California Books

Great book with lots of information for anyone traveling. My nine-year-old son is the biggest fan of the book, he can't put it down!

It was very thorough about times, content of restaurants, rides, themes.
It gave helpful hints about best hours and days to visit each area.
Even a few coupons included.

Very helpful, easy to read, great guide to add to the excitement of getting ready for the trip of a lifetime for us travelling from Australia in October 2008, but also provides you with essential information. Also brought "the unofficial guide to disneyland" which is also very good, but we keep picking up this one because of the pictures and ease of finding information.

I enjoyed reading this guide. I understand that it is written with a Disney slant but that was what I was looking for. Excellent information is provided. This is a must read for a for time visitor or someone who just wants a refresher on all that Disney has to offer.

The book is very helpful in planning a Disneyland vacation. It has information on everything to do there and in the surrounding area.

Okay, so I was on a tight budget and needed a new book...found this in hardcover at the local superstore on the bargain table...what a find! Frances Norris tells a wonderful story of a character coming to grips with the loss of her family, both recently and in the past. The characters are very believable and Norris gives a true feeling of setting without drowning the reader in description. I read this quickly, but still felt satisfied. Very enjoyable read.

Love and food are two of my favorite subjects, so how could I resist this book? I was not disappointed. The loss element keeps the story subtantive so that its not just another piece of fluff. The book has hilarious characters (including an overbearing narcissist in an amoeba jumper), but the author treats all with compassion enough to make them full and true. The food styling scenes bring together Hollywood fakery with a delicious disgustingness (photographing motor oil poured on macshed potatoes to resemble a sundae). You can't help cheering on narrator Julia as she navigates the crazies and searches out her soul in a soul-less city. Buy this book right away and enjoy!

I loved Julia's story. She finds her inner spark by overcoming her pain, loss, and depression and finding love and forgiveness in unusual ways. The characters are well portrayed and do not lack depth, even the obviously obnoxious figures are seen with irony and compassion at the same time. Highly recommended.

Dear Francie:

I just finished your book. What a wonderful story, full of feeling, wisdom, beauty and hope. I really enjoyed the characters, not to mention that you are an incredibly gifted writer style-wise. I lived the whole trip to Sedona as if I was there. And the end is so sexy, yummy, I love it!! All I can say is, keep writing, girl! And like I said, some day we may see the movie "Blue Plate Special", very attractive title to my ears. Thank you for your gift to the world of readers,

The only reason that I got this book was because the author went to my high school - so I have to admit that my expectations were not that high. But I really, really enjoyed this book, for the reasons stated so eloquently by other reviewers. It was gripping though sad.

excellent preparatory for dmv test in california. the # of sample tests

and the repetition practically guarantee a high score, leave a buffer for

errors so a pass is likely

....By which I mean that if you buy this book and work through [ sorry about that, I _am_ English :-)) ] the test papers you will gain much valuable knowledge about driving in the USA. This means that you are more able to enjoy your holiday as you will know so much more about the rules and regulations that there are in the USA and so, hopefully(!), not fall foul of them! By the time I'd worked through the first two papers and read the detailed information towards the back of the book even I was getting 30+ correct answers! So, I'd definitely recommend this book to any fellow "Brit" who wants to be less of a hazard when driving in the USA. Finally, Alice herself was _most_ helpful when I emailed her with a query I had regarding the DMV in California. So not only a most helpful book, but also excellent feedback direct from the author herself. Do yourself a favour/favor(!!) and buy it :-)

Alice Syman's book is wonderful -- full of useful tips and clear explanations of the California laws. You WILL pass the written test if you study this book. Highly recommended!

I purchased the original "Califonia Drivers Test Made Easy" several years ago when I took my first CA driving test and again 5 years ago when my wife came down from Canada. In both cases it was an essential tool to make sure that we were ready for the test. Alice updates her book constantly and this is really needed because the CA driving laws change all the time.

Having scored well in the book tests gives you a really good level of confidence since practically 100% of the questions you will be asked are in the book.

So when I decided to take a CA Motorcycle test last year (which is a mix of regular driving test questions and motorcycle related questions) I went back and obtained the latest copy of Alice's book. Of course again, that was the right thing to do.

Bottom line: Alice book is a MUST for anyone that wants to take the CA Drivers test examination with the confidence needed to pass it.

I highly recommend Alice's book.

I'm going to study in California next year and I don't have a drivers license yet. But thanks of this book I am sure I will get it easily!!!

"For anyone who cares about what they eat when they are on the road, this is the book. It has it all from restaurants, to farmer's markets, to places to walk and see. Don't leave home without it. I can't wait for the complimentary copies on the other areas of California to come out."
C. Fels - Educational Consultant - Tai Chi for Health Instructor
www.earthwalktaichi.com

I just used Patricia's California Healthy, as I was driving down to Los Angeles. Even though I've driven the route all my life, I can tell this book is going to change how I travel up and down the state. This time, instead of just pulling into the first or second eatery that "looked okay," we followed the book's clear map to a healthy cafe destination. Comparing a couple of the book's reviews beforehand was fun, as we narrowed down our choice. Had we not consulted California Healthy, we would have had typical, high-calorie road food, but instead we had a tasty (fresh, seasoned, mouth-watering) affordable meal.

The book's color photos add note-worthy identification to the destinations' descriptions. Not only does the book guide you to restaurants, but farmers' and whole food markets, local attractions, and wineries. The recipes in the back are another "bonus" of the book, adding to the authenticity of its message: eat delicious food at home and/or on the road. Neither time-crunches nor unfamiliar environs are an excuse to treat your body poorly. The recipes are easy and quick; the directions to the food purveyors will get you in and out quickly.

We are lucky to be in California when we're traveling because we can take advantage of so many healthy-minded food enterprises. With a little direction from California Healthy, we can proudly boast of delicious, healthy choices, whenever we hit the road.

This is a wonderful book, well researched and informative. I refer to it frequently. And I have just purchased another copy for a friend.

California Healthy, Southern California Edition (America Healthy) (America Healthy)
I REALLY LOVE THIS BOOK!!! IT'S LIKE BEING IN CALIFORNIA AGAIN.
This is a beautiful book with tons of pictures, mouth watering recipes (I liked the broccoli saute' the best) and lots of safe places for me and my dogs to go walking. You can't miss with this book. What an education I got just from reading it. I'll have my trip all planned out before I even get to California. Wa Hoo. Thanks to Patricia for making such a great book.

California Healthy: The Adventurer's Guide to Local Delicacies, Fine Wine, Great Walks and the Good Life is a guide for California residents as well as vacationers. What distinguishes California Healthy is its close attention to the healthy food and fitness-promoting activities. County-by-county listings give the address, telephone number, and open numbers of everything from restaurants with healthful cuisine to parks ideal for walks to art galleries, botanical gardens, artisan's markets, colleges, special holiday celebrations and much more. Full-color maps and photographs on almost every page add a splendid visual touch to this high-quality guide for anyone in the Southern California area seeking to stay in shape.

This cookbook was given to me when it was first published. I have used it ever since and today the cover has finally fallen off but it is still very much in use.

I haven't prepared a recipe in here that isn't fantastic. The presentation always amazes guests as they think whatever is made took hours and hours.

Like others have said, the recipes are not that difficult and stand the test of time.

Thank you so much for the cookbook. I received it in a timely manner and it was in perfect condition. What a wonderful way to receive a book that was impossible to find before.

I received this cookbook in the hardback edition from a friend back in 1980. I have used and used it over and over again. There are many favorites that I have used again and again; the Tahoe Brunch and Lasagne, to name only two. Buy it an see for yourself!!

I RECEIVED THE CALIFORNIA HERITAGE COOK BOOK AS A SHOWER GIFT IN 1974. I HAVE USED IT CONSISTANTLY FOR OVER 25 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER FOUND A BAD RECIPE. MY DAUGHTER IS LIVING IN AN APARTMENT WHILE ATTENDING COLLEGE AND ASKED IF SHE COULD HAVE HER FAVORITE COOKBOOK TO TAKE TO SCHOOL ... CALIFORNIA HERITAGE! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COOKBOOK TO ABSOLUTELY ANYONE WHO ENJOYS EATING OR COOKING. I AM NOW SEARCHING FOR TWO ADDITIONAL COPIES.

The copy of the book I purchased was a present for one of my children. I have used the California Heritage Cookbook for 20 years. Every recipe I have made was good--to the extent that I do not hesitate to serve what appears to be a truly strange combination of ingredients to company. My favorite cookbook (and I collect cookbooks).

California Sizzles is a must-have cookbook. It has a wide range of dishes and contains suggestions for food combos for a variety of events. I've found that the menus produce quality results without those "oops" that you find with recipes in some cookbooks. It makes a great gift.

My husband and I both like to cook. We have quite a varied collection of cookbooks, and this is still the best all around source for reliable, tasty meals. We make notes on the pages, recording dates we tried things, and ways we may have tweaked something. Now when I give a copy to anyone (I think I am on #10), I add my own notes of favorites. Recipes are not complicated, but sure to impress. From appetizers to desserts, you will not be disappointed.

Love the balboa broccoli salad and carrot cake made with baby food! great if you don't like shredding carrots! Lots of great recipes

California Sizzles provides excellent recipes that are devoid of the blood-sweat-and tears with which many of us are too familiar.
I learned of this book at a lunch where one of the cookbook's praiseworthy recipes was served. There was almost a stunned silence when the group learned I didn't have it on my bookshelf. Well, I do now and don't regret it for a minute. American cuisine has long been extremely underrated.

Collecting and using new cookbooks has been a thiry-five year hobby. "Sizzles" is truly the book that I consult first whether I'm planning an event or a family meal. At least one half of the recipes have been tried and have become favorites at our house. I am ordering another copy of this today as a gift for a friend....this makes four that I've purchased.

The author of Operation Mind Control, Walter H. Bowart, died on December 18, 2007, according to his obituary in The New York Times and the reference page at Wikipedia.

In 1978, while living in New Hampshire, I had the opportunity of hearing a local radio interview with Bowart concerning his book. I immediately went out and purchased a copy at the cover price of one dollar and ninety-five cents.

Government censorship of the book has created a scarcity of available copies and has skyrocketed the market selling price.

Everything the other reviewers at Amazon have alluded to regarding its supression by the government is true, for Operation Mind Control is indeed a mind blower. The State could not permit anyone to disclose such damaging information.

The secrets revealed in this book openly describe a clandestine government at war with its own people, covert forces which Bowart describes as "the cryptocracy."

This is precisely the kind of dangerous information that governments fear.

Operation Mind Control is not conspiracy theory.

It is documented fact.

Governments live by lies, by bamboozling and hiding the truth from their subjects.

Accordingly, the primary task of opponents of modern tyranny, as libertarian Murray N. Rothbard pointed out, is an educational one: to awaken the public to this manipulation and propaganda, by demystifying and desanctifying the state apparatus upon which such lies are built upon.

Walter Bowart heroically accomplished this feat.

Operation Mind Control spoke truth to power as few books published in the past thirty years have done.

That is why the government tried to destroy it.

Years ago I had the opportunity to discuss these matters with John Marks, the brilliant author of The Search For The Manchurian Candidate: The CIA and Mind Control. Mark's volume somehow escaped the government's relentless campaign waged upon its predecessor.

I highly recommend his book in addition to Operation Mind Control.

Two excellent documentaries tell the sordid and shocking story discussed in these books. They are, Mind Control: America's Secret War, and Bad Trip To Edgewood. Both are available at Google Video for viewing.

This is a book to be read, not to buy and put on a shelf to impress your friends. In a free society we all need to be informed. Read other reviews for more detail.

As one of the researchers mentioned in Operation Mind Control (Jim Moore - pp 262-264, orig. edition), I followed this book and its author with great interest. The book disappeared because, according to what I learned, the CIA did not want the public to know the extent and details of its mind control programs. I believe even Walter Bowart himself once described how the entire warehouse supply was bought up by the CIA. The book also began vanishing from libraries across the nation, and virtually every copy available in bookstores was suddenly bought up and disappeared into a black hole. Very few copies survived this draconian purge. Those that remain are quire rare and expensive and should be must-reading for all Americans concerned about the future of our country and how our thought processes are manipulated by the political-intelligence "experts". especially in the wake of what is being revealed about 9-11, Iraq and the NSA spying.
At one point, even photocopies were going for as much as $75-100. The book itself (1st edition) has sold for as high as $250. There was a second printing (with a different cover) that also quickly disappeared; whether it was an authorized printing or not, I don't know.
Walter Bowart reportedly wrote a follow-up, but suddenly stopped and virtually vanished. The rumor mill has it that he was threatened with "termination with extreme prejudice" - a phrase for assassination that is now outdated.
To my knowledge, he is still alive but living his life in a very low profile. From my own experiences over the years, I can't say I blame him.

This is for those wanting a more than 2-line review of Walter Bowat's "Operation Mind Control."

For whatever reason this book was not widely publicized nor advertised when it first came out during my high school years. I read a lot then and this book certainly would have been the type I'd wanted to read. OMC was published in 1978. In "the author's note" Bowart describes his book as "an excercise in citizens' intelligence" because he like many authr's Bowart cites in his bibliography [including but not in entire: John Marks ["The Search for the Manchurian Candidate"], Lincoln Lawrence["Were We Controlled?"], Donald Bain ["The Control of Candy Jones"] expressed "shock and outrage" over govenment abuse of our [US] people.

Below is a brief synopsis of the "Contents" of "Operation Mind Control"...

FOREWARD:

This was written by Richard Condon who wrote the novel [& from which the first movie titled] "The Manchurian Candidate."

CH 1. "The Crytptorian Candidate"
Discusses the concept of government mind control such as the use of drugs [including LSD], behavior modification, various frequency of sound, hypnosis and other "psycho-weapons." [Note: this book was published 2 years after both Watergate was exposed and also, the Senate's Church commitee had dredged up many ways the CIA had run afoul of the law & one part dealt with a subcommitee dealing with the MKULTRA scandal].

The author discusses how he came about to write this book & later put an ad in the mag "Soldier of Fortune" about possible military victims of gov't mind control. After sifting thru the alledgedly obvious cranks he further interwiewed those who had convincing stories. Bowart discusses the concept of possible Manchurian candidates.

CH. 2 "Only One Mind For My Country"
Discusses the case history of former Air Force "box pusher" [who scored very high in several aptitude tests]named David. David awakes in a hospital where doctors tell him he'd attempted suicide. He discusses later being involved in clandestine operations where for years he had no recall. At first all he recalled about his Vietnam experience is having fun at the beach with 2 other people & no military recall. Over time he recalls scenes that very much seem like the island scenes of the compound in the 2004 version of the movie "Manchurian Candidate." He believes the alledged "suicide attempt" [which he denies attempting] was put on record to discredit him should he later recall events.

CH. 3 "The Mind Laundry Myth"
Discusses the case hitory of Vietnam POW George E. Smith who was in the Green Berets. Also discussed is the concept of Korean/Red China/Communist "brainwashing" where the victim is broken down psychologically & once the mind is "empty" it is refilled with whatever the brainwasher wants. This is illustrated by the story of Francis Gary Powers [and others] who was allegedly "brainwashed" in Korea [others in Vietnam, Russia] Discussian of brainwashing techniques that the Communists use versus the Western Model [slow vs faster with adjunct of drugs, electoshock for example]

CH. 4 "Without Knowledge Or Consent"
Hypnotist George Estabrooks techniques of mind control thru OSS [later CIA] on unwitting soldiers & later US & other countries citizens. The various uses of hypnosis combined with uses of drugs or shock in some cases is discussed as how it is used in the concept of mind control tests on unwitting "volunteers." The "war" against Communism thru mind control now becomes "a private war within."

CH. 5 "Pain-Drug Hypnosis"
Various uses of drugs [barbituates, nonbarbituate sedatives, calmatives, amphetamines & finally "conscious expanding" LSD] use for mind control discussed. Abbie Hoffman & Timothy Leary's stories are discussed as are Sandoz lab's [where LSD was "discoverd" association with CIA. The heroin addiction of many Vietnam GI's and later the "voluntary" participation in the drug BZ[10 X stronger than LSD 25] by soldiers at Edgewood Arsenal. are discussed.

The government becomes more interested in not only the mind control of individuals but populations. Also, other biological weapons are discussed.

CH 6. "The Guinea Pig Army"
Discusses how in 1975 the public [tho in reality most news sources heavily censored this info or never reported it at all] learns of what was the MKULTRA files being destroyed & how well over 100 subprojects dealt with gov't research on citizens of the US [also at least one was in Canada {not mentioned here}: the story of Dr Ewen Camereon]

CH 7. "The MKULTRANS"
Richard Helms DCI of the CIA and the various MK projects including MKULTRA, MKSEARCH, BLUEBIRD, ARTICHOKE, MKDELTA, etc are revealed but highly censored is discussed. A brief story about the California Medical Facility in Vacaville is discussed. Basically the CIA wanted to find out if & how it could control our minds.

CH 8. "The Mata Hari of Mind Control"
Discusses the story of CIA Mind Control story of "courier" Candy Jones.

CH 9. Discussion of of the CIA also mind controls their own. Discusses briefly Wild Bill Donovan of the OSS & the Dulles brothers and the concepts of the US cryptocracy & the military industrial complex & how these relate to mind control & the control the US gov't thru various types of propaganda and mis-& dis-information. The cryptocracy engages scientists to do covert research engage in covert control & create the ideal of national security to enslave the US citizens with "Operational Mind Control,the ultimate technology of secrecy and control."

CH 10. "Brave New World in a Skinner Box"
The cryptocracy meets behavior modification.

CH 11. "A School For Assassins"
The cryptocracy searches for the best killers: they look for the passive-aggressive types & desensitize them to gore & mayhem. Watson assists the cryptocracy with creating the model in a series of lectures. One of these experiments--Project Camelot--[the demise of Chile's President Salvadore Allende] is an example of creating such assassins who will kill on demand. [Allende was overthrown in a CIA sponsored coup who killed himself after his palace was set afire by recruited assassins.]

CH 12. "The Four Faces of a Zombie"
A trained "multiple zombie-state killer named Luis Castillo is discussed in one theory of the JFK assassination. The connection to the JFK is debatable but what was fascinating was the discussion of how the various zombie states were fleshed out with various word commands.

CH 13. "The Lone Nuts"
Discusses how accused killers Lee Harvey Oswald, Sirhan Sirhan, & James Earl Ray acted under various depths of hypnosis and/or truth serums is interesting/chilling. The CIA has fingerprints throughout this chapter as well.

CH 14. " The Ignored Confessions"
Jack Ruby, Dorothy Kilgallen [who interviwed Ruby in his cell] talk & die under cloudy circumstances as does Professor[former oswald friend & intelligence agent] George de Mohrenschildt's dies mysteriously & also after telling his story. de Morenschildt had also been subjected to mind control drugs and electric shock.[?]

CH 15. "Another Hypno-Patsy?"
M L King's death & cover-up.

CH 16. "Confession By Automatic Writing"
RFK's assassination by Sirhan Sirhan & the assassin's strange behavior following under hypnosis & alledged writings possibly planted in Sirhan's home?

CH 17 "The Patriotic Assassin"
First discusses how the word assassin came to be.Then how the NSA uses this model to create assassins with its black ops & how the CIA is the "whipping post" of the NSA. Chilling interview of how they use ultrasonic & electronic manipulation of the brain so the assassin remembers nothing unless cued by the handler. Discusses how Presidents will obey their handlers wishes or face the same as JFK.

CH 18. "Deep Probe"
Jose Delgado & electronic brain stimulation & his desire for a "psycho-civilised society." Remote control of the brain. Brain implants.

CH 19. "From Bionic Woman to Stimulated Cat"
Lincoln Lawrence & RHIC-EDOM: Radio Hypnotic Intra-Cerebral Control-Electronic Dissolution of Memory. The concept of sleeper assassins is discussed

CH 20. "The Engines of Security"
Summarizes the cryptocracies want/"need" to control the minds of society.
*******
Some of the book is outdated but this book is often used as background in more recent works on the subject of mind control. The book is diificult to find & expect to pay even more than $100 for a copy in any condition. It took years to find one for a little more than half that price. The book is worth reading if you can find a copy of it. Hope this helps.

This is a review of the scarce 2nd edition of Operation Mind Control, which appears for sale occasionally on Amazon, originally a subscribers only edition, with author's seal and name of the person it was prepared for on the first page. Limited to 500 copies.

I mostly found this to be a very interesting book about the so-called cryptocracy. There's a lot of startling stuff in the 686 pages of main text, and in the appendices. There do appear to be a few factual errors however. He states that B.F. Skinner's daughter committed suicide, but doesn't say where he got that information. According to the book "Opening Skinner's Box", Debbie Skinner is alive and well. He also declares that Skinner was a tool of the cryptocracy out to turn people into "obedient automatons", which is a contentious argument. All I will say is to recommend Lauren Slater's book to get both sides of the argument and also to read a balanced analysis of "false memory syndrome". Mr Bowart argues against that in the chapter "False Memory Spindrome". However, earlier in the book he mentions the case of Sirhan Sirhan, who apparently after hypnosis claimed he killed Robert Kennedy and who, according to a psychiatrist in 1973, had hypnosis used to plant ideas in his mind to make him accept that he killed Robert Kennedy. This psychiatrist is quoted as saying that a polygraph is more accurate than hypnosis. This suggests that memories can indeed be planted through hypnosis!

Most of the sheer volume of information appears to be well researched. In the interests of space I will just list some search terms that could be entered into a search engine to find out about some of the subject matter: "george estabrooks", "mary pinchot meyer", "sir william stephenson", "mark phillips mkultra", "triple dissociation", "mindwar", "dr colin ross", "franklin cover-up", "finders cia", "michael aquino", "luis angel castillo", "david ferrie", "george de mohrenschildt", "becker body electric", "consumertronics", "high power microwave technology", "gunther karl russbacher", "white phosphorus waco", "genie laborde", "col john alexander", "black hole of guyana", "dorothy burdick", "armen victorian", "mike-alpha-delta-3", "tesla generator", "alt.mindcontrol", "mkdraco", "fletcher prouty", "jacques vallee", "martin cannon controllers", "harlan girard", "p.a. lindstrom", "biotelemetry".

There's supposed to be a documentary based on this book too, according to Mr Bowart in this book.

A well composed photographic book. One of few books of it's kind which highlights Southern California's ever present but, often over-looked mountain ranges. If you have never visited your local mountains, this book will make you want to.

Olander's book is a fantastic coffee table book and at the same time a tour guide and history book. I thoroughly enjoy this book each time I open it- which is often. I have often explored and hiked these mountains and have visited many if not most of the places shown in Ms. Olanders' book. It has motivated me to seek out places I haven't been and to re-visit others with new knowledge and history guiding me. I highly recommend this book to all who enjoy nature.

This book is filled with both stunning photography and graceful prose. Call of the Mountains spans an 18 month period in which the Olanders explored their local mountain ranges. It chronicles the people that they meet along the way and the stories that the ancient mountains hold. The book concludes with the desire that these treasured mountains be preserved for future generations.

This is much more than a book with great pictures. Ann & Farley Olander show the rest of us how we can enjoy the quiet beauty and simple pleasures of the wilderness next door. Unassuming and inspiring, this book is a roadmap for nature lovers and urbanites alike.
It is truly a collection of quiet visual poetry that rhymes with wilderness.

Benoit & Kathryn Gendron, New York City

Thank you Ann and Farley Olander. My husband and I have always enjoyed the mountains, and the San Gabriel Mountains hold a special place in our hearts. It is so nice seeing California mountains so lushly photographed with important prose. Our friends pick it up to look at the photos, but always end up reading it as well. It is truly an inspired partnership that created this work or art.

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

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

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

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

HAPPY READING!

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

This is one of the better Joe Grey mysteries. The action keeps moving along and the characters are starting to expand their personalities. The story line has interesting twists and surprises.

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

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

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

This is a great book in the Joe Grey series. Joe, Dulcie and Kit find the clues that prove Chief Max Harper did not murder anyone. Great way to introduce the Garza family into the series. I just wish my cat would talk to me!

If you appreciate cats, love mysteries and just want a relaxing and fun read...then read the entire Joe Grey series. Excellent!

Joe Grey, the talking tomcat, is furious. Two women, a mother and her grown daughter, have been savagely murdered while out riding, and the younger girl who was with them at the time has disappeared. What's worse, Molena Point Police Chief Max Harper is the only suspect. While Joe and his feline partner Dulcie have often tricked and manipulated Harper in their previous investigations, and he's not yet aware of their secret, they like and respect the veteran cop, who is a longtime buddy of Joe's human housemate, Clyde Damen. Joe can't believe that anyone would think such an upright law-enforcement officer capable of murder and worse. Naturally, he and Dulcie and their new sidekick--"the Kit," another gifted feline--set about to prove Harper's innocence. While the resolution of the murders isn't unexpected--the motive was simple revenge--the means the three cats employ to prove it are, as always, clever and suitably feline, and their rescue of young Dillon is full of thrills.

This book was utterly delightful with Joe Grey's deep respect for the Chief of Police, Max. By proving Max's innocence, Joe Grey, Dulcie and Kit all provided bits and pieces of the puzzle, including a daring rescue of the 13 year old girl who witnesses the murder. The story definitely kept me on my toes wondering what was going to happen next...Now I wish the next book of Ms. Murphy's would come out even sooner than January so I can start reading it...

I think this is certainly one of the best Joe Grey books, if not THE best. Joe and Dulcie are joined by their new sidekick called "The Kit", a tortoiseshell kitten who has an insatiable craving for adventure and danger. There has been a murder of two women on a bridal path and the third rider, the cats' friend Dillon has disappeared, maybe murdered too or kidnapped. Joe's greatly admired friend, Max Harper, the Molina Point chief of police is the one and only suspect in the murders. Joe is spitting mad that people will believe his friend Max could do such a thing. Naturally, Joe "knows" that Max is innocent. The Kit has witnessed the end of the murders and been scared witless by all the violence but she was too scared to know what she saw or to recognise anyone. The three cats run afoul of Joe and Dulcie's old nemesis, Lee Wark who knows their secrets about understanding human language and having high intelligence. He would absolutely love to put a permanent damper on their crime solving shenanigans. He thrives on killing cats anyway. Kate Osborne, who can change to a cat and back to a human is back on the scene and terrified because three convicts have escaped, including Lee Wark who knows her secret also. She seems to have a "thing" for Joe's human housemate, Clyde Damen while Clyde's old girl friend, Charlie seems to be sweet on Max Harper now.

How Joe Grey, Dulcie and Kit thread their way through this maze of tangles, car chases, and a haunted house that's home to a cougar makes a fine story. It's also amazing that three small cats could get through all the perils without losing one or more lives. Ms. Murphy only gets better! She adds more polish and finesse to the stories every time. I'm anxious to read "Cat Laughing Last"