Firewater is the name that was given by
native Canadian Indians to the powerful rum
that was offered by the Hudson's Bay
Company in exchange for pelts. To ensure
they were getting the genuine liquor, Indian
trappers would set a spoonful alight before
accepting it in trade.
The Firewater novels recount a journey
taken by mismatched twin brothers that sets
out as a straightforward business venture but
develops into a troubled voyage bound for
disaster
Ned Kelly, a retired RCAF navigator, and his twin
brother Liam form a company with the object of
buying a yacht in England and sailing it on a cruise
through the Greek Isles before returning to Canada
for resale at a profit. However, they encounter
many unforeseen difficulties while preparing for
the voyage. When Ned is suspected of being an
accomplice of Irish terrorists, problems multiply
and evolve into a three-way tangle among British
security agencies, IRA terrorists, and the innocent
Canadians.
The first of a two-volume set, Firewater: Travelling
With Terror foreshadows the events of 9/11 and the
climate of terrorism existing today.