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I have enjoyed all the books in this series and was disappointed that this was not a Louis Kincaid book. I find it easy to like Kincaid and think him an honorable man. While A Thousand Bones as a thriller is good, I was disturbed by the ending. Jo's choice of justice was simply wrong. I have to like the hero of the story and Jo's dishonorable decision makes that impossible for me. Just ask the agent who could not accept it either.
I like Parrish's books and will continue to read them. Let's hope the next one I do not have to throw against the wall in frustration when I am finished.

I just finished reading this book and it had me hooked until the very end. The characters were true to life and the situations they found themselves in were very plausible.

This, in my opinion, is one of the better police procedural books as it was set in a time period when DNA was not yet discovered. Thus, murders were solved by honest to God police work. Clues were followed instead of just matching DNA to a person.

A very well written book.

First thing first it astounds me that A: one of these books haven't been made into a movie yet. And B: that these books aren't published in hardcover.

Back to back I read Micheal Connelly's Echo Park and then P.J. Parrish's A Thousand Bones. And I be honest with you A Thousand Bones was every bit just as good if not better.
Every novel these two author's write get nominated for a Thousand awards in the mystery field and every year. And every year I sit there in disbelief when they don't win at least one.
And yet every novel they write is better then the last.
Possibly the best mystery novel of 2007.
I give it a 10 out of 10.

I have only recently discovered this author, but I'm loving everything I've read so far and this is no exception. Compelling story well told.

If you were hoping that the new P.J. Parrish book would be another installment in the Louis Kincaid series, you only get half your wish. Kincaid takes a minor role in this tale that stars his girlfriend, Miami homicide detective Joette Frye. Joe has grown significantly from the young rookie who worked for the Echo Bay Police Department, where even most of the veteran cops had never drawn their weapons in the line of duty. As the story of her rookie year unfolds, so does the character of this determined, capable and unique woman --- a welcome addition to this popular series.

Most of the book takes place as Joe recalls the horrific events that shattered the serenity of Echo Bay and left a town devastated. The woods around this quiet little village held not only the bones of countless victims but also the dark secrets of the monsters who buried them. It was in these woods that two boys found a human bone and triggered an investigation that would still haunt Joe 13 years later.

As we have come to expect from skilled writers, their characters draw us into the story and create a sense of urgency so vital to good police work. While Joe tends to be impulsive, her mentor seems to be overly cautious and the relationship between Joe and Detective Rafsky develops in a most satisfying way as they form a solid bond and strong partnership.

The poignancy with which Parrish (sisters Kristy Montee and Kelly Nichols) deal with the parents of the girls who have gone missing over the years is another example of how the authors blend poetry with prose. On the other hand, one is overwhelmed when the mind of the perpetrator is revealed and victims are seen through the eyes of evil. Delving into the psyches of predators can be disturbing, but it definitely adds to the texture of the story. And, regardless of their disappointments and rejections, I want to see them pay for what they have done! And so do the cops who cannot rest until justice is done.

A THOUSAND BONES will hold your attention and run you through a gamut of emotions as the small-town cops work to solve the crimes and bring some resolution to those who have suffered. We look forward to more of Joe Frye and Louis Kincaid as they work through their own histories to bring new freedom into their relationship.

--- Reviewed by Maggie Harding, a substance abuse counselor in Phoenix, AZ who wanted to be Brenda Starr before life intervened. She reviews for www.bookreporter.com and www.faithfulreader.com To contact Maggie, e-mail Magster2@cox.net.

You will absolutely love this book! Ross is both insightful and humorous as he writes about: Michigan football (why their offense is really neither "conservative" or "too predictable"), Michigan basketball and the player who averaged 15 fouls per game (I remember him), Big Ten basketball officiating (he says it is getting better; I'm not sure), Tommy Amaker (he should have asked him who did kill JFK), why UCLA was so good for so long (it actually has less to do with John Wooden than you've been led to believe), and who was the greatest Michigan quarterback ever (read it to find out; Tom Brady is #3). More than anything else, this book reminded me that college sports are supposed to be FUN, no matter who wins. Ross' final chapter in this book is a classic by itself. Buy this book and savor every chapter. The best sports book I've read since "Ball Four" (yes, it's THAT good).

I join my fellow alum Mr. Heston in giving high praise to Obscene Diaries. At college I became quite interested in football, and particularly enjoyed Northwestern's successful skirmishes against the University of Michigan. Mr. Ross successfully reveals football as a particularly American blend of theatre and sport, personal drama and statistical analysis, quarterback thrill and coach agonistes.

This wild comic rant about sports is also startlingly original. For hard core sports fans, the book is packed with the kind of fresh insightful analysis of football strategy that is so completely missing from the work of the paid media pundits. (College coaches are already taking this book very seriously, because it shows why they should go for it on 4th down way more than they do.) But for non sports fans, this is also a great book, because Craig Ross really talks more about life than he does about sports -- and he's a fabulously witty writer.

As packed as it is with painstakingly researched sports statistics and wild, wonderful analyses, this book is a humorous and delightful read. Attorney Ross argues the facts, argues the law, AND attacks the opposition, entertaining us all the way.

As an alum of Northwestern, a school whose original nickname was The Fighting Methodists, I can appreciate the quasi-religious fervor of Wolverine fans. Craig Ross joins the ranks of Voltaire and Jonathan Swift in effectively (and humorously)skewering this (large) slice of American culture.

I love this book, but someone ought to tell Bill Goldberg (The Whistle Story)that the Bucky Dent playoff game was 1978 not 1977. What true NYY fan - from the Bronx, no less - not only doesn't know that, but let's it get to print??????????? Pretty shameful if you ask me.

Chicken Soup For The Baseball Fan's Soul is one great book. The stories are about personal experiences, humor, sportsmanship, life lessons, and the fun that baseball provides.

Some of the stories are actually written by the athletes themselves with others by journalists who have covered the games with their views on the game and the players, and other stories by the everyday sports fan just like you and me. Some of the stories are very humorous while others touching. Before each chapter are very inspiring quotations. Added between some of the stories are baseball comics that will make you laugh.

Every story in this book is well worth-reading from the humorous to the serious stories. This book made tears swell in my eyes and laugh out loud in some stories as a baseball player. This book will inspire the true baseball player or fan. This book is easy to get into it and want to keep reading for a long time, but is also a great book to read one story at a time.

This book really shows how hard you have to work to get better at baseball or any sport and how it can pay off. This is a must-read book for any baseball fan who wants to enjoy a great book about a great sport.

this book was very inspiring. The stories are all well written and ammussing. I haven't read any of the other books in the series and I don't plan on reading them either but I really enjoyed this one though and I recomend this book to all baseball fans

As a baseball fan, I thought it was wonderful to read about the many sides of baseball. There are stories from both fans and people actually involved in the baseball world. With baseball having such a depressing last couple of years, and not having the results as we have come to expect, it was wonderful to know that there are people in the world that still love this sport! I am one of them. :o)
(I would have said still the American sport, but since I am Canadian I don't think that always applies...)

The Essential J.R.R. Tolkien Sourcebook by George Beahm is a superbly presented, fan-centered guide to the fantasy world of Middle Earth, a magical land originally envisioned by celebrated author J.R.R. Tolkien in his famous trilogy "The Lord of the Rings" and his other thematically related writings. Featuring information about Lord of the Rings merchandise and collectibles, books about Tolkien, computer software, Tolkien-themed websites, and other online Tolkien related resources, The Essential J.R.R. Tolkien Sourcebook is highly recommended (indeed, an essential reference) for anyone seriously interested in learning more about the fan-culture surrounding this epic and enduringly popular literary saga.

George Beahm's love for Tolkien's work shines through every page of The Essential J.R.R. Tolkien Sourcebook.

Beahm starts with the Lord of the Rings books themselves and their various editions, from "the most elegant edition" to "the cleverest packaging." From there he branches out to chronicle related works by Tolkien and about Tolkien and LotR, and of course he examines the visual adaptations. He is both reverent and critical. He has harsh words, for instance, for the "full-screen" version of The Fellowship of the Ring, which is "severely cropped to fit the conventional television screen," and warns that the binding of one lavish edition "will not hold up after repeated readings." Audio adaptations, printed products, book- and movie-related collectibles, ring replicas, games and miniatures, websites...these and more fall under Beahm's Sauron-like all-seeing eye.

Then there's Chapter 11, my favorite, that delves into Tolkien-inspired art. Illustrations by Colleen Doran, Tim Kirk, David Wenzel, Steve Hickman, and Donato Giancola enhance an informative chapter on Tolkien artists from the Hildebrandts to Michael Whelan. Doran contributes a number of lovely and delicate full-page illustrations to the book and also provides spot art and illustrated chapter headings, elegant touches that give evidence to Beahm's genuine love for the subject matter.

For fans of Middle Earth, George Beahm's The Essential J.R.R. Tolkien Sourcebook is just that...essential.

George Beahm's new book takes a long overdue look at the world of JRR Tolkien: not the world of Middle Earth itself, but rather the extraordinary industry which has grown up around the writer's creation. Upon perusing this book the Tolkien fan, both expert and novice, will find a wealth of information regarding just how much is available to them. Beahm provides clear and concise reviews of all manner of Tolkien books, art, games, DVDs, collectibles and merchandise; and provides details of various rare editions which the true fan may want to track down.

All this is backed up with in-depth interviews with the best of the Tolkien artists, including Michael Whelan, Tim Kirk and Colleen Doran. Indeed, Doran provides a host of new drawings especially for this book - and magnificent they are too!

For the Tolkien fan wondering where to go next, this book is a must.

I first read 'Misery' long after seeing the film, but to this day it remains my favourite novel. Stephen King at his absolute best shows us exactly how to build and maintain suspense throughout with ease.

The movie was a good translation, but it definately failed to show us exactly what Paul Sheldon's No. 1 Fan is really capable of. One word - Awesome!

Horror at its very best!

I read this book and I liked it. It inspired me to read more of Stephen King`s books.
The scene that stood out for me the most was when
Annie hobbled Paul. It was so attentive to detail that it felt like I was looking at a picture inside of the book.
This scene showed just how deep Annie`s paranoia went. Paul hadn`t done half the things she was accusing him of and his legs were healing, but what she did to him pushed him back to the beginning of his torture.
You should read this book because it is so good that once you pick it up you can`t put it down.

~submitted by my student Jake

Another excellent Stephen King book. Hard to read sometimes because of the nature of the story but, very well done.

No reason not to read this book...you like King, you like gore? you like horror? Suspense? Mystery? Insanity? Then this is the book for you, recommend, but don't get nightmares!! Loved it!1

This is a great read and essential "King." The story draws you in quickly and keeps you reading, never wanting to put it down until the very end. You can almost feel the pain as you read; this is a must for any fan of thrillers and horror.

This story was all over the place. It started out with a bang and it was all down hill from there. It was not a mystery. It was not a love story. It had NO POINT! I am sorry I purchased the book and I would not recomend it to anyone!!!

This book was interesting to me in some ways, and confusing to me in others. Watching the people below, growing and changing was neat, nut I didn't understand the concept of the 'individual' heavens and things like that. Also, towards the end, my mind was beginning to wonder; like it was starting to draw on...but besides that, it was a great book!

I stole this book from the stairs of a friend, and had it read curled on my side, hair greasy and unwashed, waiting for Susie to let herself die. I was crying by the first chapter.

I thought it a stroke of brilliance that Sebold used an idea of C.S. Lewis's 'Great Divorce' hell as her heaven (I had always thought I'd prefer his hell to his heaven, I'd like something solitary, a cabin in the clouds where I can't see anyone, but those I choose as my own family).

Susie's narrative voice was in many ways unbelievably clear, she saw things outside of herself and I would have liked to see more of the loss in death and emotion. But this is Sebold's story, and she wrote primarily about the gain in death, what happened on earth after, and dwelt less on what happened in heaven. For me, I saw the loss of Susie through her desires fulfilled in heaven, not through her voice, which came across as independent of someone with vested interest in what happened on earth.

I loved this book, from beginning to end, the ending is as peaceful as the beginning is terrible. Read it. I recommend it.

I just finished The Lovely Bones, and then I cried for an hour. Now my face is poofy.

The book is, of course, sad. However, it also has a beautiful image of heaven and a wonderful story of a family that ends up healed and whole after the death of their daughter. I was comforted by the way Susie could look down on her family and be near them, even make herself known to them a time or two. In the beginning, Susie spends time thinking of all the things she will never get to do, which of course was terribly hard for me to read, but the worst of it? The absolute worst part was reading about her individual family members as they broke up under the pressure of their own grief. That was what had me crying on the bus. Honestly though, the book was wonderful. It's just something that some of us will have to read alone, in the dark, with wine.

Verdict: A

When I first started reading this book I remember thinking -- wow, this is good but right now I'm at about the fourth or fifth chapter and I'm getting bored with it. I don't even know if I'll finish it.