I read books for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes I’ll pick up a book based on recommendations from friends. Other times, I’ll read a review or a reference to a book on line. Still at other times, I’ll wander through a book store and be attracted to a book for who knows what reason. Next on my list are a couple books that recently appeared in the 27th Street Book Box.

Recently, however, I decided to read a book because I chanced to meet a writer. I was at an exhibition at Yumart not so long ago and Tuffy P and I decided to buy a small photo work, I guess you’d call it a collage. I didn’t know anything at all about the fellow who did it – his name is Lee Lamothe – Somebody mentioned to me – oh yeah, he’s a crime writer, you know. Hmmm.

At subsequent exhibitions at the same gallery, I met Lee Lamothe. Very interesting fellow. He’s an honest to goodness expert on organized crime. He’s written non-fiction books about the Mafia as well as a number of crime novels. I really enjoyed our conversations. Lee has an inquisitive mind, a great sense of detail and it seems, a penchant for research.

Later, I wondered how it was that I hadn’t read any of his books, and decided to change that. Having no idea which one to read first, I shopped on Amazon and ordered up the first one I saw, a novel called The Finger’s Twist.

It’s a page-turner, set in Toronto, featuring an unusual couple, un-official private investigators who become involved with a case whose ramifications are both personal to them and political. I loved that it was set in Toronto – a Toronto a know, and not just a few place names tossed into a generic story. I also enjoyed getting to know the unique characters. Beyond the protagonists – a biker tough guy son of a rag-and-bones man and a paraplegic woman surrounded by wealth – we meet an out-of-control Mayor, various police people, a “PR babe” – whose business card refers to the second oldest profession, a curious crew of people who reassemble shredded documents, not to mention Kensington Market punkers. To round it out, even CSIS is involved.

I was in Ottawa last week for a couple days, came home with a cold, and read The Finger’s Twist bundled up on the sofa Sunday with the woodstove blazing. I really enjoyed the book, and look forward to reading more of Lee Lemothe’s work in the coming months.