Greg Rhyno, the Guelph-based author, is back with his second installment of the Dame Polara mystery series, titled “Who by Water”. The new book, which will officially be released on April 19, is already available at the Bookshelf. To celebrate its release, a book launch event is set for April 24 at Brothers Brewing Co..

The reluctant detective, Dame Polara, is once again thrust into a case that forces her to confront both her past and a dangerous enemy. Rhyno describes this novel as “the Empire Strikes Back” of his planned trilogy, suggesting that it’s a darker and more personal continuation of the story.

The first book, “Who by Fire”, published in 2024, introduced Dame Polara, who was raised as a sidekick to her detective father. As an adult, Polara works at City Hall in Toronto, lives in Parkdale, and seeks a quiet, ordinary life. But when she faces the threat of “renoviction,” she makes a deal with her landlord to investigate his wife—only to uncover a deep arson conspiracy.

In “Who by Water”, set three years later, Polara is now a mother to a toddler and still has no interest in detective work. However, she’s drawn back into the investigation world when she becomes a suspect in the drowning of her ex-husband.

“This is the second in a series of probably three books, though there’s always a chance there could be more,” Rhyno said.

As a high school English teacher and a busy father, Rhyno says he writes every day, currently working on the third book of the series. He shared that while he has a clear direction for the story, it still surprises him with new twists along the way.

Rhyno also shared that he’s drawn to Dame Polara’s character because she’s quite different from him. “She’s a woman with a different job, smarter than me, and she’s experienced things I haven’t,” he explained.

With “Who by Water” continuing Dame Polara’s journey, fans can look forward to a gripping and evolving mystery.