Shipwrecked Souls: An Inspector Green Mystery by Barbara Fradkin
Reviewed by Laura Patterson
To what lengths would you go to protect your family? What memories would you be willing to bury and how many secrets could you keep? With mysterious murders, hidden identities, and a connection to World War II and the Holocaust, Shipwrecked Souls will take you on an emotional journey into Inspector Green’s past as he unearths long-hidden secrets his father had hoped would stay buried forever.
The story begins when an elderly woman is found murdered in an alleyway with a name written in three different languages on a scrap of paper. As detectives struggle to identify this Jane Doe, the murder of an elderly man occurs nearby and what they find in his basement raises many suspicions. When it becomes apparent that the two deaths are somehow linked to events which took place during World War II and the Holocaust, Inspector Green is called in. The further Green involves himself in the case, the more shocking discoveries he makes surrounding his own past. As the case becomes personal, and with time running out, Green knows me must throw himself in the face of danger and step outside the lines of the law to solve the mystery and uncover the truth before it’s too late.
Jumping into the middle of a series is something I try not to do because not enough background information is given to really allow the reader to grasp the recurring characters’ personalities. In Shipwrecked Souls, which is number twelve in the Inspector Green series, author, Barbara Fradkin, does an excellent job at introducing her characters and easily weaves them into the tapestry of the novel. I truly enjoyed Inspector Green’s character as he is the older, wiser inspector on the scene with all the know-how. Throughout the novel we get to see that confident, take-action side of Inspector Green but also his more vulnerable side which made him much more relatable. All the supporting characters had rich personalities which added many layers to the storyline but one stood out from the rest: Hannah Green. Hannah, Inspector Green’s daughter, stood out because we learn that she had lived a rebellious, troubled life before going into law enforcement. In Shipwrecked Souls, we get a small glimpse of how clever Hannah can be which leaves me thinking she must have a greater presence in some of the other novels in the series.
What I enjoyed most about this novel was the thirst and drive that Inspector Green had for knowledge of his past and the sense of urgency that Fradkin was able to lace into the story. When Green discovers that his father had kept many secrets about his past, it turns his life upside down. Green’s discoveries give the story a very heavy, very emotional quality which allows a greater connection with the character and his quest. Although Green’s discovers could not undo the events of the past, he set the truth free, served justice, and avenged his father.
Police investigation/murder mystery novels have become a bit predictable and overdone but Shipwrecked Souls brings a fresh and wonderful spin to the genre. I enjoyed the story’s progression and the discoveries along the way. While there were many facts and names to keep track of, the story wrapped up very nicely, and I was left feeling satisfied with how it all turned out. Shipwrecked Souls mixes the perfect amount of distress and discovery to really pull at the heart strings and keep you on the edge of your seat. Fradkin shows her gifted writing in this novel and has inspired me to explore the rest of the Inspector Green Series. Shipwrecked Souls is a must read.
About the Author
Barbara Fradkin is a retired psychologist and the critically acclaimed author of the Amanda Doucette thriller series and the Inspector Green detective series, which has earned two Best Novel Awards of Excellence from Crime Writers of Canada, as well as two additional nominations. Barbara shares her time between her home in Ottawa and her cottage on Sharbot Lake in Ontario.
About the Reviewer
Laura Patterson is a Registered Acupuncturist and a Food Inspector from rural New Brunswick, where she lives with her husband and twin boys. When she’s not busy with life’s craziness, you’ll find her with a warm drink in hand and her nose in a book.
Book Details
Publisher : Dundurn Press
Publication date : Jan. 21 2025
Language : English
Print length : 352 pages
ISBN-10 : 145975381X
ISBN-13 : 978-1459753815