One terrific book -- a majestic recreation of the figures that helped define the old west and western entertainment.

Readers lacking a sense of irony may be dismayed to discover that the Real Wild West was only loosely hitched to reality. Spurred by the imaginations of Charles Miller and his three sons, our perception of what is the west sports the distinct brand of the 101. Take heart, though, because on the Miller Brothers' 101, the west was most certainly wild.

Possibly outlaws and certainly mavericks, the Millers rounded up some legendary talent to work their ranch and perform in their touring shows. The 101 herd of entertainers included Geronimo, Will Rogers, champion cowgirl Lucille Mulhall, Annie Oakley rival Princess Wenona, and such film legends as Tom Mix, Buck Jones, Ken Maynard, Yakima Canutt and Hoot Gibson. Black cowboy, Bill Pickett, famed for inventing the rodeo event steer wrestling spent a long career at the 101, and Buffalo Bill Cody spent his final year with the outfit.

While tooling a longstanding image of the west with their Wild West productions, the Millers also saddled up to motion pictures, oil production and an outstanding crop and livestock operation. Their story is a rodeo itself, made all the more interesting by the hints that white hats did not cover the heads of all of the 101 cowboys and cowgirls.

When the last little doggie was wrangled on the 101, the Miller Brothers' legacy did not ride off into the sunset, but continues to stampede through the dreams of would-be cowpokes everywhere. I'm not a regular patron of movie theatres, but I cannot wait until this saga makes it to the big screen!

This book was a welcome source of information on the Carson & Miller families whose genealogy I have been researching. Michael Wallace did an excellent job of getting his historical facts straight and offered some additional resources for my search for family history.

The easy style presented an engrossing story of a family moving through history from the 1850's to the 1930's and adjusting (not always easily) to the changing moores of society.

My father was a cousin of the Miller Bros. and told us children stories of his childhood in Oklahoma and attending the shows at the 101. My sister & I recently visited the old 101 ranch site and were sad to see that little is left. The Miller house in Winfield, Kansas is still standing in beautiful condition and is a private residence.

Michael Wallace is an excellent storyteller. The book gave life to my genealogy and made me feel in touch with the characters and the times. Anyone with an interest in western history would enjoy this story of a dynamic family who helped shape our images of the old west.

I'm always sceptical about new authors and usually stay with my favorites (ie. Robert McGammon, Dean Koonz, Sheri Tepper, Robin Cook, etc). This book was a VERY pleasant surprise. This story grabs you up front and the plot doesn't lag . If you like good characters and are looking for a new author- try this book! I'm already waiting for John Wooley's next book. If you like Dean Koonz, Stephen King, and other fantasy/science fiction/horror stories- you'll probably like this one.

Great read! I found this to be an utterly fresh horror novel, a new approach for a new century. Wooley sets his tale along America's backroads, where danger spreads like the latest craze, unchecked by city suspicions. It's a brilliantly apt metaphor for the creeping change that takes us all unaware and corrupts our freedom. Wooley's unique voice lends his story a powerful sense of place. His vivid characters are a constant delight, drawn with unfailing wit and humanity. The conflicts they struggle with are as much within themselves as with the sinister Man in the Box, so I was always wondering what they would do next. As it speeds toward its devastating finale, this ultra-modern blend of new world tech and old world wisdom seems to ask a discomfiting question: Can we resist what we can't understand?

This is a wonderful first solo for John Wooley. The writing is so personable I felt as if I were part of the cast of characters as the story unfolded around me. The perfect balance of compassion and terror take the reader on a roller coaster ride through the sterile advancement of human technology without ever letting go of your hand. I found myself fearful of what would happen next yet engrossed enough to carry on to the end. I won't soon forget the people and events that took place in this book and I feel it's only a matter of time before it comes true... unless it already has...

It may be that what doomed the Tay-bodal series was the attempt to straddle three genres--mystery, American Indian, and historical. But if you haven't tried these offbeat mystery novels, you are missing a unique experience.

Kiowa healer Tay-bodal moves among the great figures of the most famous moment in the tribe's history, the period of Satanta and Satank and the beginnings of the reservation system. He is a traditional herbalist with a probing and inquiring mind, as open to white medicinal practice as he is to the more spiritualist methods of other Kiowa healers.

Each of the Tay-bodal stories hinges on a crime that has serious community implications for the tribe, and in each, Tay-bodal finds a solution through a combination of logic and action adventure. And the stories are linked together by the development of Tay-bodal's personal life.

In this, probably final, book in the series, Medawar does something daring and touching, casting the entire book as a reminiscence of her hero, deep in his old age. The device works, as the plot involves reconsidering a crime supposedly solved decades ago. As the book ends, the old man has lost most of what mattered to him. Losing him is our loss, as well.

This and the first book, *Death at Rainy Mountain*, are the best in the series.

I loved the Fort Larned Incident, as I have loved all of the previous Tay Bodal mysteries. Ms. Medawar not only infuses these novels with her keen sense of history and tells the story through the viewpoint of a great quirky protagonis, she also makes all of her secondary characters so real you feel like you know them personally. This was a terrific mystery and I never even came close to guessing whodunit. Actually, I wasn't that anxious to find out because I wanted the book to go on and on. Of course, I want time to stand still while the characters play out their dramas, since Tay Bodal lets us know what ultimately happened to his loved ones, friends, and enemies later on. I am not at all anxious to get to that part of history. I like to think these folks maintain their independence and strength forever, as none of us really manage to do. Unlike some of the smug and savvy current day detectives, Tay Bodal isn't sure of anybody. As well as he knows these people of the Rattle Band and as closely as he lives with them, he never quite has anyone figured out completely, least of all his wife Crying Wind or even his best friend Skywalker. This adds that very realistic human mystery that makes each character, as well as each plot, fascinating. Much as I hate for history to roll on, I sure hope Ms. Medawar has another Tay Bodal story in the works now. I miss him and the Rattle Band already.

Just before the ten-year war between the Kiowa Nation and the US Army, the tribe tried to make peace with the whites. The Indians traveled to Ft. Larned, Oklahoma, the site of the first Bureau of Indian Affairs, for a peace celebration. While the tribesmen waited for their supplies, fighting and tribal conflict continued. Three Elks, son of the chief, is killed and the powerful Skywalker asks Tay-Bodal to determine who is the murderer.

Tay-Bodal has solved three previous tribal homicides. He agrees to uncover the killer's identity, but becomes very reluctant when he learns White Bear is the prime suspect. Tay-Bodal is having marital troubles; White Bear is trying to court his spouse. While Tay-Bodal investigates the crime, someone else almost loses her life.

THE FT. LARNED INCIDENT is a rich exciting historical mystery that places as much emphasis on the period as it does on the investigation. Readers see how the Kiowa lived, loved, and related to one another over a century ago. In his fourth appearance, Tay-Bodal retains his fascination because he believes he is just an ordinary guy even though he performs heroic feats when necessary. Fans will anxiously await the next entry in Mardi Oakley Medawar's wonderful Americana fictional series.

Harriet Klausner

Overall this was a pretty good book. Though it seemed a little disjointed at times, it was interesting reading about some Oklahoma history that usually isn't addressed.

The book discusses some of the most notorious black and Indian outlaws (and lawmen) of the Indian (and then Oklahoma) territory. I must admit that I had not heard of most of the names. I was surprised to read of how many black men had served as deputy United States Marshals in this region before statehood.

The author seems to have done extensive research on the subjet, and quotes regularly from newspaper articles and other writings from the late 1800's and early 1900's.

To Whom It May Concern:

Your book must be great, but since it happens to be about my DIRECT grandparents, could you please send a courtesy copy to me. I tried ordering thru you and never rec'd the book. I have had excerpts read to me by other members of family that found the book & I must say I'm shocked. I feel I deserve the right to have a courtesy copy. Any and all of the part of S. P. Brassfield, Abner Brassfield and Abner Jr. you sure hit home. Thank you for your time, I will be anxious to hear from you.

I consider a "must have" for your own personal library

From the era of the Depression and Dust Bowl, the author's search for 'her roots' gives us insight into the strategy of a true survivor. The running of a tear here, to a chuckle and smirk there; the author allows the reader to share in the tragedy; the failures and successes of Byra along the way. A quick read, with pages flying in emotion, I definitly recommend this novel.

This is a truly excellent book. It has everything you could ever hope for - a dysfunctional family, steamy romance, drama, intrigue, true love, and horrible tragedies. Once I got into it, I couldn't put it down, which is a rare thing for me because I am an engineer; Trinity's Daughter was not so convoluted that my math-minded brain couldn't grasp it! I don't know if I can wait a year for the sequel to come out! The most interesting part about this book is that it is based on a true story, so you can really empathize with the characters. I would definitely recommend putting this at the top of your "must read" list!

I was held captive by Mrs. Byrd's descriptive narration. I guess truth is stranger than fiction. The characters were fascinating and so true to life. Can't wait to read the sequel.

Garrison's book is not the soundest text for people reading Catullus in Latin. For one thing, the book does a disservice in "titling" every poem in the collection with an English one-liner...this goes a long way towards influencing the reader before s/he even reads the Latin. Second, there is no critical apparatus with the Latin text...and with a poet like Catullus, for whom textual issues are more than marginally important, this is a lamentable loss...even beginning Latin students can be sophisticated enough not to think that the text of an author was handed down by Jupiter on golden tablets...or in this case, in a forest green paperback. Fordyce's 1961 Oxford commentary remains standard for the poems he covers (and contrary to popular lore he did not leave the others out out of a sense of Puritanism but rather because the Oxford Press at the time thought the book would sell to a larger market with the obscene poems omitted)...there is also Merrill, still in print (he has every poem)...and for more accomplished Latinists, we now have Thomson's big 1997 volume. If you can find it, Kenneth Quinn's 1970 commentary on the whole corpus is also worth a close look...

This handy edition is perfect for the casual reader of Latin. Garrison's extensive notes answer most questions a reader is likely to have concerning the grammer and they also provide a considerable amount of relevent mythology. The book also contains a complete vocabulary which I have found invaluable. This is not a scholarly edition, but provides everything for the non-scholar.

This book is simply outstanding--recommended for anyone formally studying Catullus, or perhaps even any Latin student with a passing interest in the poet. Garrison is quite good, for the most part, at letting the poems shine forth unobstructed by any sort of critical commentary. At the same time, he provides a great deal of useful background info for each poem, elucidating quite well the figures and places of Catullus' works, as well as extensive notes, often covering many of the more obscure aspects of the poems.

Any drawbacks of the text escape my mind--I have had nothing but positive experiences using Garrison's text. For those studying the poems of Catullus at or below the college level, it's indubitably the best of its kind.

This is a fascinating story of Waite Phillips and his dreams of living a cowboy life out west, his bond with twin brother Wiatt, and his life as an oilman, wildcatter and millionare. Most importantly, it is the story of a man with the wisdom to understand that "A man keeps nothing unless he gives it away". His gifts to the Boy Scouts of America, hospitals, universities, and the city of Tulsa stand as a testiment to his wisdom and love of people. I recommend this book more often than any other. It should be required reading for all.

While my purpose for reading this book was to explore the history of Philmont Scout Ranch of which Waite Phillips was the benefactor, I found this book to also be adventurous and educational. The history of Waite Phillips and his generousity shows him to be a hard businessman with a heart of gold and his priorities in the right place. I can say that the Boy Scouts of America would not be the organization it is today without the life and generousity of Waite Phillips. A must read for anyone who loves Scouting.

And I will admit, my interest in opening the book was being there when Mr.Wallis and "Chope" Phillips did their book signing at Philmont Scout Ranch, BSA's mecca for Scouting. I thought I would be bored by the sections related to Waite and his twin brother Wiatt and their adventures prior to the time Waite became the benefactor of the property we call Philmont. Instead I found myself interested in the details and events of their lives, of Wiatt's death, and the personal insights into the Phillips family. Anyone with any interest in the west, in Scouting, in the history of the development of the oil fields, or in the giving of a man who truly felt "The only things we keep forever are those we give away" would be glad they read this book.

To the thousands who visit Philmont every year, for training, for a wilderness experience, or to serve on staff, this book should give you the information and attitude you need to truly appreciate the experience.

And you'll realize you should be kind to any old "cowboy" you meet in the backcountry -- it could be Chope.

With the second "Viv Powers" mystery out and a third due in 2004, author Letha Albright has a bona fide SERIES on her hands. And what's the most important thing in a series? The lead character, of course.

And heroine Viv Powers has character in spades. She's passionate, intelligent, wry... and very good at being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Her day job is writing for a regional magazine, but she picks up a new night job -- sleuthing -- when a land dispute leaves two people dead. Who's to blame? The men who want to open a racetrack in Talequah? Any one of several townspeople, all of whom seem to have motive? Or even Utlunta, a Cherokee legend that might actually exist? Albright keeps the reader guessing until the very end.

The book starts off a tad slow, but the second half runs at a full gallop until the conclusion. There also seems to be a love-triangle-in-the-making: Viv is going to have to choose between her current boyfriend (Charley, a musician) and an ex-lover (Hutch, a detective). Too many peripheral characters clutter the pace at times, but it's otherwise a twisting, turning gem of a mystery. The plotline dealing with Utlunta, a Cherokee witch with a deadly stone finger, makes for truly chilling moments.

Pick up Albright's debut, "Tulsa Time," then read "Daredevil's Apprentice," then wait in line like the rest of us for more Viv Powers books. If you live in Tulsa or Talequa, Oklahoma, there's extra incentive to read these books, as Albright does an excellent job describing these locales.

After reading Albright's first Viv Powers mystery, "Tulsa Time," I was committed to keeping an eye on this intriguing new series. "Daredevil's Apprentice" doesn't disappoint, thoughtfully melding mystery with Cherokee lore, interesting characters, and even humor.

Letha Albright has a wide range of experience as a journalist, wilderness guide, a sawmill worker, and lately as editor of School & Community, a magazine for Missouri teachers. She earned her master's degree in journalism at the University of Missouri and lives in Columbia, Missouri with her husband, two children, and a cat. This is the second Viv Powers mystery.

Set in Cherokee County, Oklahoma, Daredevil's Apprentice finds Viv Powers bored stiff working at the "Green County Journal." When Lisabeth Ellis enters as the new managing editor, Viv starts seeing trouble brewing. Her musician boyfriend, Charley, stays in the background doing gigs with his band "Powers That Be." But when David Menckle assigns Viv to dig up a story about the disappearance of John Dreadfulwater, forebear of Viv's best friend, Lucie Dreadfulwater, the action opens with a bang:

"Lucie stood in the doorway of the barn, her hands gripping the doorjamb. As a storyteller, drama was her job, but I had never seen her like this. Her face was a changing tapestry of emotions: surprise, fear, indecision, anger. 'What is it?' Some extra sense drew me to the dark interior of the barn. She grabbed my arm. 'Don't go in there.'"

From the very first chapter, Letha has her readers hooked on a very high-powered plot that tangles up our attention from the first chapter. Not only is her writing absolutely exquisite, from her vivid character description to the action which builds to a smashing denouement. Viv is a typically scattered character with a strong heart and some good basic training in self defense from her wise father. She is young, impetuous, and thoroughly likable.

Daredevil's Apprentice is a good, solid Oklahoma story with strong American Indian lore, old grudges, and death that implicates those who are closest to Viv. Viv's sister Maggie provides Shakespearian comic relief, but their relationship is a strong one of caring and playful banter. The legends of the Cherokees and the musical twist shape the story into magic.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

"Bless their hearts!" The cast from Fred's first "mystery" novel is back, "as excited as coondogs that've run an armadillo into a hole" - this time flying between Depression-era Western Oklahoma and Mexico. The ambiance and Okie-isms are accurate and it is a fine trip. I really don't remember when Oklahoma car tags numerically denominated the county of issuance (as Iowa later and longer did) e.g. Oklahoma County as County #1 and Polk County as County #77. But I do have the now archaic trivia clogging my head of the two letter identifiers - greetings to all the folk out in Clinton and Weatherford! a/k/a CU (Custer County.) The mystery isn't really a mystery, but it is a fun trip down Memory Lane.

This was my first time reading any work by Fred Harris, but I'm sure that it will not be my last time. I enjoyed the down to earth language and depiction of the characters. Having grownup in rural America, I found it easy to identify with the story line. Harris did a great job with details, which tended to lend a real sense of being there to the story.

Although the book seemed a little slow in the beginning, it wasn't long before I reached the point of not wanting to put it down. Harris does a good job of keeping one's attention, but the ending was almost predictable.

Overall, a very enjoyable book. Now that I've discovered Fred Harris, I can't wait to read his other fictional works.

Good news! The sequel to Fred Harris' highly acclaimed, award winning first novel, Coyote Revenge, is just now being released to booksellers and it is a keeper. For those readers familiar with Harris' first book you will be delighted to know that "Okie" Dunnis back along with a host of colorful characters straight out of southwestern Oklahoma. If you missed the first novel, and want to read something by a lively storyteller that includes characters you will swear you have met, this is the book for you. The protagonist from the first book, "Okie" Dunn, is back as the sheriff of Vernon, OK. He is joined by his Chief Deputy, Stud Wampler, who was a long-time friend of Dunn's father and "as loyal and good-hearted as a brother" and Crystal Boucher, the first female deputy in Oklahoma, who "had a good brain and a notably compassionate heart." When you mix these characters with a slovenly bounty hunter and a beautiful redheaded lawyer, both from Oklahoma City, with a slick character named Carter from Dallas, or was it Castor from Mexico?, all looking for the sweet and innocent schoolteacher named Janeaster Parnell, you have a great story. Oh, did I mention the body that dropped out of the sky; the attack on Dunn; the trip to Veracruz; the abortion; the sexual encounter between Dunn and the lawyer; and...? This is Fred Harris at his best. While his first novel was good this one is better, much better. Harris has the unique ability to combine colorful, believable characters with a realistic dialogue and description of events that will, if you are not careful, make you swear you either know one of the characters or have been in the physical location he describes. You will not find characters here that leap tall buildings in a single bound. Most of us don't know many characters like that. These are folks that lived through the depression and struggle daily to survive and help each other. They save string and bailing wire because you never know when you will need it and they sometimes take a shot of home brew, for medicinal purposes don't you know. Harris' work is also unique and special in that he can write on such diverse, and potentially divisive, subjects as abortion; murder; sex; humor; and a variety of other topics, all in one book, in a manner that make the book suitable for virtually all age groups. He is able to tell a story with humor, suspense, tragedy, decency and tenderness that is as authentic as it is moving. Teenagers to senior citizens will like this book. If you are looking for a good mystery story with the added bonus of an accurate description of the life and times in rural Oklahoma during the depression, this is for you. As some would say about native Oklahoman Fred Harris, "He done good."