I don't know why, but when the book opens upon Slider checking out the corpse in the ditch, talking with Mrs. Hammond, I thought it might be her, but then immediately was taken on the road that lead to Eddie Andrews. Now this seemed just too easy to me, and I then thought it was the slimy David Meacher, but that also seemed too easy. For a nanosecond I thought it might be "Lady Diana", the long-suffering wife but it didn't seem likely so I went back to my first instinct: Mrs. Hammond. Then when it was briefly mentioned that Cyril Dacre could get about without his wheelchair..............you get the picture!

This is what I enjoy about Ms Harrod-Eagles' mysteries. They really are a mystery! The characters have become "friends" of mine as our writer makes them so real, human. I especially enjoyed Mr. Whitton, the neighbor who had so much insight to share with Slider. The fact that he exists without a telephone endeared him to me. And I am in the middle of a nightmare with car troubles so it was almost comforting to see that Joanna and Bill have them as well. (Misery loves company!) But again, it made them real people who could jump off the pages and really exist. I like that!

I would really love to see these books made into movies in Britain. (Hollywood would ruin them!) You know how you get a certain picture in mind of what these characters would look like? I see Ed Norton as Slider, Cameron Diaz as Joanna, Rob Lowe as Atherton.....not sure about the rest. Looking forward to my next read.

Ms Harrod-Eagles' series on Bill Slider continues to delight. Her writing is wickedly humorous and her characters "breathe". This is an excellent edition to the series. We see Bill Slider at his best in this one. He is the most likeable detective out there right now, I think. In this book a woman is found dead in a construction hole at the Old Rectory. How did she get there? Was she even murdered? Bill and Jim Atherton set out to track the killer. It appears like a straightforward case at first since they discover her husband was terribly jealous, and he really had no alibi for the time of the murder, but as they delve deeper, they find a woman who has been leading a rather unsavoury life, and has been upsetting and making people angry for some time. As always, Ms. Harrod-Eagles characterizations are great. Cheif Inspector Porson is an absolute gem. I caught myself chuckling more than once at his Porsonisms. Read this series if you like intelligent writing with a diamond hard wit laced right through the whole story.

Slider and Atherton investigate the death of Jennifer Andrews, a contractor's adulterous wife. Her body is found in a trench the man was about to permanently fill. The construction was taking place on a fancy estate occupied by an ailing historian and the wimpy daughter he browbeats. Both knew the dead woman, and neither liked her. In fact, no one seems to have liked her much -not the (married) boss she was having an affair with, or the co-worker whose place she took in doing so, or her notoriously jealous husband. Even her priest despised her. As Slider and Atherton investigate the murder, they each struggle with their own relationship issues. Atherton's wondering whether the bachelor life he's raised to an art form is really all that wonderful. Slider's still living with one woman, and married to another woman who is living with another man. His estranged wife, Irene, wants to divorce and financially destroy him, or maybe reconcile with him instead; she's not sure.

My favorite parts of Harrod-Eagles' books are the witty banter among the coppers, and their brainstorming sessions about their cases. As always, the police officers trade funny quips, puns, and put-downs as they share theories and speculation about a murder. The relationship between Slider and Atherton is the deepest and most complex in the series, and there's some reflection on that in SHALLOW GRAVE. The plot is somewhat predictable and the resolution not particularly surprising. Those shortcomings might bother me in another book, but not in this one. If a less-than-compelling plot can bring together such imperfect but utterly likable characters as populate this series, and inspire writing as good as Harrod-Eagles', that's fine by me. This is one of the best books in the series.

For some reason the entire line up of Richard Herman's books appeared on my favourite bookseller's shelves a year or so ago, at ridiculously low prices. I was intrigued, and laid out the necessary bucks.

Well - it was worthg it. In fact, twice the price would have been fair. Not, of course, that I'm complaining.

"Force Of eagles" is the second of Herman's books, and it's a great yarn. Tautly plotted, with excellent airborne and land battle sequences, the action's non-stop. The concentrated action, however, doesn't interfere with the development of a bunch of likeable characters.

Yes folks, it's battle time, and the good guys are good, the bad guys are bad. (OK, so they're a little cliched. But hey... get with the picture. They are the bad guys, after all!)

The scenario's realistic (Herman must have war-gamed the action a number of times) and is told from a number of perspectives: the pilots, the ground-crew, the medics, the CO and his staff, the odd civilian.

Good stuff... as good as Dale Brown, without the political posturing of the letter.

This is the first book I picked up by Herman ( I just happened to see the F-15 Eagle on the cover while browsing a bookstore). I have re-read this book so many times the binding is coming loose! I had to go back and read his first novel The Warbirds and have added it and every book since Force of Eagles to my collection. If you like reading about the military and the Air Force in paticular, Herman is the author for you! Lots of action scenes as well as political background information. A general synopsis of the book would be what could have happnened had the U.S. lost the Gulf War.

The genral at the pentogon is very mad because he wants his people out of prison. he does not care who does the job. Stansell gets the job and puts together a rescue team to get the pows out, but it is not easy trying to do all this. THIS book is the best i would recomend this book to any one.

I just finished reading Gift of Fire and Gift of Gold. Jayne Ann Krentz is amazing. Not only do I love her sex scenes but her imagination re: paranormal phenomenon is amazing. What a woman!!

An excellent book. I read Gift of Gold first and hoped there would be more about the characters. Thankfully there was. All of her books I reread often and this is one of my favorites. I really enjoy the paranormal aspects of this book. I do not loan any of her books (under any of her pseudonyms)out.

Verity and Jonas are wonderful characters. This sequel continues with more interesting dialogue and suspense. The historical facts intertwined with the romance make this book a spell-binding read every time. Jayne Ann Krentz has the ability to weave a story that transports you into the book to watch the scene. I highly recommend both Gift of Fire and Gift of Gold

Although the house with spirits has been done repeatedly, Barbara Michaels does a wonderful job with her interpretation of this well used theme. I found myself being drawn into the tale and especially enjoyed the picturesque description of the castle. Despite its great twists and turns, I couldn't help but be sadden by the choice of endings. It does leave the reader wondering, how much of the ending was a result of the "spirit of the house" and how much of it was the mental workings of the heroine? You decide.

American teacher Carla Tregellas is the last remaining heir to a huge mansion on the cliffs of Cornwall. When she arrives she is confronted by an elderly housekeeper who tells her the tale of one of her ancestors disappearing on a stormy night, apparently taken by a mysterious merman. Carla is the practical type who is not dissuaded by old legends and decides to stay the summer. She becomes entwined with the housekeepers grandson, the local vicar, a young doctor, the lawyer handling the estate, and a myriad of other interesting characters. Carla notices that they all seem very intent on her leaving and she stubbornly refuses to give in. Meanwhile she has dreams and some real horrors in the house. In spite of all that she falls in love with the old estate and plans to stay. That's when the real fireworks start. This was an excellent mystery keeps you guessing until the amazing conclusion. Great fun to read.

I haven't read a Michael's book in ages and picked this one up. I absolutely loved it. Couldn't put it down until the wee hours of morning. If you like old houses, mysteries and ghosts this book is for you. Wish she would write another with these characters.Enjoy!

This was an interesting story. I have read a large number of World War Two historical fictions and this is the first time I have come across this topic. The detective is a good character, sure there are a lot of stereotypes with him but we all expect that and the author uses them to his advantage. The ending was a bit fast; a few more pages would have done the book justice. Overall a good effort that should not take you too much time to read. If you are a fan of this author then you defiantly should read the book

That's the setting for this novel. It's 1941 and Germany is victorious, at least in Western Europe. The US and Germany are not at War. Deighton mentions one of the characters in the book, Barbara Barga, a US journalist (and later the love interest of the main character) having come over to the UK on the inaugural London to New York Lufthansa flight. A flight he slyly mentions Himmler and Goring were on. What business these German power brokers had in the States and who they were meeting the author does not say, nor is it in the least bit important to the story's plot. It's just a neat way of providing information in passing, and to me, shows how attentive to detail and how much fun Deighton has with this 'alternative history' or 'What if' novel.

The story centers on Detective Superintendent Douglas Archer of Scotland Yard and his Sargeant, the elderly Harry Woods who make up the 'Yards murder team, and who are called in by their German superiors to investigate what looks like a simple murder case involving a blackmarketeer. The case quickly develops into something with a wider scope. The SS in Berlin shows interest and sends a senior officer, Standartenfuhrer Huth to supervise Archer. The underground movement, politicians, the German police, the SS, a small resort town in southern England, the King and finally US Marines all have a role to play in the unravelling of the plot.

Ambition, greed, love, jealousy, and political plotting are all motives that drive the characters along. The characters are not stereotypical. Huth, far from being evil SS is one of the more principled, sympathetic and even likable characters in the book.

The only complaint I have is the rather rapid tying up of loose ends in the last few pages, it feels forced. Also, Archer having proven how smart a detective he was throughout the book, suddenly seems rather naive and daft even, as Huth has to explain all the political machinations and subtleties of the plot to him.

I have enjoyed, as far back as I can remember, fiction dealing with a victorious Germany in WW2. Maybe it has to do with the fact that I read Shirer's "Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" when I was 8. SS-GB is one of the classics in this sub-genre of speculative fiction.

Britain invaded and under the heel of the Nazi jackboot...what does a career detective do? If he resigns, who will look out for the rights of the people and track down those who are truly guilty? There is still real crime in a conquered country, after all. Is there a time to sacrifice the duty of a policeman for the greater good of the country as a whole?

That's a good part of the appeal of the novel; that is, how does a man of virtue and honor deal with this situation? Especially when one is trying to get the King out of the clutches of the Jerries and on to the USA to give the British Empire a figurehead to rally round. Can it be done? Buy this novel and find out....

Despite the complaints of some of the other reviewers, the Mage system is not complex - it is only slightly more difficult than anything else. However, as far as WoD: Sorcerer goes, not every spellcaster in the WOD can act as a Mage - that is, not everyone can bend reality at a whim. The Sorcerer book discusses the rigid paths of magic studied by mortals. While it does not take into account new canon (see Sorcerer:Revised), it's systems are more simplified than the new Sorcerer book, and in addition, lists a /great/ deal of Rituals. Anyone that wishes to run a game based around dark and gritty magic (something to the effect of Call of Cthulu magic), ought to pick up this book. /Don't/ buy this book just because "Mage hurt my wittle head".

WoD: Sorcerer is a great book, detailing a system for"hedge wizards," IE, sorcerers you don't have to break yourneck reading the Mage book to understand. The seven or eight Sorcerer lineages bring all kinds of fresh occult material to a World of Darkness where you thought you'd seen everything (just because you know what vampires, werewolves, and wraiths are). With juicy descriptions and a bunch of "hedge paths," of magic, WoD Sorcerer brings much-needed mystery and diversity to any WoD game. It has rules for awakening or being embraced *after* sorcerous study, too, so if you really want to complicate your Vampire or Mage chronicle from the start, this is your book.

I am of an alternative religion, and have always striven to bring my characters to be as close to my true self as possible, and this book lets me turn my self into a realistic, playable character. As has been said, they don't have the overpower complex magic of Mage, but do have an edge over other mortals. In the end, if you want to play a mortal with a chance of survival, this is one of the best books for it!

Although the book is somewhat entertaining, the antics of the author, Jake McNiece is a disgrace to the military. He constantly refers to his lack of military discipline, his insubornination to officers, his love of fighting other American soldiers and his general military bearing. He is proud of the fact that he was never promoted and spent his entire time as a private. Although he likes you to think that he was alway an acting sergeant. All of this detracts from what otherwise could have been a very good book about combat paratroopers.

One of the most famous photos of WWII is that of 101st paratroopers with Mohawk haircuts and war paint preparing to board C47 aircraft for D-Day. This book is the story of those men, before and after D-Day. The squad was part of the 506th of the 101st Abn Div and this book is co-authored by a member of the squad. The book also includes interviews with others who were part of the squad or their officers and is well researched from numerous articles on the squad that appeared in the Stars and Stripes and other magazines that made the squad, for awhile, as famous as Carlson's Raider's or the Black Sheep. These were tough men from America's depression dust bowl and did not take well to Army displine. They formed the 506th demo squad and were encourged to be independent for the behind the lines work that paratroopers operate in. Before D-Day the squad built a reputation for not saluting officers or taking showers, their filth was their badge of membership of the squad. The men returned from D-Day and found that they were famous from the "Mohawk" photo and stories of the "Filthy 13" were picked up by US papers. Some of the squad were interviewed for other stories but were off for Holland before they could read the results. When the squad fought at the Bulge they had been trained as pathfinders and this book tells of the little known work that pathfinders did to bring supply drops into Bastone.

After the work the squad went their own ways and over the years stories were published in magazines like "True Magazine" and in the early sixties Hollywood became interested but the men where not interested and would not allow their name Filthy 13 be used. In 1967 the hit movie "The Dirty Dozen" came out.

The novel, "The Dirty Dozen" was published in 1965 by E.M. Nathanson. Nathanson's story was inspired by WWII OSS officer Aaron Bank. In 1944 Major Bank was given the job of selecting anti Nazi German POW's and then lead them on a mission to whipe out Hitler's high command. The mission was scrubbed but Nathanson used the idea for a novel, only he changed the prisoners from German POWs to GI convicts. The title of his novel seems to have been borrowed from the "Filthy 13". Like the 13 the "Dozen" refuse to shower and are a bane to the 101st Abn brass, also in the book/movie the dozen take out a 101st HQ and have a party prior to D-Day.

Regardless of the "Dirty Dozen" connections this is a good book about the conduct of WWII style airborne warfare.

After years researching various aspects of WW2, I kept hearing tales of the Filthy 13. I met some, and ran into various A/B men associated with them. And while I can not vouch for every thing said in this book (I am not an A/B expert), most of it were extremely similar to what I had seen and read elsewhere. Keep in mind a lot of it is personal opinion, particulary the opinions about other officers and soldiers, but I quite enjoyed it.

Of course the real reason the Filty 13 were so great is that on D-day no less than 3 of them were ex-29th Rangers! (see 'Spearheading D-day').

Anyway, I highly recommend this book as a very fun book, that portrays a quite small and unusual aspect of America's airborne troops in WW2. These are stories that are legend amoung many 101st troopers and historians. The book itself is like sitting down with Jake McNiece and listening to him tell his stories.

Unlike most square rig sailing books Eagle Seamanship gives simple explanations of not jut how things are done but also why they are done. This is essential if you are truly to come to understand square rig sailing and attain a good level of competence.
The only problem with Eagle Seamanship is that often Military/Coast Guard terms are used which can be confusing for civilian sailors but this is limited mostly to names and titles of the people on deck and not the seamanship terms.
Even though Eagle Seamanship deals specifically with sailing one ship, the Eagle, the information is relevant to sailing any barque.

This book was designed for cadets on the U.S. Coast Guard training ship Eagle. As such, it provides a good overview of sail operations. It provides diagrams for lines and sheets that proved very informative.

Recommend this book for someone with a serious interest in square riggers, if only to see how the procedures are somewhat different than that used in the 19th century.

.

Summary:

If you are at all interested in sailing on square rigger's, or in ship modeling--this is a must have book that will fit in your pocket for reference on deck. Buy two copies.

If you simply want to expand your knowledge of seamanship-this book will give you some good ideas and is worth the price. I was particularly impressed with the emphasis on commands, the descriptions of the chain of command-all principals that should be applied to any vessel with a crew.

Back Cover:

Written for cadets serving on the U.S. Coast Guard's famous training barque, Eagle, and use by Tall Ship sailors around the world, this handy, pocket-sized manual tells seamen all they need to know to sail a square rigger. This new edition, the first to appear in ten years, is easier than ever to follow, and its simple step-by-step explanations of commands and procedures help the reader through every important sailing maneuver. The wealth of knowledge and experience this guide draws upon is without parallel.

Index:

1. Eagle History

2. Compartmentation and Standing Rigging

3. Sails and Running Rigging

4. Setting, Dousing, and Furling Sail

5. Trimming Sail

6. Working the Ship

7. Shipboard Emergencies

8. Deck Seamanship

Glossary

Reviewer's Comments:

I picked up this book before there were any reviews and had no clue it was a US Coast Guard Manual for sailing this specific boat. So I was a little disappointed at first. I was only slightly interested in the interior arrangements of the cabins. BUT...

After digging into it, I found lots of cool stuff that could apply to handling any sailing vessel. Like a good way to scandalize (depower) a staysail when you don't have a furler.

The single piece of information I was most interested in was the layout of the running rigging at the pin rails. For a sailor to know the ropes-this information must be committed to memory.

I enjoyed the book, and reread in periodically to help keep the terminology fresh.

Now, I'm trying to figure out how to wrangle a passage on the Eagle-or at least a tour.

Smooth Sailing

Bart Senior

Not a bad book, but certainly not up to the usual Michaels standard. I thought it was just a bit transparent in a lot of places. The ending was almost predictable. The heroine was just a bit too flaky to have gone through all the troubles and travails without really making a lot of big mistakes. The daughter seemed to be a lot more sensible than the Mother. Oh, well, it still was worth the time it took to read it. While I don't recommend it highly, I still recommend it to any Barbara Michaels fans.

It's nice to read an old-fashioned "creepy old house" novel where the main character and her love interest behave themselves. This story, though obstensibly horrific, was actually quite cozy. However, the shadow that Ellen saw from the corner of her eye each night--the hanging shadow--was pretty scary. I haven't read too much Barbara Michaels as of yet. This was a good start. Greygallows is next on my list.

I have read several of Barbara Michaels' books and have to say that this may actually be the best one I have read! I borrowed it from the library and was so entranced by the story that I read it in one day. Now I plan to purchase a copy from Amazon for a place on my bookshelf - which isn't that easy to qualify for! Only the very best books gain a place there. And this book is a great one!

This book starts fast and stays fast right to the very end. I did a Tour at one of the Special Forces A Camps that was referenced in the book and was able to follow in my mind the route of the operations. It brought back a lot of memories from 35 years ago. It is a good read and will keep your attention to the finish.

While this intriguing look into the Vietnam war may be difficult reading for those who lost husbands, brothers, sons and friends in that conflict, the author crystalizes the valor and human spirit of these young soldiers. Were they all heroic? I don't know but would like to think so. Well worth the read.

mr. Zlotnik writes with great passion and excellence. This book, along with several others I have read, is great reading for the eye. I have never been disappointed after reading one of his novels.