Crime Books

This was a very unique story that kept you guessing until the end. The characters keep you entertained and laughing all the way through. I am definitely looking forward to the sequel.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book - a most unusual murder mystery with a cast of characters and a good dose of comic relief. A great surprise ending. Since I learned a long time ago, "never assume anything", this phrase definitely fit this book's ending. Quick and easy read, but entertaining. I have already passed the book along to my sister knowing she will enjoy it and pass it on to others.

I met Fay Rownell at a book-signing and found her fun to talk to. The combination of humor, mystery, and two surprise endings caught me, so I bought her book. As I read it I wanted to predict at least one surprise ending, but I wasn't even close. It wasn't a problem keeping the many characters distinct: Nick's "accent," Tiffany's "gargantuan" boobs, her sister Lydia, the lisping coroner, snake-man Henri, sleazy Ralph, and all the rest. I will be first on line to buy "Life-Shaken and Stirred." (Dorothy) Jeanne Gualtieri.

Pick a night when you won't be interrupted. Once you start you will not be able to put this book down. The author peaks your interest from page one. Can't wait for the next one.

I totaly enjoyed this book. I couldn't put it down. The characters were so funny, I laughed out loud many times. The use of animals as clients only adds to the uniqueness of the book. This is definately one that you don't figure out the ending until you finish the book. I can't wait for the next book. Keep them coming.

I had been looking for this book for a long time. Thrilled to find it in like new condition. Thanks again Amazon. Robert Martin

This novel, along with its sequels, are among the very few mystery novels that I enjoy reading over and over. Perhaps this is because of the fresh, friendly voice of the narrator, Jane Bee, a smart and lively young woman from Prince Edward Island, who, while visiting Great Britain, happens into a housemaid position at Buckingham Palace, and very quickly stumbles (literally) upon a dead body, right at Her Majesty's sensible-shoe-clad feet...And perhaps it's because of the writing skills of C.C. Benison, who gives the reader the feeling of being a Palace insider, with all the good gossip, the pet names for the Royals, the unmentionable scourge of the corgis, even the secret of what the Queen actually keeps in her purse...Really excellent good fun, and I can only say that I wish that there were more of them to read and re-read and recommend.

Jane Bee came to Europe for adventure, only to end up with the job is a lifetime--housemaid at Buckingham Palace. Now her greatest challenge is removing gum from State Room carpets--until she comes across a nasty accident right outside the Royal Apartments. The Queen herself has--literally--stumbled across the dead body of Jane's good friend, footman and aspiring actor Robin Tukes, in what appears to be a suicide. But why would handsome, impetuous Robin, having just toasted his engagement to a gorgeous housemaid, not to mention his impending fatherhood, want to die? Buck House buzzes, but only Jane--and the Royal Personage known belowstairs as "Mother"--suspects foul play. At Her Majesty's behest, Jane launches a discreet inquiry that takes her from Servants' Hall to the highest echelons of the Palace. Yet the more Jane uncovers, the more clear it becomes that this latest royal scandal is a real killer.

This is by far the best of the three-book series. (the other two being Death at Sandringham House and Death at Windsor Castle) I read it in three hours; I just could not put it down! The story is fast-paced, well-written, and combined with the author's uncanny attention to detail in terms of the rooms of Buckingham Palace, this book makes you feel as though you're right there with Jane and the Queen, trying to solve the mystery.

The book is humorous, full of that delightful British slang and cheekiness. It's also heart-pounding towards the end, when Jane has an *epiphany* (you'll know what I mean when you read the book) and she has to find the Queen.

Well done, C.C. Benison!

I myself am a monarchist, so I was already excited about a book that gives Her Majesty the Queen some credit for being a human being as well as the Sovereign.
And what a fun book it is! Jane Bee is a very likeable character, which is always important. I liked the way she had to keep correcting people that she was Canadian, not American, and the no-nonsense way she handled things. I liked the behind-the-scenes look at the Palace's inner workings (whether totally true or not-don't you wonder if HM reads these??!)
All in all, the mystery was exciting and kept me guessing, the characters were very well drawn, and I can't wait to get the next one!

Lacy Smithsonian is on a roll. I can't put the book down. I continue to look forward to finding out who the villain is in these stories. I am pleased these books are not predictable and they keep you guessing. Ellen Byerrum has a great writing style that is relatable to many different types of women.

I debated between 4 and 5 stars, but really, I can't think of anything to complain about in "Designer Knockoff", so 5 stars it is. Lacey Smithsonian is an appealing heroine and the supporting characters are interesting and nicely developed (though characters introduced in the first book in the series don't get a re-hash, so it may not feel as if they are developed if you didn't read book one). The plot is good, not too unbelievable, and Lacey's world comes across as real and appealing with humor generously sprinkled in. The writing is good, no weak editing that could throw the reader off stride. Lacey seems like a happy, well-adjusted woman, not overly neurotic and she doesn't do things that you have to suspend disbelief to accept as a natural part of her life and the story. Highly recommended for an entertaining read.

The story is pretty well written, the characters are intelligent and sassy.

This is a fun light read. Definitly worth a few hours of your time if you like light mysteries.

I really enjoyed the first book, and found the second book, "Designer Knockoff" to be a great follow up.

The plot this time revolves around Hugh "the Bastard" Bentley, America's premiere fashion designer who is pushing for a Fashion Museum with some funding from Congress. Throw in an ambitious, missing Congressional Intern with dreams of being the next "Bentley Girl" model and you have an intriguing mystery with contemporary overtones.

Added to the mix is a "Bentley" original from Lacey's Aunt Mimi's trunk, which also yields dress patterns and designs from Aunt Mimi's friend, Gloria, who worked for Bentley during WWII, but disappeared suddenly and mysteriously. Lacey becomes curious about her Aunt Mimi's relationship with Hugh Bentley, especially why her Aunt started calling him, Hugh "the Bastard" Bentley.

While pursuing a story about a robbery at one of the Bentley stores to help Stella's friend, Miguel, Lacey's starts finding clues to the missing Intern and begins to uncover the Bentley family's dirty little secrets.

The mystery ends with Lacey showing up in one of Gloria's designs at the ball for the Bentley Fashion museum, where in a dramatic showdown she learns who really designed the first Bentley couture line. Lacey having caught the Interns killer, uncovers what happen to Aunt Mimi's friend Gloria, with the help of Bentley's nephew.

This novel introduces another man to compete for Lacey's affection, Jeffrey Bentley Holmes, Hugh Bentley's nephew. An interesting man, who is coming to grips with being a member of a powerful family that has no conscious, while he has a strong one. Tony, Lacey's co-worker, hovers pleasently in the background as another potential suitor. Vic Donovan still dominates the scene with Lacey, despite not being the most considerate of males.

Another enjoyable aspect of the series is the further development of the supporting characters. It is Stella who introduces Lacey to Miguel. Lacey's friend and conspiracy theory junkie, Brooke, finds romance with Damon, who runs the DeadFed website. Damon introduces Lacey to TurtleDove, a security agent. Turtledove helps move precious Aunt Mimi's trunk out of her apartment, when Lacey realizes someone will kill to get to the letters and patterns from Gloria it contains.

Justice is not served in the end, since the Bentley's are rich and powerful enough to prevent that, which unfortunately is a reality in most real life cases involving people in their position.

Another great and enjoyable read. This is a fun series.

This was another Crime of Fashion Mystery, and was just as satisfying as the first installment. The writing is witty and fun, the character of Lacey Smithsonian is well-drawn, and the supporting cast of characters adds a lot to the book. The mystery/death is linked to Lacey's past as well, and I found that historical element - particualrly about 40s fashions - made the book even more enjoyable. Looking forward to the next book...

The story was entertaining and well done - characters were extremely well protrayed. I enjoyed this start to the series taking place in West Texas well enough that I'm going on with the next two that are available.

HOWEVER.. The Kindle version has lost all of the punctuation indicating dialogue. This makes it more difficult to read - takes some getting used to. This error is also continued in the second in the series - haven't begun reading the third yet.

If you think you can accept this problem, would recommend this book on many levels.

When Taylor Madison's Volkswagen broke down just outside of Perdue, Texas' limits, she wondered if this whole trip was worth it. After all, her editor was waiting for her new book and Taylor was flat broke after paying for her mother's funeral expenses. How on earth was she going to afford to pay for car repairs? Still, at least her trusty Beetle made it to the little town where her mother grew up and where her Aunt Tessa lived. Taylor had never met her Aunt Tessa, in fact, she never even knew that she existed until she found a mysterious letter in her mother's jewelry box. Taylor was determined to meet her and to find out what drove them apart for all those long years. However, Tessa's reception wasn't exactly what she had hoped for. Tessa threw her out of her home without even giving her a chance to explain why she was there. Luckily, Sheriff Miles Crawford offered to make her a temporary deputy for the duration of the Rattlesnake Festival so she could earn enough money to pay Roger for her car repairs. Unluckily, Sheriff Crawford was dead within a few days of her arrival.

It appeared that the Sheriff was bitten by a huge rattlesnake while reading in his living room and died from poison. But Taylor Madison, aka "Maddy Taylor" mystery writer, knew a setup when she saw one. She was determined to find out what really killed this man who was kind to her and to pin down her Aunt Tessa regarding her mother Sarah. If only she could get her fellow deputies, Lester & Cal, to take her seriously, she would have some help with the investigation. But it would take some near death misses and other strange occurrences before anyone else in the sleepy town of Perdue would even consider that the Sheriff's death was murder...

This was a fabulous first book in a great new series. Taylor Madison is a wonderful heroine and has a dry sense of humor that I found very entertaining. All of secondary characters are great, too. There is Lester, the town's golden boy who is being groomed to become the next Sheriff; Cal, the other candidate for Sheriff who seems to be interested in Taylor in a romantic way; Hazel, Taylor's pet ferret who definitely has a personality of her own; Billy, the skittish sheriff dispatcher who is never quite sure what to keep a secret; Billy's sister, Rita, the waitress as Lucy's Cafe who doesn't know the meaning of the word secret and spreads rumors all over town, as well as a host of other characters to keep the story lively. The author does a great job at portraying life in a small town and the complex relationships between everyone. The mystery was well thought out and came to a natural conclusion. The story had lovely pacing and great descriptions. If you have enjoyed Charlaine Harris' Teagarden or Shakespeare series, you should love this series, too! Highly recommended for mystery lovers!

I could not put Diamondback down! This was a great book. It provided mystery, humor, small town closeness and strangeness (snake festival). Where I wouldn't compare it with Janet Evanovich, I would compare it to Kathleen Taylor's series. I have the second book Twice Dead ready to read next and I hope there will be a third out soon. Don't miss out on this author.

Combine humor, family secrets and murder, and the resulting DIAMONDBACK by Elizabeth Dearl keeps this fast-paced mystery both entertaining and surprising to the end!

Mystery author Taylor Madison manages to wreck her prized Volkswagen when a rattler sudden appears on the highway and she swerves to avoid it. Her five hundred-mile journey ends in Perdue City, Texas, population 2,948, where she's soon aghast to learn that she's arrived just in time for a rattlesnake festival. Taylor's purpose for coming to Perdue City is to confront her estranged aunt, a woman whose existance Taylor only learned about a week following her mother's death. Taylor had unexpectedly come across a card tucked away in her mother's personal effects, suggesting that her mother had not been open or honest about her past.

When she hikes into town, Taylor's relieved to finally find an open hardware store to get warm. The owner apologizes that there's no taxi in town, but does offer the services of the local sheriff as chauffeur. The sheriff, Miles Crawford, takes a personal interest in her from the first moment he sees Taylor. First he drives her to her aunt's house, where she's quickly ejected from the home. Then he appoints her deputy sheriff to earn money for her car repair, and helps to secure a room over the hardware store while she stays in Perdue City.

The sheriff's kindness ends rather quickly, however, when his housekeeper finds him dead in his recliner. Since no one else was immediately available, Taylor is called to the scene, where she observes several inconsistencies that point, not to an accidental rattlesnake bite, but murder.

Who would have thought rattlesnakes could be funny and entertaining? But in Dearl's hands, the rattlesnakes and the ferret steal the show. With lots of rattlesnake lore, plenty of comic relief, and a generous dose of attitude, I couldn't put DIAMONDBACK down. I highly recommend it.

I just finished reading Diamondback. What an awesome mystery! I loved it! Couldn't put it down. The characters, the dialogue and the setting are so real I felt I was in Perdue. Excellent and well-constructed plot! I had no idea whodunit until the end. The suspense kept me turning the pages faster and faster. The main character, Taylor Madison is one of the best and strongest female characters I have read in a long time. Very unique and original. And Cal, her new love interest, is such a cutie! I'm glad this is a series because I can't wait to read more about these characters. Oh, and it was so funny in places I was laughing out loud. What a wry sense of humor this author has! I also loved the heroine's pet ferret, all the interesting secondary characters, the creepy snakes...just everything. This author has incredible talent and skill. Count me in as a major fan!

My life is busy between work and kids, not allowing for extended peroids of reading. Finding myself unable to put this book down, I was staying up late at night to finish it. Between the vivid descriptions, the exciting action, and the love interest; this was truly an enjoyable book to read!

Double Forté, the first of the Gus LeGarde series of mysteries written by Aaron Paul Lazar, is a chilling thriller. But this book is such a far cry from the cliché thrillers of today that it is almost the start of a new genre. This book is thriller, mystery, romance, and literature all at once. I could be done by saying it is just plain good writing, but that doesn't seem fair for a review. I cannot possibly do it justice, but I will attempt to convey some of the unique majesty of this book. However, I will not be able to mention many specifics of the plot for fear of giving it all away.

This book is set neatly in its own world, a beautiful valley in upstate New York. The world is that of Professor LeGarde, a classical musical instructor. Music informs every part of this novel, from his worldview to the other characters, the scenes and escalation of action, right down to the prose itself. This is a very musical piece of literature with a varied tempo depending upon the scene, its intensity, such as its romance or fear. A very lyrical read.

But, please do not misunderstand me. This is not a fantasy or whimsical bit of fluff. This is a very serious, very intense novel about real characters. Lazar does a fantastic job getting inside the minds and exploring the emotions that drive all the characters. The world is very solid and presented in such a complete way that you become a part of it. We understand these people and why everything in this book occurs. That is a very nice and rare trick for an author to pull.

Double Forté is a refreshing work of handcrafted beauty, even given its nail biting nature. Lazar has crafted an original character in LeGarde, one which I am very glad to learn has an entire series dedicated to him. I strongly recommend this book to all fans of James Patterson, Iris Johanson, and Mary Higgins Clark. You will not be disappointed.

I've read Double Forte' and Upstaged and I'm gonna tell you they kept me extremely interested! I'm a tremendously slow reader but I finished these books quicker than I have finished a book in God knows how long. I kept reading well into the wee hours of the morning. I don't mean to be cliche' when I say I could not put the book down. I can hardly wait for the next one in the series!

"Double Forte" by Aaron Paul Lazar is a book that I found I was unable to put down. From the opening to the end it held my interest. I often find mystery writers so involved in the murder plot that they tend to write their novel about the crime, while they forget to develop their characters. That is one reason I am not overly fond of mysteries. Mr. Lazar has now made me change my mind for he is the exception and has spent considerable time in developing the characters. This allows the reader to relate to and become involved with the characters more deeply immediately. Mr. Lazar has written a novel that combines literature and mystery which has depth and a quality not usually found in a mystery writer.

The novel is well plotted and introduces the characters as well as the suspense and mystery so well that you feel compelled to read the next in this wonderful series.

Gus LeGarde is a fascinating man as the main character. Old enough to have a past and to fascinate the reader in wanting to know all about him as well as to anticipate his future. Filled with a family and friends of interesting people you want to remember and hold close, as their stories unfold and they become your friends as well.

There is murder, mystery, a love interest and suspense. A most enjoyable read, a novel I highly recommend. Of course I will order his second book and continue with the second mystery in this series.

Title: Double Forte
Author: Aaron Paul Lazar
Publisher: Publish America
ISBN: 1413728383
Genre: Mystery

Professor Gus LeGarde finds himself and his family involved in murder and missing persons after he and his brother-in-law Seigfried rescue a dog from a trap while they are skiing. When Gus goes looking for a telephone, he finds instead a mystery in an isolated cabin that results in danger to himself and his family.

Gus isn't one to leave things alone as he goes snooping back to that cabin and nearly gets himself killed. An escaped villain, a kidnapped child and threats follow, introducing chaos into his life.

Gus also has to contend with gentle Siegfreid being accused of murdering a missing lawyer who is (Harold) Gus' son-in-law's business partner. It doesn't help that Harold makes allegations against Siegfried as well. Is this to get even with Gus for his suspicions that Harold is cheating on his wife? Does the escaped villain have anything to do with the missing partner?

Lots of action and suspense in this tale by talented Aaron Paul Lazar. A fun read that will keep you turning the pages to see what happens next. Recommended by this satisfied reader as a tale that will satisfy any mystery buff. Enjoy.

This book is called "fiction" and an "adventure mystery" - yet the authors have woven in some very unsettling truth, great-exciting-high wire adventure, and even with a happy ending the reader will be left wondering, "Could this really happen?" The answer is Yes, and bless the authors for putting it right out there and right where we need to see it - in the good old USofA. Black-market baby brokers don't just deal with third world countries... they'll hit wherever the market (vulnerable, underprivileged single women or couples) is.
The characters are well developed and the story flows smoothly. I found Evil Exchange a good and easy read.

Evil Exchange, by Lori Paris and Joe Soll, is a fast moving fictional account of some of the horrors that can take place in adoption. Lori and Joe, have managed to weave a tangled web that is filled with mystery, suspense, truth and laced it with humor. Those of us who have been affected by adoption, will find their fictional account of black market baby selling disturbing and sad. We will understand the feelings and thoughts of the main character, Todd Walters, as he makes a decision to search for his first mother. The emotions that are described are those that have been felt by all of us searching adoptees, who are honest with ourselves. The need to know who our mother is, the need to know the true story of what happened, and that fear of what we may find. Without being 'preachy', the reader also learns the need for support and preparation for those of us embarking on this journey.

The reader will learn how a Black Market baby selling rings works, the money involved is staggering, and the lengths the criminal mind will go to disturbing.

Even though 'Evil Exchange' can be a quick read, I found myself having to put it down because of the emotions it brought up for me. I recommend it as a refreshingly truthful, though fictionalized account of how twisted life is for those adopted.

I was riveted from start to finish!!!! It was awesome. The characters were so relatable and so likeable. Except of course the Mule, Sheila, the Doc and Nardo!!!!

I was blown away by the touching "adoption revelations" through-out the book. Being an adoptee, I have discovered that these feelings of abandonment and loss have affected me my whole life. Every time I read Diana, Todd and the other members of the adoption group discovering and uncovering their feelings about being adopted it was like an "aha" moment for me. Many of these feelings go across the board and I believe this story will touch many people in the same way it touched me. We are not alone! :)

All of this mixed in with the mystery, intrigue and unfortunate realization that this has and does actually happen, combines to make for a winning combination and a great all around read. I recommend it highly!

Evil Exchange written by authors Lori Paris and Joe Soll kept me riveted from start to finish .I don't often like reading in time frames ,but this novel did so very smoothly and kept my attention through-out. Being aware of the coercion and illegalities being practiced in the past and continued in the present have me convinced it just isn't safe to be single,poor and pregnant. These circumstances places women in a very dangerous position that may even include her being murdered for her baby. I recommend this novel for both good writing and suspense filled with truth. Truly, Linda Webber

Having been a "First Mother" or what is commonly called BirthMother to two babies that I gave up for Adoption at birth, I can vividly and did, all through each of their lives, imagine what could possibly have become of my babies. I wondered what happened and IF they were adopted, and IF their families loved them and IF they had happy childhoods, (one of the primary reasons I gave each of them up) and even IF they did survive at all. Evil Exchange takes all those wonderings and puts them together with a "Baby Ring" of murders, thieves, and crooks and makes a story that is compelling and scary to every woman out there who gave a baby to any form of Adoption. It is scary, thought provoking and takes a very close look at what the "agencies" and Attorney's who are involved in adoption have to gain and what the chances they take are worth to them. It looks into the evil that comes of Baby Rings and how many women ended up dead because they were pregnant at an unsociable time in our history.

Todd Walters is a daring young man in a very thrill seeking profession as an antenna service person on all of the highest buildings in the country, who was adopted as a baby and just recently found out the whole truth of his life and adoption. He found that he was one of those babies that were in such a "ring" that was finally broken, back just after his adoption. He is in love with another adoptee who is in reunion with her First Mother and he wants to find his own now that he sees and feels what he has long buried in his memories and past. His search takes him to the heart of the story; so to speak, as he learns that he was one of "those" babies, the ones that were ultimately placed with loving families and through no fault of the new homes, through an unscrupulous dealer in babies. The other part of the story is about those dealers and what they do to people and how they operate. It is an unforgettable story that anyone who has a heart must read. The adoption business is about a $40 billion dollar a year industry with killers and all kinds of legal scams going one, even today, that must be looked into deeply.

This book is fantastic, a thriller that will have your total attention from the start to the finish, with its fast pace and ripping conclusions. If you just want a great read for the summer, get this book, if you want something that will make you think, get this book, IF you want to find out more about the things that might have happened to a baby you personally were connected with, get this book and GET MAD..... and start looking for that baby. One of the biggest horrors with Baby Rings is that there are absolutely no records that are true and reliable for the search in the finding of that baby. That means that there are no reliable records for that baby to ever find his/her "First Mother" and no way for the "First Mother" to ever find her child. There are no tests that were done in the past, DNA or otherwise, on the baby or the First Mothers to ever be able to definitively match them together in the present, unless you just happen to get lucky and find someone who looks like you.

As you can tell, I feel very strongly about this, as it is a dear subject to me, having been one of those giving up a baby. This book by Paris and Soll gets into the heart of the whole business and makes one want to retch while crying about the lost babies out there. This is Paris's second book about the subject of Adoption and Soll's third, and they both have many more things to say on the subject. I will be looking for the next story they get out.

Claudia VanLydegraf, Author of Notes from Nobody

If you haven't read Regeneration, you are making a big mistake if you read The Eye in the Door before Regeneration. Regeneration sets the stage for The Eye in the Door and provides much background information that you need to appreciate this book.

Those who liked the first book in the Regeneration trilogy, Regeneration, will absolutely adore The Eye in the Door. The characters from Regeneration return, and you have a chance to find out the consequences of the treatments they received from Dr. William Rivers in Regeneration. Pat Barker builds on the tensions, damage, doubts, and despair of mid-World War I to show how much more desperate matters were for the British by the spring of 1918.

In developing these themes, Pat Barker does a masterful job of explaining how a soldier has to operate both by emotion and by objective distance in order to function. From there, she helps us use the crucible of war to see how that duality is important to everyday functioning for all people.

As the title indicates, the book builds on a central metaphor of everyone being under observation as doubts build about Britain's ability to win the war. Those on the margins are most under pressure and at greatest risk.

I thought that the portrayal of Lieutenant Billy Prior was brilliant. He comes across as the kind of complex, interesting character that can help us learn a lot about Ms. Barker's messages for us. The eye metaphor is nicely developed in the context of Billy's life.

Brava, Ms. Barker!

THE EYE IN THE DOOR is the second installment in Pat Barker's marvelous Regeneration trilogy. In this volume the principle characters of Dr. Rivers and Prior have left Criaglockhart War Hospital and are now living in London. Although Dr. Rivers has taken a new position treating shell-shock soldiers who have returned from the front in France, he continues to keep in touch and treat his former patients from Criaglockhart, especially Prior. Amidst the bombing and blackouts of wartime London, Prior continues to suffer from war neurosis as he embarks on solving a mystery that involves his childhood friends and acquaintances. He is confronted by England's societal fixation with fear and scapegoating of those who are believed to deter from the war effort (mainly war deserters and homosexuals). Individuals are often forced to hide their true attributes from society during this time of societal finger pointing and blaming. As in the previous volume of this trilogy, the characters of Prior and Dr. Rivers are well developed and nuanced. I continually enjoy reading about their trials and tribulations, and look forward to reading the third and final volume in this trilogy.

THE EYE IN THE DOOR (spoilers)

Ms Barker's epigraph, a quote from Stevenson, sets the tone: "It was on the moral side, and in my own person, that I learned to recognize the thorough and primitive duality of man. I saw that, of the two natures that contended in the field of my consciousness, even if I could rightly be said to be either, it was only because I was radically both."

I am hampered in critiquing the trilogy, since I've read only the first two works, REGENERATION and THE EYE IN THE DOOR. The first of these concentrates on the relation between the enlightened, humane Dr Rivers and the war hero/war protester Siegfried Sassoon, who has been labeled a war neurotic ("shell-shocked") in order to avoid confronting his rational case against the war. Both Rivers and Sassoon are historical characters who the author effectively fictionalizes (their dialogues, etc).

The second novel focuses on the relation between Rivers and Billy Prior, a relatively minor character in the first. The book is set on a wider stage than REGENERATION, which was confined to the (real) mental hospital of Craiglockhart in Scotland. Here we are in London, during the crisis produced by the initial success of the Germans' spring offensive in 1918. As happens during defeats, the search is on for scapegoats seen as undermining the war effort, groups like pacifists and ... who are seen as destroying the nation's "moral fiber." Ludicrously, the leading anti-... crusader, lays the blame on the Germans, who are said to have sent homosexual agents over before the war to corrupt English youth.

Billy Prior, on medical leave from the front, works for a counter-intelligence agency, but his loyalties are divided, since his earliest friends are pacifists and "conchies" (conscientious objectors). The result of these divided loyalties is a split consciousness, where the fugue state ("Hyde") takes over at times, doing things that the "daytime" Billy is not aware of, but whose consequences nevertheless he must face. It is this split consciousness that Rivers must deal with-and on one occasion, he deals directly with "Hyde," who speaks of Billy in the third person.

At the crisis of the novel, Billy's alter ego betrays his closest friend, something that the daytime Billy at first denies doing, but which he finally comes to suspect he has actually done. Rivers treats the psychological phenomenon by making Billy see that it is basically Oedipal, that he actually wished to kill his father, who had, in Billy's sight and hearing, beat and abused his mother. One manifestation of this hatred is "Hyde's": punching the agent provocateur Spragge, who looks like Billy's father. To complicate the issue, his father is a socialist/pacifist, a fact which may contribute to Billy's ambivalent attitude to his pacifist friends, one of whom he helps, as he betrays the other.

Sassoon make another appearance here, having gone back to France (partly at Rivers' suggestion), and once again been wounded (by friendly fire). But Sassoon's appearance doesn't seem to contribute to the plot of this novel, tho it may have a role to play in the trilogy as a whole. (Maybe his divided consciousness is relevant, since he was very effective at killing Germans, but at home becomes a "dove") Another seemingly extraneous thread is Manning, one of Billy's sex partners.

But basically a rich novel, recalling a key point in Western history. In many ways, WWI was more traumatic than WWII, since it occurred after almost a century or relative peace in Europe. And, as Barker makes clear, WWI was harder on soldiers than was WWII.

Trivia: Why were French troops show on the covers of the paper editions of the first two novels? They play no role in the novels themselves (tho they played the major role on the Western Front).

People existing against a war background-normal people doing normal things whilst shouldering the burden of their experiences, their fears and societies norms and expectations.

A lovely book that always has the lightest of touches in the darkest of moments. Nothing is simple and nothing is complicated, but everything is ambiguous and dwarfed by "the front" and what is expected.

The writing is always simple, but the ideas, concepts and dilemmas dealt with are complex and impossible to resolve. Class and duty are themes; the most interesting theme in my opinion is that of being a pacifist, a father figure to your men and a violent war hero simultaneously. (By the nature of things, war heroes are violent.)

My one regret is that I have only just realised that this book is part of a trilogy and that I have read it out of sequence... although on the positive side it means I have two more books to explore. I would strongly recommend this book; I have just gone and bought one of Sassoon's books as a direct result of it awakening school hood poems by him and Wilfred Owens.

After reading "Regeneration", the second novel of the trilogy "Eye in the Door" expands in terms of characterization and plot complexity. Whereas Regeneration is superb in its exploration of the consciousness of Siegfreid Sassoon and his psychiatrist, Dr. River; Eye in the Door expands the character of Billy Prior to become one of the most psychologically well developed and complex characters in English fiction.

Billy Prior , a bisexual, has both male and female lovers in this novel. These relationships are embedded in the homophobic atmosphere of war torn London. Prior, suffering from "shell shock" struggles with his identify of war hero and pacifism. He struggles with childhood trauma in a society where repressesions are let lose in a war charged atmospher.

The book is beautifully written. Whereas Regeneration explores Sassoon's struggles to brng meaning into a meaningless situation, Eye in the Door explores more of the societal struggles with the war and individual reactions to the pressures of a war time society.

I loved this book and would give it 10 stars if I could.

I really liked the first of the Jake O'Hara books. The characters were hilarious, the mystery interesting, the descriptions of different areas of NYC very well drawn. I particularly like the funeral scene in Calvary Cemetary. It was a perfect description of a burial in that old cemetery. This is a good start to the series.

I really enjoyed this book. One reason was because of the interplay between Jake, the amateur sleuth, and her mother with whom she lives. The book also covered an area of writing that has not been talked or written about much...the ghostwriter. It was interesting to learn about this group of writers and their feelings about their work. I couldn't help but wonder just how much was real and how much was author creation/speculation. All in all, an extremely good read.

Noreen Wald answers that question in her book Ghostwriter and she answers it well. This is a great first in a series.

A witty, quick read, Ghostwriter tells the story of Jake O'Hara, ghostwriter extraordinare. She lives in New York with her mother and belongs to GA (ghostwriters anonymous). All is fine until she is asked to ghost for the Queen of Murder Most Cozy and her fellow ghosts start turning up dead. Will Jake be next? Who is killing off her friends by the book? Could it be the handsome and wealthy Dennis Kim, a successful agent and a childhood enemy of Jake's? Could it be Too Tall Tom or the Mob? What about Gypsy Rose, her mother's best friend and occultist? Or the sensual therapist who seems to have a connection to everyone and anyone?

With the help of her family and friends Jake teams up with the police detective assigned to the case but can she find the killer before he finds her?

While this was not the most suspenseful mystery I have read it certainly was fun - mostly because of the wacky characters that Noreen Wald has so expertly drawn. I can't wait to read more of the series.

From Joan Mazza, author of Dreaming Your Real Self: A Personal Approach to Dream Interpretation.

Ghostwriter is a funny, funny book and a wonderful new character in Jake O'Hara. A page-turner as well. Can't wait for the next of the series! Noreen Wald's mix of humor, wit, and mystery lingers with a grin.

Ghostwriter was a fun book to read. The humor wasn't insulting and obvious. The author avoided stating the obvious, particularly when it came to the ethnicities of her characters. The final sentence was great. I particularly enjoyed the insight into the world of ghostwriting.

Sublime, just sublime. I can't think of a better writer. Maybe a few equals but no better.
The author was born and raised in the Ozarks and paints fabulous word pictures of what it's like to be part of a clan with a hundred years or more of "intrinsic" patterns of behaviour and grudges.
Doyle Redmond *thinks* he has escaped it all and after leaving the armed services (dishonourably almost of course) ekes out a living as an author.
A family errand takes him "home" and he finds himself involved in the interminable feuds and the unlawful behaviour of the area.
I could go on and on but here is just one example of the descriptive writing--The description of Mr Slager from the liquor store:
"He was a crisp little bantamweight fella, up in years, who affected neomilitary attire. His shirts always sported epaulettes, or else they were camouflage. You could get cheap thrills by sticking his spit-shined shoes under skirts and keeping your eyes on the toes. Slager was a decent old skin, yet he had a wistful air about him, standing in the store window in the uniform of the day, that gave me the impression that he felt he'd unfairly survived a patch of combat back on Pork Chop Hill or some battle of that vintage"
There is a chilling sense of inevitability about what happens. Even Doyle knows it but cannot avoid his destiny. Indeed he is almost proud of it!
Do yourself a favour and read this author.

Woodrell finds the best way of combining pulp fiction with actual literature. This, I think, is his best book so far. The noir feeling is mixed with a sort of Gothic-Faulkner that is incredibly appealing.

Don't get me wrong, though, the pace of this novel moves unlike anything Faulkner wrote. The characters are rich and unique. The reader often feels as if a world unknown (almost a parallel world in the Ozarks) is being glimpsed. I don't know if there are Goomer Doctors in real life or is this is one of the author's creations. Either way, the novel feels authentic in a way I haven't experienced since reading Hemingway.

This guy is that good. Burke, Grisham, Norden, Hegwood, all you southern noir types go home. Woodrell is that good. This guy is a real writer's writer. A-1 on the jukebox and nowhere on the charts I guess. Give Us a Kiss displays a voice and style that harkens back to Faulkner, James M. Caine and Walker Percy. A true gem.

Can't get much better than this Woodrell guy--not when it comes to fusing violence with country living. Dag nabbit, they just go together like spittle on a backy-chewin geezer's whiskers. Woodrell is somethin' fresh and mean and lonesome and true in the land of the hardboiled. He takes you down a crick with Doyle Redmond, his protagonist, all cozied up with 19-year old Niagra, the daughter of Doyle's big brother Smoke, and when them two drift down that flowing water, heat just naturally gets turned up. Cause Niagra has flames lickin' up her legs--her sexy red boots--and Doyle's first look at 'em does him in. He's hooked.

Smoke's woman, Big Annie, cottons to Doyle in a sisterly/motherly way since he's her beau's brother and also after her daughter. The four of them harvest their dope (i.e., marijuana) cash crop which a pack of nasties, the Dollys, try to weasel in on. Take over, in fact. And, yes, it is a backwoods legendary feudin' thing--the Redmonds vs. the Dollys. The noir-ness of the book is not just this feud; it's Doyle's and Smoke's tendencies to feel things in the extreme.

This is a great read cause Woodrell is a mighty fine writer. He knows how to sling the right words, blend them smooth as you please in an eminently readable way. Most entertaining. A genuine pleasure, if you ask me.

Pick it up and have a dang good time.

When our book club chose this book as part of its new author day, I thought "what kind of trash is this." But like a good shot of moonshine, it was revolting enough to leave its mark and tasty enough to make me want more. HOnestly, why hasn't this guy gotten his due? There is more slick writing, quirky characters and raunchy adventure i nthis book then many books twice its length. And with the lead character a sort of hillbilly writer/philosopher (that is not a contradiction in terms!) one has a narrator throughout the book who never fails to make you laugh. THe book centers around the adventures of Redmond Doyle, a hack writer who returns home to the Ozarks from a more "high falutin" environment, only to find out that you cannot escape your past or your roots. As he gets pulled into the inevitable feuds and violence that is part of Ozark lore, he wonders why he ever left in the first place.With plenty of fights, sex, hillbilly weirdness and the ramblings of the main character, the book is liike a canoe ride down the river in Deliverance. It will make you squeal like a pig!

Kwan did his thing as he always does in his books! I could not put it down. the book was action packed from start to finish. Gutter was just as good as Gangsta. If u haven't read Gangsta then read it before you read the action packed sequel Gangster.

I thought I luv the first but this book was better. Not many authors can out do there first one. But this one did. This is a must have book for all urban fiction luvas.

Gutter is a street novel that almost redefines the term "street novel". The violence is high, the language is raw, and the hypocrisy is staggering. Meaning, the hypocrisy within the characters not with K'wan. These gangbangers have a conscience but they conveniently and regularly set them aside when it was time to kill an enemy. I'll admit that I did not read `Gansta' but I probably will now based solely on the strength of this book.

Gutter is a very, very good book and you'll definitely enjoy it. K'wan knows the hood game a little too well though! Kinda makes you wonder too. How does Stephen King know horror so well? How does Eric Jerome Dickey know erotica and sensuality so well? How does Colleen McCullough know Rome so well? How does K'wan know the streets so well? And yeah, I DO put him in the same category as the afore mentioned authors because he is that good in his genre. I've been impressed with K'wan ever since I read `Hoodlum' and this book only cements myself as a real fan of his!

`Gutter' is a street novel in every sense of the word. There is major bloodshed and the body count reminds me of the first Terminator movie. There are some seriously cold hearted folks up in this novel and they pull some cold hearted moves on EVERYONE! Major Blood lives up to his name and then some. Gutter is a walking, killing paradox. He "hates" all the killing yet does a lot of it himself. He doesn't want his future child to grow up without a father yet he lays down innocents as well as soldiers. It makes for an unusual and interesting internal twist to the story.

Now... all K'wan needs to do is bring his butt over here to the West Coast so we can show him some love as well!!

K'wan, K'wan, K'wan...wow...I'm speechless! This novel begins with a bittersweet introduction as Gutter and Lou Loc's offspring discuss the events that led to the demise of their gang banger father. Prepare for an exhilarating ride filled with excitement, suspense, and shockers galore!! Get your rest...because you are definitely going to need it!

Entering the initial scene is Gutter, hell bent on avenging his best friend Lou Loc's death by any means necessary. Seeking street justice, Gutter is ferociously raging as he plows down any Blood gang member or associate without a conscious. Despite Gutter's cold-hearted killer instinct, his fiancé Sharell is the only person that can bring forth the human side of this callous murderer. The love between the two is surprising and refreshing as well as the other mysteries that are constantly appearing in this gangster read.

Gutter's mentor-uncle, and father figure Gunn is left for dead. The family has summoned Gutter to the California home front because of this treacherous attack. Once his feet hit Cali soil, murder, mayhem, and tragedy are occurring in his wake; But in his absence from New York, an even more deadly plan is unfolding.

Gutter by K'wan is so powerfully emotional that it figuratively clinches the reader in a deadly chokehold from beginning to the surrealistic ending. I've been a long-time fan of K'wan. I love his literary swagger, and his stylistic storytelling skills have always been gangsta. But I've always had one complaint...the lack of emotions, indicative of a male author. Well, I take my hat off to the author. The execution was perfect; Gutter captures all feelings, eliciting various ranges of emotions like love, loyalty, egotism, revenge, sorrow, betrayal, redemption, and murder (did I mention love?) K'wan brought the pain! 5 out of 5 is not nearly enough to describe this fabulous read! Total kudos to you, K'wan! You mos def did the damn thang! Take your bow my brotha, take your bow!

Reviewed by Tazzyt2bossye
for Urban Reviews

Seems like today everybody wants to write a sequel, but few are worthy. K'wan's GUTTER definitely falls in the small group of those that clearly know what they are doing. K'wan packs his pages with details and drama. Then there's the character of Gutter, an interesting man. An intriguing tale, this book is well worth reading and also warns readers of the consequences of living life on the streets. Put GUTTER atop your must read list.