Notes and Thoughts in a Virtual World

Oddly enough, my English usage has changed in the last two months.

Your Linguistic Profile:

70% General American English

15% Yankee

10% Upper Midwestern

5% Dixie

0% Midwestern

Apparently, I'm speaking 10% less general English now.

Review first appeared on Epinions.com.

Title: CMT Most Wanted Volume 1
Date: 2003
Genre: Country (with pop/rock mixed in)

The compilation contains 15 country songs and an additional two songs in the form of music videos (actually different songs than on the plain audio section of the CD).

1. Artist: Mark Willis; Song: 19 Somethin’; From the Album: Greatest Hits (2002); Song Writers: Chris Dubois & Mark Willis; Review: “Saw Star Wars at least 8 times, had the Pac Man pattern memorized . . . I wouldn’t trade those days for nothing” – Remembering the past, when he was a kid in 197-something, then brings it up to 198-something. Upbeat. Good song. Good strong voice. Vaguely heard of him, but do not own anything by him. Interested in looking for one of his albums. Willis, from Blue Ridge, GA, had his first album release in 1996. Won a country music contest at age 17 and played in a club for five straight years. Currently has five albums out, with a sixth one out in 2005 titled “Live at Billy Bob’s” (this doesn’t include 3 compilation albums). Highest on Country Billboard: 3 (with “Permanently”). Highest on Billboard 200: 23 (also with “Permanently”). Run Time: 3:17. Rating: 4.38.

2. Artist: Jennifer Hanson; Song: Beautiful Goodbye; From: Jennifer Hanson (2002), her first album; Song Writers: Hanson, Patton & Johnson; Review: "Like the most amazing sunset you've ever seen . . . Beautiful Goodbye . . . We really had us a time . . .standing here watching you drive away" - An oddly upbeat song about breaking up. Great opening. Never heard of her before, and I am quite surprised, quite good singer (distinctive voice). The song is a little repetitive though. Ends weakly. Born in 1974 La Habra CA. Has only the one album so far (interested in tracking it down). Debut album: 125 on Billboard 200 and 20 on Top Country Albums. Run Time: 3:25 Rating: 4.32.

3. Artist: Joe Nichols; Song: BrokenHeartsville; From: Man With a Memory (2002) his 2nd album; Song Writers: Boudreaux, Daniels, Kees & Mevis; Review: “He wore the cowboy hat to cover up his horns” - I own the album this song is on, so . . . I’ve liked this song in the past, but there is a part of the song that really drives one particular listener up the wall (something around the part of the song where “not against her will” is sung (the chorus, I believe)). Deep strong voice. Somewhat humorous song about a woman running off with another man. Own two albums by him, and thought I owned everything by him but there are apparently four more albums by him out there (not sure I’ll track those down). From Rogers, AR. Highest on Country billboard: 3 (“Revelation”). Highest on Billboard 200: 23. Run Time: 3:49 Rating: 4.28.

4. Artist: Jo Dee Messina; Song: Burn; From: Burn (2000), her 3rd album; Song Writers: Tina Arena, Pam Reswick & Steve Werfel; Review: “Do you want to be a poet and write . . . I want you to burn for me” – Um, about a woman that wants someone to burn for her. Starts softly. Heard of her, seen videos, never owned anything by her. Good strong voice. Interesting, song begins to grow on me, though it is something of a fluff song. Song is about 1 minute too long. Not really interested in exploring her music further, at the moment. From Framingham, MA and born August 25, 1970. Currently she has five albums out (including one just released, I believe). Run Time: 4:30 Rating: 4.25.

5. Artist: Dwight Yoakam; Song: The Back of Your Hand; From: Population: Me (2003), his 15th album; Song Writers: Lee; Review: “When you give it up for God . . .” – Country/Religious song. I’ve heard of him, but never really listened to any of his songs. Good country sounding voice. Good music, not particularly my type of music though. Not interested in getting his albums (though might try a greatest hits cd; he has a rather large number of them). From Pikeville, KY and born October 23, 1956. 16 albums from 1986-2005 (“Guitars, Cadillacs, Etc., Etc.” through “Blame the Vain”). Three number 1 albums on the country charts (“Guitars, Cadillacs. . .”, “Hillbilly Deluxe”, “Buenas Noches from a Lonely Room”). Highest Billboard 200: 25 (“This Time”). Run Time: 3:05; Rating: 4.23.

6. Artist: Chris Cagle; Song: What A Beautiful Day; From: Chris Cagle (2003) his 2nd album; Song Writers: Cagle & Powell; Review: “Day one, I stumbled through hello on fifth avenue . . .” – About growing in love. Interesting, starts off sounding like a Vanessa Carlton song. Rather good song. Not as deep voice as a Toby Keith or Joe Nichols. I believe I might already have all his albums (all 2 of them), so this song would not lead me to rush out to buy more (though I believe it was the first song of his I heard). Highest Billboard 200: 15 (“Chris Cagle”). Highest Country billboard (“Top Country Albums” chart): 1 (“Chris Cagle). Run Time: 3:40; Rating: 4.36.

7. Artist: Cross Canadian Ragweed; Song: 17; From: Cross Canadian Ragweed (AKA: The Purple Album; 2002), their fifth album; Song Writers: Cody Canada; Review: “sirens wail and a flashing light nothing better to do on a Tuesday night . . . Running from it all” – A song about being 17. This group is one that I’ve really never heard of, though they seem to be very good. Quite interested in pursuing more of their music. Has a more rock feel to it, than country. Formed 1994 in Stillwater OK. Band name comes from member names (guitarist Cross, lead singer (and guitarist) Canada, and drummer Ragsdale; not sure how bassist Plato fits in). This alt-country band has seven albums out there (2001-2004; 2 released in 2001, 3 in 2002, and 2 in 2004). Highest on Country chart: 5 (“Soul Gravy”). Highest on Billboard 200: 51 (“Soul Gravy”). Run Time: 5:18; Rating: 4.35.

8. Artist: Rhonda Vincent; Song: You Can’t Take It With You When You Go; From: One Step Ahead (2003), her 9th album; Song Writers: Knight & Wright; Review: “Watch where you are standing when you close that door . . .” – slow sound, soft instruments, about a man about to leave and a woman asking him to think about it. I think I’ve heard of her. She has a voice somewhat similar to Alison Krauss’s. Good lyrics, good music, not my type of song. Not likely to explore further (though better on repeated hearings). This Kirksville Missouri born singer was born in July 1962. She currently has 10 albums out there for consumption (1990-2005). Never on the Billboard 200, and her highest ranked album reached #30 on the Top Country Albums chart (“One Step Ahead”). Run Time: 3:30; Rating: 4.17.

9. Artist: Trace Adkins; Song: Chrome; From: Chrome (2001), his fourth album; Song Writers: Smith & Steele; Review: “Her favorite color is Chrome” – good upbeat song. Don’t own all his albums, but I own this one and really like him. Good deep, strong voice. Sarepta Louisiana native Adkins was born on January 13, 1962. He currently has six albums out there (not counting greatest hits and the like). His albums have reached a height of #9 on the Billboard 200 (“Greatest Hits”), and #1 on the Top Country Albums chart (“Greatest Hits” and “Songs about Me”). Run Time: 3:22; Rating: 4.35.

10. Artist: Montgomery Gentry; Song: Cold One Comin’ On; From: Carrying On (2001), their 2nd album; Song Writers: Geiger, Mullis & Huffman; Review: “Weather man says it might hit 95, September is going to feel more like July, he's calling for a night that's warm and mild, but I think he missed it by a mile, he just don't know that you are gone, I feel a cold one coming on” – man getting over a recent break-up. Really good duo, though sometimes I think they might sound better separately. Heavy use of guitars. Long instrumental breaks (adds at least a minute to the song). Waiting for their next, sixth album. Highest on the Top Country Albums chart: 2nd (“You Do Your Thing”). Highest on Billboard 200: 10th (“You Do Your Thing”). Run Time: 5:03. Rating: 4.40.

11. Artist: Alison Krauss; Song: Maybe; From: Forget About It (1999), her 8th album; Song Writers: Kennedy & Madeira; Review: “Lying above the rest….” – I don’t know what the song is about. Soft song. Something about the voice is irritating, maybe because it is mostly good, and then she reach, and it becomes fingers on chalkboard time. Rather good instrument work.. Might borrow one of her albums . . . From Champaign Illinois (home of the University of Illinois), Krauss was born on July 23, 1971 and has released 11 albums (1985-2004). Highest on the Top Country Albums chart: 2nd (“Now that I’ve Found You: A Collection”). Highest on Billboard 200: 13 (“Now that I’ve Found You: A Collection”). Run Time: 3:41; Rating: 4.22.

12. Artist: Dierks Bentley; Song: What Was I Thinkin’ From: Dierks Bently (2003); Song Writers: Ruttan, Beavers & Bentley; Review: “Becky was a beauty from south Alabama . . . What was I thinking . . . thinking about a little white tank top sitting right there next to me . . .” – man picks up woman drives away, dad runs out with a shotgun and unloads it at them as they drive away. Strong song. Great voice. I own this Phoenix Arizona native’s first album, looking to purchase his next (“Modern Day Drifter” – 2005). Reached number 4 on the Top Country chart, and number 26 on the Billboard 200 chart for his first album. Run Time: 3:44; Rating: 4.48.

13. Artist: LeAnn Rimes; Song: I Need You; From: I Need You (2000); Song Writers: Matkosky & Lacy; Review: “da da da . . . I don’t need a lot of things, I can get by with nothing . ..” – just like the title notes, the song is about a woman that all that she needs is you. The thirteen year-old “next Patsy Cline” has all grown up now (she’s 23 in two months). Good singer, but heavy feeling song, over-pressured by instruments. I own greatest hits and most recent release (mentioning things like this to let you know if previously biased for or against a singer). Has released nine albums (not counting greatest hits and other compilations). Reached number one on the Top Country Albums chart with her first and second releases, and has added two more number one Top Country Albums. Her first album reached number 3 on the Billboard 200, and the second album reached number one (she has had one more number one album for the Billboard 200). Run Time: 3:45; Rating: 4.14.

14. Artist: Keith Urban; Song: Raining on Sunday; From: Golden Road (2002); Song Writers: Brown & Foster; Review: “It ticks just like a Timex, it never lets up on you . . .” - Nice instrument work.(somewhat the best part of the song; mix of country and rock). Good voice, not particularly deep. Not sure I’ll pursue the New Zealander’s work. He was born October 26, 1967. Six albums released. Heights: number one on Top Country Albums chart and number three on the Billboard 200 chart (both for the “Be Here” album). Run Time: 3:41; Rating: 4.24.

15. Artist: Rascal Flatts; Song: I’m Movin’ On; From: Rascal Flatts (2000); Song Writers: White & Williams; Review: “I’ve been trapped in the past too long . . I’m moving on” – um, a guy moving on. Nice opening instruments (then, gee, is that a man or a woman singing . . .). Own one album by this group, not bad, not going rush out for more of their work. Cousins Gary Levox and Jay DeMarcus, of Columbus Ohio, and non-relative Joe Don Rooney of Picher Oklahoma form the band that has currently released three albums. The most recent two albums have reached number one ranking on the Top Country Albums chart, and the most recent album has reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart. Run Time: 3:48; Rating: 4.18.

Overall Run Time: roughly 51 minutes

Songs: Overall, I ended up with an average of 4.29 stars.

Videos: Unfortunately, I could not get the videos to work.

CD Packaging: Contains name of song, which album the song is pulled from, the name of the songwriters, and the copyright date. No lyrics are provided.

Overall: Not a bad song in the bunch, though I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to some of the singers/groups. I like many different styles, and these songs are different enough that it is somewhat enjoyable to listen to as a regular selection in the play cycle (single artist album sometimes suffer because they just have the one artist, and while each song might or might not be good on its own, placed together they can become rather repetitive). So, I’d rate the CD/album/compilation 4.29 stars.

Technorati Tags: Music Country Music CMT Most Wanted, Volume 1

Originally posted on Amazon.com and Epinions.com (different versions).

Title: The Circle
Author: Peter Lovesey
Publication Date: 2005
Series: Detective Chief Inspector Henrietta ‘Hen’ Mallin (first book, there is something of a prequel as she appeared in the 2003 “The House Sitter” Peter Diamond book).

Characters:
The Chichester Writer’s Circle: Chairman: Maurice McDade (first suspect, had a book titled “Unsolved” about unsolved crimes about to be published by the publisher Edgar Blacker, who gives a talk to the Circle (and discusses their work) and is later killed (beginning of book)); Founding Ladies: Dagmar Bumstead (the unpublished romantic novelist under the name Desiree Eliot, most recent work: “Passion Fruit”) and Thomasine O’Loughlin (erotic poetry); The Married Couple: Naomi (witchcraft book, her stare frightens others, very nosy, writes up the activities on an internet website, calling it an e-book) and Basil Green (gardener, somewhat laid back); Secretary and Treasurer: Amelia Snow (proper older woman writing book about the famous Snows: “The Snows of Yesteryear” Others: Zach Beale (long-haired fantasy writer, “Madrigor: The Coming of the Warrior”), Sharon (“dumb blonde” who doodles and doesn’t talk much at the meetings; a hairdresser), Tudor Thomas (autobiography, name-dropper), Anton Gulliver (retired civil servant, constantly on the look-out for cliches and the like), Jessie Warmington-Smith (widow of an Archdeacon, technophobe, working on a book about tips from the past for living in 21th century); Newcomer: Bob Naylor (quick witted poems, and one of five that is investigating the matter (working with 2 others)).
The Police: Inspector Henrietta Mallin sent in when the local Detective wasn’t getting the job done (DI Johnny Cherry).
Other police: Detective Sergeant Stella Gregson, Detective Constable Shilling, DC Humphreys.
Minor Characters: Marcus Chalybeate (Lord Chalybeate of Boxgrove, ex-Mark Kiddlewick) - publisher of magazines in previous life, now big in health clubs and a politician. Naylor’s 14 year old daughter Sue. Fran, Maurice’s above seventy-year-old wife (Maurice is somewhere in his 50s). Fran had been previously married to a notorious criminal.
Special Appearance by: Peter Diamond: very brief.

Plot: A man (Maurice) that runs a writer’s circle is happy to finally get his book published, and invites the publisher (Blacker) to come give a talk to the circle (and make comments on some of the member’s work). Blacker says some nice things but is mostly dismissive of their work. Later Blacker tries to get Maurice to pay for the publication of Maurice’s book. Blacker, it turns out, is an undisclosed vanity publisher (vanity publisher = publishing house that publishes an author’s work with the author paying for the publication; undisclosed = Blacker hides the fact that he will require the author to pay for the publication until the last moment, right before publication). The book opens with Blacker’s death. Maurice is picked up by the police and various members of the circle attempt to investigate the matter. Dagmar, Bob Nalyor and Thomasine work together to try to prove Maurice’s innocence (with Bob the one mostly at the forefront, and Dagmar mostly in the shadows). Naomi and Zach attempt to investigate the matter themselves, while using the crisis as an opportunity to come up with an e-book (Naomi is gung-ho, Zach doesn’t particularly like the idea). Eventually the police step to the forefront in the guise of DCI Hen Mallin.

Review: This book is similar to two previous Lovesey books, “Bloodhounds” and “The Last Detective” (both in the Peter Diamond series). Like “Bloodhounds,” this book deals with a local social club. In the “Bloodhounds,” it was a club for readers, in “The Circle” it is a club of writers. The structure of “The Circle” is similar to the structure in “The Last Detective.” Both books follow the structure of having amateurs moving through some crisis in the first half of the book, while the second half of the book is taken over by the police. In “The Circle,” the main character in the first half of the book is Bob Naylor, a newcomer to the Chichester Writer’s Circle, who is somewhat pressured to try to prove the innocence of Maurice, who is accused of the murder of Blacker. The second half of the book follows DCI Hen Mallin’s investigation of the murders (more than one murder). Neither Naylor nor Mallin are the sole points of view in their sections, and Naylor’s point of view continues, somewhat at a lesser level, in the second half of the book.

The first half of the book is very good and riveting. When the book adds in DCI Hen Mallin, the book begins to become a little disappointing. When I read “The Last Detective,” I had a similar feeling, though there I liked the Peter Diamond character better than the Hen Mallin character in this book. The characterization of the main characters is outstanding, and even something of the personality of the first murder victim is revealed along the way. All of the writer’s circle members are given a satisfactory characterization, though the main characters have a deeper personality. The setting is well-laid out. The mystery is well-thought-out and interesting. Overall, I would give the book 4.38 stars.

Technorati Tags: Books Book Review Peter Lovesey The Circle Hen Mallin Chichester Mystery

Technorati Tags: Music Shakira Fijacion Oral Fijacion Oral Vol. 1

Originially posted on Amazon.com and Epinions.com (different versions).

Artist: Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll, of Columbia (born Feb. 2, 1977).
Album: Fijacion Oral Vol. 1 (Oral Fixation Vol. 1; the DVD/CD version)
Note: The Oral Fixation or Fijacion Oral album has been split in two, with the Spanish version appearing first on June 7, 2005 (and called Fijacion Oral, Vol. 1; and about seven years after her last all-new exclusively Spanish music cd). Oral Fixation Vol. 2 will be released November 2005 and apparently will be entirely in English.

Fijacion Oral, Volume 1: Music:

1. En Tus Pupilas (In Your Eyes?): Words by Shakira; Music by Shakira & Luis F. Ochoa Review: Nice soft song, good background music (instruments), good backing singing. This is a good song with good backing instruments. Different sounding than her famous hard-charging rock songs. The song grows on you, and seems to be better after returning to it after hearing the rest of the album. Run Time: 4:20 Rating: 4.36

2. La Pared (The Wall): words by Shakira; Music by Shakira & Lester Mendez
Review: Good background music, & singing; interesting song but seems to lack something (or, due to listening to the other version, it seems to have added too much electronic noise). If at first you don’t find a particular song to be as good as you remember Shakira can be, give the song some additional runs through the playing cycle. This particular one, after returning to it several times, seems better than I had originally thought. Run time: 3:17 Rating: 4.33

3. La Tortura (The Torture): with guest artist Alejandro Sanz; words by Shakira & Sanz; Music by Shakira & Luis F. Ochoa & Sanz
Review: Stronger song. Definitely different sounding from first two. Good beat to the music. This backing music to this song seems to sound closer to earlier Shakira rock work. There is certainly a rap-like quality to Sanz parts of the song. Run Time: 3:33 Rating: 4.27

4. Obtener Un Si (Get a Yes?/To Obtain If?): words by Shakira & Music by Shakira & Lester Mendez
Review: Interesting change from last song (as in, surprising). Softer overall feel to the song. Good backing instrument work. I believe this song might be better enjoyed during the first hearing, as subsequent hearings remind the listener how different this song (softer, more jazzy than rock) is than other of her work. Still, a rather good song (and the only one of two songs that did not have its initial rating changed). Run Time: 3:17 Rating: 4.35

5. Dia Especial (Special Day): with guest artist Gustavo Cerati; words by Gustavo Cerati & Music by Cerati, Shakira & Luis F. Ochoa
Review: Great strong song, good instrument work. Another song that is better after repeated trips through the play list (especially when that electronic wave starts up). Run Time: 4:20 Rating: 4.33

6. Escondite Ingles: Music by Shakira
Review: Good instrument work, but still a little too repetitive. Singing seemed shaky (odd, after further listening, I’m beginning to think that shakiness came from the poor CD player than the singer). Run Time: 3:10 Rating: 4.23

7. No: with guest artist Gustavo Cerati; words by Shakira & music by Shakira & Lester Mendez
Review: Slow song, but picks up nicely near the end. Good, interesting song, not much to say other than this is the second song that didn’t have its initial rating change. Run Time: 4:46 Rating: 4.34

8. Las De La Intuicion (Those Of The Intuition): words by Shakira; music by Shakira & Luis F. Ochoa
Review: Good opening beat, stronger singing on this song. Better with repeated listening (and it was the highest rated after first listening to this cd). Run Time: 3:39 Rating: 4.55

9. Dia De Enero (A day in January): music by Shakira
Review: Interesting, opening singing without background instruments, then instruments start (actually, after further trips through the play list, I notice that the opening does include some instrument work, but harder to hear than normal). Run Time: 2:55 Rating: 4.27

10. Lo Imprescindible (The Essential Thing): words by Shakira; music by Shakira & Lester Mendez
Review: Somewhat disco-like opening (continues, somewhat, throughout). Interesting song, somewhat different from the others, due to that opening. A rather good song, just gets better as it turns up on the playing list. Run Time: 3:55 Rating: 4.50

11. La Pared (Acoustic version) Review: Interesting version. This version seems to sound better without all that electronic noise in the way the first time I listened to it, then the version on track 2 seemed better. Both are good songs. Run Time: 2:33 Rating: 4.27

12. La Tortura (Shaketon Remix) Review: Ok, this time they’ve added more electronic noise. Oddly enough, I think I like this version better. There’s a certain beat that’s quite addictive. Run Time: 3:12 Rating: 4.38

Overall runtime: 43:38 (which includes some seconds of blank air that I didn’t include above)

Overall, I would rate the songs: 4.348

Fijacion Oral, Volume 1: CD:
Great packaging for the CD/DVD version of the album. The inside contains one disc (“This Side Up” is the CD with the DVD material on the back). The reading material includes a poster of her, and the lyrics to the songs (in Spanish). Overall I would rate the packaging: 4.80

Fijacion Oral, Volume 1: DVD:
DVD included a great music video of “La Tortura” an interview with Alejandro Sanz (guest artist on “La Tortura” and co-writer of the song) and a making of feature. Overall, I would rate the DVD: 4.34

Technorati Tags: Books Book Review John Maddox Roberts King of the Wood Alternate History

Simultaneously posted Amazon.com.

King of the Wood by John Maddox Roberts

Hring Kristjanson, son of the thegn of Long Isle, has been cast out of his religion (Christianity) and his nation (Treeland) for the crime of killing his half-brother (which he did, somewhat accidently, when filled with blood-lust during training). The book is something of an epic fictional biography of a man and his actions in North America, starting in 1485 when he is exiled, and ending with his death (wherever, whenever, or however that might be, I won’t reveal).

Roberts has created an alternate world which breaks from our own time-line in 995 AD. In 995 AD, some pagan Norsemen, refusing to be converted to Christianity, set sail and eventually arrive on what would later be named North America in our time-line. They establish a country of their own (which they call Treeland), stretching, mostly along the coast, from our Maine to our Virginia. Later pagans follow (including some fleeing Ireland). Then in 1066 AD, William the Conqueror invades and captures England. Instead of buckling under to his rule, the Christian Saxons flee to America and Treeland. After living together for less than roughly 100 years, the pagan south and the Christian north split into two separate countries, with the Potomac as the boundary (the Pagans take the name of Thorsheim and the Christians retain the name of Treeland). About five years after the split, a new settlement and kingdom is created in our Florida by Muslim Spain (not fleeing Muslims, but colonizing Muslims from Muslim Spain). Meanwhile, the Aztec Empire continues to be very powerful and mighty, maybe the most powerful empire in the North America of 1485. The natives that Columbus "found," and later settlers meet, continued to thrive in the altered world that begins in 1485 in the book (which is actually before Columbus’s 1492 voyage).

Those that have found a paperback copy of this book, maybe the first Tor printing of April 1986, might be confused by the blurb on the front cover: "Vikings clash with Mongol hordes and America is the prize!" The blurb is very misleading, and mostly incorrect. I don’t want to give too much detail away, but will note that the Mongol Empire does play a factor later in the book.

The book is very well crafted, the plot is strong, where other authors would spend hundreds of pages describing certain activity, Roberts quickly, effectively, and nicely conveys the same information in a much smaller number of pages. The characters are very well-developed. The description of the Aztec Empire and the Mongol/Khan invading army is very good, while the Treeland, Thorsheim and Muslim Empire is a lot thinner. The Incan Empire is barely touched on, just a very basic mention, without noting any names (empire on the southern continent). I don’t recall any magical creatures or the like, though the pagan religious practices described in the book, I suppose, move it into the Fantasy genre. The violence and descriptions of nudity and like activity definitely move this book out of the realm of books children should read. At the very least, the book should be treated as rating PG-13. Overall, I would give the book 4.38 stars.

Technorati Tags: Books Book Review Margaret Maron Bootlegger's Daughter Deborah Knott Edgar Award Mystery

First posted on Amazon.com.

Bootlegger's Daughter by Margaret Maron.

First book by Margaret Maron that I have read, and the first book in the Deborah Knott series (not counting the prequel). "Bootlegger's Daughter" is the winner of the Edgar, Anthony, Agatha, & Macavity Awards. There are currently eleven books in the series (including a prequel to "Bootlegger's Daughter" titled "Bloody Kin" and a collection of short stories).

Deborah is a female lawyer in Colleton County, North Carolina who has decided to run in the current judicial election (and is the daughter of a noted ex-bootlegger). While Deborah is running for said election, she has also been asked by a young woman that she used to babysit, Gayle Whitehead, to look into the death of that woman's mother, Jane Whitehead, 18 years ago. Gayle is less concerned with who killed her mother than as to why she was killed (not that she wouldn't like to know the killer).

The book opens with baby Gayle and dead mother Jane being discovered in a old mill (May 1972). Then quickly jumps up to the "present time" of April 1990. At the very beginning of the book, I was concerned that I might not like the main character, and some of the plot points and dialogue that came up. As I read further, though, the book grew on me, and by the end, I rather liked the main character. The main character, and a few others, are fully developed personalities, though the lessor characters can seem a little thin. The plot is solid, the mystery is well-designed and plausible, and the setting is well developed. Overall, I would give the book 4.40 stars.

A verison of this review appears on Amazon.com

The Burning of Rachel Hayes by Doug Allyn (also writes under the name Kenneth Shepherd).

Dr. David Westbrook has just moved to a small town in Michigan. While Westbrook is beginning to remodel the barn that he will turn into an animal clinic, he hears a cry for help. Flinging the paint can away from him (accidently), Westbrook rushes about ten miles over to where he spots a woman digging frantically into the dirt. Her boy has fallen down a hole in the ground (Westbrook is not first sure if it is a sinkhole or a well). While rescuing the boy, Westbrook spots a skeleton. The authorities rush to the scene (Westbrook had called 911 prior to attempting the rescue, the boy was in freezing water and he figured he couldn’t wait for the official rescue squad), and Westbrook makes note of the skeleton. The skeleton is brought up, and then strange occurrences begin.

This is the first book I've read by Allyn, though I've read many of his short stories and consider him to be one of the best short stories writers around. Unfortunately, Allyn's seven novels are hard to find, and I've previously only found the second novel in the Michelle Mitchell series (and that's a character I don't recall ever meeting in short story form; I've been trying to find the first book in that series before I begin it). Allyn is a very good writer, and one who I would tell to give up his day job (he is a member of a music group, which I, probably incorrectly, assume is his "day job" (the author information says a rock band, Devil's Triangle Rock Group - Co-Leader, singer/guitarist; though I thought that he also did Renaissance music)). It is hard to tell by just reading one of his novels, but it would appear that Allyn is very good in any length, and the music might be holding him back (though I know almost nothing about him, except for the music, the years in the USAF, the work as a book reviewer).

This is the first novel in the Dr. David Westbrook series, though there was a collection of stories titled "All Creatures Dark and Dangerous" released in 1999. While I really enjoy Allyn's short stories, the Westbrook character, and his stories, were not the ones that I particularly liked. I picked up the book because I really like Allyn's work (and they seem to go out of print quickly), but left the book lying around for a while, as I couldn't get myself to read a Westbrook novel. I'm very glad that I finally read this book, as it is very well crafted, the characters are fully developed, the plot is solid (it would probably be better to read the book without too much advance information), and for the most part, this is a very well-written book. The genre issue, though, might be a problem. Is this a mystery? A slice of life novel? A ghost story? This is a very good combination of many genre's (including more than just the three mentioned), but might not satisfy someone looking for one particular type of book (as opposed to a combo book). In the end, I would give this book 4.44 stars.

Technorati Tags: Books Book Review John Maddox Roberts The Princess and the Pirates SPQR History Rome Mystery

A slightly different review appears on Amazon.com.

The Princess and the Pirates, by John Maddox Roberts
9th in the SPQR series.

The murder mystery series follows the career of Decius Caecilius Metellus during the last days of the Roman Republic (this particular book occurs in 50 B.C., or as Roberts notes at the end of the book: the 703rd year of the city of Rome). The Metellus family are a prominent family, though on the decline.

The SPQR series and the Gordianus the Finder series (by Steven Saylor) both occur at roughly the same time period in history, so comparisons between the two are common. The SPQR series, as mentioned, follows a relatively a youngish man from a well-placed family, while the Gordianus the Finder series follows a much older man from the lower classes of soceity. Both men solve murder mysteries, and both, on occasion, meet up with historical characters. For instance, both Decius and Gordianus run into Cleopatra in their most recent novels. Saylor's book (The Judgement of Caesar) though, deals with an old man returning his ailing wife to her homeland, in an attempt to restore her health (and occurs in 43 BC, mostly in Egypt). Roberts book, on the other hand, deals with a younger man still trying to climb the political ladder, and meets up with Cleopatra before she is Queen (in roughly 50 BC), and before the Caesar-Pompey civil war (which is in the final stages in Saylor's book). Also, unlike Gordianus, who is married to an ex-slave (his own), Decius is married to the neice of Julius Caesar.

I rated Roberts book without paying any attention to my previous ratings for Roberts books, or recalling what I had rated The Judgement of Caesar. I was surprised to find out that I ended up rating Saylor's book 0.01 stars lower than Roberts book. I wasn't surprised, though, to find that I had rated the SPQR 9th book, in the currently nine book series, the highest rating of all the books in the series. On the whole, Saylor's series is better (which can be seen from the rating for 10th novel in his Gordianus the Finder series, which ended up being rated the 8th best book in his series - recall that it is just 0.01 stars below the highest rated book in Roberts series).

Saylor's 304 page 10th book in his series is very good, and very different from Robert's 9th SPQR book (though both are murder mysteries set in old Rome around the same date in time). I gave Saylor's book 4.38 stars.

Roberts book is about a youngish Senator on the rise in the 703rd year of the city of Rome (officially, the city of Rome was founded in 753 BC, take away 703 years, and you get 50 BC) who, after serving for two years as an aedile, is tasked by his family (actually by the Senate, the family has already set aside its resources to elect candidates and cannot, yet, push Decius up to the next position of power) to go off to fight the pirates springing up in the Eastern Mediterranean. Roberts book is very well-written, gripping from beginning to a weak ending. While not the best book Roberts has written, in my opinion, it is the best book in the series. Robert's book, for the most part, is tightly written, needing just 188 pages (the rest is a glossary) to tell a very good story. The characters are, for the most part, fully formed personalities. The plot is strong. I gave Robert's book 4.39 stars.