Mask Market: A Burke Novel (Burke Novels)

Book Description

They meet in a no–name diner. A shadowy man hands Burke a CD dossier of someone he wants found. Minutes later, as Burke watches from an alley, his client is gunned down by a professional hunter–killer team. Burke slips away, unsure if he’s been spotted. Later, when he examines the dossier, he discovers that the missing woman is Beryl Preston, a girl he’d rescued from a brutal pimp twenty years earlier—when she was only thirteen—and returned to her father. Now he has to find her again—not only because she might be in danger, but also because he has to prove to himself that his rescue mission hadn’t been financed by a predator who wanted his “property” returned. His search will force him to confront a new kind of human ugliness and, finally, to practice the survivalist triage that has marked—and cursed—his life since childhood. In Mask Market, Burke the outlaw investigator finds himself searching for the truth: not only about a girl named Beryl, but also about himself.

This is classic Burke: dark, dangerous, and galvanizing, from the opening scene to the explosive climax.

Customer Reviews:

Pass on Mask Market.......2007-10-03

First, let me say that I Love Andrew Vachss's early books, I agree with most of his social and political viewpoints and admire him as a man, but his writing has reached the point where it just plain stinks. Every new book is just a series of boring conversations between his by now very familiar main characters, conversations which go nowhere and signify nothing. You can always count on a slew of new anecdotes about life in jail and life on the streets. You can count on a plump female character talking about how she needs to lose weight and Burke saying how she doesn't because he digs fat chicks. (okay, Andrew, after all this time we know you like a lady with a little meat on her bones. Stop rubbing that point in our faces) You can also count on a paper-thin "plot" being tossed in as an afterthought, with the plot never being fully realized or explained. I told myself 5 or 6 books ago that I would never read another Vachhs book because at this point, all they do is waste my time. However, I inevitably find myself picking up each new novel and reading it, hoping it will be as good as his earlier works, only to be disappointed every time. Mr. Vachss, here's an idea; instead of trying to crank out a book every year, why not take some time off and come up with a really good plot before you begin writing again? With apologies, from a former---and hopefully future---fan.

Weakest of the Series.......2007-09-17

I am a huge Vachss fan. I really enjoy the Burke series. Mr. Vachss has also had a terrific effect on child abuse and child pornography in this country.

That being said, this is the weakest of all of the Burke novels. It gets extremely preachy. He also spends a lot of time reliving events from past Burke books. This may be due to the fact that he changed publishers, but I don't know. All-in-all, I felt this was an OK story but it bogged down in several places and we got lectures instead of action.

Oh well, they can't all be great--only most of them.

Let's hope "Terminal" is back up to his usual stratospheric heights of excellence.

Still writing winners.......2007-09-07

I discovered the Burke books 16 years ago in a small run down Alaska bookstore. The man behind the counter told me to put down the trash I was reading and take "Flood" on the house. What a gift that book was to me. Vachss doesn't flinch from the reality of the "Children of the Secret." Nor does he waver in his ongoing war against those that hurt children. If you're looking for a hard eged hero who pulls no punches and takes no prisoners, the Burke books deliver. More importantly, the characters evolve and grow over time. This is the case with Mask Market. Burke hasn't lost his edge, though it has softened a bit. Like many of us the character looks back on some decisions and wonders if he would have taken the same action under the same circumstances now. It's this evolution of the Burke character that glues his universe together. Rather than a collection of short stories, the novels read more like excerpts from a complex life peopled by engaging and very real folks. I highly recommend reading the entire series from start to finish. It's an intense ride with a real message. Vachss is more than an author though, he's putting his money and his time where his pen is so to speak. His organization makes a difference in the lives of countless children. Read a Burke novel and if you aren't outraged, you're not listening....

Back to his old stomping grounds.......2007-08-21

After the disappointing Two Trains Running, Vachss returns to Burke and writes the kind of story that beats virtually all other writers out there.

The thing with Vachss is that he tells a story apart from the "mystery". The story is usually about child abuse and he does this extremely well, allows the reader to feel the issues and to help understand where Vachss is coming from - he is without a doubt an extremely important writer.

As for the mystery, well Vachss is not really here to tell a mystery story, it is more of an instructional tale that he weaves. The mystery is secondary and for me, I don't mind if it is a bit messy and unclear, Vachss has already grabbed me with his writings in the first two-thirds of the book.

Recommended.

Maybe it's me but I was bored..........2007-07-24

For the record, I LOVE Burke. I have been reading this series from the begining, and I have really enjoyed most of them. But this last one felt like the odd one out of the bunch, and didn't seem to fit in with his normal "saving a child" books. I hope in the next one coming out in Septemeber, that he goes back to Burke's roots.

Average customer rating:

Mask Market (Burke Novels)
Andrew H. Vachss
Manufacturer: Brilliance Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N678T2

Customer Reviews:

See ya!.......2005-01-09

Since it's inception, X-Treme X-Men has had it's share of up's and down's. Even though it's been scripted by legendary X-Men scribe Chris Claremont, this title really showed his flaws as a writer, and the flaws within the X-Men mythos that Claremont himself is and was responsible for to begin with. Prisoner of Fire, the final collected arc of the series, finds Storm, Shadowcat, Gambit, Rogue, Bishop, Sage, and the rest of the crew on the trail of a genericly written villain that naturally leaves the door open for another encounter. Igor Kordey's art looks more improved than what we have seen on his various stints on New X-Men, but it doesn't have long to impress since this TPB comes to an end rather quickly. Since X-Treme X-Men has come to an end, Claremont has returned to writing Uncanny X-Men and is also the scribe of the newly launched Excalibur book, both of which are currently faring better than almost anything to be found in the entire X-Treme X-Men series.

X-Tremely Tired Ends.......2005-01-01

X-Treme X-Men comes to a close with plenty of loose ends. The bad guy gets away (again). As per usual with X-Treme, the villains are forgettable and hardly credible threats to the X-Men (who are only threatened by mind-controlled members of their own team).
While Kordey finally hit his stride in the book after a painful time growing into it, he doesn't get the chance to show some of the vicious tough action and strong acting evident in his better work (X-Treme X-Men: Storm The Arena and Cable).
This is not a great book. If you want to find some interesting X-Men or Kitty Pryde, try Astonishing X-Men.

Amazon.com

If you've been a yo-yo dieter for years or if you can eat a pound of pasta at one sitting, this book may very well be an eye opener. In simple--but never condescending--language, it explains the roots of carbohydrate cravings and teaches you how to normalize your insulin levels to prevent future food binges. Regulated insulin levels in turn help to temper serotonin levels, so food cravings and mood swings are prevented. The authors, both research scientists (one a health psychologist, the other a pathologist), have lost and kept off a total of 200 pounds between them. They've based this book on nearly a decade's worth of research, during which they've helped nearly 80 percent of their patients lose weight and keep it off for at least a year.

They explain that carbohydrate addicts most commonly crave popcorn, breads, bagels, rice, pasta, potatoes, ice cream, chocolate, pie, cookies, crackers, cake, fruit and fruit juice, potato chips, and pretzels. A questionnaire at the beginning of the book determines if you're indeed a carbohydrate addict, and if so, to what extent. (For those readers whose quiz doesn't indicate addiction, but who are bothered by their food cravings, the authors recommend a doctor's visit for an explanation.) The book includes a diet plan with dozens of easy recipes, a chart of the carbohydrate content of many common foods, and lists of binge triggers to watch for. The most appealing part of the diet--and one reason that it wins raves from its followers--is its once-a-day reward meal, which allows you to eat anything you want. The authors also offer helpful tips for incorporating the diet away from home, such as at parties and restaurants.

Customer Reviews:

Phenomenal book---finally a "diet" I can live with.......2007-08-17

I have tried a vast amount of different diets in an effort both to lose weight as well as to curb my evening (and sometimes all-day) binges --from Atkins to Weight Watchers and everything in between. But The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet (CAD) is postively a miracle worker as I have lost the weight AND the binging in record time! Plus, I feel better than I have in years as I am eating many vegetables and yet still "indulging" at night in some carbs that make me feel human. I really think the Reward Meal is what is so ingenious about this way of life--it lets you eat your favorite foods without feeling deprived which for me was a huge binge trigger.

My typical day of eating looks like this: For breakfast, I'll have an omelette with some goat cheese, thyme, and asparagus along with a cup of coffee and some cream. For lunch, a fresh mozzarella, basil, and tomato salad over spinach greens or perhaps some grilled salmon on a salad with vinaigrette. For a snack, some zucchini "bread" (in "500 More Low-Carb Recipes"--sensational book!) and then for dinner I will have a caesar salad followed by lasagne and some homemade chocolate chip cookies and milk. Delicious day of eating and hardly a "diet" if you ask me--and yet the weight is falling off!

As another bonus, my mood has gotten better and I am more "regular" than ever before--perhaps TMI, but it is true.

Overall, I would rank this book ten stars if I could. The concepts are simple and yet they work wonders--I am a CAD follower for life.

Ummm..........2007-08-13

I read the book and really enjoyed it. I tried the diet and could not stick with it. I think I really felt more hungry during this diet than on any other day. I think this could probably really work for other people but I am not a big meat, cheese, egg eater. I also just find the idea of being able to eat as many carbs as you want at one time a little questionable.

Its A Lifestyle Come True.......2007-07-08

This is a perfect way of life. I lost 10 pounds the first week on this diet. Then I lost like 5 Lbs The next. I enjoy foods like cheeseburgers, pizzas, cakes, pastas, my rice. It is all good. I lost 15.2 Lbs in Total. Its Great!

Just Getting Started.......2007-06-20

I had weight loss surgery almost 4 years ago. In the last year, I have gained 19 lbs back. I took the CAD test and I am a moderate addict. So I am going to give this book a try. I will keep everyone posted.

Carbo Addict review.......2007-06-12

This is an interesting book, for those of us who buy and borrow diet books. I am pretty sure I could be a chapter of this book! I wish they would do an update of this book as it was published years ago and I am pretty sure a lot of things are out of date since they did their research. I'm not sure it would be an easy diet to follow but if you are addicted to carbs I think it sure is worth trying. What have you got to lose? If this works so well and has been around for years, why haven't we heard about this diet lately?

The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet : The Lifelong Solution to Yo-Yo Dieting

Average customer rating:

The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet : The Lifelong Solution to Yo-Yo Dieting
Rachael F.; Heller, Richard F. Heller
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet: The Lifelong Solution to Yo-Yo Dieting (Signet)

ASIN: B000NY8LM2

Average customer rating:

The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet : The Lifelong Solution to Yo-Yo Dieting
Rachael F.; Heller, Richard F. Heller
Manufacturer: Penguin Books Canada, Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NY1IKY

Carbohydrate Addict's Diet: The Lifelong Solution to Yo-yo Dieting, The

Average customer rating:

Carbohydrate Addict's Diet: The Lifelong Solution to Yo-yo Dieting, The
Rachel and Richard Heller Heller
Manufacturer: Dutton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000K1XS6W

Book Description

The inspirational diet program for followers of Overeaters Anonymous.

Customer Reviews:

An exciting way to lose weight and gain friends!!.......2006-03-10

Overeater's Anonymous is still working for thousands of recovering compulsive overeaters. This book shows some of the ways it has helped many people lose weight and keep it off.

The choice is yours: A practical guide to take off and keep off pounds sensibly

Average customer rating:

The choice is yours: A practical guide to take off and keep off pounds sensibly
Ahmed Kissebah
Manufacturer: TOPS Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006E8VLA

Controlled cheating: The Fats Goldberg take it off, keep it off diet program

Average customer rating:

Controlled cheating: The Fats Goldberg take it off, keep it off diet program
Larry Goldberg
Manufacturer: DoubleDay
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

The New Controlled Cheating Weight-Loss and Fitness Program: Or How I Lost 175 Pounds and Kept It Off for 32 Years
Shrink Yourself: Break Free from Emotional Eating Forever

ASIN: 0385173792

Average customer rating:

the choice is yours, a practical guide to take off and keep off pounds sensibly
tops
Manufacturer: tops
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JPXVYS

HTE 60-DAY DIET DIARY a Weight-loss Workbook That Helps You Take it Off and keep it off!

Average customer rating:

HTE 60-DAY DIET DIARY a Weight-loss Workbook That Helps You Take it Off and keep it off!
Karen Kreps
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JVK8DE

Average customer rating:

Take It Off and Keep It Off

Manufacturer: Prentice Hall
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: 0138828520

Average customer rating:

Take It Off and Keep It Off
Mjf Books
Manufacturer: MJF Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Reference | Subjects | Books
Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 156731337X

Take It Off and Keep It Off: A Behavioral Program for Weight Loss and Healthy Living (A Spectrum Book)

Average customer rating:

Take It Off and Keep It Off: A Behavioral Program for Weight Loss and Healthy Living (A Spectrum Book)
D. Balfour Jeffrey , and Roger C. Katz
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0138828601

Take It Off and Keep It Off: Secrets for Permanent Weight Loss

Average customer rating:

Take It Off and Keep It Off: Secrets for Permanent Weight Loss
Steinberg
Manufacturer: Random House Inc (P)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 067975086X

Average customer rating:

Art Ulene lends balance and sanity to weight loss

Take It Off! Keep It Off! (Health)
Art Ulene
Manufacturer: Ulysses Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books

General | Nutrition | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books
Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 1569750254

Customer Reviews:

Art Ulene lends balance and sanity to weight loss.......1997-05-18

With the plethora of weight-loss books available, all hawking their individual programs and special approaches, it's nice to see some real balance and sense in this important aspect of health. Dr. Ulene bases his program on three basic principles that are easy to follow. Guided by these, one month will bring the overweight individual to a new awareness of eating habits and ways to change these and maintain them. This paperback is a bit scant on detail, leaving much to the motivated reader, but it provides enough to get the overweight person started on a healthy approach to living the rest of his/her life without excess pounds, without living a monastic life or complicated food combining or macrobiotic regimens. Worth the read and easy to take!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books