Fiction Pick of the Week: Come Thou Tortoise

Come Thou Tortoise by Jessica Grant 2009

Fast-paced, easy to read, and a little quirky, Jessica Grant’s Come, Thou Tortoise employs wonderfully witty wordplay while taking advantage of a uniquely Canadian setting. Where else would you find references to the political significance of orange, an appreciation of the value of Canadian Tire money and a lack of surprise at the operations of Air Canada? As Audrey (aptly nicknamed “Oddly”) Flowers returns to St. John’s to deal with a family tragedy, she tries to solve one mystery but winds up discovering another. Her pet tortoise, Winifred, also lends her voice and perspective to provide insight into the events that have shaped Audrey’s journey home.