Local Author Leslie LeDonne To Host Valentine’s Day Book Signing For “Killing Henrietta” In California

CALIFORNIA, Md. — While many Valentine’s Day plans revolve around flowers, dinner reservations and chocolates, one Southern Maryland author is offering something a little different this year — a chance to explore a story rooted in love, loss and a decades-old mystery.

Local author Leslie LeDonne, whose book “Killing Henrietta” examines the 1959 rape and murder of Leonardtown resident Henrietta Ragan, will host a Valentine’s Day book signing on Saturday, Feb. 14, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Blair’s Jewelry and Gifts, 22861 Three Notch Road in California.

The setting may seem unexpected, but the themes at the heart of the story — love, trust and the fragility of life — make the day fitting in a reflective way. LeDonne’s nonfiction work revisits the still-unsolved homicide that shook Leonardtown more than six decades ago, a case that remains part of local memory.

Since its release, “Killing Henrietta” has sparked renewed interest in the case, community conversations and gatherings honoring Ragan’s memory. The Valentine’s Day signing offers readers an opportunity to meet the author, discuss the research behind the book and reflect on a story that continues to resonate locally.

For LeDonne, the event is not just about books — it’s about remembrance.

“This is about keeping Henrietta’s name alive,” she has said previously. “She was loved. She mattered.”

Blair’s Jewelry and Gifts, known as a longtime local business, will host the event from late morning through early afternoon, giving shoppers, readers and curious community members a chance to stop in.

For those looking for a Valentine’s outing that blends local history, meaningful conversation and a different kind of story to take home, the signing offers a thoughtful alternative to the usual plans.

Because sometimes, the day that celebrates love can also be a moment to remember a life — and a story — that should never be forgotten.

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