Las Vegas Books

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Las Vegas Books sorted by Average customer review: high to low .

Nevada

Published in Hardcover by Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company (2001-10-01)

Author:

List price: $39.95

New price: $22.95
Used price: $9.15

Average review score:

Nevada Book Beautiful but Incomplete

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-05-19

The photography is top-notch and covers the desert, cities, and old buildings from the early mining days. Where the book fails is its treatment of the high mountain scenery. Where are the photos of the alpine regions high up on the many lofty peaks? They are not there.

wow!

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-11-16

This book is the most lovely pictoral tribute to the Great State of Nevada that I have ever seen. It exemplifies the rich physical and social geography as well as the cultural, institutional and entrepenurial spirit that this state holds so dear. Truly beautiful.

wonderful essays on the Great Basin

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2002-04-17

This is a beautiful book.

However, Jon Christensen' s essay 'Basin and Range' really caught my attention. It turns out that this region is quite special, rich in unique species and lessons about evolution. Christensen compares the 'Great Basin sky islands' with the more famous islands of the Galapagos.

This book is the perfect combination of big color photographs and four well-written essays. The Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company of Portland did a fine job.

Essence of Nevada

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2001-11-01

This beautiful book took me into the heart of a State I thought I knew. Nevada is fantastically photogenic and each picture in this volume shimmers with desert light, somehow stripped of all dullness. The text is of the rare sort, in the vein of Mark Twain, in whose footsteps Christensen clearly walks. He takes us on a tour, starting in his backyard and then into Nevada's secrets, its history, its indigenous people, its gold and silver rush, its divorce economies, its casinoes, its restricted government areas... He entertains and at the same time we learn to see behind the scenes. This is a book to give anybody who has been to Nevada or who is planning to go. A perfect marriage of image and text.

A Book Worthy of the Subject

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2002-08-24

"Nevada" has been sitting on my coffee table for about a year now - and it's served well. I've come home many days after being enmeshed in our modern world for 10 or more hours and been reminded of the expansiveness and beauty of the natural world that's only a 4 hour drive away from me. This is a well-written and beautifully photographed book. I have to admit that I'm fascinated with Nevada. With the great otherness and open space that is the Silver State.

I learned quite a bit and was entertained by the essays that divide the sections of photos with chapters including: "The Meaning of Nevada", "People and the Land", Basin and Range", and "Prospect and Chance." There is good history here about Nevada's people and it's geography, helped by quotes from the likes of John Muir, Mark Twain and authors of other Nevada oriented books as well as regular folks who like their home state.

However the real draw is in the photos. Scenic, evocative, large, well footnoted, just plain beautiful. I really felt like this is a book crafted by people with a love and appreciation of the place that is Nevada. As though they wanted to share their passion and knowledge with me. I also like the simplicity of the look and feel of the book. There's a frankness and openness that's reminiscent of the state of Nevada itself.

Enjoy!

So Long Las Vegas

Published in Paperback by Booklocker.com (2005-06-30)

Author: W. H. Guthrie

List price: $14.95

New price: $14.95
Used price: $12.13

Average review score:

A Great Read!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-23

In Dusty Sturm, W.H. Guthrie has created a most memorable Las Vegas character, akin to Walter Huston dancing in the movie "The
Treasure of the Sierra Madre," though the likeness ends there. While reading it, I found myself with tears in my eyes one moment and laughing out loud the next. The characters remind me of those created by Damon Runyon, though the style of the writing is Guthrie's alone and is of prodigious quality. The outrageous people, the time span from Las Vegas as a little town to a big city and the hints of Godfather control of the casinos is intriguing. I can't wait to see Guthrie's next book, which, if he's smart, will give me more Dusty Sturm. Heck, I'll go meet Dusty if his lady doesn't. What fun!

Kimberley Coy
Las Vegas

Have you read a really fun book lately?

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-18

If you enjoy fun reading, "So Long Las Vegas" is your opportunity to relax and enjoy the wry humor of W.H. Guthrie. The author has taken a multitude of short stories and woven each with a blend of humor as well as a touch of "tounge in cheek" realizm into his characters. If you have ever spent any time in the real Las Vegas or known anyone from there, you will easily relate to many of the Authors "freinds".

It has been quite sometime since I have enjoyed any book this much. It is easy reading and gives one a sense of urgency to finish one story and move on to the next, while the Author is writing of the fast paced life and times of an unsure young writer always on the verge of leaving his beloved Las Vegas.

"So Long Las Vegas" is a fun, quick, must read book written by one that has lived the "Las Vegas experience" and has been able to relate this knowledge to his readers. Well done Mr. Guthrie, when can we expect your next series of life experiences?

Great Entertainment!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-02

I was so impressed by the way W.H. Guthrie kept me glued to this book. I found a very easy reading book that captured my interest and excitement all the way through each short story. There were some of the most colorful characters I've ever read about. This is a must read for some great entertainment!!!

A Runyonesque Read

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-23

As a longtime Las Vegan, I continually found myself trying to identify the real names of the characters W.H. Guthrie's protagonist encountered during his adventures in this book. Though I wasn't always successful in that attempt, I thoroughly enjoyed Guthrie's writing style, remniscent as it is of that master of the short story, Damon Runyon. Guthrie has written a series of stories that are alternately funny and sad, but always thought-provoking.

I loved it!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-22

Finally, a book that I can share with my friends!

"Dusty Sturm" caught my interest immediately and reminded me of someone very special in my life. I could not put it down and read it in its entirety in one day. (Needless to say my house and office work suffered until I finished the book.) W.H. Guthrie managed to keep me constantly interested without using indecent language, etc. as a crutch. I followed his trail of stories with a smug smile on my face as I thoroughly enjoyed myself and was immersed in his world.

This author has an honest talent and can tell a story with the best of them. He does not need a gimic! What a pleasure! Bravo!

I was totally surprised and extremely pleased with the ending of the book, but sad to see it end. I expected something entirely different and not nearly as good as the actual ending. I hope that there will be another book soon. I can't wait!

Please consider me a charter W. H. Guthrie #1 fan!

The Unofficial Guide to Las Vegas 1997 (Unofficial Guides)

Published in Paperback by Macmillan General Reference (1997-01)

Author: Bob Sehlinger

List price: $16.95

New price: $9.95
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

THE NEEDED BOOK before going to VEGAS.

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 1997-11-29

This is a COMPREHENSIVE BOOK that should be read before going to LAS VEGAS for the first time. It should give much value to the reader, i just find that it sometimes is too THICK and have many unnecessary information inside, maybe just slimmering it a bit will be much better... We enjoy the MYSTERE recommendation and went to see it with great satisfaction... AND AMAZON is the PLACE to buy this kind of difficult to get (HERE in INDONESIA) books of special interest.

If you only get one book on Las Vegas...

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 1997-11-13

Great deal of info, particularly in the areas of planning and saving money, finding the cheapest deal, etc. Great overview and opinionated review of hotels, restaurants, buffets, casino, etc., and a good general intro to all the casino games. Areas that are just a tad weak: Comps (or freebie's for players), lighter weight treatment of outlying casinos that aren't on the Strip or downtown, and perhaps a little bit out of date for this fast-changing city. But despite all these the book is highly recommended.

Don't go without this book

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 1997-11-02

Easily the best $14 we could have invested before our trip! The reviews were candid and witty and right on target. We followed the authors' advice and were extremely pleased with restaurants, casinos, and especially shows. If you take only one book with you to Las Vegas, let this be the one.

Don't go to Sin City without it!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 1997-08-30

If you're heading to Las Vegas, this book is a must! It provides more detailed information than any book I've read. It gives honest reviews of hotels and restaurants and great tips on touring. Unlike most guides that cover one or two restaurants, this one provides reviews on virtually all of them including many that are NOT in casinos. Also, if you're on a budget, it will help you use your money more effectively when selecting shows to see. Every year, we buy the latest edition because it always includes something new

Very informative, helpful.

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 1997-08-19

I've read this book cover to cover and find it a wealth of information. Describes hotel accomodations, entertainment, things to do without gambling, side trips, rates a tremendous amount of the shows. I plan on taking it along on my trip to Las Vegas next Month. Well worth the $

The Cat and the King of Clubs (Five Star Mystery Series)

Published in Hardcover by Five Star (ME) (1999-06)

Author: Carole Nelson Douglas

List price: $21.95

New price: $173.07
Used price: $14.72

Average review score:

An Excellent Book

Helpful Votes: 13 out of 14 total.
Review Date: 2000-02-09

I really enjoyed this book. Going back to before the series as we know it began and getting history on some of the characters gives the book another dimension. This book would be interesting reading in and of itself, but as an avid fan of the Midnight Louie series, I was thrilled. I can wait to read the remaining three from the beginning of the series.

Midnight Louie is the cat's pajamas!

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-12-03

I was lucky to stumble onto this author and find this book before any of her others. From the first page, I couldn't put the book down. Midnight Louie is the narrator and what makes this so great? He's a cat! And every so many chapters, he gets to interject.

This fun story is set in the playground of vintage Vegas, which brings back that old magic. The author time warps you to experience all of the glitz and blinding neon of the city and really makes you feel like you are there with the characters. I totally fell in love with Nicky Fontana and Miss Van von Rhine and I'm thrilled that there are three more books in this series!

This is a beautiful love story with classic romance without getting gushy. It also has elements of mystery woven in that don't all get explained. I also loved the way the author put words together making the language poetic without being flowery.

But my favorite part was the end where, after the story is told, there is an interview between the cat and the author, explaining things in the book and about the series that you weren't clued in on. You really start to believe the cat is real! I highly recommend this book.

Midnight Louie's first great tale

Helpful Votes: 37 out of 37 total.
Review Date: 1999-05-22

Though his family is renowned as Mafiosi, Nicky Fontana runs a completely legal business. He currently plans to renovate an aging Las Vegas landmark into a major, first class casino. He hires Van Von Rhine to oversee the operation, giving her a budget of just under $8 million.

However, an unknown assailant wants Nicky to fail. That individual will do anything to make sure that the renovation project fails. Midnight Louie, feline private eye extraordinaire, decides to investigate in order to expose the culprit. As Louie snoops, Van struggles with adapting to the Vegas glitter as well as her personal attraction to Nicky.

THE CAT AND THE KING OF CLUBS is the full version of Midnight Louie's debut novel. The publisher sliced and diced this tale and the subsequent three other books that made up the original series. However, Carole Nelson Douglas has brought the gem back to its original glittering self. The who-done-it story line remains fresh and even more fulfilling this time around as Louie shows why he owns the universe. Fans of the series will take great pleasure with this "expanded" reprint. The audience will feel elation over the upcoming release of the other three tales from the original set that established Louie as one of the best feline sleuths on the prowl.

Harriet Klausner

Excellent, great fun and fast moving.

Helpful Votes: 7 out of 10 total.
Review Date: 1999-08-14

I have all of Carole Nelson Douglas Midnight Louie and Irene books. Love them and hope they keep coming. Also, get the audios every chance I get. Thanks for hours of enjoyment. I find them very absorbing and entertaining.Wish they came out faster.

Compass American Guides : Las Vegas

Published in Paperback by Compass America Guides (1996-03-19)

Author: Deke Castleman

List price: $18.95

New price: $4.94
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

Vegas info, history, and more

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2000-11-18

This is not your typical tour book. The author is more interested and making you know about Las Vegas then telling you about it. Las Vegas is made tangible and not just rated in terms of good or bad.

The typical tour book stuff is here including hotel rates and restaurant reviews. However, if you want to know more, it's there. It provides description of hotels as well as details their history. Every subject is handled in this manner as well making the book feel more like a narative.

There are small excerpts from popular authors for even more perspective. Perhaps, perspective is the right word for this book. The reader is treated to a point of view and not just vague recollection of facts and figures. This is the first tour book I ever read cover to cover.

Though it has some slow parts, over all it is a great quick history / guide of Las Vegas. Even if you've been there, you'll find amusement in some of the tales or info included. I did.

Vegas info, history, and more

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2000-11-18

This is not your typical tour book. The author acutally suceeds in being entertaining as well as informative. Las Vegas is made tangible and not just rated in terms of good or bad.

The typical tour book stuff is here including hotel rates and restaurant reviews. However, if you want to know more, it's there. It provides the description of a hotel as well as detailing its history. In Vegas, even the hotels have personality. Every subject is handled in a like manner. This has the added bonus of making the book feel more like a narative.

There are small excerpts from popular authors for even more perspective. Perhaps, perspective is the right word for this book. The reader is treated to a point of view and not just a vague recollection of facts and figures. This is the first tour book I ever read cover to cover.

Though it has some slow parts, over all it is a great quick history / guide of Las Vegas. Even if you've been there, you'll find amusement in some of the tales or info included. I did.

Like taking a local along with you

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2000-11-24

How good is this book? Another guidebook recomedns reading it! This book gives great insight into the history of Las Vegas as well as the individual hotels. While it is a little short on specific information, this guide more than makes up for it with specacular color photography and well written articles. A must read for those who want to know more than what the Chamer of Commerce or the Convention and Visitors Bureau will admit.

I've read many Vegas guides. This one remains the best!

Helpful Votes: 7 out of 7 total.
Review Date: 2000-05-03

I work in tourism, so I'm required to know all I can about Vegas. Castleman's Las Vegas is more than another guide. It can be read like an exciting novel that you don't want to put down. Or it's index makes it a quick reference tool. It's all here. History, the characters, the gaming, the hotels, weddings, maps, side trips, bargains - everything in a good size to carry and read on the plane.

By the time you land, you will feel like a Vegas veteran and save time and money.

Besides a great read, this book is worth the price simply for the fantastic photography.

Complete Idiot's Guide to Las Vegas

Published in Paperback by Alpha (1998-03-13)

Author: Garman

List price: $15.95

New price: $4.39
Used price: $0.01

Average review score:

Review of this tourbook

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2000-08-13

I had never been to Vegas before, and a friend of mine loaned me this exact book. My dread of this vacation soon became one of excitment. I took the book with me, and we did tours (Hoover Dam and two city tours) that we wouldn't have without it. The book was a great, great help! It is easy to read, fun to follow, and I even read parts that didn't apply to me. I enjoyed the trip very much and plan to go back next year. It tells you when to go to save money, what the weather is like, what each hotel is like---it was much better than the tour agency I counted on to book the trip for me. There is plenty to do there besides gamble!!!! I had a strict budget for my companion and myself and we didn't even spend that, we were so busy. Take the recommondations to heart and have fun paging threw this to learn and enjoy before you go. Then write me! I found myself at ease when there and I would be glad to answer any questions you have! I was not a believer before I went, and now I want to make it an anual trip! Get this book and GO!

Fabulous reference book on Las Vegas

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2000-08-18

Las Vegas is one of the most visited cities in America, and this book is a great reference. I got this book right after I went to Las Vegas for the first time and planned all my future trips around it. Admittedly, everything in Las Vegas changes every six months, but there are a lot of websites and references to find more information at the end of this book. The subjects covered in this book include how to get there, where to stay, where to eat and drink, basic gambling, and most importantly, where to shop. They do a lot of categorizing of hotels and entertainment which is good, for example, telling you which activities are good for children and which are fun for wild party people in their 20s. This book also hits on some of the lesser known attractions, and gives you a good idea of what kind of things you'll enjoy seeing (and what things will be a waste of your time). There is also a lot of invaluable advice found in these pages. Despite the "idiot" title, this a smartly written and well put together book that will appeal to a variety of people. Don't leave for Las Vegas without it.

best kept secrets of Las Vegas

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2001-08-13

This excellent book not only saved us time and money...it told us about wonderful things to see & do that neither my travel agent or freqent visitors knew about. It's easy reading, funny, and very informative. I've given copies for gifts to people planning a trip to Las Vegas. Our copy has dog ears, many yellow highlighted areas, worn pages which proves it's well worth reading and re-reading. DON'T LEAVE HOME FOR VEGAS WITHOUT IT !

easy reading for idiots

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2000-06-14

I had been to vegas one time before, but wanted a new experience this time. This book showed me the ins and outs of the city..from cheap food to the best place to sing kareoke. It helped me expand my horizons beyond the slot machines. Making for a more well rounded, and fun trip. Easy to read, and very informative.

Favorite Dog Hikes in And Around Las Vegas (Favorite Dog Hikes)

Published in Paperback by Spotted Dog Pr Inc (2006-01-15)

Authors: Wynne Benti and Megan Lawlor

List price: $15.95

New price: $14.36
Used price: $11.50

Average review score:

great book for dog lovers in Las Vegas

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2007-10-03

Benti and Lawlor's Favorite Dog Hikes: Las Vegas is a great book for people looking for an active way to spend time with their dog outdoors. There are many maps and great directions for getting to the different areas and two great maps of off-leash dog parks in the area. Several photographs help tell you more about the hikes the authors talk about.

Favorite Dog Hikes is our favorite!

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-17

This is filled with great information for anyone (dog owner or not) I especially like the climate/temperature information, as Las Vegas weather extremes can be hard on dogs. Excellent descriptions of all areas. Interestingly written and accurate.
This is the best dog hike book available!

Best Dog Hiking Info

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-13

An easy read, with the best coverage of dog friendly trails and parks around Las Vegas, loaded with basic hiking information for dogs and humans that's good anywhere. The sections on, on leash, and off leash local parks are a nice bonus.

We love this book!

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2006-03-13

It has a bunch of new trails we never knew about. There are photos of every hike, excellent directions and maps. The photos were the selling point. They give a good idea of what to expect. We took our dogs out to Goodsprings and they just had the best time. It was a beautiful hike. There wasn't a soul out there. No leashes, either. We all had so much fun.

Fight Town: Las Vegas - The Boxing Capital Of The World

Published in Hardcover by Stephens Press (2004-11)

Author: tim Dahlberg

List price: $34.95

New price: $34.95
Used price: $20.81

Average review score:

Best Fight Book

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2006-02-25

This is the best fight book if anyone is interested in boxing in Vegas. A must have for any fight fan!!

Just what we were looking for.

Helpful Votes: 1 out of 1 total.
Review Date: 2007-01-03

Great book. We needed posters from old fights. Good representation.

Fight Town is the Undisputed Champion!

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-02

If you like boxing at all, you're going to love this book. I bought it at the author's website after reading a review on a boxing website, and it was even better than I imagined. This is a big book, 228 pages in a coffee table size, and filled with great photos that really are images in time. There's Sugar Ray Robinson with two little kids on the Las Vegas Strip in 1952, and Muhammad Ali fighting in Las Vegas for the first time in 1961. The book opens with a photo I've never seen before of Ali taunting Sonny Liston after Liston knocked out Floyd Patterson to win the heavyweight title in Las Vegas in 1963. This photo alone is almost worth the price of the book. There's great photos from the 50s to fights in 2004, from Liston and Ali to Mike Tyson and Oscar De La Hoya. These aren't your standard fight pictures, either. They are taken before fights, in casual settings, during fights, you name it. Did I mention it had words too? Dahlberg has been around fights in Vegas for a long time and it shows. He tells inside stories, such as how Marvin Hagler was so tight with his money he made sure the phones in the hotel rooms of his entourage were turned off and how Bob Arum nearly landed the first Ali-Frazier fight in Las Vegas. He tells how Caesars Palace built an outdoor arena for the big fights, and how great the hotel's pavillion was for fighters and how Sugar Ray Leonard came up with the game plan to beat Hagler. It's the kind of book you'll put out on your coffee table just to pick up and read a bit and look at the pictures again and again. I got mine at the fighttownvegas.com website, so I could get it personally signed by the author. My friends are all jealous.

Excellent Thorough coverage

Helpful Votes: 5 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2004-12-18

Fantastic photos. Fine background text. Knowledgable author. But the one thing that got me was instead of this being a historical look at the boxing game in Las Vegas, it really turned into Dahlberg's view of Boxing in Vegas.

If a book is to be based on your opinion, I'm fine with that. But doen't disguise it as a historical perspective of the topic and then force YOUR PERSONAL opinions in as if they WERE fact.

A blatant example of this was Dahlberg's OPINION that Tommy Hearns was exhausted and spent in the 13th round of his epic bout with Leonard. If Tim wants to quote Manny Steward's opinion on Hearns' weight and physical condition in the bout, that's fine. But don't pass off your personal opinion as fact. In MY Opinion, what stopped Hearns in the 13th round was Leonard's fists. Hearns certainly gave no noticable appearence of being Spent or exhausted. He slowed down when Ray NOTICABLY hurt Tommy.

I also did not care for the top 10 Vegas fights either. If you are basing it on historical significance or hype and build up, than how does Leonard Hagler not make the list? ANd if it is based on ferocity and sustained action, how does Barrera Morales not make the list? Were Tyson Berbick (Why? so we have a fight for Tyson in Vegas that Mike acutally won?)Holyfield Bowe I & II and Foreman Moorer more deserving than the two fights I mentioned, each for different reasons?

The bias and inconsistancies prevent 5 stars form me. I previewed it before I purchased it, so I feel it was worth the buy. But It ranks only as very good and not exceptional in my book

Jeff Hawkins

Hotline to Murder

Published in Paperback by AuthorHouse (2005-03-28)

Author: Alan Cook

List price: $14.95

New price: $8.22
Used price: $5.98
Collectible price: $14.95

Average review score:

Hotline to Murder

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2005-08-16

Tony Schmitt,an aging frat-brother, volunteers at a hotline. One of the teenage volunteers is murdered. Tony teams up with Shahla Lawton, another teenager who has been close to the dead girl. The chase turns into a hunt for Shahla.

The hotline setting gives a good twist to the traditional mystery. Fun--and informative--read!

Hotline to Murder

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2006-08-11

Through the vehicle of hotline encounters and deviations from protocol, Cook's cast of characters will keep you psychologically intrigued to the very last page. Terrific!

Great first mystery

Helpful Votes: 2 out of 2 total.
Review Date: 2005-05-25

Not long after Tony Schmidt joins the Central Hotline in Bonita Beach, California, Joy is found murdered. Both are listeners-people who man the Hotline and talk to the callers. Tony pairs up with Shahla Lawton, another listener and Joy's best friend.

They begin working many shifts together. Since Tony and Shahla work at the Hotline, they find they can often get information the police are unable to obtain. But instead of turning everything over to the police, they begin to follow up on much of the information themselves. Partly because the police don't seem too receptive to the information and partly because of privacy rules.

They begin looking into some of the inappropriate callers and others with a connection to the Hotline to determine who might have had a motive to kill Joy. There are many strange people and they have to sift through information to determine if the person is just having trouble or if they might have a motive to have killed Joy.

Tony and Shahla put themselves in many very sticky situations and find themselves in peril more than once as they work to uncover the identity of the killer.

This is a great story. It moves along quickly and keeps you guessing as to who committed this murder and why. There are plenty of red herrings and things happen regularly that made me change my mind continuously about who I thought did it.

I really enjoyed getting to know Tony and Shahla. Even though Shahla is only a teenager, she is such an integral part of this story. Their relationship is terrific. I hope there will be more books with these two main characters.

This story is well crafted and the California setting terrific. I highly recommend this book.

An Enjoyable New Mystery

Helpful Votes: 3 out of 3 total.
Review Date: 2005-05-27

In a departure from his senior citizen Lillian Morgan mysteries Alan Cook introduces Tony Schmidt, an aging frat boy living in Bonita Beach, California. Volunteering at a suicide hotline to develop his communication skills and aid his job as a marketing manager for Bodyalternatives.net, Tony discovers that dealing with the emotional backlash of suicidal callers is the least of his problems. Tony is uncomfortably attracted to the seventeen year-old volunteer Shahla, and when her friend and hotline listener is murdered Shahla pulls him into an investigation despite his inclination to leave things to the police. As the two track down their weirder callers and fellow volunteers all the way to Vegas Tony must also cope with his irritatingly immature roommate and confront his growing suspicion as to his college friend's involvement with the murder.

Cook has created a very engaging hero in Tony, who realizes that has to grow up fast as he encounters the pain of the callers and sees just how much that he himself has to lose. Shahla is at times wiser than her years while still flashing glimpses of being a teenage girl, and her impulsiveness nicely contrasts with Tony's reserve. This is a very entertaining mystery that builds up speed and takes the reader along to its surprising conclusion.

The Killers: Destiny Is Calling Me

Published in Paperback by Manic D Press, Inc. (2006-05-15)

Author: Jarret Keene

List price: $12.95

New price: $7.00
Used price: $4.30

Average review score:

The Killers: Destiny Is Calling Me

Helpful Votes: 0 out of 0 total.
Review Date: 2008-01-24

very good book
for fans of the band
information not written anywhere else
very cool pics of original newspaper/magazine articles
pic of original ad which started the band

overall = awesome

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

destiny is sweet!

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 4 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-07

This book offers a look at the killers past that hasn't been told before with great photos that help tell the story of this band's drive and talent.
without focusing on just one member it gives an interesting look at each members role, how they came together and how hard they worked to be the successful band they are today.
normally skeptical about unofficial biography's.. especially on band's that I love.. this book is different I think it is an honest,accurate portrayal of the band and one all killers fans will love!

The making of The Killers

Helpful Votes: 4 out of 5 total.
Review Date: 2006-06-02

Sometimes bands seem to come out of nowhere and suddenly they're everywhere... This book is awesome in that it shows just how hard the Killers worked to go from playing for 10 people in a cafe and tiny clubs (the book has the photos to prove it!) to being the huge stars they are today -- really inspiring if you're in a band that's just starting out or trying to get signed...

A must-have for all Killers fans -- lots of great photos and the mystery of Ted, the fifth Killer, is revealed. Very cool!

They made it out

Helpful Votes: 6 out of 6 total.
Review Date: 2006-07-01

If you've ever lived in Las Vegas, you know why the Killers' story is worth reading: They made it out, and in a very big way.

If you haven't lived in Vegas, and don't know how many bands have tried and failed to do what the Killers did, this book will fill you in.

Jarret Keene was the perfect journalist to detail the Killers' rise to fame, as he was there from the start. Not many other rock star biographies have that luxury.

It doesn't get much better than "The Killers: Destiny is Calling Me." The writing's great. The pictures are amazing. The band is unforgettable. Read itv and let the process of forgetting Slaughter begin.