John Reed Books

Mary Reed and Eric Mayer's SIX FOR GOLD: A JOHN THE EUNUCH MYSTERY tells of sheep killings and the accusation of political murder. A pilgrim destination, an ancient shrine, and a battle with a magician are only a few of the subplots involving John's investigative skills. All pair strong characterization with plots and subplots to keep even the seasoned mystery fan guessing.

Another terrific installment in the John the Eunuch series. Accused of murdering a senator , John is saved from torture and execution by being banished by Emperor Justinian. Justinian sends him to Egypt to solve the mystery of why sheep in an Egyptian village are slitting their own throats. John finds the local landowner locked in battle with a magician who both want control of the land and the mysterious maze/shrine that is on it. And back in Constantinople John's friends and family desperately try to prove his innocence.

A fascinating look into the historical time of Emperor Justinian, a time of plague and the conflict between the Christians and pagans. Loaded with wonderful historic detail and a terrific mystery. John is a likeable hero and the supporting characters are quirky and wonderful. Historical mystery lovers will want to be sure to read all the books in this series as will everyone else. It's well written, with great characters, a lively mystery and lots of well researched historical detail.

In plague-infested Constantinople, Justinian's Lord Chamberlain, John the Eunuch, is suspected of murdering a Senator. Exiled to Egypt where, supposedly, sheep are committing suicide by cutting their own throats, John must somehow stay alive--a task made more difficult by the assassin Empress Theodora is certain to have sent after him, and by the insistance by his wife Cornelia, and his servant, Peter, that they accompany him.

John knows that Justinian always works more than one angle. Suicidal sheep, while interesting, would hardly be enough to motivate the great Roman Emperor to send his trusted servant to Egypt. Something else must have attracted his attention--something so dangerous he couldn't even trust John with what he feared. Yet the Egyptian oasis seems to contain nothing but a tax-evading landlord, a gameplaying priest, superstitious peasants, and a magician whose magic tricks are as old as the Pharaohs. Justinian could have been wrong--but if he was, John is the one who's likely to pay the price.

Back in Constantinople, John's friend Anatolius investigates the mystery of the murdered Senator. Clearly John didn't do it. Whether John's dodgy son-in-law might have been involved is less clear. But the murder seems to involve the religious schism between the orthodox, championed by Justinian, and the monophysites, championed by Theodora. That the monophysites were dominant in Egypt, and that John was exiled to that province didn't sound like coincidence. Still, what could it mean.

Authors Mary Reed and Eric Mayer continue their charming John the Eunuch series with a story that takes John far from Constantinople, returning him to Egypt--the land where he and Cornelia first met. Egypt has always been a land of magic and mystery and it certainly is in SIX FOR GOLD--starting with Peter's discovery of the cat-mummy industry and the monkey-headed giant snake. The religious disputes between orthodox and monophysites was a huge part of the history of this time and Reed and Meyer do a good job presenting it in the context of a historical mystery. John's own worship of Mithra, the Persian sun-god, adds richness to the story.

SIX FOR GOLD is filled with comic touches--I especially like the bumbling but effective Peter, as well as his part in solving the mystery of the suicidal sheep. The mysterious maze in the Egyptian oasis might not be historical, but it should be.

Fans of historical mystery will definitely want to grab this latest in the John the Eunuch series. I have no hesitation in recommending SIX FOR GOLD.

In Constantinople, the Lord Chamberlain John the Eunuch is arrested for the murder of Senator Symacchus in the Hippodrome. The Empress Theodora demands justice, which means an eye for an eye or perhaps a tongue. Instead Emperor Justinian gives John a chance to buy some time to have his innocence proven. He exiles John to Egypt to learn why sheep are committing suicide on a settlement up river from Alexandria while the eunuch's best friend Anatolius investigates the senatorial murder.

John boards the Minotaur only to find his wife Cornelius and his elderly servant Peter waiting to go with him. John and his entourage reach their destination, the city of Mehenopolis, home of a sacred ancient shrine to the snake deity. The city turns out to be more Byzantium than Constantinople is as it hosts many visitors to the shrine and residents who want to make their fortune from the foolish outside believers. Anyone of them could be the cause of why the sheep are slashing their throats.

SIX FOR GOLD is a fabulous historical mystery that showcases an era when Christianity and paganism battle for supremacy. The vivid story line brings to life an area of Egypt rarely if ever used in novels so that the audience obtains an even greater taste of the true first "world war" fought over religious principles. John is a terrific protagonist struggling to solve the case of the suicidal sheep even as he ponders what will happen to him and his family once he returns home because the investigation he left behind will turn into a cold case by the time he comes home. Mary Reed & Eric Mayer once again make the John the Eunuch mysteries one of the best historical tales on the market today.

Harriet Klausner

This sixth John the Eunuch mystery opens with a chase through 6th-century Constantinople's Hippodrome and dockside grain stores as John, lord chamberlain to Emperor Justinian, dodges the spears of palace guards only to be undone by a rat, literally.

Charged with the murder of a senator and brought before the Emperor (thwarting the Empress Theodora of a savored chance to torture her nemesis), John is sent to Egypt, ostensibly banished, but actually charged with investigating a local mystery of suicidal sheep and furthering the Emperor's search for a powerful religious relic.

His irreverent wife, Cornelia and devout Christian servant Peter join John, making their own unique contributions to figuring out why sheep would slash their own throats and what lies at the heart of the rivalry between the local headman and the interloper magician. The magician's powers range from blatantly fake to spectacular, and the headman, while less dazzling, is equally devious.

Wry and observant, John, who has seen much of the worst the world has to offer, stays a step ahead of the reader, while back in Constantinople his friend Anatolius, daughter Europa and brash, rash son-in-law Thomas work to unravel the senator's murder. From brothels, magical shrines and plague fears to palace intrigues and everyday details, the authors seamlessly work historical atmosphere into the cleverly plotted mystery and leaven it with just the right amount of humor. Fans will enjoy the latest chapter in John's tumultuous life and newcomers will be drawn to earlier adventures.

--Portsmouth Herald

Wyeth, Pyle and the others captivate my imagination and this book captures their mastery. Strongly recommended!

This book covers very well some of the most important people in American History. N.C. Wyeth,Howard Pyle, Dean Cornwell,Harvey Dunn, Frank Schoonover and Philip Goodwin have illustrated the turn of the 1800's to 1900's with the same spirited passion that bred our great country. It's this great passion that is given to the pictures that they created that seperates their work from photographs which are just taken. Looking at the Illustrations shows you that Pyle was successful in creating an American art which will always be a foundation for Illustrators to follow.

Visions Of Adventure surveys the arts of N.C. Wyeth and the Brandywine artists, providing a lavish display packed with color plates and paintings by Pyle, Wyeth, Dunn, and others. Histories and backgrounds of each featured work accompany the fold-out and full-page illustrations and make for an excellent review. Highly recommended.

Incredible collection of paintings and the stories that go along with them. Colorful with spectacular detail of the famous paintings of a time gone by. Amazing how the author was able to put together a collection of this magnitude. A must have for anyone who appreciates art. It is perfect as a gift to that special person you care about.

i m french so i say it with my word : c'est trés beau !

This is a fast, simple read that allows your to jump around different sections with little confusion. It has some good tips on getting rid of debt and saving more for the future, and above all it give advice to appreciate what you already have and don't feel the need to constantly buy new things!

This book gives you everything you need to know about getting your finances in order and gives you a plan of action. The information is very practical and helpful for a variety of issues and situations. If you are in debt, this is a must read.

I've been a fan of John Ventura and Mary Reed's books for some time, mainly because they are accurate, straightforward and actionable. Managing Debt for Dummies is no exception. It covers everything from basic budgeting to how to avoid eviction. I've been in the consumer education field for a long time now and I can attest that the strategies and resources listed are reliable and useful.

The chapter on Managing Your Past-Due Mortgage is going to be especially relevant as billions of dollars in adjustable rate mortgages begin to reset. Likewise, I know a lot of people are having trouble paying back student loans, and the information there is also clear and straightforward.

Overall, this book is coming out at the right time, and I have no doubt many, many people are going to find it indispensible.

Not knowing where to start untangling the mess I'd made for myself and way too embarrassed, even ashamed, to ask for help kept me living in vagueness, not ever adding up the numbers. Managing Debt for Dummies made it safe to come out from under the covers and look at my financial situation. Ventura and Reed not only have a friendly, non-judgmental tone to their advice, they break the road to solvency down into manageable pieces and guide us forward step by step. It most reminds me of the feeling I had as my dad ran alongside my bike the first rides after removing the training wheels. The fear is still there, but knowing he's there to guide me, I'm able to take the risk, all the time feeling an eminent sense of independence.

John, Lord Chamberlain to the Emperor Justinian in Constantinople, pursues a rather personal murder mystery when a girl claiming to be "Zoe" seeks to meet with him and then is found murdered. "Zoe" is John's name for a girl depicted in a mosaic on the wall of his study, whom he sometimes talks aloud to in order to think things out, so he's quite surprised to find that a real girl is claiming to be Zoe--particularly since he recognizes that she could very well be the model. He first needs to find out about the mosaic (created for the house's previous owner), and also who has gossiped about his private habit... and of course who the body actually is, and why she wished to speak with him.

The mystery is intriguing... involving the past and the various nobles banished from the Palace, and possibly an old rumor about the Empress and maybe a plot against the Emperor. There is also a nice twist at the end.

The setting of ancient Constantinople is particularly fun in this outing, since John is exploring the alley-ways of the Copper Market, full of beggars and merchants and prostitutes and actresses and holy men living on pillars.

The truly Byzantine politics and intrigue and lifestyle of the city makes this series interesting.

Take a look at the wonderful cover of this book, and consider this quote from Ezra Pound: "The eyes of this dead lady speak to me." That's John the Eunuch's experience, too: the Lord Chamberlain to Justinian and the toxic Empress Theodora has found a safe and reliable confidante in the mosaic portrait of a girl he calls Zoë. Through the first six books in this series, Zoë--more than just a picture on a study wall-- has become real to the reader as well. So imagine how disconcerted John is to run into a young woman who claims to be the model for Zoë-- and how even more disconcerted he is to find her painted red and floating in an underground cistern, quite dead.

Finding the truth about Zoë becomes first a quest and then something of an obsession with John, and obsessive quests seldom go smoothly. As always, authors Reed and Mayer weave a fund of information about religion, politics, and life in Byzantium and a vivid cast of characters into a story that will draw you in and leave you thinking. John's servant Peter, his beloved Cornelia, and his conflicted excubitor friend Felix (among others) are real and plausible to a 21st-century reader, yet consistently true to the understandings and assumptions of their time and station. And anyone who remembers their college days can probably call to mind a pedantic poet....

One definition of a good mystery is that it leaves the reader in dialog with the characters even after the book ends. Using that definition, after the strong and poignant ending of this story, I still have a few choice words for Theodora. I join other reviewers in hoping that there will be many more chances to enter the world of John the Eunuch.

In mid sixth century Constantinople, the lord chamberlain to Emperor Justinian, John the Eunuch, has found a confident whom he shares his concerns and issues though she does not speak back to him. Instead she is a young girl painted on a mosaic on his wall. He calls her Zoe.

One day John is stunned as he sees his Zoe on the street. He introduces himself and she says her name is Zoe and that she was the model for that mural. John is stunned by her revelations and has doubts about her name; he ponders who overheard his discussions with the wall Zoe. However, before he can confront the woman, someone brutally murders her. John assumes to silence her so he investigates not realizing his past and the Empress Theodora are intermingled with the death of Zoe.

John's investigation is clever and fun to follow, but like the previous six numbered tales, it is the insightful look at ancient history that makes SEVEN FOR A SECRET (and its predecessors) a great reading experience. John is at his best as each step he takes is dangerous and increasingly personal as he begins to unravel ties back to himself. Ancient historical mystery readers know the John the Eunuch tales are one of the best series on the market; and though the verse is finished with SEVEN FOR A SECRET, hopefully Mary Reed and Eric Mayer will write number eight for their fans.

Harriet Klausner

This is the seventh mystery in the highly acclaimed John the Eunuch historical mystery series. But it can be read as a stand-alone novel, which is what I did. The series takes place in Constantinople during the turbulent reign of the Christian Emperor Justinian. John, who is indeed a eunuch, is Justinian's highly placed Lord Chamberlain. He's also a secret pagan, and he leads a precarious existence because the Empress Theodora, a psychopath of almost unlimited power, has taken a personal dislike to him. John is an interesting guy with an interesting military background: not your typical eunuch.

In this book, he has another murder to investigate: a young woman who tried briefly to contact him. Could it connect to a possible conspiracy to overthrow Justinian? The mysterious woman is a possibly an actress-prostitute with connections to the disenfranchised demimonde who despise Justinian.

Even more unsettling, the murder victim resembles a mosaic portrait on the wall of John's study of a little girl who was the daughter of the unfortunate tax-collector who owned the house before John did. Over the years, John has come to think of the little mosaic girl as almost a surrogate daughter to whom he confides his thoughts as he sits at night in his study, analyzing the complexities of his life in Justinian's court. So he has a personal motivation to solve this mystery.

All of the strengths of this mystery series are evident in this latest book: the streamlined, concise writing; the vivid sensory details; and the colorful characters including irrepressible lawyer Anatolius, gruff captain of the imperial guard Felix, jaded brothel owner Isis, and Peter the disapproving but fiercely loyal servant to John. Those of you who enjoyed the recent Edgar-winning historical mystery The Janissary Tree by Jason Goodwin may even like this series better. Don't miss this latest book in a highly entertaining series.

I highly recommend Happily Un-Married to any one who is thinking about living together, getting married or un-happily married. I have given this book as a gift to several young people who were on the fence and need to take a time out to consider all of their options. I love this book because it is objective without a specific agenda. As an expert Whine-ologist and Savvy Granny, I know there is not a one-size fits all for any relationship. Dr. Curtis is not a whiner and but rather a wonderful winner! This book is a great companion book for my survey, Thou shalt Not Whine .....The Eleventh Commandment which will be published next month.

I have been in a committed relationship for six years. We began committed and have stayed this way as our relationship deepened. Our relationship has been smooth sailing but when we did finally have a glich it was nice to have Dr. John Curtis help us and offer his book for addional insight. It helped us to get into the depth of our issue and work it through without a separation. I hope anyone considering living together in a life long relationship read this book and apply the principles.

BLM

I have read Dr. Curtis' other book, The Business of Love, and when I saw that he had another relationship book out, I knew I had to read this one too. What a wonderful tool for anyone in a cohabitating relationship, preparing for one, or who knows someone who is in one. It gives very specific tools and information that you and partner can do together to strengthen your relationship. It also helps you deal with other people who may be against you living together. This is a highly recommended book!

I purchased this book for my nephews when they were 2 and 3, and my own children (2 and 3 also) loved it so much that I bought us a copy, and three more to give away!! The kids love to pore over the pictures, and though the story is written for kids probably 5 and up, my little ones will sit and listen to almost the whole thing! This is a retelling that greatly simplifies the real thing, but remains true to the main themes and tells the story well. The pictures are modern and humorous, so it's easy to relate. As a kid and even college student I was intimidated by Pilgrim's Progress, but I think that if I had been introduced to the story in a fun, non-threatening way, I would have been more motivated to plod through the original and reap the enormous benefits.

Pilgrim's Progress is a picturebook retelling of John Bunyan's classic narrative, intended for younger readers yet powerful for all ages. John Bunyan was a Baptist pastor who started to write the original tale when he was jailed in Bedford, England for preaching. Since then his story has become a widely beloved, metaphorical saga of a pilgrim named Christian in search of the Celestial City. Many monsters seek to lead him astray or devour him along his quest - the wicked Judge Hate-good, the giants of Doubting Castle, the diguesed and deceptive Flatterer, and even the Athiest strives to convince him that the Celestial City does not exist. Yet Christian also makes steadfast friends, such as Faithful, who speaks out against unjust laws at the cost of his life, and Hopeful, who keeps Christian's head above the darkest waters. Colorful, slightly cartoony illustrations decorate a story that despite its elements of whimsy, is at its heart a profoundly powerful parable of the many hardships encountered on the road the faithful walk. Highly recommended.

A man, burdened by the weight of the world on his shoulders, sets out on an epic journey to find salvation for himself, his wife and family. Along the way, he meets dark characters, scary situations, and a shady personality or two. Ultimately, he attains his goal and the gates of heaven swing open to welcome him.

Prolific author Tim Dowley has made the old new again with his wonderful retelling of John Bunyan's classic, The Pilgrim's Progress (Kregel, November 2004, hardcover, 80 pages). Twenty-first century kids (and their parents) will find themselves captivated by Dowley's modernized version of this seventeenth century classic. Illustrator Steve Smallman's brilliant artwork combines with Dowley's storytelling to create a fresh, vibrant effect.

While some of the prose (and wardrobe) have been updated, this version of The Pilgrim's Progress remains a wonderful way to emphasize morality and values with your children in a manner that will capture their attention and imagination.

The secret of "Masterful Words" is its readability. A good dictionary or thesaurus might contain similar material, but it would lack the sheer page-turning readability of this book. If you find that you can't put it down and read it to the end you will end up a significantly increased vocabulary plus a historical grasp of words and their pronunciation, which many similar works omit.

I think this book should be on your desk if you are a writer or a speechmaker.

Like a secret code book for our language, Masterful Words reveals common building blocks of the words we see everyday. Some prefixes and suffixes I remember from studying for the SAT. Others I know from engineering and computer science. But most are pleasant surprises. They hide in familiar words, so their meanings makes perfect sense...once Eshleman presents them so clearly. Now, I see those building blocks everywhere and know the meanings of many more words. This is the Rosetta stone of modern English for the otherwise well educated person.

As a tutor for S.A.T. preparation, I find John Eshleman's "Masterful Words" a must.
Not only is itessential for S.A.T. preparation,
but no college preparatory student should be
without it. The book clearly explains
the relationship between words, along with
their definitions, in a highly amusing tone.
The quizzes that appear periodically
are a bonus to students and teachers.
This book should be on the desk of
every lover of words, English teacher, and
high school(college prep)and college student.

As a Japanese poet myself, I was largely influenced and moved by his being and works. His haiku restored my relationship with nature and the grace of life. The beautiful discovery of the essence and the tresurable secret in ordinary life.

This is a wonderful book that demonstrates how well the haiku form can work in English. It has a distinctly American feel but the same concentration as in the great Japanese poets. Truly exceptional.

Wills joined the North American haiku scene in 1968, during a time of transition away from the early orthodoxies of the movement. Wills himself became one of the first haijin to write a sparer type of haiku, liberated from 5-7-5 syllabic structure and the traditions of western typography. This collection, published in 1987, contains nearly all his best published work. Wills' background was in lit (PhD from Washington University in St. Louis, taught at university level for many years). After spending time studying haiku in Japan on a research grant, he left academia and lived as a subsistence farmer, an experience that probably helped give his work its pure, focused, supremely uncluttered quality. Along with Robert Spiess, he's perhaps the most persuasive and observant naturalist among North American haijin, his haiku inspiration deriving almost exclusively from the American wilderness. He's capable of magnificent compression--

boulders
just beneath the boat
it's dawn

--which juxtaposes the four classical elements of earth, water, air, and fire and documents a classic haiku moment of transition (with a hint of menace) in just nine syllables.

Elsewhere we find pointed humor:

keep out sign
but the violets keep on
going

Unforgettable images:

mule
dragging dawn
across the ridge

(clearly modeled on Virgilio's "bass/picking bugs/off the moon", the poem that first turned Wills onto haiku)

And self-deprecation in his appropriately rare personal cameos:

the footpath narrows
laurel branches take me
by the sleeve

Wills experimented with single-line haiku, meter, portmanteau words, and expressive typography, notably the use of tabs to indicate silence, space, and elapsed time. His work, both in terms of content and technique, remains a great inspiration to haijin everywhere.

John Reed's Schubert Song Companion provides clear and literal translations to the more than 600 known Schubert lieder. Reed also includes musical analysizations and historical information about each song. This book is perfect for anyone from the Schubert scholar to the curious listener. Definately a must for any Schubert singer!

To get a start in the world of the lieder, this is the best by far. Thourogh, well organized, easy to use...

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For those who have the time and intellectual inclination, suggest you pair this book with Schubert: Lieder and go through the whole Schubert lieder experience, combining poetry, music, and criticism: a worthy pursuit of the best of humanity--amid the wrack and ruin of civilization in the 21st Century New Dark Age.
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Perhaps the most influential conduct book of the eighteenth century, Gregory's *Father's Legacy* is a must-read for any student of conduct literature -- right up there with Hannah More's *Strictures on Female Education* in its conservatism and prudery. If you want to understand where idiocies like *The Rules* come from, you'll find it here.

This is what may be called passing on "old fashioned" advice from father to daughter, but I think it is an example of a father who honestly cares enough about his daughters to advise them on what IS proper. I think these words ring just as true today as they did in 1796. I wish that publishers WOULD continue to keep works like this in print. Some valuable truths might be imparted on our society about the reality of human interaction.