Author is best kept secret
582002
Allan Folsom was recommended by our local bookstore manager.  He said that "Day After Tomorrow" was the best book he had ever read.  I agreed after reading it.  Since that time I have read and collected a hard cover copy of each of Allan's four books.  "The Hadrian Memorandum" is full or twists and turns that you know make it impossible for the characters to survive, but through breathtaking adventures, they still do.  I am looking forward to the author's next book and would love to attending a book signing.  I want to meet this man who has an unimaginable imagination which he is able to transfer into the readers mind.
1929909
The book is riddled with secrets and secret keepers. Some we find out about right away, some we find out only because Jude, the one person who never let anyone in on her own secrets before finally met her match, The Bluff... hears them from the trap of her own head. Some other's know and others keep, it is a mess. At the center of this our author has put Jude into a vegetative state, basically a host for her unborn child. So broken, so messed up when alive, we have no clue how important she is and how fast things will unravel as well as heal in the end

Lost for so many years our protagonist, Jude finally wakes up, at least from her own walk-about through reality. Ready to deal with it all, the pregnancy  the drugs, a plausible rape, an abusive childhood, bullying, her mothers suicide witnessed, her homosexuality  and to all around everything a mystery. The problem? She wakes up in a vegetative state and cannot share all of her secrets she has kept from her best friend, her sister, the small town she lives in and finally to her own unborn child. Now what? She is awake enough to hear, and as her body dies, her child grows, others begin to die within, without and around...

Before Jude falls from the bluff where she lives through miraculously, alive with her unborn child still healthy while her body broken beyond help. She is stuck  in a medical limbo and becomes a magnet to the lost souls in the vicinity. Skomal has created a world of symbolism and metaphor as well as a story to immerse yourself slowly in. Will she wake up to tell and help with everyone's secrets? Will the birth of her child uncover another? What about those secrets which need revealing in order to save that of another innocent? Will she finally be able to help, even if it is just being there to "listen"?

Each of our characters seem to have a little tiny wisp of who she is and what she is about. She is like a center of a web, a web in a small town, a strand of which is the controversy of the Roman Catholic`s take on pulling the plug, or the strand of the  small town, a reflection on many throughout America, and homosexual women. How all and everything compounds these issues. Infidelity, drug abuse, suicide, shall I go on? Oh no, how about abortion... yep I said it, and one thing this book never brings up? Is abortion or adoption which for some reason bugs me the most.

There is a lot going on and I am glad I did not slam through it. It is not one to jaunt through over the weekend, as the author has stated, she wants us to "eat" her books, and I nibbled, ate, put it in Tupperware... zapped it a bit to heat it up and finally finished it with a dollop of whip cream on top.

This is a book about the struggle of one woman with a broken soul, a woman with more secrets than the church in question and the only people who learn the most about Jude are us, the reader! It makes you wonder "what...?"  on so many levels. What would need to break in order for our own damage to be healed finally? I recommend this to anyone who is not afraid to face that question and to those who already have.
3318776
This author has the highest reputation. He has devised a "checklist" that purportedly exposes psychopaths in our midst. That test is often forced on prisoners trying to get parole and supersedes good behavior in prison. Hare's condemnation of psychopaths is extremely harsh and can easily create a witch hunt mentality.
1138962
For a first time published writer, the author of this book has a deft touch with words and characterization. He creates interesting and believeable, if occasionally odd, characters, and then builds a compelling plot around them.

The crux of the plot is that there is a "madman"(?) who believes that a famous reclusive author is "out to get him" because only he knows a secret about this man. There is also the protagonsit, who sets himself the goal of tracking down this author, and also a girl who is the object of affection of both of the men ( but not the author).

The plot moves ahead slowly, but that is not a problem, because the writing is so good that the reader does not mind the byways occasionally taken by the author. The ending is quite interesting and compelling, so I do highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys excellent writing and a plot that keeps your interest throughout the entire book.
3164615
There are better choices
The "dirty little secret" is how did this book get published.
2712019
I like this author, the Hot Zone was a marvelous book and the fiction version was not that bad.  These were the only two reasons I picked up this book.  The description of the book sounded somewhat interesting, but without the author I would have passed on it.  In hindsight that was a mistake.  The author really did try his best to make a business case study more aptly used in a college class then a mass publication book, interesting to read.  He could not pull it off.  The good flow of the book and the fact that it at least tries to keep you interested is due to the skill of author.  Yes there is a lot of detail about this new form of making sheets of steel, but unless you are in the industry or a gluten for punishment I would stay away from the book.
717708
Need not say anything as the authors reputation,if you have read any of her books,  is known for excellent writing. I see her name and buy the book without introductions and she has never let me down.
1756942
How the author tells the truth,it is up to the reader to own up to it and do something about it.
783741
Beware the suspense writer with a cause. Multimillionaire bestselling author Paul Giverney, Martha Grimess latest antihero introduced in FOUL MATTER, is on the warpath. His recent triumph over the venal agents and murder-for-hire publishers has whetted his appetite for victory as he takes on an infamously greedy literary agent.

Sweet, innocent damsel Cindy Sella, with one moderately successful novel under her belt, is suffering from writers block caused by a former agents relentless legal pursuit of an unearned commission. Shes nursing her plight in a popular Manhattan bar when a gangland shooting takes out an aquarium filled with tropical fish, and she makes a heroic dive to save a rare clownfish. No humans (or presumably piscine lives) are lost, but she draws the attention of Karl and Candy, Grimess hitmen with scruples, when they arrive in time to chase off the gangsters.

Sentimental hitman Candy, an unlikely aficionado of rare fish, and Karl, just as unlikely a reader of Proust (among other esoteric literati), hear of their fish-saving young maidens plight and come gallantly to the rescue. They announce that this contract is pro bono (their fee is usually $1 million for a hit), and they will take out the dastardly L. Bass Hess, but only if he cant be dispensed without bloodshed. Thats where Paul Giverney comes in. Karl and Candy pay him a visit after working with him to successfully stop a hit on an unsuspecting author in FOUL MATTER. Because suspense writers have famously fiendish minds, who else but an evil genius like Giverney could cook up a plot to drive Hess crazy? With Giverneys vast bank account, he can produce a gaslighting escapade that moves from Central Park to the Everglades to a Malaysian tropical fish-smuggling team.

Grimess stock in trade is her character-driven mysteries and novels. Her dark knight hero, Scotland Yards Richard Jury, hangs out with an eclectic Greek chorus of villagers and reluctant royals in more than 20 bestsellers. Her charming young adult series, featuring an adventurous Southern adolescent named Emma Graham, was peopled with characters only found in small Southern towns.

Now, in THE WAY OF ALL FISH and its prequel, Grimes ventures into the world she knows best: publishing. You can almost hear the conjectures of fellow writers and other publishing insiders wondering just who is that egomaniacal publisher or that cutthroat agent whose only interest in his client is how much he can make in commissions. And especially, who is that perfect, almost saintly editor whom writers and publishing houses alike would literally kill to get? Does he or she exist in the known world?

There is a madcap similarity to the antics in THE WAY OF ALL FISH that is reminiscent of Carl Hiaasen, especially when Hess is lured into the Everglades to retrieve a rare orchid. Grimes gives a well-deserved nod to Susan Orlean and other authors, plays, movies and novels when Giverney dips into his plagiaristic dark side to come up with diabolical schemes to make Hesss life miserable.

Grimes exposes a seamy underbelly of book publishing in tongue-in-cheek fashion, but if you are a writer, editor, agent, publicist or publisher, or an avid reader who hangs out with those who are, the greed that infects Wall Street may be seen as spreading like a horde of silverfish to destroy from within what has historically been thought of as an honorable industry. The damage isn't easily visible, but the next time you pick up a book and wonder how in the world did this thing get published? remember that publishing has become a game like so many others where its the bottom line, not necessarily quality, that gets you to the finish line.

Reviewed by Roz Shea
4920810
This is the only publication you can secure as the 2 others are confined to the estate of the buyer, and are therefore out of the public domain. Known by most for his gift to run, this book will likely be a pleasant surprise to the grace granted to this man who lived the life.
And, died an unanticipated tragic death in 1945 near the tail end of WW-2.
2734148
This book is mainly about the author ripping on everyone he knows or comes in contact with. I know several other people that were reading the book as well and have stopped.
73771
The revelations within the type-written manuscript of the book titled "The Accident" sent to literary agent Isabel Reed would destroy the global multimedia billion dollar corporation built by Charles Wolfe. It could also put the lives of anyone associated with its publication into serious jeopardy. One distinct problem associated with the book is its authorship, attributed to "anonymous", which is totally understandable given the content but without some corroborating evidence or eye witness accounts, would it be believable? The author understands the consequences of publication since he clearly states in the Epilogue, "Because if what you are reading is a published book, printed, and bound and distributed into the world, I am, almost certainly dead." The controversy surrounding the revelations alone would sell books but it would also destroy lives and careers. Isabel twice attempted to contact the author via the email on the cover page but the message she sent had bounced back twice. She realizes the book would be the hottest best seller, something any publisher would die for, but the real question is, does one literally want to risk dying - for the opportunity to publish it? The jealousies, competitive nature and potential triumphant successes of the publication industry make it a hot bed of secrets which are promised to be concealed but end up revealed in whispers under the strictest confidentiality.

The title of the book alludes to an event that was hushed up, covered up between all participants and witnesses but which clearly points the finger of blame in one direction: Charles Wolfe. Essentially, those who knew what happened remained silent: the dead victim's silence was guaranteed, another key witness was kept quiet with payments that lasted many years. He became a well placed, highly paid executive within the corporation, in far too deep to run around and give it all up. The third witness to "the accident" was allowed to leave the scene and remained at large. Only this one person remained who could verify, corroborate the details.

The author's talent lies in the ability to create suspense, drama, and tension by holding the reader's attention as he takes them down meandering paths of escape from the enemy. Key players rise to the occasion in Copenhagen, Zurich Switzerland and the Alps, the Hamptons in New York and Los Angeles, California. Disparate people, places, and past events are tied into a cohesive whole as the plot is developed and the unknown details are gradually exposed and come into focus. As one would expect, the Wolfe pack will do anything to protect their leader and to the reader's great satisfaction, an unexpected bombshell explodes with even more unexpected consequences that can not be anticipated. This is one fantastic, elegantly written novel that is truly "impossible to put down." Erika Borsos [pepper flower]
741528
El Misterioso Senor Brown / The Secret Adversary

This story begins on May 7, 1915 when a man gives an important document to a young girl for safekeeping and delivery to the American Ambassador to England. Miss Prudence Cowley meets Tommy Beresford, both are out of work and cant find jobs (Chapter 1). [The beginning of the Great Depression.] They overhear a conversation about a Jane Finn, then learn more about this name. They are hired as Private Inquiry Agents by a secret government official (Chapter III). Tommy hears talk about a General Strike (Chapter VIII). Prudence will work undercover as a maid (Chapter IX). [Did you get a hint in Chapter XIII?]

Tommy escapes from his captors (Chapter XVII). Tuppence has gone away due to a false message and they try to track her (Chapter XVIII). They locate Jane Finn (Chapter XIX). Can they find the hidden document (Chapter XX)? Jane Finn tells her story (Chapter XXV). She hid two pages in a safe place, they will rush to retrieve them. They return to that Soho flat to retrieve those pages and get a big surprise! [Refer to Chapter XIII.] There is a celebration for the good guys (Chapter XXVII). Would the press print a favorable obituary on an important person? Tommy explains his actions, he didn't know who to trust. Chapter XXVIII has the ending for Jane and Julius, and Tuppence and Tommy.

This is an interesting story that holds your interest page after page. Do some parts seem implausible? The idea of a character who is not what he or she seems would be used in another of Christies mystery novels. The idea of a small group controlling events is not just conspiracy theory. One interesting part is the culture or background to this story. Note the freedom to keep and bear arms in those days. Agatha Christie wrote this mystery novel in 1922 at the beginning of her long writing career. She is one of the best-known and widely-read writers of all times, and the most widely translated British author in the world.
4782992
I liked the book up until he decided to share her with others. No cheating should not be listed as part of the book description.
3685773
Great book - if you work in finance/trading, then this is a great read.  I don't understand how this author isn't very known.  It seems like the books that make best-sellers are usually authors that are good are storytelling rather than actually providing details, and sometimes write incorrect information.  It would probably be boring/too technical for someone that just somehow came across the book.
2055061
You take an author as you find her, for better or worse. I'd say this author's worse book is better than many another author's best.  Since I enjoy all her novels suppose I haven't found her worse and more than likely never will. I'm not a real pirate fan and shorts are too blasted short. I've had authors complain about reviewers that say that asking why we reader are reading them. It's simple, a great author can make us read all her work and with great enjoyment. Good book, good author, she's hooked me again.
3850680
Long Gone
By Alafair Burke
Published by Harper, An Imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers

When Alice Humphrey meets a handsome art dealer at a swanky gallery showing who offers her the opportunity of a lifetime, her better instincts warn her its too good to be true. She should have listened. Unfortunately, her need for independence--and the fact that she'd been unemployed for far too long--outweighed her common sense.

Day one. It all started out innocuous enough; a wealthy beneficiary hires said art dealer to find a promising manager for an edgy new art gallery which will feature his newest lovers artwork. While not of her particular taste in art, she's only required to feature the initial collection for three weeks. She can then select pieces from artists of her choosing. This she can live with, and so the Highline Gallery opening goes off without a hitch.

Day two. Apoplectic religious protesters converge on the gallery over Highline's inexcusable promotion of child pornography. Were there child models in any of the tasteless photographs Alice had been instructed to include in the exhibit? Whether there were or not, the immediate media frenzy that resulted besieged not only Alice personally, but her family as well.

Day three. When Alice returns to the gallery early the next morning to get answers from her employer, she finds him murdered. Covered in his blood, she calls the police for help; and that's when the story really begins. Murder, lies, false identities, a missing girl... Alice has no idea what she's gotten herself into.

Long Gone is a fast-moving crime thriller that will keep you second-guessing every assumption Burke expertly manipulates you to make. With over 34 named persons introduced in rapid fire succession within the first several chapters its difficult to keep track of who is who and what you are meant to remember or not; a great technique in distraction and diversion. You can count me as a new fan.

I received this book free from HarperCollinsPublishers as part of their Blogger program. I was not required to write a positive review and the opinions I have expressed are my own.