This is the third in prize-winning author rosemary Aubert's mystery series featuring Ellis Portal, a disgraced former judge, the unconventional sleuth described by the New Your Times as "a character with dignity and unusual moral depth." The second novel in the series, the Feast of Stephen, won Canada's Arthur Ellis Award as best mystery novel of 1999.
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Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Canadian Aubert's third Ellis Portal mystery (Free Reign; The Feast of Stephen) is a well-written, if pedestrian, descent into the world of homeless young women. A professional criminologist, the author brings compassionate insight into the pathetic, often terrible, people who inhabit this underworld. These insights, alas, are the high points of the story. Middle-aged detective Ellis Portal, a former judge who fell from grace through drink and drugs, wound up homeless on the streets and re-ascended to the edge of respectability, helps his friend, Det. Sgt. Matt West, to locate a young woman, Carrie Simm. Her father, a Toronto movie producer, was murdered in front of her, in full view of hundreds of people, at a film premiere. Possibly fearing for her own life, Carrie disappeared. She has a history of running away, and West suspects she's hiding with her homeless women companions. He asks Portal to use his contacts to locate her. No surprise Portal soon finds himself looking for a lot more than a missing girl. Too much, perhaps. Aubert introduces so many characters and concerns that Carrie almost becomes a McGuffin. Bland, whiny and self-absorbed, Portal endlessly relives his rise and fall, while his success as a detective is entirely due to incredible luck. Both he and West make some stupid errors in judgment. The worst judgment of all is the author's: her killer never could have gotten away with the method Aubert chooses. A consistently readable, often interesting, but ultimately disappointing book. (June 1)best mystery novel of 1999.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Readers who have been starved for a follow-up to Aubert's sumptuous Feast of Stephen (1999) need wait no longer. The third entry in the Toronto-based series takes us further into the fascinating life of former judge Ellis Portal, who, approaching 60, is making his way slowly back into society after a dramatic fall from grace that left him temporarily homeless. Even though he has come into money again, Portal's problems are far from over. While trying to reestablish a relationship with his estranged son, Jeffrey, Portal loses his current home, a rented room in a boardinghouse run by an enigmatic, street-smart young girl. Meanwhile, police detective Matt West recruits Portal's aid in finding the missing daughter of a murdered Toronto film director, which requires the judge to solicit the trust of a group of young female gang members. Portal's indomitable integrity and checkered past make his ministrations to the troubled girls utterly believable and moving. This is quickly becoming a very special series. Jenny McLarin
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Yawn.,
By TimInBC "reads too much SF" (Victoria, BC, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Ferryman Will Be There: An Ellis Portal Mystery (Ellis Portal Mysteries) (Hardcover)
Maybe this is a better book for those who have read the others. But let's look at the problems I had with it:- I was able to figure out the identity of the shooter and the Ferryman very early on. - Having lived in Toronto for 10+ years, I wasn't that impressed by the specifics. OK but nothing special. - By the end I grew tired of Matt West as the author's "ah, but what I haven't told you is .." device. - The ending seemed a bit facile, especially in tying off a few loose ends - but explaining would be spoilering so I won't. - The paperback edition I read had more tha a few errors ("softwear" for example).
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great insight into the homeless, but weak characters,
By
This review is from: The Ferryman Will Be There: An Ellis Portal Mystery (Ellis Portal Mysteries) (Hardcover)
Former Judge and former homeless person Ellis Portal descends once again into the world of the homeless to track down a girl who vanished when her father was shot. He discovers teen gangs, evil corporations, drug dealing, and the physical underbelly of Toronto.I loved the way author Rosemary Aubert described the lifestyles of the homeless, their ability to survive and their schemes to protect themselves. Aubert is certainly a talented writer and THE FERRYMAN WILL BE THERE is a pleasant read. The problem with this book is that although Portal and the other characters express ample emotions, the reader hears about them rather than feeling them. Aubert missed the chance to increase the reader suspense by giving Portal only a tangential direct stake in the outcome. Because Portal doesn't really care, neither does the reader. Finally, this is supposed to be a mystery. Aubert doesn't give us any misdirection to let the readers buy into the solution. I enjoyed this book, but I could have enjoyed it so much more.
0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An enjoyable read with an different perspective,
By Maggie "of the Great White North" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Ferryman Will Be There: An Ellis Portal Mystery (Ellis Portal Mysteries) (Hardcover)
Aubert's lead character gives you interesting insights into the lives of the homeless. It is nice change to have a bit of an atypical lead character, as opposed to the typical good-looking but hard-nosed cop with a heart of gold that you normally find as the lead of mystery novels.You won't feel like you already know the answer to the mystery by the 5th page, which is great, and the hints leading up to the final chapter aren't so blatant that they knock you over the head. The ideal target reader for this book: a Canadian living in Toronto or someone with a love of or interest in Toronto, as Aubert does a superb job of bringing Toronto to life. Extra kudos to the author for setting this storyline in Canada!
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