from NYC - BOO!) want to halt traditional fox hunting. Not very nice neighbors, but Lucie has to replenish the cast of characters that are either victims or perpetrators of all these murders. You can't take this series seriously, but it a pleasant time filler.

Wine Country mystery - Suspense set amid the vines of Virginia wine country involves a two-hundred-year-old bottle of Bordeaux that Thomas Jefferson may have purchased for George Washington and is turning out to be a wine to die for. It has been a year since Lucie Montgomery took over running her family vineyard at the foothills of Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains. The Bordeaux Betrayal now sweeps her into a mystery that began more than two centuries ago in France and ends in murder not far from Montgomery Estate Vineyard. When author and historian Valerie Beauvais turns up dead the night after a verbal brawl with a noted wine critic on the grounds of Mount Vernon, George Washington's home, Lucie is certain Valerie's death is related to something she knew concerning the authenticity of the priceless Washington Bordeaux. As Lucie and her eccentric winemaker Quinn Santori bring in the last grapes of the season, Quinn's controversial past becomes intertwined with the murder and the rare wine, testing the bonds of their increasingly close relationship. New neighbors challenge Lucie for allowing a century-old hunting club to use her land for foxhunting; Mick Dunne, Lucie's ex-lover, comes back into her life; and her beloved French grandfather makes an unexpected visit that will rekindle painful memories some would prefer to forget. As Lucie investigates the shadowy history of the Washington wine, she uncovers a web of deceit and betrayal and a long-forgotten scandal that affects not only the international wine world but her own as well

[C. (Comment, never msg). · Rating 2 out of 5]

“The Bordeaux Betrayal” has the most gorgeous cover. Wine isn't my beverage but intrigue and writing without irksome adverbs or adjectives are priority one. I read knitting mysteries because Barbara Bretton's style is magnificent. Ellen hit upon something properly mysterious to ponder: why kill for a George Washington / Thomas Jefferson bottle? Lucie was meeting a woman who died. Other crimes are on her property, connections Ellen Crosby established well.

Her town has newcomers, old-timers, and relatives. Her Grandpa is the star. Enriching the plot with history worked well, if only the characters had tasted the bottle. The most intriguing point fizzled and the motive wasn't worth killing or stealing. Other criticisms are that Lucie says she is under thirty but reads like an old lady. She has an injured foot, which we shouldn't hear so much about; lest that be all the authoress wants us to think of. Isn't she sound in every other way? When she couldn't evade someone without a cane, I thought it preposterous to not hop on one foot with ease and speed.

I thought I would give three stars in appreciation of many aspects but there was too much I disliked this time. Reviewers concur, without citing the same things I am. Ellen is determined that her heroine falls for her winemaker, a grim guy I wouldn't keep as an employee. I see no readers preferring him over the vivacious new equestrian. Hunting turned me off above all: not solely foxes that are merely chased! Lucie supports this scary behaviour “out of tradition” but insisted she does not hunt. What the hell does she think it means, if she permits killing crows or deer on that land? Telling us about Virginia is fine but readers won't take to a protagonist with attitudes like that.

[Sandie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ellen Crosby's Virginia wine country mystery series continues with yet another mystery to solve. This one begins with a question concerning the authenticity of a bottle of French wine allegedly given to President George Washington by Thomas Jefferson. Utilizing eighteenth century historical fact, plus some interesting bits about Germany's unorthodox use of purloined French wines during WWII and the clever manipulation of those facts with the fictionalized use of a not to distant event(the auctioning by Christies of a bottle of 1787 Chateau Lafite inscribed with the initials Th.J that supposedly belonging to Thomas Jefferson)Crosby has given us a most informative look at the role wine has played in the history of various countries.

Winemaking in Virginia is the foundation upon which this novel is built. The remainder of the structure, the bricks and mortar so to speak, concerns the who and why of a couple of murders, a clash between neighbors regarding the practice of fox hunting, a look at the quirky inhabitants of the Blue Ridge Mountain town of Atoka, and a long awaited meeting of the minds between our "heroine" Lucie Montgomery and her unconventional and hunky winemaker, Quinn Santorini.

Like the steps involved in the blending of a great Cabernet, friendship, scandal, deceit, betrayal and murder have been judiciously blended to create this seductive little cozy called THE BORDEAUX BETRAYAL. 3 1/2 stars

[jammaster_mom · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series has drawn me in and I haven't entirely figured out why.

I do enjoy a good mystery or historical mystery or urban fantasy tale. I think what appeals to me is that this series is murder mystery with a generous sprinkling of historical tidbits about colonial Virginia. For many of the characters the Civil War is still referred to as the War Between the States and battles sites are revered.

This book revolves around an ancient bottle of wine said to have been purchased by Thomas Jefferson for George Washington. The bottle, and all of its mates, never made it to the intended recipients. The bottle has been offered up as the centerpiece of a charity auction to be held at Lucie's winery. Lucie is also contending with her new neighbors who want to change a long held Virginia tradition, her grandfather visiting from France, her own relationship with her other neighbor Mick and someone from Quinn's past who causes many waves.

I enjoyed the mystery and the history in this book. I didn't figure out the who or why in advance which is always a treat. I do enjoy the character of Lucie who is strong overall, but I am more and more annoyed with her inability to stand up to the strong men in her life. It seems like the men that she has romantic feelings for are also the ones she lets walk all over her feelings. I wish she would stand up for herself more and value herself more. Maybe this will be an area of growth for her in future books.

[Wanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucie Montgomery has her hands full with getting ready for a wine auction, preparing for some fox hunters to use her property, her grandfather visiting from France and romantic issues. A rare bottle of wine is donated for the auction she is involved with and it immediately gets a lot of attention. The ex-wife of her winemaker shows up and stirs things up. Another woman who has written some books and is interested in the wine also seems to be hiding a secret. When she turns up dead things heat up.
Lucie has lots of connections and is friends with most of the people in her county and knows many others and it is upsetting to think someone may be a killer. She is trying to figure out if she wants to get back together with her neighbor while also fighting an attraction to her winemaker. She wants to get to the bottom of who murdered the woman which puts her in danger. Her new neighbors don't want her to allow the hunters to use her property and this also is causing tension.
I like how there is several things going on at the same time and not all of them may be connected. The author also brings in some interesting history of the area and in this story it involves the special bottle of wine that could have been bought by Thomas Jefferson for George Washington.
With Lucie's grandfather involved there is also discussion about what happened during WWII and how it effected wineries in France.
Enjoyable story and I like this series.

[Paula Ratcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows Lucie Montgomery who is getting ready for an auction of Washington's wine that was never received. Many seem to want this bottle of wine, which for Lucie means more money for kids that really need it. When Valerie tells Lucie she wants to tell her the history of this bottle of wine Lucie reluctantly waits to see what Valerie has to say but when she's a no show Lucie goes looking for her and finds her car flipped upside down with a very dead Valerie inside. Who killed Valerie and why?

Lucie's also having company in her french grandfather Luc is in town and adding to the great story that is told. Also we see what is going on with Quinn who seems to be all over the place, and dealing with an ex-wife he'd rather forget. As well as Dominique who is now un-engaged as she and her boyfriend broke up. Joe the ex of Dominique has been spotted around Valerie did he have something to do with her death?

There is so much going on and the story involves history of Jefferson and Washington as well as current times. I really enjoyed it Ellen Crosby is like a fine wine getting better all the time!

[Lois · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bottle of wine supposedly ordered for George Washington by Thomas Jefferson but never delivered is donated to Lucie Montgomery to be used in an auction for disadvantaged children. When the wine is withdrawn from the auction and two deaths result, Lucie becomes the amateur detective to find out what happened. To add to the mix, animal rights activists move into the area and try to block the scheduled fox hunt which will include the Montgomery vineyard. And Quinn's ex-wife appears on the scene and Lucie has doubts about her love interests. Other than the disputed bottle of wine and wine futures, there is little about wine making and I soon tired of Lucie's constant mental questioning of who might have done what for what reason. I also found it implausible that Lucie with her disability could and would climb into a car which is upside down to remove a dead woman's body. Lucie's grandfather is introduced and readers do learn a little about the fate of European vineyards in WWII. Not the best of the series.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting combination of American Revolutionary history and WWII history presented here. I found it striking that the author expounded a bit on the dilemma faced by German soldiers during the occupation of France who were sympathetic to the French cause. There was explicit condemnation from major characters of Germans who sent French vineyard owners and their families to the concentration camps. And yet all this series has ever said about the Civil War in human terms is about how much "Virginia" suffered for four years. This seems to mean only the suffering of white soldiers in the war. The fact that black Virginians suffered slavery for two hundred years doesn't come up. I want to give the author a break on this because she's writing mysteries (and I like her characters, her writing, and her plots), but I don't know how much of a break I can keep giving her if she keeps bringing up history.

[Jessica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like the setting of Ellen Crosby's wine country mysteries, in a vineyard in Virginia, but not all that impressed with the series. The characters are either salt-of-the-earth, socialites with a heart of gold, or craven rich people. The mysteries themselves seem half-hearted, and in this particular installment, it's as if Crosby forgot she was writing a murder mystery, so consumed was she by another mystery (whether a fancy bottle of wine donated to a charity auction really had been owned by Thomas Jefferson and destined for George Washington's cellar). But the murders are shunted aside, the wine mystery is left unresolved, and even the central plot mechanism of the auction is forgotten. Crosby's heroine, Lucie Montgomery, seems awfully impressed with herself and her French and Southern heritage. I've made it through three of these, but not sure I'm willing to take a gamble on the 4th.

[Pr Latta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though third in the series, this is my first - I suspect reading the Merlot Murders first would have given me background but I don't think it reduced my enjoyment of this title. The strong sense of place (Northern Virginia) was the hook for me. Beginning in my backyard (at Mount Vernon) and being centered in Loudon County I can follow the action's map. Crosby offers up lots of wine making detail, bits of history from several eras, a taste of the life of the well to do (I don't often meet friends for a quick coffee at what must be modeled after the Red Fox Inn), and engaging if not completely developed characters. These cozy mysteries might disappoint adrenalin junkies or those who like to puzzle out tight mysteries but I'm going back to read #1 of these entertaining, light, factoid-filled mysteries.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars -- read this book while home from work sick and enjoyed it enough to stay up a little late finishing it. I liked the local connections (set in Loudon and Fauquier Counties in Virginia, with an opening scene at Mount Vernon) and the mystery was well-written. The characters were interesting enough that I will pick up other books by this author if I come across them. I do not drink wine and must confess to glossing over the wine-making details in the book. I did notice that they were constantly drinking wine (and specifically identifying the type), though, which I found annoying but might not have been as sensitive to if it weren't a wine-based mystery. Would love to see more books about Pepe -- I think a series on his adventures would have me hooked for sure.

[Linda Smatzny · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's fall in Virginia and Lucie Montgomery is planning to hold a wine auction at her winery. The big item is a bottle of wine that Thomas Jefferson bought for George Washington. A writer talks to Lucie about the wine and hints there is a problem but before they can really talk the writer is murdered. Lucie starts digging more about the wine than the body. There is another murder before all the pieces come together and reveal the killer. The book was a quick easy read.

[Wellington · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the third installment in Ellen Crosby's Wine Country Mysteries series. The mystery was pretty good. We got to learn a lot more about Quinn and his story. His relationship with Lucie is still complicated, but getting closer. Lucie's grandfather comes for a visit and we get a bit more family history on her. The pacing is good and the writing style is easy to read. Can't wait for the next book.

[Beth Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I was initially mislead when the description said Washington wine country (I thought it was Washington state wine country where I live), this was still an interesting story. The characters were interesting and it was a unique setting at a winery in rural Virginia. Two deaths occur who are peripheral to the wine industry and it all seems centered on a famous bottle of wine thought to have been imported by Jefferson for George Washington. Good read with some light humor.

[Kimberly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This series always leaves me guessing until the very end and I love that! I really enjoy the main characters and like learning just a little bit more about their past in each book. They aren't perfect either which makes them seem more real. Lucie's grandpa, Pepe, was definitely a favorite addition this time. The setting could not be more perfect!!!

[Emily Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is fall at Lucie Montgomery's Virginia vineyard and harvest is underway. Lucie is planning a wine auction to raise funds for charity. A rare wine has been donated for auction, but it's provenance is questioned. There are also people being murdered. Lucie is right in the middle of the search for the killer.