Book 11 in the Lane Winslow series continues the excellent and engaging stories we’ve come to enjoy, with its usual cast of delightful characters. It’s hard to believe that barely three years has passed since Lane first arrived in King’s Cove, as so much has happened to her and around her.
It is June 1948, and Lane and Darling are living peacefully and happily after nine-ish months of marriage. The peace is shattered by an explosion from the mountain about the sleepy community, and by a robbery and murder in downtown Nelson. Lane and Darling respectively investigate each situation, and the mysteries and puzzles abound.
As always, Whishaw uses the story to explore a bit of Canadian history, this time about the internment of Japanese Canadians during WWII, and their ongoing disenfranchisement in the years following. This history and the prejudices surrounding it become central to the plot, and while Whishaw draws these out well, there is a bit more exposition by the main characters than is strictly necessary, making the commentary about this “shameful” history a bit more heavy-handed than in her past books. Here, history provides colour but also critique, which is perhaps intrusive to the story.
Regardless, the book is as wonderful as the others in the series. I was disappointed that the stories of Ames (and Tina) and Terrell (and April) did not advance a bit more, despite the wonderful pieces about April’s time at police academy in Vancouver and the hints about Ames and jewellery. But perhaps those are teasers for the next installment – who knows what the summer of 1948 will bring to King’s Cove. Or perhaps there’s a spin-off series in mind? The separation of the stories worked very well in A Match Made for Murder, and fairly well in To Track a Traitor.
I found the last two books a bit less well done, but with Lightning, Whishaw returns to excellent form. And the stage is well set for future stories. Yay!
Fate: as with all other, this will go on to another avid Lane Winslow fan.
rclr 
I love each of the 11 books. I have read 1-10 twice and just finished 11. I am looking forward to book 12, with perhaps development in relationships for Terrell and Ames. Perhaps a family for the Darlings. Each character, including adults and children is so positive and gives me a strong sense of community. This reminds me of the characters by Louise Penny when she writes about Gamache and all the characters in Three Pines. Thank you for such great writing. Corrie Macdonald, Kamloops, BC