5 comments about The Closers.

1. He's done it again. Book after book he keeps you in suspense with realistic plots and characters.For Personal Pickup



2. In The Closers Detective Harry Bosch is back with the LAPD working on trying to closing unsolved cases. On his first case back on the force he is attempting to solve the death of a teenaged girl from almost two decades ago. Connelly's above average writing skills makes The Closers an entertaining read. However, in contrast to many of Connelly's other books, The Closers has fewer surprises, a lot less action and is notably more predictable in regards to guessing the outcome. If you are a fan of Connelly's and his Harry Bosch character, I think you'll find The Closers to be a satisfying read. However, if this is your first Harry Bosch mystery I don't think reading this book will motivate you to want to rush out to read other books in the series. In my opinion this would be a mistake since most of the other Harry Bosch mysyeries are very good-to-excellent.



3. This is a great book for murder Mystery lovers lots of the twists and turns we have grown to like with all Michael Connelly books



4. Enjoyable reading. My first of the series. I will go back and read the rest of the Harry Bosch series for sure.



5. Harry Bosch is married to his work; his religion is to gain justice for victims and their families; and he is willing to do what it takes to succeed. With an instinct for noticing what others miss, he's able to open closed doors and solve cases that have befuddled everyone else. He lacks a desire to kowtow to authority and often offends even his best friends. I can't think of a story in the series that better captures those qualities than The Closers.
   
   In this story, Harry has been allowed to rejoin LAPD after an almost three years of frustrating retirement. His ex-wife and daughter are in the Far East so going back to the job is irresistible, especially after his long-time ex-partner, Kiz Rider, agrees to work with him again. But he's on probation, just another "boot" who can be fired for any mistake. Despite being warned to be careful by the new police chief and his arch-enemy Deputy Chief Irvin S. Irving, Harry is pushing the line from day one.
   
   His first unsolved case is triggered by a DNA hit: A murder weapon contains DNA from a known criminal. Now, Harry and Kiz need to find the suspect and figure out what he had to do with the case.
   
   The action is fast as the investigation moves into hyper speed for a cold case. Various deadlines and risks mean that even Harry has to move faster than usual. It makes for a taut plot that makes the book a page turner.
   
   In addition, the mystery is well designed to be hard to unravel. There are many red herring strands you can pull and still be nowhere near the answer. It's a very satisfying mystery to read about . . . even if justice is (as usual in a Harry Bosch book) undone by LAPD politics and mistakes.
   
   Have a great read!

5 comments about The Doctor's Book of Home Remedies: Thousands of Tips and Techniques Anyone Can Use to Heal Everyday Health Problems.

1. I can't count how many times this book has helped my family and me over the years! We have to older version which is just fine for most things however, I'm ordering the newer anyway for the updates.
   
   The ONLY negative I found was that some of the intros for the doctors in each remedy were so long, they took up most of the remedy so really, without the doc intro's the book would be smaller which is good (less bulky in the middle of the night)! Maybe the writers can mention the docs in an intro chapter because some of them are mentioned twice or more in the book. Make since?
   
   GREAT BOOK THOUGH!



2. If you scan over the common sense advice, there are some very helpful ideas for every condition or problem that you might have. It's worth a glace or buy if you see it in a used bookstore.



3. This is an excellent resource, full of practical tips for dealing with a large variety of health issues. I have at least 2 shelves full of health & medical advice books, some quite gigantic. But THIS is the book I always reach for when dealing with health problems. It gets right to the point & offers a list of things you can do to deal with each problem. (I just bought an updated one for me & another copy for a friend so that I don't have to keep reading her mine over the phone while she takes notes.)



4. This product was on a wish list for Christmas. Must be good if they picked it!



5. The item purchased arrived on time and in great shape. Item was as described. My experience with this seller was excellent therefore I would purchase from this seller again in the future.

5 comments about Blue Book of Pool Cues.

1. It's amazing how much my old cue has appreciated in value. I almost sold it at my garage sale. Thanks to Simpson's BLUE BOOK, I got almost 10 times what I thought it was worth. This book is a goldmine.



2. This is a great value for content and price! I don't know how it could have been done much better for the cost. Some of the minor cuemakers don't have pictures of their work, but I suspect they didn't submit any to the publisher. It was a big help to me when I went to buy a cue.



3. As this is the 3rd edition of Blue Books, that tells you that people into pool cues have been buying them, with good reason.
   First off, the author, Brad Simpson, has been adding more and more info into each new edition, the 1st ed.(1996) had 465 pages, the 2nd, (1999) 600 pages, and this 3rd edition,(2005), a whopping 913.
   The number of color photos's showing the work of the more well known cuemakers, past and present, living and dead, has also increased with each new edition and, IMO, is the best feature of these books.
   The 3rd edition has a fairly extensive listing of cuemakers and a brief business bio of them. Their current cue offerings, as well as their older and one of a kind cues is provided. The pricing guidelines should be regarded in the most general of terms, as so much goes into the value of a pool cue.
   If your a collector or just someone looking to spend a few hundred dollars on a nice cue to play with, The Blue Book of Pool Cues, 3rd Ed., can provide both useful information and enjoyment at a reasonable cost.



4. If you enjoy playing pool and want to find out who makes the pool cues we use, this is the book for you.



5. Great reference material for anyone interested in collecting cues. Just wish the book was hardback.

5 comments about Legendary Motorcycles: The Stories and Bikes Made Famous by Elvis, Peter Fonda, Kenny Roberts, and Other Motorcycling Greats.

1. First off, this is just a beautiful book. By mixing surprising archival photography with his own solid portraiture, Basem Wasef takes you on a trip in a time machine, from the Bonneville Salt Flats to the flatlands of Indiana and the hometown of James Dean. They are all here and the rides that are forever etched in the American motoring consciousness: Elvis and his 'Glide, Fonda and his chopper and, of course, Evel. But this is no lightweight populist read. Nor is it a look back done from a desk. Wasef literally crisscrossed the country and reported on each and every one of these machines in person. This is a deep dive onto rare bikes that will glue the most avid motorsickle rider to every rich page.



2. I've never held a special interest in motorcycles, other than acknowledging that they are one of the coolest objects in existence. I bought Legendary Motorcycles because I figured it would serve as a nice conversation piece on my coffee table. I was right - it has been picked up and perused far more often than any other book within reach. The striking cover artwork continues inside, with photos that compel one to flip through the pages. I found myself (and my house guests) wrapped up in many of the stories which accompany the pictures. I expected the writing to be long-winded, boring, and too arcane for anyone other than the 'in' crowd. However, while this book is a must have for motorcycle aficionados, the author also caters to those of us with little or no knowledge of the history and significance of these classic bikes. Very well done, and highly recommended!



3. I am always a little sceptical everytime a new historical motorcycle book comes out. But "Legendary Motorcycles" really manage to capture my interest, as being well written and well balanced between technical details and interesting histories about the famous people who rode them.
   Highly recommendable!



4. I'm not a motorcycle expert, but this book has interesting stories and includes rare photos of important motocycles and their owners. A great gift idea; highly recommended!



5. I thought this would be more like info on the bikes owned by the elite & famous. It is mostly people who raced bikes or owned racing empires. Not popular names like the title implies.

3 comments about Encyclopedia of Antique American Clocks, Second Edition.

1. The Encyclopedia Of Antique American Clocks offers collectors and dealers with a superbly illustrated and comprehensive guide to American clocks. Organized by clock type and category, this authoritative guide offers detailed entry descriptions and current market values, as well as being enhanced with more than 700 photographs including a 16-page color section). The Encyclopedia Of Antique American Clocks is an essential pictorial reference to this specialized category of nostalgic collectibles and includes informative chapters on clock types, the history of clock making, and collectible clocks from the smaller clock makers as well. A glossary, bibliography, photo index, and resources list also contribute to making The Encyclopedia Of Antique American Clocks thoroughly "user friendly" and highly recommended.



2. Brand new, year 2001 encyclopedia for clock enthusiasts. It features 352 pages and more than 700 black and white photos and a special full color section. There's plenty of informative text with data on clock types, clock making, leading clock makers, clock histories, wall and classic clocks, shelf clocks and novelty clocks. The pictures provided are large and sharp, making identification easy. Clock lovers will find this a useful work.



3. compared to the first book, which is a wonderful book, this one was a waste of time -- i wish i had a chance to look at it before i bought it -- i would not have bought it -- j.d.h.

5 comments about Hidden Prey.

1. Sandford diverged from his typical Prey novel here with Lucas Davenport following a Russian spy ring in Minnesota. I can understand why Sandford went this direction since once you write so many novels about the same character they might seem to be following a tired pattern. I have not had any complaints about the Prey novels so far, and this was the first one I have been truly disappointed in.
   
   The storyline wasn't necessarily difficult to follow, it just did not feel right and it lacked that spy thriller edge that I believe Sandford was going for. I applaud the effort, but I wish Lucas Davenport would have been Lucas Davenport, up to his old tricks again. This book lacked what the previous ones had as Davenport skirts back and forth all over the country trying to figure out what this spy ring is all about.
   
   If you are a Lucas Davenport fan then I recommend reading this book; however, don't be looking for what we as readers have come to expect with respect to Davenport's antics and escapades. All other readers, skip this book.



2. Another great book by John Sandford. The plot involves a Soviet spy ring withering on the vine at the end of the Cold War coming back to life to protect itself. Lucas Davenport with the help of a Russian intellignce operative, Major Nadezha Kalin (Nadya), takes us thru twists and turns as they slowly piece together the puzzle. One thing I liked about this book is that not every loose end is neatly tied up at the end resembling the true reality of crimes. Maybe they got 90%, but they still were pondering a couple of things. I liked it - a good read!



3. Lucas Davenport continues his employment for the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension working for his long time employer Rose Marie. The Governor is concerned about a Russian man that was found dead near Duluth that is discovered was a Russian spy. Lucas is sent to assist the local police with the investigation to ensure that there will be no political fallout that will cause problems for the Governor. But before the investigation really gets started, the body count begins to add up and Lucas and friends realize that this investigation is going to be more complicated than they originally realized. Lucas finds himself in the middle of learning about Soviet spy rings as well as family dynamics in a local small town. He must connect all the dots before more people die.
   
   The Prey series has disappointed me for a while, but this one was a huge letdown. It wasn't so much that it was bad as that it just wasn't good. The plot was somewhat random and hard to follow at times. There really was not any suspense as the killers are revealed from the start and we just watch to see if Lucas will figure them out. And the killers' motive is never adequately explained which makes it difficult to get interested in what is going on. The end could not be more anticlimactic. Overall it is just a boring book. The pages do not turn. And Lucas' relationship with his family and wife, Weather, have taken such a backseat that it doesn't even have that as a redeeming quality. A big disappointment from what this series once was.



4. When a Russian worker on a grain ship is killed near Duluth, at first it seems random. However, soon it comes out that the man is not who he appears to be - he is the son of one of the New Russian wealthy class, an oil tycoon, and his father wants to know why he was killed, and why he was presenting himself under an assumed name (not to mention carrying several other sets of identification with him). Accordingly a Russian will be coming over to assist and oversee the investigation. The governor sends in Lucas Davenport to to find out what is going on.
   
   Lucas, working with Nadya (the Russian agent) and local police officer Jerry Reasons (and Lucas' own undercover assistant Micky Andreno, who is called up from St. Louis), soon realizes that there is a lot more to this whole situation than meets the eye, but it seems that the more they pry into things, the more people are being threatened, and the more people are being killed. Can he discover the answer in time?
   
   I really enjoyed this entry in the series - to see this country from the eyes of Nadya ("everywhere there are signs - why do you have so many signs?" and "everything is work work work money money money - in every other country people enjoy sitting, drinking, dancing") alone was worth reading the book. Sandford did a wonderful job portraying her and I wonder how he did the research to create this character, because she feels VERY real. Although we know more than the investigators do, we don't know everything and the intrigue and tension stays high throughout the course of the book, keeping the reader glued to the pages throughout.
   
   Definitely a must-read recommendation from me!



5. Lucas Davenport is back in the "Prey" series.
   
   Instead of a book focused on Davenport, they elelemnt of the Prey series is quite ploy centered. Meaning in my mind you don't have to be that familiar with the previous character development in the series. "Hidden Prey" very much can stand alone without the rest of the series.
   
   The plot starts with a Russian found dead in a Minnesota port. Three holes in his head and heart. Due to the connections of the victim, this becomes at least a low level international incident, and a Russian cop (or is it an intelligence agent?) come in from Moscow to conduct her own investigation.
   
   The other oddity is that the murder weapon appears to be a fifty year old gun and evidence is pointing to a very deep sleeper cell of Communists and their 90 year old leader.
   
   I found the plot of the book fascinating and it kept me enthralled to the end.

4 comments about Standard Catalog of American Cars 1976-1999 (Standard Catalog of American Cars).

1. This book is not for everyone. Flammang and Kowalke have given us not merely a reference book, but a sort of "living history" of the American automobile industry's most challenging era. It's great fun to track the changes in American cars from the North American Vinyl-Backed Road Pigs of the mid-70s through the confusing transitional years of the 80s, on into the rebirth of the American auto industry in the 90s. Reading this book not only shows you how the way cars are built has changed; you also get a sense of how the way cars are sold has changed.

   The reason this book is not for everyone is that this is essentially an encyclopedia. There's a section for every American automaker, and within those sections, a section for every model year. Thus you can learn what makes, say, a 1978 Chevy Impala different from the 1979 models. Or you can read about the travails of the Ford Motor Company in the late 70s and see how they dug themselves out of a rut with their products. Flammang and Kowalke have done a good job researching this book and finding telling little factoids to help illustrate where each company was at in a given year.

   This book is also a boon to collectors, as it gives fairly complete production numbers. You can learn about ultra-rare body styles, option packages, and the like.

   I've only got one quibble: the authors exclude any discussion of "captive imports" (cars produced by foreign manufacturers but sold with American names, like the Dodge Colt and Ford Fiesta). I can understand their rationale, but there are future collectibles among these cars, and it's been a *long* time since the Standard Guide to Imported Cars has been updated. On the whole, though, this is a good book for any hard-core auto enthusiast, and one of the best rainy-day reads I've got.




2. The Standard Catalog of American Cars really sets the
   standard to an automotive history book. The information is
   overwhelming, and you will find yourself glued to the book
   any chance you get.It's also a great book for anyone looking
   for a used domestic automobile. It lets you find the right
   car, and gives you options that you can look for while
   shopping for your car. This is not a book for page flippers.
   But it will fill your head with a wealth of information.
   Best book ever!!!!!



3. THIS CATALOG IS INVALUABLE TO US, BUYING CARS FOR EXPORT. WE CAN CHECK ENGINE SIZES, OPTIONS, VIN NUMBERS ETC. BEING OUTSIDE THE U.S. ITS A COMPLETE WINDOW ON ALL CARS THAT ARE LIKELY TO BE ADVERTISED FOR SALE FROM 1976 ONWARD. I WOULD NOT BE WITHOUT IT.



4. Bought this for my husband and it will keep him busy for hours reading it. He loves any book that has Cars or Truck in it.

2 comments about Miller's 20th-Century Glass (Miller's Guides).

1. This is a "must have" for glass enthusiasts. It is very well researched and covers many little known glass studios and manufacturers. The value guide is also very helpful.



2. This book is loaded with pretty pictures. If you buy a book about glass patterns, I would assume you are trying to identify what you have and wish to have a good reference. Instead, you get pretty pictures of glass mostly assorted by artist. This isn't helpful! If you just want to bursh up, you might like this. I'm selling this on eBay and just to get some of my money back! It's really that bad.

5 comments about Dangerous Kiss (A Lucky Santangelo Novel).

1. Dangerous Kiss is so different from the other Lucky Santangelo novels because it does not feature the Bonnatti family. I really loved that it introduced new characters to the world of Lucky Santangelo and Lennie Golden.

   This book is definitely worth five stars because you won't want to put the book down. It will keep you wondering about the fates of Lucky and everyone that she loves!




2. Before Dangerous Kiss, every Lucky novel was an improvement from the last. That's why I was hoping for this to be the best Lucky novel, and Lucky could end at her best. Unfortunately, this one almost makes Chances look better!

   This is "A Lucky Santangelo Novel", yet Lucky only plays a secondary part. Lucky's persona we all knew and loved in her prior adventures is much more passive, which is a major letdown. Another thing that I must say is that most of the characters crossing over from other Lucky novels serve no point in the novel, and you almost want to yell at the book, wondering why they are wasting pages.

   Lucky has been a lot of fun, but I think it is time to leave her be, and move on to bigger and better things.




3. From reading some of the reviews the customers have said i was a little sceptical about reading this book, but once i started it i couldnt put it down. i brought it everywhere even to work (something my boss was not thrilled with). i would deffinatly read this book again. personally i think it was the best book out of the whole lucky series. i hope you enjoy reading it like i did!!



4. As all the Lucky's novels this one is excellent. You won't be able to put down the book until you finish it, JC has the ability to write five different stories in the book, merge all of them at the end of the book and keep you interested in all the stories and willing to read for more.



5. I thought this was a great book and would recommend it to anyone looking for a fun and entertaining book

3 comments about Cold Light.

1. Another solid entry in the Charlie Resnick series, this one mostly about the search for a missing woman after a New Year's party. The mystery is a little less tricky than others in the series, and instead is a little more interesting in the personal realm.



2. This is my first Charlie Resnick novel, and I must say I'm impressed. Harvey's one of the rare genre writers - in this case, crime fiction - who transcends genre. "Cold Light" in some ways reminds you of Ed McBain's cop novels. The main story, the tragic disappearance of young woman on Christmas Eve, is told from a variety of viewpoints, with numerous side stories that in the end contribute, rather than detract, from the main story. Harvey's eye for detail is impressive. "Cold Light" takes place in the early 90s of Thatcher's England. What a bleak place and time! This is underscored immediately, as a young woman crawls out from underneath her sleeping common law husband. Her life is already sad, even though she's not yet out of her teens. The government housing they live in, with two small children, is freezing and wet. Her husband is abusive, and getting worse, as hope is not even a glimmer in his devastated life. Across town, there is the near death by beating of a taxi driver, and police detective Charlie Resnick mulls over his jazz collection, but is probably dodging the extreme loneliness of his life. Separate threads that eventually intertwine, largely due to the movement of the characters. There is, eventually, a murder. And it involves, that most overused of crime figures, a serial killer. But in Harvey's hands it becomes something new, given his attention to character, dialogue, and setting. Make it real, and readers will come. Well, eventually. Unfortunately, this book is out of print. Which is a shame, since it's better than most crime novels, and better than most (big) "L"iterary efforts. A good comparative novel would be George Higgins' "Outlaws." In fact, the late Higgins and Harvey are very similar. Craftsmen all the way.



3. I am reading my way through this superior series by John Harvey in chronological order, and this sixth book is my favorite. While the protrayal of life in England's Nottingham and the Midlands in the late 80s and 90s is gritty and grim through-out, and there are characters in every book that are pretty repugnant, the previous book, "Wasted Years" was for me a depressing low point. By contrast, "Cold Light" is a rebound, and the pace and pull of the plot and narrative is far stronger and more satisfying,
   It is the veracity of the characters, with all their shortcomings and their small human surprises, that makes Harvey's work so good. Resnick, the nominal main character, is a quite delight, full of his own foibles and flaws, in particular in his relationship issues. But it is his humanity, decency and quiet, sure smarts that makes him the reader's anchor.