Book Description
Ed McBain’s last installment in the 87th Precinct series finds the detectives stumped by a serial killer who doesn’t fit the profile. A blind violinist taking a smoke break, a cosmetics sales rep cooking an omelet in her own kitchen, a college professor trudging home from class, a priest contemplating retirement in the rectory garden, an old woman out walking her dog—these are the seemingly random targets shot twice in the face. But most serial killers don’t use guns. Most serial killers don’t strike five times in two weeks. And most serial killers’ prey share something more than being over fifty years of age. Now it falls to Detective Steve Carella and his colleagues in the 87th Precinct to find out what—or whom—the victims had in common before another body is found.
With trademark wit and sizzling dialogue, McBain unravels a mystery and examines the dreams we chase in the darkening hours before the fiddlers have fled.
Customer Reviews:
A decent end to a landmark series of novels.......2007-02-14
Having read more than half of the fifty-five 87th precinct novels written by the recently deceased Ed McBain, I think they break down into two categories. First, there are those that grip you from the get-go and, more important, can be read as an enjoyable" stand alone" novel even if you are not a fan. The three that come to mind for me are "Ice," "Lullaby" and "Hark." On the other hand, there are the ones that are seemingly a bit more plodding but if you are into the characters and McBain's style, you will stick with the book more as a fan and a way to continue watching your old pals move on with life. For me, Fiddlers fits into the latter category. Not as good as his previous work(the aforementioned "Hark") but decent enough where if you stick with it, the end result will be bittersweet - a good read tinged with the sadness this is the end of a landmark series.
A series of execution style murders, with the victims all being old enough to apply for their AARP membership, gives just about the entire group of recurring 87th precinct detectives their moment in the spotlight. Most of the detectives we have seen in this series all get a murder tossed their way and the fun is in us following them on their investigation. Of course, the climactic moment when everyone has to come together to connect the dots is vintage McBain.
As I mentioned, this book may not be a great starting point for a non-fans since I believe the investigation is more fun to read when you know the detectives already. Yet if you are a fan, this is a must read just so you can say a fond farewell to a writer who truly set a standard others may never be able to duplicate.
Five Star Finale.......2006-10-16
Though it had to be, what a shame to end the series on such a downbeat note, with Steve Carella's little April, once the apple of his eye, turning into a gang girl, and her opposite number, the boy twin, becoming a snitch, a rat, of the worst description, telling on April as soon as it's convenient. Those twins once were the highwater mark of cute kids in the detective novel, now they're just like slimy movie kids. Their mother seems incapable of keeping up with the changes puberty brings. Yes, she can sign "No drugs!" as loudly as she can, and it may work the first time, but eventually the kids will do their own thing, rebelling against the unusual home setup (obsessed cop dad and signing Mom) and wanting to be like other more normal families.
However, Ed McBain's tragic death deprives us of resolution, and I expect something in the man delighted in this, for he had a pretty good opinion of himself and, much like you and I, considered himself one of the great American novelists. Irreplaceable. I for one don't want any V C Andrews scam occurring to the 87th Precinct series. We loved him for his writing pure and simple.
FIDDLERS is pretty good and it's miles better than that wretched book where Ollie Weeks was writing a novel, remember that? Its lame parody of bad writing, presented in standard 87th Precinct facsimile form? Yikes was that awful. This one is much better, and although the actial revenge plot borrows quite a bit from Cornell Woolrich's two 1940s thrillers THE BRIDE WORE BLACK and RENDEZVOUS IN BLACK, the addition of the red-headed prostitute, Reggie, turns the human interest up a notch, so we become interested in the unlikely pairing of serial killer and call girl.
Why "FIDDLERS" though? OK, the first victim played the violin. Maybe there's some larger, overarching metaphor here. Funny thing that FIDDLERS should be Ed McBain's last book, while FIDDLERS THREE was the last play that Agatha Christie wrote. Nothing but a coincidence, but I'm just saying.
Fiddlers.......2006-09-11
"Fiddlers" is the 55th and last novel of the 87the Precinct by Ed McBain who passed away in 2005 shortly before this novel was published. "Fiddlers" is an excellent novel that reminded me of many of the earlier 87th Precinct novels. Max Sobolov, a blind violinist, is murdered outside the club in which he was playing. Then, Alicia Hendricks, a cosmetics salesperson, is murdered. Then college professor Christine Langston is murdered followed by a priest Father Michael and a 70+ year old woman named Helen Reilly. All five murders were shootings from the same Glock hand gun, and all the victims were over 50 years of age. Almost all the cops of the 87th are involved in the investigation as well as Fat Ollie Weeks from the 88th who has been in many of the 87th Precinct novels. Ed McBain was the master of the police procedural and this novel won't disappoint his long time fans. He will be greatly missed. I will sorely miss the 87th Precinct novels which were written frequently by McBain. American mystery fiction has lost one of its best. "Fiddlers" is very highly recommended.
I hate to see these draw to a close..........2006-07-10
I'm sad to see the 87th Precinct series draw down to a close... This is (I believe) the first 87th Precinct novel released after Ed McBain's death... Fiddlers.
Carella's group draws a case where a blind violin player was found shot twice in the head behind the restaurant where he worked. This quickly becomes more than "just another murder" when a sales rep for a cosmetic company is found dead in her home, same killing wound, and same murder weapon. Five murders in two weeks, all the same modus operandi, all the same gun, means they have a serial killer on their hands. But how do you tie together victims that have little in common except for the fact they're all over 50? All of the detectives of the 87th Precinct are tracking the murders, trying to find the common thread that will point to the killer. Meanwhile, the killer is on a mission to correct errors that only he knows and understands...
As with all other 87th Precinct novels, I enjoyed this one quite a bit. I did find it a bit bittersweet, however. McBain passed away recently, so there's not much hope for too many more episodes. I've heard it rumored that he had one last novel "in the can" to be released upon his death. I'll have to keep an eye open for that, and for any other episodes that happened between this release and now. McBain is a true master of the police procedural, and his passing is a sad event for many of us. Fiddlers is a quick page turner that draws you into the life of the killer, as you try and figure out his motive and story.
Classic McBain, and one to savor...
A Too Dark Tale From a Legend.......2006-04-17
I have read 87th Precinct novels for 45 years and always enjoyed them. I didn't dislike this one but have no trouble believing it was the author's last work. It is very dark and focused on our mortality. His own looming death was obviously on the author's mind as he wrote this story. It doesn't bother me that death is so much a part of part of the book, that's to be expected. It's that depression clings to the whole book. I was kind of sad the author went out on this note.
Average customer rating:
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The Crystal City: A Cosmic Adventure
Bjorn Ortenheim
Manufacturer: Authorhouse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 Contemporary
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ASIN: 1403305021 |
Average customer rating:
- Not only basic but for the experinced also
- A Good Amount of Unique Information
- great basic book
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Basic Essentials Cooking in the Outdoors, 2nd (Basic Essentials Series)
Cliff Jacobson
Manufacturer: Falcon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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Camping's Top Secrets, 3rd: A Lexicon of Camping Tips Only the Experts Know (Falcon Guides Camping)
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Basic Essentials Camping, 3rd (Basic Essentials Series)
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Camping's Top Secrets, 2nd: A Lexicon of Camping Tips Only the Experts Know (Camping)
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Canoeing & Camping Beyond the Basics, 2nd (Canoeing how-to)
Accessories:
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Rayovac SPHLTLED 3-in-1 LED Head-Lite
ASIN: 0762704268 |
Book Description
An information-packed tool for the novice or handy reference for the veteran. Distills years of knowledge in an affordable and portable book.
Customer Reviews:
Not only basic but for the experinced also.......2005-11-23
I am not a big fan of Cliff , but having said that, this book is one of his best. Many great tips are given and will keep food on the table/lap on those long trips.
Good to have in your outdoor collection.
A Good Amount of Unique Information.......2005-07-09
Although I found a lot of this book to be useful, I was most impressed with the author's system to conserve fuel and speed cooking time while cooking outdoors in colder climates.
great basic book.......2003-02-14
This is a great basic book 70 page book on this subject. I have about 10 different books on camp cooking, and this one covers many areas of outdoor cooking including camp stoves, fire making, selecting the right pots and pans. How to pack lightly is covered as well as sources to find things. Then there are the recipes which all work great and tste delicious. The writer has a homey style that is very comfortable to read, kind of like an old friend or uncle explaining things to you. The book is affordable. The interior illustrations are nice too.
Book Description
An indispensable source of information for parents and students of all ages in the search for horse-related educational programs and careers.
Customer Reviews:
Great book for parents of horse-loving high school students.......2007-01-18
This book is GREAT as far as helping narrow down what schools offer the degree or program that your college-bound student is looking for. It's a fabulous resource for parents as it lists tuition costs, etc., all in one place - no more searching websites, calling schools only to find out you can't afford it. I would recommend finding a book that helps you and your child narrow down their field of interest first, though, since it really doesn't go into detail what the different degrees mean to "lay persons."
Surveys an immense number of learning facilities.......2002-12-08
Compiled and organized by horse expert Angelia Almos, Horse Schools is a detailed and comprehensive guide to international universities, colleges, secondary schools, and specialty equine programs -- all categorized geographically by nation. From Argentina, Hong Kong, and New Zealand, to Spain, and the many schools to be found in the Canada, the United Kingdom, and the U.S., Horse Schools surveys an immense number of learning facilities and summarizes the basic programs offered by each school, along with a brief but informative program description, degrees offered, contact information, tuition costs, and more. Horse Schools is confidently recommended as being a first rate reference for choosing an ideal location to learn equine handling for personal fun, professional necessity, or horse show competition.
What a find!!!.......2002-09-19
This is absolutely the finest resource for locating Horse Schools I have ever seen! The format is easy to read and the extensive cross references make it a breeze to locate a school by subject, course, location or degree level. I had no idea there were so many schools available until now.
A must have for anybody who is serious about a career in the field Horses.
Book Description
This volume on teddy bears and Steiff animals picks up where the first one left off. Hundreds of bears and animals are featured in this large book. There are no repeats from the first book. 2000 values. AUTHORBIO: Margaret Mandel has authored three volumes on teddy bears and Steiff animals, and her books have become standards in the collecting field. REVIEW: This book not only highlights hundreds of teddy bears and Steiff animals in full color, but it also gives a history of the teddy bear tips on conservation and restoration of teddy bears, things to look for when collecting, and a history of the Steiff Company. It's a must for any teddy bear collector.
Customer Reviews:
Classic reference.......2002-10-31
This is a nicely organized book chock-full of great pictures. It begins with a brief history of the teddy bear, conservation tips, and guidelines on what to look for when investing in a bear. It moves on to discuss Steiff dolls and animals with guidelines for evaluating Steiff dolls/animals for purchase or sale. The book covers miniature bears, Teddy Bears before 1940, Teddy Bears from 1940-1980, contemporary Teddy Bears (as of 1984), artist bears, Teddy Bear related items, Steiff Dolls, Steiff Animals before 1940, and Steiff Animals from 1940-1984.
Hundreds of items are photographed and described in detail with notations on what adds value and/or is rare. Even though the first edition came out eighteen years ago, it still remains a classic reference/guide and it is updated every few years.
Not for Steiff Collectors.......2000-11-05
Firstly are you a Steiff or TeddyBear in general collector. If the answer is Steiff this book will have no use to you. The first seven pages are informative but after that it is packed full of colour pictures obtained from peoples personal collectons. It is more like a photo album of bears, although saying this, the pictures are of excellent quality. If you want to check the value of a bear pictured you have to look up the page number at the back of the book and find the relevant item. I have 15 Steiff Bears and not one of them were listed, I have looked through this book 3-4 times and all in all I am dissapointed in it. I will place it in the book cabinet and probably never look at it again.
Product Description
More of Lisas best layouts from TV Creating Keepsakes Founding Editor Lisa Bearnson inspires scrapbookers with new layouts and ideas each month on TV. You asked for a new book with more of her scrapworthy ideas, and Vol. 2 is here! Hundreds of scrapbook layouts by Lisa and friends 20 new fonts Preprinted titles Everything you need to make an 18-page mini album (Check out photos and instructions for this project.)
Product Description
Scrapbook kit includes 180 page idea book 20 page 6x6 mini theme album with hundreds of embellishments 36 piece (A-Z 0-9) foam stamp set using CK Woodbine font and 72 piece matching chipboard alphabet set. Create 20 pages of wonderful memories! The possibilities are endless.
Customer Reviews:
Great book.......2007-05-15
I now have all three of her Scrapbooking with Lisa Bearson books, and have just ordered #4. Two I bought through Amazon with a fantastic price. Very happy & pleased with each one. Excellent binding and quality of book. I just wish they would mention or star the actual layouts from QVC. There are tons of beautiful layouts in each book, but you have to look in the credits to find out if it it a personal layout or products used from QVC.
Best Value Creating Keepsakes.......2007-03-21
Love this kit. I also own another one of her kits. The idea books are awesome and the extras make it an unbeatable value. These are definetly worth the money.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic!.......2005-12-09
This book is really great. I always watch QVC when there is anything scrapbook on and they go so fast with all those fantastic layouts and recording them isn't good enough when you want to use their ideas. This book is well put together and clear. I just love it!
Sheri, North Carolina
Average customer rating:
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Scrapbooking: with Lisa Bearnson
Lisa Bearnson
Manufacturer: Creating Keepsakes Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
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Scrapbooking
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ASIN: 1929180748 |
Book Description
An award-winning artist and a professional stylist/photographer have combined sophistication and simplicity in this easy-to-follow guide to more than seventy-five seasonally inspired projects. Each inventive design is developed from natural materials that are readily available to both country- and city-dwellers. Lavishly illustrated with full-color photographs of finished creations and 300 step-by-step photographs, Country Living Through the Seasons offers a practical approach to creating glorious handmade decorations, gifts and toys, and sumptuous seasonal feasts for family and friends.
Full-color photographs throughout.
Customer Reviews:
Nice Projects Book.......2005-05-29
This book takes you through the seasons-Spring, Summer, Autumn, & Winter offering craft projects for each season, as well as the holidays in those seasons.
The projects are geared to the experienced adult crafter. The crafts tend to be classy, yet practical, in a Martha Stewart style.
Average customer rating:
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Cthulhu Valentines
Cartouche Press
Manufacturer: Cartouche Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards
Pop Culture
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ASIN: 1556346123 |
Amazon.com
Cool, classy, articulate, and brilliant--rarely do all of those adjectives apply at once to an astrophysicist. But Neil de Grasse Tyson is no ordinary scientist; as the director of New York City's Hayden planetarium, his job is to inspire the public with the beauty and grandeur of the universe, just as he was inspired there in his youth. The Sky Is Not the Limit is his memoir of the events leading from his birth to his acceptance of his dream job and beyond, and is a marvelously entertaining look at one man's pursuit of his life's calling. Tyson emphasizes the nurturing roles played by his parents, friends, and teachers, in contrast to the sometimes well-meaning but always disappointing discouragement he experienced from all sides in his quest for his Ph.D.
Of course, it's still shamefully difficult for a black American scientist to merit the same quality of attention as his or her peers, and Tyson's insights into the subtle but still-pervasive racism in academia are enlightening. His description of his own shock at seeing himself on television--a black man sought as an expert on something other than being black--is powerfully moving. But, as with his other books, like the gorgeous One Universe: At Home in the Cosmos, the quest for knowledge is more important than the obstacles, and his spirit, determination, and sense of humor prove that the sky really isn't the limit. --Rob Lightner
Book Description
As the youngest-ever Director of the Hayden Planetarium, Neil de Grasse Tyson is America's best-known astrophysicist, constantly called upon by the media to explain news-making scientific phenomena such as the discovery of water on Mars. How did an African American kid growing up in the Bronx, expected by everyone to become a star athlete, not an intellectual, become an extraordinarily successful scientist? This is the fascinating and moving account of Tyson's love affair with the night sky, beginning with the fateful day when he, as a small boy, happened to turn a pair of binoculars up toward the moon and was struck with wonder.
Packed with gorgeous descriptions of the night sky,
The Sky Is Not the Limit invokes the grandeur of the cosmos as it tells Tyson's compelling personal story. In addition, it is a perceptive look at life and society as seen through the eyes of an astrophysicist, providing a valuable look into how scientists work in, and think about, the social, political, and physical world. From that eye-opening first glimpse of the moon, through his struggle to fulfill his dream of becoming an astrophysicist, to the triumphant opening of the new Hayden Planetarium, Tyson's story is remarkable.
Customer Reviews:
by a sixteen-year old.......2005-08-03
The sky is not the limit is a novel that goes deep into the heart of the author, Neil de Grasse Tyson, who started out at a young age shooting for his dream to become an astrophysicist. This book gives the reader a mental view of the objects surrounding us both in space and on earth. Throughout Neil's life he has worked hard pursuing his passion in astrophysics.
I enjoyed this book because it is scientific and also teaches lessons of life that you may not otherwise encounter. I also enjoyed the comedy in his statements. I have learned that if I want to become a scientist like Neil, then I must start training at a young age. This book has opened up my eyes to become aware of many things that I did not notice before.
out of this world!.......2004-08-31
Neil de Grasse Tyson's writing style is unpretentious and reads like a letter from a good friend. It reaches a wide audience from the high school student interested in astronomy to the astrophysist. It is easy to understand and appreciate, even if you don't have a degree in astrophysics. Upon completion of this book you will have gained a wealth of knowledge and a basic understanding of astronomy. This book is a great find for anyone intersted in learning about the how's and why's of the stars, solar system and the universe. The book is jam packed with interesting information presented to you as an autobiography rather than a text book, which makes it very easy to read and very enjoyable. I would give it more stars if I could.
A life in astronomy.......2002-02-02
Tyson is an astrophysicist and the director of the Hayden Planetarium. He's also black. This unusual juxtaposition provides the grist for this autobiography.
The black part of it is actually not that significant, at least for the most part. Tyson was a gifted and capable student who knew early on that he would go into astronomy. He had a supportive family and encouraging teachers. It would be an insult to Tyson to say he had a charmed life, but certainly he set himself on the right course from the outset (unlike, say, Ben Carson) and had good support along the way.
He goes on to talk about a life in astronomy and some of the technical issues he cares about, from the importance of understanding science and the associated silliness of being terrified of mathematical equations to the dangers of a meteorite striking the earth and destroying human life. He also spends a chapter talking about science, religion, and the fate of the universe. He insists that science and religion are two separate spheres, though without ever explicitly stating his own religious beliefs.
He does devote one chapter to racial issues, pointing out in a low-key way the myriad insults (usually indirect) that he has experienced due to the color of his skin, from police stops to people not realizing that he is as intelligent as he is. It's a sobering chapter and makes me realize how far this country still has to go in terms of eliminating racial prejudice.
Most of the book, though, is about the wonders of the skies and how a young man found his life's calling there. It's well worth reading for anyone but particularly for a young person thinking about making astronomy a career.
Heavenly Joys!.......2000-09-12
Dr. Tyson has written a wonderful memoir that will inspire anyone who reads it to become more interested in astrophysics, how to be a better parent, ways to improve as a mentor, and to seek out an inspirational profession.
The ultimate charm of this book is that Dr. Tyson is a warm, witty, self-effacing, and passionate human being. I seldom get the feeling from reading a book that I would enjoy having the author as a friend, but Dr. Tyson affected me that way.
For young people thinking about a career in science, Dr. Tyson is an excellent role model of how focusing on the joy you feel from the subject matter can evolve into additional joy from the intellectual content. In his description at the end of the book of how the putative Big Bang may have happened, I was enthralled. It was almost like reading poetry. Now, I have read many descriptions of the same subject, and have never been moved by them before.
Dr. Tyson also makes an eloquent case for creating planetary defense capabilities to divert or destroy asteroids or comets that could create catastrophic collisons with the Earth. I came away convinced that this was a worthwhile activity. You may, too.
Dr. Tyson had wonderful parents and mentors. I enjoyed reading about them as much as I did about the main subjects of the book. Anyone will pick up tips for being better at both roles from this book.
He also has a great sense of humor, telling many funny stories in a wonderfully straight way. In the process, he gently tweaks the racism that means that black astrophysicists have many confrontations with the police that white ones don't have, errors in popular movies (Jodie Foster will blush after she reads what he has to say about her), and our earthbound perspective that keeps us from appreciating the heavenly beauty above.
Dr. Tyson often appears with Peter Jennings on television. Watch for him, and notice his ties. He likes to wear ones with astrophysical references. He is the director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, so you will often see or hear him quoted on the latest space-related issues.
I should admit a bias to you. When the college I attended holds an annual alumni gathering in December each year in Boston, I always go to the astrophysics lectures. The photographs are gorgeous, and the ideas are very exciting. If you have a chance to do the same, you should do so.
After you read this book, ponder his section on science and religion and reconsider how the two areas relate to one another. I found his ideas interesting. Then consider how the two areas could relate to each other better. That's a question hardly anyone asks.
A GREAT BOOK FOR JUST ABOUT ANYBODY.......2000-08-15
Tyson's book is somewhat of a 90s classic masterpiece. He goes from topic to topic about his exeriences and always entertains the reader while doing so. Such as the being black in academia and New York section, to the public's stupidy concering the natural laws of world. He also displays his wide knowledge of astrophysics and anything above the sun. In the end the book entertains, informs, and delights with the sky not being the limit!
Books:
- Final Scream
- Gallows View: The First Inspector Banks Mystery
- Garnethill: A Novel of Crime
- Gone, Baby, Gone: A Novel
- Hostile Makeover: A Crime of Fashion Mystery
- Improbable Cause
- Jar City: A Thriller (Reykjavik Thriller)
- Just Murdered (Dead-End Job Mysteries)
- Krondor the Assassins (The Riftwar Legacy, Book 2)
- Little Scarlet: An Easy Rawlins Novel
Books Index
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- Mayo Clinic Family Health Book, Revised Second Edition
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Hark! : A Novel of the 87th Precinct (Mcbain, ed)
The Gutter And the Grave (Hard Case Crime)
The Frumious Bandersnatch: A Novel of the 87th Precinct (87th Precinct Mysteries)
Alice in Jeopardy: A Novel
Killer's Payoff (87th Precinct Mysteries)
