Review of "Murder Straight Up," by Edward Gorman

Review of

Murder Straight Up, by Edward Gorman ISBN 0345338928

Four out of five stars

 This murder story fits into the category of one that you read late at night and does not generate mental tension that will keep you from falling asleep. The murder is not one of blood and gore and there is not a major sequence of stalking/killing where there is a trail of violent deaths.

 Jack Dwyer is a former cop that has turned to acting, nothing major, just small bit parts that puts his name on the screen when the credits are rolling. Even though he lives simply, Dwyer finds it necessary to maintain a part-time job as a security guard through an agency. When the story opens, he is on the job at a television station.

 The local news is running live when he chases away a young man that has somehow found his way into the building. Almost at the same time, the handsome anchor keels over and dies in the middle of the newscast. The froth on his mouth leads to the suspicion of cyanide poisoning and that initial assessment is confirmed. Dwyer is blamed for the death and is told that he will lose his job unless he can determine who the murderer is.

 Although he has some skills as a detective and actively pursues the case, Dwyer’s personal life is a shambles. He has relationships with several women, but all of them are generally dysfunctional. The reader is exposed to two general plot threads, the murder investigation within the hypercompetitive news anchor business and Dwyer’s struggling relationships with women.

 Neither is terribly engaging, yet they are enough to keep you interested until the guilty parties are exposed. Not a great deal of tension, this is no thriller, just a solid murder mystery starring a man experiencing many difficulties.  

Review of Claws Garden Genie Gloves with 4 Fingertips Claws

Review of

Claws Garden Genie Gloves with 4 Fingertips Claws

Four out of five stars

 The initial test of these gloves was when I wore them to pull some thistles that were growing near my house. The plants were sturdy, requiring a very firm grip when pulling them out. While the gloves did not provide complete protection against the thorns, they were sturdy enough that I could complete the task.

 Unlike some types of garden gloves, these slide on and off easily, even when your hands are sweaty from exertion. They are comfortable to wear and do not slide around or bunch up as you work.

 I found the claws on the fingers of the right hand to be nearly useless for my work, they can only be used in soil or compost that is soft and easily manipulated. My attempts to penetrate undisturbed soil proved hopeless, as all I could do was give it some light scratches. Nothing that would prove useful. However, if you are working with semi-soft soil, the claws may give you the edge you need to get your work done without resorting to a hand tool. 

https://www.amazon.com/Claws-Garden-Genie-Gloves-Tool-Purple/dp/B0728H8VKT 

Review of "And Into the Fire," by Robert Gleason

Review of

And Into the Fire, by Robert Gleason ISBN 9780765379160

Four out of five stars

 Given their prominence in recent history, it is no surprise that terrorists and terrorist acts are one of the primary plot devices of modern novels. While there are many different ways that a terrorist act can be committed, there are only two that can plausibly lead to mass deaths.

 They are the bio-engineered pandemic and the use of a nuclear device. It would seem that both are extremely difficult to carry out. Engineering a deadly virus and then spreading it around the world requires a lab with extremely skilled technicians. Exploding a nuclear device requires a significant supply of fissile material and the engineering materials and knowledge to trigger the bomb.

 Gleason uses the nuclear scenario to put forward his version of the apocalyptic terrorist act and it is clear that he has done the requisite due diligence to make the intelligent reader fearful of the possibility. Using plausible circumstances, Gleason puts forward a realistic chain of events where the United States suffers a significant nuclear attack, carried out within the United States and requiring no importation of the nuclear material.

 Gleason also is more realistic than other novelists regarding the government of Saudi Arabia. Despite their extremely repressive internal policies and a known supporter of terrorists, there is a strong alliance between the United States and Saudi Arabia. Gleason explains the questionable value of this alliance while acknowledging the reason for it, “crude oil.”

 The weakness of the novel is due to the adverse portrayal of high U. S. government officials and how they so easily violate their oaths to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States” as well as to keep the citizenry safe from harm.   

 Novels based on an apocalyptic scenario are stronger when the event is not only plausible but has a probability of occurring that is not very close to zero. Gleason uses such a situation and explains why the probability is higher than what the non-expert would think.