Terrific new police procedural

Love police procedurals? To the list of top writers - Henning Mankel, Martin Cruz Smith, T. Jefferson Parker - add Thomas Rendell Curran, Canadian author of the just-released Death of a Lesser Man. Like Curran's two previous books (the acclaimed Undertow, and The Rossiter File), Lesser Man features Inspector Eric Stride and is set in St. John's, Newfoundland, during the late 1940s. With Lesser Man, Curran seals his reputation as one of Canada's top mystery writers.

Late one night, Stride hears two gunshots and quickly finds the victim, who - astonishingly - has three bullet wounds from two different guns. As in any top-notch police procedural, Stride sets standards for the police force to investigate the crime scene, then the victim's home. And again, as in any top-notch PP, this is only the beginning as Stride investigates people of all classes in St. John's, and quickly discovers he's got to move through time as well - delving into gruesome aspects of World War I. And finally, during these travels through space and time, new suspects arise and are proven not to be guilty. Curran wonderfully negotiates the mystery maze and the crime is finally solved on the final pages. Extraordinary! Really well paced and - as a mystery - a first-rate story with a great variety of interesting characters.

Curran has clearly done his homework on military procedures, battles, and personnel. Writing of Gallipoli and other major WW1 battles involving Newfoundland soldiers, readers aren't spared details of the hideous slaughter of the war.

My only caveat of this book is minor, involving St. John's. Newfoundland, the Rock, is clearly and lovingly described. However, I'm never quite sure about the size (population, area, key features) of St. John's itself. In some aspects, the city seems as clearly defined as one of the traditional Peter Robinson village mysteries. This in no way means that Curran doesn't write well about the city; he does in amazing detail.I await more in Curran's next book.

Patagonia Fossil book - Laotian Tilapia soup

Coming in August - Larry Marshall's wonderful book about discovery of fossils in south America (the area now called Patagonia) - this will be Roseland Books first product.

Due to many requests, here's the recipe for Laotian tilapia (catfish) soup, certainly one of the most amazing and tantalizingly delicious soups I've ever made

2 pounds tilapia fillets (originally called for catfish, your choice)

12 garlic cloves, peeling and finely chopped

4 Thai chilies, seeded and finally chopped

3 double fresh kaffir lime leaves, stem and vein removed, finely chopped

1 4" piece fresh lemongrass, thinly sliced

2 shallots, peeled and finally chopped

2 tablespoons peanut oil

1 quart chicken broth (water substitute ok, but broth preferred)

2 1/4" thick slices peeled galangal, preferably fresh (frozen ok)

1/4 cup smooth peanut butter

1 can coconut milk

6 tablespoons Thai fish sauce (Vietnamese sauce ok)

2 TBS finely fresh basil leaves, finely chopped

2 TBS fresh cilantro, finely chopped

cooked jasmine rice

1. Cut tilapia fillets into strips 1" long by 1/4" wide, cover with plastic, refridgerate

2. Saute garlic, lime leaves, lemongrass, shallots and chilies in peanut oil in deep skillet over medium heat until fragrant, approx 5 minutes. Add the chicken broth, lime juice and galangel, heat mixture to slow simmer

3. Whisk and blend in the peanut butter and 2 TBS coconut milk in small bowl, then whisk into the garlic mixture from step 2. Stir in tilapia and remaining coconut milk and simmer gently until the fish layers separate when prodded with a fork, approx 2 minutes. Stir in fish sauce, cilantro and basil and simmer 2 minutes.

4. Serve immediately over jasmine rice.

5. Lick lips, yum.