"The Tenderness of Wolves" is Stef Penney's debut novel and is set in late 19th century Canada. It was first published in 2006, and went on to win that year's Costa Prize.

Laurent Jammet was around forty years old, French and had once been a voyageur for the Hudson Bay Company. However, he later settled in a small settlement called Dove River and made his living from the bounty paid on killing wolves. Fortunately for Dove River's wolves, he didn't make his forty first year - he was murdered in bad, having his throat cut and his scalp taken.

Jammet's corpse was discovered the following morning by Mrs Ross, his closest neighbour. She had arrived in Canada from Scotland with her husband, Angus, twelve years earlier. The couple have a single adopted son called Francis - himself, technically, an immigrant. Francis was born in Ireland, but had left the country as an infant to escape the Famine. Unfortunately, his parents had died on the journey, and, on arrival, he'd been placed in an orphanage. Francis is now seventeen, and hasn't really been able to fit in - he has become surly, taciturn, clearly doesn't get on with father and regularly disappears for two or three days at a time on fishing trips. Jammet, meanwhile, was the closest thing he had to a friend. Mrs Ross, naturally, reports the murder to Andrew Knox - the magistrate in the neighbouring settlement of Caulfield. Unfortunately, it seems that Francis has taken off overnight - and, although his mother claims it's a fishing trip, even she isn't entirely sure that's where he's gone. She is, however, certain he didn't kill Jammet though she knows he'll probably be considered a suspect. Knox promptly sends off to Fort Edgar for some company men to help with the investigation. Based on the scalping, Knox and Scott - an influential man in the area, having essentially founded Caulfield - initially assume the killer was an Indian outlaw. However, Knox isn't willing to rule anyone out on the grounds of race.

Three men arrive from Fort Baxter to take over the investigation. The most obviously qualified is McKinley, Fort Edgar's factor - however, he proves to be a thoroughly dislikeable character and a suspect is likely to fall down the stairs during an interrogation. Donald Moody, like Mrs Ross, is a Scottish immigrant - though he's an accountant, rather than a rugged outdoorsman. The third is Jacob, one of the Company's native employees - and, after an accident on the rugby pitch, also Donald's sworn protector.

Where some view Francis as the key suspect for Jammet's murder - Donald, in particular - he isn't the only suspect. The other key suspect is a trapper called Parker, a man who'd traded with Jammet in the past and who arrived at Jammet's home shortly after his death. While Mrs Ross is sure Francis is innocent, she's also convinced by Parker when he protests his innocence - which would mean a third suspect is required. There is a third possibility - Angus had tracked Francis to Swallow Lake, where he usually fished. It appeared that Francis had been that way, but had just kept going...though so had at least one other person. However, rather than continuing his search, Angus turned around and just came home. While his wife decides to take up the search, in order to prove her son's innocence, Donald and Jacob have also decided to go after him - believing they're chasing the killer.

While my sister said she was totally hooked within the first 50 pages, for me things just didn't warm up until a little later - not until Mrs Ross took up the search. Although the focus shifts from one character to another, Mrs Ross is essentially the book's central character. She is the only character to tell her own story - "Even now, I cannot remember that small without also thinking of fruit pies with cream or steak in brandy" -while everyone else has their story told - "Donald presses a hand to the window pane". I did find Donald to be a vaguely ridiculous character, and his attempts to romance Susannah Knox - Andrew Knox's daughter - were so pathetic, I'm still not sure if it was supposed to be funny. If this angle had been cut out altogether, and a little more attention had been paid to the Seton sisters, I think it may have led to a better book. (In a sub-plot reminiscent of "The Searchers", Amy and Eve Seton had disappeared fifteen years previously. Trackers and searchers were hired, but to no avail - both parents died, penniless and broken hearted, without ever seeing their daughters again. Naturally, the book sees some developments). A decent book overall, and certainly worth reading - but I have read better.

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