Uncommon Sons

Book excerpt: Immerse yourself in a tale of murder, discrimination, diversity, and discovery 1935. Nova Scotia, Canada. Marc Youssef constantly wrestles with his commitment to his strict Lebanese culture and upbringing. But when you’re a thirty-four-year-old bachelor — and you are secretly attracted to other men — deception at home and at work simmers daily and threatens to boil over. After two guests are found dead in the tony railway hotel in Halifax where Marc works, his job is compromised, and his personal life is vulnerable to exposure. One of the suspects in the possible murder investigation just happens to be Marc’s clandestine and married love interest. Journalist Eva McMaster, Marc’s best friend, is determined to help him find out what really happened. The two become unlikely sleuths in this bizarre incident that becomes the talk of the east coast city. Uncommon Sons is a fascinating tale of sexual identity, systemic racism, familial obligations, workplace pressures, and the bonds of love and friendship prior to World War II. Interlinked to Bishop’s debut novel, Unconventional Daughters, this page-turner further explores what happens when adults are not what and who they are expected to be. Pick up a copy of Uncommon Sons and reunite with some of the beloved characters from the author’s debut novel. The third book in the trilogy, Undeniable Relations, was released in December 2022. Praise for Uncommon Sons ~ “…an exploration of identity and prejudice, of the tension between old ways and new. … Mr. Bishop handles these difficult issues deftly and with sensitivity, as his main characters Marc and Eva seek to find their own way through the discrimination that surrounds them in their quest for a more tolerant world.” – Riana Everly, author of The Assistant and Through a Different Lens ~ “An intriguing mystery, great characters, and a lesser known facet of Canadian history combine to make Uncommon Sons a compelling read!” – Linda Bennett Pennell, author of Miami Days Havana Nights