Old Port of Montreal

Photo of Montreal, Canada: © Depositphotos.com/chrishomey

In my mystery novel, False Impressions, I mention numerous settings within the cosmopolitan city of Montreal, Quebec. The historic area of the city—Old Montreal—is one of them. The European charm of horse-drawn carriages along cobblestones streets, chic boutiques, and French restaurants—what’s not to love? It’s joie de vivre at its finest!

Equally popular with millions of visitors each year is the historic Old Port of Montreal. Located on the waterfront, it provides access for activities such as cycling, roller-blading, and peddle-boating. It is an important venue for festivals and cultural events, and offers cruises along the St. Lawrence River to celebrate any occasion.

The city is also home to the Cirque du Soleil, its striped blue-and-yellow tents a familiar sight on Jacques Cartier Quay in the Old Port. Other neighboring attractions include the Montreal Science Centre, the Clock Tower, and an urban beach.

It’s no wonder I chose the Old Port as the setting for my upcoming short story, “Timely Escape.” The marina bordering the Clock Tower Quay figures prominently in this tale involving my sleuths, ghostwriter Megan Scott and investigative journalist Michael Elliott. I can’t reveal more about the story except to say that my duo’s quest for justice involves two escaped convicts and a terrifying dilemma. Stay tuned!

If you haven’t yet met my sleuths, click on False Impressions and Fatal Whispers to find out more about their adventures in these first two books in the series.

Tommy's Park

One of the settings I mention in my mystery novel, Fatal Whispers, is Tommy’s Park. This patch of greenery and paved walkways is located at the corner of Middle Street and Exchange Street in the old district of Portland, Maine. The park has lots of benches where you can take a break from work or from shopping. And there’s a Starbucks Coffee shop just across the street.

My sleuths, ghostwriter Megan Scott and reporter Michael Elliott, meet for lunch one brisk autumn day in Tommy’s Park to exchange information gathered in an ongoing murder investigation. Megan only has half an hour before she returns to work at Bianca’s Gardens, a fictitious flower shop on Exchange Street.

A cool wind blows, but the coffee Michael purchased from Starbucks keeps their conversation going. Here’s an excerpt from Megan’s perspective:

The maple trees that had formed a protective barrier against the sun on warmer days were bare. Gusts of winds scattered foliage across a pedestrian path and into the street. I raised the collar of my wool jacket and wished I’d worn a heavier sweater underneath…

I sat down on the bench next to Michael, gave him a quick kiss, then handed him the printouts of the employee profiles from Bianca’s Gardens. “I feel like a thief.” 

“You shouldn’t,” he said. “You’re doing it for an honorable cause.”

Want to find out more? Click here for a description of Fatal Whispers and links to online retailers.

Blue Box Windows

A blue façade draws the eye to these pretty twin box windows in the Proctor Building (1898) on Exchange Street in the old district of Portland, Maine. The building is one of numerous historical red brick structures you’ll find in this part of the city.

In my mystery novel, Fatal Whispers, sleuths Megan and Michael visit Bianca’s Gardens, a fictitious flower shop located on Exchange Street alongside other New England style stores. To everyone’s surprise, the inviting flower shop with the dark green awning is soon linked to three suspicious deaths in the city.

Join my sleuths as they wander the picturesque streets of Portland in search of clues. If you love the challenge of solving mysteries, you’ll have three to solve in Fatal Whispers. You’ll find the link here.

Enjoy!

Montreal: joie de vivre

Photo: Montreal over river at sunset © Depositphotos.com/rabbit75_dep

If there’s a city that reflects an eclectic culture, a flair for fashion and the arts, and a genuine joie de vivre, it’s Montreal. It’s not surprising that I chose this cosmopolitan city as the setting for my mystery novel, False Impressions.

I get a pang of nostalgia whenever I visit Montreal. After all, it is my hometown. In my younger days, I’d spend weekends shopping along Saint Catherine Street, attending live concerts at Place des Arts, and checking out quaint boutiques along the cobblestones streets of Old Montreal. Memories like these stay with you forever.

Also engrained in my mind are historical landmarks like the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts, McGill University, and Mount Royal—a large hill that overlooks the city from more than seven hundred feet high. The view from the top is spectacular—day or night!

English and French are the main languages spoken, though four million inhabitants of Greater Montreal represent more than eighty ethnic communities. The cultural diversity extends to the variety of eateries. From gourmet to traditional, the choice of restaurants and menus is vast. No visit is complete until you’ve tried poutine—a French-Canadian tradition of fries, cheese curds, and gravy.

The hot summers set the stage for this City of Festivals to play host to film, comedy, music, and other events, including the International Jazz Festival and the International Fireworks Competition. Montreal also holds the annual Canadian Grand Prix and is home to the legendary Cirque du Soleil. With winter comes the hockey season and watching Les Canadiens—aka the Habs—on ice at the Bell Centre.

The fastest way to get around and to avoid traffic jams is to ride on the Metro—the subway system. If time permits, you can stroll through the Underground City. As one of the largest interconnected complexes in the world, it boasts twenty miles of tunnels and connects the subway, shopping malls, hotels, banks, and other sites.

And did I mention the choice of delicious restaurants?

One visit to Montreal just isn’t enough.

The Flower Shop

When was the last time you strolled into a flower shop and enjoyed the sweet scent of gardenias? Or the musky fragrance of chrysanthemums? Or the exotic scent of an oriental lily?

In Fatal Whispers, the second book in my mystery series, Megan and Michael get more than a whiff of the floristry business when they visit Megan’s cousin in Portland, Maine. As conventional as her cousin’s flower shop might appear, it unexpectedly draws police interest during an investigation into three mysterious deaths in the city.

Join Megan and Michael as they gather clues along a winding path that takes them from downtown alleys to a millionaire’s mansion. Solving a triple murder mystery is hard work, so don’t forget to stop and smell the roses!