The Dry White Tear: Murder in New York's Wine Country

Shortstory writer Wilcox takes a giant step into crime fiction with his first novel, narrated by Timothy Seamus Wolfe Sheridan. A Manhattan-based reporter removed to Mohaca Springs in New York's Finger Lakes, Tim is newly at home in the house and land left him by his murdered Uncle Charlie Dugan, late sower of wild Irish oats. Looking for leads to the killer, Tim meets Deputy Sheriff J. D. Staub and they become friends, informal partners. Their suspicions rest on the local vintner, Michel Humbert, and a reputed mobster, Gabriel Florio. Both bid generously to acquire Tim's property and the land next door, owned by hate-filled Maeve Kendall, who guards her privacy with enraged attacks on ``intruders.'' Avoiding Maeve, Tim mixes in the town life and finds a lover, Sorrel Brown, while picking up clues to share with J. D., but more murders ensue before the amateur sleuth makes an astounding discovery. This is a funny, tense, satisfying debut for the ``T.S.W. Sheridan'' series, which should be a hit. (July)