Customer Reviews (1)

Clocked
Henry Merrivale and Masters get called into a 20 year old murder case, the day that Sir George Fleet toppled off the roof of his stately country home while witnesses swore there was no one anywhere near him.They eave London and arrive in Berkshire to begin their investigations, and through an odd coincidence, at the same time another party of paranormal investigators descend on the same little village to try some eerie experiments in the execution chambers of Pentecost Prison, where evil spirits are said to congregate.Finally, there is one of those romances which Carter Dickson (and his alter ego, John Dickson Carr) just loved to write again and again: the story of a man separated by fate from the girl he loves, and after years of searching for her, they are reunited only to face some confounding new problem at the beginning of the book.

The boy and girl in THE SKELETON IN THE CLOCK, separated by wartime, are even more forgettable than usual.Their names are Martin and Jenny, but it doesn't really signify.Far more interesting is Dickson's trademark "dark lady," here called Ruth Callice--yes, Callice like "callous," perfect name for a noir heroine.Well, he might have called her Ruth Less--or Ruth Lessing, as Agatha Christie called one of her enigmatic characters in SPARKLING CYANIDE.Anyhow Ruth, dark haired Ruth, is ever so much more sophisticated sexually and amorously than the blonde, innocent Jenny, and there's always the suggestion that Martin might really enjoy himself with Ruth if only he'd forget about his love for Jenny.In fact in some novels, the blonde turns out to be a psychopath and the dark haired girl gets the guy!

The plot turns on some anonymous letters sent to Scotland Yard, and by the time H.M. reveals who sent them, another murder has occurred, though not so mysteriously as the death of Fleet.Carr labors under a peculiar disadvantage in trying to lend drama to a murder that happened 20 years back, in that none of the witnesses, either in contemporary documents or in the testimony of the post-war survivors who still remember George Fleet's fatal descent, say anything interesting at all.The comedy in this story involves H.M.'s battle of wits with an old tartar of an aristocrat who has threatened the happiness of Martin and Jenny.And I haven't even told you about the skeleton in the clock!Dreadfully padded and written in one tangent after another, THE SKELETON IN THE CLOCK has a solution that must have shocked 1940s readers with its flouting of one of the most popular of the Ten Commandments, but a child could work it out with ease--a drunk child at that. ... Read more

Product Description
Strange things happen in Skeleton Creek--and when they do, Ryan writes them down and Sarah captures them on video. Now, the spookiness is spreading, and the mystery is going to take them far beyond Skeleton Creek--into places both unexpectedly sinister and spine-chillingly haunted.Patrick Carman broke new ground for publishing with the first two Skeleton Creek stories, creating the most successful hybrid of text and web video yet. Now he ups the ante even further, taking the suspense to new places, and taking his legions of readers with him. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Skeleton creek book
This book was brand new just as promised and I love It!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the great experience and truthful advertizing!!!

another supernatural, frightening adventure that leaves readers, along with Ryan and Sarah, looking for more answers

SKELETON CREEK #3: THE CROSSBONES
by Patrick Carman
Scholastic Inc.
ISBN: 9780545249942
Ages 10-up
208 pages


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't really out to get you...I am sure someone or something is out to get me. Whatever it is escaped from the abandoned Dredge and has leaked out into the rest of the world. It's loose, it's angry, and it's looking for me.

After all the adventures from the first two books, there is still more to Ryan's story.Yes, he and Sarah are kind of town heroes for having discovered what was going on at the old Dredge. Also, everyone is now richer for the gold they found beneath the floorboards of the ghostly building. Ryan, unfortunately, is still waiting for his riches as it's all been put in a trust until he turns 18 (...feels like a million years from now.) The worst part is that Sarah's family has moved to Boston. She is enrolled in film school at UCLA for a summer course, and Ryan is feeling more abandoned than ever. She has escaped Skeleton Creek, and he is doomed to boredom working in his dad's fishing shop and watching his new friend Fitz tie flies. Ryan likes to fish, but there's much more...

One little thing to still consider is the envelope. Ryan took the envelope from beneath the floorboards of the Dredge. He didn't actually mean to keep it, but slipped it into his pocket, stuck it in a drawer and forgot about it --- until now. Perhaps that envelope has some valuable information from "old" Joe Bush. When he opens it, there is a message --- in the form of a two-sided card, a hand-drawn kind of map, and obviously filled with clues to solve.

I'd found the Skull Puzzle, because that's what it was: skulls and tombstones and guns. A puzzle of the dead.

The summer is now far from boring because once he contacts Sarah, she wants to be in on this. Even with the miles between them, they are an unbeatable team. Sarah's film project will be to visit the "most haunted" places between California and Boston --- allowing her to actually visit the locations Ryan is able to cipher from the puzzle. In a matter of a week, Sarah will clock over 5,000 miles and visit four of the creepiest places ever, including the infamous Winchester House. What she and Ryan are able to put together from the clues she gathers is totally chilling. The fact that a ghost has been following her has made the ordeal all the more frightening. Ryan realizes what a dangerous situation still exists with the Crossbones and that the mysterious society is far from finished with them.

Here are some of the questions Ryan and Sarah need to answer:

What do the Crossbones still want?
Are there only three of them left --- the Apostle, the ghost and the Raven?
One of them is dead, one of them gone off his rocker, one of them after me...
What treasures are left to find?
What does Ryan's dad know about all of this?
What does the Jefferson Library have to do with any of this?
What is Joe Bush's ghost trying to tell them?
There are other unanswered questions and so many frightening moments still to be faced. Sarah continues to send her messages with the passwords so Ryan and the reader can keep up with the ghostly films she sends. The story moves fast, and it's worth watching all the videos twice to appreciate what they are up against.

Do yourself a favor and go to the Skeleton Creek website for more exploration and downloads, and visit Patrick Carman's website to see his interviews and some behind-the-scenes footage. Book three delivers another supernatural, frightening adventure that leaves readers, along with Ryan and Sarah, looking for more answers. Perhaps the fourth installment will peel away the final layers to reveal the strange truths behind the Crossbones and Skeleton Creek. Stay tuned!

--- Reviewed by Sally Tibbetts

Book Three delivers another supernatural, frightening adventure that leaves readers...looking for more answers
"Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean people aren't really out to get you...I am sure someone or something is out to get me. Whatever it is escaped from the abandoned Dredge and has leaked out into the rest of the world. It's loose, it's angry, and it's looking for me."

After all the adventures from the first two books, there is still more to Ryan's story.Yes, he and Sarah are kind of town heroes for having discovered what was going on at the old Dredge. Also, everyone is now richer for the gold they found beneath the floorboards of the ghostly building. Ryan, unfortunately, is still waiting for his riches as it's all been put in a trust until he turns 18 (...feels like a million years from now.) The worst part is that Sarah's family has moved to Boston. She is enrolled in film school at UCLA for a summer course, and Ryan is feeling more abandoned than ever. She has escaped Skeleton Creek, and he is doomed to boredom working in his dad's fishing shop and watching his new friend Fitz tie flies. Ryan likes to fish, but there's much more...

One little thing to still consider is the envelope. Ryan took the envelope from beneath the floorboards of the Dredge. He didn't actually mean to keep it, but slipped it into his pocket, stuck it in a drawer and forgot about it --- until now. Perhaps that envelope has some valuable information from "old" Joe Bush. When he opens it, there is a message --- in the form of a two-sided card, a hand-drawn kind of map, and obviously filled with clues to solve.

"I'd found the Skull Puzzle, because that's what it was: skulls and tombstones and guns. A puzzle of the dead."

The summer is now far from boring because once he contacts Sarah, she wants to be in on this. Even with the miles between them, they are an unbeatable team. Sarah's film project will be to visit the "most haunted" places between California and Boston --- allowing her to actually visit the locations Ryan is able to cipher from the puzzle. In a matter of a week, Sarah will clock over 5,000 miles and visit four of the creepiest places ever, including the infamous Winchester House. What she and Ryan are able to put together from the clues she gathers is totally chilling. The fact that a ghost has been following her has made the ordeal all the more frightening. Ryan realizes what a dangerous situation still exists with the Crossbones and that the mysterious society is far from finished with them.

Here are some of the questions Ryan and Sarah need to answer:

What do the Crossbones still want?
Are there only three of them left --- the Apostle, the ghost and the Raven?
One of them is dead, one of them gone off his rocker, one of them after me...
What treasures are left to find?
What does Ryan's dad know about all of this?
What does the Jefferson Library have to do with any of this?
What is Joe Bush's ghost trying to tell them?
There are other unanswered questions and so many frightening moments still to be faced. Sarah continues to send her messages with the passwords so Ryan and the reader can keep up with the ghostly films she sends. The story moves fast, and it's worth watching all the videos twice to appreciate what they are up against.

Do yourself a favor and go to the Skeleton Creek website for more exploration and downloads, and visit Patrick Carman's website to see his interviews and some behind-the-scenes footage. Book three delivers another supernatural, frightening adventure that leaves readers, along with Ryan and Sarah, looking for more answers. Perhaps the fourth installment will peel away the final layers to reveal the strange truths behind the Crossbones and Skeleton Creek. Stay tuned!

--- Reviewed by Sally Tibbetts

Great book, amazing series.
This third book in the Skeleton Creek series was a surprise. I thought there were going to be just 2 books, and greatly enjoyed Skeleton Creek and Ghost in the Machine, and after some books this summer where book three did not live up to expectations I approached this with a little trepidation. With Patrick Carman I should have known better. This book was awesome. It lived up to the quality, skill in storytelling and creativity of the first two, maybe even surpassed them. Like the other two Skeleton Creek books, this one is told in two parts. The book is Ryan's journal, hand-written, and Sarah's videos. Every few chapters you get a code and go to a website and watch a video. Unlike the first two books, Sarah and Ryan are working on a problem together but doing it in different locations. Ryan is stuck in Skeleton Creek and Sarah's family has moved to the east coast. She is driving across the country for film school at UCLA, but unknown to her parents, visiting haunted sites along the way to collect clues she and Ryan have solved that they found in the hunted dredge.

But both of their lives are getting more and more complicated. Ryan has to solve the clues fast enough so she will not have to backtrack and lose too much travel time. Ryan feels like he is being watched and Sarah's videos seem to be capturing th?Only time will tell. But as they uncover clue after clue they realize the stakes are higher than they ever expected. The Crossbones has a long history of destroying people who got in their way and now Ryan and Sarah find themselves in their crosshairs.

I read the book twice, first just reading the book, the second time through watching the video's where indicated. I did this to see if the book can stand on it's own, and it does, even just reading Ryan's journal it is a great story, but when you watch the video's it becomes truly magnificent. Patrick Carman is a master storyteller, he is creative, and has a wide breadth of different stories, and genre's and even for various age groups. Every book of his I have read I have thoroughly enjoyed and always anticipate his new books. This one left me eagerly anticipating book 4 which is not due out for a year. This is another great book by a great author! ... Read more

Product Description
A sprightly skeleton, Mr. Bones takes young readers on a chilling trip through his favorite haunts, journeying through spooky secret passages, behind a strange bookcase, to a ghostly graveyard.Amazon.com Review
"So glad you're here, my name is Bones./Pay no attention to those groans./I've got some chills to curl your spine./So come on in, the dark is fine," greets Mr. Bones, the ghostly host of Steven Guarnaccia's Skeleton Closet. This playful, ingeniously engineered interactive pop-up book takes youngsters on a colorful romp through the strangely giddy, funhouse-style world of Mr. Bones.

The lilting verse contributes to the spookily carnivalesque atmosphere: stylized skeletons spring out of caskets and snap their jaws. Doors flap open to reveal eyeballs, monsters, and vampires, while inviting tabs beckon readers to discover what horrors may lurk behind the gravestones. Guarnaccia's rhyming text shivers and shakes across the pages, adding a dryly humorous touch to a creepy, artful pop-up masterpiece. (Ages 4 and older) ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Fun but limited
This is a fun little pop up book, but it's kinda small and I've certainly seen better.Still, every kid should have a pop up book.

Skeleton Closet
I just got this pop up book Skeleton Closet last summer and boy is it cool! The pictures are great and the rhyming is funny! I really enjoyed this book! ... Read more

Product Description
A great Tidal Wave sweeps down on a small Aleutian village, carrying a young girl named Annuk to the bottom of the sea.Her bones lie undisturbed on the ocean floor until the day a fisherman hooks her on his line and pulls her out of the water.At first terrified by the sight of a skeleton, the fisherman slowly comes to pity Annuk as he imagines her lonely existence beneath the waves. ... Read more

Product Description

It's all in the past...or is it?

After Michael gets inspired by the photo of Charles Dupree and Max "borrows" some files from the UFO museum and Liz surfs the Net, the "Czechoslovakians" are hot on the trail of one of their human DNA donors. Could the donor give them some clue to their past -- and their future?

But Michael gets held up when he suddenly becomes the prime suspect in his foster father's murder. Good thing Jesse Ramirez, the new lawyer in Mr. Evens's firm and a close, personal friend of Isabel's, is there to help Michael out. But Sheriff Hanson is watching them all more closely than ever, and trails that once burned hot have suddenly gone cold. How are the aliens supposed to find their destiny when for every door that cracks open, another gets slammed in their faces? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Skeletons
A great book.All I have to say is it doesn't have a huge plot and the outcome isn't anything life changing but it's a good story and a cute link to Tess.There isn't much I would change in the story.

Could of been better
I loved the fact that finally Hank's death had been touched apon. And that we did get answers about the abductions. It's just that we already knew "The Royal Four" were created from other people.So not many questions were answered.If you're a Roswell fan I would say read it anyway. You do get a few answers.

Almost Too Much Meat On Its Bones, But Worth the Read
Not the best of the series, but a worthy addition.It reads like one of the better-than-average episodes of the show.

Michael-as usual-is in trouble with the law over his delinquent past, this time in more hot water than ever:he's suspected of murdering his brutal stepfather.Sheriff Valenti is up to his neck as well, since-as usual-he knows who the old man's killer must have been:Nasedo, the now-deceased shapeshifting alien who watched over Michael and his equally alien friends.Valenti's covering-up has come to the attention of the man who took Valenti's job away from him, spotlighting the number of times Valenti has performed in like fashion in the past.In the meantime, Michael's fellow aliens, Max and Isabel, are hot on the trail of one of the gene-donors their alien parents abducted and used to create their human appearance and nature-a genetic scientist who is the spitting image of the alien kids' personal Judas (and mother of Max's son), Tess.

The real problem with this particular entry isn't a lack of knowledge of the show and its characters, but an overabundance of it.The authors plainly know all the multiple soap-opera ins and outs, and reference so many of them that a newcomer to the Roswell stories-or even someone only partly aware of them-will quickly become lost, if they're not careful.However, the characters are wonderfully written, and the action and the plot remain steady.Numerous delightful inside-joke touches are added, such as Isabel's noticing her hair style is similar to that of a nameless WB (the station that aired the show) actress, and Max and Isabel's personal song being the series' theme by Dido.

You could do better, but not much.Well worth reading.It will be more comprehensible to real series fans, but even if you're not, you can keep up with it-if you try.

Outstanding Roswell story -You must haved this!!
I'm so excited to see that Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin are writing another novel for this series due out in June.

This was the best Roswell book in the YA series. It certainly captures the flavor of the series - all the characters certainly ring true! Kyle is his dry, loveable self!Very funny! Max just wants to get back with Liz!Valenti helps the kids out! Liz figures out the scientific stuff.Micheal and Maria are constantly at each other! The authors even quote "Here With Me" during one scene. And, of course, Sheriff Hanson is a major dork and the parents are clueless!

If you are a huge Roswell fan, you are certain to enjoy it. There's a nice balance of sci-fi and relationships. I enjoyed the intrigue of the sci-fi storyline.And there are so many homages to the show - it's obvious these authors either did their homework or are major fans!

I'm so, so, so happy these authors are working on another Roswell book! I'll be first in line to get it!

roswell at it's best
this book's events takes place betweeen season 2 and 3. michael,max and isabel decide to try and find their human counterparts after michael found out that he was cloned from dna
from charles dupree. but when michael is charged with the murder
of his foster father, the aliens find it harder to do research
when the sheriff and the prosecutor have them under constant
survellience. this book fills in a lot of gaps that the tv show
did not bother with and it is definitely worth reading. it is the
best of the roswell books that have come out so far and i hope that the author will continue to write more books becuase obviously he is a true fan of the tv show. ... Read more

Product Description
In Saint Saul, Donald Harman Akenson offers a lively and provocative account of what we can learn about Jesus by reading the letters of Paul. As the only direct evidence of Jesus we have that were composed before the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE forever altered the outlook of the Christian and Jewish faiths, Akenson claims that these letters are the most reliable source of information. He dismisses the traditional method of searching for facts about Jesus by looking for parallels among the four gospels because they were handed down to us as a unit by a later generation. Akenson painstakingly recreates the world of Christ, a time rich with ideas, prophets, factions, priests, savants, and god-drunk fanatics. He insistently stresses throughout the Jewishness of Jesus, referring to Jesus and Paul as Yeshua and Saul, as they were then known. As an eminent historian, Akenson approaches his subject with a fresh eye and a scholarly rigor that is all too rare in this hotly disputed field.Amazon.com Review
Historian Donald Harman Akenson believes that biblical scholars have gone wrong in searching Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John for the historical Jesus. All of the gospels, he points out, were written after the destruction of the second temple in A.D. 70; the Jesus of the gospels is therefore "a derivative of texts whose goal was to modify, minimize, or exorcise his Jewishness." Saint Saul: A Skeleton Key to the Historical Jesus is Akenson's attempt to put historical Jesus studies back on track, by directing attention to the writings of Paul, "the only person who wrote about Yeshua before [the Temple's destruction]." Akenson's readings of Paul/Saul discern a faint vision of Yeshua, the follower of Yahweh, before he was made into Jesus and deemed a copartner with God. Thus, Akenson equips his readers better to understand Jesus as a first-century Jew, while minimizing the distortions and anachronisms that so often attach themselves to that designation. --Michael Joseph Gross ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

The historical Jesus; where to begin
I came across this book a few years ago while being hosted by a member of a choir I belong to.I only recently bought the book.

Mr. Akenson is an historian interested in Biblical history.In this book he makes a strong case that where one should begin looking for the historical Jesus is not in the gospels, but in the attested letters of St. Paul.St. Paul is the person closest to the time of Jesus for which we have writings.They were written prior to the destruction of Jerusalem and the second Temple in 70 C.E.All other New Testament writings fall after that date.

He purports to show that that event was pivotal for both Judaism and Christianity.The destruction of the temple eliminated the focal point for the many forms of the Yahweh faith, of which the Jesus followers were among the many.Afterward, new focal points had to be found to replace the temple and they were found in Rabbinic Judaism and Christianity.

In my view, he takes an array of delicate tools to pick out what can be learned about the historical Jesus and the early ideas of the Jesus movement by dissecting carefully Paul's letters and showing how the subsequent gospels built upon and sometimes altered the evidence. He makes a good case that the proponents of the Jesus seminar lack the historiographical tools to build their propositions.

The book is not an easy read, for Akenson is not a particularly good writer.His writing is a bit turgid and convoluted and, at times, he seems a little overwrought.However, it is a valuable book and should be in everyone's library of Biblical history and textual criticism.I find it very valuable.

Informative, but Too Long
Donald Harmon Akenson's 2000 book Saint Saul is difficult to read, but the rewards are many for the dutiful student. Akenson hopes to see what historical evidence can be found for the life of Jesus by examining the epistles of Saul (aka Paul). To do this, he begins by examining the religious dynamics in the First Century to try to give us some idea of the world in which Yeshua and Saul lived. BTW, Akenson insists on using words such as Yeshua, Saul, and YHWH instead of the traditional Jesus, Paul, and God. His rationale is that only by using the words that they used can we try to put ourselves into their world (It's a good point and I found it useful.).

Akenson gives us an excellent background into the religious situation. He documents the plethora of Jewish sects, an issue rarely discussed by other scholars. He also provides the OT references to concepts such as Messiah, Son of God, Son of Man, etc. and shows that it took a great leap of faith, diligent searching, and some dishonest juggling for the early Christians to find any precursors to Jesus in these OT concepts.

The book is not without its problems. For example...

- Akenson claims that Jesus' followers were Nazarenes because Jesus came from Nazareth (p. 63). In fact, the Nazarene sect existed long before Jesus, and it is a mis-translation of Nazarene which leads gospel writers to even think that Jesus came from Nazareth, which at that time was a stop over for travellers on camels and cave dwellers and didn't contain a synagogue as described in the gospels.

- Akenson equates Josephus scholarship with Winston Churchill and claims "his standard of accuracy is higher than Churchill's (p. 270)" suggesting that Akenson's own Irish background has influenced his scholarship. Josephus lived on a Roman pension and was a traitor to his Jewish followers. Every word of every book was carefully selected to keep his Roman paymasters happy, lest they give to him the same fate they gave to the men he betrayed.

- Akenson believes that the later addition of material about Jesus to Josephus' Antiquities (20:200) are original. Few scholars would agree.

- Akenson believes that John the Baptist and Jesus were "cousins" (p. 80), which comes only from a fleeting reference in Luke (1:41), is actually contra-indicated later in Luke, and attested to in no other canonical sources. In his defense, he admits that his conclusion "is peripheral", and he correctly concludes that Jesus became a disciple of John.

There are also several ad hominen attacks in the book which are unwarranted in scholarly publications. For example...

- "Although I could extend the list of those who inhale the narcotic fumes of Secret Mark to include probably two-thirds of the North American-based Jesus-questors... (p. 89)." Is Akensonrevealing his own insecurities of teaching in Canada and the UK to take a slur at North American Jesus-questors. Are there not Jesus-questors (itself a derogatory word) elsewhere?

- "...he could only have enjoyed watching the most powerful figures in the liberal wing of the Quest establishment - Harvard... (p. 89). Earlier, Akenson makes a crack about Harvard University Press (p. 85), and one has to wonder if his own position as an editor for McGill-Queen's University Press (Who???) somehow motivates his attack here.

The biggest problem with this book is that one has to endure 175 of the 255 pages filled with words like "rebarbarative", "caesurae", "spumescent", etc. in order to finally reach Akenson's first comments about what Saint Saul had to say about the historical Jesus. More than half of the preceding 175 pages has been filled with comments left over from Akenson's previous book (Surpassing wonder: The invention of the Bible and the Talmuds). Many authors do this, and it always is a source of annoyance.

These errors and problems are glaring, but not significant in the larger picture that Akenson paints. Yet one can only wish that Akenson had condensed his 255 pages into the 100 good pages contained therein, and saved a dutiful reader many hours of laborious study in order to mine his nuggets of wisdom.

Second Half Redeems the First
In brief, the author's thesis is that our only quasi-reliable source for the historic Yeshua (= Jesus) are Paul's letters, or at least the 7 which are most probably his.These date from 49-63 A.D., before the catastrophe of the Destruction of the Second Temple, and the four canonical Gospels post-date that event, at least in Akenson's view, and hence are not reliable sources regarding pre-Destruction proto-Christianity and its roots in the life and death of Yeshua.The importance of Paul as a periscope into the early decades following the Crucifixion is indeed a welcome insight, seemingly overlooked by the Historic Jesus authors.As Akenson reminds us, Paul attests to the Eucharist (communion), the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection, within a short time after these events took place, and he believes Paul was certainly tutored in Yeshua "folklore" (his term) during Paul's fortnight stay with Peter and others who knew Yeshua intimately.The second half of the book, which is excellent and quite moving (particularly the final chapter), more than redeems the first half, which is cranky, sarcastic, and caustically unfair to Akenson's "opponents" - that is, Akenson displays an emotional range similar to many of Paul's letters, from the all-too-human to the celestial.As to the attack-dog sarcasm: Akenson's Big Insight is that Paul is the best (only) source for pre-Destruction proto-Christianity, and so any suggestion in competing authors that the Four Gospels (or any noncanonical gospel) may predate the Destruction of the Temple, is subjected to childish (and needlessly mean-spirited) ridicule rather than sober disputation - reminiscent of the bitter dogma wars that formed (and ruined) the early Church;Akenson would have been right at home in the 4th century.For a refreshingly different take on this, see Robinson's "Redating the New Testament," which argues, convincingly for me, that the chief basis for dating the Four Gospels after 70 A.D., Jesus' prediction that the Temple will be destroyed, is far from determinative:Jesus may well simply have predicted the Temple's fate.(Robinson notes that the Gospels do not make the sort of big deal out of this correct prediction that might be expected if it were written "after the fact," for example.If Robinson and others are correct, then the Four Gospels may well constitute largely first-generation accounts, a possibility which is anathema to those who are deeply uncomfortable with the miracle accounts and the Resurrection.)Akenson's fury at such heresy seems based principally in his characterization of the pre-70 daters as Fundamentalists (and no doubt their view of Akenson and the Jesus Seminar folks is reciprocally vituperative).But you certainly don't have to be a Fundamentalist to accept pre-70 dates for the canonical Gospels (and for that matter, there seems no good reason the Gospel of Thomas can't arguably be dated to just after Jesus' death, if not actually during his lifetime -- apparently the surviving manuscript is far older than those of Paul's letters, if that were a persuasive factor (it's not).)The late Morton Smith takes it on the chin for concocting a gay hoax in the form of the Secret Gospel of Mark, and Crossan and others who treat that work seriously are lampooned as worse than country bumpkins.As his discussion progresses, Akenson gradually calms down and writes beautifully and convincingly about Paul (despite Akenson's criticism of neologisms (and then his use of them throughout the book -- "Judahism," etc.), he occasionally slips and calls Saul "Paul") and the glimpses his letters afford at the historic Jesus.The work ends with a discussion of the great Sermon on Love in 1 Corinthians 13, which Akenson believes closely reflects Jesus' own teachings.The fact that it also closely reflects the Last Supper sermon in John suggests again what may be the central flaw of Akenson's Gospel-dating.A very good read, all in all.

A Fresh Examination of the Jesus/Paul Relationship
Akenson has done a good job of writing an informative, entertaining and accurate (inasmuch as the latter adjective can be at all meaningful here)book on Paul and Jesus for the lay reader. All in all, a very good hermeneutic reading of both concerned persons and a good illustration of their milieu. However, I have differences of opinion on several issues.
First, the author is quick (and correct) to point out the highly suspect nature of Secret Mark. But he is also quick (incorrectly- this time) to proclaim it a forgery. While I certainly agree that Crossan and Koester have prematurely and somewhat naively antedated this document, there is, at the other logical extreme, no reason to insist that it is an obvious fabrication on the part of Morton Smith (its 'discoverer') or any other. Sure, its possible. But without real evidence, we can just as properly take the leap and say that the earliest fragments of Secret Mark come from C.E. 50. Not a very good approach, of course. Methodologically, the best response to this issue is a negative one; i.e. there is NEITHER evidence that Secret Mark should predate Canonical Mark, NOR any direct evidence that the former is a forgery rather than a very late and poorly documentedpiece of apocryphal literature.
Second, Akenson seems to misunderstand the idea behind the Criteria of Multiple Attestation. Few biblical scholars (the Jesus Seminar included) believe that the extant Gospels are independent resources, in and of themselves. What they do believe is that there are strands of contradictory material within the Gospels that can be reasonably supposed to have come from a different source than that which they contradict. If some of these differing materials have thematically or theologically common elements, that constitutes a possible or probable independent attestation- not necessarily a definite one (though Akenson is quite right when he says that some scholars have too much faith in this device). Furthermore, Akenson does not delve sufficiently into the debate as to whether John ought to be considered dependent upon the synoptics. The concensus says no but, as Akenson points out elsewhere, others in biblical scholarship are only too willing to appeal to authority. In not dealing more fully with this issue, Akenson misses an important point that is pivotal in either making or breaking his case against the utility of the Criteria of Independent Attestation.
Third, Akenson's treatment of Q seems to me to be too conservative (very much echoing other giants like John Meier and Richard Horsley). He does not seem to want to grant that Q is best explained as having been written in stages (or formative stratum, to use Kloppenborg's terminology). If Q were was orally transmitted, verbatim and near-verbatim agreements on Jesus' aphorisms in Matthew and Luke are hard to explain. If it was not written in various stages, its various thematic tendencies also become cumbersome. While it is clear to me that the 'Cynic Sage' thesis of Burton Mack and Leif Vaage is based on too liberal an approach to scant information, Akenson's (and Meier and Horsley's) methodological conservatism is also somewhat beyond the pale.
Fourth, Akenson is correct to point out that liberal scholars are frequently sailing off the edge of the world in their conjecture. He is also correct to say that Paul is "the nearest thing we have to a witness." Unfortunately, this is not enough. In order for the Quest for the Historical Jesus to succeed to proceed substantively, we need more sources, and such sources as are not so scant in their mention of historical details. Akenson is skeptical of how we can so proceed with every other source being colored by the cultural response to the fall of Jerusalem in C.E. 70, thus most likely endearing himself to Luke Timothy Johnson and other like-minded (and admittedly articulate and respectable) theological conservatives who routinely lecture on the 'limitations of history.' My position is that because we have so very little to go on after C.E. 70, it does not follow that a careful examination of Gospel material cannot yield a reasonable amount of important, accurate and explanatory data. One previous reviewer has stated that "[e]arly First Century Jerusalem is a murky, far-away place, and we're never going to know all we want to about it, or the people who lived in it." That is a more extreme propounding of the non sequitur that lies behind the reluctance of some theological and methodological conservatives. Like the contemporaries of that revolutionary astronomer Copernicus, scholars should be ready to sail off the edge of the world before coming upon is spherical nature. The Gospels are certaunly problematic as sources, but not altogether impenetrable.
Finally, Akenson does not consider the position that Jesus never existed. Paul's relative silence on historical details about him have led some toward that hypothesis- an hypothesis that has recieved too little attention. Ironically, Akenson has firmly grasped some ammunition that could potentially blow a few holes in the mythicist argument but does not feel trigger happy on such an important, albeit little addressed, issue.

All of this aside, however, Akenson's writing ability and his approach to the subject matter as a non-specialist is quite commendable. There are always going to be disagreements in such a volatile subject matter, so my criticisms should not be mistaken for indictments. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in an insightful survey and series of arguments regarding those two great speakers whom we now wish could have written a bit more (though Jesus may not have been literate). A more than satisfactory effort, I recommend it highly.

not what we hoped for
If this book, with a most interesting thesis about how to get to the historical Jesus more certainly than the usual way, had been written with clarity, brevity, skill and talent it would have done the job needed.As it is few, will take the trouble to extract what is impotant from a mass of undigested material. ... Read more

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Here's the human body, from its head down to its toes, as you've never seen it before. From the smallest person to the tallest, this book is full of reasons why the human body is amazing above and below the skin. ... Read more

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An adult skeleton consists of 206 bones. See each and every one of them like never before in this stunning full-color poster package. In this unrivaled collection, three life-sized photographic plates reveal the full majesty of the human skeleton, displayed from side, front, and posterior views. Accompanying these 6-foot-long plates are 20 smaller plates displaying individual bones from multiple anatomical regions. Meticulously labeled and captured in high-resolution photography, this superb set gives you the richest possible exposure to the human skeleton short of the real thing.

• Uses life-sized, high-resolution photographic plates rather than undersized illustrations for an authentic learning experience.
• Incorporates precise labels to highlight key areas without swamping each image with text. Labels are cross-referenced to the CD-ROM./li>
• Includes additional bone photos, separated into anatomical regions, promoting a thorough understanding of the skeletal system.
• Features a durable, gloss finish and ready-to-hang spiral binding, making the set a practical teaching tool.

Customer Reviews (2)

Beautiful, worth framing
I don't know where I bought my copy (used) but I've kept it for years. I've been dreaming of the day I would be settled so I could spend the money to frame the full size photographs from this book. I'm there now. I came today to see if I could buy a pristine copy for framing and was happy to see I could. Obviously most buyers will be teachers but this is very nice artwork for your office or workspace if your career is related to human physiology. I work in apparel manufacturing. The human skeleton is the basis of all we do. These seem more beautiful to me than the prettiest fashion sketch.

Truly a beautiful book. The detail can keep you engrossed for hours.

Great
This product was exactly what I was looking for: a life size depiction of a human skeleton for my classroom. The book was only slightly damaged on the cover and otherwise perfect. What a bargain. ... Read more

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"This book is virtually required reading for biological anthropologists and will be a useful, up-to-date primer on osteological analyses for a wider audience."
—The Quarterly Review of Biology, March 2009

"… a comprehensive guide to the ever-changing discipline of physical anthropology… provides an in depth introduction to human skeletal biology. The structure of the book makes it easy for the reader to follow the progression of the field of human skeletal biology."
—PaleoAnthropology, 2009 Issue

The First Edition of Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton is the market-leading reference and textbook on the scientific analysis of human skeletal remains recovered from archaeological sites. Now, featuring scores of new or thoroughly revised content, this Second Edition provides the most comprehensive and up-to-date coverage of the topic available.

Like the previous edition, this Second Edition is organized into five parts with contributing chapters written by experts in the field of human skeletal biology: Part One covers theory and application; Part Two discusses morphological analyses of bone, teeth, and age changes; Part Three reviews prehistoric health and disease; Part Four examines chemical and genetic analysis of hard tissues; and Part Five closes with coverage of quantitative methods and population studies. Each chapter includes a review of recent studies, descriptions of analytical techniques and underlying assumptions, theory, methodological advances, and speculation about future research.

New or thoroughly revised content includes:

• Techniques in the analysis of human skeletal and dental remains

• Extensive coverage of new technologies, including modern morphometric techniques

• Advances in the field of forensic anthropology

• Enhanced discussion of ethical terms regarding the study of aboriginal peoples' remains where those people are no longer the dominant culture

This book serves as an indispensable research guide to biological anthropologists, osteologists, paleoanthropologists, and archaeologists. Now with a stronger focus on teaching complex material to students, this revised edition provides enhanced case studies and discussions for future directions, making it an invaluable textbook for advanced undergraduates and graduate students in biological anthropology and forensic anthropology programs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Comprehensive, Insightful and a Superbly Good Read
This is perhaps one of the most comprehensive treatments of this now broad subject area that I have ever read. The authors are to be applauded for gathering together some of the foremost experts in this field of study and organizing a diverse group of papers into a volume that is not only eminently readable by scientists and laypeople alike, but will also certainly stand as one of the outstanding volumes in biological anthropology for years to come. Professionals, students, and laypeople alike will all find something thought-provoking in this book. Very Highly Recommended.

A highly recommended text
"Biological Anthropology of the Human Skeleton will become a leader in the field for texts in the discipline. The editors have collected together key workers and focused on major areas of study and developments in techniques of analysis. Underpinning and preceding the main chapters has been the very important consideration of the ethics surrounding the analysis of human remains, somehting that is often ignored in similar texts. The thoroughness in which the authors have tackled their subjects is testament to their status as experts. The text will appeal to staff and students of anthropology, archeology, medical history and a much wider audience in genetics, pathology, histology and statistics. a highly recommended text." --Charlotte Roberts, University of Durham

An excellent guide
"I have adopted this book for my graduate seminar on human osteology. The contributors review their specialties in depth, and explain the pros and cons of the various analytical methods that are current in our field. This is an excellent guide to a very diverse literature." --Della C. Cook, Indiana University

Expert Reviews
"an excellent volume which should be of interest to any skeletal biologist or archaeologist....It contains a balanced and scholarly treatment of the latest methods in skeletal biological analysis and shouldquickly become THE fundamental reference work for this field."--Jane Buikstra, University of New Mexico

"This outstandingvolume is a must read for students and professionals alike, serving as amajor reference source for skeletal biologists, bioarchaeologists,paleopathologists, and others with interests in ancient skeletal remainsand the information these remains hold for understanding the history of thehuman condition." --Clark Spencer Larsen, University of NorthCarolina-Chapel Hill ... Read more

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With an inquiry into the death of one of his officers hanging over his head back in Yorkshire and his career in limbo, DCI Michael Thackeray sets off for his alma mater, Oxford College, for a summer course, all the while brooding on his newly uncertain future. Before long, a former tutor has persuaded him to investigate the disappearance of a senior don. Why has Dr. Mark Harrison abandoned his wife, his family, and his students so abruptly? And why has no one heard from him or his girlfriend since the day they left St. Frideswide's? The college needs some answers urgently.

Back on their home turf, Thackeray's girlfriend, reporter Laura Ackroyd, watches and waits--and does some of her own investigating--as the ripples caused by the young policewoman's death throw young sergeant Kevin Mower into turmoil and an ambitious officer pursues Thackeray's job.

As Laura Ackroyd battles on the home front, Thackeray is tormented by unhappy memories of his own time at Oxford. Are the missing professor and his girlfriend alive or dead? How many more horrors, so effortlessly covered up over the years, will come back to haunt St. Frideswide's, as well as Thackeray himself? The answers to these questions may be more than he bargained for, and the distance between the privileged world of college cloisters and the violence outside its ivy-covered walls may turn out to be just an illusion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Skeleton at the Feast
I just discovered a new favorite crime author. This series which is usually set in Yorkshire took a trip to Oxford. I was immediately transported into the world of cover-ups and intrigue at Oxford University. Hall's Oxford characters kept me turning the pages late into the night because they were intriguing and realistic. I love Detective Thackeray and his love-interest Laura Ackroyd. Their romantic spark was authentic, not sappy.I wanted to see how they were doing as a couple as well as how they would solve the case. The case unraveled in surprising and rewarding ways. A great read.

Good read on a cold winter night....
SKELETON AT THE FEAST involves intrepid reporter Laura Ackroyd and friend D.C.I. Michael Thackery of the Bradford police force.Michael has been placed on leave following the death of a subordinate and is attending a two-week course at Oxford designed to make him a better administrative copper. Thackery attended Oxford as a young man, where he played rugby but never quite fit in. Following graduation, he returned to his North Yorkshire roots to become a police officer and has not been back in 20 years.

While attending the course, he crosses paths with old lecturers and tutors and one of them asks him to look into the disappearance of a local don who apparently left with a young female employee of "Friddie", Thackery's old school. Thackery's unauthorized investigation into the disappearance of his former school fellow and rugby mate soon sets off a chain of events that leads to the unearthing of skeletons galore.

Meanwhile, Laura is back in Bradford crossing paths with Kevin Mower who is distraught following the death of his former colleague and Val Ridley, blonde copper with a big crush on Mower.The Bradford police force is searching for the fiend who attacked a young girl living in council housing whom he left for dead. Never fear, Laura finds the way to Oxford where she links up with Thackery for a little sleuthing and romance.

I love this series, but begin with the first book. The strength of Hall's stories is characterization. Each book builds on the last.

Intriguing characters, weak mystery
DCI Michael Thackeray is sent back to Oxford, to the college where he'd studied, while his superiors work out what to do with the disaster of a case he left behind. Back at Yorkshire, his detectives try to get on with their lives and cope with the death of one of their own. All is not well at Oxford. His college, which has always hidden its crimes, has continued to do so but a missing professor, the professor's missing girlfriend, and considerable missing money compound Thackeray's old memories of a murder that took place when he was a student.

Author Patricia Hall balances the Oxford mystery with the case of a 13-year old girl who was raped and beaten back in Yorkshire. Reporter, and Thackeray's girlfriend Laura serves as a bridge, spending weekends in Oxford with Thackeray and working on both cases.

Virtually all of Hall's male characters are damaged, trying to make a life for themselves despite the loss of so much. Thackeray has never recovered from his years at Oxford, and now must relive that terrible time and the cover-up that he has never forgotten. His sergeant, Kevin Mower, is slowly self-destructing out of grief for the loss of his love. Strong women, Laura, her grandmother, and DC Val Ridley provide the strength to keep the males moving.

Hall's writing is vivid and American readers are likely to enjoy her judicious use of Yorkshire dialect. The mysteries themselves are fairly anti-climactic, however. In particular, the the Oxford murders seem a little too disconnected. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop--but it never did. Likewise the Yorkshire mystery was quickly resolved once Thackeray returned to the job--so quickly that I wondered why it took so long in the first place. SKELETON AT THE FEAST is interesting and thought provoking, but needs a bit of sharpening to be a really compelling mystery.

an enjoyable and compelling read
"Skeleton at the Feast" is yet another compelling and riveting installment in the Yorkshire Mystery series that features the broodingly charismatic Detective Chief Inspector, Michael Thackeray.

In "Skeleton at the Feast," Thackeray has been sent to Oxford University (his alma mater) in order to attend a summer course on police management. In reality however, Thackeray has been sent out of Bradfield while his fate is being decided -- a young police officer had been shot under his command, and Thackeray is now facing an inquiry into whether or not he is to be held accountable for her untimely death. For Thackeray however, being in Oxford again resurrects all kinds of painful memories of not really fitting in, being harassed by the snobby upper-class students with whom he played rugby, and the tragic accidental death of one of the first women to be admitted to St. Frideswides (Thackerary's college). And when Thackeray's old tutor, Hugh Greenaway, and current Master of St. Frideswides asks Thackeray to unofficially look into the disappearance of a senior don and an old undergraduate rugby foe, Dr. Mark Harrison, he reluctantly agrees to do so. But when he meets the don's abandoned wife, Thackeray realises that there is a whole lot more going on then Greenaway had led him to believe. Motivated by sympathy for Mrs. Harrison, and a desire to see justice done, Thackeray begins to look deeply into the affairs of the missing Mark Harrison, and discovers that Harrison is not the only person missing from Oxford. His young mistress seems to be missing as well; and not only has her disappearance been ignored, but few seem to care as to her whereabouts. Angry that once again unsavory misdeeds are being swept under the carpet, Thackeray is determined to discover the truth and to bring it out into the open. The once friendly Greenaway tries to warn Thackeray off, but will independently minded Thackeray listen?

What makes "Skeleton at the Feast" such great reading is that we get to know a little bit more about DCI Michael Thackery and the past that haunts him and that helped shape him. We also get to see how much policing in England seems to have become a little bit less the pursuit of law and order, and more about clearance rates and numbers. And while the Oxford events that are related in "Skeleton at the Feast" make for compelling reading, what makes this mystery novel doubly interesting is that Patricia Hall has juxtaposed what occurs in Oxford with a case of violent assault that has taken place in Bradfield which Thackeray's sidekicks DS Mower and DC Ridley have to cope with under the command of the new acting head, the ambitious DI Jackie Bairstow, who is after Thackeray's job. How Hall manages to juxtapose these two different subplots, and yet makes everything seem so seamless, is absolutely brilliant.

The greatest charm about this series (and book) is that Patricia Hall has created a group of characters whose well-being we have come to care about. With each new mystery novel we learn a little more of each character and empathise with the ups and downs in their lives. The Yorkshire Mystery is a wonderfully absorbing series, and "Skeleton at the Feast" fits in superbly.

The best work yet in this series
Detective Michael Thackery is in trouble with the Bradfield brass since a female police officer died on his last major case.The leadership claims negligence on his part and failure to obey orders caused the death.He is up for review in a short time but his superior, Detective Superintendent Jack Longley sends Michael to a seminar at St. Fridsuade's College to keep him out of the firing line.

The Master of the college, which happens to be Michael's alma mater, wants his former pupil to investigate the sudden disappearance of Professor Mark Harrison.The professor vanished with his girlfriend, but left behind a wife under psychiatric care, a son dead from a drug overdose, and a bitter daughter.Much to Michael's surprise, his investigation leads to scandals and crimes that the college would prefer never see the light of day.

Patricia Hall's ongoing series starring Michael Thackery and his girlfriend Laura Ackray continues to be one of the better British police procedurals on the market today.SKELETON AT THE FEAST is a complex, multi-layered mystery that shows how ugly the academic world can turn.The romance between Michael and Laurie is progressing and fans of the series will take much pleasure in this novel and want to read the next book in this delightful series

Harriet Klausner ... Read more

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Engrossing
This, and all of the Wesley Peterson books by Kate Ellis, are impossible to put down. Each takes a modern police case handled by DI Peterson of Tradmouth and draws parallels with an archeology dig handled by his friend Neil Watson. Peterson and Watson were at school together, and both hold degrees in archeology. These books, though they follow the investigation through the police department, are much more than proceedurals. We follow Wesley's family--the Jamacian physicians who are his parents and his interracial marriage. We know his friend, Neil, and his friends; DCI Hefferman and his family; the other policemen and women of Tradmouth and their personal lives. We learn a little about archeology and history, too, as we follow the case. A well-written, well-characterized and intriguing series! ... Read more

Product Description
The partial skeleton of Homo erectus found in Kenya by Alan Walker, Richard Leakey, and others is truly one of the great discoveries in paleoanthropology, after the world's best paleoanthropologists have diligently searched for traces of Homo erectus in Africa and Asia for a century. In this book, the authors present descriptions and photographs of all parts of the skeleton and accompany these with a thorough analysis. It consists of three parts. The first part covers the geology, dating, paleoenvironments, and the taphonomy of the site. The second part is a description of the specimen and a review of other Homo erectus specimens from the Lake Turkana region. The last part is composed of analytical papers on certain aspects of the boy's biology as they apply to other Homo erectus specimens. "What impresses me most about the volume is that apart from the basic description of the fossil, which itself is of great importance, the editors have sought out leading experts to tackle problems relating to specific issues in the evolutionary biology of Homo erectus. Many of these chapters would stand alone as major contributions. Together, they make a remarkable volume that will become a standard reference." (Robert A. Foley, Professor of Biological Anthropology, University of Cambridge) ... Read more

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Homo erectus - Ape? Man? Or Ape-Man?
This book on Homo erectus specimen KNM-WT 15000 is nicely done.Dozens of pictures make for easy comparison to other primates.The pictures are scaled at 90 percent, and are in black and white (which was a let down for [the price].Some great info and pictures on the dentition of the Turkanaspecimen are included, including the unusually large roots.This book isnot an easy read, but will appeal to those who are familiar with human andprimate anatomy. ... Read more

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A complete picture
This book covers bone biology, bone structure and function (particularly useful are the drawings of muscle attachments), and the interpretation of bones (age, sex, race, stature, trauma, disease, etc.).A very good bookto gain understanding of why bones have the morphology they do. ... Read more

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(Wrapped Free with text.) ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (2)

Seido Ray Ronci brings poetry fans nearly two hundred pages of elegant verse
Seido Ray Ronci brings poetry fans nearly two hundred pages of elegant verse. "The Skeleton of the Crow" is a collection of poems that tell a story. Channeling his soul and putting it in a flowing, stream of consciousness style throughout his book, he tells a story like no other. "The Skeleton of the Crow" is unique and recommended reading, indeed. "Music": Especially in the cold!//I sat in the Luxembourg Gardens,/formal children in their dress wools,/sticks and sailboats; I sat/all bundled up in my arms, collar raised,/whole orchestras in my head, symphonies/lifting to the ceiling and going/out! And up! And up!/Through centuries!//Just like that.

poems
Ronci writes with elegance, grace, and clarity.His poems exhibit careful reflection on the world, from contemplating our place in our universe to being left alone at home.I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates the thoughtful and skillful use of language. ... Read more

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Taking the fun, science, and discovery of The Bones Book & Skeleton one step further is the bones & skeleton gamebook. Written by Karen C. Anderson, editor of Games Magazine Junior Kids' Big Book of Games, and bones authority Stephen Cumbaa, the workbook is a heavily illustrated, large-size collection of activities, paper games, quizzes, puzzles, and at-home experiments that allows kids to find out even more about the human body and how it works. Selection of the Book-of-the-Month Club and Scholastic Book Services. Suitable for ages 6-10. 224,000 copies in print. ... Read more

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Why were the dinosaurs "built" the way they were? How did this determine their lifestyles? This book answers these and other questions in a close-up look at the skeletons of 18 dinosaurs and other popular prehistoric animals. The reader should be able to understand the structures of these enormous creatures from the study of their bones, just as scientists have done. Each skeleton is presented dramatically on a black background, accompanied by a complete, "clothed" illustration and a to-scale human silhouette. It includes pull-out sections to display on a wall. ... Read more

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Savannah Love is emotionally and physically battered but is determined to survive after escaping the hellish imprisonment imposed on her by her psychotic cop-husband. After seven months in hiding, she resurfaces at Mossy Oak, her ramshackle family home on a Louisiana bayou, and attempts to restart her life. The empty house provides shelter, but isn't the fortress she needs when her cruelex comes calling.Mack O'Malley, former cop turned handyman, conflicted over a bad shoot on the job, comes to Savannah's rescue when the psychopath draws them into a deadly game of cat and mouse. Fearful of Mack at first, she soon discovers that beneath his steely exterior lies a resolute defender with a heart hungry for love. Will their alliance save them, or will they fall victim to the Legend of Skeleton Bayou? ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Excellent read!
I absolutely loved this book. Melanie Atkins shines as a writer. The woman knows how to write suspense that's intriguing enough to keep you turning the pages. She's so good at character development that I fell in love with her hero and cared about what happened to her heroine. Ms. Atkins is an excellent writer who knows how to craft a story you won't want to put down. I'll definitely be reading more of her work.

5 Hearts from TRS!
This book is exactly what I look for when looking for a good romantic suspense to read. The action and suspense were so expertly woven into the story that I felt as anxious as the characters themselves. There were so many twists and turns in this book that it should have come with a warning label and a seat belt. It started off with action that immediately pulled me into the storyline and kept going steadily. The story really drew me in, I loved it. The storyline and foundation were strong. It was very realistic and easy to identify with, making it easier to become immersed in. The main characters were well developed. Savannah is a strong determined woman that you can't help but love and root for. Her strength is empowering, couple that with the sexy Mack, and the pair are hard to resist. The supporting characters were nicely done as well. Even the villains were given their due. I love a story that properly proportions the view point of the bad guy into the story line. I highly recommend this book to those to who enjoy a good romantic suspense. I know I for one absolutely loved it! I'll be looking for more work by Melanie Atkins, that's for sure! - Adrien

Skeleton Bayou
It was a good story.A little bit too much of a coincidence.The world may be small, but I don't think that it is that small. ... Read more

Product Description
The Aldens agree to help Grandfather's friend fix up Skeleton Point, an old mansion. Skeleton Point is filled with old skeletons belonging to its former owner, and townspeople have seen the skeletons walking through the house. ... Read more