Then Perreault Said to Rico: The Best Buffalo Sabres Stories Ever Told (Best Sports Stories Ever Told the Best Sports Stories Ever T) with CD Review

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(More customer reviews)I thought I knew most of the stories surrounding the history of the Sabres, but I obviously didn't. Paul Wieland's book, "Then Perreault Said to Rico..." filled in some of the gaps quite nicely. Wieland worked for the Sabres in a couple of capacities for the first 25 years of the franchise's history. He was around from the beginning, when pro sports had much more of a mom-and-pop feel to it than it does today. Therefore, he has plenty of inside stories about events with the hockey team, particularly in the first 10 years of play (1970-1980), and he often is surprisingly candid along the way. Wieland also talked with several players on those teams (Gil Perreault, Rick Martin, Rene Robert, Danny Gare, Jerry Korab, etc.) to fill out the text. Plus, the book comes with an audio CD of conversations with ex-Sabres. There are enough silly stories in here to keep any sports fan entertained, but obviously it will be of particular interest to longtime Sabres fans, who will race through it even faster than I did (which is saying something).

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The story of the Buffalo Sabres is one of perseverance against long odds. Many thought that Buffalo was too small to support an NHL franchise and would have to rely on fans from across the border, but the city quickly proved the naysayers wrong. Supported from the beginning by an enthusiastic homegrown fan base and initially led by gifted management, the expansion team reached the pinnacle of the sport--the Stanley Cup Finals--in only five seasons."Then Perreault Said to Rico..." unearths many treasures from the Sabres' early years, colorful stories about the players and games that cemented Buffalo's reputation as a great NHL city. Learn the inside story of how the Knox brothers, Norty and Seymour, convinced the NHL to give Buffalo a shot. Follow the team's first coach and general manager, Punch Imlach, as he built a Stanley Cup contender from scratch. Relive the birth of the famed French Connection--Martin, Perreault, and Robert--and classic contests such as the infamous Fog Game. Look back on triumphs such as Danny Gare's 50-goal seasons and tragedies such as Tim Horton's accidental death during the 1973-74 campaign. Recall the exploits of many other Sabres greats: Jim Schoenfeld, Fred Atkins, Craig Ramsay, Jim Lorentz, even Taro Tsujimoto, the greatest fictional player in NHL history.The key to this timeless collection of Sabres tales is author Paul Wieland, former longtime public-relations director in Buffalo. Wieland was with the team from the beginning, and his stories ring with authenticity and heart. His insider's view and honest profiles of players, coaches, and other personalities will delight true Sabres fans and bring to life the people who were the franchise's first heroes. "Then Perreault Said to Rico..." is the perfect way to reconnect with the Sabres' early years, which helped cement the team's place in NHL lore and is the next-best thing to a seat behind the glass in the Aud.

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The Vampire Diaries: The Return: Nightfall Review

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(More customer reviews)I've been an LJ Smith fan for such a long time. Like many others, I waited patiently through years of silence and years of fans asking me when Strange Fate would come out, as though I had any clue just because I had a website. When LJ Smith announced that her next book would be a Vampire Diaries sequel, I was disappointed - after all, weren't all those NightWorld fans waiting for Strange Fate? Shouldn't they come first? - but hopeful. More Damon? Hells yeah! I don't even LIKE NightWorld! Bring it on, this new Vampire Diaries!
Unfortunately, I returned this book the day after I got it, feeling nothing short of heartbreak. I know LJ Smith can do better than this, because she has done better before, and this is probably the lowest point in her writing career, by far. If she were a poorer author, I would expect it of her and excuse it all away, but she's not, and so I can't find any excuses in me. She's better than this. She really, truly is.
The book takes place a mere week after the original four. This was big mistake #1, because the original books DO have the dates in them, dating book 5 instantly to the summer of 1992, and yet everyone suddenly has a smart phone with video call capabilities, digital cameras, and personal computers. This is just one of the many gaping plot holes and inconsistencies in this book that shows just how much love and care the publishers gave it before throwing it out into the world. Did they even remember they'd just re-released 4 other books and should probably check for continuity when editing this one? I'm thinking no.
The remaining big problems with this book? The plot and the characterization. NOBODY escapes this book unscathed. It would seem that Damon the enigmatic bad boy, once you're actually in his head, is just a vain and simpering frat boy who smiles at nothing in particular and thinks Bonnie's breasts are disappointingly small. Furthermore, it would seem that all he really wants is to weep at Elena's feet and beg for forgiveness. Sure, redeeming the bad boy is the fantasy of many a teenage girl (and adult woman!), but I don't think that's quite what we had in mind, Ms. Smith. As for the others? Well, Matt's all right (although Damon can't seem to remember his name, leading me to believe he suffered some severe brain damage in the fight with Klaus). Everyone else, not so much. They're like tragic caricatures of themselves, especially poor Caroline. In an effort to find a segueway villain, LJ Smith destroys any and all character development from Caroline to crowbar the new villains in through her. I'll get to Elena in a moment. Let's talk about these new villains.
As others have mentioned, it seems like LJ Smith has been cooped up in the house with every season of Sailor Moon for the past 10 years. The villains are kitsune twins, who look like Pokemon and act like Team Rocket, spout stereotypical Japanese words, and seem to generally fail at being anything other than vaguely annoying and really attractive, in that Hot Topic color-scheme sort of way. There are suddenly random Japanese families in Fell's Church who, of course, randomly provide clues. If I didn't know LJ Smith better, I'd suspect her of some cultural racism because these characters border on parodies of Japanese people and folklore, but I know her better than that, and suspect that this is completely accidental on her part. Lastly, Elena's healing and flying powers (oh yeah, did I mention she has wings?) all have thematic names, which she yells out as she's executing them. Wings of Purification!
Did I forget to mention the angry sentient trees from the angry Old Wood that has suddenly appeared in Fell's Church as though it's been there all along? And giant invisible insects made of jell-o that seem to be causing a rash of possessions in Fell's Church? Because that's all I'm going to say about those.
This brings me back to Elena. The poor girl has taken a real character beating here. Firstly, she wakes up the next morning after the end of book 4 acting like a mute child. She can't talk (or apparently think), her eyes are purple, and she floats around naked like a firefly. She makes out with everybody to recognize them because prairie dogs do it (don't ask me, I don't understand either), but there's nothing sexual in it, except that everyone freaks out and distracts Stefan when she does it to Matt, which... doesn't that make it sexual? Anyway, let's not dwell too long on that. Elena can't wear any of her clothing because she sees the tragic sweat shop laborers who worked on it if she does, so they have to find her sweat shop-free clothing. This isn't the first time LJS has had a message for us, but it is the least subtle time, and it was very grating. Yes, sweat shops are bad, but can we get back to the vampires now? Elena has a similar Tinkerbell moment near the end where she hears magical spirits giving her moral advice on the nature of just combat, and everyone believes in her so that she can gain the power to fly. It's really bizarre, and all of these preachy Elena moments come off like an uncomfortable talk your parents might give you about Bad Things In The World Today.
Speaking of vampires, the vampires really take a back seat here. If you've come for the vampires, don't bother unless you'd like to stay for the kitsune, angels, and angry trees. And weeping Damon begging for forgiveness. There's maybe one vampire scene, two or three if you count vaguely vampiric displays of bloodletting.
I could keep going about the bad - no, REALLY - but I'll end on the good. There are a few scenes, and tiny little moments, in this book that made me smile, little hints of the LJ Smith I know and love. I think there were other scenes that COULD have been good, had they been placed into a different context. LJ Smith has also since released two stories on her website, one bad (Damon/Bonnie, which started out promising and then headed back into Nightfall territory) and one incredible (Matt/Elena, a prequel of sorts), which gives me hope. Maybe this is just one really bad book, one really ridiculous blip on the radar, and this too shall pass. Maybe the LJ Smith I love really is still in there, working hard to make Shadow Souls a success. I'll buy Shadow Souls when it comes out, and hopefully this time, I won't return it in disgust. I'll clap and believe in you all you want, LJ Smith, if it'll just make your writing fly again.
When all is said and done, though this book will NEVER touch my bookshelves, I have a silly little pair of Wings of Redemption for LJ Smith left in me yet. Please support this wonderful author by purchasing her other wonderful books and recommending them to all your friends. Just skip this one to avoid the disappointment it entails, and hope for the best. Better luck next time, Lisa.

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Mythology: The Illustrated Anthology of World Myth and Storytelling Review

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(More customer reviews)This massive coffee-table style book gives a good overview of some of the major mythologies in the world. Overall, it has both good and bad points, with the good generally outweighing the bad.
The good points include the wide range of mythological stories that are related. While Greek mythology - certainly the most well-known and influential in Western culture - gets more space than any other culture (over one hundred pages), there is plenty of space dedicated to the whole world of mythology: Egyptian, Babylonian, Norse, Chinese, Indian and Japanese amongst them. A wide range of illustrations and photos help tell the stories.
Although wide-ranging, I think there are some noticeable gaps, both within specific sections (for example, no story of Eros and Psyche in the Greek myths) and significant types of myths that are neglected. It would have been interesting to see a little about the Arthurian legends, which are a big part of British mythology. The other thing that is missing is any sort of comparisons. While many cultures had creation and flood stories, there is little direct commentary on the similarities or differences. It would have also been interesting to see some discussion on parallels between myths and the stories of the Bible.
Of course, this book is big enough as it is, and editing decisions needed to be made. While this book suffers from the flaw of incompleteness, it does not have flawed writing, which makes it a good book although (literally) not a light read.

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Myths are the timeless expression of the imagination born out of the need to make sense of the universe. Moving across the centuries, they resonate with our deepest feelings about the fragility and grandeur of existence. Mythology is a comprehensive, richly illustrated survey of the mythic imagination in all its forms around the world, from the odysseys, quests and battles of ancient Greece and Rome to the living beliefs of indigenous cultures in the Americas, Africa and Oceania. Looking at each major myth-making culture in turn, this book retells some of the most significant and captivating stories in a lively, contemporary style. Generously illustrated with more than 700 color photographs, Mythology brings you the vibrant stories that echo time and again in our lives.

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"O" Is for Outlaw Review

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(More customer reviews)Like many of the people here I've also read this whole series. I think Kinsey Millhone is my favorite among all of the female PI's that abound today and I find that Ms. Grafton is consistent in her portrayal from book to book. "O" is no exception to that.
There were many things I liked about this book. The way it begins with Kinsey breaking into someone's house because she won't pay $10 for information is funny. Kinsey's outlook is just a little off-center and I find that amusing. So, I liked the book. However, after saying all of that I was disappointed in the ending. I hate it when the protagonist does something dumb just to advance the plot. I don't want to ruin the ending for anyone who hasn't read it yet, however, if you're being pursued by someone who has a gun and you're pretty sure this person means to harm you would you drive right past not one, but TWO Santa Teresa deputy cars and the LAPD detectives who are backing you up? I don't think so. This was clearly designed to end the book in a certain way at a certain place but it was done in an unbelievable way. With all of Ms. Grafton's expertise this surprised me. Good book anyway. Kinsey Millhone is head and shoulders above her other sisters in crime.

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The Dead and the Gone (The Last Survivors, Book 2) Review

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(More customer reviews)I had the privilege to get an advanced reading copy and here is my review.
Last year I read Life As We Knew It by the same author of this wonderful book. You can find the review for that book here. I enjoyed Life As We Knew It so much that when I heard about there being a companion book I jumped with joy. Being a companion book also means you don't have to have read Life As We Knew It to know what is going on. The Dead & the Gone is a completely separate story.
The Dead & the Gone uses the same premise as Life As We Knew It, but takes place in a vastly different environment that creates some truly gruesome challenges for the main characters. Before we were in Pennsylvania away from large bodies of water, away from large cities, and away from practically all the major problems of an urban sprawl. The Dead & the Gone, however, is the exact opposite, taking place in New York City. An asteroid has struck the moon, pushing it into a closer orbit around the Earth and thrusting the Morales family into a grueling struggle for survival. With Alex's parents gone and presumed dead, he has to learn to take care of his younger sisters while keeping his faith in God. But New York City is not an easy place to live in when the electricity rarely works, fuel for stoves is in short supply, and a bitter winter caused by increased volcanic activity thrusts them into extreme cold, famine, and an epidemic.
Once again I feel that Susan has done a fantastic job bringing forward a truly powerful and realistic story about survival. The only thing SF about this story, again, is the impact on the moon, but the world we're presented is a modern world.
The strongest element in this companion novel is a religious element. In Life As We Knew It religion wasn't really a big deal, and in some ways it wasn't even part of the story. For The Dead & the Gone religion is practically everything. Alex is a catholic going to a catholic private school in a family of catholics. He's devout, his younger sister Bri is devout, and his youngest sister is religious, though not nearly as much as her siblings. This has to be stressed in my review because this story is partially a test of faith. How does one hold on to a belief in God when everything around you is falling apart and your prayers aren't being answered? When people start committing suicide or dying on the street and nobody bothers to pick them up and tkae them elsewhere for days, weeks, even months, how do you deal with that belief in God? Even though Alex never does lose his faith, he does battle with doubts and feelings that he feels may be sinful. He must do things that he wouldn't normally do and doesn't feel comfortable doing (such as taking the clothes and personal items off dead bodies in the street to barter for food or stealing from abandoned apartments to do the same).
Alex is a strong character and a character you can't help looking up to. He's charged with taking care of his two sisters practically by himself. Unlike in Life As We Knew It, everything quickly turns to darkness as food becomes incredibly scarce and the bitter winters set in with no way to heat up an apartment that, by default, has no fireplace (I think the quickness of this was somewhat intentional to pull away from the longer feel of the previous book). He has to battle with the decisions he makes every day as he does everything he can just to keep his family alive. It's harsh, it's real, and it's frightening to imagine that anyone would have to go through this. Would any of us survive?
There are some significant diversions beyond location from the previous book. In The Dead & the Gone we see the main character, Alex, get the flu, and have to follow him through the ordeal since he is the central character and the only character whose mind we get into. Susan does a marvelous job presenting a twisted, delusional view through the eyes of someone stricken with illness. The prose becomes disorienting just as the character descends into a myriad of hallucinations and merging of reality and bizarre fantasy. The 'diary' format carries over from the previous book, but here things are split up by day, but the entries are not diary entries, but standard prose entries, which diverges somewhat from the really internal feel and presents more of the grim reality of a New York City fallen from grace.
There are two flaws. The first is the ending, which does leave a little to be desired. Alex has such a hard time getting his sisters out of NYC, but in the end we're led to believe that they must have gotten out. I found myself actually questioning that. What if that plan hadn't worked? What if things failed? Could they be dead now? Perhaps that is what is wanted, and if so, good job, because I'm wondering. To be honest, though, this flaw wasn't that big of a deal. I still loved the book. The other flaw with the book is that for those that have read Life As We Knew It, there isn't a lot of surprise. You know what is going to happen with the moon, you know some of the things that will happen (food shortages, dead, and disease). Granted, some things are different and the way certain elements come into play differ from the first book, but they are the same in a lot of ways. The book, however, is still engaging and certainly a great read. Despite it being 'predictable' in the way I mentioned, it does leave twists and turns you wouldn't expect. People die suddenly and without warning; reliable sources of food suddenly dry up; and illness takes hold.
Regardless, this is one of my favorite books of 2008 already. I fell in love with Life As We Knew It almost instantly, and it was the same here. This book is put together so well that I found myself on the edge of my metaphorical seat (I lay in bed and read). I regret to say that I had to put down the book at one point when something happened that upset me. I mean this in a good way though. Very few books get me so engaged that when someone dies or something bad happens it actually has an effect on me. I think part of me was just upset about what had happened, but I won't ruin that for you, because it would take away the surprise. The pacing is perfect and the dates on the different sections are a great marker of time to keep you in the know. I sincerely hope that Susan continues writing these quasi-SF stories, these real life stories with a slight SF twist.

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Robert Ludlum's The Bourne Sanction Review

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(More customer reviews)To agree with a few previous reviewers, I thought this title was pretty mediocre compared to the earlier Bourne books, and others I've read in the genre. The plot was a bit confusing at times, but I expect some of that in an action-thriller. My main problem was that the character of Jason Bourne was incredibly shallow! Much more time was spent developing the character of his nemesis in the book.
There were definitely a few grammatical errors and typos. Something else that annoyed me: Lustbader seems to be in love with the word "preternatural" and used it every time he could throw it in there. Why use a little-known word so often when a simpler one would suffice? Also, his knowledge of weaponry, spycraft, etc seems very sketchy-- an "HK 1911 .45" handgun is something that doesn't exist, for example. The action scenes and fighting scenes were confusing and difficult to understand as a reader. If you've ever read someone like Clancy, this will sound to you like it's been written by an 8th grader... Lustbader is much, much better at describing beautiful scenery and vistas than he is at describing action and espionage.
My other problem with the book was more subjective. If you're like me, you may get tired in this day and age of things that smack of anti-Americanism. In this book, the NSA is depicted as wholly evil, and the only military man (the general) is a ridiculous caricature of every negative military stereotype you've ever heard. I realize that there need to be villains, but I found it a bit silly. The subject of waterboarding is raised, and it's treated as the most horrible, inhumane thing that's ever been seen on earth. However, numerous people are shot, stabbed, tortured and maimed in far more damaging and invasive ways without a second mention.

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Envious Moon: A Novel Review

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(More customer reviews)Thomas Christopher Greene's third novel is an impressive and compelling page-turner. One of Greene's several strengths is his conveyance of setting. Envious Moon offers a change of scenery in this regard, as he has moved the setting from the mountains of Vermont, which featured so prominently and convincingly in his first two works, to the coast of Rhode Island for Envious Moon. Greene demonstrates a similar adeptness with the new setting, which is instantly believable and quickly draws the reader into the emotionally challenging world of the two main characters.
Another of Greene's great strengths is the skill with which he creates emotional tension between his characters, and in this he exceeds his previous achievements. Without wanting to give away too many details, I found most impressive Greene's handling of the characters' range of emotional states, from innocence to lustful romance, and onward towards much darker and challenging truths. This emotional journey is at the root of the success of Envious Moon, and indeed is what makes Greene's most recent effort such an impressive page-turner.
Greene has taken a few plot elements from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, as one might guess from his title. However, the author rightfully feels no obligation to follow closely that famous plot; rather the uses certain plot elements as seeds to send the story in quite unexpected directions. Again, I don't mean to be too vague here, but also don't want to give away essential details of the work. Suffice it to say that, in part, as I considered the connections with Shakespeare's famous work (and I mean as a compliment the fact that I have spent a good deal of time contemplating this novel) it occurred to me that this is a very modern and American take on that love story. Green's work is one that deals with the challenging emotional realities of two complex characters; however, on a larger scale the author addresses in a very immediate and challenging way the often disturbing questions of identity and self-determination, resonant themes which place this fine novel as a very contemporary and distinctly American work of fiction.
Greene's Envious Moon is a thoughtful, sometimes disturbing, always compelling read. Highly recommended.


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Night Game (John Marquez Crime Novels) Review

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(More customer reviews)I thoroughly enjoyed this book, the second installment in the John Marquez crime fiction series. Intelligent characters, well-paced plot, an insight into a world I knew nothing about, the illegal trafficking in bear bile (just as the first Marquez explored the world of abalone smuggling, another world previously unknown to me) - plus, to top it all off, good writing. One could hardly ask for anything more, except a third installment. As to that, I understand one is on the way, one focusing on caviar and sturgeon trafficking, with a special appearance by Russian mobsters. I'm looking forward to it already. In the meantime, though, check out Night Games. You won't be disappointed.

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Once and Future Myths: The Power of Ancient Stories in Modern Times Review

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(More customer reviews)I enjoyed this book because of its wide-ranging subjects...the way he related baseball to Paris to philosophy to food to Easter Island to...etc. I thought his first chapter on the myth of Sisyphus worked the best. I was expecting each chapter to be related to some Greek or other classic myth, and how that myth resonates in our modern lives, but this is not what he did, except for that 1st chapter. Nevertheless, a good, thought-provoking book, not overly New-Agey.

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The Book of Deeds of James I of Aragon: A Translation of the Medieval Catalan Llibre Dels Fets (Crusade Texts in Translation) Review

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(More customer reviews)the translator of the above title has done an excellent job of making james Ist to come alive.anyone interested in spain during the medieval period must use this primary source to understand the reconquista, and how it affected spain to the present.

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The Crocodile and the Crane: A Novel of Immortality and Apocalypse Review

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(More customer reviews)Some 3500 years ago a blacksmith roamed China with his two children. One reason they wandered as much as they did is to keep people from noticing how slowly they aged and how healthy they were. Gao the Blacksmith had discovered a secret of meditation and movement that had amazing benefits. Zetain and her brother Sanfeng practiced the same secrets. Of course, discovery was inevitable, angry villagers suffering from a plague turned on Gao, and the children fled, surviving on their wiles and the special powers their 'qigong' practice gave them. 3500 years later, they have become secretive powers in the oriental world, and now, for the second time, the original plague has returned to threaten the world.
While Sanfeng and Zetian play key roles in this tale the real heroes are Dalton Day an unlikely gongfu instructor who has stumbled on a number of Gao's secrets, Leili Musi, whose son is an early victim of the deadly disease, and Monica Farmore, who has drawn the assignment of helping Dalton Day during a tour of Hong Kong to publicize his new book. There are quite a few other interesting characters, but these are the people who will either save or destroy the world. Zetian is a cruel and materialistic woman who cares not at all what happens to the world. She is opposed by her brother who has set in motion plans that will bring a glimmer of hope to a world dying from a disease that seems to have no cause. The others are the pieces in the complicated game of chess that Gao's children are playing.
Rosenfeld does an admirable job of keeping the plot moving without getting bogged down in various metaphysical and environmental discussions. Don't get me wrong, these do happen, but the author establishes a balance that keeps up the reader's interest. The tension builds slowly, but steadily. He introduces some interesting ideas (look up apoptosis) that make this more than yet another 'plague ends the world' story. I also appreciated the tour of Hong Kong and Indonesia as well as the insights into how well the world deals (or doesn't deal) with a major health crisis.
This is the second of Rosenfeld's novels that I've read (the first was The Cutting Season, a tale of a doctor who is more than a little handy with swords). This story is more maturely written and works on more levels than the first. Since they are completely unrelated tales I would recommend The Crocodile And The Crane for starters.
[Review copy provided by the author]

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The Associate Review

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(More customer reviews)Mr. Grisham is padding his billing sheet with The Associate, which seems almost to have been ghost-written. It reflects little of the talent behind The Partner, my favorite Grisham novel and, frankly, it made me somewhat upset to have spent 27 bucks. I would have been disappointed to buy this one in paperback. Time was that you started a Grisham novel and couldn't put it down. Had I not been stuck in an airport en route from a deposition I would not have had the patience to finish.
This book was like my sixth grade term paper; we all had them, you would count the words until you got to the end. Likewise, although there was some great potential in this story it was not realized. Sure, there were half-hearted attempts to bring other characters to life, but they were all just that, half-hearted. The ending was among the most disappointing that I have ever come across--in any genre.
Nobody learns anything. There is no character progression--just a slow moving train wreck from which nobody emerges having been enlightened. In fact, the reader feels much like our protagonist--forced to endure a journey that was expected to be something completely different and not entirely sure how to escape. Heavens, big law firms are such a deliciously evil mix of stunningly warped personalities and distorted goals that any number of excellent thrillers could be drawn from facts known to just about any lawyer.
I do hope that Mr. Grisham rediscovers the joy of telling a story--he is very good at it; however, I cannot recommend this book.

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The Bishop (The Patrick Bowers Files, Book 4) Review

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(More customer reviews)When a Congressman's daughter is found brutally murdered in Washington D.C., FBI Agent Patrick Bowers is called in to help make sense of the madness. Bowers has a knack for catching high profile killers thanks to his controversial use of geospatial investigative techniques. However, this time around Bowers continually runs into dead ends despite his best efforts. Catching one killer is hard enough, but now all the evidence hints at two.
In Patrick's personal life things are no less complicated. Tessa's birth father is back on the scene, Bowers is caught in a dizzying love triangle, and a psychopath from his past pays an unwanted visit. Despite all the obstacles in his path, Patrick Bowers must find a way to do what he does best: catch killers.
Steven James continues his impressive run with his fourth Bowers Files novel. Series of this nature often run the risk of becoming repetitive and overdone. After awhile familiar characters become stale and the plot twists become less surprising and more manufactured. Steven James shows no signs of falling into these traps, and it only seems his writing is better with each offering.
As always, this novel's strengths lie in the characters. The first person narrative of Patrick Bowers is nothing short of exceptional, as is James' depiction of the father/daughter relationship between Patrick and his step-daughter, Tessa. Indeed, Tessa has become a fan favorite of the series with her quick wit and intelligence coupled with a vulnerability that surfaces at just the right moments. This beautifully flawed relationship has been the glue that holds these stories together and that's certainly the case once again.
The Bishop takes place primarily in the Northeast and its fun to see Patrick working in different locations in each novel. No matter where he finds himself the reader feels like they are there, only proving the level of research that goes into each story. If that wasn't proof enough, readers will be captivated by the intricacies of geospatial investigative techniques and the procedural elements of FBI investigations. Everything about the story feels real and the reader can't help but be drawn in.
Steven James continues to impress me with his ability create genuine twists and revelations. While there is nothing mind blowing about the plot execution here, I was still caught off guard by the killer's identities in the end. James is a master of presenting so many possible angles that it makes it almost impossible to accurately foresee the outcome.
The Bowers Files is in full swing and I am thoroughly enjoying this journey. Up next is The Queen, and I have no doubt it will be well worth the wait.

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Jesus Goes to Hollywood: The Alternative Theories About Christ Review

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(More customer reviews)I especially enjoyed the combination of research and factual information about Jesus alternating with a fictional account of a Messiah figure who appears on Earth for a Second Coming. There is an element of mystery in these alternate chapters which kept me interested in turning the pages. I enjoyed William Bramley's first book The Gods of Eden, and I found this book even more interesting.

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Offspring Review

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(More customer reviews)The people and places of Liam Jackson's _Offspring_ are recognizably from the here and now - and they aren't sappy, two dimensional do-gooders who exist only to prevail against overdrawn, over-the-top, bad guys that one encounters in some books where the bad guys are supernatural beings. In this book, the bad guys are the Fallen Angels and their Leader has decided to turn up the intensity of his rebellion against God. On Earth, violent crime and an epidemic of child abductions are just two of the symptoms of the battle being fought in the human realm. Is it Armageddon? Perhaps book two or three of the trilogy will provide the answer.
There's nothing about the setting, or most of the characters, that isn't completely familiar - and this could be what makes _Offspring_ so chilling, the story doesn't sound all that fictional after scanning the headlines in today's paper or watching CNN.
The good guys being drawn into the fight against these foes seem at first ill equipped and weak, a young boy, an ex-con, a police officer losing his grip on reality, an accountant. The story follows these characters as they are inexorably drawn to Abbotsville, Tennessee for a supernatural face-off. Watching them realize who they are in the eternal scheme of things and what they now face is a compelling adventure for the reader. Highly recommended.

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Our Lady of Greenwich Village: A Novel Review

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(More customer reviews)I tend to read all things Irish and I picked up this book in our local library. I read the first chapter and was hooked. I am normally a very fast reader, reading about two books per week. It took me two weeks to read this book. It requires your attention. Because the language is pretty explicit, I wasn't even sure that it was a book intended for the female audience. I am so glad that I kept on reading. The characters are indeed quirky, funny and sad and though our hero's politics are not my own, the political situations were wonderfully written. But it was his strong faith and what happens when he decides to follow his sense that the Blessed Virgin had something she wanted him to do that makes this book such a great read. His journey to find his lost family in Ireland is just wonderful. I hope to see more from this talented writer.


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Kieron Smith, Boy Review

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(More customer reviews)How is it possible that no one else has reviewed James Kelman's new novel? Maybe the America reading public just hasn't caught up to one of the world's major, major prose stylists. Kleman masterfully evokes a Scottish boyhood. I won't even bother with the plot, because this isn't a coming of age novel, and it doesn't try in any way to burden itself with some wide arch of plot in order to wrap up a singular experience; in other words, Kelman dares to say: childhood is what it is. Scottish childhood--at least this specific one--isn't going to give way to some grand apothosis. It is what it is. In taking this stance, Kelman creates a work of art that demands that you, the reader, come to terms with childhood; it forces the reader to simply remember that being a kid was great, and terror-filled, and marvelous; that being a kid brought you in touch with the deepest aspects of the culture. . .and so evoking it, brings the reader in touch with his or her past along with the past of a very specific culture. Do young boys think in terms of plot: no. Because he refuses to leave the vantage of the young boy, the book moves differently; changes in Kieron's life appear and he faces them and then moves on to to the next moment. What keeps you reading is the pure, clean, simple, language.
"I went to my grannie's by myself. I was glad. I liked it better."
Reviews in Europe were widely appreciative. Kelman, a Booker Prize winner, is barely known in the US. This one should've been an Oprah pick.


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