Death on the Devil's Teeth: The Strange Murder That Shocked Suburban New Jersey

Today’s Nonfiction post is on Death on the Devil's Teeth: The Strange Murder That Shocked Suburban New Jersey by Jesse P. Pollack and Mark Moran. It is 211 pages long and is published by The History Press. The cover has a picture of the murder victim Jeanette DePamla and where she was found. The intended reader is someone who is interested in true crime, weird stories, and weird New Jersey. There is some foul language, no sex, and violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- As Springfield residents decorated for Halloween in September 1972, the crime rate in the quiet, affluent township was at its lowest in years. That mood was shattered when the body of sixteen-year-old Jeannette DePalma was discovered in the local woods, allegedly surrounded by strange objects. Some feared witchcraft was to blame, while others believed a serial killer was on the loose. Rumors of a police coverup ran rampant, and the case went unsolved--along with the murders of several other young women. Now, four decades after Jeannette DePalma's tragic death, authors Jesse P. Pollack and Mark Moran present the definitive account of this shocking cold case.

Review- An interesting story that goes nowhere in the end because of many reasons. The authors write a magazine called Weird New Jersey and they love the weird stories that their state in abundance. So they come to this story with great love and interest in the weird. The story itself is very weird with Jeannette being missing for a few weeks then she is found and has been dead for most of that time and the death is strange. The body was found in an odd place and was surrounded by stones placed around the body in some kind of pattern. But that not the only strange things about the murder, her family was strange, and then more strange things happen, like more murders and no ideas about how they happened. The story ends up feeling very disjointed as we move from strange and creepy murder to another creepy and strange event. The writing is good with a lots of details into the crimes, the families, and the theories but not much on resolution. That maybe because there is not real resolution to the main case, the killer is still unknown and the murder still haunts the community.

I give this book a Three out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library. 

Horimiya, volume 2

Today's post is on Horimiya, volume 2 by HERO and Daisuke Hagiwara. It is 176 pages long and is published by Yen Press. The cover has the two side characters on it. The intended reader is someone who likes romantic comedies. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this manga. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead. 

From the back of the book- The sweet, "aww"- inspiring tale of school life continues!!
By all appearances, Kyouko Hori and Izumi Miyamura are worlds apart. Bright and capable, Hori is always surrounded by classmates, the center of attention. For Miyamura, a quirky loner, getting through class unnoticed counts as a good day. But ever since these two started sharing secrets, they've found themselves drawn into each's other's orbit little by little and the distance between them shrinking bit by bit...

Review- This volume continues the story of people learning about themselves and others around them. We learn a lot about Miyamura in this volume, like he has a temper that he hides very well and he does not think about things like people liking him romantically. That is a major plot point for this volume and is going to let into the next volume at the very least if not the rest of the series. Of the group of friends Hori is really liked by Ishikawa and he believes that Hori really likes Miyamura, which she may or may not that is not the point. The point is that Ishikawa likes her and her does not take him seriously at all. So that what we have in this volume and it play out but not fully and I am curious about how it is going to be handled by the characters.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this manga from a friend.

If You've Got It, Haunt It

Today's post is on If You've Got It, Haunt It by Rose Pressey. It is the first in her Haunted Vintage Mystery. It is 304 pages long and is published by Kensington. The cover is a picture of the shop with the cat Wind Song. The intended reader is someone who likes cozy mysteries. There is no foul language, no sex, and very mild violence in this book. The story is told from first person close of the main character Cookie. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Cookie Chanel has a passion for fashion--and a murder mystery to solve!
Cookie Chanel has opened her own vintage clothing boutique, It's Vintage, Y'All, in the charming town of Sugar Creek, Georgia. Always on the lookout for stylish second-hand steals, she attends the estate sale of deceased socialite Charlotte Meadows. But she gets a lot more than she bargained for when Charlotte's ghost appears before her--offering fashion advice and begging Cookie to find out who murdered her.
As the persistent poltergeist tags along and a possibly psychic pussycat moves into the shop, Cookie sorts through racks of suspects to see who may be hiding some skeletons in the closet. Do a clothing store owner and a disembodied socialite have a ghost of a chance of collaring a killer--or will Cookie's life be the next one hanging by a thread?

Review- A charming start to a cute series. I really liked all the characters we meet in this volume. Cookie is really funny with a cute take on life, Wind Song is really fun and I want to see more of her. The ghost Charlotte has the most character growth, funny sense she's dead but she does and I really enjoyed it. The mystery is not very hard to figure out, I guessed who that killer was within meeting them for the first time but that's not why you read this book. You read because the characters are so much fun to spend time with. Pressey makes the characters the point of this cozy and that is what makes a story good, having the characters be the heart, the driving force of the story not the plot. I had a really fun time with this novel and I look forward to seeing Cookie, Wind Song, and the others again.

I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novel with my own money.

The Wilderness of Ruin: A Tale of Madness, Fire, and the Hunt for America's Youngest Serial Killer

Today’s post is on The Wilderness of Ruin: A Tale of Madness, Fire, and the Hunt for America's Youngest Serial Killer by Roseanne Montillo. It is 308 pages long and is published by William Morrow. The cover is a picture of Boston after the great fire in 1872. The intended reader is who is interested in historical true crime. There is mild foul language, talk of sexuality, and descriptions of violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- In 1871, young children were disappearing from Boston’s working-class neighborhoods. The few who returned told desperate tales of being taken to the woods and tortured by a boy not much older than themselves. The police were skeptical—these children were from poor families, so their testimony was easily discounted. And after the Great Boston Fire of 1872 reduced much of downtown to rubble, the city had more pressing concerns. Finally, when the police apprehended Jesse Pomeroy for the crimes, he, like any twelve-year-old, was sent off to reform school. Little thought was given to the danger he might pose to society, despite victims’ chilling reports of this affectless Boy Torturer.
Sixteen months later, Jesse was released in the care of his mother, and within months a ten-year-old girl and a four-year-old boy went missing, their mutilated bodies later discovered by police. This set off a frantic hunt for Pomeroy, who was now proclaimed America’s youngest serial killer. When he was captured and brought to trial, his case transfixed the nation, and two public figures—Herman Melville and Oliver Wendell Holmes—each probed the depths of Pomeroy’s character in a search for the meaning behind his madness.
Roseanne Montillo takes us inside those harrowing years, as a city reeling from great disaster reckoned with the moral quandaries posed by Pomeroy’s spree.

Review- This is a true crime book with an eye to the history in general. The story of history of Boston, of serial killers, of mental illness, of famous authors, and of true crime. Montillo wanted to give the reader a good overall insight into the world of Pomeroy, she wants us to understand how he would have been seen in his time without all the armchair detectives who have watched way too much Forensic Files, like myself, and know more about the psychology of serial killers than the best detectives in his day. The narrative is told in parts with some chapters about Pomeroy and his family, with chapters about the detectives, the city of Boston and the people who were studying killers and mental illness at that time. Montillo does excellent research and I had no trouble seeing the world that Pomeroy lived in. At times the other details can be overwhelming and loses the focus of the story, which is murder, but then she will bring it back. If you are interested in historical true crime then you should really enjoy this book.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

SP Baby, volume 2

Today's post is on SP Baby, volume 2 by Maki Enjoji. It is the second in her SP Baby doulogy. It is 200 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has our two main characters on it. The intended reader is someone who likes josei manga and humorous love stories. There is no foul language, mild sexuality, and mild violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of Tamaki. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Tamaki, the rookie in the Security Police, is working as a bodyguard for Kagetora Sugou- the prime minster's nephew.
But Kagetora is acting ore lik a a boyfriend than a boss.
Will Tamaki let her guard down and accept his advances?

Review- A cute ending to a sweet, short series. All plot threads are resolved, how Tora first met Tamaki is explained and our couple gets a happily-ever-after. It moves very fast in this volume but worked for the story in my opinion because I did not want to have a lot of back and forth between them. Tora was serious about Tamaki and he did what he needed to get to his girl. Tamaki learned that she is good enough and to let go of the past and embrace her future with Tora and her brother. I would like to have more stories about them in the future but I am happy with the way this manga ended and I hope that we get more Josei series from Shojo Beat in the future.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

Bloodborne #1

Today’s post is on Bloodborne #1 by Ales Kot and illustrated by Piotr Kowalski. It is 29 pages long and is published by Titan. The cover is a beautiful picture of Yharnam with the hunter in the center. The intended reader is someone who is interested in and familiar with the video game. There is foul language, no sex, and lots of violence in this comic. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- From the creators of Dark Souls, a brand new comic series spinning out of Fromsoftware/Hidetaka Miyazaki's critically-acclaimed, best-selling Bloodborne videogame! Nominated for eight Golden Joystick Awards! Awakening in an ancient city plagued by a twisted endemic – where horrific beasts stalk the shadows and the streets run slick with the blood of the damned – a nameless hunter embarks on a dangerous quest in search of Paleblood… Written by Image Comics superstar Ales Kot (Generation Gone), with artwork by Piotr Kowalski (Sex, Dark Souls).

Review- The story is very familiar if you have played the game. A nameless hunter moving through the night of the purge in Yharnam, meets different people, and is killed by a Beast. The hunter wakes up in the Hunter’s Dream and it all starts over again. Until the hunter meets a child with Paleblood. The comic does a very good job of the death, rebirth, fight, then death cycle that is the heart of any Soulsborne game play. I liked the storyline, having someone of paleblood in the story, which in the game you are told to seek the paleblood. The art is very pretty with all the gothic themes and rolling darkness that is the constant in the game. If you are a fan of the game then you need to read this comic. I really enjoyed it and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next volume.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this comic from my local library.

Siege: How General Washington Kicked the British Out of Boston and Launched a Revolution

I was given this book in exchange for an honest review by the publisher.

Today's non-fiction post is on Siege: How General Washington Kicked the British Out of Boston and Launched a Revolution by Roxane Orgill. It is 240 pages long and is published by Candlewick Press. The over is a picture with George Washington on his horse in silhouette. The intended reader is someone who likes stories in verse and want to learn more about how the American Revolution got started. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Step back to British-held Boston and hear the voices of citizens, militiamen, and redcoats at a turning of the tide in the American Revolution, brought to life in Roxane Orgill's deft verse.
It is the summer of 1775. The British occupy Boston and its busy harbor, holding residents captive and keeping a strong military foothold. The threat of smallpox looms, and the town is cut off, even from food supplies. Following the battles of Lexington and Concord, Congress unanimously elects George Washington commander in chief of the American armed forces, and he is sent to Cambridge, Massachusetts, to transform the ragtag collection of volunteer militiamen into America's first army. So far the war is nothing more than a series of intermittent skirmishes, but Washington is in constant fear of attack — until he takes the offensive with results that surprise everyone, the British most of all. Roxane Orgill uses verse to zoom in on the siege of Boston that launched the war to defeat the British, giving voice to privates and generals, their wives and city residents. to tell a story that is usually overlooked in Revolutionary War history. Back matter includes source notes, a glossary, and a bibliography.

Review- Orgill is trying to make history more interesting by telling it in verse. We follow Washington from when he took the role of general all the way to the real beginning of the American Revolution. We follow different characters and the many different problems that they faced from getting cannons to Boston and just feeding the soldiers. The verse types change depending the characters giving them each a unique voice. But it does get old and starts to feel unnatural by the time I finished the book. If you have a good knowledge of the American Revolution you will have an easier time following what is going on but if you are a teen trying to use this book to learn about the American Revolution then you are going to  still have to read a normal history book. This would a be a fun side book to have as you are reading about the American Revolution to add some fun into the history but it will not replace the basic history book itself.

I give this book a Three out of Five stars.

Claymore volume 22: Claws and Fangs of the Abyss

Today's post is on Claymore volume 22: Claws and Fangs of the Abyss by Norihiro Yagi. It is the twentieth-second the long running Claymore series, you need to have read the first twenty-one volumes to understand the story. It is 191 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump Advanced. The cover is an Awakened One on it. The intended reader is someone who likes dark plots, high action, and strong female characters. There is mild foul language, no sexuality, and lots of violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- Rebel Claymores, the Organization that created them, and a host of reanimated top-level warriors clash with savage intensity. The Claymores' demonic impulses are provoked, threatening to destroy their human consciousnesses. Meanwhile, Hysteria, animated by blind vengeance, grows stronger with each attack against her. Is it possible that the rebels will be defeated by their long-dead comrades?

Review- The fights from the previous volume are finished in this one and it ends with a little hinting at what is going where Clare is. Miria comes very close to losing her mind to stop the most powerful of the re-awakened ones but she is stopped and saved by the other Claymores. Really nothing much plot-wise happens in this volume, just fighting, having a ghost of Priscilla appears to scare everyone, then Raki shows up with the younger Claymores. That is the whole volume. I want to get back to Clare and whatever is going on with her and Priscilla. I like seeing the other Claymores be cool but I'm here for Clare and her story. I still think that Raki does nothing for the story and I do not even like him as a plot device. But the fight scenes were good. I hope that we get back to Clare and her story.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.

There's Someone Inside Your House

Today's post is on There's Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins. It is 289 pages long and is published by Dutton Books. The cover is dark with bright pink lighting the title and author. The intended reader is young adult and  likes teen slasher movies. The story is told from third person close of different characters as story goes. There is foul language, mild sexuality, and violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the dust jacket- Love hurts...
Makani Young thought she'd left her dark past behind her in Hawaii, settling in with her grandmother in landlocked Nebraska. She's found new friends and has even started to fall for mysterious outsider Ollie Larsson. But her past isn't far behind.
Then, one by one, the students of Osborne Hugh begin to die in a series of gruesome murders, each with increasingly grotesque flair. As the terror grows closer and her feelings for Ollie intensify, Makani is forced to confront her own dark secrets.

Review- I loved the teen slasher movies of the 1990's and this book is tribute to them. It is modern with internet, googling others, and other facets of modern teenage life. Makani is running from the shame of a teen prank gone bad and Ollie is trying to find a more normal life without his parents. Add into this teenage angst a killer who knows how to break and enter homes without being noticed and you have a fun slasher book. The writing is good with just the right amount of real added into the terror of being hunted by an unknown person for reasons unknown. The killer's reason is very novel and I think that it added to his character's drive. It is a good introduction into the slasher genre or if you love the genre already then you will enjoy this book.

I give this book a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I borrowed this book from my local library.

Selfie Made: Your Ultimate Guide to Social Media Stardom

I was given this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Today’s post is on Selfie Made: Your Ultimate Guide to Social Media Stardom by Meridith Valiando Rojas. It is 272 pages long and is published by Wednesday News. The cover is yellow with a cell phone in the center. The intended reader is young adult and interested in being the next big internet star. There is no foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- With just an idea and wi-fi, Meridith Valiando Rojas started her wildly successful company, DigiTour. Now she is sharing her stories, tip and tricks, and more in Selfie Made: Your Ultimate Guide to Social Media Stardom.
Whether you want to be a social star or online entrepreneur, Meridith has you covered! As one of the first companies in the social media ecosystem Meridith and her company DigiTour Media have worked with over 500 social stars from nearly every platform, seeing firsthand how people go viral, grow an audience, and leverage the popularity of the internet to build their brand in front of, or behind the camera. Sharing her personal and zany stories while providing real-world (never shared) advice, Meridith gives a peek behind the curtain of DigiTour and what it's been like working with every major star from YouTube to Musical.ly. With some of her biggest social friends weighing in with advice, Q&A's, sample schedules, and their secret tips and tricks—if you want to launch your online career, this book is for you!

Review- This is a book with some good tips on internet stardom but that about it. Rojas talks about her life, how she made her business, and some ideas about what you can do to make yourself internet famous. But if you looking for anything more than that, then this book is not for you. The real focus of this book is musically based and how to make it in this new music world. If that is what you are interested in, then Rojas has some great advice for you but if you want to something else, like because the next big book reviewer, she does not have anything for you really. But it was still an interesting and easy read with interviews of interesting people, so you do not lose anything by giving this a look.

I give this a Three out of Five stars. 

Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Volume 9: Lover

Today's post is on Fushigi Yugi: The Mysterious Play, Volume 9: Lover by Yuu Watase. It is 187 pages long and is published by Shojo Beat. The cover has the two main characters on it facing looking in the distance with excitement towards something that the reader cannot see. The intended reader is someone who likes historical fantasy, high fantasy, romance, and shojo stories. There is mild foul language, mild sexuality, and violence in this story. The story is told from third person close of the main characters. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A much-loved member of the Celestial Warriors of Suzaku has given his life for the sake of a treasure left behind by the god of the North. The Shentso-Pao is one of the keys to summoning the god Suzaku and having Miaka's most cherished wishes granted. Even if she passes the trials and obtains the treasure, can she hold onto it with the murderous Warriors of Seiryu close on her heels?

Review- We start this volume with Nuriko's funeral and everyone is dealing with her death. The Seiryu general, who is the real villain of this series, is just waiting for Maika and company to finish getting the Shentso-Pao so he can steal it from them. Warriors from both sides are starting to drop like flies with two deaths on Seiryu's side and one on Suzaku. But the plot gets bigger from there as the General makes Miaka think that he raped her. I don't think he did, not because he wouldn't but I think that Tamahome got to Miaka in time but she believes it and that's what matters. But now we know for sure that Yui was never raped and one of her warriors in love with her.  I even like that warrior but I do not believe that it is going to end well for them. Decent volume with both plot and character development and I can't wait to see where we are going next.

I give this volume a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money. 

To Kill a Mockingbird

I was given a copy of this graphic novel by Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.

Today's post is on To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee as adapted and Illustrated by Fred Fordham. It is 288 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover is a picture of Scout from behind looking at her father and Tom Robinson. The intended reader is someone who likes graphic novels, classic novels, and time tested stories. There is very foul language, talk of rape, and violence in this novel. The story is told from third person close of Scout, the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A beautifully crafted graphic novel adaptation of Harper Lee’s beloved, Pulitzer prize–winning American classic.
"Shoot all the bluejays you want, if you can hit ‘em, but remember it’s a sin to kill a mockingbird."
A haunting portrait of race and class, innocence and injustice, hypocrisy and heroism, tradition and transformation in the Deep South of the 1930s, Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird remains as important today as it was upon its initial publication in 1960, during the turbulent years of the Civil Rights movement.
Now, this most beloved and acclaimed novel is reborn for a new age as a gorgeous graphic novel. Scout, Gem, Boo Radley, Atticus Finch, and the small town of Maycomb, Alabama, are all captured in vivid and moving illustrations by artist Fred Fordham.

Review- A wonderful adaptation of a classic that adds to the story. Fordham takes a very hard story and gives it new life for a new, younger audience in this graphic novel adaptation. He does not change any of the language, so we read the very hard, very cruel words of 1930's Alabama. He does not change the tragic outcome, with his illustrations he makes the cruelty even more clear with the characters faces and the shock of the ending not lost in translation. By sticking so close to the original story Fordham really brings this tragic tale into the modern reader's hands. The art style is good without being too intricate and that would not have worked with this story and the characters in it. This is a great way to get reluctant readers to try this story and experience it for themselves.

I give this book a Five out of Five stars.

Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game

I was given a copy of this book by Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.

Today's post is on Power Ball: Anatomy of a Modern Baseball Game by Rob Never. It is 304 pages long and is published by Harper Collins. The cover is white with a baseball field on the bottom and a stat sheet as the 'O' in the title on top. There is mild foul language, no sex, and no violence in this book. The intended reader is someone who is interested in baseball both historically and modern. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- The former ESPN columnist and analytics pioneer dramatically recreates an action-packed 2017 game between the Oakland A’s and eventual World Series Champion Houston Astros to reveal the myriad ways in which Major League Baseball has changed over the last few decades.
On September 8, 2017, the Oakland A’s faced off against the Houston Astros in a game that would signal the passing of the Moneyball mantle. Though this was only one regular season game, the match-up of these two teams demonstrated how Major League Baseball has changed since the early days of Athletics general manager Billy Beane and the publication of Michael Lewis’ classic book.
Over the past twenty years, power and analytics have taken over the game, driving carefully calibrated teams like the Astros to victory. Seemingly every pitcher now throws mid-90s heat and studiously compares their mechanics against the ideal. Every batter in the lineup can crack homers and knows their launch angles. Teams are relying on unorthodox strategies, including using power-losing—purposely tanking a few seasons to get the best players in the draft.
As he chronicles each inning and the unfolding drama as these two teams continually trade the lead—culminating in a 9-8 Oakland victory in the bottom of the ninth—Neyer considers the players and managers, the front office machinations, the role of sabermetrics, and the current thinking about what it takes to build a great team, to answer the most pressing questions fans have about the sport today.

Review- If I had more understanding of Baseball in general I think I would have gotten more out of this book but that said I still learned a lot about the game and how it is played in our modern time. Never wants to examine baseball in the now but because baseball has a very long history he has to engage with the history of baseball and how we got to the now. The beginning of the book is very stat heavy but as the narrative of this one game continues that gets less and for me that made the story easier to engage with. We get to know the players, their backgrounds, the teams, how runs them, how trading has lead to this game, and over details that add up to the game being played. I really enjoyed learning about the players, the history of the teams, and those details but the stats and the numbers behind the game just flew over my head, I do not blame Never for that but my own lack of knowledge about the game and these stats. If you are a Baseball fan then you should give this book a look but if you want to learn more about Baseball without having a background in Baseball then I would try something else.

I give this a Three out of Five stars.

Claymore volume 21: Remains of the Dead Claws

Today's post is on Claymore volume 21: Remains of the Dead Claws by Norihiro Yagi. It is the twentieth-first the long running Claymore series, you need to have read the first twenty volumes to understand the story. It is 191 pages long and is published by Shonen Jump Advanced. The cover is a close-up of Miria. The intended reader is someone who likes dark plots, high action, and strong female characters. There is mild foul language, no sexuality, and lots of violence in this book. The story is told from third person close of the main character. There Be Spoilers Ahead.

From the back of the book- A battle begins between rebel Claymore warriors and the Organization that created them. When the team of seven notorious rebel fighters is joined by an army of newly minted soldiers loyal to rebel leader Miria, it seems their victory is a foregone conclusion. Then the Organization releases its newest secret weapon: reanimated high-level warriors from past generations of Claymores.

Review- This whole volume is about the fight between the Claymores and the Organization. We see lots of fighting with little character development until we get some new characters but that is fine. The new characters are the things that the Organization has been working on, old powerful Claymores that they have resurrected to fight for them. We get to see a lot of about them from their lives before and what happened to them when they turned but before they could awaken. Raki is protecting the young Claymores from the normal soldiers of the Organizations but other than seeing him we get no new plot. And we see nothing of Claire in this volume. I liked seeing more of what the Organization is doing and what they are planning but there is still so much more to see. The volume ends with one of the resurrected Claymores remembering why she died and it looks like she is going to finish awakening.

I give this volume a Five out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this manga with my own money.