Turner Books

India Blake, the wife of Edward, a wealthy political lobbyist has disappeared. The police assume she has absconded with an unknown lover and faked a kidnapping. But when her body is discovered three months later in a box by York Racecourse, it gets the cop's attention. They get more interested when they find out about the two and a half million pound life insurance policy Edward had taken out on India only a year earlier and the life insurance company wants Sam Turner to investigate.

Now Baker shifts the narrative and we are drawn into the story of Sam's wife Dora, who is in pain and dying of cancer. We see her through the memories she wanders through as Sam cares for her.

Because of his wife's condition, Sam isn't eager to accept the case for the insurance company, so he hands it off to his team, continuing characters Marie and Geordie. However the case just doesn't want to leave Sam alone.

WALKING WITH GHOSTS is at times dark and disturbing as it moves between Dora's deathbed memories and the case at hand. The reader is drawn into a tale of political and personal corruption that she will never forget. She will never forget Dora either and she will never forget this wonderful story that gets five stars from me.

Reviewed by Vesta Irene

As author of the book, "Gaijin Shogun, Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Stepfather of Postwar Japan" which focuses on the Occupation period, and a former member of Gen. MacArthur's Honor Guard, I was interested to read "War Crimes." It was brought to my attention by another former member of the honor guard, the brother of the author, Samuel Thurman.

The author, a young G.I. in occupied Japan was assigned to the International Military Tribunal as a page, and though only about 20 years old, he took a deep interest in the proceedings, so much so that he collected many of the written records. These records contained extensive testimonies of witnesses, prosecution and defense statements, and other related matters. M.J. Thurman, who was called Joe, collected boxes of these documents with the thought in mind that he would do something with them one day. Those days turned out to be decades later after a military career and a subsequent civilian career. Not long before his death he completed his manuscript, which was impressive in its size and detail, but not ready for publication. After Joe died his daughter Christine, an experienced lawyer, took up the task of shaping the manuscript into something acceptable for publication and brother Samuel assisted in getting the book published.

This is a sad book to read. It presents a detailed picture of war crimes, often too gross to contemplate, but a record that needs to be told and registered in the public consciousness. The book brings attention to those individuals (28 charged,) whose crimes were so heinous, or whose callous influence so deep and widespread that they were rightly tried as war criminals. All were also surrogates for thousands of others who could have been tried had the court elected to pursue them. Though it was a trial for individuals, one could not conclude that the crimes were just those of aberrant personalties. Responsibility should also fall heavily on the shoulders of the government of that period that created and perpetuated an atmosphere of radicalism and hatred, with little or no regard for the human dignity of others.

Story after story by witnesses recount multiple autrocities of small scale and large scale, such as the Rape of Nanking and the Rape of Manila, with few accounts of mercy or compassion for civilian populations or prisoners of war that fell into the hands of the Japanese.

At the top of the power structure of those brought to trial was Hideki Tojo, who attempted to commit suicide during the trial. Tojo was for many years in the position of power to mastermind the quest for domination of the East. Arguments were made at the time to place the emperor, Hirohito, right along side of Tojo, or at a more responsible position. However, Gen. MacArthur used his considerable influence to prevent the emperor from being charged as a war criminal, as he felt this would seriously undermine the ability of the Allies to bring order to Japan.

The book presents in detail, sometimes repetitively so, all that the subject deserves. It will be an important reference for those who wish to know more of Japan's ugly history of war and expansion and will deter revisionists in their attempts to deny, obfuscate, and ignore the past. It is unfortunate that Japan, a nation of good and well intentioned people today, will not realistically face up to their past. Until they do they will forever earn the enmity, particularly of other Asians,of those they so disabused.

I bought this book for my Western Civilization class and I was very happy with it. The authors did a great job. Particularly pleasing was the way the book before each chapter had the timeline for all the events covered in that specific chapter. This helped one get a better grip on what happened first and what came after that. I would recommend this book.

i bought this online and saved like $50(used) the book is interesting

Turner has searched out the documentary evidence of the life of servants in Britain. His book readily quotes sources without it interfering with the text and what remains is a highly entertaining and obviously well-researched book.

The life of servants is generally not well known. They were neither so literate that they would write about their lives, nor would their accounts generally be well-received.

Turner has made use of a variety of sources including pamphlets written by Daniel Defore and Swift, as well as the only 18th century account known to exist of a man-servant.

It is difficult to imagine, now, the clear class distincitions which were so entrenched in Britain of the 17th, 18th and 19th century - even into the twentieth century. Where the upper class knew their place, as did the servant classes. Turner ably describes the millieu in which the system of servant and servitude thrived. And also clearly and at times with high amusement, describes the pros and cons of it all.

It seems Man servants were better paid than their female counterparts, (well some things haven't changed!) despite females generally having to do more work and having to provide their own clothes. Amusingly, one of the great challenges of richer households was the footman - and having a matched set of them highly prized (all the same height etc) so if there were any problems in a household it was generally the female servant who would be asked to leave rather than breaking a 'set' of footmen.

The book is divided into various chapters including Male and Female branches with each role clearly examined, along with conditions of servitude, even 'black boys'. This book is a great resource for historians, or those keen on understanding the circumstances of employment of servants, who did it, how much and conditions - also the problems of hiring them.

This book was originally published in 1962 and this is a reprint. P G Wodehouse wrote highly of it - and you can't beat him as an author for his biting satire on the servant vs upper classes.

With broom in hand and chores to do, Melissa ties on her dancing shoes. She curtsies to her slender partner, and the dust begins to fly. With a gay gavotte and a Highland fling, she reels into her work. Dishes clatter and kittens scatter before the flurry of her broom. Optimism lightens her humble duty, and brightens the room just as surely, as Melissa cleans the room.

This book reads with a breathless exuberance, and as the pages swiftly turn, Melissah appears almost animated. Its contagious energy invites the reader to attack life with lighthearted determination.

I originally purchased this book in London and read it on a flight back to New York. It has been out in England for a couple of months and has been reviewed in the press over there. The book outlines a radical but intelligent solution to the problem of global warming, without shutting down the world's economy or adopting the draconian mandates of the Kyoto Protocol. This is more timely now, given Bush's decision to end US participation in the climate change negotiations. I should also add that the book is actually very well written and quite funny. It would certainly irritate the most righteous environmentalists of the world, and for that alone it is worth buying and reading.

this book is an absolute keeper in my self the best Turner has written

Sullivan Jones has returned to Texas for revenge.

He soon finds out that his fued with his father will never be resolved. He father is dead and has lost the Jones Ranch that has been in the family for five generations. He wants it back.

So, -- Rose MacDonald is now owner of his ranch and betrayer of his love. Five years ago she married his nemisis Frank MacDonald who later forclosed on the Lazy J ranch.

Travis Jones drank his ranch into ruin and lose. The biggest shock comes when Sullivan finds Rose trying to load her bull into the stock trailer and he learns that she is 7 months pregnant.

Rose is in desperate need of a foreman and that suited Sullivan just fine, he would make Rose fall in love with him again and marry her. He would own the Lazy J again.

The story keeps getting better and better -- what with running the two ranches and delivering a baby and falling into his own trap Sullivan struggles to keep his heart intact. The baby helps do him in.

It sure does take them a bit of time to clear up so many misunderstandings. But what a wonderful love story.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED --M You will probably want to read this one again.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to imagine what life was like. Pam is a very talented person and I hope to hear more from her. God has blessed her with 3 wonderful children and a good husband and a gift of gab and the ability to write true to life. Love you Pam!!