5 comments about The Ice Man: Confessions of a Mafia Contract Killer.

1. This book was an intense read. It's definitely filled with everything you might expect from reading the Amazon description. The one flaw is its lack of credibility, but I guess if a killer is as good as this, he wouldn't leave a trail of evidence to prove his stories are true later on.



2. This is a pretty good yarn that's well-written, but it comes across as blarney. I mean, if what Richard Kuklinski reported is true, he was so out of control/disorganized youre forced to wonder how he managed to avoid jail for so many years.
   
   But it's a fun read.



3. This is a fast-moving account of mafia hit-man Kuklinski's killing spree spanning many years. Carlo writes about each killing in a fairly matter-of-fact manner. Both myself and friends that read the book found that we had to put the book down for a few days, from time to time, because the subject matter became so depressing. The allusions near the end of the book regarding the DVD series about Kuklinski give the reader interesting insights.



4. This book was superbly written. It was the first time i read a book by Carlo. His style was so good and yet seemingly able to bring you through the facts of the cases and into the mindset of the Iceman and that era, is just incredible... Like seeing a great film... suspended in animation....I could not put this book down when I started it...it was so good. Thanks. I would recommend to anyone~!



5. The book was engrossing. I dont care how much of it was true My only complaint with all books of this type is this: The author recreates dialog from many conversations from many times past. It is impossible for anyone to remember this. The author should have put in a disclaimer saying that conversations were recreated.

5 comments about Wiseguy.

1. If you've seen the movie GOODFELLAS and remain curious about the book...then definitely check out Nicholas Pileggi's "Wiseguy."
   
   This is the whole story of "Henry Hill," the lower level mobster who could never be made (he was not a full-blood Italian) but was such a great earner that he made his own place in the Mob.
   
   I'm a huge fan of GOODFELLAS and it's great to see how Scorsese & Company bring the book to life. You'll often run across lines of dialogue straight from the narrative that ended up in the movie. And the book is fascinating and chilling reminder that this stuff really happened.
   
   But the book also fills in the story that the movie could only touch on. Henry's military service was completely left out of the film but is discussed here, a funny chapter about how he applied his mob money-making methods while serving his country. The book also discusses their biggest heist in detail, something not shown in the film (Henry hears of the heist while taking a shower and we never see or hear about how they pulled it off). Pileggi does a great job of weaving in New York and Mafia history as Henry tell his story.
   
   All in all, "Wiseguy" is definitely a book for anyone interested in the Mafia, a lean, fast-moving biography that sheds much more light on the GOODFELLAS phenomenon.



2. GREAT book. It's great to read about Henry Hill, of whom the movie Goodfellas was made. A must for any fan of Goodfellas!



3. If you've seen the movie, then you've read the book. And that's a testiment to the movie producers because this book is awesome.



4. good fellas was based on this book and this book was really based on a rat there is no good guys only foolish not so good not so attached to humanity type guys. the outline of the book and the movie stayed the same just like with casino



5. Among true mobster stories, this book rates well for its nonstop depiction of events and exceptional character development. Henry Hill's narration provides considerable depth into the personalities of his cohorts allowing the reader to grasp the motives and mindsets of true gangsters as they pull of heist after heist. To give further credence to this book, my wife, who despises the very existence of the mob, also found this book enthralling, even in disgust.
   
   Wise Guy details the life of Henry Hill from a young impressionable boy stumbling into crime to his life as a full fledge mobster. Henry's relationship with some made men in the Italian Mafia add intrigue; however it is his close friendship with fellow gangsters Tommy and Jimmy that prove to be the most fascinating as their personalities create a whirlwind of interest.
   
   Henry eventually brings his own life to a halt due to his drug use and trafficking, and ends up entering the witness protection program by ratting out his friends and associates. This story has so many interesting twists and turns one wonders if Henry was not also guilty of embellishing his own life story to add further romance to the idea of the life of a wise guy. Whether one fully accepts every aspect of the book or views it as merely guided view on an otherwise despicable life, one has the luxury of finding out within a fully engrossing book.

5 comments about By Their Father's Hand: The True Story of the Wesson Family Massacre.

1. This man should be hung and put out of his misery... He is definately a perverted sicko that tortured his family and to think that some of them stood up for him is so sad. I couldn't put this book down.



2. By Their Father's Hand: The True Story of the Wesson Family Massacre
   
   This is a good book. It is very disturbing and sad.



3. This book was a fasinating and interesting read.
   I know the author, so I know just how hard he worked on this piece. A lot of work and effort went into this book, and it shows.
   Monte writes with skill, knowlage, and perspective.
   This is the only book written on this massacre, so it must have been a big task to take on.
   I reccomend it to anyone who has not read it.
   Great job Monte!



4. I found this book to be boring. I could not finish it, and it's a short book. Unfortunate, because the story seemed intriguing (and disgusting). I just didn't care for the writing style.



5. This is not necessarily the best written true-crime of the year, but the author does have an ability to turn an utterly disgusting subject and story into something readable. Too much detail or gross-out emotion would have made this story impossible to read. Basically, it reads like a long news article, and I think that's just right for this subject. It's a hard story to read, not because of the author, but because of the horrifying story. In the end, three stars more because it's captures information mostly reported previously, but the author handles it well.

5 comments about Book of the Dead (Kay Scarpetta, No. 15).

1. I've always enjoyed Patricia Cornwell's books but this one leaves me feeling like I've just watched an episode of "Desperate Housewifes" with the ending "Tune in next week to find out what happened to Marino". Bad.



2. This has got to be one of the worst books she has written. It looks like this is her rant against the Iraq war. She seems to hate everybody and everything in US goverment, I guess she is just another "I hate George Bush" person. Very sloppy and jumps around alot. She seems do have to much detail about equipment and it was DULL!! Near the end of the book it looks like she just got tired and quit. There is no real ending, but it was a relief to get to the end of this mess ! This book needed 0 stars. Don't waste your money like I did.



3. I have no idea what Ms. Cornwell is thinking - her first 5 or 6 books in this series were so good, but they have deteriorated rapidly since then. I don't like any of these people anymore, or care what happens to them. I quit buying the books in hardcover, waiting for the paperback, but I will not buy or read ANY MORE! The plot makes little sense, the solution comes from nowhere, there are loose ends abounding - I could go on and on!



4. I am an avid reader of mystery novels and I must say this is the worst novel I have read in 20 years. I kept pushing on hoping it would begin to come together, but alas with 20 pages to go, and the ridiculous story line I had to just put it down and throw it away. That is a first for me. Don't waste your money on this loser.



5. It's not one of her best Scarpetta books - and it's the last book of Cornwell's I'll ever read. I'm sure Patricia would not pay me $10 ($9.99 plus tax actually) to find out my political beliefs, and I don't appreciate paying to find out hers. Her references to the President were not necessary and were not appreciated. There were opportunities for Ms. Cornwell to bring in the fact that Clinton liked to "be with" women besides his wife, and also that he lied under oath - that he has made a generation of teenagers think oral sex is not really sex. I hate that I won't know what happens to Marino, but I'm not paying Cornwell to find out what her politcal beliefs are. I wanted to be entertained and this book does not do it.

5 comments about Pure Murder (Pinnacle True Crime).

1. For many years now, I've been a fan of the true crime genre; reading nothing but these nonfiction tales of the worst side of mankind. After a while, while still interested in the crimes, the forensics, and the inner workings of the justice system, a reader can easily reach a point where the crime in and of itself has no shock value.
   
   That was not the case in my most recently read book: Pure Murder by Corey Mitchell.
   
   In Pure Murder, Mitchell tells the gut-wrenching, absolutely sickening tale surrounding the deaths of two Houston, Texas teenager girls: Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena.
   
   On what should have been a short walk home through on of Houston's city parks, these young girls had the bad fortune of meeting up with six of Texas' teenage lowlifes: Efrain Perez, Raul Villarreal, Peter Cantu, Joe Medellin, Venancio "Yuni" Medellin, Jr., and Sean O'Brien.
   
   Simply because the young, innocent girls were in the wrong place at the wrong time when these scumbags were "feeling their oats," they were tortured, raped, and murdered.
   
   For the first time in a while, this true crime piece managed to enrage me as I could not hardly fantom that in a group of six people there was not one decent individual that could have, in some way, helped these young victims.
   
   And, as an added bonus, especially in a time where illegal immigration is such a hot topic, the attempts by Joe Medellin to use his illegal immigrant status as a means to absolve the indictment against him was, to say the least, infuriating. He participates in the raping, mutilating and murder of two young girls and he expects that this country will allow him freedom on a technicality?! I could not even begin to understand the audacity of this pathetic, spineless child killer.
   
   If you're up for a good read that evokes so many emotions you feel as though you are on an emotional rollercoaster, look no further than this newest release from Corey Mitchell.



2. After learning a 31 year old man had FINALLY been excecuted for the murder he (and others) committed at 18 years old. I purchased the book Saturday afternoon and I finished Tuesday evening. I am a mother of 3 children under 5.
   I just couldn't put it down and when I did, I said a prayer for those beautiful girls and their families. I felt emotions, anger, scared, helplessness and cried.
   The Author just captivated me. The story was there he just put the information in order and shared the VICTIMS injustice. Corey Mitchell put the victims first, NOT the criminals. There was no making excuses for their actions.
   Even not wanting to know the animals lives and up bringing, it gave a sense of how the did not value or respect life. I realize not just Adult men are true animals but it can happen in Young men, I am now a changed woman and mother for reading this book! I will always pray that they are ALL executed and burn in hell. Good JOB TEXAS! Better late then NEVER!"



3. I have been an avid reader of true crime for a number of years, but have only been compelled to review the work of one author: Corey Mitchell. There is something about the way Mitchell writes that not only pulls me directly into each story he tells, but also inspires me as a citizen. No other true crime author is able to compile so much research, yet make it interesting, gripping, and terrifyng. In addition, a reader of his books learns about all the key players involved, not just the victims or just the killers. He is truly a gifted author who stands head and shoulders above all modern day true crime authors and easily ranks among the greats like McGinniss, Capote, Rule, and Bugliosi.
   
   Mitchell's excellent writing reaches an even higher level with the story of Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Pena, murdered by six teenage boys in Houston in 1993. Most true crime books throw the murder in your face within the first ten pages. Not Mitchell. He draws out the tension by forcing you to get to know both of the girls, what they are like, their character and their flaws; and the boys, all six of them, and how they got to the point of being capable of murder. It takes almost 200 pages to actually get to the murder, and by the time you are there it is almost unbearable. Mitchell's ability to make you feel for the victims and fret for the killers has not been replicated in other recent true crime works. The tension is palpable, and, as always, Mitchell thrusts you right into the horrible scene on that hot Houston day.
   
   The crime itself is almost too frightening to believe and Mitchell paints a most vivid depiction. I'm glad he does because it made me realize how truly despicable these young men were and how horribly they assaulted, raped, mutilated, and finally killed these two sweet teenage girls.
   
   The second half of the book is a heart-wrenching look at how insensitive the legal system is for the family members of crime victims. The ordeals that the Ertmans and Penas had to endure were outrageous, yet somehow, the families come off as dedicated, yet humorous individuals. Both families are to be commended for how they have dealt with the continuous legal manuevering by the defendants for fifteen years and counting.
   
   Not much of a death penalty advocate, I had no problem whatsoever in feeling relieved that one of the killers, Jose Medellin, was executed in Texas recently. The fact that he was allowed to live 15 years after these murders is pathetic, as were the attempts by President George Bush and Condoleeza Rice to stall his execution.
   
   "Pure Murder" is a heart-wrenching classic that is truly destined to become one of the most memorable and greatest true crime books ever penned. An instant classic.



4. This book is so well written Corey Mitchell has done it again. He is a great true crime writer. This is a very sad book.
   This book is for all true crime fans,Mitchell is such a great writer!!
   Run out and buy it now.



5. I did some reaserch on this awhile back when I was in law enforcment. I just recently found out that one of them was executed. That is when I bought this book. If you want to walk through hell, this is as close as it gets. I was infuriated when reading the chapter that explained what happend those last hours. Those girls who actually were making something of themselves were cut short of life by six wastes of human DNA! Be warned.....one pic in the book(Jennifer) is really disturbing. If you ever wanted to help families that go through this kind of thing, this would be the tool to get you started! Great book!

5 comments about Gaspipe: Confessions of a Mafia Boss.

1. Both my husband and me thoroughly enjoyed Gaspipe. Both of us come from Dyker Heights and thought Carlo's portrayal of the Mafia culture was eerie and uncanny. We note with dismay the posting here of R.J. Rios. I can only say that this fellow's sources of information are the three hundred books he says he read. That's woefully inadequate. The Mafia is all about secrecy. The Mafia is clandestine by its very nature. Having said that, it seems ludicrous that any one person, based on the reading of books, would set himself up as an authority. I am sure there are people in law enforcement who knew nothing about what Carlo wrote so insightfully and simply in Gaspipe. We note, too, that Carlo has publicly said -- we recently heard him on a radio show -- that Richard Kuklinski, aka the Iceman, did lie about certain crimes. When most of the participants in any given crime, murder, are dead, it's very hard for an author to verify one way or another what exactly happened. No author in any one book could tell all the tales, trials and tribulations of a character like Anthony Casso. To do such a thing, the book would have to be thousands of pages. A compelling book has to be a condensed version of all that happened. The days of Tolstoy and Joyce are long gone and forgotten. We think Carlo wrote the most insightful, in-depth tale of a Mafia boss ever put on paper. It's a first class job from a first class writer. Highly, highly recommended.



2. Man, I sure hated all those mafia books on the shelves taking up space in my bookstores! I thought, who cares about these cretins? Not me!! Even though I have a couple thousand true crime books, none deal with Cosa Nostra, I've never seen The Sopranos, and have only seen Godfather I. The topic was of zero interest to me.
   
   However, having loved Mr. Carlo's '96 Night Stalker, I admired his writing stle enough to pick up Ice Man.That book just blew me away because of the way Mr. Carlo was able to actually humanize a monster like Richard Kuklinski (not glamorize!). There were no holds barred when it came to his reporting of the atrocities committed, but Mr. Carlo's use of backstory and tell-it-like-it-is views from Kuklinski's family had me hooked from the beginning to end. And for the first time, I bought several copies and mailed to friends in Texas that couldn't care less about such things. Now THEY are buying Mr. Carlo's books, too.
   
   This leads me to his book Gaspipe. I didn't even hesitate to buy it because it was written by Philip Carlo; that's good enough for me! It's extremely rare to find a book where the author and family live next door to the book's subject, grew up in Bensonhurst where so many made guys lived, and understands "the life". If Mr. Carlo can turn my taste in non-fiction around with just two books, then I consider that a writer with a truly great gift.
   
   While he never sugar-coated the horrific crimes Anthony Gaspipe Casso did, just as in Ice Man, Mr. Carlo makes you see the whole man, especially his deep love for his parents, wife and kids. (Yes, I know Hitler adored his mother!) And NO WAY would I ever have had sympathy for a mudering goon like Casso, but it really hacked me off about the FBI's actions in picking and choosing the evidence to come out in court. It's also an OUTRAGE that the government didn't honor their commitment to Casso's 6-1/2 years sentence like they did for other informants.
   
   I am a huge fan of Mr. Carlo, and have ordered his other books. i wish him many happy years of writing and continuing his meticulous research.



3. Great Novel-like read...Altho author biases towards Casso, he truly makes a hero out of him in reader's eyes. Paints vivid pictures of every crime and non-crime-related tale and leaves reader waning more and more after each chapter, not only about Casso but every Made Man mentioned.



4. i'm disaapointed by this book, I got half way reading it but got bored. Nothing I have not read already in the papers. I give it 1/2 star.



5. CARLO SPEAKS WRITES ABOUT A STAND UP GUY WHO IN THE END RATTED OUT HIS OWN DOG IN HOPES OF GETTING OUT OF JAIL.

3 comments about True Stories of Law & Order: SVU.

1. This book is amazing, just like the first one! It's well written, and I would highly recommend it for any true crime junkie, or Law & Order fan! Try it -- you'll love it!



2. I'm a newer fan of the TV show, but have a long-time fascination with violent crime. So when I heard SVU had a book describing real-life murders in relation to the series, I absolutely had to look.
   
   Dwyer and Fiorillo do a stunning job. Not only do they present 25 fascinating cases, but they delve into the details you normally don't find when researching the particular crime. Done and solved crimes like the BTK killer are widely known about, but the authors go into side details that most writers forget to cover in 20-page tales. There's even a crime the show only lightly touched upon--the scizophrenic man shoving someone in front of a train.
   
   Dwyer and Fiorillo have outdone themselves. This book is a brilliant compilation of true crime. The old seems fresh, and the new is horrifying and captivating. Even if you're familiar with most of the crimes in here, it's worth taking a look. I highly recommend this book to any fan of the show AND fellow true crime intrigues.



3. I must say I did enjoy the book. It was interesting to see where the stories on
   Law and Order originally played out. I am not a long time fan of true crime
   stories and although this book was well written with facts clearly stated
   I perfer fiction. Although I would probably buy subsequent versions.

5 comments about The Lizard King: The True Crimes and Passions of the World's Greatest Reptile Smugglers.

1. Whether you are into reptiles or not, this is a great book! Written in the style of a novel, it is part crime drama, part expose and part documentary.
   
   This is a book that pulls the reader in quickly: the characters have colorful histories and unique personas. Their ambitions and frailties keep things interesting all the way through.
   
   The exotic reptile business provides a vivid backdrop for the characters and story line. No doubt the hobbyist (the herps) will find it a well researched account of the origin of the animals that are bought, sold and traded. Lots of detail on their sourcing, selective breeding and the passions of collectors. I am not a "herp" but I learned a lot from the book.
   
   Great reading for anyone who likes drama and adventure!



2. I really loved this book. I love Christy's story telling style and desire to tell the story from both sides - from the viewpoint of the agent and the smuggler. His ingeniously creative way of analyzing wildlife trade laws through the perspective of the 'bad guys' was really eye-opening and perfectly illustrated the shortcomings of well intentioned laws. Anyone who ever considers buying a reptile - or any animal for that matter - should read this.



3. Author Bryan Christy exposes the seamy underbelly of black-market reptile smuggling around the globe. The narrative reads like a detective story, pitting dedicated but under-resourced government officials against a network of clever reptile smugglers. It is amazing the dollars involved in the game of black market reptiles and amphibians.
   
   "The Lizard King" is an eye-opening true life crime drama that illustrates how many endangered species are threatened by the lure of fast money.
   
   One might hope that more resources would be directed to the anti-smuggling efforts but that will likely be a tough sell amidst a wide array of priorities that will be seen as more pressing than curbing the trade in exotic tree frogs.



4. "While reptiles slither, the Van Nostands run a creepy business in Florida called Strictly Reptiles and sell to your local zoo, pet shop and collectors. This is an incredible true story of the worldwide trafficking in lizards, snakes, turtles and other strange household goodies. The Perfect gift for a truely twisted friend!"



5. We have all heard of smuggling. There is drug smuggling, even people smuggling. But very few of us have ever heard of reptile smuggling. And even fewer of us have any idea what a massive industry it is. The Lizard King opens our eyes to this industry and gives us a crash course in the players and the game pieces that make up this multimillion dollar, worldwide game.
   
   The story follows the Van Nostrands, a family enterprise that has cornered the market in the reptile industry. From the outside they look like a well-run and extremely successful family-run business that has cornered the market of reptile supply. However, Chris Bepler, an agent with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, knows that this success has come, in part, due to the family's less-than-legal dealings in the reptile world. He starts a cat-and-mouse game that will traverse the globe and test the limits of the Fish and Wildlife Service and Agent Bepler himself.
   
   Unexpected relationships form throughout the book as each strand of the smuggling web connects. These relationships are the core of the book and take a smuggling case from something you read in the paper to something that happened right next door.
   
   The only hang-up I had with the book is that there is some jumping around in the timeline, which can leave you confused for a page or two while you try to replace yourself in the time and space the book has jumped too. This is not a big problem though and is far outweighed by the great storytelling and fascinating people.
   
   A book unlike any you have read before, The Lizard King will take you on a twisting journey in which you will crave the culmination of the story while at the same time not wanting it to end.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: A most interesting read.

5 comments about Murder In Brentwood.

1. It was good to see the actual evidence trail. There is so much evidence that the public never knew about that is revealed in this book. It is so terribly disturbing to see how many mistakes the police made. Mark Fuhrman made mistakes. The other detectives on-scene made mistakes. However, you can tell from Fuhrman's notes, that he is a highly skilled detective. His notes were flawless and methodical. Things that come from years of experience. If you were a follower of the OJ Simpson trial, you will find this book very enlightening. You will find your eyes wide and your attention glued to the pages. The only reason I gave this a 4-star instead of a 5-star rating; It would have been an easier read if some of the repetition had been left out. I found myself skipping over parts of the book that had already been covered in other chapters.



2. this poor man was made the scapegoat for the murders just by virtue of being called to a murder scene and doing his job. he presents the facts in a very detailed and concise manner, but his anger and frustration (completely and totally justified) is peppered throughout. when the true criminal goes to trial for his most recent crimes in las vegas, i hope he is found guilty and goes to jail. i hope johnny cochran is not only turning over in his grave, i hope he's rotating!



3. The most fascinating part of the book was the chapter on the murder weapon. Mr. Fuhrmann is convinced that a 3 - 3 1/2" Swiss Army pocket knife was used, not a 6" stiletto. One can only wonder what became of the knife. An excellent read.



4. I think Mark Fuhrman found a great new career as true crime author and he broke new ground with his use of crime scene drawings and exhibits. I felt like I was in the head of a real detective. This convinced me more than ever of OJ's guilt, and it's a thoroughly great read. My only complaint here is Mark stood on the self-defense soap box to defend himself against the perjury charges. I never believed those charges, but I think he protests too much here and it comes up over and over. Once in the forward was enough for me. Without the self-defense essays, I'd give this six stars (if I could) but with them I felt I had to give four. An excellent read, and the best of his books by far. The transcripts are terrific. You know you're reading a book by an ex-detective. Highly recommended.



5. This book reads like a documentary and is probably the most realistic report on what really happened that night. The system failed the deaths of Nicole and Ron and it failed Mark as well. Whether he was a racist or not is not the issue. O.J.'s ability to "spin" whenever the police were called eventually lead to Nicole's demise. Mark wrote an excellent account of the night of the murders and the ensuing investigation.

5 comments about Key Lime Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen Mystery With Recipes) (Hannah Swensen Mystery With Recipes).

1. I'm not sure if it's boredom or morbid fascination that has kept me reading this series. The mysteries are good, I have to admit, but Hannah and her perpetual (and really too obvious) see-sawing between men is getting on my nerves. It doesn't work the way that Evanovich's Plum series does, because... because Hannah is a 'good girl'. It's all so uptight and... sweet. And annoying. Sure, Hannah has some imperfections because she's not as good looking as her sisters and has impossible red hair, but she's still too idyllic to make a good main character. Give me the screwed-up world of Plum or the unexpected world of Polifax any day! Character issues aside (and really only Hannah is annoying, several of the minor characters are quite well done) they're good little cozies and do have amazing recipes!



2. I have been a long time reader of the Hannah series. I actually did not rush right out and get this book because I had been so disappointed in the last one. This book was better than the last entry, but I do feel that the author needs to take heed of her reader's requests to wrap up the whole Mike/Norman/Hannah storyline.
   
   This entry, Hannah's overly precocious niece Tracy was only mentioned in passing, and that greatly improved the book, in my opinion. Also, the mystery was given more of a foreground, unlike the last book where the murder took place in the last third of the book. These were the things that made the book more enjoyable. Some have commented that Hannah sounds condescending in her tone or that she is unlikable. I don't feel this way about Hannah. I do, however, feel that for a woman of her age who makes it known that she is independent, owns her own home, her own business, etc., it is a bit unrealistic that she would not have a computer or cell phone. Most businessowners today, even of a bakery, have a computer for billing, ordering, etc.
   
   I will continue to read this series as it seems that the mystery is improving by being the main part of the book, and will just have to look past the whole marriage proposal storyline. Actual rating would probably be a 3 1/2.



3. And that is the setting for this eighth entry in the Hannah Swenson series. Hannah is involved in a big way in the Tri-County summer fair, and she and her friends also get involved in a murder. One of her fellow judges in the Baked Goods section is murdered right at the fair, and Hannah stumbles on the body. These people (Hannah and her family and friends) are starting to really feel like friends of mine. I love the interplay between the characters, and the various personalities. And the stories are quite funny too. Hannah's ride on the Tilt-A-Whirl at the end of the book is hilarious! Sometimes the mysteries are a little easy to figure out, like this one is, but that does not detract from the sheer fun of reading these books. It is a delight, and I'm sorry that I'm almost up-to-date on this series, and will be left waiting each year for the next one.



4. I really like Joanne Fluke, but this book is one of the best yet. I actually made the peach bread recipie from it.



5. I have read the entire Hannah Swensen series and they seem to be getting worse with each book. I could believe her not having a cell phone because she hates being interrupted by them or doesn't feel she needs one but I can't believe she wouldn't know anything about them. Ms. Fluke has trapped herself into writing characters that never grow or change because her fans liked them in the earlier books. Instead of learning and growing from each case Hannah seems to get stupider! And if she's not going to pick one man or the other then let them both go and end the boring triangle.