WHISPERS UNDERGROUND by Ben Aaronovitch is an urban fantasy novel in which a black cop recruited to Scotland Yard’s magic-based department (“My mum’s delighted—she considers ‘witchfinder’ much more prestigious than ‘copper.’”) investigates someone stabbed to death by a piece of magical pottery, the secret of which lies in London’s subterranean web of sewers and abandoned train platforms. The London setting works better for me than the average urban fantasy (as does the relatively limited amount of magic around), and Aaronivitch writes well, but the ending fell flat as it shifts to a more mundane police drama and awkwardly works in elements from the big story arc. So I won’t go looking for the next one.
KING OF HEISTS: The Sensational Bank Robbery of 1878 That Shocked America by J. North Conway chronicles the career of George Leslie, a Midwestern aristocrat who moved to New York (buying his way out of the Civil War draft having made him persona non grata in Cincinnati) where he reinvented himself as a womanizing master criminal, using an invention for cracking combination locks to become both a successful bank robber and a planner for other hoods. A great story, but I’m not sure how much I trust Conway’s accuracy: His portrayal of suffragette Victoria Woodhull certainly doesn’t fit the books I’ve read about her and I don’t see where he gets his apparent insight into Leslie’s attitudes (as the man got killed before writing any memoirs or confessing to anything). So not quite recommended (Conway’s efforts to write a Big Picture book about the Gilded Age also feels more forced than say, Anthony Lukas’ Big Trouble).
DEMON HUNTING IN THE DEEP SOUTH by Lexi George is the second in a paranormal romance series set in a small Alabama town that’s become Ground Zero for a demon infestation, thereby drawing the attention of a pair of ET demon-hunters one of whom is flabbergasted to realize he’s overwhelmed with passion for one of the locals (they are apparently rather Vulcan). Reminiscent of writer Julie Kenner’s Demon Hunting Soccer Mom series but not as good. In fairness, George writes well and it’s not her fault I prefer the paranormal to the romance (the latter’s what she focuses on). However, the Vulcan/medieval dialogue she tries for the demon-hunters really doesn’t work.
FATHER GAETANO’S PUPPET CATECHISM by Christopher Golden and Mike Mignola is a novelette about the new priest in a small Sicilian WW II Catholic school who attempts to use the old puppets in the school’s basement to Put On A Sunday School Play before discovering the puppets are alive. This needed much more development to work—as is, it’s only half formed.
Empowered by Adam Warren is a comic super-hero series in which the eponymous heroine discovers that despite her main claim to fame being how often villains tie her up, she’s been nominated for a “Capey” award much to the astonishment of teammates Thug, Sister Spooky and Ninjette. This is really funny—unfortunately I also found it really gratuitously sexploitative (and joking in-book about how sexploitative it is doesn’t help).
INCORRUPTIBLE Vol. 2 by Mark Waid and Jean Diaz continues the adventures of Max Damage, a super-villain who underwent an instant reform after the Plutonian went bad (think Superman suddenly going homicidal maniac) and in this volume trying to do right by his under-age sidekick Jailbait without selling out in other ways. Good—I like that they’re not making any bones about Max having an ugly past to redeem.
ENEMY ACE ARCHIVES by Robert Kanigher and Joe Kubert collects the stories of Hans Von Hammer, a WW I German ace who feels honor-bound to serve his country, yet tormented by having to kill—and by the fact even his own people see him as an inhuman killing machine. I’ve read this before, but this sets me up to enjoy Volume II. Plus, they’re great stories.
If you like my blog …
Sorry but you really don’tknow enough about Woodhull to be commenting.It’s all very accurate.
I know “she’s a lesbian” was one of the charges flung at her during the Henry Ward Beecher feud so as Conway doesn’t seem to be using much in the original sources, I’m skeptical (the book Other Powers suggests her relationship with Jay Gould’s mistress was more business than anything else–though admittedly the two aren’t exclusive). If you’ve got some specifics to go into though, I’ll be happy to hear them.
Must have hit a chord with someone. Soon to be amajor motion picture. Guess she hit the nail on the head as far as the Gilded Age goes.
http://collider.com/black-list-2012-draft-day-transcendence-seuss/218398/
No question it’ll make a good movie–Leslie’s the kind of millionaire master criminal they usually have to make up. Okay, no question it could make a good movie, subject to execution.
Greetings and Salutations!
First and foremost, thank you Mr. Sherman for reading and commenting on my book.
As the author of over a dozen nonfiction books I am always thrilled to come across readers, regardless of their comments. This writing business is a contact sport and we all must accept the fact that we will receive any number of hits and collisions. It is to be expected.
I would however like to respond to several of your concerns:
“A great story, but I’m not sure how much I trust Conway’s accuracy: His portrayal of suffragette Victoria Woodhull certainly doesn’t fit the books I’ve read about her…”
As any nonfiction (history) author will confess, we are all confronted in our research with conflicting and often times incongruous details regarding our subjects. It is then our (the author’s) responsibility to the work to synthesize these many conflicting views and provide the reader with an interpretation ( a new or blended) text. My book King of Heists is not a textbook (no footnotes, etc.) and the reader just has to trust that the author (me) has read enough to synthesize the various views. It is not about providing the reader will ALL points of view: Only the author’s (mine).
I can assure that there are a plethora of books about Woodhull that I used to provide what is if anything a very brief synopsis of Woodhull in the book ( a mere page or so).
Some of the sources included:
Selected Writings of Victoria Woodhull: Suffrage, Free Love, and Eugenics (Legacies of Nineteenth-Century American Women Writers by Victoria C. Woodhull
Notorious Victoria: The Life of Victoria Woodhull, Uncensored by Mary Gabriel 
America’s Victoria: Remembering Victoria by Kate Capshaw
There are others I also used.
Regarding the following:
“I don’t see where he gets his apparent insight into Leslie’s attitudes (as the man got killed before writing any memoirs or confessing to anything). “
Let me just say ditto to the above. I should note that even using the best and most celebrated sources regarding Leslie there are some glaring discrepancies. Even the celebrated, Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury promoted an historical inaccuracy. Asbury writes that Leslie died in 1884 as does the Encyclopedia of Crime, which is not true and which I demonstrated with various newspaper accounts from the period regarding Leslie‘s death in 1878. Hence I would say I did more to clarify the historical aspect of Leslie than most others.
I would also note:
“So not quite recommended (Conway’s efforts to write a Big Picture book about the Gilded Age also feels more forced than say Anthony Lukas’ Big Trouble).”
Big Trouble is not about the Gilded Age and in fact encompasses the first decade of the 20th Century, well past the Gilded Age. So I am note sure where this comes from.
As far as being forced, not everyone likes or feels comfortable reading a non-linear narrative like King of Heists. I understand that but I am, like other authors, a product of my own literary likes and dislikes. The book was modeled after John Dos Passos trilogy: Much like my own trilogy about New York City during the Gilded Age. There are three books in my tale of New York City during the Gilded Age: King of Heists (2009) The Big Policeman (2010) and Bag of Bones (2012) all by Globe Pequot/Lyons Press.
My own literary influences include, besides Dos Passos, other nonlinear writers like
James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) ;William S. Burroughs’ Naked Lunch (1959), Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 (1961) and my favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five (1969).
Whether or not my non linear style appeals to all readers is of course questionable. It does however obviously appeal to some readers.
Lastly, I’d like to thank the other folks who responded and for the promo for the film version of King of Heists. I do wish to clarify for Henry G. that the J. in J. North Conway stands for Jack, not Jill.
Thank you for your attention.
J. (Jack) North Conway
Greetings and Salutations!
First and foremost, thank you Mr. Sherman for reading and commenting on my book.
As the author of over a dozen nonfiction books I am always thrilled to come across readers, regardless of their comments. This writing business is a contact sport and we all must accept the fact that we will receive any number of hits and collisions. It is to be expected.
I would however like to respond to several of your concerns:
“A great story, but I’m not sure how much I trust Conway’s accuracy: His portrayal of suffragette Victoria Woodhull certainly doesn’t fit the books I’ve read about her…”
As any nonfiction (history) author will confess, we are all confronted in our research with conflicting and often times incongruous details regarding our subjects. It is then our (the author’s) responsibility to the work to synthesize these many conflicting views and provide the reader with an interpretation ( a new or blended) text. My book King of Heists is not a textbook (no footnotes, etc.) and the reader just has to trust that the author (me) has read enough to synthesize the various views. It is not about providing the reader will ALL points of view: Only the author’s (mine).
I can assure that there are a plethora of books about Woodhull that I used to provide what is if anything a very brief synopsis of Woodhull in the book ( a mere page or so).
Some of the sources included:
Selected Writings of Victoria Woodhull: Suffrage, Free Love, and Eugenics (Legacies of Nineteenth-Century American Women Writers by Victoria C. Woodhull
Notorious Victoria: The Life of Victoria Woodhull, Uncensored by Mary Gabriel 
America’s Victoria: Remembering Victoria by Kate Capshaw
There are others I also used.
Regarding the following:
“I don’t see where he gets his apparent insight into Leslie’s attitudes (as the man got killed before writing any memoirs or confessing to anything). “
Let me just say ditto to the above. I should note that even using the best and most celebrated sources regarding Leslie there are some glaring discrepancies. Even the celebrated, Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury promoted an historical inaccuracy. Asbury writes that Leslie died in 1884 as does the Encyclopedia of Crime, which is not true and which I demonstrated with various newspaper accounts from the period regarding Leslie‘s death in 1878. Hence I would say I did more to clarify the historical aspect of Leslie than most others.
I would also note:
“So not quite recommended (Conway’s efforts to write a Big Picture book about the Gilded Age also feels more forced than say Anthony Lukas’ Big Trouble).”
Big Trouble is not about the Gilded Age and in fact encompasses the first decade of the 20th Century, well past the Gilded Age. So I am note sure where this comes from.
As far as being forced, not everyone likes or feels comfortable reading a non-linear narrative like King of Heists. I understand that but I am, like other authors, a product of my own literary likes and dislikes. The book was modeled after John Dos Passos trilogy: Much like my own trilogy about New York City during the Gilded Age. There are three books in my tale of New York City during the Gilded Age: King of Heists (2009) The Big Policeman (2010) and Bag of Bones (2012) all by Globe Pequot/Lyons Press.
My own literary influences include, besides Dos Passos, other nonlinear writers like
James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) ;William S. Burroughs’ Naked Lunch (1959), Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 (1961) and my favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five (1969).
Whether or not my non linear style appeals to all readers is of course questionable. It does however obviously appeal to some readers.
Lastly, I’d like to thank the other folks who responded and for the promo for the film version of King of Heists. I do wish to clarify for Henry G. that the J. in J. North Conway stands for Jack, not Jill.
Thank you for your attention.
J. (Jack) North Conway
Greetings and Salutations!
First and foremost, thank you Mr. Sherman for reading and commenting on my book.
As the author of over a dozen nonfiction books I am always thrilled to come across readers, regardless of their comments. This writing business is a contact sport and we all must accept the fact that we will receive any number of hits and collisions. It is to be expected.
I would however like to respond to several of your concerns:
“A great story, but I’m not sure how much I trust Conway’s accuracy: His portrayal of suffragette Victoria Woodhull certainly doesn’t fit the books I’ve read about her…”
As any nonfiction (history) author will confess, we are all confronted in our research with conflicting and often times incongruous details regarding our subjects. It is then our (the author’s) responsibility to the work to synthesize these many conflicting views and provide the reader with an interpretation ( a new or blended) text. My book King of Heists is not a textbook (no footnotes, etc.) and the reader just has to trust that the author (me) has read enough to synthesize the various views. It is not about providing the reader will ALL points of view: Only the author’s (mine).
I can assure that there are a plethora of books about Woodhull that I used to provide what is if anything a very brief synopsis of Woodhull in the book ( a mere page or so).
Some of the sources included:
Selected Writings of Victoria Woodhull: Suffrage, Free Love, and Eugenics (Legacies of Nineteenth-Century American Women Writers by Victoria C. Woodhull
Notorious Victoria: The Life of Victoria Woodhull, Uncensored by Mary Gabriel 
America’s Victoria: Remembering Victoria by Kate Capshaw
There are others I also used.
Regarding the following:
“I don’t see where he gets his apparent insight into Leslie’s attitudes (as the man got killed before writing any memoirs or confessing to anything). “
Let me just say ditto to the above. I should note that even using the best and most celebrated sources regarding Leslie there are some glaring discrepancies. Even the celebrated, Gangs of New York by Herbert Asbury promoted an historical inaccuracy. Asbury writes that Leslie died in 1884 as does the Encyclopedia of Crime, which is not true and which I demonstrated with various newspaper accounts from the period regarding Leslie‘s death in 1878. Hence I would say I did more to clarify the historical aspect of Leslie than most others.
I would also note:
“So not quite recommended (Conway’s efforts to write a Big Picture book about the Gilded Age also feels more forced than say Anthony Lukas’ Big Trouble).”
Big Trouble is not about the Gilded Age and in fact encompasses the first decade of the 20th Century, well past the Gilded Age. So I am note sure where this comes from.
As far as being forced, not everyone likes or feels comfortable reading a non-linear narrative like King of Heists. I understand that but I am, like other authors, a product of my own literary likes and dislikes. The book was modeled after John Dos Passos trilogy: Much like my own trilogy about New York City during the Gilded Age. There are three books in my tale of New York City during the Gilded Age: King of Heists (2009) The Big Policeman (2010) and Bag of Bones (2012) all by Globe Pequot/Lyons Press.
My own literary influences include, besides Dos Passos, other nonlinear writers like
James Joyce’s Ulysses (1922) ;William S. Burroughs’ Naked Lunch (1959), Joseph Heller’s Catch-22 (1961) and my favorite author, Kurt Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse-Five (1969).
Whether or not my non linear style appeals to all readers is of course questionable. It does however obviously appeal to some readers.
Lastly, I’d like to thank the other folks who responded and for the promo for the film version of King of Heists. I do wish to clarify for Henry G. that the J. in J. North Conway stands for Jack, not Jill.
Thank you for your attention.
J. (Jack) North Conway
Thank you for commenting. You’re quite right, Lukas’ book was a couple of decades later, but I did think he did a better job of a panoramic look at the USA of the time (no offense). Well said, and I hope everyone who reads the post gets to your comment.
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