This historical fiction, far more fiction than history, is set largely in Ottawa and deals with the establishment of the Bank of Canada. If you think that a novel about banking can’t be a fun read, think again. The author incorporates abundant local colour around his and my adopted second home of Ottawa as it was in the 1930s, and taught at Glebe Collegiate until he retired. The central character, Frances McFadden, is a teenage tech school dropout who nevertheless parlays her typing skills and smarts into a major role in the planning and establishment of the central bank. As World War 2 looms, the story veers into the genre of an international spy thriller with enough suspense to satisfy David John Moore Cornwall a.k a. John Le Carre.
This is McKercher’s first novel with two sequels and an unrelated story now in print. It was published by the then Renfrew-based General Store Publishing House (GSPH) that was one of the rare publishers that would accept books written by unknown first time authors including yours truly. (GSPH published my first book, Medicine Outside The Box, in 2011, and contracted to publish my mere mortals novel, but then was forced out of business before fulfilling the contract.) Tim Gordon, the GSPH owner has now reestablished a publishing house in Burnstown, up the valley, that has published McKercher’s other stories. Small independent publishers are a dying breed and I wish him well.
A good quote: “Part of being an adult, Frances McFadden, is living with some things we don’t like. About ourselves. About others. About life.”
A fun light read for a snowy Ottawa day.
Thanks, John Coderre
The Passionate Reader 