Book Reviews | Paula Wild

February 25, 2026February 25, 2026

The Broken Detective by Joel Nedecky

Jake Joelson is more than broken. He’s a down and out private investigator with a heavy-duty drinking problem. All he’s got to his name is a collection of overdrawn credit cards, a truck, couch and TV.

But he loves his mom and will do anything to make sure she’s financially okay when he heads to jail in two weeks. For Jake, that means one last case before his life shrinks to a seven-metre square concrete cell.

His job: find a woman’s missing sister. And switch the booze for a stack of AA meetings that just might convince the judge to reduce his sentence.

Dragging his past behind him like a ball and chain, Jake struggles to track down the woman who disappeared, while dealing with his own demons.

In his debut novel, Nedecky has adeptly created a flawed underdog that readers can’t help but root for. Right from page one, Nedecky presents the story in a unique voice. His terse prose is close to the bone, aptly capturing the rough edges of Jake’s life.

The story, set in Winnipeg, Manitoba, provides a vivid image of the city and a splendid backdrop for what just might be happening in its shadowy corners.

A high school teacher, Nedecky and his family live in Winnipeg, where he’s working on his second novel.

For more info, visit jnedecky.com.

April 9, 2025April 9, 2025

Gumboots in the Straits

Gumboots in the Straits, Nautical Adventures from Sointula to the Salish Sea is hilarious, insightful and totally candid. Each chapter chronicles the escapades of young men drawn to British Columbia’s West Coast and the inside waters of Vancouver Island in the 1970s.

This decade was a time of upheaval creating a major shift in social norms. Countless young people were seeking a better life, anchored on the concepts of peace, love and freedom. The accessibility of the birth control pill, the increasing popularity of marijuana and growing conflict over the Vietnam War all contributed to the changes that took place.

A lot of people were on the move resulting in an intriguing cultural stew of hippies, back to the landers and Vietnam war resisters finding their way to remote areas of the BC coast. They came from the US, other parts of Canada and suburban areas of the province.

Many shared a certain innocence, even naivety, about what life in less inhabited areas would be like. But there was also optimism and a willingness to take on the challenges involved in learning new ways of living and earning an income.

Most of the men became commercial fishermen for at least part of their working lives. And most had no experience when it came to trolling, gillnetting or seining. Some learned under the guidance of men (benevolent or otherwise) who had been earning income from fish since they were teenagers. Others figured things out through multiple experiences of trial and error.

Skippers yelled, boats sank, people fell overboard, days off were often spent at the nearest pub and big crew shares were celebrated. For the most part, fish were plentiful and if you were willing to work hard, the money was good.

I initially bought this book as I know half of the twenty-seven contributors. Learning the backstory of these men was intriguing but I was equally engrossed in the stories by people I’ve never met. I particularly enjoyed the chapters acknowledging the support of their female companions/spouses.

Kudos to Jane Wilde and Lou Allison for documenting this unique era in Gumboot Guys, Gumboot Girls, Dancing in Gumboots, and now Gumboots in the Straits, all published by Caitlin Press.

June 15, 2024

Have You Ever Heard A Whale Exhale?

I have, in fact, many times. And even though I was awed at each occurrence, none made me smile quite the way this new picture book does.

The rollicking and lushly illustrated tale leads readers on an amusing journey into the quirky wonders of the sea, sky and stars. Sea lions stir up a stink, seagulls shriek and wary sea anemones clench their tentacles tightly.

The clever rhymes are the work of Caroline Woodward, author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books for children, teens and adults. For this story, Woodward draws on her affinity for nature, especially the thirteen years she spent as a lighthouse keeper on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Claire Watson’s blend of vibrant color and vivid, fun-filled scenes create enchanting images. The artist, illustrator and graphic designer has spent most of her life on the west coast and her knowledge and passion for the land, sea, and creatures that inhabit these spaces is on full display.

Readers of all ages will chuckle at the antics portrayed in this light-hearted story. A perfect read before – or after — a beach or woods outing and even on a rainy day while stuck inside.

For dates and times of readings and events visit: https://www.carolinewoodward.ca/news_events.htm

Images courtesy of Pownal Street Press.

December 29, 2022

All the Bears Sing

Harold Macy is an eloquent and gifted writer who captures the soul of a person, animal or the landscape in a sentence or two or even less.

His most recent book, a collection of short stories titled All the Bears Sing, is inhabited by a range of coastal characters ranging from gentle souls to those who find themselves standing on the outskirts of mainstream society either by choice or circumstance.

And, no matter which lens the author is looking through, each personality is explored from the inside out, becoming as real as your next-door neighbour.

I met Harold 36 years ago at a writing conference at Strathcona Park Lodge. We were wanna be writers thrilled to be sharing meals and conversation with real authors and even a publisher. I remember sitting on the floor of Harold’s cabin one afternoon reading pages from his manuscript while he pounded away on an old electric typewriter.

San Josef, the novel he was working on, remains close to my heart, both for the intrigue and insight into the story of Danes attempting to settle the northern tip of Vancouver Island, as well as the beginning of a friendship that has lasted decades.

Like most writers, working and raising a family meant Harold juggled commitments with writing time. Now he balances the challenges of Parkinson’s with words on the page.

But writing has remained a steady companion. Over the years, a series of notebooks have resided in Harold’s pocket and on his bedside table ready to capture random thoughts. When words coalesce into a story, he turns them over to Judy, his wife and trusted first reader.

Harold’s award-winning short stories have appeared in Prism International, Malahat Review, Orion and other literary publications. His first book, The Four Storey Forest, As Grow the Trees, So Too the Heart, was published in 2011.

All the Bears Sing is the culmination of a lifetime of living and working in the woods on the BC coast, often with a big dog by his side. Harold is an astute observer of people, animals and the natural world. His words come from a deep place; his stories are evocative and thought-provoking.