Reading IN THE KITCHEN WITH A GOOD APPETITE is a bit like being lucky enough to have two scoops of ice cream on a piece of homemade apple pie - the pleasure is doubled because Melissa Clark's stories are super fun to read and her recipes so delicious. This is a book not only to prop open in the kitchen and cook, but one to relax with and thoroughly enjoy Clark's reminiscences. Her writing style is easy and unaffected - a bit like chatting with a good friend.

In addition, to her sharing of memories Clark lets us in on some of her secrets when it comes to inventing a meal in jig time. Now, if I were not to have an ingredient listed in a recipe, I'd pull off the apron and dash to the grocery store. Not Clark - she substitutes with the finished product often being tastier than the original recipe. . Haven't you read some recipes that sound delicious, but the ingredients and directions frighten you off? Not at all so here - Clark's recipes are within reach of everyone.

Born to parents whose dream was 'to eat at every Michelin-starred restaurant in France,' Clark comes to her appreciation and love of food quite naturally, and she shares that enthusiasm for what we eat via 150 recipes and stories.

IN THE KITCHEN WITH A GOOD APPETITE holds recipes for foods we love, whether pancakes or chicken, corn or spaghetti, sandwiches or toffee. It's a book that not only tickles your palate but warms your heart as well.

Highly recommended.

- Gail Cooke

Host of the PBS series Great Food, a long time food columnist for the New York Times Magazine, and the author of two acclaimed cookbooks Molly O'Neill is someone who not only knows food but loves and appreciates it. Thus, as we read in the introduction it concerned her when she realized that '...my colleagues and other members of the food cognoscenti began to talk about the end of American home cooking.' In fact, this was such a distressing premise to her that she began to seriously consider the situation. She did more than consider - O'Neill embarked on a program of extensive research which would have her first talking with people and then in 2001 she traveled to various geographic locations throughout the country, and finally she wrote and cooked. The result became ONE BIG TABLE, 600 Recipes From The Nation's Best Home Cooks, Farmers, Fishermen, Pit-Masters, and Chefs.

This has undoubtedly been a herculean task for O'Neill but also a labor of love, which is evident in everyone she introduces, each story she tells, and all the recipes she presents. If ONE BIG TABLE were but a stand alone cookbook it would be a keeper, a comprehensive guide beginning with 'Nibbles, Noshes, and Tasty Little Plates' to 'Steaming Bowls: Soups, Chowders and Other Consolations' through fish and poultry to 'Everything but the Squeal: Beef, Buffalo, Game, Lamb, and Pork: then closing, of course, with 'The Sweet Life,' desserts in all their glory.

However, ONE BIG TABLE is more than a cookbook that deserves a place in every kitchen, it is a tribute to the ethnicity of our population and a testament to our history as recipes have been passed down from one generation to the next. Beautifully illustrated and served with numerous anecdotes it is a culinary masterpiece.

- Gail Cooke

A childhood fascination with the French Revolution which grew into a life long exploration of that subject has become a boon for readers of historical fiction with Susanne Alleyn's Aristide Ravel series. The fourth story to feature Ravel is deemed by many to be her best, and we tend to agree.

It is the autumn of 1793 when Paris is torn asunder by fear, hunger, and distrust Madame Guillotine is kept busy - beheading the Queen as well as any and all who run afoul of the Revolutionary Tribunal for even the most minor infractions. At the same time a headless corpse is discovered - 'The woman lay on her back in a narrow alley a few steps beyond the Palais-Egalite, sprawled in a great splash of her own blood....' It is not known who she is, perhaps a woman who has fallen on hard times as have so many. Police agent Ravel is asked to investigate her death.

Just as he is beginning to try to trace the woman he learns of a similar murder, another headless corpse and then another. Most puzzling of all is the fact that there is absolutely no connection between those killed. It soon becomes obvious that the city is being terrorized by a serial killer, someone who murders at random, but why?

Alleyn is such an apt student of French history that her pages come alive with pinpoint descriptions of streets, places, and dress. She adroitly captures the tenor of that time as she takes readers on an intriguing chase to a satisfying finish.

- Gail Cooke

As has been said, 'There is no other living American author with prose as razor-clean as Andrew Vachss.....Vachss is a Zen warrior with a pen.' And he is also a warrior who explores the cruelest areas of life, whether it be pedophilia, ritual killing, sadism, or sexual deviance. He does this with no holds-barred; his words are startling, candid, often producing what some may call abhorrent but certainly frightening scenarios. Having said all of that CHOICE OF EVIL may well be his darkest Burke novel yet.

There is a tad of levity at the onset when Burke's dog, Pansy, is arrested in a police raid, and the rescue involves releasing a clutch of yapping canines. But then the terror begins when Burke is hired to find and protect a vigilante calling himself Homo Erectus who has declared war on gay bashers.

Just as the prose is razor sharp so is the narration by Phil Gigante, a veteran of some 70 audio books (including Burke stories). He delivers a forceful voice performance, made even more frightening by a clear, at times almost emotionless reading. While some less proficient readers might be tempted to give drama full throttle in some of the nightmare producing scenes, Gigante knows that in this case less is more.

- Gail Cooke

Audie Award nominee David Thorn delivers an appropriately chilling reading of Lackberg's compelling story. His well modulated voice carries the listener from the lead character's initial shock to the inexorable revealing of dreadful secrets. An accomplished voice performer Thorn has a goodly number of children's book and classics to his credit.

Losing her parents was trauma enough for 35-year-old writer Erica Falck, but returning to her hometown of Fjallbacka only to learn of the death of her childhood friend, Alex, proved to be almost too much. Alex was found with her wrists slashed, frozen in an icy bath. Her demise was presumed a suicide. Although they had been close as children Erica and Alex had been estranged for almost a quarter of a decade - she is puzzled by the death of her once beautiful friend.

Alex's family asks Erica to write a remembrance of Alex, which she readily agrees to do. However, when an autopsy shows that Alex did not take her own life but was murdered and furthermore she was pregnant previous assumptions are tossed out the window.

Erica joins forces with detective Patrik Hedstrom to investigate the case. Eventually dark secrets are revealed, which may well destroy the fabric of that once peaceful small community.

Lackberg's novels have continually topped bestseller lists in Sweden and THE ICE PRINCESS was named Best International Crime Novel of the Year. Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

The irrepressible Fannie Flagg won us with such mirth making, affecting stories as Fried Green Tomatoes At The Whistle Stop Café and Welcome To The world, Baby Girl!, now she reminds us of how much we enjoy her in I STILL DREAM ABOUT YOU.

Her latest, a comic/mystery, takes place in Flagg's hometown, Birmingham, Alabama, and centers on Maggie Fortenberry. Now, most would think Maggie had it all - she's a former Miss Alabama, a successful real estate agent at Red Mountain Realty, and has a covey of close friends. At least that's the way it appears - truth is Maggie is seriously depressed because life has not turned out at all the way she planned. She has always dreamed of living in one of the beautiful mansions on top of Red Mountain, cohabiting with a husband who worshiped her and having 2.5 children. Asif that weren't enough, her business is going down the drain thanks to the machinations of Babs "The Beast of Birmingham" Bingington, a double-dealing rival realtor. What had happened to Maggie's dream?

It's all just too much for Maggie to bear to she decides to leave (literally) and pens a suicide note (she does not sign it with the smiley-face that usually accompanies her missives). In the midst of composting this note her friend, Brenda Peoples, calls with the exciting news that the Whirling Dervishes are coming to town for one night only and she has two free tickets. Yes, the real Dervishes from Turkey have been booked at the Alabama Theatre because "The chanting Monks from China or Tibet or somewhere had to cancel."

Brenda insists that Maggie is going with her; she won't take no for an answer. Being a loyal friend Maggie decides that's the least she can do for Brenda, so she simply changes the date on her suicide note.

That's not the only change that takes place because Maggie miraculously comes up with a plan, the "perfect plan" to solve all of her problems.

Only Fannie Flagg could have written the wise. wonderful, hilarious I STILL DREAM ABOUT YOU, and I'm so glad she did.

- Gail Cooke

She's back - that magical Mary who is now giving us 120 mouth-watering slow cooker recipes gleaned from family, friends, and fans. So perfect for these chilly days when we yearn for a hot, tasty home cooked meal.

MARY ENGELBREIT'S FAN FARE COOKBOOK is spiral bound for easy kitchen use with glossy pages that we've found wipe clean with a damp sponge when we become over zealous in our preparation. Of course, the book is decorated with Mary's inimitable artwork.

Here are comfort foods at their best contributed by folks from everywhere - Chili from Deltona, Florida; Soup from Houston, Texas; Tender Roast Beef from Pine City, Minnesota; Cacciatore Chicken from Yallambie, Victoria, Australia, and so many more. Not to worry - there are a variety of side dishes, dips, and desserts, too.

Ever efficient Mary has included Metric Conversions & Equivalents, an Oven Temperature guide, and the approximate equivalents of common ingredients.

Enjoy - we know you'll be eating well!

- Gail Cooke

What a treat - an estimable debut novel read by multi-award winning narrator SimonVance! His voice is, as always, resonant, compelling, and he clearly distinguishes each character much to the delight of listeners. Vance must have enjoyed reading MR. TOPPIT as we certainly enjoyed his narration of this funny, touching and totally original story.

Arthur Hayman is an obscure screen writer who meets an untimely end when he's run over by a concrete truck. In addition to his screen work which has received scant notice, he has penned a series of children's books. Now sadly unbeknownst to him that series has enjoyed enormous success, while at the same time becoming a burden to his offspring.

Son Luke has been depicted as Luke Hayseed in his father's books and is portrayed by a child actor in a top-of-the-charts television series. Thus, Luke is made the butt of many jokes, and is miserable about all of this. Sister Rachel is also unhappy - not because of any notoriety her father's work has brought to her but just the opposite - she was never mentioned in his books.

Now, add to the Hayman family's distress the greed of the publishing and film worlds, embodied by one Laurie Clow who has made a global success of 'The Hayseed Chronicles.' That's grist for some excellent satire plus a reminder that all that glitters isn't gold.

Enjoy

- Gail Cooke

Shirley Rousseau Murphy has garnered legions of fans with her cat sleuth P.I. Joe Grey and the feline he fancies, Dulcie - she's sure to win more with the 16th in this award winning series, CAT COMING HOME. Murphy manages to fill her stories with sufficient amounts of mystery, mayhem and murder to satisfy and still keep it within the bounds of believable feline activity. (So says this owner of two cats who rule not only the roost but our hearts, too). Now, if there are naysayers claiming that talking cats are farfetched, just read a Joe Grey mystery, and you'll find yourself chatting with them.

In the most horrific murder imaginable Maudie Toola's son and daughter-in-law are suddenly shot to death while driving a lonely road on their way to the mountains near Lake Arrowhead. Maudie and three children are in the backseat; she glimpsed the passenger in the big pickup for just a second, and saw 'the gleam of metal, too, and shoved the children to the floor, crouching down over them as a fiery blast exploded and another.' Blessedly their lives were saved.

Now, eight months later, still reeling from the trauma of that night, Maudie is moving back to her childhood home, Molena Point. She brings her orphaned grandson, Benny, with her while knowing she must now raise him and make life as good for the child as she can.

A gray tomcat watches their arrival; something about Maudie has aroused his curiosity. 'Something out of keeping, an attitude that didn't seem to fit this gentle person.....' Little did Joe know that his interest in Maudie would soon involve murders, a stabbing at the state prison, and the fearsome home invasions that had suddenly begun in once peaceful Molena Point.

Could the vicious killer have tracked Maudie and Benny to this seaside village?

- Gail Cooke

Have to admit it - seeing the name Joe Mantegna on an audio book sells me immediately. His incredibly compelling reading of Boardwalk Empire is one of my all-time favorites and the same can be said of PAINTED LADIES.

A 40 year show business veteran he is an accomplished, versatile actor as evidenced in over 100 films (The Godfather Part 3, Forget Paris, etc.) In addition, his television appearances have garnered critical praise (The Rat Pack, The Last Don. Criminal Minds).

This wealth of experience is obvious in his stellar narration of what regrettably is one of the last Robert Parker Spenser novels. Mr. Parker will be greatly missed, and I join millions of others in remembering him for the many hours of listening/reading pleasure his books have brought.

In his inimitable way Parker grabs us from the beginning with PAINTED LADIES. Spenser has agreed to guard art professor Ashton Prince during a ransom payoff - thieves are being paid for the return of a stolen painting. As it turns out Prince really needed a guard as he's blown to bits during the procedure.

We all know that Spenser can't let that pass so he determines to find out exactly who stole the painting, why the ransom wasn't simply accepted and the painting returned, and why and by whom Prince was so explosively dispatched.

We're treated to the return of some of the characters we've learned to appreciate in previous Spenser tales as well as some intricate sleuthing on Spenser's part.

As I understand it there is one more Spenser novel due out next year. Meanwhile, enjoy PAINTED LADIES and the narration of Joe Mantegna.

Highly recommended.

- Gail Cooke