2014 Edgar Award - Mystery Writers of America — Shortlisted, Best Paperback Original

Medicinal marijuana can be murder.

Charming, wealthy Randle Kennedy has a secret: he’s British Columbia’s most prolific producer of boutique marijuana. He’s developed strains of B.C. Bud to please the most sophisticated palates and produce any desired effect, from a light contemplative buzz to the most mind-warping stone. His medical varieties offer relief for conditions ranging from cancer to Alzheimer’s disease. Come legalization, he’ll be the first on the market with marijuana’s answer to single-malt Scotch. Until that day, he runs a tight operation with terrorist-cell security.

Tate MacLane is brilliant, miserable, and broke. Since graduating from high school at age 14, he’s failed at university, failed to support his family, failed at everything except making a superb caffe latte.

Randle wants a fresh face to front his transactions. Tate desperately needs a mentor and yearns for respect. And money …

Then there are the bikers, the muscle with the cross-border connections that Randle needs to bring his product to the American market. Soon Tate finds out that it’s harder to get out of the business than to get in.

E.R. Brown is an award-winning advertising writer whose fiction has been heard on CBC Radio 3 and seen in several magazines, including Event and Prairie Fire. Born in Montreal, he lives in Vancouver.

E.R. Brown's profile page

• Short-listed, Edgar Award - Mystery Writers of America (Best Paperback Original)
• Short-listed, Arthur Ellis Award

This is funny and twisted in the same vein as Breaking Bad (but very Canadian on the crime) with tons of great Lower Mainland vibes. This is Brown’s debut and it’s an auspicious one.

The Globe and Mail

. . . the novel is instructive for its insights into the finances of the grow op business.

Toronto Star

The book is impeccably researched . . .

Quill & Quire

Well-researched and convincingly told, ALMOST CRIMINAL is a revealing look at the dark world of the illicit pot business from the perspectives of grow-ops, distributors, users, and the gangs that lie behind them.

Reviewing the Evidence.com

. . . some surprising revelations and resolutions lead to an enjoyable read.

Almost Criminal tells a tale about parallel worlds, the one we live in and that instant society that flies under our radar. It's a tightrope from which one fall is fatal. Author E.R.Brown lays out the territory with tight pacing and insightful dialogue that captures the panic that is but one mistake away.

If you took a gritty crime novel and a coming-of-age story and squashed them together, you might get something very close to this excellent book.

Booklist [starred review]

Fun, thrilling read!

by caitlinslb

The world of young Tate in Almost Criminal is full of twists and turns, keeping you on the edge of your seat. Right from the start I was hooked, not only because of the storyline, but also because this novel is so rich with detail. From the subculture of marijuana in BC to how the perfect cup of coffee is brewed, E.R. Brown has clearly done his research. With many sides to the story from family drama to gritty crime thriller, there's something here for everyone. Highly recommend this book to anyone from young adult and up!

Almost Criminal is a great read

by Cleo

Almost Criminal is a fun read, with lots of twists and turns and surprises to keep the reader engaged. I loved it! The characters are a colorful bunch. It’s a gripping story where motorcycle gangs, grow ops and compassion clubs collide. It’s also a coming of age story where Tate the main protagonist gets involved in ‘almost criminal’ activities and E.R Brown keeps us on the edge right to the end. Compassion, sense of family and loyalty are some of the themes that underlie Almost Criminal and gives this crime novel depth. But, it’s not all dark, there’s a wicked sense of humor that makes it a most enjoyable read. I highly recommend this book.