Book Tour - Review & Giveaway: House of Ghosts by Lawrence Kaplan

House of Ghosts by Lawrence Kaplan

Published by Westfield Press

Rating: 4 stars

Book synopsis:

Imagine that Raymond Chandler wrote The Winds of War and you can begin to understand why House of Ghosts is such different and compelling detective story. Detective Joe Henderson is the modern incarnation of Philip Marlowe--hard boiled, hard drinking, hard loving, delightfully cynical, offering wry observations of life in the age of Starbucks.

The tale begins in the sweltering summer of 2000 when Preston Swedge, an alcoholic recluse and World War II veteran, has died in Westfield, New Jersey. At his estate sale, retired local police detective Joe Henderson discovers a 1944 diary describing a rogue attempt by a Jewish-American pilot named Paul Rothstein to drop his bombs on Auschwitz's killing complex where nearly 300,000 captives were about to be murdered.

With the fortitude of a Maccabean zealot and the patriotism of an American freedom fighter Rothstein had set out to defy his commanders who had prohibited any attempt to save Jewish lives. Joe Henderson's curiosity launches him on a crusade for the truth and a shocking revelation when he tracks down the last living witness who can solve the mystery of why the raid never happened.

Epic in its breadth, House of Ghosts sweeps effortlessly from contemporary Westfield, New Jersey to the Princeton University of 1939, and on to the aerial battle above Italy and Poland in 1944. Along the way you'll meet up with notables such as Charles Lindbergh, Treasury Secretary Henry Morgenthau, Jr., General Fulgencio Batista, and Alina Gilbert, the exotic dancer who helps to make this the hottest summer on record.

My review:

As I began reading House of Ghosts, I wasn't sure if it would be my cup of tea since it starts off like a traditional mystery book and I usually like mysteries that have a unique slant to them. However, as I continued reading further, I realized how intricate the storyline is and found myself fascinated with the descriptions of the war and how it affected each character in different ways.

The book is a compelling novel that combines elements of mystery with historical fiction. The inclusion of the historicals aspects adds depth and authenticity to the story and allowed me to become increasingly invested in the story. The shift in narrative from the different characters from the past, as well as the present allow for a wide range of perspectives and interesting sub-plots.

My one small issue was that one of the characters included in the book is an exotic dancer and while that may have been incorporated to spice up the book, for me that sexual content was unnecessary and detracted from the story. Nonetheless I really enjoyed my reading of the book and was intrigued by all that transpires. Not only does the book have an interesting storyline, it is also well-written and features great characters that I got to know very well.

Despite some extraneous material included throughout the novel, House of Ghosts makes for a very interesting and appealing mystery book that expertly combines historical fiction into its plot.


Author bio:

Lawrence Kaplan is a 1979 graduate of New York University School of Dentistry, runs a dental practice in New Jersey, and lives in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with his wife and menagerie. House of Ghosts is his first novel. For more information, visit his website.

Now for the giveaway details .......

Larry Kaplan is giving away a signed copy of his book, House of Ghosts, to one lucky tour visitor. Go to Larry’s book tour page, http://larry-kaplan.omnimystery.com/, enter your name, e-mail address, and this PIN, 7975, for your chance to win. Entries from Bookopolis will be accepted until 12:00 Noon (PT) tomorrow. No purchase is required to enter or to win. The winner (first name only) will be announced on Larry’s book tour page next week.

Be sure to visit Larry's book tour page for more reviews, author interviews and guest posts!


BIG THANKS to Lance of Omnimystery for arranging this great tour.

Virtual Media Tour: "SOFT SPOTS: A Marine's Memoir of Combat and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder"‏ by USMC Sgt. Clint Van Winkle

"SOFT SPOTS: A Marine's Memoir of Combat and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder"‏ by USMC Sgt. Clint Van Winkle

Published by St. Martin's Press

Publisher's book description:

"A powerful, haunting, provocative memoir of a Marine in Iraq—and his struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in a system trying to hide the damage done

Marine Sergeant Clint Van Winkle flew to war on Valentine’s Day 2003. His battalion was among the first wave of troops that crossed into Iraq, and his first combat experience was the battle of Nasiriyah, followed by patrols throughout the country, house to house searches, and operations in the dangerous Baghdad slums.

But after two tours of duty, certain images would not leave his memory—a fragmented mental movie of shooting a little girl; of scavenging parts from a destroyed, blood-spattered tank; of obliterating several Iraqi men hidden behind an ancient wall; and of mistakenly stepping on a “soft spot,” the remains of a Marine killed in combat. After his return home, Van Winkle sought help at a Veterans Administration facility, and so began a maddening journey through an indifferent system that promises to care for veterans, but in fact abandons many of them.

From riveting scenes of combat violence, to the gallows humor of soldiers fighting a war that seems to make no sense, to moments of tenderness in a civilian life ravaged by flashbacks, rage, and doubt, Soft Spots reveals the mind of a soldier like no other recent memoir of the war that has consumed America."

My opinion:

"Soft Spots" is a really unique memoir because of how swiftly the present narrative shifted back to the past, as Sgt. Clint Van Winkle experienced it. It took some time to get used to the rapid changes of setting and characters, but once I did, I think it made the reading experience more interesting. These shifts also offer readers a glimpse into Sgt. Clint Van Winkle's mind and the repercussions of a life with post-traumatic stress disorder. There is also a blur between fact and fiction, because as Sgt. Clint Van Winkle explains, "truth lives where that piece of my soul once did and visits me briefly in sleep - only to disappear with waking".

This isn't a heart-warming book with a happy ending. It's not supposed to be. This book contains an important glimpse into the reality of one man's journey, and yet speaks volumes about the biggers issues of war and PTSD, as well as their ramifications. Yes, some parts were hard to read, but such is the reality and is something we need to confront and address.

This book serves as a reminder of the power of war and its potential for damage to more than just the physical being. It is clear that only those who have lived through it can understand its effects. I think it was really brave of Sgt. Clint Van Winkle to expose his memories, pain and raw emotions on paper for the world to take notice. He has undergone different forms of therapy, but it is acknowledged that a piece of himself will always remain in Iraq.

For more on "Soft Spots", be sure to check out The Washington Post - "Soft Spots" review

BIG THANKS to St. Martin's Press and Katherine for my review copy and for organizing this wonderful tour.