About Me

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Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada
I am a lawyer in Melfort, Saskatchewan, Canada who enjoys reading, especially mysteries. Since 2000 I have been writing personal book reviews. This blog includes my reviews, information on and interviews with authors and descriptions of mystery bookstores I have visited. I strive to review all Saskatchewan mysteries. Other Canadian mysteries are listed under the Rest of Canada. As a lawyer I am always interested in legal mysteries. I have a separate page for legal mysteries. Occasionally my reviews of legal mysteries comment on the legal reality of the mystery. You can follow the progression of my favourite authors with up to 15 reviews. Each year I select my favourites in "Bill's Best of ----". As well as current reviews I am posting reviews from 2000 to 2011. Below my most recent couple of posts are the posts of Saskatchewan mysteries I have reviewed alphabetically by author. If you only want a sentence or two description of the book and my recommendation when deciding whether to read the book look at the bold portion of the review. If you would like to email me the link to my email is on the profile page.

Monday, February 13, 2012

Thoughts on Questions and Answers with Jill Edmondson (The Lies Have It)

On Thursday I posted my review of The Lies Have It. On Saturday I put up Questions and Answers with the author, Jill Edmondson. Tonight I conclude a long weekend with Jill with some thoughts on the Questions and Answers.
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Jill spoke of the actual group, Northbound Leather, being the inspiration for her fictional group, Bound for Glory. I looked up their website and it is explicit, especially on the items offered for sale. There was an ad for the coming 22nd Annual Fetish Night. It spoke of attendees being required to adhere to a strict fetish dress code. I did not research what is fetish dress code.
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The image of the male party goer keeping his credit card in his skimpy red underwear has caused me to reflect. As a guy, I cannot help thinking it would not be comfortable walking around with that angular card tucked in the underwear unless it was not as crowded in there as normal. Once again I have chosen not to conduct personal research.
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I hope Derek becomes a significant character in the series. In fiction, as in real life, I believe everyone needs a good personal lawyer. Now sleeping with your personal lawyer is best left in fiction.
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I actually hope Sasha will not start carrying a gun. It is uncommon in Canada to own a handgun and rare to carry a handgun. Our laws are very restrictive on handguns. It is a U.S. tradition for hard boiled detectives to carry handguns. In real life far more Americans have handguns than Canadians. I think Sasha can be just as tough without a gun. I also believe authors have a strong tendency to have bullets fly if their sleuth carries a gun or guns.
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As for Sasha being in her 30’s I hope she ages in the series. Sue Grafton’s detective, Kinsey Milhone, has remained effectively the same age through the course of 21 books. It works alright but I prefer Gail Bowen’s approach with Joanne Kilbourn. Her sleuth has aged over the 20 years of the series. A maturing or aging character feels more real to me. As well I like the new opportunities for different relationships provided by an aging character.
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It was interesting how real life events with the current mayor, Rob Ford, and a former mayoral candidate, Rob Ford, inspired Jill so that she could complete the book. I am going to be looking forward to what current political events in Toronto ultimately appear in the series.
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When I posted the review I forgot to set out it will be my 8th book read in the Canadian Reading Challenge at the Book Mine Set blog. I have 5 more to go before July 1, Canada Day, to complete the Challenge.
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8 comments:

  1. AnonymousFebruary 13, 2012 at 6:32 PM

    Bill - What a thoughtful and very witty post! You mean you're not going to try that credit card thing? ;-). And you know, I ought to think about a blog post about clients' relationships with their lawyers, some of which do get all too personal. You really make an interesting point there.

    On a more serious note, it's a very interesting question whether to have a sleuth age in real time, "semi-real" time or not at all. I've seen it done well all three ways and like you, I prefer more or less real-time aging. The only problem is of course, the inevitable consequences of aging. Well, Sasha has a long time before that's a risk.

    Thanks again for a great interview with Jill Edmondson and your interesting thoughts here.

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  2. Bill SelnesFebruary 13, 2012 at 10:18 PM

    Margot: Thanks for an insightful comment.

    I have no desire to try the "credit card thing". Maybe a reader of the blog will give it a try and report the results.

    I would be interested in the perspective of someone who is not a lawyer on relationships between clients and lawyers.

    As I get older I like to think sleuths can age in a series and still be popular.

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  3. JillFebruary 13, 2012 at 11:15 PM

    Thanks Bill & Margot!

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  4. Maxine ClarkeFebruary 14, 2012 at 3:58 AM

    Interesting review, Q/A and observations. This world is alien to me, too, though it does crop up occasionally in crime fiction - most recently in my experience, a theme in The Dinosaur Feather by Sissal-Jo Gazan, set in Denmark (Copenhagen I think, from memory). This book is mainly an "academic" mystery but throws in quite a few other elements.

    It sounds as if the UK is rather like Canada in its gun laws. I can't think of any legitimate reason for anyone to need a handgun, though I suppose farmers sometimes need a gun to shoot foxes or other pests.

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  5. Bill SelnesFebruary 14, 2012 at 7:26 PM

    Jill: I look forward to your next book.

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  6. Bill SelnesFebruary 14, 2012 at 7:29 PM

    Maxine: Thanks for the comment.

    I had not heard of the Danish book.

    Gun control is an ongoing issue in Canada. Maybe Sasha will become involved in one of her mysteries.

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  7. Prashant C. TrikannadFebruary 17, 2012 at 3:29 AM

    Bill, thanks for the fine interview with Jill Edmondson as well as your thoughts on the Q&A. Special thanks to Ms. Edmondson too. I am intrigued how a 30-something Sasha Jackson solves mysteries without a gun. Even more by Ms. Edmondson's observation that she might consider putting a gun in Jackson's hands "to remain credible." It will be interesting to read her books with and without guns.

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  8. Bill SelnesFebruary 17, 2012 at 10:28 PM

    Prashant: Thanks for the comment. Sasha will be a unique P.I. in North America if she continues to solve mysteries without a gun.

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