Review: Procedural Set in a Near Future Canada
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 02 4, 2013
The story opens with Detective Kate Garrett searching through an overgrown industrial lot.  It's November 20, 2018.  A neo-goth look is described as conservative and the universal geek look is a fashion statement "complete with black-rimmed glasses and pocket protector." One can buy marriage insurance and society has gone to a great deal of trouble to keep drinks and food from being tampered with.As the story continues there are moments when it seems the story could be happening in the present, then something will pop up and make the reader do a double take.  The author's near future world is good extrapolation from the present, although it's important to remember that it is set in Canada and not the US.Kate Garrett's father is Joe Garrett, former police detective, invalided out into the life of Private Investigator.  Joe's unexpected death-- accidental or intentional?-- and the death of the head of one of his firm's biggest clients, Delano Gage of Touchstone Insurance from a questionable drug interaction, are just too coincidental. Joe Garrett's partner, Jake Carmedy, and Joe's daughter set out to investigate the two deaths as Joe's friends and family go through the funeral rites.Not particularly violent or bloody, this is a procedural story rather than a thriller.  The characters tended to be interesting.  I did lose a bit of interest in Jake after he put on his uniform for the funeral and became a standard issue ex-soldier future love interest for a while.  His problem with getting along with Kate resolved itself in all too easy a fashion after a few minutes of thought and conversation.However, I am interested enough to consider another book in what appears to be a series.The publisher Imajin Books is a small press in Alberta who seems to publish mainly genre books. If this is an example of their work, I'm pleased. I only had a couple of jarring moments that included the word "treaded" used instead of "trod".  Both seem to be words but "treaded" does not sound right to me. I would be a happy person if my main complaint in all ebooks was that simple.Recommended as a light read.