Whale Fall

by Ann Lambert

Marie Russell and Detective Roméo Leduc are finally getting married, but the joyous occasion is overshadowed by the unexpected arrival of Magnus Sørenson, renowned eco-warrior and Marie’s first great love. When Magnus’ plans for a dramatic environmental protest take a dark turn, Roméo and Marie are forced to abandon their honeymoon in the Laurentians in order to catch a killer, unearthing long-buried secrets along the way. Fast-paced and chilling, Whale Fall is a riveting tale of love, vengeance, and climate justice.

Kindle Edition

Published September 20, 2022

About the author

Ann Lambert has been writing and directing for the stage for thirty-five years. Several of her plays, including The Wall, Parallel Lines, Very Heaven, The Mary Project and Two Short Women have been performed in theatres in Canada, the United States, Europe and Australia.

She has been a teacher of English literature at Dawson College for almost twenty-eight years in Montreal, Quebec, where she makes her home.

Reviews

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the final book in the Russell and Leduc Mystery series and Marie Russell and Detective Roméo Leduc are finally getting married. What they weren't expecting was the arrival of eco-warrior, Magnus Sørenson, Marie's first great love. but the joyous occasion is overshadowed by the unexpected arrival of Magnus Sørenson, renowned eco-warrior and Marie’s first great love. Magnus is in town to lead a dramatic protest against a local resort development threatening a beloved nature preserve. When the environmental protest takes a dark, deadly turn, Roméo and Marie must cancel their honeymoon to catch a killer. With this going on, they are also in a race against time to locate an older couple who went missing from a senior's home. Can they solve a murder and find the missing couple before resuming their honeymoon in the Laurentians?

I enjoyed this book and thought it was a good ending for the series. It was a combination of mystery and climate activism. Marie and Roméo are great protagonists. I like that they are older and more mature and have lived life. They work well together and are smart and intuitive. There are several suspects in the murder, with a more than one female with an axe to grind. There are secrets revealed from past actions, one which leads to finding the killer. The story was fast paced, realistic, timely and chilling. I found the personality of Magnus to be off-putting, and more interested in making a name for himself than really protecting the environment, although that doesn't mean he deserved to die. I listened to this book, narrated by the author and thought she did a wonderful job, adding tone and expression and using pacing to bring this story alive.

[Joanna Efrafa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to echo the front cover acknowledgement: “This series gets better with every book. Warmhearted, well-plotted, and with a wonderful sense of place. I can’t wait for the next one. It felt like catching up with old friends.” Ann Cleeves. I hope there are more to come in this series.

[Debi Coish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable audio book. Laurentian Mtns. in Quebec.