Roy Innes

The Extra Cadaver Murder by Roy Innes is honestly one of my new fave mystery books!

Canadian book? Check! Murder mystery? Check! Female lead who is realistic? Check! What more can a Canadian book lover, like myself, ask for?!

Roy Innes has crafted one amazing book that had me hooked to every word. I almost binged this book (you can blame all of my homework for that one) and I could barely put it down! Seriously, it was a real struggle walking away from this book!

James and Coswell work on identifying the murderer of a university professor, all the while dealing with gender biases. Throw in the RCMP, some very complicated relationships and twists and turns you won't see coming, and you've got yourself a real hit!

There were times in this book where the speed slowed down and it dragged on. Despite the small pacing issue, I had no problems with this book. It felt like a standalone, it didn't have a cliffhanger and it felt really smart. I'd absolutely read another book by Roy Innes any day of the week! I just have to get my hands on one of those suckers...

In general, the book doesn't stand out or do anything that other mystery novels haven't already. We have a female lead dealing with gender bias, an aging officer dealing with all the joys of getting old and the obvious "who dunnit?' storyline that leads you one way then takes you another. You wouldn't be able to see the ending coming since not all characters are introduced right away, but I still think it's a fun ride. I absolutely enjoyed this book and want more!

Four out of five stars!

I received this book for free via Goodreads First Reads.… (meer)

This is Roy Innes' third novel featuring the RCMP's Inspector Mark Coswell and Paul Blakemore, now a sergeant. They have returned to rural northern British Columbia -- to the cattle country of the Cariboo district -- to investigate the death of a rookie Mountie. There, they become aware of a history of conflict and resentment between the aboriginal population and newcomers, which began with the 'Chilcotin War', in which a number of railroad surveyors were killed, and for which five warriors were executed in 1864. Could the young Mountie be the latest casualty?

Innes has written a fast moving and intricate western mystery, full of adventure, horses, Indian cowboys, a romance, plenty of guns and lots of 'stick to your ribs' food. Here is police procedure, a classic whodunnit, and a new kind of locked room puzzle. He introduces dozens of local characters, at least half of whom have motive, means and the opportunity to kill, while the rest drag red herrings across Coswell's path. As the story develops, so do the people; revealing new aspects of character and recent history. The number of motives increase, until it seems that everyone in the district has at least one. At the same time, plausible opportunities become more and more constrained, until not one of the many suspects seems to have been in the right place at the right time.

Jurisdictional disputes with First Nations Police add to the investigators' frustration, as does the weather, which cuts them off for days from modern forensic aid. Even the setting -- valley ranch land, surrounded by pine-covered mountains -- is complex, and plays its own important role in events as they gradually unfold to a conclusion reminiscent of Agatha Christie.

If I may paraphrase Richard Sher (host of 'Says You!' on NPR), I'd like to recommend that readers have a pencil and paper handy before they turn the first page.… (meer)