Compared to most mystery novels, not much appears to go on in any one of Jan Fancy Hull’s Tim Brown Mysteries, and yet so much happens. Though each book’s plots tend to be rooted in everyday occurrences – with some notable exceptions – the charm of the title character, the teapot-tempests in his small town, and the courage and vulnerability of the people he loves, draw readers in and sustains our interest.
It’s 1999, and Tim Brown is taking an unprecedented sabbatical from editing the South River Times to delve into the connections between his many communities: the newspaper, the church choir, the local diner, the Chamber of Commerce, even the Nova Scotia Legislature. His mix of canniness and naiveté – he inherited his job and rarely leaves South River – makes the character complex enough to keep readers engaged.
The series gives readers one book per month, each of which grapples with a substantial issue like corruption and scamming. Tim even saves someone from hypothermia. But his heroisms are deeply interposed with everyday tasks like making sure the piano’s humidifier doesn’t go dry, or that the back porch doesn’t rot off of his house.
A cast of appealing secondary characters support Tim in his “delving,” like his sweetheart Robert, church organist and music prof; his irascible Aunt Stella, the local MLA; and Evelyn, Tim’s friend and chief server at the local diner:
“What’ll it be this morning?”
“Why do you always ask me? You bring what you want anyway.”
“I dunno. Maybe I’ll surprise you by not surprising you today.” (June: Trespasses, June 17th)
The names of the wines in Tim’s cellar reinforce the series’ calendar structure; May: Façades includes Lundi les restes (Monday leftovers), Mercredi démondé (Old fashioned Wednesday), Buon fine settimana (Nice weekend) and even Petites victoires (Little victories – an allusion to another of the series’ themes).
Jan Fancy Hull’s skill with language, narrative and structure ensures that the series’ focus on minute particulars rarely devolves into tedium. These books demonstrate how, to the person involved, the death of a long-time colleague can be more traumatic than finding a skeleton in the backyard. In Tim Brown’s South River, actions that stem from kindness win out over those motivated by greed or spite.
If you’re interested in getting a taste of the Tim Brown books, subscribe to the newsletter at janfancyhull.com, and Hull will send you the free prequel story “1999: Under Way.”
Jan Fancy Hull lives and writes in a log chalet beside a quiet lake in Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia. Prior to arriving at this idyllic position, she served in various careers, enterprises, pursuits, and avocations, including, but not limited to, arts administrator, radio broadcaster, sailing tours skipper, and employee benefits broker.
In the warm months, Jan creates sculptures from Nova Scotia sandstone, which she exhibits in various galleries and shows. She is a member of the Lunenburg Art Society. She also enjoys golfing and drifting around the lake in a tiny rowboat, but doesn’t do enough of either. There are so many things to do.
Publisher: Moose House Publications (latest in series: September 10, 2025)
Paperback and ebook available
- Kathy Machttps://miramichireader.ca/author/kathleen-mcconnell/
- Kathy Machttps://miramichireader.ca/author/kathleen-mcconnell/
- Kathy Machttps://miramichireader.ca/author/kathleen-mcconnell/
- Kathy Machttps://miramichireader.ca/author/kathleen-mcconnell/
