Forbes Books

I usually pick up a book for three reasons: 1) to read becasue it's a good one and I can't put it down 2) because I need to learn something or study something and 3) because I have a habit of reading a book while I have a snack. This latest one by Colin Forbes definitely falls into the third catergory. Why? Well, you can eliminate the 2nd catergory for sure. Let me explain. For years I have picked up books by Colin Forbes - our library has a huge collection of his books. After reading this one I think he'd better definitely stick to the Tweed & Paula Gray series. Golden Ape disappointed me - Arabs again! The rest of the family agreed with me on this point - there are definitely too many novels and stories with Arabs being the bad guys because of oil prices and deals made through OPEC etc. Enough is enough! Why add another? They tend to bore. Golden Ape was no exception. I expected something else after the hijack of the oil tanker - but nothing! I was left very disappointed. The supposed climax of the story - well, it wasn't much of a climax. But I do admire Forbes for how much depth he created in his characters - I find that that seems to come easy to him and in this case - Winter was a great success on his own but as part of the book - well, there was a big difference in the characters. A lot like a bar graph: when it came to the characters, the bar would shoot up, when it came to the plot and story line it would hover below zero. Minus points for originality, plus points for character. It sounds like someone definitely ran out of oil or gas or petrol on this one and it wasn't the US or UK.

Rita Mae Brown was best known as the author of RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE--until 1990, when she published WISH YOU WERE HERE. Set in the tiny town of Crozet, Virginia, the novel focused on over-qualified and recently divorced Mary "Harry" Haristeen, who solved a grisly murder mystery with the aid of her animal companions. It was a popular success, and other books quickly followed: REST IN PIECES, MURDER AT MONTICELLO, and PAY DIRT to name but three.

In terms of "murder mystery," Brown's plots were scarcely in the same league with the likes of Christie, Sayers, or Marsh--but she presented these books with tremendous charm, building up repeating characters that readers came to look forward to seeing again in each new release. In 1999, however, CAT ON THE SCENT had not only a weak plot but a slightly strained quality as well, and most subsequent titles in the series have followed in declining suit.

SOUR PUSS finds Crozet and its surrounding areas beset with grape farmers and wineries, and to a certain extent the plot revolves around the pests and diseases to which grapes are subject. In her introduction, Brown writes that she received a "cartload" of information of the subject, and I believe her, because she seems to do her level best to cram every iota of it into the book. Along the way she also takes a glance at biological terrorism, West Nile virus, bird 'flu, and global warming. The first one hundred pages of the book read like a haphazard disseration.

When the plot does at last kick in, right around chapter seventeen, SOUR PUSS becomes much more readable--but I found the plot singularly transparent, and the characters have lost much of their interest. In the past, Brown created characters who were amusing in their faults and flaws: the dour "Big" Mim and her snooty daughter "Little Mim;" man-trap BoomBoom Craycroft; Bible-thumping Miranda Hogendobber; and many others added to the fun. Now, however, all these characters have lost the eccentricities that made them so entertaining in the first place. They are reduced to the merely likeable and as such no longer seem fresh or original enough to hold attention.

Now and then Brown's gifts do surface--but she's also gotten lazy in her writing. Nowhere is her "nervous tick" of writing a paragraph as a single sentence so obvious as in SOUR PUSS; indeed, there are so many of them that I began to suspect they were specifically written in this fashion to take up more space on the page. On the whole, the book reads very much like a first or maybe second draft that Brown couldn't be bothered to give a final polish before it went to the publisher.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

13 proves to be unlucky for Ms. Brown as the 13th book in this series is pretty unreadable. I look forward to new installments and was very disappointed in this book. The plot is thin and the book is overloaded with heavy handed lectures and dialogue that is contrived, artificial and pedantic. Too much research on 'slew' of subjects and not enough attention paid to the whole point of writing the book in the first place.....to tell a good story! Sadly, there was not much story, not much mystery and not much reason to buy this book.

This book reminded me of Arthur Hailey in his later years - not a good thing. Just dump a bunch of factual research and then put cardboard characters and a lame plot around it. At least Hailey didn't go out of his way to insult everyone who had the unforgivable bad taste to be born somewhere other than Virginia.

I've read every one of the Sneaky Pie mysteries and was astonished to have revealed in this book that Harry had an affair after her divorce from Fair. To me, that was contrary to everything we knew about her life and emotional growth in the previous books. It felt like sloppy writing in service of a plot device.

Sadly, this is the end of Mrs. Murphy for me. I didn't even make it halfway through this book.

If you've never read any of the Sneaky Pie books--don't buy this one! Start at the beginning (Wish You Were Here) as this was once a great series, and read the books in sequence until you begin to get bored--then STOP!! The series only gets worse.

The wonderful warm characters have lost their charm, the "mysteries" have become flat and nonexistent, and the books have been weighted down with too much technical information.

Ms. Brown also has begun using her books as a soapbox for her many opinions. While it is interesting to find out an author's views, she goes on and on...and on.

as I did when the criminal's motive was revealed. In the first place, the criminal was totally obvious, yet when the moment of denouement came I was dumbstruck, and not in a good way. I guess sometimes *fiction* is stranger than *truth* in spite of the old cliche.
I greatly, greatly enjoyed the Mrs. Murphy mysteries for the first several books, but all good things must come to an end, and my enjoyment certainly did. After finishing "Sour Puss" I went to my bookshelf and pulled out "Wish You Were Here" and began re-reading it. I was really surprised at how much the series has changed since its beginnings. A good many of the characters have strayed so far from their original characterizations as to be almost brand new people. Naturally one would expect the characters to evolve as do all people. I really do miss Harry being at the heart of the town of Crozet...she never should have left the post office.
As always, the animals' observations are the only reason why I continue reading.

This is the first book I read by Belva Plain and I really liked it. It's about three college graduates to keep in touch although who have very different life styles. It's a bit slow reading, but interesting to see how their lives develop. The ending caught me by surprise and made me want to read more of her books. I would recommend this book, but my husband didn't like it at all. Guess it's one you either love or hate.

An interesting story of 3 girls who went to College and graduated together. After graduation they remained in close contact with each other because they lived in the same area. Amanda married Norma's brother so that she could improve her social standing and rise above her poor, uneducated Southern roots. Cecile, the aristocrat, married well and remained in the same social circle as before. Norma, a smart but unattractive girl, finally married her soul mate after much waiting. The three remained friends until circumstances beyond their control caused them to react and defend themselves. A realistic love story with twists and turns of fate.

This is my first Belva Plain endeavor. I must say that I really did enjoy it! It was nice to find a story that is just a good story and not another murder mystery (although someone does die). The three main characters were enjoyable, however, I do agree that they were not as developed as they could have been. Yes, the ending was depressing, but I am sure these sorts of situations happen in life all of the time. I have already purchased another novel by Ms. Plain entitled "The Sight of the Stars" and I am looking forward to reading it in the near future as there are about 19 books ahead of it in my "to read" stack. I recommend this one without reservation, a good, fast, engaging read.
Guy De Rosa
Los Angeles, California

Belva Plain came highly recommended, and my book club chose "Looking Back" for the month's selection. Many of the ladies in the book club had read Belva Plain previously and had loved everything they read.

That said, I was sorely disappointed in "Looking Back." It read like a shallow romance....and that was evident from the very beginning. There's the pretty girl from bad roots, the elegant rich girl, and the rich girl with too-large calves. They're all friends in college and begin their adult lives near each other.

The story is so obvious. You know what's going to happen before it happens. You don't guess what's going to happen -- you KNOW what's going to happen. The book truly has zero depth.

The writing style isn't special. The characters are under-developed. My recommendation is to move on to another book before even wasting your time.

I happened to borrow the audio version of this from my library, and I should preface this by saying I had no prior interest in Belva Plain, as she does not fit into the typical categories I might seek out for an interesting read. That being said, this is an utterly dull story. There is nothing believable about the relationships that form in the book, and the lack of drama is astounding. NOTHING HAPPENS AT ALL till the very end of the book, and by then you are so bored your brain has no response left. I'm sure there must be something that other readers find appealing, as she seems to have a large following, but if this is any testament to the scope of her writing, I will pass on future editions of her work.

On top of the terrible story line, the reader of the audio book has terrible presentation, which makes the whole thing even more grueling. Given that I am in the car two hours a day commuting, this was almost more painful than having to drive in silence. Really, I can't imagine where they picked her up from either (although I suppose all the class A orators wouldn't touch this book, and probably couldn't have helped much anyway). It's almost funny to listen to her interpretation of any of the men in the story.

This really is an upset. Their is nothing in this (very short) book that you can't come up with yourself.

One project included is for a cup... You take a piece of pipe, put an end cap on, and there is your cup. That IS an actual project from the book. I'm not kidding or exaggerating.

I wouldn't recommend this book even to a child looking to just have fun. A kid could come up with more interesting projects on his own.

They actually have plans for a PVC walking stick. Weapons? String two footlong pieces together to make nunchucks, etc. I guarantee anyone out there could write this book in 15 minutes. A terrible waste of money, I'm sorry I bought it.

This book is interesting and informative. I have a lot of new projects to work on. The directions are easy to understand and the projects sparked other ideas for me.

This book has a couple of novel ideas for things that could be made with PVC but they are so basic that anyone who is the least bit handy around the house/shop could make them without the book. The only plus is that, if you did want to build one of these projects, the book gives a materials list and the measurement so you dont have to figure that stuff out yourself.

Had it been from a local store I would have returned it, but it isnt worth the shipping to send it back to Amazon.

Okay, so you read the title. What a rip off. Most of these ideas are just plain stupid. Use a section of 6" pipe with a cap on the end as a bucket. But, my all time favorite is to use two small pipes with caps. You are to place two roofing nails through the caps and cover the nails with cork. Then thread para-cord throught he ends and wear them around your neck. These are to be used while ice fishing. If you fall through the ice you just grab one in each hand and jab them into the ice. The cork will fall away and those cheap roofing nails will dig into the ice. Most of the ideas are not even worth mentioning. Like placing two pieces of pvc pipe together in an 'x' to make a bi-pod for a rifle. It is just endless usless, stupid ideas that follow one after another as you turn the pages. Just place 'pvc projecs' into any seach engine and get real ideas that work. I hate this book so much, the only reason I keep it is to remind me not to by stupid publications like this again in the future. What a waste of time and money. And to think the author actually got paid to write a second book!!

i was really disappointed reading this book- the dialogues were corny, giving useless information (and in a rather stupid maner, might i add), un-explained actions which only seemed to serve the plot, and a general feeling that the author has read too many pulp fiction and cloak and dagger books, and REALLY wanted to write one, too. the lines are so over dramatic, that you can actually envision the scene ending with a soap-opera close-up.
absolutely terrible....
avoid at all cost!!

I had to check to see when this was written, because it is so devoid of current technology, it could easily have been written in the 60s or 70s. The villain, Dr. Goslar, is one of those all-powerful shadowy figures usually seen in pulp fiction (e.g., Fu Manchu). If he is so powerful and such a threat with some new biological weapon, why are there only a few agents attempting to bring him down? And why does Goslar fail again and again to kill them? There is also a plot twist involving sisters which I saw coming at least three hundred pages early. Weak, especailly when stacked up against say, Frederick Forsyth or Andy McNab.

Ah, but we love Colin Forbes for this! His books are so entertaining. This is his latest thriller(at least until RHINOCEROS comes out) and is up to his usual standards! The main characters are once again Britain's best MI6 agents Tweed, Paula Grey and Bob Newman. Along witb ace sniper Marler and also heavies Pete Nield and Harry Butler, they are up against the evil genius Dr Goslar who has perfected a bio-chemical weapon of mass destruction. France, hungry for Euro-domination, wants this weapon, and sends agents of their own after Goslar. America's military is also after it - who will reach Goslar first? Along the way, Paula Grey is kidnapped, a former British Army weapons expert Brigadier Adam Burgoyne helps out - but whose side is he really on? The action of this story takes place in Geneva and also the French town of Annecy. Forbes describes his locations authentically, I have visited Annecy myself when Inter-Railing five years ago and could relate to these parts of the book well. The climax and final twists in the plot are well unexpected too. Add to all this two token ladies also trying to get to Goslar, Serena Cavendish and Judy Warner who Tweed cannot trust and you have a real top potboiler of a novel! In typical Forbes vein, the narrative does contain some unintentionally funny lines. For instance:

(p.1) Tweed, talking to a police inspector: 'I told you Roy. Because of the message that came into SIS headquarters in London. From that evil genius, Dr. Goslar!'

(p.45) Tweed: 'La Defense? That's the amazing business centre in Paris with incredibly tall buildings.'

(p. 341) The main rotor blade struck him just below the jaw, sliced off his head.(poor grammar!) It flew through the air like a melon, a leaking red melon.

Not to mention Goslar's mansion called GARGOYLE TOWERS. But it's all great. clean fun. And of course, they all get to stay in the best hotels and drink litres of champagne and wine in between tracking the baddies. Hugely entertaining.

Barely 70 pages total, this book consists of a number of not always clear photos, a few diagrams, some history and some info on how to make yourself a suit with a few tips on using it. Paladin Press books are always a little pricey for what you get, at least Amazon gives a good deal.
I found that the author seems to favor adapting BDU's (military uniform shirts & pants)and poncho's by sewing a variety of materials onto them. He gives some instruction and tips on that as well as suggested lists of materials. I guess this little book is all right but I'd like it to have been about twice as long with more information on making suits and a LOT more on using them.

I was suprised at how small this book was. The only color pictures are on the front and back of the book. The book talks about different styles, and history. However there are actually very little of the working details that one would actually need if they were building a suit using this workbook. The books lists materials one would need to build a suit, which is great, but there are very little other details one would need.
Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book to someone who is planning on building their own suit.

For an unway traveller.

A Tom Clancy this man is not. Nothing here is worthy of belief. Maybe the author should try his hand at fantasy that's all his book cracked up to be. The book SUCKED. DO NOT BUY THIS BOOK.

I don't even know why Amazon is wasting any hardisk space on this clunker of a book.

Though who says he has to be Tom Clancy? He's Forbes and I have to disagree with the negative comment this book recieved. I've read it a few times now and enjoyed it every time. Sure some things are unrealistic, but no reason why they can't be. I personally don't mind when a hero pulls off an impossible feat or two.

Journey to Inner Earth with Olaf over 10,000 miles on a voyage that will amaze! A journey that will start in Norway, enter the 1400 mile wide aperature at the North Pole into Inner Earth, and return two years later through the South Pole. Inner Earth is similar to outer Earth. Even though there is a central sun, there also is day and night! Gaze with wonder at the 1000 ft. tall trees. Snack on grapes that are as large as oranges. Encounter birds with 30 ft. wingspans that lay 2 ft. long eggs. Espy herds of giant elephants 75 ft. tall. The 9 ft. tall penguins that scurry and waddle away from you. View beaches of tortoises with shells 30 ft. long. Even the people there are huge... 10 to 12 ft., unless you are a captain of a ship (then you are taller) or the ruler (yes, even taller still). Don't worry though. No man-eating animals. Everyone is pretty benign too. They all go to school for 10 years to study music, then 20 years to learn how to tend herds and such (and also study ASTRONOMY... really!) Don't worry, they live to be around 700 years old on average. They are pretty interested in outer Earth, so be prepared to answer questions for them and draw maps. You don't know their language, but they will teach you. It is like Sanskrit says Olaf, but all the names sound of Hebrew origin. Scientists, take note! The Earth's crust is only 600 miles thick. On the other side of it is an ecosystem where everything is better. Unlike outer earth, the oceans of inner earth only cover 20 percent or so of the area. Surprisingly it rains once a day though. Oh, and those fresh water icebergs at the poles... they came from ther rivers of inner earth. Investors... Hello! They have PLENTY of gold there and give it away freely. Buildings are lined with it (gems and jewels also). Let me give you one word of advice though. Take a very good boat with you! You will likely enter through the North Pole and exit through the South Pole. Even if you bring and old sloop, you will have to take it back with you. They will not give you another boat! As long as you make it out the South Pole exit, everything should be OK. Even if your ship happens to collides with an iceberg, there are rescue boats that can spot you from a half mile away. Whatever you do, don't tell them about inner earth! They will lock you up! Wait until you are about to die and hand off your memoirs to someone you trust. In your memoirs, don't say in your conclusion that "One part of my brain was certainly becoming maniacal... I felt that I should go mad." If you read this book and are left yearning for more real-life adventures, I thoroughly recommend The Life of Pi... the wild adventures and a true account of a young Indian boy lost asea with a crew of zoo animals...

This book was given to me by a friend I highly respect. When he gave me a summary of the book, I thought it was a little far fetched. However, as I began to read this first-hand account, my opinion started to change.

Overall the book was an excellent read. Being that it was written in the mid 1850's, the language was a bit different from what we use today. Also, the author spends too much time, in my opinion, describing his journey into the earth. It would have been much better if he devoted more chapters to his experience while being inside for 2 years.

The United State has only one thing for it: the concept of the US willing to take over UK as the 51th state.
Besides, no character has any depth at all, detailled plots have no credibility whatsoever, the same absurd sub-plot is delivered 5 times, don't feel obliged to read even if you find it left over a train.

In Colin Forbes's 25th novel, Britain's best MI6 secret agents Tweed, Paula Grey and Bob Newman are back, along with regular characters such as marksman Marler and heavies Butler and Nield. In the opening pages, the director of the CIA, Cord Dillon, is saved from a bullet by Paula Grey. The Prime Minister is assassinated by a mystery sniper known only to MI6 as The Phantom(oh dear, mediocre nickname!). Then chaos reigns in London as terrorist bombs explode at power stations, department stores and in Oxford Street. Who are the protagonists? The action moves from the UK and the county of Kent across Europe to Switzerland and Germany's Black Forest, where the good guys discover a frightening conspiracy so audacious it seems only a miracle will prevent it . . . and why is Tweed faced with open hostility at the US Embassy while investigating the attempt on Cord Dillon's Life? Read on and you will find out! Top US diplomat Werner Morgenstern and also Sharon Mandeville, a woman of mystery with connections high up in thw White House seem to know more than they let on. The story takes on a dramatic twist as Morgenstern presents Tweed with an additional conspiracy theory: the US is planning to incorporate Britain into its own system as its 51st state. Hmmm. Overall, in spite of a blatant anti-American stance in parts which may seem inappropriate now, this book is still worth a read due to an intriguing plot(if somewhat unoriginal in places, borrowed in part from Robert Ludlum's THE PARSIFAL MOSIAC with its high-up-in-the-White-House corruptibles), a fast paced narrative, well researched locations and all the regular characters drinking plenty of champagne and staying in the best hotels as ever! Good old Colin Forbes!

I've just finished reading this novel and quite frankly, I wonder why Colin Forbes bothers. If it had been written by a new author it would be rejected out of hand by publishers. The plot is silly, the dialogue stilted and completely unrealistic, and the characters one-dimensional and stereotypic. The Americans are mostly of the stupid, arrorant and thuggish type (and we know they aren't all like that, don't we!). The sophisticated Yanks prove to be either nutters or British agents!

Forbes' knowledge of firearms seems to have slipped, he names pistols (always old-fashioned ones) but not longarms. Everyone seems to be armed with "machine pistols" which is old terminology. The only rifle he knows seems to be the Armalite which is also rarely used these days.

The use of technology is odd, too. Tweed allegedly mistrusts mobile phones and yet ends up using them throughout the book after Beck lends him some..the final action, where the British defeat the Americans (and Seals, no less) utterly, sees Tweed controlling his forces using mobiles! No "out of area" for him. Ludicrous and stupid.

The whole book is a waste of time in the reading and a waste of print and paper. Forbes should stick to travelogues, he obviously enjoys the travel and that is the one plus in this novel, the descriptions of European towns and cities.

This book gets one star because that's the least you can give.

I have never read a worse book in my life. Let me rephrase that: I have never partially read a worse book in my life. Anybody who actually finishes this book is illiterate, paid to read it or astonishingly brave.

At the time I purchased this book I really was excited thinking that for once someone actually published a book that specifically talked about the lives and conditions of African based American women and children during the Civil War. As Holly Near would say, "imagine my surprise" and I am not talking about pirated women on a ship. I am a researcher desperately looking for specifics and I thought this book would be crucial to my research so I purchased it.

This book has a lot of history that you should have learned in high school about the civil war in general camouflaged with information from the US Sanitary Commission you may not have been able to come across in high school.

Based upon the preface, this book was supposed to focus on a text of history about black women's experiences during the civil war. In my honest opinion it is written for general history wanna-be buffs, and unconscious civil war almost scholars who do not know about the US Colored Troops or just haven't thought much about them, or only want limited information or knowledge.

I can not stress the importance of feminist, womanist and historical researchers not being able to call African, African-based American, and Women of Color and Culture's by their actual names out in historical text and not redundantly keep printing the same old history that a lot of us already know. If this does not seem to be an issue, then ask the author why she in fact is not able to give much credence to their real names. Can someone supply a muster roll of the women and children "contrabands and refugee's" who supposingly caused a lot of undocumented racket in the camps? Forbes writes in the preface, if women are the focus, the perspective belongs to white women," of which entire book mirrors.

Recommendation: before you purchase this book, request it through the Interlibrary loan system through your public or university library and save yourself some serious money. With the money you save, give to a charitable cause.