Victim Impact

Homicide becomes more than an academic study for criminologist Ted Boudreau when he comes home to find that his wife has been murdered. To add to his misery, Ted must acknowledge that his computer may have been targeted because of his interest in a secretive biker gang. His reaction to the death brings him into conflict with all around him. His father-in-law believes a parent's grief is privileged above a husband's, and the police would like Ted to be less inclined to meddle in the investigation. Ted himself has always espoused a compassionate approach to criminals, but now, perceiving a disconnect between law and justice, a penal progressive must confront his own inner vigilante. He becomes isolated from colleagues, whose doctrines he no longer believes can stand the test of real-life experience. Is criminal behaviour not conditioned by heredity and environment? Homicide becomes more than an academic study for criminologist Ted Boudreau when he comes home to find that his wife has been murdered. To add to his misery, Ted must acknowledge that his computer may have been targeted because of his interest in a secretive biker gang. His reaction to the death brings him into conflict with all around him. His father-in-law believes a parent's grief is privileged above a husband's, and the police would like Ted to be less inclined to meddle in the investigation. Ted himself has always espoused a compassionate approach to criminals, but now, perceiving a disconnect between law and justice, a penal progressive must confront his own inner vigilante. He becomes isolated from colleagues, whose doctrines he no longer believes can stand the test of real-life experience. Is criminal behaviour not conditioned by heredity and environment?

Mel Bradshaw was born in Toronto. He took his B.A. in English and philosophy at the University of Toronto and continued studying philosophy at New College, Oxford. Between degrees, he travelled and worked in Southeast Asia, Thailand, and Indonesia. He has also travelled to Zambia, Iceland, Poland, and points between. He has since returned to his native Toronto. His first novel was the critically acclaimed historical mystery, Death in the Age of Steam, (c2004 Napoleon), which was ForeWord magazine's choice as best mystery novel of the year in 2005. Bradshaw chose to revisit the past, the 1920s to be exact, for his second novel, Quarrel with the Foe (c2005, Napoleon). He has since been invited to partake in many prestigious literary events throughout Canada. Mel also publishes short stories, many of which are inspired by his wanderings. Victim Impact (Fall 2008) brings Bradshaw's writing firmly into the twenty-first century in a taut, suspenseful tale of violence and retribution.