Summer mysteries great for the beach

ACADIANA

By CARL A. BRASSEAUX & Photographs by PHILIP GOULD

LSU Press, $45

In a splendid collaboration, Brasseaux and Gould bring life to the history and beauty of this 22-parish area.

From Avoyelles to Calcasieu to Terrebonne, every parish is described in great detail. The 200 color photographs by Gould of parish landmarks will surprise and delight even folks who see them every day. Brasseaux’s knowledge of this area is revealed in his eloquent description of this storied territory.

It’s the perfect book for natives and newcomers as well.

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK

By JAMES PATTERSON & MICHAEL LEDWIDGE

Little, Brown, $27.99

Someone is killing New Yorkers in a reign of terror, causing Detective Michael Bennett to interrupt his beach vacation with the 10 kids he, and his now deceased wife, adopted. Not to mention the young au pair he’s grown overly fond of.

To complicate matters further, his old flame, Emily, a former colleague now an FBI agent, arrives to assist him. What a dilemma, (and what is this book about, romance?)

Back to the murders, the terrorist appears to be copying crimes committed by the Son of Sam and other notorious serial killers. In his trademark short chapters, Patterson keeps the suspense going to the final page.

LONG GONE

By ALAFAIR BURKE

HarperCollins, $24.99

Amy, an out of work career girl, meets a stranger who offers her a job managing a new art gallery, which she quickly accepts. Only she’s not allowed to know the owner and must give first preference to works by an unknown artist with bizarre tastes.

Her first showing is a success and next day, full of enthusiasm, Amy shows up for work and finds the gallery stripped of everything except… the dead body of her benefactor, who’s been shot. Of course, she’s the prime suspect and goes into hiding. Further complicating the plot, there’s the disappearance of a high school student who, for a long time, seems to have no relation to Amy’s plight.

This would’ve made a great Alfred Hitchcock film.

NEW ORLEANS

A Knopf MapGuide

By NATALIE JORDI

Knopf, $10.95

This excellent pocket-sized book does more than help you find your way; it suggests “must see” sights in the city. And, although I’ve visited

New Orleans more times than I can count and even lived there a short time, I found this map superior to any other I can carry around with me.

Knopf has produced the maps in six sections, from the French Quarter to Treme, with information, directions and useful addresses; transportation; restaurants and hotels.

Knopf publishes editions for most major American cities as well as worldwide. Don’t, as they say, leave home without this one.

YAT WIT

By YVONNE SPEAR PERRET

Pelican Publishing, $12.95

If you’re visiting New Orleans, this book will come in handy for understanding the patois of many of its’ citizens.

“Yat” generally refers to a New Orleanian who might be heard asking, “Where y’at?” meaning “Hi. How are you?”

Now, if you’ve mastered that much, you’re ready for ladders on the neutral ground at Mardi Gras; breakfast at Mother’s; raw ersters (oysters) at Felix’s, across the street from Acme (just as good and even better without the line).

N’walins is a great place to visit, and even a wonderful place to live, but you’ve got to know “where y’at”?

HODA

By HODA KOTB with JANE LORENZINI

Simon & Schuster, $25

Kotb made first her appearance in South Louisiana on WWL-TV, where she rose to be a top anchor before leaving for New York and the Today show. Not bad for a little Egyptian girl with the unpronounceable name, (Kot’ bee).

Viewers quickly learned it, and tuned in regularly to see and hear her. Her most ambitious undertaking was covering Katrina, and her toughest was divorce and cancer in the same year.

She survived all and shares details in this enjoyable memoir.

NO BALONEY

ON MY BOAT

By MARCELLE BIENVENU

Acadian House, $17.95

If you’re planning to cook outside this summer, get hold of Marcelle’s

144-page book of recipes especially designed for dining outdoors. Just because you’re in your backyard, fishing boat or in the park, there’s no reason to slap baloney on white bread and call that lunch. Do it right with this lay-flat, spiral, hard-bound book, perfect for heavy use, which it certainly will be.

Makes a great gift, too, for Father’s Day.