In this addition to the Sgt. Windflower mysteries, Windflower and his fellow police officer Eddie Tizzard are hot on the trail of motorcycle gangs who are involved in distributing illegal drugs. Several overdoses and one fatality have already occurred as a result of this lethal street drug. Readers will quickly become involved not only in the police work of these men and women, but also in their families and colleagues. This novel is part of a series but can be read as a standalone novel. One of the most interesting aspects of the novel is that it is set in Newfoundland and the law enforcement officers are part of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. I would classify this novel as a "soft" or "cozy" police novel, because while there are crimes committed, the story involves the daily lives of the officers and their families and friends. There is not a lot of gory detail and no strong language. This is a great introduction to the series for readers unfamiliar with the previous stories or the Sgt. Windflower Christmas stories.

I received this novel from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own. ( )

gangs, drug-trafficking, drugs-issues, law-enforcement, family-dynamics, family, friends, friendship, Cree, Canadian-author, Newfoundland, relatives, relationships, funeral-practices, Indigenous-people, investigations, small-town, small-business, multigenerational, multicultural, murders, cultural-heritage, being-a-husband, parenting, consultant, procedural, undercover*****

You can take Winston Windflower out of the RCMP, but you can't take law enforcement out of one who is called to the The Job.
Budget cuts caused the closing of the local detachment and the former staff were reassigned. Except for Windflower. He gave up law enforcement to be better father and husband and to run the inn that he and his wife operate. He is also a consultant to the town and is at the forefront of the new positive changes to local policing. But when his friends and former coworkers get overwhelmed it seems that he is needed in law enforcement again, but now in a limited capacity that will not impact his family the way that full time does. It's drugs again and the scourge covers an even larger area with even deadlier consequences.
It's good to see the collection of essential characters again and to know that their values and friendships have not changed. I confess that I am addicted to this series and the characters who people it.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from BooksGoSocial via NetGalley. Thank you! ( )

Faith, family, friends, good food – all important to Winston Windflower, as is his job as community safety officer for Grand Bank and a number of other surrounding communities. When his local RCMP detachment closed because of budgetary concerns, he decided to leave the Mounties and accept this new position. He’s happy spending more time with family and friends, and the job is okay. But only okay? Well, maybe better than okay, but he misses the challenge of running the station, protecting the public, solving crimes. I daresay he might even miss the excitement of a fast-paced, active investigation. He’s an active, vigorous young man, and as we’ve gotten to know him more and more through this wonderful series, we can recognize that Windflower is starting to get a little stir-crazy.

As a community service officer he is well-known, well-liked, and competent. He’s in a good routine. But that’s the problem, Windflower isn’t satisfied with routine. He looks forward to the occasional RCMP request to consult, fill in, offer his opinion and advice. The problem, though, is that serious crime hasn’t left Newfoundland or St. John’s alone but has popped up in Marystown and Grand Bank as well. This is a darker world than we are used to seeing Windflower in; he’s had some close calls and narrow escapes in the recent past.

And his wife Sheila worries about that. Windflower would never go against Sheila’s wishes and makes that clear to his temporary superiors. On the other hand, Sheila knows how important being a Mountie was to Winston, how it’s in his very bones, his passion. She sees a man that is a little more mature and a whole lot less reckless today and she doesn’t want to stand in the way of his dreams, his calling if you will. Some tough decisions coming up.

A new drug has found its way to Marystown, and as the temporary head of the RCMP detachment there it’s Windflower’s long-time friend Eddie Tizzard’s job to deal with that as well as a number of recent crimes and a short-staffed disgruntled workforce. Eddie is perfectly capable, but temporary is the key word here: Eddie has a young family of his own and a wife who is also in law enforcement. He doesn’t want the responsibility, stress or time demand leading the detachment requires.

Sgt. Windflower is brought back in first an unofficial position, then a temporary official one, and the carrot for a permanent position is always dangling. Once again, he’s in his element being back in the thick of things, using his brain to solve problems and outsmart criminals. Leadership comes naturally to him. And he will need all of his skills in this current situation.

Better Safe Than Sorry is the darkest, sharpest, edgiest story yet in the series. It feels like crime is rampant; the criminals are bolder, more reckless, more desperate. The detachment is understaffed and morale is low and rebellious. Some members of upper management aren’t exactly giving off a trustworthy vibe. Combine that with the distribution, sale, and deadly use of the new drug, the wrong body in a hearse and more mysterious deaths and life is no longer calm and serene. The pace picks up. The danger is larger and closer. Better Safe Than Sorry is full of intrigue, suspense and many suspects.

If author Mike Martin has shown us a darker side of Marystown and Grand Bank and a Sgt. Winston Windflower who has to rise to the task, he’s also done what he always does so well: balanced that with the Winston whose core treasures are faith, family, friends and good food. When he’s home with the family he is immersed in that life and fully present.

It’s always a pleasure and a welcome change of pace to catch up with this side of his life. Sheila’s business is successfully growing in her capable hands. The girls are growing too: Stella is now six and a half and Amelia Louise is four. Amelia Louise has always been a little character and she is still delightfully so. Stella was such a welcome addition to their family and she’s adorable with her interests and activities and her interaction with her little sister. I look forward to reading about their outdoor fun, movie nights, pancake breakfasts in every book. Lady the dog and Molly the cat, with their unique contributions, round out this warm, loving family. The detailed descriptions of the delicious food and Winston’s preparations of it always make my mouth water and make me want to mark my place in the book and start cooking. Old friends, family and co-workers pop up in abundance. And at his center is Winston’s faith. The smudging, the dream weaving and the communication with and insight from ancestors, some of whom have only recently departed this life, is always a welcome glimpse into something a little otherworldly and fascinating.

Thanks to author Mike Martin for providing an advance copy of Better Safe Than Sorry. This is a series I have enjoyed from the very start, watching Winston Windflower grow, mature, struggle, find happiness, make hard choices. I recommend every book in this series without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review; all opinions are my own. ( )

Drugs and Outlaw Biker Gangs!

A spate of deadly drugs, “Green Monsters” are spreading across Newfoundland and now are in the vicinity of Grand Bank and Marystown. It’s vital that they be stopped. Already someone’s died. The tension of the threat ratchets up. Time is of the essence.
Windflower is the community safety officer for Grand Bank in Newfoundland. He becomes involved with the menace from this angle.
Outlaw biker gangs have joined forces to deal drugs. Their pipeline is being investigated.
Windflower has his hands full. He’s seconded back to the RMCP but it’s a very different Windflower now.
At some level community safety officer is not really a job that makes use of all his skills. Sure he’s successfully kept kids out of trouble but he misses being a police officer. Working in Grand Bank does however give him time with his family—his wife Sheila and their two daughters Stella and Amelia Louise. Both girls are now in school. Sheila has developed a co-op for Newfoundland crafts and they are being exported across Canada and beyond.
Always in the background is Windflower’s spiritual life, steeped in the lore of his people, including his dreams. Interpreting them is key. Windflower’s spirit guides are always present.
It’s his literary discussions and repartee with Superintendent Ron Ron Quigley and Acting Inspector up in Marystown, Eddie Tizzard, that give a measured reflection of his sense of humor and attitude to life. Eddie has developed the habit of using quotes now to make a point. More often than not it’s his father’s Mark Twain observations, or his own home grown wisdom. The community and people around Windflower have matured.
Windflower’s love of music is legendary At the moment he’s exploring Brahms.
His musical discussion with a biker, Bernard Thibeau, whom he’s working with undercover, is a beautiful moment of accord. They listen to each other’s taste in music, finding a common appreciation. Thibeau is into rap. This is Windflower’s gift. Finding a point of contact with people.
Once again I’m drawn into the seasons of Sergeant Winston Windflower’s life.
I’m struck by his sense of self, his spirituality, his appreciation for people, for the everyday activities with family and friends, be it sledding with the children, or the sharing mouth watering meals. This is what he treasures, and I must admit I treasure him.

Many thanks to the author for this ARC ( )