Characters Books

This is one of my favorite Mrs. Jefferies books and I've liked them all. The lot of the Victorian British servant was not an easy one, so fortunate indeed are the servants employed by Inspector Witherspoon. Led by their kind and efficient housekeeper, Mrs. Jeffries has taken charge of them all, including the unsuspecting Inspector, and all of them are the better for it. Mrs. Jefferies and her staff do a lot more investigating of the Inspector's difficult cases, than he ever realizes, but it's imperative that they help him solve his cases, first because he needs the help and secondly because they truely love and respect him. In this offering, Inspector Witherspoon has another difficult case when a nasty theater critic is murdered. The suspects range from a beautiful actress to a beginning playwrite. The case is a difficult and convuluted one, but Mrs. Jeffries and her staff are able to turn this case around and find the answer to the murder. A delightful mystery with lots of suspense as well as a number of beguiling subplots, such as who is the mysterious gift giver and what about Smythe and Betsy's romance? If you're a fan of the British cozy, dip into this series, you won't be disappointed.

Want to read a wonderful, fun, clever cozy? Look no further than Emily Brightwell's Mrs. Jeffries series. This particular installment is just as superb as the others. The staff at Upper Edmonton Gardens have begun to feel like friends to me.

The premise is the same as the other books: a murder is committed, dear old Inspector Witherspoon is on the case, he's baffled, his house staff - led by housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries - secretly investigates the case, and ultimately nudge the Inspector toward the clues until he nabs the killer. This is the same formula in all the books, but it never gets boring. The characters and setting and plot twists never cease to entertain.

From the opening of this book you are pulled into a wonderful world of servants living a slightly soft life. Led by their thoughtful housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries. This household does a lot more snooping than polishing the silver and always seem to come up with the answer just in time to save their beloved Inspector. Inspector Witherspoon who is just slightly naive but a truly gentle man at heart. When a nasty play critic is murdered it seems that Scotland Yard has got themselves another difficult hommicide. The suspects range from a beautiful actress to a beginning playwrite. Will Witherspoon fall for the actress and forget all about Lady Cannonberry. The case seems like a hopeless mess but will Mrs. Jeffries be able to turn this case around? True Mrs. Jeffries is far from like Sherlock Holmes their methods being quite. But their is more than one way to find the solution. Well like Brightwell says,"Behind every great man, theirs a great woman." An enchanting mystery with lots of suspense. Lots of subplots, such as who is the mysterious gift giver or what will happen to Smythe and Betsy? Its almost like a soap opera!

Mrs. Jeffries and the rest of the staff are drawn into a murder that seems to touch on the theatre in this book. A well-known, but very disliked critic is found floating in the canal, but the water in his lungs is bathwater, so Inspector Witherspoon is onto another murder. This is a quick-moving little book that keeps you guessing almost up to the end. I always enjoy these stories because I've come to love the characters, and the servants in Upper Edmonton Gardens are totally appealing. It's always such fun to follow their antics as they hurry to help their beloved Inspector solve murders.

From the opening of this book you are pulled into a wonderful world of servants living a slightly soft life. Led by their thoughtful housekeeper Mrs. Jeffries. This household does a lot more snooping than polishing the silver and always seem to come up with the answer just in time to save their beloved Inspector. Inspector Witherspoon who is just slightly naive but a truly gentle man at heart. When a nasty play critic is murdered it seems that Scotland Yard has got themselves another difficult hommicide. The suspects range from a beautiful actress to a beginning playwrite. Will Witherspoon fall for the actress and forget all about Lady Cannonberry. The case seems like a hopeless mess but will Mrs. Jeffries be able to turn this case around? True Mrs. Jeffries is far from like Sherlock Holmes their methods being quite. But their is more than one way to find the solution. Well like Brightwell says,"Behind every great man, theirs a great woman." An enchanting mystery with lots of suspense. Lots of subplots, such as who is the mysterious gift giver or what will happen to Smythe and Betsy? Its almost like a soap opera!

Murder by Tradition is an excellent title with multiple shades of meaning. The plot is believable and well executed. The characters have behaviours and beliefs that correspond. A Super Read ,it is indeed.

_Murder by Tradition_ is an excellent fictionalized account of an actual, brutal, premeditated murder of a gay man, for no reason other than the fact that he was gay. The story is very well told and I didn't want to put the book down from beginning to end.

The first half is devoted to the discovery of the facts of the case and of the identity of the killer. The second half the story of the trial. The suspense is not in discovering the identity of the gaybasher, but in whether or not he will escape punishment.

The victim was stabbed 39 times and bled to death, but the killer has deep wounds on his own hands and claims he was defending himself from a gay man who tried to force him to have sex. There were no witnesses. Can Detective Kate Delafield discover the clues that will convince a jury of what really happened?

Katherine V. Forrest, in her Kate Delafield series manages to present a tight, taut mystery along with a political statement, which she doesn't present in a heavy-handed manner. The two just seem to blend seemlessly and if you want to ignore the message (if you can), then you can simply enjoy the mystery. Kate and her dullard partner, Ed Taylor, investigate the murder of Teddie Crawford, a very "out" gay man. In fact, even he calls himself a queen. Teddie was stabbed about 40 times, which indicates to Kate that it was more than just a simple robbery. The first half of the book describes Kate and Ed cornering the killer. The fact that the killer, himself, was hurt badly is a big help to Kate as well as the description given by one of Teddie friends, Gloria. Watching Kate using her interrogative skills to trap this man is very tense, especially since she knows that without a confession all they have is circumstantial evidence. As good as the "law" part of the story is, the "order" part is really more fascinating and suspenseful. Kate has found out that the killer's attorney is someone she knows slightly but someone who knows her secret. Throughout the trial, she wonders how he will try to bring it out and taint her testimony. Sadly, no matter what the outcome of this fictional trial, Forrest shows that gaybashing is alive and well in these United States.

I read this book in one afternoon. I was drawn in by the emotion of the killing as well as the trial. I found this book to display the court system at it's weakest and loved the heroine, Kate.

I loved this book. I just found the Kate Delafield series and can't wait to read all the books in this series.

In the Delafield series, this book ranks as one of the most, if not the most, meaningful stories. It didn't have the love scenes I so deeply enjoy reading but the story line more than made up for that. Excellent reading!

I really enjoyed this book. The author has captured the essence of the unique culture of Michigan's upper peninsula as the backdrop for the story. She has also given us some quirky characters who are all the more believable because of their idiosyncrasies. The mystery was fun to read and I flew through it in 2 days, using every spare minute I could find to keep reading. I'm looking forward to reading the other two "Yooper" mysteries (and hope that there will be even more in the future). Gertie may stumble onto things by accident, but her pure spunk wins the day.

By the way, the author includes some traditional U.P. fare in recipes at the end of the novel. I'm hoping that "Gertie" does publish a cookbook some day - I'd love to see it

It was funny and clean. Reminds me of Minnesota hunting season. Would recommend it to any one.

A game warden is murdered in Michigan's Upper Peninsula on opening day of bear season. Little Donny, Gertie's grandson, has gone missing. The warden was murdered at Little Donny's tree stand.

Gertie's son, Blaze, is the sheriff, but he is after Little Donny as he thinks he is the murderer. Gertie believes in her heart that he's innocent.

Gertie and her two friends, Kitty who also believes she is Gertie's bodyguard, and Cora Mae who is after all the men, set out to find Little Donny, prove his innocence, and find the real killer.

Grandma Johnson, Gertie's mother-in-law who lives with her (against her wishes), doesn't make things easy. Then when Little Donny's mother descends on Gertie to await word on her son, Gertie kicks it up into high gear.

Blaze keeps trying to get Gertie for driving without a license. She keeps working at dodging him.

Gertie and her associates are a hoot. I love this series. You never know what Gertie will do next. I wish I knew Gertie. She sounds like she'd be a lot of fun!

The setting of Michican'ts Upper Peninsula is great. It really adds to the story.

I highly recommend this book and series!

Deb Baker's MURDER GRINS AND BEARS IT has hero Gertie back in top form. Against the wishes of her son the local sheriff, she gathers her associates, her fake badge, and her stun gun and sets out to solve the murder of a game warden. You don't have to be familiar with Michigan's Upper Peninsula to enjoy Gertie's antics, but if you have been there, it will be no surprise to meet this little old lady who drives without a license and investigates without a qualm. Gertie is hilarious, she's fearless, and she's priceless.

The Stephanie Plum of the geriatric set is back in Deb Baker's sequel to Murder Passes the Buck. Having decided to create her own (unlicensed) investigative agency "The Trouble Busters," widow Gertie Johnson acquires the auctioned-off, vandalized sheriff's truck (that sheriff is Gertie's son and that she was the vandalizer is another story) and arms herself with a trusty bag of weapons that includes a taser, cattle prod, mace, and handcuffs. What she's not ready for is the body that is discovered near a hunting blind with the main suspect being her favorite - and missing - grandson. While her son is determined to keep her off the roads (Gertie never managed to learn how to drive or get a license), Gertie sets out to prove Little Donny's innocence with a posse that includes her single and predatory best friend Cora Rae, the police dog that Gertie unintentionally managed to get fired, and her self-proclaimed bodyguard Kitty.

Once again Ms. Baker has created a hilarious mystery that whips along to a dramatic finish. Gertie is plagued with family members who hinder her as much as they help, yet her love for them always shines through. Moments of laugh-out-loud humor are balanced by Gertie's vulnerability as she battles to protect her grandson and ferret out a murderer by following the clues that her son ignores. This Yooper Mystery series continues to grow stronger and readers will be eager for Gertie's next appearance.

"Murder on the Orient Express" is arguably Agatha Christie's best known novel, which is a status it more or less deserves. The book features Belgian detective, Hercule Poirot, in one of his earliest appearances (his eighth novel). The plot is a clever one -- a murder takes place on a luxury train and one of the 12 passengers must have committed it. Poirot is travelling on the train, and he is drawn into the mystery by one of the executives of the train company who knows Poirot and also happened to be on the train. A few of the passengers seem like obvious suspects, but Poirot takes his time and does not draw any rash conclusions.

Many of the plot devices in "Murder on the Orient Express" have been borrowed from Christie by later, lesser authors, so the novel may not seem as fresh as it once was. I'm a relative newbie to Christie's writing but enjoyed this book quite a bit, particularly the colorful and interesting characters. I marked it down one star because some of the plot twists are not very believable and the novel relies on a few coincidences. However, even with these issues, "Murder on the Orient Express" is a very good to excellent mystery novel that is sure to please fans of the genre.

I read the rerelease version by Black Dog & Leventhal. They have done a nice job with this hardback series, including an attractive dust cover and quality paper. However, I'm not sure that the novel is worth the extra price you'd pay for a typical soft cover version.

Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R3V1GZ8X1R0PN3

"The Mysterious Affair at Styles" might be the locked room mystery that holds down honours for being the novel in which Agatha Christie introduced Hercule Poirot to a grateful reading public. But it is "Murder on the Orient Express" that showcases a confident, polished Hercule at the height of his powers. Standing tall beside Sherlock Holmes and Auguste Dupin, Poirot is arguably the most widely read and best known detective in literature and "Murder on the Orient Express" is certainly one of the finest examples of the mystery genre. In a brilliant variation of the typical British drawing room mystery, Christie places her cast of thirteen suspects together with the victim and Poirot on the Orient Express en route from Istanbul to Calais.

Mr Ratchett, an unsavory looking man who obviously has some dark secrets in his past, approaches Poirot as the train leaves Istanbul with the offer of a very fat fee asking for his services to help protect his life from enemies he knows are out to kill him. Poirot, seeing this as a very uninteresting exercise from a cerebral point of view, politely declines. But when the train is stopped in its proverbial tracks by a huge snow storm and Ratchett is killed in his locked berth, stabbed no less than twelve times, Poirot is pressed into service to solve the case by his long time friend Bouc who is also a director of the corporation that owns the train.

Through the simple process gathering clues by interviewing the thirteen suspects - a wildly disparate lot that in modern terms would almost certainly be referred to as a "motley crue" - Poirot employs "the little gray cells" and intuits a positively brilliant solution. In that time honoured literary tradition of gathering all of the suspects into a single room, a somewhat less than humble Poirot puts on a flashy show of summarizing the case and revealing the identity of the perpetrator in a brilliant twist that only Poirot could fathom and only Dame Christie could create.

There is nothing about "Murder on the Orient Express" that does not deserve high praise - dialogue; the hilarious mis-translation of idiomatic French into spoken English; the less than subtle but accurate use of class distinctions and behavioural stereotypes unique to different nationalities; characterization; colourful narrative description; plot; suspense; red herrings; and, of course, a brilliant solution that deftly ties up every conceivable loose thread. And all of that is in an all too short package that can be read in the brief space of three or four thoroughly enjoyable hours. Read and enjoy, pass the book onto your best friend but, for goodness sake, keep your lip zipped about that brilliant ending!

Paul Weiss

Murder on the Orient Express is almost certainly the most famous Agatha Christie novel and may well be the best-known novel from the entire mystery genre. Despite the fact that I had been told the solution to the case many years ago, I decided to go ahead and finally read the book and am very glad that I did.

The basic plot, for any who don't already know, involves a murder on board a train with a small, but colorful, group of passengers. It becomes apparent relatively quickly that no one could have possibly committed the murder but Poirot has no option except to exercise his little gray cells to their utmost in an effort to solve the case. The story moves along at a nice clip and the cast is varied and interesting. My favorite aspect of any Poirot novel tends to be the little Belgian himself and he is in fine form here.

It is a tribute to Agatha Christie's writing that I could enjoy reading a mystery novel so much on my first read even knowing the murderer before starting. The book is an excellent choice whether you are an old Poirot fan who hasn't gotten around to it yet or a first-time Christie reader.

First Sentence: It was five o'clock on a winter's morning in Syria.

In the Orient Express Calais Coach, a wealthy American is found dead of multiple stab wounds. The train is stopped in the snow and it quickly becomes clear the killer is still on board. Monsieur Bouc, the director of the Compagnie Internationale des Wagons Lits, asks his friend, and fellow passenger, M. Hercule Poirot to solve the case.

It had been about 25 years since last I'd read Dame Agatha but I now remember just how good she was. Her dialogue is flawless; it flows in the natural style of conversation, particularly multi-lingual conversation. I'm reminded, too, that her books were written in a time when the middle- and upper-class English had, and may still have, a rudimentary understanding of French so no translations were made in the story. Her humor is light and deft. Her characters, Poirot particularly, are fascinating representatives of certain classes of the time. Her clues are deftly placed and it such fun to watch Poirot engage his "little gray cells." Dame Agatha is definitely deserving of the term "classic." I'll not wait another 25 years before reading another of her books.

If you miss "Murder, She Wrote," or, can't get enough of the reruns on TV or DVD, then you've come to the right place. This is the first Jessica Fletcher mystery I have read and it was just like watching the show, but in novel form. Donald Bain has perfectly captured Jessica's personality (you get to read her thoughts, unlike TV) and the story line was intriguing - it had me guessing whodunit through each chapter -trying to put the clues together to come up with the killer. If you like an old fashioned murder mystery, or just loved "Murder, She Wrote," then you'll love this book (and probably the whole series) of Murder, She Wrote books by Jessica Fletcher and Donald Bain!

Always enjoy this series of books...look forward to the next one.

Pat Nebel, the wife of Maine's junior senator Warren Nebel is a literacy enthusiast and has, with the help of her husband, set up a literacy drive in conjunction with the Library of Congress. Jessica is invited to participate and heads off to Washington for a week of bookish activities. She is especially pleased that her trip coincides with a conference in DC that has brought her friend Inspector George Sutherland of Scotland Yard to town. She isn't able to get George an invitation for the reception at the White House but she does wrangle him a place at the dinner hosted by Senator and Mrs. Nebel on the program's opening night. They discover that the senator has a glamorous mansion when they arrive at his home, a mansion that over looks the Potomac and has a set of rickety steps leading down to a dock on the river. The philandering Senator Nebel is living mighty high on the hog it seems.

After dinner, George and Jessica decide to take a stroll down to the river and there they find the lifeless body of Nebel's chief of staff Nikki Farlow. Once it is determined that Farlow was indeed murdered, the local police detective begins to look to Jessica for help as he tries to figure out who committed the crime. It doesn't take detective Moody long to figure out that having Jessica Fletcher on the trail is like having money in the bank. As Jessica sorts through the possible motives, she finds that there are several that had or imagined that they had a good reason to want Farlow dead. Then of course there are the spin-doctors, the lawyers, and the other politicians that get involved in the case, which not only complicates things; it frustrates Jessica to no end. To make matters even more complicated; the senator himself has been getting death threats in regard to an upcoming vote dealing with the location of a nuclear power plant near Cabot Cove.

In this book, unlike some of the others in this series, the reader has all of the clues necessary to figure out who did it before Jessica announces her verdict. It isn't easy though, and you will have to pay very close attention if you want to catch the killer before Jessica does.

As a side plot to the main murder story this book focuses on the rivalry between inspector Sutherland and Dr. Seth for Jessica's attention. Sutherland seems to be in the lead as this book ends but I'm pulling for Seth all the way. The tweed wearing, pipe smoking Scottish detective just comes across as phony to me for some reason. That's the beauty of these books, one gets so drawn into the story that you feel as if you know these people and you get all protective. That my friends is a sign of good writing and this book is most assuredly well written. It is definitely one of the better entries in the series.

Jessica Fletcher of Cabot Cove, Maine is invited by her state's junior senator Warren Nebel to attend a literary function sponsored by his wife Pat. Jessica accepts so that she can show support to Congress' Literacy Program and because her friend Scotland Yard Inspector George Sutherland will be there too.

During Jessica's first night in DC, she and George are invited to the senator's mansion for dinner. As they are leaving, they find the body of Nebel's Chief of Staff Nikki Farlow. The police act like an accident occurred until the coroner's office reported the victim died by a blow to her head. Rumors sweep Washington that Nikki and Nebel were lovers and even his spouse thinks he killed his paramour because she was blackmailing him. Jessica believes that there is more to this homicide than the obvious simple solution; with George's help, she begins her unique brand of inquiry.

Jessica Fletcher novels are always fun to read and her latest caper, MURDER SHE WROTE: A VOTE FOR MURDER is no exception. The mystery writer cum sleuth wins the respect of the lead detective on the case with her keen observations and astute conclusions that enable her to put the pieces of the puzzle together. Fans of the long running series will appreciate this fast-paced amateur sleuth tale starring a wonderful heroine.

Harriet Klausner

Jessica has come to Washington, D.C. to participate in a weeklong literacy drive. An added benefit is that she will get to spend time with Scotland Yard inspector George Sutherland, who is in town for a conference.

At an extravagant party at the Virginia home of Maine's junior senator Warren Nebel, she and George descend some dark, rickety stairs to the dock and find the body of his chief of staff Nikki Farlow. At first the police think it was an accident; that she tumbled down the stairs. Neither Jessica nor George buy that. With further investigation, the police determine that it was murder.

Detective Moody from the Fairfax County Police Department realizes what a resource he has in Jessica. He asks her for her help. She enlists George to assist as well, not always to the pleasure of Detective Moody.

Senator Nebel's wife, Pat, who is Jessica's friend, has been ill. He requests that Jessica spend some time with her during the week. With all the investigation, spending time with Pat and spending time with George, she doesn't get to participate much in the literacy drive she came to town for.

There are many rumors that Senator Nebel and Nikki had had an affair. His wife Pat even believes this. Could he have killed her? If so, why now?

As she begins to delve deeper into Nikki's death, she become privy to some information that was not released. Could this prove that the Senator had nothing to do with her murder?

I always enjoy books in this series. Since I've watched it on t.v. for so many years, I can see Jessica and the other main characters doing the activities I read about. It is a great cozy series and is always an easy read. This book being set in the D.C. area made it even more enjoyable for me, since I live in the area. I highly recommend this book.

I happen to enjoy this book very much. It just so happened that I was in Florida at the time I read this book. What a coincidence.

I have reviewed other mystery books including one from the Murder,She Wrote series! I would like to say this is absolutely a geat and Fantastic Book! I am a huge fan of all the Murder,She Wrote books (Even though I have not read all of them) the ones I have read are great! If you like mysteries this is a book that will keep you guessing the whole way through! I highly recommend it!

Portia Shelby, a former resident of Cabot Cove has been found dead on the beach near her retirement home in Florida and the Metzger's, Seth and Jessica have all flown down for the funeral. Seth had treated Portia for years for a heart condition so her apparent heart attack was no big surprise. The Maine contingent was surprised however to find that the mild and unassuming Portia that they knew in Maine had become something of a tiger in Florida. A tiger that had been causing no end of trouble for powerful real estate developer DeWitt Wainscott who was known to be vicious in silencing his opponents.

Despite the Wainscott connection everyone assumes that Portia's death was by natural causes. Portia was however a fan of herbal medications and Seth who hates herbal cures decides to snoop around in the deceased's pillboxes. To his surprise he discovers diet pills in there and given Portia's heart problem, diet pills could be deadly. Sure that Portia would know better than to take diet pills, Jessica's suspicions are aroused and the snooping begins.

The Florida setting allows the author to run wild with the introduction of new and colorful characters and he does so with a vengeance. There is Monica Kotansky, a man hungry retiree who was involved with Portia's husband before he married Portia and the senior rumor mill still has them together. While the husband is grieving however she turns her attention elsewhere and Seth falls into her net with hilarious results. There is Tony Colombo, a pizza parlor owner in the village who some feel sure is a mobster and even Jessica is sure that he is not really a restaurant owner. But most of all there is Sam Lewis who drives a big pink Cadillac even though he can barely see over the steering wheel. It is Sam who is sure that Mr. Colombo is a mob hit man and that DeWitt Wainscott had taken out a contract on Portia. Determined to prove his point, Sam takes his big pink car and starts to tail Colombo with predictable and entertaining results.

The mystery here is a little deeper than those found in some of the books in this series. The first question that must be answered is whether Portia was murdered at all, and once that question is answered by the autopsy the clues start to point in all sorts of odd directions. As Jessica tries to find the correct path in a maze of conflicting information she also has to contend with an angry alligator, a runaway dumpster and one of Seth's old classmates who has moved to Key West, grown a ponytail and painted his house purple. Needless to say, Seth is flabbergasted by his old friend's behavior. Of course, Seth although lovable, is easily flabbergasted.

Despite Seth's little fits, the disgruntled gator and more key lime pie than you can shake a stick at, Jessica finally begins to fit the puzzle together. Of course when you start one of these books you do so knowing that Jessica will figure it all out in the end, so the question is really one of how much fun the reader will have solving the case with her. That being the case, you should fear not for this book is more fun than a barrel of monkeys and even includes a visit to Papa Hemingway's home in Key West. I found this entry in the "Murder She Wrote" series to be one of the most entertaining and enjoyable so far.

Jessica, Seth, Mort and his wife Maureen fly down to Florida from Cabot Cove, Maine, for the funeral of their old friend Portia Shelby.

At first the police and Clarence, Portia's husband, feel her death was of natural causes or an accident. Not long after arriving, Jessica and Seth discover potent diet pills in one of her pillboxes. Since Seth had been her doctor in Maine, he knows she's on heart medication. The two together is a deadly combination. Did she take them voluntarily or was she murdered?

Over time, it becomes certain that it was murder. But, who did it? Was it Clarence? Was it the mysterious restaurateur who Sam, another resident in Foreverglades, thinks is a mobster? How about the developer who Portia and her neighbors are fighting to keep their beach? Or is it one of the women who seem to be after Clarence?

Jessica comes face to face with a large alligator. She is quite shaken, but luckily not injured. Later she has another accident. Is someone out to stop her? Or are they just coincidences?

Seth and Jessica go to Key West to visit a friend of Seth's. Jessica has ulterior motives for that trip. Seth learns a lot about his old friend while visiting. They also meet up with Mort and Maureen who have also gone to Key West for a little R&R.

Jessica gets some help from some of the other retirees in Forestglades. Portia was well liked. Will Jessica be able to figure out who killed Portia before without becoming the next victim?

I always enjoy reading books in this series. I watched it on t.v. extensively. I can see the characters playing out their parts in my head. I hope there are many more to come in this series.

I highly recommend this book.

Reading Murder She Wrote books is a guilty pleasure of mine. As a 23 year old, most people my age never watched the series in the 80's because they were too young. I watched it with my mother, and I got into reading the books when they came out in the late 90's. I've read all of them, and in my humble opinion, this is truly the best of the bunch. Bain keeps the characters true to their roots in the series. He gets the characteristics of the New Englanders Seth and Mort down to a science. I loved this one because it was more predictible then the other ones. There's been a few in this series where you've been able to guess who did it, right off. This was definitely not one of those. The character of Sam Lewis described as someone with bigger ears then Yoda, who drives a Pink Caddy, was definitely one of the many highlights of the book. Yes it's a quick read, but definitely a good way to get your summer reading started. Highly recommended!!

I truly enjoyed this book. The train murder mystery was a real cliff hanger. Thanks

There are very few things that have a stronger romantic hold on people than do trains. The "Iron Horse" has captivated people for far longer than any living person can remember and trains are a mainstay of the entertainment industry. Just think about how many songs, movies, TV shows and books feature trains, the list is just too long to remember. There are also numerous clubs for those who take the fascination with trains just a little farther than the rest of us do. It is a railroad excursion held by one of these clubs that provides the setting for this very entertaining book.

Cabot Cove insurance agent Reggie Weems is vice president of one of these clubs and invites Jessica to be his guest on one of the club's excursions in British Columbia. On the first day of the trip, club president Alvin Blevin goes into convulsions and dies very unselfishly setting up a mystery to be solved. Blevin, despite his selfless act that creates our mystery, is very unpopular with most of the club members so the suspect list is very long. At first though, Jessica is the only one who suspects foul play but she, being a mystery writer, has done a lot of research on poisons and immediately recognizes Blevin's symptoms.

To add even more romance to this story, the agency that is charged with investigating the murder is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Mounties. Once RCMP Detective Christian Marshall gets the autopsy report and learns that Jessica was absolutely right about the poison he begins to take her sleuthing seriously and ends up relying on her for many of his clues. As for Jessica, her curiosity is running at full throttle and she ends up in quite a bit of danger before she finds the path that leads to the guilty party.

This is one of the better books in this series, but with trains and Mounties it couldn't possibly fail. The scenery along the train's route is beautifully described and there is even a lady on the train who carries a book about wildflowers so she can point out the different species of flora that the train passes by. The characters, and some of them are indeed characters, are believable and well thought out and this mystery really draws the reader into the story, much more so than in some of the other books in this series. Best of all though, despite numerous red herrings the reader actually has enough information to solve the mystery before Jessica does so. There are some sub-plots that information is withheld on, but the Blevin murder is solvable. Mr. Bain has a tendency to withhold information but he does a splendid job with this book.

If you only read one "Murder She Wrote" mystery, this might well be the one that you should choose.

As a member of a train group, this mystery hit close to home. I enjoyed it greatly as I have with all the other Murder She Wrote mysteries. The best thing about the book is the way the author wrote it in Jessica Fletcher's authentic voice. If you've ever watched Murder She Wrote, Jessica has a very distinct way of putting things, and the way she acts. This is all continued in the books.

This was probably one of the better MSW books, as I had a difficult time figuring out who done it. There was a MSW special on TV about 10 years ago with many of the same plot twists and turns about a train murder (only this one was set on an Amtrak train). Pick this up for a good mystery read which may on the surface look like an easy simple mystery, but is much deeper.

This new mystery will have all Murder She Wrote fans up reading until the wee hours of the morning. I enjoyed this book immensely and was sad when the story ended.

The characters in this tale will have everyone guessing on who the perpetrator really is. I was wrong every time, if that says anything.

As Jessica Fletcher gets older, her knack for solving crime is still in tact. There is a scene on the train that Jessica will never forget. It's a life and death situation as she stumbles upon different clues to unravel who is behind the ghastly murder.

As the series chugs forward, the plots get stronger and unforgettable. "Destination Murder" is no exception. Don't let this mystery pass by.

Cabot Cove, Maine murder mystery writer Jessica Fletcher agrees to accompany her friend Reggie Weems, a train hobbyist, to the Track and Rail Club's annual meeting in Vancouver. Members of the group are going on a three day journey on the Whistler Northwind train run by B.C. Rails. The chairman of the club is Alvin Blevin, a high-power Vancouver lawyer who is very unpopular with certain members of the group.

On the first day of the train ride, Alvin goes into convulsions and dies. Jessica is certain that he was murdered and she doesn't hesitate to tell RCMP Detective Christain Marshal that she believes he was the victim of strychnine poisoning. When a toxicology report proves her right, the detective asks Jessica to determine which passengers had the best motive for wanting him dead. The problem with that task is that almost everyone had a motive, which makes ferreting out the real killer next to impossible.

Most mystery novels have more than one suspect but in MURDER SHE WROTE: DESTINATION MURDER, the count is more than the fingers on two hands. All the suspects have very credible motives which is why the RCMP detective enlisted the help of the amateur sleuth who has had a successful track record in finding killers on previous cases. Amateur sleuth lovers, especially series fans, will definitely enjoy this exciting who done it.

Harriet Klausner

I wish they'd publish an updated edition. I have the one that came out in 2001, which still serves as a useful reference.

It provides biographies of major authors and of other influential figures, such as biographers, critics, editors, publishers, thinkers and translators. There are one-paragraph summaries of major literary works and characters, as well as lists of book awards and annual winners (Nobel, Pulitzer, Booker, Whitbread, Prix Goncourt, Hugo, Nebula, etc.).

Other sections I find useful:

*Dictionary of Literature (terms, styles, movements, genres)
*Chronology of World Literature (from the invention of writing to the year 2000)
*Influential Literary Periodicals
*Variations (works of literature that have been adapted into other media -- films, TV miniseries...)

Breaking the monotony of a reference work, scattered throughout are short historical and anecdotal essays, quotations and excerpts, and quizzes.

Edward Abbey to Stefan Zweig, the first 262 page section covers "Authors" - of the entire world; a follow-up section of 57 pages covers "Other Influential Figures," from Joseph Addison to Wm. H. Wright; the short sections on "Authors' Awards" and "Sources in Literary Biography" to "Works of Literature," - from "Aaron's Rod" to "Zuckerman Unbound" - will have you delving into the construction of this tome and its endless answers to questions you must know but haven't thought to ask yet. This wonderful reference book fills a need in your personal reference library, and it equals in importance the ownership of "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations" and "Benet's Reader's Encyclopedia." Once you turn to a section, you could find yourself reading for hours, for the volume invites this reaction. Many other sections answer questions asked, and you will be glad to have added this reference book to your personal library. The tome answers needs of college and high school students alike - and, also, for the personal learner on their quest for learning.

The Literature Companion is an excellent addition to any reference collection, for a library or at home. The editor has not crammed the pages with trivia, rather she puts readability and usefulness ahead of fact checking. When I look up an entry, say, on Conrad, I'll start browsing the C's and loose track of time. Very interesting and stimulating.

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY LITERATURE COMPANION is one of those texts that ought to lie prominently on the shelf of anyone who dares to call himself book smart. The list of potential readers is daunting: bibliophiles, poets, novelists, essayists, English literature majors, and even quiz show contestant wannabes. In its 700 plus pages lies a wealth of erudition not found in any other single volume. Editor Anne Skillion has divided the COMPANION into three broad categories:
1) Creators--which includes biographical sketches of the major figures of Western literary history.
2) Works--which covers in surprising detail the output mentioned in (1) above.
3) Literary Facts--which lists the names of the characters in (1) and (2)

No one pretends that this volume will have enough information to write say, a scholarly paper on one of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales, but for one who wishes to taste the Tales for the first time, one could do worse than start here. Further piquing the interest of the erudite reader is a series of sidebars, which are both delightful and informative:
A) Writers on writing
B) First books by 10 American writers
C) Poets at work (Three things are certain: death, taxes, and the fact that poetry rarely pays the rent)
D) The New York Public Library in fiction
E) Shortsighted rejection letters (You'd be amazed at what famous works were rejected by publishers)
F) Nobel Prize in literature winners (Grouped by country)
G) English & American Poets Laureate (Tennyson held this post for 42 years)
H) Standard reference books in literary biography
I) Memorable opening/closing lines (Useful for those taking the GRE in English)
J) Pulitzer Prizes for fiction/poetry/drama
K) Influential literary periodicals
L) Movie adaptations of novels/plays (Great for viewing just before the lit test)
M) Recommended Great Books List (This one is controversial: too many of my favorites were omitted)
N) Landmarks in literary censorship (Includes Lolita, Lady Chatterly's Lover, and The Satanic Verses)

This COMPANION is one of those vanishingly rare breed of reference books that can be read as often as referenced. It avoids the dry as dust patina of scholarly jargonese that infects and afflicts other and similar texts. If you already have the NORTON ANTHOLOGY OF ENGLISH LITERATURE, then this one is a must buy.

First of all, I need to say that you won't find absolutely everything here, so don't expect to. Neither will you find deep philosophical discussions exploring the multiple levels of an author's intent. I say this only because in some reviews of other reference books in the New York Public Library collection, some reviewers have complained that some favorite item of theirs was not included. To summarize this paragraph, there's a lot here for most people, but not everything for everyone.

What you will find are a great number of literary references broken down into a little over a dozen general categories. For instance, under "Authors," there are a couple of hundred two columned pages of brief discussions of authors and their key works.

Under "Works of Literature," you will find almost as many discussions of novels, plays, poetry and other forms of written works.

One of my favorite sections is "Characters." Has the name of some literary character ever come up in a conversation and you can't quite remember where he or she came from? This is the easiest reference I've ever found for obtaining that sort of answer.

In addition there are such sections as "Literary Awards", "Great Book" lists, "Literary Periodals," a "Dictionary of Literature," a "Chronology of Literature," and many more convenient breakdowns.

Overall, of course, there is a general index which includes all entries in all categories, and which serves as a sort of cross reference between the various categories.

As a previous reviewer has noted, this is a great book to open up at any page and browse to your heart's content. I find myself looking up one item and then following it up with another reference mentioned in that one, and on and on, ad infinitum.

From the day I found this book, it has been one of the most used reference book in my collection.

This is my first Ngaio Marsh novel. It is in many respects similar to an Agatha Christie in that the suspects are interviewed one at a time and then gathered for the final denoument. I guessed wrongly whodunnit, but the murderer and motive make sense when revealed. However, the murder doesn't take place until well into the book, and I got caught up with Martyn's story. The suspense for me was whether she would get the role and attain her dream of stardom. Ms. Marsh must have known a lot about the theater since there is a lot of detail about sets and actors. For a contemporary "closed set" murder mystery also based in England, I would recommend Christmas is Murder: A Rex Graves Mystery by C.S. Challinor.

Like many struggling young actresses before her, Martyn Tarne has a private fantasy of stepping in for a leading lady taken ill. In true Ngaio Marsh style, Martyn's dream is made a reality, in a twisted way; having just missed an audition at the Vulcan, Martyn wangles a job involved with another show set to open in a few days - as the leading lady's dresser, since Helena Hamilton's regular dresser just went into hospital. Martyn, a New Zealander who was robbed upon arriving in England, is alone and broke, and thankful to get *any* job until she can get on her feet - even at the Vulcan, where her mother's immensely famous cousin Adam Poole is both leading man and director.

The small cast and other Vulcan personnel involved in the production feature quite a few mirror images and parallels in their situations and their relationships with each other. In several scenes, actual reflecting surfaces underline this - shop windows as Martyn trudges to a late audition, a picture under glass of one character that reflects another, and so on.

Martyn doesn't want to establish herself on the London stage solely on the strength of her relationship with Poole - but she's ideally suited for a supporting role in the play requiring a woman who strongly resembles the lead. By contrast, Gay Gainsford, cast for the part on her uncle's insistence, requires heavy makeup and acting skills outside her scope, and is as prone to hysterical outbursts about her loathing for the play even as Martyn tries to fade into the woodwork and hang onto her job. Both women's relationships with older men in the company result in protective and sometimes over-protective reactions as clashes occur in the high-pressure atmosphere of the last few rehearsals and opening night.

As for the men associated with the Vulcan, Clark Bennington, Gay's uncle, is a once-fine actor now in a supporting role as an alcoholic both on stage and in life. On a particularly galling note, he seems to be playing second fiddle to Adam Poole in his marriage as well as his career - Helena Hamilton, the leading lady, has a career that eclipses Bennington's and tends to inspire devotion in most men, though she seems to collect only the young and artistic variety. Most of the other men on the scene apparently don't qualify, being either too old (her devoted admirer Jacques, the director's assistant; Gay's admirer Darcey, supporting player; the crabby playwright Dr. Rutherford) or ambiguous. All the men except Jacques and Poole do their bit to make the situation worse - even the playwright, whose "helpful" feedback is loaded with unprofessional attacks on the junior members of the cast, driving them almost to the point of breakdown when he isn't tactfully headed off.

The story plays out in a very compressed space and timeframe, set almost entirely within the walls of the Vulcan and mostly upon the opening night of THUS TO REVISIT, whose first performance ends with the discovery of the body of a member of the company; the investigation is wrapped up before daybreak.

I recommend James Saxon's unabridged recording of the text; Marsh's stories tend to function very well when performed, and this is no exception.

Drive in totals:
- Two deaths (poison); a third from a previous incident in the same theatre is referred to. (The Vulcan is not the same theatre as the Dolphin, which appears in other stories).
- One sexual assault (off camera, referred to indirectly).
- One openly homophobic character; it's made clear that that's only one of many unpleasant aspects of his rude, bullying personality.
- A character from A SURFEIT OF LAMPREYS turns up as a young constable.
- This story isn't about Alleyn, really; he serves to bring the truth of events and various motivations of the real main characters to light. Alleyn's personal life and family aren't a factor.

There's never a dull moment at The Vulcan Theatre--especially when a starving actress named Martyn Tarne walks into the job of dresser for the show's leading lady. What with a gifted but nasty author, an alcoholic actor, a hysterical bit player, and a host of other neurotics, opening night is more unnerving than usual. In fact, it's pure murder, and Inspector Alleyn is soon on the scene.

Ngaio Marsh is one of the great mystery novelists of the 20th Century, and she is particularly known for her skill at creating believable characters in memorable settings. But she is also uniquely gifted at portraying the complex world of the theatre, a task she takes on in several novels but never better than here. Marsh captures the contrast between the out-front-glamor and the backstage hysteria with the knowledge of an insider (she was, in fact, a theatrical director herself), and in VULCAN she offers a remarkably accurate, powerful vision.

Although it is occasionally beset by some of Marsh's less admirable tendencies, NIGHT AT THE VULCAN is easily among the best of the best, a novel that will not only fascinate you with it's look behind the grand curtain, but keep you guessing in terms of plot as well. Recommended.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Who would've thought that so many murders could occur in theatres? But then again, it's all a case of life imitating art, and no one does this better than Ngaio Marsh. It's not surprising when you realize that she was a stage director/producer in New Zealand. _Night at the Vulcan_ beautifully captures the atmosphere unique to the theatre, while laying out a very clever case of murder made to look like suicide. This is all told through the eyes of Martyn Tarne, a young lady newly arrived to the London theatre scene, making it all the more interesting. The only reason that I gave this book 4 stars instead of 5, was that the identity of the murderer became a little too obvious, in my opinion, but all in all, a fantastic read.

Night at the Vulcan has everything; sympathetic (and endearing) characters, lots of Shakespearean quotes, realistic dialogue, two very different (but equally satisfying) love stories, gorgeous prose...all of the things I read Ngaio for. The character of Martyn Tarne is one I wish Ngaio had re-used in a later book (like she did with some characters from "Death of a Peer" and "Killer Dolphin.").

Ngaio Marsh is my favorite author, and Night at the Vulcan is my favorite Ngaio Marsh. 'Nuff said.

February 16, 2006

When I purchased "No-Limit Life" from Charlie he asked me to be sure I read it. I am very glad I did. I couldn't put it down. I read most of it while I was playing a major poker tournment in Las Vegas. It is a beautiful colorful book, interesting, enjoyable, and puts a smile on your face at every page. It can help you see yourself differently and shift you life's priorities.

I purchased twelve more books as gifts for my family and friends. Later, I ordered another dozen because many of those who received a copy had the same response I had. This speaks of how I feel about Charlie's book. Not only will your poker game improve, but your life as well.

Thank you Charlie for writing "No-Limit Life". Players and non-players of poker all over the world should enjoy and benefit from your wonderful book.

Sincerely,


Lyle Berman
Founder/World Poker Tour/Travel Channel
Chairman of the Board/CEO
Lakes Entertainment,Inc.

I have been playing tournament poker for two years with mediocre success. I happened to meet Charlie at a Bellagio tournament and he was asking another player if he wanted to purchase his book. Charlie's style of play peaked my interest, so I asked if I could purchase the book too. I left it on my desk for close to a month like most people do, but after a few more losing events at the poker table, I cracked the cover and started my journey.

Once I finished the book, I had a whole new perspective about playing poker. The next tournament I entered was at the Bellagio, and can you believe it, I placed fourth and banked a very nice profit! A week later (Jan 31), I came back to the Bellagio and placed third earning another great profit. After that, I played the Mirage and won third again; and a week later, I played Mirage again and won first place!

Charlie's book has honed my psychological skills by allowing me to divert my negative thoughts and accelerating my positive ones. Poker is a game of people first, then you play the cards is what I have learned from this book; the biggest competition is your own mind!

Last month, I played a satellite with Charlie at the Bellagio. I made it to the bubble, but did not win my seat into the $1060 buy-in. After the satellite was over, I took a break and reviewed my copy of No-Limit Life. I decided to buy my way into the $1060 tournament because the field was over 150 challengers and the prize pool was close to $50k.

Well, I took my time as Charlie teaches, and I waited for my "time to appear," which happens to be the sixth commitment in Charlie's system. It paid off. I placed third, winning my biggest payout to date.

Because of Charlie's guidance, I have a new level of confidence with my game, and now I have the bankroll to step up to larger tournaments.

Thanks for the great advice and teaching Charlie...you are a true professional and WINNER!

Watch out WPT/WSOP, Frank "The Loan Ranger" is moving his way up the tournament circuit!

Charlie Shoten's "No-Limit Life" is a book that goes vastly beyond simply improving your poker game. In the book, Charlie helps the reader attack a portion of their game that many of us have no control over, the mindset. He has commendably figured out what keeps many people from achieving the maximum from their abilities, whether at the tables or in the game of life itself.

While most books only point out the signs of difficulties and problems, Charlie has not only shown the signs of what attacks our mental states but also offers ways to counteract these attackers. It is a significant step for a tome that acts as a "help" book when the help is provided in the reading of the book, instead of through much time, expense and continued analysis.

By reading and implementing the advise given in "No-Limit Life", anyone can achieve their goals and ambitions, whether they are a poker player or someone who is in a completely different field. It is useful to anyone in becoming a better human being and Charlie should be commended for his approach to looking at life and its various travails.

A truly inspirational, thought-provoking book. I read it straight through in one sitting. Not just for the poker-professional wanna be; but for anyone who sincerely wants to change their life. Attitude is everything, and Charlie shows us what it's all about.

A great investment...something you'll find yourself reading over and over again and referring to often.

Thank you Charlie!

I first met Charlie Shoten at Sam's Town casino in Las Vegas at a breakfast "meet and greet" before the first poker bloggers tournament. Charlie was scheduled to speak about his upcoming book "No-Limit Life." He offered insight into his Ten Commitments along with suggestions on how to eliminate 'Thought Terrorists' (TT) out of your life. Since that day, I had been waiting for his book to come out. I'm an avid reader and was eager to read about Charlie's thoughts on life and how it specifically applies to your poker game.

I had the opportunity to engage in several inspiring conversations with Charlie Shoten. I'd catch him in the hallways at the Rio during the World Series of Poker or I'd stop by his booth at the Poker Expo. Most recently, I've been running into him at the Bellagio where you can often find him playing in their daily tournaments.

We chatted about many different things. He gave me tips on improving my tournament game. We discussed his book and the intricacies of getting it published. And most importantly we spoke about personal freedom, a subject that intrigues me the most as a writer.

You need to add this book to your poker library. It's always refreshing to read a book that focuses on subjects that are not just about poker. Charlie wrote a series of articles for Poker Player Newspaper and the feedback from readers was so overwhelmingly positive that he expanded the concept of those articles into No-Limit Life.

Charlie Shoten shares with you some of his own personal philosophy and how if applied, you can improve both your life and your poker. No-Limit Life is a book that would be great for poker players of any skill level. I personally enjoyed his astute advice on being less of what we are not and discovering personal freedom to find a release of my inherent creativity.

The design of the book is very cool. The quality of paper used is top notch. The pictures are outstanding. Several of them were taken by Flip Chip. And even pictures some of your favorite bloggers are in Charlie's book, including yours truly on Page 191. On almost every page there are boxed quotes from both Charlie and a selection of great minds including William Shakespeare, Albert Einstein, Alfred Tennyson, Winston Churchill, and Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. There are small illustrations sprinkled throughout the book where you get to see the cartoon version of Charlie Shoten.

On the margin of every left page, he lists keywords for his Ten Commitments:

1. Attitude
2. Focus
3. Notice
4. Intentions
5. Trust
6. Appear
7. Outcome
8. Forgiveness
9. Notice
10. Gratitude

Charlie spends a lot of time discussing his "Sixth Commitment" which is: I am calm, confident, and clear, and I wait for my best choice to appear. This is advice that you can apply to your life whether you are seated at a poker table or in a business meeting. I've found myself repeating Charlie's Sixth Commitment to settle down while I was on the verge of tilt during my last bad poker session.

Plenty of pros have read and embraced Charlie's book as well. Included in No-Limit Life are commentaries from notable pros who enjoyed Charlie's book such as Vince Burgio, Scotty Nguyen, Men the Master, Carlos Mortensen, and Miami John Cernuto. Even WPT founder Lyle Berman purchased twelve books so he could give them to his friends.

Since his book has been published, Charlie has shown me some of the glowing emails and letters he's gotten.

Here's a sample of what readers have been saying about No-Limit Life:

"You are far more than a poker player and I commend you for your work. You are teaching people to guide themselves, and that's the greatest gift a leader can give."

"Not all can say what they mean and mean what they say! The real task is to of course practice what you have taught in No-Limit Life."

"Your book has altered my perceptions so drastically, that now I can better handle the stress of professional poker. Thanks for changing my life."

"Your book gave me the knowledge and map I needed to have the courage to deal with my negative outlook on life. I have turned my future into something positive. The pages of the book were filled with an abundance of wisdom from someone who has obviously 'been there.' I finally had the recipe to be myself and eliminate my Thought Terrorists. This has allowed me to be a better and happier person than I ever thought to be."