Connecticut Books

this is an inlightening book about a young girls struggles with addiction. abigail vona is a typical teenage girl that happens to make mistakes that land her in a level 3 lockdown facility. this is a great book for young girls struggling in there own lives, a way to see how bad someones life can truely be. this book brings you into a world most people will never have to expiriance. everything from restraintment to finding whats really important.

A must read book! I sat down and read it cover to cover.
Not to be missed!

My Daughter did 13 Months at Peninsula Village and it was her saviour as well. This is one of th emost respected centers in the world. At a cost of $9600 per month it had better be. We are pleased with the staff and Peninsula Village and they gave us our child back after 13 months a totally better person. The person who wrote this book trumped it up to sell books bottom line. Their is a lot of non truth items in this book.

Just because Vona dabbled in drugs or other "bad" things as a teen, she's labeled a "bad girl." I can relate to much in the story because the writing is so raw and real I am ripped open as a reader with the writer's brutally honest words.

Like the books CONFESSIONS OF A CATHOLIC SCHOOLGIRL and PROZAC NATION this is a must read for any teen or young woman that struggles to find herself in a mixed up world.

Not a memoir of delinquency but a chronicle of Vona's incarceration in a juvenile "boot camp." Atrociously written by someone who comes across as a spoiled rich girl with a fondness for stereotypes, and whose "delinquency" seems to have involved nothing more heinous than dating a drug dealer and indulging in a brief "runaway" period to a vacation cabin with friends. Not recommended. (For a more compelling story written by a more sympathetic narrator in less painful prose, see Daphne Scholinski's The Last Time I Wore a Dress.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Steven Hager wrote in his review:

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A very mixed bag.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Don McNay...

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

AAAARRRRRGGGHHHH,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is the 3rd book in this 4 book series & in my opinion it's the best so far. I was hooked from page one & it kept me up hours past when I should've been asleep. I know after reading the last book in this series that I couldn't wait for Sam's story & he was as good as promised. I loved all the other characters that we've come to love in this series & it was great to catch up with them.

Unlike the first 2 books the murderer was kept a secret & it kept me guessing throughout the entire book. Finally some suspense. I highly recommend this book but I also highly recommend you read the series in order so you know who's who.

I had read "The Harbor" by Carla Neggers and liked it, with reservations about the writing style. I liked it mostly for the ambience of the Maine coast. "Stonebrook Cottage," I discovered early on is the prequel to "The Harbor," but without that charm of Maine, or any other charm, for that matter.

There are just too many things wrong with this book. It repeats extraneous information endlessly, e.g., Sam's black eyes. Grammar and syntax are faulty, and there is considerable clutter. Didn't anyone at the publishing company even read the manuscript, much less edit it? The repetitions and language difficulties could have been eliminated and the book shortened by about 50-75 pages.

As in "The Harbor" there are many characters, with odd. hazy connections, referred to by first name, then last name, many pages apart. Again, I had to go back and make a list or I would never have been able to keep them straight. Even with a list, it was difficult. I don't usually have this problem, even with Dostoyevsky or Dickens, so I must fault the author here.

The action has way too many stops and starts. The result is an uneven flow of narration that is irritating. This is another problem that should have been solved by competent editors. A good pruning would have helped.

Now we come to the illogical events and explanations thereof. It is not giving away the plot to say that two missing children of the Connecticut governor's show up on their godmother's doorstep with a ridiculous explanation of why they ran away from a dude ranch and even more ridiculous and impossible evidence. And the godmother, supposedly a brilliant lawyer, no less, buys it whole. She actually follows the children's instructions as if she were no brighter or more experienced than they. That is just one example of what I mean. I would add that the children were completely unconvincing in their actions and dialogue.

Lastly, the ambience that lent charm to "The Harbor" is completely missing in this book. Austin, Texas and Connecticut just don't hack it somehow. And that doesn't leave much for this reader to find entertaining. Too bad. I had hoped for a repeat.

I really like her books. I especially like the way she makes you love the "place" where the action is happening. I really liked Kara, her older brother & family and Stonebrook Cottage. I could see it so clearly even though I have never been there. I also love birds!

Really fun, feel good read that you can lend to a friend.

This is the first book by Carla Neggers I have read. While I suspected one person as the killer, I was wrong - but not too far off base. The characterizations were good, the story flowed well, and the concept was very believeable. I just ordered four more of her recent books.

STONEBROOK COTTAGE reminds me of why I'm a Carla Neggers fan. I loved the characters, found the mystery intriguing and the resolution totally satisfying. I agree -- it's an excellent summer read.

Len, has put this right where we were at that time and place. You become a part of the book and feel you are reliving some of your past. Easy book to read, one to make you feel warm and fuzzy. What else can we ask of a book, but to put us right in with the author. Felt as though I was back on the team, rooting for the home team, snuggling in the back seat, dancing at the sock hops. Wonderful, Wonderful, are real visionary.

I enjoyed the book very much. I did however find it a bit slow in the beginning, because I am not a sports fan and did not understand the sports part. I did however learn about the Jewish faith and found it very interesting.

I enjoyed The Reunion a story and time i can relate to as i grew up in the 50s . It brought backlots of memories of a much slower and fun time . Made me laugh and made me cry and brought back memories of loves and feelings of long ago. I sincerly hope Leon writes more books for us to enjoy.

I enjoyed the story so much . Mr. Grossman is a very talented writer.I laughed in parts and felt his sorrow.

The Reunion was one of those stories that graps you from the start and won't let you go. Once I picked it up and started reading , couldn't put it down till I was finished. The author puts the reader right there with the characters.

"Arsenic Under the Elms" focuses on the murders of two women from Victorian New Haven & their subsequent trials. These stories are as much about the actual crimes as they are about the norms for court trials in this period. There is also a good bit of information on advancement in scientific evidence during the late 1800s. I found the entire book very engrossing, & it would likely appeal to anyone interested in the social mores of 19th century America as well as lovers of true crime books.

this was a great book! I loved the comparison of how the world & justice worked in the time setting of the 2 stories versus how we have it now. I am fasinated by the victorian era & true crime. This book blended both into a very ingrossing experience. I can't wait to read her 2nd book "Sympathy for the Devil:the Emmanuel Baptist Murders." and hope there will be more after that!

"Arsenic Under the Elms" is thoroughly an intriguing, mind challenging read. I felt Virginia A. McConnell did a wonderful job presenting the known facts, as well as including her speculations, but leaving the final verdict up to the reader. The explanations of the era and how they dealt with these sorts of crimes, as well as how they dealt with it legally and medically were very educational and thought provoking. I'm sure many criminalists, physiologists, lawyers, judges, and crime scene analysts, would have a field day solving these crimes. If only they had the technology of today, back then. Even if your genre is not "true crime," this book is a great read. I recommend.

The author's enthusiasm for these compelling stories is apparent in her research and writing. She brings to life two still-shocking crimes with a refreshing lack of sensationalism. However, the writing itself rarely rises above the level of a bright college sophomore's term paper. In spots, the editing is poor, for example, the author will reference facts that hadn't been presented yet by that point in the book. Too much attempt is made to judge by modern mores and motives, sometimes implicitly and sometimes explicitly (repeated comparisons to the OJ Simpson trial, for example)...further research into social history of the time would have improved the book. It's often not entirely clear what facts are documented (or how) and what is speculation, even with reference to the copious footnotes. Worth a read, but look for it at the library.

I bought this book on a Saturday and once I started I couldn't put it down. Ms. McConnell writes about two obscure murders in Victorian Connecticut in a style that compels the reader to keep turning the pages. Learning about the mores and workings of the criminal justice system during this period was fascinating! I highly recommend it!