Son of Elsewhere

As a child in the 90s, Elamin Abdelmahmoud emigrated along with his parents from Sudan to Canada. In SON OF ELSEWHERE, Elamin authors a series of essays in which he explores growing up in a new country, learning a new language and culture while also finding his own identity along the way. To be honest,…

Christmas Past

A number of years ago I stumbled across Brian Earl’s podcast CHRISTMAS PAST during my seemingly never-ending search for additional Christmas content. Brian’s podcast explores the long-standing traditions which make up the holiday seasons while also trying to uncover their often elusive origins. The episodes are pretty short, usually under fifteen minutes each, but pack…

Feel The Bern

Continuing in the vein of his Obama/Biden mystery series, author Andrew Shaffer takes democratic socialist and Vermont senator Bernie Sanders into the realm of the cozy mystery genre. Sanders and political intern Crash Robertson arrive in Eagle Creek as Bernie is set to take part in several events surrounding one of the town’s annual festivals.…

SMASH

SMASH follows author Ian Winwood through years of research, writing and interviews surrounding the 90s explosion in punk music. Earlier this year, I read Dan Ozzi’s SELLOUT, a book that looked at the major label feeding frenzy that swept punk, emo and hardcore music in the 90s and 2000s. While SMASH covers a lot of…

The Bullet That Missed

The Thursday Murder Club reconvenes to solve a ten year old cold case involving the disappearance and suspected murder of TV journalist Bethany Waites. Along the way, someone attempts to coerce Elizabeth into knocking off a person from her past. If Elizabeth doesn’t follow orders, her taskmaster will kill Joyce in cold blood! Much like…

All Roads Home

A seven time Stanley Cup champion with the New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Colorado Avalanche, Trottier recounts his road from Saskatchewan farm boy to NHL All-Star in his memoir, ALL ROADS HOME. Trottier’s career ended just after I turned ten years old in 1994, so it’s safe to say I missed the bulk of…

We Spread

WE SPREAD follows Penny, an older woman who following a bad fall in her home, is urged into an assisted living facility by her landlord; a plan previously devised by Penny’s deceased partner. Upon arrival, Penny is shocked to find that in such a big property, the residents are limited to herself and just three…