This is a creative thriller with good twists and turns in plot. The author is obviously good at characterization, but seems shy about pursuing it, instead worrying too much about storyline. The book would go from 3 to 5 stars if only the best plot elements were retained, and character development were emphasized. And, as always in this genre of mystery/thriller, the ending is wild, unbelievable, confusing, and never really ties up loose ends. Nevertheless, a good read, if only for one to ponder its potential.

Miami reporter Matt Cowart receives a letter from Robert Earl Ferguson, a prisoner sitting on Death Row. He says he is innocent of the crime he was convicted for and, after talking to him and doing a little bit of investigating, Matt agrees that Ferguson may have been unfairly treated. He decides to write a story about Ferguson, and it's a good story. Heck, it's so good that he wins a couple of awards. Not only that, but it's convincing enough to get the case reopened.

But'what if he got it wrong! What if he was lied to and was manipulated by a killer into helping him be released from prison.

Suddenly, there is doubt in every piece of evidence and every word of a confession so that Matt finds it difficult to reconcile the possible harm he has done. Added to Matt's woes is another Death Row inmate, a Hannibal Lector type, who has taken it upon himself to play all sorts of mind games with him. In order to ease his mind and try to minimise any damage done by possibly setting a killer free, he teams up with the detective he virtually accused of being dirty and starts investigating the man he helped acquit.

John Katzenbach is a master at putting his characters through psychological turmoil. They're left to wrestle with their consciences as they dwell heavily on the consequences of their actions. It's this inner conflict that dictates the flow of the story and is a remarkably effective tool to build up the feeling of tension. It all adds up to a stunning thriller filled with doubts and blind alleys.

I was stunned to read the bad reader review of this book -- could it be that the central theme is a bit too difficult for people to comprehend? Theme...yes, IMO this book has a deeply disturbing theme, which has not been recognized by the majority. The disturbing aspect is that a journalist CAN be manipulated; awards are given out based on mistakes; sociopathic serial killers are capable of nothing but murder and deception. The talented Katzenbach writes prose that flies, soars with poetic brilliance; I'd read his work, even if the storyline didn't interest me. I love beautiful prose, even if it's describing gutter-life. Kudos for ALL his books!

This is a very good book for someone interested in the biology, habitat & distribution of these endangered animals. Excellent illustrations & photographs. I highly recommend this book for someone who wants more than a field guide!

I took a class on manatees and read several books on manatees and I found this one to be the most substantial and informative. I highly recommend it.

Great book! Beautiful pictures and great info!

I really didn't like this book very well. I thought it was boring and also a little confusing. It is the first book in a 3 part series, but there is no way that I would want to read the other two books. Maybe I just wasn't in the mood for reading when I had to read the book, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.

Fans of ghosts, fantasy, history and haunting writing will find a gem in Phyllis Reynolds Naylor's "Shadows on the Wall," the first book of the York trilogy.

Dan Roberts is unexpectedly plucked from his everyday life for a vacation in York, with his parents. He's delighted by the vacation, but puzzled by how his parents are acting. One minute they are gushing and effusive, the next cold and silent. He soon discovers why: His father has found that their familiy has a hereditary nerve disease called Huntington's Disease, which his father might have -- and might have passed on to him.

As Dan struggles with the knowledge that he might have a terrible disease, that might affect whether he can marry and have kids, he encounters a friendly cab driver named Joe Stanton, and a group of mysterious gypsies led by Ambrose Faw. The strange ways of the gypsies are intermingled with visions of Roman soldiers, and a mysterious feeling of dread that Dan gets every now and then. He is inclined to think the visions and dread are hallucinations -- but Joe sees them too...

Haunting writing abounds in this novel. Without a single word of dialogue, Naylor can provoke feelings of dread, mystery, sadness, fear, and surreality. Her dialogue is unpretentious and thoroughly ordinar, as you would expect a teenage boy and his friends and parents to talk; yet the reader can detect the undercurrents of emotion underneath them. Atmosphere is expertly done, especially in scenes with the gypsies. Their differences are noted but not judged, and she does a good job with Dan's reactions to such things as the casual planning of a funeral before the person is dead.

It's also interesting that she wove together two different kinds of "haunting." Dan is haunted by his fear of having Huntington's Disease, a very realistic fear. At the same time, we view Joe and Dan both seeing visions of the past, such as a mute gypsy boy momentarily transforming into a lime-covered primitive tribesman, or the face of a Roman appearing in a pond.

This book is the first of a trilogy, and it shows. Though it can be considered a standalone story in its own right, it nevertheless has a feeling of "to be continued" on the last pages. And there are threads left dangling that undoubtedly are picked up in the second and third book.

Fans of ghost stories will undoubtedly enjoy this book, and race to read "Faces in the Water" and "Footprints at the Window."

The back of the book:

fifteen-year old Dan Roberts is confused about alot of things. Why did his parents decide they must suddenly take a juoney to York, England and why have they been acting so stangely since they arrived?

Beyond that, what is the sense of doom and draed Dan gets that Dan himself feels as he approches certain ancheint ruins in the City? Are the moving shadows he sees on the walls real, or just is he beginning to lose his mind?

And what of his new friend, the cab driver Joe Stanton, And their enconters with the gypsies? When they're together a stange sensation takes hold of Dan as the distant past melds with the present and dreams become reality.

If that doesnt intrige you what will?

This book was good, but it hold par with the previous six. While there is more character development on Chumley, Massha, Guido, and Gleep, I liked Skeeve's narration better.

I agree with Minh Dang (the first reviewer of this book). This book gives insight into the minds and personalities of all the characters involved. I think Asprin really had to change something or risk becoming repetitive or stagnate (he pretty much says so in his introduction). He tried something new and I enjoyed it, although at a different level. This book didn't have as many laugh-out-loud moments, but it has a bit more plot than normal and since it's the beginning of a 5 book contract he was able to start some multiple/cross book subplots.

Skeeve, the struggling magician, isn't your ordinary story hero. He makes mistakes and has friends there to laugh at and help him. The humor is what makes the book a hit. Without it, it would merely be another dull fantasy involving devils, trolls, and dragons. Full of laughs.

Which path is right for Billie?

The book "To Walk the Sky Path" is about a boy named Billie Tommie who lives in Florida's Everglades. Billie is stuck between two worlds--modern and Seminole Indian.

I think that this book has too little action. The story doesn't get you interested at the start, so you can't get into the rest of the book.

I recommend this book to people who like easy-going books and books about everyday life.

Ten year-old Billie is a Seminole native american. He lives in the Florida Everglades with his grandpa, grandma, brother, sister, mom, dad, and uncle.

Billie is the first one in his family to go to school. When he sleeps over at his friend Jeff's house, he cannot understand how they can eat food that was in a box or a can.

Seminole native american or All-American person, Billie wonders which he would like to be more.

I recommend tihs book to people who like books about other cultures.

Billie Tommie, a ten year-old boy, lives in the Indian ways but now he is going to school with the white boys. Billie's grandfather, Abraham, tells Billie legends and stories of the Indian ways. Grandfather says if Billie leads a good life, he will walk the sky path, the city in the sky, when he dies. Billie wants to walk the sky path but he wants to learn about the white man's ways too!

Which path will Billie take?

I think this book did not have a lot of action. But in some parts it was funny!

I would recommend this book to people who don't like excitement.

A word to the wise for any novice thinking of purchasing this book to expand the uses for their ceramic kiln...It's not the same kind of kiln. Also, the book seemed to be thorough with instructions for the 30+ projects; keep in mind that this book, and its projects, is 13 years old. Don't expect to be inspired by the examples.

If you are just starting out (like you've had a class, get home, and say to yourself "now what do I do"?), this is a really good book to have on hand. It is an older book, true, so some of the kiln options, etc. are a bit dated. But the techniques of finding out if your glass is compatible or the annealing process are still very valid. There's much to be learned from this book, especially if you want the comfort of a good resource on your shelf and available.

Gil Reynolds is one of the best teachers of fused glass. He writes a clear and thorough text for the beginner, but this book also has very useful information for the more advanced glass fuser. I consider it to be one of the top three books on fusing.

This book has some nice descriptions of the area and gives you a starting point. But it is full of internal contradictions (e.g., 2 day trip in the description but 4 day trip in the summary) and outright errors (e.g., the phone number for White Squall is wrong throughout the book) and the information is getting outdated faster than you would think (e.g., the fellow who welcomed kayakers to tea out on the Mink Islands has moved and some marinas have new names and phone numbers). The black and white photos are disapointing, being colour originals not well reproduced in grey scale. At best, this book is less useful than talking to a local resident or outfitter. More up-to-date (and verified) information can be found on the Internet. If you know nothing about the area, this book will give you a sense of what to expect and ideas on where to go. Just double-check any facts before you go. -- They're writing another guide? Here's hoping they get a better editor this time.

This is wonderfully written by experts. It is a book for amateurs, intermediates, and advanced alike! I am looking forward to Reynolds' next book about the waters around Cape Cod.

If you want to paddle in Georgian Bay, then this book is a good investment. The author provides practical information for numerous routes around the bay, and the required experience level for each. He also includes trip lengths, camp sites, fees, access points, and possible extension routes. This book is sure to enhance your Georgian Bay experience.

This is a real good book with the action picking up through out the novel. Plenty of thought went behind this book and should veiwed by other writers as a back bone for novel write; it show the rising climax very clearly with little messages in each chapter.

All the Charlie Salter books by Eric Wright are readable,entertaining, well observed, and have solid mysteriesunderpinning the plots. Somewhere between police procedural and cosy, Charlie's family provides the basis for the continuing sub plots from book to book. There isn't a bad one in the series.

The major conflict of the story happens around the homicide but with minor problems happening to Charlie and his family life a long the way a really good action with the murder being solved in one day but not before going through the long task of goin through suspects. The whole novel takes place over about a month with a lot of action to keep you interested in the plot summary. Character are fun and interesting but most of all Mr. Wright right the novel in such away that you become part of the story as Charlie partner in the solving of the murder. Really easy reading book full of action and little things to shake you head at; over all life experiance.

In today's society, parents complain that teachers don't use enough resource material when attempting to instruct all students in the various multiple intelligences. Gone are the days when we can simply require students to copy vocabulary from the board, and gone are the days when parents would allow their students to attend a class conducted without a textbook. This book illustrates the vocabulary, gives in depth explanations for grammar topics and exposes the student to culture as well. It also provides an excellent opportunity for students to listen and react to native speakers via audio activities. This book is a also good source for extra practice. The clothing styles are hopelessly out of date, but that doesn't matter when the main goal is speaking and writing proficiently in the target language. Our school has been using this series for quite some time, and our students average a score of 4 on the AP exams.

This book explains things, and leaning another language is more than vocabulary. You have to understand how to conjigate verbs and why this word son't go with that one but will go with that one. At the end of the year, you have learned more than you thought you did!

I think that schools are wasting time buying these language books when a teacher can teach just as good without one. A teacher can put the vocabulary for the chapter on the board and the children can just as easily copy them from the board. Also, the workbooks that are made from this same company are more useless. They are not needed at all, a teacher hardly ever assignes an assignment from them. In addition, the Tape manual in the back of these workbooks are hardly, if ever, used in the course of the year.

] The mere words "walking in the alps" conjure images of snowcapped mountains, lakes nestled in valleys, breathtaking scenery and fill the heart with longing to be there. This volume does not transport the reader - it is not an "armchair travel" experience". But it does provide massive amounts of information to the traveler planning a trip.

Planning is the key word. The paperback volume is too bulky (480 pages) to pack to take with you or to comfortably carry, although if you don't mind destroying your book (paperbound), you could easily tear out the sections appropriate for your travel plans.

Coverage is exhaustive in terms of area: from the Alpes Maritime in France to the wooded hills of Vienna, with Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria in between.

This book is not for the general tourist or casual walker, but is geared toward a specific audience. The introduction says that "the mountain walker the individual with good general fitness, a modicum of scrambling experience and an eye for the hills, can move far enough and at the right paced ... is the person for whom this book is written."

Since it is written for such a specific audience, I was surprised at some of the omissions. The maps are excellent. Attempts have been made to define the topography of each area. But precise route descriptions are not supplied.

In summary, this is a good, but not stand alone, reference for the serious walker to use in planning a trip.

You read it with a map alongside and you study the map a while - then everything falls into place.

There is nowhere this book cannot take you.

It is a labour of love, written by a man who knows his Alps and knows his onions !

Get stuck in !

When buying this book, a person feels will to walk in the Alps. When reading it this will fast becomes in life objective! I really disagree with the affirmation that this book does not serve to choose what to make in the Alps. I covered 3 passages indicated for this great man (Kev Reynolds) in the zone of the Graian Alps, in France, and any one of the passages corresponded to the one that assumes to be. Absolutely incredible! It is a book to read in house even because the bookbinding is, no doubt, the weak part of this magnificent book. The indications concerning the maps to buy and of the difficulty of the hikes are correct.