Who By Water

This is quickly becoming a favourite mystery series of mine. Set in Toronto, it follows Dame Polara, whose regular job involves protecting heritage buildings in Ontario's capital city, but she is also an unenthusiastic occasional detective who learned at the feet of her PI father as a child. 

Who By Water jumps back into Dame's life three years later. Now a single mother, Dame's life is even busier and when she becomes the main suspect her ex-husband's sudden death, she reluctantly uses her detective skills to clear her name.

This is another strong mystery by Canadian author Greg Rhyno who provides vivid descriptions of Toronto locales, snippets of Canadiana and bits of humour to add levity. But at its heart is Dame, a tenacious and disinclined detective who is supported by her friends and family and its through these secondary characters that readers see the different sides to Dame. 

Gripping and well-paced, this is not only a well-crafted mystery but also includes strong characterization and twists that will keep readers eagerly turning the pages. After the cliffhanger at the end of this book, readers will be clamouring for the third book (which is already in stores!) 

Even though I should be doing post-vacation laundry after my recent trip to Budapest and Prague, I find myself curled up on the couch with the next book in the series - Who By His Own Hand - and have already read one-third of it in one sitting. 'Nuff said. 

Mystery lovers, get your hands on this mystery series pronto.

Note: I strongly urge readers to read this series in order. Characters/plot lines lead from one book to the next as Dame's family's past hovers in the background.

My Rating: 4.5 stars

Author: Greg Rhyno

Genre: Mystery

Series: Dame Polara mysteries 2

Type and Source: trade paperback from public library

Publisher: Cormorant Books

First Published: May 10, 2025

Read: Sept 3-5, 2026

Book Description from GoodReads: After barely surviving her last case, Dame Polara trades her part-time detective gig for the safer — though no less chaotic — life of a single, working mother, picking up toys instead of picking locks, chasing after her two-year-old instead of chasing crooks.

But when her ex-husband inexplicably drowns, and Dame becomes the prime suspect in his murder investigation, she must work alongside the woman who ruined her marriage to unravel the mystery of the man they both loved.

Dame’s sleuthing takes her to dive bars, industrial ports, and eventually, Toronto Island, where her ex spent his final days with a community of secretive and temperamental artists.

As she comes closer to the complicated truth, Dame realizes that in order to clear her name and protect her family, she’ll have to re-examine everything she thought she knew about the people she loved and left behind.