Book Description
WAS SHE A SWEET SOUTHERN CHARMER?
OR A COLD-BLOODED KILLER?
For their wedding portrait, petite Pat Taylor and handsome Tom Allanson posed as Rhett and Scarlett. Both came from fine Southern families, and dreamed of the Tara-like plantation where they would grow roses, raise horses, and move in the genteel circles of Atlanta society. Less than two months later, their dream exploded in terror and murder: their beautiful home mysteriously burned to the ground and Tom was convicted of the brutal slaying of his mother and father.
Pat's only brother had died in a puzzling suicide, her grandparents-in-law were poisoned with arsenic, and no one -- from her wealthy employers to her own children -- was safe when Pat Allanson didn't get her way. It took Georgia lawmen more than two decades to stop her for good -- if indeed they have.
In this fascinating account, Ann Rule delivers a tour de force: a whirlwind of misguided love, denial, guilt, and passions out of control; a series of brilliantly manipulated crimes; the bizarre and horrifying tale of two families brought to ruin; and, at the center of it all, the heartless, supremely selfish sociopath whose evil hid behind soft words and gentle manners, but who destroyed -- without mercy -- those who loved her.
Customer Reviews:
Long, but worth it........2007-08-23
I've become something of an Ann Rule junkie this past year, after friends brough tme her Green River Killer book as a present during a hospital stay. But I found myself a bit intimidated by the size of this volume. But, I dove in and was glad I did as it tuned out to be quite the page-turner.
I found myself filled with all sorts of emotions while reading 'Pats' tale. Anger and disgust that she was allowed to hurt so many people. A bit of appalled humor as time after time her actions were forgiven and enabled by her family. And even a bit a admiration. Dispite only a tenth grade education, she was an absolute master at the art of scheming and manipulating people to get what she wanted. Devoting more energy to simply destroying others than most people do to a normal 9-5 job. One wonders what she might have accomplished had she had a more disciplined upbringing.
If this truely were a just universe, this creature would still be rotting in prison somewhere, rather than living free in Georgia.
If you love non-fiction crime....Read this one.......2006-08-10
I blame Ann Rule for making me forget all about Thomas Hardy and the 19th century and turning me to a life of crime.
After I read her book, "The Stranger Beside Me," (about working beside Ted Bundy before he was known as our nation's first true serial killer) I was hooked on crime and non-fiction. Unfortunately, I found out that most crime writers don't write like Ann Rule. She is very special.
True, the book "Everything She Ever Wanted" has been out for years and it doesn't need any kind of comment or review by the likes of me....But I spotted it in one of my bookshelves, took it out, thumbed through it, ended up reading it again and....There just aren't that many non-fiction crime books of the high caliber Rule sets. She is the ablsolute best. (Except for maybe that guy who wrote "Echos in the Darkness" or whatever it was called.)
I e-mailed her once to tell her how disappointed I was by the last book (at the time) she'd written. To my shock, she e-mailed me back and in a 'round about way told me I'd hurt her feelings. Though she made me feel awful, I still think that book she wrote about the husband from San Antonio killing his wife wasn't up there compared to her others.
"Everything She Ever Wanted" is about a woman who loves no one but herself. If she'd loved any other human as much as she loved herself, she'd been crowned a saint.
Ann makes this story shine with intrigue.......2006-06-13
At first, this story would not have been interesting without Ann Rule's insights into the diabolical mind of Mary Patricia Vann Radcliffe Taylor Allanson who was always the center of attention since her infancy. Her crimes are just shocking and always selfish to best suit her needs. Never mind that she provoked her brother's suicide by outing his former girlfriend or revealing his true paternity, she manipulated her former husband to murder his own parents, she poisoned his grandparents and those she took care of. how did she get such a position when it was already known that she poisoned her husband's grandparents as well and went to jail. She is a true sociopath in the terms of Sante Kimes. You have to feel pity and admiration for Susan, the daughter, who went against the family, and even Debbie who played the dutiful daughter unaware of her mother's true intentions. Ann Rule is again in Georgia working on another true crime story. This story should be made into a movie as well. Of course, Ann has moved on with other stories but this story is with you long after you stop reading it. It's such a shame that there are no color pictures in my book but black and white. The story is long and complicated. Pat's crimes won't be forgotten. Her daughter Susan's only crime was being truthful. How she didn't get stopped before is a wonder?
love true crime books.......2006-05-09
I was able to keep up with the order in which the events occured without much effort. That means a lot when you only have time to read a chapter before you have to go to work or other things. But one thing that did tend to drive me crazy was the author's cont. comments about the allegedly beauty of Pat Allanson. From the pictures that were in the book except for when she was three I thought maybe the author was being fecisious. Pat may not be ugly but beautiful is a little over the top. The women has buck teeth for goodness sake. And that picture of her in a two piece were not exactly model looks. I also had a hard time feeling any sympathy for her victims except the elderly ones. Her oldest daughter for example was given many clues about what her mother was doing and she chose to ignor it as did so many others. Since that was their choice I find it hard to feel sorry for them. Of course her parents got just what they deserved. Anyway except for that loved the book.
Bar none..........2006-04-24
Rule's best work in my opinion. I love her books, they are some of the best written in the true crime genre. They have the grip of a great novel, but it's real life, real sorrow, real mistakes and real pathology. And that makes it even more fascinating.
This is a book to stay up late and read, you just can't put it down!
Average customer rating:
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Everything She Ever Wanted
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0671971751 |
Customer Reviews:
my family.......2002-04-13
This book is about my family.(pats daughter ,debrah, had a daughter named dawn and dawn is my Aunt)well if u dont believe me then thats your problem.
any ways i thought it was kinda creepy finding out that someone i know might have murdered someone.and i am not sure if any of my cousions besides me know about this.im 13 and just a few months ago my mom gave me this book and told me that my cousions great grand mother murdered someone.i know her great granddaughter doent no , and i really think she needs to know what happened and read this book.but my mom said that her parents dont want her to know.ne ways it is still a pretty cool book G@G!! byes xoxoxox>
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Average customer rating:
- Garbage
- 7 Vampire Files Novels and Counting
- Vampire and Chicago Mobsters
- A Chill in the Blood
- Avoid at all costs
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A Chill in the Blood (Vampire Files)
P. N. Elrod
Manufacturer: Ace Hardcover
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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Art in the Blood (Vampire Files, No 4)
ASIN: 0441005012 |
Amazon.com
Gangland Chicago, 1937. Jack Fleming, vampire PI, doesn't care for the Mob. He was killed once by a Mob boss, see, and he's seen too many shot down since. Ambitious gangsters are like roaches--there always seem to be more coming out of the woodwork. And the wise guys never seem to learn that knives, bullets, and drowning don't kill the immortal Jack. They just make him mad. In A Chill in the Blood Jack has good reason to be mad. The prohibition laws have just been repealed, and the mobsters are immersed in vicious warfare on his turf. Jack's very mortal partner, Charles Escott, has a hit placed on his life, and Jack is forced into negotiations with a powerful gang leader--Angela Paco. It turns out that Angela is the daughter of the mobster who ended Jack's human life, thus transforming him into a vampire.
A Chill in the Blood is the seventh book in P.N. Elrod's noir detective series, the Vampire Files. Mixing horror, mystery, and comedy, these books really bite! Nona Vero
Book Description
In the series that Science Fiction Review called "fast...intriguing" and Mystery Scene dubbed "very entertaining," P.N. Elrod's Vampire Files have blended the macabre humor of vampire lore with the hard-boiled storytelling of detective fiction to create a series that has achieved both cult status and critical acclaim. Now the hero who has thrilled thousands of readers returns for his most dangerous adventure yet. Jack Fleming was a man of many trades. When he was alive, he was a reporter with a nose for the grittiest news. Now that he's dead, he's a private eye with a thirst for justice--and blood. But being a vampire with morals is no midnight stroll on the mean streets of post-prohibition Chicago. There's a cold wind blowing off the lake. It smells of death. And even Jack can feel its chill. For in the city of sin, the gangs still rule--and they're on the brink of an all-out war. No one--not the crooks or the cops--cares how much blood, innocent or otherwise, flows during the fight. No one--except a certain undead P.I. caught between the local hoods and the boys from New York. Can Jack stop the battle before it starts? And how much of his remaining humanity will he have to give up to do so?
Customer Reviews:
Garbage.......2004-10-18
A Chill in the Blood is GARBAGE. I love vampire novels as well as detective stories. I never would've thought it possible that an author could combine two of my favorite genres into such a rotten book. Some other review referred to this as a "hard-boiled" detective novel. Nonsense. I have never, EVER, read about such a wishy-washy private eye. This guy, our "hero" spends half his time getting beaten up and the other half whining about his ethical problems about using his vampiric abilities to defend himself. Hard-boiled? Maybe if the reader is 9 years old. The plot is half-baked and transparent. It occurs to me that perhaps the reason the "hero" is such a wimp is because an individual with any courage or strength would've brought the story to a close in about 25 pages.
Don't waste your time. You want hard-boiled? Read L.A. Confidential or Altered Carbon. You want vampires? Read Salem's Lot, The Vampire Chronicles, or Dracula. But avoid this turkey like the plague.
7 Vampire Files Novels and Counting.......2004-07-02
CHILL IN THE BLOOD is the seventh installment of the Vampire Files. While it too is rather repetitive because it uses the same plot devices as the previous stories, it does have some redeeming qualities.
Once again Jack is in a fight with the mob and goes through all kinds of physical abuse. I think in every story so far his head is smashed in by somebody. But at least here we get some more insight on some mobsters Jack befriends, like Shoe Colefield, the black mobster on that side of town. And Bobbi, Jack's lady friend, is always fun to be around.
Not the best of the Vampire Files by far, but not a total waste of time either.
Vampire and Chicago Mobsters.......2003-06-16
This book is indeed a fun read. P.N. Elrod continues the sagas of Jack Flemming, Vampire, and his adventures with the mobsters and corrupt polititions during post prohobition in Chicago.
This episode finds Jack caught between several local mob bosses, the boys from New York who are showing their muscle and of course the corrupt arm of the law. The book is very entertaining, funny, a mystery, has good old fashioned Chicagoland gangsters, and a Vampire who does his best to keep the peace.
Jack, as most Vampires nowadays has a conscience and will not feed from humans, but by living in Chicago close to the stockyards always provides him with all the nutrition he needs.
If you're looking for a fast paced, gangster mystery with a good hearted Vampire, then you're going to enjoy this book.
A Chill in the Blood.......2001-10-17
You would think that after this many books the series would be getting a little stale but it's still kicking. The one falt I can think of is fighting with the mob is getting a little repetitive. Other than that this book is another one of those books you don't put down until your done reading it if only just to see how that savy vamp gets out of it now. I think sense I have the whole series any way I'm going to grab the next on for my personal collection too.
Avoid at all costs.......2001-02-08
This book defies description, it so bad. The dialogue is trite, the characters shallow, and the writing amateur. Sorry, Elrod, maybe you should go back to your day job.
I'm ashamed I have bought all of Elrod's book on the advice of another author at Uncommon Con in Dallas/Fort Worth last year. I'm beginning to think she was in cahoots with Elrod to sell books for each other.
Average customer rating:
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Blood Chill
Christmas
Manufacturer: Signet Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000P19F1Y |
Customer Reviews:
A Definite Keeper!.......2002-11-06
Out of the hundreds and hundreds of books I have owned, very few books make it to my 'keepers' shelf. Elsewhere is one of the few. It is absolutely one of the best collections of fantasy I have ever read and I reread it over and over again.
Particular favorites of mine are Pooka's Bridge by Gillian FitzGerald; The Judgement of St. Yves by Evangeline Walton, Sweetly the Waves Call to Me by Pat Murphy; and The Tree's Wife by Janet Yolen.
I can not say enough about this collection. Every year or so I make a vow to get rid of all my clutter and donate all my books to the thrift store. For Elsewhere to survive these numerous purges again and again is the highest compliment I can pay to it.
Good FAntasy.......2000-07-30
This is a great book for all sci-fi fans. The characters are as real as humans, and the story is very engaging. I picked this book up by chance at the library and thoroughly enjoyed it. It is very entertaining.
Marvelous.......2000-06-27
I love great writing, folktales, fairy tales, and mythology. This collection mixes all these elements up for some fascinating reading. If you like Terri Windling and Ellen Datlow's fairy tale retelling anthology series, you'll love this book, too. There are at least two more books in the series, and I can't wait to dive into them!
Average customer rating:
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Elsewhere: Tales of Fantasy
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000KP04FQ |
Book Description
This book contain recipes for busy people who have little time to spend in the kitchen; these recipes are delicious, versatile, and above all, quick and easy to prepare.
Customer Reviews:
Food for the Heart and Soul.......2007-08-08
I cannot believe the wonderful research and resources found in this book, not to mention great recipes. It also had great ideas on how to stock your pantry with healthy choices, along with kitchen essentials and suggestions for the person seriously looking to change their eating habits and lifestyle to live younger, longer! One of the best vegetarian cookbooks, and healthy eating resources I've found and you don't have to be a complete vegetarian.
Great for would-be vegetarians........2007-07-31
Great cook book with delicious recipes and easy to follow directions. I am giving it four stars because it tends to go on about ingredients and health benefits so there are relatively few recipes. (The "101" is a little bit deceptive because quite a few are extremely basic sauces and dressings, not meals.) If you are already a vegetarian this recipe book may be disappointing. On the other hand, this is the perfect book for anyone who is not yet a vegetarian but would like to be.
Very misleading title, but overall good buy.......2007-07-04
First, let me say that for the resources and cooking tips alone this book was worth the buy. Plus, it's a nice looking book. Tantalizing photos, glossy pages - a sharp presentation.
That said, the title is SHAMEFULLY inappropriate. As well as dangerously misleading if you have hungry people on your hands and/or somewhere to be (and to think the title was the sole reason I bought the book - "quick & easy" cooking). This book is NOT about quick meals. It's about wholesome, vegetarian (well, vegan really) cooking for the family. That sounds good, right? So why the ruse?
One example, of many, is the "Earth Burger" recipe where the "Preparation Time" is printed as "10 minutes." Quick & easy? I'd love to see someone mince & saute both onion & garlic, chop parsley, grate carrots, cook rice, mix in another six ingredients, and then blend everything together in a food processor in just 10 minutes. I really would. Not to mention the shaping/preparing/cooking of the patties, preparation of bread/condiments, etc. The cooking instructions do, however, offer this precious tip: "QUICKLY BLEND all ingredients".
Press that button harder, sucka!
10 minutes? I'm lucky if that burger is hitting my mouth two hours after I started cooking. 30 minutes for "Tofu-chiladas"?! Try 3 hours.
"Who is Vimala Rodgers?", the author's bio asks. Isn't it obvious - she's the FLASH of course. Inadvertent exposure to gamma rays gave her superhuman veggie chopping/sautéing/cooking powers!
My advice: ordinary humans should plan to triple or quadruple the printed cooking times. If you want "quick & easy," look elsewhere. And as far as the recipes go, there are but a few winners in an otherwise tepid corps. What a surprise, however, was the wealth of general information on vegan eating/cooking. It made an interesting read and I still keep this book on hand for reference.
"Who is Vimala Rodgers?" indeed. That should be the title of this book. The first chapter opens with the author QUOTING HERSELF (the introduction opened with a quote from Hippocrates - that's one hell of a transition), the recipes are named after the author's kids, and the cooking instructions are filled with anecdotes from the author's family life. It's a baffling ego-trip for someone who is a no-name in the cooking world. But then, that's what makes this book different from most: personality.
BEST EVER BOOK for Vegans and Regular Vegetarians Alike.......2007-06-26
The book is relatively concise and full of recipes that look & taste delicious. Additionally, I am recommending it because it is unlike any other cook book I have for several reasons: First, it is written by a woman who is not a recipe-book writer by profession, but instead a mother of 8 children who has been a vegetarian for 35+ years. As such all of the recipes have been created & refined by her (some with input from her children) and there seem to be few to none of what I would call `filler' recipes that you find in the books of people who work in test kitchens and churn out bizarre things that look good in photos and seem easy to make but turn out to be anywhere from bland to outright bad.
Additionally, this woman is very knowledgeable about the healing properties of foods, combining foods, etc. and reading the wealth of information she provides before, after, & in-between the recipes (albeit concise enough to peruse & learn from with ease) could enlighten even the most zealous of health nuts. Among this info:
women, meat/dairy, & osteoporosis; why to always eat raw salads before (not after) a meal, details about the evils of aluminum, why not to use cornstarch (and alternative thickeners), fruit combinations including but not limited to: always eat melons alone, eat raw fruit 30+ minutes before or after a meal but never with vegetables/grains, etc., what kinds of combos produce intestinal gas, why apple cider vinegar is the only vinegar the human digestive tract finds agreeable & how all other types actually interfere with the digestive process, hidden sources of MSG (she is adamant about Always Read your Labels), why you should Always by organic peanuts (if you buy nothing else organic, because they are rotated with cotton which is the most heavily-sprayed agricultural product & they tend to absorb these residues up to the point where they can actually become carcinogenic), how to keep pasta from clumping while boiling, what foods are acid-forming (body doesn't like) vs. which are alkaline, why, if your soy cheese is made with casein (extracted from milk & used in the manufacture of wood glue) you had just well not buy it, that the highest mineral content of vegetables lies just under the skin, why not to eat iceberg lettuce, why to eat spinach raw & never cooked, tricks for ripening a rock-hard avocado, why you should NEVER use/eat canola or cottonseed oil, how to make delicious flavored vinegars of your own, that `the grain-and-dairy combination is one of the least-friendly-to-our-body-combinations we can create,' why you should never ingest/cook with/etc. water from the `hot' tap, apple cider vinegar as a low-cost and effective (more so than water) vegetable wash, why yogurt/dairy & fruit together hamper digestion, why you should not eat raw fruit after a meal, thinking it is the `ideal dessert,' how Chocolate & THC (in marijuana) have almost identical effects in the brain (also contained in Michael Pollan's book: The Botany of Desire, which I also highly recommend) and a wealth of other information.
It's short & to the point enough that you can read all the text & recipes in ~2-3 hours and almost everything in it seems very good & different from your standard vegetarian cook book fare (I have 10+ vegetarian cook books and this is by far the best). Also it is 100% vegan except for the fact that she is a huge fan of clarified butter--ghee--which she explains about & how to make & which I'm sure could be substituted with a truly vegan alternative in almost if not every case. Another reviewer thought this (i.e. the relative absence of eggs & dairy products) was a negative aspect of the book, but honestly (although I am not 100% vegan) I appreciate the added heath and conscientiousness of her animal product-free recipes, and find them a welcome change from the excessive amounts of cheese-based vegetarian `meals' offered by typical cook books.
This is The Best vegetarian cookbook I have found--and this woman is a published expert on Handwriting! One of these West-Coast Renaissance women. You should definitely get this book.
Mmmm,
Jay
Some very good and EASY recipes :).......2007-06-18
It's not always easy being a vegetarian and cooking on the go. One can easily get sick of salads and grilled tofu ;) This book gives recipes for all seasons and a good variety, which was nice. I have already tried some of the stir fry recipes and am looking forward to the Zucchini and Basil Pesto! Mmmm!
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