Rutland Place

Book Description

"When Anne Perry puts Thomas and Charlotte Pitt on the case, we are in exemplary Victorian company."
THE NEW YORK TIMES
When Charlotte Pitt, well-born wife of Thomas Pitt, the police investigator, learned of her mother's distress in losing a locket with a compromising picture, she did not know it was the beginning of several bizarre events that would end in sudden death. For hidden behind the sumptuous elegance of Ruthland Place were terrible secrets. Secrets so horrifying that only murder could conceal them. And only the dogged persistence of Charlotte and Thomas could reveal them....

Customer Reviews:

"He lied to me".......2006-02-05

Anne Perry's mystery stories are notable for their immense wealth of detail about Victorian England. Her investigative team is Charlotte Pitt, a young woman from a family of means, and her husband, Inspector Thomas Pitt. Because their marriage stretches across the British class gap, the two of them often combine to provide discoveries and insights that one or the other might have missed on their own. And, of course, the detailing of the stratified society that was London at that time is an anglophile's delight.

The mystery begins innocently enough. Charlotte's mother Caroline has lost a locket with an embarrassing enclosure, and she has asked Charlotte to look into it for her. As they visit the other residents of Rutland Place they discover that many other items have also been stolen, and that many secrets lurk beneath the refined surface. Suddenly the game deepens and Wilhelmina Spencer-Brown, a resident with a habit of prying, dies of poison. The police, in the person of Thomas Pitt investigate, but the walls of the upper class are difficult hurdles to negotiate.

Charlotte, anxious to protect her mother from further embarrassment, joins in the investigation. Between her and Thomas the clues gradually accumulate, but with excruciating slowness. Dishonesty, flirtation, and things far worse gradually come to the surface until a second murder attempt triggers the final tragedy. The crime and its bitter aftermath stand revealed, and we are reminded that often things are not what they seem.

I like Perry's stories for their careful attention to detail and method. They are just complicated enough, and hard work is an important part of reaching the solution. My complaint is that the books are often too dry, even when there is pressing emotional content. To a degree this reflects the restraint of the times Perry writes about. Rutland Place proceeds ever slowly, with no whirls of dramatic action to light a fire under it. Yet it manages to affect the reader with it's chilling vision of the dark corners of 'bright' society.

Sinful Secrets in Rutland Place.......2005-11-26

Rutland Place is one of the most successful of Anne Perry's novels about Thomas and Charlotte Pitt. The mystery encompasses Charlotte's family which gives the events more immediacy for the reader who has been going through all of the novels, and the nuances of the Victorian withdrawing room have never been better portrayed by Ms. Perry. In addition, the misdirection away from the evil doers and what they did works pretty well in this one.

As the story opens, Charlotte finds that her mother is distraught over the loss of a locket. Originally, her mother explains this distress as being concern because her mother-in-law gave her the locket as a gift. But later, Charlotte finds out that there's a powerful personal reason for getting that locket back. In the backdrop, it soon becomes apparent that others have lost small items of jewelry. Since the losses have occurred in many houses, it cannot be one of the servants . . . it must be "the quality" behind it. But what's the motive?

The mystery develops into a murder investigation when a woman dies in a way that can hardly be an accident . . . or suicide. But who did it? And why? And how is the lost locket involved?

The book's main weakness is that the locket story line doesn't quite carry off its initial promise.

If you've run out of novels that you enjoy about Victorians and their mannerly evasions, you'll enjoy this one.

It's worth the read.......2005-06-04

About in the middle of this 5th book in Perry's series (although I read it as the 6th book, it is the 5th book) I was feeling a bit bored with all the trouble Charlotte and her family seemed to be getting into. It felt like a soap opera and the circle of people and incidents just kept getting smaller and THEN it picked up and I truly enjoyed the ending. This time Perry had me fooled all the way to the end.
The book was more involved around Charlotte than Pitt, which I enjoyed. I like that Perry focuses on one or the other in each of her books.
All said and done, I'm glad I read it and will continue on to her next book. Stay tuned...

Almost perfect for the genre........2002-06-08

RUTLAND PLACE is dark and moody with an excellent sense of period and locale, as are all the Thomas and Charlotte Pitt books. And this time Perry has given us especially interesting characters. This book involves more than one mystery, with unusual solutions. It is not always the expected thing that happens in Anne Perry's books. That's one reason I like them. Thomas and Charlotte Pitt work separately and together this time, in about equal shares. There's even some light-hearted fun. And at 217 pages it's a good, quick read.

Four and a half.......2000-10-12

Another Pitt mystery that made me turn the pages. When Charlotte Pitt discovers that her mother has lost a locket, a keepsake of an indescretion, her first thoughts are to protect her family. Soon, this spirals into a world of secrets, lies, murder, and sexual misconduct. All conducted above stairs.

Once again, Charlotte and Emily are great characters, both with talents for solving a mystery, but different ways of doing it. Pitt, himself, is a great character.

Book Description

By land and sea, the Elf-hunters' quest continues! After many valiant struggles, our heroes soundly defeat the evil Madame Grandbelle. Now the Elf Hunters' trek for the spell fragments continues. They head deep into the ocean to help an Elf being attacked by a terrifying monster-shark, and then help the townspeople in a small village full of Pizzi look-alike teddy bears. Remember when Celcia was turned into Spot the dog? This time she's turned into a panda! Read this volume to find out the how and the why!

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Amazing Results

Totally Works--But Really Tough

Anything worth having... is worth fighting for!

I'm Loving It!

A PROGRAM THAT WORKS! THANK YOU DAVID.

The Ultimate New York Body Plan (Book with DVD)
David Kirsch
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Weight Loss | Diets | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Weight Maintenance | Diets | Diets & Weight Loss | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
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Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 007146140X

Book Description

The bestselling fitness plan, now with a companion workout DVD!

“When I need to get in shape fast, I know that David’s the man . . . with David, I know I’ll get some real results.”
—Heidi Klum

This special edition of The Ultimate New York Body Plan includes a 90-minute DVD of David leading readers through the same workout he does with his celebrity clients. David takes read- ers through exercises featured in the book and as a special value, he provides additional stretches and strength-building techniques not found anywhere else but this exclusive DVD. Step-by-step, it's the best way to achieve David's remarkable two week transformation.

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David Kirsch, personal trainer and a fitness guru of the TV show "Extreme Makeover," has whipped into shape some of the most famous bodies in America. Supermodels Heidi Klum and Linda Evangelista, as well as celebrities such as Liv Tyler, have turned to David Kirsch for his foolproof training regimen when they needed to get to their level of optimum fitness--fast. Now in The Ultimate New York Body Plan, Kirsch shows you how to burn fat and get fit in only two weeks--just in time for that class reunion or anniversary cruise.

Customer Reviews:

Amazing Results.......2007-08-23

If you can follow this program the results are quite incredible. It is not easy to keep up the level of activity prescribed, even though I thought I was fairly fit to start with. For the first 14 days I was exhausted.

Totally Works--But Really Tough.......2007-06-14

I have worked out regularly for years. I bought this book as it was bikini season and I was planning a trip that required wearing one! The workout is REALLY tough. You must commit to 1- 1 1/2 hours EVERYDAY for two weeks straight--if you have not worked out previously, it will be extremely difficult to follow. The diet is also very strict. With that said, I noticed the change in my body shape quite quickly. In my waist area, I noticed definition to my stomach almost immediately. My thighs, which are the hardest part of my body to slim down also changed shape, which was surprising for me. I would recommend it for anyone who can commit to such a strict routine. I definitely had to keep reminding myself, its only for two weeks! I will continue to do his workout routine as I found the exercises very effective.

Anything worth having... is worth fighting for!.......2007-03-22

Make no mistake...this maybe one of the hardest and most difficult 14 days of your life! This program is FAR from easy... it's very very VERY hard. Very few people have an hour and a half in the morning to workout, like me, so I switched my workout to the evenings, right after work. The problem is, you are only allowed to drink a shake for your dinner, and you can't eat anything after 7pm. After sweating and agonizing for an hour and a half in the workout, I'm exhausted and then starving an hour later. Another negative: the recipes are EXPENSIVE and require a lot of preparation. I have to make all my meals ahead the night before to take to work (that's 3 meals and 2 protein shakes), and last night I spent 45 minutes at the grocery store buying just the stuff needed for the next day, and then at least 2 hours sauteeing, chopping, grilling, baking, and boiling all the food to have it ready to take to work the next day. If you haven't worked out, then forget trying to get through the workouts. You have to be in fairly good shape to begin with. I've had a really hard time with the cravings (mostly I'm craving bananas and fruit, which is BANNED) but there is LOTS of food to eat during the day, in 6 small meals. So after all this, why am I still on this plan? Well, the HUGE positive is that it WORKS! Absolutely guaranteed you'll lose weight and FAST. I weighed myself on the morning of day 3, just to see if it's worth staying on, and I had lost FOUR POUNDS! NO JOKE! If you really need to lose weight fast, this is the no excuses, hard work guaranteed way to do it. I'm pretty scared about coming off the plan, though. This is definitely not something I'm interested in doing for the rest of my life, and I don't want to gain all the weight back. It's a great kickstart for anyone who needs to get motivated, and hey, the only thing you've got to lose is the weight!

I'm Loving It!.......2007-03-14

If you've read enough diet books and tried enough plans, you know what your limitations are and you can adjust accordingly.
I have a newborn so I am not going to give up coffee. This also means that most of the ab exercises are off limits to me until my muscles come back together.
My personal version of this plan is that I still use caffeine. I adjust exercises to my comfort level, I cheat once a week, and I exercise 6 days.
I started during the first week of feb. and have lost 13 lbs. That includes one week off for sickness.
After one week my carb craving were under control. I am not hungry on this plan!!
The turkey chili and the shrimp marinara are delicious.
I found a whey protein shake that I like and it keeps me satisfied.

I love this plan and highly recommend it. No one is forcing anyone to follow it to the letter - you will still lose weight even if you don't follow it to the letter.

A PROGRAM THAT WORKS! THANK YOU DAVID........2007-02-22

What I love about David's program is it's balance. Nothing silly. It's not a starvation diet, the plan is about healthful foods, a good exercise regimen. It's really about Mind Body Spirit.
For the first two weeks while detoxifying you'll eat clean proteins, low complex carbohydrates - veggies - the greener the better - and of course cauliflower, almonds, walnuts, mushrooms (shiitake, maitake..) All nutrient rich foods.
The program works fast and the results last. I'm 62, past menopause, my metabolism has changed significantly. In the first 2 weeks I lost over 10 pounds, over 10% body fat and inches from my waist, hips, and upper arms. That was 8 months ago and I'm still going strong, feeling better than I did a decade ago, in addition to looking better - which is the icing on the" cake". David's reasoning for those first 2 weeks is losing weight fast helps spark the motivation needed to go the distance. You're doing it in a very healthy way. Clean Proteins, Low Complex Carbohydrates & Healthy Fat & Fiber - Flax Seeds, Almonds, Walnuts..
The first 2 weeks aren't easy; it requires commitment, commitment to yourself. Like the L'oreal adage - You're worth it!
Going into phase 2 and 3 you'll incorporate beans, berries, sweet potatoes, lentils, apples, quinoa...
Once a week enjoy a "cheat" meal. His philosophy encourages you to eat consciously and listen to the signals your stomach sends to your brain. His program has taught me to make better choices.
I highly recommend David's program. My job requires that I do a fair amount of traveling, I also find David's DVD's very helpful. He's so motivating. His program has been such a great success for me that my daughter who's in graduate school, with 2 small children at home has just started it with a group of her friends. Both The Ultimate New York Body Plan and his more recent book The Ultimate New York Diet are a must for people who feel that they must make a trade-off between losing weight and staying healthy.

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Ultimate New York Body Plan
David Kirsh
Manufacturer: MCGRAW-HILL BOOK COM
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JZ6X16

Average customer rating:

WOW!!! Wonderful Recipes!!

I definitely recommend this book!

Easy-to-follow recipes that are delicious too!

Delicious Afghan recipes in easy-to-follow steps

Afghan Cuisine: Cooking for Life : A Collection of Afghan Recipes (And Other Favorites) for the Novice Afghan and Non-Afghan Cook
Nafisa Sekandari
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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Customer Reviews:

WOW!!! Wonderful Recipes!!.......2006-06-22

If you have ever had afghan food, it doesnt seem very easy to make. This book makes it so simple and it will be the tastiest food you have ever had! I have only tried a few of the dishes and each one has come out tasting so authentic and delicious. My favorite so far is the potato borani and the khorshaid's chicken. I definitely reccommed this book to anyone from the most experienced to the most inexperienced (like me) cooks out there!

I definitely recommend this book!.......2003-10-11

I am married to an Afghan man and have had no prior experience to Afghan food before I had met him. Since then, he's tried to get me to learn to cook like his mother, however it's hard because I grew up on mac'n'cheese. But after a recent trip to Afghanistan, I felt that I should learn to cook because a) the food was delicious b) I respect his heritage and c) I don't want my kids to grow up on mac'n'cheese. This book made it really easy to follow and it included some non-afghan recipes which were a plus (I'm particularly fond of the macaroon squares!). Also, knowing that the proceeds give back to Afghanistan is important because having gone there, I know they need a lot of support to pick themselves up. It's great that this book helps to give back!

Easy-to-follow recipes that are delicious too!.......2003-10-11

I had one Afghan friend in highschool whose mom makes the best traditional Afghan food and bread I've ever tasted! At first I thought it would taste like Indian food. Although they are similar type dishes, the flavor of the food comes through so much more. Now that I'm in New Jersey, I don't see her but I can make the same homestyle type dishes every now and then. My favorite are the boulani's with potatoes!

Delicious Afghan recipes in easy-to-follow steps.......2003-08-25

A real find for anyone who's wanted to duplicate distinctive Afghan dishes! Contains traditional food I've only eaten in restaurants--such as nan (Afghan bread), aushuk (like raviolis), and kudu bourani (pumpkin with yogurt). Also includes familiar non-Afghan selections--like hummus, chocolate baklava, and almond cake. Steps are easy to follow, even for novice cooks like me. And it's gratifying that the author plans to send a portion of the proceeds to help Afghani women and children.

Customer Reviews:

Proper care of Bichon Frises .......2007-05-07

I was not too impressed with this book as there were lots of pictures but not a lot of information. Overall I believe I could have done very well without the purchase of this book. Nice pictures though.

Average customer rating:

It helps you a lot on how to take care of your new Bichon!

Proper Care of Bichon Frise
Ann Hearn
Manufacturer: TFH Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

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It helps you a lot on how to take care of your new Bichon!.......1999-08-04

It gives you lots of pet care information

Customer Reviews:

A disgrace.......2007-08-01

I have never seen a published nonfiction book by an author more ignorant of his subject.

Many other reviewers have pointed out Weland's inaccuracies on land swords, and it falls to me only to point out that his chapter on sea swords is no better.

Page 58: a captured "vessel could be dismantled and sold off to help pay the expenses of the successful navy." Of course, money from sold captures did not go to pay the navy'e expenses, but was given as a reward to the captain, officers and crew who made the capture, as an incentive for performance.

Page 62: "[B]y the time cutlasses had appeared, the hey-day of pirates was long past." This would certainly come as a surprise to such famous Golden Age pirate captains as Bonnet, L'Ollonais, Kidd, and Fly, all of whom are documented in contemporary sources as using cutlasses. Not to mention the judges of the Old Bailey during the same time period, who frequently found themselves judging assault, robbery, and murder cases involving cutlasses.

Page 63: Weland informs us that swords that are not curved are "useless for cutting." While a curved blade is indeed ideal for cutting, Weland's exaggeration would consign to uselessness such famous cutting weapons as the Scottish basket-hilted broadsword, the two-handed sword, and the medieval military longsword, all of which had straight edges.

Page 69: Weland misidentifies the Dutch writer Alexandre Esquemeling as a Londoner.

But the crowning error is right at the beginning. On page 9, in describing the parts of a sword handle, Weland completely misidentifies the ricasso! This is an error as fundamental, and as discrediting, as a driving instructor misidentifying the turn signal.

Incomplete and inaccurate.......2005-08-18

Not only is this rife with errors as other reviewers have mentioned, but it completely glosses over Asian edged weaponry and labels it as "mediocre" and "uninteresting".

The book should not be sold as a guide or as a handbook or as anything short of an incomplete and inaccurate school report on European weaponry.

Better as a coffee-table book than a research source..........2002-02-03

If this is the first book on collecting swords that you get, make sure that you get a second and a third before you even -think- of going shopping. If this were the only guide that you were to bring with you into the world of sword collecting, there is a good chance you will embarrass yourself in front of even slightly knowledgeable dealers. Throughout the book, the proofreading is poor; that is, if it was proofread. Numerous captions are incorrect, and the authors research and conclusions are questionable at best. Conversely, this book does have some excellent photographs (many of which I have never seen elsewhere). Given the inexpensive price, it is worth purchasing for that reason alone.

A Collectors Guide to Swords, Daggers, and Cutlasses.......2002-01-13

This book should have been titled a historical analysis of Swords, Daggers, and Cutlasses. It gives a working basic knowledge of edged weapons. However there is no pricing information to be found in this book.
It has many excellant pictures of edged weapons. However it gives a limited perspective of each catagory which leaves the reader salivating for more.

At least the pictures are good, but ..........1999-01-20

This book is decent, but I question its accuracy. Its best section is on cutlasses and naval weapons. The pictures are good, but woefully mislabled. (E.g..- the lables for a page with five daggers is supposed to read clockwise from the top. In fact, the labels are completely mixed up.) Also, some categories lack even sketches of the weapons (e.g.-the Indian bhuj) and his verbal description makes no sense. Overall the book will fill out a weapons library, but I would recommend Anthony North's "Swords and Hilt Weapons" for starting out.

Average customer rating:
Dressing for glamour
Bob Mackie
Manufacturer: A & W Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Textile Arts | Crafts & Hobbies | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
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Dressing for Glamour
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Glamour's success book: Effective dressing on the job, at home, in your community, everywhere : revised and updated
Barbara Coffey
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Glamour dressing on your budget
Jeanne Herrick
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Customer Reviews:

An excellent work that explores the authentic women behind the Motown Sound.......2005-11-08

In writing The Women of Motown, Susan Whitall digs beneath the veneer of the Motown publicity machine to give us an intimate view of the real people who literally changed the face of R&B. Even more fascinating than the conversations with those we instantly identify with the Motown sound are the stories of Kim Weston, Mabel John and the Velevelettes, artists who may not have enjoyed the same notoriety, but clearly influenced the heart and soul of Detroit's most famous record company. Ms. Whitall's brings a unique perspective to the project. She grew up in Detroit and has written about its music and culture for more than a quarter century. Her always excellent prose also benefits from the magic touch of rock journalist Dave Marsh, a mentor at Creem Mangazine and an able chronicler of rock history in his own right

A Great Book for Motown Fans, But..........2001-01-06

I enjoyed reading this book because it explores the personal side of Motown and its artists. I also appreciated that the writer also explored the stories of lesser-known Motown acts like Mable John and the Velvelettes. My only criticism of the book is that it failed to include a chapter on Gladys Knight. How can you do a book called, "Women of Motown" without Gladys Knight?

Another Great Book on Motown.......2000-03-26

I have always been Facsinated By Motown Records.it's so Important For African-Americans to Have A Stake in things and Berry Gordy is someone very Special in Keeping the Dream Alive.more often than Not The Women of Motown were pretty much just show except Diana ROss but this Book kicks that down and explores The Importance Of The Ladies at Motown.This Great Label had Many Great Minds of both Sexes and it's Important that they be heard.

motown book.......1998-11-24

This book is a comprehensive review of a very special time in American music. We are treated with actual stories that haven't been shared in the media until now. For those that feel that Motown women consist of only the Supremes, this book introduces us to a group of musicians that will surely inspire the reader to find some new artists in the Motown section of the local CD store. Let's see some more! Hopefully a new group of Motown ladies are out there that will revive the Detroit sound.

Women of Motown sing again.......1998-10-31

As a life-long Detroit resident, the Motown story is near and dear to me. What I like the best about this book is the author lets the distinct voices of these beautiful, tough ladies shine through in this collection of oral histories. It is obvious the women Ms Whitall interviews are important to her. I am glad these stories are being told--too much emphasis is placed these days on the superstars of Motown; Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations. For me, the gritty, soulful backbone of the Motown sound will always be Martha Reeves, Mary Wells, Kim Weston. The homegirls! I am eager to read other books in the series if they are as well-written, thoughtful and fun.

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