I’m a retired economist who spent decades studying how the world works — and I’ve spent my second act writing detective fiction exploring how people work. My series, The ABC Files, follows retired judge Hamish Cameron and his partner Sean Carroll as they unravel crimes in Ashcroft-by-the-Sea, a fictional Nova Scotia seaside town with more than a passing resemblance to the real Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, where my wife Betsy and I have lived for many years.
The series draws heavily on my own passions. My sailboat Fugue — a 1984 Freedom 25 — lends her name to her skipper’s adventures, and sailing plays a recurring role in the books. So does the music of J.S. Bach: a fugue is a baroque form built on a flight of interwoven voices, which felt like the right metaphor for detective work. When I’m not writing, you’ll find me in the garden, on the water, or out hiking the trails around town.
I’m a member of the Crime Writers of Canada and the Niagara-on-the-Lake Writers’ Circle, and I’m always happy to connect with readers — especially book clubs. If your group is reading one of my books, reach out through the Contact page.
What Readers Are Saying
“… addictive series set in Nova Scotia.”
“A gentle read. The Nova Scotia location adds charm.”
“… engaging with plausible, straightforward plots in a small-town coastal setting. I particularly enjoy the author’s precise and vivid use of language.”
