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Death Spiral
Nominated for the Arthur Ellis Best Novel Award and shortlisted for the 2011 Evergreen Award. This complex, multi-layered thriller opens with a hero's welcome for the wounded Wilf McLauchlin, a celebrated WWII Canadian Spitfire fighter pilot. Almost immediately after his homecoming, a series of bizarre murders erupt in his hometown. Wilf finds himself trying to solve them and wondering if he is somehow causing them. Wilf follows his own trail back to when he was shot down over Germany in the last days of the war and makes the shattering connection.
432 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
33 people want to read
About the author
James W. Nichol
22 books8 followersJames W. Nichol has been a prominent playwright in Canada since 1970. Midnight Cab was inspired by his immensely popular radio drama of the same name, broadcast on CBC in thirty-five half-hour episodes. He lives in the country near Stratford, Ontario. Midnight Cab won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel and was shortlisted for the CCWA Gold Dagger. He is currently working on a second novel.
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best First Novel (2003): Midnight Cab
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best First Novel (2003): Midnight Cab
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 28, 2012
An excellent historical crime fiction set in Canada after World War II. Wilf McLachlin, a severely injured war hero, came back home to help at his father’s law office after crashing his plane near Buchenwald. That was when violent crimes started happening around him. With a mind as sharp as a steel trap, the unassuming hero quietly solves one homicide after another with a determination matched by none. With the Nuremberg Trials serving as a background story, Wilf is also trying to piece together the mystery surrounding the days he can’t account for, after his plane crashed and when he was discovered by the Allied troops. This is excellent reading, with a very good love story to boot.
March 11, 2025
Death Spiral is a decent thriller with a fascinating premise, blending historical fiction, psychological depth, and a good dose of mystery. The story revolves around Wilf McLauchlin, a Canadian WWII Spitfire pilot who returns home after being severely injured and discovering a web of strange murders around him. As the plot weaves through his quest for answers about his wartime experiences and the murders, it does a good job of blending historical elements with suspense.
Nichol’s writing is engaging and the setting is compelling, with the post-war period providing a rich backdrop. The idea of Wilf trying to solve these murders while also facing his own psychological unraveling is an interesting one, though the narrative sometimes gets a little bogged down in too many moving pieces. At times, the story feels a bit muddled, especially when it comes to keeping track of the multiple plotlines involving Wilf’s missing time and his investigation. Some elements—like the complex psychological twists—are intriguing but can also be hard to follow, making it feel like a bit of a chore at times.
That said, there’s a lot to like here. The character development is solid, particularly with Wilf, who is an empathetic and determined protagonist, despite the frequent moments of frustration in his quest for clarity. The atmosphere is creepy and suspenseful, which does keep you turning the pages.
While Death Spiral has its moments of brilliance, it does tend to drag in places. The sheer number of deaths throughout the book can feel excessive, and the plot sometimes stalls under the weight of its many subplots. Still, it’s a unique read for fans of historical thrillers, with some great twists and an unsettling tone. Just be prepared for a few moments of confusion and frustration along the way.
Worth reading if you enjoy complex mysteries and historical narratives, but don’t expect a perfectly polished experience.
Nichol’s writing is engaging and the setting is compelling, with the post-war period providing a rich backdrop. The idea of Wilf trying to solve these murders while also facing his own psychological unraveling is an interesting one, though the narrative sometimes gets a little bogged down in too many moving pieces. At times, the story feels a bit muddled, especially when it comes to keeping track of the multiple plotlines involving Wilf’s missing time and his investigation. Some elements—like the complex psychological twists—are intriguing but can also be hard to follow, making it feel like a bit of a chore at times.
That said, there’s a lot to like here. The character development is solid, particularly with Wilf, who is an empathetic and determined protagonist, despite the frequent moments of frustration in his quest for clarity. The atmosphere is creepy and suspenseful, which does keep you turning the pages.
While Death Spiral has its moments of brilliance, it does tend to drag in places. The sheer number of deaths throughout the book can feel excessive, and the plot sometimes stalls under the weight of its many subplots. Still, it’s a unique read for fans of historical thrillers, with some great twists and an unsettling tone. Just be prepared for a few moments of confusion and frustration along the way.
Worth reading if you enjoy complex mysteries and historical narratives, but don’t expect a perfectly polished experience.
April 27, 2010
James W. Nichol has given us a well-written, complicated murder mystery/thriller. Beginning with the protagonist Canadian pilot Wilf McLaughlin during WWII, under heavy fire and toward the end of the war, begins his death spiral as his Spitfire speeds to meet the earth the hard way. "I'm dead" is one of his last thoughts.
But death did not claim him. His plane is found days later with him still in it. His injuries are very serious but he is still alive. After several months in hospital, he returns home to a hero's welcome, but his head full of questions. With one useless arm, and a damaged leg as his main physical problems, there is much more going on in regard to his crash, not the least of which is several days of unaccounted for time, and unexplained blindness for 3 months.
Starting out working in his father's law office, reconnecting with his old friend Andy who is in the police force, and gradually connecting with Carol, his father's secretary, life begins again, but he suddenly finds himself in another type of death spiral. Several deaths in a small town raise eyebrows and awareness and when Wilf seems to be involved in one way or another, whispers around town begin. The deaths all appear to have happened since he came home.
The author has concocted a number of unusual deaths that appear to be unrelated and in some cases appear to be natural causes or accidents. But Wilf will not accept these quick decisions and is sure that they are all related and are in fact, murders. He convinces Andy to help him investigate "unofficially", help that causes Andy a demotion, devastating for a family man.
At the same time, he is trying to acquire his records to find out about his missing time and the mystery of his blindness, falls in love, and does not realize his loved one is already in danger. His father is studying files on the gas chambers and human experiments, which brings Wilf some confusing bits of memories pushing him even harder for answers. Answers he will come to realize he doesn't really want to know.
This book delves into many psychological and philosophical areas, dark places, and bizarre events, interspersed with the humor of friendships. Still, it is an easy book to read, holds the reader's attention, and reminds those of us who can remember, of the terrible crimes of war.
But death did not claim him. His plane is found days later with him still in it. His injuries are very serious but he is still alive. After several months in hospital, he returns home to a hero's welcome, but his head full of questions. With one useless arm, and a damaged leg as his main physical problems, there is much more going on in regard to his crash, not the least of which is several days of unaccounted for time, and unexplained blindness for 3 months.
Starting out working in his father's law office, reconnecting with his old friend Andy who is in the police force, and gradually connecting with Carol, his father's secretary, life begins again, but he suddenly finds himself in another type of death spiral. Several deaths in a small town raise eyebrows and awareness and when Wilf seems to be involved in one way or another, whispers around town begin. The deaths all appear to have happened since he came home.
The author has concocted a number of unusual deaths that appear to be unrelated and in some cases appear to be natural causes or accidents. But Wilf will not accept these quick decisions and is sure that they are all related and are in fact, murders. He convinces Andy to help him investigate "unofficially", help that causes Andy a demotion, devastating for a family man.
At the same time, he is trying to acquire his records to find out about his missing time and the mystery of his blindness, falls in love, and does not realize his loved one is already in danger. His father is studying files on the gas chambers and human experiments, which brings Wilf some confusing bits of memories pushing him even harder for answers. Answers he will come to realize he doesn't really want to know.
This book delves into many psychological and philosophical areas, dark places, and bizarre events, interspersed with the humor of friendships. Still, it is an easy book to read, holds the reader's attention, and reminds those of us who can remember, of the terrible crimes of war.
February 4, 2011
Really good, but oh so incredibly creepy!!!
May 24, 2011
Another death??!? There were just too many! The plot dragged.
June 24, 2011
Superb Canadian suspense
August 6, 2016
Overall a good read! A little muddled and hard to follow at times.Well worth Reading though !
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews