Local author launches new mystery with signing at Renton History Museum on Thursday

Local author and Renton reporter columnist Lynn Bohart will be at the Renton History Museum Thursday for a book signing as she launches her latest “Old Maids of Mercer Island” mystery novel entitled, A” History of Murder.”

Local author and Renton reporter columnist Lynn Bohart will be at the Renton History Museum Thursday for a book signing as she launches her latest “Old Maids of Mercer Island” mystery novel entitled, A” History of Murder.”

This is the third book in the popular series set in the Northwest starring Julia Applegate, her talking parrot, her 60-something aged friends, a few friendly ghosts and a handsome detective or two.

“I have to do a lot of research for my novels,” said Bohart. “And readers expect you to be accurate. So I rely on the experts.”

When Bohart wanted to add an element of historical research to her latest novel, she consulted Museum Director Elizabeth Stewart.

“Liz was wonderful in helping to make the research my characters did seem real,” Bohart said.

“A History of Murder” is a fast-paced mystery which has the girls in Julia’s book club delving into the history of the St. Claire Inn when a secret room is found in the attic of the barn. Their efforts take them back to the early 1900s when several murders took place on the property, which was used as a brothel during Prohibition. When they discover a serial killer is loose, the Mercer Island Maids use their research to pin him (or her?) down.

Tickets for the event are $20. All proceeds benefit the Renton History Museum. The evening will include some food and drink, raffle prizes, a trivia game, and a talk by the author on how she researches critical information for her books, such as forensics, law enforcement, use of weapons, cadaver dogs etc.

Books from the entire series will be available for purchase and the author will sign them.

The signing is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Sept. 15, at the Renton History Museum, 235 Mill Ave. S.