Western Books

Bruce Jones, author of Maximum Velocity and Game Running, has finally written a thriller with a woman at the center--and what a woman! Jeni Starbuck, a former agent, is smart, beautiful, and no one's fool, with the soft heart of a mother whose lost a child recently and a wife whose husband has left her. Jeni becomes the obsession of a criminal mind, a man who's nickname, the Solobomber, only touches the surface of his schemes--and yet a demented mind which, like Jeni's, can appreciate the finest human feelings without being able to feel them. This strange bond that connects the two is the center of a wild ride in which the action never lets up and the surprises never stop coming! Jones is a master of the action scene, but he never lets the thrills get in the way of his storytelling. And if there was ever a character that needed a sequel, it's Jeni Starbuck! Hope Jones is listening.

Jeni Starbuck, the heroine of SPRINTER, could be the girl next door with an insatiable sense of curiosity and an even stronger sense of justice. She is one of the most well-rounded female protagonists in books today, and when a mad bomber fixes his sites on her, you know that he's picked a formidable opponent.

I've read MAXIMUM VELOCITY and GAME RUNNING, both by Jones, and all three books are breathtaking thrillers with amazing depth of character. Jones has a predilection for getting under the skin of his heroes and taking us with him. Highly recommended.

SPRINTER is the kind of novel you always hoped would come along--a thriller that Alfred Hitchcock (or even Brian DePalma, that Hitchock wannabe) would have really sunk his teeth into. The people have exotic professions but real personal lives--men and woman in the CIA, FBI, or whathaveyou have to marry, divorce, love, hate and pursue happiness as well as international terrorists.

Jeni is the protagonist, a former government agent who, after being fired and losing her only child, is divorced from her husband and vents her frustrations in running races and focusing on kids dying of AIDS. When a mad bomber threatens San Diego through the use of a computer called the Sprinter 9000, Jeni is called up again. What follows is a swift course in Saving Your Own Life.

The villian is formidable, a brainiac psychotic genius with geniuine feelings and a passion for art. Jeni is sexy, vulnerable, dynamic, the girl next door to the nth degree, and the ending is unbeatable, a real! ! boon for women everywhere who are sick of the Woman-as-victim motif.

Sprinter almost screams "movie", but it is not because the writer doesn't understand books. On the contrary, Sprinter is classic in its approach to plot and character, painting beautifully time and place and most interestingly the inner thoughts of the protagonist, Jeni, a former agent who now runs an AIDS hospice for children. Her nemesis, Dr. Handle, is also known as the Unibomber, but his agenda is far more complicated than the ordinary terrorist's, and he has selected Jeni, for his own reasons, to be the intermediary for his negociations. Handle is a notch above Dr. Lecter, villian-wise, in that his own ego does not necessarily dictate his routes. He and Jeni are the perfect match, even is she doesn't know it. Or him. All she knows is that she's recently lost her beloved child and her husband has left her to marry again. And she's a world-class running--which she does not only to make money for the hospice, but to prove to herself she's still alive. From the first page the action starts and it never lets up, sweeping Jeni into the apex of a paranoid fantasy that leaves her wondering if it is she or the Bomber who's mad. As action heroine, you cannot beat Jeni's character, who thinks with both her head and her heart, and has the flexibility to change and the sense to know when she's been had. Mixed into this tasty stew is Jeni's genius ex-husband, for whom she pines, an FBI agent in charge of the Bomber case who pines for her, and enough bombs, computer hacking, beatings and shootings, not to mention some of the best chases ever written, to keep this reader on the edge of his seat! Very, very highly recommended summer reading.

My father-in-law gave SPRINTER to my husband for Christmas, but I got to it first. Now my husband and sister have already read it and my father-in-law is standing in line.

It's about Jeni, a woman whose lost everything in life that mattered to her: her job, her husband, and her little daughter. Then a crazed (and very well-drawn) mad bomber selects her to play a curious form of Russian Roulette using bombs instead of guns.

All I can say is, this book kept me guessing, and turning pages like crazy. Bruce Jones really knows how to fill up a thriller with wonderful characters who think and act like the rest of us, even if they are FBI or CIA or mad bombers! I loved this book, and highly recommend it!

This is one of several photo books by this author, which are detailed guides to exactly where to locate specific subjects for landscape photography in the geographical areas covered by each book - there is some overlap between the books. There is some discussion of specific photo techniques, mainly addressing the issues imposed by the unique areas and subjects, including non-photo advise on how not to hurt yourself in what is mainly desert country. Primarily, this is a collection of directions in the nature of what landscape features are out there and how find them, with some comments on best techniques, lighting, and types of equipment to consider. Some caution might be applied to use of the guide to avoid mere duplication of the author's experience or photos. Prior to discovering this and its related guides, I have personally "been there and done that" over much of the same geography. I later bought the guides to plan new trips and found them well worth the cost and time invested. These guides are a great resource for planning if your time on the ground is limited and you want to maximize your experience.

STONE CANYONS OF THE COLORADO PLATEAU contains 81 color photographs. Each of the photos occupies from 50-80% of the page. The book is large, 10 ¼ by 11 ¼ inches.

Most of the photographs are from Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness, a little known park overlooked by most publications dealing with the American Southwest. Vermilion Cliffs encompasses Paria Canyon, Coyote Buttes, and a stone formation called "The Wave." The stone formation called The Wave seems to be in an area about a quarter the size of a city block. Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness is noted for its conical, haystack-like stone formations. The book contains plenty of photos of artistic merit.

Page 5 shows a few cones at close range and a dozen cones in the distance. Where the desert floor is made of stone, the stone is striped like a candy cane. FIVE STARS for this photograph.

Page 9 shows Bryce Canyon, with snow-covered cliffs in the distance, and dark clouds overhead. FIVE STARS for this dramatic photo.

Page 20 shows snow-covered buckwheat and a dead juniper. FOUR STARS for this depictions of the texture of the snow residing on top of the buckwheat.

Page 26 shows a hoodoo in the sun. The hoodoo consists of a dark pancake of stone supported by a an orange, funnel-shaped pedestal. Half of the photograph is in deep shadow, a sloping hill of stone.

Page 35 shows an arch with a garden of cottonwoods beyond. FIVE STARS for this rare image of pastoral beauty.

Page 45 shows a close-up of two cones at Paria Canyon. One of the cones looks like a little house.

Page 45 shows an angled stone formation in a canyon wall at Paria Canyon. The crazy angles resemble those of a Kandinsky painting.

Page 67 (also seen as the cover photo) shows a pond at The Wave. This is one of the greatest landscape photographs ever taken in the history photography. FIVE STARS.

Page 69 shows a crazy, bizarre stone formation at Paria Canyon. What we see is a pancake consisting of a cluster of thin stone sheets, where the pancake is supported by two pedestals. This is one of the most bizarre landscape photographs taken in the history of photography. FIVE STARS.

Page 70 shows an excellent arrangement of cones in the distance, with swirling stone spirals, and a dead juniper in the foreground. The juniper has a spiraling grain. FIVE STARS.

Page 99 shows a slot canyon, where there are various qualities of light--a warming bath of glowing orange, a harsh white glare, an even indirect illumination with no shadow, and deep shadow. The image is reminiscent of those depicted in Bruce Barnbaum's astonishing book, VISUAL SYMPHONY.

Page 116 shows a dozen tiny waterfalls, where water spills from knife-edge stone formations that form the streambed. This unique image is somewhat reminiscent of David Muench's depiction of Havasupai Falls, in NATURE'S AMERICA (page 125 of NATURE'S AMERICA).

One wishes for more photos of The Wave. For those interested in more of The Wave, I recommend Reiner Sahm's book, CANYONLANDS PANORAMIC PHOTOGRAPHY. Reiner Sahm's book also introduces the reader to Kasha-Katuwe Tent Rocks National Monument, and to Goblin Valley State Park, two other parks vastly underrepresented by books on the American Southwest. Also Laurent Martres has two books (two volumes) on Utah and Arizona. The second volume features a number of photos of The Wave.

The quality of the prints in Mr.Dykinga's book is quite good. With the naked eye, one cannot discern any grain in the color prints. However, with a loupe (5X magnification), the grain is readily evident. The grain does not resemble specks, but instead takes a form resembling that of woven cloth.

Fortunately, only a minority of the photographs in Mr. Dykinga's book are flower pictures. There are only eight flower pictures. Also, fortunately, none of the photos contains people, e.g., tourists, hikers, or indigenous farmers. As is the case with Ansel Adams, Bruce Barnbaum, David Muench, and a handful of other photographers, Mr. Dykinga takes extra care (and time) to wait for the lighting conditions to be perfect, before depressing the shutter.

Mr.Dykinga is an experienced photographer, as indicated by the fact that he won the Pulizer Prize. The prize, awarded to him in 1971, was for his photographs at the Lincoln and Dixon State Schools for the Retarded in Illinois, when he worked for the Chicago Sun-Times.

The perfect combination of wonderful pictures and superb story-telling. After having seen and read more than 15 books of the Southwest/Glen Canyon area, this is definitely one of the best. Jack Dykinga and Charles Bowden have done a wonderful job. Also, in the end of the book the raise the very necessary topic of how to (better) preserve the Colorado Plateau.

The number of photographic works exploring the nuances of the Colorado Plateau is seemingly endless. Many can be browsed once and left behind. This book is the scintillating exception.

Jack Dykinga's photographic work is simply exceptional, and beyond the pale. Each color photograph appears as exquisitely crafted as a piece of fine crystal, beginning with very cover of the paperback edition. One can only envy his great patience and expertise in composing each work.

Much of the photography comes from the Paria Wilderness, an area of the Plateau not usually treated to any degree in most works, and the novelty is refreshing. A particularly enjoyable facet of the book is that use of a telephoto lens has been largely eschewed, leaving a series of scenes that the enterprising tourist can find and view with his or her own eyes, just as depicted by the book.

Charles Bowden's accompanying text is evocative and hearkens a wild diffusion of images and memories of the fascinating region.
It is an apt companion to Dykinga's superb work.

If you are limited to five or less books about the Colorado plateau, let this be one of them. I enjoy it more every time I read it.

In 1998 I'd seen a photo on a calendar of the Vermillion Cliffs in Utah, but had no idea where exactly it was located. I teach photography and my students and I had done some research to find it, but discovered it was a very large area. When I found Mr. Dykinga's book I was even more determined for my students to see and photograph the area. Needless to say, the book is truly inspirational thanks to Jack's remarkabe work.!
If you know a photographer or a traveller - this is the book for them! Enjoy the treat yourself as well.

Jeff Grimm
Bedford, TX

I found this book while searching WWII books looking for information on my fatherinlaw. I was elated to find this book. We had scattered paperwork that mentioned he belonged to the 53st and we had his letters home. But we knew nothing about the engineers. How they formed, where they trained, where they went to battle. This book surely helped us find our way. From Mr. Garn's book we learned that he was with the first battalion as he moved inland with the Rangers in North Africa. My copy is so much highlighted and dogeared that I'm thinking of getting another copy just to put on the bookcase. Great read for those that want to know about the 531st Engineers.

My dad was in the 531st and as many soldiers did, only touched on a few thing's here and there. This book put's all the pieces together. I knew that his unit was important but, "DARN". I really recommend this book to anyone who wondered just what the hell these guy's did.

The appeal of Ken Garn's account for me is that this is the definitive account of the enlisted man's WW II told by an enlisted man. There are many stories and histories by historians and retired generals, but they gloss over what the man under fire on the beach was thinking about. The story telling is straightforward, personable and engaging.

A good read, given the rising interest in WWII. An amazingly detailed memoir of a man who survived four assault landings and seven campaigns in a special engineer unit which prepared invasion beaches for troop landing, including D-Day. It resonated with this vet of that war, but others will find it compelling as well.

A gripping story of and by a living example of the "Greatest Generation". As an Air Force officer who flew bombing missions over Europe in World War II, I take my hat off to Ken Garn who stormed ashore in the greatest and possibly the most dangerous invasion of all time.

Joshua T. Winstead, Jr Colonel USAF (Ret.)

A solid little book about riding instruction. The whole volume puts a lot of emphasis on being safe around horses (as indeed the title suggests), it stresses basic safety rules and then devotes an appendix section on dealing with accidents and lawsuits. One great feature of this book are the review questions at the end of each chapter. I appreciate equestrian texts with that type of feature.

Jan Dawson provides great information on all aspects of a riding program. The sections on lesson plans, dealing with accidents and lawsuits, and safe school horses will be useful for both instructor and clientele in evaluating their current situation.

this book is a great book. i would highly reccommend it to anyone who has or is thinking about owning a horse/s. it gives the basics of riding from the ground up. even for the experienced rider/owner/trainer i think it is great, simply because it will remind you of the "little things" we tend to miss when teaching. i like that it is simple and easy to read, i would also recommend it to my students to read as well, since they may find something that i may have forgotten and it would give them the oppertunity to ask me questions - something everyone could learn from.

This is the first book I read when I decided to begin giving lessons. The format is easy to read and the content is exactly what I was looking for. This book reminds you of all of the little things (especially safety related actions) that seasoned horse people know and perform out of habit but might forget to explain to a beginner. It also lines up about 16 lesson plans from ground safety up through canter lessons. It provides some school figures and exercises/stretches to enhance every lesson. If you are thinking about giving lessons, this book is a logical place to start and a must for your initial library.

There's no quick fix to teaching anyone to ride and this book can work for any age. Jan presented the same information throughout the book in varying detail to cater to the individual rider's experience and skill level. Even though some of the information might seem obvious, the idea of teaching a skill is to explain the obvious to someone who won't think it's obvious to them! It is great for those who care about their students and want the best and safest (safety issues discussed frequently) experience.

This is an amazingly excellent introduction to the life and teaching of the 4th century Syrian mystic Iamblichus. Anyone interested in the spiritual science behind ritual magic and divination will find a treasure trove of insight here.

Rationalist modern paradigms of philosophy relegated the figure of Iamblichus of Chalcis to a footnote in the history of philosophy, a decadent thinker who tried to justify the old pagan cult with complicated and muddled justifications vaguely based on Platonic doctrine. Gregory Shaw shows persuasively that Iamblichus in his own time was a towering intellectual figure who drew out and developed his doctrine from the writings of the Divine Plato himself, the Pythagorean teachings, and the mysteries of the ancient Egyptians and Chaldeans. Central to his theology was the idea that the soul has fallen completely into the body, and that man must use the symbols in the cosmos, the sunthemata, to climb back up to the One, the source of all goodness. Ritual and magic, then, become highly philosophical, and philosophy itself becomes a ritual, a purification and illumination that will lead the soul back to its divine origins.

As a Christian, I see how these ideas effected the Church as it developed its ideas of the sacraments, the veneration of relics and the saints, among other things. It can be said (and Shaw insinuates) that it is the apostolic Christian churches (Catholic and Orthodox) that carry on Iamblichus' legacy to this day in the form of an incarnate theology where "theurgy" affected and was transformed into "liturgy" in the Christian mind, mainly through the help of Pseudo-Dionysius.

This book then is a necessary read not just for students of paganism and ancient philosophy, but also for traditional Christians who want to know how paganism has helped form what we believe about divinity. This is a book that you will have to read more than once, and you will return to it over and over again to find new openings into understanding.

An excellent companion to Plotinus. The author, Mr. Shaw has a firm grasp of Platonic principles of Proodos (emanationism, the 'religion' of Platonism) unlike many other trash books I own authored by existentialists writting upon Platonism from the perspective of their nihilistic and atomistic minds. Without extentive description, might I say I praise LITTLE in the way of books on Neoplatonism, and I own all such books, and this book is top 10 among them all.

While Plotinus has been read and written about fairly early, it took a long time before the later Neoplatonists were studied seriously. The main reason was the disrespect expressed by many important scholars - notably E. R. Dodds and A.-J. Festugiere - about theurgy, which was routinely identified with magic and 'puerile superstition'. Fortunately, figures like H.-D. Saffrey (a pupil of Dodds and Festugiere) and J. Trouillard favored a more sympathetic approach to the subject, and they paved the way for a new generation of scholars, among them G. Shaw, the author of this remarkable book. It is a crucial work, because one's understanding of philosophers like Iamblichus and Proclus is unthinkable without a good enough grasp of theurgy; in that regard, the book is at once erudite and reader-friendly. Shaw emphasizes Iamblichus' traditionalism: far from being an eccentric innovation, theurgy is described as an effort to bring the Platonic tradition closer to Plato himself (and Pythagoras) and away from the radical dualism of the Gnostics. The book makes clear that adherence to theurgy implies a worldview whose consideration of the sensible world is deeply imbeted to the overall optimism of Plato's Timaeus; that dialogue's demiurgic cosmogony is also vital for the theurgic rites. In short, this is an essential book for those who are interested in Iamblichus and the later Neoplatonists.

An extraordinary work on Iamblichus, making clear that Iamblichus' aim was to reconnect Sould and World, with fascinating remarks about theurgy and therapy

To read this account is to place yourself face to face with the devil of communism. Maria Savchyn's account of her experiences fighting alongside patriots of freedon in Ukraine is both moving and breathtaking. One finds it difficult to even place themselves in the living conditions let alone the dangers she and her colleagues lived day to day: all in the name of forestalling Soviet tyranny and in the hope that one day a democratic Ukraine would be born.

Her bravery will move anyone with a heart who can appreciate the desire to be free.
She is a magnificent example of the best in the human spirit and an inspiration to people everywhere who understand that freedom is not free.

Kiev, the capital of Ukraine, had a glorious history and at one time was the capital of ancient Rus'. Yet the Ukraine gained independence only upon the collapse of the Soviet Union. Oppressed by both Poland and Russia/Soviet Union, many Ukrainians felt resentful and hostile towards both Poles and Russians. During World War II, the Soviet Union and Poland fought on the allied side, so an enemy of the Soviet Union, such as the UPA, became an enemy of the West. While the Ukrainians fought heroically both for the Soviet Union and against, they obviously had no monopoly on heroism. There is also some reliable evidence of the UPA members killing innocent Polish and Jewish civilians. Unfortunately, some Poles retaliated against the UPA atrocities in a revengeful manner. This is an important book, which should be read by all those interested in the war on the Eastern Front during World War II.

Highly recommended for those who are sick and tired reading about the Soviet women "heroes" who had never existed. Maria Savchyn Pyskir was a real guerilla fighter, who didn't shoot blanks at the Nazis or the Soviets, and she hits a bullseye with her riveting memoirs....

This book is the memoirs of Maria Savchyn who spent 15 years of her life (from the ages of 14 to 29) in the Ukrainian underground army fighting for freedom against first the Nazis and then the Soviets. It is an exciting story of strength and determination in the face of overwhelming opposition.

In 1925 Maria Savchyn was born in a Ukrainian village east of the city of Lviv. At that time this was a part of Poland. Ukrainians living in this part of Poland formed the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) to seek independence from Poland, but in 1939 the partition of Poland put Western Ukraine under Soviet control. The OUN continued their activities for independence during this early Soviet occupation, and they formed the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) when the Nazis gained control early in World War II.Fighting first against the Nazis and then the Russians until the mid-1950s, the UPA resisted the occupation forces and fought for an independent Ukraine 50 years before the country actually gained its independence in 1991.

Maria joined the youth division of the OUN in 1940 when she was 14. Later she married a prominent leader of the group. She was an active member until 1954 when she was captured by the KGB. Involved in propaganda, Maria talks more about the day-to-day life of the underground than armed resistance. She gives a remarkably detailed account of her life in the UPA. This includes the names of the towns and villages she stayed in and the names of the people she worked with in the underground.

Its a sad story to read since during the period covered most of her fellow rebels were either captured or killed. Maria herself lost both her children to stay with the rebels. For the last nine years of the resistance she and her allies spent every winter in underground bunkers which were cramped, moist, and dark.

Yet for anyone interested in Ukrainian history or in resistance movements this is essential reading. Few members of the UPA have lived to tell their stories so Maria's book opens the door on a chapter of history long hidden from view. This is, however, not a history of the OUN and the UPA. That book remains to be written and will probably require access to KGB records.

I only wish this book came with a map that detailed the region and the villages mentioned in the text. Most English-language readers will not have sufficient geographic knowledge of the region to follow Maria's exploits without a good map.

This is a story of astonishing courage, resilience, resourcefulness and dignity in the face of the overwhelming resources of the totalitarian Soviet mammoth. The story is told plainly and simply, almost matter-of-factly about a struggle against all odds, a struggle to prevent Ukraine's being drowned in the poisons of Sovietism. Perhaps most striking is the calm dignity with which the author and her colleagues in the Ukrainian underground faced death almost daily, and their quiet determination to continue their mission, well into the 1950's, to fight for some semblance of normalcy in Ukraine no matter what the personal and familial costs to the author and those with whom she served so nobly. This is a stunner.

This easy-to-read book provides a unique perspective on guerilla battle tactics and how the outlaw rebels of Missouri saw the Civil War conflict. As a former Kansan, it gave me an insight into the slaughter at Lawrence that I was unaware of. Other than John Brown, this subject was rarely discussed in the Kansas history classes I took! And, the viewpoint certainly would have been taboo. The story filled a void in my educational background. Should be required reading for high school students in the Plains States. No wonder the sports rivalry between KU and MU is so bitter! Ironically, published by the University of Oklahoma Press (1992), 232 pp.

I Highly recommend McCorkles first-hand account. It is not often that we can resolve much of the differing views of history with first-hand accounts by those that were there during most of the events. I would have given this book a five had it not been for the very "out-of-place" commentary at the front of the book by someone named Hattaway (of West Point New York). I taped the aprox 25 pages together with an adivosry to skip this section as it only appeared to be added to censor McCorkles account and done in very poor taste. Why would someone want to take the time to distort someone's personal account of history. The Introduction by Barton is done very well however. Why would the publisher think that a commentary should be added when the work already had an introduction? I think the Commentary might have been added after the book was submitted just to try to promulgate a pre-conceived notion of history. Skip the commentary and its a great short work.

Although I don't like giving a 5 star rating to any book this book deserves 6! This is the real stuff, pre WWII, pre WWI, PRE-TV! It was written at a time before historic brainwashing by movies and television existed. Before people were self conscious about telling the truth. We can see the actual format of the "Civil" War sentiments. He reveals the concepts of dying, of The North, Slavery, and other aspects of the era that we are usually forced to accept from modern day writings, reflecting only current, politically correct viewpoints. The down to earth flow of this book is very enjoyable and is great reading for anyone with interest in this subject matter.

Quantrill is often maligned as a psychopathic killer and a despotic guerilla. John McCorkle not only refutes this common claim by the writers of the winner's history, but shows that Quantrill was a compassionate and honorable man. He shows a side to the War of Northern Aggression that is rarely told.

The introductions decry the author's side of the story, but they provide no evidence that is substantiated. The factual errors that McCorkle relates can easily be relegated to the fact that he was in his 80's when he told his story to O.S. Barton and the ravages of time on the memory are well noted throughout history.

This book is a rare glimpse into what made the Missouri Bushwhacker, or Partisan Ranger as they were properly known, what they were. What they did, how they fought, for what and whom they fought: it's all in here and with a lively color that brings to life the way life was in those most trying of times.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Any interested individual or serious student of this era must read this book. I am fortunate enough to live in the present day setting where the author's story took place. This is the real thing. I only wish there had been more works of this quality produced and saved. We would have a much better insight to those times.

As a mystery author, I had the honor of moderating an author panel at a recent Left Coast Crime convention upon which R.E. Derouin sat. I read TIME TRIAL in preparation for my moderator duties, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. TIME TRIAL takes place in Mr. Derouin's adopted hometown of Ouray Colorado. Detective David Dean has left his home in Pennsylvania to recover from gunshot wounds. He finds trouble follows him to scenic Colorado, and TIME TRIAL is a fast-paced and complex thriller. I recommend it highly, as I do the other works by Ray Derouin, a talented writer, as well as a charming and interesting man.

Pennsylvania police detective is spending time in present-day Ouray County, Colorado, recovering from a gunshot wound received in the line of duty. One day, his quiet convalescence is shattered by the sudden arrival of five unwanted and eccentric individuals. They seem to have a strange interest in a place called Byrd's Song, a homestead high above the ghost town of Sneffels.

Among Dean's "visitors" are Dorrie Briscoe, a woman who is less-than-picky about her choice of sleeping partners, and whose teenage daughter, Natalie, brings new meaning to the word "precocious". Neil Archer is a history professor and old friend of Dean's with a taste for much younger women, including Natalie. The group is led by an obnoxious millionaire named Henry Whitcomb, whose wife and son were murdered two years earlier.

Whitcomb claims to have found an old, metal, head-mounted device called the Klaxton Turban, which will send the mind of the user back in time. He is convinced that he was in Byrd's Song over 100 years ago, and is obsessed with finding out for sure, one way or the other. A trip to present-day Byrd's Song brings up several clues that tend to support Whitcomb's version of events. Could this be a sort-of time machine, or something more mundane? Dean doesn't believe in the Turban for a second, but. . .

I really enjoyed this book. Derouin does a very good job with the characters and setting of this book. The mystery part was also well done. I'm looking forward to the next David Dean mystery.

Miners of a century ago found gold and silver in the San Juan Mountains. If you're a mystery fan you'll find gold in "Time Trial".

This is an excellently constructed mystery with captivating plot, intriguing characters and an outcome even the most experienced reader is unlikely to predict.

For those who've visited the San Juans the theme and events will bring back fond memories of these majestic mountains and the mines and miners that brought riches to so many. Whether you've roamed these mountains or not, though, you'll strike it rich when you read this novel.

Derouin's second book, "San Juan Solution" is already out and equally absorbing. This delightful Ouray toy shop owner is hard at work on the third book, "Mountain Ice", due out in the summer of 2001.

"~Are you looking for a special gift for the mystery lover in your life? How about something special for someone that seems to have everything? Well, you are in luck."~ twelve plays, five of which won national awards. when a cast of unforgettable characters descends upon Ouray and disrupts his life. There is Henry Whitcomb, a multi-millionaire with a 19th century "hat" which allows him to travel back in time. Is it possible this "hat" will allow him to discover who murdered his wife and son two years ago? What to make of Neil Archer, a college professor and 25 year acquaintance of Dean's?, a brunette in her thirties, a Mrs. Brown somewhere between the age of 50 and 70, a pony-tailed electrical"~ engineer, not to mention Dean's stepfather Fred O'Connor and a 13 year old girl going on 30! Dean described the group as being "...like clowns from a circus funny car..." The journey by this unlikely cast results in a page-turning mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. The dialogue is believable, the characters are, well, characters, and the blending of present day Ouray and vicinity with a century past is unique and mysterious. writers living and writing on the Western slope of Colorado. Time Trial is highly recommended and will make an excellent choice for any reader interested in mysteries set in the San Juan Mountains.

The kid with the thirty-eight panicked and shot Parkside, Pennsylvania police officer David Dean. After a three-week recovery in the nearby hospital, the doctors inform David he needs another two months of healing before returning to the force. Marian Anderson, the spouse of one of his officers, recently inherited a Colorado home that needs a house sitter so David volunteered and left for some rest and recuperation in the Rockies.

David's peace and quiet is quickly interrupted by the appearance of friends of his host including the odious, ultra rich Henry Whitcomb and four of his followers. Someone murdered Henry's wife and son two years ago in an unsolved Keystone State crime. Henry believes he possesses a time travel device that will allow him to go back and learn who killed his family members. He persuades David and his stepfather to join him on his trek beyond the nearby ghost town. If David only knew what he is stepping into he probably would have stayed in Pennsylvania.

TIME TRIAL is an excellent "Mountain Time" mystery that will please fans of Rocky Mountain who-done-its. The story line is engaging and filled with surprises and unusual twists. David is a wonderful character and his support cast augments the tale with a tender depth that takes some of the edge away from him. The Colorado Rockies bring perspective to the plot. The mystery works on several levels, but it is David and his personal entourage that will delight fans with R.E. Derouin's debut novel, which demands sequels.

I purchased this book because I worked on the same police dept with Larry and I knew him to be a good police off. I had no idea that he was such a talented writer. I could not put the book down. It is a very fast paced story that transports you back in time with the main character. You live the story with Tom Livengood. This is a book that I would recommend to all ages. It makes you want to read more about Tom and I think it is great material for a movie or television series.

Jane Kirwan, Princeville, IL

From the time I picked up this book, I could not put it down.
Bravo, L.L.Layman on your first western.
I grew up in the city of Peoria, and was L.L.Laymans neighbor.
I see playing cowboys and indians in the 60's paid off.
Born a century too late, Layman takes you back to the days of hard working, hard living individuals of the old west!
Author, Cathy Hanchett-Howell

This is the kind of book parents should be buying for their teanagers to read. It is not only written without profanity but has a real hero teens could look up to.

What a great book! This book has to be made into a movie.

I am an avid reader of Westerns and Early American Adventures and have never seen such great writing. This author is a great story teller.

Larry Layman has hit a homerun ... his first time up to bat.

In the same spirit as Tom Hanks in CastAway, Hanks could be in Tom Livengood the movie. Someone needs to buy the movie rights to this book and cast Tom Hanks in the role of Tom Livengood.

I live in Peoria,Il.And know L.L.Layman,alias Larry Layman,Police Officer. I had an encounter with Officer Layman once. At my place of work. He made me move my car out of a handicapped parking space. I argued that the space was not posted. I moved the car. Later I helped my husband with the covers of the L.L.Layman Westerns.
I discovered a sensitive,romantic and caring male under the swaggering uniform. Discovering this sensitive Officer Layman,I felt much, much safer.
Buy his book. If you like it,Just wait until you read Paxton McAllister, Tyler James and Jessie Buxton. You can almost taste the roasted wild meat and smell the camp fire coffee.Happy endings we need. Happy endings and Heros.
Yea! L.L.Layman plays in Peoria.

This book is absolutely fantastic. We've driven half or so of the tours so far, and would highly recommend it to anyone who lives or frequently visits western NC. The best part of the book is the historical information. You could drive past a historically important site and never notice it or understand the significance of it, but this book helps keep you aware of even the smallest details. Watch out for the mileage numbers- it may seem like a 90 mile tour will only take a little while, but count on no more than 2 tours per day. And don't expect Carolyn to tell you when the pavement ends- that's part of the adventure I suppose!

Certainly gives you what you need to know to visit these lovely places.
Highly recommended.

Since I recently moved to North Carolina, spending my free time towards the mountains became a must. Carolyn has saved me countless hours of researching where to go and what to do. I am glad to find such an informative book.

This will lead you to interesting places that are mostly not well known. The views are stunning. A hiker on the Appalachian Trail said the view from Wayah Bald is the best on the trail. The only problem we had is that road numbers have been changed to names, but most of the numbers were still in fine print on the signs.

I was introduced to this book by a friend and ended up buying the whole series! If you want to know more about western NC and spend your days enjoying a well written dialog that accurately directs you to place the other guides don't even mention, Buy this book. If you want a restaurant guide look elsewhere. I can wholeheartedly recommend the entire series from this publisher. Similar to the "off the beaten path" series only better, written by life long residents that obviously love their home state!