Before picking up LAST TO DIE, I had never heard of James Grippando, and I was pleasantly surprised by this smoothly written legal thriller. Jack Swyteck, a Miami defense lawyer, is approached by his best friend Theo to represent his brother Tatum, a one-time contract killer who believes he is going to be implicated in the murder of Sally Fenning. Sally's tragic past has strange implications in what unfolds next: she has left 46 million dollars to six potential beneficiaries, but only the last alive will receive the money. Who is the mysterious sixth beneficiary? Why did Sally leave her money to these six, all of whom appear to be enemies? What connects them? What did Sally hope to achieve? And most pressing of all, who is murdering them one by one?

Jack is a likeable protagonist. He is earnest, intelligent, professional, with a soft spot for kids. He is one of the few legal heroes of the genre who looks at his career as a job and not the driving force of his life. What spurs him onward is his own curiosity. I did object to Jack's treatment of one character (and I can't specify without ruining the plot), a reaction that seemed excessively harsh and unforgiving given the circumstances and Jack's emotional attachment to the character.

Grippando's writing is unobtrusive - not noteworthy but smooth enough to propel the story forward. For a thriller, the suspense does not reach adrenalin-pumping levels, although Grippando kept me interested throughout by his judicious meting out of details. I did lose some interest as Grippando took me to Africa, a portion of the book that reads more like a travelogue than a thriller. However, my main complaint with this novel is the weak ending. It lacks the oomph of a first-rate thriller, although the rest comes close.

This book's undemanding yet exciting premise is perfect for beach or airplane reading, and for anyone desiring pure entertainment. Those who love legal thrillers should definitely add Grippando to their reading lists. I'm looking forward to Grippando's next book.

"Be careful what you wish for."

The above quote could well be the theme statement for James Grippando's newest thriller, LAST TO DIE. Miami criminal attorney Jack Swyteck is asked to represent his best friend's older brother, Tatum Knight, a former hit man. Swyteck was successful in getting Theo Knight released from death row, serving time for a murder he did not commit.

A beautiful woman named Sally Fenning, who is worth millions of dollars, has tried to hire Tatum to kill her. He refuses her offer, but she soon turns up dead. Tatum is called to the dead woman's attorney's office for a meeting but wants to have his own attorney present. Swyteck accompanies him to a reading of Sally's will. The reading of this document is a life-altering event for those involved.

One of six persons named in the will is going to inherit $46 million. The catch is that the recipient will be the last one of them still living. The unlikely beneficiaries include a former husband, divorce lawyer, female crime reporter, assistant district attorney, Tatum, and a mysterious no-show at the reading named Alan Sirap. Throughout, Grippando develops the cast with believable motives and personalities. Each has a history with the deceased woman that indicates more reason for her hatred than the benefit of her generosity.

Swyteck's involvement takes him from Miami to Africa, where he meets Sally's sister Rene, a medical doctor as beautiful as her dead sibling. His near-romantic entanglements become complicated when he dates a law assistant and mother of his "little brother" Nate. The friendship is threatened when Kelsey divulges information from Swyteck's investigation to determine the guilt or innocence of his client in Sally's death.

One by one, the possible beneficiaries are murdered. Violence, bloodshed and death haunt the remaining ones enough to form alliances to protect themselves and their claims to the inheritance. When clues hint that Tatum is not whitewashed from blame, Swyteck is determined to find the remaining Alan Sirap.

LAST TO DIE is a clever rendering of motives, crimes both past and present, and a shocking resolution to the question of who will receive the millions. Courtroom drama is alive with wit and humor in the scenes when bumbling Gerry Colletti seeks a restraining order against Tatum. Grippando depicts Theo with humor as well and involves his audience with his characters as they wheel and deal their paths to conclusion. Swyteck is as real as the odd assortment he cohabits with on the page.

LAST TO DIE will have a place with most memorable thrillers. I highly recommend it for one who enjoys a great mystery.

--- Reviewed by Judy Gigstad

Miami defense lawyer Jack Swyteck has faced challenging clients before, but none like former contract killer Tatum Knight.

Tatum seems to be in a real situation, he was approached by millionaire Sally Fenning with a job proposition...kill her for a very high price. Tatum refused, but Sally ended up dead anyway, and to make matters worse Sally left all her money to six of her enemies, Tatum being one of the beneficiaries, with one condition...the money is to go to the last person alive.

The lawyers gear up for a tough legal battle, but before you know it the beneficiaries start dropping like flies, and all fingers point to Tatum. Jack teams up with his buddy Theo, who also happens to be Tatum's brother, to track down Tatum to see if he's behind all the killing.

'Last To Die' is another winner from best-selling author John Grippando. From the first page we are drawn into the plot with a murder, and for 350 more pages we are kept on the edge of our seat with plot twists, non-stop action, and shocking surprises all leading to a great climax. James Grippando delivers the goods with this thriller; his smooth writing style, and original storylines, once again, have combined to make an extremely entertaining read. Don't miss this!

Nick Gonnella

Ann Rule once said to beware of true crime novels with pictures on the front. She could just as easily have said, "Avoid books with tag lines that say 'He murdered 33 boys. Now he will die for his crimes. Killer Clown!' for they are bound to be expoloitive and cheesy." But she didn't, and I normally would have except that's exactly what is printed on the cover of this book and it was great.

By focusing mainly on the investigation and trial rather than detailling a blow by blow account of the murders themselves, Terry Sullivan creates an intriguing picture of Gacy without being relying on shock value. He touches on all the areas that interested me, including the forensic investigation, the legal maneuverings, and a brief but interesting psychological profile.

Killer Clown provides alarming insight into the mind of a very creepy man. I just recommend reading it behind something less garish, particularly on the train since strange people will talk to you otherwise.

In December of 1978, Terry Sullivan was working as a state's attorney in Cook County, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. Lieutenant Joseph Kozenczak was commander of the Criminal Investigation Division of the nearby Des Plaines Police Department. And John Wayne Gacy was a thirty-six year old building contractor who had just lured away and killed a 15-year-old boy, Rob Piest. Over the next ten days, Kozenczak, Sullivan, and their teams of policeman and investigators would uncover Gacy's horrible crimes.

This is a remarkable book that sets the standard for true crime stories. More than just an insider, Sullivan played an active role in the Gacy investigation. Kozenczak, then a 16-year veteran of the DPPD, came to Sullivan and his assistants early in the investigation into Rob Piest's disappearance to seek advice on how to deal with Gacy, who was emerging as their prime suspect. Sullivan was thus a participant in the entire case, including Gacy's trial, and he presents a vast amount of information here in Killer Clown.

In this book, Sullivan (writing with Peter T. Maiken) paints the most comprehensive and accurate picture of Gacy that has ever emerged. It can be roughly divided into three parts: the investigation surrounding the disappearance of Rob Piest, the discovery of bodies on Gacy's property and the painstaking investigations into Gacy's past, and Gacy's trial and convictions for murder. For some, this book is "boring" because it spends too many pages discussing the police investigation. In fact, Sullivan actually does a service to true crime readers everywhere by detailing the interaction between a suspect and the police and how the investigation can be shaped by it.

And there is more than enough cruelty, sexual sadism, and lurid details in these pages for even the most seasoned true crime fan. Sullivan discusses the fates of many of Gacy's known victims -- how they were tortured before and during sex, how they were killed and how they were buried beneath Gacy's house, some in graves that they themselves had dug! In fact, after reading this book, one senses that Sullivan could only reveal so much in his writing without crossing the line into bad taste or sheer shock value; he himself writes that he begun to wonder "if there was any limit to [Gacy's] brutality."

A true story that reads like a novel, this book also has a huge cast of characters, from investigators to friends and neighbors to the victim's families. It's an exceptional account of an exceptionally evil man. I recommend it highly.

For anyone that follows true crime stories, "Killer Clown" is author Terry Sullivan's impeccably detailed and researched account of the John Wayne Gacy murders. Beginning with the seemingly meaningless piece of evidence (a photo receipt) that cast strong suspicion that Gacy may have had more to do with the disappearance of the victim that would be his final downfall to the ending of Gacy's innocence and freedom in the courtroom, this book should not be passed up. Sullivan does an outstanding job of researching the case that led police to the discovery of 28 young men that Gacy had molested and ultimately murdered, then buried in the crawlspace of his suburban Chicago home, as well as the discovery of 5 more bodies Gacy was responsible for. No clue is left alone and no stone was left unturned in Sullivan's mentally visual story. A truly frightening account, you feel as though you're right along with the police during their investigation of Gacy. It should be noted that this story can at times be gruesome in its revelations and depictions of the details of Gacy's deranged killing spree and may not be best suited for the sensitive reader. But after reading the book cover to cover, you almost feel like you were part of the investigation team that finally stopped Gacy's killing and eventually put him in prison which ultimately led to his execution. Immediately after being apprehended, in an apparent state of guilt and remorse, Gacy admitted to the killings, but shortly thereafter recanted on his confession and proclaimed his innocense all the way until his last day on earth. I spoke with Gacy several times before his execution and Gacy had so thoroughly convinced himself that he had never killed anyone, he believed the only crime he was guilty of was running a cemetary without a license. Gacy's take on the books and interviews and subsequent movie made about his case was that everything had been fabricated in an attempt to make him the scapegoat and to make the police and prosecutors look good. "Careers were made as a result of my conviction," Gacy once told me. Gacy's denial or not, Terry Sullivan and Peter T. Maiken's account of this true story is superbly written and conveyed to the reader and is a definate must read for any true crime buff.

Andrew Sullivan believes that acceptance into the American mainstream is critical if gays and lesbians are to overcome the lingering legal and personal discrimination they face. The bulk of Sullivan's relatively brief book is an analysis of current gay politics from four ideological perspectives: "prohibitionists," the Protestant fundamentalists and conservative Catholics whose teachings and Biblical literalism Sullivan subjects to rigorous logical and scholarly critique; "liberationists," radicals whose dense theory and belligerent tactics have made them, Sullivan believes, increasingly marginal; "conservatives," who do not want to oppress gays but who find gay politics and sexuality troublesome; and "liberals," who want to protect gays through traditional civil rights laws that bar discrimination by businesses, landlords, and schools. Staking out his own position as a classical liberal, Sullivan then argues that traditional anti-discrimination laws, which seek to remedy one infringement of liberty by imposing another, engender resentment and aggravate social division. His own prescription is to attack the governmental discrimination that persists in refusing gays the rights and responsibilities of marriage and military service. Such public equality, he believes, would do more than laws and court decisions to secure the ultimate goal of private equality.

I've previously used this book as one text in an undergraduate political science course for the masterful, economical, and honest way it delineates and critiques four major ways of thinking about gay and lesbian freedom.

This book displays the high-octane intelligence, elegant logic and wordcraft, and simple, noble, guileless passion for which Sullivan was better known before he became a website-hawking, on-the-fly-opining media gadfly. You should ignore the rabid Sullivan bashers who complain that he doesn't "get it" as a self-respecting gay man, and who wail about his sexual hypocrisy, his cozying up to Republicans, and the general fact that he gets lots more attention than they do. In their ad hominem distaste, they usually decline to grapple (or are incapable of doing so) with Sullivan's serious thinking, or to acknowledge that, in this book at least, he provides rigorous arguments, not just controversial pronouncements. Take this book on its own terms and forget about Sullivan's more recent baggage. For those in search of lively writing and whose minds are open to sharp, unconventional thinking (whether you expect to come away agreeing or not), it's one of the essential works on the gay/lesbian politics bookshelf.

This book is GREAT: thorough, objective, insightful, disciplined, and obviously passionately written. Sullivan is one writer who's head is set squarely on his shoulders--which is quite a welcome and refreshing find. His thinking is clear and logical and his points are well made. This is NOT another pseudo-intellectual, flakly book by someone aspiring to be the spokesperson, analyst and definer for all things gay. This is the real, good, solid thought. Good job Andrew.

If there is one issue that divides modern American society, it is homosexuality. From fiery debates over gay Boy Scouts and gays in the military to protests at church conferences where the issue is being discussed, there is clearly no consensus on the issue other than the concession that gays exist. Everything else, however, is up in the air. In "Virtually Normal," Andrew Sullivan presents four different ways of approaching the issue, and surprisingly, agrees with none of them. The first viewpoint that he presents is labeled "prohibitionist," and these are people that religiously oppose homosexuality because of stringent adherence to both Scripture and tradition. The second viewpoint is called "liberationist," and while liberationists admit that gays exist, they view homosexuality as a form of otherness that is not natural in humanity. A third viewpoint is "conservative," in which people believe that the government should not legislate anything related to gays because it would be tantamount to an endorsement of a specific belief. The final viewpoint is known as "liberal," and while Sullivan agrees with liberals in the sense that they promote gay marriage and equal rights, he does not agree with the protectionist status that liberals assign in antidiscrimination and hate crime legislation. Therefore, Sullivan is left to define his own viewpoint, and he does so masterfully. Citing references to the civil rights movement, Sullivan calls on gays and lesbians to take a stand and courageously campaign for equality without expecting protection or applause in return for doing so. He says that antidiscrimination laws and hate crime legislation create a victim status for gays that undermines the goal of being recognized as equals. He also argues that the only way to comfort questioning and troubled youth is to legalize gay marriage -- not only will it encourage monogamy and provide long-awaited equal rights, but it will also teach gay youngsters that they have a right to love and be loved by another human being. This lesson, claims Sullivan, is essential in improving the self-esteem and self-image of those that grow up attracted to the same sex because it creates a theoretical role model for guidance and encouragement.

Personally, I heartily agree with Sullivan's viewpoint and I recommend "Virtually Normal" to anyone that is affected by gay and lesbian issues. It is clear that Sullivan has written a convincing argument that deserves to be heard on all sides of this vast, emotionally-charged national debate.

I got a chance to read this book pre-pub and found it outrageously entertaining. Anyone who thinks this is strictly about football and harness racing is in for a glorious surprise. Mr. Sullivan's tales of trekking through the wasteland in search of remians of the old Penn Station and Jimmy Hoffa's body are eerie yet fascinating. The tales of boom and bust on Manhattan's marshy neighbor add historical value to a region currently known for only its stench and unsightliness. People all over the country should enjoy the witty and comical writing while perhaps gaining a new respect for their respective nearby dumping grounds. Hooray! The drive along the NJ turnpike will never be the same...

If you've never set foot in New Jersey's Hackensack Meadowlands - New York City's Okie trailer-like front yard - journalist Robert Sullivan's "The Meadowlands" is a suitable and whimsical introduction to that quirky splotch of urbanity-surrounded wilderness. For most readers, this boggy unfamiliar realm is how the author describes it: a nearly uninhabitable patch of land, perhaps only glimpsed through a plane window as you land at Newark Airport from the north, or from your car window as you soar over the grassy flat lands on the elevated N.J. Turnpike. Weaving legend and fact in sprightly and complimentary fashion, Sullivan effortlessly maintains his readers' focus on metropolitan New York's until-now anonymous and peacefully empty swampy morass. Meadowlands natives (including this reviewer) will appreciate the author's odd curiosity for his subject and his never-flagging enthusiasm for this sometimes unpleasant wasteland. His research into the history of these meadows - followed up with cheerfully ambitious field trips - produces absorbing tales of failed water and development projects, ferocious mosquitoes, and an occasionally off-balance bunch of characters who work in, study, and precariously live within this abused but beautiful sanctuary. There is a humorous encounter with a man of uncertain sanity swimming in the unknowable awfulness of Meadowlands water. (I can claim a similar questionable feat during a younger day!) This reviewer especially enjoyed those episodes which brought the author to areas of great familiarity: a closed slaughterhouse, Snake Hill, and various Secaucus haunts and waterways. Sullivan's search for the rubble of Manhattan's Penn Station is a worthy quest indeed; his joy at his discoveries will doubtless inspire more than a few natives (including this one) to follow in his footsteps. On balance, this is a recommended book for anyone remotely curious about the urban vs. environmental debate (although Sullivan treads a bit lightly he! re), or the interaction of massed population with an unpopulated natural habitat. For those who like mystery, among others there is the tragic tale of a detective's reluctant account of a murdered young woman. Her body was found in a remote Meadowlands location beneath the Pulaski Skyway - the mighty arching black steel bridgeway that spans the southern Meadowlands and two rivers in linking New York City and Newark. Improvements to the work might have included additional history and accounts of two of the most successful projects in the Meadowlands: the Giants Stadium sports complex completed in the early '80s, and the enormous Bulk Postal Facility built in the early 1970s. These undertakings demonstrated that big dreams (and big dollars) could overbuild the Meadowlands. In addition, the lone hand-drawn map at the front of the book scarcely provides the perspective, scale, or detail that could only enhance (particularly for the native) the adventures Mr. Sullivan describes so well. Today, further development in the form of a massive rail transfer station and office complex are set for groundbreaking in the Meadowlands; it remains despite its sogginess and uncertain environmental quality a land of promise and change. Looking ahead, Sullivan has set a high standard for anyone who will come along in, say, fifty or seventy-five years, to attempt a similar feat of imaginative writing about the lonely and perhaps vanishing "Meadowlands."

A great read that brings the Meadowlands to life. Sullivan's writing draws you in, inviting you on his explorations--it's never ponderous. I especially appreciate his ability to blend the historical with the human: We learn how politics and people have affected the Meadowlands over the years. Note: Although other reviewers express the wish for a "true" map in the book, I got a kick out of the informal one that appears opposite the title page: It's a perfect match for the book's tone. I'm on the search for more writing by this author, and--even more telling--I'll probably head over to the Meadowlands next time I'm in NYC.

In spite of several cliches that have been used in many books before, Mark Sullivan makes them work for him and us in the cleverly constructed "Labyrinth." A maze of complex plot twists and stirring action scenes, the novel chronicles what happens when a precious moon rock is hidden by a deranged physicist who killed his mentor to prevent him from claiming its discovery. Suffice to say, what goes on in the caves is a wild ride, indeed. It's a very cinematic novel, one that would probably be easier to digest if it were a movie. Much of the cave description becomes redundant, and sometimes the actions of some of the heroes borders on stupidity. But the characters have their strengths, especially those of Damian Finnerty, the dedicated marshal; Chester, the brilliant but tubby 19 year old who really solves many of the mysteries; and Cricket, the resourceful 14 year old who becomes a real woman during the crisis. (Physically as well as metaphorically---which is one of the original plot devices Sullivan uses). It's almost a Matt Reilly book in that the action is pretty consistent, although far from the cataclysmic action that adorns Reilly's books.
A good read, though, with plenty to keep you occupied.
RECOMMENDED.

A rock with unique properties is found on the moon. World renowned cave explorer, Tom Burke, and his daughter Cricket, begin the subterranean expedition of a lifetime. And a group of maximum security prisoners escapes incarceration.

When this volatile mix of circumstances collides, the father and daughter are forced to lead the deranged convicts on a harrowing journey into the bowels of the earth.

On the surface, Whitney Burke, wife and mother of the kidnapped pair, is left no choice but to face her worst fear. As the only available person qualified to navigate the monstrous cave system known as the Labyrinth, she must lead a team of U.S. marshals into the cave in an attempt to save her family.

Little does she know that the government considers her life and the lives of her family as secondary in importance to retrieving the lost moon stone which they believe is hidden in the cave. Shattered by nightmares of a caving accident that took the life of a friend, Whitney struggles for strength, and then re-enters the dark pit where she swore she would never again set foot.

Tom and Cricket suffer abuse at the hands of the convicts but are determined to wear their captors down in the unforgivable environment of the cave. Tom is puzzled by what might be a hidden agenda held by the prison guard who assisted in the escape and kidnapping. But before he can make any sense of it he finds himself separated from Cricket. He realizes that it will take all of his skill and knowledge of the cave to reunite with his daughter before time runs out.

Meanwhile, Cricket is alone with a psychopathic killer with a history of strangling his victims with his bare hands. And Whitney, with her dwindling escort of U.S. marshals is forced deeper and deeper into the cave, even as the waters from a hundred year storm rise to unprecedented levels and threaten to trap them all.

In 2004 at the University of Tennessee, internationally renowned physicist Dr. MacPherson notices the findings that an assistant Gregor obtains with a moon rock specimen. An elated MacPherson claims the results that show rock 66095 contains strong superconductivity traits as his own. He boasts how he will receive the Novel prize for the work. A stunned Gregor kills the professor. Gregor is convicted of the crime, but not before he hides the rock inside Labyrinth Cave, Kentucky.

Three years later NASA hires Tom Burke and his daughter Cricket to escort them into Labyrinth Cave to find the missing rock. His wife Whitney suffers nightmares and though internationally famous refuses to enter the cave where last year her assistant died while she barely escaped.

However, Gregor escapes with some fellow prisoners and heads to Labyrinth Cave to collect the rock that will make him rich and famous. He and his associates capture the Burkes and the NASA team inside the cave. Only Whitney can lead a rescue party, but she has not entered any cavern since the nightmare occurred, but the stakes are the two people she loves most.

At times LABYRINTH seems more like a Hollywood thriller than a novel, but Mark T. Sullivan cleverly augments the plot with a personal crisis and an incredible underworld panorama. The story line is loaded with action on a global scale and on an individual level as the world is in trouble if Gregor regains the rock while Whitney battles herself. Mr. Sullivan provides a powerful tale that winks at the movie industry, which works fine for this novel.

Harriet Klausner

In the tradition of a fable, this book presents an interesting view of the spirit world and morality, in the premise of an unusual rabbit spirit waiting to be born as a human being, with other animal spirits and dream characters interacting and indoctrinating him about how a life should be lived.

Despite the value of a children's story bespeaking serious themes, the reader is strictly cautioned to be open-minded when understanding this book. I laud the author's view on a lot of the chapters, as this book fosters self-reliance, adherence to the Natural Law; and the importance of life, experience (from that of oneself and that of others), and virtues. However, I digress a bit from his view of religion (making it seem as a hindrance to growth, whereas they are supposed to be earthly guides), the need for God to learn along with us, the absence of punishment, and the seeming encouragement for an "anything goes" attitude (without the teaching of worldly or spiritual consequence). Although it is true that people are free-willed, the book, in reference to God, seems to focus only on His love, neglecting His justice.

The allusions used in the book were welcome, and most of the talk was didactic, interspersed with some humor. The illustrations help convey a dream-like aura, which help add flavor to the book. RAMAR is entertaining for casual reading, although one shouldn't expect any big conflict here or situations which would test the protagonist's beliefs, and that Ramar himself should have been exposed to some more of the world's harsh realities (like prejudice), even to certain concepts such as a lesser evil. RAMAR is a brave moralistic tale, and it is witty.

I cannot really encourage its reading for confused souls who seek a wellspring of spiritual inspiration, since certain facets of the content might render them more lost than before. The book can somewhat serve as a partial guide, and even if some of the points are agreeable, there is a danger of misinterpretation in the author's other viewpoints. At least the book would teach its readers that things shouldn't be taken by their face value, that the Golden Rule is still in effect, that virtue can be fostered no matter what one's religion is, and that life should be respected, understood, and enjoyed. As a whole, RAMAR is interesting, but it can bring about a mixed reaction from its readers (depending on their spirituality), and that the book still could have offered a lot more.

I read Ramar in March of 1998 and immediately knew that this book could encourage many. I have given numerous copies to special people in my life,including my three children, and have had cards and calls expressing their feelings of love and excitement after reading it. It is truly a story revealing our responsibility in discovering our purpose in life and that each of us do have a purpose to fulfill. I highly recommend that you read and re-read this book and do so with your heart. I would like to thank Darrell Hare for his willingness to share his inspiration with me and those I love. I look forward to future books.

I am considerably older than a pre-teen. When I discovered this book a couple of years ago, I was intrigued. It was a thought provoking read. After I finished, I immediately gave it to my nephew, a teenager, and had him read it and we discussed it's themes. It is a wonderful why to began a family discussion. I'm sure you'll be surprised by the insights you discover from those who read it.
It is especially timely in light of the events of September 11th.
It will help to open up a dialogue about virtues and we sometimes do not speak about and what is truly important.

I am not a Bay City rollers fan. I'm not even old enough to know about the hysteria they caused and to be really honest I have never really cared. So why am I feeling that this is one of the best books I've read in a while and probably the first that I've ever related to?

It tells the account of a young fan's obsession with the 70's answer to today's westlife and the impact they made on her life as she was growing up. The goings-on of her and her fellow BCR fan's (the tacky tartan tarts) whenever 'the rollers' were in her country will either amaze you or be painstakingly similar to your own boy band experiences.

'Bye bye baby' is a fab book for anyone who has been part of the 'boy band' phase. The great aspect of this book is that you will be able to relate to it and enjoy whether you're an ex tacky tartan tart aged 40+ or a 16-year-old drooling over your n-sync posters.

Ardent Bay city Rollers fans may feel a little uncomfortable in how the Bay City Rollers music was discussed in the book, but don't take it too seriously. This is an honest book and with boy bands more often than not the looks and personality's of a band are always put before their music.

This is a light-hearted tale that will entertain you right till the last page.

I'm much chagrined to admit that before an accidental viewing of one of VH1s seemingly never-ending repeats of a teen idol retrospective, I had never heard of the Bay City Rollers. Born in 1976, my own musical awakening didn't come until the era of Van Halen and Micheal Jackson.

Having got this out in the open at the beginning, I feel completely comfortable recommending this book without reservation. Sure it's about a band, but way more importantly, it's about a fan. Having lived through a tragic "love affair" of my own, Sullivan's words ring incredibly true. She says the things that I haven't sufficiently grown up to phrase, but she said them exactly as I feel them.

Bye Bye Baby should be required reading for passionate fans of any persuasion (be it for Nsync or, for God's sake, the cast of Rent or the Chicago Bulls). The sentiments and the sharing, the friendships these people formed and the goofy things they lived through, and occasionally lived for, make the book worth the read.

And if you're not down with that, it's a fascinating sociological recounting of American pop culture in the 70s, spattered with Tab and Sid and Nancy and Elvis and Lennon.

Thank you Caroline Sullivan for sharing your Bay City Rollers experience! It was quite exciting to read of her escapades with her partners in crime, the Tartan Tarts. Although I am a few years younger than Ms. Sullivan, I could completely relate to her experience with the Rollers, and I picked up a few tricks too! ;) Who knew it could be so easy to find out where the Rollers were staying?! Anyone who has loved a band and has gone to the ends of the earth (or at least Detroit) to see them needs to read this book. This is the ultimate "fan" book. You don't have to be a fan of the Bay City Rollers to enjoy this book. Very well done!

Max Freeman's life as a Philadelphia cop was over: he shot a kid in the line of duty and his wife stopped loving him. So he moved to a recluse's shack deep in the Florida Everglades, with no running water or electricity, accessible only by canoe. But when he discovers the fourth child victim of a serial murderer in the river he is plunged unhappily back into the world of police investigation, this time as a suspect as well as a former cop.

King evokes well the deep mystery of the Everglades. The book has a somber tone to match the dark setting. However, the characters are flat. I didn't understand Max's unending despondency and frankly, couldn't make myself care much about him. His friend Billy was just a bit too smart for reality and the love interest seemed forced.

I think future Max Freeman books can build on this base to develop interesting characters and story lines. This book falls a little short.

Author King's Edgar-nominated debut novel has a lot going for it. His descriptive scenes of the Everglades, the darkness, dampness, infernal haze of insects and the never-ending heat pervade every page of the book. King's knowledge of Everglades and a good feel for the swamp rats as well as the glitzy city dwellers give him a toehold in the crowded field of mystery writers who pen guy-gets-away-from-it-all-in-Florida tales.

Max Freeman, a Philadelphia cop, killed an unarmed boy during a robbery attempt. He was a lackluster cop before, and the killing undoes him psychologically. He quits the force, lets his marriage go without a murmur and in quiet desperation decides to start over in Florida. Fortunately, for him financially, he was badly injured in the robbery and received a big settlement brilliantly invested by his lawyer friend Billy. Max chooses a stilt house so far in the swamp; you have to reach it by canoe. It has none of the amenities (heat, electricity, a/c, running water). When we enter the scene, Max has been in his shack for over a year.

While canoeing home one evening, he spots a wrapped package that turns out to be a dead child. He is suspected because of his background and finds this is the 4th child-murder that the body has been dumped in the Everglades. A serial killer is at work, and Max must clear his name. In the process, he has a "meet" with some native swamp rats that is the true highlight of the book.

The trouble with Max is he is so humorless, dismal and depressed; we have a hard time empathizing with him. He takes terrible physical punishment throughout, yet I was unmoved. The plot is a bit contrived and the ending is a little flat. Still, Mr. King's powerful imagery makes "The Blue Edge of Midnight" highly readable. I think with a more experience, he will round out his protagonist's character. I am looking forward to the next book.
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer

Max Freeman is desperately trying to get his previous life as a police officer in Philadelphia behind him. Hiding out in one of the last solitary places on Earth, the Florida Everglades, Max has finally found some peace. Still haunted by his shooting on a nasty night as well as the aftermath, Max has learned to cope by canoeing through the dark hours from midnight to dawn when he can't sleep. The dreams don't come as often anymore but as the book opens, his inability to sleep has driven him once more into the night. His quest for peace this night ends when he finds a child's body in the roots of a tree just down river from his home.

Not only does this dead child bring his past to life once again internally for Max, it also brings him to the attention of a task force. A task force chasing a child killer who has killed before and of which Max knew nothing about thanks to his self imposed exile. Already considered a suspect because of what happened in Philadelphia along with his finding the body, Max soon finds that the killer is planting additional clues, all pointed towards Max. The killer seems to have target Max as the fall guy and begins to manipulate him toward a violet confrontation.

This is a first novel by this author and was simply an incredible read. Using very descriptive language in the style of James Lee Burke to create intense imagery, along with strong characters, and steady pacing, this author works all the angles for the enjoyment of his readers. Missing the flaws that often weaken a first novel, this book at 259 pages becomes a fast intense read and well worth the effort. There are not too many books that get me to stay up late to finish and this was the first one in a very long time.

The author has created a sequel featuring Max Freeman entitled " A Visible Darkness." If as good as the original, this author has created a new series well worth reading. I will be reading and reviewing this book soon.

The book is huge and covers a lot. It took me a while to cover everything but I left with a good feeling that I understood IE, which I did not before. Just took the test today and passed, the book was worth it

Excellent Book, I have read a few of the others studying for my IEAK exam, this book does it all. It has a lot more than the exam coverage, it goes over IE and the kit in finite detail. The author is to the point and covers all the bases. If you want to pass the exam and know the material, get this book.

I finally passed this test on my 3rd try. This test is very very hard. I have studied ten times more for this test than any other MCP test that I have taken. This will be my 5th MCP certification. You definitely need to have a clear understanding of channels, subscriptions, security and proxy.

I also had a LOT of questions about the ISP role model. Know what you can and cannot configure with a silent installation for all role models.

IEAK is a very powerful application but this test covers too much territory.

I used the Self Test Software full version, Microsoft's only recommended practice testing software, and scored 100% continually on all of those questions. I have used Internet Explorer, Outlook Express, NetMeeting and IEAK. I read in full Chris Sullivan's book Internet Explorer 4.0 Administration Kit and used the BeachFront adaptive test simulation software included and again scored 100% with that software. I read in its entirety and multiple times the IEAK help file.

If I had not passed this time I think I would have just picked another subject to start studying. I really feel like I know the application and I don't know what else I could have done to prepare for this test over what I had already read and practiced. It is a cruel test. I think the questions are worded different than the other tests somehow. I can't put my finger on exactly what the difference is on this test.

Studying hard in Missouri to be a MCSE and almost there,

K

After finishing LAbyrinth, I can say I am extremely pleased with Randall Sullivan's effort. The book was thoroughly researched, well written, and is the most definitive work written on the Biggie Smalls/Tupac murders. Although there are plenty of dates and facts throughout, the book's narrative is easy to follow, and it doesn't really read like a text. If you're interested in true crime and/or the rap industry's seething underbelly, then this should be a top choice. Also included is a startling portrait of the LAPD as one of the most corrupt police organizations in U.S. history. The binding thread in this book is Detective Russell Poole's investigation of Biggie's murder, and the subsequent LAPD officer ties to Death Row Record's executive Suge Knight. Highly recommended reading.

I'm not sure why I grabbed this book -- at best I'm a very casual rap fan, being more of an "old school" type (very old school). Perhaps it was my interest in the history of police corruption in Los Angeles, which goes back to the days of Raymond Chandler and beyond.

In any case, this is an excellent read. Sullivan takes a very complex tale with many players and makes it easy to follow. The writing is clear, crisp and clean. His logical analysis of the controversies in the investigation seem very sound. This is not a book that will titillate people with a voyeuristic look at the rap lifestyle. He keeps the focus very tightly on the murder investigations and the connections between rogue LAPD officers and Death Row records.

I guess I have only two quibbles. First, the book needs an index. We get a timeline (very helpful), a cast of characters, even recommended further readings. But an index would be nice. Second, and this is not Sullivan's fault in anyway, this is a very grim tale. Evil goes unpunished, the truth is suppressed by authorities and good guys are in short supply.

People who lived through the L.A. police corruption scandals of earlier eras would find much to recognize in this tale.

The book is an excellent read, and for the reader from Trenton, NJ, if you already knew what was going on in regards to the whole Death Row/Tupac/Biggie murder, then why did you buy the book? And if the reader from Trenton did know so much about Suge Knight, then he would not have found it highly unlikely that these rougue cops who were associates of Suge Knight could instill the kind of fear into their co-workers as they did. The book exposes the dirty side of both politics and law enforcement and although it does happen in every city it doesn't mean it's right. And apparently the Chief of police was not doing his job since he was not re-elected. I admire this detectives time, dedication, and courage to expose Suge Knight. I also admire his dedication to trying to solve the horrific murders of these great entertainers and it is just unfortunate that politics is overriding these two unjust murders and who knows how many others. A must read!