Lightning at 200 Durham Street

A Joel Franklin Mystery #1

by Ron Finch

It's 1928, Prohibition has ended, the Great Depression is just around the corner, and The Jazz Singer--the first talking movie--has just been released. But there's trouble in the small Ontario town of Chaseford.At a remote cabin in the woods, seventeen year-old amateur sleuth Joel Franklin and his friends have stumbled across a crime too big for Chief Petrovic and his constables to handle. As the criminal investigation expands to neighboring cities, a wild electrical storm rips through the peaceful little community, unearthing fresh mysteries and leaving destruction in its wake.In this, the first Joel Franklin mystery, early 20th-century criminal investigation crackles alongside supernatural intervention in a truly original Canadian historical whodunit.

240 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 27, 2018

About the author

Ron Finch was born in London, Ontario, in 1942. He taught mathematics and physics and eventually became a secondary school principal. In August 2017, a month after his 75th birthday, he started writing his first book, Lightning at 200 Durham Street. Ron has been a resident of Stratford, Ontario, for the past several years.

You can contact Ron at: ronsbooks@hotmail.com

Reviews

[Dorccy Bay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lightning at 200 Durham Street by Ron Finch immediately signals the kind of mystery that values atmosphere as much as plot. The title alone suggests tension, place, and an event that changes everything three elements I’m always watching for as a writer.

What draws me in most is the promise of a grounded, street-level mystery anchored by a recurring protagonist. As Book 1 in the Joel Franklin Mystery series, it hints at careful character construction rather than a one-off puzzle. I’m especially interested in how Finch introduces Joel Franklin not just as a detective figure, but as a human presence shaped by the world around him. Strong series mysteries live or die by this balance.

From the premise, I expect a slow-burn narrative with sharp observational detail, the kind that allows setting to function almost like a secondary character. Durham Street feels specific, intentional, and lived-in something that often separates memorable crime fiction from the generic. As a writer, I’m curious to see how Finch uses place to influence motive, mood, and momentum.

I’m also looking forward to examining Finch’s handling of tension and pacing. The best mystery writers understand when to withhold information and when to strike hard with revelation. If the novel delivers on that promise, it could be a strong study in narrative control.

This is a book I want to read not only for the story, but to learn from the craft behind it how the mystery is constructed, how clues are seeded, and how character and setting intertwine to create suspense. Definitely on my want-to-read list.

[Kimberly Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

A strong debut for Joel Franklin, full of period flavor and smart plotting. Finch’s handling of the small town dynamics and the storm’s chaos makes the mystery feel urgent and real. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys layered, character-driven whodunits. Big thanks to Eleanor Jeffery for placing the book in the club and helping readers find it.

[Andrews Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

After hearing so many glowing reviews from the book club thanks to Eleanor Jeffery for the intro!, this one’s definitely next on my list. A Canadian historical mystery with a supernatural twist? Yes, please! Adding it to my Want to Read shelf now.

[Priya Sharma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The moment I read the description, I was hooked. A teen detective in 1928, a wild electrical storm, and a small-town mystery? It sounds like a perfect mix of history and suspense. I can’t wait to see how Joel Franklin uncovers the secrets of Chaseford.

[Jasper Kane · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been searching for a fresh historical mystery, and this one immediately caught my eye. The setting in a small Ontario town during such a turbulent era sounds fascinating. Joel Franklin seems like a character I’ll root for from page one. Definitely adding this to my TBR

[Victor Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The idea of combining the roaring 20s, a young sleuth, and supernatural twists is irresistible. I love mysteries that give a real sense of place and time, and this book promises just that. Can’t wait to dive into it.

[Elara Whitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a few chapters in, and I’m already drawn into Chaseford. Joel is smart and curious, and the stormy backdrop makes everything feel intense. Finch has a way of painting the scene that makes it feel like I’m walking alongside the characters. Excited to see where the mystery goes,

[Alex Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just a few chapters in, and I’m already drawn into Chaseford. Joel is smart and curious, and the stormy backdrop makes everything feel intense. Finch has a way of painting the scene that makes it feel like I’m walking alongside the characters. Excited to see where the mystery goes,

[Christopher Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book immediately caught my attention with its historical setting and the promise of a small-town mystery. I’m eager to see how Joel Franklin unravels the crime and how the supernatural elements enhance the story. Thanks to Eleanor Jeffery for recommending this to our club.

[Mary Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adding this to my TBR list right away the mix of small-town suspense and historical detail sounds fantastic.

[Tony Leighton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finished this in just a few sittings an engrossing historical mystery with real heart.

[Lucy Andria · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed the clever plot twists and the way the past felt so vividly alive.

[Oluwatosin Obafemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect a Canadian historical setting to feel so vivid—really immersive.

[Mary Ann · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to see how Finch mixes real history with a gripping mystery.

[Alexander Bale · Rating 5 out of 5]

The 1928 setting was beautifully captured, and the mystery kept me guessing.

[Maurice Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pacing is excellent just enough twists to keep me glued to the pages.

[Dorain Ashford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise grabbed me instantly 1928 Ontario, a stormy night, and a mystery that feels electric. Onto my TBR!

[Sarah Mitchel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love a Jazz Age setting outside the usual U.S. locations. Adding this to my shelf.

[Jammes Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The combination of small-town secrets and supernatural hints sounds irresistible.

[David Carter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fourteen-book series starter? Perfect for binge-reading Want to Read!

[Jessica Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The blurb feels cinematic can’t wait to start this.

[CASSIAN WHITMORE · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just started and I’m already pulled into Chaseford’s eerie atmosphere

[Malachi Vance · Rating 5 out of 5]

A few chapters in loving the vivid 1920s details and storm imagery.

[Thaddeus Keaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The pacing is sharp so far can’t wait to see where Joel Franklin’s investigation leads.

[Alaric Winslow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Halfway through and the suspense keeps building, Ron Finch knows how to hook a reader.

[Lily Measterous · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn’t expect a Canadian historical setting to feel so vivid really immersive.

[Lauren Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The premise is intriguing, 1928 Ontario, a young amateur detective, and a mysterious storm. I can’t wait to dive in and explore this first entry in the Joel Franklin series.

[Ron Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A historical mystery with a touch of the supernatural is exactly my kind of read. The setting and period details sound so rich. Thanks to Eleanor Jeffery for discovering this gem for our club.

[Davia Finch · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad wrote these books and I edited them so I'm not even going to justify the rating. What I will do is talk about what I like about the books and what I think makes them worth reading, because I'm not only the editor, but a fan. (He hasn't asked me to do this, and he doesn't know that I have, so don't blame the author!)

First of all, they're set in a (fictional) small town in Ontario, Canada, near where I grew up, with regularly recurring (and frequently comic) characters, and it's interesting to read about places I know and about people who feel so familiar to me. If you're a local, or into Canadiana, they're worth reading for that reason alone.

Second, the series starts just before the Great Depression and continues on through the '30s (and later; he's written a lot more than he's published), and the little historical details (like recently passed laws, car models, and the movies currently playing in the theatres) give the books some really nice texture and atmosphere. As they're police procedurals, and criminal investigation was a lot simpler then, the time displacement gives the books more of a cozy, murder mystery, or Golden Age feel than the gritty, contemporary treatment you might be more familiar with these days.

The main protagonist, Joel Franklin, has something of the amateur sleuth about him, too, along with a supernatural gift: the ability to contact the 'essences' of the dead, a real advantage in a murder investigation, as you can imagine. I also like that Joel is always firmly grounded in a wider social life -- his wife, his parents, his friends -- everything takes place in a real community with real people, from the local "bum" all the way up to the Chief of Police, Bob Petrovic, who is a real character in his own right. Even the villains are firmly grounded in community.

Another interesting (and this time stylistic) feature is the way the perspective shifts from first person, when Joel is in charge, to third person, when other characters take the lead. I'm pretty sure I was told never to do this in creative writing class, and it caught me off-guard when I started editing the books, but it somehow works for the series and the transitions flow pretty seamlessly. It's always easy to figure out who's doing what.

One last (and quirkier) creative risk: in a former occupational life, my dad was a math teacher, and his characters sometimes use actual math to solve problems. But I'm pretty sure he puts that in just to prove it can be done, since I was never convinced math would ever be useful in real life myself. I've been proved wrong.

[Maris Everleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A small town, a young sleuth, and a storm that changes everything Lightning at 200 Durham Street has the perfect mix of intrigue and atmosphere.

Discovered through Eleanor Jeffery’s Book Club, and so far, it’s shaping up to be one of those mysteries that surprises you in the best way.