Product Description
On November 15, 1959, in the small town of Holcomb, Kansas, four members of the Clutter family were savagely murdered by blasts from a shotgun held a few inches from their faces.There was no apparent motive for the crime, and there were almost no clues.

Five years, four months and twenty-nine days later, on April 14, 1965, Richard Eugene Hickock, aged thirty-three, and Perry Edward Smith, aged thirty-six, were hanged from the crime on a gallows in a warehouse in the Kansas State Penitentiary in Lansing, Kansa.

In Cold Blood is the story of the lives and deaths of these six people.It has already been hailed as a masterpiece.Amazon.com Review
In Cold Blood was a groundbreaking work when releasedin 1966.With it, author Truman Capote contributed to a style ofwriting in which the reporter gets so far inside the subject, becomesso familiar, that he projects events and conversations as if he werereally there. The style has probably never been accomplished betterthan in this book. Capote combined painstaking research with anarrative feel to produce one of the most spellbinding stories everput on the page. Two two-time losers living in a lonely house inwestern Kansas are out to make the heist of their life, but whenthings don't go as planned, the robbery turns ugly. From there, thebook is a real-life look into murder, prison, and the criminal mind. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (483)

The first "novelized" true crime non-fiction!
Dateline 1959, Holcomb, Kansas: Herb Clutter, a wealthy, well-respected God-fearing Methodist farmer, his wife and two children are brutally murdered in what modern police parlance would term a home invasion. The Clutters, dispatched without any apparent motive, made particularly poignant victims. Mr Clutter, a hard-working, successful farmer, allowed no drinking on his farm. Generous to a fault and yet prudent with his money to an extreme, he paid for everything by cheque. His attractive daughter, Nancy, a lovely young woman well-behaved, obedient and chaste to an extent that would baffle the modern teenage generation, loved to bake and regularly attended 4-H meetings. The son, Kenyon, also a good homebody who respected his father's word as law, loved to putter in their home workshop. The only cloud on their family horizon was Mrs Bonnie Clutter prone to debilitating fits of anxiety and depression.

IN COLD BLOOD, arguably the ground-breaking first book in the true crime genre that might be called "novelized" non-fiction, tells the story of the family, their murder, the murderers, the investigation that led to their capture, the trial and ultimate execution by hanging. Truman Capote's extensive investigation allowed him to reach into the very minds of the murderers and to re-write a story that allows readers to witness how the events leading up to the murder and the actual murder might have taken place in real time BUT from the point of view of the killers themselves, Richard "Dick" Hickock and Perry Edward Smith.

That the killers were twisted sociopaths is apparent throughout the book. Witness the banal, bleakly noir but paradoxical and utterly shocking statement that Smith made regarding Herb Clutter's murder to Capote during one of their interviews, "I didn't want to harm the man. I thought he was a very nice gentleman. Soft spoken. I thought so right up to the moment I cut his throat."

IN COLD BLOOD is an extraordinary compelling work, seminal and pioneering in its nature, that plumbs the depths of a motiveless multiple murder and brings the reaction of the community and a shocked nation to life. Small wonder that there is controversy to this day about the effect that writing this novel might have had on Truman Capote himself. There is little doubt that the effort left him a very changed man.

Highly recommended.

Paul Weiss

5 stars for book, 1 star for reader, Frank Brick
I've read Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" many times over the years.It is an undisputed masterpiece.

But the audible book reading of this book by Frank Brick is rather sad.His voice is whiney and pinched--as ifhaving a constant cold. The pacing of his read is plodding and very much uninspired.

What a shame they couldn't get someone with a better/stronger voice to read this book.

Where the Endless Debate Began

The true story of the truly horrific and pointless murder of the Clutter family by Perry Smith and Dick Hickock at Holcomb Kansas in 1959. Capote explores every aspect and perspective of the crime; the victims, their community, the perpetrators,the investigation,trial and justice as stated under the law.
This really is the fabled unput-downable page turner! It is so much more than the telling of a crime;it explores the affect such an act has on a tight knit community;the rumours and fantastic speculations (you begin to see how conspiracy theories develop!)and Capote raises controversial questions; how far is responsibility diminished by mental illness? The damage done by a poor childhood. Is the death penalty actually a deterent or state sponsored murder in the interest of revenge?Capote questions the whole shambles in the legal world that turns the death penalty into a kind of lottery where any sense or justice is sidelined.
This outraged many sections of society who just saw the brutality of the murders, but they forget Capote also says a society without laws to civilize it denies what man is. Without laws to pose maximum penalties on the likes of Hickock and Smith.what cruelty cannot be justified?
The debate still rages! This is a book that will never stop being in print,read and discussed. A true-in every sense of the over used term-classic.

where ereading really goes well.
A very personal (though not original) view on this book. This is a breathtaking work: in its accurate research; in it style. Most of all it is one of those creations in which the author reveals some quintessential aspect of humanity. This is visible both in the creation of the characters - Perry Smith mostly. Not just a matter of the book design but also of the relationship of Capote with the murderer (Capote is reported to have fallen in love with P. Smith).
Capote is also an example of incredible determination and persistence which I admire immensely, in spite of his rather irritating persona. His social raise and fall are tragic witnesses to his clarividence. All the contradictions of humanity in one book and the story of that book.
It also a very good electronic read: the pagination works well on kindle, kindle size and font change really are a convenience.

What a difference 40 or 50 years can make...
I read the print version of this book when it first appeared back in the 60s (I believe that is the right time frame), and was hypnotized by it.I hadn't read anything quite like it before.Now, many years later, I have re-read it, and while it is still a compelling read, I don't believe it would hold up nearly as well if released today, although I'm sure it would still be a fairly decent seller.I actually prefer Capote's collection of short stories (something about Chameleons), and feel that writing was superior to that in In Cold Blood.But, it's still a darn good story - especially considering that it's true.Still worth a read. ... Read more

Product Description
New York Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen’s relentless, inventive novels take readers on pulse-racing thrill rides that are as satisfying as they are heart-stopping. Now, in this edge-of-your-seat suspense novel, a mysteriously isolated town stands abandoned as a silent watcher waits.

In Wyoming for a medical conference, Boston medical examiner Maura Isles joins a group of friends on a spur-of-the-moment ski trip. But when their SUV stalls on a snow-choked mountain road, they’re stranded with no help in sight.
As night falls, the group seeks refuge from the blizzard in the remote village of Kingdom Come, where twelve eerily identical houses stand dark and abandoned. Something terrible has happened in Kingdom Come: Meals sit untouched on tables, cars are still parked in garages. The town’s previous residents seem to have vanished into thin air, but footprints in the snow betray the presence of someone who still lurks in the cold darkness—someone who is watching Maura and her friends.

Days later, Boston homicide detective Jane Rizzoli receives the grim news that Maura’s charred body has been found in a mountain ravine. Shocked and grieving, Jane is determined to learn what happened to her friend. The investigation plunges Jane into the twisted history of Kingdom Come, where a gruesome discovery lies buried beneath the snow. As horrifying revelations come to light, Jane closes in on an enemy both powerful and merciless—and the chilling truth about Maura’s fate.
 

Published in the UK as THE KILLING PLACE. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (106)

"We did come from the land of ice and snow." Song lyrics
Maura Isles, a Boston medical examiner, attends a conference in Wyoming. She meets an old friend from medical school and decides to join his companions for a brief ski trip.

In the heavy snow, they make a wrong turn and become stranded on a deserted road. Seeking help, they trudge through the snow to a group of homes but find that the homes are empty and appear as if they had been recently deserted.

One of Maura's companions becomes seriously injured and another tries to ski back to civilization for help. When this person doesn't return, Maura decides that she will go for help.

In Boston, Maura's friend, Daniel Brophy, a Catholic priest that Maura had been seeing, becomes concerned when she isn't on her return flight. She doesn't answer her phone and Brophy asks her friend, Boston homicide detective, Jane Rizzoli, for help. Jane and her FBI husband, Gabriel, make some calls and become so concerned that they travel to Wyoming to search for Maura.

The suspense mounts as the local police don't seem very forthcoming. Then there is a report of finding two bodies that were burned beyond recognition. Could one of the bodies be Maura's?

One reason why readers may enjoy this novel is that the author provides excellent pacing in the novel. As law enforcement personnel approach the suspected mastermind of a number of deaths, it seemed as if Tess Gerritsen was a composer and the reader was hearing the sounds of music such as the "1812 Overture," as the action reached a climax.

At this point, there was an unexpected plot twist that succeeded in taking me by surprise. This was well done but in this section the author had one major character having actions attributed to that person that were out of character with prior descriptions and difficult to accept.

The author dealt with a number of sensitive issues such as religious cults and the manner in which women can be regulated to a lower status in cults. Gerritsen also provided information about the children of families in cults and how sometimes they can be neglected.

Overall a fun read and interesting progression of the Rizzoli and Isles tradition.

Love Tess' work BUT not interested in Protagonist...
I give this a "4-star" b/c I like Gerritsen's work *that* much but am not as interested in the coroner's perspective as the protagonist and find that she is a trifle "wimpy" in that role. Oh well, let's not repeat that, shall we? Stick to the tough characters that we can sink our collective teeth into!

Suspense That Will Chill You to the Bone
I do love me some Tess Gerritsen. She's an auto buy author for me (even if they are in hardcover first). Her books always evoke a wide range of emotions. Her stories are always memorable, compelling and highly suspenseful. Sometimes the descriptions can be graphic since Gerritsen pulls no punches but you just have to keep turning the pages, no matter how cringe worthy the descriptions.

Jane Rizzoli and Maura Isles are back in Gerritsen's latest novel. Jane and Maura are great friends with a mutual respect for one another and have forged a strong friendship. In Ice Cold one woman battles for her life against evil forces and the elements, while the other races against the clock to save a friend.

If you've never read any books in this series, I wouldn't suggest you start with this one. If you do want to give it a try, there is some back story provided but so much history exists in this series that you would be doing yourself a disservice by not starting with the amazing and unforgettable first book in the series The Surgeon. If you've been a follower all along, then buckle in for another great ride. Ice Cold was a chilling, roller-coaster ride that was worth the wait.

Medical examiner Maura Isles is kind of at a crossroads in her life and is in the midst of making a difficult, life changing decision in her personal relationship with Father Daniel Brophy (yes the Catholic kind of Father). So when she heads off to a medical conference in Montana, the time away allows for some personal reflection and a spur of the moment decision to accompany an old classmate she reconnects with at the conference, his daughter and another couple on a little sight-seeing side trip - will result in one of the worst decisions Maura ever makes.

A freak snowstorm and car trouble strands the group in their SUV in the middle of nowhere with no help in sight.Cold, wet and forced to rely on each other for their survival, the group is forced to trek through the wilderness and fight the elements as they seek shelter in an abandoned settlement they happen upon called Kingdom Come (cue the spooky music). Gerritsen uses the elements in Ice Coldto the fullest extent as this group struggles to stay alive.

It doesn't take long to establish that something seriously bad happened among the deserted homes. The evil presence is palpable and Gerritsen is a master at making you feel like you are a part of the story and experience the emotions right along with the characters. There was lots of heart pounding tension and teeth gnashing as I flew through the pages.

Once homicide detective Jane Rizzoli finds out her good friend Maura is missing, she along with her FBI hubby Gabe and Father Daniel trek off to the wilds of Montana to search for Maura, leaving no stone unturned. Jane's not about to let the local yokels give up on looking for Maura - no matter what the evidence points to.

The suspense is riveting, the story chilling and if you can figure out what was going on before the end, then kudos to you. If you plan to start this book then 1. Don't start it at night - cuz it's spooky and 2. You better block off a chunk of time because you won't want to put it down until the last page is read.

A great book!
Because I love the show "Rizzoli & Isles" I discovered Tess Gerritsen and her books.I have listened to all of them because it a good way for me to 'read' books while doing something else.This book is great because it built a lot of suspense and it went down a winding road before it came to its conclusion.I keep hoping that Maura will end up with the character introduced in the Mephisto Club, instead of the priest.There were moments when I was listening to this novel that I actually got cold thinking about being stranded in Wyoming.I highly recommend this book!

She's done it again....
Another page turner!Love it!Makes you want to read all the back books you missed through the years.This was a wonderful read! ... Read more

Product Description
It started with a beautiful woman and a challenge. As a gift for her husband, Alyssa Bradford approaches Eric Shaw to make a documentary about her father-in-law, Campbell Bradford, a 95-year-old billionaire whose past is wrapped in mystery. Eric grabs the job even though there are few clues to the man's past--just the name of his hometown and an antique water bottle he's kept his entire life.

In Bradford's hometown, Eric discovers an extraordinary history--a glorious domed hotel where movie stars, presidents, athletes, and mobsters once mingled, and hot springs whose miraculous mineral water cured everything from insomnia to malaria. Neglected for years, the resort has been restored to its former grandeur just in time for Eric's stay.

Just hours after his arrival, Eric experiences a frighteningly vivid vision. As the days pass, the frequency and intensity of his hallucinations increase and draw Eric deeper into the town's dark history. He discovers that something besides the hotel has been restored--a long-forgotten evil that will stop at nothing to regain its lost glory. Brilliantly imagined and terrifyingly real, So Cold the River is a tale of irresistible suspense with a racing, unstoppable current.Amazon.com Review
Amazon Best Books of the Month, June 2010: Award-winning author Michael Koryta's first foray into the supernatural genre is spellbinding and check-your-doors-and-windows scary, and it all begins with a check and a bottle of water. Filmmaker Eric Shaw had a knack for getting the exact right shot--an unexplained tug that unerringly put him on the right path--until his temper killed his Hollywood career. He gets a shot at redemption when a wealthy young woman commissions a video tribute for her father-in-law, a dying millionaire named Campbell Bradford. A man with a shady past, a town with a rich history, and an antique bottle of water claiming to "cure all ills" lead Shaw to small town West Baden, where things quickly go sideways. Shaw finds himself at odds with Bradford's only surviving family, a bitter and violent great-grandson named Josiah, and that once familiar tug of Shaw's becomes something darker and more dangerous. At its deliciously creepy core, So Cold the River is about two men facing down their demons, and what happens when those demons fight back. --Daphne Durham ... Read more

Customer Reviews (81)

Just Dumb
So I guess this wasn't my type of book.I really had no idea what to expect but thought I would take a gamble (usually I read books that are recommended by others who have already read them)...and unfortunately my gamble didn't pay off.

The book is about haunted water.Yes, "haunted water."Really?Yes.REALLY?(No this isn't SNL).

In the beginning, the book had promise.We're lead to believe our main man, Eric Shaw, has some kind of paranormal ability but unfortunately the book never really went anywhere with this.Not that I'm into the supernatural but because this trait was introduced from the get-go, I fully expected the book to run with it.

For me, the many cliches found in the book were just not necessary.The thread with Anne McKinney, a spunky little old woman, with her storm watching fascination seemed to be included only to try and add an element of foreshadowing.I'm all for including this kind of imagery but when it's done so obviously, it's like watching an oncoming train miles down the tracks - actually it's about as lame as my simile there.

I will say that the idea of a mysterious bottle of water - one that gets cold on its own - is intriguing.The problem I had was (and I'm trying to write this without spoiling anything) that the water was never really explained very well.Some will definitely disagree with me here because you do learn the 'why' and the origination of it, but it just wasn't very fulfilling for me for some reason.I was left with a "so what" feeling and "that's it?".Boooooo.

The character development overall was good.I enjoyed the primary set of players (Eric, Anne, Kellen, Danny, etc.) which were integrated nicely.They offered a good balance while staying true to their own traits.

Ultimately though, I couldn't wait for it to end and it really was a struggle for me to get through.It just didn't hold my attention and I wasn't sitting on the edge of my seat waiting to turn the next page.For me, the books that keep the pages turning and me wanting to know "now what?" are the ones that I truly enjoy.This wasn't one of those.So bottom line, would I recommend buying it?No.Would I recommend reading it if someone shared it with me?Not unless I didn't have anything else to read.

A little predictable
Given the early reviews I expected something not so predictable.I grade a book according to the level it keeps me up at night.This was a little of a yawner.

So Cold The River -- Rocks
This book is amazing. The author is amazing. Off to read more of his work. He draws you in and holds you bond -- between the pages of his world!

Must be filmed award! Fingers crossed to see this one on the big screen.

Very well researched...believeable...spooky and just simple cool!
Thank you!

boring with a capital B and not scary at all
Ugh.I've read all of Koryta's other stuff, and was interested in this book when it came out, especially given the great reviews.

What a disappointment!It's incredibly long, and not creepy at all.Sort of a bizarre ghost story, but no "gotcha" moments of any kind.The bad guys are completely cardboard -- bad to the bone, maybe morons and maybe smart, but just totally one-dimensional.The main character is flawed, but not really in a terribly interesting way -- a failed movie director who hasn't really dealt with it.

You never really find out about the water.There isn't really a central mystery that you have to either unravel or watch as the author unravels it.In short, there's just no "there" there.

The book was bad enough that I'm scratching Koryta off my "read what he writes" list.

Starts well, ends badly
A burned out film producer gets a chance to make a documentary about a mysterious wealthy man at the request of his curious daughter-in-law.The author quickly pulls us in with a strange old bottle of very cold water and two towns that were once destinations for the glitterati.Unfortunately the book begins to go wrong fairly soon.I believe it may have been Alfred Hitchcock who once said that you can only scare people so long as you do not show them the monster because once you show them the monster it can never be as scary as what they imagined.That is exactly the problem here.The monster does not seem all that scary; worse yet, I found the monster's motives hard to comprehend or believe.The protagonist's broken marriage, which we are asked to accept as a major theme here,seemed to be strangely lifeless.I actually found myself hoping they'd stay estranged.Overall this was not as good as I'd hoped.Much of the story is told in flashbacks involving several characters, a style of storytelling that few authors are able to pull off, and much of the big finish seemed like something we've seen so many times before.The author has a good, brisk style of writing and I hope he produces more books but this one could have been better.

... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (240)

classic
This novel is a classic of early 1900's southern American life by a highly gifted author.Told with heart and humor.

LOVED, LOVED, LOVED ** SPOILER ALERT **
** SPOILER ALERT **


LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. I can not believe I waited this long to read it. Not only a great story, but Burns does a stellar job of accurately reflecting the Southern culture, speech, prejudices and religious legalisms that were part & parcel of the times. I loved Rucker Blakesley & Ms. Love Simpson. I loved his rebellious attitude against what he believed to be ridiculous restrictions, and I loved that he was not a shallow man. What made him more endearing was his understanding of what ...more LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this book. I can not believe I waited this long to read it. Not only a great story, but Burns does a stellar job of accurately reflecting the Southern culture, speech, prejudices and religious legalisms that were part & parcel of the times. I loved Rucker Blakesley & Ms. Love Simpson. I loved his rebellious attitude against what he believed to be ridiculous restrictions, and I loved that he was not a shallow man. What made him more endearing was his understanding of what was necessary to woo Ms. Love, and his patience & willingness to do so. I loved the way she knew how to get out of him what she wanted without taking advantage of him, and that she grew to love him deeply. But the best part of their relationship by far was their relationship with God. Rucker "preached" his most powerful sermon in his sick (and ultimately death) bed, and it was as true an explanation of what Jesus meant by "ask and you will receive" as there has ever been. Regardless of what his falsely pious, judgmental family & friends had to say, his relationship with God was real & honest.

excellent slice of southern
I'm a big fan of the eccentric characters, petty "wars", and very real feelings under the humor and heartache in this book. Also, a fascinating peek into the mind of a turn of the century 14 year old boy.

fantastic
I thought Cold Sassy Tree was fantastic!So well written, I was really attached to the characters and felt like I was a part of the story!I had a great time reading this and can not wait to read Leaving Cold Sassy!

Days gone by
It's a warm remembrance of the early 1900's in the South - not a cliffhanger or page-turner, it's storytelling at its best.Great character development and in many places, very poigniant.Seeing the changes in Grandpa, you believe an old dog can learn tricks! ... Read more

Product Description
She'd often dreamed about him coming back, with a baby in his arms. And now, Cisco del Norte was home. But the baby he carried couldn't possibly be theirs.

Still, Easton Springhill got part of her wish. The man she could never stop loving was back, even for just a little while—with a serious injury, a beautiful baby girl and an explanation about them both that was as flimsy as his excuse for leaving years before. And after five long years of trying to forget him, Easton was faced with a choice: love him—and that little girl—while she had them, or save herself and get away while the getting was good.

Because there was no way she'd be able to escape with her heart a second time… ... Read more

Product Description
The small town of Black Falls, Vermont, finally feels safe again—until search-and-rescue expert Rose Cameron discovers a body, burnt almost beyond recognition. Almost. Rose is certain that she knows the victim's identity…and that his death was no accident.

Nick Martini also suspects an arsonist's deliberate hand. Another fire killed an arson investigator in California months ago. Now the rugged smoke jumper is determined to follow the killer's trail…even if it leads straight to Rose. Nick and Rose haven't seen each other since they shared a single night of blind passion, but they can't let memories and unhealed wounds get in the way of their common goal—stopping a merciless killer from taking aim straight at the heart of Black Falls. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

exciting Green Mountain State thriller
During a training exercise with her dog Ranger, search-and- rescue expert Rose Cameron finds a burnt body in a shed.The victim appears to be Derek Cutshaw though his body is beyond visual recognition.The evidence points to a serial killer as several victims found burned to death have been discovered.

California based smokejumper Nick Martini is the business partner of Rose's brother Sean (see Cold River).He and Rose shared a one night stand in Beverly Hills eight months ago that still shakes both of them.He follows the trail of a homicide arsonist to Black Falls, Vermont where Rose is.Though attracted to each other and angry over their one evening tryst, the couple puts off their personal war to concentrate on bringing down a psychopath.

The latest Cameron family Green Mountain State thriller is an exciting entry that once again proves murder even by fire is served "cold".The key to the strong story line is that the lead couple, in spite of their attraction leading to falling in love, knows the Cold Pursuit of the diabolical killer must come before their personal desires.Carla Neggers provides another strong investigative mystery.

Harriet Klausner

... Read more

Product Description
Harper Connelly heads to Doraville, North Carolina, to find a missing boy—one of several teenage boys who have disappeared over the last five years. And all of them are calling for Harper. She finds them, buried in the frozen ground. Soon Harper will learn more than she cared to about the dark mysteries and long-hidden secrets of Doraville—knowledge of the dead that makes her next in line to end up in an ice-cold grave. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (116)

Favorite Book of the Series So Far
This book was good.I was a tad bit disappointed with the 2nd book of the series, but this one was better.Charlaine Harris took a different turn here, in a few different ways.I am still not sure I like the love story in this one though.It still seems a bit weird for me, but I always prefer a love story over none!This book seemed to have a lot more to it and kept me interested.Serial killers are always a plus!

Great Read!
An Ice Cold Grave (Harper Connelly Mysteries, No. 3)Loved it.Couldn't put it down.Has twists and turns. Love this series.

WHY ON EARTH IS THIS BOOK NOT AVAILABLE FOR BRAZIL, WHEN #1, #2 AND #4 ARE???
This is UNACCEPTABLE!!!! I have a Kindle for almost a year now, and I've read all the Sookie Stackhouse books through it, and I just started the Harper Connely Mysteries, but book #3 is not available for the Caribbean and Latin America!!! THIS IS ABSURD! Why did they release the first, the second AND the fourth book (Kindle Edition), but not the third??? How the hell am I supposed to read them out of order?!?!?! I won't do it!!!
I EXPECT AMAZON IS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT. REALLY. THIS IS A REAL LET DOWN! COME ON!!! DO SOMETHING!!! An Ice Cold Grave (Harper Connelly Mysteries, Book 3)

not available in Europe?
Why on earth is this book not available for European Kindles if all the other books in the series are? This just doesn't make any sense at all.

4 stars: great paranormal murder mystery story with an unusual romance
A lighting strike survivor, Harper Connelly has the unusual ability to find dead people and read their cause of death. She and her partner Tolliver turned it into a business--traveling on the road as they work cases. Not everyone is accepting of her ability, some thinking her a fraud. The law enforcement cases are the worst--the cops are more skeptical of her power and the cause of death is more often a horrible foul play. Harper and Tolliver's relationship is also unusual. They are step brother/sister, but no blood relation. Harper's mom married Tolliver's dad while they were in their teens. As their parents spiraled downward in a haze of booze and drugs, Harper and Tolliver stepped up take care of their younger siblings. They became best friends in their struggles and that relationship continued into adulthood. In the last book, we learned from Harper's thoughts that she began to feel more for him--love for him as a man rather than a brother. But she feared acting on those feelings and ruining their relationship.

This book had a good mystery storyline with a lot of plot twists and suspenseful moments. Best book in the series so far! The explainations of her being a lighting strike victim and how that brought on her abilities to read the dead were original and interesting. I liked the side characters--it was fun to see some of the quirky ones from book two make another appearance in book three.

I know Harper's changing feelings for her step brother--who is no blood relation to her--skeeved some people out. I actually found them realistic given their horrible childhood. When their parents were drunk and out-of-it on drugs, the two of them acted as stand-in parents for their other siblings. It created a bond and a partnership between the two of them that lasted into their adulthood. They work well together as business partners and are best friends. They do have an unusual relationship, but it seems to work for them. I can also see how she'd be freaked out when she realized her feelings for him were more like love for a man rather than a brother.This part of storyline added a lot of depth to the plotline, which would otherwise be a run of your mill paranormal mystery.

**spoiler**

I loved it when they finally got together. It was very romantic and moving. They had been in love with each other for so long, but afraid to admit their feelings and ruin their relationship. It was a major shocker, but so well done. I can't wait to read book four to see how they deal with this next stage of their relationship.

**end spoiler**

If you haven't read this series and want to give it a try, I recommend skipping book one and go straight to book two. Book one really wasn't all that great and I almost didn't keep reading the series. Book two was good and it gives you background/catchup so you won't be lost. Book three was GREAT and now I'm off to read book four!
... Read more

Product Description

One small irritation in the production is a beepingnoise at the end of each side. Another minor complaint is that thetapes don't have individual boxes, which was perhaps an attempt tomake the overall package appear more booklike. The recording does,however, make deft use of two brief musical interludes. In a subtletwist, the fiddle music that opens the first cassette, when repeatedas an accompaniment to the epilogue, carries a bittersweet andunexpected resonance. By all means, forgive Random House Audio thetiny glitches, pass over that slender abridged version, and take homethe real thing. This audiocassette is a journey that will leave fewlisteners unchanged by the experience. (Running time: 14.5 hours, 12cassettes) --Naomi J. Cohn ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1514)

Cold Mountian
The book was exactly what I ordered I just thought I would enjoy the book more than I did.

PACE!!--PACE!!--PACE!!
I'M NOT SURE IF I AM ALLOWED TO USE THE WORD ""PACE"" IN A REVIEW.
WELL--HERE GOES---
THIS WAS THE SLOWEST, DRAGGING, BORING BOOK I HAVE EVER READ.
""ATLAS SHRUGGED"" FLEW BY---BY COMPARISON.
AND---IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN LONGER---BY ABOUT 80 TO 100 PAGES, I'D SAY.
WHEN INMAN DIES---THAT FUNERAL / BURIAL WOULD HAVE LASTED PAGE AFTER
PAGE AFTER PAGE AFTER . . .

great book, good movie
as in most cases, the book was way better than the movie.definitely recommend it!

A wonderfully lyrical book
Frazier has a wonderful way of telling a story. The language is wonderfully lyrical as he tells this Civil War era love story of a Southern deserter and woman he left behind. Both have changed in just about every way other than their attraction for one another. While I found this book to be extraordinary in its writing, I give it only four stars because it does drag from time to time. Still, this is a hearty recommendation.

Fabulous epic
What a beautiful book! It's really a modern epic that depicts a man's quest to go home after deflecting from fighting in the Civil War. The story is told from several perspectives, from both the man who left home and seeks to return and the women left behind. Everyone is seeking to rebuild their lives amidst the chaos of the war and is drawing strength from strong memories of the past and hope for a better future. The emotions evoked for me were those of longing, regret, hope, and love.This book gave me such a gratefulness to be "home."If you are missing the good old days of high school English class and are craving "literature" rather than plain "fiction," this would be an excellent choice.It is a transporting novel. ... Read more

Product Description
In Gibbons's classic tale, a resourceful young heroine finds herself in the gloomy, overwrought world of a Hardy or Bronte novel and proceeds to organize everyone out of their romantic tragedies into the pleasures of normal life. Flora Poste, orphaned at 19, chooses to live with relatives at Cold Comfort Farm in Sussex, where cows are named Feckless, Aimless, Pointless, and Graceless, and the proprietors, the dour Starkadder family, are tyrannized by Flora's mysterious aunt, who controls the household from a locked room. Flora's confident and clever management of an alarming cast of eccentrics is only half the pleasure of this novel. The other half is Gibbons's wicked sendup of romantic cliches, from the mad woman in the attic to the druidical peasants with their West Country accents and mystical herbs. Anne Massey's skillful rendering of a variety of accents will make this story more accessible to American audiences. Recommended for both literary and popular collections. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (27)

Too over-the top for my tastes, though some nice scenes here and there
This book is a satire, parodying the melodramatic novels of its time period (the early 1930s).I have enjoyed other satires, such as Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and based on a recommendation from a trusted source, I looked forward to enjoying this book.Unfortunately, I was disappointed.

There were definitely some lovely moments of dialogue here and there that I enjoyed.But, on the whole, I found the book to be too over-the-top for my tastes.The first time there was a long overdrawn description of the scenery, it was funny.The second time, mildly amusing.But, eventually it was tiring.The melodrama was played too heavily for my tastes, again it was tiring.Also, I would have enjoyed it more if everything didn't come together quite so unbelievably perfectly.It would have been more interesting if sometimes Flora were surprised that things didn't go exactly as she expected, because don't young ladies of a certain age always like _____ or whatever.Northanger Abbey did this successfully, and was more to my tastes.

One other caution, there is some sexual content, like the young man who thinks everything around him is phallic-shaped or it reminds him of some portion of a woman's anatomy, etc.It is relatively infrequent though.

Overall, this book was just too much for me.Funny moments here and there, but too many deliberately overdrawn descriptions, overly melodramatic moments, perfectly aligned moments, etc for my tastes.Still, I could see that some people with different tastes might be able to enjoy it.

ABRIDGED EDITION, BE WARNED
This is probably a very lovely book, but BE WARNED: The copy on this page is the abridged edition, not Stella Gibbons's original text! There is no need to read an abridged version of this English classic. The publisher should make more clear that this is not the real text.

Horrible Edition!!
Do NOT waste your time with this edition.As another review has stated, this edition (ironically, the only edition Amazon includes for Amazon Prime shipping) is NOT the original text, and the "translation,"the "der....I can't handle British English...huh huh...." American translation, is offensive in its juvenile and lowest-common-denominator approach to this novel.So much has been changed that it's hardly the same work at all.When comparing this edition with the Penguin text side-by-side, I cannot follow the story line from page to page - that's a drastic change!Even the "glossary" in the back questions the reader's intelligence (do I really need to be told the definition for "beetle" and that in Sussex the word "nay" means "no?").Somehow the editor/butcher has managed to turn a 233 page text into 117, obviously showing some major cutting to the descriptions that make Cold Comfort Farm a wonderful book.There are 23 chapters to the original text; this edition has only 11 SHORT chapters - how is it even possible to call this the same book??

One would think that Amazon's description would at least mention that this is not Stella Gibbons' original work but some sort of adaptation.There is a brief mention that "Anne Massey's skillful rendering of a variety of accents will make this story more accessible to American audiences;" however, let me point out that the change of "accents" (ahem...dialect, people...we're talking about a stylistic choice made by the writer to include the dialect!) is not the most drastic change to the book - huge chunks have been taken out, and the syntax of practically every sentence has been changed into a style unrecognizable in relation to the author.Hell, entire paragraphs are unrecognizable when compared to the original text.It's almost like someone tried to turn a novel into a children's book!The publishing company should remove Gibbons' name from the cover and replace it with the BNPublishing logo, or at the very least say something on the cover about the book being some kind of adaptation of the original novel.Unfortunately, I did not see the statement on the back of the book about Massey's rendering of the accents, or I would have had an early warning that this was the wrong edition; however, as I started reading the book, I knew something was wrong - how could this be on a PhD English course syllabus??Haha...thank goodness I have experience with 20th Century British literature so that I caught my mistake within my reading two pages!Well, I'm thankful Barnes and Noble could supply me with the Penguin edition on short notice so that I would not embarrass myself in class!MAKE SURE YOU SPECIFICALLY SEARCH FOR AND BUY THE PENGUIN CLASSICS EDITION!

Angieville: COLD COMFORT FARM
I heard about COLD COMFORT FARM for the first time while I was on study abroad in London my sophomore year of college. Some of the girls in my group were chatting about the film adaptation of it one night and I listened in as they laughed and laughed and quoted perfectly hilarious lines that had me itching to watch it myself, particularly given the wonderful cast, which includes Kate Beckinsale, Ian McKellen, Rufus Sewell, and Stephen Fry. One of the girls had actually read the book itself and told me I should make sure to start there before viewing the movie. So, when I ran across a lovely used copy on sale for a pound in an Oxford bookshop, I pounced on it and stashed it in my suitcase to read when I got home. You see, I had some inkling of how homesick I would be for England after I left it and knew I would need some good reading to get me through the transition back to the States. Originally published in 1932, COLD COMFORT FARM was Stella Gibbons' first novel and a cracking good one at that. With a wonderful and quite shameless panache, it parodies the dark and angsty rural novels popular at the time, particularly the works of Thomas Hardy, Emily Bronte, and D.H. Lawrence. Several of their novels are actually referenced in the book itself and anyone familiar with them (fans or not) will appreciate the light touch Gibbons takes while poking fun at them. I am curious as to how many of you have read, or at least heard of, this novel. It is an absolute gem and one that never fails to bring a smile to my lips.

Flora Poste is in some difficulty. Having been meticulously educated to within an inch of her life, she finds herself unable to support herself when her parents die rather suddenly, leaving her penniless and homeless. After temporarily moving in with an old friend, she sets about writing a sheaf of letters to a host of distant relatives, inquiring after the possibility of moving in with them until she can come up with a way of taking care of herself. Though she receives numerous and downright alarming responses from various and sundry relatives, it is the last one that catches her eye. And for good reason.

***

The last letter was written upon cheap lined paper, in a bold but illiterate hand:

"Dear Niece,

"So you are after your rights at last. Well, I have expected to hear from Robert Poste's child these last twenty years.

"Child, my man once did your father a great wrong. If you will come to us I will do my best to atone, but you must never ask me what for. My lips are sealed.

"Child, child, if you come to this doomed house, what is to save you? Perhaps you may be able to help us when our hour comes.

"Yr. affec. Aunt,

"J. STARKADDER."

***

Against her friend's probably wise wishes, Flora immediately decides to go and live with the Starkadders at Cold Comfort and see what exactly Aunt Judith means by "her rights" and if they might include something practical like oh, say, money. Or a house. But when she arrives in Sussex, it is clear that it is she who has something to give to her bizarre and backwoods relatives. And so, in true Flora style, she rolls up her sleeves and goes about setting things to rights. What follows is one the most hilarious romps I've had the pleasure of encountering.

There's no resisting COLD COMFORT FARM's charms and that's all there is to it. It's really too funny for words. I can't imagine anyone being able to stay away from such a place and such people after reading that letter. From Flora's tribe of mad family members (all held under the imperious thumb of Aunt Ada Doom), to their hysterical habit of always referring to Flora ominously as "Robert Poste's child," to the poor cows Adam is forever milking who go by the names of Graceless, Pointless, Feckless, Aimless, and Fury, it seems everywhere Flora (and the reader) turns there is another hopeless case just begging for her refining touch. And so she romps about the countryside, meddling in other people's affairs, fending off suitors, and all the while tamping down her dismay and befuddlement at everything from their nearly incomprehensible accents to their insistence that there is a curse on the farm itself. Something to do with old Aunt Ada having seen "something nasty in the woodshed" when she was just a girl. That's right. The whole thing is a perfect riot. Here is one of my favorite scenes, in which Flora encounters her cousin Reuben for the first time:

***

"Will you have some bread and butter?" asked Flora, handing him a cup of tea. "Oh, never mind your boots, Adam can sweep the mud up afterwards. Do come in."

Defeated, Reuben came in.

He stood at the table facing Flora and blowing heavily on his tea and staring at her. Flora did not mind. It was quite interesting: like having tea with a rhinoceros. Besides, she was rather sorry for him. Amongst all the Starkadders, he looked as though he got the least kick out of life. After all, most of the family got a kick out of something. Amos got one from religion, Judith got one out of Seth, Adam got his from cowdling the dumb beasts, and Elfine got hers from dancing about on the Downs in the fog in a peculiar green dress, while Seth got his from mollocking. But Reuben just didn't seem to get a kick out of anything.

"Is it too hot?" she asked, and handed him the milk, with a smile.

The opaque curve purred softly down into the teak depths of the cup. He went on blowing it, and staring at her. Flora wanted to set him at his ease (if he had an ease?) so she composedly went on with her tea, wishing there were some cucumber sandwiches.

After a silence which lasted seven minutes by a cover glance at Flora's watch, a series of visible tremors passed across the expanse of Reuben's face, and a series of low, preparatory noises which proceeded from his throat, persuaded her that he was about to speak to her. Cautious as a camera-man engaged in shooting a family of fourteen lions, Flora made no sign.

Her control was rewarded. After another minute Reuben brought forth the following sentence:

"I ha' scranleted two hundred furrows come five o'clock down i' the brute."

It was a difficult remark, Flora felt, to which to reply. Was it a complaint? If so, one might say, "My dear, how too sickening for you!" But then, it might be a boast, in which case the correct reply would be, "Attaboy!" or more simply, "Come, that's capital!" Weakly she fell back on the comparatively safe remark:

"Did you?" in a bright, interested voice.

She saw at once that she had said the wrong thing. Reuben's eyebrows came down and his jaw out. Horrors! He thought she was doubting his word!

"Ay, I did, tu. Two hundred. Two hundred from Ticklepenny's Corner down to Nettle Flitch. Ay, wi'out hand to aid me. Could you ha' done that?"

"No, indeed," replied Flora, heartily, and her guardian angel (who must, she afterwards decided, have been doing a spot of overtime) impelled her to add: "But then, you see, I shouldn't want to."

***

And that is just a small sampling of what you find inside this slim, delightful novel. The parody is masterful and the whole, twisted plot just gets zanier and zanier right up to its dramatic, fitting, and perfectly folded hospital corners conclusion. Highly recommended for Jane Austen fans in need of a good laugh.

Shouldn't be missed!
Written in 1932, this book satirizes the popular British pulp novels of the time that always had some poor little waif of a girl orphaned and sent to the country to live with her terrifying relatives. Instead, with Cold Comfort Farm, our 20 year old heroine Flora loses her parents, and, faced with the prospect of living on 100 pounds a year, decides instead of live off of the most appalling group of relatives she can find, and then fix all their issues and basically "tidy up."

Almost all the characters are parodic stereotypes: the crazy, controlling grandmother, the gloomy cousin, the oversexed farm boy, the hellfire and brimstone preacher. And yet Gibbons writes well enough that despite that, you genuinely care for all of her characters and their fates.

The writing is not only well done, but incredibly witty and clever. Gibbons can certainly turn a phrase, and there was more than once when I was working out on the treadmill -- in public -- where I was laughing so hard (or trying so hard not to laugh) that I was afraid I was going to fall right off.

There is a BBC television movie that was made starring Kate Beckinsale (that was, of course, released theatrically in the States because the UK's standard for TV movies is our standard for theater movies) that follows the book almost religiously, complete with laugh out loud dialogue, impenetrable accents, and strange Sussex words like "wennet." If you enjoy the book, I strongly recommend the movie, and if you've already seen the movie and liked it, PICK UP THIS BOOK! ... Read more

Product Description
War may be hell, but for Monza Murcatto, a solider of considerable fortune; it's a damn good way of making money too.Her victories have made her popular - a shade too popular for her employer's taste. Betrayed and left for dead, Murcatto's reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance.

Whatever the cost, seven men must die.

"Joe Abercrombie takes the grand tradition of high fantasy literature and drags it down into the gutter, in the best possible way." --- Time

"Abercrombie is both fiendishly inventive and solidly convincing, especially when sprinkling his appallingly vivid combat scenes with humor so dark that it's almost ultraviolet." --- Publishers Weekly

"A satisfyingly brutal fantasy quest. BEST SERVED COLD? Modern fantasy doesn't get much hotter than this." --- Dave Bradley, SFX

"Abercrombie has written the finest epic fantasy trilogy in recent memory. He's one writer that no one should miss." --- Junot Diaz on The First Law Trilogy ... Read more

Customer Reviews (80)

It is a good book.
I read The First Law Trilogy and I enjoyed it so I thought I would give this a try. Joe Abercrombie did not let me down and I can not wait for his next book. Thanks Joe.

Expanded World
Well right after the great "Before They're Hanged" Trilogy, Mr.Abercrombie present us with a tasteful and wicked story, a stand alone story you can call it right in the middle of this great world that he created on his first books. It's a pleasure to read fantasy for adults and Mr. Abercrombie just feed us with what we really like, adult, strong, wicked, heartless, humoring and dark characters. "Best Served Cold" it's quite a ride and it's really well written.

I won't go into plot details, just know this. If you already read Joe Abercombrie get ready for a great book with the usual twist, betrayal, dark humor and good graphic violence. If you haven't read anything from this guy, well I envy you, because you're about to experience for the first time (as I did a couple of years ago) with one of the greatest adult fantasy authors out there. This is a great buy, you won't regret it.

Can wait for the new book.

Cheers!!!!

HBO or Showtime should adapt this book into a mini-series
This is not a Tolkein, Brooks, Donaldson type of fantasy.Some readers may find it similar to George R.R. Martin.I would describe it as The Count of Monte Cristo, and The Wild Bunch, combined with Serie Noire fiction, and set in a world reminiscient of renaissance Italy.The author describes it as "unheroic fantasy". A dark, grim, bloody thriller, this is a most violent yet supremely entertaining novel.One could read many novels, across all genres, and never find another female character as strong as Monza Murcatto.The book is remarkably well written.Betrayals upon betrayals, shifting loyalties, and reversals of fortune abound. The action scenes are phenomenal.Sword, knife, and mace combat is described with realism and gusto. The reader will encounter several helpings of sex, and the characters speak with creative profanity. There are flashes of humor, but also some melodrama. My one complaint is this: about 670 pages into the 880 page novel (US Orbit pb ed. not counting the extras) it began to seem as if Abercrombie was intentionally dragging the story out with excessive description and scenes told from multiple points of view.It was almost as if he had a specific page count he was trying to reach.This became tiresome.However, once the novel moves through these slow passages, it charges ahead to a sensational climax. Here's to more stand alone fantasy novels.

This Guy is Amazing!!
Nobody writes like Abercrombie. He is by far my favorite author. This book is in the same vein as First Law, if you liked that you should like this as well. I find myself comparing anyone else I read to Joe Abercrombie and they always fall short some how. This book is perhaps a tad darker than First Law, but the pace is perfect and the action sequences are, as always, a treat. I find it hard to write a review and keep plot out, however the comparison to Count de Monte Cristo is a good one, and I really liked that story as well. Buy this, you'll enjoy it!

Comes with a price
Joe Abercrombie is the new master of dark, gritty, realistic fantasy, and Best Served Cold might well be the masterpiece that represents that subgenre. Monza Murcatto is a renowned and very successful mercenary ... or was until she was stabbed, beaten, and thrown from a mountainside by her employer. Monza wants revenge, so she contracts a party of unsavory characters to aid her. Monza's story goes from dark to black to "a wet match in the bottom of a dark cave" -- everyone suffers, lots of people die, and the trail of blood and tragedy that Monza leaves in her wake is unprecedented.

Abercrombie takes what appears to be a simple tale of revenge and twists it into a sanguine journey of self-discovery on the part of each character. The heart of Best Served Cold is how Abercrombie strips our "heroes" down to their core and reveals who they truly are. No other author I've found works so hard to create likeable characters out of such nasty individuals. Best Served Cold is exceedingly well-written, so I have to give it 5 stars. It really is a great work.

Reading Joe Abercrombie is always bittersweet for me -- I know I'm going to get an amazing story with unique characters told in Abercrombie's special way. But the wonderful writing comes with a price: you change a little. His books have altered my perception of fantasy literature. Before, I was blissfully unaware of how truly brutal and tragic fantasy can be. Sure, George R.R. Martin loves to kill off his main characters, but I never had any doubt that I was observing his story from the outside. In contrast, Abercrombie brings you in: I feel the character's spirit break in the hands of the torturer. I know that the person on page 112 has become someone else by page 113, and it makes me sad. There is no redemption -- no "making it up" later -- they're irrevocably changed. It's a very real and unsettling thing for a reader to experience, and it's a feeling that's not commonly found in the fantasy genre. I have a love-hate relationship with Joe Abercrombie's books. I will most certainly continue to read them -- they are just too incredible not to. But I need something exceedingly optimistic to read afterwards.

Best Served Cold is technically a stand-alone novel, but I would highly recommend reading THE FIRST LAW trilogy first because I get the feeling of an overall "Big Picture" taking place in this world. Read Best Served Cold if you are ready to challenge your thoughts about fantasy literature. Do not read Best Served Cold if you like your fantasy to be a pleasant escape from the harsh realities of life.
--Justinat FantasyLiterature ... Read more

Product Description

Le Carré beats most spy writers for tworeasons. First, he knows what he's talking about, since he racedaround working for British Intelligence while the Wall went up. He'sfamiliar with spycraft's fascinations, but also with the fact that itleaves ideals shaken and emotions stirred. Second, his literary tonehas deep autobiographical roots. Spying is about betrayal, and LeCarré was abandoned by his mother and betrayed by his father, anotorious con man. (They figure heavily in his novels Single & Single andA PerfectSpy.) In a world of lies, Le Carré writes the bittertruth: it's every man for himself. And may the best mask win. --TimAppelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (125)

One of the greatest spy stories ever told
This classic tale of espionage during the Cold War certainly lived up to its billing.Le Carre paints a vivid picture of Cold War Europe and the various operatives doing their best to usher forward the "end of history" and those opposed to the march of communism.The book examines the moral trade-offs and ambiguities of the spy business as well as the complexities of signaling and communication in a world where everyone has an incentive to lie and no one can be trusted.All in all, a thrilling story.

Harsh, brilliant exposition of the psychology of espionage
My first Le Carre book almost turned me off Le Carre: The Russia House, a turgid, lumbering tome written by a man who was far too busy being a Great Writer to be bothered with something so trivial as writing a good spy story.Fortunately, I found The Spy Who Came In From the Cold at a yard sale and decided to try again.

This is Le Carre before he decided he was a Great Writer and just wanted to tell a story about what spying was really like; the numbing, insidious corruption that seeps into the souls of men who are professional liars, who must live lies every second of their lives, who dare not trust either their superiors or their subordinates.Alec Leamas may be the most unpleasant, misanthropic protagonist in fiction, and yet Le Carre manages to make us sympathize with him anyway, because his misanthropy is so thoroughly justified by the life he has led.That he is still capable of any love at all after what he has gone through, even the limited love he shows in the book, appears as a triumph of the human spirit.

The plot is intricate, unpredictable, and yet believable.One point, though, remains unresolved at the end.The true explanation for Mundt's actions at the beginning must lie elsewhere from what he have been led to believe.Those who have read Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (or who, like me, saw the BBC version) may have a good lead to the truth.

There is an unfortunate point; Le Carre hints here at the irrational anti-Americanism he has since more fully expressed in print, a sentiment disguised as a critique (sometimes warranted) of American policy, but which clearly has far deeper roots in offended British nationalism.Happily, there is much more to Le Carre than this; sadly, there may not be much more to the critical reputation he enjoys.

Review published by The Literate Man ([...]) posted on July 15, 2010
You'd have to be a product of Generation Y not to love a good old Cold War spy story. No matter how many times I see or hear or read it, the ideological conflict as presented in the form of a dour-faced, steroid-pumping, muscle-bound Russki versus a hard-scrabble, street-smart, freedom-loving American is enough to bring back memories of bomb drills at school, a vision of Reagan declaring the Great Satan, and those epic Celtics/Lakers battles that defined a decade. All of us here at The Literate Man freely admit that we still pause in our channel surfing to watch long scenes (which we all know by heart) of Rocky IV, Red October, and Red Dawn, among others. Ah ... those were the days when gas was cheap and you knew who your enemies were or, more importantly, where your enemies were. It seems so long ago now.

What was I talking about again? Oh right, the novel. Sorry about that, I got lost in Cold War reverie.

So, I picked up my first le Carré novel, Absolute Friends, in the Frankfurt Airport on return from a visit to the former East Germany and the Czech Republic in, oh say, 2004. The novel chronicles the Cold War relationship of Mundy and Sasha, who work together to help MI6 bring down East Germany and eventually find themselves betrayed by the forces of globalization, which (as products of the Cold War, like me) they never fully understand. It was a very enjoyable book, and I made a mental note to pick up more le Carré as I was able. I saw the film adaptation of The Constant Gardner and I read Mission Song, both of which I enjoyed, though neither as much as Absolute Friends. And so, when my mother sent along a copy of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (thanks, Mom!), I thought it would be an enjoyable read and a trip down memory lane along the lines of what occurs when I watch any of the aforementioned Cold War movies.

I. WAS. BLOWN. AWAY. It was like I was that high-tech PPSI punch-measuring machine at the end of the Ivan Drago training montage in Rocky IV. This is--bar none--the best Cold War spy story we have ever heard, seen, or read. And I now understand why it was named one of Time Magazine's All-Time 100 Novels. Ok, so about the story. It's dark ... and I mean depths-of-the-human-soul dark, German winter solstice dark, Vito Corleone's office dark, well ... you get the idea. Alec Leamas heads up the West Berlin office of the British Secret Service (known as the Circus), until his best double agent is killed, his leadership comes under severe scrutiny, and he is recalled to London. Then, in the Cold War espionage equivalent of a last-second, Hail Mary pass into the end zone, Leamas is fired, sent to jail, and hung out for defection like a slab of beef set dangling from the roof of a den of wolves (sound familiar, The Departed?). Anyway, the bait is taken, the trap sprung, and Leamas goes over the wall to East Germany, leaving the lovely (love interest) Liz behind with instructions not to try to follow him. His mission? To frame his counterpart, the East German Muntz, as a double-agent for the British.

I'd give you the rest of the story, but then there'd be no point in you reading it. And you need to read it. The plot is exquisitely crafted, with twists and turns aplenty, but it is the psychological realism in the context of counter-espionage that sets the book apart from anything I have ever read on the subject. Le Carré does an excellent job of describing the amorality practiced on both sides of the Berlin Wall (and the English Channel) in the name of idealism. My advice? Turn off that rerun of The Hunt for Red October (as good as it is--I love Sean Connery as a Russki, I don't care what his accent is) and get your hands on a copy of this book. Do it now, comrade.

A thoughtful critique of espionage
The spy games portrayed in this book are not like James Bond. There are no card games or cocktail parties, and no novel weapons and fancy gadgets. Instead, there are intelligent people playing mind games with each other, each only knowing a part of the whole story.

The common theme throughout this book is that in the world of espionage, the ends justify the means. That ideals are an unnecessary burden that must be discarded in order to succeed. This message has just as much relevance today as it did when it was written; it's an interesting exercise to imagine this taking place with modern day terrorists rather than East Germans.

Overall, if you are looking for pulse-pounding action, look elsewhere. If you are looking for a fast, gripping read that makes you think, this book is for you.

Recreating a world I never knew
Being a child of the late 1980's, I entered the world way after the setting (and writing) of this book. For whatever reason, though, the 60's spy scene fascinates me and I really enjoyed reading this book as my first foray into the period and genre. Le Carre seemed to reach right into my mind and create an atmosphere, and on more than one occassion his outline of a setting allowed me to imagine a vivid and detailed scene. While I wish I had started the series at the chronological beginning, each of the characters were quickly brought to life and became distinct players in the story. I found myself confused once or twice as the story meandered through the twists and turns of a spy ring, but I know that's exactly what Le Carre wrote for. Excellent book, and one that can be read in a single sitting. ... Read more

Product Description
Cold Tangerines---now available in softcover--- is a collection of stories that celebrate the extraordinary moments hidden in your everyday life. It is about God, and about life, and about the thousands of daily ways in which an awareness of God changes and infuses everything. It is about spiritual life, and about all the things that are called nonspiritual life that might be spiritual after all. It is the snapshots of a young woman making peace with herself and trying to craft a life that captures the energy and exuberance we all long for in the midst of the fear and regret and envy we all carry with us. It is both a voice of challenge and song of comfort, calling you upward to the best possible life, and giving you room to breathe, to rest, to break down, and break through. Cold Tangerines offers bright and varied glimpses of hope and redemption, in and among the heartbreak and boredom and broken glass. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (49)

Fantastic
One of the most insightful, inspiring, enjoyable books I have ever read. I highly recommend it.

Encouragment, confirmation of life
This book provides encouragement while facing the cold facts of life and the absolute need for connection and faith.

interesting...
Though I find much in this book that leads me to believe that Shauna and I may have differing theological perspectives, I enjoyed her writing style and thought provoking stories.I did enjoy the 2+ page story easy-to-read style which made it a pick it up, read a few and contemplate it kinda book.

Surprisingly real and delightful
Great reminder of why each and every day should be a celebration of life. I have teenagers, reminders are good. Didn't want to put it down. Author is funny, captivating, and real, which I appreciated.
Some chapters made me laugh as well as cry!
Can't wait to read her next book Bittersweet, I love her description, it reflects greatly on her writing style. This is an author to watch.

Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life
Magnificent read.I couldn't put it down.Uplifting and thought provoking beyond belief.Thoroughly recommend you read this if you are wanting to get in touch with your thoughts.I am so more aware of living in the now and making every moment of my life count for me and my loved ones.Enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description
Follow the advice of Stephan Schiffman-America's #1 Corporate Sales Trainer-and take your career to the next level. This special anniversary edition of his perennial bestseller, Cold Calling Techniques (That Really Work!), provides you with all of the right tools for turning prospects into meetings, and meetings into big sales.

This easy-to-follow guide will help you beat today's cold calling obstacles such as voicemail, caller ID, cell phones, and e-mail. Schiffman's professional experience and corporate wisdom guarantee your future success. Providing online resources, the anniversary edition of Cold Calling Techniques packs in plenty of potential leads to help you hunt down more business.

Give yourself the edge. Cold Calling Techniques is the one book you need to make your sales opportunities better, pitches stronger, and commissions greater. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (65)

Getting down to business
Vintage, but classic tactics/skills that still have their place in today's business marketing & selling. A good refresher as you commonly already "know" the things you are reading, but if you pick up just one pointer, or a way to hone your skill, it's priceless. Definitely recommend.

For the price- can't be beat!
This book is meant for phone cold calling, but can be applied to cold calling in person. It is a really quick read. A few great tidbits that will help you get an appointment. The author short-sells the value of email, but I have to agree that I have always done better selling in person. This book is a real bargain- if you get one more sale from reading this it was worth it- you will probably get more.

A Classic
Our management team liked this book so much that we now purchase it for new and seasoned sales staff alike. It is an essential component of any sales professional's library.

a guide to not-cheesy cold calling
Great book on cold-calling without offering cheesy techniques.
Again the key is just implement it!

Who Doesn't Hate Cold Calling
The truth is that very few people enjoy cold calling. They do it because they have to. After reading this book, you will not fall in love with cold calling, but it will be easier. It teaches readers how to think about cold calling, what to say, how to respond, when to call, how to get past the gatekeeper and much more. It is important to realize that in order for these methods to work, one must actually apply these techniques. Also, there is a learning curve, so it is crucial to be patient. Reading the book and putting it away will not double anyone's income.

- Mariusz Skonieczny, author of Why Are We So Clueless about the Stock Market? Learn how to invest your money, how to pick stocks, and how to make money in the stock market ... Read more

Product Description
From one of the genre's finest writers comes a bold new epic fantasy in which science and magic are locked in a deadly struggle.

It is the dawn of a new age... The Industrial Revolution has begun, factories are springing up across the country, and new technologies are transforming in the cities. But the old ways do not die easy.

Cat and Bee are part of this revolution. Young women at college, learning of the science that will shape their future and ignorant of the magics that rule their families. But all of that will change when the Cold Mages come for Cat.New dangers lurk around every corner and hidden threats menace her every move.If blood can't be trusted, who can you trust? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Wonderful read
I picked up this book on recommendation from a friend - she just told me the title and when I saw that it was Kate Elliott I was doubly excited to start reading it.Read it in a blur - and even though it is the first part of a trilogy(I believe) I find the ending of the book to be satisfying in itself.So no fear that you're going to be left hanging until (whenever) the next book comes.The book is set in an AU Europe where the Roman Empire never really went away, Christianity (apparently) doesn't exist and magic and science exist together in a rather troubled fashion.Very entertaining.

Really loved it!
Cold Magic takes place in steampunk world, some of whom have been calling even 'icepunk' because of the mixture of airships, firearms and a frozen landscape. In this world we meet Catherine "Cat" Hassi Barahal, a smart, clever young woman. There is also Beatrice ("Bee"), her cousin, an artist who is equally fascinated by dirigibles. One day, a man by the name of Andevai shows up to fulfill the contract the mage house Four Moons has with Cat's guardians, her aunt and uncle. The oldest Barahal daughter is to be married into the mage house before her twentieth birthday. Before she knows what is going on, Catherine is taken and there starts her journey of finding out show she really is and what is most important to her.

Going into this novel I didn't know what to expect out of the world and magic Elliott had created. The cover is beautiful and the blurb on the back sounds like something right up my alley. One thing I didn't expect was the thoroughly thought-out alternate history. I must admit I couldn't get a hold of the timeline perfectly, but there is mention of Romans and other civilizations from Europe and Africa, all holding their own magical traditions. This book takes place after the Roman Empire in a Victorian-like era. I was really impressed with the mixture of cultures old and new and how this influenced the magical elements of the story.

The story is narrated by Cat. I enjoyed her as the main protagonist because I thought she was smart and pretty strong in a world where women are considered lower than men. One of her main faults is saying things that could get her in trouble (which it sometimes does). I also liked the character Bee, her cousin, who is an artist and a lot more bubbly in personality. I thought that despite their similar ages and situations they really felt like distinct characters. My favorite character would be Roderic, which I won't say too much about him because of spoilers, but I thought he was very entertaining and hope to see more of him in the sequel.

The one character I just couldn't like for most of the book (which could be the goal but perhaps not) was Andevai. He's also the love interest of Cat. He's an arrogant, rude cold mage of the Four Moons House. I felt that Cat was attracted to him from early on, but I just couldn't figure out why at the time since he was just always rude and disagreeable. He somewhat redeems himself at the end, but even then I am still not convinced. He does some growing throughout the story; however, we don't see him as much as I would have expected for Cat to fall for him.

That brings me to the romance in the story. There wasn't as much romance as I thought there would be. Cat does think about Andevai on her journey, but there isn't much explicit romance. I'm guessing things will change in the second book, and I am looking forward to finding out what happens between all the characters in the story.

Lastly, the magic in this world is diverse. There is cold magic of the nobles' mage houses, who rule over the land like feudal lords. Then there is djeliw and bards "who have the ability to manipulate and respect the essence that flows through the spirit world." (p. 79) Blacksmiths use fire; however, we did not get to see this in depth yet. There is also the magic of the beings of the spirit worlds themselves who are a mystery in themselves.

Overall, I really, really enjoyed Cold Magic by Kate Elliott. I loved the world, the magic and the characters. This is the first in the Spiritwalker Trilogy and I felt that it was a great introduction. I want to see more of Cat, Bee, Roderic and also have the what I would call a big cliffhanger at the end of the story resolved. I highly recommend Cold Magic.

Meandering Wast of Time
I had high hopes for this book. The other reviews indicated that this would be different, but it really is the plain "fantasy journey" that's been done a million times before. Unfortunately, the book progresses too quickly from location to location, leaving the tale devoid of any sense of where the main character is or what is going on. You might like it, but I was lost.

Furnaces and ice mages
Well, I'm frequently game to try new books by authors I have previously liked even if the immediate premise seems a little counter to my usual tastes. I'm generally not keen on first person narration by female orphans in books which feature magic, due to a dreadful overexposure to "urban fantasy." Thank goodness the first chapter or seven I read in the bookstore set my mind at ease.

So the story starts with Catherine Hassi Barahal as she and her cousin Beatrice are going to university. Life gets interesting in the not so good way when a magister (or cold mage in the book's world building) comes to her family's home to claim the eldest Hassi Barahal girl as his bride by prearranged contract... which happens to be Cat. In the middle of this an industrial revolution is attempting to get started and finding itself in a bit of a pickle since cold mages put furnace fires out just by standing next to them.

As seems to be habit for Kate Elliott, the world building was phenomenal. In my experience, first person narration doesn't lend itself readily to world building except for rare cases... and I do so love it when the rare case occurs. It's set in 1837-ish in Europa and is set forth as an alternate history. The first thing that springs to mind is that this is a Europa where Christianity never existed and the dark ages don't look like they ever happened either. Industrialization is just getting revved up and seemed to be a pervasive point of conflict that was a constant hum in the back ground (until it isn't so much). I found the idea interesting to say the least and thoroughly enjoyed the backdrop. The system and limitations of magic were intriguing, especially how it worked on the social landscape when characters would stay at places like inns.

Since this is written in first person, I had better make a mention about characters. Catherine is interesting, and I did like how she kept a connection with her dead father through his travel journals. I really, really appreciated how her family politics were shown and how her perception of it changed with certain occurrences over the course of the book. I did find the dynamic between her and Andevai the cold mage a little off putting at times, but fortunately good sense seemed to kick in every time I though things were going to start straying off the path of "I can believe this" and into "Oh really?" territory. Bee was a really good foil to Cat and I really liked the interaction between the two cousins. Andevai first comes across as cold and aloof and that persona really blankets over the other aspects of his character throughout most of the book. When he starts to shed that mantle, he does get more interesting, but I would really rather hear Cat and Bee trade verbal jabs. Rory (when he appears) is so much the polar opposite of Andevai, my reaction was one of "oh thank goodness you're here" and I loved it.

The novel does have a few creatures of legend pop up. Since the book is set in Europa, my frequent gripe of "too many European monsters where they don't belong" is moot and furthermore, the ones that annoy me the most were not to be found. Overall, it seems closer to a "spirit world" approach rather than "fairies are real" tack. It was an angle that felt suited both the characters and the story, lending a slightly surreal aspect in certain sections.

The one thing I really didn't like was the ending. Cliffhangers are my bane. Fortunately there are saber toothed cats. I can't get too mad at a book that uses saber-toothed cats in a reasonable manner. Now I will have to get the next book because I absolutely without a doubt must know what happens next.

A narrator to remember, a superb alt-earth setting
Cold Magicis set in an ice-age like alt-Earth around the 1800's but with a quite different history, magic houses, but also budding science that the "cold mages" dislike and want suppressed, but the local princes try to protect.

The narrator is Cat (Catherine) of Carthaginian descent; in this universe 2000 years ago Carthage was ruled by queens called dido's for the famous mythical founder and Hannibal actually defeated the Romans at Zama, so the two powers fought themselves to a standstill.

While the Roman Empire eventually extended over most Europe, North Africa and Spain remained under Carthaginian influence and after the Empire's breakup some 1000 years ago, there has been a patchwork of mini-states all over Europe, which now stops at the Baltic ice-sea.

In the meantime, the powerful houses of the cold mages - descendants of West African immigrants who had a mass exodus some centuries ago to N. Africa and Europe after a "ghoul plague" and then they intermingled with the local Celtic druids - have risen to power and act as small but powerful principalities along the "secular" princes domains.

Due to the ice-age, Britain is connected with the continent while North America is populated by hardy trolls who are famous explorers and hold on to a "small clan/kinship" society so they are the natural allies of the humans opposed to the powers of the mages or of the princes.

Cat is almost 20 - age of majority - and studies at a college in a Celtic city in Britain at the edge of the sea, city that is a famous trading one and a mixture of all races and nationalities -for example the headmaster is an Egyptian since they are perceived as "neutral"; Cat lives with her uncle, aunt and cousins of which Beatrice, younger by two months, is like her twin sister, while her uncle is the head of the local family clan which like many other Carthaginian old trading houses is now somewhat impoverished and acts as spies/mercenaries/enforcers for the powerful and the moneyed.

Cat's father, Daniel Hassi Barahal was a famous traveler for the clan who wrote some 50 travel journals. Her mother Tara Bell was a mysterious figure - seemingly an "Amazon" warrior of Belgae origin in the army of Camjiata, a Napoleon like conqueror of Iberian descent who was finally defeated 13 years ago by the mages and has been imprisoned on an island since.

Since the local British princes have been the general's fiercest enemies and since Cat's mother deserted to have a family, Tara and Daniel ultimately had to leave Daniel's family home and they drowned at a river crossing, with the six year old Cat the only survivor returned by the authorities to her family.

Close to Cat's majority, the cold mages come to enforce a "bargain" made with Cat's house many years ago and she will find herself thrown in the unknown, while in a seemingly unrelated event, the second human-troll airship from the Caribbean free island of Expedition has just arrived in the British city where the action starts.

First and foremost Cold Magic is an exuberant narrative with great energy and inventive world building. These are elements you can see from the first several pages and which attracted me to the book. Of course as with all first person narrations, the enjoyment of the novel is going to strongly correlate with how you connect with Cat's voice and that is such a subjective thing that I will leave it as "I utterly loved it".

On the other hand the world building which in addition to the elements above, offers a supernatural realm and its creatures, prophecies and foretelling and the potential for great expansion can be judged a bit (only) more objectively. I found the alt-history that starts unfolding here - and again it is just a start, not 500 pages of world building only - among the most interesting in current fantasy, so much so that I included it in my "sff universes" post despite my usual role of "at least two books out". At the boundary between the traditional and the "icepunk", the Earth of the Spiritwalker series is very fascinating and a place I want to explore as much as possible in further installments.

When you advance in the novel you will find out new elements to appreciate: lots of twists and turns - some that you can dimly see at some point, but you may still think a bit far fetched until they actually happen, and of course the punch ending that made the sequel one of my two top anticipated fantasies of 2011.

I also found some paragraphs of the novel so powerful and emotional that even on their fourth recent reading, they still moved me a lot and I definitely see Cold Magic and its sequels as books I will treasure and reread for a long time. And there is a lot action too, ranging from daring escapes, to encounters with magical creatures, duels and even small battles with and without magic.

While 2010 had some big positive surprises for me, especially in fantasy, most were books I expected to at least try and they appeared in my 2010 Anticipated Post, but Cold Magic (A++) is the exception: an awesome book that blew me away but which I had very little previous inclination to read until I opened it. ... Read more

Product Description

Do all dogs and cats really go to heaven? Yes, they do!

The death of your beloved pet can be one of the most heartbreaking losses you’ll ever endure. But recovery isn’t only about closure. You also want to know where your best friend has gone.

After the intense, unexpected grief he experienced following the loss of his own companions, animal lover and biblical scholar Gary Kurz set out to prove that there are indeed pets in Paradise. After devoting countless hours of research, he now shares his inspiring insights to bring you a richer understanding of animals and their souls. You’ll finally find answers to common questions about animals and the afterlife—and you’ll also get a 30-day devotional to help you work through your grief.

If you’ve ever loved and lost a pet, or if you know someone who has shared a special bond with a furry face and a cold, wet nose, you’ll welcome this amazing book’s reassurance that love and loyalty are truly eternal, and that someday, you and your pets will be together again. 

Customer Reviews (169)

Comforting in a time of sorrow
This book was very helpful to me when we lost our 14 year old sweetheart of a dog, Gizmo, last fall.I needed comfort in knowing that he is in heaven and will be waiting for me when I get there.Since my loss, I've had several friends who have also lost a dear pet and I've shared this book with them. I still miss Gizmo, and our cat, Aunt Bea, who we lost 3 years ago, but I have a real peace in knowing that they are with the One who created them and I'll get to see them again.

Outstanding Book on Pet Loss
Cold Noses At The Pearly Gates

This book is excellent!It is written from a Believer's viewpoint, using biblical quotes and study.It obviously doesn't bring your pet back, but it does help you understand that you will see him/her again someday.Don't scoff or pre-judge: if you've lost a pet, or have a loved one who has, you need to read and share this book!

It didn't answer the right question.
I struggled halfway through the book hoping the author would eventually give the "hope" as stated in the sub-title, which at this point he did not. As another reviewer stated: I should have checked other reviews before I bought the book. It's not worth the money or the time to finish it. There are so many other books out there, but I kept reaching for the one which would give me comfort after my dear companion died last week. I'll quit looking and find my comfort within my heart.

Solace for those who are hurting
The loss of a beloved pet can be a very difficult experience, and this book provides solace for those in the midst of grief. It's particularly difficult for pet-lovers because non-pet-owners just don't understand the love that grows between us and our companion animals. Thanks for a lovely book.
--by the author of
We Thank You, God, for These: Blessings and Prayers for Family Pets

getting over the loss of your best friend
I thought that this book was very good. The author is very knowledgeable and the things that he says makes sense. I would encourage anyone who has lost a beloved pet to definitely read this book. It's helping me to cope with my loss ... Read more

Product Description
The "dean of Cold War historians" (The New York Times) now presents the definitive account of the global confrontation that dominated the last half of the twentieth century. Drawing on newly opened archives and the reminiscences of the major players, John Lewis Gaddis explains not just what happened but why—from the months in 1945 when the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. went from alliance to antagonism to the barely averted holocaust of the Cuban Missile Crisis to the maneuvers of Nixon and Mao, Reagan and Gorbachev. Brilliant, accessible, almost Shakespearean in its drama, The Cold War stands as a triumphant summation of the era that, more than any other, shaped our own. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (80)

BEST BOOK EVER
This is probably the best history book I've read so far. It's not a book filled with facts and dates that makes you forget what you read two chapters ago. Gaddis keeps the reader intrigued and motivated to read on after the end of each section. He explains throughly the ideological and political motives of the Cold War and how it affected the overall aftermath of the Cold War. If you love reading about the Cold War and a great author, check out this book.

Gaddis' The Cold War
In a straight forward analysis that is easy to read and comprehend, Gaddis' study is the definitive literature of the Cold War. This reading is highly recommended for those interested in this tragic period in human history, that was completely avoidable. After a critical analysis of the research, it is agreed that Gaddis is the foremost historian of the Cold War era.

right to the point
Everything you ever wanted to know about the cold war is in this book. Easy to understand and right to the point.

Good, But Reads Like a Memo
Here is the Cold War in 50,000 words. Gaddis' ability
to distill the critical information and movements from
the 40s through the 80s makes this an admirable quick
check resource book, but not a classic to read and re-read.

Mission Accomplished
This book accomplishes the goal that it sets for itself.Gaddis sets out to write a concise history of the Cold War and manages to do it in 267 pages.The book is fascinating.While it doesn't get too deep into any details (hence the concise part) it covers the overall strategies and themes of the Cold War in sharp detail.One of the most interesting elements of the book is that he describes well the personalities that make things tick.In one of the final sections of the book he makes clear that the Cold War ends the way that it does because of the unique personalities that were influential at the time.The book does a very good job of conveying the sense of hope and wonder at the mostly peaceful dissolution of a conflict that some people thought would end the world.The book is clearly written and accessible, event to those whose historical knowledge of the period is mostly basic.Well done! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (40)

Highly recommended!
Dr. Collins has written a touching, honest, and sometimes hilarious memoir of his Mayo Clinic orthopedic surgery residency.He also offers insight into the difficulties and joys of marriage and family life during the almost impossibly demanding years of medical school and surgical training.

Michelle Kram
One of the best reads.....you wont' want to put it down.Found myselfing laughing out loud!

Great book

As a young person aspiring to be a physician this was an awesome book.I ercommend to anyone who wants to get a better understandning of what it takes to become a physician.It was a great behind the scenes memoir of what docto's go through.It was also humorious and kept my attention.

Great Doctor, Great Author
Love the author and the unassuming manner in which he approaches the subject of becoming a doctor. Only complaint, he should have written his latest book "Blue Collar, Blue Scrubs", which came out in 2009, first. Both books are quick reads that make me more respectful of physicians and the long road they have to travel before they can start to have a life!!!

A must read for anyone considering surgical specialties
I just finished reading Hot lights, cold steel. It was one of the easiest reading and most entertaining books I've read. I truly admire your sense of humor throughout the tough times. I felt Dr Collin's lack of sleep, the love for his wife and kids, and the grueling Minnesota winters he experienced during his training years.
I honestly couldn't put the book down. I always wanted to find out how things ended up. Hot lights, cold steel definitely has become an inspiration for me to prepare for the exhausting, but truly worthy residency experience, which I might start in a year or two. It also lit a spark on my writing skills and made me want to share my experiences in the future.

I highly recommend it to anyone interested in surgical specialties. I also recommend it to resident's families, friends, loved ones, since it pictures the day to day life of a surgeon in training. ... Read more

Product Description
Palm Beach is the most glamorous scene-of-the-crime yet for cop-turned-investigator Stone Barrington, who becomes reacquainted with a case he thought was buried years ago-and must settle romantic entanglements that haunt him still...

"A delightful tale of sex and violence...'Sopranos'-style...slick, sophisticated fun." (Washington Post)

"Roller-coaster plotting." (Denver Post)

"Woods delivers his most riveting and glamorous Barrington novel yet." (Press Journal, Vero Beach, FL)Amazon.com Review
Suave, sophisticated Stone Barrington is a hero destined for the big screen. (Since Cary Grant is dead, Stone will have to be played by Bruce Willis, if he can keep his smirk under control.) He's certainly got the trappings: the Armani tuxedo too well-tailored to reveal the gun beneath the drape, the sexy sports cars, the beautiful women who never fail to throw themselves at him, the confident familiarity with a complicated wine list or French menu. And he's got friends in high places, which helps when you're looking for a beautiful woman who made a big impression on the slightly nerdy but nice software billionaire who hires Barrington to find her.

Between bedding the billionaire's chef in Palm Beach, hiding from the homicidal Mafia princess he almost married in Italy, and playing games with a Hollywood beauty whose young son may or may not be his very own child, Stone hardly has time to do the job he's been hired for. But when he does, he discovers that the object of his search is still another ex-lover, a woman he thought had been executed on a Caribbean island three years ago. All these women, and all these adventures, plus Stone's old pal Dino, a New York cop, will be familiar to readers of Woods's other Stone Barrington thrillers. This one has Woods's trademark narrative punch, solid pacing, and glossy, brand-name panache. If Judith Krantz wrote thrillers, this is what she'd turn out. But don't let that stop you. Cold Paradise is the perfect book for a hot day in the hammock or a long plane ride to a ritzy resort destination. The only real surprise is why Stone Barrington hasn't made it to the big (or small) screen yet. --Jane Adams ... Read more

Customer Reviews (67)

Cold Paradise by Stuart Woods
When I recieved this book it was in great condition.I was very pleased with the timely fashion it was delivered and the beter than expected condition it was in.I'm a big fan of Stuart Woods and enjoy reading his books.

Lorraine - Yorktown Hgts. NY

Keeps you guessing.
I guess I have to give this one 4 stars, I really can't see any reason not too.Did it blow me away, no.Did it keep me wanting to read more, were the characters great, was the ending worth reading the book...definitely!I want to read more of the Stone B. novels, but now want to start with the first one which is New York Dead.If you haven't read others though, this one is a great place to start.There are some past relationships mentioned that you'll figure out after a while, but other than that the author doesn't assume you know anything about the main character from previous books.Good read.

Better but not his Best
The Margin

I've read several of Woods's novels, I like mysteries, but for some reason--not entirely clear to me--his are beginning to sound unrealistic. I know, I know it's fiction.
The story goes like this. Thad Thames, a rich man, meets Liz Harding at a party and is quite taken by her. Problem is he doesn't have her last name, so being rich, he hires Stone to track her down and he does. Stone discovers she is a former client that he'd defended in a murder trial some years earlier. Thad wants to marry her, he's delighted Stone was successful in locating Liz--what a fool. Of course Liz wants to marry Thad. Now someone from Liz's past enters the scene--I won't say who--and joins with her to off Thad and collect his millions. Stone needs help when things turn sour and he enlists the help of an old friend Dino, together they do a pretty good job of unraveling this mystery.

Cold Paradise by Stuart Woods is an okay read. In some places it's actually a page turner making the reader guess the outcome.

Marvin Wiebener, author of The Margin

Great Service
I received the book in record time and in very good condition.Will buy from them again.

Too Many Ex-Loves.
Stuart Woods serves up so many "ex-dishes" for Stone Barrington to handle it is difficult to remember "who was who" or why they were important. Somehow, the story, which has a good premise gets lost in all of the previous encounters and Stone becomes a celluloid copy of his former self without the time to build the suspense necessary for a satisfying thriller.
The image of Stone running around Palm Beach in Vance Calder's castoff clothes doesn't fit the suave Stone, whose taste and means gives him access to the finest of New York's haberdasheries. One kept hoping he'd find a charity outlet for their disposal.
If like me, you enjoy the Barrington character, you'll keep reading to the end. A parody is good for relaxation, but we all await the next installment of Stone's adventures.
Nash Black, author of "Qualifying Laps" and "Taxes, Stumbling Blocks & Pitfalls for Authors 2007." ... Read more

Product Description
A prominent ambassador is killed in a suspicious hit-and-run in Washington, D.C.

Hours later, his stepdaughter vanishes in the mountains of northern New England.

Back in her hometown of Black Falls, Vermont, to do damage control on her career, Secret Service agent Jo Harper is drawn into the search. But her efforts face an unexpected challenge: Elijah Cameron.

With his military training and mountain rescue experience, Elijah knows the unforgiving terrain better than anyone. But he and Jo have been at odds forever—and Elijah believes the missing teenager isn't just lost…she's on the run.

Forced to work together, Jo and Elijah battle time and the elements in a race into the unforgiving mountains. The twists and turns awaiting them will take them closer to the explosive truth…and into the sights of a killer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Cold Pursuit by Carla Neggers
I have only recently discovered Carla Neggers & she has quickly become one of my favorite writers."Cold Pursuit" is the 1st of 3 books about the Cameron family & various other families who live on Green Mountain.It is full of intrugue, suspense & murder. there are Special Ops, Secret Service, & local law enforcement.It is fast paced & easy to read. It is not too long & I can't wait to read the next 2 books in this series. I recommend Carla Neggers for anyone.

Danger and Love
This book is definitely a keeper, and so is Elijah Cameron. Part politics, old renewed love, danger, and lots of adventure make this an edge of your seat read. Jo Harper, An FBI agent determined to save her career, Jo is sent back to the mountains she grew up on. AND, her high school sweetheart also comes home, from war. They join together to catch a killer who is always one step ahead of them. This is a very suspenseful book and its another of those reads you can't put down, it will be glued to your hand until the end.

Expected
This book was just as good as the other ones I've read by Carla Neggers.I so enjoy her books about the mountains and extreme weather conditions and the way she weaves her stories into tham.

Carla Neggers
Carla Neggers books are definitely addictive! She is one of the best romantic suspense writers out there! She never disappoints!

Great for the gals who like their thrillers spiced up.
As a guy, I do want to point out that this is more highly recommended to the gal readers than to us guys.It is a well crafted thriller and one I personally enjoyed, but I was quite conscious of the fact that the author was sure to heap on the romantic elements for lady readers.And by calling it a thriller, I qualify it as being more suspense than action. Don't look for any deep insights here.This is pure escapist fiction and if you're looking for deep meanings, turn to writers like Michael Connelly, Karin Fossum and the like.But for relaxing and non-challenging summer type reading, you should enjoy this. ... Read more

Product Description

An apparent student suicide has brought medical examiner Sara Linton to the local college campus, along with her ex-husband, police chief Jeffrey Tolliver. But a horribly mutilated corpse yields up few answers. And a suspicious rash of subsequent "suicides" suggests that a different kind of terror is stalking the youth of Heartsdale, Georgia -- a nightmare that is coming to prey on Sara Linton's loved ones.

Customer Reviews (65)

Lena gives women a bad name
This is where I really began to despise the character of Lena Adams.Oh, I know, there are reasons that she is the way she is.I know that she had a horrible childhood, that her sister has been murdered, that she's never trusted anyone, blah blah blah.And most of us have been involved in unhealthy relationships at one time or another, to varying degrees.But this chick just can't stand to be happy.

Add to that the fact that the men in her life keep wanting to rescue her from herself and you have a character that I absolutely cannot stand.I keep waiting for her to get her comeuppance.Or get killed off.I would accept either.

Again, it's a small county, but we have more murders popping up.Sara's sister Tessa is attacked.

The side characters are not compelling, but that is not what keeps you coming back - it's Sara and Jeffrey and their complex relationship.They are one of the best duos about which I have read.

Even Her Titles Are A Mystery....
The third installment of the Karin Slaughter's Grant County series reinforces excellence.She is one of the most impressive authors that I have now started to read in the last few years and she is climbing up the ranks as one of my favorites.She is definitely top 10 and challenging to jump into my top 5.

Most important thing to mention is that this series MUST BE read in order.Anybody reading this review who hasn't read the first two books just needs to stop now and start with BLINDSIGHTED.The plot and characters are woven tight book-to-book so don't cheat yourself and start here.

I did some research on Karin's choosing of titles because I don't know if I think KISSCUT and A FAINT COLD FEAR effectively billboard each story.I now know why she chose each but I just think there could be several other titles that paint a broader stroke.Complaining about a title is much better that criticizing a story!

I really enjoyed this book.As the pages turned, my interest in the mystery (and series) grew significantly.It was a page turner - no doubt.It isn't often that I finish a book and jump right to the next one.I sprinted to INDELIBLE.

Best to skip this one
A heartless book with no sympathetic characters and no redeeming qualities. In fact, if I hadn't found the book in my own house, I wouldn't have read it. Someone carried it in, left it, and having deprived myself of a mystery for a month or so, I started to read.I was turned off in the first few pages with the heroine's pregnant sister, eight months along, using one four letter word after another as she sloppily ate Dairy Queen products and messed up her sister's new car.The heroine was too weak to be admired. Her former husband who was police chief, was too psychologically unaware of a former colleague's PTSD reactions, results of brutal torture, to have compassion for her. The former colleague, crazed with PTSD, was drunk, and fooling around with a White supremacist who abused her during their first five minutes together. The therapist in the story was living with an abusive husband. The victims were unlikable and deserved to be dead. Sure. Right. People can get this bad?All of them?In a single book?There was no sense of morality, humanity, or empathy in any character. No one had higher thoughts or considered the goodness of life. Over-played descriptions appeared for shock value and didn't add much to the story. To be fair, at the end of the story, a ray of light broke through indicating hope for the future (and more humane depictions of hero, heroine, etc.). This was a gruesome picture of the more seedy side of academic life. Glad it's over. I will avoid the author in the future and the book went in the trash.

Suicide or Murder, That is the Question
Grant County Medical Examiner Sara Litton and her pregnant sister Tessa are eating ice cream at the local Dairy Queen, when a phone call from Jeffrey Tolliver, who is not only the police chief, but Saras ex-husband and current lover as well, sends them to the scene of an apparant suicide.

At first look it appears a young college student has hurled himself off a bridge. Hes found face down in the mud, dead. Sara and Jeffery barely have time to study the crime scene, when Tessa wanders from the car and is brutally attacked in the woods nearby.

Tessas stabbing jars Sara, her family and Jeffrey. The family is very close and Jeffrey, who is again dating Sara, still regards Tessa as he would a kid sister. Now Jeffrey and Sara must deal with their professional demands while worrying about Tessa.

And the student who was found under the bridge, was it suicide or murder? What is Tessas involvement and why would anyone want to attack her? When a couple more victims turn up, Sara and Jeffrey believe its murder. The three suspicious suicides may or may not be related, but sex and drugs are definitely involved.

This psychological thriller may have a little too much gore for some readers, but if youve read Ms. Slaughter before, youll be used to it. This is a fast-paced read, with enough red herrings thrown in to keep you guessing and the story is so good that youll be thinking about it long after you finish it.

A real disappointment
I had to struggle to keep my interest in this book until the end.But I finished it, with the hope that there would HAVE to be some amazing payoff in the end.I love Karin Slaughter, but I have to say, she really dropped the ball on this one.I was actually 87% of the way through the book (according to my Kindle) before it even got interesting.In the end, I was wrong.There was no real payoff. ... Read more