The Barren Hills of Creighton - by Trina L Brooks (Paperback)

About the Book

1951- Canadian mining town. A young girl wishes to stand out but a murder unveils a family secret that puts her dangerously into the spotlight and the Detective assigned struggles with a crime with no motive or suspects.

Book Synopsis

In 1951 Canada is experiencing a post-war boom, but life moves slower in the northern town of Creighton Mine. For nine-year-old Rose unpaved streets and outhouses are all she's ever known, but change is coming. This will be the summer she stops being invisible.

It's been five years since her sister, Virginia, has been home and everyone in town is eager to hear about her glamorous life in Los Angeles. Rose is determined with all the buzz she'll grab a bit of that spotlight for herself but not long after Virginia's return excitement turns to tragedy when the first murder in living memory casts a shadow over the town. A murder with no suspects and no motive.

Detective Victor Lapointe of the OPP is assigned to the case. He expects to wrap it up quickly but soon finds that small town secrets sometimes takes precedence over the truth. And from day one something about the victim stirs up memories he'd rather keep buried.

For Rose the murder unveils a family secret she was never meant to learn. One that puts her dangerously into the spotlight she craved.

Review Quotes

5 Stars

I finished the book and I was full on bawling. That is one of the best book endings ever. Jill McAbe

5 Stars

I love mysteries and I know it is well written when you never would have guessed the ending. That is what the Barren Hills of Creighton does!!!

Verified Kindle Customer

4 Stars

As someone who grew up in this small Northern community, I found myself able to relate to lots of the facts in the book. It kept me on toes trying to figure who actually was the murderer. I recommend this book to all. Jennifer

5 Stars

I enjoyed this book right from the beginning. I felt a connection to the main character right away. I don't know how to explain the feeling I had reading this book. It was warm, it was dark, it was mysterious. I know I love a book when I don't want it to end. I go through a mourning period after. I'm still in mourning. Pam Lougheed

5 Stars - Hard to Put Down Murder Mystery

Caution, once you start reading this murder mystery you may not be able to put it down. I found myself immersed in a dusty northern Ontario town of rocky roads and suspicious characters. I kept guessing at the likely villains. Rose, the main character made me cry, more than once. The tension at the end kept me up late to finish the last chapter. A definite must read! Amazon Customer

5 Stars

Kept me hooked right from the beginning. Didn't guess the outcome at all. Katherine Hirtzel

5 Stars

An excellent murder-mystery by Trina Brooks. Her first novel, but you would never know it by the assurance of the plotting, characterization, style and control of the era (early 1950's) and setting (near Sudbury). I was alive then, and I remain very impressed with Trina's accuracy of that time in my life in Ontario. Clever of her to set it back then too, as there's no internet, DNA, cell phones, social media etc. to help Victor, the detective assigned to the case (how refreshing!) Her creation of the other lead character, the 9-year-old Rose, is brilliant, and adds growing suspense as we gradually fear more and more for her safety. I finished reading it 3 days ago, and it remains in the forefront of my mind. W. Arthur Fidler