Bitter Roots

Wine Country Mysteries #12

by Ellen Crosby

The brutal murder of a beautiful vineyard expert and a devastating storm force Virginia winemaker Lucie Montgomery to confront painful changes on the eve of her wedding.

In just over a week, vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery and winemaker Quinn Santori will be married in a ceremony overlooking what should be acres of lush flowering grapevines. Instead they are confronted by an ugly swathe of slowly dying vines and a nursery owner who denies responsibility for selling the diseased plants. With neighboring vineyards facing the same problem, accusations fly and the ugly stand-off between supplier and growers looks set to escalate into open warfare.

When Eve Kerr, a stunning blonde who works at the nursery, is found dead a few days later, everyone wonders if someone in the winemaking community went too far. What especially troubles Lucie is why Eve secretly arranged to meet Quinn on the day she was murdered--and whether Lucie's soon-to-be husband knows something he's not telling her.

Then a catastrophic storm blows through, destroying everything in its path. With no power, no phones, and no wedding venue, Lucie needs to find out who killed Eve and what her death had to do with Quinn.

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

297 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 1, 2022

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]

Bitter Roots is the 12th book in Ellen Crosby's Wine Country Mysteries, a brilliantly crafted amateur sleuth investigation series based in Virginia's wine country. Since the beginning of this series, the author's gorgeous descriptions of the rural mountain setting and fascinating wine-making processes have enamored me. Whether I'm sipping a glass of wine that matches the variety being focused on in each book or picturing the stunning architecture and sweeping views of the vineyards, I relish every page. This installment was no different... perhaps one of the highlights.

An expected derecho. A group of angry, frustrated winemakers. A powerful but potentially dirty nursery who might've known about the fungus impacting the vines they blended and sold. Secret alliances between newcomers and underdogs. A wedding we've been excited about for a few years. So much comes together in this superb story where emotions are running high and expectations keep getting re-set. Poor Lucie has struggled enough in the last decade, and my heart broke when she learned how much money she'd lose over the failed vines they'd pressed their hopes on for three years. The author brilliantly compared the tender care she put into their nurturing to that of a parent who does everything for their child, only to have it ripped away.

This is one series where I don't rush to read the newest book... merely because once I do, I know I'll have to wait an entire year for the next one. This collection combines so many things I love in one place, and I truly find the characters multi-dimensional; they do things I disagree with yet they still encourage my empathy. I root for them to win, and when they lose, I want to reach into the pages and soothe their pain. The unexpected windstorm amped up the suspense, and when all was said and done, I expected a tragic death... thankfully, my guess on the victim was wrong. But Crosby takes chances in her books, and I'm always on the edge of my seat wondering when she might throw us that nasty curveball once again.

Definitely a recommended series. Not a light one... not too heavy, but filled with political, historical, and cultural significance. I've got to find a way to get on this writer's beta team!

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bitter Roots by Ellen Crosby is the twelfth A Wine Country Mystery. I did not know Bitter Roots was part of a series when I requested the book. Bitter Roots can be read as a standalone since the author provides all the necessary background information. However, I believe it would have helped me if I had at least read the first book in the series, The Merlot Murders. Reading a series in order allows you to get to know the characters and watch them grow as the series progresses. I thought Bitter Roots was well-written with developed characters. Ellen Crosby is a descriptive writer. She paints a picture so readers can envision Virginia’s wine country. I could imagine myself sitting on the patio behind the house sipping a glass of wine while looking at the grape vines blooming. The detailed descriptions, though, do slow down the pace of the book. The story goes into details on growing grapes, making wine, diseases that affect grapes, climate change, and the myriad of other details that go into making wine. It is interesting to learn, but I wish it had been presented in a different manner. There are numerous characters. It is difficult to keep track of all of them (vineyard owners, the vineyard managers, employees, family, townspeople, etc.). I did feel there was too much repetition especially regarding the affected grapes. The mystery was straightforward. Lucie investigates Eve’s death because her fiancé, Quinn is at the top of the suspect list. There is misdirection, several suspects, and helpful clues. A severe storm hinders the investigation and there is a chance the wedding will not take place. I did not find the whodunit challenging. I kept hoping for a twist that would surprise me. The reveal explained who and why they committed the crime. The ending will have fans of the series smiling. Bitter Roots is not a lighthearted, fun cozy mystery. Bitter Roots has a serious tone that delves into issues affecting grape vines. I do want to let you know that there is foul language in the story. While Bitter Roots was not a good fit for me, it appeals to many readers. If you like the sound of Bitter Roots, you should read a sample to see if it is the right fit for you. Bitter Roots transports readers to Virginia’s wine country where there is a vine virus, nursery controversy, blending get-together, a severe storm, wedding worries, confrontation with killer, and, hopefully, a happily ever after.

[Rhonda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really don't know how so much information is packed into this series. I highly recommend this Wine Country Series.

[Charles Snellings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitter Roots

Whether it be my savvy social media skills, dumb luck, or the reading (or wine) gods; I came upon an advanced copy from the author! The Wine Country mystery series is one of my favorite series! With a heroine who’s not to be sold short, driven, and unlike many others! A cast of truly believable characters (especially if you’ve ever been in a small town) another trip to Atoka has me buckling up and ready to roll!

Right off the gate we’re seeing death, narrative, and a brief recap incase you don’t remember some minute details about our Virginia Wine Country characters! Is it vines dying or wedding season? I’m still trying to decide - this book feels different to me like Lucie has a new stride (no pun intended).

The main mystery has been more of a slow burn like those dying vines! I’m sure glad I buckled up. Cosby has outdone herself with the slow burn of the mystery I felt like we were getting a different type of mystery and in she swooped giving us what we know and love MURDER! There’s babies, weddings, lovers, and of course Frankie’s excellent planning! I won’t give too much away but I’ll say this may be one of my top books in this series; I normally can peg the culprit and was shocked this time around!

Cosby doesn’t disappoint per usual and our poor Lucie is in the middle of it yet again. Whether it’s weather, wine, or wrongdoings Lucie never can have a calm season!

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the latest (12th) book in this series and now will have to go back to the beginning to see how it all begins! I love how the author incorporates multiple themes into the stories. Ultimately, a local, small town mystery set in Virginia. But it brushed in topics such as astronomy and astrology, wine making and some of the difficulties including disease, weather, and real historical and current events like the removal of the Confederate monuments in the summer of 2020 in Virginia. I recognize and/or learn from these details which I love. The only slight critique I have is that there were too many characters to follow perfectly. Maybe if I’d read the books in order, it wouldn’t be an issue and wasn’t a big deal anyway as I was able to overcome.

[Vicki May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read all the Virginia Wine Country mysteries and I think Bitter Roots is my favorite. Lucie's vines are dying and she and Quinn are trying to prove whether or not the nursery knew the vines were diseased when they were sold. As other vineyards develop the same problem a women working with the nursery is found murdered. Lucie fears the reason behind the murder might spell disaster for her upcoming wedding and set out the discover the murderer.
The mystery always keeps me guessing until the end when I'm shocked at the murderer. However, the characters are by far the heartbeat of the story. They are so real and seeing their development through the series has been like developing deep friendships with them. The writing is so good that the reader may find themselves liking even the villain, at least through most of the book.
While descriptive in a way that makes you feel like you are in Virginia's horse country and have learned a great deal about vineyards and wine making, Ms. Crosby's writing style never lags and the pages keep turning. I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and recommend Bitter Roots to all mystery lovers. If you haven't read the rest of the series you will still enjoy this book but afterward, you will want to read more of this series.

[Sherrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lucie and Quinn are getting married and unfortunately their latest crop is coming up with black goo. This was supposed to be a good crop of vines. Eve Kerr is found dead a few days later who was part of the vine project. In the meantime, a storm comes through and leaves destruction in its path. Ellen did a good job on this book since she wrote this during the pandemic and not being able to travel and yet gave us a feeling of being in the storm.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the characters of Lucie and Quinn. I particularly love the older mysteries from the past that come to light in the present. This new book however has Quinn and Lucie’s wedding at the center of the story along with diseased vines, a lawsuit, as well as a host of familiar characters. It’s a thinly plotted mystery that isn’t Crosby’s typical puzzle.

[Warren Mcclelland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the 12th in the wine country mystery series I have read and enjoyed them . Because I once lived in central Virginia many of the settings are familiar and adds to the fun. Bitter Roots, like the others has an interestingly crafted mystery surrounded by other events faced by the main characters. An very enjoyable read

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

BITTER ROOTS is the 12th in Ellen Crosby's wine country mysteries set in the wine region of northern Virginia in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. It's a heady setting near the power center of Washington, D.C. It's an area of horsey, tweedy overtones and beloved traditions, and as the book opens, it's a land where young Cabernet Franc vines purchased from a renowned nursery are dying of a mysterious ailment. Bad feelings run rampant among vineyard owners in the area, with some demanding an admission of failure from the nursery while others side with it. And then, a well known employee of the nursery is found dead--by Lucie and her friend Kim--murdered and thrown into a nearby creek.. Some readers might find themselves bogged down in vineyard lingo. But it is impossible to go forward with the story without the knowledge Crosby so skillfully imparts. Throughout the series, she does her research well. The loss of a 3-year-old vineyard block is a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars, and it's happening all over the county. Not only does the murder cast a shadow over wedding plans, but further problems ensue when a hurricane-strength gale flattens buildings, knocks out power, and ruins the gardens created for the wedding. And who, in the midst of all these friends and neighbors, has murdered the hapless Eve? The possibilities are many and local, leaving a bad taste in everyone's mouth. This is a good mystery/romance loaded with delightful cozy touches, and for readers of the series, a cast of familiar and often humorous characters. There's sheriff Bobby; Dominique the French chef and Lucie's cousin; Thelma Johnson who runs the general store and talks to dead people when she's not dropping malapropisms; Frankie the tasting room manager; ghosts of the Confederate dead; and a cast of dozens. As I recommend this book, I also recommend Crosby's entire vineyard series. Beginning with THE MERLOT MURDERS when Lucie first takes the helm of the family winery, the series builds, more characters come on board, and readers will welcome the solid comfort of good stories about good people told well. Thanks to the author and to #NetGalley for a review copy of BITTER ROOTS.

[Marisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel that if you haven’t read the series, you’re missing out on the characters. Yes it can stand alone as a story, but it felt a little flat to me without the backstories.

[Martina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Net Galley and Severn House Publishers I have had access to an advance copy of Bitter Roots, the 12th book in Ellen Crosby's Wine Country Mysteries. Lucie Montgomery and Quinn Santori are soon to be married at the Montgomery Estate Vineyard, but first they have to contend with a number of issues. There is the death of an entire section of vines, then a powerful Derecho storm which causes much destruction throughout the vineyard, and not least, the murder of one of their friends. As with all of her books, Crosby weaves history and reality into her story. Anyone who experienced the Derecho storm that tore through Virginia ten years ago will clearly remember what it was like to live through the storm and its aftermath. One finishes each book of this series having enjoyed another great read and also knowing much more about wine making and the people and places involved thanks to the author!. The book will be published by Severn House Publishers on 5 April 2022.

#BitterRoots
#NetGalley
#SevernHouse

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

As their wedding day approaches Lucie and Quinn are dealing with a bigger issue. Grapevines they and their neighbors purchased three years ago from a local nursery are not thriving but dying. As the nursery owner and the university professor who cultivated the graft continue to claim it is climate change that is the cause, no one believes this except the nursery owner. He has even hired a high-powered attorney to intimidate the vineyard owners. When someone dies connected to the nursery owner and the professor, everyone is suspect especially Quinn, who secretly arranged to meet Eve on the day she is murdered. Another excellent entry into this sumptuous winemaking series.

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

SPOILER ALERT

Again, Lucie Montgomery and her friend Kit Noland, find the body of Eve Kerr in Goose Creek. There is a dispute between the nursery owner, Jackson Landau, Richard Brightman, a horticulturist and University professor who is developing new root stock and graft more resilient to climate change, and Eve Kerr who works for Landau and sold the vines to the various wineries. The vines are diseased, and there is the belief that Landau and the others knew that before they sold them.

Lucie and Quinn Santori are not entirely of one mind on what to do. The situation is not unlike the one he was involved in in California, and Eve Kerr is from CA and a friend of his. But when the owners get together, they come to the agree to get the vines all tested. Lucie has hired Josie Wilde a consultant who is an expert, who declares that Lucie's vines have "black goo". There is not cure and the entire Malbac vines must be destroyed costing Montgomery Estates more that $200,000. The situation will bring some of the vineyards to bankruptcy.

A derecho comes through the area bringing down trees, buildings, and destroying some of the vines. There was no warning, and it means rethinking the meticulously planned wedding of Lucie and Quinn, only a week away.

Once again, the vulnerability and hard work of growing grapes, and making wine is clearly laid out. The conflict and the competition of the growers is also revealed. There is no shortage of suspects as Eve had had affairs with a number of the men in the area. At one point Lucie was even afraid Quinn was involved with her. However, in the end it is infidelity of Richard Brightman, who is the father of Eve Kerr's baby, that causes her death. Carly Brightman's action is revealed with Lucie and her halt-brother David Phelps find a watch in the creek. Lucie thinks it belonged to Eve until she is with Carly and sees the white mark on her bare wrist. Mia shows up as Carly realized she is found out, and Mia throws the art piece from Foxes on the Fence to stop her shooting them.

As in each of the installments we get history of the wine and horse area of VA, especially a nostalgia for the War of Northern Aggression, and Mosby's raiders, plenty of information about growing grapes, and winemaking, and other incidental information that enhances the stories. In this story Crosby goes into the issue of the monuments of the South and the removal of them from the landscape.

[Jean Kolinofsky · Rating 5 out of 5]

With one week before their wedding, vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery and winemaker Quinn Santori should be attending to the final details. Instead they are dealing with a field of dying vines. While a vineyard consultant has diagnosed a disease that was present in the vines when they were purchased, the nursery that sold them insists it is due to climate change. Other vineyards in the area that purchased vines from that nursery are having the same problem and battle lines are being drawn. With the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains as a backdrop, Ellen Crosby’s Bitter Roots takes you to a small town in Virginia where everyone is a neighbor and news travels fast.

Eve Kerr was working with the nursery and sold the questionable vines to Lucie and the other vineyards. While the nursery owner was adamant that it was not his fault, she appeared to be willing to work with the vineyard owners. Then Lucie and her friend Kit find Eve’s body in a nearby river. Quinn was supposed to meet with her the night before, but she never showed up. It left several of his hours unaccounted for. Quinn had known Eve in California. Lucie questions just how close he was to her but there is a trust between Lucie and Quinn that has grown over time and she knows that he had nothing to do with her death. When a devastating storm hits the area all of their plans for a beautiful wedding are destroyed. The situation puts the murder investigation on hold as all of the area’s resources are needed to handle the emergency and Crosby shows how a community will come together when tragedy strikes.

Ellen Crosby’s Wine Country Mystery series has shown the growth of Lucie’s family’s vineyard and her relationship with Quinn. She not only showcases the problems faced by a working vineyard, but also addresses the issue of the disposition of monuments honoring the Confederacy and whether they have a place in today’s world. Crosby’s characters are easy to love and make Bitter Roots a delight to read. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for providing this book for my review.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been reading this series from the beginning and was honored to read an advanced copy of this latest edition! I've enjoyed watching the characters develop and grow throughout this series. It's always good to catch up with them, it feels like visiting old friends. These books are well researched, well written, and beautifully descriptive. Despite having worked (very part time) within the wine industry for about 10 years now, I feel as though I learn something new with each book. As vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery and winemaker Quinn Santori struggle to get to the root of what's causing their Cab Franc lot to die off, they encounter much hostility from the nursery the vines were purchased from. And when nursery employee Eve is found murdered after missing a clandestine meeting with Quinn, everyone becomes a suspect. Even Quinn. As Lucie and Quinn's wedding day approaches (finally!), so does an unexpected derecho. Chaos and devastation follow, their wedding garden is in ruins, an old secret comes to light, and a murderer is still on the loose. Can Lucie overcome the bitterness of discovering a long-held secret? Can the mystery of Eve's death be solved? Can the mystery of what's killing their vines be resolved? And will the wedding still take place? Like a fine glass of wine, these books are meant to be savored! Pour a glass, open your book, and enjoy. Cheers 🍷

[Melissa Riggs · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've loved this series from it's beginning, mainly because I can picture the area around Middleburg and it was awesome that I read it on the plane to VA. That being said, I think it's time to close the series with this one that has Quinn and Lucie's wedding as the ending. Just my opinion...

"In just over a week vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery and winemaker Quinn Santori will be married in a ceremony overlooking what should be acres of lush flowering grapevines. Instead they are confronted by an ugly swathe of slowly dying vines and a nursery owner who denies responsibility for selling the diseased plants. With neighboring vineyards facing the same problem, accusations fly and the ugly stand-off between supplier and growers looks set to escalate into open warfare. When Eve Kerr, a stunning blonde who works at the nursery, is found dead a few days later, everyone wonders if someone in the winemaking community went too far. What especially troubles Lucie is why Eve secretly arranged to meet Quinn on the day she was murdered - and whether Lucie's soon-to-be husband knows something he's not telling her. Then a catastrophic storm blows through, destroying everything in its path. With no power, no phones, and no wedding venue, Lucie needs to find out who killed Eve and what her death had to do with Quinn."

[Homerun2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mystery series is set in Virginia wine country, featuring vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery and her fiance winemaker Quinn Santori. Their wedding is set to take place in a week in the gardens at the vineyard, when it is threatened with derailment by two catastrophes: the murder of a young wine industry consultant, and a natural disaster-- a violent storm (a derecho) which causes extensive damage and power outages all over the area.

Things have been uneasy in wine country since there is a vine disease going around amongst those (including Lucie and Quinn) who bought their stock from a particular company. The company is denying they are in fault and things are getting ugly.

The murder victim had privately asked Quinn to meet with her but never showed up. He doesn't know what she wanted and why it was a big secret, but Lucie is uneasy.

This would work as a standalone but the characters and background are much more developed if the entire series is read. The characters are nicely fleshed out and the wine information and setting are quite interesting. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If it wasn’t for the fact I have made it thus far in the series -- I may have given up. The first twenty percent of the book is a history lesson on the area, a wine-making dissertation, and a deep dive on root goo. Except for the root disease, this has been covered in practically all previous books and feels like filler. I had started scanning until something piqued my interest.

Forty percent into the book, Lucie Montgomery, amateur sleuth, finally has something to investigate. With her soon-to-be husband considered a suspect, Lucy has no other choice than to dive headfirst into questioning her likely suspects, but then again, I wonder if she would have bothered with a wedding to plan and failing vines.

Three-quarters through the book, Ellen Crosby decides to slot the pieces together and gets back to the mystery part of the book; instead of the repetition of climate change, root goo, and a great deal of background noise.

At least Thelma and her word usage were entertaining. In the future, Ellen Crosby needs to decide what story she wants to tell since this mash-up seemed to have been chaotic and off-putting.

[Judy Alter · Rating 5 out of 5]

By now, in this twelfth book in the series, the people of Ellen Cosby’s Wine Country Mysteries are old friends, and I was delighted to be among them again as Lucie and Quinn tied up loose ends just one week before their wedding. Except a blighted crop, a murder, and a derecho threatened to postpone the wedding indefinitely, Lucie is determined to marry Quinn as planned, even if she has to make some big adjustments. Cosby must have thoroughly researched the dangers to viticulture crops, but the discussions of the diseased vines and possible fraud behind them were technical and a bit long. Much more immediate was Lucie’s discover of the body of a young wine expert floating in the river. And the description of the derecho (a storm of straight-line winds) was absolutely riveting. This turned out to be one of the best of the series, and I hope marriage does bring Wine Country murders to an end

[Barry Martin Vass · Rating 5 out of 5]

With all the problems farmers are facing these days - from learning how to cope with climate change to managing the skyrocketing cost of fuel - it's interesting to read something from the farmer's point of view. Lucie Montgomery is a vineyard owner in northern Virginia. One section of her vineyard is dying, and she can't make up her mind if it's because of recent excessive rainfall caused by climate change, Vine Decline, or malfeasance on the part of a local nursery owner. Since the cost of replacing the dead vines is somewhere around $180,000, it's no small matter. When she confronts two of the owners' assistants, a shouting match ensues: they categorically deny any fault on their part. A day later, one of the assistants is found dead, a beautiful young woman who is later found to be pregnant. What's going on? Author Ellen Crosby populates this novel with very believable characters and great dialogue, so Bitter Roots just flies along!

[Avid Series Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bitter Roots by Ellen Crosby is the 12th book of the Wine Country Mystery series set in contemporary Virginia. Lucie Montgomery and Quinn Santori should be blissfully happy; they're only a week away from a storybook wedding in their beautifully landscaped vineyard. But one entire plot of Cabernet Franc vines is dying. Turns out all local vineyards have the same dying vines, all purchased from a local nursery owner who denies culpability. His general "smoke and mirrors" talk about climate change doesn't hide the possibility of a cover-up.

Mother Nature steps in with a "derecho" that devastates the region, taking out all power for days. National Weather Service description of a derecho: https://www.weather.gov/lmk/derecho

Lucie meets with her best friend in a favorite spot where they've met all their lives to share secrets. But this time, they discover a murder victim.

As always, the description of lush Virginia wine country (pre-derecho!) and historical sites make you want to head there on a vacation. Lucie relies upon a vast network of friends, best learned about by reading the series in order.

Neighbors pulling together dig out from the storm. Lucie and Quinn strategically change the elaborate wedding plans to fit the dire circumstances. In a plot twist, Lucie makes an accidental discovery that almost gets her killed (and solves the crime).

I love the striking, attractive cover:

[S Mille · Rating 5 out of 5]

More adult than the average beach cozy, but still enjoyable.

Lucie Montgomery is having a stressful time: she’s getting married in a week and some of the new, pricy grapevines are dying when one of the people associated with the new grapevines is killed. There’s a question of her groom being involved in the death. As she tries to investigate the killing, there’s a huge storm that blows through knocking out power.

More adult in that the story was a little gritter than the typical fluffy cozy, and there was lots of wine (perhaps obviously, as there’s a vineyard involved). Overall, fairly typical, although highly entertaining. I thought the storm added a nice level of tension.

Recommended.I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.com and voluntarily chose to review.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wish I could say I liked this book more. This has been a wonderful series and I have enjoyed it.

This book just didn't seem up to the wonderful level of storytelling that the other books in this series did. The descriptions of the vine diseases were offered repetitively, at least 3 or 4 times. And quite a bit of the first half of the book was devoted to this re-telling, slowing down the whole mystery part of the story.

If the reader holds on until the second half of the book, the story speeds up, and there's less of the scientific conversation about vine disease. Also, more appearances of the usual people who appear in most of the other Wine Country mysteries.

Was glad to read about all of them again. And hope the next book will involve them in more of the plot.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I finish the 12 books in the series. I loved these so much. This was another great addition to the story the first book started, sadly, I didn't guess right on this one. I was curious though as to whether this would be the last book or are there more. So I did some snooping around online and found the author's website and I couldn't find anything about future books from this particular series. She does have other books for me to read though! LOL

So I sent an email asking if there is another book being written, lucky #13. I figured someone who monitors her website would reach out to me. Well, someone did, THE AUTHOR HERSELF!!

She thanked me for liking her books and said she is working on the next one due out sometime in 2025. I am so excited!!!

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitter Roots is the 12th book in the Wine Country Mysteries written by Ellen Crosby and it is my first in this series. The author successfully combines all things wine, a complex investigation, a beautiful Virginia setting, reality and a historical theme in the book. The heroine, Lucie Montgomery and Quinn Santori are soon to be married at the Montgomery Estate Vineyard. But Lucy's vines are slowly dying and then nursery worker, Eve Kerr is found dead. A delightful and evocative read for me; this author and series has a new admirer!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Severn House via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Linda Frances · Rating 2 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this nearly as much as the rest of the series. It seems much too late in Lucie and Quinn's relationship for her to have all the angst and doubt concerning Quinn. There were way too many inconsistencies, too. Maybe because it was written during the pandemic isolation period, the author had trouble concentrating . I probably will try the next one to see if this is a one time fail, or the start of trend.

2 1/2 stars for this one.

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the latest wine country mystery in the car with Larry going to Indiana. Their vines were rotting and they were fighting with the company that sold them the vines. Then one of the people working for that company was killed and everyone in the community is a suspect since they all were mad about the diseased vines. But finally Lucie and Quinn get married even without power due to a big storm going through.

[Kathleen M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ellen Crosby's latest book in the Wine Country Mysteries Series, romance, betrayel and murder define this last book. Suspicians abound and then a very special event takes place. Once again the characters are friendly to a point and no wants to believe one of their friends is capable of murder. After reading this series, I want to stay away from vineyards, especially one around Middleburg. Fun book to read.

[Mysteryfan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The twelfth book in the series. It can be read as a standalone, but it's better if you've read a least a few of the earlier ones. Lucie and Quinn are finally getting married, but there's a few problems to solve first. A nursery may have knowingly sold them infected vines costing them money and effort. One of the nursery partners is murdered and Quinn is a suspect. Then an unexpected derecho hits and trashes most of the wedding plans. But all's well that ends well and it does.