Noah and Annie Drinkwater, lead characters in Murder Is Always Evil

When Noah was 14 yrs. old and Annie was two years older, their parents were killed outright by a speeding truck which hit them head-on as they were driving back from Falmouth on Route 1. Annie and Noah were left with nothing but their grief. If it hadn't been for Jim Aleynby and his offer of a home, they don't know what would have happened to them. Their parents had never said if they had relatives in Maine or even mentioned if other family existed.

Jim Aleynby's family had helped to settle Deanes Island and he was the largest landholder. His farm was well-established and self-supporting. He and his Uncle had worked the farm together, and after his Uncle died, Jim had continued on his own.

When Noah and Annie came to live with Jim, he told them he expected Noah to help him run the farm and care for the woodlots, and Annie would help Mabel in the kitchen and learn to run the house. If they did well in school, he would pay for a college education. He was a thoughtful and loving caretaker and taught Noah and Annie well. They came to love him, too.

Noah decided he wanted to become a policeman and joined the Portland Police Department after high school. Annie chose college and earned her teaching certificate at Gorham Normal School in Gorham, Maine. Noah moved back to the family home after he had been hired as the Police Chief for Deanes Island and Annie found a small apartment near the school where she teaches.

             Picture of the Principal's residence at Gorham Normal School.