Who was Detective Murdoch? Readers of Maureen Jenning's series (and of the Canadian television series based on those novels) know the answer, BUT not how he got interested in detective work. As part of a series of novellas written by famous Canadians, Ms. Jennings tells the story of Murdock's first mystery. THIS one occurred when he was an adolescent in Nova Scotia, and involved a shipwreck on Christmas morning, in which the victims may not have all died as a result of the accident.
This book reminds me of Stephen King's "The Colorado Kid", in that the story is being told by someone who was not present in this case, Murdoch's descendant to his daughter & granddaughter. It also reminds us that some mysteries, especially those from long ago, may never be entirely solved, and even the solutions may be intelligent and logical speculation without the "YES, I DID IT AND I'M GLAD" pronouncement from the antagonist as at the end of a Perry Mason television episode.
It should also be stated that this novella is entirely standalone. The reader does not need any prior (or even subsequent) knowledge of the Detective Murdoch series in order to read and enjoy this book.
RATING: 4 1/2 stars, rounded up to 5 stars where 1/2 stars are not allowed.
This book reminds me of Stephen King's "The Colorado Kid", in that the story is being told by someone who was not present in this case, Murdoch's descendant to his daughter & granddaughter. It also reminds us that some mysteries, especially those from long ago, may never be entirely solved, and even the solutions may be intelligent and logical speculation without the "YES, I DID IT AND I'M GLAD" pronouncement from the antagonist as at the end of a Perry Mason television episode.
It should also be stated that this novella is entirely standalone. The reader does not need any prior (or even subsequent) knowledge of the Detective Murdoch series in order to read and enjoy this book.
RATING: 4 1/2 stars, rounded up to 5 stars where 1/2 stars are not allowed.
