Buckelew Mansion makes it into New Jersey crime anthology novel.
By: Leon Tovey
JAMESBURG The Lincoln Coach has gone missing.
The coach, donated by borough founder James Buckelew to transport the 16th president through Trenton in 1861, has vanished from its display room at historic Lakeview: Buckelew Mansion, and only the chief of police can solve the mysterious disappearance.
But can he overcome his grief at the recent loss of his wife and his own skepticism about the old mansion’s ghostly past in time to save one of the borough’s most beloved pieces of history?
That’s the question posed by former borough resident and author Nancy Quatrano in "Mayhem at the Buckelew House," one of 14 mystery stories that make up the recently published anthology, "Crime Scene: New Jersey."
The anthology, which contains stories set in a variety of locales familiar to New Jerseyans, was published in March by the Central Jersey chapter of Sisters in Crime, an international organization of women mystery writers.
J.J. DuMont, the current president of SIC’s New Jersey chapter and author of "Jersey City Baggage," one of the stories anthologized in the book, said last week that the collection has sold far better than anyone in the group had initially expected.
"We printed 300 copies and around 190 have been sold so far," said Ms. DuMont, a borough resident. "And this is all just word of mouth. This was the product of three years work, so it’s been really gratifying to see the response it’s gotten."
The stories in the collection range from straightforward who-done-its to taut psychological thrillers to haunting mysteries. Each is set in a historic New Jersey location, Ms. DuMont said, among them Cape May, Lambertville, Waterloo Village, Drumthwacket and one even takes place in a NJ Transit train.
Ms. DuMont said each of the collection’s 11 authors is from New Jersey, and that many of them live and or work in the towns they wrote about (though Ms. Quatrano recently moved to Florida) a fact that allowed them to capture the important details of each place.
"Even though you write fiction, you have to be factual," Ms. DuMont said. "And that’s even more true the more fantastic the story is."
Helping writers nail down the little details that make even the most outlandish premise seem believable is part of what SIC is about, Ms. DuMont said. The group, which meets the fourth Saturday of every month in Manalapan, has hosted guest lecturers on forensics, law enforcement and legal procedure. In May the group will meet in Jamesburg and get a tutorial from members of the Borough Council on the finer points of small-town government.
Ms. DuMont said the group is also planning to bring a murder mystery to the borough later this year and to coordinate a book signing at Lakeview the next time Ms. Quatrano comes from Florida.
But before a signing can be held, "Crime Scene: New Jersey" may have to be reprinted.
"We’re hoping to print a second run," Ms. DuMont said. "I’d hate to have a signing and no books."
Sisters in Crime will meet at the Jamesburg Public Library May 21 at 10 a.m. The meeting is open to the public.

