Category: Books

Gaslight mystery in old New York City: Murder On Astor Place

Gaslight mystery in old New York City: Murder On Astor Place

I read a review of the latest addition to the Gaslight series (a mystery in old New York City). It was a favorable review but I have no idea where I saw it. The series involves several murder investigations in old New York City. Yes back in the 1890s when Teddy Roosevelt was a New York City Police Commissioner.

I like some historical fiction and a good mystery so I thought I would give it a try but Murder in Murray Hill which was the new one was 16th in the Gaslight series. So it seemed to me that it was better to start at the beginning.

I did a bit of looking around and learned Continue reading “Gaslight mystery in old New York City: Murder On Astor Place”

Outlander or Sassenach: book and Starz TV series

Outlander or Sassenach: book and Starz TV series

In 1945 Inverness the Scots Gaelic word Sassenach is defined as Englishman or Outlander at worst. I suspect in the Scotland of the early 1700s, a Scot who knew both English and Scots might have considered that Englishman was the worst of those 2 possible meanings.

I mention those 2 periods as the action in Outlander Continue reading “Outlander or Sassenach: book and Starz TV series”

Hangman by Stephan Talty

Hangman by Stephan Talty

Last year I reviewed a first novel by established non-fiction writer Stephan Talty. I liked it very much and thought it was a great introduction to a new series about Detective Absalom Kearney.

The second book in the series came out a few months ago and just read it. I thought Hangman by Stephan Talty was a great followup and if anything I found it even more compelling than the first.

The book starts with what seems a very unlikely escape of a serial murderer known as the Hangman. He had recently terrified the residents of Buffalo, NY with a series of murders of teenage girls (involving hanging). The manhunt begins and soon after the murders and the terror begins again.

Homicide Detective Absalom (Abbie) Kearney, who Continue reading “Hangman by Stephan Talty”

The Rosie Project: A Novel by Graeme Simsion

The Rosie Project: A Novel by Graeme Simsion

I was going on vacation and was thinking I’d take a book along for those inevitable down-times when there is nothing much to do. Typically I end up watching a TV and not making much progress in the book. This time was different.
Continue reading “The Rosie Project: A Novel by Graeme Simsion”

Gotham Unbound: The Ecological History of Greater New York by Ted Steinberg

Gotham Unbound: The Ecological History of Greater New York by Ted Steinberg

The full title is Gotham Unbound: The Ecological History of Greater New York by Ted Steinberg. It is the subtitle that tells what this book is about.

I had written about this book while I was reading it and thought I would review it when finshed.

It is a bit unusual. It is a different perspective on history Continue reading “Gotham Unbound: The Ecological History of Greater New York by Ted Steinberg”

A Natural History of Greater New York

A Natural History of Greater New York

I am reading a wonderful book right now. Since I am still reading, it would not be fair to write a review at this point. So this is more of a Progress Report. Or maybe a note about What I am Reading Now.

A great Introduction got my interest in the opening paragraph where the author takes us on a nature adventure to a “veritable Garden of Eden” Continue reading “A Natural History of Greater New York”

Sherlock Holmes is now a public domain character

Sherlock Holmes is now a public domain character

It is hard to believe but the Sherlock Holmes stories are almost a century old. Well, some are more and some less but the point is the stories are very old. So the stories have been in the public domain for years. Yet the character was still under copyright. And although Sir Arthur Conan Doyle died well before most us us were born, his heirs still collected a fee when Sherlock Holmes was used as a character in another work. Continue reading “Sherlock Holmes is now a public domain character”

The Four Pillars of Investing by William Bernstein

The Four Pillars of Investing by William Bernstein

A few weeks ago a wrote a review of the short free ebook on saving and investing by Dr. William J. Bernstein. I thought the book was a very good but short.
Continue reading “The Four Pillars of Investing by William Bernstein”

By Any Means by Chris Culver

By Any Means by Chris Culver

A total surprise. I was expecting a more or less usual crime novel when I downloaded By Any Means (from NetGalley) by a new (for me) author. Instead I was amazed by Chris Culver’s skill in sucking me into the story and then the life of his main character. I now know that By Any Means is Chris Culver’s third Ash Rashid novel. Continue reading “By Any Means by Chris Culver”

Inheritance by Sharon Moalem

Inheritance by Sharon Moalem

I enjoyed reading Inheritance: How Our Genes Change Our Lives—and Our Lives Change Our Genes by Sharon Moalem.


I think this is a wonderful book written for the general reader. At least I think it would be easily understandable by most people. A word of warning – I am a geneticist so I may not be the best judge of that but most of the reviews I’ve read seem to agree on this point.

Dr. Moalem is accomplished in his field. He knows the details and nuances but is able to explain a complicated subject in an easily understandable way.

I thought the opening chapter and the ending where he summarized were particularly well-done.

Amazon-Hachette Feud

Amazon-Hachette Feud

Given the unpleasant aspects of the Amazon-Hachette Feud and the resulting consumer problems with delays buying books by many best selling authors published by Hachette you’d think consumers would be finding alternatives to Amazon and competitors would use this as an opportunity to increase sales.

You would think internet competitors such as Barnes and Noble or local independent book stores would advertise that they stock and can deliver Hachette titles.

For example, Michael Connelly has a thriller featuring Detective Harry Bosch which is available for pre-order. I am on their mailing list and did get an email about the pre-order but there was no mention of the Amazon-Hachette dispute and how Barnes and Noble had no problem with delivery of Hachette titles.

James Patterson and David Baldacci currently have best sellers and are published by Hachette. Thousands of titles are published by Hachette. Is this not a tremendous business opportunity for Barnes and Noble, other internet competitors, and your local independent book store?

Ice Cold:  Tales of Intrigue from the Cold War

Ice Cold: Tales of Intrigue from the Cold War

Mystery Writers of America Presents Ice Cold: Tales of Intrigue from the Cold War edited by Jeffery Deaver and Raymond Benson is a good collection of short stories. They are particularly enjoyable for those of us old enough to remember practicing ducking under our desks at school to protect us from a nuclear bomb. Continue reading “Ice Cold: Tales of Intrigue from the Cold War”

Free ebook on saving and investing to get rich slowly

Free ebook on saving and investing to get rich slowly

William J. Bernstein is an impressive man. He has an M.D. and Ph.D, practices medicine with a specialty in neurology, and has become a respected investment expert. He is best known for his quarterly journal on asset allocation and portfolio management.

He has written several books for those of us would like to intelligently manage our investments. And he offers personalized services for those with rather large investment portfolios (25 million dollars and up).

Now Dr. William J. Bernstein has offered a free ebook aimed at the young who are interested in saving for retirement. The subtitle really tells you what this book is about – How Millennials Can Get Rich Slowly

His plan is a simple one. He has said it is one that can be understood by a child and requires about 15 minutes each year.

Yet he believes it will yield better results than possible with most financial advisors. And quite likely he is right.

The book is also a guide to furthering reading to increase your financial literacy.

Since the key to the plan is deferred gratification, following this plan is not easy. But even if the implementation is only partial you will be better off in the long-term. So if you try and find it too difficult to continue, you are better off.

The book is not very long (estimated at 27 pages). It is very definitely worth anyone’s time. It is written for the younger generation but anyone with an interest in long-term saving and investing will benefit.

And the price is simply amazing. Dr. Bernstein is giving it for free on his website. It is in several formats and easy to download (nothing beyond a click is required). Amazon gives it away for free from time to time but most times it is 99 cents.

You have little-to-nothing to lose and quite a bit to gain so – read this book.

Q-23: A Novel of Espionage and Racqueteering, a quick read

Q-23: A Novel of Espionage and Racqueteering, a quick read

I downloaded Q-23: A Novel of Espionage and Racqueteering by Paul R. Theroux from NetGalley and I found it a quick read and enjoyable. Continue reading “Q-23: A Novel of Espionage and Racqueteering, a quick read”

2014 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction – Toms River catastrophe

2014 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction – Toms River catastrophe

Congratulations to Dan Fagin for winning the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction for a great book on the environmental catastrophe at Toms River, NJ. I previously reviewed Toms River: A Story of Science and Salvation by Dan Fagin here . Continue reading “2014 Pulitzer Prize for nonfiction – Toms River catastrophe”