Crosby, Ellen. The merlot murders

Kliatt, Jan, 2007 by Francine Levitov

CROSBY, Ellen. The merlot murders. Read by P.J. Davis-Oran. 8 cds. 9 hrs. BBC Audiobooks America. 2006. 0-7927-4525-6. $79.95. Vinyl; plot, author, reader notes. SA

After a car accident leaves her left leg twisted and near useless, Lucie Montgomery recuperates in France for two years while her lover Philippe dissipates her financial assets. Summoned home to a 500-acre vineyard in Virginia, she discovers that the rest of her family isn't faring much better: her father has probably been murdered; her godfather has become a drunk; her brother and cousin are deeply in debt; the bank is about to foreclose on the winery; and her youngest sister is sleeping with her old boyfriend. Determined not to let go of her ancestral home and the family business, Lucie is thwarted by friends and foes alike, some far deadlier than others. Everybody has a motive for murder in Crosby's lively first mystery novel, which boasts a memorable and quirky cast of characters, more than a little down-home humor, plenty of suspense, a dash of romance, and a great deal of interesting history and information about the American wine-making industry. Davis-Oran differentiates the characters and is a feisty, credible Lucie. A very promising debut. Francine Levitov, Attorney, New York, NY

S--Recommended for senior high school students.

A--Recommended for advanced students and adults. This code will help librarians and teachers working in high schools where there are honors and advanced placement students. This also will help extend KLIATT's usefulness in public libraries.