Janet Sketchley is a Canadian Christian writer who has written Devotions, Reader’s Journals and another series: Redemption’s Edge. She set the book close to home: Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. The actual setting of Christmas made it an ideal read for this time of year. The cover evokes the tragedy that unfolded in the death of the local gossip in a hut in the woods.
This is the fourth book in a series: “A Green Dory Inn Mystery”. The list of main characters is in the front of the book. It makes it easier to follow along. Many of the core characters in the series are related and have been core “victims” or “sleuths” in the earlier books. Landon Smith, the main character in the series has a challenging background. She is a strong Christian who has survived sexual abuse. Her surrogate mother Anna Young is the owner of the Green Dory In where most of the action takes place. In this book we meet Landon’s real mother and there is a reconciliation as they both deal with traumatic issues in their past.
As it is Christmas time the “death” is surrounded by Christmas decorations and traditional events. Janet uses the season as a way of “bringing good will to men” in a Christian context so that it is a time of celebration and good will, a time of promise in the future. Overall it is an upbeat book. Her books are available online. Looking forward to reading more of them,
Janet has an excellent way of weaving her Christian values of forgiveness into a mystery. She is willing to take on controversial topics such as human trafficking and show how faith can heal. In the Author’s Note she gives several links for more information about Human Trafficking in Canada and hot lines to get help. Her questions for readers challenge the readers concept of forgiveness. They make excellent questions for book club discussions.
Are any of her other books written to tackle serious social issues such as drug addiction or homelessness?