In coastal Maine in the 1870s, an unforgettable tragedy happened to a quiet Norwegian family. A cold winter evening saw three women unexpectedly left alone on a small island when their men had to stay overnight on the mainland. A killer overheard their circumstance, stole a boat and rowed 10 miles to commit a crime that still looms large in Seacoast history.

On Tues., Feb. 16, at 7 p.m. in Dover Public Library’s lecture hall, David Faxon will discuss his book, “Cold Water Crossing: An Account of the Murders at the Isles of Shoals.”

The talk centers around the controversy surrounding the trial of Louis Wagner, the rich history behind the Isles of Shoals that led the author to write the book, some facts about the Atlantic coast resort industry which may have begun at the Isles, how he researched the book and what he’s discovered about writing in the process.

Faxon is a retired chief financial officer who is now working on his second book. Dover Public Library is at 73 Locust St., Dover, 603-743-6050.