The coloring was done with Photoshop.

Take a Murder, Darling by Richard S. Prather
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I do not give the 5 stars easily. But I couldn’t think what is wrong with this book. The story is mapped out in clever twists and turns and comes out in a direction most all readers would never have thought. Best of all Prather took this crackerjack story and molded it into 160 pages. Today, a similar book, would be 500 pages.

Prather has his Shell Scott character in prime shape with one-liners and many a scrap. It all starts in one location with a dead body and then flashbacks to come back to the start. The characters are crackling on the pages. One could point out there are, what today would be called, stereotypical characters, but these are so well done. Yes, there is some, but not a lot of character development, but it isn’t needed in a story like this.

The character dialogue is excellent. I love the patter between Scott and, his pal, Samson. There is also very, very good setting description.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 9 out of ten points.

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Another of the illustrations I did for folks yesterday during the City of Alachua 4th of July event. — at City Of Alachua – July 4th Celebration.

Mark of the Shadow by Walter B. Gibson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love how Gibson winds and blends The Shadow into a story. It’s so well done. This story is well done, but there are logic issues with it. The Reader, knowing of The Shadow’s abilities has to be perplexed when Gibson uses him in some places and not others. If “The Shadow knows” then The Shadow could have solved this mystery within a hand full of pages and the book would have been done. Alas, surely Gibson had page number requirements and so he cheats the reader and prolongs the story.

Further adding to prolonging is something named “CYPER”, another literary device to add pages but never any real explanation and questions at the end.

Overall I like the story and loved The Shadow, so i will set aside these issues.

Bottom line: i recommend this book. 7 out of 10 points.

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Suicide Mission by William W. Johnstone
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Another in the non-series of Wild Bill Elliot vs the bad guys. I don’t know why this isn’t an official series. There are a whole set of these and should be. The Johnstone Clan have so many series. What’s one more?

This is much like others with drug cartels out to destroy America, as they are, but adding middle eastern types aiding the effort. which they also are. The reality slides away as one person is asked to help find one involved and then that one person goes out to build a team to really go after the bad guys. What happens next is more than far fetched, but fun to see the bad guys in trouble, as we have never seen happen.

One big problem with the book is a lengthy short story length background stories of each helping Wild Bill. Far more information than needed, though each is an interesting story. Here the Johnstone trademark great character development goes too far. Each story is so interesting, maybe this should have been a short story collection.

The writing is Ok. the settings are better than most Johnstone books.

Bottom line: I recommend this book: 6 out of ten points.

The Trail of the Florida Circuit Rider by Charles T. Thrift, Jr.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a well written history of the Methodist circuit rider into Florida and all they contributed to what we know of Florida today from cities to colleges. Documented are how most of our best known Florida colleges were started by Methodists.

Thrift covers the early 1800s to publication date, 1944, very well with very good references and insights. His insights are from a Southerner’s perspective and might catch readers of today off guard, who tend to be more of a more narrow mind and lacking historical perspective.

Unfortunately there is no map, but there is an index.

Bottom line: I recommend this book. 8 out of ten points.

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