ANGELS' SHARE: TRILOGY

The limestone buildings of France’s Cognac region ought to be chalky white. Instead, they are covered in a tiny black mushroom born of fugitive fumes as the local spirit matures in oak casks. The cognac-makers call the evaporation the angels’ share and they live in hope it will find them heavenly favour.

“Angels’ Share” is also the title of a trilogy focused on earthly happenings that begin with a murder among the Cognac vineyards and end on the downs of southern England. In between, the protagonists fall in and out of love and search hopelessly to give other meaning to their lives.

Among those trying to make sense of it all are the long, lean French detective Frédéric de Massol and an international pack of hacks.