Twenty years earlier an evil person named Andrew Carlise came ...
355143
Twenty years earlier an evil person named Andrew Carlise came into the life of the Walker family. He tried to kill Dianne Ladd Walker and her young son Davey. Dianne fights back and both survive. Andrew is caught and sent to prison, while he is serving his time he meets someone else who has it out for the Walker family. Together the hatch a plot to get even with them but this time the Walkers young daughter is the target. This was an interesting story but i wasn't to keen on all the Indian stuff it kind of thru me from the story line.
3151551
An excellent and well written.  Very disturbing and horrifying stories of a serial killer.  One of the most disturbing aspects of the story is Ann Rule's (Arthur)  constant need to accommodate the murder.  She continued to have empathy for his plight and uncomfortable incarceration after she had proof that he committed the crimes he had been accused.  In the final act, she attempts to broker a deal to have the serial killer avoid prison and admitted to a mental hospital in exchange for his confessions. In my opinion she sold her soul to a psychopath so she could publish this book.
3674423
For years the Klansmen of Birmingham's Klavern 13, one of the most vicious Ku Klux Klan klaverns in the 1960s United Klans of America, men for whom the term "Have dynamite will travel" could easily have been applied, got away with the September 15, 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church, an African-American congregation at ground zero of the 1960s struggle for equal rights in what was "the South's most segregated city."  T.K. Thorne brings to Last Chance for Justice her considerable literary skills enhanced by the invetigative arts she developed as a Birmingham police officer, one who rose through the ranks to captain of detectives.  Fearlessly, she interviewed old klansmen and relatives of Kluxers along with detectives who finally soved the case.  It was NOT the Federal Government who got these rats, it was Southern cops and a Southern lawyer named Bill Baxley who were determined that justice be color blind.  Looking forward to T.K. Thorne's next book, one that will examine how Jewish and Christian religious leaders in Birmingham supported African-Americans struggling for their rights in the turbulent 1960s into the 1970s.

Earl Tilford
3170535
"The Billy Boy" documents the life and times of Billy Wright, a Protestant, loyalist paramilitary leader. Wright was initially a dedicated member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), until breaking away from the more 'moderate' UVF to form his own group, the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF).

Ultimately, Billy Wright was gunned down in a well orchestrated assassination by members of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) while he served time in the infamous Maze Prison. Most of this book is an investigation into the actual murder of Wright and makes a strong case for British state collusion in his killing. While the INLA were certainly the trigger men, the British government made sure the conditions were right inside the prison, allowing the hit to take place.

This book is not an overview of the war in Northern Ireland. It focuses squarely on the murder of Billy Wright. It is clear from the book that Wright was an obstacle to the peace process, was subsequently abandoned by his former Protestant friends for his unyielding, militant, political views, and targeted by his Republican foes for execution. Billy Wright was a Protestant sectarian murderer who lived by the gun and finally died by the gun. This book is but a single piece in the puzzle that was "The Troubles" and a must read for understanding the war in Northern ireland.
2932256
In 1975, Winter Garden, Florida was a small, one-horse migrant labor and truck stop town bypassed by the supposed prosperity brought to Central Florida by the Disney Company. Spared the rapicious raping of the  Kissimmee-St Cloud area, with its swamp draining killing of animals, Winter  Garden remained as it had been--a lower class white working community  dependent on trucking and citrus for its existence.
Enter William Thomas  Zeigler who, by the author's own description drove oldsmobiles and detested  rock and roll music. Unknown to many residents, the Zeigler family wealth  stood at just over one million dollars--a princely sum in the 1970s. The  quiet, modest veneer of the Zeigler family was broken by the existence of  sexual problems between Tommy and Eunice Zeigler. Two weeks before the  murder of Eunice, the couple stopped having intercourse with Eunice  threatening to go to a fertility specialist in Orlando. Rumors abounded  that Tommy was homosexual and a member of a sex ring of important local  men. The author points out that Zeigler commited two unforgiveable crimes.  One, he helped a black man retain a liquor license in the face of local and  state opposition. Two, he helped break up a loan sharking ring manned by  members of the Orange County (Orlando) Sherrif's Department. Later that  year, the Sherrif, Dave Starr, resigned under pressure and his chief  deputy, Leigh MacEachern, wne to jail convicted of charges of official  corruption.
Finch outlines in great detail the malfeasance of police and  prosecutors. First, sherrif's deputies trampled evidence at the crime  scene. Later, judges and FBI authorities joined in to complete a fait  accompli ensuring the swift journey of Mr. Zeigler to Florida's death row,  where he remains to this day. Despite having two of the finest criminal  defense lawyers in orlando--Ed Kirkland and Terry Hadley, Zeigler stood no  chance of even getting a routine continuance or investigator access to the  crime scene. Additionally, Finch outlines how key witnesses were not  interviewed nor called to trial leaving the reader no doubt that the fix  was in. Finch leaves the reader wondering an age-old question--how can a  nation that calls itslef a democracy allow such malfeasance in its criminal  justice system?
I have a special interest in this book having lived in  Orlando at the time of the crime and having visited the crime scene as  recently as last year. Finch has written an important, readable indictment  of southern justice.
3682924
The black sheep of the family returns home a cripple, after five long, intense years of serving his country...only to be treated with open contempt by his older brother.  This hatred toward him only intensifies as he struggles with the strong attraction he feels for his brother's intended.  To add even more stress to his life, he is asked for help by his new love-interest...to help find whomever is trying to murder her beloved twin brother.  Is the villain her soon-to-be fianc,  their angry, resentful cousin,  or someone outside the household?

This is a well written historical romance/mystery which I highly recommend.
3913130
Although written over 13 years ago it has some frightening parallels with what has happened to the presidency today.
453535
Le Trente-Neuf Marches / The Thirty-Nine Steps

Richard Hannay was visiting London in May. He had left Scotland at age six to work and find a small fortune in South Africa. Hannay was tired and bored after a month in London. At his flat a neighbor asked to speak to him in private, and asked for help. This stranger told of his travels in the Balkans and the things he learned about those who stirred up a revolution. Its all due to a conspiracy (money can be made on a falling market). But now Franklin P. Scudder knows too much to be allowed to live. An important foreign leader will visit London. He will be murdered by an Austrian and the evidence will point to Vienna and Berlin. Scudder told how he faked his own death! Hannay believed him, and sheltered him for days. When Hannay returned to his flat he found Scudder stabbed dead. Hannay now believes Scudder's story to be true. But Hannay will either be the next target or be charged and convicted for the murder. Life is no longer dull.

Hannay took steps to disguise himself and disappear. He found Scudder's notebook and tried to decipher its coded entries. Hannay must evade the police search and those seeking to kill him. The chapters tell of his flight and the events of his capture by the killers and escape. Buchan describes the country and the characters Hannay met. Some of the words are obscure ("burnside"). Hannay finally meets Sir Walter and learns more. The police will no longer be an inconvenience. There is a new surprise when Hannay returns to Sir Walter's London mansion. Hannay figures out who is the spy, and his method. The next step is to intercept and stop him before he leaves England with the secret information. Of course this story has a happy ending.

The 1930s film by Alfred Hitchcock changed very many of the details of this story, so the novel will be fresh and interesting to a reader. Note how a person can simply disguise himself by a complete change of clothes and hat. Dashiell Hammett also mentioned this in his "Red Harvest". People remember clothing better than a face.
863853
I read "The Mind of Adolf Hitler" back around the time that Ronald Reagan started campaigning for president. The book was written as a warning but I believed then and still do that the rabid right has used it as a blueprint to instill fascism in America. The author described the tactics the Nazis used step by step and the rabid right has followed every step faithfully. One of the first steps was to find a scapegoat, and they began by demonizing liberals for everything that has gone wrong in America.

These monsters have schemed and plotted for the last twenty five years, and now look where we are. They have found their Hitler.
2327676
The characters, events and locations featured in this book came to mind during a trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake, St. Catharines and Port Dalhousie in July, 2001.  Karla and Paul's house at 57 Bayview Dr. (Port Dalhousie) no longer exists...it was destroyed, the lot was renumbered as 61 Bayview Dr. and a large, contemporary, two-story house sticks out in sharp contrast to the architecturally-eclectic homes on the quiet street near the shores of Lake Ontario.  I talked to a neighbor who was upset that another house had been built on "that evil ground."  According to two store owners, the town's residents are still trying to heal from the terrible events that occurred "right under our noses."  One dress shop owner said that Karla's mother has occasionally come in and talks about her daughter as though she has done nothing wrong!  She recounted a time when Karla's mother left the shop just as Kristen's mother came in...everyone held their breath.  Whether or not Karla has been released from prison is unclear, but another store owner seemed to think that she went into a government relocation program in exchange for testifying against her husband.  I don't know if the Homolka's still live at 61 Dundonald St. in St. Catharines.  Karla's sister has changed her name and I believe moved away.  The Martindale Veterinary Clinic where Karla worked is still in business.  Kristen's family still lives in the same house.  The picturesque and charming areas of St. Catharines and Niagara-on-the-Lake are certainly an incongruous setting for the gruesome crimes commited by Karla and Paul.
3451209
Charles Manson Now is not what you may think it is.  The author takes you on the journey of his life.  Marynick decides to venture out of his home in Canada to meet the most notorious person known in the US, and possibly around the world.  This is not the same Manson story that has been told time and time again.  Marynick suffered a horrible childhood tragedy (like Manson) and hoped to learn why one person's suffering may lead them down a path of destruction and evil, while another's may take them on a completely opposite path.  This book is a great psychological mind bender that also offers a glimpse into one of the most disturbing minds in recent American history.
358247
I read "Reverse Guilty Plea" during the commercial breaks after the 5 pm news this evening. It was a quick read. The main character, Charles, was caring, stubborn, and gullible. He underestimated his sister. She was the most powerful member of their family. In the end, evil triumphed over good. But, I appreciate the fact that Charles reconciled his friendship with Sara, accepted her husband Perry, admitted his errors, and decided to use his tragic experience as a teachable moment which makes him a big person, which in another sense redeems him because others will learn a big lesson from his story.
4521465
The hatred of the french (in this case) against the germans and the Jews around 1880 to 1900 and more. Well nothing much has changed today if you look at sectarian gripes in the USA, and inter religions killings all over the world. Compared to this Novel nothing is new but in this particular case it is well demonstrated which in my view demonstrates almost whats going on  related to Democrats vs Republican instead working together for the people. But then who would write a story so well about the logical person to person get to gather.
3709907
Psychopathic killer copies child murders of 20 years ago.  The killer is committing crimes to get revenge on the chief inspector but no one knows why.  Some turns and twists definitely kept me turning pages.
3516385
This is a truly amazing story of dishonesty and brutality.  Livingstone fraudulently pretended to be a great missionary after having converted only one person who later rejected the Christian faith.  He then used this fraud to make large amounts of money and present a moral and financial argument for British imperialism on a grand scale in Africa.  Organizations such as the London Missionary Society do not come off well here as they participated in a giant fund raising scheme to "save" Africa "for Christ".  What is particularly damning is the relevation that Livingston originally (and correctly) knew that the destruction of the tribal way of life and its replacement by the Anglo Saxon versions of capitalism and Christianity would seriously endanger African lives.  Filled with greed and ambition, Livingstone later deceived himself into believing his own lies.

Probably more than any other person in the Victorian age, Livingstone helped create an "Axis of Evil" between big business, big religion and larger British dreams of empire that led to the "scramble for Africa" that caused the whole continent to be on the receiving end of one of the most brutal colonial conquests in history.
3485230
Well written story and late by 20 years. If anyone is interested, here's the full scoop on what really went down.
330637
The fact that this miserable waste of a life is still breathing boggles my mind.  AB Towery was my great uncle and she killed him, Im sorry, BUTCHERED him, the summer before I was to meet him for the first time.  I cannot wait to hear when they are finally going to be putting the needle in her arm. Unfortunately its too easy a death than what my uncle was put through.  He fought her till he could fight no more.  Theres a special place in hell waiting for her.