For this woman, being able to have some sort of "power" over someone becomes the most exciting of all experiences, however - there's a point when she no longer will be able to manipulate the situation on her favor, she will realize how many forces have power over her; therefore, she will simply do the most congruent and coherent of things, as unexpected and shocking as the outcome of this play could possibly be.

Thomas and Charlotte Pitt are back in full force as an unstoppable team. Inspector Pitt runs afoul of a powerful secrete society when his testimony sends heroic solider John Adinett to the gallows for the murder of Martin Fetters, traveler and antiquarian.

Adinett has powerful friends, who in order to punish Pitt, strip him of his command of Bow Street Station and compel him to leave his family and go undercover,seeking anarchists, in the slum neighborhood of Spitalfields.

Although separated from his family, Pitt is not abandoned by them. His wife Charlotte, their maid Gracie, and Pitt's subordinate, Sergeant Tellman set out to prove Adinett's guilt and restore Pitt's honor.

Anne Perry weaves a tale of conspiricy that brings us face to face with powerful men who work within the government toward one end, the overthrow of the monarchy. Interwoven with this is a subplot that will delight Jack The Ripper fans and have them begging for more.

I enjoyed this book not just because it was well written and spellbinding, but also because it reminded me of a favorite movie of mine "Murder By Decree" set in the same time period.

I would have liked Charlotte's Aunt Vespasia to have been less "love struck" and more of her forcefull self, but then that would be perfection and that's asking the impossible.

Of all the mysteries in the series, "The Whitechapel Conspiracy" was, to me, the most suspensful, realistic, and enjoyable all around. I found the link to Jack the Ripper to be an interesting historical aspect, which added great flavor and suspense.
Likewise, I enjoyed the ever blooming relationship between Gracie and Tellman, and the wide expansion of growth Pitt experienced as the protagonist.

It seemed that the plot was somehow altered with every turn of the page, and the exciting, realistic social and polotical scenes throughout kept the story alive with action. I recommend this book to any fan of mystery, but especially those who have been with Thomas and Charlotte from the beginning, for their growth as characters is astounding and suprisingly captivating.

This book finds Superintendent Thomas Pitt paying the price for his discovery of a murder (and subsequent identification of the murderer, despite the lack of a motive) that was meant to look like an accident. Having foiled the malevolent Inner Circle (a secret society of powerful men who protect one another and scheme to control the country) once too often, Pitt finds himself demoted to working undercover in the slums of East End, separated from his family and embroiled in danger and revolution.

His wife, Charlotte, and their maid, Gracie, in an effort to restore Pitt's reputation, set out to discover the motive for murder, the one aspect of the case Pitt was unable to unearth. They enlist the help of Sergeant Tellman, loyal to Pitt and even more so to Gracie, to help them discover the truth. In the meantime, Pitt finds himself deeper and deeper in political intrigue, with no one to trust with what he discovers.

As the title suggests, the murders of Jack the Ripper come to play a role in the plot, as do the excesses of the monarchy, the recklessness of tabloid journalism, the virtues and evils of the status quo, and the price one is willing to pay for political gains. At its heart, this book asks, do the ends ever justify the means? It is to Perry's credit that she does not attempt a pat answer to this provocative question.

The increasing involvement of Gracie and Tellman in the Pitt series adds a welcome vibrancy to the otherwise stark tale. Watching these two stumble over their own feelings is a wonderful reminder that even in times of chaos and terror, the human heart dares to hope and dream. Perry has introduced and developed many side characters in this series over the years, but Gracie and Tellman are not only the most enjoyable, their involvement in solving the mystery adds a fresh and interesting element to the mix. I look forward to their continued involvement.

This is not so much a mystery as it is a political thriller, but mystery fans should enjoy it just the same. Perry provides a neat and credible solution to the Ripper murders, but cleverly leaves open the possibility that her solution is untrue. The story is told through varying perspectives--Pitt, Charlotte, Tellman, Gracie, Aunt Vespasia--as each person gathers information, but the solution to the mystery is never obvious.

My faith in Anne Perry is restored.

Perry is not afraid of the unseemly- dead babies, after all are pretty gross. Alas, after a good old time, I found Perry's novels
had said about all that could be said about the love and the era. But I hearily urge any former Nancy Drew devotees and admitted romantics who cannot stomach romance novels to give her a try. I started with this and then wound in and about her other sleuth and also a romantic figure, Monk. Charlotte and Pitt do stay married, and that's all I'll say.

I don't review the plot as that's really cheating. I guarantee you that you'll want to curl up and enjoy Grace Notes from cover to cover. I did. Once, a chill crawled up my spine. I won't tell you what page. That doesn't matter. There's as much love in the book as everything else as well. I found Grace Notes both rewarding and gripping.

Once again, Ms. Allen's characters are true to life. If you want the fantasy world, rent a Walt Disney movie. Ms. Allen tells it how it is in real life with all the elements of day-to-day living.

It's interesting to note that in the book Grace is a well known writer that welcomes readers to contact her. On her website (www.charlottevaleallen.com), Ms. Allen declares the same thing.

Grace Notes involves the internet and emails and love and pain and much more. The emails become another character and it's interesting to see something not really concrete become a major character. It shows how the internet plays a major role in a lot of people's day to day lives.

There's as much seriousness to this book as there is tension (gripping tension!). But there's parts that made me laugh and some parts were very, very sad. Charlotte Vale Allen understands life and in Grace Notes has written a book about real people and a dark situation that could easily happen.

My only advice is NOT to take this book to bed with you if you have to get up early. You'll find yourself reading "just more chapter" and then another and then another.

Grace Notes is a major treat for Charlotte Vale Allen fans. New readers will enjoy how she spins a web and gets the reader caught up from the opening page. Each book she writes is different. I've read many of her books and enjoy them greatly.

I highly recommend Grace Notes in all regards.

The Rodney King beating and verdict, and the subsequent riots have divided the city of Los Angeles along racial lines. Thus, any minority found outside after curfew takes one hell of a risk from the predominately Caucasian police force. When Black ER doctor Lance Mitchell is being beaten by her peers, Detective Charlotte Justice intercedes and rescues the individual.

Near the beating site, Charlotte discovers the corpse of Robert "Cinque" Lewis, a punk she hates for having killed her spouse and daughter. Under the corpse, Charlotte finds Lance's wallet. LAPD feels they have the killer in the person of Dr. Mitchell. However, Charlotte winders if that is too simple. She cannot understand why Cinque returned to town after disappearing years ago. In spite of the brass' warnings, Charlotte continues to investigate what happened to Cinque.

INNER CITY BLUES is a tremendous police procedural that stars a refreshing new character. The story line is loaded with action and insight as the days following the LA riots of 1992 are explored from the unique perspective of a Black female cop. Paula L. Woods clearly does justice to the sub-genre with an excellent tale that will leave fans pleading for more works starring Charlotte.

Harriet Klausner

Inner City Blues is a mystery that takes place during the Rodney King riots. A well-to-do doctor is accused of being involved in a string of murders, but our heroine, Charlotte, isn't so sure.
Join Charlotte in a journey to find justice.

Woods kept me on the edge of my seat most of the time (albeit from the suspense of the case Charlotte was working OR the suspense of Charlotte's life, including her love life), and had my mind working overtime.

I applaud Paula L. Woods for creating a heroine I could root for, feel sympathy for, and in the end, care for.

I am anxious to read the next book in the Charlotte Justice series, Stormy Weather.

Frankie Daniels is a tough-talking, hard-as-nails Atlanta police detective. She is thrown for a loop when her affair (she thought he was divorced) with the police commissioner's son-in-law, is revealed.

Frankie is 'transferred' to Purdeyville, a Mayberry-like town with a good looking sheriff sweeter than Andy Griffith. She arrives to find the smoldering ruins of her new rented house, and a bristly encounter with her new boss Marshall Matt Webber.

This tough and streetwise lady softens throughout the book as she adopts some of the values of the small southern town. There is a ton of fun as this mouthy Atlanta cop has to deal with barking dachshunds, a loose bull, the price of Alma Grimes' Pecan Pie, and similar routine police work.

But murder and mayhem (and bad luck) seem to follow her, and she and Matt have a plateful of crimes to solve. Frankie fights her attraction to the warm and sensitive Marshall, not wanting to make the same mistake twice. The ensuing mystery was exciting and had a suprise ending.

Charlotte Hughes has a wonderful voice, and she is rumored to be "breaking out". Certainly her latest novel, combined with her recent impressive work for MIRA abd with janet Evanovich, would indicate a load of talent. The romantic tension between Matt and Frankie is an interesting turn, since Matt is a wonderful male lead and Frankie almost doesn't deserve him. But he finds the softness under her bitter facade, and he thinks she is a keeper.

I can't say enough about the robust fun, and the quirky hard sweetness of this book. The fast pace and compelling plot is a bonus and it would have been a favorite without the mystery. I loved the supporting cast as well, and wished the book would never end.

The vulnerabilities created by witnessing the worse of mankind's depravity on Atlanta's streets combines with the lies her former lover told, leave Frankie rather hard edged-except when she yields to her emotions by crying in the shower. She has stopped seeing the people involved by crimes, thinking in terms of case numbers instead. She even wonders if she has lost her femininity. Meeting Police Chief Matt Weber forces her to reevaluate herself, her past and her future.

Having already dealt with the results of "fraternization", Frankie fights her attraction to the sinfully sensual chief. But as small town crime increases, Frankie finds it increasingly difficult to maintain her distance. Matt's clear regarding his feelings, but Frankie backs off when she becomes the object of small town gossip. But taking down the town bully and finds her hotel room vandalized demonstrates that Frankie has thrust herself in the middle of small town drama and the ... danger it can present.

Irreverently humorous moments lend a marvelous touch of levity to the wonderful romantic suspense HOT SHOT. Frankie thinks she is a hot shot when she arrives in Purdyville with ten years of street smarts. As she finds out how out of touch she is with humanity, however, she learns to balance street smarts with genuine concern. Yet author charlotte Hughes respects the strength that allows a detective to walk the Atlanta streets for ten years by not compromising the qualities that make Frankie unique - from her chain smoking to her ability to floor an unruly man twice her size in a parking lot. In addition, Matt's steadfast determination to win her heart, defend her reputation, and still respect Frankie as a person likewise will win reader's hearts. Further, Hughs masterfully captures the flavor of small town living that makes it unique, especially illustrated when Frankie brings a store-bought cake in a plastic container to a potluck. A tale of redemption, love and healing, HOT SHOT comes very highly recommended.

Warner Lutz is an unpleasant fellow from the start, though he often manages to make the reader feel as sorry for him as he does for himself. Wracked by feelings of inadequacy and yearning for the trappings of the good life he sees in abundance all around him, he labors in his chosen field, not-for-profit, with increasing amounts of ambivalence and bitterness. Leebron is at his best when chronicling the suffocating day to day survival struggles of Warner and his wife Megan. Wave after wave of minutiae--diaper changes, feedings, car repairs, air-conditioner breakdowns--keeps crashing down on them with such relentless regularity that drowning seems inevitable.

And something like that happens. Megan is found in the art gallery where she works, unconscious from a series of vicious hammer blows. Warner is the chief suspect. The drama that unfolds forces an examination of three families and the hidden guilts which have corroded them from the inside for decades.

The story resolves itself satisfactorily, though not drawing real conclusions about Warner's hopes for redemption or happiness. The "did-he-do-it" aspect of the story is hardly the stuff of Agatha Christie, but that's probably not the point. In the end we see that sometimes people need a crucible, some event or revelation, to make them see what was in front of their faces all along.

We never really, truly know if Warner did it or not, but that's OK. It's not necessary because this novel is not a mystery-thriller, it is a story of marriage and of family. What makes this book so enjoyable is the total believability of all of Leebron's characters and their relationships. We have met people like them and have felt like them many times. Warner is not exactly a likeable guy, but he's not awful either, probably because the envy he feels is something we have all felt at one time or another.

Six Figures is a satisfying read. I am surprised at, and have to disagree with, the negative reviews at this website. Give this book a read, I don't think you will regret it.

It is the story of three male adventurers who discover an unknown land that is virtually impossible to get to inhabited only by women. Scientific and curious by nature they plan a mission to fly over the country in a plane to investigate further only to be captured and held prisioner in "Herland." While captive they are tutored by and taught to speak the language of the inhabitants. Once they have mastered the language they learn that their captors do not mean them any harm, but rather want to learn from them about the outside world as they have been cut off from it for 2000 years by their natural barriers. The men learn from the women and the women learn from the men. We see how different life could be in a society ruled and inhabited only by women.

As a utopian or fantasy novel, this one is outstanding. There were parts I liked better and was more appreciative of now that I am older than when I first read it, and others that had me thinking "as if!" If you can get past the whole parthenogenisis premise its an easier pill to swallow, but this time around I wasn't buying it. I also found the over zealous religious tones near the end to make this short novel drag out far too long.

All in all I am glad I re-read it and encourage anyone who hasn't to do so.

The story of how the two sexes view their roles as male/female are intriguing and point out many focal points that theorists argue about: men controlling women, women being mothers, and the power between the two and how they survive in society.

I highly recommend this book, it's an smooth read that applies more to today's world than it seems possible!