Klausner's Bookshelf: Part 1

[MWBOOKREVW]

KLAUSNER'S BOOKSHELF: PART 1

Cloud Nine
Luanne Rice
Bantam Books
$19.95, 336 pp. ISBN: 0-553-11063-2

Sarah Talbot does not expect to see her next birthday as she is dying from
a brain tumor. However, miracles still occur and the thirty-six year old single
mother totally recovers her health. Sarah reopens up her mail order business
Cloud Nine.
This Sarah is a different person from the one she was before she faced
death's door. Her optimism and zeal for life begins to impact the townsfolk of
Fort Cromwell, New York. Included in her widening circle are troubled teen
Susan Burke and her guilt -laden father Will. As Will and Sarah begin to forge
a relationship, they also reach out to their estranged children and other
family members.
Readers who peruse a Luanne Rice novel will believe in the power of love to
surmount almost any obstacle to a healthy relationship. Her newest novel,
Cloud Nine, will leave fans feeling sad yet good because the audience will
adopt the characters who put a little love in their hearts, an emotion which
can heal the most recalcitrant family.

Tunnel Of Night
John Philpin and Patricia Sierra
Bantam Books
$6.50, 314 pp. ISBN: 0-553-57954-1

John Wolf was supposed to be Lucas Franks final case as a psychiatric
profiler, but the cunning sociopath had other plans. Lucas, accompanied by his
daughter Lane, tracks Wolf to his Vermont lair. Lucas uses the killer's bomb
against Wolf to enact justice.
Almost a year has passed since that explosive summer day in Vermont. Frank
is enjoying his retirement. However, unbeknownst to Frank, John Wolf turns out
to be a cat as he survived the bomb. Wolf has been working on vengeance
against those who tried to stop him with Lucas and Lane heading up the list.
By the time law enforcement official realize that Wolf is back, it is too late
as the killings have begun anew. The stage for a final confrontation between
profiler and serial killer is set with only one person expected to walk away
alive.
Tunnel Of Night is hair raising psychological suspense that evokes terror
in the bravest of humans because readers will believe that Wolf is modeled
after a real human monster. Lucas is an anti-hero who does job well because he
values his principles instead of a simple law book. John Philpin and Patricia
Sierra address social issues with dignity inside a well designed novel that
will have the audience demanding the return of the father and daughter team.

Jane And The Genius Of The Place
Stephanie Barron
Bantam Books
$22.95, 304 pp. ISBN: 0-553-10733-X

In August of 1805, sisters Jane and Cassandra Austen leave Bath to travel
to their brother Edward's estate in Kent in order to enjoy the Canterbury
races. All the rich and famous attend, making the area a perfect locale for
amorality, scandal, and gossip. The most daring of them all is the figure in
scarlet, Francoise, the French spouse of a banker, Valentin Grey.
However, the gossip about Mrs. Grey turns morbid when someone murders her.
Most of the aristocracy assumes one of her lovers or her spouse killed her.
Jane disagrees that this is a simple murder of passion. Having some previous
success with solving crimes (see the three previous Jane mysteries), Ms. Austen
begins to look for clues that will prove there are more sinister happenings
than a deadly lover's quarrel.
The fourth novel in the Jane Austen mysteries continues with the same
freshness and brilliant insight into the early nineteenth century that the
previous three novels provided readers. The well-designed story line of Jane
And The Genius Of The Place provides readers with an intriguing and puzzling
mystery. Jane remains interesting and the support cast adds authenticity.
However, what makes Stephanie Barron's novel and, for that matter, the entire
series so much fun to read is the details of the era with Jane's life
interwoven into it, making for a superb who-done-it.

Hen's Teeth
Manda Scott
Bantam Books
$5.50, 352 pp. ISBN: 0-553-57967-3

In a panic, Caroline calls Glasgow psychiatrist Dr. Kellen Stewart in the
middle of the night because her lover, Bridget Donnelly, apparently died from
cardiac arrest. Stunned, Kellen goes to Bridget's rural farm because the
deceased is her former lover and teacher. The police are already on the scene
when Kellen arrives.
Though the evidence leaves no doubt as to the cause of death, something
nags at Kellen, who begins to inquire into her former friend's recent past.
She quickly learns that Bridget's brother died form a heart attack two weeks
ago. For two fortyish siblings in near perfect health to have heart attacks is
too unbelievable for Kellen to accept. She also finds out that some missing
hens were brought to the farm just before Bridget's sibling died. As Kellen
gets closer to the truth, she places herself in danger from a brilliant killer,
who will not allow anyone to stand in the way of achieving his objective.
Hen's Teeth is a fabulous medical thriller that provides the smashing debut
of a newcomer, Manda Scott. The crisp story line moves forward at a fabulous
pace. The support cast and the city of Glasgow add depth to the plot. However,
it is amateur sleuth and gay lover Kellen, who makes this a winning tale
because her motives and desires not only ring true, but propel the story to an
exciting climax. A wonderful first novel that deserves much reader attention.

The Garden Tour Affair
Ann Ripley
Bantam Books
$22.95, 320 pp. ISBN:0-553-10693-7

Public TV hostess, Louise Eldridge, accompanied by her family and friends,
travels to Connecticut to tape a TV show on the Litchfield Gardens. While
preparing for the show, one of the other guests staying at the same inn as
Louise, Professor Freeling, a botany genetics expert, falls off a mountain
summit. Another guest, Grace, is found dead, an apparent suicide.
Louise and her contingent begin to investigate whether the two deaths were
actually murder. Louise cannot accept that Grace would kill herself just when
she seem to have so much to live for with a poem to be published and a love
garden just built near her Brooklyn home. Before she leaves for her Virginia
home, Louise strongly feels that she must ferret out the identity of the
culprit who murdered her fellow garden lover.
This is the fourth novel of the well written Eldridge, amateur sleuth
series. The previous three novels (Death Of A Political Plant, Death Of A
Garden Pest, and MULCH) were all fun to read, but this tale, The Garden Tour
Affair, is the blooming best of the bouquet because the mystery is so complex.
Fan of gardening have the added bonus of simple, educational and enjoyable
essays interspersed hroughout the book. Those readers not in interested in
horticultural activities, can easily skip the sections and solely focus on the
enjoyable mystery. The large cast of characters is deftly handled by Ms.
Ripley so that readers will not confuse the identities of any of them. The
who-done-it is complex and the red herrings are well designed to fool the
reader. "A rose is a rose" when the who-done-it is written by Ann Ripley.

An Accidental Murder
Robert Rosenberg
Scribner
$22.00, 288 pp. ISBN: 0-684-85032-4

Former Israeli CID chief Avram Cohen is an expert on survival. He
persevered against Hitler and his concentration camps. He survived the war
that established the Jewish State. However, Avram has doubts that he will
endure his forced retirement in spite of his wealth and his relationship with
Ahuva Meyerson, a judge poised to be placed on the country's Supreme Court. To
pass time and learn how to operate a computer, Avram writes his memoirs, which
to his surprise are publishedpublished.
Avram enjoys his privacy and prefers not to reveal his inner self. He
quickly realizes that marketing a best seller is not for him. However, he
inadvertently draws attention to himself when a woman is found dead in his
bathroom and a bomb is detected under his bed. Initially, law enforcement
officials think that either a fanatical fundamentalist group or someone one
from his previous life wants to eliminates the pragmatic Avram. His
nonchalance about the affair changes when his assistant, a person he considered
a son, is killed. Avram, who does not mind going outside the law, conducts his
own search into his friend's murderer.
Avram Cohen, who has tasted all the evil man can inflict on his fellow men,
is one of the most complex figures in a police procedural. The mystery is well
written and brilliantly executed. However, it is the anti-hero, who makes this
a unique, but winning novel. Through Avram's eyes, the reader sees the
political, secular, and religious perspectives that make up the modern state of
Israel. They also realize that the hero is totally aware of the pragmatic, and
therefore to some people's minds, the stand he has taken on political and
social issues. Robert Rosenberg has created a protagonist and a series that is
prime reading material.

Four Corners Of Night
Craig Holden
Delacorte
$23.95, 367 pp. ISBN: 0-385-31625-9

Police officers Mack Steiner and Bank Arbaugh have been friends since the
fourth grade. They are assigned to work together on the apparent kidnapping of
teenager Tamara Shipley. The case has eerie similarities to the disappearance
of Bank's daughter Jamie, who vanished without a trace several years ago. The
latter case remains unsolved to this very day.
As the law enforcement officials begin to investigate, they soon find a
tenuous link between a dead priest and an underground group called the Sisters
of Compassion, who place child abuse victims in safe houses. The more the cops
dig the more they believe that Tamara has not been abducted and eventually link
the current case to that of Jamie's disappearance. The investigation becomes
extremely complicated when Mack's own daughter vanishes.
Four Corners Of Night is an extremely complex tale due to Craig Holden's
ability to develop multifaceted characters that appear real; a trademark of the
author. The suspense of the story line slowly evolves because of Mr. Holden's
penetrating insight into his protagonists. However, once the suspense hits, it
goes non-stop. Although this is not for those readers who desire action from
page one to page 367, this novel remains a winner for those who enjoy character
development inside a winning plot.

Help Line
Faye Sultan
Doubleday
$22.95, 272 pp. ISBN: 0-385-48526-3

Ever since the infamous Jimmy Weir trial in South Carolina, North Carolina
forensic psychologist, Portia McTeague, has withdrawn from high profile cases
that used to be her crusade. Instead, Portia is paying closer attention to her
private practice as well as providing volunteer counseling at the Help Line.
However, to her chagrin, Portia misses the stress and challenge of diving
inside the mind of a sociopath.
As Portia becomes antsy, a famous TV psychic, allegedly having healing
hands, is raped, mutilated, and killed. The media jumps all over the case,
adding pressure on the Charlotte police to identify the culprit. Portia tries
to profile the perpetrator by getting inside his head so she can predict his
next action. While the psychologist plays mind games with a serial killer, he
intends to make her his next victim.
Help Line is an outstanding, yet unusual, psychological suspense that
includes a surprise but believable ending. Fay Sultan is the queen of
providing a mesmerizing tale that has the heroine and the villain sharing
similar traumas and abuse. This leaves readers wanting to understand Portia's
behaviorand choices. There has to be a sequal to this book so that the auduence
can see if Portia can get out of her current troubles and to discover if she
learned anything from the experience.

Night Whispers
Judith McNaught
Pocket Books
$24.00, 383 pp. ISBN: 0-671-00085-3

Sloan Reynolds was raised by her mother Kimberly in Bell Harbor, Florida
where she is now a member of the police force. As an infant, her wealthy
father Carter divorced Kimberly and took custody of one of their two daughters,
Paris. Though Sloan is curious about her father and her sibling, she is irked
when she learns that Carter, who recently suffered a heart attack, wants to see
her.
Sloan plans to reject the offer to meet the rest of her family in ritzy
Palm Beach, but changes her mind when FBI agent Paul Richardson approaches her.
Paul tells Sloan that her father is under investigation for a myriad of
crimes, including murder. Sloan agrees to spy on her family, but soon finds
herself caring for both her father and sibling. However, someone sets her up
to take the fall for the murder of their great grandmother. Sloan has to prove
her innocence to more than just the police. She must uncover the true killer
if she is regain the trust of her now beloved expanded family.
Fans of romantic suspense will shout that the great Judith McNaught's has
written something wonderful with her perfect novel, Night Whispers. The
action-packed story line is a tender triumph that will leave readers awed by
the awesome author's immense abilities. The characters are warm and charming,
and will long be remembered when the audience thinks of romantic suspense. Ms.
McNaught is returning to her usual spot on the New York Times best seller list
with this deserved tale.

Coal Bones
Karen Rose Cercone
Berkley
$5.99, 288 pp. ISBN: 0-425-16698-8

In 1906 Pennsylvania, the robber barons own the coalmines and railroads.
They also control the law enforcement officials such as the County Detectives
Bureau where corruption is rampant and the wealthy are assisted on their
schemes. Detective Milo Kachigan is the rare honest cop. He is punished for
his efforts by being transferred to the small town of Tarentun in the middle of
coal country. Currently, the area is filled with conflict between union
organizers trying to gain a toehold and owners wanting to maintain the status
quo.
The workers are poised to strike, but Milo has other problems to deal with
when a miner is found dead at the Sedgewick Coal and Coke Company. No one can
identify the murder victim. As Milo seeks answers, the Black Hand mob enters
the picture since the suspect wears their tattoo. Soon, all hell breaks loose
as mines are dynamited, riots occur, and Milo and his girl friend are
kidnapped.
Karen Rose Cercone paints a very gray picture of early twentieth century
Pittsburgh and the surrounding towns at a time when unions are being formed and
the women's movement is just beginning. The Faustian relationship between the
law and the robber barons adds depth to the unusual, but grim imagery of a
powerful story line. Milo and his girl friend add strength, compassion, and
humor as well as insight into the socialist and suffragette movements. Coal
Bones is a great work by a rising star.

Fulton County Blues
Ruth Birmingham
Berkley
$5.99, 288 pp. ISBN: 0-425-16697-X

Sunny Childs, a private detective at Atlanta's Peachtree Investigations,
knows nothing about her father who died in Vietnam when she was eight years
old. Her mother has always been reticent on the subject. Hoping for closure,
Sunny travels to the Vietnam Memorial Wall, only to learn that her father's
name is conspicuously absent.
As Sunny begins her quest to find out what really happened, a friend who
served with her father in Nam, allegedly kills himself. The deceased's widow
swears that he would never have committed such an act of self destruction
because he shied away from guns ever since he left the service. Sunny obtains
a list of former GIs who served with her father. She soon realizes that the
troops are hiding a several decades old incident that involves the CIA, drug
trafficking, and covert operations. If Sunny persists on obtaining the entire
truth, she will have to confront the modern day tentacles of the CIA, who have
reasons to keep her father's story erased.
The war in Nam has been over for more than two decades, but for those who
served and those anxiously waiting for news of their loved ones, the anger,
resentment, and confusion remain as powerful as it was in the late
sixties-early seventies. Many individuals, even some to young to understand
what was happening at that time, still struggle with coping from the horror and
ultimate uselessness of the effort. With dignity and respect, Fulton County
Blues looks inside the head of an indirect victim of the war. Readers will
agree that Ruth Birmingham has written a compassionate, empathic, and realistic
journey.

Hung Jury
Rankin Davis
Berkley
$6.99, 336 pp. ISBN: 0-425-16674-0

In London, Dr. Jennifer Fox is on trail for murdering Dr. Charles
Easterman. The case was so highly publicized by the international media,
England and Wales Attorney General Geoffrey Haversham prosecuted it. The
evidence against Jennifer is so overwhelming, everyone expects a guilty
verdict. Even the jury goes into deliberation thinking that they only need to
discuss guilty.
However, the linear path to conviction is detoured by two simultaneous
events. A juror, designer Alex Parrish believes the accused is innocent. At the
same time, England's Prime Minister Edward Haversham is notified that his
brother, the same Attorney general on the Fox trial, has been abducted.
Haversham will be freed only if Fox is freed. As the jury argue with their one
hold-out, a larger stage with another life at stake is the setting for their
final decision.
Readers will not be hung up on deciding that they fully enjoyed Hung Jury,
a fast-paced legal thriller. Rankin Davis cleverly develops the story line
along two plots that ultimately merge together into a terse climax. The jurors
will remind the audience of the jury in Twelve Angry Men (either version) with
a slight twist. The terrorists (especially Pavel) and the Haversham siblings
also seem more like genuine individuals rather than characters in a novel. This
is must reading for fans of legal thrillers.

Basilica
William D. Montalbano
Putnam
$23.95, 304 pp. ISBN: 0-399-14418-8

The new millennium dawned without Armageddon arriving though a new Pope
from Latin America sits in the Vatican. Pope Tredi has some radical ideas that
will shake up the faithful, but he plans to implement. When a priest is
pushed off the Basilica, Pope Tredi turns to his close friend and
troubleshooter, former Miami cop Brother Paul Lorenzo, to investigate.
Paul soon traces the murder to a conspiracy that is intended to destroy
Tredi's reforms. However, before Paul can identify the ring leader, other
individuals close to His Holiness are murdered. The evidence points back to
their days together in Miami when they opposed a major drug cartel. If Paul
does not uncover the enemy soon, Pope Tredi may find himself a historical
footnote for one of the shortest papacy's on record.
Basilica is fantastic ecclesiastic thriller that is going to be recognized
as one of the year's best novels. The story line is superb and the wonderful
characters feel genuine, but it is the insiders look into the Vatican that is
truly awesome. On a sadder note, author William D. Montalbano will
posthumously receive accolades from an adoring public as he passed away before
he could obtain the well-deserved credit that will be coming his way. His death
leaves a void in this sub-genre.

Dead Letter
Jane Waterhouse
Putnam
$23.95,290 pp. ISBN: 0-399-14436-6
Garner Quinn has taken a hiatus from her famous career as a true crime
writer. However, this is one time in which out of sight does not mean out of
mind as the public still endows her with much acclaim. However, one of her fans
is making her life a living hell by sending her letters, breaking into her car
and leaving threatening notes. Garner takes the threats very seriously and
hires Corbin, Inc, a security firm to the rich and famous, to safeguard her.
Reed Corbin sets up a trap to capture Garner's nemesis even as he makes sure
his client knows that he is very attracted to her. She reciprocates his
feelings even though he is not Dane Blakemore.
When the stalker is apprehended, Garner concludes that Dane is never
returning from Europe to her and is prepared to pursue a relationship with
Reed. However, tragedy strikes, causing Garner to flee to the arms of Dane in
Paris. However, Garner is called home because some unknown has posted bond for
the stalker. The stalker is killed by the security agent but for Garner the
terrot has only just begun.
Jane Waterhouse can always be counted on to give her readers the unexpected
and her third Quinn novel is no exception. Dead Letter is a roller coaster
ride of thrills, chills, and unrelenting suspense. There are so many twists
and turns coupled with unexpected but believable surprises that the reader
will be unable to put the book down until the last page has been turned.
Anyone who has tasted a Quinn book will want to read the other two stories as
well as future books because they will become addicted to the series.

Self Portraits With Ghosts
Kelly Dwyer
Putnam
$23.95, 272 pp. ISBN: 0-399-14440-4

Luke Flannigan had been a depressed individual, who struggled to cope with
his role of being the central focus of his family, but he was wary and mentally
tired. Ultimately, his demons defeated the accolades and respect, and Luke
killed himself.
The death of Luke sends the rest of the extended family into an emotional
catastrophe. His sister Kate, struggling with being the single mother of a
teen, wonders whether she should marry her current date. Kate also begins to
feel that the past needs burying alongside her beloved brother. She leans
towards forgiving her sister for taking away her spouse. Her daughter Audrey
is in shock because Luke had replaced her biological father. With Luke's
death, everyone knows that the past needs revisiting so that the future can be
free of guilt and recriminations.
Self Portrait With Ghosts is a well-written family drama that dwells on the
impact on the present from the ugly ghosts out of the past. Kelly Dwyer proves
her talent by being able to scribe a beautiful tale that allows insight into
the before and after effect of a suicide, especially the prime family person.
The ending a wee bit unrealistic because years of resentment and anger, and
the present need to grieve just does not abruptly vanish as easily as occurs
within the novel. Still, Ms. Dwyer paints a brilliant family drama that should
be must reading for everyone.

The Forbidden Zone
Michael Hetzer
Simon & Schuster
$25.00, 389 pp. ISBN: 0-684-85408-2

In 1983 Soviet Union, astrophysicist Victor Perov is a loyal communist when
he meets American astronomer Katherine Sears during a joint science project.
In spite of falling in love with his counterpart, Victor remains a staunch
party supporter. However, his belief is shaken to the core when he learns that
his brother Anton, allegedly killed in Afghanistan, is actually a guest of the
KGB in one of their anti-therapy hospitals.
Victor, with the aid of Katherine begins an all out search for his sibling,
not knowing that Anton has a secret that if revealed will shake the Politburo
to its very foundation. His greatest foe, who will do anything to stop his
inquiry, is his own mother, a member of the Politburo. Almost as shocking to
Victor is that several KGB dissidents try to assist Victor on his quest. Not
knowing friend from foe, Victor's chances of finding his brother, let alone
rescuing him, is less then the Berlin Wall crumbling.
The Forbidden Zone is a fantastic political thriller that brings to life
the Russian people in the last decade before the Iron Curtain collapsed. The
characters are all well written, especially the Russians, who come across as
believable beings. The detailed story line is fast-paced and filled with
action. Michael Hetzer's debut novel is a major success as a new star, to the
joy of readers, has entered the sub-genre with a strong winner.

Misery Loves Maggody
Joan Hess
Simon & Schuster
$22.00, 285 pp. ISBN: 0-684-84562-8

Arly Hanks returns to Maggody, a town of 755 people, to recover from the
trauma of marrying and divorcing a Yankee. She accepts the job of police
chief, thinking that nothing major ever occurs in a small burgh like Maggody.
However, she quickly reassess her opinion when her town is invaded by
Hollywood, militia crazies, a militia unit ,and a belief that a UFO invasion
occurred.
Arly's mother Ruby Dee and her friend Estelle go on an Elvis vacation
where they see the Maggody Mayor in a motel with a woman, who is not his wife.
Arly is soon shocked when her mother ends up in the hospital after collapsing
for no apparent reason. The police chief is further stunned when the Mayor is
arrested for allegedly throwing an exotic dancer off a balcony to her death.
Instead of helping her mother, Arly is up to her armpits in police cases.
The eleventh Maggody mystery is the funniest and probably the best written
novel in this very good series. The primary and secondary characters are a
hoot and a half as they exaggerate small town living. The various subplots
coherently weave together into a fantastic tale that should not be missed.
Joan Hess is a writer whose novels keep getting better and better.

Hunter
James Byron Huggins
Simon & Schuster
$22.00, 320 pp. ISBN: 0-684-84461-3

In the vast wilderness areas of Alaska where there are no prying eyes or
media around, the CIA has installed top secret facilities and conduct illegal
biological tests. One particular experiment involves a scientist who injects
himself with the DNA recovered from an ancestor of homo sapiens. The human
converts into a creature that is more beast than man and kills everyone at
three nearby military camps.
A military commando team is assembled with orders to kill the monster.
However, the creature is so cunning, the soldiers fail. The military turn to a
civilian to track down their prey. Hunter is an enigma as he is a wealthy
recluse, who prefers to live off of the land. The monster instinctively knows
that Hunter is dangerous and immediately tries to eliminate a deadly threat.
Either the Hunter or the hunted will be dead by the time this scenario is
finished.
Hunter is a fun and enjoyable book to pass time on a nasty winter day.
Think "Die Hard meets Frankenstein" relocated to Alaska and you have a pretty
good assessment of both the throwback and the antihero. James Byron Huggins
writes a tremendous, graphic thriller that is based on the principle that
knowledge gained without morality is wrong, but does it in such a manner that
it would make a good movie.

Home Fires
Margaret Maron
Mysterious Press
$22.00, 243 pp. ISBN: 0-89296-655-6

Judge Deborah Knott is seeing her lover when she receives the call from her
brother Andrew that her nephew A.K. is in trouble with the law for desecrating
gravestones at a nearby cemetery. A.K. and two of his buddies spray painted
racial slurs on the graves of African-Americans.
Shortly after the arrest, a black church is burned with the graffiti being
identical to that of the cemetery. The police believe the three teens did the
act. Deborah, who is running for reelection in Colleton County, North
Carolina, begins her own investigation. However, two more churches are torched
and two corpses are found. If Deborah does not uncover the culprit soon, a
race war may engulf her beloved hometown.
Award winning Margaret Maron returns with her sixth Knott regional
who-done-it. Home Fires is a brilliant, in-depth portrayal of the modern
south with its' pressing social issues. The characters are well defined and
though the mystery is relatively simplistic, the novel is another winner. This
series and Ms. Maron's Sigrid Harald tales are all worth reading as they
demonstrate just why the author is a multi-award winner.

Harriet Klausner
Reviewer

EDITOR'S NOTE:

The Midwest Book Review is an organization of volunteers committed to promoting
literacy, library usage, and small press publishing. We accept no funds from
authors or publishers. Full permission is given to post any of these reviews on
thematically appropriate websites, newsgroups, listserves, organizational
newsletters, or to interested individuals. Please give the Midwest Book Review
a credit line when doing so.

The Midwest Book Review publishes two monthly book review magazines, "Internet
Bookwatch" and "Children's Bookwatch". Both are available for free on the
Midwest Book Review website at http://www.execpc.com/~mbr/bookwatch/

If you would like to submit a review for inclusion in our Midwest Book Review
publications, please send an email request to m...@execpc.com for our "Reviewer
Guidelines". We invite your comments, questions and suggestions.

James A. Cox
Editor-in-Chief
Midwest Book Review
278 Orchard Drive, Oregon, WI 53575