While we love to explore locations around British Columbia, we also enjoy reading stories about this province and its people.
There are plenty of B.C. writers, telling a variety of stories all set within our beautiful province.
Here are a few books that have found their way into our hearts.
“Each of the books on this list are works of fiction by authors from British Columbia and all feature locations in British Columbia.”
John
Some of the books on this list are summer reads, perfect for a relaxing sunny day in a deck chair near the water. Others are heavier, more serious fare.
This is not meant to be a comprehensive list nor a ranking in order of preference, but rather a potential starting point with a few of our favourites.
Valley of the Lost
Vicki Delany
This 2009 novel by Vicki Delany is the sequel to Shadow of the Glacier and features Cst. Molly Smith, a police officer in the fictional town of Trafalgar, British Columbia.
A young woman has been found dead of a heroin overdose and a baby is by her side. Little is known about the woman or the baby.
The town of Trafalgar is a fictional place, but it is a believable community in the West Kootenay region of British Columbia. The unique culture of the area plays heavily in Delany’s Molly Smith novels including frequent mentions of Nelson, Castlegar and beyond.
Less Than
A.D. Long
In her 2023 debut novel, A.D. Long examines drug addiction. The novel tells the story of Evann, a young man from a middle-class background, who is living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. His addiction leads him into an increasingly dismal existence.
The story is a heartbreaking look at Evann’s past, especially his difficult relationship with his mother.
Long draws on her experience as a nurse as she examines the effects of British Columbia’s toxic drug crisis.
In recent years, Evann’s story, and others like it, have become far too common, in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and in smaller communities around the province.
While this book is fiction, many will be able to relate to these challenges. This is difficult and sometimes bleak read, but the story is one that needs to be told and read.
Cold Girl
R.M. Greenaway
This crime novel, published in 2016, is the first in R.M. Greenaway’s B.C. Blues series. The story follows RCMP investigator David Leith and his team as they work to uncover the disappearance of a young woman in northwestern B.C. The community of Smithers is the setting for much of the story.
Greenaway’s later works are set in North Vancouver and continue to follow the same police detective.
While we have not yet explored Smithers, the community is on our list of places to visit in the future.
Girlfriend on Mars
Deborah Willis
Reality television meets Mars exploration in Deborah Willis’s 2023 novel. Amber Kivinen has entered a reality television competition in hopes of being selected for a Mars mission. While she is on the show, her boyfriend Kevin remains in Vancouver, managing their hydroponic pot growing business.
The concept of a reality television show selecting candidates for a journey to the planet Mars may seem far-fetched, and it is a bit of a weird concept, but Girlfriend on Mars brings a level of plausibility to the idea.
The book is not set entirely in British Columbia, but Vancouver and its culture feature prominently.
Corked
Lynda L. Lock
Wine country, including Penticton and the South Okanagan, is the setting for Corked, the first book in Lynda L. Lock’s new Death in the Vineyards series. These mystery novels are a blend of whodunnit meets romance.
The main character, Jessica Sanderson and her dog Sparky have returned to Canada from Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic. Shortly after she arrives, she gets caught up in a murder mystery at a South Okanagan winery, and with Sparky’s assistance, they help solve the case.
This light and engaging read is great to enjoy by the beach or poolside. Many will recognize references to actual landmarks from the South Okanagan in this book.
Jessica Sanderson is also the main character in another series of books from Lock called the Isla Mujeres Mystery Series, set in Mexico, when Lock lived there. The crossover of Jessica and Sparky between the two series is well done.
“We are continuing to look for novels and short story collections about British Columbia. While we explore beautiful B.C. looking for hidden gems, we are constantly on the search for good reading material.”
Kim
Like Jessica Sanderson, Lock returned to Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. Her descriptions of the pandemic restrictions add a level of realism to the story.
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If you have a suggestion for a novel, series or short story collection for us to read next as we explore British Columbia, please let us know.
