Maggie Spencer is a likeable heroine who has seized the prime of her life - her 50s - to prove that she can sleuth with the best of them. Along with her slightly overweight, wise-cracking, detective employer Nat Southby, Spencer returns in the third book of a mystery series, Death on a Short Leash, written by author Gwendolyn Southin of Sechelt and published by Touchwood Editions. Southin, also in the prime of her life, began serious novel writing only after her retirement and upon arrival on the Coast, as she told a friendly audience who celebrated the launch last Friday at the Sunshine Coast Arts Centre. Southin's career was sparked by a writing course she took from author and teacher Betty Keller. Southin went on to co-found the Festival of the Written Arts along with Keller, and over the years, drew good critique and inspiration from a writing group now known as the Quintessential Writers who co-sponsored Friday's book launch with Touchwood. Southin thanked the group: Keller, Dorothy Fraser, Rosella Leslie and Maureen Foss, and mentioned to the audience that this book came together much more quickly than her first one, Death in a Family Way, published in 2000.
The first novel introduced Maggie, who leaves her officious husband, Harry, in favour of her detective employer. The book was strong on vivid characters, but it had difficulty in keeping up a lively pace. By contrast, this latest book simply sails along. It's obvious that Southin is in her element writing in the murder mystery genre.
"I found I thoroughly enjoyed it, knocking these people off," she laughed.
Death on a Short Leash is an easy read involving an illicit puppy mill, a pseudo religious commune, a mean veterinarian, an alcoholic wife and a hapless victim who led a double life. Through it all, the feisty detective takes risks, stands up to her husband, kidnaps a dog, escapes a killer and solves the mystery.
When Southin submitted her first novel to a publisher, he liked it but thought the story-involving unwed mothers-was a bit old-fashioned. Taking the suggestion to heart, she completely re-wrote it, this time setting it in Vancouver in the '50s. Spencer's struggles to hold down a job or maintain independence in a man's world illustrates vividly what women faced during that decade. Southin's white hair and British accent might remind the reader of the doyennes of British mysteries, Agatha Christie or Dorothy Sayers, two authors whose stories also featured strong, female protagonists.
"Actually, I'm a P.D. James fan, but I don't write anything like that style," said Southin.
Touchwood has reissued the first novel and the second, In the Shadow of Death, in paperback versions. Death on a Short Leash is available at Talewind Books.
