First Principles: The Jurisprudence of Clarence Thomas

Book Description

"...An excellent and balanced review of the justice's first years on the Court."
—National Review

"Gerber is scrupulously honest in dissecting Thomas' opinions, their legal background, and their place in the Court's jurisprudence, and he demonstrates his own excellent capabilities as an objective, fair, thoughtful, and thorough scholar."
—The Federal Lawyer

"The virture of Scott Gerber's new study ... is that it puts in better perspective Thomas's whole career."
—The Weekly Standard

"Gerber's book is a breath of fresh air, because it treats Justice Thomas and his work with respect and intellectual curiosity."
—Ideas on Liberty

"...the most comprehensive and incisive account of Thomas' political philosophy to date."
—First Things

Clarence Thomas is one of the most vilified public figures of our day. To date, however, his legal philosophy has received only cursory treatment. First Principles provides a portrait of Thomas based not on the justice's caricatured reputation, but on his judicial opinions and votes, his scholarly writings, and his public speeches.

The paperback edition includes a provocative new Afterword by the author bringing the book up to date by assessing Justice Thomas's performance, and the reaction to his decisions, during the last five years.

Customer Reviews:

Insightful, but limited in views on civil liberties.......2006-06-28

I had one primary motivation for reading an arguably dated book: with the addition of Roberts and Alito to the Court, the Court will certainly transform itself from being the most effective institution, besides our military, in protecting the reserved rights of "We the People" to a court that will most certainly expand government power as the Conservatives on the court gain control. J. Thomas, who has written many a provocative dissent, will now become a prolific writer of opinions that will grant the government sweeping powers as our individual rights are stripped away. I wanted to better understand what to expect out of Thomas as his opinions now become binding law.

Gerber's book is considered the most fair, unbiased, and most accurate analysis of Thomas' jurisprudence though limited to the first five years of his tenure, though it also contains a short afterword that catches up on Thomas through 2000. What is most intriguing about Thomas is that Thomas claims to read and interpret our radically liberal constitution within the context of the even more radically, and revolutionary Declaration of Independence, unlike Scalia who claims to read only the Constitution from a textual perspective. Rather than yielding a solid libertarian view a la' Randy Barnett so well-espoused in Barnett's "The Lost Constitution", Thomas seems to constantly rule opposite of the original meaning or even original intent of those two documents if they deny a conservative political objective. So what gives?

Gerber not only does a great job of providing a rhetoric-free analysis of Thomas's view, he also does a fine job of comparing those views to competing views and fairly crucifying Thomas's media critics who hate the rulings without any understanding of Thomas' arguments. As fair as Gerber is in analyzing Thomas' opinions against his judicial adversaries, Gerber also does a fascinating quantitative analysis to empirically expose whether Thomas is honestly deciding cases or is driven by conservative political objectives - the results of this research contained within the Appendices is alone worth owning this book.

Some of Gerber's findings:

Gerber publishes outtakes from a Thomas 1987 speech to the Heritage Foundation where Thomas claims to support the constitutional principle of the "primacy of the individual, and establishes our inherent equality as a God-given right." Thomas ends this subject in his speech arguing that Conservatives should embrace this concept rather than have this principle continue to be conservatism's "Achilles' heel". Fine rhetoric indeed, Gerber then goes on to show how in ruling after ruling, Thomas rejects his own principles to vote firmly for sweeping government power that deprives the individual of their rights with respect to civil liberties as Thomas ignores the fact that we reserved our rights and tries to limit those rights by trying to prove they are all numerated in the Constitution, and narrowly at that.

Again Gerber quotes Thomas defending the original meaning of the 9th amendment that would "explicitly deny to the national government certain powers over various subjects would imply". And throughout the book Gerber then exposes Thomas as he tries to narrowly interpret the other Bill of Rights amendments to show preference to government power rather than use the Constitution to interpret the powers delegated to the government to, as Jefferson said in the D of I, "secure the blessings of liberty", e.g., Thomas voting with a 5-4 majority approving of government funding of religious activity in Rosenberger v. the U. of VA. (1995); an unprecedented ruling that directly opposses the establishment clause and our equal protection rights.

Not that Thomas is always on the side of non-delegated gov't power. Gerber does a very respectful and insightful analysis of Thomas views on civil rights in regards to affirmative action and Thomas' fierce defense of free speech regarding political speech, like in McIntyre v. Ohio Elections Commission where Thomas did support the original meaning of the Constitution by limiting government power to explicitly stated delegation of powers while broadly interpreting the people's and the press' right to speech.

While the chapter on Thomas' views on Federalism, where Thomas is an active proponent of allowing states non-explicit powers to deny Americans their constitutional rights is interesting, Gerber doesn't go far enough, like Barnett has done, in analyzing whether any founding framer believed in the principle that the states could deny rights to "we the people", with the "people" being narrowly defined at that time.

Many constitutional law bloggers have easily exposed Scalia as an absolute hypocrite regarding his defense of original meaning when he often, and lately almost constantly, ignores that concept when needed to support a conservative political goal. Thomas's opinions require a much more thorough examination to expose his rationale for his rulings; Gerber for the most part is up to the task. If you are a Thomas fan, you'll get plenty of support for your position, if you are aghast at his findings, you will understand how far Thomas must twist reason to support his conservative ideology, and if you are like me, a person who thinks Thomas has unlimited potential but is also aghast at his rulings, you'll find evidence that maybe with time Thomas will begin to defend our reserved rights as time develops his jurisprudence, unfortunately the two new members will most likely have no positive influence on Thomas, providing support for narrow rulings with twisted logic to claim protection of rights while ruling in a manner that destroys those very rights.

An intriguing examination of Justice Thomas with some flaws.......2005-11-01

I applaud Gerber for avoiding yet another partisan attack upon (or defense of) Justice Thomas. Too often scholars, or politicians, respond to justices, and Thomas in particular, with partisan attack divorced from any real consideration of the substance of the justice's view. Gerber looks at Thomas's opinions in cases from three areas: civil rights, civil liberties, and federalism.

Gerber's conclusion is that Thomas is just as result oriented as any other justice, he reads his own preferences into the text he is interpreting in the same manner that "liberal activists" do. Unfortunately, Gerber at times glosses over this fact because of his pet theory of "liberal originalism" that sees all constitutional principles as derivative of the Declaration of Independence (a theory dubious on its own terms). The most obvious gloss comes in affirmative action cases. Thomas has insisted upon a colorblind interpretation of the Equal Protection Clause, but he fails to give any originalist defense of this position. Instead, he uses moral arguments with a single citation to the declaration. Gerber spins from this a position that Thomas believes in his theory of interpretation, at least here since he admits that Thomas abandons this idea in other areas such as religion. But, neither Thomas nor Gerber clearly state what importance the declaration could have on the meaning of the 14th Amendment, enacted nearly a century later. In fact, the history of the 14th Amendment demonstrates a pervasive use of benign racial classifications similar to affirmative action programs, leading many to conclude that, as originally understood, affirmative action programs are constitutional. Gerber swipes aside these criticisms, stating that Thomas's affirmative action opinions rely upon moral arguments and not history. But this ignores the fact that Thomas claims to be an originalist who relies upon the intent and practice of the enactors of a provision. We should hold Thomas up to the standards he claims to live by. Another example, of rather recent development which explains why Gerber's book doesn't include it, is takings. In the recent New London decision, Thomas offered a powerful originalist critique of the broad majority opinion of the public use requirement. He uses intent, original understanding, and contemporary state practice. Yet, he joined in, and continues to support, Scalia's opinion in Lucas admitting that history failed to support regulatory takings, and describing the same history used in New London as irrelevant. This is a glaring inconsistency necessitated by the fact that history fails to support Thomas's belief in regulatory takings so he abandons these inconvenient facts. Thus, we see that originalism fails to constrain Thomas's behavior in the way he claims it does.

Another annoying thing is that Gerber seems to find it necessary to vocalize his opposition to Thomas's opinion, almost as if he is afraid of being labeled a Thomas-defender. I think this is unnecessary and he should have simply presented Thomas's thoughts without his subjective opinion as to the correctness of those positions. All told, I think Gerber's book is a fine one, presenting Thomas's opinions and thoughts themselves. In the end, we see that Thomas is just as likely to join in activist policy-making as any other justice. This should hardly be surprising and we should encourage it because it adds another important voice to constitutional issues, particularly in affirmative action cases where he is the only justices to experience it first hand. We should encourage this diversity of opinion while removing the illegitimate claim that it is the requirement of history rather than Thomas's personal policy preference.

An exceptional book.......2002-06-11

This is an exceptional book. What Gerber has done is to avoid the political panderings of both the left and right wing and given us an objective, unbiased consideration of Justice Thomas'opinions. What a pleasure to read a book based in data not political philosophy. Plus the book is very well written. Kudos to Mr Gerber

a remarkably intelligent-and courageous-study........1999-06-29

While it is true to say that Clarence Thomas is one of the most vilified men to sit on the Supreme Court, it must also besaid that he has also often suffered from having the wrong kind of defenders. With the lonely exception of Senator John Danforth, practically none of Thomases defenders has taken the time to understand his thought or character. Finally, an inteeligent book has been written about Thomas, by someone who comes neither to glorify or condemn Clarence Thomas, but to UNDERSTAND him. Scot Gerber is one of the fastest rising stars in American constitutional thought.In this fine study, he analyzes Thomases opinions, and concludes that Thomas is not simply a tail to Antonin Scalias intellectual kite. Instead, Clarence Thomas ins a thoughtful, highly principled jurist, with a much deeper undrstanding of our Constitution and its foundations than many of his colleagues on the Court,(And the entire Democratic membership of the Senate Judiciary commitee, for that matter.)While Gerber is critical of many of Thomas' opinions,he is never crudely dismissive. Instead, he shows just how scholarly and intelligent this very misunderstood justice is.Why do I call this book 'courageous'.For one reason, and one reason alone. As I have already said, Scott Gerber is a rising star of constitutional theory.He is also a Liberal, in the classical, libertarian sense. However, in defending Thomas, he has risked prevoking the wrath of some very influential people. He has several hair -raising anecdotes in this book about how reputable law reviews have refused to print anything favorable to Clarence Thomas, and it is indeed doubtful that this fine book will meet with the respect it deserves.Even now, it has only been reviewed in 'conservative' magazines, while such organs of "liberalism" as The New Republic ,The New York Review of Books,and The New York Times have greeted it with silence.One can only hope that Americas leading law reviews will not follow in their footsteps,and instead show the same maturity and courage as Scott Gerber.Both he and Justice Thomas deserve respect.

A fair and balanced portrait of Justice Clarence Thomas........1999-06-14

In writing "First Principles," Scott Douglas Gerber has done something that few, if any, members of the media or legal cognoscenti have even contemplated: giving Justice Thomas a "fair shake."

Mr. Gerber should be commended for presenting a balanced portrait of Justice Thomas's jurisprudence. Gerber dispells the myth that Justice Thomas is merely Justice Scalia's second vote.

Mr. Gerber also does a good job of exposing the intellectual dishonesty of Thomas's critics. The picture he paints is clear: the current civil rights movement hates Thomas because he fails to tow the liberal, collectivist line. He actually thinks for himself. How remarkable!

After reading this book there can be no doubt that Thomas is his own man. Of course those of us who have taken the time out to actually READ HIS OPINIONS already knew this to be the case.

The only fault that I can find with this book is Mr. Gerber's mischaracterization of originalism. On page 183 of his book Gerber writes that conservative originalism is a flawed method of constitutional interpretation, musing "Why that document? Why that framer?"

Originalism is not that simple. As noted by Justice Scalia is his recent book, A Matter of Interpretation, "It is curious that most of those who insist that the drafter's intent gives meaning to a statute reject the drafter's intent as the criterion for interpretation of the Constitution. I reject it for both. I will consult the writings of some men who happened to be delegates to the Constitutional Convention--Hamilton's and Madison's writings in The Federalist for example. I do so, however, not because they were Framers and therefore their intent is authoritative and must be law; but rather because their writings, like those of other intelligent and informed people of the time, display how the text of the Constitution was originally understood. Thus I give equal weight to Jay's pieces in The Federalist, and to Jefferson's writings, even though neither of them was a Framer. What I look for in the Constitution is precisely what I look for in a statute: the original meaning of the text, not what the original draftsmen intended." (see page 38)

It is interesting to note that Gerber's definition of "originalism" closely parallels the above-referenced quote by Justice Scalia. In a footnote on page 47, Gerber defines "conservative originalism" as maintaining that "the Constitution should be interpreted as the Framers themselves would have interpreted it."

The documents and Framers consulted by judges, or legal scholars, to interpret the Constitution are ONLY IMPORTANT to the degree that they shed light on how the words used in the text of the Constitution were understood by the men who drafted and ratified it. Originalism is not perfect, and it does not answer all constitutional questions or inquiries. But this method of constitutional interpretation works 95% of the time. The problem is that most judges are NOT looking for the answer to a constitutional question, they are looking for a way to justify their agenda. After writing this book and evaluating the superficial jurisprudence of other Supreme Court Justices (e.g. Stevens, Souter, etc.), I have a feeling that Mr. Gerber understands this reality all to well.

Book Description

This digital document is an article from First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life, published by Institute on Religion and Public Life on October 1, 1999. The length of the article is 2224 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Citation Details
Title: FIRST PRINCIPLES: THE JURISPRUDENCE OF CLARENCE THOMAS.(Review) (book reviews)
Author: Lucas E. Morel
Publication: First Things: A Monthly Journal of Religion and Public Life (Refereed)
Date: October 1, 1999
Publisher: Institute on Religion and Public Life
Page: 62

Article Type: Book Review

Distributed by Thomson Gale

FIRST PRINCIPLES: THE JURISPRUDENCE OF CLARENCE THOMAS.

Average customer rating:

FIRST PRINCIPLES: THE JURISPRUDENCE OF CLARENCE THOMAS.
Scott Douglas. Gerber
Manufacturer: New York Univ. Press,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ULYHGW

Book Description

The moment she spies the rugged hunk in the faded jeans at the airport, Ellen knows she should run for cover. Instead, she throws caution to the wind and plunges into a sizzling affair with the gorgeous cop. Between romantic dinners, sensual limo rides, and a perfect night of passion, Ellen is living every woman’s fantasy. Until she’s caught in the sights of a deranged stalker, and the divorced single mother is suddenly turning to N.Y.P.D. detective Sam Schaefer for her very survival.…

Soon Sam’s taking a bullet meant for Ellen, and racing against time to stop a killer from hitting his target. Keeping Ellen safe will take everything he’s got. Earning her trust could be a mission impossible, as two wary hearts team up for a summer they’ll never forget—and a sizzling adventure that could get them both killed…or give them everything they’ve ever wanted.

Customer Reviews:

Nice Short Romance.......2007-10-11

I picked this up because it was not a full book and I needed something quick to read and not too involved. I enjoyed this "little" book. It was easy to read, moved right along, well developed characters. Nice romance! Took me about 4 hours to read the entire book. PERFECT!

Average romance with light suspense with an interesting twist.......2007-06-25

It started with a case of mistaken identity; reclusive novelist TS Harrison sends childhood pal Sam to the JFK airport to meet talk show host Bob. Sam meets Bob's niece Ellen, a professor and aspiring actress who has brought her kids down to the city for the summer to try their luck at auditions. Sam doesn't have a chance to correct the mistake before Bob high tails it on his flight. When Sam and Ellen share a limo ride back to the city, she does something out of character, and gets hot and heavy in the back of the limo with the sexy stranger. When he calls and tries to see her again, she rebuffs him. She figures Sam is another heart breaker like her ex and is not prepared to lose her heart to him.

When Ellen reports threatening mail and phone calls to the police, Sam steps in to investigate (and is surprised to discover that she has children). While Bob may be the intended victim, Sam isn't ruling anyone out, as he protects Ellen's family from a stalker while also trying to prove that he's not such a ladies man after all.

Originally printed in limited as a bonus book in a publisher's special, Brockmann's once shelved story gets full print honors ten years later. Brockmann manages to maintain the secret of both the stalker and his intended victim until the end. It's an average stand alone novel, with some steamy passages, but is lacking in character and plot development like her later work. In fact, the back story of characters Sam and TS sound extremely familiar to Sam Starrett (from her SEAL/Team 16 series) and his childhood pal Noah, who plays a significant role in Brockmann's later novel "Gone Too Far." Maybe she got a chance to flesh "Sam" out after all.

Solid romantic suspense.......2007-03-22

Ellen Layne accompanies her uncle Bob (a famous talk-show host) to the airport to meet an elderly relative whose flight is delayed. To pass the time, she checks out the bookstore--and finds herself checking out a hot younger man there, as well. She's embarrassed when he catches her at it, but he's checking her out, too, and tries to get her telephone number. Ellen is tempted, but she's just in New York with her kids for the summer while she's still recovering from a painful divorce. She doesn't need the complication of a younger man, no matter how charming and alluring. She demurs, but fate throws them together again almost immediately.

Sam Schaefer is at the airport on one of his rare days off doing a favor for an old friend, the famous writer T.S. Harrison. Harrison was in discussions with Bob about writing his biography and had agreed to meet him at the airport without checking his calendar first. Realizing he had a family conflict, he enlisted Sam to fill in for him, resulting in a comical case of mistaken identity that Sam has a difficult time clearing up with Bob and his entourage, including Ellen. Ultimately, Sam ends up sharing a very long, steamy limo ride alone with Ellen. By the time they both reach their respective homes, Sam is determined to see more of Ellen, but Ellen decides she's far too vulnerable to the charms of an experienced ladies' man like Sam to risk losing her heart to him.

Once again, fate intervenes despite Ellen's intentions. When threatening letters and phone calls are sent to Bob's home where Ellen and her kids are staying, the real T.S. Harrison recommends his best friend, NYPD detective Sam Shaefer, to provide protection and identify the increasingly violent stalker. Sam's up for the job, and he's also determined to succeed in convincing Ellen that she's the woman for this ladies' man.

This is a solid 3-1/2 star read (3 stars is a good rating for me) with likeable leads and supporting characters, as well as a believable mystery for added tension. As another reviewer has noted, the book was initially published in 1997, but it stands up well and could easily be mistaken for a 2007 release (except for some issues with current airport security). At just over 200 pages, it's a short book, so there are some missed opportunities for character development and does conclude quickly with a few loose ends. But it is certainly recommended as a quick, enjoyable read--possibly while waiting in the airport.

Just so so.......2007-03-08

I'm usually a fan, but this book seemed to be rushed, not nearly as well developed as her usual products. I found it disappointing.

brockman is always a good read.......2007-01-06

I really liked this cd. Think all her work is not to be missed.

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Moving and surprising novel

The Featherbed: A Novel
John Miller
Manufacturer: Simon & Pierre
ProductGroup: Book
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When Anna and Sadie discover the diaries of their mother, Rebecca, in the days following her death, they learn that her life was far more complex than either of them knew: a garment worker in early-1900s New York; the reluctant wife in an arranged marriage to an ailing and abusive husband; the improbable friend of a pregnant prostitute. But the diaries reveal more than just surprising details about Rebecca's life: they also point to a family secret - and questions about Sadie's true parentage. The Featherbed is a gripping family saga that moves between the tenements of New York's Lower East Side and the stately homes of Toronto's Annex. Strong in plot, character, setting, and style, it is a fully-realised debut from an assured writer.

Customer Reviews:

Moving and surprising novel.......2003-04-02

This is a very moving novel set in the Lower East Side of New York in the early 20th century. I was surprised by the richness of historical detail and the sense of place. It is a very accomplished novel for a first novel -- few writers have such an eye for detail and an ability to convey emotion. Well worth reading.

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Walter Francis White
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Today's obsession with American racial categories makes this formerly long-out-of-print Harlem Renaissance-era novel by Walter White, a former president of the NAACP, as relevant as when it was published in 1926. Flight deals with the peculiar phenomenon known as "passing," whereby fair-skinned African Americans, in an effort to escape racism, masqueraded--"passed"--as Caucasian. White, who with his blond hair and blue eyes could have easily passed himself, writes about the perils of Mime Daquin, a New Orleans-bred mulatto who is forced to leave her sheltered Creole community in the Crescent City and move to Atlanta, where she encounters the color line. Shamed by an out-of-wedlock pregnancy, she flees to Philadelphia and finally ends up in Harlem where she crosses the line for good. White weaves a tale that deals with racism, caste, and the eternal pull of racial and cultural bloodlines not easily severed. --Eugene Holley Jr.

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Insightful and deeply satisfying stories

Full House
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Insightful and deeply satisfying stories.......2004-01-08

This collection of short stories, told in the first-person voice, follows the life of the narrator over the span of a decade or so as she confronts the challenges of middle age and the perennially renewed question, "Who am I?" Life, these stories seem to say, is never settled, and much can depend on how the small incidents of daily life turn out. Jenny, the central figure of these stories, finds herself sorting out questions of sexual preference, single life in the wake of a long-gone marriage, relations with grown children, the fragility of friendships and friends, and the bodily insults of the passage of time; she rises to every challenge to discover anew that life not only goes on, but holds deeply satisfying rewards.
Wendy Fairey has a wonderful gift for shaping events into stories; she has an expert narrative style and a keen ear for the telling phrase. Readers will respond to the questions raised and the answers proposed by these stories; they will respond also to the author's affirmative voice, stylish prose, and observant eye. This is a fine book.

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An Attention Grabber
Terrific
Totally absorbing

Given the Evidence
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In Given the Crime, a "wise-cracking, fast-paced thriller" (Toronto Star), intrepid Manhattan Assistant D.A. Susan Given took on the Mob -- and wound up in a bloody gun battle. Now, in an electrifying new novel, she faces a drug gang, a serial killer, and a former presidential adviser up to his silver-haired scalp in scandal....

As head of the Asset Forfeiture Unit in the New York County District Attorney's office, Susan Given squeezes crime kingpins where it hurts most: in their bank accounts. A single mom with an Upper East Side address, she's more than a match for the city's most wanted. But the job takes its toll, and lately Susan has lost her edge. Recurring nightmares, missed appointments...she's a woman on the verge, and seriously in need of a vacation. Good-bye East River...hello West Indies.

Yet even in the Caribbean, Susan's motto -- "crime never sleeps" -- is proven once again as she witnesses a murder and earns first place on a drug lord's hit list. Things couldn't get any crazier. Not, that is, until she returns to New York -- and to the D.A.'s office.

Her assignment: to prosecute one of the most powerful men ever to walk the halls of the White House. At the same time she has to deal with her TV-shrink ex-husband, who's threatening to take custody of their two daughters and using his TV airtime to egg on a serial killer. Then there's that drug lord, in hot pursuit. All in all, given the evidence, Susan may soon look back fondly on the days when all she had to worry about was a nervous breakdown.

A winning combination of grim reality and rueful humor, clever plotting and gripping suspense, Given the Evidence gives us crime fiction at its best.

Customer Reviews:

An Attention Grabber.......2001-08-20

I found this book buried among a bunch of unread books during a recent move and did not even recall buying it. The cover and title caught my attention so I started to read it and could not put it down. The main character, Susan Given, a DA, was interesting to say the least. She is on the edge of a breakdown, more than likely from being overworked, and decides to take a friend up on a vacation offer. She ends up on an island where she befriends a native named Ascension, only to bear witness to his killing weeks later. She returns home to NYC, only to have to end up dealing with the same people from the island in the long run. While I felt that a little too neat and convenient as far as storylines go, I did find it ingenious. Susan has to deal with an impending divorce, an overzealous boss, raging hormones in her two daughters, an oversexed niece, and an array of other problems all at once, including a serial killer aptly named Rice Krispies. I would definitely read another "Given" mystery and plan to order Given the Crime right now.

Terrific.......1998-08-24

Ten weeks have passed since Susan Given, head of the Manhattan District Attorney's Asset Forfeiture Division, barely survived a harrowing experience (see GIVEN THE CRIME) that would have broken a lesser person. Still, every evening Susan suffers from a recurring nightmare in which a hulk tries to kill her. Her former spouse, TV psychiatrist Dr. Hugh Carver, adds to her problems when he threatens her with a custody suit. Realizing that his star attorney is not quite the same. Manhattan DA Bill Archibald arranges for Susan to meet with psychiatrist, Dr. Imogen Blythe, who blithely tells Susan that she needs a vaation.

Susan flies to the Caribbean island of St. Stephens. However, Susan's idyll vacation goes astray when she becomes lost while parasailing. However, worse yet is that she crash lands near where the local drug lord, Crimson, is taking care of business. Feeling that she is a witness to a murder, he plans to kill her, but she is rescued before he can carry out the deed. Susan leaves paradise for the safe environs of Manhattan, not knowing that Crimson plans to follow her in order to silence the only person he believes who can destroy his empire.

GIVEN THE EVIDENCE, with the second appearance of Susan Given, is an exciting tale that blends elements from the legal procedural with that of a thriller. The story line is fast-paced on both islands and the support cast has fully developed characters. However, Susan is the show as her fears and motivations propel the novel forward in a jocular but dire manner. Margaret Barrett and Charles Dennis have the beginnings of what is hopefully a long running series.

Harriet Klausner

Totally absorbing.......1998-08-21

Harriet Klausner

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Great Summer Read!

nothing much

No Emotional Punch

A true gem of a book!!

Light, Sometimes too Light

Heart Conditions
Sara Lewis
Manufacturer: Harcourt
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Great Summer Read!.......2003-05-30

What a fabulous back yard read this book was! The writing was excellent, the plot engaging and the characters highly entertaining. I particularly loved Alice's grandmother, the feisty 89 year old former actress who loved to dress in designer clothes and wear red lipstick when company came over.

Alice Hammond is a single thirty-something working woman in Manhattan when her jerk boyfriend of five years (Nick) dumps her via telephone for another woman and gives her six weeks to clear out of his apartment. Alice is staying with her crotchety grandmother temporarily until a caregiver can be replaced (and unbeknownst to her at the time, she is pregnant) and thus begins this tale of this unique, colorful family. My only regret was that the book ended when it did. I loved the character of Dan and would have liked to seen his character developed more. Perhaps a sequel is in order, Ms. Lewis!?

nothing much.......2001-07-23

"Heart conditions" is the third book by Sara Lewis that I've read. "But I love you anyway" & "The answer is yes" both made a good impression, both were fun to read & relaxing. Neither of course was anything very special, but still, if it's a light read you're looking for...they were ok. This third book (I think it was the first one S. Lewis wrote, but I may be mistaken) wasn't as good as the other two, in my opinion...

It's the story of a 30 something, single woman, who's had an on & off relationship with a totally unreliable man for years, & who suddenly finds herself pregnant. To top all this, Alice has problems with her work that doesn't seem to be going anywhere. The book takes off from there, & tells us the story of this woman, & more specifically of her decision to have the baby, no matter what. There's also a parallel story of Alice's relationship with her old grandmother...

Could be a fun & easy read, except that the writing failed to "pull me in". The other 2 Sara Lewis books that's I'd read were also everyday stories of everyday women, who tended to be in a kind of crossroads in their lives. The same "formula" applies here, but it doesn't seem to work as well, the characters don't seem to come to life. If "Heart conditions" is indeed the author's debut novel, then that explains it. She got better with time.

No Emotional Punch.......2000-10-15

The pretty blah story of Alice Hammond, ordinary 33-year-old SWF. Upon breaking up with her live-in actor boyfriend, Nick, Alice discovers she's pregnant. Abortion seems to be the one practical decision she can make in her messed-up life. But at the clinic she changes her mind. She accepts her situation and the baby.

At the time of this decision she moves in with her aging, failing, and crotchety grandmother. It is far from a loving home. In fact when she reveals the pregnancy, Alice receives no support from anyone--except the nice "nerdy" guy from work, the guy who would treat her well and raise her child. But does she let him into her life? No--he's just not Nick. And when Alice does marry Nick, she discovers he's really not so great.

This book left me glad to be finished with it. I developed no feelings (well, maybe anger) for the characters. When I got to the last page I thought, "Who cares?"

A true gem of a book!!.......2000-08-25

Alice is like every other girl with big problems and uncertianty in having faith in one's capabilities. I read this book in 2 day's. As much as I wanted to yell and scream at Alice' grandmother and "the jerk", Nick, I must admit, they really had me going. I think this book should be read by all women that come upon struggles with having an abortion and scared to death to raise a child alone.This book is not a "woe is me" type, but much less a good triumph novel. It especially keeps your attention and you feel as if you personally know Alice. I am a neurotic about suggesting books to people because I don't want people to not be able to trust my suggestions, but this book is definitley a book I'd suggest!!!

Light, Sometimes too Light.......2000-06-23

The book could be extremely entertaining andinsightful. Sometimes excellent character development with focus onthe issue of "disguises" - Are we what we appear - Usually not. But at the end of the story there were too many unanswered questions - It was almost as if portions of the story were edited out. All in all, a light, entertaining summer read.

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May Morrison returns in a five-star amateur sleuth tale

Now This (May Morrison Mysteries)
Nancy Star
Manufacturer: Atria
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Hard-Boiled | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Series | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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Up Next (May Morrison Mysteries)

ASIN: 0671008951

Book Description

In Up Next, the premiere of her acclaimed mystery series, author Nancy Star portrayed "the cutthroat world of daytime TV with...wit and verve" (Publishers Weekly.) Now this exciting storyteller proves she's more than ready for prime time, with a thrilling new installment in the life of May Morrison. The savvy single mom and high-powered TV executive is on the edge of a story to die for in...

Now This

For May Morrison, senior producer of TV's hottest talk show Paula Live, last season's tragic murders by a crazed coworker yielded one unexpected spinoff: flex time. Now, working three days at the office and two at home, May can better juggle the demands of her impatient bosses, who want every show to be a ratings-winner, and her children, who want every day to start with her standing alongside the other bus-stop moms, waving good-bye as they set off to school. Then she gets a call from a stranger...

An agitated young man demands to know why his aunt, a school librarian, had been scheduled to appear on the Paula Live show -- and why she ended up dead before she ever got on the air. May never heard of the woman, but the relentless caller makes himself a dangerous nuisance. In fact, May's boyfriend, Police Detective Paul O'Donnell, asks her to carry a gun.

Meanwhile, May's flex time starts turning to wrecked time when she breaks one of her cardinal rules: mixing home and work. Intrigued that a fellow bus-stop mom, Stacey Blum, seems to have found a fountain of youth that's taken years off the way she looks, May pitches a show about Stacey and the Southwest spa that's worked its wonders on her. Paula loves the idea of scooping Montel and Ricki with this one, but May starts to have the nagging feeling that something is wrong. And when Stacey Blum falls critically ill with a mysterious "flu," a strange pattern begins to emerge between the dead librarian, Stacey, and Stacey's friends -- a pattern which may have fatal consequences for all involved, including May.

Detective O'Donnell will do anything to keep May in daytime TV and off the eleven o'clock news. He's putting their relationship on the line, and unfortunately for May, a killer is planning to put her six feet under.

Nancy Star again comes out on top in a riveting suspense thriller that keeps you flipping pages instead of channels.

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May Morrison returns in a five-star amateur sleuth tale.......1999-04-30

Single mother May Morrison produces the daytime TV talk show "Paula Live". Last year, several of her peers from other talk shows were murdered and May had an unpleasant confrontation with the killer. She prays it is a once in a lifetime experience. However, May soon becomes involved in a new homicide when her best friend Stacie is knocked out while swimming and drowns.

Scott, Stacie's husband, is a doctor who employs both conventional medicine and homeopathic methods in his practice. May visits the famous Nirvana Spa, a Southwest resort that uses many of the same herbs and vitamins that Scott supplies to his patients. May soon learns that several other individuals who were at the spa with Stacie are also dead after displaying similar symptoms as May's friend showed. To uncover the truth, May places her life on the line from a murderer who plans to remain anonymous.

With her second May Morrison novel, Nancy Star shows that her amateur sleuth mystery UP NEXT was the real thing as this tale improves on the terrific debut book. The fast-paced story line fills with tension that passion and humor periodically relieve. May is an ordinary person whose strong moral code compels her to insure that justice is served. Ms. Star hooks the empathy from her audience who will clamor for more novels like NOW THIS.

Book Description

"A wonderful voice, fresh and poignant and funny, stingingly real and magically readable."
Anne Rivers Siddons
Feisty Rachel Swann is doing her best to juggle the pieces of her life. She's a struggling writer looking for a "big break," a divorced mother of a precocious little girl, and now her ex-husband wants to sue for custody. With nothingt better to do during a dull assignment at the Metropolitan Museum, Rachel finds herself making three wishes in front of an unusual statue--and, suddenly, her troubles are much easier to solve. And she's got a blind date that sounds too good to be true. Tall, dark, and handsome. A real devil....
AN ALTERNATE SELECTION OF THE DOUBLEDAY BOOK CLUB

From the Paperback edition.

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'Til we meet again
Helen Mittermeyer
Manufacturer: Bantam
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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