“God Canadians are polite, and Nova Scotians may be the politest of them all.” ― Donalee Moulton, Hung Out to Die page 29
With the expanding “Buy Canadian Movement“, we are finding more of our customers looking for books written by and for Canadians. Not only written by Canadians, but set in Canada, and in particular, the Maritimes. I just finished reading a murder mystery that is set in nearby Enfield. Hung Out To Die by donalee Moulton is truly a Nova Scotia novel that includes familiar landmarks, customs, and Nova Scotian traditions. Written in the first person, the lead character is Coffee Connoisseur Reil Brava, the CEO of Canadian Cannabis Corporation. Raised in California, Reil is a smart, ambitious, high-functioning psychopath with prospects of running for president one day.
“Canadian Cannabis opened in 2015, producing medical marijuana for a global market of patients suffering everything from depression to fibromyalgia to cancer. I (Riel Brava) arrived 18 months later to prepare the company for the domestic recreational cannabis market as Canada became only the second country in the world to legalize marijuana.” ― Donalee Moulton, Hung Out to Die page 35
Upon arriving at work early one morning, Reil discovers a co-worker “swinging from a rope tossed over an open beam, a noose tight around his neck”, and he is drawn reluctantly into an investigation conducted by Detective Lin Raynes. With the need to control his environment, Reil resists all types of change to his routine. While they investigate, what turns out to be a murder, the Detective draws Reil into an unexpected and unusual friendship.
As their friendship develops, the Detective introduces Reil to some of Nova Scotia’s traditional dishes and craft beers, while Reil’s coffee tastes rub off on the detective. Some of these Nova Scotia dishes clash with Reil’s vegetarian wife, Tiffany, but after one taste, Reil is quickly addicted to the local cuisine, especially that of Donairs and Tim’s breakfast sandwiches. Not surprisingly, Tiffany does not have any difficulties with Nova Scotia desserts.
This novel is slated as the first in a series, and we are looking forward to reading more in the development of Reil and Lin’s Bromance as they sample and experience the foods and traditions of Nova Scotia while teaming up in their investigations.
“Donairs are a Halifax specialty. Some residents contend this is Nova Scotia’s official food. Aficionados spend a great deal of time discussing the nuances of the dish, thin slices of spiced beef on a warm pita, sprinkled with diced onion and tomato, and swimming in a sweet, garlicky sauce. Or so I’ve been told.” ― Donalee Moulton, Hung Out to Die page 234
“The final course of the meal is blueberry grunt, a traditional Nova Scotia dessert that faintly resembles a cobbler, but gets prepared on the stovetop. “It’s said,” Raynes tells us as we dive in, “that you can hear the blueberries grunt as the steam rises from the biscuits.” “I don’t know about the blueberries, but I can hear my husband grunting with delight” ― Donalee Moulton, Hung Out to Die page 213
Donalee Moulton will be one of our guests at our “Event To Die For” on Saturday, May 17th. Attendees of the event will be invited to do a short fun quiz about psychopaths. She will also be introducing her new mystery novel, Bind. Instead of catering to the coffee snobs in attendance, we will serve NovelTea’s Vlad’s First Bite: Berry Bliss Tea. This tea was inspired and named after what may be one of the most well-known psychopaths of all time.
At the event, Veron Oickle will launch his ninth book in his widely known Crow series, Nine Crows for a Kiss. And to keep everything real, retired RCMP Officer Gary Grant, author of Walking Life’s Yellow Line My Way, will join us. Advanced registration is required for this event.
“I head back to my car and climb in, wishing I had stopped for coffee. Even a McDonald’s would taste good right about now. And in fairness to the Golden Arches, the coffee is very decent.”-― Donalee Moulton, Hung Out to Die page 159
Blueberry Grunt
Dumplings: In a bowl, mix 1 1/4 cups of flour, 3 tsp baking powder, and 1/2 tsp salt. Cut in 3 tbsp of shortening, add 1/4 cup of sugar, and mix in 1/2 cup milk.
In a pot with a lid, bring 3 cups of blueberries, 1/3 cup of sugar, and 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil.
Add dumplings by spoonful
Cover for 20 minutes- no peeking.
Serve with lots of vanilla or blueberry ice cream
