July 2017 Review Issue
The
Ancient Egyptian Culture Revealed, 2nd ed.
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
http://www.egypt-tehuti.org/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
This revised edition of a 2007 title expands and adds more information to the previous text, including photos and appendixes to round out and compliment its focus on the ancient peoples of Egypt and their culture, making for an important replacement volume for any collection that has consulted its predecessor over the years.
History is recorded by the winners of conflicts - and Egyptian history is no exception to this rule. Unfortunately, most Egyptian history surveys come from a decidedly Judeo-Christian perspective which incorporates prejudice and presumptions into its research. Biblical accounts from Hebrew texts serve as a shaky foundation to begin from, and myths start there as academic scholars ply their studies with approaches that refute basic Egyptian belief systems.
In The Ancient Egyptian Culture Revealed, Moustafa Gadalla brings the respect and acknowledgement process back into ancient Egyptian facts - something surprisingly lacking in academic research circles devoted to the subject - and reviews various introductory subjects to provide all levels of reader, from novices to quasi-experts, with a foundation from which to begin pursuing a real understanding of the ancient Egyptians and their society.
This introduction begins with a geographic examination of the land and features of the area and how the choices of the early Egyptians in building around the Nile River dictated their structures and the nature of their organization.
Some of the notes that are peppered almost casually throughout lend thought-provoking insights as almost an aside to the discussion, so readers need to move slowly and thoughtfully to capture the impact of statements such as this, which pinpoint common assumptions: "It should be noted that many pharaohs have inscribed their names on buildings that they never built. Therefore, just because Seti I inscribed his name on some parts of the Oseirion building, it does not make him the builder of the Oseirion."
One doesn't expect elevation, silt, and other geographic features to be important information in a study of Egyptian culture; but geographic placement and challenges are an intrinsic part of how a culture organizes and builds, and by probing the foundations of these choices, The Ancient Egyptian Culture Revealed creates a firm foundation of understanding which moves deftly into chapters which clearly identify common fallacies in Egyptology and then corrects these errors: "Because of the passive nature of the Baladi Egyptians, many people invented “theories” about the “identity” of the Egyptians that have absolutely no scientific and/or historical basis whatsoever. The premise of their baseless assertions is by division and racial identification of the people of Egypt, based on their assumed religions."
Every chapter takes a popular, long-held fallacy and holds it up to the light, revealing cracks in underlying premises and correcting them not with speculation or contrasting ideals, but using solid scientific, modern evidence: "In truth, the hundreds of Ancient Egyptian mummies—from all ages, together with DNA testing—as well as the numerous depicted figures in the Ancient Egyptian temples and tombs—show that present-day “Moslem” Egyptians are the same race as their Ancient Egyptian ancestors."
The give-and-take throughout is exquisite, creating a solid platform for considering not just Egyptian culture and history, but the exact (and many) points where study goes awry and prejudice and presumptions contribute to errors and omissions. Within these points are greater explorations of Egyptian culture based on interpretations and studies of papyrus which often holds surprising and specific evidence about just how advanced the ancient Egyptians were, both culturally and scientifically: "The Berlin Papyrus has been dated between 1350 and 1200 BCE. It deals with childbirth and infants. It contains a test for pregnancy, which recognized that urine carried the pregnancy factor."
Readers should expect many of the basic, long-taught premises about early Egypt to be turned upside down in a manner that lends to easy understanding by all readers, from those with no background in the subject to scholars long used to traditional approaches and their erroneous suppositions.
The result is a 'must' for any collection serious about not just early history or ancient Egypt, but the methods by which studies are conducted and myths perpetuated.
The Ancient Egyptian Culture Revealed, 2nd ed.
Return to Index
The
Ancient Egyptian Roots of Christianity
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
http://www.egypt-tehuti.org/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
Reading Moustafa Gadalla's series in order means that a foundation is built whereby topics dovetail neatly and set the stage for the next book; so those who have pursued Egyptian Divinities The All Who Are THE ONE may find it inevitable that the mentions of Christianity in that book lead inexorably to The Ancient Egyptian Roots of Christianity, which offers a more in-depth discussion of a topic touched upon in prior books.
Of all the books in the series so far, this one is certain to spark the most discussion and controversy, because it refutes many popular myths about Christianity's origins and connections and directly ties ancient Egyptian mysticism and beliefs to Christianity's belief system. This is evident in the opening salvo to what likely will be a series of revelations to most Western readers: "The very thing that is now called the Christian religion was already in existence in Ancient Egypt, long before the adoption of the New Testament."
As chapters make their points and provide evidence for their contentions, close attention is given to providing the kinds of linguistic backgrounds, historical references, and archaeological proof that backs these ideas: "In some Talmudic passages, Jesus is named Ben Pandira, meaning the son of Pandira. Pandira is a corrupt Hebrew form of an Ancient Egyptian term. The Hebrew Pa-ndi-ra, in its original form, is Pantr-ra (pronounced Pa-neter-ra). Ben means son. Ben Pandira, as such, means Son of God [Son of the neter (god) Ra]. All Egyptian kings, since ca. 3000 BCE had the title, Son of Ra. Thus, Ben Pandira (Son of Ra) identifies Jesus as an Egyptian king. The title, Son of Ra, is engraved on Twt/TutAnkh-Amen’s stele, which was found in the Karnak Temple in 1905."
From Biblical creation stories that have misrepresented their true origins ("This biblical verse is badly mutilated Ancient Egyptian cosmology. We will explain this stage of creation in the Ancient Egyptian coherent way.") to source materials of ancient Egyptian and Christian writings which receive a different kind of inspection, this book offers many startling ideas that deserve further discussion, debate, and study.
For this reason, more so than his preceding books in the series, The Ancient Egyptian Roots of Christianity is especially recommended for Christian studies readers who would more closely examine and consider the origins of their belief systems.
The Ancient Egyptian Roots of Christianity
Return to Index
The
Divine Female
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
http://www.egypt-tehuti.org/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
The new, expanded edition of The Divine Female adds further information and insights to its discussion of the ideal of the divine female and its relationship to male attributes. What does this idea have to do with the author's background as an expert in Egyptology? Plenty; because the foundations of ancient Isis beliefs are embedded in the idea of the divine female's image, from creation stories and Isis' role as the Divine Intellect to the incarnation of ancient Egyptian belief systems in modern Christian religions.
Chapters follow this analysis of feminine divinity as they discuss the spread of Egyptian religious principles throughout the world, the incarnation of Isis in various other cultures, and how sixteen female deities have their roots in Isis belief systems.
Social structures and their connections to spiritual harmony and paths, clarifications of important points of ancient Egyptian religions ("The Ancient Egyptian religion is not a matter of creed and dogma, but rather of a personal charter. Each one of us is an individual. One must live his/her own life, and each one of us must go his/her own way, guided by Maat."), and the ethical and social behaviors that are encouraged by Egyptian religious thinking are all surveyed in a tightly written, well-done presentation that takes a surprisingly wide range of disparate social, political, cultural and spiritual concepts and links them together under the broader umbrella of the divine female concept.
This study that promises to reach beyond the interests of Egyptologists and those concerned with ancient cultures and into the realms of women's studies, women's history, and women's spirituality.
Readers in all these areas will find this discussion well-done, supported by research and study, and very accessible to newcomers to either women's spiritual figures or ancient Egyptology.
The Divine Female
Return to Index
Egyptian
Alphabetical Letters of Creation Cycle
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
http://www.egypt-tehuti.org/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
Although this very specific focus on the relationship between the sequence of the creation cycle and the Egyptian ABGD alphabets is crafted in language accessible to lay readers, in reality, it will be the avid Egyptologist with background in the subject who will be the likely audience for the close inspection provided in Egyptian Alphabetical Letters of Creation Cycle.
Researchers and scholars will find this a historical, linguistic, and spiritual analysis of the creation cycle in early Egyptian writings surveys not just alphabetical letters, but the philosophical and spiritual nature of the Creation Cycle central to ancient Egyptian beliefs.
Chapters link different letters to specific roles in that cycle, considering the evolution of themes represented in different letters and phases and offering insights into ancient Egyptian writing modes. After laying a foundation for this kind of inspection ("Creation is the sorting out (giving definition to/bringing order to) all the chaos (the undifferentiated energy/matter and consciousness) of the primeval state. All of the Ancient Egyptian accounts of creation are exhibited with orderly, well defined, clearly demarcated stages."), attention is given to the mystical aspects and interpretations of numbers and letters in the system.
The result is especially recommended for researchers of ancient Egypt who want a blend of mathematical and spiritual analysis based on source materials.
Egyptian Alphabetical Letters of Creation Cycle
Return to Index
Egyptian
Cosmology: The Animated Universe
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
http://www.egypt-tehuti.org/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
Egyptian Cosmology: The Animated Universe offers a powerful alternative view of Egyptian perspectives about the universe and its spiritual connections, so readers who anticipate yet another survey of 'mythical figures' should be forewarned that this account doesn't follow the usual analytical paths, but posits different interpretations.
Traditional approaches to the subject have created a series of interpretation errors that have resulted in a wide-ranging set of misperceptions about ancient Egyptian society in general and its belief system in particular.
Egyptian Cosmology uses source material studies to refute these long-standing misinterpretations by prior scholars and their more casual readings of these materials; and the result provides startling food for thought.
Consider, for one example, that early religious texts have for too long been used as foundations not for spiritual but for historical reflection, resulting in interpretations that ignored some key ideas, misconstrued others, and generally built an erroneous platform supporting perceptions of the ancients as a primitive peoples with only rudimentary awareness of their world and how it operated.
This couldn't be further from the truth. As Moustafa Gadalla re-analyzes and reveals extent of early Egyptian cosmology, readers better understand how these foundation concepts reflect not only accurate and advanced viewpoints of the world, but relate directly to modern times.
One would expect that such a scholarly approach would involve special terminology and complex analysis accessible primarily to professional Egyptologists; but as with others in this series, Egyptian Cosmology is tailored for lay readers as well as researchers, building this accessibility by referring to past scholarship, ways in which it has diverged from source materials and circumvented the truth, and how concepts clearly expressed in ancient writings are still reflected in modern Egyptian works and perspectives.
From the idea of heavenly helpers and patrons to the notion, supported by artifacts, that the early Egyptians had a full working knowledge of cosmology and astronomy, readers receive quite a different interpretation of source materials that paints an entirely different viewpoint about the accuracy, sophistication, and advancements of these early peoples.
From the vital aliveness of Egyptian art representations that demand a re-assessment of analytical approaches ("...we must forego viewing the temple as an interplay of forms against a vague historical, archaeological presentation. Instead, we must try to see it as the relationship between form and function.") to the ancient Egyptian origins of modern symbols and images, this discussion should not be missed by any interested in revised interpretations of links between ancient and modern times.
Egyptian Cosmology: The Animated Universe
Return to Index
Egyptian
Divinities The All Who Are THE ONE
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
http://www.egypt-tehuti.org/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
By now, it should be evident to prior readers of Moustafa Gadalla's series on early Egypt that these books are no casual reads, but in-depth and interlocking pieces of a greater puzzle. Taken together, the books create a bigger picture; but they're presented individually for a reason: the topic would otherwise be far too weighty, and a unified book would, of necessity, have to omit the detail and descriptions that are so nicely reviewed in these shorter topical perspectives.
Egyptian Divinities The All Who Are THE ONE clears up many common misconceptions which stem from prejudice and assumption: "Academic Egyptologists, while worshipping everything Greek or Roman, totally ignore the eyewitness accounts of Herodotus, Plutarch, Plato, Diodorus, and other historians who reported about the Ancient Egyptian traditions, and who were much closer to the scene than the further removed western academic Egyptologists. This book avoids the paradigms, clears up the confusion, and explains the meaning(s) of over 80 of the most frequently encountered divinities."
Its primary strength lies in its ability to properly explain and interpret Egyptian ideology and redefine it as not a primitive expression of ideas, but as a sophisticated system of belief and inspection representing an advanced, high-level thinking society.
This expanded second edition to the 2001 edition adds more texts and photos that compliment the written word, offering a basic understanding of names, titles, meanings, and manifestations in the early Egyptian creation and divinity stories.
Perhaps most importantly, the book clearly and succinctly points out where and why prior interpretations of source materials have fallen short of their goals, providing concrete examples of misrepresentations of divinities and their background and correcting many long-standing errors.
This
means that many scholars with a vested interest in traditional
approaches may
find both much food for thought and some degree of controversy suitable
for
debate. However, Moustafa Gadalla's scholarship is impeccable and well
detailed; and ultimately researchers should embrace this in-depth study
for its
important re-interpretations and especially for its comparisons between
these
divine worldviews and comparative Christian interpretations ("The theme in the Egyptian Book
of the Caverns talks
about the necessity for death and dissolution (of the carnal and
material),
prior to the birth of the spiritual. This is echoed by the biblical
Jesus...").
At some points the language could have been edited slightly to be clearer ("But who do want to be like so that he can guide us back to The Father?"), but generally speaking it is unambiguous, specific, and filled with insights to a discussion no Egyptologist or new age reader will want to forego.
Egyptian Divinities The All Who Are THE ONE
Return to Index
Egyptian
Mystics: Seekers of The Way
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
http://www.egypt-tehuti.org/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
Egyptian Mystics: Seekers of The Way is a revised, expanded edition of a 2003 publication that supports the premise that Ancient Egypt is the origin of alchemy and present-day Sufism. It delves into many specifics about this mysticism as it reviews the history of alchemy, transformation, and the idea of heavenly helpers, contrasting ancient times with modern traditions, and it offers keys to understanding how early Egyptian mystics survived Islam in ancient times through practices that carry forth to this day.
As in his prior books, opening introductory statements support the idea that early Egyptians fostered a cosmic consciousness that embraced a particular model of mysticism, containing tools to help seekers journey towards their vision of the Divine.
The introduction clarifies the overall contentions and history covered in Egyptian Mystics ("Religiousness for the Ancient Egyptians was total cosmic consciousness. The Egyptian concept is now commonly known in the East as Sufism, and in the West as alchemy."), setting the stage for new interpretations of source materials that correct many common misconceptions.
From folk saints, shrines, and visitation traditions to how texts left by these ancient peoples support their worldviews and belief systems ("The main theme of the Ancient Egyptian texts is the cyclical nature of the universe and the constant need for the renewal of such cycles, through well designated festivals. The Egyptians viewed/view these festivals as part of human existence, which constitutes the rhythm of the life of the community and the individual. This rhythm results from the order of cosmic life."), it's important to note that the scholarly references are specific and often pinpoint exactly the disparities between translations and language choices and pre-existing prejudices which have muddied the waters regarding ancient Egyptian cosmology and mystical views.
Readers needn't be scholars to appreciate these points. They do need to have a prior interest in Egyptology or ancient peoples that goes beyond the cursory or casual inspection, and an interest in understanding how these ancient traditions and perspectives have influenced modern Egypt and the world's religious and social organization.
While new age, Egyptian studies or history students will likely be the main audience for this addition to a powerful series, novices with little background in the subject will also find it accessible and educational.
Egyptian Mystics: Seekers of The Way
Return to Index
The
Untainted Egyptian Origin—Why Ancient Egypt Matters
Moustafa Gadalla
Tehuti Research Foundation
http://www.egypt-tehuti.org/
http://egypt-tehuti.org/
https://www.smashwords.com/
The Untainted Egyptian Origin—Why Ancient Egypt Matters will reach new age, Egyptologist and religious and social science readers alike with its wide-ranging inspection of Egyptian cosmology and the links between ancient and modern social, spiritual and political processes, and is recommended for collections looking for out-of-the-box thinking backed by solid research.
Moustafa Gadalla is an Egyptian-American independent Egyptologist who has published over twenty prior books on the topic. He started a foundation devoted to linking ancient Egyptian events to their modern world influences; so this effort comes not from a new age speculator, but from a serious professional well grounded in the history and studies of ancient Egypt.
This sets his series apart from many others. This introduction, The Untainted Egyptian Origin—Why Ancient Egypt Matters, offers a perfect opener to the series by answering the basic question of why modern readers should care about ancient times.
As chapters reveal various facets of this culture, they are quite specific about how ancient Egyptian choices differ from any other and how they contribute to a greater purpose: "The general perception of mysticism is that it is possible to achieve communion with God, by attaining knowledge of spiritual truth through intuition acquired by fixed meditation. The Egyptian model for gaining knowledge is based on the utilization of both intellect and intuition."
While readers might anticipate a good degree of complexity given both the subject and the author's credentials, it should be noted that the material, though solidly backed by scientific and historical research, is quite accessible to a wide range of readers, including novices with little background in the subject. This is because terminology is clearly defined, the focus is on providing a clear overview and introduction without prior need for expertise, and the approach of linking ancient to modern times is quite effective.
Readers might not expect a cross-genre approach that blends philosophy, religion, archaeology, the arts, and social and political inspection. One might think that an overview would be shallower. But the pleasure of this book lies in its ability to integrate potentially complex, confusing topics with a unity that helps everything come together and make sense, from hieroglyphics and their interpretation to the Egyptian concept of conflict: "War, for the Ancient Egyptians, followed rules as strict as a chess game and had specific rituals. They were truly the civilized people. A war had a profound religious significance. It symbolized the forces of order controlling chaos and the light triumphing over darkness."
This introduction touches on many subjects in a sweeping, logical overview that sets the stage for more books and further details. Newcomers interested in the topic from different angles will find much food for thought in an approach that neatly sets the stage for understanding not just ancient Egyptian life, but humanity's place in the scheme of the universe.
The Untainted Egyptian Origin—Why Ancient Egypt Matters
Return to Index
Darklands
M.L. Spencer
Stoneguard Publications
978-0-9971779-9-2
$3.99
www.MLSpencerFiction.com
Darklands
is Book 3 of the Rhenwars Saga,
and opens with a selfish old man who has endangered his clans. He's
marked for
death at the hand of a young girl who hates him. His willing gesture of
sacrifice now is meaningless to her in the face what her master has
done. Azár,
charged with helping enact a final act of magic that she would never
wish on
anyone, experiences the Transference that comes with death and the last
task of
closing the Gateway even as she accepts Zamir's legacy of
power.
While
all this action - and an ending - may seem like the conclusion of a
story, it's
only the beginning of her journey as Azár charges a demon with saving
her
people (her greatest wish is to help them) and begins a process that
centers on
dead warrior Darien Lauchlin's return to power as an overlord.
As
past and present, duties and darkness, and demons and the living
intersect,
readers are carried into a world replete with warlords and soldiers,
Darien's
pain and downfall, fate and a woman's rejection, and a destiny forged
in
bloodshed.
Readers
of epic fantasy will find a powerful story here, which takes a slightly
arrogant, legendary figure and follows his progress to becoming a hero
and an
ally. In a world of broken oaths and dangerous encounters
with mages,
magic, and political consequences, Quin, Meiran, Darien and others find
their
purposes much changed, and must confront inner demons in addition to
outer
forces. These quests and subplots sweep readers into a powerful saga of
confrontation and survival in a story line replete with mercurial
connections
and powerful insights.
Typically
such complex series stories require prior familiarity with the
characters and
setting of past books, but it's a pleasure to note that Darklands
needs no such introduction to
stand strongly on its own as a recommended attraction to newcomer
fantasy
readers who enjoy stories of magic entwined with political
concerns.
Darklands
Return
to Index
Renascence
Leigh Goodison
Sheffield Publications
978-1945136191
$13.99
Publisher ordering link: www.sheffieldpublications.com
Amazon
ordering link: https://www.amazon.com/Renascence-Leigh-Goodison/dp/1945136197/
In
2072, Earth is quite a different place than we know it today. Nuclear
strikes
and pollution threats have done what no peaceful cooperative measure
could have
achieved: united the survivors in a new global world order and
re-organized
humanity.
Six
scientists are sent to colonize a planet for future habitation; but
when one
vanishes, a terrible truth emerges: the past has caught up with them. A
scientist is lost, a teammate is accused, a traitor emerges, and a
message is
sent back to Earth that the team has perished, setting the stage for a
series
of mysteries and events that date back to a time when Russia and the
U.S. were
countries.
That’s
the basic story; but in truth, there's a lot more going on than first
meets the
eye. For one thing, links to present-day history keep the story on an
unexpected trajectory. Readers won't anticipate that the Lost
Cosmonauts, the
unverified and undocumented Russian astronauts of the Soviet Space
Program from
the late 1950s to early 1960s, would have anything to do with a future
apocalyptic scenario; but Leigh Goodison deftly weaves this fact and
mystery
into her story line to offer a plot revolving around both a real event
and a
fictional future mission.
This
technique of tying the past to a futuristic plot presents some
surprisingly
delightful moments both in historical reference and in descriptive
choice:
"Planet A was
probably the most
beautiful place I’d ever seen. In the ambient light from the Astraeus
and the
Explorer, the abundance of hydrogen gas gave it a luminous blue glow
along the
horizon, while nearer us a gentle iridescent violet warmed the cool
blueness of
our suits. It was like being in the center of neon lights, reminding me
of old
photos I’d seen of a place that had long ago disappeared into oblivion
called
the Las Vegas strip."
Team
productivity and interactions, politics, ambushes and aliens, and the
search
for sustainable ecosystems all coalesce into a story that toes the line
between
apocalyptic sci-fi and a mystery piece that neatly brings together past
events
and future possibilities.
The
humans remaining under the command of the Order of World Leaders back
on Earth
face a major challenge: one that will shake the very foundations of the
mission
and call into question the foundations of humanity itself. What could
be bigger
than finding Eden itself? Readers will find themselves thoroughly
engrossed in
a story that revolves not just around survival and renewal, but on
solving a
mystery that comes full circle and delves into mankind's earliest
history.
Readers
who anticipate an apocalyptic survival story alone will be surprised at
the
wider reach of Renascence,
but
its delight lies in its ability to move its plot well beyond the
borders of any
anticipated story about space exploration, survival, or recolonization.
Sci-fi
followers looking for different twists with the addition of a healthy
double dose
of history and mystery will be well pleased with a story that holds no
obvious
direction right up to its surprising conclusion in a production that
will leave
readers thinking long past the final pages.
Renascence
Return
to Index
M.L. Spencer
Stoneguard Publications
978-0-9971779-9-2 $3.99
www.MLSpencerFiction.com
Leigh Goodison
Sheffield Publications
978-1945136191 $13.99
Publisher ordering link: www.sheffieldpublications.com
The
Butcher's Bill
Martin Roy Hill
32-32 North Publishing
978-0692802939
Paperback: $10.99 E-book: $2.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/
Bill Butcher is on a mission and he's busy spying on an encampment of quasi-professionals in San Diego county. It's a job which seems almost too easy for him, even though it involves entering a secure office to make a threat.
As he pulls a gruesome example out of a bag, it's quickly evident that the central character in The Butcher's Bill is no hero. He may even be a deadly killer. But, whose side is he on? As events unwind to reveal overseas connections, warped loyalties, a friendship that demands big sacrifices, and an explosive story of violence and conspiracy, Bill is at the center of a social, political, and criminal maelstrom that keeps on growing, embracing and consuming participants up to the highest levels of government.
Readers of The Butcher's Bill should know that this thriller pairs high-octane action with a relentless force that embraces all kinds of connections and levels of confrontation, including more than a few descriptions of violent repercussions from deadly actions.
Butcher is newly "back from the dead" and his presence haunts friends and enemies alike, but the crux of the story's action takes place on an international stage where special interests combine with murder for an especially grim and involving portrait of intrigue and despair.
Readers who like their action swift and unrelenting, their heroes quasi-admirable and questionable in their ethics and morals, and their political and social mixes complex and surprising will find much to like in a story line that blends astute psychological examination and interpersonal relationship insights into its thriller elements: "Was he about to storm a ship—a ship guarded by armed men—because of his love for Yolanda and not out of friendship for Bill?"
Those who like their thrillers gritty and charged with unpredictable twists will relish the different directions chosen by Bill and his friend in this engrossing saga, which requires no prior familiarity with Linus Shag's previous story to prove delightfully complex and surprising right up to its unanticipated ending.
The Butcher's Bill
Return to Index
Chaos:
A Tale of Murder and Conspiracy
Lawrence J. Epstein
Fig Hollow Publishing
ASIN: B071VDK6Z3
.99
http://a.co/b1sft6d
Novels set in 1935 America during the dust storm era rarely include elements of detective investigations and intrigue, but Chaos offers a far different sense of its times than most, and will attract mystery and detective readers to its tale of ex-World-War-I soldier Daniel's search for his son.
His journey alone would have made for an intriguing read, but the action and implications of the story are further heightened by two other main characters he encounters along the way: Jack, who searches for his wife's killer, and Hannah, a reporter hot on the trail of stories of intrigue and action who rejects the notion that she should forego career for family even as she questions her abilities and her destiny.
The special purposes of these three dovetail in a cross-country adventure that leads them to reach for separate goals and view life differently.
The feel of the story is exquisite: not quite a detective tale (because its characters aren't quasi-investigators by nature, but ordinary individuals changed by life's circumstances) and not a novel of Dust Bowl impacts, Chaos goes beyond the usual approaches to present an unexpectedly delightful blend of personal inspection and social commentary.
The interactions between protagonists are well done, with powerful dialogue presenting deep revelations and powerful decisions: "That's why I don't miss being a rabbi anymore, Daniel. People came to me shaking with sorrow...Without saying so, they begged me to say God was watching over them or some family member. I lied. I lied a thousand times, Daniel. I can't really say that God is watching anyone. I don't know what God is doing. I don't know right now if God looks out for little boys in trouble."
From the culture and experience of riding train rails to a feisty woman determined to be something more than her destiny ("You know what happens if I can't write the stories. I either spend my life looking at flower shows or I quit. And you know what happens if I quit. I become what every woman in America wants to be. I become a wife and a mother."), this story provides three microcosms of chaos that moves from personal lives to greater social experience.
The result is a powerful story of interlocking experiences that winds through the underbellies of society in such a way that readers who enjoy the combination of history, vivid characters, and detective investigations alike will relish the multi-faceted layers and approach of Chaos: A Tale of Murder and Conspiracy, which sweeps readers into the lives of three disparate people who search for the right paths in their lives.
Chaos: A Tale of Murder and Conspiracy
Return to Index
Final
Enemy
Dan Petrosini
ASIN: B072FNDQ68
.99
https://www.amazon.com/Final-
Jack is a newspaper man working the obituaries at Keokuk’s daily newspaper, The Iowan. His life doesn't seem to change much between the news of deaths and burials (he's even been reduced to writing pet stories), and the only exciting thing that's happened recently is his observation of what may have been an asteroid streaking across the night sky: a sighting he dutifully reports to his grandmother as the only interesting bit of news in his life. It's a bit strange that there have been no deaths to report in three days; but things are about to get even stranger when he requests an assignment to cover the asteroid, only to find that the curious phenomenon of there being no deaths in the area follows the route the asteroid took.
From then on, suspense and science join forces with intrigue as Jack's perseverance in covering the asteroid turns into quite a different kind of confrontation with life, death, and everything in between. Is something larger happening; or is it just coincidence? Suddenly the obit section just got a lot more interesting, because there aren't any deaths to speak of. Jack is not only one of the early ones to note this change, but is one of the first to investigate it.
Final Enemy takes many unpredictable twists and turns as it examines the dwindling number of natural deaths, embracing the highest levels of political power as institutions begin to break down and as Jack struggles to protect those he loves.
In some ways Final Enemy is a story of social disintegration as well as a saga of survival. Secret plans, starvation, suicide, and a series of events that spiral the human race into a desperate survival mode evolve from a seemingly singular event and leads to a fast-paced action story that delights with its penchant for the unexpected.
In the face of a death-defying power, what's the "new normal"? And why would any nation resist the powerful promises of Remedy? As action embraces a desperate attempt to use science to stem a tide that could obliterate humanity itself, Final Enemy becomes a gripping blend of thriller and science fiction that's hard to put down and satisfyingly surprising in its plot's evolution.
Thriller fans and those who relish apocalyptic visions of the future will love the tension so exquisitely honed by Dan Petrosini in this engrossing saga.
Final Enemy
Return to Index
Fracture
Point
Jeff Altabef
Evolved Publishing
978-1-62253-325-1
Price: $2.99 ebook; $14.95
Paper
www.EvolvedPub.com
Fracture Point is a prequel to Shatter Point and is ideally the book that should come first on a reader's list. The time is 2041; the setting is a world in which employers 'buy' help by paying for their educations, effectively placing them in thrall. The opening scene introduces this social through Michael, whose income stream is thus tied up for eight years. His tech hacking skills are useful to his employer; but when he hacks into a dangerous secret, his usefulness ends.
The story then fast forwards to eighteen-year-old motorcyclist Jack, whose secret job involves working for a rebel group. He, too, is on the cusp of a secret that could change everything - but unlike Michael, he moves in quite different circles of society, and this fact might be his salvation.
When Jack gets to close to the truth, Tom must step in - and a host of characters become involved in a truly dangerous, world-changing game. From secret documents passed under dangerous circumstances to Tom and Mary's desperate search for a missing brother and the truth, events heat up and draw readers in with powerful descriptions and satisfying twists of events.
Fracture Point's exquisitely drawn characters keep readers involved and immersed in the plot, even though there are a lot of them - and a lot of special interests involved. Under another hand the story line could have become confusing; but Altabef takes the time needed to create characters who are believable and whose motivations and actions are compelling against the backdrop of a bigger story, and this approach drives a thriller that proves hard to put down.
As a prequel to the already-published Shatter Point, it clarifies much and creates much background to compliment its predecessor; but as a stand-alone story, it's powerful. Newcomers and prior fans will find it a compelling, seat-of-your-pants action read powered by the psychology of characters who interact on many different levels, from the political to the personal.
Fracture Point
Return to Index
The
Last Train
Michael Pronko
Raked Gravel Press
978-1942410126
$15.99
http://a.co/0q7L40E
The Last Train presents the investigative challenges of Tokyo-based Detective Hiroshi Shimizu as he confronts the murder of an American businessman and begins work with his mentor and fellow investigator Takamatsu to unravel a string of intriguing possibilities that lead ever deeper into Tokyo's underworld.
Before they can solve the case, Takamatu vanishes: now Shimizu has two cases on his hands, and must uncover answers completely alone.
The first thing to note is, as with Michael Pronko's other writings, Tokyo and Japanese culture come to life in the course of the story line in a setting firmly routed in Tokyo atmosphere and routines: "Hiroshi and Takamatsu walked off into the night toward the small lanes of bars and eateries. Behind them in the station, workers in white gloves hurried to restore order before the first train of the morning."
Part of the essence of a solid mystery or novel lies in its setting, and the author's familiarity with Japanese culture and Tokyo's underlying rhythms successfully imparts a real sense of place and purpose, enhancing a story line that is replete with international business interests, hostess clubs, tea ceremonies, and martial relationships.
While these elements may not sound like typical background for a murder mystery, they add much to the story line and impart not just a logical progression of events but a buildup of character identities and purposes which contribute greatly to a winding murder mystery steeped in Tokyo's various subcultures and worlds.
While mystery readers will relish the progress of a detective who is torn between two cultures and who harbors a feeling of isolation from both, it's the reader of Japanese literature and social inspections who will truly appreciate the depth of background and references that make The Last Train a standout story of not only intrigue, but ways in which crimes are solved, influenced, or supported: "Before Sakaguchi and Hiroshi got to the street, the manager turned to them and said, “If it’s a hostess you need, I can arrange one for you.” The three detectives stopped. The manager continued, “They’ll tell any story, take the blame and do the time. It gets them out of debt, gets your case closed. Everyone’s happy.” Hiroshi turned to look at the manager and said, “It’s too late for happy.” “Never too late,” the man said. “Plenty of other cops do that. It’s not as expensive as you might think.”
The Last Train
Return to Index
The
Piper
Ben Miller
Krac Publishing
978-1540470911
Retail price: trade paperback $14.99, e-book $4.99
www.benmillerbooks.com
https://www.amazon.com/Piper-
The Piper is a sequel to the 2013 story A Bustle in the Hedgerow, but to approach it as a continuing story alone would be to do it a disservice because it truly is a stand-alone read that requires no prior familiarity with its predecessor in order to prove compelling, logical, and complete.
Mysterious kidnappings of infants done in an especially diabolical manner involve the already emotionally weary Jackson Byrne in a plot that challenges a life which seems both too demanding and 'stuck' in too many ways.
These kidnappings leave behind no clues, no witnesses, and no possibilities - and it requires the services of a rare FBI investigator and team well versed in child abduction cases because these particular episodes hold surprisingly few possibilities or perps.
The first kidnapping involves a Tasar blast to a harried new mother who can't seem to make her newborn happy. But this isn't the end of the story: as new kidnappings demand Jackson's expertise, only to challenge his perspective and unique investigative talents, they seem to indicate that a mysterious, modern-day Pied Piper has a deadly bigger picture in mind; and that he has a lot more in mind for Jackson and the missing infants.
More so than most investigative pieces, family structures and relationships are a big part of The Piper, covering Jackson's own demanding role helping his wife and the families of others he knows. Where the usual detective piece would focus mostly on clues, mysteries, and legal processes, The Piper adds a healthy dose of interpersonal interactions throughout its mix to keep its characters lively and involving, with personal and professional lives often teetering at the cutting edge of both problem-solving and self-discovery.
From unexpected moments of grief and loss ("His sentiments of sadness, shame, and anger mixed together to create a confusing palette, like blobs of finger paint at an impatient toddler’s workstation blending into a deep brown. He had never cried for his mother before. This realization made him feel less ashamed. Every child should grieve at the loss of a parent, he supposed. Even a drug-addled abandoner like her.") and their wider-ranging impact on future decisions to a new trial with old news that threatens to destroy a family, The Piper's twist and turns will prove as unpredictable as the story's perp's ultimate purpose.
Plenty of investigative fiction pieces revolve around kidnappings and threats to children; but bundle overall relationship challenges and add legal twists into the mix, along with the struggles of an FBI agent who becomes personally embroiled in the child abduction case and a high-profile trial, and you have a piece that employs deep psychological intrigue and tension to power its saga of loss and survival.
Fans of investigative mysteries who seek solid psychological depth as it reviews family interactions and relationships will find The Piper provides a compelling, absorbing story right up to its unexpected conclusion.
The Piper
Return to Index
Video
of Murder
Trisha Sugarek
Tess Publishing, LLC
978-1544645797 $7.95 paperback $4.99
e-book
https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=
By now it should be evident, with Volume 7's addition to the 'World of Murder' series, that Trisha Sugarek has a real winner on her hands in terms of an ongoing theme able to sustain itself through book after book.
This latest focuses on the Chinese mafia in New York City, and presents a riveting story line that takes two different cultural milieus and ties them neatly together.
Cover art isn't usually mentioned by this reviewer because most of it is fairly unexceptional, but the bright, lovely colorful cover by illustrator David White should be noted because it helps make the book a standout attraction (something a book cover should ideally achieve, but too rarely accomplishes).
When done admiring the cover, readers are in for a real treat as they delve into a mystery that embraces death with a back alley homicide and the involvement of police detectives Garcia and O'Rourke, who are assigned to investigating a 'whodunit' in the murder of one Roger 'Crude' Creed, a trucking company owner who was so hated that the list of possible suspects is long.
An obnoxious taskmaster, Creed's death is celebrated among many, but the two detectives question who would have cause to hate him enough to kill him. He had his good side, too, which is revealed in the course of a probe that brings them into the heart of New York's boroughs, politics, and a world of bars, bodies, big rigs, and big bosses, despite the candid appraisals of the boss man's offensive behaviors: "Creed was always walking the fine line between racist or sexual harassment and a law suit.”
As Garcia and O'Rourke eliminate suspect after suspect, a degree of finely tuned humor often permeates proceedings, lending a sense of comic relief to the somber investigation: "Did you kill Roger Creed? You were on the same route, I-80, during the same time period.” Jack demanded. Jacob laughed so hard, tears came to his eyes. “Oh, yes, I stalked him down I-80, driving an eighteen wheeler with Creed Trucking blazoned on the sides of my rig. When he stopped to take a piss, I killed him. God, that’s rich. You do know the man outweighed me by almost two hundred pounds, don’t you?”
As it becomes evident they are being stonewalled, Garcia and O'Rourke begin to learn more than they wanted about Chinese gangs and the way things really operate in the trucking industry. More than ever, they need an insider's help. But, at what cost?
Steeped in the atmosphere of Chinese clubs, the big rig trucking business, New York City's gangland, and a fuzzy, elusive perp, Video of Murder offers many satisfying moments as it takes the reader on an unexpected journey through a homicide case that may take a video expert to solve.
Replete with satisfying turns, this story not only fits nicely into the prior series but stands well on its own, expanding the efforts and experiences of Garcia and O'Rourke while adding other characters into a story line that neatly captures and traverses the murky atmosphere of New York City's underworld.
Chalk up another outstanding and different addition to Sugarek's 'World of Murder' series!
Video of Murder
Return to Index
The
Angel of Soriano The
Angel of Soriano: An Italian Romance
is a steamy story set in Rome in 1489, and tells of a stormy and
passionate
relationship between the feisty Aurelia Nardini and Spanish heartthrob
Borgia
Carvajal. In
Stella Marie Alden's world, the characters are physically alluring and
their
personas are powerful - a satisfying feature in a story set in a time
when
often women were anything but fiery. As
the daughter of a doctor, Aurelia seems destined for anything but a
royal
marriage, but once Borgia spots her, his lust cannot be contained - and
he is
used to getting his way with attractive women no matter what their
ages.] As
The Angel of
Soriano unfolds,
readers receive a satisfying blend of romance and historical novel set
against
the backdrop of a world torn asunder by desire, political strife,
adversity,
and choices. From the option of becoming a man's mistress and facing
the impact
of that decision to how lust moves to a powerful man's desire to have
her
murdered, The
Angel of Soriano takes
many unexpected turns and keeps Aurelia on the move and on the run,
bringing
readers along for a feisty romp through early Roman society. Readers
who want the steamy sexual descriptions of a romance paired with a
powerful
historical novel that embraces the social and political complexities of
another
world will find The
Angel of Soriano
offers the perfect blend of romance and action. Blackout:
The Life and Sordid Times of Bobby Travis While
a true-life story inspired the creation of Blackout:
The Life and Sordid Times of Bobby Travis, it is
not an
autobiographical presentation but a fictionalized dramatization of
events, and
follows a character who blacks out repeatedly in the course of his
life. This
serves as a constant 'reset' button to his life. As author Edgar Swamp
began
wondering about how life would be if blackouts were a regular
occurrence, he
gained the idea for this story. The
protagonist, Bobby, is an addict. If he's not in a stupor, he's
questioning
what just happened, facing unfathomable gaps in his memory and life.
He's
working on shaking free of the binges which create this kind of life
for the
sake of his daughter and in the interests of being a better father to
her; but
before he can make any real changes, he becomes tangled up with a
Mexican drug
cartel which kidnaps his beloved daughter and forces him on a path that
AA and
other recovery groups couldn't match. Suddenly
he has a big reason for conquering his addictions and quashing his
blackouts -
and it involves life or death and a complicated arrangement to trade
one life
for another. The problem comes back to his blackouts, however, which
continue
to complicate matters. Executioners,
mob members and big money, the long-range impacts of a lack of
recollection,
and gambling and drug issues plague Bobby's life as much as his
freestyling
ride through hoaxes, realities, and a sudden singular determination to
rescue
his daughter - an impulse which overrides many of his self-destructive
habits. Readers
who appreciate stories of addiction and recovery, tales of
international
intrigue and kidnappings, and investigative pieces that focus as much
on
interpersonal relationships and recovery processes as on the events
which
challenge a stagnated life will find that the psychological depth in Blackout
is exquisitely done. The
fact that Bobby's life, associations with others, and options change in
response to the special challenges around him adds to a
thought-provoking
series of encounters that revolve around fear, hard choices, and deadly
consequences. Enthusiasts
of thrillers and investigative pieces will find a strange sort of hero
in the
form of Bobby, who might be juggling too many challenges to save the
one thing
he loves in life. Addicted and alone, Bobby's confrontation of many
forms of
demons is well done and engrossing right up to a showdown that
questions the
humanity in evil actions and the events that lure him from the drunk
tank (his
home away from home) to a transformative, life-affirming
experience. Readers
of the type of suspense which involves social inspection and personal
growth
will relish Bobby's journey and the elements that finally bring him
peace. One-Two Conjoined
twins are not typically the topic of a novel about social consciousness
and its
evolution, but One-Two
is packed
with surprises on many levels, and only one of them has to do with
their
physical connection as twins Hope and Faith make their way through an
uncertain
life. Consigned
to foster homes for much of their young lives, they face many
obstacles; but
perhaps the greatest is the miracle of a science which promises to
separate
them and give them a wholeness neither is familiar with. The
first thing to realize about One-Two
is that it's loaded with gorgeous imagery and observation that aren't
limited
to social or psychological descriptions, but astutely capture the most
subtle
of nuances and impressions of the twins' lives: "Shortly before the New Year
there was a thaw and the
snow outside melted almost completely. Our room was lit by bright
sunlight
through the window grids and shiny knives of light pointed to the part
where
our bodies were joined." From
the bright childhood memories of oranges and snow and one twin's dreams
of
transformation from an Ugly Duckling before she quite realizes the
reason
behind her dream to the emotional storms of an entwined life ("You killed me with your words. I
could understand and
agree with you in my mind, but my heart had a will of its own. I burst
into
tears; you watched dispassionately, and then said in a conciliatory
tone:
“Well, maybe, we will be lucky and find good doctors; they will study
our case
and separate us in no time at all. You will come back here on two legs,
confess
your feelings to Sasha, and the two of you will move far, far away from
here.”
Thank you, sister, and thank you a thousand times more. Despite being a
realist, you never deprived me of the ultimate hope."),
One-Two
is packed with a web of
first-person insights uniquely able to draw readers into a sinuous
story of
love, connections, and social earthquakes alike. From
love to begging in the streets to facing humiliation and the choice of
death,
the twins endlessly struggle with themselves, each other, and society;
always
at odds with their individuality and their connections. In
pulling no punches, the read becomes an emotional roller coaster of
insight,
observation, and angst, carrying readers into a world wracked by
difficulty and
challenge. Lest readers think this is just a story of twins, it should
be
emphasized that social observation is as intrinsically woven into the
plot as
their personal relationships: "...the
country sank deeper and deeper into an atmosphere painfully reminiscent
of our
tunnel, where nobody believed in anything and nobody trusted anyone.
People
traded all they could: veterans sold their awards, actresses adored by
millions
of fans across the country offered their hungry bodies and even those
who did
not have anything bartered what remained of their conscience for money.
In our
crippled country, we ceased to be cripples." What
at first appears to be a novel about cojoined twins' struggles becomes
a
hard-hitting social commentary replete with vivid insights and
thought-provoking moments: "These are
times when everything is valued,” he said with his eyelids drooping:
“odd
galoshes, empty bottles and even yesterday’s newspapers, but pure,
sincere
feelings are depreciated and thrown out like household garbage, like
something
shameful and useless.” Wind
social and political commentary and observation into a plot that
examines the inner
lives and feelings of two impossibly connected siblings for a story
replete
with emotion, drive, and insight that addresses issues of charity,
love,
connections, and the perspective of an observer inexorably connected to
her
world in more than one way. One-Two
is very highly recommended as a
powerful literary and social commentary piece that's hard to put
down. Pop-Out
Girl Pop-Out
Girl will appeal to fans of
women's fiction who look for stories of feisty females in difficult
situations
and provides the realistic story of a couple challenged when an
ex-boyfriend
leaves prison and begins stalking them. Jealousy and its dangerous
course is
one of the primary themes of the story as Jen and Colton face a
dangerous
convict who still has the idea that Jen is his girlfriend, despite
obvious
indicators otherwise - and who has no intention of letting her
go. As
violent encounters escalate and drag innocents into Zane's quest to
regain his
position in Jen's life, Jen faces difficult decisions that test her
resolve,
her future, and her inclination to view the world through the eyes of
an
optimistic romantic. Jen's
career, also shelved, was serving as a 'pop-out girl': one who emerges
from
giant cakes to then sing, dance, and provide a stripper show for
special
events. This theme - of emergence, daring, and putting on a display -
pops up
through the story, which foregoes a slow build-up in favor of a vivid
kidnapping scene and just keeps escalating from there. Jen's
perspective isn't the only focus to this story: Jen's mother Brandi,
who is a
cocktail waitress, faces the fact that her first love from long ago,
Jen's
father, has also inadvertently become part of Zane's dangerous spree,
and her
involvement and perspective are also developed as one of the strong
threads
connecting family and love. From
how Jen squeezed a romance with Colton into her busy career as a pop-up
girl to
the terrors of being stalked by a relentless ex with murderous
intentions on
his mind, Pop-Out
Girl excels in
interconnected subplots and in capturing a winning background filled
with the
glitz and glamour of its Vegas setting. There
were a few lapses in punctuation, for example, a period left off the
end of a
sentence ending with quotation marks. But these instances do not
detract from
the overall plot. Women
who look for realistic, powerful stories of love and survival, jealousy
and
confrontation, and change will find Pop-Out
Girl a winning leisure choice that probes
troubled relationships,
alienation, and the long and rocky path to home. Silver
Threads Silver
Threads: Memory House Collection is
Volume 5 in a series that explores miracles, new beginnings, and a
family
struggling with tragedy. While it continues a saga, it also stands well
alone
as a powerfully evocative story of sorrow and connections and will
especially
attract readers who enjoy family struggles and life
challenges. The
tale opens with events that suggest there is a Keeper of Scales who
balances
the stones of joy and sorrow in each life. As tragedy plays out and
individual
characters struggle with the challenges and changes in their lives,
they learn
where their strengths lie and discover new connections each
other. Readers
expecting a complex and detailed story will be pleased to find that the
feel of
Silver Threads
focuses more on
family relationships and positive adjustment rather than challenging
psychological issues. This sense of the drama of everyday life and the
small
miracles and big challenges is embedded in scenes and encounters which
feel
familiar with their everyday actions and interactions. As
a broken family faces choices about how they will reunite and overcome,
readers
are drawn into these daily lives and choices through an approach which,
though
crafted with a gentle hand and descriptions, succeeds in illustrating
how a
father and daughter thwart the danger stalking them to create a new
life from
the ashes. This
Memory House chronicle dovetails neatly with the others in the series
as it
melds together disparate threads, from interpersonal relationships
changed by
death to an investigation that could point to further danger.
Characters from
the other story appear and satisfying details are provided about their
place in
the world and relationships to each other, expanding some of the scenes
and
characters of the past novels and adding pieces to a jigsaw puzzle of
lives,
memories, and experience. While
prior fans of the series will find this a powerful addition, newcomers
shouldn't be put off by the idea of starting with Book 5: it neatly
introduces
setting and characters and requires no previous familiarity to prove
immediately accessible. Fans
of women's literature and novels which explore positive outcomes from
the
greatest of life challenges will find Silver
Threads a revealing, gentle read which weaves
the drama surrounding
death and violence with the greater story of a family's process of
recovery and
coming together against all odds. Tied
Up With Strings Three
days before Christmas, in a remote English coastal village, Catia Ann
Titchell
answers the doorbell to discover that a mysterious parcel has been left
on the
doorstep, and that her California friend Betty has arrived for her
planned
visit early and unexpectedly. Catia's
chosen this remote locale to finish her thesis, and one of the aspects
of this
story, a penchant for humor, is quickly evident as it explores her life
and
purposes: "I
can't imagine why it takes
four years to write about mold?" Betty ran a finger down a grimy vase
in
the center of the kitchen table. "Is that why you moved in here, to
study
it close-up and personal?" In
the process of catching up and learning about English cultural oddities
and the
neighbors, Catia almost forgets about the mysterious parcel; but
eventually
discovers that it contains what looks like a pet collar with the phone
number
to her rented residence. The mystery grows: who would address a box to
her, but
send an empty pet collar with a name on it? A
visit to the local pub, explanations about two very different brothers
who are
her neighbors, an encounter and apology offered to Catia, who seems to
reject
the gesture, and Betty's determination to oversee and help Catia so she
can
report to Catia's mother back home all blend in a series of encounters
that
again drifts away from the mysterious package's contents, only to
return like
the tide. Where
is this all going? It turns out that Betty is not what she seems - and
neither
are the neighbors Peter and Paul. As revelations and connections are
made,
readers move from what seems like a quiet story that takes a slow
approach to
building characters and English country scenes to a powerful Christmas
story of
life, death, disability, and mental illness. As
the contents of the box begin to make sense, Catia and Betty both find
themselves involved in an unexpected series of events that revolve
around
autism and mystery. However,
to call Tied
Up With Strings a
'mystery' in the conventional sense would be to do the story a
disservice:
while elements of investigation and mystery are here, they are only
some of the
facets of a story about relationships which are tied up in the
trappings of
English culture and American perceptions. Readers
of fiction about British/American encounters will delight in a tale
about
carefully buried secrets that come alive to possibly endanger Catia in
a story
that sets its stage slowly and quietly, then injects unexpected twists
and
turns for a delightfully thought-provoking read.
Stella Marie Alden
Creativia
978-1541244528
$12.99
http://a.co/0dlvKxE
The
Angel of Soriano
Return
to Index
Edgar Swamp
CreateSpace
9780692832448
$.99
www.edgarswamp.com
Blackout:
The Life and Sordid Times of Bobby Travis
Return
to Index
Igor Eliseev
Glagoslav Publications
978-1-911414-23-0
$22.22
www.glagoslav.com
One-Two
Return
to Index
Irene Woodbury
SynergEbooks
978-0-7443-2333-7
$4.88
http://a.co/fVVgWun
Pop-Out
Girl
Return
to Index
Bette Lee Crosby
Bent Pine Publishing
978-0996921466
$14.00
http://a.co/5RKM9FF
Silver
Threads
Return
to Index
Madeline McEwen
Imajin Qwickies, an imprint of Imajin Books
Paperback:
978-1-77223-297-4
Kindle:
978-1-77223-296-7
$3.99
http://www.imajinbooks.com/
Tied
Up With Strings
Return
to Index
Dock
Boss: Eddie McGrath and the West Side Waterfront https://www.amazon.com/Dock- True
crime history fans will find Dock Boss:
Eddie McGrath and the West Side Waterfront a
gripping saga of
organized crime that combines the biography of Eddie McGrath with the
rise of
mob activities in the 1930s. The story reads with the drama and action
of
fiction ("Mutt
squealed, “You’ll get
your smokes!” and fired a shot directly at Cordes’ chest.
Instinctively, Cordes
raised his right hand to shield himself. The bullet slowed down as it
passed
through the area near his right thumb and, what likely would have been
a fatal
bullet, lodged shallowly in his chest."), but
all events come
from real life. The
first thing to note is that Dock Boss
is as much a New York waterfront history as it as an account of the
rise of mob
crime in the city. This means that it will appeal to fans of
biographies, true
crime, and New York culture alike. The focus on New York's ports and
the graft
and crime that plagued them makes for an involving probe into the
politics and
social feel of the times, contributing to a story that rounds out many
more
general accounts of New York City's evolution with a specific attention
to its
waterfront. This
was a world where gunfire could erupt any place at any time ("The eldest Bell brother had just
ordered his meal and
was sitting alone at a table in the middle of the diner. As a waitress
would
later put it, “The Fourth of July cut loose and everybody ducked.”
Yanowsky
took a few steps inside the door of the diner, drew a revolver, and
emptied it
toward Bell."), where separate gangs and mobs
often had deals
and relationships, and where dominant criminal figures and mob leaders
openly
used their influence on the waterfront. Waterfront
politics and development, mob actions and interactions, and the growth
of the
Mafia while legal processes attempted to reign in the terror makes for
involving reading spiced with an approach that blends historical fact
with the
personalities, psychology and politics of the times. The addition of
black and
white vintage photos, maps, charts, and bibliographic links throughout
(including FBI files, hearings, newspapers, and other source materials)
will
especially please scholars who want their reading backed by credible
references. The
result is a true crime story highly recommended for a wide range of
audiences;
from those who relish the true crime genre to readers interested in New
York's
1930s history, gang and mob evolution and psychology, and the social
and
political atmosphere of the times. The
Keystone Approach for Psoriasis and Arthritis The
concept is simple: the diet can be used to restore gut health and
combat the
inflammation caused by autoimmune reactions. But, can food really be
used as
medicine? According to studies applied to Rebecca Fett's plan, it can -
and,
backed by the author's impressive authority and background (she holds a
degree
in molecular biotechnology and biochemistry from the University of
Sydney and
spent ten years as a biotechnology patent litigator in New York, where
she
specialized in analyzing the scientific and clinical evidence for
immune-targeting biologic medicines), it's quickly evident that this is
no
'pop' approach but offers serious scientific food for thought. Chapters
analyze the Mediterranean diet framework as it applies to health
processes in
general and autoimmune disease in particular, considering the processes
and
challenges of rebalancing the microbiome and covering anti-inflammatory
treatments as a whole. As she reviews not just food and drugs but
overall
health systems and how they operate, readers receive a series of
studies backed
by heavily footnoted references throughout which support the author's
contentions. These alternatives to traditional treatment approaches
aren't just
idealistic concepts, but verifiable, bona fide, science-backed
approaches. This
is no easy path, it should be forewarned. It's not just a matter of
changing
diet and popping a few pills: there are many cautions involved in the
process,
which Rebecca Fett also includes: "Supplements
can also obscure the results of dietary changes, as explained by Dr.
Suskind of
Seattle Children’s Hospital...it is useful to keep other supplements to
a bare
minimum while experimenting with dietary changes." Charts,
summaries of scientific studies and analysis of how they apply to and
support
the author's contentions, and even recipes offer everything readers
need to
consider the benefits and logic of applying this program to their own
needs. It's
rare to find an alternative health book so thoroughly backed by
scientific
studies, but The
Keystone Approach for
Psoriasis and Arthritis is not only a specific,
authoritative
recommendation, but represents a satisfying intersection of traditional
and
alternative approaches to healing. It should be in any health
collection where
autoimmune diseases are of interest. Magic
Hands: Professional Card Trick Secrets Revealed Herbert
L. Becker was voted Best USA Magician in
1975 and 1976 by Houdini Magic Magazine. He's also written a series of
magic
trick books in the past, so one would anticipate, by this experience
and the
instructions in the book, that Magic Hands
would add to the blossoming literature revealing magician secrets; but
magic is
about more than sleight-of-hand and illusion, and can serve as a nugget
of
wisdom about wider-ranging facets of life. There
are different ways of viewing Magic Hands.
The first admonition to
a potential reader is to expect a larger application of the magic card
concept
than simple exposés about how each trick operates and how to duplicate
it.
Despite the chapter headings and directions, embedded in the focus is a
review
of mechanics and science, learning curves and approaches, and a
would-be
magician's development and application of maturity, expertise and
performance
persona which moves beyond the trick and into the basics of life and
learning
skills. Take
the simple, basic trick of palming cards,
for example. The 'magic' lies in learning not just the basic trick, but
in
honing the tools behind its successful incarnation. Magic and mechanics
are
separated in each trick and clearly explained using a step-by-step
approach. This
approach clearly notes what separates the
trickster from the true illusionist, emphasizing the practice involved
in
taking a special effect and repeating it until it truly appears
magical. It
also allows readers to understand that much of magic's nuts and bolts
don't lie
in the illusion alone, but in the practice of its mechanics to produce
a
seamless result every time. Audience
perceptions and belief systems, the
mathematics involved in creating illusions, and the refinement of
timing,
coordination, and stage talk all illustrate basic facets of not just
duplicating tricks, but learning their reinforcement
practices. Aspiring
magicians and any interested in the
results of understanding not just "how" but "why" in the
finer art of illusion and stage productions will find Magic Hands
offers a template for
professional results and a solid learning approach that will carry over
into
other aspects of life, making it seem just as magical a
process. Rise
and Decline Rise
and Decline: Where We Are and What We Can Do About It
is Book 3 in the 'History Speaks Today' series, and pairs
historical facts
with modern lessons that can be learned from events of the past.
Structured as
case studies and discussion guides for all ages, this offers a platform
for
connecting historical episodes and facts to today's dilemmas and
events,
reaching past the concept of studying history to draw important
connections
about how familiar political and social situations have their analogues
in past
events and decisions. To
consider the wider effects of world history in such a venture would be
impossibly dense, so Bruce D. Thatcher selects six republics from Roman
times
upwards who have experienced phenomenal rises, declines, and virtual
extinction
to illustrate the common processes they shared and what these mean
today. Does
the normal evolution of a political system translate to its inevitable
demise?
What factors contribute to this decline, and can it be altered? Not
just
history students but governmental policymakers and concerned, educated
citizens
alike receive a discussion that includes footnoted references to and
quotes
from source materials as they document dictators, civil wars, sieges,
political
unions and their dissolutions. Discussion
is also encouraged by chapter questions throughout, which offer fodder
for
debate and analysis. Readers
should consider Rise
and Decline not
just another historical review of events, but a very pointed, detailed
examination of the underlying principles governing nations and
affecting their
progress. This is the meat of this book, and what sets it apart from
the usual
historical review. The observations about each republic's struggles are
astute
and meant to be thought-provoking reflections: "During the Commonwealth’s rise
and maturity, and especially as it Not
for the light history buff, Rise and Decline's
detailed and important survey is a 'must' for any who would consider
the
foundations of nations, how they are strengthened and how and why they
crumble,
and how these relate to social and political policymaking at all
levels.
Serious readers open to contemplation and analysis will relish the
encouragement
of higher-level thinking which is offered in Rise
and Decline, which holds a basic, key message
for all concerned
about the strength and structure of political institutions around the
world,
and particularly in America. The
Underground, 2nd Edition The
second updated edition of The
Underground
opens with the struggle of a man who fights to stay human as he faces
the
werewolf within him, and is set in an alternate Seattle, Washington
world where
witches, vampires, and werewolves - "exotics" - live alongside
humans. In
this world, a series of inexplicable murders threaten the stability of
a
fragile relationship between different factions. Human attitudes need
to
change, but are heading in the wrong direction, and fiery passions
between a
possible alien and an exotic ignite a whirl of sexual energy which is
added
into the mix of confrontation and investigation surrounding escalating
threats. Part
murder mystery, part investigative detective piece, and thoroughly
imbibed with
sexual and social tension throughout, The
Underground is a story of passion, uncertain
relationships, and a
social system that teeters on the edge of chaos. While
readers will likely choose The Underground
for its fantasy elements of vampires, werewolves and the like, to call
it an
urban fantasy is to simplify its complexity, which ventures into the
detective
and mystery arenas with its presentation of an interstellar assassin's
impact.
Graphic sexual scenes and ripples of violence and profanity throughout
make
this story a recommendation not for the light reader of vampire tales;
but for
those who can appreciate a gritty, street-wise, and sometimes sordid
tone to
descriptions of an underground world whose inhabitants skirt the
boundaries of
propriety. Delve
into the hidden worlds of these creatures of the night. They're vivid
and
engrossingly compelling in a tale highly recommended for sci-fi and
urban
fantasy readers looking for a story that's satisfyingly edgier than
most. Your
Crocodile Has Arrived Your
Crocodile Has Arrived: More True Stories from a Curious
Traveler is for armchair travelers
who prefer to experience
their action vicariously, and who cultivate a love of travel and the
adventures
associated with journeys. This
audience receives a travel memoir that goes beyond the usual
cross-cultural
encounter, explaining at the start how unusual places attract Laurie
McAndish
King, and why: "That
sense of loss, of
the ephemeral quality of our lives, has been especially powerful these
past few
years. I have found myself drawn to disappearing landscapes and pickled
body
parts, to ancient relics and invisible energies. And, especially in
this new
age of alternative facts and science deniers, I mourn our collective
losses." As
she explains and explores this perspective, a sense of curiosity and
adventure
enhances a series of encounters that are anything but ordinary travel
experiences. How does a visit to Auckland's iconic Sky Tower with the
intention
of a lovely view, cocktails and dinner turn into this, for example?: "All five toes of my right foot
hang out over the edge
of the Sky Tower’s narrow exterior walkway, 630 feet above the city of
Auckland. There is no guardrail. There is nothing at all to hold
onto—nothing
but thin air. I try to remember why I am here. Did I need an adrenalin
rush?
Was I trying to prove something? Had I come for the view?" And
how does a visit to a Cornwall town renowned for its smuggling history
turn
into a possible offer of modern-day involvement?: "Climbing aboard the bus, I asked
the driver whether
the Cornish still move contraband these days. “Of course not,” he
replied
heartily. “That’s all in the past.” Then quickly, under his breath he
added,
“What is it yer lookin’ for, lass?” As
humor, history, and adventure weave a series of uncommon experiences,
armchair
travelers receive a thoroughly engrossing read that is simply
unpredictable.
The places and experiences are diverse and unexpected throughout and
provide 21
true travel tales that incorporate a healthy dose of understanding
about other
worlds and possibilities. Travel
memoir readers are in for a big treat, here. Smugglers, worms and
karma, and
retired military men who investigate UFOs - oh, my!
Neil G. Clark
Barricade Books
978-1569808139
$17.95
www.neilgclark.com
www.barricadebooks.com
Dock
Boss: Eddie McGrath and the West Side Waterfront
Return
to Index
Rebecca Fett
Franklin Fox Publishing
978-0-9911269-5-8
$15.95
www.autoimmunemediterranean.
The Keystone
Approach for Psoriasis and
Arthritis focuses on diet as an option for
alleviating the
devastating symptoms of psoriasis and arthritis, and incorporates
hundreds of
scientific studies on nutrition and health to craft a plan that
combines the
Mediterranean diet with supplements for maximum effect.
The
Keystone Approach for Psoriasis and Arthritis
Return
to Index
Herbert L. Becker
Plain Sight Publishing/Cedar Fort
978-1-4621-2059-8
www.cedarfort.com
Magic
Hands: Professional Card Trick Secrets Revealed
Return
to Index
Bruce D. Thatcher
Lulu Press, Publisher
978-1-365-77127-9
$26.00
http://www.lulu.com/shop/
declined, the mass of the szlachta were obsessed with the mere
appearance of
personal freedom and privilege, to the detriment of the enabling
principles."
Rise
and Decline
Return
to Index
Roxanne Bland
Blackrose Press
978-0996731683
$13.00
http://a.co/crsygy0
The
Underground, 2nd Edition
Return
to Index
Laurie McAndish King
Destination Insights
978-0-9986615-1-3
www.destinationinsights.com
Your
Crocodile Has Arrived
Return
to Index
Chatur
and the Enchanted Jungle Chatur
and his intelligent donkey Gadhu return in another picture book story
that
pairs a series of insights contrasting hasty paces, decisions, and
approaches
to the world with a more sedate and quiet choice. It offers kids a
colorful
picture book mix of fun adventure and thought-provoking moments perfect
for
parental read-aloud and discussion. Bright,
large-size illustrations by Nayan Soni accompany the tale of a jungle
short cut
that results in becoming lost. Strangely enough, Chatur finds his every
wish is
granted in this realm, from water to quench his thirst to the sudden
appearance
of food when he feels hungry. He's satisfied to just accept these gifts
without
question, but it's the wise Gadhu who cautions that such largess may
not come
without a price tag. As
greed sets in upon the realization that they've stumbled on a magical
forest
where every wish comes true, Gadhu can only shake his head. Is 'bigger'
necessarily better? Chatur is well on the road to an epiphany, and
youngsters
will easily follow his logical decisions, which are backed with
colorful
drawings throughout. It
should be mentioned that while Chatur and
the Enchanted Jungle dovetails neatly with the
format and
perspective of the first Chatur adventure, no prior familiarity is
needed for
newcomers to enjoy this continuing story of a wise donkey and an
often-foolish
man's very different perspectives on how to live life and embrace its
values. This
Hindi story easily reaches beyond its Indian cultural roots to offer an
important platform for discussion to all ethnic groups, and is highly
recommended for parents who look for tales that build thought-provoking
moments
into their action. The
Grumpface Amazon: https://www.amazon. The
Grumpface is illustrated by D.
Frongia
and offers picture book readers with good reading skills a fun tale set
in the
faraway village of Hay, which resides near the forest of Ho near an
especially
grouchy creature called The Grumpface. A
rollicking rhyme quickly reveals the ugly ogre's origins ("...he was cursed long ago, as a
grumpy old man/When he
grumped at a wizard who came up with a plan/That because he was grumpy
and
would never replace/His frown with a smile, he’d stay a grumpface.")
and his threat to all who enter his realm, but stays on track as it
centers on
the meat of the story, which is about a quiet, would-be inventor who
dreams of
success and love, but never quite achieves victory. Dan's
idea of impressing a girl with something special and elusive lead him
into
Grumpface's clutches where he faces a series of impossible tasks with
dubious
freedom as the prize. Can Dan's invention abilities help him out of
this
impossible jam, even if they tend to regularly go awry? Large-sized,
whimsical illustrations bring this story to life, but its real winning
feature
lies in a bumbling would-be hero who has ambitions but never seems to
quite
achieve them, and the process by which he overcomes being daft to not
only gain
success, but help the Grumpface evolve as a result of their
interactions. Kids
receive a warm, bright, fun story with a message that encourages
reflection
about interpersonal relationships, achievements, and thwarting one's
impulse
towards grumpiness. Parents will welcome an approach that couches its
life
messages with bright illustrations and vivid fantasy adventure nicely
tailored
for either read-aloud or for individual pursuit by youngsters with
appropriate
reading skills. Liam
McPhee & The Thief of Laughter The
rugged shores of Scotland, with its heaths and highlands, serves as a
backdrop
for the inviting faerie tale-like story of Liam McPhee, an
eleven year old hero, who faces an array
of almost
insurmountable challenges
in a
young adult fantasy designed to attract
all ages with its
Scottish roots and high adventure. Liam
McPhee & The Thief of Laughter is a
refreshingly original story
with enough twists and turns to make it a top pick for all ages of
readers. The
first thing to note about Liam
McPhee &
The Thief of Laughter is that
the story was written for the author's own
Scottish grandchildren,
which lends it a feisty sense of reality as the young people immersed
in their
Scottish roots find adventure in the most unremarkable of
places. Another
powerful facet of this story lies in its atmosphere. From the busy
docks of the
town to a book-loving man's determination to involve kids in reading,
the tale
is filled with atmosphere and description that pull readers into its
setting
and culture: "Willow
liked to
scrunch-up the wee children of Scrucheon Road in large oversized chairs
with
worn and exotic books from all corners of the globe. In fact, you might
find
old Willow himself, reading out-loud, the pages of some tattered book,
delighting
the children of the neighborhood with tales old and new. Nothing seemed
remarkable about that at all, nor did it seem remarkable that the
inhabitants
of the street were jolly or happy or gleeful from early misty mornings
and
stayed that way until the misty night pulled in another foggy dew
covered dawn
over the cobbled lane. Aye, Scruncheon Road was a delightfully happy
place." This
is a good place to mention that Scottish brogue appears frequently in
the
dialogue ("Oh,
Sally, goo’ morning to
ye,” Liam greeted."), so young readers should be
prepared for
this as the story thickens. And
what a story it is! An evil fairy and a pirate (among others) decide to
steal
the laughter of the children of Scotland to use this for ransom - and
what's
more, they are successful! One might think that would be the end of
this story,
but it's only the beginning. Eleven-year-old Liam is a formidable,
feisty young
hero, but the evil Glaistig is equally cunning and well-presented: "I want you to steal every last
laugh. I want all the
laughter in Scotland captured and put in that cup. I don’t want to hear
another
laugh. Not ever.” At
times the dialogue of the Spriggans is remiscent of Golem in Lord of the Rings:
"Ohhss, “said
the Spriggans. “ohhss, theys paaye dos
theyss?", but since many in this age group won't
be familiar
with the weightier Tolkein scenario, this similarity in no way detracts
from
the drama and adds to the personality of the characters. As
the wild Scottish sea churns, the faery queen Luminata becomes
involved, and
though some of the descriptions and sentences are long enough
to be deemed paragraphs ("And they fell down the moonbeam
they fell right
through the memory of home and as they tumbled all their lost buttons
and lost
mittens and lost balls and lost hats and scattered marbles spun around
them
like little galaxies and they laughed to see their lost mittens again
and then
they tumbled through the memories of their mothers and their fathers
and
through the memories of their own soft beds and warm pajamas and then
they tumbled
head over heels right back upon the shoreline where they slept."),
the atmosphere and description can't be beat. Monks,
pirates, spells, dragons, and the future of Scotland wind into an epic
tale
that is quite long (over seventy chapters!) and delightfully
compelling. The
wealth of characters introduced - Rico, Izzy, Ragpicker, Melrose, and
many more
- require affection for detail and changing scenarios, but the three
books of Liam
McPhee & The Thief of Laughter
together form an epic quest and struggle that a shorter treatment could
not
have adequately captured. Especially
recommended for young adults who enjoy multi-book and winding fantasy
sagas, Liam
McPhee & The Thief of Laughter is
refreshingly original tale, well-steeped in Scottish atmosphere and
culture,
and replete with enough unexpected twists and turns to make it a top
pick for
all ages.
Subhash Kommuru
Kommuru Books
978-1-946312-01-3
www.KommuruBooks.com
Chatur
and the Enchanted Jungle
Return
to Index
BCR Fegan
TaleBlade
978-0-9953592-0-8 (Hardback)
$15.99
978-0-9953592-1-5 (Paperback) $ 8.99
978-0-9953592-2-2
(Kindle)
$ 4.99
978-0-9953592-3-9
(ePub)
$ 4.99
Publisher: www.taleblade.com
The
Grumpface
Return
to Index
M. Evangeline
Celtic Light Productions
978-0-692-9043
Hardback: $29.00
December
2017
Email: celticlight@yahoo.com
Liam
McPhee & The Thief of Laughter
Return
to Index