Klausner's Bookshelf: Part 2

[MWBOOKREVW]

KLAUSNER'S BOOKSHELF: PART 2

Citizen Sidel
Jerome Charyn
Mysterious Press
$23.00, 224 pp. ISBN: 0-89296-605-X

New York City's Madison Square Garden is hosting the Democratic Party's
National Convention. J. Michael Storm, who ended the worst strike in the
history of baseball, is going to be nominated as the party's presidential
candidate. The city's mayor, Isaac Sidel, has been selected as Storm's running
mate in order to counterbalance the scandals of the top half of the ticket.
While the world focuses on J. Michael, Isaac has a city to run and a murder
to investigate. A father has apparently killed his son. Both were city cops.
Isaac investigates and soon finds himself confronting a precinct captain,
backed by powerful friends, who delivers murder upon demand. As he tries to
keep his city clean, The Big Guy (Isaac) faces off against a myriad of foes who
want him dead.
Jerome Charyn must be the reincarnation of Lewis Carroll and Sidel is Alice
as no one paints New York City weirder and more interesting than this author
does. The story line of the tenth Sidel tale still keeps a strange freshness
that continues to show the unending imagination of the author. Citizen Sidel is
not for everyone. However, anyone who relishes an off beat political thriller
mixed in with a well-designed police procedural that comes from inside the
looking glass will enjoy this novel and series.

The Balloon Man
Charlotte MacLeod
Mysterious Press
268 pp. ISBN: 0892966572

Max Bittersohn and Sarah Kelling are happily married with a three-year-old
son even though this is her second marriage. Her former husband and her
mother-in-law Caroline died in an automobile accident, but Caroline's evil
deeds seem to linger long after she has been buried. Several years ago, she
gave away her daughter-in-law's jewelry to her lover.
However, in spite of that, everyone figures that with her death, that
period in Sarah's life is over. That is until, a ruby necklace from the
collection suddenly surfaces along side the body of a murder victim. Max, an
art recovery specialist, quickly realizes that he must uncover the identity of
the individual who is willing to kill to claim the necklace if he is to keep
his beloved Sarah safe.
The Balloon Man is a very humorous novel that readers will enjoy due to
the uniqueness of each character and their interplay, especially the lead
protagonists. Fans will definitely want to peruse more novels starring them.
Though the who-done-it story line is skimpy, the stars' relationship and the
glimpses into Max's past turn Charlotte MacLeod's novel into a delightfully
light and thoroughly enjoyable reading experience.

Black Oak #2: The Hush Of Wings
Charles Grant
Roc
$5.99, 233 pp. ISBN: 0-451-45733-1

Black Oak Security, owned and operated by Ethan Proctor, is recognized as
one of the top investigative corporations in the country. Proctor has his fill
of mundane cases, but occasionally deals with an eerie investigation that hints
at the supernatural. To his credit, Proctor does not rule out the seemingly
impossible.
He wonders if something otherworldly is the cause behind a case in Hart
Junction, Kansas, a town that was used at one time in many movies. Residents
seem to vanish without a trace. The few remaining citizens hear footsteps, but
no one is ever seen. Even more frightening to the few remaining townsfolk is
the flying sounds that are heard by all just before someone dies. All these
nocturnal events began when the Morning Star Cult moved into the vicinity about
four years ago. Proctor predominately looks at the cult without ruling out
other culprits in an effort to save a town that is near death.
Charles Grant has the uncanny ability to make readers doubt their
conclusions while perusing one of his brilliant novels. The titillating wonder
of not knowing whether Proctor battles the natural or supernatural world
propels Black Oak #2: The Hush Of Wings into a one sitting experience in order
to obtain some answers. This engrossing and impossible to predict novel leaves
the audience impatiently clamoring for book # 3 and searching for book #1.

Murder Can Singe Your Old Flame
Selma Eichler
Signet
$5.99, 256 pp. ISBN: 0-451-19218-4

There is a vast difference between justice and the law, a tenet that
private investigator Desiree Shapiro, if she does not already know, will have
imbedded in every cell of her brain by the time she completes her current case.
Her former lover, Bruce Simons, who she now loathes for concealing the fact
that he was engaged to some one else, asks her to help him with a homicide
charge. Bruce has been charged with killing his new wife. He has already
admitted to the police that they had ugly public fights and that he was
extremely jealous of a co-worker of his spouse. Beyond that, all the remaining
evidence points to Bruce as the culprit.
Bruce knows how capable Desiree is when it comes to sleuthing and believes
that their checkered past will not impede her from doing what she does best.
He informs Desiree that his wife, a stewardess, thought one of her peers was
smuggling drugs into this country during a flight from Nassau. Bruce feels
that person is the killer. Desiree knows that Bruce is a louse but is not a
murderer.
Murder, double dealing, and danger does not seem a likely scenario for the
female heroine to crack jokes, but in the case of Desiree Shapiro peril and
humor fit well together. This demonstrates the level of talent that Selma
Eichler has at her disposal because combining jocularity with murder is a
dangerous game. Murder Can Singe Your Old Flame is a delightful mystery,
highlighted by a star who needs to succeed to show up her former flame. The
Shapiro mysteries have a new winning entry.

The Best Defense
Sarah Gregory
Signet
$6.99, 384 pp. ISBN: 0-451-19008-4

Darla Cowen and Sharon Hays were struggling performers in New York, who
went down different paths. Darla became a famous erotic actress in Hollywood
while Sharon became a Texas defense attorney. Sharon is also the mother of a
thirteen-year-old teen she conceived outside wedlock. TV star Rob Stanley sired
the lass, whom he wants nothing to with. Rob's agent arranges for Sharon, her
daughter, and some friends to attend the grand opening of Planet Hollywood to
make up for the lateness of the child support check.
Darla attends the gala also and the two former friends meet. Darla is
escorted by her boy friend, an abusive boy toy, David, whom she plans to drop
soon. Darla returns to her hotel room to pack and quickly leaves. David is
found dead with the authorities believing that Darla killed him. She swears
that she did not do it and retains Sharon to defend her. Sharon plans to obtain
an acquittal even if it means going out and placing herself in danger as she
seeks the real culprit.
Although this novel is a serious legal procedural and an excellent work of
psychological suspense, The Best Defense is also a black comedy. People are
more interested in getting parts in movies or obtaining roles for family
members than in keepin the courtroom as a place where justice is served. These
so-called spontaneous tryouts lead to humorous moments, but Sarah Gregory never
loses sight of her story line. The ultimate strength in this book is the depth
and compexity of the prime characters. The sub-plots within the tale make for a
multi-layered plot. Ms. Gregory demonstrates that she is a superb storyteller,
who is well worth reading.

With Intent To Kill
Nancy Kopp
Signet
$6.99, 384 pp. ISBN: 0-451-19551-5

Following her divorce, Liz Stanfield decides she needs a change of scenery.
She no longer wants to live or work in Milwaukee, even though she is employed
as an attorney by the biggest law firm in Wisconsin. Liz moves to the affluent
suburb of Oakwood and becomes a Horicon County Assistant District Attorney. At
thirty-five, Liz is beginning to relish life once again.
However, her idyllic lifestyle is abruptly shattered when the police locate
the murdered corpse of four-year old Jeremy Barker. The victim died from
continual blows to his head. The shocked townsfolk want fast answers because no
one seems able to accept that a monster lives among them. Her boss Harry
Washburn assigns Liz the case. She knows that she must quickly uncover the
identity of the killer and follow that up with a prosecution that convicts the
culprit of first degree murder even if the killer is a member of one of the
most affluent families in thhe area.
With Intent To Kill is an exciting legal thriller that will bring critical
acclaim and fan praise to Nancy Kopp. The invigorating story line provides a
well written fictional account of something that could have easily been a true
crime, especially the exhilarative trial sequence. The characters are all top
rate, but remarkably
outstanding is Liz, a fantastic protagonist, who hopefully will make future
appearances. Sub-genre fans should try this novel and Ms. Kopp's previous
story, Acts & Omission because both are quite entertaining.

Full Circle
Karen Young
Mira
$5.99, 448 pp. ISBN: 1-55166-471-2

Over three decades have passed since the horrifying boat accident off of
New Orleans that led to the death of the father of Dr. Kate Madison and the
mother of Amber Castille. Neither of the surviving parents, Kate's mother
Victoria nor Amber's father Leo, have ever talked to their respective children
about the fatal event.
Now thirty-eight, Kate has become an excellent trauma specialist. However,
her world begins to crash when she starts to suffer flashbacks from that
cataclysmic day whenever she deals with a domestic violence case. Desperate for
relief from the nightmares, Kate returns to the Bayou in order to learn the
truth and find inner peace. As Kate finds love in her hometown, she also stirs
up a murderer who wants the book shut on the calamity of thirty-three years
ago.
Full Circle is a bewitching romantic intrigue that will fully exhilarate
fans of the sub-genre with its fast-paced, exciting story line and wonderful
characterizations. Kate is great as she meets head on her family's tragedy at
the same time she deals with love. Karen Young has written another bestseller
that will further increase her already sterling reputation for some of the best
suspense novels of the late nineties.

Cat In The Dark
Shirley Rousseau Murphy
HarperPrism
$22.00, 265 pp. ISBN: 0-06-105096-2

Joe Grey and Dulcie, direct descendants of ancient Celtic cats, discuss
last night's robbery that is in the newspaper. The two felines worry that a
new resident, Azrael the cat, is the evil mastermind behind some recent crimes.
Azrael, who also can talk, informs Joe and Dulcie that the break-in is
nothing. Furthermore, he states that three people will soon be murdered. The
prediction turns out to be true.
Much to the chagrin of Joe's human companion, the cats begin to
investigate. However, Dulcie has personal problems to deal with too. Her
human companion has some wanted and some unwanted company, staying with them
and the new librarian wants Dulcie barred from the facility where she obtains
much joy from reading. The cats concentrate on the killings, honing in on
Azrael's missing human friend even as they remain wary of the evil feline.
They know that they must quickly solve the case before Joe and Dulcie end up
in "holy catastrophe" (To Julie Newmar from Robin).
With her fourth "Cat" novel, Shirley Rousseau Murphy demonstrates that she
has the feline touch. Cat In The Dark briskly moves forward and the cats are
brilliantly different and nicely developed characters, who are totally unlike
their sleuthing peers. The well-written mystery will leave readers ultimately
to feel that Ms. Murphy is paying homage to her cats.

Spyder Web
Tom Grace
Warner Books
$25.00, 451 pp. ISBN: 0-446-52407-7

Nolan Kilkenny is going home to Ann Arbor after an illustrious but
dangerous career as a US Navy SEAL. An excited Nolan looks forward to
returning to school and working with his father on the Michigan Applied
Research Consortium (MARC) project that, once fully operative, will provide an
on-line research library.
However, Nolan's quiet life in academia and information technology abruptly
ends when industrial spies steal Spyder, the CIA's IT device that can
stealthily enter any network in the world. The thieves plan to test Spyder on
MARC's hardware, leaving it up to the former SEAL to try to stop the IT
pirates.
In spite of the cover, if readers are looking for Peter Parker, they are in
the wrong place. Instead, Spyder Web has a unique but exciting hero who will
remind readers of Seagal's character in the Under Siege movies. Tom Grace
shows much talent in his debut story. However, he bogs down his tale by
gracing it with way too many players and an overwhelming use of IT vernacular
without further explanations for readers who are computilITeracy like this
reviewer. On the opposite end of the spectrum, IT gurus will love the
non-interruption. This novel is a promising start to a new IT thriller writer,
who has a fine career ahead of him.

Thief Of Hearts
Katherine Stone
Warner Books
$23.00, 392 pp. ISBN: 0-446-52181-7

Fraternal twins Patrick and Jesse are as different as night and day. His
wealthy family reaalizes that the dark sibling Jesse is not fitting into their
social class. His parents doted on the golden brother Patrick. When someone
accuses Jesse of a heinous crime, his parents supported his incarceration.
Only Patrick, loyal to his brother, had doubts, but the duo fails to
communicate, which leads to a separation.
Nearing forty, Patrick is well renowned as a trauma and heart surgeon, but
his luck has run out as he is diagnosed with aplastic anemia. He desperately
needs a bone marrow transplant by a person who is a close match. The ideal
donor is Jesse, but Patrick refuses to ask. Dr. Caitlin Taylor, a close
friend, is the only person who knows that Patrick has a twin. She decides to
find him. When she does, he is nothing as she expected as he is dark and sexy.
Jesse agrees to help Patrick even as he realizes that there is a deep
attraction between him and the beautiful doctor. Together they embark on a
journey of healing guided by love.
Katherine Stone's storytelling abilities keep growing stronger with each
new book she writes. The complexity of her tales is well known, especially the
use of secondary players and subplots moving Thief Of Hearts to its exciting
conclusion. Ms. Stone demonstrates her ability to make a character seem so
real in settings that a book by this author is a very pleasurable reading.

Diplomacy Of Wolves
Holly Lisle
Warner Books
$12.99, 332 pp. ISBN: 0-446-67395-1

On the planet Matrin, four centuries of bitter fighting between the houses
of Dokteerak and Galweigh appear to be finally over with the pending wedding of
an individual from each side. While attending the nuptials, Kait Galweigh
overhears a treacherous plan that will eradicate her family. In spite of her
efforts to save her kin, the plan works, leaving the Galweigh's decimated.
Kait manages to escape.
Heeding a voice telepathically talking inside her head, Kait travels to a
remote area of the planet, seeking the mystical Mirror of Souls, which has
awakened after a millennium. On her trek, Kait is followed by an unknown
enemy, who plan to add her death to their body count. As Kait struggles to
survive, she learns that she has the shape-shifting ability of the detested and
feared werewolf. With the help of one of her kind, Kait battles for her life
as the beginning of a war of magic threatens to destroy her home planet.
Diplomacy Of Wolves is a great opening gamut to Holly Lisle's "Secret
texts" trilogy. The story line brilliantly mixes politics, betrayal, and magic
into a coherent, fun to read speculative fiction novel. Matrin feels like a
real planet and the magical aspects come across as if they are a form of
physics. However, what makes Ms. Lisle's novel appear to be the tale that
takes her to the top of the genre (if justice prevails) is Kait, an enchanting,
complex, and genuine person, who will steal the souls of readers.

Fear
Irini Spanidou
Knopf
$21.00, 182 pp. ISBN: 0-394-58055-9

By 1959, thirteen-year old Anna Karystinou has learned that emotions,
including FEAR, are worthless. For years she has accompanied her parents
across their homeland of Greece due to the constant reassignments of her
military father. Anna has no permanent friends. Her parents are cold and aloof
as her father wants to make a "man" out of her. This leaves the teenager with
no love and a vast void where her emotions should have developed.
However, humans cannot remain emotionally bankrupt as some feelings will
enter the void. In the case of Anna, she loathes her unfeeling father and
quickly realizes that those who profess to mentor her are actually her enemies.
She turns to a serial killer, who is terrorizing their current hometown, for
some deep emotinal warmth, even if her feelings are grounded in fear.
Talk about teen angst. Irini Spanidou provides an insightful look at a
troubled teen, learning to contend with difficulties in order to survive. The
fast-paced story line moves to an adrenaline rush of a climax without
destroying the in-depth character study. Like her previous work, God's Snake,
Ms. Spanidou provides readers with a passionate look at the past decade in
Greece.

Let Noth-Ing You Dis-May
Mark O'donnell
Knopf
$22.00, 193 pp. ISBN: 0-375-40103-2

Christmas is less than a week away, but for Tad Leary there is little to
celebrate. He has just lost his job as the storyteller at a Manhattan
elementary school. He is about to be tossed out of the apartment he is
subletting. His thesis on folklore is past due and going nowhere. Worse yet,
even though he is over thirty, all his friend, family, and associates treat him
as if he is a child due to his short frame and boyish appearance.
In spite of his trouble's Tad has vowed to make this Christmas different.
He plans to make the rounds by going to the seven parties he has been to
attend. He hopes to land a job and a room for his marathon efforts and enjoy
the season.
Let Noth-Ing You Dis-May is a wonderfully wacky seasonal tale that will
bring joy to anyone who reads the novel. Tad is a great character, struggling
with his recent set-backs, his sexual preference, and his treatment by one and
all. Mark O'Donnell is a gifted humorist, who brings the likes of Thurber into
the late nineties as Tad is the urban, poor man's Walter Mitty (without the
dreams of grandeur). Like his previous novel, Getting Over Homer, Mr.
O'Donnell gifts his audience with a non-stop jocular story that demonstrates
even when it is too dark for Green Lantern's ring, there remains the light of
comedy to pull one through the night.

The Last King Of Scotland
Giles Foden
Knopf
$25.00, 335 pp. ISBN: 0-375-48368-4

Deciding it is time to cut the parental cord, Scotsman Nicholas Garrigan,
who recently became a doctor, accepts an assignment in Uganda. After arriving
in Kampala, Nicholas learns that his assignment is at a hospital in a remote
area of the jungle. On his way there, he stops to help Idi Amin, who hurt his
ankle while driving a car.
A few months later, the idealistic Nicholas becomes Amin's personal
physician as the dictator is going through a Scottish stage. Nicholas is
charmed by the wit of Amin and enjoys being part of the inner sanctum even as
his countrymen plead with him to help them with Amin. As the Scotsman realizes
the impact of the horrendous actions of the dictator that he invariable
condoned with his inertia, Amin is toppled. Nicholas flees back to England
where he is considered a traitor to his people, profession, and the human race.
From the perspective of Amin's personal physician, The Last King Of
Scotland shows incredible insight into one of the most vicious regimes of the
twentieth century. Nicholas is a Faustian type character whose ideals fall to
the charismatic, energetic, and clever Amin. The novel would be great just
based on how well the story line brings Africa to life. However, what turns
Giles Foden's novel into a masterpiece is his brilliant capturing of the
complete character of Amin as being more than just the killing monster everyone
knows him to be. This fascinating yet tragic book is on this reviewer's top ten
novels of the year.

The Son Of John Devlin
Charles Kenney
Ballantine Books
$22.95, 320 pp. ISBN: 345-43294-0

Over two decades have passed since the John Devlin scandal rocked the
Boston police department. John killed himself rather than face the shame of a
trial. John's son Jack never recovered from the dishonor to the family name.
Jack gave up law school to become a cop and regain what his father apparently
threw away.
Jack is working on an investigation that brings him into the orbit of US
Assistant Attorney Emily Lawrence's inquiries into a drug deal. Jack uncovers
a letter written by his father just before his death. The note stirs Jack's
wrath, making him obsessed with the need to learn what really happened to his
sire while enacting his own personal code of vengeance.
The Son Of John Devlin is more than a brilliant police procedural, which it
happens to be. A son's love for a disgraced father drives the novel's story
line in such a way that fans of the sub-genre will beg for more works from
awesome Charles Kenney. The plot is fantastic, raising the bar for police
procedurals to an uncanny level. However, it is the characters that set this
story apart from the norm and make for a fine reading regardless of genre
attachment.

Dark Justice
William Bernhardt
Ballantine Books
$22.50, 400 pp. ISBN: 345-40738-5

Tulsa trial lawyer, Ben Kincaid, is tired and in need of a vacation after a
series of tough courtroom battles. He decides to rest in Magic Valley while
doing a book signing of his first novel. Though no one shows up for the
signing, Ben begins to relax. That state changes and all hell breaks loose when
a lumberjack is murdered.
The accused, George Zakin, pleads with Ben to defend him. Six years ago,
Ben got George acquitted from a charge of homicide and expects the much wiser
attorney to repeat the outcome. Ben begins to inquire into other possible
suspects, including Bigfoot. The prosecutor is the merciless but sexy Granny
Adams, who always obtains a conviction. As Ben digs deeper into the
investigation, he finds himself in danger from both the tree-huggers and the
tree-cutters.
Dark Justice, the ninth Ben Kincaid legal thriller, is an exciting tale
that provides insight into the protagonist's past as well as placing him in a
new venue. The story line is filled with action though the courtroom antics
seem ordinary for a Kincaid novel. The complex logging environmental issue of
the Pacific Northwest disappointingly retrogrades into a violent thriller
without much insight into the controversy. Still, William Bernhardt
demonstrates his immense talent by keeping the story line filled with non-stop
action that will please fans of Kincaid.

Dying To Get Even
Judy Fitzwater
Fawcett
$5.99, 240 pp. ISBN: 0-449-00386-8

Macon Mystery writer Jennifer Marsh desperately wants to be published,
which is why she enjoys investigating homicides that seem open and shut. Her
latest real life sleuthing involves her good friend, elderly Emmie Walker,
former spouse of Edgar, the owner of the Down Home Grill restaurant chain.
When she arrives at Emma's Atlanta home, Jen notices two bodies floating in
the swimming pool. Edgar lies dead while Emmie is unconscious, holding a
bloodied knife. Forensics proves that the knife is the murder weapon used to
kill the man. The Office of the Fulton County District Attorney believes that
Emmie murdered her former husband. Jen disagrees and begins to do some
sleuthing with the help of her boy friend and her critique group.
Judy Fitzwater has written another fresh and humorous who-done-it, starring
an amateur sleuth that is the epitome of the insecure aspiring mystery writer.
The secondary characters are candid and in your face, adding color and red
herrings to a strong story line. Dying To Get Even is the second novel in what
appears to be the beginning stages of a long running series.

A Cat Of One's Own
Lydia Adamson
Dutton
$19.95, 192 pp. ISBN: 0-525-94428-1

Many years have passed since cat sitter cum actress Alice Nestleton has
seen or heard from Amanda. However, out of the blue, Amanda calls, pleading
with Alice to help her. The curious Alice visits her former acquaintance, who
informs her that she wants to honor her late husband's wishes and adopt a cat
as a companion to their dog Good Girl. She has turned to the cat woman, who her
takes the woman to an animal shelter. Amanda adopts Jake, an unusual looking
harlequin cat.
A few days later, Jake is gone. A caller demands $15,000 if Amanda wants
to see the feline again. The wealthy widow goes to prearranged meeting place.
Jake is rescued, but Amanda is subsequently killed. Alice, who was following
at a discreet distance, becomes a suspect. Even if she was not, Alice would
still investigate the strange crime to satisfy her cuiosity.
Reading a Lydia Adamson cat mystery is like eating potato chips. You
cannot stop. The lighthearted novels are addicting, and they are just plain
fun. A Cat Of One's Own provides further insight into the protagonist's
feelings, especially about her significant other and her stalled professional
career. Once an individual tries an Alice Nettleton mystery, they too will be
big fans.

The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian
Lawrence Block
Dutton
$23.95, 234 pp. ISBN: 0-525-94382-X

Antiquarian book dealer Berni Rhodenbarr feels pretty good about his
current job, appraising New York millionaire Gordon Onderdon's personal
collection. While checking the library, Bernie, being a thief, cannot help
casing the rest of the house in case he decides to abscond with something.
Bernie's close friend Carolyn Kaiser informs Bernie that someone has
abducted her cat. For ransom, they want the Piet Mondrian painting hanging in
a museum where it is virtually impossible to steal anything. Bernie, knowing
that Gordon has a fake on his wall, returns to the wealthy man's home to steal
the painting. Instead, he finds a corpse and no painting. Of course, the
police turn to Bernie as the prime suspect. Now he has to rescue the feline
and prove his own innocence.
This is a reprint of a classy Bernie Rhodenbarr novel, which may be the
best of this highly regarded series. Bernie and friends remain interesting and
fun, while New York City comes to life in a way rarely seen in a novel. The
crisp story line keeps reader attention throughout the book. Bottom line is
the entire eight-novel collection is worth reading because no one does
Manhattan any better than Lawrence Block does with these incredible tales.

Harriet Klausner
Reviewer

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