The Great Lunenburglary

by Bryn Pottie

In 1922 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, two friends with dreams of breaking the mould of Maritime music find themselves entangled in the most daring heist in Nova Scotian history. This rollicking farce combines wild adventures with trenchant comments on current events. Join the greatest caper Nova Scotia has ever seen!

Genres: Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

Published June 12, 2025

About the author

Bryn Pottie is an author living in rural Nova Scotia. He has written for TV series such as Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs, websites such as The Beaverton, and performed in comedy festivals across North America. His debut novel The Great Lunenburglary is slated to be released on June 1st from Moose House Publications, a small independent press based out of rural NS.

Reviews

[Cameron Maveal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

A perfect little jaunt through historic Lunenburg (and Lockeport, but we don't talk about that). I personally loved the fun mix of references to pop culture, Nova Scotia trivia, and "sings in Gaelic" (as a Gaelic speaker, I laughed every time I read that line).

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Great Lunenburglary was a fabulously fun read, full of witty word play, tongue-in-cheek pop culture references, and Nova Scotian humor.

Recommended to anyone who is looking for a light read with ridiculous characters and outrageous adventures.

Not recommended to anyone who is a stickler for historical accuracy.

Thanks for the wild ride!

[Dar]

Such a fun read! A rollicking tall tale set in the 1920s with a “wink and a nod” to contemporary sensibilities and events. I laughed at the 90s pop culture references - 1890s, that is! Two young lads in a thrash fiddle band have only hours to capture the attention of a local radio star and get their big on-the-air break. Much mayhem ensues. I giggled at the riffs on Metallica song titles (but the Megadeth was my favourite) - and the ending took me completely by surprise :)

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full transparency here - I may be a little biased; I designed the cover, but I only take on projects I believe in - and I believe in the soul-sustaining power of many silly jokes in rapid succession.

This book is one of those rare laugh-out-loud affairs; a story which deftly weaves a charming tale of truly cartoonish high adventure while simultaneously putting to ink some obscure small town and East coast idiosyncrasies that - as a Lunenburg boy myself - are truly validating and utterly, delightfully foolish to see in print.

Featuring a colourful cast of endearing, screwball characters - even the bit players get a chance to leave their mark, and the narration and dialogue never skips a beat or leaves a good joke on the table.

Pottie finds a way to sneak humour into unexpected places - the nooks and crannies of exposition that should otherwise be pretty cut-and-dry will hide a satisfying chortle that will probably catch you off-guard. Expect to pore over this one with a steady, foolish grin all along; the next chapter always felt to me like a fun little treat.

Absolutely chuffed to see work of this calibre set in - and coming out of this region. Further unnecessary proof that maritimers really do know how to spin a good yarn.

[joyce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious, fun and easy read. Loved the witty wordplay that the author uses. It's a silly time!

[Jessica Forbes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even if I didn't enjoy the story and find it utterly hilarious (which I did), I'd rate it five stars for the puns alone. Between 'Jigtallica' and all the song titles, I was cackling. Also, the guard who hands out flyers with 'you were an 1890's baby if' sayings. Priceless!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a ARC free from Book Sirens and this is my voluntary honest review.
Fabulous. Fun read.
A zany adventure.
Outrageous.
Silly.
Laugh out loud.

[ABrahosky · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a tongue-in-cheek zany adventure yarn that was hella fun to read. As outrageous and cliche as some of the characters are, they combine to make this story of small-town coming-of-age escapades eminently enjoyable.

I especially enjoyed the references to the later 20th century pop-culture phenomena in whirl of creative brilliance accentuated by the sound of heavy metal jigs.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Melanie Naugler · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.25

booksirens ARC
a fun read full of puns , satire and sarcasm.
while not my usual genre i did find it enjoyable
a group of teens steal the Bluenose and a night of chaos begins

[Desiree Trott · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I saw a book by a fellow Nova Scotia listed for review on BookSirens.com, I of course had to request a copy.

I enjoyed the ridiculousness of the plot and weird references to late 20th century culture hidden as early 20th century plot. Of course this was difficult to get used to at first, and really bugged me for the first several chapters. However I eventually accepted this as a plot device of the author.

Bluenoser!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Pat Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps the funniest book I’ve read in recent memory.
I won’t spoil it, but there’s a moment when Elias clutches the bottle for the first time... it is so completely unexpected, I burst out laughing at how over the top crazy the visual was. And it is just the beginning of the wild ride that follows. This book is seriously funny, it is daring, chaotic, and full of heart. It leaves you feeling lighter and a little hungry for mischief.

[Tena Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is fun. I haven't read many (any?) fictional comedy books, but I easily got into this one. it reads like an episode of the Simpsons. many laughs per chapter, and even more enjoyable to read aloud. looking forward to the audiobook.

[Lisa Hagar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I would have given it a one star rating, but that’s reserved for books I DNF. I tried hard to be optimistic and give it a fair shot, but it simply didn’t earn it. It IS fiction and listed as humour. I will start with what’s good about the book. Only two good points, IMO. First, there were a couple LOL moments and second, they had a good editor and Lockeport was spelled correctly every time. Now for the rest. I won’t even mention how many times Lockeport was disrespected. If I were the family of the late Captain Angus Walters, I would be extremely angry at the way the Walters family was portrayed. I was angry at the way he and his son were portrayed and I am not related (as far as I know). I realize this is fiction, and writers can do as they please, but the Bluenose (and the Captain) are icons. Not only in Lunenburg, and Nova Scotia, but Canada and the world. Four people stealing the Bluenose and going out for a sail is a little (okay, a lot) unbelievable. One of the main characters in the book, the Mayor of Lockeport, isn’t even given a name. All of the characters in the book, even the Lockeporter’s have Lunenburg County names. (petty, I know, but a good way to piss off the Williams’, Cotters, and Enslows! We don’t have any Heislers, Wentzells, or whatever names they used living in Lockeport) It tries too hard to be funny, so most of the ‘funny’ parts were actually eye roll moments. There is a twist at the end which I am sure of was the goal of the book, but leading up to the twist didn’t make sense to me. The plot and story could have been written by a 12 year old, but I think a 12 year old could have done a better job! I tried not to give too much away in my review, so it does seem a bit weird without a full explanation. I hardly ever leave a written review of a book on Goodreads, but I will this time. I think this book just replaced 50 Shades of Grey as the worst book I’ve ever read!

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Great Lunenburglary is a madcap, Maritime caper that doesn’t just break the mould—it joyfully smashes it to smithereens. Set in 1922 Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, this fast-paced historical fiction farce follows two local misfits with dreams of changing the face of music, only to find themselves swept up in the most audacious heist in provincial history.

Though it’s set in the past, don’t expect your typical period piece. Bryn Pottie cleverly blurs the lines between past and present, lacing the novel with tongue-in-cheek references to modern pop culture and trenchant commentary on current events. It’s a bold and playful move that works surprisingly well, adding layers of satire to an already high-energy plot.

As an East Coaster myself, I found this book brimming with familiar idioms, small-town charm, and a healthy dose of that signature Atlantic Canadian wit. Pottie, who grew up in Lunenburg, writes with the voice of someone who knows the rhythms and quirks of the region inside and out. As we’d say back home in Newfoundland—he’s a great feller for a yarn!

This genre-bending novel (historical-farce-comedy-satire?) might not fit neatly on the shelf, but that’s part of its charm. It’s unpredictable, punchy, and deeply East Coast Canadian in its soul. Fans of absurd humour, offbeat history, and irreverent storytelling will find plenty to enjoy.

Highly entertaining and refreshingly original—The Great Lunenburglary is the kind of book you want to pass along to a friend with a grin and a “you’ve got to read this.”

Kind thanks to BookSirens and the author for an advance review copy of The Great Lunenburglary. All opinions expressed are my own.

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the funniest books I've ever read. Like, hands down. It is an actual laugh out loud at LEAST once per page which is a HUGE laugh-page ratio, imo.
If, for whatever reason, you, too, were stricken with a love of historical fiction, you will really enjoy this on that aspect alone. If you, too, were also stricken with an unshakable need to make music no one cares about in your timeline, you will absolutely love this.
Truly this is so sweet (i even cried near the end ok hahaha), but it's also kind of harsh/realistic. Things are not easy out there, boys! The characters are quite well-composed (if not all likable, all very real-feeling and hilarious), the plot is so engaging, and truly even if you know nothing about Nova Scotia you would get something out of this.
As an Ontario lady through & through the thought of boat-based shenanigans is obviously foreign to me, but there is something extremely Canadian about the whole ordeal Elias and Ang-Ju go through and you basically love this duo pretty much immediately. I feel like everyone knew some version of these two in high school, and now you get an insightful look at their story. It reminded me a lot of Gordon Korman's Bruno & Boots series, which i loved deeply. The story here reads like a movie; you can really see everything that's happening and it really kept my attention, which is pretty impressive, bc I cannot focus for shit ahahah.

[Isaac Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

Right off the bat, let’s make this clear - you should get this novel! Others will say this, but allow me to confirm - this book really is a laugh/page, and that’s a crazy hit rate. So in terms of value for your time and money, it’s already a winner.

Beyond that, the novel is a love letter to Lunenburg expressed through the omniscient, anachronistic narrator, and through this style, we get a greater feel for both the local culture and the author himself than we could have gotten with something told in a more conventional way.

The book has the energy of a relaxed conversation - obscuring the fact that it’s actually a carefully controlled performance. There were many times while reading that the content sparked a stray observation - like, “that’s too incredible” - and the follow up sentence had the narrator anticipate my thought, agree with me, and immediately punctuate the exchange with a joke.

“The Great Lunenburglary” is a relaxing read, and it’s pages readily flow, one after the other, as naturally as a bottle of song lyrics bob and drift in the current. Give it a try!

[Sydney Blackburn · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to love this book!

But it was like the world's longest "bit" and the humour grew old/repetitive about halfway through. I wouldn't say there was anything wrong with this book, it's just not what I was expecting and not what I was wanting to read.

Set in the 1920s, it's basically commentary on the 2020s, and it works, it just wasn't what I wanted/expected. (I expected it to be funny, but I expected more... I dunno, story over comedy bit?)

Anyway, I am very glad it found the right audience, it deserves to that. I just ain't it.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me laughing, and I don’t laugh easily! It’s full of Nova Scotian inside jokes, but anyone who comes from away would enjoy the characters and invest in their silly shenanigans. The book is unexpectedly well-written! I also had no idea where the plot was going, which is a quality I look for to hold my interest.

[CHRIS LOCKE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I whipped through Bryn Pottie's first book. It starts with a bang and doesn't stop zipping at ya with razor sharp humour, precise storytelling, and of course lovable, hilarious characters. Plus I have a lot of maritimes Canada in my family background so I loved the setting. Congratulations Bryn on a brilliant debut!

[Chrissy Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had me in stitches from start to finish! It’s clever, brilliantly written, and brimming with charm, wit, and lovable characters. I loved it so much that I bought copies for my entire family, and we haven’t stopped talking about it since. It’s a much‑needed escape filled with fun and wholesome humor. A true delight from beginning to end.