Grand Slam Murders

Lee (the Cherry Cola Book Club series, as Ashton Lee) deals a winning hand with his welcome mystery debut, a series launch. After an alcohol-fueled lunch at the Rosalie, Miss., home of Liddie Rose, Miz Liddie and three other socially prominent widows, collectively known as the Gin Girls, prepare to play a grand slam contract as practice for an upcoming duplicate bridge tournament. But first they must drink their usual toast with cups of coffee, which Miz Liddie’s servant, Merleece, provides. Soon after, all four drop dead of cyanide poisoning at the bridge table. Society reporter Wendy Winchester, whose father is the Rosalie police chief, joins the subsequent murder investigation, fearing that Merleece has been framed. That Wendy’s been dating police detective Ross Rierson complicates matters. An attractive protagonist, plenty of Southern charm, a long suit of colorful characters, and a plot that comes up trumps at the surprising end all bode well for future installments. Agent: Christina Hogrebe, Jane Rotrosen Agency. (Feb.)