Virtuous DECEIT

"I want to know if any of these are stolen," said Cameron.There fell several gold chains, rings, brooches, and uncut diamonds of varying shapes and sizes. An intricate Victorian necklace, set in gold with small pearls was striking and caught Elizabeth's eye.In this fourth instalment of An Elizabeth Grant Mystery, Grant & Lefebvre, Private Investigators, have a new case. In 1935, private investigator Frank Lefebvre goes undercover to expose Hermione Cumberland, a shrewd businesswoman entangled in a Ponzi scheme and smuggling stolen jewellery from Montreal's organized crime syndicates. But when the plan to trap her backfires, Frank finds himself framed, with all the evidence pointing to him.As her trusted partner faces arrest, Elizabeth Grant must unravel Hermione's web of lies before it's too late. With the help of Peter Darvis, Elizabeth follows a trail to a mysterious farmhouse hiding deadly secrets. Racing against the clock, she must prove Frank's innocence and outwit a cunning adversary who always seems one step ahead. Is this foe's deceit really virtuous?In a world where trust is elusive and nothing is as it seems, Elizabeth Grant must uncover the truth-no matter the cost. I was born in the Laurentians of Quebec, in the year when "Perry Mason" first made its debut on TV and when Slinky and Hula Hoops were popular toys! And yes, the TV set was in black & white!

My interest as a writer revolves around history, genealogy and women's stories within those contexts. I find that women have been understated in our historical narrative, and I am trying to correct that one story at a time.

I have written over three hundred articles for The Cornwall Local, a now-closed Torstar website. Unforgotten Mary Mack was my first book, the biography of a unique lady, the first female city councillor in Cornwall, Ontario. In addition, several short stories have been published in collections, magazines and newsletters. I write in both French and English.

I joined the Canadian Armed Forces when non-traditional trades were opened to women to take advantage of its learning opportunities. I was an airframe technician (aircraft mechanic) for 12 years. My first posting was in Trenton, Ontario, and it is along Highway 2 and Prince Edward County that I fell in love with the Ontario red brick houses and learned about Loyalists.

Because it was my dream to go to university someday, I left my military career to start a BA Honours in Geography at the University of Regina, Saskatchewan. I chose geography because of its broad scope of places and people. A mental hyperactive, there is always the need to keep busy and do different things, hence my ever-changing work life!

Now retired, I live in Cornwall, Ontario, where I volunteer with various heritage, history and genealogical groups. My partners in crime are KC and Oscar, my two rescue cats.

My love for history, old buildings, and Cornwall is one constant in all of this.