Seaweed on Ice

Silas Seaweed Mystery #2

by Stanley Evans

Coast Salish street cop Silas Seaweed has his hands full. An elderly Jewish immigrant has disappeared. An old blind woman has been murdered. Valuable art stolen from German Jews during the Second World War has begun to show up for sale in Victoria's auction houses, and the word on the street is that collectors are planning to loot a priceless Coast Salish archeological site. Unravelling these mysteries becomes a life-and-death quest, for when his investigation leads Seaweed into romance, it's just possible that his lover is a ruthless killer.

Genres: Mystery, Canada

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Now a full-time writer, Stanley Evans has been a soldier, a surveyor, and deep-sea fisherman. He was born in England, immigrated to Canada in 1954 and currently resides in Victoria, British Columbia. He began his career by writing articles for newspapers and magazines, has written two plays that were produced at the Arts Club in Vancouver and is now an aspiring author.

Series:
* Sergeant Decker Mystery
* Silas Seaweed Mystery

Reviews

[GateGypsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seaweed

Another enjoyable mystery. I've got to admit he explains it all in the end because I was confused. Love the magic realism.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seaweed on Ice is the 2nd book in the Silas Seaweed mystery series by Stanley Evans. Silas Seaweed is a Coast Salish native who works for the Victoria BC police force as a neighborhood beat cop. He lives on the Reservation and works out of a small office in downtown Victoria. For some reason, he is greatly disliked by the chief of detectives, Bulloch. But he has many friends and acquaintances, especially police detective Bernie Tapp.
The owner of a local gym, Moran wants Seaweed to look for a missing member of his staff, an older man, Isaac Schwarz, who cleans out the gym and lives there. Later, Bernie Tapp takes Seaweed to a remote site where they discover Isaac's body.
This begins a chain of events, involving a local lawyer, Lofthouse, a widow who wants her will redone to keep the money from her nephew and a wartime incident involving stolen art works from Jewish citizens of Germany. For the relative short time frame of the story, it is very rich and involved. As well, Seaweed's Salish people are preparing for an annual Winter Ceremonial. And wait for more, bodies are starting to pile up, someone might be planning to steal Salish artifacts and maybe Seaweed might be getting a bit of romancing in.
It's a wonderfully paced story, Seaweed is a fascinating character. The mystery is interesting, the glimpses of Salish culture and ceremonies add to the texture of the story. And it's cold! I enjoyed the story as much as the first. It didn't hurt that I know Victoria a bit, having lived there for 3 years. It added to the interest of the story being able to picture the places visited. Seaweed under Water is next. (4 stars)

[Amber Hayward · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy Stanley Evans' books - he gives us a good blend of detective procedural and aboriginal spirituality.

[Brad · Rating 3 out of 5]

Writing style is fantastic, just couldn't quite buy the ending. Still a pretty great mystery novel.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun as set in Vic but too confulated imo

[Frank Talaber]

great read.

[Geo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat pedestrian prose , but fascinating insight into First Nations perspectives and a revisit to Victoria more than compensate.

[Shirley Adamson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this pulp fiction style of writing. The author Stanley Evans currently lives in Victoria, BC and sets the series there as well. Silias Seaweed is a Coast Salish, believes in ghosts, drinks, is a womanizer but in love with one woman, is the sole cop in the special aboriginal department of the Victoria police force....Coast Salish mythology is woven through the series. I recommend the Seaweed series.

[Irene D · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this light hearted read set in Victoria, British Columbia, a familiar city. Not only was there a good murder mystery but also a wonderful insight into some of the practices and mythology of West Coast Salish people. I love getting an education along with a good story!

[Lichen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set in Victoria.

[Valerie Lindholm · Rating 2 out of 5]

great characters but trying too hard to place story in Victoria - too many place names etc.
kinda fun