Book Description
Tim LaHaye’s most exciting series ever, Babylon Rising, continues with this explosive new installment, including more revelations than ever before. In
The Edge of Darkness, LaHaye reveals the meaning behind some of the most carefully guarded Biblical prophecies to expose a conspiracy with terrifying consequences for our modern world.
This time Michael Murphy sets off in search of the Lost Temple of Dagon and the dark secrets of the strange god once worshipped by the ancient Philistines. His quest will lead to a final confrontation with an old enemy and uncover one of the Bible’s most feared warnings–a prophecy of false miracles, false messiahs, and ultimate evil that will be fulfilled in our time...and that not even Murphy can stop once it’s begun.
Once again Tim LaHaye combines his unmatched insight into Biblical prophecy with his unique skills as a master storyteller to deliver a suspense thriller of nonstop action with a thought-provoking message for our troubled times.
Customer Reviews:
Tim LaHaye does it again.......2007-09-05
Tim LaHaye has a way with blending fiction into biblical prophecy. His stories are fast-paced, and hard to put down.
"The Edge of Darkness" tells of the fast approaching time of the anti-christ. This series is a must read for everybody.
When will book 5 be out?.......2007-08-30
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book but as with the others it did not conclude. The way scripture is woven into the story line makes it interesting and I believe will lead to further investigation by those not familiar with the themes. A good thing.
Unable to Review .......2007-08-28
I do not have a review as I did not receive the book. The order was cancelled by Amazon stating that they could not deliver the item to the address listed. This is strange as I have received other books at the same address. I was not very happy about it. I will now have to go and purchase it at the Barnes & Noble store.
This series keeps getting more and more disappointing..........2007-06-13
I was a huge fan of the first book in the Babylon Rising series, but I feel that the subsequent novels--including and especially this one--have slowly but surely been going downhill. The Edge of Darkness and the third book, The Europa Conspiracy, have lacked the action of the first book, and even of the second book, The Secret on Ararat. This novel also consisted mainly of lackluster dialogue and ridiculously simple thoughts on the part of its characters, along with childish comparisons (such as toward the end of the book, when the Seven are comparing their actions to fountains etc. at the Chateau de Versailles) that served as a constant annoyance.
Also, Tim Lahaye kills off many important characters in this Babylon Rising installation. I won't name names because I don't want to spoil things for anyone who hasn't read this book yet, but I feel that it's a bit late for the authors to start introducing new MAIN characters into the series, which is what they will have to do now that all but a couple of its main characters are dead. The authors need to go back to the basics of what made the first Babylon Rising book, and even the second one, the hits that they were.
"Edge of Darkness" keeps you on Edge of Seat.......2007-05-08
As with this whole series this an excellent book. I look forward to any more that this serious might produce.
Amazon.com
British photographer Barry Thornton has spent a lifetime devoted to black and white photography. He shares his warehouse of technical savvy in Edge of Darkness: The Art, Craft, and Power of the High-Definition Monochrome Photograph. If you have at least a working knowledge of basic photography, then you'll find this book to be full of helpful advice. Thornton has an immense amount of how-to wisdom and covers topics including focusing, lighting, tripods, printing, and much more. It is a precise book with incredible attention to detail.
The wealth of informative tips are illustrated with Thornton's photographs. Beautiful and rich landscapes so varied and full of depth that they create their own universe of monochromatic color. A stunning torrent of water crisp enough to be a cascade of crystal beads. Close-ups that feel like they were shot through a magnifying glass. Many students of photography see black and white pictures as a mere step on the way to the wonderful world of color. Thornton, on the other hand, reveres the traditions and possibilities of this medium and reveals monochromatic pictures to be a pinnacle of photography. This serious manual is a sure way to improve a burgeoning photographer's technical expertise. The book has 200 black-and-white illustrations. --J.P. Cohen
Customer Reviews:
Sharply done; might be more stars for you.......2007-08-03
The author's holy grail is sharpness, real and perceived. Type of film, type of developer, type of tripod and camera format, all slanted towards crisp and sharp photos. Nothing about tonality really: There are comparative photos only to show a difference in sharpness, except for a couple at the end showing bleaching techniques.
A good book for someone who takes architecture or landscape photos (with the requisite time to set up) and who also likes to noodle with their own developers.
The author's use of anecdotal stories to begin each chapter is a nice touch.
A must for anyone interested in B&W.......2006-03-04
Probably one of the best books on B&W processing I've read in the past 20 years. Too bad the first one published by B.Thornton "Elements" is no longer available. Thornton takes on one myth after another and clearly separates truth from myth in the B&W process flow in the darkroom. Just outstanding reading.... highly recommended.
Vladimir
The sort of book we need more of.......2005-10-18
What a delightful book! Once you've mastered Adam's beautiful books and the other books about serious zone system work this is the sort of book you hope for. Part memoir, part advanced how-to, and part philosophy put to paper in a delightful prose style.
Not exactly for beginners -- the author assumes you know the zone system and are serious about doing your own darkroom work. It also doesn't hurt to have read Anchell's Film Developing Cookbook and the Book of Pyro but not needed. The photos in the book are beautifully printed and yet the cost is reasonable. I hope this publisher will continue in this vein.
Terrific read..........2004-09-09
The photography I admit , is not brilliant or inspiring but the information contained in the text is excellent. This book is more for someone who already has a limited amount of knowledge og b&w photography. Excellent in depth information...one of only a few books on this subject worth reading.
Good...but not great... IMHO.......2004-03-18
The photos range in quality from very nice, to rather bland.
The information is often interesting, sometimes quite useful, but occasionally he writes lots about a technical issues which are not important. Some of the text might have been better left out or put into an appendix.
Thornton's commentary on the personal stories behind his photographs are sometimes sweet, but I have to admit that I occasionally felt like it was more information than I wanted. Every now and than I got the feeling he was trying to make a rather boring image seem more interesting by giving the story behind the photo.
Book Description
“Cherry Adair writes for those of us who love romantic-suspense fast and hot.”
–Jayne Ann Krentz
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyed the Edge series.......2007-03-30
I read the second book before I realized that it was a series. My suggestion is to get all three Edge brother books at once. They happen fairly simultaneously. The stories are sexy, the women are bright and successful, and the heroes are a cross between strong FBI types and wizard warriors. The series made me think of the Catherine Coulter FBI series with a mix of Nora Roberts' magical books intertwined.
Edge of Darkness.......2007-03-09
This was a super end of a series. The characters were great and the story took some turns that kept you reading to find out the end. I really liked how it tied all three books together yet made it so if you read the series out of order you still enjoyed it just for the two main characters.
Fun read.......2007-01-04
I enjoy Cherry's work. Enjoyable, escapist literature. If it has her name on it it is always worth a read.
An Exciting and Satisfying Conclusion to a Thrilling Trilogy!.......2006-12-30
This third and final book in the trilogy about the Edge brothers, Gabriel, Caleb and Duncan who are wizards, work for the psi-section of T-FLAC, an private anti-terrorist organization and are under a 500 year old curse, truly wrapped up the story in very exciting ways!
Duncan or "Hot Edge" as Lark (his T-FLAC boss and a wizard in her own right) calls him loves being a wizard and was happy to agree with his brothers that none of them should marry and thus the Curse would end with them. The Curse says the brothers haven chosen "duty o'er love" 500 years ago, will now be denied love in that if they find their true "Lifemate", she will die. So all the brothers have avoided romantic entanglements all their lives and now in the early thirties each of them as the previous two novels cover, are finding a Lifemate!!
Duncan has received several mental "shouts" from Henry, current Head of the Council of Wizards and Duncan's teacher and mentor that say "Help her!" They sound frantic so Duncan tries to reach Henry but voice mail, email, etc. receive no reply. Duncan assumes that the "her" Henry wants him to help is Henry's former ward and Duncan's former schoolmate, Serena Brightman Campbell. Serena is also a wizard who controls water. She is famous for her temper which can cause all kinds of havoc. Duncan sends some "Halves" -- part human/part wizard to keep an eye on her where she is in the desert doing work for the Campbell Foundation that she runs. Her late husband, Ian Campbell died just over a year ago and left the Foundation to her.
As Duncan begins a meeting with fellow members of the psi section of T-FLAC, one at a time his 3 operatives who were "watching" over Serena are sent back -- dripping wet!! Duncan gets a kick out of her temper but in the meantime, a couple of wizards -- full level ones, twos -- have been killed so there is serious business and trouble. Once back at his place, Duncan decides to bring Serena to him to see what she is up to and what Henry is so concerned about. He teleports her to his apartment while she is finishing up a shower so she arrives wet and naked. You begin to sense her temper as items in Duncan's kitchen start flying around and you also sense both Duncan's amusement and attraction to her.
As Duncan begins following Serena to Siberia where her Foundation is developing a thermal blanket to help produce crops in frigid areas, the two of them plus another old classmate (and former boyfriend of Serena's) Trey Culver are summoned before the Wizard Council and told the three will be in competition to be the new Head of the Council. This is a coveted position as the Head wears a medallion that contains the powers of all wizards who have lived since it was created. There are 4 Tests total and the first candidate to pass 2 Tests is the new Head.
Mysteries and danger abound as Duncan and Serena are shot at, more wizards are killed, Serena's assistant Joanne has a full wizard lover and Duncan's brothers also fight their own battles!!
I loved this as it not only wrapped up Duncan and Serena's story but also Gabriel and Caleb's stories plus the story of Nairne's Curse!!
A very satisfying read!
I don't normally read Cherry Adair..........2006-10-11
I'm a sucker for smut romance like this (this is an affectionate name, I promise!). Typically I prefer historical romance that's more realistic, and one other novel I read by this author didn't really trip my trigger all that much. Now, I work in a bookstore, so I see thousands of books every day that I'm there. The first one of the Edge series was on display at the front of the store, and I was bored. So I read the synopsis on the back cover, and it caught my attention. I can't say it was one I stayed up and read from start to finish, but it went by quick. Luckily I read them all in the correct order, so that helped. I would have to say the first one is the best. I felt Caleb should've been the youngest based on his personality, and that Duncan could've passed for the oldest. But I suppose my bias toward historical romance is why I like the first one most, being based in Edridge castle. I must say that I love the spell/rhyme/curse Adair came up with. And though I love the amount of hot romance she uses, I felt she rushed too much through the other conflicts in the stories. I guess I didn't feel enough tension when the final fight scenes played out (the first one at most). But I loved the Epilogue. I knew there was something about Lark that was different, but couldn't put my finger on it. Overall, I really liked the series, and will probably someday reread them.
Book Description
A COMPELLING STORY OF A WOMAN TRAPPED IN THE WRONG TIME, AND A POWERFUL, DEADLY CURSE THAT HAUNTS THREE GENERATIONS WITHOUT MERCY...
Adam Craig is fourteen when, near an isolated Celtic Stone in the wild Scottish Highlands, he meets Brid, whose exotic, gypsy-like dress and strange attitudes fascinate him. They become friends and, in time, passionate lovers. She leads him, unsuspecting, into the sixth century where - training as a Druid priestess - she has mastered their ancient mysteries and powerful, dangerous magic.
In her obsession with Adam, Brid is seen as a traitor to her people, only escaping death by following Adam to Edinburgh when he leaves home to study medicine.
As the years pass, Adam makes new friends, and finds new love. But Brid, consumed by jealousy, haunts him like an evil shadow until, fifty years on, Adam's granddaughter, Beth, helps him discover the secret that will free them from the terror of Brid's curse.
Customer Reviews:
What a disappointment .......2005-12-10
It grieves me to say this book is nothing special. The plot sounded amazing to me when I first read it on the website, but once I started reading it I discovered that it was poorly explained and executed.
Adam meets a young girl one day who he becomes friends with even though she lives in an odd gypsy village in the Scottish hills, while he is the son of a minister. They soon become lovers, but Adam moves on to be a doctor and when Brid, fearing for her life because her uncle the druid wants to kill her is rejected by Adam she swears to become the main focus in his life. Of course, it turns out Brid is really from the 6th century and has great powers that allow her to cross time.
The way Brid became accommodated to life in the 20th century is just stupid. No person from the 6th century who saw a car would be able to hold it together, much less eat chocolate without a huge sense of wonder.
Brid's situation as a person who can travel through time, change into a cat, leave her body at will, and do all sorts of other stuff is never portrayed as anything out of the ordinary, and as much as she does make Adam's life miserable, the actions people around Adam take to be safe from her are just plain silly. Also it's never clear if Brid really is in the 20th century, or just having an out of time out of body experience from the 6th century. Or both. Not much in this book makes sense, and the very end of the book is so out of place in the book it renders the whole ending stupid.
This is not one of Barbara Erskine's better books, and I recommend skipping this one. It has the feel of a draft written very early on that was never revised for anything except spelling. This book doesn't even seem to fit a category, be it historical fiction or thriller. If you want a real good historical book about time travel try the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, or Doomsday Book by Connie Willis.
I hate to say it, but this only gets two stars from me.
I wish I had read the above review..........2003-09-20
I wholeheartedly agree with the above review, and I wish I had seen it before I spent good money on this book. The story concept is intriguing (time travel, neolithic and modern day romance which goes wrong) but the writing is terrible. The story jumps around, things happen too fast and character development is poor. But I managed to get through it.
not her best.......2003-07-29
It begins well and is intriguing, but then loses its depth. I did not care about any of the characters because there was no depth to them either. Adam is completely unlikeable and Erskine never really goes into detail the relationship of all the characters enough in order for me to care about them. The ending of this book was also lousy.
Obsession at its best.......2003-05-04
This was an excellent edition to my collection of Barbara Erskine tales.
Adam is a troubled 14-year old in the Scottish Highlands when he meets Brid and they become friends. What he doesn't know is she is a Druid from many centuries ago. They become even closer as the years pass, eventually becoming lovers. As Adam gets older and moves on with his life, going away to school and getting married, Brid is confused and consumed with jealousy that she has been abandoned. Her curse follows Adam's family for two generations until it is broken by Adam's granddaughter.
This tale wasn't as creepy as other novels by this auther (House of Echoes or Midnight is a Lonely Place) but it had a very compelling supernatural element. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, its wonderful imagery, characters I grew to love (or, in Brid's case, sympathize with) and the sense of romance in both the location and the relationships.
If you're an Erskine fan already you are in for a treat and if not, this is a great book to get hooked...
Not her best one.......2003-01-17
Almost done reading this book. THis book is definately not like her other ones. IT just drags on and on , back and forth and back and forth...dont waste your money on this one.
Book Description
"I was ashamed. It was a confession of weakness. For years, depression meant the crazy house. As I look back at it, [my shame] just seems damned foolishness, which is one reason I talk about it now."
--Mike Wallace
"Toward the end I couldn't get up. I just physically couldn't."
--Kitty Dukakis
They have made the impossible climb into the spotlight and attained their brightest dreams. But for Mike Wallace, Kitty Dukakis, William Styron, Joan Rivers, and countless other people struggling against the debilitating effects of depression, life's most challenging battle is waged not in the public eye, but in the darkest recesses of the mind. In her brilliant new work, Kathy Cronkite gives voice to dozens of celebrated professionals who have endured--and conquered--the hopelessness of chronic depression. Most of all, this courageous book brings a ray of hope to the 24 million Americans who live in the shadows of this misunderstood disease, yet bravely seek a path toward the light. You will learn:
What to do when the sadness won't go away.
Why women are most vulnerable to unipolar disorder.
How substance abuse can mask the symptoms of depression.
The latest therapeutic options for children who are affected by their own--or a parent's--illness.
Which effective new treatments can lift the burden of depression--for up to 90 percent of people who suffer from it!
Customer Reviews:
A Wonderful Gift from a Gifted Communicator.......2004-12-23
I bought the original hardcover edition when it came out, and breathed sighs of recognition and relief as I read it, and read myself into it. I recently ordered five more copies for friends and family who could be helped by it. I admire Ms. Cronkite for coming forth to tell her own story, which I desperately needed to hear. This, and her knowledge of celebrities who also suffer from depression, made me believe I could truly accomplish my own goals in life, and help others who suffer from clinical depression. The most helpful book I have read on the subject.
Uneven.......2003-12-20
Considering how many high-profile people are represented in this book, you would expect the stories to be interesting. Unfortunately, only about half are. The book isn't even interesting enough to be depressing.
An interesting group of voices.......2003-03-13
I found this to be an easy read and somewhat enlightening discussion of depression. The strength of the book probably lies in offering different views about depression. It's not a great book, but worth reading for support if you're depressed or to hear different people describe the experience of being depressed. Avery Z. Conner, author of "Fevers of the Mind".
Look somewhere else..........2003-01-28
...if you want to be touched by a book. I have read multiple books on depression and this one was the most disappointing. It was surprising to see so many favorable, gushing reviews for this book.
This book is advertised as different people telling their story about their depression. Reading it, you get the impression that there are no individual voices in this book. It was edited in such a way that all those that are telling their story sound like they are speaking in the same tone, in the same voice. Even stunningly brillant writers, like William Styron, end up sounding flat and robotic. It is strange.
A lot of the stories were disjointed, and there were random snippets thrown in here and there that were entirely out of context for the subject being discussed.
What I am trying to say is that if you want to have your soul touched, try something else. This book is flat and has little flavor. Depression is such a fascinating and complex subject, and this book does not do it justice. There are MANY better books out there. I suggest "Unholy Ghost".
On the Edge of Darkness fails to capture the essence, the hopelessness, the poignancy of depression. It does not convey any human emotion, but reads like fortune cookie gone wrong. It fails to bring you to the edge.
An extremely helpful book........2002-04-05
I have suffered from episodic clinical depression for years. I would never admit it was an illness. Instead, I regarded it as a character flaw or deficiency of will. I suffered in secret, mostly, maintaining an outwardly jovial appearance, although I drank heavily. Finally, I had a second severe bout beginning in 1995, and in 199 I became suicidal, and finally underwent shock treatment. Thereafter, I was unlicensed in my profession, got divorced, and went bankrupt. Because I was too proud to admit that depression is an illness, adangerous illness lke cancer, shared by many persons you'd never even guess have it.
I wish I had had this book ten, or even five years ago. It would have taught things easily that i've learned the hard way.
The book is a compendium of anecdotes, by people such as Mike Wallace, Dick Clark, Joan Rivers, William Styron, etc., all of whom have found that ways to cope with Churchill's so-called "Black Dog". You can too, if you find yourself on the edge of unbearable despair, as I did.
Depression is, above all, a lonely illness. The people in the book make it less lonely, enabling the patient and his or her loved ones to cope with an illness that can't be seen, heard, sensed, or understood. If your life is touched by your own, or someone else's depression. You need this book. I believe it has helped save my life.
Customer Reviews:
An informative, great read.......2007-04-18
I think the author did a terrific job with this book. She was brave, came forward and told us exactly what happened to her when she passed over.
That it doesn't correlate with some doesn't give those a license to belittle her experience.
Anyway, bravo Angie, even though we've never met I want to thank you publicly for sharing your knowledge of the divinty of Christ, the Savior of all mankind, for explaining the plan and purpose of our lives, that we have a Father in Heaven who loves us and that Jesus will mediate for us if we choose him and accept him as our Savior.
A Great Story --Ignore the Critics.......2007-01-22
Spiritual matters will never be resolved with bickering back and forth on forums. Spiritual matters can only be resolved with the spirit. Our earth is filled with people ranging from spiritually dead to enlightened. This site also seems to have that same range with reviewers--prideful scripture citing, name calling, and cruel accusations.
Ms. Fenimore had this experience. It was real. Whether a vision or literal, does not matter. When Moses spoke to God, was he really talking with a burning bush? We are taught truths by means that enable us to understand, but always, our understanding is dependent on where we stand.
C.S. Lewis described being in a dark shed and observing a shaft of light penetrating a hole in the wooden door. From were he stood, he could see dust and fine particles floating, swimming, and swirling in the air. What he saw was truth, limited by his perspective and from where he stood. But as he positioned himself up near the hole in the door, a view of the beautiful outdoor world of grass and flowers and trees opened unto him. Interestingly, from both positions he viewed the same light (or truth), but observed different results. Some in this world are content to see the dust and argue there is nothing more. But those that want to see greater truth must align themselves spiritually. The choice is ours.
Years ago, my wife saw a talk show where Ms. Fenimore was telling her story. Later that day, my wife told me of Ms. Fenimore's experience. I felt the spirit whisper to me that it was a true experience. I wasn't seeking this revelation. It just came. Then just two weeks ago, my son came home telling me that one of his former friends that had been kicked out of junior high had committed suicide. The rumor turned out to be false, but reminded me of Ms. Fenimore's story heard some ten years earlier. So I googled NDE/suicide and found this book--didn't know it even existed before then.
I have since read BTD and once again felt the holy spirit witness to me. I believe it! Whether it's literal or visionary does not matter. The message is the same, and anyone that will humble themselves and spiritually align themselves can also know it's a true message. Others may be content with the specks of dust (truth) but please don't tell me that's all there is. This book opens up a world that we would not have seen without the courage of Ms. Fennimore and her willingness to share.
I am the author & want to address some reader concerns.......2007-01-03
On rare occasion I will pick up used copies of my paperback to give to my children and grandchildren,(I prefer the paperback cover to the hardcover. I also had the opportunity to fix several publisher typos that appear in the hardcover).
I usually resist reading reviews since you readers can be cruel. I do want to say that what happened to me happened. I did not make it up. I was not hallucinating and I'm sorry if it doesn't fit with your preconceived notions of what may happen to you when you die.
When you drop an apple, it's going to hit the pavement. Not much I can do about that either.
I didn't write what amounts to my personal journal with all of the most painful and shameful events of my life out there for public consumption in order to harm or deceive. Why would I do that? Ask yourself if it might be painful to know that strangers, neighbors, people at the local grocery store, my children's teachers could just buy my 'diary' at Barnes & Noble. Do you think it was an easy thing at the time to reveal to everyone who knew me that I had attempted suicide? I promise the easy road would have been to keep my new and improved anonymous soccer-mom existance.
I took very seriously that I was quoting God. I labored over every word to be certain that what I said was completely accurate. I made the difficult decision to share my story so that when I meet God again at the end of my sojourn, it will be with my gift of having done all I can in this world to influence for good.
Just prior to writing the book, the NDE phenomena was all over every talk show and tv magazine. Dr. Kevorkian was on trial. Curt Cobain (Nirvana vocalist) was found dead, having shot himself. I saw 'Thelma & Louise' on TV (they drive off a cliff at the end as a suitable solution to escape the consequences of some irresponsible behavior)--all of this happened in one week's time.
I was in my car when I heard the news about Cobain on the radio while a van full of teenagers passed me in the next lane. They were hanging out the windows crying, "My hero is dead". The spirit bore witness to me, that there would be kids who would take their precious lives to follow this so-called hero.
I was profoundly affected by the end of 'Thelma and Louise'. I didn't see it coming and my emotions were already thin over Dr. Kevorkian and Curt Cobain having been all over the news. I went upstairs and laid down on my bed and cried. After searching for what I could do and praying for the answer for several days, the thought finally came to write a book. I knelt down next to my bed and asked my Father in Heaven if that was what I should do. The spirit bore witness to me that indeed, this was something I could do. Not that it was my calling, but that I have a view point that would benefit other people. Nobody else was coming forward with an experience like mine and somebody had to do the hard thing. And this is why I wrote the book.
Every single thing, including depression is a matter of choice. This isn't a judgement or critism. It is how we are co-creators with God in this life and the next. We choose to live miraculously or not. What we think about is who we are, in this life and in the next. If you are so certain that I'm wrong try living with thoughts of gratitude, love, joy, appreciation for every little piece of happiness and see what happens in your life.
To Hell and Back.......2006-09-26
I worked for a while on the national suicide hotline and have dealt with many people who have comitted suicide or tried. I have done everything in my own power to help prevent or stop people from doing this - but it seems to be like trying to sweep back the ocean with a broom.
I do not believe in hell but I do believe that people will find what they expect to find on the other side - our belief systems tend to direct our vision of what we find.
No matter - the book is well written and presents an intersting story. Who knows what happened to the author and why. There is something of value from the book's message for the reader. Again, I think each reader will find the values and messages that reflect their own belief systems.
Good Foreword by Betty J. Eadie.
As I have Said Before "We Are Many".......2004-09-03
"Every Man Before He Dies Shall See The Devil". - English Proverb, 1560... Mine wasn't a Near-Death experience. I was awake and very much alive - The trip wasn't much better. I walked around for many years in a struggle - Satanic Warfare can be horrible - with little support system. There are many - ostracized and alone. Many struggling with demons. (Which are not fun creatures to be around - even on a good day ) I paralleled much of what Angie went through. I'm glad that she was able to gain feedback from Betty Eadie. I Like Angie's book. Be wise to not minimize her struggle - Reality is a fragile thing. "You Shall Not, and Need Not, Walk Alone".
Average customer rating:
- Too Slow Paced and Convoluted
- J. Carson-Black Weaves An Excellent Tangled Web
- Terrific Writing, Great Characters, 4+ Stars
- it collapsed
- Almost
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Darkness on the Edge of Town
J. Carson Black
Manufacturer: Signet
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ASIN: 0451213912 |
Book Description
Laura Cardinal, a detective with the Arizona Department of Public Safety, is called to a crime scene in the town of Bisbee. The body of a teenage girl has been discovered-bearing all the signs of a serial sexual predator, and calling to mind the murder of Laura's schoolmate 18 years earlier.
Customer Reviews:
Too Slow Paced and Convoluted.......2007-02-05
I read a lot of thrillers, and I really didn't enjoy DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN that much. It's too slow paced and convoluted to be an effective suspense novel.
J. Carson Black is a good writer, but she needs to tighten and streamline her plots better. This novel was drawn out and featured too many characters who were difficult to keep track of. It didn't help that the main character is a rather bland heroine, lacking both humor and personality. In the end, I found this to be a rather tedious read.
I was also disappointed by the ending of DARKNESS ON THE EDGE OF TOWN, which really came out of left field. It basically involves taking a character who was perfectly normal for the first ninety-five percent of the novel and making him a psychopath for the last five percent. I was very unhappy about this abrupt transformation, which had no foreshadowing whatsoever. I also didn't find the motives for his crimes to be believable or satisfying.
I think Black definitely has writing talent, but I would like to see her apply her talent to a much tighter storyline that actually makes some sense. My advice is to skip this book.
J. Carson-Black Weaves An Excellent Tangled Web.......2006-07-31
Parents do you know where your children are? Once we were rest assured our children and
teens were safe because they were home by curfew. They knew not to talk to strangers, and
to look both ways before crossing the street. That was pre-internet. Now our children meet
those strangers in their bedrooms, the family den, in the well lit and populated public libraries.
We have given predators the key to come into our homes, and all our good intentions are
countermanded by those we seek to protect.
Laura Cardinal, homicide detective for the Arizona Department of Public Safety, is not newcomer
to the murder and mayhem that walks our streets and drive our highways. But this case will
take her back into the pain of her own past as she hunts a pedophile that stalks Internet
chat rooms ever in search of his next victim. Caught in the middle of department politics and
Saddled with a pretty boy partner, Cardinal takes us step by step through her investigation in Bisbee, Arizona to the Florida panhandle and back again, even to the gates of hell to bring a deadly predator down.
J. Carson - Black weaves a deceptively simple tale of deceit, death, and cunning, tinged with
a maniacal madman's belief that he is beyond the hand of the law. Walking step by step through
Cardinal's investigation you will untangle an intelligently crafted plot in the deserts of Arizona
that will leave you wanting more from J. Carson - Black's pen.
Terrific Writing, Great Characters, 4+ Stars.......2006-06-18
For a debut novel, this book exceeded expectations! I wonder if they tried for that First Novel Edgar? It was certainly good enough.
First, the writing itself was excellent. The dialog was natural, which isn't always the case (some very popular mystery authors write dialog that is hideous), and I didn't stumble over any awkward paragraphs. There were even a few laugh-out-loud passages. Ms. Black is a clever lady and clever enough not to use her book to show off, either.
Second, the characters were all well-drawn and interesting. Laura, the protagonist, was especially compelling. I liked her, warts and all.
Third, the plot was exciting. It IS a page-turner.
As to the criticisms some have posted...
There were a couple of coincidences that did activate my willing-suspension-of-disbelief gene but I didn't much care. I've had stranger ones happen in my own life.
There were a lot of characters. This mattered at first when I was trying to read it a little bit at a time (I kept forgetting who the people were by the time I ran into them again), but when I finally gave the book the day it deserved, there was no trouble at all keeping them all straight. As I said before, they are well-drawn.
I'm going to go get the next book right away--what better compliment is there than that?
it collapsed.......2006-02-24
I admit it: I bought this book because the cover was so awesome, and because I like dark, gritty police thrillers. I was jazzed when I dived into this book and found myself on a very realistic and gritty crime scene. I was thrilled to meet a new female cop who seemed to have some substance (in spite of the kind of bizarre opening that has her talking to the ghost of her dead mentor...too awkward and weird).
But except for this initial crime scene, there really was no interesting forensic details or procedural details, nothing that stood out as the writer having done any kind of real research, and certainly nothing that really hooked you.
The rest of the book is rather flat, leading Black's Laura Cardinal through a rather mundane investigation, involving far too many suspects and characters to possibly keep them all straight, so that when you DO find out who the killer is, well, honestly, I almost didn't care because I'd lost track of who the person really was.
I kept waiting for something else to happen....another murder, another crime scene, SOME action....but alas, the plot simply disintegrated. I'm still debating picking up Black's next novel, forgiving her this one as it being her first.
Almost.......2005-12-03
4/5 of the way thru, the plot collapses under the weight of coincidence and implausibility. Up to that point, not a bad effort. But that last fifth was painful.
Customer Reviews:
Terrible biography.......2005-11-10
I admit from the outset that I am a longtime Clapton fan. I have read just about every book and magazine article written about him over the last 30 years and have viewed many of the video bios about him. This book is by far the worst. It seems to me that the author had a negative bias from the beginning.
Clapton is no saint and his past is what it is. Nevertheless, it appears that the author interviewed only those people who had a grudge or bone to pick. From the rather unflattering cover picture to his reviews of EC's work this biography is nothing more than an anti-Clapton diatribe. Even his compliments are backhanded. Sanford's claim that he "came to have a quite genuine and deep sympathy for [Clapton]" rings very hollow. He seems to have found every reason to trash the man and the majority of his work.
Those interested in a balanced view should avoid this book.
As Appealing As A Train Wreck.......2005-07-07
I recently read three books on Eric Clapton's life - I've always loved his music and wanted to know more about him as a person. This book was the absolute worst!
Like passing a train wreck, it is so awful you keep looking even though everything in your heart and mind tells you to turn away. Who knows how much of the nasty gossip and innuendo in this trashy, mean-spirited account of a man's life is true, or even half true? The thing that the reader is left wondering is why did this man, who has a monumental dislike for his subject, choose to write about him? Surely he cannot have made much money on it. The book is badly written as well, and repetitious to the point that I began recognizing certain phrases as they were cloned time and again.
Of the three books I read, the one by Schumacher was the best, being well-documented, respectful but not fawning, and not afraid to be critical when the situation called for it.
The third book I read was Eric Clapton - In His Own Words. This was full of wonderful pictures, but rather sparse in revealing the deeper details of Eric Clapton's life and career. I don't fault him for this - he has had a complicated and not always wonderful time of it in life, and it must be extremely difficult for such a private person to bare his soul for the paying public. But still, it was too incomplete and cautious to be really informative.
Please save your money and don't waste it on the Sandford book, get the Schumacher one instead!
Mercenary journalisn at its worst.......2003-06-16
The author clearly received marching orders from a random publisher to write about Clapton...this book started on a premise and the author spends the rest of the book trying to prove/defend that premise.
What was the premise of this book? Namely that Clapton is a dysfunctional guitar god. Read between the history and hearsay and it is abundantly clear Clapton suffers from alcoholism/addiction. His actions and psychological pathology make that point strikingly clear. It doesnt make what Clapton did right - far from it. But the obvious wasnt the intention of this author. His goal was guitar god on a skewer.
This book spends so little time on the actual music...Derek & the Dominoes, Cream, Blind Faith that you wonder if the author even knows its significance.
All in all - crummy journalism...worse book.
Not Definitive, But a Good Counterbalance........2002-05-10
This book is the perfect counterbalance to Ray Coleman's hilariously fawning autohrized biography, "Clapton."
Coleman's and Sanford's books are polar opposites in the treatment of the subject and somehere between the two extremes a fairly good picture of Clapton emerges.
If you seek objectivity, read this one first. It is a harsher, more detached, yet no less accurate, assesment of his life and musical influence.
If you are a Clapton fan seeking to reenforce your perception of, "Clapton as God", read Coleman's book.
Why did the author write this book?.......2002-01-03
I am not sure why the author wrote this book except to make money. It would seem the very crime he accuses Clapton of committing, he commits in this book- namely, not really loving what he is doing. The author indicates having sympathy for Clapton, but what comes across seems to be very distorted. While I do not know all the gossip about Clapton, this book reduces his life to simply adding up 'good' and 'bad' acts. Yes, Clapton by all reports was not a healthy adult (I don't know about now) and not well integrated. The author, rather then developing this lack of integration, becomes overly obessed with the 'bad Clapton'. If Clapton's playing was never anything but copying the old blues masters, how can the author complain that his newer music doesn't evoke the excitment and innovation of his earlier playing. You can't have it both ways. The author takes acts of kindness and indicates they are really self-serving acts. I don't want to defend Clapton, but rather wished the author would have viewed his subject in a neutral manner and integrated his upbring/childhood, how he dealth with life and how he made music as opposed to taking the easy way out by doing the 'Mommy Dearest' routine.
Average customer rating:
|
The edge of darkness,
William Howard Woods
Manufacturer: J.B. Lippincott company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
| Classics
| Comic
| Contemporary
| Literary
ASIN: B0007E95MI |
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