Dorothy Sayers, a.k.a. Dorothy Leigh Sayers Fleming, one of the first women to ever be granted a degree from Oxford University, created one of the leading figures in, and indeed in so doing helped to create the genre of, the British mystery novels. Lord Peter Wimsey, an elegant, refined London-based aristocrat with a taste for books and a penchant for the piano, is again here the leading figure, in Unnatural Death, also published as The Dawson Pedigree.

Wimsey is an old Etonian, Balliol Oxford (of course), served with distinction in His Majesty's forces during the War (this book having been written in 1927, I shall leave it to your good services to deduce which War), who resides both town and country somewhat fashionably, and takes great pride in the ancient family history (by the time one gets to be the fifteenth Duke of anything, the family can be easily considered ancient). Wimsey has a vocation as criminologist, not out of necessity, surely, and not by training either (for such training did not formally exist, but, as an Oxford Arts man, he was trained for most anything intellectual, or at least, that is what an Oxford Arts man would tell you). An interesting addition to the beginning of the book is a short biographical sketch of the fictional Wimsey by his equally-fictional uncle.

All of this, of course, is but preamble to the latest mystery to come calling upon Lord Wimsey. There are the requisite features: a dead woman, Agatha Dawson, wealthy and having left a will that might not be a will, but rather a sham (a delirious woman whose nurse insists that there was no possible way of having made a will during the last month, yet oddly there is a document, complete with a witness who claims that dear old Agatha Dawson wanted nothing to do with the signing -- ah, the plot thickens here).

Of course, to most of the world, Wimsey is, well, following a whimsey of his own. The woman was after all elderly and in poor health; surely his investigations are misplaced. The doctor (not the one who tended Miss Dawson's death, to be sure, but an earlier doctor, suspicious of Dawson's sole heir, her niece) was accused of having blackened the name of Miss Whittaker, the niece, unnecessarily, particularly as no evidence of mischief had been uncovered. Wimsey with the assistance of Inspector Parker are able to rectify the situation vis-a-vis the doctor, but there is still the mystery.

Then, more death. This time the maid. To lose one woman may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose two women... (well, you can fill in the rest yourself).

Of course I won't spoil it for you; perhaps my tag-team reviewers will do that for you, but I sincerely hope not. Suffice it to say, Wimsey proves himself a consummate actor in which the truth comes out (in London, and in style!).

One of the glories of Sayers work is the intricacies of her plots. She tends to get a huge number of people involved (the number of people who seemed to have trouped through the ill woman's bedchamber is in itself surprising, given the era) each with subplots and agenda that nonetheless get neatly resolved in the end. Sayers' development of character (even of the already dead ones!) is done with style and subtlety; while Wimsey is developed over several novels, one doesn't feel him a stranger by reading this one alone. The other characters fit their parts admirably (had Sayers not been a writer, she may well have made a good career as a casting director in Hollywood), in physical and personality attributes.

Her descriptions of the milieu, both in town (London) and in the country (the village and surroundings, in this case, of Hampshire, are interesting reading. Sayers is very much the cosmopolitan, and somewhat condescending toward the countryfolk. However, that is not a heavy element, and perhaps can be written off to her attempt to make Wimsey even more the worldly character he turns out to be over the course of her novels.

In all, an excellent read, a great diversion, and well worth musing over while sipping tea on a Regency-style sofa in one's dressing gown.

My three year-old absolutely loves these books. The story is cute, and she has a ton of fun putting the fairy stickers into the book! I highly recommend them for small children who love stickers.

This book is beautifully written and illustrated. It includes many interesting tidbits about everyday things, such as Kleenx, vitamins, and the Ringling Bros. Circus. I've lived in Wisconsin for most of my life and still learned a lot from this book. It is perfect for a Wisconsin history course, or for a child doing research on Wisconsin for a school project.

The pictures are beautiful watercolor collages that make me homesick. In each picture there is a border with the names of towns in Wisconsin that correspond to the letters (ie W is for Waunakee, Waukesha, Watertown, etc.) and each printed letter is shown with its equivalent in American Sign Language.

This book is a beautiful tribute to Wisconsin!

The Waking Spell is a southern saga, epic in nature, of four generations of Texas women. As bizarre as her charcters seem...they are nostalgic. The older generation of women at once demand our loathing and our sympathy; the younger generations our pity, and, ultimately, our admiration for thier courage. A thoughtful read.

Collaboratively written by Dixon Arnett (retired public policy specialist) and Wende Dawson Chan (Advisory Council, San Francisco Commission on Aging), The Wisdom To Choose: A Comprehensive Guide To Health And Independence For Elders is a broad, solid, "user friendly" reference that is composed and presented in language easily understood by the non-specialist general reader about the medical problems seniors place and how to cope with difficulties while maintaining quality of life. The Wisdom To Choose addresses a wide variety of issues and concerns ranging from Independent Living, to Assisted Living, to Institutional Care. The Wisdom To Choose is especially recommended reading for seniors with an interest in significantly enhancing the quality of their lives and preserving as much personal independence as they can, for as long as possible.

Of all the concerns by women I see in my medical practice, cancer is at the top of the list. This book will be very helpful to all women, not just those who have been diagnosed with cancer. It will also be a resource for women who want to know what she can do to help prevent this all too common disease.

While I do not agree with everything the authors have to say, they have written a book that will prove very useful to women. I especially liked the chapter on alternative and complementary treatment for cancer, which was covered fairly without endorsing any specific treatment. It was made clear that most such treatments have no scientific proof to back up their claims--it is in the area of cancer treatment that millions of dollars are spent each year on treatments with little chance of working.

On the other hand, complementing traditional cancer therapy with a good diet, certain vitamins and nutritional supplements will certainly not hurt, and can give the woman a sense of regaining some control of her life.

I highly recommend this book for all women concerned about their health.

Gerrit Scott Dawson has written a large-themed book that deals with spiritual formation, the ways Christians are shaped or not shaped by reading the Bible. Others have written about this theme--Thomas Merton in Reading the Bible, Adrian von Kaam, Susan Muto, and Robert Mulholland in a variety of works. And yet, none gain the reader's attention as Dawson does.

Consider Chapter Two, the encounter between Jesus and a crowd set on exacting punishment from a woman who had broken the Law (for the biblical account read John 7:53-8:11): "I stood in the ring of condemnation. The circle was drawn tight by the crowing people who gawked and jeered at me. I could feel them pressing, but they did not come any closer than about ten feet...." Dawson describes the effort of a mob to condemn the woman, the intervention by Jesus, and then continues this first-person narrative: "I stood alone in the empty ring. The words he wrote were still in the dirt, though the road dust was quietly eroding the letters....'Neither do I condemn you.' The words sounded in my head again. No condemnation....The circle of condemnation had become a ring of grace."

Dawson's reading of Scripture pulls readers into the text and offers Christlike spiritual guidance. I read it for myself, but think it would make an excellent book for study groups.

I read this book 10 years ago. I had been a Christian 6 years at that time, but its contents were earth-shattering in terms of waking me up to some of the basic truths of the application of Jesus Christ and His word in my life. It opened my eyes to lies I had believed that had literally tormented me for some years. It helped lay a very strong foundation of self-worth and of freedom, and as I now serve God on the mission field in Honduras, I still draw on the truths that were so powerfully imprinted on my soul through reading the book. Like Billy Graham, I believe every Christian should read this book.

in the fall of 1997 i was placed in lakeside behavioral health hospital in memphis, tn due to what i term a breakdown. i placed myself in the RAPHA, that is, Christ-centered treatment program, and this book was used for our lessons. i absolutely recommend this book to everyone struggling with hard, seemingly overwhelming issues, especially related to self esteem and self worth. you will be amazed at your progress as you read, study and use the lessons in this book. it's life-affirming and refreshing; God does love me, and because of Him, i truly am deserving of good.

Several years ago when I first read this book it truly change my life. It taught me that I could experience freedom in Christ. This book lays out the four basic lies that the enemy tries to get us to believe.

(1) Performane trap - I must meet certain standards in order to feel good about myself.

(2) Approval Addict - I must be approved by certain others to feel good about myself.

(3) Blame game - Those who fail are unworthy to be loved and deserve to be punished.

(4) Shame- I am what I am. I cannot change. I am hopeless.

Dr. McGee not only gives us the four basic lies, but he also lays out for the believer how one is to combat those lies.

It you want to find true liberty in Christ, this book is definitely for you.

This is the most amazing True Crime book I have ever read. The main character actually kidnaps a young woman with his young wife and baby in the car. The victim, Colleen, is immediately put into a box, and lives there 24 hours a day for months. She is kept as a sex and torture slave. After she is totally brainwashed, she continues to stay with this deranged couple and is free to work and walk around the neighborhood.One would wonder how this could be possible, and yet from the months and months of constant deprivation, you come to depend on your captor for simple survival. This book was shocking beyond belief and a very good read. Thank you

This book has been around for a few years now. I first read it about six years ago and have since read it again. It's just as good the second time round. A very shocking story of sex,brainwashing and sick perversions. Not for the easily disturbed. Very graphic details and very shocking in places. On reading the back of the book I almost laughed at the idea of someone being held captive for seven years and being brainwashed into staying. On reading the book however,you come to realise just how this can happen and how frighteningly real it was for the poor victim, Colleen Stan. All the way through I couldn't help but wonder why on earth Colleen's family didn't suss out that something was going on. I mean, hey, your daughter suddenly goes missing and when she finally turns up she is like a different person and totally controlled by two individuals that she normally wouldn't associate with. Surely someone must have thought that something was up? Really excellent read. Buy it,don't borrow it as you'll definitely want to read it again.Comes with quite a few photos too. Powerfull and compelling.

This book tells the story of Coleen Stan, the woman who was kidnapped and kept prisoner, most of the time in a coffin size wooden box, by a couple in California. Written by the woman who prosecuted this case the book spares none of the shocking details of the case while still not appearing sensationalistic. It's a riveting and mesmerizing look into the true depths of human evil as well as a testament to the power of the human psyche to survive. One of the best books of its kind I have read!

I recently migrated from win95 to linux. This is a very good reference book, typical of the high quality of O'Reilly publications. But I agree with the reader from Indiana: Michael Kofler's ``Linux: installation, configuration and use'' (2nd ed) is perhaps a better choice for installing and configuring linux, especially if you're migrating from Windows.

I get the sense that a lot of people who praise this book highly already know linux well, and so find it easier to read. If O'Reilly books have a weakness, it's that they tend to be written for people who already know a good deal about the subject. (Their Perl books are a good example.) The really high praise often comes from advocates who already know the subject, and want you to love it as much as them. But the style can sometimes make it more difficult for a newbie to get a grip on the basic concepts .

That said, though, this is still a great book. I get the feeling that as I get to know linux better I'll rely on this book more than Kofler's. But new users should be aware of Kofler's book -- it's better at getting you through the nuts and bolts of installation and the inevitable early teething problems.

I was very impressed by Running Linux. Like many other computer professionals, I have always been a fan of O'Reilly Publishing.

"Running Linux" claims on its cover to be "One-Stop Shopping Guide to Linux." They aren't far off. With information ranging from installation to programming tips to TCP/IP, it packs a lot of information into a rather compact binding.

I have only one complaint about "Running Linux." Unfortunately, the book really glosses over some basic Unix system administration and commands that are absolutely necessary for the beginner to be able to be productive with the book and the operating system. If this is your first book on Linux, I strongly recommend getting a companion volume such as a command reference or novice Unix System Administration tutorial. Use "Running Linux" to get concepts, then consult the companion volume when you sit down at the computer to make things work. You will have a lot more fun and a lot less frustration in the long term.

Overall, I have nothing but good things to say about the book. I found it extremely helpful. The text is very readable and well organized. I highly recommend it for all Linux users!

These authors share a passion for LINUX and share that passion though great detail about how this freeware operating system is put together. This book is NOT a "LINUX in 21-days" or "LINUX for Dummies" quick read. What this book is however, is a must add to your library as a great LINUX reference. Like the title indicates - it covers everything you need to understand if you want to run the LINUX operating system.
While the core of the book hasn't changed, this edition has updated installation, configuration and security material. Not a UNIX guru or need to brush up? The book covers all the basic UNIX commands and concepts in a simple and clear manner. I found the chapter on upgrading and building a new Kernel one of the best parts as the authors explain not just what to do but how to get a variety of hardware devices to work.
Want to run X Windows, KDE or GNOME? They cover it! While the book tries to cover programming languages just enough to help a reader understand how gcc, makefiles, perl, and java fit into the LINUX puzzle, to the authors' credit, they quickly point out there are many books covering these subjects and don't try to get into too much detail. They do get into detail about a subject anyone playing with LINUX must know - security.
There is no wonder why this book is in it's 4th Edition. It's complete. There will likely be more editions to follow in the coming years as the LINUX wave keeps growing. But best to get the book now and learn LINUX, before the lawyers take over this OS.