The Angels’ Share

Crosby’s crisp and elegant 10th Wine Country mystery (after 2018’s Harvest of Secrets) finds Virginia vintner Lucie Montgomery attending a party over Thanksgiving weekend at Hawthorne Castle, the home of 95-year-old newspaper tycoon Prescott Avery. When Prescott invites Lucie to see his wine cellar, reputed to be one of the most beautiful wine cellars in the world, she jumps at the chance, but she soon discovers that he wants to know the location of a case of 200-year-old Madeira that he assumes is in Lucie’s possession. She has never seen or heard of it. After Prescott turns up dead later that same evening, Lucie places herself at the center of the subsequent investigation. As usual, Crosby supplies plenty of Virginia history, this time focusing on the founders and the signing of the Declaration of Independence, without slowing the main story. She also includes some tantalizing history about wine, particularly Madeira. A family tree linking the Montgomery and Avery families serves as a useful guide, especially during early scenes. The disparate plot threads come together in an exciting and satisfying conclusion. Crosby knows how to keep the reader guessing. Agent: Dominick Abel, Dominick Abel Literary. (Nov.)