A murder mystery set in turn-of-the-20th-century San Francisco, in which a twenty-something Jack London, on the cusp of a great writing career, plays detective sounds like a sure-fire winning recipe for a novel.

Unfortunately, such proves not to be the case here. The story involves a series of murders of a number of saloon girls, but the murders are relatively bloodless. There aren't even any "rippings" for Jack to investigate.

Considering the victims and the time in which the novel is set, it makes sense that London's investigation would cause him to visit or consider a number of melodeons, dance halls, concert halls, beer dens, deadfalls, and even one brothel on the infamous Barbary Coast.

But really, all of the cheap sex - whether it's consummated or just hinted at - gets pretty dull, after a while. I mean, if a novel were set in contemporary San Francisco, wouldn't it soon get rather boring if every other scene was set in a gay bathhouse?

Actually, while I would never read it, I have a feeling that such a novel has already been written and that it really is that tedious after the shock value wears off. One would shake his head and say, "There must be more to contemporary San Francisco than places like this."

Well, by the same token, there must be more to pre-earthquake San Francisco, even on the Barbary Coast, than the illicit non-thrills that the author, Peter King, shows us.

To be fair, there is one rollicking good chase-and-fight scene that takes place in the subterranean city underneath Chinatown, as well as a decent bare-knuckles boxing exhibition with former heavyweight champ John L. Lewis (ouch!). But the surfeit of dance hall girls in revealing outfits dooms this novel.

The civilized personality of Jack London, as he is portrayed in this novel, is also disappointing.

As King notes, at this stage of his life, London has done time in the Erie State penitentiary where he fought empty-handed against a prisoner with a broken table leg. He has taken on five armed assailants at once, while with the California Fish Patrol. He has risked the forbidding white hell that was the Chilcoot Pass in Alaska's Klondyke.

His personality should have a rawness that reflects this and other experiences. Moreover, since London's socialism is alluded to as a motivation for his desire to bring justice to the downtrodden girls who died, he should have the passion of the reformer, but that's also missing.

It really does seem as though the author plays it too safe with his lead character. Of course, an angry socialist detective likely would have antagonized a number of readers, but it might have made the novel more interesting if the detective was someone that the reader had mixed feelings about.

Besides, King could have juxtaposed London's socialism with his quest for gold in the Klondyke. If London HAD stuck it rich in Alaska, after the hardship that he underwent and after his several brushes with death, no doubt he would have remained true to his socialist beliefs and dutifully donated his gold into some workers' collective.

The other famous personalities that Jack runs into who were known to have lived in or visited San Francisco or Northern California at this time, such as Rudyard Kipling, Ambrose Bierce, Oscar Wilde and Oscar Hammerstein don't save this novel, and neither does the climax at Half Moon Bay.

But the novel isn't a total loss, and I understand that there are already one or more sequels out there, and since both the setting and the principal character have promise, I intend to read the next one in the series.

San Francisco, tell me you're the heart of all the golden west in Peter King's next Jack London novel. Instead of its genitalia.

Peter King has written an excellent tale about Jack London and turn of the century San Francisco. The story is fast paced and exciting with enough mystery and intrique to make you want to read the whole thing in one night. I would highly recommend it to all mystery lovers.

Jack London visits the back stage of San Francisco's Midway Plaisance where his girlfriend Little Egypt teaches dance to the other ladies. However, their interlude ends when the corpse of Jenny Morris is found in a nearby room. SFPD Captain O'Donnell leads the investigation, which is a major surprise to Jack as Barbary Coast dancers are not worth more than a sergeant heading any police inquiries. Jack learns a second girl also was killed with the same MO at another establishment.

Not long afterward San Francisco Mayor Nelson sneaks into Oakland where Jack lives to hire the writer to conduct an investigation into the murders. Nelson explains that the city is bringing in some quality talents who upon learning about the homicides lean towards canceling the engagements. Knowing cancellations are bad for his reelection efforts, Nelson believes Jack with his contacts throughout the Barbary Coast can uncover the identity of the killer. Needing the money Jack accepts the job, but soon finds himself in danger as the killings involve a lot more than just a lunatic killer.

THE JEWEL OF THE NORTH is an excellent historical mystery that brings to life the unsavory side of the 1890s in San Francisco. The star Jack London (before his famous novels) is perfect for the role of sleuth because of the great author's lifestyle, which is cleverly intertwined into the plot. The cast from the dancers to the Mayor adds depth to the colorful story line. Peter King has provided sub-genre fans with a gourmet delight starring a writing great who seems more at home as a sleuth than several other famous authors converted into fictional detectives.

Harriet Klausner

Nothing can really prepare you for the first visit to Saudi Arabia. No wonder ex-pats refer to it as "The Magic Kingdom"! We read all the usual guides, ranging from the commercially available ones to the highly enthusiastic Saudi government ones... We tried to learn a few phrases in advance and - as fairly experienced ex-pats, were looking forward to another new phase in our life. However, Saudi is so different that we might as well have saved ourselves all the bother! Jewel Dhuru's book definitely sums up the "Saudi experience" that we, and most of the other ex-pats we met, came eventually to enjoy. I would recommend it not only as a good read "per se" but also as a frank and revealing insight into the pangs and pleasures in store for those heading to the "Magic Kingdom".

As a woman who also lived in Saudi Arabia I could easily relate to her adventures and various encounters with the people of this mysterious country. An enjoyable and informative read. For a different perspective I would also recommend "Single in Saudi" by Genia, a single woman's story of life in Saudi.

Okay, I have to admit that I went to high school with David Long, so I may be a bit biased. However, as a dedicated fiction reader who ventures into history, I must say that I learned a lot about not only the election, but Lincoln himself. David is an unadulterated Lincoln fan, and the book is written from a mid-western point of view, which I found refreshing, since we normally hear the Southern or the Yankee version of the war. The basic premise that Lincoln showed incredible courage in even holding the election in a time of crisis was most interesting, but the sections on the racial diatribes of Lincoln's opponents after the Emancipation Proclamation are fascinating. Well worth the read for even the modest history buff. This book is almost too well documented which is hardly a sin, and he rarely veers into personal opinion and speculation, and certainly never wildly. Definitely worth the time.

Those readers who hate unsupported assertions and enjoy copious citations--and I am one--will love this work.

I have always been interested in ancient Egypt but this book focused on the jewelry, which I had only read about in general terms.

In the section about the recovery of ancient Egyptian jewelry, the author talked about how discoveries are more often made by accident than by a deliberate, planned search. Many treasures have been dispersed all over the world because of being found by private persons.

Materials were selected for their color rather than for their "refractive powers, brilliance, or rarity."

Next the author discussed the uses of jewelry in ancient Egypt. Jewelry was used for personal adornment of men as much as for women, and used in burials, for the shrines of the gods, and as temple furnishings. The most common use of jewelry was as amulets - to protect the wearers from harm.

The materials used by craftsmen to make jewelry in ancient Egypt were shells, horns, tusks, claws, stones, and gold. Some of the most popular stones were carnellian, lapis lazuli, and turquoise (very different from the veiny turquoise we see here in the U.S).

A very informative book.

Of all the books about ancient Egyptian jewelry,I found this to be the most helpful to my cause: studying the designs ancient Egyptian used and modifying them for my artwork. There are many color plates which help to illuminate the text decriptions. After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. His prose is straightforward and easy to read for even a layman, such as I. I really enjoyed this book.

So far the book has been helpful. The graphics are not very detailed but the overall ideas are depicted. The book is not a hardback. It just has a regular paperback cover. ...

It is a definite place to start for the beginner.

I would recommend this book if you are thinking of starting a salt water tank. It has information to help you select what size tank, fish types, filters, you might be interested in. You will all so find helpful hints if you fish get sick.

Good read!

Miranda Slate should have been giddy with excitement. After all, tomorrow was her wedding day. Instead, she lay curled up on the floor, in the grips of the most intense pain of her life. Paid caused by a family legacy she didn't know about, until it was too late.

In love with Hadden McNeal, she didn't dare call him to aid her. There was nothing her sweet doctor could do to keep her from turning in a werewolf. Terrified of what she was becoming, of a heritage she had no real understanding of, she did the only thing she could. She stood the love of her life up at the alter.

Hurt, and determined to know the truth behind Miranda's last minute rejection, Hadden pushed and pushed until he found out her secret. A believer in science and medicine, Hadden finds his logical world turned upside down.

Jewel Dartt weaves an interesting tale of love conquering all. In the end, werewolf or not, Hadden loves Miranda, and is determined to stand by her.

While the reader comes into the story after the hero and heroine's courtship, the intensity of their love hasn't diminished. Each trial they face and survive only brings them closer, and strengthens their love.

With good winning out over evil and love conquering all, MOONLIGHT LEGACY is a tale for romantics and lovers of paranormal romances alike.

I personally enjoyed MOONLIGHT LEGACY and have plans to read Jewel Dartt's other paranormal from Amber Quill, a vampire novel called EMENY MINE.

© Michelle Houston, 2003

In Silver Valley, North Carolina, Hadden McNeal waits at the altar, but his bride to be Miranda Slate fails to show up. Instead her grandmother Elizabeth arrives with a note saying she changed her mind because she does not love him. Hadden confronts Miranda, who canceled the marriage when that very day she changed into a werewolf. Though a half-breed, she cannot halt the metastasis into a wolf when the moon rises. Skeptical Hadden accepts the truth declaring he will help Miranda though he does not know how.

Purebred loup garou Drake Guignard has come for Miranda to complete the vow her mother broke years ago. While he looks forward to her becoming his bride and savior of the divided pack, his wanton killing of humans horrifies her. Still she craves fresh meat and mankind is choice cuts. Miranda rejects Drake and turns to Hadden for help. They visit a mountain witch while Drake begins a reign of terror to force her to acquiesce.

MOONLIGHT LEGACY is a delightful werewolf romance that fans will enjoy because Jewel Dartt insures the transformation of Miranda and the full-blooded Drake seem like real species. The story line is a take on good vs. evil with the twist that Drake's belief in werewolf superior to Homo sapiens turns humanity into a giant stockyard for him and his kind. Though his best friend is to conveniently an expert on the supernatural, Hadden is a wonderful hero willing to risk his life for his beloved. Ms. Dartt provides a strong paranormal tale that will keep North Carolina residents indoors when the bad moon arises.

Harriet Klausner

What I like about The Boxcar Children series is: 1)the kids arenot some angels,they are normal kids who have conflicts anddisagreements 2)these kids are kind,caring,helpful,and they spend time together (despite their age differences) and stand up for each other - and most important - they enjoy it! 3)the stories are usually interesting,often with unexpected endings 4) the stories are not violent,which is too often the case with books for any age . That said,I didn't like this particular book very much,since the story is not as exciting and the mystery feels like it's happening almost by the way.The ending also felt a little flat and boring.So while I highly recommend most of the other books in the series,I do not recommend this one too much.

I like my book The Mystery Of The Queen's Jewels by Gertrude Chandler Warner because it is a mystery. A mystery book is more exciting and you ever know what happens next. Also the endings will always surprise you. In this book they are in London and someone is following them. There are four children in the book who solves the mysterious and at least one person who is sneaky and makes the story instering. The children work together as a team and they never exclude each other. I think it is very interisting how the boxcar children don't fight because usually brothers and sisters fight.This book is very instring because it makes you feel like you're in the book so you will want to read more. This book will encourage young children to like reading. I would encourage young readers to read this series.

Yes, I know I just gave this book 3 stars, but despite the rating, I like this book and I enjoyed reading it. It's not a personal book, though, so don't expect a biography or memoir.

This book is set up in a "did you know?" fashion. Let me explain. This book is 90% a compilation of quotes and commentary from the people who know Jewel personally. The other 10% comprises of responses from Jewel to various questions (i.e., "What were your worst performance experiences?") This is why I say it's more of a "Did you know?" foundation under this book. It's full of insights and facts we never knew about her. This is a book about what the people who surround Jewel think and know of her.

You really have to have an interest in not just Jewel's music, but Jewel herself to appreciate this book. That's why I rated this item 4 stars instead of 5 because of its limited appeal. I am a long-time Jewel fan, so I loved this book. It's too bad, though, that non-Jewel fans probably won't be attracted to this book, because it reveals so much about her character that fans have known for a while, but the public is oblivious to. For instance, Moby talks about how she has the most twisted, blackest sense of humor, and how contrary to popular belief, she'd fit in with the kids in South Park perfectly. He also mentions that Jewel's told him the most disgusting jokes he's ever heard and has the mouth of a sailor that "would make Eminem blush." (I have to admit that I was giggling all throughout Moby's commentary.) Another bandmate admits that "[he has] sarcasm coming out of [his] pores, but she's worse." Another roadie comments, "Jewel hawks the biggest loogies."

Plenty of attention is given to the side of Jewel's personality the public is familiar with, though, such as her honesty, integrity, and kindness.

What impressed me the most about this book is how more attention was given to her "boyishness." After reading this, you see that she's definitely NOT the simpering, wilting flower so many people believe her to be. In fact, most her friends are amazed that she hasn't been butchered by the media for her jokes (which can easily come across as offensive by those easily offended by direct sarcasm, and many, many people are).

I'm not going to say non-fans are going to be interested in this book, because that really depends on how they feel about Jewel. If you're a fan or just someone wanting to understand the woman who is Jewel better, then this is the book for you.

I think, also, that this book is a wonderful addition to anybody interesting in learning about a very modern and complex woman. Jewel is sexy, smart, kind, and possesses a very sharp wit. She's a paradox in that she's an honest individual who is uncomplicated, yet very complex at the same time. She's feminine yet is definitely "one of the boys" and can stand her own with men. She's definitely kind, yet she's probably the most sarcastic person I've ever read of. On top of that, she's optomistic yet her humor can be very dry. This book covers all of these facets and has been an absolutely delightful read for me.

This book gives a very fresh and surprising view of who Jewel really is and the many fascinating aspects of a very complicated yet simple person. By that, I mean she has many complicated ways about her but she needs the basic things to make her happy in life (This book will explain what I mean by that and more!) The book has little trivia tidbits,interviews with people who know jewel, and many new pictures. Did you know that Jewel has a dark and twisted sense of humor or that she was friends with Moby? Find out this and lots more in this excellent, in depth book! A+ Plus don't forget to check out Jewel's newest album 0304! It's great!

Large paperback, 143 pps, over 140 illustrations
A lovely book giving a terrific overview of stained glass, with an emphasis on modern and contemporary works.

This is a beautiful and comprehensive book on the art of stained glass from its origin through today. Both the religious masterpieces of the world and modern art glass are covered in detail.

The roots of stained glass are traced to the discovery of glass itself and the early ways of coloring it and methods of forming it, with stained glass as we know it appearing around the eleventh century.

The development of stained glass into a brilliant and dramatic art form is illustrated with magnificent examples from Saint Chapelle, Chartres, Canterbury and Cologne among others.

Much of the book, however, deals with the technical innovation and artistic variety of 20th century art glass. Many stunning examples by Tiffany, Wright, Chagall and others are presented.

This story flows along nicely with rhyming text. On each page, the child is prompted to find something that one of the ballerinas is missing. Help find all 10 so that the recital can go on! Bonus: Jewel stickers will be especially loved by budding ballerinas.

This is a great book to reinforce some math and logic skills. Mostly it's fun for girly girls. The stickers are the shiny jewel kind and are not reusable. The ballerinas are cute. We buy sticker books for every car and plane trip we take and they make the trips so much more bearable.