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Bern Fortin #1
Confined Space
When respected ex–Canadian Forces commander Bern Fortin cuts short his military career to take a job as the coroner for a small mountain town in the heart of BC, he’s hoping to leave the past behind. Bern’s looking forward to a quiet life, but the memories of what he witnessed during his stints in Afghanistan and other war-torn countries haunt him still.
When the body of one of the workers is found floating in the huge bottle-washing tank at the local brewery, Bern is called in for a routine investigation. What first appears to be a tragic accident takes a menacing turn when the body of the worker’s girlfriend is discovered in a nearby field. Bern needs the help of brewery safety investigator Evie Chapelle, who, burdened by tragedies she might have prevented, is more determined than ever to keep her workers, and their tight-knit community, safe. Soon, Bern and Evie find themselves risking their jobs—and their lives—to uncover a killer hiding in a place where it is awfully hard to keep a secret.
Deryn Collier’s debut novel is a taut mystery full of suspense. Confined Space was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award for best unpublished first crime novel by the Crime Writers of Canada.
When the body of one of the workers is found floating in the huge bottle-washing tank at the local brewery, Bern is called in for a routine investigation. What first appears to be a tragic accident takes a menacing turn when the body of the worker’s girlfriend is discovered in a nearby field. Bern needs the help of brewery safety investigator Evie Chapelle, who, burdened by tragedies she might have prevented, is more determined than ever to keep her workers, and their tight-knit community, safe. Soon, Bern and Evie find themselves risking their jobs—and their lives—to uncover a killer hiding in a place where it is awfully hard to keep a secret.
Deryn Collier’s debut novel is a taut mystery full of suspense. Confined Space was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award for best unpublished first crime novel by the Crime Writers of Canada.
391 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2012
About the author
Deryn Collier
4 books114 followersDeryn Collier has dreamed of writing mystery novels since reading her first Nancy Drew in the second grade. She has written two previous novels, Confined Space, which was nominated for a Best First Novel award by the Crime Writers of Canada, and Open Secret.
Deryn moved to Montreal as a teenager and instantly fell in love with the city, later graduating from McGill University. These days she lives in a small town in the mountains of British Columbia with her family and though she has lived there for many years, she still considers Montreal to be home.
Deryn enjoys gardening, sewing and swimming year-round in a glacier-fed lake, and regularly over-shares about these hobbies on Instagram. She writes a newsletter to her readers called The Aunt June Files, where she shares a behind the scenes look at her work and research in progress. Visit her website at www.deryncollier.com to subscribe.
Deryn moved to Montreal as a teenager and instantly fell in love with the city, later graduating from McGill University. These days she lives in a small town in the mountains of British Columbia with her family and though she has lived there for many years, she still considers Montreal to be home.
Deryn enjoys gardening, sewing and swimming year-round in a glacier-fed lake, and regularly over-shares about these hobbies on Instagram. She writes a newsletter to her readers called The Aunt June Files, where she shares a behind the scenes look at her work and research in progress. Visit her website at www.deryncollier.com to subscribe.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 48 reviews
January 20, 2014
The arrival of a good new mystery writer is always a cause for celebration. Drink a toast to this one, and make it a Kokanee, the popular beer out here in the Kootenays where the story takes place.
Meet the sleuth: Bern Fortin has retired from the Canadian Armed Forces to the small town of Kootenay Landing. His past includes harrowing tours of duty in Rwanda, Bosnia and Afghanistan. In his new life he hopes to heal his soul by learning to garden, and expiate his survival guilt by bearing witness for the dead: he has a part time job as a coroner. To the job he brings a soldier's sharp instincts, as well as a struggle with PTSD.
Bern is a wonderful character. Likable and complex, his outsider status in a small Western town is made even more obvious by the fact that he is originally a Francophone. Like so many fictional crime solvers he has a nosy neighbour who fusses over him, the formidable Mrs K., short for Kalesnikoff. Named not for the gun but for the sawmill, a real family-owned business thriving just West of Nelson. The town may be fictional, the location is real. The description of place and local culture adds real depth to the novel.
The story is set in a brewery. A worker has gone into a confined space by himself to fix a machine and come to a rather horrid ending. His death is a blow to the safety manager, whose rigid protocol should have prevented the accident. Or was it an accident? Could there be a connection between the death and some games played by corporate management? There is the usual thriller stuff with the usual build-up of suspense and surprise ending. It is all well done. Evie, the safety manager, is a well developed secondary character, a combination of damsel in distress and fellow sleuth.
I hope this novel is the first of many.
Meet the sleuth: Bern Fortin has retired from the Canadian Armed Forces to the small town of Kootenay Landing. His past includes harrowing tours of duty in Rwanda, Bosnia and Afghanistan. In his new life he hopes to heal his soul by learning to garden, and expiate his survival guilt by bearing witness for the dead: he has a part time job as a coroner. To the job he brings a soldier's sharp instincts, as well as a struggle with PTSD.
Bern is a wonderful character. Likable and complex, his outsider status in a small Western town is made even more obvious by the fact that he is originally a Francophone. Like so many fictional crime solvers he has a nosy neighbour who fusses over him, the formidable Mrs K., short for Kalesnikoff. Named not for the gun but for the sawmill, a real family-owned business thriving just West of Nelson. The town may be fictional, the location is real. The description of place and local culture adds real depth to the novel.
The story is set in a brewery. A worker has gone into a confined space by himself to fix a machine and come to a rather horrid ending. His death is a blow to the safety manager, whose rigid protocol should have prevented the accident. Or was it an accident? Could there be a connection between the death and some games played by corporate management? There is the usual thriller stuff with the usual build-up of suspense and surprise ending. It is all well done. Evie, the safety manager, is a well developed secondary character, a combination of damsel in distress and fellow sleuth.
I hope this novel is the first of many.
May 3, 2012
I received this book as the result of a Good Reads giveaway.
Let me start off by saying that I only hand a book to my hubby when I know he might enjoy it. At most, he may see six books a year from me, all of them fantasy related. You can imagine his surprise when I thrust a book at him that is totally off his genre choice. His eyebrows raised, he read the back cover. He looked back to me and said,"Interesting."
Interesting is a pretty weak word when it comes to describing this book. Captivating, intriguing and dabbling in romance, it keeps the reader on their toes throughout the entire novel. With an action packed climax I was unable to set it down regardless of the migraine I was personally fighting!
The main characters Evie and Bern are strong and intelligent and extremely easy to believe. I do hope that Collier continues on with these characters in a future book or series. It seems that even they have their own secrets that need to tell a story. I also have hopes of a movie deal for Deryn Collier as this was amazing!
Be warned though, that some of the images of the murders may be graphic for some. Personally, it left a picture in my head for a few days and a greater respect for breweries and the safety procedures that are in place.
Bravo for a great book...One that is not "interesting" but is dynamic, enthralling and will keep you rivetted from start to finish.
Let me start off by saying that I only hand a book to my hubby when I know he might enjoy it. At most, he may see six books a year from me, all of them fantasy related. You can imagine his surprise when I thrust a book at him that is totally off his genre choice. His eyebrows raised, he read the back cover. He looked back to me and said,"Interesting."
Interesting is a pretty weak word when it comes to describing this book. Captivating, intriguing and dabbling in romance, it keeps the reader on their toes throughout the entire novel. With an action packed climax I was unable to set it down regardless of the migraine I was personally fighting!
The main characters Evie and Bern are strong and intelligent and extremely easy to believe. I do hope that Collier continues on with these characters in a future book or series. It seems that even they have their own secrets that need to tell a story. I also have hopes of a movie deal for Deryn Collier as this was amazing!
Be warned though, that some of the images of the murders may be graphic for some. Personally, it left a picture in my head for a few days and a greater respect for breweries and the safety procedures that are in place.
Bravo for a great book...One that is not "interesting" but is dynamic, enthralling and will keep you rivetted from start to finish.
May 2, 2012
Wow! I really enjoyed this book!
Deryn Collier`s debut novel is more like an already established series. I was really impressed by her style. Collier`s writing is mature, thoughtful and well-rounded.
The characters are well-formed and realistic. I immediately liked Bern Fortin, the coroner, and can`t wait to learn more of his layered past.
The entire "whodunnit" storyline will keep you wanting to discover more and more. It`s a "curl-up and hang the do-not-disturb sign" book.
Deryn Collier is well on her way to belonging on the bookshelves of all traditional mystery readers.
I eagerly look forward to her next novel..!!
Deryn Collier`s debut novel is more like an already established series. I was really impressed by her style. Collier`s writing is mature, thoughtful and well-rounded.
The characters are well-formed and realistic. I immediately liked Bern Fortin, the coroner, and can`t wait to learn more of his layered past.
The entire "whodunnit" storyline will keep you wanting to discover more and more. It`s a "curl-up and hang the do-not-disturb sign" book.
Deryn Collier is well on her way to belonging on the bookshelves of all traditional mystery readers.
I eagerly look forward to her next novel..!!
April 4, 2016
I won this novel thanks to Goodreads First Reads. What a roller coaster ride! I automatically became entranced in the story line. It's been awhile since I've felt so involved with the characters. The whole entire time I did not want to put this book down - I just had to know what really happened and who did it! Absolutely captivating and amazing, exceeded all my expectations. This was a fabulous debut by Deryn Collier and I would definitely read all her novels in the future.
March 5, 2025
Okay concept with an okay execution. Wasn't a fan of how much of a lady's man the main character Bern was, particularly since he said he wasn't flirting with any of them while also winking at and flirting with all of them. There was a subplot not remotely related to the current book that I suspect was only there to set up the next book, but it made things confusing because I expected Sauve and Alais to play more prominent roles given the frequency of correspondence with them throughout the book.
It was very hard for me to keep the names of everyone straight, especially all the workers at the brewery. What started out as rather menacing and confusing ended up a relatively stock mystery, and I didn't really feel any rising action despite the various incidents along the way. I think my favorite character is probably the neighbor Mrs. K to be honest.
It was very hard for me to keep the names of everyone straight, especially all the workers at the brewery. What started out as rather menacing and confusing ended up a relatively stock mystery, and I didn't really feel any rising action despite the various incidents along the way. I think my favorite character is probably the neighbor Mrs. K to be honest.
August 8, 2018
An excellent debut novel by fellow Canadian Deryn Collier! However, I am still unclear about the role of a BC coroner and why one is needed; the role is seemingly redundant when the RCMP are factored in to investigate crimes/murders. The coroner doesn't conduct the autopsy but is an independent body that helps with the investigation? This isn't a criticism of Collier as she isn't responsible for the system in BC, but I still don't get it. Confusion aside, I look forward to reading the next book in the series.
July 25, 2017
I enjoyed the first Bren Fortin mystery. Bren is a coroner in a small town in British Columbia. He is also a recently retired officer with the Canadian Armed Forces, suffering PTSD after having served in Rwanda and other war-torn areas of the world. The mystery involves an industrial accident and a drug addict who has ties with the dead worker. I hope to read the second in the series shortly. Readers will also learn about how beer is made.
April 18, 2019
The idea of the confined space makes me excited but when i read it there is some part that takes more space than the actual story. i think because this is the 1st book of bern fortin so it must be for character building. i love how fortin & evie progress in their relationship and fortin & mrs K too. i think i will try the second book of fortin series and i hope there is more space for the main story than the side story
November 7, 2017
This was an awesome read. Could not put it down!
October 9, 2019
Not often you read a book where you're acquainted with the author and really appreciated it being set in the Kootenays. Locale well captured.
June 16, 2021
2.5-3 I enjoyed reading it, but there are gaps if one thinks too deeply.
July 3, 2021
Good book, good story. Keeps moving forward at a good clip.
March 30, 2022
Brilliant. Canadian crime fiction at its very best.
June 18, 2012
*** This book was provided to me free-of-charge by Simon & Schuster through a Goodreads First Reads giveaway. Thanks! ***
FIRST, I want to say that I really want to give this book 3.5 stars.
Confined Space is a thriller/mystery taking place in the Kootenay region of BC. The story begins with an attention-grabbing kidnapping and murder. The reader is then introduced to the charismatic Bern Fortin, a Lieutenant-Colonel, who retired from the Canadian Forces under mysterious circumstances and has settled in a small BC town as the local coroner.
Bern, along with Evie Chapelle, the Safety Manager of the Bugaboo Brewery (where the murder has taken place) must investigate the strange goings-on in this small town in order to identify the killer who is hiding in their midst.
I must applaud Deryn Collier's efforts in her debut novel. There are so many things that are done so well and as a writer, she shows great promise. Collier grabs your attention at the very start and keeps it until the very end. She successfully develops sympathetic main characters in Bern and Evie, who are both touched by tragic circumstances and excels at unraveling the mystery slowly through an intricate and engaging plot line.
In particular, I really enjoyed reading about the relationship that Bern developed with his next-door neighbour, Mrs. K., and the descriptions of the gardens and gardening. It served to endear him to me and to help me better understand him.
There were three problems in particular that I had with the story that prevented me from fully loving it.
1. There are a few spots in the book where the author mentions that something happened but it was not described, even though it should have been. For example, on p. 50, Resnick (the RCMP officer) mentions that they interviewed Steve Ostikoff insinuating that "There's something up with him for sure." I feel like, as a reader, I'm being led to think something about Steve rather than figuring it out for myself by "witnessing" the interview. This happens in a few spots.
2. I think there is a delicate balance in creating mystery and intrigue and frustrating your reader. Throughout the book, Bern's past is revealed largely through emails from a Marcel Alais and a reporter, references to a Colonel Sauve, and flashbacks. These make up a significant portion of the story and provide the reader with insight into Bern's past. If it had been resolved by the end (it's not), perhaps it wouldn't have bothered me so much, but I found it to be quite distracting to the overall story. I know it's important to develop your main character, but in my opinion, the lack of resolution about Bern's past was a disappointment.
At the end of the day, the good outweighs the bad. It really was a very intriguing story and Collier does a great job of drawing the reader in. I just was getting frustrated with some elements of the story. I would definitely read another book featuring Bern as the main character - he was a very interesting, well-developed character.
FIRST, I want to say that I really want to give this book 3.5 stars.
Confined Space is a thriller/mystery taking place in the Kootenay region of BC. The story begins with an attention-grabbing kidnapping and murder. The reader is then introduced to the charismatic Bern Fortin, a Lieutenant-Colonel, who retired from the Canadian Forces under mysterious circumstances and has settled in a small BC town as the local coroner.
Bern, along with Evie Chapelle, the Safety Manager of the Bugaboo Brewery (where the murder has taken place) must investigate the strange goings-on in this small town in order to identify the killer who is hiding in their midst.
I must applaud Deryn Collier's efforts in her debut novel. There are so many things that are done so well and as a writer, she shows great promise. Collier grabs your attention at the very start and keeps it until the very end. She successfully develops sympathetic main characters in Bern and Evie, who are both touched by tragic circumstances and excels at unraveling the mystery slowly through an intricate and engaging plot line.
In particular, I really enjoyed reading about the relationship that Bern developed with his next-door neighbour, Mrs. K., and the descriptions of the gardens and gardening. It served to endear him to me and to help me better understand him.
There were three problems in particular that I had with the story that prevented me from fully loving it.
1. There are a few spots in the book where the author mentions that something happened but it was not described, even though it should have been. For example, on p. 50, Resnick (the RCMP officer) mentions that they interviewed Steve Ostikoff insinuating that "There's something up with him for sure." I feel like, as a reader, I'm being led to think something about Steve rather than figuring it out for myself by "witnessing" the interview. This happens in a few spots.
2. I think there is a delicate balance in creating mystery and intrigue and frustrating your reader. Throughout the book, Bern's past is revealed largely through emails from a Marcel Alais and a reporter, references to a Colonel Sauve, and flashbacks. These make up a significant portion of the story and provide the reader with insight into Bern's past. If it had been resolved by the end (it's not), perhaps it wouldn't have bothered me so much, but I found it to be quite distracting to the overall story. I know it's important to develop your main character, but in my opinion, the lack of resolution about Bern's past was a disappointment.
At the end of the day, the good outweighs the bad. It really was a very intriguing story and Collier does a great job of drawing the reader in. I just was getting frustrated with some elements of the story. I would definitely read another book featuring Bern as the main character - he was a very interesting, well-developed character.
June 5, 2012
The Good Stuff
Author is Canadian and it is set in a brewery (Hmm that sounds suspiciously like they make Kokanee)
Suspensful and on many occasions I was holding my breath wondering what was going to happen
Kept me guessing who the bad guy was, I was right, but there were some nice red herrings to throw me off and make me doubt
Reminded me a little of Brad Smith's writing -- which is a good thing
Loved, Loved, Loved the character of Bern Fortin, sort of imagined him as a younger Romeo Daillaire. He would be an excellent character to set a series of books on
Good humour thrown in at the right moments
Lots of intriguing well drawn secondary characters, especially Mrs K.
Lots of recognizable Canadian settings for my fellow Canucks, but would still appeal to non Canadian readers
Characters are realistic
The Not So Good Stuff
Had a constant craving for a Kokanee while reading and all I had was wine from Australia
Didn't love the ending -- unless there are going to be a bunch of books with Bern -- than maybe I will give you back that .25 of a Dewey
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"Evie wasn't sure how these two set of appearances - safety and youth - were supposed to mesh. She did know that she had turned forty just a few months before, and Lycra was not something that should still be part of her wardrobe."
"He's carefully restored the original cerulean-blue bathtub and tiles with new caulking and a lot of elbow grease, but he'd upgraded the showerhead to one with multiple spray patterns and an intense massage feature. Some parts of military life were easier to let go of than others: the lukewarm, low-pressure, or nonexistent showers of in-theatre operations were a thing of the past."
"Sorry about that, my niece is here. She's glad you called, because I'm going to let her watch TV while we talk."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Fans of suspense/mystery books will truly enjoy this one, its a nailbiter
If you enjoyed Brad Smith's Red Means Run, you will enjoy this
Anyone looking for the perfect book to loose yourself in for the day - this is it
Would be a fabulous book for a camping trip or day at the beach -- or to escape from the stress of moving (hmmm, like ME)
4.75 Dewey's
I received this from Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review
Author is Canadian and it is set in a brewery (Hmm that sounds suspiciously like they make Kokanee)
Suspensful and on many occasions I was holding my breath wondering what was going to happen
Kept me guessing who the bad guy was, I was right, but there were some nice red herrings to throw me off and make me doubt
Reminded me a little of Brad Smith's writing -- which is a good thing
Loved, Loved, Loved the character of Bern Fortin, sort of imagined him as a younger Romeo Daillaire. He would be an excellent character to set a series of books on
Good humour thrown in at the right moments
Lots of intriguing well drawn secondary characters, especially Mrs K.
Lots of recognizable Canadian settings for my fellow Canucks, but would still appeal to non Canadian readers
Characters are realistic
The Not So Good Stuff
Had a constant craving for a Kokanee while reading and all I had was wine from Australia
Didn't love the ending -- unless there are going to be a bunch of books with Bern -- than maybe I will give you back that .25 of a Dewey
Favorite Quotes/Passages
"Evie wasn't sure how these two set of appearances - safety and youth - were supposed to mesh. She did know that she had turned forty just a few months before, and Lycra was not something that should still be part of her wardrobe."
"He's carefully restored the original cerulean-blue bathtub and tiles with new caulking and a lot of elbow grease, but he'd upgraded the showerhead to one with multiple spray patterns and an intense massage feature. Some parts of military life were easier to let go of than others: the lukewarm, low-pressure, or nonexistent showers of in-theatre operations were a thing of the past."
"Sorry about that, my niece is here. She's glad you called, because I'm going to let her watch TV while we talk."
Who Should/Shouldn't Read
Fans of suspense/mystery books will truly enjoy this one, its a nailbiter
If you enjoyed Brad Smith's Red Means Run, you will enjoy this
Anyone looking for the perfect book to loose yourself in for the day - this is it
Would be a fabulous book for a camping trip or day at the beach -- or to escape from the stress of moving (hmmm, like ME)
4.75 Dewey's
I received this from Simon and Schuster in exchange for an honest review
August 24, 2012
As a mystery/thriller, Confined Space hits all the right notes – a compelling cast of characters, an ever-escalating threat, intriguing setting, nail-biting suspense, and enough clues smattered throughout the story to keep you guessing. Coroner ,and former soldier, Bern Fortin is a deeply damaged but immediately likable hero, who sees his job as a duty; a duty to the dead. Another reviewer commented that Bern reminder her of a young Romeo Dallaire, and that is precisely the image I had as I read – a combination of inner strength, compassion, and keen intelligence, all coloured by a traumatic past. Collier has created a character that will leave readers wanting to know more long after the final page.
Safety Officer Evie Chappelle is the perfect counter/companion to Bern. Their secrets and their inner lives, combined with their natural attraction, makes the sexual and romantic tension between these two buzz.
What impressed me most, however, was how effectively Collier used location in this story, and how accurately she portrayed life in the mountains of British Columbia. What makes the deaths in Confined Space so impactful is not just the ‘how’ or ‘who’, but the ‘where’. In a small town, such as Kootenay Landing, where everyone knows everyone’s business, a single death can impact the entire community. A murder? Unthinkable.
Kootenay Landing is its own character. A refuge for some, a trap for others. Breathtaking natural beauty contrasted with a gritty, blue collar population. As with so many small towns, its life hinges on the success or failure of a single industry – the brewery, in this case. A threat to the brewery is a threat to everyone, and so the stakes are high from the moment a dead body is discovered in the bottle washer, and continue to climb.
Even if you’re not a fan of this genre, I highly recommend Confined Space for its characters and setting alone. For mystery/thriller lovers, the story is well-paced , plausible and suspenseful. I am eager to read more about Bern and to find out if he ever learns to grow tomatoes as good as Mrs. K’s!
Safety Officer Evie Chappelle is the perfect counter/companion to Bern. Their secrets and their inner lives, combined with their natural attraction, makes the sexual and romantic tension between these two buzz.
What impressed me most, however, was how effectively Collier used location in this story, and how accurately she portrayed life in the mountains of British Columbia. What makes the deaths in Confined Space so impactful is not just the ‘how’ or ‘who’, but the ‘where’. In a small town, such as Kootenay Landing, where everyone knows everyone’s business, a single death can impact the entire community. A murder? Unthinkable.
Kootenay Landing is its own character. A refuge for some, a trap for others. Breathtaking natural beauty contrasted with a gritty, blue collar population. As with so many small towns, its life hinges on the success or failure of a single industry – the brewery, in this case. A threat to the brewery is a threat to everyone, and so the stakes are high from the moment a dead body is discovered in the bottle washer, and continue to climb.
Even if you’re not a fan of this genre, I highly recommend Confined Space for its characters and setting alone. For mystery/thriller lovers, the story is well-paced , plausible and suspenseful. I am eager to read more about Bern and to find out if he ever learns to grow tomatoes as good as Mrs. K’s!
May 3, 2013
This was offered to me by a co-worker of mine, who also happens to be the author's relative. I was intrigued by the concept and setting: a gruesome murder takes place in the Kokanee mountain brewery in Creston BC (names changed of course). While it had its moments, I can't say the novel was particularly gripping or polished. For one thing, the characters need a lot of work. The two protagonists are about as complex as cardboard, and really have no business tag-teaming as Mulder and Scully (a Provincial coroner and a safety policy manager are your heroes? Really??). The bad guy, when "revealed", is a caricature that doesn't fit the crimes. The supporting cast are all either country bumpkins or your typical "uncooperative person with troubled and secretive past", and none of them seemed to think it strange or unusual when suspicious things kept happening. (Dead people piling up around the brewery? No big deal, it's business at usual!) And the clues that are revealed are quite mundane and seemingly irrelevant to anyone without experience working in a brewery. I guess that's why we needed that safety manager, hey?
I read this expecting a good murder mystery that showed off the scenic Kootenay landscape, but honestly this book makes half of Creston sound like they belong in a penitentiary. (Maybe I need to stay out of Creston...) I do think there is potential here for some good future hard-boiled Canadian crime fiction, but the author shouldn't write so closely to the chest (she used to work at Kokanee brewery... as a safety manager). I'll wait and see what her next novel has in store. Hopefully with a whole different cast!
Lastly, as a parting suggestion, if you're going to hold your murder mystery inside a brewery, the story should always end with the bad guy drowning in a vat of beer. End of discussion.
I read this expecting a good murder mystery that showed off the scenic Kootenay landscape, but honestly this book makes half of Creston sound like they belong in a penitentiary. (Maybe I need to stay out of Creston...) I do think there is potential here for some good future hard-boiled Canadian crime fiction, but the author shouldn't write so closely to the chest (she used to work at Kokanee brewery... as a safety manager). I'll wait and see what her next novel has in store. Hopefully with a whole different cast!
Lastly, as a parting suggestion, if you're going to hold your murder mystery inside a brewery, the story should always end with the bad guy drowning in a vat of beer. End of discussion.
March 4, 2014
We know small towns have secrets. Sometimes horrifying secrets. But that doesn't stop us from being seduced by an idyllic setting, or from hoping there are no dark places hiding in the picturesque.
The sleepy mountain town of Kootenay Landing is the setting for Deryn Collier's debut mystery, Confined Space. She chooses an unlikely location - a brewery - for a pair of unlikely deaths. A man dies in an apparent accident while repairing a bottle-washing tank, and his abducted girlfriend, kept captive in the same building, dies while attempting to escape.
Enter former soldier turned part-time coroner Bern Fortin. He's a man with heavy burdens: post traumatic stress disorder, one of his men awaiting trial for an unexplained crime, and a journalist digging into his past.
The townspeople surrounding Fortin are just as complex as they are ordinary, and Collier draws them with the skill that comes from a deep understanding of the human condition. For better or worse, they are as real as our own neighbours.
As for the mystery, Collier has constructed an engrossing plot that kept me up at night wanting to know what would happen next. There are no car chases here, no blood-curdling screams, and no obvious answers. The scale is utterly human, and the everyday Collier deftly weaves into the book - Bern Fortin sharing breakfast with his neighbour, tending his vegetable garden - makes the undiscovered murderer all the more menacing.
There are turns that are entirely unexpected, which is what every mystery reader craves. I will reveal nothing, and as someone who routinely blurts out lines before a character utters them, I don't mind admitting Collier delivered some genuine surprises.
The ending of Confined Space leaves plenty of unanswered questions. I have no qualms about the quality of sequels here. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment.
The sleepy mountain town of Kootenay Landing is the setting for Deryn Collier's debut mystery, Confined Space. She chooses an unlikely location - a brewery - for a pair of unlikely deaths. A man dies in an apparent accident while repairing a bottle-washing tank, and his abducted girlfriend, kept captive in the same building, dies while attempting to escape.
Enter former soldier turned part-time coroner Bern Fortin. He's a man with heavy burdens: post traumatic stress disorder, one of his men awaiting trial for an unexplained crime, and a journalist digging into his past.
The townspeople surrounding Fortin are just as complex as they are ordinary, and Collier draws them with the skill that comes from a deep understanding of the human condition. For better or worse, they are as real as our own neighbours.
As for the mystery, Collier has constructed an engrossing plot that kept me up at night wanting to know what would happen next. There are no car chases here, no blood-curdling screams, and no obvious answers. The scale is utterly human, and the everyday Collier deftly weaves into the book - Bern Fortin sharing breakfast with his neighbour, tending his vegetable garden - makes the undiscovered murderer all the more menacing.
There are turns that are entirely unexpected, which is what every mystery reader craves. I will reveal nothing, and as someone who routinely blurts out lines before a character utters them, I don't mind admitting Collier delivered some genuine surprises.
The ending of Confined Space leaves plenty of unanswered questions. I have no qualms about the quality of sequels here. I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment.
September 20, 2014
In Confined Space, Deryn Collier introduces Bern Fortin, retired military officer living in a small company town in British Columbia, now working as a coroner. The reasons surrounding his retirement are somewhat shrouded in mystery and relate back to his tour of duty in Africa.
I don't know quite what to make of the coroner. Fortin is not a tough guy, like Jack Reacher. However, like Reacher, he is a man reinventing himself outside of the military. I like that about him and I wanted to know more. He is a man troubled by his past, but not held captive by it. He is smart, likes his neighbor, likes to garden, but how and why he ended up as a coroner are still unclear at the end of the story.
The story itself, which takes place in a brewery run by a mega-corporation, was decent, and there were a few good moments of tension, both criminal and romantic. What I did find particularly interesting was Collier's take on the inner scheming that goes on inside corporations. Having worked for the Target corporation for quite a few years, Collier nailed the ingenuousness of corporate life from superficial compliance with government regulations, to anyone and everyone being dispensable.
Bern Fortin is a likable lead character, likable enough to read the next story he's featured in. As a writer, Collier crafted a good story. It flowed nicely, held together well and she did a good job juggling the main story and several sub-plots. Even though I thought the ending was weak, it was a good effort for a first book.
I don't know quite what to make of the coroner. Fortin is not a tough guy, like Jack Reacher. However, like Reacher, he is a man reinventing himself outside of the military. I like that about him and I wanted to know more. He is a man troubled by his past, but not held captive by it. He is smart, likes his neighbor, likes to garden, but how and why he ended up as a coroner are still unclear at the end of the story.
The story itself, which takes place in a brewery run by a mega-corporation, was decent, and there were a few good moments of tension, both criminal and romantic. What I did find particularly interesting was Collier's take on the inner scheming that goes on inside corporations. Having worked for the Target corporation for quite a few years, Collier nailed the ingenuousness of corporate life from superficial compliance with government regulations, to anyone and everyone being dispensable.
Bern Fortin is a likable lead character, likable enough to read the next story he's featured in. As a writer, Collier crafted a good story. It flowed nicely, held together well and she did a good job juggling the main story and several sub-plots. Even though I thought the ending was weak, it was a good effort for a first book.
August 22, 2012
Bern Fortin is a retired Canadian army officer who has moved to a small town in the B. C. Kootenays. He is living next door to an elderly Russian lady who is teaching him how to grow and preserve his vegetables. He is finding peace in this hobby as his past army experiences while serving in Afghanistan and Africa frequently come back to haunt him. Bern has obtained a job as the local coroner. Most of his cases are fairly routine until he is called to the local brewery where an employee has been found dead. At first, it seems like an employee error, a fairly new worker not following the basic rules of working alone. But when a few days later, the employee's girlfriend is found dead in the nearby field, Bern begins to suspect otherwise. Evie is the safety officer at the Brewery and she begins a friendship with him. Evie, like Bern is suspicious of the recent deaths, even though the local RCMP officer thinks otherwise. When subsequent events put Evie's life at risk, the suspicion increases. This book is a great debut by this author, kept me in suspense as to how it was going to turn out. Throughout the book, Bern receives e-mails from one of his soldiers who served under him in Afghanistan. This soldier is being held in jail and is requesting Ben's assistance in helping him being released. This added to the mystery of Bern's past. Obviously this is not the only book, this author will be writing with this character. I eagerly await her subsequent novels.
May 8, 2012
I received this book from a Good Reads giveaway (thank you, Good Reads!)
I enjoyed this book very much. I love mysteries and I also love books that take place in parts of the country that I know or recognize!
This story was well-written and the characters were believable. The book was fast-paced and I experienced a feeling of urgency and dread as I turned the pages - I wanted to keep reading to find out what was coming next. The plot was credible and there was just enough information about beer-making to help me understand the story without becoming boring. I really liked the characters and appreciated that the relationship between Bern and Evie that developed in the course of the book did not become the main focus of the story. The ending was satisfying. Although I was a little disappointed that I figured out the who the bad guy was, I still liked the book and would definitely read more from this author.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wanted to read a mystery story that is just that - a mystery. However, I do see the potential for character growth in Bern, the main character. I am sure we will get to know him better in his next adventure.
I enjoyed this book very much. I love mysteries and I also love books that take place in parts of the country that I know or recognize!
This story was well-written and the characters were believable. The book was fast-paced and I experienced a feeling of urgency and dread as I turned the pages - I wanted to keep reading to find out what was coming next. The plot was credible and there was just enough information about beer-making to help me understand the story without becoming boring. I really liked the characters and appreciated that the relationship between Bern and Evie that developed in the course of the book did not become the main focus of the story. The ending was satisfying. Although I was a little disappointed that I figured out the who the bad guy was, I still liked the book and would definitely read more from this author.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wanted to read a mystery story that is just that - a mystery. However, I do see the potential for character growth in Bern, the main character. I am sure we will get to know him better in his next adventure.
December 19, 2014
Confined Space is the first book in the Bern Fortin series. At the moment there are two books written by Canadian writer, Deryn Collier. Bern Fortin is an ex-Canadian Lieutenant - Colonel, with a past that haunts him, who has retired and become the Coroner of a small British Columbia town in the Kootenays. This first mystery involves a death (murder?) at the local brewery. At the same time the body of a young woman is found in a field next to the brewery. Fortin, along with the Safety officer at the brewery, Evie Chappelle, work to determine the cause of the deaths, all the while dealing with personal issues, a possible relationship. Intermingled with the investigation, are correspondence and some flashbacks of Fortin's past; his time both in Rwanda and in Afghanistan. It's an interesting introduction to a new series with potential to develop into an excellent series. I'm looking forward to trying book two, Open Secret.
May 23, 2012
I was sad to close this one. Deryn Collier introduces Bern Fortin, a warm man with a cold past, looking for peace in the Kootenays and finding murder instead. I especially enjoyed his sexual tension with Evie Chapelle, an anything-but-cookie-cutter safety manager at the brewery where the murder occurred. Does Deryn satisfy the tension? No - she leaves us hooked to read book two in the series.
The writing is sensual and atmospheric. I could feel the plump tomatoes Bern is learning to garden, smell the bacon he fries for Evie, taste the cool amber beer as its bubbles pass down his throat.
I also love Deryn's world view. Her observations about life and human dynamics are warm and strong. It's easy to spend time in her pages.
I'm really looking forward to diving into the second book in the series when it comes out.
The writing is sensual and atmospheric. I could feel the plump tomatoes Bern is learning to garden, smell the bacon he fries for Evie, taste the cool amber beer as its bubbles pass down his throat.
I also love Deryn's world view. Her observations about life and human dynamics are warm and strong. It's easy to spend time in her pages.
I'm really looking forward to diving into the second book in the series when it comes out.
August 1, 2012
I won this book through Goodreads giveaways.
I really enjoyed Deryn first novel. I can't wait to read more.
The story is well-written, informative, descriptive and realistic. Although I guessed at who committed the crime she really does keep you guessing until the end. She throws in a few curve balls that make you second guess who you think committed the crime. Deryn writes in a way that you can imagine yourself there, very enjoyable.
The characters were believable. I enjoyed reading about all of them. Deryn does a fabulous job at describing and developing everyone. I can't wait to learn more about Bern and his past. There was no one in the book that I hated and didn't want to read their story. She ties everyone together and you really get a sense of the small community relationships.
I would definitely recommend this book.
I really enjoyed Deryn first novel. I can't wait to read more.
The story is well-written, informative, descriptive and realistic. Although I guessed at who committed the crime she really does keep you guessing until the end. She throws in a few curve balls that make you second guess who you think committed the crime. Deryn writes in a way that you can imagine yourself there, very enjoyable.
The characters were believable. I enjoyed reading about all of them. Deryn does a fabulous job at describing and developing everyone. I can't wait to learn more about Bern and his past. There was no one in the book that I hated and didn't want to read their story. She ties everyone together and you really get a sense of the small community relationships.
I would definitely recommend this book.
September 1, 2012
When I first read the title of this book, I envisioned victims trapped in coffins underground. But nope. The title is much more nuanced than that and, as such, leads you to see all the different ways of confinement and how they all interweave as the book progresses. This was a book I had trouble putting down. The characters were engaging; the mystery thought through well and not hidden by clichéd or artifical devices; the plot complex and some of it not revealed fully because it will (I assume) spill into the next book. As a Canadian reader, I found Romeo Dallaire came a lot into my mind as Bern Fortin's mental troubles were slowly revealed. The author taught us something about the effect of genocide and war on soldiers without preaching. Not easy to do. I would definitely want to read the next book in this series.
June 12, 2012
Received this end of last week and am now half way through. Love the description of the characters and am trying to figure out now who is the "bad guy" in this book...guess i need to keep reading!!
All done this book now....i thought it was a great read and once i was half way through i found myself picking it up every chance i could to finish it. There were twists and turns throughout and i found myself hanging on to every word until the end to sort out who was responsible for doing what. I had a bit of trouble keeping some characters straight( too many with same last names and i am lost lol)but i thought the narrative was very descriptive and i could actually envision the warehouse and plant where the story takes place. A great read...will not disappoint.
All done this book now....i thought it was a great read and once i was half way through i found myself picking it up every chance i could to finish it. There were twists and turns throughout and i found myself hanging on to every word until the end to sort out who was responsible for doing what. I had a bit of trouble keeping some characters straight( too many with same last names and i am lost lol)but i thought the narrative was very descriptive and i could actually envision the warehouse and plant where the story takes place. A great read...will not disappoint.
April 28, 2014
I loved this book. The second book in a row where I feel like I really lucked out :) I enjoyed the main characters in this one, they felt real enough to me that I'm excited to see where the next book in the series goes. Deryn Collier did a great job of giving just enough backstory to Bern Fortier (it was reminiscent of how Louise Penny started her series about Chief Inspector Gamache).
This book deserves 4.5 star review, although I will confess the more I've thought about it today, the more plot holes/inadequate explanation I see. I don't like to post spoilers, so I won't, but suffice it to say I either missed parts of the book somehow or there were a few things that didn't really make sense.
This book deserves 4.5 star review, although I will confess the more I've thought about it today, the more plot holes/inadequate explanation I see. I don't like to post spoilers, so I won't, but suffice it to say I either missed parts of the book somehow or there were a few things that didn't really make sense.
August 20, 2012
For some reason my previous review disappeared so hear I go again.
I received Confined Spaces free from Goodreads and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Ben Fortin who is the coroner has just left a previous job in the military. On one of his firsts deaths to investigate is a body floating dead in a bottle washing vat which contains acid. Evie who heads up safety at the beer plant tries to help Bern. This leads to Evie almost getting killed herself as she tries to determine what is actually happening at the plant and what are the owners trying to cover up.
I enjoyed the Canadian content and I hope there will be many more novels from Deryn Collier to come.
I received Confined Spaces free from Goodreads and I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Ben Fortin who is the coroner has just left a previous job in the military. On one of his firsts deaths to investigate is a body floating dead in a bottle washing vat which contains acid. Evie who heads up safety at the beer plant tries to help Bern. This leads to Evie almost getting killed herself as she tries to determine what is actually happening at the plant and what are the owners trying to cover up.
I enjoyed the Canadian content and I hope there will be many more novels from Deryn Collier to come.
December 4, 2012
When a new millwright at the Bugaboo Brewery in Kootenay Landing decides to do an extensive repair on a bottle washing tank as a weekend overtime job while the plant is apparently empty someone starts the washer and kills him. The police and Bern Fortin, new coroner and ex Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian Forces, feel that this must have been an accident until the millwright’s girlfriend is also killed. As Fortin deals with the escalating events in the small one-employer town he is also struggling with events that occurred in Rwanda and Afghanistan and coming to grips with a retirement that was earlier than he had originally anticipated. I highly recommend this book.
February 6, 2013
Everyone was a bit guilty, no one was very admirable. Many things remained unresolved at the end. I felt cheated, and forced to "read the next book if you want to know what happens" like some grade-school book report. I don't think I care enough about the characters to go on with the series. Too bad, because the main character might have turned out to be interesting, but there are too many small pieces of a great secret that the reader might learn about more completely in the future. I just don't care enough...
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