Don’t forget! Kickoff party tonight at 7 for ‘The Scientists and the Spy’

by Marlene Berlin

A reminder that the kickoff event celebrating the new serial mystery novel based on Forest Hills history is TONIGHT from 7 to 9 p.m. at Forest Hills of DC (4901 Connecticut Avenue).

1952 aerial view of the National Bureau of Standards campus on Connecticut Ave (from the NIST archives)

Since Forest Hills Connection’s beginning three years ago, I have wanted to publish a serial mystery based on our local history. The opportunity presented itself when a neighbor, Marcia Pearcy, introduced me to Anthony Dobranski, an author and fellow resident of Forest Hills. He was into writing science fiction, but was willing to further investigate my idea of a serial for the Connection. I introduced him to some of our local historians: Marge Elfin, Ann Kessler and Anne Rollins. He delved into the history of Forest Hills, including articles that Kessler had written for the Connection on the National Bureau of Standards physicists. He was hooked.

Dobranski decided to focus on 1942, when the scientists at the Bureau were doing research on improving our weapons, including an atomic bomb. It was, he thought, the perfect setting for a spy thriller. At tonight’s gathering, we’ll learn more about this setting from Forest Hills historian Margery Elfin and Jim Schooley, an author and long-time employee of the National Bureau of Standards. And Dobranski will talk about his writing process and do a reading from the novel-in-progress. The first chapter of The Scientists and the Spy has already left readers wanting more. What will we find in the next installment?

For more information click here. It promises to be a delightful evening. We hope to see you there!