In this book Lucie and Quinn get invited to an annual Christmas party to start off the holiday season. When Lucie gets in a private discussion with Prescott Avery she doesn't count on finding him dead minutes later! The family of course is quick to cover it up, and the play The Tempest becomes an overall issue with this family. Also an old copy of the Declaration of Independence becomes a hotbed of gossip.

Lucie has a hard time when the family tries to cover it up and become determined to find out what Lucie knows. Was it something that related to his death? There are no shortage of possible suspects and of course the fabulous wine is flowing will Lucie be corked if she gets to close?

I love this series it's deep in history of the area along with a good old fashioned murder of some sort and Leland Lucie's dad seems to be at the center of what is going on! This series is addictive and can be read as either a series or standalone novels. I really enjoy this series and can't wait to see what is next for the adventurous sleuth!

This is the first Lucie Montgomery book that I've read and I plan to read the 9 that came before it!

The book is set in a small wealthy Virginia town full of the first vineyards of America and families that have held their farms/land since before the US was a nation. The Montgomery family and the Averys (billionaire relatives by affinity) and many of their longtime neighbors have had their homes and estates in this town for over 300 years.

Honestly, I'm just counting the years until we've paid off our mortgage, so this sort of longtime ownership of huge fertile tracts of land is exotic and fascinating to me.

The mystery in this case involves a murder but also the rumored existence of papers taken from the White House hundreds of years ago. There is a tie to the freemasons and to President Madison and a hidden treasure. The characters are easy to like and the mystery is fascinating. Overall, a delight of a read with the bonus that it makes you want to explore small towns in Virginia.

So. I didn't know this was book 10 of the series, and from what I did read, it was riveting. WOW! History 101 here, this book was amazing. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, I could not put it down. I am going back to the beginning of this series. I had never heard of this author before, I am glad I was given the opportunity to read this book. The cover alone, is what had gotten my attention from the very beginning. The Grim reaper with a glass of wine, what more could you ask for.

Lucie Montgomery attends a Thanksgiving weekend party at the Avery's castle. Prescott Avery, the 95-year-old family patriarch, invites her into the wine cellars for a discussion. He wants to buy some historic Madeira that her family is rumored to own at any price. Lucie has never heard of it and suspects her father either drank it or sold it. Prescott reveals that the history of it is particularly important to him and the Masons.

Lucie later discovers her phone is missing and returns to the cellar. She finds Prescott dead. Who could have killed him in such a short time? As Lucie investigates the focus turns to what Prescott might have discovered and away from who killed him.

I give this mystery 4 out of 5 stars. It's part of a series but can be read as a standalone. While there is more than one mystery, the bulk of the book is spent on the historical mysteries. There's nothing wrong with that, but I kept wondering when we would learn more about Avery's death. Otherwise, it is a well written, holiday-themed historical mystery. It's great for readers who enjoy history and the Virginia Wine Country.

The Angels' Share by Ellen Crosby was published November 5th, 2019 by Minotaur Books.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. This did not affect my opinion.

This was a very good whodunit with a well written plot. I love the facts about wine that the author weaves into the plot I plan to go back and read the earlier books in this series.
Many thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I absolutely adored this book in the Wine Country series. Lucie Montgomery has a vineyard in Virginia and tons of history to go with it. She is invited to a soiree for an acquaintance who wants to bend her ear on a top secret proposition, elusive inventory of an ages wine from back around the time that America became a country. Unfortunately, a murder puts a damper in the wine cellar. Lucie and Quinn are in the midst of solving another murder.
This book was so interesting: the hearsay and stories about Jamestown, VA and the first colonists, theories about the Freemasons' secret society, and stories told all the way to the Capitol. I found the tour guides and discussion very interesting, as I was not aware about some of the aspects of history. Granted the author took some fictional license to a few details, it still inspires me to look up more information of this part of American history. Very I retesting to learn about Madeira wines also. Love this series.

I enjoyed reading this book I found the history and story fascinating. I felt as if the ending was a bit too perfect, otherwise a good read. Always nice to learn things about the wine business and well as knowing something new about Washington DC and Virginia.

Ellen Crosby’s wine country series isn’t just a murder mystery, but a lesson in history. Located in Loudoun County, Virginia, the Montgomery Estate Vineyard is situated in the perfect setting to bring American History to the forefront and place the wine industry smack dab in the middle.

The Thanksgiving to Christmas season took a different turn for Lucie Montgomery when her neighbor billionaire and philanthropist Preston Avery is murdered after revealing a secret to Lucie which has now put her in the crosshairs of an unscrupulous killer determined to lay claim to documents and a priceless Madeira that hold historic value.

Combining an elusive cast of characters from Jamestown to the founding fathers, to Shakespeare, to the Mason’s, the Declaration of Independence, and a First Folio, Ellen Crosby has managed to merge the right amount of truth with an author’s imagination resulting in an enthralling murder mystery.

About the Title: The Angels’ Share is the amount of distilled spirits lost to evaporation from the barrel or cask during the aging process.

Okay I officially know way more about Madeira then I did when I started this book! Now I didn't start out knowing all that much but I'm now fascinated by the history and tradition. It's so fascinating. Throw in a National Treasure style secret, some massive family squabbles and likable and interesting characters and this made for a thoroughly enjoyable mystery.



This was the first book in this series and I had absolutely no problem starting this series here. There weren't so many characters that it was confusing and the amount of backstory was perfect. There didn't feel like there were pages explaining who was who and why this was happening but at the same time I knew exactly who was who and how they were connected. This wasn't a super fast moving cozy. It didn't drag but it was more of a slow burn on the action then a zip through kind of read. A mystery to be savored and not devoured. I'm looking forward to exploring this series and more and spending more time with Lucie and Quinn.

Ellen Crosby continues the Wine Country mysteries with Angels' Share. Lucie Montgomery is approached by a multi billionaire for a two hundred year old Madeira that her father had before his death. Lucie doesn't have a clue where they are. Then the very rich man is murdered. Lucie is intrigued by the Madeira mystery that may involve Masons and old Shakespeare lore. She keeps following the clues and is in danger. Will she solve the mystery or the murder or fall victim herself? Read this great cozy.

This is the 10th book in the fabulous Wine Country Cozy Mystery Series. I have enjoyed many books in this series and highly recommend this wonderful series. The setting is wine country in the beautiful Virginia countryside. The authors descriptions are atmospheric and take the reader away . This next in series has the perfect blend of a historic plot based around history of Freemasons, creation of wine and a well crafted sleuth. I loved this next in series. Thank you for the ARC to the publisher and Net Galley. My opinion is my own.

Lucie attends a party at Prescott castle and has drinks with host Avery. He tells her a story about hidden treasures, the Free Masons, and some very expensive valuable wine owned by her family. 30 min later he’s dead. Now Lucie is on a treasure hunt, set in Virginia with so many historical sites to explore. This is book 10 in Wine Country series and is easily a stand alone read. I don’t know how I missed the previous 9. I received a copy of this arc in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This series is set in Virginia in horse and wine country. Lucie Montgomery learns that her father possibly owned some bottles of 200-year-old madeira. She and Quinn take off on a race to search for the wine and some missing ancient documents.

I love these characters and enjoyed the mystery.

I loved this book! The combination of Virginia wineries, countryside and history got me involved in the story right from the start! And this book was even more interesting than some of the author's previous books in the series.

Ellen Crosby brings the colonial past front and center into the plot right from the start! She hooked me in the first chapter. Her writing and characters are spot-on for my reading palette!

If you have not read any in this series, I suggest you start at the beginning because the characters to build with each book. But it can be read as a standalone.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press-Minotaur Books for the opportunity to read and review this book by one of my favorite authors!

THE ANGEL’S SHARE by Ellen Crosby is the tenth in the Wine Country Mystery series. The story stands on its own and can be read without having read the previous books in the series. However, the reader may feel a little lost trying to sort out the secondary characters and their relationship to Lucie, the central character in the book. If you plan on reading the series, it is probably advisable to read them in order so that you can understand as relationships develop.
This book is long on historic information regarding the founding fathers without feeling like a history book. There is enough information for a reader’s interest to become piqued and for them to decide to do further reading on their own. There were some facts and interesting actions that are historically accurate which were new to me, which is always a bonus when reading a book.
There was also a fair amount of “Christmas” feel to the book. This came from both the discussion of decorations for the winery Lucie owns and the town celebration she attends toward the end of the book. If you are looking for something that might ease you into the holiday spirit, this book might do the trick. There is enough here to whet your appetite without being so overwhelming you feel engulfed.
Where the book is lacking is in the mystery itself; or rather the solving of the mystery. The murder is a variation of a “locked room” murder and suspects abound. Where the book comes up short is in the lack of clues and red herrings that will allow the reader to feel as if they are working to solve the murder as they read the book. Instead, there is plenty of information about the area, the people in the book, etc. but no solid evidence beyond one fact early in the novel. In the end, the solution is simply presented when Lucie and the murderer confront one another.
The book is well written with good character development, excellent descriptions of place and interesting information that has been thoroughly researched. All of these factors combine to provide an enjoyable read, just not the best mystery in my experience. It’s certainly worth reading, particularly if you want to get a taste for the season and add some interesting historical facts to your knowledge base. My thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital read copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

3.75 stars

A great addition to the Wine Country Series. Winemaker Lucie Montgomery and fiancee Quinn Santori are at a holiday party near their rural Virginia home at a mansion owned by the wealthy and influential Avery family. Patriarch Prescott Avery mysteriously asks Lucie for a private conversation and takes her to the wine cellar to discuss some very valuable bottles of Madeira that he thinks Lucie's family has stashed but she has no idea what he is talking about. A short while later when she returns to retrieve her forgotten cell phone, she finds Avery dead.

He also has told her a huge secret and hinted at more unveilings to follow. The plot is elaborate but interesting with a lot of actual and speculative history items thrown in: the problems of Jamestown Colony, the authorship of Shakespeare's plays, the shipwreck that may have inspired The Tempest, and missing documents from the Founding Fathers.

Lucie and Quinn start doing research and hunting for the immensely valued cases of Madeira while the police take a hard look at the Avery family members who had a motive to kill their father/grandfather/stepfather. Since he had been preparing to sell the family newspaper against everyone's wishes, they all have motive.

Lots of interesting historical tidbits mixed into this one. This series feels stronger without the romantic angst of the earlier books and the vineyard setting adds sparkle. Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I absolutely  love a good wine cozy, especially one that takes the time to explain something new and interesting about wine. I was not familiar with Madiera or Williamsburg for that matter. As luck would have it, our latest vacation took us to historic Williamsburg to meet up with my in-laws for a family celebration. We walked along the cobblestone sidewalk and explored Bruton Parish church much like Lucy and Quinn. This was my first Wine Country Mystery and I thoroughly enjoyed the National Treasure aspect of the story to the point where I was looking up the history and learning as well as enjoying. Great story line and an excellent  cast of characters.

This series has given me a burning desire to beat a hasty exit from Indiana to experience that special area around Jamestown. Mercy, the history!

Interest was hooked immediately and, although a series, can work well as a standalone. So easy to become engaged with the characters, the locale, and the description of the wine, specifically Madeira. Protagonist Lucie Montgomery and fiancé Quinn Santori go back to the plush wine cellar in Hawthorne Castle to retrieve the cell phone she left after a private discussion with Prescott Avery. There they discover the 95-year old patriarch has been murdered. His death following their private discussion quickly sends her on a quest for three-hundred-year-old Madeira, possibly hidden in her own winery.

The Madeira though is only the top layer of the complex well-drawn plot, which delves into the history of the area and the local Freemasons including their connection with the Founding Fathers. Lucie will have to correctly interpret the materials left in her father's secret safety deposit box.

I love the way the author ties local history and ancient mythology to her stories, and indeed, this entry to the series had a great deal more to do with the history mystery than that of the winery getting ready for Christmas.

It is an immersive book you don't want to put down and delivers the implied promise of the cover. I'm looking forward to visiting again soon and heartily recommend this entry in the well-developed series to anyone who enjoys a high-speed romp into one of our country's most beautiful and history laden areas. I received this uncorrected digital galley from the publisher (thank you, Minotaur!!) and NetGalley and appreciate the opportunity to read and review.

I continue to enjoy this very solid series, which features two of my favorite things: wine and Virginia. This entry is notable for its historic tidbits about Madeira, colonial Freemasons, the origins of Shakespeare's plays (particularly The Tempest), and Prohibition, as well as the descriptions of Christmas at the vineyard and in Middleburg. (It actually gave me some inspiration for my mom's pending early December visit to Virginia!) I loved all this stuff. I loved that she popped Slater Run Vineyards into the dialog, as it's a Virginia winery I particularly enjoyed. I just didn't love the actual mystery part of the mystery, which is why I didn't rate it higher. I guess it's to be expected for a story that takes place around the holidays, but there was just too much family drama for me! Still, I always enjoy reading these and I hope this series continues for a good long time.

A delightful book, full of interesting characters and plenty of historical information. So much so that the murder mystery that spark the plot doesn't really have enough clues for the reader to figure it out or to be satisfied with the culprit's unmasking. Ultimately, only one of the several historical mysteries is solved hapily.

Even so, I enjoyed it.