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Roses Are Red by James Patterson I've been a Patterson fan for several years, following Detective Alex Cross through half a dozen novels and twice as many personal crises. But sad to say, with this latest Cross book, my loyalty is beginning to falter. Like too many series writers before him, Patterson is falling prey to the dreaded Starsky And Hutch Syndrome. You know the routine of love interest as plot device: good guy meets woman, bad guy harms/kills woman, good guy finally kills bad guy for revenge, after much personal angst. (I never could watch that show without screaming "Run!" at any female character who showed an interest in either Starsky or Hutch.) This time around, Cross's continuing love interest Christine (who was abducted in the last book and held for a year in sexual slavery in the Caribbean) is back, with Alex's year old son. All she wants is a peaceful life, one where she and her child not stalked by serial killers. Not too much to ask, I would think. But apparently it is, and Cross just can't seem to understand her concern. So Christine packs up and moves out of town, leaving the baby with Alex and his family. (I won't even touch that author theme.) To further torture Alex, his eight-year-old daughter (who has survived previous attacks on her life by the bad guys in previous books) develops a brain tumor, and he begins a relationship with a fascinating FBI agent. But don't bother screaming "Run!" She's too young to have seen Starsky and Hutch and pays for that ignorance in traditional fashion. If this convolution isn't enough to turn you off, there's the plot. Or rather, all of them. The final villain emerges from a puff of smoke in the last chapter, leaving the story open (of course) for a sequel. I could accept that, if there had been any logical basis for it in the story. But alas, I suspect the editor didn't like the ending and requested a rewrite, with this being the result. I'd rather believe that than view it as sheer laziness on the part of an author I'd come to respect.

The Blue Hour by T. Jefferson Parker   This procedural is a buried treasure I discovered at the grocery store. Tim Hess is in his 60s and undergoing chemotherapy for cancer when he is called back as a consultant on a grim case; someone is abducting beautiful women from shopping mall parking lots and leaving their bloodless corpses for the police to find. Since his status is unofficial, he is partnered with Detective Merci Rayburn, a tough up-and-comer in the department, but less than half his age.   Not only is the plot packed with unexpected twists and turns, but the relationship which develops between the two protags is rich and empathetic. Keep a box of tissues handy for the shocking ending.

Manner Of Death by Stephen White A mildly interesting story about a Boulder, CO psychologist who discovers that in a relatively short period of time, six men and women he interned with have met with bizarre accidents leading to their death. It held my attention but didn't have much impact.

Gideon by Russell Andrews A political thriller written under a collaborative pseudonym by editor Peter Gethers and mystery novelist David Handler (backing up the commonly held suspicion that editors are really searching for ghost writers for their own ideas, perhaps?), this tortured attempt at a novel strikes me as a thinly veiled bid for a movie deal. Conspiracy within conspiracy haunts a down-on-his-luck author when he is approached at his agent's funeral to ghost write a novel from a set of secret diaries. As one after another principal player turns up dead, the protag turns to an old love interest to aid him in an investigation-on-the-run from bad guys highly placed in the government. The compelling prose cannot compensate for the inconsistencies and contrivances, or for the the excursions over the border of believability. The cover of the paperback edition says NATIONAL BESTSELLER; what I want to know is, do the authors really have that many relatives?

The Harlot By The Side Of The Road; Forbidden Tales Of The Bible: This trade paper edition may be just another entry in the Millennium Bible-Rediscovery movement (aka pop theology), but it's a fairly high profile one. The author begins with modern retelling of the "forbidden stories" (Lot's daughters, Dinah, The Rape Of Tamar, etc.) which he claims have been buried and sanitized for centuries.    I must dispute that point, since I have taught several of them at the grade-school level and indeed, learned them myself at an early age. Still, I will concede that perhaps my experience is not fully mainstream.   If the reader is seeking new analysis and information, she is not likely to find it here.   It is mainly a recycled version of the thoughts previously (and more clearly, imho) expressed in the current generation by Karen Armstrong, Anita Diamant, Richard Elliot Friedman, Abraham Heschel, Jack Miles, Alicia Suskin Ostriker, and Hershel Shanks. But more bothersome to me is the unqualified acceptance of the work of discredited theologians, namely Sigmund Freud. Because of the detached footnote structure, this book should be read with a bible at one elbow, and a stack of reference materials at the other. It is clear from the first paragraph that the author has an hypothesis he seeks to prove, but by the last page, I still wasn't sure just what it that hypothesis was. Or perhaps his intent is not to prove a hypothesis of his own so much as to disprove the theories of every other writer? Over the course of 400 pages, he manages to insult just about everyone with his circular logic. He uses Scripture to dispute Midrash, Midrash to dispute Scripture, feminist theologians to dispute the rabbinical writers, rabbinical writers against the feminists, etc. ad nauseum, somehow managing to mock them all. The commentary reminded me of an adolescent following a parent around, gleefully pointing and saying, "See? You used the wrong fork, and even I know better than that. You're not as smart as you think you are!" Just as the parent would be ready to strangle said kid in a short amount of time, so was I ready to smack the author at several points. This is the same problem which annoyed me in his previous work Moses; A Life. Still, to give the author his due, he does produce a straight-forward account of the various redactors/authors of the Hebrew Scriptures, identifying their time periods and sociological influences in a non-judgmental manner. (This is not new thought, btw -- it's been mainstream analysis for over a century. I first learned it in 1978 in a college class.) Additionally, I agree with his belief that the author/editor of Judges was indeed a woman, though I disagree with his supporting material. Indeed, his writing on Judges is probably the best thematic analysis in the book, introducing some new unifying concepts. Ditto, on the collection of I and II Chronicles. So overall, I recommend this book but with reservations. As a springboard to further reading and study, it serves it's purpose. But a definitive, focused work it is not.

The Hidden Gospel; Decoding the Spiritual Message of the Aramaic Jesus by Neil Douglas-Klotz This book works from the premise that the Aramaic text of the New Testament of the Christian Bible is the authentic version and the Greek only a translation, rather than the accepted belief that it's the other way around. The author then takes the Aramaic and converts it to Hebrew, then examines it as a Midrash meditation, exploring every alternative meaning of each word, to reveal a gnostic/Sufi subtext. An interesting theory, one that held my attention for the first third of the book, but which then began to break down due to contrived connections and leaps of logic. As I began to question, I recommended the book to a Hebrew scholar friend, who confirmed my apprehensions about the final Hebrew to English translation, judging them as inaccurate and self-serving.   While Christianity has suffered by abandoning the concept of midrash--among all the sects, only Catholicism has kept the practice alive in their oral tradition--I don't believe this to be a definitive work. I do, however, hope that more scholars will tackle the subject, for it has fascinating possibilities for study. So my final verdict -- read it for the thought-provoking meditations, but view its "factual" references with a skeptic's eye unless you are well versed in both First Century Gnosticism and the later Pauline Doctrine. Contemplate, but don't take it "as gospel."

The Coffin Dancer by Jeffery Deaver   A great thriller (featuring Lincoln Rhymes) by the author of The Bone Collector. A twisty tale of 3 witnesses trying to survive the weekend before their trial testimony. The forensic detail is riveting. Pick it up when you've got a weekend to devote to it. I couldn't put it down.

A World Lost by Wendell Berry A gentle story set in Appalachia in the 40s, World Lost--a slim volume, closer to a novelette than a novel--is a coming of age story that quietly examines the intricacies of family relationships and the different ways each member copes with a tragic death. The didactic author voice that Berry is famous/notorious for is muted here, yielding to a mellower reflection without judgment. The characterization sparkles with insight and compassion as the viewpoint character describes the interaction between fathers and sons, husbands and wives, the family and the community. Indeed, I saw the world of my own youth in these pages, a small rural society where the class lines are so firmly engraved that they are invisible to those in the upper reaches and unbreachable moats to those in the lower. To my disappointment, however, Berry never does address these class issues with any self-awareness. Still, a rewarding read.

The Toughest Indian In The World by Sherman Alexie   The Toughest Indian requires a tough reader, no doubt about it. Alexie's most recent work, this collection of short stories sizzles contrasts. The rage is more tightly focused here than in any of his previous work as he explores the Indian experience in a wide range of social structures. He tackles issues of addiction, gender, cultural identification, history and the future, occasionally with paranoia and resignation but always with black humor and gritty realism. Read it once, then put it away for a month. Ponder, contemplate, absorb. Then reread it before you make a final judgment. It's worth the effort.

Indian Killer by Sherman Alexie If you're looking for a comfortable, entertaining read, this isn't it. On the surface it's a mystery/suspense whodunit, searching for the murderer of white men in Seattle by someone who leaves an eagle feather at the scene of the crime. But the book is far more than that. It's classical literature at it's finest. The external plot quickly becomes secondary to issues of racism (both liberal and redneck), poverty, mental illness, and search for identity in the Indian world. (I do not use the accepted label Native American in deference to Alexie's own preference.) Within a few short chapters he leads you into a surreal existence which quickly spirals to the bizarre while never knocking you out of the suspension of disbelief. By the end I was in a cold sweat, wondering just what had really happened. This book deserves at least 2 readings to absorb and probably 3. I can't say whether I liked or disliked it; on this scale, those concepts don't apply. Rather, I'm stunned, and view the world differently than I did before reading it. In my mind, that is the measure of a masterpiece.

Devil's Teardrop by Jeffery Deaver This thriller deals with a madman run amok on New Years Eve in Washington DC with orders to commit mass murder every 4 hours until his handler is paid 20 million dollars. Unfortunately, his handler is dead by the end of the first chapter, and there is no one to call the monster off. Interesting premise, but the plot twists border on contrivance. For the devoted Deaver fan only. Everyone else, read his later work.

Shock Radio by Leigh Clark   Only the premise was good--radio shock jock is tormented by a serial killer calling in to his live line. Notice I do not provide an ordering link for this book. There's a reason for that. It's so far beyond bad that I'm at a loss for an adjective to describe it. I give you the title only so that you may avoid it.

Beyond Recognition by Ridley Pearson After an abrupt opening--too abrupt, in my opinion, because I read the first chapter and put it away until I had nothing left to read--Beyond Recognition settled into fine Pearson style. Lou and Daphne are chasing a serial killer whose targets are divorced women with children and whose weapon is fire. This is probably the most complex book Pearson has done, and the longest, pushing the limits of tension and suspense. Beware of a new gut-twist to Lou Bolt's home life, though. It's a shocker.

The First Horseman by John Case John Case is the pseudonym for an investigative reporter from Washington, DC and the author of The Genesis Code.   This second novel is a big step forward from his last; it's the same tight prose and page-turning style, but is better plotted and definitely better edited. Again, he uses a disconnected prologue to launch the story, but this time I didn't make the connection until chapter 19, where I was supposed to. Frank Daly is a reporter; a quirky, complicated and likable protag. Annie Adair is a biochemical research scientist, and just as fascinating. I was particularly drawn to her character; she's not naive, but still vaguely childlike, as opposed to childish. These two are perfect match, with a warm relationship that grows out of common goals but very different methods. I was impressed by the author's handling of this relationship, and the naturalness with which he developed it. One raspberry, though - he avoided dealing with a love scene (even in narrative) by having it occur while Daly was under the influence of drugs, then finding out later, but still not remembering it. Uhhh... what's the point in this convoluted run-around? We're all adults here, so either write a love scene or sum it up in transitional narrative ... or just don't mention it at all. Possibly it was meant as humor; if so, I didn't get it. The plot revolves around terrorist use of the 1918 Spanish Flu virus aka, the Spanish Lady, derived from corpses stolen out of the permafrost on an arctic island. (You may remember reading of the actual existence of such a cemetery.) The science is solid, and the methodology fascinating even though it's not my specialty.   In this, it had none of the faults of The Cobra Event. The ragged pacing on the ending left a bit to be desired, but despite this I highly recommend this book!

Blast From The Past by Kinky Friedman This latest from The Kinkstah is ... interesting. It's a prequel to his other books, and covers Kinky's (the fictional character who may or may not resemble the author, for the uninitiated) first foray into detecting and his introduction to Ratso (number 1), Rambam, Judy, McGovern and several other continuing characters. The guest star is Abbie Hoffman, still underground but believing he's being hunted by right-wing nuts who are almost as far out there as he is. However ... Kinky's cocaine habit is far more entertaining in off-stage references to the past than it is when played out in real time. By page 50 I was ready to slap the protag silly. The author is more the sardonic commentator -- the Dennis Miller of the published set, if you will -- than a mystery writer, having lost the pretension of suspense about five books back, so nothing he does shocks me anymore. But the annoyance factor was high on this one. Still it was a decent way to kill the afternoon.

Dakota by Kathleen Norris This author "returned" to Lemmon, SD after years of living in New York City to take possession of a house and farm inherited from her grandmother, and set out to write a home-town sociological/New Age study. Unfortunately, she has little of the training and none of the objectivity necessary for the task. Seldom am I truly offended by a work of non-fiction, but this book overcame my scruples. Pompous, condescending and inherently biased, this book does a disservice to both the residents of the Dakotas and to the reader.   She appears unable to recognize economics as a driving factor in behavior, instead choosing to comment from the position of financial (and subtly moral) superiority about the "stubborn, isolationist and ignorant" people by whom she is surrounded. Her comparison of the Ohio farmer ("A globe on his desk is a reminder that he must think of world-wide supply and demand ... Dinner table talk is as apt to dwell on Brazil's weather as Ohio's. [They] subscribe to the Financial Times of London. Their bathroom reading is a magazine called International Economic Indicators..." ) and Dakota farmer ("who choose instead to believe in conspiracies by international Jewish bankers") ref. page 52-53, paperback edition floored me. That's only one example of the invisible economic bias, and this book is packed with such offensive bigotry. Yet the author is constantly disappointed in the residents' unwillingness to learn from her and become more like her. The ongoing theme, which I could not escape and of which the author is seemingly unaware, is What's in it for me? She wants it all -- New York on the plains -- and can't seem to get past her anger that the plains won't change to suit her.   Even by the end of the book, she can't forgive them for that, which to me is the saddest thing of all.

The Cobra Event by Richard Preston He may be a successful nonfiction writer, but this novel bombs. The seed of a potentially good story is hidden in there somewhere, but the author doesn't step down from the lectern long enough to tell it. If you crave snip by saw autopsy reports and Websters-like definitions that run for pages, this one's for you. I couldn't finish it.

Undercurrents: byRidley Pearson Lou Boldt has one (or is it two?) serial killers on the loose in Seattle, and video pornography may be the only link between the victims. Great!

The Angel Maker: by Ridley Pearson This one gave me nightmares. Stolen organ "harvests" and a truly psychotic killer.

Never Look Back: Ridley Pearson Not a Lou Boldt book. A story of international espionage and germ warfare. Would make a great movie.

Hammurabi's Code: Charles Kenney I picked this book up on the clearance rack at Hastings, and I'm glad I did! It starts slowly, with awkward prose in the first chapter but it's worth pushing past that to the good stuff. Fabulous, sympathetic reporter protag--on par with Pearson's Lou Boldt and Montanari's Nicky Stella. Pageturner! Unfortunately, it's out of print, so check your library and used book store.

Deviant Way: Richard Montanari His first book, a sexually charged thriller. Fabulous plot twists, good writing, many surprises. The cop-protag flirts with the dark side of himself as he chases a serial killer.

No Witnesses: Ridley Pearson Fantastic mystery/suspense about extortion via food tampering. Next on my list to read is everything else he's done. More info in my journal.

Violet Hour: Richard Montanari Excellent! Suspense and human drama. I'm hoping for many more Nicky Stella books! Worth buying hardback.

Rising Phoenix: Kyle Mills Excellent thriller--I'll be looking for his next book.

The Education of Little Tree: Forrest Carter I know there's much controversy surrounding this book and this writer, but if you can put aside your preconceptions and just bask in the words, it's a slice of literary heaven. I finished it with the suspicion that I never need to write another word; this book says everything I have to say.

Apaches: Lorenzo Carcaterra Interesting characters, but little structure or story. I'd pass.

The Genesis Code: John Case Fascinating premise but heavy-handed execution in places. Still an absorbing read, and well worth the time.

The Detective: Arthur Hailey Wordy and flat--I couldn't finish it. Don't bother.

My Dearest Enemy: Connie Brockway Great romance by a great writer. I was "fodder" for this one and revenge will be forthcoming. :)

A Free Man of Color: Barbara Hambly Excellent! A book I wish I'd written. Not to be missed.

Urban Cowboy: Myrna Temte Excellent! Nice romance with humor and heart.

The Gnostic Gospels: Elaine Pagel Fascinating presentation of academic material.

Fool's Run: John Sandford Great suspense, lots of twists. A good read.

Slicky Boys: Martin Limon Gritty realism of American military in Korea. Give this one a shot!

Island of the Sequined Love Nun: Christopher Moore Irreverent, hilarious, twisted. Now on my favorite author list!

* The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author and she would never consider implying they are also the views of any right-thinking person, true as that may be.

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