LONG REACH by Nancy Stevenson

Fiction, Mystery

4****

Blurb: Long Reach is a mystery of action and adventure with an unexpected twist. Is Nora guilty of pushing her husband overboard in a fit of violent anger? Or is she a victim in an environmental conspiracy? On a fishing trip in the beautiful waters of the Georgia Strait, British Columbia, Canada, Nora is accused of attempting to murder Joe, her husband and partner of thirty years. Fearing her anger caused the incident, Nora strives to find out if she is guilty or innocent. In the search for truth, thugs shoot at Nora, she is kidnapped, jailed and tried in court for manslaughter and other crimes. With the help of a First Nation Mountie and a First Nation healer, can Nora prove her innocence and expose conspirators responsible for air, water, and land pollution and stealing rights from First Nation tribes?

Thoughts: This is a story about Nora and her husband, Joe. Mostly. She’s accused of pushing him overboard from their small boat and nearly killing him. But she’s injured herself and doesn’t quite remember the “incident”. In looking for the truth of what happened, she uncovers a lot more in this corner of British Columbia. With the help of a new Mountie and a First Nation healer, she finds out that there’s a lot of bad going on in the area—bad that gets her in even deeper trouble.

The author does an amazing job of pointing out issues with logging mills, clear cutting, environmental problems, jobs, First Nation rights, and more. I especially loved Sedna’s First Nation stories. And these are stories and issues that cross boundary lines as they exist on both sides of the Canadian/US border. They are woven in so well that you don’t realize you’re reading about deeper concerns than the surface mystery. She even includes a bibliography at the end for further reading and study. Well done. And there’s even a mostly satisfying ending so that’s good.

Recommended.

Disclaimer: Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”