Harvest of Secrets: A Wine Country Mystery

Wine Country Mysteries #9

by Ellen Crosby

Winemaker Lucie Montgomery is shocked when old bones are unearthed on her property, which propels her to uncover shocking secrets about her family's past.

It’s harvest season at Montgomery Estate Vineyard—the busiest time of year for winemakers in Atoka, Virginia. A skull is unearthed near Lucie Montgomery’s family cemetery, and the discovery of the bones coincides with the arrival of handsome, wealthy aristocrat Jean-Claude de Marignac. He’s come to be the head winemaker at neighboring La Vigne Cellars, but he’s no stranger to Lucie—he was her first crush twenty years ago when she spent a summer in France.

Not long after his arrival, Jean-Claude is found dead, and while there is no shortage of suspects who are angry or jealous of his ego and overbearing ways, suspicion falls on Miguel Otero, an immigrant worker at La Vigne, who recently quarreled with Jean-Claude. When Miguel disappears, Lucie receives an ultimatum from her own employees: prove Miguel’s innocence or none of the immigrant community will work for her during the harvest. As Lucie hunts for Jean-Claude’s killer and continues to search for the identity of the skeleton abandoned in the cemetery, she is blindsided by a decades-old secret that shatters everything she thought she knew about her family. Now facing a wrenching emotional choice, Lucie must decide whether it’s finally time to tell the truth and hurt those she loves the most, or keep silent and let past secrets remain dead and buried.

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

342 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 6, 2018

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 5 out of 5]

Harvest of Secrets is the 9th book in the 'Wine Country Mysteries' written by Ellen Crosby. This series focuses on the Montgomery Vineyard in Virginia, not too far from Washington DC, where historical and current mysteries intermix and revolve around politics, family history, and wine. In this caper, Lucie, a ~30ish engaged and disabled vineyard owner, runs into a guy she had a crush on in France many years ago. He's been exiled by his father to learn how to grow up, but the man can't stop finding trouble. This time, trouble leads to his death.

Who killed him? His current girlfriend, a past girlfriend, friends who finally had enough, or something more sinister? Meanwhile, Lucie's farm team accidentally digs up another dead body from many years ago when a hurricane approaches. She quickly realizes she must be related to the victim, who was definitely murdered. How does it all fit together? Between Civil War beliefs and tension, modern day interracial relationships, and turning grapes into wine, this book is full of subplots and wonderful side stories.

Crosby is definitely inching her way into my top ten favorite authors. Although potentially considered a cozy mystery, it's not the typical type. While there are limited graphical images and profanity, there's an edge to these tales; they are also not overly fun and lighthearted. The Wine Country Mysteries are full of history, analytics, descriptions, and relationships. Lucie may be an amateur sleuth, but she's not your typical heroine.

I am fully caught up on the series and looking forward to the tenth one which will be published in the fall of 2019. I hope to get an ARC or be part of the publisher's launch team, but it's months away. Until then, I will wait patiently for the next release. I might even take a gander at any of the author's other books to see if there is something of interest.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the ninth installment of the Wine Country mysteries, set in "horse country" rural Virginia, about 45 minutes from Washington, D.C. Lucie Montgomery's workers find an old skull on her family's vineyard and she wants to investigate whether the remains belong to one of her ancestors. On the adjacent vineyard owned by a former Secretary of State and his long-time partner, Robyn-- a prominent French winemaker, the son of a wealthy French baron from Bordeaux, has come into their employ. But he carries a lot of baggage from his past and it entwines all around him, including Lucie.

I really enjoyed this book. I've read the prior books in the series but slowly over a period of years. It can be read as a standalone but it has been nice to see the progression of the storyline, and the development of Lucie's character and her relationship with Quinn. I also like the detailed historical elements the author includes. Parts of the story reflect current events without getting into any type of political diatribe. There are several layers of mystery in this story, all keeping my attention to the very end. Highly recommend!


Thanks to NetGalley for an advance digital copy of this book. My review is voluntary

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may be the best one yet! This series just keeps getting better!

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had begun this series quite some time ago and realized that I had missed a few along the way, so I was happy to read Ms. Crosby's newest in the series.

I was a little concerned that I had missed 2 in the series, but the author had put in enough backstory that I was not confused. The story itself was great and held my attention throughout. I recognized most of the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Linda Frances · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't like this one nearly as much as others in the series. There wasn't as much attention to detail, and very little about the vineyard and wine making. Lucie seems more concerned about an old murder victim than the current murder. As much as she talks about a hurricane approaching and how much help they need, she spends her time researching family history, and getting to know a previously unknown family member. Since the vineyard is her livelihood, wouldn't you think she'd concentrate on that and let the family tree wait until they've gotten through the hurricane? I don't even know why she even wrote the hurricane in.

[Lori · Rating 3 out of 5]

When workers discover a skull buried in a storage shed on Lucie Montgomery's property, she calls in the sheriff. However, the murder victim lived in the mid-19th century. A glimpse in the family Bible reveals no death date appears next to Susannah Montgomery and additional evidence gleaned points in that direction. Although Lucie recently took a DNA test, the archaeologist working the case wants Lucie's DNA in the same format as the bone sample's DNA. While she spit for the test that revealed an unknown half-brother whom she gets to know in the narrative, she does a cheek swab for the match to the bones. In the meantime, a hurricane is headed to Virginia, and a French winemaker working a neighboring vineyard turns up dead. Suspicion falls to an immigrant whose secateurs are found near the body. He left his documents in his car where someone broke in and stole them. Lucie suspects an attempt to frame him. Miguel,however, ran, making him look guilty. Lucie finally gets around to solving the crime with the sheriff thankfully not far behind. The murderer's identity was obvious to me early on, but it took Lucie forever to figure it out. I liked the historical/genealogical parts far better than the present-day mystery. I listened to the audiobook narrated by Christine Marshall. I nearly abandoned it early on because the accent was wrong for the region. She dropped r's as New Englanders do rather than pronouncing them (and adding a few) as Virginians often do. However, she improved as the story went along. It made me think someone corrected her but that they didn't go back and fix the first couple of hours of reading. This first venture into this series came from reading a review mentioning the genealogical angle. I may go back and read earlier installments. If I do, I will read them unless the narrator differs.

[Sherrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucie is busy with harvest season and while her brother, Eli, is looking to build a home for him and his daughter, happens upon a skull while digging. On top of that Jean-Claude is aristocrat is found dead in his winery which happens to be neat Lucie's winery. While all this is going on she finds out that her father had a son with another woman when she was born and she meets up with her half brother. A lot of interwoven history and mystery together but very well put together.

[Nefty123 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellen brings history, locale and murder together in a way no one else can. Well done.

[Georgette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another solid installment in the Wine Country mystery series. Didn't guess the perp, either.

[Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This ninth book in a series about Virginia vineyards continues to provide information about wine making, a precarious enterprise, at best, and its long tradition in this country. Lucie Montgomery continues to be a bright, courageous, and empathic, protagonist whose challenges and successes have been well documented in previous books.

While a complicated murder investigation is always embedded in these novels, here the issues of slavery and immigration are as important to the story line. Ellen Crosby's background as a journalist is reflected in how these issues emerge, revealing the complexity, confusion and fear around them. While I enjoy reading about Lucie's family and friends, the connection of the past and present, fear and prejudice, was more relevant and compelling to me.

[Sue Em · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucie Montgomery finds the body of a French winemaker, her childhood crush,in this latest excellent entry in the Virginia wine country series. As she becomes involved in trying to prove the innocence of her friends, a skeleton is discovered on her property. One of the strengths of this series is the author's ability to delve into history making the past and present interesting and relevant. Highly recommended. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sue · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting information on wine making but the story left questions i.e. why were people handling a 1860's quilt (carrying it around in a paper bag) that had been wrapped around a dead body/skeleton found buried in dirt? The quilt was very fragile, dirty and had to have smelled from the dirt alone!
Then the main characters find a small cottage on their property, property that they grew up on and by their admissions explored as young kids/teens to find hideouts to drink and make out-surely the cottage would have been found before the story unfolds. Too many unexplained points of the story.

[Stanley McShane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book captured my interest immediately and never let go. While it is Book 9 of the series, it functioned well as a standalone. No problem sensing protagonist Lucie Montgomery.

A skull is uncovered near the family cemetery by her immigrant workers and Lucie feels a kindred spirit, discovered to have been a young woman. She can't help but delve deeper into the mystery possibly involving family. Having opened Pandora's box, however, she'll be diverted into the history of her family's Civil War effort as well as the Underground Railroad, which opens further research.

A wealthy aristocrat from France--an old crush from her summer there with family--has become head winemaker at La Vigne Cellars--their neighbor. He loves the ladies--probably WAY too much. Montgomery Estate Vineyards is looking forward to harvest, even with a hurricane approaching. Worse yet, Jean-Claude is murdered and evidence points to one of her own workers. Miguel, worried about his immigration status, splits, and begins to look very suspicious.

Second book in a row I've read that has been multi-layered with detailed histories involved in the well-plotted mystery. This one weaves fascinating information regarding the surrounding area of civil war battlefields and the political climate and turmoil of the period. Always a lot going on, the storyline never slows and keeps the reader flipping pages, each one leaving another lesson or plot point in one of the layers. Support characters are well fleshed and dialogue is easy and natural, with an occasional gentle poke at that famous southern drawl.

New premise location for me, unique historical details, and easy but fast-paced plot never lets the tension slide, slow, or slack. I'm looking forward to visiting again soon and heartily recommend this entry in the well-developed series to anyone who enjoys a high-speed romp into one of our country's most beautiful and history laden areas. I received this uncorrected digital galley from the publisher (thank you, Minotaur!!) and NetGalley and appreciate the opportunity to read and review.

See my full review as well as many others at https://rosepointpublishing.com

[Melissa Riggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

As I started reading this 9th in the series, I thought maybe it was time to be done. But as the book moved on and the backstory mystery fleshed out, I was drawn in my the history. Could be the fact that I had lived in Northern Virginia for a time, so Middleburg and Leesburg were places I had been too. An interesting new family member makes me think the series will continue on.

"It's harvest season at Montgomery Estate Vineyard--the busiest time of year for winemakers in Atoka, Virginia. A skull is unearthed near Lucie Montgomery's family cemetery, and the discovery of the bones coincides with the arrival of handsome, wealthy aristocrat Jean-Claude de Marignac. He's come to be the head winemaker at neighboring La Vigne Cellars, but he's no stranger to Lucie--he was her first crush twenty years ago when she spent a summer in France. Not long after his arrival, Jean-Claude is found dead, and while there is no shortage of suspects who are angry or jealous of his ego and overbearing ways, suspicion falls on Miguel Otero, an immigrant worker at La Vigne, who recently quarreled with Jean-Claude. When Miguel disappears, Lucie receives an ultimatum from her own employees: prove Miguel's innocence or none of the immigrant community will work for her during the harvest. As Lucie hunts for Jean-Claude's killer and continues to search for the identity of the skeleton abandoned in the cemetery, she is blindsided by a decades-old secret that shatters everything she thought she knew about her family. Now facing a wrenching emotional choice, Lucie must decide whether it's finally time to tell the truth and hurt those she loves the most, or keep silent and let past secrets remain dead and buried."

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wine Country Mysteries series is not your usual who-done-it; it is also a history lesson of Loudoun County, Virginia, with a mystery thrown into keep your attention.

As the vineyard is preparing for an incoming hurricane, the workers at Montgomery Estate Vineyards unearth a skull that has been buried under a shed outside of the family cemetery. Detailed forensics reveals that the skull, and the rest of the bones, have been there for more than a century, but what is interesting is the quilt that the woman was buried in. A quilt with historic value and story that goes back to the Underground Railroad.

Lucie Montgomery has a sudden conviction that this woman is a family member, but proving it also digs up interesting family drama when a DNA test through the genome project reveals that Lucie’s father had a secret that was kept from the family. Add into that, Jean-Claude de Merignac, the wayward son of a well-regarded French family arrives and while working at a neighboring La Vigne vineyard, is killed and there is no shortlist for those that could be responsible.

The multiple stories in this book will keep readers engrossed. There is no straightforward path to the end, yet enough trails to twist your mind around and possible reasons, all wrapped up in an interesting history lesson, with a potential new character that could add even more backstory to the Montgomery family and their enduring presence is the wine country of Atoka, Virginia.

[Paula Ratcliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book follows Lucie Montgomery and her friends and family as they are getting ready for storm approaching when an old crush of Lucie's comes back into town working at another vineyard. Jean-Claude approaches Lucie about someone out to kill him. Lucie dismisses the drama as she has more to deal with the impending storm than the drama of Jean-Claude. When he ends up dead and the heat is on Lucie's cousin she knows she has to get to the bottom of it. Add that murder to a skeleton showing up on Lucie's property and a family secret come to light. With so much going on will Lucie figure it out or will she wind up the next victim?

I love this series. The writing pulls you in and won't let you go wondering how Lucie will piece it all together in time or won't she? I especially like when a crime from the past is involved to because you are more determined to piece it all together and learn more about the Montgomery's. Can't wait to see what is next for Lucie and her friends and family!

[Amanda Sacco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was better than expected. I have read quite a few cozy mysteries this autumn, and this is one of the few I’m actually keeping.

Where other mysteries can be a little too focused on the main story line, and seem kind of one dimensional, this book has several story lines happening at once, and the author artfully weaves those story lines together to creat a very engaging, 3 dimensional story.

My ONLY dislike about this book is that there were too many characters introduced too early, with too much detail. Around chapter 5 or 6 there was probably close to a dozen characters (if not more) introduced with more detail than was necessary for that point in the story, which made it hard to keep track of who was who and how they were all related etc. I would have preferred if the author gradually built up the characters as they became more pertinent to the story.

Overall though this book was fantastic and I look forward to picking up a few more books from the series to read next year

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed finishing this latest in Ellen Crosby's Wine Country Mystery series on this snow day/work is closed day! In fact, most of Michigan's lower peninsula is closed today 😲❄☃ I always learn something about wine (growing, harvesting, making etc) in her books but this book has an interesting twist connecting the family to the underground railroad. I can't wait to see where this thread goes in the next book!

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

So we all know that usually the murderer is a fringe person in a cozy. I am okay with that. What bothers me here is that Lucie always talks about how much work it is to run an vineyard and how busy they are, and then spends the bulk of the book not working at the vineyard. Kind of does a disservice to all those small vineyard owners.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow a lot of family secrets.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this story. It contained so many side stories that were interesting. The family genealogy, the Underground Railroad, and the family relationships now deepening with other characters, both new and old in this series. Great read. I enjoyed this book.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this series from the beginning with its well-written descriptions of Virginia wine country and winemaking, believable family characters, and just the general loveliness of Ellen Crosby herself. This one was one of my favorites in the series, because it stood apart with its timely theme of anti-immigrant sentiment. Crosby doesn't hit the reader over the head with it, rather weaving it seamlessly into the plot. Really well done. I'll keep reading this series as long as she has it in her to write them!

The fine print: received ARC from NetGalley. Also, reviewed 12/13/18, hence lack of detail.

[Cynthia · Rating 2 out of 5]

The central mystery of the story is rather boring and non-engaging. The other mysteries in the book are much more interesting and it would have been a much more interesting read if the author had focused on them.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Karen Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots happening here...DNA testing, family secrets and unearthed skeletons. Crosby’s writing just gets better.

[Anne, Unfinished Woman · Rating 4 out of 5]

SPOILER ALERT

With more of the fascinating historical anecdotes woven into this story, Crosby again gives us a fast paced, suspenseful mystery. Although as I started this installment of the wine country mysteries I was struck by the repeat of skeletons found on her estate as well as a hint for a killing, as I was momentarily remembering the unbelievable repeats of Jessica Fletcher. Lucie Montgomery, owner of the Montgomery Vineyards, is a amateur sleuth, or a happenstance player in the frequent criminal activity in her beloved hunt and horse country. When a huge tree comes down on a shed it reveals a skeleton...a young woman probably, who is wrapped in a quilt, and with head injuries. It appears to be an old set of remains. Further investigations appealing to a forensic anthropologist, and the expertise of a neighbor who is an expert in textiles, and Lucie's research into the documents of her family and its Bible, lead to her possible relative Susanna. It is a fascinating recounting of Ashanti people who had a specific type of quilting, Kente, and a rare quilt. As well as connections to the Underground Railroad, a cottage of the estate well-hidden and never found before, that may have been used for that purpose, and the love of Susanna for a black man Henry Wells, whose sister Rejoice had made the quilt in which Susanna was buried. She was possible killed by her fiance, Capt Charles Montgomery, a cousin, and a Confederate soldier, upon his finding out about her illicit, embarrassing and highly dangerous love for Wells.

The vineyard is also facing the hurricane Lolita, and a quick harvesting, before it arrives. But the murder of the new winemaker at the La Vigne Cellars, Jean-Claude de Merignac, a playboy, who treats his women carelessly, and was a crush for Lucie when she was in Paris at age 13. He moves from one conquest to another, and it prove fatal: Robyn Callahan, Colette Barnes, Dominique, and Nikki Young. But first Miguel Otero is blamed, and Lucie's workers refuse to do the harvest unless she can prove that Miguel did not kill Jeann-Claude. He had a reputation in France that was covered up frequently by pay-offs. Including that of Dominique Gosselin, who he had gotten pregnant, and got an abortion. It means that there are many suspects. One by one they are eliminated including Miguel, until the end when Lucie inadvertently finds Colette at the vineyard and hears Nikki hurt. Colette speaks French, and had been heard fighting with Jean-Claude, and she how has a knife and takes Lucie to the burial site, intending to bury her alive. She uses her cane to overtake Colette, the knife is plunged into her neck, and the police and Quinn arrive shortly thereafter. What could have been another of the previous tales, had plenty of interesting additions to make it a good story. Lucie is involved in the Genone Project to pursue more of her family, and in doing so is contacted by her half-brother, David Phelps, Leland his father and the affair he had with his mother, Olivia Vandenberg, now a prominent Congresswoman, who does not acknowledge him, poses some discomfort in how she will tell Eli and Mia. He is a photojournalist with National Geographic, and the two of them are instantly connected. Thelma Johnson gives Lucie a book that had been owned by Susanna, and connects Thelmas family to the issues.

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harvest of Secrets by Ellen Crosby is the 9th book of the Wine Country mystery series set in contemporary Virginia. Lucie Montgomery owns and operates the Montgomery Estate Vineyard. Harvest season is always the busiest time of year, but Mother Nature is interfering this year: a hurricane is headed their way. Lucie and her winemaker Quinn (who is also her fiancé) decide they must pick a particular field of grapes early, before the storm hits, to avoid total ruin of the crop. To get the picking done quickly, they plan to borrow Miguel, a skilled grape harvester, from neighboring vineyard La Vigne. Murder interferes: Jean-Claude de Marignac is stabbed with Miguel's secateurs. Miguel disappears; Lucie's grape-picker crew insists she clear him of suspicion before they will work. Lucie's related to and close friends with many local residents, so she makes the time to visit with them all and learn what she can about their interactions with Jean-Claude (who was her first crush). Although she trusts her friend Bobby (local police) to do his job, she's still afraid someone she cares about may be cleverly framed for the murder.

A skull is uncovered near the Montgomery family graveyard. Lucie is intrigued by the discovery, eager to identify the century-old body if possible. She loves family history, and has submitted her DNA; she receives astonishing news in return. Although most pressing is the need to find out who killed Jean-Claude, finding Miguel leads to the discovery of an historic building on her land.

This installment of the series is my favorite to date. Not only do we learn fascinating history of Virginia and our country, as in all the books, but Lucie's investigation discovers a treasure trove of genealogy, including a very special quilt. To best appreciate all the relationships, read the series in order.

[Erik · Rating 5 out of 5]

The search for the killer of an aristocratic French winemaker who was Lucie Montgomery's first crush and the discovery of dark family secrets put Lucie on a collision course with a murderer.

It's harvest season at Montgomery Estate Vineyard--the busiest time of year for winemakers in Atoka, Virginia. A skull is unearthed near Lucie Montgomery's family cemetery, and the discovery of the bones coincides with the arrival of handsome, wealthy aristocrat Jean-Claude de Marignac. He's come to be the head winemaker at neighboring La Vigne Cellars, but he's no stranger to Lucie--he was her first crush twenty years ago when she spent a summer in France.

Not long after his arrival, Jean-Claude is found dead, and while there is no shortage of suspects who are angry or jealous of his ego and overbearing ways, suspicion falls on Miguel Otero, an immigrant worker at La Vigne, who recently quarreled with Jean-Claude. When Miguel disappears, Lucie receives an ultimatum from her own employees: prove Miguel's innocence or none of the immigrant community will work for her during the harvest. As Lucie hunts for Jean-Claude's killer and continues to search for the identity of the skeleton abandoned in the cemetery, she is blindsided by a decades-old secret that shatters everything she thought she knew about her family. Now facing a wrenching emotional choice, Lucie must decide whether it's finally time to tell the truth and hurt those she loves the most, or keep silent and let past secrets remain dead and buried.

[Margaret Wilkening · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve been reading through the Lucie Montgomery Virginia wine country mysteries over the past several months and have really enjoyed them. However, I found Harvest Secret to be much weaker than the rest. There are two plot threads. One surrounding a philandering French wine maker from a neighboring vineyard and the second concerning a 150 year old skeleton found buried in a shed near the family cemetery.

The first, which I presumed to be the main mystery, was treated as a side story. The “dramatic resolution” had a lot of holes and seemed to be written as an afterthought. The side story of the Montgomery family skeletons (a second one comes out of the closet to add a third plot twist) consumes Lucie and the author, Ellen Crosby, much more than the actual murder.

The multiple story lines were less of an issue than the lack of detail that is unusual in this series. It’s harvest season and a hurricane is coming so the vineyard is “really busy!” But Lucie is never working. She’s off meeting people, going to the library, exploring a Quaker town (on a side note, this part was really interesting, but could have waited until after harvest time!). Also, as another reviewer noted, who would carry around a 150 year old quilt found at a gravesite in a paper bag and then open it in her living room? I simply found too many odd issues with this book.

After the high quality of the rest of the series, Secret Harvest was a let down. Hopefully it is an anomaly and the rest of the series will bounce back to be as good as the previous books.

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stellar entry in the Wine Country Mysteries.

Lucie Montgomery, along with her fiance winemaker Quinn, is running the family winery in Virginia. They are grappling with a coming hurricane AND the wine harvest when some of her vineyard workers discover a skull in a shallow grave.

A little research soon reveals that the skeleton dates from more than a century ago and that the victim, who was murdered, is likely an ancestor of Lucie's. Her delving into the family history leads to some interesting information about genealogy, quilts, and local Virginia history as well as a never revealed family secret. And that's not the only secret -- Lucie sent off a DNA sample to an ancestor web site and is not prepared for the results of her test.

Meanwhile, a French winemaker who Lucie had a crush on in her teens is now working at a local vineyard. He has a reputation for arrogance and womanizing and when his body is found with a fatal stab wound, the list of suspects is long. Unfortunately, that list includes friends and employees of Lucie's and she knows they are innocent.

This is a very nicely written narrative with a couple of compelling side plots. This is a worthwhile series and this is one of the best entries, although it could work as a standalone. Thanks to Net Galley and to the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.