March Roars
1937 Toronto, Canada. On a roaring cold March morning, a Private Investigator, Charlotte Frayne, receives a strange letter. The letter from Mrs. Brodie, who lives in the Toronto House of Industry (a public charity for the needy), wishes to engage Charlotte’s services to rectify a “matter of grave injustice” and visit her as soon as possible. Earlier, Charlotte had read in the newspapers about the arrest and sentencing of two Black teenagers for robbery. But Mrs. Brodie believes them to be innocent, for at the time of the crime, she’d seen two white men behaving shiftily. Charlotte is already investigating another robbery of expensive jewelry reported by an affluent lady from her mansion. Charlotte works diligently on both cases and seeks the help of her friend, Detective Jack Murdoch. Together, they unravel the clues and follow the leads to discover several other “injustices.”
Maureen Jennings is the award-winning author of numerous crime, mystery, and historical fiction series. She is best known for her Detective (William) Murdoch Mysteries, which have been made into TV shows and have received worldwide acclaim. Although this novel is the fourth book in Jennings’ Paradise Café series, it is virtually a standalone. Jennings has done a remarkable job transporting us to the novel’s settings in pre-WWII Toronto. Her attention to detail shows in the writing; even a map of Depression-era Toronto is included on her website. Learning about Charlotte’s personal problems, independent of her cases, is interesting. Her dealing with the grumpiness of her grandfather, her eccentric boss, and her fiancé are sometimes hilarious. The use of the Paradise Café as a meeting point for the characters, away from business offices, is imaginative and assists in linking the plot points. While reading, Jennings’ fans will be thrilled when former detective William Murdoch makes a cameo appearance. Highly recommended.
