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Doug Cockell was born in Edinburgh, Scotland and did graduate work in Literature with acclaimed novelist and playwright Robertson Davies at the University of Toronto. Doug has taught Literature, Art, and Media Studies in Oakville and Burlington and was awarded the McLuhan Distinguished Teacher Medal for showing the common visual language shared by illustration, the movies and computers. He has offered courses through The University of Toronto, Brock University, and The Art Gallery of Burlington.
In addition to being an author, Doug is an accomplished artist who came to art through his love of the great Twentieth Century illustrators, delighted by their charm and whimsy as well as their skill. Requiem For Thursday is Doug's debut novel. However, it is not the only novel he has written. So, add this author to your watch list because you won't want to miss the collection of well crafted murder mysteries Doug has in store for you.
Reviewed by Lesley Jones for Readers' Favorite
In Requiem For Thursday by Douglas Cockell, when Detective Eilert Weiss is called to a supposed accidental drowning, the clues do not correspond to unintentional death. Another drowning of a young girl in similar circumstances not long before raises the suspicion that a serial killer could be at large. Could the deaths be connected somehow? Weiss's investigations lead him to Marcella Cole, a known sociopath who was known to both victims and acquitted of her husband's death five years previously. As Weiss tries to find Cole, a best selling author dies in an apparent suicide but with no bullet and little blood - was this another murder? Weiss, still struggling to come to terms with his own wife's suicide, discovers the author's study holds many secrets within its walls and bookshelves. Secrets and clues that could solve each mystery. But what he uncovers is both shocking and unbelievable.
Requiem For Thursday by Douglas Cockell is a true suspense novel with a fast-paced, riveting plot that will keep you guessing right until the very end. The twists and turns were gripping and the whole setting was eerie and chilling at times, thanks to the author's masterful descriptive narrative. Detective Eilert Weiss and Carly had so many layers to their personalities, both flawed by their past experiences. Carly's re-evaluation of her life after her father's death was so poignant and believable. I admired how the author included the characters' backstories and artfully linked all the situations together. There were many scenes when I felt I was actually in the study, experiencing the chilling events. The ending was spectacular and one of the best plot twists I have encountered for a long time. I cannot wait for the next novel, Requiem For Noah. I am sure it will be of the same high standard as this superb novel.
