To Play the Fool

Book Description

Celebrated author Laurie R. King dazzles mystery lovers once again in this, her second Kate Martinelli mystery. The story unfolds as a band of homeless people cremate a beloved dog in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park. When it comes to incidents like this, the authorities are willing to overlook a few broken
regulations. But three weeks later, after the dog's owner gets the same fiery send-off, the SFPD knows it has a serious problem on its hands. Other than the fact that they're dealing with a particularly grisly homicide, Inspector Kate Martinelli and her partner, Al Hawkin, have little else to go on. They have a homeless victim without a positive ID, a group of witnesses who have little love for the cops, and a possible suspect, known only as Brother Erasmus. Kate
learns that Erasmus is well-acquainted with the park's homeless and with the rarefied atmosphere of Berkeley's Graduate Theological Union, yet he remains an enigma to all. It's apparent that he is by no means crazy--but he is a fool. Kate begins the frustrating task of interrogating a man who communicates only
through quotations. Trying to learn something of his history leads her along a twisting road to a disbanded cult, long-buried secrets, the thirst for spirituality, and the hunger for bloody vengeance.

Customer Reviews:

Very Good, But Not Mystery.......2007-04-19

I really enjoyed this book. I was looking for another mystery from Ms. King after reading A Grave Talent and this one kinda was but not really. You don't really know who the killer is until the end but this book is more about the process of a tragic human being. I'm not going to go into a plot summary since so many others have already did this on Amazon. But I was fascinated with the characters. Ms. King writes such rich, complex characters. Throughout this series she has been letting you see more and more into the characters. I agree with others that I had hoped that Al was in this book more but I do realize that Kate is the main lead character of the series. This book I really got into the secondary characaters. Ms. King explores their mind sets and why they do what they do. There are some twists in the book that you don't see coming which are reasonable and logical in the book. I would highly recommend this book.

Place and Character.......2006-08-21

Laurie R. King's knowledge of California, religous movements, the GTU (if only they had a church music program..."sigh"), and her skill in creating enigmatic and fascinating characters combine to create one of those fantastic late-night page turners wherein you know you needed to go to bed three hours ago, but you just can't put it down.

A Saintly Fool is Accused of Murder.......2006-08-13

To Play the Fool is the second of a series of mystery novels by Laurie King that feature the San Francisco homicide detective Kate Martinelli. The first book, A Grave Talent, was an Edgar Award winner.

This book picks up about a year after the first, and finds Martinelli and her partner Al Hawken investigating the death of a homeless man in Golden Gate Park. There are no witnesses or evidence, but an enigmatic old man called Brother Erasmus who speaks only in quotations becomes a prime suspect. Quickly the story changes from a homicide investigation to an attempt to find out about the mysterious Erasmus, who is either a saintly fool or mentally ill.

Laurie King is in her element as the scholarly street person quotes from the Bible and Shakespeare to answer all questions, leaving the two worldly detectives to puzzle over his meaning. Either he killed the man, or he knows who did. They must find a way to make him talk in a way that will make sense to the legal system to solve the crime.

As with A Grave Talent, King creates wonderfully complex characters that draw the reader into the story. Also her plot is sufficiently complex to keep you guessing. I fell in love with the kindly Brother Erasmus and the people who were drawn to him. A delightful story that is well told.

Wonderful Mystery - Excellent Characters.......2006-07-27

I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The well-developed characters make the mystery. Each character has a unique quality that, when intertwined they manage to draw a full spectrum of emotions from the reader. Not one of the characters is underdeveloped, which means the characters themselves pull you into the mystery.

My only complaint would be the ending. But in all fairness, I appear to have issues with the endings to a great many of the books I read lately. My issue this time is with the character who, in the end, "breaks character."

No Sophomore Slump Here.......2005-12-18

This is Laurie R. King's second Kate Martinelli book, and it's a well-chosen follow-up to her previous novel. Slimmer and more concise than the sometimes-wordy first volume, this book places its focus on Brother Erasmus, a homeless preacher, committed Fool, murder suspect, and one of the most interesting characters in recent popular fiction.

When a much-loathed panhandler is found partially cremated in Golden Gate Park, all the evidence points to Brother Erasmus. After all, the two had butted heads in the past; the disposition of the body mirrors how Erasmus took care of a beloved dog; and Erasmus is incapable of defending himself, since he speaks only in quotes. But somehow Brother Erasmus, both gentle and crafty, doesn't feel right for the crime. Did someone else really do it, or is Kate losing her edge and getting sentimental?

Brother Erasmus is surely one of the most interesting characters in ANY genre of fiction in the last several years. He feels like someone you know and want to trust, but he also remains enigmatic. And Kate's efforts to crack his shell reveal as much about her as they reveal about him.

As in the previous book, character is more important than crime. The resolution of the mystery is almost an afterthought; indeed, the mystery itself is important mainly to introduce us to Brother Erasmus. Not everyone will like this style, which more closely resembles mainstream literary fiction than most paperback mystery. But for readers willing to invest themselves in the story and the characters, this is one of the most interesting and promising character-driven stories published in over a decade. Highly recommended for mystery fans and newbies, this novel is one that will sit in a treasured place on your shelf for years to come.

Mystery!: A Celebration : Stalking Public Television's Greatest Sleuths

Average customer rating:

Questions answered and new paths to take
Great jumping off point!
Mystery : a celebration

Mystery!: A Celebration : Stalking Public Television's Greatest Sleuths
Ron Miller
Manufacturer: Kqed Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0912333898

Amazon.com

Simply put, Mystery! A Celebration is a beautiful book. For any fan who has been captivated by the Edward Gorey cartoons, the erudite words of Vincent Price and Diana Rigg, or the tastefully assembled mysteries that make up the beloved PBS series, the volume (as P.D. James writes in the foreword) "will give immense pleasure." The book begins with a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the early years of the series and includes an interview with Gorey, comments by Diana Rigg, and parting words from Vincent Price. The centerpiece, however, is the complete record of Mystery! episodes from 1980-1997, with in-depth coverage of all the major detective characters and "denizens of the dark side," from Sherlock Holmes to Sweeney Todd. Color and black-and-white photographs grace almost every page, and key series are followed by a bibliography and profiles of the actors and authors. A 100-question quiz and a list of show credits close the book. The only disappointment: realizing the quality episodes you have missed. --Patrick O'Kelley

Customer Reviews:

Questions answered and new paths to take.......2002-07-09

Once in a while something does come along to rival sliced bread. This book is it. I have had many questions about different mystery series. The latest is when the BBC produced The Dorothy L. Sayers series with Lord Peter Wimsey and Harriet Vane, why did they stop short and not produce "Busman's Honeymoon"? And the answer is:

"Sadly, Mystery! Viewers never got to see the payoff to this classic romance. Sayers wrote about the marriage in `Busman's Honeymoon', which couldn't be filmed for Mystery! Because Sayers had sold the film rights to Hollywood in the 1930's; it was turned into the 1940 film `Haunted Honeymoon', but efforts to secure the rights for the new BBC-TV version weren't successful."

This book is packed with such information and many great stills form many Mystery! programs. Now I need to see the ones I missed.

Great jumping off point!.......2001-03-01

I enjoyed this book on many levels, which I'll discuss below, but the best part about it, is I've now added about 20 books to my wish list (I'm sure amazon appreciates it!). This book is fabulous as a jumping off point. It describes books well enough to pique your interest--or turn you away,if it's not your style. Plots are discussed only in the minimum; there's never any spoilers. It also discusses actors, writers, and production work of the wonderful series Mystery! The pictures from the shows are beautiful. If you have any interest in the show Mystery, or in adding new authors to your stack to read, take a look at this book. You won't be disappointed.

Mystery : a celebration.......2000-05-03

Mystery : A Celebration is the ideal book to have by your armchair while you watch mysteries like Inspector Morse, Prime Suspect, the P.D. James mysteries, and many others that appear on the PBS MYSTERY series. Don't watch any of these mysteries without MYSTERY : A Celebration. Mystery readers will also enjoy this book. It provides the reader with a listing of titles by mystery authors like Colin Dexter, P.D. James, and others.It provides the reader with biographical information about the mystery authors and actors who are well known for portraying the popular detectives as well.

Play It Again, Spam (Penn Dutch Murder Mysteries, 7)

Average customer rating:

Spam
The most ridiculous book I've ever started reading!
Unbelievable bad!
Magdalena Funny Again.
Play It Again Spam

Play It Again, Spam (Penn Dutch Murder Mysteries, 7)
Tamar Myers
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451197542

Customer Reviews:

Spam.......2004-12-16

I have not read the other Penn Dutch mysteries but the Spam in the title caught my eye. Magdalena was funny, especially with the nicknames but she talked about her ex-husband too much. I enjoyed Strubly Sam and the other characters. The mystery was too rushed which is why I give it only 3 stars. Had there been more focus on the mystery and sleuthing throughout the book and less about the ex-husband it would have rated higher.

The most ridiculous book I've ever started reading!.......2004-05-05

This book is the silliest pile of nonsense I have ever run across. If you've got nothing better to do with your time than read one of the Penn Dutch Inn books then you've got more time than good sense.

Unbelievable bad!.......2004-04-06

I received three books from this series as a gift. I have to wonder if the person that gave them to me did it as a passive-agressive form of punishment. All three books(including this one)were terrible. Every book in this series seems to have the same awful one-liners. It takes way to long to develop anything even remotely resembling a plot. You can't even figure out when the "mystery" has been solved because you haven't even realized one began. The main character is completely unlikeable. I just wanted her to be murdered to end the misery that is this series. I am a huge mystery buff and I have never disliked any books so much. This auther is horrible.

Magdalena Funny Again........2003-11-23

In this book, Magdalena is funny again. Some of the humour in the last few books has seemed forced and slapstick, but in this book Magdalena is her usual hilarious self. The book also has a little thicker plot than usual as Magdalena gets drawn into a reunion of World War II vets who have rented out rooms in her newly rebuilt inn. (the first inn was apparently destroyed by a tornado sometime between this book and the one previous). We also meet a new character that I hope we see more of - Strubbly Sam. He's wonderful - an Amish widower who may be after Magdalena (and he cooks too). I am looking forward to other books in this series again.

Play It Again Spam.......2003-05-19

Tamra, you did it again! You are great! The book is Awesome!

Average customer rating:

Fare Play
Barbara Paul
Manufacturer: Scribner
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0684197154

Ruby: The Adventures of a Galactic Gumshoe

Average customer rating:

Smoooooooooooooooooth!
Ruby kicks B*TT!
Long Lost Ruby
Audio Books are Rarely this Good
Ruby!

Ruby: The Adventures of a Galactic Gumshoe

Manufacturer: Zbs Foundation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1881137929

Book Description

On the planet Summa Nulla (crossroads of the galaxy, highpoint of nothing), someone is manipulating the media. Ruby, tough, smart sexy detective that she is, is hired to track down the malefactors. The swinging Android Sisters perform satirical songs as Ruby encounters some pretty weird planetary inhabitants on her quest for truth and the intergalactic way.

Customer Reviews:

Smoooooooooooooooooth!.......2007-05-19

If you like science fiction & have a sense of humor ... or you're into twisted radio theatre (like Firesign) ... or just like trippy stories full of unexpected twists, clever sound effects, funny funny characters ... and 'specially if you like bad BAD achingly BAD puns ... try a shot of Ruby. It goes down smoooooooooooooooooth!

Warning: If you listen late at night, you will have *weird* dreams if you fall asleep.

Ruby kicks B*TT!.......2007-02-12

It's that simple. I have all the Ruby's from 1-7 and Tired of the Green Menace. I love them all!

Long Lost Ruby.......2006-08-10

Just a quick reminiscence... It's been 25 years and Ruby still haunts my memories with all the nostalgia of the waning days of radio theatre. It was my university radio station that played full episodes and not the 3 minute cop-outs that so many other stations played which first reintroduced me to the dying art of radio theatre. Tulane University station WTUL regaled us with eclectic music, gave us The Smiths and the Psychedelic Furs in all their "across the pond" glory, and replayed Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide original radio show in full installments. Where have the minds of youth gone today? The anti-cultural era of the late 20th Century, with it's sound bites and gratifyingly predictable dénouements served up in sit-coms and processed TV, gave way to computer games and the internet and has killed the last vestiges of imagination and patience of mind required to be swept away to other places by well crafted radio theatre or God forbid a good book.

My pro-cultural, anti post pop culture diatribe aside, I wish only that people in their browsing here will rediscover Ruby, Moon over Morocco and all the other fine ZBS productions which I believed were long lost. You see, the haze of illicit substances though long past, haven't affected my memory. Angel Lips, the Frankie and OffonOff and OnoffOn and the hubba-hubba tree and all the rest are still alive for me.

I give Ruby to a new and one hopes enchantable generation. Learn to explore the infinity of the mind by taking the time to listen and be swept up. Learn again how to truly read not just to process information, but to exercise the mind and derive pleasure from it.

I GIVE YOU ALL RUBY!!! But not before I buy my copy. My pirated cassettes from my buddies in the control booth at TUL are gappy and stretched out from over playing.

Audio Books are Rarely this Good.......2003-01-23

This audio book is beyond anything I have had ever heard, or have heard since. Not only is it fantastically written, wonderfully acted, and beautifully visualized, it also has a certain wit about technology and the future that is refreshing. The android sisters 'OnOffOn' and 'OffOnOff', the mole people, the fantastic Ruby, with her sly wit and kick-... attitude, this is an audio book for the whole family.

I personally guarantee, if you don't like it, somebody else will give you $5 for the CDs on e-bay. Please treat yourself and give it a listen.

Ruby!.......2000-07-20

Ha ha ha! I remember this radio series by ZBS! I was in college in the early 1990s, and our college radio station used to play this radio sci-fi comedy. It was hilarious! I was lucky enough to tape a few of the episodes off the air. Oh boy! I didn't know I could get this series on CD!

For those not in the know, this radio series centered on the adventures of Ruby, a galactic gumshoe. She's a trigger-happy, wise-cracking space detective who was on a quest to search for something (The Ultimate Game, I think?). She meets all sorts of scumbags and colorful characters along the way like Rodant Kapur, And/Or, Enana, Professor Theru, the And/Or Sisters, the Mole People, etc (excuse any mispellings). The series was rapid-paced and ultra-funny with great sound effects. Imagine Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell from "His Girl Friday" set in outer space, and you can imagine the great humour.

Book Description

Murder is going to the dogs. . .Bookstore owner and amateur sleuth Claire Malloy has donned another hat (or is that a collar?)-as a petsitter extraordinaire. Her furry charges are Miss Emily Parchester's beloved basset hounds, Nick and Nora, and two very good dogs they are. Everything is just ducky....until they vanish. Other neighbors' pets have also disappeared, and no doubt a dognapper is on the prowl. . .Switching to her sleuthing chapeau, Claire quickly locates the shabby abode of Newton Churls, who runs a black market in stolen animals. But instead of a pen filled with purloined pooches, Claire finds one very dead Newton-and it appears his own pit bull terriers did him in. Or did they? Claire smells a human rat behind the brutal murder. And mysteriously, Nick and Nora are still missing. Now Claire is doggedly determined to find them....and run a killer to the ground.

Customer Reviews:

Not her best, but still good!.......2003-11-08

Roll Over & Play Dead reveals Hess as her usual entertaining, witty self, but this time it's with a twist: she takes on the controversial issue of animal testing. Most of the general public really doesn't know (and may not want to know) what goes on in the world of animal testing. I do know; I've been in some animal testing labs. The world of animal testing is much uglier & more unconscionable than animal research scientists would have you believe. Hess always writes a good story, and this time she includes a worthy cause that definitely needs more press. I'm impressed that she tackled the issue!

Sheer propaganda!.......1999-05-26

I have recently become a dedicated Joan Hess fan. However, I have been reading her books out of order. Yesterday I started "Roll Over and Play Dead" ready for another light, funny story. Unfortunately, I got a speech from a soapbox. On page 28 one of the "good 'guys'" states: "The National Institute of Health gives away over three and a half billion dollars of your tax dollars so researchers can cut animals up, cripple them, blind them, burn them, infect them with diseases, and in general torture them. Over seventy million animals die this way every year so that someone can determine that you really shouldn't drink paint solvent or put it in your eyes."

WHOA! Where to begin? In the context of this story the reader is led to believe that the majority of these poor animals are pets - cats and dogs. NOT!!! Yes, I have been involved in animal research. I, like the vast majority of whole animal researchers, use rats. Never have I caused a rat undue pain (they are anesthetized by legal and moral code). Never have I pounded nails in a skull or any of the atrocities put forth in this book. In fact, I have never even heard of such a thing occuring in a lab. On the other hand, I HAVE heard of such things in pets homes from a vet tech student of mine. Such horrible cruelties are much more commonly afflicted upon animals by their "loving" owners.

I stuck with this book through the end even after countless assults on scientists and the necessity of medical research. I have never worked with dogs but I still take offense at the insults steeped high in the course of the story.

Book Description

The Applebaums, with a new arrival on the way, must find a bigger house. But in the tough L.A. real estate market, you practically have to kill to find a house. So no wonder Juliet is prepared to overlook a corpse on the grounds of her dream house. To gain the owner's favor, Juliet promises him she'll find his sister's killer.

Customer Reviews:

Entertaining.......2007-03-04

The writing is great, the storyline is interesting, and these quick reads leave me anxious to read the next installation. I highly recommend the Mommy-Track Mysteries series.

Losing faith because of errors.......2004-09-03

Like another reviewer, I do love Ayelet Waldman's Mommy-Track Mystery Series, but I too was really disappointed by the errors and typos. Waldman is a Harvard graduate--surely she didn't commit those errors herself! (If so, remind me not to ever hire her as my attorney.) I've noticed a number of books lately with sloppy copy-editing, but this one was the worst I've seen. Too bad, too, because the plot and characterization reflected Waldman's usual excellent work. Maybe she let one of her children copy-edit for her this time?

Typos mar the book.......2004-08-22

The plotting, characterizations and style are all as good as they were in the first 4 books in the Mommy-Track series.
.
However, there are typos throughout the book. For example (page numbers in the hardcover edition):
"I'd staffed looking" (instead of "I'd started looking"; p. 2)
"you're husband" (p. 125)
"temperment" (p. 152)
"stiletto-healed alligator pump" (p. 181)
"miniscule" (p. 271)
.
I'm sad and a little disturbed. Did the publishers decide to save money by cutting back on proof-readers? Did they think that computer spell-checkers can replace them? Do they think that readers no longer notice typos or care about them?
.
The typos marred my appreciation of an otherwise enjoyable book.

A house to die for........2004-07-19

In "Murder Plays House," by Ayelet Waldman, lawyer and part-time sleuth Juliet Applebaum is bursting at the seams. Literally. She has gained fifty pounds during her third pregnancy and she and her husband, Peter, need a bigger house for their growing family. The problem is that a desirable house in L. A. is not easy to get unless the buyers are filthy rich, which Juliet and her husband most certainly are not.

While house hunting with her realtor friend one day, Juliet stumbles upon a dead body in the bathtub. The owner of the house, who is the victim's brother, retains Juliet to help investigate the case. Along with her partner, Al, Juliet starts digging into the life of the deceased, an out-of-work actress named Alicia Felix.

Juliet interviews Alicia's former co-workers, ex-boyfriend, and anyone else with a possible connection to the crime. At the same time, the mother-to-be is trying to cope with her out-of-control appetite and ungainly shape, while also tending to the needs of her husband and young children.

"Murder Plays House" has its moments. Juliet is witty and sassy, and Waldman's wry humor and satirical treatment of the shallow L. A. culture are right on target. The author has a go at the trendy fashions, the insane desire to be thin at all costs, and the desperation of marginally talented actors to make it in show biz.

Waldman has trouble, however, balancing her lighthearted humor with the book's tragic elements, most of which are introduced in the second half of the novel. The carefree tone of the book's opening gives way to a somewhat somber and preachy ending. Although the plots of the "Mommy-Track Mysteries" are only passable, I keep reading them because of my fondness for Waldman's irresistible and down-to-earth heroine, Juliet Applebaum.

a fun read.......2004-07-18

Heavily pregnant Juliet Applebaum needs to find a new home for a her expanding family and fast! Not only are their current digs not going to be big enough to accommodate three children and two adults, but the people who have bought the lot next to the place they're renting have started an extensive remodeling work, and husband, Peter, a horror screen play writer (who works at the night and sleeps during the day) is getting no sleep at all and his work is suffering. Finding a nice and affordable house in LA is no easy feat; fortunately Juliet has an ace up her sleeve: her good friend Kat is a real estate agent -- albeit a heavily pregnant and quite reluctant real estate agent. Morosely, Kat agrees to go house hunting with Juliet. And when Kat shows her the magnificently restored house that Kat's cousin (Farzad) and his gay lover (fashion designer, Felix) are planning to sell, Juliet immediately falls in love with the house. Unfortunately the house also comes with the dead body of the Felix's sister, Alice. Once again Juliet finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation. But this time, solving the murder ahead of the police may actually net Juliet her dream house. Now all Juliet has to do is successfully discover who murdered Alice and why, as well juggling childcare, and making sure she doesn't give birth in the middle of her investigation...

If you're looking for a mystery novel that is full of snappy dialogue and that takes a humourous look at the life of a young(ish) mother in LA, you're bound to enjoy "Murder Plays House." Juliet is an engaging and taking character, and her attempts to be the perfect mother and understanding spouse, while trying to juggle a career as a private detective and her own needs, were truly funny and entertaining to read. However, mystery-wise, things were a bit of a let down. For example the mystery subplot was not all that well developed, and actually unfolded in a rather uneven manner, at the expense of the "mommy-track" subplot. Leads and suspects pittered out very quickly, so that when Juliet finally solved the case, it felt as if luck more than deduction was key to resolving everything. Though I will admit that because of the snappy dialogue and Juliet's engaging accounting on what it was like to be an average mom amongst the LA rich, "Murder Plays House" turned out to be a lively read. Also well done was the commentary on the lengths that some will go to in order to remain as young looking and as thin as possible. So that while the mystery angle left a bit to be desired, the storyline and narrative style made "Murder Plays House" an enjoyable yet sobering read.

Average customer rating:

Great Read!

A More Well-Rounded and Appealing Sofie Finds Herself in a Ridiculous Mystery Resolution

Another homerun for Sofie!

Home Run!

All the pieces fall together - a great series

Foul Play: A Sofie Metropolis Novel (Sofie Metropolis)
Tori Carrington
Manufacturer: Forge Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Dirty Laundry: A Sofie Metropolis Novel (Sofie Metropolis)

Lean Mean Thirteen (Stephanie Plum Novels)

Killer in High Heels

Plum Lovin' (A Stephanie Plum Novel)

Blondes Have More Felons (December Vaughn Mysteries)

ASIN: 0765317435
Release Date: 2007-05-29

Book Description

Like Janet Evanovich or Jennifer Crusie, Tori Carrington mixes humor with danger and stealth with sex. The intrepid Sofie, a good Greek girl from working-class Astoria, Queens, is finding her feet as a budding private investigator and as a single gal in the big city.

In Foul Play, Sofie’s searching for a couple of hot prospects, one in her personal life and one professionally. The New York Mets might just be on their way to the World Series, but their newly signed pitching phenom has disappeared with the playoffs fast approaching.

As for her personal life, Sofie’s hooking up with a gorgeous Greek who is every bit as hunky as her long-time crush, Australian mystery man Jake Porter—and a lot more available.

Customer Reviews:

Great Read!.......2007-08-08

If you can't get enough of the Plum books than this one is for you!

A More Well-Rounded and Appealing Sofie Finds Herself in a Ridiculous Mystery Resolution.......2007-07-30

Foul Play would be a breakthrough book for this series except for the solution to the main mystery being based on a ridiculous and unrealistic premise. But if you liked Sofie in Sofie Metropolis and Dirty Laundry, you'll love her in Foul Play. Enjoy Sofie and the Mets and forget the "mysteries."

If you didn't read the earlier books, Foul Play is filled with background references that fill in the blanks for you.

As the book opens, Sofie is sitting in a great seat at Shea Stadium, enthusiastically cheering on her Mets. Unfortunately, her enthusiasm becomes excessive and she is booted from the game. But, no problem, she's soon back and in the Mets locker room. How does Eugene Waters get her into such great spots?

It's now six months since she started working at her uncle's agency, and she's decided to stop taking lost pet cases. With the new-found freedom, she's gotten good at tracking down wandering spouses, and she's developed some skill at turning process servers into detectives. Jake Porter has mostly dropped out of her life, but she still feels heat at the thought of him.

Life seems to be really taking off when Gisela Venezuela hires Sophie to find out what's wrong with her husband, Reni, the Mets star pitcher who uses both arms to foil the opposition. Her retainer is an envelope filled with thousand dollar bills. But it's hard to trail a sports star who has body guards.

But there are nagging challenges. Sofie's grandfather is being sued for punching her ex-fiancé after learning that Thomas-the-Toad had switched her grandmother's diamond for a cubic zirconium. Can Sofie stop the suit? There's also a raft of people coming into the office asking for help with their lost pets. Sofie is also concerned that a prospective fiancé for her sister, Dino doesn't realize that her sister isn't interested. In a show of support for her sister, Sofie also proclaims that she wants a tattoo, and her sister tries to hold Sofie to it. Rosie, as usual, wants a new computer. Sofie wants a raise. She decides that she wants to reform her cousin Pete from stealing money into earning a living.

As the book proceeds, you'll find that Sofie develops as a woman, as a detective, and as a manager. She also becomes much more interesting.

If you don't know anything about baseball, you'll probably find this to be a five- or a four-star comic romance with a little mystery included. If you are a baseball fanatic, you'll be disappointed in the resolution of the main mystery and may grade this book as low as two stars.

Another homerun for Sofie!.......2007-06-30

Sofie Metropolis has been a private investigator for six months and her success has given her confidence. Her Uncle Spyros, who owns the private investigation firm, still hasn't shown back up in town. Sofie's high profile cases have garnered "missing pet" requests, but she thinks they shouldn't take them on because she's looking for that next big case. Finally, she gets one, and Sofie hopes this job will prove to her uncle, once and for all, that she is indeed fit to wear the PI title and be a partner in the agency. The wife of a superstar baseball player with the New York Mets is suspicious as to why her husband suddenly seems to have changed. Is he cheating on her with another woman? All Sofie needs to do is follow the guy around and dig into what he's up to. Being a big time Mets fan, Sofie can't help but hope the wife is wrong, especially since there is a hot pennant race going on. Now all Sofie has to do is be discreet. Ha! Easier said than done, when you're Sofie Metropolis!

I swear that the Sofie Metropolis series by Tori Carrington is getting better and better. Sofie is still the same street smart but vulnerable woman we first met in SOFIE METROPOLIS PI and continued in DIRTY LAUNDRY. No job is too hard for her to do. Sofie loves her Greek family and friends, but some days she wishes they'd leave her alone. Well, for only a day or two anyway. Sofie still has her cute dog, Muffy, as well as her assorted neighbors and nuisances from the previous books. Her grandfather is about to go on trial for his (well meaning) assault on Sofie's scumbag ex-fiancé. Without giving it away, there's a new development in Sofie's life that will have readers talking. Nope, I'm not going to tell. You'll just have to read to find out. ;-)

Sofie still wonders about Jake Porter, the mysterious Aussie who always seems to pop up when she least expects him to, but right now he's rather scarce. Sofie (and readers) just know he's soon destined to make an appearance. Office secretary Rosie is still as ditsy as ever, but she provides valuable support for Sofie. Also assisting are Eugene Waters and George Fowler, two interesting characters, both of whom Sofie wishes she didn't have to rely on for their unique expertise. Even if you're not a baseball fan, you'll enjoy the adventures in FOUL PLAY. I guarantee that you'll be laughing, crying all the while you're trying to solve Sofie's cases. Sofie is now showing more of a take-charge attitude with her job and even manages to nail her elusive uncle on the phone to agree to some changes at work.

The Sofie Metropolis series is a lot of fun to read and there are always a few minor subplots going right along with the main mystery. FOUL PLAY is an action-packed fun read that will leave readers guessing what will happen next. If you haven't picked up the first two in the series, then what are you waiting for? For a laugh-filled, enjoyable time all wrapped around a superb mystery, don't miss the continuing adventures of Sofie Metropolis in FOUL PLAY.

Patti Fischer
for Romance Reviews Today

Home Run!.......2007-06-30

The Sophie Metropolis series is really hitting its stride with the third installment. The first book was pretty good, the second was excellent, and Foul Play continues where the second one left off, this time with Sophie solving the mystery of a split personality Mets pitcher. Sophie is honing her detective skills (though she still excels when looking for missing pets), the self-depracating humor is still there, and she is beginning to embrace her Greek heritage (not to mention Dino, the hunky Greek proprietor of a pastry store - ah, chocolate and sex, a match made in heaven!). The witty dialogue, the fast-moving plot, and the quirky Greek characters will keep the reader turning the pages and wanting more.

A very satisfying read -- keep them coming!

All the pieces fall together - a great series.......2007-06-24

I am finally a Sophie Metropolis fan. This book got everything right - good plot, good chemistry, everything came together. A Mets player's wife hires Sophie to see what's going on with her husband - he's not himself, and she wants to know why - and hands Sophie an envelope of $1000's. Although the 'mystery' is very easily solved by the reader, it is good to see Sophie establishing herself in business, in her family, and her lovelife. She comes to terms with herself as a person and a Greek American who seems to have this wonderful man in her life. And I really like that..
OK I am officially a fan of Sophie Metropolis. This book was more enjoyable to me than the current Stephanie Plum. And the Greekness of Foul Play was really nice - Brought me to my childhood where on your nameday you got visitors and served sweets to the people and it was open house - The recipes at the end of the book were good, although the recipes tend to vary from area to area of Greece. Good Greek coffee was one of my first things to make when I was a kid - strong, sweet Greek coffee served in demitasse cups.
A celebrated day not only to go to Church but to have company and visit. Fun memories.
Yiassas Carringtons! Look forward to #4!
While I have to pay for my books, I am always glad to find new things to read, and am glad to have found this series and it is getting all things into place to be a great series.

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A Deadly Serious Game in Two Acts
At once odd and familiar, a great recommendation.

Sleuth (Playscript, 46)
Anthony Shaffer
Manufacturer: Marion Boyars Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0714507636

Book Description

Sleuth has all the ingredients of a top-class thriller, which it undoubtedly is - a plot whose twists and turns are breathtakingly audacious and fiendishly cunning; suspense and excitement galore; and a brilliant parody of the Agatha Christie country-house thriller, mercilessly satirizing the genre at the same as using its technical devices to the full. It is a dramatic study of sexual conflict and jealousy between an older and a younger man; as well as a subtle psychological portrait of an inadequate and sexually-obsessed middle-aged man.

Sleuth was filmed by Joseph Mankiewicz, with Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine in the leading roles, and this edition is fully illustrated with stills from the film, for which Anthony Shaffer wrote the screenplay.

Anthony Shaffer has written several television and stage plays, including the West End success Murderer (also available from arion Boyars Publishers). He has also written many screenplays, including Play with a Gypsy, Hitchcock's Frenzy, The Wicker Man, and the Agatha Christie films Death on the Nile and Evil Under the Sun.

Customer Reviews:

A Deadly Serious Game in Two Acts.......2004-05-16

The middle aged Andrew Wyke, a successful author of English country house murder mysteries, is an obsessive player of games, games of deductive logic, inductive logic, semantics, mathematics, hypnosis, and prestidigitation. Milo Tindle, the young lover of Andrew's wife Marguerite, has cautiously accepted an invitation by Andrew to his house.

Anthony Shaffer's play Sleuth opened to rave reviews in London in February, 1970, with Anthony Quayle and Keith Baxter in the lead roles. In the film production by Palomar Pictures Production and Twentieth Century Fox the roles of Andrew Wyke and Milo Tindle were played by Laurence Olivier and Michael Caine.

Sleuth makes fascinating reading on several levels. The setting, an English country home, initially suggests a predictable English mystery. However, despite some elements of humor, the disguised rivalry between Wyke and Tindle gradually develops overtones of a psychological thriller. Like Tindle, the reader is uncertain whether Wyke is simply playing a game, or whether he has more serious intentions. Obsessive game playing and make believe appear to be metamorphosing into a dangerous reality, but who is the victim? The plot is highly unpredictable and it would be inappropriate to say more.

The dialogue is fast paced and witty. Sleuth is entertaining, suspenseful, and great fun.

At once odd and familiar, a great recommendation........2000-09-25

The one extremely odd thing about this play was the fact that it was more of an entertainment than anything else, which is something that the old, stodgy theater would highly frown upon. Actually, though, it comes across as more of a breath of fresh air in a profession which is breathing its last in the public eye. The story twists and weaves almost too much to keep track of, but ostensibly this is the story of a young foreign gentleman in England who is visiting an older native. The older man has called him over to talk about a concern. The younger man (Milo)is getting married, and it turns out that the woman in question is the older man's ex-fiancee. What starts out as a polite inquiry into the Milo's finances suddenly turns ugly, as his elder intends to scare him. The two become embroiled in a psychological battle of scares and pranks up until the unexpected ending of the play. The key words here are Reversal of Expectation, taken almost to ludicrous extremes but always clear and understandable. The dialogue is quick, clever, and entertaining, and the characters are memorable. Best of all, this play can be performed easily on a budget and with a limited cast and crew; the script is that undemanding. The only thing you should consider bringing to the table here is an experienced director and two very talented actors.

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wonderful
Great Dog Mystery
Quirky Boulder, Colorado, Dogs and a great mystery!
A doggone good mystery!
My two favorite things, a good mystery and a good dog.

Play Dead (Allie Babcock Mysteries)
Leslie O'Kane
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0449001598
Release Date: 1998-10-31

Book Description

MEET ALLIE BABCOCK--
AN INTREPID DOG THERAPIST WITH A KNACK FOR SLEUTHING

After Allie Babcock sets up shop in Boulder, her first client is a despondent collie whose previous owner apparently took her own life. But Allie soon suspects murder--and figures her canine client was a witness to the crime.

Allie is quickly on the case when a second murder stops her investigation. Before making another move, she counts her enemies: several suspicious dog owners, a violent boyfriend demanding vengeance, and a mysterious door-to-door salesman with a bizarre story to tell. One thing's for certain: All of them deserve a serious once-over--or Allie's own life may be brought to a heel. . . .

Customer Reviews:

wonderful.......2001-11-15

i have become a big fan of allie's after reading this book-for any dog lover mystery fan its a must. not only is it entertaining but its informative in learning how to handle the different behavior problems in your dog. i've just started 'ruff way to go' and i hope these are just just the beginning of a long line of books based on this character.

Great Dog Mystery.......2000-03-21

The new Allie Babcock series is a welcome addition to the semi-new genre of doglover's mysteries. The plot is fast moving and exciting, the dog related areas authentic, and it is not preachy as some of these novels tend to be. All in all this is a fun and entertaining mystery that should appeal to all, not just doglovers.

Quirky Boulder, Colorado, Dogs and a great mystery!.......2000-01-10

An intriguing whodunit that I thoroughly enjoyed. Leslie O'Kane knows Boulder and knows dogs, and I can say I learned plenty about dog behavior while enjoying a good read. Can't get any better than that!

A doggone good mystery!.......1999-07-21

I just discovered this author, and she writes a sparkling mystery with very clever dialogue. It is fast moving and full of ideas on dog training (I learned to stop my dog from barking at the TV!) Leslie O'Kane's writing is really much better than most "lite" mysteries; her characters seem very real. This is the first in a series on Ally Babcock, canine therapist, and I'm looking forward to more. Perfect summer reading!

My two favorite things, a good mystery and a good dog........1999-01-24

What a great surpires to find a good mystery that includes a quirky pet psychologist, lots of lovable dogs and an odd combination of murder suspects. Add to this the author's delightful sense of humor and you have a very enjoyable read. I can't wait for Leslie O'Kane's next book in this series.

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