Marshall Thornton Presents Boystown: Three Nick Nowak Mysteries - Book 1 - Think of Mike Hammer, the PI...

 

“The minute you walked in the bar, I could tell you were there for me.” So much for my surveillance abilities...

I lit a cigarette and thought, “If there is a God... If he wanted to do us a favor he would have made raw carrots and bean sprouts as appealing as a fatty, fried sandwich and a Marlboro.”

On Fridays and Saturdays, I have a part-time gig working security at a nightclub on Broadway called Paradise Isle. Even though some radio disc jockey declared disco dead by burning a bunch of records at Comiskey Park about two years back, you wouldn’t know it at Paradise Isle. The DJ is Miss Minerva Jones, the only drag queen I ever met who didn’t have some sort of joke name. I like that about her. You can only meet Anita Mann so many times before it gets

old. When it comes to disco, Miss Minerva is a purist. She plays Thelma Houston, Sylvester, Chic, and Sister Sledge. Sure, she also plays The Bee Gees, The Village

People, and Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive,” but only if you tip her. The club is forty percent dance floor

I tipped for "I Will Survive!!!" LOL

and always full. The dance floor is made of thick Plexiglas and lit from beneath. The rest of the place holds a couple dozen tables, some booths against the wall, and a bar that runs the length of the club. The theme is tropical, and there are a couple of neon palm trees attached to the walls. The bartenders start the night in Hawaiian print shirts, but have lost them by the time I show up at nine. When I first started, the owner, Davey Edwards, tried to get me to wear a paper lei. I put my foot down. From ten to two I stand at the door with a flashlight and check IDs. Wearing a paper lei, Davey takes the cover charge. I could do the whole thing myself, but I’d have a bit of trouble balancing the cash drawer if a fight broke out. And they do break out every so often. Fortunately, most queens have to warm up with a couple rounds of catty remarks, so I’m usually there before anyone throws a punch. That Friday was busy but uneventful. Davey stops charging a cover at one, so I’m alone for the last hour. Mostly people are leaving by then, so I spend my time saying “good night” and telling people, especially the drunk ones, to “be careful.” After my shift, I usually head over to the bar for a couple of free drinks. That night was no different. Ross weaved his way over and asked what I wanted. Even though it was below zero outside, his well-defined, bare chest was slick with sweat. Ross is a sexy mix of boy and man. He’s got freckles across the bridge of his nose and a cowlick on the left side of his forehead. He’s also got biceps hovering around sixteen inches... After he brought me a beer, Ross offered me a Camel Light. I turned him down. “Willpower,” he said. “I hate that in a man.”

~~~~

Book 1 - Little Boy Found

Nick Nowak came alive for me in Hammer's voice, hope some of you remember him! LOL

Yeah, it was an old TV PI program, but I was a fan of mystery and suspense even back then... So having three Nick Nowak mysteries in one, for free, from BookBub, was a gift of memories... Of course, this PI had something to offer that I may not have been interested in--but other readers might... So I'll tell you about the stories, O.K.? 

Nick has his PI license so works as much as he can on that job, but also spends time at a local club as what you might realize to be a bouncer, even if he's at the door when you first get to the club... But, then again, readers won't get too far into the club, before it is burnt down and out of business for a while... Most damaged was that Miss Minerva, the D.J. who had originals in cartons lost all of her music! Bummer, right?! I was enjoying her oldies just as much as you would!

Unlike most guys, I should know better...

That particular day there wasn’t anything on the radio except reporters droning on about the inauguration. It seemed a little odd that none of them complained that our country was now going to be run by a guy who once co-starred with a chimp. Not that I had anything against the Gipper. I just wasn’t convinced I wanted his finger on the button. I turned the radio down and picked up the phone.

But Nick has received a telephone call to find a lost boy. Even from the very first Nick was not quite sure that this was really a case because he couldn't get very much information out of the caller. Nevertheless, he started the job for his new client--“What’s your name?” “Walt...Paddington. Walt Paddington.” Ok, I was suspicious as Nick was when he had to figure out a name to be used... Then he refused to come into the office... But Nick needed the money and what could happen? Well... His job was to find Brian Peerson... who had been gone for almost a year, but, now, it was urgent to find him...

Nick learned enough to be able to begin the search and soon he found the retainer and some photos waiting for him. Now that would allow "expenses" to begin... He had been seen at another club, "The Closet." A Waiter there... But then Nowak went back to who had hired him--and who had recommended him to the guy. Decided that was just as important... So the search expanded... 

It didn't take long to find Brian, but it got a little complicated when somebody else also was out to kill him... Even offered Nowak $10,000 to just walk away... Yeah, that wasn't gonna happen...

Little Boy Burned...

“Private investigator? You mean like Magnum, PI?” She asked. Her voice was crisp and sharp. “I’m not sure what that is, ma’am.” “You’re not sure? Why, it’s a TV show. It’s on Thursday nights at eight o’clock. Don’t you watch TV?” Her tone suggested she considered television viewing as necessary as breathing. “I don’t have a television,” I explained. It had moved out with Daniel, and I’d never bothered to replace it. “What on earth do you do without a TV?” “I do a lot of things. Can you tell me if you happened to see or hear anything unusual last night? Between five and five-thirty?” “Why don’t you come in,” she invited me, and then hobbled away from the front door. It was a studio apartment. In one corner sat a nicely made double bed, in another a recliner with a television balanced on a small table a few feet in front of it. I followed the woman over to a small dining table in front of the window. She sat and looked out. She had an excellent view of Paradise Isle. “Hawaii,” she said abruptly. My stomach sank. I worried she might be half crazy. “What about Hawaii, ma’am?” “That’s where Magnum, PI lives. It looks pretty on TV, but I could never leave Chicago. I’ve been here seventy-four years.” “Did you happen to see anything this morning?” She nodded. “I have the insomnia.” “So you’re up at night a lot of the time.” “Oh, it’s terrible. If I get two good hours of sleep, well, I consider myself lucky. Very lucky.” I took a seat across from her. “And this morning you were sitting right here looking out the window.” “Yes, I was.” “What did you see?” She lowered her voice to a whisper. “You know that’s where the fancy boys go, don’t you?” “Yes, ma’am.” I knew she’d tell me eventually; I just wasn’t sure I had the patience to wait. “He ran out of there around five-thirty.” “Who did?” She shrugged. “I don’t know. I don’t know any fancy boys.” “Tell me what he looked like.” “He wasn’t fat. And he wasn’t short.” Ruthie would exasperate the police when they showed up. The thought made me want to giggle. “Was he white? Or black?” She thought about it. “White. I’m pretty sure. He was wearing a hat. And one of those balloon coats.” “A down coat,” I suggested. “A what?” “A coat full of feathers. Like a pillow.” “It sure looked like a pillow.” “Was he young or old?” She thought about it. “Couldn’t have been old. He was running. I haven’t run like that in forty years.” “Did you see where he went?” She nodded solemnly. I waited. “He came into The Shore.” I looked out the window. It faced Broadway. The entrance to The Shore was on Surf. There wasn’t any way she could have seen him enter the building. I decided not to contradict her. The rest of the information seemed good, what there was of it.

~~~~

This is the story where Paradise Isle is set on fire... Nick is called to hurry over and help deal with the crisis, and soon gets involved with tracking down who set the fire... All I'm going to say about this one is that Nick should have paid more attention to the lady he first talked to... And finally got around to solving the case... LOL

Little Boy Fallen

I found I didn’t much like being a secretary; it was hours of boredom punctuated by brief periods of humiliation.

A second later I lay on the strip, the wheels of the train still moving inches from my face.

“You think he’s gay?” he asked me. “Guys like that, I think it’s more about manipulation than sex.”

“Helen Borlock.” I sat down at my desk and lit a cigarette while she talked. “He told me to come. He said you’d help. You can help, can’t you?” “I don’t know if I can help,” I said honestly. “I don’t know why you’re here.” She gave me a confused look, as though I should know why she was there. “Bobby told me to come. He said you’d help.” “Bobby who?” “Bobby Martin.” I was pretty sure I didn’t know a Bobby Martin and said so. “Bobby was my son’s roommate. One of them, I mean. There were four of them living there. Sweet boys, always laughing. The apartment is on Clark and Fullerton. They did it up nice. Every room a different color.” I still hadn’t a clue who she was talking about. Abruptly, she held out the photo album. “This is my Lenny.” To be polite, I took the album. “I never wanted to name him Leonard. My husband insisted. He’d had a friend, in the Marines. Wanted to name his son Leonard, after his friend. The friend died, you see.” I flipped the album open. There was Helen with an infant. I was right. In her day, Helen had been a looker. I flipped a few pages and Lenny began to grow up. Looked like he was on his way to being a looker, too. “What is it Bobby thought I could help you with?” She glanced out the window like she suddenly needed to check the weather. It was overcast and threatening to rain or, worse, throw in one last snowstorm for the winter. After a little sigh, she said, “Three weeks ago, my son was murdered.” “Mrs. Borlock, I’m a private investigator. I don’t investigate murders. The police do that.” “They don’t care. Lenny is just another pervert to them.” I waited a few moments, considering. I was telling her the truth. It wasn’t the kind of thing I did. Or at least tried not to do. Mainly I did background checks, skip traces, once in a while a little surveillance. That was it. Murder was different. Yes, I used to be a policeman, but I’d only worked a beat. I’d never been a detective. In the nearly six years I spent on the job, when it came to murder I’d never done much more than secure a crime scene and make sure witnesses stayed put. “Can you afford a private investigator?” “Yes. I always put a little aside for Lenny. Ever since he was a little boy.” She stared at her hands, which seemed particularly empty now that I was flipping through the photo album. “I used to think I’d give him the money on his wedding. He was sixteen when I figured out that was never going to happen, so for a while I thought I’d give him the money to go to college. But he was never book smart. Last couple of years, I’ve been waiting to see, did he maybe want to start a business or get a nice beau and buy a house.” Her voice turned bitter. “I should have given it to him. Should have let him spend on whatever he wanted.” She looked like she might break down, but fortunately she didn’t. I took the final drag off my cigarette and stubbed it out. Against my better judgment, I said, “Tell me what happened to Lenny.” “Someone pushed him off the seventh floor of the atrium at Water Tower.” That seemed pretty cut and dried. “Were there witnesses?” “It was a little after ten in the morning.” “No one saw him being pushed?” She shook her head. “So, how do you know he was pushed?” Mrs. Borlock pursed her lips. Tears popped into her eyes and threatened to spill over onto her cheeks. “You’re going to tell me my boy killed himself, just like the police.” “Right now, I’m not telling you anything. Right now, I’m asking questions. How do you know he was pushed?” “I just know,” she spat. “I know Lenny. And he wouldn’t kill himself.” “Why wouldn’t Lenny kill himself?” I was expecting a lame answer, like she’d raised him as a good Catholic, and, since it was against God’s law, he wouldn’t do it. But she didn’t say that. She said something completely different. “Lenny was the happiest person I ever met.”

~~~~

As you might have guessed, Nowak took the case... We all know that it was a dumb thing to do... Somebody was murdered--it meant that the guilty person would be that individual who killed somebody! I think it was the fact that his mother saw her son as the happiest person she ever met... What can you say to that? So he took it, and nearly found himself, also killed! And it all started when Nick found a deposit in Lenny's account!

Halfway down the page, there was a circled deposit for three thousand, five hundred, and sixty-four dollars.

The four roommates had been temp's for a company and were given various assignments. Nick soon realized that the only way to track the money was to go undercover... And being a secretary wasn't something he would ever choose to be! Yet, here he was... Because of course, everybody knows that the secretaries are the ones who get "hit on" by the bosses... right?

I thoroughly enjoyed the light mysteries and know you will too! Covering multiple books within one review is not easy to do, but I've tried to give you a sense of the various storylines... The book is for fun reading. Nick Nowak is a macho man living in Chicago in the early 80s who easily and quickly sets out to solve the problems he has agreed to handle. The fact that he gets sidetracked often will also possibly be of interest to those who read this series... 

GABixlerReviews

A Single Christian Woman - Open Memoir - Ruminating on Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass The Trump Test?

 

I believe Joe Biden is our best choice for President at this time, for a reason. We need his experience, his background and his accumulated knowledge. We need his acceptance that to do the right job for America he must welcome all people who sought a new life who have a variety of backgrounds. He does not care. He does not shirk from reckoning that even though He is a Christian, he knows that in leading in the separation of the church and state, that he must support the Constitution as written. I believe he is a good man and I have watched as he encountered emotional distress for those who have been or are in pain. He emulates Jesus in his constant concern and respect, no matter who or what they are or believe. This, then, it what I believe should be the role of the President of the United States. That, in itself, as an officer for the Constitution, his loyalty is to the nation first and not to his religion as defined here on earth...

I woke up at 1:30 AM, this morning remembering only that I had dreamed that I should go back to the book I had started: Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass The Trump Test?

This book was published in 2020. I hadn't realized that as I began to read. It is presented in the form of a debate, perhaps for the individuals to whom the book is addressed, or, for himself, as well. What is then presented is a back and forth discussion on issues and, of course, primarily the past president. I had read over 40 pages, but, since I had realized that it was written much earlier, I decided to turn to the back chapters... where you would normally find some type of conclusion in non-fiction books.

I read a little, my mind wandering away from the book, finding myself also going back and forth in my thinking... It seems important that, for the majority of my life, I had little or no involvement with politics. It seemed to me I was living my priorities at that time. I worked, I participated in church in various ways, and in family matters. Indeed, it was only because of Donald Trump's infamous first video broadcasted that I started to listen...

My great-niece, who is now helping me as a caretaker, shared that she described me to her husband as a women's libber... I laughed, immediately thinking that I had never burned my bra or read Gloria Steinem... but that, indeed, from early life, I recognized the difference in being a woman in today's world. And, even, as girls played about getting married, I played at becoming a secretary. Of course, my sister was in business school at the time, so it was a natural selection. My point is that I envisioned myself helping somebody in a role that was supportive to others...

And that early ruminating led me to how the author of this latest book I was reading shared/wrote... For instance, homosexuality was referred to as sinful--no "buts" about it... Indeed, the entire group of these people who were different was lumped together as sinners, more or less... However, I had interacted with women who professed being gay. One of them was a cousin who is now deceased. When she told me she was gay and getting married, I asked her just one thing--was she still in church? That is, was she still a Christian? She responded affirmatively and shared that she would be married in church...

Homosexuality has been in existence since before Christ. I have known homosexuals with whom I've been friends. I have known people who may or may not be homosexuals...(I never asked) and I've been friends or at a minimum willing to treat them as I would anybody else... I cannot think of any Biblical reference between Jesus and a homosexual individual. I do remember that in both the story of the woman who would be stoned by men, as well as the Samaritan woman who had a sexual background, Jesus merely acknowledged that he knew of that background and yet offered her His Love, His Light, His Truth... 

I have no doubt that He would never have placed these individuals into a stereotypical lump and condemned them... and, as many have gone even further in violence and murder...  But that is the history of 2000 years+ and we are a different culture, good or bad... But, with the example of Jesus, we learn that we must love all of God's children, no matter who they might be...

Thus, I would think that it is exactly how Pope Francis must have pondered, prayed, and recognized that Jesus would never have turned away anyone...

Key to this, of course, is based upon the separation of church and state. Let's take it a step further, the Catholic Church does not allow President Biden to take communion has been stated over and over...However, here's what has been stated recently...

Biden is welcome to receive Communion at churches in the archdiocese. Mr. Biden met with Pope Francis last month at the Vatican where Mr. Biden said the pope told him he was a "good Catholic" and should keep taking Communion.Nov 17, 2021

Notice that this statement is in the present tense--that is, he should keep taking communion...

I found Dr. Brown's writings as if it were an internal argument as to justifying what is/has happened. But that is just my feeling, perhaps, somewhat of my own bias against what has occurred. However, it seems to me that in all that has been done by republicans to provide "religious freedom" for Evangelical Christians, is that it is an attempt to dominate or control the lives of all people, whether they are christians or not. Going back and forth in justification is, again, in my opinion, an attempt to accept that Trump has indeed moved well beyond what the deal was...

Or, is it? What I believe the Pope is saying, and which I happen to agree with, is that God has created all people in his image. They are all God's children and it is only God's judgment which will decide their fate. And, in the meantime, rather than those who are religious in America being allowed to follow their own choices, just as they have, with their own beliefs, then all those who have different opinions or beliefs must be legally able to live in those positions/choices without prejudice.

Right now we are in the midst of a major problem. I agree with Biden it is a dangerous one. The question of our laws, our constitution, our country's freedom is, indeed, on the ballot. And that has ultimately been brought about from the hierarchy of the christian church... Think about how those who came to America to seek religious freedom, then went about forcing the Indigenous Natives to become christians... Think further back to the Crusades, the Inquisition, and, from a more openly hateful action, performed the Holocaust. 

Is not what the evangelical christians and the republican party, together, doing the same thing? Is it not that those now in office are purposely using the courts to allow discrimination? Consider, just one issue, as an example. A baker chose to not want to create a cake for a gay couple... My opinion is from my professional background. If you choose to go into a service organization, then you should serve all customers. By doing so, does not in any way, force you to accept what you don't believe. Indeed, it is merely doing your job. I find it ironic that it is christians, historically, who have been attempting to FORCE their religion on people... Historically, it has and continues to fail. Don't you think that those christians would begin to examine themselves and their decisions?

Indeed, by the end of this book. Dr. Brown continued to agree to disagree, but that he was going to vote for Trump... He proceeds to go on and on and on about his decision... Clearly the book was intended only for evangelical christians since there was no basis for consideration of choosing or not choosing Trump for president... Other than we all have our choice...and should exercise it.

While Brown refers to earlier beginnings such as Falwell and "family guy", the overview come across as wishy-washy to me. And, perhaps that is the key. Do we, as Christians, speak of love as the primary connection with others? Or do we see some "sin" that is to be squashed before they are worthy to even be called to "consider" to join a church? I don't have the answer... What I do know is that if, even at the beginning of the discussion of who to vote for, we are being told that our christian ideology must be part of the factor and therefore it's alright to vote for a known criminal, that...is...just...wrong...

Yet, it was indeed The Moral Majority, Jerry Falwell, who decided to enter into politics and start pushing... If you did not bother to watch the second video, in particular, about Pope Francis' statement, please do so now. Key is that the fact that, in my opinion, the Pope is clearly separating the church and the state, pointing out that he agreed that we are all God's children... and that as Americans we all deserve equal treatment... Remember, for instance, as soon as Trump became president, he attempted to ban Muslims from America. Two points come to mind for consideration. One, Trump is being praised in Brown's book for responding to the desires of evangelical christians. Thus, we must assume that refusing religious freedom to Muslims was a mandate of the evangelical christians... Is that not a logical assumption? Two, anybody and everybody is fully aware that Trump stuffed the courts with right-wing conservatives. Indeed, the first act, after each of the new justices said during their "employment" interview that they would not change precedent... they went ahead and did just that... (Roe/Wade)

Now, let's look at just the one action. The republican party, starting under Trump, went full speed ahead to, not merely initiate action in support of this change. No, they went all the way to create an atmosphere of fear, divisiveness, and medical emergencies! Decisions that are clearly NOT responsive to the needs of all Americans! Indeed, threats and overturning of judicial rulings are ongoing. Doctors do not know how to treat their patients, even if they see and have found a dangerous situation if a pregnancy is allowed to go through. This, to me, only means that a woman's life means nothing to either of these groups. Again, the logic is clear. Choosing to not provide for the common good of one American, while choosing to force to birth a dead baby or one who will die slowly afterwards, is, in my mind, one of the cruelest things that could be forced on a woman... For what? For some "Key Word" that has been used over and over and over to incite fear, hatred and division. I cannot make myself more clear. Neither religion nor the government should be involved in a women's medical issues. And, further, that the ONLY reason that it became an issue was because of one or more individuals wanting to have power over another!

My sister told me that if I was a Christian I must vote republican. To keep from arguing, I initially registered as Independent... then I saw what the republicans were really all about, and I changed my designation to democratic... I do not want to hear about the past, because I knew nothing about it as it occurred. Today, right now, is what I see... I see and hear one politician after another speaking out to help all Americans, regardless of their individual differences. That is the Democratic Party.

You know, folks, what I see when I look at Joe Biden is a man who cares about people... What I see when I look at Trump is a man who is a performer, who will change to elicit initial trust, and then demand allegiance as a would a dictator or monarch. And, in my opinion, the evangelical christian hierarchy, in choosing to support him, have created the ultimate individuals who could destroy America. Those who choose to demand their rights regardless of whether or not it hurts somebody else... 

Consider Covid 19. While Trump started the creation of an antidote, but then decided it was too difficult to handle, he moved to the opposite extreme, as a dictator does. He demanded that masks were not necessary. He made fun of people, He didn't care about the hundreds of thousands of deaths that occurred... And, even today, when I, in a simple attempt to point out that somebody could get a covid shot at the same time a flu shot was obtained, a man turned on me and screamed "NO!" into my face...

By the way, the woman he was with, probably his wife, immediately turned to me and explained that she had had a reaction and we talked together... Have you all noticed that it is women who are quietly and effectively and efficiently dealing with today's issues? No wonder I'm seen as a women's libber... I've fought through the male-dominated bureaucracy. I've seen how some few men treat women--thankfully not all. And I've seen men who play the game of kissing the ring. And, right now, in America, there are far too many kissing Donald Trump's ring as their god... their idol... their hero... but, never, their president of all Americans...

I have no background on Hillary Clinton, for instance. I do know that she won the popular vote over Trump. I do know that women across the nation went to Washington to march against Trump and that group was larger than those who attended Trump's inauguration. What that tells me is that we women see Trump as exactly what he is. And men who choose to use the Bible to demean women, rape--physically, mentally or emotionally--or believe that women in higher level positions through affirmative action is wrong, these then are those to question...

Dr. Brown also glowed in his praise of Mike Pence, completely unaware of the fact that we are in the years of 2000... It was quickly headline news that Pence would not work with women--no wonder they despise Hillary Clinton! Could it be because she forgave her husband and stayed with him? I don't know but it certainly forces you to wonder...

Because, this single Christian woman, through many years of working on a university campus, in more higher level positions, quite often had lunch with men. My boss, my peers, faculty members, staff members... Many of them married. Yet, Pence chose to not be burdened with temptation? And therefore women in such positions were either not to be allowed in those positions, or that they would be ignored as an equal professional woman with whom he was to act responsibly? Check out an article in The New Yorker about this issue that is certainly why women have become agitated by being forced to deal with the selection that christians made for their president! 

Finally, it seems to me that, after 2000+ years, that God would have expected his children to grow up. That is, to grow in His Spirit... I am reminded of the parable of the talents, where one chose to bury the talent that had been placed in his hands for safe-keeping, fearing his master. Yet, when the master came back, he took away that talent and gave it to the others who had invested the talents and worked to benefit their master. I think about this parable often... America, especially, has grown in many ways, especially as a result of science. Should we not have as a country, a world, grown in our religious maturity. But, just like the man who chose to bury the talent, many have chosen to bury the results of increasing improvements in all areas, including religious study... That is why I've come to accept the words of Jesus as my primary guidance. He, more than anybody, who was condemned to death by those religious rulemakers of the past:

Matthew 23

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: "The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. So you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do, for they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them." Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the market- places and to have men call them`Rabbi.'

"But you are not to be called `Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all brothers. And do not call anyone on earth `father,' for you have one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor are you to be called `teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you will be your servant. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. "Woe to you, blind guides! You say,`If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? You also say, `If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Therefore you will be punished more severely." Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. And you say,`If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.'So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers! "You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this generation. "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' "

This scripture might seem to be addressed to the Jewish people, who lived at that time, and who were involved in the death of the Son of God. But, and I do not say this lightly... If the Bible is The Word of God as defined by evangelical christians and other sects, then, by claiming that, then this scripture must be, in my opinion, relevant to all individuals who live at any time. Otherwise, what relevance does this one passage have to anybody today?

So we see that pharisees and lawyers are to be obeyed but specifically told to not do what they do. Well, let's look back on the Trump presidency before Jeff Sessions was fired. It was at that time, that he quoted scripture about following leaders--essentially trying to say that we were to follow what the government and the president wanted, because after all, he had been appointed by Trump. It was during a time of migration of many immigrants who were seeking asylum. He announced a new policy whereby babies were to be separated from the parents... We all know how that went. Badly! Several issues became clear: The administration had no competency in creating, announcing, and then implementing a new policy! 

Not only was the policy outrageous, they had failed to create an implementation plan for tracking--surely a simply matter if they had thought about it!!! After all, I had implemented a plan to locate over 20,000 students each semester and I can't recall ever failing in that endeavor... So in a year, I would have about 60-80,000 students and faculty arrive at a specific designation... I would imagine that even as of now, there are still children lost somewhere and yet to be found and returned to their parents. This became a major uproar for the administration, who cried out Wall, Wall, Wall, all could be solved with a wall... Geesh! Get Real!

The same thing happened with Covid19. Trump did initiate arrangements with pharmaceutical companies... That's it! Once again, the job was half done by this administration and Biden's new administration had to work overtime trying to catch up with what should have been done by Trump's staff. We all remember the possible use of various methods, including using bleach(!) that had no connection with helping to cure a virus being thrown out by the president. We also remember that he admitted to a man who was writing a book, that he purposely kept information from Americans claiming he didn't want his base to know...

Do either of these instances have a relationship to the above scripture? Of course they do. In both cases, it was the children and the elderly who were affected the most, but many others died purely from exposure because the president made it a joke to wear a mask and his followers did not wear them...killing even more than necessary. I remember a town into which a group of motor cycle riders came for an annual event, all of which did not wear masks...

I think I've shared this at another time, but it needs to be repeated again. The short version? Check out the italicized reference in red above. Not all versions of the Bible include this reference (which is another reason that questioning the Bible as "The Words of God" should be considered. Aside from that, in another version and in a book that was once given me by a pastor about the family, he said if I agreed with everything in the book, I would be an acceptable leader for a group at church. In that book, I was told that the church was to take care of me as a single woman... I therefore went to my pastor and asked when they would begin to take care of me... The thing is that the idea was so victorian--so ancient a concept that I and he both started to laugh... However, to me, it was another step to my moving to accepting the Bible as being inspired by God and NOT the Word of God. I and many others have found so many contradictory things in the Bible, as well as those which are extremely disturbing, including murder and rape as instigated/condoned by a King, who was said to be favored among men. Key to me is that, I cannot accept that if God was writing a book, as did Jesus, in a sense, they would make sure that what was said would be at least understood and that the full historical text would be included... The above is an excellent example of the clarity of Jesus, don't you think?

In other words, my ranking of the Bible as the Word of God would be very low... I believe it is historical, includes poetry and important guidance as of the time of Jesus. There are many, many writers who have written on the Bible, trying to explain, interpret a book that has been translated, edited, rewritten...just as any book would be... Indeed, the Book of Thomas, which was Thomas' recordings of Jesus' actual words is not included... More importantly, with Jesus as our Messiah coming, He was to lead us from then on there. Indeed, He said that from time to time and with various forms of doing so.

I find Matthew 23 as very provocatively written. While it says to obey them (I believe this refers especially to individual church rules as laws, and, perhaps, civil laws...But that we were not to do what they do... and then proceeds to specifically identify the issues to beware of. 

And, if you do as Jesus says about Love and Loving, none of the above should be even still in existence for us to quarrel over, in my opinion...

But that, however, is exactly what Dr. Brown, in writing this book has done. He has pontificated about all of the sins of the past president, yet allows that while he is going to continue to vote for Trump, that he is willing for you/us to make your own decision, since it is a right to which we should be obligated to perform. That is, voting for the government of our nation. Yet, at the same time, absolving the past president of any of his actions while in office or during that period, which have gravely affected the nation we once knew: Respect of everybody's lives, liberties and our pursuit of happiness...

In closing, I find that I am not the proper audience for this book. It surely was meant for all those who call themselves evangelical christians, as opposed to...just...Christian. As an aside, there are thousands of different sects falling under the bailiwick of Christianity. I have not taken the time, nor do I have the interest at this point, as to what constitutes the identity of an evangelical christian. 

If, however, you are an evangelical christian and you have become concerned, perhaps this book could be useful. Given that the writer continued to support the past president throughout the book, for me, I cannot recommend it or other books who asked me to do what the Bible says. Because, simply, if the Bible followers have caused what has happened in America, then talk themselves into believing it is what God wants, believe me, I'm not willing to play that game of disinformation...

This is not intended as a review of the book. I will not be posting it as a review. As you know, I have found, that so many issues that happen daily have affected my original intent to write a historical life memoir. Instead, I am writing my book in journal form, as events come into my life... bringing in past information or memories as relevant to the specific topic. The 50 or so pages I read were sufficient for me to reject the premise as one I would ever consider.

God Be With You

Gabby

Murder on the Down Low By Pamela Samuels Young - Spotlights Issues for HIV Deaths by Women, Especially... During AIDS Awareness Month

 

“Hi, honey,” his wife chirped back. “I’m catching a movie with Karen tonight. The kids are with my parents.” “Have a good time.” Diana was always good about making sure he knew her precise whereabouts, and Dr. Banks appreciated that. Now that he was free for the evening, the thought of arranging another hookup with Clarence crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed the thought. He was not a greedy man. 

He never prowled for sex and the thought of going to a gay bar disgusted him. Only gay men did that, and he wasn’t gay. His lunchtime excursions were just a freaky little hobby. Nothing more. Nothing less. He was a fanatic about safe sex and always chose partners who were family men with as much to lose as he had. Dr. Banks even required his sexual partners to periodically produce written proof that they were HIV negative, and he gladly did the same. 

He loved his wife too much to demand anything less. In the twelve years since he’d said I do, there had only been five other men besides Clarence. Dr. Banks turned left into the parking structure, made his way to the second level and backed into a stall that bore his name in neat block letters. He hummed his favorite Temptations song, My Girl, as he took off his shades and clipped them onto the sun visor. 

Pushing open the car door, Dr. Banks planted his left foot on the ground at the same moment that a bullet pierced his cheek, just below his right eye. The force of the shot sent his head hurtling backward, then slowly forward, as a splash of crimson darkened the car’s pristine beige interior. As the second and third bullets entered his neck and chest, Dr. Banks’ body fell sideways toward the open car door. His hand reached out for something to grasp, but found nothing to break his fall. In what looked like a slow motion videotape, Dr. Banks tumbled onto the dirty garage pavement, head first.

Every time I read a novel by this new writer, for me, I finish and want to continue on to the next book... This is the Vernetta Henderson Series Book 3... I'm a fan of legal novels, but when a writer takes on issues from today's headlines, then I find them even more intriguing...and, additionally, a learning experience. While this book was published in 2008, we are still, unfortunately, seeing the same types of hate that have been around for decades and more... I don't even attempt to get into a discussion on one's sexuality. I think that if God has created us in His image, then it is not up to us to judge whether any given individual is "not" how God had created that person. It works for me, but nosomuch for many... In fact, I want to share the author's addition at the end of the book related to why and how she came about writing this book. I certainly learned a lot, but I'll highlight, for me, her most important words... 

Author’s Note: I often have a hard time recalling exactly when or how the idea for a particular novel originated. For the most part, the concept simply pops into my head from some unknown place. That’s not the case with this book. I have a crystal clear recollection of watching an Oprah show featuring J.L. King, author of On the Down Low. As I listened to his insider’s account of the mindset of men on the down low, I was completely stunned. My emotions during that sixty-minute program, went from shock to anger to fear. 

As a writer of fiction, my goal is to entertain. Writing this book, however, has given me an opportunity to both entertain and raise awareness about this important topic. The statistics mentioned in Murder on the Down Low are fact, not fiction. While African-American and Latina women make up only 24% of the female population in the U.S., we account for more than 80% of the total AIDS diagnoses for women, according to the latest statistics published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. Unfortunately, these shocking numbers are not likely to decline until we—the victims—decide to do something about them. HIV may not be curable, but it is completely preventable. We can’t continue to sit back and wait for someone else to tackle this crisis. This is our fight. We must begin this battle by pulling our heads out of the sand. 

While there are indeed men whose conduct puts our lives at risk, we also do our own share of harm to ourselves. We place our own lives at risk by not getting tested. We place our own lives at risk when we fail to use protection. We place our own lives at risk when we behave in ways which dishonor our bodies. These are areas we can fix. 

Today. While African-Americans are among the most religious people on the planet, we tend not to extend our spiritual teachings of love and compassion toward our gay brothers and sisters. That, too, must change. 

The Book Covers that This is a Multi-Race Issue!

A wealth of information about HIV/AIDS is available via the Internet. For more information, please visit The National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc. (www.nblca.org), The Black AIDS Institute (www.BlackAIDS.org) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.org). In the meantime, stay safe.

In this book, Vernetta's best friend, Special, takes center stage as she mourns the death of a cousin who has died... According to announcements, she died from pneumonia, but this was not the truth and Special was first upset and then became angry. In her opinion, Maya was...murdered! And she felt that her fiancée should be made to pay for her death! In fact, she became more and more obsessive as time went by, even to making a public announcement during Maya's funeral...

To everyone’s amazement, including Vernetta’s, Special sidestepped two ushers, shrugged off a funeral director and charged straight into the pulpit. The mourner who was speaking stumbled aside as Special snatched the microphone from its stand. “Everybody thinks Maya died from pneumonia,” Special said, choking back a sob. “Well, she didn’t.” 

Vernetta shot out of her seat and was at Special’s side in a flash. “What’re you doing?” she whispered, covering the mike with her hand. “Don’t do this!” J.C. followed after her, and the two of them formed a tight half circle around their distraught friend. Reverend Jones took a half step toward them, but froze when J.C. shot him a cop glare that didn’t require any verbal instructions. 

“People need to know the truth,” Special replied in a weak but angry voice. Nichelle had also joined them, which was a surprise considering how much she hated confrontation. She stood off to the side, still dabbing her eyes with the tattered Kleenex. Vernetta placed a hand on Special’s shoulder. “Maya’s family doesn’t want people to know.” “I’m her family, too,” Special replied stubbornly. “And I think they should know.” A muffled clamor drew all eyes to the front pew. Maya’s mother slowly rose to her feet. Pearl Washington was a young woman. Just over fifty. But the weight of her daughter’s death had added a good ten years to her otherwise flawless face. “Special’s right . . . ” Mrs. Washington said in a weathered voice that had Maya’s feminine raspiness. “People should know. Let her speak.” 

After a long, uncertain moment, J.C. took a step back. It took another few seconds before Vernetta reluctantly did the same. As the congregation waited, Special dropped her head as if she had suddenly lost her nerve and was searching for it on the floor. But in an instant, she straightened into a lofty, almost regal pose. “Maya wasn’t just my cousin,” Special began, fighting to control her emotions. “She was like a sister to me. And she shouldn’t be lying in that casket. The only reason she is, is because somebody deceived her. And it would be a crime to deceive all of you.” She stopped and rubbed her right eye with the heel of her hand. “Maya didn’t die of pneumonia. Maya died of AIDS. And Eugene Nelson was the man who infected her.” An elderly woman gasped from the back row, and a teenager sitting up front cupped his mouth with both hands. 

“Maya didn’t know that Eugene was gay or on the down low or whatever you want to call it,” Special continued, ignoring the waves of shock ricocheting through the church. “Eugene needs to pay for what he did. And I promise you . . .” Her lower lip began to quiver and for a second it seemed as if she would not be able to go on. “I plan to make sure that he does.” Special let out a loud, agonizing wail as her three friends rushed over to her. Reverend Jones waved frantically at the pianist, whose fingers hit the wrong keys, then broke into Amazing Grace. 

Vernetta wasn’t sure what emotion she felt as they escorted Special from the pulpit. But she didn’t blame her friend for what she had just done. It didn’t make sense for Eugene to be walking around looking like the picture of health when Maya was dead. What was God’s lesson in that? Special was absolutely right. Eugene had to pay. As a matter of fact, they had already come up with a plan to make sure that he did. 

Realizing that you've been infected of a deadly disease by your beloved surely must be the worst thing that could happen to many women... At least that is how Special, Maya's mother and her closest friends decided... They were beginning the plans for suing Maya's husband for wrongful death and intentional infliction of emotional distress.”

While this very personal trauma was being felt by Maya's family, there were other families experiencing similar losses... But from a different perspective, As an investigation started, it was discovered that there had been four murders of prominent Black men and, when Eugene was also killed, Vernetta began to think that there was a serial killer working in the area... It was bad, but not something she would become involved with, until, when Eugene was murdered, the police immediately began to build the case to arrest Special, who from the very first, had talked about Eugene needing to pay the penalty...and she just might be willing to see that happen... At least that was how the local police were justifying her arrest...all on circumstantial evidence... And, yes, some of the acts done by Special were illegal, but she was not responsible for his death...

In fact, as readers continue, we are faced with a whodunit that is extraordinarily well written and, ultimately, a shocking and climatic ending! Well done, Ms. Young! 

The merge of homosexuality within the religious part of our lives is prominently addressed, but not from the usual perspective. Ms. Young points out that if those who are gay were not forced to be closeted, for fear of being harmed, that the activities of having sex on the "down low..." would probably not occur. That is, gay men would form open relationships and not be forced, sometimes, to be in a heterosexual marriage. The topic is sensitive as, it seems, all sexuality issues are as it relates to religion... For surely, the church has not been successful in dealing with the many issues that need to be addressed in the real world, post-Biblical times...

As we have seen, given the Supreme Court actions and discussions recently, the nation has been forced to look backward related to issues that we all once thought had been settled... The fact that religion has been used to incite hate, division, and prejudice is once again alive and active due to the maga influence. People are dying, again... And use of scripture is being used by those who "hate" for their own personal goals. From 2008, when this book was published, to 2022, today, we are once again questioning who can love who... 

This book is an excellent exploration of the topic within a fantastic and compelling legal suspense story that will keep you on edge until the final chapter! If you see yourself as some of the characters in this novel, take a moment to see which of them reflect your own opinions, and whether that was a "winning" choice for the way the book concludes... Me, I'd place myself as one of Maya's friends...and I'd be doing whatever it took to seek...accountability! At this time, it is much more important day after day after day...!

Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me

You have been so, so good to me

Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me

You have been so so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the 99

And I couldn't earn it

I don't deserve it, still You give yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me

You have been so, so good to me

When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me

You have been so, so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the 99

And I couldn't earn it

I don't deserve it, still You give yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God

There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down

Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down

Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down

Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the 99

I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still You give yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God

I don't know the Answers

But I Can't Believe Hate is Yours

I don't know the Answers

I'll trust You to Give the Answers

Death Should Not Result from Love

I don't know the Answers

But I'll Choose Your Love Over Hate Always

God Bless

Gabbie

Kenneth Eade Produces Another Must-Read in Absolute Intolerance...

Brent Marks sat with his clients, James Fredericks and Ronald Bennett, in the second row of the gallery waiting for their case to be called, and his thoughts ran wild with boredom. He also couldn’t help but feel a little intimidated: not because he was sitting between two gay men (which some guys might be a little uncomfortable with), but because they were dressed so much better than he was. And neither of them seemed to have the budding spare tire around the middle that Brent had been wrestling with at the gym for the past three years. It was embarrassing. People might think that Brent was the shabby client who had come to court with his two good-looking lawyers, instead of the other way around...
Brent could never understand how a man could be attracted to another, but he did know one thing: his two clients had good taste and they were always in good shape. He made a mental note to consider asking one of his gay friends to go shopping with him next time instead of his girlfriend, Angela. She seemed to always be nicely dressed, but FBI agents like her were not known for their men’s fashion sense. Maybe I could find a gay trainer at the gym to help me shed these extra pounds? 
It was the hallowed ground of the federal court at 312 N. Spring Street, an old art deco building which contained some of the smartest men and women on the bench. The interior of the courtroom was all marble and dark wood. Brent and his clients sat on wooden benches that looked more like church pews than seats...
This was just the type of case that appealed to him: blazing a trail for civil rights; lighting a torch for tolerance. In his early days as a lawyer, he wasn’t as fortunate, taking every case that he could just to keep the office doors open. But now, with over 25 years of practice under his slightly bulging belt, he could concentrate on the cases that really meant something: civil rights, consumer rights, governmental abuses… cases that were more than about just paying the bills.

~~~

Absolute Intolerance:

A Brent Marks Legal Thriller

By Kenneth Eade

There are many things in life that present issues that confront their beliefs. In this case, two gay men have just been married, according to the law. Yet they are being harassed. They had just left the courtroom with their lawyer when a certain Joshua Banks came up:

As Brent and his clients trudged away, before he could even have the chance to console them, Joshua Banks, a bible-thumping, homophobic, religious fanatic, blocked their path. Brent had had run-ins with Banks several times, to the point where he had been forced to obtain a restraining order against him because of death threats. But he was mainly a zealot and a windbag who was always preaching to anyone who would listen, and a lot of people who wouldn’t.

“Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure!” Banks proclaimed, lifting his finger in front of them as if he was giving a sermon. “Step aside, Mr. Banks. Do I have to get another restraining order against you?” “Men committed acts with other men, and received in themselves due penalty for their perversion!” “Who is this guy?” “He’s just a nut job, James. I’ve dealt with him before.”

Banks stepped out of the way and the three proceeded down the escalator to the lobby of the courthouse. “He’s a religious fanatic. Part of the group opposing gay marriage.” As they descended, they could hear the echoes of Banks yelling verses from the Bible. “These dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings!” “He’s really harmless. Just ignore him.” “Sounds like he’s got a screw loose,” said Jim. Brent nodded. “More than one screw, I think.” The bellowing began to fade from their ears as they descended. “Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders, not thieves, nor the greedy or drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God!” “I guess it’s official, Jim. We’re both going to hell.” “At least we’ll be there together.”

My first Brent Marks thriller was Involuntary Spy. It was about an important issue that also interested me and I enjoyed it greatly and recommended it as a must-read...

Absolute Intolerance is also about an important issue. It is not an enjoyable book. I recommend it as a must-read as well...

Eades is hitting readers where they hurt--he does not allow prejudice, beliefs, corrupt activities, etc., to go unnoticed. He attacks them, hoping to teach. If not, to force us to face reality...

A long time ago, I had to make my own decisions about what I would do when I faced prejudice. I adopted "Judge Not Lest Ye be Judged."

And while Brent Marks acknowledged he didn't understand a physical attraction for another man, that did not mean that he was not willing to work with them, to help them if he could. Most of us take that position. However, Joshua Banks, what we would call today, a religious fanatic, took active opposition toward anybody who deserved to be judged--as he read and understood God's direction to be. So not only did he confront Marks' gay clients verbally, he also threw a window through the front window of their new home...

And soon they were murdered--horribly, with great hate and rage toward the bodies of these two happily-in-love men...

Marks had lost his clients, but was then shocked when Joshua Banks was accused of the murder and requested that Brent act as his lawyer! He didn't know what to do, but the first thing he did was call the Bar Association and sought guidance as to whether there would be a conflict of interest since he had once served as counsel for the victims...

Knowing that everybody deserved representation, Brent decided to take on Banks as a client, knowing that it was going to be extremely difficult, given Banks' constant rambling... And the police were quite sure they had the right man. Banks had harassed the gay men, he had admitted to the hate crime that he'd broken their window. He even indicated that he would want them dead. But was he guilty of murder? Brent didn't think so...

There was only one way to defend this client. Marks would have to solve the case... 

Acceptance of homosexuality has been a long-time problem for some Christians. In my mind, Jesus brought us God's love and ask that we love others. Was Banks arrested and put on trial because he was a fanatic, or because those involved were also prejudiced against homosexuality. If not why would they do everything to stop Brent from providing a solid defense of the man? Did they believe that all hate-mongers are criminals and should be punished? Or perhaps they had no emotional ties to anybody and simply worked to close the case without any concern for the individuals at all...

Is the author indicting the legal system? A religious faith for producing such fanatics? For the ending brings Brent Marks to a turning point decision. Could he continue as a defense counsel, knowing what had happened in this trial?

The author forces us to look within and ask--would we seek to destroy all those who hate others and speak out against them? Are those who believe differently than us automatically worthy to be murdered, destroyed? This book has an ending that is unsatisfactory...yet to tell the story that he intended, it must be recognized as a superb novel... Kenneth Eade's has much to tell the world. He is not a fanatic that shoves his thoughts down your throat. He merely creates a what-if story and lets each of us see what happens... What would you do if somebody told you our jury system is flawed? A totally infuriating story that must be read...



GABixlerReviews

Described by critics as "one of our strongest thriller writers on the scene," author Kenneth Eade, best known for his legal and political thrillers, practiced law for 30 years before publishing his first novel, "An Involuntary Spy." Eade, an up-and-coming author in the legal thriller and courtroom drama genre, has been described by critics as "One of our strongest thriller writers on the scene and the fact that he draws his stories from the contemporary philosophical landscape is very much to his credit." He is often compared to John Grisham, whom many regard as the master of the legal thriller.

Said Eade of the comparisons, "Readers compare me in style to John Grisham and, there are some similarities, because John also likes to craft a story around real topics and we are both lawyers. However, all of my novels are rooted in reality, not fantasy. I use fictional characters and situations to express factual and conceptual issues. Some use the term 'faction' to describe this style, and it is present in all my fictional works." 

Eade has written ten novels, which are now in the process of being translated into six languages. He is known to keep in touch with his readers, and offers a free Kindle book to all those who sign up at his web site, www.kennetheade.com. 

Email: info@kennetheade.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KennethGEadeBestsellingauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KennethEade1