Ray's Reviews: Delightful, Deluxe Collection of Fine Michigan Photography by Todd and Brad Reed

 Beautiful images of our Great Lakes state abound in a new, over-sized, self-published, $110 book, “Todd and Brad Reed’s Michigan - Wednesdays in the Mitten.”

        Issued in a signed, limited edition of 3000 copies, this gorgeous photographic art book captures the amazing diversity of our state’s scenic wonders.

        The Ludington-based father-and-son team of award-winning photographers went on a 30,000 mile journey through Michigan in 2014, leaving every Wednesday to take pictures.

        There are many great images of our state’s visual splendor in this 224 page volume – most of them emphasize the spectacular beauty of the natural environment.

        Remarkable images include shots that were taken of the frozen Grand Island Art Caves near Munising and the colorful Northern Lights on Isle Royale.

        The photographers visited 74 of Michigan’s 83 counties during their weekly trips, capturing over 30,000 images, which were then reduced to 250 pictures that were used.

        Although there some shots of notable architecture, there are significantly fewer photographs that include people. Exceptions are the Christmas-time displays in downtown Rochester or the New Year’s celebration in Ludington.

        This well-designed volume is published with an emphasis on the colorful images, with no captions below the photographs that would interfere with the enjoyment.

        Brief thumbnail descriptions of the images are included in a separate grouping, after the pictorial section, offering detailed information about the photographs, locations and the identity of the photographer.

        This deluxe 8 pound book includes a separate DVD that contains a slideshow of all of the images, in case one wants to enjoy the photographs in a different format.

        The Reeds have participated in the annual ArtPrize competition in Grand Rapids; many of their images have been used in the PureMichigan! promotional advertising campaign, including calendars, brochures, billboards and online videos.

        This is the most deluxe book that the Reeds have published. Last year, “Tuesdays with Todd and Brad Reed: a Michigan Tribute” was selected as a Michigan Notable Book Award-winner.

        They have also issued other books of Michigan and Ludington photographs, including “Lake Michigan Point to Point” and “Ludington State Park: Queen of the North”.

        This is a heavy coffee-table-sized book that should be savored over an extended period of time – and nowhere near an overflowing cup of coffee!

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

Michigan Books and crime novels regularly in 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 August 23, 2015.

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Ray's Reviews: “Beyond Suspicion” by Catherine A. Winn

  

“Beyond Suspicion” by Catherine A. Winn (Poisoned Pencil, $10.95) is an edgy, young adult paperback mystery set in Whispering Springs, TX that should also appeal to older readers.

        It showcases 15-year old Shelby Palmer, who is a prime suspect in the disappearance of Josh, her one-year-old brother.

        Shelby had been looking forward to attending her first girl-boy party. Roger, her step-father, tells her that she can’t go, but has to take care of Josh instead.

        Frustrated and angry, Shelby puts the young child in a stroller and takes him on a trip to a nearby park. When a string of firecrackers goes off, Shelby is distracted and joins the crowd of people looking. When she returns, the baby is gone!

        Frantic, Shelby searches for Josh, but the stroller is empty, he’s nowhere in sight. She sees a white van leaving the parking lot; she’d noticed it before, cruising the neighborhood. She thought that the two creepy people inside were looking at property that was for sale.

        The police arrive, can’t find any sign of Josh, and take Shelby back for questioning. A determined detective believes she’s murdered him and hidden the body. He points to angry text messages that Shelby sent to her

best friend relaying her feelings about Roger’s decision.

        Shelby tells the police about the white van, but they don’t seem to pay much attention. The tension rises as the story gets more sensationalized by the media. Soon reporters take over their front yard.  Shelby starts

getting nasty text messages.

        The teenager decides to sneak out of the house, trying to find Josh on her own.  She meets Matt, a senior in high school, who has secrets of his own; he offers much-needed help as they try to figure out what really

happened.

        Shelby puts together small clues that the police have missed; soon she’s on the trail of the kidnappers, with unexpected and violent results.

        This carefully-crafted tale takes the reader on an emotional roller coaster ride, deftly handled by Winn, a former art and elementary school teacher.

        Her debut novel is the first book in the Whispering Springs mystery series; it’s the sixth young adult mystery published by the Poisoned Pencil, a new division of the Poisoned Pen Press.

        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 August 9, 2015.

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