Review of "Stephen Colbert: Beyond Truthiness" by Bruce Watson

Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert, who posed as an egotistical conservative on 'The Colbert Report', is nothing like that in real life. Watson writes, "Off camera, the loud-mouthed self-promoter turns into a gentle polite father of three, a staunch Catholic and Sunday School teacher.....and a major comedic artist whose career has been as finely tuned as his jokes."

In this slender book Watson briefly traces Colbert's journey from his boyhood in South Carolina to television stardom.

Colbert was the youngest of eleven children in a loving intellectual family. Stephen's father James was a doctor; his mother Lorna was a devoted matriarch; and his siblings were fast-talking, funny, and fun.


Little Stephen Colbert


James and Lorna Colbert and their children


James Colbert reading to his children

The family moved all around for Dr. Colbert's career before settling in South Carolina for good. Encouraged to be adventurous, young Stephen enjoyed fishing and thought of being a marine biologist.

Then in 1974 tragedy struck. Stephen's father and two older brothers were killed in a plane accident and Stephen was devastated. He found his escape in books, playing Dungeons and Dragons, and acting in school plays.


Stephen Colbert in middle school

Stephen was very active in high school clubs, and one teacher remembers him as being brilliant, a little naughty, and super-charged with energy - in essence, an early version of the Stephen Colbert on television today.


Stephen Colbert in high school


Stephen Colbert's page in his high school yearbook

Stephen went to the ultra-conservative, all-male Hampton-Sydney College in Virginia, a stilted institution that "gave Colbert insight into the mainstream American values he now so sarcastically champions." Stephen didn't like the school but found an outlet by appearing in plays. At this point, Stephen planned to become a serious actor.

In junior year Colbert transferred to Northwestern University in Illinois, where a train-ride took him to Chicago and its many improv clubs. This is when Stephen Colbert changed the pronunciation of his name from Col-burt to Col-bear. He also lived in a co-ed dorm, broadened his horizons, and began his career as a comic.


Stephen Colbert liked comedy clubs


Stephen Colbert broadened his horizons

Watson writes about Stephen's early career and people he worked with, like Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello, and Steve Carell.


Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, and Paul Dinello


Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris, and Paul Dinello


Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell

Colbert struggled with hard times before he became successful, but eventually joined the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and  then became host of The Colbert Report.


Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart




Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report

The author describes some of Colbert's funny segments, which are classic and hilarious. For example, Colbert coined the term truthiness and got it into the dictionary; showed fans how to revise Wikipedia with their own 'truth'; tried to get a bridge named after him in Hungary; skewered politicians on Better Know a District; debated inane subjects with Steve Carell on Even Steven bits; ran for President; and much much more. (Colbert now hosts The Late Show, but that's not covered in this book.)

In Colbert's private life he wooed and married Evelyn McGee and they have three children. Colbert is a devoted husband and father, and makes sure to re-orient to domestic mode while driving home from his television shows.


Stephen Colbert and his wife Evelyn


Stephen Colbert with his wife and children

Colbert's good nature, open mind, and immense talent make him popular with colleagues, employees, and the public. I watched the 'The Best of the Colbert Report' and laughed through the whole thing. Thank you for being a balm in hard times Stephen Colbert.

Rating: 4 stars

Review of "When They Find Her: A Novel of Suspense" by Lia Middleton

This review was first posted on Mystery and Suspense. Check it out for features, interviews, and reviews. https://www.mysteryandsuspense.com/wh...

Four years ago, Naomi and Aiden Williams and their newborn daughter Freya moved from London to the country farmhouse where Naomi grew up.



Though the marriage was happy and the area was ideal for a young family, Naomi developed severe post-partum anxiety. Naomi feared for Freya's safety and felt compelled to watch the baby every second of every day.



The resulting sleep deprivation affected Naomi's health, and her doctor prescribed sleeping tablets. Naomi became addicted and a subsequent incident led Aiden to take one-year-old Freya and leave.





Naomi and Aiden are now divorced, and Aiden, his new wife Helen, and four-year-old Freya live in London. Aiden brings Freya to the farmhouse to visit Naomi, but until now, has refused to leave the child overnight. That makes today VERY special, because Aiden is permitting Freya to have a sleepover based on Naomi's guarantee that she's feeling better and no longer takes sleeping pills. Aiden is apprehensive, but knows this gesture of goodwill means everything to his ex-wife.



Naomi is beyond delighted to spend the evening with Freya, and - anticipating more overnight visits - plays with the child, bathes her, reads to her, and puts her to sleep.



Naomi is also thrilled about Freya becoming a big sister, since Naomi is pregnant with her boyfriend Rupert's child.



The excitement of the day leaves Naomi tired but restless, and though she promised not to, she takes a sleeping pill.

The next morning Naomi awakes to a tragic situation. Naomi has no memory of the previous night and fears she'll be blamed for the incident. Moreover, Naomi is terrified her new baby will be taken away. So Naomi lies to everyone: her ex-husband Aiden;



her boyfriend Rupert;



and the police.



The first lie leads to more fabrications as Naomi struggles to engineer a cover-up. Naomi is clever, but she's shortsighted and unfamiliar with police procedures, and things soon get out of hand.

As the situation unfolds Naomi has flashbacks to the past. She recalls growing up with loving parents; playing on the farm as a child; meeting and marrying Aiden; a baby shower thrown by her friends; Freya's birth and first year; Aiden taking Freya away; and the aftermath of the divorce. Naomi was especially close to her father, and his unexpected death shortly before Freya's birth contributed to Naomi's ongoing angst. Naomi is self-centered and manipulative, but her behavior appears related to mental health problems.



The story takes a turn midway as people's secrets emerge and events change direction.

This is an engaging debut novel that draws you in and makes you want to keep reading.

Rating: 3.5 stars

Review of "Wish You Were Here: A Mrs. Murphy Mystery" by Rita Mae Brown & Sneaky Pie Brown

The 'Mrs. Murphy' cozy mystery series began over three decades ago, with the charming premise that animals could speak amongst themselves and help their owner solve crimes. In recent years author Rita Mae Brown has used the Mrs. Murphy novels to promote her politics and to discuss American history, and I've enjoyed the books less and less. For that reason, I decided to reach back and read this first novel in the series, just for fun.

*****

Thirtysomething Harry Haristeen is a postmistress in the town of Crozet, Virginia, which contains 3,000 residents.



Harry has a tiger cat named Mrs. Murphy, a Welsh corgi named Tucker, and a regular visitor named Pewter - a gray cat who lives in the butcher store near the post office. The animals regularly converse among themselves, often ruminating about human foibles and the superiority of cats and dogs.






As the story opens Harry is hauling in mailbags and stewing about her divorce from equine veterinarian Fair Haristeen.



Though both Harry and Fair agree the marriage has run its course, Fair is playing the victim and garnering the sympathy of the Crozet community - much to Harry's chagrin.

Harry puts Fair out of her mind as she sorts the mail and sneakily reads people's postcards. One postcard in particular catches Harry's attention. Addressed to wealthy cement contractor Kelly Craycroft, the postcard shows a beautiful Paris cemetery and contains the message 'Wish you were here'.....with no signature. The message seems prophetic later on, when Kelly is found dead.



A few days later, a similar postcard is received by another Crozet resident, Maude Bly Modena. Afterwards Maude Bly - who owns a successful packaging supply business - is also found dead.

As postmistress, Harry is the first person to make the connection between the postcards and the killings. Harry confides her observations to Deputy Sheriff Cynthia Cooper, and goes on the lookout for more 'warning cards.'



Moreover, Harry, being a natural born busybody, starts investigating the murders herself. This greatly concerns Mrs. Murphy and Tucker, who dearly love Harry and fear for her safety.



The townsfolk are alarmed by the murders, and speculate they might be connected to rumors of hidden treasure stashed in (now closed) railroad tunnels blasted through the Blue Ridge Mountains by Claude Crozet.



For their part, the cops theorize that Kelly and Maude Bly might have been running drugs. No one really knows what's going on, and the crime spree continues.

As it happens, Mrs. Murphy and Tucker discover important clues about the killings, and - by their behavior - are able to communicate SOME of their findings to Harry. The pets are also on hand when the killer is finally exposed, which is a lucky thing all around.

In the meantime, there's a lot going on in Crozet. Harry's estranged husband Fair is 'friendly' with the gorgeous widow of murder victim Kelly Craycroft;



the wealthy Queen of Crozet (Big Marilyn), sends out invitations to her daughter (Little Marilyn's) wedding, but snubs Marilyn's brother and his African-American wife;



Harry's best friend Susan has problems with her teenage children;



Mrs. Murphy and Tucker cause havoc in the mailroom; and more.

This is a promising start to the 'Mrs. Murphy' series, and a good place for interested readers to begin. The animal characters are especially fun, and - as the series goes on - come to include horses, owls, foxes, mice, and more.

Recommended to fans of quirky cozy mysteries.

Rating: 3 stars

Review of "Trial and Error: A Novel of Suspense" by Robert Whitlow

This review was first posted on Mystery and Suspense. Check it out for features, interviews, and reviews. Trial and Error | Mystery and Suspense Magazine


Buddy Smith is a successful attorney in Milton County, Georgia, an exurb of Atlanta. For 17 years Buddy has been searching for his daughter Elise, whose unmarried teenage mother fled with the baby right after she was born. Buddy was still in high school at the time, but was ready to take responsibility, and he thinks about Elise every day. For this reason Buddy often helps other people with missing children.



A case of parental child abduction is referred to Buddy by his high school friend Gracie Blaylock, who's now the Milton County Clerk of Court.



The missing child's distraught mother, Sue Ellen Ford, tells Buddy her husband Jackie said he was taking their 3-year-old son Jackie Jr. to visit his grandmother in Tennessee.



But Jackie never arrived at grandma's house, and he's now disappeared with the boy. Sue Ellen admits her marriage is troubled and her husband has no interest in their 6-year-old daughter Emily. Jackie adores his son though, and Sue Ellen is sure he kidnapped the child and plans to raise him in a survivalist camp in another state.



Gracie Blaylock also enlists Buddy's help for another problem. Seventeen-year-old Reagan Landry, who plays on the fast-pitch softball team Gracie coaches, has run away from home.



Buddy knows runaway teenage girls can fall into dangerous situations and he wants to help, but this incident needs a detective, not a lawyer.

Buddy consults Milton County police detective Mayleah Harkness, a Native American from Oklahoma who specializes in cases involving children.



Mayleah offers to assist in finding both Jackie Jr. and Reagan, and she and Buddy work together and occasionally confer over lunch. This makes Gracie envious, because she's had a secret crush on Buddy since high school.

For the case of Jackie Jr., Buddy has to get a judge to award full custody of the boy to his mother Sue Ellen, and Mayleah has to locate the boy and get police assistance to retrieve him. The judicial and police procedures involved in this plan form an interesting thread of the story.



Finding teenage runaway Reagan is a different problem. Mayleah suspects Reagan was lured away by a 'friend' she met online, and formulates a scheme to find her.



This involves Mayleah and Gracie posing as teens on social media, to lure the predator into contacting them. It's interesting to see how this plays out.

We also observe the private lives of the protagonists. Buddy finds information that helps him search for his daughter and worries about his widowed mother, who's dating an arrogant visiting judge;



Gracie enjoys coaching the girls' softball team and - prodded by her mother and sister - signs on to a Christian dating site;



and Mayleah has discussions with her ex-husband, who wants to get back together.



This is a Christian suspense novel with a strong religious bent, and the characters often pray and ask for God's help.



As the story approaches a climax, the search for the missing children and the personal lives of the characters come together in surprising ways. Though this is a novel, it's enlightening to see how people deal with real world problems like child abduction and online predators.

Rating: 3.5 stars