Clubs Books

I really enjoyed this book! Nora, the loving aunt/sister in-law/ bookstore owner/loyal friend is a clever sleuth and a charming character. She helps her nephew "Sherlock", the Chief of Detectives, solve several murders involving people she cared about. I really enjoyed the small ,friendly town that is much like my own. Nora's devotion to her family and friends reminded me of my Italian American family, especially her Christmas gathering at her home! The many recipies were an extra treat.
Several student murders occur among the local college student body, many of whom frequent Nora's bookstore/ coffee bar "Leaves of Grass." The cause appears to be drug-related. There are several likely suspects, and the guilty party is not easily identifiable.
This book combines the "cozy mystery" and the realistic, suspenceful drama elements.I thought the black and white photos add a "film noir" flavor and really help to better identify with the characters.Nora is someone I would like to know personally! I hope there will be more books featuring Nora and company.

Reading Tony Vellela's charming mystery was like spending time with an old friend. The story takes place in a college town (and who doesn't remember the complex relationships that are the hallmark of our youth?), filled with interesting, well-drawn characters, comfortably inhabiting the town's skin. The mystery is fun and suspenseful, without the gore of many of today's writers. Mr. Vellela has the light touch of a Mary Higgins Clark. For a good, suspenseful read that takes you back to your youth (or if you're still young, that may mirror your own life now), I recommend that you get a copy. It transported me to a sweet vision of small-town America. It's a wonderfully safe place to live for a while - unless you turn up dead, of course!

I truly enjoyed By Book or by Crook by Tony Vellela. He was able to create for me a believable college town setting, whose routine is shattered by multiple murders. Aunt Nora and nephew Sherlock have to see beyond their familial relationship and work together to solve the crimes, something they both find difficult to accomplish. Nora runs a bookstore cafe, and mothers all her college clientele, while Michael (Sherlock) is the Chief of Detectives of a small town police force. Both the victims and the suspects are regulars at the cafe, so Nora's involvement in solving the crimes is essential. I didn't figure out who did it, but Nora did.

this is an excellent book, by belinda jones, that could easily be read in one sitting, as it is so gripping.
ok, so its not excellent writing, but the plot keeps you wanting to find out what happens next. the characters are all loveable (except elise) and you will want to know how laras life ends up. this book would make an excellent movie.
if only the california club was real!

I read this book in one day, I never put it down. This book is hilarious and fast paced. It makes you want to read it as fast as possible. I only wish you could actually buy this book in America for a reasonable price.

This is such a great book.
The Brighton Beau-Belles, a group formed by 5 friends, travels to California for a 2-week holiday together. Lara, who has been secretly in love with Elliot for almost 10 years, tries to win him back, but...he is travelling with his new fiancee!
The ending is completely unexpected, but it ends happily, which is great.
I really recommend this book, especially for the beach.

California's El Camino Real is the first book to document the growth of El Camino Real and the bells which have marked it for almost a century. Collections strong in California history won't want to miss this coverage: it includes numerous vintage black and white photos, maps, and a smooth coverage of the bells and the El Camino's changing history.

When you drive up the "left coast" in California, whether it be along Interstate 5 in the San Diego area, old U. S. Highway 101 or California State Highway 1, you see the familiar mission bells. This book tells the story behind those bells and one of America's great pathways. This road was originally blazed to connect California's mission system, and is a good reference point for a visit to any or all of the missions.

I've always loved el camino since I was a kid so I wasn't sure I had anything to learn about it--boy was I wrong! There is such a wealth of history that I knew nothing about, and this book has it all! Now I can appreciate the road's famous marker bells so much more, knowing how much hard work went into them. I bet a lot of hard work went into this book too, and I am grateful to Mr Kurillo and Ms Tuttle.

This was required reading for a graduate course in the Humanities. A great story and important historical work in literature. Voltaire was a Renaissance Christian humanist who played a role in the development of the Enlightenment.

On the one hand, the structure of his novel Candide is Homeric, it is the journey narrative, the hero with a thousand faces, but it is a satirical restructuring of that classical motif of the hero on a quest. What is the importance of the quest in Candide? What is the quest about in the classical sense? The quest is about learning. In the classical sense the hero leaves, has to acquire some sort of knowledge, learn a set of skills that is going to help him or her enact the quest surmount the obstacles that they encounter at one point or another, and the finally what does the hero have to accomplish? What is out there the "Holy Grail" The prize, the whole quest is about attaining some sort of ultimate end or some sort of ultimate knowledge. Does it end there? No, you got to go back with that knowledge, because the quest is never just about attaining the goal, it's about bringing it home to make everybody better, to restore the community. The individual quest, the heroic quest in the classical sense always has a larger social corrective end. The purpose of the individual, the function of the individual all depends on his ability to return to the collective, whatever it is that he has found that he has acquired that is going to change the way things are. Now how does that compare to the journey or quest narrative in Candide? Contrary to the notion of what prepares us for the world, OK here is the important structure of the journey or the quest, and the critique of knowledge by Voltaire. It is contrary to the idea of the knowledge that we acquire prepares us for the world. That each new bit of knowledge that we acquire, prepares us for the next step, and prepares us for the next stage. Contrary to the idea that life is somehow to be understood or that human history is somehow to be understood as a journey organized around progress, around betterment advancement acquiring new knowledge more knowledge more science more learning, we're getting better again, Candide tells the story that goes in the opposite direction. So, then you acquire knowledge and then you spend the rest of the journey finding out that the knowledge is useless, bit by bit, and every lesson you've acquired has to be cast aside, everything you learn you have to abandon. Instead of gaining and getting better, it is throwing off, letting go, and getting worse. Where does Voltaire want us in the end to think of the notion and narrative of progress?


Of course, you know that Candide is steeped in so many of the political and philosophical controversies of the 1750's. One of his big critiques is of the philosopher Leibnitz who said that `this is the best of all possible worlds," the idea championed by Leibnitz was a simple version of the philosophy espoused by enlightenment philosophers that the existence of any evil in the world was a sign that god was not entirely good or very powerful. The idea of an imperfect god would be nonsensical. So if you are a philosopher who takes for granted that god exists, you would have to conclude logically; and here is where humanities and Christianity really start messing with each other in all kinds of obvious ways, that god is perfect if you logically conclude that god exists. Therefore, his creation, the world, and man must also be perfect. According to many enlightenment philosophers, people perceived imperfections of the world only because they do not get the plan. This is a teleological idea of the world. Now obviously Voltaire does not accept this theory, or that god or any god has to exist. Therefore, he makes fun of the idea that the world is completely good. Much of the novel is a satire addressed to the notion that the optimists who witness countless horrors and unbelievable injustice such as floggings, robberies, and earthquakes will always find a way to write it off. They will say, `oh well there must be part of a plan, even though none of these calamities seem to serve any good at all it must point to human cruelty ignorance and barbarism and points to the indifference of the natural world. Pangloss the philosopher in the book throughout the story is always trying to find some justification for the terrible things that he sees and the arguments that he makes seem increasingly to be absurd, like his quote that "Syphilis needed to be transmitted from the new world to Europe so that Europeans could taste new world delicacies. What other things is Voltaire criticizing here that connects to some of the debates that define the enlightenment period of the 1750's Religion? Religion- He criticizes the whole hypocrisy of religion. In the book, Voltaire has a parade of corrupt hypocritical religious leaders who are like the Pope that has a daughter (should have been celibate). Hard line Catholic inquisitors, a Franciscan monk who should have vow of poverty but is a jewel thief. Here Voltaire provides countless examples of the immorality and hypocrisy of religious leaders, he does not really condemn believers per say, he is really out to attack church leadership and church hierarchy. For example Jacques, who is an Anabaptist is arguably one of the most generous and humane characters.

What else does Voltaire criticize or satirize? Wealth- money corrupts; Candide seems to have more problems when he has lots of money. Things get worse he gets unhappy. An interesting point, Voltaire was deeply involved in a debate with the many deep thinkers of his time, most notably was Rousseau, who lambasted the aristocracy. Voltaire himself really moved very comfortably among aristocratic circles and interestingly the French enlightenment philosophy really took off among the French aristocracy. Since they had the leisure time to contemplate so many of the new ideas in reason, science and rationalism and his notions of progress and advancement were ideas that were principally championed and discussed by members of the French aristocracy. Therefore, it was among some of the idle members of the French aristocrats that these enlightenment philosophers were able to find their most ardent followers. Despite the fact that the church and the state were not more often that not completely allied with each other, kings could be attracted on occasion to arguments that seemed to undermine the authority of the church. The fact that the aristocrats were very much unaware of the precariousness of their position tended to make them overconfident. Dabbling in some new ideas that were part of the enlightenment movement caused them not to take seriously the kind of jeopardy they were in or what the enlightenment would lead to in the championing of the common man and the overthrow of the French aristocracy. Because they found these ideas somewhat new, interesting, and exciting and they did not really see this as at all leading inexorably to the demise of the aristocratic class. Now of course it was thinkers like Rousseau not at all like Voltaire on this particular point that made his chief adversary. Rousseau distrusted the aristocrats out of a hunger to overthrow the class but because he believed that people of wealth betrayed decent traditional values. Rousseau opposed the theatre, which is Voltaire's lifeblood; he shunned the aristocracy, which Voltaire very much courted. He courted their attention he courted their interests. Rousseau argued for something dangerous like democratic revolution, and Voltaire argued that equality was impossible it would never come about. Rousseau argued that inequality was not only natural but that if it were taken too far it would make any decent government a total impossibility. Voltaire was very charming and witty, which led largely to his success in moving about aristocratic and social circles. Rousseau insisted on his own correctness and was not a charming person to be around; he was very intense and very serious about his ideas. Voltaire endlessly repeated the same handful of core enlightenment notions, where as Rousseau was a deeply original thinker. Who was always challenging his own way of thinking contradicting himself, coming up with ideas on the equality of education, the family, the government, and the arts in a matter that was much more radical than Voltaire was ever willing to go along with. They were both skeptics, and Voltaire is nothing if not a skeptic.

What does Voltaire do with the idea of philosophy in Candide? Philosophy- What is the value of philosophical speculation? It is useless for Voltaire; it is one of Pangloss' biggest flaws. Abstract philosophical argument is not based on any real world evidence. In the chaotic world of this novel, philosophical speculation repeatedly proves to be useless, and at times even dangerous. Time and again it prevents the characters from making any useful assessment of the world around them, it prevents them from bringing about any kind of change, it prevent them from thinking that they might try to bring about some social change. Pangloss is the character most susceptible to this kind of foolishness. Example, while Jacques is drowning, Pangloss stops Candide from saving him by proving that the bay was formed for Jacques to drown in. Therefore, at the end of course at the novels conclusion Candide rejects Pangloss' philosophies. If philosophical speculation is useless, what does Voltaire suggest you put in its place? Hard practical work in general. Therefore, it is somewhat surprising in that sense that this judgment against philosophy that is portrayed in the book becomes very dramatic when we think about Voltaire's own status as a philosopher.

What about the garden at the end of the novel? At the end of the novel Candide defines happiness in raising vegetables. On the one hand it is indicative of the turning away from the following of philosophy, from the abstract speculative nature of philosophy towards something hands on something pragmatic. Does the garden have a symbolic resonance to it? Is it related to the Garden of Eden? For Adam and Eve the garden is the beginning of their troubles, here it is the end of their troubles. It is the end of the narrative the end of their quest, their journey, and the end of their travails. This is where they wind up this is where they retreat. In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve do not have to work to have fruits of the garden; this garden requires work, and constant tending. In that I think the garden here represents much, more in a very different way than the biblical garden represents. An embrace of life, but an embrace of life of what? For all the horror, hardships, and nightmares that these characters experience throughout the entire course of the text, at the end, they embrace life; they take it they say yes.

The status of knowledge in Voltaire, what do we know? The garden is a final retreat from activism, or social engagement in the world. Finally, what Voltaire is saying is look go back to the basics. Do not try to change, analyze the world, or try to speculate about the nature of our existence. Retreat into your own sphere and do not mess with the world around you, because ultimately you are powerless, to do anything in this world. I think Voltaire is commenting on in a sense the Utopian impulse and imagination. Specifically as it influenced enlightenment philosophers of the period with respect to the notion of progress and advancement.

Recommended reading for anyone interested in history, psychology, philosophy, and literature.

(This refers to the Peter Constantine translation from 2005.) This wonderful and short book ought to be first called philosophical, then satirical, then an adventure, and finally political. Unlike his contemporary Flaubert (such as in A Sentimental Education), Voltaire manages to keep contemporary references staggered in a perfect quantity to not overwhelm his 'main meal' with spices of political reference and opinionated controversy. While the story itself is a little unbelievable and facile, this fits perfectly with the satire Voltaire is able to exact on just about every nation, religion, political party, playwright, and idea he chooses--and he chooses to be inclusive! The bashful optimist Candide, the love of his life Cunegonde, and his troupe of intermittent companies such as a mulatto sidekick, a practical foil, an 'old woman', a womanizing abbot, and finally his lifelong tutor, Professor Pangloss, who teaches primarily 'metaphysico-theolog-cosmo-idiotology all serve to act out an adventure and a wonderful debate on how to think about and act toward this very hard thing called life. While not a Buddhist tract by any means, it certainly concludes with some telling signs supportive of 'calm abiding'; and resolves to a very simple, perhaps almost Theroux-esque philosophies. This is put together well on all levels and will be enjoyed by all except staunch and sensitive believers of their own religion. The book is tawdry and explicit at times, which dulls its impact.

The Constantine translation is light, wry and true. It feels as if this is most like what a contemporary reader must have transacted out of the book at the time it was written, certainly in terms of humor and light pique. The last time I read this was in French in middle school and it was much more of a pleasure in English in this version.

According to many scholars, Voltaire (pen name for Francois Marie Arouet) was the embodiment of the Enlightenment. Born in Paris is 1694, he was well educated by the Jesuits, studying law prior to turning to writing as a profession. His lampoons and satires won him fame and infamy; he was imprisoned and exiled at various times for his writing. He was forced into exile from France to England; later, he was invited to work for Frederick the Great in Berlin (politics and his reputation blew rapidly in the ever-changing winds of Europe). Voltaire wrote 'Candide' shortly after this period, when he had moved to Geneva. In 1778, the year of his death, he returned to Paris, a triumphant celebrity -- many of his ideas served to strengthen the movements that would eventually culminate in the French Revolution.

The story of 'Candide', the primary character in the Voltaire's novel, is the story of the search for answers. It is hard to classify 'Candide' solely as a political satire, or indeed in any other genre where it might find similarities. Voltaire explores religious and theological ideas, social and political situations, personal and intellectual issues, and the general strand of history. How could an omnipotent and benevolent God permit the world to be as it is? How can human beings, supposedly rational beings, treat each other as they do? How can rational beings act, feel and believe so irrationally?

The Enlightenment brought the ideas of Deism forward as important, and began to explore in earnest intellectual and political freedoms for people. The acquisition of knowledge, both pure theory and experiential/applied, was of high value. Candide was a student more than anything else, although in the course of the story, he holds many roles. Others who appear include Pangloss, the know-it-all philosophy teacher; Cunegonde, Candide's on-again, off-again love interest (who has her own set of adventures reported); Martin, another scholar (this one rather hopeless, in more ways than one); various other characters including Jewish merchants, Grand Inquisitors (the Enlightenment equivalent of Monty Python's Spanish Inquisition), and other bit players.

Candide travels all across Europe, from Westphalia through the Latin countries, ending up finally in Constantinople. No stone is unturned to expose the foibles of the locals, the problems of the travelers, and questionable underside of all society as they move from place to place, culture to culture, and crisis to crisis. Ultimately, the plot is not as important as the characters and characterisations -- for a book written in the 1700s, it is remarkably modern, hinting at sexual innuendo (including homosexuality) among royals and clergy, making fun of the military mindset and leadership (the king of the Bulgars is modeled upon Frederick the Great, and the Bulgar army is the Prussian army) and the church (the pope here has an illegitmate daughter, etc.).

The key satire, however, is against Leibniz, philosopher and mathematician, very intelligent but obviously not in directions Voltaire cared for. Leibniz had a directional metaphysics and historical sense -- this was the best of all possible worlds (the most famous phrase from the novel, put in Pangloss' mouth); the amiable but not-swift-on-the-uptake Pangloss is the stand-in for Leibniz.

Norton's Critical Edition includes several essays, in addition to the text of Voltaire's 'Candide' -- the novel itself is a mere 77 pages, translated by Robert Adams of UCLA. There are several background pieces, including a general survey of the intellectual background, philosophical explanations, and a brief biography of Voltaire.

Essays on criticism include discussion of Voltaire's narrative art, the ideas of pessimism and providence (it is worth remember here that Voltaire's purpose in writing 'Candide' was as a critique against optimism, of a sort), and various controversies. This is truly a fascinating collection, with pieces by such heavyweights in literary history as William Blake and Heinrich Heine giving their impressions on Voltaire and the issues addressed in 'Candide'. Gustave Flaubert and Anatole France give reflections on Voltaire's humanity; Victor Hugo discusses his greatness.

As Adams says, it is a surprise to find that 'Candide', a classic, is nonetheless funny. However, that is because it is so readily identifiable -- many heroes in modern stories are re-worked Candides of one sort or another; it is an Enlightenment Everyman, and we live in a period still heavily invested in and self-identified with Enlightenment ideas.

This is obviously the best of all possible Norton Critical Editions of Voltaire's 'Candide' from Adams.

As Mr. Lewyn's former Southern bartender I can attest without having read the book that Michael can suck up more facts and figures than a Hoover Upright! If he has cast his eye on Buffalo then nothing will be missing from this book. The man doesn't miss a thing! Though it will do me little good in Arkansas I will be purchasing this book in the near future to show off to Michael's former friends and associates. Keep up the good work Michael!

I latched on to Mr. Lewyn's fine volume while looking up some reference material on Buffalo. For those of who are familar with that material, you know how incredibly sparse the topic is. Car-Free in Buffalo goes beyond its immediate subject, and does a good job of depicting how urban-dwellers in the late 20th and the early 21st Century strive to exist without the dreaded automobile. Mr. Lewyn has done Buffalo and the rest of us a fine service by writing producing this work and I look forward to his companion work on Atlanta!

As the author of this book, I naturally think it is wonderful. This book isn't just about public transportation -- it is a neighborhood by neighborhood guide to Buffalo. I even mention specific stores and restaurants that you might want to try (though on the negative side, this means some of my information might be out of date).

Perry Mason is first consulted by a young woman whose father was apparently murdered by the mob because of his stake in a Las Vegas property. Now, the woman, Stephanie Falkner, wants Mason's help negotiating her share of the same property, having inherited it from her father. Before agreeing, Mason must check with a longstanding client, with whom there might be a conflict of interest. The client wants Mason on the case, and thus begins the trouble.

Soon, a body turns up, and it appears Falkner has killed the man who may have murdered her father. She even has a gun that's been fired once. What happens next might be called "musical guns." In an attempt to protect his client, Mason arranges for another gun to be delivered to her. Now there are two guns. Soon, a third gun turns up. (There are shades of The Case of the Demure Defendant, another Perry Mason mystery, here.) And no matter how many switches are made, it seems Mason's client is cooked. And, of course, Mason's longstanding nemesis, District Attorney Hamilton Burger, thinks he can get not only Mason's client but also Mason himself, this time as an accessory.

The Perry Mason novels are all solid mysteries/courtroom dramas. Each is an excellent example of the genre and thoroughly readable. This one is no exception.

The Case of the Long-legged Models, by Erle Stanley Gardner

This book is dedicated to Michael Anthony Luongo, M.D. who is a senior member of the Department of Legal Medicine at Harvard Medical School, an associate pathologist for the Massachusetts State Police, and certified by the American Board of Pathology. Dr. Luongo is famous of his desires for Truth and Justice.

A young lady inherits shares in a gambling place at Las Vegas. Her father had refused to sell out, and was murdered. Now the daughter is asked to sell her shares to a stranger. She seeks help and advice from Perry Mason. Perry has another client who also owns a part of this gambling place, and begins to investigate. But his client went out of town and can't be found. Perry locates him by telephone, and carries on a secure conversation; the result is that Perry will protect the young heiress. Perry meets the potential buyer to discusses the price, but nothing is resolved. While sitting outside in his car, he sees his client enter this apartment house, and then leave. Then the young heiress enters, and rushes from the house; Perry picks her up and discusses her visit. The next morning the would-be buyer is found murdered in his apartment.

Read this novel to learn why Erle Stanley Gardner was such a popular author; it is a good example of his work. Gardner was a lawyer who found fame and fortune writing about a heroic lawyer roughly based on the life of Earl Rogers. You will learn a few things about law and lawyers as part of this story. Could these tactics be possible today? The fact of blood clotting after a murder is still relevant today. "The police rarely solve gangster killings" (Chapter 1). The story follows the convention of denoting the villain as one guilty of some other crime.

Erle Stanley Gardner has a way of keeping you guessing up until the very end, and this Perry Mason novel is no exception. Even when you think you know "whodunit," you probably don't. A fun, fast read, and one of Gardner's better ones -- although they're all great!

Erle Stanley Gardner (1889-1970) wrote more than one hundred novels over the course of his long career. A trial lawyer himself, Gardner's best known creation was Perry Mason, a flamboyant criminal defense attorney who earns his large fees by virtue of a remarkable talent for using the law to uncover the truth on the witness stand.

Stephanie Falkner's father was murdered and the crime was never solved. She has inherited the forty percent interest he owned in a small Las Vegas casino and hotel--and now someone is buying up the remaining interest and seems determined to have her share no matter what. It isn't long before murder enters the scene, and once again Perry Mason has to earn his fee the hard way.

Like all the Mason novels, THE CASE OF THE LONG-LEGGED MODELS is essentially genre fiction pure and simple, written in a workman-like manner with an emphasis on staccato dialogue. But Gardner was the peak of his powers in the 1950s, and in this 1957 title he has added a certain sparkle that raises the book above the pack: a combination of twisty plot and twisty legal angles that mix to create a fast and furious read. This one is easily among his best!

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

The Case of the Nervous Accomplice

The 'Foreword' dedicates this book to Dr. Joseph W. Spelman, the state pathologist of Vermont and an associate professor in Pathology at the University of Vermont. He is a member of the group qualified to investigate deaths in a scientific manner to determine the cause and time of death. Gardner has spent years in writing to make people aware of the importance of forensic medicine.

Mrs. Enright A. Harlan visits Perry Mason to discuss the "domestic difficulties" of a cheating husband. Sybil doesn't want a divorce, separate maintenance, community property, or alimony; she just wants her husband back. Sybil wants Perry to buy stock in a real estate development company, and then create difficulties that will affect Enright's affair with Mrs. Roxy Claffin (Chapter 1). Perry goes to buy the stock from George Lutts, paying $32,750 for 2,000 shares, and learns more about this property that is a run-down residential district. Perry finds that Roxy owns adjoining property (Chapter 2). Mrs. Harlan then tells Perry about this property, how the new freeway will be close and increase the worth of this run-down property. They drive to the neglected old mansion which had been partitioned for small businesses. They observe Roxy by her swimming pool (Chapter 3). Perry attends the director's meeting, and says Roxy has invaded their "right of lateral support" by removing fill dirt, and could be sued (Chapter 4). Late in the afternoon Perry gets an emotional phone call from Sybil; when she was at the old house with George Lutts someone shot Lutts. Earlier Lutts bought 3,000 shares of the stock for $24,000 from another director. After Sybil tells all at Perry's office, they find that the gun in Sybil's car is now missing! Perry gives instructions to Sybil that must be followed (Chapter 5). Paul Drake monitors taxicabs by their radio frequency. Sybil calls Perry to tell him she followed his advice (Chapter 6).

In Chapter 7 Perry calls Herbert Doxey and asks to inspect the property. They find Lutts' car, and then the body. The police are called. Sergeant Holcomb suspects something from Perry's presence. Roxy's problems and complaints to Enright have sent him back to Sybil. Paul tells Perry the police found the murder weapon; it was sold to Enright A. Harlan! The taxidriver reported picking up a woman near the murder scene, another taxidriver brought the woman to Enright A. Harlan's home (Chapter 8). Perry goes to visit Sybil Harlan in jail. Perry then assigns his detectives to get information on the other people who are involved (Chapter 9).

The preliminary hearing begins, the details about the death are given (Chapter 10). [Did you notice anything?] The taxidriver's testimony is contradicted by the printed receipt! Next we learn that some woman other than the defendant signed to buy the murder weapon. The case is dismissed and Sybil is released from custody. Perry and Della perform an experiment to test the testimony (Chapter 11). The District Attorney presents new evidence at the trial. Perry finds out that Sybil didn't tell him the whole truth, and she explains why (Chapter 13). Sybil's friend is called as a prosecution witness, and so are others (Chapter 14). Roxy Claffin has thrown out junk like boards and torn canvas sacks at the dump, but it disappeared (Chapter 15). Other witnesses are questioned. The questioning of Enright Harlan uncovers a surprising fact (Chapter 17)! A new witness admits to facts that point to another person (Chapter 18). Perry explains his observations in Chapter 19, just before the judge instructs the jury to return a verdict of not guilty for Sybil.

The 'Foreword' dedicates this book to Dr. Joseph W. Spelman, the state pathologist of Vermont and an associate professor in Pathology at the University of Vermont. He is a member of the group qualified to investigate deaths in a scientific manner to determine the cause and time of death. Gardner has spent years in writing to make people aware of the importance of forensic medicine.

Mrs. Enright A. Harlan visits Perry Mason to discuss the "domestic difficulties" of a cheating husband. Sybil doesn't want a divorce, separate maintenance, community property, or alimony; she just wants her husband back. Sybil wants Perry to buy stock in a real estate development company, and then create difficulties that will affect Enright's affair with Mrs. Roxy Claffin (Chapter 1). Perry goes to buy the stock from George Lutts, paying $32,750 for 2,000 shares, and learns more about this property that is a run-down residential district. Perry finds that Roxy owns adjoining property (Chapter 2). Mrs. Harlan then tells Perry about this property, how the new freeway will be close and increase the worth of this run-down property. They drive to the neglected old mansion which had been partitioned for small businesses. They observe Roxy by her swimming pool (Chapter 3). Perry attends the director's meeting, and says Roxy has invaded their "right of lateral support" by removing fill dirt, and could be sued (Chapter 4). Late in the afternoon Perry gets an emotional phone call from Sybil; when she was at the old house with George Lutts someone shot Lutts. Earlier Lutts bought 3,000 shares of the stock for $24,000 from another director. After Sybil tells all at Perry's office, they find that the gun in Sybil's car is now missing! Perry gives instructions to Sybil that must be followed (Chapter 5). Paul Drake monitors taxicabs by their radio frequency. Sybil calls Perry to tell his she followed his advice (Chapter 6).

In Chapter 7 Perry calls Herbert Doxey and asks to inspect the property. They find Lutts' car, and then the body. The police are called. Sergeant Holcomb suspects something from Perry's presence. Roxy's problems and complaints to Enright have sent him back to Sybil. Paul tells Perry the police found the murder weapon; it was sold to Enright A. Harlan! The taxidriver reported picking up a woman near the murder scene, another taxidriver brought the woman to Enright A. Harlan's home (Chapter 8). Perry goes to visit Sybil Harlan in jail. Perry then assigns his detectives to get information on the other people who are involved (Chapter 9).

The preliminary hearing begins, the details about the death are given (Chapter 10). [Did you notice anything?] The taxidriver's testimony is contradicted by the printed receipt! Next we learn that some woman other than the defendant signed to buy the murder weapon. The case is dismissed and Sybil is released from custody. Perry and Della perform an experiment to test the testimony (Chapter 11). The District Attorney presents new evidence at the trial. Perry finds out that Sybil didn't tell him the whole truth, and she explains why (Chapter 13). Sybil's friend is called as a prosecution witness, and so are others (Chapter 14). Roxy Claffin has thrown out junk like boards and torn canvas sacks at the dump, but it disappeared (Chapter 15). Other witnesses are questioned. The questioning of Enright Harlan uncovers a surprising fact (Chapter 17)! A new witness admits to facts that point to another person (Chapter 18). Perry explains his observations in Chapter 19, just before the judge instructs the jury to return a verdict of not guilty for Sybil.

Very well-plotted mystery. Every small details were combined to the truth. Trial scenes took larger part in this novel and I like trial scenes. Highly recommended.

This story is written using sophisticated rhymes and tells a funny story most kids will identify with. My son asked to have this book read to him every night for weeks, and the clever writing kept it fun for me. I even memorized the book for car rides. It is definately one of my favorite books in his library.

Caterpillow Fight is not only a great bedtime story but is quite charming. Is a tongue-tiwster at times. There is also a lesson at the end of this story which is a great learning experience. My 4-year granddaughter eagerly looked forward to hearing this story and rapidly learned to read it by herself due to the wonderful illustrations. The use of animals in realistic story matters are a great asset for young children. This book delivers all.

I am 4 years old and I like this book the best because they have a pillow fight. I like the pictures very much. The callerpittars are so funny. You should read this book.

This is a great book for anyone who is a fan, but also a real treat for people living in the metro-Detroit area, as a few of the celebrities asked are local TV and radio stars. She wrote to a lot of people over the years and has a great collection of stars' heroes, from Soupy Sales to Les Paul and of course Davy Jones! It's neat to find out who inspired the celebrities to be who they are today.

Mary Guerra is an authority on fandom as she is a member of a fanclub or two herself. I know this since she belongs to the fanclub I run for Davy Jones, Davy Devotees. Though the concept of fandom is normally perceived as being something the nonfamous possess, Mary spent years contacting various celebrities asking them just who they consider themselves a fan of and what fanclubs they would join if they could! She received personal responses from legends in the field of entertainment like RoseMarie and Phyllis Diller to Les Paul, inventor of the electric guitar, Richard Petty, of racing fame, columnist, Liz Smith and "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe. Shirley Jones, Peter Noone and Mary's personal favorite, Davy Jones of The Monkees, are just a few of the many other highlighted celebrities. If you've been a fan of anyone at anytime, this book gives you an interesting look at who those we admire actually admire. At times the featured celebrities provide laughs and at other times intriguing revelations. Overall this is a fun read with a lot of heart!

This book is fabulous. My husband and I found it to be a quick, entertaining read. We particularly enjoyed the entry from Mike Clark, our favorite radio DJ. It's interesting to see what people celebrities find heroic, and it conveys more of an inside look into their personality as well.

With the remarkable increase in the number of tournaments and weekend congresses over the last decade, the understanding of the Laws of Chess, and the way they work in practice, is of paramount importance to all chess players. To date, organizers and participants have had no authority to which they could refer, but this gap has now been filled by Bozidar Kazic, the Chief Arbiter of FIDE, with contributions from Dragutin Djaja, a FIDE International Arbiter; Martin Morrison, past President of the FIDE Rules Commission; and Arpad Elo, creator and developer of the official FIDE Rating System. This book includes a detailed explanation of the FIDE Rating System and the method by which all International Titles are awarded. All controllers will benefit from the thorough coverage afforded to the various forms of the Swiss System and other tournament systems.

I am chess arbiter and I believe that this book can be available for basic knowledge of all the world's arbiters. Include a lot of real cases available for training, a complete description of ratings system, swiss system and others tournament regulations. My personal recommendation for all the arbiters.

With the remarkable increase in the number of tournaments and weekend congresses over the last decade, the understanding of the Laws of Chess, and the way they work in practice, is of paramount importance to all chess players. To date, organizers and participants have had no authority to which they could refer, but this gap has now been filled with this book. The book also includes a detailed explanation of the FIDE (World Chess Federation) Rating System and the method by which International Titles are awarded, and all tournament directors will benefit from the torough coverage afforded to the various forms of the Swiss System and other tournament expenses.