Leo Desroches goes straight―off the streets, into the newsroom, and up to his neck in murder Marking the debut of Leo Desroches, one of the most unusual amateur detectives ever to appear in Canada or points south, this fast-paced, enthralling mystery is the story of a man who had everything, lost it all, and is trying to get it back. Leo Desroches doesn't look like a native, but his mother was Cree, and he understands the problems of indigenous Canadians of the First Nations. Which is probably why the Edmonton newspaper he writes for decides he should be their Aboriginal Issues reporter.
He has his own issues to deal with: his compulsive gambling that he couldn't stop even after it cost him his wife and children; his alcoholism; the risk-taking that threatens to derail him every time he starts to get his life back together.
When he's assigned to cover the murder of a young native prostitute, it's just one more story...until the cop in charge lets him view the corpse, something the Edmonton police never do. When Leo writes his article, it starts a chain of events that leads him to discover a much, much bigger story, one that could bring down the entire police department...if it doesn't get him killed.

Fall from Grace (The Leo Desroches Mysteries)

Literature & Fiction

Arthurson, Wayne

United States

Forge Books

A Killing Winter (The Leo Desroches Mysteries)

The sequel to Fall from Grace, "a genre-bender, its twists all the more startling for being unexpected" ―Booklist
Leo Desroches, a half-Cree, half–French-Canadian reporter in Edmonton, returns in A Killing Winter, the sequel to Wayne Arthurson's lauded debut murder mystery Fall from Grace. Undercover as a homeless man, Leo's got his hands full both on the job and in his personal life. As he tries to reconnect with his estranged son and fight his urge to gamble, he is consumed by a story that turns into a personal crusade: a search for a missing Native street kid he's befriended. When the boy is found brutally murdered, Leo explores the depths of Native street culture in a local gang. As Leo delves deeper into the gang, secrets emerge that threaten not only their members, but Leo's life…and his sanity.

Fall from Grace from Wayne Arthurson marks the debut of Leo Desroches, one of the most unusual amateur detectives ever to appear in Canada or points south, this fast-paced, enthralling mystery is the story of a man who had everything, lost it all, and is trying to get it back.
Leo Desroches doesn't look like a native, but his mother was Cree, and he understands the problems of indigenous Canadians of the First Nations. Which is probably why the Edmonton newspaper decides he should be their Aboriginal Issues reporter. He has his own issues to deal with: the compulsive gambling that cost him his wife and children and the risk-taking that threatens to derail him every time he starts to get his life back together. But during a newspaper strike, Leo caught a break, getting hired as a reporter. Since then, he's managed to resist the urge to gamble. But he still hasn't stopped taking risks....
When he's assigned to cover the murder of a young native prostitute, it's just one more article...until the cop in charge lets him view the corpse, something the Edmonton police never do. Leo's article starts a chain of events that leads him to a much, much bigger story, one that could bring down the entire police department...if it doesn't get him killed.

Gangs, gambling, and murder. 
Leo Desroches, a half-Cree, half-French Canadian reporter in Edmonton, Alberta, returns in A Killing Winter, the sequel to Wayne Arthurson's lauded debut murder mystery Fall from Grace. 
Leo, working undercover for a series of articles about the homeless of Edmonton, has his hands full. In his personal life, he's trying to reconnect with his estranged son while fighting his urge to gamble. And at the newspaper, he is consumed by a story that turns into a personal crusade: a search for a missing Native street kid he's befriended. 
When the boy is found brutally murdered, Leo realizes that in order to tell the victim's story and bring him justice, he has to plumb the depths of First Nations street culture in the local gang to which he belonged. But as Leo delves deeper into the gang and the inner workings of tribal politics, secrets emerge that threaten not only the survival of the tribe, but also Leo's sanity…and his life.

Captain Mueller is dead. Hanged, apparently by his own hand. But ex-police officer and war hero Sergeant August Neumann doesn't think it's quite so simple. How could it be with blackshirts, legionnaires, and communist sympathisers vying for control of the camp? 
Now Sergeant Neumann must navigate these treacherous cliques to find the truth while under the watchful eyes of his Canadian captors.
Wayne Arthurson manages to hook you on the first page of this masterful mystery. The Traitors of Camp 133 is historical fiction at its best, a wonderful achievement, and a thoroughly entertaining read. --David Swinson, author of The Second Girl
The Traitors of Camp 133 is a murder mystery that delivers. Wayne Arthurson wraps his mystery in a fascinating subculture: German POWs in a Southern Alberta camp shortly after the Allies invade Normandy. It's a great read. --Todd Babiak, author of Come Barbarians and Son of France
The joy of this book is in the meticulously researched details; watching the way Arthurson's August Neumann navigates the peculiar society within the barbed wire (and without) is fascinating stuff, and the solid, satisfying mystery is the cherry on top. --Owen Laukkanen, author of The Watcher in the Wall

The Traitors of Camp 133 (Sergeant Neumann Mystery)

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Mystery

Ravenstone

Fall from Grace from Wayne Arthurson marks the debut of Leo Desroches, one of the most unusual amateur detectives ever to appear in Canada or points south, this fast-paced, enthralling mystery is the story of a man who had everything, lost it all, and is trying to get it back.Leo Desroches doesn't look like a native, but his mother was Cree, and he understands the problems of indigenous Canadians of the First Nations. Which is probably why the Edmonton newspaper decides he should be their Aboriginal Issues reporter. He has his own issues to deal with: the compulsive gambling that cost him his wife and children and the risk-taking that threatens to derail him every time he starts to get his life back together. But during a newspaper strike, Leo caught a break, getting hired as a reporter. Since then, he's managed to resist the urge to gamble. But he still hasn't stopped taking risks....When he's assigned to cover the murder of a young native prostitute, it's just one more article...until the cop in charge lets him view the corpse, something the Edmonton police never do. Leo's article starts a chain of events that leads him to a much, much bigger story, one that could bring down the entire police department...if it doesn't get him killed. Winner of the 2012 Alberta Readers' Choice Award

Fall From Grace (Leo Desroches Mystery)

CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform

M is a bylaw officer, living with two brothers, in their parents' old house. While investigating a suspicious yard sale, M discovers a red chesterfield sitting in a ditch. Looking closer, M finds a running shoe-and a severed foot. Now M is involved in a murder investigation. Meanwhile, older brother K's work for a new political party begins to seem suspicious, while younger brother J navigates the complicated world of young-adulthood, and boss Rhonda demands more and more attention, M must navigate a world of Russian gangsters and neglected wives, biker gangs and suspicious coincidences. On top of everything else, M is determined to track down the owner of that red chesterfield and make sure they get a ticket. The Red Chesterfield is a delightful, unusual novel that upends the tropes and traditions of crime fiction while asking how far one person is willing to go to solve a crime, be it murder or the abandonment of a piece of furniture.

The Red Chesterfield (Brave & Brilliant, 11)

University of Calgary Press

Searching through the annals of North American history uncovers the diverse and astounding contributions by the Natives of the Americas who formed the world we know today. In the Shadow of Our Ancestors explores the rich history of the indigenous peoples of North America and leaves us in awe of their stunning achievements and inventions: The Great Law of Peace -- The ideals, words and symbols of the Iroquois Confederacy inspired the governments of the New World to form democracies that recognized, in their constitutions, the rights of all people Cure for Scurvy -- When Jacques Cartier and his men were trapped by the winter ice dying of scurvy in what is now Canada, Chief Donnacona and his people helped to cure them by giving them a tea made from the needles of the white cedar tree, which have a high concentration of vitamin C Potatoes -- The lowly potato, a staple food of Natives for almost 15,000 years, was unknown outside the Americas until Europeans arrived; now, with almost 4000 varieties, it is the fourth most-consumed agricultural product in the world Sacagawea -- The settlement of western North America was inspired and influenced by the results of the Lewis and Clark expedition in the early 1800s, with the journey's success made possible because of a Native woman named Sacagawea, whose presence paved the way for the explorers to be seen as a peaceful party Kayaks -- It may be that the Inuit of the Arctic were the first to circumnavigate the globe in these simple craft. Kayaks have been in use for at least 4000 years as a form of transportation and for hunting, and the technology spread throughout northern waters and was adopted by the Scots and the Irish Code Talkers -- During World War II, more than 400 Navajo soldiers, recruited by the United States Marine Corps, transmitted secret tactical messages over military telephone or radio communications using codes built upon their Native languages.

In the Shadow of Our Ancestors: The Inventions and Genius of the First Peoples

History

Americas

Eschia Books

Native American tribes have long believed in the power of spirit animals or totems. Tribal beliefs held that these animals had lessons to teach, as well as healing or inspirational powers. Bears symbolized leadership and courage. Buffalo held the power of life. The coyote was thought to have brought survival knowledge but also death. The wolf was a great teacher, on how to build community and hunt. The raven was the trickster spirit. Wayne Arthurson writes with authority on the tradition of spirit animals and how their meaning reflects the spiritual and physical relationship between humans and Nature.

Spirit Animals: The Wisdom of Nature

Politics & Social Sciences

Social Sciences

Native peoples of North America have long believed in the power of spirit animals or totems to teach, to heal, and to inspire. This fully-illustrated book introduces the legends and stories of spirit animals such as bear, wolf, buffalo, and coyote from various North American tribes. Includes a short natural history for each animal as well. For all ages.

Spirit Animals: Meanings & Stories

Religion & Spirituality

New Age & Spirituality

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Arthurson, Wayne. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Arthurson, Wayne

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Arthurson, Wayne. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Fall from Grace (The Leo Desroches Mysteries)

A Killing Winter (The Leo Desroches Mysteries)

Fall from Grace (The Leo Desroches Mysteries)

A Killing Winter (The Leo Desroches Mysteries)

The Traitors of Camp 133 (Sergeant Neumann Mystery)

Fall From Grace (Leo Desroches Mystery)

The Red Chesterfield (Brave & Brilliant, 11)

In the Shadow of Our Ancestors: The Inventions and Genius of the First Peoples

Spirit Animals: The Wisdom of Nature

Spirit Animals: Meanings & Stories