Nelson has done an excellent series. The plots in this series are well ...
345434
James L. Nelson has done an excellent series.  The plots in this series are well crafted with many twists and turns and the characters are
diverse and interesting.  This was the first of Mr. Nelson's books that I read and I will probably read everything he has written.  His writing compares very favorably to Bernard Cornwell's.
226693
I'm a dedicated mystery buff and have been since I was 10 years old - longer ago than a lot of you have been alive! I would rate this series as A-list - excellent and more.  Each book has been excellent on its own, as well, and this one is no exception. The characters are well developed, there is an "ensemble" group that works with Dr. Siri Paiboun to solve mysteries and each is a fully rounded person, with strong appeal. I hesitate to give a run down of the various characters - including Siri himself - but  they are charming and pull you in to the story easily. The writing is great - nice and tight and avoiding all the mystery pitfalls (and there are many!) Colin Cotterill has a firm grasp of what makes a good mystery and we thank him profusely. I expect that you will enjoy this one and promptly get hold of the previous books as well.

Normally, when a situation is unusual in a kitschy way: a bunch of cutesy quilters, talking cats, etc - I close the book immediately. too many mystery writers think that substituting cute little situations for good writing and plotting, works. And the sales of some of these books would support them in that thinking.  The situation in the Colin Cotterill books would lead anyone to be skeptical - set in 1977 Laos, an elderly doctor coerced into acting as coroner who happens to be the reincarnation of a thousand year old shaman, a morgue assistant who has Downs Syndrome, a chubby nurse who is brilliant, and the obligatory policeman who is honest and intelligent - yeah, right! However, it works. This odd assortment of people, with still others equally odd showing up here and there as necessary, is a combination that works. Of course, it only works because the author can write, plot, and has some solid understanding of people and systems, and a basic human kindness underpinning his work. I can hardly wait for the next book in the series and expect them to arrive year after year for a long time to come.

This book, and the others in the series, are to be enjoyed - read and reread with pleasure. I was happy to find them and am happy to invite you to join me in the Siri Paiboum fan club.
2016237
Four and a half stars.

This was a good series. I read all five novels separately, but I'd recommend buying this set to save money, as you will want to read all five books.

After finding out that her fiance is a conman, Lydia Collins has a hard time trusting anyone. But when her Aunt May dies, Lydia finds herself leaving New York City and heading for the California gold rush. Unfortunately such a journey requires putting trust in others. She soon finds herself associating with Silas Jones, the very man who revealed her ex fiances secret.  But the two work well together, and when they reach California, they decide to manage a saloon together. Will they ever become more than just business partners, or is Lydia doomed to be unlucky in love again?

I really liked this series. Lydia is such a strong character, an amazing example of tbe smart, independent women that helped settle the West. And the details in this series are excellent:  a steamboat trip to Panama, illnesees, digging for gold in the streets, hangings. Lots of great details that make this a true Western.

Overall a good series that I would recommend.
1164604
With only a few exceptions (there were horrible MA Campion stories), this series is excellent. Campion's reliance on observation, intelligence and skillful questioning is closer to Holmes than, say, your typical "adventure hero", and is arguably less formulaic than Agatha Christie.

I would say this is not the best in the series, but ranks very highly. Lots of twists, the logic is good and there is just the right amount of information revealed.
4321378
I have read all eight of the Dave Slater series by P. F. Ford, starting with Death of a Temptress and ending with The Kidney Donor. I appreciate that the author has thoughtfully included the number of each book in the series because it is so much easier to order them. The author has written a series of police procedurals that follow a well-thought-out story arc, with each book both a self-contained mystery that Slater solves, as well as furthering the storylines of the characters. Ford is a master of characterization and has created some intriguing and frustrating characters for readers to enjoy and follow. In each  book, Slater deals with a mystery and we meet a charming cast of support characters, such as DS Norman, and later in the series, DC Darling. I really enjoyed the characters, the mysteries and the way Ford has carried the characters forward in their individual storylines, as well as how the later books in the series resolve issues brought forth in the earlier books. These books are great for fans of Hill's Dalziel and Pascoe series. I'm very sorry to have finished these books and will enjoy rereading them at some point in the future.
2481949
I read an snjoyed this entire series, and strongly recommend them. The characters are believable and the plot well thought out.
4021132
I think Rob has done a solid job with this series. The reading is fast, but the characters have more depth than what I often encounter in the m/m sci-fi genre. At the same time, the story provides some twists in the plot that keep you guessing. I think that this book and the series (I've read them all) does a good job of providing value and entertainment to the reader. More importantly, the plot and smuttiness are well balanced. So, there you go. Take that as you will!
3402144
This series has created laudable  characters for heroes and malevolent characters to hate. The plot revolves around forces of energy that the characters use  for forces of good and evil. There's lots of action, twists and surprises. The author has a great imagination and gives us a series worth reading in a boxed set at a low  price.
1113977
This installment in the series is very well written and has excellent plot and character development.  It is one of those books where you want to jump in the and be a part of the story.

It was written well enough to keep one guessing on the outcome and had some great plot twists.
4282164
Rhonda Nelson's series, "Men Out of Uniform," has had its good moments, its bad moments and its great moments.  This is definitely in the latter category!  After being supremely disappointed by the last book ("The Phoenix"), I was glad to see Nelson back in her usual form.  The case was quirky, the characters endearing, and all was right in the world again.

Jackson "Oak" Martin is a delicious hunk of a hero who's been partially deafened by an incident in combat.  Rather than drive a desk for the rest of his career, he opts to leave the Army and pursue a career with Ranger Security where his sister, the annoyingly irritating Charlie Martin, now works with her new husband.  Tasked with catching a "Butter Bandit," Jack investigates by day and by night, protects bakery owner Mariette Levine.  Mariette has a heartstrings-tugging backstory that immediately endeared her to me, and the chemistry between her and Jack is powerful and sweet at the same time.

Jack is possibly my favorite character out of this entire series.  He's smart, strong, believes in justice and doing the right thing.  He's the kind of guy that women dream of and men easily respect.  I liked that the reader got to see his incredible mind at work in solving the case fairly easily while doing everything he can to protect the underdog, and I like the we got to see his and Mariette's vulnerability as their romance unfolded.  The love scenes were amazing and steamy, some of the best I've read.  To me, I could easily see how this couple would make it, and that's something I don't think was necessarily guaranteed in some of the "Men Out of Uniform" series.  I have absolutely no complaints with this story, only raves.  "The Keeper" definitely lives up to its name.
2168182
This series is really well written. The writer avoids pointless filler and the plot moves at a cracking pace. I have preordered the next instalment. Luckily it is published in only a few days.
92328
This series is well written and manages to stay clear of the usual pitfalls these sort mysteries fall. The story keeps moving.  The series is well written and well acted and the setting contribute to the series. Yes, it is cold outside.

 Yes, there is the predictable subplot about the city cop who finds himself in Hicksville and  the estranged wife, but this is only a small diversion.  .

This is well done and stands head and shoulders above the disappointing series "Loch Ness" which represents an inferior version of this genre.
1569600
This is a great series of Nelson shows.  Finally we get to re-visit those days of yester-year.  The quality is fairly good.  The only comment I have is there is no listing of the songs Rick sang on the show.  If anyone can help me with a list of shows and the songs when Rick sang, please let us all know.  This is a wonderful series of Nelson entertainment. It's well worth the money.  Hope you enjoy the Nelsons too.
Bill
bmdrs@msn.com
3817404
I have read several of this author's alt history series and often found them wanting.  This series, however, is excellent.  The characters are well defined and you even find yourself liking the Germans.  I can say that as a student of WWII history this is a very plausible scenario.  I look forward to the next book in the series.
342000
Very well written series with a broad range of characters. Emphasis is on characters, their relationships with each other, and excellent plotting. Reluctant hero demonstrates the importance of book smarts combined with the probable lunacy of needing to fix whatever he sees in front of him.

Also, I could barely stand to put the books down, and probably lost half a nights worth of sleep because I didn't want to stop reading.
2378453
I really enjoyed this entire series, the plots and the characters are interesting and well-developed.  I didn't realize at first that Dancing in the Moonlight was part of this series, would be good to make that clearer.  Sometimes in a series, the first book is the best and the stories get weaker as the series progresses.  This was not the case with these books, I loved all of them.  I especially appreciate that the female lead characters are strong people with good careers and interesting lives.
948146
Books 1 through 3 of the Seraphinium series ended much too soon.  The characters are interesting and consistent.  The plot twists are legion.  A writing style reminiscent of Chronicles of Narnia or Lord of the Rings.

As a former editor I was elated to find the books seem to be professionally edited with hardly any sentences I would question or change.

I've asked to be on Daniel McHugh's mailing list so I can keep reading.

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