In Tom Walker’s second novel, the cop’s nightstick, a club for self-defense and keeping the peace, becomes a metaphor for one law enforcement family’s service and, ultimately, a symbol of tragedy. As the nightstick is passed from... Read More

Given the state of the world’s economy there will probably be an onslaught of books lamenting the business meltdown and the failure of the financial system. But most of these books are likely to avoid the real heart of the... Read More

As boys Azerier and his pals grew up in Washington Heights New York studying the uniforms of soldiers navy officers and marines that happened through their neighborhood. When Gary improperly identifies a marine in casual khaki dress his... Read More

Even in the postmodern era, it’s a stretch to call this a novel, but that’s not to say it doesn’t have its pleasures. More a collage of stories, poems, “music reviews,” and sort-of-journalism than a narrative, it falls... Read More

After the grueling work of hunting and gathering, small groups of humans sat together around a roaring fire. They shared food and stories, developing unity and group spirit. Food was survival and community, and the people knew where the... Read More

The “Best of…” anything carries with it the burden of expectation. That which claims to be above the rest is ultimately a matter of taste. Therefore, picking up and reading this collection of personal essays is somewhat similar to... Read More

“Who finds three bodies in her lifetime?” wonders Bay-area journalist Tyler Jones, the lesbian protagonist/sleuth of Joan Drury’s third mystery. In this installment, Tyler attends a reunion of her college pals on an island above... Read More