Book Mole Larry Bowlden shows how detective fiction can carry powerful political messages, as he comments on two novels by Carolyn Heilbrun who writes as Amanda Cross.   Two novels, Honest Doubt and Puzzled Heart, expose discrimination in academia against women and fat people, as well as the way the tenure system works to privilege old male professors.  

 Larry Bowlden reviews Minrose Gwin's novel The Queen of Palmyra about a young white girl coming to perceive Southern racism in 1960s Mississippi.  

To read many of Larry's past reviews, go here.  

Larry Bowlden reviews Cory Taylor's new novel about "feeling old when you're not, and acting young when you're not."  It's called Me and Mr. Booker, and it's told in the voice of the lead character -- "a strong and mostly lucid voice."  More of Larry's reviews can be found here.