Klausner's Bookshelf 1

[MWBOOKREVW]

KLAUSNER'S BOOKSHELF 1

Applaud The Hollow Ghost
David J. Walker
St. Martin's Press
$22.95 ISBN: 0-312-18041-1

In the Chicago area, Lambert Fleming is arrested for allegedly molesting a
little girl. Private Investigator Mal Foley remembers Lambert as the classmate
who was thoroughly humiliated by his so-called friends, including Mal. Feeling
guilty over that two decade old incident, Mal decides to prove Lambert is
innocent.
Mal figures this will be a simple investigation that should not take up
much of his time. Instead, to his shock, Mal finds the case to be extremely
difficult and even somewhat dangerous as the alleged victim turns out to be
related to extremely powerful mob families. Even when the girl's father tries
to abort Mal's investigation, he continues to investigate what really happened
to the little girl.
In his third appearance, hard boiled Mal Foley continues to be a very
interesting sleuth whose acerbic and witty tongue constantly gets him in
trouble. The Chicago area also comes to life (albeit through Mal's myopic
eyes). This, in turn, leaves readers believing they are visiting the Windy
City. Though the story line of Applaud The Hollow Ghost includes some
stretches, the novel remains a very entertaining mystery.

The Star Of India
Carole Bugge
St. Martin's Press
$21.95 197 pp. ISBN: 0-312-18034-9

Three and a half years have passed since Sherlock Holmes has had his final
confrontation with Professor Moriarty at Reichenbach Falls. Now after
recovering overseas from battle fatigue, Holmes has finally returned to his
beloved English soil.
However, Holmes does not find time to enjoy his return. Instead of enjoying
a concert he is attending, Holmes begins the odyssey of what might prove to be
his most dangerous case ever. Soon, Mrs. Hudson's life is threatened and
Holmes begins to receive cryptic messages that make the great detective
logically conclude that his archenemy also survived their final confrontation.
With the help of Watson, Holmes once again must match wits with Moriarty. This
time the stake is more than just his life; the British crown is on the line.
The Star Of India is a well written revival of Sherlock Holmes. In this
novel, all of the usual support cast (Watson, Hudson, Baker Street Irregulars,
Moriarty, etc.) are prominent players. The story line moves forward and there
are plenty of references to demonstrate that the "game is afoot". Readers who
love anything Sherlockian will enjoy Carol Bugge's rendition of the great
sleuth. For the rest of us, the master still lives.

Tell Me Lies
Jennifer Cruise
St. Martin's Press
$24.95, 336 pp. ISBN: 0-312-17940-5

C. J. Sturges has loved Maddie all his life, but when she dumps him
following a one night stand to return to her fiancee, the Frog Point bad boy
leaves town to become a successful big city accountant. Two decades later, he
returns with a mission: to discover if Maddie's spouse Brent is embezzling
money from his own company. When he sees Maddie, hurting and fragile, C. J.
realizes that he still loves her. Maddie tells him that Brent has been
cheating on her again. The comfort he offers her turns into a passionate love
making session, but this time C. J. refuses to leave.
Maddie is frightened as she worries what the townsfolk and her daughter
Emily will say when she files for divorce. Still, she is relieved that the
obstinate CJ will not let her go this time around. However, Brent's cheating
and her own adultery are the least of Maddie's problems. She soon learns more
about her spouse, her family, and her best friend than anyone should have to
cope with in a lifetime, let alone a few days. As her world spins out of
control, Maddie even begins to doubt CJ, thinking he too is just another liar.
Although this is Jennifer Cruise's first mainstream fiction, the novel has
all of the warmth and charm readers have come to expect from this category
romance writer extradinaire. The story line focuses on several serious topics
such as adultery and murder, but the talented Ms. Cruise magically brings a
smile and a laugh or two to the reader. Tell Me Lies is grand reading written
by an author whose star is just beginning to shine all over the literary sky.
It will prove impossible to wait for her next book to be released.

The Moor
Laurie R. King
St. Martin's Press
$23.95, 304 pp. ISBN: 0-312-6934-5

It has been almost two decades since Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick, Dr,
Watson, solved the Hound Of The Baskervilles case. However, fresh large
footprints of a dog lies next to a corpse on the same moor. The Reverend
Baring-Gould asks his old pal Holmes to investigate. This time Sherlock is
accompanied by his spouse, Mary Russell.
When the two sleuths arrive, their host, Reverend Baring-Gould asks them to
also look into the sightings of a ghostly carriage being pulled by headless
horses and accompanied by a large canine. Sherlock and Mary begin their
methodical search for a killer and a mundane explanation for a ghost or two.
Tampering with a noted classic like The Hound Of The Baskervilles is a
dangerous way to earn a living as a novelist. Most writers would end up being
arrested by Scotland Yard for desecrating a masterpiece. However, in the hands
of the brilliant Laurie R. King, fans of Holmes are treated to a nostalgic yet
stand alone classy tale. The story line is crisp and very modern, the
atmosphere is suitably dreary, and the two detectives make a charming couple.
It is elementary that the fourth novel in the Russell series, like the previous
books, is simply quite good.

Reckless Homicide
Ira Genberg
St. Marten's Press
$23.95, 304 pp. ISBN: 0-312-17974-X

Pilot Charlie Ashmore is in deep trouble when he fails a drug test that
will ground him. He turns to his brother, Michael, an attorney for the airline
company, for help. Michael hides the positive test results so that Charlie can
continue to fly. Two months later, a plane piloted by Charlie crashes, killing
100 people. Pilot error is considered the cause because Charlie's corpse is
filled with barbiturates.
Michael's cover-up of his sibling's addiction and test results soon
surfaces. His company uses Michael as a scapegoat to avoid a class action suit
from the victim's families. Michael is now on trial for reckless homicide. He
knows that he must depend on himself and his lover if he is to prove that his
brother would never endanger the lives of the passengers and his fellow
workers. His enemies, ranging from the powerful airline industry to an
ambitious DA will do everything to insure Michael is left holding the bag.
Reckless Homicide is a well written debut novel that, sadly, ends in a
crash landing. The story line is quite good, especially the sibling interplay
and the trial sequence, and Michael is a wonderful lead protagonist. However,
the anticlimactic ending takes away from one of the better conspiracy tales
written in quite a few months.

The Confidential Casebook Of Sherlock Holmes
Marvin Kaye, editor
St. Martin's Press
$23.95, 356 pp. ISBN: 0-312-18071-3

This Sherlock Holmes short story collection consists of fourteen tales
written by different authors. Every story is well written and brings out
Holmes personality as if Doyle wrote the book. The usual players, such as
Watson, are in attendance. However, the most intriguing notion about this
anthology is Holmes' brilliantly described relationships with noted figures of
the late nineteenth century such as Ida Tarbell, Arthur Conan Doyle (don't get
schizoid), James McNeil Whistler, and P. G. Wodehouse, etc.
Though this has been done numerous times before, the technique remaisn fresh
in the hands of the assorted authors. This is an anthology that does justice
to the master, making it worth reading by all detective fans.

Digital Fortress
Dan Brown
St. Martin's Press
$24.95, 372 pp. ISBN: 0-312-18087-X

Ensei Tankado is so concerned with the way his employer, the National
Security Agency, uses their super computer, TRNSLR which intercepts e-mail
between know terrorists. It is not that function that bothers Ensei, it is the
NSA using TRNSLR to spy on innocent American citizens. He plants a program,
Digital Fortress, to force the NSA tlo go public with TRNSLR or he will sell
his program to the highest bidder. Before Ensei can complete his plans, he is
dead.
NSA assigns mathematician Susan Fletcher to break the code. Unlike Ensei,
Susan believes that NSA is doing the right thing for America. She is quickly
shocked to learn that NSA is being blackmailed by a dead man, whose program
seems to be unbreakable. As she races against time, Susan finds her so called
allies might be her enemies and her life appears to be on the line as well.
Digitial Fortress is the best and most realistic techno-thriller to
reach the market in years. Dan Brown's ability to paint in living color the
gray area between personal freedom vs. national security as they meet in
cypberspace is awesome. The story line is so good, readers will feel a
chilling thrill a minute as the book makes one think who is truly the terrorist
and who is actually freedom's guardian? As Susan learns the hard way, it
depends on one's perspective at the moment.

Oops!
John Lutz
St. Martin's Press
$22.95, 278 pp. ISBN: 0-312-18152-3

Loren Almer hires Lacy Tumulty to investigate the supposedly "accidental"
death of his teenage daughter, who apparently tripped while going down a flight
of stairs. Lacy has asked fellow St. Louis private investigator Nudger, a man
she wants to make love with all night long, to assist on the case. Nudger
thinks Loren and Lacy are crazy to feel foul play led to the death of Betty
Almer. However, he reluctantly agrees to help Lacy on her case.
Nudger quickly changes his mind when Loren dies in a supposedly
"accidental" house fire, Lacy is brutally beaten and crippled, and other
individuals close to Betty begin to accidentally die. He realizes that he must
uncover the identity of the culprit before he becomes the next target.
In his tenth outing, Nudger remains an interesting private sleuth though
readers will wonder if he has stock in the pharmaceutical companies that make
acid relievers. The support cast, especially the 110 pound dripping wet Lacy,
who dares to go where no one would venture, is totally endearing. The story
line starts fast, but Oops! loses its oomph! before its over. John Lutz fans
will enjoy this entry because it has all the Nudgering trademarks: donuts,
antacid, plenty of action, and little ambition. However, most mystery fans who
want to a more pleasant taste of Nudger would be better suited with one of the
earlier tales such as Diamond Eyes And Dancer's Debt.

See No Evil
Eleanor Taylor Bland
St. Martin's Press
$22.95, 274 pp. ISBN: 0-312-1910-8

On the Illinois side of Lake Michigan, the murdered body of Ladiya Norris
is found. Assigned to investigate the former drug user's death is Marti
MacAlister and Vik Jessenovik. As the two cops make inquiries, they focus on
the deceased's abusive lover, who swears that he is innocent. However, the
case is not progressing well for the two officers as leads seem to fail to pan
out.
Marti also has problems at home. She shares a house with another divorcee
and their teenage children. Teenagers being what they are, Marti is concerned
with their behavior, especially since her adult roommate is ignoring her child
for her lover. However, unbeknownst to Marti is that her domestic problem is a
lot more dangerous than simple teenage angst. A stalker has easy access to her
home and is planning to kill Marti and her family when the time is right.
Eleanor Taylor Bland does not live up to her name as her sixth
MacAlister mystery, See No Evil, is far from being bland. The story line is
jammed with realistic suspense that slowly boils over until the reader feels
burned. Marti is a great character and the support cast help keep the story
moving forward. The various sub-plots add to the excitement and brilliantly
tie together in an exhilarating climax. Because of the insight into the
characters (both recurring and new), this entire series continues to provide
some of the best who-done-it novels available today.

Quaker Indictment
Irene Allen
St. Martin's Press
$21.95, 241 pp. ISBN: 0-312-16970-1

Though over four decades have passed since they both attended college,
Massachusetts Quaker Elizabeth Elliot visits her old roommate, Rebecca Nichols
in Seattle. Though both ladies are in their sixties, Rebecca is trying to
prove that contaminants leaked form the Hanford Plutonium Plant into the
nearby soil and water has subsequently led to the cancerous deaths of her
parents and sister. However, instead of proving her theory, Rebecca ends up
murdered.
Initially, the arthritic Elizabeth tries to locate her missing friend.
However, once she learns that Rebecca is dead, Elizabeth, with the help of
Rebecca's friend, Dr. Meghan Zillann, begins to investigate the murder of their
mutual acquaintance. They both believe that the plutonium plant security force
killed Rebecca and plan to prove it. When Meghan's home suspiciously burns to
the ground, both women know that their enemy means business and their lives may
be next.
The fourth entry in the "Quaker" mysteries is an interesting story that
confronts individual and national ethics and accountability. Elizabeth remains
a wonderful character, who may be naive about the modern world, but is not
afraid to battle its evils. The support cast moves the plot forward. At times
the story line bogs down in tirades against big brother. However, if readers
can especially escape the opening act, this is a fast-paced, action-packed
who-done-it that will please fans of the series and the amateur sleuth
sub-genre.

Untimely Death
Fred Yager and Jan Yager
Hannacroix Creek Books
$24.95, 308 pp. ISBN: 1-889262-01-3

Professor Kimberly Stone is stunned when she finds her best friend and peer,
Joan Walsh, murdered with a fake flower inserted in her ear. Joan, who was
pregnant, was a practitioner of rough sex that may have led to her death. Soon
a second professor is also killed.
Kimberly, a professor of criminology, decides to investigate who is behind
the murders. Manhattan homicide detective Alan Blake is the police officer
heading up the official inquiry into the murders. He tries to persuade
Kimberly to stay out of looking for the killer. When he fails to persuade her
to back off, Alan realizes that he will do anything, including risking his own
life, to keep the woman he adores safe from harm.
Untimely Death is a riveting thriller that takes the reader on a tour of
Manhattan's underground where anything goes. The lead characters are an
interesting couple, but cannot compete with the City for star billing. Though,
the novel is immersed with too many sub-plots, the prime story line is quite
good and exciting. Untimely Death demonstrates that the Yager team has plenty
of talent that should excite readers.

Head Case
Jay Bonansinga
Simon & Schuster
$23.00, 304 pp. ISBN: 0-684-82514-7

After suffering a severe head trauma, a John Doe awakens at Reinhardt
Rehabilitation Center in Joliet, Illinois. Its very apparent that John is
suffering from amnesia. Soon John Doe becomes a national media celebrity.
This leads to John receiving a visit from his alleged brother Robert, who tells
him he is John McNalley. However, Robert is actually a cop who threatens to
kill John, but the amnesiac manages to escape.
Soon, the cops and a serial killer artifact collector want to capture John
and neither care whether he is breathing when they do. Desperate, John turns
to private investigator Jessie Bales for help in uncovering John's true
identity. However, the trail leads to a series of mutilated photos of women, a
maniac's diary, and a slew of corpses. Jessie, who is falling in love with
John, wonders if he is actually a serial killer.
At first glance, Head Case seems like a standard psychological thriller
with all the right buttons being pushed. However, in the talented hands of Jay
Bonansinga, the book turns into a taut chiller. The story line, built around
John's troubles (both mentally and life threatening), is action-packed and
extremely exciting. Fans of the sub-genre will want Jessie and John to star in
future novels.

The Upstart
Catherine Cookson
Simon & Schuster
$TBA 350 pp. ISBN 0-684-84315-3

In 1898 England, wealthy shoe merchant Samuel Fairbrother decides to move
his wife and eight children out of their working middle class environment into
a home once owned by a penniless aristocrat. Samuel wants his family to hobnob
with the gentry, though his household is very contented where they are. In
spite all of his money, the local gentry refuses to accept him as their equal.
Samuel still feels that his money, the home and his butler, Roger Maitland will
eventually provide the necessary bridge to his goal. However, his upscale
lifestyle begins to fall apart when his wife announces that she no longer loves
him because he loves only money.
Nine years later, the world is about to collapse around the Fairbrother
family. The oldest son, Howard has become a lying cheat, who tries to get
money from anyone he can in any manner he must. Alice, the oldest daughter is
falling in love with Roger, an unacceptable situation to Samuel. Because he has
failed to love his family, Samuel may end up with no one who cares for him.
Readers will enjoy the latest family drama from the great Catherine Cookson.
The story line about the hypocrisy of the British class system is well written
and made interesting by the various characters. With The Upstart, the author
has cooked up a classy Victorian relationship novel that will be devoured by
Ms. Cookson's myriad of fans and by readers of historical fiction.

What A Woman Gotta Do
Evelyn Coleman
Simon & Schuster
$23.00, 320 pp. ISBN: 0-684-83175-9

Orphaned as an infant and subsequently shuttled form one foster home to
another taught Patricia Conley to be wary of people. For thirty-one years,
Patricia remained aloof from men until Kenneth Towson bursts into her life.
Patricia grabs at the chance of happiness he offers her. She agrees to marry
him even though she knows he has many secrets that he has kept form her. She is
unaware that most of them are international in scope to include covert
operations.
Patricia is stood up at the alter. Soon, she obtains a priceless diamond
that everyone seems to want. These two events make her realize the magnitude
of trouble she might be facing. Unable to distinguish friend from foe or
whether Kenneth even still lives, she begins an investigation that will lead to
her spiritual rebirth. Her epiphany allows her to confront the dark forces
that try to overwhelm her.
Evelyn Coleman has captured the essence of a black woman's soul with her
first adult novel, What's A Woman Gotta Do. Using street vernacular, Ms.
Coleman provides her reader with the inner thought processes of black female
Americans living in Atlanta. The story line is fast-paced and action packed,
and Patricia is one hell of a lead protagonist. However, what makes this novel
a refreshing experience is the African-American essence that is well written
and will turn Ms. Coleman into an award winning author.

Deadlock
Malcolm MacPherson
Simon & Schuster
$23.00, 334 pp. ISBN: 0-684-83157-0

In San Francisco, Chinese immigrant Feng Shao-Li, who virtually does not
speak any English is accused of murdering Holly Hawkes, the granddaughter of
Senator Stanton Hawkes. The presiding judge, Daniel Barr, figures that the
indicted woman has little chance of an acquittal, especially since the
deceased's family has been pushing for an immediate conviction.
However, the trial takes a bizarre twist when Judge Barr receives an
anonymous note that claims the real killer sits in the jury box. The police,
interested in a fast conviction, think the note is a fake. Barr is not so
quick to write off the note. He obtains the help of an old friend and begins
to personally investigate the murder of Holly even though there are powerful
elements who will commit murder to keep the truth from ever coming out.
Deadlock will please fans who like the emphasis on legal in their legal
thrillers. Judge Barr is an interesting individual, but this reviewer cannot
see him do what he did (unless he is related to Commissioner Macmillan) without
calling for a mistrial. Despite the demonstration of some incredible writing
talent on the part of Malcolm C. MacPherson, the book expects the audience to
make quantum leaps of faith that will instead turn off most readers that are
not rabid fans of the legal procedural.

Bitter Harvest
Ann Rule
Simon & Schuster
$23.00, 351 pp. ISBN: 0-684-81047

For almost two decades, Dr. Debora Green and Dr. Michael Farrar seem to live
in happy matrimony together. They owned a Prairie Village, Kansas mansion, had
thriving practices, and raised three children. However, Michael is beginning
to grow weary of his spouse's dark moods and angry temper fits. After a trip
together to Peru, Michael begins an affair with the wife of a fellow doctor.
Debora soon learns that her husband was seeing someone else.
Michael soon suffers from debilitating stomach pains that hospitalizes him.
He finds Debora possesses several packets of a poison. Michael has had enough
with his wife's vituperous and dangerous behavior. He leaves her, planning a
divorce. However, a deliberately set fire breaks out in the family home,
leaving two children dead and plenty of guessing as to why a "scorned" woman
would seek revenge by becoming a fatal arsonist and killing ones own children.
What makes Bitter Harvest a mind boggling tale is that it is a true story.
Ann Rule follows the genre rules (no pun intended) by describing the crime,
followed by an isight into the lives of all the main characters. Fans of Ms.
Rule and true Crime will be enthralled by this portrait of a family's
disintegration at the hands of a madwoman.

Celebrity Trouble
David Champion
Allen A. Knoll, Publisher
$20.00, 215 pp. ISBN: 1-888310-97-9

In California, singing superstar Steven Shag is accused of molesting a child
at his Magicland estate. Swearing he is innocent, Steven hires lawyer Bomber
Hanson to represent him against the charges.
Bomber's son Tod begins to investigate the charges against their client.
However, instead of proving the innocence of Steven, Tod find other witnesses,
who claim that they are also victims of the singer and are thinking of going
public. As the circumstantial evidence mounts against Steven, he insists that
he has never hurt a child; he is only a "child amuser". It will take all of
Bomber's courtroom magic to get Steven free from the charges.
Though the story line is obviously stolen from the troubles of Michael
Jackson, Celebrity Trouble remains an interesting novel because of the antics
of Bomber (in the courtroom) and Tod (in the field). Though the novel is not
quite as good as Bomber's previous two cases (The Mountain Massacres and Nobody
Roots For Goliath), David Champion still manages to scribe an intriguing book.

A Year And A Day
Virginia Henley
Delacorte
$19.95, 530 pp. ISBN: 0385318170

During the reign of Edward I, rebellion is a normal way of life, but some
nobles like Lynx de Warenne remain loyal to English crown. Lynx is like most of
his peers, living for the next battle. However, he knows that he must produce
an heir, but believes that he is incapable of siring a child.
Following royal orders, Lynx secures Scotland's Dumfries Castle. The
castellan, Jack Leslie, learning of Lynx's fears, proposes that the new lord of
the castle handfast with his youngest daughter Jane. Lynx agrees to the
arrangement that makes any child born during the year and a day of the handfast
legitimate. If by some chance, the chit gets pregnant, Lynx plans to marry her
anyway to make it legal under British law. True to her Celtic beliefs, Jane
wants nothing to do with the Norman warrior. However, she reluctantly accepts
for the sake of her family. The newlyweds engage in a battle of wills as the
Scottish lass leads her English Lord on a merry chase, determined to make him
earn her love.
Any fan of historical romance will want to read the best book ever written
by one of the great writers of historical erotic romances, the incredible
Virginia Henley. Similar to "Braveheart" (but less winded), the story
brilliantly mixes erotic sex and history in a manner that will please the
audience, most of whom will read the book twice in one sitting.

A Rain Of Death
John Loque
Dell Books
$5.99, 320 pp. ISBN: 0-440-22397-0

John Morris, the 1974 Associated Press sports reporter, is on the way to
the Bing Crosby Pr-Am tournament accompanied by his long term companion Julia
Sullivan. Both look forward to the event and a chance to renew old
friendships. The Crosby is an invitational only tournament, consisting of the
crooner, his friends, pro golfers, and Hollywood celebrities. It is also a
time when old resentments rise to the surface, manifesting in fisticuffs
between two senior citizens.
Morris breaks up the combatants before anyone is hurt, but moments later
one of the fighters begins to foam at the mouth and ultimately dies. While
trying to revive the man, Morris smells almonds on his breath, leading him to
suspect cyanide poisoning. The subsequent autopsy confirms Morris' suspicions.
Morris and Julia decide to help their good friend, the local sheriff, on his
investigation. When the second combatant turns up dead, a victim of cyanide
poisoning also, the sleuths realize a killer is on the rampage and needs to be
stopped.
Fans of golf, historiography, and amateur sleuths will want to follow the
latest escapades of Morris and Sullivan. Though 25 years have passed since the
events described in A Rain Of Death took place, readers will be shocked at how
much the world has changed. Through his two protagonists, John Loque has
captured the essence of the early seventies. The story line and the two likable
lead characters make this novel enjoyable for non-golf buffs, but it is the fan
of the hole in one who will devour this birdie.

Malice In The Highlands
Graham Thomas
Ivy Books
$5.99, 220 pp. ISBN: 0-8041-1657-1

New Scotland Yard Chief Inspector Erskine Powell spends more time covering
his superiors' butts than solving crimes. Every year he goes on a Highland
vacation where he engages in a friendly fishing competition with the local
constable, Chief inspector Alex Barret. This year Pinky Warburton join the law
enforcement duo on their fishing expedition.
On the first day of Erskine's vacation, the body of the new owner of Castle
Glyn is found in the river. It appears at first that the victim's death was
accidental, but the subsequent autopsy reveals a murder has been committed.
The deceased was an internationally renowned Canadian with numerous enemies.
When Pinky almost becomes the next victim, Erskine has a personal stake in
uncovering the identity of the killer.
Malice In The Highlands, the first episode in what appears to be an ongoing
series, stimulates the reader's cranial electrodes with its seemingly
unsolvable puzzle. Talented Graham Thomas brings the Scottish Highlands to
colorful life and has created an endearing hero. Readers will definitely want
to read more stories starring this special, one of a kind sleuth. Fans of the
British police procedural will enjoy this 1990's Hercule Poirot.

Harriet Klausner
Reviewer

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