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Cold Case North: The Search for James Brady and Absolom Halkett
Tells the story of the unsolved murder of indigenous activists, police investigation misconduct, and the community who tracked down the clues which officials failed to uncover
Missing persons. Double murder? Métis leader James Brady was one of the most famous Indigenous activists in Canada. A communist, strategist, and bibliophile, he led Métis and First Nations to rebel against government and church oppression. Brady's success made politicians and clergy fear him; he had enemies everywhere. In 1967, while prospecting in Saskatchewan with Cree Band Councillor and fellow activist, Absolom Halkett, both men vanished from their remote lakeside camp. For 50 years rumours swirled of secret mining interests, political intrigue, and murder. Cold Case North is the story of how a small team, with the help of the Indigenous community, exposed police failure in the original investigation, discovered new clues and testimony, and gathered the pieces of the North's most enduring missing persons puzzle.
Missing persons. Double murder? Métis leader James Brady was one of the most famous Indigenous activists in Canada. A communist, strategist, and bibliophile, he led Métis and First Nations to rebel against government and church oppression. Brady's success made politicians and clergy fear him; he had enemies everywhere. In 1967, while prospecting in Saskatchewan with Cree Band Councillor and fellow activist, Absolom Halkett, both men vanished from their remote lakeside camp. For 50 years rumours swirled of secret mining interests, political intrigue, and murder. Cold Case North is the story of how a small team, with the help of the Indigenous community, exposed police failure in the original investigation, discovered new clues and testimony, and gathered the pieces of the North's most enduring missing persons puzzle.
311 pages, Paperback
First published November 1, 2020
15 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
Michael Nest
5 books11 followersMichael Nest is the award-winning author of five books. Mining and war are the themes of the first two. The third, Still a Pygmy, is a collaboration with Congolese activist Isaac Bacirongo – the first Indigenous Twa (Pygmy) to ever publish his memoir. Cold Case North: the search for James Brady and Absolom Halkett, is another collaboration: a cold case investigation into the disappearance and alleged murder of two Indigenous activists in Canada in 1967. Take Out the Jocks: a feminist revenge comedy is Michael's first novel. His day job is preventing fraud and corruption. He lives in Montreal, Canada.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 10, 2020
These three writers did an amazing job of researching and writing about the pair of well-educated indigenous activists who went missing so suddenly and strangely back in the late 1960s. The two had been dropped off by plane to do some prospecting, and the fairly new pilot accidentally dropped them off in the wrong location, where their maps would be no good. He later realized his mistake and reported it, to no avail. The two men were already missing and being looked for. Was it really an accident? Did they wander off and get lost, or were they injured by a wild animal? Or was it murder. Join this quest looking for the answers. Advance electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, authors, and the publisher.
November 9, 2020
I am Jim Brady's grandson. I deeply thank the authors of this book for their amazing work.
August 30, 2020
This book was great and we need more books like this. A cold case is a crime or suspected crime that has not been resolved for many years. The evidence at the time of the case was not sufficient and it remains unsolved. This case is about James Brady, a Metis and Absolom Halkett, a Cree. Metis and Cree are indigenous groups of people in North America. Historically, indigenous people have very much maligned in Canada, labelled as "savages", forced off their land and stripped of most -if not all - of their rights. Although reconciliation has begun in Canada, to this day, cases of missing and murdered indigenous men and women are investigated to a lesser extent and not taken seriously. The (unwarranted) lack of importance of these groups is manifested in the high number of their cold cases.
Brady and Halkett were contractor prospectors in Northern Saskatchewan. They contracted out their time and expertise of the land to mining companies who needed the region prospected for possible mineral deposits. Northern Saskatchewan, being rich in uranium, offered many prospecting opportunities.
It was during one of these prospecting jobs in 1967 that Brady and Halkett went missing. The RCMP were called in, did a search and decided the men tried to walk out of the area and eventually died. No bodies were found and no further investigation was done. They were declared "missing".
However for the indigenous community - it remained a cold case. Most of the community did not believe these men, experienced in the bush, would try to walk out. The non-indigenous RCMP didn't understand these men, their people, their abilities on the land. Rumours persisted that they were murdered - either because they found a claim that the murderer wished to keep secret, or for their strong political activism. Rumours of police corruption were also rampant.
The author, Michael Nest, is an anti-corruption researcher in the mining sector. He was contacted by locals from La Ronge in Saskatchewan to continue their investigation into what really happened. With limited resources and expertise, their amateur sleuthing was at a standstill.
I was impressed with the author's persistence, thoroughness and creativity to get answers. Although he gets a lot of help along the way and gives credit where credit is due, he is extremely modest about his own contributions, as the investigation would never have been re-started without his effort and tenacity. The progress he makes in this 50-year old case is remarkable. He gives credence to the indigenous way of verbal storytelling - which very often accurately keeps historical facts alive through generations. With this understanding and respect he makes great strides in resolving this cold case.
The background is well laid out and the story is clearly told. The people the author interviews are very well characterized. The book is organized and well written. It was a pleasure to read.
If you are at all interested in true crime, cold cases, Canadian indigenous history or just good nonfiction, pick up this book- you won't be sorry.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher NYU Press for this advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
Brady and Halkett were contractor prospectors in Northern Saskatchewan. They contracted out their time and expertise of the land to mining companies who needed the region prospected for possible mineral deposits. Northern Saskatchewan, being rich in uranium, offered many prospecting opportunities.
It was during one of these prospecting jobs in 1967 that Brady and Halkett went missing. The RCMP were called in, did a search and decided the men tried to walk out of the area and eventually died. No bodies were found and no further investigation was done. They were declared "missing".
However for the indigenous community - it remained a cold case. Most of the community did not believe these men, experienced in the bush, would try to walk out. The non-indigenous RCMP didn't understand these men, their people, their abilities on the land. Rumours persisted that they were murdered - either because they found a claim that the murderer wished to keep secret, or for their strong political activism. Rumours of police corruption were also rampant.
The author, Michael Nest, is an anti-corruption researcher in the mining sector. He was contacted by locals from La Ronge in Saskatchewan to continue their investigation into what really happened. With limited resources and expertise, their amateur sleuthing was at a standstill.
I was impressed with the author's persistence, thoroughness and creativity to get answers. Although he gets a lot of help along the way and gives credit where credit is due, he is extremely modest about his own contributions, as the investigation would never have been re-started without his effort and tenacity. The progress he makes in this 50-year old case is remarkable. He gives credence to the indigenous way of verbal storytelling - which very often accurately keeps historical facts alive through generations. With this understanding and respect he makes great strides in resolving this cold case.
The background is well laid out and the story is clearly told. The people the author interviews are very well characterized. The book is organized and well written. It was a pleasure to read.
If you are at all interested in true crime, cold cases, Canadian indigenous history or just good nonfiction, pick up this book- you won't be sorry.
Thank you to Netgalley and publisher NYU Press for this advance reader copy in return for an honest review.
January 28, 2021
It is hard to pick one best thing about this book. I approached it as a page-turner, the promise in the story carrying me along. But picking it up again after a forced interruption, I read with greater patience, and was amply rewarded. This story, of real people and families over generations, with their loyalties and conflicts, ambitions and secrets, has parallel narratives that give extra depth and breadth. There is the account of how the project and book came about, touching on the complexities and sensitivities of this sort of research, and enough factual information for historical and cultural context. You have a sense of immediacy as you are there with the authors. Then there is the presence of nature, wilderness, not just as a backdrop but as a player, and the sticky legacy of the colonial past. Add to this the bits of information lost to history, the happenstances, and there is this unresolved tension throughout - on the one hand a sense that nothing was inevitable, and on the other a certain fatalism in how things played out, people being who they are and the times being what they were. A thoroughly satisfying read.
January 22, 2021
I really got drawn into this story even though I knew next to nothing about the where, the who and the why of what occurred in remote Canada in the late 1960's. This is a story that vividly brings to the fore how assumptions of investigators and wider societal indifference led to two First Nations men 'disappearing' going about their work on a remote lake in Saskatchewan. It's also a story of their families and communities who remembered them. The case is carefully researched and written and adds new insights into what happened while also honouring Jim and Abbie.
June 8, 2021
I struggled with creating a "rating" and a review for this novel. Although I thought it was extremely well written, I also found it to be very one-sided. I read several other reviews where people were upset that a white Australian writer would take on the task of reviewing all the evidence surrounding the disappearance of two Indigenous men in northern Saskatchewan in the late 1960s. This is not what bothered me, but rather his "expert opinion" on how the RCMP should have handled the investigation over 50 years ago. Also, his assumptions on what the RCMP must have been thinking at the time, were unwarranted. On page 80, when discussing what Corporal Conrad must have been thinking....
"...they were two hopeless Indigenous men who didn't have the brains to realize that lighting a fire would have saved their lives."
When someone goes missing, its always easiest to assume that "foul play" occurred, but what if it didn't? I didn't see anywhere in the book, where there was definitive proof that the two men were murdered. Why would the RCMP assume the worst, when people get lost in the woods all the time? The time, effort and money spent initially looking for the men for several weeks must have been immense. At what point do you stop the search? What is the RCMP's obligation to reopen the investigation and spend tremendous amounts of money searching for the bodies based an presumed findings 5 decades later?
A good read, but frustrating at the same time.
"...they were two hopeless Indigenous men who didn't have the brains to realize that lighting a fire would have saved their lives."
When someone goes missing, its always easiest to assume that "foul play" occurred, but what if it didn't? I didn't see anywhere in the book, where there was definitive proof that the two men were murdered. Why would the RCMP assume the worst, when people get lost in the woods all the time? The time, effort and money spent initially looking for the men for several weeks must have been immense. At what point do you stop the search? What is the RCMP's obligation to reopen the investigation and spend tremendous amounts of money searching for the bodies based an presumed findings 5 decades later?
A good read, but frustrating at the same time.
December 12, 2020
A gripping story that takes readers to the intersections of fact and conspiracy and speculation in relation to the mysterious disappearance of James Brady and Absolom Halkett over 50 years ago. The books seeks to right what went wrong with the original RCMP investigation, all the while mindful and respectful to the families and communities who lost these two men. A fantastic read for anyone with an interest in Canadian history.
April 7, 2021
How do you investigate the disappearance of two men in the remote Canadian north fifty years ago? COLD CASE NORTH follows Australian researcher Michael Nest, newly arrived in Canada, when he is invited by a friend, Indigenous Studies scholar Deanna Reder, to help find out what happened to Métis leader James Brady and Cree Band Councillor Absolom Halkett. Setting out on a prospecting trip in June 1967, they were dropped off on the shores of the wrong lake and vanished from their campsite. The RCMP investigation quickly assumed they had got lost trying to walk out, or were eaten by bears, dismissing the bushcraft expertise of the two men and local Indigenous knowledge.
Brady was a communist and one of the key Indigenous activists of his day; mining interests were also at stake. Rumours and theories abounded. Previous attempts to solve the mystery had failed; by 2017, people close to events were either dead or unable to remember clearly. This was perhaps the last chance to find out what had happened to Brady and Halkett. Half a century after the botched official investigation, clues still remained for someone willing to follow them up. It was too late for justice, but not too late for answers.
The author’s account of his investigation is both detailed and fast-paced. He invokes the atmosphere of sparsely populated North Saskatchewan, with its forests, muskeg (bog) and lakes, and small communities closed to outsiders. Eventually, after many dead ends and unexpected revelations, the silent lake gives up its secret, only to take it back again. A compelling and haunting book.
Brady was a communist and one of the key Indigenous activists of his day; mining interests were also at stake. Rumours and theories abounded. Previous attempts to solve the mystery had failed; by 2017, people close to events were either dead or unable to remember clearly. This was perhaps the last chance to find out what had happened to Brady and Halkett. Half a century after the botched official investigation, clues still remained for someone willing to follow them up. It was too late for justice, but not too late for answers.
The author’s account of his investigation is both detailed and fast-paced. He invokes the atmosphere of sparsely populated North Saskatchewan, with its forests, muskeg (bog) and lakes, and small communities closed to outsiders. Eventually, after many dead ends and unexpected revelations, the silent lake gives up its secret, only to take it back again. A compelling and haunting book.
June 26, 2024
4.25 stars
This was an excellently researched and deeply heartfelt account of two men from Lac La Ronge who went missing in 1967, Jim Brady (a Métis activist part of the Famous Five) and Abbie Halkett (a Cree activist). Both men were beloved by their communities, very talented bushmen and prospectors, and left a legacy behind cut too short.
While Michael Nest is a white man from Australia, he worked closely with the friends and family of these two men, and it's evident in the care and consideration he used in interviewing, researching, and writing this book with Deanna Reder and Eric Bell, two well-connected community members who initiated and greatly contributed to this investigation. To me, there was a lot of respect for doing this investigation in a good way and with cultural humility, and I appreciated that.
In addition to that, it was well written and I appreciated the surrounding historical context to their disappearances. The racism and incompetence displayed by the RCMP (and white businesses associated with prospecting/mining), while not surprising, was still infuriating.
For some, the ending may not be as narratively satisfying, but that's life and I think the story went as far as it could go. We may never know exactly what happened but I hope their spirits are resting a bit more easily now.
Overall, absolutely worth a read if you're interested in Indigenous true crime - so many missing and murdered Indigenous Peoples' stories are neglected by mainstream, white society, and I'm glad this book exists to continue Jim and Abbie's stories.
This was an excellently researched and deeply heartfelt account of two men from Lac La Ronge who went missing in 1967, Jim Brady (a Métis activist part of the Famous Five) and Abbie Halkett (a Cree activist). Both men were beloved by their communities, very talented bushmen and prospectors, and left a legacy behind cut too short.
While Michael Nest is a white man from Australia, he worked closely with the friends and family of these two men, and it's evident in the care and consideration he used in interviewing, researching, and writing this book with Deanna Reder and Eric Bell, two well-connected community members who initiated and greatly contributed to this investigation. To me, there was a lot of respect for doing this investigation in a good way and with cultural humility, and I appreciated that.
In addition to that, it was well written and I appreciated the surrounding historical context to their disappearances. The racism and incompetence displayed by the RCMP (and white businesses associated with prospecting/mining), while not surprising, was still infuriating.
For some, the ending may not be as narratively satisfying, but that's life and I think the story went as far as it could go. We may never know exactly what happened but I hope their spirits are resting a bit more easily now.
Overall, absolutely worth a read if you're interested in Indigenous true crime - so many missing and murdered Indigenous Peoples' stories are neglected by mainstream, white society, and I'm glad this book exists to continue Jim and Abbie's stories.
January 24, 2021
Excellent book. The attention to detail and detective work demonstrated throughout made it a thoroughly fascinating read. A well-researched book that brought an important Canadian event to the the attention of the public.
February 22, 2021
I found this book to be an absolute page-turner and finished it in 2 days. I have no idea how I heard of this book, and I am so glad I read it.
I'm too young or was just too unaware, to remember this incident, where 2 First Nations men went missing in Northern Saskatchewan in 1967. It was dismissed by the RCMP at the time, explained that they "got lost" although the coroner did not close the case.
Writing about a cold case, with all of the conflicting theories as to what happened and trying to reconstruct events that are now 50 years old, is a daunting task. To say it's complicated would be to understate it. Yet Nest does it extremely well.
He writes about the men's backgrounds and the politics of the time. He also writes about the mining system because the men were contracted as prospectors when they went missing. He thoroughly debunks the "missing" theory since both men were experienced in bush survival and pretty well demolishes the RCMP investigation - or in this case, lack of it. He also writes about the sensitivity needed to approach, and discuss events with First Nations community members who are still grieving the loss of these men.
Highly recommend.
I'm too young or was just too unaware, to remember this incident, where 2 First Nations men went missing in Northern Saskatchewan in 1967. It was dismissed by the RCMP at the time, explained that they "got lost" although the coroner did not close the case.
Writing about a cold case, with all of the conflicting theories as to what happened and trying to reconstruct events that are now 50 years old, is a daunting task. To say it's complicated would be to understate it. Yet Nest does it extremely well.
He writes about the men's backgrounds and the politics of the time. He also writes about the mining system because the men were contracted as prospectors when they went missing. He thoroughly debunks the "missing" theory since both men were experienced in bush survival and pretty well demolishes the RCMP investigation - or in this case, lack of it. He also writes about the sensitivity needed to approach, and discuss events with First Nations community members who are still grieving the loss of these men.
Highly recommend.
April 9, 2021
“Cold Case North” is a compelling page turner that raises just as many questions as it answers.
The 1967 disappearance of two well-known Indigenous activists, Jim Brady and Absolom Halkett, from their remote Saskatchewan camp is eerie and unexplained. The police investigation that follows is inadequate at best, at times bordering on negligent. The authors, with help from the Indigenous community, uncover a wealth of information, track down witnesses, follow leads no matter how minor they may seem; this small group of truth seekers really and truly listened to what the Indigenous community had to say about the case – something that had, erroneously, not been done back in 1967 by officials and police. What they were able to uncover during their own investigations … it leaves the reader to ponder: how did this even get to be a cold case in the first place? Evidence of foul play seems fairly obvious. It saddens me that there may never truly be justice.
Extremely well written; engaging and respectful of the subject matter and the people involved. The work that these authors have done is commendable. “Cold Case North” is an eye-opening and essential read.
The 1967 disappearance of two well-known Indigenous activists, Jim Brady and Absolom Halkett, from their remote Saskatchewan camp is eerie and unexplained. The police investigation that follows is inadequate at best, at times bordering on negligent. The authors, with help from the Indigenous community, uncover a wealth of information, track down witnesses, follow leads no matter how minor they may seem; this small group of truth seekers really and truly listened to what the Indigenous community had to say about the case – something that had, erroneously, not been done back in 1967 by officials and police. What they were able to uncover during their own investigations … it leaves the reader to ponder: how did this even get to be a cold case in the first place? Evidence of foul play seems fairly obvious. It saddens me that there may never truly be justice.
Extremely well written; engaging and respectful of the subject matter and the people involved. The work that these authors have done is commendable. “Cold Case North” is an eye-opening and essential read.
July 22, 2021
If you want a job well done, give it to someone who feels the same way. COLD CASE NORTH: The Search for JAMES BRADY and ABSOLOM HALKETT by Michael Nest with Deanna Reder and Eric Bell is exactly that: a true story about people from all walks of life, and different parts of the world, coming to the proverbial 'middle of nowhere' to try to bring closure to a decades-old mystery. The setting is northern Saskatchewan, Canada amidst the cold and quiet isolated lakes and thick forest, a generally unforgiving land for anyone forced into a fight for survival from its elements. The impetus of the story is an itch that needs to be scratched: friends and strangers join forces to get to the bottom of what happened to two members of the community of Lac La Ronge, a Metis and a Cree, who went prospecting and never came back. The case had apparently been given short shrift by local and provincial law enforcement agencies. Was this a simple case or misadventure, or one of foul play? Opinions and theories supporting one or the other abound within its pages. Can the case be solved? Can the missing be found? The authors knock on all the doors and turn over all the stones for you. You will weigh the evidence provided and formulate your own suspicions and conclusions as you move toward the final chapters in this real-life search for the truth and for the missing. Finding where bodies might be is sure to be a daunting task given the time elapsed; but, there are instances in endeavors other than gambling when hope springs eternal. Will hope be rewarded?
I like the book and recommend it to the doubting Thomas, law enforcement personnel especially the RCMP in First Nation communities, ethnic groups wanting a better understanding of Canadian First Nations, lovers of the underdog, and, well, anyone who loves a good story. The read is an ever evolving ride that has you hopeful or crestfallen with each twist and turn. Cold Case North is unlikely to leave any reader out in the cold. I give it 4 stars out of 5 for shining a light on a case that deserved a better initial investigation, for showcasing a mainly Indigenous cast of characters in particular James Brady as a noteworthy Indigenous trailblazer, for being informative as even fiction is wont to do on a wide variety of subjects, and for being a book you want to see to the end like the authors did for their investigation.
I like the book and recommend it to the doubting Thomas, law enforcement personnel especially the RCMP in First Nation communities, ethnic groups wanting a better understanding of Canadian First Nations, lovers of the underdog, and, well, anyone who loves a good story. The read is an ever evolving ride that has you hopeful or crestfallen with each twist and turn. Cold Case North is unlikely to leave any reader out in the cold. I give it 4 stars out of 5 for shining a light on a case that deserved a better initial investigation, for showcasing a mainly Indigenous cast of characters in particular James Brady as a noteworthy Indigenous trailblazer, for being informative as even fiction is wont to do on a wide variety of subjects, and for being a book you want to see to the end like the authors did for their investigation.
May 3, 2023
This book surprised me. I was not sure I was going to like it, but had to read it anyway for school. But I really enjoyed it, especially with the mystery aspect being blown up and taking up the forefront of the text. It really kept me guessing.
I really wanted to find out what happened to Jim and Abbie and catch whoever did that to them.
I admit I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I understand this is non-fiction and that in the real world, things don't wrap up neatly with a big bow and not all questions are given answers, but I desperately wanted one.
***Spoiler***
I was disappointed when they not only didn't find the killer. Which I would have been able to get passed if I hadn't been let down again. When they didn't end up finding the bodies of poor Jim and Abbie. That was what I wanted the most. I wanted those two great men who were invaluable to their communities to be returned home after so many years buried away from it.
But alas, not all ending are happy, not all are even complete.
I do have a theory though. Our author who strove to uncover the details of this mystery and discover the truth about that happened posed a theory that Mason did it. Based on the end of the book and the fact that I'm almost certain the body had been moved so it could not be found. I think the killer was still alive and Mason was definitely dead.
My theory is that Mason did not kill them, maybe he followed them out there and they had a fight over the business or whatever, but I don't think he killed them. I think the killer was still alive and covering their tracks one last time to keep from being detected. Though I could not tell you who that criminal is because I don't have a name. But my gut feeling says Mason did not do it. I just wish the killer had been caught and revealed or at least the bodies recovered so we could find out for sure.
I really wanted to find out what happened to Jim and Abbie and catch whoever did that to them.
I admit I was a bit disappointed in the ending. I understand this is non-fiction and that in the real world, things don't wrap up neatly with a big bow and not all questions are given answers, but I desperately wanted one.
***Spoiler***
I was disappointed when they not only didn't find the killer. Which I would have been able to get passed if I hadn't been let down again. When they didn't end up finding the bodies of poor Jim and Abbie. That was what I wanted the most. I wanted those two great men who were invaluable to their communities to be returned home after so many years buried away from it.
But alas, not all ending are happy, not all are even complete.
I do have a theory though. Our author who strove to uncover the details of this mystery and discover the truth about that happened posed a theory that Mason did it. Based on the end of the book and the fact that I'm almost certain the body had been moved so it could not be found. I think the killer was still alive and Mason was definitely dead.
My theory is that Mason did not kill them, maybe he followed them out there and they had a fight over the business or whatever, but I don't think he killed them. I think the killer was still alive and covering their tracks one last time to keep from being detected. Though I could not tell you who that criminal is because I don't have a name. But my gut feeling says Mason did not do it. I just wish the killer had been caught and revealed or at least the bodies recovered so we could find out for sure.
January 22, 2021
*Spoiler for the ending included* From the beginning, I found the writing in this book problematic. It seemed uneven and verbose, so it was a hard read for me. I story of the missing men is very compelling and the facts surrounding the case are unsettling, to say the least. There is little doubt that these men were murdered and the RMCP and other authorities conspired to cover it up.
I salute the people who forged ahead, despite incredible odds, to get to the truth. Their perseverance, as well as some pretty incredible luck, brought them to the brink of finding answers. I was quite literally on the edge of my seat ready to find out the truth. Then, after a couple of setbacks and some words of warning from Elders, the abandon the search and simply walk away.
This decision is framed as being motivated by the beliefs of the peoples involved, but it seemed to so sudden and random that it was very jarring and off-putting. I felt like they ran a marathon and stopped at mile 22. I was very disapointed and felt cheated that I had invested so much time reading this book, coming to care about the characters only to be let down not by the ending but by the lack of an ending.
I salute the people who forged ahead, despite incredible odds, to get to the truth. Their perseverance, as well as some pretty incredible luck, brought them to the brink of finding answers. I was quite literally on the edge of my seat ready to find out the truth. Then, after a couple of setbacks and some words of warning from Elders, the abandon the search and simply walk away.
This decision is framed as being motivated by the beliefs of the peoples involved, but it seemed to so sudden and random that it was very jarring and off-putting. I felt like they ran a marathon and stopped at mile 22. I was very disapointed and felt cheated that I had invested so much time reading this book, coming to care about the characters only to be let down not by the ending but by the lack of an ending.
October 25, 2023
I do love a true crime if it's well done and not just a salacious re-telling of something horrible.
Some other reviewers are annoyed that a non-Canadian told this story. But coauthors Refer and Bell are Indigenous Canadians, indeed not just from the community of the missing men but also related by blood. The families and communities of the missing men gave authority at every step.
Nest's perspective as an outsider was what gave me, another white Australian, access. As a non-Canadian, I loved reading about the history of Indigenous rights, and the evocation of North - landscape, people, seasons. If entirely authored by a Canadian would they have told the story with a perspective that gave me access?
Also, it's not just a story about a crime - it's a story about intercultural collisions and prejudices. The authors don't shy from who held this abusive power in the relationship. Australians are all too familiar with those aspects of the story. But it's worth retelling and retelling in all the circumstances that it occurs.
Well worth a read, Canadians and non Canadians, Indigenous or not.
Some other reviewers are annoyed that a non-Canadian told this story. But coauthors Refer and Bell are Indigenous Canadians, indeed not just from the community of the missing men but also related by blood. The families and communities of the missing men gave authority at every step.
Nest's perspective as an outsider was what gave me, another white Australian, access. As a non-Canadian, I loved reading about the history of Indigenous rights, and the evocation of North - landscape, people, seasons. If entirely authored by a Canadian would they have told the story with a perspective that gave me access?
Also, it's not just a story about a crime - it's a story about intercultural collisions and prejudices. The authors don't shy from who held this abusive power in the relationship. Australians are all too familiar with those aspects of the story. But it's worth retelling and retelling in all the circumstances that it occurs.
Well worth a read, Canadians and non Canadians, Indigenous or not.
October 26, 2022
This is the first nonfiction book I’ve finished in years! I love history and documentaries and I listen to podcasts all day long but I have so much trouble reading nonfiction…. Until now. I first heard the story of the two missing First Nations men, James Brady and Absolom Halkett, on Sara Turney’s podcast. I was so intrigued I looked it up and bought the book and actually read it all the way through. It was riveting; how could I not?
It’s part true crime, part biography, and part history lesson, with a heavy dose of cultural
Anthropology and some forensics. I loved how the author gave so much credit to the indigenous people and their theories; perhaps if the police had done so in the first place these men would have been found long ago.
The ending surprised me, even though I already knew the ultimate ending. You’ll know what I mean when you read it.
I pray that Jim and Abbie’s family can lay them to rest someday.
It’s part true crime, part biography, and part history lesson, with a heavy dose of cultural
Anthropology and some forensics. I loved how the author gave so much credit to the indigenous people and their theories; perhaps if the police had done so in the first place these men would have been found long ago.
The ending surprised me, even though I already knew the ultimate ending. You’ll know what I mean when you read it.
I pray that Jim and Abbie’s family can lay them to rest someday.
January 20, 2021
I really enjoyed this book for a number of reasons. This wonderfully written and researched book is a nonfiction investigation of the case of two men in the northern Saskatchewan wilderness. It is of special interest to people who are familiar with northern Saskatchewan, the boreal forest, the Cree and Métis people and indigenous - nonindigenous relations. This book is also a crime book, albeit with 50 years to soften the extremes of the crime. The book peels off layers of evidence and intrigue in a captivating and page-turning way. The social-justice importance of the investigation of the interactions between police (RCMP) and the indigenous people is woven into this story and should serve as a message to police forces everywhere to improve racial and cultural diversity and communications.
December 21, 2023
4.5 star. This was a very interesting story/investigation. The half star taken off is only because I found the author repeats himself a lot and more then just what was necessary to remind us of the facts(in my opinion).
I enjoyed reading a story that takes place in my home province, even if the subject matter was sad/upsetting. I find it incredible how so many people were still determined to find out what happened to these two community members after so many years. Jim and Abbie were not only important to family and friends but to the community and other community’s/ associations through there work.
I enjoyed reading a story that takes place in my home province, even if the subject matter was sad/upsetting. I find it incredible how so many people were still determined to find out what happened to these two community members after so many years. Jim and Abbie were not only important to family and friends but to the community and other community’s/ associations through there work.
July 26, 2022
Overall a very well written, intriguing book! I got a little confused at times due to all of the people named/involved, but I enjoyed this read. A very interesting case. The research that was put into creating this book was very thorough and it is evident the passion that the authors have for this case.
October 17, 2025
"'The living cannot rest.'"
Though I have watched many a video and listened to many a podcast, I think this is my first time reading a True Crime novel. I don't really read non-fiction books outside of academics, including this one. So bffs, my thoughts as detailed below will be mostly informed by class discussions hi fellow Class Members reading this.
Right off the bat, I actually appreciate how much attention is drawn to the nature of how True Crime stories are treated and received. Michael Nest acknowledges quite a few times that he's walking a fine line between being an investigator and being a compassionate human. And yeah, it makes me think about my own investment in the book and whether that interest comes from an ethical, non-exploitative place.
Because let me tell you, I was whizzing past the pages. While Nest is somewhat repetitive, I lowkey appreciate it because there are quite a few things and people to keep track of throughout the case and the reminders were nice lol. His way of laying everything out and investigating was good for my brain. And the case itself, of course, is very curious indeed and had me wanting to know more! Disappearances always invite intrigue, and Jim Brady and Abbie Halkett's case has it in abundance. Like the fact that everything happened all because they were dropped off at the wrong location.....that's it...and it changed everything omg I can't get over that.
I also like that Nest shows how poorly the case was handled by the authorities back when Brady and Halkett initially went missing. Like it surely had to be anti-Indigenous bigotry because the info and the people that were dismissed IS INSANEEEE what an absolute blunder at like every turn. Makes me crazy thinking about how differently things would be then and now if Brady and Halkett were taken more seriously.
Three. I am very glad I know about this story and my god I cannot imagine how mad this drove the community back when it was still very very fresh. Nest was real as hell when he said he was finding it difficult to maintain an objective stance because he had grown to care for Jim and Abbie. Like ohhhhhh they had so much going for them, what could have been!!!!!
Though I have watched many a video and listened to many a podcast, I think this is my first time reading a True Crime novel. I don't really read non-fiction books outside of academics, including this one. So bffs, my thoughts as detailed below will be mostly informed by class discussions hi fellow Class Members reading this.
Right off the bat, I actually appreciate how much attention is drawn to the nature of how True Crime stories are treated and received. Michael Nest acknowledges quite a few times that he's walking a fine line between being an investigator and being a compassionate human. And yeah, it makes me think about my own investment in the book and whether that interest comes from an ethical, non-exploitative place.
Because let me tell you, I was whizzing past the pages. While Nest is somewhat repetitive, I lowkey appreciate it because there are quite a few things and people to keep track of throughout the case and the reminders were nice lol. His way of laying everything out and investigating was good for my brain. And the case itself, of course, is very curious indeed and had me wanting to know more! Disappearances always invite intrigue, and Jim Brady and Abbie Halkett's case has it in abundance. Like the fact that everything happened all because they were dropped off at the wrong location.....that's it...and it changed everything omg I can't get over that.
I also like that Nest shows how poorly the case was handled by the authorities back when Brady and Halkett initially went missing. Like it surely had to be anti-Indigenous bigotry because the info and the people that were dismissed IS INSANEEEE what an absolute blunder at like every turn. Makes me crazy thinking about how differently things would be then and now if Brady and Halkett were taken more seriously.
Three. I am very glad I know about this story and my god I cannot imagine how mad this drove the community back when it was still very very fresh. Nest was real as hell when he said he was finding it difficult to maintain an objective stance because he had grown to care for Jim and Abbie. Like ohhhhhh they had so much going for them, what could have been!!!!!
December 17, 2020
The synopsis for Cold Case North: The Search for James Brady and Absolom Halkett (University of Regina Press, 2020) captured me immediately. Two prospectors, Jim Brady and Abbie Halkett disappeared from the Northern Saskatchewan bush in 1967. After an extensive ground, water, and air search, nothing of note was found and the RCMP assumed they must have died of exposure, gotten lost, or been consumed by wildlife. Jim and Abbie’s communities and families; however, were not convinced of these theories and had ample reason to believe that foul play was involved. Although Cold Case North delivers on its synopsis, I struggled with how this story was told and from whose perspective it came. Jim and Abbie were Indigenous men who spent their lives fighting for the rights of their people. The authors of this book are very right to criticize the RCMP investigation (or lack thereof) that was done, because it was done with extremely damaging Indigenous stereotypes in mind. Blatant racism on behalf of the RCMP was one of the many reasons why this case was never solved. And so, why then, I kept wondering as I read, did the perspective and narrative telling of this story come mostly from a white Australian man who had no ties to the community in which the crime took place? ...https://truecrimeindex.ca/2020/12/17/...
June 26, 2021
I love the author’s voice. He has an incredible capacity to put forward the views of others with clarity, compassion and fairness. He also inserts his own views, doubts and thoughtful arguments with honesty and restraint so we can understand the decisions he’s made to present sensitive material, or not. This investigation by three uniquely skilled people into the mysterious disappearance in the 60s of two indigenous Canadians, James Brady and Ansolom Halkett, is a quietly powerful book about official deafness to indigenous knowledge. Michael Nest says he brings methodical research skills and close reading to the search for Jim and Abbie, but he also brings the rare gift of deep listening. His capacity for deep listening has brought another important story to the attention of a broad audience.
August 5, 2021
The writer shares his step-by-step process to investigate the disappearance of two indigenous men more than 1/2 a century ago. He shares all details, only using one pseudonym, and his synthesis of the information as he works to locate their remains and resolve their deaths. It is a tribute to these two men that after all these years, so many people cared so deeply for them both. Each was a community leader and advocate for the indigenous populations around them, an unpopular political position. Massive efforts were made by many over the years to solve the mystery of their disappearances. Sad for all of us that these men were taken too soon and their mission unfulfilled.
July 11, 2021
Cold Case North is an absorbing and worthwhile book. Searching for the truth behind the mystery of two famous indigenous Canadian men who went missing in the 60’s. The book reveals some important issues the indigenous people have been facing which make the book even
more fascinating and informative ! Michael Nest is a fantastic, honest and passionate writer. I also liked his sense of humour in the middle of the serious search which releases the tension.
It’s a well written non- fiction book that keeps you motivated to follow it up.
more fascinating and informative ! Michael Nest is a fantastic, honest and passionate writer. I also liked his sense of humour in the middle of the serious search which releases the tension.
It’s a well written non- fiction book that keeps you motivated to follow it up.
December 10, 2024
Research of cold case of 1967 disappearance of Jim Brady and Absolom Halkett on Lower Foster Lake in the Churchill River system in Northern Saskatchewan. A lot of interviews stretching people's memories. A fair bit of criticism of original search, Mountie investigation and coroner's inquest -- the racism involved in ignoring local expertise and assumptions of the character of the lost.
December 8, 2020
Important story, so I finished it, but I was annoyed by how much of the white Australian author was in a story about two missing Indigenous men. Best chapter was the last, written by Deanna Reder. Wish she could have written more of the book.
May 23, 2021
Into the dark heart of Saskatchewan
A page-turning detective account surrounding the mysterious disappearance of prospectors James Brady and Absolom Halkett in 1967. Beautifully written and eloquently crafted, Michael Nest has captured the beauty and savagery of a remote community.
A page-turning detective account surrounding the mysterious disappearance of prospectors James Brady and Absolom Halkett in 1967. Beautifully written and eloquently crafted, Michael Nest has captured the beauty and savagery of a remote community.
February 19, 2021
This is a compelling read. The author captures the landscape beautifully. It is a story that has interweaving themes about memory, injustice, race and identity. It’s a great book to read in 2021.
February 7, 2021
I was excited to read Cold Case North as I enjoy murder mysteries. The book is written about a real life murder mystery and follows along as the team discovers new clues surrounding the deaths of two men. Overall a good read.
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