A Perfect Storm

RCMP, illegal-drugs, friendship, family-dynamics, law-enforcement, supernatural, investigation, murder, support-system, organized-crime, Newfoundland

Part family fiction and more police drama, Sgt Windflower mysteries involve a small town in Newfundland and its RCMP detachment. This one begins with former RCMP Eddie Tizzard in Las Vegas, where he has been learning to become a private investigator but winds up in jail as a murder suspect. "I'm stuck in a Las Vegas jail and my lawyer is quoting Shakespeare!" At the same time, Sgt Winston Windflower has fallen through the boards of an old abandoned silver mine he was checking for arsonists and has no radio or cell phone contact. More dramatic than usual, but this one has more good people, First Nations religious practices, bad people bringing meth and other drugs into the area, and a little girl stuck in the middle and orphaned. It also brings out the problems of law enforcement and also of the good people who are being harmed by the encroaching problems being brought in by greed. I love this series and all it entails.
It bears noting that each book in the series stands alone on its own merit.
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Ottawa Press and Publishing via NetGalley. Thank you!

4 stars

Constable Eddie Tizzard, on leave following an altercation at work, is in Las Vegas to attend a seminar. He intends to leave the RCMP and become a private investigator. The problem arises when returning to his hotel room, he finds a very dead body. It gets worse when he discovers that the dead man was also from Newfoundland and had his name in his pocket.

The Vegas cops decide to believe his story and use him to run a sting on one of the bad biker guys. Eddie has a moment where he decides maybe he should stay in the RCMP.

Meanwhile, Sergeant Winston Windflower is in some trouble in Grand Bank. While responding to a call, he falls down a hole at an old mine. He has broken his arm and injured his ankle. When will someone find him?

At the same time Eddie returns from Vegas, it seems bad luck (or something), that follows him. There's a nasty biker gang involved in violence and drugs. People start dying. Cops get shot. That's the exciting part.

The heartwarming part is Windflower's relationship with his daughter and wife as well as his dedication to his tribal beliefs. I found it fascinating – as always. It had a calming effect on me as well as on Windflower.

All in all, this is a very good book. It is well written and plotted and the transitions are nearly flawless. I always enjoy the Windflower books and will continue to avidly look forward to the next one.

I want to thank NetGalley and Ottawa Press and Publishing for forwarding to me a copy of this delightful book for me to read, enjoy and review.

**This book is not yet available to review on Amazon, GoodReads or BookBub.

I always really enjoy the time I spend reading the latest Sgt. Windflower Mystery by author Mike Martin. In A Perfect Storm, Book 9 in the series, he continues to masterfully blend warm and fuzzy feelings with hard-edged crime. He addresses tough issues – racism, harassment, drug abuse, crime and violence, including murder, but wraps it in the beautiful Canadian town of Grand Bank, highlighting Sgt. Windflower’s beliefs, history and traditions, and love of family, friend, and animals. Author Martin doesn’t skimp on the authenticity of the horrific events but reminds you that good can exist as well.

Each book in the series can be read as a standalone, but each book also builds on the previous one. Sgt. Windflower has grown in his personal beliefs and career, acquired a family that means more to him than anything, and enjoys his life. However, this Windflower is a bit different than the Windflower we are used to. He has a bit of an edge, he is a little sharper with subordinates than we’ve seen before, even sarcastic and rude and unwilling to accept help for a minute or two, and he’s thinking about change. This new Windflower is somehow even more human and relatable.

When the story opens, Eddie Tizzard, who until recently was a member of Windflower’s team in Grand Bank, has gotten himself in serious trouble in Las Vegas. Windflower doesn’t know about that because he’s fallen down a mine shaft and no one knows where he is. As he waits to be missed and hopefully rescued he goes on another of his always-fascinating spiritual journeys, revealing a little more that things aren’t quite settled, he has some choices to make.

A Perfect Storm is an exciting tale, moving back and forth in pursuit of crimes and criminals both in the US and Canada. Back are the quotes from Shakespeare, Ben Franklin, and others, the gorgeous feel of the surroundings, the close relationships with the animals, the well-drawn cast of supporting characters, uncertainty of relationships – and the detailed, mouth-watering description of the meals Windflower and his family make and enjoy. Winston Windflower and Sheila have been married for a while now and their life with toddler daughter Amelia Louise is solid, comforting and good. She is an adorable handful, although I must admit I will be glad when she is a little older and stops repeating everything three times! All through the story, however, there is a subtle undercurrent of slight dissatisfaction or maybe of dreams and goals as yet unrealized for both Winston and Sheila; change is in the air. This suspense continues until the end: are the Windflowers leaving? Permanently? For a year? It may be time to move on, but the stories give you such a good, warm feeling that you are conflicted – yes, change, no keep everything the same. A good story, a good ending, an all-around good series that you should read.

Thanks to author Mike Martin and Ottawa Press and Publishing for providing an advance copy via NetGalley. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and recommend it without hesitation. It may be the best yet in the series All opinions are my own.

This series is becoming a favorite and I loved this story.
A gripping and entertaining mystery with a cast of interesting characters, an unusual setting and a tightly knitted plot.
The mystery is solid and it kept me guessing.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine