Smuggling Books

With the story set in my own San Francisco Bay Area, I very much enjoyed the locations and appreciate manner in which he presented the problems of the Dept. of Fish and Game. I would never have guessed abalone smuggling could be more profitable than drugs. However, even with all the bodies and climatic encounter with Kline, I never felt the suspense of this book or a real involvement with the characters. All the bits were there-plot, dialogue, setting--but, somehow, I just did not have a visceral connection to the story.

Very strong suspense/procedural type novel.

I liked it not just as a suspense/crime novel, but also as a "Novel Novel". Solid character with believable interior life and family problems (but not some bizarre Neurotic Impediment or cutesy Attribute), nice observations, interesting setting, and not much bloated detail, which sometimes infects novels by first time authors. (I've seen too many sentences like "She gingerly withdrew a pale pink facial tissue from the box imprinted with a pattern of violets and daisies." So for whom did the detail matter?) The hero's professional and personal relationships are not chummy, but there's an arms-length respect that rings true to the rest of his character.

I also appreciate that the chief villain is basically bad but believable, a hardened professional criminal and not a "psychopath" or serial killer; far too many mysteries, even by experienced and talented writers, fall back on that to excuse a lack of interior character development. (Maybe they should look at Simenon's crime novels, or maybe Elmore Leonard's.)

Nice job all around. I'll be looking for his next novel.

As a diver, NorCal native and committed conservationist, I was captivated from the start by this potent, believable tale. Russell's characters are completely real, coping with difficult work, complicated families, career decisions--hey, a lot like the rest of us! His eye for subtle details and capacity to project the plight of the characters onto the canvas of California's fragile resources make the story at once relevant and engaging. This is a promising first effort, and I can't wait to devour the next in the series.

This first-time novel is crime/mystery involving a former DEA agent and special operations unit of Fish & Game Department in California. Gritty, realistic crime drama set along the northern California coastline. As tense as some of the scenes get, it's difficult to believe this is Russell's first novel.

I liked it not just as a suspense/crime novel, but also as a "Novel Novel". Solid character with believable interior life and family problems (but not some bizarre Neurotic Impediment or cutesy Attribute), nice observations, interesting setting, and not much bloated detail, which sometimes infects novels by first time authors. (I've seen too many sentences like "She gingerly withdrew a pale pink facial tissue from the box imprinted with a pattern of violets and daisies." So for whom did the detail matter?) The hero's professional and personal relationships are not chummy, but there's an arms-length respect that rings true to the rest of his character.

I also appreciate that the chief villain is basically bad but believable, a hardened professional criminal and not a "psychopath" or serial killer; far too many mysteries, even by experienced and talented writers, fall back on that to excuse a lack of interior character development. (Maybe they should look at Simenon's crime novels, or maybe Elmore Leonard's.)

Nice job all around. I'll be looking for his next novel.

as a veerappan fan i found this book very good. Author sunaad did not fall in either veerappan side or on police side. He mentioned atrocities of both sides. There are few not clear or false items but other than that book is very good and a must read for all south indian news followers. as veerappan got killed by police recently. i am really interested if the same author can write a book regarding his death. i am sure veerappan did not get killed by police encounter and police is not telling the truth.

My god rest Verappan's soul.

I was so terribly curious to know more about this bandit called Veerappan. And finally, my desire to understand the man and his methods has been fulfilled by this gripping book.

This is a book for all India-watchers who have the inclination to know the country beyond its computer software credentials! It is amazing how one man, the bandit in question, can do all the things that he has done.

The author, Sunaad, deserves a pat on the back for having recreated the entire story without once slacking in the narration.

All in all, a fine read, this book!

Well, I always wondered why anyone had not attempted a biography of a man who had taken a whole country's imagination with him for so long. And boy, was the wait worth it!

Sunaad Raghuram has achieved what not one other journalist on the trail of the bandit has. And how does he do it? With style, aplomb, finesse and authenticity.

Starting by detailing the history of crime in Veerappan's part of the world and going on to describe vividly the many chilling incidents in the bandit's story, Sunaad does a fine job of unravelling the whole scene layer by layer.
This is a book which will remain in memory long after it has been closed. More so for readers of Indian origin who would probably know a thing or two of the story's setting.

This book by Sunaad Raghuram tells us the real story of Veerappan, sifitng so perfectly the wheat from the chaff, as it were. Handling a subject which is essentially given to hyperbole and exagerration-as indulged by vast sections of the media- is definitely not easy.

But Sunaad Raghuram does it with professional ease and gives us a remarkably believable account of the brigand who has been bestowed with almost super-human abilitites.

His writing style is direct, to the point, without any frills and throrougly riveting. An exhaustive work; one which leaves you with almost everything that you always wanted to know about the bandit who has been like none other in the world's history of crime.

This book is all about how a hard-nosed journalist has gone about unravelling the story of one of the most intriguing men in the world of crime today.

Wonderfully descriptive and finely balanced in the treatment of the story, this book is one of the best works in the crime thriller genre in a long time. Just go for it!

Once I started reading, I couldn't put it down and I did not until I finished it. Knowing the background of the hard-working people he came from and growing up in that same era and areas, it was like peering in a window and watching another world that I had only heard about whispered with girlfriends. I am grateful for the glimpse from Mr. Ford, as I know how painful the retelling must be for all, and hopefully cathartic as well. I could not imagine living in that drug culture or being a part of that desperation, growing up a wide-eyed and naive small-town girl at that time. I only knew the rumors of those that did, somewhat in awe at their audacity, like local versions of a forbidden rock star in some ways. What a tough character he was and a parents nightmare! The high stress of living such a life would seem to exact a heavy toll and the authors words conveyed a dilemma of ethics in a world where little seemed to exist. Yet I found myself oddly cheering him on and wanting him to succeed and be redeemed in the end, not admiring the lifestyle but appreciating the experience without having to live it. I felt for his family and children and all they must have endured. I was sad when the book ended as I felt there should be a neat and happy ending somehow, and hope it is as best it can be. The reader is left with a sense of lessons learned and regrets to overcome from the author (maybe part two?), yet a hope for a better life for he and his family. Good luck to the author and his family and I looking forward to reading some of his other books.

I was involved in the little known business of smuggling contraband INTO Mexico in the 80s. This did NOT involve drugs though the DEA thought some of us were into it...and they were probably correct! Not me of course!

Anyway, I can relate a bit (a small bit) to what Don endured. He must be one tough hombre is all I can say. The badlands of northern Mexico is no place for sissies! The book reads very well & the only way I could put it down at night was my eyelids refusing to stay open! Highly recommended for all those craving adventure stories...TRUE adventure stories.

If you're reading this, best of luck to you Don. I worked out of McAllen flying Queen Air 65s. One of the best aircraft for hauling heavy loads of VCRs & TVs! Levis & Motorcycles too...oh, and Cognac & Baclava! Mexicans love that stuff.

Contrary to the comments made by Genny Kirkpatrick, this is an outstanding narrative. Genny does not understand the culture of the border. A Spanish speaking Anglo, sincerely interested in Mexican culture, will have no difficulty being accepted by Mexicans near the border, and for this, the book is believable. It is definately an eye opener, and very informative regarding Mexican culture. Several passages discussing food found my stomach growling lol. My hat is off to Mr. Ford. He accepts responsibility for his actions, is not afraid to face the consequences, and all the while tells an interesting and sometimes amusing story.

The mexican cartels absolutely wouldn't have allowed this
guy living on the border to exist in their territory as it
relates to grass smuggling.In Nuevo Laredo and Laredo,Tx.
their have been 170 drug territory related killings year to date.
This isn't even close to logical.Further,if his ranching business
was broke and the bankers were knocking he could not have been anything more than a petty grass-runner.The mexicans have plenty
of these types.With no money--you're a mule.This is however good
fiction reading.The mexicans-including ''El Chapo'' of the Gulf
cartel would laugh at this one.An individual cowboy on the Mexican border that is broke?C'mon.Mexicans fiercely protect their business.FICTION!Anyone who knows anything about this business knows that this story just ain't happening.

I was witness to part of what Don wrote and having read Contrabandos, can testify to its accuracy. Any errors are only those of perspective, because we all see events in a slightly different light. Ms. Kirkpatrick reviews the book as fiction. I can assure you that it is not. A 'Mule' only recieves a fee for his services and is notinvolved in any other part of the business. If anything, this book lacked space to tell much more of the story as it happened.

To start with, I haven't read this book yet, but I will be reading it soon, and will leave a second review.

However, what has fascinated me even before reading it, is that so many people say "The information is so accurate!" Problem is, I'd imagine most (if not all) of the other reviewers had any time spent in the business. I'm not doubting this guy is the real deal or accurate, just saying that if you don't have a way of knowing the information is actually accurate...well....you really don't know. Without some first-hand experience, outside of some assumptions you won't really know.

Moreover, keep in mind that drug smuggling is a very fast paced world. It changes rapidly...the more governments find new ways of preventing it, smugglers must find new ways to get around them. Most of this information was probably much more valuable before this book was released to the public than before - due to the fact that the more the government knows about a given "trick", the less that trick works.

Once again, I haven't read it yet, and I'm really not trying to pass judgement on the book or the reviewers. I look forward to reading it, and even if I don't find it all that informative and accurate...I expect it to at least be entertaining. I'm simply saying...don't rush to conclusions if your basing them on "what seems to make sense"

I sent this book to my brother in jail. He really enjoyed it. He is in jail for that so I figured he would think the book was silly. He loved it.

Hawkeye Gross in an outstanding writer who I can't get enough of. This book was a true life account of what he did post vietnam (he throws a lot of that in there too). Very informative book. Just exactly how he smuggled and everything to a T. I just wish his other books were still in print today. Hold on to this one, you never know!

Very elementary, could have been written by anyone; including a priest. No "blow you away" secrets here. All common sense, with a couple of stupid tips to make sure you get arrested, such as approaching police in other countries and bribing them to find cocaine sources. Thought it would be an interesting read of an experienced trafficker, instead it was a short, "thrown together" book of common sense. Almost unreadable, don't buy it. All the 5 star reviews here are most definitely friends, or the author himself.

The first thing that struck me was how small the book was. I looked at its lack of size (152 pages) and thought I had wasted my money. How wrong I was. As noted by the other reviewers, this is truly excellent book. No Hollywood stuff here - just the truth with the deceit, need for multiple ID's, and need for thorough, thorough, thorough planning and execution. I'm not familiar with the geography of the Americas but it is not hard to follow the clear and impressive thinking of the author. I agree with one reviewers comment that if enforcement agencies aren't monitoring who is buying the book, then they should be. This is not a book I would want to get caught with because it definately read as a 'how to' manual for those serious about getting involved even if you have no intention of doing so. One benefit of it is how clear the risk of going to jail is - a risk I personally would not be prepared to take. One for the safety deposit box, I would suggest. Definately worth the read.

This story captures the grit of drug smuggling along the border. There are realistic depictions of life in a Mexican border town and the people that inhabit it. The author draws on his experience in this illicit trade to expose the corruption on both sides of the law. The reader will feel the adrenaline rush of the smugglers in this writer's auspicious debut.

THE DEVIL'S SWING
By Don Henry Ford, Jr.

The Devil's Swing is a story that takes you to hell and back amidst the nightmarish world of drug smuggling; John Kendall, Manuel Chavez, and Jesus Otono hastily sell their souls for the love of money, power, and an unending supply of ladies of the night.
The three comrades fall into chaos as they get rich while smuggling drugs and then dive deep into the bottomless pits of despair when they realize the choices they've made are a death wish beyond their control.
The settings in The Devil's Swing are vivid; the characters seem very real and the turbulence throughout the book definitely makes for great entertainment. Don Henry Ford, Jr. brings the world of drug smuggling and the misery that surrounds it to life with clarity and expertise.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Devil's Swing.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. It has a nice pace to it, the characters are well developed and it captures some of the romance of the region. It is a good story with a thought provoking ending.

I really enjoyed reading this book. Mr Fords style of writing made me see and feel the perils and attraction of drug running.
His descriptive style of writing had me feeling the pain and hope of the characters.It also makes me want to visit Texas and Northern Mexico to see the harsh beauty of the area. It was a great read and I look forward to reading more of his works.

The book , " The Devils' swing", is a book that captures the readers interest in the story and that interest increases as the plot goes deeper and deeper in the lives of John Kimbell, the principal character and his drug smuggling buddies. One can tell that the book is written from a person that has been in the real world of drug trafficking and lived to tell about it. I liked the moral ending and also the characters in the book. Just ordinary guys caught up in things way over their heads,and running for their lives .

The Smugglers by Iain Lawrence
The main character, John is a young lad who at sixteen gets himself into trouble. A friendly villian Dasher is both his enemy and his life saver. Captain Crowe wants the secret book and is a smuggler.
The story involves John a young lad who gets a boat, the Dragon from his father. His father gets a crew to take his son on a voyage. Captain Crowe comes with John and John doesn't know who he is. Others on the ship are in danger from Captain Crowe as he tries to find the Deadman's Secrets. Captain Crowe will even murder to get what he wants.
This story takes place in the past in London and at sea. John learns that running a ship can be dangerous and you need to be careful who you trust. I liked the story because it had adventure and mystery that was neat. I would recommend this book to other kids who like adventure but not to those who take stories too seriously or can't handle death.

I enjoyed this book very much. If you like action packed, can't-put-down kind of books about sailing and the sea, I recommend getting this book. I gave it 4 stars because the author didn't describe alot of detail of how things looked. Enough to get a picture but not all that clear. He was wonderful at describing death scenes or gruesome killings. (i.e, man torn in two, a few hangings described, dead body floating, following in the sea, etc.) But it didn't bother me that much, just thought I'd give a head's up to other readers interested in this book.

The Smugglers
Book review

This book is about a boy named John. John had a father who bought a ship called the dragon. This dragon caused a lot of trouble to John and his father. Also, his captain was a very evil man that used to smuggle other people and products like brandy. He also tried to kill John on the way to London. Luckily, Dasher helped save Johns life several times.
I chose this book because my friend had told me that it was fun. The cover was also very interesting. The designs and the boat looked very detailed in the huge storm. The smugglers sounded like a very fun and exciting book. Once I read the first few chapters, it felt as if I had to read the rest of the book. I liked this book because it had many exciting parts and lots of action.
My favorite part of the book is when John gets shot from dasher. He got shot twice and was very scared. He talked about getting flashbacks right before you die. The reason why I liked this part is because it was very funny. A few pages after this event, it explains that the gun he used had no real bullets and just made a hole on his clothes.

This book is about a little adventurous boy named John Spencer. Johns father has bought a new ship called the Dragon. Rumor has it that the Dragon is cursed and should bring misfortune to the owner. A evil ship should be towed by an evil man, a smuggler in fact, smuggling from every port this side of London. Now this ship in the hands of John and his father, what fortune should become of them?

If you like adventure books this is the book for you. There is'nt a moment when there isn't a dilema for little John Spencer. A must read for lovers of any adventure books, or any boat books.

The Smugglers
Book review

This book is about a boy named John. John had a father who bought a ship called the dragon. This dragon caused a lot of trouble to John and his father. Also, his captain was a very evil man that used to smuggle other people and products like brandy. He also tried to kill John on the way to London. Luckily, Dasher helped save Johns life several times.
I chose this book because my friend had told me that it was fun. The cover was also very interesting. The designs and the boat looked very detailed in the huge storm. The smugglers sounded like a very fun and exciting book. Once I read the first few chapters, it felt as if I had to read the rest of the book. I liked this book because it had many exciting parts and lots of action.
My favorite part of the book is when John gets shot from dasher. He got shot twice and was very scared. He talked about getting flashbacks right before you die. The reason why I liked this part is because it was very funny. A few pages after this event, it explains that the gun he used had no real bullets and just made a hole on his clothes.

Brinker is a PI working in Tucson, Arizona. A former INS agent who worked the US border with Mexico, he retired after being shot on duty apparently by one of his fellow agents. Brinker is hired by a local wealthy businessman, Mo Crain, to look into his wife's recent murder. Brinker's investigation takes him into contact with his old border patrol and the man who possibly tried to murder him. Of course, the investigation leads Brinker into danger with, not only his own life at stake but that of the woman he loves.
James C. Mitchell has written a competent but highly formulaic PI novel. There are little surprises here. The strength of the book are the characters and the depiction of the locale. The conclusion is predictable and with the obligatory scene of the villain holding the gun on the hero, the plot is very routine. Overall, a forgettable work but enjoyable enough while it lasts.

Time is a limited resource and reading is an investment. This is one of the best investments I have made this year. "Lovers Crossing" starts out like a bullet and only gets faster! Strong storyline. Interesting characters. Read it in three nights. Can't wait to read the next James C. Mitchell "Choke Point"!

This fast paced enjoyable book is a winner.
I have been around Tucson and so liked all his referrences and descriptions.
It would make a good movie.
Bravo Mr. Mitchell!

"Lovers Crossing" is a very good book. Mr Mitchell has written a mystery alright but his style makes it something more... a novel containing countless facts that he uses with good effect to augment his main story line with the result that the narative never gets bogged down. His stacato style fires items at the reader with the rapidity of a machine pistol.

The novel kicks off when the lead character, Brinker, and his partner, a couple of US Border Patrol Cops working the Arizona-Mexican border near Nogales, save a 6-year old, homeless Mexican waif. But that's really a prologue. The main theme develops when a wealthy Tucson businessman hires Brinker, who has turned in his badge and opened shop as a private detective after getting shot on the job. Mo Crain wants Brinker to find whoever it was who murdered his wife. The story weaves a trail through Nogales, Tucson, Vancouver and the location known as Lovers Crossing which figures heavily in Brinker's past.

Mr Mitchell's background in media helps him construct a look at the television News industry through the persona of Brinker's girlfriend. He has also researched the geography of the various locales extensively. Smuggling, both of drugs and human life, adds to the novel's intrigue and allows the author to develop a compelling cast of characters. The reader is left waiting for a sequal.

INS Agent Roscoe Brinker worked the border near Nogales when he was shot during an incident. He recovers, but is forced into retirement. To this day he believes one of his men either pulled the trigger or paid to have him shot, but he has no evidence against Sanchez. Instead, Brinker moved on and operates a private investigative firm out of Tucson.

Car dealer Mo Crain considers hiring Roscoe, but first asks the sleuth personal questions because he knows he needs someone who cares about loved ones to handle his case. The police have no leads into who killed Mo's philanthropic-activist wife. While standing besides her vehicle in a mall parking lot, someone shot Mo's spouse, but the killer failed to steal her car, jewelry, money or credit cards. Mo needs to know who and why so he engages Roscoe to find the answers that shockingly takes the sleuth full circle back to the border area where he was shot.

If LOVERS CROSSING is any indication of what readers can expect from debut author James C. Mitchell, fans of private investigative thrillers can expect some strong tales. The story line hooks the audience from the opening prologue when Roscoe as an INS Agent is shot until he completes his tracking of 900 miles in one week on the odometer of the car used by Mo's deceased wife. Readers will value this taut tale of illegal border dealings (not just crossings) that showcases a new talent.

Harriet Klausner

I had the good fortune to discover Bill Eidson when I picked up his THE GUARDIAN, a knockout thriller which led me to his ADRENALINE then to FRAMES PER SECOND. One after the other, Eidson's books are page-turning thrillers written with grit, wit, and sensibility. And now ONE BAD THING has confirmed my belief that this guy is a first-rate story teller and deserves the mantle of the late great John D. Macdonald as one reviewer has proclaimed. This is a gem of a book that keeps the pages turning while exploring important moral issues that speak to us all.

Bill Edison now has become even greater. The writing, the plot, the...., almost everything is good. He should be nominated for many literary or mystery awards, don't know why didn't get too much attention so far. Got marketing problem? Or, the critics simply too jealous of his talents? Only a few writers out there could have written all the books and every one of them is good! I am a split-the-hair reader, but I could never become picky against Mr. Edison. All I could do is holding my breath awaiting his next one. Live healthily, Mr. Edison, enjoy the longest writng era with your wonderful Muse and, thanks.

Ever picked up a book without knowing a thing about it? You just got this itch, probably somewhere deep inside the most primitive area of your brainstem, and it not only drew you to the book, but kept you super-glued to it all the way to page 348. And, like Super Glue(R), it wouldn't let you go. . . . ONE BAD THING by master storyteller Bill Eidson is that very book. And Bill's Super Glue is his unique ability to write just enough of a good thing, without detracting from his brilliantly told story.

Simple and elegant.

It was a Friday night a week or so ago, and I was sitting at the computer, breezing through Amazon.com's Mystery section. As I scrolled down, something caught my eye; I never even paid attention to it, because it was undefined. All I know is that ONE BAD THING arrived two days later, and I recall ripping off the packaging, clutching it under my arm, and running for the bedroom. After a few minutes of setting up my nest of 13 or so pillows, I dived right into Bill's gift. . . .

Ten hours later, I found myself wishing the remaining 500 pages would soon show up at my doorstep.

Bill dreamed up half a dozen true-to-life characters, esp. Rob McKenna, the protagonist who appears to fall into the old "Good Initiative, Bad Judgement" trap. McKenna's heart is fresh from the blender: his daughter Samantha is killed by . . . and his marriage to his soulmate Caroline is crashing into the surf with the incoming tide.

On a sailing voyage from the British Virgin Islands, McKenna, sans Caroline who leaves him alone in Tortuga, takes on a young fast-talking (not to mention dangerous!) Tom Cain as his deckhand. The moment McKenna disregards his own keen intuition, which raises more than one red flag over Cain, he begins to take on water and start the slow, downward death spiral.

On the way down, he runs the gauntlet of near-death encounters with notorious organized-crime figures, and continually faces his own reflection. As in the beginning, McKenna ignores his intuition, throws caution to the wind, and gets inexorably tangled in a sticky web of intrigue, drama, murder, and money.

Bill turns on the afterburners at Chapter 23, after a nice trot that keeps you on your toes without letting up. If you're not in great cardiovascular shape, then I advise renting a "crash cart" with a defibrillator that's had a recent servicing. A tank of 100% oxygen might be in order, too. I'm in super shape, with a resting heart rate of 50 beats/min. When I met Tom Cain, and tried to warn Rob McKenna about him, my heart rate jumped to 75 and stayed there 'til Chapter 23 rolled around, then accelerated into the red zone for the remainder of the story.

ONE BAD THING brings to mind a great movie years ago, Into The Night, with Jeff Goldblum, who plays an insomniac that goes for a leisurely walk late one night, and ends up caught in Michelle Pfeiffer's nightmare. The premise and message are similar: Good Initiative, Bad Judgement.

Even though the long summer reading season is now over, it wouldn't be overindulgent to pick up ONE BAD THING . . . Go ahead, treat yourself.

Just remember the "crash cart" and oxygen.

Dean Garner, Santa Barbara, CA

P.S. Hey, Bill, what about those extra 500 pages!?

Rob McKenna and his wife, Catherine, decide to sell their home and cruise the world on their sailboat, in order to rebuild their lives following the tragic death of their teenage daughter. But their marriage seems beyond repair, and half way through the journey she leaves him and flies home, leaving him to sail back alone from the Caribbean. He picks up a crew-mate, Tom Cain, without really knowing anything about him, and then things start to go wrong.

Tom has smuggled diamonds onto the boat, and agrees to share the bounty with Rob if he promises not to reveal the contraband to the customs authorities. This "one bad thing" starts to snowball. Tom tries to kill Rob before the boat reaches the Boston harbor, and out of self-defense Rob ends up killing Tom and another accomplice. Tom just wants the problem to go away so he can return to his old life, get back together with Catherine and start over.

But "one bad thing" leads to another. Rob is pursued by some nasty thugs who want the diamonds back, and the plot starts to get more complicated and less believable. The first half of the book was fast-paced and intriguing. After Rob returned to land and got more and more involved in evading the criminals, the plot got tedious and unrealistic. The dialogue and the characters were ludicrous and unbelievable, and the plot overly complicated and torturous.

Ever picked up a book without knowing a thing about it? You just got this itch, probably somewhere deep inside the most primitive area of your brainstem, and it not only drew you to the book, but kept you super-glued to it all the way to page 348. And, like Super Glue(R), it wouldn't let you go. . . .

ONE BAD THING by master storyteller Bill Eidson is that very book. And Bill's Super Glue is his unique ability to write just enough of a good thing, without detracting from his brilliantly told story.

Simple and elegant.

It was a Friday night a week or so ago, and I was sitting at the computer, breezing through Amazon.com's Mystery section. As I scrolled down, something caught my eye; I never even paid attention to it, because it was undefined. All I know is that ONE BAD THING arrived two days later, and I recall ripping off the packaging, clutching it under my arm, and running for the bedroom. After a few minutes of setting up my nest of 13 or so pillows, I dived right into Bill's gift. . . .

Ten hours later, I found myself wishing the remaining 500 pages would soon show up at my doorstep.

Bill dreamed up half a dozen true-to-life characters, esp. Rob McKenna, the protagonist who appears to fall into the old "Good Initiative, Bad Judgement" trap. McKenna's heart is fresh from the blender: his daughter Samantha is killed by . . . and his marriage to his soulmate Caroline is crashing into the surf with the incoming tide.

On a sailing voyage from the British Virgin Islands, McKenna, sans Caroline who leaves him alone in Tortuga, takes on a young fast-talking (not to mention dangerous!) Tom Cain as his deckhand. The moment KcKenna disregards his own keen intuition, which raises more than one red flag over Cain, he begins to take on water and start the slow, downward death spiral.

On the way down, he runs the gauntlet of near-death encounters with notorious organized-crime figures, and continually faces his own reflection. As in the beginning, McKenna ignores his intuition, throws caution to the wind, and gets inexorably tangled in a sticky web of intrigue, drama, murder, and money.

Bill turns on the afterburners at Chapter 23, after a nice trot that keeps you on your toes without letting up. If you're not in great cardiovascular shape, then I advise renting a "crash cart" with a defibrillator that's had a recent servicing. A tank of 100% oxygen might be in order, too. I'm in super shape, with a resting heart rate of 50 beats/min. When I met Tom Cain, and tried to warn Rob McKenna about him, my heart rate jumped to 75 and stayed there 'til Chapter 23 rolled around, then accelerated into the red zone for the remainder of the story.

ONE BAD THING brings to mind a great movie years ago, with Jeff Goldblum, who plays an insomniac that goes for a leisurely walk late one night, and ends up caught in Michelle Pfeiffer's nightmare. I don't recall the name, but the premise and message are similar: Good Initiative, Bad Judgement.

Even though the long summer reading season is now over, it wouldn't be overindulgent to pick up ONE BAD THING . . . Go ahead, treat yourself.

Just remember the "crash cart" and oxygen.

Dean Garner, Santa Barbara, CA

P.S. Hey, Bill, what about those extra 500 pages!?

Referring to the comments above, this book is very thrilling because their near death by the vine rope, the alligators, and last but not least the dangerous smugglers. Now it's strange because why would anyone try to put a picture behind a frame, or in a secret panel behind the frame? Certainly it would require much practice and work. This was a very tricky mysrery, and is no doubt one of the top ten Hardy Boys choices.

A Bayport art-collector, Raymond Wester, suspects Frank and Joe of stealing one of his paintings, but offers them the chance to prove their innocence, so Frank, Joe, Chet and Biff head to Smuggler's Cove in the Florida Keys to track down the painting and the real thieves. Lots of action, suspence and a good plot. I enjoyed the book very much. My only problem with the story was that if Wester truely believed that Frank and Joe were guilty, why would he let them leave Bayport?

Filled with mysterious adventures, and page turning thrills you'll never want to put this book down. the Mystery o f Smugglers Cove is about two Hardy Boy detectives who are sent on a case to the Everglades to try and find the person who stole a famous painting. The suspects are no other then the Hardy Boys themselves. They have to prove that they didn't steal the painting and capture the bad guys before something else goes wrong. When they go to the Everglades they have to disguise themselves as pirates and they work for the bad guy to find out what he's going to do with the painting. Read on and find out what happens. Do the bad guys get caught?, or are the Hardy Boys still suspets? Find out when you read the book. It's for boys and girls.

This is the only officially produced audio tape of a Hardy Boys story available. This is a 2 cassette set narrated by Cam Clarke of the King Family and produced by Peter Kline. The story is pretty good and the tape is not a bad version but some of Mr. Clarke's voice characterizations (particulary Biff's, which sounds like a cross between Leo Gorcey & Jerry Lewis) are hysterically bad. The cover has a copyright of 1985 but Mr. Clarke announces a 1983 copyright on the first tape and the tapes carry a 1983 copyright. ...

Working on my thesis on human trafficking, I have found this book very useful.

Under the guise of being against trafficking but wanting to 'de-sensationalize it' this book in the end argues that all laws against trafficking are in fact really 'racist' laws that are really designed to stop migrant labour and are themselves harming 'indigenous' and 'aboriginal' people. This is a wonderfully crafted scam, a typical scam that uses underlying principles and high language to promote or simply dis-regard the millions of women held in virtual slavery year after year in places as far flung as Bangkok, Prague and New York. No one in their serious mind can claim a law that puts away a person who sells a 12 year old girl into a brothel to work as a slave is really a 'covertly racist law' that 'discriminates' against the 12 year old by not allowing her the freedom of being enslaved. Yet this book bends over backward to do just that, to try to covnince us that in fact if only the 'racist' west stopped pushing its values on the 'east' by telling places like Cambodia that it is wrong to sell 12 year girls who thought they were going to work as chamber maids into brothels is somehow 'racist' becuase, and this is the insinuation, 'that is what cambodian girls are for'. This is a disgusting, wrethed, offence and racist text whose conslusions do a great disservice to the global effort to stop slavery and human trafficking.

Seth J. Frantzman

Prostitution between consenting adults (adults!) should have been decriminalized generations ago. The primary reason it's still on our criminal statute books is because Christian fundamentalists still have a grip on our legislative branch. And of course no politician would ever have the stones to get up on the stump and say what needs to be said: legalization of prostitution between consenting adults is the only way to go.

Decriminalization and regulation would go a long way in keeping both the women and the men more safe. Prostitutes are sometimes the victims of serial killers while their customers are not infrequently the victims of larceny and robbery. Legalization, while not perfect, would help to alleviate some of these problems. Further, the government could tax it and generate some revenue. It would also help to deal out many of the pimps who parasitically feed off the labors of women in the sex underworld. Legalization is not a panacea; however it is a much sounder public policy than the status quo.

Most men past the age of about 45 have little means of attracting a sexually attractive woman. Moreover, physically handicapped men, ugly men, old men, men with little confidence, have almost no way of winning the charms of a pretty woman. Yet they still have sexual interests that aren't going anywhere. Perhaps one could argue that they have a right to sexual pleasure with a consenting adult. Allowing them to pay for sexual favors from an obliging woman is virtually the only rational solution. Obviously with prostitution being illegal a man cannot visit a prostitute without the dread of getting arrested and ruining life and reputation. This worry must end.

The intellectual Lionel Tiger has written some amazing stuff regarding a human being's right to sexual pleasure, of course with a consenting adult, see his terrific book "Pursuit of Pleasure." As our society becomes more enlightened (a not altogether sure thing) sexual pleasure will eventually be seen as more of a right than simply a luxury for the young and well born.

Gore Vidal has also written some fabulous essays regarding law enforcement and the way they get their jollies by busting sex workers and sex customers (see his seminal book: "United States Essays"). It gives the cops a thrill to bust consenting adults; they swoop-in donning paramilitary garb resembling Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and violently force to the ground some poor soul who's simply looking to enjoy the pleasures of a woman. Everyone has seen the "reality" cop TV shows that display this police-state mentality and it always seems ever more pathetic. The cops moralize and talk down to the offender like a sadistic schoolmarm who caught a teenager with a dirty magazine. It's really quite remarkable that in 2008 the state can dictate that it's a criminal offense for a man to try and obtain sexual pleasures with a consenting woman.

Advocates of the status quo are fond of citing the argument that prostitution brings drug dealing, assaults, and other petty crimes to a neighborhood. Of course this argument is a clear red herring since it fails to address the question of legalizing prostitution in and of itself. Prostitution in and of itself is a victimless crime between consenting adults. Obviously the other crimes rightfully have laws addressing those offenses.

In Joan Sewell's book "I'd Rather Eat Chocolate" she demonstrates that men have a much higher sex drive than women and that many women simply don't like sex. Hence, one could argue women prostitutes are valuable service providers doing integral work for some men who sometimes have few other options.

Legalization along with regulation obviously won't solve everything, but it would be a reasonable step in the right direction. Criminalizing consensual matters between adults is better suited for 1600s New England (or the contemporary Deep South) than for a society which purports to be based on rationality.

Kempadoo's excellent book goes a long way in delivering some rationality to this important issue.

An interesting book at an interesting time, when the problem of human trafficking is finally beginning to get the international attention it deserves. Unfortunately, as the book points out, much of that attention is based upon a few overly simplistic assumptions.

The editor and the essayists argue persuasively that greater attention needs to be paid to those forms of trafficking which do not fit into the (mostly inaccurate) stereotype of 'young girl snatched from home and forced into prostitution', and to how trafficking is facilitated by strict migration laws, gender stereotypes and an absence of worker protections.

Those who think trafficking can be stopped by criminalising prostitution, or by denying funding to organisations simply because they don't take an abolitionist line, will find much food for thought here.

If I have one complaint about the book it's that it's too Asian-centric. While that's obviously the part of the world where the trafficking problem is most acute, it wouldn't have hurt to include just one essay about another part of the world.