Max Maguire of the NYPD, daughter of a legendary NY cop and a French mother disowned by her aristocratic family when she married, met examining magistrate Olivier Chaumont over murder at the wedding of an old friend in the Champagne wine region. They remained on-again-off-again partners and lovers over more murder again, this time in Bordeaux. And now, six months later, Max is on her way to Burgundy where it's time to give up her promising career and commit --- or split.

Murder occurs. There's a mystery girl, American. Fractured families. Motives aplenty. But the story's real fascination lies in two things French: the wine culture and French inheritance laws which are convoluted and guaranteed to spark family wars, even unto death. And the French justice system functions differently which frustrates Max, an action-oriented, straightforward investigator, and causes some friction with Olivier. Janet Hubbard wraps up her Vengeance in the Vineyard trilogy with a surprise and solutions that will please readers.