Amazon.com: Clara's Secret: Richard Neal Huffman: Books

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ASIN: B000Q36EJC

Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)

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While serving as a police officer for many years I came across many people, each representing a 'slice' of society. The one group I especially had compassion for was the elderly. They were preyed upon by low-life scum, too lazy to go out and get a real job. I remember one such elderly person in the community I served. I would see her digging through trash bins, trying to find a few morsels to subsidize the small pittance she received from social security. I wrote this story with her in mind.

The Complete Works of Richard Neal Huffman
Most recent titles listed first

	The Blue January 18, 2008; 20 pages “The Blue,” the first in a series. I wrote this piece to tell of the struggle many a young man faced growing up during the Fifties and Sixties. It was a different time, with different challenges. Read more
	The Fifty-Cent Cure July 30, 2007; 13 pages A restless grandson, an aged grandfather and his dog; two people and an animal that share a special bond. A grandfather's... Read more
	Road Rage July 30, 2007; 11 pages Road rage plagues our highways and streets. Many times it results in injury or death. Ride with someone who gets caught up in a road rage incident. Things really get out of hand, fast. Read more
	The Blue Snowman July 30, 2007; 10 pages When I was a boy of ten, some forty-seven years ago, things were very different; in many ways. Mostly, I remember... Read more
	The Bear and I May 9, 2007; 11 pages I wrote The Bear and I as a tribute to a great friend, Bear; to keep his memory alive. Bear, my German shepherd, died a violent death; I miss him terribly. This story is for all those of you that love your pets. Read more
	Ronan May 9, 2007; 10 pages As a young lad I often watched 'Gunsmoke', a western serial. The main character, Matt Dillon, was my hero. He was... Read more
	Bloodlines March 3, 2007; 11 pages “Bloodlines” is a story I came up with one night while watching a favorite classic horror flick. As has been stated... Read more
	Post 55's Newest Recruit March 3, 2007; 11 pages I served 20 years as a police officer. While working in law enforcement I interacted with many sheriff deputies, state troopers'... Read more
	Confessions of a Serial Killers Son December 18, 2006; 10 pages I wrote Confessions of a serial killer's son as a result of so much media coverage of late on this plague... Read more
	Bad Frank November 25, 2006; 10 pages “Bad Frank” is a story of a two men, one a decent person trying to get by in a harsh world.... Read more
	Dreams in Blue: "The Real Police" April 17, 2006; 191 pages I was born a sharecropper’s son outside of Kennett, Missouri. My parents migrated to lower Michigan when I was two. I... Read more

About the Author

I was born a sharecroppers son, a few miles outside Kennett, Missouri. I grew up on the farm and led a very sheltered life until I was drafted into the US Army in 1969. After serving my country as a medic, then a tank-crew member, clerk, intelligence specialist and military policeman, I went into law enforcement and spent twenty plus years as a patrolman, sergeant, detective, training officer and assistant chief of police. I held a license for six years as a private detective, served as a councilman and then was voted in as Village president. I'm married with six children and an increasing group of grandchildren. I now work in corporate security, having retired from the police department. I am the a! uthor of two books, Dreams In Blue: The Real Police and Rubal. Both can be found at Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.

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5.0 out of 5 stars An Avenging Angel Uses The Dark and Dank. Beware of Basement Epiphanies., June 8, 2007

By	Linda G. Shelnutt "Author" (Hotchkiss, CO USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This was an intriguingly unusual twist of application of an author's police background worked into a particular genre. This is a true author composing the story, as proven by the ability of plot and character to capture, conjure, and contain the reader within a mesmerizing tale which carries a theme through to a completion of perfection appropriate to the whole of the pieces. I particularly liked the tangy irony Huffman applied to the solution of the apparent situation of Clara, a vulnerable elderly lady.

I was impressed with the strangely pleasing paradox in an unexpected perspective developed from the mood of the opening to "Clara's Secret." All is more than it seems. Here's a riddle:

The reader's baited dread ultimately becomes this old woman, for whom poverty cloaks her "going about her business":

>> An old, withered hand grips a wad of money; the other hand opens a metal file, ready to store the owner's earnings. Suddenly, from behind, a shadowy figure appears. <<

Here's added evidence of this author's ability to set theme and character with a few precisely chosen words:

>> "It's pathetic when some idiot has to pick on an old person, take what little they draw on social security." Wilkins said, pulling his sagging gun-belt up and over a heavy paunch. <<

The ongoing dialogue detail of the pair of "low life" characters was right on, in realistic expression, as an experienced police officer would be able to dramatize in a natural flow with of this type of humanity's dregs.

>> Tom slammed his beer down onto the end table, splashing some of its contents onto its top: adding to its many other unnatural blemishes. "All right Einstein, what's your plan?" Will's facial muscles contracted, bringing his dark eyebrows close together. He vacantly stared at a large hole in the filthy carpet near his feet. Suddenly he looked up at Tom, his eyes wide. "How about if I ..." <<

This is an author. This is a story. Go for it. Click. 49 cents is a steal.

Linda Shelnutt