Shki: A Mystery

The battered, snow-covered body of a woman is found on the banks of the Ottawa River, across from the Parliament Buildings, launching a complex investigation led by Sergeant John Bass and Coroner Gen Simone. Discovered next to the body is a bag of unrefined gold worth almost $800,000. As layers of mystery are peeled back, John and Gen realize there is a deeper question at the heart of this story, one involving the extinct Beothuk peoples of Newfoundland, one that-if answered-could reveal stunning truths about Canada's colonial history and the future outcomes of climate change.

The dead woman is presumed to be Anouk Demas, a government Director. Soon after her body is released to her sister, Alice Demas, new information comes to light, but by this time the corpse has gone missing, sending John and Gen on a breathless race through Canada's eastern provinces, involving all levels of government and law enforcement. Unless John and Gen can solve the puzzle in time, the Demas sisters' secret-and an essential historical truth-will be lost forever.

At once a mystery thriller, a sociopolitical inquiry, an exploration of romance, friendship, and teamwork, and a celebration of Indigenous cultures and the natural world, SKHI surprises at every twist, right up until its astonishing conclusion.

T R Fenn is a first-time author and lifelong student of history and nature. The story of SKHI evolved from a career working closely with Indigenous communities and all levels of government, his concerns about climate change and Canadian colonialism, his curiosity about history, race, and government, and his constant pursuit of truth and justice. He enjoys many pastimes on land and water, including sailing, golfing, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, and birding. He lives in London, Ontario with his wife, Gloria.