by Nikki Everts
Montreal, 1969: one death-two sisters-three possibilities
~~~~~”…a fascinating backdrop for a mystery…” – C.S. O’Cinneide, author of Petra’s Ghost and The Candace Starr Series ~~~~~“…a wonderful historical mystery, cunning and political, but most of all: surprising and intriguing. Skeptical Kit and her imaginative and emotional younger sister Sondra make delightful sleuths, exploring Montreal during the FLQ crisis of the late 1960s. I enjoyed this novel very much.” – Sandra Gulland, author of the Josephine B. Trilogy ~~~~~“… a tale of sisterly love, human failings, misplaced loyalty, betrayal, forgiveness, danger and intrigue, delivered with a historically interesting twist. It is an engaging and suspenseful read.” – Sue Williams, author of Ready to Come About
Montreal, 1969: the glory days of Expo 67 are fading as a home-grown separatist movement, the FLQ, ramps up its bombing campaign. A World War I veteran dies; an accident, say the police, but granddaughters Kit and Sondra disagree. Their investigations stir up danger, plunge Kit into a risky liaison and unravel the mystery of their grandfather’s death as escalating violence threatens the historic city.
Read Bill Hulet’s (Guelph Backgrounder) review here!
Everts has written a book that explains to younger people what it felt like to be living in Quebec at this time.
Paperbacks available at:
The Bookshelf/Guelph – Wordsworth Books/Waterloo – A Different Drummer Books/Burlington – Books on Beechwood/Ottawa – Octopus Books/Ottawa – Singing Pebble Books/Ottawa
Order from most indie bookstores or online from:
Bookshop.org or UK.Bookshop.org
Kindle version available too, or read for free on KU
Guelph, Ontario or vicinity? Contact us at arboretumpress (at) gmail.com for local purchase/delivery options.
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The October Crisis
James Cross, a British diplomat, was kidnapped by an FLQ cell in Montréal, launching what came to be called The October Crisis. Five days later, on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, Pierre Laporte, the Deputy Premier, Parliamentary Leader, Minister of Immigration, and Minister of Labour and Manpower for Québec’s Liberal government, was kidnapped by a second FLQ cell. A week later he was murdered. A beloved servant of Québec, many mourned his death. By December 3rd, James Cross was freed in exchange for safe passage for his kidnappers to Cuba.
Though not to be celebrated, these events do need to be remembered as a significant milestone in Canadian history. The first and so far the only time the War Measures Act has been used to shut down a Canadian city. The most violent of many past and subsequent stand-offs between Québec separatist factions and the federal government. The end of any broad support the FLQ may have had among other québécois nationalists.
The action in Evidence of Uncertain Origin takes place the year before The October Crisis, during escalating FLQ violence in and around Montreal. The setting and characters engage and discuss facets of Québec nationalism which it is hoped will encourage readers to find out more about those perilous times in our history.
For a fascinating retelling of the many factors contributing to the the October Crisis, you can read journalist D’Arcy Jenish’s The Making of the October Crisis: Canada’s Long Nightmare of Terrorism at the Hands of the FLQ.
Arboretum Press 