Murder Books

Mysterious Persons in History is more than just a review of the facts of famous unsolved cases, it is a book that stretches the capacity of the reader to think critcically. I like the Mysterious Persons book's way of simply stating facts, while building into the narration challenging issues of credibility, bias, incongruity and accuracy. Author Fred Neff's book does not take traditional versions of history as true, but rather gives little known facts and alternative explanations for the reader to ponder and factor in to making their own decision. Obviously no author can give a simple formula to use to solve a mystery; if that was so these cases would not be unsolved mysteries because there would be a clear concensus of opinion as to their solution based upon a common method of resolution. What Minnesota lawyer Fred Neff has done is to use his book as an instrument to challenge the reader's mind to bring out the best of their individual thinking processes to find a solution. The mysteries selected by lawyer Fred Neff involve Lizzie Borden, Jack the Ripper, Sir Harry Oaks, Napoleon Bonaparte, Dr. Sam Sheppard, William Taylor, The Black Dahlia and John Dillenger. The chapter on Jack the Ripper was particularly intriguing to me since I have had an interest in Jack The Ripper for many years. Although I have read several books on the subject before reading the chapter devoted to the Ripper in lawyer Fred Neff's book, no other writing made me want to explore the forensic aspects of the case to find a personal solution to the crime. For example, Mysterious Persons in History gives the best narration of the Jack the Ripper murders I have ever read; unlike writings by other authors who supplied spoon-fed answers that left me dissatisfied with their conclusions, attorney Fred Neff provided both commonly known and little known facts along with challenging questions that prompted me to try to come up with my own personal solution to the mystery. The writing style employed in Mysterious Persons is unique in that author Fred Neff, who is a lawyer in Minnesota, uses a blend of the socratic method with good old fashioned common sense to explore the mysteries. That the book is written by Fred Neff, an experienced trial lawyer in Minnesota who has received many awards for his outstanding contributions such as the city of St. Paul Citizen of the Month award, commendation from the Sibley County Attorney's Office, WCCO Good Neighbor Award, the HLS Justice Award, Lamp of Knowledge Award from the Twin Cities Lawyers Guild and Presidential Medal of Merit Award, is a definite bonus. Lawyer Fred Neff provides a presentation of historical facts in an intriguingly different manner that is different from the ordinary recitation of facts so often seen. The Mysterious Persons In History book is not only interesting to adults like me, but has the potential to be a very useful tool to help develop young peoples' critical thinking skills. From my perspective Mysterious Persons is truly a great book.

I enjoyed this book very much and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in mysterious people and events. The book's style is readable, interesting and entertaining. The topics selected and the very readable format makes it a great book to encourage the "reluctant" reader. Both of my children enjoyed the book and are interested in finding out more about the people and the mysteries discussed in the book.

This book on famous unsolved murder cases (which is primarily for a junior high school/high school-aged audience) was written by an accomplished attorney, educator and Presidential Merit Award winner. This 107-page volume is very good for a number of reasons: i) it teaches issue-spotting, critical thinking and analytical writing by example, ii) it deals with complex issues in language a teenager can follow, iii) it deals with sometimes sordid topics in tasteful, nonsalacious language and iv) it contains a detailed bibliography and will likely excite some curiousity in its readers for further study.

Fans of detective stories will love Mysterious Persons in History that explores controversial unsolved mysteries such as Jack the Ripper, Harry Oaks, Lizzie Borden, Napoleon and others. Each person is covered in a separate chapter where fascinating facts and questions related to this person are explored. The reader gets a chance to ponder and resolve each of these cases. It is great fun to work with the facts supplied to solve these time tested mysteries. Mysterious Persons is a terrific way to learn history and practice problem solving at the same time as enjoying true life mystery cases.

Take a look back in time and examine eight of the greater unsolved mysteries by reading Mysterious Persons in History by Fred Neff. There are stories on Lizzie Borden, Jack the Ripper, Sir Harry Oaks, Napoleon Bonaparte, Dr. Sam Shepard, William Taylor, The Black Dahlia and John Dillenger. Each of these stories is simply put a gem. This book really captures the readers attention with its well written and interesting approach to not only learning the facts that are involved in each mystery, but the questions that remain unanswered. The reader really gets involved in each of the eight mysteries just as though he was a detective solving the mystery. The book is wonderful!

I was privileged to hear Jesse Sublett speak at ConMisterio in Austin. The way he presented himself and talked about his book intrigued me. A great-grandmother, I've never been particularly fond of rock music, but I bought the book and read it on my airplane ride back to California.

Mr. Sublett pours his heart and soul out in this book. It gave me some insight into the make-up of a musician. The way he writes about his music and how it makes him feel is revealing, especially to someone like me who had no prior knowledge.

However, the meat of the story is how the murder of his girlfriend affects his whole life, and how that devastating event also changes him and eventually even influences his choices during his life-threatening illness.

Once I began reading, I couldn't stop. I highly recommend Never the Same Again.

Marilyn Meredith, the author of Wishing Makes It So and Wingbeat

Aside from his music, Jesse Sublett is known for his pulp detective novels. Here he turns his gaze inward, and exercises his detection skills to unravel his past and come to terms with an event which has troubled his sleeping and waking since its occurence. One of the few memoirs that I have read which treats the author's younger self with neither condesencion nor contempt: it captures his innocence even in "rebellion", and the lovely part is, that although he faced both the brutal murder of a lover and a deadly disease, that innocence has survived and blossomed into a new life.

It's gotta be a wild hopscotch between playing first wave punk in the late 70s and turning into a detective novelist for the next two decades. Yet, like his idol James Ellroy, Jesse Sublett's own life was imprinted with death. Sublett's talent lies not just in the vivid depiction of a nascent music scene in Austin, Texas but his deft juxtaposition of it as a man living with a dark memory and what might have been a bleak future. With wry humor and insight, Never The Same Again is in a category of its own in the rock book pantheon, an autiography turned up to 11.

Although marketed as "A Rock 'N' Roll Gothic," this remarkable book deserves a much wider readership. Jesse Sublett's very literate story should be required reading for everyone over the age of sixteen.

His autobiographical story is a cautionary tale in which he visits the darker sides of his life head-on with incredible courage--traveling back to the one tragic event that was to shape his entire life. How he deals (and doesn't deal) with this tragedy is what makes this book a compelling read. It is a survivor's story written in an honest and candid style.

This is not an easy book! Reader's may be confronted with their own demons along the way but Jesse's ultimately hopeful and positive message shines through--leading the way!

Family, friends, music, creativity, tears, laughter, and ultimately understanding meld together to form a powerful mix in this very human story of one man's journey.


Note:
I was first introduced to Jesse at an evening signing event in our bookshop in Glendale, CA. Both my wife and I were impressed with this tall thin man from Texas with such an easy manner. I might not have investigated this book had it not been for Jesse's reading that evening. Thank you, Jesse! Keep writing!

The best compliment I can give Mr. Sublett is that after the first third of the book, I had to put the book down, go smoke a cigarette and then didnt pick the book back up for about 3 weeks. The events of his life are gripping, entertaining, funny and sad. Jesse defianlty has a story to tell, but in the same way, his writing reminds us that we ALL have a story to tell. That good and bad things happen to everyone. I really liked his writing style. Certain phrases and ideas really stuck in my head - lines like "her eye's didnt see me" and the tape loop running over and over. These are both events that I could identitfy with in my own life. I too was involved in a murder trial in which I was there with body before the police came. I really dont talk much about it because I feel like no one I know has been in that position and Jesse's words summed it all up. It made me revisit my past.
Overall, I highly recommend this book - especially to those who actually live in Austin. Reading about all the clubs that are now long gone and reading the back stories on people who play everyweekend here in Austin was great. The idea of John Dee Graham at 17 is a trip. Also I think struggling austin musicains will also find this book to be inspiring and an eye opener to how success in the music biz goes; the reality of it.
I loved how this book ended but what I think would be even cooler is when Dashille is older, that he writes a book from his prospective starting off where this book ends. Now that would be cool. Congrats Mr. Sublett on a great book. Much love to Lois and the most handsome man. I now will pass it on...

Unfourtanitly, this book shows us just how our justice system has failed us. I read true crime books avidly, and have for many years,this book has stuck with me mainly because it made me angry that someone could continue to get away with murder so many times,and slip through the fingers of justice whithout notice. The book is brilliantly written and takes the reader to places they may not want to go. I belive that if you read this book you will agree.

Assuming Bob Stewart is not one of the probably justifiably obscure Bob Stewarts found in a search of Amazon which yielded 34 items listed, this is either a terrific first foray into true crime, or "Bob Stewart"'s a pseudonym, and, because this is a terrific read, I, for one, would like to know whose. Either way, fans of the genre daren't miss 'No Remorse.' Especially brilliant is Stewart's reconstruction of a 1966 triple murder; wonderful and often chilling anecdotal information from the victims' families highlights fine reporting of the killings, and Stewart's account of the stay of execution granted Kenneth McDuff--which had unexpected and tragic consequences twenty years later--is highly entertaining. This is a book which proves the rule of my liberal, anti-death penalty resolve, and such tests are always welcome. And yes, it's suitably gory.

Bob Stewart can write! I'm a retired Chgicago Police Sgt. and I could not put this book down! The writer glues you to every page - it's like your there and you can feel everything as if you were on the scene...This is a must read for everyone who loves a fine investigation, and who wants the "real stuff" and not fluff from some "wanna bee who done it nut". Having conducted my own investigations for many years, I can say the author, Bob Stewart could have had my job any day he wanted! The man can write real life and make it all feel like your in the car with this criminal...This Book should be made into a FILM! Andy Murcia

Bob Stewart has done it again. To put it simply...outstanding! I found his literary performance riveting. I stayed up until 4 in the morning unable to put this one down. For fans of this genre, dont resist!! Let Stewart ingulf you in the web of intricate story-telling that only he can create!!

This book is a rarity in the true crime genre' and gives methodically researched details in the most interesting format. The story reads like a novel, a fiction, and you keep reminding yourself that yes, there really was someone as truly evil and sociopathic as McDuff. Fortunately he will never harm another person.

This pychological thriller is probably the best-written book (use of language, specifically) I've read in a long while. It initiated a lot of discussion in my family about the need for compassion as well as punishment, rather than revenge, in dealing with criminals and the wisdom to know when to apply each. We also need -- the public -- to become interested and informed about our judicial system. My only caviat, and it is personal, is Portia READ WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING. This may be reality today, but an author does not need to reinforce something that is potentially dangerous. One small mistake, and someone ELSE may suffer. I loved the book anyway.

Tbis book is great - suspenseful and well-written, it leaves the reader wanting to read more. I'm ready for the next one.

A psychological thriller. This appears to be the first of a new series about a Charlotte-based forensic psychologist, Portia McTeague. Just released, already a best seller in England--this first novel by Faye Sultan is a "must read".

A North Carolina psychologist, I eagerly await this book's publication, having been impressed for some years with the genius and humanity of Faye Sultan. Susan D. Griffith, Ph.D.

Jimmy Weir is a transient who drifted into the small town of Dixon, South Carolina. He currently lives in the loft of an old tobacco barn in exchange for keeping the property in reasonably decent shape. He works as a delivery boy for the local grocer, an easy job for a simple person. The townsfolk do not care that Jimmy seems a bit touched in the head as long as he correctly does his job and remains out of trouble. After three years elapse, Jimmy is taken for granted, though not quite accepted by the locals. None of Dixon's citizens realize how much rage resides inside his soul or that without provocation his anger will be unleashed, resulting in the rape and mutilation and death of two elderly women.

The crime drew national media attention, making it the domain of the state's attorney general, who plans to use it as a springboard for a senate candidacy run. The attorney general plans to call for the death penalty when the perpetrator is found guilty. This decision forces forensic psychologist Portia McTeague to join the defense team. After evaluating Jimmy, she concludes that he is not guilty by reason of insanity. Now she must prove the obvious to those who refuse to hear the truth, even as she must battle her own traumas that rival the horror that Jimmy has endured.

Fay Sultan and Teresa Kennedy have created a very dynamic, complex, and memorable work that examines the flaws in the judicial system when it comes to dealing with the mentally ill. Unlike similar story lines, OVER THE LINE, goes one step further by analyzing the close relationship between an impassioned psychiatrist and her mentally disturbed client. The story line deals less with right or wrong, but more with society's responsibility to deal with those incapable of taking care of themselves.Somehow this work touches the souls of its readers, making them feel emotions they never previously considered when it pertains to unsettling social issues. This literary work of crime fiction brings the New Year off to a great start.

Harriet Klausner

Cheryl Hagedorn is a late bloomer in the world of writing and publishing. She gained her Masters Degree in Writing from DePaul University after a varied career that included computer programming; the Salvation Army; and actually teaching writing at the setting of her mystery, the Park Ridge Senior Center. She's also taught writing at the Chicago Department on Aging. She is a member of the Emily Dickenson International Society and the Illinois Philological Association.

What happens at Senior Centers? Do people form cliques? This is what Cheryl Hagedorn uses as the basis for her PD James type of psychological mystery. Hagedorn's own Park Ridge Senior Center serves as the backdrop. A group of long-term pinochle players dare each other to commit murder to get rid of the pushy active members of the Senior Center. Four modus operandi's form a confusing soup for Detective Stanley Nevins, son of Stella Nevins, another Senior Center attendee. To make things worse, Stan drops by to see his mother, only to discover that she has been seeing one of the pinochle players:

"A kaleidoscope of emotions zoomed through the detective's head. THE PROFESSOR! THE GUY PLAYING CARDS FROM THE CENTER WHO HAD CALLED STAN 'STUNNING SHEILA'S SON.' THE ONE WHO DID THE THING ABOUT ALLITERATION. He took a seat near the window. The coffee table with its two cups, two dirty dessert plates loomed between them and him. The two men eyed each other. Gus lifted his chin as if defying Stan to speak."

Hagedorn does a nice job of recreating daily business at a Senior Center and creating characters who are interesting. Human nature drives her plot, and one can imagine the seething resentments, even in a place that should be completely non-threatening. But there's the rub. Take a seemingly neutral environment and add passion and cruelty, and one has an excellent plot. Hagedorn's own understanding of human nature from years of experience provides the spark, and her writing skills tell the rest of the story. PARK RIDGE is an entertaining whodunit that rates with Agatha Christie and could easily convert to an enticing television movie.

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

Reviewed by Debra Gaynor for Reader Views (1/07)

Park Ridge is a senior center in Chicago. Like at most senior centers, the members play cards, play pool, visit and take dance classes. Jack, Ellie, Margaret and the Professor play cards each day. Gordon was less than enthusiastic about Jack. "Hot headed Jack with his typical short man's bluster coupled with an acid tongue had a hard time being civil to anyone including the director. Don't know how those other folk put up with him." The feeling was mutual. Jack just plain didn't like Gordon.

When Gordon is found murdered, his fellow card-playing friends consider Jack the prime suspect. A lively discussion ensues on who each would like to murder. "Presuming, of course, that the perpetrator would not be discovered, and therefore, not apprehended? If I didn't think that I would get caught, I would select as target for my exercise the esteemed (but not by me) Benjamin Wilson, resident computer guru, I loathe that man."

So begins the game of murder.

Detective Stanley Nevins is sent to investigate the case. From the moment he and Teresa Cusentino, director Park Ridge, lay eyes on each other, they feel an attraction. As Stan investigates the escalating case his relationship with Teresa grows stronger.

Cheryl Hagedorn's "Park Ridge" is a delightful murder mystery. The plot is interesting and not only held my attention but also was extremely funny. The characters are well developed. Jack, Margaret, and Ellie were a senior center's worst nightmare -- out of control card players, developing a new game, one that's deadly. The romance between Stan and Teresa was nicely developed without rushing things. I eagerly turned pages to see what the seniors would come up with next. This is an excellent read. I highly recommend this book to all mystery lovers.

Park Ridge is traditional mystery genre with a touch of romance, and I quote from the back cover:

"On a day in late February, in a small, northwestern suburb of Chicago, four card players began the complex process of bidding for the privilege of calling trump. The winner, Jack Buchtel, named trump. The trump he named was murder."

This was a good read, primarily because Cheryl Hagedorn is a good writer. I must say, however, that I had a bit of a problem with the motivation for the murders. It seems these days that just about anything which annoys a person is an adequate reason to end another person's life . . . and I don't think this applies solely to senior citizens. That would be the only criticism I might make of this novel.

We know who the murderers are and so, the challenge is how the detective solves the crime and gets his girl. If you're a mystery buff, you'll most likely enjoy this well-written tale.

Elderly pinochle players at a suburban senior center are pushed too far by seniors who want them to get up and get going. They make trump murder. Each player chooses the person at the center who annoys them the most and comes up with a creative way to get rid of them. Four murderers and five different methods (including a banana). Insight into the thought process of the murders makes for a "whydunit" instead of a "whodunit" approach.

Park Ridge successfully combines murders with romance when the suburban cowboy detective and the senior center director find themselves attracted to each other.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to the sequel.

I worked in an adult day center and this new author has developed characters that are very much like people with whom I worked. While I usually enjoy figuring out who the murderers are, discovering the "why" is an interesting twist. The book has romance, intrigue, and psychological suspense while five people are murdered (one with a banana). An excellent and fast read. Good for discussion groups (questions supplied on author's website). Can't wait for the next book.

The novel, The Perfect Shot, by Elaine Marie Alphin, is probably the best book I have ever read. It is basically about a teenager named Brian Hammek. He was outside playing basketball, and he watches his girlfriend get murdered. He loves to play basketball. One day he went to court to try to set his girlfriend's father free, he was kicked out of the courtroom and he hid in the bathroom and was threatened by his girlfriend's murderer. After a game he was up in his room when the murderer broke into his house and tried to kill him. He made the perfect shot on the murderer and saved his family's lives. I think the pace of this book was different than you would find in other books. It starts out fast, but then it slows down. In the end it speeds back up again. If you like thrillers, than this is a book you need to read. You never what is going to happened. That is a quick review of The Perfect Shot.

I saw this book in the bookstore and read the inside cover and thought it sounded very good. But I didn't get to read it for a few months, so I let my camp friend borrow it, and when he finished it in a few weeks, he said it was a very great book.

The story is well played out, and the characters are very great. I loved the mystery within it all, and the sadness throughout. This is a wonderful teen book that is quite amazing, and every teen who enjoys sports books or mystery books should buy this, because it's very entertaining.

I loved this book so much! I dont see how anyone couldn't. i read it for fun and it turned out to teach me a lot about love and about law. I can understand things more clearly by relating experiences to experiences of the characters. their lives are magnificently changing and understandable. i would reccomend this book to people who love teen murder mysteries and amazing pieces of writing that touch your heart. this book made me feel, it made me cry, it made me laugh. this book is about life and understanding the situation. the characters' struggles are real and exciting. this book is amazing.
I couldnt put this book down, but at some parts i had to, this story is very intense and that made it all the more lovely.
the murder of one boy's girlfriend turns into a path to life discovery, a path that leads to the meaning of everything. read this book and follow young Brian, go down the path with him. you will discover too.

I read this book based on a student recommendation. What a welcome surprise. This author deserves much more recognition for her talent. I look at and read Young Adult books all the time, but I knew nothing of this book.

The Perfect Shot is a wonderful look at teen life and the struggles human beings go through when dealing with a loss. This book is also an experienced look at the struggles young adults go through when trying to figure out what their place is in this world.

The book does all of the above and accelerates the plot with a suspenseful ending that will leave the reader wanting to read whatever this author produces.

This book is a gem of a Young Adult book. This is a definite must-read.

I am now going to backtrack and read this author's other books, one of which is an Edgar Award winner.

Like other reviewers, I think this is a great story. There are multiple levels to the plot--a murder mystery, a run at a basketball championship, a school project mirroring real life, a friendship tested. Even with all these elements working together, the story isn't convoluted. The start of the story, though, does drag a bit, especially compared to the fast pace of the rest of the novel. Overall a great read, though--another great one by this author!--and one that boys and girls alike would enjoy.

The Pictograph Murders by P. G. Karamesines is the story of Alex McKelvey and her desperate struggle to seek happiness by moving to the desert country of Utah with Kit, her Siberian husky. Swiftly carrying readers through a purely captivating tale of mystery and suspense that continues to hold the readers full and unabated attention from first page to last, The Pictograph Murders compels Alex through an investigation involving the archeological study of pots, witchcraft, and murder as the archaeological excavation site-owner disappears, and Alex's only lead is the site itself, and the mysterious arrival of a Coyote-figured stranger. A beautifully crafted mystery thriller, The Pictograph Murders is very highly recommended for mystery buffs as an enthralling tale of murder, archeology, myth, and an eccentric young woman who is determined to discover the truth.

Pictograph Murders pulls you in during its early chapters of character building supported with intriquing Indian folklore story. The read teases your mind as you become more entrenched in both subtle and overt plot and character twists. By half way through the book you want to cancel other plans and keep reading...by two thirds of the way through you DO cancel other plans and keep reading! I can hardly wait for the sequel, Loon Woman, to come out!

Karamesines is an exceptional writer. Her images are vivid and inspirational. Alex, the main character, is wonderful. I was drawn to her and her companion, Kit, instantly. I can't wait to see where Karamesines takes them next.
I was not able to put this book down! I am ready to join an archeological dig today!

I loved this book! I chose this book for my book club to read last month and we all enjoyed it very much and look forward to the sequel. There are many topics of interest and layers to this book so we had a great discussion. I liked how the character of Alex developed through the book. Tony was positively creepy! The author did a great job with him as protagonist. The Indian folklore throughout this book was enchanting, enriching and extremely interesting. You can tell the author really loves the desert, outdoors, and has experienced life which is all to the readers benefit since we are able to revel in her descriptive phraseology - beautiful use of language! All in all an impressive first book.

This is a great murder mystery. It could be considered reminiscent of Hercule Poirot, but it definitely stands on its own. Pictograph Murders is set in the American southwest and the desert flavor is evident throughout. If you've never experienced the desert with its intense kind of sunlight, then you might wonder what all the serenading in Pictograph Murders is all about. It's right on the mark. Alex, the main character, thrives on sunlight and this serves as a clue that the book works on many levels of symbolism. Sure, there's a crime scene and suspenseful plot twists. The ending is satisfying and atypical of murder musteries, which is part of the reason why I liked the way it played out. The book is also a philosophical debate, sometimes carried out right amongst the characters. It's a distant mythos turned immediate reality. It could be a horror story masking as a murder mystery. Poirot should wear so many hats!
One thing's for sure: you can't make this book be what you want it to be. Let it keep changing right in front of your eyes. It's not a weakness due to inconsistencies or an author who couldn't make up their mind. It's the book.
I enjoyed this book a great deal! It bears rereading, which is my standard for judging a book. I highly reccomend it.

From the moment I open the first page of Pirates in Paradise I could not put it down. How could Haley save her twin sister, stay one foot ahead of those trying to kill her. In steps handsome Jack. He's the one man who vows to keep her safe even if it means he could end up dead in the process. Haley and Jack find their growing attraction is heading in the direction of love but first she needs to help save her sister and Jack needs to help keep Haley save.

Linn Random writes beautifully. I love how she mixes mystery and suspense with romance and brings it all together with a wonderful end that make you wish it would last just a bit longer. Pirate in Paradise is nice fast read when you're in the mood for a nice quiet afternoon to just relax and enjoy yourself.

Pirates in Paradise is a most delicious read. It is non-stop action that engaged this reader from the start. The characters of Haley and Jack are so magnificently created that you just want them to hurry and get together. This story is so amazing and loaded in a dynamite adventure that I felt as if I was with them on their escapade to find answers. Bravo to Ms. Random for creating a terrific plot, some intrigue and romance that sprinkles in the pages to make this one exceptional read. Ms. Random delivers an explosive book that should not be missed. I love her flare of writing! I wish that I could give this book more than 5 stars!

"WOW!" Those are the words I said after reading the enticing first pages of Pirates in Paradise. It grabs you from the begginging and makes you want to stick around to see what happens. It has all the engredients for a great story. Such as creating empathy for the main character, settin a goal for that character, and then taken them through every obsticle and emotion imaginable before struggling past the climax. It has all the makings of a great hollywood picture such as action and adventure to cater to men, while offering smooth love and romance for women. Every event in the novel happens only for the progression of the story which builds apon itself until the schocking end. Bottom line, a great book can't wait to hear more from this author

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to live someone else's life? Or be mistaken for someone else? If so, then you'll love Linn Random's Pirates in Paradise.

This fast paced, heart pounding, romanti-sensual suspense story will keep you on the edge of your seat and turning the page until the end and still wanting more.

Pirates in Paradise begins with Haley Rollins, a bookstore manager, accidentally mistaken for her twin sister. She is then thrust into a world much different from her quiet boring existence. She is forced to be courageous and be more than she ever thought she could in her lifetime. The adventure she endures is never ending, while she consciously walks into and finds love with her own Pirate in Paradise.

You too will find the same in Pirates in Paradise.

Need a pirate? Call Captain Jack Morgan!

Jack Morgan is just the man Haley needs to protect her. Jack is the only man outside of the U.S. Marshals who knows about the dirty cop in their midst - Frank Porter told him all about it. Jack also must protect her from Ricky Roja, called the Angel De La Morte, who is the head of a drug cartel. Jack is in the witness protection program, while Haley is running from the drug cartel who thinks she is her twin sister Jenna. Her sister Jenna was Ricky Roja's lover and love of his life, so why is he trying to kill the woman he loves? Fraught with danger and intrigue from the get-go, the fast-moving plot makes this one of the better suspense stories out there so far this year.

One of my favorite parts of Pirates in Paradise is when they had some time to kill before meeting her sister. They are visiting a museum when Jack realizes that he is starting to fall in love with Hayley. He buys her a necklace with an ancient coin on it so she can remember the time they had together. He also realizes he will do anything in his power to keep her alive, even if it means giving up his life so she can live.

Want a book you can not put down until you read every last page? Pirates in Paradise by Linn Random is just that book. I said I would read a few pages and quit for the evening; what a joke! I never stopped reading until it was over. This is a Recommended Read, and you've GOT to get this one. It's definitely a keeper that you will want to read over and over again just for the enjoyment. You'll want to totally immerse yourself in this book.

Review of A Place for Theodore by Prudence Steiner The writing of history is difficult. If you're writing about someone or something already well known you face a hoard of kibitzers who question every statement that doesn't fit their preconceptions of the case. If you're writing about something unknown, well, where do you begin? How do you know what to look for? How do you know you have found everything? And how do you know how to organize what you do have? George Williams, in A Place for Theodore, has confronted both problems. Well-known is Charles William Eliot, President of Harvard, notable New Englander from a notable family. Loyal Harvard alumni and conventional historians of higher education already "know" all about him. Virtually unknown is Theodore Parkman, chemist, soldier, who was killed and, literally, lost in a small and complicated Civil War battle at Whitehall, North Carolina in 1862. The intersection of these two lives, the process by which Williams has accounted for what is known to have happened, his speculations about what might have happened and why, form the substance of this paperback (Holly Two Leaves Paperback, ISBN 0-9656484-0-0). Don't expect a tidy narrative. That's not how historians work. Pieces--letters, photos, newspaper clippings, old bullets, public proclamations and private denials--swim into the net or are dredged up from murky corners in an unsystematic way. With each new piece, historians must revise their first ideas about what happened, their earlier interpretations of the causes. Most published histories appear after years of research and speculation have refined and polished them into coherence. Williams has chosen another method. For the most part the book brings us the raw materials in a very rough chronological order. Facing pages may include the author's narrative, original materials, photos or diagrams, in an assemblage of elements that is hard for the casual reader to follow but that accurately and vividly evokes the very process by which historians gather and sort out information. Williams' favorite typographical elements seem to be the question mark and the italic; hardly a page appears without several of both. Ordinarily these devices raise suspicion: how much of this book is true? Why is the writer so insistent? Is he right? But this is not an ordinary book; in the best sense, it is not even a finished book. Rather, it shows the process of writing history, and leaves us, the readers, with a sense of the materials and an eagerness to push on, to learn more about Theodore Parkman and why historians are still looking for him. As a former teacher of research techniques, I commend A Place for Theodore to other teachers as well as to Civil War buffs. You may be irritated, you may disagree with the author's tone and conclusions, but Williams's book will give you an unusual collection of materials as well as valuable insights into the slipperiness of "facts." 12 November 1997

Everyone is aware of friendly-fire and "collateral" deaths in war. The Mai Lai massacre in Viet Nam is the most famous. Incidents from the Gulf War are still in the news. Did a President of Harvard help cover-up the death of a Harvard student? Major George Williams has written an interesting tale using historical documents and the soldier's perspective of war. This book is a unique look at an overlooked incident during America's Civil War.

Everyone is aware of friendly-fire and "collateral" deaths in war. The Mai Lai massacre in Viet Nam is the most famous. Incidents from the Gulf War are still in the news. Did a President of Harvard help cover-up the death of a Harvard student? Major George Williams has written an interesting tale using historical documents and the soldier's perspective of war. This book is a unique look at an overlooked incident during America's Civil War.

A Place for Theodore won a Willie Parker Peace History Book Award from The North Carolina Society of Historians on Nov. 1, 1997. Mr. L.G. Williams also won two other awards for associated projects.

Very detailed description of this battle with very thorough documentation. All of the pages of this inexpensive book were used to the fullest. I felt like I had gotten my moneys worth.Just like being there and some thought provoking conclusions were presented.

PATRICK RALEY is a Louisiana high school math teacher off to a great start as an author of suspense mysteries.

In PRECEDENT FOR JUSTICE we find a well-proportioned, action packed novel with three or four pots boiling all at the same time. It's a fast read and an absorbing one as a New Orlean detective joins forces with a beautiful, successful reporter for the TIMES-PICKAYUNE to solve the brutal murder of one of Louisiana's richest couples.

It seemed I could never read less than five chapters when I picked it up. When I put it down I couldn't wait to get back to it again. I predict we'll be hearing lots more from Patrick in the future. FIVE STARS
John W. Cassell

JOHN W. CASSELL has written seven novels including a mystery adventure DeVilliers County Blues: 1972. In 2006 he retired from a career in law enforcement that spanned from 1971. Cassell has recently published four guest editorial columns in Israel National News.

Precedent of Justice is definitely worth the read. I found that I couldn't put the book down until I finished. The story moves briskly as the relationships between characters richly develop. The who book was interwoven with honest heartfelt relationships and unexpected twists and turns that kept me in the pages. The ending was definitely a surprise I didn't see coming. Anyone who loves mystery does not want to miss out on this author. I just wonder when the next one will come out?

I consider myself an avid reader. In the process I've picked up many books and found the story lacking depth. Sometimes I wish the author would spend more time developing people instead of just plot twists.

I think that's why I loved this book so much. I felt like I knew each character as I read and learned about them. Also the story kept me guessing. The ending definitely blew me away. I thought I knew for sure how the story would end. It's scary to think that minor technicalities can set guilty people free, but I know it does happen. Now I understand just how easily criminals can abuse our justice system.

The story grabbed my attention from the very beginning. I found myself asking a thousand questions after just the first three pages. As I read and found the answers, many more questions replaced them. Definitely a quick page-turner. I hope they make a movie out of this one. It would be a blockbuster.

For anyone looking for something that breaks the mold of the regular old mystery/thriller, this is the book for you. Just don't take my word for it though, get it youself and see. I can't wait for the next one.

Raley's work, Precedent of Justice, takes you to a dark place that everyone fears to tread but so willing ventures. An emerging partnership within the story illuminates this dark place by turning suffering into human triumph. The story is filled with great detail. His characters have depth and a believability so intense that you feel like you may have met them in a past life. The struggle between good and evil, humanity, and suspense all weaving throughout the plot to create a classic murder mystery. Buy this book!

Suspense, mystery, a touch of romance, and a whole lot of murder and secrets are what this story is all about.

When the wealthy Lafleur couple's murder was committed, Detective Charlie Peppers' life and career drastically changed. He was put on the case to find the murderer and the motive. It seems a lot of people had financial or business ties to the Lafleur's; but who would go so far as to murder them in cold blood?

Nancy Raults a reporter for the Times wanted this brutal story more than anyone, it is a good thing she had an informant that supplied her with the information she would need to find the Lafleur home. After throwing up dinner on the Lead Detectives shoes upon seeing the bodies, Nancy had no idea how close later down the road they would become. It could possible cost them both of their hard earned careers.

An obviously guilty man knew which strings to pull and favors to call in when he was arrested and tried for murdering the Lafleurs. When the murder weapon along with the other evidence came up missing and Mr. Dizorno was proven innocent; at that moment the crap hit the fan. All the secrets that the guilty parties were harboring would soon leak out.

With the help of someone Charlie trusted most, the murderer would be brought to justice. The sad thing is the murderer was actually guilty of the first crime committed but innocent in the second accusation for another murder. How you ask? It is jaw dropping and heart pounding when the truth finally comes out.

Mr. Raley had my full attention from the very start. This story should be made into a movie, it would be topper on the box office charts for sure. Great detail and believable events proves that Mr. Raley has the skilled hands of a talented writer. When I got to the very last chapter of this book, my jaw literally dropped, a surprise ending caught me completely off guard. This is a 5 heart review all the way! Mystery/Suspense lovers out there need to add a copy of Precedent Of Justice to your library.

To learn more about Patrick R. Raley visit Blu Phier Publishing on myspace