Average customer rating:
- What a great story!
- Awesome Read For a Military Aviation Enthusiast
- A nice surprise
- Slow start and cliched
- I Just Found A New Author
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The Killing Sky
Robert Gandt
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
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Men's Adventure
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ASIN: 0451216970 |
Book Description
When Brick Maxwell's wingman is shot down and taken prisoner by a Palestinian splinter group, Rick Solares negotiates his release. But Brick suspects something sinister going on behind the scenes. And when the woman he loves falls victim to the same terrorists, his devotion to duty turns into a desire for vengeance. With the help of his Roadrunner Squadron, Brick will risk everything to make the enemy pay-as only an angry F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilot can.
Customer Reviews:
What a great story!.......2006-07-18
For any has read Robert Gandt's fictions should agree, he is a very great story writer. Not only we can find the military scenes is such exciting and reality. Along from whole the story line, it is so consistence, and mixing with different characteristics like the real world. It is hard to find any military fiction writer like Gandt, can have so sophisticated description of portryal. One more, the story line between Maxwell and Philips is so real and attractive, mixing with sweet, pain and pity.
Highly recommended to all military fiction readers, you should buy all the Robert Gandt books and read them one by one.
Awesome Read For a Military Aviation Enthusiast.......2006-07-11
I have read all 5 of Robert Gandt's Brick Maxwell books. I must say between the time of his next release i have trouble finding something that curves my appetite. Highly Recommended.
A nice surprise.......2006-07-04
For his fifth novel with Brick Maxwell, Gandt moves into the Middle East, the war on terror, and Israeli-Palestinian politics. Some techno-thriller authors are starting to drag with their fifth novel. Not so with Gandt. Not overwhelmingly technical and includes some human interest, relationship twists. Plus, at the end of the book, the promise of more to come. Better than I expected!
Slow start and cliched.......2006-06-17
This book took me about 150 pages before I was hooked. I was put off by a couple of things:
1) The knock-out gorgeous Israeli spy/helicopter/deputy foreign minister blah, blah, blah. Why can't we have an ugly spy that doesn't hop into bed right away?
2) The venal self-serving politician (not that there aren't plenty of those) that puts personal ambition ahead of country and honor.
3) A tidy ending that wraps up most of the loose ends. Those that remain dangling aren't all that critical.
The story is interesting, but when we get to the war part and you have the combined might of 3 carrier battle groups and a cast off line that the air force couldn't find any place to base their planes even though they had Iraq and Israel and Qatar in close proximity tended to suspend belief from a military perspective.
Where were the Tomahawks, the B-2s, the submarines, the Ucavs and on and on it goes? If America goes to war, it will not only involve a bunch of Super Hornets flying off carriers.
The scope of this book was far broader than the time spent to develop the story.
I think Robert Gandt can do better.
I Just Found A New Author.......2006-04-25
I received The Killing Sky as a gift and I must say that the book captivated me. The action is intense, and the characters well defined. The aerial descriptions are superb, and the "ground action" is very exciting as well. Upon completion of this book, I immediately read the remaining four books in the series. I understand a new installment is due out in the fall and I am anxiously awaiting its arrival. Bob Gandt is a wonderful writer with a good personal background of his subject matter. I highly recommend his books.
Average customer rating:
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The Killing Skies
Simon Read
Manufacturer: Spellmount
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Aviation
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Europe
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ASIN: 1862273294 |
Book Description
When a Congressman's daughter disappears, Charlottesville P.I. and falconer Frank Pavlicek follows a trail of family secrets to the most dangerous discovery of all-the truth.
"A winning new sleuth whose love of falconry adds uniqueness rarely seen in private investigator novels." (Midwest Book Review)
Customer Reviews:
Political Intrigue.......2003-10-10
PI Frank Pavlicek has been hired by Representative Tor Drummond's daughter Cassidy to find her twin Cartwright. The college freshman disappeared on her way to break up with her boyfriend. But the boyfriend claims she never made it over. Then her rental car is found with bloody fingerprints. All Frank has to go on is a 20 year old newspaper article about a hit and run car accident. Will that be enough to find her before it's too late? If it isn't already. Meanwhile, he's struggling with letting his red-tailed hawk Armistead return to the wild.
I'm not normally a reader of PI novels, but this series is making me rethink that. The storyline is interesting, and the characters are well drawn. I am aware they fall well within PI novel norms, but that doesn't really bother me in the least. The added element of falconry adds another level of interest to an already strong book.
This series is certainly worth a look if you enjoy PI novels. And if you don't normally read them, pick these up and give the sub-genre a try.
Hardboiled Political Saga.......2003-04-04
Andy Straka's "A Killing Sky" is a private detective story loosely based upon headlines from what seems long ago, but is actually less than two years ago. Gary Condit is the real life doppleganger for fictional Virginia Congressman Tor Drummond, a man desperately seeking re-election despite a nasty sex scandal. When one of the Congressman's twin daughters disappears, the other hires Charlottesville Private Eye Frank Pavlicek to determine her wherabouts. Pavilcek is, of course, dubious at the beginning, and not surprisingly ends up with far more than he bargained for as he probes into the Congressman's sleazy life.
Anyone who reads a lot of private eye fiction will find plenty of familiarity in Straka's book. Pavilcek cracks wise and has a somewhat mysterious, tough-guy sidekick (his former partner from his days with the NYPD), an emotionally strong and supportive girlfriend and an eccentric hobby (he's a Falconeer). Straka's descriptions of Charlottesville (home of the University of Virginia) are so accurate and inviting that they could have been written by the Chamber of Commerce.
As for the mystery, even though some of the minor elements of the book are a bit cliche (the Chief of Police is a jerk, the Feds are the clumsy heavies, the Congressmen's Chief of Staff is cast right out of the movie "No Way Out"), you can forgive it because Straka's prose and storytelling are so fresh and immediate. For example, Pavilcek's relationship with his college age daughter, who sometimes helps him with his cases, never lapses into cheap sentimentality the way it could in a lesser writer's hands. The build up to the climax is well done and when it comes it is explosive and ultimately satisfying climax.
Overall, an outstanding work of private eye fiction from a recently bygone era that I'm sure we all wish could return to.
The Art of the Gimmick.......2003-02-19
"A Killing Sky" has a quasi-political plot involving hanky panky in high places. Given the last decade in American politics, anything short of the president of the United States concealing a harem of thousands in the Casbah is unlikely to even raise an eyebrow. When Cassidy Drummond consults P.I. Frank Pavlicek about the disappearance of her twin, Cartwright, he is reluctant and remains so though most of the tale. The Drummond twins are daughters of a high-placed politico who has enough clout to subvert any embarrassing investigations.
Frank is yet another former homicide cop with a sidekick named Joe Tornado who could easily go by the name Hawk. Frank has a sophisticated love interest, Marcia (read Susan) and his hobby is falconry. (Well, Berretta had a cockatoo.) He lives in beautiful Charlottesville, VA and, like Jonathan Kellerman, a stickler for giving you routes, street names and landmarks. I always thought my lack of enthusiasm for this sort of information was because I did not know Los Angeles. I have lived in Charlottesville, and I can vouch for Mr. Stranka's authenticity, but I spent a lot of time visualizing exactly where I was when it really didn't make much difference to the plot. I know some readers enjoy this very much.
I think Mr. Stranka is a good workmanlike writer. He takes care and precision with his plots. "A Killing Sky" just has too much a look of being written from a blueprint of what makes a successful mystery novel.
-sweetmolly-Amazon Reviewer
Wow..........2003-01-14
I haven't read a detective novel since my Nancy Drew days. Didn't think I'd enjoy them, and besides, my attention span is ridiculously short.
I was given a copy of A KILLING SKY last Saturday, so I picked it up, just to have a look, on Sunday evening. It dropped from my hand as I fell asleep in the wee hours of the morning. I picked it up first thing Monday and found myself -- still in my pajamas -- at noontime, when the book ended and finally let me go.
If you like the kind of book that grabs you by the lapels and doesn't let go until it's done with you, then A KILLING SKY is just the ticket.
-Janis Jaquith, author of BIRDSEED COOKIES: A FRACTURED MEMOIR
Straka On Stride.......2002-12-28
Andy Straka's novel is a terrific mystery. A year ago, Publishers Weekly declared him a "Rising Star" of the mystery world, and Killing Sky proves their point perfectly. Mr. Straka has a great private detective lead and a wonderful supporting cast. His plot is crisp and the mystery is a swift read. I'm eagerly anticipating the next book in his series.
Product Description
Set of 4 titles, 1-4, one thru four. A vivid journey into the Vietnam Hell Hole.
Product Description
Killing Sky: When a routine American-Israeli military exercise goes wrong, Brick Maxwell's wingman is shot down and taken prisoner by a Palestinian splinter group. Negotiating the flier's release is the President's shadowy, power-hungry special envoy, Rick Solares. Though the pilot is set free, Brick suspects there is more to the arrangement than meets the eye. And when the woman he loves falls victim to the terrorists, his devotion to duty turns into a desire for vengeance. With the help of his Roadrunner squadron, Brick will risk everything to make the enemy pay-as only and angry F/A-18 Hornet fighter pilot can...
Shadows of War: Brick Maxwell lost a good friend when squadron mate Raz Rasmussen was shot down in the first Gulf War. Though Raz's body was never recovered, he was declared KIA and soon forgotten. Years later, when Raz's now-remarried wife receives a call claiming he is alive, she frantically asks Maxwell to investigate. At first, Maxwell is ignored by the CIA-until his old enemy, Jamal Al-Fasr, is captured on the Iraq-Iran border and offers to trade himself for an American POW. Maxwell attends the exchange, in case the POW turns out to be Raz. But the CIA is working its own shady agenda-and a shocking betrayal will place Maxwell right in the kill zone...
Customer Reviews:
Dig in! It's crunchy and hot, with a hint of Soy........2007-01-23
An easy flow opening with a slight edge off Magdalena's humor gave the feel of a contented woman who had recently acquired the warm sharing and weak-kneed stability of freshly hewed married life. She had the best of all worlds and so did her reader, with the Inn in cozy, spicy swing and Magda's bedroom temporarily returned while her "Pooky Bear" was taking care of a few loose ends in Minneapolis. The first leisurely description of the Inn took root in that mood of lazy summer contentment.
Magda was so laid back that Melvin actually invited her to be his sleuthing partner in solving the murder which opened the plot (almost as an effective afterthought) with the clue of a buggy wheel imprint rolling suspicion into Amish territory. Even that situation hadn't shaken Magda's newly arrived cool.
However, it did get shaken.
A few subtle changes occurred in this # 5 in the PenDutch series.
The first change I noticed (and enjoyed) was the release from Melvin immediately posing Magda as his # 1 suspect, and his switch to "hiring" her as his sidekick. His growing respect for her was believable, and warmed both his character and Magda's; and their relationship nearly lost its previous cheese-grater quality (which was hilariously entertaining, but I had no trouble snuggling into this smoother exchange).
Observing related changes, in Magda's notched up sleuthing techniques due to her upgraded, "hired-on" status, was a kick, especially as she tied them to the tether of her value, her lifelong (ancestral) awareness of Amish habits, and her "in" in that culture (as a Presbyterian Melvin was an outsider). One scene in particular brought out that value, as Magda paused to observe surroundings in her approach to the farmhouse of a suspect family. The simple details were informative: Thirty head of dairy cows in a field meant that, even if the family was gone at the moment, they would return by evening to milk; and chickens would not be left unattended, due to various types of predators, which Magda listed with brief, interesting notations of when they hunted.
I felt honored to learn a few more habits and beliefs seated into Amish life, which I hadn't known before, even though I've reviewed several Amish novels by two authors (Tamar Myers and Barbara Workinger) who can be trusted to know their subjects and to detail them without heated investment in idealizing, nor in condemning the subculture. One belief in particular surprised me, yet "I should have known." It had to do with no witch's hats on Halloween. A few habits of intimacy came out indirectly, as a result of Magda's funny asides on sexual subtleties referring to the upstanding member of Aaron's "sleep" interruptions. Also brought out somewhat subtly, with warmth and humor, were varieties of attitudes of wives toward such.
While listing highlights of Amish lifestyle here, I noticed that my thoughts returned periodically to Tamar's latest novel, THE DARK SIDE OF HEAVEN, a literary offering (set outside Ms. Myers' highly successful murder mystery bailiwick) which has been nominated for a Pulitzer. In my opinion, that novel has certainly earned The Prize (see my review). I'm trying to recall the connections I saw while reading DARK SIDE, similarities to this # 5 PenDutch novel. They seemed to relate to Myers' change in writing style, and inclusion of daily realities of Amish life contrasted to English ways; rather than having to do with plot or theme, since Dark Side was not a murder mystery. It was a sensitive, yet humorous investigation into the realities of shunning. Only this author could write gently about such a heart wrenching situation, yet ease the reader into warm smiles and bursting-forth chuckles.
There's no doubt in my mind that Tamar Myers is an author of complex talent which is expressed with such a natural, spirited flair that it seems simply entertaining to many avid fans. It is that. And more. This rich depth of wide-scope talent was exposed in DARK SIDE.
Still, all sides of Tamar Myers authorship could be seen in WOK if the reader were to dig into the flavors, especially by noting the way Myers dramatized Magdalena's changing feelings for Aaron Miller, and her coming to terms with what he exposed in BETWEEN A WOK AND A HARD PLACE. I was amazed at how Myers was able to poke around (both subtly and blatantly) in male/female connections in general, in and outside of marriage, dealing with these human issues with uncanny insight and un-canned humor.
Don't miss the hierarchy presented by an author guest at the PenDutch who arranged publisher, editor, agent, and reviewer in a frustrated writer's order of intelligence. I can identify with the relative genius capacity of each professional position, as seen from viewpoints of each regarding the others. A gem of a book which deals exquisitely with just those perspectives is THE NOVEL by James A. Michener (see my review).
Warm into WOK for another multi-faceted, tasty sizzler from Tamar Myers. Add the bonus of recipes recapturing long lost yums!
Linda Shelnutt
Magdalena Deputized!.......2003-09-30
As in the other books in this series, this book is really thin in the plot area, and in this one the motive for the killing is not plausible, but it's still a funny story in it's own way. Readers must be die-hard cozy fans to enjoy this series, and they must be willing to give the author a lot of latitude since Ms. Myers really needs an editor for her books. This book is about what appears to be a hit-and-run murder, and at first glance it looks like it might be local Amish boys that did it. That is why Melvin Stoltzfus deputises Magdalena to help him solve the mystery. I'm really not sure about this series. Each book seems more disjointed than the last one, and they make less and less sense. But I do finish the books, even though it seems like an almost guilty pleasure.
Good Fortune Predicted for This Book.......2002-02-27
I don't know how she does it, but Ms. Myers has written yet another truly entertaining book in this - her 5th in her Penn/Dutch mystery series. Her new marriage ends in this one, which is an important reason to read these in order (so why doesn't the publisher put the Number on them?). Each page is engaging; her writing and wit superb. However in this book I found it to be somewhat weak in plot (that's why the 4 stars). The book is not a disappointment, though, as she carries it thru with her unique sense of humor and just plain talent. Don't miss it!
A hit-and-run mystery.......2001-06-26
Magdelena Yoder has always been the nemesis of police chief Melvin Stoltzfus. It might have something to do with the fact that she tends to solve crimes before he does. In this addition to the Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery series, Melvin decides since he can't beat her, he'll ask her to join him. Magdelena is called upon to be a temporary deputy in order to help Melvin solve the murder of an Asian visitor who has been strangled and then run over by an Amish buggy. Magdelena has her usual group of interesting guests at the PennDutch Inn and they are suspects along with some local teenage boys who love to drive their buggies around town late at night. She is unwittingly aided by her father-in-law who is in search of aliens and flying saucers and who helps her uncover some important evidence. This one is a bit thin as to the plot, and the murderer's motive is pretty shaky, but it's still good fun if you're a "cozy" fan.
Good fortune.......2001-02-27
I had missed this one in my collection, so I had to buy it and fill in the blanks. As always, Ms. Myers kept me chuckling the whole way through. Once I got started, I literally couldn't put it down. I was glad to find out the details about what happened to Aaron (the rat!). I love her characters (especially Freni) and the humor is terrific. I'm ready for another one!
Product Description
4 Titles By Tamar Myers Pennsylvania Dutch Mysteries with Recipes : Too Many Crooks Spoil the Broth Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Crime Between a Wok and a Hard Place Assault And Pepper. Four mmpb books.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent tool for Storytellers.......1999-08-08
This screen is excellent for storytellers that want to fasten their chronicles of Vampire: The Masquerade. It not only helps storytellers while the games rolls, as also helps players when creating their characters.
Customer Reviews:
Some very new information, a bit rather useless.......2002-09-14
As a storyteller who has run the same "game" for the past four summers, I tend to create big plots the sweep across the years and tackle questions of good and evil, right and wrong, survival and control so I like new books to help me out. In this very short book we learn about 3 new clans of Kindred, their disciplines, a whole butch of specialized skills, talents, and knowledges, along with weapons and armor specifics. Still the combat book covers most of what is covered here and how useful are "specialized" abilities? At almost [$$$] for only 67 pages, I say buy it used.
Handy, but not Necessary.......2002-08-13
Good for supplementals, interesting weapons and unusal rolls. Has info on Salubri, Samedi, and Daughters of Cacaphony in the modern nights, but overall something you can live without.
Helpful, but a bit disorganized.......2001-11-24
Let me say first that this is a VERY helpful book for Vampire: The Masquerade players and storytellers. But this book seems to be more of a player's companion than a storyteller's. The information is helpful, but it could either have been included in the main rulebook or could have been done better.
-Introduction: How To Use This Book. The intro is short, simple, and completely unnecessary. Admire the artwork of Vincent Locke and then move on. All in all, very helpful book but some stuff could be taken out or moved around. Although technically a storyteller's companion, I encourage any and all storytellers to let your players have access to this book (or at least let them use chapters 2 and 4) in the character creation process.
You really, really, REALLY, really NEED THIS.......2000-07-27
This book is NOT to be confused with VAMPIRE: STORYTELLERS HANDBOOK. (That's the book with the obscure, exotic stuff from SECRETS OF THE BLACKHAND and the sundry practical and philosophical advice for the storyteller.) This book is far less creative but far more essential. My high rating is intended to convey just how essential not any particular profundity or innovation.
It's a rather slight looking paperback. DON'T BE FOOLED. This, folks, is where they now keep the information on the Salubri, Samedi and Daughters of Cacophany blood lines and the disciplines Obeah and Thanatosis. This is where they have all the game mechanics for specific weapons- shotguns, handguns, swords, whips, armor ancient and modern, millitary equipment, etc. The optional secondary abilities include things like ride, archery, pilot, area knowledge, Camarilla lore and Sabbat lore. Unlike STORYTELLERS HANDBOOK, I can't imagine a storyteller for VtM running a chronicle without the info here, frankly. It's all organized in a clear, straight-forward way, too. A BONUS: Lawrence Snelly was art director and he compiled some really fine pictures from folks like Leif Jones, Vince Locke, Guy Davis, Christopher Shy, John Cobb (signed work from the last two but not mentioned in credits).
A great addition to the Vampire universe.......2000-04-18
White Wolf has outdone themselves again. Not only they gave us the great and now classic Vampire Revised, but now this Storytellers Companion helps even the most expert storyteller into their adventure of gameguiding. The content is great, and sheds some light on lost bloodlines, updates the True Black Hand info and is a VERY useful guide to deal with any kind of gamer. Not to get rid of them, but to help them to get into the mood and feeling of the game. The Guide is a great companion for player and storyteller alike. In short: A great book.
Book Description
Dealing with sexual abuse at any stage in life creates enormous emotional and physical challenges. This book reaches out to all who were sexually abused as children, with information about the kinds of problems it can cause and how survivors can deal with those problems and break free from the past. This book specifically addresses this often traumatic experience from an adult's perspective as they learn to cope with the aftermath of having been sexually abused as a child.
Clinical psychologists Carolyn Ainscough and Kay Toon offer positive suggestions and helpful techniques for dealing with and overcoming the effects of abuse.
Whether you're looking for help for your own recovery or for that of a partner, other family member or friend, this guide has what one needs to break free from the past for a happy and productive life.
Customer Reviews:
Great help.......2005-09-13
Although there were one or two chapters in the book that didn't pertain to me, I found this book very helpful. The exercises at the end of each chapter really made me think, and made me realize why I react the way I do to certain things. It helped that I was able to share the questions and my answers with a couple of trustworthy friends. This book gave me the incentive to want to move on to the next step in my recovery process.
I, too, have tried to contact a couple of the helplines mentioned in the back of the book, but was unable to. However, that is not a problem for me, as I can contact a local agency.
Practically Pointless.......2003-02-18
First let me say this: I commend anyone who puts out a book on this subject matter, it is brave, thoughtful, and honorable. It is a much needed genre and shouldn't be too strongly criticized.
That aside, one of the few things this book suceeded in doing was convincing me that sexual abuse has a detrimental effect on the person in their adult life, something I had no need to be convinced of. It also no doubt made the average survivor feel less alone. In addition, there was one wonderful chapter about how to protect one's own children from abuse.
It lacks practical use. Most of the survivors' resources (hotlines) in the back were disconnected or when actually put to use were run by characteristically undereducated people. There are no suggestions for prosecution that I recall, and virtually nada hardcore advice for dealing with the residual effects of this abuse.
Overall not worth buying unless you are just now becoming aware of your own abuse and need to overcome the feelings of shame and isolation, or you're coming to grips with the abuse of a loved one and you need to be educated on the emotional experience of said loved one.
Books:
- The Last Heiress (Friarsgate Inheritance, Book 4)
- The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner (Contemporary Fiction, Plume)
- The Mangrove Coast (Prime Crime Mysteries)
- The Medusa Stone (Philip Mercer)
- The Miernik Dossier
- The Monstrous Races in Medieval Art and Thought (Medieval Studies (Syracuse, N.Y.).)
- The Passion of Artemisia
- The Persian Pickle Club
- The Secret History of the Pink Carnation
- The Sunday Wife
Books Index
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