Squeeze Play by Jane Leavy

In ten words or less: Woman sportswriter covers an expansion baseball team's first season.

Review: Before Jane Leavy wrote the excellent biographies of Sandy Koufax and Mickey Mantle, she wrote this novel loosely based on her experiences as a sportswriter.
In this novel, A.B. Berkowtiz is a woman reporter assigned to cover the first year of a new expansion baseball team in Washington, D.C. No one wants her in the locker room. The team owner is a televangelist who believe that a woman's place is not reporting on the team. The manager, the players, the wives, even the other sportswriters, are all giving her the silent treatment.
The Nationals are on a record-setting pace to achieve the worst record ever in baseball history, and A.B. Berkowitz is along for the ride.

Why bother? The language is raunchy, the naked ballplayers drink, pray, and have sex, and A.B. wonders if being a sportswriter is all it's cracked up to be. The baseball answer to Dan Jenkin's football novels.

It Happened One Knife by Jeffrey Cohen

In ten words or less: Legendary comedy team involved in decades old suspicious death.

Review: Elliot Freed is reopening his all-comedy movie theatre, Comedy Tonight, and his life is looking rosy. His ex-wife Sharon is even hinting that a reconciliation might be possible.
Elliot feels so optimistic he agrees to screen his young projectionist's film that was made as a college project. The film, a violent and bloody Western, is not to his taste, but a film distributor in the audience thinks he can sell it to a studio. But after the screening, the film goes missing, and everyone blames Elliot.
Elliot is busy planning a showing of "Cracked Ice," a vintage comedy featuring the legendary team of Harry Lillis and Les Townes. It's his good fortune to get Harry Lillis to appear at the theatre for the screening, and Les Townes makes a surprise appearance. Lillis confides to Elliot that Townes killed his wife years ago, and Elliot decides to investigate the death, which was ruled an accident.

Why bother? A healthy dose of show biz history adds to this mystery. Readers of Stuart Kaminsky's Toby Peters series should check this out.

Gimme Five! Movies for Black History Month

The Color Purple

An uneducated woman living in the rural American south who was raped by her father, deprived of the children she bore him and forced to marry a brutal man she calls "Mister" is transformed by the friendship of two remarkable women, acquiring self-worth and the strength to forgive. Starring Whoopi Goldberg and Danny Glover, based on the novel by Alice Walker.

Ray

Ray Charles went blind at the age of seven. Inspired by his mother who insisted he make his own way, he found his calling at the keyboard. "Ray' follows as he overcomes drug addiction while becoming one of the country's most beloved performers. Jamie Fox won an Oscar for his portrayal of Ray Charles in a film that has one of the best soundtracks ever.

Malcolm X

Screen version of the life of Malcolm X, who though his religious conversion to Islam, found the strength to rise up from a criminal past to become an influential civil rights leader. Spike Lee directed and Denzel Washington and Angela Bassett starred.

The Wiz

A discontented kindergarten teacher living in Harlem is lost in a blizzard and comes upon the wonderland of Oz. There she meets new friends, tries to find her way home, and discovers that her life is not so bad after all. Diana Ross stars with a cast that includes Richard Pryor and a young Michael Jackson.

Beloved

After Paul D. finds his old slave friend Sethe in Ohio and moves in with her and her daughter Denver, a strange girl comes along by the name of "Beloved." Sethe and Denver take her in and then strange things start to happen. With Danny Glover and Oprah Winfrey, based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Toni Morrison.

Don't Look Down by Jennifer Crusie and Bob Mayer

In ten words or less: Film director meets Green Beret for romantic suspense.

Review: Lucy Armstrong directs television commercials and is called in on a movie shoot when the director dies. The stunt coordinator is her ex-husband Connor Nash. Lucy's sister and her five year old niece are also on the movie set. A dangerous helicopter stunt forces the leading man, a comic actor who is an action hero wannabe, to call upon Green Beret Captain J.T. Wilder for his expertise.

Why bother? It's a typical Crusie humorous romance, with a lot of military equipment thrown in. For those who like their romances with cammo and high-tech gadgets.

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

In ten words or less: Vinnie's held ransom; can Stephanie, Lula, and Connie rescue Him?

Review: Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's boss Vinnie is being held for $786,000 ransom. Nobody likes Vinnie, including his wife, but Stephanie, Lula, and Connie will lose their jobs if the bail bond company goes under.
The trio plot to discover where Vinnie is being held, but they also have to capture a polygamist, a toilet paper thief, and a drug dealer with a pet alligator named Mr. Jingles.

Why bother? As in all Evanovich books, there are plenty of fried foods, donuts, wrecked cars, and inept crooks. Smoldering looks from both Morelli and Ranger and a cameo appearance from Grandma Mazur--what more could a fan want?

Gimme Five: Valentine's Day Mysteries

Cat Playing Cupid: a Joe Grey mystery by Shirley Rousseau Murphy

While uncovering a link between two murders located more than five hundred miles apart, Joe Grey, feline P.I., and his pals Dulcie and Kit, must stop a hate-filled crime spree on Valentine's Day.

A Catered Valentine’s Day by Isis Crawford

Bernie and Libby, owners of A Taste of Heaven, are partnering up with the Just Chocolate store for a Valentine's Day mega-event. When a client's mother dies, Bernie and Libby put their plans on hold to attend the funeral, only to become involved in a grisly mystery. A corpse has been found...in someone else's grave. The body belongs to Ted Gorman - the same Ted Gorman who co-owned Just Chocolate and supposedly died in a fiery car crash weeks earlier. Now, Bernie and Libby, working with Ted's widow, must sort through a mixed box of dark financial scandal, sticky family ties, and bittersweet passion to unwrap a killer with a ruthless centre...

How to Murder the Man of Your Dreams by Dorothy Cannell

After the Chitterdon Fells librarian is found dead among the stacks, the town invites hunky Karisma, a romance series cover model, for a fund raiser in her name. When he dies, PI Ellie Haskell, herself an avid romance reader, has work on her hands.

Loves Lies Bleeding by Susan Wittig Albert

Ex-lawyer and herb-shop proprietor China Bayles is investigating the mystery of retired Texas Ranger shot dead with his wife's gun...and at the same time trying to sort out some mysteries about her own relationship after she overhears a suspicious phone conversation...

Valentine Murder by Leslie Meier

In Tinker's Cove, Maine, sleuth and freelance writer Lucy Stone investigates the shooting of the town's librarian whose body was found in the library, minutes before a meeting of the board of directors. Police suspect all seven directors, including a former librarian. By the author of Back to School Murder.

January's Books

Once upon a Blue Moose combines three of Pinkwater's children's books about the mysterious moode who enjoys clam chowder, gingerbread, and works as a headwaiter in Mr. Breton's restaurant. The moose is also writing his autobiogaphy, which tells of his historic exploits. I love Pinkwater's books!

Wanna Get Lucky? by Deborah Coonts
Assault with a Deadly Glue Gun by Lois Winston
Bitter Harvest: Gordon Kahl and the Posse Comitatus: Murder in the heartland by James Corcoran
Free Fire by C.J. Box
Skinner's Rules by Quintin Jardine
Satch, Dizzy, and Rapid Robert: the wild saga of interracial baseball before Jackie Robinson by Timothy Gray
Fire Break by Richard Stark
Come Back by Richard Stark
The Highly Effective Detective goes to the Dogs by Richard Yancey
Flashfire by Richard Stark
Fast Cooking in a Slow Cooker by Joann Rachor
Duty, Honor, Victory: America's Athletes in World War II by Gary Bloomfield
The Last Boy" Mickey Mantle and the end of America's Childhood by Jane Leavy
Evil harvest: the true story of cult murder in the American heartland by Rod Colvin
Sweater Chop Shop: sewing one-of-a-kind creations from recycled sweaters by Crispina Ffrench
Christimas is Murder by C.S. Challinor
The Lord is my Shepherd by Debbie Viguie
Once upon a Blue Moose by Daniel Pinkwater

Early Spring?

We had a blizzard last night in Wisconsin, and the groundhog was under quite a bit of snow. But when Jimmy, the Sun Prairie groundhog, ventured forth, he didn't see his shadow. That means an early spring!

Cemetery Dance by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child

In ten words or less: Smithback is murdered; evidence points to a zombii cult.

Review: Bill Smithback, the investigative reporter who was featured in "The Relic," is killed in a horrific attack in his Upper West Side apartment. His wife, archaeologist Nora Kelly, witnessed the attack and recognized their neighbor, Colin Fearing, as the killer.
But as NYPD homicide detective Vincent D'Agosta and FBI Special Agent Aloysius Pendergast start their investigation, they discover that Fearing died two weeks earlier. Accusations of voodoo and zombies surface, and Smithback's story about animal sacrifices by a reclusive cult points to involvement by the members.

Why bother? Another exciting mystery--with a few paranormal overtones--in the Agent Pendergast series.

I'll never be French (no matter what I do) by Mark Greenside

In ten words or less: American visits France with girlfriend; loses girl, returns to France.

Review: Mark Greenside went to France with a girlfriend--he and the girlfriend parted ways but he fell in love with France. A neighbor convinces him to buy a house in a tiny village in Brittany. No matter that he has no money, can't speak French, and loves and works thousands of miles away in Oakland, California.
Even the simplest task is an adventure: buying bread, cleaning his rental house. And when he becomes a property owner he must deal with the bank, the insurance agent, and the local fire department, which removes a bee hive from his chimney.

Why bother? Amusing and insightful, it will appeal to readers who enjoy tales of Americans abroad.

Gimme Five! Celebrating Lewis Carroll's birthday

Charles Dodgson (AKA Lewis Carroll) was born January 27, 1832. Here are a few of my favorite film adaptations of his works.

Jabberwocky (1977)

At the darkest hour of the Dark Ages, in the kingdom of Bruno the Questionable, the dreaded Jabberwocky roams the land with his eyes aflame and his talons bared. Which brave knight shall slay the beast, save the kingdom, and win the hand of the fair princess? Starring Monty Python’s Michael Palin; directed by Terry Gilliam.

Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Alice, now 19 years old, returns to the whimsical world she first entered as a child and embarks on a journey to discover her true destiny. Directed by Tim Burton and starring Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter.

Alice in Wonderland (1999)

Lewis Carroll's famous story about a girl who falls asleep in a meadow and dreams of entering a magical world, filled with strange adventures and magical creatures. With an all-star cast including Gene Wilder, Whoopi Goldberg, and Christopher Lloyd.

Alice in Wonderland (1951)

An animated musical version of Lewis Carroll's tale about a girl named Alice. Alice follows a White Rabbit through a very small door and enters Wonderland, where she has many unusual adventures. Voices by Ed Wynn, Sterling Holloway and others.

Dreamchild (1985)

Exploring the somewhat darker and more mysterious side of the Lewis Carroll's classic book, the movie follows Alice Liddell (the book's inspiration) as an old woman who is haunted by the characters she was once so amused by. As she thinks back on it, she starts to see her relationship with the shy author/professor in a new way and realizes the vast change between the young Alice and the old. With Coral Browne and Ian Holm.

Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey

In ten words or less: Woman murdered in African village; police arrest wrong man.

Review: Quartey's debut novel is set in Ghana, where Detective Inspector Darko Dawson is sent to a village to investigate the murder of Gladys, a medical student and AIDS educator. Dawson has painful memories of the town of Ketanu, because years before his mother had disappeared after visiting her sister, who still lives in the town.
The author paints a vivid picture of life in Ghana--the businesses, the fetish priests, and the traditional beliefs in witchcraft and herbal healing. And a great mystery, with plenty of twists and turns. Edgier and with more grit than Alexander McCall Smith.

Why bother? This feels like the real Africa--the village, the people, the food are wonderfully described. The problems of modern day Africa--AIDS, police malfeasance, modern medicine vs. traditional healers--touch the reader. All in a first rate mystery, too.

Murder Can Depress Your Dachsund by Selma Eichler

In ten words or less: PI investigates a murder. Was the wrong brother killed?

Review: Manhattan private detective Desiree Shapiro is contacted by a lawyer friend on behalf of a friend. Byron Wills' son was shot the night before he was going to donate his kidney to his brother. Jordy was a saint, everyone told Desiree. If anyone had enemies, it was brother Cornell, who was hated by his ex-wives and business associates. Was it a case of mistaken identity?

Why bother? Although she's a licensed PI, Desiree has more in common with an amateur sleuth than other professionals. Even though the story is set in the big city, this mystery has the feel of a cozy. Fans of Sharon Kahn and Sarah Strohmeyer should check out this humorous series.

The Cinderella Deal by Jennifer Crusie

In ten words or less: Daisy poses as neighbor's fiancee to win him faculty position.

Review: Free spirit Daisy's upstairs neighbor needs a fiancee for the weekend. Linc Blaise has a job interview lined up at a college in Ohio, and the president expects his new professor to come with a faculty wife. Put on the spot, Linc asks Daisy to play the part of his wife-to-be, in return for a thousand dollars. She's behind on her rent, and grudgingly agrees.

Why bother? A reprint edition of one of Crusie's early romances, it's more sentimental than her current novels. You can guess the ending before you even crack the cover, but Daisy is a likeable character and warm fuzzies leap off the pages.

The Patient's Eyes by David Pirie

In ten words or less: Dr. Doyle asks mentor Joseph Bell to help solve crimes.

Review: When he was a young medical student, Arthur Conan Doyle studied with the famous forensic pioneer, Dr. Joseph Bell. It is widely believed that Sherlock Holmes was modeled on Bell, an innovator in the science of criminal investigation. In this thriller, the new Dr. Doyle asks his former professor for assistance in the case of Heather Grace, an attractive young woman whose parents died tragically a few years prior.
The tale combines elements of some of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries--a phantom cyclist, the murder of a rich Spanish businessman, a young woman with an inheritance that relatives and a fiance seem eager to prevent her from claiming.

Why bother? Casting Doyle and Bell in the roles of Watson and Holmes offers a fresh look at the crimes and violence of Victorian England. Author Pirie was a journalist, critic, and screen writer before he wrote "The Patient's Eyes," his first novel.

Bitter Harvest: Gordon Kahl and the Posse Comitatus: Murder in the Heartland by James Corcoran

In ten words or less: Right wing government protesters spread hate throughout the midwest.

Review: Not all terrorists are Islamic foreign nationals. Some are home grown tax protesters, racists, and anti-Semites. Gordon Kahl, a North Dakota farmer, and member of the right wing Posse Comitatus, was on probation for nonpayment of taxes. When he violated the terms of his probation, federal marshals came to arrest him. In the ensuing shootout, two marshals died. Kahl's adult son was wounded, and Kahl escaped and became a fugitive.
This book is based on the Pulitzer Prize nominated articles James Corcoran wrote for the Fargo Forum.

Why bother? An insight into the world of domestic right-wing extremists like Timothy McVie.

Gimme Five! All-time Favorite Elvis Movies

It's Elvis's birthday, and a fine time to watch your favorite Elvis film. Here are some of mine.

Change of Habit

Three women, keeping secret the fact that they are nuns, are assigned to a ghetto clinic to assist a young doctor who falls in love with one of them. Elvis...and Mary Tyler Moore? The silver screen's oddest couple comes together in this film. The music is forgettable, but the pairing of these two stars is so unlikely, I have to rank this as one of my all time favorite Elvis movies.

Bubba Ho-tep

Mud Creek, Texas, is about to get all shook up. When mysterious deaths plague the Shady Rest retirement home, it's up to "Elvis," its most sequined senior citizen and a black curmudgeon-in-chief, "JFK," to defeat a 3,000-year-old Egyptian mummy with a penchant with a penchant for sucking the souls from the barely living. No, Elvis isn't in this one, but there are lots of people who think they ARE Elvis. With Bruce Campbell, of course.

Elvis, That's the Way it is

Captures Elvis backstage, in rehersal and in concert at the International Hotel in Las Vegas in the summer of 1970. Includes 27 songs, including "That's alright Mama," "Little sister," "Love me tender," "Heartbreak Hotel," "Blue suede shoes," "All shook up," "Suspicious minds," and "Can't help falling in love with you."

Blue Hawaii

ElvisPresley plays an ex-GI returning home to Hawaii. His mother wants him to climb the corporate ladder, but his work plans focus on being a tour guide. Lush scenery and songs that include "Blue Hawaii," "Can't help falling in love," and "Rock a hula."

Viva Las Vegas

Musical about race car driver who comes to Las Vegas hoping to win the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Elvis at his peak and Ann-Margret matches him in talent and on screen presence.

The Bilbao Looking Glass by Charlotte MacLeod

In ten words or less: Annoying old woman bumped off;too many suspects to list.

Review: When Sarah Kelling visits her summer home after a long absence, she finds a precious antique looking glass in the hall. It doesn't belong to her, and no one else but a trusted caretaker has a key. Her friend--soon to be fiance--art investigator Max Bittersohn--calls the police, only to be accused of stealing the piece. When Sarah and Max attend a party at a neighbor's house, one of the hosts is killed--a spiteful gossip whose death is little mourned. Again, Max is accused of the crime. Even though Max's family is from the area, he is not one of the yacht club elite. Sarah and Max team up to exonerate him of the crimes, with the help of both his and her relatives.

Why bother? MacLeod is the master of the clever, cozy mystery.

December's Books

Killer Kaiju Monsters celebrates Japan's golden era of monster movies and TV shows. The most popular monsters are profiled, along with descriptions of their strengths, weaknesses, and powers. Even the most casual Western movie goer will recognize Mothra, Rodan, Gamera, and the King of Monsters--Godzilla. Less well-known monsters include Eyezon, Gigan, and Megalon. A bonus feature of a cut-out Karakuri Kaiju is included, but alas, it does not breathe fire. Terrific artwork throughout the book!

Everything Vegan Cookbook by Jolinda Hackett
Drive Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
Major Pettigrew's Last Stand by Helen Simonson
Life by Keith Richards
We All Fall Down by Simon Wood
Best Church Supper Recipes by Taste of Home
I"m Dreaming of a Green Christmas by Anna Getty
Holidays and Celebrations Cookbook 2005 by Taste of Home
Holidays and Celebrations Cookbook 2008 by Taste of Home
Armed and Dangerous by Michael Newton
Killer Kaiju Monsters by Ivan Vartanian
Civility Solution: what to do when people are rude by P.M. Forni
I See Rude People by Amy Alkon
Summer Garden Murder by Ann Ripley

Smart Moves: a Toby Peters mystery by Stuart Kaminsky

In ten words or less: Peters is hired to prevent assassination of Albert Einstein.

Review: It's World War II and a group of Nazis is setting up Albert Einstein as a traitor, hoping to assassinate him and black actor Paul Robeson. Einstein hires Los Angeles private detective Toby Peters to investigate and prevent the attempt on his life.
Peters is hampered by the incompetent dentist, Shelly Minck, who tags along on the trip to New York. Peters meets a comely switchboard operator who tries to trap him into marriage. Dr. Minck attempts to get Einstein to endorse a new line of false teeth.
An untalented actor, two G-men named Spade and Archer, and a hotel detective with an Irish brogue he turns on and off at will complete the cast of characters.

Why bother? A slapstick comedy of a mystery. Even if you're too young to get the author's references to ration coupons, scrap metal drives, and 1940s slang, it's a fun mystery.