Elusive Mrs. Pollifax
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A cozy book
  • No One Else Could have Passports Sewn Into her Hat!
  • This book is intriguing and a lot of fun!
  • One of the best in the series
  • FANTASTIC! Very highly recommended
Elusive Mrs. Pollifax
Dorothy Gilman
Manufacturer: Fawcett
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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Similar Items:
  1. The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax The Amazing Mrs. Pollifax
  2. A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax A Palm for Mrs. Pollifax
  3. The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax
  4. Mrs. Pollifax on Safari Mrs. Pollifax on Safari
  5. Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station Mrs. Pollifax on the China Station

ASIN: 0449215237
Release Date: 1987-09-12

Book Description

While waiting for a view of her night-blooming cereus, the mild-seeming Mrs. Pollifax received urgent orders for a daring mission to aid an escape. Soon, the unlikely-looking international spy was sporting a beautiful new hat that hid eight forged passports....

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars A cozy book.......2007-01-16

Very enjoyable for Mrs. Pollifax fans. Just complex enough to make it interesting.

5 out of 5 stars No One Else Could have Passports Sewn Into her Hat!.......2003-07-27

The 3rd book written by Dorothy Gilman is another book filled with intrigue and heroism. Mrs. Pollifax, a widow who enjoys teas and garden clubs, sets out on her third courier job for the CIA, a mission which starts in Bulgaria. Mrs. Pollifax is a CIA agent assigned to smuggle forged passports into the country, for the use of some agents that have found themselves in need of escape. However, as in her previous two cases, no simple courier job ends up that way, and she also works to assist a group of college kids that find themselves in trouble.

I was enthralled with the third assignment of Mrs. Pollifax, and enjoyed every moment spent with her on this adventure. Mrs. Pollifax is not a person that you would initially feel would make a good CIA agent. She is elderly, loves to wear outlandish hats, and finds a way to talk and get to know everyone around her. But it is just these qualities that make her so invisible in the world of spies, and even the most cynical of agents falls under her spell. I loved the fact that Mrs. Pollifax is learning karate (since she hates guns I worried about how she could plausibly protect herself) and that she was just as lovable yet determined as she was in the previous books. If you have not tried this series, pick up a copy of this book and the previous books, and join the millions of others who are charmed by this beloved character!

The first book in the series is "The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax". Enjoy!

A Cozy Mystery Lover

4 out of 5 stars This book is intriguing and a lot of fun!.......2003-02-24

I just recently discovered the Mrs. Pollifax books and I have been enjoying them immensely. This one is a great favorite of mine because not only are the many characters and the complex plot skillfully handled, but the characterization is wonderful. The author employs the great writer's rule of "Show, don't tell" to give the reader a more detailed picture of who Mrs. Pollifax is. Her character is drawn with more depth in this novel than in either of the two preceding. In addition, the story is exciting and told with a gentle humor that certainly kept me reading.

4 out of 5 stars One of the best in the series.......2002-02-02

I go back a couple of books in the series now to this one, the third. Fortunately there are no significant references to prior books this time around.

Anyhow, this time Mrs. Pollifax finds her way to Bulgaria. Supposedly she is only taking passports to the underground there, but her boss Carstairs is strongarmed into having her taking other items, sewn into her coat, along with her without her knowing it. Complications, unsurprisingly, ensue. She falls in with a group of travelling college students (and one in particular), and leaps in to help when one of them is held by the secret police.

She leads both friends and foes on a merry chase as she travels around Bulgaria. It's got to be one of the more complex plots of any of the books I've read so far, and as a result one of the most gripping.

Rosenblat again does a superb job with the voices.

5 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC! Very highly recommended.......2000-10-18

I am a huge fan of Dorothy Gilman's Mrs. Pollifax series (especially through and including Mrs. Pollifax on Safari -- although I still buy and read each one as soon as they're published). And this is a real winner. Very witty and entertaining. Although I usually give away mysteries after reading them, I can't bear to part with this series (through and including Mrs. Pollifax on Safari), and love rereading them over and over again. VERY highly recommended.
A Dorothy Gilman Sampler: Caravan - Mrs. Pollifax Pursued - Uncertain Voyage - The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax (Boxed Set)
Average customer rating: Not rated
    A Dorothy Gilman Sampler: Caravan - Mrs. Pollifax Pursued - Uncertain Voyage - The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax (Boxed Set)
    Dorothy Gilman
    Manufacturer: Fawcett
    ProductGroup: Book
    Binding: Mass Market Paperback
    ASIN: B000BTNUYI

    Product Description

    Boxed set containing:"The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax"; "Uncertain Voyage";"Mrs. Pollifax Pursued"; and "Caravan".
    The Elusive Mrs Pollifax
    Average customer rating: Not rated
      The Elusive Mrs Pollifax
      Dorothy Gilman
      Manufacturer: Robert Hale
      ProductGroup: Book
      Binding: Hardcover
      ASIN: B000M0WRTK
      6 Titles By Dorothy Gilman Polifax Series (3-8) : 3. The Elusive Mrs Pollifax 4. A Palm for Mrs Pollifax 5. Mrs Pollifax on Safari 6. Mrs Pollifax on the China Station 7. Mrs Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha 8. Mrs Pollifax and the Golden Triangle
      Average customer rating: Not rated
        6 Titles By Dorothy Gilman Polifax Series (3-8) : 3. The Elusive Mrs Pollifax 4. A Palm for Mrs Pollifax 5. Mrs Pollifax on Safari 6. Mrs Pollifax on the China Station 7. Mrs Pollifax and the Hong Kong Buddha 8. Mrs Pollifax and the Golden Triangle
        Dorothy Gilman
        Manufacturer: Fawcett
        ProductGroup: Book
        Binding: Mass Market Paperback
        ASIN: B000WVVDZS

        Product Description

        multiple books ship as one item. save on shipping/handling charges.
        Bad Trip, the Elusive Mrs. Pollifax, Dead Aim
        Average customer rating: Not rated
          Bad Trip, the Elusive Mrs. Pollifax, Dead Aim
          Kelly, Gilman Dorothy, Wilcox, Collin Roos
          Manufacturer: DETECTIVE BOOK CLUB
          ProductGroup: Book
          Binding: Hardcover
          ASIN: B000GKXLZK
          A Dorothy Gilman Sampler: Mrs. Pollifax Pursued / Uncertain Voyage / Caravan / The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax
          Average customer rating: Not rated
            A Dorothy Gilman Sampler: Mrs. Pollifax Pursued / Uncertain Voyage / Caravan / The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax
            Dorothy Gilman
            Manufacturer: Fawcett Gold Medal / Readers Digest Association
            ProductGroup: Book
            Binding: Mass Market Paperback
            ASIN: B000PGEW58
            The Elusive Mrs Pollifax (Mrs. Pollifax)
            Average customer rating: Not rated
              The Elusive Mrs Pollifax (Mrs. Pollifax)
              Dorothy Gilman
              Manufacturer: Doubleday and Company
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Hardcover
              ASIN: B000OAU4U2
              THE ELUSIVE MRS. POLLIFAX
              Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
              • No One Else Could Have Passports Sewn Into Her Hats!
              THE ELUSIVE MRS. POLLIFAX

              Manufacturer: Fawcett Crest
              ProductGroup: Book
              Binding: Paperback
              ASIN: B000GQSP1O

              Customer Reviews:

              5 out of 5 stars No One Else Could Have Passports Sewn Into Her Hats!.......2006-07-25

              The 3rd book written by Dorothy Gilman is another book filled with intrigue and heroism. Mrs. Pollifax, a widow who enjoys teas and garden clubs, sets out on her third courier job for the CIA, a mission which starts in Bulgaria. Mrs. Pollifax is a CIA agent assigned to smuggle forged passports into the country, for the use of some agents that have found themselves in need of escape. However, as in her previous two cases, no simple courier job ends up that way, and she also works to assist a group of college kids that find themselves in trouble.

              I was enthralled with the third assignment of Mrs. Pollifax, and enjoyed every moment spent with her on this adventure. Mrs. Pollifax is not a person that you would initially feel would make a good CIA agent. She is elderly, loves to wear outlandish hats, and finds a way to talk and get to know everyone around her. But it is just these qualities that make her so invisible in the world of spies, and even the most cynical of agents falls under her spell. I loved the fact that Mrs. Pollifax is learning karate (since she hates guns I worried about how she could plausibly protect herself) and that she was just as lovable yet determined as she was in the previous books. If you have not tried this series, pick up a copy of this book and the previous books, and join the millions of others who are charmed by this beloved character!

              The first book in the series is "The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax". Enjoy!

              The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax
              Average customer rating: Not rated
                The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax
                Dorothy Gilman
                Manufacturer: Fawcett Crest
                ProductGroup: Book
                Binding: Paperback
                ASIN: B000JHX9ZC
                The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax
                Average customer rating: Not rated
                  The Elusive Mrs. Pollifax
                  Dorothy GILMAN
                  Manufacturer: Doubleday & Co., Inc.
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Hardcover
                  ASIN: B000OPG2BC

                  The Black Jewels: Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood / Heir to the Shadows / Queen of the Darkness
                  Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
                  • A Snarly Review
                  • A read so fascinating that I had to go there twice... in a row--
                  • Black Jewels-good read
                  • Amazing!!!
                  • Wonderful.
                  The Black Jewels: Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood / Heir to the Shadows / Queen of the Darkness
                  Anne Bishop
                  Manufacturer: Roc Trade
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  EpicEpic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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                  ASIN: 0451529014
                  Release Date: 2003-12-02

                  Book Description

                  Anne Bishop's critically-acclaimed Black Jewels Trilogy is the saga of a young but still-innocent Queen more powerful than even the High Lord of Hell-and the three sworn enemies determined to win her and gain a prize that could be terrible beyond imagining...

                  Customer Reviews:

                  3 out of 5 stars A Snarly Review.......2007-09-25

                  If I had to sum up this book in one word it would be "disappointing". Ms. Bishop creates a beautiful hierarchy of power with the Blood and drawing their power from Jewels, the delicate psychic roadways of the Winds, and an interesting take on death with the Demon Dead and Guardians. The geography of the different lands, the different races of creatures that occupied them, and the involvement of the Kindred were all wonderfully detailed and fresh. These aspects of the story are fascinating, well developed, and highly imaginative, and I truly wish the actual storyline could live up to this promise.

                  In contrast of the terrific world she created, Ms. Bishop's characters could not be any more two-dimensional and tiresome. For all of her attempts to write "Dark Fantasy" and to challenge traditional images of hell/darkness (with names like Saetan, Daemon, and Lucivar) she creates some pretty standard, dull heroes and villains. No one hero is capable of doing anything wrong--Jaenelle most of all. I don't think I've read a heroine this mind-numbing in a long time. For a story like this to work, there needs to be actual, palpable danger for the heroine and the heroine's world. There was no question or danger here--Jaenelle was all powerful, pure hearted, and of course could overcome the simple-minded evil Queens. Hardly scintillating material.

                  So far as writing skills go, I am entirely done with the word "snarl". There are other adjectives to describe guttural noises.

                  Even on a romance front, I was disappointed. Daemon, the only true attempt at a multidimensional character, felt like a washed-out letdown by Book 3. There was some nice tension from the first book--I enjoyed Daemon's struggle--but it led to absolutely no payoff. When Witch and he finally get it on, it's almost laughable.

                  In short, the whole story felt contrived. Ms. Bishop creates dark scenes (like rape or murder) with no real consequence (everyone is *really* ok), an entirely dull love story, and "danger" without there really being any threat.

                  Ms. Bishop is the true Sadi here--these books give the ghost of promise and tease the reader seductively...only to find the results flaccid and leaving the reader completely unfulfilled.

                  A (generous) two and a half-stars.

                  5 out of 5 stars A read so fascinating that I had to go there twice... in a row--.......2007-09-23

                  I recently stumbled onto this particular genre. And I can't believe how lucky I am. Where have I been all my life? It's fun. It's fantastic. It's absolutely amazing to me that someone can create an entire reality like this.

                  Anyway. I read this particular book from cover to cover and then, for the first time in my life, I turned right back to page 1 and started over. It is that good.

                  5 out of 5 stars Black Jewels-good read.......2007-09-13

                  A rich world with interesting characters and a really fresh use of magic--beyond wands and wizards.

                  5 out of 5 stars Amazing!!!.......2007-08-31

                  This book is Amazing. The very first paragraph caught me and the book never let go. I am an avid reader, of all books, and anymore it has become increasingly difficult to find a book with the power to grab your attention in the first 100 pages let alone the first paragraph. I will not sum up the book for you; my only advice would be to buy the book. The best way to describe this book is "All Encompasing."

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

                  While I cannot hope to write as graceful a review as every other person before me has, I will try to tell you what I can about this book, and why is should be part of your collection.

                  The book (though there are actually three combined into one lovely volume) is about a very original world. I won't delve too deep into it, because part of the fun is figuring it out as you go, getting all the tidbits and making your own dreams of it. But, this world, this is what grabbed me the most. It's not like all the other fantasy books I've read; where there's always the set 'bad guy' and the 'good guys' and oh woe is me, someone must save us all.

                  While that concept is present in this book, it is not drawn out and used as the only tagline. There are so many other pieces to this great piece of writing!

                  Beyond the world, there are the characters. The deliciously real characters who I myself end up crying for, and getting angry about. Anne Bishop really draws you in and you start to know them so well... there are so many things about them, you feel like you could walk past them on the street. They do things that you think they would do, that you know is what that character would want to do. It is all very well done, gracefully, and well-fleshed so that they are believable, likable, and in some cases, absolutely despicable.

                  The plot is wonderfully twisted. There are so many strands of it that are to be pieced together, it's like a treasure hunt. And each chapter that gives you another lead, another piece... it's so lovely. And then a few things click, and you mentally go 'ooooh, that's why he did that!' And the way all the conflicts meet up in the end, how everything comes together so well; it's a piece of art.

                  And the romance, of course. My boyfriend stuck out his tongue and refused when he'd heard me mention that, though I know he was reading it when I slept... but it is a focal point. Enough that women will swoon, but not enough, I think, to turn men away from reading and enjoying this book.

                  With all the different characters, situations, and happenings in this book, there will surely be a thing for you to love and connect with, something to draw you in. If you give it a chance, I can assure you, you will not be disappointed. So... read some more reviews, think it over, and then do it, and enjoy reading about the life of the SaDiablo line, and all those who are drawn into their plight... :)
                  Heir to the Shadows: The Black Jewels Trilogy (Book 2)
                  Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
                  • true love
                  • Absolute Must Read
                  • please read and consider before dismissing
                  • A Little Dissappointed...
                  • Gripping story despite superficial flaws
                  Heir to the Shadows: The Black Jewels Trilogy (Book 2)
                  Anne Bishop
                  Manufacturer: Roc
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Paperback

                  GeneralGeneral | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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                  ASIN: 0451456726

                  Amazon.com

                  Anne Bishop plunged into dark fantasy with her first book, Daughter of the Blood. She described a world where Blood Witches have always ruled, drawing males to their courts through seductive power. An ambitious High Priestess destroys more powerful females before maturity and has enslaved the strongest males, weakening magic and corrupting natural bonds between men and women. Sexual violence permeates Terreille. Jaenelle, born to be Queen, is vulnerable until adulthood. Though guarded by male Warlord Princes, Jaenelle is violated. Daemon, her destined Consort, rescues her but is convinced he attacked her and goes mad.

                  In Heir to the Shadows, Jaenelle's vampiric, adoptive father, Saetan, and her foster-family of demons shelter her. To restore her memory and emotional balance, they move to Kaeleer, where Jaenelle befriends the kindred--animals with magical and communicative powers--and gathers a circle of young Queens. She also heals Lucivar, Daemon's half-brother, who offers a brother's love and a warrior's fealty. As she recovers strength and memory, Jaenelle resolves to restore Daemon and cleanse Terreille.

                  Bishop subverts readers' expectations; the "darkest" powers reside in virtuous characters, demons and vampires are kindly, and Jaenelle's adolescence is more comically normal than horrific. Her vibrant characters and descriptions will keep readers hooked, anxiously awaiting what promises to be a riveting conclusion. --Nona Vero

                  Book Description

                  In this violently passionate, "darkly fascinating world,"** the Blood rule: a race of witches and warlocks whose power is channeled through magical jewels. Ambitions unfurl in this second novel of The Black Jewels Trilogy, as the realm's dreams of a liberator have finally been made flesh...

                  Jaenelle, singled out by prophecy as the living embodiment of magic, is haunted by the cruel battles the Blood have fought over her-for not all of them await her as their Savior. Nothing, however, can deflect her from her destiny-and the day of reckoning looms near. When her memories return. When her magic matures. When she is forced to accept her fate. On that day, the dark Realms will know what it means to be ruled by Witch.

                  Customer Reviews:

                  3 out of 5 stars true love.......2007-07-18

                  I have enjoyed the The Black Jewels Trilogy, there is warmth and humour. Unforunately there does not seem to be much epic fantasy. The idea and plot are agreeable but the theme is not properly developed. Ms Bishop writes a great love story (romance novel) with a slight twist, but to place her in the fantasy novel genre is stretching the formula a little.The Black Jewels: Trilogy: Daughter of the Blood / Heir to the Shadows / Queen of the Darkness

                  5 out of 5 stars Absolute Must Read.......2007-04-25

                  This series continues to impress me. I love the rich culture of the world created by Bishop. I'm fascinated by what goes on in each of the Realms and how they've changed yet still echo what they were created to be. And the characters--I find myself drawn to them, again and again, as if they're old friends already.

                  I'm amazed by how fast the books are moving. Thankfully Bishop doesn't feel the need to explain every last moment of Jaenelle's life. Sometimes whole years are acknowledged in mere sentences. It's rather refreshing after reading so many books that seem to detail every crumb the main character ate for breakfast; skipping through years that occurred but which didn't need to be talked about extensively is a nice surprise. After all, we're getting older in increments--it isn't the minutes that count, it's the years.

                  This second book focuses on Jaenelle after the events of Daughter of the Blood. Roughly two years have passed. This book got off to a rousing start with one of my favorite characters, Saetan Daemon SaDiablo. Demon-dead, Guardian, the High Priest of Hell itself petitions the Council for parental rights to Jaenelle. And we get to see a taste of Saetan's power. Not that we didn't know how powerful he was in the first book--he is the High Lord of Hell after all--but this is a very public, very ... emphatic show of power.

                  In this book we also meet many of the friends Jaenelle talked about in Daughter of the Blood. Each of them are as amusing as Jaenelle and they keep Saetan on his toes even more than just Jaenelle did.

                  The ending is one I know I'm going to want to read again and again. In fact I've read it a few times already. It is lushly and powerfully written allowing us to see that Jaenelle is a match for her adopted father's power.

                  2 out of 5 stars please read and consider before dismissing.......2006-04-30

                  So I got into this series because a friend recommended it highly and lent me the books. The first one defied expectations by being quite good, but book 2 is plagued by a couple of major problems. First, I hate to repeat other reviewers, but the almost total omission of Daemon from this book hurts it considerably. The other characters lack the charisma to carry the plot, and their crazy antics after their convergence and establishment at Saetan's hall give the quieter scenes in this book more the feel of a pre-teen slumber party than anything else. And speaking of that plot, it can be summed up as follows:

                  Villain: "ha ha! Because I am so crafty and eeeevil, Jaenelle will never escape this dark plan."
                  Lucivar/Saetan/generic good guys: "Mother night! Jaenelle is gone and we sense that she's in danger! May the darkness be merciful!"
                  Jaenelle: "Ugh . . . disaster was averted once again, but I'm so weak . . . I don't know if I'll pull through this time."
                  Lucivar/Saetan/generic good guys: "(worry, fret)"
                  Jaenelle: "Okay, I'm better now."
                  Lucivar/Saetan/generic good guys: "Let's celebrate with a charming domestic scene!"
                  Villain: "Curses, foiled again! But no matter-- Jaenelle will never escape this new scheme, which is even more crafty and evil than the last!"
                  (repeat)

                  And speaking of those villains, they fall entirely into one of two categories:
                  female villain: The head of a court, she is sexually sadistic in how she abuses the males around her. She constantly comes up with exaggeratedly evil schemes so as to leave no doubt as to how evil she is.
                  male vilain: Subservient to a female villain (see above), he is sexually sadistic in that he is a pedophile.

                  And speaking of those villains, it's only fair to ask how their schemes always come so close to succeeding, when the good guys are so powerful and discerning? Well, the good guys ARE discerning, EXCEPT when Bishop requires them to be flamingly incompetent for the sake of plot advancement. Then they believe ridiculous stories, get mad at the wrong people, and drink potions offered under suspicious circumstances that render them incoherent and open to manipulation without first analyzing the contents of said potions-- despite the fact that in this world characters are explicitly said to have that ability, which they often use.

                  Okay, so put these ingredients together, and what do we get? "Heir to the Shadows," an easily forgotten book, in which you will predict the major events one to three hundred pages before they happen. Sure there are occasional charming moments, and some of the characters seem interesting at first, but overall it just isn't worth it. Find a summary of this book somewhere so you won't have to take the trouble of reading, and hope that book 3 is an improvement.







                  4 out of 5 stars A Little Dissappointed..........2005-10-13

                  ...but the book was brilliant, all the same. After all, what else would you expect from Anne Bishop?
                  The only major flaw? Easy: they don't mention Daemon enough. Like, 5 or 6 times in the whole book is soooooo not enough. But we got more of his half-brother, Lucivar. Daemon for Lucivar isn't my definition for fair, but it'll do. For one book...oh, to Hell with it, I just wish there were more mentions of the Sadist. No BJT book feels right without the Sadist. But there was some mention of him, which is why it still got 4 stars.
                  But still, the plot was superb. Up to her usual standard. Although I only no so much about Karla and Kary, I still luv them both. Jaenelle's just...Jaenelle, I suppose. I mean, she might be the Queen and all, but something from her is missing. Hey, don't get me wrong, I luv her, but she's just...herself.
                  Despite its problems, it is a must read for all BJT fans like myself. But for all fans of Daemon, just remember: you might be...well... A Little Dissappointed.

                  5 out of 5 stars Gripping story despite superficial flaws.......2004-10-10

                  The continuation of the Black Jewels Trilogy keeps up with the promise Bishop seems to make with the reader in the first novel - a highly readable, enjoyable, unrelenting view of the world she created. Even more so than the first, I could not put this book down. When I did, it's because I was so tired my brain could no longer comprehend the idea of "sentences" and "words." Again, there are a few apparent flaws that need to be discussed in an honest appraisal of the book:

                  (1) The descriptions of characters can get repetitive. You can only read that Jaenelle does something no one has ever done before in all of history so many times before you're like "alright already, I get it!" And you'll read the description "membranous wings" more times than you care to.

                  (2) Some phrases are repeated ad nauseum to make dramatic points. "Briarwood is the pretty poison" and something along the lines of "Everyone pays the price" are constantly inserted between paragraphs or after a particular event for dramatic effect, but again, it's a case of "enough already" the fourth or fifth time.

                  (3) As more characters are introduced (which many are in this book), they become more stereotypical and progressively less interesting. And the introduction of intelligent animals (members of the Blood called "Kindred") made me roll my eyes a bit, but overall they worked out. Definitely wasn't "Lassie" or "Flipper" even if it seemed a bit corny at first.

                  (4) The jumps in years seem a bit awkward at times. In this book, Jaenelle ages about 10 years. It's a little aggravating that Bishop introduces this evil little plot by the antagonists, and then when you go to the next part, it's two years later. What happened in that time??? Granted, if she did fill in those details, this trilogy would probably be drawn out like the Wheel of Time saga or the Song of Ice and Fire series.

                  Despite my criticisms of her style, however, Bishop's creative energy and constantly-moving plot kept me firmly embraced by her characters, her plot, and her world, and sets the reader up well for a gripping finale. I highly recommend it.
                  Bishop's Heir (Histories of King Kelson, Vol 1)
                  Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
                  • Ladies and Gentleman this is what it's all about
                  • One of the best in the series!
                  • Wow!
                  • Tolkiens Heir?
                  • An undiscovered author
                  Bishop's Heir (Histories of King Kelson, Vol 1)
                  Katherine Kurtz
                  Manufacturer: Del Rey
                  ProductGroup: Book
                  Binding: Mass Market Paperback

                  Kurtz, KatherineKurtz, Katherine | ( K ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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                  ASIN: 0345347617
                  Release Date: 1987-08-12

                  Book Description

                  Once again the Kingdom of Gwynedd under young King Kelson found itself facing the horror of war between the Church and the Deryni. As the Pretender Queen plotted to free Meara from Gwynedd's control, and the ex-Archbishop hatched a devious plan, it looked like the peace of Gwynedd was to be a thing of the past....

                  Customer Reviews:

                  5 out of 5 stars Ladies and Gentleman this is what it's all about.......2007-07-11

                  I can scarcely imagine an author who has done a better job of creating a world that is as meticulously researched, historically accurate and heartbreakingly tragic. This series is an installment in a prolonged effort by Kurtz and this first book is splendid. Depicting the start of the reign of a young King, newly come to power and his struggles to become who he wishes and not what others would have him be.

                  The author writes with such expertise in depicting the world and conditions that the characters live in, that you are truly there. It's gritty and dark and entirely realistic. The characters are flawed, but that is the beauty of the craftsmanship because they are all the better for being something other than the infallible heroes that so often bedeck this genre.

                  The author's depiction of the role of Church, politics and intrigue are flawlessly intertwined. The very title of this book is controversial enough to pique the interest of any student of human history. I really enjoyed that she so closely emulates what really happened, but still blends in the fantastic and sets it some place other than our world.

                  Prepare to be entertained and educated, but make the effort and take the time because this is what we all hope to read and so seldom find.

                  5 out of 5 stars One of the best in the series!.......2004-01-31

                  "The Bishop's Heir" is one of my favorites in this series -- fantastic writing; wonderful, well-developed characters; adventure; intrigue; brotherhood; loyality; friendship; sacrifice; and some humor thrown in for good measure. Who could ask for more?

                  5 out of 5 stars Wow!.......2002-12-28

                  What an amazing work! So many different things for so many different characters were developed in this book, and I couldn't have been more pleased.

                  5 out of 5 stars Tolkiens Heir?.......2002-08-19

                  I can easily describe Katherine Kurtz The Bishop's Heir in one sentence: Brilliant. This novel, which is book one of the three part Chronicles of King Kelson, is absolutely brilliant. Kurtz weaves a rich tapestry of intrigue and war all set in an alternate reality.

                  The plot of the story is strong, which is typical of a Kurtz novel. She obviously is well read on medieval History (M.A. in Medieval English History) and religion, which adds a depth to this novel that most fantasy authors could only dream of achieving. Rather than take the worn out theme perfected by Tolkien (and then worn out by subsequent copy cats) she devises a plot based around the desire for power and combines it with racism and genocidal desires (themes from our own time).

                  No review of this novel would be complete without a discussion of Ms. Kurtz's use of religion to drive the plot. Something most fantasy novels simply brush over is the religion of the characters involved. If, and that's a big if, religion is mentioned, it's usually some bland form of paganism similar to just about every other fantasy novel out there. Not this one. The use of the Catholic Church, along with it's heirarchy of nuns and priests, bishops and monks, gives these books a depth I've not seen in a fantasy novel since, perhaps, the master himself. Like the Lord of the Rings, The Bishop's Heir reads like a great historical novel, rather than a half baked fantasy.

                  If you are yearning for a good fantasy with some magic, lot's of plot, and well written characters, you've come to the right place.

                  5 out of 5 stars An undiscovered author.......2001-12-14

                  This is the first of her books that I ever read. I found her description of ritual to be very moving. Enough so, that I gained better insight into the attraction of religion.

                  She has created a world not dissimilar to Europe around the time of the dark ages. Reading one of her books makes you see the history of Europe with new eyes and interest. An added bonus for your kids who are just getting up to that section of history. She delves deeply and to great effect into the politics of a kings court.

                  I say 'undiscovered', because it is difficult to find her books in the library or at the book store, you can generally pick up one or two somewhere, but not the whole collection. However, those that know her writing, seem to always want more. Our local library has four of her books - all of which have been stolen from the library. While a pity, certainly she has a following.

                  I don't think she writes with a master plan, book 1-book 10 of a series. Instead she seems to write about something, and then explore what happened before that to this character, or after to that one, or 'between' events. Makes is difficult to get a linear progression of a story, but then history is like that.

                  Anytime I run into one of her books at the bookstore, I buy it.
                  THE BISHOP S HEIR - The Histories of King Nelson Volume I
                  Average customer rating: Not rated
                    THE BISHOP S HEIR - The Histories of King Nelson Volume I
                    Katherine Kurtz
                    Manufacturer: Del Rey Boiok
                    ProductGroup: Book
                    Binding: Hardcover
                    ASIN: B000MPOD4M
                    The Bishop's Heir - Volume One of the Histories of King Nelson
                    Average customer rating: Not rated
                      The Bishop's Heir - Volume One of the Histories of King Nelson
                      Katherine Kurtz
                      Manufacturer: Ballantine
                      ProductGroup: Book
                      Binding: Hardcover
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                      The Bishops' Heir
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                        The Bishops' Heir
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                        Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
                        ProductGroup: Book
                        Binding: Hardcover
                        ASIN: B000S9FBYI
                        The Black Jewels Trilogy By Anne Bishop; 1. Daughter of the Blood (1998), 2. Heir to the Shadows (1999), 3. Queen of the Darkness (1999) (Vol 1,2,3)
                        Average customer rating: Not rated
                          The Black Jewels Trilogy By Anne Bishop; 1. Daughter of the Blood (1998), 2. Heir to the Shadows (1999), 3. Queen of the Darkness (1999) (Vol 1,2,3)
                          Anne Bishop
                          ProductGroup: Book
                          Binding: Mass Market Paperback
                          ASIN: B000WX9IFI

                          Product Description

                          3 book set
                          Black Jewels Trilogy; Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness
                          Average customer rating: Not rated
                            Black Jewels Trilogy; Daughter of the Blood, Heir to the Shadows, Queen of the Darkness
                            Anne Bishop
                            Manufacturer: Roc
                            ProductGroup: Book
                            Binding: Paperback
                            ASIN: B000VA0R66
                            Heir to the Shadows
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                              Heir to the Shadows
                              Anne Bishop
                              Manufacturer: ROC
                              ProductGroup: Book
                              Binding: Mass Market Paperback
                              ASIN: B000KW9Q30
                              THE HISTORIES OF KING KELSON - Book (1) One: The Bishop's Heir; Book (2) Two: The King's Justice; Book (3) Three: The Quest for Saint Camber
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                                THE HISTORIES OF KING KELSON - Book (1) One: The Bishop's Heir; Book (2) Two: The King's Justice; Book (3) Three: The Quest for Saint Camber
                                Katherine Kurtz
                                Manufacturer: Del Rey - Ballantine Books
                                ProductGroup: Book
                                Binding: Paperback

                                DeryniDeryni | Series | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
                                ASIN: B000NRRX5U

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