A Deadly Fall

by Susan Calder

Paula Savard’s life takes a dangerous turn when her childhood friend is murdered on Calgary’s Elbow River pathway. Evidence suggests her friend was coming to Paula for help with a desperate problem. The murder brings Paula into a world of entrepreneurs and politicians used to getting what they want. All of them want something from Paula. Do they fear her friend told her too much? The more Paula learns, the fewer people she can trust. She won’t be safe until the murder is solved. When the police abandon the case, Paula must pursue it alone, before the killer strikes again to bury the last secret. Editorial Reviews “A pointedly nuanced debut novel, Deadly Fall sparkles with tone and energy that set the pace, a concise storyline, and edgy dialogue that moves the story forward…a debut worth reading and a possible series with insurance claims providing a minefield of potential stories.” -- Don Graves, Hamilton Spectator “Paula is an intelligent, determined, often critical (though in a good way) yet still compassionate sleuth, who is front and center in this mystery debut. She's a solidly developed character, one readers will want to get to know better, with an interesting supporting cast, which should serve her well in subsequent books. With possibly a new profession in hand, and her first case behind her, readers will look forward to seeing how she fares.” -- Mysterious Reviews

343 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 1, 2019

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reviewed by Lou Allin, posted by author. Running from Secrets: First-time novelist Calder hits the target with this fast-moving amateur sleuth outing. Her familiarity with Alberta's crown city and its gorgeous surroundings in the Rocky Mountain foothills makes the scenery shine. Twists and turns in the human relationships leave nothing impossible. In the middle of this maelstrom, Paula keeps her head and her life while pursuing a baffling mystery whose roots delve deeply into the hidden lives of ordinary Canadians. The touch of romance keeps her off balance just long enough to give the killer another opportunity to close someone's mouth forever.