Winnetka shop The Book Stall (811 Elm Street) is delighted to host an evening with author Beverly Patt on Thursday, November 9 at 6:30 pm. She’ll be discussing her new book, More Than a Thief, a historical thriller based on the Lizzie Borden murders. This dark Young Adult mystery based on a true crime takes readers on a ride of amateur sleuthing and is perfect for readers ages 13 and up. This event is free with registration. To register, please visit our website or CLICK HERE.
 
More About the Book:  In 1892, in the bustling town of Fall River, Massachusetts, 16-year-old Victoria feels trapped by her high-society, pre-debutante life. Not only is she forced to have a chaperone for anything outside of the house, but she is also stuck playing nursemaid to her mother, who suffers from an unexplained paralysis. Victoria's only escapes are visits with her neighbor Miss Lizzie Borden, reading Sherlock Holmes serials, and, when the urge overtakes her, stealing.
 
When her next-door neighbors Mr. and Mrs. Borden are murdered, and Lizzie is accused of committing the acts, Victoria begins crossing paths with apprentice detective Declan Dempsey as they both search for the truth. Victoria doesn't believe that Lizzie committed those murders, because if her friend has a dark side, what does that mean for Victoria and her own sordid secret?
 
Cara Robertson, author of The Trial of Lizzie Borden, says, “More than a Thief is a delightful addition to the Borden canon. An ideal introduction to the case for young adult readers, it gives us an unforgettable protagonist in 16-year-old Victoria Robbins who has a penchant for detecting other people’s secrets and must come to terms with her own."
 
More About the Author: Beverly Patt is the author of Best Friends Forever: a WWII Scrapbook, a story of friendship across cultures for middle grade readers. She has a master's degree in special education. Because of the wide age range in her classroom, Bev realized the one activity her students could all do together was to listen. She made a point of reading to them every day, and then began writing stories herself. When not writing, Bev plays and coaches tennis, knits badly, and reads obsessively.