Zoe Kergulin, private investigator extraordinaire, is still recovering from the death of a dear friend and her ouster from the Justice Department. She's living in a quaint Queen Anne house in West Virginia, surrounded by friends and family.

Zoe's cousin, Sheriff Ethan McKenna, and a female deputy are ambushed, leaving the deputy dead and Ethan hanging on to life. Rumors spread through Bickle County and they aren't pretty. Everywhere Zoe turns, there are whispers of an illicit affair. The deputy's husband is arrested for the crimes. Zoe knows there was no affair, but to openly tell the truth would ruin Ethan's career.

Ethan McKenna is gay.

Zoe must find the real criminals and save her cousin's reputation. During her investigation, Zoe stumbles upon a frustrated undercover narcotics agent, a trouble teen, and a mystery man who is scouring the county in his silver Jaguar. Zoe's tenaciousness is almost her undoing, but she is determined to find the killers, clear her cousin's name and bring some closure to a painful chapter in her family's history.

This is a pleasant night's entertainment. I wish the author would have given us more insight into Ethan and his personal life, but I suppose that will be another story.

Enjoy!

Thus far in this reviewer's experience, a mystery by Spinster Press tends to be well thought out, entertaining, and will probably include animals. A mystery writing instructor once commented that there are two types of mysteries: those which include cats and those which don't. Deadly Embrace is, obviously, the latter. Trudy Labovitz presents her second Zoe Kergulin mystery to us in lively fashion, as Zoe hones her private investigator skills after her first adventure in Ordinary Justice.

This time, it is Zoe's cousin, Sheriff Nathan McKenna, critically injured after an ambush that kills Deputy Rosalyn Fitzgerald. The trouble is, it looks as if Nathan and Rosalyn might have been having an affair. The positioning of the bodies places them in close contact, and they were ambushed in Nathan's car outside of Rosalyn's house:

"Listen, Zoe, it's not that I enjoy hurting a friend, but you've got to know this. All of Ethan's wounds are from behind. If he'd simply been sitting at the wheel, the entry wounds would have been from the front--or at least the side. From the position of Rosalyn Fitzgerald's wounds, Ethan's wounds, and the bullet holes in the car, the police know the shooter was standing just about where you figured--where you were just looking for evidence--about thirteen feet away from the passenger-side front fender and above the car. If the shooter had moved, going around the car to shoot the other after hitting the first, either Ethan or Rosalyn would have had a chance to draw a weapon, but neither had the opportunity. Both of them were shot at exactly the same time."

It is Zoe's job to not only find the killer, but to disprove the F.B.I.'s glib assumption that Rosalyn's husband shot them in a fit of jealousy. Pitting a private investigator against the resources of the government is always a good time for the reader. But Labovitz throws in a few curves that lead the reader on a merry goose chase.

We also get to know Zoe, an inveterate do-gooder who is vilified by almost everyone, and who, in the end...but that would be giving too much away. Suffice to say that Zoe is a lovable character and her house is control central for cats, members of her large, wonderful family.

Shelley Glodowski, Reviewer

The shooting that killed Deputy Sheriff Rosalyn Fitzgerald and left Sheriff Ethan McKenna fighting for his life stunned the residents of Bickle County, West Virginia. Rumors spread by the outside media covering the case claim that the two law enforcement officials were having an affair under the nose of her spouse Kirk. Ethan's cousin private investigator Zoe Kergulin would have had a good laugh over the affair angle if the crimes were not so serious because Zoe knows her cousin is gay.

Zoe begins her own investigation to not only save Ethan's reputation for clean living and running a clean department, but to also bring a cold blooded killer to justice. The state police believe Kirk committed the shooting in a rage of passion for his wife cuckolding him with the sheriff. As she digs deeper, Zoe soon realizes that a very disturbed teenage girl has many of the answers to the tragedy. All Zoe needs to do is to persuade Ren to tell what she saw, but the girl is afraid that no one will believe her and the culprit will come after her next.

The second Kergulin West Virginia mystery is an exciting who-done-it that brings the Mountaineer State alive. The mystery is intriguing and as in her first appearance (see ORDINARY JUSTICE), Zoe remains a fresh character. The support cast, especially the interaction between the outsiders and the locals, augments the mistrust and innuendoes that grow on each page. Although more information on the victims' would have added an empathic element that the plot lacks, Trudy Labovitz writes an engaging tale.

Harriet Klausner

Failure analyst Owen Allison plans to return to Palo Alto to reconcile with his ex-wife Judith though he was delayed by his need to be with his mother in West Virginia when she underwent chemotherapy (see DISMAL MOUNTAIN). However, further problems in West Virginia postpone Owen's trip to the West Coast.

The dam by the Canaan II mine erupts, killing four and filling DRYBONE HOLLOW with coal sludge. Owner Anson Stoke hires Owen to persuade environmentalist Judge Carter Vereen that despite the toll, his operations remain safe and should stay open. Judge Vereen orders an investigation of all impoundment dams sitting on mines, which leads to state attorney general Hayes Boyer asking Owen to head the inquiry, but demanding a kickback of 15% of Owen's fee. Owen rejects the offer, but turns to his friend Sheriff Thad Reader to set a trap to expose those using fixed contracts, but the law enforcement official deals with a full plate already as a local has probably been abducted. So Owen plunges ahead knowing he will receive limited support from his buddy, but mine engineer Emily Kruk makes it worth while to stay in West Virginia a bit longer.

Though the "will he reconcile or not" becomes a bit annoying, readers will appreciate the latest Owen Allison investigative tale. Most of the audience will kick themselves when they see how obvious John Billheimer's plot solves the mystery as the clues are all provided, but so devilishly done that most fans (including this sore reviewer) will fail to see it. The cast is a delight with the hero at his best when he investigates.

Harriet Klausner

Another great Owen Alison book. As usual, we get to meet an array of quirky, well-drawn characters, including the larcenous Cable Stokes, his brother Anson, and mining engineer Emily Kruk. Billheimer's book are always a fun blend of humor and excitement--the book really races along.

One of the pleasures of this series is watching Owen's relationships with other characters deepen an grow as the books progress. Though you don't need to have read any of the other books to enjoy this one, if this is your first Owen Alison book you'll want to go back and read the others just to find out what's happened in the past. These books are one of my favorite mystery series.

Fans of John Billheimer's Owen Allison series will enjoy this latest episode. Billheimer's talent for dialog reveals more about the West Virginia psyche in this book than all the others combined. And the action is fast paced from beginning to end. I could not put it down. Especially interesting is the re-emergence of characters from earlier books who play a key role. Billheimer character development continues to an unexpected ending. You come away asking if there could be other scams this region of the country could suffer. I expect we will see this answers in upcoming books from this fine author.

Generally, this is an ideal field book for the identification of plants. The descriptions are very informative and complete. The book does have one drawback. The index contains many errors.

THIS MANUAL IS A CLASSIC AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE REVISED.

Best book available But desperatly needs to be revise

In this West Indian version of Rumpelstiltskin, Queen Quashiba marries the rich and powerful Big King, but must produce three rooms full of gold cloth after a year and a day or be locked away forever and a year. How will she ever accomplish such a supernatural feat?

The book is richly illustrated with vibrant colors and the words are pleasing to read silently or aloud. Both Virginia Hamiltion and the Dillons prove to be masters of their respective crafts and together produce a winning combination in their version of this classic tale.

Crazy James

What a beautiful book! Beautiful language, beautiful pictures. Even my 3-year-old son, who usually just likes books about trucks, wanted me to read it over and over. I like it better than the German version (Rumplestilskin); Quashiba acts much more like a real person here.

Whatever Virginia Hamilton, Leo & Diane Dillon touch turn to gold! Hamilton's creative use of language and dialect give this retelling of the Rumplestiltskin story a sense of freshness and fun. The rich illustrations and the whimsical portrayal of the Lit'mahn character complement the text beautifully. As a read-aloud, the experience is delightful for both the reader and the audience.

This is the incredible story of the decade of labour unrest(1912-1922) known as 'The Mine wars". And real wars they were, in which hunreds and sometime thousands of armed man opposed each other in the vallies of West Virginia. The author is not a great writer or stilist, but he witnessed much of the events in a variety of capacities (State Attorney General, among others) and he has the good sense to let the facts speak for themselves. This part of American history is as shocking as it is fascinating and richly deserves the attention Lee has given to it.

In plain, unvarnished style, Lee relates the history of greed and evil by the outside capital interests who came into West Virginia to rape and pillage. The miners wouldn't stand for it, and war broke out.

The president had to declare martial law - twice.

While Lee doesn't exactly have a beautiful, rolling style, he tells it like it was; he was there.

If you want to know about the true character of the Appalachian people, read this book.

This is the most unbiased telling of the struggles in West Virginia between the coal operators and the union. Mr. Lee offers an impartial insider's view of the birth (and or death) of the real West Virginia.

Excellent descriptions of how survivors dealt with the total destruction of everything they had built and accomplished in their entire lives. All of this was taken from them by a "man made" damn and wall of water within minutes. Mr. Erikson did a wonderful job of relating to the people from the coal camps and realizing what their lives had been about......he truely shows the suffering involved in this disaster.

One of the better books I've read detailing the issues involved in natural disasters and their aftermath. Erikson describes in detail what the survivors went through and how they dealt with the destruction of their community.

This was an excellent book, well-written and informative. Using Buffalo Creek as the fulcrum, Erikson provides readers with a good introduction of communities and trauma. It is interesting to note the similarities and differences between the aftermaths of Sept 11 and Buffalo Creek. Erikson's book is a must read for social scientists and anyone interested in creative non-fiction writing.

Alyce Faye Bragg's first collection of stories has already been reprinted and at least part of the credit goes to her love affair with the hills. These are the hills of West Virginia and from the small, very small town of Ovapa in sparsely populated Clay County. In her new book, Alyce Faye will tell you about drinking clear Appalachian mountain spring water, an addictive experience. If you have ever been exposed to farm living, you will be reached by her writing of the old vacant farm, "a sad sight." Alyce Faye says we can all go `back home' since she had already done this. She also recalls early holiday memories and her mother's Christian examples. Alyce Faye takes you there; her descriptions are powerful and enjoyable. But there are many things about rural life you may not already know: a shucking peg, about duck sitting, a pennyroyal, leather britches (not clothing), the horse that should have gone to jail and all about green apples and yellow jackets (ouch!). She writes about the real Mountaineer and a real Mountain woman. It may be humorous or sometimes sad, but it is never dull. A gracious real mountain woman herself, Alyce Faye Bragg brings real insight to her stories about country life.

I was very impress with this book it was also the best book i've read about wv.

A wonderful collection of nostalgic essays on the joys and sorrows of life in the hills. Based in a love for life and a deep faith, this second collection of Ms. Bragg's heartwarming writings will delight any reader seeking a reason to be thankful and hopeful.

If you've ever wondered whether there's a book inside of you, then you should read "The Life Writing Class." I had the good fortune of beginning to read it when I was struggling to write my own book and finishing it after I had the opportunity to enroll in one of John Patrick Grace's Life Writing classes. So I have viewed the process from the inside and the outside, and it's a remarkable thing to behold. The book gives the reader a sampling of the stories waiting to be told by people from all walks of life. In the class, I have seen such people come in with ideas of the stories they want to tell and receive the direction they need to get those stories into print. That first Life Writing class, which produced this book, has led to the publication of five other books with more on the way. One member of the class I was in already has a book in the hands of a publisher and scheduled to be in print in a matter of months. The rest of us are working on ours with a new sense of purpose. Some of us still meet on our own on a weekly basis to give each other support. Not everyone will have a chance to be a member of a Life Writing class, but reading this book will give you a better idea of what's possible.

This book is incredibly inspiring, especially if you're considering writing your own life story. Each of these 26 short pieces takes a unique approach to the task: honoring a distant ancestor/poet, a Christmas Eve that holds the last perfect moment for a family soon torn apart, a funeral procession through the streets of Chicago that rekindles boyhood memories. We see a piece of ourselves in each tale and are stimulated by the different solutions to the puzzle of autobiography: where to start, how to proceed.

The Life Writing Class is also lovingly illustrated with black and white photographs of paintings held in the collection of The Huntington Museum of Art. Clearly reproduced, achingly beautiful, they are the perfect visual metaphor for a book of autobiographical prose: not the light itself, but a reflection of the light. The Life Writing Class is a class act in content, design, and impact. It makes you want to write.

"The Life Writing Class" is a must read for anyone passionate about personal histories and autobiographies. It would be particularly helpful for someone looking for a jump-start in writing a retrospective of their own. Edited by a masterful writing coach, the book left me feeling as though I'd made 20 new friends.

A great read! McLaughlin captures his reader immediately and holds on throughout each story. I especially enjoy the way he writes about the strength of the women in the old west. He has an obvious respect for their trials and accomplishments. Refreshing! I lent my copy to a coworker who took it on her family vacation to read aloud during long rides in the car. She said the entire family enjoyed it (husband and 2 kids - aged 10 and 15) and they're looking forward to reading Volume II on their next trip.

A collection of true tales of the people who made the Sierra Mountains of California so interesting in the last 200 years. McLaughlin has chosen his tales well and shows great skill in crafting them so they are fun to read and informative to boot.

We bought both books after hearing Mark McLaughlin lecture at an Elderhostel in Lake Tahoe. They are short, factual stories brimming with historical information presented in extremely interesting manner. They are as fascinating to read as he is in his lectures and we highly recommend them.

I bought the Atlas and Gazetter for WV and MD. These books are essential equipment for getting out and enjoying the back roads. The topo info tells you if it will be flat and sunny or hilly and shady. I am really impressed with the detail of the maps. If they could make it in a water proof edition it would be perfect.

For its price, this definitely delivered, and some. With a comprehensible format and legend, it's definitely helpful when you're, well, not lost, just "taking the scenic route."

It's Wednesday evening. You're trying to think of something new and different to do with you weekend. Your loved one(s) are bored and restless and want to do something different. It's all up to you... What to do...

If you've been there before, there is one solution - this book of great maps. In addition to the detailed accuracy of the maps, there is a great section that details locations of interest, places to go, things to do, phone numbers you can call to make arrangements and get info. This could be the book that saves your weekend!

Stored in your car, it could also be the book that get's you where you want to go without driving to a gas station to get directions. If you've tried that lately, you know that your chances of getting good directions to far-off places are slim to none.

I have purchased several of these books - one for each state that I frequent. Whenever I want to get away, I take them out and see what I can find. We have visited covered bridges, homes built by Frank Lloyd Wright, cliffs and caves, museums and all kinds of historic landmarks.

For the price of a nice meal, you will have a travel companion for many years to come. While you can get maps on the internet, most of us still don't have that at our disposal when we are on the road. This book will be your guide!