Senior News Book Review Column--- March 2014

For several years now I have been writing a monthly book review column for the Senior News newspaper. The Senior News is aimed to the 50 and over readership with news relevant to seniors regarding various issues, humor pieces, and my review column among other things. The newspaper is a giveaway at doctor offices, stores, etc. and can be received by mail via a paid subscription. There are multiple editions across the state of Texas and therefore there is some fluctuation in content in each edition.

My column every month focuses on books of interest to the Texas audience. Therefore the books selected for the column, fiction or non-fiction, are written by Texas residents, feature Texans in some way, or would have some other connection to the Texas based readership. At least two books are covered each month in the short space I am given.

Below is/was my March  2014 column ……

A Killing at Cotton Hill: A Samuel Craddock Mystery

Terry Shames

Seventh Street Books (imprint of Prometheus Books)

ISBN# 978--61614-799-0

Paperback (also available as an e-book)

245 Pages

Former Chief of Police Samuel Craddock knows he should have done far more when he hears that Dora Lee has been murdered in her home in Cotton Hill. According to Rodell Skinner, the current Chief of Police for Jarrett Creek, Texas, the grandson Greg did the crime as he wanted her money. While Rodell is sure it is an open and shut case, Craddock has met the kid before and is pretty sure Greg didn’t do it. Relying on Rodell to figure his way out of this case means Greg is on his way to death row. Craddock isn’t about to let that happen as he figures he owes it to Dora Lee to find out what is really going on in this complex tale of murder, greed, and art.

A Killing at Cotton Hill: A Samuel Craddock Mystery by Terry Shames is a very good book.  First in a series that has been followed by the recently released The Last Death Of Jack Harbin one is put in mind of the excellent Sheriff Rhodes series by Bill Crider. Small town Texas where people have known each other all their lives and still don’t know all the secrets until a murder comes along to shake things loose in more ways than one.

Perfect Pies & More: All New Pies, Cookies, Bars, And Cakes From America’s Pie-Baking Champion

Michele Stuart

Ballantine Books (Division of Random House)

ISBN# 978-0-345-54419-3

Hardback (also available for the Kindle)

256 Pages

Perfect Pies & More: All New Pies, Cookies, Bars, And Cakes From America’s Pie-Baking Champion is exactly as promised by the title. Plenty of recipes with few pictures are found in this over 240 page book. Broken into nine chapter sections the recipes run the gamut and feature varying amounts of prep time and difficulty.

Filled with recipes for pie toppings and crusts, cookies, cakes, and more as well as plenty of suggestions to make things come out right, the book is a textual and visual feast. Using her experience winning 27 first place awards in the “National Pie Championship Awards” author Michele Stuart’s cookbook is amazing. Lots of good ideas in Perfect Pies & More: All New Pies, Cookies, Bars, And Cakes From America’s Pie-Baking Champion featuring plenty of variety not only in terms of ingredients but also in terms of skill levels.

Kevin R Tipple ©2014