Harbour Grace Newfoundland June 1884 Sergeant Sean Ryan, an officer with the Terra Nova Constabulary, is transferred from St. John’s to police the very troubled and tense Catholic community of Riverhead, Harbour Grace, a place he thought he had left behind him. Just five months ago, the now-infamous religious riot known as the Harbour Grace Affray saw five men tragically killed—a lone Catholic, Patrick Callahan, and four Protestants. Only a week into his new posting, Sean is thrust into action. Shockingly, Thomas Callahan, son of the popular Catholic man who had died in the Affray, is found shot and left for dead in the raging Bannerman River. The young policeman then discovers that Leah Thomey, his ex-lover, is still living in Riverhead, having given up her dream of a professional life in the Boston States. Sergeant Ryan is troubled to learn that Leah had become romantically involved with the deceased Thomas Callahan.

The young Catholic cop is challenged to find out who killed Thomas Callahan, the only son of Patrick Callahan, while he faces resistance from an untrusting public—including members of his own family.

Patrick Collins is a writer and retired educator who has taught in various communities throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. He finished his career in education as a curriculum program specialist, working in several school districts on the Avalon Peninsula and in Western Labrador. Patrick also worked as a sales and marketing representative with Lifetouch Canada until June 2011. He recently retired as a sessional instructor at the Canadian Training Institute in Bay Roberts. Pat’s eleventh and most recent work, The Body on the Beach, is a novel inspired by the true events surrounding a woman, Alice Williams, who died under mysterious and suspicious circumstances. The cause of her death has never been revealed. His literary works published since 2010 are as follows: a biography of Dr. Charles Cron, A Doctor for All Time: A Man Who Cured Our Hearts; The Harbour Grace Affray; The Spirit of the SS Kyle; Murder at Mosquito Cove; Belonging; Forsaken Children; Gibbet Hill; What Lies Below; The Fairy Ring; and Tales Through Time. Born and raised in Riverhead, Harbour Grace, Patrick J. Collins continues to enjoy researching and writing in his retirement. He can be reached by email at pjcollins@eastlink.ca.

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