By The Time You Read This

By The Time You Read This, the title of this book, is the opening to a suicide note found on the body of the wife of Sergeant John Cardinal, the protagonist in a series of novels by Giles Blunt, a Canadian author. Blunt’s story took me through a wide swing of emotions, from love and compassion at the start, to horror, sorrow and sadness with the death of Catherine Cardinal, back to compassion with the opening sequences of psychiatrist Frederick Bell with his patients, to disgust as the parallel plot about child pornography unfolded, back to horror and rage as the true character of Bell unfolded, and finally to a sense of partial satisfaction as Blunt brought the story to its conclusion.

I found myself wanting to say in response to the Bell character, that no psychiatrist would do and say what he does. Perhaps the story is a bit too close since I am a psychiatrist and Bell commits the ultimate acts of betrayal of his patients to satisfy his own sickness. But, I may have more trouble suspending reality in this case, and perhaps my own response was a defense. Dr. Bell preys on the most vulnerable people in the vilest manner possible. There are such sick characters and I’ve met a few people in my profession who were sick and to whom I would not even refer an enemy (although I hope I don’t have any). I need to have my fellow bloggers read this book and give me some perspective. (ECD – it’s on the Kindle.)

I found this novel as I’ve continued my travels in Canada and continued my search for Canadian crime novelists, of which there are many. Blunt has twice won the Arthur Ellis Award for Best Novel, as well as other awards. The writing is excellent and his character development is superior. I’ll gladly look at more of his books.