From The Bookshelf: A Murder Mystery Set In Amherstburg

FROM THE BOOKSHELF An Entertaining Murder Mystery Set In Amherstburg

Local author and former private investigator, John Schlarbaum, knows a lot about small town living, having grown up in a village of 1,000 and for almost 20 years living in the Town of Amherstburg.

So it’s no surprise his latest P.I. Steve Cassidy Mystery — titled The Groom Wore Red — takes place in his current hometown.

“It focuses on two former rival families — the Smiths and Browns who gather peacefully for the wedding of Nick Smith and a very pregnant Emily Brown — but when the groom-to-be doesn’t show, it reignites a decades-old feud,” Schlarbaum states. “Then to complicate matters even more, the police arrive to inform everyone Nick is dead and a murder investigation has commenced.”

Initially, invited wedding guests Steve Cassidy, a former police officer, and his girlfriend, Dawn, are reluctant to get involved until the bride-to-be asks for their help.

“Of course, not everyone welcomes this parallel investigation, especially a few local police officers who don’t appreciate big city folk telling them how to do their job,” Schlarbaum comments. “In previous novels, my main character has run-ins with the authorities and it’s no different in this story, although this time he really is trying to help the official investigation.”

For fans of P.I. Steve Cassidy and Dawn (who makes her third book appearance after When Angels Fail To Fly and Off The Beaten Path), Schlarbaum guarantees their sleuthing abilities and romantic bond are stronger than ever.

“The wedding was an excuse to get away together and visit Amherstburg in all its summer glory,” he notes. “Their personal

Author John Schlarbaum’s latest book is The Groom Wore Red. It is the fourth book in his popular Steve Cassidy Mystery series and takes place in the Town of Amherstburg. Photo courtesy of the author.

storyline as a fun loving couple also gives the reader a contrast to Nick and Emily’s (almost) life together.”

The Groom Wore Red is an entertaining story with references to many of Amherstburg’s attractions, businesses, and local history, which incorporates Schlarbaum’s knack for creating believable characters and situations that keep the reader guessing until the final pages.

The book is available in Amherstburg at the following locations: the River Bookshop, Bondy House Bed & Breakfast, the Park House Museum, and Gibson Gallery.

It also can be purchased at Windsor businesses: Juniper Books, Biblioasis, and Storytellers Bookstore.

Additionally, an eBook version is sold on: JohnSchlarbaum.com.