This book is a collection of 34 articles summarizing many of the presentations at one of the recent NDSS annual conferences. The list of authors read like a who's who of the Down syndrome community. The book is divided into ten sections with articles ranging from advocacy to communication to education to the role of the family. The last section is made up of six articles written by people with Down syndrome. The book is very similar to the more recently published "Down Syndrome: Visions for the 21st Century," (ISBN: 0471418153). But this book is not replaced by the new edition. The articles in this book are different and are still very much worth reading. This isn't a book for a new parent and it certainly shouldn't be your first book on Down syndrome. There are other books such as "Babies with Down Syndrome," that would be a better choice as a first book. But this book does provide a lot of very useful and interesting information. Anyone interested in finding out what is going on in the world of Down syndrome will want to get a copy.

Book contains current info in every category a new parent wonders about. Answers questions before you even think to ask them. Especially poignant are the sections on advocacy and education. Chapters written by people with DS are very powerful. Can do without the section on genetics. A must read.

When Vida Runkle discovers a distant relative has been murdered in a seaside Oregon town, she takes off to solve the mystery, dragging her employer, newspaper editor Emma Lord, with her.

Although Emma Lord is the star of this series, she takes a backseat to her sidekick, Vida Runkle, in this book, and the reversal does not work well. Runkle comes across as a meanspirited, insensitive detective who shows little consideration a loyal and injured Emma Lord. Meanwhile, the author spends far too much time lecturing us on the value of family and that "blood is thicker that water." Combined with a weak plot, this relentless harping on family (despite the fact that Runkle has never met most of the branch of the family she is now meddling with) make this one of the least enjoyable books in the series.

As always Emma and Vida are out to solve a mystery. I enjoy this series as well as the Bed and Breakfast series that Ms Daheim writes. I have read all the books in the series and had no trouble enjoying this addition, but I feel that it would not be a good way to introduce new readers to this excellent series. Start with Alpine Advocate and then continue down the line. Following that course will allow the reader to enjoy all that has lead up to Emma and Vida's relationship and to Emma's interaction with all the characters in the series.

Emma Lord, editor and publisher of the Alpine Advocate, is concerned about her favorite employee, Vida Runkel. Vida doesn't seem herself and is planning to visit her late husband's family who live on the Oregon coast. Vida finally confesses that the motivation for her trip is the murder of her niece Audrey. Emma accompanies Vida on her trip and meets a whole cast of new characters, Vida's in-laws. The two of them attempt to investigate Audrey's murder but are discouraged by unfriendly notes, car accidents, and uncooperative family members. Audrey is reputed to be a promiscuous woman and Emma and Vida believe that this might be the motive for murder, either by a jealous spouse or a spurned lover. There is another death and the murder's solution brings mixed feelings to the inquisitve twosome from Alpine. This book brings a change of scenery from Alpine and is a welcome addition to the series.

I am a devoted fan of Judith and Renie and have read every one of the Bed and Breakfast books with the exception of Creeps Suzette (I'll get to it soon). I have to say that this is the ONLY book in the series I have not enjoyed. The plot was up to par with the usual twists, turns and colorful characters. However, I just felt that Judith and Renie weren't their usual selves. Renie was not nearly as fiesty as usual and her slobbering over Rover at one point is unbelievable if you remember in September Morn that she "hates" dogs!! As for Judith, this was the only time I found her to be insensitive, pushy, and irritating. If this had been written by anyone other than the exceptionally talented Ms. Daheim, I probably would have thought it was pretty darn good. I would be interested if any other devotees who have read the series feel the same way! Can't wait for SILVER SCREAM!!

In this installment of the Bed-and-Breakfast Mystery Series, Judith Flynn's patience is tested when Dagmar Chatsworth, a gossip columnist, takes up temporary residence at Hillside Manor. Her condescending attitude is bad enough, but her dog Rover destroys some property at the B & B and her nephew Freddie is a bore and a horrible flirt. Thinking she can leave her worries behind her, Judith accompanies her cousin Renie to a ski resort. Unfortunately Dagmar and her traveling companions also show up there! When one of them is murdered, Judith takes it upon herself to find the culprit. There is some speculation as to whether Dagmar was the intended victim, but Judith doesn't believe it. She persists in her investigation and comes to some false conclusions, but eventually finds the murderer. This is another entertaining and enjoyable "cozy" from Mary Daheim.

I have to be honest this book is horrible! I did somehow manage to finish it though. There are constantly new characters being introduced and they serve no real function to the story. The ending is horrible too!There is noway you could possibly solve this yourself because she introduces new evidence on the last few pages. Nothing really motivated me to turn the page and keep going. Takes forever to finish because it is so stupid! Don't waste your time or money unless you want to use it for a bonfire!

My brother told me that I could mow the lawn and have a more exciting adventure than this book. A mystery book is supposed to have some element of supense, this book lacked so much that when he had 6 pages left he was able to put the book off one day....what kind of book can't hook you when you have 6 pages left??????? Stephen Hunter - Dirty White Boys - now that's a book that will hook you

Judith Flynn, proprietor of Hillside Manor Bed and Breakfast thinks that it's business as usual as her guests arrive for the weekend. It seems like a typical group with a single man, a newly-married couple, a mother and son, a pair of nursery school teachers, and a surly couple from Chicago. However, there is soon a dead body at the B & B and it becomes apparent that no one is who he says he is. As usual Judith claims to have instinctive powers of observation and deduction, but this case has even Judith stumped. A complicated web of interrelationships is eventually revealed, but this just makes it more difficult to solve the crime. Another feature of this addition to the series is the appearance of Judith's first grandson, Mike and Kristen's baby. Even this event is not an undiluted joy when Judith finds out the baby's name. If you're a "cozy" fan, you'll probably enjoy this one.