Missouri Books

This was a very well written peace of work by a fine man. It's troubling that people, like the reviewer below, waste so much time finding out every little thing that is wrong with a book. Please, just get a life! Who really cares that Boonville is northwest instead of northeast of Jeff City, please!

Get a life, or better yet, get laid. Damn 40 year old virgins!

This book is simply wonderful, magnificently written and a lot detailed.
The first part supplies an accurate report of Missouri's situation at the outbreak of the war. After a short but intense description of the engagement near Boonville, supplied with an excellent map, the narration continues following the two armies, Franz Sigel's German volunteers and the Missouri State Guards, in their road to Carthage.
Moreover every phase of the battle is studied with cure and love for the detail: there are a lot of beautiful and accurate maps and pictures of the officers and soldiers who fought at Carthage.
I hope that the authors will soon write an other work of this kind that the war in Missouri receives therefore more attention than which than usual comes attributed to it.
Excellent.

This is a fine book length study of a small, but important, Civil War action. It is richly detailed and it is obvious a great deal of research was done. I know how hard it is to find reliable information about the MSG. True, there are minor inaccuracies (like the ones listed below in another review) but they do not detract significantly from an otherwise fine book.

I had never heard of the Battle Of Carthage when I picked this book up the first time. It looked interesting, had a nice cover design, was a Civil War History and I'm a buff. What I found was one of the best small battle histories I've ever read! Well written, multiple maps, where you need them, pictures, notes, OOB this book has it all,including a Battle Field tour.

Unless you have no intrest in the Civil War you will like this book.

This was the best book ever written. It belongs in the library with Shakespere, Dr. Seuss, JK Roling, Michael Crighton and Charles Frasier. I have visited the Battle of Carthage 67 times and all facts in this story are entirely accurate. As for the negative reviewer, if he is still a virgin, he could be hooked up with Emily Petersen. That woman will fix him up. Back to the book, it is very well written and describes all aspects of the battle in excellent detail. Don't let this strange review thwart your desire to read this book... I have several schizophrenic relatives... and I'm not very good at speling. Here in Newberg we aint learned to write good. As Bob Cydell once said, "What would you say you do here?" I will end on that note, goodnight, and farewell.

Michael Patrick Kelly, age 11, is one of his five brothers and sisters who are being sent west on an orphan train by their Ma so they can live a better life than they've had working on the streets of New York City. While his brothers and sisters are placed in good homes, Mike finds life difficult with the family he has been adopted into, especially since he had been a pickpocket out of necessity in New York and going west had been his only other choice besides being sent to Tombs Prison. Mr Friedrich, the father, believes that Mike is nothing but trouble and beats him whenever his temper rises. Gunter, the 13 yr. old who hates Mike and would like to see him sent back to NY and Tombs Prison,tries everything he can to get him in trouble. Most of the time, he succeeds, but Mike remains determined and stays with them despite Gunter's efforts. Mrs.Friedrich is a motherly woman who gladly welcomes his placement in their family, and Mike finds a true friend in Reuben, the hired hand, and Marta, who is a housekeeper for the Friedrichs. While Mike is in the wagon on the way to his new home, he overhears a whispered conversation about a man named Ulrich that disappeared. Apparently, Mr.Friedrich thinks that Mike is just like Ulrich and that he should be "taken care of". As the days pass, Mike hears more tidbits of conversation and believes that Mr. Friedrich has killed Ulrich and that he is afraid someone is going to find his out secret. Mike tries to pry more information loose out of Marta, but she only hints that she knows something which does not need concern him. When Reuben disappears after a fight with Mr.Friedrich, Mike can only fear the worst, and later while in the woods he spies a freshly dug patch of dirt. And then on a trip to St. Joseph, Missouri, he openly tells the people at the general store that Reuben is gone and that he suspects Mr.Friedrich of his murder.What will happen next to Mike--Will he find Reuben?And who was Ulrich? Read this 2nd book in the Orphan Train Quartet by Joan Lowery Nixon to find out the happy ending to Mike's story.

Michael Patrick Kelly, a boy who steals to feed his family, is actually a very good kid. He would shine the customer (or victim's) shoes and then pick their pocket. However, he is caught, and sentenced to five years at Tombs prison- or to be sent west to start a new life. He goes west. And that, my friend, is how everything begins. Everyone of his siblings gets good parents- except him. Hans Friedrich, a rather bulky,er, really bulky man with a temper like a bomb- ready to go off. Gunter Friedrich, a 13 year old who hates Mike and is always trying to get him into trouble. And he does,too. Mrs. Friedrich is a lovely and nice cook. The maid, Marta,is in love with a rowdy boy-who loves her back! And Rueben-the hired hand is Mike's best friend. But when Reuben suddenly disapears, and a freshly dug plot of dirt turns up that day, Mike has a creeping suspicion of Mr.Friedrich, and if he will be next...

Caught in the Act is about a boy, Mike Kelly, who is sent on the Orphan Train but, unfortunately he is left with the Friedrichs. This German family moved to the U.S. to flee from someone or something. This fled turns to turmoil which causes Mike head to spin which might lead to be beaten or be the last victim of three or least he thinks. If you like suspense, mysteries, conflicts, abrupt uproars,or just plain old horror/ questionable murder books you shoulid read this book.

"Caught In The Act" continues the story of the six Kelly children that were were sent away to get adopted by new families because their mother feels that she cannot afford to keep them. I read the first book in the series called "A Family Apart" and it was about the children getting adopted by new families and the second part was about Frances Kelly's adventures with her family. This book talks about how Michael Kelly is doing with the Friedrichs. Mike's main concern is that he believes that the Friedrichs are hiding something from him. He thinks this because he overheard a conversation about somebody named Ulrich. Mike's opinion is that Mr. Friedrich killed him. The story is all about Mike's adventure.

I really enjoyed the novel because it's interesting to see what life was like back in that time. So far I have read the books: A Family Apart, Caught In The Act and In The Face Of Danger. I'm going to read the whole series! If you are thinking of buying this book buy A Family Apart first.

A twelve year old boy named Mike kelly is sent west on the orphan train because he was a theif.He was adopted by the Friedrichs.Gunter a thirteen year old boy who hates Mike and lies to get him beaten and send back to New York.Will he succeed? Read this book to find out.

A nice easy read about the Civil War in St. Joe, Missouri. St. Joe was one of the farthest points north in the border state of Missouri. Many of its citizens were from the South. It also had 2,000 slaves and was right across the river from free Kansas. At first the citizens of this small town desired to stay out of the fray and be neutral. However, a Southerner sabotaged a railroad bridge which resulted in a train wreck killing 20 people. This turned people against each other. Society and its members turned upon itself, and their was a Civil War in St. Joe.

This is a nice easy read about a little known conflict in the western U.S.
I give Filbert credit for writing an interesting story about St. Joe. Most Civil War historians focus on the East, and this story is about the western portion of the conflict. A good read.

Preston Filbert's The Half Not Told: The Civil War In A Frontier Town focuses on a part of the American Civil War that is often overlooked or downplayed by other sources that concentrate on the armies and campaigns in the East. The Half Not Told is about the Civil War in the West, particularly in Missouri. The frontier town of St. Joseph, Missouri, which became torn apart and saw its fortunes fall due to stagflation, is a reflection of how dramatically the war changed Western American life forever. The Half Not Told draws very heavily upon primary sources, as its highly extensive endnotes section and a bibliographical essay attest. The Half Not Told is a very welcome contribution to Civil War studies, and highly recommended for anyone with an interest Civil War history -- particularly because much of the telling is in the eye-witness words of the people who were there.

I have just read The Half Not Told and was fascinated by the tale of a town ripped apart by divided loyalties during the Civil War,
a town devastated by the war, yet with a story completely unlike that of towns truly in the South. The author tells of a Border Town which was ravaged by both the North and the South. The book introduces you to the very real people who lived in the town through this violent time, often quoting their own words from a letter or a diary. The town was populated by colorful characters, many of whom are introduced and then reappear later, maybe several times, as the history of the town unfolds. The events described are exciting and violent and often very personal. I found myself anxious to get to the next chapter to see what would happen in this engrossing tale, as I often do when I'm reading a work of fiction; yet this is a true story, a history with extremely good documentation and pictures of the people and events of the time. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an exciting and accurate picture of a town which experienced the Civil War in a way you may not have known about before.

I live in Platte County Missouri, just south of St. joe. It was very interesting to see what happened in that time period many years ago. Heck! it could've happened where i'm living! As a Civil War buff, some of these things really hit close to home, and I overall enjoyed it.

I have just read The Half Not Told and was fascinated by the tale of a town ripped apart by divided loyalties during the Civil War,
a town devastated by the war, yet with a story completely unlike that of towns truly in the South. The author tells of a Border Town which was ravaged by both the North and the South. The book introduces you to the very real people who lived in the town through this violent time, often quoting their own words from a letter or a diary. The town was populated by colorful characters, many of whom are introduced and then reappear later, maybe several times, as the history of the town unfolds. The events described are exciting and violent and often very personal. I found myself anxious to get to the next chapter to see what would happen in this engrossing tale, as I often do when I'm reading a work of fiction; yet this is a true story, a history with extremely good documentation and pictures of the people and events of the time. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an exciting and accurate picture of a town which experienced the Civil War in a way you may not have known about before.

THIS TEXT TAKES THE READER INTO AN ELLABORATE AND INTERESTING LOOK AT HUMAN OSTEOLOGY. IT PROVIDES EXCELLANT DIAGRAMS AND WRITTEN DESCRIPTIONS OF BONES AND THE BODY. IT ALSO DISCUSSES IN DEPTH THE ISSUES OF AGE, SEX, AND RACE DETERIMINATION. IT IS AN INVALUABLE SOURCE OF INFORMATION FOR FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY STUDENTS AND DEATH INVESTAGATORS AS WELL.

THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN BY ONE OF THE FIELDS PIONEERS DR. WILLIAM BASS WHO WAS THE LEAD PROFESSOR AND THE UNIVERSITY OF KNOXVILLE, TN WHERE HE INSTITUTED A FIRST IN THE FIELD IN HANDS-ON STUDY. HE DEVELOPED A HUMAN BODY INVESTIGSTION CENTER DUBBED THE BODY FARM. WHERE HE TAKES AN ACTIVE LOOK AT DECOMPOSTION OF HUMAN REMAINS, HE KNOWS HIS STUFF AND THIS BOOK PROVES IT!

I have referred to this manual extensively in both field and lab situations. While there are better and more sophisticated human osteo reference materials available (Tim White's book comes to mind), Bass's book has long been my go-to guide. It includes basic info on how to estimate age, sex, ancestral affiliation, height, and of course, tooth and bone ID (and how to side teeth and bones). The bibliography is a fantastic wealth of info in itself. The only problem is that it is spiral-bound softcover, and I have worn out two copies over the years. I always encourage anthro students to pick up a copy of this manual- SO unfortunate that it's not available on Amazon.

For students of palaeo and forensic anthropology, this book is an excellent field guide and reference. Although some of the terminologies and formulae are American-orientated, Bass has produced an excellent supplement to standard texts which makes identification of 'minor' skeletal parts a bit easier. It's a pity about the spiral binding which limits its life off the bookshelf. I ended up removing the covers which I covered in plastic book wrap and replaced within the wire spiral - hopefully this will entend its life.
It would be useful if future editions could include stature regression formulae for a wider cross section of world geographic groups (broader than just America - we are not all the same!). It would also be useful to develop an indexed interactive CD version which could be loaded onto a laptop.
Overall, an excellent resource.

I've used this book for the last decade to help me with skeletal analysis. Though the spirals are a problem, I have solved it. I now have two copies since my original is so well used it's falling apart. Of all the osteological manuals I've used, this one is by far the best for bone identification. It's helped not only me, but my students as they muddle through the osteology labs. A must have for any osteologist/anthropologist.

This is a very useful field manual for osteology/physical anthropology students or anyone interested in the skeleton. My only concern is with the actual construction of the book. The spiral binding is a complaint of all of my fellow physical anthropology student friends. In one semester our books had fallen apart. It is such a crucial book to me, yet whenever I need to read it, I must pull random pages out of a plastic ziploc. My advice is to buy it, but don't flip through it with too much zeal.

This was the book 10 years ago that introduced me to the fact there was more out there beyond the Little House books written by my favorite author and her daughter. After reading her "Missouri Ruralist" writings, it puts the theories of Laura not really writing the Little House books to rest. It also introduced me to the thrilling storytelling of Rose; so much so, I broke my cardinal "no lending of Little House books" rule to disasterous results. I'm glad to finally have a replacement.

Rose's interview with her father drives me nuts! You will find yourself wishing, after reading this and other snippets on "the man of the place" that Laura and Rose would have spent more time writing about him.

I loved the short stories by Rose Wilder Lane, (especially "Innocence") and Laura's pieces are also touching & well-written -- definitely recommended for the die-hard Ingalls-Wilder fan and for anyone interested in good short stories. Rose Wilder Lane will really impress those people who haven't read anything by her before.

This 'Sampler' is an absolute treat! I have completely enjoyed myself reading the stories in this book, the true and the fiction.

This was my first taste of Rose's work and she is an excellent writer and as we already know, Laura is as well! My favorites are ~ 'Let's Visit Mrs. Wilder'; 'How Laura Got Even'; 'Grandpas' Fiddle I & II'; 'It Depends On How You Look At It'; 'The Sunflower' and 'Object, Matrimony.'

An extra treat are the many photos and the commentary by William Anderson. I seem to have a neverending curiosity about Laura and her entire family. This book was very enjoyable because I learned about Laura's life after what she covered in her children's books.

I am acquiring quite a wonderful collection of Laura Ingalls Wilder books and this one shines brightly! Worth every penny.

For those of us that are interested in life beyond the original "Little House" series, this is a great book to own/read. I think that it captures the character of Laura and Rose because the stories and articles are by their own hand.

I really enjoyed the photos throughout this book because while Garth Williams' representation of the Ingalls family is lovely, it is nice to see what they really looked like. Even though they are in black and white you can imagine Pa's eyes twinkling.

Rose and Laura have very different styles, but both styles are very good. I especially liked Laura's articles because they paint a picture of farm life. The sections range in length so if you one have a few moments of reading time here and there it isn't necessary to worry about reading it in one sitting (though you may want to!).

Other things I recommend are the Little House series (of course!), and the series about Rose that was published recently (it has its slow parts but it was written by someone close to the family so there is a lot of accuracy). If you want to read more of Laura and Rose's writing this book is the perfect solution even considering the high price.

A Little House Sampler is the perfect title for this book. It gives you a sample of both Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane's interesting lives. Rose gives us a look into her and her parents lives after The First Four Years. Grandpa's Fiddle and Grandpa's Fiddle II was very interesting. I really enjoyed that story. Rose's story about the Faces in the Window is a perfect ghost story to tell around a campfire. Laura's stories about remodeling the kitchen and the dining room was great reading. She had a real decorating flair with the colors she chose. Laura wrote for Almanzo too. His stories about moving the spring shows us his story telling ability plus he was a very smart man. The pictures show his fine carpentry work. What a talented family! I mostly enjoy Rose's stories that describe her family life. I found her fiction work good reading but I thought she did her best writing when she wrote about her family. This book is a must for Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane collectors!

Randy Grim is one of the most incredible people I have ever read about. His sacrifice of time, money and love during his attempt to save the most unwanted of the unwanted, America's abandoned street dogs, is totally amazing.

The stories are incredible and moving. You face the real drama of dogs living in fear of man yet, Randy Grim goes out on the lonely city streets and into abandoned buildings to reach every dog he can. He saved them from injury, starvation and death, not only during the day but at night as well.

This is a book everyone should read, everyone. Whether you love dogs or not, this book will make an impact on your life. You will do some real soul searching about the need for each one of us to help with this mission.

Wonderful book. A real eye opener as to the conditions of some urban areas. Only goes to show that you don't have to be volunteering at Ground Zero to be a hero.

Never has a book had such an impact on me. I am an avowed dog-lover, but with all the dog books I have read, I have never been so moved as I was by the story of Randy Grim and his fight to save stray dogs. I could not recommend this book strongly enough to anyone who cares about animals. Randy is an EXTRAORDINARY human being, and even though he does not want it, he is finally getting the recognition he deserves. And this recognition can only help the cause of his fight for stray animals. You go, Randy! I love you!

Poignant and disturbing if a bit disjointed. More than talking to dogs, Randy Grim understands their needs and has at times puts himself in harm's way to rescue abandoned, feral dogs from warehouses, abandoned apartments and houses, and fields. He has turned his difficulty communicating with humans into a useful, compassionate, even obsessive need to save these dogs. The stories don't link together very well and I'd like more insight and history into Randy himself, but overall, the book leaves you feeling that you want to help, too.

A good read because I had no clue what the stray/feral dog situation was like, other than the occassional statistic thrown out. I learned a lot about that situation, as well as what often goes on in the dog breeding industry and the pet stores. Worse than I could have imagined. I almost didn't read this book because I was afraid of becoming too sad about the whole stray dog situation, but I read it anyway because I have six dogs and various behavioral broblems. I wanted some insight. I figured that if this guy rescues and rehabilitates those with the worst behavioral and emotional problems, then I could definitely get some insight into my own dogs, all of which were unwanted. But I didn't want to start with the typical sterile information you find in dog training books. I feel that "The Man Who Talks to Dogs" gave me the insight I needed into understanding the behaviors I'm seeing in my own dogs. I have made a few changes in how I relate to them and things are becoming more harmonious. There is also good information on Randy's web site strayrescue.com.

I have one chapter to go in the book, but this is a great, easy to read book, that should become a classic. It will make you laugh, cry and smile in your heart. Well done!

Five stars are not enough. I found this book one of the few that I didn't want to put down. Not only is it accurate for the period, but maintains a constant flow that alows your imagination to "see" the story. A movie with-in five years. Jim Galiger

Delightful book! One the entire family will enjoy. Once you begin reading you won't be able to put it down. Pap, Otis, Ma all become like family. The lessons Pap teaches Otis on his way to manhood are all lessons to appreciate. Hard work and honesty are attributes that lead to a successful life. Otis' journey to manhood is both interesting and exciting. A new challenge and new friends appear around each corner of his journey.

Can't wait to see what adventures happen in the next book in this series.
A Man's Job to Do

This story by Wayne Lamson about the love between Otis and Molly during the Civil War era is great reading. The chapters flow so easily that it is almost impossible to put the book down once you start reading. When the book is finished, it leaves you wanting more. There must be another book to follow so that you can continue reading about the lives of the Willoughby family. Wayne Lamson is a wonderful author who has mastered the fundamentals of "story telling."

Great book! If you like Mark Twain, Laura Ingalls Wilder or Janette Oke you'll like this as well. Otis is a man I'd like my sons to grow up to become. The author made me want to return to the much harder but simpler time. A time where family and community meant something and where honesty and honor were everything. Can't wait for the next one.

An open letter to all those who assumed that they were cheated by Mr. Westlakeke's " Baby Would I Lie". Westlake has been writing for more years than you have drawn breath. Exit criticism 1. "Trust Me On This" was so fun that I gave it to some Journo pukes to lighten them up. I,Phil, did want to know what happened afterward, the drama queers had no interest. I,(fanfare of trumpets) would seldom criticise (sorry about the spelling, but sometimes an "S" is better than a "Zed") a man who has afforded me so much thought provoking entertainment. "The Winner" is the finest human drama story that I know. "Nackles" is the creepiest. Loose your venom on a worthy target, you little coney-catchers, Read "Anarchaos" or a little Parker and shut up. Pinkyprime

Extremely enjoyable mystery with a country-western setting. Contains the full lyric of "If it ain't fried, it ain't food", itself worth the price.

Does anyone out there know the name of another Westlake book in which the main character, a film critic and college teacher of film courses, inadvertently causes the death of his date for the evening in his apartment. The book features a running gag in that all his books have titles in the familiar modern vein, Title: Subtitle, for example, "Gaza Strip: Breeding Ground for Terrorism". You get the picture. Can anyone help? Thanks.

Like a book you can't put down, this audiodisc is one I couldn't turn off. Nicola Sheara (Reader)brings a unique -- and believable -- voice to every character and enthuses the prose with a sense of lively anticipation. Other reviewers have commended the writer; I want to be sure that audio tape/disc listeners know that they won't be disappointed in this rendition of a very entertaining tale.

_Baby, Would I Lie?_ is the sequel to Donald Westlake's _Trust Me on This_. That book concerned Sara Joslyn's time working for the Weekly Galaxy, a sleazy tabloid. At the end of that book Sara and her editor, now lover, Jack Ingersoll, manage to escape to New York and respectable journalism, in the form of Trend, a weekly modelled as far as I can tell on the New Yorker.

As this book opens, Sara is on her way to Branson, MO. Her latest assignment is to cover the murder trial of Ray Jones, a middle-aged country music star with a theater in Branson. One of Jones' employees was found murdered and dumped in Table Rock Lake, and Ray's car was seen with incriminating bloodstains. The evidence against him is purely circumstantial, and fairly weak, but the trial is also being held in the court of public opinion.

As Sara arrives, she encounters to her dismay some of her former colleagues from the Weekly Galaxy. Naturally, they too are covering this celebrity trial. And before long Jack is in Branson as well, chomping at the bit to nail the Galaxy at their nefarious journalistic tricks.

The story is told from several points of view, but mostly those of Sara and Ray Jones. We soon learn that Ray is also in trouble with the IRS, and we get hints that he is not guilty of the murder but that he knows more than he is letting on, and that he has some curious scheme afoot. Much to the dismay of his legal team, which is confident they can get him off if they can keep him reined in. Meanwhile, he is mysteriously letting Sara have significant access to his legal preparations, much to the further consternation of his lawyers. Is he setting up Sara somehow?

The resolution is pretty clever with a nice twist or two. Westlake's portrayal of Branson, a town I know reasonably well, is not bad. (There are one or two missteps, and it's rather out of date. (The book was published in 1994, and depicts the town as it was in perhaps 1990 or so.)) He tries somewhat to avoid stereotyping Midwestern tourists, with limited success. He is pretty sound (and on the whole, sympathetic) on the country musicians themselves, though. The lyrics to Ray Jones' songs are all by Westlake, and they are quite good country pastiches. Ray Jones himself is well depicted -- not exactly a nice man, but not a monster, either. And the book is quite funny.

Donald Westlake writes books with characters that you just can't help but like. They can be, as in the great Dortmunder series, felons, burglars, kidnappers, but they are all likable. In this book, his characters are tabloid journalists, who are only a step above the lowest of the lows, defense attorneys. He skewers them, but some of them, DARN IT, you can't but help liking.

There is a lot to like about this book, which is the first one I have read by this author. I was drawn to it, 1/ because I love books where there is a decades old mystery to solve, and 2/ I love when that involves genealogy. I almost stopped reading it three times though, because I found the main character extremely annoying. I think the author intended to paint her as a 'zany' character of some sort, (and on that topic, I don't understand WHY it is that most Cozy Mysteries think there "HAS" to be zany comedy mixed in the story) but that part of it REALLY irritated me. Instead of a 30-something educated (historian/genealogist) mother of two (and one on the way), she came across (to me) as an immature, whiney, bitchy, redneck. At first anyway...she did seem to mellow a bit toward the end of the book. I liked all of the other characters though, but it's really sort of important that a reader like the "main" character. Ok, having gotten that out of the way, I'd like to say that I've read a LOT of mysteries in my day and this one had an excellent plot. Everything about this part of it, was top notch. The best parts of the book to me, were the detection scenes where Torie was delving into the past via her intensive research in libaries, old newspapers, etc. I did feel like the ending came together a bit too quickly, and a few things were explained in a rush, or not at all. There were two issues on which I felt I wanted more answers and explanation. But this didn't change my view that it was way, way above average. I'm really glad that I stuck with this one, because I'm looking forward to reading more in this series. I do hope however, that in future books Torie will act more like a classy lady, both in her speech and actions.

In this third outing, Torie finds that there has been a murder in her family tree, but could there also be a murderer? While hosting her annual family Christmas party / reunion, the whole clan turns up in New Kassel just the perfect occasion to find out who the killer could be and why. Both Torie and her mom have big plans coming up next summer so I can't wait to see what book #4 has to offer.

This is definitely a cozy, because the small town on the Mississippi River and the extended family that MacPherson describes make you want to live that kind of a life. Her detective is Torie, who is a wife and mother particularly family-oriented: she has a major interest in history and in particular, her own family's history (genealogy). She is hosting the annual family reunion for her father's family when the book begins, and the mystery centers around copies of newspaper articles that she receives anonymously in the mail -- articles about the murder of her great-grandfather (who she thought died in an accident). Torie decides to try to discover what happened, but she's haunted by the fear that it will turn out to be a member of her family -- who are in town for this reunion.

I was genuinely surprised by the solution to this crime, although it all made sense. This is my second book by this author and I intend to read more.

This is a nice, easy-going read. The author continues the Tori O'Shea series in fine form. Again, we have wonderful character developement, nice twists...all presented with a wonderful wit.
I highly recommend this one and the rest of the series. Well done!

Rett has done it again, given us a great little mystery to enjoy. I felt right at home with Tori and her family. Cousins, aunts and uncles crawling all over Tori's house for a family reunion and her reactions made me smile. Of course, Tori's reunion wouldn't be complete without the family skeltons and a murder. I love this series and can't wait to read Misty Mourning. I am hooked!

The virtual reality is sure to reach out and grab computer geeks, not letting go until the last page is turned. The characters are wonderful, from the computer hacker killer to the team of sleuths: Dr Gray, psychologist, full time police consultant, and virtual reality expert and Leo Schultz, a very believable, tough cop. Dr Gray, using the latest technology, recreates each murder scene, allowing the investigators to be a fly on the wall, the victim, or the killer. It's been a long time since I've read a book as creative as this one. Can't wait for Ms. Kennett's next one.

Grey Matter, Firecracker, & Cameleon are all a must read! Don't miss the 4th in the series written under the name Avery Morgan titled Act of Betrayal -- I'm reading it now! Also, check out Shirley Kennett's Web site!

I just discovered Shirley Kennett's story-telling, and all I can say is, "Can't you write them faster?!"

In FIRE CRACKER, PJ Gray (plus son, Thomas, and wonder cat, Megabite) and Leo Schultz appear again to take on Will "Cracker" Carpenter--a computer geek who is bent on revenge on Mom Elly--his evil stepmother (in his mind).

Since PJ is also very knowledgeable with computers, it may seem surprising that Cracker knows even more--and is NOT bashful in letting her know.

I really like the characters PJ, Thomas, Leo, & yes, the wonder cat, Megabite. They are REAL people--almost unheard of in today's fiction. Yeah, they get put in very unreal situations--it wouldn't be fiction & a thriller if it wasn't. I e-mailed Shirley and told her how much I enjoyed her stories; she told me that she has 7 cats; I can see that since Megabite has many qualities that my own share!

The story itself has several interesting points of interest--among them, Cracker's ability to thwart PJ; when PJ steps into the virtual world & confronts Cracker's Grim Reaper (had me squirming!); and hints that maybe Cracker ISN'T the machine he wants to be.

Mostly, though, I really love the characters in Shirley's world. PJ, Thomas, Leo, & Megabite; Dave (who gets queasy at the thought of blood & guts); Anita--the steady, up & coming detective wannabe; PJ's bosses; Millie's diner & Millie (makes me wish we had a Millie's here in Danville). The whole package.

I'm sure this author is headed for the big time in the suspense field. Fascinating story. The villain here is a little like Darth Vader, because there is some good buried beneath the surface. Way beneath the surface. The character PJ Gray is something different in the overabundance of female leads these days. She comes across like a real person, with problems at work and at home that others can relate to. Her partner Schultz is a detective who doesn't have some flaw, the kind I'm tired of, like being drunk all the time or practically suicidal. He's just a guy with a lot of dedication who thinks he's doing some good. This book isn't a piece of fluff like many of the books with female leads, and I rate it one of the best I've read in a loooong time.

This is my first time reading one of Kennett's books. I couldn't help but compare her characters to those of P.Cornwell's. By the time I was halfway through though, the characters had become more endearing to me. I enjoyed the computer imaging involvement. I wasn't happy knowing who the "bad guy" was from the start. As the book progressed, I realized that this knowledge was a building block for understanding the psyche of the killer. In the end, I was glad that I read this book and I will seek out more of Shirley Kennett's work.