Title: Absinthe of Malice
Author: Pat Browning
Publisher: Krill Press 
Genre: mystery 
Copyright: 2001, 2008
ISBN: 978-0-9821443-1-2

       I opened Absinthe of Malice to read while I waited, something to fill otherwise wasted time. What I discovered was a plot and characters that grabbed me and pulled me into the story. I couldn't sleep until the book was finished.

       Pat Browning’s craft, to weave a believable and realistic mystery, with crime, hatred, love, and hope all mixed together, would interest most readers. I’m picky about what I read, and I often find myself editing rather than enjoying. However, this book gave me very few opportunities to reach for my mental red pencil. Penny MacKennzie, a reluctant detective and heroine, decided to find the truth about her friend’s death. Even if she did stumble into a couple of messy situations that would stop my heart, she survived with everything but pride in tact.

       The secrets of a small town, and the power struggles often found, created the backdrop for a grave with bones on the edge of a cotton field, the deaths of two women, and the shifting of money and land. What effect did the history of three men have on the present and future of their descendants? The answer is twisted among the romance and love stories of two generations.

       Absinthe of Malice is fast paced, racing the reader from one scene to another, between the normal activities of life to the creepy darkness of late night explorations, from a touching scene between older lovers to the meeting and rekindling of an old love. After all, a good mystery needs a touch of romance, and that of this book isn’t graphic, but just tantalizing enough to be “just right” for the imagination of the reader to add details.

      I enjoyed the book and recommend it, even though a couple of spots aren’t as smooth as the rest. The few, very few, glitches aren’t noticeable through a first reading.

Copies can be ordered through any bookstore, online at http://amazon.com or http://bn.com , or as a Kindle e-book at http://kindlebooks.com .

Review by Vivian Zabel

Angeline Jellybean
ISBN: 978-0-9797513-8-7
Published by 4RV Publishing 
Author: Crystalee Calderwood 
Artist: Stephen Macquignon 
Children's picture book, soft back, 8.5 x 8.5 inches, 24 pages
For ages: 2 years up for listening; reading - grades 1 - 3

Angeline liked jellybeans. No, she loved jellybeans. She wanted them for snacks, for meals, for treats. Her favorite gifts were -- yep, jellybeans. Green jellybeans for Easter, yellow jellybeans for Halloween, red jellybeans for Christmas, and multi-colors of jellybeans for her birthday.

As most people discover, too much of a good thing often has not good results. Angeline learned a colorful lesson and decided to listen to Mom after all.

Crystalee Calderwood wrote an enchanting story of a young girl who wanted what she wanted. The moral or lesson isn't one that "preaches" at children, but it is woven into the plot in a way that children will find interesting.

Stephen Macquignon added vivid illustrations, which brought Angeline to life. His images with Crstalee's story bind together to create an book that is enjoyable and fun.

Angeline Jelly Bean can be bought or ordered through any bookstore, from Amazon.com, or from the 4RV Publishing Bookstore.