Average customer rating:
- "Virgin Earth"
- Annoying Main Character
- Virgin Earth
- 2ND GENERATIION GARDENER TO KINGS
- Philippa, what is happening?
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Virgin Earth: A Novel
Philippa Gregory
Manufacturer: Touchstone
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Binding: Paperback
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Earthly Joys: A Novel
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Meridon
ASIN: 0743272536 |
Book Description
As England descends into civil war, John Tradescant the Younger, gardener to King Charles I, finds his loyalties in question, his status an ever-growing danger to his family. Fearing royal defeat and determined to avoid serving the rebels, John escapes to the royalist colony of Virginia, a land bursting with fertility that stirs his passion for botany. Only the native American peoples understand the forest, and John is drawn to their way of life just as they come into fatal conflict with the colonial settlers. Torn between his loyalty to his country and family and his love for a Powhatan girl who embodies the freedom he seeks, John has to find himself before he is prepared to choose his direction in the virgin land.
In this enthralling, freestanding sequel to Earthly Joys, Gregory combines a wealth of gardening knowledge with a haunting love story that spans two continents and two cultures, making Virgin Earth a tour de force of revolutionary politics and passionate characters.
Download Description
"As England descends into civil war, John Tradescant the Younger, gardener to King Charles I, finds his loyalties in question, his status an ever-growing danger to his family. Fearing royal defeat and determined to avoid serving the rebels, John escapes to the royalist colony of Virginia, a land bursting with fertility that stirs his passion for botany. Only the native American peoples understand the forest, and John is drawn to their way of life just as they come into fatal conflict with the colonial settlers. Torn between his loyalty to his country and family and his love for a Powhatan girl who embodies the freedom he seeks, John has to find himself before he is prepared to choose his direction in the virgin land. In this enthralling, freestanding sequel to Earthly Joys, Gregory combines a wealth of gardening knowledge with a haunting love story that spans two continents and two cultures, making Virgin Earth a tour de force of revolutionary politics and passionate characters.
Customer Reviews:
"Virgin Earth".......2007-09-30
This book is very long and at times tedious. Gregory has vivid descriptions of EVERYthing. Her characters were good. We reviewed this in book club and after discussion, I found out I remembered and enjoyed more than I realized!
Annoying Main Character.......2007-09-28
I usually love Philippa Gregory's books. But this one, for me, was lacking. The main character was frankly annoying--from the beginning of the book to its VERY disappointing ending. I agree with another poster who had a hard time understand how three intelligent women could love this guy. The reason I gave it two stars (instead of one or none) was because the book did have its moments. The time spent in early Virgina and the look into the lives of King Charles I and the story behind the English civil war were interesting. I just wish the story could have been told from another main character's perspective.
Virgin Earth.......2007-09-05
I love the writings of Phillipa Gregory. Most of them are historic and based on true happenings. I find that she has researched her material well. I have read most of her writings. I only recently found out that she wrote a few children's books.
2ND GENERATIION GARDENER TO KINGS.......2007-08-15
NOT A VERY LIKEABLE CHARACTER BUT THE STORY IS AN INTERSTING PERSPECTIVE OF EARLY ENGLISH AND AMERICAN HISTORY FROM A GARDENER'S PERSPECTIVE.
Philippa, what is happening?.......2007-07-26
Phillipa became one of my most sought after authors after reading the juicy and wnderful Other Boleyn Girl. Followed by Queen's Fool, I was hooked, chasing bookstores for her next delivery of her next book. Since then, I have read The Constant Princess, Virgin's Lover, Earthly Joys, Wise Woman, and Virgin Earth. All these are 3 stars at best.
The writing is no longer rich with descriptives. Plots become unbelievable and basic. There is no longer much historical reference in these, making them feel like 'supermarket novels'.
Very dissappointing, since after Anya Seton (Katherine may be the best England/Historical novel yet), she was my favorite historical writer.
It feels like her publisher is pushing her to cough up a new book every year and the writing feels strained and rushed. She needs to stop and smell the flowers and let the historical imagination flow again.
Average customer rating:
- Margaret - writer
- Suspense
- Excellent read, but some major lapses of reality.
- A Strong Mystery
- Loved Every Second!
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The Virgin of Small Plains: A Novel of Suspense
Nancy Pickard
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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The Janissary Tree: A Novel
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The Dead Hour: A Novel
ASIN: 0345470990
Release Date: 2006-04-18 |
Book Description
Small Plains, Kansas, January 23, 1987: In the midst of a deadly blizzard, eighteen-year-old Rex Shellenberger scours his father’s pasture, looking for helpless newborn calves. Then he makes a shocking discovery: the naked, frozen body of a teenage girl, her skin as white as the snow around her. Even dead, she is the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen. It is a moment that will forever change his life and the lives of everyone around him. The mysterious dead girl–the “Virgin of Small Plains”–inspires local reverence. In the two decades following her death, strange miracles visit those who faithfully tend to her grave; some even believe that her spirit can cure deadly illnesses. Slowly, word of the legend spreads.
But what really happened in that snow-covered field? Why did young Mitch Newquist disappear the day after the Virgin’s body was found, leaving behind his distraught girlfriend, Abby Reynolds? Why do the town’s three most powerful men–Dr. Quentin Reynolds, former sheriff Nathan Shellenberger, and Judge, Tom Newquist–all seem to be hiding the details of that night?
Seventeen years later, when Mitch suddenly returns to Small Plains, simmering tensions come to a head, ghosts that had long slumbered whisper anew, and the secrets that some wish would stay buried rise again from the grave of the Virgin. Abby–never having resolved her feelings for Mitch–is now determined to uncover exactly what happened so many years ago to tear their lives apart.
Three families and three friends, their worlds inexorably altered in the course of one night, must confront the ever-unfolding consequences in award-winning author Nancy Pickard’s remarkable novel of suspense. Wonderfully written and utterly absorbing, The Virgin of Small Plains is about the loss of faith, trust, and innocence . . . and the possibility of redemption.
Customer Reviews:
Margaret - writer.......2007-10-15
The back cover description does not do this book justice. This mystery grabbed my attention right away and held it right through to the suprising ending. You get beyond the Kansas wheat fields and into the small-town life that exists beyond the city limits. I loved her use of continually switching from the present back to the actual event. The author gave us just enough information to unfold the story beautifully.
Suspense.......2007-10-04
I could not put this book down. It grabs you right from the start where they find The Virgin that winter night. What unfolds next is unbelievable!
I was extemely surprised at the ending- Who would have ever guessed
who did it?
Excellent read, but some major lapses of reality........2007-10-04
The cover and frontspiece had glowing reviews of this book. So I bought it. I found the characters compelling, with three strong protagonists -- Abby, Mitch and Rex. The mystery developed in a natural way, and the love story between Abby and Mitch was beautiful, as was the involvement of her beloved birds. I pressed on to find out who killed the girl, Sarah, and why. And why Mitch's parents were so afraid they sent him away, and why Rex's mother, Verna, was so terrified when the truth might have been about to surface.
The book was a wonderful read -- right up to the end, which was a major disappointment. First, I wasn't ever sure who actually murdered Sarah, or why she had to be murdered in the first place. If they were going to murder her, why did they wait so long? It wasn't clear how she was killed either. The only one who had a credible motive to kill her really, was Nadine, out of jealousy. On the other hand, why then would she want to adopt a baby that reminded her of the past she was trying to erase? The story also dropped the ball on Rex and Patrick, for whom there was no closure, and never established where Patrick was the day of the murder.
But the biggest flaw was that the doctor, Quentin, would have gone along with the coverup the way he did, or at all. It simply makes no sense. It is put forth that he did it so life as usual could go on for him and his friends, but I refuse to believe that it could be that simple. Quentin Reynolds is portrayed as a compassionate, honest doctor and I just can't see him doing this to protect his despicable friends.
I can understand, sort of, that the sheriff was involved in the cover-up to protect his friend, and that's why there was no forensic investigation. And even though DNA evidence wasn't available in 1987, fingerprints were that would have matched a driver's license. It wasn't explained why no one else in the town had any interest in looking into the girl's death. In short, the ending of the book didn't live up to its promise, and left me with the feeling of being let down by the author.
A Strong Mystery.......2007-09-23
A mystery with a solid arc that pays homage to the story's emotional centerpiece from the first to the last page. Characters react to events at two critical points in their lives, and their core values are put to the test in light of their maturity. Though I figured a few things out early on, the road to get confirmation was filled with doubt, as twists kept plopping down on the page like debris from a twister. It is a story of considerable power dealing with the choices people make throughout their lives, how they justify those choices, and how they reach for redemption later on. The few quibbles about coincidences are insignificant. Highest praises...5 out of 5.
Loved Every Second!.......2007-08-21
I couldn't put this book down...in fact, I didn't! Read it all in one setting, it was so good! Although predictable in the end, it was one of those books that you HAVE To finish!
Book Description
In this wonderful novel about love and trust, hope and belief, Elizabeth Berg, the bestselling author of We Are All Welcome Here and The Year of Pleasures, transports us to Nazareth in biblical times to reimagine the events of the classic Christmas story.
We see Mary–young, strong, and inquisitive–as she first meets Joseph, a serious-minded young carpenter who is steadfastly devoted to the religious traditions of their people. The two become betrothed, but are soon faced with an unexpected pregnancy. Aided by a great and abiding love, they endure challenges to their relationship as well as threats to their lives as they come to terms with the mysterious circumstances surrounding the birth of their child, Jesus. For Mary, the pregnancy is a divine miracle and a privilege. For Joseph, it is an ongoing test not only of his courage but of his faith–in his wife as well as in his God.
Exquisitely written and imbued with the truthful emotions and richness of detail that have earned Elizabeth Berg a devoted readership, The Handmaid and the Carpenter explores lives touched profoundly by miracles large and small. This powerful and moving novel is destined to become a classic.
Customer Reviews:
A nice little Christmas story.......2007-09-03
I thought Berg's take on the birth and young life of Jesus, with Mary and Joseph was interesting. Because the story in the Bible leaves a lot of questions unanswered, it is easy to want to hypothesize what the more in depth, detailed story was. I think Berg did a pretty good job. This story did not flow as nice as some of Berg's other works. I think it was because she tried to pull in as much as the Biblical story she could and expand on it. I am sure that had to be difficult. This is a very unique book. One I may read again around Christmas time when I want to be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas.
A unique look at Joseph and Mary.......2007-08-15
I really appreciated that Elizabeth Berg set her writing skills to create a wonderful unique story of Mary and Joseph. Her outlook on these holy characters from the Bible gave me a totally new insight into their world. I was also glad that she spun a good bit of the story around Joseph. Typically, he is usually given a small part in religious stories, so it was refreshing to read her point of view into this biblical character. The story was a bit short but overall I enjoyed it very much and would gladly recommend it to all my friends.
Awe-inspiring.......2007-06-09
This is a wonderful work of Biblical fiction! Very thought-provoking, viewing the courtship of Joseph and Mary from their prospective. Such a beautiful, personal glimpse into their lives and the effect the conception/birth of Jesus had on them, as simple and humble villagers. Not much is written in the Bible about Joseph, so it was very insightful to consider his role. As Mary expresses, her wish is that the whole world could know of this unassuming man's devotion and all it provided. Kudos to the author, whose works I always appreciate, but never moreso than in this inspirational masterpiece!
Such a beautiful story well told.......2007-05-01
Elizabeth Berg's latest novel, The Handmaid and the Carpenter, was released in December 2006 with little fanfare and no hype. This sweet take on the story of Mary and Joseph is a remarkable story that can't be limited to a holiday reading list.
Berg makes no bones about taking liberty with the time frame, setting the story in 4 B.C. "That is because Matthew and Luke place Jesus' birth at the end of reign of Herod the Great, who died in 4 B.C."
Jesus is not the most important character in The Handmaid and the Carpenter. This little novel, a mere 153 pages, is the story of Mary and Joseph's meeting and courtship. Framed by Joseph's death, the possible personalities of these two people come to life as they sound and act as young person would, no matter the era.
Mary meets Joseph at a wedding celebration and each is attracted to the other. Mary is thirteen, flirtatious, and headstrong. Joseph is just becoming a man, but knows immediately that Mary is one for him, going as far as to predict that the two will have seven sons. They court, according to Nazarene traditions, but Mary becomes "with child" before the consummation of the marriage can actually occur. There is little dwelling on how each copes with the message from the angels, but instead focuses on their attitudes as human.
The one flaw in the book is that there is an awkward time leap from the time of Jesus' birth until he is almost a man, ready to take over his father's carpentry business.
In my momma's word, "a sweet, sweet story."
Elizabeth Berg is the author of the New York Times bestsellers Never Change and Open House, which was an Oprah's Book Club selection in 2000. Joy School was selected as American Library Association Best Book of the Year. She also won the 1997 New England Bookseller's Award for her novels.
Armchair Interviews says: The Handmaid and the Carpenter makes for wonderful reading anytime of the year.
hand maid and the carpenter.......2007-03-15
awful. I was soooo disappointed in berg. I have always loved her writing. The last two books she has done have been terrible. What happened????
Book Description
This is an intelligent global thriller with religious themes by the bestselling author of the Repairman Jack series of novels.
Customer Reviews:
Virgin, a second comming.......2007-10-07
I enjoyed this book. It builds to a conclusion that matches the plot and was very satisfying.
A book everyone should read.......2007-10-05
There is a speech at the end of this book by the Virgin Mary. Those 2 or 3 pages should be read by man, woman, and child, in the world. Maybe there would be more good in the world and less violence and hatred!!!
No DaVinci Clone.......2007-09-04
F.Paul Wilsons foray into the "Religion Thriller" genre came way before said genre even existed. And like all of Wilsons work it is a bona fide page turner. I read it in two days and recommend it, and all of Wilsons books, highly. Plus it is published by Borderlands Press, whose name is synonymous with quality. How could you go wrong??
Excellent.......2007-08-30
I consider this to be one of F. Paul Wilson's finest books. And, for the record, it was originally published in 1996, which was quite a bit before Map of Bones and The Da Vinci Code came out.
Only Wilson book I've ever given less than 5 stars.......2007-08-13
Hard as it may be to believe, F Paul Wilson, my favorite fiction author sure bombed with this turgid, barely readable leap into the religious arena. I guess with the success of Brown's DAVINCI CODE and Rollins' MAP OF BONES, Wilson just could not pass up the chance.
BORING. I didn't like Brown's book. I did like Rollins'. But enough already with the religious junk. The power of Virgin Mary. Give me a break. The need to protect her remains from - well who the heck do remains need protecting from? and it just gets more ridiculous from there.
But for those who make the mistake of actually trying to read this dreck, the good news is that it does eventually end. And hopefully it won't put you off buying Wilson's next book as soon as it hits the bookshelves.
What nonsense. Tough to suspend your sense of disbelief with such stuff.
Average customer rating:
- A Solid Book
- Hard To Put It Down
- best read
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Virgin Lies: A Novel
Roderick Anscombe
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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The Intruders
ASIN: 0312365675
Release Date: 2007-03-20 |
Book Description
On a blistering Boston summer day, a nine-year-old girl disappears while crossing a public park. The only witness is a homeless schizophrenic woman who believes she is under surveillance and whose memory may not be reliable. Dr. Paul Lucas, an expert at interrogating violent criminals and the insane, is called in to help evaluate the woman’s testimony.
Lucas elicits small details that lead police to three people with no apparent connection: a retired engineer, his disabled wife, and a young man who works at a doughnut shop. But interviews with each suspect go nowhere, frustrating detectives and calling into doubt Lucas’s role in the case. Believing the girl is alive but without water and soon to die, he is pushed to the brink of a professional abyss—under intense focus from local media, distrusted by police, and pressured by his wife, Abby, whose stake in the search is deeply personal.
With time running out, Lucas has to make a choice: to honor and uphold the sworn central oath of his profession, or to cross the line and do whatever it takes to find the girl, even if he must crack the mind of a vulnerable patient.
Suspenseful, intriguing, and informed by years of real-life experience with violent criminals, Virgin Lies is a first-class thriller.
Paul soon is trapped in an ever-tightening web of circumstance and scrutiny that implicates him in the eyes of his wife, his colleagues, and eventually the police. As the battle of wits turns deadly, with his career on the line and his life over the edge, Paul must learn to play the game by Craig's rules-for he who tells the best lie wins.
Smart and wickedly suspenseful, Virgin Lies winds through twists and turns to a place where nothing is as it seems.
Customer Reviews:
A Solid Book.......2007-05-05
In a genre that has gone thin on Character and muscle-bound on Craft, Anscombe's thriller, Virgin Lies, is a massive infusion of good red blood cells. Paul Lucas, his main character, has Character--not stock, not a raging macho whose beef with the world drives him to justice; nor is he solving somebody else's problem to avoid his own suicidal depression. No! Lucas, an intelligent scientist of the micro gesture, an expert on the outward manifestation of lying, is motivated by compassion! Lucas is willing to risk all--the old definition of heroism--to save a young girl from the predations of a child abuser--because he cares about that little girl. The Character of Lucas is what the prophets in the old Testament would have called "righteous". Anscombe's book has it all: the pacing and plot of a thriller, an intelligent and original lead character, and a theme of moral significance. In this corporate age of publishing where, under the pressure to sell, thrillers are rushed to market like genetically-altered tomatoes, giving their familiar jolt with less and less substance, Anscombe's book is thoroughly organic.
Hard To Put It Down.......2007-04-29
I really enjoyed my first foray into Anscombe's fiction. The story is riveting and unfortunately paralleled in the real world all too frequently. A young girl is kidnapped. How does an ethical person respond when she/he feels certain that the arrested suspect knows where the child is but refuses to say? That person worries that if the child is found, but found too late, will any witnesses or forensic evidence be there to make sure the perpetrator is punished appropriately? Is is moral to use any means necessary to extract this information, especially if that information could save the victim's life? This is one of the ethical dilemmas Dr. Roderick Anscombe puts before his readers in this very engaging novel.
The story is told briefly and with few wasted sentences. Anscombe has used Dr. Paul Lucas and some of the other characters in a previous novel, and so he involves them in the story perhaps more than is necessary. Happily, these are brief enough to prevent the story's pacing from being ruined. Dr. Lucas is invaluable in questioning the suspects in this case because his training helps him understand where these suspects are coming from and helps him know when they're lying.
Having expertise in the areas of forensic psychiatry, Anscombe infuses the book with realism and impressive detail that only serve to strengthen the plot and suspense. I will definitely look up more fiction from Dr. Anscombe. Even if you've not read the first novel that introduces his main character Lucas, you will still be able to understand the plot and characters thoroughly.
best read.......2007-04-14
I read a lot and rate this among the best I've read in a long time. I have a particular perspective as a clinical social work in a psychotherapeutic practice. This was a good story with fascinating information about the intricisies of forensic work. What I found most interesting was the theme of ethica dilemmas throughout the book. I was both shocked by what I considered serious breaches of professional ethics but at the same time forced to ask myself if I would do the same thing given the situation. I'm definitely recommending to this book to my colleagues.
Average customer rating:
- I have no idea what "Virgin" is all about,
- Another Winner....
- A.S. Byatt does it once again!
- A letdown
- brutal going
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The Virgin in the Garden: A Novel
A.S. Byatt
Manufacturer: Vintage
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0679738290
Release Date: 1992-01-15 |
Book Description
The Virgin in the Garden is a wonderfully erudite entertainment in which enlightenment and sexuality, Elizabethan drama and contemporary comedy, intersect richly and unpredictably.
Customer Reviews:
I have no idea what "Virgin" is all about,.......2007-08-24
except to sell books. I cannot identify with any of the characters. Incredibly outlandish (another reviewer said "unpredictable" -- a real understatement). I picked the book up a discount retailer after thumbing through it. Set in Yorkshire, England, 1952/1953, it provided me memories of Robin's Hood Bay (the hike); the names of all the plants (interestingly, gorse was never mentioned -- did I miss that one?); and the petit point hassocks for the pews at St Bartholomew's. Hmmmm.
At the time Virginia Woolf's "Mrs Dalloway" was published, a critic said it would not be read in 50 years. I can't imagine "The Virgin in the Garden" being read 50 years from now, but with sequels, etc., it appears the author is hoping for lucrative movie deals, ala Harry Potter.
Another Winner...........2005-06-26
It seems as if it is impossible for A.S Byatt to write a bad or even a mediocre story. After this novel, she is one of my new absolute favorites and I have vowed to read everything this amazing author has written.
I began to read The Virgin in the Garden, and could not put it down. I was enraptured by the beautiful descriptions of the two contrasting "Elizabethian ages" and the characters. Frederica has to be one of the most despicable, and yet intriguing literary characters in years. My breath was also taken away by the story of Marcus Potter--a haunting, amazing character that will stay with you for days.
The way Byatt writes, she transports you to 1950s England and the lives of the Potters. I felt as if I knew these characters like family, and could almost sit down to lunch with them by the end of the book. Her style, timing, and subtle metaphors of passion and life are irresistible and amazing. This is truly a writer who will stand the test of time to become an icon in the likes of the Brontes, Jane Austen, and Kate Chopin.
I cannot wait to share this book with everyone I know. Highly, highly reccomended. Go to the bookstore or your local library, ignore the new glossy bestsellers that try and cheat you out of your money and instead pick up this gorgeous, powerful read that new authors cannot hold a candle to.
A.S. Byatt does it once again!.......2004-10-01
This is one of the best literary works I have read. I cannot fathom the bad reviews here. The story of the eccentric Potter family and the quirky works of their minds enthralled me from beginning to end. Frederica Potter is my favorite character in the book. She takes me back to heroines made famous by authors the like of Jane Austen. She is one of the most colorful characters I have ever read. All of the central characters are great. This novel chronicles the life of an eccentric family with subtle magic realism and palpable dark language.
This novel's setting floored me. Fifties Britain is described in such a way that made me feel as though I had been alive during those times. The Elizabethan backdrop is also mesmerizing. And I love the quirkiness and darkness in this book. A.S. Byatt is no doubt one of the best writers of this era. Hers is a voice you cannot help but love. She writes with beautiful prose. I have read her short-story collections and now this book and I cannot wait to read her other works. I cannot recommend The Virgin in the Garden enough.
A letdown.......2004-05-23
She obviously knows how to write. However, I didn't like or identify, or find interesting any of the characters. In addition she is very good at spouting out allusions, but most of them hindered the plot development instead of helping it.
After reading this I did not read the sequels.
brutal going.......2004-01-25
there's no music, as it were, in what a.s. byatt does: i have read three of her novels now and i'm, i think, in a pretty good position to judge her stuff as utterly pretentious and banal. read just one page of hers and compare it to a paragraph (a single sentence?!) of James Joyce. i am an english prof--hence all the lit allusions in this novel just kinda made me sick. she drops so many names/quotations you need an imaginary broom to sweep them away. dreadful dreck. you need something Englishy to read--investigate William Boyd or Julian Barnes. byatt is like a parody of good writing. only salman rushdie's fiction is more onanistic (though his criticism's pretty cool). byatt is the literary equivalent of Stevie Nicks! Icky!!!!
Book Description
Everything is going perfectly for Kuga, a top designer at a hip ad agency, until his friend introduces him to Nagisa, a uniquely beautiful man. Desperate for a way to get closer to the fetching newcomer, Kuga asks Nagisa to become the spokesmodel for the launch of his new unisex apparel campaign. With Nagisa aboard, Kuga is certain the campaign will be a success, but deep in his heart he knows that he actually craves something far more intimate than a business relationship.
Book Description
Stephen Booth's award-winning novel, Black Dog, was hailed as "an impressive performance" (The Denver Post). Now, Constables Ben Cooper and Diane Fry must contend with a killer whose motives are shrouded in bloody history.
DANCING WITH THE VIRGINS
In a remote part of Northern England's Peak District stand the Nine Virgins -- ancient stone monoliths that harbor dark legends. Now, another figure has joined the circle: a young cyclist, her lifeless limbs arranged in a mocking dance. The killing eerily resembles an earlier attack that left a woman savagely disfigured. For Detectives Cooper and Fry, there are too many questions with no answers. Was there a prior connection between the two victims? What was the precious object that one of them carried? And who are the two mysterious drifters who practice strange rituals? All that Cooper and Fry know for certain is that innocent blood has been spilled on the barren moors -- and that the killing has only begun in the shadow of the Virgins....
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"She was spread against the ground in a final arabesque, in a fatal pirouette or the last fling of an abandoned tango....A dead woman dancing. She looked like a dead woman, dancing." Stephen Booth, one of the most acclaimed new voices in crime fiction, takes us to a remote region of northern England where a prehistoric ring of stones, the Nine Virgins, harbors a dark legend. With winter looming, a tenth figure soon joins the circle: the body of young cyclist Jenny Weston, whose limbs are carefully arranged in death to parody a woman dancing. Weeks earlier, another woman, Maggie Crew, was attacked nearby, her face savagely cut open. Is there a maniac on the loose, knifing women at random? Maggie may hold the answer, but she has no memory of the attack. The painful images are buried deep in her wounded psyche. It will take time and patience to convince Maggie to face the demons of her past. But are the two crimes -- Jenny's murder and Maggie's assault -- linked by something other than geography? Was there a prior connection between the two women? Why was Jenny cycling alone on that cool November day? What precious object did she carry in a pouch around her waist? And what of other mysterious people in the region -- two drifters who practice strange rituals, a Peak Park ranger with a shameful secret, a desperate farmer whose own children fear him? Detectives Ben Cooper and Diane Fry struggle to make sense of a motiveless murder and of their own relationship, which increasingly seems past repair. Where once there was attraction, now there is antagonism. But personal problems must wait. The moors have witnessed more bloodshed than either Ben or Diane realizes, and violence is to beget more violence before Jenny's killer is found. A brooding, stylish psychological thriller, deeply evocative of a very special place, Dancing with the Virgins confirms Stephen Booth's reputation as a gifted author of richly nuanced crime fiction.
Customer Reviews:
Constable Ben and Ranger Mark.......2006-04-21
Constable Ben Cooper is not your average English copper. He grew up under the firm guidance of his hero policeman dad, who died in the line of duty, but Ben now questions everything having to do with his job. Who's he supposed to be defending? A large proportion of the citizenry don't seem to want his services, except when there's a crisis. And even then, they aren't much help. Why can't he seem to get along with Diane Fry, who received the promotion he was expecting. Why is she back on his patch? And while he believes deeply in loyalty, to exactly whom is this loyalty owed?
Against this background of personal turmoil, Ben is called upon to solve a series of vicious crimes against women in the lovely and atmospheric Peaks National Park, where nothing- and no one - is truly as it seems. Some nice plot twists, a half dozen likely looking suspects, and 3 victims, interrelated though no one yet knows that, combine to make this a puzzle to the last few pages.
Most interesting, Watson.
Broken lives.......2005-01-21
This brilliant book is a prime example why the British crime writers are superior to their American counterparts. The plot of this novel is dark and twisted and the characters fully devolped. Everything is unfolding slowly as it would in real life and real investigation. All the characters, even passers by, come to life, for a moment touch your heart and move on with their broken lives.
The plot driven books, as most of American crime writing is,can not compare. We have to stop aiming our books and movies only to people who have hard time focusing.Thank you Mr.Booth.
Top notch.......2002-12-24
Excellent mystery set in the north of England. Good sense of place, main characters well developed. plot complex and moves at a good pace. Detective Ben Cooper, a local copper with a good feel fo the locals is not led off on tangents like the others, particularly Detective Diane Fry, who has recently arrived from the south. The murder of Jenny Weston and attack on Maggie Crew appear to be related but it is only towards the end that the link between them becomes clear but is muddied considerably by the apparent link with a dog fighting business.
The resolution is slow coming but very satisfactory. The on-again-off-again relationship between Ben and Diane appears to be warming up but both have depths and secretes not yet available to the other.
Reminds me somewhat of the early books by Peter Robinson. rating 4.5/5
Goes down easily, quickly forgotten.......2002-10-07
The thing that I remember most clearly about _Dancing with the Virgins_ is that both of the detectives in it were a little annoying. Not drunken and rakishly annoying to women, but fussy and disorganized and at least a little bit thick at times. It takes courage to not give in at the last moment and not make your heros larger than life, and Booth at least has that courage. Unfortunately, the lasting enjoyment of the book may have suffered as a result.
I know that I enjoyed the book at the time I read it. It was a quick read and kept me well occupied in a week where I was home sick. My only complaint was that the plot felt a bit overdone, an occupational hazard of the genre. What I notice now that I sit (one week later) to write a review, I found it really difficult to remember who had done what to whom and why.
A woman's body is found in a ring of standing stones which legend has it are the remains of Virgins caught dancing on a Sunday and turned to stone. Bound up in the mystery are a woman with a disfigured face found wandering in the same location, a very angry farmer on the brink of ruin, and a missing girl with dreadlocks who nobody seems to be able to identify. Even while still being at odds, Ben Cooper and Diane Fry need to work together to solve the mystery.
Dancing with the Virgins would be an excellent book for the beach or for an airplane ride. Just do not expect too much from it.
Another solid offering from Stephen Booth..........2002-07-16
As with "Black Dog", Stephen Booth has written a chilly, uncomfortable, airtight story that requires full concentration (or else you'll find yourself going back and reading copious numbers of pages again trying to figure out where you lost the thread), but it rewards. The story is a good one, but I liked his unsparing portrayal of the characters who populate this book and his unflinching and unhappy look at the world of livestock slaughterhouses and failing farms. Quite a long way from a comfortable armchair. Oh, and there's a ripping good mystery here, too!
Amazon.com
Marcus Didius Falco is back in another lively first-century historical mystery. The Roman investigator, informer, and imperial spy's snappy patter, romantic leanings, strong sense of irony, and penchant for getting into interesting situations have won Lindsey Davis a growing number of fans. Flush with his earnings from an African adventure (Two for the Lions), Falco's just been rewarded for his service to the empire with an unusual bit of political patronage: he's been appointed to the largely ceremonial position of Procurator of the Sacred Poultry, meaning he's in charge of the care and feeding of a gaggle of sacred geese. This un-Falco-like upward mobility is an opportunity for Marcus to move his patrician wife, Helena Justina, and their toddler out of a tenement and into a home of their own. As much as Marcus scoffs at middle-class pretensions, he's not above leaving his seedy surroundings and providing his family with some of the finer things, if only to show his in-laws that he can. But when Helena's brother falls over a corpse that disappears before it can be identified, Falco tosses the geese some food and gets busy finding the connection between the dead man and a 6-year-old girl who's in line to be chosen as the new vestal virgin. That leads him into intrigue, danger, and a confrontation with a former vestal virgin that almost costs him his life. Well paced, with good dialogue, excellent plotting, and a cast of terrific characters surrounding Falco and Helena, including some familiar from earlier stories, One Virgin Too Many shows Davis in top form. Falco the family man is better company than ever. --Jane Adams
Book Description
Marcus Didius Falco, the cynical, hard-boiled investigator from the rough end of Rome, is back from a difficult mission in North Africa. As a result of his hard work, Emperor Vespasian awards Falco with the title of Procurator of Poultry for the Senate and People of Rome, or keeper of the city's sacred geese. Not much of a salary, of course, but the title does give him a better standing with his in-laws. Now, all Falco wants is to spend time relaxing at home with his family. But there is no rest for Falco as he finds himself drawn into the world of the Roman religious cults...and the murder of a member of the Sacred Brotherhoods. And then there's the disappearance of the most likely new candidate for the Order of Vestal Virgins. Falco soon uncovers a sinister cover-up-and is too deeply involved to back away from the truth.
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Marcus Didius Falco is a cynical, hard-boiled investigator from the rough end of Rome. He does a bit of everything, from political investigating to art-fraud work. But he never seems to make enough money to move his family out of a seedy tenement. But fresh from his adventure in Two for the Lions in North Africa, he finds new respectability. His efforts are rewarded when he is appointed to a post in the religious hierarchy of government cults and becomes keeper of the city's sacred geese. Now Falco wants nothing more than to spend time relaxing at home. But all too soon he finds himself caught up in the murder of a member of one of the sacred brotherhoods and the disappearance of the most likely new candidate for the Order of Vestal Virgins. Lindsey Davis's look at the complexities of Roman society and attitudes has rarely been so impressively on display as in this engrossing historical mystery.
Customer Reviews:
a pleasure!.......2007-08-03
I had a fun time reading "One Virgin Too Many". As with all Falco mysteries, the humor and affection for the characters is delightful and the history lesson goes down like candy. I was glad to see Marcus FINALLY got his promotion to the Equestrian rank. His accompanying appointment as Keeper of the Sacred Poultry is pretty funny! The linked mysteries of a missing child (the top vestal virgin candidate) and a murdered member of a religious order is interesting and inventive. Such likeable characters! It makes reading the story a pleasure even when the action isn't advancing all that quickly.
Someone's Goose is Cooked.......2006-10-03
This is the eleventh novel in the mystery series featuring Marcus Didius Falco, an informer and sleuth in Rome at the time of Vespasian. A series of books that have become hugely popular, so much so that the author is now at the forefront of historical mystery writers. It was probably a stroke of genius on her part to have novels that are extremely well researched and contain all the elements that would be and should be found in the Roman world of circa AD70, but to have a lead character who has the vocabulary of a present day New York cop.
In this novel Falco becomes embroiled with the religious cults of his beloved Rome after he is approached by a young girl, who claims that someone is trying to kill her. The girl has been proposed as a Vestal Virgin, a highly sought after position, although most of the city believe that the voting is fixed and that another girl will win. Falco and Helena are having dinner a few days later with helea's parents, when Camillus Aelianus returns home shaken to the core at discovering a man's dead body in a Sacred Grove.
Falco has to put his detective's hat on once again, but somewhat reluctantly after all he has recently been given the singular honour of Procurator of the Sacred Geese and he is finding out that the ones with feathers on that strut about and make that stupid noise are not half as attractive as those that haven't and don't . . .
Falco Falters.......2004-11-13
This is a fine series so when I began this volume I had hopes that it would be of the same standard as the others. Ms. Haney has a genuine gift in giving readers the "texture" of everyday life in imperial Rome (at the time of Vespasian and Titus in this one). The dialogue and the characters are both engaging. So what went wrong? A young girl appears to speak with Falco believing someone in her family wants to kill her. And away we go, on and on and on! I was weary by the time I got to the rather flat conclusion and felt that a good editing would have been most helpful; the length of this book (326 pages) really cannot support so thin a story. I was left wondering what had happened and if somehow I had missed something as there was so little going on.
Another Great Story.......2003-05-21
If you have not read any of the Falco series, I strongly recommend that you do so, but start at the beginning. Lindsey Davis gets better with each outing. Her characterization is wonderful, and she peoples her books with lots of eccentric and wonderful people. If you read the series in order, you will get to know them all, plus be able to understand the undercurrants that run between Falco and the many people that are close to him. In this book we see Falco on the search for a missing child. His search exposes him to a very disfunctional family. No wonder the little girl was missing! Her grandfather and all her relations are the worst lot you'll ever meet. The search for the child becomes a race against time, and the last few chapters are "edge-of-your seat". All the while the quips and jokes just seem to flow from the pages. Falco finds himself in a very dangerous and embarrassing position where the lack of wearing a loin cloth under his tunic becomes of paramount importance. This is a wonderful, fast-moving book. Through all the turmoil and danger, Falco finds out that he has a number of people that are very loyal to him and this comes as a pleasant surprise to him, since two of his partners were people he didn't like or didn't trust, and the other - his friend Petronious - had been distant of late. Wonderful Book!
One of the best and hard to put down.......2003-04-13
A great read and one that really holds together and comes to a terrific, well-crafted finale. Up there with Silver Pigs and The Iron Hand of Mars. Maybe the best one where Falco stays in Rome (although I also enjoyed Poseidon's Gold a lot.) Great fun. Keep 'em coming!
Book Description
Annabella Lagrange was the only child of a wealthy family, owners of a glass-works in the North-East of England. When Annabella was seven, she thought the world a delightful place to live in, and only occasionally wondered why her parents never took her beyond the gates of their magnificent country estate. When she was ten she decided that the seclusion didn't really matter because when she grew up she would marry her handsome cousin Stephen and never be lonely again.
But when she was eighteen, Annabella learned the circumstances of her birth--and her entire world crashed around her...
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"Annabella Lagrange had the kind of childhood that most can only dream about. The only child of an aristocratic couple, raised on their magnificent estate in the English countryside, she was loved by her parents and coddled by servants who acquiesced to her every whim. She was allowed to do anything she wanted, except, of course, to stray too far from her wing of the house. But her seclusion didn't concern her too much, because when she grew up, she planned to marry her handsome cousin Stephen and live happily ever after. However, on the morning of her tenth birthday, Annabella ventured farther than she'd ever gone before. Overcome with curiosity, she opened a forbidden door that led into her father's private quarters, and what she found there showed her with shocking clarity that her father was not the man she thought he was. And though she couldn't know it at the time, the events of that day set in motion the uncovering of a secret that had been kept for many years. So begins the remarkable story of Annabella Lagrange, a sensitive, beautiful young woman who was raised as a lady. But when she turns eighteen, she learns the surprising circumstances of her birth, and her entire world quietly crashes around her. Suddenly she's forced from the genteel surroundings of her youth into the rough, lower-class society of Victorian England, where only her quick wit and determination can save her from starvation. Catherine Cookson was one of the world's most beloved writers, and in The Glass Virgin her powers are at their height. Rarely has a heroine been portrayed more sensitively or a situation more compellingly. Filled with passion and drama, The Glass Virgin is a rare treat for lovers of romantic fiction."
Customer Reviews:
vintage Catherine Cookson Edwardian tale .......2004-11-14
Annabella Lagrange has grown up as an overly protected aristocrat. She was never allowed to go outside the gates of her home Redford Hall though once she saw rioting children assault the grounds. She learned when she was younger that her parents were estranged as her father was a womanizer who lived in a different house. Her mother was a pious individual who showered religion on Annabella as if she must save her daughter's soul from the devil or her philandering husband, but never displayed one iota of affection or love towards her child.
Now seventeen, Annabella's gilded cage collapses when her father finally bankrupts her mother's Rosina's glass factory. Her personal life implodes too as Annabella finds out that Rosina is not her mother; that her biological mom is a local madam that her father impregnated. Annabella begins her new life far from wealth as a farmhouse maid with only handsome Manuel Mendoza willing to help her adjust.
This Edwardian tale is vintage Catherine Cookson at her best as the deceased author places her heroine in an extreme makeover in which the probability is that she will not survive. The bottom seems endless as one nasty revelation after another sends a formerly pampered Annabella into the working world. As she slowly adapts she falls in love, but her social upbringing remains part of her personal frame of reference so can she truly find happiness with a working class stiff? Though some readers will detest the myriad of sidebars that describe social conditions in Edwardian England, Ms. Cookson continues to be the best chef for cross-class historical tales of that era even several years after her death.
Harriet Klausner
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