The Underling

by Ian McKercher

Ottawa, Canada, 1934 - Seventeen-year old Frances McFadden is plucked from the tedium of school routine and the control of a domineering mother to work for the new Bank of Canada. Like many hard-working women of her generation, she comes to wield tremendous power without any of the trappings of authority. Many noble, acts, some skinny-dipping. In late August 1939, Frances is sent on a secret mission to Warsaw, where Polish gold reserves tempt a rapacious neighbour.

Genres: Canada, Historical Fiction

361 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2012

Reviews

[Simonew · Rating 4 out of 5]

loved it :) Not hard for me to believe that a book about the Bank of Canada could be so interesting and compelling (but then again I like finance books) but I think it is a very approachable book for those who might be scared away by the perceived topic. It was fun to know the places that the author (A teacher from my old high school) was writing about . Characters were well developed. If I had one criticism it would be that it ended too abruptly and could have had one more chapter . I felt a bit like I was left hanging . Good character development , interesting story line, nice twists !

[Maree Cox-Baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun book to read if you are from Ottawa. Lots of historical references. Good effort for a first time author. Would read another book if there is one.

[Leslie Abraham · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED this series! A modern historical setting in Ottawa, Canada. Local landmarks were easily identifiable to me, and there were even personal connections to some.
The growth of the main character throughout the series is impressive. Going from a grade 11 student to a woman running a government department to a would-be spy for her country. Interesting and exciting. Easily read in a couple of sittings.
Hooray for Ian McKertcher, former teacher at Glebe Collegiate (1969-1995). I wish I had had him as MY English teacher! This review would have been so much better!

[Margo Allore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked it. Set in Ottawa. About the start (or just before) of the Bank of Canada. There is young Francis McFadden hired before she finishes highschool. Very smart and hardworking. The book is interspersed with real people (including a Prime Minister) from that time period. There are some unbelievable parts - such as said young girl being bold and able to stand up to senior people. I liked it because it is set in my City and I recognized the names from the past.

[Jackie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. As a resident of Ottawa, I enjoy reading books that based in our lovely city and to hear about landmarks and building I have seen and even been in!
The story was interesting and the characters were easy to connect with.
Can wait to read the next book. I'm 5th on the waiting list at the public library.

[Johanne]

Too YA for me.

[Tammy Davey · Rating 4 out of 5]

An amazing Canadian historical read by an Ottawa author. We worth buying.

[Alex Binkley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A high school dropout in a stuffy government town working at a new bank might not sound like the most gripping elements for a novel but author Ian McKercher makes all three come alive in The Underling.
The book is an historical fiction account of Ottawa during the depression of the 1930s leading up to the outbreak of the Second World War. A solid but bored student from a broken working class family, Frances McFadden parlays an unexpected opportunity to work into a heady career.
She begins as the secretary/office manager at a government office, which is laying the foundation for the creation of a central bank in Canada. Before long, she is essentially running the Canadian Financial Resources Agency gathering information and making contacts that will be vital to the successful launch of the Bank of Canada over the objections of the country’s banking community. At the last minute she finds a way for the new Bank of Canada governor to retain her and her colleagues from the Agency when the Bank is launched.
Not only does she meet the heads of Canada’s main banks as well as two prime ministers, she also discovers a German spy and wins the confidence of much older women with real political and social influence in a government town. In between, she has run ins with a local crime gang, caterers and obstinate bankers and travels to Europe on a clandestine mission as war is breaking out to help rescue Poland’s gold reserves from the Nazis.
Through all this she lives with the memory of her absent father, a bitter mother and a sister who has recently died of tuberculosis. When the mother dies after being struck by a street car, she has to cope with selling the family house and finding a new home, an episode that shows her resiliency and determination.
McKercher makes the most of Frances’s resourceful character and ends the story with a great line. Invited on a date to a movie, Frances says, “Next to curiousity, popcorn is my greatest weakness.” His fans are waiting for a sequel, which the author is aiming to release in 2015. Readers not familiar with Canada’s capital city may tire of all the local details worked into the story but McKercher does manage to weave many of the leading figures of the period into the story along with much of old Ottawa’s historical downtown buildings and streets.
The Underling is published by General Store Publishing House of Renfrew, Ontario.

[Marnie Wellar · Rating 5 out of 5]

I especially loved this book because it is set in the old part of Ottawa, a place I love and know in an intimate way. All my adult life I've been an avid observer of the streets and places that are familiar to Frances.

It's a unique and wonderful experience to read a book in which a building is described and I can picture it perfectly because I've walked by it hundreds of times or have been inside it. That was a great fun for me. I even had lunch in the 1980's at the Woolworth's where the protagonist has lunch in the 1930's.

I also loved the complete plausibility of the events surrounding the inception of the Bank of Canada. The stifling bureaucracy, departmental rivalries, budget fudging, corporate interference, political bargains; all the background activities of Ottawa's main industry are captured here in lovely period detail.

The greatest tribute to this book is that despite the lasting impact on me of the Harper years, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story where an autocratic prime minister bypasses proper channels to override all opposition and get what he wants. The author very cleverly made me want Bennett's underhanded plans to succeed, made me want the Bank of Canada to be created despite no mandate from the voters and no proper debate in the House, even made me happy when all the trampling of proper channels accomplished the desired result, because the author made me like Frances McFadden so much, and Frances was implementing that underhanded plan with everything she had, and really all I wanted was to see her succeed.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Tasha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wasn't too fond of the writing at the start, but around page 40 it finally dawned on me that the target audience was probably someone much younger. At that point, I relaxed and just went along for the ride. Being somewhat familiar with Ottawa, it was easy to imagine the comings and goings in the city. What I found most amusing though, were the surnames scattered throughout the story that I recognize from my years at Glebe - Aldwinkle and Pulfer being a couple of examples. I think my pre/early teen self would have enjoyed the story immensly.

[Jay Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished the Underling at Midnight on Saturday night.
I have never looked forward to WWII until now. Send Francis ( the main character) out on more adventures! Rich character development, wonderful images of buildings, negotiations, and time period! For an American reader, a fun appreciation of Canadian English Phrases, and a look at the world between WWI and WWII from our northern Friends. We must have more! Looking forward to a sequel! This is NOT a boring book about banking.

[Dan Ray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just heard that there's a sequel in the works, and I'm very excited for it. I'm an Ottawa born beurocrat in the financial system, so this book spoke directly to me. Loved it, enjoyed all the characters and the local history flavour. This was a great first novel, and I'll happily read up on any more tales by the same author, especially on the same topic.

[Maryruth Endicott · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book. It was extremely easy to read and hard to put down. The story just flows and takes a few interesting turns along the way. I loved the characters especially Frances and the sense of time and place provided by the author.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved that I learned a few things about Canadian history and I just really enjoyed the pace and voice, read in 24 hours or so!

[Linda Karchmar (Cameron) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it, wonderfully written!