The Dogs of Winter

A Russell and Leduc Mystery, Book 2

By: Ann Lambert

Narrated by: Ann Lambert

The sequel to The Birds That Stay - hailed by The Globe and Mail as one of “Ten Thrillers That Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat Until Summertime” and included on Book Riot’s list of “Highly Anticipated Crime Novels”.

The Dogs of Winter begins after a howling snowstorm envelops Montreal, and the body of a young woman is discovered in its wake. The only clue to her identity is the photograph in her pocket, and on it, the phone number of Detective Inspector Romeo Leduc. Meanwhile, Marie and Romeo are busy navigating their deepening relationship, and a student at Marie’s college is the victim of a terrible assault. While Romeo begins to think that the dead woman may be linked to violence against several homeless people in the city, the search for justice in both cases is thwarted by societal apathy and ignorance, even as the killer is stalking the frigid streets of Montreal, preying on and terrorizing its most vulnerable citizens.

©2020 Ann Lambert (P)2020 Second Story Press

Critic reviews

“The Dogs of Winter is as much an exploration of a city and its communities as a traditional crime novel. It's about power and powerlessness in the dead of winter. And more than that, it's a rollicking good read.” (Ann Cleeves)

“Marie Russell makes her triumphant return in this compelling and irresistible sequel to The Birds That Stay. Moving the story from the Laurentian mountains to the heart of the city of Montreal, Lambert’s second Russell and Leduc mystery features the welcome return of old favourites and a new cast of fascinating characters. The Dogs of Winter builds on the crackling chemistry between Professor Marie Russell and Detective Romeo Leduc, propelling them into a new investigation lined with unsung heroes and unseen villains. Marie is truly a great Canadian character, and we see her pitted against not only a sinister and elusive killer, but an equally insidious structural inequity that stifles the course of justice at every turn. Like its predecessor, The Dogs of Winter does not shy away from the darker side of Canada’s history - nor its present - and makes for compulsive reading. With Lambert's characteristic blend of humour, pathos and vivid prose, The Dogs of Winter should fly off the shelves.” (Anne Lagacé Dowson, Montreal commentator and activist)