Dunne Books

William Shatner - or Shatner as he continually refers to himself - had the good fortune to be in the most successful TV series of all time, otherwise he would be long forgotten. Nevertheless he turns in an entertaining autobiography. The first thing that you learn about him is that he will do anything for a buck. Secondly that he has no concept of quality control - to him a Shakespearean play, a TV commercial, or a lurid movie are all pretty much on the same level. Thirdly, he has a rather high opinion of his own (limited) creative abilities - one can easily see why his Star Trek co-stars grew to despise him. Now that he has found success in "Boston Legal" he can even look back and find merit in such atrocities as "The Transformed Man". One thing you cannot accuse him of is being lazy. Even now is his 70s he is working hard, nor can you doubt his irrepressible self-belief. Well worth reading for fans but the self-congratulation does grate after a while.

Enjoyed tthe book immensely. Shatner is super star who has not receivved the recognition he justly deserves.

You will laugh
You will cry
You will go to his website and buy things.

Seriously, this is an excellent well written read.

Just started listening to the audio book, Shatner does not have a "voice for radio". He surely had a booming voice for all the stage work he talks about, but this recording's varying volume is almost unbearable in a vehicle. He's fine on short sentences, but when the volume starts falling he gets far too quiet for an audio book to me. Otherwise it's pretty entertaining so far.

Even if you're not a total Star Trek fan this is a pretty good book.He has some great stories to tell. Shatner has been in show business for 5 decades yet he doesn't take himself that seriously. His self deprecating style is refreshing and very amusing.

For the most part it's pretty good. It's a little long winded. Alot of unessesary verbage. I thought it was going to be about not just these ladies' film career's but their lives also. Instead it's more about how they portrayed themselves in movie's during the pre-code era. If you've ever seen any of these women act then you would already know this. Tell us something we don't know.

Mr Laselle obviously has a deep affection for Norma Shearer, & yes it shows here! I'd never heard of MS. Shearer until seeing the TMC documentary based on this book. Since seeing the documentary & a few of her films also on TMC, I've fallen in love (I've never had a crush on a dead person before!), & this book brings her much more to life then Gavin Lambert's biography. Yes, he does devote between 25-30% of the book to Shearer (Garbo gets the second biggest chunk), but I'm grateful that he does. It's a travesty that most of my generation (I'm in my late 40's) has never heard of this amazing actress. Also a great resource for suggested pre code films, & a needed damning portrait of the evangelicals who ruined US films for over 30 years with the ridiculous code. For those who have seen the TMC documentary, this is much more in depth. Hard to put down!

Not only is "Complicated Women" the definitive work on women in pre-code Hollywood, it's one helluva fun read. Here's some of what I'm talking about:
"Harding plays the moment like she just had a lobotomy."
"The Colbert with a smile in her voice who always sounds like it's midnight and someone just opened the champagne."
"No one did lust on screen like Norma Shearer. She was the complete lady, completely on fire."
Besides the engaging writing style LaSalle had three things going for him in writing this book: a love of film, a love of women and a willingness to conduct the research that would do their pre-code story justice.
LaSalle's love of women is particularly evident as he rhapsodizes about Norma Shearer and Greta Garbo whose stories are the centerpiece of "Complicated Women." They are the stars of this story. And make no mistake this story is a tragedy. A tragedy that the Production code was finally enforced in mid 1934 with the consequent censorship that didn't end until 1968. As the author points out this was not just a censoring of what was shown on screen, but, far worse, a censorship of ideas. The odious Joseph Breen is the true villain of the story, to read about Breen is to despise him.
But that is but a one sad chapter of this story. What LaSalle does so wonderfully is regale us with tales of Hollywood and its women from the end of the silent era to the beginning of the suppressed era.
Here is an appreciation for the work of stars still remembered such as Mae West and Joan Crawford to those largely forgotten like Miriam Hopkins and Ann Harding. In "Complicated Women" they are all brought to life through LaSalle's examination of their films.
These and other great actresses flourished in the pre-code era because they were allowed to inhabit real characters. They could be sexual, sensual, professional, pregnant, rebellious and rambunctious. This was a true liberation of women 30 years before it became a political movement. These were women who could be both as deadly serious as any man and as playful and horny. As LaSalle writes, "sexual satisfaction had become the right of both sexes."
Yes there were audacious films with wild women, but they were also reflective of society and the true desires of women. Movies were both a lot of fun AND realistic.
Thankfully many of these gems such as the classic "The Divorcee" and "Red Dust." can be seen on Turners Classic Movie channel (if you love films from the first half of the 20th century, no price is too high to pay for having TCM as part of your cable or satellite TV option). Others have been released on DVD like "Trouble in Paradise" and "Gold Diggers of 1933."
"Complicated Women" will send you searching for movies you've never seen and wanting to watch again some that you have seen.
I rented and more fully appreciated "Queen Christina" immediately after reading LaSalle's comments on it.
While it is cultural tragedy of the highest magnitude that the production code was enforced, we do have those few precious years before Breen and his ilk got out the scissors. LaSalle brings to life those years and the actresses so central to them.

Mick LaSalle wrote probably the most definative book on the greatest era on film for women. 1929-1934 women dominated the box office, and broke all the rules on what the typical ladies of the teens and even flappers of the 1920's followed. Much of this text is dedicated to Norma Shearer, and to me it should be. Shearer is the perfect example of the pre code icon, and after all "The Divorcee" won Shearer and Oscar, and created a national obsession with pre code films. As LaSalle states, she does deserve to be more remembered to the level of her contemporaries, Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo.
Kay Francis, and Miriam Hopkins also get a good deal of remembrance, if anything the public certianly has forgotten them aswell. I think it would be interesting for LaSalle to specialize an entire book on either three, I know I would buy it. As for Complicated Women, it's not only easy to read, but also a must have for fans of not only pre code films, but Hollywood itself.

This book was a HUGE disappointment. The author has some kind of strange obession with Norma Shearer. He makes numerous idiot statments. He refers to all of the other major movie stars (such as Clara Bow, Jean Harlow, Myna Loy) as just minor background players...umm NOOO. This man obviously knows very little about cinema. I kept waiting and waiting throughout the book for him to stop talking and praising Norma Shearer, but he never did. Yes, Norma Shearer was a good actress but she was not God's gift to earth, so stop with the worshipping. Unless you are a die heart Shearer fan, DO NOT buy this book, you will be disappointed.

You don't find to many books out there about the Coast Guard Service,and the actual roles that they did during WWI/WWII. Thank you to all the Men and Women Past and Present that serve in our USCG.

The horrendous sneak attack on Pearl Harbor focused American attention on the Pacific and the threat of German submarine attack on merchant shipping off the Atlantic coast was not appreciated. Homer Hickam writes a great story of a small Coast Guard unit based on Killakeet Island who man an 84-foot patrol boat in an attempt to forestall the U-boat aces as they destroy freighters and tankers shortly after the U.S. enters the war. Hickam describes the crew jarring transition from rescue work and fishing to desperate action against a ruthless and lethal enemy. He also includes a description of the mounted beach patrol, when cowboys along with their horses, were recruited to plug the patrol gap.

This is a entertaining story based on one of the more unique episodes in the vast conflict.

I really cant understand how anyone cannot LOVE this book...you either are coldhearted, unemotional or well i wont say anymore...If you love romance, humor, war, animals, quirkiness and life affirming themes than this is the perfect book for you...I encourage everyone to read this book...:)

This was a well written suspenseful book with a touch of American history to make it even more interesting.

Very good first fiction for Hickam of Rocket Boy fame. He has an ear for dialogue and not-overdone description. One key plot twist was telegraphed too early, but Hickam wove the story around it so well that it didn't kill it.

The story is based on a fictional Outer Banks island and the life that centers around its lighthouse and the fishermen who live there.

This is the first of a series, followed up by The Ambassador's Son (Josh Thurlow Series #2)

I became interested in North Korea at the beginning of summer '08 and looked around amazon to find which book is the most highly regarded, well reviewed, popular and otherwise definitive. This one fit the bill.

After purchasing it from a local bookstore (I couldn't wait to have it shipped) I spent the entire summer reading it and regaling my family and friends with curious tales from North Korea. I won't repeat the book's summary--you can get that in other reviews. I'll just say that I came to this book with very little background about North Korea (as I imagine most Americans have) and came out with a pretty good understanding of the history and the current status of the Hermit kingdom. The book didn't exactly turn me into an expert on Korea but it did provide a very thorough background to North Korean history and current events.

One of the strongest points in favor of this book is that it is well written. The writing style is strikingly objective, engaging and coherent. I guess the decades that Martin has worked as a journalist have paid off. He treats the subject with fairness and compassion--not a rose-eyed, everything is fine, we're all the same blah blah blah approach but an approach that allows the reader to see a bit of the big picture and to understand where the sick horrific society of North Korea came from.

As Martin writes in the book on a number of occasions, part of what makes his study unique is his use of defector testimonies. Much of the book is devoted to individuals and their own personal stories. Through groupings of defectors with similar experiences, he describes North Korean society, piece by piece. Martin brings the arguments of those who criticize such an approach but the reader will invariably side with him--that defectors offer a unique, largely objective and invaluable viewpoint on the truth about what is and has been going on in North Korea.

As other reviewers have noted, the book is huge. It took me the whole summer to read but I was sad to finish it. It opened my eyes, not only to North Korea per se, but to humanity and what we can become--or be reduced to.

When one reads about North Korea, one doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. The leader cult is ridiculous to the outside world yet hundreds of thousands of North Koreans are being tortured and killed for making even the slightest hint of doubting its veracity. And the "good" North Koreans are left to starve.

(One point for those that have not and will not read the book: the famine that devastated the country was not an "act of God." Radical adherence to Kim Il Sung's farming techniques--stripping hillsides bare without terracing, trying to use fertilizer to farm where it is not really tenable--and utter refusal to cooperate with the outside world (Kim's juche ideology) brought about the crisis and prevented its resolution. Martin bases this claim on defectors who saw the effects directly as well as expert analysis.)

The country is weird but there is more to it than just that--I guess you'll have to read it to find out!

PS Like every review, I can't just say nice things about the book. Some chapters were too long, some observations inconsequential, some speculation not sufficiently backed up with argument and some sentences were just weird! But if any book can deserve 5 stars, this one does.

Mr. Martin's book is one of the most informative books on a country that I've ever read. His written is very informative, but does not overload you with so much information in one setting. He provides a great insight into the very private lives of the Kims. I reccommend this book to anyone who wants to gain a better insight into the Hermit Kingdom.

This book provides exceptional insight into the isolated country of North Korea. With his objective approach, Bradley combines factual data, interviews with North Koreans and descriptions of his own personal accounts to show the world a detailed look into this mysterious country. A must read!

One of the most comprehensive and detailed books ever written about North Korea. I found that while the book was great to read on its own, it helped to have the background knowledge of the development of the South behind you to really understand a lot of what has driven the North Koreans from potentially prosperous into a maddeningly disastrous state. Martin's obvious heartfelt interest for the North Koreans comes through with his writing, as does the fact that he really did his homework.

One thing of note is that if you're going to read the book in conjunction, read Cummings' "Koreas Place in the Sun", Obderdorfer's "The Two Koreas", and Becker's "Rogue Regime. While much of the information is similar, each offers smaller details that definitely added to the enjoyment of Martin's benchmark of a book for North Korea watchers.

"Under the Loving Care of the Fatherly Leader" is a comprehensive and compelling story of North Korea and the North Koreans. Martin does a marvelous job of balancing the historical details that chronicle North Korea's creation and subsequent evolution under the father and son Kim regime with the journalistic aspects involving his own travels to North Korea and his interviews with defectors. For a book of non-fiction almost 900 pages in length it is as amazingly captivating as it is educational.

Martin had a difficult task in compiling this work, as data from North Korea is not only lacking but official sources are full of incorrect or exaggerated propaganda. Martin does an excellent job of collecting information, filtering it as objectively as he can, and sharing that analysis with us. A critic of the regime, he still paints a balanced and nuanced picture of the leaders of the country, avoiding oversimplifications in "good" and "evil" terms. His argument that human rights concerns should take as much or greater priority as the nuclear weapons issue, and that information is the greatest weapon in the United States' arsenal are well taken. Martin does a great job of providing alternative viewpoints, explaining his methodology, and arguing why his methods and analysis are appropriate (particularly with regard to using defector testimony). While there is obviously concern that defectors' testimony could be biased or coerced, as Martin points out, the sheer number of defectors points to the fact that all is not well in the Kims' worker's paradise and lends credibility to defectors' tales.

This book is a fine mix of historical research and journalistic rigor, and as a review on the front cover reads, is likely *the book* to read if you want to understand where North Korea came from, where it is now, and where it's going. I for one was simply overwhelmed by the degree of cultish socialization in North Korean society, the Orwellian surveillance and suppression of dissent, and the cruelty, paranoia, and cunning intelligence of the Kims. Having traveled in South Korea and toured the DMZ, I felt the amazing paradox and frustration embodied in one nation divided into about as diametrically opposite of halves as could be possible. Martin gives reasons for why outside powers might prefer to keep the status quo, but after visiting Korea and especially after reading this book, I look forward to the day the dictatorial regime in North Korea ends and the peninsula can be peacefully reunited.

Although the language is a little bit unsophistocated, this is a fantastic book. I recommended it to ALL of my friends. It is a very compelling and touching book.

First, I just want to say, for the benefit of anyone who is confused by the title of "an egg on three sticks", that I think I have figured out why it is titled what it is: Abby's mother has a nervous breakdown and becomes very fragile, like the "egg", and Abby, Abby's sister and Abby's dad are the "three sticks" on which the "egg" is balanced precariously. I doubt this is the only way to interpret the title, but it's my opinion... Anyway, I think "an egg on three sticks" is a nicely written novel. It's done in an interesting way, in the past but written in the present tense. It is yet another book aimed at teenagers where the mother is mentally unstable. But hey, you can never have to many of those...

I REEAALLYY liked htis book but...i am 12 and it wasn't really fro my age group it got kinda bad at the end...and gross...lol...it was good...reaally good just it was a little (above my head) her having sex...getting pregnant at 15...the whole enchilada...

I loved this book. I loved the unstructured writing style and narrative. It was so refreshing to read a book that didn't sound like the last 50 books I've read. I'm quite shocked that people had anything negative to say about this book. The things that people didn't like about the book, (bad language, poor paragraph form and an unrealistic teenage vocabulary) are surface issues and don't really affect the quality of the writing. (I also feel these are the things that made this book so memorable and easy to read.)

I think the title is representative of the family dynamic of the characters. The mother being the fragile egg and the three sticks being the father and two daughters. But that may be too obvious.

I recommend this book to anyone who is not afraid of a sad story (the back cover tells you upfront that it's sad), and isn't afraid of some colorful language, and a unique writing style. I will be giving this book out for Christmas.

I saw this book at the library and was attracted to the cover and intrigued by the title. I enjoyed the book... I didn't love Abby... she seemed to make things so much harder on her mom than she needed to. I liked the stream of conscious writing. But I finished the book today and I have no clue what the title means or refers to. Did I miss something? I must have been reading too fast... let me know if you've figured it out.

A friend at work recommended this book. I was going on a week vacation in Mexico and needed something to read. This was by far one of the best books I have ever read. Andy Summers is like the Forest Gump of rock musicians. It is hard to believe how many lives and people he influenced. In a very humble way he describes encounters with everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton (whom he sold his 59 Les Paul just minutes before he recorded "Fresh Cream" with it) along with his wild drug experiences with John Belushi. Unfortunately for me, the book was so good that I finished it in 3 days. I am still working on the second book I brought.

Reading this book was like riding a roller coaster.

I'm a huge 'Police' fan, and when I saw Andy had an auto biography out I ran out and bought it right away.

At first, I had a hard time with it. Andy writes with gret attention to detail; it's very artistic, and a bit 'lulling'.

But once you get past his childhood and into his 'musical years', it's incredible! Andy's wit is so dry and so clever, you want to sit and have a few lagers with him and just listen to him tell his tales.

In the true form of a Gentleman, Andy doesn't really dish dirt on his fellow Policemen. This was 'nice'...but everyone wants a little juicy gossip on their favorite celebs. As the book wore down and the break up of the Police was imminent, you suddenly realize that Andy is not going to say anything terribly mean (or truthfully mean) about Sting or Stewart.

I was a little disappointed with this last fact, but I still reccomend this book not only to every Police fan, but to every Guitarist. Andy played with all of the greats, and his stories about being on the road are priceless!

This is an epic tale of a New Wave musician that spans his beginnings in the '60s to his triumphs in the '80s. His vivid and comprehensive telling of the rise and ultimate break-up of the legendary New Wave band The Police is enthralling and magnificent. If only all books on popular music could be so good.

Totally entertaining from cover to cover. Packed full of great stories about the band including some never before heard stories about the making of the albums and the studio sessions. The chapter with Andy hanging out with John Belushi had me rolling with laughter!
If your a fan of the Police, you're missing out if you don't read this book!!

Doesn't get much better than this is you want a behind-the-scenes accounting of the Police from literally the beginning to the end. Great stories, Summers is a great writer and there's some really funny passages.

But great, great stories about each album and how they did it. It seems like they had the most fun making Regatta and things went sort of downhill from then on (although Synchronicity was a masterpiece).

Really something worthwhile; I read it in two days.

Mrazek has written a fairly entertaining book but it lacks a soul. It seems to be written for kids and not for adults - the plot is thin, the romance, the romance of children and the historical facts glossed over. On the cover of this book, DeMille compares it to "Cold Mountain". Goodness, it is nowhere the fine book Frazier wrote.
So, not a bad book and an enjoyable but lightweight read.

This is a great little adventure story about the Civil War. The author obviously knows his history and just as obviously knows how to tell a good story.

I'm not sure why, but I picked up the book having a feeling I was not going to enjoy it much. By the end of the first chapter I was starting to change my mind and by the end of the second chapter I was hooked on it.

The story is about a young boy who gets his hands on a map, showing where a shipment of gold is hidden. The Civil War is coming to an end as he travels to find the treasure, finding quite a few interesting people along the way.

It's a fun story and gives the reader a pretty good idea about what life was like in that time and place.

I've got to go check to see if Mrazek has written any other books. This was his first novel, and I'm hoping he will write several more.

I ordered this based on the rave reviews. Stereotypical characters, plot threads that run off into nothing. . . at best, the novel is for young adults, but it is in no way for adults. I've been reading Howard Bahr's novels of the war, and they are excellent. I live in the area depicted in the novel, so I was doubly disappointed by the book. For example, I doubt the author has ever crossed the New Market gap at Massanutten, based on his descriptions in the novel. His ideas and characters were full of promise, but the book doesn't deliver.

Outstanding book about the Civil War that happens around my home. I can't believe this was written by a northerner(<;

I read this book and really liked it. This Civil War Story is perfect for students learning about the Civil War for many reasons. The main character is a young kid like themselves. His life gets turned upside down and he must use his wits to survive. It's a total adventure that has you completely engulfed in the Civil War . . I felt the cold . . the desolation. There is some intrigue about hidden treasure which isn't exactly far fetched (see slj review). Apparently there was some speculation about Andrew Jackson and a storehouse of gold. I believe the the author includes a prologue in which he discusses the research he had done to create the book. There is also this one mysterious scene in the book where the kids encounter some run away slaves. Completely realistic. I got a really good sense of what it was like to really be there. I was completely surprised that someone didn't turn this book into a movie. The author used to be a congressman in my area and he was a decent guy.

If you have trouble reading The Golfing Machine (TGM), you need to have this book - it is a fabulous read for any golfer and compliments TGM with a basic approach!

I knew from the very first couple of pages that I had hold of something very special. I have been playing golf for 50 years and upon completing the book felt I had a complete understanding of what was vitally important in the golf swing. I have read the book twice. The proof, however, is in the results. My handicap was, past tense, a 12 before the book. After the book I knew I was striking the ball so much better but my scores did not reflect it. I was also playing a course that had out of bounds and/or water on almost every hole so straying is hazardous to your score. Then it all started to click. My scores before the book were 85 to 92; since my second reading, 76 to 81. The real proof came yesterday when I played a rain soaked course with huge standing pools of water every where. The ground was like playing off a spounge. I did not mis-hit one shot in 18 holes using Bobby Clampett's teachings from the book and shot a 78. Books and training are useless unless you can take it to the course and apply it. Applying Clampett's techniques is easy and very rewarding.

My local PGA golf instructor really belives that Clampett's ideas are the key to power and he encouraged me to read the book. The book seems to make sense, but the concepts are difficult to execute. For instance, the lag is really difficult for me. And hitting down to make a four inch divot in front of the ball is for serious golfers only. How do hit down with a driver?

but if you really want to be good as opposed to average this book is for you. by the way, the pictures in the book are awful. what were they thinking?

A good effort by Bobby to present the fundamentals of clean contact in the impact zone. Unfortunately, I have been unable to understand the concept of the Aiming Point as described in the book. I have spent hours with a golf club and a bucket of balls and cannot hit good shots on anything but chips and short pitches by trying what was described in the book around the aiming point concept. Obviously, I don't understand it. Since Bobby descibes Aiming Point as the "unifying principle" of his book, he would do well to find a way to get a better illustaration of the concept out there. If any readers think they have it, please send along a description.

This is an excellent book and Clampett is an excellent author. His writing style is very friendly and easy to follow. As to the swing dynamics, Forward Swing Bottom has greatly improved my game. I always knew that the divot is supposed to occur AFTER the ball is struck, but I've never been able to do that consistently until I read this book. Now I'm hitting more greens in regulation than I ever have.

I'm still working on the other dynamics but so far I definitely recommended this book!

I read the hype and bought this book a few months ago. I was diagnosed with ALS in August '07. Reading the statistics -- 50% of us die within 3 years of diagnosis and 80% within 5 years -- sent me on a search for anything, fact or fiction, about ALS.

This is not a medical manual. It is a novel that I thoroughly enjoyed. I wish I had the ability to write about my own situation so beautifully as Ms Widgeon has written about Kate. Relationships change, often dramatically, as she points out. Kate's decision is understandable given the circumstances and I could relate and enjoyed & recommend this book.

This was a beautiful story and so touching to read. I loved the characters and felt strong emotions for all of them, except Cynthia and Evan (near the middled) of course. Bastards, but the scenario was all too real. Kate changed a young life and taught her so much about living.

Great Job, Michelle Wildgen!

Christy W
LA

You're not you was a lovely novel about relationships across the spectrum. The author analyzes and displays her characters beautifully. Bec is a tough as well as adorable character who takes such good care of Kate. Her heart is displayed beautifully. I look forward to reading another of her novels.

I really enjoyed this book. It's very honest and deals with tough issues in a believable way. I look forward to more books by Michelle Widgen!

Really enjoyed this book. A novel full of insight. Ponders the question "what is quality of life?" and grapples with the issue of death with dignity and those it affects.

I found this to be the best of the series that I have read so far. I still have the two most recently published to read. Thankfully Mcknight has stopped being so morose as he was in previous books. His self pity and whining gets a little old after a few books.

Like all of Hamiltons books, the mystery isn't solved until the last few chapters and then we get some totally new info popping up that clears everything up. In this case it was the fire that killed some kids many years before. This was info unknown for the entire book. Mcknight of course didn't look for the common thread because he was too busy driving back and forth from remote Ontario to MI and getting bailed out of jail.

But that's Mcknights character. He ain't the brightest sleuth out there as we know from past books.

In all I recommend this one.

Maybe I'm becoming too PC, but having listened to this book, I found the idea that McKnight was better at surviving in the woods then his friend Vinny who is a full blooded Ojibwe (and professional guide) to be just a little hard to swallow. At a couple of points in the story when they are lost up in the Canadian wilderness, Vinny is about to give up the ghost but Alex keeps pluggin' along. Boy, I wouldn't want to be stuck on a hunting trip with Vinny if things went wrong.

Also, at times when Vinny is speaking, he's like a cross between Mr.Miyagi and the Great Manitu (give me a break). Specific to the tape, all the Indians speak with this spacey (East) indian guru voice, like they are filling in for Deprak Chopra. All the Indians immediately take a backseat to anything that McKnight says, like whatever he says is the most intelligent thing going.

Anyway to the story, it's actually very engaging, except that 'da too guys from Detroit' sound like they stepped out of a "Sopranos" episode. Know whatimean you jamocke. The Canadians must all be drinking water with something in it because they are as mellow as a bunch of 1960s anti-war demonstrators, ey.

Lastly, did anybody NOT guess that at sometime in the story, Alex would find a way to soften Natalie's heart (key the violins and cellos) so that she would see him in a 'better light' (tear, tear,tear!). Ugh. If you are going to find him a love interest, just do it, don't get all "Wisteria Lane" about it. Ok, I'm done. Hopefully the next book (gee do ya think Natalie will be in it) will be better.

I've read all of Steve Hamilton's books right when they've been published and I've loved them all. I'm now re-reading them, and just finished "Blood is the Sky" for the second time. I love Hamilton's relaxed, easy-reading style and I think Alex is a great protagonist. I also love the northern Michigan setting of his series; although I've never been to the UP, I live in Maine and have spent a large part of my life in northern Ontario (where most of this book is set), so I can relate to his descriptions of life in the North. I do have two quibbles with this book. First, a couple times Hamilton has Alex saying road signs mention someplace is X number of miles away--in Canada, road signs are in kilometers, not miles. Second, there are lots of references to "Canadian" beer, such as when Alex gets a cold "Canadian" or asks a bartender for a Molson. In the first instance, does Hamilton mean a generic cold Canadian beer, or does he mean a Molson Canadian (a specific brand, and the best-selling beer in Canada), and in the second, you don't go into a drinking establishment in Canada and ask for a Molson; you ask for an Ex or a Canadian or another specific Molson product. As I said, these are quibbles. Steve Hamilton is a great author!

My wife kept raving on how good the books were. She was up to four read and kept talking about them. I finished another novel and decided it was time. What a interesting story. Especially living in Michigan all my life I found so much research had been done on all of Michigan and Canada also. We in Michigan always have a close relationship with Canada. Many of us have one side of the family from Canada as the auto industry had once brought them here. The book certainly was interesting and the plot gave you great cause to wonder almost to the last pages. I would recommend it highly.

In this Alex McKnight mystery, Hamilton pairs Alex and Vinnie LeBlanc to search for Vinnie's missing brother in the forests of Northern Ontario. Tom, Vinnie's brother, led a hunting expedition for four Detroit businessmen and then disappeared. Together Alex and Vinnie must find out what happened to him and why. This is Hamilton's best McKnight adventure since A Cold Day in Paradise. Alex's dogged nature shines through, as he remains fiercely loyal to Vinnie and is willing to sacrifice everything for the truth. Get ready for a great outdoors expedition in Canada. Hamilton is an excellent writer, and there's nothing better than reading an Alex McKnight mystery. It is my favorite mystery series.