Attorney Sarah Lansing has been charged with drug possession, a charge which is brought about after her defense of a woman who has been raped and then murdered by five Seattle cops who are determined to find the evidence which Sarah supposedly has but has not turned over to the DA for fear it will get "lost" and the cops will go free. While no charges have been brought against these five cops, Sarah has lost her job and basically hides out at home. While awaiting her trial Sarah decides to write a book about the five cops and the events leading up to her arrest. Sarah receives an invitation to writer's colony on a tiny island several miles from Seattle where she spent her childhood summers with her family and where she again meets her first love, Luke Ford. Five other writers join Sarah on the island, each has a secret they don't want to particularly share, including the owner of the colony. When a disaster strikes by way of an earthquake, two men show up on the island, all the truths come out and so does a killer, now the body count begins to rise. This novel was a truly enthralling novel up to the very end and I was truly surprised at its conclusion. You will enjoy this novel.

Meg O'Brien could turn a grocery list into a good story. She combines the plausible with the unexpected in such a way that the reader never knows what the next page will bring.

Gathering Lies is such a story, but with bonuses: A rustic northwest island filled with more intrigue than it has room for; a big time earthquake; over-the-top women; police of all persuasions; big-city politics; and a murder (or more).

I give the book five stars even though it put a dent in my vacation; I wouldn't leave the hotel until I read the whole thing.

"Gathering Lies" was one of those novels that was hard to put down because the suspense was incessant. This novel takes place on a little, beautiful island off the coast of Seattle. Attorney Sarah Lansing accepts an invitation from old friend named Timothea, to come spend a week at her writers colony with five other potential writers on the island. Sarah happily agrees because she is in the middle of a total mess back in Seattle. She is trying to prosecute four policemen for brutally raping and beating a prostitute to death. The policemen have been after Sarah lately because she has a key piece of evidence that could put them away. Sarah plans to write a novel about corrupt police and include the incident in Seattle. When she gets to the island, a huge earthquake hits (9.1 on the scale), all the buildings collapse and leave one women dead and the other women seek shelter in an abandoned house where Sarah's old friend used to live. Then two strangers, Luke & Gabe, appear and Sarah's evidence disappears. She and the other women are deeply attracted to both these men. But, which one can they trust? One is there to help and one harbors a deadly secret. This is an amazing novel and may be Meg O'Brien's best yet!

Brad Stonecipher

There can be fewer books in the English language so poignantly tinged with tragedy as 'Leaving Las Vegas'. The author, John O'Brien, commited suicide shortly after the film rights to the book were sold. He was 34. With this background, the book itself takes on an almost unparalled sadness. The description of the the decline of a successful man into a sick and pathetic figure is brilliant, and the the character of Sera is equally convincing. Although this is a tragic tale, however, one must see the hope that lies behind it: in the end, Ben has found true love, and although it is too late to save him from the lure of the bottle, he dies as happy as his situation will ever allow him. The backdrop of Las Vegas is perfectly used, and the city of perpetual excess is the ideal venue to show what that excess can do. A book to put you off drink if ever there was one, and not one to read when depressed, but ultimately a beautiful, touching and liberating exploration of desperation and hope.

I heard once that John O'Brien's father called this novel a suicide note from his son. It's hard to seperate the two character's paths of destruction from the author's own suicide. A stunning first book, though. O'Brien had a wonderful command of the language. His talent makes his own fate that much harder to take. This book lingers with you long after the last page.

I read this book years ago, and have never forgotten it. As a non-alcoholic myself, it was an incredible education in how someone stays drunk, from the time he wakes up until the moment he falls asleep dead drunk. O'Brien described, in incredible detail, things I had no idea about, such as how an alcoholic carefully proceeds from bar to bar, and how he hides and "minimizes" what he is drinking to non-drinkers. The only criticism I have about the book is the character of the prostitute. She wasn't as well-drawn, and there was no real explanation or development of the attraction between them. There are probably many lonely hookers and alcoholics in Las Vegas; so what drew these two so close together? But even so, I am sure I will never find a better book revealing the life of a man whose every waking moment revolved around a bottle of booze. Highly recommended.

After reading Reggae Rasta Revolution and The Rough Guide To Reggae, I was very hesitant to buy this book. I was afraid it would be prove to be another waste of money. But thank God I ponied up the dough. Reggae Routes is not only indisputably the best book ever written on reggae (And I have read them all or at least all I could find!), it is simply an excellent book period and a must read for anyone interested in reggae, Jamaica, world music or popular music. It is beautifully written in a manner that defies you to put it down and is as comprehensive as it is possible to be. (I always wondered where Nyabinghi came from.) The pictures are wonderful and it is a very well designed book. I agree with 90% of the top 100. Nice to see it was all done in Jamaica by Jamaicans, just like the best reggae. I would wholeheartedly advise anyone reading this to immediately click on 'ADD TO SHOPPING CART' and order as many copies as you have friends who like reggae.

'Reggae Routes' claims to be the first book on reggae written by Jamaicans and covers every conceivable aspect of Jamaican music. The authors have an authentic feel for reggae and Jamaica and write quite stylishly. The photos and illustrations are excellent, the criticism is thought provoking and it's well researched - this is the only reggae book with footnotes I've ever seen and it's spiced with high spirited quotes from living legends past and present. I don't always agree with Chang and Chen's judgments, but on the whole their taste is pretty good and I can't seriously quarrel with their all-time reggae top 100 and dancehall top 30 lists. All in all it's a fascinating look at Jamaica through its music and is a must read for anyone interested in the country or its culture. I particularly enjoyed the asides on Jamaican women and men. 'Reggae Routes' is the best book on reggae or Jamaica I've seen and probably one of the best I've read on popular music.

The newspaper reviews are right. Reggae Routes really is the new bible of Jamaican music. It makes every other book ever written on reggae look superficial - not surprising considering it's the only one ever written by someone born and bred in Jamaica. But it's more than just a great reggae book, it's an insightfull look at Jamaica and popular music in general. It's certainly a well researched book. The end chapter about Rastafarianism is the best piece I've ever seen on the subject. And Reggae Routes is wonderfully written, both stylish and funny. Once you start it you can't put it down. Simply a must buy for anyone interested in Reggae, Jamaica, Rastafarianism, or popular world music.

"Eclipse of the Sun", Michael O'Brien's third novel in the trilogy which began with "Strangers and Sojourners" and continued with "Plague Journal" is an outstanding conclusion to this excellent series. It picks up from where "Plague Journal" leaves off, but from a different perspective. Fortunately there are enough characters which appear in all three novels, allowing for a more or less seamless transition of perspective.

O'Brien continues his tale of the Delaney family and their friends and acquaintences and their trials and tribulations at the turning of the 21st century in British Colombia. There are two main themes: One theme concerns the eschatological prophecies in the book of Revelation, and their relevance to the dawning of the 21st century. The other theme concerns the quiet evaporation of personal and civil liberties which have been gradually occuring in the Western "democracies". These themes are knit so closely together, one is not always sure whether Revelation is a vehicle for O'Brien's political concerns or whether O'Brien's political concerns are a vehicle for his eschatological theories.

Regardless of which it is, the reader will have a difficult time putting this book down.

O'Brien's deeply held Catholicism shines forth brightly in this book -- and frankly, it is refreshing. It is unusual in this day and age for a Catholic to write "End-Times" novels -- such is usually the provence of fundamentalists (who usually hate the Church). His Catholicism is traditional, conservative and uncompromising, yet very human and full of compassion. The religious one meets in his books (including this one) are the very sort that one wishes there were more of! (In my experience, as someone raised in a traditional Anglican background, one of the major reasons that Catholicism has not made the inroads into my former denomination that it could make is due to the progressive hogwash that all too frequently passes for Catholicism in North America. A few more priests like Father Andrei, and a few more bishops like the Archbishop of Vancouver in "Eclipse" would go a long way in attracting converts from a slowing dying Anglicanism. But I digress)

For me, this book rates 4.25 stars. 5 for story content, and 3.5 for character development. One flaw in the book (or perhaps it's merely a flaw in my personal taste) is O'Brien's tendency to develop a character, then suddenly drop them, never to be seen again. He also does not, to my way of thinking, always sufficiently explain how a character develops from when he/she is first presented to how he/she ends up. One is left wondering why such and such a character changed so radically.

Finally, this book shows an interesting respect for conservative, yet non-Catholic clergy. O'Brien is not nearly as hard on his "seperated brethren" as many conservative Catholics tend to be. And he is equally hard on liberal Catholics as he is on liberal Protestants.

I would very much like to meet Mr. O'Brien some day. I have enjoyed his novels; I have enjoyed his non-fiction; I appreciate and respect his faith; (and I have an enormous respect for his understanding of JRR Tolkien). I know a wonderful Irish pub where we could light up the pipes, raise a pint or two, and discuss literature and theology for hours on end.

Excellent, excellent, excellent! Don't let the page count daunt you--this is an amazingly fast read. While this is an end-times book with a decidedly Catholic flavor, all Christians and even secular civil libertarians will find it to be an edifying (and sobering) read.

Basically, it is the story of a "creeping totalitarianism" that is engulfing North America and the few heroic (mostly Catholic and Evangelical) souls who recognize it and attempt to resist, especially when they discover that it is NOT happening by accident.... Although O'Brien says (I'm paraphrasing) that the novel has a "near future" setting, it has a disturbing "today's headlines" feel. This is well-done Catholic Christian literature, and as such it is not afraid to name names and identify the evils of our time: rampant consumerism, globalism, the New Age infection of orthodox Christianity (and its globalist ties), television, degenerate "art" calculated to destroy the sense of the sacred, the deliberate harassment of the devoutly religious, the annihilation of due process--the list goes on and on. In short, EOTS grippingly depicts the fall of night on Western civilization. The struggle against the darkness of sometimes uneasy coalitions of believers in Christ (and other people of good will) sustained by the grace of God makes for an inspiring cautionary tale.

You know a movie's a hit when the audience remains sitting while the credits roll. A great novel affects me the same way. I'm silently awed by the gift of a powerful story.

Michael O'Brien wowed me with Father Elijah (now available in paperback) and now stuns me with Eclipse of the Sun. In an earlier tale, Strangers and Sojourners, the Delaney family acquired a newspaper in Swiftcreek, British Columbia. The current editor views the growing misuse of Canada's "hate crime" laws with alarm. Since you can't speak ill of anyone, you can't call abortion "murder," you can't expose corruption, and you can't criticize the government.

Phony charges send the Delaneys fleeing to the mountains, except for estranged wife Maya and her youngest child Arrow. They live in a commune involved in drug dealing and possibly Satanism. When a secret government militia attacks the camp, Arrow flees, assisted by Father Andrei. This priest survived the Holocaust and recognizes the signs of fascism in the Canadian government. His task is to reunite Arrow with his family. He launches the young boy on an epic journey, both physically and spiritually.

The two discover that God is bringing a blessing out of the current oppression. People who never took religion seriously are now wondering why the government seems so threatened by it, especially Catholicism and evangelical Protestantism. They're forced to realize their choices have moral and possibly fatal consequences. Surprising characters choose to die for God rather than capitulate to government intimidation.

This novel is rich in characters. In addition to Arrow, one of the most believable young boys I've met in books, and Father Andrei, there are the Wannamakers, suspicious of the media's silence on events they know occured. Their daughter Julie and her family have decided to take a long cruise away from Canada, while the parents opt for a trailer tour of America. Potempko, another old European priest, has lost his parish to "progressive" elements but finds more and more Indians seeking his spiritual advice. Alice, Queen of Junque, claims to be amoral, but she rescues a hydrocephalic child from a government dumpster, and she willingly shelters Arrow. The Potters, Alice's evangelical neighbors, have spent years of love trying to convert Alice only to find themselves in trouble with the law for their charity. A formerly moderate archbishop begins to question the direction of Church "reforms."

The villains are mostly faceless, except for Maurice L'Oraison, who loved the first Mrs. Delaney but has sold his soul to escape the poverty and provincialism of Swiftcreek. Father Andrei's struggle to rescue L'Oraison's soul resembles the Grand Inquisitor section in The Brothers Karamazov, a section of philosophy that forces you to think. Like most epics, this is a long book, but I wouldn't cut one page.

Kathleen T. Choi, HAWAII CATHOLIC HERALD

I really enjoy Ms. Nesbit's written works. It is quite a shame that she can't write anymore. Although I liked this one a lot, I was a little disappointed by it because it lacked the charming fairy tale sort of feel that many of her children's books have. However, the story was quite wonderful, and I particularly loved the realistic scene of the children that the reader is given. I highly recommend this book to Edith Nesbit's fans, as well as people that enjoy a touch of mystery, mixed with a child's view of life.

I like the Railway Children a lot,especially how the author told the story. I liked Bobbie because there is something different about her,she was helpful and sweet at the same time. I am wondering where the dog James went? Other than that, the story was great!

I remember in The Railway Children that Bobbie, Peter and Phylls had a dog named James. I was wondering, what ever happened to James? In the book Phyllis is the best person to me because she is accident prone. In the story the kids lives change a lot from the city to the country. They make new friends on the railway.It was a great book. I still wonder..."What happened to James...."

John O'Brien has lived and thoroughly researched the Appalachian label. This book is a "must read" for any native of WV that wonders why they don't feel like an "Appalachian" and yet have been referred to as such. It is also the story of a young man fighting "Appalachian fatalism". It can be seen as a struggle against and a struggle for West Virginian culture. A great first book.

As a resident of Pendleton County during the first 22 years of my life, I have discovered through the writing of John O'Brien why I harbor an intense pride of my home state. A must read for anyone who has lived in the beautiful mountain state, anyone who has traveled there, or anyone who is curious about Appalachia. Beautifully and simply written, with historical facts and interspersed with personal vignettes.

This is a terrific book. O'Brien writes with a compelling style that could almost classify the book as a page turner (which is quite rare for this type of non fiction).

As a native West Virginian, just about every chapter had something that I strongly identified with...the West Virginia style family reunion in Pocahontas County, the "deep family secrets" that only the women talk about, the strong sense of family and community, the love of the outdoors, etc.

Growing up in Northern West Virginia, I always considered (and still do) my childhood to be somewhat idyllic. It was small town life with football, 4-H camp, camping vacations, spending summers at my grandmother's farm, etc. I was always puzzled as an adult after I had moved out of the state for graduate school at the quizzical/sorrowful looks that I would receive from people when I told them of my native state. John O'Brien has clearly articulated the history and reasons behind those stereotypes and I believe debunked most of the unfair ones.

I would recommend this book to any West Virginian (both resident and expat) who has that strong sense of pride in their heritage, but is searching for answers and explanations about the conflicting messages they receive from "the outside".

My only trepidation in this whole thing is that it took John O'Brien so long to write this first book, that another book from him may be a long time in coming.

I didn't particularly enjoy Judith McNaught's contribution to this collection, it just couldn't get off the ground for me. I'm still giving the book four stars, mainly for Jude Deveraux' touching story, but also for Judith O'Brien, whom I had never read anything of before, but whose short story was just perfect for Christmas and very exciting.

I enjoyed this book so much I had to buy it. I especially LOVED the sweet story by Judith O'Brien. I wish the story had gone on longer! I had never read any of her books before but this one made me want to find others she had written. I have always loved Judith McNaught and Jude Devereux but I was pleasantly surprised by the others. I would go so far as to say the Judith O'Brien story is the best in the book. A good collection!

I love it, I love it, I love it! I thought that Jude Deveraux's story was the best. Save it for last! If you read Judith McNaught's story, be sure to read 'Remember When'

This is the first book I've read by this author, and I really enjoyed his style. He has a talent for keeping the reader engaged. I didn't think I was going to like it because the subjects of Catholicism and the priesthood are not of interest to me personally. However, I was pleasantly surprised. If an author can take a subject I personally find boring and create a story I can't put down, he has to be good. My only criticism is that it was pretty predicatable. I knew who the killer was half-way though (But that didn't stop me from reading it!). I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in thrillers or suspense.

I have no clue where the writer gets his ideas, but they sure keep the reader going. One does not have to be religious to enjoy this book. As usual, this writer is capturing readers from all walks of life.

The story takes place in a seminary and there is a questionable death of a student. The story also takes the reader back several decades to speak of other incidences that have taken place in the seminary. There is also some humor in the dialogues among the priest and and some of the students in the dorm.

Another thing I liked in this book is that the characters are all down to earth people. Just like all the other books by Kevin O'Brien, this book has a high number of characters and at the same time the plot just thickens and gets mesmerising.

This book is very well written and a must read. I would give this book a much higher rating than a five, but this website only allows a maximun of five. I must say that this is one of Kevin O'Brien's best books. I will always buy his books rest of my life and pass them on to my friends since they are also hooked to any novels by Kevin O'Brien. These are spine tingling stories. I also recommend these books to those who are fans of "Tales From The Crypt". I will tell all not to miss out.

I am holding Mr. O'Brien personally responsible for a few nights of no sleep! I could not put this novel down. Wonderfully written, O'Brien has crafted a solid story with memorable characters, witty dialogue, sordid secrets, and so many twists and turns that it keeps you guessing all the way through.

Yes, I am a fan of Mr. O'Brien's. I have read all of his books and have never been disappointed. He has a clear vision of his plot and knows is characters intimately. It is clear that this is a man who writes because it is a passion and wants others to be entertained.

If you enjoy a good mystery, thriller, or topical true crime, "Make them Cry" is the book to read!!!

I read the first chapter of this book thinking that I would save the rest until I'd finished a major project I'd started. Didn't work. I kept reading and my weekend was shot. The plot is suspenseful and gripping, and the characters are all interesting. The plot premise is a fascinating one, and the author handles it with insight. I've enjoyed all the books in this series, but his is clearly a step above.

This is a new author for me, but am I ever glad I made the discovery. Motion to Dismiss is a well written page-turner with depth and realistic characters. Kali O'Brien is an attorney who reluctantly represents the husband of a friend when he is accused of date rape. Rape grows to murder and she again agrees to represent him for the sake of her friend. There are several subplots - an ex-lover law partner who seems impicated in the crime, a second death - and they all tie together at the end. Pick up the book and settle in for an afternoon (or evening) of good reading. Just don't plan on getting anything else accomplished.

This is a great book. I've enjoyed the others in the series, but MOTION TO DISMISS, takes Kali to a new level. The plot is intriguing and the pacing suspenseful, but what makes this book stand out in my mind are the characters. All of the main characters are flawed and complex human beings. They are very real and believably unpredictable. There are lots of weighty issues to ponder here, but they never get in the way of the story. This is an author to watch.

My children (ages 4,5, and 7) and I really enjoyed this sequel to Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH. I admit that I didn't expect this book to be as good as the original, but was pleasantly surprised. While the story was not as focused on some of our old friends (Mrs. Frisby, Nicodemus, Mr. Ages), the new characters were loads of fun to read about. We liked meeting Racso and hearing all about life in Thorn Valley. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoyed the first one as much as we did.

Racso and the Rats of NIMH was a great book it actually was my favorite utill I read another great book. I would recommend reading Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH before you read Racso and the Rats of NIMH. ( Read Racso's name backwords)

Anyone who loves Jane Coly's work or the famous Rats of NIMH *or both!* will want to read this book. I read it as a child and still find it a great diversion as an adult. The story is of an adolescent rat named Racso who meets Timmothy on his way to school with the rats of Thorn Valley. The plot thickens as Racso meets the rats of NIMH and finds that thier standards of country life and living are quite different than his old city life. Intent on finding a way to impress them and convince them to let him stay, Racso tries to hatch a plan to help the rats, and perhaps the whole Thorn Valley! This book is a bit more youth-oriented than Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH, but it does contain an element of adventure and ethics that made the first book so popular. If you love anthropomorphic animals *particularly rodents*, this book will be well worth looking in to. There is another book in the series, FYI : R-T, Margaret, and the Rats of NIMH. I hope you enjoy this book, I sure did!