Rating: 
Summary: A REALLY GOOD DIEHL
Review: "Eureka," according to Webster's, signifies the discovery of something that brings joy or satisfaction. Thus, it is an appropriate title for a scenario from William Diehl, a master of storytelling and suspense. When Zeke Bannon was sent to fight in World War II some unfinished business is left behind - the mysterious death of one Verna Wilensky who was electrocuted in her bathtub. Almost as puzzling as her demise is her hefty bank account, fattened by anonymous cashier's checks from a bank in San Pietro, a Southern California town once known as Eureka. A few years and one Silver Star later Zeke is recuperating in an L.A. hospital when he is visited by his ex LAPD partner who has been investigating the Wilensky case. As Zeke digs into old files readers are transported to the Eureka of 1900, a hotbed of graft and prostitution. It is also a place where many secrets were buried. Jump start to today and popular Sherif Thomas Culhane, who seems certain to become California's next governor until his bid for office is jeopardized by stunning revelations. Diehl seamlessly weaves past and present to craft a story that keeps readers spellbound until the last.
Rating:
Summary: A FINELY ARTICULATED READING
Review: "Eureka," according to Webster's, signifies the discovery of something that brings joy or satisfaction. Thus, it is an appropriate title for the latest from William Diehl, a master of storytelling and suspense. Broadway, film and television actor Cotter Smith offers a finely articulated reading of this multi-generational tale. When Zeke Bannon was sent to fight in World War II some unfinished business is left behind - the mysterious death of one Verna Wilensky who was electrocuted in her bathtub. Almost as puzzling as her demise is her hefty bank account, fattened by anonymous cashier's checks from a bank in San Pietro, a Southern California town once known as Eureka. A few years and one Silver Star later Zeke is recuperating in an L.A. hospital when he is visited by his ex LAPD partner who has been investigating the Wilensky case. As Zeke digs into old files readers are transported to the Eureka of 1900, a hotbed of graft and prostitution. It is also a place where many secrets were buried. Jump start to today and popular Sherif Thomas Culhane, who seems certain to become California's next governor until his bid for office is jeopardized by stunning revelations. Diehl seamlessly weaves past and present to craft a story that keeps readers spellbound until the last. - Gail Cooke
Rating:
Summary: A REALLY GOOD DIEHL
Review: "Eureka," according to Webster's, signifies the discovery of something that brings joy or satisfaction. Thus, it is an appropriate title for a scenario from William Diehl, a master of storytelling and suspense. When Zeke Bannon was sent to fight in World War II some unfinished business is left behind - the mysterious death of one Verna Wilensky who was electrocuted in her bathtub. Almost as puzzling as her demise is her hefty bank account, fattened by anonymous cashier's checks from a bank in San Pietro, a Southern California town once known as Eureka. A few years and one Silver Star later Zeke is recuperating in an L.A. hospital when he is visited by his ex LAPD partner who has been investigating the Wilensky case. As Zeke digs into old files readers are transported to the Eureka of 1900, a hotbed of graft and prostitution. It is also a place where many secrets were buried. Jump start to today and popular Sherif Thomas Culhane, who seems certain to become California's next governor until his bid for office is jeopardized by stunning revelations. Diehl seamlessly weaves past and present to craft a story that keeps readers spellbound until the last.
Rating:
Summary: A REALLY GOOD DIEHL
Review: "Eureka," according to Webster's, signifies the discovery of something that brings joy or satisfaction. Thus, it is an appropriate title for a scenario from William Diehl, a master of storytelling and suspense. When Zeke Bannon was sent to fight in World War II some unfinished business is left behind - the mysterious death of one Verna Wilensky who was electrocuted in her bathtub. Almost as puzzling as her demise is her hefty bank account, fattened by anonymous cashier's checks from a bank in San Pietro, a Southern California town once known as Eureka. A few years and one Silver Star later Zeke is recuperating in an L.A. hospital when he is visited by his ex LAPD partner who has been investigating the Wilensky case. As Zeke digs into old files readers are transported to the Eureka of 1900, a hotbed of graft and prostitution. It is also a place where many secrets were buried. Jump start to today and popular Sherif Thomas Culhane, who seems certain to become California's next governor until his bid for office is jeopardized by stunning revelations. Diehl seamlessly weaves past and present to craft a story that keeps readers spellbound until the last.
Rating:
Summary: A great book.
Review: "Eureka," William Diehl's first novel in five years is absolutely spectacular. It sets the curve for me so far this year. I cannot remember a read this good in a long long time. It took a great deal of self-discipline not to reread it immediately after finishing it. I was torn between reading it as fast as possible to see how everything was resolved or limiting myself to a daily ration in order to savor it for an extended period. Could not put it down and had to reread the last chapter at once. The characters come alive and you feel a part of the story. I was drawn into the era as the settings seemed atmospherically perfect. The plot is intoxicating, and just when you think you have solved a part of it; you find you guessed incorrectly. It is a wonderfully noirish, hard boiled tale. I felt the spirit of Raymond Chandler and hopes this becomes a movie. Mr. Diehl just gets better and better. It was worth the five-year wait.
Rating: 
Summary: Northern California Confidential
Review: A series of flashbacks, from 1945 to the turn of the century to the Battle of the Marne to the roaring twenties, Eureka is a well-told story of relationships, skillfully disguised as a murder mystery.
Eureka, California (in this story) is a small coastal town between San Francisco and Los Angeles. As a sideline to building a railroad between the two large cities two entrepreneurs start an elegant housing development and themselves move into the hills above the town. The town itself is a hell-raising place right out of the old dime novels. One of the entrepreneurs acquires all of the land except for the town, which his ex-partner sells to the local crime boss.
Brodie Culhane is a shanty Irish orphan who becomes friends with the son of the surviving entrepreneur and is virtually adopted into the family. His two heroes are his patron, Mr. Eli, and the sheriff Mr. Eli has brought in to try to control the bad element in town. Buck Tallman is also straight out of the dime novels - a relic of the old west that is rapidly disappearing. Brodie decides to leave, and joins the Marines, planning on a career. After a few years, however, World War II interferes, and Brodie, now an injured and decorated captain returns and begins training to become Buck's successor. Brodie becomes sheriff after a shootout where Buck is killed. He fills his staff with people with whom he served in the Marines. He is also much more aggressive about wanting to clean up the town. He targets the crime boss whom he knows is responsible for Buck's death and has him convicted of murder. The town becomes a resort for Hollywood types.
Flash forward. In 1941 Los Angeles homicide detective Zee Bannon and his partner pick up a call to investigate an apparent accidental death. The circumstances look clear, but the victim is much more confusing. A widow, she has a hundred thousand dollars in the bank, no will, and no traceable history before 1924. Following the money, Bannon ends up in Eureka, now renamed San Pietro and a prosperous and crime free community with a sheriff who is about to run for governor.
Bannon and Culhane strike sparks at the same time they feel a strong affinity. Culhane tries to steer Bannon away, but Bannon perseveres and in the end triumphs. However, there is some cost, and all of the questions are not answered. It is not until 1945, when Bannon, now himself an injured and decorated ex-Marine returns from the war that he learns all of the answers.
Diehl has given us several novels and this latest, like all of his others, is well worth reading.
Rating:
Summary: fabulous
Review: absolutely the best read i've ever had--recommend to all
Rating:
Summary: Eureka! another great Diehl
Review: Ah, William, you are one of my favorite authors...Thai
Horse, 27, etc. Once again, you have lead me on a wonderful
adventure. Leaping backwards and forwards from 1900, 1920,
1940, 1945, you led me on a wild trip. From a poker game
whose winner won the California territory to WWI heroism,
from local sheriff to governor wannabe. The mysteries
abound. Who did what to whom and when? I was hooked from
the introduction.
There are many layers to this story. Some characters
take a back seat but become very important at the end.
Diehl creates a masterful fiction noir. Read it.
Rating: 
Summary: Plot by number
Review: All the familiar conventions are here. You know the kicker well before it is revealed. Nothing really new, and yet it still hooks you. Mindless beach read.
Rating:
Summary: Outstanding
Review: Diehl score again with this finely crafted period piece. The characters are real and believable, the writing is tight, and the plot intricate and rewarding. If you like a tightly woven mystery you'll love this book.
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