Reviews
🔗 http://www.MichaelPhelpsNovels.com
I have lived a long and complicated life. I have travelled each and every highway, and a few byways too. Regrets, I have a few, (don't you?) but I can't go back and make any changes, so I move on. I am a proud Veteran of the United States Air Force-Military Police-Combat Defense Forces (Viet Nam). I am happily divorced (at least I hope my former wife is, I did not deserve her in the first place).
I retired as Chief Investigator for a prominent Miami, Florida Law firm, specializing in criminal defense.
I Co-Authored "DAVID JANSSEN-MY FUGITIVE" with my friend Ellie Janssen, the late actor's first wife. The only authorized biography was originally published in Hardcover in December, 1994 and in Paperback in 1995 and 1996. It sold over 1.2 million copies. I have just released the Fourth Edition in Hardcover, at the original 1994 Publication price of $18.95 (FREE S&H).
My debut novel, THE EXECUTION OF JUSTICE was published in February, 2009 by Blue Line Puiblishing House, Inc. It is Hardcover, 408 pages - $27.95 (FREE S&H).
THE EXECUTION OF JUSTICE introduces my readers to the "Mike Walsh Detective Novels" series. The Execution of Justice is based on the true story of the murder of a close personal friend and one-time mentor, a detective sergeant in the Robbery & Homicide unit of the Indianapolis Police Department. The second novel in the series is "The Jockey's Justice", based on the true story of a murder case I worked on for the law firm.
I split my time between New York City and Miami, Florida with my German Shepherd, Rico der Hunter III.
<p>Emerging from the long shadow cast by his formidable father, Harold Godwineson showed himself to be a worthy successor to the Earldom of Wessex. In the following twelve years, he became the King's most trusted advisor, practically taking the reins of government into his own hands. And on Edward the Confessor's death, Harold Godwineson mounted the throne—the first king of England not of royal blood. Yet Harold was only a man, and his rise in fortune was not blameless. Like any person aspiring to power, he made choices he wasn't particularly proud of. Unfortunately, those closest to him sometimes paid the price of his fame.<br /><br />This is a story of Godwine's family as told from the viewpoint of Harold and his younger brothers. Queen Editha, known for her Vita Ædwardi Regis, originally commissioned a work to memorialize the deeds of her family, but after the Conquest historians tell us she abandoned this project and concentrated on her husband, the less dangerous subject. In THE SONS OF GODWINE and FATAL RIVALRY, I am telling the story as it might have survived had she collected and passed on the memoirs of her tragic brothers.<br /><br />This book is part two of The Last Great Saxon Earls series. Book one, GODWINE KINGMAKER, depicted the rise and fall of the first Earl of Wessex who came to power under Canute and rose to preeminence at the beginning of Edward the Confessor's reign. Unfortunately, Godwine's misguided efforts to champion his eldest son Swegn recoiled on the whole family, contributing to their outlawry and Queen Editha's disgrace. Their exile only lasted one year and they returned victorious to London, though it was obvious that Harold's career was just beginning as his father's journey was coming to an end.<br /><br />Harold's siblings were all overshadowed by their famous brother; in their memoirs we see remarks tinged sometimes with admiration, sometimes with skepticism, and in Tostig's case, with jealousy. We see a Harold who is ambitious, self-assured, sometimes egocentric, imperfect, yet heroic. His own story is all about Harold, but his brothers see things a little differently. Throughout, their observations are purely subjective, and witnessing events through their eyes gives us an insider’s perspective.<br /><br />Harold was his mother's favorite, confident enough to rise above petty sibling rivalry but Tostig, next in line, was not so lucky. Harold would have been surprised by Tostig's vindictiveness, if he had ever given his brother a second thought. And that was the problem. Tostig's love/hate relationship with Harold would eventually destroy everything they worked for, leaving the country open to foreign conquest. This subplot comes to a crisis in book three of the series, FATAL RIVALRY.</p>
<p><strong>MR. CY B. HILTERMAN, </strong>a Book Reviewer from Cherry Tree, PA, posted his FIVE STARS rated review at <a href="http://www.amazon.com"><font color="#800080">www.amazon.com</font></a> on May 8, 2009.</p> <p> "<strong>Just like being with a cop during his duty . . . "</strong></p> <p><strong> </strong>"While reading this excellently written story, I felt as though I was beside the police as they performed their daily duties, while on or off duty and trying to keep a social and family life. I have never read a book that placed me into the life of those valiant men and women that protect us as well as this book. Mike Walsh is a patrolman on the Indianapolis, Indiana police force. Mike and his latest partner, Brad Reccio were racing in their patrol car to a domestic dispute. These disputes are one of the most dangerous calls a lawman can receive. When they arrived shots were fired and Brad was wounded. The descriptive words that the author uses to describe this scene and all the other stories that play out in this book are what keep the reader from placing the book down. The backup police that help keep a scene safe while assisting in the apprehension and questioning all those in the area are a huge part in law enforcement. "The Execution of Justice" takes you from Mike the patrolman, to Mike who becomes a Robbery-Homicide Detective, through a rough marriage as endured by almost all policemen, through several partners, to crimes that defy a human's imagination. Criminals have no scruples and this book describes many of the activities that law enforcement goes through every day. You will be in the middle of shootouts, bloody bodies, wounded police, shot vicitms, forensics, work in the morgue, and practically every crime involvement these men and women have to endure daily. Then they have to go home and try to keep their mind off of what they saw that day. Some face it with alcohol which is the worst thing they could do as it leads to wanting more and more alcohol that doesn't really help to take their minds off of the bad things they see and do. To face death, brutal force, no fear of police, shooting anyone in sight, and trying to overcome your fears regarding all of these, makes our law enforcement special - very special. I feel I don't have to go into much detail about this book because as you flip from page to page you will come to understand what Michael Phelps is telling us with such detail and vividness. Thank you Michael Phelps for allowing us to read some of the many things our police endure for humanity. I look forward to your next book. To think that this book is based on fact makes the reader shocked even more."</p> <p><strong>KAREN HENE,</strong> a Reader from Indianapolis, IN, posted her Review at <a href="http://www.tcm-ca.com"><strong><font color="#0066cc">www.tcm-ca.com</font></strong></a> on May 01, 2009:</p> <p><strong> </strong>"This is the story of Mike Walsh a policeman and then a robbery-homicide detective for the Indianapolis Police Department. The book is based on a true story. The fact that the story took place in Indianapolis is what first drew me to the book. I was born and raised and live in Indianapolis. I enjoyed the book very much and particularly knowing the parts of town where the story took place added to my interest. I could not put the book down. I wanted to know what was going to happen, becaue the author made you feel like you were with the detectives, and you could feel their pain, and elation when they were able to close a case. One Christmas Eve Mike Walsh and his partner Brad Reccio were dispatched to a domestic dispute. Brad was gunned down and was seriously hurt. The suspect had Mike in his line of fire and he was unable to get to his partner. Because of this, Mike put himself in danger and came forward to try and talk the suspect into surrendering. Mike was successful and Brad was rushed to the hospital where Mike learned he would make a full recovery. Soon after this incdient Mike Walsh is promoted to the robbery-homicide division. He was assigned to work with his one time mentor Jack Lovell. Mike found that he was quite good at being a detective and with Jack's guidance he became very good at his job. The bulk of the novel deals with the different cases Mike works on and how a detective investigates cases and gathers information. The story also focused on the married life of Mike Walsh and how his job affected his marriage. Detectives put in a lot of time tracking down information and different leads that come from their informers. Joanne, Mike's wife found that his new hours on his new job meant he was not home very much. She also worried about his safety all the time. This put a huge strain on their marriage. I don't think many people think about that part of a policeman or detectivfe's life. Their families really have to put up with them bringing the job home with them and the inherent danger of the job. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who especially enjoys crime novels or just a good read."</p>