In the Footsteps of the American Sherlock Holmes

[John Reisinger]

One of the advantages of writing true crime/biography is that there are real people and places you can point to as being part of your book. Much of Master Detective takes place in Mt Holly, New Jersey, the stomping grounds of the "American Sherlock Holmes", Ellis Parker. Many of the sites involved in those events survive, including Parker's house, the courthouse, the old jail, the Elks Club where he hung out when off duty, and even the house where his wake was held (attended by several thousand people, including two ex-governors, several judges and elected officials, the widow of condemned kidnapper Bruno Hauptmann, and even several members of the Philadelphia Athletics).

Well, on September 22, between 1 and 5, the Mt Holly Library at 307 High Street in Mt Holly, N.J. will be holding a book signing, tea, and tour of the Mt Holly sites in the book. They have made arrangements with the owners of the buildings to have the places open to people on the tour so they can see where the events in Master Detective took place. I will be giving a Powerpoint presentation about the book and all proceeds will go to benefit the library. Tickets are $10 for the tea and the talk, and $15 for the tea, the talk, and the tour.

It should be an interesting day for all mystery and true crime fans in the area, so if you can, stop on by and say hello. I'll be glad to see you and so will the good folks at the Mt Holly Library.