On a mysterious mission from Toronto to Alberta, physician-turned-poacher Wyley McFadden picks up a mysterious female hitchhiker somewhere north of Lake Superior. It has all the makings of a good road novel, and Gardiner has written an assured, well-researched, well-crafted debut. The Dominion of Wyley McFadden draws the reader in with curious, likeable characters, elements of mystery, and a truckload of sexual tension. The plot chugs along, the pieces fall into place one by one, just as they’re supposed to, and well-chosen hooks and motifs hold the work together. It’s textbook execution.

Perhaps a little too textbook. Because the twists and surprises happen exactly where they ought to, sometimes they fail to be surprising. And the third-person narrative, while clearly bound focally to the protagonist, sometimes feels a little flat and journalistic. Occasionally McFadden serves up his own thoughts and opinions rather than allowing his characters to reveal themselves through their dialogue and behaviour. In these moments, one might be tempted to flip ahead to see where the action picks up again. However, such lapses are rare enough to detract only partially from the novel’s successes.

Gardiner has an excellent knack for creating fully realized characters with complex individual psychologies. His scenes unfold in vivid, articulate detail, and he certainly doesn’t shy away from difficult or controversial subject matter. This is a sturdy novel that’s often funny, sometimes menacing, and wholly well-rendered.