Review & #Giveaway: A Killer Whisky: Alberta (Canadian Historical Mysteries) by Susan Calder
- Debbie
- Mar 6
- 4 min read
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The 1918 influenza pandemic strikes Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Great War rages overseas. While her husband fights in Europe, Katharine works in a doctor’s office to support her children and her brother, a wounded veteran. One night their neighbour suddenly takes sick and dies. The attending doctor concludes the man died from influenza, but Katharine suspects someone laced his whisky with a drug that mimics the deadly flu’s symptoms.
Katharine convinces the police to investigate. Worried about her brother’s involvement with a suspect, she delves into his secrets and comes to fear he’s connected to the murder. She grows disturbingly attracted to the investigating detective who returns her affections. He’s convinced her brother or someone else close to her is a killer and risks his career to pursue the crime. Katharine must discover the truth so she can move forward in a world that has changed forever.
When the dishes had been cleared, Katharine told the children to take their arithmetic books and slates to the kitchen table. From their lunch conversation, it appeared school that morning had consisted of playing the piano, recess, and making soup, lightly salted this time. John was now delivering a pot to Marguerite. The children practiced their sums while Katharine washed the dishes.
She was placing the last bowl in the rack when the doorbell rang. A neighbour? A telegram? Her heart raced as she hurried down the hall.
Detective Tanner stood on the front porch. No telegram, but was his appearance good news or bad? His face was ruddy from the cold.
“I thought you’d be at work.”
She folded her arms against the chill air. “I took my lunch hour later than usual.”
“I’m here to interview your brother.”
“He’s stepped out for a few minutes. Please come in.”
He entered, closed the door, and hung his fedora on a hall chair hook. She stole a glance in the mirror. A few hairs had escaped her bun. She tucked them behind her ears while he took off his gloves and draped them and his coat on the chair.
“Can I offer you a cup of tea?”
“Anything warm would be wonderful.”
She waved him toward the living room. “Please make yourself comfortable while I put on the kettle.”
On her walk to the kitchen, she realized the children shouldn’t be in the house while a policeman interviewed John about their neighbour’s death by suspicious cause.
“Who is there?” Henry asked.
She lit the stove for the kettle. “A visitor for Uncle John. We’ll save sums for later. You two play in the backyard until he leaves.” Fortunately, their outerwear was in the back porch and not the front closet.
“Is it a friend from his band?” Henry asked.
Katharine set the teapot, three cups, and three spoons on the serving tray. “They need to talk about a private matter, so you’ll have to stay outside until Uncle John comes to fetch you.” She took off her apron.
Lillian got up from her chair. “What if I get cold?”
“Your hat and mittens and boots will keep you warm.” Katharine poured milk into the creamer jug and placed the sugar jar on the tray. “Henry, you help her dress.”
“What if I fall and bang my knee and it’s bleeding all over the grass?” Lillian said.
“Wipe it clean with a leaf.”
“Is it Mrs. DeLuca?” Henry asked.
“No,” Katharine said. “And don’t disturb Uncle John. I mean it. If you do, I’ll stay home from work tomorrow and we’ll do sums all day. No recess or music or—”
They dashed to the back porch, playtime eclipsing Henry’s curiosity and Lillian’s worries.
4 out of 5 (very good)
Independent Reviewer for Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
This is an historical murder mystery, set in the back drop of the Spanish Flu epidemic in 1918, in Alberta, Canada.
And I really rather enjoyed it!
We get to hear from a good few people, and I do love hearing from everyone. Being set over 100 years ago, times and people have changed and I do like comparing then to now: habits mostly, but attitudes and customs, the way things were.
What I did like, was the way the epidemic was being treated: hand washing, masks and the like. Reminded me a lot of a more recent event, and I wonder if they DID do those things, or if the author took liberty, but not that it matters either way. Just a point.
What I especially liked, was that I did not get whodunnit til it was revealed in the book! I loved being kept on my toes and made to question everything and everyone. I really did not see that coming, so very well played there!
A solid 4 star read
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *
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Susan Calder lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. She is the author of five novels published by BWL Publishing Inc. A Deadly Fall, Ten Days in Summer, Winter's Rage and Spring Into Danger are part of her Paula Savard Mystery Series. The books follow the adventures of Paula, a Calgary insurance adjuster who works with the police to solve insurance-related crimes. Susan’s standalone suspense novel, To Catch a Fox takes a troubled Calgary woman to Southern California on a quest to find her missing mother. In December 2024, BWL will release Susan’s first historical novel, A Killer Whisky. The story is set in 1918 Calgary and will be the 12th and final book of the BWL Canadian Historical Mystery Series. Susan has also published non-fiction articles. Her short stories and poems have won contests and appeared in numerous anthologies and magazines. She is a member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and the Writers’ Guild of Alberta.
Website: https://susancalder.com/
Tour hosted by: Goddess Fish Promotions
This sounds like a great read.
Sounds like a good story.
Thank you, Debbie, for your review. I'm Susan, the author, and am glad you enjoyed A Killer Whisky. Yes, the medical advice during the 1918 Pandemic was basically the same as it was for COVID-19 - wash your hands, wear masks, stay away from crowds. Some things haven't changed in over 100 years.
Thank you, Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books - for hosting A Killer Whisky today. I'm Susan, the author, and I welcome your readers and look forward to comments.
Thank you so much for hosting and reviewing A KILLER WHISKY today.