A bleak and forbidding tale about a physically disfigured man living in South Africa during a (fictional) civil war. Michael K is an outcast, yet there are some ways in which Coetzee portrays him as a Christ figure.The absence of a human father figure, the sketchy childhood prior to the events of the novel by which time he is 30, the period in the wilderness, his return signalling the drawing of (admittedly only one) disciple to him. Ultimately K is an outsider who wants to be left alone. However, society's paranoia makes it impossible for that to happen and he is condemned to live in circumstances that would kill anyone else. A sad and challenging book, worthy of the accolades accorded it.

Each sentence uttered by Michael K, the anti-hero of this book, is the voice of sanity, understanding, compassion and truth in a book full of voices of hate and confusion. Of course it's Michael K who is alledged to be the idiot, the simpleton. He's the only one who has chosen to listen to the voice inside each of us that says, "This is poison, avoid it, this is paradise, experience it now and stay here". I was reminded life isn't so very confusing when it's pared down to simplicity. I don't ever want to be the person with a weapon in my hand telling someone I'm just following orders or I'm just doing my job. Thank you, Mr. Coetzee for writing books for us to read.

Michael K is by most people's reckoning a subnormally endowed specimen of a human being - physically and mentally handicapped, he appears to be no more than one of life's cruel failures. It is only his indomitable spirit and courage which has helped him endure constant hardship and ultimately transcend human suffering brought upon by South Africa's apartheid regime. At one level, the story seems to be about the victory of spiritual and morale courage over man's cruelty. Just as Michael's natural otherworldliness served as a protective cloak against life's slings and arrows, Coetzee seems to be telling us to take heart and emulate Michael - if such a sorry human specimen can prevail against all odds, so can we. At another level, the story seems to me to be about the independence or autonomy of the human spirit from the realities of social and political life. Through the eyes of soldiers and other conscious members of society, we see a crumbling social order and chaos everywhere. Everything touched by them is, as it were, defiled and rendered foul. Only in Michael's makebelieve world does he still find his private space and food still fit for human consumption. Coetzee's slim novel makes for compelling reading. His message is simple but powerful and uplifting.

Sure, this book shows the so-called "occult" focus behind the Nazo party, but what it doesn't do is explain that this focus has NOTHING at all to do with the ancient ways of Europe. The runes, an alphabet script employed all over Europe in pagan times were used by Wiligut and co. to link the totally Middle Eastern nonsense of Kabballa, Hermeticism, etc. with European paganism, which, in fact, had nothing in common with the Jewish Kabballa at at all.
If you're interested in authentic European paganism and its focus, read "The Well and the Tree", which is available right here at amazon.com but if you merely want information on the pathos that some within the Nazi party attempted to develop into an occult/philosophical system, then this book will do.
Its amazing that for a political party containing people who had strong negative feeling against the Jews, the occult current they chose to focus on and subvert old and authentic European pagan symbols and powers with, was Jewish! Of course, this may explain why the Rothschilds, Warburgs, Schiffs, and other Jewish banking families were never harmed by the Nazis whether they were living in German throughout the war, or whether they were in occupied France. There's more to the Nazi's, the Jews, and the second world war than meets the eye!

Well, the introduction gives a decent introduction to Wiligut's basic ideas, but I would have liked more background in Wiligut's involvement with the Nazi party and Himmler. There are vauge references to Wiligut being rejected by the Ahnenrbe as "too fanciful", but more treatment would have been a real bonus. An introduction to rune-ology, and its historical placement & impact on Germanic/Nazi thought would have helped place Wiligut in a broader historical perspective.

Wiligut's writings, which make up the bulk of the book are for the die-hard fan only. You will need a serious grounding in contemporary germanic metaphysical thought to get much out of it.

Layout & printing of the book present well (and it gets an extra star for it)

The Secet Kings is a good translation of a very weird book by a very weird man.
First, any one into the occult, Nazism, history, runes, or Asatru should buy this book, for no other reason than this is the only book I know of that has Wiligut's Nazi occult writtings.
As far as German occultists go, Wiligut is only important because he was a friend of the head of the S.S.
Most German Wotanists, both racialists and non-racialists, thought of him as nuts.
There is a thin line between a nut and a prophet.
Some people say there is no line.
In fact, he was kicked out of the S.S. for being insane.
The Great Aryan Pagan Walter Darre thought Wiligut a crackpot; to understand the New Paganism, read Darre.
Guido Von List, who was Folkish, but not an Aryan racist by our standards, is far more important to Neo-Pagan thought, while Wiligut, who was more of a common nut than a true Aryan racist, is more important as a shadowy figure in Nazi history.
This is an interesting book, but it should not be taken too serious in the world of today's Euro-centric Paganism.
Darre is the best Pagan out of the National Socialist age.

This book was about a young boy named Edmund. His master was a counterfiter and had to take his masters punishment. He then joined with a crusade to help his master. He then joined the crusade and fought King Richards and his army. Finally the crusaders beat King Richard and won the victory.
They should of had a little more action in the authors story. The book I read was average. Also, it was still good to read because it was interting.

This book is about an apprentice named Edmund. His master, Otto of Clifton was a moneymaker. One night a few men barged in the house. The Exchequer's men came in the house. They seized Otto and severed his hand. Then Edmund ran and tried to evade the men, but they caught him too with their horses. They were about to cut his hand off too, but the sheriff came in and put him in chains. The sheriff noticed that he was very strong and looked fit for battle. There was a knight named Sir Nigel who needed a squire for he had lost one. He was going to choose from another youth named Hubert who could fight with a battle-axe and with a two-handed sword. Sir Nigel decided them to fight and choose the winner. They both became squires for Sir Nigel. Edmund became a hammer man. They trained under Sir Nigel for the crusade they were going to go on. Finally the crusade started. The crusaders started a siege on the city of Acre. After a while, they took it over. They had many prisoners. King Richard ordered for them to all be executed. This was the third crusade. Many people died. There was more, but you will have to read it to find out.

This book was very realistic. Although I like fiction, I enjoyed this historical fiction. The story was mixed with the occurrence of the Third Crusade and an apprentice of a moneymaker becoming a squire.

My favorite part was the siege of Acre. It was very descriptive and well written.

The Book of the Lion is a pretty good book, which tells of a young boy named Edmund. The book was good but it could have been better. The story is about Edmund going off with Sir Nigel to fight in the crusades, after he is arrested and Sir Nigel sets him free. You see, Sir Nigel is in need of a squire and Edmund immediatly agrees to join up with him, so that he can save his own skin. So after some begining adventures, which you'll find out about when you read the book, the two set off with the help of Sir Rannulf, another knight and a friend of Sir Nigel's, and Hubert, Sir nigel's other squire, as well as a whole batch of other characters that I again won't mention. The journy consists of them going to Italy and then sailing of to the Holy Lands. The next part of the story describes the battles of the Crusades, although the battles could have been a bit more exiting, and the whole book could have been a bit longer. I felt like the book centered to much on the time in between battles, and exiting parts, over just describing a lot while having something exiting happen. Although the book kept my intrest, I couldn't really get into it. If you like quick books, that are pretty exiting, not to bloody, and that have a dramatic side to them, than this book is for you.

Claimed to be the best of all Greek tragedies, OEDIPUS REX (or OEDIPUS THE KING..."REX" means "KING") by Sophocles is that classic story of the man who was doomed to kill his own father and marry his own mother. Everyone seems to know the basic plot of the story, but how much do you REALLY know?

This new translation of OEDIPUS THE KING by Berg and Clay proves to be successful...everything is understandable and rather enjoyable to read too. It's hard to believe that you're actually reading a play.

I suggest that you DO NOT read the original version of the play by Sophocles first...you might be discouraged by the difficulty of the language he uses. Instead, start with Berg and Clay's translation...it's so much easier to read, and more importantly, enjoy.

I felt that the action and plot was well-woven out, and the story tied together nicely; however, there was one flaw. The ending was too abrupt. Of course, I'm not going to spoil the ending for you now (you'll have to read it yourself) but I WILL tell you that if you're one of those people who hate endings that just leave you hanging, you might not like OEDIPUS THE KING.

I had to read OEDIPUS THE KING as an Honors English assignment (and usually what kind of books we have to read for school are good?). Nevertheless, I found the play interesting, but because of the so-abrupt ending with questions still dangling on the end, I give the book 3 stars. (By the way, in no other Greek tragedy are so many questions asked, so be prepared to have your mind boggled by this book!...Have a spiffy day! -Nick Chu

"Oedipus the King" or Oedipus Rex is the world's first great tragedy. Almost everyone knows the tale of the man who murdered his father and married his own mother. The only question is, which translation do you read? Bernard Knox makes an excellent case for his prose translation of Sophocles classic. This is a version designed for the a filmed version meant for the classroom; as such, it is remarkably smooth and easy to read. There is little poetry left in it; if that is what you seek, look elsewhere. This edition comes with a nice set of introductory essays on the background of the play, the theater, and Sophocles. All in all, a nice little edition.

The only budget series of audio books and recorded drama comes from Naxos. One of their more recent entries is a very modern version of Sophocles' in a translation by Duncan Steen. In fact, some might find it a little too modern with its use of idiomatic expressions such as "You can't pin that on me"--which might be taken as an ironic reference to the final horrible deed of the hero. But when the messenger the agonized Oedipus as calling himself a "mother f..." (although he stops at the "f") the effect is far too "modern" for comfort. You see, given a sound recording, we can only assume that the action is taking place in the nearly prehistoric past. I do not know the tone of Sophocles' Greek; but I do read that it is elegant and decorous. Therefore, I can only assume that this translator is doing his source a great injustice.

On the other hand, the dialogue MOVES. There is an excitement to this performance, although the Creon of Adam Kotz lacks some force. Michael Sheen is good in the title role, as is Nichola McAuliffe as Jocasta, Heathcote Williams as the Chorus Leader, and John Moffatt as Tiresias and the Narrator at the start of the recording. The Chorus itself is cut down to four voices, but they are handled nicely with stereo separation and are quite comprehensible. The music is meager but effectively used.

All in all, a very good if not perfect attempt at making one of the greatest Western plays accessible to a wide audience.

Bolitho has two shocks on a voyage in the Tempest to a trading outpost in SE Asia and faces the bleakest prospect yet when he arrives, up against an angry pirate king with two frigates to his one. Bolitho has never been so close to utter defeat as here. In this plot Kent awards Bolitho a bit more luck than logic. It seems odd no one ever gets a tropical fever.

I like how Kent fills his stories not only with naval actions but little mysteries, or here "peacetime" intrigues and ambitions in the Far East. Kent has the ability to rapidly shift the reader's perspective from one character's thoughts to another's in a smooth and always clear manner. Most other naval authors focus on their hero alone, and everyone else is seen from outside.

I had two problems with this novel. I had trouble visualizing the ship maneuvres relative to land. Action proceeds and suddenly there's land or a channel where I didn't expect it, or on the opposite side from where I imagined it. Most disconcerting. It's possible I need to keep much more exact track of passing mentions of wind direction, tack, and course because Kent offers few other clues and does not describe them in laymen's (landsmen's) terms. It is vital to know, for instance, that starboard tack means sailing to the LEFT (with the WIND from the right), or "helm a lee" means turning into the wind. And of course there are no maps, there never are in Kent's stories. The one in Dean King's "A Sea of Words" (an O'Brian companion) is not quite right. Masts and lamps are frequently described as "spiralling" when surely "circling" to the motion of the ship is meant? Most seriously, for a subject that produces so much of the motivation in this story (and the next two), Kent never made me like Bolitho's great love, Viola. She starts out as just another arrogant aristo who makes eyes at our Richard, and it seems stupid he falls for her. Maybe that's part of the loneliness of command.

Alexander Kent's novels are typically filled with action. Chronologically earlier entries in the series like In Gallant Company, Sloop of War, Stand Into Danger and To Glory We Steer were all action-packed page turners. In Command a King's Ship Kent attempts to do the same but I didn't find the results as satisfactory. It's a good read and a must for series aficionados but it's not one of his best.

In this entry with key survivors from To Glory We Steer, Captain Richard Bolitho is off to the East Indies where piracy is alive and pirates can set up private empires. Europe is now at peace and Bolitho must cooperate with his former Spanish adversaries. However, things go awry well before they leave the Atlantic Ocean. At their destination, Bolitho faces two formidable adversaries. He also has to face his nemesis within the British administration. There are nefarious schemes to be unraveled and fierce battles to be fought. All the elements are in place for a superb action story.

Bolitho also falls for the wife of an administrator adding romance to the story. Perhaps this element is a little too formulaic. Needless to say the husband is a cad. Perhaps it would be more interesting if her husband had been a decent man and the tension created by them both not wanting to hurt him would have been greater. As it stands, the fact that a woman is married to a nasty man is long-standing literary justification to conduct an adulterous affair.

The novel progresses with Bolitho torn over his professional duties and his personal desires. The romance is fluff and the battle scenes are fairly good. One problem that I have with Kent's novels and this one in particular, is that Kent doesn't set the reference for the battles. If Bolitho is approaching an island, it's not clear from which direction. Does the port face north, south, east or west? Is the land on the starboard or larboard side? Which way is the wind blowing? The reader rarely gets enough information to clearly understand what's going on?

It's a good story but not one of his best.

Years ago, when I served as a Chaplain for the 3rd Armored Division (Spearhead) in Frankfurt Germany, Dan, my Chaplain Assistant encouraged me to read the naval fiction of Alexander Kent. I had no interest in the British Navy, but Dan's enthusiasm, along with previous recommendations which had been on the mark, encouraged me to give Kent's books a try.

I began to read about the remarkable life of Richard Bolitho, whose life spanned from 1756 to 1815. In the course of 22 books we see Bolitho from his days as a lowly Midshipman (at the age of twelve) to his death as a knighted Rear Admiral during battle. Kent has even continued past Bolitho's death with a novel focused his nephew Adam, captain of a frigate, who appears throughout the saga.

I've since read C.S. Forester's books on Hornblower and have tried O'Brien's, but the lesser-known Kent outshines all in his fiction. He brings the hardships of the period to life, drawing the reader into the harsh world of the seaman, telling compelling, epic tales of courage.

Throughout Kent's books one finds impressive lessons regarding leadership and commitment to country and one's shipmates. Along with the sea battles, we learn of the press gangs, the in-fighting politics of the Admiralty, ethical dilemmas, the uneasy alliances among nations, and especially the human reaction to an irresistible yet severe life. Bolitho earns the respect and devotion of his sailors and officers through his bravery, fairness, tactical brilliance, and because he chooses to become personally involved in their lives and takes care of his men. Bolitho is not a remote, aloof or harsh leader. He is stern, yet compassionate. He is charming and complicated. On every ship he immediately learns the names and backgrounds of his men, and they find out quickly that he is committed to them. He is also flawed; Kent does not make him out to be a cardboard hero.

The many battle scenes are magnificent and horrible in their depiction of the tactics and awful bloodshed in close engagements. Heated shot, fire ships, risky maneuvering and grappling the sides of enemy ships for hand-to-hand combat mark this kind of war and determine the victor. Sometimes mutinous seaman, brutal weather, or cruel leaders become the enemy as well. Kent has exhaustively, in epic fashion, crafted the minute details of life at sea. In the process he tells compelling stories of the courage and cowardice. The brotherhood of seaman, "we happy few", as they quote the Bard, fight with and for each other. Kent even manages to get on land occasionally, and brings in some romance. But the bulk of the action involves the unique struggles of those in the warships.

In the course of his writing, Kent allows us to also see the American Revolution from a British perspective. Bolitho's brother deserts to the colonists' cause, which brings grief and disgrace to Sir Richard. Kent treats the Revolution as unfortunate and inevitable.

I want to pass on the favor Dan gave me by encouraging you to explore the unique world Alexander Kent has so meticulously and masterfully detailed. You will care about the people in these books, and in each you will find parables of leadership.

This review book is not up to date, specifically the questions are in a format nowhere near USMLE's exam. Memorize the newest edition of First Aid.

I have just passed Step 1 and I do believe that this book helped me to get a good score. Despite the fact that the questions in this book do not mimic the exam's questions they highlight many details, which may be missed even in good review books. If you use only one book to study one subject, you will definitely miss some important facts. To cover those facts I did the following. First, I studied the subject using the main review book and answered questions in it. Than I answered questions in this book and always found missed important details, which were not mentioned in my main textbooks but were covered here. In other words, I would advise to read this book before the exam.

This book has a lot of important information that anyone taking the USLME should know. It has pretty good questions and answers and I like how the book explains the various USMLE topics. It's much easier reading through this book then some long textbooks. However, I also used the following which is also available on amazon.com:
Microbiology Study Guide: Key Review Questions and Answers by Patrick Leonardi
This questions were on target with the type of questions asked on the microbiology section of the boards. Get both books.

I must say, I am astonished that this book has recieved the positive reviews that it has. I bought this book with the intent of gaining knowledge in the area of designing with grasses. I read it from start to finish and found that the entire text consisted of rambling, repetative, generalizations that were devoid of any substantial content. I was completely shocked that the authors would dare publish such wishy-washy material.

In addition, many of the photos are out of focus and the corresponding descriptions are often incomplete. The descriptions of specific grasses are very brief and many very popular grasses are not included at all.

I have never been more disappointed with a book purchase of any kind on any topic.

I'm writing this review to balance out all of the 'great' reviews this book has received. The book is okay, but it is not a great reference book. It has several faults:

First, the book is suppose to be about grasses, yet 25% of the text discusses garden flowers.

Second, many of the photos are cluttered or blurred. There were few species specific photos that displayed a single clear crisp grass variety.

Third, the book rambles and takes the long way to discribe a simple observation. Some readers will enjoy this style, but it's not for me. I want something that gets to the point.

Fourth, the species reference (called 'Selected Plant Catalogue'), is sparse and dated. For example, Calamagrostis x acutiflora 'Overdam' is covered in just three words, 'outstanding variegated form'. Gee ... somehow I was expecting more information. There is not one photo of Overdam in the entire book. Likewise, there is no photo of Festuca glauca 'Elijah Blue'. These are two very popular grasses to have been leftout.

On the positive side, there are some neat winter photographs of grasses, and the book contains some useful information (but it is difficult to find it when you need it).

This is the kind of book that you're suppose to sit and read from cover to cover. A pleasure reading book. Not what I do with garden books, I read them rather like an encyclopedia - and this is not a good choice for a reference book.

We are a Landscape Design/Build firm specilizing in using ornamental grasses in our design concepts. We have found this book to be an excellent sales tool to show clients how the mature grasses will look in their L/S design. The text is extremely informative and gives a good basic knowledge of grasses to the novice. The photos are stunning.

Readers hoping for a good read about Lawrence will be sadly disappointed.

This is an interesting story badly told. Mr Asher keeps interrupting his narrative by persistent psychoanalysis of Lawrence as well as stories of his own exploits in the footsteps of his subject. Such comments rightfully belong in the footnotes and appendixes. Putting them in the main body makes this a cumbersome work.

The book should be more aptly titled Psychoanalysing Lawrence. Then at least the reader will know what he is in for. For those who just want a good read of Lawrence of Arabia, warts and all, this is not the book.

This book fails in many ways. The reason it gets 2 stars instead of one is that it's hard to discuss Lawrence without some fascinating things coming through.

First, Asher makes himelf part of the biography. He discusses his own personal travels in a manner that add absolutely nothing to the reader's understanding. The final paragraph of the book begins with "I." Further, the frequency and manner in which he interjects himself in the book is highly annoying.

Second, there are numerous factual problems with the book. At one point Asher refers to Turks shooting their rifles at Bedu who are over two miles away. Even a trained sniper with modern equipment wouldn't take that shot. Further, his description of Lt. Junor's plane crash is at odds with other accounts. Asher says the plane erupted in flames even though there are published photos of the crashed plane that show otherwise. Lastly on this point, Asher doesn't use Tunbridge's writings on Lawrence's days in the RAF as reference material. It's a surprising omission.

Third, as other reviewers noted, Asher writes extensively about Lawrence's psyche. This would be sensible if Asher was either trained in psychology or referenced studies by those who are; unfortunately, neither is the case. Instead there are a few bibliographical references to works on psychology, but none specific to Lawrence. Asher's vehement discussion of Lawrence's mother makes the reader wonder whether the author or the subject had the greater maternal relationship issues.

Fourth, is Asher's style, or more accurately, styles. At times he uses the contemporary jargon of British soldiers, whereas at other points he writes in a very stilted manner adding unnecessary Latin phrases to the text. His best writing is when he's providing background or contextual material such as the discussion of British military actions elsewhere in WWI.

Lawrence was one of the most fascinating personalities of the 20th century. He deserves a much better biography.

It was with the greatest fortune that I happened across this biography a couple of years ago,and immediately I was struck by the galloping pace and relentless ability Asher displays in making you turn each page.Two years later I find myself re-reading passage upon passage of this wonderful literary work with just as much enthusiasm as was spent the first time around.
Out with the old and in with the new.This assessment of the enigmatic Lawrence steers joyfully clear of the deeply mundane school years that most other biographers choose to dwell upon.
Instead,at last we have a biographer that is willing to put Lawrence to the test and travel in the footsteps of the little man.An experienced camel trecker and linguist himself,Asher portrays the whole Arabian experience and sustains our interest with fantastic descriptions of landscape and personal thought as to what Lawrence was thinking at the time.However,Asher is aware of the complex character of Lawrence and acknowledges the limits one is faced with when dealing with motive.
Ashers reluctance to be drawn into the shallow debate of Lawrences sexuality in a present climate where the obsession of scrutinising potential homosexual desire in the disguise of political corrctness is overwhelming,is both refreshing and worthwhile.He has managed to put to one side obvious adoration and produced a constructive view of personality and genius.On a respectful level this book is clearly too honest to be even sentimental-even though he often discovers that all is not black and white in the world of Lawrence.
In this single work Asher offers us a vast depth from an angle that all previous biographers have failed to acknowledge and attempt.One is struck by the sense that this book is reluctant to enhance the myth of Lawrence.This is the only point on which Asher fails.His conclusions concerning the exploits of Lawrence could have no other outcome.
"All men dream: but not equally.Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men,for they may act their dream with open eyes,to make it possible.This I did."
Can this biography of Lawrence be bettered?Keep on dreaming!
Paul Barnes.

i totally agree with kimberly meredith! This book was clearly written from a one-sided p.o.v, with ms campbell portraying a one-sided argument, defending mj.

J Randy Taraborelli's book is much better, giving readers a more 3-D insight into the life of mj.

I've read most books about Michael Jackson. Like many people, he absolutely fascinates me. This book was one of the best I've read about him. The author seems to be pleading for sympathy about the allegations against him for being a child molestor. She has written two books about him and I think if she continues, her next book will be even better. I think we all want details about this mysterious icon. It was a very good book.

On the contrary to not so popular but very exploited tabloid coverage of the whole "Michael Jackson Scandel", Lisa Campbell comes out with the facts of the case in and out of itself and things that people do need to realize about the whole situation as a whole. Michael's intense love for the children of the world because of his own inner personality of being a child-at-heart became a fault to everyone else through this extortion attempt.

Ms. Campbell presented the facts between the TWO trails that were occuring at the time, not just one, and shows Michaels undeniable innocence all the way. Her unwaning support of Michael is echoed throughout the world with the minds and voices of the fans that really care about Michael.

The story was intriguing and very sad as well. It's appalling to think that such a kind and shy person as Michael Jackson could be subjected to such harmful persecuting, and I have to admit that the story was compelling enough to make one not only feel for Michael, to sympathize, but to also feel his own pain and just begin to imagine what agony he could have felt at the time, and even to this very moment. It made me choke up, and I could not put down this book.

This is a wonderful biography on Michael's "Scandelous" moments, and it totally proves Michael Jackson, again and again, that he has always maintained his innocence, and will always. Magnificant!

This book exerted an energy towards me, not much unlike the paranormal forces Diana felt in the house. The energy was alive with laughter, excitement, apprehension and fear. Every page was filled with shivery anticipation of what deadly secrets Diana would discover next and I found myself unable to put the book down until my fears were appeased a little. I loved every character, especially Andy, whose wit and charm and unnerving loquacity (genetic, right?) made him the perfect hero for this suspense novel. Diana is the kind of woman any sensible young girl wants to grow up to be--- independent, clever and as tough as nails. She finds that deception and betrayal have close ties to love and obligation. Her brother, Brad, teaches her this from the grave and Diana becomes aware of inner strength she never knew she had. It's one of the longest Michaels' books I've ever read and I loved it.

Well, I am not the best mystery reader, but I was kept in suspense until I FINALLY figured it out ie when the author disclosed exactly "who-dun-it." So you can imagine the state of my household while I gasped with horror and terror at every turn of the page---neglectfully letting babies cry and starve and laundry unwashed as I nervously continued on, determined to find out who killed----what if------surely not Miss Emily!! Etc... All in all---very good story. An eccentric couple wins the lottery and purchases and renovates their dream house in Old Virginny. In steps our heroine, a lawyer undercover as a rose expert, there to help the couple replant the old family garden. The couple goes away, three "suspects" move in, a love story in the background, gosh, what else could there be? A little "lecture" on how hard it is to get funding for historic preservation, good one, Ms Michaels, and overall, you have one delicious novel! This is one of her good ones. Read it!

This was the first of Barbara Michael's books that I ever read, and what a way to start! This book is incredible, very intelligent, well researched, and completely entertaining. I have since read all of her books, including those under Elizabeth Peters, and I have yet to be disappointed. If you want a book to make you think, I reccomend snagging this one.