A Change in Plans by Mike Martin
Book 17 in the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series
In A Change of Plans, we return to Grand Bank, Newfoundland, to a new adventure with Sgt. Winston Windflower. As a light mystery, the novel provides dramatic tension without resorting to graphic detail, although the events that unfold are quite believable. Followers of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery series will rejoin Windflower and his family, administrative staff and blueberry muffin supplier Betsy, the sincere and kindly Corporal Gupta, and many more familiar faces. Although Sanjay, Windflower’s good friend, is no longer with us physically, he does appear in Windflower’s dreams, and this is comforting to us as well as to Windflower.
“Mike Martin manages to deliver a well-paced, suspenseful plot with plenty of action without dwelling on depravity or carnage.”
This time, the action opens with a hit-and-run of a local person, Melinda Barry, who married well during university days, but left her spouse to come home and live on her own terms. As is ever the case, much lies behind the event, for Melinda is already suspected of prostitution and drug trafficking. Thoughts turn to the possibility of murder. As Windflower and his team explore the situation, the depths of the problems infiltrating the community become evident. This is not simple drug possession or personal trafficking; there are connections stemming from the cartels in Mexico. The body count rises.
The drug connection takes a while to sort out. Initially, one of the seemingly smaller players agrees to provide evidence in return for a deal, but the terms of the deal are violated. A sting operation goes badly wrong, and a tense situation, which Windflower is helpless to control, develops. We wait with him, hoping for a favourable outcome. Things are not as they seem, and we tense with our protagonist, waiting for the outcome.
Mike Martin manages to deliver a well-paced, suspenseful plot with plenty of action without dwelling on depravity or carnage. This is due to the characters and their response to any situation. Windflower is well-grounded in the Seven Teachings and lives by them in his prayer time, his family time, and his times of crisis. He begins the day with prayers and smudging, finds time for his family and the pets that are part of their home, cherishes his wife as a loving partner and independent human being, walks in nature and meditates when hard decisions must be made, or when the only thing to do is wait. He visits those who are alone. As a dream weaver taught by his aunt and uncle, he receives the dreams that are given him and learns from them. He finds joy in family moments and takes pleasure in creating meals for those he loves. And yet, he is not idealized; he misses those he has lost and struggles when his friends are in danger. He reacts as we would like to, with a dignity we can admire. He is a role model that can inspire us, but not a superhero; we can look at him and day, “I could be like that.”
His daughters have grown up just a little, and the parenting challenges we anticipated in earlier works begin to manifest. Specifically, daughter Stella must have a phone, and resisting her takes all the skill her parents can bring to bear together. Windflower’s wife, ever patient, humorous, and wise, stands with him and understands him as a partner, a parent, and a person. She is firm but fair with her children, her stance ever framed by love.
In any cozy mystery, food and its preparation occupy a central place, and that is true here. In the Windflower mysteries, though, I find a realistic approach—foods are substantial and prepared with care, but they are not impossible concoctions. In other words, the recipes described are something that I could do; they are not miles above me. I wanted to take notes and try some of these. The inclusion of family time and cooking time reduces the intensity of the read, creating a yearning to read more while also providing moments of relaxation. Although the denouement is long, it provides satisfying details and we can still find enjoyment. We emerge from the reading experience refreshed, not agitated.
The novel can be read as a stand-alone, as the author fills in enough background details to give us understanding. At the same time, observing the character evolution over several books is beneficial, and is also a good course of action. Once again, Mike Martin draws on the warmth of Windflower’s Cree heritage, portraying a well-rounded man, a humble and honest man, a respectful cop and a loyal friend, and places him in a well-developed story, surrounded by love. All the ingredients we need for a satisfying and relaxing read.
About the Author
Mike Martin was born in St. John’s, NL on the east coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. He is a long-time freelance writer and his articles and essays have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online across Canada and around the world.
About the Reviewer
Anne M. Smith-Nochasak grew up in rural western Nova Scotia, where she currently teaches part-time after years in northern communities. She has self-published four novels with Friesen Press: A Canoer of Shorelines (2021), The Ice Widow (2022), and two books in the Taggak Journey trilogy: River Faces North (2024) and River Becomes Shadow (2025). A member of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia, Anne enjoys incorporating local settings into her writing. In her spare time, she likes reading, kayaking, gardening, renovating, and exploring the woods with her golden dog, Shay, while her cat, Kit Marlowe, oversees the house. Anne can be contacted through her website. https://www.acanoerofshorelines.com/
Book Details
Publisher : Ottawa Press and Publishing Mystery
Publication date : April 18 2026
Language : English
Print length : 268 pages
ISBN-10 : 1990896391
ISBN-13 : 978-1990896392