"Cruel Habitations" is an absolutely absorbing and riveting read. And although this novel is billed as a 'cosy mystery' and the main focus of the book IS the unresolved whereabouts of a young woman, Alison Barnett, this novel does nonetheless center more on the emotional lives of the residents of the cathedral city of Westmead, and on that of Jacquire Darke, Alison's sister.

Jacquie and Alison Barnett have led rather restricted and circumscribed lives as members of a nonconformist sect. However, Jacquie is about to be married, and has privately resolved to have at least one grand fling before she settles into the prefect stay-at-home wife mold that is expected of her. She manages to persuade her parents to allow her and her younger sister, Alison, to go to Greece for a holiday. Once there, Jacquie's fast behaviour makes Alison very uncomfortable. But it is Alison, and not Jacquie that ends up in trouble. Alison falls rather hard for another British holidayer, Mike, and later finds herself pregnant. And when her family finds out of her predicament, Alison is literally thrown out onto the streets to fend for herself. Eleven years pass and no one has heard a word from Alison since that fateful day. With the failure of her marriage, Jacquie has moved back home to live with her parents and to take care of them. And with her father's death, Jacquie discovers that he at least had never relinquished hope that Alison would come back home again, for he has divided everything equally between the two sisters. With her father's asserts frozen, it becomes imperative for Jacquie to find Alison at once. Motivated by both guilt and need, Jacquie embarks on the quest to find her sister. And this soon takes her to the cathedral city of Westmead, to the town in which Alison believed that Mike lived. Will Jacquie find Alison happily married, and with children, or will Westmead prove to be a dead-end?

"Cruel Habitations" is rich in atmosphere. Kate Charles does a wonderful job of projecting both the confining and claustrophobic environment of both the Free Baptist Fellowship that the Barnetts belonged to, as well as the enclosed and insular world of the cathedral city of Westmead. But what really captivates in this novel is the relationships that the denizens of Westmead have with each other. True, wondering if Jacquie would uncover more clues that would given her a clearer idea of what really became of Alison, did take up a lot of my attention; however I was also caught up with the marriage woes of Sophie and Chris Lilburn, new residents to Westmead -- Sophie's difficulty at conceiving a child, coupled with her feeling of estrangement and abandonment in Westmead, is taking a toll on the marriage. And then there is the strange and suspicious behaviour of the ex-Head Verger, Leslie Clunch, who gives Sophie the creeps. Why is he so obsessed with her? And then there is the unresolved murder of a young woman who was found strangled in the very street that Chris and Sophie now live in... How all these seemingly disparate threads all come together, is what makes "Cruel Habitations" such riveting reading. Kate Charles's prose style is both restrained and lyrical without being florid, and her manner in which she portrays her characters is crisp and to the point. And although this is a rather lengthy tome, that leap frogs over a decade, and between the towns of Westmead and Sutton Fen, I was surprised at the rate in which the novel unfolded -- continuously, smoothly and quickly.

"Cruel Habitations" is a great read, especially if you're looking for something a little more substantial than a mere murder mystery. It is such a shame that Kate Charles's novels aren't being released with more fanfare, and that they are not more easily available. I can only hope someone with the power remedies this situation, and soon.

For reasons I cannot figure out, if there are any, Kate Charles seems neglected in this country. Her books seem made for those who like classic English mysteries with a darker side to them (although not as dark as Elizabeth George, for example). Her characters are fascinating people with multifaceted personalities: they give the feeling that they have lives outside the mystery itself. To achieve this multilayered effect, Ms Charles has a long lead-in to the mystery in which she introduces her characters and their lives before any real mystery receives their attention.

The emotional lives her characters lead seem based in a genuine perceptiveness. The flip side of the "village mystery," a side that allows the claustrophobic nature of village life to intervene, appears strongly in her books. Ms Charles manages to convey this claustrophobia without adversely affecting the anglophilia which her readers no doubt share. Ms Charles also comes across as a trifle high-church, but again she combines this with a warmth that allows it all to remain appealing.

Unlike the classic cozy mystery, Ms Charles' books are emotionally complex views of English village and church life, and I enjoy them immensely. Her lead characters have a slight tendency to submissiveness, but this contributes to the sense of realism that one can maintain while reading these excellent books. In this book in particular, one can cheer on her lead character as she leaves behind the cult to which her family had belonged.

Readers who like cozy mysteries, especially those with a Church of England setting, will enjoy this book. In it you'll find the High Church vs. Low Church controversy, an extremely obnoxious Evangelical vicar who is determined to remove the statues and all that smacks of "idolatry" from the local church, a group of animal-rights activists, and plenty of eccentric characters. This, along with "Evil Angels Among Them," is the best of a very good series.

"The Snares of Death" is the second, and one of the best, in Kate Charles' delightful Book of Psalms series. Readers who like English-cozy mysteries, especially those with a Church of England setting, will find much to enjoy here. There is never a dull moment, with continual goings-on involving the High Church vs. Low Church controversy, animal-rights activists, lots of interesting and likable characters, and a very unlikable murder victim.

The ongoing romantic saga of Lucy and David is the central theme to this book. Will she finally agree to marry him? Will he ask her again? Another wonderful easy to read cozy murder mystery from Kate Charles. I've certainly learned more about the Anglican church than I knew before and I was brought up in this religion! Her characters jump off the page with life and death of course and I was kept guessing until the end who dunnit.

From the Tally Shooter Writers' Group:

The sixth edition of this perennial best-seller has finally hit the streets! (OK,it finally hit the "river" since it's only available at Amazon.com right now.)

Very much up-to-date, the revisions to the 1999 edition of the NCO's bible provide Army noncoms with a made-to-order reference for just about any situation they may come across in today's modern army. The author, CSM (Retired) Robert S. Rush, has taken this guide to new heights. There are revised sections in the guide on caring leadership, training, NCO career development and promotions, awards and decorations, and "customs and courtesies." Army policy concerning the new fraternization rules-of-engagement is included and the latest military Web site info pertinent to NCOs is included as appendix.

The benefits of owning this book are enormous. Tuck it in your BDU trouser pocket before you deploy and you will have a modern day reference containing individual treatises on one of the broadest compilations of NCO subject matter ever made available in print.

A must-have guide.

I started reading this book one evening before bed and had not gone more than two chapters when I found myself noticing that I had a couple of places on the wall I needed to touch up with paint. A couple of chapters later I found myself wondering if I needed to clean my gutters out.

Since neither paint nor gutters appear prominently in this book, the only conclusion I could draw was-- I was bored. I ended up finishing the book when stopped by a train and it was the only book I had in the car.

Here's the good: It's not badly written at all. One of the authors writes the China Bayliss mysteries which I have read and enjoyed, so the writing is smooth and professional.

The information on horse doping was new to me and appeared well researched.

Here's the bad: I felt as though the characters lacked depth. Charles (I think he started the series as Sir Charles but I must have missed something after that) is egalitarian (doesn't want to use his title), supportive of his wife having a career as a writer, and interested in science. The reader would not guess that he had ever held any other views or struggled to arrive at the views. The just appear full blown. Kate, his American wife, supports women's sufferage, writes succesful novels and has set up a school to teach women agriculture. She also never seems to question her ideas or wonder if what she is doing is best for the objects of her charity.

They have one friend who supports Cecil Rhodes' policy in Africa, but I'm sure he will see the error of his ways. All of the other members of the nobility and gentility are potrayed as corrupt and venal. This is just too easy for the modern reader. It affirms the current beliefs in these areas and never asks us to examine whether or not the beliefs of that era had any value.

Also there are numerous errors in the titles used in the story. Lord Charles (and Lady Charles for his wife) are honorific titles for the younger sons of Dukes and Marquesses and their wives. Charles's proper title would have been Lord Somerset and Kate would be Lady Somerset. It's stated he doesn't want to use the title (prefers Sheridan) but it still wouldn't be proper to address him as "Lord Charles Sheridan." If he properly renounced the title he would be simply Mr. Charles Sheridan.

I guess it might be possible to just say it's meant to be light entertainment and shrug off any criticism that way, but it has to have some quality that engages the interest of the reader before it can entertain.

I admit I do enjoy this series, but it is strictly a "fun" read. I agree with the other reviewers that the author(s) really make a royal hash of the British titles, alternately referring to the same character as Lord "surname" and then as Lord "first name" - yet the same person would NEVER go by both of those. Charles, as a peer, would never EVER be referred to a Lord Charles, and it would be terribly gauche to do so. A prince is never Your Majesty.

These are pretty simple things that even an American like me can figure out and understand, yet the author(s) screw this up every time in book after book.

However if I just grit my teeth and bear it the rest of the book is funny and informative, a "light" read, so I guess I cannot expect too much accuracy. But fun. Brain candy.

This book is just as enjoyable as the previous ones in the series. I like the way the Albert's craft a tale. The story is neatly plotted, the mystery is just quirky enough, and we get a bird's eye view of actual people that lived during this era. The depiction of Lily Langtree is realistic. We see her as she was in the later stages of her illustrious career. I found this book was also interesting because of the descriptions of the life of the "horsey" set from this time. It also told us what horse racing was like in England in the latter part of the 19 century. Really, not much different than now if you think of it. Doping still occurs, and fortunes are made and lost at the track. All in all, a good story with all of our favourite characters.

The mystery in this book is very easy to figure out, but the storyline is still entertaining. The scene of the novel is also wonderful. Dartmoor is where Conan Doyle situated his famous Hound of the Baskerville story. This almost mythical spot in England is one I would love to visit one day. What I didn't enjoy about this book and why I gave it only 3 stars, is the short shrift the authors gave to Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. There are a lot of people, including me, who hold this man's detective fiction in almost mythical esteem. The Alberts seemed to portray him as a blundering buffoon when it came to solving this "real" crime.
This story is set around the Dartmoor Prison that was in this country in the early 1900's. It focuses around a prison escape, and when a local lord is found dead, it is automatically assumed by everyone except Charles that the escaped prisoner murdered the man. Katherine and Charles dig deeper and find a number of skeletons in the family closet, and then, when these are brought to the light of day, the murder is solved.

Lord Charles Sheridan, his wife Kate, and Arthur Conan Doyle are visiting the Dartmoor moors when and invited to a seance. A mystic foretells that the host's wife will be betrayed. When the host is found dead after leaving a letter claiming that he was leaving with another woman, the mystic's bone fides appear perfect, especially when confirmed by Doyle. A recently escaped prisoner seems the most likely suspect, but Charles and Kate believe that there is more to the case than the obvious.

Author Robin Paige (the pen name for Susan Wittig Albert and Bill Albert) combines an exciting mystery with a possible explanation of Doyle's great Sherlock Holmes mystery THE HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES. Paige provides a convincing view of turn-of-the century England, a properly Dr. Watson version of Doyle, and expertly weaves the mystery events with hints at the HOUND. I especially enjoyed Paige's female characters. While Charles appeared too good to be true, Kate, Patsy, and Ellie are delightful.

Mystery readers are unlikely to be fooled by the mystery but the combination of historical mystery, historical characters placed in a fictional setting, and Paige's fine style make DEATH AT DARTMOOR a fully enjoyable read.

O.K., not the best of the series, but acceptable. A little more development of the characters and less focus on historical "teaching" would have made for a faster moving more engaging story.

Prince Albert Victor Christian Edward, Eddy to his friends, was in line to the throne of England after his father who later becomes King Edward VII. Eddy was an embarrassment to the family, drinking and carousing, going from one scandal to another. He married a Catholic commoner and was discovered in a gay brothel. The public and the Royal Family believed he would never be fit to rule and all gave a sigh of relief when he died in a fire.

Very few people realized that it was all a ruse and Eddy was banished to Glamis Castle, deep in the Scottish Highlands. He lived there for over a decade in a luxurious if isolated suite and was known as Lord Osborne to all of the servants. One night he disappears and his personal servant is found murdered, her throat slit open. Lord Charles Sheridan is ordered by the king to find out who murdered the servant and to discover where Eddy went. He is able to accomplish his mission with the help of his intelligent and nosy wife Kate.

After reading DEATH AT GLAMIS CASTLE, readers will be glad that they are not members of any fictionalized European Royal Family because they come across as utterly ruthless and willing to do whatever needs to be done to preserve their station in life. Robin Paige has written an excellent mystery that involves German spies, a dark conspiracy, and a servant who is loyal and devoted to a once crowned prince. This work is rich in atmosphere and gives the audience a feel for the period after Queen Victoria's death.

Harriet Klausner

At first this book was intresting,but it soon got confusing.One page he was flirting with Ben Franklin(as Chevaliere d'Eon,of course),the next page he was crying in his room to Madamoiselle Bertin.After he 'became' a woman,the book concentrated on the books in his library(Extremly boring).All in all,it's good,because it helped me realize that d'Eon wasn't this crazy politian,but he was 'pretending' so that he would get a second chance.But I still think it was a stupid move,but at least he'll be remembered for it.

D'eon was more interesting than I'd ever realized. It appears that she adopted womanhood out of faith and feminism as much as personal needs, yet her motives remain mixed and mysterious. This book does a good job of showing her own complexity and that of her era.

I don't think I'd be giving away much of the plot if I were to say that the story revolves around Pip, a young, middle class orphan who has dreams to be a wealthy, respected gentleman, but has no hope of this as he is a rural blacksmith apprentice. His prospecs change, however, when a mysterious, anonymous benefactor offers to make Pip's dream a reality. I won't give away the ending, but the novel supports Dickens' belief that the middle class is the class to which people should aspire.

The plot of this story wasn't to my liking. Dickens' attempts towards the end to wrap all the subplots into one neat little package annoyed me...similar to plot twists in modern Hollywood movies--things so outrageously convienent that it makes one want to roll his eyes. The manner in which things are written, however is fantastic. While the main characters are rather boring, the minor characters, (especially Biddy, Herbert Pocket, and John Wemmick) were much more interesting. Thankfully, Dickens focused on them enough to flesh them out and make them memorable. I would recommend this book, not because I enjoy the plot, but because the writing style is superior and because I, being lower middle class, enjoyed the positive viewpoint Dickens extended concerning my class.

Almost every negative review about this book was made by a 15 year old 9th grader. I also had to read this book when I was in ninth grade and I had no clue what was going on. Those kids might not want to admit it, but it was above thier understanding, I am proof of that. I decided to read this again and even though I was indifferant to it the first time I read, and realized it to be the literary genuis that it truely is. It has an amusing story line of the events that surround a young boy's life and how he copes with his coming into fortunes and life in general. But Dicken's masterful writing makes more than just a story line, it is also a social critique of Industeralized Society. For existance, Joe represents how life was before the Industerial Revolution. He was kind, hard working, morally upstanding, and happy, amoung other desirable qualities. Whereas Estella, for example, represented how it was during the Industerial Revolution. She was greedy, self-centered, controlling, and unhappy. This is also evident in Pip. At first he had the traits of the former, but once he got his "Expecations", he exhibited the traits of the latter. Another part of his critique was the differance between the rich and the poor. There are other important ways in which he portrays them, but for lack of time the poor people were happy, whereas the rich were unhappy. Dickens is also great at describing setting and characters, so as some might see that as boreing, I see that as giving more depth to the story. He makes it seem like the reader is actually in 19th century London and meeting such interresting characters as Jaggers, Mr. Pocket, and of course honorable Joe. Anyone concidering buying this that is in high school, I reccomend not buying this because you will not undersand it, hence dislike it. But anyone who is already out of high school, or someone who read it in high school I would reccomend this book. Dickens is well know in literary circles for his genuis, but for some reason I cannot explain, in popular culture he does not come close to the popularity of Shakesphere, even though he was writer and Social Critic.

As a student, I had to read this book as a requirement for my junior year summer reading. Being the largest book of them all, I reluctantly started on this one. However, after giving it the twenty-five page test, I found the book terribly addictive. Had I had a more generous time budget, I would have finished the book in two to three days. As it was, it took me over a month. The storyline, with Pip intertwined in a weird emotional triangle with one Miss Havisham and Estella, has the reader wondering "Who is on Pip's side?" and "What the heck is going on with this Estella babe?" The emotions Pip felt, the things he went through, and just the thought of actually having to go through what he did brings tears to the eyes (even mine, which had been dry for years). By reading this book, I even became more in-tune to my emotions. This novel is an excellent piece of literature for any language buff (Dickens is a sheer master of the English language), and for anyone who loves a good tearjerker. Happy reading!!

What started out as a pleasant experience became a bit of a let down. The foreword by Charlie Papazian gets you all geared up. The book reads well although some of the tips are questionable. The book is definitely more for the extract brewer. Some recipes look interesting and some are out there. However comments that are degrading or offensive to certain people should have been omitted. This is supposed to be a reference book not a soapbox. Overall I found Designing Great Beer (Daniels) much more useful.

If you're looking for a "how-to" book with regard to home-brewing, this ISN'T it, but if you just want RECIPES than this is the one to get. There is a mix of both extract and all-grain recipes. The emphasis on the former is not as great as advertised which I found slightly disappointing--for me, home-brewing is a hobby and not an occupation. (With a little bit of practice, however, it's not too difficult to convert an all-grain recipe into an extract version.) No matter what your style or taste, you'll find at least several different choices here, with recipes complete and easy to understand, and usually presented in a very entertaining fashion. Lots of tips, "history of beer" vignettes, and quotes from famous people on the subject of beer, many of which I have found fun to use in label-making. There's also some very good food recipes in here, all using beer--the Chicken with Roasted Garlic Cream Sauce has become a family favorite, and I'm anxious to try the Chocolate Cream Stout Cake!

Anyone can put together a list of recipes for all the classicstyles of beer, throw a cover on it and hawk it for ... ... or put up a web site and collect a thousand different ways to combine malt and hops... recipes are easy to come by. But this book is more than just a collection of formulas.

I give it a wholehearted five stars because the authors fill the pages with their passion for brewing great beer. The pages are a combination of anecodtes, brew tips and best of all quotations from all the greats of literature... Shakespeare to Orwell, they all had something to say about beer. I never tire of flipping through the pages when I am getting ready to make the next batch, and laughing at the wit and wisdom found within. I'll say it again. Get this book, it's worth twice the asking price.