What Readers Are Saying
The response to Externalities has been truly heartwarming. This page brings together published reviews along with personal notes from readers—thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts and encouragement.
Johnston reveals the smallest moments to be the emotional architecture of a family.
What begins as a charming tale soon evolves into something far more intricate—a narrative full of winding turns, twists, and betrayals. Johnston skillfully weaves suspense, intrigue, and tragedy into the Gallorinis’ experience.
Connecting The Sound Magazine
D. McCall Johnston is featured in the October 2025 issue of Connecting The Sound. The article profiles Johnston’s remarkable journey — from his early days working across Canada’s North to publishing his debut novel, Externalities, at the age of 82.
Amazon Customer Review
Externalities is a beautifully written family saga that spans continents, generations, and secrets. Johnston masterfully weaves love, ambition, and mystery into a story that feels both timeless and urgent. A rich, unforgettable read.
Submitted Reader Feedback
REVIEW: “Externalities” was full of emotion, intrigue, and took me on a memorable journey.
The first half introduced me to some colourful characters, their epic sagas, plus new and familiar places around the world. The second half – well, let’s just say that “I could not put the book down!”. It picked up speed like a bullet train.
There were so many stories within this story, so many twists and turns – I just had to know how things turned out. Being so drawn into the plot and the characters, I felt like I was emotionally-involved with how it was going to end.
Hard to believe the author has only written this one fiction novel. Congratulations and well done!
– Robbie Robinson, Wiarton, Ontario
Submitted Reader Feedback
I just finished reading your book yesterday , and I wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed it.
The unusual title was, of course, perfectly appropriate!
The numerous specific references to places in this region gave it a homey feeling.
The story of Clemente’s and Yolanda’s bold and successful adventure was charming and peaceful, filled with many small details of everyday life, and the rewards of hard work, honesty, integrity, and the unpredictable influence of association with good people.
And then you take us on some twists and turns and downturns, reflecting the sadness, uncertainty and unfairness of reality.
I loved the resolution of the murder mystery – not flashy or mean, just another example of how things sometimes happen without intent.
Well done!
– Tim
Submitted Reader Feedback
I found Externalities to be very well-written and captivating. Chapter after chapter, I wanted to see where things went next as I was drawn into the lives of these people I never met but still felt like I knew. The story seemed familiar to me as my first experiences in Toronto were with a first generation Italian Canadian girl who’s family had relocated to Downsview for a better life. I was drawn into that family and re-experienced the warm welcome that I felt then as a small-town “mange cake”.
Chapter 28 in particular had me quite misty. About 5 years ago, I got the call that my Mom had breast cancer and was being treated with chemo therapy. She was in remission for about 4 years and early into 2025, we got the news that the cancer had spread to her liver. By the end of April, she was gone. I still struggle with it quite a bit. I cannot lie, I wept for Yolanda. It was a bit of an emotional rollercoaster for me to get through all subsequent chapters as the tragedies piled up.
I haven’t been an avid reader for some time, but I enjoyed the journey. I found that the tempo of your story was appropriate given the timeline but the tragedy quickly brought things to a close.
Thank you for sharing your book with us! It has been an honour to be able to read it and share this feedback with the talented author!
Warm regards,
Ian
Submitted Reader Feedback
I’ve now finished Externalities and enjoyed it. Various parts of it made me reflect on my own life, which is one of the works of a good work of art, I think.
I’ll now pass my signed copy to my cousin Anne.
Sincerely,
Roger Martin
Kemble, ON