Sergeant Winston Windflower and his trusty crew at the Grand Bank detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have more than a few mysteries on their hands. Windflower suspects that the three cases-a homicide, a near-homicide and a fire on Coronation Street-are somehow connected, but how is proving difficult to determine, especially now that he must battle his unusually cranky mood, the never-ending winter that has gripped the coastal region of Newfoundland and his new, power-hungry boss.In Fire, Fog and Water, Bony Blythe Award winner Mike Martin is true to form, retaining the light crime genre for which he is known while delving into the most perplexing social issues of our time, including mental health, addictions and workplace harassment. Windflower must not only solve the drug-and-death crimes that threaten the otherwise tranquil lives of Grand Bank’s residents, he must resolve his own internal conflicts before they consume him as surely as the blaze that engulfed the house on Coronation Street. It’s like going home each time I read about Sgt. Winston Windflower, his family, and his fellow officers in Grand Bank, Newfoundland. I enjoy these stories that contain a little mystery and at the same time a cozy feel to the life and times of this good man, Sgt. Winston Windflower. - Online Book Review, 4 out of 4 Stars Readers interested in a small-town setting and a whodunit that is satisfyingly complex and thought-provoking will find Darkest Before the Dawn excels at creating a realistic atmosphere that keeps the story fast-paced and involving. Darkest Before the Dawn is highly recommended for murder mystery readers who like their stories as filled with life as with death. - Diane Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review Be prepared to be charmed by Windflower, a food-loving sergeant who could possibly be Canada’s most polite Mountie. - Halifax Chronicle-Journal
