Characters Books

Yet again, Shriley Murphy has filled my reading world with the delight of cats. Joe Grey and Dulcie have become friends as have their human pals. Not only have I enjoyed all of her books to date, but have made certain that all of my family and friends meet these wonderful characters as well. My only hope is that Ms Murphy continues to regale us with the adventures of these marvelous cats.
The only down side to getting these books is that I find myself still turning the pages in the wee hours of the night!!!

MY WIFE AND I READ ALOUD TO EACH OTHER (THE OLD FASHIONED WAY, WITH PRINTED BOOKS). MRS. MURPHY'S CAT WORKS ARE GREAT FOR THIS USE.

WE BOTH RECOMMEND STARTING WITH "CATSWOLD PORTAL", THEN BEGINING WITH THE FIRST IN THE SERIES AND PROGRESSING FROM THERE. THIS MAKES IT POSSIBLE TO GAIN SOME BACKROUND, BUILD ON THE DELIGHTFUL JOE GREY CHARACTERS AS WELL AS THE MORAL AND SOCIO-POLITICAL COMMENTARY AS WELL AS COMMON SENSE ADVICE WHICH ENRICH THESE WORKS.

MAKE NO MISTAKE. WHEN READING THESE BOOKS, ONE IS IN THE HANDS OF A WISE MASTER STORYTELLER! WE ARE BUSY ASSEMBLING HER PAST WORKS, WHICH ARE PLENTIFUL. IT'S OUR ONLY CHOICE, AS WE'VE READ ALL 12 OR 13 JOE GREY MYSTERY WORKS AND ARE WAITING FOR THE FEB, 2009 RELEASE ON A NEW ONE.

WE READ AN INTERVIEW WITH THE AUTHOR, WHO MENTIONED "...CROSS THEIR GRAVES" AS PERHAPS HER FAVORITE. WE WOULD AGREE WHOLEHEARTEDLY...IT IS OURS ALSO.

HAPPY READING!

For any cat or mystery lover I highly recommend this book. It is written very well and keeps you on the edge of your seat. You won't want to put the book down. And when you are finished reading this book you will crave more of the Joe Grey Mysteries written by the delightful author Shirley Rousseau Murphy. She has a way of making you visualize the town and its delightful scenery and the mystery just wraps around you. If you have a cat you may find yourself looking at him or her in a completely different light as Ms. Murphy brings the cats in her stories to such believable life. And the other characters involved are charming and real weaving you right into the story right along with them.Cat Cross Their Graves: A Joe Grey Mystery (Joe Grey Mysteries)

It starts with a murder: Kit, the youngest of the three talking cats of Molena Point, discovers the body of a former film star in the stairwell of the hotel she owns. But there's more going on in the arty little California town. Joe Grey's long-time friend and partner Dulcie has a secret that's affecting their relationship: a young girl is hiding out in a hidden room in the basement of the town library, and Dulcie doesn't feel free to tell anyone about her. Then Cora Lee French, one of three senior ladies living in a recently-purchased old house on the edge of the canyon, finds a grave in the back yard. Worse, it's one of several--and even worse, the remains are those of children.

To the police, each of these things is a separate case. But Joe and his friends know there's a connection. And so there proves to be, but only a cat could draw together the threads and bring this complex affair to a satisfactory conclusion. Meanwhile, Dulcie unexpectedly learns something of her own roots. And readers who are especially fond of little Kit will be pleased to find that she plays a large part in the ultimate success, although her role begins more or less by accident. This may be the best Joe Grey mystery to date (although hints about the upcoming one suggest it will top them all). As always, there's an excellent "sense of place" in the vignettes of the town, and all the familiar cast members--Clyde Damen, Wilma Getz, Max and Charlie Harper, Dallas Garza, Ryan Flannery--reappear as well. No fan of cat mysteries should miss it.

If you love cat mysteries, read this book. It's a great page turner, and you'll be sorry when it ends. Murphy keeps you guessing, and you'll be eager to know what happens. If you've never read her before, this is a good one to start with. This is my favorite book in her series (I have read all of them) and it follows the footsteps of some of my favorite cat mystery author, Lilian Jackson Braun's books. Murphy will surely keep her audience entertained and coming back for more.

This is a solid text book on the character strengths and virtues as seen within the study of positive psychology. It is interesting to take the assessments and then lay the character strengths and virtues out for the person being assessed. Corrolates relatively well with Strengthfinders2 and the Myers Briggs assessments. For those who study personalities, it is an interesting read.

This is a positive psycholgy textbook with a focus on character traits and virtues. It is a great beginning point in uncovering what character is, examples of great character and how to form character as an aspect of your inner self or in helping others to the same outcome. It is alos an end in itself. It has depth and richness in content, it is both comprehensive and sufficiently concise to be useful for both the student of and practitioner of psychology and the person pursuing the virtous expression of their truer nature.

Although I can see how and why psychologists would be greatly enhanced in the roles through its application, I am the latter; a non-psychologist and it is true to say I have found it an axcellent tome in understanding character and virtue and in doing so living a better life.

This is a "must have" for the updated and interested clinical psychologist. Now it is enough focusing on just the negative stuff. This is a good supplement to the traditional issues, and I think a good place to start to get to know the field of positive psychology

This book exceeded my expectations. It covered in great detail the concepts of character, strengths, and virtues. Concepts were clearly defined, with extensive background and supporting information. While it is not a necessarily easy read, it is one of the most extensive and exhaustive works that I have come across. It was VERY useful and provided me with more information than I imagined.

This manual of character strengths and virtues attempts to place the study and improvement of 'Character' at the center of psychological study. Its aim is to focus on positive improvements in ourselves so as to make us happier in our daily lives. Seligman and Peterson are major figures in the whole area of 'Happiness Studies' and shifting the focus of psychological work from negative to positive, from the previous aim of making us somehow tolerably unhappy to one of making us truly happy in our lives.
Their analysis involves a historical cross- cultural study of the various character traits. The central part of the book however is their presenting six major Virtues and the respenctive strengths that are apart of them.
For instance the strengths of the Virtue Courage are Bravery, Persistence, Integrity, Vitality,- The strengfths of the Virtue Humanity are Love, Kindness, Social Intelligence- the strengths of Justice are Citizenship,Fairness, Leadership, - the strengths of Temperance are Forgiveness, Humility, Prudence, Self- Regulation, The Strengths of Transcendence are Appreciation of Beauty, Gratitude, Hope for the Future , Humor , Spirituality, the strengths of Wisdom and Knowledge are Creativity, Curiosity, Open- Mindedness.
Seligman and Peterson aim at providing a guide to professionals in psychology by which they can evaluate their clients and provide them means for improvement. I do not have the professional credentials to evalute the work on this basis.
I can say however that this is a rich and thoughtful work for anyone interested in the whole subject of human character and happiness.

...But I really liked this book. If you like mysteries and a little forensic bug science thrown in, this is a good read. And if your hesitant because he is a christian author and you don't want to be preached at, not to worry, no soap box included, or foul language either.

I had almost come to the point of despair over how few truly wonderful books I've read of late. This book cured that. I count myself lucky to be such a latecomer to this series because now I can snap up a few more of them without waiting. Why isn't this author world wide famous? His story has plot, humor, action, intellect, and handles them very well.
Dr. Polchak is an interesting character. Not your typical drop-dead gorgeous hero, but a smart guy who isn't afraid to take risks or dump himself and some poor woman into a river if the cause is right.
Some plot twists seemed a little too convenient, but that's the way a tight story's run. Dr. McKay is a nice foil to the lovable bug man.
Most importantly, this book made me laugh. I hate mysteries that simply overdo the seriousness factor. Chop Shop handles humor with a deft hand. Many many thanks to the author for this intriguing tale.

What an excellent book! A great improvement over the first in the series "Shoofly Pie" which I liked very much. Not as funny but much more intense. Both books had excellent endings. A lot of thought went into the writing of "Chop Shop" and it shows. Deep character, intelligent plot and sharp wit. Tim Downs is rising on my list of favorite authors. Now for the problem; there's very little that's Christian about it. It's clean, no sex, no cursing and it brings up some good ethical points (absolutes being the big one) but as far as spiritual growth it's not really there. Don't get me wrong this book is excellent but I do miss knowing our God just a little bit better when it's all over.

TIM DOWNS IS SUCH A GREAT WRITER! HIS BOOKS ARE NOT ONLY FAST-PACED, BUT FUNNY TOO. SHOOFLY PIE IS ANOTHER MUST READ BY DOWNS. I ANXIOUSLY AWAIT MORE BOOKS BY THIS AUTHOR!!!

Rebeccasreads recommends BUG MAN2: CHOP SHOP as a lively & informative mystery about corporate doctors intent on securing a steady supply of body parts, & a young pathologist troubled by the autopsies her supervisor is making her sign-off on.

Dr. McKay finds Nick Pollack, the Bug Man of SHOO FLY PIE, in his greenhouse, & shows him some juicy maggots she's extracted from the latest corpse to cross her table. Together they set out on a trail of clues that will lead them to a firey & fatal finale.

Tim Downs has a hilarious way with words, poking fun of the pomposity of academia & financial tycoons, all the while spinning a gripping yarn. & if the ending, the real ending, leaves a bit to be desired, well, isn't that just like life?

This story proved to be a fulfilling, satisfying, richly textured adventure. It takes some time to build, and Conan--rather uncharacteristically--bides his time, judiciously crafting appearances and manipulating relationships. Roberts turns less attention toward mirroring Howard's style and turns of speech than do other Conan pastiche authors, most notably Perry. Ultimately, the story constitutes a good addition to the Conan canon.

Conan plays all sides and comes out on top in a story that reminds me of the film Yojimbo. John Maddox Roberts writes great Conan tales and this is one of them. The atmosphere is tense and rife with intrigue. Each of the rivaling parties is clearly defined with believable motives. The story, as it evolves, will keep you guessing. Great character development as people emerge from two-dimensional figures to fully fleshed out personalities with distinct traits and mannerisms, making the world this story is set in very believable. The story takes place entirely in one town, which is itself a character of the story and its geography figures prominently in the story. If you are looking for an involved tale in a detailed setting, this is a good story for you.

The previous reviewers were correct in noting that the book is derived heavily from "A Fistful of Dollars". Although it must be pointed out that "A Fistful of Dollars" was based on a 1961 B&W Kurosawa movie "Yojimbo" (The Bodyguard).

Back to the book, once you placed the storyline - there weren't any surprises but it was good seeing Conan in a somewhat more "brainy" role rather than relying on his physical prowess...

This Conan adventure finds the Cimmerian looking for a mysterious artifact, a la The Maltese Falcon, and cleaning up a gang plagued town, as in Kurosawa's Yojimbo. This eccentric blending of several genres works quite well making it one of the best of the numerous pastiches. Roberts works in all of the threads and comes up a with a cohesive adventure. Highly recommended for fans of Conan, Hammett, Kurosawa or Leone.

The reader from Kansas City is correct in seeing "A Fistful of Dollars" behind "Conan the Rogue." The joke is that "Fistful," like "Rogue," is inspired by "Red Harvest" -- a novel by the author of "The Maltese Falcon," Dashiell Hammett!

John Maddox Roberts does a very good job of smooshing at least two detective novels' plots into a new sword-and-sorcery story. He handles Conan himself well, too.

Since Tor doesn't mention Conan's actual creator, let's remember that Robert E. Howard was writing for the pulps at the same time as Hammett, which adds to Roberts's in-joke.

The Cure Of Souls is classic Phil Rickman. He pulls you in and doesn't let go. The journey with the characters is an intimate one, in which you will not want to part with. The subject matter is supernatural thriller. Or is it? You decide. There is always a twist around the corner of the next page. Any Phil Rickman (Merrily Watkins series) are well worth the effort and money. Highly recommended.

I have been a fan of Rickman since first reading Curfew some years ago, and have always had a difficult time shutting of my bed lamp and putting his books aside.
If you're interested in this book, I strongly suggest you go back to the beginning, and start with Wine of Angels. While no one installment of the series is necessarily dependent on one another, the Merrily Watkins mysteries are a progression of the character. You wouldn't want to start dating someone and immediately start ordering take out and watching a video on Saturday night while you folded your laundry would you?
There also events in Merrily's person life that will have less context without the background.
If you have not read Rickans previous works in the horror genre and are inclined, you would do well to read December, which lends an extra dimension to the history of some of the secondary characters, who I am happy to say haven't lost any of their identity with their inclusion in this new work.
These are mystery novels, and in spite of that Rickman manages to maintain the very necessary element of the other worldly which set them apart. But he doesn't bludgeon you with it.
I have been a sometime mystery fan, and a long time horror fan. Rickman blends these two elements subtly and with skill.
His writing style, and this is probably the most important element of the review, is such that you want to keep reading. You want to finish the next chapter, you want to know what goes on next.

In this book the reader is once again introduced to the Reverend Merrily Watkins .The "Cure Of Souls" refers to an Excorcism which the Reverend is qualified but hesitant to do. This is a wonderful offering by the Master Of The Supernatural and unlike Stephen King and his contemporaries Mr. Rickman does not bludgeon his readers with scenes of Graphic Violence but instead makes the reader wary of shadows and things that go bump in the night. 5 stars for this most excellent book.

Not having read all of Phil Rickman's Merrily Watkins stories it's a bit forward to say that The Cure of Souls is the best or the spookiest or any other such superlative. But rest assured, this one will magnetize you in spite of it's length as it draws you into an intense dissertation on the nature of evil as Merrily, still new to the role of deliverance minister (exorcist) confronts a darkness that confuses the innocent and the guilty, condemned to repeat itself like the hearth and field rituals that it imitates.

The pieces of this tale are complex. Merrily's daughter Jane falls in with a high school divining circle led by a wannabee gypsy witch, rich, spoiled, and to brash to realize the price of her own selfish manipulations. When Merrily herself tries tohelp on of the girls Jane's own actions cause Merrily's motives to be questioned. Then Merrily agrees to an exorcism that fails spectacularly with murder and death shortly to follow. She finds herself catapulted into a public role that could mean the loss of her ministry and all that she treasures. And Lol, the closest thing Merrily has to a romantic interest, finds himself in the same complex web when he sets out to help an old friend build a music studio in one of the old hop kilns that dot the Herefordshire countryside and runs into the echo of a legend of an older murder.

Rickman uses a rich pallet of local color to make this tale of parallel murders and possession to make this a tale something more than a murder mystery. Merrily's Herefordshire is caught in a conflict between the old traditions of hop farming and oncoming gentrification. Old money, the new rich and the simpler folk of town and country all participate in making this story as memorable for its characters as it is for the story itself. Merrily, Lol, and Jane are all at turning points in their lives, each facing an identity crisis of one sort or another, and the terrible mystery of an exorcism gone wrong brings each up short as they face their own lives.

If The Cure of Souls isn't one of Rickman's best, I'm not sure what would be. The author displays a rare sure hand in both character and narration. The story combines looming darkness with flashes of wry humor in a delicate balance that makes its 560 pages seem too short.

I don't know how many times I've started in on a promising series only for the quality of the writing and stories to dip quickly after the first book or two. Not so with this series. Rickman consistently turns out amazing stories with a cast of characters so realistic they could live nextdoor. He also has the extremely rare ability to write stories where the hinging point is religion--as all the Merrily Watkins books are--without using it as a pulpit to sway anyone, or to say that any one religion is better than the other. They are simply masterful stories and darn good reads.

In this, the third book in Barbara Cleverly's mystery series, we are introduced to Lily Coblenz, a rather spoilt American heiress who is determined to see the wild and untamed side of British-occupied India. Unsatisfied with the refinements and all-too-familiar comforts of Simla, the British government includes her in a convoy headed for the front-line fort at Gor Khatri on the border of Afghanistan - where our protagonist/detective Joe Sandilands is enjoying a well-earned rest in the company of his friend James Lindsay (commander of the fort).

Now he finds himself under orders to indulge Miss Coblenz in her desire for adventure and excitement, as well as help James the influx of guests arriving at the fort, including James's pregnant wife, a female doctor who has won the respect of the local tribes, a handsome Pathan prince, and a boorish English bureaucrat. It would all seem complicated enough, except that at this time (the 1920s, between the two World Wars) there is a tentative peace between the borders of the two countries - one that is put in extreme jeopardy when one of the party's number ends up dead.

Now Sandilands finds himself in a precarious position: even though the death seems to be entirely accidental, Lily divulges some disturbing evidence that suggests there was more sinister activities at work; and when the temperamental friend of the murder victim takes a hostage and disappears into the precipitous hills surrounding the fort, Joe has only a limited amount of time to discover the murderer before an important British official is killed in retribution. Combining tribal warfare, political intrigue, a vivid portrayal of time and place, and what is perhaps her most suspenseful plot (in fact, I would go so far as to say that "The Damascened Blade" falls more under the "action/thriller/adventure" genre than the "mystery" one) Cleverley presents yet another riveting read.

Joe and Lily make a good pair in this installment (he seems to get a female sidekick in every book, at least the three that I've read thus far) with a nice balance of bickering and teamwork, and are surrounded by plenty of intriguing characters - though they are introduced in rather quick succession, making it a bit tricky to sort them all out. As usual, I'm not sure how historically correct her look into Pathan culture is - but I have enough faith in her storyteller abilities to assume that it's reasonably accurate - and she paints a fascinating portrait of another culture entirely removed from Western comprehension.

On the whole this is an immensely rewarding story in which everything from a lap-dog's bite marks to the traditional concept of "badal" in which each death must be avenged, is used to great effect. As usual Cleverly manages to incorporate a thought-provoking topic, this time exploring how the never-ending cycle of violence and vengeance can systematically destroy lives, no matter how strong the urge for honour or personal retribution.

I'm currently in the middle of the next Joe Sandilands novel The Palace Tiger, and enjoying every word.

This is one of the best of Cleverly's writing. If one is interested in historical novels, especially of the British kind, this is the book for you. Not only does it deal with a historical area of the Brits rule in India, but it is a great who-done-it. You won't go wrong in any of Barbara Cleverly novels.

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.

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.

Of all the books I have read I have also found this one the best that I have ever read. I extremly enjoy Brianna's character. Even with all the tradgey that she goes through she finds the courage to stand up for her people and for herself. She hides her feelings and shows how storng she is and that she really doesn't need anyone or at least that is the way she acts. But unfortunately she really needs a strong man to set her free. All I have to say is that if you are thinking of buying this book, buy it, it is definatally worth it.

Quinn Taylor Evans is a wonderful author and she brings the story to life; you are there with them, you are part of them. If at all possible read each book in a row they will overlap into one another and you will travel back in time and you will not be sorry.

Brianna is introduced as a fragile creature and for all intents and purposes she is. But beneath that fragile exterior is a very strong woman. And fortunately she meets, in Tarek, a man who understands strength and her unique gifts. He falls in love with a glimpse of a woman he barely has time to speak to, and arranges things so he has to go all the way back to Scotland, supposedly on a mission for the king, but really to find Her. And find her he does, and claims her for his own.

This book is not a formulaic copy of the first. The characters are their own people with their own minds and their own destinies. I was very happy to finally meet Brianna and enjoyed watching her and Tarek get closer. It is yet another fabulous love story! I'm looking forward to the next sister's story.

Book 2 -Brianna of Scotland, second daughter of Merlin, is a changling who has powers to transform into the creatures of the forest. And only one man can set her free. The bastard son of a Byzantine aristocrat and a Norse sea Captain, Tarek al Sharif, he has come to Scotland to claim lands promised him by William the Conqueror. In order to claim Brianna he must chose between avenging the past and fighting for the future against the dark evil that want to claim the land.

Stunning and for all fans of Camelot!!

This is the second book in the Merlin's Legacy and it is a great addition to this series. This is the story about Merlin's daughter Brianna. She is the daughter of the Mist and she has a challange ahead of her that will change her life.

Tarek al Sharif is bastard born and does not have the memory of family and love but he is driven by the memory of a golden haired girl that helped him and saved his life. He has loved her from the first moment that he saw her and he plans on finding her again.

The path to true love is not a smooth one for these two characters. There is danger in the form of a person that wants control of Inverness and of course "the darkness" is always on the fringes looking in and waiting for the perfect time to cause trouble. Tarek must choose between the love for his changeling bride or avenging his past. The chemisty between the two main characters is great. They don't just fall into bed and thats the end. Their love grows and I feel that is why most people red romance. This book has it all mystical legends, and romance. This is a not to be missed story. It is well worth your effort and time to get a hold of a copy!

I have enjoyed all 4 of Elaine Flinn's Molly Doyle Mysteries.

I just learned from a cosy mystery list that Elaine died recently and there will be no more Molly Doyle stories ... Please pray for Elaine's family and friends and let's show our gratitude for a wonderful set of stories that have ended too soon.

I wonder if she left a partial manuscript that someone like Nancy Pickard could finish for her??

Sincerely,
barbara y

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.

I've been following Elaine Flinn's cozy mystery adventures of Molly Doyle, an antique store owner in Carmel, California, since the first novel. I like Molly and the cast of characters around her, and I like the way that everyone is growing and changing.

In this story, Molly has decided to expand the antique business into interior decoration -- a reasonable sideline given her awareness of how furniture and decoration work together. (It also gives the author an excuse to get Molly out of the shop more often.) At the start of the mystery, Molly has arranged to re-do the wine tasting rooms for a nearby family-owned winery... and she does not exactly hit it off with one of the family members. When a dead body is found, guess who is under suspicion....

The book holds together largely because of the strong characterization -- you've probably grown as fond of Molly's niece Emma and her friend Daria as I have -- and a very good sense of setting. As a mystery, it was... okay. I'm always disappointed when I figure out whodunnit before All Answers Are Revealed.

I liked Deadly Vintage, but it lacked some sparkle from the earlier books in the series. I enjoyed reading it, and I'm sure to pick up the next one in the series. But it never made me say, "Wow, this is awesome!"

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!

This book is wonderful if you are going to get a tattoo of a certain Kanji it has tons to choose from. I use this book almost everyday.. this is by far one of my best purchases.

What a great book! The presentation of multiple styles definitely caught my eye as I fanned through the book the first time; I was hooked! The introduction is very well written, and each page thereafter imparts a wealth of information that is simply a joy to read.

I love "power" words - single words that encompass my thoughts and feelings - and kanji characters are a beautiful way to express them. I found 'Designing with Kanji' in my effort to design my next tattoo. When I did not find exactly what I was looking for in the book, I contacted Leza and she promptly responded with the characters I needed. Great book - great woman!

I have been an admirer for Oriental Culture, and willing to understand Chinesse and Japanese writing. This book is an excellent source which explains a lot of Kanji symbols, and has several notes about interesting facts about it. I recommend it to all people looking to introduce themselves into this enigmatic and wonderful language.
Antonio Sobalvarro

Easy to read, follow, and use right away. Shows formal, modern, flowing, and stylish character sets. Describes the root, meaning, and nature of common Japanese words and phrases. The calligraphy is excellent. I only wish it was longer and more encompassing. Among other things I use this book as a supplement to Write Your Name in Kanji text by Nobuo Sato to write the characters more elegantly.

Lawrence Kane
Author of Surviving Armed Assaults, The Way of Kata, and Martial Arts Instruction

We had recently seen "The Last Samuri" so I was in the frame of mind to learn more about Japanese history and culture. I found this book on the Breakfast table one recent morning. The introduction and explanation of Kanji was clear and concise. This book provided a great beginning to the subject of how a culture influenced a language and how a language influenced a culture. I couldn't put it down for an hour or so. I'll refer to it often.

...but I did! It was so funny and cute! The mystery was very well done. I really, really liked it and I was so surprised!

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?

Died in the Wool by Rett MacPherson is further proof than an author can indeed start a series, create a number of works following the adventures and exploits of one individual, and still maintain the quality of the first book in said series. I have read eight Torie O'Shea Mysteries now, and to be honest, they just get better and better.

As with most of her other works, the setting is in a small river town, south of St. Louis. In this story, our heroine gets involved in a triple suicide that occurred shortly after the First World War. Three siblings, two brothers and a sister commit suicide within a very short time. Years later, as Torie plans to buy the wonderful old house and turn it into a quilting and fabric museum, she, as is her nature, comes across some very strange happenings, or coincidences as she accomplishes her genealogical research. Was it suicide, or was it murder? If you are a follower of this series, you will know that Torie just cannot leave a question, any question, unanswered. She may drive half a dozen people nuts, but she will find the answers she is looking for.

The Tories O'Shea Mysteries are cozy mysteries through and though. The author has certainly mastered this particular genre. In this work she has woven quilting, roses, genealogy, family, and the regular characters in her village into a nicely done little mystery that actually takes some thinking on the reader's part. The author has stayed true to her characters as with the other books in this series. Her writing style, rather than getting sloppy, as we often see in "series books" has improved...she is getting better and better with each novel. This is impressive, as I thought her first effort was quite out of the ordinary for a new author. Obviously a lot of research and time has gone into creating this delightful story. I do wish that more of our first line authors stuck with quality writing, and well thought out stories as MacPherson has with all of her novels. We would all be much better off for it.

For a nice, interesting, humorous, informative, and well...cozy read, I cannot recommend this one highly enough. Do be warned though, this is one of those that once you read the first couple of pages, you will be hooked and will find the book difficult to put down.

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.