ELLOREE -- An author and former special agent and forensic photographer with the State Law Enforcement Division will hold a book signing at the Elloree Heritage & Cultural Center on Saturday, March 7.

Rita Shuler, who worked with SLED for 24 years, will sign copies of her latest book, "Small Town Slayings in South Carolina," from 3 to 5 p.m.

During her career with SLED, Shuler developed a passion for remembering the victims. She takes readers back in time, showing differences and similarities of crime-solving in the past and present and illustrates some surprising twists of court proceedings, verdicts and sentences.

The fast-paced, factual and fascinating look at crime focuses on murder cases from St. Matthews, Orangeburg, Eutawville and Walterboro. From an unsolved case that has haunted her for 30 years to a cold case that was solved after 15 years by advanced DNA technology, Shuler blends her own memories with extensive research.

Shuler is also the author of two other crime books, "Carolina Crimes" (2006) and "Murder in the Midlands" (2007). The signing will feature all three books.

"The Shuler book signing is open to the public, and no reservation is required," said Adadra Williams, administrative manager of the Elloree Museum. Williams invites attendees to Elloree's "Cooking on Cleveland," which will be going on during the same hours. The event is a local cooking contest between Elloree's civic groups and businesses, and samples are free to the public.

For more information about the book signing, call the museum at 803-897-2225. For more information about Cooking on Cleveland, call the Town of Elloree at 803-897-2821.

T&D Correspondent Shirley Upton can be reached by e-mail at writer@ntinet.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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