Katherine Jacques 

The Pettes Memorial Library and Knowlton Players are joining forces to present a new play, If Books could Kill, by Laura Teasdale. This fundraising event, coming in July, is a murder mystery comedy based on real-life events. 

The year is 1894. It’s an hour before the opening ceremonies of Quebec’s first free public library, Pettes Memorial. A whole community of volunteers are here to make this night an extravaganza that will go down in the history books. Tonight must be flawless. No mistakes and certainly no murders! 

As an astounding show of support for the library, international best-selling author Louise Penny has agreed to play the key role of Narcissa Pettes, the woman behind the opening of the Pettes Memorial. 

Writer Laura Teasdale says. “I remember years ago, when I first learned about the amazing Narcissa, I thought she deserved a play. She was so strong, intelligent and brave. What a trailblazer. Now here is Louise Penny, another trailblazing woman, who also wants to do something incredible for the community in honour of her late husband, Michael Whitehead. The parallels between the two women are so obvious and so touching. I wrote with such delight knowing not only would I get to see Narcissa come to life, but I would have the perfect person to portray her.” 

The mystery/comedy opens, in a tent on the library lawn, Saturday July 9 at 2 p.m. with a gala Saturday evening and two more shows Sunday at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale on June 4 at noon. Visit knowltonplayers.com or pettes.ca for more information.