The Barren Hills of Creighton

by Trina L Brooks

Creighton Mine, where the innocent hide in the shadows and a killer walks free.

It's 1951 in a small northern Canadian mining town. Nine-year-old Rose Boyle is convinced this is the summer she'll stop being invisible. The town she lives in, Creighton Mine is abuzz because her older sister is returning from Los Angeles and Rose expects some of her siblings glamour to rub off on her. Then excitement turns to tragedy when the first murder in living memory casts a shadow over the town.



Detective Victor Lapointe expects to solve the small-town crime he's been assigned to with little effort, but it isn't long before he is faced with a murder that has no suspects or known motive. To add to his frustration something about the victim stirs up memories he'd rather keep buried.



For Detective Lapointe the killing becomes a chance to redeem himself for past failures.



For Rose, the murder unveils a family secret she was never meant to learn. One that has her questioning who she is, where she belongs and if she were the next victim...would anyone even care?

316 pages, Paperback

Published November 18, 2023

Reviews

[Scott Overton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This debut novel from actress and playwright Trina Brooks might evoke comparisons with To Kill a Mockingbird for the way it uses nine-year-old Rose Boyle to tell much of its story of a murder in a small town. But then, Rose is central to the plot, and The Barren Hills of Creighton is really her story as she goes from being ignored and sidelined to becoming a centre of attention because of personal tragedy.
Brooks’ depiction of early 1950’s mining town Creighton Mine is authentic, capturing both the charm and the social stagnation of an isolated community. Likewise, Rose and her family are painted with honesty but also affection.
Though the murder plot is low-key, there are plenty of potential suspects and ample twists to satisfy fans of cozy mysteries and have them looking forward to the next installment in the Northern Mystery series.

[C.J. Frederick · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked up this book at a book fair a few weeks ago. I was drawn to the cover because I love blueberries and have relatives who still live in wild blueberry country (northern Ontario). So imagine my delight when I realized it was set near Sudbury, Ontario? I LOVE CANADIAN FICTION. It's a quick read. I wanted to know more about the trauma and complex emotions swirling in the Detective's head. And I sometimes found the 9 year-old MC's thought process way too advanced for her age, but I still enjoyed the book. Who doesn't love a "whodunnit" where the "monster" is finally unveiled? And like a blueberry, this had a sweetness to it as you're introduced to the characters from the small mining town where "big and bad things don't usually happen." Usually.

[J Reffle · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great murder mystery story that had me on the edge of my seat during the final chapter until the identity of the killer was revealed. I liked how the author alternated the narrators' perspectives, from chapter to chapter. Having lived and worked in a Northern Ontario mining town, similar to the one in the story, I could relate to many of the scenes being depicted in this story, especially the significance of picking of blueberries. Can't wait for Trina Brooks' next book.

[Christine Braley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book. Trina Brooks has done a great job of making the characters interesting and I enjoyed learning a little bit about the mining community that is the setting for the book. I like a good mystery and there were definitely a couple of surprises that I didn't see coming. Can't wait for the next book.

[Candice Burkholder · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow! I am so excited to read the next book already! This one kept me guessing and I loved the two perspectives it was written from. I definitely have a new writer in my mix! I had a whole bunch of feels while reading it. I love how she adds true aspects and challenges of living in northern Canada to her story as well. It's not a Hollywood fairytale, it's a real Canadian tale!

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

From the first few pages, this book had me hooked! From the interesting characters to the intriguing storyline, The Barren Hills of Creighton is a great page turning mystery! Now it's finished and I can't wait for the next one!! Highly recommend!

[Shannon Duetsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a captivating read from start to end. Just enough mystery, suspense, and a deep ending.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really great murder mystery, lots of twists and turns. Very believable characters. Was a fun read.

[Emma Campbell · Rating 5 out of 5]

A heartfelt whodunnit full of twists, turns and raw emotion. Well done, Trina!