Tool & Die: A Home Repair Is Homicide Mystery (Home Repair Is Homicide Mysteries)

Book Description

Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree traded her power-broker life for a run-down dream house in peaceful Eastport, Maine. But the do-it-yourself enthusiast is learning that no matter how carefully you build your home, murder has a way of slipping in through the cracks….

It’s a bright June afternoon and old-house-fixer-upper Jake Tiptree is driving through downeast Maine on an unusual errand. She’s getting ready to interview a large, angry man with a criminal history. Jim Diamond may or may not be harassing his ex-wife with life-threatening letters, but Jake promised her new housekeeper, Bella Diamond, she’d look into the matter. An ex-con and a deadbeat, Jim Diamond doesn’t have a history of violence…that is, not until Jake arrives at his apartment and discovers that a killer has been there first.

Suddenly Jake and her best friend, Ellie White, find themselves at the center of a murder with too many suspects and too few clues. And as if that’s not enough, Jake is now saddled with the manic Bella, whose certainty that she’ll be the next victim is fueling a supercompulsive neatness–one that threatens to clean Jake and her long-suffering husband, Wade, out of house and home.

Add to that a moose in her kitchen, a rebellious son with a habit of dumping Miss Right for Miss Wrong, and a troublesome ex of her own, and Jake is already at wit’s end. Then she gets word that a horde of her dad’s long-lost relatives mean to descend on Eastport, intending to be put up at her far-from-fixed-up fixer-upper.

When the killer does strike again, it’s not where Jake expects…and the victim couldn’t be more of a surprise. For this is a case bigger than the usual angry—ex-spouse variety, and now that Jake and Ellie have gotten themselves involved, they’ve each won a special place in a ruthless murderer’s master plan of greed, deception, and death. And the prize? A pair of eternally private rooms–six feet under!

Download Description

It’s a bright June afternoon and old-house-fixer-upper Jake Tiptree is driving through downeast Maine on an unusual errand. She’s getting ready to interview a large, angry man with a criminal history. Jim Diamond may or may not be harassing his ex-wife with life-threatening letters, but Jake promised her new housekeeper, Bella Diamond, she’d look into the matter. An ex-con and a deadbeat, Jim Diamond doesn’t have a history of violence…that is, not until Jake arrives at his apartment and discovers that a killer has been there first.

Suddenly Jake and her best friend, Ellie White, find themselves at the center of a murder with too many suspects and too few clues. And as if that’s not enough, Jake is now saddled with the manic Bella, whose certainty that she’ll be the next victim is fueling a supercompulsive neatness—one that threatens to clean Jake and her long-suffering husband, Wade, out of house and home.

Add to that a moose in her kitchen, a rebellious son with a habit of dumping Miss Right for Miss Wrong, and a troublesome ex of her own, and Jake is already at wit’s end. Then she gets word that a horde of her dads’ long-lost relatives mean to descend on Eastport, intending to be put up at her far-from-fixed-up fixer-upper.

When the killer does strike again, it’s not where Jake expects…and the victim couldn’t be more of a surprise. For this is a case bigger than the usual angry–ex–spouse variety, and now that Jake and Ellie have gotten themselves involved, they’ve each won a special place in a ruthless murderer’s master plan of greed, deception, and death. And the prize? A pair of eternally private rooms—six feet under!

Customer Reviews:

Tool & Die.......2006-01-13

As a Downeastern Mainer myself, I loved this story line. As with all of Sarah Graves's "A Home Repair Is Homicide Mystery" novels, I read it almost in one sitting and enjoyed every minute of it.

Not Too Die For..........2005-06-26

I'm a huge fan of the Sarah Graves "Home Repair is Homicide" mystery series. I've read every one-- and was looking forward to Tool & Die...until I read it. I found it nearly unreadable. I labored through the first few chapters and then decided to just crack open the book somewhere in the middle and continue reading from that point forward. That's the first time in my life that I've done that! I have no issue with the plot/story structure or the main/returning characters. However, the new characters (the ones central to the homicide) I found to be thinly drawn. One further gripe: the "Home Repair is Homicide Repair Tips" which pop-up through out Tool & Die in mid-chapter accompanied by cutesily-bordered text boxes really detract from the book. Whereas Sarah Graves once incorporated how-to tips throughout her books by including them within her storylines, having them just appear randomly throughout the book in the middle of page and in the middle of a chapter serves no purpose except to fill space. It's laziness on the writer's part or poor judgment on her editor's part. Her first eight books in this series were fun, well-thought out, engaging, and tightly written. Tool & Die is not. Don't bother.

A well-crafted mystery with an endearing cast of characters.......2005-01-23

Readers who are also viewers of the myriad home improvement shows flooding television networks will find plenty to delight them in TOOL & DIE, the eighth book in the "Home Repair is Homicide" mystery series. Not only does Sarah Graves spin an entertaining story, she also includes home repair tips throughout the book.

Eastport is located on Moose Island, seven miles off the coast of Maine "and so far downeast that it's almost in Canada." Despite its rural location, life here is anything but dull. For Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree --- Wall Street executive turned small-town gal turned resident snoop --- there is no shortage of fixer-uppers, whether it's the rambling house she lives in or one of her fellow Eastport residents.

Jake and her best friend, Ellie, have yet to encounter a problem they can't solve. So when Jake wins a month of housekeeping services at a church fair, she's determined to get to the bottom of Bella Diamond's hygienic but unhealthy compulsion for cleanliness. It turns out that Bella has been hiding her anxiety at receiving life-threatening letters behind a broom and a mop. Her ex-husband, newly released from prison, is the likely suspect...until he turns up dead after being whacked in the head with a cast iron skillet. Snooping is rarely risk-free, and Jake and Ellie soon find themselves tangling with a cunning killer.

This well-crafted mystery is filled with twists, turns, clever dialogue, and a cast of characters so endearing you'll be ready to move into one of the spare bedrooms in Jake's house. If you're new to the series, TOOL & DIE is a fine place to start. As you're reading you'll know there are plenty more adventures with Jake and company to go back and savor.

If you want to know how to fix a hairline plaster crack, you'll find the answer in TOOL & DIE. And if it's a witty, enjoyable whodunit you're seeking to while away the afternoon with, you'll find that here too.

--- Reviewed by Shannon McKenna

exciting amateur sleuth .......2004-11-14

Jacobia "Jake" Tiptree still lives in Eastport on Moore Island seven miles off the coast of Maine where she still is fixing up her 1823 Federal home. In a raffle, she won the housekeeping services of Bella for several weeks, but the woman acts loony driving Jake's household crazy. When Jake confronts her, Bella says she has been receiving death threats letters left in her home; she thinks her ex-husband Jim Diamond, just released from jail for forging checks, is the culprit.

Jake and her best friend Ellie visit Jim but when they get to his apartment, he keels over on Jake. Someone caved in his head with something heavy. Jake and Ellie decide to find out who did the deed because the State Police believe Bella is the guilty party as she had motive, means and opportunity. Besides Bella, her daughter, Jake's son ex-girlfriend, and the town banker who was scammed by him, wanted him dead. Their sleuthing comes to the attention of the killer who decides Jake and Ellie will be the next victims.

TOOL & DIE is a very exciting amateur sleuth mystery due in part because readers get to see Jake as a wife, mother and daughter as well as a snoop. There are practical easy to follow home repair tips scattered throughout the book which gives another layer of authenticity to the storyline. It is obvious the author knows about home repairs and the instructions she gives will prove useful to homeowners. There are a lot of suspects with motives making it very difficult to decide who the murderer is even with a few good clues sprinkled throughout the entertaining amateur sleuth plot.

Harriet Klausner

TOOL & DIE. A Home Repair is Homicide Mystery

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TOOL & DIE. A Home Repair is Homicide Mystery
Sarah. Graves
Manufacturer: Bantam Books,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000N743GW

Book Description

As war rages in South Vietnam, the team of cyborgs is confronted by group of guerillas led by a mysterious masked man who has a diabolical plan. With the Black Ghost never far behind, the cyborgs uncover an evil scheme that just might lead to global Armageddon. But before they can act, they must save one of their own from behind enemy lines.

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Cyborg 009, Vol. 6
Shotaro Ishinomori
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comic Strips | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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General | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1591826810

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The best of the best
One of the best Mangas
I love it...

Cyborg 009, Vol. 1
Shotaro Ishinomori
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1591826764

Customer Reviews:

The best of the best.......2005-03-16

I've read it, I liked it and I'll read it again!!!

One of the best Mangas.......2004-03-21

This was my first Manga I read. Since I loved the show so much I had to get it. At first I was skeptical, I was not sure if it would live up to my expectations. Well, It did! I love it way better than the show. I recommend watching the show, it helped me to watch the show first, that way I could add in the voices. Its a great for any person who is looking for a for their first manga. After this one you'll defenetly gonna wanna read Vol.2

I love it..........2003-11-30

This is the best manga I've read in a long time, the story is excellent, the characters are great, and the whole thing is just a masterpiece!

Average customer rating:

GREAT!!!

Cyborg 009, Vol. 2
Shotaro Ishinomori
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1591826772

Customer Reviews:

GREAT!!!.......2004-02-14

This book is now my favorite until I read the third! It has humor, action, and poison rain! This book is so good. I can't wait to get the next book.

Average customer rating:

Cyborg 009, Vol. 4
Shotaro Ishinomori
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1591826799

Book Description

In this thrilling volume of Cyborg 009, our heroes dive to the murky depths of the ocean, fight in the treacherous terrain of Vietnam, and shoot for the stars in the far reaches of outer space. As Cyborg 009 teams up with a renegade scientist to destroy a weapon that can wipe out any city on Earth, the Black Ghost sets its sight on a menacing device that can turn the sky into a bomb. And when war escalates in volatile jungles of Vietnam, will the Black Ghost finally achieve its ominous goal of perpetual global war?

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Cyborg 009, Vol. 7
Shotaro Ishinomori
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Manga | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 1591826829

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Cyborg 009, Vol. 3
Shotaro Ishinomori
Manufacturer: TokyoPop
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 1591826780

Book Description

*Created by Shotaro Ishinomori - one of Japan's most beloved manga-ka - known by some as the King of Manga *From the author of the long-running Kamen Rider (Masked Rider) series *Anime currently running on Cartoon Network

009 has double vision when he sees two Helens--although their faces aren't launching a thousand ships, they sink 009 into a ball of confusion. The rest of our alloy alliance is in for a double--crossing. While closing in on the Black Ghost, a member of gang zero--zero turns out to be a big fat zero!

Average customer rating:

Romantic Writing.

Daddy like

Chronicles of the Barbarians:: Firsthand Accounts of Pillage and Conquest, from the Ancient World to the Fall o f Constantinople
David W. Mccullough
Manufacturer: Crown
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Wars of the Irish Kings: A Thousand Years of Struggle, from the Age of Myth through the Reign of Queen Elizabeth I

The Rise of the Roman Empire (Penguin Classics)

1776 1776

ASIN: 0812930827
Release Date: 1998-10-20

Amazon.com

"When a Scythian overthrows his first enemy," Herodotus tells us, "he drinks his blood; and presents the king with the heads of the enemies he has killed in battle; for if he brings a head, he shares the booty that they take, but not if he does not bring one. He skins it in the following manner...." Well, OK, perhaps we don't need to revisit that part of the classics just now. But if you have a hankering for ancient and early-medieval history, Chronicles of the Barbarians will take you straight to the source. Among the other Greek and Roman authors cited in this anthology are Livy, Polybius, Tacitus, and Julius Caesar; later sections provide eyewitness glimpses of Genghis Khan ("in the subjugation of his foes his rigour and severity had the taste of poison") and Tamerlane (who "loved bold and brave soldiers, by whose aid opened the locks of terror and tore in pieces men like lions and through them and their battles overturned the heights of mountains"). One caveat: Edward Gibbon's passages on the death of Alaric and the Vandal attack on Rome are very eloquent, but they are, properly speaking, out of place in a collection of firsthand reports. --Ron Hogan

Book Description

The greatest superheroes face their greatest threat.

• Explosive fighting tips customized for each character's superpowers
• Smashing strategies for using the destructible environments to your advantage
• Heroic tactics guide you through all seven levels of Story Mode
• Reveals special moves, juggles, and critical hits for all characters
• Maps, hazards, weapons, and strategies for each arena

Customer Reviews:

Romantic Writing........2006-01-09

Well Written, detailed, told with a little tongue in cheek empathy for the various peoples that were called barbarians. Yet,the author at times seems to ridicule the very authors he so often quotes. Since the barbarians did'nt choose to write their own histories, does not mean that their enemies who they attacked were lying in their descriptions." Indeed, numerous archaeological finds far often than not prove the Classical records to be true." Most scholars use to snicker at the very idea that the Amazons existed, they were proven wrong!

Daddy like.......2003-02-03

This book is awesome. There is nothing like getting history straight from the sources especially when that history is about peoples who were at best semi-literate. The sources used in this book are varied and impressive from Herodotus to Doukas with a lot of famous and not so famous guys in between. It is also interesting to learn what the "civilized" people thought of the "barbarians". Anyone interested in ancient or medieval history, and likes a few crazy barbarians this book is for you.

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Chronicles of the Barbarians

Manufacturer: History Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000E4KG4M

Chronicles of the Barbarians: : Firsthand Accounts of Pillage and Conquest, from the Ancient World to the Fall of Constantinople

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Chronicles of the Barbarians: : Firsthand Accounts of Pillage and Conquest, from the Ancient World to the Fall of Constantinople
Unknown
Manufacturer: New York: History Book Club, 1998
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000MD3QIS

Conquest of the Barbarians (Wizards, Warriors & You)

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Conquest of the Barbarians (Wizards, Warriors & You)
Megan Stine , and H. William Stine
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0380750465

The End of the Roman Empire in the West (Harper Torchbooks, Chapts. 36-43 of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire)

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The End of the Roman Empire in the West (Harper Torchbooks, Chapts. 36-43 of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire)

Manufacturer: Harper & Brothers Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000CNMLWU

Product Description

Chapts. 36-43 of The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire; subtitled Barbarian Conquests and the Transition to the Middle Ages - A.D. 439-565.

The End of the Roman Empire in the West: The Barbarian Conquests and the Transition to the Middle Ages: A.D. 439-565

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The End of the Roman Empire in the West: The Barbarian Conquests and the Transition to the Middle Ages: A.D. 439-565
Edward Gibbon
Manufacturer: Harper & Brothers Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0007E9QIQ

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CHRONICLES OF THE BARBARIANS Firsthand Accounts of Pillage and Conquest, from the Ancient World to the Fall of Constantinople
David Willis McCoullough
Manufacturer: History Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ST14CG

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Chronicles of the Barbarians Firsthand Accounts of Pillage and Conquest, From the Ancient World to the Fall of Constantinople
editor McCullough David Willis
Manufacturer: History Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UF5W76

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I've Escaped Vegan Jail to Tasty Freedom!!!

A Meaty Book Indeed

Essential Reference for Making Meat More Interesting

Tips for successful dining

A Carnivore's Best Friend

How to Cook Meat
Christopher Schlesinger , and John Willoughby
Manufacturer: William Morrow Cookbooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Meats | Meat, Poultry & Seafood | Cooking by Ingredient | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Barbecuing & Grilling | Outdoor Cooking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
International | Regional & International | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The Complete Meat Cookbook

The Thrill of the Grill: Techniques, Recipes, & Down-Home Barbecue

Quick Pickles: Easy Recipes for Big Flavor

License to Grill: Achieve Greatness At The Grill With 200 Sizzling Recipes

Bruce Aidells's Complete Book of Pork: A Guide to Buying, Storing, and Cooking the World's Favorite Meat

ASIN: 0060507713
Release Date: 2002-10-08

Amazon.com

Want to learn about meat? Really learn? Then How to Cook Meat is your book. In great and enjoyable detail it explores beef, veal, lamb, and pork--which cuts to buy, what cooking methods suit each, how to judge doneness, and much, much more. Authors Chris Schlesinger and John Willoughby, responsible for the bestselling Thrill of the Grill, also provide more than 200 explicit recipes that comprise a wide range of dishes, from prime-rib roasts to hearty stews, lamb-shoulder braises to grilled pork fillets--and they even cover innards and specialty cuts such as ham hocks. It's hard to imagine a meat lover who wouldn't benefit from this comprehensive yet approachable investigation.

Staring with illuminating notes on butchering and meat grading, the supermarket versus butcher meat-buying issue, and other related matters, the book then provides ample notes on cooking techniques. Recipes for the major meat types follow, organized usefully by cut size and tenderness; these treat the most melting cuts, which can stand quick cooking, to the tougher (though often more flavorful) ones that demand braising or stewing. Particularly attractive recipes include Sage-Rubbed Roasted Loin of Beef with Shallot-Bourbon Sauce; Veal, Sausage, and Fava Bean Stew with Lemony Greens; and Traditional Dry-Rubbed Saint Louis-Style Pork Spareribs. With additional recipes for the likes of hash browns and rice, beans, and vegetable sides, plus useful tips, nomenclature, and substitution notes, the book is a real addition to the kitchen library, though it won't remain shelved for long. --Arthur Boehm

Book Description

How to Cook Meat offers recipes and techniques for anyone who wants to savor the flavor of meat.

Customer Reviews:

I've Escaped Vegan Jail to Tasty Freedom!!!.......2005-07-13

Cry Freedom!!! The Dipper has escaped from the non-greasy clutches of his merciless (and meatless) vegan jailers and been whisked away to nirvanah with the help of Schlesinger's "How to Cook Meat"!!! I have learned through experience that one should not mess with or even approach the upwind aerospace (their meat-sniffing sniffers are amazingly capable) of those humorless and vindictive cud-chewing herbivores! An ex-girlfriend and a book on vegan cooking sapped all joy out of me and then filled me up with enough plant-matter induced gas to burst the Graf Zeppelin seven times over. Four weeks of meatless perdition ended in me popping a wheelie in my Kia to McDonald's after my doctor suggested some animal flesh to ease my gastrointestinal woes. A double quarterpounder and three beef jerkies were a good start on my return to carnivore status, but good sense and a plan was needed for these scrumptious waters ahead. Amazon came through nicely for me on this one introducing me to Chris Schlesinger and friends and their tome to taste "How to Cook Meat". This book arrived at my doorstep just as I had finished assembling a brand new top-of-the-line stainless steel barbeque grill and had raided the local butchershop for their meaty best. There is tons of information in here on everything imaginable regarding turning furry animals into delectable dinner. I tried to read as much as I could, but my meat starved stomach was eyeing my liver when I came across the recipe for Traditional Dry-Rubbed Saint Louis-Style Pork Spareribs. My belly leaped with joy realizing my butcher boodle included several top-shelf hunks of this little piggy! Trying to keep from drooling on myself in anticipation, I zoomed down to the local supermarket to get the few needed extra ingredients. Chris' instructions for this recipe (and many others) were superb and excellent photos made everything easy and clear. The only hic-cup along the way was my total lack of patience and self-restraint as I burned my lower lip and roof of my mouth "previewing" these spareribs. When things literally cooled off, I actually got to taste a little as I wolfed the ribs down finding them to be piquant and sublime - much better than eating grass and roots. I've read some additional pages since then and grow more informed on everything 'meat' with each tasty word. Yes, I do eat my lima beans and chomp on an apple after the meal is done, but in the world of Ol' Dipper, Schlesinger's "How to Cook Meat" is always the main course! Highly recommended!

A Meaty Book Indeed.......2004-07-02

Meat cooking guides are not new, but few match the comprehensiveness of this volume. The best compliment I can give this book is that I actually use it. Many other general cookbooks give some pointers and guidelines for popular cuts of meat; this book covers it all. I particularly appreciate the recipes and techniques Schlesinger and Willoughby give for dealing with larger and tougher cuts of meat; this is well in line with today's trend toward long slow cooking. This is the kind of book you get kitchen stains all over, the kind you keep on a kitchen counter rather than a bookshelf.

Food writer Elliot Essman's other reviews and food articles are available at www.stylegourmet.com

Essential Reference for Making Meat More Interesting.......2004-02-12

This is the easiest type of cookbook to review because it is simply the most useful type of cookbook to have, so if you find anything which detracts from the books utility, it is a sure sign that the book is not up to snuff. The fact that the two authors are recognized experts on their subject makes the job even easier, because it generally means you can sit back and take their advice with the assurance that they know what they are talking about. These are not two interior decorators who write cookbooks as a sideline. One thing to beware of regarding the authors' reputations is that unlike their earlier books, this book is not exclusively about grilling meats. In fact, grilling is a relatively minor part of this book.

By `meat' the authors mean the flesh of domesticated cattle, sheep, and pigs. This follows the conventions of almost all other cookbook authors I have read. It does not mean flesh of fowl, rabbits, or game such as venison. One advantage of this distinction means that many methods useable for one `red meat' animal can often be used for a similar cut of meat from another red meat animal.

The main object of the authors in writing this book is to deal with the fact that while eating a large amount of meat may lead to ingesting an excessive quantity of undesirable fats, eating a reasonable amount of meat provides a high amount of complete proteins essential to human nutrition. The object, then, is to make these reasonable portions as desirable as possible to eat. One result of this objective is to make as wide a range of meat cuts accessible to the home cook as possible. Limiting oneself to steaks, pork loin, and lamb chops will not only become dull after a while, it is also expensive.

An important insight from the authors is that the cost of a cut of meat has nothing to do with the (food) value of the cut. In fact, many writers have claimed that most of the less expensive cuts are actually the most flavorful. I think it is fair to say that the cost of a cut of meat is inversely proportional to the amount of time and effort required to convert the meat into a tasty dish. While an eight dollar a pound fillet can be sautéed and pan roasted in 20 minutes, a three-dollar a pound cut of chuck may take two hours to brown and braise. The reward, however, is that the braised chuck will taste great the next day without any help while the cold beefsteak may need some help to be appealing.

My favorite part of this book is the fact that I share with the authors a love of lamb. This means the authors have devoted a sizable portion of the book to recipes for various cuts of lamb, conveniently divided into a number of chapters based on the types of cooking methods most appropriate to the lamb primal.

The first such chapter deals with the large tender cuts of lamb. This includes the very expensive rack of lamb, the crown roast, bone in and butterflied leg of lamb, lamb saddle, lamb loin and a shoulder roast, prepared in a fashion very similar to the leg of lamb methods.

The second lamb chapter presents recipes for large tough cuts of lamb including lamb shanks and two recipes for braised or barbecued lamb shoulder (you didn't think you could keep these guys away from the barbecue for the whole book).

The third lamb chapter is for small tender cuts such as loin chops, rib chops, lamb tenderloin, leg steaks, and Denver Lamb ribs. This chapter concentrates on grilling techniques for lamb, especially for lamb on skewers.

The fourth chapter is my favorite, after roasted leg of lamb, in that it gives stewing and braising recipes for small tough cuts of lamb. This includes Irish stew, Shepherd's pie, and curried lamb dishes.

The last chapter on lamb has two recipes from `the fifth quarter' otherwise known as offal. It has a recipe for lamb kidneys and lamb tongues.

Between this book and constant harping from my hero Mario Batali, lamb shoulder has come to replace leg of lamb as my favorite lamb cut. They have convinced me that it has better flavor while being substantially less expensive. I have also discovered that it is becoming much easier to find than it may have in the past. Check out farmers market butchers.

In addition to excellent recipes, the book offers general tips on various cooking methods and many tips for making requests of butchers to have them do some of the hard work in preparing the meat for the pot. When roasting a shoulder, I would recommend asking the butcher to fillet the shoulder after it is weighted for sale and give you the bones separately to make lamb stock. Speaking of stocks, this book gives no recipes for them, which I actually consider a plus, as there are more than enough good books with excellent stock recipes. No sense taking up space here for a well-worn subject. Check out Judy Rodgers Zuni Café cookbook for the best stock recipes I've ever seen.

I always look here first when I want a recipe for lamb or veal or pork or beef. It not only gives me the right stuff on what to look for at the butcher, but also how to get the best value from what the butcher can do for me.

This book is highly recommended.

Tips for successful dining.......2003-07-26

I bought this book to strengthen my grilling techniques. I made a mistake because that is not the focus of this book. There is an extended discussion of grades and what cuts come from various part of the animal and how to get what you need from the butcher. The book is further divided between beef, veal, lamb, and pork recipes.

To my pleasure I found the authors' top 5 tips for cooking meat and the recipes in the tender beef section. These would make the purchase of the book worth while. I did not spend much time with the other section and so express no opinion on them.

A Carnivore's Best Friend.......2002-12-09

Having received this book as a gift, I at first distrusted some of the recommended cooking times and temperatures. While they sometimes seem counter-intuitive or disagree with other cookbooks, I've discovered that the authors are passionate about the subject and really know what they're talking about. I've come to trust them completely. They provide really helpful advice on selecting meats and techniques for preparing them. Buy this book.

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How to Cook Holiday Roasts & Birds
Editors of Cook's Illustrated Magazine , John Burgoyne , and Jack Bishop
Manufacturer: Boston Common Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

Holidays | Special Occasions | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0936184280

Amazon.com

There's no trick to producing succulent roasts if you know the basics. How to Cook Holiday Roasts & Birds provides those and more in a succinct tutorial. In fewer than 100 pages it offers illustrated, step-by-step instructions for roasting turkey, goose, Cornish hens, hams, prime ribs, and leg of lamb--recipes, tips, and information that all cooks can use.

The roasting cook's goal is to maximize flavor, texture, and moisture, and the book begins with a detailed discussion of how this is best accomplished. It explores temperature issues (proper temperature depends on the nature of the roast) and provides useful equipment council. Exemplary instruction on roasting the birds and meat mentioned above follows, plus recipes for the likes of Bread Stuffing with Sausage, Pecans, and Dried Apricots, as well as formulas for a range of gravies and glazes. Throughout, underlying techniques are explored and illustrated (goose preparation is one of several excellently depicted procedures), and sensible tips abound (cook dressings separately and you optimize the possibility of a perfectly done bird).

A true primer, the book is part of the Cook's Illustrated Library series. Like the magazine, the books are dedicated to presenting tried-and-perfected recipes and cooking techniques in a concise, approachable way. --Arthur Boehm

Book Description

An illustrated step-by-step guide to roast turkey, goose, Cornish hens, ham, prime rib, and leg of lamb

Beef, Veal and Lamb (How America Cooks Today)

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Beef, Veal and Lamb (How America Cooks Today)
Woman's Day
Manufacturer: Sedgewood Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0696023512

Better Homes&Gardens MEAT COOK BOOK Over 400 meat recipes How to buy,store,prepare and serve.

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Better Homes&Gardens MEAT COOK BOOK Over 400 meat recipes How to buy,store,prepare and serve.
EDITORS.
Manufacturer: MEREDITH PRESS #13
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000MAKTAE

Product Description

Over 400 meat recipes.

Eat Right to Be Healthy / How to Cook Vegetables / Meat for the Meal Planner

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Eat Right to Be Healthy / How to Cook Vegetables / Meat for the Meal Planner
Isabell Hoeh
Manufacturer: Ambassador College
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000MG6DYE

How to Buy and Cook Real Meat: Well-Bred, Well-Fed, Well-Hung (Little Book Matters)

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How to Buy and Cook Real Meat: Well-Bred, Well-Fed, Well-Hung (Little Book Matters)
Anthony Worrall Thompson
Manufacturer: Little Books, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1904435084

Book Description

This book is filled with practical, informed advice on buying and cooking all varieties of meat, poultry, and game. Leading chef and passionate campaigner for real meat, Antony Worrall Thompson gives you all the advice you'll need to make an informed choice when buying your favorite cuts of meat. He explains why you should bother to search out corn-fed chicken, what is safe and unsafe, and what to look for on food labels. This reference also contains over 70 easy and delicious meat, poultry, and game recipes—from classic Sunday roasts to the perfect bacon sandwich.

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How to Cook Meat

Manufacturer: Rochester Gas and Electric
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Pamphlet
ASIN: B000HXPWHQ

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How to Cook Meat
Rochester Gas & Electric
Manufacturer: Rochester Gas & Electric
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OSHQKA

MARTHA LOGAN'S MEAT HANDI-BOOK How to Buy, Store and Cook Meat

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MARTHA LOGAN'S MEAT HANDI-BOOK How to Buy, Store and Cook Meat
Martha LOGAN
Manufacturer: Swift Canadian Co. Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000VRS0J0

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Martha Logan's Meat Handi-Book How to buy...store...and cook meat.
Martha Logan
Manufacturer: Swift & Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000R1NTFU

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