Ray's Reviews: John Sandford's Deadline

        Quirky characters abound in a pair of highly entertaining recent crime
novels.
        “Deadline” by bestselling author John Sandford (Putnam, $27.95) is the
eighth in his popular series starring Virgil Flowers, a veteran detective
for Minnesota’s Bureau of Criminal Apprehension.
        As usual, he’s not working on a case for his boss, Lucas Davenport; this
time he’s off to help a friend with a memorable name, Johnson Johnson.
        There’s been a series of dog-nappings in southeast Minnesota, and Johnson
needs help in recovering the animals.
        When a local reporter is discovered murdered, Flowers decides to
investigate that case as well, since he’s already on the scene.  As
usual, Flowers asks a lot of questions; he’s trying to determine the
reason behind the journalist’s death.
        As if that’s not enough, Flowers is helping out other authorities who
want to bust a major meth-dealing ring.
        Between dog owners who want to shoot on sight, dazed druggies and
murderous local conspirators, Flowers has his hands full, especially when
the body count rises.
        Sandford’s police procedural has a deft touch of dark humor; it’s full of
memorable and oddball characters.
        The author of 24 “Prey” volumes series and many other books doesn’t
disappoint his legion of fans. Sandford is in fine form, solidifying his
position as one of America’s finest crime fiction novelists.
        “Deeper Than the Grave” by Tina Whittle (Poisoned Pen Press, $24.95 hb,
$14.95 pb) is the fourth in her series featuring Tai Randolph and ex-FBI
agent and security specialist Trey Seaver.
        Randolph is trying to run an Atlanta gun shop that deals mostly with
civil war re-enactors; she inherited the business from her Uncle Dexter.
        A tornado causes chaos in the Kennesaw Mountain Cemetery, scattering the
bones of a Confederate hero. Tia joins in the search effort, making an
unexpected discovery of bones linked to a much more recent murder. Her
uncle is considered a suspect in that case and Randolph wants to clear
his name.
        Dark secrets emerge; unusual members of a prominent, wealthy Southern
family cause many problems and considerable havoc.
        Whittle has created an intriguing, carefully plotted, convoluted tale
with realistic and flawed characters. She showcases a pair of sexy,
likable investigators whose search for the truth makes them viable
targets.

        Ray Walsh, owner of East Lansing’s Curious Book Shop, has reviewed crime

novels and Michigan books regularly since 1987.

Find this book and other great titles

at the Curious Book Shop, an independent 

book shop in East Lansing, founded in 1969.

Curious Book Shop

307 East Grand River Avenue

East Lansing, Michigan

517.332.0112

This review was originally published by the Lansing State Journal on November 23, 2014.

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Ray's Reviews: Michigan Agricultural College - Campus Life 1900 - 1925 by Stephen Terry

“Michigan Agricultural College – Campus Life 1900-1925” by Stephen Terry

(Thunder Bay Press, $19.95) is a wonderful look at an important part of

the history of Michigan State University.

        It focuses on the postcard history of the campus in the era before it

became Michigan State College and later MSU.

        Subtitled “A Postcard Tour”, the well-designed, oblong book provides

hundreds of postcard images of a multitude of campus buildings and

events.

        Terry uses an excellent variety of views, often including the messages

from the individual who initially sent the postcard, such as “This is

sure some great place” or “am having a fine time.”

        The book explores the campus as it existed in the early twentieth

century, when the main entrance to the campus was from Grand River at

Evergreen Street. This was also where the trolley cars from Lansing

entered.

        Many postcard images are provided for numerous buildings, including the

U.S. Weather Bureau, the Dairy Building, Wells Hall, the Gymnasium and

the Armory.

        Images of buildings that no longer exist also appear, such as the old

Greenhouse, College Hall (which collapsed), the Engineering Buildings

(which burned in 1916) and the Woman’s Building (later renamed Morrill

Hall, which was recently demolished.)

        Terry provides fascinating graphics from commercially sold postcards as

well as the much scarcer real photo postcards, which were produced in

significantly smaller quantities.

        While much emphasis is given to the architecture of M.A.C., images are

included of the Red Cedar River, the Campus Gardens, the Arboretum and

Lovers Lane.

        There are also panoramic and “bird’s eye” views of the campus and events,

offering a general view of Laboratory Row and the Agricultural

Department.

        The last section of the book is devoted to the Smokestacks, Steam

Tunnels, Off Campus Housing and the 1907 Semi-Centennial celebration,

which drew 20,000 people to campus to hear President Theodore Roosevelt

deliver a speech.

        The postcards presented in this book come from the collections of the

author as well as Dennis Hansen and Jeffrey Kacos.

        Terry is a 1960 MSU graduate who worked on campus for 32 years. He served

as the University’s Senior Financial Officer before retiring in 1998.

        This is a great book for historians, libraries and dedicated MSU fans.

        Ray Walsh, owner of East Lansing’s Curious Book Shop, has reviewed

Michigan books and crime novels regularly since 1987.

Find this book and other great titles

at the Curious Book Shop, an independent 

book shop in East Lansing, founded in 1969.

We have a limited number of SIGNED copies available.

This would make for a lovely gift! 

Curious Book Shop

307 East Grand River Avenue

East Lansing, Michigan

517.332.0112

This review was originally published by the Lansing State Journal on November 16, 2014.

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Ray's Reviews: Michigan Author Edmund Messina "The Spattered White Coat"

“The Spattered White Coat” by Haslett author Edmund Messina MD
(CreateSpace, $14.99) is a mesmerizing collection of brief vignettes that
focus on the education and early experiences of a young doctor in the
mid-1970’s.

        The 320-page, well designed, self-published trade paperback comes with an
apt warning in the brief introduction:  “This book is not for the
squeamish, because the practice of medicine is not for the squeamish.
Certain events and behaviors in this book may be quite disturbing for
some.”

        It’s not as threatening as it sounds, but it’s good to absorb it slowly.
        Messina covers a lot of territory in this first part of his
autobiographical narrative, opening with his decision to apply for
medical school at age 27.

        He went to numerous admissions offices, only to be told the same thing –
he was too old.

        At the University of Illinois College of Medicine, he had the same
rejection, but a passing secretary told him that he might qualify for an
unusual special program.

        This chance encounter changed Messina’s life – the rest of the book
details a wide variety of intriguing and sometimes heart-breaking cases
that were observed by the inquisitive student, intern and young doctor.

        Messina’s education was primarily at the Michael Reese Medical Center on
the South Side of Chicago; this once great hospital that served so many
people has now been demolished.

        In brief and interesting vignettes, Messina describes his medical school
studies and his hands-on learning experiences. He deftly adds his own
insights, sometimes with a dark sense of humor.

         He discloses many challenges, including long, difficult rotations, lack
of sleep, putting up with other frustrated students and dealing with
stubborn higher authorities.

        Messina didn’t take the easy route, dealing with everything from gun-shot
and knife wounds as well as bad infections and incurable diseases.
        The doctor had a surprising cross-section of patients, including the
destitute, gang-members, pimps and even the exceptionally wealthy, like
film star John Wayne.

         He received great instruction from inspiring professors and doctors,
leading to his successful career as a medical specialist.

        Messina and his wife Joyce jointly founded the Michigan Headache Center
in East Lansing; the neurologist is also a Clinical Associate Professor
in the College of Medicine at MSU.

        He has been involved with numerous scientific and educational projects
and has written and directed documentary and dramatic films.

        Ray Walsh, owner of East Lansing’s Curious Book Shop, has reviewed
Michigan books and crime novels regularly since 1987.

Find this book and other great titles

at the Curious Book Shop, an independent 

book shop in East Lansing, founded in 1969.

Curious Book Shop

307 East Grand River Avenue

East Lansing, Michigan

517.332.0112

This review was originally published by the Lansing State Journal on November 2, 2014.

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