The Chardonnay Charade: A Wine Country Mystery

(Scribner, 272 pages)

by Ellen Crosby

The Chardonnay Charade is light and refreshing ¿ like a glass of white wine on a summer day.

This isn't great literature, nor is Crosby a great writer ¿ or even a very good one. But she weaves an engaging mystery with likable characters who stumble upon two murders to solve.

Lucie Montgomery, who was disabled years earlier in a car crash, has inherited her family's vineyard in Virginia, which she now runs with winemaker and old family friend Quinn Santori. When Lucie uncovers the frozen body of an unpopular and controversial local political candidate, the story unfolds.

Crosby (pictured), a former journalist, has obviously done her homework about grape growing and winemaking and anyone who loves wine will appreciate the new lessons, particularly about Virginia's little-known heritage in the industry.

However, she introduces too many characters, none of whom is fully developed and her writing, especially her dialogue, is flat and amateurish. Key connections between characters, particularly Lucie's relationship with her younger sister, Mia, are so superficial, they end up laughably unrealistic.

Despite its shortcomings, The Chardonnay Charade is a quick and fun read that can be digested as easily as a $10 California chardonnay. It's light on the palate, but lacks the denser, complex tastes found in a worthier vintage.