Pathologist Lesley Richardson returns for a second investigation in early 20th century Saskatchewane century.
The year is 1918. Some soldiers return broken, physically and psychologically, from the great battles of the Second World War in Europe. One of these rare survivors is discovered drowned in his bathtub. Is it a simple accident? The man had lost a leg in combat, so he had balance problems. Or is it murder? Before leaving for the war, he wanted to marry the daughter of a notable. When he came back, did he still want it? As in the first volume of the series, The pathologist, Lesley Richardson teams up with investigator Morley Vines to get to the bottom of the situation. She can also count on the help of Lucinda, officially her housekeeper, secretly her lover. The plot of Die a hero is tighter than that of The pathologist, more controlled. This second investigation resonates even more for readers because it takes place against the backdrop of the Spanish flu. The contagion is spreading across Regina, some are hiding in their homes, others are wearing masks, as required by health authorities. Lesley Richardson, who is a bacteriologist in addition to being a pathologist, is working on developing a vaccine with colleagues from Public Health. They are also looking to develop drugs to treat people who have already contracted the disease. Another theme that concerns today’s reader is post-traumatic shock syndrome. Elisabeth Tremblay well illustrates the drama experienced by these men who return from the front, wounded, steeped in guilt. And also the incomprehension of their family members, who no longer recognize their son, their brother or their fiancé. No wonder violence is taking hold.
Die a hero
Flammarion Quebec
290 pages