Carter Books

I bought this book to look at Karen's pictures, but the book offers so much more than that.

The introduction by President Carter sets the stage, and the mix of pictures and chapter texts leads the reader to an understanding of global health issues, with a challenge to do something about it.

This is not just another table top book, but could be a working agenda for global health concerns in the 21st century.

"Impact" is more than your average National Geographic photo collection, though it is filled with stunning photos from exotic locales around the world. This book takes the reader on a tour of public health crises facing our world, magnificently illustrating the topic with moving (and sometimes amusing) photos and enlightening text.

I've seen photographer Karen Kasmauski give a slide show/lecture on this subject, and came to understand how she's able to capture such intimate portraits of her subject (mothers waiting with their malnourished children at a Cholera treatment program in Africa; an AIDS patient in the US, tenderly and proudly displaying a photo of his daughter). She's not only well-versed in global public health issues, she's clearly a compassionate individual who's dedicated to improving the lives of her subjects.

The subject is serious, but the photos are vibrant, colorful, compelling, far from gloomy. The text by Peter Jarrett is the perfect compliment, raising all the right issues and providing just the right amount of information without overwhelming us. Overall, "Impact" is an important work that carries a message that should not, and cannot, be ignored.

I know of no other book like this. It covers global public health issues through the lens of an acclaimed National Geographic photojournalist (Karen Kasmauski) with an accompanying narrative by a well-known health and medicine author (Peter Jaret). Combined with a foreword by Nobel Prize-winner President Jimmy Carter and an eloquent introduction by the Carter Center's Dr Don Hopkins, the book is far from a dull public health textbook. The photos are arresting, some startling, and the remarkably readable story unfolds in three sections - State of the world's health, Symptoms of change and Meeting the challenge. All college students should read this book as well as anyone who cares about the inter-relationships between the earth's environment, its people and the human diseases that flourish in both rich and poor countries.

Notwithstanding the dire portrayal of scourges like AIDS, obesity, pollution and social upheaval, the overall message is a hopeful one. Jaret writes "Yet despite these dangers, the field of public health today is marked by a surging sense of optimism, born of the creation of bold new coalitions of individuals and institutions determined to bring the benefits of an ongoing revolution in medical science to the people who most need them."

I found this to be a coffee-table book that I quickly read from cover to cover and will do so several times again. It clearly preserves the photographer's personal view of the world with her choices unimpeded by any risk-fearing editor. The captions and intertwining text are never overbearing or boring but weave the way through the gallery of pictures that are the heart of the book. Some people might be inspired to then read more about public health, others might hopefully reach for their checkbooks to make donations to specific programs. This book would make a good intelligent present for anyone who cares about today's world and who respects the National Geographic Society's work.

In 2003, while the Anglican world was preparing the put itself on the brink of total madness over the issue of homosexuality, civil war (due to ethnic strife) was ravaging Solomon Islands, a small group of islands in the South Pacific that is just east of Indonesia. Richard Anthony Carter's beautiful book In Search of the Lost: The death and life of seven peacemakers of the Melanesian Brotherhood, tells the story of how the Melanesian Brotherhood - the largest monastic order in the Anglican Communion - sought to foster peace between warring groups. Their attempts to bring about reconciliation resulted in the martyrdom of seven of them, and this eye-witness account, written by one of the Brothers in the order, tells both their story and his own journey through this tremendously difficult time. He weaves history, hagiography, theology, spiritual direction, poetry, liturgy, and a large number of his own journal entries into the narrative of the book; this is a highly effective narrative technique which reads like a collage of different materials that gives its own unique portrait of the event in question.

On Easter Sunday, 2003, news reached the Melanesian Brotherhood that one of their own brothers, Nathaniel Sado, had been killed by the leader of one of the militia that was present on the island. Brother Sado had been so badly beaten that he had asked to be killed, but while he was being beaten to death he also sang hymns (126). Before his death had been discovered, six other brothers had gone out to search for him, as he had gone missing, and these six were also martyred by the same militia. The first half of the book tells history - both Carter's and that of the Brotherhood's - leading up to this tragic news, and the latter half of the book discusses both Carter's own crisis of faith and that struggles of other members of the Brotherhood and society to come to terms with this painful news. The turning point in Carter's own life came about "at the point when I really did not know how we could go on," which is when "God took over" (165). This book is very much a book of flesh and blood and spirit; it is a deeply human book that moves from the optimistic to the broken, doubtful and vulnerable, and ultimately towards healing and hope.

I confess that it is the personal elements that Carter includes about his own spiritual struggles that moved me the most while reading this book. Perhaps this is surprising to some - Christians have always had a borderline-morbid fascination with martyrdom and, in light of North America's obsession with being a voyeur to horrific violence (whether in movies, music or video games), it might be expected that I would be most thrilled with reading all sorts of gory details about the death of the martyrs themselves; indeed, a martyr-fetish-turned-American-voyeurism is a frighteningly toxic mixture that is all the more dangerous because it is cloaked with piety - but Carter is too intelligent to allow for the narrative to become some sort of gore-fest-turned-martyr-worship. In fact, I'd go so far as to wager that he's entirely opposed to celebrating violence or any type of theodicy that glorifies pain. Rather, what we read about in this book is that there are times of tragedy out of which great good can and does come about.

To put it rather bluntly, "War is hell." Carter notes with great spiritual and psychological discernment how it is that civil war can quite literally shatter a person emotionally and physically, and how it can have an even more damaging effect when this sort of experience is compounded on a societal level. The theodicy issue thus comes up again, for a major part of Carter's book is an argument that it is not power but powerlessness that is ultimately the most powerful and the most redemptive. He is tremendously concerned about the superstitions on the island - in particular, the belief that holy men such as those in the Brotherhood cannot be harmed by others - and that holiness is akin to some sort of death-defying power. It's the lust for power that not only entraps people to superstitious fear, but that also drives people to commit the most atrocious acts of murder. Carter's refusal of power, which only comes by way of his own recognition of how tempting power really is, gives a Christian theodicy that is worth repeating. Here there is no redemptive suffering, merely redemption beyond suffering.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It is certainly an important book in that it translates between two radically different cultures - that of the so-called "Global South" (which apparently isn't as different as some people might think - apparently they are as human there as here, and those who are Anglican there are just as creedal, sacramental, biblical and liturgical as we are here). But, more importantly, it tells a deeply human story with all of its highs and lows, brokenness and healing, faith and doubt. It is a book that widens the human family.

I'm not one for effusive superlatives but I was blown away by this book.

Richard has a great gift for writing and this combined with an informed passion born of hard earned experience and wholesale commitment makes for a most powerful book. Richard is/was in a unique position to write such a book and he has delivered on the opportunity only he could have availed himself of.

The book comes across as being very honest and appropriately questioning whilst still undoubtedly committed to and supportive of the Melanesian Brotherhood.

NB I was a colleague of Richard's when we were both teaching at Selwyn College, Solomon Islands, prior to his involvement with the Melanesian Brotherhood. I am of a more spiritual nature rather than a person of religious convictions yet the book still resonates powerfully for me.

The author was the chaplain to the Anglican order of monks, the Melanesian Brotherhood, during a recent time of conflict and martyrdom. In his account of those years in the late 1990s and earliest years of the 2000s, Carter brings his considerable skills of observation and writing to the task of telling a story of death and resurrection--the loss of seven brothers and the peace their deaths brought to the Solomon Islands.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, writes in his introduction that this "is one of the most truly evangelical books I have read for a long time." I agree, but more so. For to place the book as an evangelical one is to narrowly categorize a book that deserves a larger reading.

The struggles of the Solomon Islanders are human struggles. As Carter writes in the book, the problems that came to a head their "can take place in any country of the world when prejudice and hatred and violence gather momentum and run amok, unchecked." Recent history in Rwanda, Bosnia and elsewhere have shown this to be true. And so this book tells a story that transcends its own setting to offer true and lasting hope.

The book tells the story of God's love at work and in so doing Carter serves to widen the human family.

I'm thirteen, and I just got these less than a year ago...and I'm already reading this series for the third time! It's a book that never gets old! You'll read it over and over again and never get tired of it! If you could give it a million stars...I would!
The way the book is written...is magical! You want to read it slowly to get every word, yet at the same time yourself reading it as fast as you can! It's got mystery and danger...but unlike most...it's so real! The best thing is that the characters always turn to God when they need help instead of panicking or thinking they can do it on their own!
As soon as I was done reading the first and second book...I picked up #3! The first one was a million stars, the second one was even better...and this was better than that! (If that's possible!)
I'm not gonna tell you what happens...cause you need to find out what happens for yourself in this one too! You'll find yourself totally rapped up and lost in the book without even realizing that hours that have gone by again!
This is defiantly a must read! For everyone! No excuses!Even people who don't like to read will lose themselves in these books!

In the third book of the Viking Quest series, 13-year-old Brianna O'Toole has come to the Aurland Fjord in Norway. Captured from her home in Ireland, she is now a slave. Her captor, Mikkel, is only a year older than her, but he has the power go on raids and enslave captives. Of course, Bree finds that his father is not pleased with his son's lawlessness. Mikkel spends the book searching his soul for truth and honor, coming to decide he wants to be trusted. He knows he can trust the word of his Christian Irish prisoners, and he realizes that he has a respect for people he thought he despised. Mikkel learns that to be trusted, he must prove himself to worthy of trust.

Bree becomes a slave to Mikkel's mother and soon learns the ways of the Norwegians, all the while resenting her slavery. She, who was a chieftain's daughter! One of her jobs is to tend Mikkel's grandmother, who wakes every night with terrifying nightmares. Bree convinces Mikkel to let her take the Scriptures which were stolen from the Irish monastery during the raid, and to read them to his grandmother. The gospel makes a difference in the lives of each of the Norwegians, and also to Bree. When she pondered Jesus' words, "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," and "If the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed," she understood that her physical slavery did not affect her spiritual freedom. She was not a slave, but a daughter of the King of Kings! And she was not alone. Jesus had promised to be with His own, and He was with her: her "invisible Friend".

Bree became sure that she had seen her long lost sister Keely, but she could not manage to find her. Was she hiding from her own sister? Stones on the ground seem to leave a message for Bree, but can she follow them? Is Keely even the one leaving the messages? If Bree could find her, the sisters could be friends in this foreign world.

Devin reappears, and it seems that a homeward journey is almost in sight for Bree. However, everything takes an unexpected turn, and Bree and Devin face a renewed battle with fear and hatred. They are both willing to sacrifice much for the other, and in the end a heartbreaking sacrifice shocks the readers. The children are able to survive because of the peace in their souls, peace that only Christ can give.

The author has been to the Aurland Fjord, and her glowing descriptions of the scenery are firsthand.

This is another great adventure into the Viking times, and the Christian perspective makes it so much better.

The Invisible Friend by Lois Walfrid Johnson is an exciting adventure set during Viking times. The descriptive writing and authentic settings pull the reader into life near the Aurland Fjord--an arm of the awesome Sognefjord in Norway. Kids age 10 and up who liked Harry Potter books will find this a compelling novel with powerful conflicts between good and evil. Bree, the main character, steps out in courage through her Christian faith. I recommend all of the Viking Quest books by this author. The Invisible Friend, third in the series, stands out as a book with unpredictable complications such as a character getting Hansen's disease (leprosy). Adults who are interested in Norway will like this well-researched book as well. For me, it was a true "page-turner." I'm eager to read the next one in the series.

This book, without any doubt, is the best starting point around for those of us who are starting a home-based business. However, words of warning:
-This is a reference. Do not assume you know all there is to know to your particular situation only by reading it. There is no good substitute for an accountant to help you with your business taxes, if not on an on-going basis, at least in order to get you going the first time you do your biz taxes.
-Watch for past editions. I ran into the 4th edition, and given changes in tax legislation, it is unwise to base any decisions on outdated (tax) information. Make sure you always read the latest edition of this book.

This said, I highly recommend this book for any business owner starting his/her business from home. It will give you a very good perspective on what to expect, what things you can change/improve to take full (and legal) advantage of the benefits the tax legislation offers to small business owners.

Offers numerous ways to save money on taxes for home-based businesses by educating on deductible expenses, types of accounting methods, how to manage record-keeping, and the latest tax laws to name a few. Lots of examples make the book easy to understand. A real eye-opener.

"J.K. Lasser's Taxes Made Easy For Your Home-Based Business: The Ultimate Tax Handbook For the Self-Employed" by Gary W. Carter is a great book for home-based business owners and especially for those who operate as sole proprietors.

I found the first chapter, "Legislative, Administrative, and Judicial Authority" a bit slow and skipped most of it. (It's well-written and authoritative. I just don't care too much about the internal workings of the tax system).

Discussing the Supreme Court, Carter writes: "...the Supreme Court has complete discretion over whether it will hear a case. A party requests a hearing by Writ of Certiorari. If at least four members of the Court believe the issue is of sufficient importance to be heard by the Court it will grant the Writ (cert. Granted). Most often, however, it will deny jurisdiction (cert. Denied). ..."

But, it sounds like denied Writs aren't completely bad. Carter continues: "Furthermore, even when the Supreme Court steps in and handles a tax case, its decision often has the effect of muddling the issues rather than clarifying them, leaving us even more confused and bewildered. ... [Y]ou can see that the answers to tax questions often are not clear-cut. Sometimes, when the IRS says no, the courts say yes; or some courts say yes and other courts say maybe. Having an appreciation for this puts you at an advantage when dealing with the IRS. You should never submit to an IRS agent's adjustment of your returns unless it is backed up by appropriate authoritative support. The next section tells you how to find the various sources of authority."

Carter then shows us how to learn about tax law using online and other resources.

A good section of Chapter One for those facing an audit is "The Audit Process And Your Appeal Rights." But, if you aren't facing an audit, you can probably skip that section also.

Another section of Chapter One I found useful was "Letter Rulings," which discusses how taxpayers can ask the IRS in advance how certain transactions will be treated. (There is a fee for this service. The fee can be more than $5,000, but Carter tells us that for those with income under $150,000 the cost is only $500. And, for business owners asking about business-tax topics, the fee is also $500, if the company's annual revenue is $1 million or less.)

We learn that a letter ruling is actually a contract between the IRS and the taxpayer. So, getting a letter ruling is better than just asking the IRS for general about how something should be treated. And, Carter tells us that because a letter ruling is a contract between that particular taxpayer and the IRS, we shouldn't rely upon someone else's letter ruling to determine how our similar transaction will be treated.

So, if you have a question about how the IRS will treat a certain transaction that means a great deal to you, asking for a letter ruling will clarify the situation for you and provide certainty. You won't wind up at your Writ's end in the process.

Chapter Three introduces the reader to the basic business structures: Sole Proprietorships, Partnerships, LLC's, C-Corporations, and S-Corporations. Various advantages and disadvantages of each business structure are discussed, along with options for retirement plans and information about dealing with health insurance.

A large section of the book discusses the home office deduction and home-specific expenses. For example, deductions for daycare providers are covered as are the rules for being able to claim a deduction for the use of your home.

One chapter covers IRS form 8829, "Expenses For Business Use of Your Home" in detail and another chapter covers automobile deductions.

Chapter 12 works a comprehensive example, showing a sole proprietor's tax returns, including the IRS Form 1040, Schedule A, Schedule C (the heart of a sole proprietorship business), Schedule SE (for Self-Employment tax), Form 4562 "Depreciation and Amortization," and Form 8829.

The chapter "Other Common Business Deductions" covers deducting meals, entertainment, computer software, magazine subscriptions, and books.

For example, we learn that the Section 179 deduction (which allows a taxpayer to write-off as a current year expense the cost of certain assets that are normally depreciated over a number of years) doesn't apply to software, because Section 179 only applies to tangible property, and software is intangible.

Carter writes: "If you purchase books for business or investment purposes having only short term value (a tax guide like this one, for example), you can deduct their entire cost in the year of purchase. Books of a more lasting value are seven-year property for depreciation purposes. ... Because books are tangible personal property, they qualify for the Section 179 election if they are purchased for business purposes...make the Section 179 election by putting them in Part I of Form 4562..."

Carter gives a great quote from lawyer and writer John Grisham: "It's a game. We [tax lawyers] teach the rich how to play it so they can stay rich-and the IRS keeps changing the rules so we can keep getting rich teaching them."

If you want to learn how to play the small business tax game, "J.K. Lasser's Taxes Made Easy For Your Home-Based Business: The Ultimate Tax Handbook for the Self-Employed" is an excellent resource. Don't feel you must read this book cover-to-cover. Just jump around finding the stuff that's specific to your own situation.

Peter Hupalo, Author of "Thinking Like An Entrepreneur" & "How To Start And Run Your Own Corporation: S-Corporations For Small Business Owners."

As arguably one of Mark Pottle's most admiring students, it is with great pride that I write a review for this collection of letters and excerpts. Dr. Pottle has an excellent knack for using the sources from the pen of Violet Bonham Carter to shed light on the greater historical context. It is a fine biography of not only the person, but for the history of the times as well. Kudos for making a fine collection of primary sources available in one volume to the researcher and pleasure-reader alike.

An excellent book of facinating thought and mind, it bring the atmosphere around u back to life.

I found it extremely interesting, but didn't understand why it was hard to get in the shops or on the net this time.

A wonderful book- never forgotton and can't wait for a new release!

Violet Asquith Bonham Carter, had she not been female, might have become prime minister herself at some point in the 20th century. Her sharp mind and eye for political detail might have furthered her family's political fortunes after her brother Raymond, considered one of the "brightest and best" of his generation, was killed in World War I. Of course, there's nothing that would have prevented her from becoming a battlefield casualty either, if she hadn't been female. Her letters and diaries offer a view of what it was like to be an intelligent, resourceful woman of the early 20th C. with no hope of pursuing an education or a profession. Violet did the best she could under the circumstances. Although her devotion to her dead fiance is a little scary, she shows us what she was made of--fine steel. This is a peek into the times and early life of a remarkable woman. It's fortunate that we can expect another couple of volumes of her letters and diaries.

After Pete had asked a friend & I to join his Bangor team for the Kalamazoo tourney in the summer of 1991, I really got to understand & appreciate the love that he had for Carter & youth sports. His book was truly touching, especially after he asked me to be a small part of one of those summers. I will always cherish the opportunity he gave me, as well as the autographed copy of this book. A must read for all baseball fans & parents.

I cannot believe this book is out of print. I gave my copy to my brother several years ago, and went looking for a new copy today after the hated New York Yankees swept my beloved Boston Red Sox by scoring a whopping 6 runs in three games.
Why? Because Peter Gent's book - which is a wonderful tale about a father and his son getting to know one another - is also a prequel to the very public and successful career of Derek Jeter. You see, Derek Jeter starred on the Connie Mack team that Gent's son Carter played against for the Michigan state championship, and even back then, he was being viewed as a big-time up-and-coming baseball phenom.
And while some of the scenes between Gent and his son will tear your heart out, Jeter is front-and-center in the best sports scene in the book. That occurs when Mike Wyshowski(sp?), the farm-boy pitcher for Carter's team, whiffs Derek Jeter swinging with runners in scoring position late in the very close Championship Game, thereby sealing the win for the underdogs (and permanently endearing himself to me).
This is a wonderful novel. I read North Dallas Forty when I was just a kid, and thought it was a great, funny book. I thought this book, which I read after I'd gotten old enough to get married and have kids of my own, was much, much better. I'm assuming the fact that it's out of print means it didn't sell well. That's a shame, because it's every bit the story NDF was, and then some.

Although the divorce is pivotal in this story, it is not necessarily the key to the book's essence. Any parent who has reached the point of letting go can relate to the emotions the author so wonderfully describes. If a reader is an avid baseball fan, especially Little League, Pony League, Babe Ruth, etc., the story jumps out at you and transports you to that "magic" only summer youth baseball can take you. As the mother of three children, two who are finished with youth baseball and softball, and one still keeping me in the "magic" at the age of 13, I loved the book. Mr. Gent deals with emotions like unconditional love, fear, apprehension,regret and wins during that Last Magic Summer.

When selecting this book,I thought that it may be a bit dry but worthwhile. I have discovered a great treasure! In reading this book, I have come to a special joy, and appreciation of God. In short this book is a tool to percieve life, past, preasant, and future.

The president has been teaching Sunday School since his Naval Academy days and his grasp and scope of the subject matter discussed is impressive. He invites questions and participation from the audience (congregation/class?) and the sessions are spirited and informative. His talent for taking current secular issues and relating them to specific areas of the scriptures is invaluable with surprising conclusions in some cases. Not afraid of tough problems or questions he plows through each lesson with charm, focus and an easy charisma.

First I have to admit to being a Democrat and a fan of Jimmy Carter's public life after the Presidency, using his name recognition to fund public health initiatives in third world countries. However, I can't claim to be of a particulary religious bent. These lessons are very informal, recorded in Jimmy Carter's home church in 1998 and the sound quality isn't great--when someone in the audience speaks it's very hard to hear. But in the informality and simplicity lies its charm. Jimmy opens each lesson by telling what he and Rosalind have done in the preceding week, asking what other dominations or states/countries are represented in the guests who have come to listen to his lesson, and then asks for a prayer from someone in the audience before he begins. The lessons are from letters that Paul wrote and JImmy presents the message, often by asking questions of those present, in an unadorned, sincere way. This is not a smooth, professional delivery nor a pulpit-thumping evangelistic sermon. It is, as the title suggests, a country church Sunday school lesson but, whether you are religious or not, the principles presented are universal, the topics germaine to everyday life, and the goodness that comes through genuine. I don't see how anyone could listen to this set and not feel better at the end.

A wealth of practical suggestions matched with a much deeper philosophy that will change your teaching forever.

If you loved Designs for Living and Learning, you are going to love this book as much or even more. Filled with beautifully written examples of curriculum emerging in ordinary circumstances. Each example is like a little gem, to be looked over, thought about, and looked over again.
A MUST-read for anyone working with our youngest learners and discoverers; it will make you excited to go to work tomorrow morning.

Feeling stuck in the rut, burned out, disillusioned, under-challenged as a teacher of young children or teacher & mentor of other teachers -- well, this book sure is cheaper than therapy! And likely a darn sight more fun too! I could hardly put it down when it finally was delivered. I've had mine about a week and I'm nearly finished with it. What I have read is already covered it notes of all kinds -- ideas for my preschool classroom; ideas for working with my colleagues; ideas for working with parents; ideas for working with interns, observers and assistants in my classroom; ideas for working on and with yourself; ideas for teaching a college course with a colleague and friend that goes beyond the usual "how to" or "make your life easier" curriculum class but rather truly integrates theory & practice and turns teachers into thinkers and researchers. This book is full of inspirations, questions and reflections of all kinds! Run to your nearest bookstore now or let your fingers to the walking!

After struggling with my decision to use this book with my senior students, I am finding they are less hesitant to read AND they are enjoying the concepts in this drama! If it were an honors class, I think I would make students read the original text, but for my regular classes, I am very happy with my decision because they are GETTING IT. We are reading the authentic Shakespeare for the really good lines/soliloquys that shouldn't be missed. This is much better than other renditions that simply paraphrase as far as comprehension is concerned.

I consider myself to be a reasonably literate individual but, I have always avoided Shakespeare since I cannot make sense of the text. But now, I have fianally read Macbeth because, with "No Fear Shakespeare," each left hand page is written in the original whereas the right hand page is a plain English translation. So now I know, that when a porter says "it makes him stand to and not stand to," he is not referring about someone standing up on his feet. Instead, it means that alcoholic drinks make a man have an erection but then, lose the erection. How true is that and how cool is it to be able to understand that? Seriously, Macbeth is a great tale of ambition, deception and conscience. Thanks to this innovative book, I was able to read the original, then, after reading each page, I referred to the translation so I could understand. It was fun to read lines in the original, try to work out what I thought it meant and then check whether I was right. I recommend this as a way finally read and appreciate Macbeth.

The translation is clear and it helps immensely that it is side by side with the actual text. That way it's easy to fully understand the meaning behing Shakespeare's language.

I don't know anymore what I was expecting when I read THE NEXT EX, but this book wasn't it. The book just works on so many levels. First, it's a mystery and the plot is twisty but it satisfies in the end. There is a financial component to the book and I enjoyed reading about day trading and the stock market. It was also interesting reading about how movie stars really live. I know it's fiction, but it's obvious that Richards knows what she's writing about and some of this stuff was pretty scary.

The story opens on the dead wife of a Hollywood producer who ex-stockbroker Madeline Carter stumbles across at a party. Madeline already knew Keesia and had gotten to be friends with her so she's very sad that the other woman is dead and when Madeline is drawn into finding out how Keesia died, the reader understands.

But Madeline keeps finding more dead wives and ex-wives of this same producer and, along the way, discovers another mystery more than 30 years old.

I loved this book! I didn't want it to end and I can hardly wait for the next book in the Madeline Carter series.

In Los Angeles, former stockbroker turned day-trader Madeline Carter lives in the guesthouse owned by married couple movie director Tyler Beckett and actress Tasya Saranova. Tyler asks Manhattan transplant Madeline to teach day-trading techniques to Keesia, the fifth wife of film producer Maxi Livingston, as a favor, the most prevalent means of exchanging services in town. Thus Madeline teaches Keesia day-trading while Maxi will produce Tyler's newest film project and Madeline receives additional kitchen and bathroom privileges

Keesia proves to be a fast learner and the teacher and student become friends. That is until Madeline finds her pupil's corpse at a party hosted by Maxi. Not long afterward, other spouses of Maxi are murdered with Madeline considered by the police a prime suspect. Realizing that the cops are looking at her as a possible killer, Madeline investigates the murder of her buddy figuring she did very well in clearing her name to a degree in her previous Hollywood adventure (see MAD MONEY).

This is a fun amateur sleuth tale in which Madeline once again is a magnet for murder in which she must prove her innocence as her "record" as well as opportunity makes her a prime suspect. The key to this intelligent who-done-it is that Linda Richards lays out the clues yet most of the audience will not "read" them as they instead follow the stumbling "Mad" detective fumble her way on the case. Fans will enjoy this fine Hollywood mystery starring a likable protagonist struggling to find who made Keesia THE NEXT EX of multiply married Maxi.

Harriet Klausner

Former stockbroker Madeline Carter is now a daytrader in Los Angeles. She lives in the guesthouse of movie director Tyler Beckett and his wife, the actress Tasya Saranova. Tyler asks Madeline to tudor the current wife of the famous film producer Maxi Livingston in daytrading. Hollywood thrives on doing favors and cashing in on favors. Favors are, in a way, a currency among the elite social set. Madeline teaches Keesia Livingston the basics on stocks. Maxi agrees to do Tyler's film. Tyler updates and expands Madeline's kitchen and bathroom. See how it works?

Madeline knew almost nothing about the Livingstons until she began teaching Keesia about the market. Surprisingly, Keesia is very smart and picks things up quickly. Madeline and Keesia are on the way to becoming very good friends. But the friendship ends when, during on of Maxi's parties, Madeline comes across Keesia's dead body. This is not all, Keesia was Maxi's FIFTH wife. Shortly thereafter, Maxi's previous wives are being murdered - and Madeline is one of the top suspects.

***** When Madeline finds Keesia's body on page one, the author makes sure that she stabs the hook so quickly into her readers' guts that they never even feel it. The story is told in such a way that I, as the reader, felt able to get into Madeline's head. I could actually see the wheels in her mind working. I could tell what path "Mad" was going down and why. All the clues needed to solve the mystery were available to me, but the author never insulted my intelligence. She even gave me the opportunity to figure it out before the main character did. But will you be able to? Keep your eye on this author. She will go far! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.