Murder Books

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

This book had me from the very first page. It is full of intriguing details yet a very easy read. Apodaca creatively uses his expert, first-hand knowledge of the subject matter while embellishing it with fictional cleverness. You won't want to put this book down!

This is a suspense-filled novel with a well-developed plot, real characters, just enough flavor of the Southwest and the law to give it depth. I recommend it to anyone who wants to be absorbed in a good book.

When I first read this book, I didn't realize how much it would consume me. It was not long at all before I was not able to put it down, anxious to read what would happen next. I have since given this book to many people as a gift and have heard them rave about the excitement built into this action packed book. I would highly recommend this book to anyone whether an avid reader or not.

Rudy Apodaca 'pursues' career as novelist

Cheryl Thornburg ...

'Pursuit'

By Rudy Apodaca

The name Rudy Apodaca is well known to many New Mexicans, but his latest venture could expand that acclaim. The retired Appeals Court judge has embarked on a career as an author, and his novel, "Pursuit," is an action-packed thriller that covers a lot of territory, from Vietnam during the war to present-day Washington, D.C., Athens and Paris.

Apodaca's legal background shows as he methodically sets the stage in the first four chapters for what becomes a fast-paced thriller full of sex, lies, kidnappings and political intrigue.

It is the story of John Garcia, a successful attorney whose career defending large corporate clients is putting a strain on his marriage because of the long hours he puts in.

He is also restless career-wise, and is considering taking a judgeship position that has been offered to him.

Enter the Soliz family, whose son has been accused of attacking a young woman from a prominent family, and Garcia finds himself drawn back into his former role of defense attorney and liking it, much to the chagrin of his wife and business partners.

All the while in the background are lurking two men following Garcia for unknown reasons. It is when their identity and purpose is revealed that the novel really takes off.

The plots and subplots in this novel will keep the reader involved, and Apodaca's legal expertise shows in the courtroom scenes that ring true.

The Santa Fe and Albuquerque settings will feel comfortable to New Mexicans, and the far-flung other locations provide the exotic element called for in this genre. ...

This is the kind of book that makes you wish not only for a follow-up book, but that you already had it so you could jump right in.

The story, the characters, the setting and the writing are just superb. This is what I picture when I see or hear the phrase "a good book." That's just what it is, a really, really good book. I can't even imagine how you could possibly be disappointed in this book.

One of the little gems of this mystery novel is the realization that there are really 3 mysteries - 2 normal and one more "meta." The first is the whodunit? murder mystery. The second is whether (and how) anyone will discover the secret about the narrator of the book, the apprentice.

The third mystery appears when the author so perfectly captures those moments of belief from the Renaissance ("his humors were out of balance") and the modern reader has the intriguing puzzle of figuring out what's really going on with modern day understanding. They don't detract in any way from the book, but add a wonderfully neat set of minor little, "Hmmm, that's what they used to think back then, but today that'd be..." that reoccur at least 3 or 4 times throughout the story, and just add all the more to enjoyment.

I highly recommend this book, and like all the reviewers to date, hope this is only the beginning of a series.

From the parenthetical (a Leonardo da Vinci mystery) it seems clear that the publisher and author of this book intend to make it into a franchise. I certainly hope so, because the writing sparkles and really brings to life Renaissance Italy. The book is set in the period of Leonardo da Vinci's life in which he was the chief engineer and artist at the court of Milan. Events are told from the point of view of one of Leonardo's young apprentices, Dino, who has the misfortune to find the dead body of the cousin of the Duke of Milan when he goes missing during a living chess match which has been staged by Leonardo for the entertainment of the court.

Leonardo and Dino interview suspects and search for clues, and we are taken into the world of northern Italian nobility, artisans, and peasantry, as the two investigators turn the castle, the Sforza family crypt, and the town of Milan upside down trying to find the murderer before he or she can kill again. In reading this book, besides being enormously entertained, I learned about the history and strategy of chess, how art was created during the Renaissance, how clothing was made in the Renaissance, how Leonardo da Vinci lived and worked and a host of other things that made the time period come alive for me, which is all you can really ask of historical fiction. I would definitely have given this book 5 stars had the ending not gotten a little too complicated for its own good. And since I fully expect and look forward to reading more from this author a small note to her -- try not to introduce so many paragraphs with the words "So saying..." it was the one distraction in what was otherwise absolutely beautiful writing. I can't wait for more in this series.

A captivating mystery novel that unfolds in the magnificent Sforza castle of Renaissance Milan. The fast moving plot is filled with surprising twists and turns, making the book hard to put down. Besides the suspense and intrigue, one feels drawn into a colorful panorama of castle life filled with vivid characters from high ranking nobility to skilled workmen to humble servants. Of greatest interest is the unique life of the genius Leonardo da Vinci with his young apprentices, with details of their everyday tasks of mixing paints, preparing frescos, making brushes and the like. This book is not only a marvelous mystery but also a rich and entertaining cultural experience.

At the court of the duke of Milan, the royal painter and inventor is Leonardo Da Vinci. He has his own studio and apartments in the palace and his apprentices reside there including Dino. Leonardo may be a genius in many things but when it comes to Dino he doesn't have a clue that he is a female. She chose to run away in order to learn from the master himself how to be the best artist she can be at a time when women were nothing more than ornaments.

The French ambassador is in Milan for a treaty signing and the two men vie for a painting by Leonardo. They decide the winner of a living chess game will possess the painting. During a break in the game, the Conte de Ferrara walks away and doesn't return. Dino finds him with a knife in his chest and when Leonardo gets the Duke, he is told that the Conte was the new ambassador to France. The Duke of Milan charges Leonardo with finding the killer a Herculean job because there are hundreds of people staying at the palace and the motives of those that want him dead range from the personal to the political. Dino risks her life to help her teacher.

Fans of historical fiction and historical mysteries will find THE QUEEN'S GAMBIT to their liking. Leonardo Da Vinci comes alive in this tale as a true renaissance man who hunts down criminals, invents a wrist watch and is a great teacher who shows his apprentices the intricacies of painting. Yet in spite of the deep look into the life of the grandmaster, Dino steals the show as she proves to be an able assistant while trying to hide her gender from those close to her.

Harriet Klausner

My assumption about a mystery series featuring Leonardo da Vinci conjured up visions of the wise and white-haired Leonardo using his vast years of knowledge and genius to wrestle with mysteries and solve crimes. However, I was delighted to find instead in this book a fresh look at Leonardo as he was in his handsome, russet-haired prime while employed as court engineer to the Duke of Milan.

The book's narrator is Leonardo's young apprentice Dino, whose master is charged by the Duke to solve a murder that occurs during a living chess game that provides the book's motif. Dino is tasked by his Master to undertake various assignments and don several disguises to help Leonardo gather clues, spy on suspects, and uncover dangerous secrets. Along the way, we also learn a surprising secret regarding Dino's true identity.

The narration colorfully evokes Milan during the Renaissance, contrasting the pageantry of court life with an apprentice's lowly station. We follow Dino's unfolding tale through a labyrinth of colorful characters who reveal their all-too-human strengths and failings. As Leonardo is viewed through Dino's eyes, he retains an important element of mystery himself, though we are given enough of his personality and genius, his powers of deduction, and his amazing inventions to make him come alive in this intriguing tale.

My hope when I read any historical mystery is for the setting to be fresh and vivid, to experience the story through appealing characters, to enjoy a page-turning plot, and to learn something fascinatingly new. In all these ways, this well-written book succeeds and provides a delightful read.

As the author, I have noticed that Amazon is keeping this title consistantly in stock. Thus, when it states availability as being 1-3 months, they usually tend to restock within a week. If you are interested in this title then I encourage you to order it through Amazon with the confidence that it will most likely ship from the distributor to you much faster than expected. Thanks for your interest in my work! -BJLG

'Quixote' is by far the best read I have ever laid eyes on. (NO JOKE!). Word of warning-make time to read this in one sitting. Between Oeming's film noir art (which, in my mind at least reminded me of the old Zorro serials) and Glass' manipulation of the English language/current social climate, its EXTREMELY hard to put down.

What makes the book perfet is that you do not need to know a single shred of the original 'Don Quixote' in order to enjoy the book. One of the best 'supporting' characters (Mackie) has quite a funny way of explaining it to the reader (and ironically looks a bit like 'Kabuki' creator David Mack). You will laugh,cry,and most importantly-reevaluate your opinions of society.

If you do not read this, you are truely missing out how the term 'graphic novel' is now defined. If the Eisner comittee does not at the LEAST give a nomination to this book, the industry should be ashamed of itself.

(My original review was somehow deleted: this is attempt #2)

I'm a returning comic book fan who gave up reading comics years ago to focus more on reading novels by the likes of King, Koontz, Leonard and Crichton. Then came authors like Dan Brown and Mike Lupica and Dave Barry who grabbed my attention and kept me a die-hard fiction fan.

Mike Oeming and Bryan J.L. Glass belong in the company of all of those authors, and their work on Quixote is a testament to that.

This is by far one of the most entertaining reads I've picked up in quite a while. It's the perfect combination for a comic book reader who's slightly curious about novels and for the borderline "novel snobs" whose interest is piqued by the creativity within the world of comic books. Oeming and Glass masterfully combine the two genres into this fantastic book. The artwork (spread liberally throughout) is some of Mike Oeming's greatest. And Glass (a newcomer in my eyes) breathes new life into the story. With the countless versions of the Quixote tale having been done before, I can honestly call this one fresh and full of intrigue.

If you don't read this book and come out a believer, there's something broke inside of you. Read. Believe!

Quixote is fantastic! Very well done indeed, evocative of any American big city in the early 21st Century, yet timeless as well. The artwork is a nice bonus, but the work is carried by the outstanding narrative.

This is much more of a novel with illustrations than a comic book. I recommend it to everyone, but readers who enjoy mythic legends will find it particularly to their liking.

This is one of the most fun and innovatively well written novels I have ever read. The story sucked me in so deeply I had a hard time putting it down. I found myself truly concerned for the safety of the characters and inspired by their heroic choices.

The writers succeeded in blurring the lines between comic book and novel in a way I have never seen before. Michael Avon Oeming's bold use of black and white jumped from the page and complimented Bryan Glass' insightful narrative in a way that helped my imagination run rampant. I especially enjoyed how some of the illustrations splashed across two or three pages enhancing the action making me feel like I was right in the middle of it.

If you are at all interested in inspiring stories about the battle between good and evil I strongly recommend picking up this book.

THE RAGTIME KID is a historical mystery based on actual people and events surrounding Scott Joplin's composition and publication of The Maple Leaf Rag in Sedalia, Missouri in 1899. The story is told through the eyes of Brun Campbell, a young white piano player who hears Scott Joplin's "colored" Ragtime music and becomes obsessed with it and the composer. He leaves his home to study piano with Joplin in Sedalia and becomes involved in a murder case and an interracial struggle for control of the black composer's music.

Until I read this book, I knew little about Joplin or Ragtime music, but I found this book fascinating. Karp has done a wonderful job of bringing to life a time and place that seems very distant to many us now. Karp's Sedalia is a turbulent mixture of blacks and whites with strongly held feelings about the desired relations of the races - former Union and Confederate soldiers, freed slaves, freeborn blacks, abolitionists, and KKK members all live in this small town. And when Scott Joplin, a talented, educated black man, refuses to sell the rights to his music cheaply to a white man, it is like putting a match to a powder keg.

The thing I found so interesting about this book was the amount of historical fact that Karp has used in the story. He has basically created the mystery to suit and explain the fantastic and unprecedented events of 1899. While he did create several fictional characters for the story, Karp populated Sedalia with many of its actual inhabitants and businesses. Those of you who know more about Ragtime than I did may already know that Brun Campbell isn't a fictional character, that he did study with Joplin in 1899, and was a professional musician for much of his life. Me? I was surprised.

While the resolution of the mystery is a little too sensational to ring true, Karp's exploration of the motivations of the different historical characters is a delightful study of conflict and compromise. Frankly, I couldn't put the book down because I wanted to find out how these real-life people from long ago turned out.

Favorite character? Dr. Walter Overstreet. Did I guess it? Mostly. Will I read another? This is the first book of a Ragtime trilogy and the quality of Karp's writing and the ability to draw in the reader makes this a definite yes. I have to know how it ends!

We already knew that Larry Karp was a talented mystery writer, thanks to his previous novels. This latest work shows that he can write historical fiction and make it fascinating. Even though I started the book knowing nothing about ragtime music, by the end I wanted to learn more!

His other strength is his ability to create characters that are so real, and so endearing, that the reader quickly begins to identify with and root for the protagonist(s). This makes the book a real page-turner, because you can't wait to read more about what "your" characters are doing!

If you haven't read anything by Larry Karp yet, you're in for a treat!

I've just re-read Larry Karp's The Ragtime Kid, and just as you shouldn't play ragtime too fast, you shouldn't read Karp's book too fast, either, lest you miss the music of his prose and the nuances of the stories he tells.
In this, his latest book, it's 1899, and young piano player Brun Campbell has run away from his rural home in Oklahoma to Sedalia, Missouri. He's only just heard ragtime for the first time, and hopes to learn this new music from the master himself, Scott Joplin. Arriving in Sedalia, and looking for a room for the night, he stumbles, literally, upon the body of a woman, and picks up two objects that will become vital to the solution of her murder. He finds employment at a music store, and begins studying with Joplin, but when a man he knows is innocent is arrested, Brun is, however unwillingly, drawn into the search for the real murderer.
Though Sedalia is a town filled with music, it is only 30 years since the end of the War Between the States, and racism is very much a part of this story. Joplin insists on being taken seriously as a musician, and receiving royalties on the sheet music which will bear his name as composer, an unprecedented demand for the times. Thus, another plot line develops, as Joplin pursues his ambitions despite some unprincipled and amoral adversaries.
The characters here are a mixture of real, from Joplin and Campbell and other musical figures, and fictional, to some of the townspeople. In skin color, they are black and they are white, and in character they are black and white, as well, but the two categories do not necessarily overlap. Brun himself is a fifteen-year-old, a musical Huck Finn in some ways, coming of age in a world more complex than he ever imagined, and he's learning, at first hand, what black and white are all about. As events unfold, Karp vividly captures the sheer awfulness of racial (and other) bias as it was then.
Just as there are two plot lines, there are two narrative voices here, speaking in a gentle counterpoint. One voice is someone who knows Brun and tells his part of the story, occasionally noting that "Brun once told [him]" about one event or another. The other voice is an omniscient third-person narrator, who recounts Joplin's story, and the ongoing search for the murderer of the woman whose body Brun found. As Brun's music lessons commence, his plot and Joplin's intertwine, connected by some unscrupulous music promoters, and by his own efforts to absolve the innocent man.
All the characters, and some of them are surprising, are vividly realized, and they all speak very much in their own voices. Those voices, moreover, are often eloquent. Early in the book, Joplin tells Brun that ragtime is like "a bright sunny day, just a perfect day, but . . . sooner or later, the lovely day will have to end." Even more moving is a grieving father's lament for the brutal death of his son, which he knows will not be investigated: "[We] was born slaves, and now we been set free, but I don't see the leas' difference. White men kill us on the plantation, they kill us now, an' it's no matter."
From the geography of Sedalia to its weather, the sense of place in the novel is intense. It's a book that takes place in a hot Missouri summer, when the air is "close to drinkable," and we breathe in that heat and humidity as we follow Brun through the city. More characters appear, his life becomes more complicated, and as he puzzles out the solution to the murder, the action leads up to a triple denouement. First there's a violent confrontation with some brutal men, followed by an even more suspenseful encounter which culminates in the unmasking of a murderer. Then, in a shocking turnaround, Brun's own "lovely day" is over, and his life moves in a new direction.
The Ragtime Kid is a scrupulously researched look at a time in America's musical and social past, a fiction that can, as Karp notes in the concluding pages of his book, tell "a truth more striking and wondrous than any historical reality." It's a book written with humor (and not a little irony), with occasional pathos, and always with generosity . Listen to some Joplin while you read it

Larry Karp writes books. He doesn't just write genre fiction; he writes each work as an individual, well-crafted, offbeat narration. Even in his Music Box series, published by the now-defunct Write Way, all three novels were entirely singular, and unique. So, too, is *The Ragtime Kid*, an outstanding piece of historical intrigue that focuses on the origins of ragtime music and is written within the murder mystery/crime literature category of fiction.

Dr. Karp is a particularly fine writer, and his prose shines, but here, the story itself--and the characters--truly dominate.

The protagonist of the book, young Brun Campbell, is so drawn by the allure of the new music craze, ragtime, that he runs away from home to study with the great Scott Joplin in Sedalia, Missouri. Just off the train, Brun stumbles over the body of a woman, Then, not long after, he has himself a job and becomes a student of the elegant black composer, Joplin, who very well might be a homicide suspect.

Another great theme of the book is American racism. Although the Civil War has been over for a good long time, those who fought in the war--and many in Sedalia did--haven't forgotten--from one side of the great divide, or the other.

Racism, ragtime, and murder are his topics, and Karp intertwines the three adroitly for the novel's readers, then throws in a little romance as a sort of seasoning. Male/female relationships are as complex in The Ragtime Kid as they are in real life.

But perhaps the element that tickled me most about the book is the fine detailing of the time and place. Karp, a longstanding ragtime enthusiast, took the Scott Joplin biography and that of the real-life Brun Campbell, and without distorting the documented facts, wove a tale of what might have occurred. Behind that marvelous foreground though lies a backdrop lending the intoxicating particulars of the time: memories of the Chicago's World Fair in 1893, a young woman eager to perform in vaudeville, a spring-powered fan to drive away the heat, and yellow streetcars providing the Sedalia citizens their transportation.

In short, Karp has created a darn good read, a compelling and literate story that entertains on many levels--as a novel, as a mystery, and as a chronicle of one stage in our national history--a tale peopled by very real and believable characters.

*The Ragtime Kid* proves itself to be both a fun and an enlightening pastime.

G. Miki Hayden, author of *Writing the Mystery* and *The Naked Writer*.

Brun Campbell loves to hear and play music. In Oklahoma city he listens to some musicians in a music store playing a tune by Scott Joplin and knows instantly that is what he wants to learn how to play. He runs away from home at fifteen and hops a train for Sedelia, Missouri in the hopes that he can get Mr. Joplin to give him lessons. On the way into town he runs across the body of a woman strangled to death and he takes a musical money clip that is nearby and a locket on her neck.

In town he meets businessman Mr. Fitzgerald who stakes him to a room at the YMCA and money to buy food while he looks for work. Someone who hears him playing music recommends he ask music store owner Mr. Stark for a job. Mr. Stark listens to him play and offers him a job on the spot. He also auditions for Joplin who agrees to give him lessons. When Mr. Fitzgerald is arrested for the murder of the woman Brun saw the first day he was in town; he knows the man didn't do it. The money clip which belonged to Joplin could implicate him and Brun in the murder. Brun decides to find the killer with the unwitting help of the townsfolk as he maneuvers them in the direction he wants them to go for information relating to the murder.

As historical mysteries go, THE RAGTIME KID is one of the better ones. The author doesn't only write a good who done it, he shows the readers how the plight of the black man had changed very little since Emancipation back three decades earlier. Scott Joplin takes a big risk to be paid in royalties with his name as the arranger of the music, something unheard of in the 1890's. The protagonist has a touch of larceny in him that helps him get what he wants but he is so adorable, readers will root for him in spite of his faults.

Harriet Klausner

This is a great book. Well written and an easy read. I think this book would be great for all ages, teen and up, who likes a good mystery. The animals communicate with each other and with other animals throughout the stories. You definately want to read the books in order, though. One story refers to the ones before it. All in all, I'm glad I bought them and am looking forward to finishing this one and getting the next book of 3 stories in the series.

the first three mrs murphy storys all in one edition at a bargin price

In "Wish You Were Here", we meet Mary Minor Haristeen (aka Harry) and Mrs. Murphy (a tiger cat) and Tee Tucker (a Welsh corgi). Harry is recently divorced and a postmistress in Crozet, Virginia a very small town. She has grown up there, and finds it difficult adjusting to life as a divorcee' in such a small town. Half of the town is on her side, the other half on the side of her ex, Fair Haristeen, a beloved local vet. It also doesn't help that Harry is constantly seeing Boom Boom Craycroft, the other woman who broke up her marriage. But working in the town's post office with her pets each day does offer its own diversions. One such diversion is reading post cards...something Harry has always done. When 2 prominent business people are killed after receiving graveyard postcards reading "wish you were here", Harry realizes there is a pattern to the killing. And when a good friend receives one, Harry springs into action to stop the killer in his/her tracks.

In "Rest In Pieces", the animals once again play a huge role in solving a murder. The main character, Mary Minor Haristeen (aka Harry), along with her two animal friends Mrs. Murphy (a gray tiger cat) and Tucker (a corgi) lead the way. When newcomer, Blair Bainbridge, rolls into town a lot of folks in Crozet, Virginia believe that trouble rolled in with him. The handsome bachelor turns many female heads, and Harry tries to convince herself that she has sworn off men since her divorce. When pieces of a dead body are found on Blair's property, tongues start to wag. And when more pieces of the body are discovered during the Harvest Ball, a tragic event from Blair's past comes back to haunt him. Has this "Yankee" brought murder to this sleepy small-town?

Having just finished reading the first book in the series, I admit it was much easier for me to follow the dialogue between the animals in this second installment. At first, I had a difficult time following the discussions between the animals, as it adds to the already large cast of characters. However, I adore the way the animals speak to one another! Their antics are charming, and I find that it adds a lot to this great series.

The mystery had me guessing until the end. Normally, I am able to figure out the mysteries pretty quickly (as many cozies give a lot of clues), but I was surprised at the ending. This is a great series, and I look forward to reading the extensive collection of books by this author (and Sneaky Pie, of course!).

In "Murder at Monticello", a body has been discovered in the slave quarters of the home of Thomas Jefferson. Since Jefferson has been dead for 170 years, it is impossible to question him about the man found dead from a blow to the dead. And when another recently murdered body is discovered, it becomes apparent that someone wants the secrets that have been buried with the body to remain so. Coming into question is the practice of slavery, and the descendants of Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson had been rumored to have fathered a child by one of his slaves, and it appears that the man found murdered may have been also been involved with one of the slaves. The citizens of Crozet band together to prove that their beloved Jefferson had nothing to do with the murder or cover-up, and while doing so they unearth secrets that have been hidden in the town for over a century.

I have become a big fan of this series, and enjoy the banter between the animals. The relationships between the members of the town have been evolving, and I like the way that Harry is loved and embraced by the people who have known her all of her life. She works hard, cares for her animals, and genuinely cares for the town and its residents. I look forward to future books in the series, and am hopeful to see more of Blair as a potential love interest for Harry.

If you like the KoKo and Yum Yum series by Lilian Jackson Braun, give this book a try. Enjoy!

Oh gosh, I don't even know how to start. I picked up Claws and Effect, a later book in the series, at my school's library last year and within minutes of starting it I was gobbling it up! I mean, murder, southern gentry, small-town gossip, and talking animals!!!! HOW GREAT CAN LIFE GET!? AND the dog is a CORGI *I am a considerably HUGE corgi fan* Written with wit and whimsy, Rita Mae Brown is my third favorite author. I am currently finishing "Murder She Meowed" (I read them all out of order) and it is my favorite Mrs. Murphy mystery yet!!! Hilarious! A MUST READ!!!

This is a great introduction to the Sneaky Pie Brown series, especially if you are like me and absolutely HAVE to read a series in order. These are really fun, quick reads. The cats and dog have some serious attitude, and the citizens of Crozet, VA are people you would want for neighbors and friends, other than the odd murderer inhabiting the tiny town. To a certain extent, these stories are similar to that old show Murder, She Wrote, because you just wonder how Harry constantly becomes involved in murder investigations in an otherwise peaceful town. You would think people would start avoiding her to save their own lives. I only gave it four stars because the mysteries are too easy to figure out!

Jimmy Dolan was thirty years old when he returned to his Connecticut hometown in search of the driver who killed his father in a hit-and-run accident. There he also finds himself confronted with dark secrets from his own past and is caught up in a web of guilt, betrayal and revenge. The Road To The Island is a complex and enthusiastically recommended novel showcasing a human drama that is superbly crafted and absolutely riveting. Author Tom Hazuka demonstrates a genuine talent capable of evoking strong emotional responses in the mind of his reader. Also highly recommended is Tom Hazuka's novel, In The City Of The Disappeared (1882593316, ...).

A quick read, yet complex, and provocative. It brought to life my memories of living in a small New England town. Hazuka has captured the flavor of what t to have been raised during the glorious fifties, and coming of age during the tumultous years of the Vietnam War. It is the story of Everyman.......on his search for life's answers. Answers which sometime come at a heavy price. It shows that the past is always with us. The choices of our youth often come back to haunt us. In Hazuka's novel, he returns us to his grandparents' farm. He recalls with bittersweet memories how life used to be. Charmingly told, it focused on what makes each of us unique.It ponders death, growth, and personal challenges. New relationships, and change are the bridge which makes us human. I laughed, and I pondered, and I cried. It is a story which is an allegory of our time. It should be a must read for all of those Baby Boomers who are now of middle age. Upon hitting forty, we should be reflecting back upon what our own individual life has meant.....and more importantly, what we can make it mean in the future. It is the struggle to find our true selves in this world. Clearly told, beautifully written, it is a crisp, sharp novel. A real find! Here's hoping that Hazuka comes out with another novel soon.

Tom Hazuka shows his readers that contemporary writing hasn't become a wasteland for words and self-absorbed babbling. As far as unreliable narrators go, Jimmy Dolan is the best. One of my favorite things about the book is that it has a John Irving-esque way of connecting seemingly unrelated events. Dr. Tom Hazuka is an excellent writer. If you don't purchase this book, you are making a terrible mistake. Read review of this book in the Chestnut Hill Local newspaper, November 26, 1998.

Hi Mrs. Perkins. You'll probably never ever read this but it's cool anyway.

This novel was excellent reading. It captivated me as a female reader. To see that a man can be so sensitive and is able to view family dynamics in such a sensitive manner is commendable. The author's work is as well imaginative. The fictional characters' personalities have great depth. The author's introspection into all of the personalities is powerful. It is a must-read novel.

This book was good but she has better books I LOVE NANCY DREW BOOKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This book has it all! Mystery, adventure, and everything else. It really is a good book, and I hope all of ya'll read it.

I really want to know so I don't buy it if I don't think I'll like it

Nancy Drew books are really good I like the thrill and romance and friendship in it. When I get older I want to get every book that I don't already have, of the Nancy Drew Files and the Nancy Drew on Campus. I really enjoy reading them and I am 14 years old.

This book is the best! When Nancy poses as a high school student so she can investigate small thefts, she also has to investigate her love for Ned. Daryl Gray, a handsome guy who just happens to be Nancy's contact in high school, may no more about her case than he's telling. Nancy and Daryl have immediate attraction to each other, and after a guy in the high school gets killed, Nancy's afraid she may love a killer! I won't say what happens, but, they do catch the murderer (which is not Daryl) and Nancy relizes it's Ned she loves. :) this book was a little bit romantic....and that made it rule!

The story is over-the-top, but very enjoyable. In fact, the story is very enjoyable because it IS so over-the-top. A fun read with crazy characters. Highly recommended.

The most striking aspect of this book is the vivid descriptions the author comes up with to describe the characters and events. The story itself is disjointed at times but my overall impression was positive due to the colorful imagery and imaginative plot twists. I can't wait to see what the author has in store for us in the future!

A great book, full of suspense....Provides a look into the other side of politics!

This is one of the most intriguing novels I have read to date. This author doesn't think about industry norms. He has written an intelligent, intriguing page-turner that keeps your interest. An easy read and an amazing story. I reccommend this book to anyone looking for an escape from the dull boring modern novel.

I don't read alot, but a friend recommended this book to me and it was really good. Some of the sex was very explicit, but I didn't mind. The author is really young and doesn't seem to care about adhering to industry norms.