fiction

Jack Taggart: Fact or Fiction?

The Jack Taggart Mystery Series is among Dundurn’s most popular, and have been noted for their shocking realism and seemingly true-to-life scenarios. It’s no wonder these stories have struck near to reality — author Don Easton was an RCMP undercover operative. Just like Jack Taggart.

But where does real life end and the imaginary begin? What situations are being painted from Easton’s own experiences and which are completely concocted for Taggart alone? It’s hard to tell, but you’ll be hooked trying to figure it out. (Trust me on this. I started Loose Ends this week and cannot put it down.)

Check out this exchange between two series characters as they themselves try to figure out what is fact and what is fiction in the tales of Jack Taggart.

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JACK TAGGART: FACT OR FICTION?
As envisioned by Don Easton

“A Jack Taggart Mystery series!” roared Staff Sergeant Legg, slamming his fist on the desk, causing Constable Blumer to drop his arms straight to his sides to the attention mode. Had Blumer not been sitting it might have looked more appropriate.

Constable Blumer’s fear was perhaps understandable. He was fresh from the Academy and anyone with the rank of corporal and above seemed like a god to him. Blumer would normally not have been assigned to the RCMP Anti-Corruption Unit so soon, but having a degree in law had obviously impressed someone in Staffing. ACU handled the really bad boys who Internal Affairs thought could be a candidate for criminal prosecution. 

“Did you read them all?” Legg asked.

“Yes, sir,” replied Blumer. “Couldn’t put them down. Read them all within a few days.”

“What do you mean, you couldn’t put them down?” screamed Legg. “Are you telling me you liked them?”

“Uh … no, of course not,” replied Blumer. “It was just, uh, you know, to find out if he could be charged under the Official Secrets Act.”

“And can he? What do you think?”

“Sir, I don’t believe so. His series falls under the category of fiction. There is nothing identifiable enough to convince a court that—”

“Fiction my ass! I know at least half of it is true! I was on this job when he worked in the Intelligence Unit.”

“I know, sir. You were mentioned. I have to say, when reading the novels it caused me to wonder what parts were true and what parts weren’t. He’s changed people’s names, perhaps locations … it would be difficult to charge him under that Act.”

“His first novel, Loose Ends … he knew his partner was ordered to spy on him.”

“That was true, sir?”

“I didn’t know he knew until now. Then he corrupts the man to the point of helping him set up people to be murdered. What the hell is wrong with—”

“Those parts are true, too sir?” said Blumer, now with his mouth gaped open waiting for a reply.

“I can’t prove it, but I know it is. I can feel it. His second book, Above Ground, brought more murder and mayhem.”

“That’s the one where you interviewed him over his relationship with that biker kingpin.”

“That son-of-a-bitch … he’s mocking me!” seethed Legg. “But he might have screwed up. He hid a body in a cemetery. If we could get a court order to start digging … maybe we could get the evidence to nail the bastard. What do you think?”

“Uh, sir, I’ve checked. There are dozens of cemeteries. Even pinning it down to a given date leaves us with too many possibilities to ever consider getting a court order based on a novel.”

“What about his third novel in the series?”

“Angel in the Full Moon. Yes, sir. What about it?”

“What about it! Christ, he should be locked away for the rest of his life!”

“Sir, with all due respect, you never caught him when he was on the job. Now that he’s retired … well … it will be even more difficult. It is supposed to be fiction.”

“That son-of-a-bitch”

“At least the novels reflect that his heart was in the right place. Must be tough living with the consequences of his actions.”

“Did you say his heart was in the right place? Consequences? One of his consequences was leaving a permanent burr up my ass!”

Constable Blumer nodded politely.

Legg stared long enough at Blumer for him to drop his head in submission. “Get the hell out,” snapped Legg. “I’ve got work to do.”

Constable Blumer was at the doorway when Legg interjected, “Do you think he will write anymore novels?”

“He’s written three, sir. I think a lot of writers stop at a trilogy.”

Legg grunted his feeling of relief.

Ten minutes later, Constable Blumer called his wife.

“Hi, Honey,” she replied. “How is work going?”

“I don’t see myself staying here long. I’m going to ask Staffing what my chances are of being transferred to the Intelligence Unit. I just called to see if it is there yet?”

“Is what there?”

“The fourth book in the Jack Taggart Series. Samurai Code. I ordered it two weeks ago.”

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Don Easton, author of the Jack Taggart Mystery series, worked as an undercover RCMP officer over a span of twenty years. He worked in foreign countries and assumed numerous false identities and witnessed horrific crimes. He survived several contracts on his life and was often targeted by both sides of the law. Past reviews by the media note that Easton is clearly writing from experience. He takes us into a world that few would dare to enter.

© 2010 Defining Canada.