Picture a Canadian storyteller weaving suspenseful tales against the rugged backdrop of Alberta’s wilderness—meet J.E. Barnard! This Calgary-based crime fiction author has captivated readers with her award-winning Maddie Hatter Adventures and The Falls Mystery series. With a knack for crafting strong female protagonists and a life shaped by health challenges and a passion for the wild, Barnard’s stories are as gripping as the landscapes that inspire them.
From her childhood adventures to her literary triumphs, Barnard’s journey is one of resilience and creativity. Let’s dive into the life and works of this master of wilderness suspense!
The Making of J.E. Barnard
Born Jayne Barnard, J.E. Barnard grew up with a love for adventure, fostered by a childhood spent camping, fishing, and boating in Northern Ontario and on a NATO base in Germany. These experiences ignited her respect for nature, which later became a hallmark of her writing. As a young reader, she devoured mysteries like Trixie Belden and Nancy Drew, planting the seeds for her future as a crime fiction author. Despite facing significant health setbacks, including a debilitating relapse of myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) that left her unable to write or even swallow at times, Barnard’s determination led her to earn two degrees, raise three children, and carve out a 25-year career in writing.
J.E. Barnard’s Unforgettable Stories
Barnard’s bibliography shines with two distinct series that showcase her versatility. The Maddie Hatter Adventures, written as Jayne Barnard, are steampunk romps following Maddie, a renegade heiress turned investigative journalist. Titles like Maddie Hatter and the Deadly Diamond and Maddie Hatter and the Gilded Gauge (the latter named Alberta Book of the Year in 2018) blend humor, mystery, and social commentary in vibrant neo-Victorian settings. Readers love Maddie’s pluck and her clockwork bird, Tweetle-D, as they tackle capers across continents.
In contrast, The Falls Mystery series, written as J.E. Barnard, delivers gritty, small-town psychological thrillers set in Alberta’s foothills. When the Flood Falls, the series opener, introduces ex-RCMP corporal Lacey McCrae, a trauma survivor battling a stalker threatening her friend. This debut won the 2016 Unhanged Arthur Ellis Award for Best Unpublished First Crime Novel. Sequels like Where the Ice Falls and Why the Rock Falls deepen Lacey’s story, weaving themes of resilience, female friendship, and environmental peril. Barnard’s wilderness suspense style—marked by vivid depictions of blizzards, floods, and rugged terrain—sets her apart, earning her accolades like the Bony Pete and Saskatchewan Writers Guild Award.
Her writing explores heavy themes with a light touch, tackling issues like intimate partner violence, workplace PTSD, and chronic illness. Characters like Lacey and Maddie reclaim power through skill and grit, reflecting Barnard’s own journey of overcoming adversity.
Why J.E. Barnard Matters
J.E. Barnard’s impact lies in her ability to blend thrilling plots with social insight, particularly through her portrayal of complex women navigating personal and societal challenges. Her wilderness settings elevate crime fiction, turning Alberta’s landscapes into characters as vivid as her protagonists. Awards like the Alberta Book of the Year and nominations for the UK Debut Dagger and Prix Aurora underscore her influence in Canadian literature. As a member of Sisters in Crime and a past vice president of Crime Writers of Canada, Barnard champions the genre and its community.
Her resilience in the face of health struggles inspires readers and writers alike, proving that stories can emerge from even the toughest circumstances. Barnard’s work invites us to explore courage, friendship, and the wild beauty of Canada’s outdoors.
- Key Works: Maddie Hatter and the Gilded Gauge, When the Flood Falls, Where the Ice Falls
- Awards: Unhanged Arthur Ellis Award (2016), Alberta Book of the Year (2018), Bony Pete
- Residences: Splits time between Calgary and Vancouver Island
Snag When the Flood Falls and dive into J.E. Barnard’s thrilling wilderness suspense today!