The Story
Review [Starred] What could have been a mawkish tale of redemption is told with honest, restrained but eloquent prose that gives tantalizing glimpses into the sympathetic but sometimes deeply flawed characters. The result is quietly but deeply memorable. Publishers WeeklyThough the third in a trilogy based on the exploits of Toronto detective Charlie McKelvey, the Devils Dust reads just as well as a stand alone. Ottawa magazineThe first book featuring retired Toronto policeman Charlie McKelvey was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award from the Crime Writers of Canada. This second book should make the list again. Its smart, carefully plotted and extremely wellwritten. Its also sadly topical, focusing on drugs in rural communities. Globe and MailForrest has the gift of getting into McKelveys soul and sharing that with the reader. We live his anguish and his redemption. We feel the despair of the town and the hope. Were invested in tracking down the drug kingpin, solving the murders, and facing the truths. C.B. Forrest is that powerful a writer that the characters are real, therefore the story is also real. Mystery MavenThe fabric of the story will make you think. The action ? Youll keep turning pages until its done. The climax will stay with you. The Devils Dust firmly plants author C.B. Forrest as a major force to be reckoned with in Canadian mystery writing. The Hamilton SpectatorForrest realistically weaves the intricacies of small town character, politics, and police life Kanata KourierStandard EMCForrests book is tightly plotted, but its really McKelveys character development that makes the book work. This is a mature piece of writing from an author who is far younger than his hero. Product Description Charlie McKelvey goes to his northern hometown to find that the big city isnt the only place with big problems. Retired Toronto detective Charlie McKelvey runs from a cancer diagnosis and the violent memories of the big city and retreats to his hometown. A small declining mining centre, Ste. Bernadette offers McKelvey a chance to resolve old family issues, including his fathers involvement in a deadly wildcat strike in the late 1950s. When the local police force enlists his help in tracing an upswing in youth violence and vandalism, McKelvey stumbles into the hornets nest of a crystalmeth industry. The timing couldnt be worse for the town to expose its drug problem to the world: the mayor is hoping a new transmission line will be built through the town, bringing powerline jobs and construction dollars; the police chief is trying to close a deal to truck Detroits garbage to a local site as well as vie for the mayors job; and a sleazy businessman is attempting to buy up the towns land to open a casino and resort. Despite searches and seizures, the flow of drugs continues, leading McKelvey to suspect a local is manufacturing the drug. The Devils Dust holds a magnifying glass to the current decline of rural life, the scourge of meth, and what happens when an entire town loses faith. Book Description Devils Dust is a tour de force, the crime fiction trifecta: perfectly plotted whodunit, firstrate thriller, and beautifully crafted novel. The end is stunning! Fans of the first two Charlie McKelvey titles will not be disappointed and there are bound to be hordes of new fans. Surely, this is not the end! Tim WynneJones, author of Blink & Caution and twotime Governor General Award winner About the Author C.B. Forrests first literary crime novel, The Weight of Stones, was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel. His second McKelvey novel, Slow Recoil, was nominated for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
Description
Review [Starred] What could have been a mawkish tale of redemption is told with honest, restrained but eloquent prose that gives tantalizing glimpses into the sympathetic but sometimes deeply flawed characters. The result is quietly but deeply memorable. Publishers WeeklyThough the third in a trilogy based on the exploits of Toronto detective Charlie McKelvey, the Devils Dust reads just as well as a stand alone. Ottawa magazineThe first book featuring retired Toronto policeman Charlie McKelvey was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award from the Crime Writers of Canada. This second book should make the list again. Its smart, carefully plotted and extremely wellwritten. Its also sadly topical, focusing on drugs in rural communities. Globe and MailForrest has the gift of getting into McKelveys soul and sharing that with the reader. We live his anguish and his redemption. We feel the despair of the town and the hope. Were invested in tracking down the drug kingpin, solving the murders, and facing the truths. C.B. Forrest is that powerful a writer that the characters are real, therefore the story is also real. Mystery MavenThe fabric of the story will make you think. The action ? Youll keep turning pages until its done. The climax will stay with you. The Devils Dust firmly plants author C.B. Forrest as a major force to be reckoned with in Canadian mystery writing. The Hamilton SpectatorForrest realistically weaves the intricacies of small town character, politics, and police life Kanata KourierStandard EMCForrests book is tightly plotted, but its really McKelveys character development that makes the book work. This is a mature piece of writing from an author who is far younger than his hero. Product Description Charlie McKelvey goes to his northern hometown to find that the big city isnt the only place with big problems. Retired Toronto detective Charlie McKelvey runs from a cancer diagnosis and the violent memories of the big city and retreats to his hometown. A small declining mining centre, Ste. Bernadette offers McKelvey a chance to resolve old family issues, including his fathers involvement in a deadly wildcat strike in the late 1950s. When the local police force enlists his help in tracing an upswing in youth violence and vandalism, McKelvey stumbles into the hornets nest of a crystalmeth industry. The timing couldnt be worse for the town to expose its drug problem to the world: the mayor is hoping a new transmission line will be built through the town, bringing powerline jobs and construction dollars; the police chief is trying to close a deal to truck Detroits garbage to a local site as well as vie for the mayors job; and a sleazy businessman is attempting to buy up the towns land to open a casino and resort. Despite searches and seizures, the flow of drugs continues, leading McKelvey to suspect a local is manufacturing the drug. The Devils Dust holds a magnifying glass to the current decline of rural life, the scourge of meth, and what happens when an entire town loses faith. Book Description Devils Dust is a tour de force, the crime fiction trifecta: perfectly plotted whodunit, firstrate thriller, and beautifully crafted novel. The end is stunning! Fans of the first two Charlie McKelvey titles will not be disappointed and there are bound to be hordes of new fans. Surely, this is not the end! Tim WynneJones, author of Blink & Caution and twotime Governor General Award winner About the Author C.B. Forrests first literary crime novel, The Weight of Stones, was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel. His second McKelvey novel, Slow Recoil, was nominated for the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Crime Novel. He lives in Ottawa, Ontario.
