Lynda L. Lock’s latest crime novel, Canned, immerses readers in the bustling brewery culture of Penticton, while exploring a mystery that unfolds within the city’s craft beer scene. The novel, which is the fourth installment in Lock’s Death in the Vineyard Mystery series, blends elements of local flavor with crime fiction, offering a gripping narrative set in the heart of the South Okanagan.
“Canned” centers around Jessica Sanderson and her dog, Sparky, as they navigate the aftermath of an accident at a fictional craft brewery in Penticton. While the police investigate a suspicious death, Sanderson, who is not a law enforcement officer, embarks on her own investigation, piecing together crucial clues that might unravel the mystery.
Lock, a Penticton resident, is no stranger to the city’s craft beer scene. In fact, her familiarity with the brewing world goes back to 1992, when she and her husband, Lawrie, moved to Penticton. Three years later, they opened Tin Whistle Brewery Co., the province’s 12th craft brewery and Penticton’s first. The couple sold the business in 1998, but Lock’s deep connection to the brewing community remains.
“Canned” marks a shift in Lock’s literary focus. While her earlier works in the Death in the Vineyard Mystery series featured the region’s renowned wineries, this new book ventures into the world of beer. “I’ve always had a soft spot for the breweries here,” Lock said, reflecting on her ties to the Penticton brewing scene. The novel’s release coincides with the Okanagan Fest of Ale, the region’s well-known beer festival, adding another layer of relevance to its timing.
While Canned is categorized as a light, beach read, Lock ensures that her stories are rooted in reality. The novel touches on serious social issues such as drug use and addiction, themes that resonate not only in Penticton but across the country. “My stories are fluffy, but I also want them based on fact,” Lock explains.
Canned is available in paperback and digital formats through Amazon Canada and various other booksellers. The book spans 293 pages and promises a compelling read for fans of crime fiction set in the South Okanagan.
To celebrate the release of Canned, Lock will host a launch event on Sunday, April 27, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at Cannery Brewing, located at 198 Ellis St., Penticton. The public is invited to meet the author and have their copies of the book signed.
In addition to her Death in the Vineyard series, Lock is the author of the Isla Mujeres Mysteries—a series of seven novels set in Mexico—and three children’s books.
