Murder Books

I loved your book. I couldn't put it down. The people in it could have been my neighbors or me. You brought these real people in front of all of us. I really thought I knew them. Thank you so much for writing their stories. I am anxiously waiting for your next book.

What Happens When the Intended Victim of a Violent Crime Takes Justice Into Their Own Hands?

ALBANY, NEW YORK - On the phone with her daughter, Karen McCann, played by Sally Field, becomes the only witness to the brutal rape and murder of her eldest daughter is the blockbuster 1996 film "Eye for an Eye." The story of a justice system that protected the wrong person and let a killer walk free, "Eye for an Eye" brought the debate about ordinary citizens and their right to own guns. The reality is that the American justice system is a dark place to operate in, often catering to the perpetrators of violent crimes instead of the victims.

Justice Rendered 2000 (now available from 1stBooks Library) is a collection of powerful true stories that prove to the reader that bad things do happen to good people, but that does not mean we can't do something to protect ourselves. Dedicated to all people who believe in the second amendment of the U.S. Constitution, Justice Rendered puts names and faces to ordinary people who faced extraordinary circumstances and refused to let evil win.

Compiling the stories that make up Justice Rendered was no easy task. Many of the people involved in these crimes live in daily fear of retribution for simply protecting themselves. To protect them, author Scotty Phillips has changed the names of the victims, the location of the crimes, and, in some cases, some of the facts of the case in order to protect the victims from the cruelty of the "system."

Scotty Phillips was raised in the small town of Adel, Georgia, near the Florida State line. After retiring with twenty years of military service, he returned to the civilian sector and gained employment in the finance collection business. Having spent endless hours in courtrooms handling litigation in lawsuits, he quickly became disturbed in witnessing testimonies from crime victims as the told their horrifying accounts. He became even more disturbed as he questioned why many of these victim's stories were never told (or refused to be told) by the mass media. Compelled to have their stories told, he invested countless hours of research in gathering each victim's account of that tragic event that changed their lives forever.

Justice Rendered is Phillips first book and was inspired by a devastating crime involving close family friends. He says, "The events of the crime were a wake-up call of the cold, hard facts of what can happen to all of us if we must defend ourselves. When a victim wins the gun battle, the costly legal battle from civil suits may turn the tables of a short-lived victory. You'll find the law may not be on your side."

If you like to read the "ARMED CITIZEN" in the NRA publications, you'll love this book! It will give you insight of what it's really like to become a crime victim. I know, because I've had to use my firearm to protect myself. This book brought back bad memoirs (and good) of that eventful day. Until this book, I've yet to find any publications that really explained the events of how I or anyone else felt when they came face-to-face with criminals. This book is a set-up for a great mini-series; if you can find anyone in the "controlled" media who isn't afraid of the anti-gun movement! "

There are books on the issue on self-defense and then there's this book. I've grown tried of reading about the criminals who comment crimes and their personal lives. It a nice change to once read about the personal lives of the victims. This book will make you take twice about "ever" leaving home without being armed!

My husband and I purchased this book last weekend at a gunshow in Atlanta GA. We met the author and one of the female victims whose story is in the book. Her story, "Enough is Enough," brought back nightmares from our family past. Having a sister that almost died at the hands of her abusive husband, this chapter brought both joy and sadness.

Any American that has firearms in their home needs to read this book! The several stories of women who defended themselves with firearms gives even more arguments of why "ALL" free Americans should have the right to arm themselves. This book gets straight to the point. The lives of the victims are fully explained and one cannot help but become filled with joy and anger throughout each chapter. It's a roller coaster of emotions.

After the tragic events of Sept 11, 2001, all of us are looking for a little "JUSTICE RENDERED" in our lives. This book delivers!

Carl Panzram was a serial killer in the 1910s-20s and wrote this book while in prison. He was subject
to incredibly cruel treatment in jail until a prison guard who felt sorry for him gave him $1. I guess
Panzram was touched so he offered to write his bio for the guard, if he could smuggle him pen and
paper. He did and what results is the most penetrating study on the mind of a criminal I think that
is available. The recounting of the disgusting crimes is one part of the book but his analysis can only
be made by one who has experienced what he has. One of the most important things I remember from
this book is that he says if a child is not taught the right way by age SEVEN, he is LOST FOREVER and
cannot be rehabilitated.

KILLER has been out of print for years, yet it is one of the finest studies ever done of a serial killer. Panzram was one of the handful of such killers who possess any real intelligence, and the book includes long excerpts from the diary he wrote in prison while cheerfully awaiting execution for his murder and rape of so many young men. I had heard a rumour in Poland last week that the book had been reprinted. Is it so? No library on the subject is complete without it.

As the writer in 1997 said, a movie has been made, written and directed by Tim Metcalfe, can be rented in most video stores. Its a powerful drama and the only reason i can think of that it didn't get the attention "Monster" is getting today is that the public wasn't ready for it since the quality of the writing, directing and certainly James Woods acting should have been nominated for an Oscar.

Why this has not been made into a movie or mini-series eludes me!Anyone who reads this book will see how far our prison system has come but how far it yet needs to go. It is the true story of a life wasted. Carl Panzram was not created evil...he was a created evil by mans inhumanity to man. I believe he possessed a great intellect as one can tell from his writings but this same intellect was disgarded to fester and rot from a very early age. Imagine...this man was deprived of any real kindness until it was already too late to make a difference in his life. Unbelievable, you say? Read this book and you will believe!

An excellent read that penitrates the mind of a serial killer. What's more shocking is that it actually happened! Panzram details his life from childhood through the hardships of adulthood which made him the hardcore savage animal that he ultimately became. I loved every minute of this book! It's a shame that it's so hard to find though or I'd buy my own copy and read it every night before I go to bed. I suggest that anyone who wants something new and exciting to read should pick up this work and start reading. The public library should have it. Get moving!

An excellent, timely, and fascinating treatment of current events in Lebanon, and the March 14 political movement. The genius of the book is helping the reader to understand the passion that Mr. Hariri evoked in the Lebanese people and abroad while still making clear his faults as a leader. It is a special thrill to have been introduced to various personalities in their own words throughout the book, and find them all in the news to this day.

This book is extremely well written and hard to put down once started. It is very informative both on the brutal murder of Rafik Hariri and the current political situation in Lebanon, including its relationship with Syria. Blanford covers a lot of detail overlooked by most standard media outlets which really helps the reader fill in the gaps surrounding this tragedy and what led up to it. A must read for anyone interested in the region.

The Epilogue, in which Blanford discusses Israel's attack on Lebanon in the summer of 2006 was particularly interesting for me as I happened to be there through the duration of the siege. It is nice to come across quality reporting without the dilution and distortion of current events by US media.

A well documented book that is easy to read and hard to put down. It accurately describes the events that led to Hariri's assassination both on the local and the international scene in a lively manner with a detailed witnesses account of the days and hours leading to 14 February 2005. It provides valuable insight in the events unfolding in Lebanon today more particularly the recent Israeli Hezbollah war and the governmental crisis.

This book is a must read for anyone wishing to understand the intricacies of Lebanese politics and the Syrian and regional dimension of the events unfolding right now in front of our eyes. In my opinion it plugs a major hole in international reporting on Lebanese stories as it provides an adequate and thorough background that is often lacking in short articles.

I knew Nick in Beirut as an energetic reporter always looking for big stories. His reports covered a wide array of issues including the Hizbullah-Israel war prior to 2000, interviews with Palestinian leadership in Lebanon, coverage of the post-Iraq war in 2003 and a lot of other issues.
Nick has a keen eye to detail and a broad knowledge of the region. His book shows his talent as someone who digs for stories and gets inside info. I have been waiting for this book for a while, and once I got a grip of it, it did not disappoint me at all.
I especially liked the theme of this book, Mr. Lebanon, which has been indeed a title the assassinated Lebanese Prime Minister strived to win. Blanford's book is well-researched with a number of interesting interviews, accurate background information and great style. Buy the book and read it, you'll see that it is money well spent.

Blanford writes superbly, and this tour de force captures the dynamics of complex Lebanon as well as any. Of particular interest is the rarely detailed description of Syrian hegemony of the country, their parasitic-like extraction of wealth along with national confidence, and the complicity of neighbors of this crime (particularly Saudi Arabia and Egypt). His descriptions of Hariri as a complex tycoon/altruist are masterful.

The only weakness is the epilogue. Clearly written in the heat of a war as the book was going to press, it evokes horrible images of that war without providing the clear-headed analysis typical of the rest of the book: as such it appeals to some (see other reviews) but detracts in the long run. Blanford should either remove or expand this from future editions: it has no business being in an otherwise excellent work.

Peter May's China Thriller series of books continues with The Killing Room. All is not well with Margaret and Li's relationship as the location is mostly Shanghai in his third of the series.

Having visted Shanghai nine times in the past two years, I find the Chinese background and culture in this series and this mystery in particular are outstanding. Written in 2000 and just released in the USA, this highly charged mystery actually foretells some of Shanghai's modern 21st Century political history of local corruption. While other novelists may touch on the corruption in a lighter, more oblique way, May gets right to the point in demonstrating how the hierarchy works. He touches on the continuing power struggle between Beijing and Shanghai.

The other reviews cover the story line well. The setting of Shanghai is remarkably accurate, and the description of life and families is still quite relevant eight years after the book was authored. (Many things can change in Shanghai in eight years.) As I have Shanghai friends to explain many customs in modern China, I find that May captures them in very subtle ways. May distills the Chinese manners and details them into background throughout the novel.

If you are travelling to Shanghai and want to get an inside look into the city's life, this is a must read. Only you will find that Shanghai is a much safer place than what happens in the vicinity of Margaret and Li.

I just started reading this book and I'm already hooked. I will definitely be reading any others that Mr. May has written or writes in the future. Definiately a must read!

First Sentence: The rain, like tears, streaks his view of the world from the back seat of his limousine.

Beijing detective Li Yan is working on a case where a woman's body has been found. It appears the victim had undergone an autopsy while alive, organs removed and her body cut into pieces.

Now Yan is sent to Shanghai to oversee the investigation instigated by a mass grave being found there with the similar remains of 18 women. Yan, oblivious by the attentions of his female counterpart in Shanghai, sends for American pathologist Margaret Campbell, with whom he has worked before and with whom he is lovers. While the nightmare of the case escalates, so do the problems with their relationship.

There was definitely more to like about this book than not. I really enjoy learning about China of today and seeing it through the eyes of both a resident, albeit of Beijing who, himself, doesn't feel comfortable in Shanghai, and an American make the story particularly interesting. Yan is a very good policeman who is classically clueless as a male at times, while Margaret is an excellent pathologist who is almost overwhelming insecure as a woman. Those aspects make the characters very believable and human.

I also learned about pathology and science, but in a way that was clinical; not horrific or ever boring. There is suspense that does build nicely. Although I suspected one villain, I didn't see the other one coming.

The first book of the series, "The Firemaker," is still my favorite, but I shall definitely continue on with Margaret and Li.

When the bodies of eighteen women are discovered in a mass grave at a construction site in Shanghai, Deputy Section Chief Li Yan is sent to establish if the corpses relate to an unsolved similar murder in Beijing. He requests that American pathologist Margaret Campbell be allowed to assist with the forensics. Their on again-off again relationship remains rocky, especially because of local Deputy Chief Nien Mei-Ling, who Margaret finds a formidable competitor for Li Yan's heart. While examining the bodies, Margaret discovers that all of them had organs removed while they were still alive.

I particularly like two aspects of May's books. One is the culture clashes between Li Yan and Margaret Campbell. Despite their strong feelings for each other, they are just very different people. I learn a lot about Chinese culture through Margaret's eyes and would probably make the same missteps she does.

The other is May's ability to explore social and cultural problems in Chinese society. He tries hard to portray both sides of a controversial subject without taking sides. In this book, and a bit of the previous book, The Fourth Sacrifice, that subject is the single-child policy enacted to reduce the population in China. Li Yan's sister previously dropped off her daughter with him when she found she was pregnant with a son. Li Yan remains the child's guardian in this book.

I found more humor in this book than the previous two in this series. The competitions between Margaret and Mei-Ling for the attentions of Li Yan were laugh-out-loud funny. I also find it interesting that these books are written by a Scottish man living in France, writing about an American woman living in China. And he does it very well.

Armchair Interviews says: Super read as a mystery with a lot of cultural learning thrown in.

Already upset that a killer was freed because of either corruption or incompetence in the Procurator's office, Ministry of Public Security Deputy Section Chief Li Yan is not in the mood to talk to anyone. However Detective Wu tells his superior that the dismembered girl found in the shallow grave near the Summer Palace was not buried alone; upwards of twenty females share a grave with her. The powers that be demand Li fix the mess that was shown internationally as a New York bank CEO was the VIP digger in a sea of body parts.

Shanghai Public Security Serious Crime Squad Deputy chief Mei-Ling is assigned to assist Li, who learns from her that there are eighteen torsos and sixteen heads so far. Li's on and off Irish girlfriend pathologist Margaret Campbell arrives following the wake of her deceased father. Although the two ladies compete for the affection of Li, the trio works together realizing that someone apparently conducted autopsies on the female victims while they still lived; the cause of death in each case is the autopsy. They know preventing the monster from more killings comes before straightening out their personal relationships.

This excellent Chinese police procedural will please fans of that sub-genre immensely as this is a top rate whodunit in a country in which connections impedes the strong investigation much more so than in the United States where influence gets a great lawyer. The story line is action-packed and the triangle cleverly developed to allow the reader to understand the motivations including personal demons of the investigating team. However, as with THE FOURTH SACRIFICE, the novel belongs to Peter May's deep insightful look at modern China's Socialist market economy in which Shanghai is filled with Porches, sex shops, discos and nightclubs standing near traditional mom and pop stores.

Harriet Klausner

This is the first in what I hope to be many in this series. Linn Random has taken us to the small town of St. Gabrielle, Florida. It is the perfect setting for the contrasting worlds of Sage McCall of chaotic Los Angeles and Police Chief Jon Maddux of peaceful St. Gabrielle, Florida. Sage McCall is on a security assignment with a reality television crew from Hollywood, California. St. Gabrielle is buzzing because Hollywood has graced its presence on them.

However, not everyone is happy to have them in town. Head of Security, Sage McCall and Police Chief Jon Maddux are constantly butting heads over because of the show. They don't see eye-to-eye until the two are thrown into a sultry and intense investigation of passion, longing, and mystery.

This is yet another great novel from Linn Random that will leave you on the edge of your seat and biting your nails until the end. So grab a chaise, a glass of wine, some chocolate and smile for your close up with another Linn Random novel. Cheers!

I could tell you about how great the characters were, how enticing the book is but not only do you have to read this book as it is so worthy of a look, Make sure you get this book!

For some reason every book I have read by Linn Random seem to be getting better and better. This author is on my must read must have list.

Her stories take you into worlds that alone make you love her. Every thing scene arouses you making you forget every thing around you as you get so involved in the story. It is as if you are watching a movie run in your mind.

I for one am awaiting her next book to take me away.

Sage McCall is providing security for McMasters Studios, who is in Florida taping a new TV show. Things were going along fine until she discovers the body of a member of the production crew and has to call the Police Chief in the middle of the night! They go down hill fast after she finds the second body!

Police Chief Jon Maddux doesn't want the studio people in "his" small town - they bring back too many bad memories of his days as a DEA agent. When he receives a call in the middle of the night about the dead body, it just confirms his suspicions that his peaceful life is over, until they get done filming and get out of town!

Linn Random is one of the best when it comes to combining romance and suspense. I loved Sage and Jon and the "sparks" that flew whenever these two were together! Looking for a good romantic suspense to read? Grab LIGHTS. CAMERA. MURDER! It'll have you begging for more!

Sage McCall knows that she can provide security for the reality t.v. film set but it now seems that someone has a grudge against someone working on the film crew. Sage is unsure of whom to trust but now because of all the stranges happenings the local Sheriff, Jon Maddux is involved. Now they must join forces and discover who the culprit is before someone ends up murdered.

Lights. Camera. Murder! by Linn Random is a book that gives you spine tingling suspense and edge of your seat action. Linn Random is a talented author whose characters seem lifelike and so real, reading them is like being right there with them. Her detailed account of the scenery and surrounding area also gives credence to the story making it seem that you were almost watching it on T.V. I wholeheartedly recommend Lights. Camera. Murder! to those readers' who love the romantic suspense genre, it is a must buy!

LIGHTS, CAMERA, MURDER
ISBN 1-932866-77-9
LINN RANDOM
Rating 5 stars

Lights, Camera, Murder by Linn Random, is a spine-tingling, suspense filled, sensual romance. This story combines suspense with the most titillating sexual tension between the two main characters that it kept me riveted and at the edge of my seat.

Jon Maddux is the Chief of Police of the small coastal town of St. Gabrielle, Florida. When McMasters Studios decided to film their, popular reality show Murder in Florida, in St. Gabrielle, Jon was opposed. He did not want his small quiet town over run with Hollywood people and for it to become a tourist attraction; well that is, until he has the opportunity to meet Sage McCall the head of security on the production set. Will Jon be able to keep his cold "business only" demeanor? Moreover, will he allow Sage to show him that not all people in the entertainment industry are all bad?

Sage McCall is the head of security on the set of the much-anticipated Reality show Murder in Florida. Sage is one of three daughters of the famous Jack McCall, the owner and founder of a prestige's security firm in Los Angeles. Sage is very aware of the Chief of Police's strong dislike for the production company, and she knows the he tolerates them because he has to. When Sage has to wake him up in the middle of the night to report a murder on the production set, the last thing she expects when Jon walks onto the set is to feel this strong attraction for the gorgeously rugged Chief of Police. Will Sage be able to put aside some of these intense feelings in order to help find the killer?

Linn Random is a wonderfully talented and creative author. Lights, Camera, Murder is a story that begins with a murder on a television production set. It instantly grasps you; then keeps you riveted and guessing as to who the killer is. There is even one point when all clues lead to one person, and you, the reader think, that you got it, well then comes Ms. Random's ingenuity to foil your solution and expose a completely different twist. Ms. Random also has the delicious ability to intertwine a heartwarming love story in the midst of this murder. I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series; I hope it will be about Mallory McCall, one of Sages sisters. If you, like me love a suspense packed story, with a little romance then this book is for you. You will not be disappointed.

Dianne Nogueras

Reviewer for eCata Romance
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Linn Random
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It has been a while since I've picked up a book that has intrigued me from beginning to end, and has still kept me wondering. This young author seems to have a talent to tell a story and make it interesting even though most biographies fail to do so. It doesn't matter if you believe or disbelieve his story, the telling shows that either way, he has found his calling. I read the story from cover to cover and enjoyed every up and down in his young roller-coaster experience. I highly recommend that you buy, beg, steal or borrow this book!

If you buy one book this year, get this book. It's a fast-paced, expertly-written rolller coaster ride about a kid and his fight to save his career and his reputation. It's so well written that it's almost like watching a movie. The book is not really about being a cop - if mean, if you want the foot pursuits and 911 calls and what it's like to wear the uniform, that's all there of course - but the book is really about love and loss and coming to terms with the hand that life deals you. If you've ever lost something that was everything to you, then reading this book will literally rip your heart out. Highly recommended!

What a book!! I know the author but never expected to read a story like this. He wrote one of the most amazing real-life books I have ever read. I enjoyed it so much, I could not put it down it took me only two days on the train to read it, that is how good it is. I can only hope that it brings him much success and hope he continues to write more books like this one.

The author is a local from my area (NYC) and I got my hands on a copy of LOST WINGS the first day it was released. The book started off a little slow but once I got into it, I could not put the book down! While the book involves the story of a police officer that lost his job, I think it's something that just about anyone can identify with. It is also interesting because the cop himself wrote the book. Overall a great book!

This is a great book! The book is about an ex-cop who unfairly lost his job. The author unveils deep dark secrets about the NYPD by exposing the hidden truth about New York's Finest. You will be shocked to learn how cops think and why they treat civilians the way they do. I read the book and I think it's great! Whether you love or hate cops, I recommend this book to everyone! Let the truth about law enforcement be known!

Could NOT put the book down. Was on vacation up IN the Yukon riding on the Yukon Queen DOWN the Yukon River. And probably missed lots of great scenery because was reading this book. Read it in less than 24 hours. What a great writing style and format!!
One, after reading it, should then see the Charles Bronson/Lee Marvin move about it... The book of course gives alot more details and background but the movie is great too.
Reading the book makes you want to go out and buy a bowie knife and build a cabin!

It was a bitterly cold December 26, 1931 when four members of the RCMP approached the small cabin of a mysterious trapper named Albert Johnson. There sole intent was to question Johnson about a complaint made by a neighbouring trapper concerning traps that had been tampered with. But without a word, the trapper fired upon the constables, injuring one. Shortly thereafter, Johnson had disappeared into the bush, thus instigating an epic manhunt that would last close to fifty days, and span some 150 miles.

Forty years later, author Dick North set out to document the story, and, more importantly, try and cast light on the identity of the mysterious Albert Johnson. Relying heavily on eye-witness accounts, North pieces together an interesting, sometimes rivetting story. But admittedly, there are limitations, and in the end, much is left to conjecture.

North concludes that Albert Johnson was more than likely a man who also went by the name of Arthur Nelson, and who for seven years prior to his death supposedly trapped and prospected in northern Saskatchewan and British Columbia. Alway quiet and "non-commital" this Arthur Nelson came and went mysteriously, and exhibited traits quite similar to that of the Mad Trapper.

Although disdained by some--especially women, around whom he evidently was extremely shy--many were understanding of his peculiar loner idiocincricies. But, provided that this Arthur Nelson is in fact Albert Johnson--which appears to be fairly likely--he apparently grew increasingly paranoid and suspicious of people. All of which led people to believe that he was hiding something. And as is always the case, there is much speculation as to what it was.

The author addresses this at the end of the book, but given that there is little evidence to work with, it's left to the reader to decide: was he a murderer, illegal immigrant, or simply a misanthrope caught up in events beyond his control?

All and all, a very interesting book and thrilling read, but in order to get the fully story--supposedly--of who the Mad Trapper was, one has to read Trackdown, which was published in 1989.

Trackdown is the result of twenty-odd years of North's obsessive research into the identity of the Mad Trapper. In the first part of the book, North addresses several theories of who the Mad Trapper could have been, but in each case he manages to uncover evidence that dismiss these individuals.

The turning point in his hunt comes when he was contacted by the North Dakota State Historical Society. As it turns out, there is a small article in a county history stating that the Mad Trapper may have in fact been a man by the name of Johnny Johnson.

Born Johan Konrad Jonsen in Norway in 1898, Johnson had emigrated to the USA with his parent at the age of six. Life in Dakota was a constant struggle and brought the family little gain, so at a young age Johnson reverted to crime. This resulted in several prison sentences before finally in 1923 he disappeared, presumably heading north into Canada.

Initially, I was very skeptical about this theory; to me, there was little resemblence between the three mug shots of Johnny Johnson, the 1930 Ross River photo showing Arthur Nelson and the pictures of the dead Mad Trapper. But as I read on, North did put together a compelling argument, and the more I read and the more I studied the pictures, the more plausable it all became. Interestingly, the Johnson family had in fact been in contact with the RCMP several years after the incident; Johnson's mother, having seen the picture of the Mad Trapper, was certain that he was her son. But the RCMP dismissed this claim, as it did all other such claims, leaving the mystery unsolved.

While North's argument seems plausable, I was still left with a nagging sense of doubt. While his evidence is compelling, it is far from conclusive and could quite easily be picked apart by someone with the time and resources to do so. One way to solve the matter would of course be to exhume the Mad Trapper and take DNA samples and conduct other forensic tests. North, believing that the body would still be in reasonably good shape, attempted to do this; but these efforts were stymied by the locals.

So although North presents a compelling argument for Johnny Johnson being the Mad Trapper, the case is not closed. The myth lives on.

Thes is a very interesting story.It is well written and well researched.It was also done by Rudy Weibe and Thomas P.Kelley.
Kelley also wrote "the Black Donnellys".His style was much different;more along the lines of a Pulp fiction writer;where the story is essentially the same,but greatly embellished with fictional conversation,descriptions of events and details whenever needed to tell the story as excitedly as possible.
In Johnson's Case, he had every right to refuse entry to someone without a warrant.It may not have been smart on his part,and no doubt really angered the law.So on the return visit the law was going to get him regardless;blow him away if necessary (they were armed and equipped with explosives to do it).What Johnson's mental state was ,who knows,except those who came to get him;and they tried.Don't forget they really had nothing on him at this point except their pride was damaged because of his resisting. What really happened ;there,s only their side of the story. At this point Johnson was in a no win situation and the law knew it,and so did he.I remind you again,the law was in total control when they set off this chain of events.
In the case of the Black Donnellys ;they opened their door to the demand of a constable and posse and 4 defenseless people were murdered and their home burned down on top of them.
These are two very sad stories in Canadian history ;neither one resolved,but both deserve to be known.
Without books like these, stories like these, would be swept under the carpet.
This is real history;not the stuff about trappers exploring a river in a canoe and asking students what they were called.
This brings to mind what a War Correspondant once said;
"Don't believe a politician or anyone in uniform."

Awesome read, very well written with plenty of facts to back up Mr. North's work. You appreciate his passion for a definitive answer to who A.Johnson truely was. It is sad that the Canadian's refused to solve the mystery. Nevertheless, I am one of the believer's John Johnson was the Mad Trapper.

This book has been a big seller for many years... and the inspiration for motion pictures such as CHALLENGE TO BE FREE. No one knew who the "Mad Trapper" was til author Dick North tracked him down -- all spelled out in this and a later book,"Trackdown." You'll thrill to this tale of a powerful but desperate human being who led the Canadian Mounties in an incredible chase through the lofty Richardson Mountains in the dead of winter.

The Mad Trapper was the inspiration for still another book about the frozen north -- MARK OF THE WHITE WOLF, an e-book out of Blue Knight Enterprises in Hyde Park, NY.

as a sophmore in high school in 1978. I needed something to read and just happened to check it out. I was floored by the story and to this day still recommend it to my friends. Somehow as a gangly insecure teenager I related to this book which I read around the same time as the film "My Bodyguard" was released; another classic in film form.

This book kept me on the couch totally absorbed and turning pages. I don't want to give any of it away but if this was required reading in high school many more students would come to love reading and the history of the book is just as interesting. Go ahead spend the day with these characters, you won't be sorry.

It is fascinating tale of adolescent boys set in the suburbs of New York City. After a prom night party, where Ed, a sixteen year old master magician, performs in front of the entire school , he gets beaten by another sixteen year old boy, yurrick, who is a under achiever, a "lower class" slob. Ed's father and his girl friend, who also gets roughed up, are the eye witness to the horrid affair. The case goes to trial. Yurrick even goes to the hospital where Ed is in the intensive care unit, and cuts the oxygen tube. He is caught running away from the room after his dastardly act.

However, the under achiever is represented by a brilliant attorney, Tomassi, who makes a mockery of the judicial system. All he has to do is to convince one out of 12 jurors of his client's innocence and make the whole affair look like a kids brawl. The reader is caught up in the emotions and wants to shout out loudly for justice but then again if we are in the same situation, we would pick up the phone and ask for Tomassi!.

A brilliant commantary on our court system.

"The Magician" allows your eyes to sail through the pages as if there weren't words but actual events and thoughts occurring before you. Entertaining, powerful, emotional, and immensely smooth, Stein's masterpiece will not disappoint.

It's hard to believe how few people know of this book. I first heard of it while reading one of Sol Stein's books on writing. From his own descriptions of it my curiosity was piqued and I resolved to find a copy of it if I could. Two years later I was fortunate enough to pick it up at a book sale and read the whole thing during the course of a six hour road journey and two nine hour flights on my way to and from Japan.

I was not expecting it to be as good as it was. Surely more people know of this book?

In a way, dare I say it, this book recalls To Kill a Mockingbird to my mind. They are similar in that they both deal with legal ethics, youngsters and America in the 20th century. The similarity probably stops there.

The premise is that Ed Japhet, aged sixteen, is an ameteur magician, and a pretty good one at that. Not only is he skilled in sleight of hand, he also oozes charisma and intelligence. He is the sort of young man that people can often be jealous of, and this is where the trouble begins.

To speak more of the plot would be to give it away, as I found that part of the pleasure in reading this book was not knowing anything about what was going to happen.

It is part legal thriller, part social commentary, and definitely worth a look at.

I really enjoyed this mystery. It is well written (entirely in the first-person) and quite funny. I am a former university scientist and enjoyed his accurate (but exaggerated) depiction of university politics, as well as his clear and accurate explanations of biological principles. A reader without a scientific background will learn a bit of science, and about the way university science gets done. While this book has no pretense of being literature, it is a real novel with believable characters you care about.

In summary, this mystery is suspenseful and funny, while describing a world you may not know much about, through characters you care about. What more could you want? Highly recommended.

Medical school is known for being tough: pulling all nighters, cramming for exams and fighting cutthroat competition. In Medical School is Murder, we get a decidedly different (and much more thrilling) point of view. Through the eyes of protagonist Ben Candidi, the reader goes along a journey of uncovering the hidden agendas of faculty members and corruption of administrators in a major university. This is the side of med school the students never get to see! I pulled an all-nighter reading this book. The suspense makes this latest Wyle mystery hard to put down.
Biotechnology and medical terms weave seamlessly into the plot. Wyle often uses scientific principles as metaphors, showing the hidden aspects of characters. This blend of science with literature makes for a refreshing read: through the eyes of a young scientist we get an unexpected viewpoint. Throughout the suspense, intrigue, corruption (and yes: the love story too) I actually felt smarter when I put the book down. Given the changed world we now live in, with the new threat of harmful biological agents - this murder mystery is not just an entertaining read, it is enlightening as well.

Medical School is Murder is typical of Dirk Wyle's well-crafted, spell-binding series of mysteries, and he gets better with each novel. Sorry, Jonathan Kellerman, but you have serious competition in Dirk Wyle. A must read for all fiction lovers!

Author Dirk Wyle is at it again. In his smartly drawn "Medical School
is Murder," he's managed to synthesize the worst of crimes with the
best of science, and put them together in a setting that academics
would especially find riveting -- a university campus.

"Medical School is Murder" is Wyle's third Ben Candidi mystery and as
with the first two, Wyle puts his reluctant hero into jeopardy that
emerges as a byproduct of seemingly ordinary circumstances. This time
around, Ben is asked to return to Bryan Medical School in Miami and
finish out the term of an eccentric professor whose body was found in
a canal near the school. All indications suggest that the professor,
Pete Peterson, fell into the canal after suffering a heart attack.
Ben isn't all that keen on taking the job; he'll have to leave his
soul mate behind for a good chunk of time. But accepting the position
will present him with once-in-a-lifetime opportunities, not to
mention a much-needed boost to his income, and so he agrees.

All is not well at Bryan Medical School, however, and the more deeply
Ben immerses himself in Peterson's life, the closer he gets to
uncovering a shocking scenario that a lot of his own colleagues
would rather he not explore. When he presses on, the quiet halls of
academia explode in a life-and-death drama that calls for an equal
measure of brain and brawn. Ben's a survivor, but he's no Rambo.
Whether he makes it is entirely up to Dirk Wyle and the wily twists
and turns he always brings to his mysteries.

Sit back. Enjoy the ride. Learn a little science on the way.

Dirk Wyle is a pseudonym for Duncan H. Haynes, Ph.D. in molecular biology and 30-year veteran of biomedical science. Since 1973 Dr. Haynes has served as a medical school professor in Miami for the past twenty-five years, conducting research in blood coagulation and drug delivery. He has experience with numerous grants, the pharmaceutical industry, and outside financial donors. Eschewing guns, he plots his murders using more devious and interesting weapons.

Ben Candidi returns after the exciting Pharmacology is Murder and Biotechnology is Murder. He has received his coveted Ph.D. and is working with patents for the feds in Washington, D.C. when he is not on his boat with fiancee Rebecca Levis (M.D.). But in murder mysteries life does not remain idyllic for long, and Ben answers a call to return to his alma mater, Bryan Medical School, to take over a grant after fellow scientist Dr. Peter Peterson suddenly dies. Peterson has stipulated in his will that he wants his biography written, which seems like a whim until Ben meets up with a hostile Dean of the College and is attacked in Dr. Peterson's apartment:

"No accident--attacked by a man,'" came the diagnostic from my shocked cerebrum. Escaping. You'll lose him in a few seconds.' I willed myself to my knees and crawled in the direction of the sound. Stumbled to my feet and groped along the wall. A door slammed in the distance. I ran through the front door, hitting my shoulder on its metal frame."

Wyle creates Ben as the playful idealized man: mensa member; looks like Frankie Avalon; can fight like a pit bull; has a steady relationship with the beautiful Rebecca while tossing off adversaries with stumbling panache and outwitting the evil administration. Sounds like a winning recipe, and it is. Medical School is Murder is pure and simple entertainment. Ben Candidi is his adorable self, and Dirk Wyle knows how to stun and delight the reader with clear science put into layman's terms. Medical School is Murder continues Dirk Wyle's winning ways as a feature science mystery writer. Ben is a bicycle-wielding, high energy Gen-Xer who is just rebellious enough to be considered brilliant.

Shelley Glodowski, Reviewer

I picked up "Mirror Murders" on the recommendation of a friend. Psychological thrillers are not my usual choice for reading, so I was skeptical. That soon changed. I was totally mesmerized from the beginning. The characters are so well defined, and you can't help feeling for each and every one of them, even the bad guys. The story line kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through. I'm on my way to pick up "Screams from the Furnace" from the brilliant mind of Marjaree Mayne, and can hardly wait. Please keep them coming, Miss Mayne.

One of the best books, I have read in a very long time. Just as
good as Stephen Kings books. Marjaree Mayne is an excellent writer. I hope she keeps them coming.

Mirror Murder is a psychological horror that goes beyond the norm. Ms. Mayne has taken a situation that evokes sympathy, the plight of Siamese (conjoined) twins and spins a tale with so many double backs that it's impossible to know ending. It'll keep a reader up very late at night and the story will stay with the reader. Excellently crafted, the story will enthrall a reader to the very last page. It's so well done that even by reading the ending first, there's no way a reader would know the story. Excellent! I'm a fan of King, Koontz, Straub, Kellerman and McCammon; if you like these readers, you'll love Mayne. Can't wait to read her next book!!!...

VERY suspensful! I received this book at 1 in the morning and needless to say I got no sleep that night. I couldn't put it down! I finished it in under 5 hours!! A record for me! Usually about the 6th or 7th chapter I know who it is that is the bad "guy" but this one had me going! I was surprised to find that I had been wrong all along!! I love it!!

I am a mystery reader. I read Mirror Murder and even when I wasn't reading it, I was thinking about it. Ms. Mayne gets her readers right into the story without a lot of dragging around. She holds their attention and I like the fact that even though the main characters were bad, you still liked them. I would suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.