The Halifax Connection is a blast! Canadian history - usually so dry and dull - is brought vividly to life. Through the eyes of a talented counter-intelligence officer, we see Montreal and Halifax in the mid 1800s, with all its richness and dirt and dinginess. The American Civil War is raging just below the border, and Erryn Shaw must stop Canada from getting involved. How different our world would have been if spies like Shaw hadn’t been around. We’d all be American!

What I like best about Marie Jakober’s writing is that I learned a true story about Canada’s past through a great novel - one with intrigue, witty dialogue, and even a little bit of sex for spice. The perfect book for a visitor to Canada, for any reader who loves historical fiction like Diana Gabaldon, and even for good teen readers.