A German Requiem by Philip Kerr


Wow! An amazing, convoluted story that is loosely based on actual events. Makes you shudder to think of what the world was like then and what it has become today. With the shadow of the war still lingering, Bernie fights on for justice, at least what he thinks is justice, in a world that is filled with deception. The final few paragraphs of the book really describe the whole story but... no spoilers here.

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Jack of Spies by David Downing
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The weave of history and a spy story is wonderful. The plot may have been a bit weak, or some might say what plot? All in all I'd like more Jack McColl. I think he has set us up for some great novels. I just love David Downing.

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The Pale Criminal by Philip Kerr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The story is a bit far fetched but I love Bernie and his whole attitude. Kerr does a masterful job of weaving history and his clever story.
This story is easy to read and at times a real page turner.

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March Violets by Philip Kerr
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this character. He is irreverent and witty, yet thoughtful. Gives me some views of pre-war Germany that I've never been privy to. I'm looking forward to the whole series.

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Truman's Spy: A Cold War Spy Story by Noel Hynd
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting characters and a clever plot. Just enough real characters to make the time period come alive. I liked it a lot. Will there be more?

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Then We Take Berlin by John Lawton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Great plot twists and I love the way it all came together. Great view of post-war Germany. I could feel the tension in the city.

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Scandalous Behavior by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is pure Stuart Woods. Clever, cool and sophisticated. Just what I expected. Enjoyed every word. Some of the far fetched schemes almost seemed real. Some describe this as fantasy, I call it a delicious respite from my real world.

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The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a wonderful story told beautifully. I enjoyed every word. The characters came alive vividly as I read. A remarkable tale.

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Palace of Treason by Jason Matthews

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is an amazing book. It is the perfect sequel and Matthews has set us up for his next book. I just wish he'd write faster. The characters come alive and the action sequences keep you reading. Hard to put down once it gets going. Such a great read.

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Books Read - 2015

It was a good year for reading, many of my favorite authors published books and I discovered some new friends thanks to GoodReads suggestions. I'm pretty sure no one reads my blog but if you are interested in my favorite books, they are in green.

1. The Ares Decision - Robert Ludlum
2. The Janus Reprisal - Robert Ludlum
3. Without You, There is no Us - Suki Kimm
4. My Promised Land:The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel - Ari Shavit
5. Ghost Ship - Clive Cussler
6. The Thief - Clive Cussler
7. A Disruptive Invention - Peter Shackle
8. Insatiable Appetites - Stuart Woods
9. Jacob's Oath - Martin Fletcher
10. The Girl on The Train - Paula Hawkins
11. White Jade - Alex Lukeman
12. The Good Girl - Mary Kubica
13. The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah
14. Twelve Days - Alex Berenson
15. Leaving Berlin - Joseph Kanon
16. Red Moth - Sam Eastland
17. Bridge of Sighs - Olen     Steinhauer
18. The Farm - Tom Rob Smith
19. Child 44 - Tom Rob Smith
20. The Breach - Patrick Lee
21. Hot Pursuit - Stuart Woods
22. The Atlantis Gene (The Origin Mystery, #1) - A.G. Riddle
23. Red Tide - Larry Niven
24. Gathering Prey - John Sandford
25. The Last Flight of Poxl West - Daniel Torday
26. To Rise Again at a Decent Hour - Joshua Ferris
27. All the Light We Cannot See - Anthony Doerr
28. The Beast in the Red Forest - Sam Eastland
29. Red Icon - Sam Eastland
30. Havana Storm - Clive Cussler
31. Radiant Angel - Nelson DeMille
32. The Secret Speech - Tom Rob Smith
33. The Fourth Man - Kjel Ola Dahl
34. The English Spy - Daniel Silva
35. Naked Greed - Stuart Woods
36. Uncaged - John Sandford
37. Outrage - John Sandford
38. Pretty Baby -Mary Kubica
39. The Family Tree - Sheri S. Tepper
40. Make Me - Lee Child
41. The Ways of the World - Robert Goddard
42. The Corners of the Globe - Robert Goddard
43. The Ends of the Earth - Robert Goddard
44. Foreign Affairs - Stuart Woods
45. Lights Out:A Cyber Attack, a Nation Unprepared - Ted Kopple
46. Zoo Station (John Russell #1) - David Downing
47. Silesian Station (John Russell #2) - David Downing
48. Stettin Station (John Russell #3) - David Downing
49. Potsdam Station (John Russell #3) - David Downing
50. Lehrter Station (John Russell, #5) - David Downing
51. Masaryk Station (John Russell #6) - David Downing
52. The Einstein Prophecy - Robert Masello

A Custom Made Guitar

I've always wanted a guitar with my name at the top. I've also been partial to guitars that are spruce top and rosewood sides and back. Ebony is my favorite fingerboard material because its dark and has a very solid feel when you play. I

The headstock design I supplied
knew that it would be very expensive to have this kind of guitar made but... There are several Chinese guitar makers will make you one, to your specifications for very little money. I took a chance and ordered one from a Chinese guitar maker. I used Ali-express to place the order because they guarantee delivery or your money back. They escrow the money until you receive the guitar. Only when you agree that it has been delivered to your satisfaction do they release the money to the seller. 

Mid August I designed a head stock and asked the owner, Kevin Shi, if he could do

The actual headstock on my guitar

i

The design I sent Kevin Shi

t. He said yes and I proceeded to order the guitar. On October 3rd it arrived in a big styrofoam box covered in packing tape and with stickers in Chinese and English attesting to its tour of American customs. Opening the box was simple enough and out came a beautiful guitar. Shiny and well finished with my name on the top. No labels, numbers or anything else on the guitar. Abalone rosette around the soundhole, beautiful fingerboard markings and even a pretty scallop at the bottom of the ebony fingerboard. The machine heads are gold Grovers and the neck is nice and slim with nice grain and figuring. It is straight and true with perfect intonation. The neck has a visible scarf joint but that is common on Chinese guitars. The frets needed a little dressing and the guitar needed a strap button but other than that is ready to play. I love it.

This is the Guitar. I had to put new strings on it and add a strap button but all in all its pretty nice!

The obvious question is how does it sound? Pretty much like a new, inexpensive guitar. As good as most, not spectacular. I believe it needs about twenty years of age to be really great. I'll not be quite 90 by then. (I plan to be here!) All in all this was a fun experience. Finally a guitar I actually can't sell, who would want a guitar with my name on the head stock? Oops, I guess my son might have an interest in this guitar.

Is it a Les Paul?

This guitar is called an ES=Les Paul. That usually would stand for electric spanish but in this case it refers to a a guitar that is semi-hollow. The guitar weighs about two and a half pounds less than a solid Les Paul. That is because the solid part is a block that runs down the middle of the guitar. Both the top and bottom sections are actually hollow. Hence the name semi-hollow.

Les Paul's have a great sound but are often too heavy for me. In 2014 Gibson released a semi-hollow Les Paul made in its Memphis USA plant. In 2015 they upgraded some of the features and I could not resist.

This guitar is in the lemon burst finish but the darkness at the edges is very muted. Its almost a lemon colored guitar. The finish is beautiful even down to the soft F hole design in the truss rod cover. The guitar is fully bound and has a very smooth and thin neck with low wide frets. Its fun to play and even has a bit of "woody-ness" that would be expected from a semi-hollow body guitar.