Unrest: A Novel

by Gwen Tuinman

440 pages, Paperback

Published June 10, 2025

About the author

Gwen Tuinman is descended from Irish tenant farmers and English Quakers. Her storytelling influences include soul searching, an interest in bygone days, and the complexities of living a life. Fascinated by the landscape of human tenacity, she writes about women navigating the social restrictions of their era. Gwen lives with her husband on a small rural homestead in Ontario’s Kawartha Lakes region.

Reviews

[Amy de Raaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in the early days of Bytown, what we now know as Ottawa, “Unrest” transports readers to 1836, a time marked by crime, cold, scarcity, and the iron rule of a brutal gang of Irish Catholic lumberman called the Shiners led by Peter Aylen. At the heart of the story is Mariah, a young woman whose life was forever changed when a dog attack left her badly scarred as a teenager. Living under the cruelty of her sister Biddy and nursing a quiet love for her brother-in-law, Mariah carries a secret powerful enough to fracture her family and unsettle the fragile order of their world.

One of the things I loved most about this novel was its multi-perspective structure. Each character is given space, history, voice, motive, which gives meaningful backstories to life in Bytown. Gwen Tuinman immerses you in the era, showing the relentlessness of the harsh winters, the nearness of violence, and the constant struggle to survive in an unforgiving landscape. As a woman in that era, existence itself was a challenge, every step constrained by social expectations and a deep reliance on men for safety and stability.

As an Irish Canadian myself, I especially appreciated the threads of Irish history woven throughout the novel. Knowing that Tuinman herself descends from Irish tenant farmers and English Quakers added an extra authenticity to the story.

Canadian history has always held my heart. When I was 15, I worked as a tour guide at the Gibson House Museum in North York, an historic house set in the 1850s complete with a period costume! It was so much fun giving tours! That passion eventually led me to study Canadian history in university, completing my undergrad with a teachable degree in history, and it still shapes what I gravitate toward as a reader today. “Unrest” was written beautifully. It sheds light on a lesser-known corner of Canadian history and I appreciated learning so much from this novel.

A compelling and atmospheric read for anyone who loves Canadian historical fiction as much as I do!!!

[Allyson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book would have likely gone unnoticed by me, based solely on its cover and summary. However, as part of a book of the month club I received as a gift, I decided to give it a chance. I am delighted to have done so. Initially, it seemed like a novel I wouldn't enjoy, but it proved to be a beautifully written story with timeless lessons and truths. I appreciated the multi-perspective narrative, which provided insight into the thoughts and feelings of various characters. As a reader, I gained a deeper understanding of each character's inner workings, which evoked strong feelings of liking or disliking them. I consistently looked forward to returning to the story, driven by curiosity. The characters were well-developed and realistic, with the author skillfully portraying the complexities and flaws of human nature. I found the historical context fascinating, set during a particularly challenging period. The author's depiction of the difficulties and hardships of that era was captivating, leaving me to wonder how I would have fared in such circumstances.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book truly surprised me. I read it as part of a book club and it reminded me why I enjoy having assigned reading (as it usually is something SO completely different than what I’d pick up myself).

The story covers the lives of two main characters, with 2 additional POVs from peripheral characters. While they are all connected (exploring the very tenuous relationships of family and duty), they are so completely unique. Following the lives of 4 settled Irish folk in Ottawa, all with their own burdens and questionable logic, was oddly captivating and held my attention the entire time.

It was an ambitious plot and clearly a testament to the author’s writing ability. The twists and turns were complex and seemed accurate for the historical time (however small warning that the violence was harrowing). Themes of independence, femininity, and perseverance were explored - and beautifully weaved through the plot.

Overall, this is a great Canadian Historical Fiction read if that is your thing (and potentially even if it isn’t). :)

[Betty Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great, well-written story. The devotion of each chapter to the perspective of a specific character allows the reader to comprehend each person’s thoughts, feelings and motives on a deep level.