Official Review: A Twist of Fortune by Mike Martin

[gali]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "A Twist of Fortune" by Mike Martin.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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"Twist of Fortune" is the fourth book in the Sgt. Windflower mystery series, featuring the Cree Indian Sgt. Winston Windflower. This series takes place in the sleepy fishing village of Grand Bank in Newfoundland, Canada. Although I haven’t read the first books in the series, I was able to jump right in without feeling lost.

Head on over to Grand Bank and catch up with Sgt. Windflower and his friends as they proceed with their laid-back lives. Sgt. Winston Windflower is the head of the Grand Bank RCMP Detachment in Newfoundland. He is an easy going man, very likeable, kind-hearted, but tough when the need arises, and a good cook to boot. He loves his girlfriend, his food and his work. His life centers on patrolling the roads, visiting the local café, meeting good friends, and enjoying a friendly chess game now and then. Corporal Eddie Tizzard is his second in command. The most they have to tackle is heavy traffic during snowy nights and the odd protest now and then.

When Windflower's girlfriend, Sheila, is getting arrested at a community protest about the closure of a local fish plant, it takes the wind out of Windflower's sails. He takes it personally and feels it compromises him and his work. Our pair doesn't see eye to eye about her community involvement and it puts a damper on their relationship. After all, "Windflower is charged with upholding the law and Sheila is out breaking it".

His quiet uncomplicated life becomes further entangled when the local pharmacist dies in a freak car accident during a snowy night. The plot thickens when a second body of local outlaw biker is found in the trunk of the car. Something fishy is going on and it is up to our Windflower to find out the truth. As curious titbits (an unreported break in, drugs paraphernalia, to name a few) pop up during the investigation, our team is pulled into a whirlpool of unanswered questions.

As the investigation gets under way, the local community is further shaken when their Mayor suffers from a fatal heart attack. Meanwhile, Windflower has to grapple with his own personal demons. Sheila starts considering political life and Windflower isn't too enthusiastic about it. He begins to wonder if their relationship is even meant to be. Suspicious deaths, Narcotics abuse, global drug ring, suspicious deaths, culinary delights, and a dog named Lady, make for a delightfully read.

With a mouthwatering theme and a little bit of murder, I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The characters were well-drawn and easy to like. I liked Windflower, but there were many times I wanted to shake him. The recipes and descriptions of all the food had my mouth watering! The pacing of the mystery is a bit slow, although it didn’t dampen my enjoyment of the book. You won't find any breathtaking tension here. The plot plods along with limited action, focusing instead on the characters and the setting, not a bad thing. There were some extensive details about the local history of fishing, policing issues and also abundance of food descriptions, and I felt some of these details weren't important for the advancement of the plot.

The real strength of the book lies in the author’s ability to make the characters and setting come alive to the reader. The reader is quickly wrapped up in the lives of the people. The chapters are relatively short and the narrative voice is succinct, dry, straightforward, and easy to read. I liked reading about the morning rituals of the protagonist. The description of the traditional Cree beliefs was certainly a bonus. The sexual activity between the characters is only ever gently implied and I liked that as well.

While a few parts of the book were a bit slow-paced and too detailed for my taste, overall it was a very enjoyable read. Therefore, I rate it 3 out of 4 stars, and would definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoys a cozy mystery with a touch of the supernatural thrown in. If you are looking for an action-packed mystery, then this is not the book for you. However, if you like a mystery with a unique setting, colorful characters and a little quirkiness, this delicious whodunit is certainly for you.

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A Twist of Fortune
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Like gali's review? Post a comment saying so!

[bookowlie]

Great review! I love this type of mystery.

[gali]

Great review! I love this type of mystery.

Thank you.

[zeldas_lullaby]

That's a great review! I love Canada (what with Anne of Green Gables), but I need plot! Pacing! Thanks for throwing that info in there. Sounds like a good book for someone without my focus issues!!

[gali]

That's a great review! I love Canada (what with Anne of Green Gables), but I need plot! Pacing! Thanks for throwing that info in there. Sounds like a good book for someone without my focus issues!!

Thank you for your kind words and it is a good book.

"Anne of Green Gables" was one of my favorite books.

[zeldas_lullaby]

Rock on! Oh yeah, I remember you mentioning that now in the Anne of Green Gables thread! You and I have good taste!

[gali]

Rock on! Oh yeah, I remember you mentioning that now in the Anne of Green Gables thread! You and I have good taste!

Indeed we have

[PashaRu]

Thanks for a nice, thorough review!

[gali]

Thanks for a nice, thorough review!

Thank you

[Amheiser]

This book sounds like one that I would find interesting. I like mysteries and I like a slower paced book once in a while. Some books can get a little too intense and sometimes I feel like I need a more relaxing read. This book sounds like one that I would be able to put down if something needed to get done. Thanks for the good review.

[gali]

This book sounds like one that I would find interesting. I like mysteries and I like a slower paced book once in a while. Some books can get a little too intense and sometimes I feel like I need a more relaxing read. This book sounds like one that I would be able to put down if something needed to get done. Thanks for the good review.

Thank you and It is a good read.

[Rachaelamb1]

Mystery, colorful characters, and quirkiness; it all sounds good to me!

[gali]

Mystery, colorful characters, and quirkiness; it all sounds good to me!

It is that.

[TrishaAnn92]

This sounds like a pretty good book. I'm not big on laid back mysteries but this one I would definitely check out!

[gali]

This sounds like a pretty good book. I'm not big on laid back mysteries but this one I would definitely check out!

Indeed it is.