Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
FASCINATING -- Margaret Atwood As gripping as your favorite episode of Law & Order but with immersive storytelling and moral complexity that only great literature can provide around matters such as community, social and legal justice, and the media.
In June 2013, three citizens of a small town on Canada's Cape Breton Island murdered their neighbor, Phillip Boudreau. Two Landry cousins and skipper Dwayne Samson (husband to a Landry daughter) saw Boudreau in his boat, about to vandalize their lobster traps. Like so many times before, Boudreau was about to cost them thousands of dollars out of their seasonal livelihood. One man took out a rifle and fired four shots at Boudreau and his boat. To finish the job, they rammed their own larger boat over the top of his, then completed the day's fishing. Boudreau's body was never found.
Boudreau was a Cape Breton original -- a resourceful small-time criminal who had unnerved and entertained the community for two decades, and spent nearly half his adult life in prison. He was funny and frightening. He would taunt his victims, and threaten them with arson if they reported him. Meanwhile the police and fishing officers were frustrated, and hobbled by shrinking budgets. Boudreau seemed a miscreant who would plague the village forever. Was the Boudreau killing a direct reaction to credible threats that the authorities were powerless to neutralize?
Synopsis
FASCINATING -- Margaret Atwood A brutal murder in a small maritime fishing community raises urgent questions of right and wrong, and even the nature of good and evil, in this masterfully told true story.
In June 2013, three upstanding citizens of a small town on Cape Breton Island murdered their neighbor, Phillip Boudreau, at sea. While out checking their lobster traps, two Landry cousins and skipper Dwayne Samson saw Boudreau in his boat, the Midnight Slider, about to vandalize their lobster traps. Like so many times before, Boudreau was about to cost them thousands of dollars out of their seasonal livelihood. One man took out a rifle and fired four shots at Boudreau and his boat. To finish the job, they rammed their own larger boat over the top of his speedboat. Then they completed the day's fishing and went home. Boudreau's body was never found.
Boudreau was a well-known local character--an inventive small-time criminal who had terrorized and entertained the community for decades. He had been in prison for nearly half his adult life. He was funny and frightening, loathed, loved, and feared. One neighbor says he would steal the beads off Christ's moccasins--then give the booty away to someone in need. He would taunt his victims, and threaten them with arson if they reported him. He was accused of one attempted rape. Meanwhile the police and local officials were frustrated, cowed, and hobbled by shrinking budgets. Boudreau seemed invincible, a miscreant who would plague the village forever.
Was the Boudreau killing cold blooded murder, a direct reaction to credible threats, or the tragic result of local officials lacking the resources and authority to protect the community? As many local people have said, if those fellows hadn't killed him, someone else would have.
Blood in the Water offers a dramatic narrative set in a unique, lovingly drawn setting, where a story about one small community has universal resonance. This is a story not about lobster, but about the grand themes of power and law, security and self-respect. It raises a disturbing question: Are there times when taking the law into your own hands is not only understandable but the responsible thing to do?
Synopsis
"Fascinating A] must-read for all concerned about how humans manage to live together. Or not." --Margaret Atwood A brutal murder in a small Nova Scotia fishing community raises urgent questions of right and wrong, and even the nature of good and evil, in this masterfully told true story.
Blood in the Water offers a dramatic narrative set in a unique, lovingly drawn setting, where a story about one small community has universal resonance and raises a disturbing question: Are there times when taking the law into your own hands is not only understandable but the responsible thing to do?
This is a story not about lobster, but about the grand themes of power and law, security and self-respect.
In June 2013, three upstanding citizens of a small town on Cape Breton Island murdered their neighbor, Phillip Boudreau, at sea.
While out checking their lobster traps, two Landry cousins and skipper Dwayne Samson saw Boudreau in his boat, the Midnight Slider, about to vandalize their lobster traps. Like so many times before, the small-time criminal was about to cost them thousands of dollars out of their seasonal livelihood.
Boudreau seemed invincible, a miscreant who would plague the village forever. Meanwhile the police and local officials were frustrated, cowed, and hobbled by shrinking budgets.
One man took out a rifle and fired four shots at Boudreau and his boat.
Was the Boudreau killing cold blooded murder, a direct reaction to credible threats, or the tragic result of local officials lacking the resources and authority to protect the community? As many local people have said, if those fellows hadn't killed him, someone else would have.
Synopsis
"Fascinating A] must-read for all concerned about how humans manage to live together. Or not." --Margaret Atwood
A masterfully told true story, perfect for fans of Say Nothing and Furious Hours a brutal murder in a small Nova Scotia fishing community raises urgent questions of right and wrong, and even the very nature of good and evil.
In his riveting and meticulously reported final book, Silver Donald Cameron offers a stunning, intricate narrative about a notorious killing and its devastating repercussions.
Cameron's searing, utterly gripping story about one small community raises a disturbing question: Are there times when taking the law into your own hands is not only understandable but the responsible thing to do?
In June 2013, three upstanding citizens of a small town on Cape Breton Island murdered their neighbor, Phillip Boudreau, at sea.
While out checking their lobster traps, two Landry cousins and skipper Dwayne Samson saw Boudreau in his boat, the Midnight Slider, about to vandalize their lobster traps. Like so many times before, the small-time criminal was about to cost them thousands of dollars out of their seasonal livelihood.
Boudreau seemed invincible, a miscreant who would plague the village forever. Meanwhile the police and local officials were frustrated, cowed, and hobbled by shrinking budgets.
One of the men took out a rifle and fired four shots at Boudreau and his boat.
Was the Boudreau killing cold blooded murder, a direct reaction to credible threats, or the tragic result of local officials failing to protect the community? As many local people have said, if those fellows hadn't killed him, someone else would have...
Synopsis
"Fascinating A] must-read for all concerned about how humans manage to live together. Or not."
--Margaret Atwood
"Superb... an instant true crime classic."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)
A masterfully told true story, perfect for fans of
Say Nothing and
Furious Hours a brutal murder in a small Nova Scotia fishing community raises urgent questions of right and wrong, and even the very nature of good and evil.
In his riveting and meticulously reported final book, Silver Donald Cameron offers a stunning, intricate narrative about a notorious killing and its devastating repercussions.
Cameron's searing, utterly gripping story about one small community raises a disturbing question: Are there times when taking the law into your own hands is not only understandable but the responsible thing to do?
In June 2013, three upstanding citizens of a small town on Cape Breton Island murdered their neighbor, Phillip Boudreau, at sea.
While out checking their lobster traps, two Landry cousins and skipper Dwayne Samson saw Boudreau in his boat, the Midnight Slider, about to vandalize their lobster traps. Like so many times before, the small-time criminal was about to cost them thousands of dollars out of their seasonal livelihood.
Boudreau seemed invincible, a miscreant who would plague the village forever. Meanwhile the police and local officials were frustrated, cowed, and hobbled by shrinking budgets.
One of the men took out a rifle and fired four shots at Boudreau and his boat.
Was the Boudreau killing cold blooded murder, a direct reaction to credible threats, or the tragic result of local officials failing to protect the community? As many local people have said, if those fellows hadn't killed him, someone else would have...