A thrilling glimpse into the deadly backdoors of political power in Canada and beyond, The True North Talks by John D Kingston crackles with contemporary tension and tongue-in-cheek critique.
A government whistleblower is shot dead on a tarmac before he can expose damning secrets about a shadowy cabal maneuvering for Quebec’s full independence. Six months later, a handsome movie star turned politician, Alex Archer, is sworn in as Canada’s newest Prime Minister, but his fervent views on unifying the country have put a target squarely on his back from Quebecois separatists.
Marcel Vanier is the Assistant Director of Canadian Counter-Terrorism and Counter-Intelligence, tasked with protecting the Prime Minister from real and imagined threats, while also safeguarding the country against constitutional subversion and internal violence. When an old connection tips him off to illegal dealings that implicate high-ranking leaders in Quebec’s government, he assembles a team of covert investigators to determine just how deep the conspiracy goes.
Wasting no time in his new appointment, Alex Archer simultaneously launches a salvo of legislation and policy moves that could redraw the very foundation of Canada’s constitution, and redefine Quebec’s treasured identity. As the opposing factions of unification and separation approach an explosive denouement, the top-secret Quebec Manifesto comes even closer to realization, threatening the stability of an entire nation. Clandestine dealings, political compromise, cooked-in corruption, and visions of national destiny collide in this exhilarating slice of espionage fiction.
While the idea of a popular entertainment figure rising to the highest political office in the land is far from fiction in the 21st century, and near impossible to satirize or even match in fiction, this novel probes into fascinating territory as a modern allegory. Questions of provincial independence, self-determination, and the right to resistance are timeless subjects for those who feel oppressed by centralized power, and Kingston explores this on multiple levels, including through the experiences of the First Nations people. Politics are often clouded by a veneer of decorum and time-honored tradition, and this book points out the fragility of that facade, representing a dire warning for Canadians, as well as their closest neighbors and allies.
Canadian readers will likely appreciate or understand more of the internal political mechanisms and cultural nuance of this complex plot, but Kingston walks a fine line between detail and getting lost in technical weeds, keeping the context and thematic meaning accessible for any audience. The novel also does this without proselytizing – in terms of a political stance, the author argues most for a robust and reactive federal government, but also acknowledges the need for greater transparency, accountability, and a reevaluation of the “norms” of Western democratic processes.
On the technical side, the prose is polished and the dialogue is crisp and believable, capturing the delicacy of top-secret chats, and highlighting the sharp intellect of key figures in the story, while also taking a backseat to immersive narration when it’s necessary to remain tonally consistent. All in all, the pace is relentless without rushing, the cast of richly crafted characters is familiar without being archetypal, and the story is universally relevant, delivering a wildly entertaining and suspenseful tale of the uncertain future.
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