Synopsis of UNFORGIVEN TRESPASSES
A young rising TV actress is stalked and attacked in Hollywood. She escapes to a family friend's B&B in Stratford ON where the mystery continues and follows her to Bayfield/Goderich and finally back to Los Angeles. Much of the story takes place in Stratford in June of 2020 - there is no pandemic, and the Stratford Festival season is not cancelled!
Some interesting guests visit Stratford and the Cottage on Caledonia B&B, while murder and mayhem occur in Goderich and Bayfield, where the author’s family once owned a cottage overlooking Lake Huron.
The stalking death of the actress Rebecca Schaeffer in 1989 along with the author’s police experience and love of crime mysteries inspired the plot.
About the Author (and co-host of the Cottage on Caledonia B&B)
Al was born and raised in Stratford ON. He attended the University of Western Ontario, graduating in 1978 with a BA in Social Sciences. In May 1980, Al was sworn into the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), and his career took him and his family to Nipawin SK, Ottawa ON, and Prince George and Surrey BC. Al joined the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), working out of Ottawa Region from 1985 to 1988 before returning to the RCMP, retiring from the force in 2003. During this time, Al was also seconded from the RCMP as an UNCIVPOL Peacekeeper to the former Yugoslavia from May to November 1992 where he worked in Croatia and Sarajevo.
After retiring from the RCMP, Al worked for McDonald's Restaurants of Canada as the Western Canadian Security Manager, and briefly as the National Security Manager until 2014. During his time with McDonald's, Al was assistant manager of their Global corporate presence at the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in Beijing China and managed security for McDonald's at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver BC. As part of his role, he provided personal security for several VIPs who did promotional appearances for McDonald's, including Beyonce, Rod Stewart, Serena Williams, Yoa Ming, Wayne Gretzky, Brian Burke and several others.
Returning to Stratford in 2013 after over 33 years away, Al and his wife Sue opened their bed & breakfast, the Cottage on Caledonia B&B, in the summer of 2016.
Quote from the Author
I completed the first draft of this novel during the pandemic which was a dark time personally and likely for others of us who suffer from PTSD. The process of writing was very therapeutic! Louise Penny’s Gamache series influenced my process however I did not want to create a fictional “Three Pines”. Instead, I wanted to promote my hometown and the Stratford Festival’s 2020 season, so I set my crime mystery at our own Cottage on Caledonia B&B in Stratford. The theatres, restaurants and businesses referred to are real – we were all impacted by the pandemic years – so hopefully my novel will encourage more visitors!
This is an adult piece of fiction inspired by the infamous stalking and murder of a talented young actress in 1989, but with a modern twist to internet stalking. My police experience does seep into the story; the disturbing scene a rookie officer witnessed in the early 1980s is shared with readers in the Prologue. Criminal investigations, and in particular homicides, suicides and crimes against women and children, are very disturbing and take a toll on first responders. I hope sharing this story helps readers to empathize with first responders, and support legislation and enforcement against evil and criminal use of the internet.
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C$25.00Price
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