Blue Goodness (Michael Kaplan Mysteries)

by David W. Cowles

  In Blue Goodness, a corpse is dumped down the shaft of an abandoned mine near the small town of Jean. A couple of months after the story was on paper, a real murder victim was found at the bottom of an abandoned dry well—also near Jean.

  Many other incidents in the novels were closely paralleled by later actual events—a boating accident on Lake Mead where the bodies were never recovered, gold ingots stashed in an abandoned mine, a bigamist exposed, and so on.

  Is Cowles psychic? He maintains he is not. Still—

  In Buridan’s Ass, a gaming industry insider—a technician who has knowledge of and access to slot machines—reprograms the machines’ computer PROMs so that, by playing coins in a secret, varied sequence, he can trigger big jackpots and thereby cheat casinos at his convenience.

  Michael Gaughan, owner of many Las Vegas hotel-casino resorts, read Cowles’ manuscript for Buridan’s Ass.

  “You’ve written a great story—lots of fun and suspense and excitement,” Gaughan said. “It’s quite a page-turner. But of course, that slot machine scam could never be pulled off. The method you thought up for gaffing the machines wouldn’t work in real life.”

  Fact: Ronald D. Harris, formerly a Nevada Gaming Control Board employee, was arrested and found guilty of modifying slot machine PROMs in order to score big jackpots illegally in the exact manner described fictionally in Buridan’s Ass—an exquisite example of life imitating art!

  Tastevin

  Book One of the Michael Kaplan Mysteries

  Michael Kaplan’s sweetheart Myra Brotsky is a typical Jewish American Princess raised in the Fairfax district of Los Angeles, the daughter of a kosher butcher. As programmed by her parents, Myra’s primary goal in life is to find a handsome, wealthy Jewish man—preferably a doctor or a lawyer—and marry him. Her sights are set on Michael, who meets all but one of those criteria.

  A bottle of bad wine starts Michael and Myra off on a West Coast jaunt that takes them from Las Vegas to Seattle, then to Los Angeles—followed by suspected killers and the police.

  The action builds to a cataclysmic climax filled with lust and shocking surprises.

  Buridan’s Ass

  Book Two of the Michael Kaplan Mysteries

  The Las Vegas Times is in financial trouble. To cut costs, managing editor E.J. Geller assigns Michael Kaplan, the newspaper’s restaurant critic, an additional task—writing the “Dear Ruthe” advice-to-the-lovelorn column.

  When “Dear Ruthe” receives a letter from a woman whose husband has disappeared, Michael decides to investigate. Bad idea. Immediately he’s thrown into a maelstrom of mayhem and murder, centered around multiple machinations to cheat casinos and slot machine players.

  Nothing is as it seems in BURIDAN’S ASS. Clues head in the wrong direction. There are motives for murder galore by an assortment of unsavory characters. The plot twists and turns, and it’s filled with surprises and gotchas.

  BURIDAN’S ASS is no ordinary whodunit. You know who the psychotic villain is early on. John Buridan is an egotistical, sadistic, perverted, maniacal, murderous, bigamist. Imagine Hannibal Lecter gone bad and you’ll have some sense of what Buridan is like. Extensively violent. Pathological in his scheming. The mystery is who will be his next victim and whether he can be found out and stopped.

  BURIDAN’S ASS brings back your favorite characters from TASTEVIN, the first book in the Michael Kaplan Mysteries—including Abe Fox, Mark Caruso, Myra Kaplan and Ron Darling. All the action takes place in and around Las Vegas, Nevada.

  Blue Goodness

  Book Three of the Michael Kaplan Mysteries

  BLUE GOODNESS begins with Michael Kaplan, handsome young restaurant critic for the Las Vegas Times, once again goaded by his editor into taking on additional reporting assignments.

  Michael investigates a burglary at the Royal Animal Clinic. Various medications have been stolen, including a bottle of euthanasia solution veterinarians call Blue Goodness.

  Michael’s marriage to Myra fails to deter the advances of two predatory women who have their talons out for him—his assistant, Kimberly Cohen, and real estate agent and part time call girl Soozie Snyder. Michael successfully resists Kimberly’s overtures, but Soozie wastes no time getting him into bed.

  When Soozie relates a wild tale about hundreds of dead bodies dumped down an abandoned mine shaft in the desert south of Las Vegas, Michael decides to investigate—and, if her story is true, report it in the Times.

  That’s when Michael’s troubles really begin—with Myra, who catches him with Kimberly in a compromising situation and believes they’re having an affair—and with the police, when evidence implicates Michael in an attempted murder.

  A Time For Us

  Book Four of the Michael Kaplan Mysteries

  Blue Hawaii, a Las Vegas hotel and casino, is plagued with turmoil caused by internal politics and a power struggle between the Corporate and Old School factions.

  A psychotic serial killer is running rampant, murdering and hideously disfiguring employees and former employees of Blue Hawaii. When Michael investigates the crimes for the Las Vegas Times, he discovers his wife, Myra, may be the killer’s next victim.

  Be sure you have ample free time when you start reading A TIME FOR US, for you won’t want to put the book down until the tumultuous ending.

  The Murderers

  Against the backdrop of a romantic ocean cruise between Australia and New Zealand, two clandestine teams of secret agents—one American, one Israeli—join forces to thwart the treacherous plans of third world terrorists and an aged Nazi commander in this dark, edgy, sexy thriller packed with murder, violence and suspense.

  THE MURDERERS mirrors today’s front-page headlines, bringing together drug smuggling, corporate scandal, terrorist plots and weapons of mass destruction in a fast-reading page-turner that’s also loaded with humor, multiple plot twists and a surprise ending.

  A Visit to Madame Wu’s

  A VISIT TO MADAME WU’S is a bittersweet coming-of-age love story set primarily in the mid-1950s to 1960s—a timeline extending from the Korean War to shortly after the assassination of President Kennedy, and the beginning of the years of “sexual revolution” in the United States.

  Ed Delancey is a rough-hewn, highly-opinionated man whose ideology is decades ahead of his time. He makes what appear to be outlandish predictions in the areas of politics, economics, and sociology.

  In the spring of 1953, Delancey takes Dan Greenbaum, a naive twenty year old from Iowa, to Madame Wu’s brothel in Chicago. What happens there changes Dan’s life forever, starting him on a lengthy quest for answers.

  This important work by a skilled author contains a strong underlying message: Bigotry, prejudice, and hypocrisy are inherently wrong, whether they relate to ethnicity, religion, politics, relationships, or sexual preferences and practices.

  Some may criticize A VISIT TO MADAME WU’S strongly libertarian philosophy and values, as well as its depiction of explicit sexual situations. Mature readers will appreciate the book’s frankness in dealing with these important subjects.

  Black Pomegranate

  Jewel of the Tropics

  BLACK POMEGRANATE, Jewel of the Tropics, is the story of Alfred Hobson, a nerdy associate professor at a small undistinguished California college, and sensual Catarina Perez Valdez, one of the zany citizens of a quirky Central American republic. Cat enlists Hobson in a desperate quest to help her father regain his rightful position as “el presidente,” by recovering the fabulous Black Pomegranate, a giant ruby that’s the symbol of political power in Granada Negra.

  Ever since reading the Saturday Evening Post serial “The Mouse That Roared,” David W. Cowles has been enthralled by tales of tiny third-world nations and banana republics, real or fictional. In BLACK POMEGRANATE, Cowles captures the spirit and flavor of movies such as “Romancing the Stone,” “Moon over Parador,” and “The In-Laws” (the original film). Some readers say many passages are even funnier than the restaurant scene in “Whe
n Harry Met Sally.”

  BLACK POMEGRANATE is a romantic adventure, a sexy fairy tale, a tongue-in-cheek laugh-aloud slapstick comedy, a thriller, a page-turner—and thoroughly delightful reading.

  What you need to know if you or a loved one is

  Diagnosed with Cancer

  The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2011 nearly 1.6 million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States—and cancer deaths will approach 600 thousand. In the U.S., men have a 1 in 2 probability of developing an invasive cancer sometime during their life; for women, the odds are 1 in 3.

  Few things cause as much fear and dread as the words, “You have cancer.” If said to you or a loved one, do you know your options? Cancer is always serious, but with prompt and proper therapy, a cancer diagnosis is not tantamount to a death sentence.

  Can you make informed choices about your treatment and care, or will you blindly put your life in your doctor’s hands?

  Does your physician have full knowledge of—and access to—all up-to-date, legitimate cancer treatments? Do you know the advantages and disadvantages of chemotherapy? Is the radiation therapy equipment in your community state-of-the-art or is it antiquated?

  DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER will help you learn the answers to these and many other questions.

  DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER is based on personal experiences of the author, David W. Cowles, who is a 13-year lung cancer survivor, and his wife JJ, who died in 2009 as a result of lung cancer. Cowles spent hundreds of hours researching and preparing this important book.

  DIAGNOSED WITH CANCER is written in simple terms a layperson can understand. It is augmented with links to relevant, important Internet websites. After reading the book and visiting the websites you will be able to discuss your illness intelligently with your doctors and make clear choices about cancer treatment.

  No More Grimy Dishes

  Do dishes and flatware come out of your dishwasher covered with food particles and greasy gunk?

  Is your glassware coated with a nasty gray-white powdery scum? Are your utensils turning black? Have you been thinking it’s probably time to buy a new dishwasher? Save your money! Your dishwasher isn’t at fault—it’s your detergent.

  The problem started back in 2008, when ill-informed environmentalists in the state of Washington convinced their legislature to ban phosphates in dishwasher detergents, believing—despite the weight of evidence to the contrary—the minuscule amount of phosphates in dishwasher detergents was the primary cause of pollution and other problems in the Spokane River.

  Detergent manufacturers removed phosphates from their products in just the two Washington counties where the ban was imposed—knowing full well the new formula wouldn’t work. They assumed the law would soon be repealed and things could return to normal. But the law of unintended consequences soon changed things.

  Furious because dishes were coming out of their dishwashers grimy and unsanitary, shoppers stocked up on cases of original formula detergents from stores across the border in Idaho, which had no phosphate ban.

  Detergent-smuggling housewives made a rollicking good news story that was carried nationally by the media. In turn, publicity generated by the news reports served as an impetus to environmentalists elsewhere, who lobbied and pressured their own legislators. Sixteen states soon banned phosphates in dishwasher detergents—all to take effect on July 1, 2010. Not wanting to make different products for different states, manufacturers decided to remove phosphates from their formulas nationwide.

  The reformulated detergents are expensive and don’t clean adequately. Now you don’t need to buy them!

  David W. Cowles reveals simple and cost-effective solutions to this problem in his new whistle-blowing exposé, NO MORE GRIMY DISHES. This ebook will enable you to once again have clean dishes and sparkling glassware—and you’ll save money, too!

  Revitalize Your Computer

  REVITALIZE YOUR COMPUTER is a must-have ebook for everyone who owns a computer with a Windows XP operating system.

  Most computers with Windows XP have slowed down—some to the point of being barely operable. Service packs and updates; unnecessary startup programs; bloated software; fragmented files; infections from viruses, worms, Trojans, and other malware; adware; rootkits and bootkits; registry problems; a lack of routine cleanup and disk maintenance—each takes its toll.

  As a favor to a friend with a laptop computer that had been creeping along at a snail’s pace, David W. Cowles restored the machine’s original speed while making a list of the steps he took. Cowles shared his list with friends and relatives who enthusiastically made suggestions, which he incorporated in this invaluable 12-Step Tutorial.

  There’s no need to buy a new computer or a new operating system, or to pay money to a repair shop. Your computer’s speed can be substantially increased by running specific programs available free from Microsoft and other leading software manufacturers.

  Scam artists have already jumped on the opportunity created by the need to speed up tired PCs. They’re lurking on the Internet and advertising on TV, offering “free computer scans.” Cowles says these phony scans always indicate a plethora of problems, which the scammers promise to correct with a registry cleaner costing $40 or more.

  Hold on to your hard-earned money! REVITALIZE YOUR COMPUTER shows you step-by-step how to download and run FREE programs—the very same programs computer technicians use. This easy-to-read tutorial has detailed directions, so simple “even your grandmother” can follow them.

  Order this valuable ebook now and begin to REVITALIZE YOUR COMPUTER in just minutes!

  The Book of Useless Knowledge

  For years, David W. Cowles’ wife JJ said he was filled with useless knowledge—so he decided to write it down and share his information with the world in THE BOOK OF USELESS KNOWLEDGE.

  Do you know what kind of meat is used in making Welsh rabbit? The country where Panama hats are made? Which animal furnishes the hair for camel’s hair brushes? What’s in an egg cream? The name of the harp-shaped brass tube that holds a lampshade to a lamp?

  Have you ever eaten a chalaza? Do you know how the town of Manteca, California was given its name? And when Manteca holds its annual Independence Day parade and fireworks display?

  The answers to these, and many more questions of earth-shaking importance, are revealed in THE BOOK OF USELESS KNOWLEDGE. Cowles explains things the way they are—or at least, the way he sees them—whether he writes about Words, Names, Streets, Lost Beagles, or other weighty subjects.

  You’ll also learn how to cope with life’s little frustrations and foibles. Do you know what to do when your dog eats snails from the front lawn? How to make a decent piece of toast? How to properly measure a woman for a bra? Cowles addresses these vital topics, and others, in THE BOOK OF USELESS KNOWLEDGE.

  Cowles says he’s always serious, but he admits his writing is heavily influenced by the dry, droll humor of authors Robert Benchley, Bennett Cerf, Jack Smith, and Andy Rooney—now all deceased. (Cowles provides you with a number of useful euphemisms and synonyms for the words dead and vomit.)

  THE BOOK OF USELESS KNOWLEDGE is a delight to read. It may help when you next play a game of Trivia. Or not.

  Homemade Pastrami

  and To-Die-For Corned Beef

  Here’s the fastest, easiest way to become a Deli Maven right in your own kitchen! Discover the fun of making your own delicious Pastrami, Corned Beef, Tongue, Rye Sandwich Bread, Dilly Deli Mustard, Cole Slaw, Salad Dressings, Navy Bean Soup, and other deli treasures. You’ll be delighted by this easy-to-use cookbook with simple step-by-step instructions, spiced and garnished with witty tips from an expert chef!

  HOMEMADE PASTRAMI AND TO-DIE-FOR CORNED BEEF even includes reliable online sources for the best supplies and ingredients! Order your copy of this excellent ebook now, and receive it in an instant!

  Who ate all the Cookies?

  Mmm-mmm—DELICIOUS COOKIES!

  After a day of cookie-baking
with his 9-year-old grandson Davis (the two of them eating the cookies nearly as fast as they came from the oven), David W. Cowles wrote WHO ATE ALL THE COOKIES? It’s a fun-to-make cookie recipe book featuring a delightful story for children and adults:

  Woods Bakery is famous for its colossal cookies, which have always been baked by Wally Woods personally. When Mr. Woods and his wife decide to go on vacation, he teaches his bakers the secrets of making the humongous cookies.

  The first day Woods is away, the bakers make the cookies as planned, but then decide to taste them. What a mistake! The cookies are so delicious the bakers eat them all, leaving none for customers of the bakery. Fortunately, the day is saved by Betsey the “bakery girl,” who introduces a new type of cookie to the bakery.