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The Champagne Conspiracy
(Wine Country Mysteries #7)
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Winter has come to the Montgomery Estate Vineyard in Atoka, Virginia. Lucie Montgomery and winemaker Quinn Santori have decided to make champagne, a first for the vineyard.
But then Gino Tomassi, Quinn’s uncle, turns up on their doorstep one afternoon, demanding help in solving the mystery of what happened to Zara Tomassi, the first wife of his grandfather, who died in a Sa ...more
But then Gino Tomassi, Quinn’s uncle, turns up on their doorstep one afternoon, demanding help in solving the mystery of what happened to Zara Tomassi, the first wife of his grandfather, who died in a Sa ...more
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Start your review of The Champagne Conspiracy (Wine Country Mysteries, #7)
The Champagne Conspiracy by Ellen Crosby is the 7th book in the 'Wine Country Mysteries' series that takes place in Virginia. So far, this is my favorite and earns 4.5 star. What a roller coast ride for an avid genealogist, historian, wine-lover, and cozy fan.
Three families, all connected to Lucie Montgomery, the main character in the series. A secret affair with President Harding in the early 20th century. A famous California winery with a potential change in ownership. A death from a century a ...more
Three families, all connected to Lucie Montgomery, the main character in the series. A secret affair with President Harding in the early 20th century. A famous California winery with a potential change in ownership. A death from a century a ...more
The Champagne Conspiracy is now one of my top 2020 reads!
I love a good cozy mystery to snuggle under the covers and read some tea with. This book fit the bill and was a wonderful distraction from the bad weather in my town.
This is the seventh book in the Wine Country Mysteries series by Ellen Crosby, but don't be discouraged by that number. I found this book super easy to jump into. It would have been nice having all of the background relationships and mysteries to fall back on, but I had zero i ...more
I love a good cozy mystery to snuggle under the covers and read some tea with. This book fit the bill and was a wonderful distraction from the bad weather in my town.
This is the seventh book in the Wine Country Mysteries series by Ellen Crosby, but don't be discouraged by that number. I found this book super easy to jump into. It would have been nice having all of the background relationships and mysteries to fall back on, but I had zero i ...more
My review from USA Today
*
The cozy mystery often gets tagged as lightweight, when in fact the best cozies are frequently about the redemption we find in community and friendship, a serious subject indeed. In The Champagne Conspiracy, her charming, funny seventh novel set in Virginia’s wine country – I didn’t know it was there either – Ellen Crosby has written a superior cozy, narrated by winemaker Lucie Montgomery. She has two mysteries to solve, when she’s not contemplating tannins – a death, po ...more
*
The cozy mystery often gets tagged as lightweight, when in fact the best cozies are frequently about the redemption we find in community and friendship, a serious subject indeed. In The Champagne Conspiracy, her charming, funny seventh novel set in Virginia’s wine country – I didn’t know it was there either – Ellen Crosby has written a superior cozy, narrated by winemaker Lucie Montgomery. She has two mysteries to solve, when she’s not contemplating tannins – a death, po ...more
Consistently well-written entertaining series set in the wine country of Virginia.
I love this series! Unfortunately, I didn't read it in the proper order, but it didn't make any difference. As with all of Ms. Crosby's novels that I've read, the plot and characters are intriguing and interesting. And the plot was one that grabbed me from the start and didn't let me go until the very end.
I highly recommend this series. The combination of mystery and history has caught me again!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review ...more
I highly recommend this series. The combination of mystery and history has caught me again!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press - Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review ...more
I don't care what Ellen Crosby is writing-- if it's one of her Sophie Medina mysteries or one of her Wine Country mysteries-- I can count on her for fast-paced, exciting stories, fascinating historical tidbits, well-developed characters, and all-around intelligent writing. After reading two "Sophie" novels and two Wine Country mysteries, Crosby has become one of my favorite authors.
In The Champagne Conspiracy, I learned about Prohibition-Era Washington, DC; why all "champagne" is French; and had ...more
In The Champagne Conspiracy, I learned about Prohibition-Era Washington, DC; why all "champagne" is French; and had ...more
Confusing family tree but otherwise a winner
The Champagne Conspiracy by Ellen Crosby is book 7 of the Wine Country mystery series set in contemporary Virginia. I was first drawn to the series because I didn't realize Virginia had a wine-making region. I continue the series because I enjoy the sympathetic character of the protagonist, Lucie Montgomery. For full enjoyment of this book, read the prior books in the series. Otherwise the many relationships and eccentric personalities that are key to the solution would be confusing.
When Lucie d ...more
When Lucie d ...more
Never having read this series before, I was curious to see if this book would work on its own, and whether information would be presented in a way to keep the major players in the story identifiable. The relationship with Lucie and Quinn did take some adjustment to understand their dynamic, but the characterizations are so present that it wasn’t long before that dynamic was presented. Plenty of other secondary characters, sure to be familiar with those who have read the series, presented themsel
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This series is set in a small town in Virginia outside of D.C. and centers around a small family run vineyard. Lucie has taken her family business that her father almost ran into the ground and turned it around. Her vineyard manager Quinn has been with her throughout the process. They work well together in the business but their personal relationship is anything but smooth.
This book centers around an event that happened in the 1920's. All of the primary players are dead but their descendants fin ...more
This book centers around an event that happened in the 1920's. All of the primary players are dead but their descendants fin ...more
The Champagne Conspiracy, set in Atoka, Virginia, took the quirky small-town charm of Rita Mae Brown's Crozet (setting for the Sneaky Pie Brown mysteries) and made it claustrophobically stifling. I strongly suspect that where Crozet or even the Gilmore Girls' Star's Hollow worked and for me Atoka and its residents were vastly less successful is that the story's heroine, vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery, is utterly unable to enforce any sort of boundaries between herself and her intrusive neighbor
...more
**I voluntarily reviewed this ARC**
I really enjoyed this book, but I felt there were too many threads to the story. In the end, they were all tied up in a neat little bow, but during the story it just felt a bit confusing. I haven't read any of the other books in this series, so I felt a little lost when it came to some of the characters and relationships, but I was still able to follow the story. ...more
I really enjoyed this book, but I felt there were too many threads to the story. In the end, they were all tied up in a neat little bow, but during the story it just felt a bit confusing. I haven't read any of the other books in this series, so I felt a little lost when it came to some of the characters and relationships, but I was still able to follow the story. ...more
Honestly? I got 5 chapters in and couldn’t go any farther. I wasn’t emotionally invested enough in the few characters introduced by this point, but more kept being introduced and I couldn’t even remember the names of the main two. And the author kept info- dumping stuff that I didn’t care about.
#7 in the Wine Country mystery series. I enjoy this series but thought this entry had two drawbacks. First, set in February there is not as much vineyard action as usual, though there is a section on bottling wine at small vineyards. Second, in order to handle three intersecting mysteries and a Valentines Day gala, too much is put on Lucie's plate. I felt vindicated with my suspicions, although with a mysterious death going back to 1923 and the Harding administration and coming is a convoluted f
...more
This may be the best yet in this series. There are multiple good guys and bad guys as well as plot lines to keep you on your toes while reading. Virginia winery owner Lucie Montgomery learned that Quinn, her winemaker, had not told her that he was part of a prestigious Napa Valley wine family when his cousin Gino showed up at the winery and the bad blood between them revealed itself. Gino first accused Quinn of blackmail but then demanded that he and Lucie help in solving what happened to his th
...more
This review contains *** S P O I L E R S ***
The Champagne Conspiracy by Ellen Crosby is book #7 in her Lucie Montgomery Wine Country mystery. The Champagne Conspiracy is a stand-alone work by Crosby makes the assumption that the reader has a somewhat understanding of her characters and doesn’t spend a lot of time filling the reader in on their backstory. As such a new reader to the series may not quickly pick up how all of the characters fit together but it does nothing to distract from the plot ...more
The Champagne Conspiracy by Ellen Crosby is book #7 in her Lucie Montgomery Wine Country mystery. The Champagne Conspiracy is a stand-alone work by Crosby makes the assumption that the reader has a somewhat understanding of her characters and doesn’t spend a lot of time filling the reader in on their backstory. As such a new reader to the series may not quickly pick up how all of the characters fit together but it does nothing to distract from the plot ...more
Winter has come to the Montgomery Estate Vineyard in Atoka, Virginia. Lucie Montgomery and winemaker Quinn Santori have decided to make champagne, a first for the vineyard.
But then Gino Tomassi, Quinn’s uncle, turns up on their doorstep one afternoon, demanding help in solving the mystery of what happened to Zara Tomassi, the first wife of his grandfather, who died in a San Francisco hotel in 1923 under suspicious circumstances. And it seems there’s no coincidence that her death came the day aft ...more
But then Gino Tomassi, Quinn’s uncle, turns up on their doorstep one afternoon, demanding help in solving the mystery of what happened to Zara Tomassi, the first wife of his grandfather, who died in a San Francisco hotel in 1923 under suspicious circumstances. And it seems there’s no coincidence that her death came the day aft ...more
I haven't read a Wine Country book in three years, and was happy to discover this one, like finding old friends after a lapse. It's a little convoluted so you have to pay attention to the relationships. And it's a track-back in time for the main characters to figure out "whodunnit" and why. Lots of references to Warren Harding and his scandal-ridden presidency that figure into the plot, a bit of duplicity from surprising places, and the usual, steadfast, trusting persona of the main character. T
...more
I love reading mysteries, Agatha Christie, local tie-in stories, wine, vineyard hopping, good eating, and history. Everything that makes a Wine Country Mystery come together for me. I can see Atoka and Middleburg, visit Barrel Oak (although I prefer the Meadery next door), and wish I could visit some of the wonderful homes that host the fox hunts. It is all so real. There are shops like Thelma's around, and antique dealers that have you in a whirl before you know what is happening! They have you
...more
The Champagne Conspiracy, by Ellen Crosby is overall a good book with a great plot full of mystery. It starts when Quinn's cousin, Gino, and the main character, Lucie Montgomery, who are very fine winemakers, are presented with a murder mystery. Gino, being the owner of a fine vineyard in California, travels all the way to Virginia to ask for help in order to find out what happened to Zara Tomassi, his grandfather's first wife who had died in 1923. However, she was pregnant and it is rumored th
...more
Lucie Montgomery is preparing for a charity party on Valentine's Day at her winery, when she and her winemaker, Quinn, are challenged by his second cousin to find a blackmailer. Before long, eighty-year- old deaths, President Warren G. Harding, Lucie's flapper relative, a couple of World War II women pilots, two illegitimate children and various dead bodies confuse and distress everyone. As usual, intrepid Lucie sees the mystery through. I thought one of the villains was telegraphed this time, b
...more
This wasn't a great book, but it was a good one, and a comfortable read. It wove in and out of history, wrapping the long story of Quinn and his family into the family of President Harding, who was supposedly involved with several family members. Female ones.
The story spun around and through the tales that border on libelous, as the tales of the President's escapades wove through the story of the great-something grandparents and Prohibition, flappers and other interesting historical events.
Over ...more
The story spun around and through the tales that border on libelous, as the tales of the President's escapades wove through the story of the great-something grandparents and Prohibition, flappers and other interesting historical events.
Over ...more
This book is all about families and their secrets present and past. Lucie Montgomery finds a dress that belonged to her great aunt and then sees a picture of the great aunt with President Warren Harding. The picture includes other young women some of whom are related to Quinn Santori and Mac . Danger comes to Lucie who is asking questions and trying to put the answers together to get a picture of the past. The book was an easy read.
Pretty good book. Part of series but it was fine being a stand alone for me. It takes place in VA wine country which makes it interesting to have as part of book, but I had issues with the characters. Mostly due to lack of depth and process of feelings. There was a pretty heavy incident but not one character spoke off it or said how they felt about it, which is odd. I may read a few more in series but not in any rush.
I had almost given up on this series because the characters did not seem to grow at all. Then, in Book 6, Lucie stops commenting on her friend Kit's eating habits which was a big step forward!
In this book, the characters also act in more mature manners. Quinn continues to drag his feet about making a commitment. This is problematic because no sound reason is ever given. However, there is some character growth in this book and the mystery is interesting. ...more
In this book, the characters also act in more mature manners. Quinn continues to drag his feet about making a commitment. This is problematic because no sound reason is ever given. However, there is some character growth in this book and the mystery is interesting. ...more
Aug 12, 2019
Helen
added it
This was number 7 in the audiobook series. Gino Tomassi, Quinn's uncle comes to the winery because he's being blackmailed about a secret involving his grandfather's first wife, Zara. So Lucy tries to find out more about her and becomes involved in the coverup surrounding her affair with president Warren Harding as Lucy's getting ready for another fundraiser at the winery with a roaring 20's theme.
...more
Perhaps it helps that I am interested in wine and wineries, but I continue to enjoy this series set in the Virginia wine country. As is often the case with murder mystery series set in one location, people seem to die here at a large per-capita rate, but getting to the bottom of the case is interesting, as are the characters. I will continue to move on with these people!
It really felt more like an exploration of small time life than much of a mystery until the end. I can't say I particularly enjoyed either of the leafs either. Additionally, the Southern accent of the narrator didn't match any Virginian accent I've yet heard.
...more
Another fine entry in this series. Ms Crosby's writing has the ability to draw the reader into the narrative in a seamless manner. The 'historical background connections' in this one are truly original and entertaining.
...more
Another excellent adventure in wine country.
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Ellen Crosby is the author of the Virginia Wine Country mysteries, including THE FRENCH PARADOX (Book #11), which will be published in the UK on January 29, 2021, as an ebook on March 1, 2021, and in the US on April 6, 2021. She is also the author of the Sophie Medina mysteries and MOSCOW NIGHTS, a standalone mystery. Before writing fiction, Crosby was a freelance reporter for The Washington Post,
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Wine Country Mysteries
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