VICTIM by Gary Kinder

 Finished Tu 3/26/26: Superb Non-Fiction!

This is one of my ancient paperbacks that I bought at Forsyth old book barn on Sa 11/25/15 and I read it again and finished on Sa 1/23/16.

I said that "it's as good as they said it would be" and "leaves Anne Rule in the dust and easily compares to Truman Capote's 'IN COLD BLOOD'". 

This has to be one of the most gruesome 'botched robberies' ever recorded- The Hi- Fi Murders; Ogden, Utah; April 1974. 

I was surprised that the author never wrote any more True Crime books. However, he is a famous lawyer and is known for his software program that he developed. 

This would have made a terrific movie although it was done many years ago (not so good) and starred Richard Chamberlin. 

I loved the book and I've been hyping it to Janny. 

THE PURPLE BOOK by Philip Jose Farmer

Finished We 3/25/26

This is one of my ancient paperbacks that I had never read and purchased at the library book sale on Sa 6/9/18.

It's a short collection of novellas by Farmer.

The best (by far) is part of his novel, 'THE RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE'. This is a pun on the Zane Grey novel and deals with an American future in which the government financially supports all citizens. 'Purple' was picked because the color invokes the richness of ancient Rome. 

The poor are housed in ovid shaped apartments located about 20 feet above the surface. Everything is paid, but the lifestyle is boring and people are moved randomly to protect against popular uprisings. I would have loved to read this interesting book because with the real threat of AI and complete automation it is not at all surprising that the government would initiate a 'standard minimum salary for all'. 

One novella dealt with C.B. Demille coming back and making a movie with The Devil and God. One dealt with Rip Van Winkle and the others were completely forgettable. 

I'd still read anything by Philip Jose Farmer because he was one of the best 'pulp fiction' writers who ever lived.    

MANHATTAN IS MY BEAT by Jeffrey Deaver

 This is a paperback that I bought at the Rochester Book Sale in 2023. I bought a bag of books for five bucks. Finished Su 4/23/23 and refinished on Su 3/8/26.

The story involves a young woman who works at a video store in NY city. She went to a man's apartment to pick up a video and the man had been murdered. It's a cute story with lots of twists. 

From AI Overview:

"Manhattan Is My Beat (1988) by Jeffery Deaver is the first book in the Rune trilogy, featuring a 20-year-old punk-styled amateur sleuth who works in a NYC video store. When her favorite customer is murdered, she investigates, believing a classic film noir holds the clue to a stolen fortune.

Rune is described as smart, witty, street-wise, and obsessed with old films, making her an unconventional heroine.

Plot: Following the murder of elderly customer Mr. Kelly, Rune uncovers a connection between his death and a real-life, unsolved bank robbery, drawing her into a dangerous investigation."

SUICIDE BLONDE by Darcey Steinke

 Refinished Th 3/4/26

This is one of my old trade paperbacks that I first read Th 7/23/98.

Not much of this novel stuck with me, but it was an enjoyable read.

From KIRKUS:

"After her relatively demure debut (Up Through the Water, 1989), Steinke turns up the heat for this episodic tale of kinky sex and all-out depravity. It's a bad girl's memoir of her descent into the netherworld of San Francisco's Mission District. In two weeks, pretty young Jesse (a woman always ``attracted'' to people who make her feel ``inadequate'') explores the seamy underside of modern life. Doing penance for her ``bland suburban past,'' Jesse ``dabbles in perversity.'' Her lover, a handsome actor named Bell, is busy mooning for his former boyfriend, soon to be married in L.A. Insanely jealous, Jesse confides in Madam Pig, an obese alcoholic for whom she keeps house. The reclusive old dame encourages Jesse to seek out a woman named Madison, who Pig claims is her daughter. In fact, Madison, Pig's ex-lover, is now a junkie prostitute who works from a bar in the Mission. From the moment they meet, Jesse is drawn to her sense of ease and power, and moves into Madison's apartment. Jesse's adventures begin: a trip to a live peep show; anonymous sex in a darkroom; sex with Bell in the presence of a trollish homosexual; masturbation with a statute of Christ in an empty church; a hand-job to a homosexual in a gay bar; turning a few tricks at Madison's whorehouse; smoking opium in a den run by a hermaphrodite; and witnessing Madison penetrate a john so violently with her fist that he dies. This last finally convinces Jesse that all ``relationships'' are ``sinister, violent, even murderous.'' As if all this weren't laying it on a bit thick, Steinke has Bell commit suicide at the very moment of Kevin's wedding. That's totally in keeping with the reductive psychology everywhere evident in this silly, violent book. So self-consciously seeking ``that exquisite kick of perversity,'' this callow fiction comes off as something along the lines of a much more sincere American Psycho. All the more pathetic. Expect the usual brouhaha: condemnation, then increased sales."

MY LIFE WITH EDGAR CAYCE by David E. Kahn

 Finished Su 3/1/26

Another book written by a contemporary of Cayce's. 

From AI Overview:

"My Life with Edgar Cayce by David E. Kahn (as told to Will Oursler) provides an intimate, firsthand account of life with the famous "Sleeping Prophet," offering personal anecdotes and insights into his character. It is noted for revealing the human side of Cayce beyond his psychic readings.

Focuses on the daily life and personality of Edgar Cayce, complementing more clinical, clinical studies of his work."

THE STORY OF EDGAR CAYCE: THE IS A RIVER by Thomas Sugrue

 Finished Th 2/26/26

I was a big fan of Cayce back when I was in my twenties and some of it still resonates. 

His history of hypnotism includes people who were able tap into other dimensions. The ability to 'learn by sleeping over a book' was something that was noted when hypnotism was discovered. It seems to say that Cayce was one of a number of people who had this gift. 

Written by Thomas Sugrue, a journalist who knew Cayce personally, it is the only biography published during Cayce's lifetime. 

The book covers Cayce's life, from his Kentucky roots to his development as a spiritual messenger and medical clairvoyant who, in a trance state, could diagnose illnesses, suggest remedies, and discuss topics like reincarnation and Atlantis.

If I am ever at Virginia Beach, Virginia I will definitely pay the headquarters a visit. 

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO by Stieg Larsson

 Finished Th 2/19/26

This was a paperback that I noticed on the living room shelf. I own the first and second novel in the series. I remember that I liked to movie. I know that I saw the Noomi Rapace version where she played Lizbeth Salander and I wasn't even aware of the Daniel Craig film. I was shocked to learn that neither film was listed at Reelgood. I was able to stream the Daniel Craig Film on Tubi and I learned this from IMDB. 

A disgraced Swedish publisher is asked by a wealthy industrialist to find out the mystery of his missing niece (Harriet, his brother's daughter). In the summer of 1966 she disappeared at a street festival and was never seen again. Decades later it's revealed that she escaped the island in the trunk of a car. In the movie she relocated to Australia to establish a 'station' (what Australians call a 'ranch').

Reveal: Harriet was being sexually abused by her father and her brother. She also learns that her brother and father were a couple of serial killers of women and had been operating for many, many years. Lizbeth Salander is the tattooed hacker that is able to uncover any secret on the Internet. 

A great read and I'm looking forward to the second book. It's too bad that the original movie from Sweden is no longer available and I was really surprised that the Daniel Craig version was not more popular. 

I finished the book on Thursday and watched the film version on Friday morning. I love living in the modern world!