Good Girl, Bad Girl by Michael Robotham

 Michael Robotham is one of the greatest contemporary writers and I never fail to read his books anticipating the US release. Mr Robotham writes about fully fleshed out characters that you love. Good Girl, Bad Girl introduces us to a new featured character who just happens to be a a former student of my favorite Robotham character Joe O'Loughlin.

Cyrus Haven, a forensic psychologist is called in to evaluate a teen girls ability to go free as an adult. Evie Cormac  the teen's new name given to her since she won't tell her age or name is unknown and isn't in the DNA files. Evie, a fascinating character is not trusting of people since she is a human lie detector and knows when people are lying. Cyrus like Joe O'Loughlin is trying to heal the wounds and discover the truth about Evie which immersing himself in a murder to see justice done for the victim.

While visiting New Zealand two years ago, I bought my first Michael Robotham book Life or Death based on the recommendation of the book seller in the store I was in. I was blown way by this Australia writer's book and upon returning to the states bought and read all his other novels. You must also read his psychiatrist Joe O'Loughlin and Inspector Ruiz books. You can thank me later

 No one writes a better "pulls you in and rachets up the suspense" novel than Mr. Robotham. 

 A Private Cathedral by James Lee Burke

Let me first start by saying that I was allowed to read the NetGalley of A Private Cathedral in exchange for my honest review. Mr Burke in my opinion is the greatest living American writer and his latest offering brings back two of the greatest characters in fiction, Dave Robicheaux and Clete Purcel. Set again in Cajun country these larger than life characters are battling an evil adversary who just happens to be a time-traveling assassin. Having had stores near these locales, I can tell you all the quirky characters, violence and superstitions are not stretching the truth too much. As always Mr Burke draws you into his characters and involves the reader so much you live the excitement and hate for the book to end. It is always something to celebrate when a new James Lee Burke book is released and this one is no exception. Whether it's Robicheaux and Clete or the Holland family, you're in for a lot of pure entertainment for such a small price. Buy this book today.

 Butch Cassidy by Charles Leerhsen - The True Story Of An American Outlaw

I think Mr Leerhsen and I share some of the same great interests. First, The True Story of An American Outlaw is a great read, a biography that reads almost like fiction. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid has of course been romanticized in part due to the great movie with Paul Newman as Butch Cassidy. But these legends of the American West, like those of sports heroes, gangsters and other people of notoriety the truth is often something different.

Mr Leerhsen has researched and written a great book  again showing that the facts paint Mr. Cassidy much like any of us. Sometimes the press was greater than the actual events and other times was much worse. I hated to finish this but relished in his exploits, loves, crimes and generosity. As a man who grew up in the 1960's, I love all things American West and this did not disappoint. I highly recommend that you buy this book. I was allowed to read the NetGalley version in exchange for my honest review and I am happy to recommend this to you along with Mr. Leerhsen's book Ty Cobb. Having seen and been around Mr Cobb as a kid, I was glad someone finally set the record straight. Mr Cobb has gotten a bad rap since a hungry, greedy writer disparaged him to sell books. I have known many people who knew Ty Cobb well (his sister was my mother's grade school teacher and he came and played ball with the students when he was in Royston). No one who knew him could say the things about him that the movie and other book said. Mr Leershen set the record somewhat straight.

If you like biographies, I highly recommend both of Mr Leerhsen's books, Ty Cobb and Butch Cassidy. Who is the next personality he will write about? I can hardly wait.