I have spent thirty years hiking the woods of North Carolina, and never found a North Carolina guide of this significance. The writing is stellar, the layout straightforward and clear, and most important, I haven't been lost once since I began to use it. In addition to a wonderful guide to North Carolina preserves, it also underscores the magnificent work of The North Carolina Chapter during its enviable 25 year history in the state. Bravo!!

This is my review on the book of Rebecka, When my mother was younger she used to read this book. She is a very religious lady. She has been searching everywhere for this book and she is very sick. I feel she has thought of herself as a rebecka in some way. And maybe wanted to be like her. Thanks so much... Keep up the great work at Amazon! Dar Vogit

This is the first book I've read by this author, having had him recommended to me by several friends, and I wish I hadn't waited so long. His plotting is complex but understandable (if you pay attention), his characters are very true-to-life, and the action is nicely-paced. In this case, it's a serial killer (sort of), a lady lawyer who becomes his attorney (without at first knowing what he is), a D.A. who tries too hard, and a governor about to be confirmed to the Supreme Court with a secret in his political past. This would probably make a terrific movie, but I don't know what you could cut to get it down to size. I'm definitely going to be reading more of Margolin.

The first question I asked myself is why did I wait so long to read Phillip Margolin. We've had this book in our home library for years, and I've finally gotten around to it! Wow...did I waste some time! This is an outstanding, well-written and terrifying book. Margolin has captured a lot of "personality" within most of the characters in this book: flawed, driven, ambitious, and of course with the killer, actual demonic qualities. The book is filled with many surprises, including some really nasty ones, too! I especially liked the characters of Alan Page and Betsy Tannenbaum---lawyers that seem to have a true sense of justice, fighting even their own demons. Betsy's failing marriage to Rick at first seems cliche, but as it evolves and it's final dramatic resolution, we can see how two people who love one another let jealousy destroy their lives. The character of Nancy Gordon is also a good one, and one has to wonder during the proceedings if she could perhaps somehow be involved in the killings. But at the heart of this book is Martin Darius and Peter Lake----these guys are truly villians in the worst sense of the word. No remorse, no compassion, evil to the core. A stunning book that certainly made me go in and put the rest of his books on my wish list; hopefully, my wife will have such a hard time deciding which ones to get me for Christmas, she'll get them all!
HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

I have always loved the John Grisham books, someone else who reads them suggested I read Phillip Margolin's books also. I live in Portland, OR where Mr Margolin lives and he shares pieces of the city and state in his books, making them seem more real to me. He has a real knack for twisting plots! You think you know where the book is going and then as you read on, the book twists in a new direction. I love to read, but his books I have simply not been able to put down! I have to know what's going to happen next. Gone but not forgotten is one of his best at this. He is truely a one of the great writers. If you like mysteries and intrigue, read this, you won't be disappointed!

This must be the most comprehensive, complete and correct work available. The layout is very neat and systematic with exceptional line drawings. However, the colour photo plates are located at the back of the book and make for unnecessary paging throught this thick book. It also lacks adequate photos and colour drawings of many species. Apart from this it is a monumental work and a solid base for any reference work. The common names are the most correct I have come across and the aditional detail makes for good reading. The printing quality is very good and the hard cover essential. If you consider yourself a serious fish watcher or itchtyologist and you haven't got this book ... think again ! Enjoy !

This one combines the best elements of the "cozy" and "suspense" styles of mystery-writing. The protagonist is Tracy Cavanaugh, a recent law school graduate who clerks for a justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.

During her last days at the Oregon Supreme Court, one of Tracy's clerk colleagues is murdered. That murder is followed shortly by the murder of the justice who employed the murdered clerk. The murdered justice's estranged wife, herself a brilliant prosecutor, soon becomes the prime suspect. At the same time, Tracy's year of clerking is up, and she goes to work for renowned defense attorney Matthew Reynolds, who is defending the accused wife.

This is definitely a better novel than "Undertaker's Widow", which was the first Phillip Margolin mystery I read. Most of the primary characters are well-drawn and memorable. The plot is unpredictable but doesn't stretch credulity. The last 75 pages give the plot several twists before the ultimate solution is revealed. The book is captivating and well-written throughout.

This book provides one more example of the foolishness... several years ago, to change the rating system from a 10-star maximum to a 5-star maximum. This book is a cut above Hazel Holt's "Mrs. Malory, Detective in Residence", to which I gave 4 stars. It is also a definite cut below Elizabeth George's novels, all of which deserve 5 stars. I will stick with my contention that only real literature deserves 5 stars, and this isn't real literature. But it's about as good as genre mysteries ever get.

"After Dark" is about Tracy Cavanough finding her best friend dead and then Justice Robert Griffen being killed with a car bomb. Are the two killings related? Abbie Griffen, wife of Robert is charged with the murder of her husband. Tracy has just been hired by Matthew Reynolds, the best defence attorney there is. Together they set out to prove Abbie is not guilty. But, is she? Has she snowed Matthew Reynolds? You think it is all figured out then, Bang, you are off again with a new twist. It was hard for me to rate, I nearly gave it a three, but is a little better than that, I guess. I got lost during the first several pages because so many names were thrown at me. I also thought the description of some things went into to much detail. Such as what makes up a piece of metal, or how a picture can me made one time and looks like another time. All in all it was fair.

I had not read Margolin before I read After Dark. This book was a great read, had great character development and I was sad it had to end...The only great joy I received was knowing I found a new author to read with many books yet to read or listen too..His story telling is superb and he hides the ending well enough that even if you think you know...it twists you around to doubt your own conclusions..then surprises you...
I could be more detailed about the charaters...but why enjoy this book like a well wrapped gift be surprised and enjoy this gift of a book!!!

It's nice to hear the other reviewers lauding Margolin's other books because this book left me pretty flat. Indeed, I am wondering what the fuss is about this author -- but I'll give him another try -- someday.

So what's wrong (or right) about this book? Basically, I realized about half way into the book that I really didn't like any of the the characters. Part of the problem is that there are way too many characters so there's no chance to develop a sympathetic protagonist (or even a crook). The book also bounces around between all of these people and lacks any sense of flow.

After enjoying "After Dark", I decided to read Phillip Margolin's debut novel, which was first published in 1978 and being nominated for an Edgar Award. Thumbs up for being a debut and written in the late 70s, it may not be as sophisticated and compelling as compared with those more recent works of some legal/criminal/thriller writers. Nonetheless, it is a sincere and good effort work from PM. This could attribute to PM himself being a criminal defense lawyer in Oregon where he works both as an appellate and a trial attorney. As quoted from the book, he has represented over 30 people charged with murder, including a number of clients who have faced the death penalty. What I admire about PM's novel is that, just like "After Dark", he has invoked or should I say, at least he tried (especially for those who do not favour this book), to instil some thought provoking 'dark' facts for us to ponder seriously!!

I am surprised to see negative reviews of this legal thriller.This book is so great I just could not put it down.The characters are bold ,dialogue is fluent and the plot is superb.A very well written book which I highly recommend. Mr Margolin you have a new fan,and this surely wont be the first book of yours I will read.