Thriller

Thriller

• Behind the Door

  Pre-order Now! A psychological twist on the Bluebeard Tale, Behind the Door is fraught with suspense and fear.

• Tenant, the

  Pre-order Now! A double-booked rental, terrifying headlines across Europe and a looming deadline are the least of Amy's

  ...
• Terminal Solstice

  A gripping debut that probes a fraying world at the mercy of a mysterious phenomenon.

• Stealing John Hancock
  • Book Club Questions:
    • Why do you think JP decides to follow Erika? Do you think you would trust her if you were in JP’s position?
    • On more than one occasion, JP embarks upon flights of fancy. How does this tendency serve JP, and does it have any impact on your impression of him as a character?
    • Erika has a unique base of operations. What do you think about where and how she is set up? What to your mind is the perfect set up for a base of operations for heroes and for villains?
    • Do you think JP and Erika make a good match? Why or why not?
    • H&A Christensen subvert typical thriller expectations on more than one occasion. What was the biggest surprise for you?
    • In your opinion, what motivates Beth Marley and her actions? Is she a sympathetic character? Why or why not?
    • Is Cliff Marley a sympathetic character? Why or why not?
    • What do you think Stealing John Hancock says about living with trauma, based on the various ways it manifests for its different characters? (I.e., JP, Erika, the Marleys, Grey)
    • How does the character of Nya Grey compare with other female police officers you’ve encountered in film/books/TV? Is there anything about her and her story that stands out as being unique to her?
    • “If you think you’re in control, you’re sorely mistaken.” Why do you think this phrase resonates with Grey in the way it does?
    • What do you think Stealing John Hancock says about identity theft and how to protect oneself in the digital age?
    • If Stealing John Hancock were made into a movie, who would you like to see in the starring roles?
    • When JP loses his name, he is forced to question what makes him who he is. What do you think Stealing John Hancock says about the nature of identity and how we construct our sense of self?
    • The Marleys’ lose their home, Cliff finds the concept of “home” elusive, JP has no home, Grey is caught between two ideas of home. What is the meaning of home to you and how does it tie in to a sense of belonging?
    • Erika accuses JP of buying into the “American Dream” that to be happy you need to consume and acquire, that you need more and more “stuff.” Is that a fair characterization of JP? Is it what gets him into bigger and bigger messes, culminating in the theft of his identity?

  Stealing John Hancock bursts from the first page like a horse at the gate and never stops running.

  • Praise:

    Stealing John Hancock bursts from the first page like a horse at the gate and never stops running. It’s a wild ride. With murderers willing to do anything to get what they want from JP, and federal agents only a step behind, you simply can’t put this book down. H&A Christensen have crafted an unforgettable story of stolen identities, where you can trust no one. Complications unfold so rapidly and are put to rest so smoothly that you won’t ever want this book to end. I’m just hoping there will be a sequel.

    —Michelle Berry, author of the thriller Everything Turns Away

• Dishonour in Camp 133

  Sergeant Neumann and the inmates of Camp 133 are back! Book 2 of the Sergeant Neumann mysteries

• Eye of the Beholder, The
  • Book Club Questions:
    1. The book opens with a modification to the famous opening line of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Did this set a particular tone for the book when you read it?
    2. Randy’s descriptions of Puerto Vallarta paint it as a vacation paradise. Have you ever had a similar experience while vacationing? What was the occasion, and how do you think it affected your experience?
    3. Randy and Steve had a small, unconventional wedding ceremony and reception. Do you think this is a growing trend in today’s culture, or are traditional weddings still the norm? What do you think leads couples to choose one form over the other?
    4. Randy’s parents gift her and Steve a significant sum of money to buy art for their home (Randy moves into Steve’s condo), as a joint experience meant to help them understand themselves as a new ‘unified entity’ (17-8). What are some other strategies that you think achieve a similar end?
    5. Randy explains that she had always been fascinated by Frida Kahlo after her high school social studies teacher had introduced her during an expanded unit on Animal Farm (52). Is there an artist that draws you in in a similar way? What is it about their work that has this effect on you?
    6. On three separate occasions in the book, Randy thinks about or discusses not having children with Steve, often citing their age (49-50, 91, 105). How believable do you find her reasoning and rationalization? Do you think there is more to her feelings than she is willing to admit?
    7. Frida’s biography plays a significant role in decoding the meaning behind the murderer’s motivation. How important do you think it is to be familiar with the life of the artist when viewing their work? Explain.
    8. On multiple occasions, Randy reflects on Steve’s ability to almost flawlessly compartmentalize his home and work life. In what ways is this easier said than done? Does anyone in the group have this experience, and how do they manage?
    9. Randy remarks “Art is supposed to be what you like, not what you think people will judge you on” (123). To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement? To what extent is home décor performative?
    10. While shopping for art, Randy explains that the prairies frighten her: “There was too much openness, and I had the sense I could be blown away or plucked out of my tentative existence there. I was always much more grounded and secure in mountain scenery, where there was something on the horizon to link me to my surroundings and something to grab on to should the winds pick up” (126-7). What do you think this says about Randy’s psyche? Do you think it manifests in her relationship with Steve in any way?
    11. On his website, Diego Rivers comments: “To understand a community, one must live within its gates. One must read its history, drink in the atmosphere that shapes its people, and listen for the notes that set it apart from others— the chords that sound its individuality” (168). Randy feels that this sentiment is overblown and melodramatic. Do you agree or disagree? What do you think it takes to understand your community?
    12. Randy goes on a self-guided tour of Edmonton’s public art. What do you think installations like this add to a community? Is there a lot of public art in your community? Are there pieces that you love/hate?
    13. As we learn more about Kristen Perry and her relationships, does it affect how you sympathize with her fate? If it does, is this problematic for you?
    14. What are some of the red herrings that tripped you up while reading the book?
    15. What are some choices that Randy made throughout the novel that you disagreed with? What would you have done differently?
• Bootlegger's Confession, The
• Traitors of Camp 133, The
• Roar of the Crowd, The
• Condemned to Repeat
• Hang Down Your Head
  • Book Club Questions:
    1. Whatever Randy finds for an occupation, it always revolves around the university or college world. Is this a valid position for her, or is this her Achilles heel proving she has not yet matured and engaged with the real world?
    2. Randy has been seen to “read” the real world through the filter of fiction and now through the elements of song. Is this necessarily a bad thing?
    3. The Smithsonian Folkways Collection and the U of A’s folkwaysAlive! project see commoner music – traditional, folk and blues – as being vitally worthy of curation and celebration. What is it about folk music that makes it worth all the trouble?
    4. Randy is attracted to Woody, obviously. What strings does he pluck that Steve hasn’t managed to? Is Randy right in her ultimate choice? Should there be romantic elements in a mystery novel?
    5. To read here, you would think that Edmonton is one long festival in the summertime – and you’d be right. Why do you think this burst of summer celebrations should erupt so far north?
    6. So much of this novel depends on having an alibi – do you ever wonder whether you should pay attention to having a ready back story?
    7. Is folk music really the music of the folk, or has it been eclipsed by some other genre.
    8. The series explores various nooks and crannies of academe. Since campuses are more like each other than the towns or cities where they are built, does something happening on campus make it feel more real, since it’s an actual place and tangible buildings or more ephemeral?
    9. Randy is considered a “gifted amateur” in the world of detective fiction. What do you think this term implies?
    10. Do you play an instrument? Do you think it gives you a different relationship with music than those who have no musical background?
• Valedictorians, The
• Criminal to Remember, a
• Ordinary Decent Criminal, An
• Finger's Twist, The
  • Reviews:
    • [T]his Toronto journalist, in only his second swing at the fiction bat after 2003’s The Last Thief, has knocked one out of the Rogers Centre. In The Finger's Twist, he’s penned not only the best Canadian mystery/suspense release of the year, but a yarn light-years beyond anything the American stars have produced. . . .
      Lamothe is a flash-nova in a mystery/suspense firmament of increasingly bloated egos and inferior made-for-TV product. And Winnipeg’s Turnstone has a gold-plated winner. —Winnipeg Free Press
    • Toronto writer Lee Lamothe has constructed a wonderful noir thriller that owes a lot to Lee Child. Never thought Toronto had any mean streets? Lamothe's story begins with a riot at the legislature and never looks back.
      Charlie Tate isn't a clone of Jack Reacher. Unlike Jack, Charlie has relationships, kids, community ties. But he's like Reacher in his commitment to truth and in Lamothe's cool precise language. The Finger's Twist should be a finalist for the Arthur Ellis Award this year. —Margaret Cannon, Globe and Mail
    • The Finger's Twist by Canadian author Lee Lamothe was an unexpected delight, a dark journey through the roiling streets of a simmering Toronto as an off -the-books P.I. looks into the attempted bombing of the legislature, ably aided by his wheelchair-bound partner. Look for this one and when you find it, buy two: one as a gift and the other to keep for yourself. —The Calgary Herald
• Where Shadows Burn
• Your Friendly Neighbourhood Criminal

  "Can a man do good by doing bad?" Book 2 of the Monty" Haaviko Criminal series.

• Talking to Wendigo
• Criminal Intent
• Ptarmageddon