Ray's Reviews: Revisionary by Jim C. Hines, Libriomancer / Magic Ex Libris Book #4

   

  “Revisionary” by Holt author Jim C. Hines (DAW Books, $26) is the fourth book is his exceptionally popular Magic Ex Libris urban fantasy series.

        It again showcases Libriomancer Issac Vainio, his not-exactly-a-girlfriend Lena, (who’s a dryad), Nidhi and his flame spider Smudge.

        Vainio is a different role now, having revealed Magic to the world – but faces significantly more threatening challenges.

        The action begins in Lansing in the first chapter, where the state’s Governor and Attorney General, both anti-Magic proponents, are killed - by werewolves.

        But, before you get too far, it would definitely be a good idea to pick up and read the first three books in the series “Libriomancer”, “Codex Born” and “Unbound” before starting this one.

        It’ll allow you to follow the growth and exciting experiences of Vainio, who was initially a meek librarian in Copper River MI.

        Vainio is a member of the Porters - a secret organization whose members have the ability to reach into books and draw forth objects. There are limitations size-wise and otherwise – but it’s a fascinating concept.

        As you may well imagine, one would have to be quite selective – using the wrong type of item could cause major chaos.

        There have been few members of the group over the last five centuries for good reason – they don’t want their secret abilities to be known.

        Vainio has changed all that – and the response from around the world has been intense and varied.

        Government groups want to put potential supernatural enemies in prisons and internment camps – and other conspiracies abound.

        Vanguard, an organization made up of magical creatures and ex-Porter members, wants to create havoc by declaring war on the real world.

      The action really speeds up in the last third of the book, as Hines reveals a devious plan that will have life-changing results.

        Long-time fans of this excellent, entertaining series will be disappointed that this is the last book in the series. Hines feels he’s accomplished his goals and wants to move on to other creative challenges.

        The magical adventures of Vainio, Lena, Nidhi and Smudge will still offer fond, lingering memories for readers who’ve enjoyed one of the genre’s best contemporary urban fantasy series.

        The author’s official website is jimchines.com.

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

Michigan books, mysteries and science fiction novels regularly since

1987.

Find this book and other great Jim Hines 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 April 10, 2016.

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Ray's Reviews: Poem Journey by Joyce Benvenuto

  “Poem Journey” by Joyce Benvenuto (Thunder Bay Press, $17.95) is
subtitled “More Poems and Prose from along Old Grand River.”

        This is a sequel to her first book of poetry, “A Grand River: Poems for
Michigan”, (Thunder Bay Press, $15.95) published in 2012.

        But it’s more than just a sequel, Benvenuto has added many more vintage
photographs as well as sections of carefully-crafted prose.

        It’s a small, well-designed 110-page hardback, with an intriguing cover
design made of colorful street signs of areas along the flowing Old Grand
River waterway or the winding Grand River Avenue.

        Both books are organized similarly, following strands of history
geographically from Detroit to Grand Haven - and chronologically, from
early ancestors to present times.

        Benvenuto skillfully combines fact and fiction in her myth-making, noting
in her brief introduction “Reader be warned: I am a storyteller.”

        She describes many fond memories of her childhood, teen years and more
spent along the bustling roadway or quiet riverside.

        Benvenuto also writes smoothly about assorted experiences in her Michigan
travels in relevant areas, dealing with friendships and encounters made
during her explorations and journeys.

        One of the most fascinating sections is “Time”, involving a trip to
nearby Portland, to see if she and a friend might be able to locate a
long-and well-kept secret place – the burial site of Chief Okemos.

        They face many challenges, as the location is not highly publicized as a
tourist attraction and is far off the beaten trail.

        She discloses her not easily-duplicated method of discovery and shows
proof – a photograph that shows a memorial marker: “Grave of Okemos,
noted Chippewa Chief 1858 - Erected by the Daughters of the American
Revolution – 1921.”

        Benvenuto offers enjoyable escapism, deftly using vivid imagery to make
the past come alive with superb visualization.

        It is best to relax with both books, starting with the first, and savor
the words slowly – preferably under warm bedcovers or near the light of a
glowing fireplace.

        The author is a Haslett resident and MSU graduate, having taught in the
Haslett Public Schools for 18 years and taught creative writing students.

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

Michigan books and crime novels regularly since 1987. He grew up in

Northwest Detroit, about a mile from Grand River Avenue.

Find these books 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  March 20, 2016.

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Ray's Reviews: Kentucky Woman by Mike Brogan

        “Kentucky Woman” by Michigan author Mike Brogan (Lighthouse, $15.99) is
another exciting thriller that’s almost impossible to put down.
        In this strange and snowy winter season, that’s not altogether bad – it’s
sometimes tough to find good mysteries that won’t lull you easily into
sleep.
        Brogan’s latest fast-paced tale grabs you from the first page and propels
you through 80 short chapters – you’re liable not to get anything else
done!
        Ellie Stuart is a young law student in Louisville KY, whose adoptive
parents were killed in a terrible boating accident. She’s trying to track
down her real parents and is having little luck.
        When a student with a similar name is attacked nearby and Ellie is almost
run over on her bicycle by a man in a van, she begins to worry that
someone may be after her.
        She meets Quinn Parker, an injured football player who’s also studying
law at the University of Louisville.
        He gets assigned by his professor to do a research project. He’s to
interview the attorney in charge of the estate of Harlan Radford, a
self-made Kentucky billionaire, who left no major heirs.
        Quinn is going to visit an attorney in charge of the estate in
Manchester, near the area where Ellie grew up. She joins Quinn on a quick
trip there; they stop at the local court house to try to get more
information.
        Meanwhile, there are other attempts on Ellie’s life; they think they’re
being followed as unusual incidents occur.
        Ellie and Quinn make startling discoveries that lead them to believe that
she may indeed by the rightful heir of Radford’s fortune.
        The body count quickly rises as the pair continue their investigation. A
nasty villain, who has a lot to lose, is frustrated when his attempts to
kill Ellie are thwarted.
        Brogan deftly raises the tension level to the boiling point with many
plot twists that are both surprising yet believable. He utilizes the best
elements of a police procedural novel while dealing with clever killers
and break-through DNA scientific discoveries.
        The author, a former advertising executive who lives in suburban Detroit,
has also written a number of other excellent suspense novels, including
“Business to Die For”, “Dead Air” and “G-8”.
        This gripping novel could be made into a great movie!

Find these books 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 March 6, 2016.

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Ray's Reviews: The Sundown Speech by Michigan Author Loren Estleman

        “The Sundown Speech” by Whitmore Lake author Loren Estleman (Forge Books,
$24.99) is the 25th in his popular series starring hard-boiled Detroit
area private detective Amos Walker.


        This time out, most of the action is set in Ann Arbor, on or near the
campus of the University of Michigan.


        It’s not a contemporary case, but is a long flashback to one that took
place about a dozen years ago.


        Walker is hired by Dante and Heloise Gunnar, who’ve invested $15,000 in a
movie that was supposed to be produced in the college town. They gave
their money to Jerry Marcus, the independent film’s writer and director –
but he’s vanished.


        The film has disappeared too; the private investigator learns that it was
about aliens from a totalitarian planet who come to Earth to clone both
front-running U.S. Presidential candidates.


        After a few hours of work, Walker locates where Marcus has been living –
but finds him dead, his body stuffed into a cupboard, with a bullet in
his head.


        Dante’s arrested for the murder – and Walker is hired again to prove his
innocence.


        The hard-working private eye questions college student Holly Zacharius, a
witness who may have been the last person to see Marcus alive.


        The case quickly becomes more complicated – especially when shots are
fired at Walker and Zacharius.


        In his search for information, Walker deals with frustrated journalists,
hard-working cops and assorted business people, getting unexpected
results.


        He discovers a clever, deadly plot and gets immersed in a last-second
struggle for survival.


       Originally published as a novella in serial form in 2004 in the Ann
Arbor News, this excellent, carefully crafted crime novel has been
greatly expanded and re-imagined.


        Estleman, who was born and raised in Ann Arbor, has done a superb job in
re-creating the atmosphere of the college town of a dozen years ago. It
was a different time, when Border’s Book Shop was still a major player
and cell phones or computers were not predominant.


        If you haven’t read any of the Amos Walker books, it’s not too late to
start. While it’s best to read them in chronological order, they work
well individually as outstanding examples of enjoyable, hard-boiled
detective fiction.

        The award-winning author has written over 70 novels including other
Detroit crime novels and many Westerns.

        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 29, 2015.

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Ray's Reviews: Walk in Light by Michigan Author Larry Neitzert

 “Walk in Light” by Morrice author Larry Neitzert ($15.95) is an intriguing self-published novel that’s set in a nameless rural small town near Lansing in the summer and fall of 1952.

        It’s likely to be a bit on the controversial side, as it deals with racial prejudice, bigotry and stressful relationships during challenging times.

        The entertaining, semi-autobiographical tale is evocative of Mark Twain’s “Tom Sawyer” and “Huckleberry Finn” as well as Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

        It seems like an odd mixture, but Neitzert makes it work, smoothly capturing the atmosphere of the time, offering shifting narratives from viewpoints of innocents.

        Four young boys, Henry, Frederic Jacob, and Floyd are spending a seemingly idyllic summer - goofing off, playing and fighting with another.

        They perform farm duties, go to church and bible studies on Sundays and have created a couple of hideouts where they can get away from adult supervision,

        Soon they’re joined by a new neighbor, William, a black boy whose family is from Kenya. William quickly becomes part of their “gang”, helping them build a new tree house nearby.

        Conflicts arise when relatives and other church-goers don’t want to have anything to do with William’s family, even though his mother Sarah is now playing the organ at the church services.

        Bigotry abounds - the boys discover what the “n” word means and are distressed to hear it used frequently by angry townspeople.

        William’s father is living in Ann Arbor; he’s a minister who’s studying for a medical degree. William’s younger sister Elizabeth is shy; she’s fascinated by the young farm animals.

        When the boys are playing in the attic of the farmhouse, they make a puzzling discovery that leads to more disturbing questions. 

        The author is a polished storyteller, creating strong characters, flowing dialogue and an unexpected conclusion.

        Neitzert, who graduated from MSU, has taught for 40 years. He is an adjunct instructor in Social Studies, teaching history at Baker College in Owosso.

        The release of Harper Lee’s “Go Set a Watchman” has raised interest of books dealing with racism. Neitzert’s novel is one of those rare self-published books that should catch the eye of a smart editor and get significant, deserving, national recognition.

        He has written two other books, “Maggie’s Farm”, a novel set at MSU in the late 1960’s, and “Barn Stories”, an enjoyable collection of entertaining tales.

        Ray Walsh, owner of East Lansing’s Curious Book Shop, has reviewed 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 October 4, 2015.

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Ray's Reviews: Michigan Author Loren D. Estleman

 If you’re trying to escape the summer heat and get away from reality – maybe it’s time to discover Whitmore Lake author Loren D. Estleman.

        He’s got two new books out – one is a collection of short stories set in Detroit during World War II while the other covers a decades-long cowboy feud in the Old West.

        “Detroit is Our Beat” subtitled “Tales of the Four Horsemen”, (Tyrus Books, $24.95 hb, $16.99 pb) showcases four members of the Racket Squad who work for the understaffed Detroit Police Department while most of its regular officers are off fighting in World War II.

        They get into lots of trouble as they try to enforce the law, often getting satisfying and surprising results, even though they may not use traditionally approved methods.

        Lieutenant Max Zagreb, Sergeant Starvo Canal and detectives McReary and Burke face significant challenges. They are dubbed “The Four Horsemen” by eager newspaper reporters who are always looking for an intriguing angle.

        The characters were introduced in Estleman’s excellent 1998 novel “Jitterbug”; most stories originally appeared in “Alfred Hitchcock’s Mystery Magazine.”

        Estleman’s anthology is highly atmospheric; he deftly captures the attitudes and flavor of the time with great descriptions and snappy dialogue.

        The stories are strongly character driven; the award-winning author has definitely done his research. Estleman includes a detailed list of recommended sources for those interested in useful aspects of related

Michigan history.

        “The Long High Noon” (Forge, $24.99) is a captivating, enjoyable tale that’s mostly set in the historic Old West.

        It explores an exceptionally long, deadly feud between two cowboys, Randy Locke and Frank Farmer, which begins shortly after the Civil War and continues on for decades.

        Each gunfighter is trying to kill the other; Locke has a permanent limp as a result of an attempt by Farmer; while Locke shot off part of Farmer’s ear.

        The tale is told through shifting viewpoints that include slick western journalists and an entrepreneur setting up one final deadly confrontation.

        Estleman’s mesmerizing novel covers a fascinating era of Old West history, from post-Civil War expansion to its unprecedented growth and settlement.

        The author is a superb, smooth storyteller; he adroitly combines mythology, fact and fiction with touches of irony and humor thrown in for good measure.

        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 June 28, 2015.

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Ray's Reviews: “Michigan’s Supreme Court Historical Reference Guide” by David G. Chardavoyne

 Virtually everything you’ve ever wanted to know about top echelon of our
state’s legal profession is now available in an exceptional,
well-researched volume.

        “Michigan’s Supreme Court Historical Reference Guide” by David G.
Chardavoyne with Paul Moreno (Michigan State University Press, $34.95) is
a deluxe, well-illustrated book that’s overflowing with intriguing
background information and history.

        This new second edition is a compilation of two earlier books; the
initial 1998 edition was researched by Jill K. Moore, edited by Ellen
Campbell, with many biographies by Ann Lucas.

        “The Verdict of History” by Moreno, which first appeared in the Michigan
Bar Journal as a supplement in 2008, came out as a book in 2009.

        This current project was supported by members of the Michigan Supreme
Court Historical Society. It has a section on the structural evolution of
the court and additional information on Chief and Presiding Judges and
Justices.

        The first part of the book is devoted to a brief biographies of all of
the Michigan State Supreme Court justices from territorial days in 1803
through this year.

        The biographies include many images of the justices, taken from various
sources, utilizing original portrait paintings and clear photographs.

        Detailed information is offered regarding the birth and death of the
justices, their education, residence and political party affiliation.

        Facts are also provided as to how they became Supreme Court members, why
and when they left the court, and their predecessors and successors.

        Electoral information abounds – the entries explore their professional
career as well, covering other aspects of their lives, placing it in
historical perspective.

        Many Michigan Supreme Court justices have local ties, including Leland
Carr, Clifford Taylor, Michael Cavanaugh, John Fitzgerald, Thomas Brennan
and Steven Markman.

        The second half of the book offers an analysis of the twenty top
decisions of the Michigan Supreme Court, examining their importance and
placing them in historical context.

        While some of the cases date back to the pre-Civil War era, others like
“People v. Kevorkian: the Right to Die” may be more relevant.

        One section is devoted to elections, indicating candidates and results;
there are also factual charts, notes and an index.

        This is a great reference book, ideal for anyone who’s interested in
learning more about Michigan’s distinctive legal history.

        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 June 14, 2015.

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