I chose to read VAPOR TRAIL because of the Stillwater, Minnesota, setting. Stillwater is one of the oldest and most charming cities in Minnesota. It's also home to the state prison, where Cole Younger and his brothers spent twenty-five years for the Northfield bank robbery.
The setting might as well have been Winona or Mankato for all the use Logan makes of this potentially fascinating site. VAPOR TRAIL is pretty much a conventional thriller, with the emphasis on pace at the expense of characterization. I refer to Dirty Harry because the plot sounds suspiciously like one of the latter movies where a rogue cop decides to take the law into his own hands.
Logan is also rather amateurish in spots. For instance, he uses the mirror cliche to describe his main character. I was surprised to see this used as a sample in the review I read in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. To compound the felony, Logan compares his characters to celebrities. One of the protagonist's many former girlfriends is referred to as a Mitzi Gaynor type. But probably the most outrageous stunt was to have Lucas Davenport make a cameo appearance at the scene of one of the murders. For those who aren't John Sandford fans, Lucas is the lead character in the Prey novels. (Sandford provides a blurb on the dust jacket.)
Despite all of these transgressions, I was rather impressed with the ending. Logan keeps us guessing throughout as to who the woman is who's been killing off sexual predators. We think it's the prosecuting attorney, but Logan pulls off a rather nifty switcheroo at the end. I hadn't even thought of who it turned out to be.

Broker's back and now instead of freezing to death, he's fiery hot in "Vapor Trail." You don't think of Minnesota having such tremendous heat waves, but like their winters, this one is excessive. The villain in this one is called "The Saint." He or she disposed of a known pedophile who got off on technicalities, taking justice into his or her hands. Now a year or so later, the Saint returns wiping out a priest who had been accused of fondling a teenage girl. She (we now know it's a she?) has a list of people she plans to dispose of, and thus the journey begins.
Throw in the cop who used to be Broker's friend, who is now an alcoholic and renegade, and who could possibly be the Saint; the ambitious attorney Gloria Russell, who has a picture of the young victim in her office; and Broker's ex-girlfriend, Janey, and you've got a potboiler going.
Logan agains masters his skill of believable characters, a strong feel for his surroundings and a great twist at the end. The identity of the Saint...ah, well, you just have to read it...great reading.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Teddy Roosevelt said that the Badlands look like Edgar Allan Poe sounds. This reviewer says that Chuck Logan writes like a river - beautifully flowing and yet prone to rapid and violent tempests.

Logan's Phil Broker is back. This time, it's summer - and those 10,000 Lakes, the headwaters of the Mississippi, and other ponds and streams make Minnesota one huge humidified hothouse. Minnesota native Logan says of our seismic seasonal temperature shifts: out in the winter snow, shock could be a sheet of fire. Now, in this heat, it wrapped him in cold shivers.

This encounter with Broker - on the trail of "the Saint," a vigilante assassin out stalking and slaying those suspected of child predation and abuse -
is indeed a tantalizing chill-producing shocker. Reviewed by TundraVision

An insight into HK flicks with occasional errors.

A good reference book and better than the quasi-racist Asian Cult Cinema. Has a better sense of history and has good coverage, particularly of 70s movies.

I would like more information on shaw brothers martial arts films from 1970-1999.Starting with the actors,directors and shaw brothers them self.A brief biogarphy about each one.

Like many murder mysteries, this one revolves around money. You see, the Cloade family was promised by their bachelor uncle that they would inherit his wealth when he dies seeing as that he has no heirs himself. Imagine their disappointment when he suddenly marries a young woman and then goes and gets himself killed in a German air-raid. Now the young bride inherits all the money...the money that the Cloades sorely need.

'Taken at the Flood' was not one of Christie's best although it is enjoyable enough for a quick afternoon read. Red herrings are piled right and left to confuse the reader as per usual. And if you can spot the major clue which Christie practically signposted on page.....well, all I'm saying is that if you can spot it then you'll probably have a good hunch who did the dirty deed.

Or would you?

For the case IS puzzling as more bodies begin to pile up (three people die in the book). Poirot himself is confused and asks, "If A has a motive to kill C and B has a motive to kill D, would it make sense if A killed D and B killed C?"

Perfect book for that 2-3 hour plane, train or car ride.

You might be able to think you know who done it here but once again, Christie makes the obvious deliberately hard to decipher. A really fine plot line contains probably Agatha's best story involving a will and the many characters fighting over the contents of it. The final twist is a delightful gem.

This is one of the most original mystery of all times. Agatha Christie treated the readers to not one, not two, but three deaths, each death being a very clever deception! The final outcome is almost guaranteed to please all mystery fans. The fourth deception is the title, which I personally thought seriously failed to convey anything meaningful to the contents.

During an air raid in London, World War 2, Poirot happened to overhear a Major Porter musing over a news report he just read. Mr Gordon Cloade, rich old man and once thought to be a confirmed bachelor, had married a young girl Rosaleen shortly before being hit by enemy bombing of London. The widow and her brother were the only people succesfully rescued, the rest of the household staff perished and Gordon Cloade did not awaken though the rescuers dug him out too.

Major Porter mused that he had known the first husband of Rosaleen in Africa, a colonial by the name of Robert Underhay. The couple realised that the marriage was a mistake. Pious Roman Catholic Underhay confided in Porter that he might do an "Enoch Arden" (in reference to Alfred Tennyson's poem of the same name), letting the world think he was dead and enabling Rosaleen to move on with her life. Whatever the case, word came to the colonial office that Underhay died in the outbacks and later, Rosaleen had a lightning marriage with rich Gordon Cloade, only to be widowed again shortly.

The story moved on to a year after the end of the war and life in Britain was difficult for most people, not the least to other members of the Cloade family. Gordon Cloade was the financial protector who had actively encouraged the other Cloades to venture out on their own, tacitly promising financial backings to pick them up if they fall or to take care of them. The quick succession of his marriage and death meant that all his money went into a trust for his widow instead. Though the Cloades were not parasitic, one by one, they ran into difficulties in post-war Britain, ranging from a housewife whose pre-war investments shrank, to a farmer struggling to make his farm viable, even those in the medical and legal profession had financial problems. They might have come to terms with the apparently simple-minded Rosaleen but for her outrightly hostile brother David Hunter.

Things became very interesting when a man arrived in their village claiming to be Enoch Arden. An inn's maid overheard David Hunter being blackmailed with news of Underhay still being alive. Shortly afterwards, Enoch Arden was found murdered.

Agatha Christie normally provided readers with one strong highly involved enigmatic girl who was either instrumental in the plot or in providing insights, such as Elinor Carlisle in Sad Cypress, Joanna Burton in The Moving Finger, and Veronica Cray in The Hollow. It was a rare treat in this novel that she had two such female characters: Frances Cloade, wife of Jeremy Cloade the lawyer who was determined to save her husband at all cost and show him that she loved him and had not married because he saved her father before, and Lynn Marchmont, a discharged WREN trying to decide if she still wanted to marry Rowland Cloade the farmer who stayed behind during the war to farm the land, or it was a different person she wanted.

Agatha Christie's female characters were always more interesting than her males, their insight, sheer determination and tenacity would quickly dispel the myth of women being the weaker sex.

In a true Christie style, readers were given a glimpse that each of branch of the Cloade family had something to hide. In a novel twist, none apparently is what could usually be guessed.

This book ranks with one of Christie's must-read, along with Death on the Nile and Murder On The Orient Express.

Logan finds out almost immediately on her arrival in Tibet, as almost anyone could have told her, that a bicycle is not a viable means of conveyance for a trek across the Tibetan plateau. She ditches the bike early on and becomes just another foreign roadie. Not having learned Tibetan, Logan finds it unnecessary even to find a Tibetan-speaking guide, in the absence of whom she speculates on what Tibetans are saying to another by the tones of their voices and their gestures, without ever interacting with them much. Through her eyes, the tale is one of false starts, dying falls, and inexplicable actions.

The habit of false starts and quick changes of direction persists throughout the book. One more example: She goes all the way to Kham for a chance to learn about the Khampa cowboys. She sees them, but she doesn't even approach one.

By the end of this book, I was angry that Logan failed to deliver solid first-hand information about journeying through this magical place.

This book seems especially written for those people that think that karate is only about fighting, punching or hurting. "Among Warriors" will give you the insight that karate deserves as an art of inner strenght, humbleness and above all respect. A book where the begining or the end are not as important as the content itself, just as life is.

Among Warriors is a book of boundless inspiration. It is a beautiful journey that reaches deep into the human condition. Pamela Logan depicts a mysterious and unknown land that most will never know. A land of spiritual struggle and mastery. A place alone, and a place connected. An incredible part of this planet called Tibet. Her words struck a symbolic chord inside of me. One similar to her own, in Nepal. This book opened up a world that will forever exist inside of me.

this a great book about the vark..unfortunately like his previous book, Republic's A-10 Thunderbolt II : A Pictorial History, Don Logan included too many picture of F-111 on the ground.Almost 90% pictures depicted F-111 on the ground with a side view.This make the picture looks like a repetiton.It make the vark looks like a statue rather than a predator in the sky. Nevertheless this book is a good reference for the F-111 enthuasist and fan.

The bulk of the book consists of photographs and short career histories of practically every example built (90% have a photo). The technical description and operational history section are adequate, but I would have wished for more detail in these areas and less endless repetition of basically the same photograph. The production is excellent.

I have been associated with the F-111 since Jan 1970 both as a crew member and a civilian instructor. I am Also the high time USAF F-111 instructor weapons systems oficer, with 2500 hours. This book covers the aircraft in more detail than any I have yet seen and my collection of F-111 books is extensive. I have books that have been sent to me from people in Japan, United Kingdom, Australia and all over Europe and this exceeds them all. Out of 129 F-111A's I have flown 95 of them and out of 94 F-111E's I have flown 76 of them, so I feel sure of myself when I rate this book 5 plus stars and tell you it brings back many memories. Major Wm H. Hamilton, USAF, Ret.

I was assigned to read this waste of paper for not one, but two graduate school classes. I even met Mrs. Logan and wondered how this women actually survived a real classroom where you are actually accountable for your actions.

I am a sucessful educator. I know that my students enjoy coming to my class everyday. Beyond that, they actually learn in my class. Not fluffy, feeling things, but true American history. My students do not spend each day writing stories and looking at fluffy clouds getting in touch with their inner children, but learning about the New Deal or the causes of the Spanish American War.

Mrs. Logan's students seem to spend all of their time sewing quilts. That is fine, but teachers in the real world have a curriculum to follow. She may dislike the "big bad tests", but that is too bad. They are a fact of life in schools across America- my principal expects me to prepare the student for those tests. I would love to ask Logan's students questions to see if they know who JFK, FDR or Rockefeller are, but at least they know how to make quilts.

She advises new teachers to abondon the material you should be teachers to just "chat" with your students. Hmm, is that why so many kids can barely read, forget about writing a resume or balancing a checkbook.

She also favors getting to know your students on a personal level. I love my students, but am fine with the fact that we part ways at 3 pm each day. She goes for ice cream with them and visits them at home. The parents must love that.

The most appalling of these little vignettes includes an episode where a 13 year old student had her first menstual period. Mrs. Logan, ever the fluffy sensitive teacher, throws the girl a special party. Is that not crossing the line? Is that even acceptable in any school in America? Not on Long Island!

This is not a book for serious educators. This is recommended by school of education professors who have no idea what it means to be a teacher!

I am a teacher educator and a former middle school teacher and I am completely taken and inspired by Teaching Stories. Logan's experiences with middle school students and her remarkable insights into pre-adolescent development provide the reader with a joy-filled reading experience. Her teaching style and curriculum choices have created equitable and exciting classroom learning experiences. Logan's respect for her students is reflected in each chapter. It is a significant contribution for anyone interested in teaching- at any level!

If you're a pre-service or new teacher this book will spur you on. If you're a veteran, it may fan your passion and make you remember why you wanted to teach in the first place. The first story alone, on making a quilt, was worth much more than the price of the book in the many valuable lessons it taught me. If you are a teacher, read this book. If you know someone who wants to be a teacher, buy them this book.

The gives good basics. However, it should be bought to date

This book will help beginners and pros develop some necessary skills for the communications business.

This book is very well illustrated but it is full of errors. The infomation in numerous places is incorrect and in quite a few illustrations the text below the picture is clearly wrong. Well intentioned but poorly edited.

This is a very definitive reference on the entire series of the air force's C-135 models of airplanes. I would definitely recommend this book to any one interested in aviation, a must for any pilot, mechanic or airplane enthusiast!

Carl George and Robert Logan have written a good church administration primer. This book is a condensed practical, pragmatic, and easy-to-follow church management guide. I first read the book in 1989 but recently reviewed it again and was reminded of its valuable suggestions, ideas, and principles. "Leading and Managing Your Church" would be an exceptional book for those lacking quality training or effective habits in practical self-organization and church administration. It also serves as a good reminder and encourager for efficient church veterans desiring to enhance or expand their skills.

The self-descriptive chapter titles include: Leadership and Church Growth, Using Spiritual Gifts to Focus Ministry, Managing Time More Effectively, Goal Setting and Project Planning, Skills for Effective Ministry Management, Building a Leadership Team, Developing People Through Delegation, Using the Pastor's Planning Workbooks, Obtaining Goal Ownership, The Berry-Bucket Theory (George's theory on pastor/member control), and Faith Can Be Learned. The 192-page book includes an appendix filled with examples of management worksheets, charts, forms and tools for the teachable and enthusiastic church leader. Many of these items are now more easily designed and utilized with common computer technology.

"When a pastor primarily does the ministry in the congregation, rather than leading others to do the ministry, growth potential remains small," contend George and Logan. It is obviously for this reason that the majority of churches never exceed the status quo. One man cannot do it all, nor was it ever intended to be that way.

The authors make four assumptions on which their book is written: (1) God wants churches to grow, (2) God gifts believers for the work of the ministry, (3) Pastors must equip the believers for the work, and (4) Ministries grow as leaders are developed. In other words, God has gifted pastors to fulfil very particular roles in the church. They should spend the majority (the authors suggest 60%) of their time on those areas, and then build a team around them to compliment their gifts.

The key word is delegation. Delegation simply is a pastor identifying his responsibilities and assigning a portion of them to others, so that people are developed and the ministry is accomplished. The authors cite two biblical examples of delegation: the Jethro Principle (Exodus 18) and the Deacon Principle (Acts 6).

George and Logan divide their book into three broad subject areas: (1) goal setting, (2) goal ownership, and (3) people equipping. Goal setting should be the pastor's hallmark. For Christians, the authors purport, "a goal...is a statement of faith." So planning allows church leaders to get vision and direction from God. They encourage churches to aim high enough in their goals so that God must work through them and He alone will receive the praise for it.

The problem, however, is that most pastors are not willing to prioritize their time to allow good goal planning. The authors maintain that the urgent, rather than the important, encumber church leaders. They suggest this question be asked: "Is what I am doing important enough to exchange a day of my life for?" In other words, there are few really important things that must be done-and one of them is planning.

In addition, church success is linked to goal ownership. The congregation should never refer to the "pastor's goals," but to "our goals." The language of the people is vital. "His" and "their" should be converted to "we" and "our." One way to accomplish such a monumental task is to actually allow the congregation to help set the goals. Pastors should not bring ready-made plans to the people, but room should always be left for their input and suggestions.

The final division concentrates on equipping the believers. Leadership, the authors insist, can be learned. It is a set of skills one must be trained in and employ. The authors note the importance of communication skills, budgets and controls, time management, and problem solving abilities. Some natural bent helps, of course, but to the diligent student these skills can become routine.

Throughout the book the authors offer several useful models to understanding church dynamics. Two of the most outstanding is the Barn Raising Model and the Berry Bucket Theory. Each of these illustrations is examined for their practical applications on the ministry. For instance, in barn raising the people (1) anticipated the work to be done, (2) performed the work that needed to be done, and (3) celebrated the work that was done.

My favorite quotes and ideas are these:

 "A goal...is a statement of faith." Some suggest that goals are a lack of faith and dependence on the leading of the Holy Spirit. Yet, I would agree with the authors; it is during planning that we can get vision from God. In addition, "A great goal is worthy of great effort."

 When dealing with people in the ministry understand there are four basic types: VIPs (Very Important People), VTPs (Very Teachable People), VNPs (Very Nice People), and VDPs (Very Draining People). I had never thought of people in these terms, but echo a hearty "amen."

 In regard to delegation, the author's advice in keeping the proverbial ball in their court was priceless. I am often tempted to delegate then fix the problems myself when they return. This statement helped me realize how often reverse delegation takes place in my ministry and to my detriment.

While there are small points that I would take issue with, Leading and Managing Your Church was a benefit to me in the area of administrative ministry. I would recommend this book to pastors or church leaders that wanted some practical insights into these issues.

I think this is yet another misrepresentation of the situation of Afghan women by someone who dropped into Afghanistan for five minutes and decided to make some cash off this bizarre fascination with the 'veiled women of Afghanistan'. From the 'Before the Taliban' photo of women in mini-skirts I realised that I would hate this book because I have been in Afghanistan since 1995 and I never saw a mini-skirt - MISREPRESENTATION OF THE FACTS - how long are you going to let people print and sell sentimental rubbish about Afghan women? I can write the type of rubbish in these books in my sleep but I wouldn't be able to face myself in the mirror because I would know that I misrepresented the truth and I have some morality unlike these 'intrepid journalists' who pitch up for a while interview a few women and suddenly understand everything. Have a little decency and stop with this Veiled this and Veiled that crap. Let's have some realistic analysis of the situation or are your readers to thick to handle anything that isn't like Hello magazine?

I lived in Kabul in the late 1970's. Although there were women who went about unveiled, attended university,and appeared to be living a life of equality to men, they were just a tiny fraction of the Kabul elite and in no way represented the lives of the vast majority of Afghan women. Afghanistan is a wonderful country that I dearly love, but it serves no purpose to pretend that they were once had a highly westernized society, where women had unlimited opportunities. Let Afghan women in Afghanistan define what their future is to be, not Western feminists who think that they know what it should be.

This book would be a superb first read for anyone wanting to understand the hardships women experienced under the Taliban. It compares women's lives before and after the Taliban came to power. The women to tell their own stories whenever possible, and photographs reinforce the main ideas. The major thrust of this book is that these women should not be forgotten again...