Worse Than a Lie  ---  5-stars  *****

This book, “Worse Than a Lie,” by Ben Crum is reminiscent of “To Kill a Mockingbird” in many ways. The story begins with a young African American kid who is enamored by the biography of Justice Thurgood Marshall and his appointment as the first African American appointed to the US Supreme Court. He has read the biography many, many times!!

Fast forward to 2008 and our first Black President is being elected. Maybe the racism that has been around is over – but not so fast. A black Metra cop named Hollis Montrose who is also a former Chicago cop was driving late at night and was homeward bound when the infamous flashing blue lights appear behind him. He pulls over and then his hell begins.

He is drug from his car and ultimately shot multiple times. He is being charged with a crime even though he identifies himself as an officer. That young kid who read and reread Marshall’s biography has now grown up and practices law. He and his law partner also a college fraternity brother, Nelson Rivers, get involved in civil rights cases and this case seems a ripe one for the taking.

Beau Lee Cooper is relentless, but the blue wall is formidable; including even prosecuting attorneys.. The story is fast paced, and lays bare the racial divide that in 2008 was still a deep chasm. The book explores this divide and how law can be a moderating influence – sometimes.

An excellent read and one that was hard to put down. Highly recommended and likely to become at least a made-for-TV movie. Too bad I can only give it 5-stars!!

 "Preacher's Hell" -- 5star review *****

Grab your reading glasses and get ready for another in the "Preacher" series of books from the Johnstone syndicate.  This particular one has Preacher and his two main sidekicks-Nighthawk and Audie getting involved in finding and then protecting a set of twins.  This protection involved a gang of really bad people who have enlisted or coerced a native tribe of Salish to help.  

As the twins add an enlivening twist with the trail-hardened group, several other characters pop up including the twins' mother, Annie Collins and a friendly Salish teen called Little Bear.  Their assistance and actions play into the story as the gang of robbers and murders led by Mack Ozark along with a collaborating nefarious Salish warrior.  Of course Preacher also had the help of his trusted companions of the 4-legged variety that he called "Dog" and "Horse"! Imaginative.

As we move across the wilderness, there is lots of adventure that comes to a climax when there is treasure discovered in a cave.  As might be expected a terrific battle takes place and who wins is up in the air for a while.

A fun and quick read and for those Preacher fans, just another installment of the Preacher-stories.  I recommend this book for any Western reader--it is fun to read and full of adventure and action.

 The Best of Enemies ---*****--5 stars

When two opposing soldiers in the Civil War meet in a one-on-one battle near the end of the War, each is seriously injured by the other; but necessity to survive causes them to be pulled together.  Their previous beliefs get strained through the sieve of friendship and melded into a mixture of a deep, true, and enduring friendship.  These friends do a lot of traveling post-War and work together on various odd jobs.  They are always good naturedly poking fun at each other about being a Reb or a Yank or about how they talk, sleep, etc. They've come to admire and overlook things from each other -- just as brothers often do. Sometimes they want to get closer to the same woman and this has the potential to cause conflict.

These quips do not deter from their deep affection and a feeling stronger than mere brotherly love.  The storyline in this novel "The Best of Enemies" is about helping a widow keep her shipping business and serving a group of miners who are struggling against the moneyed interests from back East.  Lots of rights and wrongs in this story line but their determination and a little luck might be able to help the Widow survive.

This latest battle over shipping to the miners is just as bloody and deadly as that last Civil War Battle of Deadeye Gap and Private Chaw (Reb) and Private Trace (Yank) are deeply involved. Just fewer overall people involved. Will their attraction to the Widow cause a split or will their deep affection for each other overcome?

Definitely recommend this book.  It is a quick read and one that keeps the reader's attention.  

 Finding the North Wind -- 5 stars --*****

Mr. Hammond has a winner here for any reader who loves dogs and seeing their devotion to their human as well as Boo's ability to sense and track.  The handler of Boo is Nate, a Wyoming deputy.  The deputy has gotten attached to a young boy named Caleb, who he met on another adventure.  Together the trio helps to right a wrong that occurred to a young Native woman whose Native name is Kwayah, meaning "The North Wind,"  Kwayah escapes from a bad situation a women's prison in Wyoming and is determined to get back to her grandmother and her young daughter in Utah.

Follow the tracking trek across Wyoming and Utah, as the trio gets help from numerous others who care about justice and not just power.  Meet bad weather, crooked law enforcers, and drug dealers as the search unfolds.  Find out how the judicial system can be manipulated for either evil or good.

The characters seem to jump off the pages and can give the reader both warm fuzzy feelings as well high degrees of anger at the actions of some officials.  It is fun to see the maturing of young Caleb (13 yo) as he accompanies his friends, Nate and Boo,  on this supposed, non-hazardous tracking adventure. 

Definitely a full 5-star.  Too bad I cannot give more stars for a book that I found to be a delightful story,  as well as just a fun read. There are some emotional parts and some sad ones, but the book, to me, was fabulous!!