Crime Books

I actually had the extreme fortune of working with Hollie at the local grocery store in Madison, MS in the early 90's and I found out about her death when I was at home visiting from college in ATL. I was mortified to find out that she was killed and even more so that anybody would do that to her. She was THE most caring, honest and funniest person I've ever known. She was amazing! I can only imagine the pain it is for Mr. Calhoun father to write such an in-depth account on the loss of not only his daughter, but Hollie, as a person. I didn't believe it was about her until I saw her picture on the inside flap cover. This book doesn't even convey how good a person Hollie really was and its even more heartbreaking for me because I really knew her. A phrase that Hollie would say everytime she was right about something, "Thank you for playing!" I still use it today.

I found 400 Hours to be an extremely poignant and gut wrenching story.The authors pain was horrific.I came away feeling that I knew the entire family and had somehow gone through the entire grieving process with them.It's all there.The author made it easy to read by weaving in and out of the various family members and how they each came to grips with the loss of Hollie.I highly recommend this book.

With this book you really feel the pain of Hollies family and the agony they went through during her disapearance and eventual recovery.I really felt like I got to know who Holly really was.

A couraageous writing by a father concerning the life and death of his daughter. He writes of the heart-wrenching path and details of finding out about her kidnap and murder. Through an enlighting look at the process involved in this personal case he gives us all an upclose view of police investigating. The reader acutely experiences the process and shares in the Calhouns nightmare, while also having the privelege of getting to know Hollie.

I lost my brother in an accidental gunshot incident many years ago. That was horrific enough but couple that with murder and abduction and hours of not knowing and you have a true nightmare. This is a rare man who is able to reveal his innermost private feelings about the loss of his daughter. One reels as he describes the numbness, disorientation, and "inappropriate" acting out behaviors which run the gamut of emotions which he experienced. This book inevitably triggers one's own feelings about the out-of-body fog that accompanies the loss of a loved one. He knows correctly that it will never be over, his pain merely gradually muted a little more as each year passes. The sense of disbelief and wondering what might have been will never go away. Rather than being a downer, this book refreshes with its honesty.

Very interesting theories about the intersection of ADHD and prisons. We tracked down most of the research quoted in the book and it seems to be solid. We brought the authors to Littleton, Colorado after reading the book to meet with the Greater Littleton Youth Initiative members. Patrick Hurley's 17 years experience as a law enforcement officer (and his experience with his own ADHD) combined with Bob Eme's research around the criminal justice system make for a very compelling duo. This is a quick read but has some deep insights into how ADHD kids are wired to go wrong if they don't get help.

Obviously a copy of this book should be in every police station, jail, and prison. The book covers more than just the interface between the person with ADHD and the criminal justice system, though. It gives very good information on what make people with ADHD prone to negative contact with law enforcement from the beginning of their lives, and how that can be reduced or avoided. In addition to law enforcement personnel, I'd recommend this for anyone who has ADHD themselves, or is partnered with or a parent to a person with ADHD.

As a psychiatric social worker for almost 20 years I have been aware of the tragedy of people stumbling into the criminal justice system who did not belong there. This book does not apologize for criminal behavior in any way, however, it illuminates the struggles of individuals with ADD which can often render their behavior incomprehensible to the professional. I particularly appreciated the lay-out of the book - I found it to be comprehensive, well-designed and well-researched. The writing style was personal and accessible without being sentimental. I also appreciated the many anecdotes which successfully illustrate the problems which ADD people face that are so often hard to describe. The problems of ADD can manifest in a vague way - but are nonetheless incredibly destructive to the individual. I think medical and mental health professionals (as well as those in the criminal justice field) will benefit greatly from this book!

As someone who's been recently diagnosed as ADHD, I've been on fire to learn as much as I can about the condition and traits. So far, along with a slew on online articles, I've read "Delivered from Distraction" by long-time expert Edward Hallowell as well as the ADHD memoir by Robert Jergen, "The Little Monster." Both of these books I appreciated for their positive outlook, even in the face of extraordinarily discouraging problems as a result of ADHD. Further, it strikes me as essential that these authors don't try to deny ADHD as just inattentiveness that can be "cured" in 20 minutes (as one book I saw on Amazon did!) or a condition that doesn't require medication. Some children and adults with ADHD perhaps don't need meds, and in fact medication doesn't work for everyone; but it's important that people seeking credible information about ADHD get an objective sense of appropriate and helpful treatment options, rather than someone's anti-drug agenda.

In terms of Hurley and Eme's book, I respect how they've done more than anyone I've read so far in documenting the research that went into the observations and information they provide. They don't quibble about whether ADHD exists or not, just state that it does, and back that up with excellent sources.

I went to the library in search of more than self-help guides on ADHD -- I was interested in the cultural and social implications of the condition because it strikes me that so many more people have it than is currently estimated. "Spinning Out of Control" was the only book I found that even touches on the wider implications of ADHD -- and the authors have done a great job defining the condition in the myriad ways it manifests in those likely to commit criminal acts as well as in non-criminals. They've done terrific work in outlining, then describing either by further explication, anecdotes, quotes from ADHDers, case histories and, surprisingly, self-disclosure what it's like to have ADHD. And they're far more comprehensive and systematic about it even than the Hallowell book I mentioned above! What I most appreciate about "Spinning" is its straightforward, distilled and no nonsense approach.

Finally, "Spinning" doesn't sugarcoat ADHD and what often happens to those who have it and don't get treatment for it. While I appreciate the positivity of Hallowell and Jergens (who both have ADHD themselves), who both understand well that ADHD can often lead to depression and pathological behavior, I was glad to read Hurley and Eme's nuts-n-bolts book. ADHD can be quite destabilizing and lead to real trouble, and the only way we can deal with it effectively on that level is to view it without rose-colored glasses. While ADHD isn't necessarily more widespread among the underprivileged, certainly this segment of society hasn't got the means nor the inclination to address what turns out to be a problem of enormous proportions. Hurley and Eme seem to be in the vanguard of people willing to address the problem on a grand scale -- isn't it about time someone does, instead of continuing to debate the existence of ADHD or morality of using drugs to treat it?

No doubt further research will show the condition to be much more complicated and differentiated among individuals than it is currently understood to be. Remember, for instance, that studies on the brain -- while more sophisticated and informed than ever before -- still aren't as complete and comprehensive as we'd like. The same necessarily must be said about ADHD. In my view, that doesn't mean we ought to take a wait-n-see posture; rather, let's begin to put what information and understanding we have together, and try to do something about it. Kudos to Hurley and Eme for their attempt to do just that.

I am currently an inmate at the Idaho Prison in Orofino, Idaho. My name is Richard Eugene Brewer. I was recently sent the book "ADHD and the Criminal Justice System". I was a Ritalin kid growing up, which was before many people really knew much about ADHD. I related so much to the information and descriptions contained in this book. It seemed like the book was almost written about me specifically. The restlessness, inability to sit still and not paying attention in school settings were my classic symptoms.

I feel this book should be a prerequisite for people who are involved in the criminal justice system as it applies to my everyday experiences in life. I feel that we with ADHD are often misunderstood and often times end up in situations that could possibly have been prevented. I sit in prison and watch the news now and see people on the outside having problems that I think could be related to undiagnosed or untreated ADHD and I wish I could let them know about this.

My opinion of this book is that I enjoyed it thoroughly. It was informative and knowledgeable and easy to read. I feel it could have a tremendous positive impact on the Criminal Justice System and how people like me are recognized and treated. I hope it is read on wide scale basis and helps others as much as it helped me.

Richard Brewer
I.C.I.-0. C-2-B-10
Hospital North Drive # 23
Orofino, ID 83544

"Anarchy and Old Dogs" was my first encounter with Dr. Siri Paiboun (and author Colin Cotterill) and I became and immediate fan. The book is a real charmer, with an intriguing story line and wonderful, engaging characters. The setting for the book (and series) is post-Indochina War Laos. The communists have won a dubious victory and are attempting to run a state. Like anywhere else, normal life goes on and in the most Buddhist way, good and bad things happen as people go about living. Dr. Siri Paiboun, the aging revolutionary and serving National Coroner, is witness to all of it, particularly the bad. In "Anarchy and Old Dogs," Siri and his colleagues are confronted by several mysteries that are eventually sorted out through common sense and considerable dangerous travel in aging vehicles of various kinds.
The reader is given a highly believable look at an interesting corner of the world during a relatively obscure (to Americans, at least) period of time. But best of all, author Cotterill has provided some of the most endearing characters imaginable. It's a very good read.

All of Cotterhill's adventures featuring Laos' national (and only) coroner, Dr. Siri Paiboun, are extremely enjoyable, but this fourth one might be the best so far. It's 1977, and the Pathet Lao are still struggling mightily to make the transition from jungle insurgents to ruling government. The previous three books all worked a bit of Laos' history into the stories, but here politics and history really propel the plot, and it works wonderfully.

The seemingly everyday death of a blind man who steps in the path of a truck with failed brakes leads Dr. Siri and his redoubtable assistants into the heart of a royalist plot to overthrow the wobbly new communist government. Throughout the series we've see Dr. Siri lamenting the haplessness of the regime he fought to bring to power. However, he did spend thirty years in the jungle with the Pathet Lao, losing his wife, and forsaking hope for a family -- so he'll be damned if he's going to let his former comrades become usurped so quickly. But proof of the plot is elusive, and as in his other adventures, Dr. Siri is forced to travel to unravel matters. This time he heads to the crumbling city of Pakse with his old politburo pal and lunch companion Civilai. Meanwhile, the delightful Nurse Dtui and the honorable cop Phosy head to a very different place to poke around on their own.

Slowly but surely, Dr. Siri & Co. find their way to the heart of the conspiracy, with some rather unexpected results. Despite the appearance of a transvestite fortune-teller, the story is a little more sedate than others in the series -- the supernatural elements that play a large role in previous books are much more subdued here. Instead, the sad realities of realpolitik drive the plot. Events end on a note of great hope and happiness, whetting the appetite for the next entry in a great series.

With his accustomed wry humor and quircky Zen wisdom, Laos' national (and only) coroner, 73-year-old Dr. Siri Paibon, takes on what looks like a simple accident - blind dentist (retired) versus truck - and uncovers a plot which threatens to topple the government.

Not that even Siri thinks a change at the top would necessarily be a bad thing. It's 1977and the two-year-old communist Pathet Lao government has "adopted a policy of disguising its lack of ability by baffling the populace with red tape."

Nevertheless, it's the principle involved. He can't just let somebody steal the country after the Pathet Lao spent 30 years fighting for its independence. And he can't turn the whole mess over to the incompetent security forces. Luckily a deputy governor in Pakse - where the dentist's coded correspondence originated - electrocutes himself in the bath with a politically sensitive appliance and Siri is on his way.

As usual the independent-minded coroner gets plenty of help. This time his old friend and politburo member Civilai is at his side while Nurse Dtui (whose story takes an unexpected turn) and police officer Phosy team up to follow a tangential lead.

This character-driven series is not for action-suspense fans but for those who like their mysteries steeped in atmosphere, culture and history, for those who appreciate top-notch writing and clever humor, and for those who like their protagonists wise, witty and haunted by ancient spirits.

In this fourth outing, the spirits are fairly quiet, although, disturbingly for fans who would like to see the good doctor go on into his 80s at least, Siri has begun to find more savor in the spirit realm of his dreams than in daily life. But Siri still has fun ever tweaking the self-important and deflating the puffed-up. An outstanding entry in an outstanding series.

"Anarchy and Old Dogs" is Colin Cotterill's fourth investigation of Dr. Siri Paiboun, the national coroner of Laos. As with the previous three, it is set in 1977, about two years after the revolution delivered Laos into Communist hands. The wily and wiry Dr. Siri was in his youth a revolutionary firebrand, a fierce supporter of the People's government and advocate for the disposal of an abusive royal regime. But now 73 years old, Paiboun would prefer retirement to sparing with government bureaucrats in his understaffed and under-budget forensic operation. Seems in actual practice, communism is not quite the utopia promised in the musings of Marx or Lenin, painfully evident in chronic shortages of even the most fundamental necessities at the fumblings of officials in a government where political connections trump competence.

This is a refreshing and unusual crime fiction series, and as "Anarchy" proves, the talented Cotterill gets better with every new installment. This time around, a blind dentist is run down on the streets of the Laotian capital city of Vientiane. What seems to be an unfortunate accident takes on much deeper and sinister undercurrents, leading Siri and long time friend and fellow revolutionary Civilai Songsawat into a complicated and dangerous trail of intrigue and counterrevolution. Filling in some of the history missing in his prior works, Cotterill spins a thoughtful and insightful portrait of the struggles and failures of the young socialist government, showing deep respect and empathy for the Laotian people without glorifying the communist government that turns out about as oppressive as their predecessors. Those familiar with the series will find Nurse Dtui back with a few surprises, and Siri less dependent on his unwelcome and unwanted supernatural abilities, relying instead on the corporeal to crack the case. Genuinely suspenseful and holding more than a few twists up his sleeve, both the author and his cagey coroner uncork an intelligent page-turner that will keep you thinking and waiting for Paiboun's next adventure.

From the start, Cotterill's magic lies in a unique main character set in an unfamiliar land in an interesting period of contemporary history. But as the series progresses, it is increasingly clear that there is more to Cotterill than gimmick, as the characters and the subject matter move into deeper, more poignant and serious waters, while maintaining the dry and cynical humor and refreshing story lines that have set this author well above the gun slinging, wise-cracking PI pack. If you haven't discovered Colin Cotterill and Dr. Siri Paiboun yet, you're missing a rare literary treat.

This is the fourth book in the Doctor Siri series. I have still to read the second and third in the series and I know that the fifth has just been finished. Ideally, of course, one should read these books in order. But linear patience is not amongst my virtues and having so recently discovered these wonderful novels, I find I must read them as quickly as I can obtain them.

In this novel, Dr Siri Paiboun, the reluctant national coroner of Laos, is initially asked to discover the identity of a corpse delivered to the morgue in Vientiane. This is simply the beginning of a series of events involving the problem solving skills of our hero Dr Siri, his friend Civilai (currently a senior member of the Laos politburo), Nurse Dtui, Phosy (the police officer), and Auntie Bpoo, a transvestite fortune teller. Set in the Laos of the 1970s, filled with action, unpredictable events, fascinating characters with wry observations on life, death and politics - this is truly a delightful series.

The writing is superb, and frequently had me laughing out loud. Who can resist:`It is hard to hold a serious debriefing with a man who's ripping off his pants in the middle of a town's main street.' Naturally, by this stage there were other crimes to be solved. After all: `A good socialist is not a dustbin, with a closed lid. He is a letter box, always open to receive news.' Fortunately for Dr Siri, in relation to one of the crimes: `.. the god of unnecessary paperwork intervened. Even before they had the powder, the crime solved itself.'

I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of books two and three, and keenly anticipating the publication of the fifth book. After all, Dr Siri isn't getting any younger.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

This is an extremely entertaing story that keeps you guessing all the way til the end. I recommend this author and this book to everyone.

i really enjoyed the book. once you picked it up you couldn't put it down. this book leaves you hanging on every word, you just have to find out!
Jenny
Linden Michigan

Campbell does a very descriptive job of a family with a great deal of dysfunction. The story takes on an unexpected turn, which keeps the reader engaged. This is a story of strength, courage, and hope for a well-written character. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and would recommend this first time writer.

This book was one of the best books I have ever read! The combination of a very serious subject and a beautiful romance just kept me reading until my eyes wouldn't stay open anymore. I couldn't put the book down. Rita is a very strong, beautiful woman who falls in love. The love that is given to her in return is well-deserving and puts a hope in everyone that true love is attainable no matter what your background.

Thanks, Dawn, for such a wonderfully inspiring story. Please hurry with the next book!! I am a fan forever!!

The story line in billy's prayers was very well written because it was hard for me to put the book down. I finished this story in about two weeks.(I'm not a fast reader) This book made me cry,laugh,get very angry and feel sorry. My favorite person was rita. I felt sorry for rita mother. It's said but true of how much phyical and mental abuse goes on in this world today. I'm glad to see a well written book that address the abuse.
great job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
thank you

Black Flash had me not wanting to stop reading. I have not been much of a book reader, but after reading this, I have contacted Grant through his website http://www.michaeljamesgrant.com for suggestions of other books to entertain me with a similar style! His other book "The Reunion" was just awesome, different than Black Flash...but just as good! I very much look forward to his next book!

Very cleverly written thriller. I started out trying to get a better feel for these characters and in the end, the disconnect of the central characters was crucial to the plot. This one does have movie written all over it!

Black Flash, Wow, I couldn't put it down. A thriller! I was captured by the characters , cared for them and feared for them. I began looking behind my back! A journey to the unknown and the familiar that kept me intrigued. Did someone say a movie, absolutly. Im looking forward to Michael J. Grants next book.

Black Flash had me riveted from beginning to end. I couldn't put the book down. A very well written thriller, the description and style of writing was so vivid that I felt like I could see the action happening on the page.

Michael James Grant's second book, 'Black Flash,' is an invigorating ride. This thrilling story about a group of strangers who find out they have a lot in common is brilliantly constructed. The pace of this dynamic, unpredictable story is exhilarating and was impossible to put down. Very few books keep me on the edge of my seat like this one.

I would highly recommend 'Black Flash' to anyone looking to escape into an exciting world of action and mystery.

This is a good romatic mystery. The characters are well written and the plot keeps you interested. However, if the recent real child abductions disturb you, don't read this book -- that is the subject.

Martha quickly involves her readers emotionally with a tense plot involving a missing child. She stokes the fire of fear slowly, until you suddenly find yourself sneaking a paragraph at stop lights, long lines and telephone conversations. I am looking forward to the next novel from this writer.

Martha Powers writes clean, powerful prose. She'll have you flicking on the lights and locking your doors as you rip through the final pages. A suspense novel is only as good as the build up, both of plot and characters, and Powers delivers.

Martha Powers's first mystery novel was titled "Sunflower" and I read it this last summer. That was a magnificent work of mystery and suspense and I was greatly awaiting the release of "Bleeding Heart." In some ways, "Bleeding Heart" is similar to "Sunflower." They both are set in a small town and both of them have strange murders occuring there. Maggie Collier and her son Jake live in a small town in Delbrook, Wisconsin. They moved there after the horrible car accident with Maggie's husband that killed him. Maggie's father in law, George, is knifed to death on a country club's golf course. Maggie later finds out through investigating that George had taken a picture of something secret and he was going to reveal it to the public. Someone killed him in order for that picture to remain a secret. Maggie sees a link between her father in law's death and a series of three kidnappings that have occured around the Wisconsin. Maggie and Grant, the nephew of one of the kidnapped girls must work together to capture this crazed killer and kidnapper, dubbed THE WARRIOR, because of the feathers he leaves at the crime scenes, before Maggie and Grant are the next victims. If you like Erica Spindler and Wendy Corsi Staub, then you'll like Martha Powers.

Brad Stonecipher

Maggie, a single mom after the death of her husband, and her son Jake relocate to her husband's home town where she buys a book store and lives above it. There is murder and lots of suspense in this story. The very young boy, Tyler, who was a kidnap victim of The Warrior made my heart cry. He was reduced to a basic survivalist at such a young, tender age. Maggie didn't know who to trust and there are no clues while reading this book to let you know who Maggie can trust. But at the end, the odd, twisted and demented kidnapper will surprise you. This book will keep you on the edge of your seat and keep you guessing. Very, very good story. The small town group of friends and poker buddies gives this story the "very real, I'm glad I met these people" feeling.

Wonderful book and author. It will keep you interested and involved til the end.

I could not put this book down! I grew up in Coffee County and knew some of the descendants of the people in the book. One of them was my school bus driver! Very well written story of children and their obedience to their father.

I really enjoyed this book! I couldn't put it down - I read it in 2 days. TRUE CRIME is my reading of choice but to have it take place so close to my hometown of Douglas is unusual! I live about 20 miles from the burial place of most of the people in this book. This book is really entertaining for history buffs wanting to know what life was like in turn-of-the-century rural Georgia including Coffee County and Lowndes County. Back then trials were the biggest source of entertainment available. The book mostly takes place in Jacksonville, Broxton, Ambrose, Hahira, and Valdosta, Georgia. REALLY INTERESTING READING!

Being involved in the modern day south Georgia legal system and a one-time resident of Lowndes County, I thoroughly enjoyed this very detailed and well-written novel. The author's attention to the details of the trial and testimony is very exact, but the narrative flows almost like a suspenseful thriller. It is obvious the author spent a great deal of time talking to people about the background of the feud, as well as absorbing the tremendous amount of written material on the case and aftermath. Even 100 years later, this book puts you on the bustling streets of downtown Valdosta during the frantic days of the trials as if you were a spectator yourself. I highly recommend this novel.

This was a very involving book for me as I am the Great-grandson of Jesse Rawlins. The book flows very well. The facts are presented in a History channel type format where you get the information needed while at the same time you become starved for more after each page is turned. I would recommend this book to anyone in the SE United States, and History buffs across the world.

The book, Blind Obedience, is truly a well-written story. I grew up very close to the site of the Rawlins & Carter farms near Val-Del Road a few miles east of Hahira, Georgia. My grandfather knew the families involved. A few years after the trials, my Uncle Ivey Johnson bought the old Carter place and lived there for several years. Anyone living in South Georgia should especially be interested in reading this text. Any book that I can read in slightly more than one days time has got to be good. Bill Boyd deserves praise for his writing efforts.

Once again I am drawn into the gritty world of the London crime scene. In Ken Bruen's books, I am never sure who is more vicious and criminal, the serial killers or the police who are searching them out.

This book has our serial killer going after the police starting off with a traffic warden and aiming toward the protaganist himself, Ken Brant. We have all of the usual police who we got to know in previous books including Brant (of course), Falls, Roberts, the incompetent Super with his "golden boy - snitch" McDonald. Alas, we no longer have my favorite, Lisa since she killed herself in McDead.

This book may be a little rough for many readers and it might be hard to follow by people who have never been exposed to the peculiar language that is spoken in South London (some say that it is English, but I would not swear to that).

After years of reading George Pelecanos, James Lee Burke, John Harvery, George V. Higgins, Raymond Chandler, Ross Thomas, and others who can turn a phrase while inducing me to turn a page, I've finally started reading Ken Bruen. "Blitz" introduced me to a world so sloppy and hungover it feels as real as anything the aforementioned writers have created.

Here's the 3rd person narrator on Brant, one of the protagonists: "Brant considered asking her for a ride but she looked the deep type. She'd have issues and want to talk after. He hated that." Sharp, politically incorrect, perfectly believable. And the killer, who decides to create his public persona as a vicious murderer who only takes out cops? A complete, drunken screw-up.

Bruen is the real deal. The most exciting thing about finishing "Blitz" was knowing that he's written a shelf and I'm just starting him.

Blitz is the name of a sadistic killer who begins bumping off London bobbies. Tell the truth, I loved BLITZ. I loved the main cop characters, Detective Sergeant Brant and Chief Inspector Roberts, and hope they show up in another book. This is an alcohol-saturated book: it seems all the characters are up till 3 am boozing and look like hell the next day at work. What fun! Wouldn't we all like to be like that, throwing our health to the wind, devil-may-care like. No, probably not. But it is somehow liberating to live vicariously through such tough, hard-as-nails characters. In our overly PC age, when smoking a cigarette is a fineable offense in many places, it does the soul good to see people being free to make mistakes even if only between the covers of a novel. Living badly should be a choice, not a crime, in a free society. Brant and Roberts live badly and are tough, funny and likeable. Ken Bruen has written a series of novels with Jack Taylor as the protagonist which I haven't yet read but have received good reviews. BLITZ is my first Ken Bruen book. Tell you what, mate, it won't be my last.

...he'd probably ask Ken Bruen to write his scripts.

Ken Bruen's "Blitz" is a rock `em, sock `em, no-holds-bar brawl of violent men and hard women on both sides of the law - an in-your-face tale told from the wrong side of London.

Remember the days when Lawrence Sanders was bringing crime fiction to the masses with NYPD's tough Captain Delaney and gripping crime drama like "The First Deadly Sin?" Well, carve up Sander's pedestrian prose with a broken-off beer bottle, run Captain Delaney through the gutters for some edge, strip out any regard for political correctness or social redeeming value, and you'll start getting a feel for Bruen's brand of raw drama on the mean streets. There's no genius in the story - a maniac decides to declare open season on London's cops, and starts indiscriminately killing them. In tracking down the murderer, this is not as much a police procedural as it is a character study in misfits and miscreants - and that's just the good guys.

This is black prose that finds beauty along its jagged edges - a searing journey through vicious deeds and twisted minds that builds to an unexpected and cynically satisfying climax. Ken Bruen is the real deal - if you're hooked on Lehane, Child, Huston, Rankin, or Gischler and haven't added Bruen to your reading list, don't wait another day.

Call it "Irish Noir," "Post-Modern Noir, " or whatever other adjective or descriptive phrase you can come up with; it matters not one bit. There's noir ... and then there's Ken Bruen. Blitz is the sequel to Bruen's The White Trilogy, a series of novels that introduced us to the cops in the South East London squad. A more dysfunctional collection of police officers would be hard to imagine. This time around, their loyalties, their training and what's left of their fragile sanity will be put to the test as they attempt to collar a sociopath who is out there killing cops with a hammer. (Leading Bruen, of course, to insert an irreverent reference or two to the Beatles' immortal "Maxwell's Silver Hammer." Would you expect any less?). The killer, nicknamed "the Blitz" by London's rabid tabloid press, is a total `nutter. As the novel progresses, the reader is left with the sneaking suspicion that this whack-job is probably going to get away with his crimes and maybe even make a few pounds selling his story to the highest bidder. The fact that you are tempted in that direction, however, is dead giveaway that the author has something else entirely up his sleeve.

What Blitz lacks - relatively speaking, that is, compared to some of Bruen's other novels - in terms of sheer primal energy and visceral impact, it more than makes up for by means of a subtle and not-so-subtle sense of humor that is as grim and as dark as it gets. It's not that Bruen has become domesticated. It's just that his technique has become more sophisticated over time. Indeed, the author's implicit indictment of society is all the more searing because it is couched largely in such outlandishly humorous terms in this novel. You'll laugh your arse off in places while reading this book. Five minutes later you'll realize that what tickled your fancy was definitely no laughing matter a' tall. And five will getcha ten that's what the author bloody well intended in the first place! So strap yourself in and grab a motion-sickness bag. You're in for a wild ride through the sights and sounds of a London that will never, ever make the pages of any guidebook.

Read the entire text of this review in MYSTERY NEWS (October/November 2004)

I was about sixteen years old when I first read this book. Twelve years later, I am a cop myself, and have read and re-read this book at least twenty times since then. This book is the real deal...it doesn't glorify our job like other books have done...just the real and the raw. It gets to the bottom of what cops have to put up with every day. Great.

This is an outstanding novel. Shows what happens underneath the badge. This is a "Must Read Book" for anyone wanting to become, or understand, what BEING a police officer means.

Over the past few years, I have read several "cop books;" some good, and some not so good. I have been a cop now for almost three years, and I can honestly say that "Blue Truth" is the best book I have read regarding law enforcement...period. McDonald truly captures the emotions, fears, and predjudice that every cop, whether conservative or liberal, faces each day. Being a cop is not an easy job sometimes, and McDonald captures this wonderfully. Thankyou, McDonald.

i a ttended the broward police academy class 190 and cherokee was my report writting instructor and he was one hell of an instructor. he had told the class about his life on the beat and the things that he had been through during his carrer. well i purcased the book and read it and after that i have the upmost respect for mr. mcdonald. he opened my eyes to alot of things that could and can go wrong with your family life and the stress of the job pertaining to lawenforcement.

This is the only book that I could not put down. This book gives insight to how times have changed from the law enforcement of yesterday, to the modern law enforcement of today. This book is a must read by anyone who wants to be an officer or is in love with an officer.

If you are from or are familiar with this area of the Texas Hill Country, all the details ring true. If you are a long time fan of Ben Rehder's then you will love this one. The man can't write a bad book!

This is a great light fun read. If you loved this book also check out the author C.J. Box and his Joe Pickett adventures which also follow a game warden based near a hunting culture small town filled with eccentric red necks, corrupt officials and other fun characters, his books are set in Wyoming. Both even have similar author photos complete with dogs and bucket hats or whatever they're called inside the back covers. Open Season (Joe Pickett Novels) is the first novel in that great series, check it out!

Bone Dry the sequel to Reheder's first novel Buck Fever picks up at the start of the next year's deer season from when that novel ended. It is important to note that you do not need to have read Buck Fever to enjoy or get the most out of this novel. Other than a reoccurring main character, game warden John Marlin, as well as other eccentric county residents who appear in each novel such as local rednecks Billy Don and Red. This series of fun adventures set in Blanco County Texas can be read in any order.

New characters who add to the storyline of Bone Dry include Inga, a smart supermodel quality blond Volvo driving conservationist. Inga isn't afraid to fill a hunter's ute with bullets. A nerdy even more extreme environmentalist Thomas Peabody is her travelling companion and determined to win Inga's favour by proving he is dedicated to the cause with even more and more dangerous stunts in the name of the environment.

Witness relocation mafia man Sal and his dim-witted son Vinnie who now run a tree clearing business also add to the fun. Fans of the Hollywood's horse in the head scene will be pleased with a scene created by Vinnie in this book which is the catalyst for a number of events putting this once powerful underworld figure in danger of being discovered. Smedley a morbidly obese US marshall who is a good but lazy and not to bright man assigned to keep tabs on Sal, Sal's housekeeper and poor immigrant Maria who Sal fears has the powers of a witch complicate the situation for this mafia family but add great enjoyment for the reader.

A lazy incompetent former big city cop will learn the hard way that city tactics don't work out in rural Texas nor does trying to force a confession as he investigates the shooting of a local hunter. An of course game warden John Marlin is the glue that holds this fun story together.

Read this series, it's good!

i didn't hesitate to pick up ben rehder's second book when i saw it and was not disappointed.....this book was even more fun than the first one.....peace mary

If you enjoyed the outrageous humor in Buck Fever about cross-species sexuality and good old boys poaching deer, you will be thrilled with Bone Dry. The talented Mr. Rehder has added more targets for his humor, made them funnier and further developed the excellent goofballs, Red O'Brien and Billy Don Craddock.

In Bone Dry, you will find Italian mobsters mixing it up with the local Texas drunks, a supermodel who uses her looks and her scent to save endangered species, lots of brush-busting and scams galore. In the middle of all the resulting mayhem, John Marlin, the Lone Ranger of game wardens, finds himself running the investigation into a hunter's suspicious death.

The book combines a satire of the Godfather, a Carl Hiaasen-type story about Texas, an excellent police procedural, lots of environmental lessons and a love story with enough irony to keep your eyes blinking with surprise for days. It's a remarkable, guffaw-inducing achievement.

Save this book for the next time you really need a good laugh.

I recommend that you also go on to read the latest book in the series, Flat Crazy, which is even better than Bone Dry.

I listened to the audio edition of this book and my comments pertain to that edition.

I read the first book in Rehder's Blanco County series last year and enjoyed it. When I got the chance to listen to the second on audio, I jumped at it. If possible, I liked the second even more than the first.

If you love the zany Floridian adventures of authors like Tim Dorsey and Carl Hiaasen, you will probably want to take a side trip to Blanco County. As those authors do, Rehder throws a bunch of semi-competent crooked folks (in this case including a Mafia family in hiding), a few well meaning folks (this time around it's a couple of tree-huggin' types trying to save a rare bird from all the brush clearing going on) and in the middle of it, a bemused decent good guy trying to sort out all the events. The center of the Blanco County novels is game warden John Marlin, who does his best to stay sane and sort out the string of bizarre events.

He has his hands full in this second book, as some bodies turn up, others go missing, and that's in between the eco-terrorism, county jail hostage stand-off, Marlin's personal life going to hell, and oh, yeah, opening week of hunting season. Rehder does a fine job of juggling multiple plot lines and a huge cast of supporting characters while keeping all the threads moving toward a neatly wrapped up conclusion. I could often see where the plot was going a few chapters ahead of time but I thoroughly enjoyed the ride nevertheless.

The unabridged audiobook is competently read (I'm sorry I don't have the name of the narrator). While nothing was particularly gained or lost by listening to the book rather than reading it, I didn't have to put the book down to do chores like washing dishes--as long as you aren't listening in places where people will give you strange looks if you occasionally laugh out loud while listening.

I recommend this book and the whole Blanco County series to anyone who likes a light, funny mystery, particularly fans of the Carl Hiaasen style.