Texas Books

On May 16, 1991 R. Scott Dunn, then 24 vanished. The only person who appeared to have any insight as to his whereabouts was the gruesomely named Leisha Hamilton, with the equally gruesome personality as reported in this book.

Scott, then 24 was highly regarded for his proficiency at electronics and repair. He took great pride in a restored Chevrolet Camaro, which he named "Yellow Thunder."

In 1991-92, Scott, who was living in Lubbock Texas at the time was engaged to be married. However, he was living with Ms. Hamilton who sounded like a master manipulator. She called Scott's father, Jim to inform him that his son was missing. Each encounter she had with Jim and local law enforcement people was an exercise in manipulation and cruel, inappropriate comments. Although she claimed to be in love with Scott and expressed pleasure at sharing an apartment with him, she was actively involved with another man and even tried to lead authorities to suspect him as being involved in Scott's disappearance.

Jim Dunn is a man one can respect. He is to be commended for his dogged persistence and untiring diligence in working with law enforcement and the Vidoq Society. It is through their hard work that they were able to bring Leisha Hamilton to justice, although Scott's body has not been recovered at the time of this review.

Mike & the Mechanics' 1989 song "The Living Years" which is about fathers and sons appears to underscore this book very well. It was truly heartwarming to read about a father and son who loved and had respect for one another.

My heart goes out the Scott Dunn's family. The terror, frustration and then grief for all these years must have been horrible. It is about time that victims and their families should have as many rights as people who are suspected or actually commit crimes. I live in Lubbock and cannot believe that a jury could believe Smith could have been part of the murder or cover-up and still let him loose on the streets. I hope that some day the Dunns will know what happened to their son or at least where he is.

This book reads like a fiction mystery novel, it keeps you on edge and you just can't wait to see how it turns out.

Jim and Scott Dunn have a very good, long distance father-son relationship. They talk frequently by phone.

Scott is an attractive 24 year old young man who had learning problems in school. However, he is a wiz at installing stereos and restoring old cars. He loves his cars and he excels in his job.

Scott had recently called his dad to tell him that he was in love and had just become engaged to be married to Jessica.

Then, Jim gets a call from Leisha, who tells him Scott has disappeared, leaving his most prized possessions, his car which he had named Yellow Thunder, and a boat. When asked who she is, she says "Oh, I have been living with Scott for a while". Jim is in shock. He has never heard of her.

Who is Leisha? How does she figure in Scott's disappearance?

Leisha is a woman who manipulates men to do what she wants, she plays one against another. She lies when it suits her.

Jim vows to find his missing son, but soon he begins to expect foul play.

Jim is a determined father, trying to solve this mystery. He prods police and other experts, to keep the investigation alive. He never quits. He is determined to find his son, dead or alive.

There are lots of technical data and lots of tedious facts, but the book is never boring.

Scott Dunn was a wiz at fixing up cars and installing stereos in them, and he took special pride in his own "yellow submarine." Surely he wouldn't have left town without it? But his father, Jim, hadn't heard from him in some time. When he rang up the boy at home, a strange woman answered the phone. Thus begins the true-crime puzzler TRAIL OF BLOOD.

Poor Scott was only 24 when he met Leisha, the sort of woman who pops up in noir movies in the late 1940s to destroy the men who loves her. Leisha was seeing a few other guys on the side, just to keep her hand in, but she hated being rejected.

When Jim came to see the house she shared with Scott, he wondered why she had a big couch right over a patch of carpet and why an afghan was covering the spots the couch could not. Once you pulled up the afghan and moved the couch, you could see where a huge section of the wall-to-wall carpet had simply been hacked out. And Leisha pretended she had never noticed this before!

Local police and the DA said to Jim, "Sorry about your son, but without a body there is no case." He was in despair until he turned on the TV and happened, just happened, to see a profile of the mysterious "Vidocq Society," about which I will say no more.

The book tells a lot about fathers and sons and it's a sort of plea to sons to keep in better touch with their fathers, and also to fathers, it gives the wise advice that you should cherish your son while you can, he may not be with you forever.

Trail of Blood tells the story of the murder of Scott Dunn, and how the mysterious Vidocq Society was able to help Texas law enforcement bring his killers to justice even though Scott's body was never found. This is a great book not only for the technical details and the ins and outs of the legal system, but also for all the fascinating people involved. The victim, Scott Dunn, was a talented guy with a magnetic personality. His killer Leisha Hamilton is a psychological case study with an amazing ability to manipulate and lie. Scott's father, James Dunn, doggedly pursued justice even when it seemed like there was nothing the police could do. Finally, the Vidocq society's forensic psychologist provides insiight into the criminal mind of Scott's killers.

Trail of Blood is a great read, and sure to satisfy anyone with an interest in true crime stories.

I found this book to a very interesting book on Texas tidbits. I read a lot about Texas that I never imagined. I recommend this book as a refreshing book to read.

I found that this book was very interesting and I learned a lot about Texas and Texans. I recommend this to everone who is interested in Texas, trivia and even to those who are not. Very enjoyable reading.

This book by Bill Cannon is a book that can be enjoyed a little at a time or read until complete. I truly did feel that I learned a lot about Texas and Texans.

A Treasury of Texas Trivia by Bill Cannon is a great read. It's the kind of book you can pick up in the middle and read just a story or two (of course you'll want to read more)

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book. It was hard to put down. Many extremely interesting facts about the great state of Texas. I recommend this book for everyone to read, even non-Texans.

this book is excellent. it is so detailed and once you start reading it, you can't put it down. it explores the profiles of serial rapists, how the police create profiles, and it gives you the chilling feeling like you are there observing the crime scene.

I am a Dallas native who grew up around the time the Ski Mask Rapist was hunting in North Dallas, so I was very interested to read this book. It was so scary to read about my neighborhood in this book. But the book is great, very readable, and gives a great insight into the mind of Gilbert Escobedo.

This is the most enlighting book I have ever read. Maybe because my husband is the dective that is portrayed in this story, never the less it sure woke me up to the facts of life. I had my daughter and granddaughter read it as well. you never know who to trust. I am looking forward to reading others by Howard Swindle.

Swindle has done an excellent job here of walking the reader through not only the investigation of the rapes committed, but the background and personality of the criminal, Gilbert Escobedo. The fact that Swindle was able to visit and interview Escobedo several times during his incarceration was, I am sure, immensely helpful. I feel that books like these can actually help prevent crime...in this case rape...by arming potential victims with crucial knowledge. The first thing they have to realize--and this is immensely obvious in the book--is that they ARE a potential victim. Escobedo committed upwards of 100 rapes, and even managed to maintain some "normal" relationships on the side...even going so far as to initiate not only an intimate relationship, but also a business relationship with an unsuspecting woman who, coincidentally, was previously one of his victims. She never even knew until he was finally arrested. You really can't make this stuff up.

Swindle handles a disturbing and incomprehensible subject with the vivid and intriguing storytelling ability of a novelist. He presents his subject, which readers look at like they would observe a horrific scene with face-covered hands, barely seeing through the cracks of their fingers, with a reverence of the oppression women endure. He handles the gruesome facts without painting an unnecessary violent picture of the details, although the violence is very real, rather implied without being glorified, whenever possible.

We see into this sick world without having to re-live the victim's overwhelming and terrorizing experiences almost vicariously, which may be the reason I was able to not only eagerly finish the book, but even broach reading about the subject to begin with. Subjects such as stranger rape, being attacked in the supposed safety and sanctity of one's private space, chills most women (and probably most men; however, I would venture to point out that it is not a frequent occurence for most men and thus men probably do not share the same level of terror with women for themselves, but possibly share some level of fear for the safety of their loved ones.)

Reading a book about rape runs the risk a lot of women aren't willing to take: that this is a topic that, even though a part of life, women don't want to explore. Everyday experiences such as the trepedation of entering a home alone in the dark are all too frequent reminders of the fear that rape invokes. Many know that this subject runs a great risk of stirring up complicated emotions few women want to ponder.

This is a must read for the realistic and inquistive mind, ever wanting to know more about human nature and the psychological and social forces that drive us, even when those forces are severely disturbed. For some readers of the subject of rape, it is almost as if gaining ab understanding of an issue allows some readers to lose, somewhat, the level of fear usually associated with such topics. It is for those indiv! iduals who want to solicitously broaden their dimension of knowledge about rape that I would recommend this straight-forward and expert handling of an extremely sensitive and terrorizing subject.

Oh Yes, now this is the kind of western I remember reading in the 50's and 60's when the bookstores all carried many westerns. If you remember Walt Slade or Jim Hatfield and enjoyed them then this is for you. Even if you don't remember them I really suggest you try this book. This was the first book by James Griffin I've read but I'm definitely going to buy all of his books and add them to my collection. This is just a great all out exciting western with lots of action and adventure and no sex or swearing. There are only a couple authors writing westerns today that I enjoy and Jim Griffin has now been added to that list.

Wonderfully paced novel. Griffin uses good characterization and a deft use of dialogue to capture a style of western storytelling gone by. The mood and style of this book is very reminiscent of the Pulp Era Western tales of the 20's through the 40's and after. An intersting turn is having the hero attractive to women, but very devoted to his wife, child and his God. He also has an intelligent horse (SAM) who is more than just a prop to talk to, or a plot device to save his bacon. Sam is an equal partner and is treated with love and respect by Our Hero. This is surely a departure from Western Fiction and a good one at that.

Worth every nickel, this book packs a good story and lots of action between its covers. Enjoy this one and look for upcoming books from Griffin.

The author,James Griffin, has captured in this book the true feeling of the West of years gone by. From the first page to the last I was not able to put this book down for fear that I would miss the next adventure with Texas Ranger Jim. There was just the right amount of intrigue, gun fights, and romance without the use of foul language or explicit sexual encounters. I thoroughly enjoyed this well written western novel and recommend it to all who enjoy a good, clean read with lots of action and a little romance to spice things up. Looking forward to another Texas Ranger Jim Blawcyzk novel to come along.

Anyone who remembers any of the Jim Hatfield, Texas Ranger stories from vintage magazines and paperbacks will enjoy this actionful novel with its band of ranger heroes. Unlike the traditional loner of the older tales, though, the hero of this one is happily married with a family back home while he risks his neck tracking down railroad saboteurs. A bonus is that the author knows his horseflesh, and treats the horses as characters in themselves. All in all, a fun read for old-fashioned (and some new-fashioned) western fans.

Trouble Rides the Texas Pacific is a good old-fashioned shoot 'em up in the best style of the Western writers of years past. Ranger Jim Blawcyzk is a straight-shootin' lawman, tough on outlaws, but devoted to his wife and son. The action in this book comes fast and furious, as Blawcyzk fights an outlaw gang that will stop at nothing to destroy the railroad. If you like lots of gunplay, and a very rugged hero, this is the book for you. I highly recommend it.

Dustin Ramsey has never forgotten that night, ten years ago, in the back of his Mustang one warm April. Embarrassed by his abysmal performance, Dustin had slunk away and not called again. Now he has hired a private investigator to find Erica Mann, the girl he could not forget. She now publishes a highly successful newsletter that provides an opportunity for them to meet again. But what he really wants, more than her writing skills, is an opportunity to make up for a teen's impatient backseat mistakes.

Erica still remembers that night in high school when she had been virginal and fumbling. With a bit more knowledge, she might have turned quick on the trigger into a treasured memory. So when Dustin calls with a business proposition, Erica is floored. She had started Dateline: Dallas on a dare and only intended to publish until her dream job as an investigative reporter appears. But Dustin's reappear in her life threatens her priorities, her desires, and her heart.

The first of the Truelood, Texas continuity, TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY sizzles with sexual tension and erotic love scenes that truly satisfy. Erica and Dustin struggle to reconcile the memories of the past with their desires of the present. Their evocative struggles demonstrate the author's understanding of powerful motivation and fear of vulnerability. With TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY, Vicki Lewis Thompson once again demonstrates her dazzling gift for creating sensual romance and extraordinary passion that readers have come to expect from this talented author. Very highly recommended.

Can I say that I was so turned on while reading this book? well whatever it was great...men has their [adult films]...us women has books like this. ok I told the truth.

Ten years ago, Dustin Ramsey and Erica Mann shared their first sexual experience in the back seat of Dustin's red Mustang. And the interlude was... a complete disaster. Now Dustin is facing a huge challenge- taking over the family business. But before he does, he has to get past his one and only failure. His plan: to find- and seduce- Erica again. Only, this time he's got to do it right... ** Erica is amazed when Dustin shows up on her doorstep. True, he has a business proposition for her, but the look in his eyes tells her what kind of proposition he's really offering... Erica has come a long way in ten years. Her newsletter, Dateline: Dallas, has gained her a reputation as the Dr. Ruth of the Dallas area. So if Dustin thinks he can just walk in and seduce her senseless, he'd better think again. Because Erica intends to seduce him first...

TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY is a great romantic comdey filled with hot scenes that scorch the pages! Ten years ago Dustin and Erica have an unsatisfying encounter in the back seat of his pickup truck. Now they have a chance to prove to each other (and themselves) that much has improved over the years. They truly find heat in that back seat once again. Definitely one for the "keeper" shelf.

Dustin Ramsey, CEO of struggling Ramsey Enterprises, hires private Investigator Jennifer Madison to locate Erica Deutchmann. Dustin thinks back to when they were in high school together and he had sex with her in his car. He happened to be a virgin though he pretended to be otherwise as befitting a football star. All he can remember is how badly he performed that day.

Jennifer finds Erica running a romantic advice newsletter in Dallas under a different surname. Dustin arranges to meet with Erica offering a deal involving two weeklies he owns. As Erica and Dustin meet, the sparks fly and they share sex like neither has ever felt. They begin to fall in love, but she is a tree hugger and he drives racing cars making a permanent relationship very unlikely.

Fans of heated romantic tension that emanates from every page will want to wear asbestos gloves, as TRULY, MADLY, DEEPLY is a torrid tale that contains scorching scenes. The lead couple is a delightful pair, but especially Dustin who is still embarrassed after a decade from his horrendous sexual performance with Jennifer. Fans of contemporary romance with a 212-degree temperature will want to read Vicki Lewis Thompson's latest impassioned novel.

Harriet Klausner

I loved this little gem of a book that I didn't want it to end. I could have traveled on with Merilee and her friend through many more adventures. This is not just a book for kids and it is a great insight into children with Aspergers syndrome and fetal alcohol syndrome.

Suzanne Crowley is a beautiful writer. She has a unique style and Marilee has an unforgettable voice. From the beginning, the author grabs you with her humor, her insight into Asperberger and her understanding of all sorts of people, and you know that you are along for the whole West Texas ride. I can't wait to read Suzanne's second book.

I have been handing this book out to friends, family and teachers because it leaves the reader with a hopeful feeling, especially with regards to one's own sense of dislocation...not fitting in.
One recipient, who is an elementary school Special Ed teacher, was totally impressed with the author's insightful descriptions of autistic behavior - "Even the nuances!"
Many of the characters remind me of myself or people that I know...Veraleen, with her "big ole heart" that loves big and hates big, for example.
I wish this book would be chosen for school literature programs. It has all of the elements of good literature that students need to learn, including some phenomenal symbolism.
Everyone has thoroughly enjoyed it...great read for all ages!
Two suggestions for readers:
1) Read slowly. The sentences are so well-formed that you'll miss important bits of information if you try to skim over them.
2) Older people should empty their bladders before reading. 'Burst out laughing' humor is subtly woven into the narrative.

I love this tender coming-of-age story about outsider Merilee Monroe, a/k/a Dragon Girl to her fellow citizens in the thriving West Texas metropolis of Jumbo (population 1000, including the goats). When new misfits arrive in town desperately needing her help, Merilee is dragged into the heart-warming and heart-breaking world of family and friendships. I laughed aloud at the many comic scenes and amusing anecdotes about small-town life. And who doesn't have a mean-as-mudpie crazy old biddy somewhere in the family tree? For all that, the magical storyline took me down a path of souls lost and found. As prematurely cynical Merilee redefines her place in the emotional landmine-field known as her community, she discovers the most mysterious of all places in the universe: the hopeful human heart. A delightful read and not just for youngsters.

First of all, this is not just a book for 10-12 year old children. Teens and adults may well relate even better to the thoughts and experiences of Merilee Marvelous. Parents with high functioning children who "just don't seem to fit in" will find this a stirring narrative of provoking insight and light hearted humor about the inner thoughts of a "special child" as she relates to her world.

Readers may even recognize some of their own family and neighbors in the collection of eccentric Jumbo residents. Merilee explains, "It's amazing what people will tell you while sucking on a purple Tootsie Pop. I hand them out so that everyone will shut up and leave me alone, but all it seems to do is open up a whole can of worms."

This is a story with a beginning and an end much like a hello and a goodbye... a story told in a lacework pattern, handing out just the right amount of bread crumbs to lead the reader to a bear-hug conclusion. I felt like I was listening to a story told by a wizened old spirit.... remembering a great life story....a poignant story about love, fear and redemption. When I closed the cover on the last page, I was satisfied.

This book reads like a dream. The language flows effortlessly and the imagery of even the simplest scenes creates vivid pictures in your mind.

It is a psychological tale, yet the pages turn like a mystery. The two main characters are sisters Jane and Blanche. Both past middle age, lamenting the loss of their youth and the personal injustices life has befallen them. Blanche is crippled and at the mercy of Jane - wonderfully delusional and unbalanced. The terror mounts as matters get slowly but progressively dark, as Jane spirals into a deranged world. Jane reminds me of a sinister child in many ways... selfish, cruel, spiteful and completely delusional. And like a child - actions have no consequence, feelings are flippant and opinions are made on a whim. A situation that is a living hell for Blanche, crippled in her room cut off from all contact to the outside world.

As Jane becomes increasingly unhinged, Blanche is subjected to the horrors of Jane's mind that manifect themselves in the most creative of psychological tortues. i.e There is an instance where Jane brings to Blanche's room her lunch tray, and leaving it pointedly covered, exits the room. When Blanche uncovers her lunch tray and settles in to eat... "She saw now what she had not seen before; the entire meal had been carefully sprinkled over with fine, white sand." And therein, the chapter ends. It leaves you to ponder the mental state of a person who would prepare a delightful meal, deliver it on a silver tray and go to the effort of painstakingly covering it with sand. Horror? No... but that's just the beginning...

Clearly, the reader sides with Blanche and waits with baited breath to see her escape, yet Jane is at times portrayed achingly real. You find yourself empathising with this sad, disturbed, fragile creature.

Having seen the movie, i can say in this instance the book and movie complement eachother. Both offering different things, both fabulous!

The two most interesting things about the novel are that
given the film's popularity the book has been out of print for
so long and that it demonstrates how ingeniously the filmmakers
used the components to create a film that stands on its own.
For nowhere in the novel are the descriptions of Jane or Blanche
in any way representative of Bette Davis or Joan Crawford. To
be sure, the key elements are here--the vaudeville prologue,
the rat and the parakeet, the relationship between Edwin Flagg
and his mother, the dance on the beach at closing--but the novel
has very little dialogue and none of the film's wit. Readers
waiting to read Baby Jane saying "But ya are, Blanche, ya are!"
will be sorely disappointed. The novel takes itself serioiusly
and is rather dark and frank about the physical abuse of Blanche
by Jane that at the time must have been shocking. Of course
what made the story shocking is something we know now all too
well--that aberrations of all sort take place behind closed doors
with neighbors unaware--and while the baroqueness of the setting
and the characters lives are the stuff of which ficiton is made,
the abuse factor gives 'Baby Jane' its one salient point of
credibility. Those fascinated by the film will learn much
by reading the novel.

The two most interesting things about the novel are that
given the film's popularity the book has been out of print for
so long and that it demonstrates how ingeniously the filmmakers
used the components to create a film that stands on its own.
For nowhere in the novel are the descriptions of Jane or Blanche
in any way representative of Bette Davis or Joan Crawford. To
be sure, the key elements are here--the vaudeville prologue,
the rat and the parakeet, the relationship between Edwin Flagg
and his mother, the dance on the beach at closing--but the novel
has very little dialogue and none of the film's wit. Readers
waiting to read Baby Jane saying "But ya are, Blanche, ya are!"
will be sorely disappointed. The novel takes itself serioiusly
and is rather dark and frank about the physical abuse of Blanche
by Jane that at the time must have been shocking. Of course
what made the story shocking is something we know now all too
well--that aberrations of all sort take place behind closed doors
with neighbors unaware--and while the baroqueness of the setting
and the characters lives are the stuff of which ficiton is made,
the abuse factor gives 'Baby Jane' its one salient point of
credibility. Those fascinated by the film will learn much
by reading the novel.

I absolutely loved baby jane it was such a great book nomatter how bad it was lol. i love the movie also and its soooo hard to find that soundtrack i love that hip song they play when blanche is trying to throw the letter out the window it was hilarious baby jane is one of the all time best thrillers !

Film fans who love the movie version will enjoy the book on which it was based, but should be prepared for how very different the novel is. Readers will see what an arduous task it was to adapt as a screenplay...and what a commendable job they (and the director & stars) did, as well. Since virutally no one nowadays will read the book first, it serves as an interesting character study into the psychology of the Jane and Blanche characters. And if anyone saw the ghastly TV movie remake starring the Redgrave sisters and John Glover, you will hope they hold on tightly to the novel and leave well enough alone!!

Having been a fan of Ms. Moore's other police procedurals, I snatched up her latest offering hoping for more of the same zany characters, colorful mysteries, and laugh-out-loud humor. I was not disappointed. Not only is Orchid a fast-paced read, Ms. Moore has topped her own previous efforts. I'm looking forward to more from this fantastic author.

After Detective Cezanne Martin solves THE LADY GODIVA MURDER and becomes the new acting-captain of the Fort Worth police homicide unit, she learns she's been put in charge of the newly-formed Cold Case Squad. When she inherits an 8 year old unsolved cold case, she finds herself in a media fishbowl. Not only is the brass trying to run her off, she learns the former investigating officer died while trying to solve the case. When she finds herself immersed in an alternative lifestyle group made up of wealthy, influential people who go to great lengths not to have their identities exposed, she comes face-to-face with the Executioner, leader of THE WILD ORCHID SOCIETY. This is an action-packed, nail-biting, suspense-filled read that will hold your attention way beyond the last page. Authentic situations, exciting dialogue and skillful plotting keep this novel fast-paced. I hope the last line is indicative of another sequel to come in the Cezanne Martin series. Absolutely fascinating to the end.

Having solved the LADY GODIVA MURDER does not liberate Cezanne Martin from being an anathema because of her affair with a married peer. Instead Cezanne is further punished by her relative Deputy Chief Daniel Rosen who announces at a press conference that she is the temporary head of homicide. Rosen informs the media that Cezanne will head up the newly formed Cold Case Squad and promises to solve the eight year old Great Dane Murder in two weeks. Rosen will keep the pressure on Cezanne because he expects her to resign after making the Fort Worth police a laughing stock.

Cezanne refuses to quit though she has just obtained her law degree. Instead she transfers in ostracized cop Klevenhagen because his personnel file is bigger than hers. As she watches a teen with the gift of sight, Cezanne obtains help from the FBI that leads her to digging undercover the Dungeons of Decadence, but soon learns that the Executioner stalks D&D participants seeking sacrifices of the top secret WILD ORCHID SOCIETY. If she is to solve her cold case, Cezanne will need to infiltrate this deadly group and unmask the Executioner. Besides her career in jeopardy, her life could be forfeit too.

The latest Martin police procedural is a fantastic tale that hooks the audience the moment that the reader realizes along with the heroine that she is being set up to fail. The story line moves forward on several fronts that not only never slows down the pace, but also cleverly merges together into a terrific investigative tale. Sub-genre fans will want Moore detective tales from a Five Star author.

Harriet Klausner

Don't let the cover frighten you, well maybe just a little. Ms Moore has given us a protagonist in Cezanne Martin that proves to be human. "Zan" has the depth of character to keep her wits about her through all the challenges anyone could be asked to face. This includes the confidence and determination to venture where her authority as police Captain and even the ability to defend herself or call for back up are taken away from her. We glimpse a part of her humanity that the stern exterior covers well. With her combined strengths and weaknesses, Cezanne perseveres through a high tension and well developed mystery. I didn't figure out, "who done it" until the very last. And that doesn't happen often. Get it. You'll thank me later.

Cezanne Martin returns as the Acting-Captain of Fort Worth Police's homicide unit, and this time, the brass has set her up with a cold case investigation designed to make her fail. The previous investigator died while investigating the Great Dane Murder (not about dogs) and Cezanne finds a connection with an underground organization known as The Wild Orchid Society (not about flowers). Infiltrating the bizarre, alternative lifestyle group could cost more than her job and reputation, if discovered; unmasking The Executioner, ringleader of The Wild Orchid Society, could put her on ice.

The storyline will grab you from the beginning, not to mention it'll keep you in a headlock until you're through.

I'm a native Texan and both my parents are native Texans from the east part of the state. So this means that the 42 tradition runs deep in my family. This is the game that I watched "the elders" play at family reunions, weddings, birthdays, and probably even a funeral or two when I was growing up. When I was about 32, I was finally invited to to play with the "big boys". My dad and his brother were partners and me and one of my other uncles were partners. I was paired with this particular uncle because he is known as "the best damn 42 player in Texas" among my family and I was but a lowly rookie. Despite their generosity in pairing me with a known 42 shark, my dad and his brother proceeded to skunk us seven hands to zero twice in a row. Even though I had been taught to play years ago, am a fairly good spades player, and have a natural talent for math and statistics, I could not even come close to pulling my own weight at this game when it came to real competition with veteran players. How was I to find the skill required to compete with the hard-core 42 players in my family?

Enter "Winning 42" by Dennis Roberson. In "Winning 42", Mr. Roberson lays it all on the table. He begins with a brief introduction to the rules and terminology of the game. He then jumps into one of the most difficult aspects of the game, bidding, and handles it with an ease and clarity that belie the difficulty of the topic. If you master this 14 page chapter alone, your game will take a quantum leap. He then spends a chapter discussing basic strategies for playing out your dominoes once you have won the bid. He then devotes two chapters to helping your partner and setting the bidder. In these 45 pages (five chapters) Roberson gives you the essentials for becoming a solid 42 player who will seldom make a glaring mistake at a 42 table and who would be a respectable 4th among a table of veterans.

These five chapters also demonstrate one of the fantastic features of this book, namely that each chapter builds perfectly upon the preceding material and gives the reader information that will be immediately useful in 42. Reading this book in order, one could easily finish a chapter, put down Roberson's book, and be a better 42 player from that point on. Roberson's systematic approach to the basics of the game free one from the necessity to master the entire book before reaping it benefits and make its first five chapters alone easily worth the price.

The next six chapters cover several intermediate topics. Two of the most essential of these chapters teach one how to recognize and play an 84 hand, how to help your partner make an 84 bid, and how one sets an 84 hand. The other essential chapter teaches one how to recognize, bid, play, partner, and set "doubles as trumps" hands and "follow me" hands. Though the above numerous topics are presented in only three chapters, the topics are covered sufficiently to enable one to play confidently and correctly in these situations.

Chapter 12 covers "Advanced Bidding and Playing" and is what I consider the third major part of the book. The hands and play discussed in this chapter are illustrative of key points Mr. Roberson feels are critically important. Because these hands are illustrative, they do not appear to be typical hands and so may not be terribly engaging to the average 42 player. But if you have grasped the material of the preceding 11 chapters, you will easily understand the importance of chapter 12. Moreover, and perhaps more importantly, in chapter 12, Mr. Roberson demonstrates his masterful ability at 42 analysis. Anyone who has observed veteran 42 players analyze hands after they are played will know that analysis is one of the cardinal components of 42 culture.

Chapter 13 covers the "optional" topics of nel-o, sevens, and plunge. This material may help one depending on who he finds himself in a game with. Mr. Roberson is not fond of these variations, so he presents them in a cursory manner. I don't think this is a weakness of the book, however, because none of these variations are found in any official or tournament rules of the game.

Chapters 14 and 15 provide one with a flavor of the game's culture. The reading in these chapters is pretty good, but I don't think Mr. Roberson has really captured the essence and pervasiveness of 42 culture that must have existed in certain parts of the state during the last century. Its true that 42 has mostly been a pass-time and is "just a game", but for many families in rural Texas, it must have been much more than that. I'm sure my family is not unique in that almost every person a generation older than me is an expert 42 player--as are their parents and grandparents. So 42 may not have been so much a pass-time for some families as it was an important cultural glue. I've seen family members who were at odds sit down at a 42 table for hours and play in perfect harmony with plentiful discussion and analysis. What other cultural expression could achieve this? But Mr. Roberson's book appears to be mainly about instruction and not history, so these chapters really have no bearing on its value as a work of literature, which is tremendous.

The last chapter of the book gives some critical statistics about the game. It would probably be helpful for one to memorize these numbers if he has a head for that sort of thing--but I don't think that memorizing these statistics is a sufficient substitute for the understanding and intuition one might gain from mastering the first 12 chapters of the book and plain-ol' 42 experience.

In summary, Winning 42 is not only a unique book in that it is the only one ever written about the game, but it is also a masterwork of instruction. I'm not sure what Mr. Roberson's profession is, but if he is not writing instructional books full time, it is likely that he has missed his calling.

Finally, if you play or are thinking of playing 42, read this book. I'm sure I can speak for any 42 player out there when I say that it is more fun to loose to good 42 players than it is to beat bad ones. That's the magic of 42!

Excellent book. Very well explained. I never played this version of Dominoes and I really like to do it. I like to contact Mr. Roberson in order to share some thoughts. My emails are: gtejeira@panamacom.com gtejeira66@yahoo.com

Sincerely,

Gabriel Tejeira

This is a wonderful book for out-of-state Texans. You find yourself saying, "Yeah, I remember 42 scenes and parties like that growing up as well!" The book has a very thorough description of straight 42 and its rules.

I must say that I found the author's total dislike for and two-page description of Nel-o very disappointing. He even says, "it is an eminently uninteresting way to play, requiring little or no strategy". He goes on to say, "In fact, to play Nel-o, there is absolutely nothing in any of the preceding chapters that is any use at all. There is no strategy."

This is true for the game of Sevens and would be mostly true for Nel-o where, without further variation, doubles would always be high in their suit. What isn't covered at all in this book is the option in playing a Nel-o hand of stating how doubles are to be played. The author only states that "many Nel-o players will allow the bidder the option of declaring doubles high, low, or even their own suit. This inconsistency makes it just that much easier, unchallenging, and uninteresting to play Nel-o."

Many groups that I have played in contain a large number of players not familiar with Nel-o, but of the groups that play Nel-o, I've never run into people that did NOT play all three versions of how doubles are called - High in their suit, Low in their suit, or as a separate suit. This ability to call how doubles will be played for the hand, in my opinion, makes Nel-o very interesting and requires skillful play.

As a forty-year old Texan that has played 42 for thirty years now, 42 is one of my favorite games as long as you can play Nel-o and call your doubles. I have tried "Straight 42" on numerous occasions, particularly with groups not familiar with Nel-o, and I have to say that it is one of the most boring games I've ever played and I can see where it would have been created by a 12- and 14-year old in Trappe Spring, TX in 1887 as the book states.

I was also wrankled by the statement that most Nel-o players would be totally destroyed in a straight 42 tournament for lack of skill. I contend that the opposite is even more true - a veteran straight 42 player with the rules explained to him for Nel-o and the three doubles variations would likely get destroyed in a Nel-o game, because players allowing Nel-o bidding play straight much of the time, whereas straight players never play Nel-o.

Overall, I'm glad this book was published, but it just goes to show you what I've seen at 42 parties - just like with languages, there are different dialects, so to speak, of 42 and you will probably enjoy playing more with other players that "speak" yours.

I give this book 4 stars because I appreciate that it was made. Lots of folks play Nel-o, however, and this book would be better titled: "Winning STRAIGHT 42" due to its lack of coverage of the three Nel-o bidding options for doubles.

Dennis did a great job on this one. This one is perfect for a beginner, novice, or so-called "expert". He explains the 42 terms perfectly assuming nothing. I recommend this to anyone who wants to learn a great new game. My hat's off to you, Dennis.

When I moved to Texas two years ago, many of my new friends played an unfamiliar game of "42". I hesitated joining their parties since "42" meant nothing to me. Then I found Dennis Roberson's book, "Winning 42". After reading cover to cover my confidence built and I am now part of the party and looking forward to the next session. The book does contain a few 'typos', but they force you to think and reflect on the game. If you want to learn "42" and its history, this is a MUST READ. book.

This book provides a unique account of the Viet Nam war seen through the eyes of psychiatrist. Doug Bey's account of treatment in the battlefields and the sidelines was compelling; I read it cover to cover and ignored all other demands until done.

I was captured by this journey of war that unfolds in stories both large and small with the insightful commentary that comes from the original experiences, tempered by long years in the field of psychiatry.

While this memoir is rooted in the Viet Nam experience it has implications for the current men and women in the armed forces and should be required reading for those involved in the treatment of mental illness and the trauma of war.

However, the heart of the story remains one man's voice telling us the stories of war with all it's characters, events, and personal change. It's a gem of a book.

We all know, or knew, someone in Nam. An easily readable, enlightening chronicle of the time with touches of humor. I highly recommend this book.

Great narration of life in a support unit in Vietnam, the problems faced when returning home and the lasting effect on the lives of those who served. Very much enjoyed and appreciated.

War memoirs rarely show up on my reading list. Therefore, my enthusiasm about this book is not based on widely comparative reading in this area, but rather on the merits of this book itself. I really enjoyed reading this book, viewing familiar material from a completely different perspective than I would ever have had from my own experience, and it is a darn good read as well. Bey was a young psychiatrist in his early 30s when his induction notice arrived. His time of military service included a tour of duty in Vietnam at the height of the war, 1969-1970, reflections on which form the heart of this book. Bey was one of a small group of psychiatrists assigned to combat divisions (Wizard 6 was his radio handle). Each of these divisions had one psychiatrist, one social work officer, and several social work and psychology techs. These teams of mental health specialists found themselves in the strange position of helping others adjust to an environment that was itself plainly bizarre. Bey relates these initial impressions in a masterful chapter, "Stepping Through the Looking Glass," drawing the comparison to the Lewis Carroll classic. As just one example among many of the young doctor learning the rules by which this strange world was governed, Bey relates a time early in his tour in which he was requested by a military court to evaluate a prisoner charged with criminal offenses. Bey dutifully wrote a lengthy evaluation, stating in as many ways as he knew how that this prisoner suffered from a personality disorder, not a mental illness, and was therefore likely to repeatedly criminally offend. Surprised that the court let the man off, Bey found out that the court had not read his evaluation at all, but surmised from the heft of it that this man had genuine psychiatric problems. However, they were so miffed at having to let this criminal offender off the hook that they really threw the book at the poor guy following in the docket!
There are many very interesting features of this memoir. Bey deals very forthrightly with issues of racial, class and cultural differences in relation both to military justice and to psychiatric and mental health issues. He approaches these issues with a clear, personal point of view, but is refreshingly aware of the strengths and limitations of his own perspectives. He also recognized the peculiar position he and his fellow medics were in as relatively high-ranking officers who had no long-range military career goals. Their indifference to military protocol was sometimes comical, sometimes rebellious, sometimes useful in getting things accomplished outside of channels, but it was also always a position of privilege.
One of the things that surprised me in this memoir was the almost complete absence of any discussion of politics. Although Bey does suggest that he was politically very conservative (just to the right of Genghis Khan, he says...) and generally supported the war effort (albeit, with grave doubts about the way the war was being conducted) candid discussion of war politics simply does not come up, either in the direct talk among the officers or in Bey's own interpretive narrative. The nearest to it is one episode in which, at the behest of a black fellow officer with whom he was very close, Bey attended a meeting of black enlisted men and relates the speeches presented there, which focused on their anger and resentment at fighting for the freedom of Vietnamese while having freedoms denied to them in the USA. This episode is related, however, not in the context of discussion of the war itself, but of racial tensions within the military. The main sense one gets here is that, aside from brief episodes of extreme action, the war was experienced by the soldiers themselves as grindingly boring. I suppose this strikes me so strongly exactly because, as I remember those years, heated discussions about the war seemingly consumed us stateside, and this brings home again the chasm of difference in perspective between those who actively participated in the war and those, like me, who did not.

"Velcome Captain. You are the new Vizard-Ya?" "Ya. I mean, yes sir." "Vell, I must tell you dat I don't know if I believe in psychiatry." "That's okay, sir; I'm not sure I belive in colonels." This interchange took place in 1969 when Doug Bey M.D. aarrived at the base camp of the 1st Infantry Division (The Big Red One) in Di An, Vietnam, to begin a one year tour of duty. His reponses to the U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel with the German accent are vintage Doug Bey. They show his quick wit and his way with words, his irreverence and his college-wrestler toughness.
I write with familiarity because Doug and I took psychiatric residences togther at the Menninger School of Psychiatry in Topeka, Kansas. We were goth in the Berry Plan, in which the Army allowed us to complete our training but then expected us to go on active duty for two years. Doug and I both ended up in Vietnam. I was hospital based at the 67th Evaucation Hospital in Qui Nhon.
Being assigned to a division meant that Doug had a Jeep and the freedom of movement to get a good pulse of the whole unit. His radio call sign was Wizard 6. He and his talented techs took care of all kinds of emotional problems but found the so-called combat fatigue of previous wars less prevalent in Vietnam. Instead were acting up personality disorders, racial issues, communications problems between officers and the often quite young soldiers, alcohol and drug problems, and anti-establishment attitudes reflective of the anti-warm movement in the U.S.
In Topeka Doug had studied the psychology of organizations under Dr. Harry Levinson. Doug applied the techniques of organizational case study to the 1st Infantry Division. His goal was to find stress points, such as abusive officers or nonsensical regulartions, and to try to deal with such problems before they became major. This emphasis prevades the book and provids exceptional insights of a unit at war.
Doug also writes of his own coping devices in an unpopular war far from home. He tried to forget about home, immersed himself in his work, developed relationships with his colleagues, observed and kept notes, isolated negative feelings and stayed away from war politics.He also admits that he overused alcohol to self-medicate. He reports one frightening experience when he was to intoxicated at the time of a Red Alert that he mistook a friend for the enemy and pointed and pulled the trigger on his .45. What saved a tragedy was that he forgot to remove the safety. Throughout the book he is unsparing in presenting his own failings, which makes his story ring true.
He writes of how his Vietnam experiences affect him even to this day. He has a lifetime of things to ponder, such as the obviously battle-hardened infantryman who barged into Doug's office and announced that he wanted the doctor to know that he was gay and who then ran off; or the grieving crowd around a Vietnamese boy who lay next to his mangled bicycle, the victim of a US military truck that didn't stop.
Doug also compares and contrasts Vietnam with Iraq. His disquieting conclusion is that the two conflicts are becoming more and more similar.
This book has value not only for the people with military interests but also for mental health workers. The descriptions of the smells and noises of the country and of the people and their sad plight rang so true to me. I found myself nodding my head in agreement as I read. Doug really got it the way it was. My biggest disappointment is that I didn't write this book. But I'm glad somebody did.

Ed Colbach M.D.