Northern Wilderness

Northern Wilderness by Ray Mears is a fascinating adventure book going into the northern desolate part of Canada and its first explorers and adventurers. It starts with the description of the boreal forest and goes onto the fur trade which starts off and which in turn led to the formation of the Hudson Bay Company but quickly goes to the adventurers trying to locate the Northwest Passage, the strait which connects the Atlantic to the Pacific in the northern part of Canada. It quickly talks of the adventures of Samuel Hearne, Alexander Mackenzie (after whom the Mackenzie River is named), David Thompson, Captain James Cook, George Vancouver, John Jewitt and John Rae. Fascinating to read the contribution of these great men to the world. They were able to proceed further and survive the harsh winter because they adjusted to the life in the tundra just like the local people did. Goodreads 4/5

The Red Fox

The Red Fox by Anthony Hyde is his debut novel and set in the Cold war era. An ex girlfriend calls for help in locating her missing father and the search leads the protagonist to Canada, France and Soviet Union. Starts off well, but just when we thought we are coming to the end of the suspense, it meanders off to Soviet Union and further adventures. Anthony has managed to keep the suspense intact until the end, the very last paragraph.  Goodreads rating 2/5