This is a horrifingly wonderful book showing the life of Wayne Dresbach. It is well written, portraying the feelings Wayne felt as his horrible childhood turns into a tragic adulthood. I believe this book shows just how life can be unfair and how you always have to take care of yourself. That means doing whatevers necessary. I couldn't put the book down, the way it was written makes you fell as if he were talking to YOU. My advice, read it, love it, remember it.

This is one of, if not, THE best true-crime book I've read. . . and, believe me, I've read almost all of them. What a page-turner!!! Finally a true-crime book that doesn't give away the ending, but let's you see the engrossing tale spin out before you. Just when you think you know all of the secrets of the Benson family, another one appears. . . and you can't stop reading and wanting for more. I was so intrigued by the book (and the author's gripping writing style) that I did some legal research to see how the various court cases involved in the story were resolved. A true-crime buff's dream!!!!!

In Central Asia, American researcher Kathryn Matthews takes in a "wolf" boy who just materialized from the nearby wilderness. The natives believe animals raised the lad as he behaves as such.

At about the same time, middle aged American Zack McClintock arrives in country seeking his missing son-in-law Zack after recently receiving a ransom note demanding one million-dollars. A second letter also arrived demanding instead of cash that Zack take a boy to America for treatment. The US State Department tells Zack to go home, but instead he goes deeper into the country escorted by the Russian Mafioso, Misha. Zack meets Kathryn and her "ward", the wolf boy, among other characters carving out a post Soviet enclave, but wonders where his in-law fits in this chaos.

SHELTER FROM THE STORM is an engaging suspense thriller that showcases a nameless post Soviet State country struggling to find its identity in a strange world. The story line is action-packed. However, the plot fails to fully grip the reader because Zack's mission seems not only out of character, but it is also never totally understood why he went overseas and in country for someone he apparently does not like. Still Michael Mewshaw is a colorful author whose latest tale will provide shelter for sub-genre fans from the storms of boredom.

Harriet Klausner