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From the moment he entered medical school in the late 1970s, people around Michael Swango thought he was a little odd. But even though he expounded upon his obsessions with violent death and serial killings to anybody within earshot, almost nobody connected him to the string of deaths among patients under his care. When an investigation finally took place at the Ohio State medical center, hospital administrators sympathized with Swango--against the direct testimony of patients and nurses--and seemed more concerned with how revelations of a murderous doctor might affect their public image than with the safety of their clients. And, remarkably, even after being released from prison in Illinois, where he had been convicted of (nonfatally) poisoning several of his coworkers, Swango was able to obtain positions at hospitals in South Dakota and New York. When American authorities finally started to pursue his case, he fled the country and began plying his trade in Zimbabwe. In June 1998, after being captured during an attempt to reenter the United States, he was sentenced to 42 months in federal prison--on fraud charges related to his employment in New York.
The truly frightening aspect of Blind Eye is not the relentless chain of murders, but the ease with which Swango was able to repeatedly slip through the cracks in the medical system, simply by lying about the nature of his felony conviction. James B. Stewart methodically traces every step of Swango's career, laying out a straightforward narrative with all the suspense of a well-crafted thriller. Although attempts to "explain" Swango's behavior through psychopathology and a historical rise in the incidences of serial killing derail the ending somewhat, Blind Eye is still a must-read for true crime buffs--or anyone who enjoys good journalism. --Ron Hogan
Book Description
No one could believe the handsome young doctor might be a serial killer. Wherever he was hired -- in Ohio, Illinois, New York, South Dakota -- Michael Swango at first seemed the model physician. Then his patients began dying under suspicious circumstances.
At once a gripping read and a hard-hitting look at the inner workings of the American medical system, Blind Eye describes a professional hierarchy where doctors repeatedly accept the word of fellow physicians over that of nurses, hospital employees, and patients -- even as horrible truths begin to emerge. With the prodigious investigative reporting that has defined his Pulitzer Prize-winning career, James B. Stewart has tracked down survivors, relatives of victims, and shaken coworkers to unearth the evidence that may finally lead to Swango's conviction.
Combining meticulous research with spellbinding prose, Stewart has written a shocking chronicle of a psychopathic doctor and of the medical establishment that chose to turn a blind eye on his criminal activities.
Customer Reviews:
Black Eye for the Medical Profession.......2007-01-29
This is a fascinating story about how the medical establishment did not detect a psycopath in their midst. Even after detection, they allowed him to continue as a doctor.
Even more upsetting was the failure of the faculty of the college of medicine at Southern Illinois University to detect and fail incompetent students. These students, including Michael Swango, were allowed to continue; even after episodes of total incompetence. If these policies are common at other medical schools, it offers an explanation for the large number of substandard physicians.
Great Book.......2007-01-09
Not only was this book a great read, it also displays the significant truth about the world of medicine. This type of behavior (ignoring what's in front of you) happens everyday in medicine. All credentialing personnel should be required to read this book.
Required reading for anyone who receives medical care.......2006-11-29
I was given "Blind Eye" when I first began working at a physician monitoring program as a clinician. At the time, I was under the impression that because physicians have so much responsibility to "do no harm," they would automatically report themselves or fellow physicians if they believed they were impaired mentally, physically or emotionally. How wrong I was!
"Blind Eye" represents the epitome of how our medical system supports physicians, even when they are dangerous to themselves and others. Through a painstaking and exhaustive review of the life and career of Dr. Michael Swango, James B. Stewart illustrates how easy it was for a medical doctor to manipulate nurses, colleagues, administrators, patients, and even his own family into believing that he was a competent physician. Stewart further demonstrates how the "good old boy" system is alive and well in America, in which doctors look the other way when something seems wrong, even when evidence to the contrary is right in front of them.
If I had not read this book, knowing it is a true story, I probably would not have believed that a physician could truly get away with murder; now I am truly convinced that this is, unfortunatly, the case. "Blind Eye" should be required reading for every person who works with or sees a personal physician.
terrific read....uh, except for............2006-08-29
Stewart's coverage of the l'affaire Swango is exemplary--one of the best true crime reads in the last ten years, this one....except...except for what I've found to be a common occurrence in books of this genre, namely, in this instance, that Michael Swango, not once, not twice, but probably 20 times, is described as "handsome": what's up with that? Swango looks like a cartoon horse, and in no sense of the word "handsome" is he, well, even slightly better than subpar in the looks department. Several b/w pix here document this guy's oversized choppers, narrow head, and so on. So why is this the case? Possibly to lure name actors into vying for the lead in a filming of this, and thus make the project more attractive in order to secure a better deal? That's the only thing I can think of and, as I say, this is a common problem in the true crime genre. SO: it's a five-star read, but docked a notch because, if the author continually overstates a major fact regarding the book's main character's appearance, the reader HAS to wonder, Hey, what other liberties are taken with the truth here? Be that as it may--a tip o' the hat to Stewart for his page-turning prose. Possibly the best book I've ever read about a poisoner, including the great works covering the infamous 19th and early 20th century cases, when poison was much in vogue.
SERIAL KILLER DOCTOR...!!!!.......2006-08-21
THIS BOOK IS A GREAT POWER PACKED STORY OF HOW A SERIAL KILLER DOCTOR COULD GET AWAY WITH HIS MURDERS FOR SO LONG, AND BE COVERED UP BY THE "DOCTORS PROFESSIONAL PROTECT EACH OTHER RULES" AGAIN AND AGAIN. IT IS VERY SCARY HOW U CAN NOT EVEN TRUST A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL WHEN IN THE HOSPITAL. IT CERTAINLY WILL MAKE ME QUESTION ANYTHING I AM GIVEN OR INJECTED WITH NEXT TIME I AM IN THE HOSPITAL. A MUST READ IF U HAVE WONDERED HOW MEDICAL "ACCIDENTS" HAPPEN!!
Book Description
"A vivid and compelling book." (
Time magazine)
Erik Weihenmayer was born with retinoscheses, a degenerative eye disorder that would leave him blind by the age of thirteen. But Erik was determined to rise above this devastating disability and lead a fulfilling and exciting life.
In this poignant and inspiring memoir, he shares his struggle to push past the limits imposed on him by his visual impairment-and by a seeing world. He speaks movingly of the role his family played in his battle to break through the barriers of blindness: the mother who prayed for the miracle that would restore her son's sight and the father who encouraged him to strive for that distant mountaintop. And he tells the story of his dream to climb the world's Seven Summits, and how he is turning that dream into astonishing reality (something fewer than a hundred mountaineers have done).
From the snow-capped summit of McKinley to the towering peaks of Aconcagua and Kilimanjaro to the ultimate challenge, Mount Everest, this is a story about daring to dream in the face of impossible odds. It is about finding the courage to reach for that ultimate summit, and transforming your life into something truly miraculous.
"I admire you immensely. You are an inspiration to other blind people and plenty of folks who can see just fine." (Jon Krakauer, author of
Into Thin Air)
Customer Reviews:
Touch the Top of the World: A Blind Man's Journey to Climb Farther than the Eye Can See: My Story.......2007-08-03
Erik spoke at the American Dental Assoc. conference in Denver where my husband got the
chance to meet him. He autographed a copy of the book "To Gray, Reach!".
I happened upon it while cleaning last week and was immediately intrigued. I
used to rock climb but have not been actively involved in the sport for a
couple years. Anyway, I have never written to any author before but was so
impressed with Erik's gift of story telling that I had to write. He is one
funny dude. I laughed out loud at his adventures and dialog with his
climibing partners. It brought back fond memories of previous climbing trips
and the fun times I shared with my climbing buddies. I will probably never
climb any of the seven summits but was able to enjoy expericing these climbs
through his words.
I am an Occupational Therapist and meet people everyday in my work that
exhibit self-limiting behavior that prevents them from living full,
enriched, healthy lives. I am going to recommend Erik's book to encourage
others to REACH! Thanks for a great book! What a refreshing way to look at
life...
Believe the Unbelievable .......2007-03-29
This was a terrific book that I could not put down. The story was easy to concentrate on and I learned a lot when reading it. I learned that blind people are a lot more capable than people say, what the visually impaired go through, and mountain climbing. Though the story is true, it is unbelievable that Erik Weihenmayer could climb the seven summits, especially Mount Everest. Even though I don't really read autobiographies or biographies, this book appealed to me. Erik is an incredible writer, and it is easy to connect with the characters in the book. I would definitely recommend this book to others because you learn to believe the unbelievable.
Great Book - Highly Recommended.......2007-02-10
My company had Erik speak to us and as part of a day long meeting. At the end, we all got signed copies of the book for free. I am not an avid reader but grabbed the book on the way to the airport for a flight. Very quickly I found that I couldn't put the book down which doesn't happen that often. Unlike some of the other reviewers, I found myself more fascinated by his life growing up and his experiences outside of climbing. The climbing part was good too but I probably didn't appreciate it nearly as much as a climber that understands the true challenges a person faces on the mountains they summited.
I was very impressed with his overall writing style. He was very descriptive in each story which gave you a feel of being there. Erik also does a good job of making the reader laugh throughout each story. I got several strange looks in the airport as I laughed while reading some of his antics.
It was great listening to Erik speak, also. I wish I had read the book before he talked with us so I could have better appreciated his visit. He was a fun guy to listen to and very friendly.
One of My New Favorite Books.......2006-05-22
Before beginning this review, I read the reviews of others; good and bad. I'm shocked at the venom spewed by people who called Erik Weihenmayer an arrogant jerk based on what they read. I had the opposite impression, but grant that the essence of an individual cannot be captured in the pages of a book. Many, many biographies have been written, yet, all fall short of completely describing the individual. Erik displayed unabashed love for his family, his wife, his friends, even his guide dog. He spent equal time describing his failures and his triumphs. He exposes his frailties by describing the trial and error involved in learning to effectively teach sighted children. He points out that the road to his successes were not his alone, but his, his family's, his wife's, his climbing partners', even his young students who were insightful and helpful when it came to his teaching. I especially liked that he described the antics, the pranks and the everyday 'slice of life' moments. I thouroughly enjoyed this book, so much that I can't imagine how anyone could NOT like it. But, there are all kinds people in this world and we all make it go 'round. I'd give it a perfect five, but it stops short of telling about climbing all seven summits. I'd prefer he'd waited until then to write his bio.
Soar to New Heights.......2006-05-14
I just finished reading the most wonderful book I have ever read. It's personal, it's a journey, it's an inspiration. And I don't even know how to make a tribute to the author. He seems like one of the more wonderful people in this world. The fact that he did what most of us couldn't is phenomenal; the fact that he enjoyed it is more. I was absorbed with this book from beginning to end.
The book is Touch the Top of the World by Erik Weihenmayer. I think it's the book of the year, a must-read, an inspiring journey. Regardless of who you are as a person, you'll want to read this. Imagine a young boy who loses his eyesight totally by the time he's 13, a boy who journeys farther than the eye can see. And a gentleman who wants, no, I think "desires" is a better word, to reach success with humility and a whole bunch of hard work.
When he was young, Erik didn't want to admit to his blindness to himself or anyone else. It took some effort for him to accept this dilemma, which he tells the reading audience about, but it never ever held him back from accomplishing his goals. Admittedly, he had a wonderful family support system that wouldn't let him give into this perceived handicap. In the book, he tells how his family played an important role to help him break through the barriers of his blindness.
Erik climbed Denali, Uhuru, Everest, El Capitan, among a host of other mountains, and reached the summit of each. To Erik, "a summit is less of a physical place and more of a metaphor for the meaning of your life. You can make your life what you want it to be." In his own words: "I don't climb mountains to prove to anyone that blind people can to this or that. I climb for the same reason an artist paints a picture: because it brings me great joy."
Here is a story that could also become your favorite. Erik's life focuses on people understanding their potential rather than making apologies for their limitations. If there is a message in this book (and I believe there is and there's more than just one), it's this:
Whatever you decide to do in this life, don't quit. Don't ever quit. Even when you are at the lowest point in your life and everything seems to be crumbling around you. That's when you should pull yourself, with all your strength and more, up off the floor, sort to speak, and move on with your life.
I highly recommend this book. Yes, he climbs mountains but that's not all he does. He taught middle school and was a wrestling coach, he is a world athlete, and is now a motivational speaker. He is a marvelous person, full of fortitude, tenacity, and extraordinary vision. This is a must-read.
Book Description
In his critically acclaimed bestseller Shadow Divers, Robert Kurson explored the depths of history, friendship, and compulsion. Now Kurson returns with another thrilling adventure–the stunning true story of one man’s heroic odyssey from blindness into sight.
Mike May spent his life crashing through. Blinded at age three, he defied expectations by breaking world records in downhill speed skiing, joining the CIA, and becoming a successful inventor, entrepreneur, and family man. He had never yearned for vision.
Then, in 1999, a chance encounter brought startling news: a revolutionary stem cell transplant surgery could restore May’s vision. It would allow him to drive, to read, to see his children’s faces. He began to contemplate an astonishing new world: Would music still sound the same? Would sex be different? Would he recognize himself in the mirror? Would his marriage survive? Would he still be Mike May?
The procedure was filled with risks, some of them deadly, others beyond May’s wildest dreams. Even if the surgery worked, history was against him. Fewer than twenty cases were known worldwide in which a person gained vision after a lifetime of blindness. Each of those people suffered desperate consequences we can scarcely imagine.
There were countless reasons for May to pass on vision. He could think of only a single reason to go forward. Whatever his decision, he knew it would change his life.
Beautifully written and thrillingly told, Crashing Through is a journey of suspense, daring, romance, and insight into the mysteries of vision and the brain. Robert Kurson gives us a fascinating account of one man’s choice to explore what it means to see–and to truly live.
Customer Reviews:
Story 5 + Writing 3 = 4.......2007-09-30
This story was so great. It's absolutely amazing what Mike May went through and his drive to be a pioneer. The writing style really left much to be desired. The dialog was cheesy and forced. The way the author referred to the main character at May was distracting and weird. I did love the technical details of vision and sight and the author did a great job explaining git in a way that made it reader friendly.
What does it mean to "see"?.......2007-09-28
This is the true story of Mike May who becomes blind at the age of 3 in a chemical explosion. His mother never shields him from reality, and in fact she encourages him to be adventuresome and to find a way around his disability. When May is in his 40's, he is told that a rare surgical procedure might give him back his sight. With typical courage, May enters into this adventure, not anticipating some of the ramifications of his decision. He is a very rare patient, and doctors gain a lot of insight into what "seeing" is really all about by studying May. Author Kurson seems to get into the head and heart of May and his descriptions of May's experiences are vivid and compelling. Kurson includes just enough medical and research information to make the book even more interesting and informative. This book is highly recommended!
John Sutphen MD.......2007-09-21
fascinating piece of research within a fascinating candid biography describing the basics of true vision
The difference between style and content.......2007-09-09
There are few books that can claim more fascinating heroes than does Crashing Through. Blinded by a chemical explosion at age three, Mike May "crashes through" life (sometimes literally!) with breathtaking recklessness until a cutting-edge surgery restores his vision decades later. Blind, Mike lives life with more gusto and success than the majority of sighted people. He skis, invents, travels, loves, and learns with the best of them, in locales as exotic as Ghana as dangerous as a self-built radio tower, and as familiar as the laid-back university setting at UC Santa Cruz. This is a man who forcefully rejected the restrictions of blindness and became a Renaissance man to be reckoned with. So far, so good; we all love a good underdog story.
Disappointingly, however, the execution falters. The narrative is choppy and ham-handed at points, with repetitive exposition and stilted, fabricated dialogue. Kurson hero-worships Mike, and the constant emphasis on Mike's myriad risks and successes feels a little like sitting in a long church service. We should all be happy with what we have, Kurson seems to be saying. Just look at Mike. That's a valid reason to write a book, but it detracts from Mike's situation, which is what we're really interested in. Exactly what does he do to overcome all these challenges? Kurson does tell us, but buries it all among too many accolades.
The last few chapters of the book, arguably the best written, are devoted to the problems Mike has after his surgery. Kurson allows us a glimpse of the myriad tests that Mike underwent to determine the extent of the neurological deficiencies he suffers (a result of going blind at such an early age). Here, finally, there is science, a definite plot to follow, rather than just tracing out Mike's life in a strung-out series of anecdotes.
A minor quibble: Kurson insists on referring to Mike as "May" throughout the book. Every other character is referenced by a first name or a title; the discrepancy is curious as well as distracting.
On the whole, Crashing Through manages to convey the exuberance and eagerness with which Mike May tackled his life, both while blind and sighted. The story comes through, although perhaps a more skilled biographer would have produced a cleaner narrative. Probably not worth going out and buying new. With its optimistic message, simple language, and straightforward story, it's not a book to really sink your teeth into, but if you're looking for a quick mood booster, it's a good pick at your local used bookshop.
The Flight of The Phoenix.......2007-09-05
Robert Kurson has produced another winner in this inspirational account of a 46 year old accomplished athlete and businessman who was blinded at age 3 from a chemical accident that left him nearly dead. Not to be denied a productive life, Mike May accomplished more than most people since that accident. In 1999, he was married with two sons when he chose to participate in a risky surgical procedure to restore his eye sight. What followed was a series of unexpected results that required cutting edge science to explain.
Most readers will probably be surprised at the extent to which vision is dependent on early experiences. Depth and face perceptions are developed based on trial and error. Humans can recognize minute differences in facial structures of any two people, but telling apart various animals such as sheep is a daunting task because most humans do not grow up among sheep, and therefore, lack the visual sensitivity to the subtle facial differences of sheep. This and other intriguing information about the development of vision in humans were discussed in chapter 14, where the entertainment and educational value of the book took a giant leap.
Kurson laid the foundation of May's pre and post operation life, but wrote nonchalantly of some of May's peculiar behavior: Prior to his surgery, May never read up on the 20 cases of the terminally blind patients with restored vision who became deeply depressed from realizing how ugly the visual world was, and in one case how ugly a patient's wife had turned out. Despite a perfectly functioning eye, May was unable to distinguish between his two sons, males from females and fell victim to a host of other uncommon vision abnormalities related purely to perception. Six months after the operation, he still hadn't read about these cases while his frustration and despair mounted.
As the title of the book suggests, May crashed through this physically and psychologically risky procedure hoping to experience sight, but ended up facing seemingly insurmountable odds. With the help of his able eye doctor and a neuroscientist, he set out to restore normal vision that had eluded him for decades and avoid following in the footsteps of his predecessors.
While "Crashing Through" didn't carry the punch of Kurson's previous book, "Shadow Divers", it was a story begging to be told, and Kurson did a decent job of telling it. The jacket design left a lot to be desired.
Average customer rating:
- A Different Vision
- Thoughtful story
- Well-written, realistic story
- A real lesson to be learned
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Through Grandpa's Eyes (Harper Trophy Book)
Patricia Maclachlan
Manufacturer: HarperTrophy
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ASIN: 0064430413 |
Book Description
On John's visits to Grandpa's house, his blind grandfather shares with him the special way he sees and moves in the world.
Customer Reviews:
A Different Vision.......2007-01-15
John is a young boy who loves his grandparents dearly. His grandfather cannot see, yet he shows John how he compensates. He likes to whittle and play the banjo and shares these gifts with his grandchild. Man and boy love nature walks, and it is John's grandfather who can recognize the sound of any bird. He teaches John about nature and John forgets that his grandfather cannot see.
His grandmother shows him how they serve meals; she tells the boy's grandfather where each dish is by using a clock face as a guide, e.g. "the peas are at 4:00 on your plate, the steak is at 7:00, etc."
This is a beautiful, loving and very moving story about grandparental bonds and different ways of learning and sharing.
Thoughtful story.......2005-07-29
Wanted to get this for my grandson as my husband and I have vision problems. Great book.
Well-written, realistic story.......2002-11-06
This is a very nicely written story about a boy and his grandfather, who is blind. It portrays a close, loving relationship between the two, and explains in a very simple and positive way how the grandfather perceives the world without his visual sense. The accompanying drawings are simple and artistic. It is so difficult to find realistic, beautiful books for children, but this one is absolutely wonderful. I give it my highest recommendation.
A real lesson to be learned.......2000-04-04
This wonderful book about relying on your senses when you are blind demonstrates that blind people can lead a productive life. Grandpa shares his zest for life with his grandson, John. At first John does not understand how his grandpa is able to do all that he does. Grandpa shares his secret. As a preservice teacher I've used this book to talk about aging and its effects with my students. We also talk about what we can do to help others who have disabilities. This is an excellent book to allow children to examine their thoughts on older people and disabilities.
Book Description
“Jane Kirkpatrick has, almost literally, created her own genre of fiction. Her books enfold…whisper, ‘Let me tell you about a woman who…’ They find a secret place in each of us and bring it gently to the surface.”
–Salem Statesman Journal
Suzanne felt the tears press at her eyes as the dream-state drifted away–taking with it the sight of the man she loved. Awake, she blinked back the tears. This was her life now. The sounds of the women and oxen, those were real. And the darkness–her darkness. She lay inside it, resigned. She was not a wife reaching out for her husband but a widow, a blind widow, wistful and full of desire.
FACING CHALLENGES AND LOSS, A COMMUNITY OF EXTRAORDINARY WOMEN FIGHT TO OVERCOME THE PAIN OF THE PAST – AND EMBRACE THE FUTURE.
When blind and widowed Suzanne Cullver reaches California with a group of women who have survived tragedy on the Oregon Trail, she sets her mind on doing for herself all that must be done. Though she cannot see, she rejects offers of assistance, unwittingly risking her children’s safety – and her own.
Her companions blindly falter as well, held hostage by their own pasts. As Suzanne attempts to control her life in Shasta City, Ruth defends against past errors, failing to see how she limits love. Meanwhile, Mazy’s vision seems to be permanently clouded by her late husband’s betrayal. But when a young stagedriver risks all for a Wintu Indian, his life becomes entangled with the turnaround women – and together they are changed forever as they discover that No Eye Can See all the good God has in store for those who love Him.
Customer Reviews:
A Second Incredible Story..........2007-02-23
Jane Kirkland brings you further into this tale of these widowed women. They make new lives for themselves, and their stories are all unique, but yet melded into a family. This book won't disappoint you, and you will be sure to want to read the next book in the series.
Jane Kirkland has won my eyes over with her books--they all are rich in trueisms and vivid pictures that she paints as she takes you on her journey. Living the the Pacific Northwest--I can assure you, it's pretty much as she says! Thanks Jane!
Great Author.......2007-02-12
Jane Kirkpatrick is a little known author with great stories. The book does not make much sense if you have not read tghe first of this series, "All together in one place." Very worth reading. relaxing, entertaining, and very well written. She makes you want to get the next in the series just to see what happens next.
No Eye Can See.......2004-08-26
It has been years since I have found a book this enjoyable to read.
I am so glad this book is one in a series. There is a lot wisdom in the characters dialog. I am a new fan of Jane Kirkpatrick's. -
Great series to read.......2003-07-30
This was a fantastic series to read. I couldn't put it down, you actually feel like you know all the women in the series. You hope that Tipton will survive her loses, and you hope for good things for Mazy and Ruth. I can't wait to read more by Ms Kirkpatrick. She makes you feel like you are there with them.
No eye can see.......2003-06-04
This is the marvelous sequel to the story of widowed women heading west.
Jane Kirkpatrick draws a detailed and very realistic picture of the life and circumstances people had to face in California during the gold rush. The writing is brilliant. She did not make too many references to the first volume of the series. Only where necessary, she placed little hints that refreshed my memory about what had happened before.
The characters are painted as strong as we were used in "All Together In One Place". The life of every one of these women develops differently, yet is interwoven with that of the others. Apparently, there were too many women in order to keep up with all their stories, since they are NOT all together in one place anymore.
Although I am aware that this could have filled a book on its own, I missed to learn more about the new lives of the "Celestials" - the newly wed Asian women. This way it seems as if they hadn't been fully accepted members of the widows' group. In the first book, however, I had the feeling that the Asian women grew more and more self-confident and independent, contrary to their own culture.
On the other hand, in my eyes, the story about the relationship between Zane Randolph and the women Ruth and Suzanne takes too long to evolve and to climax. There are too many hints and repetitions about his insanity. This space could have easily been used for the Celestials.
Average customer rating:
- One Of The Worst Books I've Ever Read
- This was another great Woods' book
- Disappointed But Not Ready to Give Up
- Don't miss this book. Trust me.
- Not So Good for Woods...
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Dead Eyes
Stuart Woods
Manufacturer: Harpercollins
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ASIN: 0060177152 |
Book Description
The notes are signed Admirer. At first respectful, they become increasingly bizarre and are accompanied by roses, then other, more macabre offerings. Chris Calloway, a rising young Hollywood actress, finds the letters irritating, then frightening, but when a freak accident takes away her sight, Admirer turns her world into a nightmare.
Joe Larsen, the Beverly Hills Police Department's one-man stalker squad, begins his hunt for Admirer, helped by Chris's closest friend, Danny Devere. But the hunt works both ways, and soon Larsen is desperate to save Chris from Admirer and his own career from his inability to corner the stalker. The only answer is a trap, and Larsen knows the only bait is a blind and nearly helpless Chris. Their plight is made worse by his one big mistake.
Customer Reviews:
One Of The Worst Books I've Ever Read.......2007-08-05
I read this book three years ago. It was the first and last book I read by this author. I read many thriller books and quite honestly, I'm pretty easy to please. In fact, this is about the only Thriller book that I didn't enjoy at all in the last 5 years. This is my first review and I'm writing it because I don't want people see the 5 star reviews and waste their time with this book. It's truly awful. It started off okay and then the characters and the plot take a horrible nosedive. I've never felt so cheated out of my time.
This was another great Woods' book.......2006-07-29
I listen to most of Stuart Woods' books on tape and really enjoy them. This one was a particularly good one and carried you along from the first page to the last. Obviously, the suspected villain may not be the true culprit, but then when are they? It was a great story of stalking a celebrity and it was chilling. I thought the book was great, but then I've become a Woods' fan because none of his books are ever boring.
Disappointed But Not Ready to Give Up.......2004-04-05
(...) unfortunately I started with Dead Eyes. I felt as though I was reading a suspense story from a beginner romance novelist. The dialogue at times was laughable and I agree with another reviewer that the ending was thrown together. The few sex scenes were like something from Barbara Cartland. My biggest complaint was the portrayal of the cop Jon Larsen - he came off as an incompetent dolt. Through the entire book, the stalker was one step ahead of him to the very end. However, this writer gets such high praise from other reviewers that I'm not quite ready to quit and plan on checking out the Stone Barrington series.
Don't miss this book. Trust me........2003-10-20
This is the 15th Stuart Woods book I have read. I can't believe that anybody who is even a semi-Stuart Woods fan could have put this book down. It is the first Woods book that I read from noon to midnight and could not stop reading it. I grant you, this is not your typical Stuart Woods, but almost a combination of King and Woods. He went all out on this one. And I loved every word of it. Read it and you'll see. This is not for the faint of heart. It kept me riveted. P.S. You might want to check the locks on your doors and windows before reading this.
Not So Good for Woods..........2003-01-30
I am so glad that this was not the first Stuart Woods book that I had read, because I probably would not have continued on. Stuart Woods is a superb writer, however, this book is not some of his finest work. The story is set around an actress who is about to make it big, her gay hairdresser, her stalker, and the police detective who is helping her with the stalker. All of the characters seem very flat and are never fully developed. I would have never guessed the ending to the book only because Woods never steered the story toward the ending that occurred. It was almost as if he thought to himself, I need an ending and he just shoved it in without making sure that it flowed or made any sense. Kind of a disappointment after reading the whole book. If this is your first time reading Woods, I would suggest one of his Stone Barrington series novels which starts with "New York Dead". One of the best in this series is "Worst Fears Realized" or "Swimming to Catalina." After reading some of his other books, you will realize that this one was just a miss for him.
Average customer rating:
- Fantastic New Mystery Series
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Blind Curves: A Blind Eye Mystery (Blind Eye Mystery 1)
Diane Anderson-Minshall , and
Jacob Anderson-Minshall
Manufacturer: Bold Strokes Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Contemporary
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Lesbian
| Mystery & Thrillers
| Gay & Lesbian
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General
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General
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Similar Items:
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Red Light
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Come and Get Me
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Running With the Wind
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Second Season
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Honor Under Siege
ASIN: 1933110724 |
Book Description
The murdered body of lesbian publisher Rosemary Finney is found on a remote hiking path south of San Francisco. Local police of the wealthy Woodside enclave quickly focus on a prime suspect: Investigative Reporter Velvet Erickson. Velvet appeals to her friend and former lover--private eye Yoshi Yakamota, whose detective skills more than make up for her failing eyesight--for help. Yoshi dedicates the resources of her firm, Blind Eye Detective Agency, to proving her friend's innocence. But every time the investigators rule out one suspect, another takes their place. What has Rosemary Finney done to make so many enemies? And which one did it?
First in the Blind Eye mystery series.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic New Mystery Series.......2007-04-07
Blind Curves is the first book in a thrilling new detective series by Diane and Jacob Anderson-Minshall. The story takes place in San Francisco, the authors' home, and the descriptions are rich and lively, thus making the city itself an additional character in the novel.
Velvet Erickson, journalist, is suspected of killing wealthy publisher and former lover, Rosemary Finney. Since she is the only suspect and must prove her innocence within 48 hours or be jailed until her trial, she hires friend Yoshi Yakamoto, owner of Blind Eye Detective Agency. Yoshi and fellow detective Bud Williams set out to find the killer, but along the way they uncover corruption at the highest levels in the wealthy secluded town of Woodside, south of San Francisco. In a race against time, the real murderer is doing everything possible to keep the truth from unfolding, and Velvet is counting on the Blind Eye team to save her skin.
This easy to read, down to earth novel is electrifying from the get-go. The pace moves at a quick clip, and the authors clearly explain the complex relationships as they divulge key clues. Blind Curves is used metaphorically and literally throughout the book tying together the mystery puzzle neatly in the end.
The character development though is what makes this novel stand out and will make the reader craving for more in the series as they complete Blind Curves. In revealing that Yoshi is legally blind and Bud is a paraplegic and wheelchair bound, we get a glimpse of the challenges they face and how they compensate. But the reader does not feel sorry for these two because Blind Curves strips away the labels and gives us gritty, likeable, and appealing characters. The authors add depth to their characterization by enlightening us, and we see Yoshi as clever, intelligent and at times manipulative, but never helpless. This detective knows how to get to the facts, and she uses all of her resources to do it. Anderson-Minshalls add to the book by including wonderfully colorful secondary characters in Tucker, Yoshi's receptionist, and AJ, an East Palo Alto policewoman.
One of the best features of this book is that all of the key characters except Bud are lesbians, and that's the way I like my fiction. While the reader is left hanging as to what the future has in store for these characters, I was fully satisfied with Blind Curves. I am counting the days until Blind Leap's release in October of 2007.
Customer Reviews:
Newest edition at the author's website.......2007-10-12
Do not be gouged by the used book sellers. The newest edition of the book is available from the book's website for a reasonable price. Put the name of the book into a search engine and you will find its website.
Loss of eye is scary.......2004-09-29
I lost sight of one eye in 1988. It did not hurt, but I did not know what to expect, and how I would adapt to monocular vision. No-one seemed to be able to advise me - until I came across "A Singular View".
This book explains it in 129 large print pages, using ordinary English, not in medispeak. It explains how most people see, the process of adjusting to the use of just one eye, and tips to adapt in a wide range of day to day situations.
If you have lost, or are losing, the sight of one eye, are you close to someone in this situation, this book is a MUST.>
Helpful!.......2001-03-19
I was born with a Cataract in 1971 which wasn't removed until I was 7 years old in an out of town hospital (due to the fact that the doctors in my area who were not educated in Cataract surgery in infants.) From birth, I did not have vision in my right eye.
I was introduced to this book by my Ocularist when I received my scleral shell for my eye in 1996. (Yes, yet another doctor in my area that had no idea what he was doing. I lost my during a procedure he performed that was unnecessary.)
This book was helpful to me in understanding how and why I do certain things with one eye. Also, it explains how to compensate for the lack of depth-perception or peripheral vision. It gives a list of famous personalities with monocular vision so don't feel so alone. These people did great things in life with only one eye, for example Theodore Roosevelt, Sandy Duncan, Peter Falk, Guglielmo Marconi, John Milton, Horatio Nelson, and Hilaire Germain Edgar Degas are just a few.
I recommend this book to anyone who knows someone or is a person with one eye. Some may have lost their eye years ago or recently. Either way, it is a help to all.
very helpful book.......2000-12-31
My 7 year old son lost vision in one eye through a accident. My sister found this book in the public library and it was very helpful to us as parents and for my son. It helped us deal with some of the every day difficulties in the first few months. It also helped us realize that he could continue doing alot of the same activities, with extra precautions of course. I have passed on the name of the book to all the eye specialist we have seen. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has lost vision in one eye or any one dealing directly with a friend or relative who has lost vision in one eye.
Eyecare Professional Gives Book Thumbs Up.......2000-08-17
In my 18 years in eyecare, I've never come across a better book on monocularity (having only one seeing eye). I've recommended this book to several patients, with wonderful results. My best advice to any person with only one useful eye is two-fold: always wear safety glasses, and get this book! It is full of practical advice that I've passed along to patients, even those who have two good eyes but must wear an eye patch on one for a while. This is grass-roots stuff to help you where you live...driving, dining out, even shaking hands. As an author and editor of eyecare material myself, I'm very particular and picky. But this book is a winner any way you look at it.
Book Description
Walter Lanyon begins Chapter One -- "The Eyes of the Blind" -- with:
Then shall the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped.'
Have you ever thought what it must be like to have been blind --physically speaking -- and then suddenly to have your sight restored? The wonders of a universe in which you have lived and only contacted by touching, smelling and hearing, are suddenly all transformed by sight. A whole new universe lies before you with colour, beauty, form and outline, and yet it would be the identical universe in which you had been living all the time. Everything that you were experiencing with the regained sight had always been there, but you did not see it."
Average customer rating:
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Connie's New Eyes
Bernard Wolf
Manufacturer: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
| Ages 9-12
| Children's Books
| Subjects
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Issues
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| Adoption
| Babysitting
| Bullies
| Disaster Preparedness
| Divorce
| Drugs
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| Moving
| Multiculturalism
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| Sex Education
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| Social Skills
| Special Needs
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| Weight
ASIN: 0397316976 |
Books:
- Breaking the Silence: Art Therapy with Children from Violent Homes
- Callie's Tally: An Accounting of Baby's First Year (Or, What My Daughter Owes Me)
- Chance Encounters: A First Course in Data Analysis and Inference
- Diplomat Heroes of the Holocaust
- Dream Lovers: The Magnificent Shattered Lives of Bobby Darin and Sandra Dee - by Their Son Dodd Darin
- Einstein and Religion: Physics and Theology
- Enemy Mine
- Etty Hillesum: An Interrupted Life the Diaries, 1941-1943 and Letters from Westerbork
- Facing Your Giants: The God Who Made a Miracle Out of David Stands Ready to Make One Out of You
- Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation
Books Index
Books Home
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- Continuing Professional Education: An Ifla Guidebook
Too Late to Say Goodbye: A True Story of Murder and Betrayal
INTERNAL BLEEDING: The Truth Behind America's Terrifying Epidemic of Medical Mistakes
Heart of a Soldier
Die, My Love: A True Story of Revenge, Murder, and Two Texas Sisters
Never Leave Me: A True Story of Marriage, Deception, and Brutal Murder (St. Martin's True Crime Library)
