Amazon.com
Penzler Pick, January 2001: The 25th Hour is a wonderfully written first novel that convincingly portrays the New York City of Wall Street brokers and middle-class white drug dealers, the new affluent class in a city where money can buy you almost anything and is often the most important factor in young people's lives.
Monty Brogan is about to start his last day of freedom before turning himself into the authorities and serving a seven-year term for drug dealing. He's a charming young man who had always dreamed of being a fireman, following in the working-class footsteps of his father, who has had to put up his bar in Queens as bond so that his son can stay out of jail until his sentence begins. Monty, named for Montgomery Clift, does not know how he managed to get himself into this predicament. It was easy money and it carried so many perks, and you'll feel more than a little sympathy for this young man who has managed to kill his own dream for courtside seats at Madison Square Garden.
But before he goes to prison, Monty wants to have one last night out on the town with his two best friends. Frank Slattery is a bond trader, one of the best and most successful risk takers in a very risky business. The other is Jakob Elinsky, an English teacher who envies his friends' lifestyles but who has no intention of ever giving up his job for the easy money, despite the disillusionment of teaching high school students in a tough school.
The three young men enjoy the night into the early morning as they eat, drink, and visit the hottest spots in town. It's a sad night for Monty, but he has a plan that neither Frank nor Jacob know about--and it makes for a shocking ending to this brilliant and disturbing story. --Otto Penzler
Book Description
All Monty Brogan ever really wanted when he grew up was to be a fireman. Now he's about to start a seven-year stretch in the federal penitentiary for drug dealing. With just twenty-four hours of freedom to go, he prowls the city with his girlfriend and his two best friends from high school-a high-flying bond trader and an idealistic teacher. As the minutes count down, Monty seizes one last chance to stack the odds in his favor.
Hurtling from the money pits of Wall Street to Manhattan's downtown lounge and club scene, from the enclaves of the Russian mob to the old immigrant neighborhoods, The 25th Hour evokes the pulsing rhythms and diamond-hard edges of a city in the raw, illusory hours between midnight and dawn. A taut and mesmerizing tale of an urban purgatory suspended between the crime and the punishment, The 25th Hour heralds the arrival of a major player in contemporary noir fiction.
"Captivating . . . A pungent, funny, urban tableau full of shrewd operators and unfulfilled desires." (The New York Times)
"Tight and crisp . . . . The 25th Hour shines. It couldn't get much better." (San Francisco Chronicle)
"Remarkable . . . A darkly human novel that ends up more about hope than about cynicism." (The Denver Post)
Customer Reviews:
Character study.......2006-03-21
For a short quick read, you get an intimate snapshot of a place and time. Pretty straighforward plot that outlines the day before Monty Brogan spends 7 years in a federal prison. Good rainy day read.
I LIKE STORIES ABOUT THE RUSSIAN MOB AND DOGS.......2005-10-07
Doyle is a black dog our protagonist Monty (Montgomery) Brogan found by the side of the road and took in. Beat up and scarred, Doyle is the opposite of pretty boy Monty, a young New York drug dealer, for whom women and money have come easily - so far. But now he has been ratted out and must do seven years, with no time for good behavior, at Otisville. So he and his two buds from high school, Jakob and Slattery, and his Puerto Rican girffriend Naturelle - and Doyle - have one last night on the town before Monty takes that bus trip to federal prison at the 25th hour. Providing the background menace is the Russian mob, headed by Uncle Blue, who are part of the illicit drug trade. Mr. Benioff explores lives of Slattery and Jakob, especially nerdy teacher Jakob, and the relationship between Naturelle and Monty. There are lessons to be learned in this first novel, including The Road Not Taken and the risks of being a criminal. This is noir genre, so don't look for a rosy ending. But I thought the ending was satisfying and real. It didn't keep me up all night turning pages with an electric page-turner but overall it is a well-written, literate crime novel about life among twenty-somethings in New York, albeit one who is a drug dealer. I like stories about the Russian mob and dogs. Buy this one.
Character study with no real conflict.......2005-02-22
The lead character, Monty Brogan, is a drug dealer sentenced to seven years in prison. Out on bail, he spends his last full day of freedom contemplating his life, his failures, attending a going away party for himself at a swanky nightclub, saying goodbye to his friends, and facing the drug dealer who believes Monty may have ratted him out. This character study is well-written, and all the characters--even the minor ones--are well drawn and true to life. David Benioff really captures the feel of New York City, the cold of a NY winter, the physical and emotional beating all the characters take (Benioff switches character POV chapter to chapter). But if you're expecting something exciting to happen, don't hold your breath. This is a character study, and frankly half-way through the book I was wondering when something would happen. There really isn't any conflict to speak off--except for maybe whether Monty will turn himself in at the end or not. If you go in to this book just expecting to know some characters deeply, be a part of their lives for 24 hours, share their history, unfulfilled dreams, and inside jokes then you will be fine.
Character development in the backdrop of NYC.......2005-02-22
The 25th Hour delves the reader into not only the world of a "convict soon to be", but into a rich character study as we meet and focus on the significant persons in Monty's life. For me, a major portion of the character study was New York itself, which in my opinion is one of the defining characters of The 25th Hour. Each character is brought to life in a unique way and is memorialized not only in Monty's mind, but the reader's as well.These persons seem to come to life in the backdrop of New York City. I found myself going back and re-reading and actually thinking through the principle charcaters in the book. I am not a big fan of sequel books, but I am very intrigued and would be so very interested in Monty's post-prison experience.It would be fascinating to pick up the character development as well as the story line.This was an excellent novel and I recommend it to the reader who gets absorbed and lost in character development.
3 Old Pals Roll Thru NYC in 24 Snowy Hours.............2005-01-31
First, the bond trader who's just made a killing for going against the conventional wisdom about the forthcoming unemployment report. Second, the very frustrated private school English teacher, who earns about 3.3% of the aforementioned bond trader.Third, the movie star handsome lady's man who got into drug dealing when young, and through a snipper has 24 hours left before heading to a 7 year federal prison term. We meet the local Ukrianian mafia, some shady club owners, a brainy & foxy high schooler, and many other well drawn, realistic characters crusing through this wintry 24-hour NYC scene. Near perfect, especially for a first novel, and the ending is actually borderline beautiful as our drug dealing anti-hero has to finally decide what to do with his young life.
Average customer rating:
- Empowering
- Poignant
- Encouraging!
- encouraging
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Experiencing The 25th Hour
Beverly, Morrison Caesar
Manufacturer: Advantage Inspirational
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 1597550264 |
Book Description
This book shows a woman's walk of faith as she encountered trials that shook the foundations of her Christian beliefs. Experiencing The 25th Hour will afford you insight on how to transfer your pain into an awareness of your unfathomable strength, possibilities and opportunities. Beverly has learned the meaning of walking with God in public and private blessings as well as in deep trials. Vonette Z. Bright, Co-Founder, Campus Crusade For Christ, International
Experiencing The 25th Hour speaks into the lives of individuals as they make the hard choices that life presents. Dr. Bishop Ernestine C. Reems Center of Hope Community Church, Oakland, CA
An honest portrayal of a woman's struggle in holding on to God's promises while the life of her son hangs in the balance. Dr. Friedhelm K. Radandt, President Emeritus, The Kings College, NYC
Customer Reviews:
Empowering.......2005-09-20
After reading this book I was empowered to go forth and discover the purpose God has for my life. This book is wonderful and you cannot read it and remain the same. It is life changing.
Poignant.......2005-08-25
This book is a very poignant account of a personal life experience that affirms ones faith in God. It stimulated my faith and reminded me that God IS omnipotent and that the real life challenges he allows us to experience, although it sometimes causes our faith to waver, the demonstration of his miraculous power lets us declare a testimony of victory.
Encouraging!.......2005-08-18
This book will help you to be encouraged, especially when GOD makes a promise to you. HE does not forget! This book is an easy read and you feel as though you are with the author as she deals with the trials of the birth of her only son. Excellant!
encouraging.......2005-07-15
this book encouraged me when I was at a low point in my life. It gave me hope to know that I can make it inspite of my challenges. It helped me to believe!
Average customer rating:
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25th Hour
Manufacturer: Buena Vista Home Entertainment, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: DVD
ASIN: 078884573X |
Average customer rating:
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The 25th Hour
David Benioff
Manufacturer: Carrol & Graf
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000HKLJ5S |
Average customer rating:
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The 25th hour
Virgil Gheorghiu
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
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ASIN: B0007F67IM |
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Cineaste, published by Cineaste Publishers, Inc. on June 22, 2003. The length of the article is 3560 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Doyle's law: an interview with David Benioff.(discussion of movie adaptation and screenwriting)(Interview)
Author: Paula J. Massood
Publication:
Cineaste (Magazine/Journal)
Date: June 22, 2003
Publisher: Cineaste Publishers, Inc.
Volume: 28
Issue: 3
Page: 8(4)
Article Type: Interview
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
This digital document is an article from Semana, published by Thomson Gale on January 17, 2003. The length of the article is 2056 words. The page length shown above is based on a typical 300-word page. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Digital Locker immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.
Citation Details
Title: Pantalla grande. (En Proyeccion).(Resena de pelicula)
Publication:
Semana (Magazine/Journal)
Date: January 17, 2003
Publisher: Thomson Gale
Volume: 9
Issue: 516
Page: 41(1)
Article Type: Resena de pelicula
Distributed by Thomson Gale
Book Description
Chase Benteen Calder was bound to wrest a fortune from Montana land, where the whisper of riches swept across a sea of buffalo grass. With Lorna at his side, a woman who took the tough ways of the land as her destiny, he would breathe life into his dream.
Through the treacherous Texas prairie, the perils of Indian country, and a bustling Dodge City, they forged their way to Montana. With Calder strength, they would harvest their fortune from the rich earth, on the sprawling plains of This Calder Range.
Customer Reviews:
excellent read.......2006-01-26
I would highly recommend This Calder Range to anyone who enjoys a romantic adventure story. It is the first in a series of historical western romances which takes place on a cattle drive from Texas north to the Montana Territory in the late 1800's. The series involves the Calder family through five generations and their struggles to build and defend their ranch dynasty. In This Calder Range, Chase Benteen Calder takes his new bride Lorna along on the drive, fighting off Indians, bad weather and back-stabbing comrades. Daily is a pro at developing conflict between heroes and heroines and good cowboys and bad outlaws. The stories in the Calder series are sure to keep readers turning the pages late into the night.
Whisper of riches .......2005-06-15
Chase Benteen Calder was bound to wrest a fortune from Montana land, where the whisper of riches swept across a sea of buffalo grass. With Lorna at his side, a woman who took the tough ways of the land as her destiny, he would breathe life into his dream.
---------- Reviewed by Janet Sue Terry, author of the contemporary romance, "Set Me Free" series Possibilities and Resolutions. President of Just My best Book Publishing Company. www.janetsueterry.com.
THE CALDER RANGE.......2005-06-10
I PICKED UP 'THE CALDER RANGE' AND 'STANDS A CALDER MAN' TOGETHER
IN ONE VOLUMN. AT THE TIME I WAS SEARCHING FOR SOMETHING NEW TO READ.AS I STARTED IT, I WASN'T REALLY SURE IF I COULD GET THROUGH IT. BUT IT GREW ON ME!! I THOUGHT THE STORYLINE WAS GOOD. VERY REALISTIC. NOT TOO ROMANTIC. JUST ABOUT THE EVERYDAY LIFE OF A MAN TRYING TO MAKE HIS OWN WAY IN THE WORLD.HOW HIS IDEAS AND LIFE STYLE EFFECTED MANY PEOPLE!! SINCE I READ THOSE TWO NOVELS, I HAVE CONTINUED ON WITH THE SERIES. I AM NOW IN THE PROCESS OF READING ' GREEN CALDER GRASS'. I HOPE OTHERS WILL TAKE UP THE BOOK 'THE CALDER RANGE', AND JOIN THE CALDERS AS THEIR FAMILY AND HISTORY IS CARRIED INTO THE FUTURE.
HORRIBLE.......2004-06-03
I have read several of the books in the Calder series, some of which I have kept in my personal collection, but not this one! I thought the love between the hero and the heroine was pathetic. At first this book had real potential. But Benteen had no concern for Lorna's feelings. I hated the fact that he raped her just because she threathen to leave him. As the story goes on, it is very obvious that Lorna is unhappy with her life and I begin to dislike Benteen. I don't see a love there. A bad read! Stay Away
Reread and not quite the same........2003-07-29
When I first read This Calder Range I wanted to and did read some of the rest of the series as they became available. Perhaps it is now with a maturity I didn't have 15 years ago but I just can't give a book 5 stars where the author places partial responsibility for [physical abuse] on the victim. This is a poor message to be sending readers. A woman should, especially in the marital relationship where there is a promise of love, be able to argue without fear of physical violence. Ms Dailey mentions more than once about Benteen strong moral code of the West and at the same time more than once mentions the [physical abuse] with Lorna accepting partial responsibility. Apparently Lorna is held to a much higher standard than Benteen, as she is responsible for Benteen's actions. It bothers me that Lorna faults herself for a statement made under extreme duress and I might add after Benteen had callously thrown away something very precious to her. Lorna rather quickly forgives Benteen's behavior but on the other hand she has to continually prove herself to him for something said in anger and during extreme physical hardship. So, I guess I have to ask Ms Dailey is it the woman's responsibility to be constantly on guard as to mood and speech? Not a very satisfying relationship. Give me heroes and heroines that can have verbal conflicts without violence being the end result.
The other problem I have with the series is how they have become so predictable. The reader ultimately knows that one of the Calders is going to meet with an untimely death. It would be nice if one generation since the original Benteen and Lorna would have a happy ending in the tradition of the romance gendre.
Average customer rating:
- A Toast From the Chalk Line
- Terrible Book
- It's about Feelings
- The expression of an ideal
- Warning: This review contains a spoiler
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The Callahan Chronicals
Spider Robinson
Manufacturer: Tor Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Callahan's Key
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Callahan's Lady
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Lady Slings the Booze
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Callahan's Con (Callahan's Crosstime Saloon Series)
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Callahan's Legacy
ASIN: 0812539370 |
Amazon.com
This omnibus edition collects Spider Robinson's first three books about the Long Island bar that attracts the weirdest clientele and the tallest tales in the known universe. Callahan's Crosstime Saloon, Time Travelers Strictly Cash, and Callahan's Secret are playful, pun-filled delights from the pen of a truly inimitable writer, winner of the Skylark and John W. Campbell awards.
Book Description
Callahan's Crosstime Saloon is the neighborhood tavern to all of time and space, where the regulars are anything but: time travelers, talking dogs, alcoholic vampires, cybernetic aliens--and a group of people who really, truly care about each other. It's the rare kind of place where bad pun are as appreciated as good conversation.Time Travelers Strictly Cash is their policy, but then again everybody pays cash at Callahan's. Lay your money on the bar, name your poison, step up to the line drawn on the barroom floor, and after drinking make a toast and throw the glass into the fireplace. It's an odd tradition (don't worry about the cost--Callahan gets the glasses at a bulk discount), but one's that's led to some interesting stories.Callahan's Secret may be something even the regulars would never guess. then again, it may be as simple as listening to those post-toast stories. After-all, like Callahan says, shared pain is lessened and shared joy in increased--a simple concept that could, after a few drinks, lead to saving the world......This omnibus edition contains the trio of books that introduced the world to Mike Callahan, Jake Stonebender, Doc Webster, Mickey Finn, Fast Eddie Costigan, Long-Drink McGonnigle, Ralph Won Wau Wau and the rest of the regulars of Callahan's Place in the stories that helped Spider Robinson to win both a John W. Campbell Award and a legion of fans.
Customer Reviews:
A Toast From the Chalk Line.......2006-09-19
I just read the Complete Callahan Chronicles - a collection of short stories Spider Robinson published over the years about a bar on Long Island where odd and mysterious things happen, but where all the patrons are friends and troubles are handled by a group - not by individuals.
It's the best example of a modern tribe I've seen and I wish I could go down to Callahan's Place and stand at the chalk line, drain a glass of scotch, offer up a toast, and toss my glass into the fireplace.
Terrible Book.......2005-10-28
I hated this book. Spider Robinson also wrote a scathing review of Stephen King's the Stand, which I think you should go out and read instead of this garbage.
It's about Feelings.......2005-09-30
To be honest, I use this book to weed out new people. If they really like the book, then they can become friends. If they dislike this book, or if it's "just okay", then I really don't want to know them. That's how good Callahan is, and how much the writing of Spider Robinson means to me. This is damned good stuff, people. Damned good stuff. If you don't like it, it's because you are not capable of feeling the human (or humane) condition. If that's true, I pity you.
The expression of an ideal.......2005-06-04
Callahan's Place is the ideal of the neighborhood bar: a place people go not so much to drink as to be together and share their lives. The Place's motto is that shared pain is lessened, while shared joy is increased; its regulars are a bunch of working-class joes who have developed an amazing degree of compassion and empathy ... not to mention a matter-of-fact outlook towards the occasional time-traveler or space alien who drops in.
It should be emphatically noted that the Callahan's books are not science fiction, although they're still speculative fiction -- Robinson is exploring the psychological universe, not the physical one. Nevertheless, this book alternates between laugh-out-loud hilarious and deeply moving, almost to the point of spiritual experience.
Unfortunately, as the series went on the stories got longer, incorporated more sci-fi elements and less humanity, and finally turned into just interminable rhapsodizing by Robinson about what would constitute the Ideal Party. All of the good stories (and the first couple of bad ones) are fortunately collected in this convenient volume, thus sparing you the horror that is Callahan's Key.
Warning: This review contains a spoiler.......2004-06-26
Somewhere in the afterword of "The Callahan Chronicals," Robinson alludes to an SF writer who wrote a series of stories that were deliberately bad, I suppose as a sort of commentary on the literary standards of the public. The series proved popular. After reading this note, I wondered for a few days what the series could be. Then, duh, it struck me. Robinson is, of course, referring to the stories in this very book. It's a reasonable joke, but not one I was happy to pay for. As for the stories themselves, if you like characters that are organic (i.e., wooden) and multidimensional-remember that one is a multiple of itself-and don't care about plots, you might like the book. Readers who prefer science fantasy to science fiction may like the book as well: most non-human characters are unique, freeing Robinson from any obligation to consider implications of the presence of different sentient species in this adolescent fantasy world. The book might also appeal to science fantasy fans who crave reassurance about how cool they are and who don't mind page after page of authors showing off how clever they are.
Average customer rating:
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The Callahan Chronicals: Library Edition
Spider Robinson
Manufacturer: Blackstone Audiobooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
Robinson, Spider
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ASIN: 0786124601 |
Book Description
Hawaii -- a place all the world knows as paradise and one of the most remote places on earth -- may hold a clue for all humanity during our very defining moment in history. Pila explains why Hawaii is the crossroads of all our mysteries. The Hawaiian people, their legends and culture, even the location of the islands themselves hold a key that could unlock a giant door and reveal the path to our future. Pila of Hawaii will take you on a journey through time and captivate your soul with the life-transforming power that the islands' sacred sites, folklore and myths bring to those who are willing to seek it. Whether you are planning a trip to this tropical paradise or searching for greater insights into your own spirit, this book will open you to a world of exquisite beauty and power.
Customer Reviews:
Between the lines.......2007-03-31
The book is written in an easy to read fashion... But don't be fooled! Even if you gobble the words down like a good meal.. there is much more you will me digesting...
The essence remembering Joy is something that will forever remain in my heart..!
As good as being on the island itself.......2006-12-27
Pila of Hawaii takes you on a journey through paradise, all around the Big Island, but also through paradiscal realms within us all, while also sharing with us some of his own amazing journey. Pila opens the door to the little known esoteric world of Hawaiian spirituality, making it accessible to anyone willing to take to look and to open themselves. And he does all this in a style that is easy and fun to read. He leads the way joyously with a descriptive style that has you humming along as you follow his courageous. Thanks Pila. Whenever I get homesick for the islands, I just pick of the "red book" and I am back home again.
This Book Reveals SO Much!.......2006-10-10
After reading many amazing books on Hawaiian Philosophy and more specifically Huna and Kahuna teachings, I must say - this is one of my favourite books. This book is so much fun to read and has many, many secrets to share.
Profound treasured moment!.......2006-05-26
It was a rare and treasured moment when we stumbled upon Pila's book. The profound wisdom, teaching and humor have left us begging for more. With a Mystical and magical essence, "The Secrets & Mysteries of Hawaii" have taken us to the next level of paradise within ourselves. We highly recommend it!
Daniel & Kathleen
A Must Read.......2006-05-14
Through Pila of Hawaii's book, The Secrets and Mysteries of Hawaii, he has given everyone the opportunity to see and experience the real Hawaii. He has forever broken the sterotypical Hawaii of "Sun and Surf". Pila gets what Hawaii is all about. This is a must read.
Book Description
An exciting new voice richly and suspensefully evokes modern and ancient Hawaii...
When Storm Kayama walks into her lucrative Honolulu law firm one morning, she's shocked--and grieved--to find her adopted uncle at his desk, stiff and cold. Years before, Miles Hamasaki had fulfilled a promise to Storm's father and brought her to be raised with his own family. But, as questions surround Miles' death and her adopted family begins to close ranks, Storm suspects that he has been murdered.
Heading to the Big Island for a weekend escape from escalating pressures, she narrowly escapes a terrible accident. Storm takes refuge in the home of her Aunt Maile, a traditional Hawaiian healer, and Uncle Keone, a paniolo on the huge Parker Ranch. There she encounters a legend from her youth and a family totem, or 'aumakua, which Aunt Maile promises will protect her. As Storm struggles to heal her own childhood wounds and bring justice to Hamasaki's killer, she also comes to grip with the rifts in her own life and culture.
From the winding cane roads of Hamakua to the seedy side of Honolulu's Chinatown, with a deft juxtaposition of a bustling Honolulu against the island's legends and wild beauty, Atkinson reveals a Hawaii that few visitors ever see.
Customer Reviews:
Highly Recommended!.......2003-05-16
Storm Kayama is turning her rebellious past into a promising future. She's working hard to get her law degree while clerking for her adoptive father, lawyer Miles Hamasaki, on the island of Honolulu. Miles was her real father's best friend. When Storm's father died, Miles welcomed her into his home and his heart.
Now, the unthinkable has happened. Miles has been found dead in his office. Storm begins to notice things that don't make sense. She decides to find out what really happened. As she gets closer to the truth, her own life is threatened.
Deborah Turrell Atkinson has crafted a superb novel, set beautifully in the middle of the mystery and myth of Hawaii. Ancient superstitions and modern realities wage a battle for justice in an exciting story that will keep readers guessing until the end.
I highly recommend PRIMITIVE SECRETS and look forward to more from this talented author.
Interesting Hawaii elements--very slow start.......2003-01-27
Fresh from passing her bar exam, lawyer Storm Kayama is dealt a shock when her foster father and mentor is found dead in his office. While the other partners seem happy to keep her busy, Storm senses that something is not right. When she starts to investigate, her foster father's secretary is killed and someone tries to run storm off the highway. With the help of what appears to be a Hawaiian god, Storm survives, but she is more determined than ever to find the truth.
Author Deborah Turrell Atkinson writes convincingly of a Hawaii that ballances between its ancient traditions and the glitz of modern life. The HMO patient suffering from cancer and receiving both modern and traditional treatments is both important and symbolic of the broader issues that Storm, and many Hawaiians face in their daily lives.
PRIMITIVE SECRETS starts slow, really involving the reader only in the second half of the novel. I had a hard time identifying with Storm and her behavior and reactions. Although incompetent police work is standard in the mystery genre, it is difficult to believe that the Hawaiian police would be as negligent as portrayed by Atkinson. Fortunately, Atkinson turns up the suspense in the second half of the book, drawing the reader to a strong conclusion.
Primitive Secrets, an Exciting Journey for the Reader.......2002-12-03
'Primitive Secrets' was a treat. The characters were real, and I liked them immensely.(Let's face it, if you don't like the characters, you don't care what happens to them.)
The plot moved fast, and had several interesting layers, so it kept me turning pages. There were several very exciting sequences, like a car chase on a rainy,winding rural road at night, and some very funny events, which I won't divulge.
One of the things that sets this book apart was that Atkinson took me to Hawaii. I felt that I knew Hawaii's people, past and present. I became part of an exotic cultural mix of customs and beliefs, and traveled to places tourists don't get to go.
If you like Tony Hillerman's mysteries set among the Navajos in Arizona, or Dana Stabenow's mysteries set in Alaska, you'll love 'Primitive Secrets'!
Hawaiian murder mystery.......2002-11-09
If you've been in the mood for a Hawaiian vacation but couldn't afford the airfare, Primitive Secrets is the perfect escape. Not only do you get the experience of visiting Hawaii, but a suspenseful murder mystery is thrown in too. As if this wasn't enough, there's also a romance brewing.
Ms. Atkinson is an excellent writer who has created a very engaging amateur detective in Storm Kayama, an attorney who is just beginning her practice in her uncle's law firm. When she finds her uncle dead at his desk, the adventure begins.
Sights, smells and tastes of Honolulu are skillfully woven together with the homeopathic remedies and folklore of the Big Island to give this story dimension and flavor.
A great read.
Primitive Secrets.......2002-11-05
Who killed Miles Hamasaki, and why? When Storm Kamaya, a young law clerk with a troubled past, sets out on the trail to discover the truth behind the death of her beloved uncle, the reader joins hands with Storm to experience every breathtaking twist and turn down the dark alleys of Honolulu and through the cane fields of the Big Island. Atkinson draws us in like a spider beckoning a fly with her evocative descriptions of the Hawaiian islands and ancient Hawaiian legends, as Storm, along with the reader, discovers a web of betrayal spun by those she trusts most. Lovers of mysteries will be captivated by this tale of the darker side of paradise, and will surely want to follow Storm Kamaya down the road through another adventure in Hawaii. We should all hope that Primitive Secrets is only the first of Storm's stories, with many more to come.
Average customer rating:
- Exciting fourth adventure featuring Abby and her friends.
- Excellent
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Abby - Secret at Cutter Grove (South Seas Adventures #4)
Pamela Walls
Manufacturer: Tyndale Kids
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
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Similar Items:
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Abby - California Gold (South Seas Adventures #3)
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Abby - Quest for Treasure (South Seas Adventures #2)
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Trouble in Tahiti (Abby & the South Seas Adventures, Book 7)
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King's Ransom (Abby & the South Seas Adventures)
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Abby - Lost at Sea (South Seas Adventures #1)
ASIN: 084233629X |
Book Description
When the Kendalls lose their ranch in 1848, thirteen-year-old Abigail Kendall, her family, and friends Luke, Kini, and Duncan, travel to the island of Kauai to investigate the sugarcane business. Upon arrival, they're welcomed by the wealthy plantation owner, Reese Cutter, and Pa and Uncle Samuel are offered jobs in the fields. But all isn't as sweet as it looks. The Hawaiian workers talk about how Reese has changed since his parents died. The dastardly Cap'n Jim, who threw Abby and Luke off his boat in a previous adventure, shows up at Reese's dinner table. And then there's something fishy about the Cutter parents' will. When Abby and Luke decide to investigate, they solve not only one mystery, but two, uniting relatives who didn't even know about each other! Along the way, Abby learns that home isn't a house or ranch--it's wherever your family and friends are.
Customer Reviews:
Exciting fourth adventure featuring Abby and her friends........2004-10-26
This is the fourth book in the South Seas Adventure series. This series is about the adventures of Abby Kendall, a young teenage girl, and her family and friends as they travel the South Seas in the late 1840s.
It's June of 1848, and thirteen-year-old Abby Kendall, her younger sister Sarah, and their friends Luke and Kini have returned to Hawaii with their gold from California, but they are too late to save the Kendall ranch. Abby's parents and uncle decide to search for a new home elsewhere in Hawaii, so they all sail to the island of Kauai to learn about the sugar business. They find jobs with the wealthy Rees Cutter, who owns a sugar plantation. Rees Cutter seems so kind and generous, but Abby and Luke hear bad things about him from some of the workers. In addition, they begin to suspect he may be involved in business dealings with the cruel and greedy Cap'n Jim Canter. Abby and Luke are determined to find out what's really going on at the Cutter Plantation, and their quest for the truth leads them into another dangerous adventure.
Readers who enjoyed the first three books about Abby will be sure to enjoy this one as well. I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy historical fiction. I love the unique settings and likable characters featured in this series, and I can't wait to read the rest of the books to find out what adventures await Abby and her friends next.
Excellent.......2002-02-19
Abby's family and Luke begin searching the sugarcane business in Kauai when their friends the Kendalls lose their ranch. They are soon offered jobs and a place to live, but shortly after are tossed into a crazy atmosphere. Now it's up to Abby and Luke to find out the truth about Reese Cutter before it's too late.
This is an excellent historical adventure for readers of all ages.
Average customer rating:
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Kimo and the Secret Waves (Cover-to-Cover Novels: Mystery)
Margo Sorenson
Manufacturer: Perfection Learning
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
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Similar Items:
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Surf's Up for Kimo
ASIN: 0780755197 |
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