SHANGHAI GIRLS
Author: Lisa See
Copyright 2009
Random House
ISBN: 978-1-4000-6711-4
eBook ISBN 978-1-5883-6860-7
Hardcover $25.00
315 pages
Fiction, Chinese, Immigrants, Family Secrets
Most of us have heard the old adage about walking in another person’s shoes. That’s exactly what you feel when you read any novel written by Lisa See.
Living in Shanghai just prior to World War II was not an easy life with the Japanese beginning the invasion and take-over of China. Life for Pearl and May though, is fairly simple. They spend their days sleeping and their nights being models for an artist. While many inhabitants lived a life of poverty and day-to-day survival, these two are living a life where the priorities are around their wardrobes and their daily appearance. Being their father manages a rickshaw business, they live a life of luxury.
All that changes when their father informs both girls of their upcoming marriages due to his financial problems with his gambling debts. Reluctantly, the girls marry their prospective husbands and plan to leave their home to live with their new family in America. During this transition time, the husbands go back to the Los Angeles area taking their wives clothes with them. This insures that the daughters, now wives, will follow their wardrobe. The daughters decide to skip out on the husbands. Unfortunately, it is at this time that the Japanese decide to invade China and Shanghai is one of the first occupied cities.
This story centers on their life then of survival and the trials of living in an enemy occupied area. The entire city is also invaded by the neighboring rural areas, as well as the soldiers. Overcrowding, no obvious local leadership, no money, no food, are all problems and in a constant competition with the victor surviving.
The characters are the strengths in all of Lisa See’s books. You feel that you would know either Pearl or May by sight. You understand their choices and their reasoning. Each one is unique and as a reader, you really know each character as if they were a member of your family. The personal voice of each one is distinct and carries each person through their personal trials.
I do have one complaint though about SHANGHAI GIRLS. It is the ending. Personally, I prefer a complete conclusion rather than an open-ended or possibly a continuous one. I feel cheated when the book does not completely tie up all the loose ends. SHANGHAI GIRLS could easily be the first book in a series with Pearl and May.
With that said, I am anxiously awaiting Lisa See’s next novel. She is one of my favorite authors and I have read all her previous books.
Lisa See was born in Paris but actually spent most of her life in Los Angeles. ON GOLD MOUNTAIN relives her great-grandfather’s experiences from China to America. She has also written FLOWER NET, THE INTERIOR, DRAGON BONES, SNOW FLOWER AND THE SECRET FAN, and PEONY IN LOVE. Her books tell the stories of people, like herself, who were immigrants and/or bi-racial.
Her viewpoints are openly honest, but also thoughtful and intelligent. Her books always make me wonder more about other people and their beliefs that are common to all of us.
.
By: Teri Davis July 27, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Monday, July 27, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
FLOODGATES
FLOODGATES
Author: Mary Anna Evans
Copyright July 2009
Poisoned Pen Press
ISBN: 978-1-59058-591-7
Hardcover $24.95
256 pages
Fiction, Mystery
For a fictional novel to actually change your thinking and understanding about an event is definitely proof of exceptional writing. FLOODGATES does that through the intermingling of an actual event, Hurricane Katrina, with a murder and the historical information about controlling the flood waters around New Orleans.
Faye Longchamp is an archaeologist who is currently in a race with the reconstruction crews in New Orleans. While her crew is attempting to document and learn the real history, they discover a body that has been weighed down in the flood waters from Hurricane Katrina. There seems to be no logical reason for an old sewing machine on a body since obviously, the machine would sink if placed in the water. It is then obvious that someone was killed and the heavy objects were placed on top of the body to keep it from being easily discovered.
To make matters worse, the police identify the body as that of Shelly Broussard who was alive during the disaster and seen a few days afterwards. Shelly was concerned about her parents who she believed were in their house when the hurricane waters flooded the area and drowned in their attic. Who and what was Shelly questioning and investigating at the time of her death? Who felt threatened by the two lists that were discovered in Shelly’s pants wrapped in a waterproof protection?
I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the back story including the history of the flood control systems in New Orleans. This aspect led to my understanding of the city and the disaster with Hurricane Katrina. The relationships of the characters and their internal motivations helped to truly understand the culture and the social issues confronting this city. Although many things have changed in time, many people have not. The characters seem to be real which makes this story along with the realism that gives this the feeling of a true story.
Mary Anna Evans studied physics and engineering while at college. Her knowledge and understanding is perfect for this well-written mystery combining the past with the present. She uniquely combines her expertise with a fictional story. Her previous novels are ARTIFACTS, RELICS, EFFIGIES, and FINDINGS all available from Poisoned Pen Press. FLOODWATERS is the fifth in the series of books with Faye Longchamp.
To combine the engineering feats of preventing New Orleans from flooding for the past three-hundred years with a fictional archeological mystery proves the brilliance of FLOODWATERS.
.
By: Teri Davis July 21, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Author: Mary Anna Evans
Copyright July 2009
Poisoned Pen Press
ISBN: 978-1-59058-591-7
Hardcover $24.95
256 pages
Fiction, Mystery
For a fictional novel to actually change your thinking and understanding about an event is definitely proof of exceptional writing. FLOODGATES does that through the intermingling of an actual event, Hurricane Katrina, with a murder and the historical information about controlling the flood waters around New Orleans.
Faye Longchamp is an archaeologist who is currently in a race with the reconstruction crews in New Orleans. While her crew is attempting to document and learn the real history, they discover a body that has been weighed down in the flood waters from Hurricane Katrina. There seems to be no logical reason for an old sewing machine on a body since obviously, the machine would sink if placed in the water. It is then obvious that someone was killed and the heavy objects were placed on top of the body to keep it from being easily discovered.
To make matters worse, the police identify the body as that of Shelly Broussard who was alive during the disaster and seen a few days afterwards. Shelly was concerned about her parents who she believed were in their house when the hurricane waters flooded the area and drowned in their attic. Who and what was Shelly questioning and investigating at the time of her death? Who felt threatened by the two lists that were discovered in Shelly’s pants wrapped in a waterproof protection?
I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and the back story including the history of the flood control systems in New Orleans. This aspect led to my understanding of the city and the disaster with Hurricane Katrina. The relationships of the characters and their internal motivations helped to truly understand the culture and the social issues confronting this city. Although many things have changed in time, many people have not. The characters seem to be real which makes this story along with the realism that gives this the feeling of a true story.
Mary Anna Evans studied physics and engineering while at college. Her knowledge and understanding is perfect for this well-written mystery combining the past with the present. She uniquely combines her expertise with a fictional story. Her previous novels are ARTIFACTS, RELICS, EFFIGIES, and FINDINGS all available from Poisoned Pen Press. FLOODWATERS is the fifth in the series of books with Faye Longchamp.
To combine the engineering feats of preventing New Orleans from flooding for the past three-hundred years with a fictional archeological mystery proves the brilliance of FLOODWATERS.
.
By: Teri Davis July 21, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Santa Olivia
SANTA OLIVIA
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Copyright May 2009
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-446=19817-2
Paperback $13.99
341 pages
Fiction, Science Fiction
Santa Olivia is a place between the United States and Mexico that neither government wants to claim. The people who make this town their home are not allowed to leave and the U.S. Army decides their daily freedoms. These are people who originally came to this town to avoid a plague, but somehow were not allowed to recoup their lives, but to establish a new life with very restricting rules in this small community.
Apparently during the time of the plague, the U.S. Army was also experimenting with creating the ideally genetically-modified soldier. These men were created to have no fear and physically were stronger, faster with longer times of endurance, enhanced senses, and not emotionally involved when in a battle situation. Because of this, they were considered to be a type of werewolf.
This is the story of Loup Garron, who was born on the day of celebration in remembrance of Santa Olivia, actually in front of the statue. Loup’s father had been one of these genetically altered beings, even though her mother was completely a normal human.
Loup’s father and half-brother were also involved in the major entertainment for the community which was occasional boxing matches between the locals and the champions from the army. The agreement was that if anyone could beat the army fighter, they could leave Santa Olivia along with one other person. So far, no one had achieved this dream.
When Loup’s mother dies, her older brother has to give Loup to the church to live with the orphans. A priest and two sisters are responsible now for this small, but loyal group, who develop a true appreciation of each other’s natural gifts.
SANTA OLIVIA is an outstanding and unusual tale of the town and how Loup decides to use her natural gifts for others.
Jacqueline Carey currently lives in Michigan. She has won numerous awards for her books in the Kushiel Legacy series.
Personally, I would not place this book in science fiction, but general fiction. The idea of genetically-altered soldiers, I don’t believe is that far-fetched and not fantasy. I would find it harder to believe that our military was not looking into some way of enhancing a soldier’s genetic code.
I was delighted to have the opportunity to review this page-turner. I also am hoping that there will be more books following the life of Loup Garron.
By: Teri Davis July 15, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: http://reviewsbyteri.blogspot.com/
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Author: Jacqueline Carey
Copyright May 2009
Grand Central Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-446=19817-2
Paperback $13.99
341 pages
Fiction, Science Fiction
Santa Olivia is a place between the United States and Mexico that neither government wants to claim. The people who make this town their home are not allowed to leave and the U.S. Army decides their daily freedoms. These are people who originally came to this town to avoid a plague, but somehow were not allowed to recoup their lives, but to establish a new life with very restricting rules in this small community.
Apparently during the time of the plague, the U.S. Army was also experimenting with creating the ideally genetically-modified soldier. These men were created to have no fear and physically were stronger, faster with longer times of endurance, enhanced senses, and not emotionally involved when in a battle situation. Because of this, they were considered to be a type of werewolf.
This is the story of Loup Garron, who was born on the day of celebration in remembrance of Santa Olivia, actually in front of the statue. Loup’s father had been one of these genetically altered beings, even though her mother was completely a normal human.
Loup’s father and half-brother were also involved in the major entertainment for the community which was occasional boxing matches between the locals and the champions from the army. The agreement was that if anyone could beat the army fighter, they could leave Santa Olivia along with one other person. So far, no one had achieved this dream.
When Loup’s mother dies, her older brother has to give Loup to the church to live with the orphans. A priest and two sisters are responsible now for this small, but loyal group, who develop a true appreciation of each other’s natural gifts.
SANTA OLIVIA is an outstanding and unusual tale of the town and how Loup decides to use her natural gifts for others.
Jacqueline Carey currently lives in Michigan. She has won numerous awards for her books in the Kushiel Legacy series.
Personally, I would not place this book in science fiction, but general fiction. The idea of genetically-altered soldiers, I don’t believe is that far-fetched and not fantasy. I would find it harder to believe that our military was not looking into some way of enhancing a soldier’s genetic code.
I was delighted to have the opportunity to review this page-turner. I also am hoping that there will be more books following the life of Loup Garron.
By: Teri Davis July 15, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: http://reviewsbyteri.blogspot.com/
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Shanghaied: A Ray Sharp Novel
SHANGHAIED: A RAY SHARP NOVEL
Author: Eric Stone
Copyright July 2009
Bleak House
Hardcover/ $24.95/ 978-1-60648-030-4
Paperback/ $14.95/ 978-1-60648-031-1
Evidence Collection/ $45/978-1-60648-032-8
296 pages
Mystery
Being the fourth book in a series, SHANGHAIED also works as a stand alone novel without having read the previous books.
The story takes place in Hong Kong during and after the Chinese receiving the return of the city from British rule in 1997. Ray Sharp is a former journalist, turned investigator, is hired by a group of monks who strangely, believe in eating meat, to investigate a bank that is headquartered in Shanghai in which they recently invested millions and is now rumored to have questionable accounting practices.
Sleazy! That’s how I would describe this book. With lesbian relationships and heroin usage, these are topics that many of us have not experienced and do not intend to experience. Through much of the novel there is constant adventure. With the twin bodyguards, Floss and Betty, who are highly trained in the martial arts, there is humor in the little events, especially the dumpling incident. Also, there is a little about the lives of many people, especially the poor, in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Another issue I found interesting in this book, was the actual procedures for outsourcing of goods and human trafficking into our country.
This particular novel centers on Ray’s Chinese-Mexican friend, Ms. Wen Lei Yue who through her diminutive size and gigantic ability to talk to people due to her language abilities and her personality. Her special relationships and connections with others is the strength of the character and the novel. She is who you would want to have on your side.
One of the choices for purchasing this book is through the Evidence Collection from Bleak House Publications. In this collection, one-hundred hardcover copies of their top-selling titles for the reader to choose 5-8 of these which you can request to include the author’s signature, the colored end sheet, the numbered printed of the book, a police booking sheet with the author’s information, the fingerprint, date, or other request that might be considered to make your books special.
Eric Stone has actually lived in Asia for eleven years basing himself in Hong Kong and Jakarta. The previous books in this series are LIVING ROOM OF THE DEAD, GRAVE IMPORTS, and FLIGHT OF THE HORNBILL. He currently lives near Los Angeles.
By: Teri Davis July 14, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Author: Eric Stone
Copyright July 2009
Bleak House
Hardcover/ $24.95/ 978-1-60648-030-4
Paperback/ $14.95/ 978-1-60648-031-1
Evidence Collection/ $45/978-1-60648-032-8
296 pages
Mystery
Being the fourth book in a series, SHANGHAIED also works as a stand alone novel without having read the previous books.
The story takes place in Hong Kong during and after the Chinese receiving the return of the city from British rule in 1997. Ray Sharp is a former journalist, turned investigator, is hired by a group of monks who strangely, believe in eating meat, to investigate a bank that is headquartered in Shanghai in which they recently invested millions and is now rumored to have questionable accounting practices.
Sleazy! That’s how I would describe this book. With lesbian relationships and heroin usage, these are topics that many of us have not experienced and do not intend to experience. Through much of the novel there is constant adventure. With the twin bodyguards, Floss and Betty, who are highly trained in the martial arts, there is humor in the little events, especially the dumpling incident. Also, there is a little about the lives of many people, especially the poor, in Shanghai and Hong Kong. Another issue I found interesting in this book, was the actual procedures for outsourcing of goods and human trafficking into our country.
This particular novel centers on Ray’s Chinese-Mexican friend, Ms. Wen Lei Yue who through her diminutive size and gigantic ability to talk to people due to her language abilities and her personality. Her special relationships and connections with others is the strength of the character and the novel. She is who you would want to have on your side.
One of the choices for purchasing this book is through the Evidence Collection from Bleak House Publications. In this collection, one-hundred hardcover copies of their top-selling titles for the reader to choose 5-8 of these which you can request to include the author’s signature, the colored end sheet, the numbered printed of the book, a police booking sheet with the author’s information, the fingerprint, date, or other request that might be considered to make your books special.
Eric Stone has actually lived in Asia for eleven years basing himself in Hong Kong and Jakarta. The previous books in this series are LIVING ROOM OF THE DEAD, GRAVE IMPORTS, and FLIGHT OF THE HORNBILL. He currently lives near Los Angeles.
By: Teri Davis July 14, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
STIFF: THE CURIOUS LIVES OF HUMAN CADAVERS
STIFF: THE CURIOUS LIVES OF HUMAN CADAVERS
Author: Mary Roach
Copyright 2003
W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 0-393-05093-9
Hardcover $23.95
303 pages
Non-fiction
As a child, we were told there are certain subjects that are “taboo”, Besides race, religion, and politics, nice people don’t talk about cadavers. At least that was what I had been told.
Apparently, many people are in the same situation in that during their life, they have had questions about dead bodies and were told that it was wrong even to think such thoughts.
This book is for those of us who never received answers, but still had the questions.
STIFF: THE CURIOUS LIVES OF HUMAN CADAVERS is a light and frequently humorous non-fiction work about dead bodies and what people do with them.
Most of us have heard about grave robbers and body snatchers. However, have you considered the training of the doctors during that time? Would you want a doctor who had actually operated on a real, albeit, dead human or one that had just read about a particular procedure or observed from a gallery?
When is someone dead? Is it when their heart stops beating? What about if a person is on life support? If their body is still alive, what about their brain? STIFF actually discusses these issues with the medical experts and tells the facts from their viewpoints.
I always felt that there were three choices upon my death: burial, cremation, or donating my body to science. Now there are also a view other choices, donating your brain to science, freezing in liquid nitrogen and becoming a part of the cycle of life, or plasticizing your body.
I was fascinated on the contributions to science outside the medical field from the donations of a human body. It makes sense but I did not know that the automotive industry and the military frequently use bodies for tests the lead to everyday safety. Besides the crash-test dummies, human bodies are needed for truly understanding the amount of damage with a side impact of a vehicle. How much force is needed to break the rib cage? Also, the advancement of airbags was from the use of real human bodies in the test studies. For the military, to discover the best body armor, required real human dead bodies, not just test dummies.
The only criticism was that the books did not bring up the subject of cryogenics, which financially is not realistic for most of us. It did consider the revised version of this that is not currently available in this country.
Mary Roach grew up in New Hampshire with an elderly father. Through her eclectic background has assisted in her freelance writing career. STIFF was her first book which began as a story for Salon.com. She has also written SPOOK: SCIENCE TACKLES THE AFTERLIFE and BONK: THE CURIOUS COUPLING OF SCIENCE AND SEX.
After reading this book, I feel more informed and intend to change my choice for my earthly remains when the time comes. I also plan to read SPOOK and BONK. There are so many questions that I have on these subjects.
By: Teri Davis July 7, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Author: Mary Roach
Copyright 2003
W. W. Norton & Company
ISBN: 0-393-05093-9
Hardcover $23.95
303 pages
Non-fiction
As a child, we were told there are certain subjects that are “taboo”, Besides race, religion, and politics, nice people don’t talk about cadavers. At least that was what I had been told.
Apparently, many people are in the same situation in that during their life, they have had questions about dead bodies and were told that it was wrong even to think such thoughts.
This book is for those of us who never received answers, but still had the questions.
STIFF: THE CURIOUS LIVES OF HUMAN CADAVERS is a light and frequently humorous non-fiction work about dead bodies and what people do with them.
Most of us have heard about grave robbers and body snatchers. However, have you considered the training of the doctors during that time? Would you want a doctor who had actually operated on a real, albeit, dead human or one that had just read about a particular procedure or observed from a gallery?
When is someone dead? Is it when their heart stops beating? What about if a person is on life support? If their body is still alive, what about their brain? STIFF actually discusses these issues with the medical experts and tells the facts from their viewpoints.
I always felt that there were three choices upon my death: burial, cremation, or donating my body to science. Now there are also a view other choices, donating your brain to science, freezing in liquid nitrogen and becoming a part of the cycle of life, or plasticizing your body.
I was fascinated on the contributions to science outside the medical field from the donations of a human body. It makes sense but I did not know that the automotive industry and the military frequently use bodies for tests the lead to everyday safety. Besides the crash-test dummies, human bodies are needed for truly understanding the amount of damage with a side impact of a vehicle. How much force is needed to break the rib cage? Also, the advancement of airbags was from the use of real human bodies in the test studies. For the military, to discover the best body armor, required real human dead bodies, not just test dummies.
The only criticism was that the books did not bring up the subject of cryogenics, which financially is not realistic for most of us. It did consider the revised version of this that is not currently available in this country.
Mary Roach grew up in New Hampshire with an elderly father. Through her eclectic background has assisted in her freelance writing career. STIFF was her first book which began as a story for Salon.com. She has also written SPOOK: SCIENCE TACKLES THE AFTERLIFE and BONK: THE CURIOUS COUPLING OF SCIENCE AND SEX.
After reading this book, I feel more informed and intend to change my choice for my earthly remains when the time comes. I also plan to read SPOOK and BONK. There are so many questions that I have on these subjects.
By: Teri Davis July 7, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
THE LAST ORACLE
THE LAST ORACLE
Author: James Rollins
Copyright: June 2009
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0-06-123095-0
Paperback $7.99
462 pages
Fiction, Action-adventure
Running. When you read THE LAST ORACLE your eyes are actually running while hoping to discover how Commander Gray Pierce stops a worldwide crisis.
Commander Pierce works with a secret organization for our government, Sigma housed in the basement of the Smithsonian Castle in Washington D.C. As he returns to work in the early afternoon, he glances across the Mall and sees what seems to be a homeless man running towards him. Gray looks in his wallet but unfortunately finds that all he has are twenty dollar bills. He decides to give one to the beggar but surprisingly the man has a large coin about the size of a fifty-cent piece that he is attempting to give to Pierce. As the man leans towards Pierce, he actually falls on top of him. Quickly he realizes that the man is bleeding and that someone is shooting at the man. Instinctively he rolls with the man to safety and immediately takes out his own gun. Not seeing who is shooting or where it is coming from, he also grabs his cell phone and calls for help.
Being that things are seldom as they seem, the homeless man who died was actually the creator of Sigma, Professor Archibald Polk whose body is now radioactive. The coin was actually an old Roman coin from the second century. On the coin is a woman’s face on one side and an engraving of the Temple of Delphi with a big E in the center on the other. While trying to decode whatever message the Professor had been attempting to communicate, Pierce informs the Professor’s daughter of his death. Unfortunately, at the same time, someone with extensive resources is also searching for the same thing and seems to want both Pierce and the Professor’s daughter to be dead. This begins the race with no obvious finish line.
This is an unusual novel in that many non-related topics are combined logically into one novel. From The Greek Oracle of Delphi, to the genetics and history of gypsies, to secret organizations that do exist such as The Jasons, to studies about the brain’s ability to tell fortunes, to Project Stargate (that does not really include the Sci-Fi channel and going to other planets), to autism and savants, to strange weapons, and the possible ecological problem of the radioactivity in Russia from Chelyabinsk region in the Ural Mountains which includes the area of the Chernobyl disaster.
James Rollins is a doctor of veterinary medicine who enjoys scuba diving and spelunking in his home in the Sierra Nevadas.
The pacing is intense and fast, The characters are realistic. What I found disturbing is the realization of a disaster that could easily have an effect worldwide that I personally had not realized existed. A good book, even fiction, should educate you in some way. THE LAST ORACLE does that in a fast-paced adventure.
Author: James Rollins
Copyright: June 2009
Publisher: Harper Collins
ISBN: 978-0-06-123095-0
Paperback $7.99
462 pages
Fiction, Action-adventure
Running. When you read THE LAST ORACLE your eyes are actually running while hoping to discover how Commander Gray Pierce stops a worldwide crisis.
Commander Pierce works with a secret organization for our government, Sigma housed in the basement of the Smithsonian Castle in Washington D.C. As he returns to work in the early afternoon, he glances across the Mall and sees what seems to be a homeless man running towards him. Gray looks in his wallet but unfortunately finds that all he has are twenty dollar bills. He decides to give one to the beggar but surprisingly the man has a large coin about the size of a fifty-cent piece that he is attempting to give to Pierce. As the man leans towards Pierce, he actually falls on top of him. Quickly he realizes that the man is bleeding and that someone is shooting at the man. Instinctively he rolls with the man to safety and immediately takes out his own gun. Not seeing who is shooting or where it is coming from, he also grabs his cell phone and calls for help.
Being that things are seldom as they seem, the homeless man who died was actually the creator of Sigma, Professor Archibald Polk whose body is now radioactive. The coin was actually an old Roman coin from the second century. On the coin is a woman’s face on one side and an engraving of the Temple of Delphi with a big E in the center on the other. While trying to decode whatever message the Professor had been attempting to communicate, Pierce informs the Professor’s daughter of his death. Unfortunately, at the same time, someone with extensive resources is also searching for the same thing and seems to want both Pierce and the Professor’s daughter to be dead. This begins the race with no obvious finish line.
This is an unusual novel in that many non-related topics are combined logically into one novel. From The Greek Oracle of Delphi, to the genetics and history of gypsies, to secret organizations that do exist such as The Jasons, to studies about the brain’s ability to tell fortunes, to Project Stargate (that does not really include the Sci-Fi channel and going to other planets), to autism and savants, to strange weapons, and the possible ecological problem of the radioactivity in Russia from Chelyabinsk region in the Ural Mountains which includes the area of the Chernobyl disaster.
James Rollins is a doctor of veterinary medicine who enjoys scuba diving and spelunking in his home in the Sierra Nevadas.
The pacing is intense and fast, The characters are realistic. What I found disturbing is the realization of a disaster that could easily have an effect worldwide that I personally had not realized existed. A good book, even fiction, should educate you in some way. THE LAST ORACLE does that in a fast-paced adventure.
PROJECT ANASTROPHE: A SCI FI NOVEL
PROJECT ANASTROPHE: A SCI FI NOVEL
Author: George Karnikis
Copyright: 2008
Outskirts Press, Denver, Colorado
ISBN: 978-1-4327-2898-4
Trade Paperback $24.95
556 pages
Science Fiction
An anastrophe is a term of Greek origin regarding a figure of speech in which the order of the words is changed.
Most people on our planet do agree that we need to stop the pollution that is slowly destroying our place to live. Somehow, we have allowed the oil industries to dominate our energy choices and the results have not always been positive for our lives. We know that the pollutants have harmed both our bodies and our planet, but we continue anyway. It's easier that way. What will happen when there is so much pollution and damage that we have no choices with our health or the environment? How long do we really have?
This is the problem in PROJECT ANASTROPHE. In the 25th- century, yes, we have technology that we probably could not even dream about in the 20th-century. The people in this century now live in domed cities since the planet is saturated with radiation. Only within these domed cities is it safe to live. Nothing can live outside the domes due to the radiation levels. Even though these domed cities have been effective for years, now in the 25th-century, radiation is leaking through the ground into the cities and beginning to kill every living thing. In an effort to save themselves and the planet, Project Anastrophe is created.
The solution for the planet is go back in time and stop the use of nuclear materials in the 20th-century. To achieve this, the 25th-century government decides to create a team consisting of a scientist, Norina who is from the 25th-century and Nick Papas, who work as a NASA physicist in the 21st-century, along with three robots who are at different stages in technological and biological advances, on this quest to save the future.
To accomplish this, they must go against the Prime Directive which states that you must not change the past in time traveling, as that will also alter the future. Also, in this race against destruction, is another team strictly funded by big business, who wants to destroy the government team and change the past also, but for the purposes of increasing the profits of particular businesses.
Both teams go back to the early 1940s to the creation of nuclear bombs and to convince the governments and scientists of their harmful effects. Meeting with various leaders and scientists around the world at this time, seemed realistic with respect to technology and lifestyle of the time period.
Through time travel in the future to the 30th-century it is discovered that the planet is now is a battle with another planet. So again the team must go against the Prime Directive in order to alter their future.
George Karnikis is a native of Greece and currently lives in the United States.
The ideas in PROJECT ANASTROPHE are creative and well-thought through. However, much of the writing seems awkward and does not have the fluidness of master writers in our language. I also am concerned about using the term of Prime Directive as this was originated for the Star Trek series. Also, it would help if the author had attached himself more to the characters. The book lacks a personal voice for the characters. I truly felt that this story was loved by the author and could be an outstanding book if written with the guidance of a true editor. Being that the author is not a native English speaker, some of the problems of word order, or anastrophies, could be alleviated. It could be a great novel if an editor worked with the author on its rewriting.
This is basically a good novel, a great idea, that I enjoyed. .
Author: George Karnikis
Copyright: 2008
Outskirts Press, Denver, Colorado
ISBN: 978-1-4327-2898-4
Trade Paperback $24.95
556 pages
Science Fiction
An anastrophe is a term of Greek origin regarding a figure of speech in which the order of the words is changed.
Most people on our planet do agree that we need to stop the pollution that is slowly destroying our place to live. Somehow, we have allowed the oil industries to dominate our energy choices and the results have not always been positive for our lives. We know that the pollutants have harmed both our bodies and our planet, but we continue anyway. It's easier that way. What will happen when there is so much pollution and damage that we have no choices with our health or the environment? How long do we really have?
This is the problem in PROJECT ANASTROPHE. In the 25th- century, yes, we have technology that we probably could not even dream about in the 20th-century. The people in this century now live in domed cities since the planet is saturated with radiation. Only within these domed cities is it safe to live. Nothing can live outside the domes due to the radiation levels. Even though these domed cities have been effective for years, now in the 25th-century, radiation is leaking through the ground into the cities and beginning to kill every living thing. In an effort to save themselves and the planet, Project Anastrophe is created.
The solution for the planet is go back in time and stop the use of nuclear materials in the 20th-century. To achieve this, the 25th-century government decides to create a team consisting of a scientist, Norina who is from the 25th-century and Nick Papas, who work as a NASA physicist in the 21st-century, along with three robots who are at different stages in technological and biological advances, on this quest to save the future.
To accomplish this, they must go against the Prime Directive which states that you must not change the past in time traveling, as that will also alter the future. Also, in this race against destruction, is another team strictly funded by big business, who wants to destroy the government team and change the past also, but for the purposes of increasing the profits of particular businesses.
Both teams go back to the early 1940s to the creation of nuclear bombs and to convince the governments and scientists of their harmful effects. Meeting with various leaders and scientists around the world at this time, seemed realistic with respect to technology and lifestyle of the time period.
Through time travel in the future to the 30th-century it is discovered that the planet is now is a battle with another planet. So again the team must go against the Prime Directive in order to alter their future.
George Karnikis is a native of Greece and currently lives in the United States.
The ideas in PROJECT ANASTROPHE are creative and well-thought through. However, much of the writing seems awkward and does not have the fluidness of master writers in our language. I also am concerned about using the term of Prime Directive as this was originated for the Star Trek series. Also, it would help if the author had attached himself more to the characters. The book lacks a personal voice for the characters. I truly felt that this story was loved by the author and could be an outstanding book if written with the guidance of a true editor. Being that the author is not a native English speaker, some of the problems of word order, or anastrophies, could be alleviated. It could be a great novel if an editor worked with the author on its rewriting.
This is basically a good novel, a great idea, that I enjoyed. .
CHOKER: AN IKE SCHWARTZ MYSTERY
CHOKER: AN IKE SCHWARTZ MYSTERY
Author: Dr. Frederick Ramsey
Copyright June 2009
Poisoned Pen Press
ISBN: 978-1-59058-635-8
Hardcover $24.95
290 pages
Mystery
Ike Schwartz is the sheriff of the small town of Picketsville. He reminds me of Sheriff Andy from the old “Andy Griffith Show” who also has prior CIA experience. He’s the type of person that even the CIA employs when there is a problem. This is exactly the situation in CHOKER.
Charlie Garland, an old-time CIA associate, calls Ike while he is on a vacation requesting him to investigate a disappearance of an airplane three months prior. The pilot had been engaged to Charlie’s niece and Charlie felt there were too many unanswered questions regarding the incident.
As Ike investigates and discovers more information, it becomes apparent that someone does not want anyone to find out anything about the incident. Also, nearby where the plane was believed to have disappeared into the water, two people who were on a sailboat were murdered. Were the two incidents related?
To add realism, back in Picketsville, the acting sheriff is having his own adventure with the teenaged population exploring Satanism. The priest of the neighboring Episcopal Church initially discovered the disappearance of silver used in communion as well as an elderly woman’s cat missing.
Also, Ike tries to continue his relationship with the local college president, Ruth. She begins to wonder more about Ike’s background and what his past really involves.
Dr. Frederick Ramsay is the fifth novel in the Ike Schwartz mystery series. He has been a part of the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and also now, is a retired Episcopal priest.
The pacing of this is perfect. The characters are realistic and they feel like actual friends and acquaintances. The writing of this series is enjoyable, action-packed, but realistic all at the same time.
I personally am looking forward to more books from Frederick Ramsay.
By: Teri Davis June 21, 2009
Author: Dr. Frederick Ramsey
Copyright June 2009
Poisoned Pen Press
ISBN: 978-1-59058-635-8
Hardcover $24.95
290 pages
Mystery
Ike Schwartz is the sheriff of the small town of Picketsville. He reminds me of Sheriff Andy from the old “Andy Griffith Show” who also has prior CIA experience. He’s the type of person that even the CIA employs when there is a problem. This is exactly the situation in CHOKER.
Charlie Garland, an old-time CIA associate, calls Ike while he is on a vacation requesting him to investigate a disappearance of an airplane three months prior. The pilot had been engaged to Charlie’s niece and Charlie felt there were too many unanswered questions regarding the incident.
As Ike investigates and discovers more information, it becomes apparent that someone does not want anyone to find out anything about the incident. Also, nearby where the plane was believed to have disappeared into the water, two people who were on a sailboat were murdered. Were the two incidents related?
To add realism, back in Picketsville, the acting sheriff is having his own adventure with the teenaged population exploring Satanism. The priest of the neighboring Episcopal Church initially discovered the disappearance of silver used in communion as well as an elderly woman’s cat missing.
Also, Ike tries to continue his relationship with the local college president, Ruth. She begins to wonder more about Ike’s background and what his past really involves.
Dr. Frederick Ramsay is the fifth novel in the Ike Schwartz mystery series. He has been a part of the faculty at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and also now, is a retired Episcopal priest.
The pacing of this is perfect. The characters are realistic and they feel like actual friends and acquaintances. The writing of this series is enjoyable, action-packed, but realistic all at the same time.
I personally am looking forward to more books from Frederick Ramsay.
By: Teri Davis June 21, 2009
CROSSING THE WATER: THE ALASKA-HAWAII TRILOGIES
CROSSING THE WATER: THE ALASKA-HAWAII TRILOGIES
Author: Irving Warner
Copyright 2009
Pleasure Boat Studio: A Literary Press
ISBN: 978-1-929355-51-9
Trade Paperback $ 16
200 pages
Fiction/ Short Stories
Most of us probably possess the misconceptions of life in Alaska or Hawaii. We marvel at the picturesque views without really considering the reality of everyday life in either of these states. We are victims of the media, truly romanticizing our ideals of these disconnected possessions of our country.
With our country celebrating the 50th anniversaries of statehood for Alaska and Hawaii, this short collection shows the realistic aspect of life in both states. This is definitely not a glamorous description in either setting.
“The Lost River Trilogy” is about living in the remote areas in Alaska and the people who live there year-round. These people seem to fall into two categories, those who are hiding from a past and those who prefer to be isolated from the general population. Also, the realism of life during the unfrozen times of the years is not that appealing after you read this set of three related stories.
The strength of “The Lost River Trilogy” is its realism. It is easy to imagine these characters through the author’s mastery of description. The actions are all too vivid at times. People do not always show their best aspects. Also, unusual is “The Bridge” connecting these two trilogies.
“The Island Trilogy” is different in that the focus is not on what people normally see or think about when visiting Hawaii. The reality of life, or survival, brings up how humans relate to each other and to their environment and the fluidness of time.
Irving Warner has an eclectic background and actually has lived in both Alaska and Hawaii.
In a writing style resembling John Steinbeck, these stories are mastery woven and interact much like the two states themselves. The people’s stories in CROSSING THE WATER are what make this collection both unusual and exceptional.
By: Teri Davis
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to: BookReviewer@cox.net
Author: Irving Warner
Copyright 2009
Pleasure Boat Studio: A Literary Press
ISBN: 978-1-929355-51-9
Trade Paperback $ 16
200 pages
Fiction/ Short Stories
Most of us probably possess the misconceptions of life in Alaska or Hawaii. We marvel at the picturesque views without really considering the reality of everyday life in either of these states. We are victims of the media, truly romanticizing our ideals of these disconnected possessions of our country.
With our country celebrating the 50th anniversaries of statehood for Alaska and Hawaii, this short collection shows the realistic aspect of life in both states. This is definitely not a glamorous description in either setting.
“The Lost River Trilogy” is about living in the remote areas in Alaska and the people who live there year-round. These people seem to fall into two categories, those who are hiding from a past and those who prefer to be isolated from the general population. Also, the realism of life during the unfrozen times of the years is not that appealing after you read this set of three related stories.
The strength of “The Lost River Trilogy” is its realism. It is easy to imagine these characters through the author’s mastery of description. The actions are all too vivid at times. People do not always show their best aspects. Also, unusual is “The Bridge” connecting these two trilogies.
“The Island Trilogy” is different in that the focus is not on what people normally see or think about when visiting Hawaii. The reality of life, or survival, brings up how humans relate to each other and to their environment and the fluidness of time.
Irving Warner has an eclectic background and actually has lived in both Alaska and Hawaii.
In a writing style resembling John Steinbeck, these stories are mastery woven and interact much like the two states themselves. The people’s stories in CROSSING THE WATER are what make this collection both unusual and exceptional.
By: Teri Davis
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to: BookReviewer@cox.net
THE BLOOD ARTISTS
THE BLOOD ARTISTS
Author: Chuck Hogan
Harper Paperback Printing: June 2009
ISBN: 978-0-380-73146-6
$7.99
Avon Books Paperback Printing: January 1999
William Morrow Hardcover Printing: April 1998
ISBN: 978-0-380-73146-6
368 pages
Fiction, Science Fiction, Action-adventure
THE BLOOD ARTISTS is one of those unusual books that actually has three first printings within eleven years. I was wondering how that happened and why. Personally, I wonder if there are discussions about turning this book into a movie.
In the last week of December in 2010, two workers at the Bureau of Disease Control in Atlanta
are continuing their research over the Christmas vacation period. Peter Maryk and Stephen
Pierce into discovering how to manufacture clean and usable blood to meet the constant
demands of shortage at the blood banks. Eventually, they even win the Nobel Prize in
medicine for discovering how to create clean, usable blood that can be stored for longer
periods of time than regular blood. The two researchers, who used to be best friends, have
gone their separate ways while continuing their own battles against disease.
Reading this book in 2009, is a little bothersome with the story beginning in the last week of December 2010. There is an outbreak of a disease that is similar to smallpox in a remote village in Africa, near one of the Pygmy villages. The disease seems to be a virus, similar to smallpox, but originating in a radioactive cave containing uranium. What is unusual about this particular virus is that it also spreads to almost every living thing, plant or animal. There seems to be no successful treatment for this disease as Peter and Stephen attempt to help the villagers. When it is finally obvious that there is no cure available, the two abandon the village and give the orders to destroy and seal those in it. They will die soon anyway and this is the only solution to containing and controlling this disease without exposing others to it.
Then this disease appears a view years later in a small-town in Connecticut. People don’t want towns in this country to be firebombed. How do you contain it now?
This is a book that you cannot put down. The story haunts you. I did question some of the factual events that have happened in the past twelve years which obviously were not the route in the real world. Even those points though, worked in this book. I did find the book enthralling and wanting to validate some of the new research in the areas of disease. I also enjoyed thinking about the possible connections in the story to make this a logical sequence.
Despite having three separate first printings, it is a good book and one I would recommend.
Teri Davis July 4, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Author: Chuck Hogan
Harper Paperback Printing: June 2009
ISBN: 978-0-380-73146-6
$7.99
Avon Books Paperback Printing: January 1999
William Morrow Hardcover Printing: April 1998
ISBN: 978-0-380-73146-6
368 pages
Fiction, Science Fiction, Action-adventure
THE BLOOD ARTISTS is one of those unusual books that actually has three first printings within eleven years. I was wondering how that happened and why. Personally, I wonder if there are discussions about turning this book into a movie.
In the last week of December in 2010, two workers at the Bureau of Disease Control in Atlanta
are continuing their research over the Christmas vacation period. Peter Maryk and Stephen
Pierce into discovering how to manufacture clean and usable blood to meet the constant
demands of shortage at the blood banks. Eventually, they even win the Nobel Prize in
medicine for discovering how to create clean, usable blood that can be stored for longer
periods of time than regular blood. The two researchers, who used to be best friends, have
gone their separate ways while continuing their own battles against disease.
Reading this book in 2009, is a little bothersome with the story beginning in the last week of December 2010. There is an outbreak of a disease that is similar to smallpox in a remote village in Africa, near one of the Pygmy villages. The disease seems to be a virus, similar to smallpox, but originating in a radioactive cave containing uranium. What is unusual about this particular virus is that it also spreads to almost every living thing, plant or animal. There seems to be no successful treatment for this disease as Peter and Stephen attempt to help the villagers. When it is finally obvious that there is no cure available, the two abandon the village and give the orders to destroy and seal those in it. They will die soon anyway and this is the only solution to containing and controlling this disease without exposing others to it.
Then this disease appears a view years later in a small-town in Connecticut. People don’t want towns in this country to be firebombed. How do you contain it now?
This is a book that you cannot put down. The story haunts you. I did question some of the factual events that have happened in the past twelve years which obviously were not the route in the real world. Even those points though, worked in this book. I did find the book enthralling and wanting to validate some of the new research in the areas of disease. I also enjoyed thinking about the possible connections in the story to make this a logical sequence.
Despite having three separate first printings, it is a good book and one I would recommend.
Teri Davis July 4, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
HOW TO TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT ANYTHING
HOW TO TALK TO ANYONE ABOUT ANYTHING
Author: Jill Spiegel with Joe Brozic
Copyright 2008
Park Printing, Minneapolis, Minnesota
ISBN: 978-0-9643324-7-7
Trade Paperback $12.00
112 pages
Self-help
Most of us at some time have felt socially inept at what to say to connect with other people. This is the book to help all of us connect with others to be more likable and to enjoy other people more.
Jill Spiegel is one of those fortunate people who seem to automatically meet strangers and to connect with them. She is one of those gifted people who excel in sales because she instinctively knows how to connect with people instantly. With her husband, Joe Brozic, together they wrote this book based on their successes in life.
In this book are the secrets of mind messages which build on your personal confidence, having the high expectation of connecting with others, and then complimenting others sincerely.
Also, included in this is information about how to deal with unwanted advice and also how to converse intelligently on any subject.
In this short and concise advice book, everyone can benefit from some aspect of it. All of us in today’s “me first” attitude, this is what is needed by all of us to get back to the basic values and connections with other people. In this book are ways to start a conversation, building a conversation, how to maintain the connection, conversation savers, how to decline and stay connected, and taking connections to the next level.
What better author for this subject than an expert in this area! Thank you, Jill, for finally having an advice book that all of us can use.
By: Teri Davis June 21, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Author: Jill Spiegel with Joe Brozic
Copyright 2008
Park Printing, Minneapolis, Minnesota
ISBN: 978-0-9643324-7-7
Trade Paperback $12.00
112 pages
Self-help
Most of us at some time have felt socially inept at what to say to connect with other people. This is the book to help all of us connect with others to be more likable and to enjoy other people more.
Jill Spiegel is one of those fortunate people who seem to automatically meet strangers and to connect with them. She is one of those gifted people who excel in sales because she instinctively knows how to connect with people instantly. With her husband, Joe Brozic, together they wrote this book based on their successes in life.
In this book are the secrets of mind messages which build on your personal confidence, having the high expectation of connecting with others, and then complimenting others sincerely.
Also, included in this is information about how to deal with unwanted advice and also how to converse intelligently on any subject.
In this short and concise advice book, everyone can benefit from some aspect of it. All of us in today’s “me first” attitude, this is what is needed by all of us to get back to the basic values and connections with other people. In this book are ways to start a conversation, building a conversation, how to maintain the connection, conversation savers, how to decline and stay connected, and taking connections to the next level.
What better author for this subject than an expert in this area! Thank you, Jill, for finally having an advice book that all of us can use.
By: Teri Davis June 21, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
SOMEONE NAMED EVA
SOMEONE NAMED EVA
Author: Joan M. Wolf
Copyright 2007
Clarion Books
Houghton Mifflin Company
ISBN-10: 0-618-53579-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-618-53579-8
Hardcover $16.00
200 pages
Children’s book Ages 9-12
Historical Fiction WWII
"Remember who you are, Milada. Remember where you are from. Always."
Living in Czechoslovakia during the invasion by the Nazi soldiers in 1939 had to be a stressful time, especially to a Jewish family. First people had to deal with the shortages. Things like sugar were rationed and children's birthday gifts were frequently "slightly used" due to tough economic situations.
Then in June of 1942, terror begins though when the soldiers bang on the door of the Jewish families and tell them they will be interrogated as suspected traitors. They are to pack enough for three days. When the soldiers return to escort each family to some undisclosed location, first the men are separated from the women, then children who appear Aryan, blond and light colored eyes were separated. This is the story of one of those children.
Milada is then taken away to a Lebensborn center in Poland. She is then with other blond haired, blue-eyed girls, evaluated for the shade of her hair color, the shade of her eye color, the size of her head, and the length of her nose. She is now told that her name is Eva and is indoctrinated into becoming a member of the Nazi party. Then, she is to be adopted into a proper Nazi family with a Nazi officer as her father.
Joan M. Wolf researched this book in the Czech Republic where her great-grandmother was born. She actually met with people who were from the town of Lidice and actually experienced the life Milada/Eva lived. She is a fourth-grade teacher in Minnesota.
What was outstanding in SOMEONE NAMED EVA was the personal voice of Milada/Eva. The intensity of each chapter, the fluidness of the writing, the historical correctness, are all what make this short novel outstanding. I highly recommend this novel to anyone, adult or child.
By: Teri Davis July 2, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: http://reviewsbyteri.blogspot.com/
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Author: Joan M. Wolf
Copyright 2007
Clarion Books
Houghton Mifflin Company
ISBN-10: 0-618-53579-9
ISBN-13: 978-0-618-53579-8
Hardcover $16.00
200 pages
Children’s book Ages 9-12
Historical Fiction WWII
"Remember who you are, Milada. Remember where you are from. Always."
Living in Czechoslovakia during the invasion by the Nazi soldiers in 1939 had to be a stressful time, especially to a Jewish family. First people had to deal with the shortages. Things like sugar were rationed and children's birthday gifts were frequently "slightly used" due to tough economic situations.
Then in June of 1942, terror begins though when the soldiers bang on the door of the Jewish families and tell them they will be interrogated as suspected traitors. They are to pack enough for three days. When the soldiers return to escort each family to some undisclosed location, first the men are separated from the women, then children who appear Aryan, blond and light colored eyes were separated. This is the story of one of those children.
Milada is then taken away to a Lebensborn center in Poland. She is then with other blond haired, blue-eyed girls, evaluated for the shade of her hair color, the shade of her eye color, the size of her head, and the length of her nose. She is now told that her name is Eva and is indoctrinated into becoming a member of the Nazi party. Then, she is to be adopted into a proper Nazi family with a Nazi officer as her father.
Joan M. Wolf researched this book in the Czech Republic where her great-grandmother was born. She actually met with people who were from the town of Lidice and actually experienced the life Milada/Eva lived. She is a fourth-grade teacher in Minnesota.
What was outstanding in SOMEONE NAMED EVA was the personal voice of Milada/Eva. The intensity of each chapter, the fluidness of the writing, the historical correctness, are all what make this short novel outstanding. I highly recommend this novel to anyone, adult or child.
By: Teri Davis July 2, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: http://reviewsbyteri.blogspot.com/
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
THE GUILTY CLIENT
THE GUILTY CLIENT
Author: Roberta Rogow
Copyright June 18, 2009
Deadly Ink
ISBN: 978-0978-74428-18
Hardcover $23.95
ISBN: 978-0978-74427-4
Trade paperback $13.95
232 pages
Mystery
Life for a single woman in New York City in 1870 could not have been easy, especially for a woman who was pleasantly plump and intelligent. Fortunately, Miss Margaret (Peggy) Pettigrew has the support of her uncle who is a lawyer and values Peggy’s skills in his law office.
When you successfully defend a client who is accused of murder, most lawyers do expect do spend a little time after the verdict with the accused, if even for a congratulatory hand shake. When Bertram Delacorte hears that he is not guilty, he literally runs from the courtroom and the lawyer. The next morning, when Bertram’s body is pulled from the river, Uncle Ephraim immediately begins to investigate and utilizes his other two partners and Peggy to discover where Bertram went and why he was killed.
The logical path is to discover who really killed Suzanna Kendall who the police had believed had been killed by Bertram. However, no one seems to make this investigation easy since everyone seems to have their own reasons for not being completely truthful and forthcoming.
The novel is fast-paced with believable and realistic characters. The pacing is perfect with the action in the story. Another hidden gem in this story, is that some real characters were also inserted into the story such as Alexander “Clubber” Williams, William Marcy Tweed, Jr., and Abe Hummer. Also, the New York County Courthouse is still called the Tweed Courthouse and this story is based on the real documentation of the New York City Metropolitan Police Department in the 1870’s and 1880’s.
THE GUILTY CLIENT is the first in a new series featuring the law firm of Pettigrew and Roth by Roberta Rogow. Ms. Rogow has also written a series of four mystery novels which feature Reverend Mr. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, know as Lewis Carroll, and Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle working together as detectives.
This was an enjoyable historical mystery. I particularly valued the correct historical references that would be relevant during this time period. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
By: Teri Davis June 30, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
Author: Roberta Rogow
Copyright June 18, 2009
Deadly Ink
ISBN: 978-0978-74428-18
Hardcover $23.95
ISBN: 978-0978-74427-4
Trade paperback $13.95
232 pages
Mystery
Life for a single woman in New York City in 1870 could not have been easy, especially for a woman who was pleasantly plump and intelligent. Fortunately, Miss Margaret (Peggy) Pettigrew has the support of her uncle who is a lawyer and values Peggy’s skills in his law office.
When you successfully defend a client who is accused of murder, most lawyers do expect do spend a little time after the verdict with the accused, if even for a congratulatory hand shake. When Bertram Delacorte hears that he is not guilty, he literally runs from the courtroom and the lawyer. The next morning, when Bertram’s body is pulled from the river, Uncle Ephraim immediately begins to investigate and utilizes his other two partners and Peggy to discover where Bertram went and why he was killed.
The logical path is to discover who really killed Suzanna Kendall who the police had believed had been killed by Bertram. However, no one seems to make this investigation easy since everyone seems to have their own reasons for not being completely truthful and forthcoming.
The novel is fast-paced with believable and realistic characters. The pacing is perfect with the action in the story. Another hidden gem in this story, is that some real characters were also inserted into the story such as Alexander “Clubber” Williams, William Marcy Tweed, Jr., and Abe Hummer. Also, the New York County Courthouse is still called the Tweed Courthouse and this story is based on the real documentation of the New York City Metropolitan Police Department in the 1870’s and 1880’s.
THE GUILTY CLIENT is the first in a new series featuring the law firm of Pettigrew and Roth by Roberta Rogow. Ms. Rogow has also written a series of four mystery novels which feature Reverend Mr. Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, know as Lewis Carroll, and Dr. Arthur Conan Doyle working together as detectives.
This was an enjoyable historical mystery. I particularly valued the correct historical references that would be relevant during this time period. I am looking forward to the next book in this series.
By: Teri Davis June 30, 2009
For more reviews by Teri Davis go to her blog at: Http://ReviewsbyTeri.blogspot.com
To contact Teri Davis please e-mail to BookReviewer@cox.net
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