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The first character introduced in Barbara J. Stewart's unconventional but instantly compelling debut novel,
The Sleeping Boy, is Emma, the family cat. Not for this author the formulaic discovery of a corpse in some dumpster. Instead, Stewart makes Emma the first on the scene of the crime. "There was only an absence in the kitchen. No flannel-covered legs to push against in an act of proprietary aggression that they chose to interpret as affection, while they mumbled on, unintelligibly." Inside the house are the bodies of Dr. Leah Mallick and her husband, while their young son lies comatose, likely never to recover. The killer is clearly one of the two parents found dead, so the central mystery becomes motive, which proves a very elusive quarry.
Enter Lieutenant Anne Shannon. A person with a stark skeleton in her own closet, she possesses both the empathy and dogged determination to track down the truth. She enlists the help of Susan Shaw, a career bureaucrat who has walked the same corridors of power that had been beckoning the beautiful and charming Dr. Mallick, on the verge of becoming the state's Secretary of Health and Human Services. The two unlikely allies gradually forge a strong bond as their dangerous quest uncovers a political and economic conspiracy with far-reaching implications. Powerful healthcare provider Cross Corporation has set up shop in Lockport, with an ambitious and sinister agenda. Stewart tackles the issues of medical ethics and euthanasia with real sensitivity and insight. Her depictions of the machinations of the media and politicians also resound with the clear ring of apparent truth. The Sleeping Boy is an ambitious thriller, one that operates on both personal and political levels. The author balances these elements expertly, and her graceful and poetic style is a constant pleasure. Stewart's first career was as a filmmaker, and there is a cinematic quality to much of her writing. She can be marked down as a sparkling new talent worthy of major attention. --Kerry Doole
Review
"Barbara Stewart had me in thrall from the first sentence...Her characters are women with unexpected depth, not cute and sassy kids or hottie ADAs, but mid-life women with hot flashes and intelligence to burn, and they drive this novel right to the final page. I couldn't put it down...Barbara J. Stewart is a writer to watch." --
Globe and Mail
“I loved this book.
The Sleeping Boy is a ride through familiar streets with brand new glasses. Barbara Stewart tells a thrilling story of complexity and ethics with wit and genuine compassion. She’s a brand new treasure.” -- Susie Moloney, author of
The Dwelling“I love a detective story that features three-dimensional women in all walks of life. Fresh, nicely-paced; I was riveted right through to the surprise ending.” -- Lilian Nattel, author of
The River Midnight
de Mary Ann Shaffer
