Patricia Cornwell is a very prolific writer of the life of Dr. Kay Scarpetta, Medical Examiner for the State of Virginia. Her last book, Dust, involves not just a killing- assassination of children in their school, put some very unusual murders of several employees of a high-investment firm, complete with incredible security. But the main underlying plot involves a higher-up in the FBI and his plan for takeover and individuals in that organization.

But my dislike or unhappiness with this book as opposed to her earlier ones was the too thorough processes of her work that was a part of her story. Some of this description is very necessary, but in this book, Ms. Cornwell carried it a little far. Reading of the work of a medical examiner, one would think that this was the writer’s background; however, in researching the author, I learned that she was just a technical writer and computer analyst in the medical examiner’s office. So, is her writing based on fact or imagination?

Contrast this with Kathy Reichs, the author of books featuring a forensic anthropologist, which is also her forte. Ms. Reichs is also a producer of the TV series, Bones. Her book Spider Bones, travels with a very unusual drowning death in Quebec to Honolulu to answer the questions of identity of missing soldiers. Ms. Reichs briefly speaks of some of the processes for identification in the morgue, but she is not overtly descriptive. The plot in this book keeps the reader glued to it, and her details of life in Honolulu in a seaside home makes you want to buy a quick ticket to Hawaii! I enjoyed this book very much, the second of her books I’ve read, and am looking forward to the next. Ms. Reichs is a very popular author in our Library, and we continue to have readers ask for her next book, and when it will be on our shelves.

An interesting fun book is Fern Michaels, Southern Comfort, written with a good plot, interesting characters, and a vivid sense of humor from the author. This book details the lives of two female investigators from the DEA and a retired detective from Atlanta with tragic events in his personal life, who meet on a small Key in Florida. The plot finds these DEA gals connecting with the detective to discover the details of what could be human trafficking from Cuba to Florida. I found the book interesting and fun reading; when the author detailed the daily lives of the gals in a metal prefab small home on all that sand with only a microwave to use for cooking, I almost laughed. Well, giggled! I was amazed that Ms. Michaels has become almost a comedienne in her books; enjoyed them very much.

Hoop is once again sponsoring the 8th Annual Chili/Gumbo Cookoff as scheduled for Saturday, October 22, 2016. It will take place at Hooper’s Bar & Grille on West Maple Street near Froggies; we’re searching now for items for the Silent Auction as well as for the many wonderfully talented cooks to enter this event. Do plan to come and see and sample those incredible dishes; you won’t be disappointed! If you have an item you’d like to donate to the Silent Auction, please contact Judy Whitworth, President of Friends of the Library, 512 567-1464 or Shirley Gordon, our Librarian. This event once again donates funds for the Building Fund for our Library.

We, in the Library, and our wonderful helpers are anticipating the writing and assembling of our SECOND Christmas and Holiday Recipe book. As you readers are the ones who make this possible with the sharing of a special traditional recipe and the explanation of why it is special, we look forward in the coming months (and November is not that far away) to receiving those recipes. Our cutoff date is the middle of November, and Shirley and I can hardly wait to learn of those luscious foods that made your Christmas and New Year’s a special time of life. And we thank you very much for help.

I know I’ve used the following quote for several years, but it really makes sense: JUST THINK ABOUT IT!
“When An Old Person Dies, A Library Burns Down!”
Karen Gillespie