A Higher Loyalty by James Comey

Now that Comey is no longer with the FBI he is free to tell the truth as he perceived it. What happened that Trump decided to fire him? How much truth is there in the last election? What was it like working under Obama?

Why did he decide to get into politics?

Back in 1992 he was the U.S. Attorney in New York City. He was confronting Salvatore “Sammy the Bull” Gravano as a federal witness. Because of what Gravano told him then about the life of lies “Men of honor may only lie about the most important things.”  Comey felt he had made the right career choice.

“I once questioned another government witness, Sicilian Mafia Killer Francesco Marino Mannoia about this rule.

“Franco,” I said, “that means you can trust me unless we are about to kill you.”

“Yes,” he replied.

No one is about to kill Comey. So, there is no reason for him to lie. I get the feeling no one can push Comey around.

He joined the United States Attorney’s office in Manhattan in 1987, so he has quite a history as a lawyer.

He was put in the place as FBI Director by Obama who he reports saying, “I don’t want help from the FBI on policy. I need competence and independence. I need to sleep at night knowing the place is well run and the American people protected.”

As a writer, Comey is okay. Not a powerful wordsmith, but when you are dealing with a slice of history you just must be adequate. In this respect he passes.

Since no doubt he had to keep quiet while in government this is a welcome look at the facts. Years from now when the historian looks back he will have a document that will help them parse the details.

The book is published by Flatiron books and retails for  $29.99.

You Bet Your Life by Spencer Christian

The title tells you a little about the main problem, the addiction holding a grip on life.

I picked up this book mainly because I like books of survivors. I don’t know Spencer Christian. I have never heard of him. I don’t watch the news on television. I don’t have a television set. There is really no reason I should know the name.

That aside, Spencer had one big problem. It was larger than his color or his personality. He had an addiction that almost destroyed him. That addiction was not to drugs. It was to gambling.

He had it all.

“I was a high roller. This meant that casino-hotels from Las Vegas to Atlantic city to the Caribbean Islands offered me the finest luxury suites, gourmet meals with thousand-dollar bottles of wine, first class air travel, and on-the-spot limousine service—all for a few hours a day of “action” at their gaming tables.”

Outwardly he had it made. But he drove himself and his family into bankruptcy and debt because of his addiction.

His life as an on-line broadcaster, a reporter and then a weather man, helped in his addiction since it gave him the freedom to travel.

Spencer had the American dream. He was a center piece on Good Morning America from 1986 to 1999. He had a loving wife and children. He had a home and a great career.

But the addiction wiped it out. He loss over three million dollars, his home, his job, his wife.

But he rebuilt his life and overcame his losses.  He regained his hope and happiness.

This autobiography is a must read.

Post Hill Press is the publisher and it retails for $26.00.

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The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes by Leonard Goldberg

The game is afoot in this story of Joanna Blalock. The time is 1910 and Joanna is pleasantly comfortable in her position as nurse. She is married with a ten-year-old son. They live at home with her father in-law.

A man has fallen from a building. The sister comes to Dr. Watson with the problem. “They say his death was a suicide, but that is something my brother would never consider,” she says to Watson.

Watson takes the case because, as he says to his son, “I am merely an old man trying to remain relevant.” He still uses things he learned from his friend, Sherlock.

The witnesses are the gardener and Joanna’s ten-year-old son. The police, and here we find that the son of Lestrade, same name, is the inspector, believes the gardener over against the child.

It is reported that a wise man has written, “Of the writing of books, there is no end.” And it seems to be true when it comes to the lore concerning Sherlock Holmes. Once again, we have an author attempting to inject the legend with life.

No doubt this will develop into a series. As most first books in a series we are presented with the main characters and the bit players.  We find Dr. Watson still alive. Holmes is dead. People still come to 221b Baker Street.

The elderly Dr. Watson has a son, named after him, John Watson. Also, a doctor. He is a professor of Pathology at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. We have the daughter of Mrs. Hudson still at 221b Baker Street still the housekeeper.

Nothing much has changed in the characters. It is still a comfortable place to be if you are a fan of the Sherlock Holmes stories.

As the story begins, Joh Watson, Jr, is visiting his father at 221b Baker Street on a cold London Morning.  Watson is trying out his observation technique. The woman comes to see him as reported above. After she leaves, Watson and his son go to the Blalock house to meet Joanna.  Why? Because it is reported she is the first female detective and they need help.

John junior is struck by her beauty. “Joanna Blalock was tall, only a few inches shorter than I, (John Watson, Jr. is the one recording,) with soft patrician features and sandy-blond hair…”

Watson (Sr.) asks for her to show them the scene of the fall.

As I said, the game is afoot.

Finally, Watson reveals a secret to his son.

“This Joanna Blalock is a very remarkable woman,” my father began. “You would agree?”

“Most certainly.”

“Well, she is even more remarkable than you could ever imagine.”

“How so?”

“She is the daughter of Sherlock Holmes.”

Seems Irene Adler and Homes had a child between them.

But that is not the center of the story. The center is the mystery of the falling body. It takes the sleuths to the very highest levels of British society.

Joanna Blalock who by the end of the book becomes Joanna Watson is a welcome addition to the family.

I recommend this series to all lovers of Sherlock Holmes.

The form of writing is close to Doyle’s, but I found it easier to follow and not as boring.

The book is published by Minotaur Books, and costs $25.99.