In the mystery genre this book would be classified as a cozy, namely a mystery that is solved by someone who is not in the business of investigation. At first I thought that “cozy” would be the last word I would use to describe the odd set of characters who decide to investigate their friend Maryanne’s death. Most of them have mental health issues, some are hiding out from the law and all of them are marginalized in a poor area of Toronto. But as the story progressed I became fond of this eccentric band of detectives and I found myself thinking about them at work, wondering how they would overcome obstacles.

The narrator, Dana Leoni, moved into the rooming house occupied by Maryanne and assorted odd characters after a violent attack traumatized her. Previous to the attack she attended the University of Toronto taking English literature and thinking of getting a Master’s degree in the subject. She washed up at the rooming house and retreated from the world, rarely even going outside. Maryanne connived to get her hired on at a drop-in centre, thus facilitating her return to society. The other members of the rooming house owe similar debts to Maryanne. So, when Maryanne is abruptly removed from the house and then turns up dead a few days later, they band together to investigate the circumstances.

One of the changes instigated by Maryanne was to have a reading group in the house. Dana would read a book aloud to those residents who cared to gather in the common room. The book choice was by consensus and Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum novels were perennial favourites. The residents viewed Stephanie and her motley crew of friends and relatives as kindred spirits. This was their inspiration for staking out the house Maryanne was moved to and following the owner.

Dana has another mystery to solve on her own. Friends who are actors and manage a small community theatre have been plagued by a series of mishaps which range from props missing to cancelled rehearsal calls. Dana, who sits on the board of the theatre group, is asked to find the perpetrator.

The forte of this book is the vivid description of the characters. I felt like I knew Gerry, the overweight ex-inmate of a mental institution who was the longest resident in the house, and Miss Semple, the prim and proper lady who helps out at her church’s mission every day, and Pete, the executive director of the drop-in centre, and Jeremy, the esteemed actor whom Dana found lying on the street outside of the centre one night. Maryanne, although she is dead throughout most of the book, is an unforgettable character. For a few days after her cheque comes in she drinks and carouses until the money runs out. Then, for the rest of the month, she prods and pushes the rest of the residents into helping themselves and improving their surroundings. Many books show the recovered alcoholic who goes on to do great things after they attain sobriety but this is the first time I’ve seen an alcoholic portrayed as useful while still suffering from their addiction. At first I thought this characterization was a convenient piece of plot development but after thinking about Ms Copponi’s background, I’ve decided that Maryanne is probably based on some person (or persons) whom the author met while living in the Parkdale community. I will probably look at drunks careening down the street with a new eye in the future. For me, that’s the measure of a good book, if it makes you look at the world and life in a new way.

For a first novel, this was well done. I’ll be looking for more Dana Leoni mysteries. ( )

A resident at a rooming house is murdered and her housemates set out to solve the crime. The first book in the Dana Leoni series. I liked the book a lot and appreciated Capponi's original band of detectives. Full review: http://www.canadianauthors.net/c/capponi_pat/last_stop_sunnyside.php ( )