The French Paradox (A Wine Country Mystery, 11) - Hardcover

Crosby, Ellen

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0727891014 ISBN 13: 9780727891013

Publisher: Severn House, 2021

Synopsis

Lucie Montgomery's discovery of her grandfather's Parisian romance unlocks a series of shocking secrets in the gripping new Wine Country mystery.

In 1949, during her junior year abroad in Paris, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis bought several inexpensive paintings of Marie-Antoinette by a little-known 18th century female artist. She also had a romantic relationship with Virginia vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery's French grandfather - until recently, a well-kept secret.

Seventy years later, Cricket Delacroix, Lucie's neighbor and Jackie's schoolfriend, is donating the now priceless paintings to a Washington, DC museum. And Lucie's grandfather is flying to Virginia for Cricket's 90th birthday party, hosted by her daughter Harriet. A washed-up journalist, Harriet is rewriting a manuscript Jackie left behind about Marie-Antoinette and her portraitist. She's also adding tell-all details about Jackie, sure to make the book a bestseller.

Then on the eve of the party a world-famous landscape designer who also knew Jackie is found dead in Lucie's vineyard. Did someone make good on the death threats he'd received because of his controversial book on climate change? Or was his murder tied to Jackie, the paintings, and Lucie's beloved grandfather?

About this title

About the Author

Ellen Crosby is the author of the Virginia wine country mysteries, the Sophie Medina mysteries, and MOSCOW NIGHTS, a standalone. Before writing fiction full-time she was a freelance reporter for The Washington Post, foreign correspondent for ABC News Radio and an economist at the US Senate. After living overseas in Europe and the former Soviet Union for many years she now lives in the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C. with her husband.

From the Back Cover

ELLEN CROSBY THE FRENCH PARADOX In 1949 during her junior year abroad, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis bought several 18th century portraits of Marie-Antoinette by a little-known female artist for a few francs in a Parisian bookstall. She also had a romantic relationship with Lucie Montgomery's French grandfather, a surprising revelation Lucie has only recently discovered. Seventy years later, Cricket Delacroix, Lucie's neighbor and one of Jackie's schoolfriends, is donating the now-priceless paintings to a Washington, DC museum. And Lucie's grandfather is flying in from France to attend Cricket's 90th birthday, hosted by her daughter, a washed-up journalist who intends to finish a manuscript Jackie left behind about the relationship between Marie-Antoinette and her portraitist. Days before her grandfather arrives from France, a world-famous landscape designer who knew Jackie is found dead in Lucie's vineyard among vines that are inexplicably dying. Now Lucie must uncover old secrets to discover whether he was murdered because of his inflammatory book on climate change - or was it tied to Jackie, the paintings, and her beloved grandfather?

From the Inside Flap

"Entwined with fascinating facts about wine and winemaking, this satisfying addition to the series will please oenophiles" Booklist on The Angels' Share

"Crisp and elegant . The disparate plot threads come together in an exciting and satisfying conclusion. Crosby knows how to keep the reader guessing" Publishers Weekly on The Angels' Share

"A corker of an entry in a series that often pairs fascinating historical mysteries with clever modern ones" Kirkus Reviews on Harvest of Secrets

"Crosby is a steady hand in unravelling the tangled subplots . Fans of contemporary regional mysteries will be well satisfied" Publishers Weekly on Harvest of Secrets

THE FRENCH PARADOX In 1949 during her junior year abroad, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis bought several 18th century portraits of Marie-Antoinette by a little-known female artist for a few francs in a Parisian bookstall. She also had a romantic relationship with Lucie Montgomery's French grandfather, a surprising revelation Lucie has only recently discovered. Seventy years later, Cricket Delacroix, Lucie's neighbor and one of Jackie's schoolfriends, is donating the now-priceless paintings to a Washington, DC museum. And Lucie's grandfather is flying in from France to attend Cricket's 90th birthday, hosted by her daughter, a washed-up journalist who intends to finish a manuscript Jackie left behind about the relationship between Marie-Antoinette and her portraitist. Days before her grandfather arrives from France, a world-famous landscape designer who knew Jackie is found dead in Lucie's vineyard among vines that are inexplicably dying. Now Lucie must uncover old secrets to discover whether he was murdered because of his inflammatory book on climate change - or was it tied to Jackie, the paintings, and her beloved grandfather?

Edition details

• Publisher: Severn House
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0727891014
• ISBN 13: 9780727891013
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 256