If you'd be interested in knowing how Virginia City sounded, smelled, and looked when Mark Twain was there, read Caroline Lawrence's new book, _The Case of the Deadly Desperados_. She has a talent for bringing vividly to life the place (above AND below ground) and the odd assortment of people in it . Sam Clemens turns up on his first day at the Territorial Enterprise. Some of his lines are familiar and he fits right into the story line, including one scene where he manages to disappear when a fight starts in a saloon. Joe Goodman and Dan DeQuille also have guest appearances, all neatly woven into a fast paced adventure about an unusual but resourceful youngster being pursued by truly menacing outlaws . There are some surprising insights about poker games, opium dens and body language which are only part of the useful information included in this tale. Sometimes scary, It's still a romp. My local library already owns the English publication of the work, along with all of her earlier 17 volume series. _The Roman Mysteries_. The US version of her new venture into our West will be published next week (2/16) and has already been given a warm reception by Booklist. Kirkus and Amazon (where it is a book of the month!) Watch for it to be reviewed in the New York Times Section next Sunday. Written for the juvenile market, it was completely delightful for this adult. I recommend buying it for some young person in your life, but reading it before you hand it over. This is the first of a new series. Her first, Roman Mysteries, ended up as a TV series in England. The story line in this one could make a movie! We can be proud she is a member of this Forum! -- Arianne Laidlaw