Windsor Books

good book club . lots of similar experiences between blind wife and soldier husband.

Canadian author Frances Itani had a promising idea to write about the education and early life of a girl struck deaf in infancy, as her own grandmother was at the turn of the last century. And it was an intriguing one to contrast her silent world with the cacophony of the western front in World War I. The novel that results contains interesting characters and effective passages, but it is too diffuse to really work.

Grania O'Neill -- the name is an anglicization of the Irish for "love" -- loses her hearing at the age of five as a result of scarlet fever. She wakens to a world shaped and contained by words, but where language is deceptive and words have to be agonizingly relearned. She has an ally in her grandmother Mamo; the relationship between the two is the most lovely thing in the book. But I found the early chapters repetitive and could never enter fully into Grania's world. I was more interested in the relatively brief section dealing with her time at a special boarding school and the battle between the two theories of education for the deaf: sign language and the oral method.

As a young adult, Grania falls in love and marries. But it is 1915, and her husband Jim goes off to war as a medical orderly. The unusual perspective makes some of the war writing quite powerful, occasionally approaching the intensity of classics such as Sebastian Faulks' BIRDSONG. And the scenes back in Canada show something even less often written about, a picture of wartime life on the home front. But the fact remains that there is an ocean between Grania and Jim, and their parallel stories barely connect. Still, a few touching episodes do manage to bridge the gap, as when one of their friends returns wounded and mute, and Grania teaches him once more to talk.

This is a book that needed to dwell in language and sound, and above all in silence. It calls for an almost abstract style that can handle ideas and sensations rather than events -- poetry rather than prose. The steady narrative that Itani offers contains much that will interest and even move its readers, but for this reader at least the most exciting promises are lost.

It is only March and I have already voted this book for my Book of the Year Award, which I normally select toward the end of the year. This book was beautifully written. You could see the human emotions coming through the characters and it made me want to keep turning the pages to see what was going to happen. You feel both sorrow and joy in the characters. Frances Itani knows the human heart and displays it so well on paper. Great job! I am going to make this book a part of my permanent library.

A beautiful book. So wonderfully written that savoring the words was a joy, never mind the sensitive yet powerful story. Though the topics -- deafness, World War One -- suggest a very grim work, it ends up being a powerful affirmation of life.

This book deserves to be much more widely known than it is; it's an excellent example of how even good books deserve ample promotion, as I think that it's a lot better than some major recent best-sellers. I was pleased to see in a bookstore recently that it's won an award.

A great novel!

This book, by Francis Itani, revolves around the world of a girl/woman who as acquired deafness through childhood illness. The setting is initially in Ontario, Canada in the late 1800's and then eventually alternating between Ontario and the European theater of World War I.

I must admit I had some difficultly getting into this work, but I persevered and I'm glad I did, because this book is truly a magnificent read. Once committed, I could barely stand to put the book down.

As with all great books, what makes this book special, is the quality of the writing. The prose just seemed to flow effortlessly off the pages as time melted away. You learn things about deafness, quietness and darkness that you never really noticed before; you begin to appreciate what people without hearing have to endure to get through an hour, a day or a lifetime. There were a couple of occasions in this book where I was taken aback with a new revelation regarding deafness; where I would just let this book slip to my lap and think about what I'd just read.

There are parts in this book that are not for the faint of heart; some of the description of the trench warfare in France and Belgium are very graphic and disturbing. (but, most likely, accurate)

All in all, a story that is quietly beautiful and at the same time beautifully sad. Really, one of my favorite books. If I had to compare it to another book for quality, beauty and heartrending appeal, then I'd pick Charles Frazier's " Cold Mountain". Both books have that intangible timeless aura to them that separate them from their peers.
Highly recommended!

Is blood thicker than, well ..... diamonds! Wilbur Smith, writing in 1971, explores the rivalry between an estranged foster-child and heir to the Van Der Byl diamond fortune and his rival "brother" Benedict. Throw in the love of a woman and whammo you gotta adventure novel.

"The Diamond Hunters", while not Smith's best novel, is nevertheless a fantastic read. As Smith's has matured over the years his novels have become a bit more tedious. Not so with Hunters.

"The Diamond Hunters" comes right at you from the first page. There is action, adventure, love and scenery.

Just about every Wilbur Smith novel is good. This one will not disappoint you. It is fun, fast and entertaining. Well worth your time...

Densel Myers
Yukon, Oklahoma

I am sorry the books were a gift but the recepent gives great reviews and wishes to have more from that auther'

Wilbur Smith just proves how good he is this is a must read book with characteristics of betrayal and loyalty coming into the fray.The ending was not finished strongly but never the less another work of art by Wilbur Smith

This novel was written over 30 years ago. It is not as polished as his newer books but it contains all the elements that make Smith one of the masters of action and adventure. Exotic locale, unforgettable characters and a prose that takes you `there'.

Let Wilbur take you to a trip to Africa, you will be coming back for more.

I have seen Wilbur Smith novels on the bookshelves for years but for one reason or another none of them had ever really piqued my interest, but while browsing in an airport bookstore looking for something to read on a long flight I picked this one up and as I began to read I found that my flight was too short. I didn't want to be interrupted for something as trivial as changing flights. I intend to read more Wilbur Smith in the near future.

The way Smith builds the story of Johnny Lance being an outcast and the way that he discovers the truth about his childhood and the animosity that builds between him and his foster brother Benedict Van der Byle makes for a spellbinding read. Smith's descriptions of the African landscape and exotic locations are well written without being over-done. When he describes Thunderbolt and Suicide you can smell the salt air and see the foamy spray shooting skyward and hear the crashing of the huge waves against the unyielding rock formations.

Like all fiction stories this one is not for everyone, but if you enjoy action/adventure, emphasis on action you will find this a very enjoyable read.

I forget how good Dick Francis mystery's are. This was a great plot. Tor Kelsey works for the British Jockey Club and is asked to take a Transcontinental Canadian Train from Toronto to Vancouver with a bunch of horses, their owners, their grooms and a mystery tour. Disguised as a waiter, Kelsey is watching a villain the Club has been trying to catch for years. Julious Appollo Filmer is suspected of murder but it was never proven. So Kelsey is trying to catch him in an act of law breaking so he can be banished from racing forever. What he doesn't know is, he will actually enjoy the ride himself, even if he is a lowly waiter. I was given a Dick Francis book by my Aunt because she knew I liked horses. And yes, Francis's books are loaded with information on horses. But the mystery in these books are some of the best. It's been a while since I have engaged in a Dick Francis mystery. After reading this, it has me anxious to get lost in another.

This Francis novel combines racehorses with a Canadian rail excursion. If you love trains, this is the Francis novel for you. While the hero, Tor Kelsey is trying to outthink a villain, the race train riders are having a murder mystery enacted by professional actors. But who are the actors and who are the real villains? Take this thrilling ride to find out.

This is an easier read than most of Francis' works. This book uses an interesting premise and location for a horse mystery (on a train). I think you'll like it if you suspend your "serious" reader side for a bit!

The train ride in Canada, a nice different setting, with the same mystery as most of his novels. Definately worth a read

While Dick Francis is best known for his easy-going mysteries involving horse racing, this book can be called one of the better railroad mystery novels. It may not be in the same class as Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express, but most of the action does take place either on board a train or at a race track.

Like most railroad mystery novels, the setting and details are at least partially contrived. Imagine crossing Canada on a private train known as The Great Transcontinental Mystery Race Train which transports racegoers, horse owners and their horses while making stops for horse races. Railfans will find a lot of interest here including a private car, schedules, dispatching, switching, flagging, white flags, and even rail sabotage.

Our hero, Tor Kelsey from the English Jockey Club, comes on board the train in disguise to watch a British horse owner suspected of murder and extortion. Tor immediately gets involved with the crew and with train activities. Particularly noteworthy is the mystery within a mystery as actors present an on-board mystery as the train (and story) progresses.

Unusual for Francis, there is also a romantic theme. Our hero meets and becomes interested in a young lady, and this also develops as the train speeds on. This novel is not a nail-biter but moves along at the typical Francis leisurely but entertaining pace. He does a masterful job of interweaving so many different themes (horse racing, railroading, sabotage, romance, and a mystery play) into one great story,

I found this to be an enjoyable thriller. The most entertaining aspect about it was the backdrop of World War Two before it had reached its boiling point. The characters were of limited depth and the plot is not water-proof. It is easy and quick reading. If one does not expect more than a spy/crime thriller, the book will be worthwhile.

Few books that call themselves "thrillers" actually thrill, mistaking extravagant action scenes and prodigious gouts of violence for suspense; but this book is a redeeming and gripping exception. It is marvelously effective, sinking its hooks into the reader's emotions as viscerally as a book could do. One feels genuinely afraid for Graham, the out-of-his-depth protagonist who must survive a trip from Istanbul to London just as World War II is breaking out, despite hostile agents who will stop at nothing to prevent him from carrying dangerous knowledge home.

Ironically, the tension is never stronger than when Graham thinks he has figured his situation out and is confident of his chances; for anyone who has read Ambler knows that he cannot have seen farther ahead than his experienced, professional and resourceful enemy. As Graham repeatedly sees his naïve reasoning undone, the reader experiences the same tightening of the guts that he must. Throughout, Ambler's narrative skill is superb, as when Graham observes his enemy "inspecting him: secretly, as the hangman inspects the man whom he is to execute the following morning; mentally weighing him, looking at his neck, calculating the drop."

The plot is very well done, and deceptively complex: though at first it appears to be merely a high-stakes game of hide-and-seek, Ambler does a beautiful job of choosing exactly the right moments to reveal that there has been quite a lot more going on than met the eye. The emotional tension of the story makes these revelations all the more effective.

My only complaint is that there is a point, fairly early in the book, where Ambler masks his intentions just a bit too much; all indications are that Graham has escaped danger, and the reader's only clues to the contrary are the fact that there are still very many pages remaining, and the frustratingly inappropriate spoilers given on the book's back cover (avoid reading this if you can). However, this is soon made up for, and eventually it becomes impossible to put the book down. Highly recommended.

This intriguing tale by legendary spymaster Eric Ambler is set in the very early days of WWII. It revolves around an English engineer named Graham (we never do learn his first name). Most of the narrative unfolds aboard an Italian steamer as it makes its way from Istanbul to Genoa carrying Graham and an international mix of fellow passengers.

An expert on naval ordnance, Mr. Graham has just completed a detailed evaluation of the Turkish fleet. Once back in England he will deliver his findings to the armament firm he works for. After that the much needed retooling of the Turkish navy's firepower can begin. To Graham's utter amazement, he finds himself the object of an assassination plot headed up by a sinister German agent named Moeller.

In typical Eric Ambler fashion, Graham assumes the role of the unremarkable everyman forced by circumstances to think and act in ways he never would have imagined possible. With his life on the line, he draws upon an inner strength he didn't realize he had to foil the professional killers charged with making sure he never makes it back to English soil.

Journey into Fear is masterfully written. There are a number of unexpected plot twists and the characters are intriguing and believable. Moreover, by using exactly the right amount of detail, Ambler succeeds in vividly capturing the mood of the time. Highly recommended.

Eric Ambler was one of the best suspense writers of his time; most of his books were made into movies that today would be described as detective noir. He is especially known for his books that were written in the pre-war and 'phoney'-war period, when most Americans were still isolationist. Ambler spends a lot of time explaining the relationships and antagonisms between countries that will soon be at war with each other. The narratives of how the different characters interact with each other based on their nationalities is a great history lesson in itself.

The time is 1940, just after the fall of Poland and before the war between France and Germany (the time of the Phoney War). Our hero (Mr. Graham a engineer who specializes in artillary guns) has just finished a job for the Turkish Navy. The Turks want to upgrade the guns on their ships before all hell breaks loose in the Mediteranean and Black Seas. The Turkish Secret Service (our old friend Colonel Haki) fears that the Germans will try to delay or kill him so as to delay this upgrading long enough to keep the Turks from becoming a 'player' should war begin.

So begins a tale, much like the "39 Steps", where an ordinary man, is called on to protect his country by outwitting a group of professional spies. Of course he's an amateur (think Ronald Coleman), but you know that in the end he will persevere because he has good on his side. There is a lot (I mean a lot) of patriotism, and English stoicism, in between the lines, as if getting the reader ready for the storm that is on the horizon.

As in all of Ambler's books, the hero is helped along the way by many 'little' people who do their bit to foil the bad guys. Taken in the time it was written, it is a marvelous story of the 'little guy' caught up in an intrigue, that is not of his making, and triumphing in the end.

Graham, a British engineer who specializes in munitions, becomes the target of German spies as he travels from Turkey to England in the months preceding WWII. He takes passage on a small boat, where many of his fellow passengers will reveal surprises about themselves and he will encounter both friends and foes in unexpected places.

Eric Ambler's prose is efficient and graceful as he moves his plot along smoothly. His characters are delineated well, their interactions are well-focused, and the twists and turns in the plot are satisfying.

I couldn't put this book down, though it was somewhat disturbing at times! Overall, the character development was excellent and the story realistic and engaging. I've just discovered Philippa Gregory, after having read "The Other Boleyn Girl" and now this book. A very engaging author, as is this book.

I really enjoyed this book. The main character bothered me at times for being so passive but that is what the story is about! I didnt see that end coming, maybe I am just slow. I read it in one night and didnt go to bed until 4:30 am!

I thought this book was wonderful.We used to live in England and it was so true to the way English folks are it brought back lots of memories. It held my attention until the last page. I found I could NOT make myself put it down. I became so angry with some of the characters I knew that it must be a well written book. When you get so invloved with a book you just want to shake some of the characters to me it means the author is doing a pretty good job of immersing you in her story. You will not be sorry you picked this book to read. I read the last 3 pages over and over and found myself thinking of the ending long after I had closed the the book. LOVED IT!!!!

...but I can't. I really thought this was one of the worst books I ever read. In fact, I didn't read it. I began to suspect what the ending was going to be when I was about a third of the way through, flipped to the final pages, and found what I expected to find.

I thought the entire story was ridiculous. Ruth was SO DUMB AND PASSIVE. Her husband was SUCH A MOMMY'S BOY. The in-laws were SO CHEERILY MANIPULATIVE. Everyone was a stock character, except for the baby, perhaps, but how much character development can there be in a newborn baby? By the time Ruth was glugging down her anti-depressants with gin, I was beginning to think she deserved her fate as the heir-producing zombie of her selfish and deceitful family. *yawn*

I loved Gregory's book "The Other Boleyn Girl" so much. This silly, melodramatic novel was a real disappointment.

The Little House is a remarkable gem of a psychological thriller. It makes even the most normal, everyday events seem sinister and riveting.

The plot focuses on Ruth who is talked into starting a family by her husband and living down the road from his upper class parents in the country. Then the nightmare unfolds. The book is a masterpiece of claustrophobia as Ruth's in-laws intrude more and more into her life. All throughout the book I felt tense and unsettled - just as I love to be when I am reading a thriller. I could absolutely empathise with Ruth and as her situation got worse and worse I was routing for her all the way.

Ruth is a delightful, yet in some ways tragic character. She is a successful journalist and yet her past has meant that she is needy and desperately seeking love. She thinks she has found a family which she can belong to at long last in her in-laws but what she fails to realise is that they want to control her. The mother in-law, father in-law, and Ruth's husband Patrick are chillingly plausible and well developed. The beauty in this novel is that unlike in many other psychological thriller's these three characters are not evil, they truly believe they are doing the best for Ruth and themselves - even as they push her further and further towards the limits of her own sanity.

Overall The Little House is a fantastic study of relationships between a woman and her in-laws and how the ordinary things can lead someone to madness, and to do the most unspeakable things. The Little House's packs a hard, chilling punch, especially as the ending is so unexpected and compelling. I would recommend this book unreservedly.

JoAnne

Boomer knows what he is talking about! There are many key messages: to focus on the ball not on the ball flight, to use a 3/4 swing so to keep your swing thought on striking the ball not on making a backswing, to bring your hands back low to keep the club on plane (also per Hogan and Hardy) to keep the arms at free full stretch through the ball, to "brace" your left side.

The key and the one that really resonated with me was that to hit the ball straight you have to feel as though you are swinging in-to-out. You have to swing out toward 1 o'clock to get the ball to go to 12:00 (great graphic on page 129). As long as you don't slide forward, the clubhead actually has to make a perfect in-to-in stroke, though your feel is quite different. Try it in ultra slo mo and you will see that that is the case.

The pros swing this way but have been doing it from the beginning. To us, who have been coming over the top with the goal of hitting down the line, the feel is strange and hard to believe, but after a couple of weeks of medium speed swings and several buckets of straight balls you will believe - and then you will be on your way to great golf. Current players who come to mind who swing like they were taught by Percy Boomer are Mark Wilson, Zack Johnson, Trevor Immelman, Michelle Wie and Suzanne Petterson.

I have read many many golf books. Some had good advice but none of them really fixed my concept of the swing. This book is the real deal. Yes, Boomer does get into some detail sensations in some of the middle chapters that maybe only the pros can benefit from, but by following his basics: In-to-out, the fixed pivot and loose wrists, you will straighten out your swing. As I write these words I know it sounds like the book is full of mechanical thoughts but really it is about visualization. About replacing your wrong visualizations with the right ones.

Do not be put off because Percy is an old-timey guy. Get this book and get some real golf swing!

Had my marks-a-lot in hand and ready to highlight the important passages. Trouble was I found nothing useful. Instruction is all about "feeling" right and presented in language that I considred inpractical for learning the swing. This is just the book for Joan Baez or Bob Dillon to use for starting their game. As for me, I read and found Hogan's book "Five Lessons" and Dante's book "Four Magic Moves" just what I needed for developing a basic swing for beginning golf.

If you want to change your game for the better, Buy this book now. Simple and easy to follow.

This is one of a handful of books that any serious student of the game should read carefully. Perhaps the most important contribution that this book makes is that it beautfully describes FEELINGS associated with a good golf swing. He uses the term "controls" to describe the way the body learns to perform complex actions. I found myself laughing at how well he describes thoughts and sensations one feels in the journey of learning golf. His writing style adds to the value of the book (he's pretty sharp and funny). The premise is that you must feel to learn the golf swing. He uses terms like "a glorius sweeping of the ball" to describe what happens at impact during a good swing. He also makes the contention that ones initial instincts about the golf swing are mostly harmful to learning a good golf swing. Hogan clearly borrowed a bit from Boomer in Five Lessons. I can't say enough great things about this book. I would encourage anyone to use this book as an ajundct to all of the four Harvey Penick books. In my opinion, Penick is the best pro of them all, and he quoted Boomer pretty regularly.
The Scottish teachers and early American teachers used mind pictures and sensations to teach golf. In my opinion, they know the best way to learn is to use sensations and mind pictures. This lets the persons own natural ability learn how to square the clubface with every club in the bag

I've read more than a few books on golf instruction. Percy Boomer's book is without a doubt the best of the lot. I don't know whether Mr. Boomer was ahead of his time or whether modern golf instruction just lost its way somewhere along the road. The fact is that these old time pros knew what they were doing. The "tricks" and "tips" of today's pros found in the pages of golf digest etc. are just that. Let Mr. Boomer show you how to build a repeatable swing that will produce consistent results. You won't be disappointed. My only regret is that he's not still around to give lessons.

I have never laughed so much while reading a book in my life. Some of the stories told are hilarious. I enjoyed learning about Michael Crawford's life. If you have any interest in Michael Crawford, I advise you to get and read this book. You won't be disappointed.

Item in excellent condition and arrived on time.

I have just started reading Michael Crawford's bio but must comment on the service.I ordered the book on Tuesday and was amazed to find it in my mailbox on Thursday.Never have I received such speedy service before.Thank you Ed Silver!

This book is my favorite book of all time. Michael is the best! He truly wrote a wonderful book. I love it! I loved reading about his childhood . It was so interesting. Really,the whole book is very interesting. If you are a fan of Michael's, please read this book. Michael, Thank you for writing this book. Please write another one soon!:)

Though I've not read many autobiographies, this has without a doubt been the most entertaining that I've read thus far; indeed, at times it is simply hilarious. Michael Crawford's career is meticulously chronicled from its beginnings (he started out as a child performer) through to and including the international super-stardom he achieved with his coveted role as the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical, The Phantom of the Opera. In the process, he tells of his short and disillusioning stint doing Hollywood movies in the late 60s/early 70s. He recounts the huge television success he had in Britain in the 70s with Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (and the hilarious upshot--hilarious for us, that is--of being nationally recognised as and taken for a disaster-prone half-wit!). Crawford went on to forge a name for himself in the 70s and 80s as a formidable lead in musicals (the culmination of which was, of course, his role as the Phantom). Greatest of all, though, was the tremendous honour of receiving an OBE in 1987.

Crawford, who was born in 1942, is extremely candid--even quite personal at times--as he recounts his life story, and sharing the limelight with his professional life are the many recollections he shares about his personal life. There are a great many happy and humorous memories (and even some embarrassing ones), but he doesn't hold back from sharing with us the painful memories as well--like his mother's unhappy marriage to his step-father, or the death of his beloved mother and grandmother.

What really makes this autobiography stand above the others I've read are the many humorous anecdotes that infuse Crawford's recollections of both his personal and professional life. He was a practical joker and a bit of a clown as a child--traits which he continued (thankfully!) to embrace wholeheartedly as an adult. That combined with his love for daring stunts result in some absolutely hilarious experiences that are rendered all the more enjoyable for being so engagingly told.

This 329-page hardcover has 24 pages of black-and-white photos, many of which are from Crawford's own private collection. There are photos of Crawford as a baby and as a child, photos of his mom with her first husband (who sadly died in the war after only a year of marriage), photos of his grandmother with each of her two husbands, photos of his two daughters at different stages in their lives, photos of his then-wife, and photos of Crawford--shots of him with his various co-stars or shots of him in his various productions--from the many stages in his career. Though published in 1999, Crawford ends his story in 1990, following his last appearance as the Phantom in Los Angeles. It would've been nice if he'd brought things up to date, but I suppose one cannot fault him for wanting to end his story on what has been (at least to this point in time) the apex of his career.

In conclusion, I heartily recommend this delightful autobiography to all fans of Michael Crawford. His engaging style reveals a man who is a very capable story-teller, and he certainly has no shortage of entertaining stories to tell.

I had forgotten how much I loved this book when I was younger. And something made me look it up online to see if i could purchase a copy. What a joy it was to re read this book. A young woman's adventure into a mysterious murder of a woman named Hannah. This adventure leads her into danger but also the wonder of finding oneself. A must for any mystery reader.

This was a very good mystery. Dorothy Gilman is always a great read. Never disappoints.

This story starts off from the first page and keeps you turning pages to the end. One of the great qualities of Gilman's writings is knowing how to pace the story and this is a good example of that. Amelia is likeable from the beginning. Quirky and imperfect but the kind of woman you want to sit to tea with. As the mystery unfolds, she develops into someone stronger as if she is traveling through the maze as well. The other characters are also quite believeable and have their own unique personalities. The mystery is good as well though I figured it out before the end.

It is odd to think that Gilman was incorporating one of her other books within this story especially since the author of the book is murdered. And she does it so well that you want to read "The Maze at the Heart of the Castle" soon afterward. It is a good story on its own, I'd love to see an illustrated version. And I'd also love to know if there really is a sequal. Perhaps someday the Maze will be back in print again. It really does go hand in hand with this story, for Amelia goest through the same thing Colin does, though in slightly different circumstances.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants a good mystery with good character development and scope for thought.

I read this book many years ago and enjoyed it. I wanted a newer copy. It is a simple story with charming characters.

I love this book so much I bought a first editon copy. It is the quintessential quirky mystery with lots of fun characters and an enjoyable mystery plot. I read it about once a year. Even if you don't normally pick up a novel this short, give it a try, you'll enjoy it!

My second favorite of D. Gilman's is the first Mrs. Pollifax novel, I think it's the Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax.

Dick Francis books read as if they came directly from the pages of the racing review. This book especially must be considered one of his best in both storyline and character. One reviewer said there was no mystery here, maybe so maybe not, but there certainly is suspense.

To bolt: that is what a horse can do when throwing its rider; that is what Kit Fielding's girlfriend is in the process of doing, and a bolt is what has been used to kill 3 prime racing steeds.

We learn from this book that a horse's brain is about the size of a person's fist, and that to kill one quickly one needs only draw a line from the right ear to the left eye and from the left ear to the right eye and where the X meets is the exact point to shoot the bolt. If true to aim, the horse will go down immediately with no loss of blood, it will just die. Grim business this book.

In BOLT Dick Francis has included just about as much racing action as any other of his books that I can recall. Several stories are taking place at various times throughout this novel and the reader's attention is captivated throughout. Racing injuries are mentioned too with some racing lore and strategy spread about also. This book has the feel of the track taking the reader along.

Starting on page 160 we receive several pages of information on the internation gun traffic with types of guns mentioned, especially the new plastic type that can go undetected through airports. And this background ties directly to the main plot of the story. Granted this information is dated by the book being published in 1987, but much of these statements would yet today hold truth.

On page 169 Kit Fielding sums up his thoughts on today's justice: "The law doesn't always deliver justice. The victim mostly loses. Too often the law can only punish, it can't put things right." Great statement Mr. Francis and alas only too true.

To go on and on would make this review longer than my arm, however, suffice it to say that this is one of more interesting and thought provoking Dick Francis books I've read. It ranks up there with the best. Read it and see if you don't agree.

Semper Fi.

I a Francis fan. He took on a hard subject and he did a good job. How can a story fail when it has a three generation family feud, a French villian, a princess, and last but not least, horses?

Do not read this sequel until you've read BREAK IN. Francis continues the story of the hate obsessed Maynard Allardeck vendetta against Kit Fielding who destroyed his chances of knighthood. Many readers may not understand the revenge motif that drives the villein without having the background of the earlier book. BOLT and BREAK IN are companions, which can stand alone, but are much more savory together.
Kit has more problems as he may lose his new love to a young prince from her own world "who doesn't have the courtesy to be bad looking."
The killer is always known in this story, but proving who is killing Kit's best rides is another question.
Enjoy, Bolt is anything but humane.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS and QUALIFYING LAPS.

In Bolt, Dick Francis continues the misadventures of Kit Fielding, jockey and all-round good guy. Francis' heroes are nearly always good and honest and brave, but never boring. They're the sort of men women would love to love and men should want to be like.

This time, however, Kit seems on the verge of losing, Danielle, his fiance and the love of his life. As he wrestles with these feelings, he is struck with the murder of the Princess' horses, first one, then two, then one more. Henri Nonterre is out to make the Princess and her husband turn to gun manufacturing, but Kit will do anything in his power to keep that from happening, as long as the family chooses to resist.

Meantime, Kit's old enemy, Maynard Allerdeck, looms in the background with renewed malice. What can possibly have increased his hatred for this particular Fielding? Fully occupied in helping the Princess and her family (which includes Danielle)avoid Nonterre's machinations, Kit merely tries to avoid any adverse contact with Maynard. But that may not be possible.

In typically honest, straight forward fashion, Kit strives to protect his employers and friends, and the horses he loves so much. In the meantime, he waits for Danielle to make up her mind about whether she wants to spend the rest of her life with him. A first rate story and most pleasant narrator.

I have to say that out of all of the Dick Francis books that I've read this one really made an impact on me. I enjoyed the plot so much in Break In, which featured Kit Fielding, that I immediately picked up a copy of this book which once again had him as the main character.

Kit Fielding is a steeplechase jockey, who's a little too tall and a little too old to continue racing, but he has his own agenda. Kit's friend, Princess Cassilia, has always been there for him and she's very much involved with the racing world as an owner of a very large horse farm. When she's threatened and her racehorses begin turning up dead, Kit takes it on himself to investigate, even with her personal life in turmoil. As he investigates, it seems as if everyone in the wealthy class of racing is a suspect and this puts Kit in danger himself.

Stretching the boundaries of his writing style, Francis has written a great "who dun it" and created a variety of possible villains along the way. There is the unknown enemy who is determined to ruin Kit's family, a rival in the romantic arena, a weapons dealer who is the King of the underworld black market, and then the horse murderer who uses a bolt to kill horses.

For those who have little knowledge of horses, a bolt is a weapon that is similar to a gun, but instead of a bullet being fired, it shoots a heavy metal slide (bolt) against the horse's head which immediately kills it. I'm told that this is a humane way to put down horses and usually administered by a veterinarian in extreme cases. Just the thought of such a weapon left chills up and down my spine, and leave it to Francis to use such a weapon in one of his books.

Bolt left me feeling uneasy about the method in which these horses were destroyed, but I guess murder of any kind should never be viewed with complacency! The character of Kit Fielding is one with which many can easily identify and the action is non-stop until the last page. There are even a few twists and turns along the way, just so you don't get over confident that you have figured out the murderer's true identity.

Bolt is definitely not for the faint of heart, but an excellent mystery with lots of adventure and wonderful descriptions of the English countryside.

This novel was extremely interesting, as it covered a wide scope of areas: art and the Amsterstam artist's guild, tulip growing and tulip mania, and the context of the Dutch war with France.
The characters are well-developed, and the female protagonist is one which was easy to relate to.
However, there was not a strong beginning to this novel, and I would advice readers to stick with it through the first few chapters as it does get much better. The problem, in my opinion, with the beginning of this novel is that the author has tried to pack in too much background information in a short period of time. It gets tiresome, as each page skips to years ahead. A quick prologue may have been a better way of allowing the reader to acquire the necessary background information.
Yet, once you are past these initial chapters, the story takes over and you will find yourself emerged in the fascinating world of 17th century Amsterdam.

Bloodstone Castle
Heinrich the Fowler: Father of the Ottonian Empire

In 18th century Holland, after the tulip trade boom, the Dutch people turn their interests and their hearts to artists such as Rembrandt and Franz Halls. Hendrick Visser is a student of art under Franz Hall. The sale of his paintings would earn him a comfortable living were it not for his compulsive gambling and incessant drinking. His vices continually force his family into a hand-to-mouth existence and always on the edge of devastation and financial ruin. Despite his failings, his wife Anna, and three daughters Francesca, Aletta, and Sybylla, love him and help him through his scrapes. When Hendrick's wife dies in childbirth, his three daughters become even more vulnerable to their father's vice-driven whims and desperate acts.

Francesca, Hendrick's eldest daughter is a talented artist and she has been assigned to study with Johannes Vermeer, a master artist from Delft. Francesca falls in love with Pieter van Doorne, a tulip merchant. Meanwhile, Hendrick looses heavily at gambling. Desperate to pay off his gambling debts, he secretly enters into an arrangement and ransoms Francesca off to unscrupulous man named Ludolf van Deventer who has become obsessed with her, even to the point of committing murder. Not only is Francesca terrified of the man, but she is also repulsed by him.

Aletta is fearful of leaving her future in the hands of her father so she begins to paint, selling her work secretly to a lower class of society. When Hendrick discovers her sub-standard clandestine ventures into the art world, he destroys her paintings and banishes her from his home and his life.

Sybylla seeks escape through marriage into a rich family and is highly materialistic.

The Golden Tulip is a tale about the three sisters and their struggles to overcome the turmoil in their lives caused not only by societal mores and values, but by addiction. Rosalind Laker sweeps her reader into 18th century Holland, successfully bringing to life wonderful vividness and authenticity. She knows well the customs, history, and world of artists during that time. As always, her novels have wonderful three dimensional characters and extraordinary plot twists. Rosalind Laker's novels never ever disappoint and always make for fascinating reads.

The Golden Tulip

This is my first book from this author. I did really enjoy it. Three sisters help guide their father and take care of him after their mother has passed during childbirth. One is the caretaker, one is selfish and one is in between. The father has bad gambling problems and gambles the worst thing EVER, his oldest daughter's future to one of his patron's to get out of a HUGE gambling debt. We follow Francesca's story quite a bit, but we also follow the other two sisters as well.

I did enjoy this book quite a bit, I won't give away anything in my review. It had me hooked from Chapter 1. I could just picture Holland. However, it wasn't as it said on the back cover. "Tulip mania" had already ended. It will be an unforgettable book and I will be wanting to check out more from Ms. Laker.

The Golden Tulip will appeal to the heart of all those who struggle to reach their dreams. The story, set in periods of Dutch history, weaves innocence and deception into a captivating tale.

You are carried back in time to notable confrontations with stunning realism. Artistic creativity of the true masters, bright and bold fields of tulips, and the dark side of unethical behavior all surface in unexpected places. Each chapter addresses the challenges of one of the character, and you are often left wondering when they will reappear. If you try to predict the next move, you best put on your detective cloak. The author skillfully uses twists and turns surprising even the best of readers.

The characters, though a bit confusing at first, grow vivid and real with each turning page. Some are intensely and intimately described and yet others are mysterious shadows. There is a wonderful variety of naivety, common sense, shocking reality and evil in its purest form. Action fills almost every page and a rollercoaster of emotional challenges soon beset the reader.

The story has many side plots which enhance the book. You will find a wide web of intrigue at its finest, romance with shocking consequences, and shameful dishonesty with scandalous results. The overall writing style flows easily. The settings and actions come alive as the author reaches not only your senses but your heart as well.

The Golden Tulip is a wonderful story for those who love to dream. It may surprise you what the human heart can endure...and still survive.

Armchair Interviews says: Everyone can relate to having dreams.

Winning the Highlander's Heart
Francesca Visser is the daughter of a Dutch painter, talented in painting as well. When her mother dies, she takes over the role of administering the family's money, which is no easy task as her father is a habitual gambler. But her mother thankfully had deceitfully "apprenticed" her daughters under her husband's teachings by forging his signature and when the father's art agent insists on using the money from the sale of a painting of Francesca to further her art education under another famous artist, her father agrees. Only she must give up her love of a tulip merchant in the bargain.

A fascinating tale of how women in Holland could actually become master paintings with the proper tutelage, how life there was during the 19th Century, how destitute artists like Rembrandt were, who died in abject poverty despite his talent, how so many of the people died young, including the two women he loved at thirty and thirty-eight years of age, and how even the tulip merchant's family had died early on due to the plague. It's a fascinating tale of an artist family's dynamics, of tears and joy, set so realistically in another time, another place, I felt I'd time-traveled there. Kudos to Ms. Laker for The Golden Tulip, a fascinating read and keeper for my historical fiction collection.