Poetic Hill by Karen Lyon

independence from Spain and whose equestrian statue is one of the “Statues of Liberators” located near the Organization of American States on Virginia Avenue.

Each of the twelve entries features a lively historical background as well as photographs and illustrations of relevant documents, such as a map of the route for the 1913 women’s right to vote parade organized by suffragist Alice Paul. Spadafora also provides suggested itineraries by neighborhood and an extensive list of articles to access for additional information.

“Twelve Rebels” is dedicated to one of Capitol Hill’s more recent iconoclasts, Captain James, who was known to set up shop at the Tune Inn with his stack of history books and a row of Jameson shots. Leader of what he called the “Rogue Saints,” James helped feed homeless neighbors and veterans for years from the basement of a local church. He died in 2017. “Fellow tour guides and I appreciated his history lessons,” Spadafora writes. “He gave us stories to pass on, to keep alive. Mission accomplished, Captain.”

Tony Spadafora is a Guild Certified Master Guide who has been leading tours of DC and Philadelphia for families and business visitors since 1983. https://yourdcguide.com

The Lyon’s Share: Pentecost and Parker

Fans of Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe mysteries (and I count myself among the most fervent) will

find a certain sense of familiarity in a witty new series of noir whodunits by DC author Stephen Spotswood. They feature a large, eccentric genius who is mobility-challenged and a wise-cracking assistant who’s not afraid to mix it up. The two of them live in a brownstone in 1940s New York and solve DC writer Stephen Spotswood crimes. But there the has created a classic detective duo in his Pentecost and Parker similarities end. Benoir mysteries. cause both characters in Spotswood’s mysteries are female (which would no doubt gall the famously misogynistic Wolfe). In their debut outing, “Fortune Favors the Dead,” we’re introduced to Lillian Pentecost when her life is saved by one Willowjean “Will” Parker, a scrappy upstart who learned some very useful knife-throwing skills during a stint with the circus. Pentecost, who is suffering from MS, takes on the nimble young woman as her assistant and trains her in the fine art of detection. Their first case involves sinister spiritualists, possible messages from the dead, and a victim bludgeoned to death with—what else?— a crystal ball. “Murder Under Her Skin” finds Pentecost and Parker traveling to rural Virginia to investigate the death of a tattooed lady at the same traveling circus where Will found a new home after escaping an abusive childhood. Her former mentor, Kalishenko the knife thrower, is the chief murder suspect, and it’s up to the New York duo to wade through the evasions of the close-knit and colorful circus folk to get to the truth. A third Pentecost and Parker adventure, “Secrets Typed in Blood,” involving a pulp detective magazine writer, is due out in December—and you can bet it will be at the top of my Christmas list. Stephen Spotswood is an award-winning playwright, journalist, and educator who is the winner of the 2021 Nero Award for best American mystery. www.stephenspotswood.com u

THE POETIC HILL

by Karen Lyon

Capitol Hill resident Sarah Dawn Petrin is a humanitarian, poet and writer who is the author of “Bring Rain: Helping Humanity in Crisis,” in which she shares reallife action stories and advice from her 20 years of service in 20 countries with the United Nations. Born in an African village during a season of drought, she has brought hope and help to refugees since she was 15 years old. From responding to an active shooter in the Capitol to being held hostage by a warlord in the Sahara Desert, Petrin has borne witness to radical acts of ordinary heroism that lead to global change. The founder of Protect the People, she teaches the Protection of Civilians and Human Security at the U.S. Army Peacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute. She is currently working on a collection of poems about recovery from the COVID pandemic. www.sarahpetrin.com

What lies within

You did not choose this time This time chose you

Within you, lies a warrior A lion A lark

You are a song in the night A new song at the break of day

You are a spark A light that cannot be extinguished

You are hope A life with breath

You are alive!