The Chocolate Cat Caper

Book Description

Looking for a fresh start, divorcée Lee McKinney moves back to Michigan to work for her aunt's chocolate business-and finds that her new job offers plenty of murderous treats to chew on.

When a high-profile defense lawyer dies after eating a cat-shaped chocolate laced with cyanide, it's up to Lee to find out who tampered with the recipe-before she and her aunt end up behind not-so-chocolate bars.

Customer Reviews:

Not Diane Mott Davidson.......2007-04-04

Although I enjoy just about any mystery, this book's annoying "hook" makes it hard to read. The main character's quirk is that she misspeaks - often embarrassingly so - when stressed: "goon" instead of "guard", etc. I can't even tell you if it's a good mystery because this is so distracting. Also, to be honest, the chocolate trivia is not nearly as interesting as some good old recipes. It's not horrible but it's not great either.

A sweet debut!.......2007-03-23

Twenty-eight-year-old ex-Texas beauty queen, Lee McKinney, always thought that money was the solution to everything. After witnessing the downfall of her parents marriage over finances it seemed that nothing could be more true. However, after surviving five years of marriage with money-hungry millionaire, Rich Godfrey (aka Mr. Gottrocks), Lee is fed up, and decides to leave behind her trademark Texas trophy wife coiffed hair, and bright red lipstick, along with everything else she has accumulated during her marriage, and head back to Warner Pier, Michigan. Armed with nothing more than a suitcase full of clothes, Lee makes her way back to the tiny resort town, where she'll act as accountant to her Aunt Nettie's booming business, TenHuis Chocolade. Lee is thrilled to finally have the opportunity to show off her smarts for numbers, and, forming a quick bond with her spunky Aunt, dives headfirst into the world of chocolate making. However, after little less than a week on the job, Lee quickly realizes that not everything in the world of chocolate creations is as sweet as it appears. When Clementine Ripley, a celebrity defense attorney with a penchant for getting even the guilty acquitted, contacts TenHuis Chocolade with an order for thousands of dollars worth of custom chocolates that resemble her champion cat, Champion Myanmar Chocolate Yonkers, Lee knows that they can't refuse the order - no matter how much Aunt Nettie fusses over having nothing to do with the woman who, in her opinion, is responsible for her husband's death. So, with word that she will collect payment before dropping off the scrumptious looking chocolates, Lee heads to the Ripley mansion, where she finds herself in awe of her surroundings. Those surroundings, of course, do not include the demanding, downright rude Clementine, who appears to have nothing but unkind words for everyone she comes in contact with. So it's truly no surprise when the woman who everyone loves to hate ends up dead at her charity shindig. The surprising part comes, however, when Lee learns that the cause of death was none other than a cyanide-laced chocolate from TenHuis Chocolade. Lee knows that her Aunt had nothing to do with the crime. But that leaves very few other suspects who would have had time to inject cyanide into the box of chocolates that did Clementine in. Now, in an attempt to protect TenHuis Chocolade from the bad press that is about to befall the hometown sweet shop, Lee decides that it is up to her to do a little snooping around Clementine's cohorts to pinpoint the real culprit. But the deeper Lee moves into her investigation, the more that she realizes that Clementine had more enemies than the average person, and fingering the correct person for murder may prove harder than she originally expected. Lee won't give up, however, for if she does, the police may just throw her and Aunt Nettie behind bars, where the taste of chocolate will evade them for the rest of their days.

As a self-professed chocoholic, I couldn't resist picking up JoAnna Carl's debut, THE CHOCOLATE CAT CAPER. From the very first sentence, I was impressed. Lee is a bold, brazen new character, whose sleuthing skills are delectable; while her ability to basically win over everyone around her is a wonderful feat. Lee's interactions with the grandmother-ly, Aunt Nettie, are enjoyable, as she is constantly trying to convince Aunt Nettie about the evils that some people possess. However, it's Aunt Nettie's naivete that make her so lovable, and really adds to her character. Lee's speech impediment, which makes her mix-up words on a fairly usual basis can sometimes confuse the reader, as one wrong word strongly changes the dynamics of the sentence. However, it is this character trait that makes Lee so memorable, while displaying a raw side of her personality that is extremely relatable. The backdrop of a chocolate shop is supremely quaint, giving readers an inside peek at how, exactly, chocolates are made - and sold - and leaving you salivating for one of Aunt Nettie's divine creations. The chocolate facts thrown around between chapters were also quite interesting, as they give die-hard chocoholics the opportunity to learn more about this scrumptious treat - from the different types of chocolates there are, to the history of how chocolate came to America; while the little chocolate pop quiz at the end of the book is a fun addition, as it gives readers the chance to test their chocolate knowledge. A sweet debut!

Erika Sorocco
Freelance Reviewer

Nothing to write home about........2007-01-19

Decent book, but nothing spectacular. Not a bad bit of entertainment but certainly not memorable.

How could Chocolate be so bad?.......2006-11-03

No one could ever mistake JoAnna Carl for Joanne Fluke (writer of the Hannah Swenson Cookie Jar Series)! The character development was seriously lacking, the story was choppy, there was no emotion behind the words and it was not entertaining! The Chocolate facts between the chapters were the most interesting thing about the book but not really useful, they were more of a distraction than anything else.

A Treat.......2006-09-18

The Chocolate Cat Caper is the first in the Chocoholic mystery series by JoAnna Carl. Like a candy bar, the book goes down easy and leaves a sweet taste in your mouth. Soon, you will want another (book, that is). The story is about former Texas trophy wife Lee McKinney as she begins a new life in a Michigan lakeside resort town. Lee helps her beloved Aunt Nettie run an upscale chocolate shop. At a catered affair at a wealthy but hated resident's home, the hated woman dies after ingesting Aunt Nettie's chocolates. A man from Lee's teenage past is the victim's widower. He clashes with the woman's personal assistant, who has taken the murder very hard. Can Lee exonerate her chocolate shop before it is forced to close from lack of business?

This book would make a great TV episode a la Murder She Wrote. It is entertaining with a solid mystery for the reader to solve, but does not contain any very dark subject matter, sex, or profanity like so many other mystery series out there.

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The Chocolate Cat Caper
JoAnna Carl
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0739424122

3 Titles By JoAnna Carl Chocoholic Mysteries Series : The Chocolate Cat Caper The Chocolate Bear Burglary The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle

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3 Titles By JoAnna Carl Chocoholic Mysteries Series : The Chocolate Cat Caper The Chocolate Bear Burglary The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle
JoAnna Carl
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000M7OWVE

Product Description

3 Titles By JoAnna Carl Chocoholic Mysteries Series : The Chocolate Cat Caper The Chocolate Bear Burglary The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle. three mmpb books.

The Chocolate Cat Caper: A Chocoholic Mystery

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The Chocolate Cat Caper: A Chocoholic Mystery
Joanna Carl
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000SOTCHA

Book Description

Never before has there been a comprehensive, inexpensive reference guide and overview to the genre of crime fiction like The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Crime Fiction. Veteran editor Mike Ashley’s historical introduction gives an overview of the crime genre, showing the background and development of crime fiction from the earliest days with Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler through to the modern exponents of the craft such as Elmore Leonard and Ian Rankin. His A to Z covers five hundred entries on the major writers in the crime fiction field, from Edward S. Aarons to Mark Zubro, from the cult favorites to the best known, including Marjorie Allingham, Patricia Cornwell, Colin Dexter, Jim Thompson, and Minette Walters. The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Crime Fiction packs more information into its author entries than more expensive hardcover reference works. Each entry gives a brief biographical background with highlights for the cross-referenced key works, provides a full bibliography, and notes significant films/series adapted from their works. There are also added bonuses of a crime fiction glossary that defines the genre’s special terms and expressions, such as “hardboiled,” “impossible crime,” and “police procedural” and four appendices covering key characters, key books and magazines, key films and TV series, and awards and award winners, including the Edgar Awards, the Dagger Awards, the Shamus Awards, and other important awards. Crime fiction buffs, mystery booksellers, and anyone interested in crime fiction will find The Mammoth Encyclopedia of Crime Fiction to be an indispensable reference and an unbeatable bargain.

Customer Reviews:

Useful reference /critical work for crime and mystery fans.......2003-06-21

I would not go so far as to call this an essential read for fans of the crime genre -be this in printed or visual media-but it is an exceptionally useful one and is likely to add immeasurably to their knowledge of the scene .

After a short introduction to the mystery novel which examines the various categories of the genre --police procedurals ,private eye novels and the highways and bye ways of the cosy crime novel-and gives the names of authors to explore under these headings ,Ashley gets to the real meat of the book.This is an A-Z of crime writers whose works were published for the first time after 1945.Each is given a potted biography ,with some ,not too profound critical analysis ,a list of titles with particular emphasis on mystery series they have written.Authorial pseudonyms are listed ,together with awards won ,web site details and the entry also suggests which novel to approach if you are looking into that author's work for the first time.

There then follows a section on movies and TV series ,a quick look at the mystery magazine scene ,some useful web sites for the devotee and to round things off a list of mystery and crime novel awards from a variety of countries together with the annual winners in each up to 2001.
The book will beyond question help newcomers to the genre and even the well read mystery maven will find authors and titles new to them .As ever with books of this type there are omissions that will baffle and irritate (no Stephen Booth ,or John Baker for instance )but the list of writers is pretty comprehensive and certainly steered me in the direction of previously unknowmn writers eg Michael Allegretto
My one serious caveat with the section -and indeed the book in general -is that it defines modern in chronological terms (post World War 2 )and several of the writers examined are not modern in feel or approach but rather hark back to earlier traditions such as the alleged Golden Age of English mystery of the inter war years.Conversely writers of an earlier year whose work resonates quite well with modern readers are exempt --eg Hammett , Chandler ,and other pulp masters such as Frederic Brown.
Minor quibbles aside this is a good buy and I especially welcome its touching on authors from outside the US/UK axis ,including European and Australian writers.
Well worth investing in.

A thorough, browsable resource work........2002-07-04

Mike Ashley's THE MAMMOTH ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MODERN CRIME FICTION concentrates on fiction -- books primarily, but also movies and TV series -- produced since World War II. So, don't look here for lengthy bios of Edgar Allan Poe, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie or Raymond Chandler and his fellow creators of the American hard-boiled school. Instead, Ashley gives a good accounting of the men and women who've made the most of what those masters left behind -- people as familiar as Ross Thomas, Reginald Hill and Sara Paretsky, along with rising stars like Robert Crais, Robert Wilson, Denise Mina and Peter Temple. That Australian Temple is included demonstrates this volume's welcome international scope. Rather than being overwhelmed by U.S. authors (who dominate here only when it comes to private-eye fiction), Ashley's book features an estimable range of British novelists and others, such as Batya Gur (Israel), Howard Engel (Canada) and Janwillem van de Wetering (Netherlands). In addition to offering briefs on prominent writers, Ashley gives suggestions of other crime fictionists who do similar work. The Loren D. Estleman entry, for instance, directs readers to Lawrence Block and James Ellroy, while the bio of Japanese author Masako Togawa suggests that fans try tales by the UK's Minette Walters.

Although readers well-versed in this field might question Ashley's failure to include such signal talents as Stephen Booth, Paul Johnston, John Farrow and Henning Mankell, it's good to see some exceptional writers who haven't produced anything in a long while -- like California novelist Arthur Lyons and Cincinnati's Jonathan Valin -- represented in these pages. And such an encyclopedia can't help but surprise even longtime readers of the genre. I admit, for instance, that I didn't know pseudonymous British wordsmith Susanna Gregory, most familiar for her series about 14th-century doctor/detective Matthew Bartholomew (A PLAGUE ON BOTH YOUR HOUSES), has a second set of books to her credit, written under the name "Simon Beaufort" and led by 12th-century Crusader Sir Geoffrey Mapplestone. Nor was I aware that Robert Irvine, who in the 1980s and early 90s penned a distinctive series of tales about Salt Lake City P.I. Moroni Traveler, has more recently been writing (with his wife, and under the pen name "Val Davis") old-aircraft-related mysteries, featuring archaeologist Nicolette "Nicky" Scott. Flipping through this paperback is likely to double the list of authors and titles you know you haven't enough time to read.

On top of all this, Ashley packs his 780 pages with lists of crime movies and TV shows. While the films (from "All the President's Men" to "Year of the Dragon") might at least be rentable, the write-ups on small-screen dramas make one either wistful (who can forget Michael Mann's period cop serial, "Crime Story"?) or wince (what the hell was Stephen J. Cannell thinking when he created "Hardcastle and McCormack"?). Appendices catalogue crime fiction award winners, related magazines and Web sites, and key characters and series. Well-researched, eminently readable and easy to use, THE MAMMOTH ENCYCLOPEDIA OF MODERN CRIME FICTION is a killer find. -- January Magazine, July 2002

Book Description

A poor old Bee-man must leave his beloved hives to search for his true identity in this wry, classic tale, transformed with splendid paintings by the incomparable P.J. Lynch

"But what have I been transformed from?"
"That is more than I know," said the Junior Sorcerer.
"But one thing is certain- you ought to be changed back."

When a young sorcerer appears at the Bee-man’s hut and tells him he may have been magically transformed from some other creature, the old man packs up his honeycombs and sets off to find out just what his true nature might be. Maybe he once was the arrogant master of a fair domain? Or one of the dreadful monsters beneath the black mountain? On his journey, the simple but honest old man meets up with some memorable characters: a Languid Youth in search of invigoration; a lively, boot-colored Very Imp; and a fearsome dragon about to devour a baby, a baby toward whom the Bee-man feels strangely drawn.

Brought to new life with enchanting illustrations by award-winning artist P. J. Lynch, this comic American folktale concludes with a final, satisfying twist that says much about fate, identity, and the captivating power of bees.

Download Description

Whenever my uncle visited us, said the Prince, "or when my late father went to see him, the journey was always made by sea; and, in order to do this, it was necessary to go in a very roundabout way between Itoby and Yan. Now, I shall do nothing of this kind. It is beneath the dignity of a prince to go out of his way on account of capes, peninsulas, and promontories. I shall march from my palace to that of my uncle in a straight line. I shall go across the country, and no obstacle shall cause me to deviate from my course.

Customer Reviews:

The Bee Man of Orn.......2006-09-23

I agree with the above reviews completely! As an aspiring children's book writer and illustrator I can not praise JP Lynch's masterful ability to weave his illustrated visions with verse. I was so deeply taken by the detail of the illustrations of the book, that I was even more spellbound when I watched him share his process in the DVD. His journey into the illustrations is a wonderful accompaniment to the story, and not only that but the music that (he?) chose for the background make the adventure into his 'medievil world' all the more breath taking. I felt like I was there in the world of the story all the more as I watched the DVD & artwork unfold. I highly reccomend both the book and the DVD for aspiring artists and story lovers! As for children, or the child within any adult, it is a precious story of being true to who you already are!

Astoundingly Beautiful Illustrations & Story.......2006-07-14

Stockton outdid himself with this amazing story of the Bee Man - my all-time favorite picture book character.

Exquisitely illustrated by P.J. Lynch, the story comes to life to tell of the Bee Man, aptly named for the swarms of bees he keeps as company. A sorcerer comes to reveal a life-changing secret to him, so he sets out on a journey to confirm its truth, and therefore his own origin.

The living watercolor illustrations are positively luminous and as visually enchanting as any I've had the pleasure of witnessing. Impressive work by Lynch once again...he's truly one of the best in the business. The big bonus is the accompanying DVD highlighting Lynch's work in progress on this project. If you want to be awed, check it out.

"Do you know that You have been Transformed?".......2004-03-17

Frank R. Stockton first wrote "The Bee-Man of Orn", a strange blend of folktale and original fairy story back in 1964, with illustrations by Maurice Sendak. Although good, Sendak's illustrations were bright and kooky, high-lighting the comic aspects of the story, rather than the deeper more thoughtful elements. On the whole, I prefer this new edition, with new illustrations by P. J. Lynch that create a more realistic and folktale-like setting.

The Bee-Man lives in a small hut in the countryside that has been so covered over by the honeycomb of his friends the bees that it resembles more of a hive. He's happy there, but is instantly alarmed by the arrival of a young Sorcerer, who informs him that his strange way of living has come about due to the fact that he's been *transformed*. Transformed from what? The Sorcerer doesn't know, but now the Bee-Man is determined to find out. Gathering a small hive of bees that he wears on his back, he begins his journey to find out what he once was, eventually coming to the mountains that hold the caves of dragons...

Meeting up with a Languid Youth who wants to be more energetic, the two enter the caves and find something there that will solve *both* their problems. The story ends on not one but two notes of the laughable actions of Fate and inevitabilty, leaving the story with a satisfying ending and a topic open for more discussion. How many children's books do you know that do *that*?

The story is charming and P. J. Lynch's illustrations are fantastic. His watercolours brilliantly convey the glorious green world of Orn and the expressive lined faces of the people within it. The pages of the book are large and glossy - giving his work their best chance to shine, and do so to their full effect in the scenes of open country and lofty caverns. If anyone has seen his illustrations in "Catkin", they'll know how good he is at underground scenes, and here they're even better: misty depths, fiery walls and rocky textures all seen real enough to touch.

Book Description

HarperCollins continues with its commitment to reissue Maurice Sendak's most beloved works in hardcover by making available again this 1964 reprinting of an original fairytale by Frank R. Stockton, as illustrated by the incomparable Maurice Sendak.

In the ancient country of Orn there lived an old man who was called the Bee-man, because his whole time was spent in the company of bees. One day a Junior Sorcerer stopped at the hut of the Bee-man. The Junior Sorcerer told the Bee-man that he has been transformed. "If you will find out what you have been transformed from, I will see that you are made all right again," said the Sorcerer. Could it have been a giant, or a powerful prince, or some gorgeous being whom the magicians or the fairies wish to punish?

The Bee-man sets out to discover his original form.

All the World's Reward: Folktales Told by Five Scandinavian Storytellers (Nif Publications, No. 33.)

Average customer rating:

Stories and Storytellers
A good read

All the World's Reward: Folktales Told by Five Scandinavian Storytellers (Nif Publications, No. 33.)

Manufacturer: University of Washington Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 029597754X

Customer Reviews:

Stories and Storytellers.......2004-07-05

This collection of stories is a fascinating selection of Scandinavian folklore. Much of the material is from archives and earlier studies, but the authors bring the material to life through a discussion of the storytellers who told the tales. The book provides a good introduction to the storytelling traditions of the Scandinavian countries. Tales are indexed to tale types and motifs thereby providing good resources to connect the tales to other compilations of international folktales. The information on the storytellers, themselves, is well presented and provides insight into the connections between tellers and tales.

A good read.......2000-05-18

This is a wonderful storybook for grownups who used to listen wide-eyed to their family storytellers. Many familiar friends here in different guises.

Book Description

The trio of scientists had been ordered to survey the planet's flora, fauna and mineral resources, and from the very beginning of their mission everything they observed led to one startling conclusion-the mysterious world was virtually identical with the Earth of the Paleocene period, 70,000,000 years ago at the very dawn of the age of mammals! Their names were Cal, Veg, and Aquilon, the most resourceful-and rebellious-of Earth's explorers, and with them came four alien companions, the mantas. Strange flying beings, half-animal, half-fungus, the mantas possessed the keenest senses of any creatures in the universe, a gift which immediately saved the mission from complete disaster. Detecting strong vibrations coming from a great distance, the mantas warned the humans, and Cal realized that it could mean only one thing: an earthquake-one large enough to produce a tidal wave that would totally inundate the small island where they had set up camp. Veg, the strongest member of the team, constructed a crude sailing raft, and the party put out to sea to escape the doomed island. It was the beginning of an incredible series of adventures which would lead them to discoveries as momentous as they were deadly. Sailing for weeks, the raft took them to a region vastly different from the island they had left behind. And when a brachiosaurus, supposedly extinct in the Paleocene period, nearly swamped the raft, they knew they had reached an area of priceless scientific value-an isolated enclave of the Cretaceous period where the full spectrum of the golden age of reptiles was present! But just as incredible as the dinosaurs was another creature they were soon to meet-Orn, a man-sized bird who belonged to the most advanced species ever to develop on this world. Unsurpassed racial memory enabled Orn's mind to reach millions of years into the past, and it was his presence that led the three humans and the mantas to open revolt. Determined to prevent man's destructive exploitation of this world, they must pit themselves not only against the creatures they wish to save from extinction, but also against the all-consuming greed of Earth's powerful authorities. As rich in scientific detail as it is in breathtaking excitement, Orn is a masterwork of the imagination and a tribute to the creative genius of Piers Anthony.

Customer Reviews:

Science Fiction fans won't be disappointed.......2006-11-05

Reviewed by Joe Graham for Reader Views (10/06)

Piers Anthony is a name that is known to the fans of science fiction, and Anthony has chosen to reprint his "Of Man and Manta" series that was originally printed in the late sixties and early seventies. "Orn" is Book Two in the series, but it certainly can stand alone and the reader can read and enjoy Book Two without reading Book One, but after being engaged by the characters in Book Two, they may find themselves compelled to read Book One and Book Three.

Three scientists, two men, Cal and Veg and one woman, Aquilon, have been sent to map the flora and fauna of an unknown planet. Along with them are several fungoid creatures called Mantas. When they arrive on the planet, they discover a world that is virtually identical to Earth, but the Earth of the Paleocene period which was the beginning of the advance of mammals and they begin to call the planet Paleo. At first, they believe they have experienced some kind of time travel, but they ultimately believe they are on a parallel planet that is an earlier stage of development.

The scientists find an enclave where some of dinosaurs have managed to survive and they also come in contact with a large wingless bird, Orn, which two of the humans develop a rapport with. The scientists quickly come in conflict with each other when they realize that their mission is to report back to Earth if the planet is habitable so the planet and its resources can be exploited by Earth. It was interesting to me that even though the book was initially written in 1968, it sounds like it could have been written today with the concerns we have today with what man is doing to our Planet Earth.

The woman Aquilon says "Colonization would destroy Paleo as it is, you know that. They'd decide the dinosaurs were a menace to tourists or navigation or something, and wipe them out." This sounds very similar to some of the debates going on in our society today as we try to protect some of our wild areas and species.

I enjoyed the book, the description of the animals and plants of the Paleocene era appealed to my biology teacher side teaching me things that I did not know, but the story of the struggle of the bird Orn to survive and breed and the struggle of the humans against the dinosaurs like T-Rex and then the struggle of Veg, Cal and Aquilion against the Earth government agents who want to exploit the planet made for a good read. The mantas were helpers for the three scientists and helped them in most of their struggles as sort of almost voiceless sidekicks.

Science fiction fans won't be disappointed by the book, but "Orn" should also appeal to those who don't like their science fiction too far out as the scientists grapple with what to do to save Paleo. "Orn" was a very good read; it teaches, tells a good story and raises issues that you continue to ponder long after you have closed the book.

Survival of the Fittest.......2005-09-11

This is the middle book of the Viscous Circle of Man and Manta set. The first book in the set, Omnivore, introduces both the three main human characters, Cal, Veg, and Aquilon, and a set of rather unique beings, the mantas, who are intelligent, single footed, one-eyed, and members of the fungoid family. Reading the first book of this set prior to this one is not totally required, though it would help with the beginning of this book, which is a direct continuation from the end of Omnivore.

Cal, Veg, Aquilon, and four of the mantas are sent on a mission to a newly discovered world (via a transfer mechanism whose operation is not yet completely understood) to determine the world's suitability for human habitation. Cal quickly determines that this world is not 'new', but is rather our Earth of some sixty-five million years ago, the Paleocene age, just after the age of dinosaurs and the beginning of the age of mammals. But within this world there is also something that doesn't quite fit that age: a large, intelligent, flightless bird, Orn.

Orn is definitely the best part of this book, as he doesn't think like we do, but rather navigates his world via 'racial memory' - built into his genes are those experiences of all his ancestors that have happened frequently enough to be so imprinted. This is an idea that most biologists think is very unlikely, but it certainly makes for a very different life form whose actions and 'thoughts' are nevertheless very understandable.

There is an inevitable meeting between Orn and the humans, occurring in a physically isolated enclave where some of the dinosaurs of the late Cretaceous have managed to survive. The interactions between all of these beings is properly driven by each being's character, from Veg as a confirmed vegetarian to Cal's emphasis on logic and survival of the fittest, and only near the end of the book does it take on larger aspects as the Earth authorities try to exert control over the group.

Thematically, this book is a further investigation, which was started in Omnivore, into the morality of killing others to ensure your own survival, here looked at both from the point of view of evolutionary demands and on the individual level, from herbivore to omnivore. At times this book gets a little too bogged down in scientific details (such as the differences between various classes of mollusks), and the portrayed mind-set of the Earth authorities seems a little too harsh to be totally believable, but in general this is a good action-adventure set in environment where dinosaurs are not only believable but are properly portrayed in both their strengths and weaknesses.

Anthony closes the book with an appendix that defines his own thoughts on how and why the dinosaurs died out. Written before the confirmation of the iridium layer and the Yucatan crater, his ideas still make a good addendum to the catastrophic theory of their demise, even though he specifically denies 'catastrophe' as the primary cause.

This is probably the best of the three books of the triptych, greatly enlivened by the unique viewpoint that Orn brings to it, and is a far more serious effort than his Xanth books. Written very early in his career, it shows the kind of inventiveness and good understanding of human motivation that makes for enlightening reading.

--- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)

An interesting saga..........2003-08-11

An interesting issue of who(or what) is the superior being arises in part 2 of this ongoing saga of humanities quest for an alternate earth.Read it and you will understand....

Orn,The Einstein equivalent to E=mc2.......2000-07-07

A book to provoke a number of theories,none of which are in agreement with Darwin`s theory of evolution.Trully, a book to require a new train of thought,and to inspire the reader to consider the possibility of what is now an acceptable belief, of alien intervention in the natural order of things.An interesting fictional hypothesis, that could rival the age old proverb. "Truth is stranger than fiction."An incredibly inspiring read for those with inquiring minds,who also love science fiction.As dictated to me,by my mother,who read this book in 1976,and asked me to write this review in the year 2000. Sincerely, Shanan Price

Great Book.......1998-01-13

Its a fantasy thriller, when three people go to the past, adn find out it's earth

Average customer rating:

Sidarth Rocks!
SCARY
A Phenomenal Debut Novel...
Thrilling...
It's in the details

Dancing With Ghosts
E. Robert Orn
Manufacturer: AuthorHouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1425929087

Book Description

Kaitlyn Kiernan, a creative consultant for a Japanese business firm. Alexander Vick, a freelance reporter with a keen love for Asian action films and a black belt in Tae-Kwon-Do. Mathias Spectre, a man suffering from horrible delusions and bent on re-shaping the world in his own ghastly image. Plus a cult of drug-snorting sociopaths who channel the spirits of deceased serial killers for inspiration, a score of mutant prisoners rotting away in the shadows beneath dank caverns, and a twelve-year old boy running from the nightmares of his own past toward a destiny shaped by vengeance. These are the primary elements of Dancing With Ghosts, a savage, tautly plotted tale of mad ambition that only intensifies as the body count rises. Orn has given us a terrifying morality tale of blood soaked violence and redline passion, where society's worst fears are confirmed in a single, white-hot night of hate. The shocking conclusion will reverberate disturbingly long after the book has been closed.

Customer Reviews:

Sidarth Rocks!.......2007-06-06

Roseanne M. Gallo (Liverpool, NY) Sidhartha ROCKS!
'Not since Anne Rice's Beauty's Punishment has this reader been so acutely discomfited--yet engrossed by a story and the deviant characters Orn brings to life in Dancing with Ghosts. Characters so well developed that you can almost hear their voices in the bizarre but believable dialog. Imagery so vivid, the fetid smell of decay and coppery taste of blood waft from the pages. Orn has succeeded in crafting a modern tale of madness sprung from centuries' old lore while foretelling a future where today's school shootings are just the precursor to tomorrow's Manson and Koresh.'

SCARY.......2007-01-22

I wish to preface this review, by saying I did not look at this book from a clinical or editorial point of view, strictly from a reader's perspective. I was requested to review this book by the international writers group, The Wizards of Words and the genre falls outside my normal reading selections, that said.
The story is very well written, and as you follow the story from prologue to epilogue you will be looking over your shoulder, checking and verifying, hoping you are alone. When Mr. Orn places quill to parchment, his acerbic wit and malevolent mind weaves such a macabre story that it should only be read with all the lights in the house blazing.
I believe readers of King and Koontz will enjoy this book.

Larry L. Evans
Author

A Phenomenal Debut Novel..........2006-10-31

Dancing with Ghosts wastes no time driving the reader through the country roads of Virginia, out of the sunlight and into the dark imagination of Robert Orn. With a novel this size you'd expect a lot of exposition or extraneous detail, but this book is non-stop action from cover to cover. The underground world of Mathias Spectre grows deeper and more sinister with each chapter and I was compelled to read more and more every day, regardless of my busy schedule.

In a genre that is hard to master, Mr. Orn has woven together a quite an excellent tale. I look forward to the next one!

Thrilling..........2006-06-02

This complex story of an amazing couple fighting for love and life against one of the most fear-inspiring villains written to date kept me riveted from cover to cover.From the first chapter you are emotionally drawn into the story, and the mental movie evoked by Orn's imagery is both haunting and heroic. This book, powerful and engrossing, is the best debut I've read in years.

It's in the details.......2006-05-30

Really enjoyed this book! Orn writes so vividly that you feel like your in the middle of it.
Spent the whole weekend reading couldn't put it down....what if something happened when I wasn't looking!!!!!

Loved the heros...hated the villians, and got caught up with all of the characters.

Outstanding!

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The Bee-Man Of Orn
Frank R. Stockton
Manufacturer: Holt, Rinehart & Winston
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ODVNEU

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The Bee-Man of Orn
Frank R. Stockton
Manufacturer: Harper & Row Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
ASIN: B000NXFC0M

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The Bee-man of Orn
Frank R. Stockton
Manufacturer: Holt, Rinehart & Winston
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0981700314

The Bee-Man of Orn (Large Print Edition): and Other Fanciful Tales

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The Bee-Man of Orn (Large Print Edition): and Other Fanciful Tales
Frank Richard Stockton
Manufacturer: BiblioBazaar
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Poetry & Short Stories | Large Print | Formats | Books
ASIN: 1426458487
Release Date: 2006-11-15

Book Description

In the ancient country of Orn, there lived an old man who was called the Bee-man, because his whole time was spent in the company of bees. He lived in a small hut, which was nothing more than an immense bee-hive, for these little creatures had built their honeycombs in every corner of the one room it contained, on the shelves, under the little table, all about the rough bench on which the old man sat, and even about the head-board and along the sides of his low bed.

Amazon.com

"People with nearly every form of heart disease today have options--viable and excellent options to return them to a more functional lifestyle, if not a full recovery," writes Eric J. Topol, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Cardiology at the Cleveland Clinic. For five years, the Cleveland Clinic has been ranked first in the United States for cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News and World Report. Now experts from this top heart clinic share authoritative information about the heart and circulatory system, heart health, heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, congenital heart disease, procedures, medications, and rehabilitation after heart surgery. This is no superficial treatment of the topic, nor is it a repeat of what you've read in other books. For example, the Cleveland Clinic goes farther than the American Heart Association in recommending a diet keeping fat calories to 15 to 25 percent of total calories (the AHA recommends 30 percent), especially if you have a genetic predisposition to heart disease.

The Cleveland Clinic Heart Book translates a substantial amount of medical information to a layperson's language and comprehension level. Be prepared to study rather than skim this book, which demystifies diagnostic and treatment procedures with clear, detailed descriptions and illustrations. The "Emergency Response" chapter could be a lifesaver. If your doctor doesn't have time to explain everything to you (and what doctor does, these days?), this book will be an invaluable guide. --Joan Price

Book Description

The Cleveland Clinic Heart Book provides a modern view of heart health care for all ages, including invaluable information on numerous diseases and conditions along with their diagnoses; plus current standards of practice as well as up-to-the-minute surgical procedures. The Cleveland Clinic Heart Book has heart health tips for the entire family.

Cleveland Clinic Heart Book (The Definitive Guide for the Entire Family From the Nation's Leading Heart Center)

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Cleveland Clinic Heart Book (The Definitive Guide for the Entire Family From the Nation's Leading Heart Center)

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ET39BE

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Cleveland Clinic Heart Book (The Definitive Guide for the Entire Family From the Nation's Leading Heart Center)

Manufacturer: Hyperion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ET39DC

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