Crime Books

Wow! All of us readers agree, we LOVE this first book from Kelley Pounds. At the moment it is in limited supply, so if you are lucky enough to own a copy, HANG ON TO IT! The other reviewers said it all. This is a tender romance, passionate and believeable. I loved the interplay between Adela and Christian Ladino. At first they appear to be opposites, but as they mature their strengths and weaknesses dovetail to elegantly build up to the moment Adela must choose -- life as a Bride of Christ or a life's partner with a man she has come to love deeply. The other characters are well developed too, not just background. Adela's mother's story is plaintively revealed, and so much more. I found it to be much more than I had expected especially for a first novel. Let's hope this is published again and soon. It would be sad if it doesn't receive the audience it deserves. Way to go Kelley -- please keep writing!

Adela Fremont was a nurse and a novice Sister of Charity. On her first solicitation trip, her group came upon a dead young man and a seriously wounded half breed.

Christian Ladino awoke in the care of the nuns. He had been a prisoner on Alcatraz Island for seven years and had recently been released. His only desire was to kill Nigel Smeet, the one who had killed his grandmother. His only lead was to find the daughter of Smeet's latest victim.

Adela was the only one who would care for the Apache. (She was also the one that Christian had been searching for.) Adela had not seen her mother in over fifteen years. The day they were to finally meet, disaster struck! Her mother, step-father, and infant half-brother had been on the way to see Adela when a Mescalero Apache, Pajaro, and his band attacked. The step-father was killed, the infant was stolen, and the mother was near death. Adela received permission to care for her. This she did until her new found mother passed away. Adela turned to Christian for help in locating her missing brother. Smeet and Pajaro were working together. Now, so would Christian and Adela!

**** A vivid and exciting ride into the past! It was fabulous! If you enjoy Historical Romances then this one is A MUST for you to read! ****

The Awakening Fire is a book you will remember! As rich as a tapestry, it weaves us through New Mexico on a riveting adventure filled with love, emergence, fear, hate and finally acceptance. Ms. Pounds teaches us there are no boundaries dividing two souls when love is involved. The characters are as vivid as the backdrop, each one so unique and so memorable. They each have their own demons to wrestle with and it's wonderful to see them emerge on the other side. The two main characters, Ladino (my all time favorite now) and Adela are forever emblazoned in my memory-like old friends you have met along the way and will never forget. This book is not just a good read-it's an escape into a vast sensory of what New Mexico's history and people were really like. If you've never been to New Mexico-this book will take you there! A must for all serious historical romance readers!

In 1882 New Mexico Territory, traveling nuns from the Sister of Charity accompanied by a novice find the near dead body of half-breed Christian Ladino lying next to a corpse. The women provide aid to Christian taking him to their St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe. However, when Christian holds a sister as hostage, the novice Adela Fremont bravely intercedes.

As Christian heals, he and Adela are attracted to one another. They are also connected through con artist and illegal gun seller Nigel Smeet. Christian wants to kill Nigel whose false testimony sent him to Alcatraz while Adela is linked through her mother married to Smeet's former partner. Adela learns that her stepfather, whom she never met, was murdered and her mother, who she has not seen in fifteen years, was abducted along with her stepbrother allegedly by the Apache. She turns to Christian for help though she is not sure she can trust her heart with him.

This entertaining western romance stars two delightful protagonists who feel their growing love is taboo for several reasons and need to avoid one another, but must work as a team if they are to rescue the youngster. The story line contains a whiff of mystery involving what happened to force Adela's mom to "hide" her child in a nunnery. The secondary players provide a feel for the era and Smeed is an incredibly manipulative villain getting lonely teens to do his bidding. Kelley Pounds furbishes an action-packed thriller that will please fans of the sub-genre.

Harriet Klausner

Adela Fremont was a nurse and a novice Sister of Charity. On her first solicitation trip, her group came upon a dead young man and a seriously wounded half breed.

Christian Ladino awoke in the care of the nuns. He had been a prisoner on Alcatraz Island for seven years and had recently been released. His only desire was to kill Nigel Smeet, the one who had killed his grandmother. His only lead was to find the daughter of Smeet's latest victim.

Adela was the only one who would care for the Apache. (She was also the one that Christian had been searching for.) Adela had not seen her mother in over fifteen years. The day they were to finally meet, disaster struck! Her mother, step-father, and infant half-brother had been on the way to see Adela when a Mescalero Apache, Pajaro, and his band attacked. The step-father was killed, the infant was stolen, and the mother was near death. Adela received permission to care for her. This she did until her new found mother passed away. Adela turned to Christian for help in locating her missing brother. Smeet and Pajaro were working together. Now, so would Christian and Adela!

**** A vivid and exciting ride into the past! It was fabulous! If you enjoy Historical Romances then this one is A MUST for you to read! ****

I love nothing more than a new mysetry series, particularly when the author is skilled, serves up dynamite dialogue, intriguing suspense,suspect females, tough males and hey, a little Shakespeare on the side. Jake Wanderman is a fan of the bard and I am going to be a fan of Riskin's. Did you all know that Scrambled Eggs was the working title for Paul McCartney's song Yesterday? Watch Riskin catch on the same way the Beatles did! Cheers! vin packer

An 'English Cozy' it ain't, but SCRAMBLED EGGS is a fast-moving mystery with stolen Faberge eggs at its center. Its hero Jake does quote Shakespeare -- albeit with a Brooklyn accent -- while he survives attempts on his life. It's a clever, scholarly read. Elisabeth Bastion, London, England, author of NO JUST DESSERTS.

Scrambled Eggs was a great romp through the Hamptons. The characters, particularly Jake, the hero, and the entire Russian contingent, were delightful. Jake's amateur sleuthing and chivalry are enough to get him into a mess of trouble, and following the parallel story of a marriage on the verge of ending, kept the interpersonal angle of the story always interesting. This is a perfect vacation read and I enjoyed every minute of it.

Wendy Bichel, NYC

Turning sixty and retiring as a Shakespearean professor, Jake Wanderman looks forward to spending his golden years with his beloved wife of twenty-fives Rosalind. However, to his shock, Rosalind walks out on Jake without an explanation insisting he should know why.

Not long afterward, Jake attends his childhood friend Morty Adler's party in the Hamptons where he meets Cynthia Organ. She tells him that Morty said that Jake would help. She explains further that her spouse Boris just died and in his secret closet in their home, she found gold bars and six Faberge eggs. Apparently the Russian mafia claims they belong to them and law enforcement from both countries wants the stolen gems. Unwittingly, Jake is involved in an international incident with murder as a calling card when all he wants is his wife back.

SCRAMBLED EGGS is a delightful amateur sleuth tale starring a bewildered hero, who spouts Shakespeare at any given moment especially when he is nervous. The story line is fast-paced, but held together by the likable professor who wonders what happened to his anticipated idyllic lifestyle that has gone out of control. Sub-genre fans will enjoy this tale told by a bard filled with fun and fury.

Harriet Klausner

Beautiful women, seven Faberge eggs worth millions, car chases, spies, the KGB, the Russian Mafia, an antique dealer being blackmailed, a famous lifestyle guru, and shootings--these are the ingredients in this tasty mystery set in Sag Harbor, Brighton Beach and Moscow.

Retired middle-aged English teacher Jake Wanderman quotes Shakespeare as he tries to help delectable widow Cynthia Organ deal with her big problem. Cynthia is a neighbor of his good friend Morty, who gets them together to try and cheer up Jake after his wife leaves him. Jake is trying to get his wife Rosalind back, but she refuses to talk about why she left, telling him, "You should know why."

Cynthi's problem is she found a cache of Faberge eggs in her husband's walk-in safe, and she is afraid of some of her husband's associates who are making threatening calls. Jake takes on the project of trying to protect the eggs, and help with a sale.

Rosalind is living and working with Toby Welch, a famous lifestyle maven, whose father, Cormac Blather, is an antique dealer with connections in Russia. They are enlisted to help with this problem. The eggs change hands every few pages, and Jake's plans to deliver them to the proper hands keep being highjacked. Will they end up in the hands of the Russian mafia, sold to the highest bidder, or back in Russia where they belong? Will Rosalind return to Jake?

This would make a perfect movie--full of fights, fast forays, and fierce, fearless good guys. There are plot twists galore, and a hint that Jake may leave his life of indolence and become a detective.

Armchair Interviews says: Hopefully there will be more great stories in this series.

Reviewed by William Phenn for Reader Views (1/08)

Fast-moving drama and daring adventure all come together in this very well-written book. D. A. Welch introduces Nate Dunlevy, a buff and burly ex-Navy Seal that is in a partnership in a security company contracting to the Secret Service of the United States. The day that Nate comes home to his hometown is when all the fun begins. He meets Eve O'Connor, a vivacious and curvy blonde artist that takes Nate on a journey of intrigue and conspiracy -- a journey which will capillary into an intricate web of rape, murder, secret agents and organized crime.

As time goes on and Nate gets more involved with Eve, he becomes totally afflicted with her and starts up a relationship. This relationship becomes quite intimate when Eve is raped by an old flame. When she tells Nate, he goes on a personal vendetta to bring the scumbag to justice, even going as far as becoming his cellmate.

What Nate finds out later will intrigue the reader and open up a whole new avenue for the book. The rich rapist not only is a prominent figure but also has ties to a radical religious group. The underlying mission of this religious group is what causes Nate to fear for Eve's life and everyone around her. Nate employs the help of his partners in the security business and along with them he fights to keep Eve alive.

The adventure escalates to the point of bringing in the Secret Service, Special Agents and a host of others that help Nate fight this organization. They run; they try to hide. Nate uses all his Navy Seal skills to keep one step ahead of the assassins that are out to get them, but to no avail. They are found and have to fight for their lives.

"Flashback" was a very good book and well worth the read. I gave it a B+ for its fast- paced, action-packed and interesting read. I recommend it to anyone who appreciates a good adventure novel.

D. A. Welch unleashes her first novel on an unsuspecting public. Flashback emphasizes the luxuriously humid lifestyles of the not so rich and famous living on the coastline and barrier islands of South Carolina. If the characters have any foibles, it is their plastic, Barbie-and-Ken, Porsche-piloting Yuppieness. The men are ex-Navy SEALS who work under contract with the FBI and the U.S. military, and the women glide silently through their foo-foo symphonic and artistic professions as if everyone they know enjoys the idol luxury of jobs they enjoy. Fortunately for the readers, these fantasy characters and formulaic subplots are the only negative issues waiting to be uncovered in Flashback. Ms. Welch has created a nice, light story in which many beachfront vacationers will surely wallow, especially those who enjoy a feminine fantasy.

From the lovely cover capturing the essence of The Low Country to the delicate descriptions of the island weather conditions, Flashback delivers on its promise. The storyline is a modern, romantic adventure punctuated by just enough steamy sex to keep things interesting. There are a few typos, but they are of a distinctly minimalist nature. You might find the compositional style a little too ordinary, too, but this is preferable to the overuse of conceits in which many new authors indulge. Flashback barely misses five stars, and it is certainly a fine, professionally executed first effort. Ms. Welch is to be commended for accurately writing the subject matter she knows, rather than stumbling off the deep end of the pier of artistic overextension.

Excellent pacing and energetic plot kept me truly engaged in D A Welch's novel. Her descriptive phrases and vivid imagery took me right back to the heart of the low country. What a great trip. I became so invested in the lives of Nate, Eve, Devon, and Katie that I didn't want the novel to end. Will be looking for a sequel.

This was the thriller I was looking for this summer. Flashback was a page turner that kept me up all night. D.A. Welch, please do a sequel!

Author Deb Welch tells a story that pulls the reader into a world where good people find love, adventure, treachery, and the promise of a happily ever after. Nate, a Navy Seal, returns home from his last assignment to meet Eve, an artist, who is visiting Nate's father. Nate is immediately drawn to Eve, even thinking that he has found love at first sight. Eve is skittish, and turns down Nate's offer of a dinner date. Eve soon finds out that Navy Seals do not take "no" as a definite answer! Nate's pursuit of Eve, and his steadfast manner soon breaks down Eve's reluctance and Nate discovers that Eve is recovering from a recent violent relationship. As Nate's and Eve's relationship grows, the previous boyfriend returns with a vengeance, and Nate becomes Eve's protector. Soon Nate is calling for assistance from other seals, and the F.B.I. becomes involved as Nate realizes that Eve is in very real danger from a lot more than a violent rapist. Nate, his fellow seals, and the F.B.I. find themselves pitted against a religious white supremest group that will stop at nothing to keep Nate from exposing their illegal activities. I Highly recommend this wonderful story, and I am hoping for a sequel!!

Freddy is helping his old friend, Mr. Camphor, with a couple of problems. One of them is his aunts; one is too gloomy and another is just plain mean. In addition, Mr. EHA and the rats are planning to take the old hotel. Can Freddy help? This book is great and uses lots of humor. You must read this book!

Freddy is back and going camping! This cute pig always makes every exciting now he is back and flipping flap jacks and solving the crime about the ghosts!!!

This may well be the best of the Freddy books written by Walter R. Brooks (its only competition is Freddy the Magician). Children and adults alike will find this one of the most fun books they've ever read. I can still remember the delicious chills I felt when reading this book at twelve, and still enjoy reading it today. As usual, Freddy gets into trouble trying to help friends -- Mr. Camphor to get rid of his aunts and an innkeeper whose hotel is haunted.

My first encouner with Freddy the pig left me feeling like I had just found Tut's tomb. His stories are loaded with treasures-wit, well-developed characters, and clear evidence that Brooks understood and RESPECTED children's intellect and character. Two foretrotters Up!!

Probably before you were born, the bookmobile would stop off at our school and I looked forward to reading "Freddy" books. I enjoyed all of his adventures and friends (Jinx had a few adventures of his own). Now those books are collector's items and rarely show up in used book stores. As much as I miss the originals he is back and just as ornery as ever. One Day I hope the earlier one will get republished. In the mean time Even thought these books are geared towards young ones, they still can hold the attention of old codgers.

Kurt wise does a good job of illustrating and for those that have never reads Freddy you have a great mystery ahead of you.

Like most people that lived through the JFK assassination I can remember exactly where I was and what I was doing when I heard the news of his death like time stoped. I never believed what the United States government passed off as factual rationale, for the cause of this tragedy. The Warren Commission report did not make sense. I read it in the 1965 and could sense that something was not right. A friend of mine recommended this book to me she knew I was like a majority of people alive, thinking that we would go to our grave not knowing what really happened to JFK. It was her husband a career law enforcement official that convinced me to read this story; it was the best documentation surrounding the crime he claimed. Mr. Hemingway takes you on a trek that only he and JFK traveled while presenting new facts that I have never heard and would have never thought of. I would have never imagined that murdering someone over a political mistake could have caused the turmoil it did. So much of the story sounds like what is going in the United States today, it borders on surreal. The book made me livid. When I was finished; there was a lot of corruption exposed. Truly I can accept this research as fact and this gives me a sense of closure to this grave incident in United States history. Some minor editing changes could be made but it did not overshadow the ground breaking content and earthshaking ideas made this incredible.

MR. HEMINGWAY SHOULD FIRE HIS PROOFREADER!!! ASIDE FROM THE TYPIGRATHICAL ERRORS THIS BOOK IS AMAZING!!!FINALLY SOMEONE IS GIVING IT TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC STRAIGHT. THANK YOU MR. HEMINGWAY IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW. THIS IS A MUST READ.

This is a whole new twist on the JFK assisination. The writer presented some very interesting facts which I think should be looked into further. Possible movie plot???

It is becoming more and more clear that the US Government has not be honest with the masses. This book helps the reader draw a FACTUAL conclusion of what the US Government has been up to using strong and organized evidence. While the first edition has some typographical errors, it remains that Hemingway delivers a strong case.

This book reveals a highly plausible theory as to why JFK was eliminated. It is a fascinating theory full of detail and research on why JFK was killed. A must read for anyone who doubted the Warren Commission findings. This book belongs in our Universities and all JFK buffs' collections.

I read this book years ago but I can not get it out of my mind. This is one of the best written True Crime Books I have ever read. It is interesting from page one. It absolutely writes like a true who done it type novel except this is TRUE and the author has you wondering what happened to these poor babies. She makes you think that some mysterious thing is going on with these babies. The story builds and builds until the truth comes out who killed these precious babies. There are pictures included of her babies. These babies were absolutely beautiful babies. The author gives details of the deaths of the babies and how they reacted when they died. How the oldest fought the whole time. I had a hard time getting through some of these descriptions but I could not lay this book down as I just had to know in my own heart WHY someone did this horrible thing to such precious babies. This book is so detailed.

I read this book in a day and a half cover-to-cover. I could not put it down, simply because page after page I was left dumbfounded at the absurdness of the people involved in this story. I am appalled and enraged by the ignorance, stupidity and apathy of all who knew this woman and stood silent as she killed her children in the same arrogant pattern over and over again. As for her husband, he must have been in a coma not to catch on after the second time. This is a sad statement of the human condition- close your eyes, turn away and don't get involved. The jury was out to lunch on this one, as well, with a depraved indifference verdict. Given the obvious, this was clear-cut premeditated murder -each time she killed, she would mate, give birth and kill again. If it looks like a snake, sounds like a snake and acts like a snake..... sounds like Murder One to me. Perhaps the only redemption for those 9 innocent souls is that they were spared surviving and growing up at the hands of this calculating monster they would have called "mother" and that simpleton poor excuse for a man they would have called "dad".

Very well-written and researched. I've re-read this book many times, and each time I see a different aspect of Marybeth or the people around her. Ms. Egginton gives opinions from various scientists and other examples of mothers killing children. I do believe the theory Marybeth killed eight of her children, after possibly causing Jennifer, her third child, to be born with meningitis (because she wanted her born on Christmas). There is quite a bit of research into Marybeth's childhood, however, I wish that her brother had remembered or told more about her possible abuse at the hands of her father. If you don't receive love as a child, you can't give love as an adult. It's no excuse, as she certainly knew right from wrong and had sense enough to lie about the deaths to everyone - I believe she mainly killed them since she learned of the attention it brought her - and because she believed she was a bad mother, could do nothing right, and might as well kill them to get it over with. For some reason, she never learned her lesson, just kept trying again. What would be a nightmare that most people (with consciences) would never recover from, was no big deal to Marybeth. I don't think that she'll ever understand that these babies were human beings in their own right who deserved to live just as much as she thought she did.

Marybeth Tinning's case is fascinating. She had nine children and every single one of them died before they reached school age. There was Barbara, Joseph, Mary, Jonathan, Nathan, Michael, Timothy, Jennifer, and Tami Lynne. Jennifer was the first to go, born sickly and dying after a few days without ever leaving the hospital. It is thought that this is the only Tinning child to have died of natural causes. Marybeth murdered the other eight.

It was thought that Barbara and Joseph, the oldest Tinning children who died a short time after Jennifer, died of Reyes Syndrome. People thought it was odd, though, that Marybeth never shed a tear. As the children were born and buried one after another, their deaths were mostly chalked up to SIDS or something similar. It got to be kind of local joke: "Look at the birth announcements; the Tinnings had another baby. I wonder how long this one will last?" Many suspected Marybeth of having killed the babies, but some thought it was just a genetic deformity in the family. That was, until the Tinning's two-year-old adopted son, Michael, died for no apparent reason. That's when the authorities started to move in.

This book covers Marybeth Tinning's life, marriage, the births and deaths of her children, and her trial and subsequent imprisonment. It's clear that she suffers from Munchausen's Syndrome by Proxy, the pathological need to injure those close to her and bask in the sympathy she gets. It's a fascinating story, though I admit the characters didn't seem all that real to me -- more like ink on paper than actual human beings. I recommend this book anyway, for all true-crime fans and those curious about infanticide.

Marybeth Tinning gave birth to nine children. After the third-born died at 8 days old due to a suspected self-induction (she wanted the baby to be born on Christmas day) with a coathanger caused meningitis, her other two children (aged 4 and 2) died within the next 8 weeks. She went on to have more children, and even adopted one, who all died one by one.

Unbelievably, it wasn't until the 9th died that the public in her county, social services, police, coroner etc managed to collectively work together to bring a case against her. Previously all of these agencies knew she had children that had died, but none knew the number or all of the information -except her close friends and family.

This book has been meticulously researched, it really is very thorough and well written. As a mother I found it at times unbearable -so many questions remain unanswered. The book contains a photo of each of the children, who were all beautiful.

Gripping reading, but also it is really important to learn something from this -when a child is in distress, no matter how small your suspicion or how afraid you are of offending people -do what you can to protect the child. This is officially the mother's job, but when she is suffering from Munchausen by Proxy she is unable to carry out her role.

That's a 'nice' way of putting it. Read the book and make up your own mind.

Browning turns the mystery of the Wild West into modern day mayhem. Transforming Penny Mackenzie from a lackadaisical reporter to a new age Calamity Jane with style, grace, and downright stubbornness. Pat Browning strikes gold with this new series. I can't wait to see what she has in store for us next!

Cindy Daniel, author of DEATH WARMED OVER--COMING SOON
October 2003/Quiet Storm Publishing

I loved the book. There may be a little prejudice in that statement, since Pat was one of my favorite classmates at Moss high school in Oklahoma. I liked the story line. I loved the fresh comments and her style of writing. The only problem I had with the book, and that can be blamed on my short term memory, was so many characters in the beginning for me to remember. I had not seen nor heard from this lovely lady in a number of years until she began publishing. Pat, I loved your book and wish you multitudes of sucess in your next books.
Harry Shumard

Author Pat Browning's literary hero was John Steinbeck, who won the Nobel Prize for literature. Her esteem for him and her careful study of his style is reflected in the characterization of her heroes, heroines and villains. The book reads well and is worth reading for its ties to the master.

The rural, hometown personalities of Pat's characters really sparkle. Quirky and real, the dialogue only adds more charm to the story.

I believe the town of Pearl exists in pockets as Anytown, USA. Pat has a real flair for capturing the tell-it-like-it-isness of the folks. I think she must have known my Grandmother!

The mystery is twisty-turny, too, just the kind I like. I learned clues along with Penny MacKenzie, leading to a satisfying and logical end.

It's just the sort of book that goes with a cup of tea and a languid afternoon.

Penny Mackenzie is the Lifestyle Editor for The Pearl Outrider - the local newspaper for the small town of Pearl. Her friend, Maxie Harper, reporter for the Outrider, talks her into a late night stakeout. Although a tip that local eighth graders are worshipping the devil and doing human sacrifices turns into nothing more than a pot party, the discovery of a skeleton in a nearby cotton field, throws Pearl into a frenzy of secrets, lies - and murder. Penny finds Maxie's body during an event put on by the Chamber of Commerce. Dinner in the Round is a progressive event that takes the participants to several locations for different parts of the dinner. However, Maxie's progress is ended permanently - at Egg Foo's Bar and Grill.

Who killed Maxie Harper and why? What does the book, Pearl, The Little Town That Gold Built, written by Dabney Brewster, a retired English teacher and the town's local historian, have to do with her death? And whose skeleton has been hiding all these years in Digger Pott's field?

As these questions swirl around Penny like crazy birds trying to find a place to land, Pearl's unique citizens create more questions than answers while a long lost love interest pops back into Penny's life, complicating matters even more.

In this stunning debut series novel, Pat Browning has created a wonderful protagonist and surrounded her with interesting side characters. Penny and Pearl hold the promise of many more intriguing adventures. Browning's writing is professional and flawless and the story is engrossing, with just the right touch of suspense and humor.

This is a winning cozy - from an exciting new author. I'll be watching for the next book in the series - and the next - and the next....

I give FULL CIRCLE my highest recommendation!

Well, if you are familiar at all with this type of writing, then you cannot have helped but cross paths with M.R.James. If not, don't expect the obvious skeleton in the closet or the cliche' distant howling at the moon. James will succeed, with your help,in placing you in the empathetic position of strongly identifying with the narrator, or a helpless secondary character in his story. Suspend time and disbelief and be welcomed to his world. You'll be powerless to resist so be well prepared. Turn ALL the lights on and forget a good night's sleep. Not going to happen. Your identification allows James, through masterful writing ,to transport you to the very center of what you instinctively know will be one of the most subtle yet frightening literary experiences of your life. Believe me, you'll be so glad to be able to remind yourself afterward that this is just a collection of "stories". There will be lingering after-effects however and you'll never forget these stories once you've read them. You'll be reached and overpowered on a very primitive psychological level, just as the characters in James' stories have been. The surviving characters recover from their experiences at the end of the stories....but are never again the same. Neither will you be....

Montague Rhodes James (1862-1936), Vice-Chancellor at Cambridge, Director of the prestigious Fitzwilliam Museum, and later Provost of Eton, was possibly the world's greatest authority on medieval manuscripts. He is thought to have studied nearly twenty thousand documents. He also wrote ghost stories.

Ghost Stories of an Antiquary was published in a limited edition in 1904 and reprinted nine times in the next decade. He subsequently published three other collections - More Ghost Stories of an Antiquary (1911), A Thin Ghost and Others (1919), and A Warning to the Curious (1926). M. R. James greatly admired the supernatural fiction of J. Sheridan LeFanu and thought of himself as simply a follower in LeFanu's footsteps.

In the interesting introduction to this Dover edition E. F. Bleiler writes that the "evil that dieth not, but lieth in wait" is a common theme in these chilling stories. This evil that dieth not is best left undisturbed. The curious ones, those seekers of forgotten lore, often discover that knowledge comes at a high price. And the reader may find that sleep comes less easy.

I quite enjoyed this short collection and I am sure that it will appeal to any reader of Victorian ghost stories. A few may seem somewhat familiar as undoubtedly the tales of M. R. James have long served as a source of inspiration for later stories and screenplays.

The stories in this collection include Canon Alberic's Scrap-book, Lost Hearts, The Mezzotint, The Ash-tree, Number 13, Count Magnus, Oh Whistle and I'll Come to You My Lad, and The Treasure of Abbott Thomas.

The ghost stories of M.R. James (MRJ) are widely considered to be the best supernatural literature ever written. "Ghost Stories of an Antiquary" was his first collection of short stories to be published (Arnold 1904) and is a fine introduction to this chilling, scholarly author.

However, you might want to spend a bit more money and buy the "The Penguin Complete Ghost Stories of M.R. James." If you completely succumb to the refined but potent horror of this author's writings, only "A Pleasing Terror" (Ash Tree Press 2001) will then do. This book contains all of MRJ's supernatural literature, including story fragments that were never completed, biographies, bibliographies, commentary, and his fantasy novelette, "The Five Jars."

"Ghost Stories of an Antiquary" consists of the following stories:

"Canon Alberic's Scrap-book"--The original title for this story was 'A Curious Book,' and it is one of 'the' classical MRJ invocations of a scholar who unwittingly opens the wrong book and pays horribly for his misadventure. This story and the following "Lost Hearts" were originally read aloud at an 1897 meeting of the Cambridge Chitchat Society, a literary gathering which met for "the promotion of rational conversation."

"Lost Hearts"--This story is unusual for MRJ in that the ghosts participate in an actual physical assault on the villain who had murdered them. It is narrated in the third person by a little boy who is orphaned and goes to live with his elderly cousin at Aswarby Hall (an actual estate in Lincolnshire, now largely demolished). Slowly he begins to realize that there were two other children who had lived with his cousin before him.

"The Mezzotint"--A collector of topographical pictures purchases a mezzotint that shows a view of a manor-house from the early part of the eighteenth century. The picture slowly evolves through a story of murder and revenge from beyond the grave.

"The Ash-tree"--If your Bible falls open to the verse, "Thou shalt seek me in the morning, and I shall not be" do not, I repeat DO NOT sleep in Sir Matthew's old bedroom next to the ancient ash-tree. This story is a unique reworking of the "executed witch's revenge" theme.

"Number 13"--A scholar settles into a Danish hotel to research the town's ecclesiastical history and learns more than he ever wanted to know about a bishop who sold his soul to Satan.

"Count Magnus"--Another story (along with "Number 13") that may have had its origin in MRJ's trips to Scandinavia. Mr. Wraxall, the scholarly hero of this tale dooms himself by reading a forbidden treatise of alchemy and expressing a wish to meet its long-dead (or not so dead) Swedish author. This tale is definitely not for the faint-hearted, especially the scene in the mausoleum of Count Magnus, when the locks start popping off of the sarcophagus.

"Oh, Whistle, and I'll Come to You, My Lad"--A Professor takes a golfing vacation on England's East Coast, and agrees to take a look at the site of an ancient Templars' preceptory for an archeologically-inclined friend of his. He scratches around in the ruins and finds a whistle with a Mediaeval Latin inscription on it that can be translated (according to Jamesian scholar Jacqueline Simpson) as: "O thief, you will polish it, you will blow it twice, you will regret this, you will go mad." I think this is the first M. R. James story I ever read, and it terrified me. I can't remember how long I had to sleep with the lights on after reading it.

"The Treasure of Abbot Thomas"--Mr. Somerton deciphers a text from the medieval Latin 'Sertum Steinfeldense Norbertinum,' and an inscription in the painted-glass window of a private chapel, then goes on a treasure hunt to Germany. What he finds, and what throws its arms around his neck while he... All I will further state is that if you should happen upon a German well that has seven eyes carved on one of its stones, under no circumstances should you climb down into that well, most especially not after dark.

If you don't find "horror" fiction frightening, this is for you. These stories scare everyone. This edition also has a very charming cover.

noone could evre make as much out of the traditional ghost story than MRJ. angles, details, objects. by changing one thing, focusing on something else, etc., james shows the potential in the classic elements. he doesn't stretch it too far, and he doesn't have to. he plays around with subtle changes, but his writing is serious. great descriptions, excellent at details, james is considered the ghost story master by a great many. check out how he carries out the details in Canon Alberic with the mysterios book, the descroptions in Ash-tree, the mysterious lurking fear in Count Magnus, or the plot in Oh whistle.....

I loved the idea that someone else in this world loves chocolate as much as I do and is still able to function as a crime solving psychic. The writers did an awesome job of combining Arizona history with an interesting story of a ghost who needs his murder solved. The authors also threw in a good dose of humor as well as some of the Arizona landscape and setting the story in places that most of us can visit and become more familiar.
I would definitely recommend this book to others and have.

I love a good mystery and The Ghost Wore Polyester kept me guessing until the end. It also kept me laughing as the characters are wonderfully drawn and have that special charm that makes you sorry to see the book end. I highly recommend this book

What a hilarious book. I read this book in a day. I could not put it down. I loved her dry sense of humor and sarcastic views. I also thought it was very entertaining how each chapter began and ended. I certainly hope that I get the opportunity to read about Tildy and her adventures again. Bravo to the writers! It's an excellent read.

My wife said I would like this book and she was right! With two small children at home it's hard to finish any book but I finished this one! It not only held my attention, I could not wait to see what was going to hapen next. I enjoyed the quick wit and great descriptions. When does the next one come out?

WOW! This was a great ride. I loved the Arizona connection and the attention to detail. Once I started to read it I was hooked. I can't wait for the next adventure. Well done. It keeps you so involved in the story and eager to see what happens next. For a strange, funny, quirky adventure that will leave you wanting more give this a read!

When New Yorker Nicky D'Amico is hired to be the stage manager for the St. Gilbert's College summer theater festival in the small town of Huber's Landing, he expected it to be a pleasant break from The City. But when one of St. Gilbert's nuns is murdered during a rehearsal of Covenant of Fear, Nicky is thrown headfirst into the dark secrets and deep personal entanglements of small town living.

Chuck Zito's first novel in the Nicky D'Amico mystery series is charming, funny and very well written. Zito has a gift for surrounding his protagonist with colorful characters. Nicky's New York friends, battling couple Paolo and Rodger, are worth the price of the book alone. Zito's dialogue is sophisticated and witty and this reader can't wait for the second in the series, Ice in His Veins.

This was one of the most fun books I've read in a long time. Characters were interesting and quirky, and I didn't know who "did it" until it was revealed. I had my suspicions, but no solid conclusions. It was so enjoyable, I gave copies to my 4 best friends as a gift. I'm looking forward to the next adventures of Nicky D'Amico. Hurry up and write, Zito!

Zito's Damico leads a cast of characters that will delight all mystery fans and theater lovers. Light and very very fun, this is a greeat afternoon escape, perfect for a day at the beach or a long flight

Chuck Zito is a theater professional with a lifetime of experience who graduated from Carnegie Mellon University. He presently lives in New York City. A HABIT FOR DEATH is his debut mystery, with more Nicky D'Amico mysteries in the offing.

Nicky D'Amico thought a summer job in theater at St. Gilbert's College in rural Pennsylvania would be a great escape from the heat of Manhattan and the craziness of New York. He is hired as a stage manager for an awful script, Convent of Fear. As if that isn't bad enough, the cast is constantly fighting, and Nicky soon discovers that in this small town they are almost all related. When one of the stars of the show, Sister Sally, dies on stage of bizarre causes even as the protesters outside continue their Twilight Zone activities, it seems that only the visage of David Scott, Nicky's fantasy come true, could save the day. Two of Nicky's friends from New York, Paolo and Roger, arrive in the midst of their lover's spat to spice things up even further:

"'This is the worst caesar salad I've ever had,' Roger said.
'Who orders caesar at a family restaurant in backwater Pennsylvania?' Paolo snapped. Then, to David, 'Nothing personal, of course. Lovely place. Really.'
'Oh, you didn't offend me. I can't wait to leave. I'm off to New York myself when the summer is over.'
'Really?' I said.
'Yup. You know, Nicky, we should make sure and exchange--'"

Zito scores big time with this impressive first effort. The story is well plotted, blocked, and the characters are absolutely hilarious. Chuck Zito's intimate knowledge of the theater creates the perfect backdrop for this zany story. There are so many subplots that the reader is kept laughing almost nonstop. A HABIT FOR HEATH is wonderfully thought out, and the reader is immediately drawn to Nicky's plight. The dreadful play implodes, there is more murder and mayhem, and Nicky's fantasy continues to elude him and us. An excellent first effort!

Shelley Glodowski
Senior Reviewer

Chuck Zito's first effort bodes well for lovers of light mystery. Funny, charming, and with witty characters, the story revolves around the murder of a nun during a Summer music festival.

Zito's main character, Stage Manager and amateur detective Nicky D'amico is at once funny and sympathetic. Joined by his two friends Paolo and Roger, the trio undertake the task of unravelling the mystery that takes place during a horrid production of a horrid musical at a small college.

Full of laugh out loud moments, the tale contains just enough "inside jokes" that Gay and Lesbian theatre lovers will find themselves thoroughly at home.

This makes a wonderful Summer beach read. (In fact Zito suggests that in his opening.) I can't wait for more from Zito and to find out what Nicky is up to next.