Maryan ‘Granny’ Grima was born in Valletta, Malta on May 21,1940. As the “most beautiful woman and best dancer on the island,” she caught the attention (much to her parents' chagrin) of Malta’s bad-boy bachelor, Jojo Grima. One night at a social club on the Sliema seaside, Jojo spotted her and asked her to dance with him. Although her chaperone turned up her nose at the idea, Maryan snubbed all opinions but her own and danced with him anyway.

Jojo and Maryan married only three years later and lived a colourful life in Malta before immigrating to Toronto in 1965 with their children Karen, Gisel and Dany. The family returned to Malta in 1967 to help with a family business before succumbing to their itchy feet and hitting the road in their tiny Simca. They drove through Europe, eventually taking a boat from England to New York. In New York, they asked a passerby “Which way to Vancouver?”. From there they took off westward.

Maryan and Jojo drove through Europe, eventually taking a boat from England to New York. In New York, they asked a passerby “Which way to Vancouver?”. From there they took off westward, picnicking their way to the west coast. There, she started working at Woolco, a discount department store, a welcome escape from her full house. Later she transferred to their Halifax location following Jojo as he pursued a masters from Dalhousie University.

In 1973 the family made their final move to Toronto and opened Crime House Bookshop on Queen Street East. Not knowing one mystery author from another, Maryan hastily read the back of every book, and listened intently to her customers, becoming a mystery novel aficionado. Maryan and Jojo settled in the Beaches and welcomed ten very good-looking grandchildren into the world over the span of 13 years.