Blackflies Are Murder

In this second Belle Palmer mystery, our favorite Sudbury, Ontario real estate agent gets involved not only with crimes against persons but crimes against nature as well. The action and plot criss-cross through the pristine forest of wild berries, wild flowers, and wild bears to the glacial lakes of her resort-like neighborhood just waking up for summer. Also present is the tic-tac-toe board of events that include the illegal trade in animal parts to meet the burgening demand for Chinese medicine in the large cities and the shameful abuse of Inian children in the outer villages Christian schools of the 1960's. The unfolding of these political and emotional crimes are all the result of the murder of Belle's crusading neighbor. Secrets from the past are brought to light with her discovery of a street person who turns out to be her ploice chum's brother. I love all the diverse characters in the book, but the one who stands out in my mind is the inscrutable Sister Veronica. She is distrustful but heroic, suspicious but wise all rolled into one. And I feel that it is Sister Veronica who delivers the most telling line in the story at the very end. This is another interesting, descriptive, patchwork-clever read by Lou Allin.

Lou Allin originally hails from Toronto; but grew up in Ohio and earned a Ph.D. in English Renaissance Literature before moving back to Sudbury, Ontario to teach at Cambrian College. Blackflies are Murder is her second Belle Palmer mysteryBelle Palmer is a real estate agent living in the north, where it is easy to trip over bears; bait; hunters; and unmerciful Ontario winters. Belle's primary occupations besides her business is looking after her aging father and taking long walks to commune with nature. Belle's love of nature is shared by her friend Anni, a reclusive retiree who suddenly turns up dead in her home. Newcomer Charles Sullivan, buys a property close to Belle's and who turns out to be delightful company and a good neighbor. But things are not what they seem on the surface, and Belle finds herself the disconcerted discoverer of dead bodies, including Charles. Is it murder, or is there another explanation? When Belle is almost run off the road and her new neighbor is almost poisoned, she is convinced that these events are not just accidents:"Sorry, Charles. No time for niceties. Your line was busy. You haven't tasted that gift yet, have you? He pointed to the sizzling pan, the air rich with butter. 'Why? What's wrong? I was calling the weather line, or as they call it, da wedderline. That dialect tickles my ear.' She flopped into a chair, her breathing returning to normal, noting the chopped mushrooms still on the counter. 'Oh, nothing. Just gastric upset possible leading to convulsions. Probably survivable, health man like you. Jack O'Lanterns aren't as deadly as the infamous amanitas or the corts."Lou Allin raises the bar on mystery writing. Her almost contemplative style is heavy on character development and local color. Her style is almost scholarly, so that the reader has to pause to fully appreciate the flavor of her metaphors. But it fits with the Canadian "slow down and take a look at what's around you" attitude. No rushing around in screeching cop cars for Ms. Allin, but she gets the point across just the same. Blackflies are Murder is a book to be savored, rather than rushed through. Ms. Allin is a nature connoisseur, with much to teach us.Shelley GlodowskyReviewer