Type Rules!: The Designer's Guide to Professional Typography

Book Description

"I've purchased and read just about every book on typography written over the last twenty-five years. Ilene Strizver's Type Rules! is one of the best. It's a book that will prove its value time and again."
—Allan Haley, Director of Words and Letters, International Typeface Corporation

"Type Rules! is a 'must-have' book for students and professionals alike. I highly recommend it."
—Prof. Ed Benguiat, World-renowned type designer and educator, School of Visual Arts, NYC

Type Rules!, Second Edition is an up-to-date, thorough introduction to the principles and practices of typography. From the fundamentals to cutting-edge applications, this Second Edition has everything today's serious designer needs. Dozens of exercises reinforce authoritative coverage on such topics as how to select the appropriate type for the job, how to set type like a pro, how to avoid common mistakes, and how to design a typeface, as well as how to fully harness the power of major design packages like Adobe InDesign and QuarkXPress.

This new Second Edition also includes three new features:

Tech Tips—Instructional sidebars that succinctly explain how to achieve the covered typographic principles and techniques
Type Tips—Expert tips and helpful hints that offer insightful details on covered topics
Educational Supplements—Exercises and assignments that reinforce material and show how to apply techniques in the real world

Customer Reviews:

Not the best book on the subject.......2006-11-06

The author teaches at SVA, where I'm a student. I had hoped the exercises in this book would improve my skills, but it's really for beginners, giving an overview of the basic principles. And the exercises aren't of much benefit without anyone to critique the results. There are better books out there for a general overview (re: typology).

thorough, thoughtful.......2006-06-30

Type Rules! - geared specifically for teaching at the college level - is one of the best basic typography books I've seen. Ilene Strizver has done a terrific job of breaking down the components of typography into digestable chapters, each complemented by clear, intelligent exercises. The book is replete with illustrations that serve as solid examples of each concept she articulates; and includes guidance for utilizing current design software. I'd recommend this book hands down to any teacher or student of design - as well as to any practicing typographer seeking to hone their skills.

An excellent resource.......2006-06-30

The first edition was an incredibly valuable resource, and I referred to it often in my work. I could easily find answers to all kinds questions about type and design. This new edition is even better. It's still as thoughtfully and clearly written as the first edition, and is still filled with great designs to illustrate a point. But it's been completely updated so it's current with the latest versions of software. And it has some new features like "Type Tips," which I'm finding especially enlightening, and exercises at the end of each chapter, which must make this an excellent text for teachers. This is a "must-have" for graphic designers.

Rules on all levels!!!!!.......2006-06-26

This thoughtfully designed and written book works (rules!) on all levels. For someone entirely new to typography the book is approachable while providing a considerable education. For industry professionals who "know everything there is to know" about typography, the book is an excellent creative reference to remind one of a rule or technique long-forgotten or to alarm one with the realization they do not know everything about typography. The visual examples utilized in the book were well-considered and drive home the messages. The Quark tips alone make this book worth purchasing. As a companion to any library of typography or design books, Type Rules! is the designer's "Elements of Style" -- a reference book no one can afford to be without and one that never goes out of style.

indispensable guidelines from a pro.......2006-05-17

A thorough, straightforward and clearly understandable guide to the effective use of typography. Bravo. Strizver certainly knows the ins and outs of typography from the essential basics to some very sophisticated fine points but, more importantly, is able to communicate this knowledge in a concise manner that will be useful to a beginner but, might even impart some new tips to the experienced aficionado.

Average customer rating:

His Best Work
in response
Not one of Irving's bests
How do I love thee
The Cider House Rules - Review by an author

The Cider House Rules
John Irving
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0786226749

Book Description

First published in 1985, The Cider House Rules is John Irving's sixth novel. Set in rural Maine in the first half of this century, it tells the story of Dr. Wilbur Larch--saint and obstetrician, founder and director of the orphanage in the town of St. Cloud's, ether addict and abortionist. It is also the story of Dr. Larch's favorite orphan, Homer Wells, who is never adopted.

Customer Reviews:

His Best Work.......2007-09-20

This is the best by Irving. It was my 1st read and still the best. The only book I read twice, 15 years apart.

Widow for one Year #2
World according to Garp # 3
Prayer for Owen Meaney # 4
If I Never find You #5
Hotel New Hampshire #6
then Son of the Circus
The Earlier works Water Method man, 50 LB Marriage etc... Not so much

Cider House Rules is a beautiful Thought provoking book. Read it.

in response.......2007-09-10

Anything I have to say about this novel has already been said below. It's wonderful, and I devoured it in two days.

The one thing I will say: The end, sure, was predictable, BUT, Irving allows the reader as much imagination as he/she can muster. There are countless possibilities because the characters are all so different and well developed. I closed the book at least 3 times thinking "Oh my... If this ends the way I think it will right now, I'm going to cry for sure..."

I love this novel. After reading the other reviews on his work, I have to read the other novels too.

Not one of Irving's bests.......2007-04-28

I'm definitely an Irving fan, having read 7 of his books. However, this is not one of my top three. I was a bit disappointed. I found that THE CIDER HOUSE RULES lacked some of the emotional zeal that A WIDOW FOR ONE YEAR and THE WORLD ACCORDING TO GARP had. I never fell in love with the characters of this book.

How do I love thee.......2007-04-13

Oh Irving, how do I love thee.
Another beautiful, fantastic read by Irving.
Cider house rules is another example of Irving's intricate attention to character and unusual story telling.
The characters in this book are wonderfully flawed, the story is detailed and rich.
If you saw and liked the movie, it has nothing on the book. The book is quite different from the movie, but it will not dissapoint.
Another favourite of mine.

The Cider House Rules - Review by an author.......2007-03-04

Doctor Wilbur Larch who was the administrator over an orphanage and occasionally performed abortions became attached to Homer Wells, one of the young men who was adopted twice and brought back. He taught him everything he knew when he grew older and the young man was great help, except he protested his conscious on the abortion issue. One day he left with a couple on a journey to a new life and experienced things he had never seen or done. All the while Dr. Larch's heart was broken because the young man left and he was trying in every way to get him back. He made fake credentials for him and sent him a doctor bag with instruments. Homer fell in love, wound up with a broken heart, worked on an apple farm and performed an abortion for a young black girl whose own father had gotten her pregnant. When he received a letter saying that the Doctor Larch had died, he left on a train and came back there to take up the doctor's mission. The author created a world where truth rules, one which would not be tolerated by the well-meaning media in our current milieu.
Trish New, author of The Thrill of Hope and South State Street Journal.

Average customer rating:

No Regrets And Other True Cases
Ann Rule
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Criminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Murder & Mayhem | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0786290676

Average customer rating:

Ann Rule is the Master!
Not as Good as Others
Yeah! Another Ann Rule Anthology!
Reviewing a book
great product/fast delivery

Worth More Dead and Other True Cases
Ann Rule
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Murder & Mayhem | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 078628322X

Download Description

"A cold case reopened -- and solved -- with dogged police work and new evidence. One of the shocking true crimes of passion and greed from Ann Rule's Crime Files. Former Marine sergeant and judo instructor Roland Pitre Jr. claimed it was all an elaborate plan to win back his wife's love -- it wasn't supposed to end with her dead body in the trunk of a car. Nearly twenty years later, he acknowledged that he had hired someone to kill his estranged wife in 1988, though his alleged excuse for why a monstrous "mistake" happened is as shocking and convoluted as the crime itself. Eventually, he was charged with first-degree murder in the long-unsolved death of Cheryl Pitre, after a mysterious witness betrayed Pitre to save his own skin. Tracing back the dark and bloody path of Pitre's life, two generations of detectives found a chain of brutal and terrifying crimes by a man who manipulated the courts and prisons to walk free.

Customer Reviews:

Ann Rule is the Master!.......2007-03-21

Ann Rule is fabulous. This book is no different then her others, it captures you in the beggining and keeps you turning the pages amazed at what goes on in the world around you.

Not as Good as Others.......2007-03-14

I am a big fan of Ann Rule. I buy every book she writes, just because her name is on it. And I've never been disappointed until now. I thought her main crime story, "Worth More Dead", was lacking in the usual excitement and juicy details she always weaves her stories with. Ms. Rule has seemed to stop writing at length about the police officers' lives, and that is a big plus. I've noticed it in her last few books. It seems like "Worth More Dead" is a long story that doesn't have enough oomph for the main case story. This might have been better off used as one of her other, shorter case files in this or another book. The other, briefer cases she writes of in this book are excellent. Good old Ann Rule tightness, page-turning excitement with incredible cases - hard to put down. Rule fans should not overlook this book.

Yeah! Another Ann Rule Anthology! .......2006-12-31

I must admit I was giddy when I saw this at the grocery store. I so love Ann's work, that I'd read just about anything she's written. This Crime File was a great one. The first story is the more detailed of the bunch and centers on a man that got away with quite a bit in his criminal lifetime. I think the last story however, was the most personal for Rule; you can feel her empathy through the pages. "Desperate Housewife" cronicles a woman's struggle to leave an unhappy marriage and her ultimate demise by the hands of her husband.
I learn so much about the Seattle area in her books...I think I could probably visit one day and know my way around.
If you're a true crime buff, you know Rule's work and certainly don't need to be told to buy this book. If you're new to the genre and want to read a master, here she is!

Reviewing a book.......2006-11-10

I have just started reading Ann Rule's book titled, "Worth More Dead:And Other True Cases (Ann Rule's Crime Files, Vol 10) but I can rate it five stars because I have read all of her books to date and have never found one I didn't like. After all, they are all true crime stories.

great product/fast delivery.......2006-11-03

Product was delivered in fast time and it was as described in the sellers notes, would use seller again in the future.

Average customer rating:

Two Minute Warning
A Good Read
The Two Minute Rule
The Two Minute Rule
I thought it was bitchen!

The Two Minute Rule
Robert Crais
Manufacturer: Wheeler Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Suspense | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

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

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

Mystery & Thrillers | Large Print | Formats | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1597221856

Download Description

"Two minutes can be a lifetime. Ask anyone on the wrong side of the law about the two-minute rule and they'll tell you that's as long as you can hope for at a robbery before the cops show up. Break the two-minute rule and it's a lifetime in jail. But not everyone plays by the rules. . .

Customer Reviews:

Two Minute Warning.......2007-09-25

This starts out as the downbeat tale of an ex-con who finds his police officer son has been murdered on the day he gets out of the joint. He sets out to find the killers as we get all the degrading details of return to civilian life. This is good stuff. Then about halfway through we learn that he's a lovable rouge and we're supposed to root for his romance with the damaged federal agent he enlists to help him. (She's not dissimilar to the damaged bomb squad pro from Crais' Demolition Angel.) Still, Crais is a pro and I appreciate that he offers up ambitious standalones. And the breathless climax delivers.

A Good Read.......2007-09-22

Robert Crais does a good job with character development and Max Holman is a good example. Just enough 'edge' bumps up against him to challenge the daunting task of being a 'civilian' again and reconciling himself not only to having some good traits but also to learn that his son is the man he wanted him to be; honest and of excellent character. He learns about having 'feet of clay' and survives to grow another day.

The Two Minute Rule.......2007-09-18

.The Two Minute Rule: This was very boring to me. I really enjoy mystery/thrillers, but this one just did not have enough drama to it. Slow go all the way, did not even finish. I think it would have been more intriguing if the son and Dad had stayed in touch with each other

The Two Minute Rule.......2007-09-15

Listened to the audio cd on a recent trip and all liked it...

While it is a typical who done it
(I mean how many ways CAN you write a who-done-it? :-} )
it still had some twist that "got us" :)

Well written & EXCELLENT voices by the reader(s)....

I thought it was bitchen!.......2007-07-05

I have not been as ardent a fan of Robert Crais as I have with some other mystery writers, having read only five or six of his books. I'm pretty certain I've experienced all of his major characters and was ready for a new face. I found this book in a used bookstore and pretty much figured it would kill a day or two and that would be that. Frankly, I was blown away by this one, I think it's his best book yet! I don't know any background on the author's personal history but judging by the presumed cathartic release evidenced by this book's content, he either had one solid bummer of a childhood or is a far better novelist than I had previously given him credit for! Read it! This book can make you chew your fingernails while you cry! How many authors can make their readers do that?

Without Pity: Ann Rule's Most Dangerous Killers

Average customer rating:

One of Ann's Best!!
Selected True Crime Stories
Something old, something new
Excellent Collection of True Crime
The Ultimate Collection Of Danger

Without Pity: Ann Rule's Most Dangerous Killers
Ann Rule
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Murder & Mayhem | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

True Crime | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 078626408X

Book Description

A New York Times Bestseller

True Cases from Ann Rule's Crime Files: Vols. 1-8

Ann Rule updates the most astonishing cases from her acclaimed Crime Files series, and presents three shocking, all-new true-crime accounts. In every chapter of Without Pity, she deepens her unrelenting exploration of the evil that lies behind the perfect facades of heartless killers. Analyzing the true nature of the sociopathic mind in chilling detail, she traces the murderous crimes of seemingly ordinary men.

Download Description

" THEY KILL WITHOUT CONSCIENCE. ANN RULE PORTRAYS THEIR SHATTERING CRIMES WITHOUT PITY. In eight stunning Case Files volumes, from A Rose for Her Grave to the #1 blockbuster Last Dance, Last Chance, Ann Rule reigns as ""America's best true-crime writer"" (Kirkus Reviews). Now, she updates the most astonishing cases from that acclaimed series -- and presents shocking, all-new true-crime accounts -- in one riveting anthology. In every explosive chapter of Without Pity, Ann Rule deepens her unrelenting exploration of the evil that lies behind the perfect facades of heartless killers...and the deadly compulsions of greed and power that shatter their outward trappings of material success. They are the admired, trusted neighbor; the affable family man; the sexy, charismatic lover; the high-achieving professional. Perhaps most frightening of all is that they are heroes in their own minds. But when someone gets in the way of their deluded dreams, they are capable of deadly acts of violence with no remorse. Analyzing the true nature of the sociopathic mind in chilling detail, Ann Rule traces the murderous crimes of seemingly ordinary men -- killers who drew their unsuspecting victims into their twisted worlds with devastating consequences. "

Customer Reviews:

One of Ann's Best!!.......2006-06-07

Ann is one of my favorite authors. I am pretty picky in how a book is written and Ann writes them so perfectly as she is there watching the situation Happen. This is of course Another one of Ann's books that you can't put down!

Selected True Crime Stories.......2006-04-25

Ann Rule chose a dozen cases of this book. In each case she was acquainted with some of the people mentioned: victim, survivors, detectives, or the prosecutors of defense attorneys. Sometimes the killer. The first three cases are all new; the last nine cases were taken from previously published books. This is a good introduction to her writings. Note how often economic factors are in the background. Ann Rule lives and works in the Seattle area.

"The Tumbledown Shack" tells of two girls who went hitchhiking to work in Washington state's apple orchards. Their bodies were found in an old abandoned shed. One suspect was found, knew facts about this 1975 case, but was never prosecuted. He died in jail. The case is still open.
"Dead and on Tape" discusses the case which made the biggest impression (the few where Rule knew the killer or victim before the crime occurred). There was a shooting in an alley. A credit card thief lay dead and a detective was wounded in his left hand and side. The police gathered the evidence and investigated. But complications arose from the hidden tape recorder on the victim. Eyewitnesses were found, and the shooter was convicted. Who killed Branko Ellich?
"Fatal Obsession" is the story closest to a horror tale. What happens when a "perfect citizen" turns into an insane killer? Who would slaughter the parents and a child? A torn-up letter revealed the clues that solved this tragedy.
"Campbell's Revenge" tell how no small town is safe from a psychopathic killer, even when they are smiling, handsome, and sincere. Some do look frightening, and are in trouble since childhood. Nature or nurture? What could be more horrible than finding your neighbors murdered?
"One Trick Pony" tells of an accidental death that was later found to be a murder, and solved. There are few trained forensic pathologists outside of the major metropolitan areas. Would a blanket on a body prevent the normal cooling after death?
"The Last Letter" tells of an obsessive possessive love. Is the love of an older married man for a young girl doomed? Bellevue Washington had some of the more bizarre murders over the years. Would financial disaster trigger a murder? Or steroids and Halcyon?
"I'll Love You Forever" tells about a wealthy middle-aged widow who found love with a confidence man. Her accidental death was found to be murder, and justice was served.
"Murder and the Proper Housewife" is a tale of a hired murderer who failed the proper housewife who hired him! It would be crazy if it wasn't all true.
"The Most Dangerous Game" tells about two teenage girls who fantasized about a better life away from their families. But not all strangers are friendly with good intentions. The scratching against the cabin could have been from a snow-laden low tree branch.
"The Killer Who Never Forgot" tells about a young wife and her baby found strangled. Could a husband kill them just for insurance money? Two juries said "yes" and he got a life term. He was paroled after 14 years and lived a good life afterwards.
"The Lost Lady" is about Marcia Moore; being rich, beautiful, and intelligent does not guarantee happiness. Did a belief in the occult foretell disaster? Does taking a drug lead to happiness? Marcia Moore disappeared suddenly, her skeletal remains were found years later.
"The Stockholm Syndrome" discusses "brainwashing" where a captive defends their captor. What if you met a stranger while alone in a wilderness? When "brainwashing" wore off, Robin recalled the true facts: it was a murder. The testimony about the brainwashing was sort of a precedent - furtive conduct to cover up a crime.

Something old, something new.......2006-04-22

I really, really love Ann Rule. "Without Pity" is a collection of 12 short cases, three new, the rest reruns from her earlier books. I personally like her long books that contain one story, such as "Small Sacrifices", or the True Crime Files volumes which contain one book-length story supplemented by a few shorter stories, such as "Last Dance, Last Chance". But if you have read her longer works, and can't get enough of Ann Rule, the three new stories in this book alone will be worth the price of admission. If you have not read Ann Rule's earlier books, the older stories are all very interesting ones too.

Excellent Collection of True Crime.......2005-06-20

"Without Pity" is a collection of short true crime stories by Ann Rule. Ann Rule is the premier true crime author and treats the stories she writes about with careful sensitivity, not sensationalism. The majority of the cases collected in this volume were older crimes from the late 1960s/early 1970s.

I love Ann Rule. I have read quite a few of her novels and her writing style is very friendly and she treats the subject matter with respect. "Without Pity" was chilling. Quite a few of the cases gave me the chills. If you are a fan of true crime, you will definitely want to read this volume.

The Ultimate Collection Of Danger.......2005-01-15

I can understand why some reviewers are disappointed in this book; especially since they are avid Ann Rule readers and perhaps felt the book was merely a collection of stories they already read. So for the big Ann Rule readers, this book may not be the one to get.

That said, I have to give "Without Pity" 4 stars simply because although I am a huge true crime buff, I have never read any of Ann Rule's books and I found this collection of her works to be a very enjoyable and interesting read. The book contains updates plus three new stories. I can see why Ann Rule is one of the best true crime authors around, and these stories really chilled my bones. They hit very close to home, as all of them took place in Washington State and Oregon; and especially around the Seattle area where I have friends and family. Rule writes and crafts these stories exceptionally well, and they definitely stick in your mind for a long time after reading them.

Rule starts off this book with the three new cases. The first is called "The Tumbledown Shack" which takes place in Chelan County. A man found two deceased girls in a shack; their throats slit. They had traveled from Oregon to do some extra work by apple picking, and had been hitch hiking. But who killed them? Was it a boyfriend? Was it Jack Stolle who confessed to meeting up with two girls and killing them? Or was it Rudy Snell, who supposedly suggested getting rid of the girls after they found out that they supposedly took their money?

The second story is called "Dead And On Tape" which takes place in Seattle. It is basically about a guy with a past record named Nick Kyreacos and a police officer named Stan Tappan. Tappan claims he feared Kyreacos when he saw him in an ally because of a past confrontation with him. But Kyreacos felt he had to prove to the world who Tappan really was. And a tape recorder could help a man speak from beyond the grave.

The final new case is called "Fatal Obsession." This is the sad story of a happy marriage that went down the tube under the worst of circumstances. It takes place on an island called Bainbridge which is close to Seattle. Lori Rennsler had been killed by a near decapitation of her head and her son Stevie had been stabbed in the neck. Their dachshund puppy had been stabbed too. All roads lead to the husband, Kip Rennsler, who worked at a bank and hadn't been himself lately and seemingly went off the deep end. You'll read about some of the most far-fetched and bizarre behavior there is in this story.

The next story; the first of the chronicles, is the one that sticks in my mind the most and still leaves me with a disturbed and eerie feeling. It is called "Campbell's Revenge" (from "A Rose For Her Grave") Imagine being a single mother alone at home and being raped by a huge red-haired man. Now imagine having years of nightmares about this incident after the guy is captured, only to have authorities fail to inform you that he has been released. In the end, you have nothing left to imagine because he has come back to finish the job and you and your daughter are dead. Something as horrific as this is just plain unimaginable. This is the tragic story of Renae Wicklund and her daughter Shannah, and the big red-haired monster named Charles Campbell who killed them. I must say, I was completely angry, disturbed and sad after reading this story.

The other chronicles from Ann Rule's previous stories are intense as well. You'll read "One Trick Pony" where a horse seemingly kicked Donna Bennett and killed her. At least that what her husband Russ claims. You'll read the tale of "The Last Letter" where an overly possessive and obsessive husband with irrational thoughts named Bill Brand makes his lovely wife Jackie disappear forever. Then comes the story of Ruth Logg in "I'll Love You Forever," who thought she found perfect love with a successful businessman named Anthony Fernandez. But after a crashed Winnebago is found with Ruth's body nearby, it seems that she had found the perfect killer. Next is "Murder And The Proper Housewife," which is about Nancy Brooks and the son of her best friend, the strange Bennett LeClerk. With Bennett, Nancy may have gone too far to help her friend seemingly in need in a bad marriage. After that you will read "The Most Dangerous Game" about two rebellious teens who think camping up in the mountains and hitch hiking is great. Along the way they meet a man named Al who takes them under his wing. But their new found friend is into big game hunting and he does not hunt animals or fish. Then comes the tale of "The Killer Who Never Forgot Or Forgave" which is about Arne Kaarsten and his wife that he "found" strangled in the living room and his baby strangled in her crib. He claims that there was a mysterious man lurking around their house. But he himself could be the mystery man taking care of an unhappy marriage. Next you'll read into the world of astrology and psychics with "The Lonely Lady," about a psychic and yoga guru named Marcia Moore who lived to find answers to a past life and another world; even going so far as to try drug use. Marcia's bizarre disappearance is completely baffling. Finally, the last story is "The Stockholm Syndrome" where a young couple come upon a hitman named Tom while on a camping trip. It is about murder, and the art of brainwashing.

I found all these stories to be very interesting. If you have not read Ann Rule before, or if you want to try your first true crime novel, "Without Pity" is definitely the book for you. It keeps you reading, you are put into each story, and you can feel what the victims are going through. Chilling, compelling, well-written and disturbing, Ann Rule gives us a collection of crime to remember.

Every Breath You Take: A True Story of Obsession, Revenge, and Murder

Average customer rating:

Too long and drawn out
A Man Who Can't Let Go!
Best Bet
600 pages should have been 300!
Can't get passed the 30th page.

Every Breath You Take: A True Story of Obsession, Revenge, and Murder
Ann Rule
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Criminology | Crime & Criminals | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Murder & Mayhem | True Accounts | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

Mystery & Thrillers | Large Print | Formats | Books

Nonfiction | Large Print | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0783896808

Book Description

When beautiful, blond Sheila married the charming, handsome Blackthorne, she was convinced she had found her perfect soul mate, and helped him attain the privileged life of the country club set. But behind Allen's smooth facade, she discovered a violent, controlling sociopath -- a liar, a scam artist, a sexual deviant. When she finally fled with their two young daughters, she was skeletally thin, bruised, and beaten.

Although Sheila recovered and remarried, she still felt she was doomed. Joyously pregnant -- she and her new husband expected quadruplets -- Sheila still feared Blackthorne would use his millions and power to track her down. As did her killer, who left her in a pool of blood marked by the tiny footprints of her two-year old toddlers. Could the authorities ever link Sheila's murder to Blackthorne himself? Was his true obsession high-stakes golf and his extravagant pink mansion -- or was it to destroy Sheila?

Following a trail of deception from Oregon and Hawaii to Texas and Florida, Ann Rule gained complete access to Sheila's family, friends, and neighbors, as well as to the detectives and prosecutors on the case. With Every Breath You Take, Ann Rule has written a heart-pounding account of obsession, revenge, and murder that will enthrall listeners from beginning to end.

Download Description

If anything ever happens to me, promise me that you will see that there is an investigation....And find Ann Rule and ask her to write my story," Sheila Blackthorne Bellush told her sister after she divorced multimillionaire Allen Blackthorne. Now, in perhaps the first book ever written at a victim's request, America's Number One bestselling true-crime writer, Ann Rule, untangles a horrific web of lies that culminated in Sheila's savage murder more than ten years after she left Blackthorne. When beautiful, blond Sheila married the charming, handsome Blackthorne, she was convinced she had found her perfect soul mate, and helped him reach his goal of living the privileged life of the country club set. But behind Allen's smooth facade, she discovered a violent, controlling sociopath -- a liar, a scam artist, a sexual deviant. When she finally fled with their two young daughters, she was skeletally thin, bruised, and beaten. Although Sheila recovered, remarried, and was starting a new life and family, she still felt she was doomed. Joyously pregnant, she and her new husband expecting quadruplets, Sheila still feared Blackthorne, who had sworn to her he would monitor her every move and "every breath you take." And, in fact, Blackthorne inevitably tracked her down, as did her killer, who left her in a pool of blood marked by the tiny footprints of her two-year-old toddlers. The questions remained: Could the authorities ever link Sheila's murder to Blackthorne himself? Was his true obsession high-stakes golf and his extravagant pink mansion -- or was it to destroy Sheila? Following a trail of deception from Oregon and Hawaii to Texas and Florida, Ann Rule gained complete access to Sheila's family, friends, and neighbors, as well as to the detectives and prosecutors on the case. With Every Breath You Take, Ann Rule has written a heart-pounding account of obsession, revenge, and murder that will enthrall readers from beginning to end.

Customer Reviews:

Too long and drawn out.......2007-08-13

This book is filled with extraneous stuff that could have well been left out. I've loved all the other Rule books I've read, but this one was a real let down for me. It would have been good being half as long.

I think it would have been better not written at all, and possibly the request by the victim to have Anne write it clouded her better judgement.

A Man Who Can't Let Go!.......2007-06-23

Of course, Sheila Bullush said that if she was murdered that Ann Rule should write a book about it. For Ann Rule, she kept a promise from an unknown woman. This book is about the troubled marriage that ended in a nasty divorce. Her former husband can't let her go without her. It's more of a male ego and pride than anything else. She left him, divorced him, remarried, and gave birth to quadruplets (4 babies at a time) with the help of fertility treatments. She also had two daughters from a prior marriage, the nasty one. Sheila is murdered but she thought she was safe from her ex. We read about how the four babies are found with their mother's blood on them. Her husband had hired a hitman to kill her. I feel sorry for her two older daughters who loved their father and torn in a nasty divorce. One of them reluctantly revealed the location of their mother's whereabouts. After all, they didn't think their father would go so far. Regarding Sheila, I don't know much to make a judgment about her. She was a fan of Ann Rule but she was torn, troubled, and always hiding and living in constant fear of an ex-husband from hell. I have sympathy and empathy for her second husband who became her widower and the father of four young children.

Best Bet.......2007-01-26

I have never been disappointed by an Ann Rule book. All are page turners. Though, this is not one of my favorite books from her, it will still have you up reading late. Also try "Stranger Beside Me" and "Small Sacrifices".

600 pages should have been 300!.......2006-12-30

The story is interesting but way, way too long. Ann Rule's books keep getting worse. Her first books were great but have gone down hill lately. Some are nothing more than old newspaper articles put into book form. This one is half filler material about houses, cities, wedding dress descriptions.........yawn. I'm done spending good money on bad Ann Rule books.

Can't get passed the 30th page........2006-07-30

I would not tell anyone to read this book. [No offense to the family it's about] but I wanted a book I could get so into I wouldn't put the book down, this book -- I couldn't keep reading. It's way too boring in the first 30 pages, I just gave up with it. A waste of my money.

The Mercy Rule (G K Hall Large Print Book Series)

Average customer rating:

The Mercy Rule
Good mystery; good characters
OPENING A LESCROAT BOOK IS LIKE MEETING OLD FRIENDS
Thoughtful and engrossing legal thriller
A Terrific and Utterly Enthralling Book

The Mercy Rule (G K Hall Large Print Book Series)
John T. Lescroart
Manufacturer: MacMillan Publishing Company.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Legal | Thrillers | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

Mystery & Thrillers | Large Print | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0783803443

Amazon.com

Dismas Hardy, the dart-playing, saloon-keeping lawyer who is one of John Lescroart's most consistently interesting and appealing heroes, faces a dilemma: if he can prove to a jury that Graham Russo helped his father Sal kill himself because the sick old man asked him to, a liberal San Francisco jury will probably vote to acquit Graham of first-degree murder. Hardy would love to plead manslaughter to escape the wrath of the state's attorney general who wants to nail Graham. However, despite the evidence against him, Graham insists he didn't do it. What is a lawyer to do, and who can he believe?

Although Lescroart leads the reader up and down a few blind alleys before the truth comes out, the mystery's not the thing here. It's the characters and their back stories that make this such a good read. Foremost among them is Graham, who washed out of pro baseball and walked out of a promising law career before finding the father who once deserted him long ago. The core of the story is Graham's relationship with Sal, who's losing his mind to Alzheimer's but may still be a threat to a federal judge who was once his closest friend. Then there's Sarah Evans, the homicide cop who falls in love with her suspect. For good measure, there are some changes in the lives of those characters who are familiar to readers from other Dismas Hardy adventures--Abe Glitsky, the half Jewish, half black cop; Drysdale, the D.A. who's been beaten in court by Dismas in previous outings; Frannie, Dismas's wife; Moses, his brother-in-law; and Dismas himself, who becomes more interesting every time Lescroart brings him back. While the pacing is langorous and the denouement not as tight as it might be, The Mercy Rule provides a complex and satisfying reading experience. --Jane Adams

Amazon.com Audio Review

Against his better judgment, Dismas Hardy decides to defend fellow attorney and onetime baseball star Graham Russo, indicted for murder in the death of his ailing father, Sal. At first, Sal's death looks like suicide--his plans to kill himself before his cancer or his Alzheimer's made life unlivable were well known. And Graham admits administering morphine to ease his father's suffering. Was it a mercy killing? Maybe. But then Sal's valuable collection of baseball cards turns up in Graham's safe-deposit box. The stage is set for a confrontation between Graham and his old law-school rival, now assistant state attorney, and between Dismas and his old friend, Homicide Chief Abe Glitsky. But an appealing woman cop who falls in love with her suspect and a senior judge with a personal interest in the trial's outcome keep changing the odds. What lifts this courtroom drama a notch above Lescroart's earlier mysteries featuring the ruminative and appealing Hardy are Dismas's reflections on how out of touch he's become with his family--something he'd vowed to correct until Graham Russo came to him for help. Veteran stage and screen actor John Shea captures Hardy's inner conflicts in a voice soft with the glow of fine Irish whiskey; audio fans are in for a treat. (Running time: six hours, four cassettes) --Jane Adams

Book Description

In Dismas Hardy, New York Times bestselling author John Lescroart has created one of the most complex and engaging characters in contemporary fiction. Hardy, the former bartender, loving husband and father, and reluctant defense attorney of Lescroart's blockbuster novel The 13th Juror, returns in The Mercy Rule to face his most challenging case yet.

Having vowed to spend more time with his wife and kids, Dismas Hardy is hesitant to take on the case of Graham Russo, a could-have-been-great baseball player turned lawyer indicted for the murder of his father, Sal. Everyone close to the Russos knew Sal was dying, and that he needed morphine injections to ease his suffering. Graham freely admits to administering those injections, but insists he wasn't there the night of Sal's overdose and resultant death. Was it suicide, murder--or mercy? With personal and professional tensions mounting, Hardy finds himself face-to-face with a terrifying truth: If this was a murder, he might well be the next person to die.

With his mastery of courtroom drama, and solid connection to the human element that makes his fiction so compelling, John Lescroart has created in The Mercy Rule an intelligent and richly satisfying thriller.

Customer Reviews:

The Mercy Rule.......2006-07-31

Dismas Hardy, at his best. A regular guy, working hard at his craft, to support his family. The usual Abe Glinsky, Frannie, children and cast of characters. Deep development of the victim, the accused, policemen, politicians and dysfunctional, families. Was it murder or mercy? A question, we may all, at some point, have to answer. Excellent courtroom drama.

Good mystery; good characters.......2003-10-20

The good thing about a Lescroart mystery is not so much the mystery as the characters who intersect the mystery. Murder's the name but the players are the game. Here Lescroart touches on an emotionally charged issue, euthanasia or mercy killing. There's a nice analogy with the game of baseball, perhaps unintentional, which is that in the early levels of the game the adolescent players learn 'the slaughter rule,' allowing a team which has no chance of winning having fallen behind an insurmountable lead, to exit with some self respect intact.

Hence we have Sal Russo, years ago a bright guy married to his sweetheart, knowing all along she is from a different life, years later preparing to die alone, the target of an agonizing tumor complicated by the onset of alzeimers. He is reunited by his oldest son, Graham, who tried his own (and his father's) dream of playing in the big game, only to fall short. Sal dies under mysterious circumstances with a DNR (do not revive) warning in plain view.

That Graham is arrested, then released, then indicted for murder, reflects the indecision the politicians, their constituents and the police have on this painful topic. Do the terminally ill have control over the time that they cross the river, or do we let events rob them of their remaining dignity?

Dismas Hardy is again the reluctant guardian at the gate, not wanting murder as a crime he defends, all the while knowing it's where his true strength . . . and definition lies.

If there is an irritant, it is the tedious relationship he has with his wife, Frannie. So many alter egos of the novelist's heroes love their partner for what they do, yet make life difficult for them because they do it. Kudos as an aside to Lucy Chenier, Elvis Pike's lover, who got up and left.

But with that one comment, a multi-latered book for the reader who wants social issues, murder most foul, great complicated characters and unexpected twists. Not a fast read but a very good job.

OPENING A LESCROAT BOOK IS LIKE MEETING OLD FRIENDS.......2002-10-30

Lescroat has that ability to make his primary characters believeable and earthy. In the "Dismas" books one feels like they are returning to old friends who have encountered some problems along the way. The only problem is that Dismas always seems to get involved in MURDER! And when that happens you can rest assured that Dismas looks under every stone until he finds the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

"The Mercy Rule" was a great 'who dunnit' with quite a few possibilities on the list of suspects but the author holds us in suspense until the enth degree - as we rule out each suspect and turn the pages faster and faster to learn the identity of the true killer.

Even with murder, mystery and mayhem, Lescroat instills a sense of duty, family loyalty and love in his novels and he shows no exception with The Mercy Rule. A great read.

Thoughtful and engrossing legal thriller.......2002-09-25

Lescroart is not an author I recommend to people seeking an easy,lightweight and disposable read.His San Francisco set legal tales tend to be quite complex,and multi-layered with an emphasis on issues and characterization as well as plot.
The Mercy Rule is no exception to the pattern.Its centre piece is the trial of Graham Russo,lawyer turned wanna be baseball player,who is accused of killing Salvatore ,his father and stealing his money and vintage baseball card collection.Salvatore was terminally ill with an inoperable brain tumour as well as in the grip of Alzheimer's.Some -including liberal SF District Attorney,Sharon Pratt,see it as a mercy killing-assissted suicide-and refuse to proseecute.The State of Califirnia takes a different view and put Graham on trial.
His defence is entrusted to Lescroart regular character,Dismas Hardy.The trial ,crisply and dranatically presented,is compelling reading but occupies only around 30%of the book and the verdict is delivered with around 60 pages of the book left.The coda sees Hardy digging into events leading up to Salvatore,s death
The build up to the trial is fascinating with the whole issue of assisted suicide and the conflicting views it gives rise to dealy with fairly and impartially.The investigation is complicated by the developinhg relationship between Graham and the homicide detective Sarah Lee who has been assigned to the case and we identify with Dismas Hardy in his desire to be a defence attorney when the main source of income is in borin but financially rewarding corporate law issues

The downside to the Lescroart method is a certain leisureliness of pace and the book ,nearer 500 than 400 pages,does have its longeurs but overall its rewarding and full of inside information on legal processes and political wheeling and dealing,something which seems to be an inevitable part of the legal process in America

A Terrific and Utterly Enthralling Book.......2002-08-28

As a fan of Lescroart, I would say he has lived up to his usual exceedingly high standard. Graham Russo, a former baseball star, has been charged with the murder of his ailing father, Sal. Graham proclaims his innocence, but it seems like an open and shut case. Sal had Alzheimers, as well as $50000 and some valuable baseball cards, hidden in his home. The prosecution contends that Graham, a paramedic, incapacitated Sal and gave him a fatal injection of morphine, which led to his death. The money and cards are the motive. Meanwhile, the whole of San Francisco believes that Sal was in great pain, and that his dutiful son helped him die out of mercy. As the media decends upon the trial, it is up to Dismas Hardy to get his client a fair trial. Full of surprising twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Although some elements of the story are hard to believe, (such as the Defendant's affair with a hot cop), Lescroart's brilliantly detailed imagery makes it all come alive. Every piece of the puzzle is intricately layed out as Lescroart weaves his tale, leading to a magnificently stunning conclusion

Using Type Right: 121 Basic No-Nonsense Rules for Working With Type

Average customer rating:

Using Type Right: 121 Basic No-Nonsense Rules for Working With Type
Philip Brady
Manufacturer: NTC/Contemporary Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Typing | Business Skills | Reference | Subjects | Books

Average customer rating:

TALES FOR A JEWISH INDIAN
A Pageturner for sure!
Oh Come On
A South-Western Success!
Great Book!!!

Santa Fe Rules
Stuart Woods
Manufacturer: Thorndike Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Mystery & Thrillers | Large Print | Formats | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1560545135

Book Description

A brutal triple homicide has just gone down at a lavish estate in one of Santa Fe's most exclusive enclaves.The crime sends shock waves through the city and reverberates in the life of Wolf Willet. A wealthy Hollywood producer, Wolf was in New York at the time of the murders—thousands of miles away from the grisly scene.But the house in New Mexico belongs to him, and it isn't long before the police finger him as the prime suspect.As the cops build a powerful circumstantial case against him, Wolf turns to Ed Eagle, one of the nation's premier defense attorneys. But even the renowned lawyer is powerless in the face of such damning evidence, and Wolf is arrested. When another gruesome slaying rocks Santa Fe, Wolf - determined to uncover the truth behind this vendetta of escalating violence - enlists the aid of two unlikely allies: a sociopathic biker and a beautiful ex-con. But justice will be a long time coming, as he goes up against a system as venal and corrupt as the criminals it puts away. Now Wolf Willet is embroiled in the fight of his life in a desert town primed and ready to explode. A town where killers rule.

A non-stop action ride filled with astonishing curves you never see coming

Customer Reviews:

TALES FOR A JEWISH INDIAN.......2005-01-26

One of the strangest nuances of this book is Ed Eagle, who everyone seems to think is a Native American, but as we learn later, he is really a Jew and was accepted as an Indian because of his basketball prowess. Okay, Mr. Woods, that's original. Too bad the rest of the novel isn't quite so fresh; but indeed SANTA FE RULES manages to weave an involving, if somewhat hard to believe tale.
Anyone who's read a great deal of mystery novels will see the truth in this novel very early on. Woods does manage to throw in a neat twist at the end, but it only enhances what an astute reader will have already figured out.
Woods writes like a screenwriter; much of his narrative would transfer well to the big screen. A little faster pacing would have enhanced the book as well. But if you're in the mood for a superflous but highly entertaining read, SANTA FE RULES delivers.

A Pageturner for sure!.......2001-07-05

I brought this book along with me to read during an originally short plane trip. I started reading it on the way home and after two planes and a 5 hour delay in the middle, I easily finished this book in one day. This was a great book to have with me because it was really a page turner and helped to quickly pass the time. One thing I think Stuart Woods does well is put several twists into his books which made me look up and say "No way!" throughout this book.

The main character is Wolf Willet who we get to know in the start as a guy who likes his routine and has made a large amount of money in the entertainment business. In the beginning he flies from Sante Fe on his way to LA and has plane troubles and lands near the Grand Canyon. He reads the NY Times headline which says that his wife, his best friend, and him are found shot dead at his home in a guest bedroom. Through the entire rest of the book, Wolf continues to find out who the killer and the dead people really are. You are introduced to many characters who you consistently question...who do you really trust?

This was a great mystery by Stuart Woods and I would definately recommend it to anyone!

Oh Come On.......2000-09-29

Very disappointing. Stuart Woods can be very good. That's why I read him. Chiefs, Grass Roots, and Run Before the Wind were excellent. Other books have not been so wonderful and this was one of them. I kept finding myself saying, "Oh come on" way too many times during this book. Wolf doesn't seem to have a conscience, and I found it hard to find any redeeming qualities in him. This book was just too slick, and the characters way too shallow. Your wife is just killed, so you fly off to L.A. to finish a script? You start an affair? What's missing from this picture?

A South-Western Success!.......2000-07-27

This is one of my favorite Stuart Woods' novels. I found it at a local used bookstore and decided to try it. This was my second novel by Stuart Woods and I feel, one of his best. Mr. Woods studied and described the atmosphere and terrain of the south-west in great detail, which was enjoyable. Another winner for Stuart Woods.

Great Book!!!.......2000-07-11

I started this book in school during required reading time in English, by the end of the day i had finished the book. Woods keeps you on your toes the whole time while leaving you wanting to find out what happens next. Reading this book was some of the most enjoyable reading I have had. I cannot recommend this book enough to people.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books