As We Forgive Others by Shane Peacock

A brilliant read from the first line to the last.

A brilliant read from the first line to the last, I was addicted to the story of Detective Mercer and his escape to the north. This complex tale of foreshadowing, disappearing people, unreliable witnesses and a story of an abusive husband was wrapped with a bow of romance, humour, and easy to love characters who were equally easy to hate.

When a stranger appears at the very isolated rental home of Detective Mercer, he struggles with the thought of opening it — especially with how the stranger is dressed. Then the real struggle is if he believes the message being delivered and what he is to do about it. Out of his jurisdiction, out of his comfort zone and, some would think, out of his league, his decision begins a domino effect of intrigue, doubts and suspicions. In a rural community it’s easy to think everyone knows everyone and their secrets, especially when you get the answer to questions like “who is your father?” What Mercer doesn’t expect is the colour and strength hiding beneath, and above, the feet of snow that keep tripping him up. As he climatizes to a season he never really experienced before, he also learns how many layers need to be peeled to really get into the heart of the people who run and protect the community. While it may be easy to remove the layers of clothing for some, the tears, force, and delicacy of revealing truths and pasts as a come from away aren’t nearly as easy.

While I am familiar with some of Shane Peacock’s young adult work, as his first dark adult mystery, I am hooked and want to know what is next for Alice, Christine and Mercer. Forgiveness is one thing only experience and practice can teach, though Peacock and his tangled web of characters certainly is the next best thing.

Shane Peacock is an author, playwright, journalist and screenwriter, published in twenty languages in eighteen countries. He is a seven-time winner of the Junior Library Guild of America Selection, twice winner of the Arthur Ellis Award, and has been short-listed for the Governor-General’s Award, three times for the TD Canadian Children’s Literature Award, and the Marilyn Baillie Picture Book prize. His young adult novels include the acclaimed Boy Sherlock Holmes series, the Dylan Maples Adventures, and The Dark Missions of Edgar Brim trilogy. He lives in Cobourg, ON with his wife, journalist Sophie Kneisel.

Publisher: Cormorant Books (November 9, 2024)
Paperback 5.5″ x 8.5″ | 296 pages
ISBN: 9781770867628

Sarah Butland

Website

I am a struggling artist, a challenging and challenged mother who always thinks she is failing, an emerging freelance writer and reporter, an author with my name on several books crossing genres and always hoping to find more readers who enjoy them.

I am also a successful artist, a wonderful and thriving mother of one, a reacher towards both people and dreams despite all of the turned backs and obstacles in my way. I am a thriving freelance writer and reporter, an author loved by enough readers to make it worthwhile and a discombobulated conundrum who loves to hear new music, tell new tales and meet new authors. And I’m doing something I always dreamed of doing – reviewing books to support others as well as myself and my family.