Plot of my latest novel, The Thin White Line, playing out in the headlines
Because my 14 novels mirror societal issues and current events, it’s not surprising that some of them, or at least parts of some of them, are, well, prophetic.
For example, my latest novel, The Thin White Line – Culture War with Deadly Consequences, self-published January 1 of this year, begins with two Canadian Armed Force reservists offloading an illegal shipment of small arms and munitions from a boxcar in the middle of the night.
Further into the story, the reader learns that these arms are to be used in a domestic terrorist attack that is designed to destabilize the federal government allowing an ultra nationalistic movement led by a charismatic retired Canadian Armed Forces colonel to take power.
Though this is a fictional scenario, my research into extremist elements within the CAF indicated it was not improbable.
So, when on July 8, 2025, I saw the story by the Canadian Broadcasting Corp (CBC) with the headline, “RCMP charges military members allegedly plotting to form militia and seize land”, I was surprised, but not gobsmacked.
The federal police force, The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), has charged four men, including two active members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), with being part of an extremist plot that allegedly involved creating an anti-government militia with a massive trove of weapons.
“The three accused were planning to create anti-government militia. To achieve this, they took part in military-style training, as well as shooting, ambush, survival and navigation exercises,” the RCMP said.
Searches in the Quebec City area, led to the seizure of 16 explosive devices, 83 firearms and accessories, approximately 11,000 rounds of ammunition of various calibres, nearly 130 magazines and four pairs of night-vision goggles (see the picture within the article). The RCMP said some of the seized items were military equipment, but wouldn’t confirm if that included weapons.
The number of Canadian military members belonging to extremist groups is growing and it’s getting harder to detect them, says a new report looking at racism and discrimination in Canada’s armed forces.
The CAF have been under pressure to better handle soldiers drawn to hateful views and extremism. A 2022 report* from the military’s advisory panel on systemic racism and discrimination found widespread problems in the military, including the presence of white supremacists and those inspired by ideologically motivated violent extremism.
Another example of life imitating art? I hope not.
*Read the report here
The Thin White Line – Culture War with Deadly Consequences, a racially charge novel of political suspense, domestic terrorism and murder is available at https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003DS6LEU
30
