Author Carol Kent Bartolet, a former resident of New Philadelphia and Bolivar, is joining Infinity Publishing in introducing the third book in her “Favors” mystery series. The latest book, Family Favors, will be released soon. This book has been dedicated to the author’s best friends, both New Philadelphia residents, Patricia Strickling and Barbara Tipka.

The book signing party will be held Thursday, August 11, and the public is invited to attend. The event will be held from 1-4 p.m. in the lovely English garden area of the 1863 vintage Italianate home owned by Tom and Patricia Strickling. Their Heritage home is located at 319 Fair Ave. NW in New Philadelphia. Refreshments will be served and door prizes awarded.

The previous novels, Favors and Fatal Favors, began the story of elderly and wealthy Palm Beach resident Emily Vanderhorn. Quirky characters and unusual “score settling” continue the saga. This time Emily has joined her family on a well deserved Caribbean cruise vacation. Unfortunately, a group of Somalian pirates has plotted for years to infiltrate the cruise line, working as waiters and maintenance men. These violent men are now all aboard the same mega cruise ship, the M.S. Pinnacle.

When the ship is hijacked it’s hard to know who to trust. During the chaos, Emily receives a shocking cell phone call with a message from her secret past. Despite the distraction and working against time, Emily, now almost 80 years old, decides to capture the pirate leader on her own.

Bartolet graduated from Kent State University and St. Joseph’s College in Maine. She now lives in Florida with her husband, Don. Her late mother, Jean Kent, was also an author of romance novels and a past resident of New Philadelphia.