Kentucky Books

A great telling of a famous and very successful Marine aviation squadron, The Black Sheep - VMF 214, led by Maj. Gregory "Pappy" Boyington, by the squadron ACIO, or Air Combat Information Officer. It may not be the best of writing skills, but the story is unbeatable.
Frank Walton was the individual who wrote all of the 'after-mission' (combat) reports, interviewing each pilot after each mission and writing up the details. Frank Walton went much further. He wrote up biographies of each pilot - where they were from, where they went to school, their families, their likes and dislikes. All of the info provides a human side to the men, makes them believeable, and helps you fly with them as they go out on each mission.
The second half of the book contains his 'current-day' stories. He looked up as many of the original members as he could and interviewed them "today" (the early 8o's.) The book includes both WWII and "today" pictures of most all of the pilots. After reading of their WWII exploits, I really enjoyed learning of each of these men 'today,' where they've gone, who they've become, generally very successful business men all. I guess what surprised me was that most of them, after all of their exploits and adventures, 'walked away' from aviation, to be normal everyday business and family men. I guess I would have expected them to mostly go on to careers in aviation. But they are our businessmen, some our business leaders, and mainly, our neighbors. Thank you all for what you did for us.

As the intelligence office for the Black Sheep Squadron, author Frank Walton had access to their daily combat reports. He himself had written them. From these records and his later interviews with the surviving members of the group, he penned this history. Written primarily to dispel the myth created by the TV production, he most certainly shows the men in a more realistic light. The false presentation of these men by the writers of that series as "brawling bums" and "fugitives from courts-martial" does not stand in the light he casts upon them, their character and their record. In the second half of the book, Walton introduces each man as he was when the book was written in 1986. By and large, most became very successful.

But the drama of their fighting over the Solomons falls flat in the telling. Their aerial exploits read with all the excitement and anticipation of the menu at the corner hamburger joint. The men of the Black Sheep fought together for only 12 weeks and amassed the best kill record in the South Pacific: 94 kills in only 84 days. Pappy Boyington accounted for 26 (or 28, if he is to be believed). Unfortunately, these moments of high achievement are told in the driest of voices.

Perhaps the biggest fault in the book is Walton's almost non-telling of Boyington's troubled life. He originally left the Marine Aviators days before they would have put him out for unbecoming conduct and he left the Flying Tigers for much the same reason. This highly skilled combat pilot and gifted leader of men was deeply troubled and it manifested itself in his drinking and unpredictable fighting. Playing it down adds nothing to Walton's attempt to "set the record straight" for the rest of the squadron.

Given the resources at his command, his personal friendship with all 51 original members of the group and his intimate friendship with Boyington, one would have expected a better result. Walton's stated purpose was to clear the record for the men, to present them as the men of ability, honor and skill that they were. In this regard, he does succeed.

I was a bit leary of this book when I started it. The claim of the author to be one of the Black Sheep, even though he was not one of the pilots seemed a bit odd. Well, I was pleasantly surprised by this book. It is a very easy read and contains a good deal about the day to day life of a pilot in the South Pacific.

It also gives a terrific look into the people behind the personas of the Black Sheep, especially Pappy Boyington. The writer does a good job of relating the respect that his men had for him as well as about the team of pilots the Black Sheep were.

A very good read for a very good price.

The Black Sheep legend, as retold through the eyes of the survivors. The first half of the book is the squadron history of VMF 214, from the time of its resurrection under the command of Major Gregory Boyington, until the squadron was disbanded, and the squadron number reassigned to another outfit, after Boyington went missing in action (and was presumed dead), near the end of their second tour under his command. The last half of the book is a personal history from each of the survivors, as to what the experience was like, how it has affected their lives, what they did in post Black Sheep life. An assortment of interesting characters, molded under the guidance of Boyington, in to "the terrors of the South Pacific". Very interesting, although it does vary some from the version told by Boyington himself in his autobiography "Baa Baa Black Sheep". As is only human, each man sees 'the truth' from his own perspective, so it is interesting to see the whole thing through the eyes of someone other than Boyington himself. This book shows that the Black Sheep were more than Boyington. They were a well rounded team, molded and hardened under the realities of aerial combat. It comes across quite clearly however, that regardless of what they thought of Boyington as a person (they didn't all look up to him like a bunch of starry eyed boys, as depicted in the TV show...some in fact were older than Boyington), they definitely respected him as "a warrior, a fighter & a leader", and one pilot recalls thinking of Boyington as "Jesus Christ himself", upon first being introduced. Originally published in 1986 (before Boyington's death), it is surprisingly frank in it's assessment, some might even say it's condemnation, of the leader of the Black Sheep, not so much in his days as the commanding officer of the 214, but in his postwar life. Many of them felt betrayed by Boyington, after his role as 'technical advisor' on the TV series. Overall it makes for an interesting read. Well worth it. Dave White

Extremely well written and concise book that tells of the INDIVIDUALS in the squadron. This book is written to tell of the professionalism and "after the war" historys of the squadron members without the sometimes overpowering myths portrayed by the TV show.

Mr. Watkins' outstanding work details with precise scholarship the forgotten essential truth inherent in our Constitution, that neither the Supreme Court nor any branch of the federal government is the ultimate arbiter of the Constitution's meaning or the boundaries of power it draws between the limited delegated powers of the federal government and those reserved to the states and their people. Rather, the states and their people have a co-equal right to make that determination, and further, as the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions rightly provide, our state governments have the authority and duty to protest, resist, and nullify those laws, rulings and actions of the federal government that encroach upon the reserved sovereign rights of the states and their people to make decisions within the scope of their reserved powers exclusively through their elected state legislatures. If you want to know what Thomas Jefferson would say about the unconstitutionally overgrown state of our dictatorial federal government and the solution for restoring a Constitutional, limited federal government, then Mr. Watkins' book is a must.

Martyn Babitz, Esquire, Author of THE ILLUSION OF FREEDOM: How To Restore The True Constitution And Reclaim Liberty Now

Rarely do you hear about the critical importance of the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. We hear of the Constitution, Declaration of Indepence, and the Bill of Rights. But I would say the average American citizen is ignorant concerning these documents.

Watkins does a tremendous job combining the history of these resolutions with the political ingenuity of both Madison and Jefferson. I guarantee that when you finish reading this book your knowledge will increase regarding the Constitution and how our founding forefathers systematically dealt with the issue of sovereignty. Where does it reside? The difference between legistalive sovereignty and ultimate sovereignty. He presents a balanced presentation of both views: those who support a strong centralized government with a broad interpretation of the constitution versus those who were strong States' Rights advocates and a limited interpretation of the constituion. After presenting a concise yet thorough history of the Resolutions he describes the effects of Resolutions and how succeeding Presedential Administrations and State Legislatures appealed to the resolutions to prevent encroachments. And he ends with a beautiful application to our day and how the Government has constantly overstepped its constitutional boundaries and what we should do. And then he adds his own ideas as to what we can do as a people to make sure our rights stay in tact. In other words, he presents the problem and the solution.

Watkins makes bold comments in relation to how the framers interpreted the Constitution and how to remedy the encroachments of the National Government. But every, and I mean every bold assertion is backed by tangible evidence. Unlike scholars who defend centralized government (whether ignorantly or knowingly) with vague examples and insufficient evidence, Watkins doesn't leave any stone unturned. And in addition you will find in his bibliography notes not only references, but added commentary from various poltical figures of the day. So in essence you get more than the views of Jefferson and Madison, but you get a view of both parties the Federalist (under the leadership of Alexander Hamiltion) and the Republicans (under the leadership of Jefferson). He explains how Patrick Henry, John Taylor, John Breckenridge and others saw the issues. But never does he down play the issue.

It is sad that some historians down play the rightful role of these Resolutions. Jack Rakove goes so far to paint Jefferson and Madison as radical and going too far to assert that the State legislatures could 'legally' check the powers of the national government. Jack Rakove states in "Madison and the Creation of the American Republic" (2nd Ed) Madison simply intended that the Bill of Rights was adopted for this purpose. Ok, well what happens when those rights are violated? Who now is the arbiter to determine whether the government has overstepped its boundaries or not? Well, Watkins makes it clear. The State legislatures were intended for this purpose. But he is fair to show the differences in the logic of both Jefferson and Madison in their view of Nullification and Interposition.

To sum it up in a little over 270 pgs Watkins enlightens the American public to the need of reform within our current government structure, and he shows how the principles of the Kentucky and Virginia resolutions have been carried out in history to reserve the rights of the people and the government from expanding it's power, and how the same thing is needed today. I could not put this book down, and I was upset when I found how much I was not taught in my early American history classes.

It's difficult in the modern era, even with the internet and all the literature available, to gain an accurate and honest understanding of the early history of what would become the American Republic. As a product of the public school system, I had to work extra hard to unlearn all the nonsense I'd been taught in what I now see as government run indoctrination camps(the schools "teach" enough info to the kids to prevent them from someday thinking critically about the structure of their government).

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America (1776) essentially declared (aside from the slavery issue) that governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed. People have an unalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and the people can throw off governments which become destructive of these ends and form new governments based on these principles. Essentially, the people are the "ultimate sovereigns" (in the words of Watkins), and elected respesentatives hold only legislative sovereignty. THESE ARE THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF SELF-GOVERNMENT.

The Principles of the Resolutions essentially answer a question which I believe is more relevant today than ever... what defense do the people have against a central government which doesn't abide by it's rules or by restraints and limitations on it's powers? The Answer, according to Jefferson primarily, was for the State houses to interpose between the Federal government and citizens and to declare Federal usurpations of power which overstep the enumerated powers outlined in Article I Section VIII as void and of no force (nullification).

Watkins does a remarkable job of clearly explaining the events of the period, explaining the principles of the resolutions, providing detailed citations for every source of information (so you can check them yourself), explaining the motives behind the words and actions of people like Jefferson, Madison, and Hamilton, explaining how the structure of American Federalism became corrupted, and what can be done to bring the Constitution back to life... and the answers can be found in the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions of 1798.

My ONLY complaint is that Watkins, during his discussion of Judicial usurpations, only briefly mentions how the Bill of Rights (a shield erected by the States against the Federal government) became a weapon the Federal Courts would use against the States and the principles of Self-Government. He only mentions the "incorporation doctrine" once, but Watkins does include a quotation in this brief analysis which acknowledges that the incorporation of the Bill of Rights was the most egregious act of usurpation in the court's history, where the court essentially rewrote the meaning of the Bill of Rights. I just wish Watkins had gone into more detail on this topic, but at least he did mention Barron v. City of Baltimore (1833) where John Marshall briefly states in a concise opinion the meaning of the First 10 Amendments of the Constitution and how they can only be applied against actions of the Federal Governemnt.

Kudos to William Watkins Jr. and his masterpiece. It's a crime that this text has received next to no publicity that I'm aware of.

William Watkins "Reclaiming the American Revolution" is a great study of the Alien and Sedition Acts and Jefferson and Madison's Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions. Watkins traces the conflict between the Federalist monocrats and the Jeffersonian republicans during the 1790's. Jefferson and Madison are shown in their true glory as liberatian defenders of the principles of the American Revolution, the "spirit of 1776" as Jefferson put it. As the Federalist Party began to institute tyrannical measures like the Sedition Act and Alien bill to cripple the Jeffersonians, Jefferson and Madison conceived of measures to defended the rights of the states and the people.

Watkins also goes into detail about the nature of the Federal government, the original intent of it's framers and the effect the Virginia and Kentucy Resolutions had on the Nullification dispute between South Carolina and the Federal government in 1832. Anyone interested in the principles of liberty, and the American founding will love this book.

William Watkins has written an excellent book that is long on history and short on compelling logic. He wants us to regard the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions (hereafter simply called K&JRs)as binding documents that are essential guides as to how to read the Constitution especially in regards to issues of federalism. He ultimately fails to deliver a convincing argument as to why the K&VRs should be hailed in such high esteem. But along the way he gives us an excellent (if tendentious) reading of the history of the K&VRs. He also gives us a extremely telescoped history of how the country went off the true path of federalism and some provocative suggestions as to how to correct the situation.
Since I like to accentuate the positive, I will summarize his historical narrative. I then want to discuss briefly the major flaws in his argument as I see it and then speak a little to his suggestions for restoring federalism.
Watkins gives us what has become one standard reading of the Founding and Early National periods. He believes that the only legitimate reading of the Constitution is the compact theory which holds that the Constitution was ratified by the people of the seperate and sovereign states. As such it is an agreement by the states to delegate specific, enumerated and limited powers to the federal government. The people are the ultimate source of sovereignity, the states are supreme in their areas of government and the federal government is supreme in those areas to which the individual states are not competent (foreign affairs, interstate commerce, etc.) This was the understanding of everyone at the time of the ratification and was so argued by the Federalists during the state conventions. Those rascals almost immediately begin to go back on their word once the federal government was established. Hamilton established a national bank, assumed state debts (in order to seduce the money men to the federal government) and tried to establish a national economic program. The nadir was reached with the Alien and Sedition Acts which were bravely (but anonymously) countered by the K&VRs written by Jefferson and Madison. The resistance turned the tide of the Federalist betrayal and resulted in Jefferson's Revolution of 1800. The K&VRs were then used by almost everyone (except, of course, for the SCOTUS of John Marshall- oh, and the post-War of 1812 Congress- oh, and Jefferson when he felt like engaging in the Louisiana Purchase and the embargo)up until the Nullification Crisis. The end of the influence of the K&VRs came when Lincoln was elected. And so on.
I think that is a pretty fair summation of the majority of Watkin's historical argument. Here are what I see as the problems:
1. Watkins gives us a historical narrative that is divorced from the day to day motives of the political players who people his history. Yes, the K&VRs were referenced throughout our early national history. Always by people who were out of power, who were a minority nationally at the time and who were unhappy about being out of power. Which leads me to
1a. Watkins sees all issues as being about federalism. There was another dynamic at play in this history which was the rise of democracy and the end of deferential politics. The Republicans/ Federalists were both trying to deal with a franchise that was rapidly growing. More and more people (white men) were voting. When local elites/majorities were overwhelmed by national elites/majorities they complained using the rhetoric of federalism. Somewhat comparable to how the current parties try to beat each other on the head with the rhetoric of national security.
2. This is the big one for me. What gives the K&VRs any standing? They were submitted by two states and no states answered positively. They were ignored or condemned. Does the election of 1800 somehow convey constitutional legitimacy on them? Nope. No more then the election of 1936 conveyed constitutional legitimacy on FDR's programs. Watkins at one point tries to give them legitimacy by pointing out that the K&VRs were referred to time and time again by various factions during various debates, e.g., the New England states during the embargo crisis. This is exactly the sort of reasoning that led Madison to accept a national bank late in his life. This might be a legitimate source of authority but it needs more of a legal foundation then just Watkins' saying so.
3. There were many other, equally legitimate, more national contemporary interpretations of the Constitution then that one put forth in the K&VRs. Watkins acts as if the theories of Marshall and Wilson to name two were inherently absurd or duplicitous. They weren't. He also ignores the third option argued for by Pendleton against both Jefferson and Hamilton during the debate on the national bank. It is simply inaccurate to say that the compact theory was the only legitimate theory of constitutioanl interpretation. I refer the reader to Commentaries on the Constitution 1790-1860 by Elizabeth Bauer.
I will not go on to say why I think Watkins' opinion on Lincoln is almost laughable. Suffice it to say that he suggests that if only Lincoln had listened to Garrison's advice the Civil War might have been avoided and slavery ended peacefully. Okay, if you say so.
I want to discuss one more flaw from a philosophical perspective. Watkins confuses the types of rights that are suggested by the words nullification and secession. There is no right to nullification and/or interposition in the Constitution. There is no warrant for those rights. Secession is a different animal altogether. Secession is inherent to sovereignty and is implied by the ability of people to create a government in the first place. In that sense it is a precivil and natural right and has nothing to do with the Constitution as well (except for arguably the 9th Amendment). It must be said however that the country or state that you secede from may not like it and may want to kick your booty.
As for Watkins' solution to the issue of how states can challenge the ursurptions of the national government- he wants to create a Constitutional Commission with one member from each state. If 1/5 of the state legislatures request the CC to rule on a measure or action of any branch of the federal government, they are obligated to convene and review that ruling and action. If 3/4s of the CC members vote against the measure, it is unconstitutional (see pp.154-156 for Watkins' discussion).
I admit that this is worth discussing although I think that the 1/5 requirement is too low.
I also want to suggest that Watkins' is too dismissive of our Article V rights to amend the Constitution. Both Amendments 11 and 16 were the people directly responding to Supreme Court decisions they didn't like. It has been done in the past and can be done again. We the people just have to get off our couches and get back in the streets where we belong.
I enjoyed this book immensely and learned from it in spite of my many disagreements. My thanks to Watkins for all his intellectual labors.

i just finished this book it was ok but i think jane should have told more in the biggening about what she went throgh then on and on, it didnt tell much about what she went through as she was married.

After reading this book, it amazes me what some people have to go through during their lifetime. The fact that Jane even survived is relieving. Reading her book made me feel as though I wish I could have been her friend at that time and helped her through all the tough stuff she was dealing with. On another note, imagine what poor Erica and Megan had to go through! If my dad were to die, I would freak, but if I were only six and were to see it happen I don't know how I would ever get over it. I am happy though, that I met Jane personally and she seems like a very cheerful person and made me happier that day. I think everyone should read this book to let them know that what they are going through could be worse.

She is a great women, my mom has some trubles with life. It is some times hard for her when she talks about her book. The book is outstandingly great! It is a powerful book, with meny shocking paragraphs that will give you goose bumps.
I have started writing a book, my tittle of the book is A Broken Down Family.

Jane Wells is an extremely brave woman. The book is easy to read and brings into focus the hardships that Jane had to face and her courage and bravery for surviving! An exceptional book

After reading this book, its hard to believe that our Judiciary Courts let the convicts actual get away with murder. Jane Wells has really captured how the Social Services are unable to help people that are on the borderline or are in desperate need of help. After seeing her on the Montel Show, she had sparked my interest in her book. I not only cringed but cried when she and her daughters had to face such unnecessary barriers that were put by the system. I pray and hope to God that she is able to stay undercover from her ex-husband and that the children, especially the oldest can have a peaceful life and never have to suffer the torment and abuse that had been suffered by them all. My prayers are with Jane Wells and family. God Bless....

I'm originally from Bardstown and knew/know some of the individuals mentioned in this book. It's well written and really brings the impact of what happened in Vietnam home.

The early history of Bardstown is very interesting. However, this story is about young men in a National Guard unit that went to Viet-Nam. One night while the men were watching a James Bond movie after an afternoon of drinking and eating, their fire support base was attacked and ten men from the Bardstown unit were killed. Others were wounded. This is a sad story about senseless loss of life under the guise of patriotism and certainly a scathing indictment of the military adventure in Viet-Nam.

Unfortunately, the author revises some history for the sake of drama.

For example on page 23 he starts a new paragraph with: "About this time, 1964 into 1965, the fighting in Vietnam was escalating at a rapid pace as America fought history's first television war. People around the country were beginning to hear such grim words as "body bags" and "body count" on the nightly news."

That is false. There were not any U.S. combat units in Viet-Nam until a brigade of Marines was sent to Da Nang during March 8, 1965. The soldiers were greeted by Vietnamese schoolgirls dispensing garlands of flowers. The Marines were not allowed to conduct military operations and simply performed perimeter security behind the lines of the Army of the Republic of Viet-Nam 1st Division.

The first two Marines were killed by friendly fire from unit members. Obviously, despite the propaganda about Marines, they were just young men, easily frightened or poorly trained.

At the end of 1964, there were approximately 20,000 U.S. Military personnel in Viet-Nam of which some were advisors to South Vietnamese army, navy, air force, marine, national police and paramilitary home-guard units. Most men were mechanics, clerks, truck drivers, signal corps personnel, etc.

Moreover, there were only a few journalists in Viet-Nam. There were even less cameramen shooting film for television news. And, in those days, film had to be shipped to Hong Kong for processing and then shipped by airplane to New York. Moreover, Lyndon Johnson had made a concerted effort to keep Viet-Nam out of the news during the 1964 Presidential campaign. Therefore, Viet-Nam was far from the grist of daily or television news.


The first big story was the small attack against a U.S. Army aviation support unit at Plei Ku in the Central Highlands. Eight Americans were killed and another 100 wounded during February 8, 1965.

The first U.S. Army combat operation was not conducted until May 31, 1965 and it was barely more than a walk in the park, proverbially speaking.

The first "battle" covered by television news was the minor siege of a Special Forces camp south of Plei Ku in the Central Highlands region of southern Viet-Nam. But, no battle actually transpired and the camp only had a couple dozen Americans of which several were killed. That is far from being a rapidly escalating war.

The author does a good job of revealing the effect Viet-Nam had on some citizens of Bardstown, Kentucky. Also, it is interesting to learn how the newspapers never truly came out against the war even after the tragic loss and presented the deaths as the result of heroic actions. In reality, they were just some men who died on the side of a small hill outside a small town in southern Viet-Nam. Their deaths did not change nor accomplish anything. Moreover, as noted, most people in Bardstown went to work, school or on vacation, met for extra-marital affairs, got pregnant, went shopping, etc. Viet-Nam did not change many lives.

Only 58,208 U.S. military personnel died in Viet-Nam and of that only 47,000 from hostile action including friendly fire. Official U.S. Department of Defense records show the State of Kentucky from January 1, 1964 to December 31, 1976 lost 618 men due to hostile actions and another 145 to non-hostile acts such as vehicle accidents, drowning, suicide or drug overdose.

Officially, the conflict ended March 30, 1973 the day after all military personnel were withdrawn. There were very few casualties during 1973 as few military units were in Viet-Nam. The last U.S. combat unit departed Viet-Nam during August 23, 1972 after spending it's final months guarding warehouses and docks at Da Nang, as U.S. equipment was shipped back to the United States.

So, the State of Kentucky lost most men between 1966 to 1971 or approximately 123 men per year, which was probably much less per year in Kentucky than from either automobile accidents, drug overdoses, suicides, or bad moonshine.

Viet-Nam barely impacted most citizens of Kentucky during the mid to late 1960s. But, this is still an excellent story about the impact of war and the effects of self-serving presidents. Plus, while the sons of Bardstown died in a stupid war, psuedo patriots like Vice President Richard Cheney, lied to his local draft board in order to obtain five draft deferments during the Viet-Nam conflict.

And, during December 2006, President George Bush, Jr., while visiting Ha noi, Viet-Nam, stood under a bust of Ho Chi Minh and praised the Communist government just a day before endorsing Viet-Nam for membership in the World Trade Organization.

Obviously, the evil Red Chinese and their communist stooges in Ha Noi are now good guys and the American soldiers who died in Viet-Nam, nothing more than naive fools. Read this book.

This is a story of us who served in Vietnam. It is a direct contact with everyday Americans who served there, and those who served on the home-front and loved us.

After all these years, all those times that I wanted to re-connect with you guys but decided against it -- to not bring up dreaded memories -- and then to discover this book on the shelf of the Florida State Univeristy library. I was there looking for other books and ran across this book. I read it immediately there while in the library and was near to tears to experience it all over again -- that which I have buried deep surfaces. I read it again tonight, Saturday, May 05, in about 5 hours; more closely, looking hard at the pictures, the memories flooding back into me. I wish I were near you guys tonight to talk about this. I am surprised that I feel this way. That damn war is still too much with me; what it did to our guys and to those who love them. I wonder too about how much of it remains within us. I am making plans to visit all of you in Bardstown -- I hope I can do the visit in August; that's my goal. See everyone then.

I am WW 2 vintage, service on Aircraft Carrier Wasp CV18 1944-1945. Nothing, absolutely nothing, that I experienced could equal the story of these men. I did not know any of them but did meet a relative of one(that's how I found the book) As I said the jackt has a touching remark about the Wall". I cried at the wall also!!!

My uncle, Ronnie Simpson, was one of the guardsmen who died on Firebase Tomahawk. I think this book is a wonderful honor to all the men who died there and the families who edured it. It's a great book to see the toll the war took on regular American families.

...in great appreciation for a wonderful book. The broiling minds and pure intensity of the characters were, in my opinion, equal in complexity and raw emotionality to the characters of D.H. Lawrence, Ayn Rand - and that is what I seek out most in anything I read.

Strange Birds in the Tree of Heaven is a remarkable book that examines the most universal of human emotions and the struggles we all experience in an attempt to maintain control of our own lives. While the reader's attention can wander at times, McElmurray never fails to draw the reader back in with her beautiful use of language and clearly depicted scenes. The images she creates stay with you long after you've read the last page.

This complex and many-layered book was was 1 of 6 books nominated for the Appalachian Book of the Year Award. It should have won. Once Karen is discovered by the reading public, her books will win many awards. Buy this book. It will be with you long after you have read the last page.

Karen McElmurray is a powerful writer who produces a magical beauty not often found. Her abilities to present feelings and dreams, thoughts and emotions, fear and hope, longing and regret far exceeded my expectations. Her talent to create and bring to life the characters and places are a gift to the senses and the heart. Her words flow like liquid, I await anxiously for her next work.

Karen McElmurray is a writer's writer and a reader's writer. The lyrical and haunting power of her language and the truth she exposes to us in her storytelling is proof that indeed this is a writer to watch. There will only be more power and beauty issuing forth from her talent.

I know a few things about WW II, but there are things in this book that I never heard before. In a word, fascinating.

My parents lived through the war, my dad on the Eastern Front, and then a prisoner, and my Mom was a school girl in a large German city.
My mother-in-law was a child in Coventry during the bombing. It is hard to imagine the hell people went through. As these survivors die off with old age, the life they lived will disappear. This book preserves history and memories.
This book was one of the most interesting reads I have had in my life. I first borrowed it from the library, but will now be buying it. A must for any armchair war historian.

In his preface, the author says he was moved to write this book by observing first hand during a 1946 train journey the skeletal remains of German cities. It is, of course, difficult not to feel sympathy for the 600,000 plus civilians who died in the Reich under a hail of enemy bombs, mortars and bullets. The author tells a vivid tale of cellar life, cold and misery as the nazi regime crumbled and collapsed in an orgy of destruction. The account is more impersonal than, for example, Cornelius Ryan's "When The Kissing Had To Stop" which described the last days of Hitler's Berlin from the vantage point of the citizens themselves. The author speculates, but does not answer, how the citizens of US cities today would respond to utter devastation of their environment. Given the very different nature of warfare today, and our dependence on cyberspace for communications, it is a question well worth debating.

ýUnder The Bombsý by Earl R. Beck, Sub-titled: ýThe German Home Front 1942-1945ý, University Press of Kentucky, 1986.

History Professor Earl R. Beck understands the need for an evenhanded presentation of facts and conditions, and his book, ýUnder The Bombsý, is very balanced presentation of the conditions that existed in the Nazi Reich in the years from 1942 to 1945. Beck neither defends nor attacks the bombing of German cities and German civilians. The Professor does not sensationalize the bombing raids on German cities, but, in a rather quiet and an almost dispassionate fashion, describes the impact of so many tons of bombs dropped on so many civilians. In so writing, Dr. Beck actually presents a cogent case against aerial bombing.

This book, however, is NOT a collection of statistics about the number of bombers, the tonnage of bombs, and the quantity of casualties and the horror of war on civilians. The book is really about the German people and how they suffered during the bombing raids. Enough details are given to cover the general history of the air war against Nazi Germany, but Professor Beck emphasizes aspects that others have not. For example, he gives more coverage to the firestorm in the German city of Hamburg (see his chapter, ýBombing Achieves Holocaustý), than the more famous (infamous) firestorm in the eastern German city of Dresden (later in the war). I wonder how many people were offended by the equating of the firestorm to a holocaust? Further, Dr. Beck quietly asserts troubling facts, ýUnable to ýattack Germany by land, with the fighting in Italy still far away from the German borders, andý the British had only one way to bring the war home to Germany ý from the airý. P. 64. Dr. Beck states that the British were ýprisonersý of the weapons they possessed. On page 65, Beck relates how Britainýs Air Marshall Harris initiated the modern concept of the body count, by ýýkeeping account of the effects of aerial bombardment in terms of the degree of destruction ýand the number of persons killed.ý

On the other hand, this book attempts to relate personal feelings, gleaned from countless records and interpretations of Party correspondence. For example, the Party could not tolerate church services being held for the dead in the bombed cities. Dr. Beck relates how the Nazis worked to develop a more acceptable party procedure for such funerals. The book contains many details on the life of the individuals in the Third Reich and their morale. Stalingrad was the turning point. Dr. Beck then documents how the Nazi Party attempted to control every word spoken, in fact, even the thoughts of the Germans, by swift punishment for ýdefeatistý actions, words or sayings. If you ever have wondered why there was not more German resistance to the Nazis, read this book. Beckýs description of the promulgation of a ýNazi Christmasý (p. 105) is particularly telling. This book is a worthwhile,well written assessment of the state of mind of the German civilians and the deterioration of that state as the War wore on.

Professor Beck's book presents a sympathetic and detailed account of the hardships suffered by German civilians from 1942 to the end of the war three years later. He reports with great specificity on everything from the proportion of incendiaries in Allied bomb loads to the percentage of barley in German bread rations. Beck's compassion for civilians' suffering and his admiration for their toughness come through clearly on every page, as does his contempt for the hypocrisy and self interest of the Nazi elite. All of this is fine, but I was disturbed by the narrowness of Beck's vision. The complicity of the German public in the persecution of German Jews is barely touched on, and nowhere does Beck acknowledge that German rations, meager as they were, were paid for by the starving peoples of Occupied Europe. Perhaps I'm unfairly criticizing Beck for failing to produce a book he never set out to write. Still, I can't accept it when Beck talks about the betrayal of the German people as Hitler's greatest crime. Beck's compassion is so narrowly focused it becomes a kind of moral blindeness.

I started reading Lynn Hightower's books only last year, and each and every one is an absolute gem. For fans of suspense thrillers, Ms. Hightower is definitely an author that should go on your auto-buy list, as her series starring private investigator Lena Padget only gets better and better as time goes on.

In WHEN SECRETS DIE, Lena is faced with a case that truly has her baffled. Emma Marsden is still grieving over her young son's death from what she believes to be some type of rare liver disease. Trying to piece her life back together for both her sake and her fifteen-year-old daughter, Blaine, Emma attempts to deal with infant Ned's death as best she can. Her temporary reprieve is shattered, however, when her son's pediatrician, Dr. Theodore Tundridge, accuses Emma of killing her son herself-of secretly poisoning him in a crazy bid for attention as a sufferer of Munchausen by Proxy.

Still reeling from her son's death, Emma must now deal with the charges brought against her. Blaine, Ned's half-sister, may now be taken away from her mother due to the investigation by the Department of Children and Family services. With nowhere else to turn, Emma enlists the help of P.I. Lena Padget to disprove the allegations against her.

Lena finds other suspicious deaths that have happened under Dr. Tundridge's care, most specifically two SIDS deaths of children of one of his employees, Amaryllis Burton. Then there's more incriminating evidence against the pediatrician-the doctor has sold, for millions of dollars, an unusual, patented genetic material that was found in Ned Marsden's blood. When it looks like the doctor himself might possibly be behind Ned's death, Lena discovers a video-tape that shows, almost without a doubt, that maybe Emma Marsden isn't the innocent, grieving woman she appears to be.

But then Blaine goes missing, and no one knows what to do. Is the doctor behind her disappearance, a man who wants nothing more than to get his hands on more genetic material? Is Emma Marsden really suffering from the horrible and unexplainable Munchausen by Proxy? What really happened to Amaryllis Burton's children? And most importantly, can Lena get to the bottom of the mystery before any more innocent children die?
WHEN SECRETS DIE is Lynn Hightower at her best. Although Lena Padget isn't the main character of this book in the series, I was thoroughly immersed in the story from start to finish. I've always been interested in the machinations of Munchausen by Proxy, wondering exactly what must be missing in a person's brain chemistry to make them harm their own children for attention. WHEN SECRETS DIE explores not only this dreadful disease, but the fact that power, in the wrong hands, can be a deadly weapon.

I can't wait for the next book in the series, and can only hope that Ms. Hightower delves into another interesting subject!

The story was compelling enough, though many of the characters are deeply unlikable, but the term Munchausen syndrome by proxy is used incorrectly. It is not a "psychosis," nor does the main villain "have" it. She is psychotic and a serial killer to be sure, but not a Munchausen syndrome by proxy perpetrator. If the author was going to wade into the waters of MSBP, she did have a responsibility to get thoroughly educated about it.

I can say the book was an overall success but I can say that I knew where I was when reading the book except in the first two chapters. The dialogue is easy to sort through and the characters at times are complex but worth it. The story started to lag around the middle but quickly picked up paced. One disappointing thing about this book is that by the last 3 chapters you already figured out most of the plot. It's a fun read and worth the time reading.

After caring for her son during a traumatic illness that eventually killed him, Emma Marsden is finally coming to terms with her grief. Her world is shattered once again when a call from the Clay's Mill children's clinic that was treating her son informed her that they had some of his organs that they kept for research purposes. When she goes to collect them, the person who called her is under orders not to give them to her. She takes them anyway.

Soon after that incident, Dr. Theodore Turnbridge, her son's doctor, accuses Emma of poisoning her son because she has Munchausen by Proxy. She is in danger of children's protective services taking her fifteen year old daughter away from her and there is the real possibility she might go to jail. She hires private detective Lena Padgett to disprove the charges. Lena, who has an intenseapport with her client, takes the case but it isn't until Emma's daughter is kidnapped does Lena, the police and the medical people have a clue who is behind Emma's legal troubles.

Lynn Hightower is one of the best thriller writers of the new millennium and will appeal to fans of Patricia Cornwell and Nancy Taylor Rosenberg. Readers learn about the power of the medical profession and how in the wrong hands it can ruin the lives of innocent people. Emma is a sympathetic character and readers will empathize with all the problems she has to bear through no fault of her own. Lena plays more of a secondary role then in previous novels in the series but the audience won't feel cheated because she is still a key player in a tense drama.

Harriet Klausner

Heartsick over the loss of her toddler son, Emma Marsden faces another devastating challenge. She's been accused by pediatrician Theodore Tundridge of poisoning her son. Now the department of children's services is involved, accusing Emma of Munchausen by proxy and seeking to take her teenage daughter, Blaine, away from her. But Emma has a counter-complaint against Dr. Tundridge: he's keeping body parts in the basement of his clinic. Although private investigator Lena Padget is broke, she agrees to take Emma's case in exchange for her BMW Roadster. Lena's investigation leads her into the mountains of East Tennessee and on a desperate search to find Emma's teenage daughter, who has been kidnapped.

This is one of those books you do not want to put down. Entertaining, informative, and packed with suspense. In-depth characterization, realistic dialogue, and a galvanizing plot. It is my opinion that the Lena Padget series is perhaps the best series being written today. This PI is down-to-earth, gutsy, and a woman with a compassionate soul. Great series, great book.

Mark Putman, sworn to protect and serve. He did so but he is not above the law, Man's or God's. He became a victim out of the heat of passion, or maybe rage. That depends on how one looks at it. I really liked the book, and I'm trying to get a copy for myself to have at my home. I think there are a lot of people who haven't heard of the book, but would read it and find it a fine book to read twice, maybe more.

This book differs from many of the true crime novels by the author writing a story in which you almost feel sorrier for the killer and his family than that of the victim. Also the setting differs from many of the others in this genre. The setting is in the Appalachian Mountains in the county seat of Pike County - Pikesville, Kentucky. Though the story isn't fast-paced, it does not drag either. Although, I've read more interesting stories; the names Ann Rule and Aphrodite Jones come to mind; this is a novel that you want to continue reading to find out what happens. As another reviewer says, it would be nice to find out what has happened to Mark, Kathy, and Danielle Putnam. If you like a book where the killer is not a sleezebucket with many problems, has a conscience and could easily be someone you know and trust, this book should be one you should look into.

i would like to say that , as often as i read true crime stories, this is the first defendant that i have ever actully felt sorry for and i would like to know how he is doing. i feel that the author did a wonderful job of putting all of us in his PLACE and i wonder how he is doing in custody and how his family is doing. i would like the author to respond if he can. i have never felt sorrier for anyone.

I like to read true crime books, and this one was very good. This book made me feel very sorry for the criminal and his family. After reading this book, I wanted to know so much more about Mark Putnam and his family. I could not find anything on the internet relating to the crime. Oh well, I am interested in reading another book by Joe Sharkey now. If anyone finds a website that has info on this subject, please email me.

Bert is still trying to get back on her feet after her divorce. Living next door to her identical twin, Nan, she's currently working as a secretary for a nasty divorce lawyer, Stephanie. The only reason she hasn't quit in search of a better boss is that her Mom and Stephanie's Mom are good friends. But one morning, she goes into work to find that her boss has been shot. Having solved two previous murders (DOUBLE MURDER and DOUBLE EXPOSURE), Bert and Nan try to sift through the many people with grudges against Stephanie to find the killer. Meanwhile, Bert is feeling insecure about her relationship with her boyfriend, homicide detective Hank Goetzmann.

It's great to see the twins back in action. As always, they tackle their latest case with humor. However, this book was a bit slow compared to the others, which is why I'm only giving it four stars. It's enjoyable, but just not quite as good as the first two.

The terrific twin authors give us lively, funny and very real twin protaganists: Nan and Bert. Alternating chapters give each twin's point of view. It is the skill of the authors that makes Nan and Bert each a distinctive character. In this third episode of their adventures, the twins find themselves embroiled in the murder of a tough divorce lawyer who had developed a unique way to make the ex-husband pay dearly for his freedom. I agree with the reader who recommended that you read them all. The first two are available in paperback. Wonderfully entertaining, these authors do it right.

The writing style of these authors is fast paced, humorous and keeps you interested to the last page! Such is the humor that I found myself laughing out loud on several occasions, needless to say my fellow commuters gave me strange looks. After completing this story I instantly went out and purchased their prior books, "Double Exposure" and "Double Murder", which turned out to be great stories as well. A NEW FAN IS BORN, BUY THIS BOOK AND YOU WILL BE ONE TOO!!!!

Some books are right for reading in front of a fire on a rainy day, some for under the covers on a winter night. And some are indulgences, made for the day you played hooky from work because it was the first spring day of the year and you wanted an afternoon on the deck in the sunshine. "Double Cross" is just such a book: it's light, funny, and well-plotted. It features identical twins who are opposites, mothers who are all too believable, a witchy murder victim who deserves what she got, a hint of feminism, and some decent writing--not the least of which is the technique of using a twin to tell the story in alternating voices. I got just what I wanted from this book: amusement, entertainment, and escape.

The Bert and Nan Tatum books are well-written and a joy to read. The sisters, although twins, each have their own strengths and quirks. The chapters in the books alternate between each sister telling the story. Lots of humor along with a good mystery.

Solving the DOUBLE MURDER in the first book has made identical twins Nan and Bert local celebrities. Still, they have no desire to investigate another murder. But then Nan meets Crane Morgan. He's handsome and romantic, and Nan is swept completely off her feet. But Bert has reservations, especially when Louise Eagleston tells her that Crane's identical twin was accused of murder but committed suicide. When Bert goes to hear more from Louise, she finds Louise shot. Now, Bert wants to know more about what's going on, but Nan doesn't want to hear anything bad about Crane or his late brother. Can Bert find the truth while keeping both herself and Nan alive?

This is a fun book. The twins alternating narration is a nice and often funny touch and their personalities get better defined. I figured out the ending before the twins, but by then I was so concerned for them that I had to keep reading. These are great characters that I hope I can keep reading about for years to come.

Sometimes one plus one does't add up to two. When twins write a mystery about twin sleuths and twin killers, it doesn't really compute. My problem with the book is that it alternates from one twin's life and thoughts to the other. It is not confusing, but seems to rely too much on this gimmick and not enough good story telling.

Bert and Nan Tatum are identical twin whose personalities are totally different. Nan is a flirtatious swinging single and Bert is a domesticated divorcee. However, they share a common bond that can never be broken. It is tested by photographer Crane Morgan when Nan falls in love with him at first sight. Bert wishes that she could feel happy for her sibling, but something about Crane leaves her on edge.

Louise Eagleston tells Bert that Crane had an identical twin who killed his girl friend and then committed suicide. Already shaken by that revelation, Bert's bones quiver to the core when she finds Louise's dying body holding a series of photos starring Crane and his brother. Bert strongly feels that there is a connect between the deaths of Louise and the girl friend of Crane's sibling. A bedazzled Nan won't listen to a negative comment about her beloved. It is up to her protective sister to snoop around in order to learn the underlying mystery that engulfed the Morgan twins.

The differing perspective of what is happening from the viewpoints of both twins (whose voice is heard in alternating chapters) makes for a fresh and oftentimes humorous amateur detective cozy. The dawning realization of who and what the villain is turns the novel into a tension building, absorbing story line. This brisk pace leads to character familiarity that makes DOUBLE EXPOSURE a delightful reading experience and showcases the writing talents of Ms. McCafferty and Ms. Herald that should one day reach the pinnacle of their chosen profession.

Harriet Klausner