From Normandy to River Road plantations From Murders to Learning God’s Language

MASTERS AND COMMANDERS

By ANDREW ROBERTS Harper, $35

This month marks the 66th anniversary of D-Day, June 6, 1944, the beginning of the end of WWII in Germany.

While most are familiar with Gen. Dwight Eisenhower’s launch of the Normandy invasion, few are aware of the “often explosive disagreements” between Roosevelt, Churchill and Gens. Marshall and Sir Alan Brooke, frequently waged in meetings, on how to win the war, “each man convinced his plan was best but having to convince two of the others to get his way.”

This is a fascinating and revealing look behind the scenes at the strategies considered and ultimately implemented, which led to the defeat of the Nazis.

THE 9th JUDGMENT

By JAMES PATTERSON and MAXINE PAETRO Little, Brown, $27.99

After a cat burglar just barely escapes with a bag of jewels from the safe of popular movie star, Marcus Dowling, he seizes the opportunity to shoot and kill his wife blaming the murder on the thief. Meanwhile, a young mother and her child, returning to their car in a Mall garage, are both ruthlessly shot and killed, the killer leaving a cryptic message on the car’s windshield.

Det. Lindsey Boxer and her three cohorts in the Women’s Murder Club, are as baffled as the San Francisco police when similar killings follow. When the killer is finally identified, he demands two million dollars to stop the killings and insists on Lindsey personally delivering the money in an extraordinary and, for her, humiliating scene.

As usual, Patterson’s pace is rapid and pages turn quickly.

THE MANY DEATHS OF THE FIREFLY BROTHERS

By THOMAS MULLEN Random House, $26

Unlike famous Depression Era bank robbers, Bonnie & Clyde and Dillinger among others who, when surrounded and shot to death, stayed dead, Jason and Whit Fireson (aka, Firefly Brothers) somehow revive despite their bodies riddled with bullet holes.

As the story opens, the boys awake to find themselves naked on coroner’s tables in the morgue. While police and politicians exult in having captured and killed them, the brothers quietly steal clothes and a car, and escape to resume their bank-robbing career.

Despite rumors by eyewitnesses and newspapers claiming to have seen the brothers, red-faced officials maintain the bodies had been stolen. Even J Edgar Hoover, czar of a new national police force, demands such reports be stifled and when the brothers are caught, they’re to be killed in public view.

Filled with police chases, hostage taking (one beautiful hostage falls for Jason), kidnapping and a stark, heart-breaking portrayal of the homeless poor out of work and out of luck, some serendipitous humor emerges. Characters are sharply drawn and the plot never slackens.

THE LANGUAGE GOD TALKS

By HERMAN WOULK Harper, $35

This small book is not all about God and not all about science, but more about Wouk and his admiration of Nobel Laureate scientist Richard Feynman, who solved the mystery of the Challenger disaster.

Wouk recalls his life from his early days as a radio gagman to his years in the wartime navy but especially, his friendship with Feynman, whom he met while researching materials for his epics, “The Winds of War” and “War and Remembrance,” and who told him that if he wanted to talk to God, he had to learn calculus.

Wouk tried and failed; yet as he began to appreciate the God/science connection he found his faith strengthened. He and Feynman, both Jews, were poles apart regarding religion, illustrated by Wouk in a fascinating “parable” of a friendly debate.

This is an easy to read, but challenge to grasp, memoir which makes it more worthy of reading again. Wouk who is 95 is at work on a new novel.

RIVER ROAD PLANTATION COUNTRY COOKBOOK

By ANNE BUTLER Pelican, $25

Anne Butler adds to her wonderful collection of Louisiana guides to famous plantation homes featuring tempting recipes, illustrations and histories. In this volume she invites you to visit plantation homes along the River Road, including Hermitage, Houmas House, San Francisco, Ormond House and many others.

All feature recipes associated with each house and vivid Henry Cancienne photographs. Her description of the people, events and politics relating to each house is not only instructive but enjoyable as well.