Dying To Meet You (Samantha Shaw Mysteries)

Customer Reviews:

Much Improved.......2004-06-20

This second installment of the series is much improved from the first one.

Sam is still no Stephanie Plum, but she's not nearly as annoying and unlikeable as the first book. Sure she still does stupid things that put herself and those around her in danger, but there seems to be a little more believability to the things she does. And her transformation from soccer mom to slut isn't beat over your head like it was in the last book.

The supporting cast really should be fleshed out a bit more. I'm not wild about Gabe and think that Vance has much more potential as a suitor. Barney has the promise to be a terrific character, a more toned-down version of the over-the-top Grandma Mazur. And even Sam's mother has the potential to be fun.

There were still some little things that bugged me in the book, but they were mostly from an editing standpoint. Early in the book, Sam tells us that she keeps pepper spray on her keyring. About three pages later, she gets herself into trouble and reaches for her keyring, "where I keep a canister of pepper spray." You just told us that...I can figure out why you're reaching for your keyring. I also found it highly annoying and lazy that throughout the book, the author misspelled "Acura" as "Accura."

Looking forward to the next book in the series.

A client is murdered, could they be after the dating svc?.......2003-09-02

Samantha Shaw bought Heart Mates, a dating service, after her husband died of a peanut allergy as a tribute of their love. They'd met there. Then she discovered that for 13 years she'd been married to a drug dealer who collected women's panties. He was murdered by one of his mistresses. And he'd planned to run out on her and their two sons with a half-million dollars of stolen drug money.

Now she is mentoring Faye Miller. She is helping her launch her business Faye's Printing and Design by having her design and print advertising brochures for Heart Mates. When Samantha shows up at Faye's motel room for their breakfast meeting, she finds Faye dead, murdered. Samantha did some investigating into her husband's murder and Detective Vance makes her promise she won't get involved in this murder.

Adam Miller, Faye's husband, asks Samantha to look into Faye's murder. He is their number one suspect and he swears he didn't do it. He wasn't happy Faye had gone to Heart Mates, but they were separated and he now swears he finally agreed to the divorce. He was at Faye's the night she was murdered, but other cars were seen outside her room as well.

With the help of Samantha's grandpa, he's a whiz on the internet, and working under her sexy boyfriend Gabe's PI licence, Samantha begins to poke around. Detective Vance is not happy and tries to stop her at every turn. But as Samantha gets deeper into the investigation, she puts herself and others in danger.

This is one of the best new series around. I love the sexual tension between Samantha and Gabe. I wonder if this author didn't write romances before. It gives enough details, but doesn't go too far.

Her grandpa is a great character too. He was a magician before he retired and has so many magician friends and can find out information from the computer. Samantha often doesn't want to know how or where he got the information!

Her mother is another great character. She is always trying to get Samantha to sell the dating service and become a realtor like her. Samantha has no interest in becoming a realtor but her mother just doesn't get it.

I highly recommend this book. It is a fun, fast read and leaves you wanting more!

Good new series potential..........2003-06-07

Samantha Shaw stumbles into a murder investigation when she discovers Faye, a friend and client of Heart Mates, Samantha's dating agency, strangled in a hotel room. This is the second time Samantha has been involved in a murder investigation-the first was the murder of her husband, during which Samantha discovered some unwelcome truths about her marriage. Thrust into creating a new life for herself and her two sons, she runs a dating agency, reviews romance writers, and dabbles in private investigations. As part of this earlier investigation, Samantha developed an acrimonious relationship with the local police department, and gained a new boyfriend-a younger, handsome stud named Gabe.

The plot of Dying to Meet You focuses on finding Faye's killer among the citizens of their small town. Suspects include Faye's estranged husband, the married man Faye had an affair with, his wife, and the partner of someone Faye met through the dating agency. Samantha becomes involved to clear Faye's husband of suspicion, and relies on Gabe's private investigation business to attempt to legalize her work. The romance between Gabe and Samantha is complicated by Samantha's growing attraction to a new police officer in town-one who writes romance novels in his spare time!

Well written for the cozy genre, Dying to Meet You is a quick and easy read. Some unfortunate plot elements and awkward handling disturb the flow and are inconsistent with the characters personalities and intelligence. The Samantha Shaw character has great potential to develop into an intelligent, madcap heroine series.

Good new series potential..........2003-06-07

AN ENTERTAINING MIX OF CRIME AND COMEDY.......2003-05-15

Jennifer Apodaca's first foray into the writing world of light hearted mysteries, Dating Can Be Murder, was a rousing success. With heroine Samantha Shaw she had created a protagonist to whom we can all relate - by turns upbeat and angry, incorrigible and adorable.

Readers were eager to see what Sam would be up to next - now we know.

Remember that Sam runs a dating service, Heart Mates; she's divorced with a current heart throb named Gabe, a private investigator. Things are running smoothly or so she thinks until she finds a most unexpected surprise - the dead body of her once client, Faye Miller.

Sam knows better than to get involved in the solving of this murder, but she does anyway because the media ties Heart Mates to the killing. After reading through Faye's files she finds several promising suspects: a jealous husband, and a former date, Dominic Danger.

Bad enough that Sam has to try to defend her business but she also has to put up with the insufferably sexist, braggadocios Detective Logan Vance. She doesn't need antagonists, but she does need all the help she can get or she may wind up just as dead as Faye.

Another mixture of crime and comedy from the promising Jennifer Apodaca.

- Gail Cooke

Dying to Meet You
Average customer rating:
Dying to Meet You
B.M. Gill
Manufacturer: Bantam Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O5RV62

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Why Isn't This A Movie?!

Great read!

I thought I knew who the murderer was. I was wrong.

Dying to Meet You
Amy Talford
Manufacturer: Overmountain Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
General | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1570721947

Customer Reviews:

Why Isn't This A Movie?!.......2004-09-14

I was looking for a good read this summer, "Dying To Meet You" by Amy Talford was recommended. What a great book, a "hidden gem". Talford was informative on the lives of NBA stars, adding the twists and turns of a great mystery. She presented phenomenal characters, I look forward to a sequel, Talford really gave an insightful perspective on the NBA life. I will be sure to check on other books written by Amy Talford.

Great read!.......2004-02-29

Given the events with Kobe Bryant and others, Amy's book is a great read with great descriptions of the egotistical and "invincible" lives of professional basketball players. I had a chance to read the book just before it was published and I thought it was extremely well constructed with twists and turns and lots of good character analyses. The protagonist had an edge that made you want to like her and hate her --- but as a femaale detective she was much more than a typical cop. This book was fun.

I thought I knew who the murderer was. I was wrong........2002-05-12

This mystery novel is about a serial killer whose victims are all young women who are somehow connected to an NBA basketball team. Called in to help solve the crime is Dr. Lori Patrick whose specialty is profiling the criminal mind. However, because of a tragic incident in his own past, Mike Mitchell, the detective she is assigned to work with, is hostile towards her and her profession. She also has her own demons to fight as together they try to solve the mystery.

Amy L Talford, the author, was once married to a professional basketball player and she has certainly captured the atmosphere well. This is her first novel and she shows solid craftsmanship in the development of the fast-paced plot and memorable characterizations. I'm not a big mystery fan but this story is intriguing and I got swept right up in it. At only 202 pages, it's a quick and powerful read. I also thought I knew who the murderer was. I was wrong. She sure had me fooled. And that's a sign of a good mystery. Recommended.

Dying to Meet You
Average customer rating:
Dying to Meet You
B. M. (a.k.a. Barbara Margaret Trimble) Gill
Manufacturer: Doubleday
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000LL4KRW

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Dying to Meet You
B. Robert Anderson
Manufacturer: Xlibris Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Police Procedurals | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 073884585X

Book Description

Dying to Meet You revolves around a signature killing, in fact around several killings. Why the signature? Who is using someone else's identity? Stephen Eliot lived by the cliché. He also died that way.

Again, Lieutenant RC Frane and his partner, Sergeant Greta Rogers track much of the mystery through the food industry, but in a new direction. Thousands of canned tomato products destined to top pizzas in Philadelphia. Food broker, Stephen Eliot also has some interesting needs, before he is murdered.

Overlapping crimes complicate figuring out who did the deeds. Through gentle persistence, the two officers peel away events to solve what originally looked like serial murders.

Dying to Meet You
Average customer rating:

An engaging read.

Interesting plot using great metaphorical music terminology

Dying to Meet You
B.M. Gill
Manufacturer: G K Hall Audio Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette
ASIN: 0816177880

Customer Reviews:

An engaging read........2004-11-09

If I had to summarize Dying to Meet You in one sentence, I'd have to say it's a case study of one man's descent into madness.
Lowell Marshall was an acclaimed concert pianist. But tragically, arthritis has crippled his hands and he can no longer play. Now, at age thirty-five, he has no prospects for suitable employment. What's more, his marriage is rapidly deteriorating.
Lowell decides to seek solitude in a country cottage. A dank, dismal place with no electricity or running water. There he finds an old photograph. Taken well over one hundred years before, it's a portrait of an attractive young woman. Lowell becomes enchanted with this mystery woman from long ago and his mood immediately improves. Soon thereafter, he meets Rose Ballater, a seventeen year old girl who lives on the farm next door. She bears an uncanny resemblance to the young woman in the picture and Lowell becomes convinced he and Rose are soulmates.
Dying to Meet You is an engaging tale with a narrative that unfolds smoothly. Introspective characters, clever plot devices and a highly descriptive writing style all contribute to the substantial appeal of this compelling novel.

Interesting plot using great metaphorical music terminology.......1999-08-09

I love classical piano and mysteries and death. They are intricately tied to one another and Dying to Meet You gives the reader a great sense of the classics!

Average customer rating:

Dying to Meet You (Black Cats)
Michael Cox
Manufacturer: A & C Black Publishers Ltd
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Dying to Meet You (Coronet Books)

Manufacturer: Coronet Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0340488379

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Dying to Meet You
Gill .M. B
Manufacturer: Trafalgar Square
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OV35RA

Average customer rating:

This is Ann; she's dying to meet you.
Theodore, illustrator]. [Geisel
Manufacturer: Washington: GPO,
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000IOGB6A

Wearing the Edge Weapons of the Third Reich
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Wearing the Edge Weapons of the Third Reich
Thomas M. Johnson
Manufacturer: Johnson Reference Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Sculpture | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
Military Science | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0960090649

Daggers Edge
Average customer rating:

Impossible not to love

A wouderful book just to enjoy

This is the perfect book if you like fantasy.
Daggers Edge
Anne Logston
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Logston, Anne | ( L ) | Authors, A-Z | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Guardian's Key

Shadow Hunt

Shadow Shadow

Greendaughter

Exile Exile

ASIN: 0441000363

Customer Reviews:

Impossible not to love.......2006-08-08

I was pretty young when I first read this book, 13 or 14, and it forever set my view of how a fantasy novel should be. Some eight or nine years later, I still love this book, although fantasy novels these days tend to be longer and more detailed and epic. However, Anne Logston's forte is characters, and there is not one you won't love (or love to hate) in this book. She's also very good at political plots without ever making them dull and difficult to get through. Quite the opposite, in fact!

Jael is a princess of Allanmere plagued by bad luck, starting with how she was unfortunate enough to be born with such oddly exotic looks -- and not stopping with how she seems to have an adverse effect on any magic around her. (If that wasn't enough, she's twenty and pretty much flat-chested!) Allanmere is a mostly human city that has trading ties with the forest inhabited by elves next to which it is built, but racial tensions run strong, especially ever since the resurgence of the plague not long ago. Jael, daughter of the human queen and her elvan husband, often finds herself dealing with this difficult balancing act as well -- yet another "dagger's edge" she must walk.

Frustrated with her situation, Jael slips out into the city fairly often, where she can meet up with her human friend Tanis. However, she's not going unnoticed. A handsome ambassador with his eye on Jael and a rising religious cult both are bringing change to Allanmere. But a string of murders is sending the city into turmoil and Jael and Tanis are caught up in it somehow. Jael's going to have to put her bad luck to good use as she navigates a crisis brought on the city, and a few problems she's brought on herself, even as she discovers the truth about her heritage and her magic.

All this and I haven't re-read the book in a few years. :) I've lost count of how many times I have read it, though. The characters are endearing, and you'll find most of them appear in a previous series, the Shadow books -- which are just as good, if not better, with the lively and somewhat hedonistic "Aunt" Shadow of Jael's as the main character. I recommend reading this one first, though, otherwise Jael's heritage will be totally spoiled for you! Also, there is a sequel to this novel, Dagger's Point, which is about Jael setting off on a journey to reconcile with her heritage and claim what she's missing. Don't pass up anything Anne Logston if you love a good adventure and characters that you'll never forget.

A wouderful book just to enjoy.......1998-03-26

Jael, a royal elf of Allenmere, is short,with amber hair, slanted eyes, and has a sixth toe on her left foot. Also known as Jael the unlucky or Jael the cursed by her people because bad luck clings to her like an invisible shadow. When she finds out that her father is not the king, but a total stranger, she is lost, confused, and soulsick. During this time she runs across a cult with the ambitons to kill her for a ceramony. Geting away, talking with her aunt Shadow (a thief) and finding out the truth from her mother, Jael finds inner peace with herself. When all ends to all, she finds a true friend. This is a great book to read when you feel like escaping.

This is the perfect book if you like fantasy........1997-12-05

Daggers Edge

Hide a Dagger Behind a Smile: Use the 36 Ancient Chinese Strategies to Seize the Competitive Edge

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Hide a Dagger Behind a Smile: Use the 36 Ancient Chinese Strategies to Seize the Competitive Edge
Kaihan Krippendorff
Manufacturer: Adams Media Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

General | International | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books

Systems & Planning | Management & Leadership | Business & Investing | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1598693808

Miss Pink at the Edge of the World (Black Dagger Crime Series)

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Crime on the Scottish coast

Miss Pink at the Edge of the World (Black Dagger Crime Series)
Gwen Moffat
Manufacturer: Chivers North America
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 074518667X

Customer Reviews:

Crime on the Scottish coast.......2004-05-02

Miss Pink is off on a well-earned holiday to a little Scottish hamlet, populated by exactly 6 full-time residents. It's in a lonely, rocky part of the country surrounded by cliffs and, at the moment, killer whales.

While she is there, a group arrive wanted permission to climb one of the cliffs off the coast. The owner, a friend of Miss Pink's, grants permission. But the lead hiker is soon revealed to be a menace. And soon after that, he's dead, his climbing partner with him. Was it an accident? If not, who's responsible?

I liked this book a lot. The characters and the setting were really good. But the technical details of the rock climbing and the ropes and all that soon had me totally lost, so I missed a bit at the climax. But I'd like to read more by this author. Well worth reading, especially if you are a climber or have been to Scotland.

The Premature Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Premature Baby from Birth to Age One (Sears, William, Sears Parenting Library.)
Average customer rating:

Great Info for those who have preemies

Great Resource!

Another must have for all parents of preemies

Great Read

Preemies

The Premature Baby Book: Everything You Need to Know About Your Premature Baby from Birth to Age One (Sears, William, Sears Parenting Library.)
William Sears , Robert Sears , James Sears , and Martha Sears
Manufacturer: Little, Brown and Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Pregnancy & Childbirth | Women's Health | Personal Health | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Sears, Dr. William | Authors, A-Z | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Family Health | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Infants | Babies & Toddlers | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
Child Care | Parenting | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
General | Parenting & Families | Subjects | Books
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Preemies: The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies

Your Premature Baby: The First Five Years

Kangaroo Care: The Best You Can Do to Help Your Preterm Infant

Parenting Your Premature Baby and Child: The Emotional Journey

Your Premature Baby and Child

Accessories:

Airborne Effervescent Health Formula, Original Orange, 10 Tablets (Pack of 3)

RESPeRATE Blood Pressure Lowering Device

ASIN: 0316738220

Customer Reviews:

Great Info for those who have preemies.......2007-09-23

This book was very helpful in understanding what was happening with my baby while he was in the hospital and after I brought him home. None of my friends had preemies so they could offer advice because its a little different. I would highly reccomend this book to anyone who wants a reference guide or information on premature babies.

Great Resource!.......2007-09-11

When my son was born 10 weeks premature this came as a gift from a friend. The writing is great and really helped me understand what was to be expected with my son. The book not only exmplains things medically, but also has a good way to comfort parents as well. Our son is doing great is close to discharge. If you or someone you know have a preemie in the NICU, this is a great course of comfort and support.

Another must have for all parents of preemies.......2007-09-03

In addition to the Linden preemie book I tagged, this one is also a must have....Having a preemie, especially unexpected, is a traumatic experience. On top of all the usual postpartum issues, you are faced with daily hospital visits, and coming home to an empty nursery. The nurses are short tempered, the doctors are too busy, and none of your friends can relate. This book is an absolute godsend.

Great Read.......2007-05-07

This book was a great read. It answered most of my questions that were surfacing after having a premature baby myself. I wish I would have known about the book when my daughter was up in the NICU because the majority of the information has to do with the early stages after birth. I highly recommend this book for any parent who has a preemie.

Preemies.......2007-03-12

This is a chapter book. Not as useful as a refenrence book but written well w/ great advise and will answer all your questions, you just have to search for the answers. Most of these preemie books provide the same info, therefore if you need to get one--I recommend, "The Essential Guide for Parents of Premature Babies." It is easier to find things and you don't have to read the whole chapter to do so.

Amazon.com

Acknowledging the increasing popularity of olive oil, Deborah Krasner's The Flavors of Olive Oil offers a comprehensive guide to tasting, understanding, and cooking with superior extra-virgin olive oil, the cold first pressing of the olive crop's best. Most valuably, the book offers profiles of the best oils from countries including Italy, France, Spain, and the U.S. (as well as international blends). Useful, too, are sections on olive oil grades; label reading (you can tell olive oil from its package); and usage and storage pointers. Though it's hard to derive a unique recipe selection from as basic an ingredient as olive oil, the book also offers over 90 easy, attractive recipes for dishes that include it--from appetizers, sandwiches, and small dishes to salads, pizzas, entrées, and even desserts. Among these, readers will discover delicious versions of familiar friends like tapenade and focaccia with caramelized onions as well as "finds" including White Peach, Corn, and Toasted Almond Salad; Turbot with Fennel, Potatoes, Olives, and Lemon; and Slow-Cooked Boneless Pork Spareribs in Tomato, Rosemary, and Juniper Sauce. As a Jewish cook, Krasner also supplies formulas for enticing Eastern European Jewish classics such as challah and noodle kugel. Also useful is a section that explores the oils through detailed analysis of flavor characteristics--delicate and mild through leafy green and grassy. It's hard to imagine a better introduction to olive oil and its enjoyment. --Arthur Boehm

Book Description

Walk along the aisles of almost any grocery store in America and you'll be overwhelmed by the shelves of olive oil: bottles from France, Greece, Italy, and Spain; cold-pressed oil; hand-pressed oil. How do you know which oil is best? Which one should you choose for salads? For sautéing? For dipping?

In The Flavors of Olive Oil, Deborah Krasner demystifies the world of olive oil. Olives-just like wine grapes-respond directly to variations in climate, soil, cultivation, and harvest, so each oil is unique. By classifying olive oil in four distinct groups (delicate and mild, fruity and fragrant, olivey and peppery, and leafy-green and grassy), Krasner guides readers through the different characteristics of more than 150 different olive oils, providing a step-by-step tasting guide to the flavors and aromas of each one. With notes on oils from Italy to Morocco to California, Krasner transports the reader to olive-oil-producing regions around the world.

As all good cooks know, olive oil is an essential ingredient in preparing great food. In this comprehensive volume, Krasner incorporates olive oil into more than 100 delicious, mouthwatering recipes. With everything from appetizers and small dishes to breads and desserts, Krasner showcases each type of oil and combines complementary flavors. Leafy-green and grassy oils stand out when combined with shellfish in Seared Scallops on Chickpea Crêpes. The fruity oils sing when combined with pasta in Penne with Pesto from Naples. The peppery oils retain their boldness in the recipe for Seared Sirloin Steak on a Bed of Watercress, and they add complexity to mashed potatoes in Olive Oil and Rosemary Mashed Potatoes.

Demonstrating that olive oil isn't just for use in savory dishes, Krasner offers recipes like Gingered Carrot Cake with Figs, "Hot" Chocolate Cake, Orange Chocolate Chip Biscotti, and Apple-Cherry Cardamom Strudel. These recipes, and many more, will showcase the delicate olive oils in your pantry and leave your guests clamoring for the recipes.

Hints on technique, pantry basics, and equipment are also included. No book on olive oil would be complete without noting the important health benefits offered by olive oil, and Krasner points to significant evidence that using olive oil is essential to a healthful diet.

The Flavors of Olive Oil is an indispensable guide to the joys of olive oil and a font of information you'll turn to again and again.

Customer Reviews:

Enjoyable reading.......2007-08-23

I really liked this book; the author examines the different types of olive oils in a framework of her own personal experience- not text bookish, but very informative. I liked that she categorized the main 'flavors' of oils and what these flavors go best with. Since I am a lay person in the realm of cooking that made it very easy for me to actually apply what I learned in her book. I also like that she offered a rating of olive oils based on her own personal tastings, along with resources (including web sites! It's a treat when someone sees the usefulness of that..)on where to locate them. Her notes on cooking supplies like which pots or pans to use for different foods were very helpful. I would recommend to any 'olive oil' novice.

Great Way to Narrow Your Search.......2007-01-15

Once you develop a palate for different oils and have a favorite type or types of olive oil, this book is extremely helpful in guiding you towards the types of purchases you would most enjoy. In the past, I bought many bottles of olive oil which were good, but were not of my preferred types, so I ended up feeling as if I had wasted my money. This book has been a very helpful guide to me. On my wishlist would be a revised and expanded edition!

Highly Practical Advice on Making the Best of Olive Oil.......2004-07-14

This book, `The Flavors of Olive Oil' by professional writer Deborah Krasner may be the answer to your prayers as you browse the fifty or more different labels of olive oil on the shelves of even a modest local market, let alone the bounty available at a megamart or a super gourmet store such as Zabar's or Balducci's in New York City. These riches cannot begin to be approached by a three-page article in `Cooks Illustrated' or `Consumer Reports'. And, even this book doesn't tell the whole story, as most of the economic, historical, and geopolitics of olive oil are left to other writers. This book truly concentrates only on Flavor, nutrition, and cooking with olive oil. A perfect companion to this book is Mort Rosenbloom's book `Olives' which has not a single recipe, but lots of poop on the ways of the European Union, politics, olive growing locations and people, history, and economics. You simply cannot get the full picture without reading both.

But getting back to Ms. Krasner's `A Tasting Guide and Cookbook', the very, very best chapter is the second on techniques for tasting olive oil. This falls under the category of teaching you how to fish rather than giving you a fish. As preparing for a group tasting can be a bit pricy, it is one of the very best excuses I have ever found for gathering together a group of like-minded people to a common cause. (You find ways of socializing in some of the strangest places). In the absence of a handy group to help share opinions and defray the costs of buying ten or twelve bottles of olive oil, the author offers an 18 page guide to commercially available olive oils and her own olive oil karass' opinions on them (for the explanation of the obscure term karass, see Kurt Vonnegut's novel, `Cat's Cradle').

The depressing thing about this long list of olive oil tastings is that it doesn't even cover some of the brands on my megamart's shelves. But, it covers the most important ones, for sure. I was especially pleased to find the author and her tasters giving a very good opinion of at least one nationally available brand, Colavita, which is a doubly good value as it is available in metal cans in fairly small quantities. Other big Italian supermarket brands such as Berio (also very good) and Bertolli (not quite as distinctive a taste as the other two) come in cans of only a gallon or more. And, as the book so carefully states, protecting extra virgin olive oil from heat and light will prolong it's shelf life.

As I was already quite familiar with the differences between `extra virgin olive oil', `virgin olive oil', `olive oil', and `light olive oil' before reading this book, this was no great illumination. What was illuminating was the great variety of tastes in olive oil from region to region, and how delicate those tastes are. For those of you who always skip to the back of the book, Tuscan extra virgin olive oil has the most distinctive taste, followed by oils from Apulia (Italy), Greece, and Provence (France). It was also illuminating to read how ephemeral the sharp tastes were. A year old oil, kept under the very best conditions, will simply not taste as fresh and bright and distinctive as an oil bottled and tasted in January, a month or two after most olives are harvested.

One of the most important economic lessons one can get from this book is the fact that you are wasting money if you use an expensive olive oil to sautee, pan fry, or deep fry, as heat kills most, if not all of the distinctive flavors of the extra virgin oil. The whole point to producing extra virgin oil is to do it without any application of heat and without any technique which creates heat. If you are an avid follower of Mario Batali and believe that even deep frying should be done in extra virgin olive oil, be aware that there are several very good brands of extra virgin which will not fracture your pocket book. After all, if you are intent on following Mario to pure southern Italian goodness, then you may expect to have to pay for it. (Mario's point is that Italians used EVOO because that was all they had. The techniques for squeezing the second and third pressings from the olives simply did not exist until the 19th century).

If you did not already know of olive oil's health benefits, this book will also fill you in on this score. Olive oil benefits by being a mono-unsaturated lipid that, by itself, is better than saturated animal fats such as butter and lard, and also better than poly-unsaturated fats such as canola and safflower oils. Olive oil adds value by containing vitamins, anti-oxidants, and other good stuff that only a chemist can pronounce. The down side is, I suspect, that this goodness degrades with time, enhancing the importance of getting the fresh stuff.

The book contains an excellent list of internet sources, which, surprisingly, leaves out two of my favorites, Zingermans in Ann Arbor, Michigan, which does a national mail order business and DePalo in Little Italy, Manhatten, NY, NY. I cite this store because it is one place where I am sure you can go in and request a taste of olive oil samples and you will receive them with a smile. They also make primo fresh ricotta and mozzarella.

The recipes are useful and comprise the lion's share of pages in the book, but the real gold comes before you get to the recipes.

Highly recommended if you dote on Mediterranean food, or even if you just dote on good food and health.

Should Come Packaged With Samples.......2004-07-07

Deborah Krasner rises to the challenge of leading a tour through the world's olive oils without actually having any on hand for us to sample. Her recipes fit in well with her tasting notes, and the extensive listing of olive oil varieties and brands from different countries dovetails with her resources section. She give guidelines for a tasting. It is important in the beginning that Krasner gives us a warning on "the dark side of current olive production in countries of the European Union" relating to quantity production and environmental damage. There's also the question of possible corruption and chicanery in popular European oils. Perhaps the growing presence of high quality California oils is the answer.

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

Don't forget Australia!.......2003-01-10

This is an excellent book - well researched, authoritative and entertaining. As an olive producer I read a lot of nonsense about our product so I'm always delighted to find someone who has gone to the trouble to get it right.
However ... while Deborah has given a fairly comprehensive review of oils produced around the world, it's a pity she hasn't heard of the largish island west of New Zealand which has been producing excellent olive oils for many years. (I would have overlooked the omission except that New Zealand got a mention.) She even accuses prominent Australian nutritionist Dr Rosemary Stanton of being British!
Perhaps in the next edition?

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