Yesterday's Lost by Sam Cheever

by Sam Cheever
reviewed from Kindle

A truly horrifying nightmare of a well-described old history home from start to finish. Ghosts? Yes, there are, but not so much the type that just hang around for who knows what reason, but terrifying with no outer appearance to speak of nor floating around minding their own business. What would that business be? It's hard to say. A whole neighborhood is wary of the goings on. An older couple and their children live in the house, so what can be so terrifying?

Two detectives arrive on the scene when a call has been made. Neighbors are gathered outside, descriptions of the chaos within, only in the evening, are confusing and blood-curdling screams are heard within. What is happening? Our two detectives tentatively enter the house simultaneously front door and back door and find nothing but signs of strife, heavy air, fog and stench of death. So where are the family? What was making the screams? And who is the old-fashioned girl in the window?

This was a good story of haunting, serious damage, and broken-spirited investigators who have tragic results of their investigation. I shouldn't have read this one when I went to bed!

High Crimes: The Fate of Everest in an Age of Greed by Michael Kodas

Originally posted about Feb 13, 2008

Fascinating storylines but could be smoother

I thought the book was a real eye-opener, especially as a non-climber who revered Mt. Everest from afar. The content is shocking, disturbing and disillusioning. The book was well-written but in a manner that felt like a magazine expose', particularly in the progression of chapters. Although the author did give dates and places, they did not run in a smooth fashion. It would have helped to keep track of each storyline within the main story if there were some indication in the chapter headings as to which party we were back to reading about; I found it very confusing to check back and forth to keep each story straight. Without a doubt there are problems on the mountain that should be dealt with: criminal, simple ill-preparation and neglect. The book certainly brought that to the fore.

However, I would have preferred that threats be described, rather than as verbatim conversation, simply because there is no way to prove this. As a wake-up call, shocking as it is, the book is well-worth reading. Did I enjoy it? Yes, but I did not come away from it feeling finished. Personally, I think one of the biggest eye-openers is the number of people who come to climb Everest without preparation, experience, or any real knowledge of high altitude climbing, doing it on a lark almost, another notch in their axe. Would I recommend the book? If you like sensational reading, then yes, go for it. If you expect some closure, I neither recommend it nor tell a person not to read it. This is one of those books which each person will have to determine for themselves. Everyone's take on it will differ. Did I like the author? Yes, but feel his style has not yet been firmed up for authoring books, it needs to be tightened and smoother flowing. Overall, it was slow going due to the problems noted above, but fast within each story, he does action best. I do applaud what he is trying to do.