Author Ken Sheldon will read from his newest book, “Deep Water—Murder, Scandal, and Intrigue in a New England Town,” on Saturday, July 30, at 10 a.m. in Bass Hall at the Monadnock Center for History and Culture, 19 Grove St., Peterborough.
In the waning days of World War I, William K. Dean was murdered, his body hogtied and dumped in a rainwater cistern on his farm in Jaffrey. Suspicion quickly fell on Dean’s wife, who was in the early stages of dementia. Her friends, outraged at the accusations, pointed instead to a former tenant of Dean’s, whom many suspected of being a German spy. Others believed that Dean’s best friend Charles Rich – a politically powerful banker and judge – was involved.
“Deep Water” is based on his Sheldon’s research into the Dean murder, including thousands of pages of FBI documents, grand jury testimonies, newspaper accounts, private correspondence and the archives of the Jaffrey Historical Society.
“I began writing ‘Deep Water’ because I thought William Dean deserved justice, even a century later, and the truth needed to be told to whatever extent I could uncover it,” stated Sheldon. “I’m also grateful to the Monadnock Center for History and Culture and the Peterborough Town Library for their help in researching the book.”
Sheldon is a freelance author whose work has appeared in magazines, including Yankee Magazine and New Hampshire Magazine, where he has been a regular contributor. He is the author of several books, including “Welcome to Frost Heaves” under his pen name Fred Marple, as well as books published by Yankee, Time-Life, Rodale and others. On July 30, he will read from “Deep Water,” discuss the process of its writing, answer questions and sign copies of the book, which will be available for sale.
The event, presented by the Monadnock Center for History and Culture, Peterborough Town Library and the Toadstool Bookshop, is free open to the public. For information, call 603-924-3235 or send email to director@monadnockcenter.org.