- Hardcover: 466 pages
- Publisher: QUERCUS PUBLISHING PLC (2006)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 1905204817
- ISBN-13: 978-1905204816
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 16.2 x 4.4 cm
- Shipping Weight: 739 g
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #568,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
Product Details |
Inside This Book
(Learn More)
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Browse and search another edition of this book.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
`Perhaps the wolves saved them from a fate worse than death.'
Jun 25 2010
Format:Paperback
In the Canadian winter of 1867, near the remote settlement of Caulfield, Laurent Jammet is found murdered. His body is discovered by Mrs Ross, whose first-person narrative is one thread of the story. Mrs Ross's son, Francis, is a friend of Laurent Jammet. When Francis doesn't return home after Jammet's murder, he becomes a suspect.
A search for Jammet's murderer is soon organised. The searchers include Mrs Ross and Donald Moody, representing the Hudson Bay Company. Others join the search as well, and the community is reminded of an earlier search for two young sisters who disappeared some years earlier.
Solving Jammet's murder is not the only truth being sought, and there are a number of other mysteries to be explored and motives to be understood. The wintry landscape both hides and preserves the pasts of some characters, as well as some of the evidence.
`Doesn't it always matter, finding the truth?'
It's a challenge at times to follow the various narrative strands, but it becomes easier as the story progresses. There are a number of sub-plots which add different dimensions to what otherwise might be a straightforward murder investigation. The weather, the past and the country each play a part in the story.
I enjoyed this novel and while I fleetingly wished that all loose ends had been tied off at the end, I realised that would not have worked. Not for this novel.
`The sound is inescapable; quiet but insistent, like conscience.'
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
A search for Jammet's murderer is soon organised. The searchers include Mrs Ross and Donald Moody, representing the Hudson Bay Company. Others join the search as well, and the community is reminded of an earlier search for two young sisters who disappeared some years earlier.
Solving Jammet's murder is not the only truth being sought, and there are a number of other mysteries to be explored and motives to be understood. The wintry landscape both hides and preserves the pasts of some characters, as well as some of the evidence.
`Doesn't it always matter, finding the truth?'
It's a challenge at times to follow the various narrative strands, but it becomes easier as the story progresses. There are a number of sub-plots which add different dimensions to what otherwise might be a straightforward murder investigation. The weather, the past and the country each play a part in the story.
I enjoyed this novel and while I fleetingly wished that all loose ends had been tied off at the end, I realised that would not have worked. Not for this novel.
`The sound is inescapable; quiet but insistent, like conscience.'
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
Loved this book
Jun 30 2009
Format:Paperback
I loved this book. What an amazing first novel. The characters were compelling, the story gripping and the writing wonderful. I love Canadian history and this book made me feel like I had taken a visit to the past.
gripping, creepy,and beautifully-written
Jan 29 2009
Format:Paperback
This first novel has all the elements of a good read: beautiful prose, a gripping story, and interesting history and description of places I've never been. If you like Joseph Boyden's novels, this lesser-known will not disappoint.
The perspective is interesting in that the story is told from various points of view, but only one of the characters (Mrs Ross) uses the first person. The tone is foreboding and haunting, continually giving the impression that something major is about to happen.
I agree with the other reviewer that the ending seemed rushed and left some loose ends. But I also appreciated that Stef Penney avoided the Hollywood ending in which every character ends up finding their love and living happily ever after. This seemed more realistic, even if I was left wanting more and feeling deflated that the story was over.
One minor complaint is that the photo on the cover looks like British Columbia, not northern Ontario.
The perspective is interesting in that the story is told from various points of view, but only one of the characters (Mrs Ross) uses the first person. The tone is foreboding and haunting, continually giving the impression that something major is about to happen.
I agree with the other reviewer that the ending seemed rushed and left some loose ends. But I also appreciated that Stef Penney avoided the Hollywood ending in which every character ends up finding their love and living happily ever after. This seemed more realistic, even if I was left wanting more and feeling deflated that the story was over.
One minor complaint is that the photo on the cover looks like British Columbia, not northern Ontario.
Want to see more reviews on this item?
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
Feedback
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
