Detective Dalpe


Meet the Real Detective JP Dalpe – The Man Behind the Mysteries


Six years ago, while researching Allumette Island Massacre, I uncovered a remarkable figure—Detective Sergeant J.P. Dalpe, the real-life Quebec Provincial Police investigator sent from Montreal to lead the murder investigation of five members of the Bradley family on Allumette Island. Assisting him were Pontiac County Sheriff Sloan and High Constable St. Germain—my grandfather.


What began as historical research quickly became a passion. I discovered that between 1900 and 1938, Dalpe solved numerous high-profile crimes in Hull and the surrounding region. His skill, determination, and quiet authority inspired me to bring him back to life—not just through fact, but through imagination.


The result: Dalpe’s Crime Chronicles, a collection of true-crime stories enriched with fictional details—his private grief, deep Catholic faith, and imagined colleagues—while staying true to the real cases he solved.


Though I no longer promote the original book due to publisher constraints, I’ve reimagined it as a successful series of short reads, each based on true crimes Dalpe investigated:

1. The Hermit Murder

2. The Jungle Murder

3. The Hull Bank Clerk

4. Maniwaki Mystery Death


These stories capture the challenge of detective work in early 20th-century Quebec—when forensic tools were scarce, and murder convictions were hard-won.


But Dalpe’s story didn’t end there. I couldn’t resist imagining new mysteries for him to solve. My two favourites?

• Dalpe and the Nazi, set near Lac Cayamant, a place close to my heart—and where I discovered Nazi organizations had taken root in Quebec.

• Dalpe and the Communist, inspired by Igor Gouzenko—the Soviet defector who revealed spy networks and helped trigger the Cold War.


And then there’s Dalpe and the Roots of Evil, which explores his earliest days in the force, blending two real crimes with fiction for a thrilling origin story.


If you haven’t yet stepped into Dalpe’s world, now’s the time. These Canadian historical thrillers are grounded in fact but filled with drama, rich characters, and the timeless hunt for truth.


A new Dalpe story is calling—especially after the shocking ending of Dalpe and the Nazi. Yes, Dalpe kills someone. And yes—someone knows.


Stay tuned.

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