Crime Books

Warren Ellis' (Transmetropolitan, Thunderbolts, Desolation Jones, Astonishing X-Men, this list can go on and on...) brilliant crime fiction saga Fell is something you have to read to believe. Revolving around the incredibly skilled Detective Richard Fell, who has been transfered to Snowtown: a crime-ridden wasteland from which there may be no escape. As the area around him decays with every passing minute, Fell makes a number of encounters (most frequently with an eccentric bar-maid) with the townspeople, and comes to one conclusion in the end about them all: everybody is hiding something, including himself. Peppered with fantastic dialogue, Ellis manages to make Fell one of his most intriguing works of crime fiction, with Fell himself being one of his most interesting character creations. Ben Templesmith (30 Days of Night) provides his typical dark and moody artwork, and it more than suits the atmosphere of the universe that Ellis crafts here. All in all, the first volume of Fell is a brilliant piece of crime fiction from one of the true modern day comic book masters, and it more than deserves your attention.

Oh boy! Good doesn't even begin to describe it. Warren Ellis does noir and sets a different standard for everybody else. His inner cityscape is gritty, convincing and creepy. And I am not easily spooked. Richard Fell is beautifully characterized as the detective dedicated to his craft and every bit human and vulnerable. And Snowtown is the ultimate urban nightmare - a town that the rest of the world gave up on and only exists in the shadows of human society - inhabited by the true scum of the earth.

This is intense, gritty detective crime fiction that everyone who has any interest in the genre should not pass up. I'm not familiar with much of Warren Ellis's other work but he has brought a completely fresh new twist to your classic detective story. Its hard to believe that each issue is only 16 pages and is still more intruging than books that go a full 24-32 pages. Its hard to put down. My only gripe would be for a mature themed book the language is a bit too toned down for my taste, lets face it in a knife fight with a deadly criminal one would really call the other a "living fart" as he bashes his face in? But this is just a minor annoyance compared to the rest of a unbelievably great graphic novel.

Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith have been around awhile. Warren is famous for his over the top horror and thriller type comics and Ben got famous for his incredible art with the original 30 Days of Night. And while this book has no vampires it has everything you would come to expect from these two masters. Warren delivers a great tale or I should say tales of Detective Fell and Ben creates his world with incredible art. When you have two master come together like this it's amazing what happens. I won't spoil the story lines I'm sure someone else will do that or has done that. If you enjoy Stephen King, Dean Koontz, or Chuck Palanuik you will most definately enjoy this graphic novel. Engrossing and at time nauseating you won't be disappointed.

With all the other praises to look at, I can't add anything new or of additional value. All I can say; This is a perfect comic book. Highly recommended.

SC

This book has got to be the best book I've ever read, I couldn't stop I read it in 6 hours continously! This is amazing for me because I'm usually the guy who never reads anything. I'm sure this book is a best buy and I can't wait for the second book to come out!!! For all you kids like me, pick up Hoopster today!

The book i read was 'The Hoopster" by Alan Lawrence Sitomer. My book was about a young African Amercin man named Andre. Andre is really good at basketball, maybe even good enough to play proffesional ball. His nickname is the Hoopster. His long life dream is to become a magazine writer. He is a vary talented writer but no one knew it yet. He worked at a magazine editorial, but he was just an errand boy for the writers. Until one day someone had seen an artical that he wrote just for fun and thought he could be good enough to write an article for them, so they offered him an oppertunity to write about racism. The article was spectacular. but not everyone liked it. A man kept herassing Andre, telling him to stop writing or else they would hurt him. Andre didn't listen so one day after work he was walking to his car and a van pulled up next to him. A group of white men came out and beat him, they also kept crushing his hand in a car door. i liked this book because it was about basketball, it also showed that racism is bad and still around. And you shouldn't let people bring you down.

THIS IS THE GREATEST BOOK EVER. i couldn't but it down til i finish it. i love how Alan kept us on the edge of our seat when Andre was getting beat up. i can't wait til the next book comes out.

This is the type of book one can never let go. It is an excellent book and I am 99.9% sure that teens will like it. Well, yeah good job Alan Sitomer. Buy. Read. Re-read. Enjoy. Don't bother me.... I'm reading.

The Hoopster


The Hoopster, by Alan Sitomer, is a compelling book that allows you to see arguably the toughest year of Andre's life. Things look good at first; he has a hot new girlfriend, Gwen, just received a promotion in his job working for a magazine, and is his usual dominant self on the basketball court. Andre's new assignment is to write each month an article about race. Since he is a very bright African-American, his input on the topic becomes meaningful to nearly all the subscribers. One group, however, does not think so highly of his writings. One night when Andre is leaving work, his life forever changes...
The Hoopster is the book for you if you enjoy fast-paced, action-packed, sports thrillers with many unexpected twists. This book is not for a sensitive reader and I would not recommend it to anyone below the middle school level, because the content is not always G or PG. Overall, I think anyone over 12 would truly enjoy this book, and it would open up anyone's eyes about and make the reader think twice before stereotyping another African American.

This book was a double-edged sword for me. The characters and their situations were so very interesting. The writing was wonderful too. I loved so much about it but the plot left me wanting something more.

Sandy is the son of one of the richest men in the world. His parents moved to a large estate in the country before he was born and Sandy's never known much about the outside world. But then his uncles try to kill his parents but only succeed in sending them and the butler's wife into a coma.

Sandy with the help of his newfound love interest, the nurse Sunnie, has to move his parents into the asylum next door. That is when the fun really begins. As Sunnie spreads her sunshine to every patient at Walnut Manor, Sandy learns about the world through this interesting band of misfits. Here I have to repeat, the characters and the dialog were great. Each and every character was endearing in their own way. It's just that with the exception of some elements, the story itself was predictable with love conquering all in the end.

I think this book would appeal more to grownups than kids. The editorial review that compares this book to Holes is not accurate, in my opinion. This is a character-centric book like Holes but this story is more about the family and love relationships of each character than the solving of an intricate mystery with many intertwining plots.

I recommend this book to older teens and even grownups looking for a quirky story with a bit of romance. There are lots of wonderful life lessons in this one. Kids looking for a mystery (as the subtitle -" or, How I Saved My Family from Being Poisoned" almost promises) should steer clear.

This book is the best! It's a page turner. I think everybody should read this book! IT'S THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow! The best book I have ever read. I absolutely loved it! Many of my friends read it and when they said how good it was I tried it and I was blown away. Amazing!

I am an almost ten year old girl and I loved this book. It was
fun and silly.

Love Among the Walnuts is an enchanting read which teaches you the importance of family, respecting differences,and how to save your comatose parents and pet chicken from being further harmed by your greedy, criminal uncles. Take all of this, spin them up and add a hint of eccentricity and you get Love Among the Walnuts. 2 Thumbs UP!!!

In this book the author blames the initial assault on David Koresh's Mount Cramel property on the ATF. He neglects to mention that David Koresh had enough guns, hand grenades and illegal automatic weapons to outfit the Kosovo Army for it's next Revolution.The BLAME lies with David Koresh and his followers. When you amass such as stockpile of ILLEGAL weaapons then you should expect a visit from the authorities which is exactly what happend . And due to Koresh's arsenal he managed to "outgun" the ATF and four good Peace Officers were murdered. All of this occurred because that madman and psychopath Koresh thought he had a "Direct Hotline" to God. Those 86 people chose not to surrender. Perhaps they thought the seige would end with flowers and free bottles of French Champagne? It seems like nearly everybody wants to blame somebody else for the Waco Incident instead of laying the blame at Koresh and his followers.I give this book 5 stars because no doubt it will apeal to the Paranoid Conspiracy Theorists out there and the Survivalist who now think their Government is "The Enemy "ever since Russians turned out to be nice people after all.

Kopel and Blackman did more than just their homework on this book. It is perhaps the most factual yet interesting critique on the way in which federal law enforcement operates today. The attack on Mt. Carmel is a very important even in the history of this nation and only from our mistakes can we change the future. This review I believe is especially credible since I read but certainly don't always like David Kopel's writings. Highest recommendation and a great source for research papers.

A very impressive accomplishment. There is a tremendous amount of detail here -- right down to how the ATF's name evolved from BATF -- but presented in a compelling and readable way.

This book is unusual in that it does not slant everything in one direction; it refuses to classify those involved as unambiguous good guys or bad guys.

The scope of the book goes beyond what's implied by the title. There is plenty of fascinating history here, many references to other law enforcement debacles. A compelling case is made that law enforcement has become too militarized and too federalized. The discussion of how "groupthink" on both sides (the government and the Davidians) leads to this kind of tragedy is especially excellent.

I've long wondered why liberals and conservatives seem inverted on Waco. Liberals are thought to be strong on civil rights, including religious freedom, and anti-military. Conservatives are thought to favor strong law-and-order. The authors explain this puzzle: the Congressional hearings quickly degenerated into an attempt to embarrass political opponents rather than a dispassionate search for the truth. The American public and the media took their orientation from Congress to a large extent. If a Republican had been president at the time of Waco, it's very possible the sides would have been reversed.

The authors show very clearly that the real problems with law enforcement have been building regardless of which party controls the White House or the Congress. I hope some legislators read this book and take the excellent reform suggestions to heart.

Once again David Kopel (and Paul Blackman) gets to the bottom of things and shows what the Waco disaster was all about. If you only read one section of this book, read the part detailing the search warrant. It appears that all the death and destruction (on the part of both the Branch Davidians and the BATF agents who were killed) was brought on because of a failure to pay a several hundred dollar tax on a firearm.

This book focuses on Waco but also delves into the expansion of federal law enforcement and the effect it has on civil liberties in this country.

As per the United States Constitution, the federal government should have law enforcement jurisdiction over the following acts: piracies and felonies committed on the high seas, offences against the law of nations, and counterfeiting the securities and current coin of the United States.

Something has gone terribly wrong.

Read this book. Then read anything else that David Kopel has written. It will be well worth your time, and you will be well educated about the erosion of our rights as citizens.

This work is not only an outstanding explanation of the Waco and Ruby Ridge incidents, but a critical review of modern federal law enforcement. The book goes beyond sorting out -- in meticulous detail -- what really happened in these debacles. Even more valuable is the objective analysis of the abuses and excesses of federal law enforcement, along with suggested remedies.

This book is a "must read" for anyone concerned with civil liberties or law enforcement.

I have read the book twice and feel that anybody who reads this book will find that these two poor souls were wronged and used as an excape goat. There are many people with whom I have spoken about with this case and many feel that the truth will never be know. The story goes to heart and all but it is up the read themself. I believe this two young people did not do this crime I followed this trail and all from the beginning and was shocked when they were found guilty 9this believe I still have). In this book it does leave questions unanswered in some way. I enjoyed the book since it is a page turned and keeps you wanting more and one sees that juice has gone wrong somewhere along the line in this case.

NO WAY WAS JUSTICE DONE! THEY KILLED THEIR OWN FATHER BECAUSE THEY WANTED TOO.. NO IFS ANDS OR BUTS ABOUT IT!SAD THING IS I WORK IN THE CORRECTIONS SYSTEM AND WITH THESE KIDS, AND ONE DAY THEY WILL BE SET FREE TO KILL AGAIN! THEY CAN NOT BE REFORMED!

ENOUGH SAID....

This book was very interesting, it sucked me in from the beginning. After reading the book and watching the documentary on A&E about the King brothers I'd have to say that I still don't think they did it. I think it was all Rick Chaves. I don't think the kids were in the right state of mind either. They were brain washed into thinking they're father (terry) didn't love them and was abusing them. I also dont think it was fair that Rick got off as lightly as he did. I know that were his sentence he wont be getting out anyway, but still I think there was enough evidence to convict him for murder.

For three days every time I had a free moment i was reading this book trying to understand just how our justice sytem has sustained for so long when everything that is wrong with it is exposed through the Terry King murder trial. I remember hearing about this case on the news a few years ago and all I ever really got from the media was how distirubed these children must have been to have committed these crimes and what was wrong with the children in the world these days. Little did I know that all the faults in this case were do to people simply not doing their job and just trying to put this case to an end and get a convition the easiest way possible. But even though most of the media just portrayed these kids as uncaring terrible children, Mollye, a news reporter genuinely wanted to find the truth..........something my be our justice system should have been interested in as well. VERY VERY VERY good and thought-provoking book!

A Perversion of Justice hit the nail on the head. Great work Mollye and Kathryn! The book explains through a child's eye the horrors of today's juvenile injustice system. I hope the book is bought by every American family and read by every parent. The tough on juvenile crime political bandwagon parading in this country has been misinterpreted by parents who really have no concept of what they are voting for when they elect politicians with this stance.

This book is a definite wake up call. Parents only find out the terrible reality when their own child gets caught up in the barbed web of the system, and they learn the hard way that their children really aren't under their protection. When prosecutors are given the right to prosecute any age child as an adult, as is the case in Florida, in essence, no child is safe and all children belong to the state instead of their parents.

Ever since a "tough-on-juvenile-crime" political response to a media-hyped juvenile crime wave in the early 90s, the United States Juvenile Justice System has increasingly become a nightmare for America's children. Children caught up in the justice system are no longer recognized as children, yet aren't afforded the rights granted adults. Florida leads the nation in belief that children should be locked away for life.

Society should never respond to children who have committed crimes as though they are somehow equal to adults, fully formed in conscience and fully aware of their actions. Placing children in adult jails is a sign of failure, not a solution. In many instances, such terrible behavior points to societies own negligence in raising children with a respect for life, providing a nurturing and loving environment, or addressing serious mental or emotional illnesses.

Scientific studies have proven that the adolescent brain is not fully formed. Therefore, children should not be held equally culpable as adults. The Legislature needs to come out of the dark ages and listen to experts on child psychiatry and scientific data on human growth and development.

The draconian laws of the past two decades need to be re-evaluated and changed. An easy first step to juvenile justice reform in Florida would be for the Legislature to remove juveniles tried as adults from mandatory sentencing schemes and restore to juvenile judges discretion of deciding whether a child is to be tried in juvenile or adult court, instead of letting prosecutors decide.

There should be defined lines of age distinction drawn between child and adult. If visual difference isn't enough to convince, logic and common sense should recognize that children aren't allowed to drive, sign contracts or vote among other things, because society doesn't believe they are mentally mature enough to do these things competently. Therefore, why is it that if a child commits a crime they are suddenly classified by the courts as an adult?

Any competent adult should know better.

Children are this county's most precious commodity, because they are our future. If a society is judged by how well it treats its most vulnerable, the past two decades of America's juvenile justice system will be recorded as barbaric.

Read this book and you will want to change the juvenile justice system. Laws can be changed, one vote at a time.

Meet Alexand and Rich, two sons of Lord Dekoven Woolf. Alexand is the heir, an intelligent, controlled young man undergoing his apprenticeship in politics. Rich is the gentle, brilliant younger brother who becomes fascinated -and deeply involved-with some sociological problems in their society. The brothers are very close, and they face many problems together. The bond between them brings about many of the events that occur throughout the trilogy.

Ignore the cover art. This is a great trilogy that spends time on characters, plot, sociology, politics and religion. The actual science in the science fiction is a bit lacking. So if that will bug you, you might have a problem with some of the issues in the series. Beyond that, the scope is wide, the plot is gripping, the characters are people you care about, and the writing is seamless.

I loved this story as a kid, and it still holds up well under adult scrutiny.

As a life long fan of SiFI and History I rate this book among my favorites along side the Foundation series. I found Vol. 1 at a used book sale and located the rest. Good Character development and realistic plot line based on past history. When I finished the series I was sorry there weren't more.

I recommend this book, but only if you can get hold of all three in the series. This is the first, "Shadow of the Swan" is the second, "House of the Wolf" is the third and final of this "The Phoenix Legacy" series. I would say this is one novel in three installments. In my 1981 edition the second and third books both have maps, previous part synopsis (there are 6 parts altogether), and a cast of characters; the third book also has an extensive glossary. It unfortunately has some pretty lame cover art. You can easily find plot synopsis elsewhere. I want to say that this book nicely combines political intrigue with some hard science fiction and social idealism in the context of a far future feudal society. One plot element involves a pseudo-christian religion, but it is not thematic and there is no supernatural, fantastic, or faith-based action. There's enough action and plot twists to keep you turning the pages, but the real strength of the novel is in the characters and the drama. To my mind, there is nothing particularly profound or inventive about this series, but it is well written and entertaining.

The Legacy of the Phoenix series is a little soap opera-ish, but the characters grip you, and once you start on the first book you will get sucked in and want to read the next two. I recommend the series full heartedly, though I wouldn't start reading the first one unless I was sure I was able to procure the next two, as once you are hooked on the series you will want to blow through all three books back to back. Not five star, but the series is very close to it, and well worth the read.

Beautifully crafted. I was delighted to have the opportunity to replace my original extremely battered books. Among science fiction books that examine or explore socio-political structures, these books rank at the top of my list along with the Ender's Game trilogy by Orson Scott Card and "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Heinlein.

This book was signed and given to my husband personally from the author, they also worked together in Spokane Washington at one point in time. Very courageous writer.

This book makes you think. This is not a fantasy tale read, not a candy for the mind book, it is a moving story that really makes you think. A book that I can finally read, and recommend to just about anyone just because it is that good. The author has a lot of courage to speak about anything close to this subject, let alone delve straight into it head first. I hope the book and author get the prominence they deserve.

I know Ralph Hunter I use to work with him at a company called virgin mobile and he introduced me to his book and so i read it . I am telling you this book was the only book i have read that touched me so much.It is hard to beleve that the man i know went through that much pain as a child. It Was so touching that i did cry so many times and when i would see him at work i would give him a hug and tell him i was sorry.When you read this book you can tell how crule people can be. I have not yet bought the next book but i am going too i Would recommend this book for anyone that would read it.If you thought you had it bad as a child wait tell you read this book and then you will realize you did not have it as bad a him... Thanks for reading this and what i say was true .........

The emotional rollercoaster ride left me breathless and drained. AND, I absolutely loved the trip! I'm glad someone told me about this one. This book has all the elements of a powerful bestseller. HELLUVA read! Wait until Oprah hears about it!

A boy in dire circumstances retreats into his mind to preserve his life. Abused and fundamentally separated from family, he must make his way in a world that won't acknowlege his crisis. Each step is a journey, every moment a threat, he moves through the society of unseeing people, holding his secret deep within a fractured soul. A heart-shattering journey with a boy who demonstrates what the human will to live can accomplish.

Hands down this was my favorite book out of the entire series. There was action between all of the characters. Can Tom and Natasha get out of the Caymans alive? Will the injection end Heather's life? Will Gaia finally give into her urges to be with Ed? Will Tatiana go crazy without her mother? There's even action with Loki and his goons. If you got sucked into this series like I did... you must buy this book. I guess the main question in this book is this: Can Gaia actually have a normal life?

Oh how the excitement bubbles from me.

Heather is now blind.

Josh is dead.

Things are looking up for Gaia and Ed because she has finally told him the truth.

And Loki finally learns the truth about his relationship to Gaia.

This book was excellent. And the ending was a huge surprise! Hopefully though we will not end up being subjected to the same droning and wallowing from the last few books. Can't wait for Lost(Fearless #25)

I always thought the first six books in the series were the I'd risk my life to save from a raging fire type books. None of the following grabbed me quite like those six fast paced, wonderful books had.
Then #23 and #24 arrived at my door.
They are wonderful! Things are definetly getting more exciting in Gaia's world. #24 is a shining star of a book, and high above #13,14,ect (which I liked but did not love). Often the books would blend together because the conflict was drawn out to0 long and there was imo, no stand out story line. Not so in #24.
Heather has recovered from her brush with death after getting tangled up with a psychotic hottie who poisoned her with a drug that would make her fearless but also a loopy fruit loop. The damage has been done though and Heather now lives in a world of darkness. The change of her in this book is amazing. She went from self-centered prima donna to mother teresa type character who's found some amount of peace. That's the one word I would use to describe this book-peace. Each of the characters finds an amount of peace in this book. The struggles are over (for now). Gaia also has found a peacefullness now that Loki is no longer tearing her life apart like a human bulldozer and she and Ed relish the break from chaos and confusion by spending time with eachother.
But how long will this serenity last?
Hello! This is Gaia's world so we know it ain't going to last long!

This book was, oh it was just so, you can't imagine how... (Taking a second to regain composure.) This book left me utterly wordless. I mean it was just so good. Thats all I can think of right now. It left such a profound after taste that right after I finished it I had dreams about it all night. In this book, Gaia goes through the most world rocking adventure than any other in her past. She finds answers to some myeteries that have been taunting her. To make it more better, there is actually some her and Ed time in this book. Some parts in this book will leave you astonished, others will make you yelp for joy. Caution, while reading the end of this book, I advice you to not sit on anything that is more than 1 ft off the ground. Because what happens will surely just make you fall off and dance to the floor. Read this book, you will eat it right up!

This book was great. I couldn't wait to read it because of what happened at the end of #23. You'll love this book. Heather comes out fine and I really hope Tom is okay. What's with the ending. I really want to read #25. I can't wait! If you want to know if this book is worth your time it is!!!

Read my review of "Death of Friends". Michael Nava is a superb storyteller. Please read all his books in the order of publications, and follow the main character from the first book to the last. I hope Mr. Nava writes more books. In my opinion, he is a literary artist!

This novel has gotten some wonderful reviews. Henry Rios is recovering from his lover Josh's death, struggling to stay sober and maintain his law practice, when a prospective client dies and Henry becomes a suspect. The background is quite atmospheric-- Los Angeles is the "burning plain" of the title, and it is a dark, desperate backdrop to a beautifully written story.

Neil Plakcy, author of Mahu Surfer: A Hawaiian Mystery (An Alyson Mystery)

As a hetero i appreciated this book greatly. It gave a wonderful perspective into the world that homosexuals have to live in - its obivously not easy being outside our soceity's norms. My teacher was a little shocked at the amoutn of detial in this book- but its not like other books lack such sexual detail.

I had no idea who this author was before I pick up this book off the sale rack. Although this book was ok, I do not think I will read another of his works. I am not a big fan of this type of neither mystery nor reading books with a focus of social issue ground breaking.

First of all, I have never particularly been a mystery fan (well... okay, I admit I watched "Murder She Wrote" while I ironed. It was great because I didn't really have to pay very much attention to it -- the program that is, not the ironing... I haven't ironed since it was cancelled, by the way). So why did I pick up this particular book? Although I wasn't specifically looking for a mystery, I DID want something with gay men and women... and this looked interesting...

Interesting. Hmph. I could barely put it down. This was one of those books for me that I a) wanted to take my time reading because I couldn't imagine not having anymore to read and b) wanted to read as quickly as possible to see what happens next. Hard to do both at the same time...

Although I enjoyed the mystery itself, the far more enjoyable mystery is what is going to happen next to the people you've been introduced to. People and personalities change before our eyes, sometimes a sincere change reacting to what's going on around them; sometimes as a result of our finding out the truth about them.

What I appreciate most, I think, is the absolute correct amount of description. Many authors go one way or the other -- they either take you into a room and give you five tedious pages of description, or throw you in without any sense of where and when you are. Mr. Nava gave me just enough to put together a picture of people and places, without forcing me to skip 5 paragraphs just describing someone's eyes.

As a matter of fact, I have only ONE beef with this book... I live in Los Angeles, and I (and my partner) were shocked at the slap at the French Market. Sorry, Michael, but we LIKE the food there!

Considering this is the author's first book, it was a pleasant read. It is your typical 'conversation' novel with a slight twist. If you are looking for an insightful, well developed, intricate plot, this may not be the book for you. If, however, you are seeking a good summer read with authentic dialogue, this book will satisfy. It reads like a movie, as was the author's intent. The characters mesh well with the storyline and one can almost hear their voices rising from the pages, from the low talking mafiosi to the most likely squeaky voice of Yumi. The information on Japan was accurate and insightful. For most readers, it will provide a brief glimpse of what Japan still is today; an egocentric, male dominated/female subservient culture. There are exceptions of course and the author uses Yumi to prove this point. An interesting book, the Button Men is to be recommended to all italophiles as well as to those looking for a fast paced quick read.

This is one of those books which you will not be able to put down until you finish the last page. The author has a great hand for fiction while at the same time interlaces background material which helps you understand Japanese customs as it relates to the story. Being a native New Jerseyan and a frequent traveler to Japan I felt like I grew up with many of the characters. The story combines hardcore New York/New Jersey life with the mystery of Japan. Great book which I highly recommend, I hope it becomes a movie.

Having known the author personally, I read this book with much interest. What did my old friend have to say? I was delighted to see so much of the man I once knew personified in his story--from the romantic, through the adventurer, to the fun loving. It captures so much of the man I remember, invoking not only a feeling of nostalgia, but also tenderness towards my first love. The book is a rousing adventure that contains two winning elements: a compelling, fast-paced quest that keeps you turning pages, plus well-developed characters that he successfully brings to life. The story reflects so much that has influenced his life, in particular, his Italian heritage, and his current Japanese lifestyle. I had to laugh at his references to meatballs, as it brought back fond memories of his mother's great cooking, and the strong family ties evidenced at the many family gatherings. In essence, the book is Vic--a fun read! I look forward to the movie, and to his next book. Great job, Vic!

I picked this book up in the only bookstore in Mito, Japan, that sold English books. Once I picked it up I had to keep reading it. More than just a book about Button Men, it offers an insite into Japan and the Japanese culture. Truly a must read for anyone from America or elsewhere who is visiting, or is simply interested in, Japan. Great book Vic, thanks for sharing it with us.

Great book Vic. This book was a forty eight hour crusade. once you pop you can't stop.