RAW DEAL—Less Standiford—Deal and Driscoll, with Driscoll in the lead, attempt to understand what casued Deal's fourplex to burn, and how it might be related to other horrible crimes and bombings affecting Cuban Americans....and, especially, those wishing to return to Cuba. Sandiford is to South Florida mystery lovers what Donald Harstead is to Iowa mystery lovers.

A FIELD GUIDE TO GOOD DECISIONS:Values in Action—Mark D. Bennett and Joan McIver Gibson. I'd' not planned to make a post on this book, but found it highly credible and one which could be of benefit to almost anyone, especially those who are 'administrators' or serve on boards of groups. The title is very explicit. The authors lay out a 'roadway' for making decisions which are good and will stand the test of time, as well as an explanation of the kinds of decisions which would require such careful methodology. Further the 'field guide' discusses various obstacles to making good decisions, suggesting steps to be taken to recognize and work through them. Especially in the first part of the book, the authors frequently challenge the reader to think (not just read) by posing questions to the reader. Initially, I was frustrated by those questions, but realized they were helpful in understanding the textual material as well as giving an opportunity to 'practice' using the format presented. In my eyes, this is a good resource for anyone who makes decisions, or belongs to groups who do. It provides an and framework for making and communicating transparent decisions which is useful for learning, reviewing and even validation.

DIGITAL FORTRESS—Dan Brown—A thriller of a book with enough clues you just know what's going to happen; but wait a minute, another sentence, phrase, and, well, maybe not. Cryptographer Susan Fletcher is called to help when the NSA's 'invincible code-breaking (and super-spy eavesdropping) machine encounters a code it cannot break'. Her fiance, a language professor, simultaneously and mysteriously is dispatched to Spain to secure the 'key' to the mysterious code where he becomes involved with an almost impossible task of tracing its whereabouts. Overriding conflict of what are the important overweighting elements of Patriotism. OK, I'm late reading this, but it keeps being republished...it's not too late, the questions of governmental eavesdropping are still in the news.

KNIGHTS OF THE CROSS: A Novel of the Crusades—Tom Harper—Mixing history and fiction, Harper portrays a 'crisis point' of the first Crusade as the Christian forces attempt to lay siege to Antioch, virtually failing in the attempt; the onslaught of the Turks, and the power struggles not only spiritually, but also politically. The storyteller, Demetrious, a Greek, portrays life in the Crusaders' camp during the siege; thorough his words he portrays the hunger, thirst, cold and searing heat expereinced by all, as Demetrious attempts to solve the mystery of a growing number of deaths and the spiritualism surrounding them.