Invitation to Murder: A Card-Making Mystery (Signet Mystery)

Book Description

Jennifer Shane's brainchild of a shop, Custom Card Creations, hasn't been all glitter and tinsel. Customers are scarce and-after finally landing a client-Jennifer hears a murder over the phone. And when she receives a threatening note, it's clear someone has designs on her life, too. Now, between holding cardmaking lessons, trying to scissor her ex-fiancé out of her life, and piecing together a murder, Jennifer has really got her work cut out for her.

Customer Reviews:

Invitation to Murder.......2007-01-10

It was different from the ones I usually read. But I enjoyed and liked the instrucions for making a card. Gives me a new craft to start working on. Will enjoy reading the others in the series

Yes, A Reader, you can make a living with a shop like this.......2006-02-02

A rubber stamp store in Western New York was started just this way and its busy as all get out, and the owner makes a FINE living!!

Strange Theme.......2005-10-07

Is there really such a demand for custom hand-designed cards that someone could invest their life savings in a business and make a living supporting themselves out of it? And is this type of business really conducive to an amateur sleuth series? It's nice that the author has a hobby she enjoys so much that she wants to turn it into a series, but I just don't see how this series can go very far with this premise.

I thought the mystery itself was pretty straightfoward, with the culprit obvious almost from the beginning. I also found some of the character relationships silly -- Bradford and his aunt Lillian don't talk because she ate his banana pudding when he was a kid? Sara Lynn leaves her husband to move in with her sister who's in danger? I also found it a tad annoying how the characters always referred to each other by their relationship rather than their names since there weren't all that many of them and they're all related to each other.

I'll give the next installment a shot, but I just don't see this theme holding my interest for very long.

Great new card-making mystery.......2005-09-08

Jennifer Shane has recently opened a card-making business, Custom Card Creations. Her big sister has a scrapbooking business down the street and their brother is the town sheriff. Neither of them thought her store was a good decision. But, she did it any way.

Jennifer overhears a murder on the phone. Her brother says there isn't much he can do with the sketchy information she has.

In the meantime, Jennifer lands her first custom order. She is thrilled as there hasn't been much traffic in her store.

Jennifer receives a threatening note. Her sister and brother worry she's in danger. So she invites her eccentric aunt Lillian to help her in the store. Jennifer begins teaching Lillian about card-making. Lillian takes to it right away.

It turns out the victim was to be the maid of honor in the wedding Jennifer is designing invitations for. Jennifer ends up trying to figure out who the murdered is. She finds herself with more threats.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jennifer and Lillian are a great team. I can't wait to read about more of their escapades. The detail in the books about card making is great too. Such a fun read.

I highly recommend this book.

wonderful police procedural-amateur sleuth investigative tale.......2005-09-07

In the resort town of Rebel Forge, Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Jennifer Shane opens up Custom Card Creations after failing to persuade her older sister Sara Lynn to expand her shop Forever Memories. While waiting for her first customer, she receives a strange phone call asking for Annie followed by a scream of terror and silence. When her brother Sheriff Bradford arrives to make peace between his sisters, Jennifer tells him about the strange phone call. Not long afterward she gets another call, but silence greets her on the other end.

When she goes home, another odd call occurs. The next day she receives an envelop with only her first name written on the outside with no postage or other marks; inside is a letter in which someone tells her to forget what she heard or she will be next. She shows the note to Bradford who leaves her to investigate the death of a young woman. Trying to start a business, Jennifer has inadvertently been yanked into a homicide all because of a wrong number.

INVITATION TO MURDER is a wonderful police procedural-amateur sleuth investigative tale. The story line combines family rivalry and nurturing inside an intriguing who-done-it as an innocent Jennifer is unwillingly yanked into the middle of a homicide investigation. The three siblings make the mystery work as they seem like real siblings loving and arguing with one another even as Bradford works the case while Jennifer tries to keep out but fate pushes her back into the center. This is a bright cozy that fans will welcome.

Harriet Klausner

Garrett Files(Sweet Silver Blues/ Bitter Gold Hearts/ Cold Copper Tears)
Average customer rating:

Great fun, loved it

Great detective/fantasy work, enjoyable set of books

Consolidation of the First Three Garrett Books
Garrett Files(Sweet Silver Blues/ Bitter Gold Hearts/ Cold Copper Tears)

Manufacturer: Book Club Edition
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

Garrett, P.I. (Old Tin Sorrows/ Dread Brass Shadows/ Red Iron Nights)

Garrett Investigates (Deadly Quicksilver Lies, Petty Pewter Gods, Faded Steel Heat)

Garrett on the Case (Angry Lead Skies/whispering Nickel Idols)

Garrett, P.I. : Three Books in One : Old Tin Sorrows; Dread Brass Shadows; Red Iron Nights

Faded Steel Heat (Garrett Files)

ASIN: 0739436090

Product Description

Sweet Silver Blues: A war buddys death sends Garrett on a wild hunt for his mysterious heir, last seen in a vampire Nest which no mortal leaves alive. Bitter Gold Hearts: The Stormwardens son has been kidnapped, and Garrett must brave a host of ogres and assassins to rescue him. Cold Copper Tears: Theres a new cult in town: worshippers of a godlike Destroyer who think Garrett would make an ideal sacrifice!

Customer Reviews:

Great fun, loved it.......2006-08-18

Garrett Files combines the murder mystery and science fiction/fantasy genres. Add to the fact the writer includes a LOT of humour and you have three delightfully enjoyable books in one. The plots are easy to follow; the characters are fully developed, and very likeable. I liked these stories so much I immediately bought all the Garrett series:
Garrett, P.I. (3 book compilation)
Garrett Investigates (3 book compilation)
Garrett on the Case (2 book compilation)
Highly recommended.

Great detective/fantasy work, enjoyable set of books.......2006-06-23

This set of 3 books by Glen Cook does a lot to show the flexibility of this author, when contrasted with his Black Company series (I have yet to read the other series he has written). The three novels showcase the protagonist and his household in a number of lights, against enemies that are generally competent in their own right. Without spoilers, I felt that the detached resolution of book 3 was somewhat detached/anticlimatic, but overall this is a very enjoyable read.

Consolidation of the First Three Garrett Books.......2005-11-01

Since most of Cook's Garrett books are long out of print and very difficult to come by, you might end up having to buy this consolidation to find the individual stories. This book, "The Garrett Files," is the first of 3 consolidations (so far). The others are "Garrett, P.I." and "Garrett Investigates." This book contains the first three stories in the Garrett series: "Sweet Silver Blues," "Bitter Gold Hearts," and "Cold Copper Tears." "Garrett, P.I." contains the next three: "Old Tin Sorrows," "Dread Brass Shadows," and "Red Iron Nights." "Garrett Investigates" has the next three: "Deadly Quicksilver Lies," "Petty Pewter Gods," "Faded Steel Heat." The remaining two books ("Angry Lead Skies," and "Whispering Nickel Idols") still appear to be in print on their own. Regarding the physical book itself, I was very surprised by how good the quality was. When I was a youth I used to get books from the SFBC and the quality was less than stellar. This book appears well bound, has good quality paper, and is well cut. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what printing my book is. The date on this Amazon page is 2003. But, I can't find a date on mine anywhere (it's brand new). My cover is also different from the other one uploaded here (I've put a copy of mine here, too). Regardless, this is a very good book to have. As a pure average of my ratings for the three contained stories, I rate this book at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5. My individual reviews follow:

"Sweet Silver Blues:" Excellent Start of the Garrett Series. This is the first of Cook's Garrett series. It's an excellent, humorous combination of Fantasy and early Detective novels (Raymond Chandler is the usual comparison). What always strikes me about this series, and especially this book (since it's the first), is how Cook's writing makes it feel like the world he's describing actually exists (and has existed for some time). It's like the history, geography, and people are THERE and he's merely opening a window to their world. This is an excellent book which I highly recommend to anyone who likes either Fantasy or Mystery. I rate it at 5 stars out of 5.

"Bitter Gold Hearts:" Very Good 2nd in the Garrett Series. This is the 2nd in Cook's Garrett series. It's a very good book, but isn't quite as good as the first in the series. The deficiency isn't anything major: it's just that I noticed a couple of the secondary characters whose personalities drastically changed from scene to scene (more so than the variability of human nature would allow). The additional role Cook gives to the Dead Man makes up for it, though. I rate it at a very good 4 stars out of 5.

"Cold Copper Tears:" An OK 3rd in Cook's Garrett Series. This is the 3rd in Cook's Garrett series. It's an excellent book for the first 99%, but, unfortunately, the ending fizzles. Oh, Garrett and the Dead Man figure things out nicely. All the 'i's are dotted and all the 't's crossed. But, instead of involving us in the denouement, Cook relegates the final cleanup to a background role. It just lacks that visceral feeling of closure. Solely because of the ending, I can rate this book at only an OK 3 stars out of 5.

Average customer rating:

Domestic Disturbances
Outstanding paranormal detective story
"Can you stop gaping long enough to let me in?"
Very Good 2nd in the Garrett Series
bitter, but good

Bitter Gold Hearts (Garrett Files)
Glen Cook
Manufacturer: Roc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Sweet Silver Blues (Garrett Files)
Cold Copper Tears (Garrett Files)
Whispering Nickel Idols: A Garrett, P.I., Novel
Faded Steel Heat (Garrett Files)
Dread Brass Shadows (Garrett Files)

ASIN: 0451153715

Book Description

The Stormwarden's children have been kidnapped and Garrett, P.I. is on the case. But caught between the bewitching beauty of a half-elf and the fearsome power of a horde of ogres, Garrett has to think twice before sacrificing all for a fortune in gold-after all, even in this enchanted land, he's only human.

Customer Reviews:

Domestic Disturbances.......2007-09-07

Bitter Gold Hearts (1988) is the second fantasy novel in the Garrett Files series, following Sweet Silver Blues. In the previous volume, Garrett freed Kayean Kronk from the vampire nest. Afterward, he helped deliver a shapeshifting spy to the authorities. Then he filed his report and escorted Kayean to the Tate compound, where she became an honored guest.

After the probate paid his fee, Garrett bought the Dead Man's house and refurbished it as his home and office. He left the Dead Man in the newly refurnished parlor. When the Loghyr woke up, the news that Garrett was his new landlord left him speechless.

In this novel, the Dead Man is working on the tactics of Glory Mooncalled in the Cantard. He has bugs moving around on the wall map in the pattern of past campaigns. The grumblings and mutterings are trying Garrett's patience.

Garrett had been drinking heavily the night before, so the pounding on the door aggravates his hangover. Some lackeys in the colors of Stormwarden Raver Styx are hanging around outside guarding a half-fairy named Amirantha Crest. She has come down from the Hill to offer him one hundred gold marks to accompany her to the Stormwarden's residence.

After some typical verbiage to establish his importance, Garrett collects the money and then goes back with her to the household. The Stormwarden's secretary -- Domina Willa Dount -- wants Garrett's advice on the kidnapping of the Stormwarden's son. The Stormwarden is in the Cantard and her secretary would prefer that her son is released before she returns. Willa Dount describes the circumstances and shows him the ransom note. He provides her some useful tips and concurs in her thinking on the matter.

The Stormwarden's consort interrupts their discussion and Willa Dount handily brings him to heel. Then she dismisses Garrett, explaining that his very presence would be enough to warn the kidnappers to stick to the rules. As he leaves, Amirantha intercepts him in the hallway and asks about the interview, then she makes a date to meet him at the Iron Liar. Garrett notices a black-haired looker in the hallway -- she also notices him -- and learns that she is the Stormwarden's daughter Amber.

In this story, Garrett reports the meeting to the Dead Man, then he leaves for his date with Amirantha. Five ogres try to beat him on the street outside his door, but Garrett manages to get in the first and last licks. He learns more about Amirantha and the household during dinner. Afterward, Garrett takes her to Morley's place and they discuss the abduction. On the way out, Saucerhead Tharpe invites them sit down and have a beer; although Garrett declines, he tells Amirantha that she should hire Saucerhead if she needs any protection.

The Stormwarden's son returns home unharmed, but Amirantha disappears. Later, Saucerhead Tharpe staggers into TunFaire and admits himself to Bledsoe Hospital. He has been severely wounded. Garrett and Morley bribe the doctors to treat his wounds. When he regains consciousness, they listen to his story.

Ogres had attacked Amirantha at her rendezvous at a rural crossroads. Saucerhead is a big surprise for them, but they take him down anyway from sheer numbers. Yet Saucerhead manages to pick up Amirantha and stagger off to the home of a witch friend. Then he comes back to Bledsoe; he had been born there and figured that he might as well die there.

This story gets rather complicated. Garrett checks out the scene of the ambush and finds Saucerhead's friendly witch. Unhappily, Amirantha is dead, but well preserved. Garrett starts to do some investigating on his own. Other things are happening in addition to the kidnapping and murder.

Morley does Garrett a few favors and then hires out some of his thugs to help the investigation. Morley hates to appear soft, but Saucerhead is a friend, so what is a half-darkelf to do. Then Saucerhead recovers enough to join in the case and the Stormwarden returns to TunFaire.

Highly recommended for Cook fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of political intrigue, magical powers and family affairs.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Outstanding paranormal detective story.......2007-05-14

This is a reissue of the long out of print second book in the series. I hope that this reissue does not mark the end of the series.

Garrett is hired by a storm warden's secretary (the storm warden is a powerful sorceress) to advise her on ransoming the storm warden's son before she gets back from the war. But the whole thing seems rather fishy from the get go as you would normally hire someone like Garrett for the whole operation not just for some advice and appearances. This is where the plot gets involved and interesting with various bad guys trying to out smart each other. Good characters some humor and a very good plot overall. The one rough spot is what happens to the ransom. We are talking about a total of 8,000 lbs of gold here and that doesn't get moved fast or easily without a crew or magic.

Overall an outstanding read though.
BTW I notice that there are none of the editorial flaws that seem to be cropping up in books recently.

"Can you stop gaping long enough to let me in?".......2006-09-10

Stormwardens are the battle mages of Glen Cook's fantasy world of Karenta. They are the deadliest citizens of Tun Faire and exactly the kind of people Garret doesn't want to work for. First of all, he would probably have to work hard for his money, and if he got it wrong that would be too high a percentage chance that he might finish his life as a frog. But Garret is a sucker for a beautiful woman and Amarinda Crest, a half-elf and gorgeous, is the bait on Stormwarden Raver Styx's hook. The result is Garrett in trouble again.

First Styx's son disappears, then he reappears but Amarinda is gone. And Styx's secretary is a genius at stonewalls and dirty tricks, who has eyes only for the Stormwarden's husband. And there's a daughter, a mistress, and just a few dozen trolls. This story has more rotten characters than a hive has bees, even if you are only counting the good guys. And there aren't too many of them. From the moment Garrett gives Amarinda his first long and loving glance he is in deep water.

Glen Cook continues to write what is one of the better 'fixer' series in the market, pitching Garrett and the Dead Man into a plot that makes noir detective stories look like self-help books. This is a dark story, one where there aren't any 'good,' just shades of bad and ugly. But Garrett endures the snipes of the Dead Man and his cohort in crime, Morley Dotes, while delivering a few of his own, and this provides a lot of the charm of the story -- the underlying relationships that give the tale its underlying humor and keep the reader comfortable and interested.

Very Good 2nd in the Garrett Series.......2005-10-31

This is the 2nd in Cook's Garrett series ("Sweet Silver Blues," "Bitter Gold Hearts," "Cold Copper Tears," "Old Tin Sorrows," "Dread Brass Shadows," "Red Iron Nights," "Deadly Quicksilver Lies," "Petty Pewter Gods," "Faded Steel Heat," "Angry Lead Skies," and "Whispering Nickel Idols"). It's a very good book, but isn't quite as good as the first in the series. The deficiency isn't anything major: it's just that I noticed a couple of the secondary characters whose personalities drastically changed from scene to scene (more so than the variability of human nature would allow). The additional role Cook gives to the Dead Man makes up for it, though. I rate it at a very good 4 stars out of 5.

BTW: At the time of this review, this book is long out of print. It's tough to find anywhere. As an alternative, look around for the SFBC's "The Garrett Files." This book is part of that collection.

bitter, but good.......2001-12-18

I've liked all the Garrett novels, but this is my favorite. It's got everything a good, hardboiled detective novel should without succumbing to boilerplate and an ending as bitter as day-old coffee. Cook is always a writer worth reading, but here he goes beyond himself.

The Garrett Files (omnibus of Sweet Silver Blues, Bitter Gold Hearts and Cold Copper Tears)

Average customer rating:

Garrett and Associates
Consolidation of the First Three Garrett Books
Start laughing

The Garrett Files (omnibus of Sweet Silver Blues, Bitter Gold Hearts and Cold Copper Tears)
Glen Cook
Manufacturer: Nelson Doubleday, Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Garrett, P.I. (Old Tin Sorrows/ Dread Brass Shadows/ Red Iron Nights)
Garrett Investigates (Deadly Quicksilver Lies, Petty Pewter Gods, Faded Steel Heat)
Dread Brass Shadows (Garrett Files)
Red Iron Nights (Garrett Files)
Faded Steel Heat (Garrett Files)

ASIN: B00071IUG8

Customer Reviews:

Garrett and Associates.......2007-09-13

The Garrett Files (1988) is an omnibus edition of the first three novels in the Garrett Files series, including Sweet Silver Blues, Bitter Gold Hearts and Cold Copper Tears. TunFaire is an old city, with the royalty and wizards uphill and the criminals downhill in the slums. Outside the city are the estates of the rich.

Garrett is an ex-Marine who has spent five hard years fighting the Venageti within the Cantard. After completing his enlistment, he hung out his shingle as a private detective. Now he has his home and office inside the city gates in the commoner section.

Garrett has a partner in the detective business. The Dead Man had been killed four hundred years previously, but is neither dead nor a man; he is a four hundred fifty pound Loghyr whose body might be dead, but whose mind is definitely still alive. He can read the mind of anyone within a score yards or so of his body and can project thoughts into the minds of anyone within the same radius. He is also capable of other psychic tricks within that restricted range.

The Dead Man is very smart and extremely well informed on historical details, but he is also incapable of moving on his own. Garrett is the active partner, gathering facts and reporting back to the Dead Man. The Dead Man compiles these facts and then deduces certain conclusions, often sending Garrett out to collect additional specific information.

In Sweet Silver Blues (1987), a friend of Garrett has died and the registered will appoints Garrett as one of the executors. Denny Tate had been a cavalryman in the Cantard and had been in the lucky regiment that overran a Venageti treasure caravan. Denny mustered out with a goodly amount of metal.

When Willard Tate takes him into the basement to see his son's silver, Garrett finds much more than he expected. The basement contains one hundred thousand Karentine marks in silver and other metals. No way that could be Denny's share of the plunder. Willard explains that Denny had been trading in metals, buying gold when the price of silver is high and buying silver when the price of gold is high.

Denny's will left most of the fortune to Kayean Kronk. Supposedly she is an old flame from his army days, who had kept writing letters to Denny after he was returned from the Cantard. After Garrett finished reading a few of the letters, he knew that he would take the job. Of course, he would have to return to the Cantard to find the heiress.

In Bitter Gold Hearts (1988), the Dead Man is working on the tactics of Glory Mooncalled in the Cantard. He has bugs moving around on the wall map in the pattern of past campaigns. The grumblings and mutterings are trying Garrett's patience.

Garrett had been drinking heavily the night before, so the pounding on the door aggravates his hangover. Some lackeys in the colors of Stormwarden Raver Styx are hanging around outside guarding a half-fairy named Amirantha Crest. She has come down from the Hill to offer him one hundred gold marks to accompany her to the Stormwarden's residence.

After some typical verbiage to establish his importance, Garrett collects the money and then goes back with her to the household. The Stormwarden's secretary -- Domina Willa Dount -- wants Garrett's advice on the kidnapping of the Stormwarden's son. The Stormwarden is in the Cantard and her secretary would prefer that her son is released before she returns. Willa Dount describes the circumstances and shows him the ransom note. He provides her some useful tips and concurs in her thinking on the matter.

The Stormwarden's consort interrupts their discussion and Willa Dount handily brings him to heel. Then she dismisses Garrett, explaining that his very presence would be enough to warn the kidnappers to stick to the rules. As he leaves, Amirantha intercepts him in the hallway and asks about the interview, then she makes a date to meet him at the Iron Liar. Garrett notices a black-haired looker in the hallway -- she also notices him -- and learns that she is the Stormwarden's daughter Amber.

In Cold Copper Tears (1988), Garrett is taking a vacation from the clients, but Jill Craight gets past Dean and hires him to protect her from break-ins by persons unknown. She refuses to accept his excuses and pays him an exorbitant retainer. Garrett takes the money and sub-contracts the job to Pokey Pigotta.

Later, Magister Peridont -- a big-wig of the Church -- tries to hire him to discover who is behind the mud-slinging among the Orthodox clergy. The scandal has been spreading and may carry over to the Church itself. Garrett listens to the man and begins to like his approach, but turns down the job.

Later, a darkelf half-breed youth gang tries to kill Garrett as he walks toward Morley's place. One of the gang is an albino. He fights them off and takes three knives, then continues on to Morley's.

Garrett gets more than his usual stares when he arrives. Morley takes him upstairs to the office and plants him in front of a mirror. He has blood all over the left side of his face; a breed had gotten in one good cut that he hadn't even noticed.

These story have elements of noir detective stories. They also have some obvious similarities to the Nero Wolfe novels, although Garrett shows more intuition and independence than Archie Goodwin. Unlike most private detectives, however, Garrett is not a loner; he has friends and calls upon them as needed.

Highly recommended for Cook fans and for anyone else who enjoys tales of a tough detective, casual magic, and a psychic genius in the parlor.

-Arthur W. Jordin

Consolidation of the First Three Garrett Books.......2005-11-03

Since most of Cook's Garrett books are long out of print and very difficult to come by, you might end up having to buy this consolidation to find the individual stories. This book, "The Garrett Files," is the first of 3 consolidations (so far). The others are "Garrett, P.I." and "Garrett Investigates." This book contains the first three stories in the Garrett series: "Sweet Silver Blues," "Bitter Gold Hearts," and "Cold Copper Tears." "Garrett, P.I." contains the next three: "Old Tin Sorrows," "Dread Brass Shadows," and "Red Iron Nights." "Garrett Investigates" has the next three: "Deadly Quicksilver Lies," "Petty Pewter Gods," "Faded Steel Heat." The remaining two books ("Angry Lead Skies," and "Whispering Nickel Idols") still appear to be in print on their own. Regarding the physical book itself, I was very surprised by how good the quality was. When I was a youth I used to get books from the SFBC and the quality was less than stellar. This book appears well bound, has good quality paper, and is well cut. Unfortunately, I'm not sure what printing my book is. The date on this Amazon page is 1988. But, I can't find a date on mine anywhere (it's brand new). My cover is also different from the one I've seen associated with this ASIN/BSIN (I've put a copy of mine here since there's no publisher provided one). Regardless, this is a very good book to have. As a pure average of my ratings for the three contained stories, I rate this book at a Very Good 4 stars out of 5. My individual reviews follow:

"Sweet Silver Blues:" Excellent Start of the Garrett Series. This is the first of Cook's Garrett series. It's an excellent, humorous combination of Fantasy and early Detective novels (Raymond Chandler is the usual comparison). What always strikes me about this series, and especially this book (since it's the first), is how Cook's writing makes it feel like the world he's describing actually exists (and has existed for some time). It's like the history, geography, and people are THERE and he's merely opening a window to their world. This is an excellent book which I highly recommend to anyone who likes either Fantasy or Mystery. I rate it at 5 stars out of 5.

"Bitter Gold Hearts:" Very Good 2nd in the Garrett Series. This is the 2nd in Cook's Garrett series. It's a very good book, but isn't quite as good as the first in the series. The deficiency isn't anything major: it's just that I noticed a couple of the secondary characters whose personalities drastically changed from scene to scene (more so than the variability of human nature would allow). The additional role Cook gives to the Dead Man makes up for it, though. I rate it at a very good 4 stars out of 5.

"Cold Copper Tears:" An OK 3rd in Cook's Garrett Series. This is the 3rd in Cook's Garrett series. It's an excellent book for the first 99%, but, unfortunately, the ending fizzles. Oh, Garrett and the Dead Man figure things out nicely. All the 'i's are dotted and all the 't's crossed. But, instead of involving us in the denouement, Cook relegates the final cleanup to a background role. It just lacks that visceral feeling of closure. Solely because of the ending, I can rate this book at only an OK 3 stars out of 5.

Start laughing.......2005-09-29

Imagine a Mickey Spillane novel set in a fantasy world. There you go. I'm laughing harder with every chapter.

Average customer rating:

Garrett Files : Bitter Gold Heart
Glen Cook
Manufacturer: N A L
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000JDY4OG

The Garrett Files comprising Sweet Silver Blues, Bitter Gold Hearts, and Cold Copper Tears

Average customer rating:

The Garrett Files comprising Sweet Silver Blues, Bitter Gold Hearts, and Cold Copper Tears
Glen Cook
Manufacturer: Nelson Doubleday Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000QU3VO6

The Garrett Files: Sweet Silver Blues, Bitter Gold Hearts, Cold Copper Tears

Average customer rating:

The Garrett Files: Sweet Silver Blues, Bitter Gold Hearts, Cold Copper Tears
Glen Cook
Manufacturer: Nelson Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000T0B654

The Passionate Olive: 101 Things to Do with Olive Oil
Average customer rating:

A great read . . .

Is it all too good to be true?

Everything you need to know about olives

Everything you wanted to know about olive oil and more...

Just Wonderful-a keeper!

The Passionate Olive: 101 Things to Do with Olive Oil
Carol Firenze
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Herbs, Spices & Condiments | Cooking by Ingredient | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Reference | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Flavors of Olive Oil: A Tasting Guide and Cookbook

Olives: The Life and Lore of a Noble Fruit

The Essential Olive Oil Companion

Olive Oil (Eyewitness Companions)

Olive Oil: From Tree to Table

ASIN: 034547676X
Release Date: 2005-03-29

Book Description

For more than four thousand years, the olive tree has been a symbol of abundance, peace, and longevity. Gifted by a goddess, revered by ancient cultures, and protected by emperors, the olive tree and its precious fruit have played important roles in civilization.

Dubbed “liquid gold” by Homer, olive oil has been used for food, medicine, magic, beauty, and divine rituals. Baseball star Joe DiMaggio is even said to have soaked his bat in olive oil. And while it is no longer drawn upon to treat leprosy or massage elephants, the use of this versatile product is growing by leaps and bounds around the world.

The Passionate Olive is the ultimate guide to this natural marvel. Along with olive legends and fascinating history, Carol Firenze shares the myriad practical uses of olive oil through the telling of her favorite family stories and by offering unique formulas and recipes.

Restore luster to your pearls . . . curb your cat’s hair-ball problems . . . silence squeaky doors hinges . . . soothe your sore throat and dry lips . . . replace artery-clogging butter in your favorite dishes with . . . can you guess?

The Passionate Olive reveals the secrets of how to enhance your life, love, and health with olive oil and merits a front-and-center spot among your most cherished books. It makes a beautiful gift, too, for just about everyone and every occasion. In fact, you and your friends will want to keep The Passionate Olive and a bottle of olive oil in your kitchen, your bathroom, and even your bedroom.

Customer Reviews:

A great read . . ........2007-08-15

Very educational, fun, interesting . . . However, I find that I'm not reading this book as I would a novel . . . I'm reading it more as a reference book! I have jumped all over the chapters to see how olives can make a difference in my life in whatever areas interest me at the time. I never would have dreamed that olive oil could be such a part of one's life -- other than enjoying the flavor of it in foods! Wow! Was I ever wrong.

Is it all too good to be true?.......2007-08-01

The answer is yes. The actual olive oil information in this book is fairly light, but most of all I recommend taking the usage information with a grain of salt. Many of the uses presented sound more like family lore than something that could be backed up by modern chemistry or biology -- and some of them are dead wrong. The worst example for me is when Ms. Firenze advises us to use olive oil to "treat" a flea infested pet (what she means is to soothe the skin where the animal has licked or scratched it raw). This is unbelievably misguided and irresponsible advice. There are modern treatments that not just soothe the skin, but actually and reliably get rid of fleas. Indeed, not everything that modern technology and science has brought us is evil and killing us. The flea treatment is just one example however -- there are garlic-olive oil ear treatments, olive oil enemas and such, and I doubt that shaving using olive oil is very comfortable or practical.

For sure, olive oil is delicious, healthy and has many wonderful properties for uses besides cooking. I love it more than I do most other foods. But the answer to pretty much all of what ails us, it is not -- so it shouldn't be presented that way.

Everything you need to know about olives.......2007-05-13

I bought this book for myself and a friend. It has so many easy everyday uses for olive oil. I made my friend a birthday basket with this book, olive oil and olive oil soap. She loved it.

Everything you wanted to know about olive oil and more..........2007-05-01

Beginning with a brief history of olive oil and ending with great recipes this book has useful and fun ideas throughout. Easy, delightful reading.

Just Wonderful-a keeper!.......2007-01-12

There is so many uses for oilve oil in this book.This book will also save you money.It has replaced many products in my home.

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