As We Forgive Others

Northern Gothic Mysteries #1

by Shane Peacock

Hugh Mercer has come to a small town in Ontario, far away from his broken career, broken marriage, and broken life in New York. He’s expecting to take advantage of what he’s sure will be a peaceful place in the middle of winter to begin to make some sense of the situations he’s left behind. Before he has a chance to settle into his rented farmhouse, a strange woman appears on his doorstep and makes a startling Elizabeth Goode, a local, is about to disappear under bizarre circumstances and her life is at risk. Mercer needs further information, but as quickly as she appeared, the stranger is gone.
Within a few days, Elizabeth Goode does indeed vanish from a café in town and all the witnesses have different accounts of the event. Her life now depends on the skills Mercer honed in the New York Police Department as a homicide detective and the down-to-earth abilities of local police officer Alice Morrow. Together they work to solve the mystery of the disappearance and get to Elizabeth before she is murdered; but they, too, are troubled by their own need for forgiveness, their desire for justice, and their passion for each other.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Canada

Kindle Edition

Published December 2, 2024

About the author

Shane Peacock was born in 1957 in Thunder Bay, Ontario, one of four brothers. He attended school in the northern town of Kapuskasing, Ontario, before attending university, where he studied History and English literature. A biographer, journalist, and screenwriter, he is also the author of eighteen novels, a picture book and three plays, and has been won and/or been nominated for numerous awards including two Arthur Ellis Awards for crime fiction, the Geoffrey Bilson Award for historical fiction, the Violet Downey Award, the Libris Award, seven times honored with Junior Library Guild of America selections, and has been on three shortlists for the Canadian Children's Literature Award, and one for the Governor-General's Award. His books have been published in 20 languages in 18 countries. He and his wife, journalist Sophie Kneisel live in Cobourg, Ontario and have two daughters and a son.

Series:
* The Dylan Maples Adventures
* The Boy Sherlock Holmes
The Dark Missions of Edgar Brim
The Seven Series

Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Juvenile (2008): Eye of the Crow
The Arthur Ellis (2013)
The Violet Downey Award
The Libris Award
The Geoffrey Bilson Award
The Ruth & Sylvia Schwartz Award
Anne Izard Storyteller Choice Award
Junior Library Guild of America Selection (7 times)
Governor-General's Award (shortlist)
TD Canadian Children's Literature Award (shortlist)

Reviews

[ℭ𝔥𝔢𝔩𝔰𝔢𝔞 || 𝔅𝔦𝔟𝔩𝔦𝔬𝔭𝔥𝔢𝔩& · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great thriller! The mystery was intriguing from the very beginning and had me hooked all the way through! It was a bit slow but not in a boring sense more in the way that all the twists/thrilling parts happened more towards the end!

I picked this book up because it was described as being a great piece of gothic fiction, however I was a bit disappointed in that aspect as this is more of a crime thriller. In fact I don’t see how this novel could be considered gothic horror at all. But as far as crimes thrillers go it was a good one!

[Katey Kozak · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

I really loved this book, would definitely recommend. It was a perfect balance of mystery and crime without being too intense and dark. I loved the pace of the writing and definitely felt like I couldn’t put it down once I got into the plot. It was also really fun to paint a mental image knowing it’s based in northern Ontario. Really looking forward to the next book in this series !!

[Melanie Zitzman · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Fun mystery that kept the pages turning!

[Sarah Butland · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the very first sentence until the absolute last, this is a brilliant read!

Full review to come on The Miramichi Reader

[Anne Logan · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new mystery series by a Canadian author is always a fun project for me to dive into, so I was delighted to read As We Forgive Others, and A Place of Secrets by Shane Peacock. They were published consecutively in 2024 and 2025, and I’m hopeful another is on the way shortly. They are subtitled as a “Northern Gothic Mystery” which is a unique way of describing what is essentially some very dark cases, in a dark, wintry, and isolated place. Similar to a Scandinavian thriller but not quite as violent, they take place in an unnamed small town in Canada where people keep to themselves. It feels strange to dive into these during the heat of summer, but they’re perfect for a day of gloomy thunderstorms if you can time it right.

Plot Summaries

In As We Forgive Others, we are introduced to ex-New York Homicide detective Hugh Mercer as he moves to a small farmhouse in a place where he knows no one. The book is told mainly from his perspective while he is escaping a family that he no longer feels a part of, and a shameful loss of control as a police officer back at his old precinct. In this new town, he meets a younger woman named Alice in a diner and they begin a physical relationship, many things left unsaid between them. Early one morning a desperate woman comes to Hugh’s house claiming a murder is about to be committed, and despite himself, he can’t help but involve himself in the case. He discovers that his new lover Alice is actually a Sergeant in the local police force, and they team up to get to the bottom of the case, Alice reluctantly accepting Hugh’s help once a local resident goes missing. Told mainly from Hugh’s perspective, we follow him as he struggles to get closer to Alice, and decide what his next move will be – will he stay in this little town, or will he go back home where people are waiting for him? The following book A Place of Secrets answers that question because it takes place a few weeks later, and Hugh has stayed. What’s different from the first is that it’s told from Alice’s perspective, so we learn a bit more about her dark past, which is dangled in front of the reader in both books, only being revealed towards the very end of the second. This next crime begins with an odd discovery; a senior resident has been found dead in her home with a confession note; a body is buried in her basement. When the second body is discovered, it kicks off another complicated case that leads to missing persons reports from decades ago, yet another opportunity for Alice and Hugh to team up and solve a mystery together, while also figuring out what they mean to one another.

My Thoughts

There’s a few reasons why I really liked these two books, and the most obvious is the immersive atmosphere Peacock creates. It’s difficult to define the term gothic, and I wouldn’t necessarily attribute that term to these novels because there aren’t any ghostly old mansions or hints of the supernatural. Instead, the entire town and its citizens seem to live under a grey, wintry sky that forces people inward. For such a small place, the family secrets and tragedies are innumerable, and the harsh environment exacerbates this feeling of danger and impending violence. There are wide, open and uninhabited swaths of land, and this lack of activity makes it easier to hide actions, people, and dead bodies. The plot is situated firmly in reality, yet it still felt spooky to me:

“She thought of the terrible secrets this whole polite country had, secrets that you heard about now on the news, and she thought of the other disappearances in this community right here over the years. Where had those people gone? Had they left on their own, or had they suffered some horrible fate?…The world outside the police cruiser’s windows suddenly seemed even colder, the road more slippery (p. 28 of A Place of Secrets by Shane Peacock).

What makes these books even more entertaining are the romantic interests between Alice and Hugh. They are secretive, which keeps the suspense moving a nice clip, and it never overtakes the dark crime-solving at hand. Instead, it humanizes both of them, giving the reader a short breather in between the investigation and analyzing of clues. There aren’t major twists in the plot like those we find throughout the thriller genre; instead this is a police procedural with a balanced focus on character development. Alice and Hugh aren’t terribly likeable, but they are certainly realistic, and despite their odd natures, one can’t help but root for them to get together, or at the very least find a bit of happiness, even if it is short-lived.

To read the rest of my reviews, please visit my blog:
https://ivereadthis.com/

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

“As We Forgive Others” is a first foray into “adult” fiction for prolific YA author Shane Peacock. Not having been a young adult for some time, and not having any in my life, I wasn’t familiar with most of Peacock’s work, so was coming in with very little preconception.

The book is clearly the work of a veteran author. The pacing, the structure, and characterizations are strong and sophisticated, and as a mystery novel, it had enough twists and turns that I wasn’t left saying “Well, it’s clear that THIS is what happens” by the end of chapter 2 and wondering whether to continue.

Overall, a really enjoyable read that is evocative of what some people would call “Alice Munro” country in its bleaker, more harsh seasons, when the flowers have all been cut and the ground scoured by winter winds. I enjoyed the relatively rare double-barrelled protagonist setup (NYC expat cop Hugh Drummond and local detective Alice Morrow) that Peacock chose, and hope to read the next novel, with Alice Morrow more in the center of the spotlight.

I also think that the two-protagonist setup can lead to some interesting conflicts between them in future books.

I enjoyed the book a lot.

[Guylou (Two Dogs and a Book) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had the pleasure of meeting 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲 𝗣𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗼𝗰𝗸 at 𝗕𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗻 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀 on 𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆, and he sold me on the premise of 𝗔𝗦 𝗪𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗢𝗧𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗦. I’m glad I picked it up because this was an engaging small-town police procedural that kept me turning the pages to see whether my predictions were right — and quite a few of them were. The snowy Ontario setting was vividly written, and I could easily picture the isolated town and tense atmosphere. The mystery surrounding Elizabeth Goode’s disappearance pulled me in immediately, and I enjoyed the investigative partnership between Hugh Mercer and Alice Morrow. That said, I struggled with Hugh as a protagonist. I found him difficult to sympathize with, and the repeated comparisons between Canada and the U.S. felt forced at times. Still, the mystery itself kept me invested, and the exploration of guilt, justice, and forgiveness added emotional depth to the story.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
🔍 Small-town mystery
❄️ Winter setting
🚔 Detective with a troubled past
🕵️ Missing person case
👥 Unlikely partnership

[John Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always been dubious when reviews say a book is a "page-turner," but As We Forgive Others truly is. Numerous twists keep the reader guessing until the very end. I foresee this book being adapted for the screen or as a mini-series on TV.
I was curious to know why the book's cover refers to the story as "A Northern Gothic Mystery." After reading the book, I now picture Grant Wood's painting American Gothic (the picture of the elderly farmer and his wife holding a pitchfork) and see this as describing the stoicism of a Canadian town and police force where placidity is shaken and truths revealed about its culture via the intervention of a New York homicide detective.
I understand this book is the first in a series. I can't wait for the next episode.

[Carolyn Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't usually read mysteries or even genre fiction, but I liked this because it was more like Canadian gothic fiction (which I've certifiably read all of!). I wasn't paying much attention to the mystery but to the characters and to the landscape mirroring their internal life. I figured out the solution about 2/3rds in, but I was interested in the ambiguity between perpetrator and victim, and the protagonists' inner guilt being mirrored in their case. That is, this was a story about trauma and redemption, rather than crime and punishment. For me, the one weakness was the superficial comparisons of Canadian and US culture -- this worked better when the values conflicted and less when I was scavenger-hunting all the references to Cancon.

[Enid Wray · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent enough police procedural.

I was most annoyed that a book with so many clear references to Canadian culture is set so anonymously in “this northern place.” Be loud and proud.

I also got very tired of the litany of put-downs of various aspects of Canadian culture on the part of Mercer - I get that they were designed/intended to point out the differences between Canadian and American policies/practices but they wore thin also.

There were also many instances where I was asked to suspend disbelief over and above what I was prepared to.

Thanks to the publisher and Edelweiss for granting me access to an early digital review copy.

2.5 rounded up to 3

[Mysticpt · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book sounded interesting and i have not read this author so thought i would try. The pages did turn and there is something to the writing, however so many of the conversations did not ring true to what would actually be said. The plot was a little slow moving until the end and again most of what happened did just not seem in anyway like it would really happen, nor did we ever get to really really know the history or motivations of the main characters. I will round up to 3 stars and will not likely continue if there are more books to come.

[Stephanie H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a relatively engaging thriller for me. I wanted to get to the bottom of the story and see if my predictions were correct (a lot of them were). I felt like I could really picture this small town as well.

Unfortunately, the stuff I didn’t like just kept happening. I wasn’t a fan of the constant comparing the US to Canada as written by a Canadian speaking in the voice of an American. It was a little ridiculous. I also think Hugh Mercer is a terrible human being and I struggled feeling any sympathy for any plight he faced.

[Sally · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detective Hugh Mercer has come to a little town in Canada hoping to rid himself of a pass that continues to
haunt him. In this small town he encounters Detective Alice Morrow, who has her own pass. Meanwhile
a very well known women born and raised in this town, moved aware and came back and was missing.
Everything pointed her husband. He told the police that he would ever hurt her, no less kill her.
Lots of drama. Lots of clues. But who took Elizabeth. Guess you have to read the book.

[VickiLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A northern Gothic mystery #1:

An American, Hugh Mercer, has taken time to spend in small town in Ontario. He’s left the New York Police Department and his family to try and find some truth about who he is. He expects life to be very peaceful, but a woman stops by and predicts a murder. Mercer is captivated when this actually happens. I really enjoyed it the comparisons between Canada and the United States based on the behaviour and attitudes of the characters.

[Mike Broderick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely enjoyed this one.
A good old fashioned whodunnit.
A Canadian reader could get very annoyed with how Mercer looks at our country, our people, but I think the author actually did a good job of highlighting that stereotype.
Overall, a page turner, I wanted to keep reading it, so it is a solid 4 star.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting plot, gothic in a modern context. The characters are thinly drawn but believable. Sorry but I found the story dragged on and the references to its Canadian setting overdone. If the author wants to learn how to write a crackling crime novel he should familiarize himself with the work of the late Elmore Leonard. An honest effort nonetheless.

[Veronica · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is actually a very good novel with a very unique and interesting plot. The characters have the potential to be well developed especially Alice who right now is very strange but a very effective police officer. The plot moved fairly quickly and kept my attention. I presume there will be a sequel.

[Gregory Van Den Berg · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book I have read by this author. The wait was worth it. The story was developed throughout the reading. The police procedural was first rate. The story was believable from beginning to end. Read and enjoy!

[M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, this may not be grand literature but it was great fun to read. Great characters and a mystery, the resolution to which this reader could not even guess at.
Hope there will be more with the same cast of characters.

[Alexa M · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book, it was one of those “just one more chapter” books for me. I had to know what happened next! And I enjoyed how I really felt like I was in the town as I was reading it, felt like I was there trying to solve the mystery with the main character. Overall a great read

[DocGill · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a strange book, which is not really 'gothic', as advertised, but more a very slow-moving Sherlock Holmes-type novel. It takes itself too seriously at times and takes AGES for the plot to start moving!

The detective, Hugh, is also fairly unlikeable, cold and hooking up with random women, including Alice, a police officer who is also presented as very cold, with no explanation (we wait for one all the way through the book, to no avail!).

Meanwhile, Hugh is reflecting on whether to go back to his wife. This part of the plot only unravels at the end and is quite good.

The twists and turns are a bit laughable, but never expected, so it WAS a book which kept me reading.

[Joyce Nowocin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was very intriguing and clever, and I kept wanting to read to find out what happened to the lady in the coffee shop. I liked the way it contrasted the Canadian and American personalities and how we are the same, yet different. I recommend this book.

[Calvin Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

More a solid 3.75

This was a it slow out of the gate, but ramped up nicely.

A twisty mystery that was well conceived.

Enjoyed it. Not quite a Wakeland-quality book (from Sam Wiebe), or Scott Thornley's MacNeice books, but still and easy Canadian mystery book to recommend.

[Sam Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid, entertaining mystery set in the Canadian winter. Would recommend!

[Adriana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Brilliant. Keeps you turning the pages until the last one!!! I cannot wait for his next adult book.

[Julia Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story that kept me guessing. Well written. Highly recommend!

[Patricia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great debut adult mystery. Such a complex, convoluted story line. There were hints and clues but you really have to pay attention. I look forward to the next installment.

[Kalinda Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick thriller read! I pictured several characters from Chicago PD so I obviously enjoyed this read.

[Cindym · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally! A good mystery detective book with an ending that is filled with just the perfect explanations! Great characters, conversations and slight humor. Thank you, Shane Peacock 👍

[Elisabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compulsively readable— I kept needlessly by the next chapter!
I did feel nd I he ending a bit flat, and though it answered the questions.