Crime Books

Virginia Lanier's bloodhound series opens pretty convincingly in this book which has enough plotting and subplotting to fill three books. We're introduced to feisty JoBeth Sidden, a near-thirtyish trainer of bloodhounds who also has her own company which does search and rescue operations for local police authorities. In this debut, JoBeth is involved with an abusive ex-husband; the mysterious will of her deceased artist father; a handsome new lawyer in town; escaped criminals; missing children; a handsome private investigator; and lots more. JoBeth is even framed for the attempted murder of aforementined Bubba, her ex! While it takes a little patience to get into this book, once you do, you'll find yourself rewarded. Lanier has a flair for Southern life, and her characters are sharply drawn and developed.
I'm looking forward to further adventures with JoBeth and her hounds!

"Death in Bloodhound Red" is the first in the Virginia Lanier "Bloodhound Series." It is a great book and so different from most mysteries that I am surprised that I had not heard of the series before.

This is a series to buy all at once because once you start reading = you will not want to stop.

"Death in Bloodhound Red" is difficult to classify even though it is a mystery. It is not a superficially light book and there are parts that will make you laugh and parts that are very somber.

Jo Beth Sidden raises and trains bloodhounds and utilizes them for tracking in a small county in Georgia. Her life is rather interesting. Her deceased father became a famous artist when she was a teenager, while most of her childhood was spent in dire poverty. Her childhood though, is in many ways very mysterious.

Yet by working continually, Jo Beth has built a kennel and bloodhoumd business. Businesses and law enforcement agencies hire her and her dogs to seek out drugs and criminals.

Jo Beth is rather a tough woman because she has had to be. But she is working at addressing the vulnerabilities in her life and this dialogue is reflected as well. She is a very ardent feminist because she has had to confront countless prejuidices in her life of work.

Virginia Lanier has topped my list for new authors.

A Must read series - All of Viriginia Lanier's books. The characters come alive on each page. Her description of loving and smart bloodhounds will endear you to them forever. You can't wait to read what happens next. A true treasure of a character is Joe Beth, a woman detective and her bloodhounds.

The sub-genre of "dog mysteries" is not nearly as extensive as "cat mysteries" for reasons I will never understand. (After all, do cats really care what human beings do to each other? I don't think so.) In this specialized arena, Virgina Lanier's Bloodhound books are definately best in show. "Death in Bloodhound Red" is one of the best novels -- in or out of the mystery genre -- I've read in a long time. Yes, the plot is meandering and convoluted, the conversations are of a length only southerners can aspire to, and the language is as dense and atmospheric as the scent of jasmine on an early summer day. But what matters in the end is how completely Lanier manages to submerge us in the swampy world of southern Georgia and the wonderful profession of search-and-rescue with her beloved bloodhounds. If all the following books aren't always as over the top excellent as the first, who cares? They are all great and the bloodhounds get even more time on stage as the series goes on. What more could you want?

This is an incredible first book of a series, that sadly is behind a couple years. The books are; 1996-Death in Bloodhound Red, 1997-The House on Bloodhound Lane, 1998- A Brace of Bloodhounds, 1999-Blind Bloodhound Justice, 2000-Ten Little Bloodhounds. I'm not sure why we don't have books for 2001 and 2002, but after you read the first book and then run out and buy the next four that continue without dropping the pace and excitement, you'll mourn the gap in the series. Especially using the recommendations, its not that infrequent I get a new author 'can't put me down'er. However this was one of those I read through as fast as I can because of the tension and mystery, and then start right over again to read for the wealth of information and the beauty of the text.

I can't think of anything this book doesn't have. There is a strong female protaganist, and one that hard to work her way from the ground up as well (as I did) that I really appreciate. As a now breeder and trainer of bloodhounds, Jo Beth is a complex character with sometimes warring qualitis, but one that acts consistently within the defined pesonality. The tension with the maniacal ex husband catches you quickly, but the mystery picks up and holds you as you go on. Additionally I love a book that provides some other new knowlege and this book is rife with knowlege about 'The South', the Okenofree swamp, and Bloodhounds. I've checked some of what I learned here with a friend who has been in the swamp and the South and it's been checking out. As an animal lover as well, you really get to love the bloodhounds and the knowlege of scent tracking and bloodhounds in particular is wide and varied.

Yet Virginia Lanier sneaks the information in without any long boring solioquies. She always manages to get the right amount in to help you appreciate the story and does it in a way that goes with the story, like say explaining something to a new person, and then drives back to the plot before you could get bored. And she makes it fascinating. As I said earlier I was interested enough to talk to people till I found one that had been in the okenofee swamp, and I've got bloodhound research on my list of things to look into as well. As far as the south in concerned, I feel she does a good job of showing the pros and cons, the beauty and surface graciousness on the surface, and the misogeny and the racism underneath.

In 1973 in Casper, Wyoming, the paths of two twenty something lowlifes, Ronald Kennedy and Jerry Jenkins, intersected with that of two half-sisters, eighteen year old Becky Thompson and eleven year old Amy Burridge. None of their lives would ever be the same again. Becky and Amy had just finished up some last minute grocery shopping at a local store, when they realized that they had a flat tire. Kennedy and Jenkins offered to help them and give them a ride home.

Once they were in the car, however, it was clear that Becky and Amy were going to be taken to hell and back again. The upshot is that they were abducted and ultimately driven to the North Platte River where Amy was thrown from a bridge that spanned a gorge into the river over a hundred feet below. Becky was then raped by Kennedy and Jenkins, and then she, too, was thrown from the bridge into that same river and left for dead. The only difference is that she physically survived her ordeal and lived to tell the tale.

The author divided the book into three parts. In the first part, the author takes great pains to describe the town and the people who played a part in the unfolding drama. He also paints a poignant portrait of the two girls who had been abducted and treated so cruelly by fate. He also describes the details of the events that led up to the crime, the crime itself, and its immediate aftermath.

In the second part of the book, the focus is on the prosecution of the case. Again, the author gives much detail on the individuals who were going to be involved in the prosecution of the case, as well as those who were to be responsible for the defense of Kennedy and Jenkins. The author also gives details from the trial itself, in addition to the outcome.

In the third part of the book, the author details what became of Becky Thompson and notes the impact that this singular event had on her life. He also details what happened to Jenkins and Kennedy. The reader also discovers what became of the families of the victims, the families of the defendants, and those who were involved in the trial process. He also includes portions of a memoir written by Kennedy, which the author expertly dissects and analyzes. This is, however, the Achilles heel in the book, as the self-serving drivel served up by Kennedy made this portion of the book drag somewhat.

This case was big news when it happened, and it shook the town of Casper to its core. In fact, the author knew Becky and Amy, as they were his next door neighbors in Casper, Wyoming, where he grew up. He was a junior in high school at the time that the crime occurred, and he recalls the impact that the crime had on not only the community but on his family, as well. This personal connection explains the well-spring of deep sadness that resonates throughout this well-written book and speaks to the reader. Meticulous in his research, it is clear that for this author this book was a labor of love, as the author brings to life with his prose all those whose lives had been touched by this heinous crime.

This book has been released as a paperback under the title: The Darkest Night: Two Sisters, a Brutal Murder, and Loss of Innocence in a Small Town".

Franscell does a masterful job of recounting the tragic crimes in his hometown, Casper, Wyoming. His writing is superb.

This is excellent. I live in Casper when it happened and was really
outraged at the two men who could do just a thing. The book was well
written.

This is an excellent book. Few true crime novels manage this level of polished writing, careful and skillful storytelling and sympathy for the victims. Truly a tragic story, but so vivid and powerful I couldn't put it down.

The opening few pages of this book are as gripping as they come. Becky has been hurled down a huge cliff by her rapists. Unbelievably, she survives the fall, but seems on the brink of death. "Dragging her deadened legs out of the black water into the black night, she wormed across the sharp stones, naked below the waist, beaten and bruised, in shock" (p 4). Far above her, she can hear her would-be murderers chat. Will they realize she has survived? Will they come down to finish the job?

The story of what happens to Becky and to the rapists is a true page turner. I won't reveal what eventually happens to Becky, but is utterly shocked me.

Franscell is an excellent writer. Beyong the story of the true crime, he always delves into the consequences of evil. An evil that sends waves through the lives of hundreds of people, for years and years beyong the actual crime.

A fast (as in "easy") and furious (as in "will cut your head off with a band saw if she thinks you are cheating on her") collection of 50, 1950s hellcats running wild and taking a bite out of every thing in their path, only to be corralled and caged by a legion of clean-shaven boys in blue. These cases are the very best in vintage crime reporting.

If you are in the mood for a crime novel that is sent in the 1950s and explores the depths of degradation and reckless brutality in a woman's soul, I would suggest Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door. But if you prefer your1950s' murders and mutilations to be 100% factual, and 10 times more vicious, then look no further... this book is for you!

Do you know what they call men who are completely ambiguous to the violence and wanton cruelty that women can inflict on the world? Bachelors! Or suckers. Don't be a sucker, wise up and order this volume of female fueled aggression - it just could save your (night) life.

Vice girls: trapped in a world of prostitution and dope, for these hopeless souls prison or death is their only out. Vixens: found on the arms or penthouses of the rich, these knockouts use their charms, and in some cases--blackmail, to suck every last penny from their lust-struck patrons. Hellcats: murders, thieves, and gun molls, all fleeing the cops while heading for the next big "take down." Meet all the girl in this collection of true crime tales.

With all the intensity and drama of a dozen Eugene O'Neil plays, and sporting writing style reminiscent of a black and white DRAGNET episode, HELLCATS is sure to tickle the fancy of any true crime buff; especially those who like lurid tales of sex, violence and death --- and sometimes not it that order.

This was my second read by Daniel Black. When he writes a book..he makes you feel what the characters feel. The Sacred Place was a historical masterpeice!

This story takes place in Money, Mississippi and starts off with a fourteen year old boy going in a store to buy a soda pop. Clement is from Chicago so he wasn't use to bowing down and being scared of people opposite his color. The lady behind the counter demanded that Clement place the nickel in his hand and when he doesn't it starts a war in Money, Missippippi!

I felt so many different emotions reading this book. The author will take you back to Money, Mississippi and you will remain a resident there until the last word on the last page is read.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to readers who like reading historical and 'back in the day' books! It was definitely a page turner! This book will stay on your mind long after you finished it. I can't wait for Daniel Black's next novel!

In every major event in life there is always a tipping point that happens that get the ball rolling. The killing of Emmit Til is that what gave African Americans the fight to create change and this book gives a great fictional account of those times. I pulled away too many nuggets to list but the words of this great author will forever be in my mind as I pay respects to the African Americans that gave their life in the name of freedom. His detailed descriptions put you in Money, Mississippi into the minds of those fighting for equality. I must read if you want a dose of what family really stand for and what can happen when a community comes together.

Dr. Daniel Black's The Sacred Place
In 1955, a fourteen year old Black child was brutally beaten and murdered in Money, Mississippi. Once again Black people were reminded that hatred holds nothing sacred. Dr. Daniel Black's historically-based novel, The Sacred Place reminds us that our children's lives are sacred. In the middle of Jim Crow segregation, black fathers, black mothers, black aunts and uncles, black sons and daughters, black sisters and brothers chose to make a stand in Black's "sacred place." Black's gift for storytelling is more than evident in this novel for I found myself transported to the Sacred Place--where hatred could not win, where peace, beauty, courage and tranquility squelched evil--just in time to feel pride in his characters, My People for their courageous stand to survive in the face of so much injustice. The Black Folks in The Sacred Place did not allow hatred to kill their spirit or mine. Dr. Black, thank you for your gift to all of us who remember how sacred our children are and how important it is to teach them the same.

This book is a must read. I have to admit that at first it's hard to follow the old southern grammer but once you get into this book it's hard to put down. It's a sad story that unfortunately must be told and if nothing else it shows the power of blacks in this country. When you read the book the characters jump off the page, during several chapters I was filled with sorrow and anger and their plight.

Daniel the one thing that I wanted more than anything else was to give them justice - and in your own way you did.

Anyone who picks up this book will have a better sense of what this country was built on. Share it with your children and your friends and family. Job well done.

This is Daniel Black's second book that I have read and I most say that this book is just as amazing as his first, "They Tell Me Of A Home." His books strive to teach the readers the history of our culture and the struggles our predecessors went through and overcame. His literary style is on a intellectual level that pushes the reader to bring themselves up to and that is what we need in our community. I encourage everyone to read this book and get a history lesson of what started the change in the South from the Black perspective. I heard of the Emmett Till story, but did not know all the details about his death and the catalyst of change it started. Big ups to Mr. Black and I can not wait for the next lesson...book.

A page-turner that will have time fly by, "Sugar of Lead" dives into the lifestyle and culture of Asian mafias. The rules and codes adhered to in this forbidden world are explored and tested in this riveting story. This novel masterfully presents the art of drama as the main character of Michael Pierce wrestles with the conflicts that occur as his society, his adopted culture, and his inner desires all tear him in different directions. A must-read!

A page-turner that will have time fly by, "Sugar of Lead" dives into the lifestyle and culture of Asian mafias. The rules and codes adhered to in this forbidden world are explored and tested in this riveting story. The story masterfully presents the art of drama as the main character of Michael Pierce wrestles with the conflicts that occur as his society, his adopted culture, and his inner desires all tear him in different directions. A must-read!

It's been a VERY long time since I've been able to pick up a book and put it back down after reading it all in one sitting. The book played out like a well-planned movie. Every moment, every character, and every line of dialogue had me feening for more. It is one of the most accurate potrayals of the Asian-American gangster scene. Expect no boring cliches filled with typical Asian-American strereotypes. I cannot wait until this author churns out another book. Pick up this book today.

Rarely do "intellectual" and "thriller" fit together, but Davis in his novel Sugar of Lead manages to meld the two into a pleasing amalgam. A higher-echelon Elmore Leonard novel, the story is that of Michael "Sugar" Pierce, outsider (white man) and insider (best friend of the boss, and in love with the boss's wife) in the Rhee gang in Los Angeles. This backdrop, soon spattered with blood, becomes only a launching pad for Davis' literary vision. Davis extensively utilizes symbolism; ocean, smoke and desert all play significant roles-they swirl together and blend in the Rhee residence, providing the novel with a strong does of mysticism, perhaps a nod to Davis' Native American roots. Davis also makes use of allegory-near the end Sugar bears strong resemblance to Beowulf, throughout the novel he can be seen as a Hamlet type, swept along by fate, which has conspired against him to produce this chaos against which he is railing. This novel is slightly more optimistic than Hamlet, as Sugar does take decisive action near the close of the novel, and, while I won't ruin the ending for you, let me say that tragedy and romance mix in this novel, the ending is more uplifting than that of a tragedy, while more tragic than that of a romance. Of course, the novel would not be modern were it not at least somewhat ironic-there is an ironic twist at the end as well; watch who takes over.
Davis not only writes an excellent thriller, at its core, Sugar of Lead is indeed quite the page-turner, he manages to seamlessly blend his views on crime, death, love, and most importantly life, into the violence that is necessary to accurately portray the world of the Rhee's. Never gratuitous, the failing of many thriller authors, but by no means shrinking from violence, Davis manages to keep the reader guessing, while keeping the reader thinking. By the end of this novel I was rooting for Sugar while examining myself. However, the most clear evidence that this novel is poignant is not that I thought while reading it, but that I pondered Sugar's dilemmas even after I had put the book down.
In essence, this novel attempts more than any gangster novel I've read, and succeeds throughout. Davis will not be confined to his genre, he chooses instead to broaden the scope of the genre, and his literary effort is laudable. I only hope he continues to produce work of this quality, as I'm sure readers everywhere, myself included, will continue to enjoy his work.

Rarely do thrillers attempt much more than thrilling; they are generally designed as "pleasure fiction," to distract the reader for a period of a few hours. Almer John Davis has apparently decided that he'd rather not walk down the narrow alley of another gangster thriller, but the backdrop of Korean gangsters in Los Angeles provides the appropriate setting to get much of his message across. The novel mixes the best of old and new--there are shades of Hamlet and Beowolf mixed with the best of Elmore Leonard--upon my first reading (there have been many since) I remarked that this book is a sort of higher-echelon Elmore Leonard novel. Davis presents his views on crime, death, and most importantly, life through the eyes of protagonist Micheal "Sugar" Pierce.
An outsider of sorts, being white in a Korean gang, yet with an insider's knowledge, being best friend of the boss and in love with the boss's wife, Sugar is caught in a web of deception, love, hate, and violence. His desperate attempt to break out, forced by the actions of others, leads to a fast-paced novel, with riveting aciton and constant tension. Yet, Davis seamlessly works in his literary perspectives, using effective and poignant symbolism, allegory and metaphor in order to fully acheive his purpose. Above all a novel that will make you think, examine yourself, and ponder the dilemmas of the characters (the true sign of good literature), Sugar Of Lead has my highest recommendation. I only hope that many more books of the same quality will be produced by its author.

One of the most intriguing and terrifying reads I've had in many a moon. This wonderfull thriller has it all. I happen to know it's written by NY Times best selling author Norman Bogner so its not a surprize that it's as good as it is. The protagonist is awesome in her obsession and would be a wonderful character for the big screen. I highly recommend it.

Which will become the Winterhaven "dissolution" is erected by a master architect of the text. It starts with one little simple note in Vienna and ends with the same tranquility in L. A. but what we find in between is a well edified "chaos".

Moreover, attention to the least details, the rainbow display of characters, the ongoing dry humour in the dialogues with such a sense of witty repartees make of this novel a rich scenario ready for the big reel.

Every character in this book is memorable. The bad guys (and there are many!) are evil but not one-sided. All the characters are complex, interesting personalities and you feel compelled to find out more abt them. Even the good guys are intriguingly flawed. The juxa-position of then (WWII) and now (Calif - USA)is fascinating and you are constantly aware of the backdrop of history and its possible impact on people, places and events today. The plot evolves with the characters in interesting ways and there are twists that give the reader many "ah-ha" moments - so much so, you can't put it down. Great read!

I almost missed this one but a friend insisted I read it. Wow! It's a great narrative of young, sensitive talent overcoming seemingly invincible ethnic hatred. I loved the lead, 22-year-old Rebecca Benjamin from the first as a beautiful, highly talented European pianist, and then adored her as she rose to the challenge of a cunning fight against neo-Nazis in California. In many ways an odyssey, Beth Asher's The Winterhaven Solution is also a morality saga and a tour-de-force of character growth in the face of mortal danger. Highly recommended for readers who are looking for enthralling, sophisticated story telling.

Winterhaven Solution is a rapidly moving tense story that culminates in a great finale. The book is a romantic adventure murder mystery with a significant undercurrent of religious hatred and fanaticism. It is suspenseful throughout and maintains interest at a high level. I highly recommend reading this contemporary and thought provoking novel.

Amy Billig was a teenage daughter in the 1970s Coral Gables, Florida. She had loving parents and an equally loving brother. One Saturday, she went hitch-hiking to meet some friends for lunch downtown. Hitch-hiking in the 1970s was common, acceptable behavior. Nobody thought it was dangerous. Amy Billig was never heard or seen again! I will always remember reading this book while I did jury duty and I have seen Susan Billig on television searching for her daughter. She would travel the world searching for her. She doesn't know for sure about her fate. That's the tragic part of this book is that she would rather know than not know. I remember reading "Not knowing is worse than knowing." It is because Susan probably has accepted that Amy will never return home. Her daughter would have never stopped contacting her parents or try to get in touch. Susan has researched biker gangs in America and in England. She has spent all her savings in search for her daughter. A mother's love like hers is not rare because Susan is an extraordinary woman who is relentless in her pursuits for the truth no matter how painful that can be. I think deep down that Susan has accepted Amy's fate but as she wrote to not know is worse than knowing. If Amy is dead and it's sure, she can grieve and move on with her life. Until then, I can't imagine Susan not searching or ever giving up hope.

Horrible and haunting. You want so much to believe she's still alive.

I read this book in a few hours. I couldn't put it down. I just had to know what would happen next. It was fascinating! Sue Billig simply amazed me. As a mother I was able to feel her pain and frustration. What she went through trying to find her daughter stemmed from pure courage, tenacity and love.

I was frustrated myself at the end. I was hoping so much it would tell what happened to Amy, but mainly you just have to guess for yourself.

Mind-blowing read!

I am a True Crime addict and I remember watching the story of Amy Billig on "Unsolved Mysteries." Even though I had seen the story, I figured I would learn a lot more if I bought the book, so I did. I am a slow reader and usually it takes me months to read just one book. "Without A Trace" was different. This book kept me interested all the way through and I seemed to breeze through it. It is a very good read. I even read it in the bathtub while I was taking a soak!

Amy Billig was just 17 when she disappeared from Coconut Grove, Florida in 1974. Amy had planned to meet friends for lunch and was going to drop by her dad's art shop on the way. However there were some greasy, tattoed, leather-clad visitors who were also dropping by that fateful day. The forboding rumble of motorcycles going through town told people to heed their caution. It was the annual biker gathering again. When Amy didn't arrive at her dad's shop and never met her friends, Amy's parents, Sue and Ned Billig, knew something terrible must have happened.

Let me say that reading this book made me take a second look at mankind. I was angry as I followed Sue's relentless quest to find her missing daughter only to be taken advantage of by greedy, shallow-minded people such as the Glasser twins, who claimed to have Amy, and Hank Blair who tortured Sue Billig with sexually explicit telephone pranks about Amy for about two decades which lead to a lengthy court battle in the process. But through it all, Sue would do anything to find her daughter from searching into different tips, meeting up with and traveling with bikers such as the infamous Paul Branch who had claimed to have Amy, traveling to prisons to interview bikers who may have a clue, and even frequenting biker bars to search for her daughter.

Some of the images portrayed in this book make your spine shiver. How about picturing a pint-sized, middle-aged woman from a well-to-do life, clinging to a rough and rowdy biker while riding on the back of his motorcycle? How about picturing this woman mingling with dirty, tattoed, chain and leather-clad bikers armed with guns inside scudzy trailors cluttered with rusty auto parts, beer cans and cigarette butts? While these bikers are peeking out of windows fearing any vehicle that drives up, a biker couple can be heard having sex in the other room. Authors Greg Aunapu and Susan Billig do an outstanding job of taking us on the journey over the boundaries of safety and into the world of the bikers who are murderers, drug dealers and woman-beaters. After all, women are considered property and bikers give them away and pass them around to other bikers as such. As a female myself, this was difficult to read about. But I think I can safely say that I would do the same things that Sue did if my daughter went missing.

The most frustrating part (and indeed I feel for Sue and can relate to her frustration), is all the leads that fall dead. Unfortunately with just about every huge case, there are leads that are looked into and nothing comes of it. Therefore you've just wasted precious time. Poor Sue had to go through so much of this. Calls at all hours of the night, plane trips to places like Tulsa, Seattle and New Jersey on tips from bikers such as Paul Branch, investigations into strip bars where bikers usually make their "old ladies" work at; everything seemed endless. But Sue was relentless, taking every call to heart and jotting virtually every call down in her journal. Many leads brought people who said Amy was a biker girl who was drugged up and called "Mute" or "Sunshine." The tips came and came. She was at this particular market with wome Outlaw bikers buying soup and crackers. She was at this store in Seattle looking at health food. And it's truely amazing how many biker names come up in the search for Amy, from Paul Branch, to "Dishrag Harry," to "Creature." It seems endless.

I just have to give the ultimate kudos to Sue Billig for all that she had to go through in her search. She is the real model of strength that many women should strive for. She is inspiring in every sense of the word. When people told Sue to give up, she wouldn't. When people told Sue that Amy may be brainwashed and never the same, Sue didn't care. When there was any little hint that Amy may be in a particular place, Sue would dash there. If she needed to stand up to bikers, she would stand up to bikers and force herself to be unintimidated. Even cancer couldn't keep Sue down, nor her husband's tragic death. She is an obsessed mother determined to bring her daughter home. Some may think being that obsessed is a bad thing, but it is not. It makes you amazed at how the human spirit handles pressures when things get to be dangerous and life seems to crumble.

The description of the bikers and their hangouts and the places that Sue explored were absolutely fantastic. Every detail gets you right into the book and you are automatically sitting there suffering with Sue. You are riding on the back of a biker's motorcycle with nerves pumping through your body and the wind tossing your hair around. You smell the smoky air, the sweat and leather. You hear the rough voices and see the scowls and other facial expressions. You feel the rage and disappointment when pranksters exploit. And the hardest part through it all is that Amy always seems just out of reach somehow. There is always this feeling of not being able to get to her. I personally have had dreams like that and needless to say, it is tough on the emotions. Even in the end, Sue is still taken advantage of from Branch's "old lady," "Tootsie's" so called deathbed story, to British producers ordering Sue to engrave Amy's name on a headstone. The anger of it all!

But the question remains. Is Amy still alive out there? Is she dead? Is she tortured daily? Is she a drugged-up stripper? Is she pregnant? How did Paul Branch really know of Amy's appendix scar, or that she liked folk music? We may never know what ever happened to the carefree 17 year-old who loved life and was truly inspired by it. It was the simple things in life such as a sunset and the wind blowing in the trees that Amy loved. She was indeed special and very insightful. It was also a much different time. It was seemingly a more innocent time; at least away from the underworld of the bikers. But much has changed since 1974, and as the years progressed in this book, I could truly feel that nostalgic emotional feeling of the fact that Amy had been gone for so long as the times changed.

Although Sue spent 25 years searching for Amy, she had eventually found a way to bring that chapter of her life to a close even though she still mourns for her beloved daughter. Now her son Josh has kids of his own and she is able to channel her energy through them and see traces of Amy in them. The ending of the book was very fitting. It is a haunting passage that Amy wrote shortly before she was kidnapped and it shows the very essence of the wonderful young woman she was/is. It will leave you thinking for days after you finally put this book to rest.

Reviewers before me have said it best. Out of all the true crime books I've read, I estimate 10% rate as "can't put down page turners" and this is one of them. That says it all.
I would put this book in a class of my favorite true crime books including:
Careless Whispers
Zodiac
The Ultimate Evil
Dreams of Ada
Minds of Billy Mulligan

From the very beginning, this book didn't allow me to quit reading. It is powerful, thought provoking, plausible, and leaves me wanting to see it as a movie. I thought it interesting how the author plugs his other books in this suspense tale, and was one of the few lighter moments. The character, Beauford Sloan is more realistic, and seeing his softer side makes me cheer for him like never before. As a plus, I like Raymond Austin's portrayal of romance as just out of reach, but an undercurrent that keeps me hoping Beauford can find happiness again.

I've read and enjoyed all of Austin's books but this one -- Your Turn to Die -- is not only timely but chilling in its reality. Terrorists can hit anywhere and this just demonstrates another avenue. This is a fast page turner that keeps you going until finished. The author has truly been creative in his approach and demonstrates just how terrorsits can use TV as a propaganda tool. I can't wait for the next Beauford Sloan Mystery.

AGAIN AUSTIN HAS DONE IT WITH HIS BEAUFORD SLOAN. WELL DONE FULL MAKS FROM THIS READER.

Central Virginia loves Beauford Sloan, and NOT just because he lives here. The pudgy protagonist is a wee bit on the edgy side this time around, and you will be on the edge of your proverbial seat. Raymond Austin has given us another fine thriller in "Your Turn to Die."

You better have time to read it all, because you won't be able to put it down!

Interesting book really makes you think about self defense in todays world. I grew up with guns, hunting and target shooting so I might have a different perspective than most. Having a loaded gun readily accessable is a huge responsibility that can either save your life or ruin it forever.

If you even thought about owning a gun you should have this book. It is full of factual information regarding crime statistics, dos and don'ts regarding gun ownership and use. It is written by a women for women and I bought it for my wife but I read every page. I recommend it highly.

Larry C

Informative
Great to give your lady if you would like her to consider arming herself

Thoughtful, informative and written in simple language for the woman who has, or is intending to own/carry a concealed weapon.
Covers types of handguns, true life experiences, other means of self defense and consequences of using lethal force.

I bought it for her and she thought it was worthwhile. So much so I ordered some similar titles. These books aren't crazy. They're for women that refuse to be victims.

Auschwitz by Laurence Rees provides a compelling look at one of the darkest deeds in human history. Including first hand accounts from SS and prisoner alike, the book traces the history of the infamous camp from its origin as a work camp through its evolution into one of the most "productive" death camps. Rees delves into the myriad factors that created Auschwitz and how the camp's mission changed as the war progressed. The history of the "Final Solution" is detailed as well and Rees also describes several of the other camps and how they paralleled or were different from Auschwitz.

I had read accounts of the Holocaust before, but this book was incredibly detailed. The personal accounts were often gut-wrenching, especially some of the SS interviews in which there was often no regret expressed, in fact often the opposite. Not only a history of Auschwitz, but of Jewish persecution, the book provided information I hadn't heard before. There were a few accounts the author concluded the book with in which several Jews returned to their homes, only to find them gone or in someone else's possession. This was a side to the Holocaust I hadn't been consciously aware of, but probably should have guessed at The book was well written and quick paced, the material repugnant, but important to remember. Books like this need to be written and read, so that we never allow these events to simply pass into history or their magnitude diluted with time.

I just visited Auschwitz and Birkenhau prison camps and the book "Auschwitz-A New History" placed all this into perspective. The author writes the book purely from a historical researched point of view rather than from personal point of view. The book is very good reading and an excellent historical document.

I expected this to be a detailed presentation on how Auschwitz worked. Instead it was all over the place, with large portions talking about Sobibor; human interest stories; and how Jews were transported from Denmark, Slovakia, and France. This book should have focused on Auschwitz.

Most history books tend to get bogged down in their own data and dry writing style. What makes "Auschwitz" stand out as one of the most important books ever on the infamous concentration and death camp (there were both in many locations in Nazi Germany) is its readability - accurate but poignant and full of the drama that the subject provided.
Rees offers staggering information concerning the camp - the horrifying conditions for those selected to work and die as soon as they were unable to work any more - others "selected" outright for murder, most commonly by gas and guns, and even the occasional breakouts and shows of kindness, sometimes even by the SS troops who ran the camp.
Combined with the horrors of other concentration and death camps like Bergen-Belsen, the first discovered by British troops, Treblinka, Dachau and smaller camps that are not as well known, over six million Jews, gypsies and political "enemies" died at the hands of Hitler and Heinrich Himmler, easily Hitler's equal for depravity and pure hatred.
It is mind boggling how anybody can deny the events here, or the Holocaust in general. Yet Rees doesn't ignore naysayers who still try to deny such atrocities ever took place. Such denials belong in the same category as those who believe the earth is hollow, the moon visits were faked in a Hollywood studio or, believe it or not, that the Earth does not revolve around the sun!! This was opined by a state representative from, I believe, South Carolina just in the last few weeks.
We must remember too that the hate that leads to genocides is present in all of us and still occurs with regularity. We cannot forget Stalin's murder of 25 million Soviets, Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge, Idi Amin, and Rhodesia and Darfur. We still have troops in Kosovo after the "ethnic cleansing" that took place in the mid '90's.
Understanding what we, as humans are capable of, good and evil, gives us a better perspective on our behavior. We see in "Auschwitz" how "normal" people, placed in horrible situations, could turn murderous, callous and numb to what they were forced to do. We also see how some preferred death to killing others. It's not a fun read, but it should be in every high school classroom.

When considering the history of the Holocaust, Auschwitz and extermination are synonymous, as it should be for the 1.1 million people who were killed by the Nazis at this concentration camp alone. Yet as Laurence Rees sets out to show in "Auschwitz: A New History", the camp's beginnings were a far cry from its final stages. Like other concentration camps within the Nazi's network, Auschwitz evolved as Hitler and the SS found themselves further forced to eliminate their self-imposed "Jewish problem".

Rees begins his history with an examination of the camp's beginnings, built by prisoners of war and meant to serve a myriad of research and industrial purposes. Heinrich Himmler and camp commandant Rudolf Hoss discussed various strategies for using the Auschwitz 'Zone of Interest' - as agricultural research center to coal factory, neither seemingly forseeing the infamous nature it would assume as the war progressed and fortunes turned for the Nazi party. Filled with eye-witness accounts and personal interviews, "Auschwitz: A New History" is a chilling testimony of the Nazi's cold-blooded attempt to exterminate an entire people.

Rees' examination, though compact, is complete. He offers not only the eye-witness accounts and hard facts, but is able to debunk the theories that Holocaust deniers and Nazi sympathizers have seized upon. The greatest power this book holds is the testimony of the SS men themselves, men unabashed in their view of what transpired within the camp, men who cannot (to this day) see their actions as anything but right. They will not just deny their actions away by claiming they were "following orders".

It can often be difficult for someone who did not experience the atrocities firsthand to understand what life in Auschwitz was like: it is rightly difficult to grasp something so incomprehensible. Rees uncovers tender histories along with the harsh, moments of joy and love and the reality of daring escapes. By comparing Auschwitz to the other camps within the Nazi system, he is able to offer a complete picture of the greatest crime in history. Yet while his book has the added title of "How Mankind Committed the Ultimate Infamy at [Auschwitz]", the greater infamy lies in the fact that the majority of those responsible for the mass murder went unpunished, free to live the life they had taken away from so many others. And at the conclusion, Rees points to the very real fear that this may one day become just another piece of ancient history: the survivors and eyewitnesses are growing fewer, and the greatest infamy may be that one day Auschwitz is just another word, just another place in the history books. Lest we forget.