I am confused by some of the reviews here. Some people say it's his best and some say it's his worst and some say it's good and some say it's confusing.

Weird.

I've three other Quinn books. Ishmael is great. The Story of B is okay. After Dachau wasn't so great. This book is by far the best thing by Quinn that I've read. By far. The other books are preachy and condescending and NOT REALLY NOVELS.

The Holy is first and foremost a lifechanging book but not in the obvious way that Ishmael is. It's a novel of ideas, but unlike Ishmael it is not light on the novel part and heavy on the ideas. It's a real book and a great addictive story that I caouldn't put down.

I think that a lot of people read Quinn for the ideas and I suspect a lot of them are angry people qho don't liek their parents because daddy wouldn't buy them a Mercedes and then hit them when they whined about it. Grow up. Quinn's idea of the life force is important. The Holy is a grea read but it is also the vehicle for a religion. Call it whatever you want. I think it's basically animism. Here's the thing: If this book were considered holy then the world would be saved. What about that for an idea?

People who diss this book are either stupid or really stupid because it's got everything the other books have with the additional thing of being really fun to read.

I highly recommend this book to all Quinn fans and to anyone else who wants a hardboiled lifechanging book.

When you read Stephen King or Anne Rice or Clive Barker, you know they're only kidding. They don't really believe in demon-possessed cars, immortal vampires, or faerie worlds hidden in large carpets. When you read The Holy--a novel as fantastic, as gripping, and as terrifying as any produced by King, Rice, or Barker--you'll know that Daniel Quinn isn't kidding.

In this regard (and this only), The Holy is similar to The Exorcist, another book by an author who wasn't kidding (it was based on the true story of a child's demonic possession in the 1940s). People reacted powerfully to The Exorcist, both as a book and as a film, because they perceived clearly that William Peter Blatty wasn't just giving them a fright they would later laugh about. (I've always believed The Exorcist probably brought more people to the Roman Catholic Church than The Song of Bernadette did.) Even if you aren't a believer, reading or seeing The Exorcist can make you teeter in your disbelief.

Quinn's book will have the same effect on you. It will have the same effect, because you'll recognize that the supernatural realm he's exploring is not one he just made up to give you a scare. It's a realm that humans have acknowledged and taken seriously for as long as there have been humans, a realm familiar to shamans in every land, a realm discussed in the scriptures of every religion (including the Bible), a realm that was alive and thriving before the first humans walked the earth and will be alive and thriving when we're gone. The jacket notes describe the inhabitants of the realm this way: "They knew us before we began to walk upright. Shamans called them guardians, myth-makers called them tricksters, pagans called them gods, churchmen called them demons, folklorists called them shape-shifters. They've obligingly taken any role we've assigned them, and, while needing nothing from us, have accepted whatever we thought was their due--love, hate, fear, worship, condemnation, neglect, oblivion."

The publisher describes this as a metaphysical thriller, and it is. But it's also much more. Like any really great book, it's one you'll definitely want to read more than once.

Fans of Daniel Quinn's work won't have to be convinced to read The Holy. We've been waiting impatiently for its release. To entice new readers, I could list other, better-known authors by way of comparison, but other reviewers have done so. I predict that after The Holy, Quinn will be one of those better-known authors about whom comparisons are made.

The story is a chain of unexpected, entertaining, chilling events, leading to a conclusion that leaves some room for speculation, but not too much. That in itself makes the book worth reading. The tersely worded gems of "pure Quinn," scattered throughout are what make The Holy more than just another well-written novel.

"The Right Dog for You" tries to do several things. It doesn't accomplish any one of them amazingly thoroughly, though its little charts of temperamental traits are more detailed than others I've seen. It probably needs to be restructured, re-edited, to live up to its potential.

This book's best trait is its detailed temperament charts. Tortora's rated each breed of dog in sixteen, count 'em, sixteen "Dimensions" of temperament. Wow. My first reaction was that the charts give a false sense of objectivity, but poring over them gives you a broader sense of a dog's character, definitely. I've spent much more time with those charts than with the rest of the book. Just seeing someone thinking in a careful way about different traits of temperament really gives you a way to approach the whole idea of deciding on a dog. It's a nice model to follow, even if you don't completely buy the specific ratings.

The text descriptions of individual breeds can be really pleasing -- Tortora is a behavioral problem-solver and he includes lots of offhand anecdotes -- but they're quite brief, and they aren't satisfying next to more complete sources. Most of them start with a terse description of the dog's appearance, which along with the line drawings still don't tell me much. The book doesn't mention some pretty basic stuff about behavior, either. For example: Greyhounds tend to chase first and think later because they're "sight hounds." People who own Greyhounds are full of cautions about that trait, and ways to work around it. This book doesn't mention it. The Greyhound is rated as needing lots of outdoor activity, I guess, but the "potential behavioral problems" mentioned don't include running into traffic at 40 mph when it sees a rabbit. Certain terriers' descriptions don't talk about digging when they really should, either. Then too, you really need to go to another source to learn that Basenjis can climb ANYTHING, which is a pretty important thing to know. (Tortora also makes another common Basenji mistake, assuming because they don't bark that they don't vocalize. Basenjis yodel, and scream, quite loudly sometimes.)

Getting past the breed listings, the latter half of the book is a series of rating exercises. You answer a series of questions about your social tendencies, say, and then the book provides you with a rating scale and you match yourself up with dogs. I like this idea, it's just great. It's not perfect here, though. This is the part of the book that suffers from being kind of poorly structured, at least for me.

For one thing, there are charts after each chunk of questions, but I don't find the charts easy to work with. It can be hard to find a particular breed on them. The whole section of the book isn't well-laid-out; it reads like a bunch of stops and starts all running together. If you open to a particular page you can't really tell where you are. A little white space and maybe some way to break up the text would help.

Even with a little layout help, though, I still can't see why things like the height and weight of each breed wouldn't be up with the breed descriptions, rather than described as a tallest-to-shortest range in a chart at the back of the book. It feels like the first half of the book was written separately from the second half, and they need to be edited together. I don't read references front-to-back, and the back of this one feels like it wants me to do that.

Speaking of the way I like to use a reference, the index to this book isn't great. Individual breeds aren't consistently in it -- all the terriers have just one reference to "terriers, breeds and functions of" -- and even when they are, the number of references is incomplete. It's not easy to find everything the author says about, say, Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers.

This is a decent place to start in thinking about a dog. Just the model of breaking temperament down as carefully as this author has is a great tool. Once you're seriously considering any particular breed (or that mix at the pound), though, you're really going to want to see more substantial stuff about that type of dog -- from breeders, and owners, and other more complete sources of information. (Probably that would be true of any book like this. I'm not sure of any other, better choices. "Your Purebred Puppy, a Buyer's Guide" seems like another good possibility.)

If you are looking for a book that describes the personalities of many different dog breeds, then this is the book for you. It contains 391 pages of breed personality descriptions and charts. 123 different breeds are described in Tortura's book.

There are several things that I like about this book. First of all, for each dog breed, there is a chart that describes the personality of a typical dog from that breed. The chart rates the various personality traits from very high to very low. Some of the traits include indoor and outdoor activity, territoriality, sociability, learning, and watchdog ability to name a few. All of these traits are clearly explained by the author in the first chapter. Also included on each breed's page(s) are a hand-drawn picture of the dog, the AKC popularity ranking (in 1983), and a more detailed written description of characteristics that are not mentioned in the chart. Other tables compare the breeds based on the characteristics mentioned above. Later in the book, there are more charts that describe each breed's average height and weight, coat type, color, grooming needs, function, and AKC behavioral description. Even more tables divide the breeds into groups (i.e. Sporting, Working, Hounds, etc.) and describe their characteristics.

However, there are several things that I do not like about this book. First of all, it is harder to use than some other books about dog breeds because in order to learn all you can about each breed, you must use several different tables throughout the book. Also, the pictures are drawn by hand, which can be a little harder to visualize than photographs. Lastly, since the book was written nearly twenty years ago, some breeds that are popular today are missing from this book.

In conclusion, The Right Dog for You is a good addition to any pre-purchase counseling library as a supplement to another book such as Your Purebred Puppy - A Buyer's Guide by Michele Welton. I believe this book can be useful for veterinary technicians and other veterinary professionals who understand dog behaviors and personalities. However, because the amount of information may be overwhelming, it might not be the best book to recommend to clients who are looking for new canine additions to their families.

I've read most of the books of this kind in my city's bookstores and public library. This is head & shoulders above the others. The method of rating each of 123 breeds in 16 different catagories of temperment is scientific and very accurate.

If you are looking for the breeds best suited to you, your family, and your lifestyle, this book is an invaluable tool. For your future dog's sake, buy it.

If dogs are your hobby, you too will probably find this book wonderfully informative and insightful. Do you know which breeds are the most best with children? Which are most emotionally stable? Which have very high outdoor energy yet low indoor energy? Do you know how Border Terriers significantly differ from all other terriers? If these questions intrigue you, I strongly recommend this book.

If you are looking for the average inexpert dog book full of implausible personal opinions and anecdotes, this one is not for you.

In a story as current as today's headlines, author Daniel Silva introduces us to Gabriel Allon, an Israeli agent coaxed out of retirement with the assignment to kill Palestinian terrorist Tariq Al-Hourani before Tariq can strike again at those engaged in negotiating for peace in the Middle East. Tariq is responsible for the murder of Gabriel's wife years earlier, giving him a personal stake in his mission, but also leaving him ambivalent about participating in a seemingly endless cycle of violence.

THE KILL ARTIST features a devious spymaster, a mysterious stranger in a seaside village, a beautiful woman with questionable motives, a cat-and-mouse game in which it is never quite clear who is the hunter and who is the hunted, and just enough Le-Carre-esque consideration of the psychological toll of a life of espionage. Where have we read this before? In Silva's previous novels, "The Unlikely Spy" and "The Marching Season," giving the reader a sense of déjà vu. All of Silva's typical plot and character elements come together nicely, making for an entertaining, exciting, and easy-to-follow (as spy novels go) read. Now, Mr. Silva, how about something new?

This is an outstanding book about the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestenians.The characters in this book more
than make the story. Gabriel Allon is an art restorer who is lured out of retirement to kill an old arch enemy Tariq(this terrorist killed his wife and son ).Ari Shamron is a retired
former head of the Israeli intelligence service who is brought
back to bring order to the Office.Jacqueline is a fashion model
who was formerly Allon's lover and is also an agent for the intelligence service. You also have the Palestenian President
Yasir Arafat. Tariq's goal is to assassinate Arafat thereby
stopping the peace process.Shamron and Allon want to kill Tariq.
You have action in Paris,London, Montreal, and New York. An
outstanding read that you will enjoy. Buy it.

This is my first Silva book. It won't be my last. Within the first twenty pages I was caught in Silva's deceptively easygoing rhythm of writing. With thinly sliced scenes and sparsely evocative description, I soon felt I knew the people and places of which he writes.

"The Kill Artist" refers to Gabriel Allon, a former Israeli agent who has retreated to his world of art restoration. He is drawn back into service to track down a Palestinian terrorist named Tariq. With the help of a French/Jewish model and a handful of others, Gabriel must not only outwit his opponent, he must also battle his own guilt and demons of the past. With memorable characters such as Shamron, the Israeli secret service head, and Isherwood, the beleagured art collector, Silva draws us into a world of suspense and emotion. The motivations of Gabriel, "The Kill Artist," are believable. As are those of Tariq, the terrorist. The showdown between the two is worth every page.

I've long been a Ludlum and Le Carre fan. Where Ludlum seems melodramatic and over-the-top, where Le Carre seems cryptic and obtuse, Silva manages to mix tight plotting and action with thoughtful insights and characterisations. I couldn't have found a better new author. I've already purchased two of his other books.

I read this book because I was looking for insights on what really happened at Ruby Ridge, Waco and the Oklahoma City Bombing. I expected a bureaucratic white wash and PR job by another Bureau hack but I was pleasantly disappointed.

The author takes the reader through his long and illustrious career as an FBI agent from the 60's to the late 90's battling Black Panthers, bank robbers, white supremacists and the other scum and villainy of American society. Following the disastrous terrorist attack at the '72 Olympics where Palestinian terrorists killed several Israeli athletes the author got the idea that the Bureau needed a trained counter terrorist team to deal with this kind of thing in the US. He goes on to found the famous (infamous) Hostage Rescue Team that would later play a very prominent role in the Ruby Ridge and Waco disasters.

The author comes across as a very sincere, honest and upstanding man of outstanding character despite a touch of arrogance and a rough macho exterior. He is quick to admit his own mistakes and, surprisingly, those of the Bureau itself. He pulls no punches against the bad guys or his own people. His dry sense of humor and his quick wit defy the stereotypes of FBI agents as stuffy, humorless bureaucrats. The author admits that these figures do indeed exist but he distances himself from this kind of agent.

Regarding the Ruby Ridge and Waco incidents I found the author slipping back into the good-ol-boy mode in the way that he so easily justified the actions that went on there. He was quick to admit that things could have been done better and that mistakes were made but he stops short of saying that the Bureau was out of control and wrongly cost over eighty people their lives. Like most government officials he lays the blame for the tragedies largely at the feet of those the Bureau was after. This attitude seemed out of place following his previous candid remarks regarding the Bureau's actions.

He also somewhat arrogantly derides the right wing opinions of the Bureau's abuse of power and, in some cases, criminal acts. He admits that the Bureau had in the past committed unconstitutional acts but now they are all straight laced professionals who don't do this sort of thing. Then, ironically, he himself is subjected to this very thing when an investigation into the Ruby Ridge shootings finds him on the sharp end of allegations of criminal wrongdoing. The highest leadership of the FBI itself broke its own rules and those of the Constitution to level unspecified and unfounded charges against the author for criminal wrongdoing. He was not told what the charges were or who was bringing them. He was denied the right to refute the charges and he was ordered not to speak to the media.

The Bureau put no such gag order on the prosecution who blatantly spread the allegations to the media bringing death threats to the author and his family. The author found himself being sacrificed on the altar of political expediency after over 20 years of hard service to his country. I found it bitterly ironic that the author could be so naïve as to claim that the Bureau doesn't have an underhanded, above-the-law, win-at-any-cost attitude and yet find himself impaled by this very thing once he became politically inconvenient. I wondered if he had a moment of empathy for Randy Weaver, the Branch Davidians or the countless others who find themselves under the thumb of the federal government. If he did so he doesn't admit it openly but his experience is nonetheless harrowing.

In the end I found the book a very excellent read and it shed a lot of light on the way our federal law enforcement agents think and act. I found this book to be reasonably fair and very believable. I still think that the FedGov is wrongheaded and out of control but this book gave me some hope knowing that there are a lot of honest, stand-up kind of people in the rank and file of the most powerful law enforcement agency in the land.

There is an interesting juxtaposition apparent in this book. Coulson, a career FBI agent and one time SAC (Special Agent in Charge) of three Bureau regional offices, plays himself against an overwhelmingly bureaucratic and politically sensitive FBI. Coulson's view is at once an outsider and, at the same time, an insider in most of the major and politically sensitive episodes in the Bureau's last twenty-plus years. The author appears to hold particular disdain for the politcally astute Bureau culture that, at times, seems to only be concerned with it's decisions after they have already taken their toll (reference the railroading of the author for his role in the Ruby Ridge episode several YEARS after the events unfolded). What is interesting is that Coulson almost certainly had to play into some of that political mindset to achieve his various supervisory roles. It is without question that Coulson played by the rules. But he played his cards. His furry regarding the inquisition against him is understandable; to this much he admits. The Bureau's headhunt infected his faith in the FBI and, more importantly, the Justice Department hierarchy. It brought with it a disappointing and trying end to an otherwise stellar and unblemished career. And, perhaps most disturbing it made he and his family the unfortunate target of baseless death threats.

No Heroes is not without some minor stylistic flaws but it excels at what it is intended to do: to highlight the everyday heroes of the FBI who selflessly pursue the most base of society's detritus while managing against many odds to maintain honor and follow the FBI's respect worthy code: Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity.

Coulson's book reserves disdain for the most heinous in our society and the occasional career bureaucrat. And while it entertains certain whims of it's author, there is no reason to believe that Coulson is less than a hero to the men and women he served with. He is worthy of respect and this book deserves more than a passing glance.

This book should be read by anyone who has ever had a complaint or gripe about how federal law-enforecment agents have handled themselves! Don't let the title of this book fool you. Danny Coulson IS a hero. I can testify first hand that I owe my life to the author of this book. You will find my story in Book Three of "No Heroes." Danny and I are friends today, and we can both testify that enemies CAN become friends, once trust is established, integrity is shown and reason is allowed. The actions of the FBI & ATF in general --- and Danny Coulson, specifically --- helped to turn my life around. You want to feel good about our country, our government and our law-enforcement? Read "No Heroes."

I felt the book was very rushed. It's rather short and I read it in one sitting in just a few hours. I really wanted deeper character and plot development and more details on Jason "finding out who he is" and Mallory/Gloria's transition into her new self and world. So many things seem to be lacking or brushed over, it almost feels like an hour tv-show instead of a enthralling novel. I was just getting into it when it ended. :-/

Don't get me wrong though, I think Quinn is an incredible writer and I enjoyed reading this book. I've read the Ishmael books and Story of B and there are very few books that have moved me like they did. But After Dachau is certainly not the same caliber material as his previous work, but I applaud Quinn for exploring.

Daniel Quinn's "After Dachau" is really two very different books in one, divided by a clever "trick." The first half is a suspenseful and exciting mystery story centering on the possible discovery of a truly documentable case of reincarnation. The two main characters find themselves on a journey of self-discovery as they explore what it really means to be an individual. If you're a fan of speculative fiction or psychological mysteries, you'll easily get wrapped up in the first part of "After Dachau."

Then comes the "trick." I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't yet read the book, but it's sort of a "Sixth Sense" kind of thing -- a plot trick that shifts the entire course of the novel and changes everything you've read so far.

After the trick (sort of after Dachau!), the book becomes a cautionary tale about what the world could become if we continue to live our lives as the selfish, entitled, "takers" we western white-folks really are (if this doesn't make sense, read "Ishmael"). It's not a bad cautionary tale, and even if you're not a DQ fan, you'll easily see the point he's making. But the book would have been stronger had Quinn stuck with a distorted interpretation of ACTUAL history (a new and frightening way to look at the world of the last 60 years), rather than the alternate history he gives us in "After Dachau". The world the two main characters face in part two of this book is NOT our world -- and as such, it's easy to step back and ignore the message. After all, WE didn't do what these people did. The world we live in today is NOT the world of "After Dachau."

What bothered me most about "After Dachau" was the short disclaimer Quinn placed at the end of the book, disavowing any interest or belief in reincarnation. Clearly the entire first half of the novel was merely a way of sucking in the type of readers who might be susceptible to his philosophy. Once you get past the mid-point (and the "trick"), you're his and the reincarnation story is dropped. Too bad. A really good novelist (without such an obvious agenda, perhaps) would have known how to integrate the story with the message. It would have made a better novel -- and, in the end, a stronger message.

It's a thought-provoking book, however, which is rare -- thus the four stars. Read it. It's worth the time, and you can argue with your friends about it afterward (what's better than that?)!

This new novel by Daniel Quinn is certainly unlike any of his previous books in that it isn't a work of cultural critique, but is still thematically connected to his past works, such as Ishmael and The Story of B. This is the story of a young man who is obsessed with reincarnation, who finally finds what he believes to be the real thing, and how this discovery shatters his view of the world and sends him on a daunting mission to share what he's found with others. If you've read Daniel's other books, when you finish this one you'll see that we have much in common with the young man at the end of this book. This book was enjoyable, readable, and thoughtful. I would recommend it to any Quinn fans as well as anyone who simply wants to read a great book.

I read some of T. Jefferson Parker's books in the past and none of them have made any impact with me. SILENT JOE is his best novel and I am glad that it got the Edgar nomination for Best Novel of the Year.

This is the story of Joe Trona, a young man working as a jailer and as a jack-of-all-trades for Will Trona, his adoptive father as well as a local politician. When Joe was a baby his father physically disfigured him by throwing acid on his face. Due to the physical abuse he is separated from his family and put in a group home. Several years later he makes the acquaintance of Will Trona and his wife and is adopted shortly thereafter. Joe is very happy with his life, he has a job he likes, owns his home, and loves his family. Unfortunately at the beginning of the novel, his adoptive father is murdered right in front of him and he is going to do everything in his power to find out whom had his father killed and what was his motive.

Mr. Parker does an excellent job in showing Joe's innocence and naivete. This does not make the main character any weaker but stronger. He is always true to himself and will not do anything that it is out of character for him. He is trustworthy and very loyal. In this book there is a lot of supporting characters that help enhance the story line. This book is well written and I hope to see more of it in the future. I hope the author decides to bring Joe Trona back in a new novel or a short story. For someone who did not like Parker's previous work, I am looking forward to his next book.

Last summer when his previous novel, RED LIGHT, was in its initial release, I had the rare honor of appearing on the same Round Table West luncheon program in Newport Beach as T. Jefferson Parker. As the author of a recently published mystery set in Orange County, I had the privilege of speaking to our Balboa Bay Club audience immediately before Mr. Parker. During my talk, I stated that Jeff Parker is the author who has taught all the rest of us Orange County mystery writers how to write about our unique region of Southern California.

SILENT JOE continues to prove my point. It is a marvelously complex mystery that is Parker's strongest book to date. It will move him securely into the major league of crime fiction writers with the likes of Sue Grafton, Robert Crais, Sara Paretsky, and Robert B. Parker. In its complexity, it even reminds me of the works of the genre's immortals such as Hammett, Chandler, and Macdonald.

Joe Trona was scarred for life by an acid attack at the hands of his biological father. He is adopted and nurtured by Will Trona, a local politico. When Joe grows up, he aspires to a career in law enforcement. He works in the Orange County jail and moonlights as driver/bodyguard for Will Trona. Will Trona is murdered. Joe wants to avenge the murder of the man who contributed the most to the person he has become. During his investigation, Silent Joe finds himself entangled in the kidnapping of a tycoon's daughter, the murder of two Latino immigrants, and a political corruption scheme. He uncovers long-bured secrets involving Will and himself.

SILENT JOE is an extraordinary work by an extraordinary author. With every book he writes, Jeff Parker continues to show the rest of us Orange County mystery writers how to write about Orange County. Parker's best!

T. Jefferson Parker can write! That's all there is to it. All of his novels are wonderful complex stories of mystery and suspense. I believe that "Silent Joe" was his best novel! Almost all of Mr. Parker's novels take place in Southern California, which is also enjoyable. The plot: Joe Trona is politician Will Trona's personal assistant and son. Will and Joe are on the way to pick up Savannah Blazak, who was kidnapped by her brother, Alex, and held for ransom until Savannah and Alex's parents pay Alex. They called in Will Trona to drop off the money. While getting out of his car, Will is confronted by a group of about four people who shoot Will dead. Savannah hears the shot and runs away, while Alex disappears. Joe Trona is determined to figure out who killed his father and get Savannah back. Who is the criminal? Is it crime boss and head of a major gang John Gaylen? Is it Bo Warren the Blazak's personal guard? Could it be Mr. Rupaski another politican who holds a grudge against Will? Joe is determined to find out, even if it means killing!

Guess I'm the lone holdout here but (sorry Dan) I didn't think the book was all that great. The characters did not involve me at all and it wasn't until the very end of the book that I felt it picked up any steam at all.

However, let me say right here I was not bored at any point, Skull Session is very well written. That may be my problem with it. The best way for me to describe it is the book is like a finely crafted piece of furniture. Every edge and corner neatly finished and perfectly matched.

Yes, I know, I can hear it now...so what's wrong with that? Well, for me, I want more emotional involvement with the story (and NO I do not read romance novels). One of my favorite writers is John Sandford. His first and third "Prey" novels had me on the edge of my seat. Michael Crichton (sorry if I misspelled) is another...I cannot turn the pages fast enough. Patricia Cornwell comes to mind as well. Her characters INVOLVE me. I feel as if I know them by the time I'm done. Dan's characters just didn't do that for me.

But I will be looking for that second book Dan! And yes, I would recommend Skull Session to anyone who asks.

Of the countless books I've read in my 26 years, this one will remain in my top ten for one reason: I hadnt even gotten through the first ten pages before I realized that I have the same condition as the main character. His Tourette's affects him in horrible ways, while mine has rarely been more than a slight nuisance (and sometimes a good conversation piece), but the similarities were too great to ignore. For that reason alone I'll be greatful to Daniel Hecht for writing this book. BUT...without the revelation that I have the same condition as the protagonist, this would still be a memorable book, full of suspence and downright creepy scenes. When an author makes you do research, seeing if what happened in the book actually exists (I'm not speaking of Tourette's, but of another subject which I can't reveal) then you know he's done a good job. This is a wild book, from beginning to end.

This is half a psychological thriller, and half science fiction (I hope). I think Hecht convincingly and empathetically describes the symptoms of Tourette's syndrome (behavoral tics) in the hero--a seemingly unfocused and mild guy who has inexplicably attracted an exciting woman--but Hecht seems to forget those habits through the midparts of the story. Meanwhile, as the police find dismembered bodies, the hero's relatives become increasingly strange and ominous, ending in a fascinating neurological nightmare of the Terminator ilk. I don't usually read horror stories, but a supernatural undertone gradually emerges and certainly tingled my spine. And the explanation for those "schicka" sounds that recur: horrifyingly clever, and completely logical (as is the villain), but it surprised me. Wow! Tremendously effective story, although the prose of this first novel is somewhat thick and sometimes wooden. I'll look for his next book.

Unlike Post-Mortem, Body Of Evidence lays itself out like a roadmap with many blind curves. Kay Scarpetta knows her stuff but is a little out of touch as far as police work goes. (I don't know many people who maintain constant dialogue with the FBI to help out with their case-load.) That's the only down-side to the character. The one thing I appreciated was that the "Who-Dun-It" was introduced in the series of fact-finding points throughout the story. So, at the end, when they caught the person, you as the reader could say, "OK. I remember how this fit earlier." Post-Mortem pulled the killer out of a proverbial hat, as if the author suddenly needed to end the book. But Body of Evidence was a good read with mystery, a twisted love-interest, and Detective Marino. (I think Marino secretly likes Kay.) Enjoy.

Mrs. Cornwell is one of these authors that writes a couple of good books and all the rest of her books sell a very well quantity only because of those written in the past. Obviously, she really knows how to do the thing she does, she criated her own style out of nothing and she has more than just "a couple of good books". Patricia Cornwell is famous and has an intriguing life that would give to the readers a very nice biography.

BODY OF EVIDENCE is the best Kay Scarpetta book I've read till now. No other book by Patricia Cornwell moved me so much and gave me such pleasure. It's modern and it has also very nicely written characters that you'll love. And a wonderful plot, for sure. You won't be disappointed if you read that book. It's really worthwhile. One of those rare books by Patricia Cornwell that you buy and don't regret for doing it.

Okay, I'd say 4.5 if I could, but I can't, and I believe that ratings (like grades) ought to be rounded up. That being said, I really liked this book. Read it in just under a week, which is quick for me. Really liked the main character but I could live without Marino. He's a little too Republican for me, tho. Perhaps he grows a heart later in the series. I've read comments suggesting he does, so perhaps all is not lost. I found that the story moved along very quickly, nonstop action, which is why I read it as quick as I did. I had to keep reading cuz something was going to happen very soon, all the time. I got used to the formula and subconsciously turned page after page. I liked the end, tho I do feel it was rushed. I didn't think it was predictable, however I probably should have predicted such an ending. But I didn't, so who knows. I still found it chilling, and I loved the way she ended the chapter right at the climax. Lord, I was almost afraid to turn that page. Not all sure why Beryl left Key West, tho.

All in all, a good read, and I shall read more of PC.

It's difficult to believe that this is the author's first novel!

In the 1880s, Edward Drake, a quiet piano tuner who often loses himself in a trance as he works, gets called by the English army to repair a piano deep in the jungles of Burma. Leaving his wife behind, he sets out on the long journey--so long that halfway into the book, I wondered if he would ever reach his destination.In Mandalay, he meets Khin Myo, a beautiful Burmese woman who is to be his servant and companion.

Drake and Khin Myo do finally reach Mae Lwin, the remote village in the Shan Hills where a strange army doctor named Anthony Carroll has been living. It was the doctor who requested the piano be sent there--a costly and difficult effort--as part of his efforts to negotiate peacefully with the warring factions, using music and medicine.

Drake quickly repairs the damaged piano, but finds reasons to stay in the village long after he is needed. He does not want to go back to the dreariness of London life, and so he stays, in awe of the doctor, and tempted by Mae Lwin. He is now caught in another trance.

Finally, he must leave the village, and he is forced to wake from his dream. He is confronted with questions about who Dr Carroll and Khin Myo really are, and what his role really was.

There are a few parts that could have been cut from the beginning, in my opinion. For example, the tiger hunt, and "the man with one story." But I thoroughly enjoyed the many details of life in Mandalay and Mae Lwin. The author displays a thorough knowledge of the time and the culture. But the book is more than a travelogue; it's a unique story with emotional depth and believable, distinguishable characters.

In 1886, expert piano tuner Edgar Drake receives an unusual request from Her Majesty's War Office to service a rare grand piano in a remote area of the Burmese Army's division. Surgeon-Major Carroll heads a post of strategic interest to Britain there, and the government has reluctantly agreed to deliver a grand piano to him or risk his threat of resignation. Thus Drake's services are requested and his adventure to Burma begins. As Drake leaves his wife behind, he sets out on his long journey that lasts for months. The reader begins to wonder if he will ever reach his destination. We are rewarded after this long beginning and journey in the second half of the book, with a story that is filled with beautiful descriptions of exotic pre-colonial Burma, its people, and their dramatic history. After Drake finally meets Major Carroll, and finally tunes the piano, the story picks up at a fast pace that will keep you glued to your seats. Drake finds himself more involved than he ever expected in Major Carroll's affairs. When Drake meets a new love interest, Khin Myo, both of them set out on an adventure that is quite surprising, and we are soon rewarded with an unexpected climax to this stunning novel.

I truly enjoyed Mason's debut historical novel. It's a beautifully written story that will take you away to a time when things were so much simpler. It's a great travelogue, and a peaceful way to spend a few hours relaxing. I know I am now definitely a fan of Mason's writing, and look forward to his next endeavor. "The Piano Tuner" is quite an achievement!

Joe Hanssen

A Great first Novel!
I was lucky to pick up an advanced copy of this first novel at the library. It caught my attention with its subject matter as I had just read'Tournament of Shadows' by Karl E. Meyer and Shareen Brysac about the history of the 'great game' in Central Asia (a great non-fiction book). I found the Piano Tuner's adventure story and it telling against the roll of the British Army in the jungles of Burma an interesting backdrop to this novel set in the late 1800s. The Piano Tuner is going to be a big hit! It is so well written, filled with great visuals and as the Piano Tuner, Edgar Drake, travels from London to Burma just to tune a mysterious piano for a mysterious officer. It's basic structure reads like 'Heart of Darkness'. I really enjoyed this first novel. (I am sure Mr. Daniel Mason will not be able to complete medical school as we will all want to read his next book.) Now I wonder who will make this into a movie.. I see Ralph Fines in the lead.

This was the first album-review book I bought, and as such I had no basis for comparison, but looking back I have to admit, it's really pretty awful. Instead of reviewing an artist's discography album by album, we instead have scattershot recommendations of a few albums (perplexingly glossing over a group's best work at times), and then a section citing albums the reviewer considers "bad"--interestingly, all artists in this world seem to have exactly one or two albums that are "bad", and very often perfectly good albums are condemned. Also, there's the unfortunate supercilious dismissal of artists whom the reviewer personally has something against. And of course omissions abound.

I'll admit I got SOME useful information out of this, but you can to SO much better. Get the AMG Guide to Rock instead; it's a MUCH better book.

Overall, this book was a pretty good buy and I'd recommend it. I thought most of the critics reviews were accurate- some of them dead on. Their particular strength seems to be to sniff out the good albums from the not so good ones. The reviews are quite honest too, and not always nicey-nice, occassionally, they will trash an artist or album they feel deserves it. On occassion, they can come off as being overly judgemental, trashing artists you may have thought were good. Just remember that no criticism is purely objective so one's subjective like or dislike will inevitably play a role. Overall, though, the trashing isn't overly excessive and the critics for the most part know what they are talking about. This book is on a whole is more fair and objective than the Rolling Stone Guide, which tends to trash way too many artists, often quite unjustly so. If Music Hound Rock doesn't like an artist, at least they try to be convincing about why.

I was impressed at the range of artists presented in this book. It covers all the subcategories of rock music from punk to heavy metal to today's pop to the oldies from the 50s and 60s. The book introduced me to a lot of lesser known but worthy artists as well. Many artists I would not be expected to find in here because they didn't seem that well known, we in fact in the book.

The only real disappointment I have with the book is the CD that came with. I believe I know a fair amount about rock music, including some of the lesser known artists but not one single artist was familar to me on the CD. Upon listening to it, I had to admit the songs, while not downright irritating, were nonetheless kind of boring. I realize this is my own subjective judgement here, but for critics who claim to know a lot about rock music, they could have at least produced a CD that delivered.

But as long as you don't buy the book just for the free CD that comes with, you probably won't be disappointed.

In the introduction to this book, it says that if it gets you to NOT buy a couple of bad records, the book has paid itself. I definately agree and have confirmed this with some of the albums I wish I had never bought. There is definatly some omissions but these are understandable when you consider all the records that are out there.But the best thing about this book is that it is up to date. The Rolling Stone guide stops in the early 80s and the Rough Guide only covers to the early 90s. I have not yet been disapointed with the results of my purchases for which i've consider Musichounds advice. I will probably buy the Musichound World book so that I can start with this kind of music. If you are a serious rock music collector, you should get this book.