Book Description
On January 21, 1998, the night before his thirty-eighth birthday, federal prosecutor Stanley Alpert was kidnapped off the streets of Manhattan. This is the story of what happened next. . . .
Alpert was taken by a carful of gun-toting thugs looking to use his ATM card, but when they learned his bank balance the plan changed. They took him, blindfolded with his own scarf, to a Brooklyn apartment, with the idea of going to a bank the next day and withdrawing most of his money. But the later it got, the more the plan changed again . . . and again . . . as his captors alternately held guns to his head, threatened his family, engaged him in discussions of "gangsta" philosophy, sought his legal advice, and, once they learned it was his birthday, offered him sexual favors from their prostitute girlfriends as a "birthday present." All the while, Alpert, still blindfolded, talked with them, played on their attitudes and fears, tried to figure out where their mood swings would take them next, and memorized every detail he could in the event that he ever managed to get out of there alive.
In the meantime, his friends and law enforcement colleagues, worried that they hadn't heard from him, launched a major police and FBI investigation. It, too, would take many twists and turns before it was done-and some of them would be very strange indeed.
Filled with immediacy, drama, and extraordinary characters, told not only from Alpert's memory and notes but from police reports, interviews with NYPD detectives, FBI agents, and witnesses, videotaped confessions, and court records, The Birthday Party reads like a thriller-but every word is true.
Customer Reviews:
Could not put it down.......2007-10-15
The Birthday Party is the best true crime drama I have ever read. Stanley Alpert, a US attorney is kidnapped off the streets of NYC just prior to his 38th Birthday. The story of his escape from this terrifying situation is amazing. But what truly strikes me is to learn of his loving kindness and sense of humor that shine through in many pages in this book. I actually feel as if I know the writer after reading his book. I cant wait to see what he comes up with next.
Thrilling and thought-provoking.......2007-10-14
In addition to being a plain old good read, this story makes one ponder the classic, If I knew I would die (or be kidnapped) tomorrow, would I be doing what I'm doing today? The author's examples of ways he decided to live life fully--buy the sushi he really wants instead of the cheaper special, have a car even on Manhattan--are great exactly because they are mundane: we don't have to run off to an ashram to live more and live now, joy can be found in small things and small tweaks to our current lives. Joy can also be found in doing something meaningful with our work life, such as prosecuting polluters, about which I hope Mr Alpert will write another book.
You'll be glad he lived to tell it........2007-10-11
You're not going to enjoy this book, if all of the following statements are true of you:
1. You regularly skip over newspaper stories about crimes or criminal trials, and don't ever watch any episodes of "Law and Order."
2. You're not comfortable reading about protagonists facing dangerous situations, unless the protagonists are Clark Kent, Clint Eastwood, or detective Spenser types.
3. You, yourself have never been confronted by one or more menacing individuals brandishing deadly weapons, you don't believe it's conceivable that it will ever happen to you, and you've never wondered how you'd react if it does.
4. You can't risk putting yourself in a situation where the story you're reading is riveting enough to interfere with your ability to put the book aside at the end of the chapter and turn out the light.
As you have probably already deduced from the foregoing criteria, "The Birthday Party" is a true-crime story with some unusual twists, written by a victim who resembles you and me more than he resembles Kent, Eastwood or Spenser, and who, against all reasonable odds, faced the dangers posed by the perps and their deadly weapons and lived to tell about it.
You might easily glean as much from the publisher's blurb on the book's cover: "On January 21, 1998, federal prosecutor Stanley Alpert was kidnapped off the streets of Manhattan. This is the story of what happened next..."
Let me tell you just a bit more: The chief perp's street name was "Lucky," which, as you can already easily deduce, in his choice of victim he wasn't. The victim, equally obviously, had to have run in some good luck in order to survive the ordeal inflicted on him via Lucky's gang's kidnap-to-raid-bank-account caper.
But as you'll discover when you plunge in, Mr. Alpert's survival didn't depend only on luck; it required him to deploy some skills, also. And some of the lessons you may derive from thinking about how he did so, may alone be worth the price of the book.
But there is more: it turns out that Lucky and his colleagues also picked a victim who really writes well. Mr. Alpert's style, which I'd describe as a kind of Elmore Leonard meets Donald Westlake (believe it or not, much of his telling of this potentially horrific tale is funny), is so well suited to his story that you may find yourself doing as I did: looking back at the front cover once or twice, to make sure the book wasn't written by him "with" somebody.
I see that "The Birthday Party" is going to come out in paperback next year, and I'm told that there's already been a movie sale. That leads me to ruminate on the final irony with respect to who's been lucky and who's not, in connection with the unusual events surrounding Mr. Alpert's 38th birthday observances. The perps may well end up with reason to regret the unavailability of a reverse "Son of Sam" law, which could ultimately entitle them to share in Stan Alpert's earnings from the book and film versions (maybe also a Broadway musical version, the way things go these days) of "The Birthday Party."
Read it, so you can say, "I knew it when."
an inspiring story of survival.......2007-10-11
Truly an inspirational read! This book was picked as a Book Club selection for our club and we all found it to be a testament to man's will to survive.What could have been a tragic story, turned into a story of hope.
Cliches Galore!.......2007-10-08
This was a fun sort of read, much like eating popcorn. You know there is no nutrition it but something about the crunch satisfies.
Sadly our writer needed a better editor. The writer's urge to rely on chestnuts was rarely denied. It became something of a sport, however, to see how many pages Mr. Alpert could type before he gave into another worn cliche. That combined with his strange "hero-worship" of himself made what might of been a good story probably more self-revealing than this author intended.
Book Description
Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson return in another fast-paced, action-packed sports mystery from bestselling sports writer John Feinstein.
The two hopeful sports reporters have kept in touch after their wild time at the Final Four, and when Susan Carol manages to score a press pass to cover the first week of the US Open Tennis Tournament in New York, Stevie works out a way to be there as well.
The behind-the-scenes action in the world of professional tennis is overwhelming and occasionally bewildering, but it turns downright inconceivable when a young Russian phenom, Natalia Makarova, disappears right before her second-round match. Somewhere between the locker rooms and the Louis Armstrong Court, one of the most-watched players of the tournament simply vanishes.
The media coverage is staggering. Everyone is looking for Natalia--including Stevie and Susan Carol. Was she kidnapped? Did she run? Is she even still alive? The rumors are growing wilder by the hour. But they don't even come close to the shocking truth...
Customer Reviews:
A Readers Review .......2007-01-18
The best book I read this year was Vanishing Act by John Feinstein.
The main characters are Susan Carol and Stevie Thomas who become kid reporters when they win a National Writing Contest. Susan Carol is a 14 year old from South Carolina and is a sports fanatic who seems to know everything about everyone. Stevie is a 13 year old from Philadelphia and plays basketball.
In this story they are sent to cover the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament with a friend reporter, Bobby Kheller. While they are waiting for a match to begin one of the players is kidnapped. When Susan and Stevie dig a little deeper they find that it was all staged to make a movie deal. They must stop the plot before it is too late.
This all takes place in New York City in modern day times.
The themes for this story are Bravery- for continuing the case after being threatened to stop their investigation. Friendship- for when Susan and Stevie stuck together to solve the case. Finally Money- because if the crooks got away with it the movie deal would give them 21.5 million dollars and more if the movie did well.
I would recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I loved it because it included mystery, sports and it was a pleasure to read. This book keeps you guessing and leaves you wanting more.
Vanishing Act by John Feinstein.......2007-01-14
In Vanishing Act by John Feinstein, the main characters, Steve Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson, both have a deep love of sports and are sports reporters.
When Nadia Symanova, a tennis player, vanishes at the US Open Tennis Tournament, Steve and Susan Carol try to unravel the mystery. Has she been kidnapped because someone wants her to stay a Russian citizen and not become an American? Did she run away? The FBI, media and Steve and Susan Carol all try to find Nadia.
The story is written in current time in New York City at the U.S. Open Tennis Tournament.
The themes of the story are bravery, sacrifice, sports and hope. The moral of the story would be to always work together.
I loved the story because it's sports related and it shows the meaning of friendship. Steve and Susan Carol's actions in this book, where they save each other, help each other out on their stories and always work together is a great example of what I would want from a best friend. This story is the sequel to the story Last Shot. If you love this book, you will love Last Shot almost as much.
A fun and fast-paced story.......2007-01-13
Stevie Thomas and Susan Carol Anderson got their "fifteen minutes of fame" after helping to unravel the Final Four mystery involving the blackmailing of Minnesota State University's star player, Chip Graber. Remaining good friends, they keep in touch over email and IM all the time. When Susan Carol tells Stevie she'll be covering the U.S. Open for her local sports paper, she convinces Stevie to come along. Stevie contacts Bobby Kelleher, the Washington Herald columnist who mentored them during the Final Four, and sure enough Kelleher has a job for Stevie too. They're off to New York City, but little do they know what they'll have in store for themselves.
Right before her anticipated first game, young Russian phenom Nadia Makarova goes missing and immediately Stevie and Susan Carol find themselves trying to unfold another mystery. And yet again, there are a lot of unanswered questions. Who are Nadia Makarova's kidnappers? Why does Susan Carol's agent uncle, Brendan Gibson, seem like he's right in the middle of this? Plus, what does this mean for up-and-coming new U.S. tennis star Evelyn Rubin, who is smashing her way through games and scheduled to play Makarova?
VANISHING ACT is John Feinstein's follow-up to the New York Times bestseller, LAST SHOT. The author, a political and sports reporter for the Washington Post as well as Sports Illustrated and National Sports Daily, has written many bestselling sports-related books. In his second effort Feinstein continues to succeed, mixing real-life sports personalities like Bud Collins and Andy Roddick into the fictional world. Feinstein also reveals a behind-the-scenes look at sports agents that doesn't portray them in a very good light.
Like his previous effort, VANISHING ACT provides an almost nonfiction-like look into the professional tennis world and the U.S. Open while mixing elements of a fiction mystery novel. Readers will be happy to see the return of Stevie and Susan Carol, who have clearly grown as friends. (And Stevie's constant eating of hamburgers and pizza in an effort to grow taller is pretty humorous too.) VANISHING ACT is a fast-paced story that whizzes by like a powerful serve. It's a fun read for anyone interested in tennis or mysteries, or both.
--- Reviewed by Kristi Olson
A satisfying mystery evolves........2006-12-10
John Feinstein's VANISHING ACT is set in new York City, where a hundred athletes are competing for millions in prizes - and where a kidnapping changes the nature of the game. Everyone's looking for Nadia - but two eighth-grade rookies have the best chance of finding her - if they're in time. A satisfying mystery evolves.
Get ready to miss the school bus --it's that good!.......2006-09-05
My 11 year old almost missed the school bus this morning because he just had to finish this book. If you have a son that likes sports books, this is a sure bet. My son kept saying, "This is awesome!" and "I hope there's a sequel." all the way through.
Book Description
In the terrible wake of Hurricane Katrina, scrapbooking shop owner Carmela Bertrand has her hands full getting Memory Mine back in business- and her relationship with her ex-husband, Shamus, back on its feet. But the reconciliation is shattered when Shamus is kidnapped from their home. And when Carmela hurries to tell Shamus's Uncle Henry, she finds him sitting in his library-with a bullet through his forehead.
As a memorial to Uncle Henry, Carmela puts together a sentimental scrapbook of memories and keepsakes. What she doesn't realize is that her book holds a clue that could identify the fiend behind the kidnapping and killing. And when the murderer finds out that she may be on to him, he's going to try to close the book on Carmela once and for all.
Customer Reviews:
Scrapbookers might enjoy this!.......2007-05-13
In addition to being a mystery lover, I also enjoy scrapbooking. Laura Childs has written another cozy story for others like me. She is one of those authors whose books I anxiously await. She manages to keep you entertained and wanting more when your book is finished. I just wish she could write faster! (smile)
A Scrapbooking Mystery.......2007-01-05
I really like all her books but this one was recameaded by our yahoo group. It not only has scrapbooking but alot about altered books. How to etc. That is why our altered book group thought we would like to read it. It is a very good read even for people who are not into scrapbooking or altered books. They might even get interested in doing so after reading this book. Good mystery.
Post-Katrina New Orleans.......2006-12-19
Carmela, owner of a New Orleans scrapbooking store, is trying to get her business back together as well as her relationship with her ex-husband, Shamus. Things change quickly when Shamus is kidnapped and his Uncle Henry is murdered. Of course the New Orleans police cannot be trusted to solve the mystery, so Carmela launches her own investigation. She and her friend Ava talk to several possible suspects in an attempt to find out who had a reason to resort to kidnapping and murder. The best thing about this book is the setting, and there are quite a few interesting references to different aspects of New Orleans. On the down side, there are several spelling mistakes in the book which is always a distraction. Also the plot is not very compelling and the characters are quite one-dimensional. I found myself not very interested in whether Carmela and Shamus continue their on-again-off-again relationship or not.
Scrapbooking + Mystery = perfect entertainment for a Scrapbook Lady!.......2006-10-22
I go by Katie the Scrapbook Lady online, so I think you can probably figure out that I would enjoy a book like this! I had not read any of the previous books by Laura Childs so I wasn't sure if I would be able to "get into it" but I had no trouble! The characters and setting are fascinating and I love the way scrapbooking was casually woven into the storyline.
Murder mysteries have long been a favorite genre of mine and this one did not dissappoint. The action was fast paced and the story is well written. I have to say that it really made me want to see the splendor of the French Quarter for myself, I have always longed to see New Orleans and have felt so sad for what the area and it's people have been through since Katrina. Nice to see a fun story that uses the "new" New Orleans as a backdrop.
I'm excited to read more in this scrapbooking mystery series!
Still good.......2006-10-01
I enjoyed the new installment. I too was concerned about the series continuing after Katrina and was glad that it did. This story was not as strong as the others, but I feel the original story was written before Katrina and needed "tweeking" after the hurrican. I am glad that we are seeing the "true" side of Shamus. I do not him with Carmela and hope this is over. My only problem with the book was the editing. The first sentence of the first page had a mistake, one I had to look at several times to relize it was the book and not me. This followed throughout the book. At times it was frustrating to read and I had to put it down and come back. But as far as the story, it was good. Hope the series continues and goes back to roots of Carmala and her store and friends, minus Shamus as a love interest. Carmala needs a REAL MAN!!!
Average customer rating:
- Missing
- The Face on the Milk Carton
- Great book
- A Familiar Face
- Love is in the book!!!!
|
The Face on the Milk Carton
Caroline B. Cooney
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 New Experiences
| Family Life
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
New Experiences
| Social Issues
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Issues
| Children's Books
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
Cooney, Caroline B.
| ( C )
| Authors, A-Z
| Teens
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Issues
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
New Experiences
| Family Life
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
New Experiences
| Social Issues
| People & Places
| Children's Books
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Cooney, Caroline B.
| ( C )
| Authors, A-Z
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Literature & Fiction
| Teens
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Whatever Happened to Janie?
-
The Voice on the Radio
-
What Janie Found
-
Driver's Ed
-
Wanted!
ASIN: 0440220653
Release Date: 1991-04-01 |
Book Description
No one ever really paid close attention to the faces of the missing children on the milk cartons. But as Janie Johnson glanced at the face of the ordinary little girl with her hair in tight pigtails, wearing a dress with a narrow white collar--a three-year-old who had been kidnapped twelve years before from a shopping mall in New Jersey--she felt overcome with shock. She recognized that little girl--it was she. How could it possibly be true?
Janie can't believe that her loving parents kidnapped her, but as she begins to piece things together, nothing makes sense. Something is terribly wrong. Are Mr. and Mrs. Johnson really Janie's parents? And if not, who is Janie Johnson, and what really happened?
Customer Reviews:
Missing.......2007-10-01
On milk carton is missing child for many years and it is her on it. she not understand and she was shock. she has somethings that not relate her to the family she is living with. she think the fact that family she live with is might kinapped her from. the family tell her the truth and it never confirm the fact she is kidnappped.
The Face on the Milk Carton.......2007-09-02
This believable book starts off with the surreal experience of seeing yourself on a missing children's ad! The story is set in high school when, one average day, 16 year old Janie sees herself on the back of a milk carton. This discovery changes how she feels about everything in her life. Janie suspects her parents of not being her parents, but then who are? The Face on the Milk Carton is a story about the secrets we keep, and the secrets we share. It is about the meaning of parents, friendship and her first real boyfriend, the boy next door. The book covers a wide range of issues that could lead to wonderful discussions; high school, girlfriends, boyfriends, friends, what it means to be a father, or a mother, what families will do for one another... Do you think Janie's life would have been better if she had stayed with her biological parents? Will Janie's parents face charges of abduction? Should they? What is the responsibility of people in this situation? The whole issue of cults comes up, what defines a cult? Is there anything else Janie's parents could have done to help their daughter Hannah? The fairly irrational way Janie handles the information in the story is a little too perfect to be completely believable for me, but a teenager might be fine with it. I think Janie describing her parents as, "...tired and used-up looking..." was a little bizarre and unbelievable for a 16 year old to really understand that statement, sounded too grown up. However, the story itself is very inventive and interesting. Great twists and turns to keep you wondering what is going to happen next.
Great book.......2007-08-16
This is a great book and I recommend it to any one. I have a really cool set of characters (including Reeve who is my favorite) and an interesting plot. What happens in the book is that the main character in the story (Janie Johnson) finds a milk carton with a picture on it that she thinks is herself. With the help or her neighbor Reeve she starts trying to figure out if the little girl is really her. It's a really good book and I loved it and have read it lots of times.
A Familiar Face.......2007-08-14
I first became familiar with "The Face on the Milk Carton" when it came out 17 years ago. In terms of literature, this book is pure junior high bliss. This upcoming school year, I will be teaching this book to a junior high class and I am anxious to see if they will embrace the book as I did.
Janie recognizes the face on the milk carton as being familiar. While the story seems so obvious in the first few pages, it changes as new pieces of the puzzle are added. For a story targeted at young adults, I am amazed at how well put together this mystery is. The reader can really feel for Janie as he/she wonders how Janie's story will unfold. Yet even as the book ends, not all of the questions will be answered.
Cooney is among the best writers for young adults today. She seems to know what teenagers are/were like in the present and the 80/90's. I must admit that I am looking forward to reading "Whatever happened to Janie".
Love is in the book!!!!.......2007-05-16
"The Face on the Milk Carton" by Caroline B. Cooney is filled with love and adventure! It starts out with Janie at school eating lunch with her friends. Sarah-Charlotte has her milk and on the back of the milk there's always a picture of a missing child. Wait a minute, Janie remembers that dress. The one that's white with blue polka dots. Janie suddenly realizes that she might be kidnapped. I loved this book! I couldn't put it down! As soon as I finished I wanted the book to continue! Its sequel "Whatever happened to Janie" was the next one that I could read!
Janie is very adventurous in this book. She goes to New Jersey with Reeve, a boy she likes. They skip school to go there to see if she can find her real mother. Will Reeve get in trouble with is parents or will Janie get in trouble with her "parents?" Will she make it? Will she find her mother? What will happen? Find out when you read "The Face on the Milk Carton" by Caroline B. Cooney!
Book Description
Stolen Indian artifacts…A murdered museum guard…A missing woman…A baby in danger…
Only Desiree can unearth the horrifying secret that links them all.
Museum security expert Desiree Jacobs doesn’t mean to get in danger’s path. Really she doesn’t. But when a friend is in trouble you don’t just walk away. No matter what your overprotective FBI agent boyfriend says! So when Desi and Tony’s date at a presidential ball is interrupted by a frantic Maxine Webb, Desi doesn’t hesitate to jump in.
Soon Desi is neck-deep in a confusing array of villains. Did Max’s niece run away or was she taken? Is she still alive or the victim of a perverse ritual? And who wants her infant son–and why?
Then Tony’s organized crime case collides with Desi’s investigation, throwing them both into the path of something dark and sinister. Something that craves blood…
From the streets of Desi’s beloved Boston to the mountain desert of New Mexico, Desi and Tony must rely on God to thwart unseen forces–and save a young woman and her baby from a villain more evil than any of them can imagine.
Customer Reviews:
Enjoyable AND sharp........2007-10-11
In her novels Jill Nelson has a way of simplifying some of the most prickly issues Christians face today. One of my favorite scenes in her latest novel, The Reluctant Runaway, involves the heroine, Desiree Jacobs and her Native American kidnapper, Pete Cheama, a member of the Zuni tribe. Pete has made plenty of bad choices in his life, and he ultimately blames his mistakes on Christians, whose system "was forced upon [his] people centuries ago and has made [their] spirits weak and [their] minds confused." No Christian wants to feel her faith has weakened or confused anyone, so sometimes we refrain from even discussing Christianity. But Desiree merely responds, "Jesus is not an oppressor." Right there, concisely--the difference between true Christianity and any faith that demands, rather than invites.
Nelson's novel is a fun read, with plenty of suspense and action (and some clever romance, to boot). You could enjoy the entire reading experience without stopping to focus on the choice tidbits about faith with which she occasionally peppers the story. But those tidbits deepen the novel and make it stay with you well after you finish the last page. I'd recommend Reluctant Runaway for teen-through-adult readers.
Another gripping tale by Jill Nelson.......2007-07-03
In this engaging sequel to Reluctant Burglar, museum security expert Desiree Jacobs, once again becomes drawn into a mystery when Max's niece goes missing. Could her disappearance have anything to do with Tony's organized crime case? As their romance heats up, so does the trail that leads to stolen artifacts, leading them both to the New Mexico dessert. They must learn to trust God, not only with their surmounting dangers, but with their romance. Is it possible that this new religious cult, is at the center of these mysteries?
As in Reluctant Burglar, Jill Nelson has once again masterfully weaved a tale of suspense and drama while demonstrating the power of faith to overcome the worst of our fears and obstacles. As the romance develops between Desiree and Tony, an FBI agent, the reader is shown the hand of God in even this, our most intimate of human relationships. Is it possible for these two, an over-protective cop and an independent, sometimes risk-taker security expert, to find a peaceful coexistence in which their love can blossom?
Although the plot can be read independently from the book's forerunner, Reluctant Runaway, has achieved the best of sequel writing. Not only has the author improved on her story telling techniques, but has added depth and challenge to an all-ready intriguing story. Very enjoyable read.
Don't "Runaway" from this book! =).......2007-06-26
Okay, cheesy title for this review, I know - but guys, this was a super fun read! I liked it even better than the first in this series, and I didn't think that would happen! Jill Nelson has somehow managed to create a book that is at the same time fun and serious, intense and light, funny and shocking...what a combo! My favorite part of Jill's books are by far the characters - so realistic. They crack me up, yet two pages later, they have me tearing up.
Job well done, Jill.
As for the rest of you - check out this series ASAP! You won't regret it!
Don't Be Reluctant!.......2007-06-21
Security expert Desiree Jacobs' friend and business associate Maxine has a problem. Max's niece is missing. Kidnapping victim or a runaway? No one knows, but it seems everyone has an opinion. The niece also works for a museum that was recently robbed of priceless items. Right before the niece's disappearance. Now things are getting worse. Desi has to step in and help. But wait! She's promised her FBI boyfriend Tony that she won't get involved in such things anymore. But she has to, right? This is her friend we're talking about. And when Desi and Tony's individual cases collide sparks aplenty fly.
If you'll pardon the obvious pun, I was reluctant to read this novel which is book two in the series. See, I'm ashamed to say I hadn't read book one. And Jill Nelson is my pal. Oh I'd read a chapter of book one that was posted to her website once. That was enough to convince me she was a good writer. I knew that. I've been swamped with books that I had to read. It seems there's never an end sometimes. Oh the horrors! :-)
The opportunity came for me to read book two, Reluctant Runaway. As a member of Christian Fiction Blog Alliance we're plugging this novel this week. I received a copy of it to read a review. So glad I did. And the fact that it was the second in a series never tripped me up. Jill's sprinkles enough backstory to set you at ease with the characters, all the while taking you on a thrill ride like no theme park you've ever been to.
It was a pleasure to read this novel. Jill's writing is tight and easy to read. Her characters are engaging and endearing. And the cliff hangers at some of the chapters! Shesh! I was already to put the book down for a while at one point to do some other things and then a gun went off at the end of the chapter. Ack! Who's dead? I couldn't stop reading there. Nuh uh. :-)
Now I'm looking forward to going back in time and reading book one in the To Catch A Thief series, Reluctant Burglar. And then there's the upcoming book three, Reluctant Smuggler.
Can't wait!
Entertaining Who Done What..........2007-06-20
Part action packed who-done-what and part romantic suspense, I found myself sucked into Reluctant Runaway. I didn't meet the crime fighting duo of Desi and Tony in the Reluctant Burglar but Nelson did a great job at sharing enough details of the first book without oversharing and intruding on the story at hand.
Several amusing scenes interspersed with cliffhangers made the read roller coasty. Forgiveness is a huge spiritual theme as is discernment and the danger of tiny shifts in the Gospel message.
If you enjoyed book one in the series, you're going to want to get your hands on Reluctant Runaway as soon as possible. If you like romantic suspense, strong female leads and sassy talk -- you'll likely enjoy this novel.
Average customer rating:
|
Noticia De Un Secuestro / News of a Kidnapping
Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Manufacturer: Debolsillo
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
| General
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Latin American
| World Literature
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Garcia Marquez, Gabriel
| ( G )
| Authors, A-Z
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Spanish
| Foreign Language Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Caribbean & Latin American
| History & Criticism
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
Garcia Marquez, Gabriel
| ( G )
| Autores, A-Z
| Literatura y ficción
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
Contemporánea
| General
| Literatura y ficción
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
Caribeña y Latino Americana
| Historia y Crítica
| Literatura y ficción
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
Latino Americana
| Literatura Mundial
| Literatura y ficción
| Libros en español
| Formats
| Books
ASIN: 9871138121 |
Book Description
The second in the classic Phryne Fisher series from Kerry Greenwood, featuring the irresistible heroine Phryne. Whether sheÂ's foiling kidnappers, seducing beautiful young men or simply deciding what to wear for dinner, Phryne handles everything with her inimitable panache and flair.
Danger, excitement and love--this is how the glamorous Phryne Fisher is determined to live her life in her second enticing adventure.
Walking the wings of a Tiger Moth plane in full flight ought to be enough excitement for most people, but not Phryne Fisher, amateur detective, woman of mystery, as delectable as the finest chocolate and as sharp as razor blades.
In this, the second Phryne Fisher mystery, the 1920s' most talented and glamorous detective flies even higher, handling a murder, a kidnapping and the usual array of beautiful young men with style and consummate ease--and all before it's time to adjourn to the Queenscliff Hotel for breakfast. Whether she's flying planes, clearing a friend of homicide charges or saving a child from kidnapping, she handles everything with the same dash and elan with which she drives her red Hispano-Suiza.
Customer Reviews:
Wing walking.......2007-08-28
The second book in the series takes place only a few months after "Cocaine blues" ends and with it returns its bright and luminous Phryne Fisher. Many of the secondary (if you can call them that) characters return which adds a nice touch. I liked this book even more than the previous one. Phryne seems to have found her grove in this story along with moving into her new, fashionable domicile. She has to solve two cases at once, the murder of a cantankerous, generally disliked husband and father and the kidnapping of a little girl. Phryne handles both cases with her normal aplomb, intuition and style along with a little wing walking and flying. I especially like Greenwood's use of language and how it reflects the times; this adds another layer of fun and effervescence to these stories that makes me look forward to the next one. I recommend this book highly.
excellent historical mystery.......2006-08-02
In the three months that the Honorable Phyrne Fisher has lived in Australia, she has made a name for herself as an investigator who always solves her cases. She solved a case for a woman who travels in high society circles and that woman gives Phyrne's business a glowing recommendation to her friends. Her latest client Mrs. McNaughton is afraid that her son will kill her husband because he refuses to lend his son money to go on an airplane adventure. At the airport Phyrne talks to Bill McNaughton and tells her about her mother's fears and he tells he was never intending to kill his father. Bill's friend Jack Lawton is amazed as he watches Phyrne fly Bill's plane with much skill.
The next day Phyrne learns that Mr. McNaughton has been murdered and Bill has been arrested. When he is released on bail he hires Phyrne to find the real killer. While she works that case Candida Maldon is kidnapped and held for ransom. Jack convinces the family to hire Phyrne, who she devises a plan using Bill's plane to find and retrieve the kidnapped girl. Solving Bill's problem is a piece of cake in comparison.
Kerry Greenwood is one of Australia's most talented mystery writers. Her heroine is a woman who would be at home in the twenty-first century but since she lives in the 1920's she is careful to project a proper image while still doing what she wants. The wily, spunky heroine somehow makes the audience believe she is smart enough to easily solve two cases in a matter of days while the exotic locale will please armchair travelers.
Harriet Klausner
takes your breath away.......2006-01-12
this second in the series is even better than the first. and it features airplanes.
the characterizations are first rate, the plot is nicely paced, the resolution satisfying, the information about bi-planes enough to send anyone out to find and fly one.
phyne's situation develops and characters who will continue in the series are introduced. this book could still be read without reference to the first, as there is enough backstory to bring a reader up to date.
this series is a must for any mystery lover, but any read could enjoy them for the writing, the humor, the history of australia, and, of course, for phyrne.
Book Description
Ash WednesdayBeautiful, bubbly, 20-year-old Kim Antonakos was returning to her New York City apartment after a night of clubbing with a friend. A business major with wild black hair, long polished fingernails, and a new Honda her loving father had bought her, Kim took good care of herself and looked forward to a bright future. But on her way home in the early morning darkness of that Ash Wednesday, Kim was abducted-and her mysterious kidnappers would be the last people to see her alive.Scorching BetrayalAs Kim's father, wealthy computer executive Tommy Antonakos, launched a widespread, feverish search for his daughter, he had no idea that her abductors were right under his nose. A cold mastermind had ordered had ordered Kim to be bound, gagged and left in the freezing basement of an abandoned house, hoping to extract ransom from her father. When the plans fell through, he and his henchman panicked, returned to the basement and doused a near-frozen Kim with gasoline, setting her on fire.Burned AliveWhen the fire was extinguished, all that was left of the lovely coed were her charred, lifeless remains. What would drive the kidnappers to commit such a cruel and senseless murder? How did their plans to cover their tracks result in another killing? And how were the murderers finally snared? Read all of the fascinating facts in a startling expose of extortion, murder, and ultimate justice.
Customer Reviews:
Boring.......2007-07-21
Too long and detailed. She fell in with the wrong crowd but yet she still did not do the "things" they did and went to school? Doesn't sound right to me? I actually stopped reading cause it was so tiedious to read.
Great book on a horrible act.......2006-01-06
You have to ask yourself as you read about the kidnappers in this book: what were they thinking? To take a girl and strap her to a steel post in the middle of a somewhat abandoned house, and then burn her due to thinking she was dead (when she was suffering from hypothermia). And these were friends of the girl! All for a little bit of money, that they did not get (that is why she was burned). Very well written by this author.
A must read.......2003-11-24
I just finished reading this book this morning... in only 2 days! One of those books where you WANT to keep reading and see what happens...
I am interested to know if either Nick or Josh won their appeals and what kind of a life Jay has forged for himself...
It makes you wonder who needs enemies with friends like these.. and you have to feel sorry for Tommy...
I have a library of true crime books and this was the quickest one I read...
Evil Friends.......2003-07-12
This book was very well written and clear. Crowley is an excellent story teller and very accurate on each account. I found the true crime novel easy to read and an all-nighter. This cautionary tale is about a young college student, Kimberly Antonakos, who was viciously torched with gasoline and fire by the very people she extended her home to. The motive: absolute and insane greed! This case was heartbreaking and sends off a new respect for detectives in general. The sad moral in this story is that no one is your friend and becareful whom you befriend.
Shocking, simply shocking........2003-06-24
"Burned Alive" is the most shocking true crime tale this reviewer has read. It tells the story of a crime that badly needs solving with an incarceration of the guilty. On solely those two factors, BA is a success. A young woman named Kim is the victim of a kidnapping gone awry. When a sloppily delivered ransom message does not go through, the perps panic and Kim is murdered by literally being torched alive. BA's high points are Kim's father's zeal to solve the crime and the painstaking efforts of the New York City homicide detectives to close the crime. They follow endless leads, sifting facts, interviewing, delving through phone logs and wearing out shoe leather. We learn how the cops interrogate -sometimes bluffing that they know more than they do. The perps know the game and play it back-as best they can. BA has weak points: There are far too many facts and leads, both real and false, to hold the reader's interest. We do not need to track every twist and turn in the case. Strangely, there are FAR too many suspects! That may seem like a positive, but in the case of BA, it isn't. Also too many of the suspects have nicknames! Finally, several of the characters are not central to the plot, entertaing as some of these folks are. A final weak point lies in the victim herself. We get to know her grieving father better than her! While there is much revulsion toward the bad guys, there is little sympathy generated for this young woman who died so gruesomely. This reviewer would still recommend BA to hardcore true crime fans. They will enjoy how the NYPD solved this murder. For the rest of us, 4 stars are a more appropriate, if generous, rating. Once again, the "Ann Rule rule" is in effect. Skip over those centerfold photos until the very end. The header to this review is taken directly from an early James Bond movie because this crime is indeed shocking! (You're good if you can name the flick). No disrespect to Kim or her family was intended.
Customer Reviews:
A miscarriage of justice..........2006-09-16
I have read several books about the Lindbergh kidnapping and the Trial of the Century. A friend recommended The Airman and The Carpenter: The Lindbergh Kidnapping and the Framing of Richard Hauptmann by Ludovic Kennedy. Whether or not you believe that Bruno Richard Hauptmann was guilty in the kidnapping of the Lindbergh baby, you can't help but be outraged over this historic trial.
Kennedy starts by giving a brief look at the backgrounds of Charles Lindbergh and Richard Hauptmann, as well as the period of time leading up to the kidnapping. Months after the baby was kidnapped and the ransom paid, the baby's remains were discovered four miles from the Lindbergh home. Marked ransom bills trickled into circulation, but it wasn't until over two years later that an astute gas station attendant wrote the license plate number of a patron who paid for his gas in marked gold certificates. This led police to the illegal German immigrant, Bruno Richard Hauptmann.
From the time of the arrest, the New Jersey State Police, led by Norman Schwartzkopf, Sr. latched onto Hauptmann and refused to consider any other scenario or suspect. Schwartzkopf was ill-prepared to handle such an important and high-profile case, having "never patrolled a beat or arrested a criminal." In fact, his only experience was as a floor-walker for a department store. He also refused to bring in the FBI (kidnapping was not a federal crime until after the Lindbergh kidnapping). Believing that Hauptmann was guilty but having only circumstantial evidence, the state police went to extremes to see that Hauptmann was convicted. They doctored employment records and confiscated others. They took his two ¾" chisels out of his toolbox, and then presented the toolbox in court--claiming that the chisel found at the crime scene belonged to Hauptmann. They suppressed evidence that showed that more than one person was involved, and that someone in the Lindbergh household may have provided inside information. They got two Lindbergh neighbors to lie and say they saw Lindbergh near the crime scene. They refused to allow the defense team to see Hauptmann's house or garage. This list goes on and on. And if it wasn't bad enough that the prosecution cheated and lied at every turn, his own lawyer was a big Lindbergh fan (had a photo of the aviator on his desk) and never believed in his client's innocence. The incompetent Edward J. Reilly was paid for by the Hearst Press and suffered from alcoholism and the final stages of syphilis. In four months time, he spent only 38 minutes with his client. One of Hauptmann's secondary attorneys claimed that "This is the greatest tragedy in the history of New Jersey. Time will never wash it out."
The major complaint that I have with The Airman and The Carpenter is that Kennedy gives us only a very superficial examination of the aftermath of the trial. Written in 1985, he certainly could have looked much farther than he did. While I am still not convinced that Hauptmann was totally innocent, I do believe a gross miscarriage of justice was done in that Flemington, NJ courthouse.
An Argument Against Guilt.......2006-02-20
The author was in New York in September 1981 and saw a TV show with Anna Hauptmann; after half a century she passionately declared her husband Richard was innocent of the crime. This impressed him enough to pick this subject for his next book. Other books were on miscarriages of justice. Kennedy is against the death penalty (but for euthanasia!?). He used the recently opened case archives in Trenton for this book. The 'Introduction' tells the reader what to expect from this very readable book.
Part One is a short biography of Charles Lindbergh. [It does not tell you that his Congressman father opposed the private banking cartel known as the Federal Reserve System.] Lindbergh's love of practical jokes suggests a flawed personality. Part Two tells of Richard Hauptmann. In the war he learned to do whatever it took to survive. Lawlessness increased after the war. Hauptmann burgled and robbed and was caught and sentenced. His adventures showed quick-witted daring. Hauptmann reported for work at 8 am, March 1, 1932. After work 5 pm he went home, then picked up his wife around 8 pm (p.80). Part Three explains what happened after the baby was kidnapped. Two sets of footprints were found leading from the ladder. The Lindberghs decided to stay over on Tuesday morning, so the kidnappers were either very lucky or had inside knowledge. After a ransom note arrived, $50,000 was given to a man in a Bronx cemetery. Then the body was found near the home. Part Four tells of the continuing investigation, and Hauptmann's life and friends. The Lindberghs lived as happily as possible. One of the ransom money bills led to the capture of Hauptmann.
Part Five notes the methods of the investigation of Hauptmann. Kennedy explains how a witness is prepared to identify a suspect (p.176), and criticizes their methods (p.177). But Hauptmann often lied (p.178). Pages 179-182 explain how the ransom note was forged: Hauptmann was forced to copy the note with its mistakes! There is implausibility in removing a plank from the attic (p.212). The fingerprints on the ransom note and ladder did not match Hauptmann; his shoe size did not match the footprints (pp.213-4). Page 216 tells how they found an eyewitness. Rail 16 was 1/16" thicker than the attic flooring (p.220)! Page 226 explains how evidence disappears when it challenges the prosecution's case. Part Six explains the actions of the Prosecution. Evidence was fabricated (p.242, 244). Defense lawyer Reilly was crooked or crazy (p.242). The trick with the ransom note is on page 276. The study of handwriting is an art, not a science (p.277). A chisel was removed to incriminate Hauptmann (p.295)! The "expert" witnesses impressed the jury. Part Seven tells of the efforts by the Defense lawyers. How could a professional carpenter make such a ramshackle ladder (p.309)? Page 314 tells how Wilentz threatened a defense witness. Rail 16 had "only one nail hole" after the kidnapping (p.317)! The other facts to prove it didn't come from the attic are on page 319. The jury found Hauptmann guilty in the first degree (p.344). Part Eight lists the efforts to overturn the sentence. Hauptmann's lawyers argued against the unreliable testimony of witnesses. The Court of Errors and Appeals affirmed the verdict. Given the evidence, the verdict was correct. Hauptmann "collected the ransom money and was therefore the kidnapper" (p.363). Governor Hoffman was advised that the trial was flawed, and Hauptmann was not guilty (p.366). Hauptmann pointed out the flaws in the case (p.367). The Court of Pardons would not commute his sentence (p.377). The evidence against guilt is on pages 383-384. There was a problem with Rail 16; it didn't fit (p.389)! The 'Epilogue' has the aftermath of the case. Page 409 tells of Lindbergh's gullibility on the German air force; or was it his fascist sympathy?
Kennedy says Hoffman "failed to win re-election as Governor in 1938" (p.408). Governors then were limited to one term of three years (as in most other states). The neighboring county is Warren, not "Warner" (p.241). One important clue in this case was the baby's pajamas; whoever had them took the baby. Where is this mentioned?
An Argument Against Guilt.......2005-03-23
The author was in New York in September 1981 and saw a TV show with Anna Hauptmann; after half a century she passionately declared her husband Richard was innocent of the crime. This impressed him enough to pick this subject for his next book. Other books were on miscarriages of justice. Kennedy is against the death penalty (but for euthanasia!?). He used the recently opened case archives in Trenton for this book. The 'Introduction' tells the reader what to expect from this very readable book.
Part One is a short biography of Charles Lindbergh. [It does not tell you that his Congressman father opposed the private banking cartel known as the Federal Reserve System.] Lindbergh's love of practical jokes suggests a flawed personality. Part Two tells of Richard Hauptmann. In the war he learned to do whatever it took to survive. Lawlessness increased after the war. Hauptmann burgled and robbed and was caught and sentenced. His adventures showed quick-witted daring. Hauptmann reported for work at 8 am, March 1, 1932. After work 5 pm he went home, then picked up his wife around 8 pm (p.80). Part Three explains what happened after the baby was kidnapped. Two sets of footprints were found leading from the ladder. The Lindberghs decided to stay over on Tuesday morning, so the kidnappers were either very lucky or had inside knowledge. After a ransom note arrived, $50,000 was given to a man in a Bronx cemetery. Then the body was found near the home. Part Four tells of the continuing investigation, and Hauptmann's life and friends. The Lindberghs lived as happily as possible. One of the ransom money bills led to the capture of Hauptmann.
Part Five notes the methods of the investigation of Hauptmann. Kennedy explains how a witness is prepared to identify a suspect (p.176), and criticizes their methods (p.177). But Hauptmann often lied (p.178). Pages 179-182 explain how the ransom note was forged: Hauptmann was forced to copy the note with its mistakes! There is implausibility in removing a plank from the attic (p.212). The fingerprints on the ransom note and ladder did not match Hauptmann; his shoe size did not match the footprints (pp.213-4). Page 216 tells how they found an eyewitness. Rail 16 was 1/16" thicker than the attic flooring (p.220)! Page 226 explains how evidence disappears when it challenges the prosecution's case. Part Six explains the actions of the Prosecution. Evidence was fabricated (p.242, 244). Defense lawyer Reilly was crooked or crazy (p.242). The trick with the ransom note is on page 276. The study of handwriting is an art, not a science (p.277). A chisel was removed to incriminate Hauptmann (p.295)! The "expert" witnesses impressed the jury. Part Seven tells of the efforts by the Defense lawyers. How could a professional carpenter make such a ramshackle ladder (p.309)? Page 314 tells how Wilentz threatened a defense witness. Rail 16 had "only one nail hole" after the kidnapping (p.317)! The other facts to prove it didn't come from the attic are on page 319. The jury found Hauptmann guilty in the first degree (p.344). Part Eight lists the efforts to overturn the sentence. Hauptmann's lawyers argued against the unreliable testimony of witnesses. The Court of Errors and Appeals affirmed the verdict. Given the evidence, the verdict was correct. Hauptmann "collected the ransom money and was therefore the kidnapper" (p.363). Governor Hoffman was advised that the trial was flawed, and Hauptmann was not guilty (p.366). Hauptmann pointed out the flaws in the case (p.367). The Court of Pardons would not commute his sentence (p.377). The evidence against guilt is on pages 383-384. There was a problem with Rail 16; it didn't fit (p.389)! The 'Epilogue' has the aftermath of the case. Page 409 tells of Lindbergh's gullibility on the German air force; or was it his fascist sympathy?
Kennedy says Hoffman "failed to win re-election as Governor in 1938" (p.408). Governors then were limited to one term of three years (as in most other states). The neighboring county is Warren, not "Warner" (p.241).
Grammatically wonderful, historically poor.......2004-12-03
Ludovic Kennedy demonstrates that he posseses significant writing skills. He keeps the reader interested throughout. Of all the books putting forth a theory of Hauptmann's innocence, his is the best written.
However, from a historical perspective, it is actually quite disappointing. For example, Kennedy insists that Hauptmann was working on 3/1/32, the day of the crime. However, Hauptmann testified at trial that he was not working that day. There are also several bold statements offered without any source or footnote which are contradicted by original source materials from the New Jersey State Police Museum and Archives.
In summary, Sir Ludovic is an excellent writer with great literary skills, but his conclusions and research leave much to be desired.
Well researched and wonderfully written!.......2000-05-13
An extremely well written book covering the Lindbergh baby kidnapping. I actually felt like I was right there witnessing the whole thing unfold.
Books:
- The Case Against Hillary Clinton
- The Covenant with Black America
- The Culture of the Cold War (The American Moment)
- The Dark Side of Democracy: Explaining Ethnic Cleansing
- The Enemy At Home: The Cultural Left and Its Responsibility for 9/11
- The Fight for Jerusalem: Radical Islam, the West, and the Future of the Holy City
- The Five Languages of Apology: How to Experience Healing in All Your Relationships
- The Inclusion of the Other: Studies in Political Theory (Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought)
- The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11
- The Man Who Invented Fidel: Castro, Cuba, and Herbert L. Matthews of The New York Times
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Warrior of the Light: A Manual
- Stick Control for the Snare Drummer
- Ignorance and Liberty
- Komodo Dragons
- Medical Terminology for Health Professions
- The Further Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
- Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear
- The Barking Ghost
- Introduction to Management Accounting & E Biz 2002
- American Victorian Cottage Homes
Wish I Could Be There: Notes From a Phobic Life
Christine Falls: A Novel
About Alice
What the Dead Know: A Novel
Then We Came to the End: A Novel
