In this thirteenth title in the Wine Country Mysteries series, vineyard owner Lucie becomes suspicious when the husband of the vineyard manager dies in an apparent pool drowning. Paul was heading up a conservationist group advocating to keep local country roads unpaved; his predecessor died mysteriously just six weeks earlier. Coincidence, or is someone willing to stop at nothing to halt the conservation efforts?

I liked the inclusion of the conservationist group; I had no idea there were historical unpaved roads in that part of the country, or that individuals would lobby to keep them that way.

I did not like the inclusion of the historical element (a gorgeous local heiress died tragically in a fire eight decades earlier, is she somehow connected to the present-day deaths?) as a major part of the plot---it seemed incredibly far-fetched. It's also grating the way that Lucie's family members are just insanely talented. Her half brother isn't just a photographer, he's a photographer for National Geographic. Her cousin doesn't just own a restaurant, she owns a Michelin-starred restaurant. It's a little much after awhile. I didn't get the immersive feel of being in the vineyards/part of the winemaking process with this book that I did from other titles in this series, and the accident with her employee near the book's beginning was a very convoluted way of getting Lucie to interact with another character in the story. Recommended for series completionists only.

Deeds Left Undone, the excellent continuation of the murder mystery series set in the wealthy wine country of Northern Virginia, continues to captivate readers. As always, Ellen Crosby weaves a rich tapestry of history, showcasing the unspoiled beauty of the small towns and vast farms. The story revolves around Lucie, her friends, and her family, who must unravel an intriguing mystery. I am thrilled that this captivating series has resumed, promising more thrilling adventures in the enchanting region.

It has been three years since book 12 of the Wine Country Mysteries, so long that I thought maybe the series was over. To my great delight, Book 13, Deeds Left Undone, will be published in August 2025. To my even greater delight, I received an ARC of the book from NetGalley. And to my greatest delight of all, the book is as good as I remember the series being!

Having lived in Northern Virginia, many of the areas and descriptions in the series are familiar to me. Knowing the location even a little bit makes the story more enjoyable, and Crosby does a great job of describing the Leesburg area. And the setting plays a big part of this mystery, with a debate over how much development is good and how much is bad seeming to set in motion a murder--or maybe two murders.

Both of the leaders of the opposition group to paving more local roads have died recently--ruled accidents by the police. But Lucie Montgomery, owner of a local vineyard and lifelong resident of the area, suspects that these deaths were not accidental at all.

As she begins to investigate, she uncovers secrets some of her friends and neighbors would prefer to keep hidden. She also learns more about the ongoing development debate and ends up taking over for the latest victim. With the previous two leaders already dead, will Lucie be the third victim?

Deeds Left Undone continues the excellent storyline about murder in the wealthy wine country in Northern Virginia, and as always Ellen Crosby does a great job of incorporating the history of the area, the (somewhat) unspoiled beauty of the small towns and large farms, and an engaging mystery to be solved by Lucie, her friends, and her family. I'm so happy this series has resumed!

Worthy Addition.,
The thirteenth outing in the Wine Country Mystery series and harvest time brings major issues for Virginia winemaker Lucie. An accident has already left her an employee down but when the managers husband is discovered dead in his swimming pool, Lucie is pulled into an investigation proper. Police have ruled the death accidental but his wife and Lucie think differently - things are about to get very dangerous indeed. A deftly plotted mystery with a well drawn and credible cast of characters in a well imagined setting. A worthy addition to this series.

#DeedsLeftUndone #NetGalley is an intense cozy mystery that had so many twists and turns, I kept reading until the last page.
Lucie and her husband Quinn are harvesting the grapes at their vineyard when tragedy strikes.
First, their employee has a horrible accident, keeping him out of work for an extended time.
Then their manager receives a devastating call, her husband has been found, unresponsive, at the bottom of their pool.
While Lucie tries to help Frankie through this horrible time, she can't believe his death was an accident, and she's determined to find the truth.
As the story goes on, horrible secrets are revealed and Lucie finds the answers she's looking for, but if she's not careful, she may be grieving her own loss.
I really loved this book and I'm happy to recommend it to other readers.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.