England Books

Jerry Sykes makes an auspicious, character-drive debut with LOSE THIS SKIN, introducing us to Frank Roscoe, a detective with a lot of things in his past, and a lot on his mind. Just as strong as Sykes' characters are his London locales (particularly Camdentown), which shimmer grittily at the turn of every page. Highly recommended.

According to the book jacket, Jerry Sykes is a two-time winner of the British Crime Writers' Association's Short Story Dagger award. The only other author to have achieved this feat is Ian Rankin. And while this debut novel may not quite be up there with Rankin, Sykes more than hits the ground running and shows that he has lost none of his storytelling skills in the move from the mile to the marathon.

Detective Frank Roscoe is not dealing well with the aftermath of a drive-by shooting that left him with a shattered foot. So when an old friend asks him to look into the death of her son he reluctantly agrees. The boy had been killed under the wheels of a police car and the official line is that it was an accident but his mother thinks differently.

Meanwhile another mother is questioning her role in the death of her son from a drugs overdose as she tries to keep her other son on the straight and narrow. She had been a recreational user as her son was growing up and she is convinced that this contributed to his death somehow.

The two strands eventually intertwine in a finale that is as heartbreaking as it is unexpected.

Readers of a certain age may also take great delight in the many references to The Clash in the book. The story is set in their old stomping ground in North London and reminders of their ongoing influence are littered throughout.

A great crime novel, if you like British author Ian Rankin you'll love this...

Two women who have lost sons in tragic circumstances are at the center of this impressive debut mystery. And the book is as much about their ongoing stories as it is about Detective Frank Roscoe, the nominal main character, as he helps out one of the women, an old family friend, when much to her sorrow and disbelief the death of her son under the wheels of a police cruiser responding to a domestic incident is dubbed a tragic accident.

While the pace and the pull of the plot are strong, it is the veracity of the characters, with all their shortcomings and their small human surprises, that makes this book so good. Roscoe, on medical leave following a drive-by shooting by a gunman still out there in the night, is a particular delight, full of his own foibles and flaws, especially in his burgeoning relationship with a new female colleague.

Like all the best mystery writers, Sykes understands that if you make it real, the readers will come.

In Camdentown, England Detective Inspector Frank Roscoe still seeks the drive by gunman who shattered his left heel seven months ago. Several days a week, Roscoe returns to the Echo Barn bar, the scene of the crime hoping to find a witness, but so far nothing. Physically he is nearly back to what he was, but mentally the wounds remain festering.

Family friend Rhiannon Burns pleads with Roscoe to investigate the death of her ten years old son Karl in a domestic violence incident in which a police car hit the child. She thinks the cops were trying to hit someone else, but a push sent her son into the path of the vehicle. Roscoe assumes this is a grieving mother looking for a purpose to her child's tragic death, but to mollify her he agrees to investigate the incident. He quickly reassesses his first opinion of a tragic accident as it begins to appear the driver, a cop, purposely targeted someone in the crowd. Motivated for the first time since his incident, Frank digs deeper into what happened.

LOSE THIS SKIN is a fascinating private investigative tale starring a cop on medical leave haunted by a personal incident that he cannot let go of until the grieving mother hooks him into making inquiries into her son's wrongful death accident. Readers will initially agree with Frank and the police department that Karl's death was a tragedy and his mom cannot let go, but will begin to change their minds (like Frank does) as the injured detective begins to uncover disparities. Tragic accident or murder of the wrong person, fans will want to know as Jerry Sykes writes a wonderful mystery.

for this well-researched series. Grabien has a gift for writing scenes that are spooky without being gratuitous.

I'm sorry, but I frequently save books that I buy from Amazon to read at a future date. This is such a one. I'm sure it's excellent, however, because I've read all the author's other books.

Grabien is a consistently delightful writer, and with "Matty Groves" she not only continues her Haunted Ballad series but improves on it, upping the ante with her scariest ghost yet.

When authors produce a series of novels they tend to fall into patterns in their writing, and the action can get very predictable. Grabien avoids that trap in "Matty Groves"; although main characters Ringan and Penny once again run into a ghost connected to an old folk tune, this time around the threat is more serious and the tactics they used to cope before won't work. Grabien's clever solution to the problem of how to get rid of the ghost is unexpected and yet logical.

As with the two previous books in the series ("The Weaver and the Factory Maid" and "The Famous Flower of Serving Men"), "Matty Groves" combines historical and contemporary fiction into one entertaining story. You don't have to have read the two previous books in the series to understand and enjoy this one, although I'd still recommend reading them in order if you can.

Ever since I was a little girl, I loved ghost stories. I love mysteries and thrillers too and Deborah Grabien has married both genres perfectly in MATTY GROVES. I can guarantee you that if you get a copy of this book you'll be hooked right in. Folksinger Ringan Laine and Penny Wintercraft-Hawkes, who are back from Ms. Grabien's first to outstanding ghostly efforts, are once again involved in a ghostly mystery. The ghost in this story is a pretty malevolent character, some chilling stuff you're going to love to read about.

Ringan and his band Broomfield Hill, have been invited to play at the Callowen Arts Festival at Callowen House in Hampshire and a visit to an old manor brings Ringan and his actress lover Penny face to face with a ghost once again, a ghost who can kill and this is not good, well not good for Ringan and Penny, but plenty good for the reader who will not be able to put this book down.

Musician Ringan Laine returns home to Sommerset, England to find that he and his group Broomfield Hill are invited to perform at the Callowen House Arts Festival. He eagerly accepts the invitation and takes his girlfriend Penny Wintercroft-Howles with him. Residing there is the benign ghost of Lady Susanna who was murdered in August 1629 unlike the two spirits Ringan and Penny exorcised last year who were not as benevolent.

When they arrive, Jane, a member of the band, dreams that she is Lady Susana brutalized by her beloved husband's cousin Andrew. Ringan is possessed by Andrew and almost rapes Penny, hurting her ear and mouth. He is a malevolent incubus and can cause death to the living so he must be stopped before that happens. Penny, who is the power source that wakes him up, feels it is her responsibility to get rid of this evil; with the help of her lover they research records to learn the truth about what happened over three centuries ago so they can send him to hell where he belongs.

Although the antagonist is a ghost, he is just as evil, malevolent and sadistic as the most deranged mortal killer. He plays a major role in the storyline as the protagonists struggle to stop the evil that he perpetrates. The love between Ringan and Penny is so strong that she knows immediately it is not her lover who is hurting her but someone using his body. The investigation to learn the facts about what happened to Lady Susanna is a journey through historical forensic records and it is fascinating to see the pieces come together. Deborah Grabien has written a great mystery wrapped around a terrifying ghost story.

Harriet Klausner

Anna is the perfect teacher. Her simple wisdom will touch you.
I read this book 15 years ago and it changed me. Let Anna teach you.

This is one of the best books I have read!
Anna is true to herself and knows God in a very special way. Her friendship with Fynn is incouraging.
I love the way she looks at the (christian)worlds little boxes they put God and people in...
Big thums up for Anna!

Anna, at age four leaves a home of abuse and adopts Fynn's family. Her love of God, numbers, language, people, and nature are nurtured by Fynn's interest in science. Fynn takes the reader on a ride of laughs and tears, amazement, and discovery that illuminates the wonder of this child who matter-of-factly knows "Mr.God" and feels it is her business to discover all the beauty He has put around her, and to love it, "with all of me!" A must-read for anyone who wants to feel the exuberance of childhood and see the possibilities of the human soul.

First and foremost, I am an atheist. To my absolute core.

I was given my copy of this book when I was 17 (I'm 31 at the time of this writing). I have given away countless copies and I buy it whenever I find it, just to share it with another person.

I knew Anna dies. It said so in the beginning. But when she died, the means, the way, the reality of it was too much for me. I vaguely recall screaming "Noooo!" and hurling the book across the room. It was days before I picked it up and finished the last few pages.

I felt like I'd lost Anna.

But I didn't because she stayed with me. Or rather, her wonderment, her curiosity, her fearlessness.

To me this was not a particularly religious story. Odd thing to say. I take this book to mean that you should explore, and question, the world around you. Do not accept the answers you are given. Name things for yourself. Anna chose Mister God. I choose Nature. You choose what best suits you.

This fascinating true story of a young life with deep insights to share about existence kept my attention endlessly. Anna's perspective had no walls of limitation. To me, Anna has become a definition of hope and encouragement through love and curiosity aimed at people and relating to those people. This book can easily restore your beliefs in the dreams you once gave up. I also suggest reading the sequel ANNA, MISTER GOD, and the BLACK KNIGHT from Harper Collins Publishers. Thank you Mr. Fynn for sharing and extending the love and wonderful personality of Anna.

It's lovely to look at pictures of Morrissey online, but the experience is enhanced ten-fold when holding the photographs in your hands. Much credit to Sterling for capturing Morrissey's essence.

This book is really great if you are somebody who is really into Morrissey--or even if you have just a slight interest.You get to see the hard work of touring the world which is normally kept behind the hard-to-reach gates of backstage.A great book for anyone with ANY interest in the world of Moz.

After gazing at countless photographs of Morrissey, I still get that magical mysterious feeling whenever I see pictures of him. This book is definitely a must have. The world still won't listen.

This is a great book for those who not only enjoy Morrissey's music and songwriting, but who also like to look at him ;) Linder Sterling is an excellent black and white photographer who chose the Kill Uncle Tour- a prime time indeed- to showcase her work with him.

Linder Sterling, long-time companion of Morrissey, has here collected all her photographs of the star in question, all ranging from the time with The Smiths to his solo career. The photographs display Morrissey in different moods, all ranging from his superficial superstar egocentrecity to his extremely introverted vunerable self. A great book for the fans, or just people studying photography.

Original, convincing, with
likeable and fully rounded characters. I can hardly wait to see what this highly talented new writer comes up with next.

I found that reading Mortal Touch was a pleasure ! The characters are very well drawn and all interesting. Vampires in this teling had several "new" attributes which ought to have been written long ago. The plot progress had numerous unexpected turns that also fit the story so there was no illogical events. The ending wrapped up the story very nicely but certainly left it open for a sequel which I look forward too.

Inanna Arthen's highly original vampire novel will appeal to readers of Poe, Lovecraft and Shirley Jackson as well as fans of modern vampire fiction. Arthen avoids the typical clichés of the genre; her vampires have reflections, day jobs, and sex lives.

The title, "Mortal Touch" and the tag line "All I need to do is touch you," both hint at Arthen's unique approach to bloodletting: her vampires don't need fangs, and their pale but otherwise ordinary appearance allows them to fit in all too easily with their human neighbors.

The novel, set in a small Massachusetts town, immerses the reader in a gripping story with eccentric but likable characters and a strong sense of place. These are the Vampires of New England; you won't find them in a New Orleans brothel or on a European stage, calling attention to themselves. Arthen's eerily believable undead hang out quietly at antique stores and cafés, and you won't see them coming for you before it's too late.

Highly recommended!

This book is an excellent beginning to what promises to be a very enjoyable series! Arthen's characters and dialogue are very believable and the plot moves along at a measured but lively pace. Her vampire mythos is refreshing in that it follows folklore a bit more closely than those created by other contemporary authors.

I look forward with great anticipation to the next entry in the Vampires of New England series.

This is an absolutely terrific book! Arthen slowly builds up the suspense. Who is this mysterious new writer who has moved into town and has everyone talking? The owner of a small gift shop is determined to find out, before her best friend gets seriously hurt. Arthen authentically recreates the feel of a small New England town, while introducing vampires who are decidedly different: for one thing, they have no fangs.

Highly recommended for those who like their vampires a little off the beaten track.

I had previously devoured the other 2 Bucket Nut books, but only recently found Musclebound on the shelf at my library. Here is more of the irresistibly gritty and heart-wringing tough girl Eva Wylie, who was first introduced in Bucket Nut. Eva's down on her luck, banned from what she lives for - the wrestling ring - and drinking herself into the pit. Then things start to develop, with Eva right in the middle of it all.

I cannot understand why people keep calling the Eva books mysteries, and her a sleuth. Or moral. Hah!! Eva is your ultimate surly street survivor. She may be in the middle of a mystery, but she isn't trying to straighten anything out but her own life - and not necessarily by legal means. Stubborn, hard-headed, big and mean, Eva is her own worse enemy. But she is as tough and determined as they come, and she is going to take care of herself - and her crew of big and mean junkyard dogs - come what may.

Eva finally develops a dream - Musclebound, a gym of her own - and life hands her an advance toward her dream on a platter, then whisks it away. But the dream manages to live on. As all the Eva Wylie books are, this one is sad and funny, and gut-wrenching and just plain impossible to put down. And it also has another of Eva's absolutely smashing wrestling scenes in there, a dose of pure adrenaline-dripping fabulous reading! Not for the squeamish or faint of heart.

Just finished "Musclebound", having previously read "Monkey Wrench" (reviewed separately). I am even more confirmed liking this character and series.

Eva Wylie is an unusual character, to say the least, and I won't go into the plots as these are available in the other reviews. It's the character that appeals.

The novels are told in first-person narrative. You feel like an older, wiser counselor looking over Eva's shoulder, being inside her head. You see what's going on WELL before Eva does, like when she finds a bag full of money in this story but does not realize it's counterfeit 'til WAY after the reader does.

It's not about how smart Eva is, but how gutsy. She's been knocked down over and over but she gets back up every time. By the end of each novel Eva has grown a bit further by paradoxically staying herself AND learning some things new. Eva has friends and supporters both true (including THE ENEMY, her nickname for another character in the book) and false (but we're still figuring that out along with her).

It's a wild and crazy ride, each novel, and I can't wait to read the next!

I wish there were more Eva Wylie books. This heroine views life from her own desperate background, and her viewpoints are endearing. Her vocabulary is entertaining, with the London slang. It is the character that makes the book, even more than the story. Read all three Eva Wylie books: Bucket Nut, Monkey Wrench, and Musclebound.

Eva Wylie is one of the most unique, fascinating, and memorable characters created in mystery fiction to date! Cody does a terrific job of letting us see many sides to Wylie, and the effect is that Wylie "sticks with us" long after we have put the book down. Wylie is at once rock-hard tough, pitiable, and intelligent (in her own way), and Cody's translation of Wylie's thoughts are at once no-nonsense and brilliantly subtle. The Eva Wylie series is perhaps the best, funniest, and most unique series I have read in a long, long time! Well worth reading all three, and looking forward to many more.

Liza Cody is responsible for a highly entertaining series of books featuring an extremely tough protagonist in eva Wylie. Unfortunately the series only runs to 3 books (at least so far) and Musclebound is the 3rd book. Eva Wylie is a tough woman who defiantly narrates her story. She doesn't tell us the story so much as she drops it in a sodden heap at our feet and then says, "Well what are ya waiting for, read it".

She is a raw, in-your-face professional wrestler who holds a night watchman job at a car-wreckers. At least, she was a professional wrestler, known as the London Lassassin until she was banned from the ring. Now she just works nights with her dogs, Ramses, Linnekar and Milo.

At the start of the book, Eva is down on her luck, out of work, often drunk and getting tossed out of pubs. But she's still the same tough character. She brooks no nonsense from anyone and will loudly tell you where to go if you cross her. Her put downs and sarcastic comebacks range from crude to blatantly abusive and are a feature of the story that I find hugely entertaining.

After getting kicked out of a pub late one night, she spots a car at a service station just begging to be "borrowed". She barely hesitates before jumping in and speeding off, only to be shocked when the owner of the car shoots out the passenger windows. She is even more shocked when she later discovers that sitting on the back seat of the car is a bag full of cash. Naturally Eva takes the cash, pleased with her unexpected change of fortune. But she finds out that having money can cause almost as many problems as having none.

Her easy life is suddenly disrupted by a procession of unwelcome visitors as can be imagined when coming into possession of that much many in dubious circumstances. There's Keif, a fellow wrestler who virtually adopts Eva and vows to train her back into shape, Fish Face, Droopy-drawers, The Enemy (Anna Lee, Cody's other protagonist) and God Greg, not to mention Wozzizname and the police. They sound like weird names, but only because Eva tends to christen people with her own nicknames and then refers to them only by their new nicknames, no matter how derogatory they may be.

Among the unwelcome guests who visit her home comes a visitor who is very definitely in the welcome category. Her sister, Simone appears one day much to Eva's joy. For the duration of the first two books, Eva has had a burning desire to find Simone but her mother continually refused to tell her where she was. Simone's introduction to the story is an interesting one because it enables us to finally see another side of Eva, one where she is desperate to please somebody else.

What makes this book so enjoyable is the total consistency of Eva's hate. She doesn't discriminate, if you tick her off she will give you an absolute gob full and that's where the fun begins. She also has an interesting philosophy on life one that is, shall we say, unconventional, and she updates us with it as we follow her story.

You cannot put a price on how many hours this book will save you! Has every possible side street. You will never get lost!

This guidebook's title is right on: it's not for tourists. It's for those of us who are moving to Boston and need good maps, information on T-stops and bus lines (very helpful, as no other guidebook I've seen shows bus lines), restaurants, bars, etc. We don't need information on fancy hotels and the Freedom Trail- for that, a different guidebook might do. But this is the one worth buying and keeping tucked in your purse or bag when you're out and about in the city.

I first picked up the NFT guide for New York City in May of 2006 when I was looking for a tourbook for a long weekend trip I had planned. I now have the Chicago and Boston books as well.

These books are the ultimate guide to a city and are not just for people new to the cities. They provide EXCELLENT coverage of the public transportation systems and numbered nieghborhood maps. As well as the locations of resturants, coffe shops, bookstores, edcuational instutions, hospitals, shopping and more.

The design of the books; compact with a black elastic band to either hold your place in the text or to keep items secure within the book, easy to read, and somewhat sarcastic demeanor; is a joy.

If you like to travel, these books are a must.

I bought this book off Amazon and was a little ticked off when it came because:
A) It was so small
B) Half of it was maps

However I have come to love this little book for precisely those reasons. It's the ultimate walking around the city book. It's small enough to fit in your pocket, yet the maps are detailed enough to show every street. The authors accomplish this two ways: there are a lot of map pages, and the guide doesn't try to cover too large an area. If you live in Medford or Arlington, you're out of luck. Somerville is as far north as the guide goes.

Since each map page covers such a small area, you have to turn pages fairly often, but this is not a big deal because:
A) The authors let the map pages overlap considerably, so it's easy to orient yourself on the new page.
B) The maps cover neighborhoods, using logical boundaries. For example, one map page will stop at the charles river, and the next will pick up on the other side.

By devoting three map pages to each neighbourhood (essentials, entertainment, and transportation), the book can convey a lot of information without being cluttered.

Since it fits in your back pocket, this guide is best suited to those taking public transportation. It covers probably ~85% of the T's network (some outlying areas are excluded) and also includes bus routes.

I have been using Rand McNally's street guide boston when I drive around. It's great in the suburban areas. Since its pages are big and is spiral bound, I can keep one page open in the passenger seat. However since it uses a grid system, the positioning of the page boundaries is arbitrary. Since there is no overlap between the pages, navigating around the page boundaries can be a pain.

If you move to Boston, you will need some type of map. There is no rhyme or reason to the streets here.

As a new Bostonian this book has saves me a million times already. If you are newly moved to Boston, this book is a definite must have. There is no rhyme or reason to the streets of the city. Boston was made before the grid pattern existed. Streets constantly change names and directions. Half of the time there is no street sign, and if there is it is microscopic. This perfect compact book fits nicely in your purse or pocket so it is extremely portable and easy to carry with you. It is filled with maps of all areas of Boston and also includes some surrounding areas. It is mostly a map book but also lists entertainment, nightlife, schools, liquor stores, grocery stores, restaurants, banks, etc. Has multiple maps of each area including a public transportation map and a key map. Maps are very user friendly and easy to read. I have gotten lost multiple times and this book has always helped me find my way. There is a street index in the back and an elastic band that you can use to hold the page you need. A small price to pay for your sanity while navigating the city!

This particular book is an essential for teaching and/or use in historical research in Old Testament history. This publication is very clear, concise, and accurate in its presentation.

Now in a revised and updated second edition, Old Testament Survey is a textbook designed for Bible students. Written by professor of divinity Paul R. House and assistant professor of Old Testament and archaeology Eric Mitchell, Old Testament Survey focuses upon the literature and narrative of the Old Testament in its methodical overview, which walks the reader through the biblical stories as well as the motives and reactions of principle characters. Charts, illustrations, sixteen full-color maps, and an index round out this excellent Bible reading companion.

Why get too excited about an Old Testament Survey textbook? I am excited, and here is why.

Paul House and Eric Mitchell combine to write this new second edition (first one published about fifteen years ago) of a text designed for use by "beginning students". In other words, this will be a required text for seminary and Christian college students for at least the next ten years!
But don't let the words "required text" fool you into thinking that this is a dry volume of facts and figures. House and Mitchell write with passion and purpose.

The passion comes from their solid belief in what the text of Scripture is:
"...the authors of this text want to make clear they affirm the inerrancy and infallibility of God's Word. Therefore, they also believe that the Bible's historical writing is based on solid historical principles. They believe there are good reasons to affirm what the Bible says on historical matters and that there are good reasons for using sound historical research when studying the Bible."

And what is their purpose? Stated in many ways, the goal of the book is to "help students learn and appreciate the UNITY of the Old Testament" (emphasis mine). They want students to delight in and learn about both the trees and the forest, breaking through to a level of understanding and appreciation for the unity of the Old Testament and hence an appreciation for the unity of the entire Bible.

They state:
"For centuries Christians and Jews alike considered the Old Testament a unified work. Jewish readers viewed the Hebrew Scriptures as a thorough account of their faith and history. Christians treated the Old Testament as the natural introduction to their New Testament. Neither group failed to acknowledge the many types of literature in the books, but both communities of faith found underlying themes and characters that bound the whole together.
In the last two centuries, however, the diversity of the Old Testament has been stressed. Children are taught that the Bible is not a book but many books. College and seminary students often analyze each biblical book in isolation from other Scripture. Few people can fit specific stories into a larger biblical picture. Lacking a grasp of the overall Old Testament plot and purpose, Bible students struggle to understand particular passages. This book attempts to chart some elements that unify the Old Testament.
They are men on a mission, and they accomplish their mission well.

They write as men who know the difference between wishy-washy preaching and bold proclamation, and they seem to be men who would prefer to hear and preach the latter. The language of the Bible is more sublime than Shakespeare, but at the end of the day we must remember we are not plowing the fields of literary criticism when we handle the Word of God. No, we are taking a living Word from a living God and bringing it as faithfully and forcefully as we can to a church of saints and a world of sinners.

So, for example, when the authors come to the introduction to "Joshua-Kings", they set the context as such:
"Deuteronomy leaves readers in suspense. Israel has set up camp just outside the Promised Land, poised to complete God's promises to Abraham. Moses has said they will succeed, but he is dead. Israel was at a similar pivotal position in numbers and failed to conquer. Will the people waste a second chance to claim their homeland? God has promised to fight for them. Will this second generation of Israelites believe Yahweh or be as rebellious as their parents?"

A resounding pastoral heartbeat beats throughout this text.

But the pastors are wondering how they would use the book outside personal study. Well, don't think for a minute that you couldn't use this within the local church. You can and you should! Wherever you might find some pastoral interns or men and women who want to dig deeper, or perhaps some mature highschoolers or homeschoolers. Ask around and see if there are even a few who will take you up on the offer to teach them the Old Testament at this level.

And don't miss out on the student guide, sold separately. Pastors, take a look at the student guide and all the fill-in-the-blank quizzes and maps and drills. In so doing you will realize that you did in fact sleep through much of your own Old Testament survey courses. You will be drawing blanks left and right as you try to answer the challenging drill sheets. This will prompt you to go through the textbook and guide for your own benefit too!

This book and the corresponding student workbook come highly recommended. Professional scholarship and pastoral sensitivity unite in a compelling textbook "for beginners"... and count me in that group because I am profiting from this one!

I'm a 32 year bible student and this book is one of the greatest surveys of the bible that I have seen. I'm going to recommend this book to all of my peers

The author presents Old Testament truths and historical viewpoints like other Scripture surveys and Bible study books. However, this author has a passion for the Old Testament that is rare among modern scholars. His passion for the subject caused me to be more interested in the subject matter and lead to more enjoyable study as well as increased retention.

We were returning from Greenwich tired and footsore. The LONDON MAPGUIDE indicated we could transfer to another bus to Paddington right on Russell Square. When we alighted, there were no layover stops for the elusive Bus #7. After tromping for ages around Bloomsbury, we gave up and hiked back past the British Museum to Oxford Street, where we knew we could get a bus.

The flaw of this and all other map guides to London are the bus routes. The Underground is fun, but sometimes a bus is more convenient, and, as G. K. Chesterton wrote, the best way to see London is from the top of a double-decker bus.

Even London Transport's "Travelling in London" folder doesn't do justice to the bus system. Granted, it is diabolically difficult to keep up with route changes, but if someone were to undertake it and do a more thorough job, the result would be a truly useful map guide.

But don't let one complaint detract from the value of this otherwise outstanding guide. Because of the lack of bus information, most travellers take to the Underground and are quite satisfied with it. I still recommend THE LONDON MAPGUIDE and still would use it myself, if only for lack of anything better.

I have used this mapguide since 1990 -- it is my "bible" in London. Far more portable and much less overwhelming than "London A-Z," this mapguide contains everything a traveller in London will need. If I could only take one book to London, this would be the one.

The subways (tubes) are cleverly color coded and it's easy to decide where to make your connections. Bus numbers are confusing but only rode bus one time since tube system is so clean, quick and efficient.

Print is large enough to easily read, but overall size of book is small enough to fold and place in most jacket pockets, purses and shoulder bags. Informative enough to be the only reference material you need when leaving your hotel room for your daily excursions through the city.

I am a frequent traveler to London, and have worn out more than one copy of this excellent map! Among its best features are locations of prominent buildings and numbers of bus routes. Don't leave home without it!

I had not done much research on the Elizabethan time period when I read this book, nor did I have any desire to, but it really has opened up my world! I've gotten a lot more interested in Shakespeare and his works for one thing, and, for another, it has given me a window into the world of acting and plays during the late 1500s. Can you believe that, since women weren't allowed to act on stage, young boys actually had to play the female roles? Not many boys I know would go for that at all!

This truly is a wonderful book about an orphan who finds a life on the stage. I won't say any more, so as to spoil the story, but, I must say, it's a good read for the creative mind.

This book is about a 14 year old boy, named Richard Malory, whos mom has died and his dad left the family.Richard travels to Londonand meets some interesting characters along the way.He gets robbed, beaten, and threatened at knifepoint. he joins the Lord Chamberland's men to act on stage. He meets his long lost father and helps him escape from England. He lives his life the way it was set out for him. I gave this story five stars because it is really suspenseful. I recommend this book for anyone. this book is really good because you never want to put it down.It fills you with peril and leaves you hanging until you read it more.

Richard's mother has just died out in the country. The man his sister and he worked for only has room for his sister to stay and work for him, so Richard sets off for the bustling city of London. Awhile before, his family once received money from a lawyer in London who forwarded it from the father Richard hasn't seen since he was a small child. Before her death, Richard's mother instructs him to go and see this man who she thinks might be able to find him a reputable job in the city.

Once in London, though, Richard has a hard time finding the man who is supposed to find him work. He instead meets up with a man who says the lawyer is no one he would want to talk with. This man directs him instead to the docks, where he works for a time for a company that imports wine. Soon, though, Richard comes to realize that there are men following him who may want to harm him.

Around the same time he realizes he may be in danger, Richard is recruited by the local theater to be an actor. He is fourteen, which is a good age to play the women's parts in the plays. Richard plunges into the theater life, making both friends and enemies with the others in the cast. William Shakespeare is the primary playwright for the theater company, and Richard enjoys many of the plays he writes for them. But there is a mystery out there waiting to be solved, and Richard becomes more and more convinced that he has a right to be interested in it.

I liked the history of this story; it was interesting to read what London was like when Shakespeare was writing. It was also fascinating for me to read about life in the theater in these days. It was a little hard, though, for me to follow the parts of the history concerned with the nobility in this story. I couldn't keep track of the monarchs and their allies and enemies.

This book is great for all ages, as the other reviews have said. I, being a 13 year old, loved the mystery plotline, and I enjoy reading books like Shakespeare! I recommend the author's second book, The True Prince, and The Shakespeare Stealer and Shakespeare's Scribe, both by Gary Blackman! All of these books have a young boy who acts in Shakespeare's troupe, so if you enjoy that aspect of The Playmaker, then you'll love the others!!!

The Playmaker is a work which literally transports the reader to Elizabethan England in a very convincing manner. Cheaney has a beautiful use of language which does not talk "down" to her young readers at all, but instead presents them a fast-paced, exciting story which is as enriching as it is entertaining. I really fell for all the major characters, and I am hoping for a sequel...or several of them! Richard, Starling, and Kit are so well developed they seem like real historical characters rather than fiction. The Playmaker is a great example of how fiction can present a historical period to young readers so that the reader develops a feel for the period-encouraging an interest in history, too. That's a very enriching asset for a novel to have. This book is on my Christmas list for my young friends AND friends my age and older! My 27 year old daughter is going to love it!