Book Description
Chuck Pfarrer’s acclaimed Warrior Soul has been called one of the finest memoirs of modern Special Operations Forces. Now the decorated Navy SEAL makes his dazzling fiction debut with this gutsy, riveting thriller about the action-packed hunt for history’s most infamous rebel insurgent: Che Guevara.
The year is 1967. Paul Hoyle, a CIA paramilitary officer, has resigned from the agency an incident in Laos that left one man dead and Hoyle’s face scarred by gunshot. But Hoyle is soon drawn back into the agency’s fold, finding himself a “fallen angel,” an independent contractor the U.S. secretly sends to global hot spots.
Bolivia, the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, is a nation ripe for Communist infiltration and revolution. So the stage is set for a duel between world ideologies, with players from Washington to Moscow to Havana. After a Bolivian army unit is disastrously ambushed, Hoyle is dispatched to South America by a CIA concerned that another Vietnam may be in the works. With Cuban-sponsored guerrillas afoot and a corrupt Bolivian military opposing them, Hoyle finds the jungle a treacherous place where honor and morality are surrendered to the basic business of survival.
Though Che Guevara, the charismatic revolutionary who helped Castro take hold in Cuba, is believed to have been killed in the Congo–or executed by Fidel himself–a rucksack recovered after a deadly gunfight suggests that the Marxist rebel may be heading up this new, highly effective insurgency.
World-weary Hoyle draws ever nearer to the passionate revolutionary, as a struggle between worldviews is fought with automatic weapons in steamy jungles, veiled threats in government offices, and even exchanged secrets in hotel bedrooms–for at the center of this intense cat-and-mouse game are two captivating women who may hold the keys to these men’s destinies. Tania Vünke is Guevara’s crucial undercover operative and occasional lover, a conflicted woman with secrets entrusted to her by Guevara himself. And beautiful Maria Agular is the elegant mistress of the Bolivian minister of information, a tormented soul whom Hoyle dares to trust with both information and his heart.
Terrorism expert Chuck Pfarrer packs this electrifying plot with insider knowledge of intelligence tradecraft. Populated with powerfully drawn characters, Killing Che is a stunning re-creation of a conflict that sealed the fate of one of the twentieth century’s most controversial and complex political figures–a man whose renown continues to grow decades after his violent end.
Customer Reviews:
Best Novel of the Year!.......2007-08-09
In this masterful first novel, Pfarrer has lifted the doomed revolutionary to heroic proportions, a man who will die for his beliefs. Che's integrity is paralleled by the fictitious character of American spy Hoyle, his alter ego, whose musings tie the story together, and whose final conclusion - war is useless hell! - is shared by most readers.
Che (1928-67) understood this too but his iron-will brooked no retreat. Abandoned by all his allies, including Russia and Cuba, Che still hoped to convince the Bolivian pauper peasants of the necessity of fight. Their stupor is indicative of the axiom: it's better to live in a known hell than the unknown future.
The book is a feast of ideas and history. Subplots include wonderful love stories. Torture scenes are handled extremely well. No gratuitous violence.
This novel will take the reader back to the '60s, an exciting time in the history of the world and light years away from today's disgraceful America under the realm of a president/dictator who, like all dictators, maintains his power through fear. If the 35-year-old Che had triumphed in Bolivia would he have been as ruthless as his predecessors?
Can't wait to read Pfarrer's next novel. In the afterward, he lists a dismantled website for the book. Again, this is an exemplary book of historical fiction and I am a forever fan.
Killing Che.......2007-07-03
An excellent and extremely engaging story of a pure communist presented in a real and understanding way that depicts a man who had true values and used his revolutionary skills to, he thought, overthrow governments that were opressive.
Warfare and Love in the Bolivian Jungle.......2007-06-05
Chuck Pfarrer has written a unique novel, weaving together the facts and fiction of Che Guevara's last mission. The guerilla warfare scenes are breath-taking and real; surely only someone with Pfarrer's military experience could write with such authenticity. Che Guevara was a real person, and the reader often holds her breath wanting a better outcome for him than the one history has already given us. Pfarrer gives the reader a sense of Guevara's nobility and helps us to understand that the motives of those engaged in combat are not always clear cut.
As in real life, there is romance in unlikely places. Doomed love is more like it, making the surrepticious affairs even more poignant. But those moments are still lovely.
This is a compelling story, and the reader won't get much sleep until it's finished. I often woke up in the middle of the night, not unhappy because I could read a few more chapters of Killing Che before turning off the light again. Men will read this book for a lesson in war and learn about love. Women will enjoy the romantic chapters and learn why some men engage in combat. Something for everyone!
Vive Killing Che.......2007-05-23
Chuck Pfarrer has produced a beautifully written and exhaustively researched historical novel that follows a barely fictional CIA contract agent, Paul Hoyle, on his mission to engineer the liquidation of Che Guevara during his ill-fated 1967 insurgency in Bolivia. In Paul Hoyle, Pfarrer has written a noir character worthy of Hammett or Chandler, a good soldier with scant ethical compunctions who, as his time in Bolivia unfolds, learns that the United States is backing a horribly corrupt government and that he has been sent to kill perhaps the most decent man in Bolivia.
The education of Paul Hoyle begins when he falls in love with Maria Agular, the mistress of a Bolivian government official. "[Hoyle] knew he had compromised Maria by becoming her lover; in the trade, this was his handle, the means by which he could control her. ...But he did not control her--yet. Rather, what he had done was to allow her in."
Pfarrer paints a canvas similar to the movie "Syriana" in which unspeakable atrocities are committed and millions of people are robbed of fundamental freedoms because no one has the big picture. The world of espionage is powered by the belief that policy makers understand the long term global effects of their policies. This is what allows functionaries like Paul Hoyle to sacrifice their morals, the lives and reputations of others, and even their own lives in the service of their country. Falling in love with a source is a potentially lethal complication. Hoyle's "affection for [Maria] was a liability; intelligence officers are meant to use people, compromise them, coerce them, exploit them, and discard them... . Maria's life and Hoyle's were nothing. They were...mere flyspecks on a vast, intricate machine... ."
Similarly, Pfarrer portrays Che Guevara as a selfless instrument of worldwide communist revolution. Che's problem is that he is the real thing, a true believer. The Soviets are threatened by his Maoist tendencies, Castro by Che's drive to enact a worldwide revolution that might displace him, while the Bolivian Communist Party is threatened because it is as corrupt as the Bolivian government. Because he is so idealistic, Che can't fathom that the Soviets, Cubans, and the Bolivian Communist Party wouldn't be wholeheartedly behind him. In fact, these forces, together with the Americans, were out to kill him.
Writing an historical novel is a most difficult pursuit. The ending is already known. So why read it?
A first answer involves the force of Pfarrer's prose. He sets up each chapter with some of most stunning prose that can be found in contemporary literature. When introducing a chapter in which Hoyle and his main CIA handler, Neil Smith, try to convince the Bolivian authorities that Che Guevara is operating in Bolivia, we are treated to the following:
"Light slanted through the windows in Colonel Arquero's grand office. The clock ticked slowly, and Lieutenant Castaneda stood by the door, as immobile and unthinking as a piece of furniture. Hoyle and Smith watched the colonel hover over the folder placed before him. He examined each of the three photographic prints, holding them close to his shiny pince-nez spectacles, then checking each photograph against a typed transcript of the microdot. This he did with deliberate and self-conscious care, and the clock ticked through diligence to insolence and finally to absurdity. It was a blessing when Arquero's small hands pushed the photos and papers back into the folder and he squinted up from his blotter."
Still another reason to read Killing Che is because of the extensive historical and technical research that has gone into this book. Pfarrer's experiences as a former Navy SEAL (his memoir of that time is entitled, Warrior Soul, Random House, 2004) and as a former military advisor in South America are evident on almost every tension packed page.
Very knowledgable author delivers very impressive debut novel.......2007-04-08
Former Navy SEAL Chuck Pfarrer's memoir, "Warrior Soul", is one of the most well-written, fascinating, modern military reads out there, and his debut novel is just as enjoyable.
An historical fiction account of the hunting down of revolutionary and guerilla warfare legend Ernesto 'Che' Guevara, "Killing Che" is the type of novel that would make a great movie as well. Pfarrer brings his extensive tradecraft knowledge to bear, and his experience as a longtime SEAL operator helps give the whole book a heightened sense of realism.
Pfarrer's descriptions imerse you right into the heart of the Bolivian jungle-forests, giving you a genuine sense of what it was like for both the guerillas and the agents trying to find them, and his characters - both real and fictional - are very human and rounded out.
It's an intelligent, interesting read that isn't too technical, a well-paced read that has action without being action-packed.
This is the kind of novel you want to read again over time, and I look forward to Pfarrer's next work.
Average customer rating:
- LOVE IT
- Disturbing
- Looking for Bonnie
- my new favorite book
- Not as Good as "The Face of Deception" but entertaining
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The Killing Game
Iris Johansen
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0553106244
Release Date: 1999-09-01 |
Amazon.com
Eve Duncan returns as the popular heroine of Iris Johansen's latest suspense thriller, The Killing Game. After the murder of her daughter Bonnie and years of work as a forensic sculptor, Eve had hoped to find some solace in semi-retirement. But when her friend Joe Quinn informs her of the unearthing of multiple bodies, including those of children, Eve cannot resist getting caught up. Those bones may be Bonnie's, and somewhere out there is a dangerous serial murderer. With Joe's loyal help, Eve grimly sets out to find a killer.
Determined to remain objective, Eve begins to reconstruct the face of one of the victims. But the killer wants her to become involved, and manipulates Eve's life like a puppeteer. Terrified of the killer but spurred on by her memories of Bonnie, Eve takes a gamble with her life. She will do whatever the murderer demands: she will be the bait, betting her life for the chance to save others.
As a great suspense novel should, The Killing Game keeps the action and the plot twists coming. Eve's job as a forensic sculptor is the perfect profession for a suspense heroine: she has official access to technical information and the emotional flexibility to react to the drama. Eve's grieving over the loss of Bonnie--and over her romantic complications--helps keep the story complex and appealing. Turn on all of the lights and keep the phone nearby--you won't want to be alone in the dark while reading this one. --Nancy R.E. O'Brien
Book Description
A merciless killer on the hunt...
An innocent child in his sights...
A woman driven to the edge to stop him...
Iris Johansen, New York Times bestselling author of
The Face of Deception and
The Ugly Duckling, returns with the most daring, terrifying, and nerve-shattering novel of her career as she takes us inside the twisted mind of a psychopath...and the heart of a woman who refuses to let him win.
The killer knew Eve Duncan all too well. He knew the pain she felt for her murdered daughter, Bonnie, whose body was never found. He knew that as one of the nation's top forensic sculptors she would insist on identifying nine skeletons unearthed on a bluff near Georgia's Talladega Falls. And he knew that she wouldn't be able to resist the temptation of believing that one of those skeletons--the one belonging to a young girl--might be Bonnie's.
But that is only the beginning of the killer's sadistic game. Soon the calls begin to come. Sly, insinuating, chilling. Whoever is on the other end of the line is watching. He sees every move Eve makes. He savors her pain. He could strike at any time. But that's not what he wants--not yet.
In a heartbeat, Eve's world is turned upside down. Not even the two tough, powerful, and relentless men who would do anything to keep Eve safe can help her. Charismatic business magnate John Logan and hard-as-nails Atlanta detective Joe Quinn can't go where Eve must go. Because the killer wants her alone, and he'll use his ace in the hole to make sure Eve complies.
Now Eve Duncan must match wits with the most dangerous of psychopaths. A man for whom life and death is no more than a game. A killing game. And he won't stop playing until he's gotten the prize he wants most: Eve's life.
Download Description
A merciless killer on the hunt... an innocent child in his sights... a woman driven to the edge to stop him...
The killer knows Eve Duncan all too well. He knows the pain she feels for her murdered daughter, Bonnie, whose body has never been found. He knows that as one of the nation's top forensic sculptors she'll insist on identifying the nine skeletons unearthed on a bluff near Georgia's Talladega Falls. He knows she won't be able to resist the temptation of believing that one of those skeletons might be her daughter's. But that is only the beginning of the killer's sadistic game. He wants Eve one on one, and he'll use his ace in the hole to make sure she complies. And he won't stop playing until he claims the prize he wants most: Eve's life.
"Johansen is at the top of her game... an enthralling cat-and-mouse game... perfect pacing... the suspense holds until the very end."
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Customer Reviews:
LOVE IT.......2007-03-09
I LOVE IRIS JOHANSEN!!!! ALL OF THE BOOKS I HAVE READ OF HERS ARE GREAT!!!!! READ THEM, YOU WON'T BE DISAPOINTED!
Disturbing.......2006-11-28
A mad serial killer with a "score" of hundreds of brutal killings, mostly children, has taken the life of Bonnie, the daughter of forensic sculptor, Eve Duncan, and is now taunting her with messages and phone calls, threatening to kill another little girl who resembles Bonnie to a great degree. In a search for the bodies of the victims, Sarah Patrick uses her exceptionally clever sniffer dog, Monty, to locate the bodies and comes under great danger herself from this deranged madman. This is a very exciting, if disturbing read, with many insights into the warped mind of a monster who is totally without conscience or human feelings and made me horrified that such creatures probably DO exist in this world.
Looking for Bonnie.......2005-08-31
The killing Game is a sequel. I have not read the first book, but you can tell the writter expects you to have. Though I found not knowing all that transpired before was not an impediment to enjoying the book.
The heroine is Eve Duncan who is an foresnic sculpter. We learn that she has two men that would do anything for her. Quinn, the homicide detective, that gets her invloved in our story, by letting her know of the uncovered body of a young girl. A girl that may be here dead daughter. And Logan, a Bill Gates type, that wants only to shelter her. And has done a good job of it by having taken her to a private island in the pacific.
The numerous bodies found of course makes the news. And the killer not only see's that some of his kills have been uncovered. But that Eve is being brought in to help reconstruct one of the faces. Of course the reconstruction is to be of the little girl she thinks may be her daughter. But the killer steals the bones and calls Eve. He calls himself Dom and this is where the sick game begins.
Dom explains to Eve that he was the killer of her daughter. And that he was going to kill anther girl who could be her daughter reincarnated...It is a race. Can Eve solve all the puzzles that Dom sets for her and keep him intrigued. Or will he just kill the girl and her.
This book is a page turner and will keep your interest.
my new favorite book.......2005-07-03
This book is one of the best crime books I have ever read. It is exciting and thrilling.
Not as Good as "The Face of Deception" but entertaining.......2005-06-28
"The Killing Game" is the sequel to "The Face of Deception" (easier the most intriguing book of the series), which is actually the 2nd part in a longer series by Iris Johansen.
The novel is about foresnic sculptor Eve Duncan. Eve's daughter Bonnie was killed by a serial killer named Fraser who was executed a number of years ago, and the body of her daughter has never been found. After uncovering a political conspiracy in TFOD, she now lives with John Logan away from the public eye. When a friend of hers,
homicide detective Joe Quinn, finds the body of what appears to be a young girl, he brings Eve back to Atlanta to perform a recontruction on the skull. When she arrives, however, she discovers the skull has been stolen, then she recieves a call from a man who calls himself Dom. He tells Eve that he has stolen her daughters skull and that he in fact killed her and Fraser was a copy-cat killer who took the blame for it. Then he tells her about a young girl he wants to kill named Jane and now Eve feels that she must protect the girl (who bears a remarkable resemblance to Bonnie). Johansens "Eve Duncan" novels are interesting and intriguing. Like I said, TFOD was better than this, but this is an interesting and entertaining read. B+.
Average customer rating:
- Killing at its Best!!
- Fourth Book in the Series
- One of my favorites!
- Boring detail
- A dynamite book!
|
The Killing Hour
Lisa Gardner
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0553802526
Release Date: 2003-07-15 |
Book Description
Each time he struck, he took two victims. Day after day, he waited for the first body to be discovered--a body containing all the clues the investigators needed to find the second victim, who waited...prey to a slow but certain death. The clock ticked--salvation was possible.
The police were never in time.
Years have passed; but for this killer, time has stood still. As a heat wave of epic proportions descends, the game begins again. Two girls have disappeared...and the clock is ticking.
Rookie FBI agent Kimberly Quincy knows the killer’s deadline can be met. But she’ll have to break some rules to beat an exactingly vicious criminal at a game he’s had time to perfect.
For the Killing Hour has arrived....
Download Description
Each time he struck, he took two victims. Day after day, he waited for the first body to be discovered -- a body containing all the clues the investigators needed to find the second victim, who waited... prey to a slow but certain death. The clock ticked -- salvation was possible.
The police were never in time.
Years have passed; but for this killer, time has stood still. As a heat wave of epic proportions descends, the game begins again. Two girls have disappeared... and the clock is ticking.
Rookie FBI agent Kimberly Quincy knows the killer's deadline can be met. But she'll have to break some rules to beat an exactingly vicious criminal at a game he's had time to perfect.
For the Killing Hour has arrived....
Customer Reviews:
Killing at its Best!!.......2007-09-27
I loved this book. I had not read a book in years. Not until my wife kept talking about this book, and eventually going out and buying all of the Lisa Gardner books. My wife insisted that I read the book. Well, as you can see, I picked up the book and simply could not put it down. Next thing I know, I'm taking my wife's other Lisa Gardner books and reading those as well.
This is a great read. If you really like a suspenseful thriller, you certainly will enjoy this book.
Fourth Book in the Series.......2007-08-22
Lisa Gardner sold her first novel when she was just 20 years old. In 1993 she graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in international relations. She lives in New Hampshire.
It may seem strange, but the residents of Atlanta are not too keen on hit summers. For the last three years every time the mercury hit's the hundred out comes a vicious killers. On each occasion he takes two girls and leaves the residents terrorised. Each day, he waits for the first body to be discovered. That body contains all the clues the police need to find the second body. The second victim waits, prey to a slow but certain death, because the police are never in time. When another heat wave descends the game begins again . . .
One of my favorites!.......2007-06-17
I love murder mystery novels and this is by far one of my favorites!! Ms. Gardner wrote a fabulous, suspenseful novel that keeps you turning the pages. I read the book in under a day and as excited as I was to read it, I was bummed that I had finished it so quick! :) I definately would recommend this text.
Boring detail.......2007-03-18
The only thing that prevented my stopping at about page 70 was the story line. I wanted to find out how it ends. But it was hard slogging having to read every detail of what biologists, geologists and -ologists one has never heard of have to say about their fields. I think the author is much too proud of the fact that she does research and wants the reader to be impressed.
A dynamite book!.......2007-03-14
I love this book and recommend it to all those who love a good crime novel. The characters are interesting and solid and the plot has lots of good twists. Several people I have recommended this book to have loved it as well and are now reading more Lisa Gardner novels. Start it and it will keep you up all night until you are finished. Great mystery!
Book Description
"The best damned book from the point of view of the infantrymen who fought there."—Army Times
Among the best books ever written about men in combat, The Killing Zone tells the story of the platoon of Delta One-six, capturing what it meant to face lethal danger, to follow orders, and to search for the conviction and then the hope that this war was worth the sacrifice. The book includes a new chapter on what happened to the platoon members when they came home.
Customer Reviews:
Written as Remembered. That's Important.......2007-08-26
Like most who have written books about their Vietnam experience, I believe Mr. Downs has told his story as he remembered it. There are several books out about the war where it's obvious that the authors are trying their best to paint a picture he or she thinks book buyers want to see and movie producers want to produce. Mr. Downs was very kind to the children when he described them giving the GIs the finger. Explaining that they were just greeting the soldiers as they had seen the GIs do to each other. That could be true in his case, but children are not dumb, they learn quickly. In aviation, we, too, had to learn quickly. Several air crews left this world after a child threw a grenade into the aircraft. This happened to me twice. I was lucky. Anyway, this is an interesting read and I'll describe it as "lucid and compelling". It's unlike my book, "Kill me If You Can, You SOB". It is by no means a rah-rah account of the war or the sociopaths who did their best to perpetuate it. Don't rush off to buy it. Most people hate it, especially Vietnam veterans. In my opinion, a Vietnam veteran who cursed Jane Fonda and then turned around and voted for George W. Bush is not fit to eat Jane Fonda's garbage. While these hypocrites were whining about this woman who was doing exactly what Jesus preached, two American heroes, Robert McNamara and Henry Kissinger were getting our troops killed by the thousands. I guess this little 110-pound woman made a much easier target for these damn hypocrites than McNamara and Kissinger. At least Kissinger didn't pretend he cared about these kids he was getting slaughtered. "Military Men are dumb, stupid animals to be used as pawns for foreign policy." -Henry Kissinger
Really interesting book........2007-07-07
This book was really good, it started a little slow, and it climaxed really fast. It was like I started reading it and then all of a sudden it was over. It was definitly a good book though, all kinds of cool little stories.
Action.......2007-06-27
This is a great action book with ambushes, attacks, etc. The Killing Zone shows what it was like to live and fight in Vietnam. This was a very great read, it kept me reading it every night as much as I could.
vietnam.......2007-06-12
this book is such a waste of time, it tells you only the point of view of one's man ego and his denial of america's defeat by the north vietnamese. throughout the whole war,the u.s miltary only rely on body counts for there victory ,hoping the north vietnamese would fear the u.s army and surrender ,but in the end ,they were wrong ,the nva and viet cong were determine to fight to the death.
face it,even though the u.s military won many battles,the united states lost the war and retreated . the whole world is aware of this defeat but only some american citizen like this author denies this.
many of the vc casualty are infact innocent civilians ,that the u.s military has covered up by placing nva /vc uniforms and weapons on dead civilians ,then taking photographic pictures of it.
the united states gain nothing from the war ,with 60,000 + dead u.s soldiers ,thousands m.i.a (s) ,150,000 billion dollars down the drain ,over 100,000 seriously injured soldiers including amputees (missing legs,arms , body parts) ,and handicaps ,torn the country apart during the 60's and 70's ,fail to stop communism,fail to protect south vietnam,fail to stop an army that is 10 time smaller then u.s army,and fail to justified the war in rightious context,basically the united states gave up and retreated.
the north vietnamese suffered high casualty by fighting u.s army,australian army ,arvn army,south korean army,and new zealand all by them self ,but fighting to regain there country for a better vietnam in the future was a well justified reason to die just like anyother civil war (compared this to american civil war casualties).
so one's man ego and his obsession of denial will not change the world's view on why people should think who really won the war,everybody knows who won this war,and media wasnt wrong at all.
5 Stars........2007-03-12
This effort is one of the better accounts of the Vietnam War. It's interesting, well-written, and the accounts are plausible and intelligently reported.
Book Description
Sexually transmitted diseases among teens has become a full blown epidemic-- a national emergency that's killing our kids. In this groundbreaking book Dr. Meeker uncovers the story of this serious epidemic and the pattern of political correctness and marketing hype that has caused this tidal wave of disease.
Customer Reviews:
Timely and Full of Truth.......2007-10-05
The truth hurts and is difficult to read sometimes but facts don't like. Meg Meekers research and assessment of the dangers that face our kids is real and present as any danger today. Love you kids, read the book.
Meeker is out of touch with reality........2006-07-31
I have read Meeker's book, and find it totally devoid of factual information or a sex-positive approach. It is the same old "just say no" approach, which is never going to click with today's teenagers. Like Josh McDowell and Pam Stenzel, she is irresponsible in not telling the truth about sex. Forget her.
not worth the paper it's printed on.......2006-03-22
As an epidemiologist with a PhD, and a focus on adolescent health, I found this book terrible. Dr. Meeker states things that are simply WRONG and have been shown in scientific literature. Specifically on page 146 she says that "the risk of contracting and STD through oral is extremely high." At the time of publication of her book, this was NOT shown. Since that time, the most definitive study shows that there is no risk: del Romero J, Marincovich B, Castilla J, Garcia S, Campo J, Hernando V, et al. Evaluating the risk of HIV transmission through unprotected orogenital sex. AIDS 2002;16(9):1296-7.
Moreover, several studies have shown that virginity pledges, etc can put teens at higher risk of STDs because those who make such pledges are LESS likely to have condoms when they do have their first sexual intercourse, which eventually happens before marriage. Furthermore, none of these messages reduce the chance of having an STD later in life as young adults.
Generally Dr. Meeker mixes stories about her patients with a non-critical, non-scientific manipulation of scientific literature to promote an alarmist agenda that is not helpful and probably damaging. Condoms prevent STD transmission and teens have sex. Face it and deal with it.
How Teen Sex Is Killing Our Kids.......2005-01-01
If all the teenagers in the world read this book, there would have been a sea change in their attitude towards their no-holds-barred sexual revolution. Earlier there were only two diseases syphilis and gonorrhoea and now there is more than a 100 and they are increasing at an extremely fearful pace. Many of these have no remedies so far and the people getting killed by these diseases are increasing on a daily basis.
The author mentioned, in an interview, what helped to complete the book. Kicking the coffee habit. Said drinking it clouded creativity. I agree too, and stopped completely a few weeks ago, with the help of a coffee replacement. It's called s o y f e e and I simply love it. Made from s o y that you brew just like coffee. I even like it better than the real stuff. Look for it at www.s oycoffee.com.
Straight talk our children deserve to hear.......2004-11-24
Epidemic may not be too strong of a word to describe the crisis in teen sexuality we face in the Western world. Although this volume describes the American scene, it would be true of most other Western nations as well. Young people have been sold a bill of goods regarding sexuality, and they are paying the penalty, big time.
Consider some of the statistics: In the US in 2002 up to one quarter of sexually active teens were living with a sexually transmitted disease (STD). Each year over 15 million Americans will contract a new STD. Around a fifth of these will be teenagers. Indeed, while teens make up just 10 percent of the population, they account for 25 per cent of all STDs.
The truth is, the sexual revolution of the 60s has unleashed an untamed monster. When I was growing up one seldom heard of venereal diseases, as they were then called. And there were really only two: syphilis and gonorrhoea. And they tended to be something people other than sailors and prostitutes never worried about. Today there are at least 50 STDs. And with multiple strains of mutating viruses, that actual number may be as high as 100.
Thus a whole new batch of STDs have emerged in line with the no-holds-barred sexual revolution. Chlamydia for example was not even identified until 1976. Thus we have a whole new vocabulary as part of our dictionaries, with disease like genital herpes, HPV, HIV, and a range of new viral infections.
And the problem is many of these diseases are at present incurable (like HIV) and many are asymptomatic (that is one often does not even know one has the infection). And many are quite infectious, easily spread, and hard to control. Herpes for example lives on the skin and is easily passed on.
While antibiotics can stop bacterial STDs (like chlamydia) they cannot stop viruses. And even the bacteria are hard to control, with many mutating into more devious germs, becoming resistant to antibiotics.
Doctor Meegan does not just warn against the physical dangers of casual sex. She also speaks to the emotional, psychological and social harms. The safe sex myth (just use a condom, etc) is not only physically harmful, as most contraceptives are far from foolproof, but the risks of a broken promise, a broken relationship, and a broken heart cannot be protected by the condom culture.
Dr Meeker reminds us that teens are especially vulnerable to negative emotional and psychological side effects due to early sexual activity. And that translates into an epidemic of teen depression and suicide. And the problem compounds itself. Depressed kids in turn are more likely to turn to sex, as many turn to drugs, to deal with their grief.
Losing one's virginity at an early age often leads to a loss in self respect and self worth. A loss of trust and expectation also is part of the downside. The innocence of childhood is ripped away and replaced with a premature burden of adulthood.
The truth is, the condom culture and the explosion in comprehensive sex education have not helped matters, but made them worse. We have never before had so much sex ed, and we have never before had so much teen sexuality, abortion and STDs. There seems to be a clear correlation between the two.
And a major missing ingredient in most sex ed courses is what teens really need to hear: how to say no to sexual pressure. Abstinence before marriage and faithfulness in marriage is the only guaranteed safe sex. Yet this message is seldom being taught to our young people. It certainly is not the message of popular culture.
Critics will simply shrug off this volume and accuse the author of scare mongering. But try telling that to a young person who is now permanently affected by an STD. Try telling that to a young girl whose future is in doubt because sexual experimentation has lead to an unwanted pregnancy. Try telling that to those who have become infertile due to promiscuous sexual activity.
The consequences of the sexual revolution are very real indeed. It is time we had some straight talk on the many dangers of, and downsides to, teenage sex. The good news is we are not animals and we can control our desires. But when all around us are telling our young people that they should just go for it, the message of sexual responsibility is easily drowned out. Thus the importance of this book.
Average customer rating:
- Exciting, intense, beautiful & frustrating
- The Killing Room
- Mystery With Touching Moments
- Excellent Characters / Excellent Mystery!
- High Interest/great characters
|
The Killing Room
Gerri Hill
Manufacturer: Bella Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1594930503 |
Book Description
Denver detective Jake McCoy was rehabbing at her cabin in the mountains, trying to reconcile the shooting death of a young boy. Psychologist Nicole Westbrook, an expert in domestic violence, is in those very same mountains, escaping from the horrors of her profession for a brief vacation. Nicole becomes lost when she leaves the well-marked hiking trail in search of hot springs, and she stumbles upon Jake, who is enjoying her own soak in remote springs. They exchange first names only, but after a few hours together, a physical attraction neither can explain, engulfs them, leaving them as lovers, not strangers, when Nicole departs the following day. But when Jake returns to Denver, a murder investigation leads her to Nicole. Both are surprised that they are face to face with the stranger they thought they'd never see again, Nicole tries to remain in the professional closet that she's been hiding in for so long, a place where out cop Jake McCoy does not fit. And Jake, still trying to recover from the shooting that left her injured, does her best to distance herself from Nicole. It is soon evident that a serial killer is targeting Nicole's former patients. Try as they may, they can not deny the physical attraction between them, even if it means compromising the investigation. But after all is said and done, the fact remains that Nicole and Jake live in two different worlds. Despite the physical attraction and the gentle tug of love, both women accept that when their case is over, they will go their separate ways. Jake retreats back to the mountains, and Nicole resumes her practice in earnest, both trying to forget the other . . . and both failing.
Customer Reviews:
Exciting, intense, beautiful & frustrating.......2007-09-23
This is probably my favorite Gerri Hill novel to date. She really takes her time to establish character and setting, and later wrap up the plot. I read the Target before this novel, so astute review-readers will know that I already enjoyed the descriptions of the countryside and mountains around Colorado. In addition, I like the peace that the characters in this novel were able to gain by jouneying into the wilderness. It was nice that the vivid natural descriptions weren't just in the novel for their own sakes either, but that as we experience the wonder with the characters, we also learn about what makes them tick.
It was fun to have the characters meet early in the novel when both are outside of their normal lives and comfort zone. That really kept the reader in suspense for the point when they would run into one another again.
The set-up of both their lives was interesting. I was touched by Jake's relationship with her dog, though to be a true secondary character perhaps Cheyenne's actions and reactions should have been explored in more depth. The way in which Nicole had constructed her own life, isolated despite a powerful circle of lesbian "friends" was also an interesting twist on the forces pulling her away from Jake, even as she was drawn to her.
The ending of the mystery wasn't completely unexpected, but was twisty and solid enough to satisfy. Since the mystery in these books is basically an accompaniment versus the main performance, I have no trouble accepting it for what it is, and being entertained by it. I could have strangled the characters themselves for their constant dithering, not so much throughout the book, but in particular at the end, and if there's one consistent criticism I'd have for Gerri Hill's books it's that her characters seem to take that indecisiveness just over the line for me. But perhaps this isn't unrealistic; I guess it's just a balancing act on how flawed versus how ideal we want our heroes to be.
I struggled about whether to give this 3 or 4 stars. It seems to be a pattern that I can't make a decision myself on placing these books in a solid category (constantly whining about 1/2 stars), but while above the average 3 star book, I don't know if this actually is one of my favorites. Definitely 3-1/2. The more I think about it, the more I really like many aspects of it. Time will tell if it becomes a 4 in my mind.
The Killing Room.......2007-09-10
I read this book over the weekend and was pleasantly surprised. Most lesbian fiction books tend to be very formulaic, but this one was not. I found the characters very believable and realistic, as well as most of the story. The hot springs sex scene is a bit out there (as far as plausibility is concerned), but is still well written. It also was not overly sappy-- there's romance, but not the kind that makes you say "oh, please" with every sentence. Hill is actually a very good writer and I intend to buy all of her books now.
Mystery With Touching Moments.......2007-05-21
This mystery novel has a great cast of characters who are very true to life. You'll be touched as you watch these women open their hearts to each other.
Excellent Characters / Excellent Mystery!.......2007-05-07
I am new to this author's works. Having read "The Target" first, I may not have approached this journey with her finest work.
But after reading the first 90 pages of "The Killing Room," I had to put my Saturday afternoon plans on hold just so I could finish reading this book.
Although I felt there were a number of mundane chapters early on, the rest of the book well made up for it. Excellent mystery, and excellent character development. Most enjoyable read.
High Interest/great characters.......2007-01-10
This was a really great novel. The characters were very believable and alive throughout the story. I read it quickly not missing a single detail. It's great to read something the reflects some real women. there is an intensity in the passions shared that is very real when women open their hearts to one another. Good writing!
Book Description
With a brilliantly plotted new crime novel set in small-town Massachusetts, Chuck Hogan, prizewinning author of Prince of Thieves, delivers a page-turning, knockout thriller that demonstrates why he is the unrivaled master of gritty suspense.
The crack of a handgun shatters the silence of a warm summer night...A notorious local felon and former child magician vanishes, seemingly without a trace...A corrupt police force applies a stranglehold to a failing town...An ailing old man hatches a last-ditch plan to save the police department he once headed, and the community he still loves...An outsider arrives, bearing a simple recipe for death that could destroy them all...
Buried deep in the rural backcountry of New England, the town of Black Falls isn't dying so much as quietly fading away.
No supermarket. No traffic lights. No ATM. No hope.
Donald Maddox, a man with no law enforcement background -- indeed, no background at all -- has returned to his hometown after fifteen years to find himself employed as an auxiliary patrolman on a local police force known to inspire more fear than trust in its citizenry.
When a brutal murder shatters the isolation of this forgotten place, triggering the arrival of state police homicide detectives and a town-wide manhunt, both the local cops and Maddox appear to have something to hide. As the tightly wound mystery that is Maddox's past begins to unravel, he becomes ensnared in a deadly conspiracy that ultimately threatens his life, as well as the lives of those nearest him.
From its opening pages until its haunting final image, The Killing Moon displays the author's trademark gift for soul-deep characterization, crisp pacing, and unflinching realism. This is Chuck Hogan's richest, most satisfying thriller yet.
Customer Reviews:
Hogan is Great.......2007-09-20
Hogan is as good as Crais, Coben and Connelly. He captures the flavor of a small dead milltown and the hopelessness of its people (reminds one of Russo's towns) while spinning the web of a terrific mystery.
The mystery builds slowly. The reader knows immediately that there is the good new guy on the police force - Maddox - and the police force is lousy with corruption. It is also apparent that Maddox is the hometown wonder boy who left years ago who returned for his mother's funeral. No one knows why he stayed and became a part-time policeman. Slowly, the plot developes. It is told in the perspective of many characters, which keeps the book moving even as events plod too slowly for all involved - good guys and bad guys alike.
Eventually the mystery unfolds and then the book, which was tight with tension, flies into a fast-paced action-packed ending without being contrived. This change of pacing, which Hogan does so smoothly, separates this mystery from run-of-the-mill entries in this genre.
The characters are all good. Maddox in particular is interesting. Although close-mouthed (like so many good heroes) he is the classic "still waters runs deep" Gary Cooper type.
This is highly recommended. Well-written mysteries with good plots are always a great find.
Seamy small town thriller.......2007-03-14
Chuck Hogan's "The Killing Moon", a convoluted thriller based on the strange circumstances occuring in the small dying rural Massachusetts town of Black Falls, reads like a written version of TV's "Twin Peaks". Homeboy Donny Maddox recipient of a town sponsored college scholarship returns to Black Falls after a 15 year hiatus. The town is in a state of decline since the closing of the mill some years ago, which providede the main source of employment. At the urgting of now retired police chief emeritus Pinty, a close personal friend, he joins the local police force on a part time basis.
Maddox soon discovers that corruption runs rampant within the local fuzz headed by the Pail brothers, Bucky and Eddie. Maddox is soon immersed in investigating a series of crimes involving violence and drugs. Clues point to a local man and sexual offender Dill Sinclair as being the driving force, however his whereabouts are unknown. When local new age internet salesman Randall Frond is discovered brutally murdered, the cesspool of town depravity boils over. The state police lead by macho man trooper Leo Hess are called in.
As the investigation continues, we discover that Maddox might have ulterior motives for his presence in town. As the state police and Maddox dig deeper, the full extent of the town's secrets become revealed.
Hogan jumping from one character to the other gives us bits and pieces of information to aid us in unravelling the mysteries behind this bizarre town.
Greaet Book!.......2007-02-20
I really love Chuck Hogan's writing and was looking forward to this new book. Living in MA it is exciting that his writing reflexs places that are very familar to me. This book started out slow but grew in excitemnet quickly. I really enjoyed all the details the author puts into his stories. Each character is developed slowly and with lots of info that makes you feel like you know them. You can picture in your mind what each person looks like and feel like you know them personally by the end of the book. I love that when I thought I had it all figured out, the plot and ending, Chuck Hogan does it again and takes you in a different direction totally. His ending are not precictable in his books and that is the same with this book. I found myself reading the last 50 or so pages in one sitting because it got too good to put down. It was worth the late night to finish it. This is one I will recommnend to my book club.
"The Killing Moon" is a well-crafted thriller!.......2007-02-15
I've had the pleasure of reading all four of Chuck Hogan's novels, and I've found each one to be more fast-paced and riveting than the next. "The Killing Moon" reads like a movie that I can't wait to see.
The characters are dynamic and well-executed, and the isolated setting of Black Falls is downright eerie, and I found the story pacing just as fluid as the swift, icy current of the Cold River. I disagree with the Booklist comment that found the narration to be bumpy. The point-of-view is clearly stated with chapter titles.
Mr. Hogan has a gift of writing powerful, visual stories that keep you hanging on his every word, your eyes glued to the pages. I gladly stayed up way past my bedtime to read this one, even though I was twisting in my seat at times! I recommend "The Killing Moon" to `Type A' readers who like to feel their pulse quicken while reading. You're sure to get a jolt from this suspenseful read.
I can't wait for the next thrill ride! Keep `em coming.
Classic Page-Turner.......2007-02-01
Chuck Hogan's latest novel, a classic suspense thriller, crafts an amazingly insightful profile of a small New England town with nowhere to go but down. Sounds depressing but actually it's not. I'm a fan of Hogan's work and with The Killing Moon, he has treated readers to one of his finest yarns yet.
With the Killing Moon, Hogan has crafted a classic page turner (or is it page-turner?) filled with uncomplicated nuance and character. Hogan artfully builds the story, drawing the reader into a hidden sub-culture of drug-fueled depravity, sketching good guys and bad guys with such complelling humanity and depth, it's hard to know who the good guy really is until the very end. Which, for me, defines a classic suspense novel.
Kudos to Chuck Hogan. Please keep writing.
Average customer rating:
- a good series
- John Rain Survives Another Day
- John Rain is the coolest character out there, and Barry Eisler is the best thriller writer, period.
- Top of the Line
- Found a new fav!
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Killing Rain
Barry Eisler
Manufacturer: Onyx
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Rain Storm (John Rain Thrillers)
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Requiem for an Assassin
ASIN: 0451412184 |
Book Description
Samurai assassin John Rain returns in the national bestseller.
John Rain has a new employer, the Mossad, which wants him to fix a "problem" in Manila. And a new partner, Dox, whose good-ol'-boy persona masks a sniper as deadly as Rain himself. He also has a new hope: that by using his talents in the service of something good, he might atone for all the lives he has already taken. But when Rain's conscience causes him to botch an assignment, he finds himself as the Mossad's next target...
Customer Reviews:
a good series.......2007-07-30
I wouldn't put Eisler up there with Robert B. Parker or Vince Flynn but it's good summertime reading.
John Rain Survives Another Day.......2007-05-10
Once again John Rain manages to barely stay alive and live another day Killing Rain. Unlike previous John Rain novels, this story focuses less on Japan and more on other parts of Asia, namely Manila, Bangkok and Hong Kong. In this book, John Rain and his few friends manage to rid the world of two of its worse terrorists. Hired by the Israeli government as a contractor to do the job, Rain's (or Eisler's) ingenuity never fails to amaze me in how he prevents blowing his cover to get the job done. What I enjoy about Eisler's novels is that the main character, John Rain, is well developed from the beginning of the series and can be insightful into life as he struggles to do his job knowing he's taking lives, while at the same time questioning how he has managed to stay alive himself. The shallowness of the characters found in many other quick novels is missing here (except for maybe with Dox, Rain's sidekick). If you've enjoyed previous books from the series, you'll enjoy this one too.
John Rain is the coolest character out there, and Barry Eisler is the best thriller writer, period........2007-03-12
I've been reading the John Rain series for about 2 years now, pacing myself so I don't gobble them up all at once. I just finished "Killing Rain" and it is as well-written and thrilling as its predecessors. I cannot express my gratitude enough for Barry Eisler's talents. The depths he plumbs to cover the characters, their backgrounds, and especially the locales of the stories are just absolutely amazing. Eisler paints such vivid pictures while simultaneously educating us (his knowledge of Tokyo is impressive). The books never bore--they are irresistible page-turners. My only tiny gripe is that the Rain's assassin "buddy" Dox, introduced in "Rain Storm", is a bit cartoonish at times. But he does provide comic relief occasionally.
If you haven't read any of the Rain books, please start with the first ("Rain Fall"). It's best to understand John Rain and his struggles from the beginning. Believe me, once you start you will be hooked. In my view, Barry Eisler is the creme-de-la-creme.
Top of the Line.......2007-03-09
Barry Eisler just gets better and better. This book is riviting from begining to end. As in the other books the twists and turns tend to make the reader sorry for the poor assassin who must pay for his sins! A fun and interesting read. Learn about other countries as you are entertained.
Worth the price and effort.
Found a new fav!.......2007-01-19
This paperback is my introduction to Eisler, and it is a very good place to start. I don't know how I missed this author but I plan on making up for lost time and soon.
A competent writer with great characters a good plot and interesting point of view. It maybe genre writing, but it is darn good genre writing and if you like good mysteries you won't be disappointed.
Book Description
Is the United States a Force for Democracy? From China in the 1940s to Guatemala today, William Blum provides the most comprehensive study of the ongoing American holocaust. Covering U.S. intervention in more than 50 countries, KILLING HOPE describes the grim role played by the U.S. in overthrowing governments, perverting elections, assassinating leaders, suppressing revolutions, manipulating trade unions and manufacturing "news."
Customer Reviews:
William Blum: Killing Hope.......2007-03-20
I was very skeptical about this book, but it was the only comprehensive thing I could find on the topic of American interventionism/imperialism, so I bought it. It turns out I was right to be skeptical: the book is more than a little biased. The author's emotional rhetoric is extremely annoying (one chapter is titled, "'F*** Your Laws and Your Constitution' Said the President of the United States"....but when you read the chapter it becomes clear that this isn't a real quote, just the author's attempt at summarizing what he believes is the attitude of the U.S. toward other countries.) Don't get me wrong, I definitely believe there is a moral dimension to America's interventionist policies. However, I'd like to draw those conclusions on my own, rather than letting the author of a book draw them for me. So on that note, here are a couple of more scholarly/less biased alternatives for studying this crucial (but neglected) topic:
Overthrow: America's Century of Regime Change from Hawaii to Iraq
by Stephen Kinzer (Author)
American Adventurism Abroad: 30 Invasions, Interventions, and Regime Changes since World War II (Hardcover)
by Michael J. Sullivan
Safe for Democracy: The Secret Wars of the CIA (Hardcover)
by Prados John (Author)
And for a historical perspective that goes back a little further:
Dangerous Nation (Hardcover)
by Robert Kagan
Manifest Destiny's Underworld: Filibustering in Antebellum America (Paperback)
by Robert E. May
If you like Chomsky..........2006-01-24
...You'll love this guy, because he's obviously a student and will continue the Chomsky tradition. Like Chomsky, he ignores anything good that comes of America policy (when he admits it he implies that it was an accident) and ignores anything bad that anyone else does - including Communist governments and other totalitarian governments or dictatorships.
Like Chomsky he insinuates a lot and twists the truth around, leaving things out and implicating rather than stating things upfront as a good historian would. This way he doesn't have to back anything up directly or prove any point or any assumption. Like Chomsky, he implies that because one American administration worked with another government during a certain period (eg during WWII) and then another fought against that administration (eg the Soviet Union or its allies) once the war was over, this must mean that the US is either hypocritical and untrustworthy or must have alternative motives. Neither Blum nor Chomsky could spell this out and expect very many readers to agree, but they can certainly insinuate and hope to convince the reader that he should be more skeptical of such a two-faced government as that of the US.
Like Chomsky, Blum leaves out any potentially moral reason for the US to fight an enemy. If the reason is to fight communism, he makes clear that he sees no morality and no security reason connected to it. For example, regarding US involvement in Vietnam Blum says:
"To the Truman administration, the prospect of another Communist government in Asia was intolerable."
But does he ever say why? Does he mention the millions killed by Communism? Does he mention the expansionist (really Imperialist) policies of the Soviet Union? The repression, famines and brutal governance, the spread of oppression, the threat that these Communist governments presented? He does not.
There may be some truth to some of the facts cited, many are twisted but some may be true; however no historian would take the book seriously because it is very clear that the author is not only biased as an individual writer, but he has biased his research to the point of being willing to leave out vast evidence that directly undermines many of his assertions and he has not outlined his assertions or assumptions in such a way as to allow others to test them, counter them or even quote and question them.
If you are looking for a polemic against America, this book will do. If you are looking for a rant full of assertions that you can research yourself and expose as lies, this is a great choice. If you are looking for serious, well researched historical reading, this is not your book. By the way, Osama Bin Laden just recommended a William Blum book to his followers! Talk about your scholarly reviews.
Great Book, Even if you Disagree.......2005-09-18
What conservatives and liberals are categorically guilty of is not reading literature that doesn't agree with their political opinions, that doesn't get mentioned in their political circles, in short; that isn't politically 'hip' to read. I wish more conservatives would read this book and ones like it, I for one actually read the literature of their movement. This book is especially good for young students who wish to have a companion document to their biased history textbooks.
The reader from Idaho..........2003-08-18
...is infuriating until it becomes clear that he/she is being ironic. It seems 18 people either realize that or agree with some deliberately outrageous beliefs.
Not a Conspiracy Theorist.......2003-07-24
A fact cannot be modified, but it can be
problematised--that is, put under analysis.
William Blum's "Killing Hope" takes the Cold-
War foreign policy of the US and upends
conventional apologies and justifications
for a rather ruthless campaign to stamp
out the ideology that most threatened
American dominance in the world: communism.
Though I met Blum and can attest that he
is no communist, like any decent American he
hates liars. His book exposes lies. Once
an idealistic career servant at the State
Department, Blum turned whistle-blower
after becoming morally nauseated at the
bagful of lies that launched the country
on its disastrous adventure in Vietnam.
"Killing Hope" is an encyclopedic catalogue
of Washington's lies, misdeeds, and subversions
of democracy all over the globe--mostly
carried out in complete secrecy from the
American people. From Chile to China,
Blum shows that "freedom and democracy"
in foreign lands were never primary goals
of US foreign policy but the propaganda
cover for domination and control. Were
this a required book in all US high-school
history books, American youth could
hardly be lining up to serve in wars
that are carried out for exactly
the opposite motives from the stated ones.
In Iraq today, 145,000 soldiers, who went
to fight to liberate Iraq, are finding
out that Iraqis do not thank them for their
sacrifice. Lied to and misused, they often
find this out at the end of a bullet that
strikes them down. To historians like
Blum, this manipulation of American trust is
a crime. His book is, among other things,
a passionate dedication to truth--
and he's not making it up, either.
Declassified government documents are the major
source of his thesis!
Customer Reviews:
Motive, Means, and Opportunity.......2003-07-12
The author of this very readable book has specialized in reporting on organized crime since 1974. He re-investigated the assassination in 1987, and began to accumulate evidence from the police investigators. Robert Francis Kennedy earned a reputation as an enemy of mobsters and labor racketeers while chief counsel of the Senate Rackets Committee (p.17). No one has ever prosecuted organized crime more than RFK did while Attorney General.
June 4, 1968 was primary day in California. At first RFK was trailing, then he and his friends went to the Ambassador Hotel to await results. When the results showed RFK ahead, he went to the Embassy Room to make his victory speech. They then retraced the same route to return to the hotel suite. Sirhan was able to get into the kitchen although he didn't belong there. When RFK walked there, Sirhan opened fire. None of those shot admitted to seeing the gunman (p.43)!
Pages 85-89 discuss the 8 shots, and the other five victims. RFK was shot from a gun at his right rear side angled upwards, not from his front at 1 to 3 feet away. The fatal wound behind his right ear came from a one inch distance. There are discrepancies between the testimony of the eyewitnesses and the coroner's analysis from the autopsy (p.91). This is critical evidence (pp.95-98). The history of Sirhan is on pages 101-109. Two weeks after the shooting Sirhan was represented by a lawyer who formerly represented mobsters (p.116). The Defense and the Prosecution agreed to a guilty plea and a life sentence (p.120). The judge wouldn't allow this. Sirhan was found guilty of murder and sentenced to death (p.123).
The next month the 'Los Angeles Free Press' printed an article that cast doubt on the official theory (p.13). Extra bullet holes suggested a second gunman. There was a discrepancy between eyewitness testimony and the muzzle distance. A criminalist and firearms expert disputed the claim of a lone gunman (pp.138-9). The Coroner said there was no eyewitness to testify Sirhan fired at point-blank range (p.159). The American Academy of Forensic Sciences recommended a re-examination of the physical evidence (p.170). A court-authorized study concluded the original bullets were matches, but could not be matched to Sirhan's gun (p.175)! Note 123 tells about the traces of wood found on spent bullets in Sirhan's car (p.176). Chapter 19 says the case was badly mishandled by the LAPD in regard to physical evidence (p.192). There was a report of removing two bullets from a strip of molding (p.263). A former FBI special agent said he saw two bullet holes in the center divider (p.269).
A polygraph test was administered to the guard; he passed and could not have been involved (p.290). DEM interviewed Sirhan" he doesn't remember the shooting, only what happened after (p.299).
What really happened? "Complicated investigations sometimes have very simple solutions" (p.305). DEM thinks the LAPD and FBI erred in not thoroughly investigating organized crime as a possibility; they had the strongest motive, means, and opportunity (p.307). Chapter 30 provides his answer: Sirhan alone did it. DEM acknowledges the LAPD's error of omissions, and tries to explain the discrepancies between the eyewitnesses and the physical evidence. Sirhan's story of drinking and of amnesia are just a way to escape responsibility.
Page 313 claims there were no bullet holes in the door frames; those who say different were mistaken. But earlier DEM wrote of bullets with traces of wood on them (p.176); could the many police officers there have all been mistaken?
Moldea gets it right!.......2001-10-12
As a 10 year student of the RFK assassination,I was eager to get ahold of Dan Moldea`s work on the case.A prior magazine article of his had been primarily responsible for the release of the long witheld LAPD files on the case.
The book does not dissapoint.Moldea carefully and articulately moves through the entire case and looks under every stone in the search for answers.NO other researcher has interviewed so many personnel connected with the case.He is not biased to any side,as the reader can easily see in Moldea`s scathing comments on LAPD,and in his meetings with Sirhan.
Moldea`s thoroughness had me enthralled and by the time the dramatic end arrived I realised that I simply had to read it again...it was that good...and most of all,it closed the door on my research into the case.This account of the RFK case cannot be bettered,in my opinion.
Moldea gets it right!.......2001-10-12
As a 10 year student of the RFK assassination,I was eager to get ahold of Dan Moldea`s work on the case.A prior magazine article of his had been primarily responsible for the release of the long witheld LAPD files on the case.
The book does not dissapoint.Moldea carefully and articulately moves through the entire case and looks under every stone in the search for answers.NO other researcher has interviewed so many personnel connected with the case.He is not biased to any side,as the reader can easily see in Moldea`s scathing comments on LAPD,and in his meetings with Sirhan.
Moldea`s thoroughness had me enthralled and by the time the dramatic end arrived I realised that I simply had to read it again...it was that good...and most of all,it closed the door on my research into the case.This account of the RFK case cannot be bettered,in my opinion.
Wasted Time.......2001-08-21
Moldea writes 304 pages explaining the problems such as coroners finding that RFK was shot from the right rear, more shots fired than Sirhan's gun held, etc., etc.
Then in the last chapter he concludes that Sirhan acted alone and fired the shots that killed RFK. He doesn't give any new evidence to support this claim. Oh, he charges the LAPD with botching every aspect of the case but says they got it right for the wrong reasons.
Don't waste your time on this book. If you support the original findings you won't like the charges of incompetence. If you are looking for a book to support a second gunman theory this isn't it.
Comprehensive and exhaustive research..........2001-05-08
If you're interested in the almost minute-by-minute details of the RFK assasination and the subsequent investigation (along with all the conspiracy theories) than this is for you...I personally was happy to see Moldea go exclusively from a conspiracy mind-set to the correct (in my opinion...I can't imagine another shooter in such a crowded/cramped Ambassador Hotel kitchen) conclusion that Sirhan was the lone gunman. He seems to offer logical conclusions to most of the evidence, however, I do see what some of the other reviewers' point is...he sets about proving conspiracy, than reverses his opinion without re-evaluating some of his earlier conclusions. Overall, an excellent account of one of our darkest days, Moldea succeeds in putting you at the Ambassador on that fateful night and that alone would be enough to make me read this book.
Books:
- Kitchen Redos, Revamps, Remodels, and Replacements: Without Murder, Suicide, or Divorce
- Larklight: A Rousing Tale of Dauntless Pluck in the Farthest Reaches of Space
- Leading from the Heart: Choosing to Be a Servant Leader
- Listening for the Heartbeat of God: A Celtic Spirituality
- Locked Rooms (Mary Russell Novels)
- Maximum Ride #3: Saving the World and Other Extreme Sports (Maximum Ride)
- My Sister's Keeper: A Novel
- Nemesis: The Last Days of the American Republic (American Empire Project)
- Petroleum Refining for the Non-technical Person
- Photo Finish: The Digital Photographer's Guide to Printing, Showing, and Selling Images
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
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- Observations for Young Architects
- Pocket Key to Common Wild Flowers, A
Warrior Soul: The Memoir of a Navy Seal
Stalin's Ghost: An Arkady Renko Novel
The Night Ferry
Exposing the Real Che Guevara: And the Useful Idiots Who Idolize Him
Christine Falls: A Novel
