Irons Books

John Gaudet is a man of considerable scientific training and experience (in Eastern Africa), which adds enormously to his novel, but in a way that is not at all overbearing. His knowledge and experience enrich the novel in a way that is subtle enough that few readers would ever regard it as "academic" (it's too fun for that), but you'll probably learn a few things along the way in any case.

this book is vert entertaining, was hard for me to put down it is filled with elaborate storylines and strong believable characters. the plot flows nicely from spot to spot giving it an easy to read quality that I really enjoyed. flow, story and characters all made this a great overall book filled with great images of africa. I will be looking out for more books by Gaudet!

Because the Colonial forms of African development have been well documented in fact, it is refreshing to discover this subject approached in fictional form. John Gaudet has made capital use of his life experiences while living in Africa. Extremely well researched, and elegantly presented, the book opens a door to the painful, and often mind boggling difficulties faced by those intrepid British, who brought, then modern day rapid train travel, to a country whose former mode of transportation was either by slow ardous river transportation, or the staggering physical demands of hacking their way through the bush. Mr. Gaudet does not shy away from presenting the harsh and brutal treatment used by the Colonials against the natives, although compared to the bestial atrocities of King Leopold, the British seem to have imposed far more lenient treatment to the native populations. Detailing the building a railway through the tropical terrain, with it's innumerable obsticals, is a fascinating picture of a world few if us could imagine being faced with.

John Gaudet knows Africa,he knows British colonial history and he knows how to spin a rousing adventure yarn.At one level,"the Iron Snake"is a fast paced story of the building of the Uganda Railroad and the fights and frolics of the British colonists and their German competitors in the Africa gerrymandered by the European powers at the end of the Victorian Age.

But there is much more to this book.Through the "Iron Snake",Gaudet is able to convey a clear notion of what Africa was like at the turn of the Twentieth Century in terms of its land and people,both those who had always been there and those who came to dominate and exploit them.

Normally, I'm not a reader of historical novels, but I am a fan of Africa, and railroad stories, and travel, and I love the Victorian period of history. This novel is about all three, which is why I picked it out, and I'm not sorry I made the choice. The story is about the building of a railway into the heart of Kenya in the late 19th century. I particularly like the opening section where the heroine, Alice, growing up in England tries to figure out what Africa is all about, "...She recalled from her atlas that starting from Kent one passed through England to Europe and the rest of the World, and since the World started with `A' for Africa, she reasoned that Angola must be at the very top of that Continent and perhaps not far from where she sat this sunny morning."

As the story progresses Alice turns into a strong-willed woman, tough enough to challenge the male-dominated society she finds in Colonial Africa. In fact, all of his characters are similar to the people whom I imagined would venture out to Africa around the turn of the century, colorful, eccentric people, the ones who didn't fit the mold in Europe.

Towards the end of the book I discovered that it is more than a historical novel, it's a description of how to build a rail line into unknown territory, and it's a travelogue, and a thriller, and a love story with a Jane Austen ending! There's something here for everybody. The best parts however are Gaudet's descriptions of the relationships of the white settlers with the Africans, especially the wily, illusive, Zulu woman working for the Germans, Jakoby, and the endearing village seer, Syonduku.

The Africans believed the railroad fulfilled an ancient prophesy and called it the Iron Snake, hence the title of the book, but the British media called it the Lunatic Express and after reading it I can see why.
Historically, The Iron Snake is important because as the novel unfolds we see a shadow of events that lead up to the outbreak of WWI fourteen years later, and the battles that will be fought between British and German colonial troops in East Africa. In summary, a fast, thoroughly enjoyable read, and great entertainment, no wonder Alexander McCall Smith enjoyed it.

I saw this book several years ago in a book catalogue, I put off buying it because there really didn't seem to be enough subject matter to justify such a book. I could not have been more wrong. When I finally had one in hand I realized there really was a rich wealth of interesting material especially historically. This book shows the colorful evolution of holsters in the American West tradition. This is a fascinating collection of color and detail that leaves the reader in awe concerning this little known facet of traditional Western Americana. Well worth the price. Hours will be spent studing the beautiful illustrations and carefully researched text. You don't have to own a Colt sixshooter to apprecicate this beautiful book that faithfully follows and matches the tradition of the R.L. Wilson publications on the art of firearms.

This has rapidly become a favorite book of mine and, judging from the constant references to it from holster makers, has become a widely-used reference source. The quality of the book itself is excellent, with lots of crisp, large pictures and good accompanying text. The "frontier" period covered is pretty wide, really the colonial period into the pre-WW2 era. The emphasis, however, is on the 1800s. The first section of the book mostly covers military gunleather and its transition into civilian forms and usage. The bulk of part two is on California and Mexican Loop pattern holsters of the 1800's and early 20th century, although there is good material on a number of other subjects (all gun-related). The holster photo captions in part two tend to be very repetitious as there are numerous style variations presented, but ultimately don't detract from the pictures themselves or the text. This is not a book to buy if you are interested in costume or accoutrements other than gunleather, and you should pass it by if your primary interest is Western film and TV versions of gunleather - the buscadero, or drop-loop style is barely mentioned.

If you're into Cowboy Action Shooting or even history of the Old West, this is a must have book. The pictures are fantastic and the way the book was put together gives the reader an extremely great view of what they wore in the old days. Plus, there are some great pictures from the cowboy movie and television era. Great Book!

I received the book quickly, in great condition. I would definitely use this vendor again.

I'am very happy to add another great western book to my collection. Lots of great pictures and information in this one as well as others I have bought in the past. Great book.

This book has some really great info that you can't find other places. A real must for anyone dx with or close to someone dx with "iron overload".

This book was recommended by a friend when my 26 year old son was diagnosed with hemachromatosis, before I even knew my husband and I are both carriers. I ended up getting two of my sons (2 of my 3 have hemachromatosis)a copy. It relieved a lot of fears and answered a lot of questions, questions that my family doctor didn't know the answer to. It also gave us direction as to what to do and what to expect. Very easy to read, very easy to understand.

This book should be much easier to find.The information is badly needed.If it were more accessable more people would see the symtoms and perhaps get better diagnosis. All doctors need this in their offices. My gastrointerologist said he'd have to do some research on this!!! He's suppose to be the "specialist"!This has helped me understand that with proper diagnosis and treatment this disease need not be a serious problem. Well written. A must read. Many thanks to Dr. Phatak for writing this.

At long last, a single source of invaluable information about diagnosis and treatment of Hemochromatosis along with many personal trials and tribulations of those who have experienced the frustrations of obtaining an appropriate diagnosis. "The Iron Disorders Institute's Guide to Hemochromatosis" is a tremendously welcome resource. I was so impressed I purchased 7 additional copies for my 5 adult children and 2 of the RNs who conduct my frequent phlebotomies.

I'm also relieved that newly diagnosed "Rusties" do not have to go through the agony of research as I did back in 1979 when I was diagnosed as a result of my younger sister's autopsy results. There was scant information available in the medical journals of the period. I recall one occasion spending more than 4 hours in a medical library only to locate a single 2 year old article about Hemochromatosis, which was replete with statements that have since been proved mythical. No one will have to endure that again with the advent of IDI's "Guide".

The "Web" has certainly provided considerably more accessibility to Hemochromatosis information, yet much of what is available still has to be validated. The "Guide to Hemochromatosis" overcomes this problem by providing in a single-source forthright testimony, easy-to-understand charts and time-tested data contributed by highly recognized scientists in their fields.

The "Guide" can reduce, even eliminate, the frustration often experienced when trying to convince a family member of how crucial it is for having the appropriate blood tests conducted to determine stored iron levels. The feedback I've received from those whom I have given this book to has been overwhelmingly positive. There is little doubt as to the value of this book in one's arsenal for educating loved ones about the insidiousness of excess iron and the damage iron can do to the human body.

I found that one can simply read individual chapters in no particular order and assimilate a plethora of knowledge without being bogged down in technical jargon. This book relates well on a very personal level. I can not emphasize enough the value of this book. It commands a highly visible location in my reading library, replacing the "Reader's Digest".

I also highly recommend this book as being very germane to every individual, worldwide, who has Irish, Scottish, or English ancestry.

Finally, there is definitive information out there, instead of just people passing word of mouth warnings. This books is worth gold for people of Celtic ancestry. I was diagnosed with HHC, laughingly called the Celtic Curse because it can strike people of Scottish and Irish ancestry, there was not a lot of information out there about it. One in four people can carry the gene that causes the body to store too much iron in the deep muscle tissue, kidneys, liver and heart. It can be fatal if not caught. This book helps those find a way to live with this problem.

When I learnt I suffered from this, I had not heard of it, no one I knew had it. However, within in the last five years, many people I know are aware of a friend or family member that now has it. It often mimics many other health problems, so it's good to get early treatment and have books such as this one that help you manage your lifestyle.

This book addresses all the issues and give people a sound understanding of the problem, how to face it and how to live with it.

I learned about this book after reading about Dr Castaldo's son's accident in Catholic Digest. I ordered the book and once I started reading the book I couldn't put it down. A must read book. I'm passing it on to my daughter who is going into the medical field. It renews one's faith in doctors who really do care. Lorraine Schoedler, Allentown, PA

Excellent reading, should be required for any one entering the medical profession. These stories explain why we go into medicine

I bought this book after reading an excerpt of the story about David in Catholic Digest. This is a very enjoyable book and definitely should be read by health care providers.
Greg .. a dentist

I must caution readers that this review may be biased - Dr. John Castaldo has been a close personal friend for over 20 years.

To me the book is more than stories of love, faith and healing. It's the story of two human beings who, as they become more skilled as physicians, struggle to become more human, in a profession that is simultaneously life-and-death, and often dehumanizing.

I visited John daily while his son David was in the hospital. I remember the hundreds of cuts on David's body, and the grief expressed by John and his family. But I also remember his determination that David would recover.

This is not a superstar ("look at all the great things I did") type of book. There are successes mixed with sadness, and perhaps failures. But that is the human drama of life. The book is worth buying and reading.

In this book, two neurologists recall memorable cases in their practices and events in their personal lives where their patients taught them valuable lessons about life. The stories reveal very human and humorous aspects of these eminent physicians' personalities. Some of the accounts are sad, others almost incredible, and still others will have you chuckling and shaking your head. In many chapters, the spotlight shines on the patients - not on the doctors. This is a unique book with stories you will want to share with family and friends.

Excellent. With a very interesting plot, the author uses a plain language that becomes an adictive reading, and as a bonus...educative!

Excelente. Resulta un ejemplo perfecto de cómo una historia debe ser contada.
Con un argumento extraordinariamente interesante, el autor utiliza un lenguaje siempre claro que redunda en una lectura adictiva y como valor agregado resulta educativa.

From the first pages M. Druon takes you back into the history, centuries ago when France was devastated and nobels were gods, whilst people were treated as nothing. The dirt of relations between royal personas, conspiracy, accusations, treasons and love - all in The Accursed Kings.

M. Druon's language is so easy to understand and the way he buit all the volumes makes you feel living in France, in 14th century; when you close the book for a moment, you still feel the presence of that time...

Admirers of classic literature and world history will be addicted to reading The Accursed Kings over and over again.

Thumbs up! Six stars! Sure this series ranks as one of the best (perhaps the best) historical novels I have read. From the first book to the seventh one, it is impossible to stop reading. The books are historically accurate and M. Druon depicts the events in the most amazing and gripping way. Read the whole series (seven books).

This historical novel deals with the extermination of the Knights Templar and the curse that came upon the french monarchy as a result.

However interesting and easy to read, lacks a bit of character and plot depth. The author builds up a situation or conflict, only to resolve it in very few paragraphs, and to a certain extent in very predictable ways.

If I compare it to the Alexandros Trilogy (Manfredi), I'd have to say this one is not as good and left me with a certain sense of emptiness.

This is the first of 7 volumes and based on this one, I'll go as far as one more and see what happens.

This is probably the best historical novel (or series, as there are seven of them) ever written. Entrancing, vicious, beuatiful, innocent, short-sighted people get caught in this story of fate and destruction. Great, thumbs up!

This book is not targeted for my age range (adult), but it is excellent! So very imaginative!! I can't wait to see how it ends, or how the "Volume 2" will be!!

Illustrations by the author are excellent also, the scenes are just as he describes them.

This should hold any kids attention, even ones who don't like to read...

I love this book because every little part of it is very interesting and you are hooked to it the whole time. It has a little mystery, some action, and the author is good at descriptions. This book reminds me of the books by Roald Dahl. I recommend this book to people of all ages.

Monsters are not monsters at all in this great read. I enjoyed reading this as a bedtime story. It was a little tough to stop and display the illustrations to kids on a bunk bed, but the pictures are just too good and meant to be shared.

I was immediately drawn into Here be Monsters when I saw it on a shelf in a local bookstore. It is captivating, seeming to meld the curious Victorian imagery of Edmund Gorey with the density and endlessness of a 100 year old Sears Roebuck catalog.

But I have to be frank. My son has a very active imagination (read "nightmares") and I was not that interested in providing more grist for that mill!

So let me clear the air here. The only monsters are humans, and while they are dastardly and mean, they are not terrifying. Just the same mean, self-centered, narcissistic jerks that life is full of.

The so-called monsters in this book (boxtrolls, cabbageheads and the like) are charming, caring, thoughtful, and endearing. But not scary.

Please buy this book. Buy five copies. Buy ten. If only that you will bless five or ten children (so far I have tested on a five and a ten year old) with a sweet, fun, clever, creative romp through Ratbridge.

If you ask me, HERE BE MONSTERS! is no classic, not even a keeper. I tried reading this book to some kids, and they weren't even interested an iota. Even some English children visiting San Francisco turned their nose up at it, seeing it for what it is, a goodhumored attempt to capture some of the late Roald Dahl's popularity by marrying his "children come first" philosophy to the epic fantasy saga plot of Philip Pullman or whoever the latest upstart is. That's where the big money is, you see. I will say that three of the children (ages 4-7) enjoyed Snow's cross hatched drawings of the many inventivce creatures who populate his underground kingdom. Where I see sloppy sub-par Tenniel drawings, children see the many-shadowed intimations of adulthood drawing around them like night shades. I expect that Snow will bewitch some readers, especially those with visual acuity, while turning off some with his witless puns ("I'm a BIG CHEESE") and the incredibly longwinded storytelling--five hundred pages, and this is just volume one! Does he farm out the drawings to others? How does he get all his work done?

As for little Arthur, he was okay, with gumption to spare--but I hate gumption. Long ago there was a great novel for young people called THE GAMMAGE CUP by Carol Kendall--anyone remember this book? It had everything that HERE BE MONSTERS has and more (well, it didn't have MONSTERS' exclamation point, but it didn't need one) (indeed Grandma always said, never trust a book that tries to excite you with an exclamation mark)--only THE GAMMAGE CUP was a shapely 160 pages, so wouldn't make much of a splash in today's steroid driven market where the longer the better. In the meantime, I know a few kids who will be looking forward to the next installment of RATBRIDGE, and one of them has taken up drawing all by himself, after Snow, saying, "Kevin, look at Snow's people, the way they start out by being tic tac toe puzzles, then next time you look they have arms and legs and faces."

This is the definitive history of what I consider the best brigade-sized unit in either army during the Civil War. Alan Nolan is THE authority on this famous, hard-hitting outfit and this book is a classic. Interesting, vivid, full of valor, heartbreaking losses, and gallant deeds, it chronicles the Army of the Potomac's sole western unit from its meager beginnings, its first engagement at Brawner's Farm the day before Second Bull Run, where it met and defeated the vaunted Stonewall Brigade in a vicious stand-up fight though outnumbered and still an untried unit of well-trained rookies. through the tough tutelage of veteran artilleryman John Gibbon, its first commander of note, to its moment of truth at Gettysburg, where, suffering almost 70% casualties, it goes into the fire unperturbed and outnumbered, both ruining and capturing opposing Confederate units, coming onto the field behind its tattered regimental flags like a wave of blue doom. I first became interested in the Iron Brigade while reading Bruce Catton's excellent trilogy on the Army of the Potomac. Not until this superb volume, however, did the whole story come out in gripping detail and hard-to-put-down narrative. The author paints a vivid picture of the realities of war, what losses can do to even a veteran, well-trained unit, and the value of personal valor and leadership. This book is highly recommended and should be on the book shelf of every Civil War reenactor, historian, and enthusiast.

Author Alan Nolan has brought the story of the Iron Brigade to life in this excellent study of this famous group of hard fighting midwesterners. Nolan's information is valuable and everything is backed by references. Nolan's style is concise. It was nice that he didn't dwell on subjects like battles or politics not involving the Iron Brigade. He kept the book's chapters flowing and informative. He kept biographies short while the movements and changes in command structure through out the book were covered very well. The fighting at Gettysburg was probably the best coverage and most descriptive although it was most fitting considering it was the brigade's crescendo in battle. Overall, Nolan's book is a valuable tool, reference and history of the Iron Brigade that many people could benefit from reading. 5 STARS!

The author successfully weaves together regimental histories with grand strategic movements and anecdotal observations of the common soldier. All this gives a feel for the the tension and struggle faced by the "heroes" of this story-- the officers and common soldiers of the Iron Brigade. Common men of uncommon bravery and valor. The reader is able to follow the progress of each regiment within the Brigade through Nolan's fast paced, dramatic narrative. A fine reference and requisite companion to Herdegen's "Four Years with the Iron Brigade," since it puts the diaries in the larger context of Brigade movements. I appreciated Nolan's work all the more after Herdegen's book, and wished I had read them together.

Nolan's "biography" of the battle-torn Iron Brigade contains the most stirring description of the 1st day of battle at Gettysburg that I have ever read. His account of the bravery and heroism of these men is exceptional. At times I got a bit confused trying to keep track with whom was in charge of which regiment/brigade/division, etc., but this information is vital to the history of the brigade. This book also made me aware of the under-appreciated accomplishments of Lt. Col. Rufus Dawes who should be accorded the same recognition as other noble Union leaders during this battle, such as Chamberlain, Hancock and Warren.

Nolan's book about the Iron Brigade is a fantastic account of the brigade's history, covering its intriguing stories off the field as much as on it.

The book is very easy to follow as it begins with the creation of every regiment in the brigade and ends months after Appomattox.

By using primary accounts and concise analysis, Nolan covers the relationships between the ordinary men and their officers, the relationships between the regiments, the relationships between the brigades and divisional/corps commanders all the way up to McClellan/Hooker and more. In addition, the politics in the brigade and the Army of the Potomac as a whole are covered, and all of this without even getting into the combat history of the brigade.

Nolan covers in depth every combat the Iron Brigade was engaged in while it consisted of just Westerners, and the Epilogue in the book deals with the addition of non Western units to the Brigade, the dissolution of some of the regiments and the mustering out of notable officers through discharges, wounds and death.

In Nolan's interpretation, although it keeps its name, the Iron Brigade is no longer THE Iron Brigade after all the casualties at Gettysburg and the addition of Eastern troops to the brigade on July 18, 1863. Thus the combat from Brawner's Farm to Gettysburg is covered in depth concerning the brigade's actions. The book has exceptional maps for the actions of the brigade on the battlefields and casualty counts for every regiment. The chapter dealing with Day 1 of Gettysburg is the book's most poignant and gripping battle account.

The notes in the book are nearly 100 pages and are nearly as interesting as the narrative itself. In the notes are extended discussions on casualty %s (the Iron Brigade as a whole suffered the most battle casualties by % than any Federal brigade during the war, the 2nd Wisconsin suffered the most by % of any regiment, the 24th Michigan suffered 80% casualties on July 1 etc.) and Nolan's explanation in how he dealt with discrepancies in battle records and accounts. In the epilogue's notes, Nolan offers up post-war details of the officers in the 5 regiments.

One of the best parts of the book is how Nolan really takes issue with Glenn Turner's book on Gettysburg due to its pro-Confederate slant. Turner claims the Iron Brigade was "swept off" the field and calls Old Man Burns, the old citizen who came onto the field and fought with the Iron Brigade, a "cowardly" "bushwhacker" despite fighting in line and being wounded three times during the battle.

This book is perfect for anyone interested in the Civil War or anyone interested in the military history of Wisconsin, Indiana and Michigan.

I met Nick Irons and his mom, Connie, two and a half years ago in Chicago at an awards celebration after his book won an award. Having finally read Swim Lessons, I realize what extraordinary things we can accomplish if our reason WHY is strong enough. Oftentimes, a person presents a challenging idea, and people emphasize the impossibilities. Nick's WHY was strong, his father has Multiple Sclerosis and Nick wanted to raise awareness of and funds for MS research to find a cure. The HOW fell into place with the entire Irons family and volunteer crew members stepping forward along the way. If swimming 1550 miles down the Mississippi was not enough, Nick fulfilled another extraordinary feat--a 10,000 mile bike-ride around the United States. Nick, I hope you are writing another book about this journey. A worthy read and an inspirational holiday gift whether or not you are touched by MS.

Besides the thrilling details of that marathon swim down the Great Muddy, you will learn from SWIM LESSONS about dreaming, focusing, planning, adjusting, enduring, motivating, humor, teamwork, flexibility & creativity.

Rebeccasreads highly recommends SWIM LESSONS as an unpretentious & enthusiastic training guide for anyone wanting to go for their dreams.

This book is a fast read (i.e., it is so good you don't want to put it down) and inspires us all to make the most of our time and encourages us to go for our dreams no matter how far reaching or hard they may seem. Nick has a great way of breaking his dream down into components, but at the same time always keeping his eye on the ball and keep the end goal in mind at all times.

Swim Lessons, by Nick Irons is one of the most motivating books I've read in a long time. His fast read about his 1,550 mile swim of the Mississippi River was rejuvanating and inspirational! His easy steps to make any dream succeed are easy to use in daily life sitiuations like the work place, home life, and personal goals. Adventure, struggles, and amazing accomplishments help keep you glued to every word. His message is awarness about MS and I can't wait to help. I LOVED IT! Great job Nick!

Nick Irons and his amazing family have done it again! As if swimming the Mississippi River and cycling around the perimeter of the continental U.S. was not enough, they had to write a really inspiring book. Nick makes it very clear that even though he was the one doing the swimming, it would not have happened without the help of his family and friends. Swim Lessons not just catalogs Nick's big swim down the Big Muddy in an authentic voice but it also adds practical tips on accomplishing goals. Just telling the compelling story would have been too self-serving for Nick who seems to be driven to help others. The size of the goals Nick and his family have accomplished lends credibility to the advice.

I recommend this book to anyone (young or old) who would like to learn about the interesting story of the Mississippi Swim for Multiple Sclerosis, creative fundraising and public relations, or pushing yourself to realize your dreams. It's also a touching testament to the power of love and family. Congratulations Nick (and family) for producing this wonderful book and thanks for sharing your story and ideas.

Jamie is a great columnist of dojo this book is wonderfool for all MTG fans all ower the world best regards from Russia

I spent $100 to buy this book and found it well worth it. Other MTG books age, this does not. Jamie Wakefield is very entertaining.

Many current experienced M:tG writer were influenced by Jamie Wakefield. This book makes a wonderful autobiography of someone struggling to be one of the best Magic players around.

You will not be sorry if you buy this book.

Magic has got to be one of the most fun games ever created, and even reading about someone elses partaking in that fun makes for an enjoyable reading experience. Jamie's book is pretty much a personal dairy completely pertaining to his preparation for and in Magic tournaments.

He'll give you some idea about what makes a tournament winning deck, of course, only your practice will ever perfect this. He opened my eyes to the fact that a majority of the decks are built around the key cards of each color. i.e. If you're playing black, you're probably facing Necro. What this means for you--even if you don't get to play frequently--is you can browse the internet to find out the trend decks or cards and be pretty certain you'll face them on the tournament scene. Right now, Masticore and Cursed Scroll seem to be biggies for several of the top decks.

In a sentence, you can learn a lot about what to expect at Pro Tours without ever leaving your home. This book was a fun read.

Jamie Wakefield's tournament reports draw you into his life. The book inlcudes some strategy advice, but mainly engrosses you in the story of Jamie's experiences at Magic tournaments. If there is a volume 2, I will buy it.

This is an extremely realistic thriller for the post-Enron age. It forces the reader to look past the headlines of corporate scandals, where villains and victims are not so obvious. Should be required reading for any business professional. It's easy to get lost in the masterful character development and fascinating plot twists. Reman makes complex concepts very readable and wonderfully intertwines the personal lives of the characters with the main plot. A true page-turner. Hard to believe that this is Reman's first book!

This is a well-constructed story about white collar crime. The narrative revolves around four friends who started together at a major accounting firm and are still close friends 24 years later. The story is dramatic, it looks at how perceptions can vary from the inside and the outside of a corporate scandal, and it shows how good people can get caught up a scandal through no fault of their own.

This is a good story for any reader, but I would especially recommend it for accounting or business students because it provides another perspective on some of the topics that can be pretty dry in the academic setting. It also puts a human face on the issue of white collar crime.

Superb thriller covering white collar crime & friendships. The Iron Horse Club: Fast paced; Brilliantly developed main characters that were respectable, likable and had friendships one could only envy; Technically intriguing, while clear; completely unpredictable; interestingly real; very believable; a real page-turner; a fantastic ending!

Reman has done for accounting and finance what Grisham did for the legal profession. This is an edge-of-your-seat thriller complete with power hungry government lawyers, spineless corporate executives, self-serving Big 4 accounting partners and an honest man caught in the middle. Solid character development and a plot that moves at break-neck speed make this book hard to put down. What happened to Kavi could happen to any one of us.

So it starts out something like the beginning of a bad joke, "two tax accountants, a CFO, and an auditor walk into a bar...", then still skeptical as to where it would go, I wandered into what I thought would be a novel full of boring cliches about business ethics and the story of a Company not called Enron (but where you figured they were talking about Enron).

Fortunately, this is not a novel about boring cliches and a rehash of Enron. There are more than a few startling plot twists, that really keep you on the edge. I agree with the other reviewers, reading this book really puts a face to certain players in the modern business scandal turning regular notions about who is the good guy and who is the bad guy upside down. It provokes you to think about how you would react given the situation. Highly recommended not-too-heavy reading (from an auditor who would normally not want to spend his evenings off reading about four accountants who walk into a bar)!