What pairs well with a chilling mystery novel or thriller? A cool, crisp wine, naturally! Join other mystery lovers and three award-winning crime novelists at a casual afternoon of crime fiction and tasting of delicious Three Sticks wines. Attendees will enjoy light bites and receive a complimentary signed copy of each participating author's book, and the proceeds will support Litquake's programming and year-round operations.

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About the Program

Whether your favorite flavor of crime (novel) is police procedural, amateur detective, or pulse-pounding thriller, you'll walk away from this afternoon of crime fiction and wine with an armful of reading inspiration to keep you on the edge of your seat through the dark fall nights to come.

You'll meet Edgar Award winner Laurie R. King, whose latest novel, Those Who Are Gone, features cold case detective Raquel Laing of the SFPD, on the trace of a crime with implications for her own family history. Thriller writer Adam Plantinga knows a thing or two about the SFPD—he's a sergeant in the department who also writes an Edgar-nominated thriller series (The Ascent + two sequels) starring an ex-cop. Mystery novelist Jody Weiner (author most recently of Raise Your Other Right Hand), will lead a lively conversation and brief readings. 

After the program, the authors will be be happy to chat with us on all things whodunit in casual conversation over light bites and a wine tasting featuring a variety of Three Sticks wines, guided by one of their experts.

Attendees will receive signed copies of each author's book, and proceeds from the event support the Litquake Foundation's mission to inspire critical engagement with the issues of the day. 

This event will take place at a private home in San Francisco—the address will be shared with registered attendees.

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About the Authors

Laurie R. King is the award-winning, bestselling author of seventeen Mary Russell mysteries, five contemporary novels featuring Kate Martinelli, and many acclaimed standalone novels such as Folly, Touchstone, The Bones of Paris, and Lockdown. She lives in Northern California, where she is at work on her next Mary Russell mystery.

Adam Plantinga is part of the Internet Crimes Against Children unit with the San Francisco Police Department whose first two nonfiction books— 400 Things Cops Know and Police Craft— have become his calling cards to the world of thrillers. 400 Things was nominated for an Agatha, a Macavity, and was deemed “the new Bible for crime writers” by the Wall Street Journal. Adam’s fiction debut, The Ascent, became a USA Today bestseller.

Jody Weiner is the current Board President of the Litquake Foundation. He wrote the novel Prisoners of Truth, drawing from his experiences defending criminal cases in Chicago. He also co-authored Kinship With Animals, in which he writes about serving as attorney to Koko the signing gorilla, and Peoplescapes, My Story From Purging To Painting, an illustrated memoir by Nancy Calef. His newest novel is Raise Your Other Right Hand, and book two in the series, The Krafters: Partners in Time, will be released in 2027.

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About Litquake

Since being founded by Jane Ganahl and Jack Boulware in 1999, Litquake has hosted 10,500 authors for 275,000 attendees and distributed 12,000 free books to San Francisco schoolchildren. With over 225 literary partners, Litquake functions more than ever as an umbrella organization stitching together the Bay Area’s writers and readers. In its lively, diverse and inclusive celebration of San Francisco’s thriving contemporary literary scene, Litquake, which entered its second quarter-century in 2025, seeks to foster an interest in literature, perpetuate a sense of literary community, and provides a forum for Bay Area writing as a complement to the city’s music, film, and cultural festivals. Litquake 2026 will take place October 8–24, with additional events year-round.

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About Three Sticks

Three Sticks Wines produces world class, quality wines from their exceptional estate vineyards, through a minimalist winemaking approach and an extreme focus on meticulous farming. They farm in an earth friendly and sustainable manner which reflect the defined flavors and character of Sonoma County. Three Sticks believes in stewardship of their community, history and vineyards, as well as a firm belief that table fellowship and celebration are a vital part of humanity and life. Their historic Adobe home, built in 1842, located just over the hill in downtown Sonoma is open to the public by appointment for exquisite private tasting experiences. These iconic wines are as beautiful in character as the team behind them.