Murder Books

Co-narrated by Ron Halder and Donna White, "Memory Books" by Canadian mystery writer Howard Engel is the story of small-town private investigatory Benny Cooperman who, after being left for dead from a blow to the head by an unknown assailant, wakes up in a hospital and in the middle of a mystery. All Benny can remember is that he was close to figuring out a mystery but can't remember anything else - including the name of his girlfriend, Anna Abraham. To complicate things further, Benny is suffering from a brain injury that allows him to still write, but not be able to read! But with the help of Anna and the use of a small notepad dubbed the 'memory book', Benny engages in some dedicated bedside sleuthing. Author Howard Engel (who in real life suffers a similar brain injury to that of his lead character) has created a terrific 'who dunnit' style mystery with a medical theme that will engage the reader's total and rapt attention from beginning to end. Expertly abridged and originally broadcast on CBC Radio, "Memory Books" is especially recommended to mystery buffs and, with a total running time of 3 hours and 30 minutes, is a welcome addition to any community library audiobook CD collection..

Oliver Sachs was right. This mystery was approached from a whole new point of view. A detective with a memory problem from a head injury tries to solve the mystery of who and why he was nearly killed. The hospital is the main setting and we see the patient struggle to put things together with an impaired memory. I truly admired the fact that the author wrote this book with an impairment of his own.

When I heard about Howard Engel's stroke, I assumed that I would never see Benny Cooperman again. However, this author has done the seemingly impossible and given us another great story.
Memory Book is different from the other Cooperman novels because Benny has been afflicted with alexia, like Engel. Thus, quite a bit of time is spent with Benny in the hospital, learning how to cope with his altered abilities. However, Benny is just as nosy, persistent and peculiarly charming as ever. He enlists his visitors onto his sleuthing team. The mystery unravels alongside Benny's therapy.
We get to see some old, favourite characters and - of course - some new ones. Engel is a master at painting characters with details that leave you feeling you've met them somewhere before. Former Cooperman fan or not, I recommend you spend some time with Benny and his friends as they help to unravel the mystery and have some laughs along the way.

if you like Howard Engel and Benny, this is a must read!
I had no idea what had happened medically to Howard - so don't read the afterword by Oliver Sacks til AFTER. Let's just say that the fact that Howard even managed to write this book is truly remarkable and shows that he is indeed a master of the genre. The fact that it is a great book where I was totally hooked after 10 pages and the manner in which the plot unfolds - just read it - it's a remarkable achievement and I thank Howard for his courage.
Just watch out for those nap times...
jb

I loved this book, couldn't put it down and can't wait to read the next one. Ty Bannister is our new hero.
J. R. Manninen

I couldn't put this book down! I don't normally read mysteries or police thrillers. However, after reading what the book was about, I decided to take a chance and can honestly say I was not disappointed. It had a fast moving and believable plot with plenty of action.

Every character came alive through the author's descriptions and carried you right into each scene. Even the backgrounds of the murder victims were well crafted and made you feel saddened at their deaths. The characters and plot were tightly woven. Unlike other books, this one did not leave any loose threads.

This book is good and is a fast read. It would make a great movie.

This is great novel for anyone who enjoys a good FBI/CIA espionage and criminal thriller. Several plots are skillfully connected. The descriptive details makes you believe you are following FBI Agent Bannister through the streets of Atlanta and Washington, DC. A very enjoyable book which accurately captures the inner workings of an FBI investigation.

The cover of this debut novel caught my eye and the title intrigued me. I also found the settings, which shift from Atlanta to Washington DC, to be refreshing.

We follow agent Ty Bannister of the FBI as he investigates a major blackmailing of a bottled water company and then as he becomes part of a task force trying to solve serial murders, including that of his best friend. As a character, Bannister is conscientious, hard working and likable.

The author's obvious experience and keen insight into the FBI keeps the action moving and credible. His descriptions place the reader in the middle of every scene. At the beginning I wondered about the dual themed plot; however, it works well and comes together at the end. The action throughout is quick paced, suspenseful and well written. I liked this book and am hoping for a sequel.

Julie Lomoe's MOOD SWING: The Bipolar Murders is an excellent read, a well written and exciting page-turner. I liked this book because it took me into a world I know little about, people with mental health problems and how they cope with extraordinary character. Yet it did not sentimentalize these problems, which were clearly secondary to the plot. Lomoe knows the streets and the squats of a big city and the menacing characters that may wear Mafia black or wall-street Armani. I was glad when the good guys turned out to be the bipolar club members; it's all too easy to stereotype the "crazies" when the straights do so much more harm. Lomoe's main character, Erica, is believable as a savy and smart denizen of the city who also has her vulnerable side. She may be Scandanavian but she's no ice princess. I hope there are more books to come about Erica and the members of the Club.

Loved this book for good plot and for the images of NYC and its characters. Very interesting info on bipolar disease. It really gives a true sense of what happens to people in stressful situations, and ways they can deal with that.

Julie Lomoe's Mood Swing kept me interested from beginning to end, not just for the plot, which was filled with intrigue, but also for its in-depth portrait of people with mental illness. It showed real people with real problems and their struggles and victories as they cope with prejudice and try to live normal lives. The New York City setting felt very real, as did the the interwoven relationships within Wellspring, the social club that offered mutual support for those with mental disorders. And the plot really kept me guessing. A good read!

As a practicing clinical psychologist, I found that, besides being a good murder mystery that manages to hold you in suspense up until the very end, Mood Swing: The Bipolar Murders, by Julie Lamoe, is a sensitive and insightful story about people with mental illness and the social systems that have been established to support them.

Ms. Lamoe's background as a mental health professional has enabled this work of fiction to have an authenticity about it that other authors, who write about people with psychological challenges, are not able to achieve. The reader might find the references to emotional disorders to be disturbing or foreign to them. They are nonetheless authentic. There are people in all walks of life who think and behave the way Ms. Lamoe's characters do; and there are numerous examples of social clubs, just like WellSpring, that have been established to assist and stabalize their "consumers." Thus, in addition to being a good page-turner, this novel is also an education. If this story piques the reader's curiosity and inspires him or her to read further into the subject of bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, the personality disorders, or halfway houses, day treatment centers and social clubs for the mentally ill, then this book has gone way beyond its entertainment objective. If the reader wonders, "Can this be? Are people really like this? Are there really such places as WellSpring?" That much you can bet on because Julie Lamoe knows from whence she speaks!

I read this book over the weekend and well worth my time of not getting anything else done! I loved it! It is wonderfully written with humor and suspense that reaches out across generations. This story traps the innocence in youthful adventures and misfortunes of friendship and tragedy.
Don't pass this book up!

Mr. Stephenson has finally found his true gift of writing after years working in industry to make a living. Growing up in a small town in the midwest I immediately related to prejudices of little towns and little minds. Mr. Stephenson captured the exact feelings of people living during this era. I recommend this book to anyone interested in gifted storytelling. Anyone growing up during the fifties and sixties and living in a small town will immediately identify some of the books characters as people they have known. What a treat to read this book as it took me back to my youth. Thank you Mr. Stephenson. I hope Mr. Stephenson continues to use his gift to write other books. Hopefully some Hollywood film producer will read this book and make a movie.

this is possibly one of the best books ive ever read. it just makes u turn the page. this author is up there with the likes of Michale Chriton.

I am not a voracious reader. I generally do not have much time to start and finish a book in any short time. I also do not generally write reviews of products. So hopefully that will be somewhat of a testimony to my fondness of this book. I was given a copy of this book before it was published. I lay on my dresser for a few weeks before on a lazy Sunday afternoon I read the 1st chapter. I was instantly hooked. I devoured the book in only 2 days. Staying up way past my usual bedtime to see what happens next. Mr. Stephenson has a great story telling ability and ends each chapter with the reader wanting more.

Now I do have to admit that grew up and live in the Muncie, IN area where the story takes place. Although the fictitious events in the book happened long before my time many of the structures and the neighborhood is much the same. I even have it on good word that some of the stories told by Mr. Stephenson are actually true (or at least partially true).

I believe that this will be a good read for anyone living in the Midwest or not. It is a very good story that has great timing, twist and turns and little something for everyone. I highly encourage this book.

I absolutely can't get enough of Jonnie Jacobs books. If you're a
fan too, you'll love it. If it's your first time reading her books -
you'll be coming back for more.

"Murder Among Friends" is the 2nd book in the Kate Austen series by Jonnie Jacobs. I was impressed with the first Kate Austen book, "Murder Among Neighbors," but the plot of this second book is even BETTER.

The book opens with Kate Austen's pending divorce with "finding himself" husband, Andy. Thankfully, the book doesn't dwell on the divorce, but centers on Kate getting on with her life. She is now working as an art consultant and her relationship with Detective Michael Stone is heating up.

Kate arranges to meet business acquaintance/friend - Mona Sterling at Mona's home and finds that Mona has uncharacteristically decided to commit suicide. Kate and friend Sharon begin to gather clues to convince the Walnut Hills Police Dept. that this has been, in fact, a murder. In the meanwhile, she takes in Mona's beligerant teenage daughter, Libby, and must cope with the attitude and language of a young girl who is hurting.

One sidenote is that Jonnie Jacobs could have been describing my mother PERFECTLY, when she writes of the older woman, Mrs. Stevenson, who has been living in the neighborhood for years and still addresses the homes by their former owners. My mother is constantly pruning her garden out front so it was bizarre to read about a character that fit her so well! Talk about your realism!

The plot was great with this book and takes a very unexpected turn. The characterizations are excellent as well. The personality of Kate Austen is VERY laid-back; very non-threatening, and somewhat a little TOO easy-going for my aggressive style of personality. Kate isn't really what you would call a "leader" or a "mover and shaker."(And it really grates on my nerves that her daughter, Anna, seems to have more control in the household than she does - but this is VERY realistic.) This is unusual because most amateur sleuths are these "Type A" leaders when in reality not everyone is like that. It is rather insightful to get a glimpse as to how individuals such as Kate react and how people respond better to her style of interacting with them.

This is a series that is really good and one that you are sure to enjoy.

I just finished this book and must say I really enjoyed it. The characters seem so real and the plot was very good. This is a good book to read if you want something not to dark and heavy with a little humor. Love Kate Austen and can't wait to read the next books in this series. I would like to know what will happen with her relationship with Michael. If your looking for a quick read pick up Jonnie Jacobs books as soon as you can. They will not dissapoint you.

I just completed the second in the Kate Austen series in lessthan a week. I can't wait for the next two books in the series toarrive from Amazon. Again, this was a wonderful mystery. The mystery is witty, suspenseful, and fun to read. Miss Jacobs neatly ties all of the characters and events together. She also has a wonderful sense of humor when it comes to raising children. Kate's relationship with her daughter is very amusing. There is a lot of intrigue between Kate and her new boyfiend/homicide detective Michael Stone. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!

Being a Carl Hiaasen fiction fan, I've been looking for an author who is his spiritual heir and Ms. Kelby fills that bill and then some. The mind-numbing combination of Florida heat and humidity brings the crazies and crackpots and it's not too much of a stretch to imagine yourself running across the folks who populate the story. A kilt-wearing Scot with rudimentary wings, two ancient Swedish crones who windsurf, an ex- slasher movie queen who adopts both an injured vulture and a shih tsu who resembles Barry Manilow are all part and parcel of the characters who are witness to the two murders that disrupt the placid life in a Key's retirement community. How they solve the mystery of the murderer, unite lovers and stir up the uneventful life on Laguana Key, is something you'll want to witness yourself. So grab a copy, your favorite beverage and snuggle in for a good read. Would that we all had a Bad Girl's Bar and Grill to visit in real life!

The jest of the book has been covered already in reviews, but I just wanted to give my take on it. I was officially sick of all the cozy mystery series that seem to have popped up lately so I grabbed this book on a whim. I ended up loving this book, cover to cover. Kelby's writing style reminds me of Christopher Moore (very quick wit and quirky)and her story lines are along the lines of Carl Hiaasen. She manages to make the wacky characters real without being cartoonish. Kelby even manages to give the vultures and shih tsu dog personalities. Highly recommended.

Deserved or not, Florida has a wacky reputation. Blame the heat, blame the wildlife, blame Walt Disney. But for whatever reason, eccentrics of all stripes find a home in the Sunshine State. One of the most amusing tents in the freak show belongs to the horde of comic writers riffing on Florida today. Is there a better word than "horde" to describe a group of comic writers? From this book, I learned that the word for a group of vultures is a kettle; maybe a group of comic writers should be a "cackle." Speaking of vultures, you know you're in sure comic hands when the first chapter describes a corpse in a sweltering dumpster, discovered by the vultures perched on the rim, and it's funny.

N. M. Kelby knows and loves her oddballs, all of whom drift in, out, around and through the Bad Girl's Bar & Grill, a former Polynesian tiki hut, now known for its nightly viewings of "Wheel of Fortune," its Barry Manilow impersonator, and its house drink --- the key lime pie martini --- served in a martini glass with crushed Graham crackers around the edge. (Google to find recipes...they're out there!) Located in Laguna Bay, Florida, the BGBG has a light-hearted philosophy geared toward flirting, fun, spiritual generosity, and getting your own damn coffee. Really, even with the corpse rotting in the dumpster, wouldn't you like to go right now?

The BGBG is owned by Danni Keene, former horror movie queen. It's her job to coolly blast the vultures with a fire extinguisher when they get to be too much. She has seen a lot --- enough so that she is not the least bit surprised when Solas MacKay, Scottish circus clown, blows into town with his troupe, looking for his long-lost brother. (Hint: check the dumpster.) But Danni has problems, not the least of which is the Laguna Key Development Corporation, whose members have their hearts set on a clean, orderly, expensive Laguna Key. When they're not dressing up as the cast of "The Andy Griffith Show," they hatch plans to destroy the BGBG as it attracts the very sort of riffraff gated communities were designed to keep out. Wouldn't a nice golf course be better?

Mr. Whit, local businessman and all-around rich guy, has been in cahoots with the LKDC so he can buy the property. But he's been driven a little mad by the tragedy that befell his daughter Sophie, blinded in a scuba-diving accident and abandoned by her husband. Mr. Whit's habit of tasering people just might get him in trouble someday, as well as his quest to find the right wine to pair with deep-fried candy bars.

Who can sort all this out? Brian Wilson, an FBI dropout currently working as a caretaker for Mr. Whit and a guardian for Sophie, does his best. Smothering his irritating habit of whistling Beach Boys songs --- apparently there are times when "Surfer Girl" is appropriate and times when it is not --- he puts his old investigative skills to work and solves the case in time for the circus parade.

Along the way, the book touches on slave cemeteries, the plight of the homeless, and elderly twin Swedish circus performers whose only English word is "ta-dah!" Kelby also throws in a couple of love stories for good measure. Wit, charm, a murder or two --- everything you need is here. Dig your toes in the sand and have a good time. It's the Bad Girl way.

--- Reviewed by Colleen Quinn

Brian Wilson (not that BW) works as a security guard at gated Laguna Key, a Florida beach community. His prime task is to keep safe the daughter of his employer blind Sophie Whit.

Her dad is planning to expand his minor fiefdom by buying land. He has been successful with everyone he offers money to except for the owner of Bad Girl's Bar and Grill. Former horror B-film actress Danni Keene refuses to sell in spite of constant harassment and vandalism that she assumes is directed by Whit. Meanwhile things turn uglier when Brian finds the corpse of a homeless activist while the victim's brother Solas Mackay has set up his traveling puppet troupe in the Bad Girl's Bar and Grill parking lot. With a Barry Manilow imitator, everyone seems to be having a good time except a stunned half-Whit who plots over fast food to do whatever is necessary to possess Danni's property.

This is an interesting slice of life drama with the murder mystery enhancing the tale. The key cast members seem genuine as each struggle with what they are doing with their lives. Retirement in Southern Florida is showcased at its best and worst by the crew of MURDER AT THE BAD GIRL'S BAR AND GRILL as these zanies make for an amusing yet poignant look at those still working in these communities.

Harriet Klausner

Attention Book Clubs: This book is very interesting, and if your are able.... travel to Denver, have a guided tour of the Brown Palace Hotel, and meet with the local author for dinner and a discussion of the book. You can see the rooms where the murder took place and where the main characters lived in the hotel. It brings the book to life. It was a wonderful adventure for our book club.

As I read Murder in the Brown Palace, I found myself muttering again and again, "What were they thinking?" This ill-starred love quadrangle: Isabel and John Springer, Frank Henwood, and "Tony" von Phul - through incredible naiveté or lack of common sense - could only have ended in tragedy. The author sticks to the meticulously researched facts and resists "filling in" or extrapolating when the historical record is silent or lost. The attorneys, the judges and the old Brown Palace herself have riveting roles that might seem outrageous today, but maybe not when compared to the shenanigans of the O.J. Simpson trial. And to think all of this happened in Denver at a time when she thought she had outgrown her wild frontier reputation. Not so!

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

With the seemingly disproportionate amount of salacious news stemming from Colorado over the past few years (see CU, JonBenet, Columbine, AFA, Kobe...), each with their corresponding legal and journalistic blunders, it's perhaps equal parts refreshing and frustrating to know that this isn't new. Denver Post columnist Dick Kreck paints a rich and detailed picture of the `scene' in Denver and the West during the otts and teens of the last century. That scene included media obsession with scandal, a rouge legal system, DA improprieties, criminal celebrity, right wing 'values' politics, adultery, murder, money.... Sound like that could be the otts of this century in Colorado?

This is a great read, and Kreck has left no stone unturned in his quest for accuracy and detail. Anyone interested in knowing what Denver was like 100 years ago, and in many ways how we got to where we are today, should read this book- or just anyone who loves good murder mystery or courtroom drama!

i found this book intresting. it shows a side of denver that is not seen sometimes. this book gives a look at a man who believe he was innocent and tries with two trials to prove it and recieves a unthinkable twist when he recieves a worse sentence. this book is wonderful for anyone intrested in colorado and murders.

Senior columnist Dick Kreck is a journalist with the Denver Post. He has also worked with the San Francisco Examiner and the Los Angeles Times. He has two previous books to his credit, Colorado's Scenic Railroads and Denver in Flames.

Murder at the Brown Palace chronicles one of the most famous high society murders of the twentieth century. The Brown Palace is one of Denver's grand old hotels, and the principals of the case were all of a free-wheeling social set. In the middle, and probably the cause of the murder was Isabelle Springer, who was married to would-be politician and wealthy Denver businessman John W. Springer. Not content to be a proper social wife, the narcissistic Isabelle enticed two men, and then set up a showdown which ended in two tragic deaths. Unfortunately for Frank Henwood, the killer, Denver was trying to gain a dignified reputation and had no sympathy for the cause of the shooting:

"That the said Sylvester L. von Phul came to his death by gunshot wounds having been fired by Frank H. Henwood in the City and Country of Denver in the state of Colorado about 11:35 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 1911, in the barroom of the Brown Palace Hotel at Seventeenth and Broadway; and we further find the said Sylvester L. von Phul died at St. Luke's Hospital about 11:30 a.m. May 25, 1911, and we further find that said shots were fired with felonious intent."

Dick Kreck, no doubt, went to great lengths to reenact the events leading up to the shooting. Although he presents the facts in an impartial vein, Frank Henwood was obviously led on by Isabelle Springer, as was Sylvester L. von Phul. The irony of the situation is that neither man really wanted to murder the other...but both men acted and reacted passionately to create a chain of events from which both of their lives, and two innocent bystanders' would be ruined. Kreck gives a wonderful historical overview of the politics at that time which would prove to be rigid and unforgiving towards Henwood. Another twist to the story is that John W. Springer really did not blame Henwood for what happened, although the public was not as forgiving. Kreck not only is a dogged historian, but he is faithful to the attitudes and trends of the time, giving the reader a unique perspective on this woeful tale. An excellent read!

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

I was so pleased to discover the next Adriana Hofstetter mystery, Murder at the Grove. It was another fun read for the light mystery lover. Enjoy!

In her sophomore outing, Adriana Hofstetter does not disappoint. The loveable misfit returns to solve a new case, learning new things about the Internet and pondering the lost Los Angeles of yore along the way. With best friend Billy's help, and dodging the hurdles of her well-meaning but protective mother Margaret, Adriana cuts through the clues with sheer determination. The dubious authorities are finally persuaded, leading to a climactic revelation. Who knew that onion rings and green beans could be so fine?

I had thought no mystery could make me laugh and think as much as the first book ( Murder at Hollywood High - read it!), but the sequel stays true to the feeling of the first book, making me laugh at and wonder about my generation even more.

All my favorite characters came back : Adriana, Billy, Margaret, the well meaning but too busy to bother detectives, Furball, and even Adriana's computer, which has a mind of it's own. There is also a splendid array of new characters for the mystery itself, each uniquely human and a reminder of someone I know.

Being a member of Miss Hoffsetters generation I find myself drawn to these books like a moth to flame. The insight Bruce Kimmel has into the minds of those so removed from the world he knew as a teen is uncanny. He dives into and reveals the dark world of clubbing and drugs, the high tech world of iphones and MMORPG's, and the strange and deep relationships teens form between each other and adults.

Bruce Kimmel always pours his all into his books, researching things he could just gloss over and giving detailed descriptions of places that make you feel like you are there. I highly recommend this sequel, along with all his books for a good cozy read and a laugh.

Adriana Hofstetter is a sort of 21st century Nancy Drew. Her creator, Bruce Kimmel, has a background in many areas, but foremost for MURDER AT THE GROVE, he knows about Los Angeles, he knows about teenagers, and he knows about Computers.

Fans of the first book in this series, MURDER AT HOLLYWOOD HIGH, will find much to enjoy here. It can, of course, stand on its own.

The mystery here is somewhat less than previously. I think it is because Adriana has less of an investment in the life of the person who ends up dead. Then again, that's what the book is about: People turning into Pods...all cyberspace communication...less personal interaction.

Two weeks ago, I joined FACEBOOK, a web service a bit like MYSPACE. Like Adriana, I find it more fun, but it is insidious in its takeover of one's cyberlife. Am I an addict? Does Adriana become an addict? You can find the answer to ONE of those questions in MURDER AT THE GROVE.

Like the detective writers of the Golden Age, Kimmel has created a character who has many endearing personal quirks. That I wish Adriana was more Nancy Drew and less Sam Spade is my endearing personal quirk.

Get this book - or the set - for a mystery fan you know. You can't help but be impressed by Adriana's resourcefulness. The world of the 21st century is open for all to see - kind of like you are on FACEBOOK.

I enjoyed it very much. The chapters are short, the pacing is quick, the descriptions of the environs of today's Los Angeles are accurate, and the people you meet along the way are intriguing. None are moreso, though, than Miss Adriana herself. She is the key, she is the heart, and she is the brain of MURDER AT THE GROVE.

The only thing I missed in this book (don't worry fans, BFF Billy is back) was giving Adriana the chance to be brave and plucky. She is never really in danger here. That she is smarter than almost everyone she comes in contact with is almost a given. That she can use those smarts to get out of some precarious situations makes her a real heroine.

Of course, if the people she befriends keep winding up in the morgue, Adriana may have to stick to FACEBOOK for her relationships.

MURDER AT THE GROVE is less a murder mystery than a really good game of Clue. And some evenings there is nothing you like better.

Who killed gamerguy? It wasn't Colonel Mustard in the library with the lead pipe. Read MURDER AT THE GROVE for a quick trip to Los Angeles, and ride on the World Wide Web, and a fun visit with a plucky heroine who should be in the movies or on TV.

Spend an evening or two with Adriana. It will leave you wondering where Kimmel will take her and YOU next....

There is no coincidence that this book is almost impossible to find a copy of this book, because the powers that be don't want you to read it. I hope you are proud of yourself Congressman Rangel.

These two guys really spell out the true story of one of New York Citys most disturbing secrets. The cover up by the NYPD of the murder of one of its own, during the days when the black panthers were gunning down cops on city streets and the Mayor played politics with the lives of cops.
I strongly recommend this book to all cops, exspecialy the new guys coming on the job today. Good bless you Phil.

ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS EVER WRITTEN!!!! THE TRUTH BY THOSE WHO WERE THERE. TO THIS DAY NO POLITICIAN OR POLICE COMMISSIONER HAS EVER OFFERED ANY ACCOUNT OF WHAT TOOK PLACE THAT DAY!!
THE MOST ATROCIUOS COVER-UP THAT HAS EVER OCCURED IN NEW YORK!
REMEMBER CARDILLO!!!!

This book (which most individuals outside of the NYPD do not even know exists these days) is a "must read" for ALL thoughtful New Yorkers--black or white; liberal or conservative. Without reading it, one does not understand crucial events that affected the city's racial relations, changed part of Harlem's culture, were a large part of the drastic change within the NYPD in the past century, and even the altered the face of the city's judicial and political system.

Many people seem to wish the book were never written--much to their (and the city's) disgrace. One may not like (or agree with) everything that is set forth in this account--but it should still be read. If the city's racial relations are ever going to be honestly dealt with, the incidents described in this book (albeit, from one prespective) must be acknowledged and discussed, NOT swept under the rug. To do so simply breeds even greater resentment and misunderstanding.

If New Yorkers truly want to have a more educated understanding what makes their city "tick"--this book is a "must read". My heartfelt recommendation to all fellow New Yorkers (as a "born and raised Upper West Sider" with no family on the NYPD) is to purchase a used, dog-eared copy. Then find a day or two to read it, ponder it, discuss it, and proceed to lend it to someone else so they may do the same. With any luck, they will a) want to discuss the book with you and b) give you yet another book to read that will enlighten you even further and enrich your discussions and mutual understanding of this marvelous city's complex history.

"May learning grow from more to more, and so may human life be enriched."

This was the first in the Delafield series that I read and I've been an addict ever since. This book, along with Beverly Malibu, is one of the best in the series and an excellent read. Great story of how lesbians react to their own who wear badges, and how those women officers deal with it.

This book is perfect to me. Every actor seems to be alive. And if you know L.A., you know the Nightwood Bar and every place in this book.

A young woman is found murdered outside a lesbian bar, and Kate Delafield is on the case. The young woman was a prostitute and a junkie who was rejected by her judgmental parents, all of which gives Kate a plethora of suspects. During the investigation, Kate has a brief liaison with a woman from the lesbian bar, and ultimately reconnects with the lesbian community, which she hadn't done for years. And when Kate discovers who killed the young woman, it's a jolt to the reader as well, even if, like myself, you suspected it. Forrest is a gifted writer, showing in her second Delafield mystery the reasons why she has such a devoted following.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! The character development was well thought out, the plot was superiour, and the entire book held my attention from beginning to end! It's also nice to see a lesbian main character go through "real life".