Unbroken

Murder in a Small Canadian Town with J.G. Toews

10.05.2020 - By Alexandra AmorPlay

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Small towns feature their own kind of danger.

Judy Toews and I both live in small towns in British Columbia and she has set her Stella Mosconi books in the town where she lives, Nelson. As she points out in the interview, after she reads from Lucky Jack Road, it's intriguing to set a murder mystery in a small town because most people know one another. And Judy wanted readers to feel like the murders in her books were situations that could actually happen.

In the introduction to the show I mention that if you'd like to know what Nelson looks like you could check out the Steve Martin movie Roxanne. It's a very funny movie, and very sweet as well, and it was filmed entirely in Nelson so you'll get a good understanding of the landscape and architecture in this small Canadian town.

Today's show is supported by my patrons at Patreon. Thank you! When you become a patron for as little as $1 a month you receive a short mystery story each and every month. And the rewards for those who love mystery stories go up from there! Learn more and become a part of my community of readers at www.Patreon.com/alexandraamor

This week's mystery author

JG Toews is a health professional turned crime writer. She lives in Nelson, BC, an artsy mountain town that inspires the setting for her Stella Mosconi mysteries. Give Out Creek (Mosaic Press) was shortlisted for the Arthur Ellis Unhanged Award and the 2019 Lefty Award for Best Debut Mystery Novel.

Book two, Lucky Jack Road, was released in September 2020.

To learn more about Judy and her books visit her website at JGToews.com

Press play (above) to listen to the show, or read the transcript below. Remember you can also subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts. And listen on Stitcher, Android, Google Podcasts, TuneIn, and Spotify.

Excerpt from Lucky Jack Road

ONE

He scooped her up in his arms and threatened to toss her in the pond, laughing when she shrieked and clutched at him, turning her head to avoid his big open mouth. She clawed at his face. He dropped her. Touched his cheek and stared dumbly at the trace of blood on his fingers.

Coughing and spluttering, she scrambled up and out of the pond, water streaming from her clothes. “Bad girl,” he said, catching up, slamming her against the big shade tree, his hand on her throat nearly crushing her windpipe. She tried to yell but choked on the words. Kneed him and he howled and let go. 

She ran for her bike. “What the fuck?” he called after her, as if the whole thing had been nothing, a minor misunderstanding. She pushed off,

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