Strictly Taboo
Average customer rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars
  • Three Delights!
  • Blah
  • An Average Showing
  • Can you give it one tenth of a star?
  • Better in theory than execution
Strictly Taboo
Jaid Black
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: B000GFR9QW

Book Description

Three sexy, original stories of men who are totally off-limits.

From the author of the sizzling One Dark Night-three highly charged tales of unexpected desire, from the faraway past deep into the distant future...

Here are three beautiful, daring women who find themselves succumbing to the forbidden, overpowering passion ignited by their arch enemies.

Set in three different worlds-the past, the present, and the future-these stories will take readers way beyond their wildest imagination and into their most sensuous fantasies

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Three Delights!.......2006-06-01


To use the publisher's words, this is a "paranormal collection of three sexy, original stories of men who are totally off-limits", a bit misleading as only the third one can be described as paranormal; the first story is set in the past and the second in the present, with no paranormal elements.

In "Barabrian", Lady Elen of Godeuart's home is besieged by Vikings, but her ingeniousness saves it. Ivar Hrolf is incensed by her defensive maneuver (it maimed some Vikings...), the next night he steals into her home and kidnaps her to make her his bed slave. I tell no more of this story, you go read it. Worth it!

As for "Nemesis", well, it is worth it also! Diane Sullivan, after 11 years of unsuccessfully trying to be an actress, has decided to move on to something else with her small daughter. To start this new life on the right foot however, she needs money, so she signs up as a waitress on a cruise ship, for one cruise... which pays so well because she has to be naked for the whole trip. But it's ok: as long as she doesn't have to sleep with anyone she doesn't want to, she's all right. All right that is, until Garek Ennis boards the ship, the Garek Ennis who tormented her in high school, the Garek Ennis she had such a big crush on despite his being so nasty. As for Garek's reaction when he sees her... no, I shall tell no more of it either. Go read it too!

"Naughty Nancy" was my favorite story of this book, mainly because of Vorik F'al Vader, eighteen-years-old and a Khan-Gori newly full-grown, so eager for his first yenni hunt!(yenni=luscious and stupid female animal whose food is male seed...) Although the beginning of the story is awkward and the seventh dimension could use a bit more description, the shape-changing predator who find Nancy there is just too cute/funny!

I first came accross JB in the "Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down" and "Palying Easy To Get" anthologies; I bought them for Sherrilyn Kenyon, but it's J. Black stories which ended up being my favorites. Despite sketchy worlds and holey plots, I really ENJOY her writing: her heroines are strong, resourceful and thoughtful; as for her heroes... I want one! They're tender, strong **darn it, is there any way to write this without sounding soppy and cliché?!?** and cute, an excellent counterpart to the heroines. (Better yet, we don't feel they're wasted on them!)


WARNING: if you're a fan of Lora Leigh or Christine Feehan, don't buy this book. If you like JR Ward however (especially "Lover Eternal"), I think you'll like it.

1 out of 5 stars Blah.......2006-02-17

This book was boring and predictable. I was actually annoyed that I bought it.

3 out of 5 stars An Average Showing .......2006-02-17

Three short stories make up the content of this rather average read by one of today's hottest romance authors.

In the story "Barbarian" Lady Elen of Godeuart has been taken captive by Ivar. At one time these two were betrothed but Elen is not aware of this and when Ivar makes a claim to her she thinks he is out of his mind. But what happens when Elen starts to feel something for her Viking master?

In the story "Nemesis" Diane needs to rethink her plans regarding her decision to take a cruise on the Rhine as waitress in the buff especially when her high school nemesis boards the ship. Now Diane needs to deal with Garek Ennis and the feelings he makes her feel.

In the story "Naught Nancy" Nancy Lombardo dresses up as Xena for a Halloween party but this is not just any kind of party. She is about to be swept off her feet by a witch and their destination is a planet that is not earth. And their mutual attraction is out of this world.

Sadly these three stories are only average and not what most readers expect from Ms. Black. There is very little romance and the execution of these stories leaves them stiff and instead of sizzling heat...the heat here fizzles. Ms. Black is capable of much better fare and if you are new to this talented author I encourage you to pick up some of her pervious titles.

1 out of 5 stars Can you give it one tenth of a star?.......2006-02-11

Wow, this is quite possibly the worst book I have ever read. I mean, the WORST. I have read a great many books. I do not speak lightly.

The self-proclaimed Jaid Black may well be a computer program, for all I can tell. Injudicious use of a thesaurus would seem to point in the direction of a non-thinking author, at least. Some time in the early writing process, for example, the computer had the 'idea' to substitute "the soonest" for "very soon." This was to make it fit better with medieval England, you see. I might have tolerated it once. Twice, even, I might have forgiven. Instead, it was used throughout!! Also, the construction "came on a" seems to have fascinated our little computer program. We see this over and over (and over and over) in such phrases as: "he came on a roar," and "she came on a sigh," "she came on a scream." This might have been an okay substitute for the more common "with" construction for part of the time, to mix things up a bit, as it were, but as a regular usage, it was irritating.

People who don't know what words mean shouldn't use them in sentences in published work. If a construction is too different, it may be wrong, or at least irritating. The "good parts," so to speak, were formulaic and often just silly. It's just not a good book. Save your money. There's a TON of good erotica out there. Read something else.

2 out of 5 stars Better in theory than execution.......2006-01-16

Strictly Taboo is composed of three stories set in the past, present, and future.

In Barbarian, Lady Elen of Godeuart is captured, along with her injured brother Lothar, by the Viking, Ivar. Ivar has vowed revenge on Elen after she masterminded an attack against his men. His revenge is to make her his slave and keep her in his bed. He doesn't plan on falling in love.

Nemesis finds Diane Sullivan second-guessing her week-long job on the Carnal Voyage cruise when she spies Garek Ennis, her nemesis from high school, boarding. Garek has long harbored lust for Diane and now he plans to act on that.

And finally in Naughty Nancy, Nancy Lombardo, dressed as Xena for a Halloween party, finds herself whisked away to a faraway planet by a mysterious witch. Mistaken identity has a shape-shifting alien lusting after her. Naughty Nancy is set in Jaid Black's Trek Mi Q'an series universe and was previously released in a now out-of-print ebook anthology.

Unfortunately, as much as these stories sound interesting, they just aren't up to snuff. Barbarian consists of cardboard characters who are little different from every other Viking romance out there. And while the explicit language is consistent with an erotic romance, there's actually little romance or sex. Yes, it's short, but I still expect some sexual tension in an erotic romance. Lady Elen plays the stereotypical virginal heroine and one wonders just what is so different about her that makes Ivar want her and only her. It's certainly not explained in the story.

Nemesis was my favorite and while it's still not as erotic as I expected, it's still an enjoyable short story.

Naughty Nancy is certainly unique. It has a shape-shifting hero who looks like a gargoyle and thinks the heroine is an animal who feeds on ejaculate. And he's only too happy to oblige what he thinks is a starving animal. It's certainly humorous in a campy way, but I didn't really believe in the romance. Too much of it depended on changes she had no control over (don't want to veer too much into spoiler territory).

So, I can't really recommend this one unless you are a die-hard Jaid Black fan. If you're looking for a good erotic romance filled with intensity, sexual tension, romance and well-written sex scenes, I'd suggest looking elsewhere.
Strictly Taboo - Three Romantic, Erotic Stories Of Men Who Are Totally Off-limits...
Average customer rating: Not rated
    Strictly Taboo - Three Romantic, Erotic Stories Of Men Who Are Totally Off-limits...
    Jaid Black
    Manufacturer: Berkley Books
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Paperback
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    The Restless Sleep : Inside New York City's Cold Case Squad
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • Couldn't put it down!
    • Best Read Book
    • Thrilling and Heartbreaking
    • Riveting. Scary. (in a good way)
    • INTERESTING STORIES, BUT WRITING STYLE BLAH...
    The Restless Sleep : Inside New York City's Cold Case Squad
    Stacy Horn
    Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Hardcover
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    Book Description

    There is no statute of limitations on murder. Homicide is one crime you pay for—but first you must be caught. In New York City, thousands of murders remain unsolved. Where does the police department begin after an unsolved case has gone cold? In this fascinating, in-depth narrative, a writer uses her unprecedented access to chronicle the inner workings of the elite unit of homicide detectives charged with the overwhelming task of solving cold cases going back as far as 1951.

    As the popularity of police television series such as Law & Order, CSI, and Cold Case makes plain, the public's interest in police work is immense and growing. The Restless Sleep tells of a real-life subculture of crime solving and of the talented, indefatigable, ill-at-ease detectives who lock on to a case, sift through decades-old case files, and chase down seemingly exhausted leads—trying to see what others have missed. Following four cases from inception to resolution, Horn depicts the world of the victims and their murderers “who thought they'd gotten away with it,” along with the scientific advancements that don't always yield hoped- for answers, and the harrowing politics and tangled history of the infamous NYPD. A completely addictive read as admiring of the successes as it is critical of the bureaucracy, The Restless Sleep promises to become a true-crime favorite.

    Customer Reviews:

    4 out of 5 stars Couldn't put it down!.......2007-05-05

    I read this book in one night! However, I also agree with some of the other "reviewers", the author jumped around a bit. Explaining the Rico Act had nothing to do with the story about the young off-duty cop that was killed. I have a deep respect for the men and women who try to solve these cold-cases. They help bring peace to the victims and their families. If you enjoy true crime and good detective work, this book is for you.

    5 out of 5 stars Best Read Book.......2007-03-10

    I really enjoyed reading this book. While I was reading it was able to place myself in the book which is good cause I am able to catch the stories better as I read. The only thing that I didn't like was that I was kept in suspense cause not all the cases were solved.

    5 out of 5 stars Thrilling and Heartbreaking .......2006-02-15

    I couldn't put this book down. Horn writes with great feeling, knowledge and insight about the victims, suspects and police investigators involved in each of the real life cold case stories she tells. She expertly navigates the complex web that connects all of the participants to create a rich experience that reads like the best fiction.

    5 out of 5 stars Riveting. Scary. (in a good way).......2006-02-14

    I couldn't put this book down! Horn keeps the suspense going among the cold cases she follows. Her descriptions of the detectives involved are colorful and put you inside of their heads and their lives.

    I had to put the book down at times because I was so into the horror of the cases. But it was worth it. Highly recommended true crime!!!

    3 out of 5 stars INTERESTING STORIES, BUT WRITING STYLE BLAH..........2006-02-14

    The author does a great job of introducing us to some of New York's finest, but her writing style is a bit hard to follow. She writes like she's some type of tough New York city cop herself, rather than objectively. I got the feeling that she had her own political agenda throughout the text. Great idea for a book but writing could have been much, much better.
    Cold Case Squad
    Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
    • A page turner...
    • Favorite Author, Minor Work
    • Good Read but
    • A bit slow at first
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    Cold Case Squad
    Edna Buchanan
    Manufacturer: Pocket
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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    Book Description

    PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING REPORTER EDNA BUCHANAN'S GRITTY WORK AS A MIAMI CRIME REPORTER INFORMS THIS ELECTRIFYING AND BONE-CHILLING NOVEL OF SUSPENSE.

    A man and a woman are shot dead at a strip club in Miami Beach. A few hours later, an explosion rocks a child's birthday party, killing a father of three. The murders go unsolved and the blast is deemed an accident. Twelve years later, a blonde walks into the Miami Police Department's Cold Case Squad. She's been seeing her husband everywhere she goes. Trouble is, he's been dead for twelve years. Buchanan's crack team of detectives -- a dedicated, complicated crew with problems all their own -- is on the case in this brilliant, edge-of-your-seat read.

    Download Description

    " ""Like all things good and bad in the world, it began with a woman..."" And so begins the first chapter of Edna Buchanan's Cold Case Squad, a new suspense novel that features a special homicide unit that breathes new life into old cases. A man and a woman are shot dead at a strip club in Miami Beach. A few hours later, an explosion in a garage rocks a child's birthday party and burns a father of three to death. The murders go unsolved and the fire is chalked up to an accident. But was it an accident? Twelve years later, a blonde walks in to the Miami Police Department's Cold Case Squad -- which Buchanan fans will remember from The Ice Maiden -- and complains that she's been seeing her husband everywhere she goes. Trouble is, he's been dead for twelve years. In Buchanan's characteristic voice, ""Some guys just don't know when to let go."" As the Cold Case Squad unearths the details of the strip club deaths and the dead or missing father -- as well as the unsolved killings of a series of little old ladies -- readers get to know the three cops and their boss: veteran homicide detective Sergeant Craig Burch, whose marriage has turned into a case he can't solve; Detective Sam Stone, for whom the past will always be a mystery; Detective Pete Nazario, airlifted out of Cuba during ""Operation Pedro Pan"" in the 1960s; and Lieutenant K. C. Riley, for whom one case will never grow cold. Edna Buchanan has been thrilling readers since her Pulitzer Prize-winning stint as a crime reporter for The Miami Herald. The Chicago Tribune once raved that ""few writers can touch Buchanan,"" to which The Washington Post Book World seemed to respond, ""I doubt if anyone else is doing it better."" In Cold Case Squad, Edna Buchanan, the woman the Los Angeles Daily News calls ""the Queen of crime,"" delivers unlikely killers, near-perfect murders, and her most suspenseful novel yet. "

    Customer Reviews:

    5 out of 5 stars A page turner..........2007-09-03

    Cold Case Squad is one of Buchanan's later novels. The "Queen of Crime" writes a suspense novel to feature a special homicide unit that breathes new life into old cases. The prose centers around a man and woman shot dead at a Miami strip club. A few hours later, an explosion in a garage next door to a child's birthday party has left a father of three burned to death. Naturally, at the time, the murder goes unsolved and the fire is chalked up to an accident. Twelve years later, the files are re-activated by detective Sargeant, Craig Burch, who's having marital problems of his own at the time, along with Detective Sam Stone, a guy with a mysterious past, and Detective Pete Nazario, who'd been air-lifted out of Cuba during "Operation Pedro Pan" in the 1960s. And, of course, Lieutenant, K.C. Riley, for whom one case will never grow old. This book is a page-turner that has a great plot with great characters. Don't miss it.

    2 out of 5 stars Favorite Author, Minor Work.......2007-08-10

    I'm a big Edna Buchanan fan, and have never understood why her Britt Montero books haven't reached the kind of audience that other equally good, but more successful authors have (namely Sue Grafton and Janet Evanovich). The woman writes snappy, twisty, evocative crime novels that bring Miami to vibrant life and always keep me guessing. So I was looking forward to "Cold Case Squad," even with Britt Montero nowhere in sight. Unhappily, I have to say that this latest of Buchanan's endeavors is half-baked at best. The cases are certainly interesting enough, and there are some suprises, but halfway through the book, it seems as if Buchanan all but gives up on the narrative. The writing becomes choppy, with some scenes only lasting a small paragraph or two, with the result that the book starts to read like an outline for a screenplay instead of a novel. And stylistically the book is very odd, with half of the scenes involving Detective Burch told in his own voice, and the rest written in the third person. Buchanan may have had a reason for the device, but if so it's not readily apparent. If anything it suggests she didn't have a clear idea of how to tell her story. But, hey, it's always good to have an Edna Buchanan book on the bedside table, even if "Cold Case Squad" left me...well, cold.

    3 out of 5 stars Good Read but .......2005-09-19

    First, I enjoyed the Cold Case Squad. But, it's a little choppy juggling back and forth between 2 major cases. Either one would have been a good story. Character development also seems to suffer from the demands of the 2 plots. Still, the book is good and the series has a lot of potential.

    4 out of 5 stars A bit slow at first.......2005-09-07

    But it does pick up some speed about 1/3 of the way in. It was kind of odd to see a few of the chapters written in the 1st person and the rest of the book written in the 3rd person. A good read overall, though.

    5 out of 5 stars Where's Britt?.......2005-06-27

    I enjoyed this book a lot, although I'm not sure why she stopped writing the Britt Montero series -- it seems her next book is also about the Cold Case Squad.

    The only problem I had with the book was the shifting points of view -- you'd be in Riley's POV, then in the next sentence you're in Stone's POV. Sometimes Burch is in the third person, sometimes he's in the first person. It made the story a bit hard to follow at times.

    Still an excellent read from one of the best.
    Cold Case Squad
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      Cold Case Squad
      Edna Buchanan
      Manufacturer: Books on Tape
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Audio Cassette
      ASIN: 1415904138

      Product Description

      Buchanan's mystery starts with a bang. A wealthy man is incinerated when his vintage Thunderbird explodes, and on the same day two people are executed at a Miami Beach strip club. Twelve years later the Cold Case Squad continues the earlier investigations. Robertson Dean's competent, precise narration keeps events moving quickly, providing distinctive voices for a wide variety of characters. Though his vocal agility is limited, he clearly differentiates veteran Homicide Detective Burch, Cuban Detective Nazario, and the unpredictable squad boss, Lieutenant K.C. Riley. Buchanan and Dean maintain the momentum in an entertaining performance.9 hours on 6 cassettes.
      Cold Case Squad
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        Cold Case Squad
        Edna Buchanan
        Manufacturer: POCKET BOOKS @
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Paperback
        ASIN: B000SF0A98
        Cold case squads.(MANAGING IN THE MILLENNIUM): An article from: Law Enforcement Technology
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Cold case squads.(MANAGING IN THE MILLENNIUM): An article from: Law Enforcement Technology
          Carole Moore
          Manufacturer: Thomson Gale
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Digital

          NonfictionNonfiction | Subjects | Books | Automotive | Books on CD | Books on Cassette | Crime & Criminals | Current Events | Economics | Education | Foreign Language Nonfiction | Government | Holidays | Law | Philosophy | Politics | Social Sciences | Transportation | True Accounts | Urban Planning & Development | Women's Studies
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          ASIN: B000V393X6
          Release Date: 2007-08-13

          Book Description

          This digital document is an article from Law Enforcement Technology, published by Thomson Gale on July 1, 2007. The length of the article is 717 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

          Citation Details
          Title: Cold case squads.(MANAGING IN THE MILLENNIUM)
          Author: Carole Moore
          Publication: Law Enforcement Technology (Magazine/Journal)
          Date: July 1, 2007
          Publisher: Thomson Gale
          Volume: 34 Issue: 7 Page: 138(1)

          Distributed by Thomson Gale
          Love Kills: A Britt Montero Novel (Unabridged)
          Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
          • Nice to have Britt back but.......
          • An Unexpected Pairing
          • Meeting Britt Montero...
          • Wow!
          • Alaska errors
          Love Kills: A Britt Montero Novel (Unabridged)
          Edna Buchanan
          Manufacturer: audible.com
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          Binding: Audio Download
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          Customer Reviews:

          1 out of 5 stars Nice to have Britt back but..............2007-10-07

          I re-read all the Britt Montero stories before reading this one. I was really excited to have another book after so long. I really didn't care for this one, especially after the taut story in "The Ice Maiden". This seemed like it was just thrown together and disconnected. The word "crisp" was seriously overused (crisp toast, crisp maternity blouse, etc.). Britt doesn't seem like the same person, even accounting for the hormones. Oh, and religion suddenly gets dragged in by the heels, too. However, the narrative shift between Britt and the Cold Case squad did work, and the cliffhanger ending will keep everyone awaiting tne next book. Any possibility the baby is Dennis Fitzgerald's and not Kendall McDonald's? (Read "The Ice Maiden" and you will understand that question).

          4 out of 5 stars An Unexpected Pairing.......2007-09-05

          First Sentence: Operating the huge machine that groaned and howled like a prehistoric monster as it savaged everything in its path was what he enjoyed most about the job.

          Reporter Britt Montero was the last person to see an infamous kidnapper alive. Now that his skull has been uncovered by a bulldozer, the Cold Case Squad, headed by Lt. K.C. Riley, wants to talk to Britt. Britt has been recovering from the death of her fiancée, who was previously the long-time lover of Riley, on a remote island. While a visiting friend entices Britt to come back to her job at the newspaper, they found a disposable camera. Wanting to return the camera, they have the photos developed only to find the owners match a news story of a honeymooning couple lost while sailing. The husband is found alive, but the bride had drowned. However, Britt discovers this groom has a history of brides who have died. In spite of the uncomfortable connection between the two women, they need each other to solve these cases.

          I was not certain about this book, going into it. But Buchanan pulled off the combined story with great skill. The two women are strong and interesting; particularly Britt who is determined to follow the story through to the end as her life is about to change. K.C., and Britt's friend Lottie, play pivotal roles in the story. I thoroughly enjoyed how she built the story bit by bit. The three plot lines were skillfully woven to a suspenseful climax. Even though the ending is a bit of a cliffhanger, I didn't mind as justice is done.

          5 out of 5 stars Meeting Britt Montero..........2007-09-03

          I realize now, and, much to my regret, that I should have read Buchanan's older novels first, because I've just been introduced to Britt Montero, the news reporter. However, I didn't get my hands on Buchanan's first Britt Montero novel until later. Now, after acquiring all of EB's books, I'm going back to read them in chronological order. Over the last four days, I've finished three of the books. In fact, I haven't done much of anything else but read. So, does that tell you anything? Yep, that's right, EB's books are "un-put-downable". She truly is the "Queen of Crime", bar none.
          In "Love Kills", the end leaves the reader hanging (sort of), and thinking they can't wait for Buchanan's next book to be released. The Cold Case Squad and Lt. K.C. Riley are entwined with Montero's reporting adventures, as well as the reporter's relationship in dealing with Lt. Riley, which is quite interesting.
          This is an excellent mystery novel. Buchanan appears to be one of a kind. Get the book, you won't regret it.

          5 out of 5 stars Wow!.......2007-08-19

          I have always been an Edna Buchanan fan, but this book is head and shoulders above the rest. First, she incorporates both Britt Montero and the Cold Case Squad into her novel. Second, there are corpses everywhere. I am not going to spoil the plot of the novel for you. But I will tell you that, if you're going to read it, to reserve some time, because every page will leave you turning the page. Before you know it, you'll be entranced in the novel. Excellent show, Edna!!!

          4 out of 5 stars Alaska errors.......2007-07-11

          Good book, however some of the descriptions regarding the Fairbanks Alaska location . . . Oak trees??, fireweed are not vibrant red but rather pinkish/lavender. Your new friend in acknowledgements did you wrong.
          Shadows: A Novel (Unabridged)
          Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
          • formulaic
          • Interesting double-story novel
          • Good read!
          • FAST PACED GOOD READ!
          • Shawdows
          Shadows: A Novel (Unabridged)
          Edna Buchanan
          Manufacturer: audible.com
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Audio Download
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          ASIN: B000AD8RUC

          Download Description

          """The wide front door hung open, a seductive invitation to a dark interior veiled by dust motes that glittered in the spectral greenish glow..."" The Shadows is a historic 1920s house that inspires preservationists' dreams -- and developers' schemes. Built during Prohibition by a notorious rumrummer who vanished at sea, it was inherited by his son, a local athlete and war hero who lived down his father's wild reputation. He served a successful term as Miami mayor and raised his four young children at the Shadows -- until a shotgun ambush on a hot summer night forty-four years ago. His murder was never solved. Since then, only secrets and whispers have inhabited the Shadows. Now, a resourceful young preservationist approaches the Miami Police Department's Cold Case Squad to help block a developer's plan to bulldoze the Shadows and build high-rise towers. The detectives visit the long-abandoned pioneer house, now surrounded by a wild and overgrown subtropical forest. They discover the rumrunner's secret limestone cellar, a tunnel to Biscayne Bay, and seven small, heartbreaking new mysteries -- a lost generation. Cold Case Squad Lt. K. C. Riley and her detectives seek out the murdered man's widow and children for answers. All are evasive and paranoid, haunted by lies, guilt, and tangled pasts that each recalls differently. Ultimately the squad finds that the killer is still out there, and the old, cold case is hotter than ever. In another dazzling example of Edna Buchanan's masterful weaving of stories and histories, Cold Case Squad Detective Sam Stone uncovers a still violent and long-hidden connection between his parents' murders when he was a child and their summer as civil rights workers in Mississippi more than thirty years ago. ""Life would be simple,"" Buchanan writes, ""if people told the truth."" But for those who live among the shadows, the truth is never simple. Shadows is Edna Buchanan's most suspenseful novel. "

          Customer Reviews:

          2 out of 5 stars formulaic.......2007-09-24

          I hadn't read this author in quite some time but remembered that I had liked what I had read so i bought this to read on a trip.
          I admit my memory has faded with age because I found this book to be boring,ordinary and childish.

          3 out of 5 stars Interesting double-story novel.......2006-06-07

          the first time reading this author for me, and what drew me to her is her pulitzer-prize winner status. Ms. Buchanan spent many years writing gritty crime stories for Miami newspapers, and her knowledge of the seedy underside of Miami is evident throughout this book. Her story is one of several that follow detectives in the Miami PD Cold Case Squad. Two separate stories are told in this book, one having to do with the murder of a young black couple in their barbecue restaurant, long believed to be a robbery gone bad. However, the couple's son, now grown up and a detective on this Cold Case Squad, has never believed his parents were simply unlucky victims, and small clues, overlooked initially, cause this case to explored again and ultimately solved. The second story features the imminent demolition of a historic Miami landmark, the Shadows, a mansion built by a notorious rumrunner in the 30s. The Cold Case Squad is brought into the story when they delve into the mysterious shooting death of the homeowner many years before, and, during the course of their search of the property, discover 7 dead infants in a trunk in the Shadows' cellar. Who are these babies? Were they somehow related to the murder of the homeowner? The stories are told simultaneously, and it's a little tricky sometimes to keep them straight - add to that a plethora of characters, and the confusion multiplies. Buchanan's writing style is more reporter-ish than author-ish, as well, which I found a little off-putting. However, both of these stories were very cleverly told, and the characters, despite being a big group, are well drawn and very funny. Recommended.

          5 out of 5 stars Good read!.......2006-06-06

          Buchanan knows how to write an intreguing novel. It's fast paced and not too long. I've read every one of her books and she hasn't disappointed yet.

          4 out of 5 stars FAST PACED GOOD READ!.......2005-08-29

          I will read anything Edna Buchanan writes - she delivers reliably. Shadows is above par even for Buchanan!

          The story centers around an abandoned mansion - the Shadows, built during Prohibition by a well-liked Miami rumrunner who was never charged with any crime but who disappeared mysteriously. His son, a popular and respected Vietnam hero, marries well, enters Miami politics and turns the Shadows into a frequent gathering place for Miami society. The Shadows is a 3 acre waterfront showplace until the son is gunned down outside and his wife and 4 children flee Miami. The 1960's murder is never solved. But, the case is reopened when developers are about to demolish The Shadows to build s series of luxury highrises and preservationists try to gain time to save it by insisting police reexamine the crime scene using modern technology to solve the murder case. Running in tandem is the unsolved murder of the parents of one of the Cold Case Squad detectives. There are 3 other story lines of interest that will intrigue the reader.

          Great stories - appealing characters. A good, good read.

          P. S. If they are still running the stupid review by Publisher's Weekly, ignore it! Unbelievable. I've seen them laud really dumb books and now they criticize Shadows. Makes you wonder.

          3 out of 5 stars Shawdows.......2005-08-08

          Good beach reading does not require too much thought or imagination. Kind of mystery mind candy.
          Cold case squads: Leaving no stone unturned (Bulletin)
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            Cold case squads: Leaving no stone unturned (Bulletin)
            Ryan Turner , and Rachel Kosa
            Manufacturer: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of Justice Assistance
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Unknown Binding

            Law EnforcementLaw Enforcement | Criminal Law | Law | Subjects | Books
            ASIN: B0006S96XS

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