Walter Stewart (1931–2004)

This is a pretty cute mystery set in the Kawartha Lakes district in Ontario (where the author also lives). Carlton Withers is a journalist for the local weekly paper and he lives alone in a cottage in Bosky Dell. His parents were killed by a drunk driver a number of years ago. The driver was Ernie Struthers who served 3 months in jail and then received a sizable legacy which enabled him to buy the local hardware store. So when Ernie turns up dead on Carlton's front stoop one fine summer morning, Carlton appears to be the likely suspect. He calls on the aid of former police officer and neighbour, Hanson Eberley, to find the real killer and clear his name. Hanson is renowned for his skill in solving homicides when he was on the force and the OPP agrees to let him investigate. Carlton also receives help from the newspaper's newest employee, photographer Hanna Klovack. When the local minister is killed and incriminating evidence in Ernie's murder is found in Carlton's house, Carlton is hauled off to jail. After a few days of execrable jail food and interminable games of cribbage he is released on bail but his chances for remaining free do not look good. Fortunately Hanson is still on the case and he calls all the principal figures to the church to unmask the real murderer. But this is not an Agatha Christie whodunit and the denouement is wild.

There are some very funny bits in this book. I especially liked Carlton's car, called Marchepas, which lives up to its name most days. I did figure out the murderer before the end but that didn't really spoil the ending for me.… (plus d'informations)

In my opinion, the time is right for the NDP to get elected. While the liberals are busy cooking the books, and the conservatives are worried about who's getting married, the NDP are concerned with what matters to most Canadians; health care, child care, education and the environment. Reading this book, you couldn't help but wonder how they lost the vote for so many years.

This book isn't the greatest. It's written by a former news reporter, and it seems too factual at times. It lacks the human elements of conflicting priorities and indecision. I plan on reading one of the other two biographies about him.

Tommy Douglas was from my Grandma's era. It seems that people worked really hard back then and relied on simple pleasures for entertainment. It wasn't that long ago, but it was entirely different, and sometimes that's hard to relate to.

Tommy trained as a Minister and had a masters in Sociology. I can't help but think that this background caused the profound differences in policies as compared to people educated as lawyers. (Hmmm I wonder what kind of country we'd live in if it was being run by engineers?) It's interesting to read how the recession strengthenned the trade unions. The book helped me understand why the Doctors were so opposed to being made into civil servants.

Summary; an interesting read but there's probably a better book out there. It might be easier to relate to someone younger, like Stephen Lewis or Ed Broadbent.… (plus d'informations)