Louisiana Books

Precedent of Justice is definitely worth the read. I found that I couldn't put the book down until I finished. The story moves briskly as the relationships between characters richly develop. The who book was interwoven with honest heartfelt relationships and unexpected twists and turns that kept me in the pages. The ending was definitely a surprise I didn't see coming. Anyone who loves mystery does not want to miss out on this author. I just wonder when the next one will come out?

PATRICK RALEY is a Louisiana high school math teacher off to a great start as an author of suspense mysteries.

In PRECEDENT FOR JUSTICE we find a well-proportioned, action packed novel with three or four pots boiling all at the same time. It's a fast read and an absorbing one as a New Orlean detective joins forces with a beautiful, successful reporter for the TIMES-PICKAYUNE to solve the brutal murder of one of Louisiana's richest couples.

It seemed I could never read less than five chapters when I picked it up. When I put it down I couldn't wait to get back to it again. I predict we'll be hearing lots more from Patrick in the future. FIVE STARS
John W. Cassell

JOHN W. CASSELL has written seven novels including a mystery adventure DeVilliers County Blues: 1972. In 2006 he retired from a career in law enforcement that spanned from 1971. Cassell has recently published four guest editorial columns in Israel National News.

I consider myself an avid reader. In the process I've picked up many books and found the story lacking depth. Sometimes I wish the author would spend more time developing people instead of just plot twists.

I think that's why I loved this book so much. I felt like I knew each character as I read and learned about them. Also the story kept me guessing. The ending definitely blew me away. I thought I knew for sure how the story would end. It's scary to think that minor technicalities can set guilty people free, but I know it does happen. Now I understand just how easily criminals can abuse our justice system.

The story grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I found myself asking a thousand questions after just the first three pages. As I read and found the answers, many more questions replaced them. Definitely a quick page-turner. I hope they make a movie out of this one. It would be a blockbuster.

For anyone looking for something that breaks the mold of the regular old mystery/thriller, this is the book for you. Just don't take my word for it though, get it youself and see. I can't wait for the next one.

Raley's work, Precedent of Justice, takes you to a dark place that everyone fears to tread but so willing ventures. An emerging partnership within the story illuminates this dark place by turning suffering into human triumph. The story is filled with great detail. His characters have depth and a believability so intense that you feel like you may have met them in a past life. The struggle between good and evil, humanity, and suspense all weaving throughout the plot to create a classic murder mystery. Buy this book!

Suspense, mystery, a touch of romance, and a whole lot of murder and secrets are what this story is all about.

When the wealthy Lafleur couple's murder was committed, Detective Charlie Peppers' life and career drastically changed. He was put on the case to find the murderer and the motive. It seems a lot of people had financial or business ties to the Lafleur's; but who would go so far as to murder them in cold blood?

Nancy Raults a reporter for the Times wanted this brutal story more than anyone, it is a good thing she had an informant that supplied her with the information she would need to find the Lafleur home. After throwing up dinner on the Lead Detectives shoes upon seeing the bodies, Nancy had no idea how close later down the road they would become. It could possible cost them both of their hard earned careers.

An obviously guilty man knew which strings to pull and favors to call in when he was arrested and tried for murdering the Lafleurs. When the murder weapon along with the other evidence came up missing and Mr. Dizorno was proven innocent; at that moment the crap hit the fan. All the secrets that the guilty parties were harboring would soon leak out.

With the help of someone Charlie trusted most, the murderer would be brought to justice. The sad thing is the murderer was actually guilty of the first crime committed but innocent in the second accusation for another murder. How you ask? It is jaw dropping and heart pounding when the truth finally comes out.

Mr. Raley had my full attention from the very start. This story should be made into a movie, it would be topper on the box office charts for sure. Great detail and believable events proves that Mr. Raley has the skilled hands of a talented writer. When I got to the very last chapter of this book, my jaw literally dropped, a surprise ending caught me completely off guard. This is a 5 heart review all the way! Mystery/Suspense lovers out there need to add a copy of Precedent Of Justice to your library.

To learn more about Patrick R. Raley visit Blu Phier Publishing on myspace

The collaborative effort of Linda and Steve Bauer, "Recipes From Historic Louisiana" is a compilation of recipes drawn from the head chefs of forty-eight popular restaurants and dining establishments from Louisiana and ranging from Alexandria, through Evangeline Country, to venerable New Orleans. Embellished with fascinating stories combined with savory 'kitchen cook friendly' recipes that can transform ordinary meals into culinary delights, "Recipes From Historic Louisiana" showcases dishes that range from Bronzed Stake with a Gingersnap Gravy (K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen); to Barbecue Rib-Eye (Dickie Brennan's Stakehouse); to Trout Meuniere Amandine (Galatoire's); to Gumbo Ya-Ya (Commander's Palace); to Spiced Butternut Squash Soup (Mabry House). For a 'kitchen cook friendly' collection of authentic Louisiana cuisine, add Linda and Steve Bauer's "Recipes From Historic Louisiana" to your cookbook shelf! Also very highly recommended is the Bauer's companion collection, "Recipes From Historic America: Cooking & Traveling With America's Finest Hotels".

Linda and Steve Bauer cooked up a big 'ole gumbo pot of the best of Louisiana cuisine. Their timing was a divine appointment as they may have unknowingly preserved precious cultural treasures in the wake of Katrina. Bravo!

This is one of the best cookbooks that I have ever bought It is full a great recipes and beautiful pictures. Linda and Steve Bauer had done an excellent job on this book.

Fara Raines

I recently received a couple of books, and Ms. Bauer's was in the stack. After I skimmed it, I called a friend and started talking about the recipes as well as New Orleans in general. An hour later I realized we were STILL talking about her cookbook!

Bottom Line: I consider Top Ramen a food group and I was enthralled. Anyone with even a slight interest in cooking or New Orleans will be extremely pleased with this offering.

New Orleans has always, until Hurricane Katrina, been first and foremost famous for its food and restaurants. Recipes from Historic Louisiana is a collection of 120 favorite dishes from chefs at 48 of Louisiana's most famous restaurants. The history, stories and 130 full-color beautiful photographs combine with the recipes to enable you to recreate this incredible cuisine at home. The book is interesting in of itself for its historical content and the recipes are great.

I served the Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Bananas and Vanilla from G. W. Fins restaurant at a recent dinner party and received several requests for the recipe.

The authors present easy-to-follow instructions for all the famous Creole and Cajun dishes that will bring back fond memories of New Orleans for those familiar with the Crescent City. And even if you've never been there, you'll have a hard time trying to decide which recipe to try first.

Some of my favorite recipes from the book are Bananas Foster French Toast, Pesto Cheesecake, Slow Roasted Brisket, and Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Bananas and Vanilla. If you've ever been to Louisiana, or are familiar with its cuisine, you'll love this book. I haven't been there in over 20 years and Recipes from Historic Louisiana was a real stroll down memory lane, in addition to being a cookbook that you'll want to have. The book is beautiful, the recipes are sublime, and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book will benefit the National Trust for Historic Preservation Hurricane Relief Fund.

While taking an African American literature course in college I was introduced to this novella written by William Craft. It is a must-read for American and African American history classes. The novella is a quick and easy read, with the capacity for great discussion and in-depth analysis. Humor, suspense, mystery and action is all provided in this wonderful tale of escape and hypocrisey.

Ellen and William Craft were a young (mid-20's) slave couple who made a daring escape to freedom. Light-skinned Ellen cut her hair short and dressed in the suit and tophat of a white planter. Since she was illiterate, her husband William made a sling for her arm, so she had an excuse not to sign hotel registers. And since she had a womanly voice, the couple devised a poultice tied around her jaw indicating she had a bad toothache and could not speak. William played the role of his white massa's slave. And the couple traveled by train, steamship, and wagon to their destination in the north. They soon became popular lecturers in the United States and Europe. This is a remarkable story of daring and bravery and should be read by everyone. Anyone who wants to introduce their children to good historical fiction should get them The Journal of Darien Duff, an Emancipated Slave, The Diary of a Slave Girl, Ruby Jo, and The Journal of Leroy Jones, a Fugitive Slave.

I read this for a college history survey course before it was mistakenly announced that the book was out of print. The book was dropped from the syllabus, but I am glad I read it anyway.

The first and shortest part of the book is William Craft's powerful account of how he and his wife Ellen executed a daring escape from servitude in Georgia. Their plan was remarkable in its ingenuity: The almost white Ellen, outfitted with a master's clothes and a poultice on her face to prevent incriminating speech with strangers, and her husband William, disguised as a servant, escaped to freedom in the north. Travelling by rail, the pair exultantly crossed over into Canada and from thence headed for England.

The second part of the book is a third person summary of the couple's travels after their ambitious escape. It follows them from Georgia through the slave and free states, in which they were well received and protected (especially in Boston), up to Halifax and across the water to England. I found the final two thirds of the book the most enjoyable, as it treated of foreign travel, in which I have a keen interest. Both portions of the book are beautifully written and often gripping. I hope a few of my classmates read this before that announcement. This book is both pleasurable to read and historically vital.

This book is a captivating account of the injustices of slavery and a amazing story of two fugitives running for there freedom. This book is a great story that should be taught in schools and should not be ignored in American History classes. It opened my mind to the horrors slavery actually caused. It represents a part of our history that should never be repeated. 5 plus stars.

Running a Thousand Miles for Freedom is a must read for all American history students and should be required reading at least at the high school level. This book gives the reader a first-person view of that "Peculiar Instition" known as slavery and to what lengths one will go to achieve personal freedom. This book will change your view of slavery forever.

Bought and read it twice in a couple weeks. Terrific imagery into old New Orleans. Get it- you'll love it.

This book is a quick and enjoyable read, but the reader needs to be ready for a very simple and unpretentious telling of Satchmo's early years. Some of his writing is charming in its simplicity, but some of it is pretty clunky.

For example, here is part of the dialog he documents between him and his mother, after he abruptly got married without her knowledge. Armstrong, defending his decision, says to his mother, "You must realize that I didn't go any further than fifth grade in school myself. But with my good sense and mother-wit (sic), and knowing how to treat and respect the feelings of other people, that's all I've needed in life. You taught me that, mother." A fine philosophy of life, put in humble and concise manner. But then he goes on to write, "Then she said, 'You must bring your wife to me; I want to meet her.' With a palpating heart I gave a big sigh of relief and said: 'Oh, thanks, mom.'" (page 160)

Adding some additional information, such as notations explaining some of the other characters and some of the background to the colorful scenes he describes, would make this a great book. As it is, it is a fun and quick read that fans of jazz shouldn't miss.

What shines through this recollection of Louis Armstrong's youth in New Orleans is the essential positive outlook this man seems to have been born with despite the hardship of his early years. This "life-force' for lack of a better term is what drove his musicianship to such heights that he is the most revered American musician of the 20th century. While this is no scholalry biography it is written with the feel of an oral history and reading it is much like having Satch relate these tales over a few drinks. Not only does it shed much light on the real person that Louis Armstrong was but it also reflects an era in old New Orleans that is absolutely fascinating to read about in the words of someone who lived there. This is a hugely enjoyable book on numerous levels and for fans of Armstrong it is indispensible.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The editors kept Armstrong's voice true to the legend and honest in its depictions of his sometimes harsh life in New Orleans. However, Artmstrong's sense of humor and goodness shine through his story and the reader really learns to like him as a person as well as a great musician. As a native New Orleanian, I really enjoyed his descriptions of the city during that time. I look forward to reading this book again!

You left you music to carry on so majestic, so elogant. Your music makes the song bird sing, while traveling in rainey and sunny New Orleans skies. Your music makes southern bees dance and fly. When I here your music, I just let my mind give over to your music. When I want to relax, your music, I choose it. It's jazzy, calm and cool. Your music makes me feel like I'm retiring on a raft in a pool. Your music is a real jewel.

I have read all but 2 of the books that r out & i stay up until 1;30 in the mornig to finish it in the 1st sitting! I totally recommend this book 2 EVERYONE! I u r looking for exciting reading than go from the 1st through the last ASAP!

This book is a thriller because there is suspense since it is hard to survive in a place full of alligators and snakes. This is the best Survival book of the series and it has one hilarious part: Phillip getting attacked by the "stick snake". This is Simon signing out.

This is the story of a wealthy twelve-year-old boy lost in the bayous of Louisiana in the 1850s and the poor Cajun girl who attempts to rescue him. It was a very exciting story filled with historical details. I also really liked the character of Lily. She was a very strong, determined girl who didn't let her handicap stand in her way!

It's kind of hard to say how much I would give this series two thumbs up, and FIVE STARS. I have read all ten that are out and they are totally cool. I would recommend these to the world if I could, and would sure hope that Karen and Kathleen get this. These books rock! I hope they can release the eleventh as soon as possible so I can read it.

This book is so exciting, as is all the other books in the Survival! series! I think Lily LeGrand was a great character, and her problems were very realistic. Paul is also a great character. Their problems, the setting, and everything else was very realistic. The details help me feel like I was really there with them. I hope Kathleen Duey and Karen A. Bale keep writing these books. They rock!

February 27, 1973. That's the day Avery was born. Nine months earlier, her mother and I spent a magical weekend at the Holiday Inn in New Iberia, Louisiana. We were both students at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Avery's mother and I didn't have much (any) money. We had heard that there was a very special place where they made Tabasco sauce and that one could tour the island and visit the salt mine for free.

So we drove from New Orleans to New Iberia, checked into the Holiday Inn and went on the (free) tour of the McIlhenny estate. It was magical: decades before it became politically correct to preserve wildlife such as the snowy egret (a bird), the McIlhenny family set aside an island paradise for anyone to see who bothered to make the (unadvertised) trip.

My wife and I named the wonderful girl conceived on our trip to Avery Island 'Avery".

Avery has married and has given me twin grandchildren, Anna and Jackson. I look forward to the day when I will walk Avery Island with them.

Wonderful photos, well written and a very thorough and fun to read history of our favorite hot sauce, Tabasco.

I purchased this book for several of my family members. It is so much more than a beautiful coffee table book, although, it is extraordinarily eye pleasing and informative! Not only are the recipes easy and delicious, they really represent a terrific display of authenic history of our Louisiana culture. The McIlhenny family history is as interesting as the story of how "Tabasco" became such a beloved icon of Avery Island and all of South Louisiana. I would reccomend it as a gift to your favorite "person who has everything"!

I have read both Rothefeder's book and Bernard's book. The former appears to be full of factual errors, some of them so ludicrous as to be laughable. The obvious anti-McIlhenny bias held by Rothfeder makes his work less believable, editorialized, and speculative. In contrast, Bernard's book is riveting, full of details, historical documents, and illustrations to which no one else has had access. The fact that the McIlhenny's have held their company together through ups and downs, profitably, is a testament to what is right about their business philosophy. Bernard's book was published by McIlhenny Company, but since he IS the company historian, you can bet that everything in there is accurate. It is the OFFICIAL history of Tabasco for good reason. If you're a fan of the sauce, you'll love this book.

I was fortunate enough to be selected as one of the archaeologists who worked on recovering the site of the first Tabasco factory. That is where I met the author of this book, who at the time (2000) was still a Ph.D candidate.
With that disclaimer mentioned, this book is a fantacstic, all-encompassing story about one of the most beloved American products of all times. From it's humble beginnings that pre-date the Civil War, to its survival into the modern age of manufacturing and production, this book offers facinating tidbits of triva and many "are you SERIOUS??" revelations throughout. I particulalry like seeing how Tabasco's advertising campaigns have evolved over the years. The book does a great job in tracking the rise of a truly original American invention.
The author has been the McIlhenny Company historian for many years now and is THE source on all things Tabasco. He brings a great style to this book and has included some of the more rare photos from the past to help tell the story. Truly a must-have if you love Tabasco, if you want to know more about how this American legend began, or if you just want see how they get so much heat into such a little bottle.

Ayyyyieee!!

I just finished Taxing Tallula and really had a few belly laughs.I identified with several of the characters and the abundant "Comfortable in Chaos" that many of them shared.The characters were "Real" and many I have met before.The authorwas able to paint a picture in words in many instances such as the holiday sights and scenes and the environmental amviance that goes with such.It would be interesting to see a sequel to this story to find out how T.J. manages or unmanages the rest of her life.

Taxing Tallula was an excellent story entwining tax day emotions of a small town with the twists and turns of T.J. Marino's life. The various supporting characters are enchanting. Whether you're from the South or not, this book was a riveting read. It simultaneously keeps you in suspense and makes you laugh. I can't wait for more books from this wonderful writer!

Taxing Tallula is a very entertaining book! T.J. Marino has many problems, and they all need to be dealt with NOW! A gambling habit she's trying to break. Three marriage proposals. A Mafia connection. What's a girl to do?

L.L. Lee does a marvelous job of weaving all of these aspects, along with the idiosyncrasies of small town life, into a believable, funny, enjoyable book.

I consider all of L.L. Lee's books in the "must read" category.

L.L. Lee's first novel will appeal to anyone who enjoys fast-paced farcical literature with an emphasis on eccentric characters. But it will especially appeal to anyone with small-town experiences. Having lived most of my childhood in Louisiana, I must say that Lee's Louisiana reflects the real one in the funniest and most bizarre ways. But gambling problems, the mob, and crooked politicians in the Pelican State? Can I believe all of that? Well, actually, yes.

One scene in particular epitomizes Lee's comic skills. When a hard-at-hearing man happens into the middle of a poorly timed break-up of two lovers, his attempt at comprehending the words somehow turns into a threat that causes him to leave all his money and take off running!

The main character, T.J. Marino, is a special treat who will stay in the minds of readers, even after they forget the details of the plot. Marino is one of those offbeat, lovable characters who manages to put herself into every bad situation possible! However, you can put yourself into a good situation by reading this delightful book!

Taxing Tallula is a delightful story which keeps the readerguessing and entertained through the events surrounding taxday....T.J. Marino is an interesting character who, combined with the delightful writing talents of L.L. Lee, makes us look forward to many more books by this new author.

Well-written true crime story of conspiracy to commit crimes for money - including conning a very naive girl into marriage (to an already married man), obtaining a large insurance policy on her life, and then murdering her in a horrific manner. Amazingly cold-blooder killers: however very little background history on them, which is probably why this book is a little brief. There was another story done, "The Girl, The Con Man, and the Massage Parlor King" by Gregory Curtis in Texas Monthly July 1976, and it is now in a book called Texas Crime Chronicles. This story gives a little more information, from a bit of a different perspective, if you are interested.

I read this book several years ago and was in a bookstore a while back and recommended it to a friend. It's the classic plot of finding and setting up a dupe to kill and collect the life insurance. What was most perturbing to me about the book was not the plot itself, but the easy with which the detectives were going to close the case without investigating and that the insurance company was simply going to fork over hundreds of thousands of dollars no questions asked.

I READ UNHOLY MATRIMONY A FEW YEARS AGO AND HAVE BEEN IN LOVE WITH BOOK SINCE. BEING A NATIVE OF NEW ORLEANS I WAS FASCINATED BY THE STORY LINE. IT WAS A COMPELLING STORY OF EVENTS. MR. DILLMAN WROTE WITH SUCH COMPASSION THAT YOU CANNOT PUT THIS BOOK DOWN.ABSOLUTELY EXTRAORDINARY.

I searched for quite some time before I asked Amazon.com to find this Dillmann treasure for me. It was certainly worth the wait! Mr. Dillmann takes his readers through the dirty detective work of tracking down a killer in a way that just won't allow you to put the book down. Being a native of the New Orleans area made this thriller even more interesting to me, however, anyone would enjoy this well written tale. I highly recommend the book to anyone who enjoys a mystery or true crime.

If you love true crime, this is a book not to be missed. Although being a native New Orleanian adds to one's appreciation of the story, every true crime fan will become engrossed in the story of a con man and his co-conspirators, who take advantage of a young naive girl. The story of the investigation is fascinating. Dillman is a master storyteller, as evidenced by his other books. Highly recommended!

I have this author's California book and I recognized her style right away when I spotted this book while strolling through the French Quarter! I loved the Ca. version and knew from flipping through the N.O. version that it would be a great souvenir! Regular travel guides can be a bit too much but this was perfect with just the right amount of information to go along with her wonderful drawings. I'm buying one to give to my Katrina mission trip leader as a thank you for her organization and leadership while we were in New Orleans.

This was a great book for the seasoned visitor or someone going for the first time. The info was right on and the artwork thruout the book was beautiful. BUY THIS as some of the proceeds go to Katrina relief. A lovely tribute to one of the greatest cities in the world.

I've been to New Orleans 9 times and we're again going in 3 weeks. This book was very informative, even to someone who's been there many times. I loaned it to a friend of mine who's a New Orleans native and she loved it. She lives here in California and it brought back many memories for her. This is the perfect book for the person going to New Orleans for the first time or an old timer. I'd highly recommend it.

Very thoughtfully written and beautifully illustrated. Great gift for any New Orleans fan -- whether traveller or native.

I bought this book for my husband who used to live there. He really likes it. He is a former lucky dog vendor so it was nice to see that they had been adressed in the book as well as other areas that he is familiar with. I would definately recommend this book to people who are familiar with N.O.

I just finished reading The Year of the Sawdust Man and enjoyed it very much. The characters are vividly drawn and the feelings of Nissa after the departure of her mother are truthful and carefully examined.

I do have a couple of problems with the book, however. I doubt very much that LaFaye has spent any significant time in Louisiana. For example, almost all of the characters had moved in from elsewhere in the country or the world. Louisiana has the highest retention rate of its citizens in the US, and very little influx (especially from the areas the author makes her characters from), so it is doubly unlikely that the small town of Harper would get all of these "foreign" people. Things like that makes the novel ring more false than it should, at least for readers from Louisiana.

This would make a good book to use on an optional reading list for middle school students, however I would not recommend it to be required reading for one of their classes. The pace might be too slow to maintain students' interest (very little actually happens) and the portrayal of minorities is cursory at best.

Despite these detractions from the book (primarily from a pedagogical perspective) I enjoyed this book very much and thought it dealt with the issue of family separations very well.

The best book I have ever read this deserves a medal. But beware it makes you cry.

In year of the sawdust man Nissa Bergen (a smalltown girl from Harper Lousianna around depression times)'s fierce and dependent mother runs away from the gossipy mouths and ears of Harper. While her mother is gone she deals with her papa couritng and remarring a woman (Lara Ross-soon to be-Bergen) whom she doesn't care for.
It was intese at times on your emotions, but I loved the book. The writing had a strong flow to it and a great language.
5 stars LaFaye!
-Egg

The world of Nissa Bergen is like none other in fiction. Her mother, Heirah Rae, causes the people of their small town in Harper, Louisiana, to talk constantly. She's a free spirit, doing as she pleases and finding beauty in the most surprising places. Her daughter, Nissa, has some of that spirit, but she also has a good share of her father's calm way of looking at the world. When something goes dreadfully awry in their family, Heirah Rae leaves, and Nissa and her father are left trying to understand. A book that will be enjoyed by teens and adults alike, A. LaFaye writes with a one-of-a-kind voice that creates Nissa Bergen as a strong young girl for the ages.

This book is a heartwarming tale of a little girl who is trying to rise above the troubles of her life, and face them with grace and pride. I would recomend it to anyone who has ever faced adveristy or ever doubted the love that their parents felt for them- you are sure to relate to Nissa and all that she has been through. LaFaye has a writing style that is positivly unique- she has the ability to make you laugh and cry in the same sentence, and to cause you to relate to the characters no matter how different they may seem from you. This book is an emotional roller-coaster that is sure to be pleasing to everyone. It is a story that mirrors everyday life in its theme, actions, and characters. Once you read the first page- it is impossible to put it down until the last. I have never, in all the years that I have been reading, been so swept away by a book and it's verisimilitude. This is by far the best book that I have ever read.