A German born Roman citizen is framed for murder, when a body is found right outside his house. The local Tribune is all ready to put him on the crossA German born Roman citizen is framed for murder, when a body is found right outside his house. The local Tribune is all ready to put him on the cross, but he talks his way out of it. The two, along with the German's favorite slave, investigate, but murders keep happening, and getting closer and closer to home.
It's 1976, and New York is well on its way to meeting it's early 90's nadir, when the Yankees get a pitcher, anI won this book in a goodreads drawing.
It's 1976, and New York is well on its way to meeting it's early 90's nadir, when the Yankees get a pitcher, and start actually being good for a while. The pitcher seems based on Mark "The Bird" Fyrddrych, and unlikely phenom, who was great for a couple of years.
Pretty strange, and nobody acts like they have good sense....more
After serving in Germany, a Roman soldier suffers from PTSD, killing the pain in wine and women in the eternal city. He is sent back in Germany, the lAfter serving in Germany, a Roman soldier suffers from PTSD, killing the pain in wine and women in the eternal city. He is sent back in Germany, the last place he wants to go to spy on the governor of a province.
When some people claiming to be representing the Confederate States of America thirty years after the Civil War is over, they prevail upon Barker to iWhen some people claiming to be representing the Confederate States of America thirty years after the Civil War is over, they prevail upon Barker to introduce them to the Prime Minister, so they can make a claim to an old battle ship the Confederacy ordered years ago.
The whole thing could have been settled merely by asking Jefferson Davis's Widow, Varina, whether her late husband signed a document as the Confederates claimed, as she was very much alive, and actually fairly well known, working as a journalist at the time.
This omission took me out of the whole book....more
Tabitha Knight goes about her business and hanging around Julia Child in post WWII France, when things are gettI won this book in a goodreads drawing.
Tabitha Knight goes about her business and hanging around Julia Child in post WWII France, when things are getting back to normal after the Nazis were hung.
Julia Child invites her to a lecture/demonstration by a top chef. Someone sends him a bottle of rare, expensive wine. It's poisoned. Knight, Child, and the supercop soon-to-be-paramour, get on the case. It's tough to tell whether they're more worried about the murders, or poisoning great wine.
Pretty good. I liked how Child is a major character, but not the protagonist or the sleuth....more
Nate Heller has connections in all kinds of places. Thus, the CIA taps him to help them make a connection to the mafia. Of course, this has all kinds Nate Heller has connections in all kinds of places. Thus, the CIA taps him to help them make a connection to the mafia. Of course, this has all kinds of bad repercussions, not least of which is the death of one of Heller's friends. Jack Ruby is involved, like he seems to be involved in most of these books.
Heller pokes around a little bit. Finds a connection to his long ago "service."
It seems there's a plot to assassinate JFK--In Chicago. It seems very similar to what happened in Dallas. The FBI hands the whole thing over the Secret Service, who can't really handle it.
A lot of great stuff about a little known episode in the JFK saga. ...more
The Almingmeyer Brothers take their first case as real detectives, and find themselves in a range war. The usual land hog hires the agency to find outThe Almingmeyer Brothers take their first case as real detectives, and find themselves in a range war. The usual land hog hires the agency to find out who is stealing his cattle. He has a patsy, the biggest other ranch in the area. Those people accuse him of smuggling.
Nathan Heller investigates the Sam Shephard case, which was the basis for The Fugitive TV show and movies.
The whole thing starts out as a real clusterNathan Heller investigates the Sam Shephard case, which was the basis for The Fugitive TV show and movies.
The whole thing starts out as a real cluster from the beginning. The author comes up with a solution, but I'm not at all sure it's the correct one, as other suspects aren't really cleared. Like the Lindbergh Baby kidnapping, this is a mystery that gets more confusing the more one learns about it. I think that lends the book a certain indecisiveness that makes it stand out. Usually, I like the books in this series best when I agree with the conclusion, but I like this one, even though I don't....more
Sisera finds himself in Sicily, an island inhabited by pirates, occupied by a rival empire, and coveted by yet another empire. After the usual aristocSisera finds himself in Sicily, an island inhabited by pirates, occupied by a rival empire, and coveted by yet another empire. After the usual aristocrat blunders an invasion, Sisera is tapped to help out.
With all this fighting, I'm surprised humans have lasted this long. ...more
Tom Mix goes on vacation, to an isolated mountain occupied by two feuding families. It starts out as a Romeo and Juliet type story, but soon enough tuTom Mix goes on vacation, to an isolated mountain occupied by two feuding families. It starts out as a Romeo and Juliet type story, but soon enough turns ridiculous as Tom may end up the groom!
More a comic novel than anything else, almost a cartoon, which isn't a bad thing in this case....more
Right after WWI, a jazz loving serial killer was active in New Orleans. This is a novelization of the hunt for him. It didn't really do anything for mRight after WWI, a jazz loving serial killer was active in New Orleans. This is a novelization of the hunt for him. It didn't really do anything for me, sorry....more
Nathan Heller finds himself in murky circumstances when he goes to work for a committee headed by Dashiell Hammett to prove The Rosenbergs innocent, wNathan Heller finds himself in murky circumstances when he goes to work for a committee headed by Dashiell Hammett to prove The Rosenbergs innocent, while at the same time working for Joe McCarthy to prove them guilty. Things keep getting murkier, when Heller encounters The CIA and the MK-Ultra program.
Of course, Heller sleeps around with Bettie Page.
On the whole a good book, but I don't necessarily agree with Collins's solution....more
Giant disaster movie type soap opera about the events leading to Pearl Harbor. Pretty good for the most part. I don't know how much Newt actually wrotGiant disaster movie type soap opera about the events leading to Pearl Harbor. Pretty good for the most part. I don't know how much Newt actually wrote....more
A very young George Washington is tasked with an important mission. He is to take a small party and forge northI won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A very young George Washington is tasked with an important mission. He is to take a small party and forge north to the Ohio Valley to deliver a letter to the commander of the French forces. Along the way, he's supposed to gather intelligence and information.
However, there are strange deaths following them around. A hideous creature, known as a maniteu is killing the strongest men it finds, and George Washington is very strong.
Not bad. Could be a little scarier.
I think the stench of the Tony Curtis movie is finally fading from the concept of the Manitou. ...more
Sisera is back with the legions, participating in what the General thinks will be a 5 day siege. Unfortunately, the General doesn't know what he's doiSisera is back with the legions, participating in what the General thinks will be a 5 day siege. Unfortunately, the General doesn't know what he's doing, and leads a rout--against The Romans.
Sisera has to rally the troops, get relief, and that's only the beginning!
Another exciting book in this historical series....more
Roddy is going into a partnership manufacturing bitters with an old law school colleague who is inheriting a paI won this book in a goodreads drawing.
Roddy is going into a partnership manufacturing bitters with an old law school colleague who is inheriting a patent medicine company. The partnership requires that they find out who murdered the man's wife.
Well, I barely made through the beginning, where Her Royal Spyness obsesses over the servant problem, but eventI won this book in a goodreads drawing.
Well, I barely made through the beginning, where Her Royal Spyness obsesses over the servant problem, but eventually there IS an espionage novel in there. ...more
A New Orleans story as a tax assessor, who would like nothing more than to be corrupt, finds out about an illegI won this book in a goodreads drawing.
A New Orleans story as a tax assessor, who would like nothing more than to be corrupt, finds out about an illegal lottery, run by Vietnamese people. Turns out there's a lot of other people interested in this lottery, including law enforcement.
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