Collins-Burke Mystery Series
The series follows the adventures of Monty Collins, a defense attorney, and Brennan Burke, a Catholic priest, as they solve crimes in their spare time. The books explore themes of justice, personal growth, and the complexities of human relationships. The books listed here are only the ones set in Halifax/Cape Breton. Other books in the series are set in Ireland and New York.
Books in this Series (8)
Be careful what you wish for, his mother used to say. Yet how many times, in his twenty years defending the underprivileged, has Monty Collins wished for a client who is intelligent, articulate, and tattoo-free? Now he has one, but it’s not long before his mother’s warning comes back to haunt him. Father Brennan Burke was born in Ireland, raised in…
When two men are found shot outside a Halifax bar, police call it a murder‑suicide, but Monty Collins isn’t convinced. His investigation drags him through Halifax’s nightlife, tangled relationships, and a web of money, drugs, and old grudges that refuse to stay buried.
A German theologian is found nearly decapitated on a Halifax church altar during Vespers. Monty and Brennan navigate church politics, musical rivalries, and international intrigue as the case widens far beyond the choir loft.
Monty defends flamboyant lawyer Beau Delaney, accused of murdering his wife. Family secrets, a mysterious child, and fractures within Monty’s own circle complicate the case, blending psychological tension with legal maneuvering.
After a young woman claims the Virgin Mary appeared in Father Burke’s churchyard, Halifax is flooded with pilgrims and reporters. When a body turns up, Monty defends a volatile talk‑show host while Brennan faces truths he cannot share.
Twelve‑year‑old Bonnie MacDonald vanishes after a family party. Monty’s search pulls him into the Halifax music scene, exposing tensions, secrets, and the fragile trust of a grieving community.
A Cold War mystery resurfaces when a letter from Berlin arrives decades late. Monty and Brennan uncover espionage, family secrets, and the lingering shadows of divided Germany.
Monty defends a client accused of killing his wife, but the case quickly spirals into a tangle of lies, community tensions, and dangerous revelations. A return to Halifax’s legal and moral battlegrounds.