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John Cardinal and Lise Delorme Mystery #4
By the Time You Read This
Detective John Cardinal is on the hunt for an ingenious killer even as he mourns his own wife's tragic death in this thriller of heart-stopping suspense
Autumn has arrived in Algonquin Bay, and with it an unusual spate of suicides. The most shocking victim yet is Detective John Cardinal's wife, who has finally succumbed to her battle with manic depression. As Cardinal takes time to grieve, his partner, Lise Delorme, handles an unsavory a young girl appears in a series of unspeakable photos being traded online, and background elements indicate she lives in Algonquin Bay. Delorme is desperate to find the girl before she suffers more abuse.
When Cardinal receives a string of hateful anonymous notes about his wife's death, he begins to suspect homicide. His colleagues believe he is too distraught to think clearly, and he's forced to investigate alone. In doing so, he comes up against a brand of killer neither he—nor the reader—has ever seen before.
In his most masterful and thrilling novel yet, Giles Blunt confirms his reputation as a rising international star in crime fiction, and positions Detective John Cardinal among the finest characters in the genre.
Autumn has arrived in Algonquin Bay, and with it an unusual spate of suicides. The most shocking victim yet is Detective John Cardinal's wife, who has finally succumbed to her battle with manic depression. As Cardinal takes time to grieve, his partner, Lise Delorme, handles an unsavory a young girl appears in a series of unspeakable photos being traded online, and background elements indicate she lives in Algonquin Bay. Delorme is desperate to find the girl before she suffers more abuse.
When Cardinal receives a string of hateful anonymous notes about his wife's death, he begins to suspect homicide. His colleagues believe he is too distraught to think clearly, and he's forced to investigate alone. In doing so, he comes up against a brand of killer neither he—nor the reader—has ever seen before.
In his most masterful and thrilling novel yet, Giles Blunt confirms his reputation as a rising international star in crime fiction, and positions Detective John Cardinal among the finest characters in the genre.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
57 people are currently reading
1271 people want to read
About the author
Giles Blunt
16 books402 followersGiles Blunt (born 1952 in Windsor, Ontario) is a Canadian novelist and screenwriter. His first novel, Cold Eye, was a psychological thriller set in the New York art world, which was made into the French movie Les Couleurs du diable (Allain Jessua, 1997).
He is also the author of the John Cardinal novels, set in the small town of Algonquin Bay, in Northern Ontario. Blunt grew up in North Bay, and Algonquin Bay is North Bay very thinly disguised — for example, Blunt retains the names of major streets and the two lakes (Trout Lake and Lake Nipissing) that the town sits between, the physical layout of the two places is the same, and he describes Algonquin Bay as being in the same geographical location as North Bay.
The first Cardinal story, Forty Words for Sorrow, won the British Crime Writers' Silver Dagger, and the second, The Delicate Storm, won the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for best novel.
More recently he has written No Such Creature, a "road novel" set in the American southwest, and Breaking Lorca, which is set in a clandestine jail in El Salvador in the 1980s. His novels have been compared to the work of Ian Rankin and Cormac McCarthy.
Series:
* John Cardinal and Lise Delorme Mystery
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (2004): The Delicate Storm
Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger
◊ 2001: Forty Words for Sorrow
He is also the author of the John Cardinal novels, set in the small town of Algonquin Bay, in Northern Ontario. Blunt grew up in North Bay, and Algonquin Bay is North Bay very thinly disguised — for example, Blunt retains the names of major streets and the two lakes (Trout Lake and Lake Nipissing) that the town sits between, the physical layout of the two places is the same, and he describes Algonquin Bay as being in the same geographical location as North Bay.
The first Cardinal story, Forty Words for Sorrow, won the British Crime Writers' Silver Dagger, and the second, The Delicate Storm, won the Crime Writers of Canada's Arthur Ellis Award for best novel.
More recently he has written No Such Creature, a "road novel" set in the American southwest, and Breaking Lorca, which is set in a clandestine jail in El Salvador in the 1980s. His novels have been compared to the work of Ian Rankin and Cormac McCarthy.
Series:
* John Cardinal and Lise Delorme Mystery
Awards:
Arthur Ellis Award
◊ Best Novel (2004): The Delicate Storm
Crime Writers' Association Silver Dagger
◊ 2001: Forty Words for Sorrow
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 232 reviews
August 27, 2025
“By the time you read this, I will have hurt you beyond all forgiveness. There are no words to tell you how sorry I am.”
“Please know that I’ve always loved you – never more so than at this moment – and if there had been any other way … “
With the suicide of his wife, detective John Cardinal receives what has to qualify as the ultimate heartbreaking Dear John letter. Everyone knew that Catherine Cardinal had struggled with depression and mental illness for many years but her suicide still came as a shock. So much so in fact that the detective in John Cardinal was unable to accept it and bring himself to believe that his wife had actually chosen to end her own life. Cardinal’s off-the-record and definitely unauthorized investigation of a death that his own colleagues would not even acknowledge was anything other than what it appeared to be – a tragic suicide – is paired with the efforts of his longtime colleague, Lisa Delorme, to find the source of some very nasty child pornography.
If you're looking for a nail-biting suspense thriller, BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS definitely won't fill the bill. On the other hand, if you're looking for a profound combination of psychological thriller, police procedural, credible well-defined characters and plenty of local Canadian atmosphere, Giles Blunt has definitely scored a home-run with this novel extending and building on the partnership of John Cardinal and Lise Delorme. They're not quite as angsty as Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch but they're definitely edgy with lots of quirks to build on. As you are pulled more deeply into the story, I'm sure you'll agree that comparisons like this are both inevitable and well-deserved. If there were such a thing as the Canadian Crime Writers’ Hall of Fame, Giles Blunt and his literary creations, John Cardinal and Lise Delorme, would certainly occupy a place of honour (that’s “honor” spelled correctly – with a “u”, LOL!)
Definitely recommended and on to CRIME MACHINE and UNTIL THE NIGHT, #5 and #6 in a series that has plenty of legs and shows no indications of flagging or running out of steam. Fans will hope there’s plenty more to come.
Paul Weiss
“Please know that I’ve always loved you – never more so than at this moment – and if there had been any other way … “
With the suicide of his wife, detective John Cardinal receives what has to qualify as the ultimate heartbreaking Dear John letter. Everyone knew that Catherine Cardinal had struggled with depression and mental illness for many years but her suicide still came as a shock. So much so in fact that the detective in John Cardinal was unable to accept it and bring himself to believe that his wife had actually chosen to end her own life. Cardinal’s off-the-record and definitely unauthorized investigation of a death that his own colleagues would not even acknowledge was anything other than what it appeared to be – a tragic suicide – is paired with the efforts of his longtime colleague, Lisa Delorme, to find the source of some very nasty child pornography.
If you're looking for a nail-biting suspense thriller, BY THE TIME YOU READ THIS definitely won't fill the bill. On the other hand, if you're looking for a profound combination of psychological thriller, police procedural, credible well-defined characters and plenty of local Canadian atmosphere, Giles Blunt has definitely scored a home-run with this novel extending and building on the partnership of John Cardinal and Lise Delorme. They're not quite as angsty as Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch but they're definitely edgy with lots of quirks to build on. As you are pulled more deeply into the story, I'm sure you'll agree that comparisons like this are both inevitable and well-deserved. If there were such a thing as the Canadian Crime Writers’ Hall of Fame, Giles Blunt and his literary creations, John Cardinal and Lise Delorme, would certainly occupy a place of honour (that’s “honor” spelled correctly – with a “u”, LOL!)
Definitely recommended and on to CRIME MACHINE and UNTIL THE NIGHT, #5 and #6 in a series that has plenty of legs and shows no indications of flagging or running out of steam. Fans will hope there’s plenty more to come.
Paul Weiss
October 2, 2025
4 Stars. Not an easy read. It deals with heavy subjects. But the message does lean to the positive when you wrap up this entry in your journey with Cardinal and Delorme. John's wife Catherine is a photographic artist. One day she departs their home excited about a new project; within hours she has taken a suicidal jump. Everyone knows, including Cardinal's colleagues at the Algonquin Bay PD, that she had a history of depression. She even left a note! Many, especially his superiors, are concerned when John starts to ask questions. He becomes obsessed and talks to Dr. Bell, his wife's beloved confidant during her bipolar pain. And many others. The answers all seem to verify suicide. On a parallel track is Delorme who is investigating the sexual assault of a young girl, a child pornography case which Toronto thinks may have origins in Algonquin Bay. It's horrible and occasionally graphic. Can she find the perpetrator with the only clue being a picture of a float plane on a northern Ontario lake? Is it nearby Trout Lake? Hers is a truly magnificent work of detection. Are the two matters related? These Cardinal novels by Giles Blunt can be tough but rewarding. (Mar2020/Aug2024)
February 23, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
April 30, 2019
I have just reread this book which I first read and owned in hardcover in 2008. Unfortunately, it was lost along with many other books in a flood. Now I prefer to download my books in digital format where they can exist in the clouds somewhere, safe from water damage. Giles Blunt is considered one of Canada’s’ best crime writers and has won several awards for his novels.
I wanted to read this again as I had remembered the tragic opening of the story, but was less clear on the criminal investigations which followed. The John Cardinal books are always strong police procedurals set in a small city in the Algonquin area of Ontario.
It is autumn bringing great beauty to the region, with vivid multicoloured leaves adorning the landscape. Autumn has also brought an extraordinary number of suicides by people suffering from depression.
Cardinal’s beloved wife had a history of bipolar illness and spent long periods in and out of mental facilities. Now things seemed to be going well and Cardinal believed she was well into recovery. She was excited to be starting a new photography project, and then she died. There was a suicide note written by her own hand. Cardinal was left with profound guilt and desolation. He feels responsible for not recognizing that she was suffering emotionally.
When he starts receiving sympathy cards in the mail containing sneering messages, he starts to believe she was murdered. No one believes this assertion by the grief-stricken detective and he is ordered not to pursue the matter.
At the same time his colleague, Delorme, is tracking an appalling case of child sexual abuse. Many photos of a young girl have been found on the internet which seem to show an Algonquin background. Delorme is relentless in her determination to investigate until she finds the girl and save her from the pedophile. Her goal is also to bring the perpetrator to justice before he harms another child.
We learn early on who is committing the first set of crimes, but can this be stopped or even proven? The horrific child abuse crime would seem to have no connection, but they inevitably come together through the stellar work of Cardinal and Delorme. There are 3 seasons of Cardinal TV shows based on the books. They are very good, but the books are even better.
I wanted to read this again as I had remembered the tragic opening of the story, but was less clear on the criminal investigations which followed. The John Cardinal books are always strong police procedurals set in a small city in the Algonquin area of Ontario.
It is autumn bringing great beauty to the region, with vivid multicoloured leaves adorning the landscape. Autumn has also brought an extraordinary number of suicides by people suffering from depression.
Cardinal’s beloved wife had a history of bipolar illness and spent long periods in and out of mental facilities. Now things seemed to be going well and Cardinal believed she was well into recovery. She was excited to be starting a new photography project, and then she died. There was a suicide note written by her own hand. Cardinal was left with profound guilt and desolation. He feels responsible for not recognizing that she was suffering emotionally.
When he starts receiving sympathy cards in the mail containing sneering messages, he starts to believe she was murdered. No one believes this assertion by the grief-stricken detective and he is ordered not to pursue the matter.
At the same time his colleague, Delorme, is tracking an appalling case of child sexual abuse. Many photos of a young girl have been found on the internet which seem to show an Algonquin background. Delorme is relentless in her determination to investigate until she finds the girl and save her from the pedophile. Her goal is also to bring the perpetrator to justice before he harms another child.
We learn early on who is committing the first set of crimes, but can this be stopped or even proven? The horrific child abuse crime would seem to have no connection, but they inevitably come together through the stellar work of Cardinal and Delorme. There are 3 seasons of Cardinal TV shows based on the books. They are very good, but the books are even better.
February 10, 2019
By far my favourite yet, By the Time You Read This is a standout even in a great series.
It's not easy to write about suicide with both sensitivity and insight - the one tends to cancel out the other, so it's a testament to Giles Blunt just how well it's handled here. I have lost someone I consider a sister to suicide, which I mention purely to back up my knowledge on the fallout immediately following such a thing. That fallout is present in every step John Cardinal takes in the book, but at no point is it allowed to overwhelm the narrative or drag it down to dreary misery for the reader to slog through.
The other central mystery here is the identification of a young woman who appears in pictures frequently found amongst stashes of child pornography. And once again, this is handled sensitively and with incredible care, showing the investigative side without indulging in grotesqueries. In the end, identification is made mostly via backgrounds, which leads me to a big segue, which I'll hide behind spoiler tags for length, but contains no spoilers.
In short, while this book deals some incredibly heavy material, it does so in a hopeful and thoughtful way. I'm loving this series, and if the quality continues this trajectory, we're in for a real treat in further books.
It's not easy to write about suicide with both sensitivity and insight - the one tends to cancel out the other, so it's a testament to Giles Blunt just how well it's handled here. I have lost someone I consider a sister to suicide, which I mention purely to back up my knowledge on the fallout immediately following such a thing. That fallout is present in every step John Cardinal takes in the book, but at no point is it allowed to overwhelm the narrative or drag it down to dreary misery for the reader to slog through.
The other central mystery here is the identification of a young woman who appears in pictures frequently found amongst stashes of child pornography. And once again, this is handled sensitively and with incredible care, showing the investigative side without indulging in grotesqueries. In the end, identification is made mostly via backgrounds, which leads me to a big segue, which I'll hide behind spoiler tags for length, but contains no spoilers.
In short, while this book deals some incredibly heavy material, it does so in a hopeful and thoughtful way. I'm loving this series, and if the quality continues this trajectory, we're in for a real treat in further books.
January 6, 2020
Be prepared for heart-rending tragedy, suspense and revulsion. John Cardinal and his daughter, Kelly, must deal with what appears to be the suicide of Catherine Cardinal. Cardinal's co-workers come to his aid as much as they can, but his grief has set him on a path to find his wife's killer when there is no evidence to support his belief.
Revulsion comes when the story reveals a trusted individual to be the mastermind of several people's self-destruction.
Suspense builds throughout the story.
Revulsion comes when the story reveals a trusted individual to be the mastermind of several people's self-destruction.
Suspense builds throughout the story.
October 5, 2017
This was a difficult book to read......which is a shame since the writing and plotting are so damned good. The two storylines are very dark and serious issues will arise for most any reader. It can be an ugly world and I don't want to bury my head in the sand, but I'm glad this one is finished.
January 27, 2016
Each book is better than the last.
March 5, 2009
Giles Blunt is considered one of the best mystery writers in Canada. How come this is his first book I have read of his? It did not read like part of a series but more like a stand alone novel with a tragic twist.I am anxious to read more of the "John Cardinal Mystery" series but I am also concerned that I might be disappointed.
May 18, 2010
PROTAGONIST: John Cardinal, homicide detective
SETTING: Algonquin Bay
SERIES: #4 of 4
RATING: 3.75
Live has never been easy for Catherine Cardinal. A brilliant and passionate photographer, she has spent decades dealing with bipolar disorder. Several times, she has been hospitalized as she entered a manic phase of her disease. Throughout all of her illnesses, her husband, police detective John Cardinal, has stood stalwartly by her side. Truly, he is a living embodiment of the marriage vow, to stay together in sickness and in health. The truth of the matter is that he loves his wife unreservedly; they are partners through thick and thin.
And then the unthinkable happens. While out on a photo shoot, Catherine commits suicide. Cardinal can barely function through his grief. However, he is certain of one thing—no matter how dire things became for Catherine, she would never have hurt him in this way. She was a woman of courage and loyalty, and John feels she would never have given in to her disease, particularly since she was excited about her new photo project. But how do you explain the suicide note in her handwriting? Certainly, his fellow police officers empathize with John in his sorrow. But they don't believe that the situation is anything other than it appears, even when there are a suspicious number of suicides occurring in the area. When John receives several hateful notes about his wife's death, he is even more convinced that Catherine was a victim of a homicide.
While Cardinal is unofficially trying to disprove the suicide verdict, his partner, Lise Delorme, is deep into an investigation of a sexual predator who molested a young girl, photographed the acts and posted them on the Internet. The pictures indicate that the abuse took place locally in the Algonquin Bay area of Ontario, Canada. From what she can gather, the abuse may have been going on for several years and possibly other young girls may be prey for this animal.
I was eager to read this book because the previous entry in the series, Black Fly Season, was one of my top reads for 2006. Although well written, By the Time You Read This didn't quite measure up to its predecessor. Where the book didn't work for me was in its choice of the villain. Certainly, it's scary to think of a trusted professional going off the rails. However, this character wasn't intrinsically interesting enough to carry the plot single-handedly. Very early in the book, it is clear that this character is evil and manipulative, and that reduced much of the suspense around the various suicides and their motives. The second villain, the pedophile, was pretty much what you would expect.
That being said, By the Time That You Read This still incorporated all the things that I love in this series, wonderfully evocative writing and most especially the strong characterization of John Cardinal. One might expect an officer of the law to be hard-hearted and tough. Although he can be that on the job, in his personal life Cardinal is a compassionate and loyal individual. During each of his wife's depressive episodes, he is supportive and caring and never blames her for her actions. Now that he has lost her as the focus in his life, you wonder where he will go from here. And that's the kind of question that makes me impatient to see the next book in the series.
SETTING: Algonquin Bay
SERIES: #4 of 4
RATING: 3.75
Live has never been easy for Catherine Cardinal. A brilliant and passionate photographer, she has spent decades dealing with bipolar disorder. Several times, she has been hospitalized as she entered a manic phase of her disease. Throughout all of her illnesses, her husband, police detective John Cardinal, has stood stalwartly by her side. Truly, he is a living embodiment of the marriage vow, to stay together in sickness and in health. The truth of the matter is that he loves his wife unreservedly; they are partners through thick and thin.
And then the unthinkable happens. While out on a photo shoot, Catherine commits suicide. Cardinal can barely function through his grief. However, he is certain of one thing—no matter how dire things became for Catherine, she would never have hurt him in this way. She was a woman of courage and loyalty, and John feels she would never have given in to her disease, particularly since she was excited about her new photo project. But how do you explain the suicide note in her handwriting? Certainly, his fellow police officers empathize with John in his sorrow. But they don't believe that the situation is anything other than it appears, even when there are a suspicious number of suicides occurring in the area. When John receives several hateful notes about his wife's death, he is even more convinced that Catherine was a victim of a homicide.
While Cardinal is unofficially trying to disprove the suicide verdict, his partner, Lise Delorme, is deep into an investigation of a sexual predator who molested a young girl, photographed the acts and posted them on the Internet. The pictures indicate that the abuse took place locally in the Algonquin Bay area of Ontario, Canada. From what she can gather, the abuse may have been going on for several years and possibly other young girls may be prey for this animal.
I was eager to read this book because the previous entry in the series, Black Fly Season, was one of my top reads for 2006. Although well written, By the Time You Read This didn't quite measure up to its predecessor. Where the book didn't work for me was in its choice of the villain. Certainly, it's scary to think of a trusted professional going off the rails. However, this character wasn't intrinsically interesting enough to carry the plot single-handedly. Very early in the book, it is clear that this character is evil and manipulative, and that reduced much of the suspense around the various suicides and their motives. The second villain, the pedophile, was pretty much what you would expect.
That being said, By the Time That You Read This still incorporated all the things that I love in this series, wonderfully evocative writing and most especially the strong characterization of John Cardinal. One might expect an officer of the law to be hard-hearted and tough. Although he can be that on the job, in his personal life Cardinal is a compassionate and loyal individual. During each of his wife's depressive episodes, he is supportive and caring and never blames her for her actions. Now that he has lost her as the focus in his life, you wonder where he will go from here. And that's the kind of question that makes me impatient to see the next book in the series.
October 2, 2021
Another great book in this series.
Just a bit different with Cardinal, for obvious reasons, taking the lead on this investigation, while Delorme, being her usual valuable self, being somewhat in the background picking up important loose ends enabling Cardinal to track down the killer of his wife and those involved with pedophilia.
And, unlike previous books, there was not as much interaction with other members of the police force either.
It was nice to see a softer side to Cardinal dealing with the death of his wife and how much he really loved and cared for her despite her mental issues and continued stays in mental health facilities, and how this tragedy helped him become closer to his daughter.
Just a bit different with Cardinal, for obvious reasons, taking the lead on this investigation, while Delorme, being her usual valuable self, being somewhat in the background picking up important loose ends enabling Cardinal to track down the killer of his wife and those involved with pedophilia.
And, unlike previous books, there was not as much interaction with other members of the police force either.
It was nice to see a softer side to Cardinal dealing with the death of his wife and how much he really loved and cared for her despite her mental issues and continued stays in mental health facilities, and how this tragedy helped him become closer to his daughter.
January 25, 2016
Excellent mystery. I've read 3 other John Cardinal mysteries and they have all been excellent stories. John Cardinal is a troubled cop, but an excellent cop as well. His partner, Lise Delorme, is also great. The mystery is well-paced, interesting and resolved satisfactorily. Giles Blunt is an excellent writer. Loved it.
June 20, 2023
A great exploration of grief,and two heartbreaking cases coming together.
Brilliant author.
Brilliant author.
January 28, 2025
Auch mit diesem Krimi hat mich Giles Blunt wieder gekriegt. Seine Figuren sind überzeugend, der Plot ist gut und wie immer wechselt der Erzähler zwischen Ermittler-, Täter- und Opferperspektive, was meiner Meinung nach zum Mitfiebern einlädt.
Die Fälle in diesem Band sind allerdings harter Tobak und ich habe zugegebenermaßen einige Stellen und ein Kapitel völlig übersprungen, da mir die Missbrauchs-/Kinderpornographie-Thematik sehr zusetzt. Schade war auch, dass Cardinal seine Frau verlieren musste, da ich immer geschätzt habe, dass er ein normaler Typ ist, der sein Privatleben auf der Reihe hat. Ich bin gespannt, wie es persönlich für ihn weiter geht.
Ein spannender, handwerklich einwandfreier Krimi, den es sich absolut lohnt zu lesen, wenn man die schweren Themen verdauen kann.
Die Fälle in diesem Band sind allerdings harter Tobak und ich habe zugegebenermaßen einige Stellen und ein Kapitel völlig übersprungen, da mir die Missbrauchs-/Kinderpornographie-Thematik sehr zusetzt. Schade war auch, dass Cardinal seine Frau verlieren musste, da ich immer geschätzt habe, dass er ein normaler Typ ist, der sein Privatleben auf der Reihe hat. Ich bin gespannt, wie es persönlich für ihn weiter geht.
Ein spannender, handwerklich einwandfreier Krimi, den es sich absolut lohnt zu lesen, wenn man die schweren Themen verdauen kann.
May 8, 2019
Excellent plot, execution, characters, setting and a compulsive read. I am in love.
November 21, 2013
This is the fourth book in Giles Blunt's John Cardinal and Lise Delorme series. So far none of the subsequent books have topped the first one, Forty Words for Sorrow, but that doesn't mean that I haven't enjoyed them. I would recommend them for the fine writing alone!
It's unfortunate that the reader knows going in (thanks to the book description) that John's wife dies in this novel because I think it would have been better if it had been a surprise. Although his wife's death is not entirely unexpected, given her psychiatric history, it would have been nice to experience the shock of it along with John.
However, there are some twists to this novel, as well as an engrossing subplot, that keep it from being spoiled by the early revelation of the main event.
At first I was disappointed in the author's choice of "bad guy," but he did end up drawing a convincing portrait of him and his motivation. And I appreciated that I was left guessing about how culpable he really was.
This book was very much about psychiatric problems, especially depression, and I found the insights gained from it interesting if not ground-breaking. Also, the author captured John's grief very well.
This might sound strange, but I was kind of glad to see John's wife go, because her story dragged on and on. I suppose you could argue that the author could have done more with her character in earlier books, but it seems clear that he was at an impasse and had to "get rid of" her in order to advance the arc of the series.
I look forward to the next book for that reason.
It's unfortunate that the reader knows going in (thanks to the book description) that John's wife dies in this novel because I think it would have been better if it had been a surprise. Although his wife's death is not entirely unexpected, given her psychiatric history, it would have been nice to experience the shock of it along with John.
However, there are some twists to this novel, as well as an engrossing subplot, that keep it from being spoiled by the early revelation of the main event.
At first I was disappointed in the author's choice of "bad guy," but he did end up drawing a convincing portrait of him and his motivation. And I appreciated that I was left guessing about how culpable he really was.
This book was very much about psychiatric problems, especially depression, and I found the insights gained from it interesting if not ground-breaking. Also, the author captured John's grief very well.
This might sound strange, but I was kind of glad to see John's wife go, because her story dragged on and on. I suppose you could argue that the author could have done more with her character in earlier books, but it seems clear that he was at an impasse and had to "get rid of" her in order to advance the arc of the series.
I look forward to the next book for that reason.
December 5, 2017
I've been catching up on the John Cardinal series in anticipation of season two of the TV series coming this January (which I highly recommend, excellent show). I find these books particularly interesting as I spent some time living in North Bay (which the books fictional "Algonquin Bay" is based on) and it's interesting to see the city come to life as a character in and of itself in the series.
The premise here, is that Detective John Cardinal's wife Catherine, has apparently jumped to her death while shooting night photos on top of a building. However, Cardinal does not believe she committed suicide and goes a bit rogue to do some investigating on his own. Meanwhile, Lise Delorme (whose relationship with Cardinal isn't explored too much in this outing) is investigating a case sent up from Toronto, who believe there is a child abuser making, and distributing child pornography in Algonquin Bay. Both story lines get a bit distressing, but without giving anything away, I felt they had satisfying conclusions.
This was, far and away, the most difficult to read of the series for me. That is not to say it was a bad read, far from it, in fact it was probably my favourite of the series so far. That being said, this book gets very dark and disturbing, with not much comfort to be had during the bulk of it. Giles Blunt does a good job here of making you grieve for the protagonist's loss, and for making you feel repulsed by the crimes within even without writing it too graphically. It's been a while since I've felt such a visceral and emotional connection to a book and this one certainly did the job.
Highly recommended read!
The premise here, is that Detective John Cardinal's wife Catherine, has apparently jumped to her death while shooting night photos on top of a building. However, Cardinal does not believe she committed suicide and goes a bit rogue to do some investigating on his own. Meanwhile, Lise Delorme (whose relationship with Cardinal isn't explored too much in this outing) is investigating a case sent up from Toronto, who believe there is a child abuser making, and distributing child pornography in Algonquin Bay. Both story lines get a bit distressing, but without giving anything away, I felt they had satisfying conclusions.
This was, far and away, the most difficult to read of the series for me. That is not to say it was a bad read, far from it, in fact it was probably my favourite of the series so far. That being said, this book gets very dark and disturbing, with not much comfort to be had during the bulk of it. Giles Blunt does a good job here of making you grieve for the protagonist's loss, and for making you feel repulsed by the crimes within even without writing it too graphically. It's been a while since I've felt such a visceral and emotional connection to a book and this one certainly did the job.
Highly recommended read!
August 12, 2024
Once again a winner from Giles Blunt. He has a compelling way of inserting the humanity, or the stark lack of humanity, into his stories of his characters’ lives, as he describes their roles in complex, violent crimes or in the solving of such crimes. His books are well written and satisfying.
I especially liked this one for its descriptions of the devastation caused by betrayals from those who, we are taught, we ought to be able to trust - medical professionals, our fathers and mothers and our friends and families. This is once again a thoroughly immersive experience about the murderous depravities taking place in Algonquin Bay, a Northerly Canadian town, with all the weather, the bugs and the treacherous roads; oh, and the beauty of an abundance of unspoiled nature in which the townsfolk live.
P. S.: I had a good idea who the perp was about 2/3 of the way through but this didn’t materially detract from my reading pleasure.
I especially liked this one for its descriptions of the devastation caused by betrayals from those who, we are taught, we ought to be able to trust - medical professionals, our fathers and mothers and our friends and families. This is once again a thoroughly immersive experience about the murderous depravities taking place in Algonquin Bay, a Northerly Canadian town, with all the weather, the bugs and the treacherous roads; oh, and the beauty of an abundance of unspoiled nature in which the townsfolk live.
P. S.: I had a good idea who the perp was about 2/3 of the way through but this didn’t materially detract from my reading pleasure.
July 30, 2012
A fine 4th novel in the series of police procedurals featuring Detective John Cardinal, which are set in the fictitious town of Algonquin Bay in rural Ontario. In this tale, Cardinal's wife dies from an apparent suicidal jump from the roof of a building where she was doing a photographic session. While John deals with his grief and tries to come to terms with the sad outcome of his wife's bipolar illness, his team investigates a cold case of child pornography and child abuse. Blunt's development of his characters and weaving of the efforts of the struggling investigators with the dodging of their criminal prey provide a pleasurable read. I equally enjoyed two others in this satisfying series.
May 8, 2023
This was the fourth installment of the John Cardinal series, the written is still solid. However, there wasn’t much character work in this novel. John and Lise are in the story, but not as prominently as they were in the previous novels. Blunt usually has view through the eyes of the detectives. He did that in this one, but split the storyline a little more. Also, the subject matter made a little difficult to read. Blunt sums everything up nicely, but I am definitely going to read remainder of the series.
February 12, 2020
This one made fall back in love with the series. After a rough couple installments this one brings you right back to the emotional turmoil the first one threw you in. Two parallel stories come to a climactic ending that is so damn satisfying they could have ended the series with this book and I would have been okay. John and Lise are back and the character depth just gets better as the story gets darker. Great on it's own even better if you read at least some of it's predecessors.
July 6, 2014
Again, a quintessentially Canadian book.
Having known manic depressives and having been close to people who attempted suicide Blunt nails MY experience of loving and wanting (usually unsuccessfully) to help such people.
I also appreciate the way in which Blunt handles truly horrific crimes without inviting his readers to indulge in voyeurism in the guise of disapproval.
Having known manic depressives and having been close to people who attempted suicide Blunt nails MY experience of loving and wanting (usually unsuccessfully) to help such people.
I also appreciate the way in which Blunt handles truly horrific crimes without inviting his readers to indulge in voyeurism in the guise of disapproval.
May 29, 2017
I can't get enough of this John Cardinal series!!! This was the best one yet and I hear they are following up the TV series about the first John Cardinal book, (Forty words for Sorrow) with a second installment based on the 3rd and 4rth! Keep writing Giles, as I don't want to run out of books to read with John Cardinal and Lise Delorme!!
August 26, 2018
Started reading this a while ago and didn't get far. Tried again. I was really dismayed that Blunt murdered off one of his characters, and as I read more, I got more dismayed with the circumstances that caused it. Pretty dark episode for Cardinal. Now that this series has gone to tv, I'm wondering if they will introduce a romantic aspect to Cardinal and Delorme. IMO that would be a mistake.
August 22, 2017
Found it dragged in middle. Liked ending. Bad guys put away. child abuse angle a bit gross
September 24, 2017
Not the best Cardinal and Delorme of the series. Looking forward to the next in the series.
September 24, 2017
good combinations of intertwined stories
January 1, 2018
This is the 4th of the Cardinal series and so far my favorite. Excellent plot and story line. The topic is very upsetting. The writing is terrific.
July 21, 2020
The Cardinal Series is fantastic. This book does not disappoint. Cardinal’s sadness drips throughout this book. Blunt has a great knack in making characters freaking creepy.
September 20, 2020
Up to 4.5. I really like Giles Blunt. Great style, interesting characters, fascinating stories. Highly recommend these books to police procedure fans.
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