Night Tales: Nightshade & Night Smoke: Nightshade\Night Smoke

Customer Reviews:

Night Smoke.......2006-06-07

Night Smoke was an awesome book. It had a great storyline and was a definate page turner. This Book had my attention from the beginnning. Once I got going I couldn't stop, which says a lot for Nora Roberts, considering this was my least favorite.She is a great author who always comes up with good romance novels. I can't wait to read the next Night Tale, "Night Shield."

Nightshade & Night Smoke.......2005-09-23

Two engaging romantic suspense stories by Nora Roberts. Strong intelligent women in both stories matched to interesting men, with good, involving story lines. Definitely a page-turner, and only the fact that there is a previous book and a book-still-to come in this series prevents one from regretting from racing through it at top speed.

Smokin!!!!!!.......2005-08-16

This is a re-release for a new generation of Nora Fans.

NIGHTSHADE: This is Boyd Fletcher's partner from Night Shift, Althea Grayson's story. Her 'nemesis' is Colt Nightshade. Their relationship is hot and heavy. Lots of wonderful tension. He gets under her nails and then, she lets him. Basic mystery story comes close to my profession of abuse counseling, and it was well done by Nora. I am convinced that Althea is the prototype for Eve Dallas in Nora's J. D. Robb series. It was fun recognizing the signs. The story was very good. Nora sure knows how to write a love scene.

NIGHT SMOKE: This was Natalie's story and my least favorite of the four "Night Tales". But it did bring back all the characters from the 3 previous stories. The 'family' aspect of that is something I liked a lot.

I consider all of Nora's books Keepers. They entertain and what more could you ask?

Night Tales: Night Shift/ Night Shadow/ Nightshade/ Night Smoke

Average customer rating:

an absolute pleasure to read
4 very early Nora tales that are outstanding
Four Fabulous Stories!
Fabulous book!
Not up to her usual standards.

Night Tales: Night Shift/ Night Shadow/ Nightshade/ Night Smoke
Nora Roberts
Manufacturer: Silhouette
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

United States | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0373484100

Customer Reviews:

an absolute pleasure to read.......2007-01-15

with four distinct books all revolving around the "night" theme, nora roberts once again captures the beauty of love

in "Night Shift", you're thrust into the world of DJs and radio stations, a world most people know nothing about. Throughout the entire story, your rooting for Boyd to win over Cilla's heart and capture the person who is plotting against her.

in "Night Shadow", you see that Cilla's sister's story is just as incredible as her own, maybe better. It was amusing to see how Ms. Roberts fared dipping into the "superhero" element with Nemesis. This story has sort of a spiderman romance about it, which makes it all the more enjoyable

"Nightshade" deals with the story of Boyd's partner, Althea. She is one tough lady, but Colt Nightshade manages to romance her in time. The crime they're both investigating makes the story suspensful and interesting to follow.

"Night Smoke" certainly lives up to its name. Boyd's sister butts heads with arson investigator Ryan Piasecki. Through some dangerous moments, I assure you the ending, is indeed happily ever after.

The best part about reading all four of these is that you get to see how characters in the earlier stories develop with their marriages and children.

I urge everyone to read not only these stories, but the other two "Night Tales" books Ms. Roberts has produced in "Night Tales: Night Sheild and Night Moves", but stunning.

Once again I applaud Ms. Roberts with her astonishing series, "Night Tales"

4 very early Nora tales that are outstanding.......2004-10-07

Some of Nora Robert's Early works, the "Night" tales are hard to find. You find them in secondary bookstores used - maybe - and for very high prices. Here you have all four tales (four complete Silhouette novels) in one volume - Night Shift, Night Shadow, Nightshade and Night Smoke. They are some of the best of her early works and it's great to get them all under one cover.

Night Shift has Detective Boyd Fletcher assigned to protect Cilla O'Roarke. She is a nighttime talk Disc Jockey at a local Denver radio station whose life has been threatened. Cilla is a tough cookie, but even she knows she needs Boyd's help. While being her bodyguard, Boyd falls for her, which jeopardizes his objectivity he needs to catch the psycho. But he cannot deny the attraction.

Night Shadow is Cilla's sister's story. Deborah O'Roarke. Deborah is an assistant DA, and she gets into danger because of the case she's involved in. Gage and his alter ego Nemisis (think Daredevil with sight) see it as their duty to protect the gusty DA. The Fantasy element in this is outstanding and I love the strong leads.

Nightshade is the story of Boyd's ex-partner, Althea Grayson (we met her as she helped Boyd protect Cilla in Night Shift). She is an early Eve Dallas (...In Death Series - the "role" model for Eve?) a very independent lass, who is a by the book cop. Sexy Colt Nightshade is a Private Investigator who disdains rules, unless he makes them up. They are both strong willed detectives with their own methods, and naturally clash - on the streets and in bed - as they are forced to work together to stalk a killer.

Night Smoke sees Natalie Fletcher, Boyd's sister clash with arson investigator, Ryan Piasecki. When several of the buildings Natalie owns has fires, she and Ryan clash, soon they are proving where there is smoke, there is in deed fire!

Four early Robert's tales guaranteed to delight her fans.

Four Fabulous Stories!.......2002-11-12

After being sooo disappointed in "Full House" I had to read something to renew my faith and Nora Roberts did the trick. What an entertaining book and each story stands alone but is connected.

Each story has a great hero and heroine, pretty good mysteries and great romance. One is sort of a fantasy and that one needs you to believe. The others are full out good reads. Thanks you, Nora. I will re-read this whole book again and again.

Fabulous book!.......2002-10-25

Everyone who is at all a fan of romance or romantic suspense knows how popular Nora Roberts is. Her books sell for a reason. I think this series is Nora at her best. All 4 of the books are filled with the strong characters, sexual tension, and suspenseful moments that make her such a good writer. I also like having all the related books published together in one package.
Another thing that makes this series unique to me is how each of the books has a common element: the night, but still manages to be fundamentally different too. The first, Night Shift, is pretty standard romantic suspense, but it is also well written. Night Shadow is more fantasy with some supernatural elements thrown in. Night Shade, the third and my favorite of the series, has the most fleshed out characters in my opinion. The clash between the two main characters is what makes this story work. Night Smoke, the last of the stories, is more a classic case of rich girl meets working class boy. Nora adds suspense and good dialogue to raise it above the average romance. Be warned though. The subject matter IS a little dark in these novels. They are grittier than standard romance novels. If you are looking for light fluff, you might want to try some of her other novels. But if you are looking for good romantic suspense, you can't go wrong here.

Not up to her usual standards........2002-07-12

This is a set of four stories about the same family. Night Shift is about Boyd Fletcher and a lovely DJ who is having stalker problems, it is probably my favorite of the four. In Night Shadow Boyd's sister-in-law Deborah O'Roarke is falling in love with a man who has an amazing secret. Nightshade is about Boyd's partner Thea . Night Smoke is the story about Boyd's sister Natalie Fletcher, arson and the sexy fireman who helps find the arsonist.

As is typical with Nora Roberts series, each story can stand on it's own. However, I like the fact that you can revisit old characters and catch up on their lives through Nora Roberts other books. There is a follow up to these four stories about Boyd's daugther and a private investegator. It is a great story and out of the five stories, my favorite.

I typically rate Nora Roberts stories with fives. However, this one has a four. I found this a little bit too 'off the wall' for my tastes. The idea that some man can become invisible at will was just to wild. I think that the connection being made in other reviews between books written by Nora Roberts under the name JD Robb is correct. These books have another world/futeristic type feel to them. The cities are darker, more evil, particularly in Night Shadow. The JD Robb books are some that I do not enjoy and I'm dissapointed to see that leaking over into the Nora Roberts romance books.

However, having said that, let me stress that I find any Nora Roberts book to be above and beyond the normal romance book and worth reading.

Average customer rating:

The fourth hardback collection of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels

Do not buy this book for this price!
Nightshade Tavern (Obsidian Butterfly & Narcissus in Chains)

Manufacturer: The Science Fiction Book Club
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0739461214

Product Description

Omnibus edition with both Obsidian Butterfly and Narcissus in Chains.

Customer Reviews:

The fourth hardback collection of Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels.......2006-06-13

"Nightshade Tavern" is the fourth hardcover collection of multiple Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter novels by Laurell K. Hamilton. Previously we had "Club Vampyre," which collected "Guilty Pleasures," "The Laughing Corpse," and "Circus of the Damned"; "The Midnight Cafe" bought together "The Lunatic Cafe," "Bloody Bones," and "The Killing Dance"; while "Black Moon Inn" combined "Burnt Offerings" and Blue Moon" and constituted a shift in these reprints from 3-in-1 to 2-in-1, which is more to our liking. The two novels published together this time are the ninth and tenth in the Anita Blake series, "Obsidian Butterfly" and "Narcissus in Chains," and from the perspective of today, as we await the fourteenth novel in the series, it becomes clear that there is a significant break between the two novels included here. Suffice it to say that many fans of the series consider the first of these efforts to be the last great, or even really good, Anita Blake novel. Consequently, this might be as far as some readers will go, but they are certainly encouraged to progress to this point.

"Obsidian Butterfly" was the long-awaited Anita Blake novel in which Edward the Bounty Hunter finally calls in the favor our heroine owes him for his services back in "The Killing Dance." So Anita heads to New Mexico, where something is out ripping the bodies of some people apart while removing all the skin from others. Whatever type of monster this might be, it is something so bad that even Edward is spooked. Anita is spooked because Edwards, in his cover identity as "Ted," has a girlfriend who has two children. If all this was not troubling enough throw into the mix the two other backups Edward has enlisted, Olaf, the serial-rapist who keeps threatening Anita, and Bernardo, who keeps trying to hit on her, as does Ramirez, a local cop. Oh, and did I mention she has been celibate for months? This title around the title refers to both a bar and the English name of Itzpapalotl, the vampire Master of the City, which serves to indicate that whatever it is that is out there has something to do with Aztec mythology. One again, Anita Blake, vampire hunter/animator/necromancer has her hands full.

Laurell K. Hamilton is perhaps the finest writer of horror stories around as in book after book in this series she comes up with gruesome scenes that match the best you can find in Stephen King or Clive Barker. In "Obsidian Butterfly" this comes when the last of a group of flesh-eating zombies on a killing spree in a hospital makes its way into the nursery. The main problem with the Anita Blake series, as others have pointed out, is that there is a sense in which things keep repeating themselves as our heroine mouths off to the wrong people, complains about her love life, and keeps calling herself a monster as her personal body count continues to rise. However, the basic mystery here and all its various involved sub-plots are combined in a compelling narrative that overwhelms the problems with characterization. One thing I especially liked about this ninth novel in the series is that yet another unknown aspect of Anita's power did not make itself known at the key moment. In fact, given some of the climaxes of the previous volumes, there is a simple elegance to how our heroine dispatches the monster this time around. On balance, "Obsidian Butterfly" is one of the best novels in the series, ironically helped by the fact that Jean-Claude and Richard are, with minor exceptions, absent from the story.

When we got to "Narcissus in Chains," the tenth Anita Blake novel, is was impossible not to ambivalent about what was happening this time around. This one starts off like a typical Anita Blake novel with our heroine has been ignoring both Jean-Claude, the Master Vampire of St. Louis, and Richard, Ulfric of the local werewolf clan. So, once again, horror literature's most dysfunctional love triangle appears to be moving back to square one. But then we have an interesting twist. Usually Anita manifests another new dimension to her growing powers at the end of the novel, in term to help her out of the horrendous climatic confrontation where people she cares about are about to get killed by the new bad thing in town. However, this time around Anita is almost fatally injured in a fight. A weresnake is trying to rip her heart out of her chest when Gregory, one of her pard's wereleopards, forcible removes the attacker's hand. But in the process his claws something vital and now Anita is showing all the signs of preparing for a transformation in a wereleopard, which would make her a true Nimir-Ra. It looks like Anita might not have any choice about embracing the monster inside her (and we have to wonder what Edward would think of this development, especially given the events of the previous novel).

This time the title refers to a S&M Club run by a werehyena with a penchant for names from Greek mythology, is one of the faster paced Anita Blake novels. Basically Anita has to go through a series of rescue missions, such as saving Nathaniel from the sex club, Jean-Claude from jail, Gregory from the wrath of Richard's pack, Damian from being chained in a cross-covered coffin, and on and on and on. In addition to the possibility of turning into a lycanthrope, Anita has two additional complications. First, she had picked up Jean-Claude's "ardeur," which is basically a lust that goes well beyond sex. Second, she meets Micah Callah, who wants to be the Nimir-Raj of Anita's pard. The end result is that the unresolved love triangle has now been upped to at least a quadrangle, and that is before we even begin to figure out how Nathaniel and Asher fits into all this fun.

The sexuality of both the main character and the narrative had been building in recent novels, but I would make a conservative estimate that the amount of sex in "Narcissus in Chains" is easily double what we had in "Blue Moon" and "Obsidian Butterfly" combined. Hamilton has a hard time topping herself in each adventure in terms of horror and violence, so it is not surprising that she turns to other avenues. But even if Anita is becoming more comfortable with her sexuality and being nude among her pard, that does not mean the result of us are thoroughly enjoying the ride. The ending of "Narcissus in Chains" does turn out to be the traditional Anita-pulls-something-new-out-of-her-hat variety, along with what is becoming another cliche, the revelation of the villain's true identity. The problem is that at the conclusion of this novel we are encouraged to think that maybe, just maybe, Anita has finally resolved her relationship with Jean-Claude and Richard. But after reading the novels that follow this one it turns out Hamilton is just toying with us in that regard.

Do not buy this book for this price!.......2006-01-05

As any Laurell K. Hamilton fan knows, her stories are THE BEST. I realize that this book is a resale item from someone other than Amazon.com, but you do not need to pay $50! I bought mine from the Science Fiction Book Club last month (11/2005)for $14! $50 is an UNBELIEVABLE mark up for an item that is still in print!

Average customer rating:

TinaM
When reality starts to fade
Good, but sometimes a little repetitive
A littel different from his earlier books
Love John Saul

Nightshade
John Saul
Manufacturer: Ballantine Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0449005909
Release Date: 2001-05-29

Amazon.com

There's no such thing as a happy family in John Saul's dark imagination. He made this chillingly clear in Suffer the Children and The Right Hand of Evil, and he deepens this impression in Nightshade, a perfectly macabre tale of a household ripped apart by malevolent forces.

Meet New Hampshire couple Bill and Joan Hapgood and their teenage son, Matt. They have a huge home, many friends, and the glow of Matt's glory as a high school football star. Life couldn't be sweeter, right? Wrong!

Trouble begins when Joan's mother, Emily, accidentally burns down her own house and moves in with the Hapgoods. Matt is terrified of his foul-tempered grandmother, who refers to him as "Joan's bastard." Emily's odd behavior reaches a fever pitch when she insists that the bedroom of her long-dead (and much-favored) elder daughter, Cynthia, be recreated, prom dress, dolls, and all. The household's normal warmth vanishes, "the sense of welcome and comfort was gone." Matt complains of strange, perverted dreams in which the staggeringly beautiful Cynthia visits him, leaving behind the pungent scent of her Nightshade perfume. Joan also feels the presence of her dead sister, and has painful flashbacks to a childhood best left forgotten. A murder and three disappearances befall the small town, Matt spirals into depression, and Joan loses her mind. Throw in child abuse, torture, and a wickedly irritable ghost, and we have one whopper of a nightmare. Nightshade contains gobs of gore, melodramatic (and occasionally bumbling) prose, and a deviant, twisted ending--John Saul's famous recipe for family disaster and reader delight. --Naomi Gesinger

Book Description

Fifteen-year-old Matthew Moore seems to have a charmed life . . . until a mysterious fire forces his grandmother to move in with his family. The elderly woman insists on recreating the bedroom of Cynthia, her favored child who died tragically more than a decade ago. Soon Matt's life insidiously begins to change. At night he finds himself haunted by nightmares of unimaginable terror. In the morning the smell of Cynthia's perfume seems to linger in his room. While his grandmother drives a wedge between his once devoted parents, Matt transforms from a gregarious teenager to a hostile loner. Then a shocking tragedy shatters the family beyond repair--as a horrific shadow from the past takes on an implacable life of its own, clawing toward Matt with ferocious hunger. . . .

Download Description

The master of terror and psychological suspense, John Saul taps into our darkest, most deeply guarded fears in his most gripping novel yet, the terrifying story of an innocent teenager who must confront the cursed sins of the past -- and an evil so corrupting that it threatens to consume his entire world ....

Nightmares become reality... and from the fire emerges a malevolent presence.

Fifteen-year-old Matt Moore has a loving mother and a caring stepfather, a host of friends, and a growing relationship with the most beautiful girl at school. All signs point to a bright future, until fate intervenes. A sudden fire leaves Matt's senile and troubled grandmother homeless. When she moves in with the family, her ceaseless demands cause unrelieved tension -- and with her comes a shameful secret between her daughters that traps young Matt between a dead aunt who haunts him and his own mother, who seeks redemption for her sister's sins -- and her own.

A horrific shadow from the past... and a shocking tragedy in the present.

To save himself and those he loves, Matt must eventually face the forces of evil and destruction -- alone.

Customer Reviews:

TinaM.......2007-05-15

This was the first time reading a John Saul book. I had read a few reviews and it sounded like it would be spooky which I like, however, he did not scare me at all and I kept waiting for it to happen. Did not care much for the characters in this book either. The main female character just kind of drove me crazy, did not like her. Anyway, as I said it was my first time reading Mr. Saul so I probably should not judge too harshly, but I was not impressed or scared.

When reality starts to fade.......2007-01-18

A macabre tale of nightmares that delivers on all levels. Poor Matt Hapgood's life takes a turn for the worse when his ailing grandmother moves in with them. Soon, he is having erotic dreams, and hearing things in his bedroom. His mother is slowly going insane and after his stepfather is killed in a hunting mishap Matt himself thinks he is going mad as well.
I found the book to be rather riveting although I cheated a little and read the Amazon reviews half way through the book so the ending wasn't entirely surprising. Yes its been done before but the story was good and gripped me which is the highest praise one can give a book of this type. Still I have a few minor quibbles. The first being the sexual abuse taking place. I'm not sure if we are meant to believe that all the sexual activity taking place in Matt's room was spiritual in nature or more of the physical variety. If the ladder is true then I just find it hard to believe someone could be fondling him and he would simply not wake up and realize who it was. Sleep or no sleep he would know for a fact who was in the room with him. After all, he was brought to the height of sexual pleasure and there was evidence of that in the morning; I've herd of sleep walking but never of sleep fornicating. Another minor point is the amount of verbal abuse Joan received from her mother. It was all too clear that Joan was ill equip to take care of her mother and that it was surprising that she kept insisting she could. Apart from those two points the book was good with a satisfying ending and if Saul so chose could write a sequel to it. I listened to the MP3 CD version which was read well though at times the reader held back a little in articulating emotions. B+

Good, but sometimes a little repetitive.......2006-10-15

This is my first time reading John Saul, and I must say I really enjoyed this book. The characters were very well drawn out and were given great personalities. It was a very well written book, but the only thing that got me at a time was that it seemed repetitive. First it would show Joan being crazy, Matt getting [...] at school, and then Kelly's dad being a psycho a little too much...seemed somewhat repetitive but other than that, a great read.

A littel different from his earlier books.......2005-10-14

This is a bit different from his earlier books. Not quite as much supernatural and more psycology is involved. But still a very good book and thrilling read. Even if you get a bit "irritated" by some of the characters, you do get the answer in the end. It also makes you think about how important earlier events in a persons life, can cause trouble for later generations. So even if you are not into ghosts, goblins and evil forces, this is one book by this author that you still can enjoy a lot. I recommend this book, even if I liked his early ones, like "Cry for the strangers" and "When the wind blows" better.

Love John Saul.......2005-10-02

My favorite author who never fails to satisfy. I have read all John Saul's books, and am currently waiting for delivery of his latest. I can't wait!!!

Average customer rating:

Not the Dark Side of Romance!
This is the best of the Night Tales stories!!!!!
Synopsis
good fast read

Nightshade: Night Tales
Nora Roberts
Manufacturer: Thorndike Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Romantic Suspense | Romance | Subjects | Books

Literature & Fiction | Large Print | Formats | Books

Romance | Large Print | Formats | Books

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ASIN: 0786282207

Book Description

A New York Times Bestseller

Colt Nightshade couldn't believe his luck partnering on a case with Lt. Althea Grayson. But the breathtaking ice goddess was strictly by-the-book. . . . The hours between dusk and dawn are filled with mystery, danger, and romance in this dark and dazzling classic tale of passion and peril by the incomparable mistress of romantic suspense.

Customer Reviews:

Not the Dark Side of Romance!.......2005-03-22

I've often referred to the small romance books as "throw away" books because you can usually finish them in a couple of hours. Nightshade is a Silhouette Intimate Moments Book and definitely a quick read. It's also the 3rd book in Nora Roberts Night Series (the other two are also the short romance type of books). The entire series could be completed in less than a weekend of reading if you're trapped indoors with nothing else to do.

As with many of Nora Roberts' early books, the plot line is somewhat predictable, but still very enjoyable. It's the basic cookie-cutter romance plot: man meets woman (they are total opposites), sparks fly, romance ensues, and they live happily-ever-after. But one of Nora Roberts' best writing traits is her ability to develop characters so the reader feels they are real.

Colt Nightshade is a private detective looking for a runaway teenager being held against her will. In the course of his investigations, he becomes the unwilling partner of police Lt. Althea Grayson. This case hits Grayson a little too close to home for her to be completely objective. Thus the struggles of the main female character - she struggles with the case and with the attraction to Nightshade.

Colt Nightshade is the typical romantic male lead - handsome, debonair, and a bit intriguing with his bad-boy tendencies by not playing "by the book" to solve the case or win the affections of Althea.

While this dynamic duo are trying to sort out their feelings for each other, they are hot on the trail of the bad guys. Ok, didn't I mention "cookie cutter" romance above in my description??? Yep, and it even has a happily-ever-after ending too (bet you didn't see that coming!).

This book is typical and predictable but still an enjoyable read (as with most of Roberts' books)! The original Silhouette Intimate Moments book is out of print and is considered VERY HARD TO FIND but reprints are available!

This is the best of the Night Tales stories!!!!!.......2001-03-21

"Nightshade" was the best of the four stories offered in "Night Tales." Thea and Colt were interesting enough as partners and as lovers. I hope to see more about them in future installments of the "Night" series.

Synopsis.......2000-01-23

TROUBLE IS HIS BUSINESS Colt Nightshade: Professional trouble-shooter. A damm good man to know-if you know he's on your side. Althea Grayson: That's LIEUTENANT Althea Grayson a hell of a cop, and heavon in his arms... Colt Nightshade made his living facing danger-alone. But his search for a runaway girl through the seamy side of the city was the one time he had to have help-whether he liked it or not. And if a man had to have a partner, he could do a whole lot worse than Althea Grayson. She was all business...and embodied his every pleasure. Soon, trouble became a for-letter word called LOVE.

good fast read.......1999-10-26

the older books are always a nice treat ::smile

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The Nightshades And Health
Norman Franklin Childers , and Gerald M. Russo
Manufacturer: Norman F. Childers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Nightshade (The New Doctor Who Adventures)

Average customer rating:

Best Who novel ever!
Creepy, suspenseful, spooky, scary... perfect
NAstalgia
Old TV series never fade away...

Nightshade (The New Doctor Who Adventures)
Mark Gatiss
Manufacturer: Carol Publishing Corporation
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Doctor Who | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
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ASIN: 0426203763

Customer Reviews:

Best Who novel ever!.......2005-09-23

This one set the bar for Who novels. Written in 1992, it still is the ultimate Who book. Read this book and be scared, sad, and disturbed. The Doctor's behavior in the last few pages is sad and says a lot about who he is as a person. If you read any Who book, read this one!

Creepy, suspenseful, spooky, scary... perfect.......2003-04-20

This is one of the best Doctor Who novels ever written. It's tightly written and superbly paced. The characters are crafted well, and the baddies are - well, the baddest. It is a genuine atmosphere story if there ever was one. Read this, and you will get the heebie-jeebies. It's fantastic.

NAstalgia.......2002-03-06

NIGHTSHADE is quite a fun romp. The book is a bit cliched and predictable in places, but such a solid adventure that it's quite easy to excuse its flaws and simply appreciate it for the enjoyable escapade that it is. The characters are very well drawn and the setting fits perfectly with the story that's being told. If you're in the right mood for this sort of thing, then you'll find it to be a complete delight.

There are quite a number of Doctor Who cliches present throughout the story. Thankfully, Mark Gatiss has the good sense to set up many of them slightly differently than we're used to, so that the majority are not particularly annoying. Still there are moments of predictability and a few sections suffer because of their lack of originality. The ending in particular is a bit of a disappointment, as it feels jerky and uneven after the smooth and slow build-up. On the other hand, the beginning and middle sections feel deceptively comfortable and safe, which would most likely be a deliberate ploy, given the theme running through the story that highlights the dangers of nostalgia. Those who dwell too much on the past will be doomed to have no future (by having their souls eaten by loud, slobbering nostalgia-monsters, one presumes). Although the theme is hit a bit too loudly at a few points, for the most part it makes a nice backdrop.

The town and the characters that inhabit it are fairly stereotypical of the average sleepy English village, but for what the story was attempting, they work perfectly. Despite the relatively large number of people mentioned, most of them are given enough brushstrokes to seem realistic. The back-stories provided are quite effective and excellent at showing how the past continues to live on in the present. There are several nice touches that subtly demonstrate the link between then and now that thankfully manage to stop well short of beating us over the head with the imagery. The retirement home, the graveyard, the old semi-abandoned church, and the monastery are all quite successful at establishing this. And, of course, the most blatant reminder of one's past comes in the form of the TV serial, Nightshade, and the actor who portrayed the title character.

Fortunately, Mark Gatiss chose to use Quatermass as the basis for his television nostalgia-fest rather than the Doctor Who television show itself, thus sparing us from a lot of silly fandom in-jokes (the Professor X gags would come from elsewhere and become less funny with each passing reference). The sections featuring Edward Trevithick, the actor who had played Professor Nightshade, are far and away the best parts of the book. Gatiss obviously had a great affection for this character. He gets the most interesting background, his part of the story is the most exciting, and he certainly is the character with the most depth.

NIGHTSHADE isn't the best Doctor Who story out there, but it certainly one of the more enjoyable ones. For a fairly standard story it packs a surprising amount of subtlety. The nostalgia theme is done well and is not overused. It's certainly an entertaining tale that manages to rise above the comfortable runaround status that it could so easily have fallen into. Rereading this book in 2002 means that it seems much more light than it did ten years ago (or even eight years ago when I read it the first time) given all that has happened in the Doctor Who novels since NIGHTSHADE's publication, but it still manages to pass the test of time.

Old TV series never fade away..........2001-04-21

England, 1968, and Edmund Trevithick is a retired actor, best known for his lead role in the science fantasy series, 'Nightshade'. The days of fighting imaginary monsters are long gone, and Edmund has settled down in a sleepy village. And then the Doctor and Ace arrive, the lines between fact and fiction get blurred, and Trevithick finds that 'Nightshade' is more like nightmare...

The publishers of Doctor Who novels finally realised that there was really nothing to their story arcs (Timewyrm and Cat's Crucible) that really warranted having them, and so a new era of more-or-less stand alone novels kicked off with this one - and a very good choice too, its an absolute corker!

Mark Gatiss has gone on from this to not only write a number of very good Doctor Who novels, but to co-author and star in the wonderful 'League of Gentlemen' series and, indeed, play the Doctor himself.

This novel is often wonderfully understated and gets deeply into the emotions of the characters, which is quite important to make the science fiction-horror elements come to life.

Hey, stop reading this review and order it!

Average customer rating:

All four Garden Mysteries by Mary Freeman

Thoroughly enjoyable

Second book in 'Gardening Mysteries' a success!

Getting better

A good complex mystery
Deadly Nightshade (Gardening Mystery)
Mary Freeman
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books
Series | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
Women Sleuths | Mystery | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books
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Devil's Trumpet (Gardening Mysteries)

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Garden View (Gardening Mysteries)

Murder Sets Seed (Bretta Solomon Gardening Mysteries)

Roots of Murder (Bretta Solomon Gardening Mysteries)

ASIN: 0425171965

Customer Reviews:

All four Garden Mysteries by Mary Freeman.......2005-10-02

Although each of Mary Freeman's garden mysteries can stand alone as enjoyable fiction, knowing that I didn't have to let the characters go once I'd finished the first, second or even the third book added much to my pleasure. In my opinion, Mary Freeman's characterization is outstanding. I could see each character clearly and hear the intonation of each voice. I could imagine myself either stepping forward or making myself scarce when various characters approached. Mary Freeman gives readers a close look at small town life in rural America.

Besides writing fast paced novels that are real page turners, Mary Freeman's main character, Rachel O'Connor, showed me how to choose plants for special effects and plants that will thrive if tucked in just the right places. She showed me how to turn an unsightly patch of ground into something special with the right landscaping and care.

More mysteries, please, Mary! And will you also write a book on gardening targeted for novice gardeners?

Betty Erickson, children's writer

Thoroughly enjoyable.......2003-08-23

I find these mysteries delightful. The protagonist and her circle of acquaintances are charming. The gardening aspect just makes it more fun.

Second book in 'Gardening Mysteries' a success!.......2001-06-03

I enjoyed my second experience with Mary Freeman's 'Gardening Mysteries' almost as much as my first. In *Deadly Nightshade*, we are treated to another few weeks in the life of Rain Country Landscaping owner Rachel O'Connor.

Since we first met Rachel in *Devil's Trumpet*, her company received a contract to landscape for the City of Blossom and her courtship with Jeff the policeman has continued to grow. Unfortunately, the town's political agenda has not gone so well. In the midst of a debate over whether the town should allow commercial growth, town councilman Bob Dougan is found dead. And unfortunately, Rachel's hot-tempered Uncle Jack is a prime suspect.

I am still so glad I found Freeman's books and encourage all mystery fans to give this series a shot!

Getting better.......2000-11-27

Mary Freeman's second novel in the "Gardening mysteries" series is certainly shaping-up her skills as a mystery writer. In "Deadly nightshade", we encounter Rachel once more, together with most of the characters from the previous novel "Devil's Trumpet"; although it is now two years later and some changes have taken place in Blossom: Jeff (Rachel's beau) is now the Chief of Police, and Rachel has gotten the City landscaping contract. All hell breaks loose when a City Councilman is found dead just at the place where Rachel is currently demonstrating her marvelous landscaping skills. When her temperamental uncle is actually accused of the murder, Rachel takes a personal interest in the case.

In this book the previous mistake of "guessing" the murderer's identity beforehand is corrected; and there is no way to know whodunit right up until the end of the story.

Freeman's character-handling and dialogue techniques are ever present to delight everybody once more. For gourmet and culinary gurus, I reccommend a trip to "The Bread Box", Blossom's magnificient bakery store, which makes my mouth water everytime I read about the delicacies it offers. Too bad this is fiction.

A good complex mystery.......1999-11-10

If Norman Rockwell had seen modern day Blossom, Oregon, he would have hosted his paintings there. The townsfolk know each other so well that no one locks doors. Native born Rachel O'Conner loves her small town and opens the Rain Country Landscaping firm rather than just join the family orchard business. Rachel believes she could never work with her hot-tempered Uncle Jack who knows everyone else is always wrong unless they agree with him. Jack's reputation for rage leads him into deep trouble when Rachel finds the murdered body of a person who just had an ugly confrontation with her uncle.

The dispute stems from the town counsel and mayor wanting to annex private land to insure developers are unable to deface the panoramic view. Some of Jack's property would be included if eminent domain is invoked. The local residents seem split down the middle as to whether Jack is capable of killing someone over a land debate. Rachel's, boy friend, the Chief of Police, brings Jack in for questioning, which leads Rachel to begin sleuthing. Her endeavor turns dangerous as a killer is not afraid to murder again.

DEADLY NIGHTSHADE is an entertaining novel about life in small town interrupted by a murder. At times, the delightful characters who inhabit Blossom overwhelm the mystery that could have been resolved earlier if not for the charming ensemble. Fans who enjoy a warm tale about small town living will gain much pleasure from Mary Freeman's novel.

Book Description

After two hundred years of civil war the planet Oriana is dying. Most of the surface vegetation is gone, the air is nearlyy unbreathable, and the people themselves are dying. Now, the two warring factions have finally sat down to talk peace, and Captian Picard and the U.S.S. Enterprise™ are sent ot help them negotiate a settlement.

Picard, Lt. Worf, and Counsellor Troi beam down to Oriana, just as the Starship Enterprise is called away on another urgent mission. Alone on the planet, the U.S.S. Enterprise team learns that htere are people that would rather finish the devastating conflict than talk peace. Suddenly, Picard is accused of murder nad the delicate negotiations have fallen into the hands of Lt. Worf.

Now, Worf and Troi must unravel the truth and prevent planet-wide disaster, before time runs out for the people of Oriana and the crew of the Starship Enterprise.

Download Description

After two hundred years of civil war the planet Oriana is dying. Most of the surface vegetation is gone, the air is nearly unbreathable, and the people themselves are wasting away. With hope nearly gone, the two warring factions have at last settled down to talk peace, and the "Enterprise" TM is sent to help them negotiate. Just after Picard, Worf, and Troi beam down, however, the ship is called away on another urgent mission, leaving them stranded alone with the Orianans, some of whom would rather not see a peace agreement reached. Picard is framed in a case of murder, and the negotiations fall to Worf.

Customer Reviews:

Not a bad book, but definitely disappointing........2004-05-14

If the reader is not familiar with Ms. Hamilton's "Anita Blake" series, and goes into this book expecting simply another Star Trek book by a random author, he or she will doubtless be at least mostly satisfied. The plot is above average for the genre, and if it does have a fairly common theme for Star Trek (and particularly Next Generation) novels (inhabitants of unenlightened planet are in danger of destroying their planet's ecosystem) it is a storyline that is handled fairly well here; the plot moves, and the characters seem recognizable. The writing is a bit sloppy, with a few too many commas where there should be either semicolons or periods, but not to a truly distracting extent, and the occasional misuse of a word ("breath" used as a verb, instead of "breathe", as in "give me room to breath"; "suppose" used instead of "supposed" as in "what were the powers suppose to be able to do?"; "use" instead of "used" as in "It's what our world use to be") is annoying, but again, not so frequent as to be a really terrible problem.

The real problem is that, if the reader is familiar with Ms. Hamilton's "Anita Blake" series, he or she comes to this book expecting something truly exceptional, and that isn't at all what he or she gets. This book was published only a year before "Guilty Pleasures", the first in the "Anita" series, but the quality here is decades behind the quality in that book. Some of the problem, admittedly, is that we are working with established characters here, none of which is Anita Blake, and much of the delight to be found in that series comes from the portrayal of that very delightful character. Perhaps Ms. Hamilton would do better if she wrote a novel set in the period before Tasha Yar died, and wrote from Lt. Yar's perspective, as she does from Anita's. The characters are similar enough that she might truly be able to bring Tasha to life. But in this story, none of the characters, established or new, has a tenth of the spark that one finds in Anita Blake. It's unsettling to think that someone who could create such a dynamic character is a one-trick pony. Hopefully, she's grown as a writer in the last 12 years.

Hamilton fan? Don't waste your money........2004-03-23

I love Hamilton's Anita Blake series and rather like her Princess Meredith series. Both of these feature a smart, decisive, ruthless, round-heeled female protagonist, well-drawn (not to mention well-dressed) characters, slam-bang action, and tough moral choices, leavened with the protagonist's wry, self-deprecating humor. I bought Nightshade hoping that Hamilton would bring the same strengths to a Star Trek: The Next Generation novel; specifically, I expected Deanna would be a typical Hamilton heroine - protecting friends, threatening (or just killing) enemies, sizing up Worf with a gleam in her eye, spending way too much ink on describing clothes...

Silly me. Nightshade is a standard-issue Star Trek. Worf growls. Deanna senses stuff. Geordi/Beverly fix machines/creatures. Picard makes one uncharacteristically idiotic decision and then goes offstage. (You're Picard, Federation Ambassador charged with negotiating a peace treaty between warring factions on a dying planet. You've just been arrested and need to appoint a standin negotiator. Do you pick Deanna Troi (strengths: good at talking to people, can tell if someone is lying) or Worf (strengths: security, growling, hurting people)? Worf spends the rest of the book whining about what a rotten Ambassador he is. I can only agree.)

In sum... skip this one.

Decent.......2003-11-28

When Captain Picard is imprisoned as a murder suspect on the planet Oriana, it is up to Lieutenant Worf and Counselor Troi to clear his name and successfully conclude negotiations between the opposing parties in a civil war. The writing seems hurried and clunky and the Orianians themselves are not particularly interesting, but Hamilton handles the characters of Worf and Troi well. She evokes Worf's frustration over the necessity of restraint and provides a plausible imagining of how Troi experiences her empathic ability. It would have made a decent but not remarkable episode of the series.

STNG #24 Nightshade - A very good early STNG novel!.......2003-09-21

"Nightshade" is one of the better early Star Trek The Next Generation novels! It is too bad that this author hasn't revisited the Star Trek genre since writing this particular novel. I found her writing to be quite fluid and with a great sense of style in her plot setup and execution. One of the more interesting aspects of this early STNG novel is the fact that she explored the personal dynamics between Worf and Troi, long before the actual series did.

The cover art for this particular novel is pretty much the standard fare for the earlier STNG novels in which a picture of the two primary characters for the novel are plastered on the cover.

The premise:

The planet Oriana has suffered through two hundred years of civil war and is now dying because of it. Finally realizing what they have wrought for themselves, the two warring factions seek peace at the negotiation tables and the Federation is asked to mediate. In comes Captain Picard and the Enterprise. Captain Picard, Lieutenant Worf and Counselor Troi beam down to the planet to begin the negotiations.

Just as Captain Picard and his team begin negotiations the Enterprise is called away on another urgent mission. Now alone on the planet, Captain Picard and his team must continue their negotiations for peace between the two warring factions but he is then accused of murder and Lieutenant Worf must continue the negotiations.

Worf and Troi now have to find a way of stopping the violence between the two warring factions to include those who do not wish for the negotiations to succeed and find a way of vindicating Captain Picard.

What follows from there is, as stated above, one of the better early STNG novels that I'd highly recommend adding to your Star Trek library. It would be nice to see this author make a revisit to this genre. {ssintrepid}

Worf becomes an ambassador for the first time.......2003-07-14

Captain Picard, Dianna Troi, and Lutenant Worf are on a mission to Oriana to negotiate a peace treaty between waring factions on the planet, who are finally becoming convinced that if they don't find peace soon, they will all be doomed to die along with thier ravaged planet.

Soon after the away team beams down, the Enterprise recives a distress call and leaves the team on the planet while Riker leads the Enterprise on a rescue mission.

Now alone, things soon take a bad turn as the Peace delegation discovers the terrible things which war has done to the planet, and to the people through the long two hundred year war. Picard is arrested when someone is killed by poision in the first peace talk gathering. Worf and Troi must now invistigate the murder to clear thier Captain's name or he will be executed in three days time.

Book Description

A riveting collection of spectral chills and ghostly tales by twenty-seven masters of twentieth-century literature. The phantasms, shades, and specters in this volume of ghost stories by contemporary writers like Alison Lurie, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, Joyce Carol Oates, and William Trevor as well as such modern literary giants as Henry James, Isak Dinesen, Franz Kafka, and Rudyard Kipling write letters, carry lanterns, ride bicycles, patrol halls, run motorboats, rake leaves, and deliver mail. They also inhabit dolls and sticks of furniture. Some of them merely haunt houses, while others invade the darkest corners of the soul. Throughout this expertly edited collection, a companion to Robert Phillips's equally successful anthology, the very popular Omnibus of 20th Century Ghost Stories, writers as distinctive of their decade as Edith Wharton and Muriel Spark or the incomparable Max Beerbohm and the up-and-coming Max Eberts explore the literary possibilities of the classic ghost story to deliver taut suspense, psychological terror, and eerie mystery. The irresistible mix of chills and artistry, of terror and genius, make every tale in this volume worth the visit.

Customer Reviews:

Great collection............2006-04-22

There are some great gems in this collection. I am a die hard fan of 19th century ghost stories, but I loved this collection quite a bit!

A great way to pass a dark evening....

Outstanding modern ghost story anthology.......2006-01-04

This is an anthology of 27 ghost stories written after 1900. A few of the stories are well known, such as F. Marion Crawford's unparalleled masterpiece, The Upper Berth. Many of the stories are lesser known works by such well-regarded masters as Henry James, Kafka, Kipling, Garcia Marquez, Shirley Jackson and Joyce Carol Oates. Also included are some very impressive short stories by new and unfamiliar talent. One such story is Max Ebert's Lost Lives. In that story a child compulsively draws or paints pictures of a boat on water. As the child becomes older, he puts increasingly disturbing details into his pictures, causing his frightened parents to take him to psychiatrists (and causing the reader to wonder what lies behind our collective unconsciousness). The story continues to haunt me five years after I first read it.

The editor, Robert Phillips, also includes a scholarly and enjoyable introductory essay on the modern ghost story. Mr. Phillips has also published second volume of high quality ghost stories from the 20th Century entitled Triumph of the Night. If you enjoy this anthology, check that one out as well.

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