Wednesday 1 July 2009

Murder in a Good Cause

Carolyn Roe, writing as Medora Sale.

What a lovely book! Set in Toronto, with familiar locations for me here in Central Ontario, the victim has a cottage in Bala, lovely coincidence! Familiar enough with the city, I can create the scene in my imagination - a nice treat.

I quite like the book, a murder-mystery. With lots of procedural details, familiar police protocols for Ontario, clever plotting and 'chemistry' between characters, Harriet Jeffries & John Sanders , it is a terrific summer read. I packed it on my trip to the north!

After twisting my ankle (and not climbing big rocks), hubby's pension worries, finding ant damage in our walls, and rot in an eavestrophe malfunction, it is so delightful to escape reality into a novel that creates realistic characters that I like, with a plot that makes sense, and twists that I (in my middle-aged befuddlement?) cannot perceive.

The author has a number of book out. What I like about the book list, inside the front cover, is that they place the year beside it. Nothing like trying to determine which order they are written in!

For more:

Writing as Medora Sale: the Harriet Jeffries/John Sanders series:

Murder on the Run. Toronto: Paperjacks, 1985
Murder in Focus. New York: Scribners, 1989; Toronto: Penguin, 1989
Murder in Good Cause. New York: Scribners, 1990; Toronto: Penguin, 1990
Sleep of the Innocent. New York: Scribners, 1991
Pursued by Shadows. New York: Scribners, 1992
A Short Cut to Santa Fe. New York: Scribners, 1994

Awards:
Winner, Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel, 1986 ñ Murder on the Run
Nominated, Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original. Remedy for Treason
Nominated, Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel, 1999. Remedy for Treason
Winner, Barry Award for Best Paperback Original, 2000. An Antidote for Avarice
Nominated, Anthony Award for Best Paperback Original. An Antidote for Avarice

7 comments:

Kathy Holmes said...

How fun - especially when the location feels like a character - I love to experience new places in my reading or even revisit old places - look at my own city in a new way.

The Weaver of Grass said...

I am always pleased for a book recommendation - then when I go to the library I can look for the author, rather than cast about in a random fashion. Shall let you know if I enjoy it too Jenn.

David Cranmer said...

I hope your ankle gets better and it sounds like you have a good book to see you through.

Barrie said...

How in the world have I never read a mystery by Carolyn Roe? Have I been living under a rock??? I'm definitely definitely ordering this book. I love a mystery. Add in Toronto (where I grew up) and Bala (where we had a cottage), and I'm so there! BTW, I'm baking butter tarts to take to July 4 party on Sat. Happy Canada Day, Jenn!

Jenn Jilks said...

Thank you, David. I'm busy chasing after a granddaughter this week. Good physical therapy!

Barrie, my hips don't need butter tarts, but I did salivate! I'm glad your work on the book club resulted in a new book author for you!

Sarahlynn said...

Oooh, I love mysteries, I love books set in Toronto, and I'm so grateful for a book list with years! Thank you for this review!

Jenn Jilks said...

It's true, Sarahlynn, many list them inside their books, but no year attached. One listed them in reverse chronological order and I started reading the last one first. What a mistake, as they did develop the detective character over time...