Book Review

By Derryll White

Rotenberg, Robert (2012).  Stray Bullets.

Just the fact that the author is Canadian, and the action takes place in Toronto, Ontario, makes ‘Stray Bullets’ interesting.  Timmy Horton coffee shops and hard, blustery winters are a long way from Rodeo Drive and palm trees.  Locked into our own winter, this is definitely the mystery to read in front of the fire.

Robert Rotenberg tells a good story.  There is a large cast of characters but he keeps them all clear and easy to track.  And he lets Toronto be one of the major players.

This is a lawyer and cop story, reminiscent of John Grisham and John Lescroart, but with our own distinctly Canadian twist.

There are many stories within the story, exploring family feeling, dominating ego, fear, love and lots of angst.  But the author always keeps the action moving forward.  ‘Stray Bullets’ is a good read.

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Excerpts fr0m the novel:

ONTARIO – A hundred miles south and west of Toronto, the bus left behind the last hint of the Canadian Shield, the great glacial rock that covered much of the northern part of the country.  Everything had flattened out.  Farms and fields dotted the tabletop landscape.  The earth was lying fallow, preparing for its winter hibernation.

TORONTO – Relax, Armitage told himself.  After all, diversity is what makes Toronto such a special place to work and live and prosecute.

– Derryll White once wrote books but now chooses to read and write about them.  When not reading he writes history for the web at www.basininstitute.org.

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