Leave your preconceptions behind when you pick up "The Kidnapping of Rosie Dawn." Yes, it's billed as as Joe Barley Mystery, but this is definitely not a typical murder mystery whodunit. There are three plots. First and foremost, there's the storyline described by the title, where Joe, a part-time college professor who does a bit of stakeout work for a detective firm, searches for a missing call girl at the behest of his Portuguese cleaning woman. Then we meet Joe's officemate, a fellow part-time prof who's being sued for racial discrimination by a black student. Finally, there's Joe's live-in lover, who suddenly starts acting very, very strange indeed.

Yes, the latter two plots have nothing to do with the main one, but I enjoyed the fact that this is not a normal whodunit. For one thing, it's wildly funny -- I almost dropped the book at a couple of points, I was laughing so hard. And Joe is a pleasant fellow to spend some time with. The wrap-up to the title mystery is a bit convoluted, but on the whole, "The Kidnapping of Rosie Dawn" is a refreshing read.

Both my husband and I enjoyed this book. We liked Joe Barley and can't wait to read more about his friends, co-workers, adventures, and Toronto!

When Joe Barley's cleaning lady asks him to find one of her clients who seems to have disappeared, Joe, a part-time teacher, is not sure he wants to help. Joe also works part time for a security agency as a watcher, they pay him to watch a doorway, a park, and a street and then report back on what he saw. But Helena is convinced that he is a real detective so what could he do but agree to help. Rosie Dawn, is a college student paying her bills by doing exotic dancing on the side and being the mistress of a fast-food entrepreneur, is missing. While trying to find Rosie Dawn, Joe must also solve the mystery of why his live-in love, Carol, is acting strange and help his office mate defeat the campus political-correctness police. With a great deal of understated humor, witty phrases and plots within plots, Eric Wright's The Kidnapping of Rosie Dawn, is a very enjoyable book to read. Wright has the ability to make complex plots easy to understand while at the same time leaving you with a sense of wonder at the layers he has created. Wright has a real talent for fleshing out his characters and capturing both their strengths and weaknesses. You are left with the feeling that Barley could easily be your next door neighbor or co-worker, just the average guy you meet every day.

"Death of a Hired Man" is a good mystery. Not outstanding, but certainly quite enjoyable.

The body of Norbert Thompson was found in the log cabin of retired officer Mel Pickett. Not only was the small community shaken by the murder, but naturally Pickett found himself involved -- especially when he realized who the murderer might be.

The more I read, the more I liked Norbert -- who never appears in the book ALIVE.

Between the purity of the writing, the decent characters, and the intriguing sub plot involving Pickett's son, I'm interested in reading the sequel (if one is written) as well as the other series by Eric Wright. The author caught my attention, kept it throughout the book, and left me wanting a little more. I believe that that means that "Death of a Hired Man" is a success.

Ontario Provincial Police Sergeant Willie is stunned when a woman reports a murder at a cabin on Larch River. Wilkie believes his father's old law enforcement peer, retired cop Mel Pickett, is the victim as this is his home. However, when Wilkie arrives at the scene, he finds a different corpse. The witness, Elisa Pullock, explains that the deceased is Norbert Thompson, renting the cabin from the recently married Mel. Elisa is borrowing a nearby trailer from Mel to work on a historical book about the area.

Upon hearing the news of the homicide of his border, the sixty-six-year-old Mel, as well as his wife Charlotte, is stunned. While the cops wonder if this might be part of the recent break-ins that turned ugly, Mel wonders if he was the target. Also under consideration by the law remains the fact that that Norbert left his brother's home to live at this cabin after a major spat with his sibling. Not wanting to wait, Mel goes into his police mode seeking the identity of a killer.

DEATH OF A HIRED MAN is a fabulous police procedural with private investigative elements. The story line is well crafted because author Eric Wright makes his cast seem genuine without slowing down the tale. Fans of a good crime novel starring newly married senior citizens struggling with difficult decisions such as wills and multiple homes will find this book as a sure thing.

Harriet Klausner

BLACK PEARLS is one year's worth of daily meditations. The collection touches almost all motivational subjects. Reading it is a positive way to start the day. It's very inspirational. Written for African Americans, but good for anybody.

This black pearl appreciates Eric's ability to caputure the true essence of black love. The selection of poems was superb. I laughed, I cried but most of all I reflected, on what love meant to me. With Valentine's Day around the corner, this book was right on time. Thank you Eric...

This is a great book to read at the start of everyday. It can be read by anyone of any heritage or ethnic background, it applies to anyone and everyone. Its one of those books that "makes you go hmmmm."

This is a real good book with the action picking up through out the novel. Plenty of thought went behind this book and should veiwed by other writers as a back bone for novel write; it show the rising climax very clearly with little messages in each chapter.

All the Charlie Salter books by Eric Wright are readable,entertaining, well observed, and have solid mysteriesunderpinning the plots. Somewhere between police procedural and cosy, Charlie's family provides the basis for the continuing sub plots from book to book. There isn't a bad one in the series.

The major conflict of the story happens around the homicide but with minor problems happening to Charlie and his family life a long the way a really good action with the murder being solved in one day but not before going through the long task of goin through suspects. The whole novel takes place over about a month with a lot of action to keep you interested in the plot summary. Character are fun and interesting but most of all Mr. Wright right the novel in such away that you become part of the story as Charlie partner in the solving of the murder. Really easy reading book full of action and little things to shake you head at; over all life experiance.

This book has some great photographs, but does not say enough about breeding. Maybe breeding is very simple. If so, the authors should say so. When I finished the book, I did not feel that I had learned much about breeding. It was kind of like leaving a restaurant without feeling full.

It has excellent photos and it covers most of the boas and pythons you may purchase but, if you already have the snakes and you are looking for information about breeding them this book doesn't help much. It has enough information to help you make up your mind if you still haven't decided on what species to buy for breeding.

THIS BOOK IS VERY GOOD FOR THE NEW SNAKE OWNER AND THE UNSURE. IT HAS USEFUL INFORMATION ON MANY DIFFRENT TYPES OF BOAS AND PYTHONS. THE BOOK DOES NOT USE "LARGE WORDS" THAT COULD CONFUSE READERS AND THOSE IT DOES THEY EXPLAIN THEM IN THE BACK. I WORK IN A PETSHOP AND THE BOOK IS REALLY CLOSE TO THE REAL THING. IT'S A GOOD BOOK FOR GETTING STARTED. IT ALSO HAS GREAT PICTURES.

I liked this book but not as much as some of the author's others. Plods a bit through the middle but has a great ending to make up for it.

After reading Death of a Sunday Writer, my desire to read a Canadian mystery novel is suffering a severe lack of vital signs.

Maybe I was mislead into believing this was a mystery novel - but believe me, there is not a shred of mystery between its glossy covers. Lack of details, lack of description, lack of suspense.

I was reminded of the stories I used to read in grade school - pleasant enough but not too demanding.

I've always enjoyed Eric Wright's books, right from the beginning. And while Death of a Sunday Writer is worlds away from his Charlie Salter series, it is an engaging departure. It does resemble, in its initial premise, P. D. James's An Unsuitable Job For a Woman in that it has a female "inheriting" a detective agency. But that is the only resemblance. Lucy Brenner is middle-aged and in flight from a psychologically abusive, madly controlling husband--a figure that will be alarmingly familiar to female readers--although this husband is a viable creation in his own right and well depicted. Lucy is uncertain, feisty, overimaginative and altogether charming. The Toronto setting is nicely familiar to those of us who know the city well (and inviting to those who don't); the characters are originals--from Peter Tse, Lucy's new Chinese landlord with the cockney accent (a lovely touch) to the sundry racing types, and to Nina, Lucy's new city friend, who is in many ways Lucy's polar opposite and yet displays a believable concern and fondness for Lucy. Setting herself up to take over her late cousin's so-called detective agency, with nothing more than a curious nature and great common sense to assist her, the reader is rooting for her right the way through. This is an effortless, likeable book.
Recommended.

Not a bad shop manual except one critical piece of information is not thoroughly outlined or explained......the Vehicle Identification Number Chart for all 1970-1980 model bikes. I have a 1980 FXB Sturgis shovelhead with the following VIN stamped on the frame and which matches the title paperwork:
7G4974J0
Table 4 on page 18 of this book doesn't show the second character in the chart. Don't know what other information is missing within the text that could be critical.