Murder in the mountains

By Anna Chan

Banff, typically known for its vast mountains, hot springs and tourists aplenty, becomes John Ballem’s setting for his latest gripping mystery novel, Murder As A Fine Art.

The novel opens with the discovery of Alan Montrose, who has fatally fallen down a flight of stairs in the Banff Centre for the Arts. Even though the death is classified as an accident, visual artist Laura Janeway becomes suspicious. Laura uses her keen sense of observation to work with the authorities to discover the truth, especially after a second death comes into play. Yet when she discovers a motive, she must dispel the suspect’s air-tight alibi.

It is obvious Ballem has a great knowledge of Banff and the Banff Centre. His accuracy not only allows those who have been to Sulphur Mountain or the Upper Hot Springs to mentally retrace their trip, but also includes those who have never seen Banff themselves. Ballem’s use of details effectively illustrates the text and at the same time does not slow the book’s pace.

The characters are well developed and well described. Each character’s individual art form is well researched and gives a sense of variety in the Centre. However, there are a few instances when Corporal Karen Lindstrom, the Mountie heading the investigation, and Laura Janeway appear to be the same person. This leads to some confusion.

My only criticism is the back cover reveals the identity of the second victim. This caused me to anticipate that something bad will happen to the character, which distracted me from the story. The blurb also misidentifies Laura Janeway, calling her an "aspiring author."

This is an enjoyable book, especially since it is set in Banff. When reading this book, skip the back cover, and it will be an artful mystery.

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