Vultures at Twilight

Set in the small town of Grenville, Conn., Atkins’s promising first in a new cozy series introduces widows Lillian Campbell and Ada Straus, both residents of a local retirement community. Before their good friend Evie died of Alzheimer’s disease, Lil and Ada tended her at home during her decline. Now Lil and Ada, who’s the executrix of Evie’s estate, face the daunting task of packing up her house and selling off her valuable antiques as well as “an extremely desirable work of American Impressionism” by Childe Hassam. But can they find a trustworthy dealer to help them? Meanwhile, someone shoots antiques dealer Paul Conroy in the forehead and cuts off one of Paul’s fingers—which somehow winds up in the bottom drawer of an old dresser up for auction. Soon Lil and Ada are involved in a baffling mystery that will keep readers turning the pages until the dramatic conclusion. Agent: Al Zuckerman, Writers House. (June)