The Merlin Mystery

Amazon.com

Can you solve Merlin's mystery? If you can, you'll be richly rewarded. The Merlin Mystery rekindles the fervor that swept readers of Masquerade in the 1980s by offering an intricately detailed, bejeweled wand and a substantial cash prize to the first person to solve the Alchemist's Spell. Lavishly illustrated with elaborate paintings and symbols, The Merlin Mystery wraps its intricate, MENSA-certified puzzle in a story of the great wizard Merlin and his lover, the water sprite Nimue, who fight a dark sorcerer in magical settings. From glittering caves to magic cottages, the Arthurian cast of characters, which includes an owl, a cat, and a talking crystal ball, seek the Pendragon Alchemy. But they can't find it without putting all the clues together... that's where you come in! It's possible that this puzzle will be solved by some expert logician somewhere, but it's equally likely to be solved by a clever, persistent kid without adult blinders on. Either way, The Merlin Mystery has a distinct advantage over Masquerade: once you solve the puzzle, you mail in your answer rather than digging up the countryside. There's also a companion CD, with new-age Celtic music to get you in the mood for solving.

The Merlin Mystery is void in Florida, Maryland, Vermont, and North Dakota, and wherever else prohibited by law.

Book Description

In the ageless mists of time, dark sorcerers tried to destroy our world until three great wizards; Merlin, Blaise, and Kells; thwarted them with a powerful wand they mystically forged at Stonehenge. Frustrated, the vengeful sorcerers sent the enchantress Nimue to steal it, but she fell rapturously in love with Merlin. In desperation, the diabolical sorcerers themselves came to seize it. Thus the wand was lost for millennia in a terrible spell-battle.... or was it? Using only their wits and the words and pictures in the book, readers will attempt to unlock the magical spell that reclaims the wand; and win a huge cash prize in the process.The Merlin Mystery will be published worldwide on 9/7/98, and the first reader who solves the mystery will win not only a fabulous gold and silver wand being held in a British bank for safekeeping, but the massive cash prize that accompanies it, estimated to be over $100,000.Warner Books is launching a major advertising and promotional campaign to back the worldwide publication of The Merlin Mystery, with the additional support of a global publicity agency.Foreign publication rights have been sold in Germany, Japan, France, Holland, and Italy, with a number of other countries expressing interest.Masquerade (Schocken, 1984), an earlier mystery-puzzler, elicited a phenomenal response when nearly two million readers attempted to solve the book's master riddle.Jonathan Gunson is a former creative director at the McCann-Erickson advertising agency. Artist Marten Coombe is an animator for Aladdin, among other projects. Both live in Auckland, New Zealand.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant book........2003-09-20

This book has lots that appeals to me. I only bought it recently. Hey! I also just read the 'Dan' review below. Like many armchair critics, maybe 'Mr Dan' has ever done anything creative. (Unless destruction is his form of art.)

Edward Portland
Devon. UK

A confusing cacophany--and a lousy read.......2001-10-21

As happy as I was to see the "treasure hunt puzzle book" genre resurface, I was not happy with the form it takes here. Previous works in the genre, like Kit Williams' "Masquerade" and Dan James' "Treasure," feature both clever puzzles and beautiful art--so even if the mysteries elude you, you can still enjoy the creativity and artistry that went into creating the overall work. That's simply not the case with "The Merlin Mystery," a garbled wreck of a treasure hunt with artwork that does not hold up on its own.

Crammed with dozens of intentionally confusing symbols, paintings that look like the work of a talented high school student who has watched "Excalibur" too many times, an outright abuse of Photoshop, and a hackneyed, melodramatic story that alternately shoves and drags the reader forward, Merlin Mystery is a confusing cacophany that simply doesn't appeal as a puzzle or a picture book. Neither the art nor the text inspires an emotional connection with the reader--the creators come off less as storytellers and more like mercenaries with paintbrushes.

If, however, the point of the work is not emotional but intellectual, then sadly its baffling puzzle elements are no less appealing. The multi-layered enigma been so intentionally over-constructed that nobody but its creators knows--or cares--what the method to the madness may be.

Never mind locating the treasure--there's no soul to be found here.

Excellent book..........2000-10-11

Wow. The Merlin Mystery must have taken the artists so long todo. The pictures are immensely rich and detailed. I love the story andsee lots of beautiful messages. I can't give out any ideas that I canthink of to solve it, but I did discover a heavily used bulletin boardthat has a big collection of folk seriously trying to break the puzzlethey are there every day...

The Hunt of the Millennium is still on..........1999-09-05

Don't be dismayed by pretenders to the throne, the Wand and the treasure still remain at large and up for grabs.

The book is exciting and exhilirating and filled with many levels of intricate puzzles. The beauty of it is that it's not language dependant so players around the world can exchange ideas and thoughts even if they are looking at different language versions of the book. The Merlin Mystery community is as diverse as you'll find in any culture or large city and are pretty much a friendly group of folks.

This book is not only fun but connects you with good people all over the world.

YOU can win this fabulous prize........1999-06-18

It's now nine months since 'The Merlin Mystery' was published, and the prize is still up for grabs. This fascinating, yet frustrating, tome, consisting of 48 mind-bogglingly puzzling pages, is equally suited to be a children's bedtime book, as an MI5/CIA training manual. You'll love and hate it at the same time. Puzzler's heaven, masochists delight - don't miss it.

Average customer rating:

A diamond!
A very pleasant surprise
Surprising End, Great Storyline!
Amazing Book!
Just how dumb does author James Tucker think we are?

Tragic Wand (Jake Merlin Mysteries)
James Tucker
Manufacturer: Onyx
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451409469
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Book Description

Surgeon Jack Merlin and Assistant D.A. Tory Welch find themselves in the thick of a murder mystery, involving a plastic surgeon with a criminal mind....

Praise for the novels of James Tucker:

"A wonderful page-turning whodunit."-Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D., Medical Correspondent, ABC News

"Tucker is someone to watch...sly, unpredictable and cunning."-H. Paul Jeffers

"A page-turner! I couldn't put it down."-Valley News Dispatch

"A well-written, gripping first novel."-Tribune-Review

Customer Reviews:

A diamond!.......2007-06-18

Number three in the series may have proven to be the charm, but one wonders what happened since then. Tragic Wand is the third in a series of medical mysteries and thrillers that have been written by James Tucker about Jack Merlin and his girlfriend Tory Welch. In this third volume, Mr. Tucker gets it right on almost all counts which is also a huge improvement over the first two volumes. Finally we can read a medical thriller that has the requisite mix of ingredients to make a fun read.

In his previous two books, there was never a mystery about who the bad guys were and why they were doing what they were doing. In this book, you think there is no mystery as you get started, but you very quickly pick up on the fact that there is more going on under the surface. I thought it was great that I was not able to piece together the real storyline until the last eighty pages of the book. Also, the way some crimes were being committed were almost totally believable and the motives of the various characters were logical and made sense.

Tragic Wand really delves into the issue of what happens when a plastic surgeon goes bad. It starts with a prologue in which a plastic surgeon in Florida does an operation on a gangster and then finds out that his colleague has been murdered. The implication being that since the doctor left the office too soon, the murderer was actually looking for the surgeon.

Move time forward by six years and we meet a very successful plastic surgeon in Pittsburgh who operates on a shady character who seems to have a pathological need to maintain anonymity during his operation. Unfortunately, due to a scheduling error, Tory Welch is in the office when the criminal is there and he goes ballistic. Not only does he harm Tory, but he manages to go off full-cock and create all kinds of additional havoc. There are many twists to the story and I will not lay them all out here since that would give too much away.

There is a lot of medical jargon in these novels and that is expected both because of the nature of the stories as well as the nature of the writer - he is a doctor who is practicing in the Pittsburgh area. In addition, this book excels in giving the flavor of the various Pittsburgh locales that are descried in the book. As someone who lives in Pittsburgh, it was easy for me to visualize the various scenes as they are very authentically rendered.

The author does have a habit of naming his characters in a slightly goofy manner. The main character is Jack Merlin who is a surgeon and a magician (magician = Merlin, get it?). The plastic surgeon is Marshall Cutter; while the gun-wielding policeman is detective Deringer. Ouch. Another thing that I do not particularly like is that the assistant DA (Tory Welch) is always on the receiving end of most of the violence. Of course, Merlin and Welch continue to investigate what is going on in spite of and in ignorance of any police actions...

I do regret though, that it seems as if Mr. Tucker has given up this series. The web site given in the book is non-operative and the date of publication of this book is seven years ago, and there are no other volumes. It's a shame that now that he finally got it right, Mr. Tucker has given up the writing ghost.

A very pleasant surprise.......2003-07-04

When I picked up this book, I wasn't expecting much. The cover and title are goofy, and even the author's photo and bio make the book look like a third rate "cozy" mystery. But it isn't.

The plot was gripping! The murder scenes and descriptions were so vivid and horrendous, I could barely keep reading (makes you want to cover your eyes like at a horror movie). The intensity kept building as the pages flew by. The author uses his medical knowledge well in building a believable murder mystery. Count me in as a new James Tucker fan. His entry into the genre of medical thrillers should be noted!

Surprising End, Great Storyline!.......2002-11-06

I happened upon this book and was surprised by how well-written it was for a practicing physician. Another surprise was the Pittsburgh setting. As a Pittsburgher, I enjoy stories set in my own hometown. The reason I gave the book 4 out of 5 stars was the gruesomeness of the murders. I realize the author is a doctor (pediatrician), but his descriptions of things creeped me out.

If you enjoy Cornwell-esque murders and Robin Cook-like stories this book is for you. I look forward to the other books by this author.

Amazing Book!.......2001-06-14

If you read Tucker's first book, 'Abra Cadaver', and was a little disappointed with it (as was I), do not be discouraged! Stick with this guy! His second, Hocus Corpus, is a lot better after we have already gotten familiar with the characters (but that's another review). The best reason for sticking with Tucker is definitely Tragic Wand.

This book is fast paced and smart, leaving the reader thinking they've solved the mystery time and time again, only to uncover some clue that twists your entire theory around. But what's most surprising is the ending, which I can guarantee, you will never see coming. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a great mystery.

Just how dumb does author James Tucker think we are?.......2000-12-31

I guess James Tucker thinks the reading audience needs a little help keeping the characters straight. He named the surgeon "Dr. Cutter", the doctor who is also a magician is "Merlin", and the detective is "Deringer."

And if you think the names are demeaning to your intelligence, try some of the "plot" twists. The young (and, of course, beautiful assistant D.A. who is also Merlin's live-in lover) is so worried that the mole on the back of her neck (near her hairline) might be cancerous, that she elects to visit the area's premier plastic surgeon to have it removed. She doesn't see a dermatologist, not an oncologist, not even a general practioner, but a PLASTIC SURGEON? Where is the logic in this book?

I'm half way through the book and am wondering if there is a better use of my time. Perhaps tweezing spare hairs from my eyebrows? Counting the bathroom tile? Building the Pyramids of Eygpt out of sugar cubes?

Average customer rating:

Three beautiful first class romance stories
Three Gothic Novels: Ring of Fear, the Mark of Merlin, the Kilternan Legacy
Anne McCaffrey
Manufacturer: Underwood-Miller
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0887330657

Customer Reviews:

Three beautiful first class romance stories.......1997-05-03

This is a wonderful accumulation of three top quality romances. The Ring of Fear is a story about a nice girl who fell on hard times and is traveling the horse show circuit when she meets a wonderful fellow. They then begin a series of adventures including some encounters with a dubious character from a dark period in her past. The Mark of Merlin is another wonderful story. A young woman is orphaned and her legal guardian is one of her father's war comrades. The soldier is expecting a small child but recieves a young woman just under twenty one. A nice, beautiful woman almost twenty one.The Kilternan Legacy is a wonderful romance set in modern Ireland where a young American divorcee woman comes to deal with an inheritance. She soon discovers a lot about herself, her distant relations, and a couple of very handsome men

On the Trail of Merlin: A Guide to the Celtic Mystery Tradition

Average customer rating:

On the Trail of Merlin: A Guide to the Celtic Mystery Tradition
Ean Begg , and Deike Rich
Manufacturer: Thorsons Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0850309395

Average customer rating:

Hocus Corpus - Are you kidding me?
Nothing very special, just a junky mystery novel...
Give us more Jack Merlin Mysteries!
Tucker is back and better than ever!
Hocus Corpus

Hocus Corpus (Jake Merlin Mysteries)
James Tucker
Manufacturer: Onyx
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451408918

Book Description

As chief of surgery at Pittsburgh University Medical Center, Dr. Jack Merlin knows that patient fatalities are a fact of life. But when four people die after successful routine operations, he has cause for suspicion. The victims have nothing in common-except the same insurance carrier. And the more he unravels the truth, the more ruthless he discovers his adversaries to be-but Merlin has more than one trick up his sleeve. . . .

Praise for James N. Tucker's Abra Cadaver:

"An irresistible cocktail of magic and murder. Sly, unpredictable, and cunning. This newcomer is one to watch." -H. Paul Jeffers, bestselling author of Who Killed Precious?

"Jim Tucker has pulled together some unforgettable characters in a wonderful page-turning whodunit. He brings his love of magic and understanding of medicine and mixes them up and presents the reader with a real gift." -Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D., Medical Correspondent, ABC News

Customer Reviews:

Hocus Corpus - Are you kidding me?.......2007-06-06

This is the second volume in the Jack Merlin murder mysteries and I have to admit that I was irritated by it.

A good murder mystery should have several elements that work together to create a fun read. The storyline has to have mysterious elements to it to keep you guessing about what is going on; the characters should be believable; if it is part of a series then the main characters should be appealing and their lives should evolve in a manner that makes sense; and finally, the whole story should be reasonably believable and make sense.

Hocus Corpus fails on many of these counts. The main characters are Jack Merlin and Tory Welch. He is a doctor - the Chief Resident of Surgery at Pittsburgh University Medical Center; She is an Assistant District Attorney with Allegheny County. Both of them have gotten some pretty serious promotions in the year that passed since the last book in the series, but no mention is made of how that happened. In Jack's case, his predecessor as Chief Resident was an obnoxious, self serving jerk so it would have been interesting to see how that happened.

The storyline is completely unbelievable. A small insurance company that is seeking out a buyer, doctors its financial numbers to be better by killing off expensive patients. Corporate Greed at its utmost if you will. Within the first two or three chapters the reader figures out how the whole ring is set up and who are the main culprits. So, there is no real mystery. There are plenty of murders though. Starting with four patients who have simple surgeries and then leading through several more people as the book progresses. Every single one of the victims is completely innocent and has no relation to the culprits - with one exception.

The next major irritant is that as the book fiddles and faddles with resolving the non-mystery, Jack and Tory are the only investigators. The police department has a very minor role to play even though Tory is an Assistant DA and could probably get as much police action as is needed. But that is not all, what Jack and Tory pull are illegal actions as they pursue the truth. Jack tortures one of the bad guys; Tory and Jack break into someone's office; A police detective is manhandled and has connections to some upstart reporter which leads to false arrests, a distraught father threatens Jack with a gun after his daughter is one of the victims but Jack manages to convince him that he is on the trail of the real killers, and on and on and on.

Another problem that I had was that Jack Merlin cottons on to the scheme with very few clues. I mean, we the readers have the advantage of knowing we are reading a murder mystery so we are looking for connections, while Jack is supposedly innocently doing his job. However, Jack manages to put together most of the story by the time the first four patients have died. Not credible. Then, the story shifts to Tory who has her own problems. One of which is that the bad guys decide to kill her off so they hit her with a car while she is jogging. Now, the driver of the car is portrayed throughout the book as a big lumbering idiot, but in this scene he not only manages to hit Tory just hard enough to rupture her spleen, but he is also cool headed and smart enough to throw red herrings at the people who observe the accident, deliver Tory to Jack's hospital and arrange to have his accomplice doctor the operating room so that Tory would be killed. Later on in the book, the bad guy becomes an idiot once again. Huh? Of course, Jack figures out that something is wrong and arranges to switch operating rooms while collecting incriminating evidence. Now, tell me, in what hospital that you know of would they let a doctor operate on his girlfriend? Normally the assumption is that the surgeon in that case would be too emotionally involved and they are NEVER allowed to do these operations.

I did finish reading this, but as I said earlier, the whole setup was unbelievable and fairly irritating. In some respects this book was better than the first one because some editing must have taken place either by James Tucker or the people at the Publishers. On the other hand, this was filled with so much nonsense and obvious situations (the drugged up bad kid who is completely turned around by Jack's simple magic trick) that I was not a happy camper when I put it down.

I hope the third one in the series is much better or I will give up on this series altogether.

Nothing very special, just a junky mystery novel..........2000-08-14

I read this book and _Abra Cadaver_ (also by Tucker) while on vacation and snowed in for a couple weeks.

I was initially quite interested in the book, as the first few chapters happened quickly and the protagonist (Merlin, again) is a likeable guy.

The rest of the book, however, is just not too well written, and not too believeable. The plot devices are unimaginable, the dialog is choppy, and often times the author forgets to inform the reader of crucial details.

After all, a murder novel isnt a mystery if the author has not posed the "whodunnit" question with any talent; it's merely an obfuscated tale of events.

Skip this book, or pick it up second-hand and read it on a long plane flight. Its not particularly entertaining.

Give us more Jack Merlin Mysteries!.......2000-08-06

In his second Jack Merlin Mystery series, physician/author James Tucker has penned another hit!

From the first page until the last, Tucker pulls his readers into a tale of galloping corporate greed, professional treachery and murder most foul. Dr. Tucker knows his way around a hospital, a murder and he's well on his way to becoming quite a storyteller, too.

In HOCUS CORPUS, Jack Merlin has been promoted to chief resident at the prestigious Pittsburgh University Medical Center. He's still practicing magic and charming his patients. His relationship with Assistant District Attorney and fellow crime solver has progressed smoothly and things are going his way.

However, Jack's orderly life begins to unwind when he loses a young patient after a relatively simple procedure. The child's powerful father holds Jack responsible for her death and Jack must once again prove his innocence and find out who's behind the tragedy.

While trying to solve the child's death, Jack discovers a pattern in several unexpected and completely unnecessary patient deaths. Patients make it through surgery but die of massive infections just days later.

As they dig further into the mysterious deaths, Jack and Tory uncover a diabolical plot involving involves crooks of the worst kind, insurance companies and ruthless men who will stop at nothing to line their own pockets with the misery of others. How Tucker keeps all the story lines headed toward a plausible and ultimately satisfying ending is quite impressive.

I look forward to more Jack Merlin mysteries.

And, as mentioned by others, I don't think I'll be eating any Jell-O for a long, long time!

Enjoy!

Tucker is back and better than ever!.......2000-07-09

James Tucker's novel Hocus Corpus brings back Dr. Jack Merlin and this time the doctor-magician has his hands full. Tucker's brilliant writing style gives Merlin's character a real-life persona, the kind of doctor everyone needs.

This book took me just over a day to finish and like Abra Cadaver, I was kept guessing right to the very end. Tucker really knows how to put a suspense and mystery into words and this book a great read for everyone who loves a real thriller.

Dr. Merlin takes what seems to be four completely unrelated deaths and unravels a mystery that delves into the world of high priced insurance companies. Watching the novel unfold you read how Merlin puts his career and life in jeopardy to find out who is infecting these and other patients and the answers will really surprise you.

As with Abra Cadaver, this book has movie written all over it. I am beginning to become a real James Tucker fan and I cannot wait until I read his next novel. Again another excellent job!!!!!!

Hocus Corpus.......2000-07-09

This new series by author James Tucker gets better with each entry. Merlin and Tory are young idealists that we all wish we had on our side. Merlin's struggle with hospital administration mirrors Tory's struggle with her own department and the police force. The media, in the form of an up-and-coming reporter, hounds them both. Mr. Tucker is a welcome addition to my shelves.

Average customer rating:

Promising debut novel - needs editing help
Trudged through this one
I really liked this book!
A thrill ride from beginning to end!
Abra Cadaver

Abra Cadaver (Jake Merlin Mysteries)
James Tucker
Manufacturer: Signet
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

ASIN: 0451195914

Customer Reviews:

Promising debut novel - needs editing help.......2007-05-21

Abra Cadaver is the debut novel of a series of medical murder mysteries set in Pittsburgh and anchored by the couple of Jack Merlin (surgical resident) and Tory Welch (assistant district attorney). This first effort is of middling quality as the good parts are obscured by some strange choices that the author made which the editors should have caught and corrected. I think this has enough promise that I will read the next in the series in the hopes that the editors will correct some of the obvious problems.

The opening scene in the book has a body being dissected by the medical examiner as it was fished out of the Allegheny River. This scene sets up the plot as well as introduces us to three of the book's main characters. We are introduced to Julian Plesser who is the Chief Pathologist and someone who has a very sharp mind and is always eager to learn the truth of what's before him. We are also introduced to Tory who visits that Pathology lab in her first day as an Assistant District Attorney and has to get over the trauma of dealing with dead bodies. The plot is introduced in that the body has died of natural causes and not from drowning. Not only that, but the body was embalmed which means that someone took the trouble of preparing the body for burial and then disposed of it by throwing it in the river. Why?

Move forward a year in time and we get introduced to our other main character: Jack Merlin. Jack is a fifth year surgical resident at the University of Pittsburgh's Medical Center. Jack is painted as an appealing young doctor who puts his personal life behind his professional life and goes all out for his patients. In addition, Jack has a repertoire of magic tricks which he uses to entertain the staff and patients and stop them thinking of their maladies. Patch Adams would be proud of some of the tricks that Jack uses and the ways in which he improves his patients' lives.

As the fifth year resident, Jack also helps train new medical students and assists them in the Gross Anatomy lab where they get to dissect their first cadavers as a step on their path to becoming doctors. While engaged in this task, Jack notices that one of the cadavers is actually the body of his best friend who disappeared a year before.

Now the mystery is set. Who is switching bodies around and why?

Throw in some mafia characters who provide the dead bodies, obnoxious and self aggrandizing bosses in both the medical center and the district attorney's office, and a whole slew of slightly suspicious characters and you have the makings of a crime novel.

As can be expected, Jack and Tory come together as the investigation of how Jack's friend's body appeared as a cadaver proceeds. The various obnoxious bosses get their comeuppances in one way or another and the couple work steadily at solving the problem. The mob continues to show up and throw new bodies around to confuse the scent and everyone appears thoroughly confused until the case is solved and the missing link is identified as someone inside the medical center who switches bodies around and arranges for them to become cadavers in the Gross Anatomy lab where they are dismembered beyond recognition - a very clever way of disposing of bodies, no?

Unfortunately, this is where we get into the weaknesses of this debut novel. The most obvious candidate of the inside link is indeed the culprit and I was able to "finger" him as the culprit within the first 50 pages or so. Worse than this were the absolutely ridiculous turns of events that the author writes into the story. For instance, Jack plays a practical joke on his obnoxious boss and tells him about it as it plays out. Can any reader really believe that the boss would not take some sort of disciplinary action against Jack? Even worse than this is the situation where Tory is stalked by one of the Mafioso killers. She manages to turn the situation around and kill the killer but decides not to report this to the police. Nonetheless the police discover her fingerprints at the scene and inform her own boss as to what happened and no further investigation is conducted. Huh? That is simply not possible or reasonable. Then there is the case where Jack manages to conduct an emergency appendectomy while convincing the bad guys that he is operating on his wife without anesthesia - highly improbable given that the author details out each role of the various people in the operating room and there are at least a dozen of them. Could they all have been made privy to this sleight of hand in the five minutes it takes Jack to go from talking to the culprit to operating on this culprit's wife?

The last quarter of the book becomes even more strange. Things start happening that make absolutely no sense. The main mob killer manages to kill more people and then leaves the area without being discovered or harmed in any way. On the other hand, the main mafia boss is arrested even though there is no hint as to why. Tory's boss who is trying to steal the limelight away from her manages to convince her that a sting operation is planned for a Friday while the real sting happens on Thursday. During Thursday's sting, it is Tory's boss who gets stung. Nonetheless, Tory returns on Friday and manages to discover the insider and his motives. Jack has to figure out what is going on after Tory is kidnapped and get a very lackluster police department to help him out. Then Jack gets to go off and rescue Tory who is guarded by a vicious dog. Jack kills the dog - he hates dogs - to save Tory only to be faced with a platoon of armed policemen who prior to this simply sat and waited.

Is all that confusing enough for you? The dead ends, the mixed messages, and the complete disregard for reality in the latter part of the book are its main failures. As I stated earlier on, these could really use a good editor to take the author in hand and stop the red herrings and the impossibilities from ruining what is a pretty nicely premised book. I would also like to see fewer descriptions of the various anatomical features and reactions of the body as it is abused and harmed in various ways.

Trudged through this one.......2003-09-17

I can only hope James Tucker is a better doctor than writer. One reviewer said that the characters were disjointed. I agree 100%. Tucker spends SO much time trying to develop characters that he ends up creating a confusing atmosphere. Over halfway through the book I looked at the back cover again, and was SURPRISED to find out that Jack Merlin is considered the leading character. Could have fooled me. I thought of him as a side story, allowing the Assistant DA access into the medical world.

One Pittsburgher said that the book hits on the hot spots, and local quirks of PGH. I'm not so sure. I recently moved to PGH and feel like I know no more about the city than I did before I read the book. It's not like the John Sanford "Prey" series that make you feel like you're actually walking THROUGH Minneapolis.

In summary, do yourself a favor: don't bother with this book. There are so many other stories that flow and put you at the scene.

I really liked this book!.......2000-08-01

I wasn't prepared to like this book so much. I found myself drawn into the storyline and caring about the characters. I'm glad there's another book in the Jake Merlin series.

For my money, James Tucker has written a great debut novel. He really covers the medical thriller aspect and actually makes it interesting....the author also makes good use of Tory Welch, Assistant DA and Jake's love interest, to keep his readers interested in the legal side of the story.

Contrary to some reviewers, I thought Tucker developed his characters AND his story lines with skill and cunning...I look forward to more Jake Merlin stories.

Enjoy!

A thrill ride from beginning to end!.......2000-07-09

First off let me say that I am not a big fiction reader as to the nature of the work I do with teaching computers and networking. Abra Cadaver is the first fiction book I have read in over a year, and I must say that it's time for me to start looking at other works of fiction.

Tucker takes you on a journey of suspense and murder mixed with magic to keep you guessing right to the very end. I found that I was unable to figure out the "whodunit" until I was almost finished, which makes this book a most enjoyable reading.

Unlike other suspense-murder-mystery books this book as a twist, the main character is not only a doctor but a magician and with both of those skills blended together you get a surprising and entertaining novel.

The 375 plus page book was read in just over 3 days and for this reviewer I look forward the next novel from Tucker. For those in the movie industry this book needs a serious look as it has all the merits of a great made for television movie. Excellent job Jim - keep up the good work!!!!!!!!!

Abra Cadaver.......2000-07-09

This new series by author James Tucker is well worth your time and money. Not quite "edge-of-your-seat" thrillers, they combine two of my favorite genres - medical and legal settings. Cleverly written, they include both the atmospheres of a teaching hospital and the DA's Office, a winning setting for me. Original paperbacks, don't miss picking up these books. I'm looking forward to the next in the series!

Average customer rating:

Its ok
G for Great!
Pleasurable read!
The greatest wizard to ever live!!
Wonderful story of Merlin's origins

The Lost Years of Merlin
T.A. Barron
Manufacturer: Listening Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books

ASIN: 080726170X
Release Date: 2000-11-07

Book Description

Read by Michael Cumpsty
Approx. 8 hours, 6 cassettes

Spat out by the sea, the boy lay on the rocks, as still as death. Even if he survived the day, he had no home. No memory. And no name.

So begins the tale of the strange young boy, who having washed up on the shores of ancient Wales, is determined to find his real home and his true name. One day he will become the greatest wizard of all time, but he knows nothing of this now.

At the knee of the mysterious Branwen, who claims to be his mother, the boy learns lore of the Celts, Druids, and people even more ancient. Yet the secret of his identity seems always to escape him. To discover the truth, and the secret of his own powers, he runs away, voyaging to the mist-shrouded side of Fincayra, an enchanted land between earth and sky that is being destroyed by blight. It is there he discovers that the fate of this land and his quest are strangely entwined—

Combining all the passion, power, and spiritual depth that are T. A. Barron's hallmarks, this book adds a thrilling new dimension to the legend of Merlin.

Customer Reviews:

Its ok.......2007-04-27

This book isnt the best iv read but its preatty good
I mean its about Merlins childhood and no one really knows about it.
Just so anyone knows i didnt read any of the sequels

G for Great!.......2006-11-18

This is a book about the infamous Merlin's childhood. He starts in a little village always being bullied. His mother is a healer of sorts and some people think she is a witch. In an attempt to save his mother from the wrath of the villagers he ends up blinding himself. A few weeks later in a church something miracoulous happens! But you must read to find out...This author puts together many twists and turns and builds more on the character known as Merlin.

Pleasurable read!.......2006-09-01

I was bedridden with a very bad cold. My 9 year old son found this book for me to read. I had nothing better to do other than lay up and read. I began reading the book, thinking I'll get bored with it.
It turns out to be one of the most pleasurable, and wonderful journey for me to be with this young boy who wanted to find out who he was. I found myself rooting for the boy during his adventures. A 32- year old sick woman reading this book?! I hollered for my son and together, we both read the book. Yes, that's how wonderful it was, and very magical for both of us.
I strongly suggest that you get this book for your child who's betwen 9 to 11 years old and read it together!
I am going to order the next two series that goes after this book, and find out more about the boy's history and past. I think the author did a wonderful job making you feel like a part of the boy's adventure, and invoking such strong feelings for the boy.
Buy the book, and you won't be sorry!

The greatest wizard to ever live!!.......2006-08-03

This is the first book by T.A. Barron that I have read. I will most definitely seek out the rest of this series. The Lost Years of Merlin starts with Merlin, aka Emrys, and his mother washed up on the beach with no memory of why they are there. Merlin's mother is fleeing something but will not tell him what it is. She is an odd woman who uses the art of magic to heal people. Some call her a saint, others, a witch. It just depends on which side of the fence you are standing on. Merlin discovers his own wizardly abilities, with disasterous results. He also realizes he must leave his mother and seek the answers to his past, as well as the direction of his future.

The story is rich with details of the wonderous lands and creatures Merlin encounters on his journey. The characters are given distinct personalities and the author stays true to each. There is action, adventure, comedy, sadness, and a feeling of triumph within the covers of this book. While this book was written for a younger crowd, I thoroughly fell in love with it and will buy the other 4 books that make up this series. The book is short and easy to read. It's fun for all ages.

Wonderful story of Merlin's origins.......2006-07-21

This book tells the origins of Merlin, the magician in the King Arthur stories. The book starts with a young seven year old boy and a woman washing up on the rocky coast of Wales. He takes a good whack to the head on a rock and has no memory of his life before this point. Five years later, at the age of twelve, young Emrys, which the woman says is his name, starts to develop magical powers. He has very little control of these new powers and they terrify him. After a terrible accident, in which young Emrys' face is burned and his eyes are left sightless, he decides that he must seek out the answers to the questions of his origins. While on this quest, he encounters a great evil, which must be overcome. This is well-written classic good vs. evil story and I enjoyed it very much.

Another Chance in Time (Merlin's Mysteries)

Average customer rating:

Another Chance in Time (Merlin's Mysteries)
Tiedra Lee
Manufacturer: 1st Books Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0759643644

Book Description

Merlin's Book Of Mysteries has been stolen to alter history. One woman and an ancient religion are the only hope for the future. But will one medieval man's honor and true love stand in the way for "Another Chance In Time"?

Lost in Merlin's Castle (Passport Mysteries Series , No 3)

Average customer rating:

Lost in Merlin's Castle (Passport Mysteries Series , No 3)
P. J. Stray
Manufacturer: Silver Burdett Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0382396804

Average customer rating:

A Maze of Merlin!: The Great Mystery

Manufacturer: Tangerine Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0439557313

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