FI Books

I love a man who cries but this hero was too much even for me. He was supposed to be a tough undercover ATF agent but as soon as he went under to find his twin brother's killer and met the heroine, he went all soft in the head!

This is one of the BEST books that I have ever read! I started to read Dinah McCall when I found out that she was also one of my Favorite authors, Sharon Sala.

Chase The Moon is about a man who out for the blood of the man who murdered his brother. Jake and John Baretta were identical twins, so once John was killed, Jake was able to take his place without the people knowing. (They were investigators in a huge weaon and drug bust).

This is one of the best books that I ever read and it is also one of the most moving!

This is absolutely the first review I have ever written so I'm afraid it's not going to be very well done. I have read hundreds of other reviews and they influence me very much in whether I purchase a book or not. I really don't know why this book has never left my mind completely, but it passes through my head ever so often. I guess it touched my heart in a special way. I love the books by Dinah McCall aka Sharon Sala, and have read many of them. If you purchase this book you will not be disappointed and I am sure it will stay in you heart as it has mine. It's been several years since I read it the first time. Enjoy!

This is my first book by Dinah McCall, but it will not be my last. Sharon Sala is also a favorite of mine and I just found out tonight that Dinah McCall and Sharon Sala are one and the same.

consistently drawn characterization with a grasp of some current law-enforcement problems. Mix this with sharply aware interpersonal interactions and enough realistic science and psychology, and one can see why this is a book not to be put down . This book joins my entire keeper shelf of Sharon Sala/Dinah McCall books, all of which are equally enthralling.

One reads a detective story for the mystery, yes, but also for ambience and for the peculiar collection of people that a good author typically assembles as suspects and others touched by the crime. These are the particular strengths of this novel. The setting is Dublin: the very real modern city and the almost mythical version of it that has grown up over a century or more or literary history and national struggle. The mythic element is enhanced in this case by the fact that the murdered man is the leading Joyce scholar of his generation, and the colorful cast of characters (ranging from rival academics to decidedly liberated women plus the odd urban punk) all seem to know their Joyce also. Not only know him, but live him: the novel is colorful, exuberant, erotic, but also quietly insightful.

It becomes clear that the murder, which happens on Bloomsday -- the day portrayed by Joyce in his great novel ULYSSES -- is closely tied to events in that book; but fortunately I could still enjoy Gill with only a cursory knowledge of the Joyce. While this book did not particularly grip me as a mystery, it did send me out to buy a copy of ULYSSES, and give me not only the inspiration to read it properly, but also quite a few clues on how to do it.

Superintendent Peter McGarr, one of Dublin's senior policemen, is confronted by a lady with a problem. Her husband's gone missing. Why then, instead of going to Missing Persons, has she sought out the Chief of the Murder Squad? It turns out that Kevin Coyle isn't truly "missing". He simply hadn't made it home without assistance. The help was needed because Kevin's heart had taken a knife. And Katie Coyle, with some help, fetched him to his bed. Dublin, however, was suffering an unusual heat wave. The unusual wake would have to close and the murder, after three days, finally be reported. Kevin, it seems "is going off now in the heat"!

This bizarre opening typifies the remainder of a story of a quietly dedicated Dublin copper. Peter McGarr, who starts his office mornings with a strong tot in his coffee, is compelled to deal with Katie Coyle, her unusual cronies, and Kevin Coyle's former role as a "Joyce Scholar". Joyce's magnum opus, "Ulysses", which McGarr pitched into a corner the first time he attempted it, figures large in this story. Not least because one of Coyle's tasks was acting as a "Joyce Tour Guide" for his colleague's tourist business. If the world needs yet another analysis of "Ulysses", Coyle has just completed one. It was to be launched just after he was murdered. Publishers being what they are, the release goes ahead on time, accompanied by the usual fanfare and parties.

McGarr, not being a "private eye", has a team of his own colleagues. Working, as they do, in Dublin provides both flavour and spirit to this narrative. Hughie Ward, a boxer on the side, is a young policeman with ambition. A detective "as soon as was possible", Ward is a notable figure in many ways. But when he slips up, the result is almost as devastating as the figure he cuts. The most interesting member of McGarr's team, however, is its "token" woman. "Rut'ie" Bresnahan is an ample country girl who knows that to rise in the Garda Siochana, she must be better than the men. Since she believes she's better than the men, this should pose no problem. However, her respect for McGarr still leads her to bring his coffee during Squad meetings. Rut'ie is confronted with a string of challenges in proving her worth. How she meets these makes for wonderful reading. Her shopping expedition provides a delightful image of the "new" Dublin compared with Rut'ie's rural origins and the older Ireland they represent. None of Gill's characterisations are flawed. Encountering them is a treat in each circumstance.

The "Ulysses" connection pervades this story, but Gill, a reasonable man, makes no assumptions of his readers. You needn't have read Joyce to follow McGarr as he copes with the many ties between this murder investigation and the classic. In many ways, of course, this story provides a reflection of Joyce's, as Gill intends it to be. Both are, after all, reflections of the Dublin of their time. Gill's superior handling of these ties as we progress through the mystery demonstrate his prose skills and dedicated scholarship. This book might actually prompt me to start Joyce's classic again. If I can find which corner I pitched it into . . . [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

I have a prejudice toward Bartholomew Gill's "The Death of a Joyce Scholar": having done my master's thesis on a section of "Ulysses", this is my favorite in the Peter McGarr series. This doesn't mean, of course, that you have to be well-versed in James Joyce's writing (although it helps a bit). Gill spells out enough about Joyce's works to keep the reader going. It's a marvelous mystery set in the same streets that Joyce walked along and wrote about. And while most mysteries work toward establishing a surprise ending, "The Death of a Joyce Scholar" has an ending that will have the reader shaking his head and saying "How didn't I see that coming?" Treat yourself to a different kind of mystery! Treat yourself to this!

I liked the book, as a dilettante Joyce scholar myself. I also liked the atmosphere of Dublin on the brink of changing from the destitute town of the Sixties to the capital of the only European tiger. But I was perplexed by the reference to Kinch (the nickname of Kevin Coyle and of Stephen Dedalus) as meaning a noose, when Bock Mulligan himself clarifies its meaning: Kinch, the knife-blade (Ulysses, ch. 1)

This was my second selection in the long list of Mr. Gill's books. I started with his next to last book and now know some things about his characters that I would not have found out going in the opposite direction. But even with that said, I find myself entranced by the characterizations in these two books. I have become quite comfortable with the repeating case of characters and I enjoy my time with them. The murder being handled sometimes seems secondary to other issues in their lives. While I did have some trouble keeping the three potentially villainous women in this novel clear in my mind, it was nevertheless a fun read. I have always avoided the reading of Joyce's Ullyses, but Gill makes an excellent case for my reconsideration of that decision. He also brings me back, clearly and strongly, to all my memories of my one trip to Dublin and certainly encourages me to return. All in all this is a fine story, well-researched and with characters well worth remembering.

I have to say this was a very entertaining read, witty in places, and offers deep evaluations on ethics and Western religion without that getting in the way of the story. Well-blended. The story's about an astronaut who becomes lost in space, yet miraculously returns to earth on an even greater mission. For me, the only fault with the book were occasional typos. The imaginative story-line, however, was unpredicable throughout, and kept me on the edge of my reading chair. Lindsley is an out of the world author with down-to-earth wit, logic and values.

BTW: This large print edition seems to be the only edition available. But the print wasn't that large, so it didn't really intrude upon my reading experience as other large-print editions would have.

First of all, I didn't think much of this book being is it didn't even contain a cover image, but that saying don't judge a book by its cover is right, once I reached the climax of the story, I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed the idea that this author poses about being able to cure an illness would be considered "evil", and the story around this. I also really liked the idea of a man stranded in space only to be returned at a later time. The only negative things about this book, and the reasons why I didn't give it 5 stars is the editing, at times it looks as if this book was just a manuscript, and the obvious logical flaws. Aside from all of that a truly excellent read. I'd definetly recommend it.

I read the book in 2 days. I was interested because of the subjects he discussed and the way he spoke of the unspoken realities of humanity. I would like to see better editing in his next book. I am looking forward to his next book.

This author truly has a unique, distinct voice. The order of sequences is exemplary, and the characters are strong, as well as believable, which makes for a great story. The overall plot is awesome, and the writer tossed in some interesting subplots. Book has a few atheistic undertones to it, but not enough to make the book undesirable. I really enjoyed the possession angle, and the main characters' ability, even though far from original, made interesting. I just wish he would have expanded further on the secondary characters' immunity ability. But this author is sure to become a dominant science fiction writer in the near future!

Mr Lindsleys first book is a spellbinder.The characters are devolped brilliantly,you really like or hate them.I also eagerly await his 2nd book.

I found the Gentleman's Bargain to be an enchanting, entertaining story with an unexpected twist that shows this author isn't afraid to do something different. The romance is sensual, the characters are delightful and the story really takes you back in time. I look forward to reading more of Patricia Waddell's historical.

Back Cover description: It was strictly a business arrangement. She'd agree to be his pretend bride-in name only. But she never bargained on her own heart's betrayal.

This is an OK historical romance. It takes place in San Francisco in the late 1880's. The characters are the same-beautiful, needy heroine and stalwart hero. No big surprises. How come these guys never help ordinary or plain women?

A Gentleman's Bargain is a wonderful historical romance. Set in historical San Francisco, Patricia Waddell has written a colorful, sensually romance that will keep readers turning the page. The unexpected twists and turns in this story weave around an enticing hero and heroine. I highly recommend this book.

I just discovered this author and am delighted to know that she has other historicals I can read. Her writing is sensual but sensitive, with good characters and a colorful storyline that kept me interested all the way to the end - which has a few surprises of its own. I highly recommend this book.

I thought this book was extremely good. I enjoyed the characters, the setting, and the sensuality. I highly recommend this books to people who like strong historical romances.

This book has many beautiful pictures. I only wish there were more! I recommend this book for any artist and Tolkein fan.

I hadn't actually heard of the Hildebrandt brothers,but got this book for the simple fact that it bore the name of Tolkien.I opened it up and there it was,scenes I pictured in my head were now right in front of me,in richly painted acrylic colors,with moods of sadness,fear,peace,and courage.I recommend this book and give it five stars!Get it come on you know you want to....

The Bros. Hildebrandt were *the* Tolkien artists of my youth, and even today, when I find my own artistic interpretion of the scenes varies so much from theirs, I still deeply appreciate what they did, and am thrilled to see their calendar work -- with the associated sketches and model photos -- reproduced here.

The childhood anecdotes by the author -- son of one of the Brothers -- are occasionally interesting, more often annoying. But the art itself remains glorious.

As any Brothers Hildebrandt fan knows, Greg and Tim's first Tolkein calender went on to become a worldwide bestseller. Some of the art,such as Unexpected Party or Gandalf with the Balrog was simply brilliant. Some of it looks dated today such as the hideous 1976 granny dress that Galadriel wears or the Sgt. Pepper mustache on Aragorn and the silly looking Fell beasts ridden by Nazgul who look like they're about to fall off at any minute. Oh well. Nobody got out of the 70s without some style howlers. Laugh at the funny stuff and be awed by the great.

One of the strongest and most charming elements of the book is the descriptions from Greg Hildebrant's son who was five when the brothers began working on the calenders. Young Greg's memories are full of wonder that's in keeper with what his uncle and father were working on. It's not all sweetness and light however, young Greg remembers that toward the middle of the project things got increasingly difficult in the studio. The pressures of the deadline, creative disagreements and artistic disappointments (Among other things the brothers didn't have time to do a huge battle scene that they'd planned) and the need to do separate projects are all mentioned.

Besides all three Hildebrandt calenders, the book has pictures of privately commissioned works (some of which are better than the orginal paintings), prelim sketches, and photos of the models. If you loved the work of the brothers or have just discovered it this will be a highly entertaining treat for you.

I loved the Hildebrandts' art as a kid, and I appreciate being able to revisit it in this handsome volume. Engaging scenes, fabulous detail, vivid colors, and some of the best Tolkien paintings ever (the Ring of Galadriel, Old Man Willow, the Pillars of the Kings, Saruman and the Palantir). Their influence can be seen in many subsequent interpretations of Tolkien (compare the Hildebrandts' "Eowyn and the [left-handed] Nazgul" with the same scene in the 2004 Ted Nasmith calendar) and in much "generic" fantasy art.

But... Some of the earlier works have odd perspective (check out the chimney in "Gandalf visits Bilbo"). The hobbits look like children (the 5-year-old Greg Hildebrandt Jr. was the model). Shadowfax just fell off the carousel. Treebeard is a cartoon. Rivendell looks like a gingerbread house. Smaug appears to be made of plastic. The Nazgul fly around on rubber chickens (really, that's what they used as the model). And Aragorn's mustache! Perhaps it looked majestic in the 70s, but now it's just laughable.

It is interesting to see the sketches (some of which are superior to the final painting) and reference photos. The text is annoyingly told from the author's perspective as a 5-year-old model, but contains some amusing nuggets like the rubber chicken fell beast. I didn't think much of the pullout poster -- it's certainly not their best work. Still, on balance I would definitely recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Tolkien (unless you already have the calendars).

Janette Oke is a wonderful author and this is a well written series. The reading level is for ages 4-8. My concern is whether it is wise to introduce romance to girls at such a young age? I don't think so and hence my lower rating.
There are plenty other excellent historical fiction series and clsssics for that do not contain romance that I would rather see my daughter reading.

Kendra as a young girl is so little so unknowing. About the world and how cruel it can be. Until her parents die and she goes to an orphanage and meets her grandfather who comes to take her to his home far away in the woods. In the wilderness where other people are far away. Kendra begins to become accustomed to the life of living with just her and her grandfather. Though a very good friend of hers is an Indian and teaches Kendra about the wilderness, such as the plants, the bird calls, how to survive in it. As Kendra grows she longs to learn about everything her education is minimal. She devours books so fast it's hard to get others. Kendra receives more responsibilities, as she gets older. Such as having her own trap line, to catch more food and to get the animal skins to sell. Soon Kendra realizes that she has questions that cant be answered with out schooling of some sort. Kendra decides to go to the town where her grandfather's dear friend lives so that Kendra can go to college and find the answers she is looking for. Maggie welcomes her with open arms. Maggie takes Kendra shopping, she has no clue what girls her age are wearing, her hair is cut and her outfits match. Now she attends school. As she is there she goes through experiences that she wished she hadn't. Soon she makes a new friend, her name is Amy. Soon Amy invites Kendra to go to church with her. After a wile Kendra actually goes. She finds all the answers to her questions. Amy invites Kendra over to her parent's house for a wile, while they are on break from school. Once there she meets Amy's brother... well she meets all of Amy's family. Reynard and Kendra over time fall in love. The rest you will have to read for yourself...

Heart of the Wilderness is a great book. It was one of the first books that I read by Janette Oke. I really enjoyed it. I think that you should deffently read it.

This is my first experience with Janette Oke's books, and it certainly won't be my last! I had heard a lot of wonderful things about the author and was very excited about reading this book. It didn't disappoint. Beautiful in its simplicity, this moving story is full of pioneer culture and Native American folklore. The characters are well-presented and the attention to detail makes the setting and adventures come alive to the reader.

When Kendra is exposed to influences outside of her secluded world, she becomes a Christian. At this point, the story becomes quite heavy-handed in its preachiness. This is the reason I deducted rating points - I don't buy into the concept that it is the mission of all Christians to impose their beliefs on others. I prefer stories that deliver the Christian message more subtly.

Kendra was not yet four when her parent's died in a river accident. She had to live with her grandfather George MacMannus who was a trapper in the wilderness. Every time that George would go out, he would summon an old Indian woman named Noni to come to stay with Kendra. Although Noni didn't say much, she tought Kendra all about the wilderness. She tought her what kinds of plants to eat, which one's were poisonous, and which one's to use for medicines. Also, she tought her about how to respect the earth and animals, and that they were all her relatives. Papa Mac, what Kendra called her Grandfather, didn't want Kendra to believe in Noni's fables, which led Kendra searching for something more. Kendra's desire for knowledge leads her from her wilderness home to the home of her Papa Mac's trusted friend Maggie where she attends school. Will she find the answers that she is looking for? This is a an exciting book to read, and one of Janette's better books.

I have always enjoyed the adult series of Left Behind books. The kids books are just as good. The kids interact with the characters from the adult series, experience the same events, etc. However, since the main characters are teens, these books can appeal to younger readers. So far, the stories haven't had the ups and downs that the adult series has had. The adult series has books that are a lot more boring than others. The kids series seems to be good in every book. These are not for really young kids, but would be appropriate for young teens. I enjoy them and I am an adult.

I cannot rate this book any higher as I am still in the process of reading it. So far the book is great. Have been reading the youth version to see how closely Mr. Jenkins and Mr. LaHaye have come to match the Left Behind series. So far, pretty good. Also like the way they intertwine the trib force with the youth.

Left Behind #10 is sooooooooooooo cool! It's full of action and adventure. My mom got it for me, and the moment I saw it I knew it would be great! I own all the "Left Behind" books except for 11 and 12,but this one is the best! I HIGHLY recomend this book.

Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye 160 pages

This story follows the adventures of Judd, Vicki, Lionel, and Ryan. The Young Trib. Force is trying to regroup after the global disaster of the bombing in suburban Chicago. The terrible loss of Bruce leaves the group in a state of terror. After leading them so far, his life ended when the bombs blew up the hospital. The group, however, can't take the time to mourn, because Ryan is missing. While the group is looking for him, Ryan befriends the daughter of a rich, important Global Community leader, while they both were kidnapped in the confusion of the bombings. Ryan tries to fight for his life in a clever series of events, and lead his new-found friend, Darrion. The rest of the gang follows some clues left by Ryan and tries to save him. But will they be too late? Will the Global Community get rid of Ryan, or block the search? To find out, read this great, faced-paced, book; which is the ninth in this awesome series.

I've gotten this book (like all the others) form my grandmother. It is a great book for young christian readers. It tells you what's going to happen in the end times and why you should be ready. I would HIGHLY recommend this book.

Chris and Reina Komisarjevsky illustrate effective management techniques using examples based on their toughest leadership experience: raising nine children. They delineate the skills that help children learn how to set goals, share objectives, communicate more effectively, and get along. Each chapter begins with a story about an experience with one of their children, such as buying ice cream or playing sandlot baseball. The stories illustrate management principles and guidelines. These precepts are very familiar, though linking them to child rearing is novel. Thus, the book serves as a nice, short recap of commonly known management and leadership principles, though we at getAbstract suspect that its treatment of the subject matter will probably be of more interest to managers who are parents as well.

A marketing high-concept for sure but I found the dynamics of an upsized family irrelevant to downsized corporate structures in this prime example of vanity press.

Peanut Butter and Jelly Management is an important and excellent book. Easy to read, it is written by Chris and Reina from real life stories. All of us, drawing on our own experiences, can effectively structure our lives on a daily basis.

I read this book after reading a review of it in "Bookpage". As a librarian I read books on many subjects and am always looking for those that are unusual and intriguing. The title - "Peanut Butter and Jelly Management" and its premise-applying parental experiences to corporate leadership-promised to be both. The book did not disappoint me. I fell in love with the children(all nine of them)who are the heroes of the book. As a parent, I identified with the charming and sometimes poignant experiences of a large family : teaching a child to ride a bike, trips to the emergency room, watching a child play on a team, and vicariously crying at the loss of a baby. Although not a business person, I feel that the practical business suggestions can be used by anyone dealing with fellow employees. A must read for all.

The Komisarjevskys have struck a harmonious chord with this little book! The stories of their children are immediately engaging and natural springboards for discussing effective management practices. They teach us with heartwarming sincerity that our children can be wonderful teachers, and that we can become more effective managers, employers, employees and parents by heeding what they have to teach and applying the lessons to our work environments. The authors show that our home lives and its values are really a "precious center" that help us bear the surrounding weight of the world. These lessons lead us to find a better sense of balance between home and work responsibilities, something we are all striving for these days!

This book allows us not just a glimpse into a successful CEO's way of thinking, but a sustained excursion into his practical philosophy of life, which includes working with his wife, Reina, in their teamwork approach to family life.

PLUNDER IN THE SUN's cover seems to tout an action packed adventure involving ancient treasure and it DOES have that. It also, however, has needless and repetitive passages about ancient Inca and how it was destroyed making it seem like you needed history lessons to understand why these guys were going plundering for the treasure. Also seemed to get pretty predictable about halfway through.

I just felt like there had to be better worldly adventure pulp out there begging to be reprinted than this mediocre offering.

Plunder of the Sun by David Dodge is a prime example of action-adventure writing at its best. The most remarkable aspect of this highly readable book is the utter smoothness with which the fast paced narrative unfolds.

The year is 1948 and most of the action takes place in Peru. Adventurer Al Colby does double duty as the novel's protagonist and narrator. He's come into possession of an ancient manuscript that purports to give the location of a fortune in Inca gold, silver and jewels. Only he's not the only one willing to move heaven and earth in order to find the long buried treasure, easily worth a king's ransom.

As Colby strives to out maneuver his very resourceful adversaries
there are a number of surprising plot twists, several instances of double crossing, and plenty of harrowing action. As an added bonus, Plunder of the Sun is also educational. The reader will pick up a smattering of Spanish vocabulary and learn a thing or two about Incan civilization.

Plunder of the Sun is a welcome addition to the Hard Case Crime series. Highly recommended to action-adventure aficionados.

This is an outstanding lost (and found) treasure story. In many ways it reminded me of B. Traven's classic "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre." This is a realistic, well-written, fast-moving adventure novel. And the lost treasure details are excellent and accurate. One reviewer here didn't exactly go for the Inca treasure history. That's a shame, because the history is the backbone of the story.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a very good yarn - and while this is a great "beach book" it is quite a bit more than that, as well.

First, let me say that the Hard Case Crime series is excellent. It certainly opens up the opportunity to obtain great hard boiled detective fiction from the past and the present. This book is not really a detective story, it is more of an adventure story with a hero that could have been a hard boiled detective. The formula is simple: a fortune in buried treasure and a bunch of characters that no one should trust. The author seems to want us to learn the Spanish language while we read this book. There are a lot times that he tells what something is and then gives us the Spanish word to go along with it.
Good story. Good pace.

I am not sure how one goes about the process of having a particular institution declared a national treasure, but I would love to get the ball rolling today for the Hard Case Crime imprint. Over the past several months Hard Case has published a riveting mix of reprinted and original hard-boiled, noir crime fiction in mass market paperback form, drawing readers in with out-of-print titles by familiar names such as Lawrence Block and Erle Stanley Gardner while encouraging others to take a chance on both new and under-appreciated authors and works.

PLUNDER OF THE SUN is one of those works that has fallen into undeserved obscurity, a state that will hopefully be remedied by its new incarnation in the Hard Case Crime catalog. David Dodge was a frequent and fairly prolific writer of hard-boiled fiction from 1940 through 1972. His best-known work, TO CATCH A THIEF, was adapted for film by Alfred Hitchcock. But he was also famous for a series of novels featuring detective and tax expert James "Whit" Whitney. Dodge was also a popular travel writer, and his mystery novels soon became recognized for their exotic backgrounds. Dodge created a second series of mystery novels featuring Al Colby, an American detective and fixer based in South America in general and Chile in particular. PLUNDER IN THE SUN is a Colby novel, and is a stellar example of Dodge's talents as a travel reporter and mystery writer.

At first blush PLUNDER OF THE SUN appears to be a bit of a departure from most of the fare of Hard Case Crime to date. It is more global in scope, taking place in Chile and Peru as opposed to the usual hard-boiled environs of New York or Los Angeles. There is also a bit more at stake here; instead of drugs or a bank heist, it is concerned with smuggling and buried treasure. But all of the other elements that make noir what it is --- deadly situations, treacherous men, beautiful but deadly women --- are here. Dodge transforms Colby, his itinerant soldier of fortune, into a competent stranger in a paradise where the act of turning over a rock can bring either wealth or a sudden and painful death.

PLUNDER OF THE SUN begins with Colby being retained to smuggle a mysterious package from Chile into Peru. It doesn't sound like much of a job; all that Colby has to do is take the package from his erstwhile employer, sail on a ten-day cruise to Peru, and give the package back when they land. By the time the cruise is over, however, Colby's enigmatic employer is dead and he is on the run from at least two gunmen. Even worse, he has been betrayed by two beautiful women. The package that Colby is carrying is worth more money than he can imagine, and incidentally contains the answer to one of history's greatest mysteries.

Colby can trust no one, but he doesn't know this, an element that gives the novel some added twists and turns. Additionally, the people who are trying to separate Colby from his package cannot trust one another; alliances shift and turn, with the only constant being Colby's rough sense of honor and decency. Dodge navigates his reader through a complex plot, keeping a sense of wonder present throughout the proceedings. One cannot read the book without spending at least a few moments wondering how such a work could have gone out of print for so long.

Hopefully the response to PLUNDER OF THE SUN will be such that Hard Case Crime will see fit to reprint in its distinctive format more of Dodge's works. This is a great story, by an under-acknowledged master. Highly recommended.

--- Reviewed by Joe Hartlaub

Boarding school novels are a genre of their own, and the Rector of Justin feels like an essential part of it: the description of the charismatic overarching headmaster, the Leitfigur -- a theme that Rowling draws on with Dumbledore. For anyone interested in exploring that theme, this is an extraordinary book.

The writing is a little mannered, almost hankering after the 19th century, and, at the risk of seeming too critical, Auchincloss on occasions struggles to carry it off. The narrator is overdoing meekness, and getting in the way of it all.

Nevertheless, this book does open up a lot of questions about what education really is, how to carry it off, how authoritarian it can be and what damage charisma (and boarding schools) end up doing. It's also an endearing defence of a vanishing world. Somewhere else (1980) Auchincloss said that the "tragedy of American civilization is that it has swept away WASP morality and put nothing in its place". That isn't my view, but this book makes a case that deserves its hearing.

It's a very good read, exactly what literature should be.

This is writing at its most elegant. It has everything: poise, lucidity and an outstanding ability to create athmosphere.

This is #6 on the bestsellers list in 1964, the year I was born. I had a hard time at first getting into the story but it was magnificent! Auchincloss is a tremendous writer and probably, in my humble opinion, one of the best writers in the 20th century. He has a unique writing style. This book is unusual in the fact that it is told by 6 different individuals. This is the story of a man from schoolboy age to his death at age 85.

Frank Prescott was a man of God and of honor. His calling to be a minister and of a teacher was fulfilled and he was very successful in building his dream of a Christian boy's school, although it was not exclusive to that religion. Dr. Prescott had respect for any boy of any religion. He was diligent, proud, and yet humble. He was willing to admit his faults and apologize for his mistakes. A respected man like this is very hard to find in this day and age. Dr. Frank Prescott was revered by any who met him, even if they disliked him.

This was my favorite line & one of the last: "Dr. Prescott was greater than the school which he created and by which he was ultimately disillusioned, and it is my ambition to distill for future generations of Justin boys some bit of the essence of that greatness."

I highly recommend this book to anyone who has lost someone in their lives they truly admired; it will open your heart to the sentiment of greatly appreciating those who have gone before us to set a pure example of respect & honesty.

Although _The Rector of Justin_ is considered by many as Auchincloss' best novel, I didn't like it as much as some of his other books. It uses six narrators to tell the story of the Reverend Francis Prescott, D.D. -- founder and rector (headmaster) of Justin Martyr, a fictional school for boys in Massachusetts. The narrative structure seems contrived to me; Auchincloss used it better in later books like _The House of the Prophet_. You never get to know Prescott well enough to decide whether you like or dislike him, although maybe it is Auchincloss' intention to create the uncertainty. None of the narrators arouses your sympathy (the main one is just plain annoying), and the book has no trace of sentimentality in it. In Auchincloss' autobiography, _A Writer's Capital_, he says the character of Prescott is based more on Judge Learned Hand than on Endicott Peabody, the headmaster of Groton where Auchincloss went to school.

Louis Auchincloss recommended The Rector of Justin to me as a starting point, as I was unfamiliar with his writing. Then he chuckled and said that he doesn't claim that it's his best, only that it has enduring popularity and is the most commercially successful of his novels. The story portrays the fictional biography of an exclusive New England prep school's willful headmaster, Francis Prescott, and it portrays, too, the characters who "live under the shadow of the Prescott legend." The story is related through six persons in that shadow. They are a former student, Brian Aspinwall, the Chairman of the Board of Trustees, David Griscam, an old friend, Horace Havistock, his youngest daughter, Cordelia Turnbull, her common law husband, Charlie Strong, and another student, Jules Griscam, son of the above-mentioned trustee. Each relays impressions of the great man which derive from their own association with him. These glimses portray Prescott's multifaceted character, yet the portrait which emerges leaves the reader unsatisfied, as with a puzzle in which there are not only missing pieces, but also duplicate pieces. Auchincloss' writing is creative, and very clever, and there are hundreds of sentences which beg to be re-read, and which are every bit as fresh on the return leg. Another characteristic of the author's prose is numerous references. He invokes authors, their characters, and countless others: Omar Khayyam, King Lear, Meissonier, Parsifal, Steinbeck, Tom Brown and Arnold, Marlowe and Webster, the Count of Monte Cristo, Anne Boleyn, Rupert Brooke, Mrs. Browning, Billy Budd, Walter Gay, Tannhauser, Freud, Molvina Hoffman, Plantaganet Palliser and Lady Cora, Joseph Andrews, Henry Thoreau... And here are a few examples of the author's craft: "I am the youngest child of a marriage of June and January, and, alas, I cost June her life." "He had all the jauntiness, guile, and charm of a papal bastard in the Renaissance." "We became well-known hosts to the floating expatriate world that made a fetish of disillusionment." "I had not expected that so little oil would settle such troubled waters." "He was uneasy with children, for like a dictator visiting a free country, he knew that his power was suspended." "He knew that his God was as mean as himself, and would never let him get away with anything as easy as that." Unfortunately, though, the story's denouement fails to resolve its creative tension. The eclipse of Prescott's power, in his old age, is portrayed as dramatic and illuminating, but it is neither. Prior to the conclusion our protagonist is a self-absorbed demigod. In that conclusion he becomes yet more self-absorbed, though mortal, and simply fades away. A God as mean as himself, however, would not have let him get away with anything as easy as that.