Florida Books

'Bad Beekeeping' isn't really a beekeeping book, at least not in the sense of how to keep bees. Rather it is more of a memoir of the author's life during the time he was a commercial beekeeper.

It is very well written and Ron Miksha has a wry sense of humor. 'Bad Beekeeping' is a fun and interesting book with interesting insights.

Instead of "Bad Beekeeping," Ron Miksha's book could have been called "Portait of the Beekeeper as a Young Man," since it is all about his growing up as a commercial beekeeper in the 1970's and 1980's. Working the canola bloom, his summer beekeeping operation in Saskatchewan, and working citrus, his winter beekeeping operation in Florida, Ron had a unique run as a beekeeper that is simply not possible today. Regulations, rules and differing concerns on opposite sides of the U.S./Canadian border made his operation a one-of-a-kind, as well as one-of-an-era.

His story is a roller-coaster ride of great successes matched with spectacular failures. His calcuations and plans meet with the unexpected and that is the fun of his tale. Although no longer a commercial beekeeper; instead now, a geophysicist and entrepreneur, he remains a hobbyist beekeeper in Alberta. As beekeepers, we have not lost one of our own.

Nothing bad about this book, Ron has given the beekeeping world another cracking good read. There is every thing here, history fun information and entertainment. Also a very good read for those people who do not have the insanity to employ millions of buzzing workers, with potentially very hot tails! An excellent book.

Bad Beekeeping is not a bad book at all! It is hilariously funny and packed fun of really neat things everyone would like to know. It's all about bees and beekeeping, but all about lots of other things, too. This is such a great book, I started on Friday evening and read all weekend long. Couldn't put it down. Best book I've read!

The author's account of his career as a beekeeper will appeal to a wide variety of readers. It is a delightful blend of both humorous and sobering personal anecdotes and exhaustively-researched facts about honey. You can't help getting drawn into Ron's life and the diverse personalities he encountered across North America. His engaging writing style makes this book one you'll want all your friends to read.

I anxioiusly awaited this fourth in the series of Luanne Fogarty mysteries. I was not disappointed! I think I like Luanne because, unlike me, she is not afraid of the swamps and cave dives necessary for her work as an adjunct diver for the Sheriff's Department. The thought of walking through, or swimming/diving through the areas that Alam describes gives me the creeps. Thankfully, Glynn Alam has given us someone to believe in...someone truly not afraid of the swampy environment and its unusual residents. The short chapters keep you turning the pages as you try to discover the murderer and the reason for the murders. I must also add that the pictures chosen for the cover add a lot to set the stage for the story. I hope Luanne continues to help us understand that mysterious and haunting area near Tallahassee.

This was another great book by Glynn Marsh Alam. She definaley knows how to create a atmosphere that is true to the swamps and rivers of Florida. Once you pick this book up, you won't be able to put it down until you find out "who done it". I actually stayed up until 4 a.m. a few nights because I was so wrapped up in the plot.

4th in the Luanne Fogarty series, which take place in the northern, swampy areas of Florida. Luanne is an assistant professor in linguistics at the nearby University, but she supplements her living by diving for the sheriff's department in the rivers and caves that penetrate North Florida. Luanne prefers her privacy, like most of the denizens of the swampy area. The mystery begins with the disappearance of a teenage boy whose family is influential in the area. The authorities are searching the river for the boy when they happen upon an old boat - with a skeleton. Suddenly they are working on more than one case. Luanne is trying to deal with her lover from the sheriff's office while at the same time trying to help her former lover recover from a diving accident, which is causing a little bit of tension. Add into the mix a crazy naked lady appearing haphazardly in different parts of the swamp, and you have an intriguing, descriptive mystery to enjoy.

"Bilge Water Bones", the fourth of Glynn Marsh Alam's Luanne Fogarty mysteries, builds very nicely on the previous stories, taking the reader into yet another aspect of life in the swamps of north Florida. The characters are well developed and the narrative is wonderfully descriptive of the natural environment as the mystery unfolds. Alam has created such a vivid world that I was immediately transported to the murky and mysterious ways of the folks who reside there.
I enjoy Luanne, an independent, feisty woman who is understandably burning out from her job as a University professor. As a scuba diver working with the Sheriff's Department in her off-time, Luanne is called upon to assist in a growing mystery involving a missing teenager, bodies in the waters, and homeless people who are making a life in the swamps. With her humorous observations that arise as the story evolves and a nice fondness for the eccentrics who live "off the radar", Alam's writing makes for great entertainment with a very satisfying conclusion.

Tommy Hanover, teenage son of a rich family has gone missing after a boating accident. While searching for his body, Luanne finds a skeleton with a third eye in a sunken boat. Trying to identify the bones leads Luanne to a mysterious graduate student. What is he up to in the swamp? Who belonged to the bones? And will they ever find Tommy?

I've been looking forward to this book because Glynn always weaves a great tale with wonderful writing. I was not disappointed. As always, the writing is atmospheric, and I felt like I was diving in the springs right beside Luanne. I've grown to love the characters, and it's always nice to spend more time with them. I especially enjoyed the sub-plot of Harry trying to get comfortable with diving again. That's been a multi-book arc that has enriched the series. And you've got to love Pasquin, Luanne's swamp neighbor. The plot seemed to slow down in the second quarter, but picked up again at the half way point and kept moving until the end.

This series combines mysteries, diving, great characters, and captivating writing. Each book in this series should be savored.

James W Hall has a knack for creating quirky characters and sleazy bad guys. In this book, he has outdone himself with Dougie Barnes, a dimwitted, muscle-bound, rhyme-spouting, trash-talking thug with an appetite for murder and sex. If you think he's bad, wait until you meet his dad, Douglas, Sr.

In Bones of Coral, ambulance paramedic Shaw Chandler of Miami finds his long lost dad dead in an apparent suicide. Then he gets a frantic call from his Mom. The next thing you know, Shaw is headed to his hometown of Key West to learn the truth about his dad's death and some startling discoveries about his past. James W Hall is an excellent story teller and Bones of Coral is a knock down thriller that will stay with you long after you put it down.

FIVE STARS!!

Shaw Chandler and Trula Montoya were high school sweethearts growing up in Key West. But they went their separate ways. Shaw became a paramedic in Miami and Trula an actress in New York. Now, some twenty years later, they are both compelled to return to their hometown because of a sinister mystery that has darkened their lives.
Bones of Coral by James W. Hall is a marvelous novel. The very "readable" narrative contains a number of insightful passages about life, love and happiness. The characters are vividly drawn and the intricate plot unfolds in a way that is both smooth and satisfying. Of course no modern South Florida mystery would be complete without some bizarre, over-the-top characters to infuse the proceedings with a black comedy aspect. And Bones of Coral has its share of those. At the top of the list is Dougie Barnes a dull witted, cold blooded killer who speaks in rhymes and is quite proud of his freakishly high threshold for pain.
This is a remarkably well crafted novel that succeeds in telling an interesting story in an artful and satisfying manner. Highly recommended.

My #1 James Hall product; the kind of book I re-read probably once a year, just to remind myself how to create characters. In here he covers not only the spectrum of human characteristics, but also of emotions--from rage to joy--and human virtues and depravities.

Highly recommended reading; not just for fans of this particular genre. A very 'moralistic' work; more so than his others----with the moralizing well concealed under a story that alters between bizarre, funny, harrowing and very touching.

Till Noever, owlglass.com

Hall has the ability to bring you right into setting and engross the reader in the story. As in all of his books, he always has great villians and that is the fun part of the book.

James W. Hall not only tells an intriguing story, but his quality of writing is superior to most in this genre.

I purchased this book hoping to get a consolidated overview of the characteristics of bottlenose dolphins, and that's exactly what I got! I appreciated the concise descriptions of the dolphin's physical and behavioral adaptations that lead to a better understanding of the animal overall. I would recommend this book to anyone with a genuine interest in dolphins, conservation of the species, or anyone in the position of caring for this animals as a good resource to keep in their library.

Good to see Samantha successful in life. I knew her back when she was a struggling student at Eckerd College.

She is very smart.

I have read through this book while doing some research on dolphins and marine mammal conservation and must say that this has some information that I could find nowhere else. This book hits on such a large variety of information relating to dolphin biology and conservation that I cannot believe that they fit it all into one book.

The collaborators who put this book together are dedicated scientists with years of experience in the field. I admire their work. But I find on thing missing from the discussion of brain versus body size. They establish ratios of brain to body size and declare this is one method of measuring the intelligence of the animal, i.e. the larger the brain is in relationship to the body, the smarter the animal is. But they do not explain why a large body needs a large brain. After all, whale sharks of the same size as sperm whales have brains smaller than your fist while the sperm whale brain is six times larger than the human brain. Perhaps it is the large brain which requires the large body. The laws of physics would prohibit a brain developing in a very small body. Necks breaking and cortical sheering would be a problem.

As long as men and women strive to civilize their society the problem of tolerance will remain, because the urge toward intolerance will not go away. The achievement of Dr. Cohen-Almagor's work is that it adds to our knowledge and awareness of this central problem of politics. His arguments are made in the context of classical liberal thought, of practical politics, and of jurisprudence.

A rare blend of philosophical skill & political sensitivity, of detached analytical and critical attitude and deep ethical concern and commitment to liberal democracy.

Raphael Cohen-Almagor maps the course of the struggle against Meir Kahane in the Israeli courts and legislature. But he places it firmly in the context of the traditional controversy over the limits of toleration, providing us with a rigorous examination of the damage principle as it applies to speech and expression. He forces us to face the question why, if we refuse to tolerate the damage done by thefts, assault, fraud or murder, we should tolerate the potential damage that can be brought about by aggressive or violent speech. His work blends together political philosophy, contemporary history, and constitutional theory. It deserves the close attention of students of all three disciplines. But it should fascinate and provoke also all those who wish to confront what is probably the principal dilemma of the modern democratic practice.

This book, although not particularly well written or well researched, does prove how the government of Israel targeted Rabbi Kahane. Both right-wing and left-wing governments violated Israel's own laws in order to try and stop Rabbi Kahane's rising popularity among Israel's young people. While members of the Labor party illegally negotiated with the PLO and have still not been prosecuted, Rabbi Kahane, an Orthodox rabbi, was accused of being a racist .. even though racism was not defined. The real tragedy that the book uncovers is that Rabbi Kahane, was immorally and illegally silenced because no one had answers to the uncomfortable questions that he raised. This book is anti-Kahane. For a more fair look a Rabbi Kahane's impact on Israel readers should look for Jay Shapiro's Meir Kahane: A Litmus Test for Israel's Democracy.

Living in a country like Israel, which is beset by fateful ongoing conflicts from within and without, one is torn between impulses of appeasement and revenge, diplomacy and force, empathy and despair. A particularly difficult dilemma arises when dealing with hate-and-violence rhetoric against the Other - rhetoric which, ipso facto, challenges the selfsame democratic system that allows it to exist in the first place. It is this "catch of democracy" that Raphael Cohen-Almagor examines in The Boundaries of Liberty and Tolerance: the Struggle Against Kahanism in Israel. As a layperson in the disciplines upon which he draws - philosophy, jurisprudence, political science - I approached the book with some trepidation. Much to my relief, though, I found that it to be reader-friendly yet extremely thorough in attempting to delineate the boundaries of liberty and tolerance in a democracy.

From the outset, the decision to allow a racist demagogue like Kahane to run for a seat in the Israeli legislature raised ethical issues of the most troubling kind. The decision to revoke that privilege was no less troubling: as they fought to have Kahanism outlawed, advocates of tolerance and democracy came under bitter attack for defying the very principle which they claimed to support. The book provides a reasoned, thoughtful and comprehensive explanation of the ethical questions underlying this problematic position. And as we know only too well, no country is immune from such questions; i.e. from the emergence of would-be political parties brandishing blatantly racist or xenophobic slogans, or advocating blatantly racist or xenophobic measures. The analysis set forth in the book examines the most sensitive implications of such a development, particularly the need to reconcile the sacrosanct principles of freedom of speech, on the one hand, with the obligation to stem any tangible threat to democracy, on the other. In trying to gain a better understanding of this complex paradox, I found Cohen-Almagor's lucid description of the distinction between freedom of expression, per se, and infringements of the Harm and Offense Principles particularly enlightening.

I too believe, like the author (and indeed, who doesn't?), in the solution outlined in Epilogue - education - as the ultimate means of delegitimizing and eventually eradicating racist politics. And yet, while pursuing the educational route, it also behooves us to continue grappling with the excruciating moral and legal dilemmas which these politics force upon us. I would heartily recommend Cohen-Almagor's book as a quintessential case study, capable of shedding light on one of the most problematic challenges to the democratic system.

I have been waiting a long time for a book like this! While the Spanish style homes of California have been documented in numerous books, the large amount of this architecture that was built in Florida during the same period has never gotten the amount of press it deserves. There are books on the architecture of Addison Mizner and a few other noted Florida architects, but nothing comprehensive on the style that was so prevalent during the boom years, and which was used in big cities like Miami and much smaller towns all over the state. This book covers houses from Miami to Winter Park and gives a nice overview of the style. I was very impressed not only by the amazing photographs, but by the histories that went along with each home featured. These histories allow the reader to put the home into its proper context and can be used as guides for people like me that are restoring similar homes. I wasn't as impressed with the newer homes in the back of the book, but there are only three relatively modern houses covered, so it does not take much away from the overall content. Since many of the homes built in this style were smaller bungalows it would have been nice to have seen some of them included, but the homes pictured are stunning! This book is must have.

This book has a terrific collection of photos of old Florida, Tuscany-type homes. We've looked all over for a book like this. Hope others enjoy it as much.

we are having a new villa style home built and have gotten many wonderful ideas from the camera art in this book. page after page of wonderful spanish/mediterranean homes are pictured in this beautiful volume.

The first town in the New World was in Florida and it was a Spanish town. Since then the Spanish influence on the arthitecture and culture of Florida has been large.

In this book a selection of buildings has been carefully selected to illustrate the history of Spanish-style structures from across the state. From an age standpoint, there are some quite old (but certainly not run down) homes varying up through some modern homes built using traditional styling. A few commercial buildings such as hotels are also included.

From a style standpoint, the homes of Florida seem to have been influenced more by a Mediterranean, even Moorish, look than the Spanish architecture houses more common in the Western States that have more of a Mexican influence.

Beautiful pictures beautifully printed on a high quality matte finished paper add a warmth to the book that glossy magazine style printing imparts.

In my hunt for more information on Spanish Style homes, (I own a bungalow in California), I have been frustrated at the limited amount of books out there. I work at a Library, and many of the patrons share the same frustrations. In order to be able to find books on these subjects, I have had to self-teach about the many surrounding subjects; ie, tiles, Mexico, Moorish, Morocco, Spain, etc. This book is one of the better ones. It has beautiful pictures on how to decorate and landscape. I learned that air-conditioning changed architecture in a substantive way. I had also never heard about concrete ceilings made to look like wood before, apparently a Florida staple, due to humidity. These houses are oh-my-Gorgeous! The only problem was that the author frequently discussed beautiful rooms and details of the houses, then didn't show pictures. Maybe/hopefully, they're saving those pics for a follow-up book on interiors and details? I agree with the previous reviewer, how about a book now on Florida Spanish bungalows?

I purchased this book because I wanted an updated copy of the 1971 version. This book is practically identical to the older copy, but it's still great information and a really cool book.

This beautiful classic, repackaged by Alfred A. Knopf, will remain a treasured addition to the library of any lover of the ballet. Six hundred stunning illustrations, in 156 plates by Carlus Dyer bring life to the concepts.

I have the hard bound edition of this book, published some time ago by Alfred Knopf, and I never tire of looking at the drawings and appreciating the mathematical precision of classical ballet. The reading of this book will be of an enormous assistance to studying ballet, and it is also invaluable if one wants to study the more technical facets of the subject. Ballet is one form of dance that can be mathematically systemaitized and characterized, and this book is a great reference for such an undertaking. Definitely worth having and the paperback edition with its low price makes it completely accessible to all.

I thought this book contained good information and the drawings are incredible- although confusing at times. There are many steps described in this book, both advanced and beginner. I find this book a great addition to my ballet collection. As a dancer, it is a good reference book for me when I have a question or uncertainty about a step. This book describes in detail how to preform barre exercises, allegros, turns, pointe work, etc. This is a necessity for all dancers and dancer-wannabes.

This is a wonderful book for beginners as well as experienced dancers. In particular, this is one of the best references for barre exercises, but the center steps are well covered, too. This is actually my first choice when recommending barre exercise references, which is reason enough to include it in a ballet library.

The Complete Publishing Resource Manual has a special place right next to my computer because I reach for it at least three times a day. Linda Able has done a wonderful job of compiling key information into one source that can be used by writers, editors, and publishers. For those newer in the field, the extensive glossary of terms used in publishing, printing, and book marketing will give you an answer to the question of what exactly is a verso, a recto, and a quarto, as well as keys to the more esoteric printers terms such as X-height. I'm especially fond of the Resources section which catalogs sites on the Internet where publishers and writers can find answers to their questions. This section alone has enabled me to weed my bookmarks down to a manageable level. Able also provides a thorough bibliography of the last decade's books about writing and publishing. In an industry that has almost recreated itself over the past five years, these references can help guide writers and publishers through the tropical storm that is the current book publishing industry.

If you're writing and/or publishing a book, you need this manual. From the comprehensive list of books on the subjects of publishing, printing and book marketing, to the resource list of vendors, suppliers, associations, contacts, web sites, this manual will make your life a lot easier. It also includes a great glossary of terms commonly used in this industry.

Able's book is a one-of-a-kind desktop resource for today's busy publishers! Her glossary covers it all from verso/recto to bleeds to bluelines. Her resource section lists hundreds of *current* organization, vendor, distributor and media addresses and phone numbers. No more sifting through a dozen books (or search engines) for the right address. My copy is already getting dog-eared!

Using Linda's book allows me to cut down on the time I use searching the Internet and puts me right where I need to be. The entire 3rd chapter-a resource database(most of which have Internet links)-is alone worth the price of the book.

~~Barbara O'Neill, author of Second Chance (Periwinkle Press)

The Complete Resource Manual lists all of the books on publishing, printing and book marketing. It contains an up-to-date glossary of terms used in the trade and it has a voluminous list of vendors to the industry, associations and web sites. This valuable reference belongs within easy reach-next to your dictionary. DanPoynter@ParaPublishing.com

I've been a fan of Rawlings since I first read her as a teenager. Reading her biography many years ago, I learned of her pride in her cooking. I didn't even know she'd issued a cookbook until I came across this edition!

Upon reading the book I was immediately reminded of the "Alice B. Toklas" cookbook. The structure and literary emphasis are much the same. Thus, for the same reason, it's a joy to read even if one doesn't cook!

However, like "Toklas", the recipes are also a treasure. Many of the recipes contain ingredients too exotic for the average cook, but many more are easily prepared. This can also be a pleasurable and valuable resource for those, like me, who enjoy reading and preparing recipes from old cookbooks. Our eating styles have changed enormously in the nearly sixty years since Rawlings wrote this book.

If you are a fan of Rawlings, buy the book whether you ever plan to cook any of its recipes. Its reasonable cost is a further bonus!

It is evident from her cookbook that Marjorie tasted of nearly everything and learned to make delicious dishes out of some very odd things: Poke Weed (on toast), Pot Roast of Bear, Smother-Fried Squirrel, Gopher Stew, Coot Surprise, Jugged Rabbit, a host of Pilaus, and an infamous blackbird pie. Of course this book is not simply a culinary freak-show. There are dozens of recipes for desserts, seafood, meats-found-at-the-A&P, jams, and soups, featuring ingredients of which we are all familiar and unafraid. She was proud to share them and claimed each recipe was nothing short of first-rate. Included among these is her piece de resistance, Crab A La Newburg, and the best Strawberry Shortcake ever. Accompanied by anecdotes of Florida rural living in the 1930s and 1940s, this book is a delight and an excursion from a mundane kitchen

As the other reviewer has mentioned, this is a collection of recipes, filled with anecdotes of central Florida life in the 1930s and 1940s. The recipes are fantastic and one wants to try all of them (although it may be difficult to prepare alligator-tail steak). And, what a pleasure it is to read a cookbook written by an accomplished author. You just keep picking it up.

A great read... both for the recipes and for a large dose of Marjorie Rawlings' folksy humor. Loved it from cover to cover.

A big fan of MKR, I stumbled over this little book at a booksale several years ago----it's paperback and coming apart from use, and the pure pleasure of reading Ms. Rawlings' commentary and recollections of living at Cross Creek. Her biscuit and hoe-cake recipes are worth the price, as they evoked memories of my grandmothers kitchen where it wasn't a meal without fresh, hot bread.
Highly recommended---even if you're not a cook!

Lew Fonesca is a widower from Chicago, recently transplanted to Sarasota, FL. He is working as a process server, but somehow seems to get involved in some investigations. This time an elderly nursing home resident is convinced she witnessed a murder. In another case, a 14 year old boy is the victim of a hit-and-run accident. The case of the hit-and-run is close to home since Lew's wife was victim of a fatal hit-and-run that remains unsolved. Anyone familiar with the Sarasota area will appreciate some of the local references. Hopefully, you will have read the three previous books in this series, although Kaminsky's books will stand alone.

At the conclusion of this book, we realize that there is more to come.
Like other reviewers, I recommend that readers not familiar with this series start from book one and read chronologically. The constant thread throughout the Fonesca series is his psychological trip through the healing process in the wake of his wife's death. First, he reaches a milestone where he is able to speak her name. Now, at the end of _Denial_, he finally realizes that he has to find his wife's killer.

As a Southwest Florida resident who considers Sarasota a second home, I always enjoy the settings in the Fonesca books. Here, we end up in the Asolo Theater, among other interesting spots.

The story itself is right on par with the previous books: Two mysteries that keep you guessing until the end. Lew Fonesca is the quintessential anti-hero--a guy you can root for.

This new release is the fourth novel in the "Lew Fonesca" series, and it holds up to the quality of its predecessors. I suggest that mystery fans read the four in order, starting with Vengeance, then Retribution, and third, Midnight Pass. Fonesca is a Florida-based process server and finder of missing people. He is struggling to cope with the tragic loss of his wife, and subsequent loss of interest in life itself. Slowly, through the four novels, which cover about two years of his life, Lew acquires a new family of friends and a host of interesting acquaintences. In "Denial" he tracks the unknown driver who ran down a 14-year-old boy, and solves a puzzling murder in an assisted living facility. He makes progress in his not-yet-intimate relationship with a social worker, and starts a "Big Brother" relationship with a needy teenage boy. Finally, there is a nice surprise at the end, when Lew makes a decision which might make the next book in the series the best yet. Highly recommended for fans of Robert B. Parker and Lawrence Block, or mysteries in general.

Lew Fonesca, rendered a widower in Chicago four years ago when a hit-and-run driver killed his wife, has relocated to Sarasotsa, Florida. Formerly an investigator in Chicago, Fonesca tries to lead a low key life as a process server. Mired in depression and grief, he lives and works out of a low-rent office. For a depressed guy lost in himself, Lew seems to be the social hit of the town. He knows just about everyone, so it seems. This of course leads to him being called upon to help people.

In this novel, on the same day, an elderly woman in a nursing home calls Lew because she thinks she saw a resident being murdered. No one, of course, believes her. But Lew will investigate, just as a favor. Minutes after receiving this call, Lew is summoned to the office of one of his process serving clients. A senior partner introduces him to a woman whose son was recently run down by - are you ready - a hit-and-run driver.

When not talking to his neighborly therapist about his depression and grief, Lew is sort of hanging out with an assortment of other women in town. All acquaintances at best; no lovers for the grieving Lew.

So Lew is on the case helping to determine if indeed a resident of the assisted living facility has been murdered . . . and tracking down the hit-and-run driver who keeps calling Lew with tearful apologies when he isn't trying to run Lew down with his car.

It all works out in the end. With the help of a gunslinging refugee from what seems like 19th Century Montana, a little assistance from a friendly police officer and other odd and wonderful coincidences, Lew tracks down all the killers and solves all the mysteries.

Not exactly edge-of-your-seat reading. The plot is a bit too filled with happy coincidences that allow Lew to plod on. The characters are thin and sure do know their platitudes and cliches. Oh yes, Lew also helps a troubled young black boy out as well.

Overall, a lightweight mystery, fun to read. Sized right for a long flight, a rainy afternoon or a sunny day at the beach.

Jerry

Reclusive Lew Fonesca needs closure, but he is in "Denial," which is the name of Stuart Kaminsky's new murder mystery. Lew was devastated when, four years earlier, his beloved wife Catherine was run down and killed by a hit and run driver who was never apprehended. Overcome with grief, Lew abruptly left Chicago and moved to a dumpy apartment in Sarasota, Florida. He now ekes out a bare bones living as a process server, subsists on fast food, showers in the Y, and watches old movies on video.

Like Greta Garbo, Lew claims to want to be left alone, yet somehow he has accumulated a host of friends and acquaintances who care about him. These include eighty-year-old Ann Horowitz, Lew's therapist, Sally, a caseworker with whom he has kept company for three years, and seventy-four year old Ames McKinney, a gun-toting six-foot-four enforcer who gives Fonseca much needed muscle when he inevitably gets into trouble.

Lew was an investigator in Chicago, and he hasn't lost his touch. In "Denial," he takes on two new clients. One is an elderly woman named Dorothy Cgnozic, who swears that she witnessed a murder in Seaside Assisted Living, a facility for senior citizens. The Seaside staff scornfully dismisses Dorothy's allegations, so she hires Lew to prove that "she is not a demented old woman." Lew's other client is Nancy Root, a divorced actress whose fourteen-year-old son, Kyle, was killed by a hit-and-run driver. Lew takes on the second case reluctantly, because it reminds him too much of the tragedy that robbed him of his wife. When Lew looks into Nancy's eyes, he sees a heartrending grief that mirrors his own.

Kaminsky has a laid back, dryly humorous, bare bones style of writing. Lew is a deliciously sarcastic narrator. When Fonesca shakes hands with a strong and formidable woman, he states, "She had a grip that could crack walnuts." The cast of characters includes the quirkiest bunch of individuals that you are likely to meet in any murder mystery. There is even an alligator named Jerry Lee, who is the unofficial mascot of one of the residents in the Seaside Assisted Living facility.

"Denial" is more whimsical than realistic. The two murder mysteries in the book are not exactly classic whodunits, nor are the solutions to the crimes particularly logical. However, the plot is engrossing enough, and Lew proves to be a dogged and skilled investigator. The novel is most noteworthy, however, not for the mystery elements, but for the insightful way that Kaminsky portrays the walking wounded. The criminals in this book are ordinary individuals who are hurting, so they lash out at others, making self-destructive choices that ultimately lead to their downfall. In Lew's case, however, there is hope. With the help of his wise therapist, Lew has begun to take his first tentative steps towards escaping the prison that he has so laboriously built around himself. "Denial" is a poignant novel that will entertain Lew Fonesca fans and may even gain some new readers for the talented Stuart Kaminsky.