I've just finished reading Safe Harbour, the latest instalment in the cosy life (and not quite so cosy job) of Sgt. Windflower, the kind-hearted Cree RCMP officer who has resettled (albeit temporarily, as he suggests partway through the novel) in St John's, a larger town close to their regular haunt of Grand Bank, that allows his wife Sheila to follow her studies at the university.
Windflower has taken on a desk job and isn't overly enthused by the introductory online course that he has to follow. Another downside is the big RCMP outreach van that he has to drive around in, constantly waving at people and agreeing to be taken in photographs.
Wandering around downtown, he spots a poster informing people about a missing girl, which leaps out at him because her parents come from Grand Bank. Over the coming days and weeks, more signs go up about other girls and Windflower is drafted in on a new mission between the two towns to try to uncover a sinister human trafficking plot. This brings in worrying tales of biker gangs, underage prostitution and drug gangs that show a bleaker side to this wintry wonderland.
Luckily, Windflower is there to put a positive spin on things, enjoying his family life, moaning in ecstasy as Sheila provides yet another plateful of delicious home-cooked fayre and branching out on a new project - building a skating rink in his back garden ! Their girls are growing up fast - daughter Amelia Louise has definitely inherited a cheeky streak of sassiness and a love of good food from her father and adopted daughter Stella, who joined them in the previous book, has settled into her new family life but finds it hard to talk. Sheila is on the case though and I'm sure this struggle to overcome the traumas of her early life will be picked up in the next book.
It's a peaceful, stress-free read, despite the difficult cases that Windflower is working on, and you'll come out of it with a smile on your face, feeling like you've spent a week catching up with your best friends in their happy family home, rather than worriedly following the local crimes that could give you nightmares.
star rating : 4/5
RRP : £11.59
- Publisher : Ottawa Press and Publishing Mystery (31 May 2021)
- Language : English
- Paperback : 262 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1988437733
- ISBN-13 : 978-1988437736
- Dimensions : 15.24 x 1.68 x 22.86 cm
Disclosure : I received a review copy of the book.
I imagine you feel very much like best buddies with Sgt Windflower's family, as you've been following their adventures through the series. Will you be recreating more recipes? :)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a great idea ! Haven't done that in a while :)
DeleteWhen I picked up Safe Harbour, I could not put it down until I reached the last word in this wonderful text! Thanks Mike Martin for creating yet another great adventure in the growth of Winston Windflower's family and career!
ReplyDelete