Erasing Memory: A MacNeice Mystery

MacNeice #1

by Scott Thornley

Detective Superintendent MacNeice is returning from a pilgrimage to his wife’s grave when he’s called to a crime scene of singular and disturbing beauty. A young woman in evening dress lies gracefully posed on the floor of a pristine summer cottage so that the finger of one hand regularly interrupts the needle arm of a phonograph playing Schubert’s Piano Trio. The only visible mark on her is the bruise under her chin, which MacNeice recognizes: it is the mark that distinguishes dedicated violinists, the same mark that once graced his wife. The murder is both ingenious and horrific, and soon entangles MacNeice and his team in Eastern Europe’s ancient grievances.

Erasing Memory is a thrilling and assured debut that kicks off an exciting new crime series from Scott Thornley.

Genres: Mystery, Canada, Fiction, Detective, Crime, Murder Mystery, Procedural

320 pages, Paperback

First published January 11, 2011

Reviews

[Paul Weiss · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Check and see if anyone else has had a brain melted by acid”!

ERASING MEMORY is Scott Thornley’s clever and sardonic summary of the expedient murder technique of injecting sulphuric acid into the victim’s brain by plunging a syringe into their ear canal! The victim in this local Hamilton, Ontario, police procedural is Lydia Petrescu, a singularly beautiful and talented young violinist. The investigation quickly reaches across both time and geography plunging Detective Superintendent MacNeice into Romania’s troubled history of rivalries with neighboring Bulgaria, suppression under Communist Russia and the brutal dictatorship of Nicolae Ceaușescu, not to mention the frightening prospect of renewed experimentation with terrifying weapons of biological warfare.

Some cynical readers will perhaps comment that the construction of Superintendent MacNeice’s character is derivative. Certainly MacNeice’s fondness for a good grappa is reminiscent of Inspector Banks’ love of a finger or two of scotch. His musical knowledge and appreciation of jazz will certainly remind readers of Michael Connelly’s Harry Bosch. MacNeice’s brooding over the untimely loss of his wife to illness, not to mention his warm relationship with his young colleague, Fiza Aziz, will perhaps remind Canadian readers of William Deverell’s Vancouver lawyer, Arthur Beauchamp and his endless fretting over the loss of his wife to infidelity. Last but hardly least, MacNeice’s use of observational skills as an aid to an arsenal of more typical police methods is obviously Thornley’s homage to Sherlock Holmes. But derivative? I think not. The depth, the detail, the sincerity, the warmth, the likeability factor, the camaraderie, and the courage of Superintendent MacNeice make him very much his own man. MacNeice is a character that any reader will want to learn more about and a creation whose further adventures and growth every reader will doubtless look forward to.

Readers local to the Hamilton, Ontario, area are in for an added special treat. You’ll doubtless feel like a silent passenger sitting on MacNeice’s shoulder as you clearly visualize the local scenery and colour, and the genuine flavour, scenery and culture of particular neighbourhoods that are generously spread throughout the novel.

Highly recommended. I can hardly wait to begin MacNeice #2 THE AMBITIOUS CITY.

Paul Weiss

[Monnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My honest thought as I finished this book? Thank goodness I got my hands on it before relations between the United States and Canada started to go you-know-where in a handbasket. That's because, I'm delighted to report, I've found a new series to love.

Well, sort of new; apparently, it was first published in 2011, so I'm not sure why it hasn't made it across the border till now. I am quite certain, though, that I want to read more about "Mac" MacNeice (oddly, I don't recall seeing a first name), a senior police detective in the fictitious Dundurn, Ontario. Apparently, there are three more books to be released between now and November, so there's plenty to look forward to.

I really love MacNeice, who is still grieving the loss of his beloved wife. Oh, there are hints of a possible personal connection with his co-worker Fiza Aziz - herself an interesting person in that she's a Muslim with a doctoral degree - but nothing serious developed by the end of this book. Is it a thriller? Not really; I'd characterize it as a basic police procedural (albeit with a unique method of murder), and for the record, that's my favorite kind of book.

As he returns from visiting his wife's grave, MacNeice gets a call to a murder that took place in a remote beach house. For more than one reason the woman can't be readily identified, but a bruise under her chin tells MacNeice that she was a violinist - as was his late wife. The rather horrific way she was killed doesn't help much in the clue department, so the motive remains a mystery as well.

But with input from the unusually perceptive MacNeice and investigative work by Fiza and other very capable (and likable) co-workers, the woman is finally identified; she'd recently graduated from a conservatory and apparently was headed toward a career as a professional musician. She had a wealthy businessman for a father, giving rise to the possibility that her murder may have been intended as some kind of message to him. But then, another body turns up - and connections between the two murders begin to take shape, as does the investigation itself. As much as anything, I enjoyed the character development and interactions; there are a few plot twists and life-threatening situations that keep the intrigue going, but at the same time I finished the book with a full set of intact fingernails.

In short, this was a joy to read (and thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy). Now if I could just get my hands on the next one, hint, hint...

[Scott Thornley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Someone once told me, when I was a kid, 'don't underestimate your dreams'--of course at the time I had no idea what to do with the information--dreams came and went.
I've realized, after writing Erasing Memory, that listening to dreams and in my case writing them down, means a lot more than I ever thought possible.
Erasing Memory was inspired by 6 or 7 months of dreams. Those included in the first novel are as they occurred. I am now convinced that dreamstates are partners to waking creativestates. Erasing Memory is a triple entendre--and one helluva ride.

[Eric Morneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

après avoir lu les 2e, 3e et 4e Tome de la série, j'ai enfin lu les débuts de Macneice et j'ai vraiment beaucoup aimé. mis à part quelques points qui laissaient à désirer et qui, je penses, ne se produiraient pas dans la vrai vie. Quand ils laissent le copain seul dans sa chambre d'hôtel au lieu de rester avec lui pour que rien ne lui arrive. sinon, ça se lit tout aussi bien que les autres livres de la série

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until this, I had never read a book for the reason I read this one. I picked up this book solely because of its location. It’s set in a fictional town that’s actually Hamilton, Ontario, and one of my husbands is from there and since a book is much cheaper than a plane ticket I decided to read this until I can visit his hometown.

For knowing only the location of this book before reading it, I was up for anything. It ended up being a pretty great mystery that had a really unique case at the center of it. The writing was good but not great. This was his first novel and for that it’s pretty great but the editor in me saw some awkward sentences that could have been improved. That’s pretty nit-picky though, isn’t it?

The character development of MacNeice, the detective, was excellent. He has recently lost his wife to cancer and his inner dialogue of how he misses her was heartbreakingly beautiful. The small details of how they would drink espresso together, their vacation memories, her side of the bed, all of it was very well written and made even my cold heart warm up a little.

There’s a sequel, THE AMBITIOUS CITY, that I also have a copy of and I will start that one soon. As far as I know, this is all he’s written but if anyone else has any book suggestions that take place in Hamilton, Ontario, shoot them my way!

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well done-- first book in a series taking place in Hamilton, ON. Unusual murder method and a good cast of characters.

[Deborah Duncan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where has this series been hiding from me, a devoted mystery reader, since 2011? I have now completed all four titles in the MacNeice Mystery series, and hope that Thornley is planning more! I have been living in Hamilton, Ontario for the past two years, and part of my enjoyment of this series came from recognizing locations. But these fast-paced police procedural murder mysteries have a lot more going for them. They remind me of Peter Robinson's Inspector Banks series: A main character who seems like a real person with flaws and diverse interests, surrounded by a great team, locations that he describes so well that you can see them as you read. And let's not forget the involved plots that keep you riveted! He also explores Hamilton's industrial and gang past, while portraying the city's great location on the Niagara Escarpment. The first murder in book two, "The Ambitious City," took place at the bottom of the Escarpment stairs that I climb every day, now every time I clamber down, I think about what "happened" there! Start with book one, and carry on the end, you won't regret it!

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would be number two on my “2011 Favorites So Far” list.

“Mac” MacNeice is a homicide detective in Dundurn, Ontario (which bears a striking resemblance to Hamilton, Ontario where the author grew up). Driving home from visiting his wife’s grave he picks up a police call about a girl murdered in a remote cottage on the lake. Mac’s investigation leads us through an interesting suspect pool involving Eastern Europeans still reeling from the fall of Soviet Union.

The story in itself was very good, but I especially liked the characters that Mr. Thornley has given us. Mac is a complex man with interests so far removed from his job that he cannot help but be a little unique. I liked the Southern Ontario setting, as it was fun to try and guess the locations in the book, and that definitely added to my personal enjoyment. Although the plots are not similar I enjoyed this book for much the same reasons as I enjoyed The Calling by Inger Ash Wolfe. If you also enjoyed The Calling then this first time author is a must read.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable police procedural, Canadian-style. We meet Detective Superintendent MacNeice of the Dundurn (a thinly-disguised version of Hamilton, ON) police force, for the first time, along with his team of detectives. It's pleasant, for a change, to step away from the typically hard-boiled detective that usually appears in such novels. MacNeice is decent, a little bit flawed, and very likeable. (He's the kind of detective we'd like to meet if we ever needed one!)

I didn't find this to be especially mysterious, or thrilling -- as the jacket promises -- but that's not a huge condemnation, in this instance. Although the dialogue is sometimes awkward, even stilted, the narrative flows well and keeps you engaged. I look forward to meeting MacNeice again in future novels.

[Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intense! I received this book free from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Written by Scott Thornley, and published by House of Anansi Press, Random House/Penuin Canada in 2018, the book was originally copyrighted by the author in 2011. The title seems appropriate to the story. Detective Superintendent MacNeice serves in the fictional Southern Ontario port city of Dundurn. Story-Dundurn is an industrial city located not too far from Toronto and Buffalo, and on one of the Great Lakes.. The real Dundurn, however, is a small village located in central Saskatchewan, and is far from being industrial, or a port city. The fictional city of Dundurn seems to be closely modeled after Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

We are never told MacNeice’s first name, which I thought was a clever stratagem by the author. The story begins with the horrific murder of a beautiful and gifted young violinist who has just graduated from the Conservatory of Music. She has a rewarding future ahead of her, and no enemies in the world. Could her murder be a message to somebody else—another member of her family, perhaps? MacNeice and his team of dedicated detectives are relentless in their search to find out. Another murdered body is found, and it is determined that the two murders are related. Detective Inspectors Fiza Aziz, a Muslim and a female with a PhD, and Michael Vertesi, of Italian descent and proud of it, are joined later in the case by Detective Inspector Montile Williams, a black man, and Detective Swetsky, of Polish descent, but whose exact rank we are never told. These members of the team all hold MacNeice in high regard, and they all work well together as a tightly-knit group to solve the case.

Author Thornley develops the plot smoothly, and the action is relatively constant. Throughout the story, more and more of what probably happened is revealed to the reader in a skillful manner. I found almost all of the dialogue to be credible for Southern Ontario in the modern era. The author pays attention to character development, too. There is enough, but not too much, detail about the detectives and their lives and families to convince us that they are real people, and not just caricatures. There is sufficient detail to convince us that Dundurn might be a real place in Ontario, Canada, although the author might want to consider using a real city, such as Hamilton, instead of a make-believe city, for future novels. Other authors are able to use fictional characters in fictional stories set in real places quite successfully. Michael Connelly and John Sandford come to mind.

I did find a couple of inconsistencies. Perhaps they were because an author not from Canada was trying to write a police procedural set in Canada. Good editing and a bit of research could solve these kinds of problems, I believe. One thing that struck me as odd was the author’s assertion that MacNeice often took off his shoes when sitting in his office cubicle on a raised floor under which ran “. . . power, Internet and phone cables . . .” MacNeice could then “. . .feel it vibrating gently with the constant hum of words and images being transmitted to and from the unit.” Dramatic, but not realistic! Those are electrons flowing through those cables. They travel at the speed of light. They don’t vibrate. And even if they did, no human could sense such high-frequency vibrations. I found this at Location #460 in the Kindle edition of the book.

At Location #841: “Bookner moved the throttle forward to glide into the area where he’d sighted the body . . .” and Vertesi hits his head on the edge of the wheelhouse roof because of the sudden deceleration. The problem with that is that the throttle on such a boat would be moved backward, and not forward, to slow the boat.

At Location #1919, Detective Superintendent MacNeice becomes Superintendent Detective MacNeice—his title is backwards. Good editing would have caught this error. At Location #2557, MacNeice says that “We’ve all got pagers . . .” They don’t, but they all have cell phones. In a couple of places in the book, we are told that MacNeice carries a revolver in his police car glove compartment, and sometimes on his belt. Then, at Location #2952, we are told that one of the detectives has “a forty-four on my hip.” Again, not likely. Almost all police departments in North America have switched from revolvers to semi-automatic pistols. Although the RCMP (Mounties) have standardized on the 9mm Glock or Sig Sauer semi-automatic pistol, there is no forced standardization for local and provincial police. Most of them, however, have adopted the 9mm or the .45ACP round as the one that is issued to officers. Dirty Harry movies notwithstanding, it is extremely unlikely that a police officer or detective anywhere in Canada would be allowed to carry a handgun as powerful as a “forty-four.”

All in all, this is a good story, and it is well-written. I like this author, and I intend to read more of the MacNeice series of novels which, I believe, now numbers three. You will probably not get bored reading this story, and you might have difficulty putting it down. I know I did. If you like police procedurals, and if you don’t mine the fact that this one is set in Canada, then I highly recommend this book. All five stars are awarded. I really enjoyed this one.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

MacNeice is a senior police detective in the city of Dundurn, a fictional city in Southern Ontario. While returning one evening from visiting his wife’s grave, he is called to a crime scene. A beautiful young woman who has just graduated from Conservatory, is found dead in a luxurious lake cottage. The crime scene is pristine and the girl has no identification with her. MacNeice and his team have their work cut out for them finding a suspect and a motive. When they find out the girl’s father is a former Romanian microbiologist and investigation turns international and gets really messy.

This is a great beginning to a new series. MacNeice is a top-notch detective with a definite soft-spot. The death of his wife has left him a bit of an emotional mess and I think the author did a really good job of portraying that aspect of him. He has a couple of great characters on his team, Aziz and Verestri, who all work together brilliantly and offset each other’s strengths and weaknesses. I found the storyline fascinating. The manner of death in particular got my attention because of its uniqueness, and I just couldn’t stop until I knew how this had come about and who was responsible. The international intrigue that is brought in through the Romanian connection really amped up the drama of the story. There are fistfights and gunfights and car chases for those who like thrills with their mysteries. I would definitely recommend this book for mystery and thrill lovers.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book - Erasing Memory - as an ARC at the recent 2017 Bouchercon (crime book convention, held in a different North American city each year - if crime is your bag, I highly recommend going), this year held in Toronto. I spotted someone putting half a dozen copies down on the swap table from their ruck sack. Ever the book slut, I grabbed a copy after checking it was 'my kind of crime' - that said I didn't much like the tone of the blurb, not sure why - but it was a freebie, so what the heck. Right?

(Here comes the tricky bit: I don't read reviews, and only spot scan blurbs, because I love to read a book (or see a movie) as a cleanskin, with NO idea apart from the cover art as to what I am in for. So, my review here will be very generic.)

The book is very well written, with characters that were complex and that I cared about, and with a plot that was compelling. If the other books in the series (also not to be published until 2018) were to hand, I would have grabbed the next one and kept on reading.

This book was published originally under a different imprint in 2011, but I am glad it will reach a new audience. I will certainly be seeking out the other books in the series next year. Recommended.

[Heather · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ½ stars. This is an easy-to-read Canadian police procedural. Like other reviewers, I enjoyed the fact that it takes place in southern Ontario. The background to the murder and the motive are quite unique. I felt invested in the characters, and I intend to read the follow-up.

That said, I struggled with the dated way in which women are portrayed. Every woman under forty, from the murder victim to a detective and a witness, is described in terms of her physical beauty, and the men they interact with cannot resist seeing them romantically and/or sexually, despite any professional boundaries. Another shortcoming was a huge and completely obvious gaffe by the lead detectives which led to terrible consequences. The detectives do not inform their boss about their error, nor did they face any repercussions. The detectives leave a witness who is staying in a hotel because he fears for his life alone so he can shower. It's hardly surprising when he's killed mere minutes later. The fact that everyone moves on like this is no big deal is especially strange given that the detectives' boss had been hassling them on their progress and missteps up to that point! This was a little difficult to swallow.

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got an ARC from NetGallery for this book, which is supposed to publish in June 2018, but I see various other sources that say it's already published internationally. It's a police procedural with likable, believable characters, including the protagonist, Detective Superintendent MacNeice. The plot involves the death of a young violinist in a most unusual way. For the most part, I enjoyed the book and its small twists and turns, but the last chapter left me very unsatisfied. No spoilers here, but the book got wrapped up in too neat a bow for my tastes, and I have to think I won't be the only reader to feel this way. Overall, I'd recommend Erasing Memory if you enjoy police crime stories. My ARC had the first chapter of the book to follow this one, "The Ambitious City," and I do think I'd like to read it based on this first MacNeice book.

[A. Macbeth’s bks · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only 335 Goodreads star-ratings for this detective murder mystery novel, ERASING MEMORY, by Scott Thornley. But I do recommend more people ought to read and rate it because for Canadian content, it’s rather a good yarn. I rated it 3 stars-somewhat enjoyable but with a few flaws- although I was so irritated by the flaws that I could have given only 2-stars. The effective, sympathetic depiction of the main protagonist MacNiece saved the extra star-rating for me. I have the next instalment in this series, THE AMBITIOUS CITY, on hold in Libby app at the local library.
So the ambiguity of the fictional setting irritated me. I got an inkling of the region because I was geographically knowledgeable about the Niagara Escarpment, only termed ‘the escarpment’ in this story. Only in the Epilogue’s scene did we know exactly where we were situated -on California’s Pacific Coast Highway, one of the official scenic highways of America, that must have been to give us the nice high-note ending.
I couldn’t believe a word about the female assistant detective character, not a believable character for me in any way; hopefully she’ll not figure at all in the rest of the series.
I was flabbergasted to find the big overarching motive for the goings-on had to do with the lethal environmental pollution and corruption for which in real life the United Nations Environmental Programme ran a multi-year project named THE DANUBE RIVER BASIN AND BLACK SEA ENVIRONMENTAL RECOVERY PROJECT. They did a bunch of sporadic, half-assed recovery projects here and there, not even that many, and then the project terminated quite a few years ago, the Black Sea stayed an anoxic cesspool. Today the region has gone environmentally to hell in a hand-basket . Whatever.
Setting, characters, motive.
Have a lovely day ! ✌️👻

[Cynthia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this police procedural/crime type drama. It takes place in Canada, & kind of reminds me of a British police procedural.....maybe somewhat like P.D. James' Adam Dalgliesh series (which was excellent!). It revolves around a likeable group/team of Detectives that seem to work together well ...will be interesting to see how they develop as the series continues. The book read really fast, the story compelling & keeps your interest.....I hated to put it down! I'll definitely be watching for the next installments of this series & will easily recognize Scott Thornley's name!
I received this e-galley from NetGalley, in return for my own fair/honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Heidi | Paper Safari Book Blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really good police procedural set in Canada. MacNeice leads an interesting team of detectives all with their own quirks. This is a smart book and MacNeice is a complex man of many talents, he recently lost his wife and seems to be grieving but you see hints of him starting to move on.

The characters are well developed and you really start to get a feel for them before the end of the book. The mystery is disturbing but not too graphic or gory and most of the action centers around the actual police work in trying to solve the case. There is a big emphasis on team work and not just one great cop getting all the glory. Each one has their moment to shine.

I believe this is the first of a new series and can't wait to see where the author takes this.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My husband suggested I read this book as the author was a Hamilton classmate of his during high school.
I am a mystery lover and this one had me stuck on my butt reading as often as I had the free time.
He sets the story in the fictional town of Dundurn, but we all know it's really Hamilton. In fact, several times names were mentioned or places described, I'd ask my husband and he'd confirm and explain where they were.
I was hooked by the MC character Mac. He was such a well-rounded chief inspector with a diverse set of interests and a humane disposition. His colleagues were a diverse group and made for interesting relationships and situations.
It was a unique and different 'murder', making it a challenge to try and figure out.
Loved this and am already starting book 2 in the series.

[Sudhagar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never heard of this author before but was pleasantly surprised to find it to be a very good read. The story is set in a fictional town in Canada and about a murder investigation of a young violinist. I liked the fact that the hero (MacNeice) is rather an unusual detective with his sophisticated manner and refined taste. The story too is very interesting and fast moving with a likeable supporting cast. I also loved the strong writing and dialogue.

However, I felt the ending to be the weakest part of the story. The logic doesn't add up or believable. This is such pity as the story starts very strongly. However I have become a fan of Scott and I will be reading his other books too. Fans of sophisticated police novels should give Scott a try.

[D.J. Adamson · Rating 4 out of 5]

No spoilers here. I am not going to tell you what type of acid. But you will be shocked.
There are a great many things I like about this novel.
It offers a different, unique and interesting way to bump a beautiful woman off.
Detective Superintendent MacNeice is captivating .
As the plot lays out, Thornley offers the same questions the reader is asking, offers clues for the answer, and then comes up with a theory...one that sometimes goes astray. I felt like I, too, was on the crime scene and had my boss on my rear end to get the case solved.
This novel is pre-order, but I like pre-ordering a good book. It gives me something to look forward to, and surprises me when it arrives.

[Cathryn Wellner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm shocked to see so few reviews of Scott Thornley's debut mystery novel. It's darned good. Even for us fans of literate fare such as Louise Penney provides, Thornley is an excellent addition to the cannon of readable, engaging mystery fare. The plot had enough twists to keep me engaged. The characters were interesting enough to keep me rooting for them. The book felt like a newbie addition to the genre but was good enough to make me cheer for the author. So, go ahead, grab this as a beach read, knowing you'll be in good hands.

[Jean Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have not read a novel with such a unique method of death for the victim. It was intriguing. It kept me reading. Then I felt the story became predictable. It seemed the author had this great beginning and then didn't quite know where to go with the story. Macneice the detective investigating the case is interesting enough I would like to read more about him. Liked the setting Dundurn and the minor characters as well. Would like to read more by this author

[Mirrordance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un po' giallo un po' intrigo internazionale. Ambientato in una città fantasiosa del Canada, intreccia un giallo classico (una bellissima e giovane musicista uccisa in un modo atipico, con crimini di guerra e vendette personali.
Un investigatore segnato dalla perdita della moglie musicista e che viene attratto da questo delitto e dalla complessa "ritualità" che si trova davanti. Non convincente al cento per cento. Più interessanti i personaggi che la trama. Da vedere i volumi successivi.

[Warren Layberry · Rating 2 out of 5]

Picked up the audiobook based on the reader (Richard Poe, who is terrific) and thought I had lucked out. Here was a Canadian crime procedural by an author I wasn't aware of with a number of books to his credit.

That I can't be bothered to finish it with all that going for it says how dumb it was. The writing itself is not bad, I'll grant that (it's the only reason it earned one of the two stars), but the story itself is just silly and strained. Too bad, I was all cued up to like it.

[Jean-paul Audouy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best crime novel I’ve read in a long time. The writing is precise and fast-paced, the murder at the core of it horrendous, and the characters are both heroic and vulnerable. Plus, it’s happening in southern in Ontario and I can almost visualise the feel of the place. Some expressions gave away the Canadian mood when one of the detectives asks for a “double-double” coffee… Now I can’t wait reading the rest of the series.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a murder mystery with a really different method of committing the crime.

There was a lot going on involving a local crime that ended up having European ties. The lead investigator, MacNiece, is an interesting character and I look forward to reading the other books in this series.

I found this book on the House of Anansi website.

[Mark Edlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mystery series - it is always nice to find a new mystery author. Thornley delivers a great whodunit starting with a gruesome murder of a beautiful woman and what goes on to becoming an interesting backstory. He is a Canadian author who invents a fictitious city called Dundurn which is masquerading as Hamilton without the Ticats.
No pharmacy references.
Too many Canadian references to record.

[Mar · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 My cover was different, but I had no options for choosing it. I picked up the book b/c it is set loosely in Hamilton ON--here the fictional town of Dundurn. However, the plot was convoluted and I wasn't satisfied with the reasons for the murder of the young violinist. However, I did enjoy the character development of some of the police officers.

[Sunshyne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, great characters I enjoyed their quirks. A good police procedural book. There was nothing that stood out other than the characters from ant other who did it books, Who did it was no surprise.

[Donna Mcnab · Rating 4 out of 5]

This appears to be the first mystery book written by this Canadian author. I enjoyed the main character, Detective Superintendent MacNeice, and will look forward to reading the further books in this series.