On-the-tape

Ryan Whites book was very touching and emotional. It helped me to understand that not all people in this world are good like the people who discriminated Ryan. It showed me to have strength and courage like Ryan did. And to stand up for the rights I believe in. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys true stories.

Book Review
Oct.6,2003

Ryan White: My Own Story Ryan White and Anne Marie Cunningham

This book is a nonfiction book, and inspired by a true story. It's about a triumphant boy named Ryan White, who has been fighting hemophilia his whole life. Hemophilia is when you have a cut or a bruise and you could bleed to death! Every time he falls down or gets hurt he has to have some factor 8. Factor 8 is when is you get blood from other donors injected into you by a needle. After a month of taking factor 8 repeatedly, he started getting severely sick. So his mom took him to the doctor and found out he had caught AIDS from a factor 8 donor.

This book had some pretty amazing characters because they were all real. Ryan White was a regular kid but because he had AIDS all the parents, teachers, and kids all voted him out of school. Ryan White was a fighter and a believer and he will always be remembered... His mom Janette was a strong character who had some obstacles to over come, but in the end she leaped over them with pride. Ryan's sister, Andrea, loved skating.She never said anything behind anyone's back. She never broke down or cried when Ryan White was diagnosed with AIDS. (The hardest part of her life.) She was very shy and quiet. But she was also very strong and hardcore at the same time.

I highly recommend this book to anyone. It was a heart warming and heart breaking because it was a true story about people fighting for what and who they believe in. This book can change peoples lives. The fact that the victim of this book(Ryan White)actually wrote this puts even more of an effect on what you used to believe in before you read the book and what your beliefs are after you read the book.

I read this book 3 years ago as a sopohomore in high school. I had heard the story of Ryan White but never knew it in this much detail. To be honest, throughout the book, my eyes were rarely ever dry. Ryan was so young, yet he was forced to become an adult much sooner than anyone could ever imagine. No matter what everyone else said about him, Ryan always kept his head up. He never lost hope in himself. I remember once in the book he tells his mom I'll beat this thing or I'll die trying. That is what he did. He died trying to beat the dreadful disease. However, good did come of this. Because of Ryan White, new light has been shed on the entire AIDS issue. He was so brave. I do not know of anyone in this world who possesses the same kind of courage that this young man did.

The story of Ryan White will never leave my heart. He is a true inspiration to all of us and will never be forgotten. In the words of Elton's song "Your candle burned out long before your legend ever did."ÿ

I have just completed reading The Locket. Richard Paul Evans has a natural gift of writing on paper what we all have felt at sometime. His books have you deal with all of your emotions and leaves you with hope. Hope in yourself, hope in mankind, and hope in the future. His books are an easy read but very addictive. Once you start you can't put the book down until it is finished. Always a good cry with his books. And that is not at all bad. Sometimes we need a release...

How refreshing to read a book that has an inspirational message plus contains no graphic sex or vulgar language, yet at the same time, a believable story that is not contrived...a rarity these days!! I enjoyed the thought-provoking excerpts from Esther's diary at the beginning of each chaper...a clever touch by Evans. The flow is good and his descriptions of the characters and scenes "breathe" with reality. A few times, however, he overdoes the character descriptions with strings of trite adjectives. This is a poignant, touching tale that has a little bit of everything (except sex) and will appeal to males as well as females. I found it difficult to put down once I got into the story. Keep up the quality writing, Richard Paul Evans!

Wonderful! Wonderful! I have not read such a good book in a long time. I did not realize what a great writer Richard Paul Evans was until now. I have read about 5 of his books and have given ratings of 5 on each one of them. I don't give 5s to the well known writers sometimes. Read the book. You will have to love it.

How can anything new about love and relationship be written - hasn't it all been said? Mr. Ruiz manages to approach love and relationship with a perspective that is so fresh that it opened my eyes to new possibilities. The author reveals the differences between relationships based on love and those based on fear and gently guides the reader to recognize the symptoms when fear is shutting out the warmth and joy that is our birthright. Reading this book is invigorating - I came away excited to practice the author's principles - and I find myself less judgmental and more relaxed about my relationship with my husband. Buy this book - it is an insightful guide to a more satisfying relationships.

Another book that contains amazing insights into life is Working on Yourself Doesn't Work - by Ariel & Shya Kane. In this book, the Kanes describe three principles of transformation - they are simple but very potent and contain profound and original insights. Unconscious destructive behaviors and attitudes dissolve in an instant through awareness - a non-judgmental observing of what is. Reading this book resulted in some profound changes in my perceptions of who I was, and, as a result, my life circumstances began to shift - as if by magic. I don't know HOW it worked - only THAT it worked. I highly recommend this book.

I use Don Miguel Ruiz' books, The Four Agreements and The Mastery of Love as I would use a guidebook to another country--but the 'place' is a state of mind called "The Dream of Love". Don Miguel teaches us about this place, how to "get there" while staying here, and how to live in love on a daily basis. His teachings are always so direct and easy to understand, that one can't help but start to use the wisdom as soon as one reads and comprehends the meaning of the stories. This information is vitally important and so forgiving of our human foibles, that I can say anyone wishing to change their intimate relationships of any kind can derive truth and power from these books. The Mastery of Love is aimed at the heart--our hearts. I open this book whenever I am feeling less than loving toward myself or others--I am able to absorb the feeling of love and intent to heal from these pages, and always feel a sense of relief and peace from taking the time to do so. I believe that this book has the power to shift our mass consciousness and our role in changing the way the world is, just by giving us tools to change our lives and relationships. I wish to share the gift of this understanding and hope readers will pick up this book. I love it!

If you want to build and strengthen the relationship with yourself and others, then don't pass up this opportunity to learn how to enjoy your unique path through this maze of life. Ruiz offers solid practical examples about how to choose love over fear and hurt.

Mastery of Love is an enjoyable journey of self-discovery. When you pick up this book be ready for the transformational effect. Everyone I have talked to about this little gem cites a different message that seemed to strike a familiar chord. This is the kind of book that touches the reader on a very personal level. Even if the message doesn't strike you while you read the pages, I promise the words will sneak up on you when you least expect it.

Like the other books by Ruiz, The Four Agreements and the Companion Guide to the Four Agreements, Mastery of Love will show you the path to freedom. Are you strong enough to face the path? Well, you will have to decide for yourself...

Also recommended: Rat Race Relaxer: Your Potential & The Maze of Life by JoAnna Carey; Path to Love by Deepak Chopra

A book centered on Draconians....by Margaret Weis. You're joking right? Not at all. This book will change your entire opinion on the little known race of dragon men. And when you mix aggresive draconian warriors and scheming dwarves, you know there will be some laugh out loud moments. Through everything Weis and Perrin manage to string together an engaging plot with fun well-developed characters. Unfortunately there are some proofreading/editing mistakes (more than in any other book I've read). But it doesn't really get in the way. This book won't change your life, but it is guaranteed to entertain.

Have to give the authors credit, this is DEFINATELY a great book. At first i thought draconians were kind of boring to make a book about, but i was wrong.. this book centers on a community of draconians, sustaining themselves on brew and Dwarf Bashing, until they learn of a secret treasure(one that could mean the life or death of the draconian race). Unfortuantely, a group of wayward hill dwarves(who are also main characters) also know of this treasure, leading up to a thrilling race to the bowels of Thorbardin(where draconians and hill dwarves aren't exactly welcome). along the way, the dark queen sets the commander of the draconinans on a mission to help save the world from chaos, which happens to go hand in hand with his treasure plans.. Though the dwarves presented interesting characters, I was really cheering for the draconians through this one, they were portrayed in a humorous and intelligent manner, and I have the sudden urge to get my hands on some Dwarf Spirits.. at any rate, a wonderful book for any reader of fantasy novels!

"The Doom Brigade" by the husband and wife team of Margaret Weis and Don Perrin features the life and times of an eccentric group of Draconians during the same time period as "Dragons of Summer Flame". These draconians have made a small little settlement, and have managed to live a reletively peaceful life in the mountains. They only have to deal with a dwarf raid every once in a while.

The authors of this book do an amazing job portraying Draconians as more than just the killers they were portrayed like in the first Dragonlance books. It is nice to read a book from their point of view, seeing exactly what they feel and think about the other races on Krynn.

This books has an amazing storyline, and is full of enuogh action and adventure to keep any fantasy reader hooked. There is tons of humor in this book. All of the characters have their own personality which is nice to see. The main characters in this book, including Kang (the lead Draconian), and his right hand man..err..Draconian, Slith, are all nicely developed and portrayed well.

The story and characters keep this book a fun read all the way though. It is one of the better books in the Dragonlance world. Not only are the characters fun to read about, but it is also fun to read from the other side for once. Seeing the story through the eyes of Draconians and not through the eyes of the "Good Guys".

The Coalwood Way, by Homer Hickam, is the sequel to October Sky. It is 1959 and the
Rocket Boys are still making their handmade rockets. Homer "Sonny" Hickam is trying to
prove to his father that he will go to college and succeed. Although with the mine not
doing very well, it does not look like any of the Coalwood children will get very far in life.
A lot of the miners have lost their jobs and Sonny's father has to make some dangerous
decisions about what to do to keep the town and the mine from going poor. Sonny's
mother feels cut off from her husband and the townspeople. Her role as the
superintendent's wife makes things difficult with the wives of the union workers.
In the bleak, cold winter months optimism is hard to come by in Coalwood. Sonny
is overcome with a sense of gloom and trys desperately to figure out what is causing it.
When Coalwood is in need of some spirt-lifting, Sonny and his friends bring back the spirit
of Christmas just in time.
Hickam's story brings the characters from his childhood to life in a touching tale
that provokes the mood of the mid-twentieth century. Sonny learns many things about his
brother and his parents throughout the story. His father is a workaholic who feels
responsible and inadequate, and his mother is very intelligent and perceptive who feels
isolated from her whole family. Sonny moves from childhood to adulthood in a few short
months as Coalwood changes in many different ways. The story reminds us of the
importance of keeping our dreams and not letting little things or big things change them.
It also remids us that growing up is hard, yet possible. If we stay together with our friends
and family and we we pray and learn to live together, then we can get through anything.

Written by the same author of October Sky, about the same period in his childhood, the COALWOOD WAY and OCTOBER SKY cover the exact same themes-a son trying to shine despite the disappointment/disapproval of his father, rocket trial and error, etc-and have the exact same arcs. Minor characters and sub plots are different, however, and are very poignant and engaging.The protagonist, Sonny is an earnest boy with enough flaws to make him interesting. He is smart yet a little too proud; a friend but sometimes too self-centered to see when his closest friends are in trouble; he's handsome yet can't get a date to the senior dance. These imperfections make him the perfect Everyman, easy to root for. Minor characters are well drawn, and some are heartbreaking to watch. Dreama's tragic arc is painful but gives the story a darkness and depth. Her ostracization by town snobs is well-depicted, and shows that the author didn't just sail through his childhood without noticing the little evils that men do. Great read.

Homer Hickham has done it again!! I loved Rocket Boys so much and didn't think it could happen again. Then along came The Coalwood Way!! This is a marvelous book about life. Homer takes the reader on a journey to a time when lives and times were changing, not always for the best. The author shows us a picture of a coal town and the Country in a period of transition, much like Sonny and his friends in their period of transition from high school, stepping into their future. The story tells us that no matter how bright or strong or motivated someone is, that life can throw some hard curve balls, and it is always good to know that you can count on family, friends and neighbors. Mr. Hickam also points out the importance of looking out for each other and knowing when it is time to step up to the plate for others. The story ends with a brilliant Christmas scene that really tells the reader that we are a wondrous creation molded by all the experiences in our lives, those that happen to us and those that we initiate ourselves and that always, always, the Creator's hand is with us. That he can do all this in "The Coalwood Way" without once being preachy is unique. This was an inspiring book, that takes real life examples and attempts to draw the readers along to look at the big picture of life. This book was fun, humorous, introspective, open, honest and very touching. I enjoyed it immensely.

This book gives a glimpse into how we live our daily lives. Just like Much-Afraid we travel through the Valley of Loss and walk along the Sea of Loneliness. We always must trust God no matter where He asks us to go, no matter what He asks He do. Like Much-Afraid we will encounter Pride, Anger, and Jealousy and we will call on the Shepherd and He will help us. The seed of true love was planted in Much-Afraid's heart and when she reached the High Places she finally learned what it felt like to be truly loved. The love we experience in this world is nothing compared to the love Jesus has for us. He wants to love and help you but you must ask for Him to. The journey to the High Places is a hard one Much-Afraid learns but the destination is well worth the journey. Learning to give our entire life to Jesus is hard but the reward of knowing Him is more amazing than anything we could ever want or desire. My favorite part of this book was when the Lord asked Much-Afraid what she would do if He lied to her and her reply was "My Lord-if you can decieve me, you may. It can make no difference. I must love you as long as I continue to exist. I cannot live without loving you." I know personally I could not live without God in my life and taking care of me and I hope everyone that reads this review feels the same way.

This is an extended allegory taken from Habakkuk 3:19 about God making one's feet like hind's feet in overcoming difficulties in life. The author talks about observing the animals in action for herself and discovering that "their motion was one of the most beautiful examples of exultant and apparently effortless ease in surmounting obstacles which I have ever seen." The reference to hind's feet is also found in Psalms 18:33.

The first chapter starts with an invitation to the high places. It is in the concluding few chapters that she reconnects back to the book's primary theme. Numerous Christians have been encouraged by this book and chances are you will be too.

I first read this beautifully written book several years ago, when I was going through a not-so-happy time in my life. It is a beautiful and encouraging story, especially for Christians, but also for anyone who has suffered in life (my sister read this book & loved it, and she is not a religious person at all). The allegory is wonderful... Much Afraid's crippled feet represent an inability to walk successfully alone and reach higher places. Her twisted mouth represents the speaking of shameful, wrong, or cowardly things that don't befit a servant of the Lord... or perhaps an inability to speak her true heart. Her companions are called Sorrow & Suffering... but when they are revealed in true form, you will cry with understanding! All in all, you'll certainly adore this book if you read it, especially if you are troubled or just discovering God. I know I did.

Well, not exactly. All doctors aren't perfect. Atul Gawande's book, "Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on An Imperfect Science" clearly explains why doctors aren't perfect. The fact is that all humans make mistakes, therefore doctors make mistakes. Since I'm intending on going into a medical field, this book makes me realize how much effort you have to put forth in order to receive a medical education. Atul Gawande gives you an opportunity to take a journey through his medical training and it shows the rigours of a surgical residency. Think how scary it would be performing surgery on a patient for the first time? If I were the patient I would be petrified because I wouldn't want the surgeon to make a mistake, risking my life. His incredible experiences with gastric bypass surgery, the case of the pregnant woman, the dead baby mystery, the case of the red leg, and many others kept me completely captivated with this book. The book is written in such a way that you never want to put it down. It's very intense, scary, and breathtaking, since you don't know what's going to happen with his patients. "Complications" is a must read, especially for those heading into a medical field.

When I entered medical school, friends and relatives sent numerous articles about medicine from a wide variety of sources. While many were interesting, Atul Gawande's "Final Cut" from The New Yorker caught my attention. His writing style invited me into the world of autopsies, historically and currently, with all of the underlying questions that they entail. While autopsies are not generally considered standard dinner conversation material, I found myself discussing the article with friends both in and outside of the medical community.

Needless to say, having the chance to read Gawande's Complications, which includes "Final Cut", as part of my medical training was wonderful. Gawande addresses many issues of medicine from an informed perspective, and gives us a window into a world most of us will never see. Yet, the issues affect us all as patients.

In particular, his essay "Education of a Knife", exploring the unspoken and often unknowing consent patients give to have physicians in training 'practice' on them, generated a lot of conversations between my classmates, as we saw bits of his descriptions within our own experiences with patients. Other chapters took on less specific topics, using illustrative case histories to illuminate chronic pain, the limitations of our scientific/medical knowledge and abilities, the culture of medical professionals, and even the important issue of when things go wrong. All of these essays stand well on their own, but together they make for a powerful collection.

While Gawande offers no specific answers or even strong opinions on the topics, his thorough descriptions invite the reader to ponder the issue for themselves, and linger long after the final page has turned. Gawande, as a surgeon, has seen a great deal of the system, and has found a way to share that with the rest of us. This fact, perhaps, makes this collection of essays one of the best parts of my medical education, and I guarantee it is worth reading and thinking about for anyone.

Complications: by Atul Gawande
A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science

Surgery is often perceived as the most respected of all the medical professions, but one surgeon's bravely written insiders essays paints a bittersweet picture of the medical practice of surgeons. In fact, "practice" is the operational word in describing what makes for a "good" surgeon - and Dr. Atul Gawande describes how the surgeon needs plenty of opportunities to wield the scalpel before he or she feels as competent as they look when they use one. "Complications: A Surgeon's Notes on an Imperfect Science" by Atul Gawande is a personal collection of spell binding first person medical stories. Gawands presents the reader with a physician who's as creative with prose as he appears to be with surgical sutures. Gawande is a frequent contributor to The New Yorker Magazine. Usually retrospective physicians in a reading group I participate in were unusually animated about "Complications" and validated some of Gawande's stories with similar versions of their own.
"Complications" is not a medical "who-done-it"; nor is it a non-fiction version of the popular television show "ER". It's about one surgeon's practice, but the stories are, to a certain extent, similar to the shared experiences of all physicians, regardless of their specialty. A surgeon must have a good medical education, lots of practice doing procedures that develop proficient skills and a fair amount of good luck.
Sometimes surgery helps patients to physically recover but the psychological side effects cannot be measured as easily as physiologic symptoms. One essay brings that point home titled, "Crimson Tide", about a girl who seeks a surgical cure for uncontrollable blushing. In this case, the patient felt her spontaneous blushing was holding her back as a television news anchor because it affected her job performance. After her successful surgery obtained in Scandinavia, she discovered she was self conscious about having it done in the first place, even though it cured her blushing! Essays in "Complications" begin with real people, identities protected, who somehow, either positively or not, are affected by medical treatment. One essay is about the conditions of physicians themselves, titled "When Good Doctors Go Bad". Gawande is certainly a terrific storyteller. Too bad the surgical profession has taken hundreds of years to finally support one of their own to tell their stories "in their own words". "Complications" also received an impressive distinction as a National Book Award Finalist.

Many fans of Nora Roberts may not realize that her "Death" series of gritty, futuristic murder mysteries is Ms. Roberts at her very best. I've read just about all of her books, and I think that the relationship between Eve and Rourke is not only the most complex, but also the most satisfying and fun to watch. The sub-characters are also entertaining and compliment the main characters in ways that only make them all more interesting. Watching gutsy Eve grow emotionally in her personal life is both touching and inspirational. This reader can't wait to see what obstacles she will have to overcome in the next "Loyalty" book. (Can't be too soon.) Nora Robert's strength as a writer has always been her characters. You believe them. You love to watch them. You wish you could meet them. In this series, it's particularly satisfying that the murder mystery stories are compelling, realistically well written and not as easy to figure out as some books in her romance/thriller line. (Although I've never read a Nora Roberts book I haven't enjoyed.) Thanks for another impossible-to-put-down book, and PLEASE, KEEP THIS SERIES COMING!

It's a New Year, 2059 in New York City, and it starts of with murder. Eve is called to the homicide of a homeless man, and finds his heart cut out with extremely precise surgical precision. Upon securing the scene she has a run in with a street officer, Bowers. As Bowers stirs up a firestorm of trouble for Eve, vagrants and prostitutes keep winding up dead, and missing organs. It's Eve's toughest battle yet. She is up against a serial killer, her job is on the line, and so is her life.
This has been the BEST book of the "In Death" series so far. Eve equates her badge with her life, and when her badge is in jeopardy, she feels everything is taken away from her. In this book, we are allowed deep inside Eve's mind and heart. The people she has come to care for step up and show how much they truly love her. Eve's struggle is heart breaking. Roarke's struggle as he watches his wife fight for everything she believes in is equally as wrenching. I was in tears for most of this book.
CONSPIRACY IN DEATH is a fabulous book. Out of 5 stars, I would give it 10! I dare you to read this one without a box of tissues nearby.

JBogue...
Specializing in paranormal romance and fiction.

My wife got me hooked on this series and I have read it beginning with the first book, Naked In Death. Some I enjoyed more that others, however, Conspiracy in Death is the best one yet! When Eve is faced with not only a complex case of someone who is using great medical skill to kill for no apparent reason, but also with accusations of abuse from another cop, the intensity level keeps rising.

Sully and an interesting cast of unforgettable characters reside in the small town of North Bath, in upstate NY. Sully lives in a flat above Miss Beryl, the town's former 8th-grade teacher who passes time talking to a picture of her dead husband. Sully struggles with a bad knee, a freaky ex-wife, the dumbest of dumb best friends, and his estranged son who returns to town and seems very likely to follow right along in Sully's footsteps.

This was my second read by Russo (first was "Empire Falls," also great) and he didn't let me down. This book contains a great writing style and is filled with laugh-out-loud moments. Signature Russo is the fabulous characterization which is the power behind this book. Russo is a master of making the details of small-town folks and small-town life matter.

My first exposure to Richard Russo came via the movies. Specifically, the film rendition of 'Nobody's Fool' (I cannot resist anything featuring Paul Newman). I fell in love with the film, and all of its quirky, lovable characters, and debated for quite a while before picking up the book. Would reading it tarnish the esteem in which I held the movie? Film versions of books are notoriously horrid ('The Princess Bride' is a notable exception). Would I end up wishing I had never read the cursed manuscript?

Oh no. Emphatically no. This is a wonderful book, full of lyricism, real people, and the engaging, bittersweet story I have to come to expect from Mr. Russo. His painting of small-town New England life is full of colorful details and a clarity that reminds me of Hemingway, although I never felt as drawn to any of Hemingway's characters as I do to those in 'Nobody's Fool.' The reluctant protagonist, Donald Sullivan ('Sully'), is both irresistable and infuriating. His ridiculously comic best friend Rub and his perpetually optimistic land-lady Miss Beryl are on-the-money portaits of genuine people. The interplay between Sully and his sometimes-boss, all-the-time nemesis Carl is worth the read alone. As is typical with film versions of books, the book is a good deal deeper, and darker, than the movie. The descriptions of Sully's childhood growing up with an abusive parent have stayed with me, although in no way do they resort to grisly details to pack their punch.

The book and the film are different entities; two separate and excellent pieces of work. I have not read all of Mr. Russo's works, but a good number of them, and 'Nobody's Fool' is still my favorite. You will laugh out loud at Sully's antics, fall in love with the characters, and marvel and the fine writing in this book.

There's something about this book... It grows on you. I've read it once and listened to the unabridged audiobook version, and it has a strange power.

Nothing much happens in this novel, other than a few days in the life of Donald Sullivan, Sully, and the people who rotate around him in the small town of Bath, NY. But there is an Everyman quality in Sully's lackadaisical attitude toward life, his easy-going nature, his friendliness and grumpiness. He's the kind of person you'd never notice in a diner, but he's deeply ingrained in the life of this small community.

Richard Russo has a talent for developing characters, through their actions and the subtle flashbacks that talk about their pasts. Sully is the quintessential Russo character, and is charming and amiable, even if he can be a pain in the ass. But like all humans, he has good and bad qualities, and this book, more than anything, shows us how human being act in good and not so good ways.

This is such a good book it would go on my desert island list.

Owen Parry brings into view the hidden agendas behind the forces of war. He depicts Washington, Philadelphia, and even Pottsville (my home town) in 1861 with the unique perspective of the quietly heroic Abel Jones, a man whose past experience and happy home life argues against his joining the Army. But also a man whose moral (albeit somewhat rigid) code and sense of responsibility for others brings him back into the battle. One sees from Jones' eyes the many sides of prejudices (including his own) characteristic of the time; the hypocrisy, degradation and moral bankruptcy of those who seek to use war to satisfy their own ends, and the vulnerability of the innocents. I highly recommend this book to those looking for a more realistic portrait of behind-the-scenes Civil War America, and for a rather good Victorian mystery. I think John O'Hara (the late author) would like Parry's book very much - and would recognize some of the antecedants to the characters so vividly portrayed in his mid-twentieth century novels and short stories about society in Philadelphia and Pottsville (or, as he called it, Gibbsville). I look forward to Parry continuing to follow Abel Jones' life after the Civil War. The mention of Pinkerton and the Molly Maguires offers me hope that in the futureI will be able to revisit the sad history of the war between Anthracite coal miners and mine owners and see, through Abel's eyes, the underlying agendas of those involved.

This is a true gem of a novel that is a masterpiece of two genres, mystery and historical fiction. It is a superbly written, skillfully plotted novel set during the early stages of the Civil War when the North still hadn't realized the enormity of the situation it faced. Owen Parry brilliantly brings to life the era with his detailed and unglamorous portrayals of Washington and Philadelphia.

Abel Jones, a wounded Civil War hero, is as interesting a protagonist as any I have ever read in mystery fiction. He has to find his way through corruption, racism and deception to get to the bottom of the murder of a well-loved abolitionist. Along the way, he meets up with several notable figures from the war, including General McClellan and Abe Lincoln himself. There are several twists and the plot moves along at a perfect pace, all leading up to a powerful conclusion.

I have read many Civil War books, both fiction and nonfiction, and this easily ranks along side such memorable favorites as The Killer Angels and A Stillness at Appomattox. If you are a fan of mystery and/or historical fiction you must read this novel.

This well researched and compelling book creates the atmosphere of Washington, DC during the first part of the civil war. The mystery is interesting enough to keep the reader occupied, but it is the description of the times that really engages you. The hero is a man of modest stature and clearly not a genius, but his stiff moral code and unwavering devotion to duty make him a man to admire. Not the most entertaining dinner companion, but a man you would want at your back during a brawl. The author presents the mindset of people of the times. Nationalities are sterotyped, but the author manages to mix in soem humor that lessens the sting. Enjoyable.