The journalist Paul Willcocks discusses his new book, Dead Ends: BC Crime Stories (University of Regina Press, 2014), with Joseph Planta.

Dead Ends: BC Crime Stories by Paul Willcocks (University of Regina Press, 2014). Click to buy this book from Amazon.ca: Dead Ends

Text of introduction by Joseph Planta:

I am Planta: On the Line, in Vancouver, at TheCommentary.ca.

Paul Willcocks joins me again. He’s got a new book out. It’s a terrific collection of forty crimes from the province’s past, some solved, many unsolved. It’s a good sketch of the kind of greed, depravity, and desperation that’s happened throughout British Columbia’s history. The book is called Dead Ends: BC Crime Stories. I’ll get Mr. Willcocks to tell us about some of the stories therein. Notable crimes like the Olson and Pickton cases are in here, as well as the kidnapping of Jim Pattison’s daughter, the NHL’s Marty McSorely’s assault on Donald Brashear, and the sex scandal that surrounded Socred cabinet minister Bob McClelland; these are just a few of what one can read about in this book. There’s a lot in here, and we’ll talk about some of the stories that really define British Columbia. They’re stories we shouldn’t forget. Paul Willcocks is a distinguished journalist who’s won many awards including a Michener Award, and the Jack Webster City Mike Award. The website for more is at www.paulwillcocks.com. Dead Ends is published by the University of Regina Press. Please welcome back to the Planta: On the Line program, in Victoria, Paul Willcocks; Mr. Willcocks, good morning.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (29.6MB)

Subscribe: RSS