Maine Books

Started off beautifully written, but characters a bit too one dimensional--more characters and less boatmaking description would've been better in my opinion. Ends with a cop-out court drama that just became too unbearable to finish. I really wanted to like this book but felt the ending was disappointing. Court cases: ho-hum. I could watch Matlock or read John Grisham if I needed another dose of courtroom climax. But the writing is superb and unique, thus he gets 3 stars...a writer to watch and who I believe will increase in talent and skill.

I agree with the earlier reviews. Beautifully written, a very well woven plot line, and the exquisite simplicity of true "Downeaster" philosophy and ethics.

My only minor complaint is that while his descriptive passages are beautiful, I sometimes got the feeling that he was "trying too hard" and heading a little toward "verbal gymnastics".
As I said, this is only a "minor" point.

Well worth reading, and a phenomenal first novel by a gifted writer. I will be awaiting his next effort.

Norman G. Gautreau's debut novel Sea Room takes place during and after the devastation of World War II. The Dupuys are simple family living on the Maine seacoast must bid farewell Gil Dupuy, a passionate young man who enlists to serve his country, while his wife, son, and parents pull together on the home front. Sea Room is very highly recommended as an engaging and original story of bitter truths, hanging on despite increasingly harsh conditions, and holding on to hope and dreams in the wake of despair.

This was one of the most interesting books I have read, and
I read a lot. We are taken into a Maine seafaring family and
share their secrets, loves,prayers and sit at the table for meals. The descriptions of the townspeople, friends, family and
others is so complete that you feel that you know them well.
Of special interest to boating enthusiasts (which I am not) but
exceptionally well written by Mr. Gauthreau in his debut novel.
See for yourself!

The cover is so beautiful, it gives you an idea that this book is above the ordinary, and it is!

It's a story about 3 generations (the Dupuy's) of a fishing family who live and work on the coast of Maine. When Pearl Harbor is bombed, everything changes for the family. Gil leaves for the war and the family is left to wait and pray for his return.

The writing is beautiful as it describes the landscape, the sea, and each member of the family. They all are vividly portrayed and come to life.

If made into a movie, it would be comparable to "Snow Falling on Cedars". It would be a great movie and is a book well worth anyone's time.

I found Pat Nyhan's Zig Zag to be an eye opening read. Having my parent's direct me into the career path of teaching in 1970, I always wondered what else I could be doing. I was inspired by Nyhan's varied experiences, travels and search for that perfect fit of career and family time. I would definately recommend this book to any women in search of herself.

In this thoughtful, absorbing memoir, Nyhan recalls her irrepressible hunger to know the world and the striving, idealistic Dutch/Irish ancestors whose example fueled her determination to reach beyond the conventional clean-house-and-mommyhood aspirations of 1950's women to pursue her own destiny. She skillfully interweaves the turbulent political events of the past fifty years with her own many-angled career path and its ambitions, disappointments, and triumphs. Although Nyhan encounters sexual harassment and discrimination along the way, she remains acutely aware of the privileges that her education, class, and race provided as she reflects on the societal changes that allowed more options for women. Along the way she builds a loving family, travels the world, and finds rewarding work as a journalist and teacher who made a difference in many lives. As Nyhan makes peace with the balancing act that is modern life, her entertaining tale helps readers to do so, too --to seek work they love and to exploit every opportunity to love what they do.

This book is an esential tool for any educator in a women's studies program as well as a "must read" for any women's book club.
What makes this book so essential is that Ms. Nyhan's interesting and varied life experiences are placed in our minds against a rich historical background which enables the reader to understand the time and its challenges for women more completely.

In this engaging, well-written book, Pat Nyhan looks back on her life in an era of historic changes that tranformed the social system she'd grown up in. Its serial format makes the book a pleasure to read and reread as Nyhan takes you along on her zigzag journey with great stories, vivid descriptions, and witty, memorable images of people encountered along the way. Sprinkled throughout are informative references to news and events that marked the changing times. This book has broad appeal, not only to the working woman. The thinker, writer, traveler, and former child in all of us will enjoy the thoughtful observations and reflections in this big little book.

Zig Zag A Working Woman's Life In Changing Times by Pat Nylan is a must read if you are a female raised in the 1940s and 1950s, a time when you were encouraged to continue your education and work only until you reached the goal of homemaker.

If you are from a younger generation, you will find it interesting to compare where you are now and how the experiences of previous generations affect your expectation/goals.

Pat relates her personal experiences while also reminding us how the political and social climate affect our perception of who we are and what we can become.

Ray Fowler, a prominent UFO Investigator, does an A-plus job in this investigative documentation of a UFO abduction involving four men. As a UFO investigator, this book kept me up all night with the lights on! Where were you, Fox Mulder?

Fascinating true story...I attended art school where one of the abductees, Jim was a teacher of computer arts. His colleagues teased him about the "abductions" but also believed him as he is a very down-to-earth, sincere person, and one that does not seek the spotlight. There wasn't much to gain monetarily by telling the story, plus all involved opened themselves to ridicule by skeptics. There is no reason for me to believe that what they experienced was fake, or hallucinated. I also sat in on some UFO classes Ray Fowler taught from his home. He also is very believable and has done extensive research on the UFO/abduction phenomenon, and has had some bizarre experiences of his own!!

This book is a condensation of a 10-volume 702-page research report the author completed on the abduction of 4 men, a pair of twins and two friends, during a camping trip on the Allagash Waterway of Maine. In his preface, the author invites the reader to consider the evidence presented as a juror would, and to answer for themselves, "Are UFO abductions real?"

The evidence presented, in addition to background material on the four men, is primarily transcripts of hynosis sessions conducted by hypnotherapist, Tony Constantino. These sessions were held approx 12 years after the Allagash trip. Until these sessions, the four believed that they had experienced only a CEI (Close Encounter of the 1st Kind, visual sighting). However, "bleed through" memories and vivid nightmares led one of the participants to seek help.

The book includes illustrations drawn by the participants after hypnosis (all are artists) and an excellent introduction in Chapter 12 to Dr. Thomas E. Bullard's two volume work, UFO Abductions: The Measure of a Mystery. The common elements of the abduction experience are discussed in relation to the Allagash Four.

Although the idea that human beings are involuntarily being used a guinea pigs by some alien race(s) is, at some primal level, terrifying and leads many people to reject the phenomenon without consideration, the evidence presented here may lead the reader to a different conclusion.

Usual solid Fowler UFO story. Once again Ray puts in a fully credible tale of alien abduction. How can five people be wrong? - Consistent but independent evidence five times over cannot be questioned. A must for anyone, not just Ufologists.

It has been some years since I read this but I count it as one of the best written and researched books in my own extensive personal library. Fowler does not simply ask the reader to believe him;he presents the evidence collected-admitedlly it's anecdotal and hypnotic regression, but there is other corrobarative evidence as well-and asks if a jury could convict someone of a kidnapping on the basis of this evidence. Read the account and see if you don't agree.

This book is an absorbing journey into the rhythym of life for a New England farming family in the early 1900's. Rich in detail of everyday life, and rich in characterization, this book allows the reader to enjoy watching the central character's lives unfold. The only flaw is that Carroll falls into stereotyping at times, which can make the characters seem a bit less believable. Nonetheless, reading this book gives you a sense of fullness in the family's conection with the earth, and a sense of the peace enjoyed by humble people living honest lives.

I have read this book as part of a seminar being conducted by the Maine Humanities Council and Margaret Chase Smith Library. We will discuss the book at our April 1999 meeting. What a delight to read about people during the time of the early 20s, and people who still exist in parts of Maine today. Some things never change, thank God . Most Maine-iacs can relate to the life of the Shaw family and no doubt can link to people in a certain place. I understand that the book was made into a movie by Warner Bros. in 1934. I wonder if it is available in a video?

This novel is a soothing and comforting story of farm family in Maine. The main character is Jen Shaw, a young woman lving with her family in a small community during the 1920's, I think.

This book is the Waltons meet Ethan Frome, depicting a year in the life of a family that more and more face the modern world of air planes, college educations, and city life.

The characaters are sympathetic, strong and human. The chronicle of farm living's chores, rituals, and tasks are fascinating.

This is one of my favorite books. I have re-read it many times and always find something new to admire about it. Mrs. Carroll knows this life and it shows-her characters really live on the page. Jen Shaw and especially her father Mark are beautifully drawn. Mark may seem almost emotionless, but one comes to understand that he loves his children and farm too deeply to express by mere words. This is a way of life that may no longer exist, but I'm so glad that it was chronicled. Mrs. Carroll was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for "ATET" but lost to Pearl Buck's "The Good Earth". Her books are all written from her heart about the Maine she knew so well, and are worth checking out if you can find them. Youll be glad you did.

Although born in New Hampshire, Gladys Carroll spent most of her life in Maine (Berwick). Life in rural Maine communities was her major theme in her novels. In this book, her first, she writes about the Shaws, a farm family, and their trials and tribulations over the course of a year in the early 1920s. Her characters are well drawn and come to life.

She is often compared to Sarah Orne Jewett and Mary E. Wilkins, other Maine writers, but a better comparison would be to Mary Ellen Chase, a Maine novelist who is contemporary to Carroll and who also used similar settings to explore comparable themes. As late as the 1960s (I don't know about now), a play based on AS THE EARTH TURNS was performed every summer in Berwick. It was her most popular book, widely translated into other languages.

I bought this book on a whim. For a long time I had been interested in law and wanted to see what studying it was all about. I don't think I could have picked a better place to start. From the word go this book delivered interesting cases with in-depth analysis at the end of each one. The analysis was especially helpful in picking apart the important points of law that the case represented. Now when I watch Law and Order and The Practice, I can tell my girlfriend about what is going on (in the legal parts) and sound like a total know-it-all, which is totally awesome.

If you could call a casebook awesome I would use those words here. This book is great for outlining and it leads you through Criminal Law step by step. You'll be amazed at your deep understanding of Criminal Law when you finish with this casebook.

It's a well written book for the first year, but it would not hurt if the schools used previous edition which can be available at mush cheaper price.

For first year law students it is a must. Reflection on this book even for the most seasoned attorney is recommended as well.

OK, 1Ls of the world...this book is organized very well for outlining. The text covers all of the areas of criminal law, peppered with interesting cases drawn from around the country, and really does a good job of giving the reader a variety of perspectives on the contentious issues that comprise criminal law.

This book is about Jack. The author,Elvira Woodruff,has read the book and admiring the book. This book i great. If you lke mystery books you will like this book. I like this book because it gives you the picture that you can see it in your head. Jack is sleeping in his bed when a ghostly figure was at the end of his bed! Jack found out that he was livivg but the ghost was not.The ghost name was Nathaniel Witherspoon than it said "you're the exactly the kind of boy I need" Jake woke up he found himself in a 150 secret of a ship wreck that clamed many lives including young Nataniel Witherspoons.

Moving from Iowa to Maine would be a devistating blow to me, as it was for ten year old Jack Carlton. Who is viseted by a ghost by the name of Nathaniel. And With the help of the Nathaniel Jack unravles a great mystery of time wich is 150 years old.

The Ghost of Lizard light is about little ghosts. I really like this story becaouse it is funny and sad becaouse the half grown up kide uses his own brother you probly wont late your kids read tis book. But you should ander stand that it is trying totell your kids not to play with stuff laying on the on the ground and not to pick up green glowing things. And to listen to you so I would recommend that you give this book five stars because it is so great and theirs know dout about it. So please give it five stars.

This book is one of the best books i have read. I read it to my classmates and nthey all liked it. They asked me to do this so i am! Like I said It is a great book.

I am in fourth grade and I got the Ghost of Lizard Light out from my library. I wondered how scary it would be. It was just scary enough to make me want to keep reading, but not so scary that I had nightmares. The ghost is really good and I liked that he haunted the lighthouse. I also liked Ned the lizard. I would reccomend this book to any kids who love a good ghost story. I'm going to try the author's mummy book next. Jon in Bridgewater, N.J.

I needed a book to flush out my order so I could get free delivery. This one looked interesting. It is simply written, somewhat slow paced, and has what I would call an almost religeous overtone. The stories were somewhat heartwarming if seemingly a bit farfetched. I would not purchase a book from this author again.

This is a collection of four novellas that the writer himself describes as "Stories of human strength and forgiveness and courage." And it is the writer's wish that, through these stories, the hope he found in writing them "could be distributed to others."



In adddition to the hope, however, this book clearly demonstrates that Russell Vassallo is a writer of talent and sensitivity. His descriptions of the natural world are sharply drawn and authentic. His descriptions of people and their crises are accurate -- in some cases, painfully so. And his exploration of the bonds that can form between mankind and animals is both poignant and uplifting.



Even when fantasies are intertwined with reality, as happens in the final story, the results are both intriguing and deftly handled. The only aspects of these stories that may raise some questions are the author's frequent changes in point of view, and his reliance on anthropomorphism. But those are the kinds of questions that would, perhaps, only be raised by other writers.



If you love animals, if you care about human pain and desperation, and if you appreciate beautiful, poetic, and sensitive writing, this is the book for you.



Russ Heitz

Sarasota, Florida

www.russheitz.com

Based on true events, "The Horse With The Golden Mane: Stories of Adventure, Mystery And Romance" is a compilation of three thoroughly entertaining and carefully crafted short stories by Russell A. Vassallo and includes 'Eric', 'Taj', and the title piece, 'The Horse With The Golden Mane'. A very special treat for the reader is Vassallo's introduction 'When We Are Done' and the addition of a charming 'Afterword' at the end. 'Eric' is based on the experiences of Sol, a man who survived internment in a Nazi death camp and came to America where he befriended a Doberman pincher - the very breed of dog the Germans used to hunt down and attack Jewish prisoners. 'Taj' is a story of the bond that can develop between a man and a horse, and how this relationship can help to mend broken families. The loss of a beloved horse and the pursuant search and recovery effort at the hands of as skilled an author as Vassallo makes for truly riveting reading. 'The Horse With The Golden Mane' again addresses how rescuing an abused and spirited horse can heal a man whose life is complicated by a search for a missing wife whom he loves to the point of distraction. Original, compelling, entertaining, and thought-provoking, "The Horse With The Golden mane: Stories of Adventure, Mystery And Romance" is highly recommended and rewarding reading for anyone who has a deep regard for how an affection for our animals can influence us and help us in our darkest hours.

Reviewed by Lori Plach for Reader Views (3/07)

Are you looking for a book with adventure, mystery and romance all in one volume? If that is what you are looking for, your search is over. "The Horse with the Golden Mane" has it all. There are three short stories in this book which encompass all of these: adventure, mystery and romance. This is a very delightful read by a great story teller. Russell A Vassallo brings his love of animals and being a gifted storyteller to life in this book. And, if you don't favor horses, there is a dog as a major character in the first story.

The story "Eric" deals with a man who was freed from a Nazi death camp and exiled to America. He develops an unusual friendship between him and a Doberman pinscher. It is very exciting to see how this story comes to an end as there are many twists and turns throughout. I had difficulty laying this book down while engaged in this story.

The next is the story of "Taj." Taj is a horse who hasn't lived up to his full potential as a race horse. Grant Larsen feels a connection between him and the horse and saves his life. Perhaps the real reason for Taj's existence isn't really racing, but a different purpose. He chases all over looking for where this horse could have been taken. He is amazed and surprised when he sees what Taj's purpose really is. It's a heartwarming story with a tear-jerking ending.

The title story "The Horse with the Golden Mane," is a wonderful story of undying love of a man named Pierce Bernard. With a self-sacrificing love, Pierce frantically searches for his wife. Pierce develops a bond with an abused horse. The lack of trust in humans that this animal has after its abuse is very well brought out. Pierce finds himself talking with the horse and it becomes evident that the horse ends up being a very close friend to Pierce. In the process of getting the horse to trust him, Pierce learns very much about himself. Will Pierce ever find his wife Maya?

I would highly recommend this book to animal lovers and short story lovers. The stories are very engaging and addictive. My wish is that Russell A Vassallo writes more books like this one. "The Horse with the Golden Mane" is an awesome book that I will long remember reading.

Russ Vassallo has combined three amazing stories in this one book. Part one is the story of Eric, a Doberman, and his adopted master. Book Two is rich in compassion a story of hope and reconciliation and a horse named Taj. The third in this trio of animal stories is "The Horse With the Golden Mane". This is the touching story of Pierce, Maya, and Red Leader, a gripping story of abuse, separation, and resolution.

Russ writes with the uncanny ability to pull at your heart strings until your eyes are wet with the fresh release of previously restrained tears as a sense of compassion floods the very core of your being. Russ maintained a sense of urgency and suspense right up to his surprise climatic ending.

Russ's writing is stronger than ever, filled with beautiful similes, pithy descriptions, and intuitive insight into the mind of man and the nature of beast. I became enthralled as Russ humanized his perception of the feelings and thought processes of animals. He melded the personalities of man and horse, or the man and dog, bonding them together, as he worked through the emotional struggles of his characters.

Although fictional in stance a theme of reality carried the plot of each of the three stories. Each story depicted the insecurity and loneliness of a man working through his own anger, insecurity, or loneliness. I sensed that Russ was reaching out to tell a composite of his own life story in a way that would offer encouragement and hope to others working through similar issues in their personal destiny.

Russ Vassallo has come through again with stirring stories of the special bonding of man and animal through mutual tenderness, love, and trust.
This book is a must read for horse and dog lovers, and for anyone who has mastered the art of communicating with their favorite animal or pet.

I read this book twice last year before visiting The Keeper's House. Now that I've been to their fantastic inn, I'm reading it again. It's a great way to revisit and remember the wonderful times we had there. The recipes at the end of each chapter are very good--I've made several of them. I highly recommend this book (and the Inn!) to anyone with a sense of adventure and romance.

This book chronicles the establishment, by Jeffrey Burke and his wife, of an the Keeper's House Inn, next to an old lighthouse in Maine on Isle au Haut, seven miles off the coast, with the only link to *civilization* being the daily mail boat.

With no experience and little money, the Burkes took a giant leap of faith when they decided to open this establishment. The book details many of the obstacles they had to overcome and how they dealt with them.

It is such an interesting story of ingenuity, especially how they managed to get water (having a well pounded, not drilled); survived without any electricity (except for a generator that was only sufficient for running the mini sewage-treatment facility); used a 60-year old gas-powered refrigerator; and painted the 796 windowpanes in the inn and lighthouse.

The vignettes about the guests and some of the local characters were both amusing and insightful.

Each of the 21 chapters ends with one of the inn's recipes and the book is illustrated with delightful engravings by a Maine artist. I really enjoyed this book and have bought it several times to give as a gift.

I read this book as an ex-innkeeper and found it quite enjoyable. Jeffrey Burke does reveal himself as somewhat of a "crabby" person and I kept wondering what his wife thought of each episode. I suspect she is the easy-going wife/innkeeper. I do think the book should be put into quality paperback and it would then have a great audience among inn guests and innkeepers. I would definitely recommend it to friends.

As a former guest of The Keeper's House, I found reading about the history of the inn extremely interesting. Jeff and Judi seem to be among the few who were willing to take a chance and open this very unusual inn. No wonder the guests described in this book are as fascinating as the innkeepers.

What a lovely, sweet book! I flew through it, enjoying every minute of it and wishing there were more! I agree with a previous reviewer that it should be published in quality paperback. I also would love to see a sequel from the author that goes into more depth and detail about their life as innkeepers in such a unique setting. I'm sure there are many more funny and heartwarming anecdotes about guests, as well as more trials and tribulations about their choice and experience of this life. It is my desire for greater depth that lead me to give it four rather than five stars. The recipes seem great (I have not tried any yet), although Judi sure seems to have a penchant for sour cream! Read this book and enjoy an armchair vacation!

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie is a well-written piece of historical fiction based on Abbie Burgess' own accounts and other historical sources. This information is provided in the note by the authors at the beginning of the book. All incidences appear to be very representative of the life of the time depicted. Abbie's character is developed well. The reader is able to see that Abbie is a strong young girl who does not want to let her family, especially her father, down. She faces the conflict of person vs. self and also person vs. nature is evident in the book. The theme evident in the book is bravery and strength. Abbie had to be brave to keep the lights lit. She needed the strength to overcome her fears and to live up to her father's expectations. The illustrations were beautiful watercolors that set the mood of the story.

Found this book recommended in
Great Books for Girls: More Than 600 Books to Inspire Today's Girls and Tomorrow's Women

This story is about a real girl who rises to meet a challenge that would frighten any adult. My kindergartner now holds this book near/dear as she sees it as a model of courage/bravery to aspire to. Even more exciting is that this story is based upon a real event in a real girl's life.

This book gives you an idea of what it was like to operate a lighthouse in the mid 1800's. Sure doesn't sound fun. In that sense the book is very educational, and it give hero status to a deserving individual that most people have never heard of. The only real flaw it has is in the format of its printing. I can't tell where one paragraph starts and another ends, so if I were trying to narrate this thing I would have a hard time knowing where to stop and start as far as the vocal intonation goes. I also think the introduction gives away the whole story on the first page, so it should really be put at the end of the book.

I remember watching this book on Reading Rainbow when I was little and I had to have it. I got the Audio casatte and Loved it I recommmed this book to anyone! Highy!!

Keep the Lights Burning, Abbie is a well-written piece of historical fiction based on Abbie Burgess' own accounts and other historical sources. This information is provided in the note by the authors at the beginning of the book. All incidences appear to be very representative of the life of the time depicted. Abbie's character is developed well. The reader is able to see that Abbie is a strong young girl who does not want to let her family, especially her father, down. She faces the conflict of person vs. self and also person vs. nature is evident in the book. The theme evident in the book is bravery and strength. Abbie had to be brave to keep the lights lit. She needed the strength to overcome her fears and to live up to her father's expectations. The illustrations were beautiful watercolors that set the mood of the story.

Boyle's career as a journalist is evident in his novels. The Jack McMorrow tales are as gripping as any crime thrillers out there and Boyle's work on the streets ensures that his books are authentic and gritty. Read one, you'll want to read them all.
-- Mark LaFlamme, author of "The Pink Room."

Disaffected journalist Jack McMorrow, formerly of The New York Times, takes a job as court reporter for the Maine Kennebec Observer. But, unwilling to report the docket as supplied by the local district attorney, McMorrow runs a story about Donna Marchant, an abused woman, and the boyfriend the system seems unwilling to protect her from.

Threatened by the drunken boyfriend and the angry D.A. and warned off by the paper's staid editor, McMorrow finds himself getting more personally involved with Donna Marchant than his longtime girlfriend Roxanne appreciates. When Marchant is murdered, her thuggish boyfriend is the natural suspect but McMorrow isn't satisfied. And soon, he too is a suspect - and the focus of some dangerous thugs.

Boyle supplies plenty of action and a view of the seamy as well as the serene side of rural Maine life.

Once again I was drawn into the world of Jack McMorrow, journalist-turned-detective. And once again, I was struck by how I could so much come to care about a character enmired in a plot for which I cared so little. In this latest whodunnit, McMorrow again has us trudging around Maine in search of justice in a sea of lowlifes at times so two-dimensional as to be almost laughable. One cannot help but like the McMorrow character, though, whose love for nature, plain truth, good beer, dependable friends, and the written word is exceeded only, perhaps, by his taste for confrontation. The plot, however, is like a joke with a long-winded set-up and a punchline that does not pay off. It was a page-turner and I was going nuts in my attempt to solve the mystery as I read. But all of the chapters that precede the last are but a distraction and in no way drive the story. It was like searching all over the house for your keys and then realizing you had them in your hand. It doesn't all come together the way, I think, mysteries of more calibur do. Our author sets us up in the beginning and releases us in the end but uses all the intervening pages to follow his stream of thought on the subject of birds, romantic relationships, and rednecks. Maybe he thinks we won't mind because he's thrown in a house-fire and a kidnapping here and there. And by the way, I'm pretty sure this is the 3rd time our hero is abducted in as many novels. It's enough already with the abductions. Plus, the end had me, at least, a little disappointed with McMorrow's zeal for the truth because he basically winds up perpetuating a lie at the expense of another man's freedom. And even though this was done with the intention to protect another, I found it morally questionable and disagree that it was necessary. Lastly, as our author ages, too, the McMorrow character seems increasingly conservative and dull. At the end of the first book we were left expecting an end to his relationship with the redoubtable Roxanne. I was hoping for a new woman per story a la Mike Hammer. Would I read another McMorrow mystery? Will my girlfriend once again mock me for my loyalty to the series that so often disappoints me? 'Maybe' to the former question and an undeniably 'yes' to the latter.

I think that this is a great book. I am from a big city and am used to sarcasm. McMorrow takes sarcasm to its limit. Sometimes I can't stop laughing at the things he says. The action in this books just does not stop, either. I couldn't put the book down. I had to know what was going t happen next.

Boyle's evocative writing style draws the reader into the desperate lives of the denizens of small town Maine. In this, his third Jack McMorrow mystery, the dispirited former NY Times reporter, becomes intrigued by a domestic abuse victim after she shocks the district court by baring her scars before the judge. McMorrow's search for the woman behind the news story brings him in conflict with a powerful and manipulative district attorney. The intriguing young victim is found dead and McMorrow is tormented by the fear that his attention led to her death. As in his earlier novels, Jack McMorrow tangles with local thugs, who torch his house and beat him mercilessly. His faithful girlfriend, Roxanne, returns but is shaken by McMorrow's apparent attraction to the hapless people of the Maine the tourists never see. Gerry Boyle's masterful prose and insightful depiction of his characters make this Jack McMorrow series a must read for mystery fans