This literary fiction unfolding will appeal to some readers and not others. TOFINO is a location, where a last stand of giant Douglas firs was saved, and king salmon leap at the right time of year. The Canadian Pacific coastline seems to call to Valerie, who lies unsleeping in her Vancouver apartment. Should she go, and if so, could she leave her troubles behind? She gets into her car.   Four years previously, Valerie started a tech firm and was named one of the under-forties people to watch. Now her fortieth birthday is creeping closer, her firm feels oppressive, and she has no rewarding private life, just an occasional date with a guy called Trent who makes her nervous.   Trent, we see from his gradually revealed background, is not the least a nice person. Valerie’s instincts were right. He’s kind of possessive.   Over in sunny Tofino, an open-minded sport fishing guide runs tours and talks about the history of the area. Alex is happy when his guests pull in a silvery salmon. He eats wild food, preserves some and stores it for winter, and he can talk about the benefits of natural living. But he also likes meeting ladies in restaurants and bars. Valerie is destined to run into the chatty, relaxed, man.      I felt the absence of an actual romance or an actual crime story. Everything is based on holding up a character for examination, putting them down again, and seeing how they interact with another character or circumstance. Valerie has a personal reason for not being happily married by now, but Alex is quite content to live in a beautiful place, though women are scarce in the friendly community. And Trent, well, he sets fire to things. Eventually they all interact, but it’s a long time arriving.   If you want to read about people and settings, this carefully crafted story by Tom Stewart may be what you enjoy. If you are used to an active crime investigation in your books, you’ll find that you are waiting for the plot to begin. Tom has also written other books, including a memoir and the fiction Immortal North, and won writing awards. Tofino is where he makes his home, so he is well placed to describe the beauty and variety of the landscape and the choice of wild foods. The ominous note and adult tone make TOFINO unsuitable for teens. I’d nearly class it as a psychological thriller, but not quite. Certainly, it’s a rewarding read. I’ll be interested to try Immortal North next and learn more about the Canadian Pacific.