The French Paradox by Ellen Crosby
Series Name: Wine Country #11
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Release: April 6, 2021
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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?

Dru’s Short Musing:
All I can say is wow. This book had me immediately immersed in this well-written drama that I could not put down until the last page was read. Just the mention of Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Paris, and the art world, and I knew I was in for a good time. The author set the stage of this engaging mystery with enough intrigue and suspense that kept me enthralled in the story being told. The tone, exotic setting, and the historic past adventures gave way to the plentitude of suspects and clues that led to a few surprises. With visually descriptive narrative, the author pulled me in, and I felt I was in the middle of all the action along with Lucie and all that was happening. The dialogue and interactions among the various cast of characters moved the story forward and I couldn’t read fast enough to see how this would end. This is one of the best books in this endearing series and I can’t wait to see where we go next with Luci and her friends.

FTC Full Disclosure – I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.