Featured Events in Brielle in 2025 (May Updated)

A ticket includes a signed copy of the book. ABOUT THE BOOK London, 1930. The five greatest women crime writers have banded together to form a secret society with a single goal: to show they are no longer willing to be treated as second class citizens by their male counterparts in the legendary Detection Club. Led by the formidable Dorothy L. Sayers, the group includes Agatha Christie, Ngaio Marsh, Margery Allingham and Baroness Emma Orczy. They call themselves the Queens of Crime. Their plan? Solve an actual murder, that of a young woman found strangled in a park in France who may have connections leading to the highest levels of the British establishment. May Daniels, a young English nurse on an excursion to France with her friend, seemed to vanish into thin air as they prepared to board a ferry home. Months later, her body is found in the nearby woods. The murder has all the hallmarks of a locked room mystery for which these authors are famous: how did her killer manage to sneak her body out of a crowded train station without anyone noticing? If, as the police believe, the cause of death is manual strangulation, why is there an extraordinary amount of blood at the crime scene? What is the meaning of a heartbreaking secret letter seeming to implicate an unnamed paramour? Determined to solve the highly publicized murder, the Queens of Crime embark on their own investigation, discovering they’re stronger together. But soon the killer targets Dorothy Sayers herself, threatening to expose a dark secret in her past that she would do anything to keep hidden. Inspired by a true story in Sayers’ own life, New York Times bestselling author Marie Benedict brings to life the lengths to which five talented women writers will go to be taken seriously in the male-dominated world of letters as they unpuzzle a mystery torn from the pages of their own novels. ABOUT THE AUTHOR MARIE BENEDICT is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Mitford Affair, Her Hidden Genius, The Mystery of Mrs. Christie, The Only Woman in the Room, Lady Clementine, Carnegie's Maid, The Other Einstein, and with Victoria Christopher Murray, the Good Morning America Book Club pick The Personal Librarian and the Target Book of the Year The First Ladies. All have been translated into multiple languages, and many have been selected for the Barnes & Noble Book Club, Target Book Club, Costco Book Club, Indie Next List, and LibraryReads List. She lives in Pittsburgh with her family. Information Source: BookTowne | eventbrite

A ticket includes a signed copy of the book. ABOUT THE BOOK A Parisian department store, a mysterious necklace and a woman’s quest to unlock a decade-old mystery are at the center of this riveting novel of love and survival, from New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff. London, 1953. Louise is still adjusting to her postwar role as a housewife when she discovers a necklace in a box at a secondhand shop. The box is marked with the name of a department store in Paris, and she is certain she has seen the necklace before when she worked with the Red Cross in Nazi-occupied Europe —and that it holds the key to the mysterious death of her friend Franny during the war. Following the trail of clues to Paris, Louise seeks help from her former boss Ian, with whom she shares a romantic history. The necklace leads them to discover the dark history of Lévitan—a once-glamorous department store that served as a Nazi prison, and Helaine, a woman who was imprisoned there, torn apart from her husband when the Germans invaded France. Louise races to find the connection between the necklace, the department store and Franny’s death. But nothing is as it seems, and there are forces determined to keep the truth buried forever. Inspired by the true story of Lévitan, Last Twilight in Paris is both a gripping mystery and an unforgettable story about sacrifice, resistance and the power of love to transcend in even the darkest hours. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Pam Jenoff is the author of several books of historical fiction, including the New York Times bestsellers Code Name Sapphire, The Lost Girls of Paris, and The Orphan's Tale. She holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University and a master’s degree in history from Cambridge, and she received her Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania. Jenoff’s novels are inspired by her experiences working at the Pentagon and also as a diplomat for the State Department handling Holocaust issues in Poland. She lives with her husband and three children near Philadelphia, where, in addition to writing, she teaches law school. Information Source: BookTowne | eventbrite

A ticket includes a signed copy of the book. ABOUT THE BOOK From the author of Love & Saffron - Twentysomething Frida Rodriguez arrives in Paris in 1991, relishing the city’s butter-soaked cuisine and seeking her future as a war correspondent. But then she writes to a bookshop in Seattle, and receives more than just the book she requests. A friendship begins that will redefine the person she wants to become. Seattle bookseller Kate Fair is transformed by Frida’s free spirit, spurred to believe in herself as a writer, to kiss her handsome coworker, and to find beauty even in loss. Through the most tumultuous years of their young lives—personally and globally—Kate and Frida sustain and nourish each other as they learn the necessity of embracing joy, especially through our darkest hours. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Born in Seattle, Kim Fay is the author of the national bestseller Love & Saffron and Edgar Award–nominated The Map of Lost Memories. A former independent bookseller, she lived for many years in Vietnam, the inspiration for Communion: A Culinary Journey Through Vietnam. Fay now lives in Los Angeles with her musician husband, Jim Vitale, and their dog, Mabel. Information Source: BookTowne | eventbrite

In this floral watercolor class, I'll guide you through the process of capturing the beauty of nature with vibrant, delicate strokes. We'll begin by exploring various flower shapes, experimenting with color blends, and mastering the layering technique that gives depth to your work. I’ll demonstrate how to approach different florals—whether soft, loose blooms or more defined petals—while offering personalized tips for each student’s unique style. By the end of the session, you'll have a gorgeous, blooming piece of art and the confidence to continue painting florals at home. Information Source: Mady Dietrich | eventbrite

We will learn how to make an egg dough and work a semolina dough. Attendees can expect to bring home two boxes of pasta they’ve made themselves with directions on the best ways to prepare and serve to share. Everyone will also get their own gnoochi board so they can share their knowledge for years to come. Information Source: Cassie Bernardini | eventbrite

A ticket includes a signed copy of the book. ABOUT THE BOOK From award-winning journalist Jack Ford, a riveting and colorful dual timeline novel of Lee Carson, the heroic yet elusive female journalist who defied convention and danger to report from the front lines of WWII, combining breathtaking wartime narrative with a compelling Cold War espionage tale for fans of Ariel Lawhon, Christine Mangan, Pam Jenoff, and Kate Quinn. Washington, DC, April 1954: Lee Carson, former war correspondent, is frustrated that her journalism career has been relegated to society events and fashion stories. But when she receives a tip about a Russian spy in a high-ranking government position at the height of the Cold War, she feels the thrill of a story that she hasn’t felt since she was on the front lines of the European theater . . . London, December 1943: As war rages on across Europe, twenty-two-year-old Lee Carson is waging a private battle of her own. An American-born correspondent for the International News Service, Lee is determined to cover the war from the field. But no woman, certainly not an attractive young woman with no military experience, will be allowed near the front lines. Lee is not easily dissuaded. And as the Allied forces prepare to take the fight to the enemy, her gift for boosting public morale is seen a valuable weapon. Assigned to cover the build-up to the invasion of Nazi-held Europe, she constantly wrangles with authorities in order to get to the heart of the action. From talking herself onto a bomber and flying over the beaches of Normandy at the start of D-Day to other feats of daring, she witnesses and reports on the war’s most pivotal moments. Told in dual timelines, Beyond this Place of Wrath and Tears is inspired by the story of an incredible woman who has largely been forgotten by history, and who, like many women in WWII, broke barriers in wartime only to find that upon the return home, she had to continue to fight for relevance in an entirely different way . . . Information Source: BookTowne | eventbrite

A ticket includes a signed copy of the book. ABOUT THE BOOK In this sweeping gothic thriller, THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA, Lisa Scottoline transports readers to the captivatingly beautiful hills of Tuscany, where a crumbling villa hides a long-buried family secret. With her trademark combination of vivid, cinematic settings, pulse-pounding suspense, and wonderfully relatable characters, Scottoline delivers an unforgettable story of mystery and psychological intrigue. Grand Central will publish on July 15, 2025. Julia Pritzker's life has been marked by tragedy and loss. First, she loses her adoptive parents. Then, her husband is murdered. Just when she thinks she’s reached her breaking point, a letter arrives out of the blue, informing her that she has inherited a Tuscan villa and vineyard—along with a strange legacy from a woman named Emilia Rossi. But who was Emilia? Julia has no knowledge of her biological family and begins to wonder if Rossi could be a long-lost relative. Desperate for answers, Julia travels to Italy, where she is horrified to discover that Emilia Rossi was a paranoid recluse who believed herself to be a descendant of the legendary Renaissance ruler, Duchess Caterina Sforza. As Julia uncovers the eerie connections between herself, Rossi, and the infamous Duchess, she begins to feel as though she’s unraveling. Her unsettling resemblance to Emilia—and even to the powerful and enigmatic Caterina—are just the beginning. Soon, Julia suspects she is being followed, and strange, unexplainable events escalate. In a town steeped in dark history, even a chance encounter with a charming Florentine cannot calm her growing fears. As the line between reality and paranoia blurs, Julia’s search for her identity turns into a desperate race for survival and sanity, where every step forward seems to draw her deeper into a deadly conspiracy and every turn leads to a more haunting discovery, drawing her closer to a terrifying truth. THE UNRAVELING OF JULIA is a gripping thriller that combines criminal intrigue, haunted passageways, and seances with a deep exploration of family bonds, love from beyond the grave, and the unbreakable strength of female friendships. At its core, the book is a psychological journey asking readers to consider how much of who we are is determined by the ghosts of our past? And how far will we go to uncover the truth of our origins? With every page, Julia’s search for her identity becomes more than just a race for survival—it’s an exploration of how deeply the past can shape our lives and whether we can ever truly outrun its grip. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Lisa Scottoline is a #1 bestselling and Edgar Award-winning author of 37 novels. She has also written a series of humorous memoirs, co-authored with her daughter, novelist Francesca Serritella. Lisa is President of Mystery Writers of America and she reviews fiction for the New York Times, Washington Post, and The Philadelphia Inquirer. A former trial lawyer, she graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania and cum laude from its law school, where she taught Justice & Fiction. There are 30 million copies of her books in print, and she is published in 35 countries. She lives on a Pennsylvania farm with an array of disobedient pets, and she wouldn’t have it any other way. Information Source: BookTowne | eventbrite

A ticket includes a signed copy of the book. ABOUT THE BOOK James Frey, the literary force hailed as “America’s Most Notorious Author” (TIME) and the “Bad Boy of American Literature” (The New York Times), returns with his latest tour de force: NEXT TO HEAVEN, a darkly funny, razor-sharp thriller that peels back the gilded surface of America’s wealthiest enclaves. This incendiary novel delivers an addictive and voyeuristic plunge into a world where privilege, scandal, and moral decay intertwine, culminating in betrayal, chaos, and murder. Welcome to New Bethlehem, Connecticut—a town of immaculate lawns, sprawling mansions, and the illusion of perfection. Beneath the designer yoga sets and curated Instagram lives, however, lies a darker truth. At the heart of the story are Devon and Belle: beautiful, wealthy, and unsatisfied. Desperate to feel something beyond the monotony of luxury, they orchestrate an exclusive party for New Bethlehem’s elite—a spectacle of opulence and indulgence designed to push boundaries. The guest list is a who’s who of moral compromise: an ex-NFL quarterback clawing at relevance, a hockey coach with a weakness for forbidden affairs, and a Wall Street predator who treats wealth as a weapon. With biting wit and unflinching precision, Frey takes readers on a satirical thrill ride through the dark heart of privilege. Fans of The White Lotus and Big Little Lies will find themselves captivated by the twists and turns of a narrative that exposes the treachery behind the American Dream. But this is more than just a story—it’s an experience only Frey can deliver. His ability to illuminate the dangerous allure of wealth while reveling in its seductive pull makes NEXT TO HEAVEN as thrilling as it is provocative. Frey doesn’t just write about this world; he lives at its edges, channeling its contradictions into a story that is as exhilarating as it is unsettling. NEXT TO HEAVEN is a novel that proves once again why James Frey remains one of the most daring voices in modern fiction. ABOUT THE AUTHOR James Frey was called America’s Most Notorious Author by Time Magazine, and the Bad Boy of American Literature by The New York Times. He has written multiple global bestsellers, including A Million Little Pieces , Bright Shiny Morning , and The Final Testament of the Holy Bible. He has sold more than 30 million books, and his work is published in 42 languages. He lives in a small town in Connecticut. Information Source: BookTowne | eventbrite

A ticket includes a signed copy of the book. ABOUT THE BOOK James Frey, the literary force hailed as “America’s Most Notorious Author” (TIME) and the “Bad Boy of American Literature” (The New York Times), returns with his latest tour de force: NEXT TO HEAVEN, a darkly funny, razor-sharp thriller that peels back the gilded surface of America’s wealthiest enclaves. This incendiary novel delivers an addictive and voyeuristic plunge into a world where privilege, scandal, and moral decay intertwine, culminating in betrayal, chaos, and murder. Welcome to New Bethlehem, Connecticut—a town of immaculate lawns, sprawling mansions, and the illusion of perfection. Beneath the designer yoga sets and curated Instagram lives, however, lies a darker truth. At the heart of the story are Devon and Belle: beautiful, wealthy, and unsatisfied. Desperate to feel something beyond the monotony of luxury, they orchestrate an exclusive party for New Bethlehem’s elite—a spectacle of opulence and indulgence designed to push boundaries. The guest list is a who’s who of moral compromise: an ex-NFL quarterback clawing at relevance, a hockey coach with a weakness for forbidden affairs, and a Wall Street predator who treats wealth as a weapon. With biting wit and unflinching precision, Frey takes readers on a satirical thrill ride through the dark heart of privilege. Fans of The White Lotus and Big Little Lies will find themselves captivated by the twists and turns of a narrative that exposes the treachery behind the American Dream. But this is more than just a story—it’s an experience only Frey can deliver. His ability to illuminate the dangerous allure of wealth while reveling in its seductive pull makes NEXT TO HEAVEN as thrilling as it is provocative. Frey doesn’t just write about this world; he lives at its edges, channeling its contradictions into a story that is as exhilarating as it is unsettling. NEXT TO HEAVEN is a novel that proves once again why James Frey remains one of the most daring voices in modern fiction. ABOUT THE AUTHOR James Frey was called America’s Most Notorious Author by Time Magazine, and the Bad Boy of American Literature by The New York Times. He has written multiple global bestsellers, includingA Million Little Pieces, Bright Shiny Morning, and The Final Testament of the Holy Bible. He has sold more than 30 million books, and his work is published in 42 languages. He lives in a small town in Connecticut. Information Source: BookTowne | eventbrite

A ticket includes a signed copy of the book. ABOUT THE BOOK In 1846, a woman vanishes when the luxury steamship Atlantic gets wrecked in a gale on Long Island Sound. Two centuries later, her secrets are unearthed in this unputdownable novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Husbands & Lovers. Audrey Fisher has struggled all her life to emerge from the shadow of her famous mother by forging a career as a world-class chef. Meredith Fisher’s glamorous screen persona disguises the trauma of the tragic accident that haunts her dreams. Neither woman wants to return to the New England island they left behind and its complicated emotional ties, but Meredith has one last chance to sober up and salvage her big comeback. Where else but discreet, moneyed Winthrop Island can a famous actress spend the summer without the intrusion of other people? Until Audrey discovers an old wooden chest among the belongings of her estranged bartender father, Mike Kennedy. The astonishing contents draw the women deep into Winthrop’s past and its many secrets—attracting the interest of their handsome neighbor, Sedge Peabody. How did a trove of paintings from one of America’s greatest artists wind up in the cellar of the Mohegan Inn? And who is the mysterious woman portrayed on every canvas? On a stormy November night in 1846, Providence Dare flees Boston and boards the luxury steamship Atlantic one step ahead of the law—or so she believes. But when a catastrophic accident leaves the ship at the mercy of a mighty gale, Providence finds herself trapped in a deadly game of cat and mouse with the one man who knows her real identity—the detective investigating the suspicious death of her employer, the painter Henry Irving. As the Atlantic fights for her life and the rocky shore of Winthrop Island edges closer, a desperate Providence searches for her chance to escape before the sea swallows her without a trace. In Under the Stars, the destinies of three women converge across centuries as a harrowing true disaster at the dawn of the steamship era evokes a complex legacy of family secrets in modern-day New England. Beatriz Williams has written a timeless epic of mothers and daughters, of love lost and found, and of the truths that echo down generations. ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Beatriz Williams  is the  New York Times  and internationally bestselling author of  Husbands & Lover s and many other novels, including four novels in collaboration with bestselling authors Karen White and Lauren Willig. A graduate of Stanford University with an MBA in finance from Columbia University, Beatriz has won numerous awards for her fiction, which has been translated into more than a dozen languages. Beatriz lives near the Connecticut shore with her husband and four children. Information Source: BookTowne | eventbrite