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Maureen Jennings Shares Her Next Murdoch Mystery with Sisters in Crime

Fans of Detective William Murdoch of the Toronto Constabulary can take heart. He will return, and soon.

Author Maureen Jennings reads a sneak preview of her new Murdoch Mystery novel

Maureen Jennings, award-winning author of the Murdoch Mysteries, and one of the original members of the Toronto chapter of Sisters in Crime, enthralled members and guests of the March 16 meeting of the group in the Northern District Library with a reading from the agonizingly suspenseful beginning of her upcoming, long-awaited Murdoch mystery.

Maureen Jennings explains why she chose to age her detective 26 years to 1917

"Let Darkness Bury the Dead", to be released in November 2017, takes place exactly a century before, in 1917, just as the people of Toronto are starting to understand just how much Canada’s participation in the First World War will cost them. The story finds an older William Murdoch, last seen in 1896, challenged by his war-damaged son Jack, newly returned from the trenches. Together and apart, the pair explore the difficulties of their relationship and grapple with the contradictions of war and patriotism, fear and bravery, love and hate, loss and honour.

Inside the book of a disappointed young man rejected for military service

Jennings gave fans a glimpse into her painstaking research and creative processes, and shared details of some of the poignant true stories she discovered along the way. "I didn’t want to do just the familiar stories of the war." She assured the group that even with all the darkness in the new novel, there will be some light. Tots of rum. And a lady ventriloquist’s dummy. "I hope there is some humour."

In a question and answer period, she also spoke about her writing habits and the challenges and benefits of having her work adapted for TV.

It was a thoroughly inspiring evening for all — new members, ͞originals͟ and guests.

Sisters in Crime members and guests listen intently to author Maureen Jennings

Sisters in Crime is an international organization whose mission is to promote the ongoing advancement, recognition and professional development of women crime writers. The Toronto chapter of SinC, this year celebrating its 25th anniversary, welcomes authors, aspiring writers and readers who love the crime and mystery genre to its monthly meetings the third Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. in Room 200 at the Toronto Public Library, Northern District Branch. Non-members pay $5. For information, visit http://www.torontosistersincrime.ca.

Sisters in Crime members and guests chat before the meeting begins