R.J. Harlick

Alistair, a promising young Haida carver is murdered in Vancouver and the totem pole he was working on has been stolen. Meg Harris and Eric Odjik, her new husband and Ojibway Chief from Ontario, are in town for a meeting of First Nations when they hear about the death. Through an unexpected encounter, they learn that the young man was the adopted son of Cloe, Eric’s adoptive sister. This encounter forces Eric to confront his past and eventually sends Meg, Eric, and Cloe to the isolated show more islands of Haida Gwaii where a totem pole raising ceremony is taking place to commemorate the naming of the new Chief.

Silver Totem of Shame by author RJ Harlick gives a fascinating look at the culture of the Haida peoples on Canada’s west coast as well as the clash of culture between First Nations and whites especially in the case of the adoption of native children by white families while providing a very entertaining mystery. There’s plenty of excitement and action and lots of twists and turns to keep the reader’s attention. One warning though: if you suffer at all from seasickness, you might want to skip over the journey across to the islands. show less

The novel starts with Meg Harris living in the forest near an Indian Reserve in Quebec. Eric, the local chief, is a close friend and eventually her protector as her search for her missing friend, Marie, gets closer to the truth of who owns the island where the mining company her ex-husband is involved with plans a gold mine.

A good mystery with many turns and twists with a back story going to Germany in 1913. I will look for another Meg Harris mystery.

I had mixed feelings about this book. While I really enjoyed the series and the setting in West Quebec, this particular story just wasn't working for me. It is very timely, about missing native women, and the seeming lack of police action in looking very hard for them. However, I found the first 200 pages rather annoying and repetitive, and decided to set the book aside and read something else. When I came back to it several days later, I was glad I did, because the second half of the book show more was much more exciting and got me turning the pages. show less

First, thank you to NetGalley (Dundurn Publishing) for sending me this e-book for my enjoyment and review.
This was my first of Harlick's Meg Harris mystery series – and I'll have to say, it was a real winner for me. Taking place in Ottowa, Canada in a very remote cabin during a heavy winter blizzard. Meg tells her very engrossing story of 2 men who come to her door needing help, and how she deals with their frightening intrusion. This story will definitely keep you up late, but you will show more love her smooth, clear writing, her short chapters – fast to the end. Thank you Ms. Harlick, and I will find your other Meg mysteries. show less