When it comes to Canadian mystery series, there’s no detective better known—or more beloved—than William Murdoch. Played by Yannick Bisson on the TV show Murdoch Mysteries, he solves crimes in Victorian-era Toronto, supported by a charming cast of characters, including Inspector Thomas Brackenreid (Thomas Craig), Dr. Julia Ogden (Hélène Joy) and Constable George Crabtree (Jonny Harris).

And even after 16 seasons, Murdoch Mysteries is still the highest-rated Canadian show on TV and is broadcast in approximately 120 countries around the world.

It’s a level of popularity that Maureen Jennings, author of the book series on which the show is based, never dreamed of.

“I’m not sure why it’s so popular,” she says with a laugh, then adds, “It’s a combination of an excellent production team, good writers and really compelling actors. You put that all together and it’s successful. I never expected it, but I’m very grateful.”

Murdoch’s Faith

Maureen published the first Murdoch book, Except the Dying, in 1997, to great acclaim—it received a Heritage Toronto Certificate of Commendation and was shortlisted for both the Arthur Ellis and Anthony Awards for best novel.

In the books, as well as in the show, Murdoch is a police officer with the Toronto Constabulary who uses cutting-edge scientific methods—such as fingerprinting and ahead-of-its-time technology—to solve crimes. He’s also a devout Catholic, and his faith is the backbone of his character, particularly in how he approaches moral issues and treats those around him.

Making Murdoch Catholic was a deliberate choice for Maureen, giving him “outsider” status. “As a Catholic in 1894, he would have had very little chance of advancing up the ranks of the police,” she notes.

But Murdoch’s Catholicism also allows for the exploration of deeper questions about faith and life. “We’ve dealt with some of his dilemmas, the conflict between what’s going on and his faith,” she says. “I like the challenge of: This is what my faith is, but this is the world out there. Do they collide? What do I do? How do I stay true to what I believe in a world that doesn’t believe very much?”

The Rock of Truth

Since Except the Dying, seven further Murdoch novels have been published, as well as a novella, Shipwreck, a prequel that tells the story of Murdoch’s first mystery.

Set in 1873, Shipwreck takes place in the aftermath of a terrible storm in a Nova Scotia fishing village. A ship is wrecked on the rocky shores of the village, leading to many deaths. But all is not what it seems, and a young Murdoch, together with his mentor, the parish priest, must discover the truth.

The novella is the most personal of Maureen’s Murdoch books, reflecting her own formative experiences. Though she is baptized Church of England, she studied psychology and philosophy at Assumption University (now the University of Windsor), which was run by Basilian fathers.

“That was a huge influence on me,” she says. “I really admired them.”

The priest in Shipwreck, who teaches Murdoch deductive reasoning, is based on one of her own teachers. “I’d never met anybody like him before; it was the first time I met anyone who challenged my intellect,” she recalls. “Truth is the rock upon which we all must stand. It’s easy to fool ourselves, to want to believe something, but the truth is the rock. That is something I’ve tried to live my life by.”

Better to Give

Along with writing the Murdoch novels, Maureen has ongoing involvement in the show, acting as a creative consultant and writing one episode per season.

Across 16 seasons, Murdoch has solved hundreds of mysteries—including one involving The Salvation Army. In 2016, Murdoch Mysteries partnered with the Army on a special two-hour Christmas episode, featuring a kettle worker who gets caught up in one of Murdoch’s cases. Fitting with the Army’s mission, the episode drives home the message that it is better to give than receive.

Though Maureen didn’t write that particular episode, she remembers it fondly: “I went to visit the set and I loved it!

“I have a deep admiration for The Salvation Army,” she says. “I mean, talk about practising what you preach, which I also believe in.”

When Maureen was giving a talk in Oakville, Ont., a few years ago, she had the opportunity to donate her honorarium to a charitable organization and she chose The Salvation Army.

“There was no doubt, the decision was immediate,” she says, “because I know what you do—you work to help people.”

The local Army pastor came to accept the cheque, and Maureen had the chance to chat with her before the talk.

“I was very nervous,” Maureen recalls. “I told her I had a bit of stage fright, and she said, ‘Well, think about God, and He will help you with that.’ She was wonderful.”

“Truth is the rock upon which we all must stand. That is something I’ve tried to live my life by.” MAUREEN JENNINGS

A Good Fight

While Maureen is best known for Murdoch, she has written three other mystery series, the most recent of which follows Charlotte Frayne, a plucky private investigator living in 1930s Toronto. The inter-war years were a volatile time for the world with the rise of Nazism, and Canada was no exception. The first book in the series, Heat Wave, sees Charlotte and her boss investigating a crime motivated by antisemitism. The most recent, Cold Snap, centres on a German refugee.

Though set in the past, the series tackles problems that are still relevant today, reflecting Maureen’s own passion for social justice issues.

“Are we ever going to be thoughtful, kind people?” she muses. “We are better than our history.”

At the moment, Maureen has taken a break from the Charlotte Frayne series to work on a new Murdoch book. Set in the 1920s, this one will follow William and his son, Jack, as they solve a mystery involving anarchists.

“I was always into fighting bully boys,” she says with a smile. “I think one of the pluses of writing mysteries, of course, is that my protagonists win.”

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