The French Paradox

A Wine Country Mystery, Book 11

By: Ellen Crosby

Narrated by: Christine Marshall

Length: 8 hrs and 3 mins

Publisher's summary

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 best seller.

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?

©2021 Ellen Crosby (P)2021 Blackstone Publishing

Arkady62

I love this series. Ellen Crosby is such a fantastic writer. I do hope she keeps writing.

5 Stars

The French Paradox is an entertaining cozy mystery with engaging characters and an interesting plot. I look forward to the next book.

Not a fan of the narrator

The story is good, but the narrator Often sounds like what I imagine an intoxicated 1-900 worker would sound like.

A Political Opinion Essay

I have listened to every book in the series except the last one. Even though I already own the last one , I am finished. I do know that authors have a point of view, but this one almost beat you over the head with Ellen Crosby's opinions. I always taught my student's about author's purpose pie - Persuade, Inform, or Entertain. I read cozy mysteries to be entertained, not to be persuaded on the author's opinions.

A Thinly Veiled Attempt

I have always loved this author and have read all of her books. This book however is the last book by this author I will ever read. Instead of a pleasant murder mystery that I wanted it is a thinly veiled attempt to push her social adjenda of fear mongering climate change, illegal immigrants and gay marriage. No thanks I can get that everyday on television.