Wishful Seeing: A Thaddeus Lewis Mystery

By Janet Kellough

2017 Arthur Ellis Award, Best Novel — Shortlisted
Saddlebag preacher Thaddeus Lewis uncovers murder and conspiracy in Northumberland County.

A body is discovered on an isolated island in Rice Lake. Saddlebag preacher Thaddeus Lewis is sent on a desperate hunt for the truth when a woman for whom he feels a guilty attraction stands accused of the murder. Meanwhile, railway mania grips the county: everyone expects to get rich off the Cobourg–Peterborough rail line — some at the expense of others.

Aided by his fifteen-year-old granddaughter and a charming but inexperienced lawyer, Thaddeus defends the woman while privately questioning his motives for doing so. With little hard evidence to go on, the courtroom battle to prove the woman’s innocence seems doomed — until a startling discovery gives the case a fighting chance. But the trio’s digging uncovers a conspiracy that could threaten the future of the entire district. With the fortunes of the county, and his own future, on the line, Thaddeus struggles against shady characters and his own conscience to solve the crime.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dundurn
• Release date: Jul 30, 2016
• ISBN: 9781459735385

Janet Kellough

Janet Kellough is a professional storyteller who has written and appeared in numerous stage productions featuring a fusion of spoken word and music. Her five books in the Thaddeus Lewis series are On the Head of a Pin, Sowing Poison, 47 Sorrows, The Burying Ground, and Wishful Seeing. She lives in Prince Edward County, Ontario.

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Reviews for Wishful Seeing

[cathygeha · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Historical, factual and sometimes dry but still intriguing I have to say I did enjoy this book. I have not read the first four books in the series and found this story able to stand alone. My first thought when reading was, “This is slow.” Second thought was, “There is a lot of religion in this story.”Third thought was, “Martha, at fifteen, is much more mature than most fifteen year olds.Fourth thought was, “The action really begins in the last third of the book.Fifth thought was, “I wonder what happens in book six? Thaddeus is a saddlebag preacher who rides from meeting to meeting for the Methodist church. It sounds like he has not always been a man of God but became one at some point when he met the woman who would be his wife. His life has not been easy and most of his female family members are deceased. His granddaughter takes care of him. He has had many adventures in life and loves to solve mysteries. In this story he sees someone that reminds him of his deceased wife and is intrigued enough to assist her legally. There are mysteries to solve, an accused murderer to exonerate, a few people with romance on their minds and at least two people that will need to figure out what to do with their future. I enjoyed the book and am glad I did not give up on it in the beginning. It is slow at first but does pick up. The author states she is a storyteller and the book is “told” by the author rather than “experienced” by the characters in the book. There was quite a bit of historical information imparted through the story so if you want to know more about the railroad, Canadian law in the 1800’s, what religion and life were like in the past this book might be one you will enjoy. If you want action-packed, seat of the pants, fast paced suspense then this is not a book you will enjoy. Thank you to NetGalley and Dundurn for the copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.