The Body on the T is the second book in the Windflower mystery series and it follows up on the highly acclaimed premiere, The Walker on the Cape. The story begins when a body washes up on a beach near Grand Bank, Newfoundland. There is no identification on the body and few clues to identify who the person was or where they came from. The case becomes the responsibility of Sgt. Winston Windflower of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and his trusted side-kick, Corporal Eddie Tizzard.
But this is just the beginning. There is also a devastating accident on the highway and another suspicious death to deal with. Throw in a rogue police officer and an international drug ring operating in the waters off the coast and Windflower’s peaceful world is turned upside down. This time Windflower’s adventures take him to the scenic town of Burin where Captain Cook once patrolled the waters looking for French mercenaries. And to historic St. John’s where he faces down an armed suspect on a parking garage rooftop in the midst of a busy downtown evening.
Along the way Windflower also continues to enjoy the food and home-style hospitality of this part of the world. Cod tongues, pan seared scallops and even figgy duff become part of his diet, and his long list of favourite foods. Windflower may be a long way from his Cree home in Northern Alberta but he has found a new place to love in the fog and mist of Newfoundland.
Grand Bank, southeast coast of Newfoundland Canada. This is the little part of heaven where RCMP Sergeant Winston Windflower, his girlfriend, Sheila Hillier, his sidekick , the incessant chattering Corporal Eddie Tizzard and his other interesting friends get to spend a quiet uncomplicated life.
Their days are filled with culinary delights, chess- and card games and generally as little trouble as possible. But that was before a body is discovered on the T and a fortune cookie promises him exciting times ahead. With the cod fish industry going belly up, a few people in town have to find other ways of keeping the peanut-butter cheesecake affordable and on the menu for many, and their conduct promises to give a totally different meaning to the concept of exciting times...
For some people, trouble is their comfort zone, and where there aren't any, they create it in any which way they can. After all, a little bit more trouble can bring a little bit more monetary cushioning in their lives. They are a bunch of characters that would stir the pot considerably for Winston Windlfower: people such as Claude Lapierre; Roger Buffet; and Ernie Daley, the slime bucket, who does not mind the "hoccupational azzards" his aspirations would incur; and the mayor, Francis Tibbo, waddling in on the action, sputtering "What is going on in this community, Sergeant? Dead bodies being found by children as they play on the beach? A well-known community member dragged out of the water? People want answers, I want answers!" His attempt at righteous indignation came across as shrill and fatuous. Francis Fatuous. It fits indeed.
From then on, not only the cod tongues gets steamed up, or fried, with scallops on the side, dished out with a rosé sauce made of tomatoes, fresh, cream, black pepper, onions, and some Parmesan cheese. Like the cod and vegetables forming a scrumptious community on the plate, the people of Grand Banks are in for a serious drill on the grill of bad intentions and good guys stepping in to save the day in a thrilling adventure along the beautiful coast lines of Newfoundland. Nothing will ever be the same.
Like the sauce, the story promises to be just as tart and tangy. Exhilaration and drama drives this easy, decent read. It is a fast read, yet slow enough to include a complete image of life in Grand Bank Newfoundland. The detailed scenery, the history, dialects, recipes and many more information in the plot- building, ensure that this is undoubtedly a feel-good read.
I recommend this book to the reader who enjoys a good story that would not spread gut and gore all over the ocean floor. It is clean, fresh and perfectly spiced.
Charming sense of place/setting (Newfoundland-Grand Bank, Marystown, etc), depictions of culture, and delicious descriptions of food! Support Canadian authors!
Sergeant Winston Windflower’s peaceful days and straightforward police work ‘dodging moose and reckless teens’ comes to an end when an unidentified body is washed up on the shore of the interestingly named ’T’ near Grand Bank. As he and Corporal Eddie Tizzard begin their investigation it’s soon apparent the case is much more involved than first thought, especially when thousands of dollars are found sewn into the dead man’s jacket lining. And to make matters worse Windflower has to suspend one of his officers. On the plus side his relationship with Sheila from the Mug-Up café has progressed and they are a solid couple.
When Windflower is recruited by Inspector Arsenault of Marystown for temporary special assignment to his drug task force team to stop a huge drug running operation. The situation is further complicated by the discovery of a second body which points to a continuation of the drug related crimes in the first book. Windflower leaves Tizzard in charge on Grand Bank while he works out of Marystown. If all that wasn’t enough Windflower has to divide his time in order to manage a critical situation in his personal life.
There are several short references to the first book that only add to the story and don’t confuse or detract, if you haven’t already read The Walker on the Cape.
I like Windflower as a protagonist very much and although there was a little more mention of his native Cree culture and traditions I felt these could have played a bigger part, perhaps more so than knowing what he ate for every meal. I did enjoy the setting very much, and the vivid scenic descriptions of the area. Also the fact that Windflower is enjoying his job running the RCMP division in Grand Bank and has become an integral part of the community.
The narrative itself is very straightforward making for an easy read. The police procedural develops at steady pace, along the lines of a cozy mystery. I love the cover image, it looks like a photograph and makes me want to visit.
The Body on the T is the second book in the Sgt. Windflower mystery series and boy is it a GOOD one !!! If you have read The Walker on the Cape, the first book in this series, you have met Windflower and have gotten to know him and his little town. If not, that is okay. Mike Martin brings you up to speed rather quickly....hee hee.
In The Body on the T you are introduced to a dead body right away....unfortunately who the person was is not known immediately as they have no identification or recoqnized as a local. Before Windflower can identify the body, it is transferred out of his jurisdiction. Windflower is also asked to leave Grand Bank for a few months to work on a case in Marystown that has to do with the Harvey Brenton case that we read about in the first book.
While Windflower is getting things ready in Grand Bank for his temporary move to Marystown, he has to suspend one of his Constables, Claude LaPierre, another body is found floating in the harbour and his girlfriend, Sheila, is in a head on collision. One "good" thing is that they know that the body found floating is Roger Buffet, a heavy drinker who owed Brenton a lot of money.
Windflower leaves everything in the capable hands of Corporal Eddie Tizzard who seems to know a little bit about everything which can be good and bad but he always seems to come out on top.
Once Windflower is settled in Marystown he finds out that the dead body found on the T that was transferred is Jean-Marc Guibert who was working for Brenton but recruited by the drug enforcement team to provide inside intelligence and he also learns that LaPierre is involved in the drug distribution network and the case that Windflower was brought in for.
Windflower has a lot on his plate with the case and Sheila's accident. Sheila is transferred to a hospital closer to Marystown which is good for Windflower, he is able to visit her daily.
There is so much more that I could tell you about the case, Windflower, Sheila, Tizzard, LaPierre and the offer that Windflower gets later in the story (tiny spoiler) but to read it in it's fullest is the best way to do it !!
I will tell you that you will LOVE the growing relationship between Windflower and Sheila, you will wish you had Tizzard's energy and you will love the person that Windflower is, as a Mountie, a boyfriend, a friend, and as just a good human being. And the devotion he has to the job and Sheila will warm your insides ......
So grab a cup of tea and a biscuit, settle in your comfy chair and take a little trip and hang out with Windflower and enjoy the ride.......
Dodging moose in the road and the occasional reckless teen driver are the highlights in Sgt. Winston Wildflower's day until a tourist family finds a body at the beach. Winston gets pressure from the waddling mayor to solve the case because dead bodies just aren't good for the economy.
His life gets more complicated when his girlfriend, Sheila Hilliard, is seriously harmed in a head-on collision with one of those reckless teens. He spends his time worrying about her being in a medically induced coma while learning the ropes in a new temporary assignment involving a multi-agency drug task force, getting his patch ready to turn over to his very chatty partner, Corporal Eddie Tizzard, and squeezing in the odd game of chess with the local coroner, another person "from away."
This is the second book in the series, but I didn't find that a minus as I normally do (I generally prefer to read in order because it increases my enjoyment). The characters refer to events in the first book, but in a way that made me want to read it, rather than be annoyed. I enjoyed the policing moments, as well as the descriptions of the locales, Winston's private life, and the meals he enjoys. Winston puts me in mind of M.C. Beaton's "Hamish MacBeth," except he's a little more even-tempered.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free copy of this with the understanding I'd do a review. I would have bought the first book and this one anyway, because I'm interested in how a Cree Indian fits into the role of an RCMP in a place far from his home. Now I'm going to go buy the first book so I can catch up with Winston's back story. I hope there are more books in this series.
The Toronto Star July 12, 2013 The Body on the T By Mike Martin
Baico, 277 pages, $22.99
With the lousy publicity the RCMP has been attracting in recent years, it might consider an ad campaign built around Sergeant Winston Windflower of the Grand Bank, Newfoundland, detachment. Windflower is the most conscientious Mountie since Dudley Do-Right and quite a bit more alert. He’s diligent, loyal, diplomatic and a Cree by birth. In Martin’s second Windflower novel, the principal police business puts our hero up against a gang of drug smugglers. But the book draws its most tense and poignant passages from a crisis in Windflower’s personal life that tests his Mountie mettle.
Jack Batten’s Whodunit column appears every second week.
From New Perspectives on Canadian Literature
The Body on the T by Mike Martin
Reviewed by Ian Thomas Shaw
If crime and cod tongues, down-home romance and East Coast hospitality are your thing, well Mike Martin’s second novel The Body on the T is for you. Martin, a native Newfoundlander, has a real flair for bringing out the charms of The Rock in the sea. The novel is also a good guide to what is happening in contemporary Newfoundland society since the collapse of the cod fishery and the advent of offshore oil.
The Body on the T is a sequel to Martin’s first novel, Walker on the Cape. In both novels, his main character is Sergeant Winston Windflower of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. But Martin’s novel are much more that the Mountie always get his man story. Windflower, a Cree from Northern Alberta, sees Newfoundland’s society from quite a unique perspective and falls in love with the small town of Grand Bank, as well as with the stunning owner of the Mug-Up café, Sheila Hillier. His idyllic existence in running the small RCMP detachment is disturbed by two drug-related homicides. Windflower is soon pulled into the intrigue of the bigger picture by Inspector Arsenault, who recruits Windflower to put an end to the largest drug-running operation on the Eastern seaboard.
Don’t expect though a fast-paced Body mystery thriller in Body on the T. That is definitely not Martin’s style. Instead, just sit back and enjoy the author’s ability to endear his main characters to his readers and teach them just a smidgeon more about Canada’s most colourful province. With two books to his credit, Mike Martin is well on his way to establishing himself firmly in the company of Louise Penny and other Canadian crime writing heavyweights. Oh by the way, if you are wondering what the “T” is, you will just have to buy a copy of the novel and turn to page three to figure out that bit of Newfoundland trivia.
The Body on the T A Sgt. Windflower Mystery Mike Martin Baico Publishing 2013
The Body on the T is the second Sgt. Windflower Mystery by Mike Martin. This is an easy to read and entertaining novel. This is a police procedural about an RCMP officer in Grand Bank, Newfoundland. This mystery proved a very welcome change of pace from heavier thrillers with nefarious villains, complicated plots, numerous characters,and a larger-than-life hero. The Body on the T is the perfect mystery if all you want to do is kick back and enjoy a good read. Available at author’s website
Sgt Winston Windflower is enjoying his posting in Grand Bank. He has a growing relationship with the owner of a local diner, a few good friends in the community, and very much enjoys the Newfoundland community where he has been posted. Things become a little less idealistic when a body is found on the beach, there is a second murder, and Windflower is asked by his boss to help bring down a drug smuggling operation. When tragedy hits close to home, Windflower has to carefully balance his personal and professional life.
The Body on the T is an excellent, lightweight mystery. This may sound pejorative to some but it is certainly not. The story is told in a straightforward, economical way that allows the reader to just enjoy the experience. Sergeant Windflower is an original and interesting character and Martin has surrounded him with a supporting cast that is just as interesting. The many little moments of local colour and history not only add to the flavor but also make a reader want to go and visit Newfoundland or buy the first book in the series.
Richard Lanoie
Other Mike Martin Reviews
The Walker On The Cape: When Elias Martin drops dead on his favourite walking route it looks like a heart attack but a closer looks puts Sergeant Winston Windflower and his Constable with the unlikely name of Eddie Tizzard into full investigation mode
When a body is found on the beach, the local Mounties, in the persons of Sgt. Winston Windflower and Corporal Eddie Tizzard, are soon on the job, never anticipating where their investigations will take them, especially Windflower. His work on a regional task force looking into a drug trafficking operation would seem to distance him from the local crime but, as it turns out, that might not be so and, soon enough, another body turns up.
In some ways, Windflower reminds me of another law officer, Commissario Guido Brunetti from the series by Donna Leon. Of course, Newfoundland and Venice are worlds apart but the sense of familiarity comes from the glimpses we get of each man’s personal life. With both, I feel as though the man is inviting me into his home and, with Windflower, that also means experiencing a small part of his Cree heritage. He is, indeed, a most interesting character and I’m also just as drawn to his colleague, the irrepressible Eddie Tizzard, and to his girlfriend, Sheila.
All of that is just a portion of Mr. Martin’s inventive and appealing worldbuilding with a setting in the cozy little fishing village that’s picturesque and filled with people who invite the reader in. I live in a coastal town about 2,000 miles to the south and I think I could be happy in Grand Bank if it was just a lot warmer 😉
Mr. Kearney continues to do a fine job with the narration and his various accents and vocalizations are a large part of my enjoyment of this series. I’ll be delighted when the audiobook of the third volume is ready.
I am reading this series way out of order because I got hooked on the later ones and wanted to know more about Sgt Windflower and his life (and bits and pieces about Newfoundland). This one really hit home for me because I used to work rehab with brain injured people until my husband died of a brain aneurysm (and many years later our #5 son recovered from one), so I can testify that the medical info about Sheila's ordeal is truth. I also used to work as nurse alongside US law enforcement so I am really curious about how the RCMP works. Enough of all that. The story is well told and I was fully invested in it from beginning to end. The characters are so very real and the descriptions of the various places Windflower is assigned to on a temporary basis (as well as his home detachment) are so clear I can see them in my mind without any effort. This is an excellent book in a wonderful series! Francis G Kearney is marvelous as narrator because I love the accent he uses and because his differentiation of characters is so very clear.
I loved the first book from the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series, The Walker on the Cape. So, I had to jump on the chance to listen to the audio version of the second installment, The Body on the T. It did not disappoint. Sgt Winston Windflower is such a lovable character and it was great to catch up with him. Especially, when I listen to Francis G. Kearney’s audio version of the story. He does not a great job bringing Mr Martin’s story to life.
I think The Body on the T is so far my favorite of the series. I am giving it five plus stars. I can not wait to read the third book to see what happens next with Sgt Windflower.
I received the audio version of this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
This was my first Mike Martin's book. This is the second book in the Sgt. Windflower Mysteries Series, sets in Canada. Sgt. Winflower is a great and fun character. His beloved, Sheila, is a lovely character. The secondary characters are also interesting. The storyline is well written, intriguing and captivating, filled with mystery and also romance. The investigation is entertaining. The scenery is well described, and we can easily imagine it. Francis G. Kearney did a great job with the narration. He has the perfect voice for this story. He has a great range of voices, and the characters were easy to distinguish. I enjoyed listening to this story. Now, I'm looking forward to listen to the first book in the Series, The Walker on the Cape.
Things I love: -- the characters - even the secondary characters are robust -- the Cree traditions and spirituality and their importance to Windflower -- some history of Newfoundland - James Cook mapped its coastline! -- the narrator, because he is a Newfoundlander whose accent brings me even closer to the story
Things I like: -- the police cases -- that the towns are real and I can find them on a map of Newfoundland and better understand locations, distances, and this lovely province
A murder mystery, second in the Winston Windflower Series.
Small community vibe immediately apparent. A bit preachy on the subject of moose and drinking and driving. The drug operation is a bit technical. Too much happening at once. Mention of Louise Penny and Joseph Boyden.
I am enjoying this series. Sgt. Windflower is enjoying his assignment in rural Newfoundland. The happenings in town and the characters are interesting and likable. The stories are local and Sgt. Windflower always gets his man. I am looking forward to the continuing saga.
Light, predictable and a delight to read. I really enjoyed this mystery. Not much substance but if you are looking for a quick read, this is it. I really enjoy the character of Wildflower and will be reading more in this series
An east coast mystery with the focus on the characters and no gratuitous violence, this slice of Canadiana would an ideal candidate for a CBC televison series.
Dodging moose in the road and the occasional reckless teen driver are the highlights in Sgt. Winston Wildflower’s day until a tourist family finds a body at the beach. Winston gets pressure from the waddling mayor to solve the case because dead bodies generally aren’t good for the economy.
His life gets more complicated when his girlfriend, Sheila Hilliard, is seriously harmed in a head-on collision with one of those reckless teens. He spends his time worrying about her being in a medically induced coma while learning the ropes in a new temporary assignment involving a multi-agency drug task force, getting his patch ready to turn over to his very chatty partner, Corporal Eddie Tizzard, and squeezing in the odd game of chess with the local coroner, another person “from away.”
This is the second book in the series, but I didn’t find that a minus as I normally do (I generally prefer to read in order because it increases my enjoyment). The characters refer to events in the first book, but in a way that made me want to read it, rather than be annoyed. I enjoyed the policing moments, as well as the descriptions of the locales and Winston’s private life, and the meals he enjoys. Winston puts me in mind of M.C. Beaton’s “Hamish MacBeth,” except he’s a little more even-tempered.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a free copy of this with the understanding I’d do a review. I would have bought the first book and this one anyway, because I’m interested in how a Cree Indian fits into the role of an RCMP in a place far from his home. Now I’m going to go buy the first book so I can catch up with Winston’s back story. I hope there are more books in this series.
This THREE STAR mystery read begins right away with an unknown body discovered in the water. It ends up being a special case that ties this book to the first book within this series. It is a good quick mystery read.
"'You are correct as usual, Sergeant, I think you patient is dead,' said the doctor." I found that the recap of the first book was short and right to the point. I find lengthy recaps annoying and this one recapped perfectly. The novel begins quick, however, it does seem to lull at some points and then once again, picks up speed and momentum as it goes.
I found that the romance within these pages was much better than the first book. However, it still seems a little too perfect and a little too written at times.
"The other thing his grandfather had told him was to enjoy the moment, because that was all we had. The past was just memories and the future was not here yet. Enjoy the moment and leave the worrying to other people." -I LOVE LOVE LOVE this quote as it is a quote that has helped me through my rough times and it was interesting seeing it within these pages. Wonderful words of wisdom.
The book was sometimes predictable, however, there were several 'I didn't see that coming' moments as well. I found that the mystery part of this book was extremely slow to develop. Also, I think the author may have a food fetish as food is mentioned WAY to often.
I found some errors within the pages, however, if you can look past those, I would recommend this novel to any readers looking for a short mystery read.
Following up The Walker on the Cape, The Body on the T is the second in Mike Martin's Sgt. Windflower Mystery series. This time the titular body is unidentified, leaving Windflower and Tizzard that much more behind in that case from the get-go. A blast from the series' past comes in the form of another body, identity known this time, linked to Harvey Brenton. Add in Sheila's near-fatal car accident and one of his own Constables' involvement in the distribution of drugs and you've got the bones for another adventure in Newfoundland with Sgt. Winston Windflower.
The tone of this installment is the same overall as the last, cozy, but there is a lot more going on here and murder is just the tip of the iceberg. Windflower's relationship with Sheila has strengthened over time so he is understandably rocked when her car is hit head-on, leaving her in a coma. He has had to suspend one of his own, Claude LaPierre, and struggles with that decision in the face of the knowledge that LaPierre is involved in the drug trade. That very narcotic activity has led to a temporary transfer for Windflower to Marystown to aid the task force hoping to bring down the illegal enterprise. On a positive note, Marystown is where Sheila convalesces so at least he can visit her regularly. There is no shortage of the homey feeling that comes from the setting, Newfoundland, nor the quirkiness of the characters. As a sophomore release, The Body on the T does its job keeping readers interested in the heart of the series, leading to devoted fans who will wait with bated breath for each new book.
This is the first book I have read by this author. By the time I realized that it was book 2 of this series I was well into the story and hooked. This author has an easy flow to his writing that makes for a quick read and interesting dialogue with well defined characters. The main character, Winston Windflower an officer in RCMP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, is a strong and resilient character who stands by the love of his life after she is in a terrible car accident. There are good friends who help round out Winston's life that keep the story well-rounded.
There are problems within the RCMP and Windflower is enlisted to head a force to round up the suspects in a drug related matter and a death or two. Windflower Is an interesting and captivating character in this series. I look forward to reading Books 1 and 3.
I was given this book for an honest and unbiased review. I found this author to be a talented writer and storyteller who is not afraid to show a sensitive side to his writing. I highly recommend this book.
Sergeant Winston Windflower is the ranking RCMP officer in Grand Bank Newfoundland. He went to examine a dead body found by a T-shaped projection out into the sea outside of town. When the body was identified the nature of the crimes they were investigating was revealed and the interest of other nearby police forces led to a joint investigation revealing some hidden infiltration inside the forces that would require careful moves to contain and control the investigation. This book could stand editing a little but it is an interesting story set in Newfoundland and I enjoyed it a lot.
It's not a bad book and I did enjoy reading it. It could have done with a bit more editing, fleshing out the characters and giving it a bit more oomph, but overall the slower pace of the novel does accurately reflect the atmosphere of smalltown life in Newfoundland.
One of the neat things about this series is that Windflower doesn't solve the case single-handed. He's part of a team; a valuable part of a team but still a team. His perspective because of his background and personality are an important contribution. Also he has to deal with juggling a crisis in his personal life as well as his job. I love the local color too.
I received this book free through Goodreads First Reads. This the first time I have read this author. This book is the second in the Sgt. Winston Windflower series, but was very easy to follow. Very detailed descriptions of the area and food. Interesting characters and dialogue. Light and easy read. I rather enjoyed it and would recommend it.