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Sgt. Windflower Mysteries #3
Beneath the Surface
In the third installment of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, Sgt. Windflower is back on the scene of the crime. He is joined again by his trusted ally Eddie Tizzard, his rock-steady girl, Sheila, and a wide cast of supporters. Together they face down an international crime syndicate operating on the East Coast, and help Windflower deal with the modern challenges of sexual harassment and corruption while re-discovering his roots and inner strength.
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Surface...
Website: www.beneaththesurface.co
Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Beneath-Surface...
Website: www.beneaththesurface.co
- GenresMystery
456 pages, Paperback
First published April 15, 2014
16 people are currently reading
406 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
June 20, 2020
This one has ALL the bad actors in opposition to Sgt Windflower and the RCMP! There's the Russian mob trafficking girls and kind of smuggling Chinese nationals as well as murdering whomever displeases them. Then there's the dirty cops and politicians including Windflower's superior who is so not with the program on women in law enforcement! Windflower's home life is something of a roller coaster as well what with his beloved finally coming home from rehab after a horrible auto accident last year, his constable being harassed by their superior, recurring bad dreams of a warning nature, and more. I think it's a great book and I love learning about another while being entertained with a law enforcement mystery from a country near my own. I absolutely loved it!
Francis G. Kearney is wonderful as narrator/audio performer.
Francis G. Kearney is wonderful as narrator/audio performer.
June 20, 2020
Beneath the Surface is the third installment from Mike Martin’s Sgt Windflower Mystery series. I have enjoyed the first two books in this series and this one does not disappoint. I was entertained from start to finish. I wanted to keep reading until the end to find out what would happen next.
I had the pleasure of listening to the audio version of Beneath the Surface. Like the other books in the series, Francis G. Kearney once again does a superb performance. He has the best voice on reading the story. I love hearing him.
I am Beneath the Surface giving four and a half stars. I recommend this book for readers who love to read a fun filled mystery. I am hoping there will be more coming to this series in the future.
I received the audio version of this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
I had the pleasure of listening to the audio version of Beneath the Surface. Like the other books in the series, Francis G. Kearney once again does a superb performance. He has the best voice on reading the story. I love hearing him.
I am Beneath the Surface giving four and a half stars. I recommend this book for readers who love to read a fun filled mystery. I am hoping there will be more coming to this series in the future.
I received the audio version of this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
August 11, 2016
'Beneath the Surface' is the third book in the Sergeant Windflower series. The previous two books are 'The Walker on the Cape' and 'The Body on the T'
We're back in Grand Bank, southeast coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
RCMP Sergeant Winston Windflower, his girlfriend, Sheila Hilliard, Corporal Eddie Tizzard, Herb Stoodley - former Crown Attorney with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Detective-Sergeant Carl Langmead from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, Doctor Sanjay and the rest of the fishing town are back and welcoming the readers to their little piece of heaven on earth. The culinary delights of the Canadian tables, the history of the ethnic scramble of nations, and the cultural pot pourri of diversity is celebrated once again. Life is simply better than good in this part of the world.
However, everything changes when this quiet, serene community is shaken up by the murder of Amy Parsons, a champion rower in the Women's Championship Race at the St. John's Regatta. And suddenly nothing seems to make sense anymore. What was the purpose of the Chinese tourists, led by a Russian tour guide earlier in the year? The discovery of a pink mobile phone with the numbers of prominent public officials including a judge and a Member of the House of Assembly, and senior police officers from both the RCMP and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary are kept a secret. Possible exposure will have several heads rolling; people are nervous; and sergeant Windflower is center to all the mayhem which secretly rages through the inner circle of power and privilege. Loyalty and friendships are tested. Yes, some powerful people are looking to bury this stuff deeper than the mines on Bell Island and sergeant Windflower's sense of fairness is in the way.
Through it all, Windflower is bombarded with weird dreams, which only his uncle Frank, a dream weaver, can explain. A new world of voices from the past opens up for Windflower.
A slow, undramatic, yet 'buzzy' read. There is an element of the journal-writing style used in the narrative which places the book in a unique genre of its own. It is as much a community story as it is a detective, murder mystery; just as much a love story as it is a celebration of Canadian customs and cultures, a travel journal. Informative, yes. A gentle, dignified approach to serious issues. The combination of all these elements ensures that the community of Grand Bank won't be forgotten. I loved the opportunity to be back and enjoying their company again. This book is the next best thing to living there!
We're back in Grand Bank, southeast coast of Newfoundland, Canada.
RCMP Sergeant Winston Windflower, his girlfriend, Sheila Hilliard, Corporal Eddie Tizzard, Herb Stoodley - former Crown Attorney with the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Detective-Sergeant Carl Langmead from the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, Doctor Sanjay and the rest of the fishing town are back and welcoming the readers to their little piece of heaven on earth. The culinary delights of the Canadian tables, the history of the ethnic scramble of nations, and the cultural pot pourri of diversity is celebrated once again. Life is simply better than good in this part of the world.
However, everything changes when this quiet, serene community is shaken up by the murder of Amy Parsons, a champion rower in the Women's Championship Race at the St. John's Regatta. And suddenly nothing seems to make sense anymore. What was the purpose of the Chinese tourists, led by a Russian tour guide earlier in the year? The discovery of a pink mobile phone with the numbers of prominent public officials including a judge and a Member of the House of Assembly, and senior police officers from both the RCMP and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary are kept a secret. Possible exposure will have several heads rolling; people are nervous; and sergeant Windflower is center to all the mayhem which secretly rages through the inner circle of power and privilege. Loyalty and friendships are tested. Yes, some powerful people are looking to bury this stuff deeper than the mines on Bell Island and sergeant Windflower's sense of fairness is in the way.
Through it all, Windflower is bombarded with weird dreams, which only his uncle Frank, a dream weaver, can explain. A new world of voices from the past opens up for Windflower.
A slow, undramatic, yet 'buzzy' read. There is an element of the journal-writing style used in the narrative which places the book in a unique genre of its own. It is as much a community story as it is a detective, murder mystery; just as much a love story as it is a celebration of Canadian customs and cultures, a travel journal. Informative, yes. A gentle, dignified approach to serious issues. The combination of all these elements ensures that the community of Grand Bank won't be forgotten. I loved the opportunity to be back and enjoying their company again. This book is the next best thing to living there!
August 2, 2014
Beneath the Surface is the third book in the Sgt Windflower mystery series. The book is set in Newfoundland, Canada, and taught me so much about the area and the people. I found it fascinating and it had me grabbing my atlas to pinpoint St. Johns, Grand Bank and Marystown. Sgt Winston Windflower is a Canadian Mountie and the book opens with the body of Amy Parsons, a local rowing champion.
Windflower is returning to Grand Bank and Sheila his girlfriend, is coming home after a serious car accident. There are few police officers to police the vast area and thoughts of serious crime rarely reach this outpost. Houses are left unlocked and tourists are welcomed, the biggest threat is from speeding motorists and Moose on the roads. So when it looks like Amy Parsons was murdered and then a second body turns up, there is a need to step up the policing in the area.
There follows a slow and relaxed mystery involving Russian gangsters, Chinese immigrants and the seedy world of escort agencies, drugs and human trafficking. This is all mixed with interesting details about life in this part of Newfoundland. Windflower is a Cree Indian descendant and it was great to hear about his daily traditions and I liked his Uncle Frank who was a dream weaver.
Windflower works with other police departments and becomes under pressure with his senior officer. The clues are found and new evidence is revealed that will shock the police force. On top of this he has to deal with a local strike at the fish plant and is suffering from disturbing dreams of his own. Windflower is a respected officer, but finds himself in a difficult situation when he speaks his mind over a sexual harassment issue.
The mystery was good and the background setting of Newfoundland was very enjoyable. We join Windflower for many meals full of local and traditional delicacies. I also enjoyed learning about the indigenous people of the area and the every day lives of the people who currently live in this peaceful part of the world. There were small parts of the book that I felt were too much, and dragged the story on, for instance too many meals were described. There is also an over use of "He said/she said" during most conversations. If there are only two people in the dialogue the reader can easily follow the ping pong of replies without every "Said Windflower/ Sheila said" A few teaks and this book would be a good solid 4.5-5*'s.
Windflower is returning to Grand Bank and Sheila his girlfriend, is coming home after a serious car accident. There are few police officers to police the vast area and thoughts of serious crime rarely reach this outpost. Houses are left unlocked and tourists are welcomed, the biggest threat is from speeding motorists and Moose on the roads. So when it looks like Amy Parsons was murdered and then a second body turns up, there is a need to step up the policing in the area.
There follows a slow and relaxed mystery involving Russian gangsters, Chinese immigrants and the seedy world of escort agencies, drugs and human trafficking. This is all mixed with interesting details about life in this part of Newfoundland. Windflower is a Cree Indian descendant and it was great to hear about his daily traditions and I liked his Uncle Frank who was a dream weaver.
Windflower works with other police departments and becomes under pressure with his senior officer. The clues are found and new evidence is revealed that will shock the police force. On top of this he has to deal with a local strike at the fish plant and is suffering from disturbing dreams of his own. Windflower is a respected officer, but finds himself in a difficult situation when he speaks his mind over a sexual harassment issue.
The mystery was good and the background setting of Newfoundland was very enjoyable. We join Windflower for many meals full of local and traditional delicacies. I also enjoyed learning about the indigenous people of the area and the every day lives of the people who currently live in this peaceful part of the world. There were small parts of the book that I felt were too much, and dragged the story on, for instance too many meals were described. There is also an over use of "He said/she said" during most conversations. If there are only two people in the dialogue the reader can easily follow the ping pong of replies without every "Said Windflower/ Sheila said" A few teaks and this book would be a good solid 4.5-5*'s.
June 1, 2020
I received a free copy of this audio book, at my request, and am voluntary leaving this unbiased review.
This is book 3 in the series but the first book in this series I've read/listened to, but as a Newfoundlander I had to pick it up when I saw it.
I liked this book, despite its shortcomings. Unfortunately it had many shortcomings. For starters, this is not a mystery. It's barely a police procedural story. It takes the death of a girl, which our main character is not trying to solve, and buries it in the minutia of the life of a police Sgt. However, the plot isn't about the police work either. The police work described is paper work and phone calls to other police, whom are actually doing work. There literally is no mystery, the only murder is essentially solved by other people, and relayed to the main character after the fact. The other crimes are solved before they know the crimes are even committed and questioning and charges are done by other police in other provinces.
So, what is this book? Well, its just a slow story of a guy, who happens to be a cop. His day to day life and his troubles at work. No mystery, no intrigue, no suspense, just a boring story which is more about Newfoundland food than police work.
Now, on that count, the book does well. The food and preparation is described in painstaking detail. In what I assume is a nod to the idea to make a "mystery" so much about food, the main character reads mysteries which food plays an important role. This was a nice touch. However, this kind of limits the books appeal to Newfoundlanders and people who have an interest in Newfoundland. Cause if one doesn't have an interest in Newfoundland (which there are some people out there), they will likely not enjoy a 10 hour advertisement for Newfoundland.
In the end, this is all this is. As I've previously mentioned, there is no mystery or police work. It is just a story of a police officer who works and lives in Newfoundland. Not being born there, he has fallen in love with the island and its people. He is awed by the things that Newfoundlanders take for granted.
The book also has some of the most unnatural and awkward dialog I've read. I've never met people who talk to one another the way these people do, and absolutely NEVER in Newfoundland. Part of the issue is the narrator, which I will address later. There is little "newfinese", and it is all explained, but there should have been much, much more. Especially where the story takes place. The accents and slang increase the closer you get to the coast.
The audio book was narrated by Francis G. Kearney. The audio quality was not great. There is a background static throughout the book. The narrator also has an odd style of almost shouting the whole thing. Everything. He also doesn't spend much time on differentiating voices and basically doesn't bother with trying to do a female voice. He has an upwards inflection on basically every sentence, which combined with his shout talking almost makes every line sound like its supposed to prove someone wrong. There is no tender moments, no ribbing with other characters, no warmth in his narration. This makes the already awkward dialog even worse, cringe worthy. He DOES, however, pronounce almost every newfie word correctly. There was a couple incidence where he didn't quite get it, but it was very rare.
The other thing with this book is the lack of world building. I get jumped into book 3 of a series, and I assume book 1 would have set up the setting. However, most series (and I've read a few) will take a couple lines in each book and bring the reader up to speed on important things, incase they are new or have forgotten, as there is usually a year or 2 between books and a lot of people don't read a series all at once. So, I was until the end of the book with no idea what year the book was set in. I still don't know specifically. There is a throw away line at the end of the book about a 2014 Jeep, so I assume the story is set around that time, but it is never actually established. It was almost half way through the book before someone mentions a cell phone and no one, not ever, sends a text or goes on social media, so I was more than a little confused.
The age of the characters is also never addressed. I assumed that the characters where older, maybe 40's or so, but it is never brought up. The girl friend, Shelia (excuse the spelling, audiobook), says she remembers a time before the Avalon Mall, the mall was built in 1967. Assuming she was 7 when she was in St. John's before the mall, that would make her mid 50's (assuming a 2014 story timeline). This would fit the character and fit the story, as I understood it. However, ***minor spoilers*** as the main character suddenly decides he wants kids, this could be a issue. It is never addressed how a mid 50's woman is going to have a child, or if the author got the info on the mall wrong and Sheila is supposed to be in her 30's, or anything.
I also want to point out that the 2 have just the most bizarre relationship. They don't live together, but often sleep in the same bed. However, at some ungodly time in the morning 1 the guest will wake up and leave without saying goodbye or sending a text or, well anything. So, basically night they go to sleep and the next morning one of them just wakes up alone. Like basically every day. That's just messed up. The common courtesy thing to do would be to give your partner a kiss and tell them you're heading out. It's like they are permanently having a one night stand.
The main character is Cree and a large part of the first half of the book explores his day to day connection with his beliefs and customs. It is also a story line which basically goes nowhere. While it does pay homage to a rich history of a proud people and does so with great respect and care, it doesn't really pay off in the plot. There are 2 dreams the main character has and tries so decipher. 1 leads to, well nothing related to the plot. The other to ***minor spoilers*** first being told he has to learn about the Beothuk, then when he learns a little about that, he's told that the same dream is actually telling him he should have kids. Then in the end, it suggests he should get married. Honestly, the whole dream part was not well done. It was inconsistent and really was meaningless, except to show off the native heritage of the main character. It should have either had some deeper meaning to the story, or have been replaced with something else. It almost seemed like there was 2 separate plots in the story, the dream stuff and everything else.
So, if all that's wrong with the book, why 3 stars? Well, cause I enjoyed it. The characters were fun. There was 0 stakes in the story, so I could just listen to some guy shout a story to me about my home province, with food I've eaten (some of which I still do), places I've been and the people I love. While this is an unbiased review of this book, regarding the author and narrator, I AM biased about Newfoundland. This is a book for people who love Newfoundland. If you want a story about Newfoundland and it's people, then this is a good book to go with. If you want a mystery or police procedural, then there are much better examples out there.
This is book 3 in the series but the first book in this series I've read/listened to, but as a Newfoundlander I had to pick it up when I saw it.
I liked this book, despite its shortcomings. Unfortunately it had many shortcomings. For starters, this is not a mystery. It's barely a police procedural story. It takes the death of a girl, which our main character is not trying to solve, and buries it in the minutia of the life of a police Sgt. However, the plot isn't about the police work either. The police work described is paper work and phone calls to other police, whom are actually doing work. There literally is no mystery, the only murder is essentially solved by other people, and relayed to the main character after the fact. The other crimes are solved before they know the crimes are even committed and questioning and charges are done by other police in other provinces.
So, what is this book? Well, its just a slow story of a guy, who happens to be a cop. His day to day life and his troubles at work. No mystery, no intrigue, no suspense, just a boring story which is more about Newfoundland food than police work.
Now, on that count, the book does well. The food and preparation is described in painstaking detail. In what I assume is a nod to the idea to make a "mystery" so much about food, the main character reads mysteries which food plays an important role. This was a nice touch. However, this kind of limits the books appeal to Newfoundlanders and people who have an interest in Newfoundland. Cause if one doesn't have an interest in Newfoundland (which there are some people out there), they will likely not enjoy a 10 hour advertisement for Newfoundland.
In the end, this is all this is. As I've previously mentioned, there is no mystery or police work. It is just a story of a police officer who works and lives in Newfoundland. Not being born there, he has fallen in love with the island and its people. He is awed by the things that Newfoundlanders take for granted.
The book also has some of the most unnatural and awkward dialog I've read. I've never met people who talk to one another the way these people do, and absolutely NEVER in Newfoundland. Part of the issue is the narrator, which I will address later. There is little "newfinese", and it is all explained, but there should have been much, much more. Especially where the story takes place. The accents and slang increase the closer you get to the coast.
The audio book was narrated by Francis G. Kearney. The audio quality was not great. There is a background static throughout the book. The narrator also has an odd style of almost shouting the whole thing. Everything. He also doesn't spend much time on differentiating voices and basically doesn't bother with trying to do a female voice. He has an upwards inflection on basically every sentence, which combined with his shout talking almost makes every line sound like its supposed to prove someone wrong. There is no tender moments, no ribbing with other characters, no warmth in his narration. This makes the already awkward dialog even worse, cringe worthy. He DOES, however, pronounce almost every newfie word correctly. There was a couple incidence where he didn't quite get it, but it was very rare.
The other thing with this book is the lack of world building. I get jumped into book 3 of a series, and I assume book 1 would have set up the setting. However, most series (and I've read a few) will take a couple lines in each book and bring the reader up to speed on important things, incase they are new or have forgotten, as there is usually a year or 2 between books and a lot of people don't read a series all at once. So, I was until the end of the book with no idea what year the book was set in. I still don't know specifically. There is a throw away line at the end of the book about a 2014 Jeep, so I assume the story is set around that time, but it is never actually established. It was almost half way through the book before someone mentions a cell phone and no one, not ever, sends a text or goes on social media, so I was more than a little confused.
The age of the characters is also never addressed. I assumed that the characters where older, maybe 40's or so, but it is never brought up. The girl friend, Shelia (excuse the spelling, audiobook), says she remembers a time before the Avalon Mall, the mall was built in 1967. Assuming she was 7 when she was in St. John's before the mall, that would make her mid 50's (assuming a 2014 story timeline). This would fit the character and fit the story, as I understood it. However, ***minor spoilers*** as the main character suddenly decides he wants kids, this could be a issue. It is never addressed how a mid 50's woman is going to have a child, or if the author got the info on the mall wrong and Sheila is supposed to be in her 30's, or anything.
I also want to point out that the 2 have just the most bizarre relationship. They don't live together, but often sleep in the same bed. However, at some ungodly time in the morning 1 the guest will wake up and leave without saying goodbye or sending a text or, well anything. So, basically night they go to sleep and the next morning one of them just wakes up alone. Like basically every day. That's just messed up. The common courtesy thing to do would be to give your partner a kiss and tell them you're heading out. It's like they are permanently having a one night stand.
The main character is Cree and a large part of the first half of the book explores his day to day connection with his beliefs and customs. It is also a story line which basically goes nowhere. While it does pay homage to a rich history of a proud people and does so with great respect and care, it doesn't really pay off in the plot. There are 2 dreams the main character has and tries so decipher. 1 leads to, well nothing related to the plot. The other to ***minor spoilers*** first being told he has to learn about the Beothuk, then when he learns a little about that, he's told that the same dream is actually telling him he should have kids. Then in the end, it suggests he should get married. Honestly, the whole dream part was not well done. It was inconsistent and really was meaningless, except to show off the native heritage of the main character. It should have either had some deeper meaning to the story, or have been replaced with something else. It almost seemed like there was 2 separate plots in the story, the dream stuff and everything else.
So, if all that's wrong with the book, why 3 stars? Well, cause I enjoyed it. The characters were fun. There was 0 stakes in the story, so I could just listen to some guy shout a story to me about my home province, with food I've eaten (some of which I still do), places I've been and the people I love. While this is an unbiased review of this book, regarding the author and narrator, I AM biased about Newfoundland. This is a book for people who love Newfoundland. If you want a story about Newfoundland and it's people, then this is a good book to go with. If you want a mystery or police procedural, then there are much better examples out there.
October 14, 2014
Beneath the Surface is a mesmerizing mystery brimming with murder and corruption. Readers will be compelled to continue reading just to see what happens next.
The body of a collage student is discovered and officials suspect murder. The young woman is from Grand Bank and Sgt. Windflower becomes intrigued by her death. There is very little information to go on, but the large sum of cash the woman is carrying and a hefty bank account arise suspicion. Since Windflower calls Grand Bank home and his girlfriend Sheila knew the woman he decides to keep tabs on the case.
But, Sgt. Windflower has bigger problems. Troubling dreams and a crazy uncle who's stirring up trouble are just the tip of the iceberg. As a well respected Mountie with the RCMP Sgt. Windflower is asked to look into a suspected human trafficking ring that threatens to unload a whole lot of crime to the region. Sgt. Windflower certainly has his work cut out for him and the truth about the young woman's murder will shock everyone.
I found Beneath the Surface to be an eloquently written good clean mystery full of plot twists and excitement. The author goes into great detail describing the setting, so much so that I felt as though I was seeing it for myself. He also shares many delectable foods, which left my stomach rumbling a time or two (I am a fan of peanut butter cheesecake as well). Sgt. Windflower is of Cree decent and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the beliefs and traditions of these fascinating people . Sgt. Windflower is a well rounded and easily likable character and readers will be drawn to his honesty and down to earth charm.
I must add that I have not read the previous two books in the series, but was able to join right in without feeling lost.
I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of Beneath the Surface.
The body of a collage student is discovered and officials suspect murder. The young woman is from Grand Bank and Sgt. Windflower becomes intrigued by her death. There is very little information to go on, but the large sum of cash the woman is carrying and a hefty bank account arise suspicion. Since Windflower calls Grand Bank home and his girlfriend Sheila knew the woman he decides to keep tabs on the case.
But, Sgt. Windflower has bigger problems. Troubling dreams and a crazy uncle who's stirring up trouble are just the tip of the iceberg. As a well respected Mountie with the RCMP Sgt. Windflower is asked to look into a suspected human trafficking ring that threatens to unload a whole lot of crime to the region. Sgt. Windflower certainly has his work cut out for him and the truth about the young woman's murder will shock everyone.
I found Beneath the Surface to be an eloquently written good clean mystery full of plot twists and excitement. The author goes into great detail describing the setting, so much so that I felt as though I was seeing it for myself. He also shares many delectable foods, which left my stomach rumbling a time or two (I am a fan of peanut butter cheesecake as well). Sgt. Windflower is of Cree decent and I thoroughly enjoyed learning more about the beliefs and traditions of these fascinating people . Sgt. Windflower is a well rounded and easily likable character and readers will be drawn to his honesty and down to earth charm.
I must add that I have not read the previous two books in the series, but was able to join right in without feeling lost.
I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of Beneath the Surface.
April 22, 2015
Beneath the Surface is Book 3 of the Sgt Windflower Mystery Series. Mike Martin delivers once again in this mystery involving the Cree Indian, Sgt Winston Mayflower, who must solve a mystery when the body of a champion rower washes ashore. This entertaining mystery,centered in three communities, St John's, Marystown and Grand Bank, involves Russian gangsters, drug trafficking and sexual escorts. Sgt Windflower finds himself deep into the seedy world of corruption when he pushes too far and must turn to friends and other supporters for help.
There is a little romance in the mix with Sheila and Winston once she returns home after being injured in a serious car accident. Will Winston take the next step in their relationship? Will his job and her plans for school come between them? It will be interesting to see what this talented author comes up with next in book four!
I thoroughly enjoyed this easy and entertaining read and love the depth and range of each fascinating character. The dialogue is like being there and I felt swept away into the detailed description of the scenes as I looked upon the beautiful landscapes of Newfoundland. It is definitely a place I hope to visit one day.
There is a little romance in the mix with Sheila and Winston once she returns home after being injured in a serious car accident. Will Winston take the next step in their relationship? Will his job and her plans for school come between them? It will be interesting to see what this talented author comes up with next in book four!
I thoroughly enjoyed this easy and entertaining read and love the depth and range of each fascinating character. The dialogue is like being there and I felt swept away into the detailed description of the scenes as I looked upon the beautiful landscapes of Newfoundland. It is definitely a place I hope to visit one day.
June 15, 2020
This is the third book in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery, but the first I have read or listened to. I did enjoy it and had no problem following this story. Having said that, I still want to go back and read or listen to the first two in the series. The main thing that attracted me to this series is that Sgt. Windflower is a member of the RCMP, so being Canadian, I wanted to read this series.
In this book, Windflower has returned to his home of Grand Bank on the southeast coast of Newfoundland. When the body of Amy Parsons, a champion rower, is found, the quiet, serene atmosphere of the Newfoundland town is shattered. With the help of Corporal Eddie Tizzard and Herb Stoodley, a former Crown Attorney, Windflower sets out to solve the crime. As he investigates, he finds that this crime might be part of an interprovincial crime group involving trafficking and the sex trade. It seems some people do not want this case investigated, who is involved in this scandal?
There were several interesting storylines to this book. I enjoyed the mystery and seeing how the investigation played out. There were just enough clues, with a few red herrings to keep me invested in the story. I pretty much figured out what was happening as far as the crime, but who was involved, how deep did it go and how was it all going to work out had the story flowing well. I was quite interested in the stories relating to the Indigenous People. There were dreams that had to be interpreted and other information about how the indigenous people lived and how their lives had changed over the years. There is also a personal storyline involving Windflower and his girlfriend, Sheila Hilliard, which adds the human element to the story. There were other secondary characters in the story that also added to the story and moved the plot along. This was a slow building mystery, not action packed and dramatic, but still very interesting. This story is about community, policing, with a large dose of Canadian culture. If you have never been to Newfoundland, you will definitely want to go after reading this one, as the descriptions were wonderful. This is the only province in Canada that I have not been to, and I really hope to remedy that soon. An enjoyable book that I recommend to those who want to read a mystery that takes place in another country.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Francis G. Kearney. I had a bit of a hard time getting used to his voice. It was loud and at times I felt like he was shouting at me. However, once I got into the story, I grew accustomed to this style and kept the volume a bit lower. I did enjoy his accents and voices. As most of the characters were male, he was able to give them individual voices. Overall, he did a good job with this story and I now have a picture of Windflower, Tizzard and Stoodley in my head. I received a copy of this book from Audiobookworm upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
In this book, Windflower has returned to his home of Grand Bank on the southeast coast of Newfoundland. When the body of Amy Parsons, a champion rower, is found, the quiet, serene atmosphere of the Newfoundland town is shattered. With the help of Corporal Eddie Tizzard and Herb Stoodley, a former Crown Attorney, Windflower sets out to solve the crime. As he investigates, he finds that this crime might be part of an interprovincial crime group involving trafficking and the sex trade. It seems some people do not want this case investigated, who is involved in this scandal?
There were several interesting storylines to this book. I enjoyed the mystery and seeing how the investigation played out. There were just enough clues, with a few red herrings to keep me invested in the story. I pretty much figured out what was happening as far as the crime, but who was involved, how deep did it go and how was it all going to work out had the story flowing well. I was quite interested in the stories relating to the Indigenous People. There were dreams that had to be interpreted and other information about how the indigenous people lived and how their lives had changed over the years. There is also a personal storyline involving Windflower and his girlfriend, Sheila Hilliard, which adds the human element to the story. There were other secondary characters in the story that also added to the story and moved the plot along. This was a slow building mystery, not action packed and dramatic, but still very interesting. This story is about community, policing, with a large dose of Canadian culture. If you have never been to Newfoundland, you will definitely want to go after reading this one, as the descriptions were wonderful. This is the only province in Canada that I have not been to, and I really hope to remedy that soon. An enjoyable book that I recommend to those who want to read a mystery that takes place in another country.
I listened to the audiobook narrated by Francis G. Kearney. I had a bit of a hard time getting used to his voice. It was loud and at times I felt like he was shouting at me. However, once I got into the story, I grew accustomed to this style and kept the volume a bit lower. I did enjoy his accents and voices. As most of the characters were male, he was able to give them individual voices. Overall, he did a good job with this story and I now have a picture of Windflower, Tizzard and Stoodley in my head. I received a copy of this book from Audiobookworm upon request. The rating, ideas and opinions shared are my own.
June 2, 2020
*I was provided a copy of this book free of charge for the purpose of providing an unbiased review*
I like crime stories, always have, from the Midsomer Murders and Joanthan Creek of the 90s back to the Canadian adventures of Benton Fraser in the 80s Due South series I've always enjoyed the cop shows. I've not experienced a lot of Crime dramas in books and what I have read usually revolves around the more shocking ones like those of Thomas Harris and Jeffrey Deaver and so I came into this tale, third in a series, somewhat blind.
My initial feeling was that there was a pleasant familiarity when compared with Due South and the mannerism and conversational tone of the characters and within 2 chapters I'd really taken to Windflower. With the introduction of, what appeared to be prophetic dreams pretty early on, and Windflower's Uncle Frank as a pseudo medicine-man really drew me in.
Then something happened; I found that I was 20 chapters into the 50 chapter book and absolutely nothing was happening.
And so it went on, standard procedure of police investigation (most of it being actioned by 3rd parties off-screen as it where) and Windflower gets told about it while the dream mystery again feels very much a side-story to what the overall book appears to be about.
And the real subject of the story is....food. Pretty much every chapter, the main character has eats. And the book tells you in.minute.detail.all.the.steps.of.cooking. I'm not sure how many different recipes and cooking instructions are provided here but I really do think the author secretly harbours a desire to release a cookery book.
During the last 1/4 of the book, I asked my wife to listen to the book on speaker with me while we cooked our own meal and then did some arranging around the house and, in that time, we heard distinct descriptions of around 3 different meals. And worse of all, they all sounded better than what we were cooking!
I'm sorry, I really wanted to enjoy the book as much as I liked the cast but even with such a good narrator I was just very very bored.
I like crime stories, always have, from the Midsomer Murders and Joanthan Creek of the 90s back to the Canadian adventures of Benton Fraser in the 80s Due South series I've always enjoyed the cop shows. I've not experienced a lot of Crime dramas in books and what I have read usually revolves around the more shocking ones like those of Thomas Harris and Jeffrey Deaver and so I came into this tale, third in a series, somewhat blind.
My initial feeling was that there was a pleasant familiarity when compared with Due South and the mannerism and conversational tone of the characters and within 2 chapters I'd really taken to Windflower. With the introduction of, what appeared to be prophetic dreams pretty early on, and Windflower's Uncle Frank as a pseudo medicine-man really drew me in.
Then something happened; I found that I was 20 chapters into the 50 chapter book and absolutely nothing was happening.
And so it went on, standard procedure of police investigation (most of it being actioned by 3rd parties off-screen as it where) and Windflower gets told about it while the dream mystery again feels very much a side-story to what the overall book appears to be about.
And the real subject of the story is....food. Pretty much every chapter, the main character has eats. And the book tells you in.minute.detail.all.the.steps.of.cooking. I'm not sure how many different recipes and cooking instructions are provided here but I really do think the author secretly harbours a desire to release a cookery book.
During the last 1/4 of the book, I asked my wife to listen to the book on speaker with me while we cooked our own meal and then did some arranging around the house and, in that time, we heard distinct descriptions of around 3 different meals. And worse of all, they all sounded better than what we were cooking!
I'm sorry, I really wanted to enjoy the book as much as I liked the cast but even with such a good narrator I was just very very bored.
May 13, 2019
If you are a fan of Stuarts Woods and especially his Stone Barrington series, then you will love the Sgt Windflower Mystery series by Mike Martin. Windflower is a strong, well-centered character that knows what he wants and does everything he can to get it....just like Stone Barrington would do. Pretty much the only difference between Barrington and Windflower is that Barrington always has a lot of love interests and Windflower has one love, Sheila.
Windflower works for the RCMP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and has been on assignment in Marystown when we begin reading Beneath the Surface, the third book in this series. But Windflower is ready to return home to Grand Bank and when his girlfriend, Sheila, who has been in a special care health facility since a car accident, is being released to go home, Windflower knows that it is time for him as well.
No matter where Windflower works, whether it is on assignment or back at his office in Grand Bank, he will do whatever he can to insure that justice is served....no matter how small the case is. However in Beneath the Surface there are a few different cases that have his attention and one of them is right there in his office building !!
There is so much to keep the readers attention in this series. I love Windflower's strong beliefs and loved reading the dream interpretations. I love his devotion to Sheila and his town. His circle of friends and family are ones to long for and even his commitment to the food he eats is a joy to read about !!!
The Sgt. Windflower Mystery series has something for all readers to enjoy !! The series will take the reader on a journey that will not soon be forgotten....this series stays with the reader .... in a very good way !!! And with the way that Martin ended Beneath the Surface, I cannot wait to see what is in store for Windflower and Sheila in the future !!!
Windflower works for the RCMP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and has been on assignment in Marystown when we begin reading Beneath the Surface, the third book in this series. But Windflower is ready to return home to Grand Bank and when his girlfriend, Sheila, who has been in a special care health facility since a car accident, is being released to go home, Windflower knows that it is time for him as well.
No matter where Windflower works, whether it is on assignment or back at his office in Grand Bank, he will do whatever he can to insure that justice is served....no matter how small the case is. However in Beneath the Surface there are a few different cases that have his attention and one of them is right there in his office building !!
There is so much to keep the readers attention in this series. I love Windflower's strong beliefs and loved reading the dream interpretations. I love his devotion to Sheila and his town. His circle of friends and family are ones to long for and even his commitment to the food he eats is a joy to read about !!!
The Sgt. Windflower Mystery series has something for all readers to enjoy !! The series will take the reader on a journey that will not soon be forgotten....this series stays with the reader .... in a very good way !!! And with the way that Martin ended Beneath the Surface, I cannot wait to see what is in store for Windflower and Sheila in the future !!!
June 24, 2020
The Newfoundland Mounties have returned and I’m so glad they have! Mike Martin’s series featuring Sgt. Winston Windflower, who is part First Nation, specifically Cree, as you can tell by his last name, has become one of my favorites over the past few years and I’m always happy to welcome Windflower back along with his girlfriend, Sheila Hillier, close friend Herb Stoodly, and colleagues Corporal Eddie Tizzard and Betsy Molloy.
Sidenote: Are Canadians as enamored with the Mounties as so many Americans are?
The suspicious death of a rower, a university student in St. Johns, doesn’t actively involve Windflower in his temporary Marystown post but his interest is piqued because she grew up in Grand Bank, Eddie’s territory. Sheila knew and liked Amy Parsons, another reason for Windflower to want to look into the incident but, before he can, he’s surprised to find his Uncle Frank ensconced in his house, unannounced but clearly settled in, even wearing Windflower’s own longjohns. This is a problem in all sorts of ways but takes a backseat to what Windflower begins to learn about Amy’s murder, especially a possible connection to human trafficking.
It was nice, as always, to learn a little about life in Newfoundland and Winston’s Cree background and everything was enhanced by Mr. Kearney’s performance. His narration has been growing on me with each audiobook and I particularly enjoy his accents, which sound authentic to me. Once again, an appealing story with engaging narration, just what I like.
Sidenote: Are Canadians as enamored with the Mounties as so many Americans are?
The suspicious death of a rower, a university student in St. Johns, doesn’t actively involve Windflower in his temporary Marystown post but his interest is piqued because she grew up in Grand Bank, Eddie’s territory. Sheila knew and liked Amy Parsons, another reason for Windflower to want to look into the incident but, before he can, he’s surprised to find his Uncle Frank ensconced in his house, unannounced but clearly settled in, even wearing Windflower’s own longjohns. This is a problem in all sorts of ways but takes a backseat to what Windflower begins to learn about Amy’s murder, especially a possible connection to human trafficking.
It was nice, as always, to learn a little about life in Newfoundland and Winston’s Cree background and everything was enhanced by Mr. Kearney’s performance. His narration has been growing on me with each audiobook and I particularly enjoy his accents, which sound authentic to me. Once again, an appealing story with engaging narration, just what I like.
January 22, 2022
Mike Martin has pulled together a compelling story with multiple storylines that draw you in from the opening pages. Set in Newfoundland, Canada, Beneath The Surface explores the subjects of human trafficking, sexual harassment, abuse of power, the spiritual meaning of dreams, and the relationship between Sergeant Windflower and his girlfriend. While some of the subject matter had the potential to become dark, Martin presents it in an easy and enjoyable way, interjecting discussions about food and some of the Newfoundland scenery, along with friendly banter between Windflower and his colleagues. Some of the foodies among you may even find some recipes you would like to try.
This is the second book in the series that I have read. Sergeant Windflower is an interesting character with many facets. He is outgoing and can be friendly with his staff, but take them to task when required. He is committed to his work, yet makes time for his relationship with his girlfriend. His fascination with cooking is an interesting sidebar. This captivating character, combined with the twists and turns of the story, make for a compelling read. Beneath The Surface is highly recommended.
This is the second book in the series that I have read. Sergeant Windflower is an interesting character with many facets. He is outgoing and can be friendly with his staff, but take them to task when required. He is committed to his work, yet makes time for his relationship with his girlfriend. His fascination with cooking is an interesting sidebar. This captivating character, combined with the twists and turns of the story, make for a compelling read. Beneath The Surface is highly recommended.
May 28, 2020
Man can Sargent Windflower pack away some food. I may be an Aussie reviewing this book but I am now intrigued by some of the dishes, just glad there was some healthy food in there.
Now onto the good stuff haha isn’t that the food. Sgt. Windflower is finally back in Grand Bank and his girlfriend Sheila is finally home from special care health facility. The story seems to be following several different cases but then a lead breaks and it is revealed that all is linked and it’s now just getting the right results for all involved and that could be harder than first thought, especially when the higher ups start trying to shut parts of the cases down. Anyway the book does have a good and happy ending. This was also my first book in this series so yes it can be read as a standalone story.
The narrator does try to inflict some different voices tones but he voice is to masculine for any successful female voices. But we always know who is talking. He does read a a comfortable pace to listen t
Now onto the good stuff haha isn’t that the food. Sgt. Windflower is finally back in Grand Bank and his girlfriend Sheila is finally home from special care health facility. The story seems to be following several different cases but then a lead breaks and it is revealed that all is linked and it’s now just getting the right results for all involved and that could be harder than first thought, especially when the higher ups start trying to shut parts of the cases down. Anyway the book does have a good and happy ending. This was also my first book in this series so yes it can be read as a standalone story.
The narrator does try to inflict some different voices tones but he voice is to masculine for any successful female voices. But we always know who is talking. He does read a a comfortable pace to listen t
August 16, 2024
This is the third book in the Sergeant Windflower series, and the fourth that I have read, and I think it is the best to date. In this installment we find Windflower investigating a pair of murders, as well as human trafficking activity in his usually quiet corner of Newfoundland. He is also dealing with the sexual harassment of one of his constables, and conflict with his commanding officer. There is a lot going on, but the story all fits together and falls into place very well. As with all of the books in this series, there are a lot of descriptions of food. Windflower and the author are foodies, and I have learned a lot about traditional Newfoundland food from this series. In this book we also meet Windflower's Cree uncle from Alberta, and Windflower's Cree culture is revealed more than in the previous books. I think that at this point in the series the author must have started to use a better editor, as there are far fewer typos and silly mistakes in this book than in the previous two. I'm looking forward to the next book.
October 18, 2025
Beneath the Surface
Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series, Book 3
Mike Martin (Author, Publisher), Francis G. Kearney (Narrator)
Narrator sounds authentically Newfie. Somehow I don’t like the tone of his voice, he may resent the term Newfie.
Windflower maintains his morning smudge pot ritual and prayers. Likes his sweets and a cup of coffee or tea.
We meet his loyal Corporal Eddie Tizzard with his penchant for speeding and his female Constable Carrie Evanchuk.
Winston cohabitates with his girlfriend Shiela but has yet to make an honest woman of her indeed has not even presented her with the engagement ring on his bureau.
If you like fish you’ll enjoy the descriptions of the meals he enjoys and the coffee and biscuits at the Mugup. Martin talks about food almost as much as Mike Walker does in his Bruno Series though Winston’s tastes are more plebeian.
Somehow there seems to be too much happening at once here and nothing is ever fully resolved including the strike at the fish plant.
Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series, Book 3
Mike Martin (Author, Publisher), Francis G. Kearney (Narrator)
Narrator sounds authentically Newfie. Somehow I don’t like the tone of his voice, he may resent the term Newfie.
Windflower maintains his morning smudge pot ritual and prayers. Likes his sweets and a cup of coffee or tea.
We meet his loyal Corporal Eddie Tizzard with his penchant for speeding and his female Constable Carrie Evanchuk.
Winston cohabitates with his girlfriend Shiela but has yet to make an honest woman of her indeed has not even presented her with the engagement ring on his bureau.
If you like fish you’ll enjoy the descriptions of the meals he enjoys and the coffee and biscuits at the Mugup. Martin talks about food almost as much as Mike Walker does in his Bruno Series though Winston’s tastes are more plebeian.
Somehow there seems to be too much happening at once here and nothing is ever fully resolved including the strike at the fish plant.
May 21, 2020
First off, you might not want to read/listen to this book while hungry...it’s torture listening to the description of the food!! Secondly, now I really want to visit Canada...it sounds so beautiful...well maybe except for all that rain and fog! These are some of the reasons that Sgt. Winston Windflower loves his job...those and the fact that the community is close-knit and caring. Windflower is swept up into an investigation into a murder, then a possible human trafficking ring, as well as a possible sexual harassment problem (not against him). As if that isn’t enough, he’s having recurring dreams that disturb him. Good thing Windflower has support from his whacky uncle, his girlfriend and his friends. This book is well written and enjoyable. I may need to backtrack and get the prior books!
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I accepted a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
November 3, 2024
This is the third book in the Sgt. Windflower mystery series. As an RCMP officer, Windflower is tasked with digging up all he can on human trafficking in his part of Canada. There are also two unsolved murders and some sexual harassment going on. On the personal front, Windflower's girlfriend, who was seriously injured in the previous book, is coming home from rehab and he's dealing with an unexpected visit from his Uncle who has a drinking problem.
I like the character of Winston Windflower and the atmosphere of the book. However, I wish it had stuck closer to the cases and didn't spend so much time on the eating. There were detailed descriptions throughout of all the meals. It really slowed down the pacing. It got to the point that I'd skip the meals in the later section of the book.
I like the character of Winston Windflower and the atmosphere of the book. However, I wish it had stuck closer to the cases and didn't spend so much time on the eating. There were detailed descriptions throughout of all the meals. It really slowed down the pacing. It got to the point that I'd skip the meals in the later section of the book.
February 23, 2023
Beneath the Surface (Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series Book 3), my second enjoyable read from author Mike Martin. Well-written with intriguing primary characters and a captivating storyline. I didn't do myself any favors by reading book 6 first but I didn't know I owned this one. Now I just went out & bought The Walker on the Cape Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series, Book 1 to read next. “I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. Francis G. Kearney's narration with his hint of an accent is perfect for this book. I'll definitely be reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).
June 13, 2020
Boring, slow
If they left out all the food and eating, the book would have been 1/4 of the length. All the making and eating and referring to food made it very boring, as the food played no role other than to fill up the book. The plot was very predictable.
I didn't enjoy it at all
I received a review copy at my request and voluntarily reviewed
If they left out all the food and eating, the book would have been 1/4 of the length. All the making and eating and referring to food made it very boring, as the food played no role other than to fill up the book. The plot was very predictable.
I didn't enjoy it at all
I received a review copy at my request and voluntarily reviewed
April 20, 2024
I liked the first and second books in this series, but loved this one. They are so much like British Mysteries. There are murders, but no gruesome violence. There's romance, but no explicit sex. They are gentle reads with the uniqueness of the Newfoundland that I know and love. I can't wait to read the next one! Will Winston finally propose to Sheila?
April 16, 2021
I like the series, unfortunately I need to buy the books as my library does not carry them.
September 19, 2016
Tried to give this series another go, but just couldn't get into it. Pretty much everything I liked and didn't like with the earlier book The Body on the T (https://literarytreats.wordpress.com/...) elicited a similar reaction in this book.
WHAT I LIKED:
- Charming characters, in this case Sgt Windflower's uncle.
- The main character being Cree.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- Too much detail.
I like that the author references Donna Leon's Guid0 Brunetti series and particularly the mouthwatering meals in those books, and I see that he's going for a similar effect in this book. There was a nice bit about a lamb dish that Sgt Windflower's friend made, but there was just too much detail around Sgt Windflower eating the meal with his friend and then telling his co-workers (who became curious by the delicious smell from the leftovers) about his friend's talent, and not enough detail about how the dish itself tasted, or what Sgt Windflower was visiting his friend about in the first place. As a result, it just felt like the scene was inserted just so the author could mention a delicious dish.
Same with the details of Sgt Windflower's day, where apart from some nice references to Sgt Windflower's daily smudging rituals, many of the details felt like minutiae. I found it hard to remember what the mystery was because the story felt bogged down by so many other things, and while I appreciate that the author is trying to round off his series characters and give them more dimension than just solving a mystery, I struggled to stay interested.
+
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
WHAT I LIKED:
- Charming characters, in this case Sgt Windflower's uncle.
- The main character being Cree.
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- Too much detail.
I like that the author references Donna Leon's Guid0 Brunetti series and particularly the mouthwatering meals in those books, and I see that he's going for a similar effect in this book. There was a nice bit about a lamb dish that Sgt Windflower's friend made, but there was just too much detail around Sgt Windflower eating the meal with his friend and then telling his co-workers (who became curious by the delicious smell from the leftovers) about his friend's talent, and not enough detail about how the dish itself tasted, or what Sgt Windflower was visiting his friend about in the first place. As a result, it just felt like the scene was inserted just so the author could mention a delicious dish.
Same with the details of Sgt Windflower's day, where apart from some nice references to Sgt Windflower's daily smudging rituals, many of the details felt like minutiae. I found it hard to remember what the mystery was because the story felt bogged down by so many other things, and while I appreciate that the author is trying to round off his series characters and give them more dimension than just solving a mystery, I struggled to stay interested.
+
Thank you to the author for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 28, 2014
Book three of the Sgt. Winston Windflower series finds Windflower, a Cree Indian from Alberta, Canada, still living in Newfoundland and working for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. His relationship with Sheila, his girlfriend, continues to grow, and he is assisted in his duties by his faithful sidekick, Corporal Eddie Tizzard. Many colorful supporting characters from the previous two books are back as well.
The plot in this book centers on secrets and lies and corruption. It starts out with the death of a well-liked champion rower, but quickly grows to include international intrigue, human trafficking, the Russian mafia, and closer to home, police corruption and the sexual harassment of one of Windflower’s subordinates by a high-ranking police official. Windflower is also troubled by deeply disturbing dreams and has to return to his roots to find answers.
I enjoy following Windflower around as he struggles with issues, but still manages to enjoy his life and his food. (Thanks to this series, I know what “poutine” is, and I crave peanut butter cheese cake. I don’t know if I’d eat poutine, but I sure know what people are talking about when I heard it mentioned on television.) I like how he treats his subordinates, and how he feels compelled to Do the Next Right Thing. He is a man of honor, and to me, represents what a Mountie should be. Reading this series is like visiting with an old friend.
In the interests of full disclosure, I was privileged to be a beta reader on this book for the author. I’ve read it twice now and it’s still good. And I’m mentioned in the forward, which if I had a bucket list, being mentioned in a book forward would be on it. But even if I weren’t so named, I’d still enjoy this series and look forward to learning more about Windflower, the Mounties, and Newfoundland food.
The plot in this book centers on secrets and lies and corruption. It starts out with the death of a well-liked champion rower, but quickly grows to include international intrigue, human trafficking, the Russian mafia, and closer to home, police corruption and the sexual harassment of one of Windflower’s subordinates by a high-ranking police official. Windflower is also troubled by deeply disturbing dreams and has to return to his roots to find answers.
I enjoy following Windflower around as he struggles with issues, but still manages to enjoy his life and his food. (Thanks to this series, I know what “poutine” is, and I crave peanut butter cheese cake. I don’t know if I’d eat poutine, but I sure know what people are talking about when I heard it mentioned on television.) I like how he treats his subordinates, and how he feels compelled to Do the Next Right Thing. He is a man of honor, and to me, represents what a Mountie should be. Reading this series is like visiting with an old friend.
In the interests of full disclosure, I was privileged to be a beta reader on this book for the author. I’ve read it twice now and it’s still good. And I’m mentioned in the forward, which if I had a bucket list, being mentioned in a book forward would be on it. But even if I weren’t so named, I’d still enjoy this series and look forward to learning more about Windflower, the Mounties, and Newfoundland food.
October 24, 2014
Sgt. Winston Windflower, head of the Grand Bank RCMP Detachment in Newfoundland, has just returned from an assignment in Marystown when he hears about the murder of Amy Parsons, a local girl who was going to university in St. John’s. At the same time, he is given a human trafficking case that seems to suggest that Newfoundland is not as quiet as people may think. Add to this the surprise visit of his uncle from Alberta, and the return of Windflower’s girlfriend from rehab after a serious car accident, and the sergeant is a busy man indeed!
Beneath the Surface is the third book in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series. It is a suspenseful read, and it contains vivid and beautiful descriptions of Newfoundland and its weather. I thought it was interesting that Sgt. Winston Windflower was of Cree heritage, and it fit in nicely with the story. There were also fun references to movies and books throughout the novel. However, I don’t think that the reader needed to know when Sgt. Winston Windflower took a bath, or what he ate for each meal. A few references to local cuisine would have been enough to give the reader a sense of what Newfoundlanders liked to eat. In addition, I thought the strike at the fish plant didn’t really fit in the story. In fact, while the author talks about important and interesting subjects (human trafficking, sexual harassment, corruption, etc.), there were too many subplots in the book. It was an entertaining novel though, and I certainly would like to read more about Sgt. Windflower’s adventures as a Canadian Mountie.
Beneath the Surface was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
To read the full review, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).
Beneath the Surface is the third book in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series. It is a suspenseful read, and it contains vivid and beautiful descriptions of Newfoundland and its weather. I thought it was interesting that Sgt. Winston Windflower was of Cree heritage, and it fit in nicely with the story. There were also fun references to movies and books throughout the novel. However, I don’t think that the reader needed to know when Sgt. Winston Windflower took a bath, or what he ate for each meal. A few references to local cuisine would have been enough to give the reader a sense of what Newfoundlanders liked to eat. In addition, I thought the strike at the fish plant didn’t really fit in the story. In fact, while the author talks about important and interesting subjects (human trafficking, sexual harassment, corruption, etc.), there were too many subplots in the book. It was an entertaining novel though, and I certainly would like to read more about Sgt. Windflower’s adventures as a Canadian Mountie.
Beneath the Surface was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
To read the full review, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).
July 1, 2014
Life in Grand Bank is just as sleepy and peaceful as ever and Winston spends his time looking forward to his next meal and sharing details of the vast wealth of Newfoundland local fayre (which is great for the #readcookeat challenge - I was spoilt for choice !). Despite the fog and rain which is never far away, Grand Bank sounds like a charming place to live and the relatively slow pace of the novel reflects the tranquility of life there.
However, as the title suggests, beneath the surface there are darker goings on and Winston has to deal with murder, a human traficking ring involving prostitution and also some serious sexual harrassment within the Mounted Police force. Despite all that, Winston manages to come out on top and it's charming to see his relationship unfolding with Sheila as they work towards a happy future together.
(complete review on my blog : http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot...)
However, as the title suggests, beneath the surface there are darker goings on and Winston has to deal with murder, a human traficking ring involving prostitution and also some serious sexual harrassment within the Mounted Police force. Despite all that, Winston manages to come out on top and it's charming to see his relationship unfolding with Sheila as they work towards a happy future together.
(complete review on my blog : http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot...)
July 20, 2014
This book is like two books overlapping. The mystery is interesting and somewhat complicated. The interchanges between Sargent Windflower and his fellow law enforcement are well written and contribute to the story. The other book, however, is Sgt Windflower's personal life and would be fine as background for the first if it was drastically edited. The dialogue is stilted; there is an overabundance of speech tags and large info dumps, and daily events are repeated in details that add nothing to the story. It is obvious early on the Sgt enjoys his food and that's fine but every breakfast is thoroughly covered even if it's pretty much the same over and over. The local color is nice and helpful but needs to be introduced more seamlessly.
February 15, 2015
Good character development where they all seem like someone you might know. Easy read that I fully enjoyed.
Read
July 8, 2015I didn't read this book. I re-read Beneath the Surface by John Hargrove and Goodreads doesn't have a re-read button yet.
July 13, 2016
I liked this book for the social issues . Some parts are a bit long. Not enough mystery for me.
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