I think this is certainly one of the best Joe Grey books, if not THE best. Joe and Dulcie are joined by their new sidekick called "The Kit", a tortoiseshell kitten who has an insatiable craving for adventure and danger. There has been a murder of two women on a bridal path and the third rider, the cats' friend Dillon has disappeared, maybe murdered too or kidnapped. Joe's greatly admired friend, Max Harper, the Molina Point chief of police is the one and only suspect in the murders. Joe is spitting mad that people will believe his friend Max could do such a thing. Naturally, Joe "knows" that Max is innocent. The Kit has witnessed the end of the murders and been scared witless by all the violence but she was too scared to know what she saw or to recognise anyone. The three cats run afoul of Joe and Dulcie's old nemesis, Lee Wark who knows their secrets about understanding human language and having high intelligence. He would absolutely love to put a permanent damper on their crime solving shenanigans. He thrives on killing cats anyway. Kate Osborne, who can change to a cat and back to a human is back on the scene and terrified because three convicts have escaped, including Lee Wark who knows her secret also. She seems to have a "thing" for Joe's human housemate, Clyde Damen while Clyde's old girl friend, Charlie seems to be sweet on Max Harper now.

How Joe Grey, Dulcie and Kit thread their way through this maze of tangles, car chases, and a haunted house that's home to a cougar makes a fine story. It's also amazing that three small cats could get through all the perils without losing one or more lives. Ms. Murphy only gets better! She adds more polish and finesse to the stories every time. I'm anxious to read "Cat Laughing Last"

This book was utterly delightful with Joe Grey's deep respect for the Chief of Police, Max. By proving Max's innocence, Joe Grey, Dulcie and Kit all provided bits and pieces of the puzzle, including a daring rescue of the 13 year old girl who witnesses the murder. The story definitely kept me on my toes wondering what was going to happen next...Now I wish the next book of Ms. Murphy's would come out even sooner than January so I can start reading it...

This Joe Grey mystery features Murphy's cat pair who can read, speak, and solve crimes. Here Joe can't keep his paws off his owner's latest case: murder which points to Harper himself. Joe knows his owner is innocent, but has to prove it in Cat Spitting Mad, an intriguing murder mystery approach.

This book is one of the reasons why I became a devoted reader of Otto Friedrich's work. Two others were his excellent series in Time about Berlin in the rise of Hitler along with "Going Crazy," a brilliant study of psychoanalysis with analyses of some interesting case histories of individuals who were treated for psychiatric difficulties. "City of Nets" explores the fabled city of lights and dreams during one of its most memorable decades. In addition to receiving all kinds of interesting tidbits about Rita Hayworth's tempestuous marriage to Orson Welles and Robert Mitchum's time spent in a California honor farm on a marijuana possession charge that would ultimately be expunged, Friedrich also provides the broader picture of a town thrown into turmoil and confusion during the period following the war.

Friedrich gives a brilliant account of the tragic blacklist period. As one who has studied this period closely as a historian, I was impressed by the breadth of the author's scope as a researcher. German playwright Bertolt Brecht is colorfully displayed. His offbeat intelligence and unconventional demeanor completely astounded House Un-American Activities Committee members as they sought to interrogate him. Long after the author of "Mother Courage", "Galileo" and many other plays had returned to his native East Germany, committee members and others were still trying to figure him out. Friedrich relates the incident when Charles Laughton threw a wild tantrum at the Coronet Theater as he was rehearsing for the Los Angeles premiere of Brecht's "Galileo." Another interesting character sketch provided by Friedrich is that of Austrian emigre Billy Wilder, who fled Hitler's Germany and became a major figure in films, first as a writer, then as a director-writer.

The anecdotes and richness of the character portraits transpose the reader back to Hollywood in the forties. As revealed, it was a truly fascinating, wildly unpredictable place during a pivotal period of American history.

Of the books I've read about the golden age of Hollywood, this is easily the best. Friedrich combines brief biographies of the great directors, actors, and producers of the period along with lesser known stars to give a thorough picture of the film culture of the period. What is especially interesting is his analysis of the role refugees from Nazi oppression played in creating and not creating some of the great films of the 40's.

Otto Friedrich's City of Nets (A Portrait of Hollywood in the 1940's) is as evocative a portrait of a time and place as one could hope for. The book travels through more than film history (much, much more) as the reader explores, dragged by the wonderful writing of the author, crime, unions, politics, communism, war, racisim and a host of other isms. This book is about the parts of America that float to the surface of the pool of churning, boiling water that is Hollywood and it is not always a pretty grouping of flotsam and jetsam. The author captures the personality of the characters in this soapy drama with beautiful ease and, often, humour. It was a joy from beginning to end and deserves far more than five stars. A book about Hollywood for those who care about history and do not see a light shining on some very gloomy corners of history.

My daughter, Nadine Morse, recommended this book to me. It says something about the timelessness of the book that it appealed to a 20-year-old and a woman (slightly!) over forty. I found it fresh and invigorating, and am amazed it was written by a woman younger than my daughter.

I found the quotes from people in the music industry to be highly entertaining, but the best parts of the book were the author's introductions. I'm going to look for more books by this author.

I originally bought this book when it was first published, in 1982 -- at the book release party, which was held at The Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco. I loved it then, and was happy to find it was still for sale after all these years. It provides such an accurate picture of what was going on in San Francisco during the late 70's; not just the music scene, but the scene in general. And much of it's timeless, but the parts that aren't are fascinating in their 'time capsule' quality.

I'm twenty, so hadn't been born when this book was being written, but I thought it offered a fascinating glimpse into the lives and thoughts of music people in San Francisco during that era. But your site says there are two other reviews...I couldn't access them, though.

This book is very well researched, which pays off in the fun trivia department. The author has done all the hard work here. All you have to do is enjoy the fruits -- and California is full of them! This book takes you on a fantastic journey of a place you only think you know! Great for those who live there or dream of going there. This is one for the ages -- don't miss out!

This book is so very cleverly written! It is loaded with tons of fun and informative historical facts about this great state that I am lucky enough to call home. I would love to read books about other states that were this much fun! Well done!

I am a buff of California facts and trivia, but this book has unusual, fun, and quirky things about the state I never knew. I send it to my friends that are not from Califoria because they love reading about Hollywood and there's lots of great informaiton about movie stars. This book is fun to read, in fact, I leave it out on my coffee table and play trivia games from it with my friends.

Speaking as a non-cook who is forever looking for short cuts, this collection of recipes using Campbell's soups is ideal--and although the idea of using canned soup as a primary ingredient may cause some to roll their eyes in gastronomic superiority, the recipes in this particular collection are both easy and surprisingly successful.

The book breaks down into seven sections: appetizers and snacks, soups and stews, main dishes (with sections for poultry, beef, pork, lamb, veal, fish and seafood, and eggs and cheese) side dishes, and "Campbell's Classics." Recipes range from the extremely simple to the slightly more complicated but still extremely accesible, and few will be intimidated.

While some of the recipes harken back to the sort of thing your mother might have stepped into the kitchen to whip up as a quick meal for the kids, there are also quite a few more sophistocated recipes with international flair designed for modern tastes, including several with an Asian tone. While I doubt these dishes will ever compete with truly made-from-scratch cooking, they are surprisingly successful, quite a bit of fun to make, and offer a result that most will enjoy--particularly when you open the cabinet and are at a bit of a loss as to what to cook for that unexpected guest.

My youngest daughter owns this book and loaned it to me, I'm an experienced 'scratch' cook and this book has amazed me with it's simplicity, the recipes are easy enough for novices and presentable enough to fix for company. I highly recommend it to new brides, college kids, experienced cooks and gourmets - you just can't lose and the presentation is wonderful. Just ordered 4 for gifts. If you have an up coming wedding to buy for, add this inside a lovely covered casserole dish and the bride will thank you forever.

My teen age boys love to use this book. It is simple, they can fix meals they like, and it is a good way to start them cooking on their own.

Being the proud owner of three pesky kittens soon to be cats, the feline heroes (and heroines) in Shirley Murphy's series are all too realistic to imagine!!! Joe, Dulcie and Kit have such unique personalities that they seem almost human. Once again, the plot takes back seat to the many adventures the three cats have in solving the mysteries. This one has plenty: why is a ten year old boy involved in the bombing of the church where Charly and Max are to be married? Who is trying to frame Ryan for the murder of her estranged no-good husband? Where did the silver dog come from? These questions are answered rather leisurely, but you're so enraptured with the characters, everything flows smoothly. Another great entry in this enjoyable series!
RECOMMENDED.

I can not say enough about Shirley Rousseau Murhhy's ability to give us a great story. I have almost all of her books and have found them so well written that even the childrens books are totally enjoyable for me at well beyond my childhood years.
Joe Grey is the reason that people with cats now know that their beautiful cat friends are more intelligent than we will ever know....for sure!

Another great Joe Grey mystery! If you haven't read this entertaining series, you are missing a special treat. Get the list and start from the beginning, as the saga continues. Too bad Shirley only writes one new Joe Grey book each year, but it's ALWAYS worth the wait!

Vic Vigoda hires Lefty Wright to steal a package from the safe of Judge Chancellor. Lefty grabs the job as the pay is great, $15K for under fifteen minutes to perform an easy heist. However when Lefty enters the bedroom with the safe, the murdered body of the judge greets him. Almost immediately two cops charge into the house and arrest Lefty for killing Chancellor.

Lefty knows he is already in deep trouble, but adding to his woes is that the DA is running for office and sees this case as an easy media victory to further his ambitions. Lefty asks San Francisco private investigator Jake Diamond to learn why Vic would set him up to take the fall. Jake makes inquiries, but mostly concentrates on who owned a valuable Rolex found near the body. As he tries to learn the identity of the owner, he wonders about the motive. As he digs deeper into the case, bodies pile up as someone is bumping off anyone remotely related and potentially able to provide information that could free Lefty.

Though readers will need a calculator to keep score of the corpses, fans of action-packed murder mysteries will enjoy this tale. The story line is loaded with non-stop hyper energy, as the audience will compute the correlation between alcohol drinking and homicides. Fans of mass homicide investigative tales will want to follow Diamond as he steps over bodies while making the rounds of the streets of San Francisco.

Harriet Klausner

So here I am, it's nearly two in the morning, I leave a Jazz club on Bleecker Street because the cat on xylophone (vibes, man) is giving me a funny look. I grab a Sunday Times, carry it into Café Dante, and work on the crossword over a double espresso. They've got Joe Franklin on the radio, Memory Lane, and Joe is talking with this guy J. L. Abramo who writes Private Eye novels. I write it down in the margin of the magazine section. Following afternoon, I walk to the nearest bookstore, I won't name names, and find "Clutching at Straws", a signed copy if you can believe it. It's raining in New York City, which is all it ever does lately, and I read the thing in one sitting. You want a review, go to Publishers Weekly. You want advice, read this book.

In J. L. Abramo's first novel, "Catching Water in A Net", San Francisco private eye Jake Diamond carried a worn-out copy of "A Tale of Two Cities" in place of a .38 Special. Diamond is back in "Clutching at Straws", this time packing "The Count of Monte Cristo" concealed in his jacket pocket. Jake, ex-actor and lover of the classics, operates on the belief that art imitates life and holds clues to human behavior, noble and villainous. Abramo operates on the notion that life often imitates art and he offers, once again, a masterful blend of human tragedy and human comedy that kept this reader holding her breath and holding her sides.

You can tell just by reading this book that David Sherman loves the classic PI novels. You can almost feel Chandler in the background. It's well written and well executed. Hip, modern and enjoyable.

One never knows where great writers will pop up. David J. Sherman has dabbled at a variety of vocations, from truck driver to record store owner. He turned to writing full time in 1998, starting with short stories, and joined all the writing organizations. The Dark Side is his first published mystery. Originally hailing from Racine, Wisconsin, David is now a Southern California resident with his wife, daughter, and black Lab named Emily.

Jack Murphy is a private investigator, having gone through one of the most painful experiences in his former life as a cop...accidently shooting a kid. His wife has left him for greener pastures, but still enjoys needling him. His secretary and he have a sexually charged relationship, and anyone on the outside can see they are mad for each other. Raymond Sanders hires Jack to find his missing daughter. This is Jack's first missing persons case, but it doesn't take him long to figure out that Carrie Sanders has become a sex slave to a high profile scumbag. His investigation leads from a child pornography video operation to the exportation of young girls to parts unknown:

"His eyes seemed to puff out and get redder than they already were. 'Look, I graduated from the New York Film Institute. I'm a real producer.' 'Why not get a decent job, then?'

Mike dropped his stare to the desktop. 'DiMarco runs some card games around town and I got into him deep. He told me I had a choice. I could either pay off my debt, or work it off.'"

Told from the traditional first person, private dick with Arturo "the muscle"as his sidekick, the plot of The Dark Side is old hat. However, David J. Sherman manages to infuse new life into the L.A. Confidential type of plot. Jack Murphy comes across as a guy with a lot of heart who needs taking care of by his tatoo decorated side kick, Arturo, who provides muscle and also a lot of heart. The twist is, in this case, the prominent businessmen are the true vultures and the struggling private eyes are the true heroes. Sherman's characters sparkle with emotion, as his plot draws the reader in for a ride that establishes a higher notch for right and wrong, justice and injustice. Sherman has produced a well-conceived and well-executed story that breathes new life into the concept of what has gone wrong in the world. An exciting and satisfying read.

Shelley Glodowski
Reviewer

A missing teenage girl disappears from a small town in Wisconsin and a desperate father pleads with Jack Murphy to find her. Jack normally doesn't handle missing person's cases, but after finding out the PI hired to find Carrie was murdered, Jack becomes intrigued.

What happens next is a page turning ride right to the very end of the book.

If you like a heart pounding, Raymond Chandler type of LA noir with a twist of compassion, read THE DARK SIDE.

For the most part I would agree with what other reviewers have said here. This is an excellent book on the SF earthquake and fire in almost all respects. The photos and drawings are probably the best one can find anywhere and the work is well researched. I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone even remotely interested in the subject.

The reason I gave the book four stars instead of five is that it is written very mechanically. The authors spend much of the book telling us about the fate of individual buildings and so fail to tell the story of the disaster fully. At times it reads like an engineering report on San Francisco buildings. But this is a small flaw that should not deter anyone from getting the book.

This NOT just another of those earthquake books!
Everyone devoted to the serious study of earthquakes or the mitigation of their hazard--geophysicists, seismologists, civil and structural engineers, architects, disaster relief workers, fire personnel, police, building officials and so on, all must have this book for their professional libraries. Yet they might overlook it for years, as I did, and I'm in that group. We might pass it by because it is so brilliantly written and beautifully illustrated, but there aren't any graphs or partial differential equations or whatever.
Interestingly, it is published by Cameron and Co., whose "Over London" etc. books have those astounding aerial photos. Well, I thought the new photos in this book must be by Cameron, they're so good. No, they're by Richard Hansen, Gladys Hansen's son, who also researched the old photos, and is a top-notch professional photographer, obviously.
So this is a top quality coffee-table book. But it is much, much more. It's the result of Hansen's many years of meticulous research and awesome scholarship on the subject, still going on, tracking the growing number of casualties (currently over 4000). It is an expose' of disgusting corruption, of arson and military looting. It describes the shaking, maps the areas of bad ground, the route of the fires, describes the misery of the refugees, and, finally, almost when one can stand no more bad stuff, true gut-level heroism. All is told in restrained, elegant prose, somehow making the catastrophe more profound. It is also the testament of a great San Francisco Fire Chief, terse, professional, of quietly distressing implications and of immense value to planners. It is a treasure, a classic. BUY IT!

This fine work incorporates not only a large number of historical and present day photographs but a thoughtful narrative as well. Excellent descriptions of the cowardice and heroism displayed during the earthquake and subsequent fire. Most importantly, the book examines the errors repeated during the rebuilding of San Francisco and the potential for danger in the next earthquake.

The only improvement that could be made is the coupons in the back of the book could have expiration dates a little later in the following year. I purchased this book in January of 2000 for a trip in Febuary and the coupons touted as saving up to $1000 expired in December of 1999. Other than that the book is very eazy to understand and will be very useful in our upcoming trip.

This is the best guide I have come across for Walt Disney World and the Orlando area. I had purchased several different books in 1999 when we took our first trip. I am purchasing this book again for our upcoming trip. Each park and it's attractions are covered in detail with helpful Power Trip info that helps make the most of your time. In addtion there are several other Orlando attractions that are covered in this book with detail covering Universal's parks and Sea World.

The book also reviews many hotels including Disney's, critiquing each in detail. Includes pricing and some of the ameneties, tips on the best times to travel to Orlando in relation to crowds, weather, and how to negotiate the best packages and pricing.

The candidness of the author and reviewers of the parks contained within this book are remarkable and really helped us plan our trip using our limited time to the best of our advantage.

I highly recommend this book as one to use to plan your Orlando vacation.

We used this book on our vacation and saved *much* more than the cost of the book by using the great coupons inside.