Book Description
The Platinum Edition presents the complete content of Perry's Chemical Engineer's Handbook, Seventh Edition, in both print and electronic formats packaged together and now available at one great price. The print Handbook is the world renowned source to chemical engineering practices--covering everything from the fundamentals to details on compuer applications and control, as well as the newest advances in your field.
The accompanying CD, with its extensive graphics and fast problem-solving capabilities, is the perfect interactive complement to the text.
This exclusive set is expressively designed for engineers with the highest standards--professionals who will settle for nothing less than the outstanding, superior-quality reference tools in this Platinum Edition. Two great reference tools--available at one great price!
On the CD-ROM
*The entire text of Perry's Chemical Handbook, Seventh Edition
*75 interactive equations
*On-screen problem-solving: math formulas, calculations, graphs, and tables
*Automatic conversions from U.S. to metric (SI) standard units
*Fully searchable Adobe Acrobat format
*Hyperlinked Table of Contents and Index
Minimum System Requirements PC with 486 or higher processor
Microsoft Windows 3.1, Windows 95, or
Windows NT 3.5.1 or later / 16 MB of RAM
25 MB of available hard-disk space
SVGA monitor / 2x CD-ROM drive / Mouse
Customer Reviews:
CD is a waste of time...........2006-11-02
OK- it's Perry's! Standard Perry's... there no phenomenal extra features... the packing is fairly nice though.. BUT the CD.. I cannot get the CD to self run- I can't get it to work period!!
I would give the damn thing 10 stars.......2006-04-21
If you are a Chem-E and don't own this book then you might as well kill yourself, or switch to mechanical.
The CD doesn't replace the hardcopy.......2006-03-20
The platinum edition is perfect - CD and hardcopy. While the CD doesn't replace the hardcopy it is very handy for it's portability and the accuracy of the 'active charts'.
The book is much more user friendly than the CD and if you can only afford one or the other then I'd recommend buying the book.
It can be quite difficult to find things on the CD version and it is slower than it needs to be as it always works off the CD drive (copying the CD onto the hard drive isn't an option).
perry's chemical engineers - very good deal.......2006-02-25
great deal!
i recommend it for anyone
Convenient for labs.......2005-10-06
The hardcopy Perry's is a fun bedside table read for chemical engineers, and makes an excellent review manual. But it is bulky and heavy to lug around to labs or study rooms, and so the CD's that are part of this edition are first rate tools to load on your laptop so that Perry's tables and measurements in searchable format( the next thing to 'The Force' that there is a for chemical engineers) is aways with you. Excellent item, and fortunately Amazon had it at an attractive price. It is a bonus to also have the hard copy. Good item to have for your 3d year forward, and essential for grad students or working engineers.
Book Description
On the heels of The Hunt Club—his biggest bestseller to date—John Lescroart weaves a new story of crime and justice in San Francisco that will keep pages turning and readers guessing from start to dizzying finish.
When Dr. Caryn Dryden is found floating dead in her hot tub, homicide inspector Devin Juhle targets a suspect close to home: her husband, Stuart Gorman. After all, Stuart was recently asked for a divorce . . . and he stands to gain millions in insurance. His alibi—that he was at his cabin on Tamarack Lake that weekend—doesn't keep him out of hot water. But maybe a shrewd attorney will.
Gina Roake, a partner in Dismas Hardy's firm, is eager to take on such a high-profile case, especially when the client's innocence seems so easy to prove. Yet the more time she spends with Stuart, the more complicated her feelings become; she feels strangely drawn to him at first, then has to confront the possibility of a dark history lurking in his past. Desperate to know the truth, Gina calls in Wyatt Hunt to investigate. Before the facts are in, her client is on the lam; he's already been tried in the press, and so he's certain the courtroom won't bring him any mercy either. Racing to a stunning conclusion as Gina uncovers disturbing answers, The Suspect is a chilling story of secrets, love, and lies.
Building on The Hunt Club's phenomenal success, The Suspect showcases the writing of a master of suspense at the height of his art.
Customer Reviews:
Brilliant!!!.......2007-09-14
Getting only better and better, with "The Suspect" John Lescroart has written a legal thriller which has it all. Brilliant story/case. Brilliant characters. Brilliant setting. Brilliant dialogue. Brilliant courtroom scenes. Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!
Lescroart is staying within the legal circle in San Francisco, created around the hero from his first books, attorney Dismas Hardy. This time there is a heroine, Hardy's colleague Gina Roake, who takes on her first murder case ever, with all the challenges this entails.
Besides being the perfect legal thriller - you never guess who did it, at least not until the very end - "The Suspect" has a lot of humour in it. Lawyers and police have their own language in order to cope with the grim reality they daily face in their work. Lescroart has invented characters like lawyer colleague Wes Farrell. Fashion ikon bizarre/eccentricc with his unique! style and unbelievable collection of T-shirts (One reading: "I'm out of my mind...please leave a message!"). Farrell's beloved dogs also belong in the limelight. Late boxer Bart and labrador puppy Gert. The latter daily present at the premises of law firm "Freeman, Farrell, Hardy & Roake". Smuggled in behind the back of spinster Chief Commandeer par excellance, receptionist Phyllis, who leads her troops with iron will and no nonsense.
And then there is "Lou The Greek's", whose restaurant is favoured among San Francisco's legal elite. Not for the food though, only choice on the menu per day being "The Special". A curious Greek/Chinese concoction created by Lou's Chinese wife Chui, and often leading guests to the nearest burger joint afterwards...
Is there so room for serious legal business in all this? Oh yes. You bet. Lescroart has more than done his homework. The investigation is thorough and diverse, leading to ever new possibilities and surprises. The detailed courtroom dialogue, written with perfect professional accuracy, is very much alive, not missing a beat.
As all Lescroart's novels. "The Suspect" is a highly human book. The people are real. Chliché it may be, but they really feel like friends you don't want to leave.
Thanks to all the wonderfully entertaining details and unique sense of humour which make you stop and read passages several times over - and laugh - this page-turner luckily lasts a little bit longer than it otherwise would.
But still. It's awful when it ends. May there soon be more from my favourite author. Please!
A MUST read for fans of the legal thriller and likely to convert those who have yet to discover this genre - and John Lescroart. A master author not to be missed!!!
SAME OLD STORY - Cliché.......2007-07-08
Husband & wife in dead or dying marriage, have fight. Hubby takes off to his lake cabin to get away. Gets drunk, violently destroys the contents of the cabin, decides to come home early, finds his wife dead in the hot tub.
He is stunned! when he realizes the police consider him a suspect (person of interest). Is also stunned when he hears that they are going to do an autopsy. "You mean he's going to cut her up?" "Jesus christ, this is unbelievable. She's just now dead. It's only been a few hours. Don't you understand that? You don't have to cut her up. It won't make any difference." Nobody is going to stand there and say such dumb things to the police. I'd bet you that 99.9% of people in that situation are not going to be saying too much of anything because they know that it is out of their hands. A death has occurred and the whys and wherefores must be found.
Lots of money involved of course! (7 to 10 million!) and of course 99% of it is the dead wifes. Life insurance is 3 million.
As the investigation deepens more and more not so nice things come crawling out of the closet tainting the husbands character. Possible relationship between husband and his wifes sister....
All the characters in this story are the ideal. All the women are perfect beauties in mind, body and soul. The men are manly men (Hubby = "the developed torso could have been that of a man half his age. ...strong jaw, nearly surgical cleft in his chin, good head of hair, blue eyes"...)
Lescroart goes into great detail describing everyones clothes and how each person looks in them. Ya know all that unnecessary bs padding.
Unoriginal, cliché and formulaic best discribes this book.
Lescroart does an admirable job of reviving his flagging series........2007-06-17
Picking up this book I was fully expecting yet another Dismas Hardy book. I have felt that the last few efforts of Lescroart have been fairly underwhelming. However, Hardy only makes cameo appearances here and I found myself excited to be dragged into both a familiar world and a wholly new character to explore.
I was reminded here of Scott Turrow who has used secondary characters from previous books and then gone on to create stories that mesh with the stories from past works while investigating new characters. This is what Lescroart has done here.
This time around, Lescroart is investigating the character Gina Roake is the lawyer hired to represent a murder suspect. A lot of predictable things come to pass here. Of course you will expect that in any legal fictional account for the protagonist to hit a point of rock bottom where everything is stacked against the client and all seems lost, only to storm back and save the day. Seems like this is an almost universal under-lying theme amongst the legal-thriller writers crowd.
What saves this book is a well crafted multifaceted array of possible villains. Until the end you wont really know who it is that has killed the protagonists wife. From one chapter to the next, Lescroart builds up four or five good solid suspects including the man that Gina is an attorney for.
What takes this book down a little, is that it was very predictable. If you like the Lescroart books, I can say with confidence that you will enjoy this one. Too many plot holes are left at the end for this book to be a classic, but this is still a fun few hours of time.
Loved it!.......2007-05-30
Although I didn't enjoy The Hunt Club - John Lescroat comes back with another great courtroom drama - He is very detailed and keeps you hanging on every page.
EUREKA!!! .......2007-04-01
So startling to make a new discovery...when an 'avid' reader and find I've just uncovered an 'avid' writer who's been there all along.
"Suspect" and John Lescroart another thrilling 'first'for me.
I was about one third into it when I was back to Amazon Books ordering another.
Definitely a 'page turner' that I tried to slow down as I wanted to keep reading as long as possible. Enthusiastically told my daughter about it only to hear, "Of course, John Lescroart...Mom,where have you been???"
Average customer rating:
- Entertaining Read
- My Second Favorite Lincoln Rhyme Novel
- Great Writer
- Another great Rhyme novel
- It didn't disappoint
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The Cold Moon: A Lincoln Rhyme Novel (Center Point Platinum Mystery (Large Print))
Jeffery Deaver
Manufacturer: Center Point Large Print
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 Contemporary
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ASIN: 1585478105 |
Customer Reviews:
Entertaining Read.......2007-09-03
I'm a Jeffery Deaver fan and have read most of his novels featuring Lincoln Rhyme. The Cold Moon is right up there with his previous works -- the story was entertaining and kept me engaged throughout. I enjoyed the twists, but perhaps the reader would be better served if there weren't so many. Too many twists and the storyline becomes somewhat confusing, believability gets stretched too thin, and the reader becomes overly conditioned to wait for the next big surprise to occur. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the story which had an interesting plot and featured the typical brilliantly devious criminal. The new character introductions were strong, as was the further development of previously introduced characters. I recommend this book as well as The Stone Monkey, which is my favorite Deaver effort.
My Second Favorite Lincoln Rhyme Novel.......2007-08-20
Of all of Jeffery Deaver's novels, "The Bone Collector" was my favorite. Now, though, "The Cold Moon" is coming in a close second. This book keeps you guessing throughout and certainly qualifies as a page-turner.
Great Writer.......2007-07-30
I'm a big fan of mystery/crime writers and Deaver is one of the best. If you can figure the ending on this one, you should write a book.
Another great Rhyme novel.......2007-07-29
Jeffrey Deaver has done it again. A multi-layered story with a number of surprising twists and turns, and some sly nods back to earlier works. Flew threw it in a day--great read, definitely not to be missed.
It didn't disappoint.......2007-07-28
Once again Jeffery Deaver has come up with a griping tale with more twists and turns than Lombard St. in San Francisco. All the regulars are back working with Amelia and Lincoln and a new one has been added, Kathryn Dance, the interrogation expert. I wouldn't be surprised if both she and rookie Pulaski don't have their own series of books soon. I particularly liked the way Deaver gave us more insight into Amelia Sachs background. I have read all six of the Lincoln Rhyme novels and now will be anxiously awaiting the seventh.
Average customer rating:
- Unguessable!
- Not her writing
- Don't Let This Book Hide at the Bottom of Your Yet to Read Pile!
- Plenty of twists and turns!
- Great Beginning, Confounding Ending
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Hide (Center Point Platinum Mystery (Large Print))
Lisa Gardner
Manufacturer: Center Point Large Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1585479241 |
Customer Reviews:
Unguessable!.......2007-08-26
Annabelle Granger has spent her whole life on the run and she doesn't even know what she has been running from. While she was growing up her father uprooted the family every 12-18 months to keep her safe from a threat but he never told her what exactly that threat was. And now, with her parents both dead, there is little chance of her ever finding all the answers. After all the family name changes, she doesn't even know what her real name is. Is it really Annabelle Granger?
A grave is found on the site of an old abandoned mental hospital containing 6 murdered girls, one of whom has a bracelet with 'Annabelle Granger' on, one that Annabelle remembers finding gift wrapped on her doorstep when she was a child, before all the family moves. She goes to the police to let them know that she is alive and well. They have as many questions about her life as she does and it's a rush to find the answers - who killed the girls, was this person the threat that her father tried to save Annabelle from, and is Annabelle still at risk?
This is a truly fantastic thriller. Annabelle is so unsure of her identity it is almost like she is trying to deal with amnesia. In finding out who she is she has to find out who she can trust and that entails letting down her guard, something her father has trained her never to do. I kept thinking that I had worked out who Annabelle was and who the threat was and then there was another twist and I was back at square one again. I like an author who can keep it fresh and keep me guessing and Lisa Gardner certainly did that for me in "Hide". I can't wait for her next book.
Not her writing.......2007-08-09
This of course is the sequel of "Alone" and I'll ask the same question: where's the plot? After read so many excellent books written by LG like: "The Other Daughter", "The Next Accident", "The Survivorss Club", "The Perfect Husband" among many others I'd think that LG didn't wrote these two stories. I cant't believe that after writing so many books that you can't close she wrote this kind of gibberish. I'm still a great LG's fan and I'll be waiting for the next one. But this surely is not her kind of writing.
Don't Let This Book Hide at the Bottom of Your Yet to Read Pile!.......2007-08-05
Have read a few of Gardner's books and this is easily the best of them. One of those books was Alone which also had a few of the characters from this novel. Although this novel could easily be read as a standalone novel I would recommend reading Alone first as paragraphs in Hide do give away key plot points of that novel. You'll also have a greater understanding of the characters who are back again if you read Alone first. They are both great reads.
I actually don't know why Gardner didn't just use fresh characters as the plot from Alone paid no real part for Hide's plot but as I said by using that novel's characters she does give away parts of that storyline and ultimately some of the reader's enjoyment if they chose to read that after.
In Hide ex sniper but still Massachusetts state cop Bobby Dodge is contacted by his ex, who is homicide detective for the city. She takes him on a tour of a new crime scene where six mummified little girls are found in an underground chamber on an ex mental hospital's grounds. Annabelle Granger's father has had her changing identities for most of her life and upon learning one of the victims was wearing a necklace with her original name on it she decides to tell the police the bizarre tale of her life. Soon it becomes apparent the necklace used to be hers, she gave it to her childhood friend who disappeared not long after her family did. Was she meant to be the victim? Is this killer what her father had her family running from?
Hide is a great read! I will definitely check out other Gardner novels.
Plenty of twists and turns!.......2007-08-02
I really enjoyed this book. I have read a number of Lisa Gardner novels and I believe that "Hide" is the best. There were plenty of twists and turns but still the author kept the main character, Annabelle, at the center of this wonderful mystery. I won't go into detail about the book as there are many already, except to add that the plot is exciting and the story will keep you turning pages. I think one of the most accurate aspects of the book was that the characters are well developed and the conclusion didn't leave any loose ends. This is a wonderful, suspenseful mystery that I would recommend.
Another mystery novel that will draw you completely into the story is The Monopoly Factor by Robert L. Saunders. Beware! You may stay up till 2am reading this thrilling story. Saunders writing is wonderfully smooth and the text flows with such supple and natural ease in this story of corporate deceit, greed and murder. There's a bit of romance between Barry and Susan and you can't help but root for them all the way through this exciting mystery. You won't be disappointed. Have a good read.
Great Beginning, Confounding Ending.......2007-07-29
This was my first Lisa Gardner book, and I read it quickly. It was fast paced, interesting--a real page turner. However, the ending made absolutely no sense. Another reviewer termed it perfectly: "contrived." It was as if the author had run out of steam and needed to finish the book, so she threw something out there. *SPOILER ALERT*--What frustrated me the most was how Annabelle's highly "intelligent" father, was unable to track down his brother after he shot him in the head. Also, it would seem that someone shot in the head would probably suffer brain damage, so why would "Russell" think that his brother was still a threat, and instead of running from "Tommy," why not search for him?! But the most illogical "surprise," was how "Ben" coincidentally found Annabelle and "knew" it was her. Non-sensical, I say! Other than the disappointing ending, this was a good read.
Average customer rating:
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Act of Treason (Center Point Platinum Fiction (Large Print))
Vince Flynn
Manufacturer: Center Point Large Print
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The Secret Servant (Gabriel Allon)
ASIN: 1585479004 |
Customer Reviews:
Impressively sweet.......2007-09-19
I've read several of Mary Balogh's books over the years, and while I wouldn't consider myself a HUGE fan, I've usually enjoyed them. "Simply Love" was the first book of hers that I have really and truly loved. While, like other reviewers, I could have lived without the more-than-a-cameo appearances by the "Slightly" series cast members, I adored both Sydnam and Anne. Their courtship was quiet, sweet, and surprisingly undramatic considering their pasts, but it was none-the-less very compelling. I also appreciated both characters' abilities to see their own flaws and work to fix the problem. Their concerns were realistic ones, especially considering the time period, made all the more believable by their respective families, who were not as unrealistically accepting as the Bedwyn clan. But neither were the families portrayed as evil for their reactions. They were simply products of their time, and both were won over by their love for their children.
While "Simply Love" did not make me want to read more about the courtships of the various Bedwyns, I plan on taking a closer look at Mary Balogh's books in the future, in the hopes of finding another book as sweet and simple (simply sweet?) as this one.
OK.......2007-08-22
I thought the book was well written, but if you are looking for an entertaining fun read this is not it!
I Loved it BUT..........2007-08-07
I loved the book and the characters. It is a great story and so different from what other books are out there...but, I had a hard time with the first chapter. Ms. Balogh introduced a few too many characters all at once and I was totally lost as to who was who. Other than that, I enjoyed the book and will buy more written by her.
Adding this to my list of favourite love stories..........2007-06-09
This is one of the BEST love storys I have ever read. Mary Balogh has done it again! I recently became a big fan of Balogh after I found one of her books at costco; I have bought and read many of her books since and when I found out she was working on a story for Sydnam, I decided I would not read it because I didn't think I could get over all of Sydnams horrific war injuries; I am so glad I changed my mind because it moved me like no other book has in a very long time. There is so much depth to both characters and you just can't help but fall in love with them as you get to know them and understand what they go through. Mary Balogh developed Sydnams character so well that I felt his pain throughout the book. I found myself weeping at the oddest moments and ws so sad when the story came to an end.
Sublime.......2007-06-08
This is an amazing book. For starters, it's a story about adults (not about an adult man and a teenaged girl), with main characters who have been through hard times and been damaged by them. Both are likable, and they each make sense -- how they got into their situations and what being in those situations has done to them. It's fascinating to see that kind of romance in a genre novel like this, and I enjoyed the change of pace.
The plot is pretty straight-forward, but the characters are so strong it doesn't matter. The writing is strong and fluent, and it's nice to see old friends from other books in supporting roles. I don't think you can take two minor characters from previous books, imbedded in those other stories as they were, and bring them together without involving the old characters. The trajectory of the story is quite nice, with events unfolding gradually, and the two protagonists being changed by their growing relationship, also gradually, and not without some pain along the way.
I found two weaknesses in the plot. First, I'm pretty sure that if you hadn't read Freyja's story, it would be hard to figure out what had happened to Anne in the past and why. I felt like I had a huge advantage because I recalled those details. Second, and more central to this story, I found the reconciliation with her parents too glib. It had to happen, but I felt that it was too easy, really, the way it did happen.
In the end, however, this is a five-star book. I can tell because I've read it more than once, with little diminuation of pleasure. The main characters are drawn with such depth and honesty that there is always something new to discover on rereading.
Average customer rating:
- A short story turned into a disconnecting boring book
- Where's the Suspense?
- Living In Interesting Times
- Bad Bad Love.....
- An interesting, odd, somewhat unsatisfying ride
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Trouble (Center Point Platinum Fiction (Large Print))
Jesse Kellerman
Manufacturer: Center Point Large Print
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1585479373 |
Book Description
Jesse Kellerman's debut thriller wowed the critics. His latest sets the bar even higher.
Young, idealistic, and overworked, Jonah is living the lonely life of a medical student in New York City when he accidentally stumbles across a murder in progress: a woman, being stabbed to death in the middle of the sidewalk. Without thinking, he rushes in to protect her-inadvertently killing her attacker in the process.
Thrust into the media spotlight, crushed by guilt, Jonah quickly learns that heroism isn't all it's cracked up to be. He receives a shower of unwanted attention-and hostility-from his superiors. The district attorney wants to "interview" him. The family of the dead man wants revenge.
Everything is further upended when the woman whose life he saved shows up at his apartment. What begins as a thank-you drink turns into a wildly passionate love affair. As their relationship deepens, however, Jonah realizes that she isn't quite the woman she appears to be. His nightmare has only begun, and the price of kindness will turn out to be higher than he could have imagined.
Expertly crafted and chillingly suspenseful, Trouble is a heart-stopper: proof positive that Jesse Kellerman has joined the "first ranks of mystery and suspense writers" (Forbes).
Customer Reviews:
A short story turned into a disconnecting boring book.......2007-09-27
I am really surprised by those that think this is a great psychological thriller. It is one of the most disjointed novels I have read. The author could have been much more successful if he had left out some of the least important characters and emphasized more on the three or four main subjects. I really had to force myself to finish this.
Where's the Suspense?.......2007-09-04
Sorry, but this one is a dud. A young, idealist medical student saves the life of a young woman being stabbed to death, or does he? I figured out who-done-it within the first few chapters. Is this a doctor story or a lawyer story? The author can't seem to make up his mind.
Living In Interesting Times.......2007-07-24
Medical student Jonah Stem witnesses a man stabbing a woman. He intervenes, kills the assassin and rescues the bleeding damsel. Actually that was the easy part. Jonah returns to his student work at the hospital, and his fifteen minutes of fame from the rescue gradually subsides, but then, one day, the rescued lady, shows up again full of gratitude to her rescuer. Well you can well guess how she shows her gratitude to our handsome young student. Things putt along very nicely for awhile, but then Jonah begins to live, as the Chinese say, in interesting times.
I kind of liked this story. Some reviewers have said the story is implausible. Well that's something that's not new to suspense fiction, but I felt that the novel is reasonably believable. In fact two extremely popular movies have been made in the past that follow the same generic path as this novel. I won't tell you their names because that might convey too much information.
While I didn't expect this to be a medical novel, I was a bit disappointed in the parts of the story that involved Jonah's experiences at the hospital. We really don't get to know any of the people he worked with, and the few anecdotal hospital experiences weren't that engrossing. For entertainment value Jonah could just as well have been an insurance actuary. Still the writing is a cut above average for this genre, and I found it to be a good read.
Bad Bad Love............2007-06-13
A 3rd year medical student intervenes in a street attack on a young woman and in the process causes the death of the attacker. In the aftermath, he becomes involved in an intense physical relationship with the young woman he rescued, only to find he is being drawn into a psycho drama whose dimensions and depth he only dimly perceives. As his situation becomes crazier so does his mental state as he tries to cope with the stress of his medical school demands and his awareness of the increasingly dangerous psycho/sexual game he's being drawn into by a highly intelligent but twisted manipulator.
First, while it may not be fair to young Kellerman to allude to his famous parents, let me just say "the kid has chops". Treading the line between thriller and Steven Kingesque weirdness, Jesse has an inventive style, and his plumbing of disturbing psychology reminds me of some of his father's earlier works around The Butcher's Theatre era. But, if I hadn't known his parentage, I would still find his work impressive (this being only his 2nd novel). This is a creepy read about contemporary perversity. Not for everyone, but worthwhile.
An interesting, odd, somewhat unsatisfying ride.......2007-05-01
Other reviewers have done a fine job of describing the plot of this book, so I won't rehash it here. Having read these other reviews, it appears that I am in the minority regarding its plot/premise -- I did not find the book or its ending as predictable as many others did. In the "big picture" sense, I think it's obvious how this book will end...very few books written in this vein end any other way. That said, I was surprised by the path the author took to reach the end of the story.
My real disappointment with this book was in its failure to explore and explain why the "villian" behaved in the manner that she did. She was over the top and really "out there" and the author took pains to depict some of her actions and behaviors quite graphically. Lacking an explanation of her past, her psyche, etc., however, the character ultimately seemed more caricature than character and, in the end, I felt like I'd just read a book that was missing a few chapters.
Download Description
New York Times bestselling author Linda Fairstein takes readers behind the scenes of New York City's theater world -- from Lincoln Center to the lights of Broadway -- in a riveting new novel, rich with her trademark blend of cutting-edge legal issues, skillful detective work, and heart-stopping suspense.
Customer Reviews:
Started strong and then flat-lined.......2007-08-16
I could go on and on about how bad I found this book to be, but I always feel guilty when I write a bad review. Because, hey, at least this woman has the discipline to finish a manuscript and someone thinks her work is good enough to publish. So, does that change my mind about giving this book two thumbs down? Nah.
A less promising beginning might have prepared me for the truly awful and unbelievably anti-climactic and waaaaay drawn out ending that lead nowhere. Tied up while her captors argue about....well, she never said what they were arguing about....the heroine says, "Two hours later I was even more tired." Nothing compared to the stupor your readers are in by that point, Ms. Fairstein.
Multiple cases.......2007-07-23
Like a real prosecuting attorney, Alexandra Cooper has a case load to deal with. The main case is the death of a ballet dancer. Alex is drawn into the case because the circumstances of the death are unclear, i.e., was it an attempted rape, a crime of passion, or a murder for another reason. Along the way she becomes involved in a case involving use of a date rape drug, a serial criminal attacking women, and a man trying to evade questioning (which reopens another case).
There are issues that keep attorneys employed. Besides the usual crimes, there is a family feud over inheritances, and the question of trusts and possible tax evasion (or maybe just creative tax avoidance). Money is power, and some people are willing to use connections.
You will learn a lot about the New York theater business, and the backstage areas. There are also some historical vignettes that I personally found interesting, but some people may think there is overly much background color.
I would note that there are some interesting discussions of the use of DNA and other forensic science. There are also legal issues about obtaining evidence, and what constitutes invasion of privacy.
The plot of the novel is complex, and requires that you pay attention. It is not a quick read.
BROADWAY BABES AND BAD BOYS.......2007-07-05
Fans of Law and Order, SVU (Special Victims Unit) where cutting edge forensic tools are coupled with gritty detective work will definitely relish Death Dance. The book captures the reader's attention with a look into the personal and professional life of a New York criminal prosecutor and two of her colleagues. Her cases are varied and range from indicting a physician involved in drug facilitated sexual assaults to the murder of a prima ballerina at the Metropolitan Opera House.
While I do not want to give away the complete plotline, let me just say that the book treats the reader to a descriptive behind a scenes tour of the Met as well as a couple of other famous New York theaters; gives us a history lesson about the famous and infamous residents of the city, both past and present, supplies lessons in forensics and police procedures and finally allows an exasperating glimpse at the practice of releasing non-citizens on their own recognizance with the naive expectation that they will return for trial and not flee the jurisdiction. (Are we stupid, or what??)
This book captures the readers attention from page one, twists and turns its way through 482 undeniably intriguing pages and deposits us at the end of a devilishly good story, satiated for the moment but definitely looking forward to another delectable helping of Linda Fairstein. Take her along on your next lazy afternoon at the beach or better yet on a long, tedious plane ride. You won't regret allowing her to join you.....she makes flying fun.
Absolutely Horrible. A must NOT read.......2007-07-02
This book was so horrible and poorly written that it took me over 3 months to complete reading it. I couldnt get into the book because there was to much useless information not even pertaining to the plot and the characters were all one dimensional. I had to force myself to read a few pages a night,after the first few nights I realized that this is something you should read if you have difficulty falling asleep because its a very boring book.
I dont reccomend this book to anyone.
Good mystery !!.......2007-06-27
Alex Cooper and her sleuthing companions are at it again. Didn't put down the book till it ended. Good writing, great and unusual plots and enjoy getting to know the characters more with each book.
Download Description
"
The RULES OF MARRIAGE...according to Miss Annabel Essex
A husband must be:
RICH.
Make that very rich. She's had enough of leaky roofs and thread-worn clothing.
ENGLISH.
London is the center of the civilized world, and Annabel has a passion for silk and hot water.
AMIABLE.
Good-looking would be nice, but not necessary. Same for intelligent.
Isn't she lucky? She's found just the man! And her chosen spouse is nothing like the impoverished Scottish Earl of Ardmore, who has nothing but his gorgeous eyes, his brain -- and his kisses -- to recommend him.
So what cruel twist of fate put her in a carriage on her way to Scotland with just that impoverished earl and all the world thinking they're man and wife? Sleeping in the same bed? Not to mention the game of words started by the earl -- in which the prize is a kiss. And the forfeit...
Well. They are almost married, after all!
"
Customer Reviews:
Who was this book supposed to be about?.......2007-06-26
I won't go into the plot because so many before have done, and frankly it's smack there right on the book. What I will say is that from a die hard romance fan this book failed completely. I read the first book in the series, "Much Ado About You" and thought it boring and slow but this one takes the cake.
To make a book really good, it has to have great characters. Well, this one had characters, you just didn't know which one the story was about. It taked more about Imogena and her shocking and outrageous stunts, than about the main character of the book. Annabelle had such spirit and charisma in the first book, but came through here, lifeless and boring. Ewan, wasn't much better. A spoiled rich kid that tried to teach his soon to be wife a lesson about being poor. Ummm, can you say pot calling the kettle black???? Neither had any personality whatsoever, and there was absolutely no chemistry.
There really wasn't much of a plot either. She gets ruined, and has to flee to Scotland to marry a man she thinks is poor. That just about sums up the whole book.
I think there was more chemistry between Rafe and Imogen and Mayne and Josie. I can only hope the next two books are better.
When I can't wait to get through a book (and I always have to finish) I know it only deserved 2 stars.
Essex sister number two's story in this one........2007-01-06
One of the things that I've noticed about historical romance novels is that when they are good, they tend to fall into the very good category. But when they are bad, oh how they flop! Such has been my experience with the novels of Eloisa James. Several I've enjoyed immensely, finding the blend of characters and plot to be just about right for an enjoyable evening's read.
And then there are the ones that had me muttering oh come on! and wanting to fling the book away. But I've resolved to finish whatever book I start, unless it is so awful that I simply can't take it anymore. And it was between these two extremes that I have found myself in this latest series by this author.
Kiss Me, Annabel tells the story of the second eldest of the four Essex sisters. Annabel has seen two of her sisters marry, one very successfully, and one with a disaster of a union. But Annabel isn't trusting on fate to win her the husband that she wants; no, she knows exactly what she wants -- a husband who is wealthy, compliant, and above all, not Scottish. Her memories of Scotland and life with her father, who gambled and spent every cent he had on horses, are so scarring and traumatic that Annabel is certain that she could not find any sort of happiness there.
Not that Annabel honestly has anything to worry about when it comes to finding a husband. She's beautiful and blond, and she already has several suitors who are just waiting for her to say 'yes.' But while their offers are certainly tempting, none of them have managed to stir any sort of passion in her. That is, until she meets Ewan, the Earl of Ardmore, a handsome red-head who dresses most unfashionably all in black, and tends to be blunt and manner-of-fact. Worst of all, he's a Scot, and Annabel wants nothing to do with him.
Intertwined with Annabel's story is that of her sister Imogen, a mourning, unhappy widow who is dressing in skin-tight black gowns with daring decolletage. She's also making a fool of herself and bringing scandal upon herself and her sisters, and ruining Annabel's chances for a good match. Things have gotten so difficult that the other sisters come up with a plan to have Ardmore marry Imogen -- or at least become her lover.
But the plan backfires badly, and it's Annabel who soon finds herself engaged to marry Ewan, and trapped in a carriage with him all the way back to Scotland. The one place she doesn't want to go. Once again her life is going to be one of poverty, and uncertainty. But it turns out that her sisters have a plan to rescue Annabel from her unwanted marriage if they can reach her in time...
Unlike the previous novel, Much Ado About You, where the characters of Tess and Lucian are interesting and involved with one another, this one falls apart rather quickly. Indeed, nearly the first hundred pages or so has hardly any mention of Annabel at all -- most of it is taken up with Imogen and her wayward ways. If that isn't bad enough, the romance between Annabel and her Scotsman never rises above a simmer, if that much. The suitor decides to be juvenile about things, and plays kissing games with her for the first week, and then we get the musty old "let's-trap-them-somewhere-isolated-until-they-have-sex" ploy. While James likes using Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew for the basis of this, the coyness of this becomes so sticky and dull that I was falling asleep over the book rather than finding it to be of any interest.
And that's fatal for a novel like this. The other problem is that she has set this somewhat in the Regency period of English history, but is entirely unconvincing in her descriptions of clothing, attitudes and the use of what is known as a 'special license' for marriages. The idioms tend to be modern, Imogen's behavior thoughtless and stupid, and the fact that the story has a hard time settling down as to which character is going to be the heroine just ruined the read for me.
Barely two stars, and that's pushing it. Not recommended.
Enjoyable!.......2006-11-10
I like this author's writing style. She creates a host of fun characters. Sometimes you wonder who the main characters are.
The only thing that I didn't like was Annabel always wondering if Ewan really loved her. How many times can a guy say it before the gal believes? All in all an engaging book that I started & finished quickly.
A nice read, though slow in parts.......2006-06-20
The second instalment in the Eloisa James' series about the impoverished Essex sisters, this is the story of the beautiful and ambitious, Annabel.
For most of her life, Annabel has dreamt of marrying well to escape poverty. Tired of playing accountant to her horse-mad father, she went to bed dreaming of living in a mansion, wearing silk gowns and never worrying about how to stretch the few coins they had. Now in London for her first season, she thinks that she may have finally found the answer to her prayers; never mind that there doesn't to be much to her chosen spouse in terms of personality. Until the night she finds herself in a compromising position with a titled, yet penniless Scot.
Ewan Poley, Earl of Ardmore, is on a mission to find a wife. Rumored to be impoverished, he seems to nevertheless be in demand in the English ton. As soon as he lays eyes on the beautiful Annabel, he knows that she's the one. When they were accidentally found in a compromising position at his hotel, Ewan finally gets his chance when Annabel agrees to marry him. Not too long after, they were in a carriage all the way back to Scotland.
Though Annabel is disappointed to find herself going back to the country that only serves to remind her of her impoverished upbringing, she cannot deny the mutual attraction that draws them together. And there starts the kissing game...
While I initially enjoyed the playfulness that started between the main characters, I felt that the whole kissing game was dragged on a bit too much. I found myself skimming over the pages, wishing that the whole game would stop. I thought it was a bit of an overkill and wish that the author had spent more time delving deeper into the main characters' personality, especially Annabel. I could appreciate her fear of going hungry again and not being able to keep warm during the cold winter months, but because of the lack of focus on her, her fears sometimes made her appear shallow and greedy. That's why I was rather surprised when Ewan declares his love for her so suddenly, making me ask myself: how and when?
Overall, KISS ME, ANNABEL, is a nice read, but could have been quite a wonderful story if the romance between the main characters were fleshed out a little more. Just like the first book, MUCH ADO ABOUT YOU, the other characters, particularly Imogen, has overshadowed the protagonists in this story.
A very pleasant read!.......2006-06-04
I REALLY liked this book, which came as a surprise to me. When I first purchased the book (shortly after it was released), I started to read it, only to find that I couldn't get into it, so I begrudgingly abandoned it for another book.
Just a few days ago, I decided to pick it up again, deciding I had better read it if I want to read the entire Four Sisters series. Well, to my delight, my interest never waned and I finished the book in a very short time.
Annabel Essex was a more likable character than I expected. She seemed rather cold and unfeeling in the first novel of the series, but you come to find that she is merely uninterested in love. Her highest priority is to insure she never knows poverty again.
Ewan, a Scottish Earl, was also a likable character. I'll be honest, I usually prefer the hero to be a dissolute rake. Ewan was seductive and very appealing, but he was certainly not a rake. He was an honorable and kind man. It was somewhat refreshing to find a hero who wasn't resistant to love.
There are readers who feel that most of the attention in the novel was given to Annabel's sister Imogen. This is true, to a degree. As in "Much Ado About You", a portion of "Kiss Me, Annabel" is devoted to Imogen and her inner turmoil, which does take a little of the attention away from the main characters. However, I feel that is it necessary as I think the author is trying to prepare us for Imogen's story, especially as pertains to her relationship with the girls' guardian, Rafe. The author has certainly heightened my anticipation for Imogen's story, which I think was the whole idea in including so much of her in the first two novels of the series.
All in all, I enjoyed "Kiss Me, Annabel." I love Annabel and Ewan as a couple; their penchant for kissing every five minutes was very sweet and there was just the right amount of light-hearted humor in the novel. It was also fun to read more of Josie, the youngest Essex daughter. She will make for an entertaining heroine. On a final note, I do so hope the author is able to devote some time to finding love for Mayne; I find him very intriguing and wish he would get his own story!
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