By Nancy K. Crevier

The journalist in her is apparent in the facts and detailed background information that round out The Case Files Of Detective Laszlo Briscoe, but local author Andrea Zimmermann's newest book, published just this month, is her first step outside of the genre of non-fiction.

The book is a compilation of 63 tales of crime, murder, and mayhem that actually took place in Newtown between 1889 and 1933. Always interested in criminology and crime stories, Ms Zimmermann first created a series of 20 articles, beginning in 1998, that ran in The Newtown Bee when she was a full-time reporter for the newspaper. The stories were told from the point of view of a fictional character, Detective Laszlo Briscoe, who offered insight not only into the crimes perpetuated, but also into the social mores of the era.

"It was the idea that there must have been more to this town than meets the eye that got me going on this series," said Ms Zimmermann. "By using a fictional character to tell the crime stories, I felt that it would add interest for the reader and make the rather complicated language syntax of the day more accessible to the reader," she explained.

Detective Laszlo told his tales, then languished in her clippings for several years.

"I would look at the clips now and then, and it was like Laszlo didn't want me to stop, but I wasn't really sure what to do with him until I took the Gotham Writer's Course mystery writing class," said Ms Zimmermann. She submitted her clips of the true crime stories and a teacher helped her pinpoint what had been holding her back from turning the series into a book.

"Being a journalist, I had to allow myself latitude to tell the story. The crime facts are all true, but Laszlo is fictional, and I needed to have some fun with that."

Beginning in early 2008, she began rewriting and expanding on the original stories from the series, and further developing the character of Laszlo Briscoe. The sleuth remains a bit of a shadowy figure, aloof from those around him, and that is intentional, said the author. The reader discovers that Detective Briscoe has a humorous side, is thoughtful and intelligent, that he wields a Smith & Wesson, and scouts about Newtown garbed in a long duster over the fashions of the times; but every reader is invited to imagine the face they want, the build they want, the swagger or stride that they prefer to conjure. His voice, however, is not left to the imagination, said Ms Zimmermann.

"I felt the language was a critical piece. It couldn't be too old-fashioned or it wouldn't be comprehensible, but I didn't want him to sound too modern, either," she said. "I had to take the sentence construction of that time period and make it 'reachable' for the readers, yet make it believable for Laszlo."

As the book began to take shape, Ms Zimmermann realized that she wanted to steer clear of the telltale mark of a self-published book, "the simple template-driven cover art," she said. So she turned to the expertise of graphic artist Ray Shaw, with whom she had worked when writing C.H. Booth Library History. As the reference librarian at C.H. Booth Library, Ms Zimmermann had also worked closely with Mr Shaw in the development of a number of graphic designs for the library, including the Newtown READS and the institution's 75th anniversary logo.

"I saw The Case Files of Laszlo Briscoe as an opportunity to extend book jacket design to the interior pages and provide the reader with visual stimulation beyond the words," said Mr Shaw. The result is a collaboration of ideas by the author and artist of illustrations, icons, a map, and hobo signs that help convey the feeling of that period in Newtown history, he said.

"At one time, at least 140 trains stopped in Newtown each day, meaning that they brought a lot of business to town, but also a lot of the criminal element willing to prey on those businesses, and a lot of hoboes, too," said Ms Zimmermann. "That's where the train icons and hobo signs come in. It was Ray's idea to use the little period icons as headers for each chapter, and to use the hobo signs at the end of each chapter," she said. "I researched the hobo signs and we decided to include a key to those signs at the beginning of the book for the reader, and I tried to match up a hobo sign with something in the story."

The front cover is Mr Shaw's vision of the detective chasing a horse thief up Church Hill Road, in a style reminiscent of art at the turn of the century. It is actually layers of artwork that create the complete effect. Subtle handwriting, Mr Shaw's own, creates a background of words from one of the stories. A second layer of silhouetted images is topped by yet another layer of those of the icons — a locomotive, a flag, a caboose pursued by a vagabond — and then finally, the inky shadow of Detective Briscoe, his trusty weapon raised to fire.

"Ray's cover is just terrific," said Ms Zimmermann. "He so perfectly captured the essence of the book and era. Ray's artwork is so snazzy and unexpected that I wouldn't be surprised if people bought this book just for the cover art," she said.

Despite the hobo signs and stories like "The Case of the Hobo Hold-Up at Hawleyville," many of the most dastardly deeds that pepper Newtown's past involve personal crimes committed by familiars, Ms Zimmermann discovered.

"The worst were not by hoboes," she said. "The real violent ones were so surprising to me, like the murder of a woman right on her front steps of a Main Street home in broad daylight."

"The Case of the Body Buried in the Wall" tells of the gruesome discovery of an infant's mutilated corpse hidden in a stone wall; "The Return of Wife-Beating 'Red Jack'" and "The Case of the Unclothed Skeleton" reveal a darker side of the village not usually presented in town histories.

Detective Briscoe reveals, too, that Newtown's criminals were not the product of any one district: neighbors, friends, family, and foes turned to the dark side in Taunton, Sandy Hook, Hattertown, Hawleyville, and Botsford. They burgled, bribed, beat, and burned their ways from the top of Slut's Hill, down The Street, to Daniel's Farm, Maynard's Barn, and the borders of the town.

"Many of these are crimes of revenge, passion, and despair," said Ms Zimmermann, "and the justice meted out by vigilantes like the White Caps, who were not uncommon in Newtown at that time. You can't make this stuff up. I couldn't have done a fictional book and had the crimes be as incredible or even funny as they actually were," she said.

Thanks to the enthusiasm and support of friends and family who took time to proofread the book, review the manuscript, and make suggestions, Ms Zimmermann said that she is looking forward to a successful run of The Case Files Of Detective Laszlo Briscoe.

A book signing and author's reception will be held Tuesday, June 17, from 7 to 9 pm, at C.H. Booth Library Meeting Room. Hardcover copies of The Case Files of Detective Laszlo Briscoe are available at Drug Center Pharmacy, Newtown General Store, Koenig's Frameworks, and C.H. Booth Library for $20. Copies of the book will also be available for purchase at the signing.

Andrea Zimmermann is a local writer with an interest in history and preservation. She is the author of Eleanor Mayer's History of Cherry Grove Farm, published in 2005 by Newtown Historical Society. She has been a features writer for The Newtown Bee, and a freelance journalist for The New York Times Connecticut Weekly section, and regional magazines. She has been an interviewer and editor for the Newtown Oral History Project, and established and was director of the Newtown Historical Images Archive.

Ms Zimmermann holds a BS in social work, an MA in English, and a Master's in Library and Information Sciences. She is a reference librarian at C.H. Booth Library.

She is currently working on another book, a completely fictional story; criminal elements included, of course.

Illustrator Ray Shaw has focused his career on communications and designer for major international marketing companies for over 30 years, is a consultant to the package goods industry, and is a partner in a virtual branding and design organization. He is a graduate of Massachusetts College of Art.