Author: ekkarn

Book 14 0f 2013 – James Lee Burke – Creole Belle

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Creole BelleI have feeling that if I were an English major or at least more literature literate, I would love the great novels of James Lee Burke even more than I do presently! Creole Belle is the 19th Burke novel featuring Dave Robicheaux and is Book 14 for 2013 this one took a while to read, mainly because it is rather long (528 pages) and I got distracted by a couple of other books, but when I came back and picked it up about midway through, I zipped right through it, especially over the last two hundred or so pages. Like all the other books it’s a whopping good read!!

In his installment, Dave is in the hospital recovering from injuries sustained in the last book (hint: read The Glass Rainbow first!) anyway, a young woman Tee Jolie Melton, visits Dave in the hospital and leaves him an iPod with her songs on it including “My Creole Belle”. When Dave tells people this no one believes him because Tee Jolie disappeared weeks ago. Her sister has also disappeared only her body washes up on shore in a block of ice… with a message that Tee Jolie is still alive. Soon Dave is on a quest to find tee Jolie. Meanwhile Dave’s former partner and best friend Clete Purcell is confronted with problems of his own, some greaseballs are trying to shake him down for a past due debt…. when one of the slime balls is murdered, the hitman is a young woman, who Clete thinks is his daughter from a relationship years ago! Soon Dave and Clete are off their quests. Dave to find Tee Jolie and Clete to find and save his daughter and himself. Along the way they face some of the meanest and most diabolical foes they’ve ever faced and Dave, his family, wife Molly and daughter Alafair are all targets!!

As in all of Burke’s books, the all the characters are superbly developed and in this book the cast is very large! And the images of Louisiana paints with his probe, leave you smelling the bayou and the magnolias and wishing you could be there…. a fellow reader Sue at Goodreads included this passage in her review of Creole Belle and it is a great example of Burke’s writing:

“…The boughs of the cypress trees were as brittle and delicate as gold leaf in the late sun. An alligator gar was swimming along the edge of the lily pads, its needle-
nose head and lacquered spine and dorsal fin parting the surface with a

fluidity that was more serpent than fish.

 

…Then the wind gusted and a long shaft of amber sunlight
seemed to race down the center of the bayou, like a paean
to the close of day and the coming of night and the cooling
of the earth, as though vespers and the acceptance of the
season were a seamless and inseparable part of life that
only the most vain and intransigent among us would deny.”

 

So if you’ve never read James Lee Burke’s books go find The Glass Rainbow and then follow it up with Creole Belle and I’m sure after those two you’ll go back and read Dave Robicheaux’s 17 other adventures! Hell, you have to find out why Clete and Dave fight both their demons, and the bad guys!

As for me I finished just in time for the next installment coming in July, Light of the World

Current Reads: Kofi Annan, Andrew Johnson and the Amistad Rebellion

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Ok so this year I am making a very concerted effort to read more non-fiction books. I will be concentrating on history and politics with some of the other aspects of Social Studies thrown in to the mix. Currently, I have myself spread between three books. They are:

InterventionsInterventions: A Life in War and Peace Kofi Annan with Nader Mousavizadeh.

I must confess that I knew little about Kofi Annan prior to starting this book. I knew he was at one point Secretary General of the United Nations but that was about all. So far and I’m not that far into the book it has been enlightening. I didn’t realize that Kofi was the first Sub-Saharan African to serve as Secretary General. Here’s what others say about the book:
“In this thought provoking new memoir, Kofi Annan describes the peaceful and more equitable world that is within our grasp and offers his candid perspective on the challenges we must overcome to get there. Interventions is a powerful reminder that the United Nations still matters-and must continue to matter if we want our new century to be more free, peaceful and prosperous than the last” – President William J. Clinton

“Behind the velvet tones of Kofi Annan’s dulcet Ghanaian voice, there’s a fearsome, fearless iron will, intent on finding solutions to some of the world’s biggest problems“ – Bono

ImpeachedImpeached: The Trial of President Andrew Johnson and the Fight for Lincoln’s Legacy  David O. Stewart

On February 24, 1868 – Accusing Johnson of violating the tenure of Office Act, the House approves an impeachment resolution by a vote of 126-47. When I read this on the day of the anniversary, I realized that I either knew little about the impeachment or like many things I had forgotten whati  did know! Anyway, I wanted to learn more about the Impeachment and maybe compare it to Bill Clinton’s (there is no comparison) I found David O. Stewart’s book and having liked his book on Aaron Burr this would be a good read. I was correct so far like the Annan book it has been enlightening. I have a new respect for the Radical Republicans and Thaddeus Stevens, though I still have a hard time thinking of them as the “Good guys”!

“Anyone who thinks that American politics has lately been at a high level of viciousness should read this gripping story of Andrew Johnson’s impeachment trial. There are fewer angels than we have thought, and more political hatred and knife work – all with the underlying issue of justice and race” – Anthony Lewis former NY Times columnist and author of Gideon’s Trumpet

Amistad RebellionThe Amistad Rebellion: An Atlantic Odyssey of Slavery and Freedom – Marcus Redeker

Unlike the above books I really didn’t seek this book out, rather it was at the library one day a couple weeks ago and I couldn’t pass it up. Back on January 13th to be exact I read about the verdict of the trial:

 Judge Judson announced his decision on January 13, 1840, after a weekend of deliberation. He ruled that the Amistad captives were “born free” and kidnapped in violation of international law. They had mutinied, he said, out of a “desire of winning their liberty and of returning to their families and kindred.” He ordered that the Amistads be “delivered to President Van Buren for transport back to Africa.” He ended his opinion with the observation, “Cinque and Grabeau shall not sigh for Africa in vain. Bloody as may be their hands, they shall yet embrace their kindred.” The Grampus sailed out of New Haven harbor without its black passengers. Van Buren was described as “greatly dissatisfied.” Full Story

So when I saw this book I thought it was a good time to jump in and learn about the Rebellion!

“Marcus Rediker writes that after completing The Slave Ship he felt the need to look into a ‘hopeful counterpoint to this gruesome history’; the successful Amistad rebellion. What a radiant, many-fingered dawn of hope he has discovered!” Staughton Lynd

So far I have learned a lot about the background of the amazing men who won their freedom in this rebellion! I’m sure that the rest of the book will be just as packed with interesting nuggets of knowledge!

New Jazz From Old Friends from the Princeton Record Exchange

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So I took the day off from work yesterday because I didn’t have anything to do, but my wife had something in mind, and she knew just how to get me to go look for dead people! I guess I should tell you first that looking for dead people, is in fact, just going to the NJ State Archives and looking up birth, death and marriage certificates, but I think looking for dead people sounds more interesting!

So how did she do it, well, all she really had to do was remind me that I still had gift certificates to the Princeton Record Exchange from Christmas with lots of money left on them!

So it was only moments after we decided that I would go, that she was working on the LIST of dead people. Actually, it wasn’t a very long or very hard list and I was able to find most of the certificates within two hours. I didn’t find out until later that I screwed up one of the most important ones . I

was looking for the death certificate of a William S, Horner and I found it, but I didn’t have a microfilm machine that printed so I had to take the film to the staff machine to make the copy. When I did I mistakenly copied William F Horner instead of William S!

A Jazz Odyssey

So Brian I apologize and i anybody needs a death certificate for a William F Horner who died in 1939 in NJ, I have it! Now on to the good stuff… I found 10 CDs five of them jazz, four Americana and one rock. I won’t bore you with all ten at once, rather, I’ll split it over two posts. So here’s the jazz ones first:A Jazz Odyssey – Oscar Peterson – the album is a compilation CD put out with his autobiography and offers an overview of his career from 1950-1970. A good  CD for work!

This 18-track selection of Oscar Peterson’s work was assembled to coincide with the great pianist’s autobiography. Centering on his most creative period, from 1950-1970, this compilation focuses intently on the years Peterson spent playing with Dizzy Gillespie, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Getz, Billie Holiday, Coleman Hawkins, Lester Young, Roy Eldridge, Sweets Edison, and Max Roach, as well as establishing himself as a bandleader and soloist.   ….  This is a fine place to start for anyone interested in discovering Peterson’s contribution to the historical jazz canon. Full Review

Chet Baker Plays

The Best of Chet Baker Plays – Chet Baker – I really like Chet Baker’s sound so I am looking forward to listening to this one! From Allmusic:

This 1953-1956 compilation represents Chet Baker’s early days recording in Los Angeles. The appellation “cool” has been ascribed to Baker because of his often understated, contemplative approach to jazz, but on THE BEST OF CHET BAKER PLAYS we hear a trumpeter who defies any such categorization. Just as Miles Davis’ BIRTH OF THE COOL is canted more towards bebop than the atmospheric, textural and reflective attributes so often associated with cool jazz, .Full Review 

Burnin in the Woodhouse

Burnin’ in the Woodhouse – Milt Jackson – how can you go wrong with the great vibes of Milt Jackson. This album was released in 1995 by Qwest from AllMusic

Burnin’ in the Woodhouse is one of Milt Jackson’s final recordings as a leader prior to his death in 1999, and the vibraphonist is still very much at the top of his game on this mid-’90s session. With a stimulating young rhythm section (pianist Benny Green, bassist Christian McBride, and the seasoned, in-demand drummer Kenny Washington), plus a trio of up-and-coming horn players (trumpeter Nicholas Payton, alto saxophonist Jesse Davis, and tenor saxophonist Joshua Redman) added on some tracks, Jackson works his magic, mixing potent jazz compositions and standards.Full Review

Black Action Figure

Black Action Figure – Stefon Harris – while he’s not Milt Jackson. He’s distinctive and really good!

With his second album Black Action Figure, Stefon Harris still is finding his footing as an innovator, yet he is well on his way to developing his own exciting sense of style. At its core, this is fairly traditionalist hard bop, but there is energy and unpredictability to Harris’ playing that makes it feel chancier — and he does push harder at the borders of bop this time around. Full Review

Impressions

Impressions:The Verve Jazz Sides – Wes Montgomery – I couldn’t pass up this two disc CD that covers Wes’ years with Verve. AllMusic says that the CD is great for the hardcore collector and the common fan! From Allmusic:

The two-CD set Impressions: The Verve Jazz Sessions salvages Wes Montgomery’s straight jazz sessions for Verve, leaving the pop-oriented covers and orchestral sessions to the original albums. There are selected numbers from albums like Movin’ Wes, Goin’ Out of My Head and California Dreaming, illustrating that those albums were hardly worthless — each track proves that Montgomery’s touch remained elegant and supremely tasteful.Full Review

So I don’t think I did to badly for a grand total of $12.00!!

Book Number 9 of 2013 – The President and the Assassin….

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Leon Czolgosz

Emma Goldman

Albert_Parsons_portrait

Ok so which of the four people pictured above can you identify? Before I read Book Number 9 for 2013, I could have maybe identified two! The first two are the key players in the book, while persons three and four helped nudge number two along! The first two are William McKinley and Leon Czolgosz, who are The President and the Assassin, respectively, from Scott Miller’s  terrific book titled – The President and the Assassin:McKinley, Terror, and the Empire at the Dawn of the American Century. Persons three and four are anarchist Emma Goldman and Albert Parsons.  both of whom provided a push to Leon to do the deed!

The Destiny of the Republic, about James Garfield’s assassination and this book have brought alive for me both of the assassinations. these assassinations typically get passed over quickly in history classes. McKinley’s gets a little more attention than Garfield’s because there’s the Spanish-American War happening within the same time span. In The President and the Assassin, Miller does a great job of  not only addressing the assassination, but of putting the assassination in context of the events surrounding it. These events included: the Spanish-American War and  the US’s subsequent policies toward policies toward Cuba and the Philippines, the Open Door Policy with China, and of course the economic conditions, which are pretty damn close to conditions today!  These conditions gave rise to the anarchist and lead to events like the Haymarket Riots in Chicago, which cost Parsons his life.

Reading these two books, along with reading, This Day in History daily, has renewed my interest in American history. As an example, on February 24, 1868 The House voted 11 articles of impeachment against Andrew Johnson, I started reading about the event and saw that David O. Stewart, whose book about Aaron Burr, I read and liked, has written a book about the impeachment, so tonight I went to the library and picked up the book!

But back to The President and the Assassin, here’s what Freed Zakaria says about the book and it pretty much sums up how I feel…

“William McKinley’s presidency and the era it spanned, tend to be forgotten, yet it was in those years that the modern American nation, economy, and the presidency were forged. Scott Miller describes these years through a joint portrait of the world of McKinley and the man who assassinated him. The result is a marvelous work of history, wonderfully written, told from the top down and the bottom up.” 

So check out the book! As for me it’s on to the Impeachment of Andrew Jonson, bit wait
I’m still reading Treacherous Beauty: Peggy Shippen, the Woman behind Benedict Arnold’s Plot to Betray America!! Which is pretty interesting! Too many books to little time!!

Trust Your Eyes – Linwood Barclay

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Trust Your Eyes - Linwood Barclay

Ok so I’ve written before that I loved Linwood Barclay‘s Zack Walker books and wished that he kept writing them. When I questioned him about that he said that while the books received critical acclaim  they just didn’t sell well., Then he started writing standalone thrillers and his career took off!

While after finishing his latest book Trust Your Eyes, I will never again question his decision and I will eagerly awaiting his next standalone!!  For me Trust Your Eyes is the best book he has written yet and I am not alone in the opinion:

“Dazzling. Barclay brings a classic Hitchcock premise into the twenty-first century, with the power of an artist at the top of his game…. This book deserves to catapult him to the top of every bestseller list” Joseph Finder

“The best Barclay so far, a tale Hitchcock would have loved…riveting, frequently scary, occasionally funny, and surprisingly, wonderfully tender… great entertainment from a suspense master” Stephen King

The Story – Trust Your Eyes

The plot revolves around two brothers, Thomas and Ray Kilbride. Thomas is a map-obsessed schizophrenic, who lives at home with his father and his maps.

Through the website Whirl360.com Thomas travels the world not only studying maps, but also the buildings and shops, kinda like Google Earth street view.

Thomas thinks he’s studying maps to save the world when all the paper maps are gone and a catastrophe hits on-line and all the maps of the world are gone!

When Adam Kilbride their farmer dies in a freak accident, Ray an illustrator, who lives in Burlington, Vt comes home to Prinse Falls, NY to settle the estate and see to the future care of Thomas.

One night, Thomas calls Ray into his room. He shows him what appears to be a murder on Orchard Avenue in New York City.

While not totally clear it seems to be a woman with a plastic bag over her head being suffocated. Soon Ray, to placate Thomas, is off to NYC to see what may have happened. While his half-hearted investigation didn’t really shed much light on what happened, it did put them in the center of a deadly conspiracy, that threatens their very survival!

My Thoughts

The book like all of Barclay’s books, is a well written page turner, with lots of twists and turns. It really is a book that’s hard to put down. All of the characters are well drawn and you really feel for them and need to know what happened not only to the woman in the window but their Dad!

iWebsite
Orion Books
Amazon
Wikipdianks

Linwood Barclay

About Linwood Barclay

Linwood Barclay continues to be a prolific author, releasing new, critically acclaimed thrillers annually. Known for his high-octane plots and relatable characters, his recent work has solidified his status as a master of contemporary suspense.

Update: There is now a sequel to this book – Linwood Barclay’s No Safe House – new problems for Terry and Cynthia Archer when their daughter becomes involved in a possible murder.Check out my review here

Visit the Linwood Barclay Page

If you like standalone Mystery/Thrillers…….

Here are three Authors whose books might enjoy:

Charlie Donlea
Charlie Donlea
Michael Koryta/Scott Carson
Riley Sager
Riley Sager
  • Charlie Donlea — tightly plotted thrillers often built around cold cases, missing persons, and strong female leads, with twists that keep coming
  • Michael Koryta / Scott Carson — blends crime, suspense, and sometimes the supernatural, with a darker tone and strong atmosphere
  • Riley Sager — modern psychological thrillers with big twists, often centered on isolated settings and unreliable pasts

“Into the Morning” with Blues from The Suitcase Brothers!

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So finishing second at the International Blues Challenge in the Solo/Duo Category were brothers Pere and Victor Puertas who together form The Suitcase Brothers. They represented the Barcelona Blues Society and boy can they play the blues. I listened tonight to their first album Living with the Blues and I am in awe of Victor’s harp playing! Here’s some information about the brothers from their Myspace page:

THE SUITCASE BROTHERS is a dynamic country blues duo formed by two brothers: Pere Puertas, guitar and vocals, and Victor Puertas, harmonica, piano and vocals.

Pere was born on W.C Handy’s birthday (November 16th) and Victor was born on Sonny Terry’s birthday (October 24th), so it looks as if these two brothers have been predestined to dedicate their talent to the blues.

PERE PUERTAS, the elder brother, got his first guitar at the age of 12 although he didn’t pay much attention to it until high school. He formed his first band in the mid 90’s, and soon invited his 14 years old brother to play harmonica with his band. Two years later Victor was playing all Gary Primich songs and solos on harmonica.

Pere has a powerful and soulful voice, and a deep knowledge of fingerpicking guitar techniques, particularly the Pre-War and Piedmont Blues styles. His main inspiration comes basically from recordings by Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee, Paul Rishell and Annie Raines and John Cephas with Phil Wiggins.

VÍCTOR PUERTAS, is a powerful harmonica player, who also plays piano, Hammond organ and guitar. Nevertheless, harmonicas are his love at the first feel, and he plays them with deep emotion and sensibility. He is one of the top five favourites in Jerry Portnoy’s, Annie Raines and Joe Filisko’s list.

“Thick resonant tone, perfect attack, lovely vibrato and a beautiful flow of ideas that are just right for the song you’re playing. You’ve really got it and, by the way, your brother plays great guitar too.” Jerry Portnoy

So let’s go “Into the Morning” with The Suitcase Brothers and the classic – “Walk On”

I was right to be amazed wasn’t I!

Book 7 of 2013 – Deep Sky – Patrick Lee

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deep sky - patrick lee

-Ok so let me say this right at the beginning of the post. Book No. 7 of 2013 is the third book in the Travis Chase trilogy Deep Sky, by Patrick Lee. If you are going to read this book make sure that you read Books one, The Breech and two Ghost Country first!! Preferably you read them consecutively not like I did reading Book 2 first and then quickly going back and reading Book 1! With that said after finishing the book and having everything wrapped up and explained very nicely I feel like I want to go back and read the series again just so that I can understand everything and even then I might not understand it all! From Patrick Lee’s website:

The anomaly called the Breach is the government’s most carefully guarded secret.

But there is another secret even less known… and far more terrifying.

In the aftermath of a brutal attack on the White House, a cryptic message is discovered, left behind by the perpetrator: “See Scalar.”

Now Travis Chase of the covert agency Tangent—caretakers of the Breach and all its grim wonders—along with Paige Campbell and Bethany Stewart, has only twenty-four hours to unearth a decades-old mystery once spoken of in terrified whispers by the long since silenced. But their breakneck race cross-country—and back through time and malleable memory—is calling the total destructive might of a shadow government down upon them. For Travis Chase has a dark destiny he cannot be allowed to fulfill.

The pages of this book just flew by as Travis, Paige and Bethany tried to uncover what Scalar was and stop whatever was going to happen from happening? Makes sense right? Anyway The Breech is a wormhole connected to somewhere in the Universe. Through the Breech come strange entities with a variety of powers, sometimes made of materials unknown on earth. The entity that plays a big part in this story is The Tap. The Tap enters the mind of its holder and allows the person to travel to a particular time and place and relive a past memory. In the book Paige re-lives a time she came into her father’s office to see if she can find the address of a retired Tangent operative and Chase goes to Baltimore as a ten-year old to find the man who is at the root of Scalar.

I know it all sounds confusing and it is but it all comes together for a thrilling and satisfying ride. When I finished the book I thought that for sure there would be a book four, but maybe Book 2 was book 4 now that I think of it?? Any way go find The Breech, Ghost Country, and Deep Sky sit down, buckle up and enjoy and I know I can’t wait for the next book from the pen (computer) of Patrick Lee.

Now if you want to read some reviews that are better than mine, you can go the Deep Sky page at Goodreads.com!

Fireproof – Alex Kava

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Fireproof – Maggie O’Dell #10 – Alex Kava

Book 6 for the year was the latest Maggie O’Dell novel I’ve read — Fireproof. This is book #10 in Alex Kava’s excellent series, and over the course of these books, Maggie has faced just about everything: serial killers, teenage suicide bombers, even exposure to the Ebola virus. Along the way, she’s also learned about her father’s affair and discovered she has a stepbrother.

The Story

In Fireproof, Maggie — along with her partner R.J. Tully and D.C. homicide detective Janet Racine — is on the trail of a serial arsonist. She’s still dealing with lingering effects from a head wound sustained in her last case (Hotwire), but the investigation quickly becomes more than just arson when the body of a brutally beaten man is found behind a dumpster near one of the fires.

Is the arsonist also the killer? Maggie doesn’t think so.

As the fires grow in number and deadliness, the team can hardly keep up — but investigative reporter Jeffrey Cole and his cameraman Samantha Ramirez always seem to be on the scene first. Jeffrey’s curiosity isn’t limited to the case; he begins digging into Maggie’s personal life, and soon the investigation seems to be headed straight toward her.

Final Thoughts

When I read a book, I don’t tend to overanalyze. My questions are simple:

  • Did I like the characters?
  • Was the action fast-paced?
  • Did the suspense build?
  • Did the story hold my interest?
  • Did I enjoy the ride?

For Fireproof, the answer to all of these is a resounding yes. While there’s less profiling than in some earlier books, it’s still a gripping, well-paced story. The ending hints at a possible sequel, but for me that was just icing on an already satisfying thriller.

I’ve always enjoyed Maggie’s mix of strength, vulnerability, and determination as she faces both dangerous criminals and her own personal demons (including her complicated relationship with her mother). The great thing about this series is that you don’t have to read the books in order to enjoy them — so feel free to jump in here, then go back and catch up on Maggie’s life.

Book 5 of 2013 – Fire in the Ashes – Jonathan Kozol

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I read Death at an Early Age by Jonathan Kozol about 40 years ago, it was a stirring account of his first year as a teacher in the Boston school system working with some of the most disadvantaged students in America. The book won the National Book Award in Science, Philosophy and Religion. It has sold more than two million copies in the United States and Europe. The book made an impact on me and lead me to change my major to education, however I soon ran away from education and concentrated on Political Science, it wasn’t until several years later I returned to school at the University of Georgia and received my B.S. ED in social science education. But stuff happens and I never taught, I got caught up in life and work and a family and I took the easy path and stayed where I was, but many times I regret the decision not to teach. Anyway throughout the years I kinda stayed away from  politics and the writing of Jonathan Kozol. I knew he was out there fighting for the poorest of the poor in the South Bronx with books like Amazing Grace and Rachel and Her Children but I never read them. Well when I saw his new book Fire in the Ashes: Twenty-Five Years Among the Poorest Children in America I couldn’t resist and it has become Book 5 of 2013.

The book tells the stories of many of the children that Jonathan has touched and have in turn touched him. There are stories of children overcoming all odds and exceeding their wildest dreams and then there are others who just couldn’t break free and their lives ended tragically.  Here are what some others say about the book…..

“Jonathan Kozol is America’s premier chronicler of life among the children of societal neglect. And Fire in the Ashes may be his best book yet…. Kozol does not just write about these people; he becomes an intimate part of their lives, sharing their triumphs and defeats, and too often mourning their deaths…. If you care about the children who are the future of America, this is a book you must read”– Ellis Cose – Author of The End of Anger and The Rage of the Privileged Class.

“Jonathan’s struggle is noble, his appeal urgent. What he says must be heard. His outcry must shake our nation out of its guilty indifference.” – Elie Wiesel

and finally from Deborah Meier, Author of In Schools We Trust and The Power of Their Ideas echoes my sentiments about the book:

“Kozol has a knack for describing his relationships with poverty-stricken children with a sympathy that is so straightforward, one can not indulge in pity. Fire in the Ashes is a wonderful book, I couldn’t put it down”

Many of the children in Fire in the Ashes were helped by The Education Action Fund that Jonanthan has established. From his website Jonathan Kozol.com :

The Education Action Fund is a nonprofit charitable foundation, provides direct support to many of the children and adults portrayed in Jonathan’s books, and to others living in profoundly segregated inner-city neighborhoods, served by underfunded and overcrowded schools, who share in the same impoverishment. Continue Reading 

So go read this book… donate to the fund to help those who need help the most! And maybe someday I can figure out what I can do to help and then do it!

Book 4 of 2013 – The Inquisitor’s Key – Jefferson Bass

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Book No. 4 of 2013 is the latest Body Farm Novel from Jefferson Bass (aka Jon Jefferson and Dr. Bill Bass) The Inquisitor’s Key. This book is number seven in this fine series and it’s a little different from its predecessors. While the main storyline does involve bones, specifically, whether or not the bones that Bill Brockton’s assistant Miranda and her former archeology professor Stefan Beauvoir have found under the Palace of the Popes in Avignon France are the bones of Jesus of Nazareth, the setting is not the typical range of Bill and Miranda. Avignon France is a long way from the Body Farm in Knoxville and their offices beneath Neilan Stadium on the campus of the University of Tennessee. Finally, there’s a lot more history included in this novel, as the story twists and turns involves The Pope and the Palace of Popes in Avignon, and The Shroud of Turin.

Historic Centre of Avignon: Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge

Alongside of the present day action in Avignon, Jefferson Bass weaves a story of Avignon in the 14th century (the time period when the Shroud has been dated to be from) that includes: Pope John XXII, the White Cardinal and Inquisitor Jacques Fournier, Johannes Eckhart – a prominent theologian and mystic charged with heresy, painter Simone Martini and the object of the poet Petrarch’s sonnets Laura de Noves!

Bill and Miranda link the bones to the image on Shroud of Turin but when the bones turn out to be 2,000 years old all heck breaks out and soon Bill and Miranda are in a fight for their lives!

As always the characters Bill, Miranda and everyone else are well-developed and Bill and Miranda’s relationship is a strong part of the story. But this book with the addition of its historical aspects takes the series to a new level. I love books that teach me something about history and this one certainly did! Even though this is the seventh book in the series and there are references to what has happened in the past I don’t think it’s necessary to have read the other books to enjoy this book. So good find it and enjoy!!