Otter Tail County’s most legendary event comes to life on Tuesday, April 22, 7 p.m. as Janet Preus debuts her new book, “The Thirteenth Crime: The Ghosts of Injustice in Frontier Otter Tail County.”

Even though the notorious murder of Lillie Field and subsequent hanging of Nels Olson Holong took place 138 years ago, it still holds people’s attention. Preus made the rite of passage by visiting the pig farm in 1996 and while she did not see any ghostly figures or hear grunting swine, Lillie had her attention. She recalled, “this must be the way ghosts operate, invading our consciousness and just staying there.”

Meticulously researches and compellingly written, “The Thirteenth Crime” details early county crimes, including seven unpunished murders. After Holong was captured, this legacy was on everyone’s mind. Holong was not the only one on trial; Otter Tail County had never punished a murderer.

Janet Preuss will be signing books starting at 6:30 p.m. with her program at 7 p.m. For more information contact the Otter Tail County Historical Society at (218) 736-6038. This event is free and open to the public.