From the nightstand of Lennie Briscoe: borrowed books

Lennie doesn't think my title is clever, but you can't please everyone.

I've spoken of my affection for open library and for Law and Order in other posts, so it's fitting that the two meet here in a duo of books that easily could have been a Law and Order episode. I've been utilizing open library quite a bit this summer, checking out books from my Amazon wish lists (yep - I'm nerd enough to organize the lists by topic...) and deciding what I want to own and what I can discard. In the course of using the site, books that I have joined the waiting list for surface in unpredictable ways. The following titles surfaced together and made a fine pair!

 I don't usually read true crime, but this book came up in an internet book list for "fans of Law and Order," and I've had it on my radar since then. It was a frightening book in that it highlighted the dangers that still confront women on their own, even in public, well-trafficked places. It also made me think about how quickly a story vanishes from public consciousness and regret the lack of communication that sometimes exists between different law enforcement agencies. My only complaint with this title is that the story was drawn out in the later chapters, even though the reader knew the outcome well before then.

This was a fantastic read ... and a bit of a marathon! I miscalculated the dates that I was allowed to have it out and realized that I had about 200 pages to plow through... and only a few hours before the book evaporated from my nook. This book has so much to recommend it: a trout-fishing attorney (fishing professionals always make me think of my husband!), amazing dialogue, quirky secondary characters, and a twist that I never saw coming. Even better, I found out that the film version includes James Stewart. I was first introduced to Stewart in Harvey but I love him best for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and I'm waiting for netflix to send me Anatomy of a Murder. Any book that gives me an excuse to visit with James Stewart is a winner in my book, and I've already added this one to my Christmas list!

And to end where we began: The only book I can remember Lennie discussing in the show is a collection of poetry by Langston Hughes. Maybe dealing with real criminals kept his (fictional) nightstand free of true crime and fictional murder alike?