Local British Columbia mystery writer, Dean Unger, says the province of British Columbia is a treasure trove of untapped rich history that is equal to any story about the American West.
More than 3500 copies Sold! A Garden of Thieves is an historical fiction novel about the tumultous period in British Columbia history, when BC First Nations were being overcome and assimilated by European culture. BC author, Dean Unger, says the mineral rush on Texada Island, BC was almost an afterthought to both the Chilkoot and Yukon gold rush. Miner’s pouring down the coast from the north country caught wind of another strike – this one on a mid-sized island on the Sunshine Coast, where newspaper magnate and would-be future Premier of the Province of British Columbia, Amor De Cosmos, set his eyes on a major mineral strike and set about devising a plan to acquire the island by vast overreach via his position of advantage.
The land scandal was real and, as such, aspects of A Garden of Thieves are factual. However, the fictional meat and bones are thoroughly researched, in order to ensure that the core and essence of the story also ring true in their own way. The period from 1800 to 1900 was a century of assimilation, using an untested and largely inhumane means of lands and resource acquisition.
“The year is 1889, and Canada’s First Female journalist takes on the politically fueled Murder of Eli Tsan, by Salish Chief, Israel Tomas’ only son…https://deanungerauthor.com/a-garden-of-thieves/
Download the historical epilogue for A Garden of Thieves ( G.O.T. ), comprising Dean’s views and perspectives on British Columbia during the colonial era; the social conditions that existed then and the challenges faced by BC First Nations in the early days of Confederation, below:
Dean is presently working to complete his third novel, A Fine Point of Light, an historical fiction inspired by Niecephore Niepce’s invention – the Heliograph, or “sun-picture”, in 1826. Essentially the first photograph in world, Niepce succeeded in almost perfecting his process and creating his succesful image several years in advance of Louis Jaques-Monde Daguerre’s claim to the Daguerreotype – an historical detail which serves as the launch-point of this captivating murder mystery story. The modern-day mystery unfurls when a young man – a street urchin – shows up in a pawn shop in Rochester, NY, with a box of artifacts that had been lost since 1831…. Watch for updates…
Dean has also recently completed a children’s book: The Crow Who Didn’t Like to Get Wet, the story of young Crispin Crow, as he undertakes an intrepid and unplanned adventure through which he is forced to tackle his fear of water. Illustrations currently in production by his daughter, Selena Unger.
Books and artisan games available also at www.ravenrockgallery.com