Bert and Nan are at it again, mixed up in murder and trying to earn a living. These twins make the mystery more interesting by being up to their noses in suspicion.

A charming read, a few good chuckles, and a killer stalked by the daring duo. What more could we ask? It's a good book for a relaxing evening.

When an unsavory antiques dealer is murder, Nan and Bert Tatum are question because of recent fights they've had with him. But when Bert's daughter Ellie is arrested for the murder after confessing, the twins dive head first into the case to find the real killer. Further complicating matters for Bert is her ex-husband. Jake wants back into her life and is using this case to drive a wedge between her and current boyfriend Hank, the detective assigned to the case and responsible for arresting Ellie.

This is the fourth book in the Tatum twin mystery series, which is still going strong. The characters have become so strong and familiar that I didn't have any trouble at all with the alternating narration. In fact, part of the fun of this book is seeing the personalities of the twins switch after Ellie is arrested. The plot is slow in a couple places, but over all flows very smoothly.

If you're already a fan of these twins, this book is for you. If you haven't meant them yet, start with the first, DOUBLE MURDER. You won't regret it at all.

This is an enjoyable cozy with an unforgettable cast of characters who will ingratiate themselves in to your heart and onto your keeper shelf. I realize there is nothing funny about murder but the way these two go about solving it you can't help but chuckle from time to time.

Bert and Nan Tatum, whose mother named after them after the Bobbsey twins, Nan and Beatrice, are soon to be forty, identical twins and a one of a kind sleuthing team. Their mysteries take place in Louisville Kentucky, home of Six Flags Over Kentucky Kingdom and the Gigantic Flea Market.

In this the third Nan and Bert mystery, the twins, against their better wishes, return to sleuthing in order to find out who killed a unsavory flea market booth owner. When this mystery hits too close to home Nan worries as she watches her genteel twin sister change before her very eyes. Bert's maternal instincts transform her from a kind, sensitive woman to a protective mother with an agenda, the agenda being, to keep her daughter Ellie out of prison and to catch the murderer who is making her family suffer.

The plot is strong and current; in fact the contemporary atmosphere is so up to date that even Monica Lewinsky gets a mention. The mystery is hard to solve and the authors exercise good timing when introducing the suspects. As the ladies sleuth, the reader is entertained by their identical yet individual personalities.

Mystery readers, especially cozy fans, if you haven't read a Nan and Bert Tatum Mystery you are in for a double treat.

This is not the kind of book I usually read. (A story about the Amish? Yawn!) It was a gift . I probably wouldn't have bought it myself. But I'm glad I read it. The book was a bit slow paced at first-like what we imagine Amish life to be - but before long I was hooked! If Ms. Lewis doesn't hurry up and write the sequel ( Abram's Daughters 2), I'll break out in a rash. I guess I'll just have to read her other books in the meantime! Did I mention there is no graphic sex, violence, or swearing? And you DON'T CARE!! There is love, mystery, happiness, tragedy, loyalty, all the ingredients of a good read. Just what I like in a book. I'm itchin' to read the next installment in the lives of Abram's daughters!

This is the first of a series about Abram's daughters--Sadie, Leah, Hannah, Mary Ruth and the baby. This book focuses on Sadie (mainly) and Leah (her reaction to Sadie's actions). I found it to be an interesting and fast read. There is something about Ms. Lewis' writing that makes me want to curl up with one of her books and ignore everything else until I am done--and then I wonder what happens after the book's story is done.

The ending of this book will make you scream for more---you really want to know what's going to happen next.

The Covenant is easily one of the best books I have ever read. I learned very much from this novel. I learned the interesting ways of the Amish, how to deal with anger, and how to keep with God. Being a Christian myself, I found it great to relate to Leah. I am hoping for another book in this series soon!

Forensic anthropologist Lindsay Chamberlain wakes in a hospital, a victim of total amnesia, faced with a fiancé she doesn't remember and doesn't trust. Panicked and disoriented she runs, seeking shelter in the woods, and is found by her lover who persuades her home. Lindsay's memory returns abruptly, except for the key moments of her attack. Also lost is her memory of the men who came to claim her from the hospital.

None of which seems connected to the troubles at the Colorado mountains dig she joins in this fifth outing, "Airtight Case." The head of the crew excavating the 1830s farmhouse site is under suspicion of murder and tension is high due to an autocratic, inexperienced assistant who, but for Lindsay, would have missed the two 1700s coffins oddly buried there.

Author Beverly Connor, herself an archaeologist, provides plenty of professional detail as well as a steadily intensifying plot, involving ancient as well as modern murder and greed. Lindsay Chamberlain, while likable and professionally expert, is almost too talented. She rises effortlessly to every task, from peacemaker to detective, and is never wrong, which can get wearing. But this is a minor annoyance in a well-plotted and intriguing mystery.

The man claimed to be her fiancé coming to take her home from the hospital in Mac's Crossing, Tennessee. Mark Smith insists she is Lisa Christian, an amnesia victim. The woman feels that this is not right and refuses to go with him. All she knows is that she needs to escape and stay free until her memory returns.

As her mind begins to recall events, forensic anthropologist Lindsay Chamberlain joins a dig in the Great Smoky Mountains. However, the attitude of the crew is ugly and the excavation is stunned by a murder. Also hanging over Lindsay's head is the team of thugs trying to inter her permanently.

AIRTIGHT CASE is a fabulous mystery starring a strong character. The opening scenes are tremendous, as readers will believe Lindsay suffers from memory loss. The story line continues on its powerful path as Lindsay begins to recover bits of her memory including being buried in a grave. Though the climax is quite good, the ending still is not quite on the same level of super-excellence as most of the novel is9although it is very well done). Beverly Connor has written a wonderful, fresh and exciting mystery tale that will garner her new readers seeking previous Chamberlain novels (see RUMOR OF BONES and DRESSED TO DIE, etc.).

Harriet Klausner

If you have read any of the first four books of the Lindsay Chamberlain mysteries you know already Beverly Connor is a good writer. Read Airtight Case and you will know she is a great writer. Airtight Case is simply the best of the series so far.

One thing I enjoy in particular about Connor's stories is how she introduces the element of mystery literally with the first few senteces, and we are already asking our questions and eager for the answers. In this story, we find Lindsay as a bruised amnesia patient in a Tennessee hospital; a seedy stranger tries to claim her as his fiancee but she appears to know enough that her life would be in more danger were she to allow herself to accompany this man. Her instincts, as usual, are correct.

Skip ahead some time later and Lindsay has joined an excavation in Great Smoky Mountain area, where her reputation as a forensic anthropoligist and amateur sleuth evokes fascination among some on the dig and derision from one manager in particular who is convinced Lindsay's presence is a threat to her authority. Nonetheless, the crew is more concerned with the discovery of a makeshift graveyard in the area, and Lindsay tries her best to concentrate on the mysteries of the mountains' past rather than her own.

The ghosts of her past troubles, however, continue to haunt her, and are literally manifested in Lindsay's conciousness as actual ghosts prowling the nineteenth-century home being used as headquarters, ghosts only Lindsay can see. When some a superior from her school and some locals persuade Lindsay to help investigate the mysterious death of an elderly relative which may be connected to the dig site, Lindsay is forced to hold on to her slowly slipping sanity lest she arouses too much suspicion and once again puts herself in danger.

Connor has created a passionate and respectable character in Lindsay Chamberlain, a lady who, while she does not necessarily laugh in the face of danger, manages to steel herself enough to not let it destroy her. Connor's descriptions of the archaeological dig and its surrounding history are superbly detailed, and provide for a few surprising revelations in the supplemental mystery which ties in nicely with Lindsay's own adventures.

I knew Beverly Connor briefly when I lived in Athens, and when I last spoke to her (back when A Rumor of Bones just came out) she was contracted for five novels. Now that Airtight Case is out, I would sincerely hope a contract renewal is in Connor's future. This series has produced some unique, compelling stories, and so long as Connor's ideas are fresh, I should hope to read of Lindsay's escapades for years to come.

These are some reasons you should read Henry and Ribsy. First, it is funny when Ramona wants to eat P.T.A,because you can't eat P.T.A. Second, its exciting when he tries to keep Ribsy out of trouble to go fishing. If he does go fishing you'll ask will he catch or not catch. So read Henry and Ribsy!

I enjoyed reading this book because Henry goes fishing. I enjoy reading Beverly Cleary's books because she writes about childhood and animals.Also,I like the chapters because they were thirty or forty pages long. I highly recommend reading this book.

I enjoyed reading this book because it made me read a lot faster than I thought I could. I learned that you can worry about things all the time. The illustrations were neat and colorful they helped me understand what I was reading. I also liked the ending of the story because Henry was happy. I highly recommend this book.

Bert is still trying to get back on her feet after her divorce. Living next door to her identical twin, Nan, she's currently working as a secretary for a nasty divorce lawyer, Stephanie. The only reason she hasn't quit in search of a better boss is that her Mom and Stephanie's Mom are good friends. But one morning, she goes into work to find that her boss has been shot. Having solved two previous murders (DOUBLE MURDER and DOUBLE EXPOSURE), Bert and Nan try to sift through the many people with grudges against Stephanie to find the killer. Meanwhile, Bert is feeling insecure about her relationship with her boyfriend, homicide detective Hank Goetzmann.

It's great to see the twins back in action. As always, they tackle their latest case with humor. However, this book was a bit slow compared to the others, which is why I'm only giving it four stars. It's enjoyable, but just not quite as good as the first two.

Some books are right for reading in front of a fire on a rainy day, some for under the covers on a winter night. And some are indulgences, made for the day you played hooky from work because it was the first spring day of the year and you wanted an afternoon on the deck in the sunshine. "Double Cross" is just such a book: it's light, funny, and well-plotted. It features identical twins who are opposites, mothers who are all too believable, a witchy murder victim who deserves what she got, a hint of feminism, and some decent writing--not the least of which is the technique of using a twin to tell the story in alternating voices. I got just what I wanted from this book: amusement, entertainment, and escape.

The terrific twin authors give us lively, funny and very real twin protaganists: Nan and Bert. Alternating chapters give each twin's point of view. It is the skill of the authors that makes Nan and Bert each a distinctive character. In this third episode of their adventures, the twins find themselves embroiled in the murder of a tough divorce lawyer who had developed a unique way to make the ex-husband pay dearly for his freedom. I agree with the reader who recommended that you read them all. The first two are available in paperback. Wonderfully entertaining, these authors do it right.

Sometimes one plus one does't add up to two. When twins write a mystery about twin sleuths and twin killers, it doesn't really compute. My problem with the book is that it alternates from one twin's life and thoughts to the other. It is not confusing, but seems to rely too much on this gimmick and not enough good story telling.

The Bert and Nan Tatum books are well-written and a joy to read. The sisters, although twins, each have their own strengths and quirks. The chapters in the books alternate between each sister telling the story. Lots of humor along with a good mystery.

Solving the DOUBLE MURDER in the first book has made identical twins Nan and Bert local celebrities. Still, they have no desire to investigate another murder. But then Nan meets Crane Morgan. He's handsome and romantic, and Nan is swept completely off her feet. But Bert has reservations, especially when Louise Eagleston tells her that Crane's identical twin was accused of murder but committed suicide. When Bert goes to hear more from Louise, she finds Louise shot. Now, Bert wants to know more about what's going on, but Nan doesn't want to hear anything bad about Crane or his late brother. Can Bert find the truth while keeping both herself and Nan alive?

This is a fun book. The twins alternating narration is a nice and often funny touch and their personalities get better defined. I figured out the ending before the twins, but by then I was so concerned for them that I had to keep reading. These are great characters that I hope I can keep reading about for years to come.

I decided to read this book simply because it introduces book two in the series which I was especially interested in! However, I became interested as I met the four families who live in an upper middle class cul-de-sac in eastern Tennessee. They are in various seasons in their lives.

The Dodds are a family with four children who are home-schooled and both parents stay and work at home full time. Although they seem to be the ideal, all American family, there are problems. She is a believer in God, he is not, due to emotional trauma he suffered as a child. At the heart of this book is the sudden illness of their 9 yr. old son. He ends up in the hospital awaiting a heart transplant and his Mom and Dad differ on how to best help him.

The Sullivans are a couple with two preschoolers in a family which consists of a hard working husband and a slim, fit, rather obsessive, frustrated writer-wife. She has read so many self-help books she is phobic. She keeps an impeccably clean house, but she hates her role as a stay at home, unfulfilled wife and mother. The last straw was when she SAW a bestseller book on the library shelf that contained the same plot as the book she was currently writing! In anger she destroyed her manuscript and declared she was finished with writing - forever.

The Flaherty family is headed by a single Mom who is a veterinarian. She has her hands full with three active, older kids, and a chip on her shoulder because she was dumped for a younger woman. Dating is completely awkward to her and she wonders if it is really worth it and feels like forgetting it. She has problems with the school's sex education classes and is willing to fight all the way to the school board. She is particularly upset with her inability to reach and control her 15 yr. old terribly rebellious daughter.

The Bryans are an older Christian couple whose children have all moved out. She is lonely and feels useless, he is a cardiac surgeon with a consuming call on his heart to missions. These two are a sort of surrogate Mom and Dad to the other couples in their area.

The book blends the lives of these four families in quite a remarkable way. While each family's life is intertwined and each has their own crises, the thing that pulls them together for a common purpose is the life threatening situation with 9 yr. old Joseph Dodd. Heart transplants aren't cheap, and even with insurance paying part of the bill, the Dodd family is staring at up to $35,000 out of pocket. They put their house up for sale. Not wanting to lose their good neighbors, the other families on the cul-de-sac work to raise the needed funds. This, along with the illness, changes their lives forever.

The saddest part of the book is when young Joseph goes into a coma just before he is given up for dead. No heart has been found, and he cannot last more that a few hours at the most. It is a dark, emotional and frightening night at the hospital. But, what eventually happens to the child is a surprise which makes the book worth the read. Changes occur in all the families, and decisions are cemented which will change their lives forever.

This is a contemporary, Christian fiction book about four families that could live in Any City, USA, and I recommend it highly.

I absolutely loved this book. I was able to relate to each of the 4 main characters, and found it refreshing that they were all Christian women!
I loved to read about Brenda, the Home school mom, as I am also one.
I read 10 of the Left Behind books (LaHaye + Jenkins) and was familiar with the character jumping. I find myself preferring this style of writing.
I am sooo excited to read the other 3 books I have found in this series. I only hope they are filled with as much knowledge and enlightenment as the first.

Seasons Under Heaven was one of the best Christian novels I have ever read. It was so well written and it gripped my heart from the first page to the last. Seasons Under Heaven is the aptly named novel by Terri Blackstock and Beverly LaHaye.

4 families, who are close neighbors on the quiet, suburban cul-de-sac Cedar Circle, are each in their own way going through their own Seasons Under Heaven.

Tory Sullivan, want-to-be writer is the stay-at-home mother of two preschoolers who have definitely altered her ambitions and goals. Brittany and Spencer require a lot of time and effort, as all children do, and husband Barry wants the best for his children and happiness for Tory. Can Tory re-prioritize and still be happy?

Sylvia Bryan is trying to rediscover her purpose in life. The strong woman is feeling especially vulnerable and has a bad case of the empty nest syndrome since her children are grown and gone. Her husband, Harry, a prominent cardiac surgeon, is just the opposite. He has felt God's call to become a medical missionary. He's left it up to Sylvia to answer, though, and she's not sure what she could possibly have to offer.

Cathy Flaherty is a single mother who works outside the home and is trying to raise three children, one a rebellious teenager, on her own. The local school has gotten her attention and she feels the need to face the school board. Will she push her children away? Lonely, she would love to find someone to share her life with and become a positive influence in the lives of her children. How can she raise the kids, work, fight the school board and still be just "Cathy"?

The Sullivan, Bryan, and Flaherty problems all pale in comparison to the Dodds. Brenda and David Dodd seem to have such stability and happiness in their lives. The parents of four precious children, they devote their lives to them. Brenda homeschools all of them so she can give them the upbringing she feels they wouldn't get elsewhere. David is self-employed and works at home and assists her however he can. Although they are not "rich", their basic needs are met and they are happy. This all changes in a matter of moments, when one the children becomes gravely ill. How can they cope with the suffering of their son? How will they pay the bills? Brenda and the children are confident the Lord will provide for them, but can she keep encouraging herself and her son when her husband, due to traumatic childhood events, refuses to believe in the God Brenda so desperately loves and needs?

The families of Cedar Circle unite and share the burden of young Joseph's illness. Page after page is filled with the support and dedication to the Dodd's the other families have. They reach out in ways they never knew they could, and find out that from laughter to tears, from encouragement to fear, all the Seasons Under Heaven can be faced.

The novel contained one important truth that rang so loudly to me: Invest the best of your time and your love into your children and your family. Never take for granted the time you have with them.

The exciting plot was a page-turner from beginning to end. And it left a lot of room to expand on each and every character. A sequel would definitely wrap up some unanswered questions, and you can be sure that if one is written it will be the five star novel this one is.

THis is the perfect conclusion to "The Postcard" mainly because it wraps everything up so well. There's no major drama, or mystery, like the first one. Rachel is intent on overcoming her blindness by faith, not by a powwow doctor. Philip has come to realize that there is something missing in his big-city life.

The title refers to the crossroad Philip must face in making his decision, and to the physical crossroad Rachel must face in order to move beyond her accident of a few years ago.

This is a moving tale with a great ending...enjoy!

This pair of books about a traditional Amish family and a modern man was an enjoyable read.(The Postcard and The Crossroads) Lots of human interest, a little mystery, and insight into another culture.

You will smile and take stock of your own life as you read this series, the Amish lifestyle at home, at work, at play and at church. The Crossroad holds a key to a very tragic happening and has a lot to do with all that comes after, the crossroad is one of the greatest books Beverly Lewis has written, but they are all very good. You can not go wrong buying this book, my daughters and I could hardly wait on each other to read her next book in this series. I think Beverly Lewis has the ability to create a lifelike you are there quality in her books, Great Work Beverly please do not stop giving us the pleasure of your great books. Margie B. White

I have found that as Steve Martin matures, his work matures as well, and becomes enjoyable on many different levels. Shopgirl is another wonderful example of that maturation. Like many others here, I also could not put the book down until it was done. I found it sincerely enjoyable, with characters I could care about. I continued to wonder what happened to them after I was done with the book, a sure sign that I found it compelling. Unlike a lot of books I have read lately, the majority of the characters evolved, learned from their experiences, allowed themselves to shaped by them. You didn't get the feeling that you'd come right back to where you started when you got to the end, that all was for naught. There is more than one relationship explored. There is not only Mirabelle and Ray, but also each of them with themselves, with various supporting characters, and even a couple of supporting characters' relationships with THEMselves. It's about how we come into contact with some people in our lives before we're really ready to, and how we become ready, an experience I know I've had before. It didn't revolutionalize my life or anything, but I could definately see myself on some of its pages. Shopgirl may well be L.A. Story in book form (I admit I haven't seen it), but it obviously comes from a place that Mr. Martin is familiar with.

I first saw SHOPGIRL while waiting for a plane at Dulles International Airport. It caught my eye because of its color and picture on the cover. It was not until then, I realized that Steve Martin wrote it. After reading the reviewers' comments on the back cover - which I rarely believe - I purchased the book. By the way, their comments were a quite accurate description of the storyline.

The strength of SHOPGIRL is the character development. Martin has the rare talent of getting inside the heads of the key characters. He seamlessly moves from thoughts to feelings, dialog with another, then moves on to the second person's thoughts, feelings and finally the reply of the second character to the first. He employs this strategy to illustrate emotional growth within ALL the personalities. This is a difficult writing task because each time one character speaks to another; Martin performs six complex writing tasks. When one analyzes his text, his writing is quite remarkable.

The storyline is sentimental, but not mushy. The level of realism stifles any potential mushiness. In addition, I suspect that Martin's character, Ray Porter, is a reflection of Martin's own personal experience. This is a reasonable assumption since Ray Porter's character is quite profound. Martin offers a greatest amount of depth in Porter's personality. The realism of the storyline stems from the depth of the characters and corresponding personality development.

All in all, SHOPGIRL is a good story. I highly recommend it - particularly if you are flying from Pittsburgh to Charlotte, North Carolina. You can complete the entire book within that timeframe.

This 130-page novella by Steve Martin is a small slice of life. The shopgirl is 28-year old Mirabelle, who sells gloves at Neiman Marcus. She's looking for love but can't make a meaningful connection in vacuous Los Angeles. Her relationships just don't click until she meets Roy Porter, a millionaire in his 50s. He's looking for love too, but just not with Mirabelle. The writer has an excellent understanding of human nature and has the ability to clearly explain that what the characters say is usually not what they mean. I felt I knew them all, including Mirabelle's co-worker, Lisa, who uses her feminine charms as a weapon. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down. It's well written and the plot moved quickly, drawing me into the author's world. I found myself identifying with Mirabelle and was pleased with the satisfying ending.

What a pleasant surprise! I was expecting this little cute cozy story. This is not one of those. Don't get me wrong, I love the cozies too. Ms. Connor weaves a past story with a present event in great details. Using forensic anthropology to move the story along. But, not overburdening the reader with a lot of technical detail. Explaining the things that are happening in common terms. Lindsay Chamberlain is a strong, practical and smart protagonist. Lindsay is a person that you will root for and believe in. Ms. Connor has a very good understanding of the south and its culture. The author uses all the knowledge to develop good characters to complete her story. I highly recommend this book. After searching for several years to find it. I'm sad to say that most bookstores do not carry Beverly Connor's books. I'm glad that I did stay with the hunt, till I got the Internet. What a great read. Looking forward to enjoying the Lindsay Chamberlain series for years to come.

Beverly Connor's debut novel is a wonderful surprise. Forensic archaeologist Lindsay Chamberlain is in the town of Merry Claymoore, GA working with a group digging an old Indian site. Her work is briefly interrupted when the local town sheriff asks for Lindsay's expertise. The town recently uncovered the bones of a child and they needed to identify it. In order to promote good relations with the local townspeople Lindsay agrees to help. During the course of her novel the investigation will lead to a deep family secret kept hidden for several decades after the discovery of a more contemporary body.

What makes this book a joy to read is that Lindsay is not an amateur detective, she is an archaeologist. She is a professional who knows how to do her job and is able to see what others might overlook. She makes it look natural without going through any giant leaps in logic. She has a strong circle of friends that keep her grounded and the reader gets to see her day-by-day job at the archaeological site without making it seem boring. She knows how to keep it interesting by making it look like an ordinary thing.

Beverly Connor is probably one of the most overlooked mystery novelist around. Lindsay Chamberlain holds a lot of promise and hopefully her next novel will be just as enjoyable as this one.

I had the pleasure of knowing Beverly when I lived in Athens and enrolled in a mystery writing course. I enjoyed listening to her read this book when it was still in the editing stages, and I can say that the end result is wonderful. I love mysteries and I think Beverly has a terrific sleuth in Lindsay Chamberlain. She's smart, strong, and very well-written.