Product Description
Examines the history of scholarly debate about the origins of "The Iliad". Was Homer the sole author, did he describe historical events and was his poetry transcribed in his lifetime? - these are some of the questions examined. ... Read more

Product Description
Following the popularity of CSA Word's 4CD set of "I Claudius", "Claudius the God" arrives in 2009 by popular customer demand. "Claudius the God" continues the story of Emperor Claudius, read in the style of a secret diary which relates his experiences of being in power and his musings on philosophical issues regarding ruling Rome and the nature of managing a general populous. Raising intelligent and thought-provoking issues, the likeable yet formidable Claudius reflects upon whether his society would benefit from ideas and practices such as free rule and the possibilities of reviving the Republic. Also involving historical characters such as his wife, The Empress Messalina, Herod Agrippa and the scheming though savvy Empress Livia, "Claudius the God" is a fascinating insight into the mind of a great historical figure, whilst also being a captivating discussion of the benefits and stability of centralised rule versus the concept of freedom and its virtues. An incredibly important sequel, "Claudius the God" is also a compelling and sympathetic self-contained semi-factual biography of one of history's most unlikely and intriguing rulers. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the story of the return of Odysseus from Troy. Championed by Athene and hounded by the wrathful sea-god Poseidon, Odysseus encounters the ferocious Cyclops, escaping Scylla and Charybdis to reclaim his threatened home on Ithaca. The pack includes an introduction in book form. ... Read more

Product Description
This is the 16th chronicle of Brother Cadfael in which William of Lythwood returns from his pilgrimage to the Holy Land, his soul at eternal peace, brought by his servant, Elave, a young man of great strength and wisdom. ... Read more

Product Description
Prominent academic John Bayley's moving memoir of his wife, acclaimed novelist Iris Murdoch, who suffered from Alzheimer's disease. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

I thought it would be much better
I only read about 40 some pages--and that was enough for me to decide I had enough. I was very interested to read this memoir, but it let me down. I think this book uses too many big words that I get lost in--that takes away from the author's experiences. It was also hard to follow who the author is speaking about and his relationship to them. ... Read more

Product Description
Marcus Aurelius was Emperor of Rome from 161 AD until his death in 180, during which time he witnessed the gradual crumbling of the Roman frontiers, as well as famines and plagues. He became interested in philosophy and, while staying in the Danube region, wrote down a series of reflections now known as the Meditations, which reveal a mind of great humanity and natural humility. Like the Eastern philosophy/religions of Taoism or Buddhism it is a philosophy that is practised rather than speculated upon. The bulk of the teaching is about our moral values, our involvement with our fellow men and the state, and above all the ideal of living in accord with nature. ... Read more

Product Description
When the body of Nicola Maiden, the daughter of a retired Scotland Yard undercover officer, is found near an unidentified body in the middle of a pre-historic stone circle in Derbyshire, Inspector Lynley is asked to lead the investigation into the deaths. Lynley must get to the bottom of the crime without the assistance of his long-time partner Sergeant Barbara Havers following her demotion as a result of an internal investigation. But Barbara Havers has plans of her own, and they involve the very case that Lynley is working on. ... Read more

Product Description
The author of "Spiritual Teachings of Marcus Aurelius" brings us the words and ideas of the ancient philosopher Seneca. Of all the ancient philosophers, the writings of Seneca were the most accessible and have continued to influence readers through the ages. He was a powerful and wealthy ruler and his writings show him to be dedicated to Stoicism. Forstater brings to life these Stoic positions on issues like pleasure and the problem of desire, happiness and contentment, anger, fear, courage, love and trust. He is a fascinating and controversial character who found it difficult to balance his philosophical ideas with his life. Forstater brings these contradictions to light with his own interpretations of the philosopher. ... Read more

Product Description
De luxe boxed gift set of Tolkien's most popular and charming stories, full of wit and humour, collected together for the first time on unabridged CD.This boxed set of 8 CDs contains the following 5 unabridged works, all read by Sir Derek Jacobi, and are suitable for both adults and children alike:Letters from Father Christmas comprises a festive unabridged reading of the letters. Interspersed with carols and seasonal music. With John Moffatt and Christian Rodzka in supporting roles as Polar Bear and Ilbereth the Elf, this perennial Christmas classic is filled with humour.Farmer Giles of Ham is one of Tolkien's most popular stories, full of wit and humour, set in the days when giants and dragons walked the earth. Farmer Giles did not look like a hero. He was fat and red-bearded and enjoyed a slow, comfortable life. Then one day a rather deaf and short-sighted giant blundered on to his land!Roverandom is a real dog who is magically transformed into a toy and is forced to seek out the wizard who wronged him in order to be returned to normal. The story was written to console Tolkien's four-year-old son, Michael, who lost a beloved toy dog on the beach.Smith of Wootton Major tells of the preparation of the Great Cake to mark the Feast of Good Children and the magical events which follow.Leaf by Niggle recounts the strange adventures of the painter, Niggle. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Tolkien Treasury Indeed!
The Tolkien Treasury Audio Collection is a treasury indeed. Well recited by Sir Derek Jacobi, the titles included in this eight disc collection are:

Farmer Giles of Ham
Leaf by Niggle
Smith of Wooten Major
Roverandom, and
Letters from Father Christmas, which is a most charming reading and sure to be a family listening tradition for Christmases to come.

A must have for Tolkien fans and highly recommended for those who enjoy stories read aloud to them. ... Read more

Product Description
The days between 27 December and New Year's Eve are dead days - days when spirits roam and magic shifts restlessly just beneath the surface of our everyday lives. There is a man, Valerian, whose time is running out, who must pay the price for the pact he made with evil so many years ago.His servant is Boy, a child with no name and no past; a child he treats with contempt, but who serves his master well and finds solace in the company of his only friend, Willow. Unknown to any of them, it is Boy who holds the key to their destiny. Set in dark threatening cities and the frozen countryside in a distant time and place of the author's making,'The Book of Dead Days' conjures a spell-binding story of sorcery and desperate magic as Valerian, Boy and Willow battle to stop time and cling to life.Beautifully evoked, dramatic and emotionally powerful. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (18)

"It's Time to Steal a Horse..."
The "Dead Days" are what author Marcus Sedgewick calls the time between Christmas and New Year's Day, on account of their quiet, mysterious atmosphere; an idea drawn from various mythologies which hold that certain days of the year mark the time when doors to the spirit world open to those of the living."The Book of Dead Days" is set entirely within the five day period between December 27th and December 31st within a sprawling turn-of-the-century city where experiments in electricity and magnetism are indistinguishable from magic and superstition for most of the populace.

A nameless Boy is apprenticed to the magician Valerian, assisting him in his stage illusions that are popular enough to keep food on the table for both of them. Boy has only a rudimentary understanding of how most of the tricks work, but is grateful for daily meals and a bed each night despite his master's negligent treatment of him. But lately Valerian has been acting oddly: distracted and paranoid, and soon has Boy roped in to help him find a mysterious book.

The nature and location of the book, what it has to do with the spate of murders around the city, why Valerian needs it so badly and how Boy himself figures into its discovery are mysteries that are threaded throughout the plot. Joined by a young seamstress called Willow; the trio travel from abandoned manor to vast cemetery, outlying village to underground catacombs, seeking out clues that lie within crypts, music boxes and the characters' own pasts.

The plot is best described as a straightforward treasure hunt, but Sedgwick creates a marvelously atmospheric and ashamedly Gothic city in which to set his action, so vivid that you can almost smell the garbage and feel the bitter cold. It won't come as too much of a spoiler to say that Valerian's desperation stems from a Faustian pact signed in his youth that he is seeking to annul, and it is his increasingly frantic demeanor (and the threat it poses to his two young assistants) that puts an edge to what would otherwise be a simplistic find-the-McGuffin story.

As protagonists Boy and Willow are somewhat bland but likeable children, reduced to near-drudgery by uncaring guardians and yet still resourceful and optimistic enough to carve out lives for themselves. The real interest lies with Valerian, a Fagin-esque illusionist whose murky past and surprising skills lie outside Boy's understanding, and Sedgwick keeps a lid on how much of his powers are supernatural, and how much is just newfangled technology that Boy cannot yet grasp.

Highly reminiscent of the created worlds of Philip Pullman and (especially) Philip Reeve, "The Book of Dead Days" and its sequels are brisk, exciting reads with short chapters and spooky ambiance throughout. The conclusion leaves the story wide open for a sequel; perhaps a little *too* wide as there are several questions that go unanswered, including the importance of Boy's heritage and several plot-points involving the culprit behind the murders that kick-start the story. Have The Dark Flight Down on standby for quick resolution to the mysteries raised here.

Still have no idea what the "dead days" are after a re-read... that's not a good sign
Ire-read this over the weekend since I have a number of friends who really liked it. But I still just thought it was ok - even upon re-read. I understand the idea of Boy not knowing anything about who he is - but I felt is was almost lazy to at least not give him a name. And Kepler and his role was a little too convenient. I don't know - I am ok with having loose ends - story arcs that keep you moving from one book to the next. But I felt like I have no information to motivate me into wanting to read the next - I feel like I have none of the little tidbits that I should have at this point. To me, a good novel which is part of a series, gives me just enough of a tease as to what I might find out, that I really want to read what's next. Here, not so much. I don't know - I also expected - both reads - to learn more about the "Dead Days" - but it was like the mythology associated with them, which is set up by the beginning explanation of the varying cultures' calendars - was totally absent. They were barely a passing thought. And that was disappointing the first time through. I was hoping I had just missed stuff or forgotten since the first read, but unfortunately, that was not the case. The ending was too neat - and not neat enough at all - all at the same time. I can't even decide if I want to read the companion/sequel or not.

kids probably would like it
I am a teacher and bought this book at my school's book fair.I actually really liked the cover.That is what caught my eye.Anyway, this was a pretty good book.Fairly dark and gloomy--not an uplifting book by any means.But, the writing flowed and I found myself reading on.My daughter is into fantasy books, so I believe this book would appeal to kids who like that type of writing.There are worse books out there that try to appeal to kids.

The Review of Dead Days
Boy is a servant for a man named Valerian, a mean man -or magician- that does magic shows at the Great Theatre.Valerian had found Boy hiding in a niche in a church listening to a conversation between Valerian and Kepler, an old friend of Valerian's.Boy doesn't remember a life before living on the streets or with Valerian; he doesn't remember his mother or father, or even having a proper name, other than Boy.Boy later finds out that Valerian will die at midnight on New Years Eve unless he acquired a certain book, that would tell him how to escape death among other things, but Boy wasn't told how or why Valerian would die.Boy and Valerian are later joined by Willow, a servant girl that had ran away from Madam Beauchance, another Great Theatre performer.Go along with Boy, Valerian, and Willow as they put clues together through a tale of danger, turncoats, and adventure.
One reason why I like The Book of Dead Days is that at times it was suspenseful; you'll want to keep reading to see what happens next.Another reason why I liked this book is that it was very descriptive and detailed; characters, events, details, and places were all describes well.I didn't like The Book of Dead Days because it got rather boring and redundant at times. I also didn't like this book because Valerian, Boy, and Willow spent the whole book doing just one thing; it was redundant.
I would recommend this book to anyone that likes suspense, action, fantasy, and fiction books.The Book of Dead Days does have some blood, violence, and skeletons; so anyone that doesn't even like the tiniest bit of those might not like this book.People might also like this book if they like books about magic or magicians.

Terrific history-based fantasy (not just for fantasy fans!)
I freely admit that upon reading the inner jacket flap about magic, alchemy, demons, and a subterranean European city, I was less than excited about this book.With the opening chapter, though, I was hooked.This is historical/fantasy writing for the non-genre fan.

Sedgwick truly creates a history-based fantastical reality for the reader to lose his or herself in.The dark, dank, unpleasant world of The City jumped out and drew me in.Too often, fantasy keeps the reader in suspense about the nature of the alternate world.This novel is straightforward about the setting right from the beginnings, and the main mystery is that of the motivations of the master (Valerian) for our main character Boy (a young man of no name, no history, and no family).The reader joins Boy and another orphan, Willow, as they navigate the dark streets of The City on errands for Valerian.But does Valerian have their best interests at heart?

This ending leaves plenty of room for a sequel, and I would definitely pick up another book from this great author.Consider me converted.
... Read more

Product Description
The festive St. Peter's Fair gives pause to the civil war racking England in 1139--until the body of a wealthy merchant is found murdered. 2 cassettes. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (15)

St. Peter's Fair
This fourth in the Brother Cadfael series builds the history of the Abbey and the life of Brother Cadfael.Ellis Peters (Edith Pargeter) is a wonderful writer, adept at pulling you into the story and making her beloved Shropshire come to life.

Cadfael: St. Peter's Fair
One of so many of Ellis Peters Cadfael chronicles; excellent story development and characterizations as always.
Love one, love them all.

Fair Dealing, Foul Deeds, and a Fearful Damsel
Provost Corviser leads a delegation of Shrewsbury's best men before Abbot Radolfus demanding a bigger share of the proceeds of St. Peter's Fair, an annual event sponsored by the Abbey of St. Peter and St. Paul. The money is needed to repair the town after the ravages of the recent seige of the town by the forces of King Stephen. Abbot Radolfus demurs, saying he's bound by the ancient charters.

Philip Corviser, the Provost's son, leads a delegation of young men to request a voluntary contribution from the merchants at the fair. There he is smitten by the beauty of a merchant's niece, and also smitten by the merchant's bludgeon. A riot ensues.

When the dust settles, young Corviser is in gaol, the merchant is in the mortuary, and the neice, Emma, is in fear--but of what? Not to worry, Ivo Cobriere, a handsome young nobleman, stands ready to aid her. Misfortune continues to stalk poor Emma and another murder occurs. Deputy Sheriff Hugh Beringar and Brother Cadfael are sure that Emma knows more than she is telling.

Philip gets out of gaol, another killing occurs, Cadfael and Hugh unravel the mystery, and the saga ends in a stirring chase and rescue.

Not long at the Fayre
St.Peter's fair is held annually on the section of land outside the monastery walls in Shrewsbury, but involves the monastery itself, with its guesthouses filled with the gentry and travelling merchants. When the body of wealthy merchant, Thomas of Bristol is discovered, stabbed, stripped and robbed, his niece Emma who was accompanying him, is put into the care of Aline, the wife of the deputy sheriff, Hugh Berengar. Brother Cadfael becomes the girl's protector as she moves around the town, determined to carry on her uncle's business, as he would have wished. Another merchant is murdered and Emma's belongings are searched as if the killer is looking for something in particular. The townspeople of Shrewsbury become very alarmed as this part of the country is still very much divided in its loyalties, with factions supporting King Stephen and others favouring Empress Maud. Cadfael is convinced that Emma knows more than she's admitting, but it's only when she is openly courted by a young nobleman, who would normally be considered too far above her in station, that her life is endangered. It's another fascinating story of life and death in 12th century England, with the detective monk, Cadfaek working his way methodiaclly through clues to a satisfactory solution.

Brother Cadfael with a chase scene!
Of the chronicles of Brother Cadfael that I have thus far read, "St. Peter's Fair" is the most "mystery-like." No cut and dried solution springs to mind as the plot unfolds. This one had me guessing for some time.

All the regular ingredients of the previous stories are here: Political wrangling, personal intrigue, a love story, and of course--a murder.

Cadfael once more is a treasure trove of wisdom. Some of his lines here are classic. Cadfael is a very noble, very humane, world-weary protagonist. Ellis Peter has truly created a detective for the ages in him.

In "St. Peter's Fair" Cadfael is up against one heck of a baffling case. He and Hugh Berengar (my favorite secondary character) team up to try and solve the murder of a visiting merchant. I have no desire to give the ending away. I will only say that "St. Peter's Fair" has the added bonus of a chase scene.

"St. Peter's Fair" is a worthy entry in this series. The more I read of Ellis Peters, the greater my respect for her becomes. I recommend this book highly. ... Read more

Product Description
Read by
5 CDs6 hours

The Vampire Chronicles continue with Anne Rice's spellbinding new novel.

Out of the pages of the Vampire Chronicles steps the golden-haired Marius, true Child of the Millenia, once mentor to the Vampire Lestat, always and forever the conscientious slayer of the evildoer, and now ready to reveal the secrets of his two-thousand-year-long existence in his own intense voice.

Born in Imperial Rome, imprisoned and made a "blood god" by the ancient Druids, Marius is the baffled yet powerful protector of Akasha and Enkil, Queen and King of the vampires, in whom the core of the race resides.

We follow his through his tragic loss of the vampire Pandora, his lover and fledgling creation. Through him we see the fall of pagan Rome to the Christendom of Constantine, and the sack of the Eternal City by the Visigoths. We see him sailing to the glittering city of Constantinople.

Worlds within worlds unfold as Marius, surviving the Dark Ages and the Black Death, emerges in the midst of the Italian Renaissance to create magnificient paintings and a vampire—the boy Armand.

Moving from Florence, Venice, Dresden, Paris, and the English castle of the secret and scholarly order of the Talamasca, the novel reaches its dramatic finale in a jungle paradise where the oldest of the vampires reigns supreme.Amazon.com Review
Time heals all wounds, unless, of course, you're a vampire. Cuts may heal, burns vanish, limbs reattach, but for the "blood god," the wounds of the heart sometimes stay open and raw for centuries. So it is for Marius, Anne Rice's oft-mentioned and beloved scholar. We've heard parts of his tale in past volumes of the Vampire Chronicles, but never so completely and never from his own lips. In Blood and Gold, Rice mostly (but not entirely) avoids the danger of treading worn ground as she fills out the life and character of Marius the Lonely, the Disenchanted, the Heartsick--a 2,000-year-old vampire "with all the conviction of a mortal man."

Plucked from his beloved Rome in the prime of his life and forced into solitude as keeper of the vampire queen and king, Marius has never forgiven the injustice of his mortal death. Thousands of years later, he still seethes over his losses. Immortality for Marius is both a blessing and a curse--he bears "witness to all splendid and beautiful things human," yet is unable to engage in relationships for fear of revealing his burden.

New readers to the Chronicles may wish for a more fleshed-out, less introspective hero, but Rice's legions of devoted fans will recognize Blood and Gold for what it is: a love song to Marius the Wanderer, whose story reveals the complexities and limitations of eternal existence. --Daphne Durham ... Read more

Customer Reviews (205)

Very Happy
I was very pleased with the condition of the book, and the speedy delivery in which it arrived.

great book!
This was a great book.A suggestion, make it a winter read so that you have plenty of time to sit and enjoy.

One of the Best
I read almost all of MS. Rice's Vampire novels but enjoyed The "Vampire Lestat", "The Queen of the Damned", "And Blood and Gold" the most of the series.

No news in the vampire`s night
Blood and Gold is the biography of one of the most mentioned and known character in the Vampires' Chronicles, Marius.

For those who have read the previous chapters, this works as a summary of the whole saga, few new characters and facts. And as a summary, it can even be enjoyable.

However, for those people who don`t know what comes before, my advice would be to abstain. They might get lost and overwhelmed by facts and characters they are not familiar with. It seems to be a recycling of the author`s previous books without the splendor and novelty they provided. One might even think it was written by a different author, since it lacks the sensuality and poetry we were used to feel and enjoy in Anne Rice`s writings.

Chains made of hair?!Really, Anne?Really?
Blood and Gold is the Vampire Chronicle by Anne Rice about her Roman Vampire Marius, whose back story is first told to us in the novel The Vampire Lestat. Much like with The Vampire Armand (whose story is also first told in The Vampire Lestat) I think it would be best for most people to just stick with the earlier books.

Continuity errors bug me and like most of the later Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice this one is riddled with them.

Personality inconsistancy: Marius went from the kindly father figure character to a whining, child-like character in Blood and Gold. Not to mention the S and M whippings in The Vampire Armand when in The Vampire Lestat Armand told Lestat Marius would never harm him. Now he's coming off as a pervert. Also he blames Lestat for Akasha rising. How could he? It was Akasha who told Lestat her name when Marius took Lestat to the island. It was Akasha who opened the tabernacle and planted the idea in his head to play Nicholas' violin for her. And it was Marius who had Lestat's music videos video taped for her to watch yet he blames Lestat for her rising? I can't believe he's become so illogical so quickly.
Up until about Tale of the Body thief we see Marius as the kindly father figure who called Lestat the damned creature in a playful bemused sort of way.
In The Vampire Armand we're told Marius physically whipped Armand and was into S and M with young boys. There is no such mention of this in the earlier books. Then by Blood and Gold he's a whining child in that he blames Lestat for things Lestat could not be accountable for.
Marius is the one who took Lestat to the island. Akasha is the one who planted the idea in Lestat's head to play Nicki's violin for her. She opened the tabernacle for him. Then he, himself, was going to play Lestat's music videos for them and yet when Akasha rose to Lestat's music videos Marius blames Lestat. It was all Akasha's choosing. Why would the wise and patient Marius suddenly act like a child and not think logically? Why would his life in the past suddenly be described differently from The Vampire Armand on ward? He, like Lestat, and Maharet are basically behaving like their own opposites in the later books.

In Blood and Gold Marius claims vampires to be immune to dirt (supposedly it won't cling to them) yet the Satanic vampires under Les Innocents in The Vampire Lestat were filthy and Lestat is quoted as saying Eleni would be pretty if she would be forced to stand under a water fall to wash the dirt off of her. Also, Marius himself was filthy after being trapped in the ice in The queen of the damned novel. And Lestat was filthy when Marius pulled him out of the Earth in The Vampire Lestat novel.

In Blood and Gold Maharet (the vampire whom had lost her eyes before ever becoming a vampire) takes the eyes of a fellow vampire. She chains up a fellow vampire and plucks out his eyes, promising to take care of him. This vampire is an old rival of hers who claimed he was going to kill her.
Maharet takes his eyes at the end of Blood and Gold. Ironically he's the one who suggests she should do it. (Side note: He whispered something to the tongueless vampire, Mekare and no one has any idea what he said to her.) So Mahare took his eyes yet in every chronicle before this, for supposedly six-thousand-years, she has steadfastly made it clear that she would never take the eyes of any vampire, thinking it too cruel and disloyal to do that to her own kind. There is really no explanation for this change of heart.

In Blood and Gold we find out the chains that held Lestat at the end of Memnoch The Devil had Maharet's hair woven into them. Are we really to believe just because she's the oldest vampire that her hair is indestructible? Wasn't it plausible enough that heavy chains held Lestat? Also if her hair is indestructible how did she cut it to weave it into the chains? These are the chains Maharet uses on her vampire captive, whom she took the eyes of.

It's the personality and plot inconsistencies that bug me about this novel.
... Read more

Product Description
Read by
5 Cds/ 5 hours

At the center is the beautiful, unconquerable witch, Merrick.She is a descendant of the gens de colors libres, a cast derived from the black mistresses of white men, a society of New Orleans octaroons and quadroons, steeped in the lore and ceremony of voodoo, who reign in the shadowy world where the African and the French--the white and the dark--intermingle.Her ancestors are the Great Mayfair Witches, of whom she knows nothing--and from whom she inherits the power and magical knowledge of a Circe.

Into this exotic New Orleans realm comes David Talbot, hero, storyteller, adventurer, almost mortal vampire, visitor from another dark realm.It is he who recounts Merrick's haunting tale--a tale that takes us from the New Orleans of the past and present to the jungles of Guatemala, from the Mayan ruins of a century ago to ancient civilizations not yet explored.

Anne Rice's richly told novel weaves an irresistible story of two worlds: the witches' world and the vampires' world, where magical powers and otherworldly fascinations are locked together in a dance of seduction, death, and rebirth.Amazon.com Review
Just when you thought it was safe for a bloodsucker to go out in the dark in New Orleans, along comes Merrick Mayfair, a sultry, hard-drinking octoroon beauty whose voodoo can turn the toughest vampire into a marionette dancing to her merry, scary tune. In Merrick, Anne Rice brings back three of her most wildly popular characters--the vampires Lestat and Louis and the dead vampire child Claudia--and introduces them to the world of her Mayfair Witches book series.

It is Louis who brings about the collision of the fang and voodoo universes. Louis made Claudia a vampire in Rice's classic Interview with the Vampire, in which she was destroyed, and now he's obsessed with raising her ghost to make amends and seek guidance from the beyond. (Claudia physically resembles Rice's young daughter who died of a blood-related illness. Rice nearly died of a diabetic coma in 1998, and writing Merrick turned her excruciating recovery into an exhilarating burst of creativity).

Vampire David Talbot lobbies Merrick to call Claudia's spirit and slake Louis's guilt, but Talbot winds up in the grip of an obsession with the witch. You see, Talbot, unlike most vampires, lived 70 years as a human, so his sexual response to humans is still as strong as his blood thirst. Merrick can cast spells to make men crave her, and Talbot is tormented. After she reads his palm, he muses, "I wanted to take her in my arms, not to feed from her, no, not harm her, only kiss her, only sink my fangs a very little, only taste her blood and her secrets, but this was dreadful and I wouldn't let it go on."

The secrets of Merrick are dark and sensuous, but the book is a romp animated by Rice's feeling of coming back to life through the magic of a literary outpouring. The narrative flashes back to the past, to an Indiana Jones-ish adventure in a Guatemalan cave, and to scenes from many other Rice novels. It may be helpful to read Merrick with the Rice-approved guidebooks The Vampire Companion and The Witches' Companion at hand.

After many books, Rice's grand Vampire Chronicles tale was in peril of getting long in the tooth. Merrick Mayfair's magic represents an infusion of fresh blood. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Customer Reviews (324)

Great Anne Rice
This is a good book - typical Anne Rice creepy but beautiful - if you like Anne Rice you will like this also

Side stepping from the main story - but, still good.
David Talbot goes to a young VooDoo witch for help while she ends up trying to seduce him and Louis.
During this story Merrick saves Louis from the sun and becomes the very thing that David never wanted her to be.

great book!
Great book! You get a little insight into the Mayfair witches and the taltos! Would definately read this one!

well worth the time
This book is wonderfully visual because the discriptions are so well thought out!I could just see myself in that beautiful city of New Orleans in the sweltering heat and the magical atmosphere!

Enjoyable
Like 'Pandora', this tale does not contribute much to the overall vampire world, but is a good read in its own right, with Vampires and Mayfair Witches, but not too much from either as much of the story is Merrick's own, from before soe joined the Talamasca, which was interesting because I was curious if the Talamasca would make another appearance. While not as solid as earlier Vampire Chronicles, Merrick is a interesting character and the story was a lot of fun to read. 3.5/5 stars. ... Read more

Product Description
Eighteen years before, confesses Brother Haluin, he had been responsible for the death of the girl he loved and the baby she was to bear. Now, after a near-miraculous escape from death, he wants nothing more than to beg the forgiveness of Bertrade's mother, Adelais de Clary, and do penance for his sins. But Haluin's mission brings death in its wake, for Bertrade de Clary's secrets were not hers alone and, even now, the revelation of them would bring shame and condemnation. Brother Cadfael, sent to nurse Haluin, turns detective once again with a murderer to bring to justice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (20)

Sadly, not up to par
I've very much enjoyed the first books in the Cadfael series, but this one fell way short of my expectations. I guessed the plot twist very early on and from that point the story seemed rather cardboard and the characters flat. Maybe Peters had run out of steam for this concept? I'll still check out the other books in the series, but I wouldn't recommend this one.

Confession is good for the soul
Hard core Cadfaelians may find this particular story too simple as you can pretty much from the beginning assumes what is about to happen. Yet Ellis Peters still keeps her writing style and has points to make. She will keep you off balance so you are not sure that you know the answer. In an interview on the DVD of Brother Cadfael - A Morbid Taste for Bones (1994), Ellis peters said that because they have trouble adapting her stories for video, which she would attempt to simplify the stories.

Although I have read the book and am sad that they did not make a video of this journey, I must say that Stephen Thorne's reading gives an added dimension to the story allowing you to race ahead or contemplate the past as he make the characters come alive with his unique voice for each.

This of course is book 15 in the series and so many things have been said, does not need to be said again. So lets hear the confession of brother Haluin and sojourn trough 12th century England with him as he takes a journey of the soul.

One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

Confession is good for the soul
Hard core Cadfaelians may find this particular story too simple as you can pretty much from the beginning assumes what is about to happen. Yet Ellis Peters still keeps her writing style and has points to make. She will keep you off balance so you are not sure that you know the answer. In an interview on the DVD of Brother Cadfael - A Morbid Taste for Bones (1994), Ellis peters said that because they have trouble adapting her stories for video, which she would attempt to simplify the stories.

Although I have read the book and am sad that they did not make a video of this journey, I must say that Stephen Thorne's reading gives an added dimension to the story allowing you to race ahead or contemplate the past as he make the characters come alive with his unique voice for each.

This of course is book 15 in the series and so many things have been said, does not need to be said again. So lets hear the confession of brother Haluin and sojourn trough 12th century England with him as he takes a journey of the soul.

One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

Confession is good for the soul
Hard core Cadfaelians may find this particular story too simple as you can pretty much from the beginning assumes what is about to happen. Yet Ellis Peters still keeps her writing style and has points to make. She will keep you off balance so you are not sure that you know the answer. In an interview on the DVD of Brother Cadfael - A Morbid Taste for Bones (1994), Ellis peters said that because they have trouble adapting her stories for video, which she would attempt to simplify the stories.

Although I have read the book and am sad that they did not make a video of this journey, I must say that Stephen Thorne's reading gives an added dimension to the story allowing you to race ahead or contemplate the past as he make the characters come alive with his unique voice for each.

This of course is book 15 in the series and so many things have been said, does not need to be said again. So lets hear the confession of brother Haluin and sojourn trough 12th century England with him as he takes a journey of the soul.

One Corpse Too Many: The Second Chronicle of Brother Cadfael

A Medieval Type A Personality
In this, the sixteenth volume in the Brother Cadfael mystery series, Ellis Peters focuses on one of the less attractive customs of medieval life.Brother Haluin, a monk of Shrewsbury, takes an ill-considered vow to make a penitential pilgrimage in reparation for a long-ago sin.His vow-and the extremes to which he goes in fulfilling it-have less to do with Christian teaching about sin and repentance than about stubbornness, control and what today we might call a Type A personality. The modern reader may wonder about the mindset in which an abbot could approve such a fanatical exercise, but our difficulty is at least moderated when Brother Cadfael is sent along to keep things under control.Mysteries abound as the journey unfolds, and uncharacteristically in this series, the alert reader can understand one key clue before Brother Cadfael sees its significance. ... Read more

Product Description
Interweaving real and fictional elements, The American Boy is a major new literary historical crime novel in the tradition of An Instance of the Fingerpost and Possession.England 1819: Thomas Shield, a new master at a school just outside London, is tutor to a young American boy and the boy's sensitive best friend, Charles Frant. Drawn to Frant's beautiful, unhappy mother, Thomas becomes caught up in her family's twisted intrigues.Then a brutal crime is committed, with consequences that threaten to destroy Thomas and all that he has come to hold dear. Despite his efforts, Shield is caught up in a deadly tangle of sex, money, murder and lies -- a tangle that grips him tighter even as he tries to escape from it. And what of the strange American child, at the heart of these macabre events, yet mysterious -- what is the secret of the boy named Edgar Allen Poe? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Wonderful writing! But would someone please tell me...
Did I miss something? What did the parrot say?Help!You can comment to me directly.

Artful use of historical language in this suspense/romance in London and beyond
I would just like to add my appreciation of the language that was used in this book.Andrew Taylow artfully combines the various styles of English speech used at the time, with the mix of historical and social conventions, and family and societal values.It's quite an accomplishment, and this, as much as the engaging and progressively engrossing story, makes it shine - a reader's joy and happiness.I experienced the audio book of this, read by Alex Jennings, and found it superbly satisfying.A real gem which took me away - luckily, for 16 CDs.As noted by others, not to worry one's head over the title, which although not an afterthought, is not significant to the story in any crucially developmental way.

This book is fantastic!
I had never run across this author before, until I was reading an online review of thriller novels and found that Andrew Taylor was suggested. My local library had only one of his novels, not the one I really wanted ("The Four Last Things") but I checked this out and was very pleased. This is the only novel I've read since "The Quincunx", that catches the feeling of Charles Dickens, yet without the sentimentality of that author, and adds a modern eye to the early Victorian period as well as a gift for intricate plotting without the coincidences that sometimes strain the edges of Dickens' plots. As has been pointed out elsewhere, this book is not so much about Edgar Allen Poe, but has him (as a young child) in a subsidiary but important role. To anyone who shares my fondness for sharp, literate mysteries and 19th Century England will love this.(Also published under the title "An Unpardonable Crime".)

If Wilkie Collins were writing in 2006. . .
Don't read this book if you're looking for a story about Edgar Allen Poe--he's more of a device than a character in this book.

The narrator has a chip on his shoulder throughout the book which is always a bit off-putting.This is understandable as he is that most unfortunate combination of circumstances which result in the ubiquitious "impoverished gentleman" -- bitter at spending his time working to support himself.This doesn't work unless the character changes during the course of the book.

The dialogue recalls Wilkie Collins' work in an uncanny way.

A wonderful and engrossing read so don't hesitate. Buy it !
Here's another book I only read because it was the list of 10 books nominated for a Best Read Award on British TV. Like the first reviewer the author was new to me and I was also not in the habit of reading historical fiction.
Once I began it was hard to put the book down.This is almost 500 pages of escapism bliss as Taylor's beautifully told tale slowly unfolds. It's a hybrid of historical and crime fiction that is incredibly atmospheric of nineteenth century London. The novel it most reminds me of,if you want a pointer, is Wilkie Collins' "Woman in White" and the fact that I compare it to that great classic shows how highly I think of this book.If you like Wilkie Collins or maybe even Charles Dickens you will love this book.
I see no point in revealing any details of the intricate plot as I'm sure any literate reader will be quickly gripped by Thomas Shield's quest.I will,however,say that I was pleased with the conclusion of the book, which is not one of those banal denouements where all the loose ends are miraculously tidied up and everyone lives happily ever after.
If you are looking for an engrossing and pleasurable read you cannot possibly go wrong with this book. I can guarantee that you will be enthralled and perhaps a bit sad that it isn't even longer ! ... Read more

Product Description
Fat, unlovely Roberta Teys is found beside her father's headless corpse, wearing her best dress and with an axe in her lap.Her first words are: 'I did it.And I am not sorry' and she refuses to say more. Inspector Thomas Lynley and DS Barbara Havers are sent by Scotland Yard to solve this particularly gruesome murder.And as they navigate their way around a dark labyrinth of secret scandals and appalling crimes, they uncover a series of shocking revelations that shatter the facade of the peaceful Yorkshire village. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (73)

Unlikley Combination
Elizabeth George introduced police procedural fans to the unlikely combination of Inspector Thomas Lynley and Sergeant Barbara Havers. The past is always present in this complicated piece of detective fiction and nowhere are class differences handled with such adroit skill as in THE GREAT DELIVERANCE.
Havers has one last chance to make it before being pitched for Scotland Yard to street duty for the remainder of her career. The psychological suspense played against the often futile work of the detectives make for an engaging read.
Nash Black, author of SINS OF THE FATHERS.

A Great Deliverance
I am an anglophile.I LOVE British TV, Music, Movies and especially, British books.Maybe it's my heritage or just an affinity for their culture.So, when EW listed an Elizabeth George book on their Summer Must Read List, I was intrigued.Imagine my surprise when I discovered that this is a BBC show(YAY!) but also written by a Yank!I am amazed just how British this book sounded for a gal writing from the States. The language was spot on.The scenary was impeccable.I had no trouble imagining fog drifting in over the countryside.There were no false notes.The characters had depth.I especially liked Havers's passion. Excellent job, Ms. George.

Lynley betrays his colleagues
I am an avid fan of the Inspector Lynley series, and bought "This Body of Death" in hardback. George is once again exploring the hell some children experience from abusive families/environments, and I find that both interesting and laudable.Unfortunately, Lynley, who has always been sensitive, intelligent, and brooding, has gone over the line into loser.The current Acting Superintendent, Isabelle Ardery, is an incompetent, abusive alcoholic. It's bad enough that Lynley shows dreadful judgment by sleeping with her, but he becomes an enabler (someone who makes excuses for an alcoholic/drug addict/abuser) by making excuses for her failure when Sir Hillier wants to fire her.Lynley has watched her abuse his colleagues, but he betrays them by getting Hillier to keep her on. It is this betrayal of his friends and colleagues that has disturbed me most, and for this reason I'll not be buying any more of George's books. Her exploration of what makes children commit crimes, and the long-term effects of that on their lives, is fascinating.What she has done to her main character is deplorable.

Entertaining story
This quirky mystery has so many twists and turns that the reader has to pay attention to keep up.The characters are entertaining and the plot moves quickly.I found myself getting interested, despite an initial reluctance to take this novel seriously.
What gets disturbing is the back-and-forth playoff between the main mystery and the sad story of the conflicts in the lives ofthe two main characters.At some point, the reader could say:Enough, already!The wrapup ending makes up for the earlier confusion.This is a nice 'escape' type novel, but not serious literature, by any means.Some of the plot is very contrived.

A Great Deliverance
In this writing, "A Great Deliverance", Elizabeth George has given us two unforgetable characters, Inspector Thomas Linsley, and Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers.The two together work as a team as they try to solve the mystery of the beheaded farmer and his confessed killer, his daughter Roberta, whom all who know her do not think her capable of the deed.

George has developed two totally different characters, one is a debonair, elegant, aristocratic individual who reeks of the cosmopolitan, and the second as a fat, homely, ill-clothed country bumpkin.Each totally different in appearance and action from the other, but reflective of the trademark character George wants to create. The mystery is set in the English farming countryside and is not too complicated, even when one is slightly distracted by "asides" in the plot which appear unrelated to the solving of this gruesome crime.A good read!! ... Read more

Product Description
In the autumn of 1140, the Benedictine monastery at Shrewsbury finds its new novice Meriet Aspley a disturbing presence. Meek and biddable by day, his sleep is torn by nightmares so violent as to earn him the nickname of 'Devil's Novice'. Can Meriet be involved in the nearby disappearance of a superior prelate? As events take a sinister turn, it falls to Brother Cadfael to detect the truth behind the young man's predicament. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (9)

Perhaps Cadfael's best.
Of all the 16 or 17 Brother Cadfael mysteries that I've read, this is probably the best, not only for the intriguing twists and turns of its cpmplex plot, but even more for Ellis Peters' keen insights into human emotions and her warm appreciation for the young hero whom she has created.

The Church for All The Wrong Reasons
Ellis Peters pokes sly fun at actions of the young in THE DEVILS NOVICE and uses Father Jerome to spike the tales. The end is serious and unexpected.
Nash Black, author of TRAVELERS.

Two for one special -- history and mystery
This is my second foray into the Brother Cadfael Mystery series and this book did nothing to dampen my initial enthusiasm for the series.Most of the comments from my previous review (see The Leper of Saint Giles) apply here as well.In particular, I enjoyed the mix of romance and mystery.Once again, this book delves into themes of unrequited love and also explores the mystery of feminine allure (even among the celibate).

Brother Cadfael is a uniquely endearing character, with his mix of gentleness, worldly wisdom, and competence.This book also provided my first introduction to Hugh Beringar, sheriff Shrewsbury.He and Cadfael join together their several talents to make an unbeatable team.

My only complaint is that this book takes a little while to get into, as it plows through the political and religious background necessary to understanding the plot.All in all, though, it is worth, as the reader will end up both entertained by the story and educated by the history.

Dreams of murder
When Meriet, a quiet, secretive young man is brought to the Abbey of St.Peter and St.Paul by his father, to be accepted as a novice monk, Brother Cadfael is immediately wary of his true vocation as he is almost too keen to take vows and to renounce the outside world at an age where he has had no experience of life, except as a youth in a privileged world of the minor nobility. He disturbs all the residents of the Abbey with his screaming nightmares so is taken to serve under the guidance of Brother Mark, at the Leprosarium of St. Giles. While helping the patients gather firewood in the nearby forest, he discovers the burned body of a murdered cleric who had recently been an overnight guest at his father'smanor, and who had been declared missing for a short time. Meriet's father has never had any time for him as his elder brother Nigel was the apple of his parent's eyes and could do no wrong. The mystery evolves with Cadfael, as usual, methodically sifting through red herrings and true clues, with the help of his friend, Deputy Sherriff, Hugh Beringar. It's another fine Cadfael story, linked very closely with the political history and unrest of the day.

A noble family loses a priest and gains a monk
"They say there's a devil at him in his sleep, and it was he brought it here among them, and who knows which of them it will prey on next? The devil's novice, I've heard him called. Oh, I put a stop to that, at least aloud. But it's what they're thinking."
- Brother Paul, master of novices

"The devil is always the intruder, the stranger, the one who is different. Every successive wave of newcomers from the mainland of Europe, either from the north or the east, was the very devil in its day."
- from SHROPSHIRE: A MEMOIR OF THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE

While Abbot Radulfus questions the wisdom of accepting novices too young to know what they're giving up, he has no objection to a young man past nineteen entering the cloister of his own free will. Meriet Aspley, younger son of the Norman lord of Aspley, seems like a straightforward proposition: a younger son, perhaps seeking a career rather than a vocation, but surely none the worse for that as long as he strives to be a credit to the order. But Brother Paul, for one, is uneasy about him, having never before seen a postulant pursue his vows with such determination but so little joy.

By day, Meriet is all dutiful obedience, studying hard and petitioning to have his probationary term shortened, but by night he wakes the entire monastic household with violent nightmares. He's never served in the armies of either king or empress and seen little of violence save on the hunt, yet the mere sight of a fellow novice struck unconscious by a freak accident sends him into shaken silence. On the other hand, a run-in with Brother Jerome over a keepsake from a red-haired girl suggests other kinds of passion running in Meriet: not only a thwarted love for his elder brother's betrothed, but a hot temper when he tries to defend his trophy from Jerome.

Meanwhile Hugh Beringar pursues the disappearance of another cleric connected with the Aspley household: Peter Clemence, envoy from the Bishop of Winchester to the great lords of Chester and Lincoln and cousin to Meriet, last seen spending the night at Aspley on his way north. Why should a priest disappear at the same time the youngest son of the household was seized with a sudden urge to enter the cloister?

Very tidy mystery here, particularly since Meriet is given to speaking the literal truth under interrogation, so the reader has a certain amount of evidence to work with.

Particularly nice touches:
- Meriet attempting to strangle Brother Jerome.
- The three most formidable members of the Aspley household: Meriet, his father Leoric, and his father's ward Isouda, who's confident that he will be hers in the end.
- How Brother Mark gains a patron for his studies to enter the priesthood (after this book, he doesn't return until SUMMER OF THE DANES).
- Radulfus' consultations with various senior brothers on the issue of accepting children into the order.
- Character development of Brother Paul, the master of novices.

As always, I recommend the unabridged recording narrated by Stephen Thorne.
... Read more

Product Description
The career of playwright Joy Sinclair comes to a rather abrupt end on an isolated estate in the Scottish Highlands when someone drives an eighteen-inch dirk through her neck. Called upon to investigate the case in a country with virtually no authority, the aristocratic Detective Inspector Thomas Lynley and his partner, Detective Sergeant Barbara Havers, grapple for both a motive and a murderer.

Payment In Blood

Emotions run deep in this highly charged drama, for the list of suspects soon includes Britain's foremost actress, its most successful theatrical producer, and the woman Lynley loves. He and Havers must tread carefully over the complicated terrain of human relationships, while they work to solve a case rooted in the darkest corners of the past and the unexplored regions of the human heart. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (26)

A Change in Pace
PAYMENT IN BLOOD by Elizabeth George is a change in pace for the second round of this outstanding series. Lord Thomas Lynley is featured in this classic styled locked-room mystery as Barbara Havers was in A GREAT DELIVERANCE.
The story is an outstanding cozy/puzzle, but also an exercise in character development in this not-to-be-ignored police procedural series.
Nash Black, author of QUALIFYING LAPS

disappointed
What happened, Ms. George? This book dragged. Also, it seemed like the spark from the previous book was missing.

Inspector Lynley bemused
This is my first sampling of Ms. George's work. The mystery portion started off a bit muzzy, as the personal lives of the detectives involved sidetracked the actual detecting for a time. I must say that I found the bed hopping of almost every suspect to be a bit much to be believed (and yucky).

Overall though, I enjoyed the way the resolution came about. I also admired the loyalty and firm commitment to Inspector Lynley that his friends and co-workers, Havers and St. James displayed - giving me hope that there is more to him than he appears to be in this episode. Lynley's love interest (Lady Helen) was at times disappointing and somewhat predictable. Why all the angst between these longtime companions is a puzzlement to me. Don't they talk to each other? Maybe more to explain this in the books prior to this one?

a great page turner
This is my first Elizabeth George murder mystery and though it dates from 1989, it reads very here and now. She does an excellent job creating unique characters, each with a special quirk or two. The story has lots of twists without getting overly confusing and she didn't try and tie everything up in a perfect bow at the end. One still feels satisfied, however, with the conclusion.

Challenging and engrossing
Elizabeth George is starting to develop her confidence and skill as a mystery writer in this installment of Lynley and Havers.Too often, particularly in this genre, accolades are bestowed upon undeserving writers.Following up her first book, the award winning A Great Deliverance, with a more complex story that both engages and challenges the reader portends her bright future.The number of characters introduced and the interrelations alluded to forces the reader to reread early exchanges in order to fully appreciate the puzzle.Still, it is not like reading Joyce so don't let my comments scare off less confident readers.A mushy ending that had little to do with the meat of the mystery was the only major flaw in this superb novel. ... Read more