Stung

Arthur Beauchamp #8

by William Deverell

Award–winning novelist William Deverell is back with a new Arthur Beauchamp legal thriller. Lawyer Arthur Beauchamp is facing the most explosive trial of his the defence of seven boisterous environmentalists accused of sabotaging an Ontario plant that pumps out a pesticide that has led to the mass death of honeybees. The story zigzags between Toronto, where the trial takes place, and Arthur’s West Coast island home, where he finds himself arrested for fighting his own environmental the threatened destruction of a popular park. The Toronto trial concludes with a tense, hang-by-the-fingernails jury verdict. Realistic and riveting, Stung is a propulsive legal thriller by a beloved author at the height of his powers.

Genres: Audiobook, Mystery, Fiction

592 pages, Hardcover

Published March 30, 2021

About the author

William Deverell was born in 1937 in Regina, Saskatchewan. He put himself through law school by working as a journalist for the Canadian Press, Vancouver Sun, and Saskatoon Star-Phoenix. Deverell served as counsel for over a thousand criminal cases and is a founding director and former president of the B.C. Civil Liberties Association. He created the television series, Street Legal, and has written screenplays and radio plays. Deverell lives on Pender Island, British Columbia.

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
* 1998 – Trial of Passion – Winner
* 2006 – April Fool – Winner

Reviews

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

First and foremost, a large thank you to NetGalley, William Deverell, and ECW Press for providing me with a copy of this publication, which allows me to provide you with an unbiased review.

The arrival of a new Arthur Beauchamp novel is always reason to celebrate. It shows that William Deverell has been hard at work, using his unique style to craft a truly Canadian legal thriller that has layers of strong plotting and even better off-the-cuff comments about the world in which we live. Deverell does not disappoint with this piece, which takes the reader on many an adventure, with a court case that is sure to pique the interest of those who enjoy such things. Highly recommended to those who love courtroom dramas, as well as the reader who has a penchant for all things Canadian.

It was all about the honeybee, or at least that’s what they said. Chemican-International is touting their new pesticide, Vigor-Gro, which has been useful to hep farmers and their crops, but has been wreaking havoc on the bees that try to pollinate. Rivkie Levitsky is working with a group of young eco-friendly people, all of whom are trying to make Chemican see the error of their ways. Their latest ploy is to get inside the Canadian plant outside Sarnia, where they will be able to stop things, at least temporarily.

All the while, Arthur Beauchamp (that’s “Beech’m”) has been enjoying life on his tract of land in Garibaldi, British Columbia. With his wife away serving as a Member of Parliament, he’s taken to enjoying the farm life and still thinking back on his many courtroom victories as a criminal defence attorney. Beauchamp has also been using more of his time to tend to local issues, which includes blocking an American company from mining the resources out from under him. While Beauchamp has a few minor dust-ups with the law, he’s peaceful for the most part.

Once Rivkie and her crew strike at the local Chemican plant, they cause quite the stir, which begins an extensive police investigation. The ‘Sarnia Seven’ are collected after the evidence is gathered and a few well-timed sting operations locate their lair. Helping out an old friend (and with the insistence of his wife), Beauchamp agrees to defend five of the members, prepared to use the necessity defence. While Beauchamp is not as familiar with it, he understands that arguing the act of sabotage was needed to protect the larger community—read: the bees—though this will be a hard sell.

In the lead-up to trial, Beauchamp must not only handle the cross-country travel to meet its his clients and co-counsel, but also handle some issue on the home front that he would likely prefer stay on the back burner. It’s going to be a lot to take on, especially as he has a long record of victories in the courtroom, matched against a Crown Prosecutor with an equally long string of victories. This is sure to be one trial no one wants to miss.

As the trial comes to a head, it will not only be a necessity defence that Beauchamp presents, but one vilifying Chemican-International. Fallout from the pesticide has not only been hurting the bees, but there are studies that show human consumption, albeit minutely, has been causing issues as well. Beauchamp must push this line of inquiry against the Crown’s insistence that it is futile, while the judge is keen to see things wrapped up swiftly. Add to that, there are issues within the jury that could cause things to topple over before closing arguments are finished. Beauchamp will have to use all his legal prowess, but even that might not be enough.

I discovered the wonders of William Deverell a number of years ago. His writing is not only detailed and highly addictive, but also layers the wonders of the Canadian legal system, putting a spotlight on its nuances, contrasting nicely with the supersaturation of American law in the genre. Of particular note, the Arthur Beauchamp series offers the reader a great escape into some true Canadiana with subplots that are second to none. Any reader who has the patience to sift through many of the tangential plot lines will not be disappointed with the series.

Arthur Beauchamp is a great protagonist in yet another novel. A brilliant legal mind, as is mentioned throughout the series, Beauchamp does not come across as pompous or egotistical. Quite the opposite, he struggles to sink into the background and enjoy retirement. Deverell places him in numerous sticky situations throughout the story, both of the legal and personal variety, which adds to the reader’s enjoyment. Those who have followed Beauchamp throughout the series will see how certain pieces connect in this novel, while others are new and exciting additions to an already full plate. Deverell does showcase the wonderful legal mind Beauchamp possesses, particularly in the courtroom, though the reader is not inundated with legalese that is sure to leave them befuddled.

The cast of secondary characters is quite complex and all encompassing, which adds to the depth of the narrative. The story takes place in various domains and tackles a few interconnected plot lines, all of which require strong characters to keep the momentum up. Deverell delivers unique and enjoyable characters, some of whom complement each other well, while not losing the reader in the tangential nature of the story. There are returning faces that add flavour to the story, as well as first-timers, some of whom I hope will return, should Arthur Beauchamp have more steam to offer in another novel.

The story itself was one of the best I have read from William Deverell. While it was a Herculean effort due to the details, most of his novels are, though they flow with ease. There is so much going on that the reader must almost keep a scorecard to set matters straight. Arthur Beauchamp is on display throughout, tackling so many interesting aspects of his life, as well as the case. The story is split into three narrative perspectives, which adds depth to the piece and keeps the reader pushing ahead. Add to that, Deverell has separated the book into chapters, as well as sub-chapters, which effectively serve to divide up the action for the reader. The flow of the book is not lost with the repeated divisions, though some may wonder why a more traditional approach was not taken. The narrative is sprinkled full of tongue-in-cheek moments, which lightens the mood in what is surely a high intensity piece. One cannot escape some of the science related to the topic at hand, though Deverell handles it effectively, educating the reader without drowning them in minutiae. I can only hope there is more to come, as Arthur Beauchamp is one character who never is at a loss for dramatic interactions.

Kudos, Mr. Deverell, for another stunner. I love the mix of courtroom, rural Canada, and flashy crime thriller aspects. You are in a league all your own and I hope others discover your magic. Pardon the pun, but there is a real ‘buzz’ in this piece, well worth the attention of the masses.

Love/hate the review? An ever-growing collection of others appears at:
http://pecheyponderings.wordpress.com/

A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...

[V · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stung: An Arthur Beauchamp Novel by William Deverell follows multiple different perspectives before and during a criminal trial. Arthur Beauchamp is an almost retired lawyer who hears word of a group called the 'Sarnia Seven' who are about to be convicted of multiple different grievances in the name of saving the bees. We get to read the perspective of Rivke Levitsky, one of the Sarnia Seven and Jake Maguire, a police investigator assigned to the case.

I've never read a legal thriller before so I was pretty excited to get stuck into this, and it was about bees which I absolutely love and try my best to help out when I can. This novel didn't disappoint, it was exciting and informative, realistic and captivating. Reading all of the different perspectives is probably what made it so interesting, I don't think I would've been able to stay interested in such a long novel if it was a single POV however I didn't feel bored at all throughout this book.

The one negative I have doesn't have to do with the writing however the kindle formatting is honestly the worst I have ever seen. The chapters aren't separated and there are random spaces and paragraph breaks in the middle of sentences. Whilst I was able to ignore it for the most part, I do think that this was part of the reason it took me a while to finish the book.

4/5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and William Deverell for this novel to review.

[Rose Haggart · Rating 3 out of 5]

You have to love a Canadian book with references to many Ontario cities including SARNIA! An environmental group breaks into a Sarnia plant producing fertilizer which is extremely harmful to bees and the group discloses information that the company tried to hide. The 7 who broke into the plant (known as the Sarnia 7) are caught and what follows is the courtroom trial along with some smaller plot lines.
The lawyer who defends the group is a feisty semi retired defence lawyer and his wife is the leader of the Green Party. They live on an island in Northern Ontario.
I know! So many Canadian references!

[Chefestelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

William Deverell never disappoints. I've been a fan for years. This was a fabulous story of environmental activism, corporate greed, natural and human cost - but mostly it was about the aging Arthur Beauchamp in what threatens to be his final case. Loved the character development, the layers of plots, the stories behind the people. Thoroughly riveting.

[VP · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF on audiobook, which is just awful.
It might be better an a book, where I can skim.
Alas, the endless conservative and Trump jabs, the de-growth sentiments - ugh.
I don't even like Arthur anymore.

[Nancy · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wasn't able to finish listening to this book. Unsure if it was the story itself or the individuals reading the book but it simply did not catch my interest.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've long been a William Deverell book fan so I was excited to come across this newer addition to his Arthur Beauchamp series. Alas, I found this one to be a bit of a slog and was beginning to think that I would never finish it. It could use a good editing imo.
A group of eco-activists known as the Sarnia 7, sabotage a chemical manufacturing plant, where pesticide that kills pollinators en masse, is made. The resulting trial has Arthur Beauchamp heading up the defense of the group. Lots of courtroom minutiae. Also subplots involving Arthur and a temptress, his wife Maureen (leader of the Green Party) and various denizens of Garibaldi Island where Beauchamp makes his home.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book!

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What I really loved about this novel was that it manages to be an unputdownable, page turning thriller without all the villainy and graphic sex and/or violence found in many, if not most, unputdownable, page turning thrillers. The compelling plot-line, great storytelling and plenty of humour all serve to render this tome of almost 600 pages ... a FANTASTIC read.

The novel unfolds from three perspectives: Rivke Levitsky (an environmental activist, who, along with her co-environmental activists, is charged with sabotage among other crimes committed in pursuing their activism), Arthur Beauchamp (a lawyer for the defence and recurring protagonist in Deverell’s novels), and Jake McGuire (an OPP investigator). All three voices are engaging and authentic. Only Rivke’s chapters are presented in the first person; which was interesting to me because Rivke’s is the only female voice of the three; and in my opinion, Deverell nails it. That said, ALL of the characters in this novel are extremely well drawn, their physical attributes, quirks and personalities revealed through colourful dialogue and commentary. The novel contains a number of mini-plots; all of which are entertaining in and of themselves, brought to life by the excellent treatment of the characters and plot.

If I had one teensy weensy complaint it would be that these very well drawn characters are just a little too horny. It seemed to me that almost (well almost almost) everybody wants to jump almost everybody else’s bones or had already jumped their bones at one time or another; however, while it bugged me at first (my prudish tendencies bubbling through here), the trend does not continue in earnest throughout the book, nor, in the long run, does it detract from the story. But hey .... Why take my word for it? Read the book ... decide for yourself.

This book is compelling, incredibly amusing, and moves along surprisingly quickly. I doubt you’ll be disappointed. I certainly wasn’t.

This is my honest and unbiased review of the novel, STUNG, by William Deverell, an uncorrected copy of which was provided to me by ECW Press.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Mr. Deverell didn't shy away from the severity of the environmental pieces of "Stung", at all. At first glance you may just think this story is about a group of activists who are trying to save the bees, and therefore taking down one of the largest manufacturers of the most toxic pesticides being produced. Although you'd be wrong. Stung IS a suspenseful adventure about their intrigues and exposing how devious the operations of these large pesticide companies are. Yet it's also about the attorneys aiding them, their personal side battles on various fronts, as well as that of one of the officers. The drama involved in being a defendant. And a bit of comedic relief sprinkled throughout.

As a lifelong activist I really appreciated the author's level of research and detail when delving into the dangers of neonicotinoids and colony collapse. The plot may have been a bit over the top at times (Becky and Howie's "relationship" for example. Not to mention Rockin Ray!), but I thought it was well written, interesting, suspenseful, hilarious, while other times heartwrenching and I highly recommend it!

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

Is sabotage a legitimate way to protect the larger community? What about if it's to protect bees, which are critical to the ecosystem? That's the defense that Arthur Beauchamp is trying to use in the case of the "Sarnia Seven" who are trying to stop Chemican, a big chemical company, from producing their insecticide Vigro. This is told from multiple perspectives but always focuses on environmental issues, including Arthur's own struggle with a mining company which wants his land. I'd not read the earlier books which put me at a bit of a disadvantage with some of the characters but no more than the fact that I'm unfamiliar with Canadian law. No matter- it was a good, educational read that while it focuses on the evils of big business and the environment, doesn't become a screed. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Interesting.

[Doug Yonce · Rating 5 out of 5]

With so much interest in man’s impact on the environment, the author comes up with a great legal thriller. Have the environmentalists gone too far her their fight for their cause? It’s up to the jury to decide. I received an advanced digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Bev · Rating 5 out of 5]

So entertaining -- a delightful mix of zany characters with witty story lines and a serious current environmental issue under debate in a Toronto courtroom, lead by Arthur Beauchamp once again. Just wonderful.

[Susen · Rating 1 out of 5]

So many readers/listeners rave about this author so I will try to find other books of Mr Deverell's that live up to their praise.
Other than the noble cause of our honeybees, I found this book tedious, over wrought and downright boring.
Apologies to the fans.

[Keith Long · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not really like this book at all. It was decently written, so this is more for preferential reasons. The book is called Stung but there is below the bare minimum about bees in it: anyone could write those parts. The book is actually just about sex and the affairs of the large cast.

[Ariya Gerike · Rating 1 out of 5]

What’s up with the absolutely awful alliteration that occurs obsequiously often? And the jarring words/descriptions instead of fully formed sentences? And the characters gahhhh…. I couldn’t get past 20% of this book Dnf. You can tell the women were written by a man lmao

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Timely eco-thriller set in Canada.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting premise. Excessive sexist language & disparaging. Feh.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reminded me a lot of a Canadian version of Carl Hiaason. It was clever and often funny, but was frequently overly crude.

[theliterateleprechaun · Rating 3 out of 5]

Talented author, William Deverell’s eighth installment in the Arthur Beauchamp series, Stung, is a 592 page political-legal thriller highlighting the ecological catastrophe of the dwindling honeybee population.

The three plots are each told from a different perspective. The main storyline features Arthur Beauchamp, aging British Columbia defense lawyer and main protagonist, who takes on the case of seven environmentalists in Toronto, Ontario who have been accused of sabotaging Chemican International. This plant has purportedly been producing a pesticide leading to the devastating death of honeybees in Brazil. Full of nail-biting courtroom suspense, the trial is decided upon by a jury verdict. Back home in his Salish Sea island home, Beauchamp finds himself arrested for fighting against the potential destruction of the popular Quarry Park.

The second storyline begins with Rivke Levitsky, a spunky environmental activist who sets out to seduce the director of security operations for Chemican’s Canadian divison as part of the activists’ sting operation. She is caught, charged with sabotage and is on trial in the Toronto courthouse. Her tale is uniquely told in the first person, making it memorable.

The third storyline involves two police officers as they track down the environmentalists. Jake McGuire is a tough and cynical Ontario Provincial Police investigator involved in the case.

The character driven plot is engaging, the characters are memorable and well-layered, and the prose is filled with satire and witty comebacks. The courtroom scenes are meticulously written and it’s obvious that his time as a criminal lawyer has resulted in the success of these scenes. Unfortunately, I found that the swearing and horny characters degraded the story.

I was drawn to this novel because it was written by a Canadian and set in Canada.

Thank you to William Deverell, ECW Press and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Marsha Rafalski · Rating 4 out of 5]

(3.75 rounded to 4.0)

Arthur Beaucamp (pronounced beech ‘em) is an elderly semi-retired attorney. And now he is facing some of the most challenging issues of law that he has ever encountered. Seven environmental volunteers have decided that they need to take direct action. One of the young women, Rivkie Levitsky, lures and drugs an executive with a large chemical plant by stealing his keys and passwords in order to steal confidential information about the company. To guide them in breaking into the plant and sabotaging the production . When the police capture the group in the act, they admit to the crime but plead not guilty due to necessity, resulting in a public spectacle of their trial.

Arthur is in his late seventies and technically considers himself retired but he is usually trying 1 or 2 high profile cases for the firm. He agrees to take on their case because he is sympathetic to their environmental cases because he and his wife are working to get an endangered parcel added to a local park. He also has a wolf hound pup he is trying to train. His wife is still a member of parliament and travels frequently leaving him to deal with all the details of running a household.

This is a legal thriller complete with tense courtroom scenes with jury deliberations that are several days in duration. Although this is compared to John Grisham and James Patterson, this is much more of a character driven story than the usual novels. It is the 8th book in the Arthur Beaucamp series. I very much enjoyed this book and plan to look for some of the of the earlier ones in the series. The characters were well drawn and even though there are a lot of characters. They aren’t difficult to keep separated. We have three narrators: Arthur Beaucamp, Rivkie Levitsky and a detective of police. The book is long (21+ hrs audio) but I couldn’t really find anything that I would recommend to cut. Recommend to readers of legal thrillers, bees, ecoterrorists and courtroom drama.

[mockingjay · Rating 5 out of 5]

A view inside the minds and lives of a group of young environmentalists whose mission to save the world from the toxic chemicals ultimately lead to jail and a high-profile trial. The author succeeds in holding the reader's attention long enough to deliver a critical message to readers, many of whom may not be interested in environmental preservation or even remotely aware of the degree to which negative impacts to the natural world ultimately trickle down to adverse effects, even the decimation of mankind itself. The spirited nature of the environmental activists is entertaining and particularly entertaining when examined side-by-side the stodgy atmosphere of the Canadian legal system and the players that represent that system. Warning: The language used is sometimes shocking to a more refined reader. That same language, however, might well serve to hold the interest of the younger generations that will ultimately decide our fate.

[Hilmg]

The Sarnia Seven, the scrawny ghost Jeremiah, red wing blackbirds, chemical farming, untrustworthy courts & a ladyship, plenty of alcohol, insurance claims & scams, corporate schemers, bees obviously (bumble, honey, native, etc), jurors, prosecutors, defenders & defendants, defense of necessity from Aristotle’s time, lovers, blank checks, hackers, investigators, vanity, disaster scenarios, hippies with wild childs, spouses, and so many upstanding dogs including Ulysses with his burr covered coat & a scrappy cougar

I didn’t love this but I appreciate it. Finished the day of the 2024 US election results

[Mike Wood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The courtroom drama promised on the cover does not start until literally halfway through the book, which would not be a problem, as the lead-up to it is interesting and the bee loving characters are fun - but - the inclusion of a B Plot (sorry) involving a dog and cougar covers dozens of tedious pages that add nothing to the story. This is my first "Beauchamp" novel, even though it's 8th in the series, so I'll check out. a few others to see if this was just the result of author running out of steam, as there was lots to like in the novel buried under all the fluff.

[Robert Jadah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sad it was to slap a dismal rating on what was expected to be another familiar outing with semi-doddering lawyer/gentleman-farmer Arthur Beauchamp, whose legal adventures and odd neighbours have fit this reader like comfortable old slippers for over a decade. But author Deverell booted it; with over-long portrayals of far too many characters and - worse - shifting POV's from omniscience to first-person singular for three inter-woven narratives.
While the courtroom dramas read as true and clear as ever, they too become a long and winding and dreary slog.

[Ramona Jennex · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is my first encounter with this author so I am not sure if this book is an outlier. I enjoyed the eco-thriller part of the book and the drawing of attention to the chemical industry and the complexies of agricuture in today's environment. However, I was dismayed at the continual misogynist comments and attitude throughout the book.

There are some interesting characters in this book but they are continually overshadowed by crude and unnecessary sexual comments and descriptions.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this latest book by Deverell. The incomparable Arthur Beauchamp is back at it again! Whether it is all the antics of the cast of characters on his beautiful west coast island or his prowess in the court room, this book kept my interest from first to last page. As well as being entertaining, it is also educational.

[Caroline Neighbor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was meh. The story was fine. One thing I found cringy was that the references to drug usage were forced, like they came from someone who has no clue how people talk. Who actually refers to their weed by strain, "purple kush"..? I found it weird. I also thought the references to Trump were unnecessary, this story takes place in Canada...

[Beverley Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't know where I found this book but I am so happy I did. This is about the plight of the bees, I am a beekeeper, climate change issues. I am committed to the care of our planet. A legal trial, which was my previous occupation. This book is funny, informative, current, embarrassing, community minded, etc, etc story. I love it.

[Fred · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hadn't reaf Deverell in years but was pleased with this tale so reminiscent of characters in real life here in Canada, especially on the west coast. Many laughs and a heart-warming story line. Highly recommend.