George March, Lord Ashworth, married Emily Ellison, Charlotte Pitt's sister. While the Ashworths are visiting his extended family, he dies from poison in his morning coffee. As he was the only one in the family who drank coffee, it obviously wasn't an accidental death. The Marches are ready to close ranks against Emily, who had been seething at George over his gratuitous attention toward a cousin's wife at the opera the night before. As far as they're concerned, she's just a woman scorned, and an outsider--so better she hang than one of them. But do you think Charlotte will stand for that for one minute? Not a chance. . . The Marches are what 100 years later we refer to as a dysfunctional family. Some things never change. . .have fun reading

The customer "reviews" of this book are plot summaries which will spoil a potential reader's enjoyment. This is the best Anne Perry I've read so far (I've read about ten.) As usual, it exposes Victorian crimes against the poor and rebellion against one's own class by a few of the wealthy. But, in addition, Perry this time crafts several middle of the night, suspenseful horror scenes.

I'm often let down by Perry's endings. Not enough analysis/explanation is provided, and only the principals are allowed to react to the denouement.

I would like to see a chronological listing of her books. If you read them out of order, too much about earlier happenings is revealed. I knew, for example, that ____ could not have been the murderer in this book because he is alive and well in a LATER book which I had already read. Also, another character's death (from an earlier book) is referred to repeatedly.

I still love the Victorian settings and a glimpse into the rigid lifestyle and the grinding poverty of that time.

In the first mystery in the Pitt series, the Ellison family lost a daughter to the Cater Street Hangman. Since that time friends have suffered unspeakable tragedies, and now Emily Ellison March, Lady Ashworth, is suspected of murdering her husband George by putting belladonna in his morning coffee. Families with this kind of luck need to have someone married to a police detective!

If you are reading the stories chronologically, you will have followed the relationship of George and Emily through several novels. While I was initially sad to think his good-natured presence would be missing from future stories, I have to confess that there was little spark between the two. Maybe a change of pace is what Emily (and Perry's loyal readers?) need.

Charlotte (Emily's sister) and Thomas Pitt continue to develop as characters and sleuths in this story. Charlotte is even beginning to learn a bit of judicious caution and investigative skills! While the solution to the mystery was not entirely surprising, the twists and turns of the plot take the reader into some interesting and unforgettable aspects of late Victorian England. I highly recommend this book, and even if this is the first one you read you will enjoy getting to know the characters.

This little book is quite inspirational. An interfaith and inter-religious guide book for daily meditations, centering, and re-focusing for those infected with HIV, those affected by HIV, caregivers, friends, and family.

Some of the quotes are a bit new-agey or 12-step, but overall a wonderful and powerfully moving piece of work.

Well recommended without reserve for those seeking peace and reconciliation revolving around their medical diagnosis.

my younger brother and i read this book together when he was alive. he has been gone since 1995 and i still read this book everyday and it has kept me going through the deepest despair and loneliness. some people have their bible, i have my THE COLOR OF LIGHT! i know that i will always keep my brother and his book close to me where ever i am and as long as i live. thank you perry tilleraas!

I have used this book for over a year to facilitate an emotional support group that is dealing with HIV/AIDS and it a very good tool to work with. The readings are similar to other books that I have read in any 12 step recovery program, with the exception that with this disease there is no recovery, just coping. The daily readings often open up the door to get the people that I am working with to discuss their problems and what they are doing to live one more day at a time. I would recommend this book to anyone who works with HIV/AIDS clients or the people themselves.

This is the 7th in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt series. It starts off in the year 1887 with an interesting premise, and it moves steadily toward an exciting finish. The character of Thomas is more likable than last time, and his wife Charlotte, who doesn't have much to do in the first part of the book, becomes very active later, as does her sister Emily. And there are characters brought back from previous books. Along the way, because of Charlotte's unusual social circumstances and Thomas's profession, we learn some fascinating insights into the class system of that time and place.

The author is consistent in her ability to create a sense of place and character. In DEATH IN THE DEVIL'S ACRE the atmosphere is dark and moody, with a very unpleasant topic. But the book is well done and adds to the series.

In this seventh novel in the Charlotte and Thomas Pitt high Victorian mystery series, we leave the exclusive circles of high London society for the brothels and slums, where first a seemingly respectable doctor and then Max, the blackmailing footman from CALLANDER SQUARE, are not only murdered but mutilated -- and then a third murder brings into play Charlotte's connections with London's drawing room society. Perry does a good job in this one, especially in delineating the characters of those whose existence middle class London would rather know about.

Death in Devil's Acre was filled with completely disgusting mutilations and odd killings;skills no ordinary killer would ever obtain.Ordinary he wasn't either.Anne Perry brilliantly achieved the skills of a great writer and put much creativity and hard work into this book.You'll never be able to put it down! The detective work was incredible and the murders were beyond belief!

THE FINE ART OF TECHNICAL WRITING was recommended reading in a class I recently took on how to become a better technical writer and I must agree that the book earns its high recommendation. Carol Rosenblum Perry squeezes a lot into this thin volume, but wastes very little space. The author writes in a direct and to the point manner, so anyone afraid of reading pages and pages of dry material would do well to try this handy little book.

Many of the major discussion topics occupy less than a couple of pages, and this quick style really works to the benefit of the reader. The author will typically mention a topic in clear, easy-to-understand language, maybe give an example, and then swiftly move on to the next topic. The subject matter manages to cover virtually everything that the to-be technical writer would need to have a firm understanding of, including: how to construct a good framework, how to be concise, how to use language effectively, how to write an effective ending, and how to avoid the inevitable bout with writer's block (something familiar to everyone who does technical writing work).

I found this to be a very uncomplicated book that can be finished in a single sitting if desired. As a resource, it's a fairly handy volume to keep around as the shortness of the individual topics makes for fast referencing. In only one hundred pages the book manages to cover a wide range of topics, from the nitty-grittiness of grammar to making your writing flow smoothly to enhancing your prose style. Recommended for anyone learning how to write technical papers, or even for those who are already experienced but seeking to improve their writings.

This book is targetted at, and helpful for, anyone who needs to write non-fiction prose of any kind. I think that not only college students, but many kinds of professionals and academics, will find it useful. It addresses the general process of and strategies for writing -- the kind of information that is often actually glossed over in books on writing.

Perry's metaphor of a document as a vertebrate body provides an interesting new perspective for familiar pieces of advice, such as "use active voice."

This book will go on my shelf next to Strunk and White, and Joseph Williams' _Style: Ten Lessons in Clarity and Grace_.

Perry, following her own advice and techniques, condenses the 'fine' art of terse and succinct technical writing to 100 pages of blunt tips for student writers and excellent examples. Very accessible by students, and focuses on the entire process of writing...not just editing a final draft.

Many people are familiar with the stars of racong. In Formula One today, it's Michael Schumacher. Ten years ago, it was Ayrton Senna. This story is about the people on the other end of the grid.

Perry McCarthy knew very little about racing until a friend took him to a racetrack. Perry immediately became hooked and started on a quest to be World Champion.

You won't believe the hard luck that he has along the way. He does make it to the pinnacle of motor sports, Formula One, in a roundabout sort of way.

There was a baseball book called "Good Enough To Dream" that was written about minor-league players. This is a book about someone that is even closer than that, a fraction of an inch away from realizing everything that he ever wanted.

You might think that someone in that position would be bitter, but McCarthy displays a sense of humor that will keep you turning the pages! And along the way, you meet up with the like of Damon Hill, Johnny Herbert, and other familiar names.

A nice addition to your Formula One library.

A well written and very funny account of breaking into formula 1.

I read 15-20 motor racing related books per year, and this one has to be right at the top of the list in entertainment value & a general lesson in life. When I purchased it, I had little knowledge of who the author was; I knew from following Formula One that he had flirted with a drive in that category, and I knew he had some sucess in sports car racing, but I knew nothing else about his career or life.
Mr. McCarthy has a truely unique style of writing that lets the reader re-live all of the ups & downs with him. He writes very freely, just as if he were talking to you; much like the style of Niki Lauda in his autobiography. Parts are as funny as anything I have read in this genre, & parts make you wonder why he keeps going back to bang his head against the wall, literally.
Through the entire book, & it sounds like his entire life, he never looses his sense of humour, or sight of his goal. This guy has perseverance!
I was totally entralled from cover to cover, but I do admit I was surprised that he didn't go into a little more detail concerning his races. I then realized that I could go to one of the many racing annuals & read race detail, but he was giving me a behind-the-scenes look at the sport, not usually available.
This is a great book, & I highly recommend it to anyone who either aspires to a goal, or has driven a car, or wants to drive a car...or has seen a car...

Generally, this is an ideal field book for the identification of plants. The descriptions are very informative and complete. The book does have one drawback. The index contains many errors.

THIS MANUAL IS A CLASSIC AND DOES NOT NEED TO BE REVISED.

Best book available But desperatly needs to be revise

With 4 stars I may be erring on the high side of rating this book. However I do so as it is well written. The Deep Space Nine television series is not one that I kept up with and I chose this book as it was to include The Next Generation cast that I am familiar with. Before the actual tale starts there is a history of Deep Space Nine up until the book's beginning so, if your lack of knowledge is like mine, a general overview is provided. It cannot make up for dozen of missed episodes but it does make the read possible and enjoyable.

This is book one of a series and The Next Generation plays the minor role in this first installment. I believe this will change dramatically in book two due to a discovery that the Enterprise makes on an old Cardassian Freighter that requires a trip to the space station DS9. The one character that I always wondered what happened to plays a key role in this book and I would guess in many others that have preceded this volume. Ro Laren was always one of my favorite enigmatic characters from TNG series, and after she betrayed Captain Picard's trust and fled I was always curious as to what happened to her. Her back story is explained in broad strokes, but at the time of this book she is now in a position of authority on DS9. Nothing about her personality has become any smoother, but it appears as though there may finally be an opportunity for her to find someplace where she will no longer feel suspect, feel the outsider.

Prior to taking on any more new DS9 material I will have to go well back and reach a point where I can appreciate these stories without only having a brief historical overview for a crutch. This book seemed well done and I believe that to the extent it failed it was solely due to my lack of knowledge.

It explains how a Jem'Hadar came to be on DS 9.

It was slow to start but has an excellent recap of Star Trek history

First of all, no need to be misled by the cover art this time. It's as true to the story as the artwork is beautiful. Applause to Cliff Nielsen, and I hope to meet him some day.

Second, allow me to make yet another point or two regarding how wonderful is the DS9 re-launch: This book clearly shows that more was going on in the universe during the Dominion War than just the war. While Starfleet might have you believe *everyone* was directly involved in the war effort, if you think about it, that could hardly be the case. I also enjoyed the continued idea that everyone doesn't use Federation lingo. You could never quite tell that from the show, but it certainly makes a whole lot of sense.

I'm also enjoying the running Morn joke, and I laughed right out loud at the reference to Vash. Too rich! Okay, onto the review:

Anyone who thought Jake Sisko should have been given better treatment as the series came to an end can take heart with the re-launch and with this book in particular. And I mean take heart. S.D. Perry has captured the true soul of this deep-thinking, honest young man. Ben Sisko raised his son well, and evidence of that can be read on every page.

Back in one of the first of the re-launch books, Jake left DS9, ostensibly to visit his grandfather on Earth, when in reality he was going to check out a prophecy revealed to him at B'hala. The story of what happened to him is told here, and, my, what a story it is - delightfully complex and containing ingredients guaranteed to keep you turning pages well after you should be asleep so you can make it to work on time the next day.

I would take up far too much space trying to explain every detail and nuance in this novel, so let's just say...in it, Jake Sisko comes full circle.

And so does Kai Opaka.

And we are all the better for it.

This is certainly an enjoyable book to dip into and read, so long as you don't take all of what you read as gospel. It's very much a political tract of the "appropriate-technology" school which likes to paint a picture of a utopian society that has all the benifits of industrialization without industrialization per se, and the benifits of large-scale economies while pushing small planned economies.

Not to say that there aren't a lot of desirable notions they push. What bicyclist wouldn't like to live in a car-free village where you could actually do your shopping safely on a bike? Who wouldn't like a car-free inter-city bicycle highway? Of course, such bike roadways rapidly become pedestrian/roller blade/dog walking routes with 12 mph speed limits, and the car-free city is great until you need a refrigerator delivered or have to move, or perhaps need an ambulence.

But it's still a fun read.

An informative, entertaining great for rainy/snowy days book loaded with history,information, evolution of cycling and human powered vehicles. Not a repair manual, but some tips are given. Lot's of information on health and safety.

Everything you wanted to know about the bike, multiplied by ten thousand. A must read for anyone who thinks that life is a bike; a must present for anyone who doesn't!

The title is somewhat misleading. This is a guide book, a tour of four Mexican states that focuses almost exclusively on eclisiastical buildings. Useful if you are interested in architecture and are touring in Michoacan, Jalisco, Guanajuatao, and Quertaro. Line drawings are nice, obviously drawn off of photos.

The book is large in format (so a bit awkward to travel with) and the design of the book is mediocre -- headline fonts are quite unattractive.

I would only recommend this book to those with a deep interest in religious architecture and architectural decoration in Mexico.

As a frequent visitor to many of the towns and cities covered in this guide, I thought that I knew a good deal about their history. Not so.

This is Richard Perry's fourth book in a series of illustrated regional guidebooks from the Espadaña Press capturing the unique quality of Mexico's colonial architecture. In 'Blue Lakes' we accompany the author on a winding journey across a broad swathe of west central Mexico that includes the states of Michoacán, Jalisco, Guanajuato, and Querétaro.

We are first introduced to some of the key historical figures of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries, such as Bishop Vasco de Quiroga and a small group of architects whose names become more familiar as we encounter their work through 272 pages.

Special attention is given to the major colonial centres such as Pátzcuaro, Morelia, Guadalajara, Guanajuato, Querétaro, and San Miguel de Allende, with observations that will enrich any walking tour. The surrounding landscape is also dotted with colonial gems, many of them given little distinction or ignored completely in many guides. Here, less well-known towns ("off the beaten track") are equally well accounted for, and there is a welcome chapter on the missions of the Sierra Gorda in the state of Querétaro. The scope of this large format paperback is comprehensive, and the text is accessible, engaging and peppered with fascinating and sometimes surprising details. But what makes this guide special are the author's own precise line drawings that compliment the absorbing text - more than 200 of them in all. Thus not only does Richard Perry deliver us a fine piece of travel writing but his architectural drawings make their subjects far more vivid than the photos in most conventional guidebooks - in short he is the perfect guide and the book, an excellent companion to any journey to Mexico's colonial heartland.

As well as being ideal for those intending to spend a week or two in the region on a cultural holiday, if you are more knowledgeable about the colonial treasures of central Mexico, then this also becomes an indispensable reference book. I myself was very grateful for the two-page glossary at the back.

On my visits to Mexico I'm inclined to head straight for the nearest market to get my senses bombarded with colour and exotic aromas - or perhaps I might get diverted by a craft shop. Reading this guide, I've made myself a promise: to willingly retrace my steps; where before I skipped passed a church, 'looking but not seeing' (or being able to interpret) a splendid carved facade or nipped inside but missed a mural or ornate altar, in future I will pay more attention, ponder where before I would have barely paused, and generally be more open and receptive to this important chapter in Mexico's rich history.

Thank you Richard Perry. Highly recommended.

Blue Lakes and Silver Cities is an engagingly-written, large-format account of the most outstanding colonial architecture and treasures in Western Mexico, illustrated with over 200 original line drawings by the author. This is Richard Perry's fourth book in a series capturing the unique quality of Mexico's colonial architecture and the best yet! I know personally most of the places Perry describes and cannot believe that anyone is likely to improve substantially on his painstaking research and attention to detail in a very long time. There is virtually nothing else in English on this topic. A wonderful achievement and a fascinating read.