Trials Books

I purchased this book for my daughter. She read and finished the book and told me that it was well written and that it was very interesting reading. I didn't read it so I would be hesitant to recommend.

I loved this book! My heart goes out to Sharon Rocha and the rest of Laci's family.

I was pregnant with my 3rd son when Laci went missing and was so devastated to hear how she went missing. As time went on, and I looked at Scott on TV, I could tell he was guilty. He was blank, cold, and detached looking. I felt so sad for Laci and her son. She was so beautiful and looked to be like such a sweet loving woman. I was drawn to the story, and waited for her mother to write a book about her. I realized it might not happen, but was happy when she finally wrote this book. I read the book by Scott's half sister, and really enjoyed that book. I also read this book and cried like a baby at certain parts. I was confused how Laci could have been so trusting of Scott, as most women (or at least I thought) have women's intuition that would tell them something was wrong. I am happy that her mother wrote this book. I always wondered what went on with Laci's side of the family during this whole tragedy. Even though I cried many tears while reading this book, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

When the story of Laci broke news, I thought it wouldn't be as sensational as it turned out to be, I mean how many people go missing, or are murdered;my husband thought the same way. I began reading the books about Laci and the investigation, which covered forensic, and mental health issues, but no emotional feelings until I read Sharon's book. It's powerful in its own right. A must read!

This is a compelling book which reads very quickly, as it is hard to put down. Sharon Rocha paints a lovely portrait of her daughter Laci. You can't help be empathetic as evil moves in around her. I have an incredible amount of respect for her and the search-and-rescue fund/foundation she created. This tugs at heartstrings and elicits tears. I can't help but cry.

I've never read a book so gripping or heart wrenching. My condolences to you and your family Mr. Walsh; my heart breaks for you.

John Walsh has decided he is the voice for victims everywhere. The problem is, fewer and fewer people want him to be. Why? Because of things like this book.

He seems to ignore reality in favor of what he wants us to think.

I agree that this book is very sad and heart breaking. I can only begin to feel the sadness and heart break that this man and his wife went through. This book reveal that. I could only somewhat feel his pain because I have never been through it. This book proves that something good can come out of tragic happenings.

This book is more political then I thought. This man has accomplished a lot Worth the buy.

AS A MAN YOUR NOT SUPPOSED TO CRY, BUT I DID, READING WHAT HAPPENED TO HIS SON AND THINKING OF MY OWN SON I JUST COULDNT HELP IT! ITS A GREAT BOOK AND MAKES YOU WONDER WHAT YOU WOULD DO IF IT HAPPENED TO YOU!

Tears of Rage is such a brilliant book. It is very touching, tragic, and even insightful. Not only did I truly enjoy it, but also I found it hard to put down. Such hard times for this fellow after the sadistic murder of his lovely child Adam. Yet he does not give up and he battles and battles for justice for Adam. It was not easy and the police unit were not very helpful and competent with handling his son's case. And it broke John's heart. But he never ran out of fuel to find justice for his beloved son. I admire that. I fully admire his heroic deeds in becoming the host of AMW and has been contributing immensely to snatching sick predators that cannot linger around in the world any longer and especially caring about missing children. If John Walsh have not audaciously fought for our safety, how much worser will the country be in right now? Thank you John Walsh. And I am glad that Adam Walsh bill was successful and was made into law recently.

I'd read a lot of these comics on The Perry Bible Fellowship website, but my goodness, it is just so good having them all printed in a lush, glossy-paged book. Truly, the sick humor comes to life in a way that the internet simply could not dream of. Buy this book. Seriously. You won't be sorry.

I absolutely love the Perry Bible Fellowship. Hysterical from comic number one to whatever the end is. My only issue is with the incredibly small amount of new material there is in it. Honestly, 98% of the comics that are in this book are accessible for free on the website. The only ones that are new are a couple "deleted comics" and some "alternate endings" to some comics. The book is in an attractive hard cover with a red ribbon book mark, and is wonderful as a random pick-up or bathroom reading book. I had it on my bookshelf and on two separate occasions I had people who have never heard of PBF thumbing through. They thought it was hysterical. So do I, and so will you.

Not for everyone, these comics are equal parts demented and hilarious (and maybe sometimes just stupid--but in a funny way). Clever, but not in a pretentious, look-how-clever-I-am way. Really, if you want to see if this is your thing just check out the website. If you like it and want it in book form so you can show it off to your friends or just support the creator, I'd definitely recommend it. It's good quality and well put together with just a few extras that you don't get on the website.

I'm so glad that I bought this - somehow the comics are even better when printed. It's one of those books you can leave on your coffee table (not while kids are around, though) to make your friends scratch their heads and laugh. The author definitely has a cracked sense of humor, but with each comic strip being a story within itself I just can't get enough!

The title about sums it up.

If you follow the Perry Bible Fellowship's weekly descent into madness you'll enjoy this pantone-riffic bathroom book (or coffee table, i suppose, but the bathroom is the main stage for reading this one).

I first remember reading this book when I was eleven or twelve. I was so excited to see that it was reissued. I devoured this slim little book in an hour and it was an hour well spent, reliving the chills and thrills of this book. Patricia Clapp has a great ability to create a fabulous atmosphere that makes it easy for the visualize the story. What a wonderful book!

This book was a good as I remember! Plus, Witches Children was gripping. Also, there is a nice trubute written by Ms. Clapp's children about her. AND insight from Ms. Clapp herself of her inspirations for both of these stories and others.

I have loved this book ever since I first read it as a child. I am so happy to see it available again after so many years! I wanted it several years ago, and had to buy a used copy on eBay to get it. But now I want to buy this re-issue so I can also read Witches' Children! Since Jane-Emily is so good, anything else she wrote must also be great! I've been waiting since my childhood to see a studio make a movie-version of this story, and I can't believe that no one's ever thought of it! I'd love to see it done!

I read and reread this book countless times when I was nine or ten years old and kept it at my grandma's so that every time I went there I'd have it go through yet again. I forgot about it for a long time and then about fifteen years ago, started thinking about how I wanted to read it again, but she was gone and I could not for the life of me remember the title.

Imagine my pure joy at perusing the new release table today at B&N and finding a reprint of Jane-Emily! As soon as I saw the title, I knew it was the book I'd been racking my brains over for almost 15 years and I swear a tear left my eye. Thank you to the kind publisher who deemed this book worthy of reprint!!! I will be thrilled to share it with my own eight year old daughter now.

Many thanks to the publishers who deemed it time to reissue this classic tale of the supernatural by Patricia Clapp. Imagine my delight when I saw the book at a local bookstore, after all these years! I have been relying on my local library all this time [a dog-eared copy that has been lovingly taken care of]whenever I've felt a desire to re-read this timeless ghost story.

For those unfamiliar with the tale, it centers around a nine-year old orphan, Jane who together with her young aunt Louisa, goes to spend the summer with her paternal grandmother Mrs Lydia Canfield. As soon as they get there, a sense of foreboding permeates their visit, as young Jane begins to take an unhealthy interest in her deceased relative, Emily, who died many years ago at a tender young age. Emily however was no sweet little girl, but possessed of a wilful temper, and bent on getting her way, to the detriment of those around her. Are the unusual happenings in the Canfield house a result of coincidences or something more sinister? Is young Jane an overly imaginative young girl or someone who is being controlled by a supernatural force? These and other questions are satisfactorily answered through Patricia Clapp's superb, timeless ghost story. It is high on atmosphere, and is a perfect introduction to the horror genre for younger readers [and even adults like me:)].

One of the most engaging aspects of M.J. Rose's writing is that she gives the reader an "insider's look" into a possibly unfamiliar venue. "Flesh tones" is set in the art world, and both the process of painting and the business end were depicted in an interesting and convincing way. The characters were attractive and made you care about them.

M.J. Rose knows writing! I finished Flesh Tones last night and have to say how much I admire her work. Her characters and the situation are finestkind, but I am most impressed with the way she tells the tale. What superb timing, and how nicely she spins a chapter strand into transition. With a tease here and a glimpse there, M.J. Rose gives us just enough to move the story along, like oars move a shell over the water: allowing us to glide between strokes, never losing momentum, accelerating smoothly to a stunning finish.

What is the dividing line between deep love and obsession? Who should be allowed to judge when a relationship crosses from one to the other?

Genny Haviland met artist Slade Gabriel in her father's gallery when she was 17. They became lovers, an affair that lasted for only weeks in reality but survived for the rest of Genny's life in her heart and soul. They meet again twenty years later, only to have Gabriel learn he has fallen victim to rapidly advancing Alzheimer's. Knowing he could not bear to live without his art, Genny agrees to help him commit suicide.

But a missing letter results in her arrest for murder, and a grief-stricken Genny has no inclination to fight the charge. Instead, as the trial proceeds, she reviews the past, the present and the relationship that has defined her emotional life, looking for an answer that may defy explanation.

In her latest novel, M.J. Rose explores yet another aspect of the relationships between men and women and how those relationships can define us even more than we define them. Child of a distant mother and a father whose love carries strange, twisted undertones, the young Genny is ripe for the kind of intense, all-encompassing passion she finds with Slade Gabriel. She is at once sympathetic and irritating, stubbornly clinging to the loss of her lover as if it will somehow compensate her for the greater loss of the emotional connections she never had -- or allowed herself to have.

FLESH TONES, however, is more than simply a study of one woman's overwhelming need for enduring love. It is also about creativity, and how the truly great artist will always have one small part of his or her soul they cannot share no matter how deeply they love another. Written with powerful emotional intensity and a clear, discerning eye for both the glories and the agonies of both love and passion, Flesh Tones will resonate with anyone who has ever loved what they can never completely have, but it will also provoke tough questions in those who have not.

I have learned that if a book doesn't grab you within the first 50 pages or so to foget about it and move onto something else. This book had me hooked within the first 20 pages. This book does a wonderful job at exploring that very fine line between love and obsession at times I felt like I was reading Genny's personal diary, but this book is much more than a smutty beach read. Did Genny Haviland kill her lover or did she save him from a terrible disease that would rob him of everything he knows and holds dear? M.J. Rose's writing style is efortless and smooth. Half the story is told in the present tense during the murder trial and half the story is told through the use of flashbacks, which normally can be hard for the reader to follow, but in this instance they are used to define very important elements in the story. Ms. Rose's writing style is masterful, the reader becomes totally absorbed in the tapestry of the story, there are passages that read like poetry that force the reader to go back and read them again. It was impossible for me not to turn the pages, I was transfixed and I will definetly be on the lookout for more by M.J. Rose!!

MJ Rose paints a portrait of an amazing bond between a man and woman. Genny and Slade, both products of the art world, meet when she is far too young to fall in love with him, or to share his passion. She misrepresents her age and background to be with him, and Rose skips forward, after laying the foundation, to Genny's immeasureable sacrifice for the man she loves. Rose is equally at home writing about art, death, the courtroom and the bedroom. She's one author I'll not soon forget!

Enjoy!

Blood Done Sign My Name is a non-fiction work that combines the personal memoirs and research of Timothy Tyson, Professor of Afro-American Studies at the University of Wisconsin. The most striking aspect of the novel is the description of Dickie Marrow's murder from the points of view of different citizens of Oxford. This unique feature makes the book appealing to many age groups. Teenage readers can relate to Tyson's personal anecdotes about growing up in rural Oxford, North Carolina. Even if younger audiences do not understand the symbolism behind the text, they can still enjoy the well-developed characters and eventful plot. Adult readers can gain insight into many themes concerning race and white supremacy. Tyson elegantly expresses the naiveté of children on the issue of morality and treatment of other races. This is best conveyed in the passage where young Tyson taunted a black child solely because his friend had started an insulting chime. The author describes that it was fear--not hatred--that bred the twisted idea of white supremacy. Parents can also connect with the decisions and actions of Vernon and Martha Tyson. The Tysons believed that their children should be exposed to many different opinions yet respect all races. The difference in perspectives in the work allows readers of all ages to enjoy and understand the truth behind the Civil Rights Movement.
The book contains a few minor flaws that diminish the lucidity of the text. The plot is rather erratic; from time to time, the events are not connected perfectly. This technique may be Tyson's personal style of writing, but it proves to be rather confusing at major points in the plot. For example, Tyson usually explains a personal memory of the murder and follows it with completely unrelated information about another character. These discontinuities in the plot make the book difficult to comprehend at first. Gradually, however, the reader gets acclimatized to this original form of writing. The gaps between personal stories build suspense and enable the reader to process a feasible prediction for the sequence of events. The novel also includes many extraneous details about minor characters that play an insignificant part in the plot. Tyson extensively describes his mother's childhood, even though his mother does not affect the sequence of events in any fashion. This extra information, however, does not detract from the book's overall theme. Though the story contains a few negligible weaknesses, Tyson maintains his overall claim and presents it in an interesting and distinctive manner.
Blood Done Sign My Name is an enthralling story that expresses the moral wrongs of racism. To call it a mere story does not do Tyson proper justice; it is more fitting to call the book a documentary. By citing several engrossing stories throughout the novel, Tyson maintains the reader's attention and successfully proves his thesis. Other than its occasional lack of continuity, Timothy Tyson has written a classic non-fiction work for readers of all ages.

Few books are as challenging for me as this one. I lived through the years of this story and consistently refused to believe that our racism was as extensive or deeply rooted as it was. Take away: the challenge to see it in our present day and to do something about it.

An essential history and memoir of a time whose facts are often forgotten and even actively repressed. The present doesn't make sense without honestly examining the past, and this book does that with humility and emotional power. Even if you think you know this history (as I did) you very well may not.

I was born and grew up in Oxford, North Carolina as a white boy, and graduated from theUniversity of North Carolina in 1949. I have lived in a suburb of Baltimore, Maryland for many years.

Tyson deserves credit for deploring the murder and acquittal of the murderer in the book. However, he tends to be polemic: all black people in it are noble; all but a few white people are some combination of racist, ignorant, or narrow-minded. (It is similar in that respect to LeonUris's novel "Exodus", in which all Jews are noble and bigger than life, while all others are hatefulor, at best, not very bright.)

He often uses a down-home style of writing, calling his parents "Daddy" and "Mama" and being addressed as "Little Buck" by his father, which he apparently feels makes him and his family seem to be folksy, good plain people.

However, the book is not without its shortcomings.

Accounts of questionable credibility:

¶¶He states that tear gas was used by Oxford police in 1944 to dispel a crowd of black people who were protesting the arrest of two men. I witnessed the event and remember no tear gas--had there been, I think I would never have forgotten it.

¶¶An account of the torching of buildings in Oxford on May 25, 1970 by angry black people following the killing of Marrow describes two tobacco warehouses which were amongthem:"Inside these warehouses were eight hundred thousand pounds of golden cured tobacco, a known flammable substance, with a total value of more than a million dollars." I find it hard to believe that any tobacco would have been in those warehouses in May.

Tobacco was brought by the farmers to Oxford warehouses from mid-September through mid-November, where it was sold at auction and immediately taken by the buyers to their Oxfordprocessing plants, and then shipped off to the cigarette manufacturers. By some time in late
November, all of the warehouses became empty.

Although the whole procedure I describe above could have changed somewhat by 1970, I still find it hard to believe that there would have been tobacco in the warehouses in May, by which time it would have probably become dry and crumbly.

¶¶The following exchange supposedly took place during the 1930's between Major T.G. stem (a prominent white man in Oxford) and a man described in the book as "a local white bootlegger." Having occurred long before Tyson was born, it was recounted to him by Thad Stem, the Major's
son and a close friend of the Tyson family.

"Major Stem was leaving Hall's drugstore with his son (Thad) and they passed Mrs. G. C. Shaw, the wife of the principal at Mary Potter High, the local Negro high school.

'Good afternoon, Mrs. Shaw,' the Major said, tipping his hat.

A local white bootlegger, idling under the store awning, accosted Major Stem. 'Why'd you call that [...] woman Mrs. Shaw'?" he demanded.

'Well, Mrs. Shaw's older than I am,' he began softly. 'She's better educated than I am,and she has
more money.' Then, thrusting the bootlegger away from him, the major exploded: 'But more to the point, what I call Mrs. Shaw is none of your goddamned business, you low-life taxidermist, you two-for-a-nickel jackal, you knee-crawling [...], net.' These were the days when
people really knew how to cuss. Back then, the appendage 'net' meant a real [...]...on the way home (Thad) asked his father why on earth he had called the bootlegger a 'taxidermist.' The major said quietly that a taxidermist is a man who mounts animals."

If not a total fabrication, the story seems to me to have been mostly made up.

In those earlier times, I never heard any white person in Oxford address or refer to a black person as Mr./Mrs./Ms. (However, by some strange logic, a black doctor was referred to as Dr. X by white people. Dr. Ellis Toney was a black practitioner there for many years and was so referred to. The same was the case for some black ministers, who were referred to as Pastor or Reverend
such-and-such.)

¶¶In writing about the slave trade, Tyson speaks of "the dark Atlantic, where the bones of somewhere around ten million Africans settled into the sand, thrown overboard by the slave ships that plied those waters in the early days of the republic (the USA)."

Where did this 10 million figure come from? Tyson provides no source. One reference, "Slavery: A World History", by Milton Meltzer, says that about 2.2 million died that way.

¶¶Degrading most of Oxford's black people by stereotyping them as uncultured:

The most puzzling aspect of the book is: On the one hand, Tyson makes the legitimate point that black residents of Oxford and Granville County, after long having been subjected to a segregated, inferior status in society, deserved to be recognized as having equal rights with white citizens. Yet, at the same time, he consistently shows these same black people as being crude and unable to
say anything without massacring English grammar.

"I knowed him right good, and I liked him all right. He didn't hurt nobody." "Yeah, we was listening to TV, that's how we got involved in the first sit-ins in Oxford, because we saw on TV they was doing it up in Greensboro." "Me and a guy named Ronald Jordan, me and him climbed up on the Confederate soldier..." And there are many more.

I know from personal experience that many black people in Oxford, then and now, are much more cultured than Tyson portrays them. I also know from my volunteer work at the Helping Up Mission in Baltimore, where I tutor men who are recovering from drug and alcohol addiction in the 3R's (all of whom to date have been black), that most black people, like anyone anywhere, will grasp an opportunity to become more cultured.

Note: The running together of words, without proper spacing, and the breaking up of lines above are done by Amazon. My original review did not have those errors. I have repaired them by subsequent editing, but they persist.

Marshall H. Pinnix

I finally got around to reading this memoir this summer and was in awe of the author's narrative gifts. This story reads like a novel and is full of plain human wisdom, an emotional openness combining humility and pride, wry humor, sharp political analysis, and a can't-put-it-down story line that comes to terms with America's number one cultural problem: racism. This is a book of local history that gets at the human condition, and a work of history that reads like great literature. I'm telling everyone I can to read it, and that includes whoever reads this. Don't pay attention to any of the so-called "corrections" made by some other reviewers here. This is a must-read historical work that shows an astute and perceptive ability to understand its widely varying participants' points of view and experiences, while not shrinking from the moral and historical obligation to draw judgments. There is only one word to use: *brilliant.* (I'm not one to use that lightly when talking about either autobiography or
history.)

Disclaimer: The writer of this review is a professional historian with a Ph.D., but one who has never met Timothy Tyson.

Trial by Journal is one of the most intriguing and one of the best books I have ever read. Whomever would of thought that a town would actually allow a child on jury duty just because another child was involved in a murder. Well, she needs to pass [...] grade and the journal she keeps of her experiences helps her recieve and A+ from her teacher. This book is told in newspaper articles, maps, radio talk shows, newscasters, and ofcourse journal entries.

Trial by Journal was written by Kate Klise. It is a fantastic mystery that takes place in the mythical town of Tyleville, Missouri. The book is written in a very unique way. It is based on journal entries by Lilly Watson (the main character); newspaper articles from the local newspaper; transcripts from the local radio station; and personal letters

Trial by Journal is filled with never ending action and jokes by the quick witted Lilly Watson. Twelve year old Lilly Watson is a member of a jury attempting to solve the murder of Perry Keet. Perry is a twelve year old boy that works at the local zoo. Perry did not return home from work one day and his body was not found. His co-worker and friend of Lilly's, Bob White, is accused of Perry's murder. Lilly is selected to be on the jury because of a law that requires a juvenile to be on the jury of cases that involve children. The book chronicles Lilly's adventures as she tries to unravel the mystery of Perry Keet's murder. Other characters in the book include Lilly's co-jurors Fawn Papillon and Anna Conda; and the wealthy Rhett Tyle whose testimony is important to solving the mystery.

My favorite part of the book is when Lilly solves the mystery. I like this part because of the clever way that Lilly analyzed the clues and uncovered the truth. Trial by Journal was an exciting and thought-provoking mystery. The protagonist, Lilly Watson, is a bright, funny, and enthusiastic girl. I particularly enjoyed the way the author developed this character.

I give this book four out of five stars. It is a very enjoyable read. I became very involved with the characters and rooted hard for Lilly to solve the mystery. I recommend this book highly for people that enjoy good mysteries and humor. This book is suitable for anyone over nine years old. Adults may enjoy this book, but the complicated storyline may be too confusing for children under the age of nine.

Trial By Journal was written by Kate Klise. The illustrator for this wonderful book was M. Sarah Klise. Trial By Journal has 238 pages total in the book.

This book is about a 12 year old girl named Lily Watson who was put on to a jury to solve a murder of a sixth grader, who happens to be a boy named Perry Keet. The person who they thought was the murderer was Bob White. Her teacher Mr. Holms has asked her to keep a journal about what is going on with the case the whole time of jury duty. Mr. Holms has also told Lily that she will have to go to summer school for missing so much of school, but Lily doesn't think that is fair, because she never asked to be a juror.

Lily's problem is that she has to find out/solve the case and prove that Bob White is either innocent or guilty.

My favorite part in Trial By Journal is when we meet all of the jurors and we find
out their names. I like this part because the names are so funny. Some of the character's names are Perry Keet, Bob White, Fawn Papillon, and Anna Conda.


The genre of this book is realistic fiction because this could happen but I doubt the names. When I read Trial By Journal I felt like I was actually there to witness everything because the author had great description and I was really caught into it.

Trial By (Jury) Journal, By Kate Klise, Illustrated by Sarah Klise 256 pages


I read the book Trial by (Jury) Journal by Kate Klise. I think that this book is great! The author Kate Klise did a wonderful job of describing everything and making it all come alive. It seemed real! I would definitely recommend this book to other readers who like to read books that have fake letters, articles, and journal entries. It was a little hard to read because of all these things, but it was definitely easy to enjoy!

In this book a law is passed that if there is a child under 18 in a case, then a child under 18 has to be on the jury. The main character in this book is Lily, who gets chosen to be on the jury. While on Jury duty, Lily keeps a journal telling about her experiences in the courtroom and at the hotel where the whole jury is forced to stay during Jury duty. They can have no contact with others except fellow jurors.

My favorite part in this book was when Lily and her new Jury duty friend Fawn Papillion decide to let out all the birds in the hotel out of their cages. My other favorite part is when they discover the paintings in Priscilla the Gorilla's cage.

Although almost everything about being on Jury duty is tough, Lily makes the best of her free time off from school. She has many unforgettable experiences.

The case is hard and everyone thinks that one person did it. Bob White. But did he? If you want to find out you should read Trial by (Jury) Journal.

I think that anyone who likes a laugh, a good humored girl, and a bit of mystery would love this book because it's all of those things wrapped into one.

Kate Klise probably knows that her books will never win her any great big awards. If she receives recognition for her published works, by and large it's by children and not adults. Don't believe me? Check out the other reviews for this book down below. Who has written them? Kids. Lots and lots and lots of kids. And how do the kids feel about the author who has brought to the world books like, "Trial by Journal" and "Regarding the Fountain"? They worship at her feet. Even those kids who have NEVER read her, never even HEARD of the woman, gravitate to her novels like the books were singing a siren song to beat the band (and other mixed metaphors). I run a homeschooler bookgroup at my local library. The other day I gave the children a choice. They could choose an infinitely cool and relatively new fantasy novel with a shiny cover and the promise of magical creatures. Or they could read, "Trial By Journal". And unanimously they all reached for Klise's book. Not having read it myself, I quickly zipped through the story as quickly as I could do so. What I found was a book that contains horrid puns, contrived plot devices, so-so pictures, and a mystery. I also found a book that children will be lining up around the block to check out again and again and again from the library. She may not be the best writer you even encounter, but she'd certainly win a kiddie popularity contest beyond a shadow of a doubt.

There's trouble in Tyle County. Trouble like you wouldn't believe. Murder trouble. Yes, a perfectly nice twelve-year-old boy has undoubtedly been murdered by a creepy keeper at the local Tyle Park Zoo. Now there's to be a trial to determine whether or not Bob White is guilty of the murder of Perry Keet. In Tyleville, however, there's a new law that declares that when any crime is committed against a minor, a minor in turn must be on the jury panel. In this particular case, that juror is Perry's old classmate, Lily Watson. During the course of the trial Lily befriends an aging film star who is also on the jury, and keeps a journal of events in lieu of the schoolwork she's missing. As she remains sequestered from friends and family, Lily slowly begins to unravel the mystery of what actually happened to Perry. What she discovers will pit her against the most powerful man in town and mean that she must save the life of an innocent man jailed for a crime he did not commit.

The book is told in the form of journal entries, newspaper articles, letters, notes, and radio transcripts. That's Klise's schtick. Not only is it an appealing method of storytelling, but an eclectic one as well. When my homeschoolers (aged 8 to 12) picked up the book and randomly flipped through it, some were reduced to giggles when they saw a pretzel taped to the bottom of one of the journal pages. It was just an illustration of a pretzel, mind you, but the effect was instantaneous and effective. Most of Klise's books are put together in this way. You can talk all you want about the cool young adult titles written entirely in e-mails, but Klise was the first to do it this consistently with children.

Of course, her storytelling has to be fairly simple as well. There are always rather large plot gaps and stretches of plausibility. I'll try to avoid giving away any plot details, despite the fact that kids will probably figure them out long long long before Lily does. At one point out heroine encounters SOMEONE who is being held hostage by the story's villain. He rests the hope of escaping his imprisonment entirely on her shoulders. Then, to make certain he doesn't escape too soon in her tale, Klise writes in all sorts of peculiar details. Still, when you compare the book to "Regarding the Fountain", "Trial By Journal" is far better thought out.

The illustrations in this book are written by M. Sarah Klise, Kate's sister. She has illustrated all of Kate's books. They are a team. Peas in a pod. Two of a kind. For the most part, M. Sarah is a fine illustrator. She's created some highly amusing and intricate building and Tyleville landmarks at both the beginning and then end of the book. Unfortunately, she's not so hot with people. Even gorillas look pretty darn good when she draws them, but human beings by and large are grotesque. The villains are always obvious right from the start and the good guys don't fare much better. If M. Sarah could somehow avoid people altogether when she draws her elaborate concoctions, she'd be a perfect complement to Kate's tales. As it stands, she's only so-so.

You can't judge, "Trial By Journal" too harshly since it's clear that the Klise sisters are having a wonderful time writing their books and kids have a wonderful time reading 'em. More importantly, the book even manages to show exactly how trials work, defines terms for children to understand, and goes through the entire legal process in a fun and interesting way. They come for the kooky format, story, and mystery. They stay for the legalese.

I picked this up hoping for some good escapist fiction while nursing a cold. Sorry, but this was completely unbelievable in every way. Trust me folks, homicide detectives don't discuss cases with civilians and don't drag them along to interviews. Ms. Collins' lack of credibility in her subject matter is further revealed in Sybee's not guilty in the murder trial. If a person is in the commission of a felony such as drug dealing and a person is killed, that person is just as guilty as the triggerman. Annie is an idiot who magically seemed to win in physical combat against the bad guy but lost to a two year old, who incidently had perfect diction.

Ms. Collins appears to have very little general education. Perhaps her knowledge of Christianity is better. In that case, maybe she should stick to Christianity as the sole subject. She's not winning converts with her uneducated, ignorant fiction writing.

This was a great book. I stumbled upon this author and now have read almost everything she writes. Good christian fiction.

Erin Willit witnessed what no 12 year old girl should: the murder of her murder. The killer is running free, and Erin is the only witness to the heinous act. Erin is so distraught by this event that she can't give the police any help in identifying the murderer.

Neighbor Annie Kingston is a veteran courtroom artist, and the police have asked her to work with Erin to put together a composite sketch of the killer. Annie has recently moved her family to Grove Landing to find some peace and safety. Now she finds herself immersed into a living nightmare as she discovers more about the killer and his motive.

This is the first installment of Collins' Hidden Faces series, and what a way to begin! The story is told from Annie's first person point of view. She juggles the demands of motherhood and a dark family past, all the while striving to find a killer before his trail grows cold. Brandilyn Collins holds her own as a suspense writer and she effortlessly guides readers along as the pages simply fly by. She also effectively weaves themes of faith and purpose throughout that add to the richness of this story. Readers will be encouraged by the spiritual awakening of Annie's character.

This is gripping, chilling, and downright entertaining reading and I'm eagerly anticipating the next installment.

I give this an A+ for suspense and police/forensic details! I do prefer books with more character development (I want to really know what they're feeling, etc), and this one didn't "grab me" that way. Otherwise, this is a great Christian suspense, worth the read!

As a Christian person myself, I love reading thriller and suspense books. Though, other thriller and suspense books are filled with sex, swearing, and excessive gory details. I had no idea that there were Christian thriller and suspense books out there until shopping one day in a local J.O.Y. Bookstore. So, let me tell you what a "thriller" that was for me. So, I picked it up. I must say this the best book I've read so far. She is my favorite author. Her unique style of writing, faith, suspense, and real characters are simply awesome. I was sitting on the edge of my seat until I was finished. I felt like I was right there helping Annie solve this case. I would give this book more than 5 stars if I could. I'm going to buy her other books and can't wait for more. BUY THIS BOOK!!! YOU WON'T BE DISAPPOINTED!!

I loved this book! I have read all of his books and find them to be extremely funny and well written. If you like mysteries and golden retrievers, these are the books for you!

PLAY DEAD is David Rosenfelt's sixth book starring his freewheeling, rule-bending New Jersey defense attorney Andy Carpenter. And it's one of his best. PLAY DEAD kicks off with Andy finding out that a golden retriever named Yogi is about to be put down for biting its owner. Andy, having a soft spot for golden retrievers (himself the owner of the glorious Tara), isn't about to let that happen. He goes to court and successfully reverses Yogi's death sentence. And that's that, right?

Wrong. It turns out that Yogi is supposed to have been dead for five years now. Yogi's real name is Reggie, and the actual owner is Richard Evans. Here's where it gets good. Five years ago, Evans was convicted of killing his girlfriend on his private boat, with Reggie believed to have been thrown overboard. Evans has spent the past half decade in incarceration. But, now, Reggie's sudden re-appearance calls to question the events surrounding the murder. Reggie, Andy supposes, might even be the key to finding out what really happened. When Richard's sister Karen asks him to prove her brother innocent, Andy caves.

It won't be easy, naturally. First, Andy and his oddball team have to present probable cause in order to get the case re-opened, and then there's that little thing of actually winning the re-trial. If that's not enough of a challenge, certain outside forces aren't willing to play nice (the mob, the U.S. Customs, an unknown federal government agency). And it's not enough that Andy finds his phone being tapped; now thugs are taking potshots at him.

In the light legal thriller genre, I hang my hat(s) on Paul Levine and David Rosenfelt (Paul Levine's Solomon Vs. Lord series, by the way, rocks mightily.). Both authors excel in balancing tongue-in-cheek with courtroom suspense. In PLAY DEAD Rosenfelt tops Levine just a tad with Andy's unprecedented and off-the-wall act of putting a dog on the witness stand ("The defense calls Reggie Evans."). And, somehow, Rosenfelt manages to pull it off, making the somewhat implausible plot seem logical (I don't really see real life lawyers getting away with half what our hero gets away with). Andy Carpenter, irreverent and maybe even a bit of a physical coward, continues to ingratiate himself with the reader. Work-ethically challenged and wealthy as sin, Andy can pick and choose his cases. That he'd take on the underdog cause of a convicted murderer, primarily because he owns a golden retriever, probably says everything there is to say about Andy.

For suckers of romance, there's ample sighting of Andy's Wisconsin Sheriff paramour, Laurie, who becomes concerned with Andy's case and flies in to Jersey on a makeshift vacation. Seems that long-distance thing is working out well for these two. For now. For quirkiness, the rest of the regulars are also here, including the monosyllabic and intimidating P.I./bodyguard Marcus, Andy's sarcastic cop buddy Pete, that computer hack Sam Willis (who often challenges Andy in a song quote-off), and Andy's hypochondriac law partner Kevin. Oh, and let's not forget the wondrous golden retriever Tara, who runs Andy's world and is magnanimous enough to share her home with Reggie.

I've always come away with a good feeling after finishing an Andy Carpenter book, and it's no different with PLAY DEAD. It's a whodunit which is perplexing enough (although it's one of those mysteries which'll have you slapping your head later and thinking, "Dang, I should've seen that coming." I didn't see it coming). The courtroom scenes leave you enough of Andy being Andy (although, he doesn't quite grandstand as much as he has in prior books). Not to be a Pollyanna, but this really ends up being a feel-good and heartwarming story. Especially if you love dogs. If you're into skullduggery, there's a far-reaching conspiracy which seeks to stump Andy at every turn. And, if you're just in this for a good time, well, then, Andy's snarky commentaries and observations will keep you on the smirky side of life.

Next to finally, chalk up the high-spirited Karen Evans as a very winning character. Dare I hope she'll become a recurring character? She was certainly hanging out enough in Andy's workplace.

Finally, check out Rosenfelt's acknowledgement page. It's a hoot.

Many years ago I attended a legal education program where a well-known evidence professor presented a hypothetical case involving a dog who was called to court to give evidence. It was delivered in a humorous and entertaining fashion, and the presentation helped drive home an important legal point that I have remembered for more than 20 years. David Rosenfelt, the creator of a wonderful series of courtroom mystery novels with attorney Andy Carpenter, may have heard that same evidence hypothetical at some point in his career. His newest novel, PLAY DEAD, opens with a similar legal conundrum.

Andy comes to the rescue of a golden retriever, seemingly abandoned by his owner. He is about to be put to sleep by the local dog pound, but Andy goes to court to win a reprieve for him. In the ensuing news coverage, a witness recognizes the dog for an extremely significant reason. Because the animal is alive, her brother, who is serving a life sentence for murder, cannot be guilty of the crime for which he is imprisoned. Thus begins Andy's newest legal battle, an ingenious and entertaining adventure that followers of the series have grown to expect.

Several years ago Andy inherited a large fortune, and the money gives him the opportunity to select a limited number of clients and cases. Large retainers from wealthy criminals are not his priority; obtaining real justice for the wrongly convicted is his reward.

Andy's client in PLAY DEAD is Richard Evans, convicted of the murder of his fiancée and now serving a life sentence. The golden retriever that Andy rescues from imminent death turns out to be Evans's dog. At the time of the killing the dog was four miles out in the Atlantic Ocean. He was presumed to have drowned, but that he now appears alive raises questions about the conviction. First Andy must win a new trial for Evans and then has to convince a second jury that Evans is not guilty.

Meanwhile, Andy is still balancing a long-distance romantic relationship with Laurie Collins, his former investigator who now works in Wisconsin. His loyal office crew and New Jersey cronies are all part of the mix, which makes these books such enjoyable reading.

Rosenfelt has an excellent grasp of the law and the legal process. He paints true portraits of prosecutors and judges, and his courtroom scenes have remarkable vitality. True, Andy sometimes gets away with some shenanigans that might not occur in a real courtroom, but these are his cases and he is the leading man. Under those circumstances, readers can cut him just a tiny bit of slack.

Andy's investigation into the Evans case unearths some very suspicious and potentially lethal evidence. It also portends danger for him. Early on in his investigation, Andy is the victim of a shooting attack on the highway. His assailants are killed, but their deaths raise more questions than answers. Throughout PLAY DEAD, many of the important characters are not who they appear to be. Indeed, Andy can only be certain of Reggie, the golden retriever whose life he has spared. Even the dog's life becomes endangered by those who try to dissuade Andy from his quest for justice.

Rosenfelt has a successful formula for what hopefully will be a long series of enjoyable and entertaining courtroom novels. The American legal system provides the author with substantial fodder for countless new adventures for Andy and his associates. His writing ability seems to be limitless, and readers can await with wonderful anticipation the next adventure of Andy Carpenter's legal career.

--- Reviewed by Stuart Shiffman

"Play Dead," a novel by David Rosenvelt is a great book. David has lots of other novels like "Shut Up". I really liked this book because it wasn't one of those books where you know what's coming next. It is very suspenseful, which makes you want to keep reading. This is a great lawyer book and has very good detail. I think people that plan to be lawyers should read this book but doesn't mean it is limited to them.
This book is about a lawyer who has a passion for golden retrievers. He tries to get a dog from being put down which leads to another case which puts his life in jeopardy.
The best thing about the book is how it makes you think of all the hints and clues they give out early in the book to help solve the case at the end.

The only bad thing I can say about this book is how quickly it was over. I tried to slow down and appreciate every great scene that I came upon, but before I knew it I was done. Finished with another superb Rosenfelt thriller. Go get it if you don't already have it. Awesome from start to finish.

Wonderful. That's the only word I can use to describe this book. If you want to know why it's wonderful, BUY IT!!! It's definitely worth the money!!

And one last thing... MICHAEL JACKSON IS 100% INNOCENT!

I trust this author. She went into the court room a full fledged believer in the accusations and left dumb found. A few years later wrote this book.
Mr. Jackson is an easy target for indictments. He wears more make-up than the Avon lady and he dresses like Captain Crunch. He is not your average "Joe".
I don't know for sure that he didn't do these terrible things. Nobody does really except for him-- and of course the accusers.
What I do know, is he has been very loving to those who know him well and to those who don't, and enormously generous giving over 300 million dollars to charities around the world.
Lets face it your gonna believe what you wanna believe. But if you are really in search of the truth behind all the speculations and sensationalisms that have surrounded this famous case pick this up. My heart broke for him, and yours will too.

A book to own for an MJ fan, it is full of anecdotes and it tells the truth with reliable sources: the woman who attended the trial herself!! It's a mine of information, really worth your money.

If you ever questioned Michael Jackson's innocence, then this is the book you need to read. It provides such insight to the court room you can almost feel you were there, chapter after chapeter, Miss Jones writting brings the court room to life.
It's filled with information that was never made public by the media, proving how this man was wrongly accused and the DA's office did absolutely everything in their hands to get him knowing their case was based on nothing but lies.
Every Michael Jackson fan would enjoy reading this, but more importantly every Michael Jackson hater SHOULD read this book before ever opening their mouths to make a point.
Excellent.

A wonderful book for those who wants to know the truth behind the Michael Jackson Trial in 2005. Buy it, Read it, and then you can judge. This book is a keeper!