Keepers of the Pact

Every town has a secret. And Brigus, Newfoundland, is no different. For hundreds of years the Pact of Protection has held, and the seaside fishing town has guarded an ancient and dangerous knowledge. But when business tycoon Mr. Grey begins blasting rock for a tunnel, it’s more than rock that is blown apart: the pact itself is weakened and bits of the secret begin to slip out.

In their search for hidden pirate treasure, Alistair and his friends Ben and Sadie, stumble into the middle of this mystery. The more they learn about the pact, the more the shrieking song, the unexplained leaks in the fishing vessels, and the mystery ship in the harbour begin to make sense.

Partnering with the pact keepers, Alistair, Ben and Sadie must re-instate the agreement for the benefit of all. If they don’t, a lot more than a few ships will be harmed. Everything the good people of Brigus understand about the sea could be in danger.

A magical middle grade novel full of intrigue and adventure, Keepers of the Pact will inspire bravery in intrepid explorers and mystery seekers everywhere.

Author’s note:

Keepers of the Pact blends fact with fiction and adds in a supernatural twist.

The idea for Keepers of the Pact emerged from a visit to the historic town of Brigus, Newfoundland and Labrador. I was immediately taken by its beauty, its rolling landscape and of course, the tunnel!

There are three anchors that influenced my story:

• First, the tunnel,  a 30-meter pathway blasted through solid rock in 1860 so that vessels could more easily unload their cargo.
• Second, a reported mermaid sighting in the St. John’s harbour in 1610.
• Third, the fabled stories of Peter Easton’s pirating activities along the NL coast.

The timelines are, of course, blurred, to bring readers this modern-day tale of three friends looking for treasure but finding something else altogether.