Highway 101 historian Joe Blakely's new book is a 1960s thriller that races down the scenic Oregon Coast. ~ William L. Sullivan, author of Hiking Oregon's History~~~~Charley Norman, a reporter for Portland's Oregonian newspaper, is determined to expose the major prostitution operation that's operating in the city. Now the crooks and pimps are calling with death threats. His editor calls him into his office. "Charley, they want to kill you too. Do you hear me?" "We can't let them scare us into silence," Charley said. "It's people like them who raped and killed my mother. They shot my father. I won't stop writing about them. My father never did and I won't either. I want these thugs behind bars or dead. Bruce, we got them on the run, looking over their shoulder. They're scared..." So begins the frightening story of Charley's quest as he leads a chase down the length of Oregon's Coast Highway in order to bring the crime boss to justice.

What's the connection between Ken Kesey and Nancy's Yogurt? How about the difference between a hoedad and a webfoot? What became of the Pixie Kitchen and the vanished Lambert Gardens? The Oregon Companion is an A–Z handbook of over 1000 people, places, and things. From Abernethy and beaver money to houseboats, railroads, and the Zigzag River, an intrepid public historian separates fact from fiction — with his sense of humor intact. Entries include towns and cities, counties, rivers, lakes, and mountains; people who have left a mark on Oregon; industries, products, crops, and natural resources. Includes more than 160 historical black and white photos. This entertaining and delightfully meticulous compendium is an essential reference for anyone curious about Oregon.

Handsome illustrations of more than two hundred bridges, including Columbia River Scenic Highway bridges, covered bridges, and magnificent coastal bridges.

An intimate journey across America, as told by one of its most beloved writers A Penguin Classic In September 1960, John Steinbeck embarked on a journey across America. He felt that he might have lost touch with the country, with its speech, the smell of its grass and trees, its color and quality of light, the pulse of its people. To reassure himself, he set out on a voyage of rediscovery of the American identity, accompanied by a distinguished French poodle named Charley; and riding in a three-quarter-ton pickup truck named Rocinante. His course took him through almost forty states: northward from Long Island to Maine; through the Midwest to Chicago; onward by way of Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana (with which he fell in love), and Idaho to Seattle, south to San Francisco and his birthplace, Salinas; eastward through the Mojave, New Mexico, Arizona, to the vast hospitality of Texas, to New Orleans and a shocking drama of desegregation; finally, on the last leg, through Alabama, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey to New York. Travels with Charley in Search of America is an intimate look at one of America's most beloved writers in the later years of his life—a self-portrait of a man who never wrote an explicit autobiography. Written during a time of upheaval and racial tension in the South—which Steinbeck witnessed firsthand—Travels with Charley is a stunning evocation of America on the eve of a tumultuous decade. This Penguin Classics edition includes an introduction by Jay Parini. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

From R. Barri Flowers, award-winning criminologist and the bestselling author of Murderess on the Loose, Murder of the Doctor’s Wife, Murder at the Pencil Factory, and The Sex Slave Murders, comes the gripping historical true crime short, Murdered by the King of Western Swing: The Beating Death of Ella Mae Cooley in 1961. On Monday, April 3, 1961, thirty-eight-year-old former vocalist Ella Mae Cooley was beaten to death in her home in Willow Springs, an unincorporated area located in Kern County, California. The cruelty of the crime was shocking to local residents in the normally idyllic community. A greater shock was that the murder was committed by the victim’s fifty-year-old husband, Donnell Clyde Cooley, a well-known big band leader, musician, actor, host of a television variety show, and businessman. Ella Mae and Donnell Clyde, who generally went by the name Spade Cooley, were both struggling with accusations of unfaithfulness in their marriage that had produced two children. They were in the midst of a divorce when tragedy struck. Cooley snapped in deciding to end the marriage prematurely by murdering his wife The horrific assault was witnessed by the couple’s fourteen-year-old daughter, Melody, who would testify against her father at his trial. In spite of her untimely presence at the crime scene, Cooley sought to attribute Ella Mae’s death to an accident. This fell flat, as did a short-lived attempt to plead insanity in the death of his wife. Spade Cooley would be convicted of murder and sent to prison for his heinous act of criminality, forever casting a shadow over a successful career in Western swing music and television. See how this tragic story of celebrity, suspicion, and homicidal rage unfolds in the historical crime of passion. Included is a complete bonus historical short tale, The Gold Special Train Robbery: Deadly Crimes of the D’Autremont Brothers, as well as excerpts from the author’s bestselling true crime book, Serial Killer Couples; the riveting historical true crime short, Murder of the Banker's Daughter: The Killing of Marion Parker; and the gripping historical true crime tale, Mass Murder in the Sky: The Bombing of Flight 629.

No One Knows When or Why it Started. Isn't That the Way it is with Those Who Abuse Others? Something happened. Some event, or word, or gesture, or situation triggers an explosive response of uncontrolled anger and hatred directed toward the target of the abuser. There are probably as many reasons as there are persons who fit the profile. When sober, Dad was in control. Only when under the influence of the alcohol demon did he lose control. So I tend to think that it was the drug that released the violent side of his character. Without the alcohol, Dad was loving and caring, gentle and patient. At least this was how I saw him. In the mid-twentieth century in a small Oregon logging community, Dan Oliver lived with his family in conditions reminiscent of the pioneer days of the 1800s. All modern conveniences were stripped away, and the family learned to make do with what was available. Throughout this struggle of abject poverty, the shadow of binge drinking hung like a storm cloud over the family. When Danÿs father started drinking, the kids knew to run and hide on the slopes of Timber Butte. Their mother would stay behind, facing domestic violence and verbal abuse. Eventually, the storm would clear, and life would return to normal; every member of the family contributed to the survival, no matter how young or small. Life on Dole Road was full of hardships and suffering; but more than that, Dole Road was full of hope, pride in what someone can do with his own two hands, and faith in a God of mercy. If you're struggling with making your own peace, then let The Dust of Old Dole Road speak to you. Book jacket.