The Walker on the Cape

Sgt. Windflower Mysteries #1

by Mike Martin

A man's body is found on the Cape overlooking Grand Bank, Newfoundland. At first everyone thinks it's a heart attack or stroke. But then it is discovered that he was poisoned. Who would do this and why? Finding that out falls to Sergeant Winston Windflower of the RCMP along with his trusted side-kick Eddie Tizzard. Along the way they discover that there are many more secrets hidden in this small community and powerful people who want to keep it that way.

Windflower also discovers two more things; a love of living in a small Newfoundland community that is completely different from his up-bringing in a Northern Alberta reserve and maybe the love of his life. He gets a taste of Newfoundland food and hospitality as well as a sense of how crime and corruption can linger beneath the surface or hide in the thick blanket of fog that sometimes creeps in from the nearby Atlantic Ocean.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Canada, Mystery Thriller, Adult Fiction

Audiobook

First published July 2, 2012

Reviews

[Pgchuis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is apparently the first in a series of police procedurals featuring Sgt Windflower, a First Nations officer, set in Newfoundland. I was disappointed in the standard of the writing (I really don't need to know exactly what he ate for every meal, and I already knew the ingredients of a salad nicoise), the characterization (which I found superficial - Windflower's girlfriend for example, seemed especially lacking in personality, apart from being very nice and liking him very much) and the level of suspense (there was never any sense of urgency and hardened criminals just caved in and confessed away merrily.) Windflower's approach to interrogation seemed to veer from asking benign questions and smiling sadly when people told him to get lost to denying people their legal rights, cutting off pain relief to an injured man and lying through his teeth. I got little sense of the location and his ethnicity seemed a bit of a device: that element had intrigued me the most, but, apart from smudging there was nothing really distinctive about how he operated.

[Cathy Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The people of Grand Bank, on the coast of Newfoundland, could set their clocks by Elias Martin. Every morning, whatever the weather, he walked from his house over the hills to the Cape. Until one day his body was discovered on the path by two tourists. His death was attributed to natural causes until the suspicions of Sergeant Winston Windflower of the RCMP were aroused. He and Constable Eddie Tizzard began an investigation into Elias Martin’s death and as new evidence comes to light it’s apparent murder has been committed.

There’s a lot I like about this story. Sergeant Windflower is a great character, a full-blooded Cree who has only been in his this post for a year. I enjoyed the glimpse into Windflower’s native culture and customs and I’d love for these to be explored in more depth as the series progresses, along with increased character development. There’s the beginnings of a sweet relationship between Windflower and the owner of the local cafe running in the background.

Windflower and Constable Tizzard work through the motives, opportunities and means of the suspects, and as the interrogations gain momentum they begin to fit all the pieces together. They have no help from their Inspector who seems to want the case closed as quickly as possible. Hmm, could Inspector MacIntosh be working to his own agenda?

There are plenty of suspects with motives for murder to choose from, including Harvey Brenton and his wife Marge, who has a history with the victim. Roger Buffet and Ginger Grandy’s parents who all had a grudge against Elias Martin. Georgette Sheridan and her son, James also have ties to Grand Bank and Elias. Windflower’s investigation uncovers more than he expected, the discovery that corruption can reach to the higher levels even in small communities. The investigative procedure is realistic, the plot is well thought out and keeps the story moving.

Unfortunately, there were grammatical errors which should really have been picked up during the editing process. I’ll follow on with the second book in the series because this is a good story with interesting characters and hopefully the editing will be a bit tighter in the next instalment.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this through Goodreads Giveaway, which I entered because I liked the cover and the blurb sounded interesting. I read it pretty much in one sitting and enjoyed it. I loved the little side that Mavis Emberly sets her soup time to cook by the habit of Elias Martin and his walk. When he does not return one day her soup is burnt. Then they find Elias dead. Though it looks like a heart attack it soon become apparent it was murder.
This is not a murder mystery where you are left guessing about the murder of Elias Martin. I’d picked fairly early on who was involved and also the perpetrator of the other murder which happens later and why. But neither spoilt my enjoyment of the story.
I liked Sergeant Winston Windflower with his Cree Indian background, and the setting of Grand Bank, Newfoundland, also the blossoming relationship between Winston and Sheila. This is an easily readable book with short chapters, and good characters. One problem I found was with the printing. Some sentences on some pages are very feint and hard to read. That aside, I was glad I had the chance to read this book and thoroughly enjoyed it.

[Deedra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absoultely loved this book!It was set in Newfoundland,with many different types of people.Sargent Windflower and his sleepy little town are rocked to find an old codger dead,and not from natural causes.This leads to many things coming to the surface. Francis G. Kearney was a fine narrator.I especially loved his Newfieisms. I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked Sgt. Windflower and Constable Eddie Tizzard, both of the RCMP. This looks like a good beginning to a mystery series set in Newfoundland.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 5 out of 5]

First in the RCMP Sergeant Winston Windflower murder/mystery novels set in the Burin Peninsula of Southern Newfoundland. It may be his detachment but it is run by his civilian receptionist Betsy who is his right hand. In this volume we learn Windflower’s background on a Northern Alberta reserve and his series of transfers after training college. At some point the rest of the detachment is alluded to but it is Constable Eddie Tizzard a lead-footed local boy returned who is Windflower’s sidekick in all his investigations. The reader also gets to learn the vast amount of paperwork associated with policing and additional piles attached to command and administration. The main characters are likable and the book entertains the cliche about cops and donuts. A few minor editorial errors but otherwise a good read.

[Margaret Yelton · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a new author for me, and a book that I won in a giveaway on FB. I found the book to be a quick and easy read, one that kept me interested and I really enjoyed the characters in the storyline. I actually lived in Canada for 6 years, so during that time I became acquainted with Tim Horton's and also went to the RCMP headquarters to get my fingerprints done so that I could send them back to the US and have a background check done to get permanent residency there. All that I met there were very polite. I will certainly read more in this series as they come out, and would recommend it to others

[Natalie aka Tannat · Rating 2 out of 5]

I stumbled across this book when looking for Canadian murder mystery options and the library had it so I figured I'd give it a shot. I almost set it down immediately because it's just not written in a very engaging fashion and I almost suffered eyesprain from the romance angle. It was a quick read though, but I don't think I'll be picking up any of the others. I mean, the main investigator just casually turns off a suspect's morphine in the hospital so he can interrogate him better and no one seems to think this could be an issue? Eek.

[☺Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Great Introduction to Sgt. Winston Windflower of the RCMP!

The Walker on the Cape is a great introduction to Sgt. Winston Windflower of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police! It is an entertaining, fast-paced read with wonderful characters and a pleasant cozy atmosphere. I look forward to reading any future installments of this mystery series to see how things develop (especially between Winston and Sheila)!

[Gail Amendt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read a couple of the later books in this cozy mystery series, and have now returned to the beginning with book 1. When a reclusive local drops dead while out on a walk in the small community of Grand Bank, Newfoundland, local RCMP Sergeant Winston Windflower, a transplanted Cree from Northern Alberta, thinks it will be a simple investigation. But what at first appears to be a simple heart attack or stroke turns out to be murder, and then turns into a much more complex case than anyone expected. The mystery is pretty well put together, although I think things fell into place a bit too easily. I enjoyed meeting the younger versions of familiar characters and seeing how the series began. We don't get much sense of Windflower's Cree culture in this book, but it becomes more developed in future books. I believe this book was self published, and it contains more than a couple typos and errors, which I found irritating.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. I'm so glad I tried this bonus read from Hoopla, otherwise I might not have heard of this author.

[Margitte · Rating 4 out of 5]

In the quiet, laid-back fishing village of Grand Bank, southeast coast of Newfoundland, Canada, a foggy morning becomes more than just another day when Mavis Emberley's soup burnt on the stove.

People along the coastline in Grand Bank could set their clocks by Elias Martin. Every morning, even when the fog floated in from Fortune, they saw his hunched figure climb and disappear in the mist that ran the shoreline like a rum runner. You could put a pot of soup on to boil when he set out and be sure that when he appeared again that the potatoes, carrots, and turnips would be soft and sweet.

Mavis Emberly was one such soup-maker who relied on Elias Martin to set the pace for her weekly batch of pea soup.

“There he goes,” she remarked to her husband, Francis, "Time to put the soup on”.

An hour and a half later Francis Emberly muttered, “Something’s burning in that kitchen, maid.” Mrs. Emberly ran to the kitchen to turn off her black bottomed soup with a smattering of non-religious but surely immoral curses and immediately realized that something else was wrong besides her spoiled soup. Elias hadn't returned. "Or else I missed him," she decided.

The point is: Seventy-two year old Elias Martin was dead.

Every morning for the past eleven years Elias Martin had his breakfast of hot porridge and thick molasses bread smothered in partridgeberry jam. Then, rain or shine, he began his solitary walk from his small blue house on Elizabeth Avenue in Grand Bank, Newfoundland, down through the Cove, and until the winter snow made it impassable, up over the hills to the Cape.

Two tourists found his body up on the hill. Heart attack, it was declared at first, and soon the town began to simmer with stories boiling over in Mug-Up Café, the restaurant of Sheila Hillier.

The only one who knew for sure was Elias Martin and he sure wasn’t talking. Who would finally unravel the mystery of the Walker on the Cape?

Thirty-two year old Sergeant Winston Windflower, of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, a full-blooded Cree from the Pink Lake Reserve in Northern Alberta, thought Elias's death was suspect and he planned to get to the bottom of the simmering, boiling pot. For once there was more to work on than the petty crimes and motor accidents in the village. And as an incomer, he still had to prove himself after being there for only one year. But what to do when there were always secrets to protect in a small community like this?

He had his vice too, he did.

Some men smoke, drink or chase women as their vice. Windflower's was peanut butter cheesecake.

With the shocking death of Elias, more peas in the pot of Grand Bank got names:
Marge and Harvey Brenton - affluent members of society; Harvey's pay roll included a few people from the justice and political systems, it seemed;
Mayor Francis Tibbo; who wanted rules to be applied, excluding his own family;
Roger Buffet - with a history still to be discovered;
James Sheridan, and his mother Georgette who had more than just a sentimental bond with Grand Bank;
Howard Stoodley, a retired Crown Attorney;
Sheila Hillier - more than just an excellent cook in her café;
Constable Eddie Tizzard - the everyday tornado, the gale-force wind around town;
Dr. Vinjay Sanjay - Winston's chess and Scotch partner, coroner and medical doctor;
Staff Sergeant William Ford; a new friend in the making;
Inspector MacIntoch of Marystown - the boss;
Kevin Arsenault - Acting inspector;

And then there was the Poison of Kings and the King of Poisons, and some rotten fish in Newfoundland, and cops with dirty hands in the chain of command ... files disappear, investigations are mysteriously stopped, the plot thickens!

This is a skillful, interesting, relaxing, as well as an entertaining first novel by Mike Martin. The endearing characters soon become the reader's friends as well, and the Canadian cuisine makes a splashing entreé into the p(l)ot. Never a dull meal for those readers living outside of Newfoundland, Canada!

As the first book in the Sgt. Winston Windflower mystery series, the introduction to this fishing village is well-plotted and fast paced. It is not a mysterious read, but rather a day to day reflection on the inhabitants's lives as the plot unfolds in clear-cut prose.

The presentation of Grand Bank and its inhabitants leaves the reader with just one mission, and that is to read the two other books as well.

The Body On The T
AND
Beneath the Surface

It is a guaranteed pleasant, relaxing experience throughout.

[Camille Taboulot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce livre m'a été gentiment envoyé par l'auteur en échange d'une critique littéraire adéquate. La première chose que je tiens à souligner en amont de ladite critique est qu'il s'agit du premier ouvrage d'une série policière suivant les aventures du personnage principal, le Sergent Windflower. Il est ici question de la traduction de l'ouvrage en français, issue d'une collaboration avec le site Babelcube (mon profil de traductrice est disponible ici).

Une intrigue, des intrigues

Je trouve toujours complexe de critiquer un polar sans en dévoiler les secrets puisqu'il semblerait que chaque détail comporte son lot de significations. J'ai particulièrement apprécié ici le jeu des intrigues puisque si l'intrigue principale concerne en effet le meurtre que Windflower s'évertue à résoudre, des sous-intrigues sont également dignes d'intérêt. Par exemple, les guerres internes des officiers de police (notamment relatives au respect de la hiérarchie) ou les ragots du village – ainsi que la critique sociale faite des deux – permettent de mieux cerner le contexte de l'intrigue principale et de la rendre par conséquent plus vraisemblable.

Suspense et narration

J'ai également particulièrement apprécié la narration et le suspense créé par cette dernière. En effet, la focalisation est interne mais basée sur une narration à la troisième personne puisque le lecteur a accès aux pensées de Windflower sans jamais passer par la focalisation interne. J'ai trouvé que la troisième personne augmentait la confiance accordée au narrateur puisque même si ce dernier donne ses ressentis, une distance objective – factice – semble être conservée.
Par ailleurs, ce choix de narration se prêt particulièrement bien au genre policier, permettant à l'inspecteur de sembler omniscient tout en nous rappelant – par la focalisation interne – qu'il ne l'est absolument pas, et peut donc faire des erreurs d'interprétation et manquer des éléments essentiels à la résolution de l'enquête. La tonalité du livre se voulant objective, ce mélange entre troisième personne et focalisation interne me semble tout à fait approprié. Néanmoins, je regrette un léger décalage entre Windflower et les autres personnages, parfois trop schématiques en comparaison du développement du personnage de Windflower.
Néanmoins, rien n'empêche ici d'apprécier la lecture de ce polar.

Péripéties et dénouement

Les péripéties sont une grande partie – comme souvent dans le cadre de ce genre – de l'ouvrage. En effet, si le début de l'histoire semble lent, l'intrigue s'accélère dans le dernier tiers de celle-ci. D'abord, les suspects et les péripéties se multiplient d'un point de vue diégétique. Ensuite, le texte lui-même vient servir cette accélération puisque la syntaxe et la multiplication ds phases de dialogue voient le rythme s'intensifier. Ce mélange d'accélération de l'intrigue et du texte donnent aux retournements de situation ultime une saveur toute particulière.


J'aimerais, comme toujours, écrire plus longuement mais comme pour chaque roman policier, je me sens très peu légitime. En effet, j'aimerais discuter des différentes péripéties et, surtout, des retournements de situation inattendus du troisième quart mais ne puis le faire sans risquer de ternir votre propre expérience du polar. Par conséquent, je vous laisse volontiers apprécier l'ouvrage et vous souhaite une excellente lecture.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

EPIC FINISH !!!

The Walker on the Cape by Mike Martin is the first in his Sgt. Windflower Mystery series and it starts the series off epically !!!

One of the things that I love about this book and this series is that it is set in Canada. It is always interesting to read stories set in other areas from your own so that you can learn about those areas as you read a good story. Even the simply differences like calling a police officer Constable and reading how everyone drinks tea instead of coffee are nice touches in a book.

In the Walker on the Cape you meet Sergeant Winston Windflower who lives in a small community that is shook by the death of Elias Martin. Elias Martin is an elderly man who, since his wife's death, has kept to himself. When he is found on the Cape by two hikers, his death is ruled suspicious after the police find evidence at his residence. Who would want to kill Martin ?

Windflower's investigation leads him to a very powerful and corrupt businessman, Harvey Brenton whose wife, Marge, was Martin's girlfriend many years ago. But when Brenton is shot to death and Marge and Martin's nephew, James both admit to the crime, Windflower has more questions than answers.....

There are many characters and relationships that you will love to read about and follow in this series. I for one cannot wait to dig into the next book and ride along with Windflower.....

[John Mosman · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a quick and fun read. The mystery not difficult to predict, the characters sweet. Sgt. Windflower in the RCMP gets a big case in the small town where he assigned. The town has some strange characters who have interesting pasts. Windflower's romance with the local coffee shop owner is romantic in a Mountie way. Murder is a foot and Windflower and the RCMP on on the case. I am looking forward to reading book #2.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a really fun mystery. I love the Newfoundland setting and the main characters are realistic and three dimensional. Good story, too!

[Shadoh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweetly simple...needed proper editing,

[Luci · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to agree with several of the reviewers' comments regarding the poor standard of writing, the need for editing; the book format reminded me of an elementary school reader.

[Jack Heath]

Synopsis: a body is found on the coast. Was he poisoned? Windflower and Eddie Tizzard investigate.

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

RATING: 3*
COMPLETED: 28/09/2025
FORMAT: Audiobook - Hoopla

A nice light story to pass the time.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Walker on the Cape (Sgt. Windfower Mystery #1)
by Mike Martin

*This first portion is specific to GoodReads, not Audible.com or Amazon.com/Kindle*

I'm sorry but I have to call out Goodreads or whoever entered this audiobook there because as you can see above, the title character is spelled W-i-n-d-f-o-w-e-r not WindfLower (or it was as on the date of this review). I noticed that it was an odd but perhaps clever opportunity for the author to go a bit off the reservation with something as simple as a character's name to set his aside from hundreds of other detective series. So... when I began listening and heard the Sgt.'s name pronounced WindfLower, I was thinking, shame on the narrator, that's a big mistake. But it is NOT the fault of the narrator and before you know it, I, as a reader, am thinking more about that discrepancy than what is happening in the story I'm listening to. That is something I think, I, as an author, might be fairly perturbed about.

Beyond that, I thought this story was.. cute. I know that's probably not what the author wants it described as but that's where I am. The townsfolk were quirky and fun, perfectly fleshed out for their role in the plot. Sgt. Windflower felt, to me, like your second choice for prom date but not your "ugh, if no one else asks me I'll go with...". I just didn't really care about him personally, beyond his role in the mystery. The mystery the plot is surrounded by was not necessarily tightly spun but it was enough where I wanted to know the ending. And speaking of the ending, I will admit I thought it was deeper than I expected. In fact, overall, the entire thing felt deeper than its individual parts - meaning that I found the characters to be so so, the mystery level to be so so, peripheral plots to be so so... And in the end, when I sit to think about The Walker on the Cape, I definitely cannot say I hated it. I have many friends I would recommend the book to.

*Something it did take me a while to get past - the Canadian accent of the narrator. I am quite sure it is perfect, but I'm a Southern American and I'm not sure two dialects could be more different than American South and Newfie.

[Lauren Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having a tough guy that thinks he can get away with murder is frustrating, right?! Every good crime mystery has one. The same goes for the innocent bystander that gets accused first and the gossiper! Every good crime mystery has one of those too, even if the part is slight or insignificant compared to the entire story. Martin has some interesting twists that take the characters on a merry-go-round, circling back to through the same suspects, knowing that one of them has to be their person of interest, but everyone has a motive and intent to do it.

Sergeant Winston Windflower is the one in charge of the crime investigation of a local man, found dead on the Cape, from what is assumed to be from a fatal heart attack. According to the coroners report though, the man was poisoned. With a small community like this one, it shouldn’t be very hard to weed out what happened right?! Windflower and his team must follow the breadcrumbs to find out exactly who wanted him dead and why. With what seems to be, at first glance, an open and shut case–starts to turn into a more complex and inundated investigation when secrets about some of the residents start popping up left and right. These secrets may make or break the case, so Windflower has to be careful and quick with his arrest before another body is found dead.

Windflower has a basic crime fiction story with likable characters, but this audiobook somewhat feels very slow and may cause some readers to disengage or get bored easily. There is nothing that stands out about this story or separates it from the rest of the genre as a “must read”. The story appears to be well-written, with Kearney providing effortless narration; however, the accent is thick and may not be likable to readers either considering that his vocals do not match what is ideal of the main character. If you are a reader of crime fiction and murder mysteries, you may enjoy reading this story.

A copy of this audiobook was provided to Turning Another Page by Audiobookworm Promotions and in no way affects the honesty of this review. We provide a three-star rating to The Walker on the Cape by Mike Martin.

[Lelia Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A full-blooded Cree, Winston Windflower is not your everyday Mountie and he’s been posted in a small fishing village, Grand Bank, on the coast of Newfoundland, far from his reservation home in Northern Alberta. The fog and the unique personalities of the people here take some getting used to but Winston has begun to fit in quite nicely and has made some good friends including his sidekick, Constable Eddie Tizzard. Windflower believes Tizzard has earned a promotion to corporal and intends to recommend him to the higher echelons but, first, the duo has to cope with the suspicious death of Elias Martin, a man who was not well-liked.

The sergeant’s supervising inspector doesn’t believe this is anything but a natural death but Winston and Eddie think otherwise so Winston makes a few endruns around his boss, with Tizzard watching out for him, to get to the truth. They do, in fact, find clues to follow in town and elsewhere and a plethora of suspects along with hints of corruption. Sgt. Windflower soon shows why certain higher-ups hold him in high regard as he doggedly works toward a resolution.

Along the way, Windflower and a local lady, Sheila, are stepping out and enjoying the early joys of a relationship. We also are treated to some of his cultural background with customs he’s brought with him, such as smudging, and I hope to see more about that in the following books.

I mentioned in my review of the seventh book — https://cncbooksblog.wordpress.com/20... — that this series has a sort of feel-good vibe to it, a wholesomeness that makes everything about it very likeable, from the setting to the characters to the actual mystery and I still feel that way. Adding to the pleasure is Mr. Kearney’s narration with his authentic-seeming (to me, at least) Canadian intonations enhanced by the local fishing village accents although he didn’t really have a wide variety of voices, especially for women. I do hope Mr. Martin will continue—quickly!—to produce audio versions of the succeeding books; I’ll be standing in line for them 😉

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quaint little murder mystery. I liked the setting (small town east coast Canada) and I liked the main character (Sargent Windflower). While the plot was a bit predictable in places, the story held that comfort food quality. It was like discovering an old friend again after many years separation. Windflower is a straight shooter and a wholesome character all around, so it’s very easy to root for him. The setting itself is full of small comforts from the well-loved local café to Windflower’s blossoming romance.

Initially, it looks like there’s several possible suspects in a suspicious death. The deceased certainly rubbed people the wrong way. However, Windflower’s superior isn’t convinced there is a murder so Windflower has to take the risky move of going around his chain of command. Luckily, he has his side kick Izzard to watch his back. Izzard certainly comes off as the eager but inexperienced young pup and Windflower does his best to keep him out of trouble. I like their dynamic and there’s room for Izzard to grow in this role.

The ending wraps up the questions about the murder but then leaves things in the hands of the prosecutors and lawyers. The story hints at what will most likely happen but doesn’t close that out. I did get invested in the story and I would have preferred a solid ending instead of this open-end. 4/5 stars.

The Narration: Francis G. Kearney made a good Windflower most of the time. His accents fluctuated and some of them were pretty rough (like the Quebec French accent for a certain suspect). His female voices were almost non-existent. On the other hand, he didn’t have any recording errors so the tech is good. 3/5 stars.

I received this audiobook as part of my participation in a blog tour with Audiobookworm Promotions. The tour is being sponsored by Mike Martin. The gifting of this audiobook did not affect my opinion of it.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Walker on the Cape is the first book in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series. I have read a couple of these books, but wanted to read the first in the series, and it also takes place in Newfoundland, a province for my Read Across Canada Challenge. When a man's body is found on the Cape in Grand Banks, a small fishing community on the East Coast of Newfoundland, it is originally thought to be a heart attack or stroke. When the coroner performs an autopsy, it is determined that he was poisoned, so they call in the RCMP. The case falls to Sergeant Winston Windflower and his trusted side-kick Eddie Tizzard. Along the way they discover that there are many secrets hidden in this small community and powerful people who want to keep it that way.

Although this isn't really a cozy mystery, as there is an actual police investigation and no amateur sleuth, the setting and characters made me feel like it was more of a cozy than many of the other mysteries or police procedurals that I read. It was relatively easy to determine who killed Elias Martin, but it has to be proven, and Sgt. Windflower has to find the evidence. The fact that his superior wanted him to shut down the investigation raised flags as well. It seems there is more to this community than meets the eye. I enjoyed the pace of this story and learning about life in this laid back community. It was nice to get to know Winston Wildflower, an indigenous Cree, and see him develop relationships, including one with Sheila. The characters are fun and a bit quirky, but it is Newfoundland. I enjoyed this story and hope to read some of the other Windflower Mysteries that I have purchased over the years.

[CHRISTINE LESTERLIN · Rating 4 out of 5]

L'histoire se passe dans une petite communauté de pécheurs de Terre-Neuve, sur la côte est du Canada. Un matin des promeneurs retrouve un corps , celui de Martin Elias.
Le sergent Winston Windflower et son collègue Eddie Tizzard sont chargés de l’enquête. Tout porte à croire que Martin Elias est mort d’une crise cardiaque. Mais suite aux conclusions du médecin légiste, nous apprenons que Martin Elias a été empoisonné.
Le sergent Winston Windflower va devoir mener l’enquête auprès des habitants du village et va devoir remuer des histoires anciennes, qui ne sont pas au goût de tous.
Cette enquête est calme comme le rythme de vie des habitants du village.
Mike Martin met l’accent sur la vie quotidienne des habitants de cette île canadienne, les liens qui les unissent et tout ce qui fait les fondements de cette communauté d’origine britannique.
Ce roman est le premier pour le Sergent Windflower. Espérons que Mike Martin nous offrira d’autres enquêtes.
Ce livre m’a plu par son ambiance et m’a permis de connaître un peu mieux cette région de Terre-Neuve.
Je remercie #NetGalley ainsi que les éditions Fiction de m'avoir permis de lire ce livre policier.

[Mike Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

New Review from M. Corley Online Book Reviews plus
Allbooks Reviews International + Two More Reviews Below

The Walker on the Cape overall was a good book. It is a murder mystery about a man who walks on the cape every day and suddenly dies. It is up to the local sergeant in the small town to take over the investigation and find out who killed this man. Of course, he runs into some problems and there is a plot twist towards the end of the book.

Mike Martin is the author of The Walker on the Cape and he does a marvelous job of writing this fiction novel.

Sergeant Winston Windflower is put in charge of Elias Martin’s death. Elias Martin walked up and down the cape every day until one day he does not come back. He is found dead along the trail later that day. Sergeant Windflower takes over the investigation with his side-kick constable, Eddie Tizzard. Together, and with the help of the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) they find out who the murderer is, along with some other interesting things. There is of course a lighter side of the novel… Sergeant Windflower’s love life with local coffee shop owner, Sheila.

I thought this novel was well written, and overall a good book. Typically I do not like murder mystery books, but this one kept me interested and involved. The writing sometimes was very “cheesy” or “corny” at some parts of the book. Other than that, I thought that the book was good. I gave it a 3 out 4 stars because I did not think it was an excellent book, but I did like it. I would recommend to other people as well.

Mike Martin did a wonderful job putting together and writing this novel and he developed the characters very well. The Walker on the Cape was a good book that many people would enjoy.

Allbooks Reviews International + Two More Reviews Below

Police procedural novels come from two stables; plodding or pacey. Mike Martin’s debut fiction novel The Walker on The Cape falls mostly into the latter category.
The Walker on The Cape introduces yet another policeman into the world in the form of Winston Windflower, a sergeant of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, along with his sidekick Constable Eddie Tizzard, and we have to ask do we really need one?
While not breaking any moulds, Windflower is a decent enough addition to the ever growing list of policemen out there in the world of crime fiction. His character develops quickly enough to grab the reader’s attention, giving a little insight into the man behind the officer and Martin doesn’t fall into the trap of many others in bogging readers down with a host of slow-moving introductions. All in all, after the first few dozen pages, the story already had me hooked and I was not feeling an urge to just skim read a few pages to get beyond weighty descriptions.
Possibly the one gripe with the characters - who are well-crafted and, while not entirely unique, are ordinary people, which is what ordinary readers can connect with in this genre - is the choice of names. The mouthful of Winston Windflower, combined with something far too close to Eddie Izzard is something that will either help ingrain the characters on minds, or simply make people laugh at the wrong moment.
The Newfoundland setting of the novel is described just enough to, along with the glum coastline image of the book’s cover, create a sense of setting, and the small community with its secrets is one similar to those that work to such great effect in the work of Stephen King in the likes of Needful Things and Storm of The Century.
As with any crime novel that doesn’t rely on gimmicks or spectacular set-pieces, the story is key to the success of the book, and it doesn’t disappoint. Again, police procedurals fall into two types; one giving an entire law seminar and boring readers to tears, the other supplying just the right amount of detail to keep story-lovers entertained and nit-pickers from accusing the author of blagging their way through. Again, Martin manages to keep to the latter of these throughout, and doesn’t stray from his focus on the evolving storyline.
The Walker on the Cape is a promising debut for Windflower and co, and with a constantly moving plot, some clever twists and a pleasant writing style it will not be the last we see of them either. For anyone who enjoys the R D Wingfield’s Frost novels will find plenty to get their teeth into here.

Anthony Lund
Allbooks Reviews International
http://www.allbooksreviewint.com/Arti...

From Ruth Latta....Author of The Old Love and the New Love

Who would have believed that the picturesque village of Grand Bank, NL, could harbour a murderer? RCMP Sergeant Winston Windflower' could, because it's his job to investigate suspicious deaths like that of Elias Martin.

The Alberta native has learned that the small Newfoundland community "guards its secrets and its own very closely." Windflower's conscientious investigation of the old man's death uncovers not only a large scale illegal enterprise but also a domestic tragedy.

A strong, well-paced plot, characters with distinctive personalities, and the unique Newfoundland setting combine to make The Walker on the Cape a good Canadian read.

Ruth Latta

author of The Old Love and the New Love

http://ruthlattabooks.blogspot.com

From Michael P. MacDonald.... Author of Poolroom and Politics

Mike Martin has produced a very compelling police procedural set in Grand Bank on the coast of Newfoundland. From main character Winston Windflower on down, he has created a group of people that you want to get to know better; hopefully in future stories and other circumstances.

The Walker on the Cape contains a well executed plot and an ending you are not expecting; vital elements in this genre of fiction. The visual of the lighthouse on the front cover does a lot to establish the setting and Martin’s description of the locale makes it integral to the feel of the story.

I look forward to the next adventure of Windflower and company.

Michael MacDonald

Aylmer, Quebec

[Hazel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Walker on the Cape is the first of a series of books featuring Sgt. Winston Windflower of the RCMP. It introduces us to him, his team of colleagues, friends and neighbours, in a small coastal town of Grand Bank in Newfoundland. Well-written and a fast-paced read, opening with the unexplained death of a resident - widower 72yr-old Elias Martin. As the police investigation gets going, the author gradually develops the featured characters, and really paints for the reader the environment in which this all takes place. There is a complex plot with twists and turns everywhere, Elias Martin had secrets. With the addition of past love rivalries, dodgy policemen and businessmen, you have a recipe for a good murder-mystery. However this all takes place within the everyday duties of the RCMP detachment at Grand Bank and the ongoing lives and relationships in that community.
I have read later books by Mike Martin in this series (see 'Darkest Before Dawn', Oct.2018 and 'A Tangled Web', Oct.2017), and they are all a delight to read.

[Cheryl Malandrinos · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Walker on the Cape is the first book in Martin's Sgt. Windflower Mysteries series. It features a full-blooded Cree as a sergeant for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. While balancing his work life with a little bit of romance, Windflower draws upon his native background and traditions to help others.

Martin does a fine job of crafting an engaging mystery with several twists and turns. He ramps up the tension between Windflower and his superior, making this story feel real. This novel had a quick pace and was easy to move through.

Personally, I'm not a fan of the third person omniscient point of view, so I struggled with that. In addition, it would have been helpful if the book made it through another round or two of edits. The number of typographical errors, missed words, or incorrect words drove me a bit batty; but that's the editor in me. Some readers might not notice as much.

Overall, this looks like it will be a fun series to read. Windflower and Tizzard make a great team.

[Grey853 · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series. Winston is of the Cree Nation and he's an officer for the RCMP. He's working in Grand Bank, Newfoundland. It's a small fishing village on the east coast of Canada. Not much happens there other than petty crimes. When an elderly man, Elias Martin,dies, everyone assumes it's from natural causes. When it's discovered that he was poisoned, it suddenly becomes a high priority investigation. Windflower works with Constable Tizzard to figure out who would want to kill Martin, a widower who pretty much kept to himself. Surprisingly, they discover he had several enemies and secrets.

The book is a solid police procedural, but it also mixes in snapshots of small town living and of Windflower's life. He had a budding relationship with a local woman, has a interfering inspector, and petty major. I enjoyed the slow build up to the mystery's resolution and insight into the character.