What Readers Are Saying...
Jen H."I absolutely loved [this] novel. It may take awhile before I stop sniveling. I actually did not want to finish it...cannot wait to read the next one. "
Katherine H."Just started the book and I am hooked. Loving it!"
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Vicki V."I just finished [the] book. I loved it. Great suspense and kept me wondering who did it? Can't wait to read [the] next one. "
Alex K."During the early 1950s I was living in Creighton. I felt back home again - the prose was so evocative of that time and place so far away."
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Jose G.“I finished The Barren Hills of Creighton last weekend. I suspected it was going to be good but it knocked my socks off! Fantastic writing!
Jill M.“I finished the book and I was full on bawling. That is one of the best book endings ever."
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The Barren Hills of Creighton
It’s 1951 and Canada is experiencing a post-war boom of modern appliances and an exodus to the suburbs. But in the small nickel mining town of Creighton Mine time moves at a slower pace. For nine-year-old Rose Boyle unpaved streets and outhouses are all she’s ever known, but change is coming. This is going to be the summer she gets noticed and stops being invisible. It’s been five years since her older sister, Virginia, has been back home and everyone is dying to hear about her glamorous life in Los Angeles, California. Rose is determined with all the buzz going on she’ll grab a bit of that spotlight for herself. But not long after Virginia’s return summer excitement turns to tragedy when Creighton Mine’s first murder in living memory casts a shadow over the town. A murder with no suspects and no motive. Detective Victor Lapointe of the Ontario Provincial Police is assigned to the small-town case and he expects to wrap it with little effort. It isn't long before he realizes, in a small town, sometimes keeping secrets takes precedence over the truth and from day one something about this murder victim stirs up memories he’d rather keep buried. For Lapointe the killing becomes a chance at redemption, to make up for past failures. For Rose the murder unveils a family secret she was never meant to learn. One that has her questioning who she is, where she belongs and if she were the next victim…would anyone even care? |
📘 Copies can be ordered from any of your favourite local bookstores...just ask.
About the AuthorThe Barren Hills of Creighton is my debut novel. As a child I'd sneak my mother's historical romance novels which began my life-long interest in the past. With an interest in viewing history as it happened I graduated from Broadcast-Journalism and immediately began pursuing my other passion...theatre. I spent several years on stages in Toronto, Canada and London, UK until I decided I no longer wanted to speak other people's words. I began writing plays, most with historical themes, as well as articles and essays and won a few awards along the way. After a lifetime of listening to my family's stories about Northern Ontario and Creighton Mine I knew I needed to bring these tales to light. The Barren Hills of Creighton was inspired by my family and the town of Creighton Mine itself. I live in London, Ontario with my husband Jim and our two cats, Helen and Rosey.
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Inspirations & the Real Creighton Mine
The woman in the photo above is my Aunt Doreen, the inspiration for the character Virginia.
She was living in Los Angeles but had to return to Northern Ontario, in 1946 to renew her green card. The day after Christmas she was walking along the tracks to the train station. A train approached and she stepped to the side, but not far enough. A snow plow attached to the front of the train struck her on the head killing her instantly. She'd been going to the train station to meet her boyfriend who was coming for a visit. He had an engagement ring in his pocket. |
Why did I name my book, The Barren Hills of Creighton?
When nickel was first discovered the surrounding trees were cut down to be used for fuel and construction. Later on, what spewed from the mine caused acid rain which killed off most of the rest of the vegetation leaving Creighton and the surrounding area a barren, rocky landscape. Did you know?: NASA brought astronauts to train in this area of Northern Ontario because it so closely resembled the landscape of the moon. |
What was it like to grow up in a mining town in Northern Ontario?
An excerpt from the recollections of Gail Brooks, who lived in Creighton Mine in 1951. "It was a wonderful place to grow up, we spent our time climbing the rocks, going up to tank hill, playing in Flora's pond, and picking blueberries in the nearby bush. Our house was always a gathering place for music and parties. There would be dancing and singing until the wee hours of the morning. I remember songs and lively jigs such as 'Baby Face' and 'Twelfth Street Rag'." |
All photographs on this page are used with the generous permission of:
photographers Avan Patel and Lorri Skellett
archivist Audrie Jamieson Brooks
Special thanks to Beren Davis of Swoon Creative for designing the cover.
photographers Avan Patel and Lorri Skellett
archivist Audrie Jamieson Brooks
Special thanks to Beren Davis of Swoon Creative for designing the cover.