Old Town Mysteries at Nepenthe Gallery

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Author and local resident John Adam Wasowicz will discuss and sign copies of “Spite House,” book 7 of the Old Town Loves Mystery series, on Thursday, September 12, at 6 p.m., at Nepenthe Gallery in Old Town, located upstairs at Wine Gallery 108 at 108 N. St. Asaph St.

Wine and cheese will be served courtesy of Wine Gallery 108 and Nepenthe Gallery. Both venues are mentioned in “Spite House.”

Brendan O’Leary, the owner of the spite house in the 400 block of Prince Street that served as the model in the book, and Ben Fiore-Walker, the city’s official Town Crier, who is depicted the story, will also be in attendance to discuss the history of spite houses and the “old” Old Town Alexandria.

Old Town has four spite houses, built in alleyways to ‘spite’ commerce. The spite house located in the 400 block of Prince Street — owned by O’Leary — serves as the house depicted in the book.

“Readers love to see their local haunts mentioned,” Wasowicz said. “These are same places where readers buy wine, view artwork, and hang out. It makes the story more personal and entertaining.”

In “Spite House,” the fictitious and cantankerous Roxie Neele is accused of murdering her neighbor Trudy Vine with a poisonous cupcake. The story’s protagonist, Mo Katz, uses the cupcake caper to expose the identity of ‘Rose Bud,’ a serial murderer who leaves rose pedals at crime scenes.

“Old Town is the perfect setting for a mystery series, even though very little serious crime occurs here — fortunately!” Wasowicz said.

Nepenthe Gallery has two locations, one in Old Town above Wine Gallery 108 and its main gallery in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County at 7918 Fort Hunt Road.

Wasowicz, an attorney, resides in the Alexandria section of Fairfax County. The Old Town Loves Mystery series began in 2017 with “Daingerfield Island.”

The Old Town Loves Mystery series is available at MADE IN ALX on Montgomery Street in Old Town.