Product Description
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900's and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork. ... Read more

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Product Description
Written by Garald Hammond. Imagine returning to your parked car and finding a corpse in it. This is exactly what happened to Molly Calder, and the discovery sparks the beginning of a tense trail for Molly and her husband Keith. They have their work cut out in chasing reward money for missing gems and missing money: the search leads them from their rural setting to the heart of Glasgow - and they need help from family and friends along the way. Molly wants to buy Briesland House more than anything in the world, lthough she's pretty keen on tyring to keep her husband safe and sound - will she be successful? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

The Reward Game Review
In the Reward Game, we see Keith Calder & Molly Calder before they succeed in winning Briesland House. Molly comes back very shaken from an odd occurrence, and before long, car chases, stolen guns, jewels, andInspector Munro sweeten the stew.

Whenever Keith Calder gets involved inmysteries, you can bet he'll find a way to turn it to profit. As always,Gerald Hammond plots an exciting mystery full of quirks, unexpected turnsof plot, and marvelously compelling characters. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Product Description
This Elibron Classics book is a facsimile reprint of a 1901 edition by Edward Arnold, London. ... Read more

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The Scottish Highland Festival in Tennessee is all set to begin, but there’s one problem: Duncan MacRae, founder of the games, has just been murdered. The police arrested Malcolm, Duncan’s son, but is he really the killer? Horatio Wilkes, for one, has doubts.

Horatio is attending the festival with his childhood friend Mac, Mac’s super-hot yet controlling girlfriend Beth, and geeky sidekick Banks. Once there, he quickly finds himself caught up in the cutthroat world of the Scottish games, where fair is foul and foul is fair . . . and his best friend may yet turn out to be his worst enemy.

Join Horatio as he navigates the sinister world of Shakespeare’s Macbeth in this fun and clever follow-up to Something Rotten. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Horatio Wilkes does it again
In this entertaining mystery, Horatio Wilkes (who made his debut in Gratz's Something Rotten) returns to detecting when a man is murdered at a Scottish Games festival. The mystery works beautifully even if the reader is clueless about MacBeth, but those how know the play will have fun finding references to Shakespeares' work. Horatio is a wisecracking, snarky kind of guy, but only in the style of a smart and irreverent teenager. He's a sympathetic character who loses his heart easily and has a strong sense of right and wrong, loyalty and friendship, and readers will root for him to unravel the crime.

Great story!
Horatio Wilkes makes his follow up appearance in Something Wicked (his first being in Something Rotten). In this hard to put down tale, Horatio is attending the Scottish Highland Fair with his best friends Mac and Banks. Things go horribly wrong that first night, with the brutal murder of the game's founder, Duncan MacRae. Duncan's son's name, Malcolm, is written in his father's blood right beside his dead body, making all indications that Malcolm is the killer.

However, something just doesn't add up and Horatio is going to find exactly what is going on. His best friend, Mac, and his "evil" girlfriend Beth, are acting even stranger than normal. Both Mac's and Beth's fathers, who just happen to be business partners, are acting very suspiciously. Exactly what is going on and who is really the murderer? Horatio plans to find out and hopes to make a mysterious acting "pixie girl" his.

Something Wicked is a wonderfully written and entertaining story. Considered to be geared toward young adult, I would put the age to be 14 and up. I think that boys of this age would especially enjoy the story. As just a warning, there are some sexual overtures (though nothing remotely explicit) and swearing. That being said, I greatly enjoyed Mr. Gratz's work and found him to be a wonderful storyteller. The characters were very well written and I especially enjoyed the character of Horatio - he was intelligent, kind and belivable.

The story was very smooth and hard to put down. For those who have not read Something Rotten, the first in this series, you can easily understand Something Wicked and not feel lost. I can say this with confidence, as I did not read Something Rotten prior to this and had absolutely no trouble getting into this story.

I recommend Something Wicked to anyone looking for an entertaining story and I greatly look forward to reading more by this author!

*overall rating: 4/5

fine young adult amateur sleuth
High school junior Horatio Wilkes attends the annual Highland Fair near Pigeon Forge, Tennessee at the invitation of his friend Joe Mackenzie; his family is major participants every year.Fortune teller Madame Hecate informs Mac that he will be king of the mountain and his cousin Wallace Banks will own Mount Birnam.Joe's college girlfriend Beth Weigle is excited while Horatio is cynical.

Horatio sees booth employee Megan Sternwood and is attracted to her.When her uncle asks him to watch over her, he is excited because he has a reason to meet her.However, Horatio has a different issue when he enters a tent to find the Highland Fair owner Duncan MacRae murdered.Unable to resist Horatio investigates not realizing the passion some have for this mountain and the danger the clues will lead to.

Although the amateur sleuth whodunit starts a bit late (almost halfway into the book), young adult readers will enjoy the plot due to the cynical mouthy hero who is caustic towards almost everyone at the Fair; surprisingly he didn't get his face rearranged.The story line is fun to follow even more so when the murder occurs as fans will feel they attend the Tennessee Highland Fair.Some profanity seems inappropriate even if much of the targeted audience uses the words and it fit the moment but that may be this reviewer's ancient outlook.SOMETHING WICKED is an apt title just don't wear kilts near the wickedly sarcastic Horatio unless your thick skinned or a bruiser.

Harriet Klausner

An Awesome Read
This book has it all - mystery, murder, snark, wit, and a touch of romance. Horatio is a very cool character and one I want to read more about. This is a modern retelling of Macbeth but you don't need to know the play to enjoy the book. It is a whodunnit in its own right and has these amazing one-liners that make you laugh out loud. Read it! ... Read more

Product Description
"Sandy Chisholm's Chanter Lessons" is a novel about a ten year old boy and his friends who take advantage of the arrival in their town of a piper from Scotland to learn how to play the Great Highland Bagpipes. In addition to following the boys to their lessons, the story tells about their adventures in a small town in Nova Scotia in 1958. Read along as the boys experience the thrill of learning to play this ancient instrument, and face heavy snow, dangerous spring floods, bullies, and childhood pranks as they progress through their lessons and prepare to take part in the world famous Antigonish Highland Games, North America's oldest continuous Scottish Braemar. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A great and nostalgic little novel of Nova Scotian life
I found this book to be very entertaining and a great read for any youngster who has any interest in piping and/or Nova Scotian culture, as well as just a good children's novel. Not many people know where/what Nova Scotia is, and this book brings an accurate description of what life and her people were like back 50 years ago and also much what it is like today. Seems like I've heard alot of the tales before - perhaps from my mother who grew up in the next county over, played in a pipe band, and endured many a snowstorm, walking both directions uphill, to school, during the same time frame. I especially liked the indirect mention of Fraser Holmes and my mom's pipe band - very nostalgic! A great and very entertaining read! I enjoyed it very much!

Sandy Chisholm's Chanter Lessons
"Sandy Chisholm's Chanter Lesson" is at the top of our novel study list in my classroom. Several years ago I was looking for a new novel study for my Grade Five class and came across the book, "Sandy Chisholm's Chanter Lessons." It stirred my interest immediately for two reasons, I'm from Nova Scotia and I play in a Pipe Band. So I bought the book, read it and when I finished, I knew this would be a great read for my students.

It tells a story of Sandy Chisholm and the many adventures that he and his friends have. Students can relate to Sandy and his friends and get involved in the story right away. As well, my students learn some interesting facts about bagpipes and the dedication it takes to learn how to play the Great Highland Pipes.

Not only does Scott Williams take the reader on many childhood adventures, but he also describes nicely what it takes to be a great piper. Anyone who is interested in learning to play the pipes and the hard work that you must go though, will have an idea having read this novel. This to me is worth the read in itself.

This is the second year that we have used "Sandy Chisholm's Chanter Lessons" as our novel study. It just keeps getting better and better for me because my students are so into it. Last year two of my students actually took up chanter lessons.

The worksheets and activities certainly relate to our Grade Five curriculum by introducing students to Nova Scotia and the regions around Antigonish. It also gives the students some insight into Scotland. The ideas that your class can come up with for other projects, is only limited by what you want to do yourself.

The story shows students how if you are determined to do something, you can achieve anything, even how to play the Great Highland Bagpipes. We have a Character Education Program at our school and this story relates to many of our "Word of the Month" themes that we have put into practice here.

Each year as soon as we complete this novel study, the question is asked, " When does Sandy's next adventure come out?" I would like to see this novel included in the Scholastic Book Club series so that every student out there has the opportunity to experience an adventure with Sandy Chisholm.

A very disappointing book
I bought this book to read to my young son who is learning to play the bagpipe (chanter lessons).

The book went into too many areas of the family that were not only unnecessary, but not for the younger reader. For instance, why did we need to hear about Protestant vs. Catholic issues in the classroom, as well as Sandy's parents financial condition, other than having to sacrifice to pay for lessons and a chanter. Although set in the 50' or 60's, the end was so syrupy that I couldn't stand it.
I read this myself , and upon finishing it, I threw it away, something I've never done before.

On being Sandy
I'm 57 years old and a long-time piper.I've just completed reading "Sandy Chisholm's Chanter Lessons" by Scott Williams for the fourth time and being perfectly honest, I must say I enjoy the story more each time I read it through.Having grown up in the late 40's and early 50's in a small, rural town I was able to identify with Sandy, his friends, (and enemies), and the town itself.Then, kids were kids, and not subjected to pre-adolescent grooming by "concerned" parents who strive to boost their offspring's GPA and "self-esteem" by forcing them into so many extracurricular activities, appointments must be made in advance just to play with friends. Sandy and his friends enjoy the reality of being kids.Their entertainments are active, created by themselves (e.g. the car top rafts, stomach surfing through the snow banks) and their imaginations are nurtured by King Robert's Men constantly on the outlook protecting the disembarking train passengers from the clutches of the evil Black Prince.No passive sitting in front of the TV or mindless video games for Sandy and his friends.Their playground is the great outdoors and all the wonders it holds.Sandy's parents both have to work but everybody makes do with what they have (there's no whining or cronic complaining or need for professional counseling).Affection between parents and children is quite obvious.Sandy's fears are real (in the guise of the evil Andy Gillis) but revenge is sweet (who hasn't longed to dance a victory dance following a successful mudball fight)?Add to all of the above the challange of learning to play the Great Highland Bagpipe and you have a recipe for an entertaining and heartwarming story.I highly recommend "Sandy" and am anticipating, perhaps, a "Sandy II". "Sandy Chisholm's Chanter Lessons" is definitely worth the read and you don't have to be a kid to enjoy it - just a kid at heart.In fact, I enjoyed the book so much, it inspired me to write and publish a book of my own. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Unique
Birthright is a unique and enjoyable campaign centering, this time, on mass combat and diplomacy, rather than hack-and-slash of standart dungeon crawls. Surprisingly, the settings, cultures, and characters are fresh andlifelike, despite the system's overall age ( 25 years). Some of the areashaven't been described in optimal detail, but perhaps this is best forthose who want to be able to expand upon store-bought accessories. Thiscampaign is very interesting, with many things going for it, albeit it issomewhat taxing on the role-playing abilities of some beginners.

its too drown out
Birthright uses the battle system rules that are o.k. but they are not as fun as doing a mass battle by group. ... Read more

Product Description
From the PREFACE: "It is somewhat curious that among the great number of books on occult science and all forms of divination which have been published in the English language there should be none dealing exclusively with the Tea-Cup Reading and the Art of Telling Fortunes by Tea-Leaves: notwithstanding that it is one of the most common forms of divination practised by the peasants of Scotland and by village fortune-tellers in all parts of this country. In many of the cheaper handbooks to Fortune-Telling by Cards or in other ways only brief references to the tea-cup method are given; but only too evidently by writers who are merely acquainted with it by hearsay and have not made a study of it for themselves.

Customer Reviews (1)

Tea Leaf Reading
I found this book very informative and helpfull in regards to readimg tea leaves. However, the author's style of writing seems very dated and is somewhat confusung to read. I found myself skimming and reading pages aloud to understand. Overall, I found it a helpfull and interesting read. ... Read more

Product Description
The Gentleman's Library was one of the leading magazines in England until the mid 1800s. It was the receptacle of the current news and observations. The historian, Gibbons, recommended that the literary, historical and miscellaneous articles on the manners and customs of their forefathers be captured in a single volume, so they are not lost, and serve as a valuable original source. The group of extracts from the magazine include customs of: a certain period or locality, agricultural and land, marriage, funerals, birth, pageants, feasts - both of the upper and lower classes. Fascinating collection of interest to historians and sociologists. ... Read more