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Sgt. Windflower Mysteries #5
A Long Ways from Home
A weekend visit to picturesque Newfoundland by a large crew of outlaw bikers leaves behind another mess for Sgt. Windflower to clean up. This time he's facing violence, murder, mystery and intrigue. This adventure has Windflower questioning everything he thought he knew. There are troubles on the home front, cutbacks in the policing budget, old friends leaving and new ones not quite here yet. Windflower is seeking to find answers in territory that is both dangerous and unfamiliar.
This instalment in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series has our hero dashing all over the beautiful little island of Newfoundland. Along the way he never wavers in his pursuit of justice. But he stills tries to find a way to enjoy the natural beauty that lays all around him, and to bring out the best from everybody he meets.
A Long Ways from Home is about more than just homicides or the dirty dealings of outlaw bikers. It is also about helping people and communities face up to and overcome new and very difficult challenges. Windflower relies on his friends and allies, including some four-legged ones, to help him and them find the answers. He also discovers that we are never really alone, even when we are a long ways from home.
This instalment in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series has our hero dashing all over the beautiful little island of Newfoundland. Along the way he never wavers in his pursuit of justice. But he stills tries to find a way to enjoy the natural beauty that lays all around him, and to bring out the best from everybody he meets.
A Long Ways from Home is about more than just homicides or the dirty dealings of outlaw bikers. It is also about helping people and communities face up to and overcome new and very difficult challenges. Windflower relies on his friends and allies, including some four-legged ones, to help him and them find the answers. He also discovers that we are never really alone, even when we are a long ways from home.
- GenresFiction
378 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 31, 2016
20 people are currently reading
576 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
April 3, 2018
This is the first Sgt. Windflower book I have read. I will go back now a start reading the series. I give it 4.5 stars. Good story, great characters, wonderful scenes of Newfoundland. Much of the story takes place in small towns like Rocky Harbour, Grand Banks and other Newfoundland towns. The characters are rugged newfoundland types whose idiosyncrasies shine through.
The bad guys fit well into the story when they decide to set up a drug distribution point in rural Nfld. But they did not count on Sgt. Windflower of the RCMP!
The bad guys fit well into the story when they decide to set up a drug distribution point in rural Nfld. But they did not count on Sgt. Windflower of the RCMP!
February 25, 2020
If you are a fan of Stuart Woods and his Stone Barrington series, you will surely love The Sgt. Windflower Mystery series by Mike Martin. His main character, Sgt. Winston Windflower, is a take charge, in control, strong man like Stone Barrington. The only real difference in the two men is that Barrington is a lady's man and Windflower is a one-lady man.
In A Long Ways from Home, the fifth book in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, Windflower has to go out of town for a case leaving his future wife Sheila, the Mayor of Grand Bank, to work on wedding plans. Windflower has to go to Grand Falls to head an investigation into a double homicide. The bodies were discovered after a visit from a motorcycle gang. While Windflower is working on that case, Sheila's cousin, who was coming into town for a visit turns into a missing person's case when her motorcycle is found.
Both cases will have the reader on the edge of their seats and when it looks like the two may be connected, things get more intense for Windflower and Sheila.
I love hanging out with Windflower and love his structured and choatic life. I love his relationship with Sheila and his community and a quiet night hanging out with them can be enlightening. I love how Windflower is so commanding and at ease and can get the job done. I even like walking the foggy neighborhood with him and his dog, Lady. His dreams, smudging and connections to nature just add to the depth of his character.
Mike Martin can write a very captivating tale and you never know where he and Windflower are heading but you, as the reader, know that you want to ride Shotgun.......
I highly recommend this series and the good thing is that you don't even need your passport to hang out in Canada with them all........and you don't have to worry about fog and rain.
In A Long Ways from Home, the fifth book in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series, Windflower has to go out of town for a case leaving his future wife Sheila, the Mayor of Grand Bank, to work on wedding plans. Windflower has to go to Grand Falls to head an investigation into a double homicide. The bodies were discovered after a visit from a motorcycle gang. While Windflower is working on that case, Sheila's cousin, who was coming into town for a visit turns into a missing person's case when her motorcycle is found.
Both cases will have the reader on the edge of their seats and when it looks like the two may be connected, things get more intense for Windflower and Sheila.
I love hanging out with Windflower and love his structured and choatic life. I love his relationship with Sheila and his community and a quiet night hanging out with them can be enlightening. I love how Windflower is so commanding and at ease and can get the job done. I even like walking the foggy neighborhood with him and his dog, Lady. His dreams, smudging and connections to nature just add to the depth of his character.
Mike Martin can write a very captivating tale and you never know where he and Windflower are heading but you, as the reader, know that you want to ride Shotgun.......
I highly recommend this series and the good thing is that you don't even need your passport to hang out in Canada with them all........and you don't have to worry about fog and rain.
November 27, 2016
Canada’s most gourmet, polite cop is on another adventure. Sgt. Windflower is no Gordon Ramsey, but the reveal at the end is just as intriguing. Author, Mike Martin has a way with settings; colourful and quaint scattered with the realities of budget cuts, communities losing the fight with crime and the winds that always blow in Newfoundland bringing the menu of change.
I read Martin, not because of the quaint or local colour but because his character, Windflower takes his beliefs, his support networks and his links to his ancestry with him wherever he goes. He’s a person you’d enjoy meeting and we find him, warts and good food and all on the pages of A Long Way from Home. And I patiently wait for another Windflower recipe for good reading.
Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews
I read Martin, not because of the quaint or local colour but because his character, Windflower takes his beliefs, his support networks and his links to his ancestry with him wherever he goes. He’s a person you’d enjoy meeting and we find him, warts and good food and all on the pages of A Long Way from Home. And I patiently wait for another Windflower recipe for good reading.
Don Graves, Canadian Mystery Reviews
October 12, 2016
Ya-hoo! Sgt. Windflower rides again!
November 28, 2016
In the Sgt. Windflower series, we are always on tenterhooks as the criminal investigations and police work are underway, but the homely side of the endearing Mountie is just as important - walks with his dog, catching up with his friends, enjoying good food, partaking in his daily smudging rituals (his Cree heritage, including the smudging and dream sequences, has always fascinated me) and his lively relationship with Sheila. Whenever I finish a Sgt. Windflower novel, I always feel like I've just had a good catch-up with an old friend, finding out all about what he's been up to lately in his professional and private life. The final page has left me desperate to find out what Winston and Sheila will get up to in their new life as a married couple but, in the meantime, I have at least a week's worth of bookmarked recipes to work through - I think I might do a complete Sgt. Windflower-themed menu plan next week !
full review on my blog : http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot...
full review on my blog : http://madhousefamilyreviews.blogspot...
September 13, 2018
The poor grammar in the title notwithstanding the book isn’t a a bad read. Set solidly in South-Eastern Newfoundland it says something about how thin forces are spread in the province that an RCMP Officer is sent 300 miles to handle an investigation. The officer in question is a Cree from Northern Alberta who shares space with a female collie named Lady and engages in daily smudging ceremonies.
Having been to Newfoundland and encountered such delicacies as fish and chips or fried bologna for breakfast and a Jiggs meal of pickled bully beef for Sunday dinner I find it amusing that this author goes into detail describing gourmet recipes discovered in Canadian Living. Mind you we also encounter such local delights as bakeapples and partridge berries. The cops and donuts cliché is played to the hilt.
The officer also has an encyclopedic knowledge of Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde among others, an interest in classical music, and in reading Italian mysteries for pleasure.
Having been to Newfoundland and encountered such delicacies as fish and chips or fried bologna for breakfast and a Jiggs meal of pickled bully beef for Sunday dinner I find it amusing that this author goes into detail describing gourmet recipes discovered in Canadian Living. Mind you we also encounter such local delights as bakeapples and partridge berries. The cops and donuts cliché is played to the hilt.
The officer also has an encyclopedic knowledge of Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde among others, an interest in classical music, and in reading Italian mysteries for pleasure.
September 28, 2016
This is the first Sgt. Windflower book I have read, and I was curious about a book with a Native American member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police as the protagonist. The series takes place in Newfoundland on the east coast of Canada. Sgt. Winston Windflower is an RCMP officer and a Cree from Northern Alberta, who is stationed in the small town of Grand Bank.
The story is fairly straightforward with a few twists: A large crew of outlaw bikers terrorizing the town of Grand Falls leaves behind the bodies of two people, a man and a woman, shot execution style in the head. The bodies are believed to be linked to the Bacchus Motorcycle Club, whose members are professional criminals who deal in prostitution, drugs, and brutality. The club is not only the nexus for a large drug distribution ring but is fighting another club for the territory. Sgt. Windflower, whose wedding to Sheila Hillier is rapidly approaching, is called to the town to clean up the mess. Budget cuts, meaning fewer officers to cover the territory, means trouble not only in Grand Falls but also at home, where his future wife is the mayor. A complication arises when the motorcycle belonging to Sheila’s cousin, Carol Jackson, is found abandoned by the side of the road outside of Grand Bank. Windflower learns from Sheila that Carole has been a member of motorcycle gangs in the past.
Windflower has to rely on his fellow Mounties to assist him in solving the crime and neutralizing Bacchus and its leader. He is supported by Sheila and his dog Lady, who is sensitive to his feelings and who is an important part of his life. Windflower’s Cree background also figures into his emotional support – helping him interpret his dreams through his uncle and aunt who are dreamwalkers, and beginning each day with the smoke of his smudge pot to remind him to be kind, strong, and determined.
The one word I can think of to describe this book is ‘nice.’ Such an overworked word, but it means good and enjoyable, kind, polite, and friendly. The characters in the book who are not part of the biker gang are believable, well drawn and, well, nice. The story moves along at a sedate pace, serene in its descriptions, and detailed in the police procedures. Even the tension-filled scenes are not high octane, and the dialogue is almost stately. The lives of the police are realistically portrayed in this way with lots of detail and even the occasionally boring parts. Most significantly, their contributions to helping people and communities overcome new and very difficult challenges is emphasized.
There is food in this book – delicious, mouth-watering in its description – and I am a sucker for food. I was introduced to bakeapples, another term for cloudberries, which are somewhat similar to raspberries of strawberries, but found in cool temperate, alpine climates, arctic tundra and boreal forests. I can’t wait to try them.
One other character that has to be mentioned is Newfoundland itself, an island whose natural beauty the author describes so well that I want to visit.
This was a slow read, but a ‘nice’ one.
The story is fairly straightforward with a few twists: A large crew of outlaw bikers terrorizing the town of Grand Falls leaves behind the bodies of two people, a man and a woman, shot execution style in the head. The bodies are believed to be linked to the Bacchus Motorcycle Club, whose members are professional criminals who deal in prostitution, drugs, and brutality. The club is not only the nexus for a large drug distribution ring but is fighting another club for the territory. Sgt. Windflower, whose wedding to Sheila Hillier is rapidly approaching, is called to the town to clean up the mess. Budget cuts, meaning fewer officers to cover the territory, means trouble not only in Grand Falls but also at home, where his future wife is the mayor. A complication arises when the motorcycle belonging to Sheila’s cousin, Carol Jackson, is found abandoned by the side of the road outside of Grand Bank. Windflower learns from Sheila that Carole has been a member of motorcycle gangs in the past.
Windflower has to rely on his fellow Mounties to assist him in solving the crime and neutralizing Bacchus and its leader. He is supported by Sheila and his dog Lady, who is sensitive to his feelings and who is an important part of his life. Windflower’s Cree background also figures into his emotional support – helping him interpret his dreams through his uncle and aunt who are dreamwalkers, and beginning each day with the smoke of his smudge pot to remind him to be kind, strong, and determined.
The one word I can think of to describe this book is ‘nice.’ Such an overworked word, but it means good and enjoyable, kind, polite, and friendly. The characters in the book who are not part of the biker gang are believable, well drawn and, well, nice. The story moves along at a sedate pace, serene in its descriptions, and detailed in the police procedures. Even the tension-filled scenes are not high octane, and the dialogue is almost stately. The lives of the police are realistically portrayed in this way with lots of detail and even the occasionally boring parts. Most significantly, their contributions to helping people and communities overcome new and very difficult challenges is emphasized.
There is food in this book – delicious, mouth-watering in its description – and I am a sucker for food. I was introduced to bakeapples, another term for cloudberries, which are somewhat similar to raspberries of strawberries, but found in cool temperate, alpine climates, arctic tundra and boreal forests. I can’t wait to try them.
One other character that has to be mentioned is Newfoundland itself, an island whose natural beauty the author describes so well that I want to visit.
This was a slow read, but a ‘nice’ one.
September 16, 2024
Finally!!! Mike Martin got someone to proofread/edit his book, and at long last the fifth installment of the series didn't drive me bonkers with mistakes. Well, except for the grammatical error in the title, that is, which for all I know might just be Newfie slang. This installment sees our Sergeant Windflower investigating a much bigger and more dangerous case than most of the past books. It also sees Windflower looking decidedly more well rounded, as he loses his cool a time or two. I hope this trend continues as the series moves forward. I have come to really like this set of characters and the setting of Grand Bank, Newfoundland, and feel like I am visiting old friends with every book.
March 13, 2022
From arresting biker gangs to marriage - it does it all.
The visit to Grand Bank of a bikers’ gang is complicated by the arrival of Sheila’s friend, also a biker, with a dubious reputation. Sergeant Windflower’s life is also complicated a little by Sheila’s new position as Mayor of Grand Bank and the plans for Grand Bank to undergo a cutback of members of the RCMP. The bikers are engaged in a turf war in locations surrounding Grand Bank and Sergeant Windflower is working with local detachments in an attempt to take them down. I enjoyed this story both for its central plot and the background of the lives of the characters. This is an excellent series.
The visit to Grand Bank of a bikers’ gang is complicated by the arrival of Sheila’s friend, also a biker, with a dubious reputation. Sergeant Windflower’s life is also complicated a little by Sheila’s new position as Mayor of Grand Bank and the plans for Grand Bank to undergo a cutback of members of the RCMP. The bikers are engaged in a turf war in locations surrounding Grand Bank and Sergeant Windflower is working with local detachments in an attempt to take them down. I enjoyed this story both for its central plot and the background of the lives of the characters. This is an excellent series.
May 26, 2017
A great read and the plot flows along with a few side stories to make it seem like you are within the communities dealing with everything from drugs and murder to politics and a love story. You don't have to read the first in the series to catch the background, but I would recommend it for new readers. The story is following an RCMP officer based in Newfoundland and his fellow officers as they try to discover the murder of the bikers who have invaded their small town.
March 19, 2020
A mystery novel with a real feel for Newfoundland. A novel with so many descriptions of the fantastic meals by Sgt. Windflower and company I felt hungry while reading it. There is a good mystery here, with very likeable characters, especial Sgt. Windflower. However, I found the writing to be uneven, stilted at times, hence the three stars. However, I would like to read future novels featuring the detective, as I did find his character to be engaging.
July 23, 2022
Received this book as a gift and was delighted to be introduced to Windflower and rural Newfoundland. Combining mystery with warm, compelling characters, A Long Ways from Home is a great book to curl up with to enjoy and to be emersed in a world that is getting harder to find, a place where everyone knows each other warts and all. Looking forward to reading the rest of the Windflower mysteries now!
August 23, 2019
Love and thrills
I have been reading these books back to front so I already knew about the wedding. The bikers were really horrible but very believable. Thief writing is clear and move right along. The story is interesting and very Canadian.I would recommend the book to all,and I will be buying his new ones.
I have been reading these books back to front so I already knew about the wedding. The bikers were really horrible but very believable. Thief writing is clear and move right along. The story is interesting and very Canadian.I would recommend the book to all,and I will be buying his new ones.
September 16, 2021
another good calm read.
December 5, 2021
Enjoyed a brilliant mystery/crime story! Also appreciated the fine description of Newfoundland scenery and wildlife.
September 17, 2023
This series is becoming too formulaic - the good Mountie always gets his man in Newfoundland, but crimes that are world wide - gangs and drugs. Easy to read.
September 15, 2016
Book 5 in this most excellent series finds Sgt. Winston Windflower, a Cree Indian and Canadian Mountie, bedeviled by a motorcycle club of “businessmen” whose trade includes recreational pharmaceuticals, prostitution, extortion, brutality, and murder. In addition to the work front, Windflower is facing a lot of change – budget cutbacks; a shrinking staff; the loss of his sidekick and friend, Eddie Tizzard, to a new posting; his upcoming wedding to longtime love and now Grand Bank mayor, Sheila Hillier; and Sheila’s re-election campaign.
Windflower is a quiet man with a deep connection to nature, a love of all things food, a seeker of justice, and a respecter of people’s dignity. He would rather talk than fight, but if a fight is called for, his opponents better watch out. He’s everything I think a Mountie should be.
I am a huge fan of this series, and this entry does not disappoint. I love the dialogue, the sense of place, Windlfower’s devotion to Sheila, his strong sense of right and wrong, his belief in community policing, his love of his Cree culture, his fondness for peanut butter pie, and his love of a good book. I like that Windflower and his friends read mysteries, and talk about favorite real books – it makes the series more … realistic. By now I feel like these characters are old friends.
I also love Windflower’s and Sheila’s relationship. It’s adult and discrete. He occasionally takes a hard left turn into wrongness, but they always work it out. The complication of them both working for the same employer adds an interesting wrinkle to the plots. My favorite part of this story was their wedding day. The scene made me cry with joy for them, and I liked their vows so much, I heavily plagiarized them for my own wedding. Windflower is part of the reason we honeymooned in Canada – and I see why he’s such a fan of Tim Horton’s.
As with most series, I personally find this one better read in order. You could start with this one and pick up the threads of previous plots without too much trouble. I just enjoy seeing the characters grow and the relationships progress.
In the interests of full disclosure, I am privileged to beta read for this author. Even if that went away, I would still buy the books, because they’re that good. I see these as true cozies, with a good solid mystery, a light touch of romance, likeable characters, a great setting, clean writing, and touches of realism. I highly recommend the Windflower books.
Windflower is a quiet man with a deep connection to nature, a love of all things food, a seeker of justice, and a respecter of people’s dignity. He would rather talk than fight, but if a fight is called for, his opponents better watch out. He’s everything I think a Mountie should be.
I am a huge fan of this series, and this entry does not disappoint. I love the dialogue, the sense of place, Windlfower’s devotion to Sheila, his strong sense of right and wrong, his belief in community policing, his love of his Cree culture, his fondness for peanut butter pie, and his love of a good book. I like that Windflower and his friends read mysteries, and talk about favorite real books – it makes the series more … realistic. By now I feel like these characters are old friends.
I also love Windflower’s and Sheila’s relationship. It’s adult and discrete. He occasionally takes a hard left turn into wrongness, but they always work it out. The complication of them both working for the same employer adds an interesting wrinkle to the plots. My favorite part of this story was their wedding day. The scene made me cry with joy for them, and I liked their vows so much, I heavily plagiarized them for my own wedding. Windflower is part of the reason we honeymooned in Canada – and I see why he’s such a fan of Tim Horton’s.
As with most series, I personally find this one better read in order. You could start with this one and pick up the threads of previous plots without too much trouble. I just enjoy seeing the characters grow and the relationships progress.
In the interests of full disclosure, I am privileged to beta read for this author. Even if that went away, I would still buy the books, because they’re that good. I see these as true cozies, with a good solid mystery, a light touch of romance, likeable characters, a great setting, clean writing, and touches of realism. I highly recommend the Windflower books.
November 5, 2016
Instalment #5 in Mike Martin's Sgt. Windflower Mystery series finds the Grand Banks Newfoundland RCMP officer monitoring a relatively peaceful motorcycle gang show of strength in the province, only to discover two dead bodies in its wake. This, along with tracking down a missing female motorcyclist has Windflower stretching his limited resources to the full.
Sgt. Winston Windflower is a Cree from Alberta but loves life in Newfoundland with his dog Lady, and his long-time sidekick Corporal Eddie Tizzard. Winston has found love with Sheila Hillier, who happens to be the Mayor of Grand Banks, which has the potential to place them in compromising positions at times.
This was the first book I have read in the Sgt. Windflower series, and I didn't feel like I had jumped into the middle of an ongoing saga. Although the majority of the characters in A Long Way From Home had been introduced in previous instalments, one doesn't really need to know the background stories on any of them to appreciate their characters in this book. The story is well paced and the characters likeable enough although I didn't find them all that fleshed out, descriptively speaking. It was difficult (for me, anyway) to picture them in my mind's eye. However, the places in Newfoundland that Windflower travels to and from are very descriptively laid out for the reader, and along with a map of the island provided at the beginning of the book shows Mr Martin's love of his native province more than anything else. Windflower, true to his aboriginal background tries to stay in tune with his ancestors (living and deceased) by his morning smudging ritual, his attention to his dreams as well as the nature that surrounds him on the island.
A Long Way From Home was refreshing to read in that there was no profanity (even from the bikers!) and any 'adult' situations were merely alluded to. There are some very tense moments in the book, one such was when the RCMP, led by Windflower are attempting a surprise raid on the motorcycle gang's headquarters. It was well choreographed by Mr Martin. There are some underlying themes as well, particularly that of a small community supporting the police and judiciary in ridding themselves of gangs who distribute drugs and arms from warehouses in places like Newfoundland to the rest of the country.
If you like police detective crime fiction that takes place outside the customary big city setting, then the Windflower mysteries will be enjoyable to you.
Sgt. Winston Windflower is a Cree from Alberta but loves life in Newfoundland with his dog Lady, and his long-time sidekick Corporal Eddie Tizzard. Winston has found love with Sheila Hillier, who happens to be the Mayor of Grand Banks, which has the potential to place them in compromising positions at times.
This was the first book I have read in the Sgt. Windflower series, and I didn't feel like I had jumped into the middle of an ongoing saga. Although the majority of the characters in A Long Way From Home had been introduced in previous instalments, one doesn't really need to know the background stories on any of them to appreciate their characters in this book. The story is well paced and the characters likeable enough although I didn't find them all that fleshed out, descriptively speaking. It was difficult (for me, anyway) to picture them in my mind's eye. However, the places in Newfoundland that Windflower travels to and from are very descriptively laid out for the reader, and along with a map of the island provided at the beginning of the book shows Mr Martin's love of his native province more than anything else. Windflower, true to his aboriginal background tries to stay in tune with his ancestors (living and deceased) by his morning smudging ritual, his attention to his dreams as well as the nature that surrounds him on the island.
A Long Way From Home was refreshing to read in that there was no profanity (even from the bikers!) and any 'adult' situations were merely alluded to. There are some very tense moments in the book, one such was when the RCMP, led by Windflower are attempting a surprise raid on the motorcycle gang's headquarters. It was well choreographed by Mr Martin. There are some underlying themes as well, particularly that of a small community supporting the police and judiciary in ridding themselves of gangs who distribute drugs and arms from warehouses in places like Newfoundland to the rest of the country.
If you like police detective crime fiction that takes place outside the customary big city setting, then the Windflower mysteries will be enjoyable to you.
October 25, 2016
On Thursday 13 October 2016, I had the pleasure of meeting Mike Martin at Books on Beechwood in Ottawa for the launch of the fifth installment in the Sgt. Windflower series, A Long Ways from Home. He graciously offered to sign my books and urged me to eat the food that was spread out on a table nearby. It was really nice meeting him in person after reviewing several of his books!
His latest novel finds Sergeant Winston Windflower leading an investigation into a double murder in the city of Grand Falls, Newfoundland. The victims were members of rival motorcycle gangs particularly active in this area of the island. Facing budget cuts from the government and having to deal with the media, Windflower is under a lot of pressure to solve this case rapidly. Meanwhile, his fiancee Sheila is running for re-election as Mayor of Grand Bank and preparing their impeding wedding.
The book’s title refers to the fact that Sgt. Windflower comes from Northern Alberta and that he sometimes feels like an outsider in Newfoundland. Nevertheless, his Cree heritage, his deep-set beliefs and communion with nature help him stay poised in (almost) every difficult situation. This installment includes a lot more action than the other books in the series, and it was really hard to put it down. However, do we really need to know when Windflower takes a shower or what he eats for breakfast? There are at times too many unimportant details that slow down the story. In spite of this, the novel is engrossing and entertaining, and the ending is completely satisfying. I can’t wait to read more about Sgt. Windflower and his adventures in Newfoundland!
A Long Ways from Home was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
To read the full review, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).
His latest novel finds Sergeant Winston Windflower leading an investigation into a double murder in the city of Grand Falls, Newfoundland. The victims were members of rival motorcycle gangs particularly active in this area of the island. Facing budget cuts from the government and having to deal with the media, Windflower is under a lot of pressure to solve this case rapidly. Meanwhile, his fiancee Sheila is running for re-election as Mayor of Grand Bank and preparing their impeding wedding.
The book’s title refers to the fact that Sgt. Windflower comes from Northern Alberta and that he sometimes feels like an outsider in Newfoundland. Nevertheless, his Cree heritage, his deep-set beliefs and communion with nature help him stay poised in (almost) every difficult situation. This installment includes a lot more action than the other books in the series, and it was really hard to put it down. However, do we really need to know when Windflower takes a shower or what he eats for breakfast? There are at times too many unimportant details that slow down the story. In spite of this, the novel is engrossing and entertaining, and the ending is completely satisfying. I can’t wait to read more about Sgt. Windflower and his adventures in Newfoundland!
A Long Ways from Home was sent to me for free in exchange for an honest review.
To read the full review, please go to my blog (Cecile Sune - Book Obsessed).
November 29, 2016
A Long Ways from Home is a cozy whodunit that takes readers on an intriguing journey through beautiful Newfoundland as Sgt Windflower tries to uphold the law in his town.
When gang of bikers roll through Sgt. Windflower's peaceful town they leave a trail of crime in their wake. It's now up to Sgt. Windflower to restore order and put an end to the crime ring all while keeping a harmonizing balance in work, romance, and his spiritual life. And if he didn't already have enough on his plate, Sgt. Windflower has been having disturbing nightmares that he can't seem to decipher. Will he be able to catch the criminals, solve the secret behind his dreams, and marry the love of his life? Find out in this engaging mystery that turns out to me so much more than just solving a crime.
I have enjoyed several of the books in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series and I have to say my favorite part of every book is the detail the author puts into creating the setting and his characters. I love experiencing Newfoundland with Sgt. Windflower and drooling over his delectable meals. Maybe our connection lies in our shared love of cheesecake!
I also like Sgt. Windflower's eccentric Uncle Frank and his ability to help uncover the meaning of dreams. I think the subplot of Sgt. Windflower's spiritual beliefs adds credibility to his character and makes him all the more likable. The romantic relationship between Sheila and Windflower is genuine and helps keep Windflower grounded.
The writing is solid and there are plenty of plot twists to keep readers guessing. All in all A Long Ways from Home is a well thought-out appealing read. I am looking forward to more of Sgt. Windflower's adventures.
When gang of bikers roll through Sgt. Windflower's peaceful town they leave a trail of crime in their wake. It's now up to Sgt. Windflower to restore order and put an end to the crime ring all while keeping a harmonizing balance in work, romance, and his spiritual life. And if he didn't already have enough on his plate, Sgt. Windflower has been having disturbing nightmares that he can't seem to decipher. Will he be able to catch the criminals, solve the secret behind his dreams, and marry the love of his life? Find out in this engaging mystery that turns out to me so much more than just solving a crime.
I have enjoyed several of the books in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series and I have to say my favorite part of every book is the detail the author puts into creating the setting and his characters. I love experiencing Newfoundland with Sgt. Windflower and drooling over his delectable meals. Maybe our connection lies in our shared love of cheesecake!
I also like Sgt. Windflower's eccentric Uncle Frank and his ability to help uncover the meaning of dreams. I think the subplot of Sgt. Windflower's spiritual beliefs adds credibility to his character and makes him all the more likable. The romantic relationship between Sheila and Windflower is genuine and helps keep Windflower grounded.
The writing is solid and there are plenty of plot twists to keep readers guessing. All in all A Long Ways from Home is a well thought-out appealing read. I am looking forward to more of Sgt. Windflower's adventures.
April 14, 2022
I would never have encountered Sgt. Windflower if it wasn't for a giveaway, and that's an awful shame! It seems that I stumbled into the middle of a series, but it really doesn't matter as it's a great read. Good law enforcement work and diligence is similar the world around, and the impact of financial cutbacks is disgustingly the same as well. What sets Windflower and his fellows apart is the beautiful land they serve and protect as described by the author as well as the structure of their organization. Well, except for the officers themselves. I can't imagine having to be transferred all around the vast expanse of Canada, but I'm glad that Windflower gets to stay in Newfoundland and maintain a life with good relationships while doing the work he loves.
About that. The plot is mainly about police work, murders, and organized crime. The publisher's blurb gives some idea of what to expect but the book is so much better than that! No spoilers here, just go ahead and enjoy it!
Well, I'm off to read the first in series now!
That was on Mar 29, 2019. Now that it's in audio by Frances G Kearney it is even better! Francis G Kearney is marvelous as narrator because I love the accent he uses and because his differentiation of characters is so very clear.
About that. The plot is mainly about police work, murders, and organized crime. The publisher's blurb gives some idea of what to expect but the book is so much better than that! No spoilers here, just go ahead and enjoy it!
Well, I'm off to read the first in series now!
That was on Mar 29, 2019. Now that it's in audio by Frances G Kearney it is even better! Francis G Kearney is marvelous as narrator because I love the accent he uses and because his differentiation of characters is so very clear.
October 14, 2016
In this book, A Long Ways From Home, Winston Windflower is doing police work all over the province in solving the mystery of some deaths related to a biker gang, the Bacchus motorcycle group. His fiancee, SheilaHillier, is running for her second term as mayor, his co-worker Tizzard could be moving from Grand Bank, his ever faithful dog Lady has an encounter with a bear, and others we have met in previous books all play an important part in this story. Along with good food between friends, a cutback in staffing at the RCMP station, and friends and co-workers leaving the station this book tells a wonderful story leading up to the marriage of Sheila Hillier and Winston Windflower. Throughout everything that goes down, Windflower remains calm, continues his smudge ceremonies each day, and is able to separate politics and private lives. He relies on his fellow officers to help solve the deaths and crack a huge drug ring on the island.
I love reading these stories by Mike Martin, and this fifth one was a really good read. I always recommend reading a series in the publication order so that you get familiar with the characters and the setting.
I love reading these stories by Mike Martin, and this fifth one was a really good read. I always recommend reading a series in the publication order so that you get familiar with the characters and the setting.
February 6, 2017
Love these mysteries!
A Long Ways from Home is an enjoyable book in this mystery series. Sgt. Winston Windflower is a likable protagonist, a member of the RCMP, a Cree and a man with strong principles.
He is called upon to help solve a murder and travels all over Newfoundland to uncover corruption of a biker gang. There are twists and turns and unexpected trials and tribulations but Windflower finds a way to lead the investigation in the right direction.
I love this series and how the author shares his knowledge of the area, cultures, food and look forward to more from this creative author.
A Long Ways from Home is an enjoyable book in this mystery series. Sgt. Winston Windflower is a likable protagonist, a member of the RCMP, a Cree and a man with strong principles.
He is called upon to help solve a murder and travels all over Newfoundland to uncover corruption of a biker gang. There are twists and turns and unexpected trials and tribulations but Windflower finds a way to lead the investigation in the right direction.
I love this series and how the author shares his knowledge of the area, cultures, food and look forward to more from this creative author.
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