I loved this bittersweet, melancholy tale of a family in crisis. Hightower has the basics of family dynamics down to an art in this tale of three siblings who have to deal with the apparent suicide of their mother and the murder of their mean, controlling, ex-military father. I read this one in a day and loved the surprise ending. I highly recommend all of Hightower's books!

The family comes together after their mother dies under mysterious circumstances and Georgie suspects their father was responsible. Their father, while not typically abusive, could be cruel; his life has been directed by a stint in the Marine Corps, where he met men who would influence the rest of his life.

Although the story is a suspenseful page-turner, we don't learn the story until the last few pages, when everything comes together. We get a sense of "Yes, now it all makes sense."
Yet in the end three people are dead and two were innocent of anything except getting caught up too deeply in the family struggles. One was implicated, falsely, in a murder.

Among novels of dysfunctional families and psychological suspense, High Water ranks as one of the best. Unfortunately, I had just picked up Sacrament of Lies by Elizabeth Dewberry, which has a similar theme -- heroine wondering if father killed mother -- but is not as plausible, deep or well-written. After reading the two in sequence, I began to wonder if this isn't some new sub-genre, just as child and wife abuse was a theme a few years ago.
If you have to choose, read this one.

This is an exciting "first of a series," as the author goes to great effort and detail--with some interesting glimpses of humor!--to portray the time, the place, and the characters. Beaufort's attention to detail--even if he does employ literary license liberally at times--is a good read. Sir Geoffrey is one protagonist who's got a good future! (Billyjhobbs@tyler.net)

As he returns from a reconnaissance trip into the desert, he arrives upon the scene of a murder of a fellow knight shortly after the body is discovered. The woman who stands screaming in the street has the murder weapon in her hand. Because this is the second murder of a knight using a knife, he decides he must take her to the citadel for questioning. This causes a near riot by the woman's neighbors who, along with the other citizens of Jerusalem, have no love for the Crusaders. Within a day, his life becomes complicated beyond his wildest imagination after yet another body is found murdered in the same manner, he is asked to investigate the murders by his liege lord and his lord's competitor who swears him to secrecy. As he begins his investigation with his companions, Sir Roger and Sir Hugh (who does not want to be actively involved, but agrees to voice his opinions - wanted or not), more bodies are found, he almost loses his life, nothing is as it seems, and he begins to suspect everyone.

Beaufort has written an excellent debut historical mystery. So well written is this story that you feel the heat rising from the dusty dirt streets of Jerusalem and smell the particularly odiferous stink coming from a local butcher's store. Sir Geoffrey is a well-drawn character whom the reader comes to like and admire while the supporting cast is equally well drawn. The reader is involved from page one to the end. The reader will find herself hoping that Beaufort writes fast so that the second installment of this series arrives very soon.

In 1100, the holy city of Jerusalem remains a fractured place even though the Crusaders have retaken the city back from the Infidel. Returning from a desert patrol to the city, Sir Geoffrey de Mappstone hears a woman's screams from the nearby Greek bakery. Accompanied by his Sergeant of Arms, Guy goes to investigate. They meet the frazzled woman, Melisande Mikelos, who informs him that there is a corpse in her home. He goes inside and finds the murdered body of John, a Norman knight.

Norman Prince Tancred assigns his vassal Geoffrey to investigate this murder and several similar ones. However, instead of uncovering a simple serial killer or even some twisted from of vengeance, Geoffrey finds a conspiracy to overturn the current precarious power structure of the city. As he continues to make inquiries, Geoffrey places himself in danger of becoming the next victim.

MURDER IN THE HOLY CITY, the first novel in what hopefully is a long series, is a brilliant historical mystery that brings home early twelfth century Jerusalem to the audience. The who-done-it is fun, but it is the motives of the various groups and daily life in the city that makes this a necessary novel for genre fans. Simon Beaufort, a historian at the University of Cambridge, turns history into a gourmet's delight.

Harriet Klausner

They begin as absolute opposites...she's the shy, sweet girl who everyone makes fun of in school. He's the guy everyone wants to be friends with. They end up having the leading parts in the Christmas play, and their friendship begins to evolve. It turns into love, but then a heartbreaking discovery may split them forever.

This is a walk everyone should take, but be prepared with plenty of tissues.

Nicholas Sparks did an excellent job describing the settings and happenings of the book. I'd never read a book by him before, but now I'm contemplating checking out some of his other books.