W Books

This is a must read for people interested in either history, the environment, or people. It is well written and provides an excellent view about the history of the twentieth century that most people do not usually know about. Everyone should read it.

Boom. This is a biggie. Yowzah! If you want a clear view of our specie's impact on our world there is no better place to start than here. J.R. McNeill offers a balanced and comprehensive look at the century which changed everything, and his title, contradicting Ecclesiastes' assertion that nothing is new, says it all. The core idea here is that in the last century humanity moved beyond affect of local systems to dominance of the biosphere. We are everywhere. McNeill covers our impact on all of the life on our planet, from his prologue discussion of economy, population and energy, to his deeper analysis of soil, air, water and the whole of living systems. He offers clear views of the demographic and technologic forces which have shaped our modern world. Most illuminating of all are the complicated ways in which each change we have wrought has brought both destruction and remediation. Oil, the number one eco-villain in recent history, particularly when pumped through internal combustion engines, has also cleaned up city air enormously when it replaced coal and wood for heating and power generation. It also eliminated the need to remove 10-15,000 horse carcasses from average large cities each year and saved the great whales from extinction. Nuclear energy, an utter failure economically and with wastes which will be our generation's longest lasting heirloom, at least doesn't pollute the air. Population growth has had enormous impact on environmental damage, but less than I would have estimated as a percentage, and in some places it has even permitted improvements impossible without many hands. We are, in his words, the "rogue primate" which became smart enough to threaten every other life form on the planet, from smallpox virus to blue whales. Our success has paradoxically been very good for the viruses that cause the common cold and for rabbits. From the general to the specific, whole systems to individual tools (automobile, chain saw) McNeill has achieved a grasp of how and what we did, and tells the story masterfully. For readers who took up my recommendation of A GREEN HISTORY OF THE WORLD (Clive Ponting, St. Martin's Press, 1991), this one is better (and Ponting's work is one of McNeill's sources). Bingo.

I wrote my economics undergraduate thesis on development and environmental management back in 1976-77, and surely I would have enjoyed and valued to have Professor McNeill's book in my hands in those years.

His book is remarkable in many ways. It is a well written book, extraordinarly documented and well supported with eye opening statistical tables and illustrations. His material is useful for graduate and undergraduate students alike, and also for wider audiences interested on reviewing a different approach on history's complexities.

As the book front page indicates, the author centers his work on the 20th century's humankind events, termed by himself as the most influential on the process of ecology's evolution.

The book is very well organized so the reader keeps information organized in a properly way. At the end, Professor McNeill leaves many questions open that will be ample material enough to study in the years to come. Among those questions is the one concerned with society's will to deal seriously with environmental crises that have accumulated on the latest decades. We can have a readily answer to that subject if political leaders continue to privilege the narrow view of economic growth, instead of considering to seriously discuss the implementation of more integral strategies that would deliver environmental friendly sustainable economic development at the end.

Without question I recommend this book.

Sub-titled "An Environmental History of the 20th Century", this is a sober and objective survey of environmental changes over the past 100 years. I was concerned this would be an emotional appeal or judgmental polemic from the left - but not the case, it is academic and professional history from an environmental perspective (the environment, not "environmental movement"). It's encyclopedic in scope and style.

I would not call this an "entertaining" read (although some of the facts really fire the synapses), but it is deeply rewarding as a broad survey of a very large and complex problem. The chapters and sub-sections are arranged in a logical outline making it possible to read the chapters in any order.

The main idea of the title "something new under the sun" is that humans have so fundamentally changed the environment that things really are very different now than they have ever been historically. To regard our current conditions of energy availability, access to water, unending economic growth - as enduring and normal appears to be an interesting gamble given the facts.

Some interesting trivia: humans did not become the dominate primate until about 8,000 BC with the rise of agriculture (baboons outnumbered humans before then). About one-fifth of all humans that ever lived did so in the 20th century. In sheer energy terms, if all modern technology and energy sources were not available, the average American would need about 70 human slaves to maintain the current standard of living (each American "directs" 70 energy-slave equivalents). Each year, humans move more earth and soil than glaciers, wind erosion, mountain building (plate tectonic uplift), and volcanoes combined. Probably the single most damaging biological organism in earths history was the human primate Thomas Midgley Jr from Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania born in 1889. He invented Freon (which destroys the Ozone layer), and also leaded gasoline, which has polluted most of the worlds soil lasting thousands of years (all of us carry elevated lead levels because of it and will continue to do so for centuries to come, leading to birth defects, lowered IQs, etc..). Midgley contracted Polio at age 51 and invented a system or ropes and pulleys to move his crippled body off the bed - he became tangled and was strangled to death in 1944 by his own invention, before learning how damaging his inventions were.

This book may be the best historical survey I've ever read. (And with an M.A. in history, I've read a few!) I got this book to complement my hard science slogging on global warming, and found so much more than I hoped for or ever imagined! McNeil's book provides the historical background and the human context for all the graphs and numbers in the science texts. If you're looking for one book to give you a focused overview of just how much human civilization has accomplished, good and bad, in the last 100 years, this is it.

The organization of the book is excellent. McNeil sources everything, ends each chapter with an excellent summary, and wraps it all up with his own thoughtful commentary on climate change. He uses an inspired mix of the small detail (birds dying mid-flight) and the enormous concept (the Aswan dam affected the entire Mediterranean ecosystem). He describes chains of cause and effect and makes connections other historians and scientists seem to miss. The chapters dealing with agriculture are, I think, particularly relevant to our everyday lives; but students in nearly every subject will find this book useful. My husband is a family physician, and has read the sections on public health; my neighbor is a biologist with the USGS, and is reading the chapter on dams and irrigation.

This book has been the basis of strict counterpoint instruction for over 200 years. In that period of time music has changed considerably. As a composer of a strange variety of music I have to say that these exercises are among the most useful things I've ever done. I dont think that the rules in the book were ever meant to be followed exactly in real composition, look at Handel Bach or Telemann( they were all in the middle of their careers when this was published:1721) but learning to do the exercises strictly to the rules influences the way you think about composing. Of course the main area that this book is concerned with is VOCAL polyphony, most of the rules of writing the individual parts are based on the general limitations of the human voice. I cant accurately explain how much this book has helped my music the exercises are realy helpful in making you think about certain details. Every composer should be force their way through the entire thing before they graduate from the conservatory.

Fux's masterful use of his counterpoint will leave you wanting more. Best know for his masterful thrust with a foreceful tempo, contemporary pianists have emulated his approach to great success. J. Holmes is reported to have read Fux's work daily prior to his strenuous orchestrations of thrust and release. Do yourself and your entire choir a favor and buy this book.

The absolute best book for learning 16th century counterpoint. Nothing better!

This is a great introduction to species counterpoint. It has been in use for many years and was studied by many great composers. It still engages the modern person today because it is concise, imaginative and teaches concepts in a digestible and easy to follow manner.

The form of the book is a relationship between a teacher and student. The student is not the brightest bulb on the tree, but the teacher shows him concept by concept how counterpoint works. This story format is entertaining, but also serves as a way to anchor concepts.

If you are looking for something that is a quick, easy read with lots of good content and historical interest, you will enjoy this. I feel it is a must have for any serious student of music.

I picked up this book and began reading it right away. In two weeks I understood it completely. It is very easy to understand. There are parts you have to work yourself through, but all in all it is very comprehensible. About the only two things you need to know to understand it is intervals and of course how to read music. I notice when I follow the rules closely enough I compose very much like people of the renaissance did. well actually this was the theory of the time so of course if you follow this book your music will sound that way. If you don't want to sound as they did in that time and just want to have more pleasant music, this book will still be helpful. Good price. Good classic theory. Good book.

The novel is full of realistic Southern charm and characters. If you love Southern novels, don't miss out on this one! Shadow of Dreams by Eva Marie Everson and G. W. Francis Chadwick is a well-written, well-developed novel full of foreshadowing. The main character serves as an excellent example of what happens to many young teens glamorized by the big city and running from problems at home. Instead of the prodigal son, the main character, Katie, is the prodigal daughter. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen to Katie and her husband, and the bad guys. I loved the way the authors used literature for clues. I also loved the way the small-town Georgia guys protected their own and took care of the big-city guys. These authors do not preach, but they certainly know how to spin a tale that could serve to help others. These authors offer much insight, and a reflective reader will benefit from the experience of having read this novel. I have ordered all three Shadows books from Amazon, and I can't wait to read the other two. A good, reflective reader will find that this book is about many things that connect to life in such a way, it can't help but be realistic. The characters are realistic, not mere shells of characters. The way they talk and the things they say provide that realistic touch to make them come to life. I think this book would make a good movie; in fact, a three-part series.

Eva Marie's series is fabulous. I couldn't wait to find the time to read the next page. I fell in love with Katie and hope there are plans to read more of her. Eva Marie's 3 books in this series is filled with exciting plot twists, suspense, and drew me closer to the Lord, plus making me even more appreciative of my wonderful husband. These books are delightful!

Once more Eva Marie Everson and G.W. Francis Chadwick put together a best seller in this story of Katie and her struggle to keep her faith and continue living life even while not knowing if her husband is dead or alive. In the end, it leaves you waiting anxiously for the next book in the series.
I have actually been given the privilege of reading the first three chapters of Shadows of Light, book 3, and I can honestly say it promises not to disappoint!! You won't want to miss this one!

Everson and Chadwick have once again written a suspense-filled drama in their sequel, Summon the Shadows. Their behind the scenes look at a world unknown to most Christians evoke a predictable variety of emotions: anger, disgust, pity, compassion, hopefulness-while they weave yet another unpredictable fiction plot. The haunting question throughout the book keeps the reader hoping for an answer at the end: "What REALLY happened to Ben, Katie's beloved husband? Is he really dead? Clues say "maybe not," but reality says, "probably so." Will the three call girls ever make it in the "real" world? Can Katie hold out and hold on to the inner strength and faith she has found? You may have to wait until the very end to get any glimmer of an answer to those questions. Which opens the door to yet another sequel......

Couldn't keep this one to myself. I read it and immediately passed it on to a friend. : ) She also loved it. Gritty, real, and powerful.

If you are a learning (or even trained) dancer,, you should definitely buy this book. Teachers- you should keep a copy in your studio library. My old dance teacher introduced me to this dictionary, and I continued to use it in my college dance classes and when I taught dance on my own.

It's small enough to slip inside your dance bag, so you can take it with you to class. It's a fabulous resource for terminology, which is priceless to learning dancers. Because, there's nothing worse than going to a class when the teacher is of a different methodology. This one features several, including the more popular methods, like Cechetti. There are also some drawings to help you understand more clearly.

This book will help you learn all your arabesques, positions, and more.
A great tool!

It helped me visualize my eight body positions in order to put them in practice. It also helped me with spelling of different positions.

The information is invaluable and an excellent reference at an incredibly low price. But a beginner reading this book would be like reading about myocardial infarctions for someone not knowledgeable in medical terminology (that's a heart attack). It makes sense if you have a grasp on ballet already, but should not be bought as a guide from which to learn ballet. If you are looking for a place to quickly look up a step, and already have a good deal of training, then this is the book for you.

I was reaquired to purchase this book many years ago for a college level ballet class I took. I still have my copy. It's an outstanding reference for terminology.

This book best serves those who have had enough experience with ballet to be able to understand the terms within the definitions themselves. Almost all ballet terms in this book contain other ballet terms within the definitions, and pictures are minimal (positions of the feet/arms, body in space, head, stage terms). If the dancer is not familiar enough with ballet terms, technique, and form, then this book can be overwhelming. I recommend this book to all teachers as well as teenagers who are serious about ballet (it's a must have). For younger students (9 years old and up), I recommend any ballet book that contains basic terms as well as pictures showing proper form/execution of these terms (pictures will also include proper alignment and proper turn-out as well as a clear explaination on how to work toward both).

A most comprehensive source of information on this tragedy. Well written and well organized. Nicely stocked with period photographs.

A must have for any library on this subject.

This is the most outstanding book I have ever read. The pictures, the information, it could not have been written better. Anyone would love this book. Those who are in search of unique pictures would find this book invaluable, likewise those who are in search of information, facts, nowhere else seen loss of property claims would too find this book invaluable. Upon seeing this book in the book shop (I did not buy it here) I gave it absolutely no second thought and regardless of price bought it. I am a Titanic historian and I'm picky about the books I buy, and this book is just about the best book in my collection. Don't hesitate, buy it, you will not regret it.

I found this book in my local library and took it out to read. However as soon as I got it home and looked through it I was enthralled by the pictures. The text was fairly standard fare although some of the earlier chapters had interesting info concerning the planning and construction of Titanic. The pictures steal the show and they made up my mind to buy this book for myself as such pictures need to be looked at and digested over months and years rather than the few weeks one has with a library book. If you have any interest in Titanic - BUY IT.

John P. Eaton and Charles A. Haas already known for their very involved Titanic research and dives in Nautile (IFREMER's Titanic submersible} have done a beautiful Titanic book describing stateroom's the voyage building and sinking in a beautiful 352 pages have put together a book which in itself is as good as Titanic: An Illustrated History. Gives insurance claims Philadelphia first class passenger mrs. Cardeza filed for 18 suitcaces , 3 trunks and a medicine kit . A book which many experts (Myself included ) Love . Excellent for any Titanic Buff!

I must say this is the most comprehensive book on the Titanic I have yet seen. Every facet of the liner's history from its origins to the wreck exploration is covered. Each chapter includes pictures of everything connected to the ship. Anyone with any interest in Titanic at all should have a copy.

I did think the authors could have done better with their chapter on the sinking itself though. As it is they wrote little text and tell the story through picture captions! It is as if a book on the Kennedy assassination covered details of the flight to Dallas and then said little about the shooting itself. I also feel the authors were a bit too soft on Lord of the Californian.

I've read and shared many ideas in this book with my colleagues. Worth the money.

This book helped me get referrals when I was operating my own business. As the author of Don't Wait Get in S.H.A.P.E. - Drop Fat Fast and Get Fit Quick this book allowed me to attract people to purchase my services and help me sell my book. This book is awesome.

I decided to review the library's copy before I bought it and I could not get enough info out of it! I found myself taking notes and almost writing in the library's copy! I rushed and bought the book. Now it's covered in pink and yellow highlighter. I feel like I'm back in college preparing for an exam -- except this time, my studying is going to directly contribute to my bank account! Truly valuable!

This is a wonderful book. It is very well written and an easy read. Furthermore, it is full of great content. I highly recommend you take a look at the online listing of this book's Table of Contents and see for yourself what specifically is covered.

This book reminds us to not look too far astray for customers or clients. It's easier to cultivate an existing customer for a new sale than to convince a non-customer to buy from you. And it's easier to have a satisfied customer convince a non-customer to buy from you than you doing it yourself.

Focusing on getting referrals is probably the least expensive way to build a customer-base and sales. Keep in mind that there are at least two methodologies to getting referrals. One is the do-good-work for your customers and clients and to get them to refer you to their family and friends. The other is B2B where you get other businesses that compliment yours to refer work to you. You can pay a referral fee or send them an equal amount of referrals.

Some people are not comfortable with using referrals to build their customer-base. But then some people are not comfortable being self-employed either. If you are one of those people who want to be successful at being self-employed, then take advantage of referrals as much as possible. And a good way to start is probably by getting this book and reading it cover to cover. 5 stars!

Referrals now is an excellent book that explains how to obtain more business by asking for referrals. Most friends and existing clients are more than willing to recommend your product or sevices if you just ask for it. Sales people sometimes view asking for referrals as a sign of weakness or problems in the business. This is not true.

If you want to build up a business very quickly without a lot of overhead, this is the best method. It would be adviseable to first read the book "Masters of Networking" by Ivan R. Misner. Referral business has a lot to do with networking, so you must be ready to do favors for other people who help you out. Forgetting to help somebody else who has helped you will be very detrimental to your business.

Just asking somebody for a referral is not really good enough but asking the person for a personal introduction increases your chances dramatically for closing the deal.

Don't read the book all in one go. Read a chapter, think about how you can apply it, write down what you think is best for you and experiment with it.

This series is Stellar. Not only are they well written and identifiable romance novels, they also take you on a journey in the life of the people of those times. It is a truly remarkable and educational reading experience. These period pieces are my all time favorite!

Another Beverly Jenkins hit. I've just about read all of Beverly Jenkins books and trust me this woman can deliver the best...it's never a disappointment with anything she's written. This is a wonderful historical romance book, if you are interested in black history and what black people have done to make the many contributions that we've had to this country, read this book. Beverly does an extensive amount of research when she writes historical books, or any book for that matter and is excellent with providing further insight and websites to further your knowledge. This is another book that doesn't disappoint.

Known only as the Butterfly, Zahra fluttered about the country providing information to the Federal forces and aiding in the rescue of runaway slaves and other men and women who required help. Zahra takes great pride in her small contribution to the civil war efforts, but she's never forgotten one of the men she saved - Archer Le Veq. The war is over but Zahra has been requested for a special mission - posing as the madam of a brothel in New Orleans.

Archer Le Veq owns a prominent hotel in New Orleans. During the war, he had worked for the Bureau of Military Information, collecting intelligence on the Confederacy. Until he was captured and came close to losing his life, only to be rescued by a mysterious woman known only as the Butterfly.

In the days following the war, the country is in a state of Reconstruction. For many it's a time of rebuilding and hope. For others, it's a time of a questionable future as they struggle to be accepted into society. Zahra was content with her life in South Carolina. She'd done her part to help her people during the war. She had no intention of going back into the service of the country, but President Grant requested Zahra and promised to look into the situation involving her parents getting their land back. Hoping the president would honor his word and help her parents, Zahra takes the assignment. In order to collect information involving the perilous situations that people of color faced, Zahra will travel to New Orleans posing as the madam of a newly established brothel. Nobody would suspect the proprietor of such an establishment of gathering information. To protect her identity, Zahra wears a domino which only seems to entice the men, including Archer's brother, Phillipe. Everybody wants to know the story behind the mysterious Madam Domino. Archer fully intends to stay away from the house of ill-repute until circumstances bring them together and he finds himself just as enamored of Madam Domino as everyone else. Unlike the others though, Archer has a feeling he's met her before, if he could only remember where . . .

Beverly Jenkins WINDS OF THE STORM is an awesome tale. You not only get a fabulous love story but you get further insight into the history behind the figures who struggled to help ensure every man, woman, and child of every race were treated equally. Zahra is one of the most memorable characters I've ever encountered in a storyline. She's strong willed, incredibly smart, and selfless. Archer is everything Zahra needs in a man - virile, sexy, and he accepts her and the roles she plays in an effort to help their people. There are other equally great characters in this story that do bear mentioning but that would make this review way too long. I highly recommend this book. You'll want to meet the other great characters from this period in our history.

This book is a follow up to Ms. Jenkins book THROUGH THE STORM. I'm sincerely hoping there will be a third book involving Phillipe. He's a dynamic character throughout the plot in this story who had me smiling with his antics. This is a powerfully moving tale that has earned permanent spot on my keeper shelf.

Chrissy Dionne (courtesy of Romance Junkies)

Beverly Jenkins is brilliant. I normally read modern-day novels, however, she is the only author whose historical romances I will read. Her historical romance always provide some insight into black history, which is valuable.

Indigo was the first book I read by Beverly Jenkins. Afterwards, I purchased most of her books. I've also purchased a couple of the books that she lists in her Author's Note. Her characters are so life-like. Sometimes I wish I could be transported back in time to see what life was really like for 19th century African Americans.

I read "Cache Lake Country" in 1968. I was delighted to find it in print again...like meeting an old friend.
Thank you.

I have read a lot of outdoor books over the last 40 years, and this is one of the best. I am going to research the author, John J. Rowlands, because he was obviously a fascinating man who lead a very interesting life. This book tells about 12 months living in a cabin on a lake in Northern Onatario. At the time Rowlands was working as a timber cruiser, evaluating forests for use as lumber. He happened upon his ideal lake and was lucky enough to get stationed there by his company. He was also very lucky to have two great friends living within miles (within signaling distance via the various drums, horns etc. they engineered), on other little lakes. Together the three lived every outdoor boy's dream life of independence and adventure. This book has stuff about canoes, wild animals, sled dogs, snowshoes, knives, axes, the history of the lumber camps, and many boy-scout like craft projects. I just wish it was a lot longer.

A good book but I didn't think it was as easy to read as friends lead me to believe. A tremendous amount of reference material, but I thoroughly enjoyed it.

I found the book enlightening and informative. Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy and learn from this book.

I'm going to be a little less enthusiastic, but only a little, than some of the other reviewers here. I really did like this book, but for some reason it just didn't quite pull me into the time, place, space the way it did some others- although it didn't miss by much.

This is a very unique book-probably reminding me of my old Boy Scout Fieldbook (a little more detailed and survival-oriented than the handbook) more than a typical non-fiction work. The illustrations are great as well as occasionally light-hearted, and if you are at all handy or have an engineering or for that matter, culinary bent, you will find plenty of recipes and blueprints for food, tools, gadgets- even crystal radio sets or birch bark canoes. While some of these you'd probably have to find some supplemental information to make, most come so well described and diagrammed that you could probably build them or bake them directly from the book.

For me the best part is the author's midwest and at times almost cowboy way of describing life. His time around rough loggers in the days when horses and two man saws were still the order of the day especially captured my imagination. Like many readers, I'm a lot hermit, and the thought of life in a cabin in the north woods with nothing but snow, bear, moose, and wind has a certain charm, and I'm grateful to Rowlands for giving enough of a story to enjoy a bit of that charm vicariously. An excellent and unique book, and for some it will probably become a treasured possession.

Review written by product buyer's 13 year old daughter

This is a book that I and anyone who loves action, adventure, drama, and suspence will love! The very first page drops you right in the middle of the action, and it just gets better and better from there! If there were an award for 'best book for starting an action series', this would win by a landslide! You'll meet new charators to like, new charactors to hate, and new kinds of danger you wouldn't believe would fit into one book! This book is definetly one of my favorites! Buy it and enjoy!

P.S. A book that follows up from the end of this book is #4 The Lazarus Plot (another great book!)

In Franklin Dixon's Hardy Boy's "Dead on Target", Frank "The good looking blonde haired blue-eyed older brother", and Joe "The black haired brown eyed younger brother", and their close freinds are in the mall in their hometown of Bayport on the East coast around lunch. Iola (one of the friends) gets upset and goes back to the car in the parking lot and gets in. Frank and Joe are on their way out to the car when it blows up with Iola in it! This creates a huge mystery which Faranklin Dixon's books are known for. This becomes a huge mystery leading to an overseas Terrorist group who is trying to scare Fenton Hardy (Frank and Joe's dad and one of the worlds greatest detectives) off their case. The bomb was meant for his kids but killed Iola. The two boys, who are great detectives themselves, vow to solve the case.
The case leads them to Europe fighting an international terroist group who are trained experts. Dodging death and putting themselves in danger for others they quickly close in on the terrorists with help from the FBI and other agencies. But the real problem is in Baypot.
My feelings about the book are that it is great! The author uses a fast pace to keep the reader intrested in the book. His books are identical to the Nacy Drew mystery books in that the main characters are teenagers.

I am a die hard Hardy Boys fan and this is definatly one of the better of the group. I recommend any of the books for lite reading and a break from reality. A key note of advise though, I read a lot of the reviews complaining that these are unrealistic. Yes they are but in my opinion there is always enough reality in the world from the moment you wake up a little break every now and then is nice.

Back to this book though it is extremly exciting and is the start of a whole new begining in the Hardy Boys books. This mystery throws out all the cute nice points of the hardcovers. Another word of caution the hard covers are a lot tamer than these do to the era they were written in.

What a hotshot book.Although at the beginning I felt sad as I read on I was hooked.The Bullet plants a bomb in the Hardy car and Iola is killed.Joe and Frank track him down I do not want to tell you more because it would be iresponsible.

"Dead on Target" was the beginning of a new era for the Hardy Boys. This is the first volume of the new (in 1991) series "The Hardy Boys Casefiles", and it is a more adult and action packed series than the original series. This is never more evident than the first two pages of the book. Whereas the original series (started in 1927 and it is still running today) would have various plots by criminals, nobody ever seemed to get killed or nothing too serious would ever happen, but "Dead on Target" opens with the killing of Joe Hardy's girlfriend (and sister of good friend Chet) Iola Morton. For a series that has been known for its lack of actual murders of any on screen character, this was a shocking and explosive (no pun intended as it was by a bomb that killed Iola) moment. It marked the different direction that the Casefiles would take the reader, as well as the Hardys, on.

A car bomb was the cause of death for Iola Morton. Frank and Joe, as well as Iola and Frank's girlfriend Callie Shaw, were at the mall preparing for a political rally. Iola ends up returning to the Hardys' car to pick up more campaign materials when it explodes, killing her. Joe blames himself because his flirting with another girl made Iola mad and this is what led her to be at the car by herself. At the funeral, "Dead on Target" takes another twist by introducing the character of The Grey Man. The Grey Man is a member of a secret government organization called "The Network". "The Network" believes that an international group of terrorists, "The Assassins", were responsible for Iola's death and are planning something big for the political rally the following week.

The rest of the novel finds Frank and Joe traveling to London, fighting several members of the Assassins, being in the midst of gun battles and defusing a bomb. "Dead on Target" is fast paced with a tighter story than what is found through most of the original series. For fans of the Hardy Boys, "Dead on Target" is likely to be a favorite. It is not for the purists of the series, though. This book takes the brothers down a different timeline than we find in the main series. Since the main series continued to be published at the same time as the Casefiles, these books (Casefiles) are either set at a later date than the continuing series or is part of some alternative timeline since Iola is still alive in the main series.

"Dead on Target" has more violence than the "classic" Hardy Boys, but this is a very interesting story, even if it is a bit far fetched. For the first time, terrorism and murder have been introduced to Bayport and the Casefiles bring the reader a new style of story with the Hardys. As an introduction to the Casefiles as well as a new episode in the lives of the Hardys, this is a good place to start. Fifteen years after first reading this book it remains a fun read.

-Joe Sherry