Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, Book 1)

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The debut novel of Lian Hearn's Tales of the Otori series, Across the Nightingale Floor, is set in a feudal Japan on the edge of the imagination. The tale begins with young Takeo, a member of a subversive and persecuted religious group, who returns home to find his village in flames. He is saved, not by coincidence, by the swords of Lord Otori Shigeru and thrust into a world of warlords, feuding clans, and political scheming. As Lord Otori's ward, he discovers he is a member by birth of the shadowy "Tribe," a mysterious group of assassins with supernatural abilities.

Hearn sets his tale in an imaginary realm that is and isn't feudal Japan. This device serves the author well as he is able to play with familiar archetypes--samurai, Shogun, and ninja--without falling prey to the pitfalls of history. The novel fills a unique niche that is at once period piece and fantasy novel. Hearn unfolds the tale of Takeo and the conflicting forces around him in a deliberate manner that leads to a satisfying conclusion and sets the stage for the rest of the series. --Jeremy Pugh

Book Description

This is the first book in a new epic trilogy that has already become a bestselling sensation in England and Australia, earning comparisons to The Lord of the Rings. It begins with the legend of a nightingale floor in a black-walled fortress-a floor that sings in alarm at the step of an assassin. It will take true courage and all the skills of an ancient Tribe for one orphaned youth named Takeo to discover the magical destiny that awaits him...across the nightingale floor.

Customer Reviews:

Very enjoyable.......2007-10-06

The audio book of this is exceptional in my opinion. It was so well read, the story came to life and took root in my mind easily. It is a story of honor, love, betrayal and deceit bound together in adventure.

The characters are captivating - each expressive and unique in their roles. And the conflicts are realistic, nothing seems too far fetched.

It's a great story if your into ancient times and old traditions. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think Hearn has done a wonderful job.

Gives ancient Japan a bad Rep..........2007-09-19

Having an interest in anime/manga prompted me to get this book. It doesn't do the japanese justice however. Dont get me wrong, the story is interesting enough but I'm afraid the main chara ruins it.
I read this long ago but I still recall coming to the conclusion that I wasted my time reading about someone whom I couldn't come to even remotely like.
The end makes it clear that the common theme of good vs bad in most stories is butchered...seeing how our main chara is sexually perverted. The author tries to explain he simply has manly desires. Right. In the end, he finally gets to meet the girl he desires. Then he has sex with her. Hurray, I read the whole book so I could get to this. PLEASE, dont read this. I just wish this would have been exposed earlier on, so I didn't gag when I got near the end. -_-; We need a warning label on this...

intriguing start to the trilogy.......2007-09-10

Lian Hearn's "Across the Nightingale Floor" is a good start to Hearn's Tales of the Otori saga. The world that Hearn creates which resembles Fuedal Japan is well drawn and believable, even when Hearn delves into Takeo and the Tribes superhuman powers. The book's double narrative is split between Takeo, a young man who is saved by the kind and noble lord Shigeru after his entire village is massacared; and the Lady Kaede who has been held as a hostage in an enemy court for most of her life.
I particularly like Hearn's decision to tell Takeo's story in first person which allows the reader to really get to know him and see the change that he goes through from the meek and mild young boy with gifts he doesnt quite understand, to the young man who accepts his role as an assassin in training by the end of the novel. While Takeo's story is told from his perspective, Hearn's decision to tell Lady Kaede's in the third person allows for the reader to gather a greater perspective of her protagonist Takeo, while at the same time allowing her to paint a fascinating portrait of a young woman held hostage by an enemy court.
where the novel falters somewhat is the intitial set-up of the romance between Takeo and Kaede, but Hearn quickly recovers and the ending of the novel and what it means for the two lovers reaches a rather unexpectedly poignant and affecting conclusion.

"You Don't Know Who May be Watching You...".......2007-07-20

Tomasu is a young man of the Hidden People, who loves nothing more than to take solitary walks in the mountains. This is until the day he returns to the village and discovers the body of his murdered stepfather and other community members. They are victims of a merciless massacre by the Tohan Clan and their warlord Iida Sadamu, and when Tomasu flees into the forests he is rescued from pursuers by Otori Shigeru, a lord of the Otori Clan that opposes the rule of the Tohan. Taking him under his wing, Shigeru renames the young man "Takeo", and together the two return to his home in the city of Hagi. But what does Shigeru really want from Takeo? Was their meeting and Takeo's rescue an accident? As previously dormant abilities in Takeo gradually emerge (such as keen hearing, invisibility and supernatural agility), he begins to suspect that Shigeru is grooming him for a secret mission. When he hears about Iida's "nightingale floor" - a floor specially rigged to make noise when trod upon, he begins to realize where his training is leading him...

Takeo's chapters are told in first-person narrative, but they are alternated with third-person narration that recounts the activities of Shirakawa Kaede, a young woman who has lived most of her life as a hostage in a hostile fief. After she attacks a soldier who attempts to molest her, the family suddenly takes notice of her beauty and organize an arranged marriage for her. Naturally, these two lives are soon to be intertwined - and from there flows a story of intrigue, betrayals, alliances, assassinations, treachery and revenge - well paced and packed full of good ideas and vivid descriptions. Particularly interesting is the way Takeo is torn between opposing clans and tribes: the Hidden (his mother's people who raised him) who were pacifists, the Tribe (his father's people) who are hired assassins from who he inherits his particular talents, and the Otori Clan into which he's adopted by Shigeru. Trying to figure out exactly where he belongs is the main crux of Takeo's character, and his divided loyalties are played out reasonably well throughout the text.

However, on the whole "Across the Nightingale Floor" is a good example of how a very good story is told in the wrong way. Often Hearn has characters with secret identities and hidden motives, but he (she?) gives them away too soon and without any sense of suspense or revelation (for an early example, there is the character of Shizuka: she's introduced as a flirty, flighty servant girl, though we are quickly told that she's a highly skilled agent for the Tribe. Instead of building our suspicions with clues and foreshadowing, Hearn gives the game away too quickly, not giving us the opportunity of being impressed with an established and carefully constructed plot-twist). There are many other situations when I was frustrated with Hearn's handling of his own story: he has good material here, but constantly fails to present it in a compelling way.

As well as this, I felt that the "love story" between Takeo and Kaede is mishandled. Here's a passage from the chapter in which Kaede first becomes aware of Takeo (and keep in mind that she hates and fears all males): "She had been dreaming vividly, but the moment she opened her eyes the dream vanished, leaving her only with the lucid knowledge that what she felt was love. She was astonished, then elated, then dismayed. At first she thought she would die if she saw him, then that she would die if she didn't." At this stage, Kaede hasn't even spoken to Takeo - simply seen him through a window. A love affair based on "love at first sight" (or alternatively, lust) in which there is very little interaction or conversation between the couple cannot help but be void of all emotion or resonance.

Due to these twin problems (the mishandling of the plot and the lack of emotional resonance in the characters) make this a novel full of potential, but frustratingly lacking in form. Drawing inspiration from Japanese culture, Hearn creates a world that is refreshingly different from the typical medieval-fantasy world, though in saying that, there is surprisingly little in the way of fantasy elements throughout the course of the story, with the minor exception of the paranormal gifts of the Tribe. How accurate it all is, I'll leave to someone more knowledgeable on the subject to comment on, but there is plenty of fascinating world-building at work throughout the story (okay, I'll admit I've been watching a lot of Avatar The Last Airbender - The Complete Book 1 Collection lately, and it reminded me of that!) Although there are some serious discrepancies in the writing, I've invested myself in these characters and their situation, so I'll be continuing the journey in Grass for His Pillow (Tales of the Otori, Book 2), the next installment.

Pretty much an awesome book of fighting, romance, betrayal, and all those things in the japanese era.......2007-05-01

most likely the best book in the series due to Lian Hearn's style of writing... an incredible amount of action occurs yet a 'completitive stillness' is achieved by the end. a good transformation in the character of Takeo from a country boy named Tomasu to a boy beckoned quickly to manhood by circumstances. well developed characters...Kaede, Takeo's lover, adds to the urgency of the story and isn't just a romantic article but a key component to the plot. interesting plot filled with action...sure to be devoured by fantasy lovers. leaves off for a sequel perfectly by keeping pace throughout and hinting at things to come. all in all, a definite read for those interested in a new type of fantasy.

Across The Nightingale Floor, Episode 2: Journey To Inuyama (Tales of the Otori, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Great book

Across The Nightingale Floor, Episode 2: Journey To Inuyama (Tales of the Otori, Book 2)
Lian Hearn
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142404330

Book Description

Lord Otori, Takeo, and Takeo's new teacher Kenji set off to meet Kaede, a fifteen-year-old girl chosen as the future Lady Otori by a group of political collaborators. Takeo is still trying to come to terms with knowing that, through the father he never knew, he is one of the Tribe—a group of mysterious, ninja-like assassins who have allegiance to no one. When Takeo and Kaede first meet, they are drawn to each other, and without speaking a word, fall in love. But events are doomed to pull them apart, and soon they are each thrust into a battle for their lives.

Customer Reviews:

Great book.......2005-09-24

This caught my interest very quickly and I breezed right through it! I couldn't find the second book at the bookstore so I'm waiting on bated breath for this one.
It's a great read.

Across the Nightingale Floor, Episode 1: The Sword of the Warrior (Tales of the Otori, Book 1)

Average customer rating:

Across the Nightingale Floor, Episode 1; The Sword of the Warrior
Fantastic start!
A historical novel with imagination
Words as well as the floor will sing in this period piece
classic

Across the Nightingale Floor, Episode 1: The Sword of the Warrior (Tales of the Otori, Book 1)
Lian Hearn
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0142403245

Book Description

Seventeen-year-old Tomasu lives in a remote mountain village, some of whose residents—including his mother—are members of the Hidden, a clandestine, peaceful religious sect. He has never met his father. One day, while Tomasu is out collecting mushrooms, a band of Tohan warriors descends upon and massacres the village. Tomasu confronts the warriors, but is rescued by the mysterious Lord Otori, who changes the boy's name to Takeo, and wants to adopt him. As Takeo learns to read, and to fight with sword and pole, on and off horseback, he does not realize that he is the center of a bloody intrigue . . . until it is almost too late.

Winner of the Alex Award

A New York Times Notable Book of the Year

A School Library Journal Best Adult Book for High School Readers

Customer Reviews:

Across the Nightingale Floor, Episode 1; The Sword of the Warrior.......2006-11-10

Very interesting book. Gives you a better understanding of the warrior class and women's role in the Japanese society during that period. Looking forward to to Liam Hearn's future books.

Fantastic start!.......2006-09-27

The book opens with Takeo talking about his mother, and his life in the village he called home. Little time passes before Lord Iida Sadamu oh the Tohan and attacks the peaceful village of the Hidden, slaughtering it's people.Takeo, the soul survivor runs for his life and is saved by Otori Shigeru who takes him in.

It is easy to be swept away by the story that takes place in long ago Feudal Japan. Lian vividly describes the beauty of the land. The characters are strong, willed people who are brought to life with great traditional story telling.
The entire series is fast moving, taking you from when Takeo was just a boy who knew little about the art of fighting, to fulfilling a prophecy spoken of by a blind woman. This is a terrific book to read on a rainy day. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys vivid scenes.

A historical novel with imagination .......2006-02-14

This novel was an utter delight to read, in my opinion. The characters, while stioc, were believable for the culture the author emulated. The subtlety of the political sparing and planning was excelent and I felt the sharp difference between the emotions felt by teh characters and what they showed in thier actions and words were portrayed quite well.
The classic peasant hero figure, found in Takeo, is a universal symbol and is made especially poigniant in the context of the feudal society he is set in. The truely intruiging aspect to me was his conection to the Tribe, a form of outsider class that is both respected for it's abilities and reviled for it's lack of adherance to political mores of society. It made for a wonderful internal conflict with in Takeo that was mirrored beautifuly in the external struggles of the characters competing for Takeo's loyalty.
I strongly recommend this book to any one that is intersted in political warfare, complex characters, or just a good rich reading experiance. I know i can't wait to get my hands on the rest of the series.

Words as well as the floor will sing in this period piece.......2005-09-28

Oft is told the tale of the Bildungsroman. Here we have the quintessential coming of age story, albeit tinged with a bit of ornate Japanese elements.

This book will take you into feudal Japan, beset with Lords, servants, obeisance, and tyranny. But, be ever watchful for bright expressions of honor and nobility. The writing is at times colorful, but aimed more at conveying the story than taxing the reader with having to resort to linguistic gymnastics.

If you're looking for a pleasant escape to the land of the rising sun, during a period fraught with political intrigue, warrior nobility, and enough sword slashing to please any Shogun fan, then this is certainly a read (non too difficult mind you) that you shall enjoy.

classic.......2005-06-01

One mark of a great book is that you come to see the world as the characters do; the rhythms of the sentences become the rhythms of your own thoughts, and the prevailing mood of the book becomes your own. The knowledge and wisdom of the writer comes to life in you as if conceived in your own imagination.

Because of this, TALES OF THE OTORI (this is the first book in that series) easily ranks with any major work of fiction in the last century -- most directly "Lord of the Rings" (another trilogy, which Auden said exceeded "Paradise Lost" in its grasp of evil). Deceptively simple, the prose expertly mimics the cadences of classic adventure tales, evoking a time and place where the incredible is possible -- in this case, a mythical, medieval Japan. Characters develop literally fantastic powers, but still must live within a recognizable world with rigid rules, struggling both to understand and to conquer their own limitations. The main character is Otori Takeo, a boy on the cusp on knowledge. The main journey is the book is his -- but equal to him is Shirakawa Kaede, a girl who resists being dominated by men in a time and place where men have almost complete domination. Her wiles and will are counterpart to Takeo's ability and determination, and their story is utterly, completely captivating. But it is the telling of it that makes it especially compelling: the prose is that peculiar mix of majesty and melancholy characteristic of much Japanese art, whether painting (Sesshu is referenced many times in the text) or poetry, and Hearn describes the world she creates with tremendous energy and economy.

It's a fantastic adventure, absolutely, full of riveting action and written with page-turning verve...but the mood of the book stays with you long after the last page is turned, and when you awake, it is as if from one the characters' own fever dreams: everything seems a little clearer, more precious, more beautiful and fragile. That is the true gift of any writer, in any time. I've read the series twice, and look forward to reading it again and again in years to come.

ACROSS The NIGHTINGALE FLOOR. Tales of the Otori. Book 1.

Average customer rating:

ACROSS The NIGHTINGALE FLOOR. Tales of the Otori. Book 1.
Lian. Hearn
Manufacturer: Riverhead Books,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Brilliance of the Moon (Tales of the Otori, Book 3)

ASIN: B000MZARKG

Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, Book One)

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Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori, Book One)

Manufacturer: RB Large Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books
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Brilliance of the Moon (Tales of the Otori, Book 3)

ASIN: 1402576420

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Across the Nightingale Floor
Lian Hearn
Manufacturer: Heinemann Educational Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 043512028X

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Across the Nightingale Floor
Lian Hearn
Manufacturer: Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Across the Nightingale Floor
Lian. Hearn
Manufacturer: Hodder
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0641551924

Product Description

FROM THE PUBLISHER "In his black-walled fortress at Inuyama, the warlord Iida Sadamu surveys his famous nightingale floor. Constructed with exquisite skill, it sings at the tread of each human foot. No assassin can cross it unheard." "The youth Takeo has been brought up in a remote mountain village among the Hidden, a reclusive and spiritual people who have taught him only the ways of peace. But unbeknownst to him, his father was a celebrated assassin and a member of the Tribe, an ancient network of families with extraordinary, preternatural skills. When Takeo's village is pillaged, he is rescued and adopted by the mysterious Lord Otori Shigeru. Under the tutelage of Shigeru, he learns that he too possesses the skills of the Tribe, and with this knowledge he embarks on a journey that will lead him across the nightingale floor and to his destiny within the walls of lnuyama." Overcome by the intensity of first love and conflicted by split loyalties and his own divided nature, Takeo realizes that he must make his own way on this journey of revenge and treachery, honor and loyalty, betrayal and love.

Average customer rating:

Across the Nightingale Floor

Manufacturer: Macmillan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GAD5QA

Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori (Library))

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Across the Nightingale Floor (Tales of the Otori (Library))
Lian Hearn
Manufacturer: Tandem Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

Historical | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

Funny and engrossing

Weak Follow-up to Previous Victor Carl Stories

I was not thoroughly impressed

Very fun read.

Entertaining thriller
Past Due (Lashner, William)
William Lashner
Manufacturer: Amazon Remainders Account
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Bitter Truth

Fatal Flaw

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Marked Man

ASIN: B0007D9V7I

Book Description

It means something to be a client. It means he gets my loyalty, whether he deserves it or not. It means he gets my absolute best for the price of an hourly fee. It means in a world where every person has turned against him there is one person who will fight by his side for as long as there is a battle to be fought.
-- Victor Carl

Author of the acclaimed novels Fatal Flaw, Bitter Truth, and Hostile Witness, bestselling writer William Lashner crafts dark, witty, engrossing tales of suspense involving one of the most intriguing characters of modern popular fiction: Victor Carl.

A defense attorney who lives his life in shades of gray, Victor Carl fights all the right fights for all the wrong reasons. With a failing legal practice, a dead-end love life, a pile of unpaid traffic tickets, and a talent for mixing it up in tough working-class bars and sparring with obstinate cops, Victor skates on the razor's edge of legal ethics in search of the easy buck. But the one absolute in Victor's life is loyalty, especially to a client -- even if he happens to be dead. Like Joey Cheaps, a no-account who takes a knife to the throat down on the waterfront, but not before he shares with his lawyer his part in a terrible crime.

With his client murdered, Victor must search for a killer. But solving the crime means investigating the darkest spot in Joey Cheaps's misspent youth, sending Victor on a twisting journey that leads to a missing suitcase stuffed with money, photographs of a mysterious naked woman, and a Supreme Court justice with a secret to hide. And most dangerous of all, Victor steps into the crosshairs of a vengeful enemy with a past full of pain and a taste for blood.

As thrilling as it is darkly evocative, Past Due is a superb tale of crime and justice that takes the intrepid Victor Carl into brilliant new territory and confirms William Lashner's place among the top suspense writers of our time.

Download Description

"E-Book Extra: On Writing: An Interview with William Lashner

Attorney Victor Carl thought his client Joey Cheaps was a lowlife and a money-suck, but when Joey is brutally murdered, Victor sets out to find the killer. When he starts to uncover facts about a 20-year-old murder Victor himself becomes a target, and his life and future depend on finding a dead man and a murderer -- and finding them fast.

Customer Reviews:

Funny and engrossing.......2007-05-21

I picked up PAST DUE one night on a whim, knowing nothing about William Lashner or his reputation in the mystery genre. The cover caught my eye, and it looked thick, so being the type who prefers more of an epic story, I snatched it off the shelf and perused the first line.

I was hooked. And the book took off from there.

Lashner created a very funny anti-hero in Victor Carl, a sleazy Philadelphia lawyer intent on keeping his word to find a murdered client's killer. Carl's loyalty sees him encounter dangerous thugs of all types, from members of the Mafia to crooked politicians and judges, to drug dealers and their hangers-on. They all put Carl through the ringer, and do so in such smart and funny ways that many times I found myself laughing out loud at what transpired. The mystery is superb, keeping you guessing until the VERY end, and Carl's occasional visits to his dying father in the hospital are funny and touching all at once. All the characters are drawn to perfection, too, making you believe in them and accenting the story with that much more poignancy.

Lashner's chapter endings are among the best I've ever read. So good, in fact, that I absolutely hated when I had to put the book down. So my only qualm with PAST DUE really only concerns the ending. Lashner has a ton of expectation riding on the climax, dispensing with the humor and getting serious as the end approaches. But then, in one fell swoop, everything turns comical again when we find out who's behind it all and why. Needless to say, I felt let down, almost a bit cheated. Seems he wanted to lighten the mood a bit prematurely.

Nevertheless, I still heartily recommend PAST DUE for any mystery, suspense, or thriller enthusiast out there. The story's a funny, intriguing romp that takes you through the highest courts in Philly to the seediest parts of its underbelly. Truly epic in scope, pick up PAST DUE for a good laugh and a good mystery.

Weak Follow-up to Previous Victor Carl Stories.......2007-03-15

I was greatly disappointed with this book that is lacking the dynamic and intriguing characters of previous Victor Carl books (Specifically, Hostile Witness). Also, I remember the tension and integrety questions of the previous book I mentioned as Victor takes money to basically railroad an innocent man, bankrupts another man, and sleeps with a key witness in a murder tria. I really had to push myself to get through this one. It is also lacking the great interaction with his partner Beth who was prevelent in previous efforts.

I did not care about Joey "Cheaps" Parma and finding his killer nor did I find it the least bit interesting how Joey and his partner stole the suitcase.

I compare Lashner to David Rosenfelt who has been writing Andy Carpenter stories. His books seem to keep the flow of the characters from book to book and all his follow-ups to his brilliant first novel were good in their own right. I hope Mr. Lashner really plans out his next Victor Carl effort or he will lose this reader.

I was not thoroughly impressed.......2007-01-04

This was my first Lashner novel, and unless popular opinion overwhelms me, it'll probably be my last. I'm a big fan of mystery novels and this one just left me a little unexcited. Although I felt I could root for the main character, the rest of the cast seemed unexciting and unmemorable. Lashner's writing style seemed at odds with the genre as well. It came across as too informal, too casual for the story. I followed this book with a Michael Connelly story and that eclipsed this in it's attention-keeping abilities.

Very fun read........2005-06-20

This was my first Lashner novel, and I'm looking forward to tracking down the rest. His characters are like your neighbors, simple and complex if you start digging. The plot is engaging, twists you around and leaves you sitting mistaken in your own predictions but not feeling cheated. Everything makes sense, and most of it is surprising when revealed. It's a long discovery into a story and an old lifestyle, written in a noir style that flows extremely well.

Entertaining thriller.......2005-06-13

In William Lashner's latest novel, pragmatic lawyer Victor Carl once again finds himself one step away from bankruptcy and one of his few clients - a two-bit crook known as Joey Cheaps - dead. Cheaps rarely paid his bills when he was alive, and as a dead man, all he leaves Carl is a murder mystery that offers little in the way or rewards and a good chance of killing the attorney himself.

Thus opens Past Due, and what ensues is an entertaining, fast-reading thriller. Carl, money-hungry but with enough personal integrity to seek Cheaps's killer despite the lack of financial incentives, finds himself entangled in an older murder mystery. Twenty years earlier, Cheaps assaulted a drug dealer as part of a shakedown, but what was supposed to be a beating turned into a murder. Two decades later, this crime has come back to haunt him and somehow lead to his death.

With few clues, Carl starts investigating, riling, among others, a major crime boss and a state Supreme Court justice. The judge has the ability to make Carl's life miserable, but the crime boss threatens to just end it. Nonetheless, with fatalistic perseverance, Carl pushes on to unearth the truth.

Plotwise, there is little to distinguish Past Due from a number of other mysteries (despite the lawyer protagonist, this is not a legal thriller as very little of the story takes place in a courtroom). What makes this book distinctive, however, is the strong narration of Carl, a likeable loser with a dry sense of humor. So if this looks superficially like just another crime novel, you should be pleasantly surprised by this book which stands out among similar fare.

Murder Past Due (Reading Group Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

well plotted, but weighed dowm by drech!
Too much Lolita and Bogart
An excellent series!
Make it 3 1/2 stars. It is really pretty good
Another winner!

Murder Past Due (Reading Group Mysteries)
D. R. Meredith
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425178005
Release Date: 2001-03-06

Book Description

The latest from the author of By Hook or by Book finds the Murder by the Yard reading group touring famous murder sites-and reopening an infamous case.

Customer Reviews:

well plotted, but weighed dowm by drech!.......2007-01-21

How this author can come up with such fine plots, but write so poorly is the biggest mystery here! The monotonous mentioning of Megan's diminutive stature and cute appearance, along with the endless peervy musings of Ryan, are enough to distract from the interesting central mystery and film noir allusions.

Too much Lolita and Bogart.......2006-08-10

I agreee with a prior reviewer - enough already of Ryan! He's the middle-aged "hero" who lusts after Megan, the main character in the book. The creepy factor? Ryan is the father of Megan's best friend - and Megan "grew up in his house along with his daughter." Ick.

The story itself is very interesting with appealing minor characters. The frequent references to other mystery writers and old Bogart films gets really annoying. Yes, we've all read those books. No, this is not a Bogart/Bacall romance. Bogart met Bacall when she was a woman, albeit a very young woman, he was not a father figure to her while she was growing up. Again, ick.

An excellent series!.......2006-01-30

This is a very interesting series. I love the characters. I love Ryan and Megan. I definitely wish those two would get it together and tell each other that they like each other!

Make it 3 1/2 stars. It is really pretty good.......2003-06-09

I liked the book. The plot was the kind I like, with a nice
Agatha Christie type venue & almost no violence. But my one
ongoing annoyance with the book (I haven't read any others in
this series) was the boyfriend. Somehow he didn't fit in,
& I would have much preferred to have more of the women in the
book club (who seem to almost disappear) and less of the boyfriend who was as unappealing as he believed himself to be.

Another winner!.......2001-06-19

When Dr. Megan Clark and the Murder by the Yard Reading Circle decided to do a mystery tour in Amarillo, her best friend, Ryan Stevens, could only hope that this would keep the petite redhead out of trouble. He should have known better. Before Ryan knows it, Megan has been asked to investigate a 20 year old murder by the victim's grandfather-in-law, Bruce Gorman. Ryan struggles with his hidden love for Megan, a childhood friend of his own children, while trying to keep her out of danger.

Customer Reviews:

Stale as Ten-Day-Old Bread.......2000-12-24

This is Detective Inspector Carol Ashton's 10th outing, and the author seems to have grown bored with the series. Yes there's a murder, yes Ashton is asked to solve it, and yes she does just that. But it all seems so lackluster - as if the author is obligated to write another and just can't seem to get into it.

Inner Circle.......2000-04-01

This addition to the Detective Inspector Carol Ashton mysteries is one of the best. Loose ends in Carol's personal life come together. As always, Claire McNab weaves a tale of intrigue and suspense. I have read all of the previous books featuring the premier lesbian detective, and have never been let down! I highly recommend this book!

Past Due: A Story of Disability, Pregnancy, and Birth

Average customer rating:

An eye opening personal tale
A very thought-provoking book

Past Due: A Story of Disability, Pregnancy, and Birth
Anne Finger
Manufacturer: Seal Press (CA)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Special Needs | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Obstetrics & Gynecology | Specialties | Medicine | Subjects | Books
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Accessories:

ASIN: 0931188873

Customer Reviews:

An eye opening personal tale.......2005-09-10

This book was absolutely fantastic! I got it at a used book store and it was one of the best books. The author who had polio details he pregnancy and all the politics sourrounding it. It is an eye opener about what it must be like to be pregnant with a disability.

A very thought-provoking book.......2000-04-25

This was one of these books that made me stay up way too late because I couldn't put it down. The author tells the story of the birth of her child. A story that should be simple enough but, like most things in life that touch us deeply, it isn't. Her prior experiences of dealing with polio and her involvement in the pro choice / reproductive rights movement contribute to her decision on a home birth. When she and her baby experience severe complications, she faces the possibility of having a child with a disability. Apart from being very well written it engaged me into many silent arguements with the author on the very political but yet so personal issues of abortion, disability, birthing...It made me tink again about my own life-experiences with infertility, high risk pregnancy and dissability-rights (I have a close familymember, who is very involved). It reminded me how important choices and taking control are. And it reminded me that choices and control often turn out to be illusion. I highly recommend this book to anyone, who is interested in issues of disability and reproduction or who enjoys autobiographies. Your opinions might differ from those of the author but it will definetly be food for thought.

Rightfully Yours: How to Get Past-Due Child Support, Alimony, and Your Ex's Pension (Self-Counsel Legal Series)

Average customer rating:

SHOULD BE ABOUT COLLECTING PENSION
Great book for women
Very useful...

Rightfully Yours: How to Get Past-Due Child Support, Alimony, and Your Ex's Pension (Self-Counsel Legal Series)
Gary A. Shulman
Manufacturer: Self-Counsel Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Divorce & Separation | Family & Health Law | Law | Subjects | Books

General | Practical Guides | Law | Subjects | Books

Divorce | Family Relationships | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books

Accessories:

ASIN: 1551804042

Book Description

The estimated amount of unpaid child support in America runs into the billions of dollars. Even highly conservative sources say that at least 10 per cent of non-custodial spouses don't pay their child support, yet the vast majority of spouses who don't pay their child support are not broke: they just claim to be broke!

Rightfully Yours: How to Get Past-Due Child Support, Alimony, and Your Ex's Pension will make available to you the most powerful tool in collecting past-due child support and alimony without wasting thousands of dollars in legal fees.

This book focuses on two important issues: how to secure your share of your ex-spouse's pension benefits earned during the marriage, and how to obtain past-due alimony and child support payments from your ex's pension, profit-sharing, or 401(k) savings plan. It explains the best-kept secret under U.S. federal law: The Qualified Domestic Relations Order. A QDRO is the legal document necessary to obtain direct payments from your ex's retirement plan(s).

It covers such topics as: What are the different types of QDRO's and why do I need one? How much of the pension am I entitled to receive and for how long? Is it too late to draft a QDRO now, even though my divorce was years ago? Can I use a QDRO to obtain past-due child support and alimony?

If you were awarded a portion of your ex-spouse's pension benefits of if your ex is currently delinquent in child support or alimony payments, this book will be an invaluable resource.

Customer Reviews:

SHOULD BE ABOUT COLLECTING PENSION.......2006-07-25

I was disappointed with this book. I think it was advertised wrong. I bought it because I am trying to get past due child support. Well if the father works "under the table" this book is not going to do you any good. You should only buy this book if you trying to collect child support from someone with a career.

Great book for women.......2006-07-09

I disagree with the above woman's remarks. She obviously has "issues" that need to be dealt with. I don't see how her biases are opinions that relate to this book.

In anycase this is a very informative book for women. Most often attorneys do not have the time or forget that women may not be as informed or as educated in finances. Not stereotyping but stating that it is not a common practice for anyone for that matter to be educated in QDRO's or other divorce finanicals. This book helps those who are just getting a divorce or are close to settlement.

Good book. I agree with the opinions of the author of the book.

Very useful..........2003-09-26

I picked this book up, not as a wronged custodial mother or first wife, but as a second wife, trying to anticipate ways that my husband's first wife might further try to take advantage of him. A great deal of press has been given to struggling mothers and downtrodden first wives, but no one pays any attention to the husbands who end up getting bled dry by their first wives. I found this book to be a great resource, not just for women looking to get what's "rightfully theirs", but also for men looking to protect what they've "rightfully earned" through hard work. I'm a social worker, so of course I agree that custodial parents should receive child support. But somehow, we've gotten the notion that women are automatically better parents simply because they're women and men are always abusive jerks. The only reason I don't give this book five stars is because Shulman seems to be cashing in on the pervading notion that all men are scum and deserve to be wrung dry. I happen to be married to wonderful guy who got taken to the cleaners and we're using this book to prevent him from being cleaned out. Having said this, I do recommend this book. It covers everything from military pensions, to retirement plans (QDROs), to railroad pensions and the information is very specific. I found it very informative.

Past Due!: A Debt Collecting Manual for Collections Professionals Accounts Receivable Personnel Small Business Owners

Average customer rating:

Past Due!: A Debt Collecting Manual for Collections Professionals Accounts Receivable Personnel Small Business Owners
Jim Finucan
Manufacturer: Limelight Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Bookkeeping | Small Business & Entrepreneurship | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0936653809

The Collection Program: A Practical Guide (How to Improve Collections and Cash Flow)

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The Collection Program: A Practical Guide (How to Improve Collections and Cash Flow)
Sol Barzman
Manufacturer: Nat'l Assoc. of Credit Management
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Pamphlet
ASIN: B000OAKUWE

Product Description

The responsibility of a credit department, no matter its size, does not end with the approval or rejection of orders, or the assignment of a line of credit; collections are just as important. The two functions, credit and collections, are in fact inseparable for most companies, especially those in the medium or smaller ranges. It is the author's aim, therefore, to offer a guide for the credit managers of these medium and smaller companies that will help them to establish and implement a proper collection program. This booklet has been prepared so that even a newcomer to the field of credit can readily grasp the fundamentals of collections.

Average customer rating:

Due South, or "Cuba Past and Present"
Maturin N. Ballou
Manufacturer: Houghton Mifflin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OYJ24C

Average customer rating:

Due South: or, Cuba Past and Present
Maturin Murray Ballou
Manufacturer: Greenwood Press Reprint
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | Caribbean | Travel | Subjects | Books

North America | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0837120713

"How to Collect Your Fees Without Offending Your Patients" (How To Collect Your Past Due Accounts)

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"How to Collect Your Fees Without Offending Your Patients" (How To Collect Your Past Due Accounts)

Manufacturer: U.S. Seminar Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: B000HUB4NU

Product Description

6 Audio-Cassettes, In Clam Shell case.

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