The stories of enjoyment and excitment people have written about really struck my fancy. When the Harry Potter series first came out i thought 'Its just another kids book' but when my class was forced to read the first book Harry Potter and the philosephers stone i just had to get the rest of the series. I rate this book 100 out of 100.

harry potter has enchanted millions of readers from around the world and pulled the the children away from their television and showed them that reading is fun. read this if you want to see how far a child's imagination can carry him.

It's great that people are finally listening to the kids point of views. Its the kids who made this series popular in the first place and then it spread to the parents and to other adults. Without these loyal fans, this series would not have been so popular and its about time that they get some credit for it.

Okay, I admit it, the only reason I bought this book was because I read an online review which mentioned that this book was filled with references to The Who and in fact, every chapter was titled after a Who song! Well, I love to read and I love The Who even more so I decided to buy this book. I stayed up very late for three nights in a row until I finished "One Last Hit", it was hard to put down! I loved the sly references throughout and especially adored all the Who references; the woman drummer with a photo of Keith Moon on her desk, the autographed photo of Pete Townshend from eBay - - and the last bit of the book, where Joe Portugal hears that John Entwistle died, really DID make me cry. Thank you Nathan for writing this book and thank you for dedicating it to John Entwistle - you BOTH rock! I'm waiting for the sequel . . .

What a great book! Especially if you are a baby boomer. Terrific plot and great characters - make sure you have a big enough block of time to get through this - I read it on a cross-country flight and the time just zoomed by.

This was the first time I read Nathan Walpow, but won't be the last.

"One Last Hit" is the third Joe Portugal book and revolves around Joe's exploits as he gets his old band, The Platypuses, back together and his search for their elusive lead guitarist. The problem is that somebody's trying to kill members of the band not long after they reunite.

Joe is a very likable character and the dialogue is fast and funny. Walpow also gets in plenty of musical references through his character, mentioning "unsung" (no pun intended) bands and albums that may just have the unfamiliar looking them up. A nice touch is that chapters are titled with Who/Pete Townshend song names. Fans of a good mystery and '70s rock will enjoy this fun book.

A quick note on the publisher, UglyTown: they are the reason I bought "One Last Hit" in the first place. They publish beautifully designed paperbacks and whether they choose the authors or the authors choose them, it's a good fit. I have everything they've ever put out (including a series for teens) and enjoyed them all.

...life forms are required to use a seldom-exercised ability called "imagination" which, with effort, allows the user to paint a mental tapestry that is superior in many respects to any computer generated image or subjective image of perfection.

(takes a breath)

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy goes on a bit about the relative superiority of radio as a medium that stimulates the pleasure centers of the brain, but it also notes several references to various works that endure in a medium regarded as deader than the telegraph.

The Hitchhiker's Guide is not only proof that radio is still a viable medium for drama, but that Douglas Adams is a genius. The show, scripted week-by-week by DNA and Geoffrey Perkins was easily translated to books and television with minimal edits. Yes, the second series is a bit off the ultimate track, but it is quite original and the foot notes from Douglas and Perkins are very insightful. These footnotes exist as a log of what took place when it all began and, sadly, as the only memoir to them.

If you can find it, get it.

As a longtime fan of Adam's Sci-Fi Comedy series, I was delighted to discover this book. It was a lot of fun to read, and offered much insight into the process behind the Original Hitchhiker's Guide Radio Show. And there are a few scenes that never made it to the novels. Douglas Adams is funny in any form, and this was no exception.

It's a shame that this book sems to be so hard to find. I was actually introduced to the Hitchhiker stories through the radio show (the audio recordings of which are probably even harder to find), which was a marvel of storytelling and sound effects when it came out (it still is, of course). Ultimately, the script book is a much better read if you have heard the original radio series, but even if you haven't, check it out (if you can). The scripts are written in true Douglas Adams style, with directions written in there that often don't have to do with the show itself (such as Adams' long description of the Bugblatter Beast of Traal), and it may be your only chance to learn about the Haggunenonns, the super-evolutionary race of aliens originally put in place of the rock group Disaster Area during the black stuntship scene. Be warned, however, since the series was written episodically, meaning that Adams never had any grand scheme for the show, and just wrote it as he went along (explains a lot, doesn't it?). You may think that the plot of the Restaurant at the End of the Universe was convoluted, but I thought it made perfect sense in comparison to the plot of the two radio series. Either way, it's a crazy ride, and worth every minute spent trying to make sense of it. If you consider yourself a HHG fan, then take it upon yourself to listen to the original radio series, and then read the scripts (which clarify it a good deal). Just make sure that you know where your towel is first.

i bought this book new in hard back but kept it for more than 2 years, aging like fine wine. i can't think of a better g&g novel, and i've read everything janwillem has written. he sent me an email and asked why i like his writing so much. this is part of my response. he has taken the relationship between g&g and the commissaris to a new level of teacher and disciples. the commissaris finds them hiding behind their ill found wealth, surrounded by luxury and weeds. he teaches them the truth. it is reminiscent of van gulik's judge dee finding his followers as robbers in the woods -and that was the beginning of that series. it seems that perhaps janwillem has been freed by finishing his zen triology with afterzen. i anxiously await the new g&g mystery that has them working as true private detectives. thank you janwillem, john boland, victoria, bc jbfoundation@hotmail.com

As I have read the entire Amsterdam Cops series (well out of sequence), and this latest novel is among the best, I thought I would post one review instead of 15, in hopes that it will help others navigate this collection of quirky, charming police procedurals. Starred = esp. recommended.

1. Outsider in Amsterdam ('75) - What one expects from the first of a series. Some characteristics are there, but not all, and not as pronounced, and the characters are only beginning to take shape. The commissaris has only a brief appearance; the chief inspector, who disappears after this, is more prominent. An adequate story, with a few very good scenes.

2-4. Tumbleweed ('76), The Corpse on the Dike ('76), Death of a Hawker ('77) - Progressively more - and smoother - integration of the philosophical themes, and the characters continue their fleshing-out process. The relaxed, Buddhism-and-psychology-tinged nature of the series is becoming evident here. The three stories are about equally complex. Of a piece.

5*. The Japanese Corpse ('77) - Stands out in that the Buddhism theme gets much more play than usual; the cops travel to Japan. Very linear and simple in terms of the plot/police work. The commissaris here begins to carry much of the philosophising theme, and by now has become an intellectual leader of sorts to G&dG.

6*. The Blond Baboon ('78) - The best puzzle of them all, the pacing is good, and the book is solid in all other respects. Van de Wetering has really hit his stride by now, and the rest, if often not as well-rounded as this one, usually have some extra dimension added to them. This would be a very good one to start with.

7*. The Maine Massacre ('79) - De Gier and the commissaris travel, and a lot of the fun is in their observations of their new surroundings, and interactions with the locals. Better, of course, if you already know the characters and the series, but it is very good anyway.

8. The Mind-Murders ('81) - Really two linked psychology-tinged novellas. Mostly G&dG here, lots of joking, sarcasm between them. By now the cops are fully formed characters and here the interactions between them are emphasized, like the way a good sitcom runs familiar characters into situations that allow them to play off one another. Not bad, but constitutes a bit of a lull in the series.

9. The Streetbird ('83) - The plot deals with black magic, but it's not all that hokey, since it fits in a way with van de Wetering's philosophising. One might guess the villain midway through, but it doesn't matter. Better than #8, but not quite as good as the others in this stretch.

10*. The Rattle-Rat ('85) - Notable for clever banter between the cops, several running jokes, a few chaotic scenes with overlapping dialogue. Very amusing. Plot threads spring out of nowhere, eventually drift together. Again, one should know midway through who the culprit is. The oddest of the odd, and among the best.

11*. Hard Rain ('86) - A noir, van de Wetering style. Here the cops untangle police corruption linked with several murders. We, and they, know who the bad guys are - and here they are genuinely bad - right off, so it is a matter of the cops navigating the situation and bringing the criminals to justice. The cat-and-mouse games combined with the series' usual touches makes for tremendous entertainment.

12. Just a Corpse at Twilight ('94) - The three have been retired for two years. Grijpstra is a PI, de Gier is living easy in Maine after traveling, and the commissaris is at home. A good, but slight, story; it's more about how the characters are getting along, and re-does the fish-out-of-water thing, especially amusing here because Maine is new to Grijpstra, and not to de Gier. Slightly inferior to #14, but good.

13*. The Hollow-Eyed Angel ('96) - Still cops - this one takes place before #12. Probably half-written during the series' hiatus, finished after. Dominated by the commissaris, who goes to NYC. Very reflective in tone, lots of philosophy and psychology, and the story is better than most. One of the best.

14*. The Perfidious Parrot ('97) - De Gier has joined Grijpstra's PI "agency." As with #12 there is a lot of interaction between the ex-cops and the (here, exotic) locales, and it is even more overtly about the characters' lives than the others. Some back-story in this and #12 about how the cops got rich, and here it is integral to the rest of the book.

15. The Amsterdam Cops-Collected Stories ('99) - Take place throughout the cops' tenure in Amsterdam. The commissaris is barely present, and in a few G&dG only pop up briefly. Quick character and crime studies, a couple mild puzzles. For completists only. The interplay between characters is missing here.

The three Amstelteers have raced, well more like meandered, from Vondel Park to the Antilles via Key West on a case with a surprising oily twist. In business on their own, G&G, under the watchful eye of Henkieluvvie uncover a clever plot to make oil disappear. Their biggest concern is that the most PERFIDIOUS outlaw of all "the Amsterdam Tax man" may get their loot if they do not get to work. Perifidious, deceitful, faithless, untrustworthy. In depth story telling with the tongue in cheek attitude that JanWillem does so well. The characters stay in line, no surprises, as it should be. At the end their conscience is relieved because of the actions of their mentor.

Richard S. Wheeler's Skye's West: Rendezvous and his character Barnaby Skye...eh, make that Mister Skye! offers a reading treat for anyone who wants something out of the ordinary with their adventures.
Besides providing a good story Wheeler's writing is grown-up good as it leads us into an historical realm and offers a well- crafted look, convincing dialogue, and characters who breathe.
It's easy to see why Wheeler has won the SPUR Award for his western writing and easy enough for a reader to be spurred on with his stories.
There's only a handful of talented writers in this genre out there and Wheeler is one of them.

This is a good read, with a lot of historical facts mixed in with the fiction. It describes life in the wilderness of the Northwest in what is now the United States, and the struggles people faced just to survive. Has a good story line and keeps your interest. This is the first of the Barnaby West novels I have read and I would like to read more books about this character, if I could just figure out which one I should read next. I can't find anything that gives me any indication of which book in the series comes next.

From the time that Skye deserts the British vessel holding him captive to his meeting with the mountain men and Indians, I was held captive and felt as if I took each step into this new world with him. Mr. Wheelers use of historical facts and people, ie: the Hudson Bay company, Jim Bridger etc. just added to the overall effect of the story. I feel as tho I have gained a little more insight into the way the early trappers lived and faced death on a daily basis.

I will look forward to reading his previous novels on Mister Skye -i backward order to see just where he went from this point on. Anyone who enjoys the historical novel will enjoy this one. Thanks for a trip into the past!

When I began the book (with the problem of Marianne) it obviously had five stars, when you finish that part you won't understand why it was written in so many pages and it really doesn't have to do anything with the book, so the book has now four stars, in the middle of the book, when you see why it was written the [beginning], the book has only three stars ..., and that keeps during all the judgment of the doctor (I won't tell you which one because I will tell you the story), but when the judgment is almost over, when you almost finish the book you will see that this is definitely a five stars book, And when you read the last chapter you will see that you will recommend this book to your friends.

It is a mystery to me that Amazon.com should begin reviews of the mysteries by Anne Perry by quoting "Kirkus reviews." The results are predictable -- the reviewer dislikes all of the strengths of these novels. He cannot appreciate Perry's real skill in character development. He is opposed to any discussion of the status of women in Victorian England; dislikes Perry's careful depictions of social mores and class status in Victorian London --despite the fact that these are often the very crux of the novels. One of the best examples is "A Breach of Promise." I haven't the Kirkus review for that novel but I am willing to bet that he really really hated it!
Actually, this series of novels should be called the
Hester Latterly - William Monk - Oliver Rathbone series. Hester is often the central sleuth and it is the links between these three characters which move the plots forward ingeniously. As example of this I recommend "A Breach of Promise which the Kirkus reviewer undoubtedly hated.

A Sudden, Fearful Death is the fourth mystery in the Inspector Monk series of books by Anne Perry. Better known for her Pitt series, the Inspector Monk series are slighly earlier (just after the Crimean War), grittier, and in many ways more riveting. They are longer than the average Pitt novel, and this allows the author's wonderful ability to convey period detail and characterization to shine through.

In this mystery Inspector Monk is called in to investigate the murder of one of Florence Nightingale's Crimean nurses, who is working at a London hospital. Those of you who have read the previous three novels know how hard it can be for these young women to adapt to English hospitals after their stint abroad, and at first it seems that Prudence Barrymore might be a victim because of her desire to reform the medical system. As the plot unfolds, however, we realize that there is a great deal more going on at London's Royal Free hospital than meets the eye.

One of Perry's greatest talents lies in character development, and she is always careful to let a different character feature prominently in each novel. This time it is Lady Callandra Daviot's turn, Inspector Monk's female patron, who emerges as a more three-dimensional character. Hester Latterly, another Nightingale nurse, is also featured, along with the brilliant Inspector Monk and the lawyer of lawyers, Oliver Rathbone.

I would particularly recommend the Monk series to fans of TV's Law and Order, since these mysteries combine excellent sleuthing with taut court-room drama. If you like historical mysteries, you will love this series. If you already like Anne Perry, I encourage you to give Inpsector Monk a try!

I have enjoyed all of the previous "herb" books and am not usually a fan of short stories. This collection is wonderful, though. and it goes great with a pot or glass of tea, a comfortable chair, and quiet time. I recommend this for your vacation reading list.

Quirky China Bayles, an ex-lawyer from Houston turned herb-shop proprietor and amateur sleuth in quaint Pecan Springs, has certainly had a number of adventures since the series kicked off in the early 1990's. Some of Albert's best novel length tales to date include Chile Death and Love Lies Bleeding. In this collection, readers can find all the humor, herb lore, recipes and fun of a full length mystery in these short stories, originally published online in serial format.
From a missing Khat to the threat of a real-estate mogul buying out a local business, to sinister murder, these short tales pack cozy mystery punch. Easy to read in short gulps, and there are tons of easy recipes and craft ideas included. Great fun!

Fans of the China Bayles mysteries, staring a former lawyer turned herbalist and restaurant owner, have a special treat in store for them this time around. Author Susan Wittig Albert has written a ten-story collection starring the protagonist doing what she does best: solve crimes. Readers are also introduced to her best friend and business partner Ruby Wilcox, who often plays the part of the sidekick and China's beloved husband, former homicide detective Mike McQuaid, who still can't resist taking part in a criminal invitation.

In addition to the stories, each one exciting and fast-paced, the reader is introduced to herbal lore and some mouth-watering meals using herbs found in China's very own garden. The short story format is just as potent as the novel length tales that fans expect from Ms. Albert. For fans this is a treat but for newcomers this is a delightful introduction to one of the more endearing mystery genre characters.

Harriet Klausner

Elizabeth Daniels Squire's new Peaches Dann mystery, Where There's a Will, has everything: the beauty and danger of a high mountain setting in western North Carolina; a hazardous trans-Atlantic voyage on the fictional British luxury liner, the Ocean Queen; and a motley cast of newly made multimillionaires, one of whom may be out to murder the others. To this mixture is added a baffling plot with more twists and turns than a DNA helix. The result is an exciting adventure in mystery reading, especially the climactic scene in which Peaches, at the risk of her own life, solves the murder of handsome, charming Wingate Scott. When you start reading Where There's a Will, be prepared to read it straight through to the end, because you won't be able to put it down.

If you haven't met Peaches Dann, an amateur detective with a memory problem, you are in for a real treat. I would, of course, suggest that you pick up the first books in this series as well. When an reclusive multi-millionaire dies and leaves his fortune to various members of the family to the tune of fifteen million each. Deaths begin to occur even though it seems each member of the family is satisfied with the portion received. A friend of Peaches asks for her help in uncovering the killer. The family must make a joint trip to England to satisfy the terms of the will. When Peaches' friend is almost killed, Peaches flies to England to come back with them on the ship. This is no "Love Boat" cruise. Attempted poisonings, near misses on pushing members of the party overboard and a most humiliating, but hilarious, attempt on Peaches' life add to the non-stop excitement and fun of "Where There's a Will." This is a must-read for all cozy fans.

Suffering from a terrible memory, Peaches Dan takes lessons to learn a few tricks that will help her survive in the everyday world. She writes a book, How To Survive Without A Memory, to help others with similar afflictions recall critical things. Surprisingly, Peaches also solves murder mysteries by using her tricks to help her recall the clues.

Marietta, a high school friend, asks Peaches to investigate the death of her brother Winston, who allegedly jumped off a cliff. Marietta insists her sibling would never venture near an overhang because he deeply feared heights. Money could be a motive as Winston and his relatives recently came into a $15 million inheritance each. On a trip to England, someone tries to kill Marietta, who immediately persuades Peaches to join her. On the luxurious return trip by sea, several other murder attempts occur, including one on the sleuth. Peaches knows she must identify the culprit rather quickly before someone else dies at the hands of the unknown assailant.

Elizabeth Daniels Squire has created a near perfect sleuth in Peaches. The middle aged person with a faulty memory refuses to allow her ailment to stop her activities. WHERE THERE'S A WILL is a who-done-it loaded with misdirection cleverly executed by the author. Anyone who reads this novel will search for the previous five books in this humorous series with a deep message.

Harriet Klausner

'The Young Savages' by Fred Mustard Stewart is well written and very entertaining. It puts you in the nineteenth century into adventure after adventure. You ride a steam locomotive train and experience San Francisco during the Gold Rush. Even Teddy Roosevelt is in this book. You travel from New York to Italy and China. This book has it all. There is a train robbery, cattledrives, romance, murder, greed, espionage, prejudices, kidnapping, and even fencing duels. It is certainly an action-packed book and I recommend it.

This story takes place in the late 1800's in which the Savage family and the Rothschild family are united when Julie Savage marries Felix Rothschild......Johnny Savage, Rachel's brother is a dashing character who goes out to conquer the "wild west" with Teddy Roosevelt......Justin Savage,the father of Julie and Johnny is a very rich bank owner who with his partner, Ben Lieberman are wonderful family men who do everything they can to help their family and friends.....Rachel, Ben's very beautiful daughter faught against her family's attempt to form a Jewish dynasty and therefore almost lost her life and the only man she ever loved.

I recently read Stewart's prequel to this book, "The Magnificent Savages" and when I heard the the sequel was coming out I couldn't wait. This book is absolutely wonderful. If you loved his first book you'll enjoy this one too. It is full of history and adventure and love. I hope he continues with this family. They are wonderfully interesting.

I loved this book. Just as I loved all the others in its series. I hope there will be more! It was incredibly funny but also made you think. I'm a Christain, and I could relate to a lot of what goes on in this book.

This series, by far, the funniest Christian fiction books currently on the market. They are told from the perspective of the average struggle-by-struggle Christian who is just in the game of survival, but to still have some fun. Roy Maynard has some definite journalistic talent, but I only wish I could either contact him by e-mail, or encourage him to keep writing. All of my friends that I've lent these books to have responded very positively. They are very easy to read, and keep the reader turning pages. I laughed throughout the entire book, not just because I'm also a Christian journalist, but because I believe humor needs to be intertwined more in fiction