Fall from Grace from Wayne Arthurson marks the debut of Leo Desroches, one of the most unusual amateur detectives ever to appear in Canada or points south, this fast-paced, enthralling mystery is the story of a man who had everything, lost it all, and is trying to get it back.

Leo Desroches doesn't look like a native, but his mother was Cree, and he understands the problems of indigenous Canadians of the First Nations. Which is probably why the Edmonton newspaper decides he should be their Aboriginal Issues reporter. He has his own issues to deal with: the compulsive gambling that cost him his wife and children and the risk-taking that threatens to derail him every time he starts to get his life back together. But during a newspaper strike, Leo caught a break, getting hired as a reporter. Since then, he's managed to resist the urge to gamble. But he still hasn't stopped taking risks....

When he's assigned to cover the murder of a young native prostitute, it's just one more article...until the cop in charge lets him view the corpse, something the Edmonton police never do. Leo's article starts a chain of events that leads him to a much, much bigger story, one that could bring down the entire police department...if it doesn't get him killed.

Wayne Arthurson, 2016 writer-in-residence for Edmonton libraries, is a freelance writer whose work has appeared in Saturday Night, Air Canada's En Route, Writer's Digest, Canadian Living, and AlbertaViews.

Fall from Grace, the second novel in his Leo Desroches series, won the 2012 Alberta Readers' Choice Award.

Wayne is also the author of several history books and the co-author of the most popular fanblog for Amazing Race Canada, Gord and Wayne's Amazing Race Canada. He is a husband and father, and he drums in a band which is as yet unnamed, in Edmonton, Alberta.

Wayne Arthurson's profile page

“A very satisfying debut. Think Nancy Pickard for region and atmosphere, Brad Parks for journalism, and Timothy Hallinan for social concerns and attitude. Highly recommended.” —Library Journal, Starred Review, Mystery Debut of the Month

“Canadian journalist Arthurson's impressive first novel…demonstrates a fine sense of place and casts a sympathetic but informed eye on Edmonton's varied cultures.” —Publishers Weekly

“This is a genre-bender, its twists all the more startling for being unexpected.” —Booklist

“The way Arthurson blends disparate elements together in his winning debut augurs well for future efforts. Here's hoping Arthurson brings the troubled Leo Desroches back for an encore, and soon.” —Mystery Scene

“Wise and compassionate, vivid and witty, Leo is the kind of character you feel you've known a long time, and Wayne Arthurson is a writer to watch. What a great read. I couldn't put it down.” —Sparkle Hayter, bestselling author of the Robin Hudson mysteries