With 2018 coming to a close, I chose to try one final William Deverell novel. With his vast knowledge of the Canadian legal system and experience with clients involved in many criminal activities, Deverell brings a unique realism to his writing, though asserts that it is all fiction. In this piece, the story opens in a Newfoundland courtroom, where a wily lawyer has been able to turn the tables and help his client elude conviction. Thereafter, there are whispers by drug trafficking kingpin Peter Kerrivan of a plan to bring a new and highly potent form of marijuana into Canada, directly under the noses of both local and American officials. Gathering a small group of diligent workers, Kerrivan is able to facilitate a trip to Columbia to check out the product, literally tons of ‘female bud’ marijuana. From there, it will have to makes its way up the coast and back through Newfoundland, where distribution is sure to garner hundreds of millions of dollars, should all go right. However, RCMP and DEA officials have been tipped off, but must play their cards right, in order to ensure the law is on their side when they intercept the drugs before arriving in Newfoundland. If that were not enough, lawyers await to tie government officials in knots and possibly keep anyone involved out of prison. It’s an adventure on the high seas that no one could have predicted. Deverell does well to keep the reader hooked throughout this novel, which finds new and exciting ways to tell a story of dealing, trafficking, and using in 1980s North America. Some who are familiar and enjoy Deverell’s writing may enjoy this one, though it is written in his highly dense style, which is sure not to appeal to all readers.

As Canada has recently legalised cannabis use by its citizens, there are some interesting aspects to this novel that make it a worthwhile read. However, very little of Deverell’s premise involves personal use of the product, but rather massive shipments through numerous borders, all while eluding authorities during America’s War on Drugs. Deverell fills the pages with information, drug-use, and legal meanderings to give the reader interesting angles on the entire business of the drug trade. While there could surely be called a few protagonists, many of the key players melded together for me, leaving a general group of ‘drug runners’ who seek to make their millions by taking a sizeable gamble. These include one fellow whose personally recorded journal is placed within the pages of various chapters. The story is strong and its ideas are quite interesting. That said, I am not sure I was ready for as dense a read as Deverell offered, as I was sifting through the narrative and trying to extract precisely what themes were being presented. However, the story flowed well and kept my attention, educating and entertaining me in equal measure. While not my favourite piece, I am happy to have given Deverell another chance to impress me in the final days of this year!

Kudos, Mr. Deverell, for another interesting novel. I love how you make me think while I read, even if my brain is not always able to compute what you want the reader to understand in short order.

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A Book for All Seasons, a different sort of Book Challenge: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...35 s Sandi1,601 47

A highly entertaining caper featuring "A merry band of Newfoundland smugglers" attempting one big score and the authorities who are trying to thwart them.crime-mystery-thriller-suspense ebooks read-2020 Marc Leroux188 14

This is a review of the audio version of High Crimes by William Deverell Narrated by Steve Scherf, Maggie Scherf.
I picked up this audiobook on the strength of Needles, which I listened to a few weeks back. That was an interesting book, good enough for me to go and get the other two available on audio.

High Crimes is a great story, particularly when read by Steve and Maggie Scherf. I listen to a lot of audio books and I didn't realize how bland some of them are, most being read with only light inflections (if any at all) to distinguish between the characters. If you enjoy audio books, then pick this one up, simply as a demonstration of how books should be read. It's easy to distinguish the characters, the accents are incredibly well done, and the reading clear and a pleasure to follow.

High crimes is the story of Pete Kerrivan, an old school Newfoundland smuggler. The story starts with he and his crew being acquitted (on a technicality) of smuggling marijuana into Canada, thereby earning the distinction of being targeted by RCMP Inspector Harold Mitchell, who will stop at nothing to put Kerrivan behind bars. Kerrivan's problem is that, while he was freed, the boatload of marijuana was destroyed, and Kerrivan had bought it on consignment ... so now he owes a Colombian drug lord a boatload of money. So he hatches a scheme to smuggle in the biggest load of marijuana ever brought into Canada. Mitchell believes something is going to happen and plots his revenge, bringing the US Drug Enforcement Agency in to the plan. From Newfoundland to Colombia to Miami to Newfoundland, it's a question of who is leading whom, and on what merry chase.

The ending is completely unexpected and after you get your breath back, you realize how fitting it is.

Great book. Fantastic reading. 5 stars.

_audio canada fiction ...more Pat Hodge73

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