Absolute Batman: Hush

Book Description

The complete best-selling saga written by Jeph Loeb (SUPERMAN/BATMAN, Smallville) with art by fan-favorites Jim Lee Scott Williams (SUPERMAN, Uncanny X-Men) collected together for the first time in the oversized slipcase format! This slipcased edition features the two books "Hush"#151; an epic tale of friendship, trust and betrayal that spans the Dark Knight's lifetime. This Absolute edition includes an all-new cover by Lee Williams, a Jim Lee Sketchbook and issue-by-issue commentary by the creative team.

Customer Reviews:

extremely satisfied.......2007-07-27

my item arrived in brand new condition and i was very happy with my purchase

Hush is Fun, But...........2007-07-11

Absolute Hush is well worth the price premium. Jim Lee's fantastic art receives the format it deserves. The Absolute edition contains commentary by Lee and Loeb and a Lee sketchbook.

Jim Lee describes in detail how he conceived of the art design of a lock that is seen in a single panel of the book. He also mentions the thought he puts into writing notes and scribbles on paperwork plastered on Lois Lane's desk. It's this kind of obsessive attention to detail that makes Jim Lee the spectacular success that he is.

This is an epic tale and draws in tons of Batman characters, villains and heroes, allies and friends. Otherwise stupid characters like Huntress, Croc and Harley Quinn are fun. For the most part, it's an entertaining read. Jeph Loeb intelligently incorporates high tech into Batman's operations, including an online advisor known as "Oracle" and a really neat scene where Batman's uniform defends itself from some street punks.

But the plot is severely undermined by a strange and stupid twist. I won't tell you, don't worry. But I think you'll agree that this plot angle is dumb.

Hush is a great work despite this flaw because of Lee's art and Loeb's innovations. But for the plot failure mentioned above, this coulda been a classic.

Great Batman Story.......2007-03-30

I really enjoyed reading this over-sized version of batman hush. I initially read the tpb, and was somewhat impressed but reading it a second time in the absolute format made it clear how impressive this story really is. Like all good batman stories, Loeb goes the extra mile to really humanize the character of the dark knight. Batman has wants, and needs, and I think that is part of what is so great about the story.

The absolute edition of the book is pretty superb as well. After the series went through its run in comics it was reprinted across 2 tpbs, and now is collected in this handsome one volume edition. The art in the book is extremely bright and vibrant, and is really shown off through the oversized nature of the absolute format. The book also contains some pretty decent supplemental material, including extensive interviews with the writer Jeph Loeb, and artist Jim Lee. I would highly recommend this book to any one looking to expand their batman collection. While not entirely worth the full retail price, if you can find it for 30-40% off then definitely pick it up.

What more can i say? .......2007-03-26

I believe with Jim Lee's artwork, the bigger the better, so this absolute edition is a must. 'nuff said.

Awesome!!!.......2007-03-23

I have just started getting into graphic novels with the recent releases of 300 and Sin City in theatres and I must say that I missed quite a bit when I was younger. I just got this the other day and I absolutely love it. I knew the general story line of batman and I must say that I am thoroughly impressed with the attention to detail and the artwork. No regrets here.

Average customer rating:

Good Easy read
Graphic SF Reader
My son loves this book
hush 1 was pretty good, hush 2 not as good as 1...
You have to read this one

Batman: Hush, Vol. 2
Jeph Loeb , and Jim Lee
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1401200923

Customer Reviews:

Good Easy read.......2007-09-27

this is a very easy read, and finishes up the new batman villian story line

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

Jim Lee continued to deliver some solid artwork, and while the second part may not be quite as good as the first part, with some of the mystery starting to become obvious, and be revealed, it is still a good story.

Tart Huntress detracts a little, I think, too, being visually jarring. The twist involving the master planner wasn't obvious though, so all in all, looks very good and well written.

My son loves this book.......2007-02-07

My 17-year old son is a Batman fanatic and really likes the illustrations in this book. He said he'd highly recommend it to any Batman fan.

hush 1 was pretty good, hush 2 not as good as 1..........2007-01-23

first off, this should have been collected in one volume. i can understand that they wanted to get it out in stores so they split it up, plus they can charge a couple of extra bucks...but it's been out for a while now so it should be in one volume.
the story is pretty good, not incredibly great, i think loeb maybe went off on too many tangents trying to involve every single great batman villain or ally somehow into the story (plus the 'twist' ending is pretty obvious). but it's certainly not bad and worth reading. jim lee's art is great.

You have to read this one.......2006-08-26

Hush is the reason why I began to read Jeph Loeb's work on the Dark Knight. This Volume 2 is the conclussion of one of the best (if not THE one) contemporary stories of the Knight Crusader.

Jim Lee's art is impressive and the plot written by Jeph makes the perfect match. This is a MUST READ for all the followers of the Batman.

This story is taken from the regular Batman comic and twistes every character in Batman's world. Nobody escapes the grasp of Hush; not only villains but also heroes; everyone can be (or will be) corrupted by his stench.

After this awesome story you'll be only able to whisper: "Hush, Batman, hush".

Average customer rating:

Beautiful Illustrations
Good concept, but only OK...
Wonderful book , great gift!
Sweet bedtimes story made new...
New text/Lyrics are wholesome.

Hush Little Baby: Board Book

Manufacturer: Chronicle Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Board book

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ASIN: 0811822907

Amazon.com

"Hush little baby, don't say a word,
Mama's going to show you a hummingbird.
If that hummingbird should fly,
Mama's going to show you the evening sky."

Sylvia Long's award-winning (Child Magazine's Best of 1997) ode to mother-child love takes a favorite lullaby and makes it--is it possible?--even better. Troubled by the buy-buy-buy mentality of the original ("Mama's gonna buy you a mockingbird/diamond ring/a dog named Rover..."), Long adapts the song to her--and our--liking. Mama now shows her baby the comforting wonders of the world: crickets, shooting stars, warm bedspreads. Long's gorgeous ink and watercolor paintings are reminiscent of Clement Hurd's illustrations in Margaret Wise Brown's Goodnight Moon. And now, with this gift set, fans of this sweet lullaby can have a "little baby" bunny all their own, along with a small board book edition of their sing-along favorite! The unbelievably soft plush rabbit rattle is curved into a shape and size just right for tiny hands. Wrap the cuddly pajama-clad bunny around a crib railing so your baby can always reach it. What a perfect gift for the new mother or mother-to-be! (Baby to preschool) --Emilie Coulter

Book Description

Bedtime is a special ritual for parents and children. Lullabies often play an important role. This best-selling version of the beloved lullaby Hush Little Baby is now available in a sturdy board book making it perfect for sharing with the youngest children.

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Illustrations.......2007-06-27

Really well drawn and written - nice updated version of the nursery rhyme. Its a wonderful story to sing and definitely a favourite bedtime book.

Good concept, but only OK..........2007-05-25

Good concept, but still very old-fashioned---I don't know anyone, let alone a mom, who plays a banjo!

"If that lighning bug won't glow, Mama's going to play on her old banjo."

I thought it was going to be more up-to-date. One the plus-side, the board book seems good and sturdy...

Wonderful book , great gift! .......2007-04-11

I love this book- it is a great gift for a new mommy- Its a classic song but the words are changed to not be so materialistic which is wonderful in this day and age! You also cant help sining along as you read it to your little one!

Sweet bedtimes story made new..........2007-01-02

My 2 yr old son loves this book. The story is a redo of the classic song set to a story. I like to sing it too him because it doesn't talk about buying him anything but rather spending time with him. He often asks for it before bed. I highly recommend it for anybody with a 0-4 yr old.

New text/Lyrics are wholesome. .......2006-12-19

I was looking to update the original lyrics and wanted some ideas, when a friend told me about this book. Although wholesome, the updated text alone doesn't work for my child; there are many more experiences that we can sing to the original tune, which make bedtime stories more tangible, interesting and educational. For instance, we live in the city. I can't show him a shooting star - if we're searching for one, it's WAY past his bedtime. I can however, sing about the snow, the market, or the playground, park and the ducks.

The original text has better imagery for him. Also, the active verbs, like "buy" or "give" or others we substitute, keep him more interested than some of the passive verbs that the author uses. Try creating your own rhymes if you're not a fan of the original or this treacle update.

The tune on which this is based is considered a folk song, and on that definition, the original is an expression of how life is at the time of it's use. I appreciate Sylvia Long's effort to update.

By the way, it is reported that Syliva Long was troubled by the buy-buy-buy mentality of the original verse. Perhaps if she looked at the second verse she may have found the non-materialism she writes about wanting.

"Hush little baby mama's near,
To wipe your brow and calm your fears.
To kiss your cheek and hold your hand,
'Til you drift off to sleepyland.
To help you count those little white sheep,
And sing you songs 'til you're asleep.
To tell you tales of kings and queens,
And Jack and Jill and wonderful things.
So snuggle up and hug me tight,
And dream sweet dreams all through the night.
And every night when the sun goes down,
You'll still be the sweetest little baby in town."

Average customer rating:

Graphic SF Reader
Great comic book!
HUSH IS THE BEST EVAR!!!
First Installment Of One Of The Most Disappointing Batman Stories
Very nice illustrations

Batman: Hush, Vol. 1
Jeph Loeb , and Jim Lee
Manufacturer: DC Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1401200605

Customer Reviews:

Graphic SF Reader.......2007-09-03

This deserves its reputation, despite the long lost best friend of Bruce Wayne, child, plot variation #5. It is done well enough to make it worth doing, and leave you wanting more. It doesn't hurt that Jim Lee is on top of his game, and appears to care a lot about this work. A good introduction to Batman and his rogues gallery for new readers, as well, not to mention Superman.

Great comic book!.......2007-05-14

Great adventure for the Dark Knight! Excellent art and quality, worth to own it.

HUSH IS THE BEST EVAR!!!.......2007-03-08

Well this is the best Batman Story ine i had read in years. It is very hard hitting. Batman goes off the hip, and its hard not to give away any spoilers, but vol. 1 leaves you wanting more. So if you order Vol. 1 be ready and order volume 2, because seriously, you'll wanna read vol. 2 right away with out waiting, i know i did. Hush is the best since The Long Halloween.

First Installment Of One Of The Most Disappointing Batman Stories.......2007-02-24

I'd like to preface this review by saying that I really respect Jeph Loeb and Jim Lee and the work they've done on various titles over the years; they've added a lot to the comics field over the years and I consider myself a big fan of each of them.

That said, "Batman: Hush", the tremendously-hyped team-up of Loeb and Lee on Batman from a few years ago, was quite the let-down. There have been worse stories done, but when you consider the past performances of this arc's creative team...well, I would have thought that there would have been a much higher glass floor that the book couldn't possibly fall beneath. The art is fine, a high point for the book, but I really don't agree with any assertion that it stands out in any way from the other Batman material that was being published at about the same time. If we look at all the Bat-related books being published in the same era as the "Hush" arc, there was a lot of great art being done, some of it still widely unheralded today. The story writer Jeph Loeb (who's shined on such titles as Superman and Cable)has come up with is, in itself, a good one, an intriguing premise. It's how that premise is handled, and, more so, the surprisingly weak handling of the characters, where the arc runs into trouble.

"Batman: Hush Volume 1" reprints #s 608-612 of the ongoing Batman series (the rest of the "Hush" arc runs through 619 and is reprinted in the "Hush Volume 2" TPB) as well as a previously unpblished two-page prologue by Loeb and Lee called 'The Legend Of The Batman: Who He Is And How He Came To Be', which is actually one of the best parts of the whole volume. The basic premise is that a number of linked crimes are happening - beginning with the abduction of a young boy - that are all part of a larger scheme, and are deliberately constructed so that the Batman will know there's more to them than the obvious, will know that he's being purposefully provoked to follow up deeper and find out what is truly behind it all. (If you're thinking that this sounds like a great basis for an extended Batman arc, I'm in agreement 100%. This could have been such a Tremendous story.) A number of Gotham's highest-profile 'freaks' are participating in these crimes/ruses, and it's immediately a question as to whether they're in on the whole plan or are being manipulated. Again, sounds good.

Now, the downside: Batman is the Dark Knight, an intense, fearsome creature of the night with an iron will and a veiled abundance of compassion and nobility beneath the darkness and the ironbound fury. Most of the time. Here, though, the Batman's character is changed in so many ways, often subtle, sometimes more open. The darkness and the intensity are played down, but with them drop the brighter aspects of the character as well. We're left with a character who - in absolute contrast to the Dark Knight who's been built up over the years - seems to have little sympathy for the various people he protects; who comes off as innately cold and heartless rather than the cauldron of turbulent emotions kept in check only by an iron will and a deep-rooted phschological fear of his own emotions; and whose motivation is murky at best. Another botched characterization - an even more egregious one because at least the Bat retains something of an 'open-to-interpretation' factor - is Poison Ivy. Ivy's part in the flow of this book is her participation in a scheme to abduct a child for ransom, and have him left in a state where he's going to be killed anyway even after the money is delivered. This Is Not Poison Ivy, not if you're going to try and be in any way consistent with the last decade of her portrayals. The other partner in this job, Killer Croc - that's arguable. I would say that most of the time he wouldn't kill a child, but his personality has always fluctuated along various states of the moral spectrum, the same as his physical appearance has - it's part of the makeup of the character. Although there have been times Croc's been a more sympathetic villain it's not his constant state, and I can accept that at the time "Hush" takes place his psyche could have shifted again into a raw evil, or a near-mindlessness. Poison Ivy isn't a child-killer though. Read "Batman/Poison Ivy", her role in the "No Man's Land" mega-crossover or the two-parter in Detective Comics #s 751 and 752 (yet to be reprinted in Trade form, I believe) for a better representation of the character. She will kill, but only for what she considers the greater good and only those she feels are guilty. Her pyschological state may be questionable at times, but she's not blatantly evil like the Joker or Mr. Zssazz, and money has not been a significant motivating factor since her earliest days. It doesn't end there - in flashbacks Thomas Wayne seems mishandled as well, although not so badly as some of the others. Catwoman comes off right though, once you're into the story and realize what's behind her initial actions. The Catwoman/Batman romantic angle though, feels contrived, not the way one would have hoped it would be when the books finally got around to opening that door wider.

Okay, with that out of the way, time to focus on some of the good aspects of the book. The story Loeb's created has a lot going for it, and even with the characterization hampering its flow (and too many convenient coincidences) it still manages to pick up some momentum and suspense - although this also seves to remind one of how overall great "Hush" could have been. Jim Lee's art is a high point, and he does a particularly great job in the chase and fight scenes that take place high over the city, on rooftops and using cable-guns, and captures the dynamic, fast-paced nature of such action to great success. His best drawn character is Killer Croc, who's just monsterous. The cover to 610 is awesome. Back on the writing side, a couple of unexpected cameos are very effectively woven into # 611, and are a welcome surpise.

So on a technical scale "Hush" has quite a bit going for it, but the twin banes (no pun intended) of falling so short of what it clearly could have been, and of the unfortunately inconsistent depictions of some of the DC Universe's best characters, add up to quite a disappointment. Batman books in general, books written by Jeph Loeb in general, and books drawn by Jim Lee in general, all surpass "Hush" by a nice margin. Oh well; not everything can be brilliant. At least there are the good points (like the art on Killer Croc and the really neat guest-appearances in 611) to keep it from tanking too badly.

Very nice illustrations.......2007-02-07

I bought this as a Christmas present for my son, who is a huge Batman fan. He really likes the book and says that the illustrations are great. He highly recommends this book to other Batman lovers.

Average customer rating:

Double the action
Twist and Turns
We learn some of the history of Hawk
The Young & The Jaded. Minors & Minorities Seethe in Stereotype City. Compulsion, Coercion, Connivance, Corruption.
hush money

Hush Money (Spenser Mysteries)
Robert B. Parker
Manufacturer: Berkley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425174018
Release Date: 2000-04-10

Amazon.com

Twenty-five years and 26 books into the Spenser series, Hush Money dishes up another solid installment that is sure to fulfill the cravings of Parker fans new and old. This time Spenser and his buddy Hawk are helping a couple of troubled friends (i.e., they're working without a fee). The first case involves the denial of tenure for Professor Robinson Nevins. While tenure meetings are always closed-door affairs, Nevins assumes that the recent suicide of graduate student Prentice Lamont (who some claim was having an affair with Nevins) ruined his chances for a coveted permanent position. Spenser and Hawk cut a brawl-strewn path through the members of the tenure committee on their way to the surprising truth of the Nevins case. The other investigation pits Spenser against the unknown stalker of K.C. Roth. Spenser's girlfriend, Susan, has known K.C. for a while, and while the PI finds Ms. Roth a bit melodramatic, he's always eager to help a damsel in distress. The only problem is that after he's apparently resolved the case, K.C. begins a little stalking of her own--of Spenser.

The book is driven by the controversies surrounding political correctness that Parker always loves to confront, and it's fun to watch Spenser struggle (a little) to resist K.C.'s advances. It's also a (slightly disturbed) pleasure to see Spenser and Hawk address some academic hypocrisy with their own special brand of reasoning. Not a mystery for the cozy-loving palette, Hush Money's literate, tough-guy dialogue shows why Parker is the rightful heir to the throne of Chandler. --Patrick O'Kelley

Amazon.com Audiobook Review

Sometimes a detective's life is all work for no pay. As a favor to his buddy Hawk, Spenser agrees to investigate a man unjustly denied tenure. Then Spenser's girlfriend, Susan, asks Spenser to help stop a stalker. Plenty of work, sure, but all done pro bono. "Two cases at a time. I thought about having 'Master Sleuth' added to my business cards." As the cases unfold, Spenser (and Hawk) charm and batter their way past policemen, stockbrokers, hit men, white supremacists, an unstable woman, and a stuffy tenure committee. Author Robert B. Parker tells a good story, but his real strength is in his dialog--the rhythm of which Burt Reynolds captures perfectly. A fantastic reader, Reynolds uses a wide range of voices and accents to bring Parker's characters to life. (Running time: 9 hours, 6 cassettes) --C.B. Delaney

Book Description

Spenser has his hands full when he takes on two cases at once. In the first, a high-minded university might be hiding a killer within a swamp of political correctness. And in the other, Spenser comes to the aid of a stalking victim, only to find himself the unwilling object of the woman's dangerous affection.

"One of the great series in the history of the American detective story!"--The New York Times

"Spenser can still punch, sleuth, and wisecrack with the best of them."--Publishers Weekly

Customer Reviews:

Double the action.......2007-08-19

Spenser takes on two cases in "Hush Money," both as favors and both free. First Hawk comes to him with a request to help out a man named Robinson Nevins, who believes he was denied tenure inappropriately. Apparently a rumor was started that Robinson was responsible for the suicide of a young man; the rumor being that they were romantically linked and when Robinson broke it off, the young man (Lamont Prentice) killed himself. When Spenser begins to investigate, however, he quickly uncovers evidence that not only was the death not a suicide, but also that Lamont was running a blackmail ring where he would threaten to out closeted homosexuals unless they paid.

Secondly, Susan asks Spenser to help a friend of hers - KC - who is being stalked. Spenser has to discover who is stalking KC while at the same time fending off her ever-increasingly obsessive advances.

Plenty of twists and turns make this quite a story. The despicable Amir Abdullah made for some great comedy relief at times - at least I got a lot of laughs out of him. I'm not certain he was meant to be funny, but I found him to be.

Twist and Turns.......2007-02-06

Very good book. Lots of action twists, moral turns, ethnic turns, action and a tidbit of the human side of Hawk. Typical Parker with multiple plots, subplots and a . . . motivated woman.

We learn some of the history of Hawk.......2006-10-08

While this Spenser novel follows the same formula as the others, there is one significant difference. In this one, we learn much more about the enigmatic Hawk. When he encounters a man that tried to sexually abuse him as a child, Hawk roughs him up, an action that puzzles Spenser. Hawk explains, describing some of the events of his youth and how he became a boxer. There is less wisecracking in this story as there is in some of the others, which is unfortunate. The best Spenser novels are those where he interacts with officers Quirk and Belsen, which seems to bring out the best in wisecracking repartee.
Spenser is once again the noble crusader, risking his life to help a friend, in this case Hawk. The man who took Hawk off the streets has a son who was denied tenure at a university. Believing it to have been unfair, the man denied tenure goes to Hawk, who goes to Spenser. This begins a trek into the undercurrents of gay life and the hypocrisy of so many of those who consider it a scourge of civilization. There is also a second plot line that has a woman very aggressively pursuing Spenser in an attempt to get him to engage in sex. Like the gallant man he is Spenser maneuvers the situation so that Susan is given the opportunity to deal with it. Which is does, in a manner that impresses Spenser.
This is not the best Spenser novel, parts of the plot are a bit too exaggerated. Nevertheless, it is very good, and is one that I will probably reread in a few years.

The Young & The Jaded. Minors & Minorities Seethe in Stereotype City. Compulsion, Coercion, Connivance, Corruption........2006-04-13

This one began with a smoothly captivating, yawning weather "report" brought to the reader through the ambiance of a baseball game singing over radio waves. Spenser was bemoaning the contrast of slower ages passed, when a sports announcer could linger leisurely around springtime baseball news, between sudden screams of stand-up-and-cheer, bat cracking action. But, that day, as Spenser narrated, the radio voice was sliding so fast through a long list of ads, the endless promotions threatened to overrun notice of ongoing fly-balls busting and bursting through air.

A few of the early chapters took off slowly, mesmerizing-ly, with Spenser's sensual briefs of weather reports giving lazy home-runs to the sleepy emergence of spring, as money was extorted subtly in underplots.

Loved the way Parker posed Spenser slipping into such a still mode of respect as to consciously quiet his breathing as Hawk opened an accounting of a childhood experience with one of the suspects who had triggered a brief loss of control in Hawk's steel-studded cool.

The dual cases in HUSH MONEY, one a favor for Hawk, the other a favor for Susan, were a switch from the usual focus on a single client case, which has been the deal in the 7 Spenser novels I've read, with each additional one making me more glad I have around 26 left to read, with Parker still penning posh. The alternation of cases was a tantalizing treat of contrasts, especially as I wondered if a connection might emerge between them, even though the way each was introduced would, in "reality" cause them to have no cross over, no bleeding through, as it were.

Well, except that in the real world serendipity and synchronicity exist. And in fiction there's always the Right Brain at work, which causes authors to slip in amazingly cohesive, subtle themes which they weren't aware of as they were writing, maybe weren't aware of after the book was published and selling for a few decades. Then a sneaky reviewer comes along and sees a shiny silk thread woven through the words, visible only after the activation of some type of predestined ray to The Spectrum of Light, brought into reality by a time-release "code" built into the Laws of Physics during Day Two of Implementation of The Plan of The Genius.

Okay, all right. This is a P.I. novel. It isn't sci fi. But. Physical Reality is. Sci fi. It's the best sci fi in the evolution of life. What I'm v-rooming and v-rooming and v-rooming to say is that two totally disconnected cases which a detective is working simultaneously, whether in fiction or in reality, might have Right Brain, serendipitous connections. And, I, of course, having written a series of sci fi novels, with a couple of stand alone sci fi mss in progress, have a brain which looks around every fictional word for clues to the glue which connects seemingly unrelated happen stances.

So. For a time in my reading of HUSH MONEY I admit to having wondered if a seemingly nice, quiet lady in the gay (was he?) professor's case may have actually been the stalker in the "rescue me" conniving female case.

Most readers expect that, in the world of The Novel (feel very free to read my review of James A. Michener's book of that title) sub plots will religiously cooperate toward a tied-together denouement, ultimately joining with the main plot in an ever twisting vine of cranial convolutions contrived within the mind of the author.

The main theme of this novel, under which all the machinations play, seems to be a dramatization of sexual variations among various levels of human purity and pollution, with these variations brought into a cross-stitching pattern laid over stereotypes and sub-cultural demands, with the saffron thread of hypocrisy overcoming all within a tight weave of labyrinth proportions.

It was amazing how Parker brought out the admirable and the putrid within multiple types of sexual exchanges among multifaceted characters. But, KC Roth took the cake of the conniving female. As Parker described her, she had so many layers of contrivances, if they were all peeled away, nothing would be left. And yet, Spenser found a simple, natural a way to "save" KC from her "rescue me" contrived cries. However, after that didn't last, Spenser had to call in Susan, the "Big Gun," who played a few extraordinarily delightful scenes in this one.

The reader is required to make do with only one cooking scene rearing a fry pan and pasta pot in HUSH MONEY, but what an entry! My menu of it would drool in describing, "Black Bean Linguine, with the beans olive-oil-sauteed with garlic cloves, laced with Sherry, finished with fresh cilantro."

Yep, "Leftovers R Us." Given his perpetual ability to take whatever ingredients are at hand and gourmet the heck out of them, Spenser began joking about his new catering business taking over his not having a single clue to chew.

Spenser again ran through his evolving ethics of "to kill (in cold blood but with `just cause') or not to kill." And he made no bones about Hawk's willingness to kill (without a license, sans cultural sanction) human vermin. As usual, creativity won, and Spenser found ways of less bloodletting to solve injustices and end problems, which sometimes required more than one application of solutions. With two cases to juggle in HUSH MONEY the plots became so convoluted I wasn't sure how/if they interconnected, except to make the point that race, color, creed, and sexual persuasions had nothing to do with a person being a pig, or human with integrity (I don't mean to denigrate the cleaner species).

Layers upon layers of excellent pig interviews exposed their stench so plainly the pages reeked (entertainingly, of course). With that setting established in stinky spades, when a real human being stepped into a session with Spenser the fresh air was so evident my eyes literally widened (and quit watering). I was hugely impressed that Tommy (David) Harmon seemed so absolutely real. I've met only a small number of people like him in my life. Every word of dialogue in that interview refreshingly set David aside and above, but one reply stood out. It was David's reply to Spenser's repeated ease-setting promise that, in his line of business he wouldn't get far if he blabbed heavy secrets divulged in an interview.

Spenser said: "I can avoid mentioning your name."

Harmon replied: "If I said it, I'm responsible for it."

Being responsible for everything one has ever blabbed or written, wow. Given my overboard spontaneity, and foot-in-mouth tendency, I've had some tough chewing eating certain words I've spewed without proper clues. Ohhhh. Myyyyyy.

I'll conclude by quoting my nephew Lonnie, with his adorable 5 years-old voice still speaking clearly in my mind nearly 40 years later. He had been spouting off at the mouth into my tape recorder for several minutes when he stopped suddenly, face glowing, and grinned around the words, "Shut my mouth."

Linda G. Shelnutt

hush money.......2005-08-30

Typical Spenser. witty, hard nosed, careing, and plenty of other characters to play off of. Keeps you turning the pages

Average customer rating:

BRILLIANT!
Great Mystery!
Glad I found this author
Page turning- attention getting- fast paced- thriller. Outstanding!
Wow!

Hush
Anne Frasier
Manufacturer: Onyx
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0451410319
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Book Description

Criminal profiler Ivy Dunlap is an expert at unraveling the psyches of the most dangerous men alive. She understands the killer instinct. But even Ivy has her limits. And the Madonna Murderer will test them...

"A deeply engrossing read, Hush delivers a creepy villain, a chilling plot, and two remarkable investigators." (Lisa Gardner)

Customer Reviews:

BRILLIANT!.......2007-05-04

I'm new to Anne Frasier and am beginning to wonder what I've been missing. Okay, I devour Minette Walters, Michael Connolley, Karin Slaughter, Ruth Rendell and Val McDermid novels the instant they're published. I ordered this Amazon paperback with limited expectations. But the plot and characters drive this narrative to heights I'd never expected from an "unknown." Forget Patricia Cornwell, Sandra Brown or Lisa Garnder, even. This author writes compelling thrillers. A lean thriller that keeps you flipping the pages at a furious pace in helpless fascination. Brisk character development enhances the narrative, and these aren't cardboard cutouts. Can readers ask for anything more?

Great Mystery!.......2007-01-02

Anne Frasier's novel "Hush" centers around a set of serial killings dubbed the Madonna Murders. Unwed mothers with newborn infants are stalked and both are murdered. At each scene, the killer leaves a snow globe that plays "Hush, Little Baby." Other than the snow globe, the killer leaves nothing behind and has the police baffled. That is until Ivy Dunlap turns up. Ivy was once an unwed single mother with a newborn baby boy. She was attack and her son murdered, though she managed to survive. She went into hiding and the police reported her as dead in the newspaper. Ivy decides that it is time to resurface and help the police catch the madman that killed her son.

This was my first encounter with Anne Frasier and I really enjoyed her work. The mystery element of this novel was well-developed, as were the characters. The crime, the Madonna Murders, was also very intriguing and engrossing. I had trouble putting this book down and was a little creeped out when I read this book at night (I was jumping at every little noise!). This novel was a quick read and one I really enjoyed. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good mystery.

Glad I found this author.......2006-10-01

I read my first Lisa Gardner book because of a little blurb on the cover saying that Tess Gerritsen said something good about it. I picked up Hush by Anne Frasier because of a quote on the cover by Lisa Gardner. If it's good enough for Lisa, it's good enough for me. I certainly wasn't disapointed. This was a great book with a truly twisted, sicko bad guy. Other reviewers mentioned that there was no wrap up to the book. I went and re- read the ending thinking I had missed something, because it seemed to me that all the loose ends had been taken care of. It seemed pretty clear what the futures of the main characters held. Anyway, this is the first Anne Frasier book I have read and it will not be the last. I loved it. Borders on being 5 star worthy. I'm kind of hoping we get to see Max Irving and Ivy Dunlap together again to solve another crime. Good job, Anne Frasier.

Page turning- attention getting- fast paced- thriller. Outstanding!.......2006-04-23

Anne Frasier's Hush is the best crime/thriller/suspense novel I've read in a long time. Very tight plot line. All questions are answered at the end, yet like real life not everything can be tied up pretty with a red ribbon. Some things are left open ended, but this talented author leads the reader so that they can definitely read between the lines and come up with their own satisfying solutions. The main characters are complex with the same problems real people have. I found myself relating to some of the same issues that Ivy and Max faced on an emotional level. Of course not on the same twisted psycho level! The Killer is not some cardboard cookie cutout bad guy, this guy has real issues! A very complex and frighting character, but one that at times evokes the readers sympathy. Of course he is really crazy and must be stopped! This is fiction, and fiction at it's best. It will keep you entertained until the very end. Some books just go on and on, blah blah blahing, but this storyline keeps jumping ahead and keeps the readers interest, not easy to do with so much on the bookshelves to choose from in this day and age. You will not be disappointed with Hush. I am currently ready Sleep Tight and that story is just as promising as Hush. Anne Frasier is a welcome and refreshing author to this genre! I will continue to buy and enjoy her novels.

Wow!.......2005-11-23

Ann Frasier does "grizzly" better than just about anyone. Her novel Hush is a study of the evil that lurks in the hearts and minds of the most depraved of those that live and walk among us. The frightening part is that evil often looks just like "everyman."

Ivy Dunlap is a criminal profiler living in Canada. She studies the psyches of the most evil killers alive. Her reason for choosing her profession are deeply personal and if known by the world, might mean her own death at the hands of someone who wants to finish some unfinished business.

The Chicago police need Ivy's help. It appears that a retired serial killer is back on the job. But in order to help the police, she must walk from the past she's lived in for sixteen years, into the present and relive her worst nightmare all over again.

And she must trust herself and her partner, Max Irving, Chief Homicide Detective. But Max doesn't believe Ivy is up to the job. How would he respond if he knew Ivy's secret?

Armchair Interviews says: Warning: Read Hush with the lights on and with someone you really know and trust. But then, do we really ever know anyone?

Average customer rating:

Hush little baby, don't say a word.
Hush little baby
Hush little baby
Hush Little Baby Review
The most wonderfull book ever made (a tie to julie of the wolves)

Hush Little Baby
Caroline B. Cooney
Manufacturer: Scholastic Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0590819747

Amazon.com

Kit Innes is surprised to see her airheaded ex-stepmother looking so rumpled and unkempt (if there was one thing Dusty always did well, it was accessorize). And she is startled when Dusty casually hands her a blanket-wrapped parcel in passing. But Kit is absolutely stunned when she unwraps the bundle to discover a wrinkly pink baby--and looks up to see Dusty driving away. Whose baby is it? And what is Kit supposed to do? When an ugly, savagely angry man pounds on her door and peers in her windows, things grow more sinister, and soon whirl totally out of control. Kit, her almost-boyfriend Rowen, and his sturdy little sister Muffin are flung into wild car chases, kidnappings, and face-offs with a menacing couple for whom the baby is a pawn in a complex criminal scheme.

Caroline Cooney, who is best known for engrossing psychological thrillers like The Face on the Milk Carton and Driver's Ed, with this book has written a furiously paced mystery that teens will not be able to put down. Intriguing situations and breathless escapes are layered one on another, until the action rockets to a satisfying conclusion with a roundup of the bad guys--as well as clean diapers, a warm blanket, and a bottle for the baby. --Patty Campbell

Customer Reviews:

Hush little baby, don't say a word........2007-02-26

Imagine you're standing on the front steps of your house, when your dad's ex-wife pulls up in the driveway and hands you a practically newborn baby boy. What would you do? In this fictional book, this is what happens to Kit on what seemed to be a normal day in the fall. Her ex-stepmother comes to Kit's dad's house and just hands her this precious baby boy, and drives off. Kit has no idea who's baby it is, and why Dusty gave it to her.
I think most of Caroline B. Cooney's other books were more interesting than this one. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense, and the feeling of never knowing what is happening next. I think teenagers would be most interested in this book. I generally like fiction books because of the randomness, and the anything-could-happen feeling, and this book definitely delivered on that. The style of writing left you hanging at the end of every chapter, which keeps you reading for hours at a time. Over all this was a very good book.

Hush little baby.......2006-11-17

"Hush little baby don't say a word", This book is about a baby that has been left to a girl named Kit. Kit had a stepmother that is called Dusty and Dusty left the baby with her. Dusty didn't want the baby and then she tried to run away or just leave so that Kit would start to worry. After that Dusty decided to come back and find her baby a new home and she did ,but the catch was that she was going to get paid a lot for giving Cinda and Burt her baby. Cinda and burt did not pay her what she was suppose to get and then took the baby back. Dusty was not suppose to this and Cinda and Burt then started to chase after her. All this led to was to a bad car chase and scamming.I really injoyed this book because it makes you think. Also it is really interesting at know what some mothers can do to their child. My favorite part was when Kit first found the baby and started to take pictures of the baby and her together. Later in the story Dusty wanted
to take back the baby. Could she take the baby back with her?
Read to find out!!!!

Hush little baby.......2006-11-17

Hush Little Baby Review.......2006-01-31

When Kit Inne's ex-stepmother Dusty gives her a baby and drives off, Kit assumes it's just like an unexpected babysitting job. As time passes she realizes Dusty isn't coming back any time soon, and a strange man is trying to take Sam the Baby away. Soon Kit gets herself into an adventure she never asked for. Kit, Rowen who is Kit's friend, and Rowen's little sister Muffin are all in one mystery of who should have Sam and whose baby he really is. The three are in a dangerous nighttime turmoil over an innocent baby that they are just trying to protect. Sam is snatched away from them, and it is up to the people who love Sam to bring him back safe, even if it puts their own lives in jeopardy.
The authors style of writing is fast paced, lacks detail, but very suspenseful. The whole book's time frame is a day and a night; this shows how the author writes not in a lot of detail, but rather lots of dialoge and action. The author would not describe how a brick wall looked, but rather how the car full of characters is going full speed at it. This story is not one to sit back, relax and read, but it works well if you love to be on the edge of your seat. I did not really enjoy this book, although I love action in books, I prefer them with more detail. This book lacks characters who you fully know, but who you are starting to like or dislike. If only this book was longer it could have been a whole lot better.

The most wonderfull book ever made (a tie to julie of the wolves).......2005-11-27

This book is wonderfully written.I was only in like second or third grade when I got it and I must warn you,even though I got it from my elementary school,it has a sort of inapropriat theme to it.I like it anyways though.I have read it many times and would happily read it again.My mom wants me to actually read somethin' else!It is about a teenager named Kit Innes.Her stupid idiot of a ex step-mom (Dusty) gives her baby to Kit and drives off.Ed is bad.He tries to break in.Muffin (Her cousin) helps out with Sam (thats what Kit calls the baby).Then it all ends up into a car chase and a fake atm scam.READ IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a wonderfull book and I hope you buy it and enjoy it for years and years to come.P.S. It is inapropriate for some kids.I can take that though.Highly recomended!!!

Average customer rating:

Love it!
Lyrical Magic
Sweet little story
Excelente!
A Favorite!

Hush! A Thai Lullaby
Minfong Ho
Manufacturer: Scholastic
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0531071669

Customer Reviews:

Love it!.......2007-09-04

My husband is from Thailand and we were having a hard time finding books that were for children with Thai themes. This was perfect. Our 1 year old son enjoys the colorful pages and the story is just the right length. I actually enjoy all childrens books by this author.

Lyrical Magic.......2007-06-11

The little ones I read this to absolutely delight in the gentle, rolling rhythms of Hush! It's become a pre-nap favorite in their house.

Sweet little story.......2007-03-09

I bought this book for my little grandbaby on his lst birthday .. I wanted to start building up his "library", and I found this title under a listing of Caldecott Award winners. The colors are wonderful, as are the graphics. The story is very sweet and something every parent can appreciate. I only wish this book was available in a more hard-bound format. I can see how little fingers can (and probably will) be too hard on the pages.

Excelente!.......2006-06-02

This is one of the few perfect books, perfect diction, few words as possible, using each word carefully and effectively to create a simple but strong story.

Not a book that is nice to have, but an indispensable necessary book. It's so special!

A Favorite!.......2006-06-01

Beautifully written and illustrated!

The mother hushes the animals in a lilting rhyme, as my 18 month old son likes to point out the little boy in the background who isn't actually sleeping! He laughs every page, especially at the finale, when all is peaceful except for the wide-eyed baby!

An added bonus is that my son now thinks it great to "Hush!" everyone when the situation calls for it! It keeps him quiet too! I will be purchasing her other book, "Peek...", as this one is my son's absolute favorite bedtime/naptime story!

Average customer rating:

Turning brass back into gold

Hush, Little Baby

Manufacturer: Amistad
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0060559934
Release Date: 2005-12-27

Book Description

Mama has errands to run, so it is up to Papa and big brother to stop baby sister from crying. And, as families familiar with this popular American lullaby know, they will try just about anything to convince baby to smile again.

Award-winning artist Brian Pinkney's version of the classic song is an exuberant and affectionate tribute to a father's unconditional love.

Customer Reviews:

Turning brass back into gold.......2006-11-16

Color me a discriminating Brian Pinkney fan. I've learned over the years that not every Pinkney creation that crosses my path is necessarily going to knock my socks off. To my mind, Brian Pinkney is an acquired taste. Like every great artist he has his highs and his lows, sometimes in the same season. In this particular year, 2006 to be precise, Mr. Pinkney came out with "Peggony-Po" (written by Andrea Davis Pinkney) and "Jackie's Bat" (by Marybeth Lorbiecki) as well as his own "Hush, Little Baby". "Peggony-Po", was fine for what it was while "Jackie's Bat" didn't get much press. "Hush, Little Baby", on the other hand, is a stand-out book with a remarkably light-hearted and cheery take on an old standard. You know the song, but you've never seen it presented quite as Pinkney's done here. Set, in his own words, alongside "a visual narrative of the day in the life of an African American family in the early 1900s", kids reading the book will enjoy watching this stay-at-home father almost literally bend over backwards to please his near inconsolable little girl.

The book opens with just the view of a front porch and a path leading down past a white fence. A boy on the porch tunes his guitar, and pretty soon it's a good thing he did. Mama is off for the day, dressed up in a yellow dress with matching hat and purse. Everyone waves goodbye, but the young daughter sitting in Papa's arms is obviously NOT happy with the situation. As it stands, Papa starts giving her little things like mockingbirds or rings or looking glasses. Then there's a dog named Pearl, a somewhat malevolent horse and cart, and last but not least an incredibly bright red fire truck. After the truck, Mama is home once more and the family sits on the porch (possibly to take a breather) as the returning mother picks up the song once more.

Here is what I like about Brian Pinkney; nothing is done on a lark. You might notice that the characters in this picture book are wearing fashions circa the early 20th century. His reasoning behind this setting was to place the song in "an unexpected context", of sorts. Unexpected but not unwelcome. The song actually works magnificently here. As for the words of the lullaby itself, I'm not entirely certain where Mr. Pinkney got them. He's kind enough to include sheet music for the song at the end of the story, replicating it as well on the book's back cover. And the music is credited as being arranged by one "David Wolff" but I don't know if Mr. Wolff was the one who created the fire truck line. It doesn't really matter, of course, since the song works perfectly within the context of a picture book.

And of course, the art is (as ever) remarkable. Having already established himself as the master of the scratchboard (I have a hard time coming up with ANYONE who could challenge his throne in that respect) this book is merely described on the publication page with, "Colored inks on clay board were used to prepare the full-color art." Which, to be frank, doesn't tell you anything at all. Over the years Mr. Pinkney's art has relaxed into a fluid, perpetually moving style. Left with a cranky toddler, Papa in this book is forever leaping, dancing, prancing, and swinging about in an effort to make his little daughter happy. His kids move about just as much, but you really have to credit the artist with finding new ways of presenting just three characters against an ever-changing background. The song lends itself to the ultimate fire-engine-related climax as well. I was doubly pleased to find that the mockingbird introduced in the very first line fo the song, crops up time and time again throughout the entire story. Both bird and "dog named Pearl" stay within the narrative and appear with the happy reunited family at the story's close.

There was a version of this song done with illustrations by Marla Frazee that gave a twinge of Appalachian desperation to the otherwise calming lullaby. For a bit of fun you might want to compare and contrast this book with Frazee's. Perhaps Mr. Pinkney's latest take on this classic song won't erase all the past books based on this tune you've read in your life, but it'll certainly remain one of the most memorable. Beautiful to look at, easy to sing, and a book that seems tailor made for storytimes everywhere, "Hush, Little Baby" is just a lovely little number that many a child will plead to hear again and again. My highest praise? This is now my favorite Brian Pinkney book. Top notch work all around.

Average customer rating:

Too cute
A fresh take on an old rhyme

Hush Little Digger
Ellen Olson-Brown
Manufacturer: Tricycle Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1582461600

Book Description

"Hush, little digger, don't say a word
Papa's gonna scoop you a pile of dirt.
And if that dirt starts to overflow
Papa's gonna find you a red backhoe."

There's rough and tumble fun to be had in the sandbox where a father and his little digger construct a larger-than-life world of dump trucks, backhoes, bulldozers, and more.

Customer Reviews:

Too cute.......2007-01-10

Our whole family loves this book. It is such a fun take on the traditional lullaby. My 2 year old boy loves it as well as my 6 year old girl and 8 year old boy. The rhymes are great and the pictures are so cute with lots of color. I would highly recommend this book for those of you with boys (only because it is a boy in the pictures) who love construction equipment and big trucks. I will buy this book again as a gift.

A fresh take on an old rhyme.......2006-04-07

This remake of "Hush Little Baby" is creative and the rhymes are surprising, never forced. My niece and several other kids I love ADORE this book and ask for it over and over. It nicely melds two major interests of young kids--rhythmic, repetitive text and big equipment! One of my recent favorites for reading (or singing) aloud.

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