No comments about Dark Ground #3: The Nightmare Game (Dark Ground Trilogy).

5 comments about The Birthday Party: A Memoir of Survival.

1. From the minute you pick up this book, you cannot put it down! The Birthday Party is about a most extraordinary tale of the kidnapping of a US Attorney the day before his birthday, and the events so bizarre, that it couldn't be anything but true. Stan is an instantly likeable character who is enjoying an ordinary evening in Manhattan, when in an instant his world is turned upside down as he faces the barrel of a gun and the reader is immersed at once in the story of his captivity at the hands of his kidnappers.
   
   It is a truly compelling account of what Stan's hours were like blindfolded and held at the mercy of men with guns. Stan's ability to remain calm and find the humor in some of his circumstances really made the book an enjoyable read. There were moments of genuine humor as well as details of the pain and fear that followed his ordeal. The poignancy with which he writes about what he learned and the life he leads is very inspiring. The details he remembers and explains to the reader assist in making you feel like you're living the roller coaster ride with him. And his recount of how the police found the guys who grabbed him and how they proceeded through the legal system was an interesting glimpse into the criminal justice system most of us know nothing about.
   
   There are many moments in the book where I felt like I was holding my breath waiting to see what would happen next. It was truly a great read. Stan's ability to relay the story really makes you feel like you're there with him and waiting for his safe return to his home, to his family, to his friends and to his very accomplished life. It's a great book and a very enjoyable read.



2. 
   others have used the words "annoyingly arrogant and apparently editor-less man" and i totally agree. how insecure must he be to continually bring up his wannabe dating habits? and if i was that lisa woman, i'd be pissed that he continually kept writing her full name, including middle initial. jerk. borrow this book from the library.



3. I was eager to read this book after hearing an interview with Stanley on the radio. After getting through the initial kidnapping and the first couple of hours he spent with the thugs, the book drags a bit. I commend Stanley for what he went through and how he survived this terrible ordeal and I mean no dissrespect at all to him, but the book was just a little dull for me. Granted, Stanley is a lawyer, but much of the legalistic writing in the later chapters tend to run together. Great, intriguing story, but I found myself bored by the end of the book. I will say...it's amazing the amount of detail Stanley recalls from this ordeal.



4. After hearing a great interview with the author on NPR, I ordered the book anticipating a great read. I'm sorry to say that I was sorely disappointed. The narrative drags, the protagonist's whining description of his predicament did not bring the natural empathy that the story surely deserves. His portrayal of his abductors never goes beyond the level of stick figure drawings and are filled with superficial stereotypes. I would recommend passing this one up.



5. I found the Birthday Party to be a very entertaining book, although the other reviewers are correct in their assertions that the author is full of himself. He is, but the experience that he describes is riveting. One thing that really stuck with me from this book is how the author talks about his belief that the death penalty is wrong. However, in the story it turns out that the biggest reason why he wasn't killed was the criminals' belief that if they killed government attorney they would be more likely to get the death penalty. Can we all get business cards with our profession listed as Federal Prosecutor so our chances of being murdered by the criminal element will drop to Stanley's?

5 comments about When Capone's Mob Murdered Roger Touhy: The Strange Case of "Jake the Barber" and the Kidnapping That Never Happened.

1. The Roger Touhy case has always fascinated me. I once firmly believed--back in my "armchair expert" days--in the innocence of Roger Touhy of the alleged Factor kidnapping, though, like author Tuohy, I was also skeptical of Touhy's own book The Stolen Years, which presented Roger as basically an "innocent bootlegger" rather than a real gangster. Mind you, I haven't necessarily changed my mind on this. Touhy may very well have been framed. It's just that there has always been a lot of evidence both for and against a frameup. Such as the wiretapped conversations between members of Touhy's gang and Jake "The Barber" Factor after Jake's release, threatening to kidnap him again unless further ransom was paid. Author Tuohy--no relation to Roger--neatly explains this by revealing that members of Touhy's gang were involved in the frameup. It's very believable but the credibility of the book is not enhanced by its numerous factual errors. Most deal with characters only marginally associated with the case but still undermine the book. Alvin Karpis was never a labor slugger for Capone. He was a bank robber and kidnapper whose only motivation to become involved in the Hamm kidnapping was pure profit. Karpis had no interest in framing Touhy for the Hamm job and certainly nothing to do with the Factor case. Karpis was, in fact, a friend of the Touhy gang and they had a mutual friend in "Baby Face" Nelson, whom Karpis introduced into the Dillinger gang. Melvin Purvis, who arrested Touhy for the Hamm job, which Touhy was subsequently acquitted of, was probably just another innocent dupe. Attached to the Chicago FBI office at the time was an Illinois highway patrolman, a so-called expert on the local underworld who seems to have actually been a double agent for Capone. It is curious that author Tuohy never stumbled upon this but he should have, as this was probably the "informant" who misdirected Purvis in Touhy's direction. Instead, the author implies that Purvis was part of the frameup, stating, erroneously, that Purvis knew through informants that Karpis had engineered the Hamm kidnapping. Purvis had no knowledge of this at the time. The FBI did not learn of the Barker-Karpis gang's involvement in the Hamm case until the following year, when they first heard of it from dying Dillinger gangster Eddie Green. The information on Gus Winkler (true name Winkeler) is also erroneous. Winkler was arrested for a million-dollar Lincoln, Nebraska bank robbery but he did not sell out his accomplices to beat to the rap. In fact, he was as innocent of this robbery as Touhy was of the Hamm and (probably) Factor kidnappings. Winkler simply bought back the stolen bonds from the actual robbers and returned them, beating the rap this way. None of the actual Lincoln bank robbers went to prison, through information from Winkler or any other way. No one--at least no one who's talking--knows why Winkler was killed but some evidence suggests it was just Frank Nitti consolidating his hold on the Capone empire by eliminating potential rivals, another of whom was North Side gangster Ted Newberry, a mutual friend of Touhy and Winkler. The connections of Touhy and Newberry to Mayor Cermak are well known but the case for Capone involvement in Cermak's murder, as presented here and elsewhere, is highly speculative at best. Personally, like many other researchers, I doubt that Capone or Nitti would have used a loser like Zangara for a hitman, or to have been stupid enough to have staged the assassination of Cermak while he was meeting the President-elect. Getting back to Touhy himself, the author does make a good case for Roger's innocence of kidnapping but his research strayed too far into other areas of gangster history in which his expertise is less than certain. Some source notes would have helped but the obvious errors detract from the author's equally obvious research. Still, someone--the Outfit? Jake the Barber? or both?--wanted Touhy out of the way in 1959. This book does go a long way toward explaining that. Despite its obvious faults, this book is a worthwhile addition to any gangster aficionado's library.



2. If you're into mafioso, read this! I loved it. Bought a copy for my brother to read for his birthday--good stuff.



3. Mob stories like Tuohy are a fascinating study in psychology of criminal deception. While criminal enterprises require a measure of loyalty. The question is always, loyalty to what, to whom, and for how long? Tuohy really understands the incredible gullibility to those who want to believe in surface appearances, while he keeps his eye on his own main chance. Unquestionable it takes the kind nerves of steel that only a sociopath has to be able to betray those around him to the extent that Tuohy (the con)does.

   Author John William Tuohy's startling account of Ken Lelek and StarNet is even more incredible. It must have required amazing personal courage - few people would have the guts it to do it and expect to get away with it.

   The "mob" world is not for the faint of heart, though. The moral of the Tuohy yarn is that in the end the ferryman expects his due.




4. An amazing story, I'm surprised it hasn't been turned in to film yet. Tuohy (The author) has tackled a difficult subject, an, considering the complexity of the issue has done well with it. Highly recommended



5. A complex tale of gangsters, political kickback, mob wars and corrupt politicians told with wit and humor at a good pace. Highly recommend this book.

5 comments about In Plain Sight: The Startling Truth Behind the Elizabeth Smart Investigation.

1. IN PLAIN SIGHT is the story of the investigation to locate Elizabeth Smart, the teenage girl who was abducted from her home in Salt Lake City. Journalists, Tom Smart and Lee Benson wrote the book. Tom also happens to be Elizabeth's uncle and served as the spokesman for Elizabeth's family during the horrible kidnapping ordeal of his niece.
   
   The search for Elizabeth went on for nine long months and this book is an account of what took place during that time period. Aside from the shocking fact of a young woman's abduction, is the story of the local police and FBI who searched for her, but often seemed to ignore the information that was brought forward by family members and volunteers. The authors also claim that the investigating agencies didn't seem to share the information that they had obtained with each other. There were several sightings of the girl, and the man who had taken her. At one point, after breaking into a building, he was arrested, but released when he said that he was just trying to make a home for his wife and daughter.
   
   This book presents one side of the story, but the FBI and local police probably had other things to take into consideration with their examinations of the events. Apparently the family was investigated and we've all seen enough news stories to know that everyone is looked at when a crime is committed. Unfortunately, we've also heard a lot of stories about the lack of cooperation between different police agencies.
   
   This was an informative book and hopefully the Smart family can overcome the horror that took over their lives. I'm sure the heart of every parent in the world goes out to Elizabeth.



2. I was completly stuck on the Elizabeth Smart case when it was all unfolding. I was graduating high school at the time and couldnt imagine with all the dreams I had having them all stolen in the middle of the night. The book is a good read and really details the case well. The only problem I had is the book seems very very one sided. The brother talks all about how much he did and the others did and I kinda felt like he was acting as if he was the parent. It may just be the way I read it but I did find it interesting to get a good profile of the people that took her. Its worth a read but dont forget to read her parents book too.



3. The first time I Read this, I felt like Tom Smart was talking to me Everyday. I'ts so cool, I think the book should tell about everyone else but pervert and pervet Jr. I understand you have to see why he kidnapped Liz, but his mindset is that of President Bush, Stupid and hateful. Everything you need to know about her abduction is all in here. A great read. Don't read it too many times at once, It might scare you.



4. I read this book and I almost feel like it was a serious waste of my time. Tom Smart (uncle of Elizabeth Smart) seems like he is trying to take the stage in this account. Everything in this book you have probably already heard through the media. The book has a very slow start--almost excruciating to get through the first half. I was bored to tears.
   
   I feel for Elizabeth and her Family and would have liked the focus to be on them, their reactions, their feelings,and on Elizabeth's recovery. The nation cares about Elizabeth and how this has affected her and not about Tom Smart's INSOMNIA.
   
   One day in the far Future, hopefully, Elizabeth will write a book and let us know the story of being a survivor, her feelings, and her journey to overcoming this trauma. After all, no one else knows what she and her poor parents went through.
   
   Bottom Line: I found this account to be One-sided and Exagerrated on the Author's part. Tom Smart wanted the Spotlight and Shame on him.
   
   I would not recommend to a friend for Good Reading.



5. i enjoyed this book but thought elizabeth was being taken advantage of by her parents and uncle.she should of been kept in seclusion and not been subject to the public.i feel that in the future this young lady is going to have some problems.

5 comments about Hit the Road.

1. Caroline Cooney is a master at rapid paced action that takes your breath away.
   
   When I bought HIT THE ROAD, I thought this one looks kind of tame and will be just a light read about a girl helping her grandmother -- NOT! There was nothing light or tame about this exciting adventure. The heroine's downhill race into danger and risk is thrilling. Just when you think things will get better, the danger increases. Caroline Cooney doesn't hold back with consequences, turning a simple drive into a perilous journey.
   
   I couldn't stop flipping pages, eager to find out what happened next, surprised by a few plot turns, and completely satisfied when justice finally prevailed at the end.
   
   It's no wonder that Caroline B. Cooney is one of my favorite authors. Next book I plan to buy of hers: CODE ORANGE.
   
   Linda Joy Singleton



2. This story by Caroline B. Cooney was delightful. I could not put this book down and read it in a day. The book is written using relatable context and has a similie so adorable, that I can't get out of my mind:
   
   "Nannie was wearing a mauve silk suit and looked rather like a tulip."
   
   I simply loved this book and hope there will be more adventures with Brit and "the girls"!



3. This is a very good book that I have read!! It is very good for teenagers!!!!!



4. Hit the Road by Caroline B. Cooney is another terrific YA title by a prolific author. 16 year old Brit's parents have gone on vacation, leaving her under the care of her grandmother, Nannie. But Nannie has no intention of babysitting her teenage granddaughter or being babysat as well. Nannie and her two lifelong friend are determined to make it to their 65th college reunion, and if that means non-licensed Brit doing the driving and kidnapping a friend as well, so be it. Cooney has a real talent for getting inside teenagers' minds. Brit is selfish and rebellious, all without being unsympathetic. The idea of spending time with Nannie isn't what she wants to spend her free time. But as she spends time with her grandmother, she finds that they are in similar places in their lives. Both are on the verge of independence. Brit is about to break free from her parents' authority, while Nannie is just coming under it. Both struggle with the restraints place upon them, and Cooney manages to make the reality of growing old come alive even for a teen audience. This wonderfully written book is enjoyable to read and has a good message a well about doing what's right, even when it hurts.



5. I wouldn't say that this was one of the funniest, or even best books that I have ever read, but it did keep me entertained until the very last page. This book had many unexpected, but clever turns that helped the story better progress. I would recommend this book for someone who isn't looking for something amazing, but for a book that is defiantly worth $6.50. (Which is what I paid for it.)

No comments about Paige (Young Believer on Tour #4).

No comments about Babar's Rescue (Harry N. Abrams).

2 comments about The Moro Affair (New York Review Books Classics).

1. The NYRB deserves credit for retrieving several wonderful works by the Sicilian writer-politician Leonardo Sciascia: "Day of the Owl" surely; "Equal Danger" and "To Each His Own," probably. "Italian Hours" is a lesser work, but still good fun.
   
   By contrast, "The Moro Affair" is (or ought to be) an embarrassment, to Sciascia and to the publisher as well. At the most forgiving, we can call it a nonce work, interesting as an exemplar of the kind of bitchiness and personalism that passes for journalism in Italy. But for the ordinary reader today, if it is to succeed at all, it needs a comprehensive introduction. But Peter Robb (who has written well about Sicily elsewhere) apparently wasn't willing to put in the time or the effort.
   
   Some will say that the likely reader already knows about the Moro episode. Probably in outline, yes, but if he knows it in the kind of detail necessary to appreciate this work, he has probably read Sciascia's account long ago--and, chances are, in Italian.
   
   On the other hand, if you really do want a decent overview of the Moro affair, there is a good one available, ironically, through the New York Review of Books. It's a review, by Adrian Lyttelton available (albeit as paid content) in the archives at the NYRB website. If you really need to master Sciascia on Morrow, Lyttelton is probably a ticket. But unless you are a fairly serious specialist, you can probably give it a bye.



2. This book includes a shorter piece, "The Mystery of Majorana", which is a gem. It gives an explanation for the disappearance of the enigmatic and brilliant physicist Ettore Majorana. The story may or may not be the best researched explanation for what happened to Majorana, but the perspective brought to the life of a genius scientist by the author is compelling.
   
   I have not read, "The Moro Affair" yet, but I assume it will rate at least zero stars, which makes this a five star book.

1 comments about Violet's Foreign Intrigue (Life of Faith®, A: Violet Travilla Series).

1. My teenage daughter has read all of the books in the Life of Faith series and number 8 in the Violet series is the latest for her to read. She likes each one she reads more than the previous books. I myself highly recommend the christian worldview put forth in the books. I hope there will be further books or new series to come soon.

5 comments about Expedition to Blue Cave (Outriders).

1. My two kids -- a girl (10) and a boy (12) read this book and the other "Outriders" novel, "Expedition to Willow Key" and loved them both. My daughter devoured both books in one day! It's nice to find a book series that's not simply a novelization of a TV show -- these are both fun and entertaining reads for both boys and girls. They can't wait for the next one!



2. I titled the review as such because the realistic writing style actually took me on an adventure with the Outriders to Blue Cave. The unique writing style of Mr. Decter was easy to read but interesting too. There was never a slow moment in the book, I was never bored. I was constantly exhilarated, I could not put the book down. I literally read the entire book in one sitting. I can truly relate to all the characters, especially Shelby. The main characters were loveable and believable. The characters seemed like real thirteen or twelve year old kids just like me. I can not wait for the next book and another adventure with the Outriders!



3. "Outriders" is just the kind of series both parents and kids need. Extremely well written, it's destined to be this generation's Tom Swift/Hardy Boys type of adventure series, but way hipper, smarter, and funnier. Thoroughly entertaining for any age...Hmm, I wonder if the Outriders would have any room in their gang for a 40 year old parent?....probably not. I'll just have to content myself with reading about their adventures with my own "Outrider" child, something I'd recommend to every parent out there. Buy this book(and the others in the series, too!), you'll be glad you did.



4. Blue Cave got its name from the rare bioluminescent plankton that makes the whole cave light up with a wonderful blue glow...but it only happens once every seven years. If the Outriders are going to be able to see it, they must do it now. Cam Walker and the kids he hangs out with call themselves the Outriders, and they hate to be bored.
   
   Expeditions require money and equipment, but that's no big problem. Cam manages to raise most of the Outrider's funds by "farming" golf balls...that is, searching the perimeters of the local golf course for lost balls, and selling them for twenty-five cents each to a guy who sells them back to the golfers. As the story opens, Cam is in the process of outrunning and outsmarting the guys at the golf course after he snatches a golf ball that is still in play. It's a close call, but he's good!
   
   The equipment is usually "salvaged," or borrowed without permission of the owner, and then returned in the same condition. The big problem for the expedition to Blue Cave is to free Shelby from summer school and Schooltastic!, so that she can go, too. Shelby's parents are super-diligent at keeping track of Shelby, and this scheme requires careful planning and precise execution. Cam's schemes are outrageous, but what fun! They manage to spring Shelby from Schooltastic! and scavenge a variety of boats, canoes, and kayaks to go to the cave, which is twelve miles across open sea.
   
   When they arrive at the cave, they discover that two people are already there, and they are burying a mahogany box that Cam recognizes as an antique golden sextant that belongs to the town's richest man, the eccentric Mr. Thorpe. He owns the most elaborate estate on Surf Island -- The Falcon's Lair. The kids know that it has been stolen. Now they just need to get it back and return it to Mr. Thorpe. But when the crooks kidnap Shelby's little sister, and the ransom is the golden sextant, the excitement kicks up a notch.
   
   The Outriders conduct their excursions and put their dangerous plans into action without adult supervision. As Cam states in the story, "When we set our minds on something, we don't ask anyone's permission, we just DO IT." They do things that are definitely not parent approved and in some cases are illegal...stealing equipment, riding in the back of a pickup, overhauling a cell phone to obtain free service from the provider, and taking kayaks and canoes over twelve miles of open water. If kept in the right frame of mind as fiction, this is exciting reading that will especially appeal to boys.
   
   Reviewed by: Grandma Bev



5. As a middle school librarian, I am always on the lookout for new series to introduce to the students at my school. The Expedition to Blue Cave was action packed and full of intriguing characters and plot twists. Having read this book, I immediately ordered the other two in the series, and look forward to the release of the fourth. Kids who would enjoy this series would include readers who like outdoor adventures, mysteries, and contemporary fiction. These are great books to recommend to reluctant readers.