One of the things I find most attractive about a book or a movie is when the writer takes me on a journey, or to a new world. It feels like a holiday to me, without the departure tax. Jim Miller's new book does this for me. "Mined Your Own Business" takes us into the world of the military, circa 1961, but in a behind-the-scenes rather than an in-the-trenches sort of way.

We are introduced to Camp Gagetown, New Brunswick; training facility for the Canadian army. We meet Private Donald "Rabbi" Hawkins, who has received his nickname for his Hammurabi qualities, as opposed to his Judaism - especially as Rabbi isn't even Jewish. But he is a hybrid of sorts, an interesting character best described as one third Hawkeye Pearce, one third Sergeant Bilko, and one third Perry Mason.

"Mined Your Own Business" starts rapidly, with Rabbi stumbling upon a dead body ("I found the body with my toes" he says) that turns out to be a fellow infantryman, Willie Mardum, who has drowned. The fact that Willie's drowned body was weighted down with army-issue mines (as opposed to the consumer models) takes away any notion that this was anything but murder, and compels Rabbi to dig a little deeper.

Rabbi's initial poking around has him finding a "treasure" map that had been in Willie's possession shortly before his demise. This prompts Rabbi and some of his cohorts to change tack somewhat and set off in search of a treasure seemingly buried right beneath their noses at Camp Gagetown. But is seems that the closer Rabbi et al get to the treasure, the more peril finds them. Possessing the map - and Willie found out the hard way - appears to be as dangerous as wearing a bull's-eye on your back at the rifle range.

In "Mined Your Own Business" the setting is unique, the characters quirky and interesting, and the mystery intriguing. Whether in Rabbi's dealings with authority, or his innovative ways to duck training responsibilities, or the author's own obvious insight into military goings-on (Jim Miller was a 42-year veteran with the Canadian Forces) there was always a reason I was excited to get back to the story if life forced me to put it down. "Mined Your Own Business" is exactly what I define as a "good read" and I look forward to enjoying the continued tales of Rabbi Hawkins in future editions of his exploits. A definite 5-star in my opinion.