Beneath the Surface: Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series, Book 3

I really like Sgt Windflower but very early in the story he sets off to work wearing his red serge. NOT. I was born in Ottawa and have lived here my entire life. I've visited all 10 provinces and 2 territories and seen many Mounties and they wear Red Serge only on ceremonial duties, like standing around on Parliament Hill or escorting dignitaries.

Beneath the Surface is the third book in the Sgt Windflower mystery series. The book is set in Newfoundland, Canada, and taught me so much about the area and the people. I found it fascinating and it had me grabbing my atlas to pinpoint St. Johns, Grand Bank and Marystown. Sgt Winston Windflower is a Canadian Mountie and the book opens with the body of Amy Parsons, a local rowing champion.Windflower is returning to Grand Bank and Sheila his girlfriend, is coming home after a serious car accident. There are few police officers to police the vast area and thoughts of serious crime rarely reach this outpost. Houses are left unlocked and tourists are welcomed, the biggest threat is from speeding motorists and Moose on the roads. So when it looks like Amy Parsons was murdered and then a second body turns up, there is a need to step up the policing in the area.There follows a slow and relaxed mystery involving Russian gangsters, Chinese immigrants and the seedy world of escort agencies, drugs and human trafficking. This is all mixed with interesting details about life in this part of Newfoundland. Windflower is a Cree Indian descendant and it was great to hear about his daily traditions and I liked his Uncle Frank who was a dream weaver.Windflower works with other police departments and becomes under pressure with his senior officer. The clues are found and new evidence is revealed that will shock the police force. On top of this he has to deal with a local strike at the fish plant and is suffering from disturbing dreams of his own. Windflower is a respected officer, but finds himself in a difficult situation when he speaks his mind over a sexual harassment issue.The mystery was good and the background setting of Newfoundland was very enjoyable. We join Windflower for many meals full of local and traditional delicacies. I also enjoyed learning about the indigenous people of the area and the every day lives of the people who currently live in this peaceful part of the world. There were small parts of the book that I felt were too much, and dragged the story on, for instance too many meals were described. There is also an over use of "He said/she said" during most conversations. If there are only two people in the dialogue the reader can easily follow the ping pong of replies without every "Said Windflower/ Sheila said" A few teaks and this book would be a good solid 4.5-5*'s.This review is based on a free copy of the book given to me by the author.

Sgt. Windflower returns to Grand Bank. This book is full of criminal investigation, Cree lore and customs, and fantastic food. Windflower finds himself on the right side of the #me too movement. Great plot, great characters.

Everything changes when the quiet, serene community of southeast coast of Newfoundland, Canada, is shaken up by the murder of Amy Parsons, a champion rower in the Women's Championship Race at the St. John's Regatta. And suddenly nothing seems to make sense anymore. What was the purpose of the Chinese tourists, led by a Russian tour guide earlier in the year? The discovery of a pink mobile phone with the numbers of prominent public officials including a judge and a Member of the House of Assembly, and senior police officers from both the RCMP and the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary are kept a secret. Possible exposure will have several heads rolling; people are nervous; and sergeant Windflower is center to all the mayhem which secretly rages through the inner circle of power and privilege. Loyalty and friendships are tested. Yes, some powerful people are looking to bury this stuff deeper than the mines on Bell Island and sergeant Windflower's sense of fairness is in the way.Through it all, Windflower is bombarded with weird dreams, which only his uncle Frank, a dream weaver, can interpret. A new world of voices from the past opens up for Windflower. It is as much a community story as it is a detective, murder mystery; just as much a love story as it is a celebration of Canadian customs and cultures, a travel journal. Informative, yes. A gentle, dignified approach to serious issues. The combination of all these elements ensures that the community of Grand Bank won't be forgotten. I loved the opportunity to be back and enjoying their company again. This book is the next best thing to living there! A much enjoyable read.

Beneath the Surface (Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series Book 3), my second enjoyable read from author Mike Martin. Well-written with intriguing primary characters and a captivating storyline. I didn't do myself any favors by reading book 6 first but I didn't know I owned this one. Now I just went out & bought The Walker on the Cape Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series, Book 1 to read next. “I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review." The gifting of this book did not affect my opinion of it. Francis G. Kearney's narration with his hint of an accent is perfect for this book. I'll definitely be reading more from this author. (RIP Marley January 20, 2014 - July 24, 2018).

This book is like two books overlapping. The mystery is interesting and somewhat complicated. The interchanges between Sargent Windflower and his fellow law enforcement are well written and contribute to the story. The other book, however, is Sgt Windflower's personal life and would be fine as background for the first if it was drastically edited. The dialogue is stilted; there is an overabundance of speech tags and large info dumps, and daily events are repeated in details that add nothing to the story. It is obvious early on that the Sgt enjoys his food and that's fine but every breakfast is thoroughly covered even if it's pretty much the same over and over. The local color is nice and helpful but needs to be introduced more seamlessly. Winston and Sheila are so bland that I didn't get a good feel for their characters or relationship.

Love this series, love that there are still lots of books still to read. Winston is a lovely, muti-layered human. The books also include examples of policing life, of life on the Burin Peninsula, Newfoundland and indeed the Maritime provinces. I feel right at home with the places, the people, and lifestyle.Love this series ❤️

I love the easy, laid back way the author writes. U get to know the characters and each book continues with the characters. I was born in NL and had a connection with them. I now live Alberta.

Great character development, excellent plot

This was a real spellbinder and deeply involving as are the other 'Winston' books.

I've been reading this book when I suddenly became very uncomfortable with Sgt Windflower as a Cree man, when I haven't been able to find out if Mike Martin is Cree himself, in whole or in part. If not, I think it's quite distasteful to make the main character aboriginal, who practices certain Native rituals the author himself may have no first-hand experience of. I used to think very little of the 'appropriation of voice' argument put forward by literary critics some time ago, but this one does make me remember how outraged many Native Canadians were with what they saw as their stories being stolen by non-Native writers. Windflower is alleged to be from a Cree community in Northern Alberta.That's one complaint. The second is the quality of the writing. Lines like this: 'Shoot, he thought, I didn't even get a chance to tell her about Uncle Frank.' What detective says 'Shoot'? Jeepers, he might want to think about spicing up his language a bit.Now for one compliment: It's set in Newfoundland and he does a good job of creating a sense of place. That's what made me try this book of his: I was excited to discover a mystery novel set on this grand island.I wish he'd been edited, thoroughly, and wonder if he self-published because no 'real' publisher would take him on. Maybe they were uncomfortable with the voice of Sgt Windflower as a Cree man, maybe it was the writing. If so, Mike Martin should take heed.