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Kate Atkinson began her career with a winner: Behind the Scenes at the Museum, which captured the Whitbread First Novel Award. She followed that success with four other books, the last of which was Case Histories, her first foray into the mystery-suspense-detective genre. In that book she introduced detective Jackson Brodie, who reopened three cold cases and ended up a millionaire. A great deal happened in-between.
In One Good Turn Jackson returns, following his girlfriend, Julia the actress, to the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh. He manages to fall into all kinds of trouble, starting with witnessing a brutal attack by "Honda Man" on another man stuck in a traffic jam. Is this road rage or something truly sinister? Another witness is Martin Canning, better known as Alex Blake, the writer. Martin is a shy, withdrawn, timid sort who, in a moment of unlikely action, flings a satchel at the attacker and spins him around, away from his victim. Gloria Hatter, wife of Graham, a millionaire property developer who is about to have all his secrets uncovered, is standing in a nearby queue with a friend when the attack takes place. There is nastiness afoot, and everyone is involved. Nothing is coincidental.
Through a labyrinthine plot which is hard to follow because the points of view are constantly changing, the real story is played out, complete with Russians, false and mistaken identities, dead bodies, betrayals, and all manner of violent encounters. Jackson gets pulled in to the investigation by Louise Monroe, a police detective and mother of an errant 14-year-old. There might be yet another novel to follow which will take up the connection those two forge in this book. Or, Jackson might just go back to France and feed apples to the local livestock.
Atkinson has written an enjoyable and lively story of no degrees of separation among the most unlikely cast of characters. Some plot lines have been left to drift, but it does hang together in a satisfying fashion. --Valerie Ryan
Book Description
A brilliant new thriller from the author of 2005's breakout favorite, Case Histories, again featuring the irresistibly reluctant detective Jackson Brodie.
Two years after the events of Case Histories left him a retired millionaire, former detective Jackson Brodie has followed Julia, his occasional girlfriend and former client, to Edinburgh for its famous summer arts festival. But when he watches a man brutally attacked in a traffic jam--the apparent victim of an extreme case of road rage--a chain of events is set in motion that will pull the wife of an unscrupulous real estate tycoon, a timid but successful crime novelist, and a hardheaded female police detective into Jackson's orbit. Suddenly out of retirement, Brodie is once again in the midst of several mysteries that intersect in one giant and sinister scheme. A triumphant novel filled with wit and surprise and intrigue, ONE GOOD TURN will delight the many fans who applauded Kate Atkinson's first foray into thrillers, and it will win her even more devoted readers as she continues to blur the boundaries that divide literary and crime fiction.
Customer Reviews:
True wit is a rare literary achievement...this book has it........2007-10-05
I enjoyed "Case Histories." I'm glad I read that book because I know who some of the characters are in this one. What's thoroughly enjoyable about Atkinson's writing is that it is deliciously witty. She really skewers vapid people and the stupid things they accept as gospel, the endless cliches of today's world of media, entertainment, news, cars, and everything else that is (or is made to be) commercial. There are only a few writers I've found who can make me laugh out loud; Atkinson has a talent for droll wit, like Martin Cruz Smith ("Stalin's Ghost," "Wolves Eat Dogs.") There is a certain tone to writing I like. It is one of amusement and good will, even when the subject matter is dark. If you write about serious subjects without humor, the work will be too grim. For example, in "War and Peace," Tolstoy has some very funny pasages about Russian society. Another book with a wonderful "tone" is Richard Ford's "Independence Day." Bravo to Ms. Atkinson. I hope she graces us with another book soon.
Fantastic.......2007-08-12
I usually hate detective novels. This however is an absolute delight to read and a page turner.
Skillfully woven series of short stories, merged into a mystery tale.......2007-07-20
One Good Turn, by Kate Atkinson, is a neat trick. She develops a series of characters, subplots, and storylines, all of which could stand alone as interesting stories, and merges them into this mystery tale.
Ex-detective Brodie Jackson observes a mugging in a road-rage incident, as do others. Little does anyone know that there is a common thread here that will tie them all together.
The nastiness of the Terence Smith character (aka "Honda Man"... you'll understand) was perhaps over the top, but Atkinson was trying to paint him as a very, very unsavory person. He moved a little too freely in town, leaving no fingerprints or witnesses. And the reason behind "Paul Martin's" hire is a little too vague (hint: what did she know, and when did she know it?).
Again, the interesting characters, and their stories, invented by Atkinson, served her well in this novel.
Great but a little slow.......2007-07-18
This book has the one thing that I look for with every book I read: strong character development. However, I must add a caveat to that as while the character development in this book is exceptional, it comes at the sacrifice of moving the plot along--and that is what kept it from being truly exceptional in my mind.
Atkinson has a real knack for creating characters that are hilariously, frighteningly, and sympathetically real. From the mysterious Russian to the psychopathic murderer to the cop raising a son on her own, I felt that every one of her characters was a real person.
The author also possesses a nice, dry sense of humor that adds unexpected moments of wit to the book, so that one second the reader is gasping in horror at the brutality of the books' crimes and the next laughing at the sheer silliness of some of the characters.
As far as endings go, I thought this one was first rate. It was one of those that made me smile and say, "Yes!" I didn't see it coming and loved every last second of it, so much so that I had to go back and read the last paragraph a few times. I look forward to reading more of Ms. Atkinson.
All Episodes of Seinfelt are good, but some are better than others. .......2007-07-15
I loved Case History and gave it five stars. One Good Turn was a bit slow and not quite as good as Case History. I didn't really end up liking any of the characters or caring much about the outcome, including our main man, Jackson. The last third of the book, where all of the pieces of the plot are supposed to come together, is very anti-climatic and quickly put together, not realistic, not very gripping, a let-down. That said, there are a lot of funny moments, life and relationships are sometimes well told, but the bad guys are cliches and the final answer to the plot is very flawed for many reasons. If someone wants to discuss my thoughts about this I would be happy to expound.
Kate, this was an episode worth telling, but I think your next episode will be better.
Book Description
Eight years ago, Dr. Thomas J. Stanley swept aside the mythical magic curtain of wealth to reveal The Millionaire Next Door. America found out just who and how common the truly wealthy were in this country¿and we learned the characteristics and habits that made them so. Now the author of the follow-up The Millionaire Mind focuses on one of the least understood but increasingly rich demographics: Millionaire Women Next Door.¿Why write another book that profiles millionaires?¿ Stanley asks. ¿The vast majority of the millionaire respondents (92 percent) in The Millionaire Next Door were men. . . . I felt that it was indeed time for successful businesswomen of the self-made variety to be heard.¿ And heard they are in this book that is destined to become every bit as informative, quoted, and inspirational as the author¿s earlier works. Readers everywhere will be fascinated by Stanley¿s thoroughly researched findings and conclusions. More than a simple extension of his studies of male millionaires, Millionaire Women Next Door presents groundbreaking concepts involving the nature, lifestyle, and business choices of successful American women that reach far beyond the scope of the author¿s previous studies. The book examines the choice of businesses elected by self-employed women, ranking over 150 categories in terms of their profitability and probability of success. It also describes the women¿s background, highlighting the fact that most millionaire women were raised in nurturing family environments that were literally training grounds for success, instilling the values that make this group one of the most generous in American society as demonstrated by its level of giving to charities, family, and friends. While many characteristics such as frugality and simplicity of lifestyle are similar to those of their male counterparts, Stanley demonstrates that most millionaire women work harder and do better¿at school, in business, and in investment practices. Millionaire Women is sure to be one of the most read, reviewed, and discussed books to come out this year. Make your own wise investment for a wealth of solid sales.
Customer Reviews:
Role-Models for Would-Be Millionaires.......2007-08-09
Question: What's the one thing a woman can do for herself if she wants to be a successful businesswoman or a millionaiare?
Answer: Find a role-model, and emulate the things she does.
Thanks to Thomas Stanley, women don't have to network to find the mentor they need. They'll be able to find her right in the pages of this book.
With abundant statistics and case profiles, Stanley presents us with successful women from varied backgrounds, and shows us exactly how they did it.
The book is rich with details, and focuses on the "5-W's" (of good journalism):
WHO these women are.
WHAT they do and how they decided to do it.
WHEN they made the decisions that propelled them to success.
WHERE they live and work, and come from.
WHY they are so successful.
Recommended reference to keep in your "how to succeed" library.
Not Quite Stanley's Best, But Well Worth A Read, Nonetheless.......2007-05-20
I just finished reading this book after picking it up at a bookstore about five days ago. I read from it every chance I got, and though on the one hand, I have to agree with those readers who pointed out that the book was tough going at times, on the other hand, I also have to agree with other readers who had very good things to say about the book, as the favorable reviews are well deserved. First I will cite the bad about the book, and then I will cite the good.
First the bad. The book appears to rely heavily upon convenience sampling and voluntary response. The author seems to have shared mostly only those stories sent to him, or more plainly, that just fell into his lap. Second, like his two other millionaire books, the author uses the book as a platform to share with us the things he values, and appears only to look for that information or evidence which supports his values, never once addressing information that contradicts his position. Third, in keeping with the standard paradigm of women = victim and male = (opportunistic) victimizer, (which always plays well to the target demographic of the book), the author's attempt to make out this group of women as selfless, do-gooding heroines was a bit overdone. The millionaire women are seen as generous and charitable as a group, and the millionaire men are portrayed as heartless misers who penny-pinch at every turn. I felt especially incensed when Stanley went out of his way to make excuses for some millionaire womens' poor choices in mates- the so-called 'Marginal Bobs' (the book titled, Smart Women, Stupid Choices, comes readily to mind for some peculiar reason). By association, if some of the men made poor choices in terms of mates, would they too be given sympathy and generous excuses, or are we to believe that they deserve what they get?
And now the good. Aside from the obvious attempts to play to the book's target audience (middle class, educated wage-earning women) and attempts bordering on the egregious to trumpet the merits of personal financial planners of various stripes, the book did have quite a few good points about it. We learn that if we divide the millionaire women into two groups, those that give the most to charitable causes tend to have lower annual earned incomes and higher net worth. These women tend to give just for the joy of giving, and seek to make the world they live in a better place. Many people took issue with the inclusion of a chapter about a dyslexic man who did good; however, I think the point of the chapter was to show that even those with identifiable disabilities can become millionaires, be they male or female, so long as they play to their strengths, live below their means, save and invest, avoid a lifestyle centered around consumption, and most of all, have a source of thoughtful, intelligent mentoring available to them. Readers that read the book carefully will glean some powerful information from this book, such as the following: 1) you can not change the past, but you have considerable control over your future, 2) those who are professional, service-oriented and customer-focused will always beat the competition, 3) it pays to play to your native strengths, 4) great investors are not born, they are made through trial and error, so go ahead and make a few mistakes, and 5) most important, limit borrowing only to those things that generate a realizable (net) income- a lesson all of those would-be real estate moguls and Robert Kiyosaki mimics would do very, very well to keep in mind.
In passing, I did not think that it was appropriate for Stanley to profile two college professors in his chapter on wealthy educators, simply because in order to become a college professor, one has to spend, at last count, a minimum of at least seven years beyond the Bachelor's degree to receive a doctorate. These days, most places won't allow you to teach on the faculty without a PhD, and more than a few people on faculties do not get tenure. In my mind, it would have been better for him to profile a wealthy elementary or high school teacher, as this is a goal that is more attainable for most readers. Still, I got a good kick out of his story of the matronly professor who touched the lives of so many deserving students.
In sum, I found the book to be a very worthwhile read. Though many would dismiss the book's more important contents as common sense, it is hard to believe that many people still don't get it. Readers should keep in mind that it all comes down to the choices we make, and take special care not to equate one's net worth with one's self worth, a trap too many Stanley devotees tend to fall into. I still contend that ongoing investments in one's health and continuing education will lead to satisfying increases in one's wealth.
Very Interesting Book.......2006-12-31
When I read The Millionaire Next Door, I was intrigued. However, I was left yearning for similar information regarding women. Well, I found it in this book. It was very interesting to read statistical information about successful women.
If you've got the Money, Honey---I got the Time........2006-11-12
Or, "How I learned to LOVE pinching pennies & clipping coupons!"
Now there's a title to stir the very hottest of boiler-fires in this coldest of Bounders, oh yes: "Millionaire Women Next Door"! Yummy! The title conjures up visions of 90-something tottering dowagers, having crumb-cake brought to them on silver platters by decrepit butlers, toddling about the mahogany-panelled passages of O Altitudo, shepherded by manservants and maids from Library to Sunroom to Palatial Dining Hall to the Rolls-Royce (gassed-up & ready to rumble by the handy valet) for the Sunday drive in the country.
Think of it: a ninety-something bat with the ferocious desire to rut like a crazed Gambian Howler Monkey, a creature with a very weak ticker, a short life-span, millions of dividend-paying bluechips and tax-free muni bonds piled up in her hoard, and me---first in line in her will!
Or even a chummier prospect: the Millionaire Woman Next Door who primped, nipped, tucked, & aerobicycled her way to bodily perfection, all of 35, hooked up with some venerable drooling Texas Oil Tycoon-Geezer, waited for him to drop, and now is positively rolling in the Shekkels and ready to party!
Alas, those fragrant, lustrous visions are for another writer and another book: this is a Thomas Stanley tome, Stanley being the scholarly fellow who pulled back the frayed shower-curtain on America's eremite wealthy only to reveal that mysterious class wasn't comprised of Robber Barons pulling their 500-foot nuclear powered megayachts into Mediterranean Ports, oh nosirree: they were plain folk, Good Reader, just like you and me!
Only they saved, live frugal lives, clipped coupons, ate catfood from a tin, scrounged, skimped, pinched the pennies until the Little Coppery Abrahams screamed in pain, maybe even splurged every 3 months on a 1-course meal at Mickey D's for the entire clan!
And, of course, according to Stanley and his prodigious stack of statistical data that suggest---no, confirm---that the meet may not inherit the Earth, no sirree, but the skinflints sure as Hell will---they'll die loaded.
I'm not going to parse or quibble with Stanley's research: coming myself from degenerate, somewhat deranged Southern stock, I've seen, firsthand, accounts of miserliness, weal, and grasping avarice that would chill the blood.
I have an Aunt who would hook up with her (loaded) buddy, and the two biddies would have Thanksgiving Dinner at the local homeless shelter. Hey, it was a cheap meal, no doubt.
But is that any way to live? Is it worth it to you, to spend your fleeting hours scrimping and scrounging, fretting over every penny, so you can die loaded? And so, once you give up this mortal coil and your wizened soul speeds Valhalla-ward, your spoiled, nasty little nephew, the only creature left alive mentioned in your will, inherits all your booty, and proceeds to blow the entire stack on a civilian super-submarine---I mean, what's the point?
I was hoping with "Millionaire Women" Stanley would let his hair down, get all "Shaft" with us, maybe talk a little bit about Divorce, the single greatest gender-to-gender (ie, poor hapless dudes to merciless chicks) wealth transfer ever invented in the history of the world. The Big D, an easy con to pull off, and pulled off every day: Woman sinks her claws & pinions, parasite-like, into a Hapless Man, catapults out a few nasty brats so he's bound to her for Eternity, then Lawyers up and pirates his loot. Works like a charm.
But no such luck: we're spoiled even that much of a Dickensian romp.
So if you insist on looking here, know this: Stanley's 'blockbuster' first book, "The Millionaire Next Door", was all about America's truly wealthy: Stingy Dudes.
To cut to the chase, "Millionaire Women" is the same disc, spinning backwards, without even a few Satanic Verses---to wit: Stingy Chicks.
Unless you're looking for a real blue-light special, avoid.
JSG
Statistics for women.......2006-07-31
I thought this book was a great read, based on the power of the statistics alone. Lots of great information about profitable women- owned businesses, as well as hearing the stories from the women who made it themselves.
Book Description
Nora Blackbird, society columnist and down-and-almost-out former debutante, reclaims her place within Philadelphia's elite when she stumbles upon the murdered body of a millionaire art collector.
Nora Blackbird, society columnist and down-and-almost-out former debutante, reclaims her place within Philadelphia's elite when she stumbles upon the murdered body of a millionaire art collector.
Customer Reviews:
Fun.......2007-06-11
All of Nancy Martin's books are fun, fast and easy reads. They are entertaining, will make you laugh, and great summer books for relaxing. It is enjoyable to try to figure out Who Done It. Great characters.
Enjoy!
Funny, easy read.......2007-04-25
I loved this book, I didn't think I would, can't wait to read the others.
A DISAPPOINTMENT.......................................2007-02-18
Silly little mini-mystery centering around the beneficiaries of old money on Philadelphia's exclusive Main Line. Nora Blackbyrd has become the unfortunate owner of her family's suburban estate....it has seen better years, and worse yet is the tax obligations that she has been saddled with. To save the bulk of the property, she is forced to sell off a portion of it.....only to see it give birth to, of all things, a used car lot. When the violent death of a longtime family friend and Main Line icon occurs during a party that he hosts, Nora's investigative nature kicks in. And the search for the killer reveals facts about Rory Pendergast that frankly Nora would rather not have known. Could the killer really be his longtime mate? Or perhaps a slightly unethical art dealer? Nora is, frankly, stymied. And although the kiler's identity may be even more shocking than we think, Nora is also finding herself delightfully distracted by having to fend off the blue collar attentions of a dangerously handsome used car lot owner...
Although containing an interesting array of characters, I found the Blackbyrd sisters unbelievable and frankly unlikeable. The story was extremely slow starting...and never quite took off. I found it silly and unbelievable. And to think that I was excited about finding a brand new series to read......
DYB
Fun, fast, fluffy........2006-10-11
How to Murder a Millionaire was fun and fast to read. As others have said, it's fluff, but then I like some fluff in by reading diet. The title doesn't exactly fit the story and the victim was a billionaire, not a millionaire, but those issues are minor. The title is catchy and the cover appealing, which always adds to my interest in selecting a novel to read.
Nora Blackbird and her sisters, Libby and Emma, all three of whom have been widowed, have been rudely dumped upon by their wealthy, but totally irresponsible parents who run off and leave them holding the bag (and the bills) when they can't meet their financial commitments. (If they were my parents I wouldn't call them up like Nora did in this story to get some advice--about anything)! Anyway, Nora gets a job at a Philadelphia newspaper called the "Intelligencer" in order to help pay off the enormous tax bill owed on Blackbird Farm, the family's historical homestead. When the paper's owner and long-time family friend, Rory Pendergast, is murdered, Nora wants to know why and by whom.
There are many characters introduced into the story, some of whom we'll see developed more over time (I hope). The story is not heavy with suspense, but has enough to make it interesting and entertaining. I do hope, like some others, that Emma and Libby gain more character as time goes by. At present they're pretty lousy siblings. Michael Abruzzo is the requisite hunk who's got a thing for Nora. However, his family background is less than stellar and Nora is uneasy about the growing butterflies flitting about in her abdomen whenever he's around.
I thought the end of the story was a little weak, but not enough to keep me from ordering the rest of the books in the series: Dead Girls Don't Wear Diamonds; Some Like It Lethal; Cross Your Heart and Hope to Die; and Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too.
Carolyn Rowe Hill
Fun To Read.......2006-06-16
This is my first Nancy Martin book. I instantly liked the characters and the story kept my attention. Has a nice bit of humor too. Looking forward to reading the next one. I'm a huge fan of Mary Kay Andrews (a.k.a. Kathy Trochek) and these are similiarly fun to read, but not as in depth. Good summer book.
Book Description
Queen of Diamonds is the story of Evalyn Walsh McLean, a remarkable and flamboyant woman of the early 20th century. Her husband, Ned McLean, wealthy publisher of the Washington Post, purchased the Hope Diamond for her, and she delighted in flaunting a jewel that many considered to be cursed. She and her husband were close friends with President and Mrs. Warren G. Harding, and the couples attended some of the most glittering parties and social events of their time. Queen of Diamonds tells a tale of rags to riches and back to rags again, for Evalyn lived her last years cash poor. She was forced to sell her fabled stone to jewelry magnate Harry Winston, who donated it to the Smithsonian, where it is now one of the most popular museum exhibits in the world.
Evalyn Walsh McLean originally wrote her autobiography, entitled Father Struck it Rich, with the help of Boyden Sparkes in 1936. Out of print for decades, it is now beautifully edited, updated, revised and reissued. The new book includes additional material about Evalyn's later years and a photo section. It has been produced under the auspices of her great grandson, Joseph Gregory,and his research coauthor and collaborator, Carol Ann Rapp.
Customer Reviews:
queenof diamonds the fabled legacy of evalyn walsh mclean.......2000-11-06
I have been a biography reader for many years and I can surly say that after reading this wonderful book about a lady who gave more to others then herself must have been to good to be true. Reading stories like this, reminds me when I was a little boy when my mother and grandmother would sit around a table and tell me about their lives. Most of all when their lives went to rags to riches to rags again like Evalyn did. I could not put Queen of Diamonds down. I'm so glad that a great grandson has taken a true story and is able to share his memories to everyone. It's wonderful and I highly recommend it to anyone and everyone who wants to read a good story. I applaude him. A MUST TO READ AND TO HAVE TO SHARE TO OTHERS.
Book Description
Nelson Gross led an outsized life—one in which he played many roles: father, brother, husband, politician, entrepreneur. When he was killed by a couple of teenagers in a botched abduction and robbery, the murder shook his family in predictable and terrible ways. For his daughter, Dinah Lenney, the parent of her own young children, the loss sparked a self-reckoning that led to this book, which is both a meditation on grief and a coming of age story. By turns funny and sad, frustrating and fulfilling, her candid memoir conducts readers through marriage and divorce, blended and broken families—and, finally, the kinds of conflict that infect the best of us under the best of circumstances.
In the end, Lenney leaves us with the sense that in spite of extraordinary events—as with most families—it is mutual forgiveness and love that lead us to empathy, acceptance, and the will to carry on.
Customer Reviews:
A Treasure.......2007-05-16
Great, honest, brave memoir, wonderful writer.
The chapter on Christmas is unforgettable.
Such a good book!.......2007-05-06
This book is brave, funny, honest and insightful. The murder of Lenney's father is a jumping-off point for a post-mortem examination of her dysfunctional family, and in this sense it is about all messy American families and the pleasures and pain found therein. Lenney is all voice - she riffs and rants, deftly weaving a story that keeps you hooked. Her prose is a delicious, shiny candy shell for the softer, sweeter stuff within: her deep affection for her children, her husband, her trying first family and the father she struggled to know and love.
A Book Lover's Delight.......2007-04-16
A tour-de-force. I sat down to read this book and I couldn't get up, This book is mesmerizing and it stays with you long after you put it down. The relationships that Lenney interweaves, illuminates, paints with her more-than-talented brush, are reflective of the lives we all lead; tortured, ecstatic, confused, and hopeful. She is a gifted story teller and a seering observer of even the things closest to her heart (not an easy task I might add). We can only hope that she will take that keen eye and sharpened pencil and continue to write. We will all be the better for it.
More than a memoir.......2007-04-13
I so admire those who can write about the most (potentially) sentimental thoughts or ironies without a trace of melodrama. Families sustain and drain us: Lenney infuses her reportage with such personal detail, showing (not telling) how we hurt and love each other, fathers and sons and mothers and daughters -- and strangers. Lenney shows also how so many aspects of life are completely out of our control, not fair or explicable, yet we find grace in small exchanges, in memories and talismans and trying every day. The murder, although central to the story, is not the whole story because it is Dinah and who she is, where she is and how she got there. I enjoyed spending the time with her, an author frank and compelling as she tells her story.
WONDERFUL CHARACTER STUDY.......2007-04-11
This book is woven with rich characters who jump off the page. Lenney gives you some insight into her remarkable curious and ever questioning mind about life, relationships, and her world and the people in it. A terrific study of human nature with a keen eye towards the minute detail that defines us all, within the structure of this ever inquiring memoir lies a murder story that had an impact upon a womans life and a generation that follows. If you never read a memoir (any memoir for that matter) this is one that you must add to your library. If you read it over and over again you will find new nuances of character in its simplicity and you might even at the end begin to look at a portion of your life as a memoir. There is one in all of us!
Book Description
Eight years ago, Dr. Thomas J. Stanley swept aside the mythical magic curtain of wealth to reveal The Millionaire Next Door. America found out just who and how common the truly wealthy were in this country-and we learned the characteristics and habits that made them so. Now the author of the follow-up The Millionaire Mind focuses on one of the least understood but increasingly rich demographics: Millionaire Women Next Door, available in paperback for the first time.
"Why write another book that profiles millionaires?" Stanley asks. "The vast majority of the millionaire respondents (92 percent) in The Millionaire Next Door were men. . . . I felt that it was indeed time for successful businesswomen of the self-made variety to be heard." Readers everywhere will be fascinated by Stanley's thoroughly researched findings and conclusions. They'll come away considerably more knowledgeable and greatly inspired by women who have found the key to riches.
Millionaire Women Next Door explores the meaning of wealth and the avenues that female entrepreneurs and businesspeople have traveled. The book examines their choices, natures, working styles, and lifestyles.
Customer Reviews:
Big Disappointment.......2007-02-16
This book had the potential to be a trailblazer, but was vague and lacked substance. It even fell short of being motivational, which is what seemed to be the intent of the author. Perhaps Mr. Stanley should stick to writing about millionaire men, because he doesn't capture the spirit of "the millionaire women." A better read is Barbara Stanny's "Prince Charming Isn't Coming," or "Secrets of Six Figure Income Women" which I found informative and motivational. Mr. Stanley give me something I can use...or at least feel.
Millionaire women next door.......2006-06-29
I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed reading about women who are millionaires and how they spend their money. It is good to know that becoming a millionaire is possible for all women in all walks of life no matter what the circumstances. I gave this book to my daughter to use as a reference point.
Customer Reviews:
FEMINIST RE-TELLING OF A MISER'S LIFE.......2007-07-31
Hetty Green was known ,during her lifetime,as "the witch of Wall Street"and with good reason..She was among the most wealthy people of her time,and her cheapness made Ebeneezer Scrooge look like a spendthrift..At the least,Scrooge is redeemed at the end of"A Christmas Carol"while Green remained an incredible miser until the very moment that she died...
Hetty Green came from wealth,but wealth contaminated by 19th century Quaker austerity,a fatal comination in the case of this woman,inasmuchas her religion made a virtue out of being tight with a penny,and Ms.Green seemed unable,or unwilling to temper her miserliness with charity or even commonsense..Her cheapness cost her son his leg,amputated rather than saved because Hetty Green was too cheap to seek the sort of medical service her millions could afford,and instead opted for a charity hospital...Green would live in cheap boarding houses,eat day old bread and quibble over a penny while at the same time loaning millions to suchlike as the government of the city of New York,and always at rates that were just short of usery..
This book is sort of a celebration of Hetty Green as"America's first female tycoon"but feminists who wish to embrace Green as such will find little to look up to,unless of course thier other role model is Gordon Geeko,notorious for the 1980's slogan"Greed is Good",from the film"Wall Street"..But this is the way Charles Slack sees Ms.Green,as a sort of 19th century feminist icon..Yes,he does detail Hetty's miserliness,but at the same time he attempts to excuse it or,worse,to put a happy face on it by comparing it to the miserliness of the era's other MALE tycoons...At the least,however,Rockefeller,Drew,and the others she is compared with were responsible enough to know that it was necessary to part with some of the sheckels when one's child had a leg injury that was going gangerous...Not Hetty...Indeed,Mr Slack attempts to downplay most of Hetty's bad habits,bad judgements,unnecessary cheapness,and other personality shortcomings while making a big deal out of her single-minded efforts to aquire more and more and more money..Wanting to become rich is,of course,no crime(although given the way most of the rich become rich,and the way most of them behave afterwards,perhaps it should be!),but,at the least,some of the very wealthy make some effort at appearing to be interested in something other than the getting of money for its own sake...Not Hetty Green..No sir!Until the day that she died,Hetty Green's obsession was MORE !
World's Greatest Miser!.......2007-02-20
This book is about Hetty Green who became the wealthiest woman in America at the time of her death in 1916. Hetty is in the Guinness Book of World Records as the greatest miser who ever lived. Even though she possessed vast sums of money in the form of Real Estate and Stocks and Bonds she lived life like someone who didn't know where her next dollar was going to come from.
Her life as one the world's greatest investors unfolds from her childhood in the mid 1800's until the time of her death. There is some insight into how she invested her money and how she learned to invest as a child reading the financial news out loud to her father and grandfather whose eye sight was failing.
There are 16 chapters in this short book of only 226 pages. A lot of the book is spent on her relationships with relatives and her family. She had two children from a marriage that could be described as odd. Her son grew up and became a good businessman himself although he did not live his life as a miser. Neither one of her children had children of their own and the vast fortune that Hetty had accumulated and held onto so dear was eventually given away by her daughter through her Will upon her death.
It is an interesting story but at times it can be hard to read, the reason for only 3 stars. Her life in a way I would say was sad although if Hetty was asked about the way she lived she probably wouldn't have changed a thing.
A great read about an early female millionaire.......2006-07-05
Hetty Green lived in an era where the character of the American tycoon was emulated in the enormous mansions lining New York's Fifth Avenue. Hetty broke this mold in every way imaginable. Most importantly, by being the richest woman in America, she operated daily in an atmosphere dominated by men. Author Charles Slack provides a proper tribute to a woman mostly forgotten amongst the Vanderbilts, Morgans and Carnegies that came into prominence during her lifetime. Slack's treatment of Hetty's life is both fair and entertaining. At the time she was mostly known as miserly and mean-hearted but Slack offers a full-sided view of a complex woman who lived a very simple and unusual life for someone of her means.
Unlike most women of the time, Hetty Green learned the economic ropes by reading the financial papers to her father and grandfather, both in the whaling business. She later uses her inherited fortunes to make her mark on Wall Street. Slack's ability to focus on her character and not on the specifics of her business dealings makes this a highly pleasurable and manageable read. She was often unpredictable and spent most of her life living in small tenements as opposed to mansions. Her penny-pinching philosophy led to many a great Hetty story, most of which Slack dutifully collects and includes in his novel. Her death, portrayed in later chapters, leaves the impression that our world is missing one of the true great aristocrats of its time.
A good read.......2005-11-07
Slack has given us the first cut of a remarkable life.
How many biographies exist for John Rockefeller, Andrew Carnegie, Jay Gould and the others? This book opens up a whole new unexplored territory. Stack provides a platform for future biographers and their field is fertile.
Why was Hettie forgotten? Was it lack of self-memorialization in libraries and museums? Wrong gender? No progeny to carry the name/flame? No Newport mansion for tourists to visit?
What made her tick? The distant father? The need to succeed/prove? Protestant ethic? Loneliness?
What of Mr. Green, a man so adventurous in early life? How did he FEEL when his wife so publically demonstrated her financial independance (in Victorian America)? What did he do in the years following this.. and how did he relate to his children?
What of the son who honors his mother in public, leaves Texas to assist her, but marries Mable "Harlot" so soon after his mother's death.
Why has this not been a DocumDrama already?
Heir to a fortune to fortune maker........2005-10-17
Hetty Green was heir to a fortune but what she did with that inheritance is a significant example of capitalism run amok during the late 19th, early 20th centuries. She turned that modest inheritance into hundreds of millions of dollars. Had she been a man, in my opinion, she would have come to us--through the decades--as powerful a name as Morgan, Carnegie or Rockefeller. Instead, she is remembered, if she is remembered at all, as an eccentric old lady, at best, and a ruthless miser, at worst.
Thankfully, Charles Slack's HETTY, The Genius and Madness of America's First Female Tycoon offers us a look at the woman beneath the austere black dresses. At times ruthless, at times vindictive, Hetty Green could also be compassionate and sentimental. While she was not exactly an ideal wife or mother, her husband and children never villified her; in fact her children, in public at least, only said kind words for her (even though her son could have legitimately accused her of costing him his leg).
What ultimately comes across though is a strong, looming sense of loneliness. To me, she seemed isolated as a child, isolated as a young adult, and in later years, as isolated as her Aunt Sylvia. In the end, money couldn't buy her love. It couldn't even pay for a friend. Charles Slack, however, doesn't want you to think of this as some sort of penance. She was surrounded by what little family was left, and by his account, left this world peacefully. Mr. Slack actually makes it seem she preferred it that way. And I believe he's right. This was a fascinating biography of a woman who deserved one.
Amazon.com
Free Food for Millionaires, the debut novel from Min Jin Lee, takes on daunting themes of love, money, race, and belief systems in this mostly satisfying tale. Casey Han is a Princeton grad, class of '93, and it is her conflicts, relationships, and temperament that inform the novel. She is the child of immigrant Korean parents who work in the same laundry in Queens where they have always worked and are trying hard to hang on to their culture. Casey has catapulted out of that life on scholarships but now that college is over, she hasn't the same opportunities as her white friends, even though she has acquired all of their expensive habits.
The concept of free food for millionaires is the perfect irony that describes much of what Casey faces. Walter, one of her bosses, says, when a huge buffet lunch is delivered to the floor: "It's free food for millionaires... In the International Equities Department--that is, Asia, Europe, and Japan Sales--the group you're interviewing for--whichever desk that sells a deal buys lunch for everyone in the department."
Casey is ambivalent about everything--her love life, work, friendships, her family, dating a Korean man--but she seems to believe that money would sort everything out and smooth any rough spots. She works part-time for a fashion maven who would like to "adopt" her by paying for business school, but Casey can't quite accept all that she offers. She pulls back from help, digs herself deeper in debt, works like a slave during an internship and then, when she is offered the job, finally begins to realize what she might really want--and it isn't only money.
There are several loose ends left dangling, some bad behavior toward others on Casey's part and an unlikely and too coincidental passing acquaintance with an old bookseller whose wife was crazy about hats, as is Casey. When he dies, he leaves all her hats to Casey--which just might just be the start of something. The author runs out of steam after 512 pages and ends the book without really finishing it, but it is a thoughtful treatment of many of the questions Lee raises, and an emninently worthwhile debut. --Valerie Ryan
Book Description
Casey Han's four years at Princeton gave her many things, "But no job and a number of bad habits." Casey's parents, who live in Queens, are Korean immigrants working in a dry cleaner, desperately trying to hold on to their culture and their identity. Their daughter, on the other hand, has entered into rarified American society via scholarships. But after graduation, Casey sees the reality of having expensive habits without the means to sustain them. As she navigates Manhattan, we see her life and the lives around her, culminating in a portrait of New York City and its world of haves and have-nots. FREE FOOD FOR MILLIONAIRES offers up a fresh exploration of the complex layers we inhabit both in society and within ourselves. Inspired by 19th century novels such as Vanity Fair and Middlemarch, Min Jin Lee examines maintaining one's identity within changing communities in what is her remarkably assured debut.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent read, fine modern novel, important and fresh subject.......2007-10-24
I enjoyed this book thoroughly and was sad to put it down. Although I am not Korean I have Korean friends and have dated Korean women (and been to Korea) and so the themes were interesting to me from the start. Also, I lived in NYC during the Wall Street go-go years, and so can relate with a lot of the motivations and drive of many of the characters. I think the author has created a very lively portrait of the challenges, conflicts and transitions between generations and between cultures - immigrant vs native and those, like the main character, who are neither entirely native or immigrant. The main character is frequently quite ambivalent, torn between two cultures and her own conflicting desires which can, at times, be a little overly passive as a narrative device, but the secondary characters take on warm lives of their own, which helps the novel become more multi-dimensional and well paced. The breadth of characters is very ambitious and, for the most part, the author carries it off well. A fresh and interesting look into the inner workings of Korean and Korean/American family culture, expectations and interpersonal dynamics. The ending wasn't conclusive and seemed a bit hasty and abrupt, but I would be happy to spend a few hundred pages more with these characters and see where they wind up (sequel?) - excellent story telling! Well worth reading!
Good but not Great.......2007-10-22
I thought overall Lee is a pretty good writer, and enough happened with the plot that I wasn't too bored. However, sometimes I felt that she relied on stereotypes of certain characters. As you can see from the other reviews, I'm not the only one who observed this. Because the character development is based on stereotypes, it became somewhat two dimensional and lacking. I thought that many of the characters were pretty superficial, including Casey. The author seemed to obsess about making sure that we knew where practically each character went to high school and college and had this rigid view of public v. private education. Based upon where the character went to school and where he or she grew up, he or she was pretty much type-cast. Maybe it's not her fault and it's just a reflection of NY society? However, if you want to read one person's depictions about what Korean American immigrant life in NY is like, I'd recommend it.
And On and On and On.......2007-09-28
I listened to all 16 of the disks of this novel -- patiently and expectantly. Some of the characters were interesting, and their dilemmas recognizable. Some of the appeal was the exoticism of getting into the heads of highly pious, Korean immigrants and ambitious, frightened Wall Street interns. I learned a little about Ivy League striving and the ambivalence of young professionals. Unfortunately, this book cries out for a strong editor.
A somewhat sensationalized, and exaggerated, slice of Korean American life.......2007-09-02
As a Korean American male in my early 30's and also in the Investment Banking industry I picked up this book with much curiosity and anticipation. I have to say at the end of it, my thoughts were mixed. In my life, I've lived in the environment that both the author and the main character have gone through- Korean American church life, demanding academics, traditional parents and the rush to find a reputable profession after college. In my time I've known my share of archetypes in the mold of Casey Han, Ted Kim, Joseph Han, Unu Shim and yes even the ultra innocent, tragically beautiful, but ultimately naiveté and played like a fiddle Ella Shim. These caricatures not only exist in our community, but are also recognizable and realistic.
The first half of the book I thought Lee was building up to something quite interesting, perhaps accomplishing something groundbreaking like Chang Rae Lee did in his book "Native Speaker." However, the second half of the book devolved into something that didn't say anything really and was just fodder for gossip talk. Although, there were plenty of flawed characters in this book, it seems as if the Korean Americans, both men and women, were the most dysfunctional people. The only two Korean Americans that had the best values and most consistent personalities, Ellas's father and Casey's sister, were the most underdeveloped characters. The more drama you had in your life, the more words Ms. Lee devoted to developing your character. Maybe that was Lee's point? To take the standard immigrant literary fare of the hard working and noble immigrant family and turn it on its head and write about immigrants who are just as messed up as everyone else around them. For good measure, make them a little more messed up then their non-Korean peers. This is not an accurate representation of what most Korean Americans are. There are certainly characters in real life that are like the characters in the book, but the frequency is certainly skewed.
Also, the date rape that happened in the last third of the book bothered me greatly and I didn't think it was at all necessary. If Ms. Lee wanted to demonstrate tragic flaws in some characters I honestly do believe she could of used another vehicle to achieve her purpose. If I wasn't Korean American, I'd probably give this book another star. It is very well written and engaging if you are not emotionally tied to the culture that the characters navigate through. However, it is far from a classic and it is more along the lines of a light summer read. What saddens me is that, with a little more intelligence, foresight and responsible writing, it could have been so much more.
Loved This Book.......2007-08-28
Although I'm probably a "third tier reviewer" (see nastly useless review below), I adored this book. It was completely a revelation about Korean immigrant culture, something I know nothing about, but with characters that anyone could recognize and relate to. Having read so many books where the characters have one personality trait, it was so wonderful to read a book where the characters have flaws, make terrible mistakes but you still care for them and want them to succeed. I did not want this book to end. Speaking of endings, my only criticism is that the ending was ambiguous. After having invested so much time with these characters I wanted a tighter ending. But, having thought about how the book ended, I do think it was very true to the nature of the book which was almost a movie/narration of four years in one character's life. This was my favorite book in a long long time. I thought it was brilliant and on a subject no one focuses on in any kind of sophisticated manner -- that period after college but before career. Finally, for anyone having trouble getting through the print edition of the book, I also recommend the unabridged audio; the narrator brings all of the characters to life making it hard to stop listening.
Customer Reviews:
Improves one's mind.......2004-08-26
"Kissing your hand may make you feel very good but a diamond bracelet lasts forever." So says Lorelei Lee in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes." With the emergence of Lorelei, Anita Loos invented the chick-lit genre as we know it, with witty looks at love, jewelry, and gold-digging in the sparkling 1920s.
"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is the diary of Lorelei Lee, a pretty young flapper originally from Little Rock. Since she has managed to get engaged to a married man, and might be hit with a scandal, Lorelei goes overseas. She cuts a gold-digging swathe through Europe, dazzling wealthy men, seeing the "Eyefull" Tower, and recording thoughts both witty and vapid.
Loos followed up her hit novel with "But Gentlemen Prefer Brunettes." The sequel is the story of Lorelei's travelling buddy Dorothy, as told by Lorelei. Dorothy has led a more colorful life -- she started off in the circus before heading to NYC. There, she became a Ziegfield Follies Girl, and then a "companion" to wealthy men.
Anita Loos's "Gentlemen" books first started when Loos encountered a starlet who had men tripping over themselves to help her with her things. Loos was as pretty, as young, and much smarter, but nobody helped her. What was different? Loos was a brunette, and the starlet was a blonde. You do the math.
Loos had a fun, deft sense of humor. She skewered flappers and/or gold-diggers, wealthy men, and the social mores of the 1920s. She also deliberately litters her books with misspellings and run-on sentences, adding to the feeling of overal ditziness. At the same time, her books are such good light fun that they can be read without taking note of the satire.
"Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and But Gentlemen Marry Brunettes" gives a wink-nudge look at the flapper era, while giving us the origins of the present-day lite chick-lit genre. Fun, fluffy and amusing.
Utterly entertaining.......2004-06-22
This is a great little book (actually, two books in one). I laughed put loud throughout it and hoped that it would never end. "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" is rightly considered a classic, its sharp and bitingly witty insight is something one never seems to see in a book today (indeed, humour in a book today seems to be rare - sometimes it seems that all new fiction books are depressing and morbid; and if you feel this way too then you should read Loos' clever and refreshing novels). This is a classuc that you will want to read over and over.
Wry, funny and timeless.......2003-09-12
If you appreciate wry humor and satire, wonderfully written, this is the book for you. A quick read that never disappoints. Every gentleman should read this by the time he turns 25.
What a star.......2002-07-03
Which came first, Damon Runyon or Anita Loos? Whatever, this is a brilliant book that gets funnier as Loos hits her stride. By the time she gets to Dorothy's adventures she's well away. It's not just the language and the gags but the concrete observation - Dorothy isn't just discovered sitting in the doorway of Pearl Lo Vino's tent, she's found sitting there watching Pearl crochet a boudoir cap. Writers, take note!
Classic humor!.......2001-06-13
I adored this book! I purchased it because I'd seen both of the movies, but the book is so much wittier! I'd recommend it to anyone with an extremely sophisticated sense of humor, otherwise it would be hard to understand - not for lightweights!
Book Description
Dear Reader,Welcome to the world of Jamie Swift and Max Holt! My good friend Charlotte Hughes and I have teamed up to create a series of books featuring these two characters and they've taken on a life of their own! These books are not set in the same world as my Stephanie Plum novels, but what they have in common is lovable, dysfunctional characters, villains you love to hate, and a cross-eyed way of looking at life. Jamie and Max have intense chemistry-even though they drive each other crazy. Max thinks Jamie is a magnet for trouble and Jamie thinks Max is the most annoyingly sexy, mysterious man she's ever met. She knows she should stay away from him. But boy, oh boy, do the sparks fly when they get together. Jamie is a newspaper owner from a small southern town. And in Full Speed, she's after the story of a lifetime. Max Holt is right in the middle of that story, and so Jamie tracks down the millionaire playboy, forcing him to take her on as partner. What follows is a story of a corrupt minister, a gang of mobsters on the loose, a hound dog called Fleas, a wise-cracking computer genius, and lots of love in the fast lane. Not to mention plenty of steamy action between Jamie and Max. So have fun with Full Speed. We're going to sign off now and get back to creating more romantic adventures between Jamie Swift and Max Holt. Enjoy and happy reading! Janet and Charlotte
Customer Reviews:
Evanovich.......2007-05-12
Love any and all of Janet Evanovich's books. Arrived as promised. Read all of the "Full" series.
3 1/2 Stars .......2007-02-27
Left alone in the middle of nowhere, Jamie Swift could have gone home, but decided to go on a little adventure where she found a man with connections to the mob, and a man whom she couldn't trust but her body responded to. One of those men could be the end of her, but which one?
When in the mood for a comical mystery, no one is better then Janet Evanovich, but this book failed to deliver. The amount of comical scenes could be counted on one hand, and the characters were pretty boring with an exception of a few. Though the book was extremely predictable, it was okay if you don't compare it to her Plum series. Jamie and Max were okay characters, they were pretty normal compared to what Janet Evanovich is capable of. But Dave was a funny character that gave the novel it's much needed comical relief. This novel wasn't one of Janet's best, but it wasn't the worst either.
Not your typical Evanovich.......2006-10-05
Jamie Swift refuses to let Max Holt's words of discouragement stop her from getting her newspaper story about a crooked preacher involved with the mob. She decides to go undercover on her own, but when Max finds out, she realizes he has more connections than she does. The multimillionaire has the hots for her as well as the need to protect Jamie. With a hit out on Max, it is up to Jamie to find the evidence, but nothing works out the way anyone plans.
I picked up Full Speed thinking that it was the first in the series and was a bit confused in the beginning. The book seemed to start off without much lead way from the previous book. I felt like I was missing something.
It definitely didn't compare with the Stephanie Plum books. The only funny character is Dave the hypochondriac. The whole "Muffin" talking computer with a personality thing is just a female version of "Kit" from Knight Rider.
Is it worth buying?
If you are looking for another series like the Plum ones, than you will be disappointed. There was more action and suspense in this novel, but the story line was a bit underdeveloped. I think if you are really curious about reading the Full series, than check them out from the library. $7.99 for a paperback that you may get bored with quickly just isn't worth it.
A smidgen better than the last........2006-09-03
Jamie Swift is on yet another adventure with the wealthy and sexy Max Holt. Max helped Jamie pull her newspaper back afloat in "Full Tilt", and now she's tagged along to find a new story for the paper. They intend on going after a minister (Harlan Rawlins) with ties to the mob, and who had also ordered a hit on Max to be pursued.
Jamie has ditched Max after a dispute over her safety, and she sets off alone to a tiny town named Sweet Pea, Tennessee. Jamie soon finds herself in disguise seducing Harlan to get the information she wants for her story, but right on cue, Max appears in disguise as well. The two of them work together to uncover the mastermind behind it all, but not in time before both of their lives are in danger.
---
Janet Evanovich can't seem to write the Stephanie Plum novels fast enough for me, and I'd hate to go though withdrawal from her books. So I've managed to stick with her Full series. I don't know if I will read some of her other romances, but I intend on completing this series.
I liked "Full Speed" a little more than "Full Tilt" because it seemed more realistic, and it had a stronger sense of danger. I didn't laugh a whole lot, but once I got going, it was hard to put the book down. I'm curious to see what happens next!
In my opinion, it may not be at all comparable to the SP series, but I still find this Full series is filled with enough thrills for my liking. I understand that there will always be people who won't like this series, but I would probably recommend it to anyone who hasn't started with any JE books yet. That way they won't have to suffer any pain and disappointment if they pick up a better series (in this case, Stephanie Plum) after this one ;)
I Want a Dog Like Fleas!.......2006-07-22
I'm a recent Janet Evanovich fan and have devoured her entire Stephanie Plum series. Craving more from her, I turned to her recent FULL series. FULL SPEED is the third installment in this series and although it's fun and easy to read, it is a bit lacking when compared to the Stephanie Plum books.
In the previous book in this series (FULL TILT) we were introduced to Maximillian Holt and Jamie Swift. Max is a multi-millionaire who is gorgeous, witty, extremely intelligent, and has trouble following him wherever he goes. Jamie Swift is a small town girl who is struggling to keep her local newspaper afloat and in operation. Max became Jamie's silent partner and when the two met it was anything but tame. FULL SPEED picks up the story line from where it left off and we see Max and Jamie going after a wealthy evangelist who has mob ties. Seems Max didn't take lightly the hit the minister put on Max.
Jamie is after a story and Max is after answers, so they decide to work together to figure out exactly what is going on with Harlan Rawlins. Seems Harlan isn't too happy that Max turned down his offer to purchase his television station and hired a hit man to eliminate Max. The chase leads Max and Jamie to Sweet Pea, Tennessee, a tiny town which is home to Harlan's ministries. They try to infiltrate the ministries with Max posing as an electrician and Jamie as a woman with a sex addiction (Harlan has been known to be a lady's man). Ok, so not the best disguise, but it worked and gave me a few laughs in the process!
As the two are trying to get answers, a mobster who has been sent to Sweet Pea as a family punishment realizes what's happening and ensnares Jamie with lies and bits of information he knows she'll want. Talk about dangling a carrot...
The plot is a bit weak as Jamie and Max easily do their thing and breach security. No one questions either of them, which seems a bit unusual considering the amount of security personnel in place. There is no mystery involved and the reader is fully aware of all elements. Even with these negative aspects, the character development makes this book fun to read.
Characters are true Evanovich - they are witty, fun, eccentric and full of life. Dave, Max's helper, who is a genius and a hypochondriac is so annoying that I wanted to tell him to get over his fetish with dust mites! It was funny as he freaks out in every situation over the "what ifs" that are lurking unseen by the naked eye. Jamie is her usual self, always thinking and wondering about the world. Max is a bit of a kid still, wanting to catch the world by its tail and hang on for a fun ride. Harlan is despicable and the reader doesn't feel sorry for him when he dies. I thought that he was just a waste of a human being. (No Harlan's death is not the mystery portion - who killed him is... well kinda, we all know who was behind that). Nick Santoni, the mobster, is the perfect image of one - he's dark, brooding, and evil. But my favorite was Fleas, a bloodhound that came with an old, rundown truck Jamie bought. Fleas is hairless in spots because of a coon accident, he hates country music and becomes vicious when it's played, and he's just a great dog. He's a highlight in this book!
Even with a weak plot, the story is made by the fun characterization. I'm beginning to see this as a pattern with Evanovich. If nothing else, read FULL SPEED for the fun interaction of the characters.
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