Framed in Fire (A Lane Winslow Mystery, 9)
Lane Winslow and Inspector Darling have finally settled into a comfortable routine, so Lane decides to head out for a visit with her friend Peter, a Doukhobor man living near New Denver, British Columbia in 1948. During her visit she meets Tom, an Indigenous man who has come to find the burial lands of his ancestors. The three of them discover a very old grave in Peter’s new garden that does not seem quite right. Despite Lane’s best efforts, she is once again put at the center of one of her husband’s investigations.
Meanwhile, back in Nelson, their friends the Vitalis, who run the local Italian restaurant, are having some troubles of their own. Constable Terrell is put in charge of investigating a case of arson in their home, while Sergeant Ames is working on a robbery case. Amidst the town drama, April is keeping tabs on everything that goes on in the café and finds herself wondering if she is capable of being more than just a waitress.
Whishaw’s skillful handling of the themes of racism, community, and cultural heritage give a sensitive yet satisfying peek into small-town life in the 1940s. The suspense will keep you reading long past bedtime, and despite the heavy topics explored in the book, the complex and quirky characters lighten the load. This was another delightful read in the Lane Winslow series and my favourite thus far.
