Cold Hit (A Shane Scully Novel)

Book Description

BETWEEN A COLD WARShane Scully has found his footing while his partner is going down in flames and a serial murderer rattles L.A... Each corpse has been mysteriously defiled. Then, in the middle of the hunt, Scully gets an idea that may cost him his life.AND COLD, HARD TRUTHS....Scully suspects that someone with inside information has neatly "hidden" one murder inside this messy serial killer case. His copycat theory ignites a crossfire between LAPD and the Feds.IS A WHITE-HOT CASE OF MURDER.Now Scully knows he has a ten-year-old cop-killing to clear, while two street-smart detectives lead him into a secret world of international espionage and a powerful counter-terrorism chief from the top of the U.S. government warns him away. To do his job, Scully must risk everything-unraveling the mystery of a Cold War act of betrayal, a brutal street crime, and a killer just waiting to hit again...."As the case spirals outward from local crime to international espionage dating back to the 1980s, the action rarely lets up. When it does, we're reintroduced to the back story that is one of the pleasures of reading the Scully series."Los Angeles Times

Customer Reviews:

Better than average crime novel.......2007-02-19

I'm surprised that we haven't seen Shane Scully on the big screen yet. Stephen Cannell writes crime fiction that is action packed, filled with smart-alec humor, and enough twists and turns to keep the reader turning pages. As strange as it sounds, one of the things I like most about this novel is that Shane Scully, as likeable as he is, can be a real jerk sometimes. I know this sounds odd, but it is refreshingly real. So many fictional cops (I'm talking about you Alex Cross) are annoyingly perfect. Shane is a rough and tumble guy who doesn't pull any punches, always has a witty comeback, and is tenacious when it comes to finding the truth. But he's also a hot head who makes mistakes and who finds that his tolerance for pain isn't nearly as high as he would like it to be.

The plot: Shane and his partner are investigating a serial murder case when they discover that the gun that killed one of their victims was used to kill a cop a decade earlier. This cold hit leads Scully to a suspect with ties to the old KGB and the Russian mob and puts Shane in the crosshairs of the FBI and Homeland Security who seem intent on derailing his investigation in the interest of National Security.

While Cannell's novels fall short of Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch novels (Harry treads on the same LAPD ground), novels like Cold Hit and Vertical Coffin are entertaining to read. In Cold Hit, Cannell offers readers more than just another crime novel. He tackles some difficult issues as well. Shane must deal with his partner's downward spiral as he battles alcohol and suicide, the grinding bureaucracy of the LAPD (which his wife Alexa is a part of), and the frightening abuse of power that is the Patriot Act.

Cannell uses Cold Hit as a platform to rail against the Patriot Act. This may be valid enough (I'm Canadian - so of course I think so), but it results in some awkward unnatural sounding dialogue as the characters debate its pros and cons. While Scully is a well rounded character, much of the supporting cast is filled with stereo-types(like the arrogant FBI agent who assumes control of the investigation)

These are minor complaints though. Cold Hit is a solid thriller. Fans of Cannell and Shane Scully will not be disappointed.

A Gripping Look at the Perils of the Patriot Act.......2007-01-13

Like many of today's best novelists, Stephen J. Cannell has a political agenda to exploit in telling his story. Many people don't yet realize that the Patriot Act provides the kind of unlimited government powers that the 13 original colonies decided to separate from by revolution. If you put enough arrogant people in place who don't know what they are doing, the results can be pretty distressing. That's the major message of this book.

If you are looking for a police procedural, you'll find this story mainly interesting for its development of two key characters, Shane Scully and his partner, by the actions they take (or don't take). You'll feel like both characters are interesting and that what they do mostly rings true. For the rest of the characters, it's mostly card board and cameo roles. The investigation is severely compromised from the beginning by press interest, political pressure and police bureaucracy. Many of the "breaks" in the case seem a little dubious in terms of their probabilities.

If you are like me, you'll think that a "cold hit" is an assassination done for money (or something like that). In police parlance, a cold hit is an identification of a weapon used in two separate crimes . . . separated by some time. The ballistics evidence in this case gradually points the investigation in the right direction.

I found the plot development to be noteworthy in a couple of ways. First, Scully is allowed to be a human being . . . with weaknesses, mistakes, distractions and other limitations. Second, we get to find out what he's like outside of work.

I'm not sure that the plot complication of having Scully ultimately working for his wife is credible and valuable for story-telling, but you have to admit that it's an unusual approach.

Ultimately, the book succeeds because Mr. Cannell is a solid story teller who knows how to get our attention with unexpected events and confrontations that move the plot along at an ever stronger pace.

Fifth Book In Shane Scully Detective Series Is A Solid Hit.......2006-10-18

Shane Scully has reached detective level III in Homicide Special division, run under Lieutenant Alexa Scully, who is also Shane's beautiful wife. Shane gets called out of bed on one of his cases, a serial murderer tagged as "The Fingertip Killer" because he clips the fingers off his victims. But first, he needs to pick up his old partner whom he had tagged up with again. This time, rather than Zack covering for Shane, Shane finds himself covering for Zack.

Investigating this victim of "The Fingertip Killer" gets a little squeaky when Shane finds some discrepancies. For one thing, the bullet is left behind allowing for a ballistics trace, and the bum who was the target has some strange items on his person for a homeless person. Is this a real "Fingertip" killing, or is Shane facing a copycat?

New pressure comes down when its discovered the bullet matches ballistics on a ten year old cop murder. Plus, with the serial aspect increasing an abrasive, toughened FBI agent is assigned to lead the team under the new Homeland Security Act because one of the street bums turned out to be a wanted Russian agent.

Shane seems likes he's trapped by bureaucracy from all sides until he sidles in with a pair of CTB Intelligence officers named Roger Broadway, a sleek and slick aristocratic black man and Emdee Perry, a trash talking redneck. With this unlikely mutt-and-jeff team, Scully may just have a chance.

But as usual something goes wrong, and knowing Shane and Alexa, it will boil all the way to the top of the blackened pot before the creeps come crawling out of the woodwork.
I love Stephen J. Cannell's 'Scully' series because there is never a dry or dull moment in them. Extra-ordinarily fast-paced entertainment that grabs you by the collar and doesn't let go until it has drug you through the last dregs of the sleazy societies Shane and Alexa investigate.

Using very precise and tight prose, Cannell manages to get a great deal across to the reader using vivid scenes without sacrificing speed or characterizations. Shane, Alexa, and their son Chooch are real people, and you will know Broadway and Perry well enough to sit down and talk awhile by the time the book is finished. It always amazes me how full and rich Cannell's books are without stuffiness, boredom, or excessive length. Keep writing, Stephen! Enjoy!

Strictly routine.......2006-08-25

I consider the Rockford Files one of the best TV shows ever. A lot of that is due to its star, James Garner, but credit also needs to go to Stephen J. Cannell, who created and helped write the series. Cannell is responsible for a lot of other TV shows (including Hunter, Wiseguy and the A-Team), but of late he has been more focused on mystery writing. Based on my fondness for his TV work, I should be inclined to enjoy his books, but they actually rate from just above average to barely adequate; if these were graded in school, the best would be a B. Cold Hit gets a C-minus, or put in Amazon terms, barely three stars.

Cold Hit is around the sixth book in the Shane Scully series (admittedly, I have only read three or four of them). In this volume, Scully is lead investigator in the hunt for a serial killer known for cutting off the fingers of his victims (hence hindering investigation). As the story opens, a new body has been found, but Scully suspects a copycat due to certain distinctions from previous crimes. Unfortunately, he is getting nowhere and the FBI is being called in to take over. In addition to this, Scully's partner is going off the deep end with increasingly risky (and drunken) behavior.

Although Scully is cast into a subordinate position, he still comes up with some important clues that indicate the involvement of some Russians. This stirs up a whole nest of problems, with the result that Scully winds up locking horns with Homeland Security people; in such a battle, the odds are really against Scully, since the Feds are willing to use all sorts of secretive, Patriot Act allowed acts to enforce their will.

Ominously, the gravest perils that Scully faces are not from the killer but rather from the government figures. The serial killer (and the supposed copycat) are rather remote figures (until the end of the book), but the danger that looms over Scully is the possibility that he is constantly being monitored and may suddenly be arrested and held without charges or representation, and it may all be legal.

Cannell's rather effective indictment of the Patriot Act (and related laws) and the extremes it can allow in the name of national security is watered down by the fact that the story itself is not all that well written. While some of the cliched and rather shallow characters (for example, the arrogant FBI agent who takes over and dismisses the input of the local cops) may fit well in a standard TV crime drama, they are lacking in a novel. The plot itself is rather standard, although there is one decently clever twist towards the end. What I kept thinking of is Michael Connelly's far superior Harry Bosch stories that are also police procedurals involving an L.A. homicide detective: this book falls far short of that standard. Cannell's competent enough to keep this from being a truly bad book, but he can't make it good either. This book should only be read if you're a Cannell fan; otherwise, you're better off with some other author such as Connelly.

Cannell's Latest a Look at Patriot's Act!.......2006-07-21

"We the People Considers the Patriots' Act" might very well be the title of an important essay that should be written by an individual much more knowledgeable than I. Instead it is my way of introducing you to two books that have made significant impressions on me during the past month.

We the People by Adolph Caso has been a troubling, perplexing text for me to assimilate. Although I am not an avid "student" of America's history, I was nevertheless appalled to learn for the first time in my life about Cesare Beccaria and his role in our history. Indeed, I had never heard of his essay, "Crimes and Punishments."

We are all aware that there are laws under which we, the people, are judged and punished daily. But have we any significant background and/or knowledge of those laws? Have we any significant understanding of the philosophies that guided America in its formative years. I, for one, admit I did not.

Yet, the truths in Beccaria's book have been incorporated in the constitutions of practically all European countries, as well as America. Indeed, in America where there is a great need to co-exist amongst many immigrants, it required much more. "The extent to which Beccaria's observation served to cause the Founding Fathers to opt for "We, the People" over "We, the States" may never be completely known. But that the Constitution was supposed to be the supreme law of the land has certainly come to fruition. It is this kind of law, a law that aims at the single individual rather than at units, that Beccaria was principally concerned with, it being the means to regulate the activities of men and to assure them their happiness on earth." (P.288).

How can we ever attain a government of the people when we, as individuals are not taught our responsibilities? If we are not taught to take responsibility for our actions, if we are not provided an opportunity to learn what response will occur when we act irresponsibly, how are we to survive? "Among the richest to the poorest ...from the lowliest positions to the highest offices in the land--including in the courts and with judges, ministers, politicians, lawyers and every other profession--responsibility needs to be taught, emphasized and enforced, without which we end up with mayhem and ultimately destroying ourselves." (Dick Innes, Founder/ Director of ACTS International and ACTS Communications, Daily Encounter, July 13, 2006.)

While reading and studying, yes, studying, the text of We the People, I picked up a novel by one of my favorite storytellers, Stephen T. Cannell. Who of us has not seen a picture of him on TV, at the end of one of his major dramas, excitingly tearing out a sheet of paper from his typewriter and having it fly away until his next program of the A-Team (my favorite) The Rockford Files, The Commish, et. al. Thus, in my usual anticipation of a good suspense story, I opened Cold Hit.

As with many of today's major authors, Cannell has taken an issue and created a drama that helps us learn about and see the possible and probable ramifications of what is happening in today's America. In Cold Hit, Cannell calls our attention to the Patriots' Act. Was it that I had already been studying We the People, or was it the drama and reality of Cold Hit? However absorbing the storyline of Cold Hit, it brought fiction into reality for me as I watched Cannell put the Patriots' Act into action.

What if, under the USA Patriot Act, federal bureaucrats could take murder cases away from local cops--then bury those cases so they're never investigated again?

What if government agents could bug your home, your car, and your place of business--your entire life--with nothing more than spoken permission from a secret panel of judges?

What if the Department of Homeland Security could pull police officers off the street and hold them in cells indefinitely as material witnesses--because they're working on "sensitive" investigations?

They Can. . .(from the book cover)

I thank Cannell for writing Cold Hit to explain through fictional narrative the ramifications of the Patriots' Act! If you also were unaware of the extent of powers granted under the Patriots' Act, you will come to realize and question whether we are still a government of The People...

Adoph Caso has brought together the major significant documents from America's past. His inclusion of "Essays on Crime and Punishments" was entirely new to me. Yes, I can recall learning about our government, how bills and laws are formulated. I had learned and memorized "We the People of the United States, in order to formulate a more..." as is normally required in our schools. But I had never learned one word about "Crimes and Punishments." Even as I read, I was asking others, "do you recall ever learning about...?"

Why have we been taught basic guidelines, what you might call, our Policies? But never really trained in our procedures--the basics about our laws, crimes and punishments? How can an Act, such as the Patriots' Act be implemented without "We the People" fully understanding what that could mean to each of us?

Perhaps instead of two book reviews, I have actually written a short essay...but it is one that is based upon what I have learned by reading these two books. This is insufficient coverage of the books' content, perhaps, but is it not a goal of every writer to have a reader absorb and take something away from each book? That I have done! If you are concerned about our nation and what is happening today, take first a look at the past with We the People by Adolph Caso, to gain a better understanding of the philosophy behind our crimes and punishments. Then, read novels by individuals such as Stephen J. Cannell with Cold Hit, who research and tell you about events and actions that could very well affect the rest of your life!

Both of these books, in my opinion, should be on your permanent/keep bookshelf as Must Reads!

"The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it." --James Bryce

Shane Scully Series; The Tin Collectors, The Viking Funeral, Hollywood Tough, Vertical Coffin, Cold Hit, White Sister, (Set of 6 Mystery Novels)

Average customer rating:

Shane Scully Series; The Tin Collectors, The Viking Funeral, Hollywood Tough, Vertical Coffin, Cold Hit, White Sister, (Set of 6 Mystery Novels)
Stephen J. Cannell
Manufacturer: St. Martins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000W0K0SU

Customer Reviews:

aa time favorite.......2007-05-17

In my opinion one of the all time science fiction classics,along with Radix.You can skip the other two of the quadralogy.The story and the science are top notch.attanasio at the top of his game.I recommend this to all science fiction buffs and a great introduction to the work of Mr.Attanasio.

A wonderful epic, large in imagination and scope........2007-02-09

The last legends of earth is a wonderfully fantastical story were the classical limitations of time and space are broken. Aliens of the future interact in a bid for god-like supremacy long after the civilizations of man have been lost in the dust. Humans become the fodder for spider-like beings and a battle for human freedom ensues. The worlds Attanasio describes are imaginative and timeless. This is a story is a classic Sci-fi adventure but also has retains a sense of humanity, love and the human spirit. This is one of my favorite books by the author; I also recommend his Arthurian series.

Best of the Radix Tetralogy.......2007-01-04

In my opinion, this is (along with the first book in the Tetralogy, Radix) one of the finest sci-fi/fantasy novels written in the past 30 years. It's a rollicking good time, with good vs evil, heroes and villains, interesting scientific concepts, a romance that even manly men could appreciate, and a tempo that speeds up and slows down at just the right times.

Heavily influenced by Lovecraft, Attanasio writes stuff that is not intended to be the joy of English majors or grammar prudes but is deeply fascinating and tells great, highly imaginative stories. This book is no exception. If character is the end-all and be-all of literature to you (ugh!) and story and plot are less interesting to you, then you may not find most of Attanasio's work to your tastes, although his characters are certainly believable. Certainly in LLoE there are some highly interesting characters to add to a mind blowing story that spans billions of years.

After having read the original book in the tetralogy, Radix, when it came out so many years ago, and being so impressed by it, I was disappointed by the next two books in the series. They were interesting but lacked stories that sucked you in. Not so with LLoE, which is a page turner of the highest order. I don't think you'd have to be a sci-fi fantasy buff to appreciate it, but if you are it's one of the best. It certainly has one of the most evil races of monsters in ALL of literature, the zotl. If you can read about them and not get the creeps, you should probably be in an institution somewhere.

In fact, if all you read of the tetralogy were Radix and LLoE, you would be well served, but you might want to read the others for the sake of completeness.

His use of language is appalling.......2006-03-06

I'm quite astonished at the positive reviews this book is getting. I'm very picky about the science in my science fiction, and this author, while coming up with an interesting and perhaps plausible premise, misuses scientific terminology in a way that makes it hard for me to suspend my disbelief. But the most egregious offense, in my opinion, is the frequent and blatant misuse of language in general. A phrase like "in the crapulous shadows" is a good example from the book -- "crapulous" means "frequently overindulging in food and alcohol", resulting in a phrase that makes no sense. I run into this about every other page or so. It was so appalling that I almost stopped reading, but now it's really quite funny, and I'm finishing the book just to see what other crazy phrases he can come up with.
The characters are minimally developed, and the storyline seems thrown together, as if twists and turns arise not out of any character-driven motive, but out of the author's wish to just keep coming up with random cool stuff. And the extremely florid and often misused language tends to jolt me out of any semblance of getting truly involved in the story. But if you like that sort of thing, then this book is for you.

Attanasio's best, one of the best SF books I have read.......2005-03-01

Two races fight an intergalactic war. One race use resurrected "lesser" species to trap the enemy. The latest of these is the long dead human race. Unknowing the humans love, fight, make plans, and go on quests that will become epics. However, the war does not stop and a crisis develops, now sooner or later humanity's minor role, and ultimate, fate must be revealed.

The Last Legends of the Earth (Signed First Edition, Leather Bound)

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The Last Legends of the Earth (Signed First Edition, Leather Bound)

Manufacturer: Easton Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000GEUSZ2

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LAST LEGENDS OF EARTH
A. A. Attanasio
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N6KOXE

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The Last Legends of Earth
A.A. ATTANASIO
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OPEFK2

Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct
Average customer rating:

Excellent book on increasing civility

A must read for everyone.

Keep, Share, and Discuss this book

Give this to the rude folks in your life.

Good rules but not very concise.

Choosing Civility: The Twenty-five Rules of Considerate Conduct
P. M. Forni
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Griffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Self-Help | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0312302509

Book Description

Most people would agree that thoughtful behavior and common decency are in short supply, or simply forgotten in hurried lives of emails, cellphones, and multi-tasking. In Choosing Civility, P. M. Forni identifies the twenty-five rules that are most essential in connecting effectively and happily with others. In clear, witty, and, well...civilized language, Forni covers topics that include: * Think Twice Before Asking Favors* Give Constructive Criticism* Refrain from Idle Complaints* Respect Others' Opinions* Don't Shift Responsibility and Blame* Care for Your Guests * Accept and Give PraiseFinally, Forni provides examples of how to put each rule into practice and so make life-and the lives of others-more enjoyable, companionable, and rewarding.Choosing Civility is a simple, practical, perfectly measured, and quietly magical handbook on the lost art of civility and compassion.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book on increasing civility.......2007-09-24

This is an excellent book on courtesy in our everyday interactions. I think if everyone practiced Forni's 25 suggestions, both public and private life would go more smoothly.

A must read for everyone........2007-03-08

While this book might identify behaviors you have been using since childhood, it may open your eyes to some of the more inconsiderate conduct that goes on in your life. It not only explains how one should act, it discusses how you can deal with the conduct of others, and how to encourage civility all around you.

Keep, Share, and Discuss this book.......2007-01-14

It was intriguing to read that a major university had instituted a course of study on civility, but easy to understand when reading news stories of parent fights at their childrens' athletic events, rude treatment of customers in business establishments, etc. Dr. Forni suggests this principle:"a crucial measure of success in life is the way we treat one another every day of our lives".While stating that he is not a "flawlessly civil person", Dr. Forni describes a multitude of behaviors to display kindness and courtesy while not compromising our identity. Though the rules may seem simplistic, the simplicity is its strength.

Give this to the rude folks in your life........2006-11-05

Are you sick and tired of saying hello to someone in the morning and being ignored? Need some way to respond when someone offers advice that you didn't ask for? Have co-workers who are whiners and complainers? This book has some nice guidelines to follow, and offers some reasons we should not respond in kind when people are rude to us. This is a good one to leave in the office lunchroom if you think the right people would even recognize themselves in the scenarios. Not preachy; just good common sense.

Good rules but not very concise........2006-01-16

While full of good advice that all of us need to be aware of and follow, the 25 rules are accompanied by much fluff that I feel add little.

I enjoyed the many supporting quotes interspersed throughout the text.

But if I have to read the word 'intercolotur' one more time I will probably mutter something quite uncivil. :)

Choosing Civility: The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate Conduct

Average customer rating:

Choosing Civility: The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate Conduct
P. M. Forni
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OTJROW

Conscious Cuisine: A New Style of Cooking from the Kitchens of Chef Cary Neff
Average customer rating:

Original!!! Not your usual low-fat cooking

Excellent book for foodies trying to eat well

This book is AMAZING, don't skip this one

Blending Thai, Mediterranean and other influences

A "must-have" for active recipe and cookbook collections

Conscious Cuisine: A New Style of Cooking from the Kitchens of Chef Cary Neff
Cary Neff
Manufacturer: Sourcebooks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1570719268

Book Description

Good for the body doesn't mean bad for the soul. From the top-rated spa, Conscious Cuisine is bold new methods fused with vibrant fresh tastes to create extraordinary food.

"Chef Cary Neff's passion for purity utterly oozes from the pages. His recipes are extremely healthy--better still, they explode with bold flavor. I would recommend this innovative work to anyone who wants to eat well." --Charlie Trotter, Chef and Owner of Charlie Trotter's Restaurant **Check on this label**AUTHORCOMMENTS:From Chef Cary Neff "Cooking is one of the most memorable, creative, romantic and caring gestures you can make for another or for yourself. Whether it's a simple bowl of cereal for breakfast or a several-course feast to celebrate a special occasion, great food created with love and care nourishes the heart.

The goal of Conscious Cuisine is to encourage you to become more conscious and mindful of the food you eat and prepare. It is a simple act of noticing and embracing the unique flavors, textures, aromas, presentation and healthy benefits that food provides.

Conscious Cuisine provides you with recipes and techniques that will help you discover new healthful foods, cooking methods and nutritional awareness. Cooking terminology is explained to help you better understand how professional chefs adapt new recipes with ease. You too will learn to cook with confidence, creating sinfully delicious foods without the use of excessive fats and calories.

I have also included a full nutritional analysis of each recipe to illustrate the benefits of Conscious Cuisine. I'm certain you will enjoy the descriptive and colorful photos that come alive within the pages, demonstrating to you that Conscious Cuisine is as visually appealing as it is delicious.

I also have included information on: how to shop seasonally for food; how to outfit your kitchen with healthful foods; how to procure hard-to-find natural ingredients; choosing the foods that are the least processed; learning some of the countless ways of preparing vegetables and whole grains; complementing meals with animal proteins rather than having them as the main ingredient.

It is my hope that Conscious Cuisine will unleash for you new approaches to cooking and eating every day and that it will open your senses to new possibilities."

Customer Reviews:

Original!!! Not your usual low-fat cooking.......2007-05-20

I own about 120 cookbooks and I peruse several cookbooks a week at libraries and bookstores. This cookbook is outstanding and ORIGINAL!!! Chef Neff goes far beyond routine, low-fat techniques. Every recipe has both complete nutritional information and a beautiful photograph demonstrating how to present the dish to its best advantage.

Chef Neff is truly a master of his craft.

Excellent book for foodies trying to eat well.......2007-01-26

I should first preface this by saying I love food. I love reading about it, cooking it at home, eating it in restaurants, etc. However, I've recognized that since I have graduated from college and now have a more sedentary lifestyle that I can no longer eat the rich foods and large portion sizes that I used to. Thus, I have started looking to "Cooking Light" and other healthy cooking resources to help guide my menus. My biggest frustration with most healthy cookbooks is that the dishes lack flavor and feel like your standard Betty Crocker fare, rather than something you would expect to see in a nice restaurant. This book is exactly the opposite. What I love about it is that in opening it up almost every recipe appealled to me, and yet I was shocked by how healthful it all could be! It's great if you want to make something restaurant quality at home but don't want all the extra fat and calories. Everything I have made so far has been very tasty and of a quality that I would present to dinner guests. There is also a good variety so you can get a lot of interesting meals out of this book. The only downside for me is the portion sizes on the salad dressings and condiments. Many of these sound absolutely delicious and would be amazing to use, but they make 2 or so cups of dressing that only lasts for 2 to 3 days in the fridge. Unfortunately, some of the recipes do not half well so they aren't the smartest option for a single woman like me who doesn't want food to go bad. I do, however, like that he indicates which items freeze well since there are a lot of delicious sauces I plan to make and then freeze in an ice cube tray to use for later. Overall this is a great book. I checked it out from the library thinking I would only like 1 or 2 recipes and now am planning to buy it for myself.

This book is AMAZING, don't skip this one.......2006-04-18

I love this book so much that I don't know where to start.

To put this review into perspective for you, it is written by an amateur cook that has been seriously studying cooking on her own for 25 years. My favorite cookbook is "The Professional Chef", this book ties for second place with "Healthy Techniques by the CIA".

Anyone can make a dish taste better by adding cream, butter, eggs or sugar. But when someone can take most of things away and still come up with food that you want to eat, all I can say is WOW. If I could nominate this man for sainthood I would.

First, I love that the chef gives you nutritional information on every recipe. If you are a numbers geek like me, you just need to know the calories, fat, saturated fat, etc. in each recipe.

Second, anyone that can come up with a Caesar salad dressing with 25 calories in 2 tablespoons, and make it take good, is a genius in my book.

There has not been a single recipe from this book that wasn't at least good. And given the numbers (nutritional information) that is really saying something. If you want to really be blown away there is a Chilled Chocolate Souffle with a Berry Consomme (230 calories) that is mind blowing.

On the down side, some of the recipes in this book are a little labor intensive. If you don't get pleasure from cooking this might not be the book for you. However, if you relax by cooking and love to learn new techniques I highly recommend this book. I would have given it more than 5 stars if that were an option. This book is definitely at least an 11 on a 10 scale.

Blending Thai, Mediterranean and other influences.......2005-12-07

Chef/author Cary Neff wasn't born to the cooking class; he was a Chicago kid raised to love football who developed a love of food and made a name for himself with unique, bold recipes. Conscious Cuisine reflects his move from rich cooking to healthier cooking - still packed with his signature flavors. Blending Thai, Mediterranean and other influences, Conscious Cuisine promotes not just healthy recipes, but a lifestyle which embraces the bold flavor over the fat content. The goal is for all busy cooks to understand the conscious choices in shopping and cooking habits: chapters reflect this philosophy through shopping tips as well as recipes.

A "must-have" for active recipe and cookbook collections.......2005-06-08

Conscious Cuisine: A New Style Of Cooking From The Kitchens Of Chef Cary Neff is a cookbook that dares to present recipes which are not only healthy and nutritious, but also sensationally tasty and meant to be savored. Created by the head chef of Miraval Life in Balance Resort and Spa specifically to provide customers with nutritionally balanced dishes that did not sacrifice visual appeal or gustatory pleasure, Conscious Cuisine recipes include such culinary delights as Tomato-Roasted Garlic Soup, Crisp Shrimp and Vegetable Spring Rolls with Edamame Ragout, Lemon Mousse Cake, and so many more. Full-color photographs, detailed instructions for home cooks of all skill and experience levels, and above all, a passion for creating healthy and delicious dishes distinguish Conscious Cuisine as a "must-have" for active recipe and cookbook collections.

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