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Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery #7
Closing Time
Secrets abound at a northern Ontario lodge when a teenage employee is murdered.
It’s late summer and a restless Officer Kala Stonechild has taken her foster niece, Dawn, on a canoe trip at Pine Hollow Lodge in the wilderness north of Sault Ste. Marie. But the getaway turns deadly when a teenage girl goes missing on her way home from an evening shift at the lodge’s restaurant.
After the girl’s body is found between the lodge and the nearby town of Searchmont, Stonechild reluctantly agrees to help with the investigation. She’s teamed with Clark Harrison, an officer she worked with during her last posting in northwestern Ontario. As the investigation heats up, Stonechild’s past threatens the close bonds she’s forged back home. Will she return to her life in Kingston, or will the rekindling of an old relationship lure her away for good?
It’s late summer and a restless Officer Kala Stonechild has taken her foster niece, Dawn, on a canoe trip at Pine Hollow Lodge in the wilderness north of Sault Ste. Marie. But the getaway turns deadly when a teenage girl goes missing on her way home from an evening shift at the lodge’s restaurant.
After the girl’s body is found between the lodge and the nearby town of Searchmont, Stonechild reluctantly agrees to help with the investigation. She’s teamed with Clark Harrison, an officer she worked with during her last posting in northwestern Ontario. As the investigation heats up, Stonechild’s past threatens the close bonds she’s forged back home. Will she return to her life in Kingston, or will the rekindling of an old relationship lure her away for good?
392 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 21, 2020
44 people are currently reading
473 people want to read
About the author
Brenda Chapman
40 books356 followersI'm an Ottawa author with 18 published novels in the mystery genre, both adult and YA. I am currently writing two adult mystery series: The Stonechild and Rouleau police procedurals from Dundurn include Cold Mourning (2014), which was shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis Award for crime novel of the year, Butterfly Kills, Tumbled Graves, Shallow End and Bleeding Darkness. Turning Secrets, 6th in the series, will be released spring 2019.
The Anna Sweet mysteries are novellas from Grass Roots Press for adult literacy or those wanting a quick read. My Sister's Keeper and No Trace were both shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis award and The Hard Fall and No Trace were shortlisted for the Golden Oak award.
Previous published fiction includes: the Jennifer Bannon mysteries for ages 10+, a full length adult murder mystery In Winter's Grip (Dundurn 2010), and a Rapid Reads mystery The Second Wife (Orca 2011), which was shortlisted for a Golden Oak award. Second Chances, a YA novel for ages 13+ was released by Dundurn in September 2012.
The Anna Sweet mysteries are novellas from Grass Roots Press for adult literacy or those wanting a quick read. My Sister's Keeper and No Trace were both shortlisted for an Arthur Ellis award and The Hard Fall and No Trace were shortlisted for the Golden Oak award.
Previous published fiction includes: the Jennifer Bannon mysteries for ages 10+, a full length adult murder mystery In Winter's Grip (Dundurn 2010), and a Rapid Reads mystery The Second Wife (Orca 2011), which was shortlisted for a Golden Oak award. Second Chances, a YA novel for ages 13+ was released by Dundurn in September 2012.
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March 5, 2020
A moment of silence please, as I mourn the passing of one of my favourite series. I’ve enjoyed every one of these books & feel like I’m saying good-bye to old friends….friends with lives waaay more exciting than mine.
In the final instalment, we find Kingston police officer Kala Stonechild at loose ends. She has a good life in the city but can’t deny a growing urge to chuck it all & hit the road. She has some big decisions to make & in an effort to clear her head, she & niece Dawn head off to a cabin in the wilds of northern Ontario. The little resort promises spotty cell service & no wifi but plenty of rivers to explore by canoe followed by quiet starlit nights. Perfect. Or it should have been.
People staying in the cabins only see each other when they gather for meals at the main lodge. Among the staff & guests is Rachel, a pretty 16 year old working as a waitress for the summer. Unfortunately, Kala will only get to know her after her broken body is found on the side of the road. She’s been brutally murdered & the small, close knit community promptly goes into shock.
Enter OPP Officer Clark Morrison, a former colleague of Kala’s when she worked in a northern detachment. And due to staff shortages, he could really use a hand. Would she be interested in a temporary reassignment? This was supposed to be a break from bodies & paperwork but Kala can’t shake the feeling the killer is hiding in plain sight. And they might not be done.
Back in Kingston, boss Jacques Rouleau ok’s her request to join the investigation. But he’s worried. He & her partner Paul Gundersund have sensed Kala’s restlessness for a while & wonder if this is her first step toward saying good-bye.
Readers expect a lot from a final book. You want a great story but usually there are some long running plot lines to tie up as well. This strikes a good balance. The investigative aspect is detailed & loaded with red herrings that keep your brain veering in every direction. When the killer was revealed, I had to do the forehead smack….how could I forget the most basic tenant: cui bono? But in my own defence, my God, some of these people are a hot mess. When Morrison compared their shenanigans to Peyton Place, he wasn’t wrong (something for all you youngsters to google 😉).
But it’s also a very personal read. If you’ve been following along, you know Kala had a rough start in life. It’s affected her ability to form relationships & recognize a home when she finds it. Her friendship with Jacques is the heart of the series & he’s become the father figure she never had. And after some bumps in the road, she & Paul built something solid. Or so I thought. As Kala pondered her future I found myself dreading the final pages as I had very firm opinions about where these characters should end up (one didn’t quite pan out so in my head I added a chapter. Go for it, Vera!).
This aspect of the story is about change, those life altering decisions that are scary. Where you call home, what you hang on to & what you let go. Several of the characters are at a crossroad & the choices they make are reflected in the book’s title. I’m sure the publishers would have loved the series to continue but hats off to the author for going out on a high. Hopefully she has a new gang of great characters lined up & I look forward to whatever comes next.
In the final instalment, we find Kingston police officer Kala Stonechild at loose ends. She has a good life in the city but can’t deny a growing urge to chuck it all & hit the road. She has some big decisions to make & in an effort to clear her head, she & niece Dawn head off to a cabin in the wilds of northern Ontario. The little resort promises spotty cell service & no wifi but plenty of rivers to explore by canoe followed by quiet starlit nights. Perfect. Or it should have been.
People staying in the cabins only see each other when they gather for meals at the main lodge. Among the staff & guests is Rachel, a pretty 16 year old working as a waitress for the summer. Unfortunately, Kala will only get to know her after her broken body is found on the side of the road. She’s been brutally murdered & the small, close knit community promptly goes into shock.
Enter OPP Officer Clark Morrison, a former colleague of Kala’s when she worked in a northern detachment. And due to staff shortages, he could really use a hand. Would she be interested in a temporary reassignment? This was supposed to be a break from bodies & paperwork but Kala can’t shake the feeling the killer is hiding in plain sight. And they might not be done.
Back in Kingston, boss Jacques Rouleau ok’s her request to join the investigation. But he’s worried. He & her partner Paul Gundersund have sensed Kala’s restlessness for a while & wonder if this is her first step toward saying good-bye.
Readers expect a lot from a final book. You want a great story but usually there are some long running plot lines to tie up as well. This strikes a good balance. The investigative aspect is detailed & loaded with red herrings that keep your brain veering in every direction. When the killer was revealed, I had to do the forehead smack….how could I forget the most basic tenant: cui bono? But in my own defence, my God, some of these people are a hot mess. When Morrison compared their shenanigans to Peyton Place, he wasn’t wrong (something for all you youngsters to google 😉).
But it’s also a very personal read. If you’ve been following along, you know Kala had a rough start in life. It’s affected her ability to form relationships & recognize a home when she finds it. Her friendship with Jacques is the heart of the series & he’s become the father figure she never had. And after some bumps in the road, she & Paul built something solid. Or so I thought. As Kala pondered her future I found myself dreading the final pages as I had very firm opinions about where these characters should end up (one didn’t quite pan out so in my head I added a chapter. Go for it, Vera!).
This aspect of the story is about change, those life altering decisions that are scary. Where you call home, what you hang on to & what you let go. Several of the characters are at a crossroad & the choices they make are reflected in the book’s title. I’m sure the publishers would have loved the series to continue but hats off to the author for going out on a high. Hopefully she has a new gang of great characters lined up & I look forward to whatever comes next.
March 22, 2023
This is the 7th and final book in the Stonechild and Rouleau mystery series by Canadian author Brenda Chapman and, sad as I am to see the series end, it's been a great reading experience plus the author has started a new series which I'm looking forward to reading. I have the first book on hold at the library and an ARC of the second book from Netgalley.
Kala Stonechild, a detective in a specialized crime unit operating out of Kingston, Ontario, takes her foster niece Dawn on a vacation to a lodge in far Northern Ontario. A young girl who works at the lodge is found dead and the investigating officer asks Kala to assist in the investigation.
This book is just as smooth to read as the other books in the series and could probably be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the whole series. I like that all the books in this series take place in Ontario even though they're not familiar areas to me. This final book wrapped things up very nicely without dragging them out and yet left things open-ended just in case the author decides to carry on with the series in the future! A fitting finish and a fond farewell to some of my favourite fictional characters. Did you notice all the alliterations in that sentence?!
Every time I walked past this book or picked it up to read, the song "Closing Time" by Semisonic (1998) started going through my head. Unfortunately I only know that line and one other ("one last call for alcohol") so it got annoying in a hurry. I kept trying to read faster so I could get it back to the library!
Kala Stonechild, a detective in a specialized crime unit operating out of Kingston, Ontario, takes her foster niece Dawn on a vacation to a lodge in far Northern Ontario. A young girl who works at the lodge is found dead and the investigating officer asks Kala to assist in the investigation.
This book is just as smooth to read as the other books in the series and could probably be read as a standalone but I highly recommend the whole series. I like that all the books in this series take place in Ontario even though they're not familiar areas to me. This final book wrapped things up very nicely without dragging them out and yet left things open-ended just in case the author decides to carry on with the series in the future! A fitting finish and a fond farewell to some of my favourite fictional characters. Did you notice all the alliterations in that sentence?!
Every time I walked past this book or picked it up to read, the song "Closing Time" by Semisonic (1998) started going through my head. Unfortunately I only know that line and one other ("one last call for alcohol") so it got annoying in a hurry. I kept trying to read faster so I could get it back to the library!
September 4, 2020
Murder hunt in the wilds of Northern Ontario!
There are obviously depths and challenges to Ontario Provincial Police Officer Kala Stonechild that to me, a first time reader of the Stonechild and Rouleau police procedural series, are fascinating. I feel the need to know more.
Holidaying with Dawn her foster charge, Kala looks forward to canoeing and recharging her batteries in the wilderness that so calls to her. Unfortunately Kala finds herself catapulted into the murder investigation of a sixteen year old waitress working at the isolated lodge they're guesting in, located to the north of Sault Ste. Marie in the far reaches of Ontario.
At the request of the local officer Clark Harrison, a former acquaintance of Kala's, she is seconded to the investigation. The inquiry dances down some rather twisted paths. It seems the victim Rachel Eglan is not the quiet churchgoing young woman she appears to be. She's somewhat of a chameleon.
The breaking down of facts, the casework process, was nicely instituted. Kala's sixth sense, her detectively intuition comes unerringly into play.
As Karla's partner Clark says, scratch any small community and anonymity is unerringly impossible “some freaky community osmosis [comes into play]. Frig, they know when someone sneezes before they reach for a tissue." Investigating this murder will stretch right into that community and secrets thought hidden will be revealed, after searching down some twisted pathways.
I feel I would have benefited more if I'd read previous novels. Starting with the last is somewhat awkward but doable. (I'm sure if I'd been following this series my review would have been 5 stars) If anything else, this last novel encourages me to turn back to the beginnings of the series to understood more about Karla's backstory. Obviously part of that are her tortured romance relationships, although this didn't at all deter from my being able to gather up pieces of the puzzle as to who Kala is. A free spirit with a troubled childhood, an inability to commit in a relationship, a fear of being trapped, an absolute love of the wild and free northern parts of Ontario, a thorough and focused investigator, with an uncanny ability to read body language.
Apart from the timing of Rachael's murder, the title "Closing Time" is apt in terms of not only the crime committed. This is the last of series. Many factors about the key characters are pulled together. Brenda Chapman's forward helped me to locate some of the past of Stonechild and Rouleau. BTW, I must say I really liked the cover. With its color tonings, the half submerged boat amongst the reeds, it hints at secrets covered up, at a darkness lurking.
A fascinating read that pulled me back to a beautiful area of Canada that I've been fortunate enough to visit from time to time. Thanks Dundern Press!
A Dundurn ARC via NetGalley
There are obviously depths and challenges to Ontario Provincial Police Officer Kala Stonechild that to me, a first time reader of the Stonechild and Rouleau police procedural series, are fascinating. I feel the need to know more.
Holidaying with Dawn her foster charge, Kala looks forward to canoeing and recharging her batteries in the wilderness that so calls to her. Unfortunately Kala finds herself catapulted into the murder investigation of a sixteen year old waitress working at the isolated lodge they're guesting in, located to the north of Sault Ste. Marie in the far reaches of Ontario.
At the request of the local officer Clark Harrison, a former acquaintance of Kala's, she is seconded to the investigation. The inquiry dances down some rather twisted paths. It seems the victim Rachel Eglan is not the quiet churchgoing young woman she appears to be. She's somewhat of a chameleon.
The breaking down of facts, the casework process, was nicely instituted. Kala's sixth sense, her detectively intuition comes unerringly into play.
As Karla's partner Clark says, scratch any small community and anonymity is unerringly impossible “some freaky community osmosis [comes into play]. Frig, they know when someone sneezes before they reach for a tissue." Investigating this murder will stretch right into that community and secrets thought hidden will be revealed, after searching down some twisted pathways.
I feel I would have benefited more if I'd read previous novels. Starting with the last is somewhat awkward but doable. (I'm sure if I'd been following this series my review would have been 5 stars) If anything else, this last novel encourages me to turn back to the beginnings of the series to understood more about Karla's backstory. Obviously part of that are her tortured romance relationships, although this didn't at all deter from my being able to gather up pieces of the puzzle as to who Kala is. A free spirit with a troubled childhood, an inability to commit in a relationship, a fear of being trapped, an absolute love of the wild and free northern parts of Ontario, a thorough and focused investigator, with an uncanny ability to read body language.
Apart from the timing of Rachael's murder, the title "Closing Time" is apt in terms of not only the crime committed. This is the last of series. Many factors about the key characters are pulled together. Brenda Chapman's forward helped me to locate some of the past of Stonechild and Rouleau. BTW, I must say I really liked the cover. With its color tonings, the half submerged boat amongst the reeds, it hints at secrets covered up, at a darkness lurking.
A fascinating read that pulled me back to a beautiful area of Canada that I've been fortunate enough to visit from time to time. Thanks Dundern Press!
A Dundurn ARC via NetGalley
January 29, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley and Dundurn Press for this gripping, complicated mystery story. This is the final book in the 7th, I believe, Stonechild and Rouleau series. It works well as a stand-alone as there are frequent references to past personal and working relationships and events. Regular followers of the series should find this a ‘must-read’ book. I have only read one of the series, but this has given me further incentive to look for past books. I found this a highly suspenseful and easy to follow story.
Kala Stonechild, an Indigenous police officer, once preferred working alone in the north of Ontario. She had a difficult upbringing and kept herself closed off from others. Now working in and around Kingston, she has adjusted to city life and has developed close personal relationships. She has decided to take a vacation in a wilderness area and to take her 14-year-old step-niece and ward on the holiday. The plan is to stay at a remote lodge and spend time canoeing on nearby rivers.
It is not long before she becomes entangled in the investigation of a disturbing murder case. Her help has been requested by an officer she worked with in a past posting. A young, teenaged waitress, Rachel, employed at the wilderness lodge, was found by the roadside brutally murdered. She had been walking home from work after dark.
There are many suspects, especially among those at the lodge. There are the owners, their workers, the guests, and a dinner party from outside the lodge who knew Rachel and interacted with her on her last shift before her death. Among them was her English teacher, who considered himself her mentor , and her priest was also in attendance. Suspicion also fell on an ex-boyfriend whom she blamed for stalking her.
As the investigation proceeded it seemed most everyone harboured some feelings of guilt and were holding secrets. There were betrayals, jealousies, infidelities, and resentments and the lodge was considered a centre of “sexual shenanigans .” Next, an older male guest, a retired photographer, was found murdered in a similar manner.
With such a widespread investigation underway, the discovery of the perpetrator or perpetrators and the motive is a painstaking and puzzling task. The solution leads to madness and a tragic, but a thrilling conclusion.
Kala now must make a decision to return to her life, work, and relationships in Kingston or to pursue a former romantic relationship elsewhere. Recommended!
Kala Stonechild, an Indigenous police officer, once preferred working alone in the north of Ontario. She had a difficult upbringing and kept herself closed off from others. Now working in and around Kingston, she has adjusted to city life and has developed close personal relationships. She has decided to take a vacation in a wilderness area and to take her 14-year-old step-niece and ward on the holiday. The plan is to stay at a remote lodge and spend time canoeing on nearby rivers.
It is not long before she becomes entangled in the investigation of a disturbing murder case. Her help has been requested by an officer she worked with in a past posting. A young, teenaged waitress, Rachel, employed at the wilderness lodge, was found by the roadside brutally murdered. She had been walking home from work after dark.
There are many suspects, especially among those at the lodge. There are the owners, their workers, the guests, and a dinner party from outside the lodge who knew Rachel and interacted with her on her last shift before her death. Among them was her English teacher, who considered himself her mentor , and her priest was also in attendance. Suspicion also fell on an ex-boyfriend whom she blamed for stalking her.
As the investigation proceeded it seemed most everyone harboured some feelings of guilt and were holding secrets. There were betrayals, jealousies, infidelities, and resentments and the lodge was considered a centre of “sexual shenanigans .” Next, an older male guest, a retired photographer, was found murdered in a similar manner.
With such a widespread investigation underway, the discovery of the perpetrator or perpetrators and the motive is a painstaking and puzzling task. The solution leads to madness and a tragic, but a thrilling conclusion.
Kala now must make a decision to return to her life, work, and relationships in Kingston or to pursue a former romantic relationship elsewhere. Recommended!
December 30, 2021
I really enjoyed this whole series and found this final volume to be well rounded and satisfying. Kala Stonechild, in particular was a compelling character to me. I liked how she grew and changed over the course of the series. I found some aspects of the story (and others in the series) related to issues around the treatment of indigenous Canadians now and in the past, quite insightful and disturbing.
All in the all the mysteries in each book were interesting but what kept me coming back was Kala and the characters in the Kingston major crimes team.
All in the all the mysteries in each book were interesting but what kept me coming back was Kala and the characters in the Kingston major crimes team.
March 19, 2020
4.5 stars.
The final installment in the outstanding Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery series, Closing Time by Brenda Chapman is an engrossing mystery.
Concerned about her niece Dawn and feeling on edge, Officer Kala Stonechild is taking some much needed time off from work. Leaving the city behind, Kala rents a cabin at a quiet, isolated lodge where she hopes spending time in nature will help decide her future. She and Dawn have only been on vacation for one day when a teenage employee disappears and is later found dead. The officer working the case is none other than her former co-worker Clark Harrison. At Harrison's request and the urging of Dawn, Kala joins the investigation. They quickly turn their attention to the people who last saw victim Rachel Eglan alive. Could one of them have murdered the introverted sixteen year old?
Kala is very contemplative as she and Dawn try to spend as much time as possible in the wilderness. For someone who has never had roots, Kala is uncertain whether she wants to remain in Kingston. Even her life with her niece is a little unsettled since Dawn's mother might be released from prison after her parole hearing. She is happy with her relationship with fellow police officer Paul Gunderson but is Kala really ready to permanently settle down?
Kala is soon quite busy as she and Clark begin questioning the people at the lodge. Kala senses owners Martha and Neal Loring and their cook Shane Patterson and his wife Petra are not being entirely forthcoming. Ian Kruger, Blaine Rogers and Thomas Faraday are long time renters who also fall under suspicion due to their proximity to Rachel. While Kala and Clark soon rule out other suspects, they turn their attention to Father Alec Vila. Rachel's mother is deeply devout and Rachel regularly attended mass with her. Kala feels like they are inching closer to unmasking their killer when someone connected to the case is murdered. Will she and Clark catch the murderer before he/she strikes again?
Closing Time is a riveting mystery with well-drawn characters and a clever storyline. Despite her distractions with her personal life, Kala is still an intuitive police officer with sharp instincts. The investigation into the murders moves at a steady pace. However, she and Harris have numerous suspects but no obvious motive the killings. With a jaw-dropping plot twist, Brenda Chapman brings this exciting mystery to an action-packed conclusion.
An excellent finale but I am a little sad this is the last time I will cozy up with the beloved characters from the Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery series.
The final installment in the outstanding Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery series, Closing Time by Brenda Chapman is an engrossing mystery.
Concerned about her niece Dawn and feeling on edge, Officer Kala Stonechild is taking some much needed time off from work. Leaving the city behind, Kala rents a cabin at a quiet, isolated lodge where she hopes spending time in nature will help decide her future. She and Dawn have only been on vacation for one day when a teenage employee disappears and is later found dead. The officer working the case is none other than her former co-worker Clark Harrison. At Harrison's request and the urging of Dawn, Kala joins the investigation. They quickly turn their attention to the people who last saw victim Rachel Eglan alive. Could one of them have murdered the introverted sixteen year old?
Kala is very contemplative as she and Dawn try to spend as much time as possible in the wilderness. For someone who has never had roots, Kala is uncertain whether she wants to remain in Kingston. Even her life with her niece is a little unsettled since Dawn's mother might be released from prison after her parole hearing. She is happy with her relationship with fellow police officer Paul Gunderson but is Kala really ready to permanently settle down?
Kala is soon quite busy as she and Clark begin questioning the people at the lodge. Kala senses owners Martha and Neal Loring and their cook Shane Patterson and his wife Petra are not being entirely forthcoming. Ian Kruger, Blaine Rogers and Thomas Faraday are long time renters who also fall under suspicion due to their proximity to Rachel. While Kala and Clark soon rule out other suspects, they turn their attention to Father Alec Vila. Rachel's mother is deeply devout and Rachel regularly attended mass with her. Kala feels like they are inching closer to unmasking their killer when someone connected to the case is murdered. Will she and Clark catch the murderer before he/she strikes again?
Closing Time is a riveting mystery with well-drawn characters and a clever storyline. Despite her distractions with her personal life, Kala is still an intuitive police officer with sharp instincts. The investigation into the murders moves at a steady pace. However, she and Harris have numerous suspects but no obvious motive the killings. With a jaw-dropping plot twist, Brenda Chapman brings this exciting mystery to an action-packed conclusion.
An excellent finale but I am a little sad this is the last time I will cozy up with the beloved characters from the Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery series.
January 14, 2023
Just last year, around May or so, I happened upon Cold Mourning in a bookstore and started what became the most delightful journey through a new series. Despite only having known the books for a year, I've read this series through multiple times, loving the characters and their dynamics more each time I do. Knowing this was the final book hurts my heart a little. I won't get to venture through the lives of these characters as they tackle new cases and obstacles in their own lives. But Brenda Chapman gave this series an appropriate closing bringing the focus back to the central figure I've followed for seven books now.
This books puts aside the crew we've come to know and throws Kala into a case up north working primarily solo with help from an old partner. Appearance from the other characters focused more on their personal relationships rather than case working and i really appreciated that time given to each relationship in order to conclude and respect the love between all of them and how far they've come.
Excellent case, excellent characters, and I couldn't be happier with the conclusion.
This books puts aside the crew we've come to know and throws Kala into a case up north working primarily solo with help from an old partner. Appearance from the other characters focused more on their personal relationships rather than case working and i really appreciated that time given to each relationship in order to conclude and respect the love between all of them and how far they've come.
Excellent case, excellent characters, and I couldn't be happier with the conclusion.
February 10, 2020
Thank you NetGalley and Dundurn Press for the eARC.
This is the 7th and last (sigh) in the Detective Kala Stonechild series and I, for one, will miss her.
Kala and her 15-year old ward, Dawn, are on a canoe trip North of Sault St. Marie, Ontario, staying at a lodge accompanied by Kala's beloved dog, Taiku. Unfortunately their trip is not as planned...a young waitress from the lodge is found dead in a culvert, murdered. Kala reluctantly agrees to help with the investigation and soon a retired photographer, also staying at the lodge, is also murdered.
I'm very sorry this is the last in the series, it has become one of my favorites. Not only because of the settings of Ontario, but because of Kala, the enigmatic loner, and Taiku. I love Kala's musings, I really empathize with her, she's a good woman, sharp as a tack, who has successfully overcome a difficult childhood and is doing her best to give Dawn a good life. Rousseau is also a very sympathetic character, the two of them make a great team. This is a series to be treasured!
Highly recommended.
This is the 7th and last (sigh) in the Detective Kala Stonechild series and I, for one, will miss her.
Kala and her 15-year old ward, Dawn, are on a canoe trip North of Sault St. Marie, Ontario, staying at a lodge accompanied by Kala's beloved dog, Taiku. Unfortunately their trip is not as planned...a young waitress from the lodge is found dead in a culvert, murdered. Kala reluctantly agrees to help with the investigation and soon a retired photographer, also staying at the lodge, is also murdered.
I'm very sorry this is the last in the series, it has become one of my favorites. Not only because of the settings of Ontario, but because of Kala, the enigmatic loner, and Taiku. I love Kala's musings, I really empathize with her, she's a good woman, sharp as a tack, who has successfully overcome a difficult childhood and is doing her best to give Dawn a good life. Rousseau is also a very sympathetic character, the two of them make a great team. This is a series to be treasured!
Highly recommended.
April 13, 2022
I've given each book in the series three stars - which means I liked it -in fact I read the entire series at once picking up the next book immediately after finishing one. As a series it's probably 3.5 stars. There are things I really liked about it. I liked the main character Kala Stonechild. I really liked Dawn and Gundersund. The specific mystery/crime were well done and I did not know who the killer was until the end -which is always enjoyable.
I don't know why this series is called Stonechild and Rouleau - the expectation is that they are partners investigating crimes but that is not the case. In fact in many of the books Rouleau is hardly present. These could be called Stonechild and Gundersund or Stonechild and Bennet, etc. I just found it weird and wonder if in the beginning the author thought there would be more of a partnership but the stories took on a life of their own.
I thought a lot of the women characters were a bit cliche or stereotypes - kind of boring; especially Fiona and Vera -but even women specific to a specific book - like Petra. Along with this - the backstory with these characters was either uninteresting or tedious. The Fiona/Gundersund storyline went on way to long and was just ridiculous - especially Fiona's actions with Kala. As for Vera - well her storyline just sort of faded in the wind and was never really resolved.
Another thing that bothered me - was the constant italicized thoughts of the characters -I never understood why the characters had such wasted thoughts/concerns when a simple statement or question could clear things up. Of course Kala is an exceptional cop and very intuitive - except for her own personal life -again that got tedious after awhile. The last mystery throws up a silly and unbelievable 'obstacle' by having Kala meet her old boyfriend again - again -tedious and boring as I didn't think for one minute that was an issue for her anymore. Also, the last book - Kala isn't in Kingston so she's not even with the 'team' - the author finds an excuse to place Rouleau and Gundersund in the story for a few pages but they don't add anything. I found the last book the least interesting because of this and skimmed a lot of pages.
This review sounds like I didn't like the series -but like I said in the beginning I read one right after another and for the most part - enjoyed the series.
I don't know why this series is called Stonechild and Rouleau - the expectation is that they are partners investigating crimes but that is not the case. In fact in many of the books Rouleau is hardly present. These could be called Stonechild and Gundersund or Stonechild and Bennet, etc. I just found it weird and wonder if in the beginning the author thought there would be more of a partnership but the stories took on a life of their own.
I thought a lot of the women characters were a bit cliche or stereotypes - kind of boring; especially Fiona and Vera -but even women specific to a specific book - like Petra. Along with this - the backstory with these characters was either uninteresting or tedious. The Fiona/Gundersund storyline went on way to long and was just ridiculous - especially Fiona's actions with Kala. As for Vera - well her storyline just sort of faded in the wind and was never really resolved.
Another thing that bothered me - was the constant italicized thoughts of the characters -I never understood why the characters had such wasted thoughts/concerns when a simple statement or question could clear things up. Of course Kala is an exceptional cop and very intuitive - except for her own personal life -again that got tedious after awhile. The last mystery throws up a silly and unbelievable 'obstacle' by having Kala meet her old boyfriend again - again -tedious and boring as I didn't think for one minute that was an issue for her anymore. Also, the last book - Kala isn't in Kingston so she's not even with the 'team' - the author finds an excuse to place Rouleau and Gundersund in the story for a few pages but they don't add anything. I found the last book the least interesting because of this and skimmed a lot of pages.
This review sounds like I didn't like the series -but like I said in the beginning I read one right after another and for the most part - enjoyed the series.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 24, 2021
Wanting to spend time with her foster niece Dawn and to figure out what she wants in the years ahead with her career in Kingston and in her relationship with Paul Gundersund, in “Closing Time” Officer Kala Stonechild has taken time off, travelling to Pine Hollow Lodge in the wilderness of Sault Ste. Marie. What she doesn’t expect is to be catapulted into the murder investigation of Rachel Eglan , a sixteen-year-old waitress at the lodge, as under- staffed at the Sault Ste Marie detachment OPP Officer Clark Harrison looks to her for help in unraveling the mysterious murder.
Fast-paced and riveting Clark and Kala begin following police procedure, interviewing the staff and dinner guests the night of the murder only to discover that Rachel may not be the quiet, churchgoing young woman her parents thought her to be. With twists and turns that have you quickly turning pages, intensity and suspense heat up with a second murder, and the teen’s friendships with a disgruntled boyfriend, good-looking priest and a concerned English teacher.
Woven into all the police action is the birth of Clark’s son and Dawn’s mother’s sudden hospitalization. Even romance heats up with Marci Stokes decision to move to Paris, and Kala’s sudden encounter with an old flame while she mulls over her future with Paul Gundersund.
Among a host of compelling and complex characters is indigenous police officer Kala Stonechild, a woman with a troubled past who yearns as much for the warmth and solidness of her own family as she does for the freedom of the wilderness. A dogged, clever-minded police detective she joins the down-to-earth, and astute Office Clark Harrison in the investigation. Adding tension to the plot is the sexual, manic, promiscuous Petra Patterson; the competent, controlled lodge owner Martha Loring; handsome, kind Father Alec Vila; and the unhappy, disgruntled Neal Loring. These characters and others bring this fascinating plot to life as it flows to a surprising ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Closing Time” in “the Stonechild and Rouleau” series and will look for other series in the future by Brenda Chapman.
Fast-paced and riveting Clark and Kala begin following police procedure, interviewing the staff and dinner guests the night of the murder only to discover that Rachel may not be the quiet, churchgoing young woman her parents thought her to be. With twists and turns that have you quickly turning pages, intensity and suspense heat up with a second murder, and the teen’s friendships with a disgruntled boyfriend, good-looking priest and a concerned English teacher.
Woven into all the police action is the birth of Clark’s son and Dawn’s mother’s sudden hospitalization. Even romance heats up with Marci Stokes decision to move to Paris, and Kala’s sudden encounter with an old flame while she mulls over her future with Paul Gundersund.
Among a host of compelling and complex characters is indigenous police officer Kala Stonechild, a woman with a troubled past who yearns as much for the warmth and solidness of her own family as she does for the freedom of the wilderness. A dogged, clever-minded police detective she joins the down-to-earth, and astute Office Clark Harrison in the investigation. Adding tension to the plot is the sexual, manic, promiscuous Petra Patterson; the competent, controlled lodge owner Martha Loring; handsome, kind Father Alec Vila; and the unhappy, disgruntled Neal Loring. These characters and others bring this fascinating plot to life as it flows to a surprising ending.
I thoroughly enjoyed “Closing Time” in “the Stonechild and Rouleau” series and will look for other series in the future by Brenda Chapman.
February 6, 2025
Kala takes her niece Dawn on vacation with her to a lodge up north, near Sault Ste Marie. Kala has been craving the quiet of woods, the clean air and being on the water, and also to share these experiences with Dawn, a city teen.
They settle in, and Kala immediately notices that there seems to be tensions amongst the people running the lodge. Kala also notices the red-haired teen serving them; the girl is friendly and competent, and Kala thinks nothing more of her, until the girl's body is found, seemingly the victim of a hit-and-run.
The RCMP detachment undertakes the investigation, with OPP officer Clark Harrison asking for Kala's help. Though reluctant (she's on a much-needed vacation!!) Kala agrees to help him. She's also a little uncomfortable, as Clark is the brother of the man Kala was involved with before she left him to head to Ottawa and met Jacques Rouleau (book one).
The investigation unearths multiple motives, and the ugliness in the relationships amongst the people running the lodge, but also gives Kala a picture of a girl eager to spread her wings once out from under her overly religious and conservative mother.
Kala also is reconsidering her life in Kingston, and what it will mean to stay or leave, on her, Dawn, Gundersund, and the Major Crimes team, including Rouleau, who has his own choices to make about where life will take him next.
This was a terrific end to a series I've come to love. Kala is a great character, and I'll miss not reading more stories with her in them. I love the small family she's created for herself in Kingston, and I love how this story wraps up for her. I'm sad the series is over, but I think author Brenda Chapman gave her major characters a good send-off.
They settle in, and Kala immediately notices that there seems to be tensions amongst the people running the lodge. Kala also notices the red-haired teen serving them; the girl is friendly and competent, and Kala thinks nothing more of her, until the girl's body is found, seemingly the victim of a hit-and-run.
The RCMP detachment undertakes the investigation, with OPP officer Clark Harrison asking for Kala's help. Though reluctant (she's on a much-needed vacation!!) Kala agrees to help him. She's also a little uncomfortable, as Clark is the brother of the man Kala was involved with before she left him to head to Ottawa and met Jacques Rouleau (book one).
The investigation unearths multiple motives, and the ugliness in the relationships amongst the people running the lodge, but also gives Kala a picture of a girl eager to spread her wings once out from under her overly religious and conservative mother.
Kala also is reconsidering her life in Kingston, and what it will mean to stay or leave, on her, Dawn, Gundersund, and the Major Crimes team, including Rouleau, who has his own choices to make about where life will take him next.
This was a terrific end to a series I've come to love. Kala is a great character, and I'll miss not reading more stories with her in them. I love the small family she's created for herself in Kingston, and I love how this story wraps up for her. I'm sad the series is over, but I think author Brenda Chapman gave her major characters a good send-off.
March 30, 2020
*I received an advanced copy of this title from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.*
This was an alright story. Wasn't bad but didn't wow me. I liked the mystery in it but the personal relationship things kind of lost me. I just could not care enough to get invested in Stonechild's dilemmas.
This was an alright story. Wasn't bad but didn't wow me. I liked the mystery in it but the personal relationship things kind of lost me. I just could not care enough to get invested in Stonechild's dilemmas.
May 4, 2020
No! This is the last book in the Kala Stonechild series! I have thoroughly enjoyed this series, set in Ontario, Canada and I was really disappointed when I learned this seventh book was to be the last one.
August 15, 2021
I adored this series. So sad it’s ended. Stonechild is my Aboriginal Lizbeth Salander & now my second favorite heroine. There were many loose ends I wish the book had tied but all in all it felt complete.
February 18, 2024
I really am going to miss these characters. This installment took place away from home and saw the titular characters making some big life decisions. Interesting mystery and nice sign off for the series.
March 11, 2020
It's late summer and Officer Kala Stonechild has a need to get away so she goes with her foster niece, Dawn, to Pine Hollow Lodge in the wilderness to the north of Sault Ste. Marie. But a teenage girl working at the Lodge goes missing and soon her body is found.
Kala is asked for her help and so assists Officer Clark Harrison, an old colleague. Can they find the guilty party among the many suspects and unravel the lies.
Unfortunately this is the last in this series. Again this is another entertaining and well-written series, with its excellently plotted stories. So we say goodbye to all these likeable and well-developed characters.
A NetGalley Book
Kala is asked for her help and so assists Officer Clark Harrison, an old colleague. Can they find the guilty party among the many suspects and unravel the lies.
Unfortunately this is the last in this series. Again this is another entertaining and well-written series, with its excellently plotted stories. So we say goodbye to all these likeable and well-developed characters.
A NetGalley Book
January 2, 2022
Author Brenda Chapman https://brendachapman.ca published the novel “Closing Time” in 2020. She has published more than 20 novels. This is the seventh and final novel in her Stonechild and Rouleau Mystery series.
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence. The primary character is police officer Kala Stonechild.
Stonechild has taken her niece on a canoe trip in the wilderness north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. They are staying in a cabin at Pine Hollow Lodge. They had only been there a short time before Rachel Eglan disappeared. Rachel was a 16-year-old who worked at the Lodge as a waitress. After her body is found, her death is determined to be from foul play. Because of her expertise, an official request is made for Stonechild to assist in the investigation. Stonechild is an officer on the Kingston Major Crimes team.
Part of the reason for Stonechild taking the trip is to reevaluate her career and her relationship with fellow Kingston officer Paul Gundersund. She is surprised at the Lodge by a prior romantic interest and local police officer, Clark Harrison.
At first, there seem to be no motives for Rachel’s death. The more questions the investigators ask, the more it appears that everyone seems to be hiding something. The deaths do not stop with young Rachel. Stonechild forges ahead with the investigation while dealing with her own issues.
I enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 392-page mystery. I enjoyed this mystery, but I feel that the killer’s identity was revealed too early. I had not read any of the other books in the series, but this one stood up well on its own. The cover is a bit dark and dismal but relates to the story. I rate this book as a 4 out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
I received an ARC of this book through https://www.netgalley.com in return for a fair and honest review. I categorize this book as ‘R’ because it contains scenes of violence. The primary character is police officer Kala Stonechild.
Stonechild has taken her niece on a canoe trip in the wilderness north of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. They are staying in a cabin at Pine Hollow Lodge. They had only been there a short time before Rachel Eglan disappeared. Rachel was a 16-year-old who worked at the Lodge as a waitress. After her body is found, her death is determined to be from foul play. Because of her expertise, an official request is made for Stonechild to assist in the investigation. Stonechild is an officer on the Kingston Major Crimes team.
Part of the reason for Stonechild taking the trip is to reevaluate her career and her relationship with fellow Kingston officer Paul Gundersund. She is surprised at the Lodge by a prior romantic interest and local police officer, Clark Harrison.
At first, there seem to be no motives for Rachel’s death. The more questions the investigators ask, the more it appears that everyone seems to be hiding something. The deaths do not stop with young Rachel. Stonechild forges ahead with the investigation while dealing with her own issues.
I enjoyed the 7.5 hours I spent reading this 392-page mystery. I enjoyed this mystery, but I feel that the killer’s identity was revealed too early. I had not read any of the other books in the series, but this one stood up well on its own. The cover is a bit dark and dismal but relates to the story. I rate this book as a 4 out of 5.
You can access more of my book reviews on my Blog ( https://johnpurvis.wordpress.com/blog/).
January 31, 2020
5 stars
Officer Kala Stonechild and her niece Dawn are taking a relaxing trip North to Searchmont near Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario. They plan to go canoeing and take long walks in the woods. About the same time they arrive, a young teenager is murdered. It is strongly rumored that she was having an affair with a married man. Was this the person who killed her?
Rachel was a waitress at the lodge where Kala and Dawn were staying and was attempting to break with her over controlling and religious mother. She took the job at the lodge to get away and try something new.
Kala is asked to assist with the investigation. Her partner, Clark Harrison, is someone she had worked with before. She was dating his brother Jordan and it was very serious. Clark's wife is due to give birth any day now.
Together they start interviewing the people staying at Pine Hollow Lodge, as well as the employees and their spouses, if any. Other people also seem to have valuable information. Suddenly, Clark's wife goes into labor and Kala gets a surprise when Rouleau from her home detachment is sent up to assist her. Another murder is committed and the investigation ratchets up.
When Kala speaks to an elderly man in a cafe, and picks up some belongings from him that Faraday, the second murder victim left at his house, she begins to form an idea.
In an exciting and nail-biting denouement, the story concludes as tragedy strikes.
This is an excellent book. I am so sorry to see the end of this series, it is so very good. I certainly hope that Ms. Chapman continues to write mystery novels for she has a rare talent for creating colorful and interesting characters. I really like Kala, Gundersund, Rouleau and the rest of the gang. I liked especially getting more back story on my favorite personalities. Ms. Chapman's book are extremely well written and plotted and the story progresses quickly and logically.
I want to thank NetGalley and Dundurn Press for forwarding to me a copy of this most delightful book for me to read, enjoy and review.
Officer Kala Stonechild and her niece Dawn are taking a relaxing trip North to Searchmont near Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario. They plan to go canoeing and take long walks in the woods. About the same time they arrive, a young teenager is murdered. It is strongly rumored that she was having an affair with a married man. Was this the person who killed her?
Rachel was a waitress at the lodge where Kala and Dawn were staying and was attempting to break with her over controlling and religious mother. She took the job at the lodge to get away and try something new.
Kala is asked to assist with the investigation. Her partner, Clark Harrison, is someone she had worked with before. She was dating his brother Jordan and it was very serious. Clark's wife is due to give birth any day now.
Together they start interviewing the people staying at Pine Hollow Lodge, as well as the employees and their spouses, if any. Other people also seem to have valuable information. Suddenly, Clark's wife goes into labor and Kala gets a surprise when Rouleau from her home detachment is sent up to assist her. Another murder is committed and the investigation ratchets up.
When Kala speaks to an elderly man in a cafe, and picks up some belongings from him that Faraday, the second murder victim left at his house, she begins to form an idea.
In an exciting and nail-biting denouement, the story concludes as tragedy strikes.
This is an excellent book. I am so sorry to see the end of this series, it is so very good. I certainly hope that Ms. Chapman continues to write mystery novels for she has a rare talent for creating colorful and interesting characters. I really like Kala, Gundersund, Rouleau and the rest of the gang. I liked especially getting more back story on my favorite personalities. Ms. Chapman's book are extremely well written and plotted and the story progresses quickly and logically.
I want to thank NetGalley and Dundurn Press for forwarding to me a copy of this most delightful book for me to read, enjoy and review.
October 8, 2020
One of the best Canadian crime series in recent years has been the Stonechild and Rouleau mysteries, featuring an indigenous police detective, Kala Stonechild, and her boss, Sergeant Jacques Rouleau, and set latterly in Kingston, Ontario. Over the past six novels readers have learned of Kala’s troubled past, as she moved between foster homes and tried to navigate the sometimes convoluted world of urban white people. Her life is further complicated by a close friend who is in prison; Kala is determined to help her teenaged daughter, Dawn, mature into a confident and capable young woman.
Kala finds herself at a turning point in her life, and she is weighing the possibility of leaving Kingston and returning to the more familiar North woods, where she feels more at home. Complicating the decision is her close relationship with Gundersund, also a detective with the Kingston force. She also feels a close bond with her mentor, Staff Sergeant Jacques Rouleau, but he is considering retiring and joining his lover, Marci Stokes, as she takes on a new position in Paris. In a nutshell, then, everyone’s life plans are in turmoil, complicating Kala’s own thought processes.
To clear her mind, and also to expose Dawn to the delights of northern life, Kala arranges for the two of them and her dog Taiku to spend a few days at Pine Hollow Lodge near Algoma. But it seems she can’t leave her job behind her, and by the next day one of the servers at the lodge, goes missing. When her body is discovered it turns out she’s been murdered, and the nearest OPP officer, finding himself shorthanded, asks Kala to help with the case. But as she becomes further involved in the case Kala realizes that there are dark undercurrents of tension at the lodge. Kala’s dream getaway is rapidly turning into a nightmare.
It is sometimes said that setting is character, and Chapman deftly draws upon her extensive personal knowledge of Northern Ontario to set her tale. Her experience pays off in a richly atmospheric detail that convincingly portrays life in the isolated region.
But all good things must come to an end. The seventh novel of the series, Closing Time is also the last in the series, and for Chapman’s devoted readers it will be a bittersweet experience, reading the final chapter in what has proved to be one of the strongest and most interesting crime series to emerge in years. A skilled storyteller, Closing Time is a finely-drawn story, Chapman writing with an assured hand, confident that she’s nailed her subject – and she has. Closing Time is an evocative and compelling work, and a fitting end to the series; and while I regret reading the last of Stonechild and Rouleau, I look forward to the next step in Chapman’s impressive literary journey. I’m certain it will be equally special.
______
Jim Napier is a novelist and crime-fiction reviewer based in Canada. Since 2005 his book reviews and author interviews have been featured in several Canadian newspapers and on multiple websites. His crime novel Legacy was published in April of 2017, and the second in the series, Ridley’s War, is scheduled for release in November of 2020. He can be reached at jnapier@deadlydiversions.com
Kala finds herself at a turning point in her life, and she is weighing the possibility of leaving Kingston and returning to the more familiar North woods, where she feels more at home. Complicating the decision is her close relationship with Gundersund, also a detective with the Kingston force. She also feels a close bond with her mentor, Staff Sergeant Jacques Rouleau, but he is considering retiring and joining his lover, Marci Stokes, as she takes on a new position in Paris. In a nutshell, then, everyone’s life plans are in turmoil, complicating Kala’s own thought processes.
To clear her mind, and also to expose Dawn to the delights of northern life, Kala arranges for the two of them and her dog Taiku to spend a few days at Pine Hollow Lodge near Algoma. But it seems she can’t leave her job behind her, and by the next day one of the servers at the lodge, goes missing. When her body is discovered it turns out she’s been murdered, and the nearest OPP officer, finding himself shorthanded, asks Kala to help with the case. But as she becomes further involved in the case Kala realizes that there are dark undercurrents of tension at the lodge. Kala’s dream getaway is rapidly turning into a nightmare.
It is sometimes said that setting is character, and Chapman deftly draws upon her extensive personal knowledge of Northern Ontario to set her tale. Her experience pays off in a richly atmospheric detail that convincingly portrays life in the isolated region.
But all good things must come to an end. The seventh novel of the series, Closing Time is also the last in the series, and for Chapman’s devoted readers it will be a bittersweet experience, reading the final chapter in what has proved to be one of the strongest and most interesting crime series to emerge in years. A skilled storyteller, Closing Time is a finely-drawn story, Chapman writing with an assured hand, confident that she’s nailed her subject – and she has. Closing Time is an evocative and compelling work, and a fitting end to the series; and while I regret reading the last of Stonechild and Rouleau, I look forward to the next step in Chapman’s impressive literary journey. I’m certain it will be equally special.
______
Jim Napier is a novelist and crime-fiction reviewer based in Canada. Since 2005 his book reviews and author interviews have been featured in several Canadian newspapers and on multiple websites. His crime novel Legacy was published in April of 2017, and the second in the series, Ridley’s War, is scheduled for release in November of 2020. He can be reached at jnapier@deadlydiversions.com
March 25, 2020
Kala Stonechild is a police officer living in Kingston, ON, and taking care of her teenage niece, Dawn, while Dawn's mother is in prison. Kala has been feeling restless lately and has some life decisions to make ... while she likes the life she's made for herself in Kingston, she has also been missing her old life, living in northern Ontario with no responsibilities for anyone but herself and her dog.
Kala and Dawn rent a cottage on a lodge in northern Ontario so Kala can show Dawn the joys and simplicity of life away from the city. Days spent hiking and on the lakes are interrupted when Rachel, a teenager who was working at the restaurant at the lodge where Kala and Dawn are staying is murdered. The area is served by one police officer, who Kala had worked with years before, and he asks for her help. As Clark and Kala start investigating, they find that Rachel wasn't the good girl her mother wanted her to be and there are many who could have killed her.
This is the seventh (and final) in the Stonechild and Rouleau series and I enjoyed it. Though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone and you don't need to have read the previous ones to read this one (there is enough background given). It's always nice to read a book that is happening in Ontario (these characters live in Kingston and this story happens in northern Ontario and the author doesn't hide this fact). I liked the writing style and found the storyline interesting. It is written in third person perspective with the focus on the various characters wherever the action was happening.
While I'm sorry to see this series come to an end, I look forward to reading future books in this series and by this author.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2020/03...
Kala and Dawn rent a cottage on a lodge in northern Ontario so Kala can show Dawn the joys and simplicity of life away from the city. Days spent hiking and on the lakes are interrupted when Rachel, a teenager who was working at the restaurant at the lodge where Kala and Dawn are staying is murdered. The area is served by one police officer, who Kala had worked with years before, and he asks for her help. As Clark and Kala start investigating, they find that Rachel wasn't the good girl her mother wanted her to be and there are many who could have killed her.
This is the seventh (and final) in the Stonechild and Rouleau series and I enjoyed it. Though it is part of a series, it works as a stand alone and you don't need to have read the previous ones to read this one (there is enough background given). It's always nice to read a book that is happening in Ontario (these characters live in Kingston and this story happens in northern Ontario and the author doesn't hide this fact). I liked the writing style and found the storyline interesting. It is written in third person perspective with the focus on the various characters wherever the action was happening.
While I'm sorry to see this series come to an end, I look forward to reading future books in this series and by this author.
Blog review post: http://www.teenaintoronto.com/2020/03...
April 24, 2020
This is the first book that I have read by Brenda Chapman and in the series, which apparently is the last in the series. I am at a slightly disadvantage but it did not stop me from my overall enjoyment of this novel.
Firstly, the setting was nostalgic for me as I come from upstate NY and my parents come from London Ontario which we used to spend a lot of time in Ontario. This was a winning factor for me as Chapman was able to capture the people and the setting perfectly.
The characters are all well established and even though there are loose strings tied from previous instalments, I was able to get in with the whole flow of these characters situations. Karla is an insightful and strong character and as we are led by this character’s hand, she is strong with human frailties which makes her a memorable character and one we truly care about as she figures out the mystery that she is involved with. The other characters are very well drawn and add to the story.
The plot is very well driven and leads interest and plausibility to the proceedings. It feels that everything is happening for a reason and to Chapman’s credit, she never once wedges in something implausible to manipulate her plot. The reader is fully invested in these characters and the plot to the amazing finish.
Overall, I am not sure if this is a book to read if you are to start the series but it did not take away from my enjoyment. It did make me wish that I started at the beginning and feel that I have really lost out by not reading into this series sooner. This is a good read and one that I think people will enjoy and fits well within the crime mystery genre. Chapman is a very talented writer and thoroughly enjoyed this and will seek out more from this author.
Firstly, the setting was nostalgic for me as I come from upstate NY and my parents come from London Ontario which we used to spend a lot of time in Ontario. This was a winning factor for me as Chapman was able to capture the people and the setting perfectly.
The characters are all well established and even though there are loose strings tied from previous instalments, I was able to get in with the whole flow of these characters situations. Karla is an insightful and strong character and as we are led by this character’s hand, she is strong with human frailties which makes her a memorable character and one we truly care about as she figures out the mystery that she is involved with. The other characters are very well drawn and add to the story.
The plot is very well driven and leads interest and plausibility to the proceedings. It feels that everything is happening for a reason and to Chapman’s credit, she never once wedges in something implausible to manipulate her plot. The reader is fully invested in these characters and the plot to the amazing finish.
Overall, I am not sure if this is a book to read if you are to start the series but it did not take away from my enjoyment. It did make me wish that I started at the beginning and feel that I have really lost out by not reading into this series sooner. This is a good read and one that I think people will enjoy and fits well within the crime mystery genre. Chapman is a very talented writer and thoroughly enjoyed this and will seek out more from this author.
April 30, 2023
Sadly, the last book in this excellent series. The complex and interesting character of Officer Kala Stonechild has captivated me since I started the Stonechild and Rouleau set of novels. In Closing Time, Kala is restless and she and her ward Dawn, escape to a small log cabin resort in the woods of northern Ontario to recharge, reconnect and for Kala, reflect on what she wants/needs from her life and where she goes from here. As this is a murder mystery, of course murder happens and a reluctant Kala is brought into the case by a former colleague of hers who happens to be the brother of the man she nearly married back in the day. A teenage girl, employee at the lodge, is found murdered and, despite the small community, a number of suspects with secrets and definite motives present themselves. Unfortunately for me, this book fell a bit short compared to the excellence of the other books. In the author’s valiant attempt to wrap up all the hanging threads of both the murder mystery and Kala’s life going forward, too much time was spent on both, sacrificing the appeal of each as the story progressed. Thoughts and descriptions of all the people wondering, “Gee, what’s Kala going to do now?” took away from the plot and action of the crime being investigated and the red herrings and many secrets of all the potential suspects for the murder, considering how small and inconsequential the area and potential suspect pool was, were drastically overdone. That said, the book (and series) closes satisfactorily for Kala and those important in her life and, for that, moved my rating up to three stars from two. I will miss these characters.
July 5, 2022
This book had a sense of finality in it right from the start....and then the title also tipped to it too. I have grown to appreciate the relationships Kala has formed despite her disjointed upbringing. To think that she was going to toss all those aside bothered me. In an attempt to do some soul searching and also connect back to the north woods, she sets out for an outdoors adventure with Dawn. At the resort they chose to stay at, she gets pulled into a murder investigation...a young waitress is killed walking home in the dark. Kala discovers that the resort was much like a Peyton Place. Who would have killed a teenaged girl? There is no lack of suspects, and Kala has to sort through the lies and secrets to solve the mystery.
Bringing in her old flame Jordan added another dimension to the story. Would she leave with him or stick to Gundersen? Would she leave everyone and go off into the wilderness? Roleau was not sure she would return.
Before met Gundersen after the mystery was solved, I already suspected the news she was going to give him.
I'm sorry that this is the last story because I have enjoyed the characters and the Canadian settings. But it did go out on a high note. Perhaps Dawn will follow her into police work and the series can go in another direction.
Bringing in her old flame Jordan added another dimension to the story. Would she leave with him or stick to Gundersen? Would she leave everyone and go off into the wilderness? Roleau was not sure she would return.
Before met Gundersen after the mystery was solved, I already suspected the news she was going to give him.
I'm sorry that this is the last story because I have enjoyed the characters and the Canadian settings. But it did go out on a high note. Perhaps Dawn will follow her into police work and the series can go in another direction.
November 2, 2022
I found this series really interesting and am sorry that Chapman has finished with it. Stonechild was such an interesting and engaging character, and I loved Dawn, Gundersund, and Rouleau. I was, however, disappointed in how she chose to tie up the story arc, particularly with Stonechild's reasons for making her decision for the future.
I was also surprised when Chapman said that this book was set in an area of Ontario that she was particularly familiar with, when she talks about Stonechild's original posting being in the paired towns of Dryden and Red Rock (instead of Nipigon and Red Rock--Dryden is more than 400km from Red Rock). One editing choice that really caused me difficulty--with all the volumes in the series--was that scenes would shift with no warning; I would be reading about one storyline and in the next paragraph, with no visual clue, I would be reading about a completely different storyline. I am assuming that these issues were a result of careless editing, but it really affected the credibility of the story for me, as well as causing no little amount of confusion.
All these issues aside, I think this was a really great series and recommend it.
I was also surprised when Chapman said that this book was set in an area of Ontario that she was particularly familiar with, when she talks about Stonechild's original posting being in the paired towns of Dryden and Red Rock (instead of Nipigon and Red Rock--Dryden is more than 400km from Red Rock). One editing choice that really caused me difficulty--with all the volumes in the series--was that scenes would shift with no warning; I would be reading about one storyline and in the next paragraph, with no visual clue, I would be reading about a completely different storyline. I am assuming that these issues were a result of careless editing, but it really affected the credibility of the story for me, as well as causing no little amount of confusion.
All these issues aside, I think this was a really great series and recommend it.
January 17, 2024
This is the 7th and sadly last book from this series. Officer Kala Stonechild is at a crossroads concerning her career and personal life. So Kala decides to take her foster niece Dawn to Northern Ontario for solitude and relaxation. They book a stay at Pine Hollow Lodge near Sault Ste Marie.
Unfortunately, a teenage girl, working at the Lodge for the summer goes missing on her way home. The young girl is later found dead on the side of the road near the town of Searchmont.
Kala Stonechild reluctantly offers to assist with the investigation. Kala has strong suspicions, that all is not well between those who work at the lodge and their customers. Kala is trying to sort out the different relationships among the suspects, but then another shocking murder occurs. An excellent mystery that I enjoyed immensely.
Unfortunately, a teenage girl, working at the Lodge for the summer goes missing on her way home. The young girl is later found dead on the side of the road near the town of Searchmont.
Kala Stonechild reluctantly offers to assist with the investigation. Kala has strong suspicions, that all is not well between those who work at the lodge and their customers. Kala is trying to sort out the different relationships among the suspects, but then another shocking murder occurs. An excellent mystery that I enjoyed immensely.
March 28, 2021
This is the final instalment in the Stonechild and Rouleau series and I will definitely miss Kala, Dawn, Gunderson, and Rouleau, all characters portrayed with depth and complexity, all characters that I have come to care about. Chapman winds down their stories in a satisfying way, allowing us to imagine their lives going on in a believable way.
The story is set in northern Ontario this time and the description of the setting is vivid and atmospheric. The mystery takes several startling twists and turns with the usual red herrings thrown in to mislead us. There were enough possible suspects that I did not guess who the murderer was.
This was a very worthwhile finale to a very readable and very Canadian series.
The story is set in northern Ontario this time and the description of the setting is vivid and atmospheric. The mystery takes several startling twists and turns with the usual red herrings thrown in to mislead us. There were enough possible suspects that I did not guess who the murderer was.
This was a very worthwhile finale to a very readable and very Canadian series.
April 3, 2022
I truly love this series.
I love all the characters and the development of their relationships.
This feel this episode was a little weaker in the crime setup, the our author as always does a good job setting the stage and the list or suspects. And always there is the usual side crimes that happen and get discovered while trying to find out the killer.
This is the 1st book though that if figured out the suspects quite quickly even when I wavered slightly at times, I was still right. Usually I am guessing right up to the end. And so I was a little disappointed that this was the case for me.
But the author delivers side character side stories that are always surprising and those never disappoint.
I love all the characters and the development of their relationships.
This feel this episode was a little weaker in the crime setup, the our author as always does a good job setting the stage and the list or suspects. And always there is the usual side crimes that happen and get discovered while trying to find out the killer.
This is the 1st book though that if figured out the suspects quite quickly even when I wavered slightly at times, I was still right. Usually I am guessing right up to the end. And so I was a little disappointed that this was the case for me.
But the author delivers side character side stories that are always surprising and those never disappoint.
September 3, 2020
I am giving this a very high rating because I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole series and this is the last one. It did not disappoint: mystery, suspense, relationships, storyline, characters. Yes, you can read it on its own, but it is a much richer experience if you have followed Kala Stonechild's journey through the previous six novels. This book has also given me the bug to travel to northern Ontario and take in all of that breathtaking scenery. If you like mystery, suspense, interesting, complex and strong female characters, and a slice of Canadiana, then this is for you.
May 28, 2021
This was an enjoyable final book in the Stonechild and Rouleau series, set in Kingston, Ontario and featuring police office Kala Stonechild and her colleagues. This one takes place further north in cottage country and concerns the murder of a 16 year old on her way home from work in a lakeside resort, but also focusses on resolving the story arc of the main characters we have followed through the 6 previous books. This final instalment is a satisfying ending to an enjoyable series. Do read from the beginning if you decide to give them a try.
April 12, 2022
This end to the series was a bit different to the others, but it exemplified the unconditional love that some of us are fortunate enough to find in our families, whether biological or self-made. There was a note of sadness that ran throughout this one, but it was necessary to try and see through Kala Stonechild’s eyes. I found it harder in this book to do just that, when it was so natural in the other books in the series. But perhaps that’s just how it was intended. I will miss this series but hope Brenda Chapman gives us another good series to follow.
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