Colletti, as an insider and -- at the time -- Cubs' employee, provided this little book on the Cubs at the beginning of the Tribune era for the enjoyment of Cubs fans. The purchase of the Cubs from the Wrigleys brought with it many things that define the modern Cubs (or at least the post-'69, pre-MacPhail Cubs)-- Ryne Sandberg, Rick Sutcliffe, Harry Caray -- all brought to Chicago through the efforts of Dallas Green. Colletti's book, however, is fawning in its praise for Green and perhaps overplays what Green meant to the franchise. Yes, the Cubs which Green inherited were horrible -- Dave Kingman's one good season seems all the more remarkable when compared to what others were doing and the Wrigleys had alienated a lot of fans with the team's rough treatment of Bill Madlock (a sin which would be grievously committed a second time with Greg Maddux by Larry Himes less than two decades later) -- but the Cubs walked away from the Dallas Green era with only 1984 to show for it. Insofar as it was the only glory worth reliving, beyond Lee Elia's rant, Colletti provides great coverage to it in "You've Gotta Have Heart." Colletti takes readers through each game of the 1984 season in summary fashion and provides enough detail to invoke the giddy memories of that brief monsoon breaking the devastation of a forty year drought... Ryne Sandberg's incredible game against Bruce Sutter and the Cardinals; Steve Trout and his blister "remedy" of pickle juice, crab meat and tobacco juice; "Sarge" and the fans in the left-field bleachers... all of it is laid out lovingly by Colletti up until the bitter end. Garvey, Durham, pain. Still, a fun read for Cubs fans of more than two decades.

Boy the reader from "fashionable Washington, D.C." hit the nail right on the head. This book is definitely for the over 60 crowd. Vincent's fawning prose over his "It Girls" of today were funny and puzzling. Kathie Lee Gifford? Claire Shipman? Liz Smith? These women often look like they need grooming tips and a good bath. Others like Julia Ormond, Adrienne Vittadini, Isabella Rossellini, or Nina Griscom do indeed have that extra something, but Vincent didn't really manage to define it. The tips on dressing were okay, but nothing that most mothers haven't already taught their daughters. The only real thing that elevates this book and makes it partially worthwhile, is that Vincent is donating his portion of the profits to charity. Next time either he or Sherry Suib Cohen write a book, they should also scan the pages for really glaring glamour discrepencies, like showing Diane Sawyer's or Phyllis George's fillings, either edit them out or have these women close their mouths. I also think that the women presented seemed like mindless sheep, and that their cities and fashion codes which they live by were stereotyped and parodied. While this book is an okay general guide to give the reader a feel for how a certain portion of the population looks and dresses, I'd recommend watching CNN Style, or Fashion File and simply paying attention.

This is a wonderful book with practical advice on how to get that polished look that most women covet. An added perk is getting the chance to peak into the world of celebrity--the author provides interesting tidbits of information about favorite celebrities with lovely pictures to match. This would be a wonderful gift.

I bought this book for my mom and my daughter--I'm in the sandwich generatyion! It's funny and fabulous and informative and I've never quite seen a beauty book like it! It;s actually a style book--a strong, directional look at the way the stunning women get the big city look. I got it!

If you are a previous reader of Sandra Dalla, get ready to enjoy this fast paced book with many surprises at the end.

Addie French is the raciest character yet to grace the pages of a novel by Sandra Dallas. She could be her own Lifetime movie special.

Once again Sandra Dallas paints a detailed picture of the basis of this book. You can literally taste the chilly and feel the heat and dust. She is one of my favorite authors because of her use of detail.

Great book for a road trip or lying at the pool. I think everyone should read it. It's a quick read that teaches a little history while still giving you a juicy plot. But, I would suggest reading one of her earlier books first. Persian Pickle Club is a great place to start. Chili Queen will intrique it's readers. But, don't be surprised if you throw the book down at the end mad like I did. The ending really does surprise you. If anyone can see the end coming then they should think about writing their own book.

Reading Sandra Dallas novels is like "being there" in a slice of life of the past. This is true of each of her previous novels, all of which I have read and recommended to others, and it is true of "The Chili Queen".

This time, we are immersed in the West of Nalgitas, New Mexico, and in the four main characters, starting with a very tolerant Madame, the Chili Queen herself, Addie. It is the book on Addie that sets the stage for the whole plot. For there we learn of homely, worn-out Emma and her abusive brother, John Roby, and we engage Addie's two remaining whores, her customers, and her black servant, Welcome. Finally, we meet her lover and friend, the outlaw bank robber, Ned Partner.

One gets the idea that Addie's book is just the set up of plot twists to come. And, not to be disappointed, when Addie's book finishes, and Ned's begins, the reader realizes that the weave of the four main characters' stories gives progression to a subterfuge of schemes, not untypical of an O. Henry short story.

This is an enjoyable read, with characters that would translate beautifully to the screen, a la the cast of the modern version "Maverick" with Jodie Foster, James Garner, and Mel Gibson.

The wit of Dallas' characterization and the situational ironies make for a fast and entertaining read. It is hard not to jump ahead to the resolution, but worth the wait, no matter what the reader may guess will happen.

"The Chili Queen" makes for believable and entertaining recreational reading, with suspense, romance, and a sense of the real characters of the later years of the Old West. I highly recommend this little book.

This was my first Sandra Dallas book and I just loved it. The twists were surprising, and really had me guessing. I loved the old west setting and the cast of characters. Definately a page turner and very different from the other "thriller/mystery" books I usually read. Reminded me a bit of "Fried Green Tomatoes" meets "Holes", if that makes any sense!

This is the work of a bitter misanthrope. Sugar's jokes are predictable and his writing style is stale. Try "When Pride Still Mattered" for a good book on football.

It is obvious from reading the lower rated reviews that the individuals found the title on a search and wrote the review without reading it. Big mistake, guys. Bert Sugar is the editor, not the author. The book does collect various essays from people from both former athletes and from sports writers. Some of the essays do come off as rather dull. Most are intersting reads. There is even a short piece to accompany the cartoon of the real Americas Team, drawn by Bill Gallo, with the real team consisting of the Duke and a handful of other Western heroes. Bill Conlin, a journalist for a Philadelphia paper spends almost as much time ragging on his "Iggles" (Eagles) as he does the Cowboys. Skip Bayless, a veteran of Dallas newspapers, is one of the better writers here. Also interesting is Thom Loverro's imagined future of 2097, wherein a father tries to explain the fall of America caused by the now extinct Dallas Cowboys. Hilarious! Beware, Cowboy haters! The true origin of the "America's Taam" will defeat a myth held by haters for decades.

Have you ever wondered where the balls have gone in american citizens? This guy has them all. To be able to write such an opinionated book takes guts. Help this man to write more books. He hates Dallas So Much but deep down they are his team!

A book of some vintage, yet we are hearing more of the same from a number of quarters now! As a church planter and pastor the subject area is of vital interest.

Whilst I loved the chapter on relating to the world, I have one important question. If the church's debt to modernism is so bad, why buy into postmodernism in such a wholesale fashion? What is really unexamined in the book is a theology of relating to the world. Rather than capitulating to the latest trends, shouldn't we be a bit more discerning and affirm some things whilst rejecting others? The post-modernist project does not mind if the church tags along for a while, but is ultimately going in a different direction.

The first 5 or 6 chapters of Tomlinson's book provide a thoughtful, informed description both of the evangelical church and those who have have left it behind. His overall thesis that we are moving into a generation of Christians that value their evangelical heritage but who have moved beyond the questions that evangelicalism was designed to answer rings very true to my own experience. Working at a Christian College, I see every day those confused by the very paradigm shift Tomlinson describes. I found in these chapters a very helpful and even comforting explanation for the alienation I often feel.

However, the closing chapters seem to bank too much on the good will of the target audience as Tomlinson tackles that central bugaboo of evangelical thought, the inerrancy of Scripture. While I'm not convinced that he is wrong, Tomlinson's assumption that he doesn't have to make several points also leaves me feeling unconvinced that he is right on this point.

Despite this weakness, Tomlinson certainly offers hope for those wishing to move beyond what they see in their current churches without abandoning those things that attracted them to their faith in the first place. Further, Tomlinson dares to open a discussion about topics that most of the evangelicals I know are loathe to admit exist.

I had never heard of the term "post-evangelical" when a friend gave me this book, but reading it has helped me articulate a lot of the confusion I had been feeling regarding my faith. For some time I had been uncertain about various aspects of evangelicalism and the experience of church, although I found it difficult to express my concerns, partly because I wasn't sure what it was that just "didn't seem right", and partly out of fear that I would be branded "unbelieving" if I openly questioned aspects of my faith. Although the church I belong to is fairly moderate on the evangelical scale, there are quite a few people for whom faith is an all-or-nothing matter: if I didn't believe everything that was said, I might as well not believe anything. As I'm sure many others could testify, this is a discomforting and isolating experience, and one that made me feel things would probably be OK as long as I just kept my mouth shut and didn't publicly disagree with anyone.

The Post-Evangelical has helped me put my experience in context, looking at the history of the church, the rise of the evangelical movement, and the subsequent disillusion with this movement as we move from the "modern" to the "postmodern". Granted, these are amibiguous terms that tend to be overused and underexplained, but I believe Dave Tomlinson does as good a job as anyone at defining them. In the same way that postmodern is not a rejection but a continuation of the modern, post-evangelicalism is an attempt at rethinking and questioning evangelicalism without callously throwing it aside.

This book has been of invaluable help to me in understanding where I have come from and why I am finding it problematic. It has helped me give voice and expression to my confusion without rejecting my faith in God, like so many other people I know who decided that there was too much hypocrisy and contradiction in the church and, sadly, gave it all up. There is wonderful debate to be had by free-thinking, intelligent Christians after reading this book.

An excellent book that clearly shows the deceptive theology of liberal theologians. What a powerful testimony written by a former practicing homosexual and former pastor of a "gay" church. Required reading for all Christians, especially those within denominations where the topic of homosexual relations and "gay marriage" is a divisive issue up for debate. This book exposes the many myths and arguments by pro-homosexual lifestyle activists and gives hope to those struggling with homosexual tempations. Written with true compassion and love, in intelligent yet simple explanations. Great Reading and Information.

Before I read this book, I had many questions concerning homosexuality. As a Christian, I know that many others of my faith have been bigoted and hateful towards homosexuality, and I knew that this was not the proper attitude to have. I first looked at this book in my church library, and was very curious, and when I finally bought it, I was overwhelmed at the vast amount of clear, concise, and compassionate information Mr. Dallas has given us concerning homosexuality, its supposed links towards genetice, biblical explanations, and the proper attitudes of love to have toward homosexuals. I have read the negative reviews of this book, and now, after reading it myself, I know that they have no idea what they are talking about. If you are looking for a book that offers clear ANSWERS to questions, and the best responses to misconceptions about homosexuality, in a non-bigoted, non-condemning, and very compassionate tone, from a former homosexual who knows what he's talking about, this is the absolute perfect book for you. Ignore the rebuttals; make the decision for yourself, and read it. I guarantee that you won't be sorry.

A STRONG DELUSION BY JOE DALLAS.

THIS BOOK, WRITTEN BY AN EX-GAY MAN, WILL NOT BE COMFORTABLE READING FOR MANY PEOPLE. GAYS WILL BE UPSET BECAUSE IT TAKES THEIR ARGUMENTS APART FROM THE INSIDE AND SHOWS THE FALLACIES. RABID ANTI-GAYS WILL NOT LIKE IT BECAUSE EVEN WHILE CONDEMNING HOMOSEXUAL SEX, THE BOOK MAINTAINS A CONSISTENT LOVE AND SYMPATHY TOWARDS THE GAYS THEMSELVES. SOME OF US IN THE MIDDLE WILL BE UNCOMFORTABLE BECAUSE WE ARE ASKED TO RELATE SYMPATHETICALLY TO GAY PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IN OUR CHURCHES. WE MUST RECOGNIZE THAT GAYS CAN BE CHRISTIAN, EVEN WHILE STRUGGLING WITH THEIR HOMOSEXUAL FEELINGS AND LIFESTYLE. MANY GAYS HAVE SOUGHT REFUGE IN THE GAY CHURCHES BECAUSE THEY HAD NOWHERE ELSE TO GO. IF CHRIST'S CHURCH CAN WELCOME ANYONE, IT MUST BE ABLE TO WELCOME EVERYONE. THIS DOES NOT MEAN THAT EVERYONE'S BEHAVIOR IS ACCEPTABLE, BUT THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES ARE MOST DEFINITELY WELCOME. WE MUST BE ABLE TO SEPARATE HOMOSEXUAL BEHAVIOR FROM THE HOMOSEXUAL PERSON. A LOVING, WELCOMING COMMUNITY OF FAITH WAS NECESSARY FOR GETTING JOE DALLAS ON THE ROAD AWAY FROM HOMOSEXUALITY. IF MORE CHURCHES WOULD OFFER SUCH A LOVING, WELCOMING COMMUNITY, MORE GAYS MIGHT CHOOSE THAT ROAD.

ALAN@PROAXIS.COM

I like this book and a few of the patterns...but please be aware that the sizes are quite small and allow for little ease in the modern style. I have adapted 2 of them for a similar size and greater ease and that has worked well.

Two major quibbles...one design called for beading but did not specify what type of beads. I spent two hours in a bead store with bead professionals who said the type of beads in the picture aren't made to fit that style of yarn. Also, there could have been more instruction on beaded knitting...this isn't something most knitters have a lot of experience with.

Second, although this inevitably happens with every pattern book, I was dismayed to find that almost every pattern uses Rowan's Botany, a discontinued yarn. You expect that when you get a book years after publishing but not so soon after release. As it is, the reader will probably never be able to duplicate the shading in the pictured designs as the yarn no longer exists.

To end on a positive note, I do find the patterns well written overall with nice designer touches.

Be warned that the patterns in this book are sized for 32", 34" and 36" chest measuremenets. Most of the patterns are very close fitting, so there's not much ease to work with if you're a bigger size. If you're comfortable resizing patterns, then I would recommend this book because the patterns are fabulous and very much the style of what young adult women are wearing. But if you just want to follow the printed pattern, you're going to have to make a pretty small sweater.

Also, nearly all the patterns call for Rowan yarn, which is quite expensive. Once again, if you're comfortable with yarn substitution or have plenty of money to spend on knitting, this will be fine. But the price of the recommended yarn might be discouraging to some people.

As I sit here typing, I'm wearing the second sweater I've knit from this book's selections, and I couldn't be much happier with the results.

Yes, the book's directions seem scanty and the sizes don't go up past a 38-in. bust; and, like other reviewers, I wish I didn't have to do so much work to decode the color charts. But just try working from a REAL vintage pattern from the 30s and 40s some time. Believe me, this book is much easier to use: the instructions are clear and stripped down to knitter's terminology basics, and the layout is uncluttered and easy to read.

As a realtively new knitter, I've needed a knitting reference book on hand occasionally while working with Vintage Knits, but the better part of the projects here are for intermediate-skilled knitters and are pretty easy and satisfying to complete. As far as yarns go (which for these projects range from fingering- to DK-weight and no heavier), there are cheaper substitutes out there for the recommended brands -- all that's really important is staying in gauge. If you were knitting from actual vintage patterns you'd end up searching for substitutes anyhow.

So here's my one complaint: while I dig the garment choices, color combos and presentation, and I think the very idea of publishing a book of adapted vintage projects is fantastic, the author's gone too far in "modernizing" the original designs. The shaping and sizing are too far from vintage, not nearly as close-fitting as real vintage sweaters and designed with slightly dropped shoulder seams (as opposed to the high-armscye, lightly shoulder-padded originals), making them more slouchy and casual than the tailored, high-Hollywood glamour-look of real vintage. (One clue: as cute as the contemporary models are, the b&w models look even better!)

Most knitters won't care, but frankly why bother to even look for vintage inspiration if the sweater ends up looking "modern"? You'll find pretty, casual-styled, vintage-inspired sweaters on the rack at Talbott's (!). Besides, it seems to me that the point of knitting is to have something unique as well as handmade. It's as though the publisher felt the need to over-compensate for the mistaken idea that "vintage" equals "dowdy" by taking many of the distinctive vintage features out of these sweaters, and in the process actually made them *more* dowdy and less sexy.

That said, I still strongly recommend this one. It's inspirational eye-candy and maybe it'll encourage knitters to go off in search of other resources for vintage knitting. Call me a tramp, but I'll take a vintage "sweater girl" sweater over anything modern any day.

While this book is certainly an entertaining read, and covers Holliday's life quite fully, I consider the scholarship somewhat suspect.

The problem is that, rather than confine her account to the facts, the author often states how Doc felt, or what he thought about various things, people, events, etc. throughout the book. There is just no way she could possibly have such detailed and complete knowledge about such things, since Holliday never kept a diary, and indeed the only written accounts directly attributable to him were some letters written to his cousin, a Catholic nun - none of which go into the level of detail that would be required for Ms. Johns to know all of the things she appears to know. Most of what we know about Holliday comes from what others (many of whom disliked him cordially) said or wrote about him. Yet Ms. Johns writes as though she has an inside track on his innermost thoughts.

If she actually qualified such statements with words like "It seems probable that...", "it is very likely that...", or "the evidence clearly indicates that..." this would solve the problem; after all, it is a historian's job to present possible explanations for things the bare facts may not explain sufficiently, and to try and see past events to the causes and motivations behind them. But speculation and supposition MUST be labelled as such. To present it as though it were incontrovertible fact is poor scholarship. As a historian myself, I know this would never fly if the author were presenting this as a graduate thesis.

Ms. Johns is also inclined to make some pretty wild claims, such as Wyatt Earp's and Doc Holliday's "...friendship, may have caused many deaths, even Doc's own."(p.134) How Holliday's death from tuberculosis, several years after he parted company with Wyatt could, in any way, be attributable to Earp is a complete mystery to me. And this is only one example of some of the author's questionable assertions.

If your looking for entertainment, you'll enjoy this book. But I consider much of the information contained herein to be highly suspect, given that the author's scholarship is often very sloppy.

If you're interested in the life of Doc Holliday, than you will probably want to read this book.

It is definitely filled with some historical truths, but at the same time the author tries to tell the reader what Doc might have been feeling when relating things that happened to him. I found that to be slightly annoying, because it's just based on pure conjecture. Sometimes it seems more like a fictional story rather than factual information.

It also seems like more information could have been put into the book regarding the relationships between him and Kate and him and Wyatt Earp.

All in all a worthwile book, but one not too put too much credence into. "Doc Holliday: A Family Portrait," by Karen Holliday Tanner is a better choice for the Doc Holliday fan. It has a good deal more factual information information about Doc, and much of it is based on family records, letters, etc.

I am basically an expert on Doc Holliday so when I read this book I was impressed with how accurate the author was. Many authors try to make him out to be either really good or really bad but Jahns brings out both sides of him. I greatly admire Doc for both his good and bad qualities. He feared nothing and yet was full of respect and undying loyalty for his friends. He is one of the most fascinaing people in all of history and this book gives alot of info about this interesting man.

'Acts of War' is a pretty empty Star Wars read. The Jedi pretty much get messed up with a race of violent aliens and the comic turns into one big fight after another as the Jedi intervene. One reviewer was right in the fact that the Jedi - normally peaceloving and fighters only when need be - step way out of character and pretty much act trigger happy. A few positives about this book is the artwork, which is nice and clean, and the fact that it nicely fits into the Prequel era, seguing right into the next book, 'Prelude to Rebellion'. For Star Wars continuity buffs only.

'Jedi Council: Acts of War' is a very mixed bag, full of elements good and bad in terms of both artwork and story. As such, it is also a comic about which I have very mixed feelings. The story takes place roughly a year before the events of 'The Phantom Menace', and probably shortly before the events of the eBook 'Darth Maul: Saboteur.' The art in this comic often has a very cartoonish quality, which I felt didn't mesh particularly well with the Star Wars setting, but the plot was fun if a little unbelievable and misguided.

In this story, Darth Sidious is taking steps to begin finalizing his plans to take over the galaxy. Knowing that the Yinchorri are a violent race which, like Hutts and Toydarians, aren't subject to mind control with the Force, he coerces their intelligentsia caste into having the warrior caste start attacking a few settlements. Sidious knows the Jedi will have no choice but to get involved, killing two birds with one stone - the Yinchorri will end up in no position to bother Sidious when he makes his move, and Jedi will die. When a couple of Jedi who had been sent to investigate are killed, the Jedi Council organizes a team that will head to the Yinchorr system and find their headquarters, stopping the violence. While the Jedi are thus occupied, Sidious has the Yinchorri lead an attack on the Jedi Temple itself, and things escalate from there.

The plot moves at a fair clip and the comic certainly never gets boring, but it is difficult at times to keep track of all the characters. First, there are Sidious and Maul, who we see pretty much sitting around talking and scheming, and then their lackeys. There are Mace Windu, Obi-Wan, and Qui-Gon who we all saw in the film, as well as the rest of the Jedi Council. But there are also eight or nine new Jedi who are all major characters in this series who are brand new, and once you remember who's named what, the book is practically over. The most important new character is Jedi Master Micah Giett, Ki-Adi-Mundi's predecessor on the Jedi Council. I personally found him obnoxious, unappealing, and just not a likeable character. However, this comic does flesh out the various members of the Council some, and it shows us some camaraderie and coordination between the Jedi which we've only gotten a glimpse of before in the Ongoing series.

There is also a *lot* of action in this series. Lightsaber fights, space battles, ambushes, all kinds of neat stuff. While it's always clear what's going on, as I said before I am not very fond of the cartoonish quality of the art. I also didn't care for the lightsaber art - they just didn't look right, they were too dull. Other comics have handled them much better. In addition, the Jedi and their Force abilities seemed inconsistent throughout the story. One minute four Jedi are being overwhelmed by massive numbers of aggressors, fighting for all they're worth and barely holding their own, while a few pages number an equal number of Jedi facing equal odds are having no trouble holding off the attack simply using the Force. It didn't make sense why they didn't just use the Force in the first place. Speaking of Force use, we finally get to see Yoda in action, and let's just say the little guy doesn't *need* a lightsaber.

Overall, this is a fun, fast-paced Jedi adventure story, with an okay plot, bearable if not great art, and lots of fun, fast action. Recommended.

For this graphic novel of the Jedis battling a lizard-like group known as the Yinchorri, I would give an A for inking, a B for artwork and a C for writing. The pictures and colors are brighter than usual and I liked that, and though the drawings show less detail than is typical, I liked the artwork too. The weakness here is the story. Mace Windu makes several errors of judgment (and is even reprimanded by Yoda for not consulting the Council); also, there is a LOT of fighting, which I consider the last resort of the Jedi, not the first, yet no attempt is ever made to deal with the Yinchorri other than fighting with them. It makes you wonder how the Jedi are any different than anyone else. The character of Master Giiett is interesting and we do get more information about members of the Jedi Council, which is always welcome.

I bought the first two fashion series and really liked the first one-still think it is worth reading, the second one was okay and this one is terrible. I will not waste my money on the next Dallas mystery. The charcters are not well written or developed-as an example they have supposedly fired 40 stylist but when Dallas arrives and starts working with them-they are all smiles and easy to get along with, no complaining about the clothes, the shoes, etc. So it does not make sense. The plot line is not done well she tried to weave together too many things and the story does not hold up even if you are drinking while reading the plot is too impossible to be enjoyable. The dialogue is just bad-wincingly bad. I completely gave up on ever spending my money on this series again when the names on the passports give away a relationship that supposedly has been kept hidden from the record company who is paying for everyone to be on the exotic island-how stupid or how many drinks we were supposed to have had to think that a rep from the company would not have had copies of everyone's documentation. Do not waste your money-I won't next time.

I liked Green's first two books. They had their rough spots, but Dallas is engaging and I thought as Green gained experience the series might really be worth following. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Dallas was still entertaining, but the book was poorly plotted. It also started with a gimmick flashback which added nothing to the book. And then the ending was, well, just stupid. Sorry, that is just the best word for it.
I don't know if I will give Dallas another try, but I definitely won't buy the book if I do. I will check it out at the library. If you liked the first two books, go ahead and give this one a try--but don't buy it, borrow it.

Murder has its place in fashion stylist (and Texan) Dallas O'Connor's third outing, but it's second to the frenetic pace, glitzy artifice and shady commercialism of the manufactured pop-music scene. Dallas, who casually drops designer names too haute to otherwise cross my radar, accepts a gig to create the look for a new all-girl band, put together by a record company contest. Dallas' first chore is an unlimited clothes-shopping spree in Paris before meeting the girls on the private Caribbean island where they are shooting their first music video. Green pulls out all the stops in describing this place, every room a palace of indulgence, a chef as handsome as he is talented, even "a stylist's fantasy" workshop. Except for its hidden door and a Mafia boss's trademark button.

It should all be too much, but somehow it works in a froth of fascinating glamour. Dallas is a dab hand with cutting-edge clothes (even if one of the girls has ballooned to a shocking size 8, maybe even 10!), the characters posture and pose delightfully, the island food and drink will make your mouth water, to say nothing of the temperamental chef, and, oh, yes, there are mysterious anomalies, nagging questions, even secret passageways and sinister secrets. We know there's a murder because the body appears on page one, before the story backtracks to its Paris beginning, and that's enough to know. High style fun.