Hellhound on His Trail

Hellhound on His Trail: The Electrifying Account of the Largest Manhunt in American History, by Hampton Sides; Anchor, 2011

Reviewed by Kathie Meyer

The title does not lie. Hellhound on His Trail is electrifying. This meticulously researched book puts you right there in the couple of months leading up to, the exact moment of, and the months after Martin Luther King, Jr.'s 1968 assassination in Memphis. The American people have never known the complete story of James Earl Ray until now. Author Hampton Sides also addresses the likelihood of the conspiracy theory. Once started, this incredible book, which is on several "best book" lists for 2011, is hard to put down.

If you like food (who doesn't?), then the authorized biography Alice Waters and Chez Panisse by Thomas McNamee will be of interest. Here's the story of how the fresh, local food movement got its start in Berkeley, Calif. in 1971 and spread throughout America. Alice Waters and her cast of characters make for a very "dish-y" read. Most restaurant owners would have given up a long time ago; the fact that Chez Panisse is still going strong is amazing. If you'd rather grow and cook your own food instead of eat out, then try Grow Great Grub: Organic Food from Small Spaces by Gayla Trail. Trail has a lot of ideas for the urban, apartment gardener, and the book is loaded with beautiful photographs. A few recipes are included.