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The Fulcrum
In this sweeping climate thriller, an economist and a public servant join forces—and hearts—to navigate a dangerous international conflict and imminent environmental disaster.
Matthew Rice needs a reset. After serving on a traumatizing jury panel, he’s had his fill of high-stress situations. Determined to start fresh, he moves to Cambridge to get his PhD in climate science at Harvard and reconnect with his long-distance lover, Mary Louise, a brilliant scientist herself. But a chance encounter with Kay, a young diner waitress on the run from the Irish Republican Army, derails both of their plans.
Soon Matthew and Mary Louise are embroiled in the consequences of Kay’s mysterious past. But even as they work to protect her, a new threat a hurricane of unprecedented strength—one that Matthew’s research predicted—heading straight for Miami. With time running out, will Matthew and Mary Louise be able to keep Kay and an entire city’s population alive?
Courage has never mattered more in this suspenseful story of doing what it takes to protect the places—and people—you call home.
Matthew Rice needs a reset. After serving on a traumatizing jury panel, he’s had his fill of high-stress situations. Determined to start fresh, he moves to Cambridge to get his PhD in climate science at Harvard and reconnect with his long-distance lover, Mary Louise, a brilliant scientist herself. But a chance encounter with Kay, a young diner waitress on the run from the Irish Republican Army, derails both of their plans.
Soon Matthew and Mary Louise are embroiled in the consequences of Kay’s mysterious past. But even as they work to protect her, a new threat a hurricane of unprecedented strength—one that Matthew’s research predicted—heading straight for Miami. With time running out, will Matthew and Mary Louise be able to keep Kay and an entire city’s population alive?
Courage has never mattered more in this suspenseful story of doing what it takes to protect the places—and people—you call home.
319 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2025
9 people are currently reading
3811 people want to read
About the author
Michael Decter
9 books21 followersMichael's new novel, THE FULCRUM, published June 10, 2025 with GFB.
"By equal measure inspiring and eye-opening, this riveting tale of the climate realities headed our way had me on the edge of my seat. Beautifully interwoven with rich Irish and Irish-American stories of pain and redemption, The Fulcrum is also, at its centre, a moving and modern love story. Decter has written a novel – soundly backed by both science and heart – that reminds readers that our collective willingness and actions can solve the climate crisis." – Dheepa R. Maturi, author of 108: An Eco-Thriller.
"In the romantic thriller The Fulcrum, lucky lovers work to bring awareness to the dangers of climate change." – Foreword
“The Fulcrum Michael Decter’s second work of fiction and ninth book overall, follows a budding climate scientist and his long-distance beau, she also a scientist, who encounter a woman on the run from the IRA in Cambridge, Mass. that derails their plans. Meanwhile, the hurricane to end all hurricanes is bearing down on Miami. Can anyone be saved” – Winnipeg Free Press
***
Michael Decter never had a chance of escaping his fate to become a storyteller. His Irish mother, Una, was an excellent storyteller. His Russian-Jewish father, Percy, was also a wonderful teller of tales.
In the preface to his storytelling destiny, Michael has managed three careers – one in Government, one in Consulting, and one in Finance. He has also served on many governance boards in the health and cultural sectors. Along the way, he has written and published eight non-fiction books, several including storytelling within a factual narrative.
Michael has enjoyed his forty-year career in the public and private sectors. Starting in the Manitoba public service in the early 1970s, he rose to Cabinet Secretary (1981-1985). A career in consulting with KPMG followed, and then a return to public service in 1991 as Deputy Minister of Health in Ontario. His continuing interest in health has led him to accept the Chair role in several national health organizations, including the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the Health Council of Canada, Saint Elizabeth Health Care, and most recently Medavie Blue Cross. During his healthcare years, Michael wrote two books and co-authored a third:
Healing Medicare: Managing Health System Change – The Canadian Way (1994)
Four Strong Winds – Understanding the Growing Challenges to Health Care (2000)
Navigating Canada’s Health Care, with co-author Francesca Grosso (2006)
Since 1998, Michael has led the investment firm LDIC Inc. as its President, and CEO. He has continued to serve on many health and public policy boards, remained active as a speaker and lecturer on health policy, and written of three books on investing:
Michael Decter’s Million Dollar Strategy (1998)
Building Your Wealth One Share at a Time with Dividend Reinvestment Plans (2001)
Ten Good Reasons to Invest in Canada (2008)
Michael is also a Trustee of the Auto Sector Healthcare Trust, which manages the healthcare benefits for auto workers of GM Canada and Chrysler Canada.
In 2004, Michael was awarded The Order of Canada for his contributions to health care.
In 2013, Michael was named Chancellor of Brandon University.
In 2018 Michael was appointed to the Premiers Council on Improving Medicare and Ending Hallway Medicine.
Tales From the Backroom (2012) and Percy: A Memoir (2002) marked the beginning of Michael’s journey from governance, health, and investing to storyteller. Tales From the Backroom allowed Michael to tell the stories from his time in government and around politics. Percy was a memoir of Michael’s father and the stories of their shared time together.
In October 2022, Cormorant Books published Michael’s debut novel, Shadow Life, thus beginning a new storytelling chapter in Michael’s life.
His second novel, The Fulcrum, published June 2025 by Girl Friday Productions.
"By equal measure inspiring and eye-opening, this riveting tale of the climate realities headed our way had me on the edge of my seat. Beautifully interwoven with rich Irish and Irish-American stories of pain and redemption, The Fulcrum is also, at its centre, a moving and modern love story. Decter has written a novel – soundly backed by both science and heart – that reminds readers that our collective willingness and actions can solve the climate crisis." – Dheepa R. Maturi, author of 108: An Eco-Thriller.
"In the romantic thriller The Fulcrum, lucky lovers work to bring awareness to the dangers of climate change." – Foreword
“The Fulcrum Michael Decter’s second work of fiction and ninth book overall, follows a budding climate scientist and his long-distance beau, she also a scientist, who encounter a woman on the run from the IRA in Cambridge, Mass. that derails their plans. Meanwhile, the hurricane to end all hurricanes is bearing down on Miami. Can anyone be saved” – Winnipeg Free Press
***
Michael Decter never had a chance of escaping his fate to become a storyteller. His Irish mother, Una, was an excellent storyteller. His Russian-Jewish father, Percy, was also a wonderful teller of tales.
In the preface to his storytelling destiny, Michael has managed three careers – one in Government, one in Consulting, and one in Finance. He has also served on many governance boards in the health and cultural sectors. Along the way, he has written and published eight non-fiction books, several including storytelling within a factual narrative.
Michael has enjoyed his forty-year career in the public and private sectors. Starting in the Manitoba public service in the early 1970s, he rose to Cabinet Secretary (1981-1985). A career in consulting with KPMG followed, and then a return to public service in 1991 as Deputy Minister of Health in Ontario. His continuing interest in health has led him to accept the Chair role in several national health organizations, including the Canadian Institute for Health Information, the Health Council of Canada, Saint Elizabeth Health Care, and most recently Medavie Blue Cross. During his healthcare years, Michael wrote two books and co-authored a third:
Healing Medicare: Managing Health System Change – The Canadian Way (1994)
Four Strong Winds – Understanding the Growing Challenges to Health Care (2000)
Navigating Canada’s Health Care, with co-author Francesca Grosso (2006)
Since 1998, Michael has led the investment firm LDIC Inc. as its President, and CEO. He has continued to serve on many health and public policy boards, remained active as a speaker and lecturer on health policy, and written of three books on investing:
Michael Decter’s Million Dollar Strategy (1998)
Building Your Wealth One Share at a Time with Dividend Reinvestment Plans (2001)
Ten Good Reasons to Invest in Canada (2008)
Michael is also a Trustee of the Auto Sector Healthcare Trust, which manages the healthcare benefits for auto workers of GM Canada and Chrysler Canada.
In 2004, Michael was awarded The Order of Canada for his contributions to health care.
In 2013, Michael was named Chancellor of Brandon University.
In 2018 Michael was appointed to the Premiers Council on Improving Medicare and Ending Hallway Medicine.
Tales From the Backroom (2012) and Percy: A Memoir (2002) marked the beginning of Michael’s journey from governance, health, and investing to storyteller. Tales From the Backroom allowed Michael to tell the stories from his time in government and around politics. Percy was a memoir of Michael’s father and the stories of their shared time together.
In October 2022, Cormorant Books published Michael’s debut novel, Shadow Life, thus beginning a new storytelling chapter in Michael’s life.
His second novel, The Fulcrum, published June 2025 by Girl Friday Productions.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
June 22, 2025
Matthew Rice has moved to Cambridge to start afresh after a terrible, traumatic experience serving on a jury panel. He has reconnected with his long-distance love, Mary Louise and has been offered the opportunity to get his PhD in climate science. When he first arrives in Cambridge he runs into a waitress on the run from the IRA and inadvertently is caught up in someone else's war. Through Matthew's Cambridge connections, he and Mary Louise become part of a team working to combat climate change and when an unprecedented climate-related event threatens Miami, they must do their best to convince the authorities to act and save millions of people's lives.
This was a really interesting read which beautifully weaves complex Irish and Irish-American history and its continuing impact today. There are so many layers to this book including a late-in-life heartfelt and genuine romance between Matthew and Mary Louise, which adds a human element to what is essentially a fast-faced thriller. Climate change and the frightening consequences are terrifying to consider and this story weaves climate science with the collective efforts of good people to combat the effects which impact us all. There's a lot happening in this riveting, edge of your seat read but it brings all the complexities of the narratives together well. A modern story which is worth reading, even if it may keep you up at night.
Thank you to NetGalley and Girl Friday Productions for the opportunity to read and review this book.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews