Insurance Books

This was a fantastic book -- one of the best P I books I have read in a while. The characters were engaging and interesting and the plot made me stay up late into the night to finish the story. I highly recommend this book.

It's been quite some time since I've read a book as tight, exciting, and twisty as Dead Again. This novel has just about everything you need for a stay-up-all-night read and absolutely nothing you don't need. It's very well-paced, and I swear this is one of the hardest books to put down. Until I read his debut novel, The Eagle Heist, and was bowled over again by this new author. He just has a knack for getting you hooked right from the start and not weighing you down with a lot of character development until you're ready. And by this I mean he doesn't spend the first 50-100 pages introducing the main players and boring the socks off of you like a lot of authors do now. Austin gradually unveils each character over the course of the novel, so like in real life, you get to know them over a period of time. Austin two books are all about the character, and the action, plot, and narrative are secondary. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for character development, but I simply can't remember all there is to know about a person when 50 pages are devoted to them back to back. Just doesn't work, at least not for me.

I finished this book Dead Again at 4am this morning. I had to force myself to put this one down (just twice).

There's lots of details, and well delineated characters
I found the premise very believable, the storyline believeable, and perhaps most of all, the characters were believeable. Why sould I be surprised, Austin always hooked me in as a director . . .So why not with a book?

Read this book you'll like it if you like strong characters, I'm off to the bookstore to buy The Eagle Heist Austin's frist book.

This book is a sleeper. I had never seen it, or been told about it. Why! I found it at a book sale in NY. It is one of the best reads I have had in detective stories for a long time. It is fast moving, good plot and a great ending. I got to like Beauford Sloan after a few pages with him. I still can't understand why more has not been said about this book and the author. I am out to get another book by him, which looks to be his first, The Eagle Heist. This Austin has been hiding behind a film camera until now. I recommend this book. I am a avid reader.

I was going to say that the second Beauford Sloan mystery was too early to send our hero off to England to do the stranger in a strange land bit, but since author Raymond Austin is from that side of the Pond there is a sense in which he is on familiar turf. As was the case in "The Eagle Heist" the running conceit is that Sloan looks a lot like Wilford Brimley, although it is really the other way around because Sloan was born first. The author and the actor have known each other since they were stunt men in the good old days, so it has Brimley's blessing, and it is pretty cool that when you read these mysteries you can hear Brimley's familiar growl every time Sloan speaks.

"Dead Again" begins with Sloan stumbling upon a crime in progress, but that turns out not to be what this one is about. The Lester Hancock Insurance Company hires private investigate Beauford Sloan to England to check out a couple of deaths that have been ruled accidental by the local police. The first man who died was insured by the company for $20 million, while the second was an insurance investigator sent to investigate the first death. Sloan does not believe in coincidences and neither does the person who hires him to dig around and see what he can find.

This means that Beauford's regular allies, such as Detective Sergeant Bobby Hoy and his fellow P.I. Sally Peters, are back in Virginia. They get to help here and there, but mostly Beauford is relying on another old friend, Romo Gorrara, a well-connected stunt coordinator for the movies living in the U.K., and charming some of the women he meets into helping him with his investigations. These ladies prove to be more helpful than the inspector in charge of the investigation, who is not happy with the idea of some American ex-cop private investigator for a big insurance company coming around and double-guessing his work.

Like "The Eagle Heist" the more that Beauford pokes around the more people start dying. But our hero did not buy two deaths as a coincidence, so getting to a third and fourth body only get the hairs on the back of his neck to stand up again. This might be only the second book in the series, but there is a definite comfort level with Austin's character, thereby disproving the adage about the inherent relationship between familiarity and contempt. How many detectives are cute curmudgeons who censor their profanity when talking to ladies? Besides, it is not like you have to wondering about the casting if they ever film one of these stories.

I have found this book to be very helpful for me and friends concerning retirement planning. It is easy to read, factual and provides good information. I have given several copies of this book to friends who are nearing retirement and I have yet to hear anything negative about the book. It doesn't answer all the questions about a very tough topic but it is a very good retirement planning tool to have.

As a babyboomer, I am concerned about my ability to be able tor etire comfortably. Too many other books repeat stale, outmoded advice. Some people I know have followed advice from 'financial experts' and newsmagazine columnists and their retirement accounts are still bleeding red for the last 6 years.

For starters, Savage like Suzie Orman is a true expert. She has studied personal finance and investing. She doesn't just write about personal finance, she lives it.

Savage recommends diversification in good investments. What really caught my eye was here advice on writing covered calls. Too few so called financial 'experts' talk about covered calls. It is one of the best ways to make money off your stocks without selling them. It is also one of the best ways to recoup losses from your stocks. Covered calls can provide better income than say dividend stocks and dividend stocks are a better strategy than leaving your money in savings accounts, cd's, saving bonds or money market accounts.

Terry Savage offers sound advice. I'm following it myself. This new book by Terry Savage is must reading for everyone and remember, it is never too early or too late to start. If you have made some mistakes or a late starter, then I recommend The Savage Number all the more! Great book. Thank you Terry!

Book publishers know a good thing when they see it. That explains why there is yet another book on Baby Boomer retirement planning. But, fear not, "Savage" isn't the description of a fierce retirement savings program that will bite you in the wallet; it's the name of the author: Terry Savage, a personal finance newspaper columnist. In this case, she seems to have linked many of her columns together to form a basic book for novice investors who are planning for retirement. While much of the content may seem very familiar to anyone who reads mainstream financial publications, having it in book form is convenient. We recommend Savage's nuts-and-bolts information to people who are just entering the workforce, novice investors, financial planners and human resource people concerned about issues affecting retirees. It is also a handy quick reference for questions about Medicare, reverse mortgages, long-term health insurance or estate planning. If you are on the verge of retirement, it's a good refresher, although you needed to know most of this some time ago.

I have purchased and read more than a dozen books resently on personal finance. Almost everyone will get something helpful out of this book. I would say for at least 80% of the Baby Boomers this should be a must read book. The link to Financial Engines is worth more that ten times the price of the book.

I also like All About Asset Allocation by Richard Ferri, and all of Ben Stein's books!

My plan is to retire in five years. I have been reading and studying several books to make sure that I am on the right track. I would recommend this book because it gives you a pretty clear picture of what you need to be considering prior to your actual retirement.

I consider myself kind of a smart guy, but the Kaplan materials made my brain hurt. I was really suffering through my studying. Then along comes this book with tidbits such as this:
"a variable annuity is really just a mutual fund investment that grows tax deferred."

Oh yeah. Now that makes sense. Why couldn't the competitor products state this so clearly? I read page after page of competitor materials and didn't REALLY understand what an annuity was until I read that one simple sentence I quoted above.

This book is full of this sort of thing. Everything explained so you can actually understand it.

Bottom line: I got a 92 on my Series 6. I'm happy I got this guide.

I'm very happy with the book I received. The information is written in clear, understandable terms. The author discusses what is on the series 6 test and uses examples and humor to help with understanding the concepts, as well as, practice tests. I know I will be able to pass the test after reading this book.

I recently decided it was time to pursue a new career in financial services and in order to do so I needed to pass the Series Six. This is not very easy, in fact, I didn't think I could pass. I failed on the first try and figured I needed something that would help someone like me who has never done this stuff and doesn't speak this languge. In the past, I usually tuned out financial talk.
I got a copy of Pass the 6 because it looked like it was in the language I speak..."human." It was, and it was even funny at times too. Guess what? I passed with flying colors today!!!
The book also covers things that will really be on the test. The other book I used on my first try helped me with about 60 percent of the questions that are actually on the test.
The author acutally answered a few of my questions through e-mail. That's a first!!! I've never been able to chat with the author while I'm reading his book. I really got the sense he genuinely wanted me to pass.
Bottom line, this is the one that will get you the 70 or above you need to pass. The others may, but this one will. I knew none of this before and now I feel like Warren Buffett Jr.!!!

I just took the Series 6 yesterday for the first time, and walked out with a piece of paper that said "pass." This would not have been possible without Mr. Walker's book. I got caught in a situation where I had to take the test much earlier than anticipated, and only had about a week of study time. Using nothing else but this book, I studied for and passed the test. I am absolutely convinced my success is due to this book, which not only gives you practice tests, but presents the information in a non-jargon format so you can actually understand and absorb the knowledge.

The Author has written an Excellent Guide that presents what would be a boring subject, in a way that is decisive, very informative and entertaining.

This incredibly valuable book is characterized by almost reckless honesty in combination with a concern for the welfare of patients that I have encountered nowhere else to date.

If it is read casually, there is much of critical value; if studied carefully, there is even more.

Dr. Levine had earned the gratitude of everyone who reads the book as well as all others because, with his trail blazing book, he has put the medical establishment on notice that they can no longer depend on the code of silence that has for so long protected inadequate and impaired heath care professionals. And it's high time.

I agree with all the reviews here - this is a must read. But after you read it go give it to a friend - it could save their life. As for the one review from the Texas man....probably a criminal doctor or someone who works for the pharmaceutical companies!

Ask the nurses who the good doctors are? Nurses like the doctors that are nice to them. The best doctors aren't always nice.

Go to a Teaching hospital if you can? So a resident can do your procedure and round on you? I think not.

Drug companies are out to rip us all off? Dr. Levine doesn't like drug companies because drugs like statins and ace inhibitors decrease his business.

Asked to be transferred during your care? So a new doctor that hasn't been following you can start all over.

Tell the ER doctor to call your Primary care doctor? So he can get whoever is on call for the group and knows nothing about you. Right. Lots of help.

Really weird stuff to come from an MD.

I can't express how important I believe this book to be. I am a business consultant of more than 30 years. I have read extensively in many areas of business - and in Health, Wealth, Happiness, and Success. I'm not a doctor. I'm not sure there isn't some exaggeration here. But, both Dr. Levine and what he says "feels" right. And, even if it isn't, it is a wonderful checklist of things to watch our for and check against. I plan to purchase additional copies for members of my family. I plan to recommend this book to those who attend my seminars.

I was shocked to learn that drug companies and medical suppliers "court" and "pay" (my quotes) doctors to use their products.

The author explains the process behind the FDA approving a drug and that some doctors have a conflict of interest while taking part in the approval process.

Thank you, Valerie, for sharing your expertise with us in this highly recommended book that is both easy to read and to understand.

If you are are an adult child with aging parents, this valuable book is a must to read!

Joanne Harmon(WI)
Certified Senior Advisor (CSA)
Certified in Long Term Care (CLTC)

I highly recommend this book for everyone that loves their parents or grandparents and want to help them stay at home as long as possible. The amount of information in one single source is fantastic. I found the book easy to read and informative, great for anyone who is looking for help.

I found "The Senior Solution" easy to read, filled with practical information that I can use and bring to the attention of the people I serve as a loan officer and insurance producer. Now is the time to think ahead and prepare for your own possible long term care needs. Long Term Care Insurance is the way to ensure your peace of mind and protect the assets you've worked so hard for.

I've recently had the opportunity to read "The Senior Solution" by Valerie Van Booven-Whitsell, RN, BSN, PGCM. This book looks at the issues faced by seniors and their adult children, it covers all aspects of challenges that seniors face and gives clear, concise workable answers to them. This is a book whose cost is a worthwhile investment for seniors and their families as well as the advisors that work in the senior marketplace.

Kenneth R. Clark
Certified Senior Advisor

Having seen four of my family members, including both sets of parents and in-law parents who have needed special care and attention during periods of aging, disability and dying, I had to learn by trial and error. Unfortunately, many times it was by error.

Valerie has clearly and concisely covered a very difficult subject in a very easy to read, relatively short book. She is to be commended for including such areas as VA Home Aid and Attendant Services Grants. I had never heard about them before. She also establishes reverse mortgages as a viable way of handling financial needs for seniors aged 62 and over. At the end of the book is a very comprehensive reference guide to several outstanding websites.

All in all, this book is outstanding....especially as more and more people are aging and joining the "sandwich generation"!

An excellent book. Guy has managed to capture the essence of the buying process. This book is purely for those who can appreciate the fine principles to be applied during the sales process. It is not meant to be specific. However if applied properly, it will do justice for both the buyer and the seller. It's a guide for ethical and effective selling and how we as sellers can make selling so easy and effortless! Kudos to Guy!

If the redundancy were eliminated, this book would shrink to fifty pages. I kept waiting for the author to share something worthwhile with me, but finally gave up halfway through out of sheer boredom. Anyone looking for a better book need look no further than Brian Tracey.

I don't usually like how to books - because they don't really tell you anything. But this book is different. I learned more about selling from this book than any other sales training class I have ever taken. This book deliniates the essence of selling. The author's understanding of sales psychology is uncanny and intutitive. I would highly recommend this book for any person who is starting in sales or has been in sales for a long time. It is worth studying.

This book gave me a good over view of the sales process and specifics on how to relate to the buyer. I have read many sales books, but this one hits the mark. I would recommend anyone who is either a professional sales person or striving to be one read this book. It goes way beyond basic sales training and gets into the mind of the buyer and the seller. Great Job.

There are hundreds (thousands?) of books now in print which offer information and counsel concerning the sales process. In essence, that process involves cultivation and then solicitation but first an important decision must be made: Whom to cultivate? (In retail sales, obviously, anyone who walks in the door is a prospect.) When conducting workshops for salespersons, I strongly recommend that participants formulate criteria which describe what they consider to be their ideal customer. This profile should direct them to prospects which most closely match up with the criteria. Next I point out that the ideal customers they now have can -- and should -- comprise an extended sales force, serving as referral sources to generate leads. My point is that, except in retail sales, those who sell should select their prospects...not the other war around.

Baker's background is in financial services which presumably require extensive education to understand the specific products and services to be offered prior to the identification, cultivation, and solicitation of prospective buyers of those products and services. The title of his book suggests that understanding motivation (i.e. "hot buttons') is an essential part of the salesperson's preparation and indeed it is. He takes a direct and personal approach to his reader as if he has been retained to provide to the reader a combination of mentoring and coaching services. He carefully organizes his material within 12 chapters, skillfully "Tying It All Together" in the final chapter.

This book be most valuable to those who are new to sales or now considering a career in sales; also to sales managers, especially those who supervise others who are relatively inexperienced. To the former, Baker offers sound basics with a rationale for each; to the latter, Baker offers reminders of basics. (Working as I frequently do with sales managers, I am astonished by the fact that so many of them do not have a sufficient understanding of those basics.) I also recommend this book to another group which Baker may not have had in mind when writing it: Those in executive (non sales) positions who are frequently required to persuade others to support an idea or course of action. By now I am convinced that almost everyone involved in business is constantly selling, themselves if nothing else...and most do it ineffectively. Almost all of the strategies and tactics which Baker recommends can be as beneficial to those not in sales as to those who are.

Individual salespersons as well as organizations need a business plan which is cohesive and comprehensive; also one which prudently allocates resources, especially time and energy, where they will generate the greatest ROI. Given the complexity of the general subject of salesmanship, the art and science of ethical persuasion, it makes sense to consult several different sources (including Baker's book) and then cherry-pick whatever is most appropriate to your own specific circumstances (needs, interests, weaknesses, goals, etc.). Here are some other excellent sources: Dick Canada's The 24 Sales Traps and How to Avoid Them, Linda Richardson's Stop Telling, Start Selling, Paco Underhill's Why We buy, and Gerald Zaltman's How Customers Think.

After personally speaking to Mr. Smith, I was convinced of his sincerity and committment to helping those applying for SSDI. I purchased this book, used the forms, and I got it on my first try.

His forms that I filled out(daily activities) and attached to all of my Doctor's forms were extraordinarily helpful and I believe essential in the decision making process for Social Security. It also proved helpful to the doctors who were making their reports. As long as your doctors know you, they still cannot be with you all day to know your moment to moment activities. These forms give them a birds eye view of what one deals with on a daily basis.

I recommend this book very highly.

When a neurological disorder forced me to resign after 32 years of working, I was overwhelmed, depressed and not sure what to do next. Fortunately, I had ordered this book 2 weeks before and had somewhere to turn. I completed the worksheets (LOTS of information that Social Security needs but does not request) and followed Mr. Smith's suggestion to have a personal interview with Social Security. The employee was visibly delighted with the detail provided in the worksheets and I just received approval of my application only 2 1/2 months after applying! (Locally, according to a story in today's paper, only 25% of applications are granted the first time around - and hearings take over 600 days.) I firmly believe that this book made a difference in my life.

You need this book. You need this workbook, even if you think your disability application will be successful, and even if you have an attorney. Most importantly, it keeps you organized while you are stressed from illness, financial insecurity, and uncertainty. It provides a framework to keep you organized, especially if you have many disabling conditions which must be considered in combination, and must be presented together to SSA.

After assembling your information in the format provided by this workbook, you can see if anything is missing, or needs updating, or is conflicting, and requires further explanation. You can also be confident that you are communicating your data completely and consistently to the many interviewers, on the multiple SSA forms and through the numerous levels of review, that you may encounter in your application process.

Another advantage of this book for yourself and for your application, is that it allows your individual medical specialists to get a complete picture of your overall health and of the conditions that disable you. For example, it might help your orthopedist decide whether you can walk on uneven surfaces, if he is aware that your field of vision is restricted. And once the workbook questionaires are filled out, they can serve as the beginning of a health diary, which will help you manage your health and deal with the periodic SSA reviews of your disability once you get it.

Finally, the biggest advantage you get from this workbook, is that it puts the SSA employees on your team by making it easier for them to do their jobs. You are providing them with the information they need on your case in an accessible format which is simple for them to process and evaluate.

Do yourself a favor. Get the Disability Workbook by Douglas M . Smith.

If you are applying for disability, this is the only book you need to guide you through everything. I've highly recommended it to thousands of people with chronic illness through HopeKeepers Magazine.

This workbook consolidates the information needed to prove disability claims and win benefits. It guides applicants through the application process with the goal of getting benefits promptly, without unnecessary appeals. The new edition discusses the "proofs" that the Social Security Administration processors look for, and it tells you how to keep your benefits through periodic disability reviews. The book is important because two-thirds of claims for Social Security disability benefit are denied initially.

Be sure to visit the author's web site too at http://www.disabilityfacts.com . It includes a variety of free articles for personal use, including: Prospects Improve for Winning Disability Quickly, Social Security Disability Outline (What to Expect), and Daily Activities Worksheet (very helpful when filling out the forms). Many frequently asked questions about applying for benefits are also addressed.

Resources available for a small purchase price include helpful items such as "Disability Evaluation in a Nutshell: A Three Minute Guide to Effective Medical Reports," to ensure that your doctor is keeping medical records and being an advocate for your health.

You will feel like you've got an inside scoop on how the system works. .

I wrote the above title and have been in touch with Doug. Little did I know there would be a time when I would need to apply for SSI for someone in my family. Doug's book is indespensible to the SSDI/SSI disability claimant. He lists the information you'll need and plenty of forms are included. He's also got some hints like "get a face-to-face" interview. It's your right. What more can I say, I wrote a book on the subject and for additional help I turned to Doug's book immediately and it comes through with the goods. I think my book "How to Get SSI and Social Security Disability" still has vital and helpful information to add, despite some self-styled "expert" who says my book is a lie. This same expert has the same opinion of Dr. Morton's book by Nolo. I am an expert and I give Doug's book a full 2 thumbs up.
Mike Davis

I enjoyed reading this and passed it on to my kids who are visiting the Loire Valley this summer and living with a family there. Proper etiquette is always noticed, and a general knowledge of fine wines can only add to their experience.

Highly recommended! The audio format is a great idea! It makes learning very easy and the information is all relevant. This is one lesson that is interesting and easily finished.

This was my first wine book, and it is still the best beginner's reference. It covers everything you need to get started. The real benefit, however, is the audio format. You actually get to hear the narrator (who is fantastic!) pronounce the names of the various grape varieties, wines and terms. This is a huge benefit and something that cannot be replicated in the written word.

A good etiquette book should sit on every professional's bookshelf alongside "how to win friends" and "7 habits." I purchased this book along with Essential Etiquette Fundamentals, Vol. 1: Dining Etiquette and The Etiquette Edge: The Unspoken Rules for Business Success to cover all the bases. These books do an excellent job covering the important etiquette skills often overlooked in today's environment. Although often underappreciated, exhibiting proper etiquette signals to others (especially your boss and clients) that you are well educated, care about detail, and have respect for others. I highly recommend these books for anyone new to the business world or for those of us who may need to brush up on the basics.

Although drinking good wine isn't difficult, learning about wine can be. Once on a winery tour a vintner explained that there are 15,000 different choices that can be made from grape to bottle. Sometimes picking out a wine can seem daunting. Food Scholar's Wine Selection & Etiquette does a superior job of teaching those of us who would like to learn more without the information being overkill.

While there are more comprehensive books out there on Wine, I really like this book because it excels at being written for the average person. The book is divided into logical sections. I also like that the effect of climates in a region on the grape are covered. This is an easy way to tell what kind of wine you are getting just by looking at where the grape was grown.

This book will enhance your knowledge as well as your ability to pick out wines that you and your guests may enjoy. I would highly recommend this book to those who want to learn about wine, as this book does an excellent job of giving a basic education about many of the wines of the world.

Modern funerals can be quite expensive, so life insurance can be the easiest answer. But how can you make sure that your life insurance will do what you pay it to do? "Questions and Answers on Life Insurance: The Life Insurance Toolbook" is a guide to help those who are concerned about life insurance policies make the right decisions by analyzing the fine print of it all - the different types of policies, evaluating the companies that hold the policy, trusted agencies, underwriting, and how to make sure your policy doesn't change behind your back. "Questions and Answers on Life Insurance: The Life Insurance Toolbook" is highly recommended to community library collections on personal finance and for anyone who is in the market for a life insurance policy.

Questions and Answers on Life Insurance: The Life Insurance Toolbox
Thank you for your interest in this book. Reviews for this book can be found with this earlier edition. Hope these reviews are useful. Tony Steuer, Author.

Tony's honest and unbiased approach to the presentation of the material is the perfect format for actually learning about Life Insurance. There is much knowledge to gain about what is construed as a potentially complex area of financial protection. If you are in the market to purchase Life Insurance, this is the book for you.

It's great tool to validating the complex information on life insurance and easier to understand than most text material.

For the beginning insurance agent, this is a very good book. Insurance products are very complex and sometimes difficult to explain, this book helps and could even be used to help answer prospective clients questions while presenting. I am glad I own this book.

Three cheers for Cal Brantley! Lise Baker's new private detective is smart and funny and not afraid to speak her mind. Her cool demeanor is the perfect foil for the bizarre and deadly circumstances she finds when she investigates the death of a child in a Nevada casino. The Losers' Club is a great beginning for a wonderful new series.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to know what the life of a real Private Investigator is like. This book could not have been written by anyone who is not a working PI. "The Losers' Club" is certainly the best PI mystery that I have read in a long, long time. Cal Brantley doesn't carry a gun but a cellular phone, a camera and a knowledge of people are all the weapons she needs. I think she one investigator I would like to work with and I am looking forward to hearing more of her story. Thank you, Lise S. Baker for writing this wonderful book.

It's hard to believe that this is this writer's first mystery novel! Lise S. Baker's style is very polished. Her extensive personal experience as a Private Investigator bring realism to this suspenceful insurance investigation of the death of a child in a Nevada Casino. It's one of those page turners that is usuall written by well established authurs. If the right Hollywood screen writer reads this one, it could actually end up as a big screen box office hit! As a Practicing PI myself, I was not only throughly entertained, but even learned a few trade secrets from a much more experienced PI, Ms. Lise Baker. I can hardly wait for the next advanture of Cal Brantley, a "new school" San Francisco, female PI.

Hard-boiled private-eyes have evolved from the Sam Spades ofthe 1940s, to the Mike Hammers of the 1950s, the Jim Rockfords of the1980s, and even to Rick Deckard in BLADERUNNER's futuristic film noir setting. (In the 1970s, Woody Allen spoofed the type in PLAY IT AGAIN SAM and his short stories "The Whore of Mensa" (in WITHOUT FEATHERS)and "Mr. Big" (in GETTING EVEN). In THE LOSER'S CLUB Lise Baker adds a new twist to the type with Cal Brantley, an attractive, tough but vulnerable female P.I. who distrusts corporations and macho men, is loathe to come off a job, relentless in her pursuit of truth, and very good at what she does. She is loyal to family and friends, with a soft spot for her demented ex-boyfriend.

Cal's new assignment partners her with an obnoxious ex-LAPD cop, an acquaintance of Mark Furhman. They travel together to Nevada, land of legalized gambling, prostitution, New Age spiritualists, and UFO fanatics. Baker deftly weaves all these elements into Cal's quest to investigate the death of a little boy, while she simultaneously tries to save her ex-boyfriend from self destruction. The character of Cal well drawn. Baker manages to avoid cliches as places Cal squarely in the genre of hard-boiled investigators. A professionally adept, emotionally scarred, love 'em and leave 'em sort, Cal's ambivalence about meaningless sex provides an interesting contrast to the private-eyes of yore. Unlike Sam Spade, Mike Hammer, and her other antecedents, Cal is the child of '60s flower children, with a passion for Led Zeplin. And this gives a different perspective to the seedy people and sordid things she witnesses.

Baker's rich imagination is well complemented by a fluid, engaging writing style that has no rough moments. Like Cal, Baker is a professional investigator, and she knows her stuff. Altogether, LOSER'S CLUB is a provocative update of the genre that keeps you turning the pages.

I am an avid mystery reader--Connelly, Crais, LeHane-- and this new novel is right up there. It's rare when I actually laugh out loud in the middle of a page--her dry humor really is appealing to me. Her writing is tight and evocative and Cal Brantley is a great character. I was definitely disappointed, though, in the last 1/4 of the book. Things got predictable and unbelievable, particularly so because the majority of the book was of such a high caliber. I thought there were too many characters in the novel--too many to be well-drawn and some of them (Violetta in particular)came out to be caricatures. The subplot about the ex-boyfriend could definitely have been left out and improved the book overall. But I am very much looking forward to her next book--hope there is one.