Amazon Shopping Perhaps?

In addition to the donation widget on the left side, I am an Amazon Associate. What this means is if you click on one of the book links on this blog to buy a particular book or to shop on Amazon and you buy something, I get a few pennies on the sale. It does not affect the price you pay at Amazon or have any impact on you financially at all.

What it does do is generate a small referral fee that is paid into my Amazon Associate account a few pennies at a time. Those pennies add up each quarter. When enough pennies add up to ten dollars, usually once or twice a year, I can cash out with an Amazon giftcard. I use these funds to buy the occasional e-book which ultimately gets reviewed here as well as some household and medical supplies for Sandi not covered by food stamps or donations.

So, if you are going to shop at Amazon anyway, please consider going through me to do your shopping. Every little bit helps and I do appreciate it very much.

Review: "Blade Of Dishonor" by Thomas Pluck

Reeves has come back home to Minnesota and the small town he grew up in to find the town has changed in many ways. The local Ford Plant has closed and the economic pain of that is just one of the things that continue to haunt the town. He has changed as well thanks to growing up and serving in the military

though many folks don’t seem inclined to talk to him. The various ghosts of the past and shattered dreams haunt the town as well as Reeves and there are no easy answers for either.

Taken care of by Grandpa Butch, Reeves spent most of his life in the back of the local Army Navy store. It was there that Reeves developed a love for weapons--especially knives and swords. Butch is still alive and as angry as ever and isn’t about to let Reeves backslide into his old ways. He also isn’t about to let anyone else mess with him. That hardcore attitude towards family and the world will come in handy as Takehiko Yoshiro has come to buy the old store and all of its contents. A buying attempt that will lead to violence as some things, including honor, simply are never for sale in this martial arts thriller. 

Throw in a beautiful babe, a fast car, martial arts, and an enduring love as well as a couple of other elements and Blade Of Dishonor by Thomas Pluck becomes a complicated ride into the past and present. Featuring twin storylines with Grandpa Butch struggling to survive during World War II and Reeves struggling to survive now, the read moves back and forth in time as the storylines merge together. Martial arts and the history of various groups in Japan are major components of this book that blends the past and the present in a way that ultimately results in Reeves fighting for everything he holds dear in a violent final confrontation half a world away in Japan. Officially World War II may be long over, but some of the factors that led into the war are still at work in this very good tale where honor means everything.

Blade Of Dishonor

Thomas Pluck

http://thomaspluck.com/

Goombah Gumbo Press

http://thomaspluck.com/goombah-gumbo-press/

September 5, 2013

ASIN: B00F0N4G48

E-Book (also available in print)

370 Pages

Material supplied by the author for my use in an objective review.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2013

I Need To Start A Life Of Crime

as there is a lot....

Craving a Movie Fix?

Just discovered that my buddy Steve Fahnestalk who I used to work with on Tangent Online a couple of years ago is doing movie reviews over at Amazing Stories Magazine online. I had no idea. Amazing what you can find out on Facebook once you sift through all the anti this party or anti that one political party  nonsense on there. Nobody seems to have come to my conclusion that the parties are pretty much dead even and both suck.

Anyway, the most recent review is on a science fiction/horror movie called Grabbers and you can read it here. Apparently this is an alien octopus kind of thing with a nasty couple of features.

Plenty to read over there so go check it out.

Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: STARK HOUSE HOLIDAY SALE

Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: STARK HOUSE HOLIDAY SALE: STARK HOUSE HOLIDAY SALE Here's the skinny: last year, we offered a buy 2, get 1 free sale--this year we're making it better an...

Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Here's Your Black Friday Deal -- Only 99 Cents!

 Another good one so go get a copy already....

Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Here's Your Black Friday Deal -- Only 99 Cents!: Amazon.com: Too Late to Die - A Dan Rhodes Mystery (Dan Rhodes Mysteries) eBook: Bill Crider: Kindle Store    Everyone knew her. A lot of th...

Do Some Damage: Author Etiquette: To Thank or Not To Thank

Do Some Damage: Author Etiquette: To Thank or Not To Thank: By Steve Weddle Hello, Thanksgiving. First, let me thank everyone who came out to the NYC reading at The Mysterious Bookshop recently. ...

Big Daddy's Place: Saving Paradise - Mike Bond

Randy Johnson had to move his blog over to Blogger, at least for the time being, as he has an ongoing problem at the old place so one goes here....
Big Daddy's Place: Saving Paradise - Mike Bond: Pono Hawkins lived life like he wanted. A native Hawaiian, he surfed, wrote articles in surfing magazines, taught a group of foster kids a...

FFB Review: "The Rising of the Moon" by Gladys Mitchell--Reviewed by Patrick Ohl

Friday means Friday’s Forgotten Books with Patti Abbott.  The list will be here later today. In the meantime, set the leftovers aside and put your hands together for the return of Patrick Ohl…

Simon and Keith Innes are two young boys who are supremely excited: the circus is coming to town! It’s true that the festivities will be taking place on a Good Friday, but it only comes once a year and it should be taken advantage of. And in honour of Good Friday, the only reasonable thing to do is to sneak into the circus without paying!

The action begins on Holy Thursday, when the boys sneak out of their house to prepare their route for the following night. But suddenly they see a sinister-looking figure clutching a knife—a knife that looks rather like the knife owned by their elder brother, with whom they live… The next day, a grisly discovery is made—one of the circus people, a tight-rope walker, is found murdered, slashed to death by a Jack-the-Ripper-like murderer… and the bad news is, this is only the beginning.

The circus leaves the town without performing, but soon enough, the villagers cower in fear whenever the full moon is up… for it is then that the ripper strikes, killing women and mutilating their bodies. These events are all seen through the eyes of the two young boys—in particular, the narrator is none other than Simon, and the story is not so much a mystery as a coming-of-age-story. The two boys are thrown into the investigation right alongside the local police inspector and the witch-like Mrs. Bradley, who is sent down to investigate the deaths at the express wishes of Scotland Yard. She takes rather a liking to the boys. They deal not only with the murderer, but must also grapple with their mathematics assignments and they must answer a terribly important question: do Catholics only need to go to church once a year, and if so, should they convert?

It’s a good thing that the other elements in this book are so strong, because the mystery is, to be frank, bloody awful. The murderer instantly became obvious to me on page 9—and my edition of the book doesn’t start with page 1—it doesn’t even start with page 5! But it’s not enough that the killer is obvious—oh, no… we must also endeavour to make the ending as confusing and full of loopholes as possible! For instance, there’s a scene where the boys finally get to see the circus. They are told to keep an eye out for this-and-that while there, but of course they have plenty of fun in the meantime. Then they finally spot this-and-that, and they give the prearranged signal. What relevance does this have to the plot? Absolutely none. It’s never referred to again, and in fact, the ending directly contradicts the idea that this scene ever had any point whatsoever.

As for logical loopholes, if you want to see psychology at its most gloriously subjective, look no further than Mrs. Bradley in this book. The police start with a perfectly reasonable notion of what kind of killer they’re looking for, but Mrs. Bradley gives a completely different psychological profile. Who’s right? Why, Mrs. Bradley of course, for the excellent reason that she’s the detective and therefore can never be wrong. What made the police’s initial assumption so unreasonable? Well, Mrs. Bradley said otherwise. What was the significance of the moon? Well… God alone knows. At least I hope so. I wouldn’t be surprised if God was just as puzzled over this moonshine (pun perfectly intended).

All this sounds as though I hate the book… but nothing could be further from the truth. I have brought up all these problems in the book’s plot because I want to get these over with before I reach the end of the review—I’d hate to finish on such a severely negative note! This book is without doubt a masterpiece of writing, but don’t set the bar high on your mystery expectations.

The book’s best success is the writing from the POV of a child. It’s got that perfect mix of childlike innocence and that manner many kids have of wanting to be treated as grown-up. It all rings perfectly genuine. Simon is a wonderful character, and we see him forced to grow up with this murder investigation. We also see the steps he takes to avoid Sunday school and to protect his elder brother when it seems he might be the murderer. All this is most fascinating, and the relationship Simon has with Mrs. Bradley has a curious note of poignancy and tenderness to it. Mrs. Bradley is just as harsh, witch-like, and cackling as ever, but she teaches Simon a thing or two about life and she’s rather like a mother-figure to him.

The atmosphere meanwhile is brilliant. Just… brilliant. The slowly increasing fear and terror of the villagers… the way the tension is ratcheted up notch by notch… that final chase in the moonlight… everything adds up beautifully, and it’s hard to describe the overall effect. I’m at a loss of words.

So overall, I tend to agree that The Rising of the Moon is a masterpiece from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction… but you have to keep an open mind when the conclusion rolls around, because it is among the most ridiculous, plot-hole-ridden endings in detective fiction. It’s up to you to decide how you will take the ending. Maybe you will decide, as I did, that it doesn’t affect the quality of the book enough to lower it. Maybe you will decide to write your local Member of Parliament to protest. (It's not like they're doing anything important.) But if you’re willing to swallow the ending, you will see that the book is a very worthwhile experience!

Patrick Ohl ©2013

Patrick Ohl is a 20-year old Canadian crime fiction aficionado who enjoys hobbies such as taxidermy and runs a dilapidated motel in the middle of nowhere alongside his crazed mother. He enjoys relaxing in his subterranean evil lair while watching his favourite hockey team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, and will occasionally make chicken chow mein to die for. His life is accompanied by a soundtrack composed by John Williams, and James Earl Jones provides occasional voice-overs.

Another Thanksgiving Thought

I hope your Thanksgiving was a good one. 
 

 The pumpkins have it coming. That whole "Great Pumpkin" thing is one crazy cult deal.

Happy Thanksgiving 2013

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us......

What? You expected something normal and holiday appropriate from me?

Anniversaries and Thanksgiving

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I hope it is a wonderful day for you and yours. For us, it is bittersweet as it marks a two year anniversary. One we could have easily done with out.

Tomorrow, at around 1:30 or so in the afternoon, was when a number of doctors came in to Sandi's room at Baylor Plano and broke the news to us that she had cancer. Not just cancer, but two forms of aggressive Non Hodgkins Lympoma. The cancer was everywhere in her body, they believed, except for her brain and her jaw. They were "cautiously optimistic" and  were setting up things with the Plano branch of Texas Oncology to take over her case.

I can't tell you what they said after that or ever who their names were--it is all a blur.  I remember sitting there after they left staring at her and the tubes and bags hanging off of her and thinking how in the hell did this happen? First I had gotten sick, then she had a heart attack and strokes, knee surgery, and then this. Cancer wasn't one of the things we had worried about the last three weeks while she had dealt with a collapsed lung, fluid in both lungs, and a seemingly endless cascade of other issues.

Life wasn't supposed to go this way at all. Not that it ever really had, but right before I got sick in March 2010 it seemed like things were finally going better. That was the lull before the storm and we had no clue.

Last year, we thought she was still in remission at Thanksgiving and had no idea that the cancer was already back in a new and far more dangerous form. Thanksgiving was the last normal holiday last year. Soon after, she had a PET Scan that picked up something strange. Three different attempts were made to get to the thing, which started exploding in growth as the days passed. Finally, by late January, she knew what her new enemy was thanks to the pathology sample and that, without a doubt, she was terminal.

The last two years have been brutal in so many ways. Karl's ongoing situation, my own worsening health, a huge health scare with Scott, and the ongoing nightmare with Sandi and cancer. She is still here and fighting every day despite all the increasing odds against her. She isn't the only one as there are cancer patients all over the country and around the world who make that same fight--often not nearly as public as I have made Sandi's.

I did that because I was asking for your help. I did it because there are scammers out there who have ripped people off. I did it because some accused us of being those kind of folks. We weren't then and we aren't now. It is a brutal nightmare I would not wish on my worst enemy. You don't know what is like until you have lived it first hand.

It seems very appropriate tonight as folks gather to give thanks to again thank each and every one of you who have done so much for us. Many of you are online friends who know us by this blog and other sites and have never met us in person. Despite that, you have opened your heart, your wallets, your lives to share with us and we are truly grateful. We are very grateful for the support, prayers, donations and everything that has come our way the last couple of years from all of you. If it wasn't for you, we would have been out on the streets a long time ago. The fact that we are still here is because of your support in so, so many ways.

On behalf of all of us...Thank You.

Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Happy Hanukkah!

Bill Crider's Pop Culture Magazine: Happy Hanukkah!: Hanukkah - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia : Hanukkah (/ˈhɑːnəkə/ hah-nə-kə; Hebrew: חֲנֻכָּה, Tiberian: Ḥănukkāh, usually spelled חנוכה, p...

Mark Troy's Latest Giveaway

As posted elsewhere earlier this week....
 

Today I received the cover of The Splintered Paddle form Five Star. It's the first Honolulu Private Eye, Ava Rome novel, coming in June 2014. But you don't have to wait until June to read Ava's exploits. The Rules is a short story available now on Kindle. Now for the giveaway. You can view the cover of The Splintered Paddle on my website, http://www.marktroy.net. If you leave a comment about it, I will send you a Kindle edition of The Rules. It need not be a lengthy comment, just a word or two. Leave an address where I can email The Rules to you.

Mark Troy
http://www.marktroy.net
metroy@mac.com
The Rules, an Ava Rome mystery, now available in the Kindle Store
The Splintered Paddle, coming in June 2014

At the Scene of the Crime: The Keep-Your-Mouth-Shut Files #1: Mickey Spillane...

At the Scene of the Crime: The Keep-Your-Mouth-Shut Files #1: Mickey Spillane...: I’ve been blogging for more than two years now, and I like doing it. I use this blog to record my thoughts, feelings, and opinions on the...

Lesa's Latest Contest

As posted elsewhere yesterday.....

 This week, I'm giving away a copy of Libby Fischer Hellmann's suspense novel Set the Night on Fire. Set in Chicago, now and in the '60s, it's the story of a young woman who is stalked and discovers the roots of the stalking goes back to 1968. Details on my blog at http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com. Entries from the U.S. only, please.

Lesa Holstine  

lesa.holstine@gmail.com 

http://www.lesasbookcritiques.blogspot.com

Bloodwork

Bloodwork done--meds adjusted.

Back home and whipped.

Senior News--November 2013 Column

For some time 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 crowd 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 November 2013 column with the addition here of the relevant book covers…

The Coyote Tracker: A Josiah Wolfe, Texas Ranger Novel

Larry D. Sweazy

Thorndike Press (Gale, Cengage Learning)

ISBN# 978-1-4104-5400-3

Large Print (also available in paperback and e-book)

451 Pages

May 1875 finds Texas Ranger Josiah Wolfe back in Austin, Texas and very much in career limbo. Wolfe has been told to stay in Austin and await the arrival of Captain Leander McNelly who will decide one more time if Ranger Wolfe is worth it. Both Wolfe and the Rangers have a negative connotation these days and forces are moving to do away with both. Both also seem to get themselves in the middle of things through no fault of their own.

Wolfe’s friend and fellow Ranger Scrap Elliot is soon thrown in jail accused of murder. Not just the murder of one person, but the murder of several and a clamor is building to quickly hang the man. What role Scrap’s worsening situation plays in the recent string of events involving a jail break, a mysterious cypher, a strangely familiar horse, and other recent events is something Wolfe has to figure out in time to save the life of his friend.

Award winning author Larry D. Sweazy has crafted yet another outstanding tale in this long running series. More mystery in a western setting than a western in a western setting, it may not appeal as much to those who want the typical formulaic western fare. There is good reason why the novel received the “Spur Award for Best Mass Market Paperback” is very good.

Safe From Harm: A Sugar Land Mystery

Stephanie Jaye Evans

Berkley Prime Crime (Penguin Group USA)

ISBN# 978-0-425-25346-5

Paperback (also available as an e-book)

360 Pages

After a dinner with friends, Pastor Walker “Bear” Wells and his wife, Annie Laurie, come home to find their 15 year old daughter, Jo, home in her bedroom with the family’s large dog, Baby Bear, at her side. She is with, Phoebe Pickersley, a troubled child who was once Phoebe’s friend and is now dead. The fact she is dead in their house to be found by Jo automatically makes Jo a suspect. A suspect who, like most teenagers, isn’t going to willingly tell all and has her own mind as to how to clear her name.

Once again Texas author Stephanie Jaye Evans has created a very good book in this sequel to Faithful Unto Death Those who read this series in order will appreciate the character growth, complexity of situations, rich storytelling, and very good reading.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2013

Review: "Crochet One-Skein Wonders: 101 Projects From Crocheters Around The World" Edited by Judith Durant and Edie Eckman

Featuring 101 Projects From Crocheters Around The World variety is very much at work here in this nearly 300 page book. The projects are divided up into seven categories reflecting the weight of the skein. The explanation of those weights can be found in the glossary as are explanations of the techniques needed, abbreviations used, and other helpful information.  Instead of being at the front of the book as usually happens that informative stuff is at the back so that Crochet One-Skein Wonders begins immediately with the projects.

Eight projects are found in the opening section titled “Thread.” It can be something to be used around the house such as the “Blooming Blossom Coaster Set” on pages 8-10 or something to be worn such as the very pretty “Butterfly Necklace” on pages 19-21 among others.  In each case the name of the creator is listed along with the supplies needed, the directions, and at least one picture of the finished project. This same format is used throughout the book.

The “Lace Weight” section follows and features four patterns. Beginning on page 27 there are patterns for three scarves and one for a cowl featured here.

“Super-Fine Weight” comes next with 20 more designs. A number of them involve cowls and scarves, but other items such as “Flower Power Purse” (pages 57-58) and the “Shell Stitch Fingerless Gloves” (pages 65-67) are featured.

“Fine Weight” begins on page 90 and features 9 projects. More scarves and glove projects can be found here as well as the “Pebble Beach Headband” (pages 92-93) and the “Spring Garden Dress” (pages 99-101) and the cute “Eliot-the-Elephant Baby Bib” (pages 102-104) and others.

Starting on page 113 are the twelve projects that make up the “Light Weight” section. More scarves and headband projects can be found here along with others such as the “Sunflower Pillow” (pages 135-138) and “Napkin Rings” (pages 139-140) and the Green Water-Bottle Holder” (pages 141-142).

“Medium Weight” comes next with more than 30 projects.  Hats and a scarfs of various types are present here as well as ones for fun things like “Bernie the Bunny” (pages 226-230) and a Kindle Cover” on page 242.

10 Projects make up the “Bulky Weight” section of the book. A “Button-Flap Cape” (pages 245-246) and a “Handpainted Shoulder Bag” on pages 256-258 among others are included in this final project chapter.

Short bios of the designers/creators in the book, a glossary of techniques, yarn weight, symbols and abbreviations follows the final project chapter. A nine page index and an ad featuring four titles aimed at knitters and an accompanying ad for four other crochet books bring this well done book to a close.

Featuring project diversity and variety in skill levels, the 101 projects in Crochet One-Skein Wonders are sure to work for you as well as your family and friends. The projects selected by editors Judith Durant and Edie Eckman can be made for recipients of all age levels and would be treasured gifts.

Crochet One-Skein Wonders: 101 Projects From Crocheters Around The World

Edited by Judith Durant & Edie Eckman

Storey Publishing

http://www.storeypublishing.com

April 2013

ISBN# 978-1-61212-042-3

Paperback (also available in e-book format)

288 Pages

$18.95

Material was obtained at my local library for my use in a future review piece for my column in the Senior News newspaper.

Kevin R. Tipple ©2013

WHAT FRESH HELL IS THIS? (J.D. Rhoades' Blog): It's the End of the World As We Know It. Again.

 Save the date....
WHAT FRESH HELL IS THIS? (J.D. Rhoades' Blog): It's the End of the World As We Know It. Again.: The Pilot Newspaper: Opinion Oh, dear. It looks like the world’s ending again. This time, it’s the Vikings who are telling us that the En...