The Man at Thetis Cove An Historical Novel set in Esquimalt

It's 1951. Nations are still reeling from the appalling destruction of World
War Two now six years past. A worldwide ideological conflict between communism
and capitalism has spawned war in Korea. Civil Defence preparations
are rapidly pushing forward in Esquimalt and Victoria, with added measures
in the event of a nuclear or chemical attack. Shipyards and the naval base are
abuzz. Newspaper ads are calling for more military recruits, women and men.

Casual visitors to Thetis Cove, a remote part of Esquimalt Harbour, might
assume that three floathouse squatters are living there in hermit-like freedom.
But two of the squatters have links to worldly affairs that go deeper than
imagined.

Four curious, adventuresome youths enter the squatters' realm of secrets and
paranoia where abortion is illegal in 1951 Canada, and where the grim, insidious
results of battle fatigue rule an army veteran's thoughts. The youths are firmly
warned by May, waitress at the Schooner Coffee Bar on Admirals Road, to stay
away from Thetis Cove.

A fifth hard-case youth sometimes tags along uninvited. His quick temper and
erratic, inconsiderate behaviour hammers them all toward inevitable tragedy.

In the depth of summer, the land is hard baked; the sky has nothing to give
but sunshine, heat, and changeable winds. Forests are ablaze. The smell of
wood smoke permeates Esquimalt and Victoria. Through all this, the veteran,
a Hollywood scriptwriter and former Canadian army photographer who
fled Senator Joseph McCarthy's communist witch hunt in the U.S., absorbs
the ambiance of a squatters' sanctum at Thetis Cove while being plagued by
mental and emotional wounds. Then, two strangers come nosing around......