Not Working

Jerry McDonnell was a teacher and librarian the F.E. Madill Secondary School in Wingham, Ontario.

George Szanto, who was born in Northern Ireland and who now lives in Montreal, has been director of the Comparative Literature Program at McGill University since 1974. He has written numerous plays and short stories and has been National Chairman of Playwrights Canada. Not Working is his first novel.

In 1973 Joe Levy kills a youth while performing his job as a police officer in San Diego. As a result, he quits his job and moves with his family to Dobie, Wyoming, where his wife becomes the breadwinner. Joe settles in as househusband and seems content until the father of his daughter’s boyfriend dies in suspicious circumstances. The widow hints that she needs help and Joe is soon deeply involved in the problem.

This is much more than a detective or mystery story, however, and the title takes on several levels of meaning. Obviously, Dobie’s police and justice systems are out of line with the norm, and the corporate and criminal systems of the nation have more than a little to do with the situation. Overtones of racial tension are present at times. More personally, there is the question of whether a person who has had an interesting and involving career can change and be content with housework. Will “not working” be a satisfactory way of life?

Szanto’s writing technique is quite cinematic and there are many scenes that fade in and out very effectively.

Not Working is a good story that should engage the interest of the adult reader who wants a story a little different from the more standard mystery.