People in Glass Houses

I am an eighth grader at my local middle school where Mr. Hemlin is the English teacher. I love his teaching methods and get along well with the kids in his class. I have not read one of his books yet, but I do know that he is a good writer and highly recomended. I encourage you to read one of his books.

Neil Marshall would be a very happy person if everyone would just leave him alone so that he could cook his culinary masterpieces and perfect his poetry writing skills. Unfortunately, his generous nature would never allow him to abandon a friend in need. Since many of his friends seem to end up in trouble, Neil is on a first name basis with most of the local police, dangerous thugs, crooked politicians, and world famous private investigators and lawyers. His connections come in handy when Neil is cooking and catering a dinner part for a local thug, who wants to be the mayor. It seems that one of Neil's kitchen help, Mattie, has been set up to make it look as if she killed her former lover using a meat cleaver. However, no body is found and the goons clean up the evidence before Neil can even think of his next move. He takes Mattie home with him, but the kind gesture turns into a ton of trouble from the police and the local criminals. When Mattie's ex-lover is finally found dead in her apartment. She is arrested for the crime. Neil plans to prove her innocence even if it means risking his own life to do it. With the exception of comic book "hero" Major Bummer (who would rather chill like most teens), if ever there has been a more reluctant hero than Tim Hemlin's protagonists, this reviewer has not come across him/her yet. Neil's hesitancy to get involved makes the culinary chef cum poet much more invigorating and realistic than most amateur detective tales. PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES is a brisk entry in a wonderful culinary mystery series that, though not everyone's palate, but will be enjoyed by readers who like to be entertained in a less cerebral manner. Harriet Klausner