Tilt-A-Whirl by Chris Grabenstein

In Tilt-A-Whirl, the first book in the John Ceepak series, John Ceepak is a former Army MP now employed by the Sea Haven, New Jersey, police department. Danny Boyle is his partner/driver. Danny's a part-time cop who has always lived in Sea Haven and works for the police department in the summers when the vacation season is going strong on the New Jersey shore. He's been assigned to work with John Ceepak and drive him, because Ceepak doesn't drive. But Ceepak does have The Code.

The two are meeting up for breakfast at the Pancake Palace when the book opens. During their breakfast, a young girl in a blood-soaked sundress runs out into the street screaming. Her father has just been shot and killed on the Turtle-Twirl Tilt-A-Whirl. As if a murder were not enough, the murder victim happens to be Reginald Hart who is "kind of like Donald Trump, only richer and without the gravity-defying comb-over."

Murder is not good publicity for a vacation resort town. So everyone from the mayor down wants this murder solved. But a wrench is thrown in the plan when Ashley, the young girl from the street - and the beneficiary of her father's millions, is kidnapped and held for ransom.

First of all, I just have to say "what the HECK took me so long to find this book?" It is outstanding! It doesn't surprise me in the least that this was an Anthony Award winner. There is actually a very serious plot underlying the whole story, but the dialogue is so well-written and so funny that the book never takes on a dark tone. And it MOVES. Have you ever been on a roller coaster ride that has you going along and then suddenly you jerk in a new direction? But ultimately, regardless of which direction you're whipped in, you end back at the beginning - one ride, one track, one conclusion! That's Tilt-A-Whirl only far more fun and far less whiplash. If you think you've got everything figured out in the book and you haven't reached the last page, think again!

The book is told in the first person from Danny Boyle's perspective. Maybe it's because I just read a Nero Wolfe this summer, but the Danny Boyle/John Ceepak combo had echos of the Archie Goodwin/Nero Wolfe combo for me. John Ceepak is a much kinder, more honorable and less neurotic character, but Danny idolizes Ceepak; in many ways he's like Ceepak's understudy. And of course, Danny tells us the story so we never see inside Ceepak's mind.

And character? Oh boy is this book chock full of FANTASTIC characterization. Part of what makes this book especially humorous is Ceepak's lack of knowledge when it comes to present culture. The man is able to tag every situation with a Bruce Springsteen lyric, but he needs Danny to translate for him when they are interrogating a teenage boy:

"Naw. Take notes, fellas - I'm the pimp-daddy playa." (Ben Sinclair)

"Danny?" (John Ceepak)

I translate: "He has lots of girlfriends."

"So why the scene with the gun?" Ceepak asks. "You're the mayor's son. Surely you know better than to scare all these innocent people...."

The way Ben Sinclair smirks? I think what he knows is that the best part of being the mayor's son is you get to roll around town doing whatever the hell you damn well feel like doing.

"That Ashley is wacked, dogg. Got all up in my face and punked me when I was representin' what be in my heart."

Ceepak just looks at me this time.

And Ceepak is a Boy Scout - he's always prepared. Ceepak wears a pair of cargo pants and is always pulling something out of the pockets:

He places them separately into small paper bags he's taken out of his upper left cargo-pants pocket. He keeps a miniature magnifying glass in another pocket near his knee. He must need to reload his pants first thing every morning.

Reload his pants...they are a weapon for Ceepak. And symbolically, Danny only wears cargo shorts.

Part of Ceepak's Code is that he doesn't lie, and he "doesn't tolerate anyone who does." Another part of Ceepak's Code is that he plays by he rules. In essence, Ceepak is a goody-goody, and I completely LOVE that about him. I also love the fact that he has dimples. And my favorite line of his from the books is "Swearing is the sign of a limited vocabulary." He's intelligent, too! Ceepak is the good out battling the evil. He has to be a bit conniving at times, but he follows his conscious and he does what he believes is the right thing to do. That makes him funny and lovable.

Danny is young and his sarcasm just drips off the page as you read:

I never buy the gossip rags, I just read them while I wait in the express line behind people who can't count to fifteen.

He makes the perfect narrator. Most of the time he's in the dark or a step behind, but he's observant. Danny obviously takes on the role of Ceepak's surrogate little brother. He wants to be like Ceepak and have the skills that he does. But he looks up to Ceepak as a person as well. He admires The Code and acknowledges that he doesn't have one, but maybe someday he will; he's working on it.

These characters just jumped out of the pages and came alive for me. I've actually started Mad Mouse, the second book in the series, already. I haven't read two consecutive books from a series since I listened to two Myron Bolitar books on audio near the beginning of the year. I just don't want Ceepak and Boyle to go away yet. My next favorite character list? You can be sure John Ceepak will appear!

Banned Books Week 2008

September 27th to October 4th is Banned Books Week, a national celebration of the right to read. Corey over at The Drowning Machine has an excellent post this week on Banned Books Week - I strongly encourage everyone to check it out; it's definitely worth your time. He points out that Banned Books Week is an observation, not a celebration. I totally agree that we OBSERVE the fact that people challenge books, but I also think we celebrate during this week. We celebrate our right to read - and often by reading those books others have tried to challenge.

In 2007 it is estimated that more than 400 books were "challenged" across the country. Here are the top 100 since the year 2000. This is unacceptable. That's not what our country is about. Each of us individually does not have the right to make choices for all the others, especially concerning what we read.

Do I think there are things out in print that we'd be better off without? Yes, I do. But it isn't my right to decide that for YOU. I decide it for myself, and I refrain from reading it - sometimes I don't refrain. Sometimes I read it to challenge myself - challenge myself to explain why the writer is off his/her rocker. But regardless, it is always MY choice - no one else's.

What if YOU decided to ban one book, magazine, newspaper, whatever? Then your neighbor has the right to ban as well. And while you may say, "this book is morally corrupt," that's according to YOUR morals. What happens when your neighbor's morals are in complete contrast to you, and he/she decides to ban a book YOU think is perfectly acceptable? Do you see where I'm going with this? You can't draw a line here, once one thing is banned, everything is fair game.

Maybe we should examine history on this point. The time period that stands out the strongest to me is World War II. What were the Nazis doing? Oh yeah, burning books! Preventing people from reading anything that contradicted their belief system. When you have to prevent people from reading what contradicts you, I don't think you have a very strong belief system.

You know many people want books banned because of their use of certain language...language that reflects the time and period in which the book was written. Just because language is offensive, doesn't mean it can't be used in a constructive manner, an attempt to express a message that needs to be expressed. Many times I believe people don't really read the books they challenge. They simply see a word that offends them and they are up in arms. I can't possibly imagine another reason why books such as The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn or To Kill a Mockingbird or Where the Sidewalk Ends are challenged. And the irony of challenging Fahrenheit 451 or Brave New World is just too much!

Challenging books - attempting to ban them - is wrong on every level. That is NOT the premise our country was founded on. It isn't even acceptable to inquire how to go about banning books (ahem).

This week I ask you to OBSERVE the fact that in this supposedly "enlightened" and "educated" country people are still attempting to challenge books. And then I ask you to celebrate your right to read. Read, Read, Read!

Spending My Day With...The Next Supreme Court Justice?

Today I took a road trip to this FANTASTIC mystery bookstore in Pennsylvania! It's called Mystery Lover's Bookshop, and it's located in this adorable little shop in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. I'm just so jealous of the people who have these wonderful shops close to them! If I lived close, I'd be begging Mary Alice and Richard for a part-time job!

This is the first time I've been to this store. I assure you, it will not be the last! But, how did I end up there you ask? Well, I went to see Alafair Burke. I saw this location on her tour schedule, so I entered it into mapquest and found out it was 2 1/2 hours from my house. Yea! Obviously it isn't a trip I could make on a regular basis, but for Alafair...I could definitely make it.

The Mystery Lover's Bookshop hosts authors in their "Crime and Coffee" events. Very cool. They had breakfast items and coffee...I had some out of this world spiced Chai tea. And of course, they had Alafair. I'm still on Cloud 9 from having the chance to meet her in person. If you live close enough (they are just outside of Pittsburgh), you should definitely check this place out. And if you aren't close enough, you can still take advantage of their book selection online. They have this fabulous search option on their site. You can search by author, character, setting location...how cool is that? You can even tell it to list a series chronologically. A book lover's dream!

Alafair started off today's event by talking about what led to her writing her first book, Judgment Calls. She really never pictured herself as a writer...a lawyer, a professor - check, check. Maybe she could see herself as a judge...a Supreme Court Justice. I think she'd make a great Justice, don't you? Just as long as she didn't stop writing fiction to do so! ;) But never as a writer. Funny how things turn out sometimes. She also said she didn't tell her dad that she was writing a book because he can't keep a secret.

Alafair read a small segment from Angel's Tip and explained where the book title came from. She does not recommend the Angel's Tip drink, however! :) It is always fun to hear a writer read from his/her own work, and this time was definitely no exception. Alafair chose to read an excerpt of her description of New York City from Angel's Tip. Then she went on a little later to say that setting wasn't her strength. I think she short changes herself. She's an incredible writer all the way around.

Alafair took some questions from the audience and let us know that she's working on the third Ellie Hatcher book right now. That makes me ever so happy. Actually, it doesn't matter what she's working on, simply that she's working on a new book. And just like in her books, Alafair has a great sense of humor. She's a fun person!

Following the presentation, Alafair signed books. Bless her heart, she signed all five of mine...plus the card to put in my author scrapbook. I tried to get as far back in the line as possible, but after I got in line, others lined up behind me...oh well. No one seemed too upset that I took up so much time.

And the coolest part of my day? Alafair invited me out to lunch afterward! We went to this really nice little family restaurant with Mary Alice Gorman, one of Mystery Lovers Bookshop's owners. We all talked a little politics, a little environment, a little New York City, a little dogs and of course books! It was absolutely fantastic! Alafair and I share a lot in common...at least the things we talked about. And she is just a genuinely wonderful person. I have come to admire Alafair both as a writer and a person, and today just added to that admiration. Alafair and Mary Alice, you totally made my entire year! Thank you so much for the wonderful afternoon!

If you have the chance to see Alafair in person, I highly recommend it! You can see the remainder of her tour schedule here. And of course, you already know I highly recommend her books and reading her blog. Also, if you can get to Mystery Lovers, do it! It's a great shop! If not, check 'em out online!

What to Take...

Patti Abbott asked on her blog, "what three books would you take with you on a desert island?" She suggested taking books you haven't read, which makes a lot of sense. My first question would have to be "how long am I going to be there?" If we're planning to go, we must know how long we're going to be there, right?

If I was going for an extended stay, I would opt for The Given Day by Dennis Lehane. I'm buying that one this weekend and it should take me a good while, even if I could read all day long with no interruptions.

The next book I would opt for is David Copperfield (Charles Dickens). I've said for years I want to read this book; I've just not fit it in to my schedule...to date.

Then I think my third choice would be Raymond Chandler's Philip Marlowe. It's the collection of Marlowe stories written by contemporary authors. I have it on my book shelf and look at it longingly most days, but again, haven't fit it into my schedule yet.

So, these are my choices...at least they are my choices TODAY! What would YOUR choices be?

A Book Sale

If you happen to be in the vicinity of Northeast Ohio the weekend of October 9th through the 12th, you might want to mosey over to Elyria for the huge book sale. The Friends of Elyria Public Library join with the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Community Library to hold a booksale. This is their fifth year. It's held at St. John Lutheran Church (1140 West River Road; Elyria) in their gymnasium.

On Thursday if you're not a member of the Friends of groups you have to pay an admission ($5 for an individual or $10 for a family). After Thursday, admission is free.

Hardcover books are a $1.00 and trade paperbacks are $.50. On Sunday they have a special - $5 for a bag of books.

I've attended this library sale every year, and every year I come home with a new load of books to read. There are still some from previous sales I haven't made it to yet, but you can bet I'll be there this year again. One year I even found a couple books I used as Christmas gifts...they were in that good of condition.

My fondest memory of this sale was the year I went with my sister and niece. Payton, my niece was on the verge of starting to read for herself, and she says to us, "one day I'll be able to read all these books myself." Oh, it just warmed my heart! So, come on out if you have a chance, bring all those budding new readers and find some books to keep you company this winter!

Hopefully, I'll be back later today with at least one more post. Blogger is scheduling an outage this afternoon, so I'll have to work around that. In the meantime...happy reading!!

The Serpent's Tale - Ariana Franklin

The Serpent's Tale is Ariana Franklin's second book about Adelia Aguilar. In this tale, Adelia is still in England, living with the Fen's, Mansur, and her infant daughter Allie when King Henry summons Adelia to investigate the poisoning murder of his mistress, Rosamund. The initial supposition is that Queen Eleanor had the mistress murdered, but Rowley does not believe that to be the case.

While Adelia is investigating at the home of Rosamund, Eleanor and her minions arrive with intentions of going to war with King Henry. They force everyone alive at Rosamund's home to travel with them, but they are ultimately forced to take up residence at the nunnery at Godstow for the winter - travel is impossible due to the snow and cold. On their way to the nunnery, another murder is discovered. And yet another murder takes place while they are confined to the nunnery. Adelia must discover who the murderer or murderers are before they harm her or her daughter. In the meantime she prays for the arrival of King Henry to rescue them all.

Ariana Franklin has a special talent for transporting her readers back in time. The Serpent's Tale, like Mistress of the Art of Death, takes place in Twelfth Century England. This time period puts her heroine at a distinct disadvantage because of the way women were treated during this time period. And Franklin doesn't discount that; instead, she uses that fact to develop her protagonist. It doesn't hurt that King Henry supports Adelia, though.

Adelia is one of my favorite female protagonists in crime fiction. She's smart, determined, educated; beneath that sometimes tough exterior, she's compassionate and gentle and kind. Adelia wrestles with the cultural beliefs that allow women to be mistreated in this time and place. Adelia, being from the forward-thinking city of Salerno and also having forward-thinking foster parents, wasn't subjected to many of these cultural norms before coming to England. And while there is little she can do to change their ways, she does use some rather conniving approaches to improving a few women's lives. As the reader, you can't help but cheer her on.

The character of Mansur is as wonderful as ever. He's often just a silent player in the background, but that is what makes his character so powerful. I think I identify with him because he IS silent. He, like I learned many years ago, learns most by simply listening. He is at an advantage in this realm because most of the English people who surround him don't believe he can understand what they are saying, so they speak freely around him. But still, listening is a powerful tool, and he uses it to his advantage.

The addition of Allie in this book brought further depth to Adelia's character. At the conclusion of Mistress, Adelia's feelings for children, specifically Ulf, were heightened. That attitude combined with her love for Rowley makes her attachment to Allie completely natural. It also brings out the softer, more vulnerable side of Adelia.

Franklin's portrayal of Queen Eleanor was quite fascinating. Of course, the Queen is also a woman, and while a woman of power, still a woman. Adelia begins to see some of the same barriers in front of the Queen that are in front of every woman in this time period.

While there isn't a lot of question about who is responsible for the murders in this plot, it is still a page-turner. This is not a book where a murder occurs at the beginning and the remainder of the plot is investigating that one murder. Instead a murder occurs, investigation begins, more murder and mayhem, more investigation. I think you get the picture; the action mimics the chaos of this period with mercenaries running loose at the behest of this queen. And of course the reader is constantly waiting for King Henry to show up.

Yes, King Henry. Franklin illustrates King Henry toward the end of the novel in a manner I found eerily relevant to so many people throughout history, and even to some people today in America's time of turmoil:

Because you outstripped them, Adelia thought. In your impatience, you outstrip everybody, your wife, your son, Becket, and expect them to love you. They are people of our time and you are not; you see beyond the boundaries they set; you see me for what I am and use me for your advantage; you see Jews, women, even heretics, as human beings and use them for your advantage; you envisage justice, tolerance, unattainable things. Of course nobody keeps up with you.

Oddly enough, the one mind she could equate with his was Mother Edyve's. The world believed that what was now was permanent, God had willed it, there could be no alteration without offending Him.

Only a very old woman and this turbulent man had the sacrilegious impudence to question the status quo and believe that things could and should be changed for the betterment of all people.

The turbulence of the time period, the amazingly intricate characters and an exotic setting all add up to an incredible novel. Another wonderful book by Ariana Franklin.

A Carrion Death - Michael Stanley

Detective David "Kubu" Bengu of the Botswana Criminal Investigation Department is on the case when Kalahari game rangers discover a body being devoured by hyenas. There is enough of the corpse left to discover that the individual did not die of natural causes.

Kubu's investigation leads him to the family of an old school friend, Angus Hofmeyr. Angus's family owns the Botswana Cattle and Mining Company (BCMC). It has been run for years by Angus's uncle, Cecil Hofmeyr, but will be turned over to Angus on his 30th birthday. As Kubu continues to investigate, more "hinky" details concerning the BCMC start to surface, as well as more dead bodies.

A Carrion Death is nothing short of brilliant. My summary of the plot oversimplifies the complexity of this first novel by authors Michael Sears and Stanley Trollip. I listened to it on audio, and while the narrator, Simon Prebble, did a fantastic job, if I were going to do it over, I would physically read the book. The story is not told in a strict chronological order so the reader has to be keenly aware of where the plot is at all times or it is extremely easy to end up lost. There were many times I would have liked to have flipped back to reread a section to make sure I was "up to par" on what was going on. And many of the names have similar sounds, so I would have to constantly remind myself of who everyone was. These issues wouldn't have come into play quite so much if I was holding the actual book in my hands.

Kubu is the Setswanan word for hippopotamus, and that nickname immediately endeared Kubu to me as the reader; the endearment only grew as Kubu's character was further developed throughout the novel. Kubu is cultured: he enjoys opera and sings along to it in his car. He is respectful of both his wife and his parents. And Kubu loves to eat - thus, hippopotamus! Kubu is constantly concerned about the next meal and where it is coming from. But Kubu is also an intelligent investigator.

As I mentioned before, the plot does not take place in strict chronological order. This adds to the mystery of the novel, constantly adding possibilities to the list of suspects. But "who done it" is not the only mystery in this novel..."who it was done to" is also a mystery throughout. Several individuals end up missing, so who exactly is the corpse from the watering hole? The complexity of this plot kept me glued to the stereo. This high-level puzzle was exciting to try to figure out. I would never classify this book as an "easy, quick read." Instead it challenged me as a reader to think above and beyond the norm. I devour books that challenge me!

Another challenge that the book brings forth is the contrasts that exists in Botswana - contrasts between the native people and the outsiders who are less concerned with the land than they are with the possibilities of personal wealth.

The setting in Africa is amazing. As I've mentioned before, I adore the series I read in places like New York City or Los Angeles, but books that are set in less-literary-traveled locals are especially fun for me as a reader. The inclusion of elements such at the Bushman witch doctor and diamond mining issues help to bring the setting to life.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough to anyone who enjoys crime fiction and mystery. It is a must read and will definitely be on my top ten of 2008!

I will be on the lookout for Michael Stanley's follow-up to this amazing book (The Second Death of Goodluck Tinubu due out in June 2009 by the way). I look forward to the chance to share more time with Kubu and the Botswana Criminal Investigation Department.

A New Publisher for Michael Koryta

My friend Naomi just directed my attention over to Confessions of an Idiosyncratic Mind where Sarah Wienman posted that Michael Koryta has secured a new publisher for his upcoming standalone, The Lost River. He will be publishing this book with Little, Brown. The publishing agreement is a three-book deal, so we'll be watching for the other two that follow The Lost River. Michael still has a book being released next year with St. Martin's Press, The Silent Hour. This is the fourth Lincoln Perry novel - and let's hope not the last.

If you haven't had a chance to pick up Envy the Night, you really want to add it to your TBR list. It's a definite contender for my top ten of 2008!

Happy Reading!

Just Love Craig Johnson!

This is why I like Craig Johnson's writing so much. He is just incredibly talented - and oh so funny! I haven't laughed this hard in weeks!! :) Check it out!

Missing Justice - Alafair Burke

Missing Justice is the second novel in Alafair Burke's Samantha Kincaid series. This book finds Deputy District Attorney Samantha promoted to the Major Crimes Division of the Portland District Attorney's office and investigating her first major murder case: the murder of Clarissa Easterbrook. Clarissa Easterbrook is an administrative law judge in Portland and her husband is the attending surgeon at Oregon Health Sciences University.

Everything seems to be in the bag when Melvin Jackson is found with the murder weapon and access to the body dump site. Jackson had also been harassing Judge Easterbrook because he was about to be evicted from his public housing and would lose his children because of it. Thus, motive. The District Attorney and the Portland Police Bureau's Major Crimes Team are delirious to have this case in the bag, but Samantha isn't quite so sure. The defense for Melvin Jackson posed some questions Sam couldn't answer, questions that motivated her to start poking around a little more. When that poking brings her ex-husband onto the scene, all hell starts to break lose.

Alafair Burke is truly a master of female protagonists. I love how spunky Samantha Kincaid is. There are a lot of Sam's characteristics that I can identify with, but I am in awe of her gumption. And she sure needs it as she's surrounded by so much testosterone. But, it really takes nerve to stand up to your boss:

The entire time I'd worked here, I'd always caved when it came down to the last shove. If I was going to stick around, it was time to set some boundaries. I couldn't spend the rest of my career being lectured on a daily basis.

But along with all that spunk is a down-to-earth gal who finds herself in some rather embarrassing predicaments as well:

I bent purposefully and ever so seductively at the waist to reach my suit jacket in the passenger seat and then flicked it over my shoulder; one New Balance thrusting to the side with a determined hip. I parted my lips and let my tongue linger at the break before I spoke, 'You coming in with me or not?'

He returned my blistering gaze. Then he started laughing. A full-on, eyes shut, hands-to-the-face bust-up.

I fought competing urges to run away and cry, or to punch him in the head and then run away. 'That wasn't the response I was looking for.'

He tried to regain his composure but couldn't help himself. 'I'm sorry. But I just left you fifteen minutes ago at the precinct. What the hell happened to you?'

I caught a glimpse of my reflection in the driver's window. The combination of the air vents, my sweaty head, and that damn mud Grace had given me had left my hair in a state of Rocky Horror. Throw in the Altoid powder sprinkled across my clothing, and I was totally pathetic.

I've mentioned before that a big part of my attraction to Burke's characters is how REAL they are. How often are those "romantic" situations like the scenes you see on TV or in the movies? No, more often they are like Sam's right here. And you laugh reading this because you KNOW how Sam feels. You've been there, done that.

I read an interview that Alafair did recently and she described her books as "plot-oriented." Her plots are awesome, and I'll talk more about this one in a minute, but her characters are among the best in crime fiction, especially her females. Sam (like Ellie Hatcher) doesn't always have her hair perfect; she doesn't always make the best choices; and sometimes she doesn't say the right things. But she's intelligent; she's resourceful; she's hardworking and dedicated - and she has a dog. Burke shows how the everyday woman can be just as great a protagonist as a superhero or someone overcoming a huge life hurdle. The reason I become so engaged in these books is because I connect with the characters. If you put the wrong characters in Burke's strong plots, I don't think they would work anywhere near as well.

The Samantha Kincaid series is written in first person. I've heard a number of authors who write in first person explain that in subsequent books or series they switch to third person because first person is so restrictive. I understand that, but I also really enjoy this series in first person. It may very well be because I like Samantha so much. First person brings the reader closer to the character who is narrating, and Samantha is a character you want to know intimately.

O.k, now that I've babbled on and on about Samantha, I have to quickly add that I LOVE Ray Johnson. His wit is fabulous. Chuck Forbes is also a great supporting character. And Vinnie, the French Bulldog, with his Gumby toy steals the scene when he's around.

A fantastic protagonist, a strong supporting cast, and it doesn't stop there. The plot of this novel is completely engaging. Alafair posted at one point on her blog about the pace difference between the legal mystery and the police procedural. She wondered if the legal mystery lent itself to a slower pace because of its setting taking place more in the court room than the police procedural does. That is probably true, but this book doesn't need to move "fast." The constant mystery keeps you engaged and turning the pages. And because you know from previous Burke works, Alafair doesn't include players who are fluff. If they're there, it's for a reason. So as the reader you're constantly trying to figure out how each character comes into play in the whole scheme of things.

Alafair had me snowed on this ending. I was waiting for another character to turn out to be the culprit and I was so off base, I was on another ball field! - Did I mention her use of sports analogies? I love to try and guess the endings, and I'll never read ahead - that spoils a book for me. But my favorite books are always the ones where I can't predict the outcome. But, there's a caveat to this. I also don't like books that pull the solution out of the air with a character or evidence you don't get until the answer is revealed. Give me the clues and give me a chance to figure it out myself. I like a challenge, and I like to be surprised! I had both with this novel.

And finally, I have to add that Alafair Burke has the best sense of humor. I always laugh reading her novels. I have a hard time with crime fiction that doesn't include any humor. Crime fiction lends itself to being very dark. When an author can lift some of that darkness with humor, he/she has the potential for a great work of art. Missing Justice is exactly that - a great work of art!

And The Winners Are...

Darby Lohrding from Kansas won the copy of Timothy Hallinan's A Nail Through the Heart and Sunny Boaz from Montana won the copy of Thomas Holland's One Drop of Blood.

Congratulations! The books will go out in the mail on Monday. And many thanks to everyone who entered. We had a very successful Book Blogger Appreciation Week and I would like to thank everyone who stopped by, entered the contest, left comments, sent e-mails, etc. It means a lot and it motivates me to just keep doin' what I'm doin'! Thanks so much!!

Freezing Point - Karen Dionne

When the world is running low on safe, drinkable water, big business starts scurrying to find ways to tap the iceberg's resources. And where can they find the ultimate in iceberg resources but Antarctica? Soldyne Corporation has plans to use microwaves to melt the ice and transport the water back to the United States to sell it. However, they have to wait until a part of the ice shelf breaks off before they can begin their efforts.

Meanwhile, scientists are living and studying in Antarctica. They have a variety of scientific studies going on, and these scientists are advocates for the environment. However, the scientists aren't the only creatures in Antarctica. The icy region is also inhabited by rats.

When a large section of the ice shelf "conveniently" breaks away, Soldyne races to beat Australian scientists to the newly formed iceberg. The Australian scientists initially win that race but almost immediately relinquish their rights to Soldyne. Then all the real action starts to take place.

Freezing Point deviates from my typical crime fiction read. I received an ARC copy of Dionne's novel, and was immediately hooked because of its ties to the environment and environmental issues.

The novel is very fast paced. I moved through the book quite quickly, despite the fact that I'm squeamish about rats. I was worried at times that I would end up with nightmares about rats. So, if you choose to pick up Freezing Point (which releases next month), you've been forewarned about the rats.

What was gripping about the book was the concept of the world not having enough drinking water. Of course this is a concern that environmental scientists are saying will be a reality if we don't start making changes now. So, I was definitely intrigued to see how that element would play out. But, I have to say, for the most part, I wasn't really connecting with too many of the characters. The character that pulled me in the most was only present at the beginning of the novel: Derek MacCallister, an iceberg "cowboy." The concept for the microwaves to melt the 'berg came from MacCallister.

The beginning of the novel illustrates the fearlessness of MacCallister when he ties himself to the bow of his boat when an iceberg is forcing the boat to capsize. The boat literally turns 360 degrees and then rights itself. MacCallister is still out on the bow of the boat, grinning like a goof and giving the thumbs up sign! I was completely hooked on him at that moment. He's fearless; he's crazy; he's funny. He's also incredibly smart. He sold his plans to Soldyne for two million dollars, and then THEY were left with the "hard part". He walked away with the cash, never to be seen again. That was disappointing to me.

I think Dionne's intention was for the novel to be more plot driven than character driven, but as I've mentioned before (okay, obsessively mentioned before), character development is key for me in a great novel. Zo - short for Amazon - is a scientist at the station in Antarctica, who also happens to be pregnant. I thought the pregnancy was probably more on the fluff side. It didn't really play into anything that was vital to the plot. Ben works for Soldyne and he's in Antarctica to follow up on some problems that are occurring with their process. Both characters are likable, but neither really "stuck" with me.

The plot is very strong in this novel, however. Since I don't often read scientific thrillers, this may be the norm for this element of the genre. I admired how Dionne portrayed both ends of the environmental extremes as detrimental to society. And I have to say that I was riveted by her ideas of what could potentially happen. Really makes you stop and think. I guess that's why movies with themes such as this are always so popular.

The novel also portrays the greed-factor. This is absolutely repulsive to me and Dionne doesn't harp on it, but presents just enough of it to make you angry. I cannot imagine anyone reading this book and feeling any compassion for Donald Gillette. Gillette is Ben's boss who is also disgruntled because Soldyne is using Ben's microwave science as opposed to Gillette's proposed approach. His jealousy drives him to react in the most selfish of all ways. Dionne definitely did a great job of making me hate the antagonist.

Overall, if you enjoy scientific thrillers, you will most likely enjoy this novel - unless of course you have real issues with rats (sorry, the rats are a big thing with me). I will in all likelihood keep Dionne on my radar for future works.

Thanks Amy!

This summer, after book blogging was patronized in the mainstream media, Amy from My Friend Amy made a suggestion that we celebrate book blogging. From that idea, Book Blogger Appreciation Week was born. Many of us have participated in interviews, contests, give-aways, and through awards; but, this would never have happened were it not for the dream, perseverance, planning, hard work and dedication of Amy. This has been a wonderful week and as members of the Book Blogging community, in one voice we want to thank Amy for all that she has done.

Amy, you are truly the Queen of Book Bloggers and WE APPRECIATE YOU!

Last Minute Reminder

Time is running out for you to enter my drawings to win a copy of either Thomas Holland's One Drop of Blood or Timothy Hallinan's A Nail Through the Heart. Go here for the details and get those entries in before the end of the day! Good luck to everyone who has or will enter!!

Friday's Forgotten Books

I was so delighted when I received an e-mail from Patti Abbott asking if I would like to do a post on a Friday's Forgotten Book. If you haven't seen these on other blogs, people (authors, bloggers, readers, etc) pick books that they feel might be "forgotten" and write a review to remind others about them. O.k., so I was thrilled to be asked and then I thought, "what in the world am I going to pick for this?" Because, of course, I want to make a good selection and not something everyone will think is silly or something that folks don't think has been forgotten. I had a couple of titles I was considering, but I also happened to have planned to go to the bookstore the very day I received the request from Patti. So, I'm tooling around in the store, checking everything out as usual, when I came across a copy of White Doves at Morning. I thought, "James Lee Burke wrote that, really?" And yes, everyone in the store could see the light bulb pop into the discussion bubble above my head! So, I do hope at least one person either didn't know Jim Burke wrote this book or else the fact had escaped them - they forgot! :)

White Doves at Morning is a historical fiction novel, published in 2002 and set around New Iberia, Louisiana, during the Civil War. Of course, since it occurs during the Civil War, it does not include Burke's reknowned Dave Robicheaux. Instead, this book focuses on Burke's ancestry. Willie Burke is the son of an Irish immigrant who joins the Confederate forces more out of fear than support for the "cause." Robert Perry, Burke's friend, is the son of slave owners and is a staunch supporter of Secussion.

Perry and Burke are both in love with Abigail Dowling, an abolitionist who came south from Massachusettes to help fight an outbreak of yellow fever. Abigail befriends Flower Jamison, the black slave daughter of Ira Jamison, the owner of Angola Plantation.

White Doves at Morning follows these characters during the Civil War and into the beginning of Reconstruction.

As with James Lee Burke's signature series, this book lulls the reader into another world through the colorful depiction of character, the vivid development of setting and the captivating plot. When closing the book, I would have to remind myself of the present day since I was so focused and present in the Nineteenth Century.

Since I do enjoy Jim Burke's Dave Robicheaux series, I was at first excited to learn about the background of New Iberia. I had no idea that Angola Prison Farm started out as a plantation. Ira Jamison had his sights on politics and aimed to benefit from the spoils of the war by turning his plantation into the prison farm. But it turns out that learning about the history of New Iberia was just a side benefit to reading this book.

Burke's characters are as rich and complex as Dave or Billy Bob Holland. I had the opportunity to briefly discuss this book with Jim Burke while I was reading, and he expressed pride in the characters of Abigail and Flower. And proud he should be. These two female characters are outstanding. Neither one is immune to pain and suffering, both are "outsiders" in their homes. Burke describes Abigail's feeling of being an outsider with such elegance, you can't help but want to befriend her and ease some of the lonliness:

Because there was no one solidly defined world she belonged to, no one family, no one person, she thought. She saw herself in an accurate way only twice during any given twenty-four-hour period, at twilight and at false dawn, when the world was neither night nor day, when shadows gave ambiguity a legitimacy that sunlight did not.

But Abigail and Flower are strong characters who rely on eachother and find ways to perservere.

Burke's villans are also dynamic characters. And much like the antogonists in his series novels, these villans make your skin crawl and remind you to check the locks at night when you go to bed.

'Colonel Jamison got one eye smaller than the other. It got a wet blue gleam in it. I didn't know what that look meant. It's possession, Miss Abigail. It's the control he got over other people that keeps him alive. Not love for no family, no cause, no little nigger baby who was found almost froze to death in a woods.'

From Ira Jamison at the top of the "food chain" to Rufus Atkins and Clay Hatcher, the preverbial "white trash," through them we see the birth of such groups as the Klu Klux Klan and the Knights of the White Camellia.

And of course, it wouldn't be a James Lee Burke novel without an accute sense of place. Burke's amazing gift of transporting his readers to places completely unknown to them and making them feel like they've lived in the place all their lives is like no other. In this book, Burke is transporting his readers back in time, to a war we've all read about. But the realism puts you on the plantation fields, on the battlefields:

Each day or night a story passed on the river and Willie wondered why those who wrote about war concentrated on the battles and seldom studied the edges of grand events and the detritus that wars created: livestock with their throats slit, the swollen carcasses of horses gut-shot by grape or canister, a burning houseboat spinning around a bend at night, with no one aboard, the flames singeing the leaves in the gum trees along the bank, a naked lunatic drifting by on a raft, a cowbell hanging from his throat, a Bible open in his hand, yelling a sermon at the soldiers on the shore, a pimp from Baton Rouge tyring to put it to shore with a boatload of whores.

James Lee Burke has a talent unlike any other. Most of us have embraced Dave Robicheaux and Billy Bob Holland because of this talent. White Doves at Morning is a magnificient departure from these characters and time period, and definitely a book that we should not forget is part of Burke's great works.

**To see all of this week's Friday's Forgotten Books, visit Patti's blog.

Quirky...that's me!

Debbie at Friday Friends Book Blog "tagged" me, so I'm it in the quirky game. I am supposed to share with you six "unspectacular quirks" or random things about me. So, let's get to it!

The rules are:

1. Link to the person who tagged you
2. Post the rules on your blog
3. Write 6 random things/unspectacular quirks about yourself
4. Tag 6 people at the end of your post and link to them
5. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is posted.

So, me....let's see:

1. I don't drink coffee. I even have trouble with the smell of coffee. I do, however, love hot chocolate, hot tea, hot cider...just can't do coffee.

2. I can hyper extend both of my thumbs. I never really thought anything about it until the first time someone told me they thought it looked creepy. I still don't find it creepy - it's just natural to me - but I guess other people do.

3. I absolutely despise "reality" television.

4. I do not like exposing my feet, so you'll rarely see me in open-toed shoes. I do wear my sandals when I'm bumming around the house, but even that's rare because I've been known to kick something and break a toe or have the dogs step on them. And what makes this even quirkier, is I have what I call an "instinctive nature" to curl my toes. My family has always found this absolutely hilarious because I usually don't even realize I'm doing it.

5. I do not like to talk on the phone. If I can communicate with someone in person or via e-mail, I'll choose to do that over calling. I avoid the phone at all costs.

6. I like flannel sheets in the winter. My whole family thinks I'm crazy, but I'm a freeze baby. I tell everyone that the stork dropped me in the wrong place. I was supposed to be in a desert climate. Me and snow, we don't get along. I would be perfectly happy to never see it again; either that or allow me to hibernate inside my home each winter and not have to come out at all! So, anyway, flannel sheets are so nice and cozy for those horrible winter nights!

Alright, then. I'm supposed to tag six people next. So, I'll pick Trish over at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? because I know she likes to be tagged! Plus, I'm sure she'll come up with some great responses!

I'll also include Alafair Burke. I'm not sure if she'll have time to do it, but she enjoys blogging, so if she needs something to blog about, she can use this! :)

Next, Patti at Patti's Pen and Picks. Patti's blog has become a regular read for me. I enjoy her book reviews and have picked up some blog topic ideas from her as well.

I also have to include Michael over at Lazy Thoughts from a Boomer. I was reading his blog this morning thinking how much we think alike on quite a few topics he writes about.

And I'll have to include my two friends Trish and Val. Neither is a book blogger, but Trish is a scrapbooker and her WIP blog is just a hit. Val is so much fun. I'm always in stitches reading her blog!

Feel free to play along or opt out if you're just not interested. I have to thank Debbie for her very nice comments about my blog. And you might want to take a trip over to her blog - she had a great discussion about Banned Books. Banned Books Week is next week, so prepare to hear from me as well.

This morning they announced the winner of the best Mystery/Suspense/Thriller book blog category for BBAW, and it was a blog called Bookgasm. I wasn't surprised since that blog was nominated for something like seven categories and I think it won most if not all of what it was nominated for. But, I have just awesome readers. I wouldn't trade them for anything, and their support is why I do what I do. Thanks to all of YOU!!

My Prides and Joy!

Today for BBAW, Amy asked us to link to our favorite post. I can't pick just one because I have seven that I'm incredibly proud of. They are my seven author interviews from this summer. I think I'm proud of them more because I had so much fun doing them. But, if you missed them the first time around, please feel free to check them out now. I just love these authors. They are all such talented mystery/suspense/crime fiction writers:

Alafair Burke
TimothyHallinan
ThomasHolland
CraigJohnson
MichaelKoryta
EdLynskey
LisaUnger

And I should probably mention my post about character. I think I received more comments on that post than any other. It definitely struck up some conversation...

Also, don't forget that you have today and tomorrow to enter my drawing for a copy of either Thomas Holland's One Drop of Blood or Timothy Hallinan's A Nail Through the Heart. Get your entries in!

I'll be back later today with my responses to Debbie's tag and a post about...a dinner party?

What Does MY Bookshelf Say About ME?

Yikes! I read a couple of blog posts about what bookshelves say about a person. Laura Lippman may have been the one to start this. I also read about Patti's bookshelves - or bookshelf - and then decided it would be a great topic to post on for Book Blogger Appreciation Week.

Laura Lippman was discussing her purging activities. I've done that. I had the "big purge" when I stopped teaching high school English. I went through and took out all duplicate copies of books and books I hadn't read in ages and had no desire to read again. Each year my sister and I hold a garage sale. I usually thin a few out then as well, but for the most part now when I read a book, if I think I won't read it again it is donated or passed on or sold or whatnot.

My bookshelves were made by my dad - they aren't anything fancy, he's not a woodworker. I've always dreamed of having a whole room with lavish bookshelves from floor to ceiling...but alas, it is just a dream. For now I have my two bookshelves, which aren't enough, so some books take up residence in the living room on the entertainment center - all my Shel Silversteins are there. Most of the books that are in the TBR pile are packed in four large boxes in my bedroom - some are in the shelves because the boxes are overflowing. And child/adolescent books are stored in the attic - I give those to my niece a little at a time.

Because my present book love is crime fiction and other mystery, the majority of one bookshelf is just that. The top shelf is the Shelf of Honor I discussed before. The next shelf holds my hard-cover, prized books that aren't signed: Lehane, Crais, both Burkes, Holland, Reichs. That shelf is at capacity right now. RC is going to have to get a shelf for himself soon, I believe. The next shelf holds Robert Parker and Harlan Coben. Most of these I have not read yet. The remainder of that bookshelf is a hodgepodge of books - a mix of things I have read and ones I haven't. There is a lot of mystery and crime fiction, but not all of it. About the only rhyme or reason I have in this section is that I try to keep books by the same author all together.

The second bookshelf is the shelf that kind of reflects my past...my education...what brought me to my love of reading. The majority of things in this bookshelf I've read, and a lot of it falls under the category of "classics": Twain, Poe, Fitzgerald, Faulkner, Hughes, Dante, Kesey, Dickens, Austen, Eliot. I also have some more modern "classics" like Toni Morrison and Ray Bradbury. These books are mostly softcover books, whereas the other bookshelf is mostly hardcover. At one time this bookshelf was sorted by American Lit/British Lit/World Lit. Somehow that system has corroded a bit. You can still see a semblance of it, but it isn't perfectly so. My anthologies from college courses that I refuse to part with make up the bottom shelf.

At one time I would never loan out any of my books. I've loosened up on that a bit. I'm not a library, though, I don't loan to just anyone. I loan to people I know I will safely get my books back from. I freely offer recommendations, though! :)

So, I'm not sure what exactly my bookshelves say about me. What do you think? What I KNOW is that having my books around comforts me; it's like having friends close by all the time. Very reassuring.

BBAW: A Blogger Interview

As part of the celebration of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, Amy, our incredible host for all these festivities, arranged for willing bloggers to be matched up so we could conduct interviews. Count me among the "willing" and let me introduce fellow blogger, Amber Stults.

Q. When did you start blogging and what motivated you to blog about books?

Amber: I’ve had a personal blog for several years but one if my writer goals for 2008 was to build my author site. The author sites I’ve enjoyed the most have included blogging with regularity. There is only so much I can write about regarding the writing process and my writing progress so blogging about books was a natural turn of events.

Q. Do you have a genre that you specialize in for your book reviews?

Amber: When I write a book review for publication elsewhere the content of the site seems to dictate the genre. For instance, when I review for Niteblade the book is either fantasy or horror because it’s a fantasy and horror magazine.

On my site the book reviewed can be in almost any genre since they are books I’m reading for pleasure. There are only a few genres I have little interest in reading.

Q. What do you look for in a book that you would “highly recommend” to others?

Amber: A book that I’d highly recommend has to offer some new insight, a change in my way of thinking or is unique in some way. For years the book I’ve recommended to people is Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell. It provides good examples of how professionals know things but can’t always articulate how they know something to be true.

Q. I recently had a post about choosing the order in which you read your books from your TBR pile. How do YOU determine which books you’ll read and in what order?

Amber: I wish there was a method but it’s random based on what is happening in my life or some tenuous connection to the last book I read. Recently one of my writing friends moved to Sweden and I found myself reading Faceless Killers by Henning Mankell which is set in Sweden. Hearing about the country for a few weeks before her move really brought Sweden to the forefront of my thoughts.

Another time I read Old Books, Rare Friends by Madeline B. Stern and Leona Rostenberg. They are book collectors with a longstanding friendship. It gave me enough knowledge about book collecting to really appreciate the next book I read which was The Club Dumas by Arturo Perez-Reverte. The Club Dumas features a book detective who finds and verifies the authenticity of rare books. I had no idea they would pair so well together.

Q. What would you say is one of the most rewarding things you’ve found about book blogging?

Amber: On a personal level it’s nice to have on record what I thought of the book at the time I read it. My thoughts often mellow or the details about a book will become fuzzy as time goes on.

On a professional level I think it’s great when someone remarks they thought the same thing about the book or that the review I wrote made them want to buy it. I’ve always been a reader and it’s encouraging to know with multiple studies declaring reading is declining in the US that there are other readers out there.

Q. Are there other book blogs that you enjoy lurking around? What makes them special and worthy of your time?

Amber: There are a few I visit on a regular basis. The one thing they have in common is their unique blogging voice. It’s almost like reading the thoughts of a far away friend.

Damian Daily – I never know what’s going to be reviewed next sprinkled with stories about her daughters is what keeps me coming back. Her reviews are well written and the stories about her daughters usually crack me up.
Devourer of Books – She reads books so fast my jaw drops. I like her reviews, her monthly wrap-ups and her thank you post to blog visitors.
Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin? – Her blog posts are funny but she’s serious about her
books. She strikes a good balance between being funny and being serious.
Maw Books Blog – Natasha has a variety of book reviews and author interviews on her blog. She has similar reading tastes to one of my sister-in-laws so I get a lot of gift ideas from her.

Q. You have had some of your book reviews published, what motivated you to pursue publishing and how did you go about pursing that option?

Amber: Believe it or not, I kind of fell into the published book reviews. I noticed OnceWritten.com was requesting reviewers so I followed the query instructions about book reviewing. At first I thought I could just review anything I wanted as long as the author had three or fewer published books. (OnceWritten.com is a source for new and emerging authors.) It didn’t take me long to find out OnceWritten.com has books sent to them with a request to review them. The available books are what I have to choose from.

Rhonda Parrish at Niteblade knew me from NaNoWriMo and is one of my good writing friends. She asked if I’d be interested in writing reviews for her magazine and I said, “Sure thing!”

Q. Who are your favorite authors presently?

Amber: I’ll keep it brief – there are so many!

Three of my favorites are David Eggers, John Irving and Joss Whedon. Eggers has so many interests and has written so much good stuff (fiction and non-fiction) it’s hard to believe he has the same number of hours in the day as everyone else. Irving’s novels always seem to reflect the humor and heartbreak in life. I know, Whedon hasn’t written any novels, but he writes great graphic novels, TV scripts and screenplays. Whenever I watch or read any of his work I instantly become a young kid again who hopes there will be a happy ending for the good guys.

Q. You are an author, yourself; who would you say has influenced the way you write?

Amber: You ask a tough question, Jen! I wish I could say so-and-so has influenced my style but I haven’t been able to pinpoint any one person.

As for my writing method, I can point to Anne Lamont as an influence. Her book, Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life hit home with me that what I write doesn’t have to be perfect when it reaches the page or computer screen. Revisions make it better. The important thing is to write down all the words first.

Q. When you aren’t writing, reviewing or blogging, what keeps you busy?

Amber: Watching movies! If I’m not reading something it’s safe to bet that I’m watching a movie. It’s been many years but I think the most I ever watched in one week was 54 during a film festival.

Q. Which would be the top five books you would recommend to other people from your 2008 reads to date?

Amber: In order that I read them, I’d recommend these five books:

Woman’s Best Friend: Women Writers on the Dogs in their Lives by Pam Houston and Meg McMorris – I’m a dog lover and the stories Houston and McMorris picked for this collection is amazing. Some are funny and others are just heartbreaking. I still think about some of the women and their dogs even though it’s been months since I read this book.

About Alice by Calvin Trillin – I’ve not read anything else by Trillin and most of the anecdotes about his late wife can be found in his other books. This book reminded me of a long love letter and brought tears to my eyes.

The Hunters by Claire Messud – This book is actually two novellas that complement each other. Messud is one of the best at meandering. Her characters thoughts explore seemingly unrelated tangents. It isn’t until several pages later that you realize she’s come full circle on the thought.

Red Ant House by Ann Cummins – Many of the stories are set on Indian reservations and feature characters who feel like outsiders. Whether the story is contemporary or set in the past she creates characters with recognizable qualities.

Let the Northern Lights Erase Your Name by Vendela Vida – The main character, Clarissa, learns the day of her father’s funeral that he’s not her biological father. She goes on a journey to Finland to discover more truths and decide what kind of future she wants. This novel has a tightly written narrative the likes of which I haven’t seen in a long time.

I hope you enjoyed meeting and getting to know a little about Amber. To learn more about Amber check out her blog and writing site! Thanks Amber. I've enjoyed learning about your writing and blogging. Best of luck!!

**To see Amber's interview of moi, check here. And don't forget to enter my giveaway before the end of the day Friday for a chance to win a copy of either One Drop of Blood or A Nail Through the Heart. Details here.

Happy BBAW!

Today is the official kick-off to Book Blogger Appreciation Week! Make sure you visit My Friend Amy's Blog to get the lowdown on everything. She has a tremendous amount of giveaways going on at her site, but she also has links to other bloggers who are holding giveaways this week. Of course, don't forget to enter my giveaway as well!

What am I going to be doing this week? Well, In addition to my giveaway, I have an interview with a fellow blogger, a discussion about my bookshelves, a Friday's Forgotten Books review (oh, so thrilled to be asked to do this), and more fun, fun, fun!

Today I thought I'd start out appropriately and recognize bloggers that I really appreciate. These are the folks on my bloglines; the ones I check out daily because their blogs are so much fun! I've mentioned a number of them on here before, but they are all worth numerous mentions so go pay them each a visit and see for yourselves!

Alafair Burke is one of my absolute favorite authors, and she is just such a fun person. So you know that combination is going to equal a great blog!

Sam over at Book Chase is one of the most intelligent, well-rounded bloggers I read. He's always in the know on the latest book news. And I've added so many books to my TBR list from his reviews. My thoughts are with Sam, as he's down in Texas and there hasn't been a post from him since Friday. Hope all is well for Sam.

Cipriano is at Bookpuddle, which I think is just the best ever name for a blog. He says he's "splashing around in books." He's also writing poetry and offering up the best Splash de Jours. Always look forward to a post from Cip!

And of course you often hear me mention my buddy Corey from The Drowning Machine. Not only do we share similar interests in book, but Corey has some of the most amazingly insightful and creative posts. I just love his approach to literature! And we're both Buckeyes so that's an added benefit! ;)

Trish over at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin'? Is just a blast. She will come up with some of the most amusing posts. It's always fun - and healthy - to add a chuckle to your day. Trish also adds to my TBR list. Since I'm often so focused on the crime fiction world, Trish opens my eyes to some of the other great stuff that's out there.

Lesa at Lesa's Book Critiques is also a great source for my TBR pile. She's another mystery lover and she's a Library Manager with an inside track to all the great stuff coming out. Plus, she lives close to the Poison Pen in Arizona! I love to read about the writers she meets out there!

I just recently started reading Laura Lippman's Memory Project. We know she's a talented novelist, and it translates into this blog as well.

Alafair Burke turned me on to Oline Cogdill at Off the Page: On Books and Culture (a Sun Sentinel Blog). Oline has great discussion points on mystery topics. Lots of fun!

Patti over at Patti's Pens and Picks is another librarian and she's often talking about mystery novels as well. She's also been doing a lot of research into Web 2.0 offerings and how they work for the benefit of readers.

Tim Hallinan is another of the authors with a blog I follow. There are more than just Alafair and Tim, but these two are the most consistent with their blogs. Tim has such a great sense of humor, so his posts are always a fun experience.

Michael at Lazy Thoughts from a Boomer has a diverse blog. He includes not only a lot on books but also movies and current events. He and I are very often on the exact same wave length - especially when it comes to Robert Crais! :)

So there you have a sampling of my bloglines. When I'm not reading or blogging myself, I try to pop in on these blogs and others. They contribute to my reading choices, keep me up to date in book news, and provide some added entertainment to my day. Love them all!! And I definitely appreciate them EVERY week, but especially during this week. Thanks Bloggers!!

Let's Celebrate!

Book Blogger Appreciation Week doesn't officially start until tomorrow, but I wanted to get an early start on the festivities. In honor of this week, I am going to hold another book giveaway. I have books from two authors I discovered this summer and absolutely adore. Because I love them so much, I want to share them with you. So, I have a copy of Thomas Holland's One Drop of Blood and a copy of Timothy Hallinan's A Nail Through the Heart to give away. These are extra copies I managed to find - my own copies are staying safely on my bookshelf!

To enter this contest, you simply need to send me an e-mail at forbyone(AT)yahoo(DOT) com with either "Blood" or "Nail" in the subject line. If you'd like to be entered in both drawings, send two e-mails, but you can only win one book. Include your name and snail mail address. Sorry, but the drawing is only open to folks with a U.S. snail mail address.

E-mails must be received by September 19th. I will draw winners on the 20th!!

And don't forget to check out some of the other great giveaways going on during Book Blogger Appreciation Week. You can find all the information you need at My Friend Amy's Blog. And be sure to thank her for all the hard work she put in to organizing this gala!

Red Light - T. Jefferson Parker

Merci Rayborn returns in Red Light by T. Jefferson Parker. It's two years after Tim Hess died. She's dating Mike McNally - a fellow officer, has an 18-month-old son and lives with her father since her mother passed away. In this installment of the Rayborn series, a prostitute is murdered. But the catch is this prostitute has a tie to Merci's boyfriend, Mike McNally, and soon the evidence starts piling up against Mike as the murderer. Meanwhile, Merci has also been given a cold case to look into. The cold case is also a prostitute murder, this one from 1969, that starts to look like it too has ties back to the sheriff's department.

I listened to this book on audio, read by Anna Fields. She does a good job of projecting the dark tone of Parker's novel. She doesn't have a wide range of voices, though. I thought most all the female characters sounded one way and all the male characters another way, but not much differentiation within the genders. It was still a decent recording, though.

I predicted the outcome in this book pretty early. I'm not sure if it's because I'm reading too much crime fiction these days and have it all figured out or if this particular book was just a bit on the predictable side. If you read it and predicted it early, let me know. I don't want to tell folks it's a predictable plot and just have it be that I just guessed well on this one! But regardless I did figure it out early. And yet, there's something about Parker's writing that just keeps me riveted. He's great with detail. I love how all the detail is essential in the plot. There isn't a bunch of superfluous "stuff." He doesn't try to be showy or extravagant. Rather, Parker is economical and makes full use of everything he puts in the book.

I have found so far with the four books I've read of his, Red Light included, I wouldn't recommend them if you're depressed! All four have had a very dark tone, and Parker doesn't have much in the way of comic relief.

I'm intrigued by Merci Rayborn. I can't say she's one of my favorite female characters, but I'm constantly trying to figure her out. She's a tough cookie, without a doubt. And she is a character with depth. But, in this book, more so than in The Blue Hour, I found some of her behavior out of character. It just didn't seem to fit, and I didn't buy into it.

The other thing that bothered me a bit about this novel was the handful of details I was picking up as the law-enforcement-ignorant-reader that Merci was NOT picking up as a veteran sheriff's detective. She would eventually get there, but I had a hard time believing it would take her as long as it did. Now maybe, being on the outside looking in changes things, but as an example, it took her until the end of the book to think of the possibility that the outside light might NOT have been turned on. They assumed that the light would have been on because the bulb was not burned out - the bulb's status was determined at the beginning of the novel. Wouldn't a veteran investigator consider all the possibilities of that bulb from the get-go? I mean, personally, I would think one of the first scenarios they would consider is that the murderer unscrewed the bulb so the victim couldn't see him/her through the peep hole. But, I could be way off base.

Overall, I enjoyed Red Light and it was a good audiobook to listen to in the car. I'm sure I will read the third Merci Rayborn installment, Black Water, as well.

An Award and More BBAW News

Oh my goodness! Trish over at Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin' bestowed an award on me. Here it is:

Yes, it's true, I'm often...o.k., maybe a little more than often, sticking my two cents in. Maybe I give comments often because I appreciate them so much on my own blog. Oh well, it's just nice to be acknowledged, isn't it? So, now it's my turn. I'm supposed to bestow this on other people now. These are definitely my die-hard commenters! Thanks guys!!

Corey over at The Drowning Machine

Michael over at Lazy Thoughts from a Boomer

Kay from My Random Acts of Reading

And she doesn't have a blog, but I have to recognize Naomi, too. She's always leaving me the greatest comments! I just love to get the notices saying I have comments from you all. It makes my day! Thanks!!

And WOW! The fun isn't over yet. I have more fun news. About a lot of "stuff" you can win! As part of Book Blogger Appreciation Week, Amy over at My Friend Amy's Blog, has put together an incredible list of prizes for the week. She has really put a tremendous amount of work into this week, recruiting support from writers, publishers, bloggers, readers...she deserves a HUGE award for all this work! Award her by stopping by to check out the list of prizes she's awarding next week. Super Job, AMY!!

Power in the Blood - Michael Lister

John Jordan is a former cop and the present Potter Correctional Institute chaplain who witnesses first hand the gruesome death of inmate Ike Johnson. When the superintendent asks Jordan to help investigate the death, Jordan discovers not only a network of crime and corruption taking place within the walls of PCI, but also the crime and corruption that is spilling out in the county. With the assistance of his friends Merrill and Anna, Jordan sets out to uncover the truth behind it all.

Power in the Blood is Michael Lister's first John Jordan mystery, and I can say without reserve that I am looking forward to checking out the next two books in the series: Blood of the Lamb and Flesh and Blood. John Jordan is a unique protagonist; definitely the first crime-fighting chaplain I've read about! And (you can say it with me because you've heard me say it before) I love Jordan because he's real: he isn't perfect, he makes mistakes, he has "issues", and there are many complex layers to this character. The inmates like Jordan and it's believable. I would like J.J. if I knew him, too. As is common place with me, I took a special shine to Jordan's good friend Merrill - Merrill Monroe. His intelligent, sarcastic humor provides a great deal of comic relief throughout the novel. Lister also does a very nice job with the character of Anna. Just anyone wouldn't be working in a high security correctional facility, especially not just any woman. Anna's personality is believable for the job she holds. She's spunky and self-assured. When Inspector Daniels comes in to ask her about Ike Johnson, they have a real "you go girl"-inspiring exchange:

"Faggot on the outside too?" [Daniels]
"If you are asking, in your own redneck way, if I am aware of a lover he would have tried to escape for, I am not. He did have four visits from a Don Hall when he first got here, but that's been over a year ago." [Anna]
"Is there anything else you can think of I should know?"
"Yes, there is. Something very important."
"Well, spit it out."
"My brother, whom I love with all my heart, is gay, and I am offended by your assertion that he or any other gay may should be used for firewood."
"Firewood? What the hell are you talk about now?"
She looked at me.
"The term faggot, " I said, "came from a period in time when homosexual men were burned at the stake. It means kindling." [John]

Anna's personality is essential for the believability of the plot as well. Overall, a very well developed female character.

I have to admit that at first I was concerned that I would be overly harsh on my review of Power in the Blood because the book I finished just before starting this one was a James Lee Burke novel. The magic of Burke's use of language is hard to compare to. Lister isn't as prolific as Burke; Burke is a unique writer, but Lister knows how to use language as well. When he came up with setting like

Beyond the blacktop court where young black men played full-court basketball like they did in Miami, the elderly inmates played horseshoes like they did in retirement homes in Sarasota. Past them, the young white inmates played volleyball the way they did on Panama City Beach. Yet, beyond all of this, he wall of chain-link fence and razor wire served as an ominous reminder of exactly which part of Florida this was.

I was struck and reminded of the humanity inside the fence and razor wire. Lister's approach helps the reader to see the PEOPLE involved, not necessarily the criminals, who we might want to see as monsters. And it is important to see them as people because that is exactly how Jordan sees the inmates. They are his flock. However, don't think that Lister was unrealistic about the inmates either. Lister is, himself, a chaplain with the Florida Department of Corrections, and there were elements of this book I was worried would leave me with nightmares.

I especially enjoyed Lister's creative use of both biblical and literary illusions. They are spread throughout the books and are some of the most effective use of this device I've experienced in some time.

The plot of Power in the Blood is tight. There isn't a lot of unnecessary, outside detail to muck up the storyline. Jordan has some past issues that Lister brings out seamlessly. They don't detract from the present, but instead allow the reader a better understanding of Jordan. And Lister is great at slowly feeding the reader facts as the investigation progresses. The novel is told in first person, and the reader receives clues exactly the same way that the narrator receives them.

The only negative I would present about Power in the Blood were a couple of occasions where I rolled my eyes thinking Lister got a little hokey. Maybe others might view these scenes differently, but I thought they were conspicuously sappy. The book is not sappy and the couple of spots seemed to stand out to me as not fitting in with the tone of the novel. But that is far from enough for me to not recommend this novel.

Power in the Blood had me reading well after I should have been in bed each night. I simply had to read "just one more chapter" until I made it to the conclusion. Unique, intriguing, powerful. I look forward to more John Jordan mysteries from Michael Lister.