Rufus Cooper, my new All-American breed dog -with-his-tail-curling-up-over-his-back-and Manny, my half-mine German Shepherd were talking through the fence the other day and as they're only about 6 months apart, they were discussing what they would be when they "grew up".  Rufus said he'd probably stay with us but do a lot of reading and talking with other dogs on the subject of the universe and where we all fit into it. Manny thought that a splendid idea but felt his particular talents led him into the sports arena and, after much thinking about it, into maybe Baseball or Soccer.

About halfway through the day, I came over and, standing at the fence, gave my opinion (which is one of my favorite things to do anyway!) that perhaps they should both pick something they could be happy with and not cause them to have to leave home and be without loving "moms and dads". A great silence fell, tails drooped--dead silence--eyes puzzled--they touched noses and conferred. Then, tails wagged, eyes were bright and they announced they were to be loving guardians (and patient putter-up-withs for Dennis and me)  Having decided all that, they politely asked what I would be doing next and I said going to the library and writing a Fiction book column and Rufus said, "Better that than being left alone in the yard all morning" (a subtle jab) and Manny said, "What's a column?" 

This first selection is Robert Crais' new story, "Chasing Darkness", where, in the midst of a raging fire, a week-old body is found--"an apparent suicide." But the kicker is finding, in the victim's lap, a photo album containing the pictures of seven murdered young women. Then, the victim is identified as a former suspect  because three years earlier, "Lionel Bird was brought to trial for the murder of a female prostitute named Yvonne Bennett."  Complications set in, however, when the Elvis Cole was hired to investigate, he found evidence that let Bird walk free and he was hailed as a hero.  Now, new evidence has turned up and Cole wonders if two women died because of him.  I don't know if you've ever read him but he is an excellent storyteller, so come on in, look it over, and take it home. 

Now, "Blood at the Bookies" may or may not be a" favorite to win" in this Fiction race, but it seems promising in the way the characters are portrayed. Simon Brett is the author and has written for TV and his novel, "A Shock to the System" was made into a movie. In this one, he tackles murder, horse racing, and two good friends, Carole and Jude, who figure into all of this in keeping with their characters--with Carole being sure that the local betting parlor is a den of iniquity and Jude loving everything about it --at least, until  a body is found. The hard-won lessons  learned by the two young ladies are presented well, and this book would be a fine "read" to begin your Fall.

Stephen  Frey's "Forced Out" has been well received, having written 14 others, and this one centers on our all-American sport of Baseball and three men's dreams, destinies and loyalties.  Jack Barrett is "just getting by in a small Florida town" when he attends, at his daughter's urging, a local minor-league baseball game. Jack was a former N.Y. Yankees scout and his instincts kick into full throttle when he sees a remarkable player, Mikey Clemant--who also has a very bad attitude and wants to live his life in solitude. In New York, "Johnny Bondano is the premier hit man for the Lucchesi crime family" but while he admittedly is a killer, he has "a strict moral code". (Is that a rather contradictory statement or what?)  Johnny is hired to find the man who kidnapped and killed a crime boss' grandson and the three men's lives combine and explode.  In Johnny's case, he feels they are not telling him everything about his appointed task "but to question his orders is tantamount to suicide."  His character's dialogue is straight forward, their tangled lives have yielded both good and bad moments and this story describes how each one handles it.  When you finish Frey's stories, you sort of sit there and think about them. 

I believe in giving first-time authors a chance to be heard about and seen and read--and the best place to do this is in a library as most "book people" will not pick a debut novel up at a bookstore 'cause"I haven't heard of the author" (of course not, twit! the author hasn't written any other books--yet).So, "The Bible Salesman", by Clyde Edgerton, is about a con man/practiced thief and a Bible salesman and the first one picks the second one up. Preston  Clearwater "has been a criminal since stealing 7 chain saws and 1,600 pairs of aviator sunglasses from the Army during the Second World War" He picks up a 20 year-old named Henry Dampier, who sells Bibles, and Clearwater is able to convince the young innocent that he is an undercover FBI man and works him into a scheme to drive the cars that Clearwater steals while Clyde follows safely behind! 

And Henry's take on the situation? He envisions a great life with Clearwater, becoming an FBI agent  plus a Bible salesman!  He does have some questions about the Bible's accuracy and then, to top things off, Henry falls in love with Marleen "and questions his training" (maybe on the lines of God's calling vs. Man's calling) and slowly but surely, realizes that he's been used and everything is not as he thought it would be.

Speaking of that, everything is not as I thought it would be--or was talking about as being so at the beginning of this review. This author has written before and, therefore, is not a new author, so I apologize. However, this book I do recommend as it's funny, the characters get in all kinds of scrapes, and if you check it out, you'll enjoy it (and that statement I stand firmly on!)

Begin to decide on your pick for a president, hope we won't have any state that has to vote again!, begin to look for a Halloween costume and several bags of candy to hand out!, and, for a while, ignore the Christmas "stuff" in stores.  Watch Sunday Night Football and follow your favorite team in college sports whether you went there or not, be aware that "E.R." is on its last season (whaddya mean, "What's E.R."? Where've youse been--under a rock?), and be kind to people who are struggling in and out of stores with packages against a heavy door and a 35 mph wind. Enjoy your leisure moments--preferably with a book! See ya, bye!