Book Review -- STRANGE ROBBY by Selina Rosen (Meisha-Merlin)

This book is a mystery/adventure/near-future thriller about two police detectives on the edge of burnout. They're on the trail of a serial killer/vigilante they really don't want to catch -- he's been "frying" the brains of scum of the earth. So Spider Webb and Tommy Chan feel the perp is doing their job for them. When the Strange Weapons Task Force shows up with too many questions, Spider realizes that there is no weapon -- the guy IS the weapon. And now SWTF is interested in her, too. A horrifying piece of information from her past is about to seize control of her future.

I really liked the friendly, matter-of-fact partnership between lesbian Spider and straight Tommy -- Tommy has a challenging but loving marriage, and Spider hasn't found an interesting date in much too long, but they are solid partners in crime fighting. That lack of romance changes in this tale, in realistic scenes showing both a sizzle of a new romance, and how long-married folk can renew their joy in each other. STRANGE ROBBY is gritty, colorful, and full of black humor. It carries you along to new places and people for both Spider and Tommy. They prove you can survive just about anything and learn to love again -- or find out the people you love are even tougher than you knew, and can weather almost anything if with people they love.

This book also advises you to love your country, but be wary of your government...

Rosen is dynamite on characterization, especially with interesting, strong women, and humor of some kind can always be found. This book is a bit of a breakout for her, and it's not being well supported by the publisher. So if you need a quick gift, pick up this book! You'll surprise your friend, and they'll discover a great writer.

Available from Meisha-Merlin and from Amazon

Note to Self --

When moving again, for whatever reason, to whatever locale -- make sure the $%&#@ flue to the chimney is closed.

Even if you don't plan to use the chimney AS a chimney...

Sometimes a bargain is not a bargain....

I'm finally surrendering on the Canadian bacon issue. The Petersen's Applewood smoked no-cure is wonderful, but expensive. Even the version with some preservatives is excellent. But expensive.

So -- once when I was in Costco, I find this 1 pound hunk of Canadian Bacon, with no more additives than I'm used to -- ( and I buy it. )

I am sad to waste this stuff, since it may be fine for regular palates. But it's gonna leave the building...soon.

This is almost as disappointing as finding out the Indonesian cinnamon spells like pesticides to me. My imagination, or real? At any rate -- no more Indonesian cinnamon, not even A grade.