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Copper Mountain
"The third installation of Van Clieaf’s mystery series finds private detective Alex Desocarras embroiled in high-stakes controversies involving the lucrative Canadian mining industry.
"Alex, a Secwépemc First Nations PI, formerly with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, is called in to investigate the attempted murder of Max King, a lawyer involved in bringing suits against mining interests, and Max’s girlfriend, Rose Barlow.
Max and Alex are both members of the redz, a secret network of Indigenous people … who are helping to coordinate “White Paper Blizzard,” an international, coordinated attempt to bring lawsuits against companies whose ecological degradation is jeopardizing individuals’ “right to a healthy environment.” At the outset, Max’s assailants dump him near the entrance of one of the rare earth mines his group is targeting. His mother calls on Alex to investigate, and the private eye, along with a former Mountie colleague, a couple of local detectives, and the redz work together to unravel a complex situation that involves an organized crime ring, competing corporations, and others who would have a lot to lose from mine closures.
"Over the course of the novel, Van Clieaf spins a plot that’s ambitious and engaging, even if it sometimes stretches the limits of credibility. The writing style is sometimes a bit flat or clinical, which makes it hard for readers to get a grasp on some of the secondary characters. A few, however, such as mob goon Frank McGiver, are vivid, over-the-top characters that genre fans are likely to recognize and appreciate. The story also addresses the processes of rare earth mining with clarity, and it’s at its strongest when it explores the nuances of complex social and political issues.
"An intriguing exploration of Canadian mining in a straightforward PI tale." Kirkus Reviews
"Alex, a Secwépemc First Nations PI, formerly with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, is called in to investigate the attempted murder of Max King, a lawyer involved in bringing suits against mining interests, and Max’s girlfriend, Rose Barlow.
Max and Alex are both members of the redz, a secret network of Indigenous people … who are helping to coordinate “White Paper Blizzard,” an international, coordinated attempt to bring lawsuits against companies whose ecological degradation is jeopardizing individuals’ “right to a healthy environment.” At the outset, Max’s assailants dump him near the entrance of one of the rare earth mines his group is targeting. His mother calls on Alex to investigate, and the private eye, along with a former Mountie colleague, a couple of local detectives, and the redz work together to unravel a complex situation that involves an organized crime ring, competing corporations, and others who would have a lot to lose from mine closures.
"Over the course of the novel, Van Clieaf spins a plot that’s ambitious and engaging, even if it sometimes stretches the limits of credibility. The writing style is sometimes a bit flat or clinical, which makes it hard for readers to get a grasp on some of the secondary characters. A few, however, such as mob goon Frank McGiver, are vivid, over-the-top characters that genre fans are likely to recognize and appreciate. The story also addresses the processes of rare earth mining with clarity, and it’s at its strongest when it explores the nuances of complex social and political issues.
"An intriguing exploration of Canadian mining in a straightforward PI tale." Kirkus Reviews
417 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 17, 2025
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About the author
Valerie Van Clieaf
4 books25 followersThe author’s colourful work history includes being an outreach worker, a carpenter’s helper, a terrible short order cook, an okay waiter and a bartender who understood that a dry martini meant just a few drops of vermouth, or none. She taught first aid for a while, worked in dozens of offices and on a few factory floors, including a packaging facility for plastic wrap. That job ended when she stuck her hand in a pot of hot glue near the end of her third shift. She’s quick to point out it was the middle of the night. Fortunately, she already had the first aid training—and the promise of another, less treacherous job.
The author lives in British Columbia. She is of mixed European, Indigenous heritage. According to her father, when she first arrived on the planet, the bagpipes caused her to weep uncontrollably. Her grandson rocks the pipes now, and thankfully, she’s gotten over that.
The author lives in British Columbia. She is of mixed European, Indigenous heritage. According to her father, when she first arrived on the planet, the bagpipes caused her to weep uncontrollably. Her grandson rocks the pipes now, and thankfully, she’s gotten over that.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 4, 2025
I am an ARC reader and this is my honest opinion. It took me a long time to get into this book. In her notes at the end the author talks about discovering atrocities being committed in Canada on the lands of indigenous peoples, by mining companies mining nickel, good and rare earth minerals, the kind we need for mobile phones etc. I agree completely, of course that endangering the land and water that not only indigenous peoples, but all of us, rely on for life. But I'm not sure I want to pick up a fiction novel and spend several chapters reading about the details of these appalling practices. Maybe the thinking is that it might inspire readers to take action to fight against them. I think it was somewhere about a third of the way in when the novel got interesting as the story took prominence over the campaigning. An indigenous lawyer and his "white" girlfriend were abducted and almost killed. When the lawyer's friend is hired to investigate he also is targeted. The characterisation of the major players is quite good, highlighting the rampant racism in the RMCP. The plot becomes quite convoluted, with different mining companies and other interests willing to stop and nothing, including murder, to protect their interests and a secret organisation set to cause them problems with a collective action. Although even in the epilogue one of the characters effectively summarises the story to his wife, the author didn't include the result of this action. Not my favourite read.
February 15, 2025
When Alex Desocarras, a First Nations, former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer turned Private Investigator, is hired to find out who tried to murder an indigenous lawyer bringing a powerful lawsuit against a mining company and its controlling partners, a full scale gang battle ensues. What I liked best is the complex relationships that demonstrate the indigenous groups' passion and commitment to preserving the land against powerful corporations that seek to drain its resources while endangering the communities living in the region of the mining efforts.
Van Clieaf brings alive for the reader, the relentless pursuit of justice by the First Nation's Bands of elders and community members along with the illusive global indigenous hacktivist group, the redz. She deftly weaves the apathy of the dominant culture's law enforcement and political structure into the tension of the story in ways that show where their policies can intersect for the good of all.
It seems the new Green Deal poses environmental costs that are just as unacceptable as fossil fuel extraction. And when there is money to be made, corporations will stop at nothing, including murder, to further their agendas. Action-packed, environmentally relevant and morally invigorating, Copper Mountain is a must-read for those who like to see justice delivered.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Van Clieaf brings alive for the reader, the relentless pursuit of justice by the First Nation's Bands of elders and community members along with the illusive global indigenous hacktivist group, the redz. She deftly weaves the apathy of the dominant culture's law enforcement and political structure into the tension of the story in ways that show where their policies can intersect for the good of all.
It seems the new Green Deal poses environmental costs that are just as unacceptable as fossil fuel extraction. And when there is money to be made, corporations will stop at nothing, including murder, to further their agendas. Action-packed, environmentally relevant and morally invigorating, Copper Mountain is a must-read for those who like to see justice delivered.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 6, 2025
This one went in a different direction than the other two with the mining communities. And it's good. The story pulls no punches. I'm becoming a big fan of the author with these books and I'm hoping more will come. I will definitely want to see how the others are doing ...maybe...lol at some point. But I love these new adventures and mysteries Alex goes on. The book even starts out with a punch with Max and each page you can help but get sunk in. A great story!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews