I agree wholeheartedly!! Steve Hamilton is "the real thing", with Winter of the Wolf Moon as proof positive that "A Cold Day in Paradise" wasn't a fluke. This guy can write! His characters are certainly not fully developed, yet there is enough of them there that you want to get to know them better, and what better way than a series? Action, suspense, intrigue, and an interesting plot. Hope it really takes off for him. Bring on the next book.

Boy oh Boy, that was an awsome novel. I must admit that I usually never read a book twice because it seems boring and pointless, but I just finished The Coffin Dancer again !! I keep looking in our school library everyday for more novels from Jeffery Deaver, but to my disapointment The Coffin Dancer is the only one. I can't wait to get my hands on The Bone Collector and The Devil's Teardrop.

I'm really hoping you can help me, I'm trying to locate a book I read and this is all I can remember:
1. It was published in hardback between 1991 and 1997
2. The author is a woman and it was her first book
3. The mystery is contemporary and takes place in the south (the heroine lives in an old home -so it might be New Orleans, Savannah or Charleston)
4. the protagonist is a young woman (not a detective)
5. the romantic lead is an ex-con (it turns out he went to prison for his brother, now a politician) the young woman had a crush on him before he went to prison
6. the mystery itself involves members of her family and lifelong acquaintances

Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!

I do agree with Martha Moore that Nastasha Cooper's book, and the previous ones, are excellent...But, she uses the phrase "prepared to say" or "not prepared to do" constantly until I have a mental picture of all these people lying awake at night making preparations for everything they say or do the next day. Actually it strikes me as rather pompous, but equally grating as Americans who can no longer just do something - they have to "go ahead and" do it. I know, picky-picky!

I think this author is the best mystery writer working today. Over the holidays I read his "On Beulah Height." It has been many years since I stayed up until 4 a.m. because I couldn't put a book down. I agree the Sixsmith series isn't as richly or fully developed as was this novel, but Hill has a wide range of human understanding and puts more into his writing than almost any other author in this field.

He is the equal of Ross McDonald as a writer; in some ways he surpasses him. Of course English slang and references may confuse some non-English readers; but more importantly, his being faithful to his culture and his refusal to write down to his readers will educate his audience.

Compared to the mass-consumption, self-centered characters (authors in thin disguise), cliched language and situations and utter trivia being produced by many "bestselling" American mystery writers who are popular only because they are immediately non-threatening, use simple language, and expose no alternative realities to the reader, thank God for Hill.

I, too, am hoping Murder on Astor Place by Victoria Thompson is the start of a new series. The developing relationship between the protagonists is unusual and therefore very interesting. I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.

I just finished Deep South, the latest Anna Pigeon mystery. Nevada Barr has wriiten such a good series, but this one leaves them in the dust, or rather, in the swamp mud. Barr writes and I can smell the earthy damp of the swamp. feel the muggy air and know that good ole boys still abound. Just a hint of romance, so we can remember that Anna is still a woman, however professional once she puts on her uniform. I can't speak for the rest of the Barr fans, but I can't wait for Mollie's wedding, will Anna wear the tux she spoke of or a dress? Deep South is a non stop read, I've recommended it to many of the library patrons who read mysteries, and to those who don't. In my opinion, this is a five star winner.

I agree with you about the ending being too abrupt. It is almost as if Cornwell was writing & the story got too big & she divided it right down the middle. Yes, we were given the resolution of the killer's story but I still felt that there was much more to the underlining personal plot of Kay's emotional struggles.

That brings me to my question: Is it too far off to think that maybe Benton is still alive? I don't have much foundation for my thought, just small things like Kay's immediate attraction to her new love interest. It would be easy for an entity like the FBI to orchestrate something like faking Benton's death and then creating a new identity for him. Also, even Marino feels there is a possibility... and he is a very good detective! But, alas, maybe it is just wishfull thinking from both of us!

I believe (and hope) the next novel will answer a lot of questions and be less dark than this one. I'm sending you my thoughts because I've been strugging with this for some time and I think you could shed some insight. Thanks!

I agree with Jeri Wright about this book. I was very upset about the death of such a main character. If Charlaine Harris felt this strong character was not needed in the series she could have just had them divorce. And to end the book on such a down note! You feel as though Roe is going to take to her bed and never venture out again. I got interested in the Roe Teagarden series through Charlaine Harris' other books, the Shakespere series. It makes me worried about the future of Jack in those books. I really don't know if I will read further on her series as I read to be entertained and visit with my favorite characters. I really liked Martin. I was really disappointed.

While I did enjoy The novel Billy Straight, I think you are not giving Mr. Kellerman enough credit. The books you so erroneously slammed are actually my favorites, and the favorites of many of his readers.

I agree with your opinion of the ending of this book. I have greatly enjoyed reading this series and looked forward to this newest book (I was afraid that the series had ended with the last book). The Aurora/Martin romance is a lot of what attracted me to the books. I was so excited about reading this latest one. Now I'm too depressed to ever trust reading another one! I keep hoping that maybe Roe will wake up in the hospital having had a really bad nightmare and that Martin is still alive. The whole book was much more depressing that usual and seemed to have a lot of hate in it.

Now I need something funny to read to get my mind off this depressing turn of events in my mystery world.

I agree with the Lesley Dunlap review of Second Wind by Dick Francis. Good writing but boring plot.

I read the Jeffrey Deaver novel "The Bone Collector" and enjoyed it immensly. I eagerly anticipated the film adaptation and was moderatly dissapointed. The killer was not disturbed or sinister, but an angry man. The clever suprise of Rhyme's early incompetence leading to the killer's scarred but brilliant mind was thrOwn out in favor of the rather formulatic "cop in jail" twist that Hollywood seems very fond of.

I think the novel is great! I have two day reading it and don't have any complaints as so far; but since my first langague is not English but Spanish, I find it a little bit difficult to read. I like this novel because it started from the beginning as a child of 10 year old to an adult with his knowledge increasing. Well I have not much to say since you said all in your conclusion.

I have just finished reading Without Consent and enjoyed it so much. I thought it definitely had a Ruth Rendell flavor to it - in the multilayered plotting, psychological insights, etc. Fyfield is very good, maybe one of the best of the British mystery writers.

Hi, I've just started reading the Bill Slider mystery series by Cynthia Harrod-Eagles. Finished the fifth book - "Blood Lines" - this morning. Imagine my dismay when it ends with Atherton receiving what may be a fatal knife wound in the last paragraph of the last chapter. Of course the library is not open at 7:00 am on Saturday morning so I had to make a desperate search on the internet to find out if Atherton survives to appear in the sixth book - I was pretty worried.

Anyway, thanks to your review of "Killing Time" (and much to my relief) I find he is alive though not quite well for the next adventure.

LOVED IT! LOVED IT! LOVED IT! I'm a 79 year young grandmother and great grandmother and I'm reading the books before I pass them on to any grandchildren. I 've read the first two in record time and looking forward to starting the third one-if I can snatch it up very quickly before my husband starts on it. We both think these are great books for old and young alike. Ms. Rowling can't stop at three books, can she?

Editor's Note: Nope, look for HARRY POTTER AND THE DOOMSPELL TOURNAMENT early in July.