Stephanie Collins Reviews a Riveting Crime Thriller Rooted in Well-Researched NL History
Murder at Lover’s Leap
Patrick J Collins
Flanker Press
It is August, 1927. Sergeant Frank Fallon is back on the beat at the Newfoundland Constabulary office in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland when reports of a ghastly discovery of two bodies at the foot of Lover’s Leap is reported.
Upon investigation, Sergeant Fallon discovers one of the men is the schoolteacher from the neighbouring community of Bristol’s Hope. Mr. Nicholas Peddle has been found clutching a woman’s shawl with a superficial stab wound to the neck.
The other victim, an unknown gentleman with an interesting but crudely executed tattoo, lay face-up a short distance away.
Fallon and his estranged partner, Christine Sullivan, spring into action. Over the next four days they uncover deep secrets regarding the schoolmaster’s conduct. The list of possible suspects grows, but the trail grows cold.
Fast forward 50 years; 88-year-old Fallon receives an unexpected phone call from the RCMP with news of a discovery that just might break the cold case wide open. Will an artifact recovered from the path near Lover’s Leap bring closure to this unsolved mystery? What really happened on that August night?
From where he was standing, the shoreline leading to Lover’s Leap was visible almost as far as the cliff itself, but it disappeared into a cove just before O’Keefe’s Grove. He was glad he had tossed the hat and jacket earlier. It was a good half-mile jog to Lover’s Leap. With his bad knee and feeling greatly under the weather, Frank wasn’t at all confident he was up for the jaunt. But duty called.
He braved a steady pace for the first few yards. The uneven pathway made the run even more challenging, forcing him to carefully place each and every step. Until now, he hadn’t appreciated the degree of elevation as he moved along the headland. Within minutes he slowed to a fast, limping walk. Taking a lot longer than he thought, he arrived near the ledge of Lover’s Leap, puffing and blowing … He saw a thick rope dangling over the precipice. One of the men was securing a heavy line around his body, while the other was busy lashing the rope around a nearby tree. It was obvious to Frank that one of them was about to rappel down the face of the 100-foot cliff.
Murder At Lover’s Leap is the 12th publication for retired educator and author Patrick J Collins. Inspired by a pair of true “but equally unnerving events,” Collins’ inspiration for this second narrative is based on the attempted double murder of two young lovers who, back in 1864, found themselves at the base of Lover’s Leap.
This unsolved crime, coupled with the discovery in 2021 of a lead casing containing a badly deteriorated note suggesting that a murder was about to occur, was the impetus for this latest narrative. Collins does an excellent job of crafting a tightly woven crime story using these two events.
He seamlessly incorporates other factually accurate tidbits of information. Being a lover of Newfoundland history, I particularly enjoyed how the author was able to weave the construction of the Harbour Grace Airfield into the story, while at the same time using this local lore to aid in the construction of characters that are central to the story.
As in Collins’ previous crime thriller, Body on The Beach, this most current work also features the detective sleuthing of the romantically inclined duo of Detective Frank Fallon and investigative reporter Christine Sullivan. Collins crafts a thrilling story using authentic characters that are real and relatable, while putting forth a narrative that will keep readers turning the pages to the very end.
In this follow-up novel, the author effectively uses a flashback technique to pique our interest. At the beginning of the story, Collins presents a very senior sergeant tormented by an unsolved double murder that had taken place 50 years previously, intrigued by the discovery of evidence that could lead to solving the crime.
We are then taken back to a very different time and place, as Frank Fallon relives the investigation and tells the story. At the beginning of the novel, we get a sense that Fallon’s continued struggle with “the bottle” is the result of some past triggering event, which will become clear at the end.
We are sympathetic with Christine’s reluctance to continue the relationship with Frank under such conditions. As clues and suspects pile up, their commitment to each other is tested.
We come to enjoy the flirtatious antics of the Irish barmaid Fiona, who tries to serve more than just brew to the brokenhearted sergeant. Our interest is further piqued when the cocky son of Judge Donnelly makes a play for Christine.
Murder At Lover’s Leap is a well written crime thriller, with expertly researched historical touches. The subplots running parallel to the mystery provide an extra layer of interest, resulting in an entertaining and enjoyable read. I highly recommend reading Collins’ first crime thriller, Body On The Beach, for maximum enjoyment; however, Murder At Lover’s Leap is a great stand-alone mystery.
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