"Through Black Spruce" by Joseph Boyden ****

Joseph Boyden has a skilful knack for capturing contemporary living while simultaneously celebrating the traditional cultures, beliefs and lifestyle of the First Nation’s people.

This novel is comprised primarily of two captivating narratives that are separate and distinct but irretrievably interconnected. The local is Moosone, an imaginary town on James Bay in Northern Ontario. One strand of the story reveals the events the preceded Will Bird, a remarkable bush pilot, being in a coma.

The second strand relates to his two nieces. Suzanne, a well known fashion model has disappeared. Her sister Annie travels to Toronto, Montreal and New York in hopes of finding her. In the most tantalizing manner the novel reveals the secrets of Will and Annie in magical mix of metropolitan decadence contrasted with the essential survival of living of the land in a barren wilderness.

"The Book of Negros" by Lawrence Hill ****

Reminiscent of Alex Haley's 1977 novel, "Roots", this historical novel traces the experiences of an fictional character, Aminita Diallo, from her abduction from an African village to her ultimate appearance in London, England as a spokesperson to support the abolitionists. Through her eyes we view the human tragedies of the slave trade, the deplorable living conditions and the inhumane treatment of the people of color. The primary focus of the novel is the ultimate transportation of the loyalists that were transported to Nova Scotia by the British just prior to the American Revolution. The title of the book comes from the actual record of the negroes that were included as loyalist and the list that was recorded and has been maintaine.

The novel is a captivating read and historically sound. It is longlisted for the Scotia Bank Giller Prize this year and has already won The Rogers Writers' Trust Fictional Prize.

"The Given Day" by Dennis Lehane ***1/2

An excellent historical novel by the author of Mystic River but not quite as captivating. The book focuses on two fictional characters, Luther Lawrence an African American who finds himself in serious trouble with the criminal element in Tulsa, and, Danny Coughlin, the son of a powerful police captain in Boston. There is also occassional appearances by Babe Ruth the baseball star. Set at a significant time in American History (1918-19) the political and social unrest is captured through the exploration of the Spanish Inflenza pandemic, the emergence of unions, racism, prohibition and the dramatic Boston Police Strike of 1919. Lehane is a talented writer and book moves at an admireable pace that kept this reader totally engaged.

"Billy Strobe" by John Martel PF

Billy Strobe is a student attending law school who gets caught in money making scheme that results in him being sentenced to prison. While in prison he completes his law degree and develops a commitment to a fellow prisoner who basically saves his life. With an early release from prison he is determined to get a new trial for the man who saved his life. In his pursuit of that goal he discloses a complex stock manipulation within the legal firm with whom he is employed that ultimately results in additional murders and a threat to his own life. It is moderately entertaining as suspense novel in the tradition established by John Grisham.

Sail by James Patterson PF

An "on-sea" drama about a mother and her three children taking a sailing vacation with the brother of her deceased husband. The mystery is created with the realization that someone is trying to murder the entire family. The book untangles the strands of deceipt that ultimately lead to the killer and his motivation. This is nothing more than an average mystery "almost" thriller but certainly not Patterson at his best.