Connecticut Books

This is an austere, beautifully told story about a 12-year-old boy, Timmy, doing what boys do in the wasteland of the American suburbs. It's about sitting in your room at night thinking about girls and baseball cards and listening to the rain on the roof; it's about the tragi-comic mysteries of the neighbors and their sad secrets; and it's about the villanies and unkindnesses that boys practice upon one another. It's also about bearing witness to your own family falling apart at a time when you're trying to figure out who you yourself are. There is the troubled Mr. Cosgrove standing pathetically at the Good Humor truck agonizing over what kind of ice cream to order; there's the provocative Myra, the mother of a friend, who accuses Timmy of trying to be too "precise," while it is exactly that precision (the precision of the scribe, the story-teller) that Timmy uses as a tool to cut through--and see through--the posturing and the braggadocio of his cohorts and the ersatz commercial culture in which they all live, play, and die.

Dan Pope writes uncluttered, elegant prose. He works with the economy of a poet, and he moves his unsentimental story ahead through dialogue that sounds real and as natural as it did when you and I said those kinds of things back in the 1970s. I've read this novel twice, and I recommend it. I keep it on my bookshelf between To Kill a Mockingbird and The Catcher in the Rye. The Lord of the Flies is not far away. That's the kind of company this book deserves to keep.

I just finished "In The Cherry Tree" for the second time. I loved the characters and the things they went through together. And even though it was based around Timmy's life growing up as a boy I think it captured a kid's life, boy or girl, to a tee. Life is hard for any kid that age when you're dealing with friends drifting away, parents divorcing, death, bullies, etc. Dan Pope did a great job pulling the reader into the story and making you feel like you were right there with Timmy, seeing what he was seeing and experiencing the things he was experiencing. If you were ever a child this book will definitely spark some kind of memory from when you were growing up. Chances are I will read this book for a third time in the future.

I found this book delightful. I have four young boys and recommend this book to anyone else with sons, brothers, husbands, and nephews! The book was entertaining, funny and sorrowful. It grasped the life of families in suburbia and brought me back to my own childhood.

First time authors tend to write about what they know, so I will asume that it is true in this situation. If so, the author had a somewhat unusual family, particularly his parents. His siblings and friends weren't too particularly normal either, but reading about all of them was good fun. Mixing in television shows and records from the early 70s gave a good grounding in time, and the narrator's voice had an authentic sound. It's a quirky little novel, and I enjoyed reading it very much.

Dan Pope has managed to tell the heart-breaking story of a boyhood summer full of transformations in family and friendship from the point of view of a charming protagonist, Timmy, without falling victim to the narcissitic nattering that plagues even our most well-loved young heroes (Holden Caulfield comes to mind). IN THE CHERRY TREE is transgressive yet familiar, haunting and hilarious: read this book, you won't be disappointed.

I first met George Tabb at a club one night last year and found out we had some old friends from the past in common. He said he had a book out called Playing Right Field that I might like and another one, Surfing Armageddon, that will be coming out in a few months. The first one was a childhood memoir, the second is about his high school and early college years. I found George really interesting to talk to, so I was determined to look up these books, and read about this guy. As my friends and I were leaving the club, he said if I was interested, I can check out his web site. So the next day at my office, I found the site and glanced at a few of his blog entries. This guy was very funny. And I thought anyone who loves their little Yorkie that much clearly has a big, big heart. So I looked up his books on Amazon, and read their descriptions.

Now, being the Jewish child of Holocaust survivors, and having emigrated to the U.S. with my family when I was five, from communist Romania, where a Jew was a second-class citizen, I related to his painful daily abuse at the hands of those fascist little Greenwich aryan bullies who had it in for him and his little brothers for nothing but their ethnicity. But his home life wasn't any safer. Yet the stories themselves sounded hilarious. I was intrigued, so I ordered the first book. The second one wasn't out yet at the time.

The guy sitting in the cubicle next to mine asked what book I was ordering and I told him Playing Right Field, a childhood memoir by a guy called George Tabb whom I met last night. He says, "George Tabb? You mean the guy who wrote those hilarious columns for the New York Press?" I said I don't know, he just told me about his books, and they sound really funny from their descriptions on Amazon. He says Tabb's columns were his favorites. He'd been a big fan of his writing for years, since he first saw his columns in Maximumrocknroll, a publication I'd never heard of. He says, "Hold on a minute," and emails me a bunch of links to George Tabb stories.

And after reading them, I'm just blown away. One after the other, they're all clever and witty and sweetly self-deprecating. And laugh-out-loud funny. So I couldn't wait to read the book.

I was not disappointed! It is one of my favorite books ever. It breaks your heart while cracks you up laughing, and in every bizarre story (all of them are bizarre) there's a lesson learned. And you find yourself smiling. After finishing the book, I emailed him that I really enjoyed it, as did my teenage son who generally doesn't like to read, but he loved this book. So did his friends who borrowed it. So I ordered it for friends and family for as holiday gifts. And in that email, I also told George I was really sorry that I didn't know any of his writing or his music when we met.

The funny thing is, for a writer so well respected and so well known in the music scene, he's anything but a snob. He is the nicest, kindest, most approachable person you'd ever want to meet. It's surprising, considering he grew up so filled with rage at his abusive sadistic father, that he didn't turn out to be a serial killer!

By the way, I just finished his new book, Surfing Armageddon, in which George's family leaves Greenwich for Tallahassee FL, where Jews are appreciated as much as, if not more, than they were in Greenwich! But now teenage George with hormones raging--inspired by the bad-ass music of a little band from Cleveland called The Dead Boys and that lovable NY punk band that leveled the playing field for outsider everywhere who thought they couldn't be cool, The Ramones--is on a quest to do what any healthy, red-blooded, sex-obsessed teenage boy is after. Lose his virginity. But like everything else in George's life, the road is filled with a few hilarious bumps along the way. Another gem. See my review of that one.

Ahoy, if you're looking to buy this book you're proboly already familier with George Tabb's style of writing. And, so this book is more or less compiled as his column's tend to be written. Most of the stories are in proper order with a few a bit out of place but, no big deal. This is more a book to read here and there on one's lunch break not a sit down and read it from cover to cover. George reminds us what it's like to be on the receiving end of childrens cruelity and dealing it out mostly on the receiving end though. Arn't most punks the rejects of the so called norm children? George also shows the era for them young punks what kids did before they had video games and all that crap. They beat the crap out of each other had crazy adventures avoided their crappy parents and more or less just pain flat survive the bs years. This book would've been a five cept the first few chapters are rather ackward.....They seem to be structed rather oddly. They offer an early peak at George and that's perhaps why they're ackward cause they're from when he was 6 and a bit under while other chapters are 6th grade up to high school so, i think his memory is a bit hazy to add his style of humor to the story whilst keeping it on the tab or real. If you like George's writing overall you'll not be disappointed. Or, if you or someone you know's just likes to read stories about others that aren't really famous than this is also a good book to pick up. So, stop reading those F'n opera books and pick up a book about real life adventures from the Seventies. See George shoot his pop, see George puke at carney island, read about his adventure of killing the tortise that ate goats and kittens, also why one should avoid the left hand of the blind child and is wrestling a fag sport?!? Find out first hand from George if it is indeed and what the hell is Fourth Trumpett!!!!! All these wonderments and questions are in this book! After you're done reading this book you'll feel like drinking and being lazy. Or just like why the hell am I still working this crap job......

I had never heard of George Tabb until my friend Jenni recommended that I read his book, it was all of $8 including shipping so I figured, why not?

It was seriously one of the best books i've ever read, and I cannot wait for his new book to come out.

The book really makes you feel for young George as a character and absolutely abhor his father.

I reallly regret saying as a character since it's based on the real events of George's life.
I plan on collecting all of George's writings that he's ever done for magazines now.

George rules! This book rules! It's great to know that other people are pussies too, and that they are proud of it. I don't think I've laughed as hard as I did at the crucified frog in ages. It really brought all those scary uncomfortable primary school memories back to the front of my mind. I even remember the name of the bully I concussed in fourth grade for the first time since I whacked him one. Thanks for the great read George.

George Tabb is a man of the people. That is to say, he knows a heck of a lot of people and a heck of a lot of people know him. He is an approachable, likeable guy and when I began reading his Maximum Rock 'n Roll columns back in the late 80s I had no idea that he was actually such a friendly person. Due to his long-standing punk rock celebrity/credibility he doesn't have to be. The fact that he IS such a great person is a testament to his character, glimpsed here in "Playing Right Field: A Jew Grows in Greenwich."

This book is a collection of essays that span Tabb's early childhood and teen years. It is all at once heartfelt and heartbreaking. When I finished it I felt the urgent desire to seek out and brutally punish anyone who'd ever been mean to George, and believe me when I say that would be a time-consuming process!

The bottom line is that this book is full of poignant, bizarre, and sometimes upsetting memories presented in amazingly rich detail. Tabb's capacity for recall is the mark of a great writer and a true talent.

I believe this book is an incredibly valuable manuscript that takes the reader back to the sometimes cruel state of childhood, all the while reminding us that back then we always strove to remain optimistic in our belief that Tomorrow would be a better day. I believe that George Tabb is still optimistic - despite everything - and that this both confusing and inspiring characteristic distinguishes him as a complex man with an important voice.

A classic, thorough study of one of the elite divisions of the ``Waffen-SS" (armed SS).
Both on and off the battlefield, the SS Death's Head division was one of the most feared divisions. The author discusses both by describing combat and war crimes committed by the division on the battlefield, as well as its relation to criminal activities of the SS off the battlefield, such as concentration camps and ``Einsatzgruppen" (mobile death squads).
There are only two weak points: (1) the combat history 1943-45 (including the Battle of Kharkov, the Battle of Kursk and Operation Spring Awakening) is too short; and (2) the book dates back to 1977, and now available sources (e.g. Russian sources) were not used. However, it is still the best book on the market.

I initialy bought this book to get a general idea on what fighting conditions inside the Demyansk Pocket were like (for 3rd SS), and i got all my questions answered in detail. This is an excellent account of the divisional history of 3rd SS. The last part could have mabye been a little more detailed... for instance I was also interested in the fighting 3rd SS participated in around Vienna -as well as what happend to some former 3rd SS soldiers/NCOs (such as Fritz Christen, Max Seela) after the war, including some numbers on how many members survived soviet captivity, but the later wartime records of the division were destroyed in a fire during an allied bombing raid, so a bunch of info was lost. Also the division was reorganized with conscripts near the very end of the war (which i don't remember reading about). Good Book, good buy.

The death's head SS division, created in october 1939, was one of the oldest Armoured formation of the III rd Reich. Thus, this unit achieved great military successes, mainly on the eastern front.

Sydnor, in his talented study, details, the initial developments with the incorporation of 6500 concentration camp guards (to whom were added several thousands of middle-aged Allgemeine SS reservists), the first fights in the western campaign where, the division occured some victories but also setbacks and finally, the military operations on the east...

The "SS Totenkopf division", created by Theodor Eicke, former chief of the death's head batallions (camp unit guards), maintained close ties with the concentration camp system until the end of the war. Sydnor demonstrates that with documents. However, with the growing losses the unit suffered in its hard battles, Its recruitment became similar to the other waffen ss major formations...

Sydnor also shows, the fundamental influence Eicke had over the formation's fighting spirit and thus, some of the consequences on the ground... But he doesn't contest the military value of this elite division, illustrating that by numerous examples. That's why many generals of the german army were pleased to have the SS Death's Head division under their command... This book is a must read !

Dr. Syndor presents us with what appears to be an academically honest, truthful account of the development of the SS Totenkopf division. He traces its indisputable origins from the concentration camp system into an elite Waffen SS combat Division.

Syndor captures the facts regarding the effect that Theodor Eicke had on creating the division from his hand picked staffs in the concentration system. Thus creating a combat division led and manned by individuals already hardened to cruelty to the "enemy behind the wire". Syndor presents a detailed account of Eicke's rise through the concentration camp system, his immense political connections, the origins of the Totenkopf division under Eicke's guidance.

The author is clearly impressed by the combat performance of the Waffen SS and the Totenkopf division in particular; however, he presents facts and adequate footnotes for anyone to investigate. The truth speaks for itself, the Waffen SS, with the esprit of the troops and the political indoctrination, were elite combat units. They fought at times to the last man and withstood hardships and casualty rates beyond what most other troops would endure. They also committed acts that carried the political will of the Fuhrer and the Reichsfuhrer SS to the occupied territories and the front.

This is NOT an apologist's book about the Waffen SS, nor does it state that every SS trooper was a criminal. The truth, as usual, is somewhere in between. It does paint the SS and the Waffen SS as the criminal organizations that they were. It also details the combat performance of this elite combat unit. The last half of the book is sketchier on details of the Totenkopf's combat records, but this was due to the loss of many of those detailed records to the war waged upon Germany.

This is an excellent book, my only criticism is that it does not have enough photo's and statistics (specifically, after action reports).

Charles W. Sydnor Jr's, "Soldiers of Destruction" is a wonderful piece of historical literature. This book represents Dr. Sydnor's Ph.D. dissertation and as such is based on significant research - this is historical prose by a historian! However, having said that, this does not imply that "Soldiers of Destruction" is merely an academic book with facts that is dry to read, quite the opposite. "Soldiers of Destruction" is a pleasure to read - well-crafted prose and flow - and contains lots of facts. This dissertation is not meant to represent a study of the whole Waffen SS, but rather an in depth look at one component - Third SS Panzer Division Totenkopf (Totenkopfdivision) - as an individual and somewhat isolated case. That said, it is fair to say that whether you are an airchair historian looking for a good read or a serious student of history interested in the Waffen SS and issues associated with the fighting arm of the SS, "Soldiers of Destruction" might be what you're looking for.

Dr. Syndor begins his story with a discussion of the development of the Totenkpfdivision as an outgrowth from the SS Totenkopfverbande (Deaths Head Division) and the concentration camp guard system. Central to this development was Theodor Eicke, who put his aggressive, fanatical NSADP stamp on the system. He organized the concentration camp guard system and from that the initial Totenkopfdivision, making this Waffen SS unit one with a particularly rabid Nazi makeup, at least at its inception. By bringing the formation of the Totenkopfdivision into focus provides important perspective for Syndor and the reader to assess the actions of the division in its military exploits, including charges of brutality. Simply put, are actions seemingly askew from other battle units, such as murder of POWs, ultimately unexpected given the personalities and ideological "training" of the division? Syndor does not use this analysis to excuse the actions but rather to provide clarity for greater understanding in a historical context.

The passages dealing with combat of the Totenkopfdivision (most of which occurred against the Soviets) are fascinating and highly enlightening. Syndor has does a great job brining to life these years of the division and balancing the highly effective and laudable (from a military perspective) battle actions of the Totenkpdivision with the criminal activities that followed the division. The reader can easily separate these issues and then place the latter in context given the introductory material. This is in fact what Syndor attempts to do (quite effectively I believe) in the last section of the book, entitled: Ideology, Personality, Criminality.

In the end this is a wonderful book, both from a mere historical and a reading enjoyment standpoint. Syndor conveys a clear history of a single element of the Waffen SS that is both significant and fair. Highly recommended reading - five stars!

If Only You Had A Wishing Well

Magic or Not
By Edward Eager

When James, Laura and Deborah move into their new house on Silvermine Road, there are rumors that the well on the property is a dried up wishing-well. Along with new friends Kip, Lydia and Gordy, they secretly begin leaving notes in the well, hoping that their wishes will be granted. They soon find that if, in fact, the well is working, (and they aren't at all sure) it will only work for un-selfish wishes.

Can it be a coincidence that they find the long lost heir, or that they stop the school from being torn down? At times, it seems that the very thing they wish for is exactly what they get.

Will the magic work when they need it, or will they have to find their own solutions to their problems?

Magic or Not is an adventure of children making friendships and helping others. It's real fun, whether it's Magic or Not!

Jill Vanderwood, children's magical adventure author
Through the Rug
Through The Rug: Follow That Dog (Through the Rug)

My seven year old loved this book. His review: "Is this story supposed to have lots of magic in it, or is it just coincidence? The story was great, all right."

My guess is that if your child loves Edward Eager's other stuff, he or she will love this book as well.

Magic or Not is just what the title says. I like the mystery as to whether things are magical or not. It is interesting and intriguing. It explains it all in the end. There is still some mystery to it; you don't know exactly if what they figure out is actually right or not. Kids eight and up would like this book. The next book is the Well Wishers.

When the characters of a book spend the whole thing wondering if what's been going on is real magic or not, it' safe to assume the magic is not dramatic and thunderous.

That's how it is in this book. A group of children go around the countryside together, getting to know the people in the village, and doing good deeds that don't always turn out as they'd planned. Watching the children become fast friends, though one of them is thorny and another is goofy and a bit of a reject, is the best part of the book. The plot isn't predictable, but its surprises are mild.

I agree that Half Magic and Magic By the Lake, by the same author, pack more punch. But this one's nice for filling in if you've read those and want another Edward Eager fix, or if you just want to while away a summer day.

First, I recommend that you read the book "Half-Magic" first. That is Mr. Eager's best book, and it sets the tone for every other book he wrote. You get a feel for the type of characters he has in his stories, and the theme of magic having rules, which is absolutely critical in this book.

This books' charm is that Mr. Eager is so vague about the children's; wishes being magic or not that you are left wondering. This is not as overt as his other books, and it is this subtlety that energizes me.

We all know that magic has rules-read G. K. Chesterton's essay "The Ethics of Elf-Land"-but this book takes that idea to the next level. The magic is not magic at all, but just our godlike powers of doing good and helping other people.

This book is a great way to get your children to do right. Start out with "Half Magic,' and teach you children that magic, along with everything else, has rules. Then introduce them to this series of books, which teaches that magic is just us doing the right thing. This will save you many lectures and fights sine the morality is coated in a fairy tale.

A great alternative to Harry Potter.

LETHAL GUARDIAN (LG) covers the murder for hire of Buzz Clinton by an assortment of low lifes including a pair of thug/misfits, a drug addicted and sexually perverted lawyer, and Clinton's sister in law, Beth Ann Carpenter, who is also a lawyer. I feel about LG much as I did about another M. William Phelps book, PERFECT POISON.

Phelps is a good writer and an exhaustive researcher. This is no cut and paste, casually written, slop job as are many true crime attempts. Phelps has obviously spent a long time in the research and writing of LG and has turned out a creditable and entertaining book.

I have not rated this book 5 stars, however, because, as with PERECT POISON, I have some problems with the writing. I feel that the best true crime is written as reportorially as possible. Phelps does this to a large degree, but there are still too many "signposts", with Phelps indicating if not directly telling the reader what to think. His style is a little too chatty for my taste. This is, however, not criticism so much as observation. It is simply a matter of taste, and Phelps' is clearly different from mine in this regard. And it IS his book.

Secondly, as I have stated, Phelps is a serious and dedicated researcher. But LG is too long, by maybe 50 or so pages. This may be due in part to what I believe is Phelps' problem in deciding what information to omit.

Finally, Phelps engages in repitition - not a lot, but a little - and unnecessary verbiage - not a lot, but a little - which ultimately become somewhat irritating. I noticed this particularly in the last 100 pages or so where it felt as if Phelps started rushing as though he had become slightly tired of writing LG and wanted to hurry up and finish it.
To provide some examples, several times during the trial phase of the book, Phelps provides us with testimony and then reminds us that it "it was up to the jury to decide" its worth. Well, yeah.
As another example, throughout the book, and more than once, Phelps has provided the reader with important and detailed information about the personal weaknesses of the main characters. As such, it wouldn't seem to be necessary in the trial phase to repeat the numerous reasons that these people would be less than stellar witnesses. It has already been made abundantly clear.
And as a final example from page 428: "If the jury was in need of latching onto a particular witness and drawing sympathy from that person, Tricia Gaul was that person - and Kane and McShane knew it." Well OF COURSE they knew it. They have already been described as fine and experienced lawyers who could be presumed to know what they were doing. A little less of this would, in my opinion, improve Phelps' style, increasing its intelligence.

Still Phelps is a good writer and none of my disagreements are at all deal breakers. LG is fast paced and always interesting. Phelps handles both the trial and police investigation parts well. Lesser or unconcerned writers will often quote trial transcript directly, substituting verbatim copying for research, and will routinely discuss the minutiae of police investigation, probably because it is easily obtained, to the point of tedium. Phelps does not, and has no need to, do so.

LETHAL GUARDIAN is very good true crime. I'm glad I read it and I think most fans of the genre will enjoy it.

Leathal Guardian blew my mind. It amazed me that the case was solved at all. Phelps does a great job of digging into the character's past and making it all make some kind of sense. His empathy for the victims shines like a beacon in his writing making him a star in the True Crime venue.
Kari Butler

"Minority opinions" are tricky but this reviewer believes one has to call `em as he sees `em, even if out of step with his friends in the amazon community. LG is a serious, studied tale of a custody dispute between 2 families that goes awry. Terribly awry. Someone meets his/her demise! The Clinton and Carpenter clans are the adversaries and a child names Rebecca is the focal point. LG is set in the area around New London, CT-not a typical true crime locale. Author Phelps weaves an interesting plot with some bizarre true life bad guys, though none qualify as "hardened criminals". In fact, two are decidedly white collar types. This reviewer tries to avoid divulging resolutions but most readers should be relatively satisfied and unshocked by the conclusion. LGs principal weakness, it says here, is its' length. There is too much detail! For example, Beth Carpenter's trip to England and Ireland could have been truncated. A stern editor with a sharp blue pencil should have shed some weight from the text. (Do such editors exist anymore or have they all been laid off?). Many may believe that LGs heft was needed to draw out the characters. As my friend Tundra has already noted, the Ann Rule rule is in effect! Skip those tempting centerfold photos because they divulge everything. For that matter, one should also ignore the front and back covers. There are "hints" thereon! The foregoing aside, true crime aficionados should still enjoy LG. Folks living in eastern Connecticut should pounce; they could easily add a star or two to the admittedly strict rating above.

Author M. William Phelps writes the mouth-dropping, mind-boggling tale of the Carpenters and the Clintons, described perfectly within as modern "Hatfields and McCoys." This well written story is the twisted actions of two attorneys, most specifically Beth Ann Carpenter, who would do anything for love and custody of Beth Ann's niece, Rebecca, respectively. And to accomplish their goals, they seek out low life criminals who will do anything for money to fund their criminal lifestyles.

I found this book to be one of the best true crime stories I have read. It has everything an avid true crime reader loves including dirty little secrets, sordid affairs and kinky sex, devoted parents, and thrill of the chase.

Five stars to this top author and his exceptional true crime book!

Lethal Guardian was an exceptionally well researched and satisfying read. Buzz Clinton was an imperfect man trying to get on the right track in life, who married Kim Carpenter, a young woman who had a vindictive and manipulative family. She brought with her a young daughter whom Buzz wanted to adopt and raise as his own. The Carpenters resented Buzz and fought hard to get legal custody of the daughter. Buzz never backed down, and though the Carpenters did what they could to mar Buzz's character, the legal system found Buzz and Kim to be competent parents. In an effort to remove his new family from the hatefulness and manipulation of Kim's parents and sister, Buzz was preparing to move to Arizona. This didn't sit well with Kim's sister, Beth Ann, who had started her own campaign to get rid of Buzz. Beth Ann used her feminine wiles with both her boyfriend and her boss and anyone else she thought might be useful. Her boss, Haiman Clein, completely smitten with Beth Ann, was a lawyer who not only represented a drug dealer, but was also a heavy cocaine user himself. Beth Ann was able to convince Haiman to find someone to kill Buzz. Hard to believe, but the story gets even better and more complicated. I won't go further into the tale, but Phelps does an excellent job of sorting out all the details and people mixed up in Beth Ann's web. In the end, I felt like everyone got what they deserved. My one question is about what happened with Kim and her children. The Clinton's did all they could to accommodate her and their grandchildren after Buzz's death, but I wasn't clear on what Kim chose to do with her life. I applaud the Clinton's for their strength throughout the long ordeal that finally put those involved in Buzz's murder away.

Someone in a coffee shop recommended NINTH SQUARE. I was going on vacation, so I gave it a shot. Read it on the beach in two days. The pacing is fast, the sarcasm borders on deadly at times. (This is not a book for extremely religious people.) And despite the subject matter (internet hookers), the women in the book are strong, intelligent and sexy. Completely entertaining. What more could I want from a thriller?

Not really a book on how to be a hooker. Just the affectionate title for a great read, that starts with the murder of a sanctimonious religious hypocrite, and careens through the City of New Haven to an exciting conclusion. It's a grab-you-by-the-throat-and-refuse-to-let-go-until-you're-done type of crime novel. Oh, yes, and hookers play a big part in the plot.

I'm not generally a fan of detective stories, mysteries, or crime novels. Ninth Square is a fascinating read as it seems to break the boundaries of it's classified genre. Bechard's style is genuinely engaging and has a very natural feel, not at all forced. The prose reads like thoughts.
The bulk of the novel is written in the first person and makes you feel as if you are in the head of the main character, Detective William Shute, reliving the memories of the week-long series of events which make up the plot of the novel. The story is fast paced and engaging and Bechard doesn't solve the mystery (or allow the reader to solve it) until the end. It is absolutely packed with red herrings, believable red herrings, as any good mystery should be. Bechard has a real talent for writing likable characters, which, when coming from a misanthrope such as myself, is saying a lot. When I give it a second read - and you can be sure I will give it a second read, as with all of Bechard's tales, be they feature length films ("Psychos in Love"), experimental shorts ("The Pretty Girl"), or literature ("The Hazmat Diaries", "Ninth Square"), once is not enough - I look forward to seeing what I missed the first time around by not knowing the outcome. I hope that Bechard plans to bring Detective Shute back in future novels, but until he does, I highly recommend giving "Ninth Square" a good read.

This is a less than accomplished piece of fiction, but its setting in New Haven makes it valuable and fun for us locals.

Ninth Square has some of the kinkiest scenes I've ever read in a mainstream thriller, as Det. Shute explores the underbelly of internet escorts and made-to-order porn. The chapter about the Green Acres theme song is a CLASSIC! (I was was laughing so loud, my roommate thought something was wrong.) Just a completely entertaining read, with wonderfully familiar locations (Who in Connecticut hasn't eaten New Haven pizza?), which poses the theory that we ALL have kinky little secrets (even those in the religious right whose kink is to stop people from enjoy themselves). Can't argue with the truth!

You can order this book direct from the publisher Trine Day, I believe, but it may take some time to arrive. In reviewing the book, all I can say is you have to read it for yourself and what you will learn will not be easy to digest.

This is the most interesting of the modern books about secret deals arrainged by America's most secretive club,the Skull and Bones of Yale College.The most extensive research book about the history of the 'Bones'.Many credible ideas are brought forward for public examination and debate.What i don't understand is why the bones of Geronimo are so important to this undercover christian Yale club? Geronimo was a pagan,not a christian.The Wolf's Head club has a wolf on top of an upside-down egyptian pagan 'Anke'.And the various Greek fraternities are a parody of true Greek pagan socities.The author portrays the Skull and Bones as a dangerous Nazi cult that completely controls tragic events,such as assassinations and global terrorist attacks.These Ivy League schools are really nothing more then sophicated breeding colonies controlled by the powerful hebrew-jewish elite.What intrigued me was the christian fondness for dark Satanic rituals,such as the coffin ceremony for indoctrination.This book paints best the overall historical portrait of what this secretive club has done through the years.The club was formed to bond an American kinship among the new colonists,away from England and far away from Rome.Yet,the Bones became as corrupt and as elitist as any of the established lodges of Europe.Many interesting ideas are proposed here,yet some ideas are speculative.Remember what is bred in the bone,will out in the flesh.Evil deeds will always come full circle back,to haunt,three fold.And what deeds are done by the Power Elite,may be in the best overall interest of America.

This book is a huge (well over 700 pages) collection of essays and articles by various authors on Yales Skull & Bones society. This book runs the gamut from the wildly conspiratorial to reprints of mainstream historical type articles on the fraternity system and elitist secret societies at Yale. Some of the topics discussed in this are Bonesmen being involved in the drug trade, from the Chinese opium wars in the 1800's to CIA planes smuggling cocaine in the 1980's, the Bush family and other S&B members being involved with bankrolling both the Nazis and the Bolsheviks, the various shenanigans that can be attributed to Bonesmen involved with the CIA, Skull & Bones and 9-11, the disproportionate amount of world elites that came out of this very small group, 15 members of every senior class at Yale, even both candidates for the US presidency in the last elections were Bonesmen. Also among LOTS of other stuff it goes into the what is known of the weird occultic rituals and initiations that members go through.

This is a great book for anybody into conspiracy stuff, wants to know more about various shady CIA deeds or anybody interested in some of the foul things the Bush family have been involved with.

My take on Skull & Bones is its like a minor league team where they are picked out of the pile and groomed for bigger things. Depending on how they "perform" they get strings pulled and doors opened for them. Not all S&B people become Presidents, Senators, supreme court judges, members of the CFR, or Bilderburgers, high ranking CIA officials, or Presidential cabinet members, but an awful lot of them do and when you consider the track record of many former Bonesmen I have to say there is obviously "rotten in Denmark" going on with these people.

Steven Hager wrote in his review:

"Skull and Bones runs the White House, tv news, major newspapers, Yale University, legal drugs, illegal drugs, and much of the prison industrial complex, which is turning into a gulag with 10 million people currently in jail, on probation or awaiting sentencing."


Oh, my God. Now I am starting to understand. This review gave me chills up and down my arms, and now all over my body down to my legs and feet... I think this qualifies as "believing it!"

I guess if one can't buy and sell slaves now, one CAN run the prison system and "buy and sell prisoners" and all that is required to catch them and keep them locked up. Just like the slaves in days of old... I never thought about this before, but "packing them in tightly" into overcrowded jails is not much different than "packing them in tightly" into the slave ships crossing the ocean a few hundred years ago. (from Wikipedia on the Cabot family earning it's fortune.)

What a devastating thought. I could never understand why our country would spend the same money it takes to send a kid to an upper class school by sending him to prison - $25,000 p/yr and up here in NC for a year in jail same as what it costs to send a student to Duke University!

Now I'm getting an inkling. Scary but "knowledge is power" and I am on a real "need to know" basis.

I'll buy it. Thanks to the author of the book, Kris Millegan, and to the author of this review, Steven Hager. Yours, CT

2nd note: The other reviewer made an excellent point about the book not being available via [...] directly. How can this be? Thank God for used books by third parties on Amazon.

I really need to see what this book has to say. I am so distressed over reports of our country's "founding fathers" and richest fammilies great fortunes being made by importing opium and selling slaves and rum. I just can't believe it. How did I study history and never learned this when I was in school?

Stands to reason why our country is so rich, powerful and corrupt, and why the rest of the world calls us "The Barbarians" but can't wait to get here themselves to taste "the spoils of war and riches." Just like the CIA popped Noriega when he no longer wanted to share the spoils of the cocaine drug trade (if I am remembering this right), is this the same thing as "the war on Terror" that is enslaving this country right now?

And this could all be emanating from ONE COLLEGE CLUB that our state senators and presidents come from? What is going on here? How could we all be fooled for so long?

But who cares, as long as we have our TV, video games and iPods, right?
, criminals

'ENTERTAINMENT' is all that seems to matter anymore. What has happened to us all? Thank God for the few that still speak out about what truly matters. God Save us all.

This book is a compilation of book excerpts, historical analyses (Nazi financing), energy prospects (cold fusion, free energy), memories and comments, all more or less related to the secret lodge `Skull & Bones'.

It tries to prove that the secret lodge is a den for high level conspiracy: `a shadow government that controls political decision-making, not only for their own profit, but also to the detriment of the rest of the society'.
However, one gets the impression that the lodge is more a meeting place than an anti-democratic network. One can understand that some ideas are discussed during the meetings, but the eventual implementation of those ideas is decided at another and higher level. As one commentator says:
`Washington means the FBI, the CIA and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.'
One should not confound `Skull & Bones' with the misuse of political and economic power by `an undemocratic wealthy elitist clique of materialist ideologues in secret cabals at the highest level of society.'
On the other hand, one should also not underestimate the influence of the lodge network all over the world, e.g. `Puppet Masters - The political Use of Terrorism in Italy' by Philip Willan.

This book contains valuable information on the origin of wealth of some Western families (opium trade), the CIA budget, the financing of political parties before and during World War II and the history and memberships of `Skull & Bones.'
The best parts of the book are the excerpts of `The Unauthorized Biography' of G.W. Bush, by W.G. Tarpley and A. Chaitkin.

A very mixed bag.

I have been wanting to read a biography of Lord Nelson for some time now - mostly due to my reading of the entire "Master and Commander" series. It may be that I wished too much for Patrick O'Brian's passion when detailing the life of a real person but this entire biography felt like nothing more than a series of quotes being strung together. And, too often, the quotes were so out of context it was hard to even understand them. Besides that, often the quotes completely contradicted each other. I never got any real sense of the man or what it was like to live his life. If anything, it was like a time line with occasional context. There must be a better read out there about this fascinating man.

I like this book very much, even though I concede that another reviewer is right: Edgar Vincent does analyse Nelson's personality and motivations through a modern (21st century) lense.

My other complaint is that the book deals too much with the topics identified in the sub-title (love and fame) but not enough on the qualities that made Nelson the great historical figure he is. Those relate to his naval mastery. To understand Nelson as an admiral, a warrior and a hero, see the new books by Joel Hayward, Brian Lavery, Jo Callo and, for Nelson's early career, John Sugden. Remember also that the doyen of Nelson studies, Colin White, has just published NELSON THE NEW LETTERS, which is an invaluable source collection.

Now, is Vincent's book good on the stuff that I'm not personally that interested in? The short answer is YES. Mr Vincent has researched admirably and painstakingly and created a three-dimensional portrait of the little fellow that generally rings true.

Vincent's Nelson is vainglorious, passionate, complex, humane and sometimes a bit foolish. We knew all that, but Mr Vincent has depicted all these qualities and weaknesses with considerable empathy and an obvious unwillingness to sensationalise or trivialise.

The book itself is a handsome volume, one that looks as good as it reads.

This is a new perspective about "Love and Fame", and so it emphasizes the women he loved. I have read other bios. of Nelson, where the authors seem to know Nelson better. Here in this bio., Vincent gives psychological explanations for the motivations of Nelson, and gets them wrong. The author seems to be a 21st-century person explaining an 18th-century man in today's terms, and ultimately not understanding him. Nevertheless, the numerous large, color pictures of Nelson and his very lovely Lady Hamilton were wonderful additions.

In 1805, almost exactly 200 years ago, Horatio Nelson was killed just as his plans to defeat the French fleet were suceeding. Beautiful timing for a new biography that brings new light on Nelson's life.

The basics of the his life are not unknown. The interesting points addressed in this work concern things like his rise to such heights of power within the British Navy. The navy was a bastion of priveledge. The higher the social/royal ranking of a person, and the more wealth to impress one's peers the greater likelihood of promotion and power.

As the fifth son of a clergyman his rise to power had to depend on performance, fame, competance. Also there had to be hidden drives and an ability to self-promote in a manner that would not be offensive. How did Nelson rise to the top of the power pyramid? How did he get the captains of other ships, often people of higher social standing to follow his commands. The author was a senior manager at a large firm in England. He is able to analyze Nelson's life from a slightly different point of view than that of the more normal academic writer.

The result is a book that is likely to remain a classic for many years.

There are new works on Nelson that contain more originality--that's true. But I believe that this may be the most accessible single-volume biography and will thus probably sell well, and deservedly so, during 2005, the bicentennial of the Battle of Trafalgar. I hope so. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Well written, a gripping story and balanced. I am teaching a course on medical malpractice at the local law school. This book is the text. It provides a frame work to discuss numerous issues and the potential impact - or more accurately non-impact - of many tort reform proposals.

I am a college student studying to be a medical assistant. I had to write an essay on a specific medical lawsuit for my class "Medical Law and Ethics." I have not read a nonfiction book in years, but once I started reading this book I could not put it down. It is so stimulating, exciting, and brilliant. Mr. Werth had little to work with since there was no court room drama. He did a spectacular job with the resources he had. He is indeed an intelligent writer. I wish him well.

This is a wonderfully written and wonderfully worthwhile look into the healthcare and legal communities...it is a book that you won't be able to put down. The characters are well presented and you will find "knowing" them will enrich your own life.

This is a wonderful book for anyone involved in the litigation process or anyone involved in the health care field.

I am a structured settlement consultant who works with personal injury attorneys and some insurance companies. This is the best book I have ever seen about the process.

I have purchased over 200 copies of the book to give to trial attorneys, claims professionals and other structured settlement professionals. All love the book. It reads like a novel.

Don McNay...

I'm a medical doctor embroiled in a battle to expose a corrupt insurance company engaged in racketeering. I think (and have been told) that this is a story that needs telling. There are lots of twists and turns, corporate and government cover-ups, some drama, many sympathetic characters in the form of other victims of the abuses of this company, and lots of anguish. Thousands are suffering and some committing suicide because of the actions of this company. It will take me years to get to court, if that is even possible. Except for the Internet contacts I've made and a few friends, I am working practically alone. The legal profession has all but abandoned the public and their actions in covering these crimes up with confidentiality agreements, for those who can even afford lawyers, is allowing it to continue and worsen and spread, like a cancer.

AAAARRRRRGGGHHHH,

I am so frustrated. I am reading David Wilte's, Prayer For the Dead, in paper back and I have a misprinted book. It goes from page 282 back to page 251 and then repeats through 282 jumping at the end to 315. Too many missing pages. Wonderful book! I read all that was available in one Saturday morning. Perfect mindless readingfor a lazy Saturday. Wish I could finish it!

At the risk of sounding effusive, let me state right up front that this is the best, scariest, most interesting thriller, the best, most interesting, most seriously flawed hero, and the strangest, most frightening villain of any book that I've read in a decade. The earlier one was Red Dragon by Thomas Harris. An added plus for Wiltse that Harris, for all his talent, doesn't seem to have, is a sense of humor. I got my copy from a friend, I don't know if you can buy it, but, hey, try the library. It's a terrific book.

John Becker returns to the serial hunting fold when men mysteriously disappear. Flashbacks were a bit much. The mode chosen to murder the victims was gruesomely sick. I couldn't stop reading though.

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Be careful with this one, I didn't sleep for a week afterwards. So this is how John Becker got started. What a debut! I've been working my way backwards through David Wiltse's stuff, and I see he just started at the top and stayed there. Remarkably scary book!

This is a psychological thriller that introduces us to ex-FBI agent John Becker. It's one of those fast paced books that ensured that I was frantically turning pages in an effort to keep up.

John Becker is asked to have a bit of a look into some recent disappearances of some young men in the local area to see whether they are related. Becker, who is trying to enjoy his retirement, very reluctantly agrees and has soon linked the missing men through a common, yet obscure similarity. From here the chase is on to identify and track down a man who we know as Dyce. We learn a lot about Dyce quite early on, and follow along as he finds himself a girlfriend. This was probably the only part of the book that I had a problem with as the girlfriend is cast as a real desperate, so much so that she completely ignores some pretty weird things about her new boyfriend. And when I say pretty weird, I'm talking right out there, baby.

This is quite a typical psychological thriller with the usual extreme - dare I say it - psychotic behaviour by the killer accompanied by the odd flashback to his childhood to explain his present day actions. Becker's character is established, casting him as reliable in his instincts, but difficult to work with, particularly when fool superiors are involved. It's the sort of first book of a series that promises further development of a character who already has issues.