Bay of Blood, a novel set in Georgian Bay, is based on the mysterious death of renowned Canadian painter Tom Thomson.
The book’s idea came to author Andy Potter when he was watching a documentary about Thomson’s life and mysterious death called West Wind: The Vision of Tom Thomson.
“This would make a great novel,” Potter thought. Then he thought, “No, it wouldn’t. You can’t fly too close to the Tom Thomson myth. It’s sacred. He’s a Canadian icon.”
So, Potter wrote a mystery novel based on Thomson’s death.
Thomson died on July 8, 1917. The famous painter murdered in Bay of Blood died on July 8, 2017. There are other similarities, but the painter in the novel is not Thomson, and he’s not the main character.
The novel’s main character is OPP Detective Sergeant Eva Naslund.
As one of the book’s reviewers says, “Potter takes his readers on a fascinating 21st-century chase, with bells and whistles never dreamt of 100 years ago: cellphones, female detectives, Russian operatives, and shady Toronto art dealers.”
Potter won’t elaborate on the suspects; he doesn’t want to ruin the whodunit.
Ken Haigh, a Georgian Bay author, provided this short overview of the novel.
“In Eva Naslund, we discover a sleuth who is sympathetic, vulnerable, and smart. Bay of Blood is an exciting new entry in the world of Canadian detective fiction. I look forward to volume two.”
To mark the one-year anniversary of the book’s release, Potter and his publisher are offering readers of The Highlander a chance to win one of 12 free ebooks
To win, simply email your name to ampnorthnoir@outlook.com; subject Line: ‘Ebook Giveaway.’ Contest closes April 30, 2020. Winners will be selected at random.
If readers want to get a print book, Bay of Blood is available at book retailers. For more information or sales details, visit Potter’s author site at amp-northnoir@ outlook.com