Crime and friendships.

Friends are Forever (Sgt. Windflower #16) by Mike Martin      

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Once more Martin has placed us squarely inside Windflower’s circle of relationships. Relationships that like a rock cast upon the water begets patterns as it spreads in ever expanding concentric circles sweeping all before it. At its center is Sgt. Windflower and his family. He is grounded by them, and by his relationship with the spirits of his ancestors. Truly wonderful, and sometimes a painful orbit.

This title is if nothing else is a portrait of the friendships that have grown over the years. There’s an array of people, including a former biker and drug addict who’s trying his best to lead a new life.

It’s the small pleasures that take center stage alongside the larger issues of law enforcement. It’s the meditative act of berry-picking, a reminder of Windflower’s childhood, the act of preparing and cooking meals for family and friends, walking the dog, his daughters—Stella and Amelia Louise, Windflower’s smudging ceremonies of thanksgiving, he and his wife Shiela’s involvement in community life. A circle!

That depth is what helps in his law enforcement activities, grounding him and giving him access to the community.

Gangs of bikers have been holding up banks and stores in Newfoundland, taking their point of sales terminals. It seems this is a dry run for a larger crime syndicate operating most likely out of Toronto. All levels of police are involved trying to track down movements of these criminals and their equipment. A scam with national financial consequences.

Windflower is deep into the solving of the crimes here in Newfoundland, as life unfolds in the community around him.

Sadly we will say goodbye to a good friend, renew and welcome in others.

As always a thoughtful read!

An Ottawa Press ARC via the author