Characters Books

It all starts with a series of burglaries. Joe Grey and his female paramour Dulcie are doing their normal prowling when they notice a big black cat helping a human in robbing a local store. This is repeated, and then done again leading to a total of three robberies. The local police are baffled, but Joe and Dulcie find out that the black cat is just like them: he can speak English.

There is a lot of tension between Joe and Azrael (as the black cat calls himself) and even Dulcie rakes her clues across Azrael as we find out that the black cat is one of those sadists who enjoy creating pain and suffering among those smaller or less capable than themselves. While engaged in a lot of cat bickering, Azrael seems to go into a trance and predicts three human deaths.

Now, this is something for the gumshoe duo to look into! Simple robberies are just ho hum, but Murder! Ah, now there is a good choice morsel!

As it turns out, Azrael is really in love with his human companion and does everything he can to help him out. Unfortunately, Azrael's human keeper is involved with the three people who get killed as do a whole host of newcomers and visitors to the town. Add to the mix a librarian who hates cats; a golddigger; an unusual cleaning lady; and you get quite a mix with the locals who we've learned about over the previous three books. All make appearances here.

There is actually very little mystery here as the bok's plot is ponderously unraveled. When you get to the part where the murder takes place, you already have enough clues to figure out who the murderer is and even enough clues to know how he story will progress. That is why I took off one star from this rating - a mystery book should have a mystery and I did not find one here.

On all the other attributes of this series, I like what I read. About the only other negative comment I can make is that there seem to be an awful lot of cats with the ability to speak, understand, and read English in one small town in California. If that was only true I would be having a civilized conversation with at least one of my own cats! Maybe it's time to stop introducing so many cats who can speak; or humans who can turn into cats, and focus instead on the mystery aspects of the plotting?

The people in the town are likable. The romantic involvement of the main principals are believable for the most part and you really care about these folks after a while. So, those parts of the books are highly rated and should hopefully continue unabated.

This is a great series. The books continually get better as the series goes on, so keep reading the Joe Grey mysteries! So far, I've read the first 6 books, and I'd have to say that this one is by far my favorite. Definitely a recommendation!

As the lone human in a household that includes cats, I can't help but appreciate Joe and Dulcie. If my cats could speak (and solve mysteries), this is just the way they'd behave. The books in this series are great for an entertaining, light read. Ms. Murphy does an excellent job in developing her characters, and the reader comes to know them as friends. I'm looking forward to the next installment.

I just discovered the series and have really enjoyed all I've read so far. Each one is a "just can't put it down" book. Great weekend read!

This is the fourth book in the "Joe Grey" series. I think the author has refined her technique a lot since the first book, "Cat On the Edge". I think she has improved her stories to the point where they are truly ready to be included among the best of Fantasy or Whodunit books. The main theme is about two cats who have become able to understand and speak English. The cats pull off all kinds of coups in solving crimes. Coups that would be impossible for humans. The cats are most loveable and likeable. The cat characters are the most vivid, but the human characters that the cats "own" or interact with are now also quite likeable. The plots are well done and there is quite a bit of suspense.

This book is a Christian themed police procedural. The protagonists are patrol officers assigned to the midnight shift of NYPD's Manhattan South Precinct, especially partners Joe Fiore and Jerry Cavalucci. The patrol vignettes are an interesting snapshot of NYPD activity in the commercial center of the city. The authors draw a compelling portrait of Cavalucci's struggle with alhocol and a dysfucntional family, especially the strains placed on his fiance and her son. Cavalucci's attempts to bring order and sense to his professional and private lives lead to the Christian component of the book. Joe Fiore, Cavalucci's partner, and Michele, his fiance, are deeply religious Christians who try to help Tony resolve life issues by example and references to scripture and the power of faith. The characters are engaging and the reader is caught up in Tony's struggle. The best part of the book is the account of 9/11 from our police officer characters' perspectives. It is at once terrifying and inspiring. We all saw the tragedy. The characters lived it. The authors vividly describe it. The last eighty pages alone make the book well worth buying and reading. An outstanding effort.

In CLEAR BLUE SKY, Frank and Pam (F. P.) Lione continue the story of New York Police Detective Tony Cavalucci in a stand-alone novel (their first in hardcover). The talented husband and wife duo have three previous NYPD books under their belt, and the experience shows as they pen their best --- and grittiest --- police novel to date.

If you missed the now (mostly) out-of-print Midtown Blue series that chronicles the time leading up to this novel, you're in for a treat here. Tony is engaged to single mom Michele and looking forward to being a full-time dad to her young son, Stevie. With a wedding in the works, the couple has lots to talk about --- and plenty of tension.

The chief stressor is a bachelor party that Tony's loud and argumentative Italian family is insisting on. Michele lets Tony know that if the bachelor party goes as planned, she's calling it quits. Of course, this isn't the real reason why Tony's family has mostly turned against him. They don't care for his hard-won sobriety (his sister Denise calls him "Mr. Twelve Stepper"), and they're not crazy about the fact that he's marrying Michele, a single mother. They also don't like his new-found commitment to faith. It's not long before the inevitable showdown occurs, and Tony finds that he must choose between his family and his fiancée and her son.

And what a family. Tony's divorced mom is dating a Harley biker. His father's trampy second wife is pregnant, which his father seems to find unusually upsetting --- and we discover why, as the novel unfolds. Add a few Mafia relatives, and the sparks (and punches) are sure to fly at any family gathering.

Underneath the tension is Tony's insecurity about his own worthiness. "The truth is, I felt kind of like a fraud with Michele. Like maybe if she really knew me, she wouldn't be so quick to marry me.... It was like I kept waiting for the hammer to hit me and things to crash and burn around me like they always did."

Joe Fiore is Tony's wise Christian partner, and one of the reasons why Tony has been able to stay sober and deal with his Italian family. He's also the reason why Tony has found a renewed faith. But Tony has stopped going to church and hasn't been able to talk to Michele or Joe about why. His conversations with Joe reflect the reality and messiness of church life.

Tony's life as a cop provides some of the best moments in the book. Speed chase scenes, almost-too-strange-to-be-true incidents (a dog that is electrocuted when it pees on open live wires on a lamp post vandalized by the homeless for their boom boxes), the ins and outs of a grand jury trial, and even a burglary in a geisha house all score high on the "wow, I didn't know stuff like this went on" scale. Insider lingo also enlivens the text --- one man with a bandaged head injury is said to be wearing a "Bronx party hat." As in the other Lione books, there are plentiful descriptions of Italian food that will make your mouth water. It's a wonder Tony doesn't weigh 300 lbs.

For those readers new to Tony's story, F. P. Lione is an Italian-American married couple, Frank and Pam, who are both children of NYPD detectives. (Frank has also served with the NYPD). Their direct experiences with the police force and love of the city lend authenticity to the novel. The narrative isn't without some troubles --- lots of consecutive sentences that begin with "We" and "I", for example. But they pen some killer descriptions, such as this one about Friday bingo night at St. Michael's: "Kind of like offtrack betting, with old Italian women in rolled-down stockings."

The twin towers on the cover and prologue clue in the reader that CLEAR BLUE SKY's story will climax in the events of September 11th. In a post 9/11 world, where it seems as if every emotional drop has been wrung out of the fictional and nonfictional publishable possibilities, I was skeptical that anyone could write a moving scene six years after the fact. But the Liones handled the tragedy well enough to give me goosebumps. It's also a crucial and believable way for them to literally nudge some of their characters into a stronger belief in God.

The Liones just keep getting better in every novel. They adeptly blend Italian life, relationship issues, fascinating stories from the New York City streets and faith into a page-turning read that will hook new readers while continuing to please fans of their previous books. Don't miss it.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby

It's several months after the release date of Clear Blue Sky but I don't want to neglect writing it up. I've not read any of the Lione's previous novels so I don't have a feel for their voice overall. However, I will be picking up previous and future books because the story of Tony and Michelle, New York and his life as a cop, a son, a new Christian and a man were intriguing and gritty and real.

I was surprised that the majority of the book didn't deal with September 11th, that this huge and very well written and gut-wrenchingly told event was only a small part of the lives of Tony and Michelle.

The writing is narrative and to-the-point and through the eyes of Tony, an Italian New York cop, who is at a crossroads in life. He is facing changes within his close knit and very dysfunctional family. He has chosen to marry a woman who doesn't please the majority of his family members because she is not willing to put up with the dysfunction, the alcoholic brawls and the mind games. Tony, a reformed bad boy, has a fledgling faith and a strong friend/partner/mentor in Joe. But Tony is pulling away from church because something just isn't looking right and he doesn't know what to do about it. Tony's brother and father are closer than ever and edging Tony out and Grandma, the sweet old lady, is losing control so she's pulling out all the stops and not looking quite as sweet. All of a sudden alcohol is looking really good to Tony and he's wondering what it's going to cost him to have Michelle as a wife.

There is so much to this story. The writing is a little more nuts and bolts than I generally dig into, but the characters and descriptions and details pulled me in and didn't let me go. I want to read more about Tony and Michelle. I want to see the entire family healed. I want to hug Joe because he acts like Jesus. There are situations and words that would offend folks, so be forewarned. But if you aren't easily offended and squeamish, look into this novel.

With the Labor Day weekend and its feasts over, the overworked NYPD police know they can catch a breath after tons of overtime mostly involving crowd control. Police officer Tony Cavalucci did his job, but crowd control is a part of his patrol work he hates as he dreams of getting "out of the bag" and into a plainclothes anti crime unit.

He and most of his peers fear the new mayor will return the streets to the perps as his aids are not impressive; still he does his job of patrolling the streets. Following a graveyard shift on the morning of 11 September 2001 on a warm clear day he stops for coffee and muses unhappily about the demands his family have placed on him. His brother wants him to host a wild last fling bachelor party to remind him what he is giving up by marrying. His extended Italian family especially his mother hates his fiancée Michelle as she is ethically and religiously incorrect and had a child Stevie out of wedlock. They insist he drop her or else. As he ponders whether he will have to give up one of the two families he loves, all that changes when he notices smoke coming from one of the Twin Towers.

CLEAR BLUE SKY continues the insightful look at the life of a New York City cop (see the previous three Midtown Blue novels: not read by me - THE DEUCE and THE CROSSROADS; read by me SKELLS). 9/11 is important to the plot, but comes towards the latter part of the novel as readers follow Tony's personal and professional life in the days just before the tragedy (much of the setting), during the rescue attempts, and immediately after. Fans of police procedurals will appreciate this series that focuses on the cop on the job and off the job as readers obtain a perceptive glimpse of the work pressures and family demands on a police officer.

Harriet Klausner

I've said before that reading an F.P. Lione novel is like watching an un-cut taping of COPS, only you follow the cops home. But in a way that's doing their writing a disservice. A Lione novel is about much more than the domestic disputes, car chases, and gun wielding criminals often found on the tv show. That isn't to say these types of situations don't make it into the pages. They do. But a Lione novel digs deeper than that. By following police officer Tony Cavalucci on and off duty, the Lione's reveal the heart and soul of a cop. Tony's story has already filled three Midtown Blue novels (The Deuce, The Crossroads & Skells), and his saga continues in Clear Blue Sky, the unofficial 4th book.

This time around Tony's closer to marrying his fiance Michelle, and his Italian family continues to voice their objections to the union. Michelle isn't Italian or Catholic, two strikes against her. She had her young son Stevie out of wedlock and there's no sign of the father. Strike three. With the Cavalucci family you're guilty until proven innocent, and even then if you get on their bad side they'll find some way to convict you. Their crazy yet realistic dynamics provide just as much drama as the worst nights on Tony's midnight tour, and it's starting to wear on him. He finds himself torn between loyalty to his blood-family and the family he's come to love as his own. He doesn't want to lose either of them, but sooner or later he's going to have to make a choice.

Not to mention that he and God haven't been on the best of terms lately. Since Tony became a Christian his life has actually gotten harder. Not only does he have to face the temptation to hit the bottle again, but he's facing moral choices right and left. Case in point: he promised to throw his brother Vinny a bachelor party. Vinny wants it wild, like old times. Tony struggles with letting his brother down and standing behind his new-found principles, and Michelle. If it weren't for his Christian partner, Officer Joe Fiore, Tony would probably slip back into his old ways as easily as he slips on his gun belt.

It's an incredibly realistic portrayal of one man's struggle to live out his faith. Being a cop and a Christian are hard enough. Being an Italian cop with a dysfunctional family is harder. How can Tony keep the faith without losing his family?

Like the books before it, Clear Blue Sky is not a novel with a clear plot. But it will keep you riveted. There's something extremely compelling in the Lione's style. Their details are vivid and specific, adding to the authenticity. Like the others in the Midtown Blue series as you read Clear Blue Sky you really do feel like you're tagging along in the back seat of Tony's patrol car as he faces the sad, the serious, and the outrageous on his beat. You'll walk away from the novel with a new appreciation for police officers.

This novel is being marketed as a stand-alone about the 9/11 tragedy, which could be slightly misleading. The actual disaster doesn't occur until well into the story. I had expected to read more about Tony and Joe's experiences on that day. But holding off until the end was a natural and effective way to build tension. You know the Twin Towers are coming down, and you look for it on every page. Brings home the point that September 11th was a normal autumn day like any other.

If you've ever wondered what it's like to be a cop in one of the world's busiest cities, look no further. Pick up any Lione novel and feast on the experience. Clear Blue Sky is no exception. But in this one you'll come away with new insights on what really happened in New York City that fateful September day in 2001--the day the sky was clear and blue.

--Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for TitleTrakk

WOW! Now this is the book to read! With all the facts & fun you get to know the BSC real good. I just say : READ IT! =)

This book tells you all that you need to now about the babysitters club. It brings back good memorys about ther other books and gives info from ther other books you didn't read. I recomend this book to all of the readers of the babysitters club SO READ IT!!!!!!

Everything you ever wanted to know about the Baby-Sitters Club is in this book. It is very detailed.For example:One of the facts is that Kristy's little sister's worst enemy in her class, Bobby Gianalli, his father's occupation is working for an insurance company.

This is the book for you! It has everything you need to know about the BSC and all of Stoneybrook. Find all there clients, friends out of the club, and Beyond Stoneybrook. Read it!

The COMPLETE guide to the Baby-Sitters Club. It's an excellent book, it tells you all the baby-sitters clients, about their family, friends out of the club. There's a lot more to it. But I won't llist all of them, if you want to know, than read the book and find out! GET IT OR GET OUT!!!!!!

Tony Cavalucci is a second generation NYPD police officer whose family life may be more hazardous than his job on the streets. As New Year's Eve approaches, the department ramps up for the crowds and the threats the Time's Square celebration always brings.

But the job isn't the only stressor on Tony's life. He has finally found the woman he wants to spend the rest of his life with, and his dysfunctional family can't stand her or her four year old son. Christmas dinner is a disaster as his family, blind to their own hypocrisy, attacks Michele and her four-year old, illegitimate son. But through her eyes, he begins to see his family in a different light and doesn't like what he sees. But he can't totally walk away from his family either. Will they be able to reach a compromise, or will Tony continue to live alone in his small basement apartment?

That isn't the only complication in this hectic holiday week. His mother returns unexpectedly into his world. An alcoholic, she's shows up a changed woman. While at rehab, she made the decision to try to right some of the wrongs she'd committed while drinking. A recovering alcoholic himself, Tony begins to let her re-enter her life, in controlled amounts.

The Crossroads has a unique perspective. F.P. Lione brings the experience and the voice of a NYPD police officer to the writing, giving it a distinct feel and voice.

"The Crossroads" is the mesmerizing sequel to "The Deuce," written by husband and wife team F.P. Lione. It continues the story of NYPD cop Tony Cavalucci, struggling to apply his new found faith in God to his job and his relationships, especially those with his family.

Tony's week didn't start out well. Christmas Eve dinner with his family was horrible. They treated his new girlfriend, Michele, and her little boy Stevie so rudely it was hard for even Tony to believe. Tony can understand why Michele left upset. But he can only do so much, right? They're his family, and these destructive family gatherings are normal to him. But Michele doesn't want Stevie around that environment, and while she loves Tony, she puts a hold on their relationship so she can pray and think about what is best for her and Stevie.

Seeking God's wisdom and guidance is a brand new experience for Tony. But his partner Joe Fiore continues to help him, encouraging him to pray and pointing him to Bible verses that apply to the situations going on in his life. I appreciate the fact that the Lione's don't make Tony an "instant" Christian, automatically knowing all the right things to say and do now that he is a believer. He is still battling with past temptations. It's hard for him not to turn to old habits, such as drinking, when things get tough. But step by step we see Tony learn to view life, including his family relationships, with the new eyes that God is giving him.

Frank & Pam Lione have a rare talent of taking ordinary events and relationships we all relate to and making them so interesting you don't want to stop turning the page. It's also a realistic glimpse into the lives of NYPD's finest. While this book stands on its own and can certainly be read without reading "The Deuce" first, I think readers will enjoy the books more if they start at the beginning with Tony. I highly recommend the Midtown Blues series, and look forward to reading "The Skells," next in the series soon.

Tony Cavalucci has just helped arrest Santa Claus and The Grinch, and it only goes downhill from there on his busy midnight tour. Soon he's facing a machette-wielding bandit, just praying he won't have to shoot the guy. It's all in a night's work for this ten-year NYPD veteran whose story began in F.P. Lione's previous book, The Deuce.

The days before New Year's are busy ones in New York, where "The Crossroads of the World become the Center of the Universe as the eyes of the planet look to Times Square." It's also a chance for Tony to earn some overtime and he welcomes the diversion from his Italian family's disapproval of his girlfriend and her young son. When Christmas Eve dinner at his grandmother's becomes a near brawl as passionate family members verbally (and even physically) duke it out, Tony realizes he has to choose his loyalties fast--before he loses the only woman he's ever wanted to marry.

With his overtime detail of checking cars for bombs in the parking garages with his partner, Joe Fiore, there isn't much time for pondering his family troubles. It's fast and furious during the holidays in The City That Never Sleeps, and Tony wrestles more than once with hitting the bottle again. He's been sober for five months and he's proud of it, but the stresses are enough to stretch any guy to his breaking point. Will he have the strength to do what he knows is right or will he relapse into his old hard-living ways?

A brand new Christian, Tony refreshingly doesn't have it all together. He still smokes. He's still tempted to drink and look at women. But there is a difference in his life. He gets his job done, but with more compassion now. He helps a rookie cop the old-timers would've ostracized. He doesn't hate the perps like he used to. He's a work-in-progress, and he knows it, but he's truly making an effort to live out what he now believes. If The Deuce was all about Tony's journey toward God, The Crossroads is all about his struggle to live out his faith when life, and the people around him, go crazy.

As in The Deuce, you'll be treated to more cop lingo, like a "bus" for an ambulance, and "RMP" for Radio Motor Patrol vehicle, but I appreciated how the authors took even more care to explain unfamiliar terms, often including a definition in parentheses. And although Tony's often tedious directions of where he and Fiore travel on patrol (we drove down this street, then turned down that, then headed east on this) will probably be appreciated best by those familiar with New York City, it does give you the feel for their intimate knowledge of the streets.

Frank & Pam Lione aren't afraid to get down and dirty in their stark portrayal of a cop's life, but they never resort to anything gratuitous. The encounters Tony and Joe experience run the gamut: from the humorous (the bar-fight encounter of the men dressed as Santa and the Grinch), and the gruesome (pulling the personal effects off a dead man in a multiple car accident) to the downright bizarre (an eerie man who sleeps in a coffin). Here's a novel that reveals the true 411 of policework--it's not all chase scenes and gun battles.

Highly worth your time, The Crossroads is a story of reconciliation, consecration, and unforgettable extremes.

--Reviewed by C.J. Darlington for Infuze Magazine

Police drama lovers, this is your book! The husband and wife team of "F. P. Lione" (Frank and Pam) are back with THE CROSSROADS, the second installment in the "Midtown Blue" series and follow-up to THE DEUCE. If you haven't read the first novel, stop here and do so. Although this can be read as a stand-alone, you'll miss too much background. Plus, the first one is too good to miss.

The story opens as middle-aged single cop Tony Cavalucci and his New York City police department prepare for the chaos of New Year's Eve in Times Square. Since THE DEUCE, Tony hasn't had a drink for almost six months. His stalwart Christian partner, Joe Fiore, encourages him with scripture verses and pep talks. Tony is dating Michele, a teacher and unmarried mother of four-and-a-half year old Stevie. Although he's thinking about marriage, he's gotten her earrings rather than "the ring" for Christmas.

Tony's volatile extended family continues to give him trouble. "Hey, we put the fun in dysfunctional," says Tony to Joe. When Tony brings Michele and Stevie to his family Christmas get-together, things quickly disintegrate. Muses Tony, "Michele is always so tactful, she would never come out and say they were a bunch of psychopaths." As a result, Michele pulls back from the relationship, and Tony sees his family --- and how he interacts with them --- in a new light. In the process, he and his mother begin a reconciliation of sorts.

This second novel, like the first, still has some rough spots. The authors take care to explain some of the police lingo, but the explanations often feel intrusive and interfere with the flow of the story (a glossary might have served readers better). In some places, one wonders why an abbreviation was used at all (Tony talks about his RDO, then in parenthesis it says "regular day off." Why not just say it?) A consistent problem in both novels is that too many sentences begin consecutively with the same word or words and many of the sentences are the same length. There is also an overuse of the word "I." ("I unlocked the door... I tossed my keys... I had gotten a cell phone...) Although most readers won't consciously register these facts, they will likely find the writing choppy and repetitive in places.

Many things have improved since the first novel, including the mechanics of the characters and the more careful use of details that enhance, rather than bog down, the storyline. What remains the same is the Liones' terrific insider look at New York City and the day-to-day work of policemen working the streets. Both husband and wife are Italian American children of NYPD detectives, and Frank is a veteran of the New York Police Department.

The Liones' Italian-American heritage shows in the wonderful descriptions of food and of family get-togethers. Indeed, anyone reading the plethora of foodie details included here (the cops can't get a bagel without the Liones describing each flavor and topping) will feel compelled to fix a snack while they continue reading. However, beware: the "ick" factor is still in full play from book one. Some of the scenes include Tony helping an alcoholic repeatedly throw up buckets of blood, drunks wetting their pants in the police car, etc.

The Liones have a knack for using humor to leaven some of the darkness of police work, and several of the incidents are so bizarre you figure they must be real (the woman answering the door naked, the man dressed as a vampire in a coffin). I laughed out loud many times while reading, especially at the arrest of Santa Claus (drunk in a bar with The Grinch). The authors also excel at offering interesting, behind-the-scenes police factoids. I found the logistics of handling between 500,000 and a million people in Times Square for New Year's Eve fascinating --- who would have thought the deceptively simple gathering of so many folks on a holiday required such organization and careful handling?

Fans of THE DEUCE will be delighted with this second installment in the "Midtown Blue" series, which offers the same mix of humor, grit, and relationship tangles that made the first novel so interesting.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby. Contact Cindy at (...)

The Crossroads courageously bridges the gap between Christianity and the contemporary culture. With hard-hitting drama and an emotionally charged plot, this book appeals to readers on several levels.

The realism of police work in New York City is captured with the concise writing and personal knowledge of the authors. There is a genuine sense of danger as the officers respond to calls in this precinct. Readers will be on the edge of their seats wondering how each encounter will end.

This second book in the series further explores the relationships between the characters and their family and friends. Tony Cavalucci has committed his life to Christ and now he is trying to live according to his new beliefs. However, there are some serious and long-standing emotional issues between himself and his divorced parents. Readers will watch this character grow in the knowledge of the Lord. It's noteworthy that the authors have portrayed Tony's spiritual development with a sense of realism. His growth as a Christian comes in small, natural steps that blend well with the rest of the novel.

Excellent writing and exceptional dialogue makes each page come alive. The life of a police officer is shown with a clarity that is impressive. The authors captured the fears and uncertainties that surround police work, but contrasted that with the absolute confidence believers have in the Lord. The gospel message is incorporated into the story with skill and sensitivity. Readers will understand the ability of biblical truths to answer today's problems. -- Joyce Handzo, Christian Book Previews.com

If you like mysteries that combine good historical and geographical information along with a good tale, you'll like this author and this title in particular.

The story takes place near Afghanistan during the Raj period. I don't know how accurate it is, but there's plenty of satisfying background and detail to provide flavor. I like the way the author is able to handle both male and female characters without flattening either. Not much character development, but nice pacing.

A pleasant book for a rainy afternoon.

Another excellent offering from Barbara Cleverly in herserries about British India. Always interesting and keeps your attention, without any great underlying meaning.

Set at the beginning of the last generation of British rule in the subcontinent, this mystery takes us to the North West Province, in what is now northern Pakistan, with wonderful contrasts of British and tribal cultures straining to avoid another war. Great characters, setting, and plot twists all the way to the end. I hope Ms. Cleverly has a lot more of these coming.

AS always, Barbara Cleverly keeps my interest and surprises me throughout.
I thoroughly enjoyed this one.

Although it helps to have read the first two books in the series to understand Joe, the other characters are interesting and well developed. She conveys a very tangible sense of place and there are twists and turns that keep you going to the very end. Set against a backdrop of English-occupied India in 1992, this is an excellent mystery, and one certain to be on my 2004 Top Ten list.

Elizabeth Sims has done it again! Another great Lillian Byrd mystery. Elizabeth Sims is funnier than Dorothy Parker, deeper than Edith Wharton, scarier than Mary Shelley, smoother than Patricia Highsmith, and nicer than Laura Ingalls Wilder. :)

Ok, I have to admit, the only reason I picked up the first one (Holy Hell) was because of an email I received about Elizabeth getting the Lambda Literary Award for this one and the fact that she was a local grrl. I'm not normally into the "Lesbian Mystery" type books.

This is NOT typical in the least! I was enthralled from the start and laughed out loud many times. The love scenes were very scorching! The main character was fabulously believable and imperfect. I don't think I can give this series enough stars and am impatiently anticipating Lucky Stiff. Keep them coming Elizabeth!!!

I've been reading lesbian books for a long time and this is one of the best stories in a sports milieu. The fact that Lillian is a golfer (duffer to be sure)helps pull the reader into the "Dinah". The only problem I have (as I do with many other books) is Lillian's sureness that she is in love with Genie in two days. Really! We do get a solid picture of who Genie is and what golf means to her by the end of the book. An excellent read!

Best book I've read in awhile! I adore this fresh, bright character. Can't wait for the next installment of Lillian's adventures!
Sims writes in the first person perspective, but even moreso - it's as if the character Lillian is sitting right beside you, unfolding her story. And I come away as if I'm met a new friend...a friend who is smart, very witty, with a heckuva great sense of humor.
I especially enjoyed that Lillian shlepps her mandolin around with her, sharing fiddle tunes with friends. The details about this part of her life and also about her pet rabbit Todd make Lillian come alive. Great character development. Damn Straight is a fun and engaging read.

Lillian Byrd is back and she is as sarcastic, human, and intuitive as she was in her first book, "Holy Hell". There are several laugh out loud funny parts as well as some deliciously creepy ones. The story gets going right away and before we know it Lillian is on a plane with Todd the rabbit, heading to California to meet up with her old friend Truby (who turns out to be a fun side story) and right into the arms of a mystery. The story is filled with twists and turns, humor, and humanity. Buy this book, you will not be disappointed!

And I loved it. I am a sucker for Merlin, and in this series his and Ninian's girls have been sent to the mortal world to be raised among mortals to keep them safe. The girls learn about their history and find their one true loves, only to have to fight a growing evil. I still have this series and probably won't ever sell it. I have recently read them again and I still like them.

This whole series by Evans is fantastic! I wish the author woulg write more! If anybody knows the authors alter ego let me know!!! I cant tell you how much I loved this book and the whole series!

Love it and love it. Great story telling and fantasy time. Buy it and buy it.

GREAT BOOK, GREAT STORY, VERY INTERESTING AND ENGAGING. I HAVE THE WHOLE MERLIN SERIES. GO AND BUY THIS!!

This is the third story in the Merlin's Legacy series and I must say it just keeps getting better and better.

This is the story of Stephen of Valois and Cassandra the third daughter of Magician Merlin. The quest for beating the Darkness has now fallen to these two very strong people. This story has it all romance, history, and magic. Characters from previous books make an appereance and help guide the story plus there are some new friends. If you have been reading the series you don't want to miss this one. If this series is new to you you are in for a treat.

Molly Doyle's life is going fairly smoothly for this ten minutes. How can expanding her antique business into some high quality interior design be a bad thing? Her first major job is a commission to refurbish the tasting rooms at a prestigious local family-owned winery. Sure, the husband of the woman who gave her the commission, Todd Jessup, is very vocal in his opinions of her talents and abilities; as Molly says, she's working for Carla Jessup and Todd can be as rude as he likes. Which he is.

Then there is the mysterious man who keeps turning up in the shop, looking at ship models and the like. Why is he so interested in Emma, Molly's niece? And who's been calling and not leaving messages?

Then Todd Jessup is killed at the winery, at a big party, and (for reasons having much more to do with political infighting than any real clues) Molly becomes a suspect. Her personal relationship with Kenneth Randall, Carmel's chief of police, complicates the investigation in many ways.

The mysterious man claims to be Emma's biological father, which really throws Molly for a loop. How much of Emma's life is he entitled to, and how much of a difference will his money (he is, of course, quite wealthy) make to everyone concerned?

Flinn has done another wonderful job with her characters, her setting, and her plot. Molly may not be the most politically correct character one is liable to encounter (she's religious, she swears, she smokes, and she struggles with her choices where Emma is concerned) but she is a woman one might very much like to have for a good friend. The decisions she makes are consistent with the character Flinn has set up in previous books. The series continues to grow, which is always a pleasure to watch.

Caveat Emptor: On page 81 there is a character, extremely unimportant, who bears my name. I won this treat in a contest; I'm not completely sure I've ever met Elaine Flinn in person, although I might have had dinner with her and about 15 other people at a Chinese restaurant in Chicago at a Bouchercon several years ago.

This is the first Molly Doyle mystery I have read and I will be reading more. If you enjoy the lighter mysteries this is one to read.

Elaine Flinn's Doyle series is outstanding, and far, far better on every level than the Jane Cleland series that ripped off almost everything from this great series.

Read the original and the best!

"Antiques Roadshow" has nothing on this charming mystery starring Molly Doyle. It is well written, charming, funny, and suspenseful. I loved it!! I also happen to be a character in it! What fun!

I've read all of the Molly Doyle mysteries by Elaine Flinn and have enjoyed them all. I was sad to think Emma might be departing from the series. But all in all it was great to be back at the antique store in Carmel and all the characters who have become friends.
My only criticism of the writing is my conviction not to read books that use God's name in vain. I have made an exception because of the stories, but it always is a jolt to me when I see it on the written page. I just think that kind of language does not do anything to enhance the book or even make it more life like to read. However, I do enjoy her writing and this particular setting and all the characters involved.
I gave it 5 stars because she's a great storyteller. I'll be anxiously looking for the next one. Please hurry!

Book was received in excellent condition and in about 3-5 days, I was very satisfied with my purchase and most definitely will purchase from this vendor again.

Thank you!

I really enjoyed this book, just as I have enjoyed all the Torie books. Rhett MacPherson really has a talent for bringing her characters to life, warts and all, and keeping me waiting for the next book. I highly reocmmend this series to mystery fans, and even non-mystery fans who like interesting characters.

The only problem I had with my copy is that something went wrong, apparently in the binding process. Near the end, right when the murderer was being disclosed, every other page or two was not the page it was supposed to be. Instead there were pages from an entirely different book in an entirely different style--it seemed like some kind of victorian romance--sprinkled in where the real pages should have been. I could still figure out who did it, but I wish all the pages had been there. I wonder if that other book had Rhett MacPherson's pages?? It was very weird. Has anybody else encountered this?

Torie O'Shea is the central character in Rett MacPherson's series and to say the least, she is a hoot. Entertaining is an inadequate word. Torie is a genologist who has lived in the small Missouri town all her life and knows not only every citizen but their entire family history. And she uses that knowledge to solve the current mystery.

More than the process of solving crimes to the reader are the bumps along the road of Torie's antics and sometimes outrageous derring-do activites. She has a unique and loving relationship with her hubby, who understands and wrote the book on the word patience, and her children are challenging to put it midly. A totally entertaining read watching Torie navigate between the current family crisis, the need to move to an audacious adventure to solve the crime, and the guts and grits it takes to maintain her livlihood of museum curator and geneologist.

Torie is a busy lady and following her around while she navigates her daily non-routine existance is fun, fun, fun. You might want to go back and start at the beginning - or at least read a few earlier books to get the gist of the main character and her encounters, but any book you read you will laugh and muse, and when completed, the smile will still be there. You cannot help it, I promise.

As in the past, I am always appreciative with the Torie O'Shea mysteries. Can't put the book down and usually read the whole book in a couple of days. Rett is one of my favorite authors because of the wit that is introduced into the story and making it so entertaining.

Torie O'Shea, the resident historian of New Kassel, Missouri, learns that the old Kendall house is up for sale. According to local myth, three Kendall siblings committed suicide on that property in the 1920s. Torie would like to buy the house and preserve it for historical purposes; and at the same time, she wants to find out what REALLY happened to Rupert, Whalen, and Glory Anne Kendall. Readers are eager to go along for the ride, now that Torie's obnoxious stepfather is no longer the sheriff and therefore no longer a stumbling block to her investigations. By checking church records and newspaper obituaries, Torie begins to piece the information together. But does Glory still haunt the house? Whose blood is splattered on one of the bedroom walls? Can what Torie unearths and adds to the old police files really provide the full story on the Kendalls? Is it better to know or NOT to know?

Kudos to Rett MacPherson for giving us such a compelling mystery to follow! This episode is one of the best in the series, and any genealogist or historian will be fascinated with analyzing the details first-hand as they are uncovered. Surely further installments will follow Torie as she restores the Kendall house and makes it into the textile museum she dreams of. Can we even hope that Glory's ghost will make a personal appearance from time to time?

In the 1st book in the Bert and Nan Tatum mystery series, we are introduced to twins that get sucked into a mystery. A handsome stranger approaches Bert on the street, and thinking he is speaking to her sister, she plays along. He flatters her, telling her how beautiful she is, and promises to call later. Speaking to her twin later, it seems as though Nan has no idea who this mysterious stranger was. And when the two are watching the news together later that evening, they find that the man has been murdered. Who was this strange man with a crush on Nan? And why was he murdered? The twins follow the clues to a mystery in their past, and find that indeed, their past has come back to haunt them.

I picked this book up while browsing the mystery section in my local library, and was not disappointed with this great addition to the cozy genre. This book is different from many other mysteries, as it is told from both viewpoints of the twins. The chapters alternate between the two viewpoints, and give a refreshing perspective to the story. The mystery was great, and kept me guessing to the end.

Enjoy!

The only problem with Double Murder, is how will these two gifted writers ever top it! Tight, quick plot, unique insight. A real page turner. Both Mccafferty and Herald are terrific writers on their own --together they may well be dangerous. Give it a 10 only because a 20 is not available

Identical twins Bert and Nan Tatum are used to being mistaken for each other. So when a stranger approaches Bert on the street, she assumes the stranger is looking for Nan. Only later does she find out that Nan didn't know him either. By that point, he's dead. Nan, curious as to how a complete stranger knew them, drags Bert into the investigation. But it's soon clear that they are both in real danger and the only way to get out alive is to solve the case themselves.

This book is a lot of fun. The "gimmick" of alternating chapters from Bert and Nan is part of it. It took me awhile to get used to it, but it brings out the humor in the different points of view. The authors, identical twins themselves, have done a good job of creating very great characters. Nan and Bert are very different, and the other characters are also well defined. The plot moves along at a quick pace and reaches a logical conclusion. A great first novel in an enjoyable series.

When identical twin Bert Tatum is approached on her lunch break from a handsome man who seems to know her (though she's never seen him before in her life) she doesn't think much of it. It happens occasionally that she's mistaken for her twin sister, Nan. Unfortunately, when the stranger shows up murdered on the local news and her sister claims to also have never met him, the mystery begins!

The twins both get themselves involved in an intricately-plotted puzzle that involves a murder from their childhood somehow tying-in with the current tragedy. Twists and turns abound and the writing is sassy and enjoyable.

The interesting thing about the book is that alternating chapters are written in the first-person by each of the twins, giving each part a unique perspective on the goings-on. It's particularly fun when chapters overlap and you can see either the similarity or complete difference in both Bert and Nan's points of view.

A charming and quick read, I found it difficult to put down! It's also the first book in the series so it's a great place to start if you're interested! I've purchased the second and am eager to start it!

I love mysteries and "snack" on them the way others indulge in junk food. I'm addicted, and in Double Murder I found a mystery as good to read as chocolate is to eat. (And with the possible exception of sex and sports cars, very few things are as good as chocolate.) With Double Murder the reader gets a bonus--not only a great mystery but a glimpse into the world of twins. The authors do for twins what Tony Hillerman does for the Navajo Indians and Elizabeth Peters does for Egyptology. What's next on the twin authors' list of mysteries?