The Secrets of Garrison Hill

Synopsis

According to those in the know, while Al Capone and other notorious gangsters amassed billions in booty over the years –– much of it has never been found. They say it was stashed throughout North America, ready to be retrieved when the crooks quit the game and vamoosed under new identities. Could some of the loot still be hidden… still undiscovered… lying under the streets, or in the caves, of remote locations?

This quirky-quaint, yarn-of-a-story intertwines history and fact with humour and fiction. It follows the adventures of newly retired Selena King who returns home to her roots in St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador –– only to be bombarded by murder, mayhem and a mystery of international mobsters, fraudsters and stolen treasure.

Shortly after moving into the brightly painted dormered beauty on Garrison Hill, Lena realizes someone is after something of value in her house. And they are clearly willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

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anne@thesecretsofgarrisonhill.com

$26.00

Available at Chapters/Indigo and Coles in St. John's.

The Cast

Selena "Lena" Mary King

Named after her grandmother from Fox Harbour. Attractive, mid-50s, divorced, living alone. Quirky and creative with a dry wit. OCD, but relatable and likeable. On the wait-list for knee surgery. Passionate about writing crime fiction, but not yet published. Forever hopeful about finding romance, with sad but often humourous stories about the perils of on-line dating. While born and raised in St. John's, has a 'Mainland' accent and is considered a CFA -- a 'Come From Away.' She is striving to fit back in and create her 'community.'

Sergeant Patrick O'Leary

Originally from 'Up the Shore,' with a Newfoundland-Irish brogue. He is a Sergeant with the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary, the oldest police force in North America. A rugged and wrinkled Dennis Quaid look-alike in his early-50s, he is passionate about his work and his city. While a cop by day, he is a talented and rockin' musician by night -- revered in the city's thriving artistic community.

Jack Kavanagh

Born and bred in St. John's, also recently retired and moved home a few years before Lena. Single and early-50s, he is tall, lean, sophisticated and metrosexual in mannerisms. A Pierce Brosnan look-alike, he is perhaps too good-looking -- the kind of man others don't always trust. Despite his years away, he still has a 'Townie' accent. He is a successful writer of literary crime fiction -- well-known and published.

The Author

I am proud to have been born and raised in St. John's, and happy to say that my roots shaped my outlook on life in a very positive manner. Like a lot of my contemporaries, though, I left the province in my 20s to pursue career opportunities on the "Mainland."

Even as a child, I loved writing and, by high school, knew that I wanted to be a writer. I started my career as a journalist with CBC-TV in St. John's and, a few years later, switched to marketing with private- and public-sector organizations. In every job, every day, I wrote in every conceivable format, from speeches and advertising, to videos and web content. While interesting, it wasn't always creative or fun -- but it paid the bills.

In 2022, I felt the tug to come home, and finally had a clear runway to turn my hand to writing fiction. As Lena would say -- moving back was a brilliant decision. I am loving my life and my amazing community in St. John's.

I had fun writing this over-the-top adventure. It allowed me to shed the stressful, structured corporate environment, and let my imagination run free. I hope you enjoy reading my crazy little yarn of a story -- that starts with unravelling The Secrets of Garrison Hill.

What Readers are Saying

"The Secrets of Garrison Hill is a love letter to the author's home, Newfoundland & Labrador. She captures the lyrical voice of its people with authenticity, and is unapologetically Canadian. The short chapters make for a quick and easy, page-turning read. Cochrane's writing is charming, witty and deeply engaging. Plot twists abound, and are intertwined with true modern-day headlines and gangsters of the past. The mystery is filled with interesting characters, led by a refreshingly strong, whip-smart, and independent middle-aged woman. Yes, they do exist! Readers can't help but root for her, and can only hope that Selena Mary King has more stories to tell."

M. Moreino, Oakville, Ontario

"I enjoyed reading The Secrets of Garrison Hill immensely. The plot moves swiftly, with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat. Anne E. Cochrane masterfully juggles multiple storylines, creating a tapestry of intrigue that is both compelling and enjoyable."

C. Fluet, Ottawa, Ontario

"…What a marvelous "who dun it" ride Anne Cochrane takes us on… Her detective story has us wanting more, especially of her protagonist, Selena King. I mean, what else can next as Selena navigates mystery, suspense, mobsters, fraudsters, and no shortage of situations both tense and humorous… This is a terrifically enjoyable read. Anne is an excellent writer. She's funny, too. She has created interesting, accessible characters living through -- and yes, creating and compounding -- multiple mysteries to be solved. In doing so, she paints a vivid, compelling picture of the home at the center of the book's mystery… I hope we will be fortunate enough to see what happens next to Selena. Meanwhile, I think I'm going to read The Secrets of Garrison Hill all over again and introduce it to my friends."

J. McWade, Princeton, Massachusetts

"Fabulous find! Here I was on a trip of a lifetime travelling through the mountains and rain forests of Argentina, all the while being torn between experiencing the country I had come to visit, or staying behind in my hotel room to continue reading my latest mystery novel The Secrets of Garrison Hill by Anne Cochrane. I won't tell you who won out but I will say I had a difficult time putting this book down. An original who done it, absolutely spellbinding."

J. Joyce, Ottawa, Ontario

"I haven't enjoyed a book this much in a while… exciting, suspenseful, hilarious and terrifying -- all rolled into one. I especially liked how she identified characters in a way that you can't get them all mixed up. I would seriously rate this a 5/5 star read! It is every bit as good as any New York Times best seller I've ever read. If you like Shari Lapena, Debbie Macomber, Freida McFadden (all New York Times best sellers) you will love this book. I can't wait to read her next one!"

N. Black Levesque-Young, Ottawa, Ontario

"… original, wonderfully engaging storyline… admirably and capably written… Anne Cochrane has successfully created a most captivating homage to the who dun it… while exposing the reader to the charms and historical relevance of her home province of Newfoundland & Labrador."

D. Andrec, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador

"If books are portals, then The Secrets of Garrison Hill brings you afloat to the harbour town of St. John's, Canada. The local idioms, dialogue and setting combine with... the crime history of the prohibition and unsolved heists... The sturdy construction of characters… the insightful thought processes of the narrator inspire the pages with a hurricane of action and narrow escapes…and hilarity…"

W. Dae, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador

"… a joy to read… vivid and easy to follow along with Selena on her adventure like you are right there… fast-paced and witty… very interesting insights regarding some of the less-known and sometimes darker history of St. John's and the province."

D. Jackman, Grand Falls-Windsor, Newfoundland & Labrador

"…a marvelous job… suspense from the very beginning… an easy read and will appeal to those who enjoy suspense. The references to so much localism keep it interesting for us 'corner boys.’ Hard to put the book down…"

J. Kavanagh, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador

"A Selena of St. John's Adventure is calling you from a backdrop of colourful houses, colourful characters and a very colourful mystery… taking you through the historic city of St. John's and… intriguing past… Anne Cochrane's writing is imaginative, detailed and quite humourous…"

S. Jamieson, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador

"Set in St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador, The Secrets of Garrison Hill captures the imagination of its readers with some of the harbor city's more amusing history, as well as its thriving culture. This who-done-it has suspense "by the droves" and hearty chuckles as well. Selena King, the protagonist, must navigate a series of crimes against her, but no fear. Writing crime novels is her thing! She manages to keep one step ahead of a few nasty men, all the while figuring out why she is a target. What results is truly "fantastical." Congrats to Ms. Cochrane on writing such a fun and engaging debut novel. The Secrets of Garrison Hill will be long-remembered by all who read it. I, for one, look forward to her next novel."

J. Abruzzini, Lake Winola, Pennsylvania