by Kaylie Seed
Accomplished Canadian author and criminal lawyer Robert Rotenberg’s newest crime novel Downfall focuses on the rampant issue of homelessness and poverty in Canada’s richest city, Toronto; something that is both hidden yet very visible. Not only is Downfall an entertaining read, it is also incredibly informative, as Rotenberg’s powerful prose reminds the reader that poverty and homelessness are societal issues that plague the streets of many cities across the world. Rotenberg’s research into these issues is evident throughout Downfall, and while his story is fiction, it’s easy for the reader to see that Rotenberg is incredibly passionate about this ever-worsening real life concern that begs the question: how is it that we live in such wealthy places, yet people continue to be homeless and hungry year after year?
Nancy Parish is a lawyer who is always bailing out her best friend Melissa when she gets into trouble. When Melissa turns up telling Nancy about a killer targeting the homeless, Nancy has a hard time believing her erratic friend, but after a second body is discovered in the Humber River Valley, Nancy realizes that something sinister is going on. Head of the homicide squad Ari Greene and his partner Daniel Kennicott are tasked with finding out who is singling out and killing people in the homeless population of Toronto. At the same time, Ari’s daughter Alison is reporting the untold story of extreme poverty in Toronto and how the issues are shadowed by ignorance and privilege.
Rotenberg has created Downfall by mixing police procedural, courtroom drama, and mystery all into one stunning novel. His characters are interesting and diverse, which is no doubt a nod to the multicultural epicentre that Toronto is. Rotenberg is clearly passionate about the issues of homelessness and poverty and that passion comes through in Downfall. There were a couple of times where things didn’t seem to flow smoothly, but overall Downfall kept my attention the entire time. Personally, this is my first time reading one of Rotenberg’s novels and I know that I’ll be keeping an eye out for his other literary works.
*Thank you Jillian Levick from Simon & Schuster Canada for this complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review!