New York Books

It started out as a routine fire in a restaurant basement. But then two firefighters were killed, and New York Fire Marshall Georgia Skeehan must sort through the evidence to determine who is responsible for the arson--and two murders. She is elated when an answering machine tape at the restaurant yields a clear-cut confession from a notorious torch, Michael McLaughlin. But suddenly there are Feds involved, and the fire department is ordered to keep their hands off McLaughlin. He's a confidential informant, and the magnitude of the FBI's case takes precedent over an arson case.

Georgia, who is a bit hot-headed, is livid over the Feds' high-handedness and finds herself part of the FBI's investigative team. It's the only way they'll keep her quiet. Soon she's working undercover with gangsters and terrorists, she almost gets blown up, and she realizes she has become a pawn in McLaughlin's little game. She also discovers she and McLaughlin have a history she didn't even know about, and the mysteries, lies and dead bodies pile up until Georgia doesn't know who to turn to, who to trust.

Fireplay is a really outstanding mystery that incorporates elements of a police procedural and a taut, woman-in-jeopardy story. The emotions were honest, and realistic details about fires and arson made me believe, for a couple of hours, that it was really happening. I can't give much higher praise than that. The only thing I didn't care for was the very last twist, which was so far-fetched it killed the believability factor. But it was almost an afterthought, thrown in as details of the mystery were being wrapped up, so it didn't really spoil the story for me.

I haven't read in awhile and I just happened to see Fireplay by Suzanne Chazin and grabbed it because I have read her first two novels. Frankly, I thought it would be awhile before I read it. Wrong! I loved this book. I'm not going to give a play-by-play description of the plot since that has already been done.

What impressed me most was the emotional aspect of this book. In the first two books, you learned a lot of information about the technical side of firefighting with mystery and suspense. In Fireplay, you still get the suspense and mystery, but Ms. Chazin takes us a step closer in understanding the recurring characters. We see our heroine, Georgia, thrown into a situation way beyond her control, but she never lets up for an instant. All the major characters find themselves not knowing whom to trust or keeping things from each other. This adds to the drama. The ending-well, I never saw it coming.

Fireplay is a great novel. You can pretty well read this one without the first two. However, I have to recommend you read those as well. Ms. Chazin has a great series going on here. I will be looking for the next novel, even if I don't read anything else in between.

You only need to read a page of FIREPLAY to recognize and appreciate how excellent a writer Suzanne Chazin has become. She has been impressive from the beginning --- so impressive that it is hard to believe that THE FOURTH ANGEL was a debut novel and harder still to believe that FIREPLAY is only her third. But by the time you're six pages or so into FIREPLAY, you'll realize, like the characters in the book, that there is no turning back.

Chazin skillfully accomplishes a number of things in this first chapter. Chazin puts you in the middle of a firefighting situation, standing right next to three of New York's Bravest as they walk into a mess that they did not create but that they must nonetheless contain, control and eliminate. Chazin does more than describe the scene --- she creates a sense of impending doom, with accompanying suspense; she makes the readers care about the characters within just a couple of sentences; and she brings the readers directly into a situation that they can identify with, even though the overwhelming majority of them are unfamiliar with it. However, this is not a gratuitous scene thrown in merely to hook the reader (although it does that, oh yes indeed). It sets the tone of the entire novel and has repercussions that echo on practically every page, from beginning to end.

The main hero of FIREPLAY, as with THE FOURTH ANGEL and FLASHOVER, is New York City Fire Marshal Georgia Skeehan. Skeehan is brought in to investigate the fire that takes place at the beginning of FIREPLAY, a fire that causes minimal property damage to a swank restaurant but that results in the deaths of two firefighters. It quickly becomes evident that the fire is arson and is tied to an enigmatic character named Michael McLoughlin, a.k.a. Freezer. Skeehan and her partner, Randy Carter, practically have McLoughlin dead to rights, but McLoughlin is under the protection of the FBI, which is using him to defuse an environmentalist terrorist group.

Skeehan is frustrated enough with her inability to bring in a man who was responsible for the deaths of two firefighters, but her frustration increases one hundredfold when she learns that there is a connection between McLoughlin and a fire that occurred decades ago and that took the life of her firefighter father. This knowledge makes Skeehan more determined than ever to get McLoughlin, even as she is forced to work undercover with him in order to thwart a terrorist act that the environmentalists are planning. Things become even more complicated, however, when she discovers that there is another person working with terrorists: the father of her son. And that, believe it or not, is only the beginning of the surprises that occur from the beginning to the end of this fine novel --- including one, near the end, that you'll never see coming.

There are, for whatever reasons, very few writers currently mining the area of fire investigation as a source for suspense novels. Chazin is very well on her way to making her name synonymous with this sub-genre; it is quickly becoming obvious, however, that she would be at the front of the pack no matter what area she chooses to labor in. FIREPLAY and Chazin are not to be missed.

Fire Marshall, Georgia Skeehan, investigates a fire at a restaurant that kills two firefighters. A "probie" (rookie firefighter) survives, but is emotionally scarred from the experience of his first big fire. In the course of her investigation, she is forced to work with a long time master arsonist that is under the protection of the FBI. Working undercover, Georgia discovers the father of her child, who she hasn't had contact with in eight years, is involved. As she digs deeper into the present case, she must confront another case previously thought solved, the death of her own firefighter father.

In this gritty and realistic portrayal of firefighters, Georgia has to deal with everything from helping a rookie overcome his ordeal, to her own emotional scars from her father's death, to working with an arsonist she detests. Not a book to be breezed through, this is an intricately plotted and emotionally complex book.

This is a wonderful entry in a really outstanding fire fighting series. Chazin shows her experience and expertise in this part science lesson, part human drama, and part crime novel. Don't miss the other two books in this series THE FOURTH ANGEL and FLASHOVER. All are excellent.

Third in Ms. Chazin's Georgia Skeehan series, the latest installment finds this fire marshal for the FDNY resurrecting ghosts from her past, including the fire where her father was killed and the reappearance of her long-lost boyfriend, the father of her eight-year-old son Richie. But the crux of the novel centers around a fire at trendy Café Treize, that resulted in the death of two veteran firefighters and led Georgia and her partner, Randy Carter, to investigate `Freezer', aka Michael McLaughlin, former member of the Irish gang, the Westies, and all-around extortionist.

McLaughlin is as street-wise as he is savvy, as he turns to the FBI to protect him from the FDNY, claiming to help the feds find Coyote, a ruthless member of the Green Warriors, who use terroristic acts to aid their leftist environmental causes. While Georgia's sense of justice is sometimes at odds with her duties as a fire marshal, she shows a greater maturity in this latest read than in previous novels, especially when she is asked to go undercover as Freezer's girlfriend, much to the dismay of her boyfriend and boss, Mac Marenko.

Georgia must face some difficult choices when she finds out that her ex, Rick, might be involved with the mob and seems to know the members of the Green Warriors. Could he be a suspect in a recent arson, and does she want him to meet the son he abandoned eight years ago?

Georgia, the tough but loving woman and fire marshal, gives the reader insight into the emotions involved in the valiant profession of firefighting, even as she vows to arrest McLaughlin for his horrific crimes. Always suspenseful and compelling, Ms. Chazin's novel, written with her inside knowledge of the FDNY, puts Georgia on a par with April Woo, Leslie Glass' NYPD detective in her critically acclaimed April Woo series.

Perhaps the best book ever to explain why New Zealand is not the USA with minor differences. There are considerable cultural and societal differences which may escape the visitor unless and until they experience New Zealand on a deep level. Some find the mysterious aspects of her experience of the Maori culture to be doubtful or merely coincidence. Those born in New Zealand will understand them and will not be surprised.

My mother mailed me this book from America to New Zealand because I have recently arrived in NZ and I will be living in New Zealand for the next year. I find Carol O'Bistro's insights about New Zealand culture relevent and insightful for a current long-term visitor. Her writing is lyrical and fun to read. I wonder what she is doing now.

Thought provoking, moving and fun. The story is told in a masterful way that made me laugh, cry and sit-up thinking about it for a week after I read it. The author takes you along on her own personal journey and as her New York City eyes and heart transform into something miraculous so does the readers'. It touches the heart and reminds us of our humanity in the most magnificent way. Read it slowly; you won't want it to end!

I bought this book when I was visiting New Zealand in 1988 where people kept recommending it, and I am just now rereading it for something like the fifth time--including one time with a discussion group. This time through I am finding new delights that I must have skimmed over before. Parts of the book are naively New-Agey, but even those parts are personal and honest and fun to read. It is the story of a woman whose job takes her into the middle of an enormous cultural shift, and she manages to stay in the middle--between the world views of American bureaucracy and a traditional people's values, and somehow to walk that precarious boundary and to be receptive to the ways it changes her. It's an amazing story.

On September 10, 1984, at first light, New York's Fifth Avenue was the scene of an unusual ceremony. On the steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art a group of Maori women wailed the ritual welcome: HAERE MAI !! Their calls were answered and taken up by a group of Maori elders down the avenue, their leader in a feathered cloak, their path cleared of evil spirits by a small band of tattooed warriors ferociously thrusting their spears.

It was opening day of a groundbreaking exhibition at the Met: Te Maori: Maori Art from New Zealand Collections. The elders were in New York to lift the tapu and open the exhibition. Their greeting was for their ancestors, spiritually residing in the 174 taonga (treasures) on display outside New Zealand for the first time. Nine years in the planning, Te Maori was the culmination of a massive exercise in politics and logistics.

Carol O'Biso was the registrar of the exhibition, responsible for the packing and safe passage of these treasures collected from a number of New Zealand museums. First Light: A Magical Journey is her lyrical story of this great adventure.

The "cultural artifacts" are believed by the Maori to be sacred and powerful. Carol, overwhelmed at first by the vast divide between her New York self and the ancient Maori beliefs, struggled to do her job in the midst of controversy over the exhibition. She was excluded by Maori custom from speaking at the many ritual gatherings in museums and meeting houses. Frustration was her constant companion, in those early days. Gradually the power of the collection became entirely real to her and she found herself honoring the treasures in ways she would not have found possible.

Carol spent several years packing, shipping and unpacking the irreplaceable treasures and was under their spell when she returned them to New Zealand in 1986. She handed them over, in yet another ceremony that left her in tears, to a New Zealand registrar for their awe-inspiring progress through New Zealand museums.

Carol's story is a very personal one and some of her early impressions of New Zealand were less than favorable. However the country's charm and especially the strength of the Maoris' respect for their culture led her to a deep appreciation of The Land of the Long White Cloud.

I had the privilege of seeing Te Maori in New Zealand, and First Light brought back vivid memories of its power. I read the book in the early 1990s and then gave it away (read it! you'll love it!), and when I found a copy on Amazon this month I was delighted to be reacquainted with it.

Linda Bulger, 2008

I loved reading this book aloud to my second graders. It is delightful to see how Flossie outwits the fox. Have fun reading it to your children at home too!

Little Red Riding Hood is essentially a British folk tale. Flossie is a quintessentially American product. She's smart as a whip, cute as a button, and clever without being obnoxiously sassy or brash. She minds her manners while protecting her basket of eggs. She lives in the rural south of sometime past. Big Mama sends her to take some eggs to a neighbor because a fox has taken all the neighor's eggs. Big Mama warns Flossie to watch out for the fox because they surely do love eggs, and off Flossie goes in her pigtails and pinafore. She does meet up with the fox, and she cleverly outsmarts him, but you aren't sure she's going to do it until the last page, when she reveals what she's known all along. Patricia McKissack says this is one of the stories told her as a child. I can't find the source, but I read something else this gifted author wrote once about this 'black Little Red Riding' story. As best I recall, what she said is that this isn't a 'black Little Red Riding Hood story," it's a Flossie and the Fox story, and there's no need to have 'African American' substitutes for the traditional tales which we all should know, because we all should know them. She didn't write this story as a substitute- it's just another really good, ripping yarn that we *also* all should know. I hope I'm not misrepresenting what she said, but that's how I remember it. At any rate, I agree that this is a really good story for all children and their parents, and it stands boldly on its own merits, and Flossie is a little girl I'd be proud to know.

Flossie Finley, the smart and feisty heroine of this book is one of my favorite characters in all of childrenÕs literature. The story is an African American variation on Little Red Riding Hood, but Flossie is no wide-eyed innocent who has to be saved in the end by the big, brave woodcutter. She can save herself, thank you very much. The way she tricks the fox who wants to devour her basket of eggs is delightful. Every little girl (and probably every boy as well) ought to be introduced to this brave and resourceful child.

And Flossie is not the only great thing about this book. Patricia McKissack based it on a story her grandfather told her and she tried to reproduce the way he told it, in "the rich and colorful dialect of the rural south." The language is lovely, musical and poetic Ð a joy to read aloud. And the illustrations are equally gorgeous. The pictures of sun-dappled wood remind me of Impressionist paintings.

Great story, great writing, great pictures, great character Ð this is one of the best childrenÕs books IÕve ever read.

This has become my favorite children's book! I bought it for my "almost" three yr old son and he was captivated by the story and the beautiful pictures. Flossie is so innocently sly! She will not be out-witted by some ol' fox! The idea that this regal creature is being insulted by a mere child is absurd to him, yet he can't get past his own ego to see he is being out-foxed! I adored everything about this book.

Flossie And The Fox is a story that is absolutly loved by my children, one you will be asked to read again and agian. When flosie is asked to run an errand for her grandmother, the curios girl runs into a fox on her way, yet not the typical fox. In order to keep her eggs from being eaten she must keep the fox's mind of those eggs. Through her journey in the woods she is able to use her qaint childlike cleverness to entertain the foxes ego. Great story! Brilliant plot! Should be made into a movie! Exellent anti bias story as well, flossie speaks as a young african american girl would growing up in the country in Tennese, The fox uses proper Engish, and the narrator uses the language of the day. Highly recomended!

Warm and insightful story of a white boy growing up in a poor black/latino neighborhood in the 60s. Fascinating perspective on the experiences and perspectives of blacks, whites and latinos. Also, a touching story of a boy coming of age, dealing with a best friend who is gay. Open and honest -- addresses issues of drugs, alcohol, gangs, crime, violence and racism but recognizes the good too. He maintains a positive outlook (in the book and in life).

Flying over 96th Street encourages the reader to examine race and relationships. It challenges the reader to look beyond the color of one's skin and examine what happens when you allow yourself to trust and love others who neither look like you or who at first glance seem so different.

A must read for those yearning to explore their relationship with others - and a exceptional message for young people - encouraging them to reach beyond their small circle, embrace and take the risk to love others who "appear" so different.

Flying Over 96th Street is a great read. Tom Webber tells his story in with humor and remarkable powers of observation. As a New Yorker, I loved the details of "El Bario".. But you don't have to be a New Yorker to get into the experience of this young guy who goes "beyond the looking glass" of the white middle class world into another reality-- where HE is the minority...

Even though race and class is rarely (if ever) being discussed nationally, it is a core issue of who we are as Americans. And for those of us who talk about it, it is often just that-- talk. Kudos to the generations of the Webber family who put their neighborhood where their mouth is...

Webber's portrait of New York in the 1950s and 60s is full of vivid description. He captures the sounds and smells of his neighborhood and, more importantly, draws his characters with an empathetic brush. Yet the book is not just an elegy to a time past. Dr Webber deals deftly and incisevely with class, race and prejudice, while never preaching or teaching. Every page is full of delights. It is a deeply touching book that will rank as one of the great New York City memoirs.

Flying over 96th Street is the most moving memoir I have ever read. It tells the story of a white young boy growing up in Spanish Harlem durnig the 50s and early 60s and how he and his new black and Puerto Rican friends grow to appreciate, help, teach, and love each other. It is a totally absorbing account of coming of age and should be read by every high school student in america.

A bouhgt several different NY guides, but this map was the one I used most. It's small enough that you can open it in subway without been in shame, but big enough to read street names without binoculars. Map also includes subway system, wich was great. Next trip I will leave my guidebooks to home and take this map and michelins guide to NY.

I bought four different reference sources for a trip to NYC. Each had something unique to offer but if I only had the funds to purchase one, this would have been it. It has it all - easy to use, tons of info like address finder, subway and bus maps, restaurant lists with pricing guidelines and much more. The size is great, fits nicely in a purse or deep pocket. It states on the front that it's the "Ultimate Map Guide" and it is.

I have had all the editions of this map. It is a great resource for NYC. I even use their recommendations for restaurants. The only minor complaint I have is about the Brooklyn and Queens maps. These are very superficial and cannot be used to get around these burroughs.

I have visited New York City twice now and I am currently planning my 3th trip. Fodor's flashmaps are an indispensible guide: practical, easy to use and with all the information I need as a tourist to quickly find my way around the city. I have compared flashmaps with other guides and maps but I find Fodor's stand out from the competition: the information is presented in a very logical and straightforward way and looking up the desired info is a matter of seconds; the information is comprehensive, useful and very to-the-point: the editors focus on information you need on a daily bases and is very much of the 'no frills, need to know'-class: important addresses, streetfinders, important contact information, transportation, hotels, hospitals, post offices as wel as shopping addresses, hotels and airports to name just a few out of more then 30 categories. And finally: the book's dimensions make it easy to carry around without that 'hey, look at me, I am a tourist'-feel. Perhaps one of the best guides on the market and highly recommended.

Two crucial tips for NYC: have great maps and pack lightly. Flashmaps allows you to do both! This small book can be pulled out quickly and referenced without having to unfold a huge map. Multiple maps for subways and buses and shopping aren't needed because everything is contained in this booklet. It can be stashed in a coat pocket or small bag.

I would recommend this to anyone visiting for the first time or 100th time!

This book had lots of good ideas for reasonably priced places to eat in NY. A few were already out of business though. It would have also been nice to have a map to more easily find the locations. Nice reviews though.

I was first introduced to Robert Sietsema's excellent taste in the Village Voice, when it featured the top 100 Italian restaurants in New York City.

Several amazing Italian experiences later, I knew I had to find more of his recommendations. When I stumbled across this guide, I felt as though I'd hit the jackpot. It features practically any cuisine you can think of, from Venezuelan to Tunisian with concise descriptions and suggestions of which entrees to order.

The best part of the guide is that the restaurants featured are generally priced below $20 per person, a godsend in one of the most expensive cities in the world! I immediately dined at a restaurant I'd found in the guide and was bowled over by the quality and amount of food I received for the amount I paid.

This is a must for any New Yorker who isn't afraid to experiment with different cuisines.

This leads a curious eater away from the formula and predictable eateries in Manhattan to inexpensive and delicious places in outlying neighborhoods. Highly recommended.

We have now tried many listings in this book, and were only disappointed on one occassion (even then the food was not bad... just not noteworthy). This book has pointed out many hole-in-the-walls we've been walking past for years, like Snack on Thompson, or Soul Fixin or 34th, that were just amazing. Even in areas where we thought we had favorites (like curry hill) the recommendations in this book topped them all (Chennia Garden). Its true there is some risk that some places might be out of business, especially in NY, but none of our attempts have found a closed shop. The only negative about this book for Manhattenites is that many listings are in the outter boroughs, but believe me, once you've experienced this book it will make you want to get on the subway.

While perhaps not as streamlined as some others like the Zagat Survey, this is my favorite restaurant guide of the five or six I own. Its priority is the same as mine: good and interesting food, rather than decor, service or even "star quality." Most of the selections are very affordable (for New York City), which helps.

In my area so far, I've tried two or three restaurants in three ethnic groupings. This guide has been accurate: the restaurant which the guide features in each group has been the best, and only in one case the most expensive.

My only complaint would be that browsing for a particular type of ethnic food isn't always fast. The groups are logical but not totally intuitive, so it may take a few minutes to locate Indian food in the "South Asian" section. It's all here, though, from any sub-category of Chinese to Uzbekistani.

This book puts flesh on the bones of Brendan Gill's observation that for most of Wright's clients, working with Wright was one of the highpoints of their lives. Reading the book was entertaining and instructive, as well as inspiring.

Martin's rise to the very top of American business is portrayed with sympathy and insight, as is his continued search, beyond that, for a sense of security and fulfillment. Wright's immense talent is granted full respect, but his towering ego and his insouciant disregard for all things practical are also presented fully and fairly.

The relationship between these two compelling figures is presented with drama and flair. I felt as though I had spent time in their company. As Martin's career wound down and he died, I felt bereft. The history of the house after his death was shocking. What a great thing that people have come together to rescue it and restore it to its former grandeur.

At least once a year, I make the three-and-a-half-hour drive from my home to Wright's Wyoming Valley School, which sits vacant some five miles south of Taliesin. I walk around the school, peek in the windows, and feel Wright's presence under the stunning cantilevered roof of the entryway as I look out from under it and across the highway at the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin that so captivated Wright. This book gave me a similar feeling of closeness to Wright. It is a magnificent contribution to our understanding of Wright and his clients.

This book puts flesh on the bones of Brendan Gill's observation that for most of Wright's clients, working with Wright was one of the highpoints of their lives. Reading the book was entertaining and instructive, as well as inspiring.

Martin's rise to the very top of American business is portrayed with sympathy and insight, as is his continued search, beyond that, for a sense of security and fulfillment. Wright's immense talent is granted full respect, but his towering ego and his insouciant disregard for all things practical are also presented fully and fairly.

The relationship between these two compelling figures is presented with drama and flair. I felt as though I had spent time in their company. As Martin's career wound down and he died, I felt bereft. The history of the house after his death was shocking. What a great thing that people have come together to rescue it and restore it to its former grandeur.

At least once a year, I make the three-and-a-half-hour drive from my home to Wright's Wyoming Valley School, which sits vacant some five miles south of Taliesin. I walk around the school, peek in the windows, and feel Wright's presence under the stunning cantilevered roof of the entryway as I look out from under it and across the highway at the rolling hills of southwestern Wisconsin that so captivated Wright. This book gave me a similar feeling of closeness to Wright. It is a magnificent contribution to our understanding of Wright and his clients.

As an Owner of FLW's Davenport House, Architect, and Wright Researcher, I found this to be the finest recent book on Wright. The insights into the development of the design, client relationship, Wright,s letters, the extraordinary quality of the photographs, the quality of the writing and the exquisite physical quality of the book make this an exceptional book. This book is a sheer pleasure to read, immersing one's self into the thinking of Wright as he deals with a nearly unlimited budget, a supportive client, and the usual challenges of getting a building built.

As a owner of dozens of books about Wright and having spent countless hours learning about Darwin Martin this book is an extraordinary glimpse of not only the Client relationship but of the enormous growth of Buffalo business at the turn of the century. The quality of each photo is worth the purchase price alone

There is much to be recommended in Quinan's exploration of Frank Lloyd Wright's Martin House. The book vividly illustrates the tangled-up dynamics of client/architect relations through a fascinating selection of letters, and it thoroughly documents the evolution of the house's design from concept sketch to finished product. Quinan has assembled a wealth of analytic drawings, comparison drawings with other Wright houses, details, original working drawings, period photographs, and construction photographs. There are few such thorough studies of any house in print.

Wright's enormous talent and equally outsized ego shines through the entire work. Indeed it's in the smaller moments that one realizes how relentless his own mythmaking really was - for instance a cable in which Wright answers his patron's request for 26 items of furniture, with "Not yet designed on paper -will be soon." It conjures an image of confident Wright bringing the design complete out of the rarified air of his genius, like Mozart writing out symphonies in one pass.

But unfortunately Quinan seems to have fallen under this spell as well. While a provocative concept, Quinan's concluding discussion of "architecture as portraiture" really draws little further insight into Wright, the house, or the client. The book too quickly rests its case on the aesthetic merits of the house without challenge, and doesn't seem to consider the possibility that the house may be anything but a total masterpiece. By the end of the book Quinan has documented what might be considered as failures of the house - from typical cost overruns, delays, to more serious client dissatisfaction and eventual abandonment of the house - but these are treated as merely historical accident. That the evidence could be read differently is a testament to the thoroughness and inclusiveness of Quinan's work.

Joel Rifkin, the most prolific serial killer in New York history, was adopted at the age of 3 weeks and raised by loving, community-minded, and educated parents. Rifkin's parents also raised an adoptive daughter who was popular, intelligent, and conscientious. So what happened to Joel?

It is highly likely that Joel was born with brain abnormalities (e.g. undiagnosed brain lesions, cognitive processing delays, etc.). As a child, Joel was physically awkward, socially delayed, and exhibited odd and eccentric behaviors. However, no one could have predicted the murderous impulses that were later unleashed on the prostitute population of New York.

The final chapters of the book make reference to another book, "Guilty by Reason of Insanity." I have read this very well researched and thought provoking book. The authors, who studied many violent criminals, including Joel Rifkin, provide documentation of congenital brain abnormalities and/or a history of head truama associated with many, many violent criminals and serial killers. While this in no way excuses the behavior of Rifkin, it does provide explanation. Rifkin probably never had a chance.

There are numerous Rifkin quotes throughout the entirety of the book, providing a glimpse into the contradictory thinking and bizarre rationalizations of a serial killer. My only complaint about the book is that Rifkin was less than insightful at times, leaving the reader with more questions than answers. But then, what should one expect of a serial killer? I would suggest that more inquiring minds read "Guilty by Reason of Insanity" for a more comprehensive understanding of the enigma Rifkin always was and continues to be.

A friend gave me this book to read on the plane, I am glad I had it, we were delayed two hours. I really liked this book, it is a little different than the other true crime books I have read, the writer shares his life, his own shortcomings, fears and insights with the reader. I also thought the book a had a good pace, there was always something around the corner...

This book was well written. I enjoyed the many comments directly from the subject of the book, and I really appreciated the author's sharing of his own thoughts-both good and bad. I felt the author was very honest with the reader and found it easy to identify with this author and his feelings of confusion.

In the late 1990s, Joel Rifkin was a serial murderer of prostitutes who is jailed for life in the New York prison system. Author Robert Mladinich was a New York detective and writer who, in college, had briefly known and liked Joel Rifkin. It was inconceivable to Mladinich that someone he had considered a kindred spirit could have committed the senseless murders Rifkin did - murders of people who had not threatened him nor harmed him in any way - and he began a mission to understand the soul of Joel Rifkin and ultimately of himself.
Rifkin as an adult was insecure, fearful, and socially inept, and - as might be expected - was the same as a child. He was the sad child we have all known: friendless, excluded, and the perennial target of bullies. As an example, Rifkin's mother reports that Rifkin, a photographer who played a major role in the production of his high school yearbook, was subsequently not invited to the yearbook wrap party. This seems to have been a pattern throughout his life.
Mladinch allows the personality, psyche, and soul of Rifkin to emerge through Rifkin's own words, provided to the author during numerous visits to Rifkin in prison and through Rifkin's letters to Mladinich. There is no bias and almost no personal judgement by Mladinch which is impressive given the despicably vile acts Rifkin committed. The reader can read Rifkin's words without any commentary by Mladinich about how he is supposed to feel.
The resulting book is simply one of the most outstanding I have read of any kind. It is really not a true crime book at all, but rather in in depth, often painful, character study. Describing the aftermath of Rifkin's first murder, Mladinich writes, "As he sopped up the blood and cleaned up the mess in the living room of the home where had always found refuge from his tormentors, Joel did not realize that, in essence, he had died along with Susie on that cold, damp March morning."
The last two chapters thoughtfully and in considerable depth summarize Rifkin's soul and, due to the bond Mladinich still feels with him all these years later, Mladinich's as well. "What was most apparent was that Joel, living within the artificial environment of a prison, was finally experiencing, in his own mind at least, what it was like to be normal. For the first time in his life he had....a social network of friends who were in no position to betray or abandon him." And, "Joel had finally found his utopia, a place where the disenfranchised and the dissociated were welcomed with open arms...."
Even as he is repulsed by Rifkin's murders, Mladinich retains a bond of humanity with his old friend and, amazing to himself, finds him to be intelligent and in some ways still likable. He writes thoughtfully and intelligently and with a depth, personal honesty, and humanity which are extremely rare, resulting in a book of much greater value than either a dry psychiatric report or many of the often superficial true crime books currently written.
This book is simply outstanding. Although it would obviously be more difficult to obtain material as the subjects are dead, I would love to read a book by Mladinich about the lives of Rifkin's victims. I'm sure it would be fascinating due to Mladinch's obvious personal feelings of a human bond between himself and all other people. I will read anything else he has written.

It is very rare to see an author transform himself during the writing process. Mladinich, a seasoned NYPD Detective, lures the reader in with the gripping details surrounding the well-publicized slayings of serial killer Joel Rifkin. In the true form of a master interrogator, Mladinich draws Rifkin out of his "sociopathic lair" but at the same time enters the domain of a murderer's psyche. He succeeds in drawing parallels between his own seemingly "normal" life and that of a confessed executioner of innocent young women and asks, "what makes an individual cross the line?" It is a must read for any student of psychology as well as fans of the old-fashioned murder and suspense fiction novel ... only this story actually happened. Gripping, insightful, and intelligently written ... I anxiously await Mladinich's next book.

Brian Wilcox captures in this lovely book the true majesty of New York. The magic the city evokes is splashed upon these pages. His incredibly detailed, beautiful drawings are just wonderful. They're facinating to adults, as well as children.

Anyone who has been fortunate to have a groovy grandmother in their lives or who just digs that Big Apple should buy this book.
A great gift for all ages.

A young boy searches for a lost grandmother as he's transported on a magic journey through nighttime New York City. A magic crystal globe transports him in this beautiful story, which holds black and white illustrations by Wilcox throughout.

Full Moon is a different enrty in the vast field of children's books. Black and white pencil drawing force the reader's mind to come alive as a vivid yet simple story is told that every child can relate to. Each page of Brian Wilcox's Full moon is a work of art sure to capture the rapt attention of any child with whom you share this short story. For a first work, Wilcox has a sure winner. I bought this book for my two-year old god-son and plan to buy several more for my nieces and nephews this Christmas.

The illustrations are full of incredible detail such that you discover something new each time you read it. The story line is reminiscent for any grandmother that influenced a grandchild during the child's lifetime.

My seven and four year old children enjoy reading this book at bedtime. We live far away from my kids grandmothers and this book keeps their grandmothers' presence alive in their daily lives. We visited New York City this summer and Brian Wilcox' creative interpretation of America's most vibrant city is truly a delight for their young minds.

In the wake of the World Trade Center disaster last September 11, I couldn't think of a more appropriate children's book to showcase New York City.

Evie grieves for her sensitive and imaginative mother, angry that her practical father has taken her far from home to a lonely house by a cemetery. As her father tends to a blackened orchard, Evie befriends a dead boy and an elderly woman who gives her an ancient seed that brings the children to an alternate world. Evie dreams of finding her mother there, but instead discovers the love of her father.

Chapters flow from one to another with suspense that should not frighten the "average" child. My fifth grade daughter and I read this aloud and thoroughly enjoyed the fresh, natural dialogue between Evie and the strange boy, the mysterious magical happenings and the realistic relationship troubles between father and daughter. This might be a good book to read to upper elementary or middle school children dealing with the loss of a parent, or even a sibling as the boy grieves the loss of his brother, but might be disconcerting to some younger children.

The storyline is creative and although the last chapter does wrap up a little too well, we are glad that Evie finds a final, surprising connection to her mother.

I got this book to read to my kids. It's amazing even on the first page! I LOVE this book. Can't wait to get to the end. Such an easy read!!!!

Dead mothers are always a good plot device. There is nothing like the absence of a mother to create a suitable amount of angst, heartache, uncertainty, and self-doubt. Think of the Alice books by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, where the first couple of books in the series are driven by the fact that pre-teen Alice is growing up without a mother, surrounded by men in her family, and suffers the nagging fear that she is not approaching the formative years of her life with due female influence. And more recently we have had the mother-less Bee from Being Bee, and Jack from The Night Tourist. Now there is Evie Adler in K.L. Going's The Garden of Eve. Her mother is ten months dead from cancer, and Evie is left with her botanist father who has never appreciated--or even understood--magic the way her mother did. He is too much of a scientist to put much stock in fairy tales, or stories in general. When he takes on the job of trying to revive a dead apple orchard in Beaumont, New York, far from their Michigan home, Evie is resentful. They move into a house right next door to a cemetery--but the only cemetery Evie cares about is the one back in Michigan, where her mother is buried. Her father devotes his time to the orchard--but all Evie can think of is the magic garden she used to plan with her mother, a perfect garden with magnificent trees and noble beasts where the three of them would always be together. When Evie is given a seed supposedly from the Garden of Eden, Evie thinks she has her chance to find that perfect garden, and consequently find her mother, too.

There is a lot going on in this book, some of it allegorical and some of it just old fashioned mystery. There is the boy Alex, whom Evie meets hanging around in the cemetery. Is he really dead, as he claims to be? Is the orchard where Evie's father toils really cursed, or has it simply been abandoned? When Evie plants her seed and enters the magical garden--by way of eating an apple, of course!--is she in Eden or is it a trap? There is another Eve who grew up in Beaumont and disappeared many, many years ago. What happened to her? And will Evie find peace after the death of her mother?

Some of the pieces in the book are tied together a little bit too neatly, but for the most part this is an engaging and thoughtful book. Evie is disillusioned without being broken. The father is pragmatically devoted to his work but all open-hearted and open-minded business when Evie needs him most. The supporting characters range from saintly (the dead mother)to utterly convincing (Alex). Readers who like their books with magic and symbolism will enjoy this.

Sometimes when bad things happen, the whole world seems shriveled and dark, as if nothing good will ever grow again. But life isn't like that. Really.

Here comes Evie, strong and brave and wise. She's searching for truth, hoping for magic, yearning for comfort. Like Lucky in The Higher Power of Lucky, Evie is trying to make sense of world made barren by the loss of her mother. Like Lucky, Evie needs someone to help answer questions a girl really needs her mother for, especially, "How do I know what is true?" But while Lucky's story stays anchored in the rather imperfect real world, Evie finds her truths through a purer magic in the very best fairy-tale tradition. A ghost-boy, some ancient mysterious seeds, a warm wind swirling over frozen soil--K.L. Going breathes her magic into these elements to bring forth a rich tale of new life after loss. Here in The Garden of Eve, the truth is magic and magic is truth. And if you can't see it with your eyes, maybe you should look "with your ears or your nose, instead."

Read this book. It is beautifully crafted and deeply satisfying. As soon as you finish it, you'll want to share it with someone you care about. As it whispers its truths, it brings comfort and warmth and hope that life can begin again, even when all seems lost.

Janet Gingold
author of Danger, Long Division and Finch Goes Wild

The author of my book is K.L Going, the title is The Garden Of

Eve. I think the book should fall under the category of being a

fantasy fiction.

The story starts out in Michigan with a father and a daughter who

have just lost his wife, and mother. They move to Beaumont new

York, and move into a knew house. The house is beside a

cemetery and an apple orchard. That is one reason why they

moved, so the father could be a apple farmer. Evie, the daughter,

keeps seeing a boy in the cemetery and she is the only one that can

see him. The boy had just died so she thinks. The townspeople

believe the orchard is cursed. They think this because a guy named

Rodney is buried in it. Rodney gives Evie a seed, but he said to not

plant the seed. Maggie ( Rodney's sister) gives Evie the seed

because Rodney is dead. The story continues into a place that she

and her friend named Alex go when they plant the seed that she

received from Maggie.