The history of the Freemasons covers the beginnings in the British Isles and the creation of lodges in Europe, Asia, and South and North America. He explains how the membership of the lodges has changed through time as well as how the lodge has changed its organization. He does not seek to expose any secrets, but points out that the organization is similar to many others, but prefers to keep it rituals and initiations to itself.

This secrecy, according to Ridley, is the main reason why there are so many conspiracy theories concerning the Freemasons. An example of the theories is that Jack the Ripper was a Freemason, and another is that the Freemasons started the American Revolution. He points out that although some of the American founding fathers were Freemasons, many of them were not. He also points out that less democratic governments tend to fear the lodge and will present any manner of propaganda to suppress it.

This is a good book to read to learn a bit more about the organization. Also, if you are a conspiracy theorist, I would recommend reading this for balance.

Instead of looking at just the internal history of Freemasonry, Ridley writes about its influence (and it's members) on the world and how the world has influence it throughout history. The books places the craft in a historical context in the fact that the book explains what historical events were occurring and how it effect Freemasonry. Such as the American and French Revolutions.

Meanwhile, Ridley sheds light on the Masons and sweeps away the lies and half truths of others that have come before him and takes an honest look at the craft.
Ridley makes a solid case that in his work that instead of being some secret world wide conspiracy to control events or the world, Masons are often divided on the great issues of the day. However, English and American Masons forbid any political discussion within their lodges. Ridley points out that in every war, Masons supported and fought for their respective countries, which pitted Masons of different sides against each other. Ridley also documents how Freemasons were often the target of oppression and witch hunts started by dictators who have banned the craft and the formation of lodges.

The Freemasons is a great book for it's historical look at the craft and the history surrounding it both inside and outside. It takes a look at who were some of history's most famous Masons. While at the same time, not all Masons were angels.. but in the end showing that Freemasonry has always stood for the ideals of morality and freedom.

It tells how JM matched tricks with the leader of the Dervishes to get safe passage for British troops. How JM stumbled over the means to get desert camouflage paint. To prevent Alexandria Harbor from being bombed, JM moved it! To avoid an attack, dummy tanks, guns, and troops were created as reinforcements to be seen by enemy air reconnaissance. To protect the Suez Canal he used high-intensity rotating searchlights; this was copied by Britain's air defense.

JM was asked to give lectures on escaping when captured; he became a member of MI9 (which dealt with escape and evasion). His Magic Gang also created dummy submarines to hide the absence of real ones. He traveled to Malta to help hide real airplanes and create dummies to attract and waste bombs. They developed a way to drop a crate of supplies without using scarce parachutes. When his friend survived a plane crash only to die in the fire, JM created a cream that withstood flames for a few minutes to allow people to escape. When testing out in the desert, JM became lost an nearly died from dehydration.

To prepare for the attack from the Alamein Line Gen. Montgomery wanted his forces on the north hidden so the enemy would expect an attack in the south. Since the desert was flat, the camofleurs had an impossible job of deception and misdirection: to put a decoy army in the south and hide a real army in the north. Thousands of tons of supplies had to be hidden in the north while dummy supplies had to be hidden in the south. Pages 278-9 explains how the dummy water pipeline was built. The Battle of El Alamein began as planned. The Magic Gang created a phony sea invasion twenty miles behind enemy lines, which diverted German reserve forces. Chapter 18 tells how German tanks were halted by dummy cardboard tanks and silver painted boards! And the battle ended with Rommell's retreat.

Afterwards JM was sent to Canada to establish Station M, which educated and served the OSS and FBI ("Room 3603" references this). The Gestapo placed him on their "Black List". He invented air to ground communication using infrared waves. After the war he migrated to Kenya, and died there.

Rice beans makes good soup!

GOVERNMENT!?!

When Wayne and Kate attend a science fiction-mystery authors' book signing, there is one protester who claims that science fiction is demonic poisoning. However, things change for the worse when one of the writers puts a bracelet on her wrist and abruptly dies. The bracelet contained a syringe filled with a poison that was injected when the writer snapped it on her wrist. Kate and Wayne try to determine who left the poisoned bracelet on the table. They soon learn that many of the attendees had the opportunity and the motive.

Anyone in the doldrums should try DEATH HITS THE FAN for a fast uplifting rush. It is difficult to remain sad when one is surrounded by quirky characters who make sense in a crazy kind of way. The secondary sub-plots are humorous, making it impossible not to smile even as the reader tries to solve an interesting mystery. Jacqueline Girdner demonstrates that her talent is at the Mensa level.

Harriet Klausner

The premise is that Kate Jasper's paramour, Wayne, is home bedridden with a severe case of the flu. Her friend and fellow psychic Barbara Chu drags her out to a psychic soiree to get her mind off of Wayne's illness, her ex-husband Craig who keeps professing his love for her and the nagging sense that she is a walking harbinger of death. During this soiree, Silk Sokoloff, an outlandish writer who loves to stir up controversy and anger wherever she goes, is strangled and none of the psychics can figure out who the culprit is so of course Kate and Barbara must put on their sleuth hats and uncover the murderer (as if the police are REALLY as oblivious and stupid as they are made out to be in this book).

While Kate is nosing around another murder occurs and of course the police think Kate is the killer (and who wouldn't because she is always at the death scene and can't even figure out not to leave finger prints...) so to save her good name she must discover who is really behind these deaths.

All in all, this could have been a very good novel but as it was - I felt it was bland and the writing was unimaginative and formulaic. The characters were all stereotypes and most of them were not even filled out enough to make them stand out of the "wacky" cast of characters. Halfway through the book, I realized that I did not even really care who did it - I just thought that the book would possibly have an interesting twist to it, but it disappointed me all around. Let's put it this way, I finished it a day or two ago and when I sat down to write my review of it - I could not even remember the title - to me that says something. If you want to read a really fun psychic mystery series try Martha C. Lawrence's Elizabeth Chase series - it is well rounded and exciting.

This is an entertaining quick read and a good addition to the series.

Besides worrying about her beloved significant other Wayne Caruso, who is very sick, Kate Jasper fears joining crowds. Feeling karmically impaired; Kate knows that every time she ventures into a group, someone ends up murdered. Her close friend psychic Barbara Chu convinces Kate to accompany her on a visit to the home of Justine Howe and her horde of extrasensory folks.

Reluctantly agreeing, Kate barely survives the harrowing experience of being a passenger in Barbara's car. At Justine's house, Kate meets a crowd of strange beings with varying psychic abilities. However, during a soiree, one of them garrots Silk Sokoloff. In spite of the high degree of cosmic abilities no one can identify the killer. The police arrive and interrogate everyone in Justine's house before allowing anyyone to leave. On the way home accompanied by a cacophony of horns, Barbara informs Kate they will investigate this murder. Just saying no fails and Kate finds herself involved in another sleuthing adventure. MURDER ON THE ASTRAL PLANE, the tenth Kate Jasper amateur sleuth mystery, retains the freshness and humor evident in the previous stories. The great Kate is at her lovable best, especially in her dealings with Barbara. The droll story line contains a fine murder mystery and wonderful, witty characters. Jacqueline Girdner demonstrates her talent with a must read for sub-genre fans.

Harriet Klausner

This is a fun read. If you're looking for more action than interviewing suspects, look elsewhere. However, there are some interesting suspects and subplots here, and it's a fun read. I also enjoyed getting a look at the area I grew up in, being a Santa Rosa native.

If you're looking for action, this book isn't for you. The plot basically revolves around Kate talking to the suspects. However, I found it humorous in spots. I was drawn into this book and could hardly put it down.

The book has drama, history, and personality......a rare combination!

I checked this out, there was also a NY Dodgers FOOTBALL Team in the NFL in the 1930s and early 1940s. On December 7th, 1941, they were playing football against the NY Giants in New York City. There is a famous radio broadcast on CBS of this game as the announcer had to break in to announce that the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor.