Harvest of Secrets

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Lucie Montgomery finds herself between two murders: one that took place 150 years ago and what that happened recently. In Harvest of Secrets by Ellen Crosby both murders interfere with the grape harvest.

Two of Lucie's vineyard employees are digging up a tree when they find a skull just outside the family cemetery. A forensic anthropologist is hired to determine the age of the skull and possibly find the rest of the skeleton. Lucie is certain this is someone to whom she is related, so she is all in on the search.

Newly arrived winemaker Jean-Claude de Marignac is the son of a wealthy winemaker in France and Lucie's family has been friends with his family for decades. But not everyone is charmed by Jean-Claude and right away he ruffles some feathers.

While the anthropologist continues her search, Lucie frets about an approaching hurricane and how it will impact their harvest. She also receives a disconcerting email from someone who found her their her recent DNA test. He claims to be her half brother and needless to say Lucie is shocked and mystified.

The two murders couldn't be farther apart in their cause. Lucie finds the name of a female relative in the family Bible with only a birth date, no other information. When the rest of the skeleton is found wrapped in an unusual quilt, Lucie decides to check with local historical societies to identify it. What she discovers is her relative was murdered by a blow to the head because she wanted to marry someone her family disapproved of.

When Jean Claude is found dead, his murder is the results of his evil deeds, but one of Lucie's vineyard workers is suspected.

As the hurricane threatens, Lucie must solve the two murders, harvest grapes and decide whether she wants include her half brother into the family.

Two excellent mysteries in one. I loved the forensic anthropologist portion. It is amazing what can be discovered with just a skeleton.