What the Dead Know: A Novel
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Fatal oversight?
  • in the loop
  • A moving literary mystery
  • Another Great Psychological Drama from Lippman
  • An Excellent Suspenseful Read!
What the Dead Know: A Novel
Laura Lippman
Manufacturer: William Morrow
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0061128856
Release Date: 2007-03-13

Book Description

Thirty years ago two sisters disappeared from a shopping mall. Their bodies were never found and those familiar with the case have always been tortured by these questions: How do you kidnap two girls? Who—or what—could have lured the two sisters away from a busy mall on a Saturday afternoon without leaving behind a single clue or witness?

Now a clearly disoriented woman involved in a rush-hour hit-and-run claims to be the younger of the long-gone Bethany sisters. But her involuntary admission and subsequent attempt to stonewall investigators only deepens the mystery. Where has she been? Why has she waited so long to come forward? Could her abductor truly be a beloved Baltimore cop? There isn't a shred of evidence to support her story, and every lead she gives the police seems to be another dead end—a dying, incoherent man, a razed house, a missing grave, and a family that disintegrated long ago, torn apart not only by the crime but by the fissures the tragedy revealed in what appeared to be the perfect household.

In a story that moves back and forth across the decades, there is only one person who dares to be skeptical of a woman who wants to claim the identity of one Bethany sister without revealing the fate of the other. Will he be able to discover the truth?

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Fatal oversight?.......2007-09-24

I've read all of Lippman's books and enjoyed most of them. Her Tess Monaghan series always entertains. "What the Dead Know," however, isn't her strongest novel.

The story suffers from a non-linear narrative. Not only does it jump around in time, but since there are two missing girls and two grieving parents, there are essentially multiple protagonists. Too much mental whiplash forced me to skip to the end for the resolution about halfway through, then continue reading. Yes, it's cheating, but it did help. I understand how Lippman, knowing the whole story when she began to write it, wouldn't be able to see the degree of confusion her structure would cause. This becomes clear because re-reading the book is a whole different experience than the first read-through. One can appreciate the craftsmanship without being distracted by the disjointed timeline.

However, for me there's an even bigger problem. Without revealing too much of the plot, I'll just ask: In 1975, didn't police reports of missing children include in their descriptions identifying physical characteristics, such as moles, birthmarks, and obvious scars? Today I'm sure a parent would be asked for such details, to help identify a child (dead or alive). If police reports included this information in 1975, the case should have been solved sooner. Those of you who have read the book will know what I'm talking about. Do you agree?

I enjoy Lippman's work and I'll continue to read anything she gives us. However, this particular volume probably won't make my top-five list of her work. Not to worry, there are plenty of others. Check them out.

2 out of 5 stars in the loop.......2007-09-24

This was the first of Lippman's novels I've read. And I was so flummoxed by the going round and around construct...and when the police said they'd let someone in the loop...I desperately wanted to get out of the loop....I felt like a hampster in a wheel...around and around....going nowhere....I simply didn't enjoy it; the way it was constructed it didn't pack a punch!
The mystery wasn't interesting to me; nor were the characters, with the possible exception of Miriam...who wasn't memorable but at least passable..
It occurs to me..post women's lib...now that women have to make a living...they're pumping out unspiring drivel like their male counterparts....Equal opportunity rum amok I suppose..

5 out of 5 stars A moving literary mystery.......2007-09-23

I've never read any of Laura Lippman's books, so I didn't know her if her style was the usual crime and thriller fast-paced writing or the literary sort, sentences pregnant with suggestion and nuance. I'm happy to say that it's very literary: wonderful and evocative prose, carefully structured and flowing like a dream. The case involves the disappearance of two girls, two sisters taken during an outing at the mall. Years later, one of them reappears and throws the case wide open again. But she doesn't quite seem to be who she says she is (is anyone ever?). Lippman builds up characters like a sculptor, taking great pains to evince personality traits, histories, and deep, simmering emotions. Each character, not just the sisters, was interesting to me and there seemed a wealth of stories that could be told about each of them.

While reading, there were moments when I felt I was aloft and enjoying an excellent view of the community, gently and generously invited by the author to remain there watching, occasionally descending and moving close to the characters until the tempests of fear or rage within them became palpable. Despite what "knowingness" I thought I felt, my position was never higher than the level of the author herself, who knew everything, yet her voice was never smug. I was happy to observe and learn and guess.

And I managed to guess the identity of the mystery person because of a few small details. I'm glad I was right because I never get anything right when I guess the end of crime or mystery novels. Still, the circumstances behind the mystery were impossible to guess. But when all was revealed, it made perfect sense. Heartbreaking sense. I've never been so affected by the end of a book, especially a crime one.

Parts of the book reminded me of Alice Sebold's "The Lovely Bones," which focuses heavily on the family breaking down after the disappearance of a young woman. In "What the dead know," two girls are taken (who takes two? many characters ask), and the parents are changed forever. Change is both internal and external. Time alters the town as well, and these altered landscapes reminded me how malleable our own appearances are, whether by our own hand or those of time and circumstance.

4 out of 5 stars Another Great Psychological Drama from Lippman.......2007-09-22

I read a lot of crime fiction, and I think Laura Lippman is really one of the best writers in the field. WHAT THE DEAD KNOW is a nice example of her talents.

The plot of WHAT THE DEAD KNOW is relatively straightforward. In 1975, two young sisters mysteriously disappeared during a trip to the local mall in Baltimore. Now, over thirty years later, a woman appears claiming to be one of the missing girls. The mystery of the novel is whether this woman is telling the truth.

WHAT THE DEAD KNOW is more of a psychological drama than a fast-paced thriller. There are a fair number of characters in this novel, and Lippman takes a lot of time exploring the psyche of each individual person. This is the type of novel with a lot of interior monologues, where the reader follows the character's thoughts and observations about life. As a result, most of the characters in this novel possess a great deal of depth and complexity.

The major flaw of WHAT THE DEAD KNOW is the lack of a genuinely likable protagonist. Nearly all the characters in this book are deeply flawed and some are downright annoying. While this is certainly realistic in many ways, it does make this novel tough to read in spots, since there is no specific person to root for.

Overall, however, I enjoyed this book a great deal, but not as much as EVERY SECRET THING, an earlier effort. Still, I think Lippman is an enormously talented crime writer, and I look forward to her future novels.

4 out of 5 stars An Excellent Suspenseful Read!.......2007-09-21

I really enjoy a great mystery novel and my friend recommended this book. The main character "Heather" was sort of a ringer. Normally, if the author is skilled in their writing I will find myself rooting for this character, but that didn't happen until near the end of the story which was a little late. While I'm on the subject of the ending, well it was a bit of a let down. But I don't want to give the impression that this was a terrible novel, because it wasn't. The plot will keep you reading page after page and it's certainly an excellent, suspenseful read. I would recommend it to all my friends.

On the subject of recommendations, check out the thrilling legal mystery The Monopoly Factor by Robert L. Saunders. This refreshing novel will keep you up till the wee hours of the morning and you can't help but root for the main characters, Barry and Susan, as they try to stay one step ahead of the evil Rudd and his henchman Buzz Brunner. Mystery fans check it out, believe me it's worthy of your time. Have a good read.
The Naming of the Dead (An Inspector Rebus)
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Inspector Rebus Goes It Alone Again
  • there are a lot better mysteries around!
  • A late bloomer to the series, I still found a thrilling Mystery
  • A fine crime novel, even in translation
  • Still in form
The Naming of the Dead (An Inspector Rebus)
Ian Rankin
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0316057576

Book Description

The leaders of the free world descend on Scotland for an international conference, and every cop in the country is needed for front-line duty...except one. John Rebus's reputation precedes him, and his bosses don't want him anywhere near Presidents Bush and Putin, which explains why he's manning an abandoned police station when a call comes in. During a preconference dinner at Edinburgh Castle, a delegate has fallen to his death. Accident, suicide, or something altogether more sinister? And is it linked to a grisly find close to the site of the gathering? Are the world's most powerful men at risk from a killer? While the government and secret services attempt to hush the whole thing up, Rebus knows he has only seventy-two hours to find the answers.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Inspector Rebus Goes It Alone Again.......2007-09-19

Ian Rankin's Scottish Detective Inspector John Rebus drinks too much, smokes too much, is a loner, defies his higher-ups and the Special Branch London spooks, but has a moral compass that can't be tampered with. The G8 world leaders are meeting near Edinburgh, and Rebus is, as usual, a loose cannon, going his own way, defying orders, investigating four murders. The scenes of protest in the streets are vividly drawn and form a backdrop for the story. In this book Rebus's sidekick Detective Sergeant Siobhan Clarke comes into her own as a character and shares center stage. She'll be up for her own series soon.
The book at 452 pages is too long, is replete with scores of red herrings, implausible events, coincidences, and an overcomplicated plot, but Rankin is still sharp, original, almost brilliant in his storytelling--better than most crime writers out there. Rebus is "obsessed and sidelined, cranky and mistrusted." The book has wry and sardonic humor; Rebus even causes President Bush to fall off his bike during an exercise ride.
The ending is unsatisfactory. You may feel as if you've been taken for a circuitous ride to nowhere and forced to fall off your bike. We've met a lot of rogue maverick homicide cops in crime fiction like Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, but who would want to always read about a "go by the book" copper like Ruth Rendell's Inspector Wexford? Rankin keeps turning out clever, absorbing books about his misfit, drowning detective who's gnawing away at the bad guys on both sides of the law.
Nine Lives Too Many
The Daemon in Our Dreams
The Rice Queen Spy

2 out of 5 stars there are a lot better mysteries around!.......2007-09-04

I was disappointed in the book, the plot rambles on and on and doesn;t really tie into the story plot and the two main characters are not very bright.. the only thing good about the book was the ending.. 20 pages...

4 out of 5 stars A late bloomer to the series, I still found a thrilling Mystery .......2007-08-06

Just as I leaving to take a long airline trip, my neighbor gave this book to read. Unfortunately, she forgot to tell me that this book was part of a series and that it was best that I read the earlier novels by Ian Rankin. Still, I struggled through "The Naming of the Dead" and finished it three days later. If you are a fan of this author and have read the series you probably are thrilled with the character Detective Inspector John Rebus, but coming in cold with this character I found myself trying to comprehend exactly who he was. One thing, I never found him to be boring and the plot kept my interest. I was hoping for an exciting mystery to unfold and by mid point in the story it did. The author's writing is style flows easily and he has a knack for describing in detail the scenes, police procedures, crime scenes and the traits of the characters. Overall, in my opinion this is a wonderful mystery novel, even though it is clouded by coming in late to the series. I'll definitely try another novel by Mr. Rankin that revolves around the Rebus character.

Another fantastic Mystery novel that I believe you would enjoy is The Monopoly Factor by Robert L. Saunders. This author has never disappointed me, and this story about corporate deceit, murder, creed and a bit of romance is a solid story that will keep you up till you finish reading the last page. It's a swift, no-nonsense story written in a highly effective, uncluttered fashion. Also, check out his dramatic Women's Fiction novel Gathering of Cans. Zoie Baker is the heroine and a dreamer that believes she can build a swimming pool by gathering aluminum cans along the dusty roads. It's a unique, warm and wonderful story. Don't miss this story, it's amazing. Have a super day.

5 out of 5 stars A fine crime novel, even in translation.......2007-08-02

This covers a set of interlocking events, including several murders, around the 2005 G8 Summit in Scotland. It is a fine read as a murder mystery, but much of the fun comes from Rankin's study of the darkly cynical Detective Inspector Rebus's interactions with a wide range of G8 visitors and with the local troublemakers they bring out.

I was a student at Edinburgh and I enjoy the way Rankin captures the feel of the city, not just in the physical locations but in the mood and style of the locals. Unfortunately this flow is sometimes undermined by changes made for the American edition. In several places everyday British words are replaced with jarringly out-of-place American equivalents.

If you aren't familiar with British English then these relatively minor translation changes will probably be invisible and you should happily enjoy the American edition. But if you are accustomed to British English and prefer a more authentic style, you might want to consider buying via amazon.co.uk. (I plan to do that for other Rankin novels.)

In either version, it is well worth a careful reading!

5 out of 5 stars Still in form.......2007-06-12

Ian Rankin has brought us another taut and compelling thriller about Edinburgh and the now aging Inspector Rebus. Arriving at the end of his career, Rebus still is driven to find politically inconvenient truths. He even revels in it. And Siobhan, his partner, may be heading in the same career derailing direction as she tries to manage the unfortunate nexus of her personal and professional lives. Well written, evocative of the time and place, and involving. Well worth the 5 stars.
All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • somebody's slipping...
  • All Together Dead
  • I liked it as a "light read" but still feel the lack of quality
  • Nobody writes like Charlaine Harris
  • Hurray for Ms Harris!
All Together Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 7)
Charlaine Harris
Manufacturer: Ace Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0441014941
Release Date: 2007-05-01

Book Description

Louisiana cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse has her hands full dealing with every sort of undead and paranormal creature imaginable. And after being betrayed by her longtime vampire love, Sookie must not only deal with a new man in her life-the shapeshifter Quinn-but also contend with the long-planned vampire summit.

The summit is a tense situation. The vampire queen of Louisiana is in a precarious position, her power base weakened by hurricane damage to New Orleans. And there are some vamps who would like to finish what nature started. Soon, Sookie must decide what side she'll stand with. And her choice may mean the difference between survival and all-out catastrophe.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars somebody's slipping..........2007-09-30

Sigh...it seems like all my favorite authors are slipping these days. I found her newest book to be slow and boring....the first one hundred pages is a baby shower (completely unrelated to the plot), a wedding that comes out of nowhere and seems to be going back to the same place, and contrived daliance in the bar with Bills new honey, some clothes shopping...it's all a day in the life and not well done, either. The meat of the plot, if you'll call it that, was lame and contrived and I sat through most of it saying "Don't you SEE! OMG, after 9/11 anyone in their right mind can see where the bombs are!" You don't have to be a frelling psychic! I won't say it was BAD, because even though boring, it was well written, but it sure wasn't good. If I'd actually paid money for this book, though, instead of hitting up the budget of my friendly neighborhood library I'd have been pretty ticked.

4 out of 5 stars All Together Dead.......2007-09-28

Book 7 of the Southern Vampire series by Charlaine Harris brings telepathic cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse to a vampire 'town meeting' that yields a tasty trial, romantic intrigue and radical-right anti-vamp attack. Oh, and Sookie is still surrounded by former or would-be lovers who want to make love, drink her blood, use her psychic gifts, or all of the above. Harris has crafted a character, a town, a world that her fans can't get enough of. Personally, I'd like to see her move a little faster on the 'Eric' front, but hey....choosing between a gladiator/ were-tiger and a thousand-year old Viking can't be easy! This isn't the best of the series, but it's a trueblood treat for those of us who love Sookie's Lopsided Louisiana otherworld.

3 out of 5 stars I liked it as a "light read" but still feel the lack of quality.......2007-09-24

Harris' main strengths are characterization, tone, and emotional content. Plot construction and pacing are her weaknesses. But that's okay, she's still a good storyteller and I like her books.

After reading several reviews at Amazon, I read "All Together Dead" with low expectations and maybe that's why I was pleasantly surprised. Plot and pacing are still "off" but they always have been.

The Sookie/Quinn romance doesn't "ring true" to me. Quinn remains too much an archtype for me to view him as a real personality. He seems more like an appendage to Sookie then anything else.

Also, why is it that Harris always resorts to Sookie's love interests/male friends usually being out of pocket when she's in a sticky situation?

There's lots of interesting subplots going on but the main action supposedly focuses on a vampire convention and the Queen's trial. After quite a lot of buildup, the trial is over and done with.

There is a surprising murder occuring near the end of the book that seems both out of character and unnecessary.

The continued tension and interest between Sookie and Eric is growing more interesting but again, I felt a bit let down in how their intimacy was forced. I suspect Sookie is some reincarnated former love of Eric's or something like that. Whether they're in love in this lifetime or not isn't the point. He's shown genuine affection and concern for her and I felt the "blood rape" was a cheap shot.

Like other reviewers, I agree this is a "filler" story and I hope we can look forward to more interesting happenings in future stories.

5 out of 5 stars Nobody writes like Charlaine Harris.......2007-09-17

Can't wait for another - I love her books and this one does not disappoint.

5 out of 5 stars Hurray for Ms Harris!.......2007-09-17

Ms Harris,
Eating and Sleeping are over-rated.
Writing is what is important.
So, if you wouldn't mind, give up your free-time, sleeping and eating - and get the next book finished!!
Can't wait!
PS
You're killing me making Eric second string. I know there is a hidden story there.
The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Well, now I'm prepared!
  • Zombies cool down
  • Very good.
  • Interesting Read
  • Cool Coffee Table Book
The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead
Max Brooks
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1400049628
Release Date: 2003-09-16

Book Description

The Zombie Survival Guide is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now. Fully illustrated and exhaustively comprehensive, this book covers everything you need to know, including how to understand zombie physiology and behavior, the most effective defense tactics and weaponry, ways to outfit your home for a long siege, and how to survive and adapt in any territory or terrain.

Top 10 Lessons for Surviving a Zombie Attack

1. Organize before they rise!
2. They feel no fear, why should you?
3. Use your head: cut off theirs.
4. Blades don’t need reloading.
5. Ideal protection = tight clothes, short hair.
6. Get up the staircase, then destroy it.
7. Get out of the car, get onto the bike.
8. Keep moving, keep low, keep quiet, keep alert!
9. No place is safe, only safer.
10. The zombie may be gone, but the threat lives on.

Don’t be carefree and foolish with your most precious asset—life. This book is your key to survival against the hordes of undead who may be stalking you right now without your even knowing it. The Zombie Survival Guide offers complete protection through trusted, proven tips for safeguarding yourself and your loved ones against the living dead. It is a book that can save your life.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Well, now I'm prepared!.......2007-09-24

I bought this book after flipping through it a little, mainly for the humor value. I didn't think it would consist of much more than that. How wrong I was. I started reading it, and ended up reading the whole book cover to cover. The way the author presents everything, it really makes you believe that a zombie outbreak could happen at any time. The subject is treated as seriously as any other survival manual would be (which actually adds to the humor). So many great tips are offered, such as what types of buildings make the best strongholds, what weapons are best (and worst), and what types of environment offers the best protection. The "real life accounts" section adds to the realism of the book, and is actually quite creepy in some places. After reading this manual, you will have all the knowledge you will need to get yourself prepared for a zombie outbreak.

5 out of 5 stars Zombies cool down.......2007-09-21

I'm nuts about Zombies and suggest that anyone who can't get enough of these books should read World War Z and The Zen of Zombie. You won't be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars Very good........2007-09-14

This Zombie Survival guide is fun to read and is very entertaining. It explains how to survive a zombie outbreak, how to fortify your home, what kind of weapons to use, and a lot more! I highly recommend this book. It's good for zombie lovers, and those who'd like to get a thrill. Buy this book- it's good.

4 out of 5 stars Interesting Read.......2007-09-07

I would highly recommend this "survival guide" for the like minded individuals. It will truly expand your imagination.

5 out of 5 stars Cool Coffee Table Book.......2007-09-06

Cool book for your coffee table. Book is written very seriously though. If you are into zombie movies, the author has had alot of time to think out every zombie tatic to help you survive. Don't take it to seriously though.
Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 6)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • definately dead
  • Sookie
  • THE BEST!
  • DEFINITELY READ THIS!!!!
  • Sookie's Backkkkkk
Definitely Dead (Southern Vampire Mysteries, Book 6)
Charlaine Harris
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441014917

Book Description

Sixth in the Anthony Award-winning Southern Vampire series.

Spiked with a frothy fusion of romance, mystery, and fantasy, this bestselling series sends the supernaturally gifted cocktail waitress Sookie Stackhouse to New Orleans, where she has to deal with the legacy of one of her own family and a host of potentially dangerous characters.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars definately dead.......2007-09-12

Definitely dead does not describe her books! Try laugh out loud fun, sex, humor and surprise as elements that makes Charlaine Harris one of my favorites in the chick lit fantasy and supernatural realm.

5 out of 5 stars Sookie.......2007-08-27

If you are already a Sookie and Bill fan, this book will blow you away! It is fast paced, and you see a side of Sookie and a side of Bill you would never believe. If you are new to the Southern Vampire series, you definitely need to start with "Dead Until Dark." Ms. Harris has such a way of pulling you into the world of the supernatural, you don't realize you have left the "real world." Believable characters are what makes this series one that you will want to read over and over again. I cannot wait to see what Sookie and her friends have gotten themselves into next.

5 out of 5 stars THE BEST!.......2007-08-23

OMG! I can't wait until the next in the series comes out! I love them all!! Sookie is the best!

5 out of 5 stars DEFINITELY READ THIS!!!!.......2007-08-19

In another delightful Sookie whodunit, Sookie is given the sad news that cousin Hadley, also a member of the undead, has actually died again (permanently) in New Orleans. Being the only heir, Sookie realizes that she has to go to New Orleans and clean out her cousin's apartment. Sookie soon finds out that Hadley was actually the consort of the Queen of New Orleans--who is soon set to marry.
It doesn't take Sookie long to discover that her cousin had a lot of secrets--hiding, literally, in closets and other places. But there is someone lurking who would rather that Hadley's secrets stay just that--secret. In addition to the mysteries concerning her cousin, there are revelations regarding Sookie's own personal life. And could there be a new romantic interest?
In another installment sure to keep readers turning the pages, this is another delightful paranormal whodunit from the author of this wonderful genre mix.


DYB

4 out of 5 stars Sookie's Backkkkkk.......2007-07-27

Sookie Stackhouse, barmaid and telepath, is back in this sixth installment of the Southern Vampire Mysteries, and things are, as usual, tense in Sookie's corner of the world. Contacted by Louisiana's vampire queen, Sookie discovers that her estranged cousin, Hadley, has been murdered and Sookie needs to come to New Orleans to deal with her estate. Of course, this is Sookie Stackhouse we're discussing, so things are not as simple as they seem. Add in some demons, the vampire king of Arkansas (why does that make me laugh?), weres of every shape and size, witches, fairies, Sookie' regular stable of friends and acquaintances, and the three hot guys currently vying for her affections, and we've got a standard, fun-filled addition to the series.

Definitely Dead is definitely delightful; Sookie discovers some things about herself and her family tree, and she assists in locating a missing child, thus putting her skills as a telepath to use in an arena besides the magical world. Upon reflection, however, I'm still not sure why that episode was added, though it was interesting. Otherwise, the action is almost non-stop, and Sookie once again is in mortal danger more than once. She's begun a new relationship with Quinn, the sexy weretiger, but she finds out devastating information about Bill, her former vampire lover. What's a telepath to do?

This is a worthy installment in this laugh out loud, engaging series, if a few minor questions still need answering. Sookie is managing herself well, and the set-up is there for the next book when Sookie will be accompanying the queen to a conference. Personally, I miss Sookie's sexy relationship with Eric, and hope to see more of him in book 7. Light reading but fun, this one's just left me wanting more.
Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7)
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • What a ride!
  • Days of the Dead
  • Wild Ride
  • Details, details
  • An excellent book
Dead Beat (The Dresden Files, Book 7)
Jim Butcher
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 045146091X

Book Description

The USA Today Bestselling Author's new Dresden Files novel...finally in paperback-and soon to be a Sci Fi Channel movie!
Filled with kickass adventure and supernatural fireworks, Jim Butcher's Dresden Files novels have been compared to Harry Potter. Now, Harry Dresden must save Chicago from black magic and necromancy-all in a day's work for the city's only professional wizard.

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars What a ride!.......2007-09-24

I have only read "Storm Front" before this. I liked it better. There are so many villians in this book and Harry is threatened in so many ways and injured in so many ways, it almost becomes laughable. The ending is good and exciting, even though I knew pretty much what was coming about chapter 3. The book is starting to have the "Da Vinci Code" syndrome: a cliffhanger at the end of every chapter. He is not as bad as Brown yet, but he is definitely headed in that direction. The friendship of Harry and Butters is pretty cool. The magic becomes convenient for plot devices. The humor is still there in spots.

The series is good. I was just slightly disappointed in this one.

5 out of 5 stars Days of the Dead.......2007-09-14

Dead Beat (2005) is the seventh urban fantasy novel in the Dresden Files series, following Blood Rites. In the previous volume, Harry burned his hand rescuing children from the Black Court vampires. He also discovered that paintball guns work well against the Black Court when loaded with holy water.

Lara Raith discovered the results of the curse on her father and Thomas learned that Justine is not dead. Jake decided to go into Feng Shui consulting while he took care of Emma's kids. Harry named the puppy "Mouse" and wondered why Thomas had bought large breed Puppy Chow.

In this novel, Thomas is living with Harry in the basement apartment. Thomas is frustrated because he cannot find a permanent job and Harry is frustrated because he cannot find a permanent girlfriend. Mister and Mouse are frustrated because they don't get fed on time and they are both oversized enough to really need the food.

It doesn't help that Thomas has women coming into the apartment when he should be running errands for his brother. Maybe Thomas and his lovers have a great time, but they do trash the place. Even the books are pulled out and scattered on the floor. And Thomas doesn't clean up behind himself.

After Thomas bares his soul and leaves in a huff, Harry takes Mouse out for a walk and Murphy pulls up just as he returns. Karrin is going on a vacation -- the first one in forever -- to Hawaii with Kincaid and wants Harry to water her plants. Harry tries to talk her out of doing anything with Kincaid, but doesn't try that hard since Karrin is not his girlfriend. Later, he wonders if Murphy had wanted him to try a little harder.

After pocketing the keys to her house, Harry goes inside the apartment and heats up some soup. Sitting down to eat, Harry checks his mail and finds one envelope with only his name and address on it. He checks it out for magical spells and, finding nothing harmful, opens it and slides out two photos and a note.

The photos show Murphy blasting some vampire minions with a shotgun. Harry knows that the public will only see human shaped bodies in the photos. The note threatens to send copies to Murphy's bosses if Harry doesn't appear at a specified time and place. The note offers a truce for the parley and is signed "Mavra". Dresden has little choice in the matter.

At the meeting, Mavra demands that Harry find a book -- The Word of Kemmler -- or the photos get mailed. Mavra has also taken precautions to ensure that the photos will be mailed if Harry destroys her. Harry still doesn't see any way out of this mess.

In this story, Harry gradually finds out more about Kemmler and his books -- at least two earlier works had been self-published -- and he soon discovers that Kemmler had been the most dangerous necromancer suppressed by the White Council. They had finally terminated Kemmler himself and several apprentices, but they hadn't gotten them all. Now the last work of Kemmler has suddenly reappeared and Harry soon runs into three separate necromancers looking for the book.

The first necromancer encountered is Grevane, who raids the Forensic Institute -- commonly called the morgue -- looking for something. The security guard is the first through the door into the examining room, his throat cut from ear to ear. Then Grevane and two other zombies enter and face Butters, the medical examiner. Harry intervenes to save Butters and they barely escape from the dead men. Harry takes Butters home to his warded apartment.

Later, Harry meets Shiela -- a clerk at Bock Ordered Books -- and buys a copy of a rare book that he needs for his research. When he steps out of the bookstore, two hooded figures are waiting for him. They both know who he is, but the taller one introduces himself as Cowl and calls the shorter one Kumori. Dresden drops a Toyota on Cowl, but only the local pack of werewolves saves him from the more powerful wizard.

When he later returns to the bookstore, the front windows have been replaced with plywood. Bock asks him to never return, but Shiela asks him for a date. Then the third necromancer -- Corpsetaker -- comes into the store asking about the buyer of the rare book and Harry steps out to confront her. She almost snares him with her mind magic, but he gets away with a little help from John Marcone.

This story has Harry facing three necromancers who are each much stronger than him. Moreover, he doesn't know what they want and how they expect to get it. Obviously, The Word of Kemmler is important, but so is the other book. He desperately needs more information.

Harry spends some time explaining the facts of the preternatural world to Butters. At first, Butters is skeptical, but too much is happening around him to deny the facts. Harry also divulges various White Council secrets and even shows Butters how to power a magical circle.

Harry also has several frank discussions with the shadow of Lasciel dwelling within his mind. Naturally, Dresden knows that the fallen angel is trying to seduce him to the dark side, but she is so convincing. He is definitely NOT going to dig up the blackened denarius in the cellar, but maybe they can work out a compromise to help protect his friends and neighbors.

Highly recommended for Butcher fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of magical powers, dinosaur skeletons, and other exotica.

-Arthur W. Jordin

5 out of 5 stars Wild Ride.......2007-08-06

This is a great story. I especially like the character Butters in this book, as he is really just an average guy, and he finds out some stuff about himself. All the Dresden File books are exciting, and the ending to this one is literally a really wild ride. Anyone who likes action with a sense of humor will really enjoy these stories.

5 out of 5 stars Details, details.......2007-08-04

I am giving this five stars, because as books go, it deserves it, but it is not the best Harry Dresden novel. Others reviewers have addressed major aspects of this book. It is definitely an action packed book with interesting characters and an exciting plot. I wanted to address some fine points that often go unappreciated in books.

Firstly, Jim Butcher is very good with unifying a plot. A "dream" (or possibly magical encounter) occurs early in the book. It seems the only point of it is an excuse for a very elaborate pun. (Which you would not get if you were not familiar with "Jaberwocky.") However, this sets up two later scenes. One is a reference to the thing that is punned upon and the other is scene where Harry is comforted about the possible repercussions of a death curse. This is just a minor example of the kind of unity that Jim Butcher is capable of. Most published authors get the major things right. Jim Butcher is also good with the details.

Secondly, this novel creates some beautiful visual images. Like many people, I started reading the Harry Dresden novels after seeing the TV series. The TV series is good, but it is really a different world. But I defy anyone to read the action packed battle at the end without "seeing" incredible visual images. The ScFi channel doesn't have the budget to do what the novel does.

5 out of 5 stars An excellent book.......2007-08-03

Wow this is one of the best of a great series by Jim Butcher. In this book not only does Harry's character grow and becomes more interesting the character Waldo Butters grows tremendously as well. I couldn't put the book down once I started reading.
Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive
  • Awesome Book! Very Deep!
  • Warning! This book could change your life!
  • Mandatory Read
  • Lifechanging
Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive
John Eldredge
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0785265538

Book Description

There is a glory to life that most people-including believers-never see. In this insightful new book, John Eldredge presents the heart as central to life. Not only is the heart essential; the heart God has ransomed is also good. Building on these foundational truths, Eldredge shows readers why real Christianity is a process of restoration, where the broken parts of our hearts are mended and the captive parts are set free.

Waking the Dead leads listeners to understand how to live from the heart, care for their heart like the treasures of the kingdom, and give from fullness instead of emptiness. This message also shows how living from the heart can energize people to love God and others in a way they've never experienced, revealing to them life's purpose: fighting for the hearts of others.

Download Description

"There is a glory to life that most people-including believers-never see. In this insightful new book, John Eldredge presents the heart as central to life. Not only is the heart essential; the heart God has ransomed is also good. Building on these foundational truths, Eldredge shows readers why real Christianity is a process of restoration, where the broken parts of our hearts are mended and the captive parts are set free. Waking the Dead leads listeners to understand how to live from the heart, care for their heart like the treasures of the kingdom, and give from fullness instead of emptiness. This message also shows how living from the heart can energize people to love God and others in a way they've never experienced, revealing to them life's purpose: fighting for the hearts of others."

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive.......2007-08-09

This is one of my favorite all-time books. It is uplifting, encouraging, and a wonderful read. I have read it 3 times already, and look forward to going over it again. Every time I read it I get something new out of it. I have given many copies to friends and family, and recommended it to many others!

5 out of 5 stars Awesome Book! Very Deep!.......2007-07-31

This book was really an eye opener. John Eldridge really hits on things that we all already know as Christ followers yet he puts things in perspective by using examples such as movies to make us aware that the glory of God is man fully alive!

A very deep book, I had to read a couple of chapters over again to get what Eldridge was saying, but I didn't mind at all because the chapters are short and it allows the reader to take in what Eldridge is trying to get across. "You are not what you think you are. There is a glory to your life that your Enemy (Satan) fears, and he is hell-bent on destroying that glory before you act on it." "The story of your life is the story of the long and brutal assault on your heart by the one who knows what you could be and fears it."

5 out of 5 stars Warning! This book could change your life!.......2007-07-23

John Eldredge's "Waking the Dead" is both eye opening and soul changing. I've never heard or read this bilical perceptive and my heart was certainly ready to receive this wonderful message of God's love, hope and purpose for our lives while on earth. I'm buying extra copies soon to give to all of my friends and family!

5 out of 5 stars Mandatory Read.......2007-07-23

Eye opening and crucial reading from John Eldridge. I have read Captivating, Journey of Desire, and Sacred Romance. I have loved them all, but this one is the best. I am recommending it to all my friends. The workbook that goes along with it enhances the experience and helps you to truly apply what you are learning to your life. I highly recommend you buy it!

5 out of 5 stars Lifechanging.......2007-05-17

Respectfully, I simply don't care about all the 'analytical' criticism of John Eldredge, nor do I pay attention to all the overly legalistic slamming of his books. Simply put, God used this book and John to change many things in my life. I recommend this book as one of John's best! And a must read for those that are ready to step out beyond religiosity and into the "Kingdom" life that God wants us to abide in!
Book of the Dead (Kay Scarpetta, No. 15)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Book of the Dead (Kay Scarpetta, No. 15)
    Patricia Cornwell
    Manufacturer: Putnam Adult
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 0399153934
    Release Date: 2007-10-23

    Book Description

    From America's # 1 bestselling crime writer comes the extraordinary new Dr. Kay Scarpetta novel.

    The "book of the dead" is the morgue log, a ledger in which all cases are entered by hand. For Kay Scarpetta, however, it is about to take on a new meaning. Fresh from her bruising battle with a psychopath in Florida, Scarpetta decides it's time for a change of pace, not only personally and professionally but geographically. Moving to the historic city of Charleston, South Carolina, she opens a unique private forensic pathology practice, one in which she and her colleagues-including Pete Marino and her niece, Lucy-offer expert crime-scene investigation and autopsy services to communities lacking local access to modern, competent death investigation technology.

    It seems like an ideal situation, until the new battles start-with local politicians, with entrenched interests, with someone whose covert attempts at sabotage are clearly meant to run Scarpetta out of town. And that's before the murders and other violent deaths even begin.

    A young man from a well-known family jumps off a water tower. A woman is found ritualistically murdered in her multimillion-dollar beach home. The body of an abused young boy is discovered dumped in a desolate marsh. Meanwhile, in distant New England, problems with a prominent patient at a Harvard-affiliated psychiatric hospital begin to hint at interconnections that are as hard to imagine as they are horrible.

    Kay Scarpetta has dealt with many brutal and unusual crimes before, but never a string of them as baffling, or as terrifying, as the ones confronting her now. Before she is through, that book of the dead will contain many names-and the pen may be poised to write in her own.

    The first name in forensics. The last name in suspense. Once again, Patricia Cornwell proves her exceptional ability to entertain and enthrall.
    Getting Unstuck: How Dead Ends Become New Paths
    Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
    • He knows what he's talking about.
    • A fresh approach with useful exercises
    • Boy Did I need this!
    • Probably best explored with guidance...
    • How to avoid a dead end or to find a better path to follow
    Getting Unstuck: How Dead Ends Become New Paths
    Timothy Butler
    Manufacturer: Harvard Business School Press
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover

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    ASIN: 1422102254
    Release Date: 2007-03-14

    Book Description

    You will experience psychological impasse many times in your life. During these times, you have the sensation that you’re stuck or paralyzed. You’re convinced that something must change, whether in your work or personal life. Though this feeling is normal, you need to move beyond it. Failure to “get unstuck” can put your career and personal life—as well as the healthy functioning of your team or organization—at risk.

    In Getting Unstuck, business psychologist and researcher Timothy Butler offers strategies for moving beyond a career or personal-life impasse—by recognizing the state of impasse, awakening your imagination, recognizing patterns of meaning in your life, and taking action for change.

    Drawing on a wealth of stories about individuals who have successfully transitioned out of impasses, Getting Unstuck provides a practical, authoritative road map for moving past your immediate impasse—and defining a meaningful path forward.

    Dr. Timothy Butler is a Senior Fellow and the Director of Career Development Programs at Harvard Business School. He teaches career coaching and consults to organizations worldwide on career development issues.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars He knows what he's talking about........2007-09-21

    The author does a great job of helping one to realize and appreciate that a "dead end" may be door to one of the best opportunities for growth one will ever receive in life. He helps one to address the fact that oftentimes being "stuck" is a very good and positive thing. The title of my review is appropriate because he obviously has worked with people, of different ages, who have felt stuck, how they got through it, and how positive it ended up being for most of them.

    Buitler does an excellent job of acknowldging and dealing with the feelings that accompany "stuckness." In my opinion, chapter two "Feeling Stuck and Doubting Ourselves" is worth the price of the book alone. "The Accuser" is who he calls the Superego who relentlessly doubts and questions "stuck" people. He helps the "stuck" to see how pathetic "the Accuser" really is, how and when he often strikes and what "the Accuser" really is: "it's concern is to punish us and stop us from taking that action which would allow us to experience new possibilities." (p. 32)

    This book is both psychologically insightful and of great practical help. It helped me a lot.

    5 out of 5 stars A fresh approach with useful exercises.......2007-06-27

    Tim Butler's latest book addresses takes a creative approach to "getting unstuck", which he calls "impasse," in a clear, engaging and enjoyable read for coaches and clients alike.

    Butler states that shifting to a new understanding of ourselves `is a "dropping down" into more imaginative and less conditioned ways of looking at ourselves and the world. We shift from cognitive analysis based on an old mental model to information that comes from giving our essence a chance to speak in the fresh language of image and metaphor. . . A new life vision has to come from employing all aspects of our consciousness . . . It has to arise from deep intuition.' [...]., includes access to audio downloads of some of his image gathering exercises.

    This practical book includes exercises to help clients identify career interest patterns as well as "dynamic tensions," goals or motivations that may appear to be contradictory. Readers can assess themselves based on ten interest patterns, based on Butler's research. The next step is to explore the role of three social motivators: power, affiliation, and achievement and to identify which are most dominant.

    By working through these exercises, clients assemble a powerful roadmap of life interests, motivators, themes, and dynamic tensions. Much of the books accessibility comes from the numerous examples of how clients resolved dynamic tensions and moved towards new, more fulfilling careers. Clients will find value in these examples and exercises and coaches will enjoy adding this creative approach to their coaching repertoire.

    5 out of 5 stars Boy Did I need this!.......2007-06-08

    I have just started this book, but it has hit home already. The Deep Dive exercises are really good and helps you resolve things in your life. I Love the way the book takes you from one place to another to clear up issues in your life. I think this is a must read for all.

    4 out of 5 stars Probably best explored with guidance..........2007-04-04

    There comes a time (or many times, actually) in everyone's life when things appear to be at a dead end. You know you don't want to be where you're at, but you're in a quandary about how to move on. That's the subject of the book Getting Unstuck: How Dead Ends Become New Paths by Timothy Butler. If you're willing to work his process and exercises, you may well find that "new path" to take you to the next level.

    Contents:
    Part 1 - Impasse: Facing Crisis; Feeling Stuck and Doubting Ourselves; Opening Up and Letting Go; Shifting to a New Understanding
    Part 2 - Vision: Our Deepest Interests (The First Pattern in the Carpet); Learning to Let Our Passions Guide Us; Power, People, and Achievement (Three Interwoven Patterns); Mapping Our Insights (Patterns in the Sand)
    Part 3 - Getting Unstuck: Moving from Impasse to Action; Living at the Border
    Appendixes: Continuing the Journey (An Annotated Bibliography); A Note on Impasse and Depression; Scoring the One Hundred Jobs Exercise
    Notes; Index; About the Author

    Butler is a researcher and business psychologist who works with people who have hit a "dead end" in their life. Many of the stories in the book involve students who have gone to business school, have a number of options in front of them, but nothing seems quite right. His approach to getting unstuck is to allow the inner thoughts and passions to direct us towards what we probably already know the answer to be, but we just haven't tuned into it. Many of these exercises are covered in sidebar entries called "deep dives". These sidebars go into detail about how an exercise works and how to do it. For instance, "free attention" is the technique of allowing your focus to reside on a particular part of the body, letting the sensations and feelings wash over you without judgement. When your mind wanders, you've lost your free attention and need to refocus on the body part. This then shifts to focus on breathing, and the goal is to let emotions run their course and learn from them. Another technique is paying attention to images that form in your mind. These images can often be formed from deeper core feelings and emotions, and taking the time to reflect and analyze them can cast light on your situation and point to a new path. Probably one of the most in-depth exercises is the 100 Jobs list. You choose 12 jobs from a list of 100 that appeal to you on an emotional basis. Scoring the exercise involves categorizing the types of attributes that make up those jobs. By grouping and classifying the different underlying traits, you'll see trends such as leadership, persuasion, coaching, etc. These trends can then be used to examine your direction and make corrections...

    On the whole, the ideas are solid. I can see where working through the process could lead to dramatic changes that might not be explored by a more cursory examination of your life. But while the book is designed to be used on your own, I think it'd work best if you had someone skilled in these techniques working with you. It's hard to be objective about your own mind, and an external viewpoint would help keep things focused. I also think that the material would appeal most to business professionals who are at a career crisis. Most of the material is slanted towards job-related issues, and the stories are largely about college and grad school students. While anyone could use these ideas in various areas of their lives, I think the "average" person might find it all a bit daunting...

    5 out of 5 stars How to avoid a dead end or to find a better path to follow .......2007-03-11


    Well before reading the final chapter of this book, I concluded that Timothy Butler is both a relentless empiricist (i.e. being keenly observant of human experience, especially his own) and a relentless pragmatist (i.e. leveraging this experience to apply lessons learned in terms of what works...and what doesn't). In the Introduction he focuses on the six phases of what he characterizes as "The Cycle of Impasse." They are (1) the arrival of the [given] crisis and impasse, (2) its deepening and the attendant re-emergence of unresolved issues, (3) the dropping of old assumptions and the opening up to new information, (4) the shift to a new way of understanding our situation, (5) the greater recognition of deep patterns of our personality, and eventuaolly (6) the decision to take concrete action." Once having carefully presented the "what," Butler then focuses almost all of his attention on the "how" of "getting unstuck."

    It is important to keep in mind that as Butler duly acknowledges, crises vary (sometimes significantly) in terms of their relative importance; also, impasses also vary in terms of their nature and extent; moreover, "getting unstuck" from one crisis does not mean that it will never recur; in addition, most people find themselves struggling to cope with more than one crisis at a time; finally, and obviously, its is highly advisable to prevent a crisis, if at all possible, and thus eliminate the need to get "unstuck" from one.

    The subtitle suggests another interesting aspect of this book's appeal: "How Dead Ends Become New Paths." I am among those who believe that every problem and, especially, every failure offers an invaluable learning opportunity. Long ago, Jack Dempsey suggested that "champions get up when they can't." More recently Warren Bennis and Robert Thomas, in Geeks and Geezers and then in Leading for a Lifetime, assert that most (if not all) great leaders - at one time - experienced a "crucible" which forged qualities of character they would not otherwise develop. In Authentic Leadership and then in True North, Bill George makes essentially the same point. With all due respect to Yogi Berra (reputed to have suggested that "When you get to a fork in the road, take it"), what seem to be "dead ends" can become "new paths" if - huge if -- we can summon the courage and sustain the determination to take "concrete action."

    To this last point, Butler insists - and I agree - that "our lives do not change without action. The impasse crisis has its resolution in a decision to make specific choices that change our day-to-day reality...Know what the action needs to be, and actually performing it, is what seals the cycle of learning and change and allows us to move forward."

    I commend Butler for providing three valuable appendices: "Continuing the Journey" (an annotated bibliography), "A Note on Impasse and Depression" (differences between symptoms of clinical depression and symptoms at impasse), and "Scoring the One Hundred Jobs Exercise" (a self-diagnostic to accompany an exercise in Chapter 4). All of those who read this book find themselves "stuck" from time to time. On occasion, the "impasse" is minor and only temporary (e.g. missing several days at work because of having the flu). On other occasions, the situation is much more serious and seems hopeless, or at least daunting (e.g. an extended period of unemployment as bills pile up). Butler seems genuinely determined to help his readers cope effectively with all manner of crises, especially those which may seem hopeless. Obviously, it remains for each reader to determine the value of this book to her or his own circumstances.

    When thinking about the many benefits that Butler's book offers, I am reminded of a prayer generally thought to have been composed by Reinhold Niebuhr: "Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
    We Are Their Heaven: Why the Dead Never Leave Us
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • We Are Not Their Heaven
    • Recommended this book in my book
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    • We are their haven why the dead never leave us
    • good book
    We Are Their Heaven: Why the Dead Never Leave Us
    Allison DuBois
    Manufacturer: Fireside
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback

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    ASIN: 0743291131

    Book Description

    What happens to our loved ones when they die?

    Is there a heaven?

    Is there a true connection and communication between the living and the dead?

    Allison DuBois invites us into her world where she delivers messages from our lost loved ones. She convinces us that those who have passed away are constantly with us, providing comfort, love, and support. They are as eager to reach us as we are to stay connected with them.

    But the dead have a language of their own. They communicate through signs, dreams, songs, coincidences, and messages delivered in unexpected ways. Allison takes us on an odyssey of these signs — how to recognise them, how to read them, and how to interpret them. In these pages, you will meet people who have had both heartbreaking and heartwarming communication with the other side, providing comforting proof that our deceased loved ones stay with us and continue to share in the joys of our lives.

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars We Are Not Their Heaven.......2007-09-30

    This book has helped three of my friends, I then bought the CD which three more of my friends and my husband listened to and all got something different but healing from the book. It is not meant to persuade the skeptics, but rather to give help to those who have lost loved ones. It did however change my engineer husbands mind, when she described how the experiments were set up. Great book, great person.

    5 out of 5 stars Recommended this book in my book.......2007-09-24

    This is a comforting and easy-to-read book that is hard to put down. I read this book almost straight through. Allison is a brave and wonderful writer who does not attempt to be wordy or pretentious in her writing. I loved it so much that I recommended it to my readers in my book, "These Are My Final Wishes". I searched for a book like this since my mother passed in 1982. Thank you Allison DuBois.

    Tamara Dunkel, author of "These Are My Final Wishes"

    5 out of 5 stars Good book.......2007-09-16

    Allison still amazes me everytime she writes a new one. I just received her third one. I can't wait to get started on it.

    5 out of 5 stars We are their haven why the dead never leave us.......2007-09-06

    This book really helped me alot get thru the pain of loosing my 26 yr old son to cancer. I know that he is with me alot in spirit and this book
    helped me to understand that. Thank you Allison for putting this book out to help us when we loose a loved one.

    5 out of 5 stars good book.......2007-08-30

    i like this book , allison is so sweet and honest , i just love her . very good book!

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