Officer Down

Book Description

The Chicago Police Department says Samantha Mack shot her partner, Fred, during the confusion of a bungled pursuit. Mack says it was their quarry, a violent pedophile named Marco Trovic, who fired the deadly round in that darkened room. But Mack was knocked out and can’t really say what happened.

When no evidence of Trovic is found on the scene and the bullet is shown to have come from Mack’s own gun, the Department labels Fred’s death as a case of friendly fire.Back at the station, it seems no one believes Mack’s account. Not Internal Affairs investigator Alex O’Conner, and not even Mack’s lover, whose best attempts at support leave her as cold as the wind whipping across Lake Michigan.

With the Department looking to quiet the bad press, Mack can’t count on anyone to help her track down Trovic. Even if she can somehow find him in the dark recesses of Chicago’s underworld, can she prove that Trovic was the shooter? With her back to the wall and her career at stake, now it’s time for Mack to take matters into her own hands to clear her name—and avenge her partner’s death.

Customer Reviews:

A Real Nail-Biter.......2007-06-11

Great suspense. Things kept getting worse and worse for the heroine, half the time through her own (very understandable) actions. The author had me at a complete loss for how Smack was going to get out of it.

The tension ratcheted right up until I just about couldn't stand it, and the ending delivered. More satisfying than some outings by more established authors. An UNBELIEVABLE debut!

Suspend disbelief and it's an interesting story.......2007-03-18

Usually, I don't have 2-star reviews. To be quite honest, if I feel like a book's a 2-star, I'm not going to bother reading it. I do this voluntarily and I don't get my books free---so why read something I'm not going to like?

I liked the opening--which is why I picked up the book. Unfortunately, from there, the plotline got a little 'hinky' and just deteriorated from as I continued to read. I almost wish I hadn't finished. When I did, I checked out what other people thought of the book. I really wish I had Jay Wilson's review before I bought the book. Look at all the reviews for this book and you'll find it.

Characters are good. I like Samatha Mack, the protagonist, who's been on the Chicago police force for only two years. Have read anthropology studies about police officers and the ones I've known are a lot like her. The two years' time she spent on the force really seems like a short time for her to be as jaded and 'rode hard' as the book depicts.

I won't talk about police procedures, I'm not an expert. But I am a librarian--and just a quick look and I could find out that Illinois uses States Attorneys not district attorneys. Checked with a relative who served on another city's force and he said (like Wilson) that Sam would be answering to a captain or a lieutenant rather than a sergeant. I'm sure a few more hours would find more holes in the research.

The story itself is interesting and compelling. You want to know what happened to Sam--but the plot is so windy and confusing. There are a few seriously unresolved issues. In the end, I regretted having bought and read the book. When I read Mr. Wilson's review, I understood why.

As long as you suspend disbelief, you can read this book and do fine. Sam's a good character and you want everything to come out okay for her, but consider it brain candy--not a meaty procedural as "Officer Down" seems to depict itself.

Officer Down.......2007-01-08

I liked the main character and the story was exciting and believable.
I also bought it because it takes place in Chicago, my home town.
However, the "local color" was pretty much limited to mentioning street names. I am still looking forward to reading her next book, "Probable Cause".....for a good story and strong characters, but not for Chicago atmosphere.

Down But Not Out.......2006-10-02

Chicago cop Samantha Mack (Smack), re-united with her former partner, joins him on a bust, only to see him murdered during a wild gunfight in a dark bedroom. During the battle, Smack suffers a concussion, so she's not sure what she saw and what she dreamed. But when she awakens, she learns she's suspected of shooting her partner, and that her boyfriend, a married cop who's promised to leave his wife, is investigating the shooting. And the more Smack's lover assures her everything will work out, the more she slides into the criminal abyss, suspected of shooting her partner, suspected of trying to kill her lover's wife. Smack learns she can't trust her eyes, her emotions or her colleagues in this taut, fast paced mystery thriller.

This is an outstanding debut, well worthy of the Edgar. I couldn't put it down.

Good, but Overhyped.......2006-08-05

I had high hopes for this novel, which won the Edgar Award for Best First Crime Novel of 2005. This book also has some fantastic blurbs on the back cover from Scott Phillips and David Ellis, who both call it the best crime/cop novel they've read "in a long time." Needless to say, my expectations were high for OFFICER DOWN.

In the end, I was pretty disappointed. This book is okay, but the plot is nothing new. Samantha Mack, a patrol officer on Chicago's North Side, is involved in a shoot-out with a suspect that leaves her partner dead. She is forced to go on leave, and many people suspect that she is to blame for the shooting. As a result, she investigates the shooting herself, and uncovers a potential scandal in her own department.

This book is fast-paced and readable (hence the three stars). This is also a relatively short novel, with a lot of twists and turns and double-crosses in the plot. But I never felt much empathy for the main character, and most of the supporting characters seemed sketchy and underdeveloped. As a result, the story didn't really grip me in the end.

Schwegel also spends a lot of time on the main character's dysfunctional love life, which I eventually found tiresome. Needless to say, Mack does not have particularly good judgment about men, despite her self-described good looks.

My advice about this book is to lower your expectations. I probably would have liked this book a lot more if it wasn't for all the hype surrounding it. Schwegel is certainly talented, but her best work is probably ahead of her.

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In The Alltime Upper Echelon Of Batman Tales
Important Changes in the the World of Batman
One of Best Batman Stories
Predictable,, but poignant.
Probably not for the casual Bat-fan

Batman: Officer Down (New Gotham 2)
Greg Rucka
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1563897873

Customer Reviews:

In The Alltime Upper Echelon Of Batman Tales.......2006-02-28

I read this story years ago and its impact hasn't diminished one bit since the night I first experienced it. One of the highest in a large field of outstanding Batman and Batman-related arcs DC has published over the years, "Batman: Officer Down" is a razor-tight and simmering-with-suspense arc that brought about lasting changes into the Gotham corner of the DC Universe. If you're a regular DC reader, you probably long since know which changes were and which weren't wrought by this event, but if you're a new or returning reader, perhaps somebody who saw "Batman Begins", this collection is actually not a bad place to jump into the Batman line.

Written by some of comics's best writers (riveting dialogue!) and drawn by some of the best artists, in "Officer Down" the odds finally catch up with one of Gotham City's mainstay protectors as Commisioner Jim Gordon is gunned down in the streets. As Gordon clings to life in the hospital - with very little foreshadowing of whether he'll make it or not - the hunt is on for the assailant, by both the Gotham Police Department and the masked defenders of Gotham. Features one of the most brilliant police room interrogation scenes in any form of storytelling as just one of its deeply absorbing angles. Essential for DC fans.

As a sidenote, Batgirl # 12 is a tie-in to the crossover but not an 'official' part of it, hence its ommission from the book, and Detective Comics # 755 is the outstanding follow-up issue to the whole saga. Fans may want to pick those two issues up along with this Trade Paperback.

Important Changes in the the World of Batman.......2005-08-03

There's a boat-load of writers and artists on this! Too many cooks in the kitchen usually turn out garbage when it comes to comics, but not this time. This is a solid story thoughout. The standout writers on this project are Greg Rucka and Ed Brubaker. The artwork is all fine, but the stylistic shifts can be pretty jarring. It seems like the artists were more concerned with keeping things consistent in their own titles (this is a blending of several ongoing "Bat-family" titles) and not too concerned about the flow of this collection. The team of writers manage to hold things together despite this small problem.

This book covers some important changes in the world of Batman, so if you're a true-blue Bat-fan, you should pick this up.

Greg Rucka's "Evolution: New Gotham 1" is excellent (better than this actually), but not required reading before "Officer Down: New Gotham 2". The two volumes don't really have anything to do with eachother.

For more great Bat-related books check out:
The Long Halloween
Dark Victory
Batman/Huntress: Cry for Blood
Gotham Central
Catwoman (just the ones by Ed Brubaker)
Birds of Prey (just the ones by Gail Simone)

Happy Reading!

One of Best Batman Stories.......2003-06-08

I'm not one that enjoys multi-title crossover story arcs, but this one demanded the attention. This was the best story arc for the Batman universe I had run across in over a year. The writer did an excellent job portraying the sheer gravity of how close Batman was to Commish Gordon and even better job keeping the story cohesive over the various Batman titles. This is truly a great classic drama of GCPD relation with Batman (and his family) worthy of a read.

Predictable,, but poignant........2003-01-28

Officer Down collects a cross-over tale spanning the full line of Batman books in 2001, each penned by their respective creative teams. While crossovers of this sort often flop -- in part because of poor direction of the teams -- Officer Down works well to form a cohesive storyline.

Despite the different voices of the writers, the story maintains an even pace and flow. The art is good for most of the book, but again, there are disparities. Part two, drawn by Jacob and Arnold Pander, is ugly; the rest works well although no two artists seem able to reach a consensus about Harvey Bullock's appearance.

It's worth noting that this storyline marked a few significant changes in the makeup of the Batverse. It's also a good stand-alone story for any interested in checking in on the characters without fear of getting caught up in an ongoing plot.

Probably not for the casual Bat-fan.......2001-11-15

In general this is not a very exciting story. There is not a great deal of action and most of the story is given over to character examination. This is diffently not a book for the casual Batman reader, although anyone who feels they have a basic knowledge of the the Batverse will probably enjoy seeing the character developments. While this book is not a great story by itself, it does deal with a major change in Gotham, one that includes the loss of a major character, and something that is still effecting the comic line today.

The CEO Chief Engagement Officer: Turning Hierarchy Upside Down to Drive Performance

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The CEO Chief Engagement Officer: Turning Hierarchy Upside Down to Drive Performance
John Smythe
Manufacturer: Gower Pub Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die

ASIN: 0566085615

Knocking Down Barriers: My Fight for Black America (Chicago Lives)

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Black and Proud and Up There in Years

Knocking Down Barriers: My Fight for Black America (Chicago Lives)
Jr., Truman K. Gibson , and Steve Huntley
Manufacturer: Northwestern University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0810122928

Book Description

Sixty years ago, when Truman Gibson reported for duty at the War Department, Washington, D.C. was a southern city in its unbending segregation as well as in its steamy summers. Gibson had no illusions, but as someone who'd enjoyed the best of the vibrant black culture of prewar America, he was shocked to find the worst of the Jim Crow South in the nation's capital. What Gibson accomplished as an advocate for African American soldiers-first as a lawyer working for the Secretary of War, then as a member of President Truman's "Black Cabinet"--is a large part of the history of the struggle for civil rights in the American military; and it is a compelling part of the story that Gibson tells in this book, a memoir of a life spent making a difference in the world one step at a time.
A graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, Gibson took his fight for racial justice to the corridors of powers, arguing against restrictive real estate covenants before the U.S. Supreme Court, opposing such iconic figures as Generals Dwight Eisenhower and George C. Marshall in campaigning for the integration of the armed forces, and challenging white control of professional sports by creating a boxing promotion empire that made television history. A firsthand account of the nitty-gritty of twentieth-century race relations in the worlds of law, the military, sports, and entertainment, Gibson's memoir is also an engaging recollection of encounters with the likes of Thurgood Marshall, W. E. B. DuBois, Eleanor Roosevelt, George Patton, Jackie Robinson, and Joe Louis, among others. As a historical record and as an intimate look at a bygone era with all its charms and hardships, the book is an essential chapter in our nation's story.

Customer Reviews:

Black and Proud and Up There in Years.......2006-08-03

Hard to believe that someone who served in FDR's War Cabinet might still be alive, but here he is, wry, taciturn, often funny, and still full of vigor at age 90 something. With Steve Hundley, Truman Gibson has written a brutal, no holds barred account of his first fifty years on this planet, and it will take the tar right off of your shingles. Gibson was there, and he brings many scenes to life, and he remembers everything, from growing up in Atlanta and having his mother, an upright character, give the mannered WEB DuBois a taste of his own medicine. He would come to call on the Gibson family and expect to be treated like some sort of potentate. Well, Alberta Dickerson Gibson was having none of that! In her house, he'd be treated just like any other respected guest, but certainly no one would be doing any kowtowing to him.

The family moved to Columbus when Truman and his brother, Harry when small. Imagine having two boys named Harry and Truman! And Truman was to have many close enclunters with HARRY TRUMAN later in life. From Columbus, where young Gibson first encountered race prejudice, and incidentally saw his first snowfall, it was but a hop, skip and a jump to Chicago, the so-called "black metropolis," which was to be his home base for the rest of his career. He met everyone worth knowing in Chicago, and by the time the 30s had come around, he was put in charge of many details of the important American Negro Exposition--the first black World's Fair. Now, this is one World's Fair which you never hear about any more, I wonder why, because as Gibson paints it, it was the spectacle to top all spectacles, involving Langston Hughes, Duke Ellington, Joe Louis, Jacob Lawrence, and so many more great black figures. The next step for Gibson was throwing his lot behind the cause of the Negro soldier in WWII.

Some have criticized him as an "Uncle Tom" who made his way into the big leagues by kissing up to the white man and making nice. I get furious when I hear people say that, for as this book proves, Gibson fought every battle from the street up. Disgustingly, the Army kept colored and white troops segregated during the war, and in the Air Force, white pilots refused to fly planes that had been serviced by black mechanics. Amazing Eleanor Roosevelt responded by requesting black pilots for all her succeeding flights, showing the world that whatever white people could do, black people could do just as well. It's not just sturm und drang either in this exciting volume. There are some spots of humor too, for Gibson knew many fascinating characters right out of the pages of Damon Runyon. One time he went to Italy where he encountered the "old world" custom, the toilet a hole in the ground but a sophisticated contraption he couldn't figure out what it was for. Finally, a wiser man told him, Truman, that's a bidet.

Gibson nearly came a cropper as the spokesman for the International Boxing Council. I won't spoil the story for you, but if Martin Scorcese should ever make a sequel to RAGING BULL, he should run, don't walk, to the pages of KNOCKING DOWN BARRIERS where scene after scene rival the best boxing writing ever put to paper.

World Turned Upside Down: U. S. Naval Intelligence and the Cold War Struggle for Germany

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World Turned Upside Down: U. S. Naval Intelligence and the Cold War Struggle for Germany
Marvin B. Durning
Manufacturer: Potomac Books Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1597971340

Book Description

In 1955, after assignments at the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI) and on board a destroyer, Marvin Durning arrived at ONI’s office in Munich, Germany. During this year, he participated in the final stages of transforming Germany from a defeated enemy into a respected democracy, reestablishing its sovereignty, and shepherding its membership in NATO, which also involved rearming America’s erstwhile foe. At that time, Munich, like Berlin, was a nerve center for the Cold War. It was crowded with U.S. troops and German and Slav refugees. Radio Free Europe called it home. The city was, Durning writes, “a jungle of competing secret intelligence organizations: British, French, American, Russian, West and East German, Czech, Polish, and others.” Beneath the calm surface of everyday life in Munich roamed agents and double agents who witnessed defections, kidnappings, interrogations that ended in death, and assassinations by bomb explosions and by poison dart.

World Turned Upside Down is Durning’s account of such activities. Durning served as the de facto executive officer of a small office of German intelligence specialists tasked with routine navy issues. But much more was underway. Known only to his commander, himself, and the yeoman who typed the reports, former admirals of the defunct German Kriegsmarine attended secret meetings at his commander's house in the suburbs of Munich, where they worked to plan and create a future West German Navy. In addition, Durning served as a liaison officer to the Gehlen Organization, the supersecret German intelligence and espionage organization, and he recounts their activities here.

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"...officer down, code three."
Pierce R. Brooks
Manufacturer: Motorola Teleprograms Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0916070018

Average customer rating:

Excellent story, poor execution
Vivdly recounts the career of a dedicated policeman
Thought Provoking, Makes you think
Eye opening,Riveting, Heart Wrenching,Truly a Must Read,
One of a kind!

999 Officer Down
Catherine Marfino-Reiker , and Catherine Reiker
Manufacturer: PublishAmerica
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Just One Shift: The Police Files

ASIN: 1893162664

Book Description

Russ Reiker was a seasoned street cop in Phoenix, Arizona for 21 years. Two months before his planned retirement he was traumatically injured while on duty. He should not have survived, but he did. Chronicling his career with many extraordinary and remarkable incidents, this story culminates with the intensely personal moments preceding and during his impending death - memories that have, until now, been shared with only a few very special people. Russ Reiker?s tragic story is closely mirrored throughout by the circumstances leading to the death of one of his closest friends, and fellow officer. During the worst shoot-out in the history of the Phoenix Police Department, he was killed on almost the same date and time of day Russ? career would end. Their close friendship is the subject of continual laughs, tears, anger, fear and, at times, outrage, but more often humility and pride. Forever changed by the funeral of his friend, Russ Reiker could never go back to being the cop he was.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent story, poor execution.......2004-05-22

999 Officer Down transports the reader behind the scenes into the life of Phoenix cop Russ Reiker. Written by his wife, Catherine Marfino-Reiker, the narrative is heartfelt and poignant, describing great triumphs and losses in this man's life.

Unfortunately, Mrs. Reiker is not skilled in the craft of writing. She gets her story across, but without the help of a good editor. I frequently stumbled over mid-sentence tense or point-of-view changes. I was also left feeling unsatisfied at the end because she provided few details about the cause of Russ's accident.

For the story, this is great book. If you also read to enjoy creative language and vividly painted images, you're likely to be sorely disappointed.

Vivdly recounts the career of a dedicated policeman.......2002-05-16

999 Officer Down: The Russ Reiker Story is the true tale of Russ Reiker, an heroic street cop of Phoenix, Arizona who served for twenty-one years before suffering a life-threatening injury while on duty. Against all odds, he survived, but shortly thereafter one of his closest friends and fellow officers lost his life. 999 Officer Down vivdly recounts the career of this dedicated policeman and how his job was to change his life forever. Superbly written by Catherine Marfino-Reiker, 999 Officer Down is compelling and highly recommended reading.

Thought Provoking, Makes you think.......2001-03-27

I found this book to be very interesting, as it was my first experience reading of an Officers life. I found it intriguing the way the chain of command is initiated and followed through. There are rules and codes of procedures when even talking to your superiors. I thought that in itself had to be stressful for the officer, always having to know what to say and how you have to say it to your superiors, as not to ruffle any feathers. I find the officers are a close knit group, they look after their own, no matter what.I would recommend this book to all people in the field of law enforcement, their families and friends.

Eye opening,Riveting, Heart Wrenching,Truly a Must Read,.......2001-03-26

Never have I read a story which truly focuses in on the emotions and reality that an officer of the law must endure while in the line of duty. The corruption and crime on the streets never embraced me until I read this book. One can not imagine what it must feel like to be humiliated, harassed , and even hurt, while your main objective is to uphold the law and protect the people we live with. Think about the oath they take, the intense training, the Risk???? Always having to look over their shoulders. They all have families and lives just like you and I and yet their main objective is to protect the people, uphold the law no matter what it takes. Officer Reiker was a devoted Officer of the Law, a true inspiration to mankind, a leader. He not only enforced law and order, he took the time to educate children who were not as priviledged as some. Never did predujice play a part. In Officer Reikers career, he endured more than any average human could, and survived by only a miracle. Officer Reiker can be proud ,he can hold his head up high knowing in his heart that he always did the right thing, no matter what the risk. . Yes I highly reccomend this book to the people we live with, the people we talk to every day. Take a Walk in Officer Reikers shoes and see what it feels like. Hats Off to Officer Reiker........

One of a kind!.......2001-03-26

I found this book to be the most compelling "Cop" story read to date. The book delved behind the scenes issues of life - and all that goes with it. I felt his story was at first hard to read due to emotional understanding of just how real it all became to me. My first thoughts were that we don't pay our law enforcement enough for what they must sacrifice for the rest of us. My second thought was how did he emotionally get through his tour of duty - I know that I could never had done it. Great book and a must read!

Batman Gotham Knights #13 (Officer Down)

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Batman Gotham Knights #13 (Officer Down)
Greg Rucka
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

Batman | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: B000IQQU96

Product Description

Direct sales edition comic book published by DC Comics. Part of the "Officer Down" crossover event which ran throughout the various Batman titles in 2001.

Business Wire : Specialty Laboratories Announces Change in Executive Management; Douglas S. Harrington, M.D., to Step Down as Chief Executive Officer andDirector of Specialty; CEO Search Underway.

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Business Wire : Specialty Laboratories Announces Change in Executive Management; Douglas S. Harrington, M.D., to Step Down as Chief Executive Officer andDirector of Specialty; CEO Search Underway.

Manufacturer: Business Wire
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

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Book Description

Word count: 698.

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Catwoman (Officer Down, # 90)
Bronwyn Carlton
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic
ASIN: B000PM9D3I

Amazon.com

In The Idylls of the Queen, Phyllis Ann Karr takes an incident (the murder of Sir Patrise) from Thomas Malory's Le Morte d'Arthur and creates an intelligent, complex, and fascinating mystery novel perfect for fans of historical mysteries, of British legends, and of fantasy.

Queen Guenevere is giving a dinner to honor King Arthur's knights when one guest, Sir Patrise, falls dead of poison. The dead man's cousin accuses the Queen of murder, and she is taken away, to be held until her trial by combat. If her knight-champion wins, Guenevere will be declared innocent and freed; if he loses, she will be burned to death as a murderer. She is unlikely to survive the trial. Most of Britain's mightiest knights were at the dinner, and therefore cannot fight for the Queen. Her champion and secret lover, the invincible Lancelot, has vanished. And, as Sir Kay realizes, trial by combat determines only is who is the better fighter, not who is guilty. Kay knows the Queen is innocent and an unsuspected murderer is loose in feud-filled Camelot--a murderer who intended to kill a person or persons other than the obscure knight Patrise, and who is poised to kill again. With the trial only days away, Kay joins with the great knights Gawaine and Gareth and their half-brother, King Arthur's bastard son Mordred, in two quests: to find the missing Lancelot, and to uncover the true murderer.

The Idylls of the Queen is set in Malory's medieval world, where magic works, but the author plays fair; she doesn't use magic to solve the mystery. Also, The Idylls of the Queen is written in clear, crisp, timeless English, and not in Malory's difficult and archaic dialect. --Cynthia Ward

Customer Reviews:

Read this! You'll enjoy it!.......2003-03-15

"Idylls of the Queen" satisfies on many levels. One: it's a unique look at the world of Arthur's Camelot through the eyes of the much miligned Sir Kay. Two: It's a terrific murder mystery with red herrings and surprises. Three: It's a great fantasy, containing magic and otherworldly spells blended in a unique way.

If you're looking for something different, be it fantasy or mystery, I recommend "Idylls of the Queen" you won't be disappointed!

THE IDYLLS OF THE QUEEN.......2002-07-01

Phyllis Ann Karr has done all Arthurian fans a big favor by writing this book. "The Idylls of the Queen" is basically a murder mystery set in Camelot, with all the familiar knights and ladies as suspects when Sir Patrise is inexplicably murdered at a small dinner hosted by Queen Guenevere. Sir Mador accuses the Queen of the murder, and a race against time ensues to discover the truth. The usual knightly quest becomes a hunt for the killer--whoever that may be. Along the way Karr treats us to some very unique interpretations of the Arthurian cast, including Sir Gareth, Sir Bors, Sir Gawaine (more like the title character of "Sir Gawaine and the Green Knight") Morgan le Fay, and Sir Lancelot himself. Told in the first person by Sir Kay, King Arthur's foster brother and seneschal, usually noted by other writers solely for his comedic boorishness or ignored entirely, the novel clearly demonstrates that there is a lot more to Kay than he's usually given credit for--as was the case in the earliest Arthurain legends, where the sarcastic boor of later years is replaced by a loyal, courtly knight. Karr's version of Kay is still a fountainhead of caustic wit, but even so he's likeable and clearly indispensible to the well-being of Camelot.

A fast, suspenseful novel that should stand up to multiple readings, "The Idylls of the Queen" is an ingenious work that should please all fans of Arthurian literature.

Grab a comfy chair and enjoy this........2001-08-06

*Idylls of the Queen* is so much more than a good murder mystery. It is a good murder mystery, but unlike an ordinary mystery, you can reread it, even knowing whodunit, without any of the fun being spoiled. The mystery is sort of a backdrop to the real show--which is yet another new take on the personalities of Arthurian legend, and a different look at chivalric ideals.

The narrator is the oft-maligned Sir Kay, the grouchy but well-meaning seneschal of Arthur's court. He's not a bad guy. He *is* a sarcastic curmudgeon, but that's because he's seen so many self-serving buffoons win glory and adulation while his own hard work goes unnoticed. He is also secretly in love with the Queen. Kay shares an uneasy friendship with a wonderfully written, morbid, fatalistic, and somehow sympathetic Sir Mordred. Together they set out to clear Guenevere's name of the murder charges, meeting fascinating characters right and left. Morgan and Iblis are especially engaging, and Karr puts some deep words into their mouths. Morgan's defense of her mixed Christian and pagan ways cuts right to the heart of things, and Iblis's observation that justice is different for women than for men, is shocking just because it is so true of the times.

If you're an Arthurian buff, read this book. It's a quick read, and a great way to spend a lazy afternoon or two.

Enjoyable murder mystery.......2001-07-26

King Arthur meets Hercule Poirot in this enjoyable murder mystery, set within the context of "Morte D'Arthur" in a scene that was related with brevity, but here is fleshed out to a darn good story. I've been reading a great deal of Arthurian lit currently, to help me focus for my own book, and this is one of the best I've read.

It takes place when a certain knight dies of poison during a party thrown by Queen Guinevere -- and the queen herself is the primary suspect. Sir Kay, being the lead character, dives in to help Guinevere and prove her innocent. (If you've never read the legend, then you doubtlessly won't know who the heck it is).

The characters are recognizable, but thankfully do not fully fall into the well-worn slots that many authors shift them into. Karr's portrayal of Kay was excellent, sympathetic and extremely accessible to the reader. I felt sorry for Guinevere, loved Karr's portrayal of Mordred (I'm seeing good Mordred portrayals left and right at present). On the flip side, Lancelot enthusiasts may want to run for the hills (are there Lancelot enthusiasts?).

Phyllis Ann Karr, aside from being a darn good Arthurian author/historian is also a darn good mystery author. She gets the pacing and interactions that are suitable in a good mystery, never becoming too extended and therefore, boring. The tone of the writing is wry and mildly humorous, though never Monty-Pythonesque. The cover is of the quiet, dignified type that many lower-key, higher-quality Arthurian books current have, with the sight of a castle fringed by green leaves.

Overall, this is what I think Elizabeth Peters would write if she wrote Arthurian lit. After the highly enjoyable "Arthurian Companion" (a must-read for Arthuriana buffs) this was a rare treat.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!.......2000-12-16

I absolutely could not put it down! And extended story of Guenevere's dinner party where Sir Patrise dies of poison, it is written in the style of a murder mystery narrated by Sir Kay, in which he and Mordred are the primary characters. Throughout the entire book they try to find out who the real murderer is in order to get Gwen off the hook, and as they do this they retell traditional legendary events, looking for "motive" within them. It's great--very creative and suspensful. I read it twice, and the second time I couldn't remember who the murderer was, and I was still guessing at the very end! Also, I love the way Karr presents Mordred.

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