The Skeptic's Dictionary: A Collection of Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions

Book Description

A wealth of evidence for doubters and disbelievers

"Whether it's the latest shark cartilage scam, or some new `repressed memory' idiocy that besets you, I suggest you carry a copy of this dictionary at all times, or at least have it within reach as first aid for psychic attacks. We need all the help we can get."
-James Randi, President, James Randi Educational Foundation, randi.org

"From alternative medicine, aliens, and psychics to the farthest shores of science and beyond, Robert Carroll presents a fascinating look at some of humanity's most strange and wonderful ideas. Refreshing and witty, both believers and unbelievers will find this compendium complete and captivating. Buy this book and feed your head!"
-Clifford Pickover, author of The Stars of Heaven and Dreaming the Future

"A refreshing compendium of clear thinking, a welcome and potent antidote to the reams of books on the supernatural and pseudoscientific."
-John Allen Paulos, author of Innumeracy and A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper

"This book covers an amazing range of topics and can protect many people from being scammed."
-Stephen Barrett, M.D., quackwatch.org

Featuring close to 400 definitions, arguments, and essays on topics ranging from acupuncture to zombies, The Skeptic's Dictionary is a lively, commonsense trove of detailed information on all things supernatural, occult, paranormal, and pseudoscientific. It covers such categories as alternative medicine; cryptozoology; extraterrestrials and UFOs; frauds and hoaxes; junk science; logic and perception; New Age energy; and the psychic. For the open-minded seeker, the soft or hardened skeptic, and the believing doubter, this book offers a remarkable range of information that puts to the test the best arguments of true believers.

Download Description

"A refreshing compendium of clear thinking, a welcome and potent antidote to the reams of books on the supernatural and pseudoscientific."--John Allen Paulos, author of Innumeracy and A Mathematician Reads the Newspaper

This is a lively, commonsense compendium of detailed information on all things supernatural, occult, paranormal, and pseudoscientific. Written by an author with the most popular skeptical site on the Internet, The Skeptic?s Dictionary features close to 400 definitions, arguments, and essays on topics ranging from alchemy to zombies. It covers such categories as alternative medicine; cryptozoology; extraterrestrials and UFOs; frauds and hoaxes; junk science; logic and perception; New Age energy; science and philosophy; and the psychic. For skeptics looking for more substantive information on which to base their skepticism, and for those with a simple desire to learn more, this volume offers a remarkable range of information that puts to the test the best arguments of true believers.

Robert T. Carroll (Sacramento, CA) is chairman of the philosophy department at Sacramento City College. He currently teaches courses in critical thinking, philosophy of law, the history of modern philosophy, and general philosophy. His site, www.skepdic.com, has developed an international following and receives more than 500,000 visitors each month.

Customer Reviews:

A poor attempt at unfounded conjecture.......2007-06-01

It seems that none of the articles have any substance in undermining the topics they attack. For example, Uri Geller, who has proved his ESP in labs worldwide, is simply poo-pooed without contradicting scientific example. This is hardly skepticism; it is simply automatic gainsay. I'm sorry but this book was a real disappointment. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY BY BUYING IT.

"Long on Opinion, Short on Science.".......2007-05-17

Carroll's book is an encyclopedic rant. He spends half
of his section on out of body experience detailing the
history of one heavy drug user, and spends no time
discussing the phenomenon in history or religion.
He completely discounts situation where individuals
have appeared to other conscious individuals and
shared that information afterward.

When he discusses testimonial evidence, he dismisses
it all as "anecdotal,""inherently subjective, inaccurate,
unreliable and biased. Imagine all the lonely scientists
and discoverers that he would have dismissed out of hand.

If it happened that only 20% of the population could
dream and Mr. Carroll were among the other 80%, he would
discount the "dream-able" population as being either
liars, drug addicts, or delusional mental cases.

I sense that if one were to me this gentleman at a party,
one would recognise him by his inability to ever admit
that he could be wrong.

He's also a teacher in California. I'd love to poll his
students. Is this the kind of teacher who will give a
student who agrees with him an "A," and a student who
disagrees with him, even though he or she has made and
equally powerful argument a "C - ?" What do you think?

Don't waste the money on this book. That you can take to the bank!

ebmer.......2007-03-31

A must for anyone involved in discussing issues with people who believe this sort of pseudoscientific stuff. I didn't know what most of these things were or that they were actually still believed by anyone. Perhaps the U.K is more skeptical. There is room for updating and some
additions by now but it is a good starting place. I love it and have given copies to friends.

A facinating book!.......2007-01-19

I had a great time just browsing through this book and reading the various entries. Several of the entries were familiar to me from other books, but this dictionary added aditional information. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the unsual.

DO WE ALREADY KNOW EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW?.......2007-01-19

It is healthy to be skeptical, but how foolish is it to believe one already have all the answers? Mr. Carroll apparently believes he does. But it was precisely "know it all" people like the author who killed Socrates and ridiculed Galileo's discoveries in order to preserve their erroneous but comfortable world view.

There is much we don't understand and can't measure with our so called "advanced" technology of today. How can we be certain that nothing else exists beyond the limits of our present experience and that a different reality remains obscured by our widely accepted beliefs?

Let's take for example Quantum mechanics which is one of the pillars of modern physics. It explains accurately how the sun shines, how molecules bond together, how iron is magnetized, and even why objects are hard. It is responsible for our computer chips, the electron microscope, lasers, and magnetic resonance imaging. But quantum mechanics also explains how the position or locality of sub-atomic particles is affected by the expectations of the observer. Does this suggest that mind can affect matter? Absolutely. But the author will tell you anyone who believes in mind over matter is delusional.

Many scientists dismiss the possibility of the "supernatural" or of the spirit and even ridicule others who believe in it or consider it possible. However, one recent scientific idea proposes that quantum mechanical waves and fields may be the spiritual portion of the universe and that science may be studying spirit without knowing it.

Consider the work of 1973 Nobel Prize physicist Brian Josephson, best known for his pioneering theoretical work on superconductivity. Josephson points out that there is now strong evidence for the existence of parapsychological phenomena, based on a number of trials designed to investigate telepathy (communication between minds using means beyond those of the known senses) which have produced convincing results.

There is much we need to discover about this universe. What some lambaste today as pseudo-science and delusional beliefs could very well be proven to be true tomorrow. So instead of succumbing to the "herd" mentality, it will serve us better to keep an open mind, and look into the evidence while using our power of discernment. There could be much truth we might be dismissing in some of those "Strange Beliefs, Amusing Deceptions, and Dangerous Delusions" waiting to be understood.

Average customer rating:

Do not waste your money
Dangerous Deception
This can't be a new title!
disappointing
another like the others

Dangerous Deception (Protectors)
Beverly Barton
Manufacturer: HQN Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0373770677

Book Description

For Lausanne Raney, romance meant nothing but trouble. Once it cost her her freedom and her baby girl. Now she's got a respectable life…but desperately needs money to find her child. When she accepts an unusual offer from her wealthy employer's daughter, she finds herself under deadly suspicion--and the unwanted protection of security agent Domingo Shea. Bad enough the courageously honest ex-Navy SEAL doesn't completely trust Lausanne any more than she does him. But worse still, the instant electric attraction between them is impossible to resist. And the deeper their investigation goes, the more Lausanne struggles to convince Dom to leave her--for both their sakes. But with a ruthless killer lying in wait, there will soon be no safe place for her or Dom to hide…

Customer Reviews:

Do not waste your money .......2007-01-30

I would have to agree with the other reviews. The female lead in the book just whines throughout the whole book. It took me took me two weeks to finish the book. If you are looking for a great read from Ms. Barton; read some of her earlier Protector Series books. Very disappointed.

Dangerous Deception.......2007-01-08

Lausanne Raney hasn't had an easy life. Forced to give up her daughter, convicted of a crime she did not commit, Lausanne only wants to lead a respectable life and find her daughter. When her employers daughter, Audrey, asks her to travel around the southeast and impersonate Audrey, Lausanne becomes embroiled in an intrigue that could prove deadly.
Private investigator and security specialist Domingo Shea is called in to find the missing Audrey. With Lausanne the last link to Audrey, Dom must set aside his feelings for Lausanne. While Dom doesn't completely trust Lausanne, he is incredibly attracted to her. With a killer hot on a Lausanne's heels, Dom finds himself not only protecting her, but wanting to believe in her too.

I hadn't read any of Beverly Barton's books before and I have been missing out. I am already searching for all the books from the Protectors series. I loved Dom and I can't wait to fall in love with more of Beverly Barton's Alpha men.

Full of suspense that kept me guessing and plenty of chemistry between Dom and Lausanne, I really loved Dangerous Deceptions. After I read the last page, I hugged the book to my chest and sighed a happy satisfied sigh.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

This can't be a new title!.......2006-12-26

Dangerous Deceptions should have been a good story. Not that I was expecting anything different from the usual romantic suspense being churned out these days but Barton's new book is surprisngly bad. The writing is reminiscent of something out of the early category titles that I wondered if this is another one of those publishing cheats. You know what I mean - those old titles dressed up to look new (like they do with Elizabeth Lowell) and nothing to warn you you're buying an old, old book. Well, Dangerous Deceptions reads like one of those dated books and my surprise is because Barton's previous books were quite different from DD. The writing in her previous romantic suspense were far more sophisticated, her characters less cheesy so I was actually thrilled when I read Dom Shea is an ex-SEAL, being a sucker for these alpha heroes.

Unfortunately, Dangerous Deception turned out to be a deception, indeed. Give it a miss and go get Sandra Brown's Ricochet instead. Of, if you can only afford a paperback, get Michele Jaffe's Bad Girl. Don't be put off by that horrendous cover, though of the two, Ricochet is a steamier read and Bad Girl heavier on the police procedural.

disappointing.......2006-11-25

Began to hate ther heroine as she whined constantly about her poor choices which led to an unwanted pregnancy at 16 and a 5 year stint in prison. The main part of the story involves Lausanne,the heroine, involved in an impersonation plot, that she is too stupid to realize will only get her into deep trouble. After the impersonation is disclosed and she is nearly arrested for murder, she continues to do stupid improbable things. Once the hero finds out that the woman who hired her is in Brazil, he flies south to confront her. All well and good. But Lausanne decides she must also go out of the country to confront the woman. Improbable. How many woman living on the edge of poverty have a passport? Plus, it takes a visa to enter Brazil. Who researched this?
This was a promising series. But the promise is gone.

another like the others.......2006-11-22

yes, this is another like the others. big macho man falls for a whinny, oh poor me woman. i knew after the third chapter who the murder was and then made myself go thru the book (hoping she'd get herself together or he'd get tired of her) to prove myself right. it took me a week of reading to do it. the protector series started out good and now are just boring. the women are the same, no back bone and stump dumb. i mean, she constantly gets into trouble and just continues to create situations to do it again. i've finally got tired of it and won't be reading anymore of the series.

Average customer rating:

Hack through a thicket of verbage...
an absorbing read
Okay...
Lynn Kerstan never disappoints
Exquisitely Suspenseful

Dangerous Deceptions
Lynn Kerstan
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451212487

Book Description

The invitations have gone out, offering a select few the chance to live in Paradise...

One invitation is accepted by Jarrett, Lord Dering, a family outcast who lives by his own rules, the other by Kate Falshaw, a hot-tempered actress on the run from a scandalous past. The exclusive resort they travel to promises to fulfill every desire, but beneath the glittering surface deadly games are in play.

Customer Reviews:

Hack through a thicket of verbage..........2006-04-07

and find a well written tale with two strong, thoughtful characters. The author has a love of words that create lot of work for the reader. She has good research and interesting stuff
to say. Hang in there and the love story is totally worth the work. Towards the end I wasn't convinced the couple would ever get together and that kept me involved right till the ending. This would be a good travel/airplane book for when you have the time to be swept up in a story.

an absorbing read.......2006-01-24

Yet another time I did things backwards! Instead of reading this series in order, I read "Dangerous Passions" first, and felt a little at sea at times, then read "Dangerous Deception" many, many months later. And while it is not strictly necessary to read the books in order, I'd recommend it anyway because certain plot points like who the Black Phoenix are and what their agenda is, is explained a lot more clearly and succinctly in "Dangerous Deceptions." (And this really would have made "Dangerous Passions" a much more relaxing read). On the other hand, I have to own to finding "Dangerous Deceptions" to be the better book -- somehow the plot, intrigue and danger all gelled a lot more in this book than in the subsequent one.

Jarrett, Lord Derring, has lived on his wits (gambling) and on the fringes of London society ever since he became estranged from his family. Jaded and cynical, the last thing he ever expected was to become involved in a selfless quest that could cost him his life. But when a secret organisation "invites" him to help them in a mission, he suddenly finds himself in the middle of an adventure -- to enter the dark, secret and exclusive grounds of Paradise (an exclusive concern that caters to the depraved and jaded tastes of the ton) and to discover who is behind a series of murders and put a stop to it. Surrounded by danger, his only ally being the beautiful but secretive actress, Kate, Jarrett has only a week to accomplish his mission. Will he be able to do it? Or will his unexpected protective feelings for Kate jeopardise all?

In spite of the fact that "Dangerous Deceptions" was a very compelling read that had me glued to the pages, I did think that not enough time was spent on showing us how Jarrett and Kate came to fall in love with each other. I thought that the author did a wonderful job of keeping the mission subplot intriguing and tense; and I rather liked how she "fleshed" out Jarrett's character -- allowing him to develop before our eyes from a gambling care-for-naught to a man of intelligence, sensitivity and determination. The only thing that detracted was that one never really bought the notion that Kate and Jarrett had fallen in love with each other. That they admired each other and felt an empathy for each other, came across -- but not the love. Which of course make rating this novel a bit difficult. It's head and shoulders above the second installment, "Dangerous Passions" which I gave 3 1/2 stars to, and it is a good read. So that, in spite of the fact that the romance angle is slightly lacking, I'd still give it a 4 star rating for having provided me with a good afternoon's read.

Okay..........2005-02-06

I couldn't get to know Jarrett and Kate because of all the (misplaced) intrigue thrown in and I found that very frustrating. These two characters were secondary to the plot, and it should have been the other way around.

Lynn Kerstan never disappoints.......2004-11-04

"You are summoned, for your failures, your guilt, and your debts, to undertake a mission that will test your every claim to character and courage." So begins Lord Dering's association with the secretive Black Phoenix organization that seeks to right wrongs in Regency England. Taking up the challenge, Lord Dering visits Paradise, a remote resort that caters to dissolute men and promises to fulfill their every desire...for a price. Once there, Lord Dering is assisted by a beautiful actress with her own secret past as they work together to uncover the dark secrets behind Paradise. Lynn Kerstan takes the conventional tropes of Regency England and combines them in new and unexpected ways using fascinating characters to create a story that is by turns exciting, sexy, suspenseful, and even humorous. This wonderful read is the first of a trilogy that promises to be a keeper. Don't miss it!

Exquisitely Suspenseful.......2004-11-01

YOU ARE SUMMONED.....three words that would be forever imprinted on the mind of Jarrett, Lord Dering. Disowned years ago by his father, Jarrett lived a life that most of the ton described as near dissolute. He lived by his wits and gambling, courting the very elusive Lady Luck. With this mysterious summons he would be compelled to enter into a game more dangerous than anything he'd ever encountered before along with a female associate that was immune to his undeniable charms.

Kate Falshaw, was also summoned, to play a part in the machinations of a secret band of fellows that was dedicated to righting the wrongs of privileged nobles in the highest circles of Regency society. As both Jarrett and Kate work together to infiltrate and bring down the dark underbelly that operated in Paradise, Kate's distrust and antagonism towards the reputed rake began to lessen as she discovered the hidden man beneath the façade, treasuring whatever memories she could to take away with her when the job was done --- before he ever discovered the dark secrets she harbored from her past.

This was an amazing story and first installment on a wonderful new trilogy by the award-wining author Lynn Kerstan. The two very unusual protagonist's were remarkably well matched with individually complex backgrounds that sent them both on journey's of self discovery as they came to understand and help one another unravel and come to terms with their past lifes mistakes and embrace the passion that simmered beneath. Along with a plethora of well defined secondary characters and an intricate plot line, this book will keep the reader flipping pages far into the night and waiting in anticipation for the next installments in this new and promising action packed trilogy. BOTTOM LINE - This exquisitely suspenseful, action packed, and exciting tale should not be missed by fans of this mistress of exotic romance. --- Marilyn Rondeau, for www.historicalromancewriters.com ---

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Dangerous Deception
Janet Tanner
Manufacturer: Severn House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0727864076

Book Description

The new romantic thriller from a master storyteller On a bright summer's day a young girl, carefree and smiling, receives an ominous warning from an old gypsy woman ? a warning that she will never be able to forget. Some years later, another young woman is caught up, unwittingly, in Alex's sinister story. Imogen Voisey arrives at Upton Stowey House as governess to little Janine, daughter of the dangerously attractive Bradley Palmer. Janine's mother Alexandra died in mysterious circumstances ? and now Brad's second wife, Rosalie, has also disappeared. Rumours abound concerning the role of Brad Palmer in the fate of his two wives. Against her will ? and despite the powerful emotions his presence arouses in her ? Imogen is forced to confront these rumours and establish, for herself and for Janine, the truth?

A Dangerous Deception (Indigo: Sensuous Love Stories)

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More Suspense & Romance
Oh yeah!
One Great Romance!!!!
One Great Romance!!!!
Love Conquers All

A Dangerous Deception (Indigo: Sensuous Love Stories)
J.M. Jeffries
Manufacturer: Genesis Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1585710563

Book Description

Just one meeting and a hefty contribution to a campaign fund was all it took to have Cher handle his investigation personally. After many years, Luc Broussard is back in her life demanding that she help him.

Customer Reviews:

More Suspense & Romance.......2007-05-27

This is the fourth novel I've read by the J.M. Jeffries Duo and I am never disappointed. Although this novel had more suspense than romance it was still an exceptional piece of writing. The main and supporting characters were well developed and the dialogue flowed nicely to keep you turning the pages. Cher Dawson is definitely a strong heroine. Enjoyed the way they portrayed her relationship with her daughter, Miranda, who was quite a character herself. And I can't wait to read more about the supporting characters of the Cold Case Unit. Keep the stories flowing, ladies.

Oh yeah!.......2003-04-17

Street wise Cher Dawson and rich Luc Broussard were engaged while attending Stanford University. While Luc was taking his final exam, his mother paid Cher a nasty visit. Victoria Broussard blackmailed Cher into disappearing from Luc's life, to save her foster father. Cher did not even get to say good-bye. Luc returned from class to hear his mother say she had caught Cher in bed with another man.

Fourteen years later...(San Francisco)
Luc watched his mother's murderer walk out of the courtroom as a free man! Luc was possitive young Edward Compton had married Victoria for money and then had her killed. The only good thing was that the money was Luc's, not Victoria's, and Compton received nothing for his trouble. Since Compton could not be tried twice, Luc would put him behind bars for something else. The [plan] had been so smoothly carried out that Luc was sure Compton and his sister, Helen Ramsey, had pulled it off before. So Luc went to Phoenix to get the best person for the job!

Lieutenant Cher Dawson was head of Phoenix Police Department's Cold Case Unit and had a high success rate. She did NOT take kindly to Luc reappearing in her life, throwing money at Commissioner Sanchez, and forcing Cher to drop everything to investigate Compton. Not only did Cher hate being considered Luc's servant, but she feared he would learn he had a thirteen year old daughter that he knew nothing about!

... The writing team of J.M. Jeffries seems to get better with each book that comes out! This one will go on my "keeper shelf" to be read again. Cher is a strong character that readers will love instantly and the daughter, Miranda, is a pistol! I enjoyed every action filled second and every romantic (and stress filled) scene!

One Great Romance!!!!.......2001-12-24

This is the first J.M. Jeffries' book I've ever read. If this is a sample of her writing I'm going to read more. The writing was exceptional. The characters were strong and real. The mystery was tight and very well thought out. And the romance was HOT!!!!!!!!!!!! I look forward to more books from this talented voice in romance.

One Great Romance!!!!.......2001-12-24

This is the first J.M. Jeffries' book I've ever read. If this is a sample of her writing, I'm going to read more. The writing was exceptional. The characters were strong and real. The mystery was tight and very well thought out. And the romance was HOT! I look forward to more books from this talented voice in romance.

Love Conquers All.......2001-12-16

I am a romantic by every standard, just like that person who can read
a romance novel on a daily basis. Although I'm not at that point yet,
I do enjoy a good wholesome romance book and A Dangerous Deception by
J.M. Jeffries satisfies that romantic interest very nicely. I really
enjoyed the storyline and the depth of each character.

Cher Dawson and Luc Broussard are madly in love with each other. Luc
proposes to Cher and they begin making plans to marry. Now this is
where Luc's mother, Victoria Compton, comes in and puts a very
devious damper on Cher and Luc's marriage plans. Victoria Compton has
other ideas about whom should marry her son and that does not include
Cher, who she considers from the wrong side of the tracks, not good
enough to marry her son. While Luc is attending classes, Cher is
cleaning and preparing for his mother's arrival to announce and
celebrate their good news. Victoria arrives at their apartment
earlier then expected,and Cher is unprepared for the shock that
Victoria has for her. Victoria reveals to Cher that she has been
doing quite a bit of background checking into Cher's life. Victoria
blackmails Cher into accepting a proposition that will remove Cher
from Luc's life forever. Cher accepts Victoria blackmail to protect
the one person who saved her from the streets and possible death
from losing his job and being humiliated. While Luc is in class,
Cher packs up and leaves. Luc is left hurt and totally bewildered by
Cher's sudden departure.

Years later, they are bought together again, but under more
unfortunate circumstances. Luc's mother, Victoria, is murdered and
everything points to her younger husband, Edward Compton. Although
he is tried and acquitted, Luc, who is now a widower, continues to
believe Edward Compton killed his mother and will not give up until
he is brought to justice along with anyone else involved. To do that,
he must enlist the help of a person he thought he would never ever
see again, Cher Dawson. Cher is now a Lieutenant on the police force
in the town where Edward Compton now lives with his sister. Working
with Luc to help solve his mother's murder does not sit well with
Cher. Luc's closeness brings up long submerged feelings and she is
nervous that he will find out a secret that she has kept from him.
The investigation begins and the revelations definitely keep the
pages turning. The ending is wonderful and very calculating.
You will indeed enjoy this book.

I applaud the writing team of J.M. Jeffries for a wonderful,
suspenseful and romantic novel of love that withstood much turmoil
but prevailed in the end. I recommend this book and give it a rating
of 4.

Reviewed by Kalaani

Average customer rating:

Great Story

Great Story, Painful Writing Style

Deluded perception

Couldn't put this book down!!!!

This has got TV movie written all over it...

Deadly Deception : A True Story of Duplicity, Greed, Dangerous Passions and One Woman's Courage
Brenda Gunn , and Shannon Richardson
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0882822039

Book Description

To Brenda Gunn, a hard working medical professional, it seems like a fairytale come true.

Customer Reviews:

Great Story.......2005-03-26

I only read non-fiction and this was a great book. Sometimes hard to beleive that someone would put up with so much, but when your in love I guess you try to see only the good in people. It was actually nice to read about the bad guy getting it instead of the inocent person. Most true crimes do not end that way. I'm a big fan of Ann Rule and this was even better than some of her books!

Great Story, Painful Writing Style.......2004-02-02

Brenda Gunn's story is compelling and frightening, and that's why I managed to finish this book, despite the awful writing. I then promptly threw it in the trash. Besides having to endure the graphic love scenes involving these very unattractive people, all of the characters were one-dimensional and spouted the worst TV-movie dialogue imaginable. And the story was so one-sided (since the victim wrote it), and left many ends hanging. For instance, what happened to Jane, the best friend whose affair with the husband precipitated all of this? What about Morgan, the guy who was stalking Brenda?

It's hard to believe that even a love-starved, lonely woman wouldn't figure out there was a problem when she was almost killed in a fire, run off the road, poisoned, set up for a lion attack, and her pets started dying off. Throughout it all, Brenda portrays herself as an innocent, naive, loving wife, which actually comes across as incredible naivete and desperation for the love of even a complete louse such as her husband.

It's a very sad and dramatic story, and in the right hands, could have been a good book. But this effort is terribly misdirected, and this book is one of the worst I have ever read.

Deluded perception.......2003-09-29

I love true crime and I have read many. This was one of the worst books I have ever read. Some of the situations are so ridiculously portrayed, you know they are exaggerated, if at all true. Every character fits into overused fictionalized story stereotypes. Imagine the worst Lifetime TV Movie, and it would be worse than that. To top it off, there are several descriptions of these two people, whom no one would want to imagine naked, in intimate moments described in typical romance-novel fashion. The bonus is the "love" poem, written by the victim, sounding more like the prose of a third grader. Such a waste of what could have been an interesting story.

Couldn't put this book down!!!!.......2003-09-03

I read this book in a couple of days, due to the fact that it was very interesting from the first page on. I have read a lot of true crime books, but this was one of my favorite ones. It is unbelievable how a person can love someone so much and be so blind as to not see what horror lies right before their eyes. It would definitely make me pursue a background check on a perspective spouse.

This has got TV movie written all over it..........2003-08-29

Agreeing with previous reviewers, the stars are for Brenda Gunn's courage, not for the writing style. It's a great story but Ann Rule should've written it. The trashy novel style is not meant to be used for true crime--I skipped a lot of pages (cut to the chase, so to speak) because I lost all patience with the writing style. Brenda is an intelligent woman who made a good living and smart investments but she married a guy only 2 months after meeting him and he turned out to be an ex-con...the entire marriage and relationship was a set-up involving the woman Brenda thought was her best friend: maximum betrayal. Hats off to Brenda for getting smart just in time to save her own life, but I sure wouldn't have gotten the tombstone with hearts and planned to be buried beside the guy who literally died trying to murder me....

3 Omnibus Set By Nora Roberts; Mysterious (This Magic Moment; Search for Love; the Right Path); Suspicious (Partners; the Art of Deception; Night Moves); Dangerous (Risky Business; Storm Warning; the Welcoming)

Average customer rating:

3 Omnibus Set By Nora Roberts; Mysterious (This Magic Moment; Search for Love; the Right Path); Suspicious (Partners; the Art of Deception; Night Moves); Dangerous (Risky Business; Storm Warning; the Welcoming)
Nora Roberts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000W27EIW

Product Description

Checkmate by Deception: The Most Dangerous Game of All

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Checkmate by Deception: The Most Dangerous Game of All
Breida Blik
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1403320284

Book Description

Plots and counter-plots collide as Players vy for position in the Mafia underworld. And with the plot to dethrone The Mob Boss, a missing accountant, a triple family war brewing, and over a billion dollars up for grabs, the game board is set for Checkmate by Deception. The prize: Freedom, love, and redemption.

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Dangerous Deception
Arabella Seymour
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0425108821

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Dangerous Deception
Lisa Andrews
Manufacturer: Ulverscroft Large Print
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Action & Adventure | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books

Romance | Large Print | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1843954001

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