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In the Shadow of Evil

Learn the inspiration behind In the Shadow of Evil
by Beatrice Culleton Mosionier


When I conceived this novel I decided right off that the setting would be in the foothills of the Rockies. I created a small lake called Shadow Lake, and a small town called Dodging, not far from Fort St. John, British Columbia.

I also decided I would visit the area. One reason was that my brother, Eddie, had once lived in Ingenika. So I wanted to see Williston Lake, a reservoir created by the infamous (to Aboriginal people) W.A.C. Bennett Dam.

In the Shadow of Evil Wolves The second reason was that I imagined it would be isolated enough to have a healthy pack of wolves. Yes, wolves. I wanted to write a mystery, I wanted to deal with child molestation, and I wanted to write about wolves. I wanted to connect them all in a good mystery.

First step was to call the Fort St. John Friendship Centre. Arlene LaBoucane took my call, knew of In Search of April Raintree and invited me to stay at her place.

During our stay, Arlene drove us around the area. We went to the Halfway River Reserve, about 100 km northwest, where the people were branding calves. She drove us to the Bennett Dam on the Peace River, and along an arm of Williston Lake. Wherever we traveled we saw so much wildlife. Later she told me it was very unusual to see so much wildlife.

When I got back to Toronto, I wanted to write about everything and I read about wolves, oil, hydro, and forestry. Arlene had also told me about Aboriginal women who had gone missing but I couldn’t find any information about them.

My story is about a Metis woman, Christine Pelletier, who faces the unbearable loss of her husband and child. Strange things begin to happen to her and she begins to wonder if her husband and child are really dead. Or did he run off with her beautiful, but untrustworthy sister, Leona? Gradually she realizes that her past holds the key to what happened to her family, but not in the way she imagined.

Review

Beatrice Culleton Mosionier has a tough act to follow, yet she easily pulls it off with In the Shadow of Evil – a mystery novel that will not let her many fans down. Mosionier has definitely come out of the shadows of her first instant success and come into her own. She has taken a risk with this novel, but it was well worth it. If you don’t already know it, this Aboriginal author is a Canadian treasure.

- Colleen Simard, Winnipeg Free Press, 2001

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