A Fatal Affair
@afatalaffair.bsky.social
Oct. 28, 1937: Helen Grier's body was discovered by her married lover, Vernon Spencer, at a hunt camp in Algoma, Ontario. Authors Amanda Capper & Judy Penz Sheluk are on the case. Did Spencer get away with murder? You be the judge.
Our January 2026 stats on Facebook are impressive. Our @bsky.app not so much. Help us grow and spread the word! www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
February 1, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Our January 2026 stats on Facebook are impressive. Our @bsky.app not so much. Help us grow and spread the word! www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
Look at us! We are the lead story on Kevin Tipple's new weekly series , Thursday Treats, on Kevin's Corner. Kevin is a blogger and book reviewer based in Dallas, Texas, and has won Best Review Site multiple times on the Critters Annual Readers Poll. kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2026/01/thur...
Thursday Treats
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January 30, 2026 at 1:51 PM
Look at us! We are the lead story on Kevin Tipple's new weekly series , Thursday Treats, on Kevin's Corner. Kevin is a blogger and book reviewer based in Dallas, Texas, and has won Best Review Site multiple times on the Critters Annual Readers Poll. kevintipplescorner.blogspot.com/2026/01/thur...
Clean up after completing the build, and a view of the finished cabin from across the lake, c 1932.
Each log would have been cut from trees further down Long Lake, loaded onto a boom, rowed back individually to the building site, then pulled up with a horse. Photos courtesy of a private collection.
Each log would have been cut from trees further down Long Lake, loaded onto a boom, rowed back individually to the building site, then pulled up with a horse. Photos courtesy of a private collection.
January 28, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Clean up after completing the build, and a view of the finished cabin from across the lake, c 1932.
Each log would have been cut from trees further down Long Lake, loaded onto a boom, rowed back individually to the building site, then pulled up with a horse. Photos courtesy of a private collection.
Each log would have been cut from trees further down Long Lake, loaded onto a boom, rowed back individually to the building site, then pulled up with a horse. Photos courtesy of a private collection.
Another interesting find: the hunt camp at Long Lake was likely completed about 1932. Here are some pix of the construction process as it nears completion (note the broadaxe used for cutting the logs).
Photos courtesy of a private collection.
Photos courtesy of a private collection.
January 27, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Another interesting find: the hunt camp at Long Lake was likely completed about 1932. Here are some pix of the construction process as it nears completion (note the broadaxe used for cutting the logs).
Photos courtesy of a private collection.
Photos courtesy of a private collection.
Helen's birth certificate is a recent find. Two interesting things learned: 1) her middle name was Almera, unusual & we can find no info on how her parents decided upon it and 2) her father was Canadian, from Hastings County, ON (approx. 750 km/465 miles from Charlotte, MI). www.hastingscounty.com
January 26, 2026 at 1:56 PM
Helen's birth certificate is a recent find. Two interesting things learned: 1) her middle name was Almera, unusual & we can find no info on how her parents decided upon it and 2) her father was Canadian, from Hastings County, ON (approx. 750 km/465 miles from Charlotte, MI). www.hastingscounty.com
After getting off the ferry, Vernon and Helen had to clear Canadian Customs though Vernon claimed to be alone (and we can assume Helen said the same).
Caption: The front of the Customs entrance of the Dominion Building at corner of Queen & East streets. Courtesy SSM Museum. Date unknown.
Caption: The front of the Customs entrance of the Dominion Building at corner of Queen & East streets. Courtesy SSM Museum. Date unknown.
January 24, 2026 at 3:14 PM
After getting off the ferry, Vernon and Helen had to clear Canadian Customs though Vernon claimed to be alone (and we can assume Helen said the same).
Caption: The front of the Customs entrance of the Dominion Building at corner of Queen & East streets. Courtesy SSM Museum. Date unknown.
Caption: The front of the Customs entrance of the Dominion Building at corner of Queen & East streets. Courtesy SSM Museum. Date unknown.
The fabulous Bethany Maines is instructing a Zoom course on plotting a #mystery. Sign up details in the doc or follow the link! www.pnwa.org/events/Event...
January 24, 2026 at 2:06 PM
The fabulous Bethany Maines is instructing a Zoom course on plotting a #mystery. Sign up details in the doc or follow the link! www.pnwa.org/events/Event...
The Algonquin Hotel was designated a historic site in June 1995. Find out more about the hotel's history on HistoricPlaces.ca: www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/p...
#saultstemarieontario
#saultstemarieontario
January 23, 2026 at 1:56 PM
The Algonquin Hotel was designated a historic site in June 1995. Find out more about the hotel's history on HistoricPlaces.ca: www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/p...
#saultstemarieontario
#saultstemarieontario
Helen Grier was raised in Battle Creek, Michigan and the Battle Creek Enquirer covered her death from the beginning. This clipping from the October 30, 1937 issue.
January 22, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Helen Grier was raised in Battle Creek, Michigan and the Battle Creek Enquirer covered her death from the beginning. This clipping from the October 30, 1937 issue.
Deciding where to spend your hard-earned author earnings? Maybe you're hoping to get published. There's a difference between conferences & conventions. SSP: More practical advice can be found in the multiple award-winning, Finding YOUR Path to Publication. #publishing books2read.com/FindingYourP...
January 22, 2026 at 2:01 PM
Deciding where to spend your hard-earned author earnings? Maybe you're hoping to get published. There's a difference between conferences & conventions. SSP: More practical advice can be found in the multiple award-winning, Finding YOUR Path to Publication. #publishing books2read.com/FindingYourP...
A group shot:
Top: The camp at Long Lake, 1937
Bottom (L to R): Dr. E. Frankish, medical examiner, Helen Grier, Vernon Spencer
Top: The camp at Long Lake, 1937
Bottom (L to R): Dr. E. Frankish, medical examiner, Helen Grier, Vernon Spencer
January 21, 2026 at 2:33 PM
A group shot:
Top: The camp at Long Lake, 1937
Bottom (L to R): Dr. E. Frankish, medical examiner, Helen Grier, Vernon Spencer
Top: The camp at Long Lake, 1937
Bottom (L to R): Dr. E. Frankish, medical examiner, Helen Grier, Vernon Spencer
From the Sault Star, November 3, 1937
January 20, 2026 at 3:01 PM
From the Sault Star, November 3, 1937
Continuing our research on @afatalaffair.bsky.social On the other hand...this rabbit hole did pique our interest, because it adds to our understanding of the area in and around Long Lake.
If you have any info on the Postal Cabins that were located in #Glendale in #Algoma, please leave a comment.
If you have any info on the Postal Cabins that were located in #Glendale in #Algoma, please leave a comment.
January 19, 2026 at 2:43 PM
Continuing our research on @afatalaffair.bsky.social On the other hand...this rabbit hole did pique our interest, because it adds to our understanding of the area in and around Long Lake.
If you have any info on the Postal Cabins that were located in #Glendale in #Algoma, please leave a comment.
If you have any info on the Postal Cabins that were located in #Glendale in #Algoma, please leave a comment.
With thanks to Sean at Baseball Almanac, Inc. for compiling this information and more as we continue our research. www.baseball-almanac.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:13 PM
With thanks to Sean at Baseball Almanac, Inc. for compiling this information and more as we continue our research. www.baseball-almanac.com
The Sault Ste. Marie Jail was Vernon Spencer's "home" as he was held as a material witness, and later, while awaiting / on trial for the murder of Helen Grier. The jail was located McNabb St. near Great Northern Rd., c. 1915. Photo courtesy of the Sault Ste. Marie Museum #saultstemarieontario
January 12, 2026 at 1:28 PM
The Sault Ste. Marie Jail was Vernon Spencer's "home" as he was held as a material witness, and later, while awaiting / on trial for the murder of Helen Grier. The jail was located McNabb St. near Great Northern Rd., c. 1915. Photo courtesy of the Sault Ste. Marie Museum #saultstemarieontario
The Crown exercised its right to hold Spencer as a material witness until the inquest into Helen's death. The concern was that he would have crossed the border back into Michigan...never to return to Canada.
January 11, 2026 at 2:41 PM
The Crown exercised its right to hold Spencer as a material witness until the inquest into Helen's death. The concern was that he would have crossed the border back into Michigan...never to return to Canada.
Bill, the current owner of the camp, has long been fascinated by the case. Many years ago, he compiled this binder of newspaper clippings from the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library archives. #communitysupport #helengriermurder
January 4, 2026 at 2:04 PM
Bill, the current owner of the camp, has long been fascinated by the case. Many years ago, he compiled this binder of newspaper clippings from the Sault Ste. Marie Public Library archives. #communitysupport #helengriermurder
Merry Christmas from Long Lake
December 24, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Merry Christmas from Long Lake
With thanks to the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, another great partner in crime! We are continually surprised by the twists and turns we encounter while researching this fascinating cold case. #helengriermurder #truecrime
December 21, 2025 at 1:35 PM
With thanks to the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, another great partner in crime! We are continually surprised by the twists and turns we encounter while researching this fascinating cold case. #helengriermurder #truecrime
December 17, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Born on December 14, 1908, Helen Grier was described as "a pretty brunette with straight brown hair, slightly over 5' in height," and a "skilled markswoman and hunter."
December 14, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Born on December 14, 1908, Helen Grier was described as "a pretty brunette with straight brown hair, slightly over 5' in height," and a "skilled markswoman and hunter."
three Christmas novellas from Bethany Maines www.thestilettogang.com/2025/12/10/c...
Christmas the Movie Way | The Stiletto Gang
A few years ago, I became interested in scriptwriting. Like many people, I assumed that after a lifetime of watching movies that writing them couldn't be that
www.thestilettogang.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:30 PM
three Christmas novellas from Bethany Maines www.thestilettogang.com/2025/12/10/c...
A fun find by the current hunt camp owner. He purchased the property many years ago but we're pretty sure the sale price exceeded $82! #truecrime #helengriermurder
December 10, 2025 at 2:10 PM
A fun find by the current hunt camp owner. He purchased the property many years ago but we're pretty sure the sale price exceeded $82! #truecrime #helengriermurder