Dear Great Book Guru,  Last weekend I was at a party at the Sans Souci  to honor Jimmy O'Donnell, the much beloved head of the Sea Cliff Public Works Department.  What a great party !  Well over 100 people attended and everyone  seemed to have a story to tell of Jimmy and his  wife Alice and their many contributions to the Village.  I came away loving Sea Cliff even more and as an added bonus, I have a new author to follow.  While waiting for the speeches to begin, I overheard someone say that Brad Meltzer's books are great fun- suspenseful, historical, and filled with political intrigue.  Have you read any of his books and, if so, where shall I start?             An O'Donnell Groupie

Dear O'Donnell Groupie,   I share your enthusiasm for  both the O'Donnells and  the author  Brad Meltzer. I suggest you start with his THE INNER CIRCLE . Set in the National Archives Building in Washington D.C., the book illuminates a world few of us ever get to see. Beecher White,a twenty-eight year-old government archivist, meets up with childhood sweetheart Clementine Kaye- a woman as daring as he is meek.  Together they stumble upon a dictionary in the archives that belonged to George Washington and now appears to be the focus of a  murderous cover-up involving  the present President of the United States.  Meltzer's characters are colorful, the conspiracy believable, and the plot fast moving.  A good read!

Don't forget: Sea Cliff Civic Association's annual Meet the Candidates this Tuesday, March 12 at 8pm in Village Hall. Bring your questions for Mayor Bruce Kennedy, Trustee Carol Vogt, and Trustee Candidate Ed Lieberman.