Shadow Books

I can't believe that no one else has reviewed this book yet. My recommendation is for those of you interested in intelligent, well-written British procedurals, do not ignore the entire George Felse series. In this book we have an up-close and personal look at an archeological site of interest on the Welsh border. The site is called "Aurae Phiala" and it is one of a few known old Roman civilisations. We are also treated to a wonderful cast of characters, and a perfectly written mystery that will baffle up until the very end. And we have George Felse himself. He is a Detective Inspector now, but he is still his usual implacable and unperturbable self. What a wonderful series. Don't let your reading of Ms. Peters end with the Brother Cadfael series. Give this one a try too.

The book is quite haunting. Being Australian, I'm a bit biased in claiming the book as a remarkable social and historical text. Doyle's explanations (the book came out of a museum project) are succinct and have an easy sophistication (no po-mo verbocrap here!). For those who don't know, it's probably helpful to mention that Doyle is an academic who also writes genre fiction (Marlowe style detective-crime novels set in Sydney in the mid 1900's).
The text is more than a regional history though. The photos included in SoS illustrate what the 20th century cultural critic Walter Benjamin theorised about in terms of a photograph's potential "aura" - a strange weave of time and space that takes it beyond being just a reproduced image; Not art as such, but something with historical, social function and maybe even asthetic qualities; The photos' posers here in SoS seem themselves, separate from the containment of the frame. Put another way the subject, not the photographer, is seemingly controlling what the image does to the viewer.
In this sense the photos do have an amazing beauty and universality. They are funny, sad, disturbing, addictive while, dare I say it, creating their own "historical reality". This book is so much more than morbid voyuerism.

This compilation of talks and poems given at the 1996 Women's Conference, sponsored jointly by Bringham Young University and the Relief Society of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, shows sisters reaching out with their hearts to do the work of the Lord in their homes and in their world.

The contributors discuss challenging situations they have faced, candidly describing the difficullties, heartaches and fears they have experienced. And they share the comfort, healing, and hope made possible through the love of Christ.
--- from book's dustjacket

It's obvious that this book lives up to Clymer's claim of "Based on a complete tear-down" because the photos of just about every process are great. When they substitute line drawings or schematics for photos, they are of equally excellent quality. If you're marginally handy with mechanical stuff, this book can easily take you from beginner to intermediate. Clear, logically laid out instructions on how to do everything from tear down the transmission to wash the bike. The motorcyclist's equivalent of the Chilton's manuals that shade-tree auto mechanics use.

It has been two years since I reviewed author B Ray Mize's first novel in the Comancheria series, titled "The Comancheria: A Kill Line". Fortunately for those of us whom awaited a sequel, the author has now written "The Comancheria: Shadow of the Great Owl".

In my previous review I wrote that "The 'Comancheria' is a 900 acre spread in Texas, the beginnings of which were formed by the main character's (Reid Matthews') ancestor, a Comanche Indian. In the Spanish speaking Americas, rancheria is the name for one's rancho, or ranch. Thus, Comanche and rancheria became the title of the series, "Comancheria"." Not all the action (and there's plenty of it!) takes place there, in this book, but it's Matthews' home and H.Q.

Trouble has a way of interfering with Reid Matthews' life, but he and his sidekick/chief of security Roland Guidry have a talent for taking care of that trouble. It also doesn't hurt that Matthews is well connected. Add to that Bill and Willie Calendar, whom are a very feisty 'elderly' couple, and Reid and Roland's womenfolk Kelly O'Connor and Adele Guidry, two very tough gals, and you have sizable show of force.

Besides all that, something supernatural, something that the urban folk would call superstition, plays a role in part of this book. The Great Owl makes her debut and helps Reid in his pursuit of justice.

when the Calendars go to visit some friends at their ranch in Salt Flats, Texas, they find the elderly couple unconscious. Although the couple was alive when taken to the local hospital, the sheriff accuses the Calendars' grandson of murdering them and sets out on a manhunt for him in the Big Bend area.

Extremely suspicious, Calendar calls in Reid Matthews who, with the aid of Kelly and Adele, finds out that the town has been taken over by urban goons who also control the sheriff's office, and that there are mysterious goings on with the local ranches. Even though all this appears legal, Reid knows better.

This leads to chases on horseback and helicopter, car and airplane, from Big Bend National Park to Washington, D.C., and back again to the Comancheria, leaving a trail of death in the wake. Readers of action fiction will not be disappointed. Guaranteed.

And all because of some bad hombres named Jays Kerrville and Wolf Howson the latter a chilling villain with most despicable manners. They and their hired goons work for a totally amoral fella named Code Alpha, who has offices in the D.C. metro area.

Can Reid Matthews and his friends possibly stop the unmitigated evil which surrounds the mysterious Code Alpha? What could the urban Alpha possibly want with Salt Flats, Texas?

As in his previous novel, the author has used some cowboy tradition and his knowledge of the outdoors to help define his characters and to develop atmosphere. But the tale most definitely is not limited to "cowboys and Indians", and the author's knowledge of technology expands the tale and keeps it up to date, full of suspense and mystery.

The author's portrayal of women in his story is exceptionally well done. He draws on the pioneer spirit of the American woman in his creation of these characters, that spirit which overrides controversy in a manner which helps the important things to actually get done.

As mentioned, this is a sequel to a previous novel, and is equally enjoyable. In fact, I personally enjoyed it even more than the first, which was great. This book can easily be read without having read the first, as it can stand alone as an American classic, which is what I think of the entire series.

Could it be that someday we'll he seeing the Comancheria series on television? That would be one fine way to improve TV.

I highly recommend this novel to readers of suspense and/or westerns, for it fits both categories, and I look forward to any possible sequels.

Murray J Darby

This book is awesome! I loved it and couldn't put it down. It really will help those who instead of using Psychology or Negative reinforcement look for a better way to overcome their problems by searching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Cramer talks of his own "Goliaths" and how he overcame them. It is a wake up sign to those of us who are struggling to overcome our own problems and helps give us a path to return to God. I would recommend this book to my family, peers and anyone else looking for an optimistic view of life.

This book is a collection of over 50 personal stories of conversion divided into three sections titled: Family to Family, Conversions, and Reconversions.

This collection of poetry will remain on my bedside table as I re-read and imagine a fate that could have been my own. Each poem is honest and unique. I was brought on a journey through a painful past that is so thoughtfully told.

A wonderful ananlysis of a much-neglected topic.

In this book Kate O'Connel learns what it means to be kind to someone even when they're mean to you. I like how she turns to God in all that she does. It's also very exciting to read and try to figure out the mystery of the missing ring. Kate also trys to find out where the little kitten keeps going. I also think that this book deserves 10 stars!