NOT a BOOK CLUB: Abingdon's Boardinghouse Murder, 23 October | Event in Marion | AllEvents

NOT a BOOK CLUB: Abingdon's Boardinghouse Murder

Smyth County Public Library: Marion Library

Highlights

Thu, 23 Oct, 2025 at 06:00 pm

118 S Sheffey St, Marion, VA, United States, Virginia 24354

Advertisement

Date & Location

Thu, 23 Oct, 2025 at 06:00 pm (EDT)

118 S Sheffey St, Virginia 24354

118 S Sheffey St, Marion, VA 24354-2524, United States

Save location for easier access

Only get lost while having fun, not on the road!

About the event

NOT a BOOK CLUB: Abingdon's Boardinghouse Murder
Join us on for the first meeting of NOT a BOOK CLUB, where we pair books with movies or recordings that correspond to the book. Don’t have time to read the book in advance? Maybe the screening will inspire you to go back and read the book. This month’s pairing is…
.
OCTOBER 23rd @ 6pm – Abingdon’s Boardinghouse Murder by Greg Lilly (2024, eBook available free on Hoopla)
Read the book before, or not, then come watch a screening* of author Greg Lilly presenting his research, interviews, and methodology in writing the book, previously recorded by and screened with permission of the College for Older Adults in Abingdon, VA. On a bitter November night in 1945, a widow shot her young boarder, a WWII veteran, and left him to die on the floor of his room. Helen Clark tossed the gun under the neighbor’s porch and then took a taxi to join her teen daughters at a movie in Bristol. When the body was found, after several conflicting statements, she settled on the claim that he shot himself four times, twice in the back. The Commonwealth of Virginia called it murder in a jealous rage. The trial enthralled the nation. The historical true crime explores the lives and conflicts of the victim and the accused, as well as the culture, lore, and legends that have grown over the past eighty years. The book is nominated for best non-fiction awards for the Agatha (Malice Domestic convention), the Anthony (Bouchercon), the Macavity (Mystery Readers International) and earned a spotlight by the International Thriller Writers.
.
Additional scheduled meetings of NOT a BOOK CLUB include:
.
DECEMBER 18th @ 6pm – The World’s Worst Opera Singer
.
The BOOK: Florence! Foster!! Jenkins!!! by Darryl W. Bullock (2016, eBook available on free Hoopla) OR the BOOK: Florence Foster Jenkins by Nicholas Martin (2016, eBook & audiobook available on Hoopla) paired with the MOVIE: “The Florence Foster Jenkins Story” documentary* directed by Ralf Pleger (2022)
.
FEBRUARY 19th @ 6pm – On the Trail of Murder
.
The BOOK: The Monster of Florence by Douglas Preston (2008, available as both eBook & audiobook via Hoopla) paired with the MOVIE: “The Monsters of Florence” documentary directed by Paul Russell (2022)
.
APRIL16th @ 6pm – A Musical Legend
.
The BOOK: Madonna: Like an Icon by Lucy O’Brien (2009, eBook available free on Hoopla) paired with the MOVIE: “Crazy for Madonna” documentary* directed by Carla Duarte (2021).
.
Have questions?
Contact Rachel Gibson
Adult Programming Librarian
(276) 783-2323 ext. 231
cmFjaGVsZyB8IHNjcGx2YSAhIG5ldA==


Also check out other Entertainment events in Marion, Arts events in Marion, Literary Art events in Marion.

interested
Stay in the loop for updates and never miss a thing. Are you interested?
Yes
No

Ticket Info

To stay informed about ticket information or to know if tickets are not required, click the 'Notify me' button below.

Advertisement

Nearby Hotels

118 S Sheffey St, Marion, VA, United States, Virginia 24354
Get updates and reminders
Advertisement
NOT a BOOK CLUB: Abingdon's Boardinghouse Murder, 23 October | Event in Marion | AllEvents
NOT a BOOK CLUB: Abingdon's Boardinghouse Murder
Thu, 23 Oct, 2025 at 06:00 pm