Ellen Crosby delivers another interesting mystery full of detailed wine-making... and this time a historical story related to Jackie Onassis and her time in the Virginia wine country. Many references to France and the publishing industry give this refined mystery a nice feeling of sophistication.

This mystery series always feels like a peek into another world of horses, wine and wealth. And the mystery is expertly crafted so that figuring out whodunnit is always a challenge.

During her junior year abroad in 1949 Paris, Jacqueline Bouvier bought several inexpensive paintings of Marie-Antoinette by forgotten 18th century female artist Elisabeth Vigee le Brun. Seventy years later Lucie Montgomery's neighbour and Jackie's schoolfriend Cricket Delacroix is donating the now priceless paintings to the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington DC. Lucie's grandfather Luc is travelling from France for Cricket's 90th birthday party, hosted by her daughter Harry. A washed-up journalist, Harry is rewriting a manuscript Jackie left behind about Marie-Antoinette and her portraitist. But Harry is also planning on adding tell-all details about Jackie and her secret love in Paris. Renowned landscape designer Parker Lord is found dead in Lucie's vineyard. Did someone make good on the death threats Parker had received because of his controversial book on climate change? Or was Parker's murder tied to Jackie, the paintings, and Lucie's beloved grandfather?

This was a fascinating read about Jackie Kennedy Onassis's early life in Paris and her secrets that she kept.

I received a digital ARC from Netgalley and Severn House with no requirements for a review. I volutarily read this book and provided this review.

The characters in this series have become old friends by now, and I thoroughly enjoyed this
installment. Thanks for the opportunity to preview the title!

I have read all of Ellen Crosby’s books and always enjoy finding out what mystery Lucie fill find herself in next. Love the Virginia wine country setting, too!

I always enjoy these entries to the wine country mysteries, as I’m assured of learning fascinating issues with viticulture and the historical areas of Virginia. In this episode, protagonist Lucie Montgomery (owner of the Montgomery Estate Vineyard) discovers a DB in her fields—the guy she was supposed to have met to consult about problems with her ailing grapes.

Her winemaker-fiancé Quinn is quick to provide support, but it’s just one of several threads and I’m still trying to decide whether or not I like the Jackie Kennedy inclusion. Lucie is also anticipating the arrival of her 93 year old French grandfather for a local friend’s birthday celebration. There are enlightening discussions on the impact of climate change and a comparison of GMOs with hybrids. Additionally, a major sub-plot involves the daughter of her birthday friend, the big reveal of her book, and the early women art masters tied into the mystery of Jackie O.

I really loved The Angel’s Share and Harvest of Secrets but the pacing of this series entry was a bit slow for me and my attention waned. I suppose in the end, part of my lack of enthusiasm this time was the Jackie thread. Not a lot of elements of a cozy, but didn’t feel the detective vibe either. Still, these can all be considered standalone and I’ll be looking forward to the next one.

I have a guilty confession to make. This is the eleventh book in Ellen Crosby's delectable Wine Country mystery series, and although I've greatly enjoyed every one that I've read, I haven't even read half of the series. Now that The French Paradox is one of my Best Reads of 2021, I should have more incentive to read the rest.

What makes The French Paradox-- and the entire series-- so good? Having also read the two books in Crosby's Sophie Medina series (please, ma'am, I want some more!), I have to say it's because Crosby's writing is a feast for the intelligent, curious reader. If you love strong characters, intriguing mysteries, history, art, literature, vivid settings, learning about winemaking, and more, this is an author you should not miss. I read this book with a smile on my face because I felt as though I were spending time with a kindred spirit.

Whenever Crosby uses historical figures in her books, as she does in The French Paradox, she does so with great sensitivity and after doing much research. I am of the age where one of the defining moments of my life is knowing exactly where I was when I learned that John F. Kennedy had been assassinated. (Sitting in my third-grade classroom.) I have a great deal of respect for the Kennedys, and I doubt very much that any of the clan would be upset with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis's portrayal in this book.

Another reason to like this book is Crosby's drawing attention to the artist Élisabeth Vigée le Brun, friend to Marie Antoinette of France and the highest-paid portrait painter of her day. Vigée le Brun is a fascinating figure in her own right and certainly deserves more recognition. The mere mention of the artist's name reminds me of the first time I ever saw one of her works. Marvelous!

I called The French Paradox a feast for the intelligent, curious reader, and as you can see by my review, I savored every page. I haven't even mentioned the vivid Virginia setting or the deep roots main character Lucie Montgomery's family has in the area. If you haven't read any of Ellen Crosby's Wine Country mysteries, I urge you to do so. The French Paradox can be read as a standalone, but don't be surprised if you discover you're hungry for more.

I’m used to the Wine Country series having a more factual history to go along with the murder mystery and wine parings. With this outing, I was put off with the history premise based on a made-up affair between Jacqueline Bouvier and Lucie Montgomery’s grandfather, taking place in 1949 France, when Jacqueline was spending a year abroad.

By presuming an affair, which brought the timeline together and incorporating the Montgomery Vineyards patriarch, then adding in paintings found in old bookseller’s drawers, allows for Elisabeth Vigee Le Brun and her canvases, to be brought center stage. A stage quickly moved to the background when Harriet Delacrox, a failed journalist, plans to hold a gathering to present the book she is writing based on a manuscript about Marie-Antoinette and her portraitist that Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis had left in a box given to Harriet’s mother. This manuscript coincides with journals Lucie found which calls into question her grandfather’s love for her grandmother and a secret that should remain hidden.

Because the book, in my mind, had a cohesion issue, it felt as if the author was halfway through before she realized she forgot a murder victim and threw in a celebrated landscape designer, who was also a contemporary of Miss Bouvier, and killed him off. Was it because he threatened to call Harriet out on her ridiculous book or is there more since Lucie’s sister has a new beau and said landscaper thought he looked slightly familiar or could it be that he had publicly called out a local botanist about his research on climate change and its effect on viticulture? The murder part of this mystery was a jumbled mess from beginning to end.

In my opinion, too much was going on in this book. So much so that each of the storylines was swallowed up by another and what is left was too many ideas and not enough development of any of them.

This is the first book I read in te Wine Country series and I'm happy I discovered it as it's well written and interesting.
It's a complex and clever story, a bit darker than the average cozy mystery, with a fascinating setting and well thought cast of likable characters.
The mystery is solid and kept me guessing.
I can't wait to read the next story in this series, this one is highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This is the eleventh book in the Wine Country Mystery series and my first read of one of the books. Not a problem you can read them in any order and separately.
This cozy mystery takes place in a Northern Virginia vineyard owned by Lucie Montgomery's family.
Lucie finds journals written by her grandmother, tell alls. The women in the family know about the long ago affair but the men have been left out of the loop.
A landscape designer who had been receiving death threats is found murdered in the vineyard . Has someone followed through on the threats due to his controversial book on climate change?
I enjoyed this, it kept my attention.

Pub Date 06 Apr 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis figures in this latest offering set in a Northern Virginia vineyard owned by Lucie Montgomery's family. Is the murder of a landscape designer tied to his stand on climate change or to his objection to a book being written about JO? And what exactly was the relationship between Lucie's grandfather and JO? Lucie has found her grandmother's journals and has some questions for her grandfather. Then there are paintings which are being donated. It's a little more complicated than the usual cozy, especially because it blends somewhat speculative fact with fiction. The characters ae good, though, and there's both wine and art. A plus in my book. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. While this latest in a long running series will be welcomed by her fans, it will be just fine as a standalone as well.

When a lightbulb needs changing, Lucie Montgomery finds her grandmother’s journals as she searches for a replacement. They reveal her grandfather Luc’s relationship with Jackie Onassis beginning in 1949 when she studied in Paris for a year. Together they explored museums and he accompanied her as she purchased paintings from the female artist who painted Marie Antoinette. She left those paintings to her friend Cricket, who is now donating them to the National Museum of Women in the Arts. Before they are turned over they will be exhibited in a display arranged by Cricket’s daughter Harry to promote a book that she is writing on Jackie. Not everyone is happy with the book. Jackie was a frequent visitor to the area and her friends know how she valued her privacy.

One person who opposes the book is Parker Lord, an internationally known landscape designer who is helping Lucie plan a garden setting for her wedding. His publication on global warming has earned him death threats. He has also written a scathing article about the research done by a local gardener, accusing him of falsifying his results. Jackie edited one of his books and they became friends so he has been speaking up against Harry and her plans. When Parker is found murdered in Lucie’s vineyard is it a result of his book, the article or could it be tied to the exhibition? Lucie can not believe that the murderer is a member of their close community but when her sister comes under suspicion she is compelled to trace Parker’s last day to discover who had an opportunity to stop him.

Ellen Crosby’s The French Paradox is an entertaining mystery that also takes a look at one of America’s most loved First Ladies.. To the people of this small town she was also a friend and to this day she is known for her style and grace. As the investigation progresses, Crosby also looks at the plight of undocumented workers, afraid to be questioned by the authorities for fear of deportation. There is a sense of community through the book and Lucie receives support in her inquiries from everyone, but someone is hiding their involvement and Lucie is putting herself in the killer’s path. I would like to thank NetGalley and Severn House for providing this book for my review.

3.75 stars

This is an enjoyable series set in the Virginia wine country and featuring vineyard owner Lucie Montgomery. Lucie and winemaker-fiance Quinn are awaiting the arrival of Lucie's 90 something year old French grandfather for a friend's birthday celebration. But the body of a friend is found on their property -- and it turns out he was murdered.

There are several sub-plots -- an improbable but enticing one featuring Jackie Kennedy in her younger days, climate change, unsung female artists of the past, and vineyard problems. I always learn a bit in a very pleasant way from these books, both about wine and its cultivation, and in this case about the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington.

These books are fun to read with well drawn characters and enough family drama to keep it interesting. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is the 11th book in Crosby’s Wine Country Mystery Series…and my oh my, does this one have it all!

Lucie Montgomery runs the vineyard that we have fallen in love with throughout this series. She is still engaged to Quinn and in this segment, both of her siblings have returned home for the season. Mia takes the front seat in this installment when she becomes suspected of murdering a man found in the Vineyard after he had trashed a local gardener’s methods. Her grandfather is due back to celebrate Cricket’s 90th birthday and with his arrival, the past and present begin to collide.

This all swirls around the intrigue that has been created around a very famous Jackie…that’s right! Let’s say for a minute, that Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, had had a lover before she met JFK and when she had that secret lover, someone had kept a few journals about the affair and now someone had their hands on it! All of this had been set into motion because Jackie, while study abroad years ago and having a fling, also bought small portraits of Marie Antoinette by a little-known 18th century female artist and those paintings were now going to be sold. Then, when Lucie’s grandfather visits from France, he confirms his knowledge of the journal and is also holding onto a huge secret of his own, casting this cozy mystery into the fringes of this sub-genre. A mix of the lore of Camelot and powerful, rich people with secrets that are capable of undoing generations if all goes to plan…

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and am eager to pick up the ones that have come before it in this series. This was great as a standalone novel as I had no prior knowledge of the series, but it also made me want to go back and delve into the earlier books. This was a great read on a weekend when I wanted an escape into a world of wine, intrigue and people with a lot of money and too many problems. If you are a fan of the Agatha Raisin series on Acorn TV, you will love this book.
Book Information

The French Paradox by Ellen Crosby will be released on April 6, 2021 from Severn House with ISBN 9780727891013. This review corresponds to an advanced electronic galley that was supplied by the publisher in exchange for this review.

The eleventh book in the Wine Country Mystery series by Ellen Crosby and again features Lucie, the winery owner, her fiance, Quinn, and other regular secondary characters. In this novel, Crosby fictionalizes a romance between a young Jacqueline Bouvier and Lucie's French grandfather, back when Jackie took a trip to France as a single young woman. That relationship, which has long been a secret, is now being threatened to be revealed by Harry (Harriet) who has been commissioned to finish a book Jackie left incomplete. Harry's plan is to use excerpts from Jackie's diary alongside paintings in an exhibit being mounted to bring attention to a female artist from the time of the "Old Masters".

As the story unfold, Harry and her mother, Cricket, are preparing their home Mon Repos, to be included in a famous annual tour of homes and Harry has commissioned Lucie's sister to paint a mural on the wall. This puts Lucie's sister in a position of talking with the victim on the day of his murder, making her a suspect. The victim is a friend of Lucie's who is a plant expert and a dedicated climatologist who has recently ruffled the feathers of a number of people in town, including his husband. This group of disparate people create a suspect pool which Lucie feels compelled to investigate for her sister's sake.

An excellent entry into the cozy genre this book can be enjoyed either in one or two long reads or in short bursts depending on the readers time and preference. It's a well crafted mystery which, while I did solve it before reaching the end was still enjoyable. I wanted to continue reading to confirm both how I did in terms of solving "who done it" and how Crosby brought all the threads together.

A full review of this novel is scheduled for February 13, 2021 in the on-line magazine, MysteryandSuspense.com

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.

When I first read about the plot of The French Paradox, Ellen Crosby's 11th novel in her Wine Country Mysteries series, I knew it was a 100% 'need to read this NOW' book! With thanks to the publisher, Severn House, and to Net Galley for access to an advance copy of the book which will be published April 5, 2021.

This is such a fabulous series of books, always filled with interesting people, Virginia history, fascinating information on growing wine and drinking it, set in one of the beautiful areas of Virginia within sight of the Blue Ridge Mountains. To my delight this plot circles around Jackie Kennedy Onassis, from her early years when first in Paris to her time as a book editor, and her love of art, France, and history. What I truly love about this series of novels is the author's ability to pull me into her plot, and to make me believe all of the story from the beginning. More though, is that she does not leave one wondering at the end what is and isn't true, but rather acknowledges who her sources are and which aspects of her story are fact and which are fiction.

I believe this is one of her best novels. She absolutely had me from the 'Prologue' and I couldn't stop reading. 5 stars, well deserved.

Again, the book will be published on April 5, 2021 by Severn House. #SevernHouse #NetGalley

This is the 11th in the wildly popular Wine Country mystery series. It can be read as a stand-alone but so many series’ raves have convinced me to devour the whole set.

In this latest, you’ll find Jackie Kennedy, a secret affair, Paris, fine wine, 18th century art, and murder — an irresistible mix, an enthralling read!

5 of 5 Stars

Thanks to the author, Canongate Books, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

Pub Date 06 Apr 2021
#TheFrenchParadox #NetGalley

Lucie Montgomery discovers that her grandfather had a romantic fling with Jacqueline Bouvier when she was studying in Paris in the last 1940s. Better known as Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, the wife of the prince of Camelot John F Kennedy. While Lucie discovered this when she found her Grandmother’s journal, she discovers that others know about it too. But one person in particular is looking to use the journal to rewrite and add some scandal to the last known manuscript the Jackie O was working on when she died.

While the writer’s Mother is donating paintings from a now famous artist that Jackie bought during her time in Paris, Harry decides to throw a preview at a local art gallery to announce her book before the paintings move to the museum. Right before the big launch, a dear friend of Lucie’s Mother is found dead in the family vineyard. Was his demise related to the book and paintings or to his own book and some of his own column that blasted the owner of a local nursery?

This is the first book I have read in this series, how did I miss the first 11 books in this series, and I had no gaps whatsoever. Having lived in the Northern Virginia area for years, this book took me right back home. I could see the roads and estates in my mind as I read it. I will be back for the first ten books in this series.

The French Paradox is the 11th book in the Wine Country Mysteries written by Ellen Crosby and will be published in April, 2021. I was thrilled to receive an early copy through NetGalley, as it is one of my favorite series. The author combines a love of wine, complex investigations, a beautiful Virginia setting, and a balanced historical / political tone in all her books, and this one is no exception. Imagine if Jacqueline Kenney Onassis had a lover before JFK, and she wrote about it in a few journals that someone got their hands on! Murder seems quite obvious, eh?

Lucie Montgomery runs the vineyard we've come to love. She's engaged to Quinn, and both her siblings are back home this season. Eli is mostly in the background but Mia is suspected of murder. Someone they know is found dead in the vineyard after he trashed a local gardener's methods. He also knew about Jackie O's letters, and when Lucie's Pepe returns from France, he as a secret too. In a multi-dimensional cast of powerful, rich, and angry people, which one of them killed the man who knew too much? With names like Cricket and Harry (both women) and Ash (man), there is an old-time charm set in a modern world.

Cozy mysteries have a wide range. While this falls mostly into the edges of the sub-genre, it's not your typical style. It's not light/silly/lovey like some... it's not dark either. Somewhere in the middle, it offers a reality check on life, where everyone's personalities aren't all black and white. Lucie can be tough to handle; she's direct, sometimes ornery... she expects things of others without justification, but she also knows how to love and support. The sibling bonds are extraordinarily real when it comes to fights or tender moments. And the author's knowledge of the geographical area and wine is immense. Half the time, I forget about the mystery and indulge myself in a history lesson. The tone is quite wonderful and feels atmospheric and ripe with tension.

I rate this series in my top 10 to 15 all-time... I must read the books when the come out. Often, the author embellishes history, or picks a fact and makes a lot more out of it. As readers, we should know this is intentionally historical fiction, so we shouldn't be upset. It's part of the magical world of storytelling, and while I adore Jackie O and think we shouldn't tarnish her reputation... thinking she had a secret lover is fun. I want to know who/why/where... what would happen if she was alive today and her journals were released... et al. This is the kind of book (and author) who pushes a reader to involve themselves in the story not because you want to solve the case but because you just need to be a fly on the wall as everything comes undone.

4.5 stars... a few items let open at the end, and a touch of confusion on timelines when the murder occurred. Nothing at all to worry about, possibly personal taste. But oh, now I have to wait another year, so I'll be grumpy. Truthfully, it is worth the wait. Give this one a chance please.

A Satisfying Mystery.....
The eleventh entry in the Wine Country series combining a good dose of history with present day and a satisfying mystery. Nicely compiled, well plotted and engaging from start to finish. A worthy entry to the series.