Cop Hater – Ed McBain

© 1956, New American Library, New York (1st Signet printing October 1973)

I knew that I’d found a copy of Ed McBain’s first 87th Precinct novel at this year’s book fair. Somehow it was misplaced for a couple of months, but I found it, and it is a superb introduction to the boys of the 87th Precinct.

In this early installment by the master of police procedural writing detective Steve Carella and company find themselves investigating the senseless murder of their colleague Mike Reardon. The early murder of this cop is followed quickly by the death of his partner David Foster, and culminating in the murder of Carella’s own partner Hank Bush. Who is the cop hater that’s killing off the 87th? Is it members of the gang known as The Grovers? Is it an old con, just released from prison after having been put away by one or more of the dead cops? Is it a recently released headcase? Or just a lunatic who has it out for cops?

This gem, besides introducing us to Carella and Lt. Byrnes, also provides some of the back story for Carella’s relationship with his wife, Teddy—a character who provides some relief from the mundane daily grind of police detection for both Carella and the reader. Again I highly recommend this installment from the 87th. Five reading glasses.

—Benjamin Potter, October 26, 2009

Golden Girl – Henry Melton

©2009 Wire Rim Books, Hutto, Texas

Henry does it again! Golden Girl is excellent Young Adult Science Fiction. This episode of “Small Towns, Big Ideas” is inspired by Oquawka, Illinois (and being a transplanted Illinoisan, this is exciting to me). Plus, tucked away in the pages is a nod to my old home for three years--Louisiana, MO!

Debra Barr loves her small town, and she’s trying to convince her possible boyfriend, Cliff, that it can be just exciting as his native Chicago. Trouble starts when she wakes up and finds herself in the dreary, dark future and is told it is up to her to save the world.

Golden Girl offers a wide assortment of genres for the avid reader: time travel, end of the world space fiction, with a little romance on the side. Get ready for a twist or two that you didn’t see coming before the story is over.

As with all of Melton’s books so far, you can’t go wrong when you pick this one up.

Four out of five reading glasses.

—Benjamin Potter, October 8, 2009

Note: Some of you will notice the new disclaimer in the sidebar. Thanks to Henry for his research that keeps us honest.

Beyond Me: Living a You-First Life in a Me-First World – Kathi Macias

© 2008 New Hope Publishers, Birmingham

Kathi Macias’s biography lists mainly devotional and mystery novels in her list of works. Now she is spreading her wings, digging deeper, and challenging her readers.

Beyond Me takes a hard look at how Christ followers live in the self-centered society that permeates the world today. Each chapter tackles another facet of the selfish lifestyle that the world – and most Christians practice in the modern world. She includes a variety of meaningful illustrations straight from her own life, from her conversion experience, to opportunities she encountered in areas of ministry that she found herself as she grew in her faith. In addition she uses Scriptural bases to form her ideas about what believers should be about.

One of the helpful inclusions in the book are the end-of-chapter, think-deeper questions. These are designed to help the reader to evaluate their own place in the Christian walk, internalize the previous few pages’ material, and challenge the reader to apply the truths to their life.

Especially enjoyable was the treatment of familiar biblical passages such as the stories of the Prodigal Son, and the Good Samaritan. I would highly recommend this challenging read for anyone who is tired of living a mediocre Christianity. Others will want to avoid this book until they are ready to be convicted of their selfishness.

Four and one-half out of five reading glasses

—Benjamin Potter, October 8, 2009

“Become a New Hope Book Review Blogger. Visit www.newhopepublishers.com for more information.”

Bread – Ed McBain

© 1974, Avon Books, New York (1st Avon printing July 1987)

At least part of the boys from the 87th Precinct are at it again. Bread is set in August just after Steve Carella has returned from vacation, and it seems that almost everyone else has left for theirs. In the heat of late summer, Roger Grimm has stopped by to see what progress has been made on the arson investigation that started before the lead detective went on vacation. Carella agrees to look into it (even though it’s not his case) and inherits the case when the crime becomes the murder of the “inside” man.

McBain has another police procedural winner on his hand with Bread. This one includes two fires, two murders, a beating, and a look at racism from the policeman’s side of the equation.

Bread is a good summer diversion—or any other time for that matter. Four reading glasses.

—Benjamin Potter, September 30, 2009

The Turkey’s Treat – Marie Sanderlin Metroke, Victor Guiza (Illus.)

©2009 Outskirts Press, Parker, CO

Marie Sanderlin Metroke has been writing children’s stories for three decades. And this short fun number shows why she keeps on doing it.

Bespectacled Jeffrey Watson can’t wait for Christmas. It means Christmas trees and turkey dinners. But a sudden onslaught of snow threatens his traditions. Even so, Mom and Dad and sister, Tammy, together with Jeff, jump into the car to get first a tree and then stop at the supermarket for some last minute groceries. That is when the chaos begins with Jeffrey and a prize turkey right in the middle of it.

The artwork and the Christmas sentiment are both magnificent in this little treasure. There are a few hiccups along the way if you are expecting to reach the suggested 9-12 year old target audience (such as using names like four-eyes to describe the hero of the story). Otherwise, this is a great story to get you in the mood for Christmas fun and Christmas dinner.

Four reading glasses.

—Benjamin Potter September 25, 2009

Called and Accountable – Henry and Norman Blackaby

© 2007 New Hope Publishers, Birmingham

Henry Blackaby has been a favorite of mine since I studied Experiencing God the first time some 20 years ago. Now he has teamed up with his son Norman to compile and expand the material in his study Called and Accountable: Discovering Your Place in God’s Eternal Purpose. In six short chapters, the Blackabies wrestle with the major questions of a Christ-follower’s calling:

• Why does God call us?
• What is a call?
• Who are the called?
• How am I called?
• When am I called?
• How do I live out the call?

Most believers struggle with just these questions, and we are all at some point on the spectrum in dealing with them.

One drawback to the book comes in most of the elder Blackaby’s writings—namely, that parts of the text draw heavily on the principles introduced in Experiencing God, and thus from time to time the reader feels he is simply reading an advertisement for or testimonial to Experiencing God. Otherwise this is an excellent primer on finding and living out one’s call to God’s kingdom purpose.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 reading glasses.

—Benjamin Potter, September 9, 2009

“Become a New Hope Book Review Blogger. Visit www.newhopepublishers.com for more information.”

Blood Moon – Frank Castle

© 1960, Fawcett Gold Medal Books, Greenwich, CN

When I review a book by an author that is new to me, I like to find out a little about them to share with my readers. When I picked up a copy of Blood Moon at the book fair earlier this summer, I didn’t expect to worry over the author too much; it just looked like a good western read.

Concerning the book, it was a good western read—not the best I’ve read, but a nice diversion in its own right. Dain Burnett (or Burnet depending on which page/paragraph you’re reading) is hot on the trail of the man and woman who suckered, robbed and killed his brother Hal. When he catches up to the wagon train they joined to escape the law deep in the Indian country of the llano, he finds burned out wagons, dead bodies, and a frightened woman. Through the rough Comanche country, Dain guards her for the sole purpose of turning her over to authorities at Ft. Sill so that justice can be served.

The action is simple and straightforward. It reminds me of typical western novels of its era. The tension of whether to become judge, jury and executioner to the woman, whether to stick to the original plan of turning her over for justice at the end of the trail provided they get there, or to give into the growing feelings he has toward her.

The book provides a good summer read with one exceptional image of battle between the red and the white man. Tucked toward the end of the story is this paragraph:

It was like a sudden thunder-clap from a cloudless sky. Before Burnett’s eyes unfolded what he had thought he would never see again—a cavalry charge.

So, who is this Frank Castle? Google revealed at first glance that he is The Punisher. I also found reference to a writer of books related to mathematics as well as a handful of western novels such as Blood Moon all written in the late 50s/early 60s. If you can shed some light, feel free to comment. And enjoy a copy of Blood Moon if you can find one. At three out of five reading glasses, any fan of western fiction will be satisfied.

—Benjamin Potter, August 26, 2009

Laugh and Live Longer – Paul W. Powell

©2008 Paul W. Powell, Tyler, TX

Just for fun, here’s a short review of a short book. Paul Powell was 17 years pastor of Tyler’s Green Acres Baptist Church. He then moved on to be president of the Annuity Board of the Southern Baptist Convention for 13 years. After retiring he joined the administrative faculty of George Truett Seminary at Baylor. His years of faithful service in the pastorate have been the impetus of most (if not all) of his 45 books. It was with some enthusiasm last week after hearing him speak that I contributed $5 to a worthy cause and received an autographed copy of this little jewel.

This, rather than his typical collection of sermons on a topic, is a collection of what I endearingly call “preacher stories.” They are those amusing tales of dubious background and limited humor that preachers like to throw into their sermons to see if anyone was listening. At any rate they are funny and they are clean. They won’t be paying the bills of any up-and-coming standup comedian anytime soon, but they will keep you entertained for a few hours’ reading.

I suspect, like me, you will find many to be old stand-bys that are well-worn. Also, you will find that the version you remember is slightly different, but still will bring a chuckle to your belly and a smile to your face.

Don’t worry over the veracity of the stories, just sit back and enjoy. Four happy reading glasses.

—Benjamin Potter, July 11, 2009

Finding Grace – Donna VanLiere

© 2009, St. Martin’s Press, New York

You may remember the name Donna VanLiere. She brought to life the group NewSong’s The Christmas Shoes (book published by St. Martin’s Press, 2001), the syrupy song about a boy who wanted to buy his mother beautiful shoes for her last Christmas. She also penned sequels as well as The Angels of Morgan Hill.

In Finding Grace VanLiere takes us on an autobiographical journey. Taking us through the tragedy of childhood abuse, and hidden guilt we struggle with Donna and her husband as they learn they are unable to have children and their subsequent blessing in adoption.

The double meaning of the title is not lost on the reader as we discover the VanLieres’ journey to their first daughter Grace (adopted from China) and Donna’s own struggle to find God’s grace in her life.

VanLiere shows her acumen for the written word in stories that make you laugh with joy and cry with sympathy. This book is a must read for those who face inability to have children and consider adoption as “plan B” or for those who are in the process of adopting children.

Four and one-half reading glasses out of five.

—Benjamin Potter, July 11, 2009

The Execution of Justice – Michael Phelps

© 2008, Blue Line Publishing House, New York

First of all, before you get all up in arms, it’s not that guy. No, this Michael Phelps is a former Chief Investigator for a law firm in Coral Gables. He’s also the co-author (with Ellie Janssen) of David Janssen-My Fugitive.

Sometimes when you find a book you really want it to be a great one. You like the author’s bio, his communication with you as a reader/reviewer. You like the plot and the story as a whole. You like the characters—especially the protagonist. But sometimes, as much as you want to like the book, you just can’t.

Phelps tells the story of a young Indianapolis police officer (Mike Walsh) who rises early in his career to the position of Detective where he is partnered with his original field training officer, Jack Lowell. The story opens as Officer Walsh and his partner respond to a Christmas-time domestic disturbance call that nearly claims his partner’s life. Six weeks later, he is called to the Robbery-Homicide division to find his promotion waiting for him. He discovers that he is a natural in the area of detection, and helps Jack solve a number of both robberies and homicides. There is just one case that keeps nagging at them. They have suspects, but no evidence to pin the crimes on them.

The story itself is good, and the manuscript reads fairly well. The central characters are pretty lifelike. So, what keeps me from glowing and gushing over this new writer that has graced my reading space? As many would like to say, “The Devil is in the details.” And Phelps has an abundance of them. While minutiae is admirable in an affidavit or a field investigation report, it makes for lackluster reading in fiction. Another quirk of the book is the attempt at dialect. Having struggled with this in my own writing, I know that it can be a bear to overcome—getting the right amount of speak/spell without overdoing it. Consequently, the dialectical conversations become more of a distraction than a portrait of the local color.

Finally, some of the plot movements make no sense. Walsh’s promotion, for instance, and the hot-again, cold-again relationship he has with his wife. Phelps makes a stab at explaining these unexplainables, but they are relatively, well, unexplained.

That said, I would like to take a gander at Phelps’ follow-up novel, Justice Delayed, if and when it finds its way to the streets, because he showed so much promise with this first fictional effort and I love to see writers grow in their craft. So I give The Execution of Justice three out of five reading glasses.

—Benjamin Potter, June 26, 2009