K Is for Killer (Kinsey Millhone Mysteries)

Book Description

When Kinsey Millhone answers her office door late one night, she lets in more darkness than she realizes. Janice Kepler is a grieving mother who can't let the death of her beautiful daughter Lorna alone. The police agree that Lorna was murdered, but a suspect was never apprehended and the trail is now ten months cold. Kinsey pieces together Lorna's young life: a dull day job a the local water treatment plant spiced by sidelines in prostitution and pornography. She tangles with Lorna's friends: a local late-night DJ; a sweet, funny teenaged hooker; Lorna's sloppy landlord and his exotic wife. But to find out which one, if any, turned killer, Kinsey will have to inhabit a netherworld from which she may never return.

Customer Reviews:

Generally intriguing and entertaining detective story until the solution is revealed.......2007-07-11

As soon as I read her earliest books, Sue Grafton became one of my favorite writers of light, straight, credible detective fiction. She can be a terrific storyteller. After being badly disappointed by the skimpy, disorganized "G" and "H" stories, and buoyed by the more substantial "I" and (to a lesser extent) "J" book, I was looking forward to "K." When picking up "K," you have to wonder where the story can go, as Millhone herself admits: how in the world after all of this time is she going to be able to get to the bottom of a 10-month-old death with no clues?

I found much of the book fast-paced and engaging, with diligent, believable legwork. Certain characters and descriptions are interesting. Grafton creates two memorable and likable victims. She gives them characteristics and a lifestyle that make them intriguing and make the reader want to know more. The book avoids the pitfall of venturing into out-of-its-depth "social commentary"; aside from a few scattered acerbic or snide remarks about pornography, the book is remarkably matter-of-fact and clinical, unlike Melodie Johnson-Howe's regrettably amateurish, ludicrous treatment of the subject in "Beauty Dies." There is thus a lot of interest in the interrogations of people who knew the victims. The interviews are matter-of-fact and believable, but they are not terribly informative, and show how much the suspense and interest of the book is driven by making the main victim a girl-next-door-high-class hooker and would-be porn queen.

The twists in the plot that Millhone's investigation brings to light are generally believable (for example, one character's tampering with a crime scene and a jealous wife planting an item in a home). The "new" evidence she turns up is generally well-finessed to avoid the obvious question why the detailed police investigation fell flat.

But the book grows increasingly frustrating when it becomes clear that the routine interviews are all the book had to offer and that they are not adding up to much. By contrast to the victims, the suspects are poorly explored characters with no motives. A land developer is not introduced until late in the book, as a result of a fortuitous tape recording. The "community meeting" about the development is one of the sketchiest, lamest, most exaggerated, least believable descriptions in the book (Millhone supposedly "falling asleep" is a lame excuse for skimping on details). The crucial link between suspects is an awful, improbable gift clue of a photo (why would a killer choose to attack a victim when it would be impossible to thoroughly search the apartment for such items, much less let it be shot in the first place? What good did it do to "kill all the witnesses," a throwaway line explanation, if possibly and glaringly incriminating evidence was left behind?).

The payoff is a superficially (if at all) described land development scam with a pool electrocution killing on the side. Because the crime lacks intricacy and cleverness, the detection merely had to be, and is, serviceable and routine, if diligent, to uncover it. And, of course, it is assisted by plot contrivances like a hidden tape recorder, Berlyn's intervention, the photo, and the killer's attempt on Millhone's life. The last two of these are the most disappointing, but the story has too little payoff to offset any of them. The story also includes a regrettable and pointless coincidence (a "kinky sex" relationship between two victims) and depends on unexplained, implausible behavior (the killer blabbing supposedly ingenious murder plans to one of the victims). The melodramatic end scene where Millhone confronts the killer and is blasted with a stun gun, before the intercession of a "man in an overcoat," undermines her professionalism and is an abrupt, anticlimactic conclusion. The last-minute theme-type allusion to "returning from the darkness" of vengeance, tied to the book's leitmotif of "living in the darkness, in the night," is mere atmospherics, not meaningful substance.

The bottom line is that the highly charged premise and interesting, entertaining elements along the way come to precious little in the end. This holds the book's rating down to between three and four stars, which, among the later books up to "O" that are closest to it in quality, is better than "J," "O," and probably "M," but not as good as "N."

Despite the hurried ending, I enjoyed this one.......2007-06-08

I am an off and on again reader of Sue Grafton's alphabet mysteries. Eventually, I will get around to reading them all, but it is not on my priority list of author's or series.

That being said, I enjoyed this one. I thought the plot line led Kinsey to interesting people and places. As others have already noted, the ending is a bit forced. I understand why (Kinsey makes an ethical compromise that she would rather just gloss over) but it does not do much service to the reader.

I give this one a B+ and I would say that this one makes me more likely rather than less likely to pick up another one in this series.

A Guilty Delight.......2007-03-13

Ahh, Sue Grafton. My guilty pleasure of choice, because with her (usually) firm grip on characterization and plotting she crafts the best mystery series out there with her alphabet mysteries -- and one could scarcely call them a 'guilty' pleasure at all. Having just read three heavy, depressing novels in a row I found that I needed an escape. So what did I do? I picked up the next installment of P.I. Kinsey Millhone's adventures and found solace in her hometown of Santa Teresa, California in the 1980s. "K is for Killer" is a step up from the clunking "J is for Judgment", but unfortunately suffers from some problems of its own. While I am imminently satisfied with "K", I am a little nervous. "H" was a flat-out stinker, "J" was pretty flawed, and now "K" shows visible signs of strain in Grafton's usually tight grip on pacing and plotting -- with only the sterling "I is for Innocent" remaining on par with the earlier books in the series. You see, while Grafton's style usually has the plot delving right into the mystery at hand (she is not an author who likes to waste time -- which is one of the things I love about her), in "K" it feels forced and unrealistic. Kinsey is approached by a client, Janice Kepler, who wants her to investigate her daughter Lorna's mysterious death ten months earlier, late on a Sunday evening. By Monday morning Kinsey has not only plowed through the background information that Janice supplied her with, but spoken to not one but TWO of the people involved in the case. Kinsey's investigation moves at such a rapid clip that it becomes completely implausible. And in all of her questioning, only one potential suspect in the entire book seems reluctant to talk to her. One suspect is even willing to squeeze her in at a moment's notice even though he has an important annual meeting in a mere fifteen minutes. Now come on -- guilty or innocent, wouldn't he rather prep for the meeting than re-hash the details of a case he's been talking to the police about for ten months?

A lot of criticism has been lobbed at this book in recent reviews that Kinsey gets too unrealistically involved in the life of a young prostitute character, and I think this is only half true. She doesn't seem to get any more involved with this character than she does with other characters in other books, but her crazed devotion to the case is startlingly out of place, and makes it appear that way. And here lies the defining flaw of "K is for Killer": its plot is remarkably contrived for a Grafton novel. Kinsey even develops a curious -- and unexplained -- case of insomnia that allows her to keep working on the case at all hours and keep the plot moving (and how lucky for her that most of the suspects also work nights, so they are always available no matter how ridiculous the hour). Another all-too-convenient set-up has her randomly showing up at a suspect's house in the middle of the night for no apparent reason other than to stumble upon someone beating them half to death with a pipe. It might have been shocking if it hadn't been so predictable -- and there's a word I NEVER thought that I would associate with Grafton. The ending is also, frankly, ridiculous, and not because of who the killer turns out to be but because of how the final confrontation plays out and where it takes place. Ludicrous -- ANOTHER word I never thought I would associate with Grafton.

So, with all of that griping why am I giving "K" four stars instead of three? Perhaps a degree of it is loyalty to Grafton, but not much. Truth is that as flawed as "K" is it's still an enjoyable ride, and it was just what the doctor ordered. I wanted a guilty pleasure and I got one, and the only troubling factor here is that "H", "J", and "K" have amplified the 'guilty' half of that equation a little too much. I look forward to continuing through the series with "L is for Lawless", but I hope that Grafton manages to bring the pleasurable aspect of her books back to the forefront.
Grade: B-

K is for Killer.......2007-01-11

By far the worst of the Sue Grafton series to date. The ending of the book was rushed, as if the author decided she had 2 pages in which to finish this book, sensibly or not. No plausible motive was given, too many loose ends not tied up, and as one reviewer said earlier, Kinsey's relationship with Danielle is just not plausible. When at her best, Grafton is an amazing writer, her ability to set a scene with vivid descriptions a joy, but it just wasn't in evidence at the end of this book.

K is for Komatose and yes, I mean you, dear reader!.......2006-07-15

This book was a huge disappointment. Sue Grafton and Kinsey meander all over California but come up with nothing of substance. The author spent more time describing the decor of a hospital room than explaining the murder motive. The characters and their actions are bogus and contrived. For example, Kinsey becomes emotionally attached to a young prostitute she met two days before. It doesn't work because it isn't real. It is Sue Grafton bending her characters into grotesque positions as she tries to force a plot into this dull mess. The story makes little sense as we try to follow the seemingly interminable clues and innumerable side characters. When it was all over, I still didn't know why the murders had been committed.
Save your eyesight! Do not bother picking up this book.

Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI (St. Martin's True Crime Library)

Average customer rating:

A chilling, concise skeleton key to understanding serial murder
Whoever Fights Monsters
Awesome
Robert Ressler Book
Looking into an abyss

Whoever Fights Monsters: My Twenty Years Tracking Serial Killers for the FBI (St. Martin's True Crime Library)
Robert K. Ressler , and Thomas Schachtman
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312950446

Amazon.com

This book is an overview of the career of the FBI man who nearly single-handedly created the system for personality profiling of violent offenders. If there's a big-time multiple murderer from about 1950 until now who hasn't been interviewed by Robert Ressler, he probably refused the honor. Indispensable reading for serial killer mavens, and better written than John Douglas and Mark Olshaker's Mindhunter, this book is packed with fascinating details from dozens of cases: The killer John Joubert, for example, started his life of cruelty as a kid one day when he was riding his bike with a sharpened pencil in his hand. He rode up next to a little girl who was walking, and stabbed her in the back with the pencil. Ouch!

Book Description

Face-to-face with some of America's most terrifying killers, FBI veteran and ex-Army CID colonel Robert Ressler learned form then how to identify the unknown monsters who walk among us--and put them behind bars. Now the man who coined the phrase "serial killer" and advised Thomas Harris on The Silence of the Lambs shows how is able to track down some of today's most brutal murderers.Just as it happened in The Silence of the Lambs, Ressler used the evidence at a crime scene to put together a psychological profile of the killers. From the victims they choose, to the way they kill, to the often grotesque souvenirs they take with them--Ressler unlocks the identities of these vicious killers of the police to capture.And with his discovery that serial killers share certain violent behaviors, Ressler's gone behind prison walls to hear the bizarre first-hand stories countless convicted murderers. Getting inside the mind of a killer to understand how and why he kills, is one of the FBI's most effective ways of helping police bring in killers who are still at large.Join Ressler as he takes you on the hunt for toady's most dangerous psychopaths. It is a terrifying journey you will not forget.

Customer Reviews:

A chilling, concise skeleton key to understanding serial murder.......2007-07-12

In response to Michael J. Tresca's review, wherein he states:

"Alas, truth is stranger than fiction, and the tales Ressler tells are positively awful. There' just one problem: we've heard all of this before.

Where? That'd be "Mindhunter: Inside the FBI's Elite Serial Crime Unit," by John E. Douglas, a man I can only assume was Ressler's protégé. It's a bit murky as to their relationship (the two reference each other, but not often)."

...it should be noted that Mindhunter came out AFTER Ressler's book, not before.

Otherwise, much of his review is fine. I would note, though, that Ressler's book is far superior, and he is far more modest and measured than Douglas. Douglas makes himself the center of every story, often quite lovingly, and does an unsettling amount of grandstanding about his contributions. Ressler lets the stories speak for themselves and doesn't try to outshine his subjects in importance. I've also read that one of the killers Douglas claims to have interviewed angrily denied he ever spoke to him. Douglas's vanity makes him almost unbearable at times, and with the subject at hand, that can smack of being a bit mercenary and out of touch.

The stories Ressler tells about himself tend to be more interesting, too. For instance, he speaks of people mysteriously losing weight while working on cases, without seeming to change their diets or other habits. Frankly, the stories in this book are so distressing that I, too, experienced a sudden inexplicable weight loss after reading it. This is the kind of thing that is very hard to take.

Ressler dispenses this disturbing material very well. I've read more than a dozen books of this type, and Ressler's towers over the rest. I'd recommend anyone interested in the fascinating subjects of abnormal psychology and psychological profiling read this book first if they'd like a skeleton key to understanding aspects of human behavior so dark they can seem all but forever unfathomable.

Whoever Fights Monsters.......2007-06-27

Although written in 1992 this work outlines the evolution of the VICAP program from concept through to implementation. It provides a hands-on insight into law enforcement's commitment to track and categorise violent criminal behavior. An interesting read.

Awesome.......2006-05-20

This is a great book for understanding how criminal profiling works and the depth of depravity of compassion in a psychopath!

Robert Ressler Book.......2006-03-06

The book was fascinating. It gave a good insight into the origins of criminal profiling and leads the reader through a number of cases from Robert's career. A must read for people interested in abnormal psychology, forensics and profiling.

Looking into an abyss.......2006-02-23

I initially read this book when I was 19yrs old. For years I had read everything I could get my hands on regarding serial killers but none came close to this book. Now ten years later, I have yet to find a book on the subject that I thought did a more thorough job than this one. I was terrified reading it and found myself looking behind every corner and at every neighbor thinking he may be a serial killer!

I Have Lived in the Monster: Inside the Minds of the World's Most Notorious Serial Killers (St. Martin's True Crime Library)

Average customer rating:

Great Monster Book!
Trying to understand serial killers
Yes, Robert, you're good at what you do and we all know it
great cases - bad egos
101 Criminology

I Have Lived in the Monster: Inside the Minds of the World's Most Notorious Serial Killers (St. Martin's True Crime Library)
Robert K. Ressler , and Tom Shachtman
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 0312964293

Book Description

From their gruesome, body-strewn lairs, to the darkest regions of their twisted psyches, Robert K. Ressler shows you serial killers as you've never seen them before.In his phenomenally successful Whoever Fights Monsters, Robert K. Ressler examined his brilliant twenty-year career hunting down killers for the FBI. Now, delving deeper than ever before into the criminal mind, Ressler recounts his years since leaving the FBI, working as an independent criminal profiler on some of the most famous serial murder cases of our day.Ingeniously piecing together clues from crime scenes, along with killing patterns and methods, Ressler explains his role in assisting the investigations of such perplexing international cases as England's Wimbledon Common killing, the ABC Murders in South Africa, and the deadly gassing of Japan's subway. We're also witness to Ressler's fascinating, in-depth interviews with John Wayne Gacy, the first and last one America's most prolific serial killer would ever grant, plus a shockingly candid discussion with "cannibal killer" Jeffrey Dahmer.Daring to understand the depraved minds of serial killers, Robert K. Ressler returns from the deepest abyss with an unforgettable account that is as riveting as it is shocking.

Customer Reviews:

Great Monster Book!.......2007-09-16

This book was wonderfully put together, and creepy as well. I loved the accounts of the the criminal behavior. It provides insight to the actions of the monsters themselves. It was chilling, exciting, and sick!!

Trying to understand serial killers.......2007-01-27

This was a trip into the minds of some of the most dangerous people, who might be your neighbor, your co-worker or even a friend. Step into the shoes of these diabolical maniacs and explores their homicidal rampages. I thought it was well done and a must read for any serious criminal justice fan.

Yes, Robert, you're good at what you do and we all know it.......2006-09-05

Despite his braggadocio, the stories he tells are chilling, especially the ones about the South African serial killers (I had never heard of either of them) and information about the Aum Shinrikyo cult that I had not seen elsewhere. Aum Shinrikyo, if you don't remember, was responsible for the Tokyo subway gassing in 1995. Its leader appeared to be a Jim Jones in the making, and that was the least of his danger.

John Wayne Gacy was always just plain unlikable, but I always thought Jeffrey Dahmer was sort of a pitiable character and never was this reinforced more than in the chapter about him.

great cases - bad egos.......2006-08-05

This book explored a lot of different cases and included a lot of material you don't find in other forensic/crime books, such as the interview with Jeffrey Dhamer. However, Robert Ressler has a HUGE ego problem and seemed to spend a lot of time boasting about himself and his work, his overwhelmingly large picture on the front of this book is just a small comparison to whats inside. ;)

101 Criminology.......2004-01-02

This book has great basic information on the most notorious murderers. If you are an experienced reader, you will see alot of basic information, but if this is your 1,2 or 3 book on the subject I strongly recommend it! His interview with Jeffrey Dahmer and his information regarding Dahmer is unique.

Again Robert Ressler takes about 1/5 of the book talking about his carrer, and it is easy to skip a few pages because he goes on and on about his career without making a constructive point.
If he would reduce needles carrer information and stick to the facts, he would be in no doubts and incredible writer.

Book Description

Everybody has a dream. For aspiring actress Suzanne Reynolds, her dream ended in a gruesome encounter with eccentric New York artist Charles Yukl. Fooled by his choirboy looks, Reynolds had no idea the man who taught her the piano was a woman-hating recluse who spent his days lost in fantasies of perversion. As a result of the plea bargain for Suzanne?s brutal murder, Yukl soon gained his freedom due to a shocking series of legal errors -- and killed again.

A riveting dramatization of two horrific crimes and their aftermath, The Piano Teacher brilliantly portrays a madman set on fulfilling his own sadistic and homicidal dreams...and the flawed justice system that gave him the opportunities to do so.

Customer Reviews:

great buy.......2007-09-17

a great read I love every thing about amazon and the items they offer
thanks

A Decent Read - Interesting Offender Profile.......2007-07-18

THE PIANO TEACHER profiles the eccentric offender and two-time murderer, Charles Yukl. Raised by an unloving, punitive father, and a controlling mother, Yukl matured with deeply rooted feelings of inferiority, especially where his masculinity and sexuality were concerned. He managed to marry a strange woman, Enken, whom he met while attending college, but he later admitted during a psychiatric interview that during their 14 years of marriage, he and his wife had sex a total of approximately 10 times. Yukl was also quite fond of exposing himself to the unsuspecting students who came to his apartment for piano and voice lessons.

After murdering a young woman in 1966 and completing a rather short prison term, Yukl was paroled, having been described as a "model prisoner." Just 14 months after his release from prison, and still married to Enken, Yukl murdered again... unable to control his sadistic fantasies and murderous impulses.

The history of the offender is detailed and, in parts, riveting. Without spoiling any part of the story, I will state that Yukl implemented an elaborate group scam to bring young women to his apartment, settling upon a select few as potential victims. Two of these young women are lucky to be alive, having been out for the evening when Yukl made his final, fatal telephone contact with an unsuspecting woman who thought Yukl was a legitimate professional.

So, you may wonder, why only 3 stars? The author, a respected criminal trial attorney, is less than interesting when discussing himself. I found these portions of the book somewhat tedious and Tanenbaum's style of writing was, at times, arrogant. For example, on page 225, he writes: "I was attempting to design a mosaic: each piece in and of itself would not point inexorably to Yukl's guilt, but taken as a whole, my mosaic would relentlessly lead to the conclusion that Yukl was the killer." While I am not generally opposed to an author providing his or her impressions and observations of the murderer or describing his or her position as a key player, Tanenbaum managed to portray himself as a Know-It-All. (Perhaps he does know it all. However, he is less than humble and I am not fond of grandiose egos.)

In addition, the pace of the book slowed considerably following Yukl's second arrest for murder and ended rather anticlimactically with a plea to First Degree Murder. As a professional psychotherapist, I do not believe Yukl meets the criteria for Sociopathic Personality Disorder. However, he is or was a very sick individual lacking basic impulse control and rational judgment. Although Yukl often pleaded for psychiatric treatment, as if this could somehow have prevented another tragedy, Yukl fails to address the fact that he met with a psychotherapist WEEKLY for close to one year while on parole. Although part of him seemed to desire knowledge of himself and his impulses, he lied to his therapist on many, many occasions and did not once mention the cunning con he developed to lure young women to his home. As a rule, psychotherapy is not generally successful when patients skirt the truth.

In closing, Robert K. Tanenbaum has written many books. Having only read THE PIANO TEACHER, I cannot comment upon his total worth or talent as a writer. I speak only for myself when I say I probably will not read any other Tanenbaum books.

Okay...i guss.......2006-11-05

It is said a true story. We will never know what was in the killer's mind. And the author never attempt to guess either. Basically the author simply told us what happened. The book lacks of depth, in my opinion.

The Piano Teacher: The True Storay of a Psychotic Killer.......2002-10-11

Excellent writing. The author keeps you interested. By the end of the book I absolutely despised Charles Yukl. This is good reading for those who love true crime.

The Piano Teacher The True Story of a Psychotic Killer.......2000-05-02

I really enjoyed this book. It was intense, and very explainitory. It started with the terrible murder that happened in 1966 and the murder that happened after his parol in 1974. Then it went into Yukle's up bringing. It explained the lifestyles of his parents. They were both very good musicains. They taught Yukle music from a very young age and they were very strict with him. His mother was a perfectionist, and expected him to play every thing perfect. She would make him sit at the piano until he did. When his brother was born they weren't as strict with him. They let him do and be who he wanted. Soon his parents were divorced. He and his brother lived with their father and his new wife. He didn't see his mother for years after that. Yukle and his father weren't very close at all. His father was very cruel to him. He always made Charles feel unworthy. Yukle was a loner and kept to his music, the one thing he was very good at. His grades in school weren't that great except for music. He quit school to go into the army. He was still a loner there to. He was court marshalled and sent back home. He went back to school and met a young girl in band that he really liked. He moved to Chicago to go to school for photography. He felt like a different person behind the camera. Things didn't work out with the girl back home and soon he met his wife; she was one of two women that he was able to talk to, but he was never able to completly open up to her. It talks about the police reports and the events leading to his conviction. It was all very intresting. I like reading true stories rather than fictional, and this one kept me reading until the end.

Killer Whales: The Natural History and Genealogy of Orcinus Orca in British Columbia and Washington State (Updated Edition)

Average customer rating:

If you need to know about orcas...
Orca Researcher's Bible
Wonderful refrenece book
For anyone who loves whales.
For anyone who loves whales.

Killer Whales: The Natural History and Genealogy of Orcinus Orca in British Columbia and Washington State (Updated Edition)
John K. B. Ford , Graeme M. Ellis , and Kenneth C. Balcomb
Manufacturer: University of Washington Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0295979585

Book Description

Watching killer whales in the wild in British Columbia and Washington is a popular recreational activity. Nothing quite matches the thrill of witnessing a pod of these immense creatures cutting through the waters of Johnstone Strait or listening to their strident underwater calls to each other in their own dialect.

This new edition of this best-selling book presents updated results of over twenty-five years of killer whale research in British Columbia and Washington. Intended for both whale enthusiasts and researchers, it contains the latest information on killer whale natural history and presents a catalogue of close to 300 photographs of "resident" killer whales as well as a genealogical registry that enables readers to identify individual killer whales and their family groups. The technique of photographing the dorsal fin and grey saddle patch of whales has revolutionized the study of killer whales, allowing researchers to follow individuals over the course of many years.

Also new in this edition is the latest information on the status and future prospects of west coast killer whales -- how they may be affected by declining salmon stocks, high levels of toxic chemicals in their tissue, and increasing vessel traffic and underwater noise. Whale watchers will particularly appreciate revised suggestions and guidelines on how to view whales in the wild without disturbing them.

Customer Reviews:

If you need to know about orcas..........2002-12-30

This is an excellent book for anyone who is interested in orca whales. It has mass amounts of great information, it's easy to read, there are great photographs, and the ID catalogue of orcas is nothing but the best. This book is a must have for any whale-lover, researcher, or someone with just a general interest.

Orca Researcher's Bible.......2002-03-28

May I first say I have never encountered a better identification book then Killer Whales and Transients. Both books are written by THE wild orca authority in the Pacific Northwest. Catalouged pictures and organized information of each individual in every pod along the coast from WA to northern BC along with accurate info on feeding, behavioral and other habits of the pods in Puget Sound and British Columbia. Truly a great book, and as I plan on researching these animals in my adulthood, it has been a great boost to my knowledge on them.

Wonderful refrenece book.......2001-08-27

I just returned from a kayaking trip in the Johnston Straight just East of North Vancouver Island known as the inside passage. We had first hand views of the Orcas. This book was used as a reference manual to identify some of the whales. It has wonderful reference pictures of the known pods (families) in the area. It goes into great detail on their eating habits, language, and family history. It also explains their social behavior, and the differences between the pods. It is a wonderful book full of pictures, and details.

For anyone who loves whales........2001-03-07

This book, the second edition for Ellis, Balcomb and Ford, is a beautiful book for anyone interested in whales, their habitat and their behaviour. Focusing on the Orcas of the Pacific Northwest, this book details their lives from what they eat, to their social habits. It includes a wonderful photo chart of all the Northwest Orcas still alive when this book was published. It is a bit heavy reading, with many complex scientific terms. I would not reccommend for children, but if you know anyone with a facination with whales, this book will it into an obsession.

For anyone who loves whales........2001-03-07

The Forensic Mission: Investigate Forensic Science Through a Killer Mystery!

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The Forensic Mission: Investigate Forensic Science Through a Killer Mystery!
E. K. Hein
Manufacturer: Wiley
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0470078103

Book Description

Understanding forensics can be murder.

But not with this novel approach. The Forensic Mission will draw you into a suspenseful mystery while you delve into forensic science and its role in solving crimes. Investigating a string of homicides, you'll search for clues alongside detectives at crime scenes and process evidence alongside technicians in the crime lab. You'll consider aspects such as admissibility of evidence, blood spatter analysis, and more. Both an intriguing thriller and a forensics guidebook, The Forensic Mission:

Covers crime scene procedures, blood typing, DNA,fingerprints, ballistics, stages of decomposition,and more
Features recaps at the ends of many chapters withvocabulary and background information
Includes two appendixes of additional referencesand Web sites where you can explore chromatography,entomology, forensic pathology, gunshot wounds,and more

Product Description

A tale based on the true story of a killer whale. Winner of a Children's Choice Award from the International Reading Association and Children's Book Council.

Transients: Mammal-Hunting Killer Whales of British Columbia, Washington, and Southeastern Alaska

Average customer rating:

Excellent Book, highly recommended.
Mammal munching superstars

Transients: Mammal-Hunting Killer Whales of British Columbia, Washington, and Southeastern Alaska
John K. B. Ford , and Graeme M. Ellis
Manufacturer: University of Washington Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0295978171

Customer Reviews:

Excellent Book, highly recommended........2001-08-17

This is the best book available regarding the little-known and mysterious transient orcas. In addition to having a detail catolgue of each transient whale in B.C waters, the book analysis and discuss the distinct behaviour and hunting styles of the transients, which are completely different from the salmon-eating resident killer whales.

Futhermore, there are numerous rare and spectacualr photos showing transients launching into the air and attacking their preys. This shows why Killer Whales are called "killers". For while these whales do not attack or eat man, they are highly efficient predators, no marine mammal is safe from transient whales. Read this book and you will understand why.

Mammal munching superstars.......2000-07-23

This is the definitive source for information on the transient or mammal hunting race of killer whales of the U.S. Pacific Northwest. If you are serious about learning what there is to know about these fascinating superpredators-this is THE book to buy. I am a naturalist on a whale watch boat in the San Juan Islands and we use this book constantly to inform our guests about the "alter egos" of our salmon eating Resident Orcas. Fabulous pictures and incredible stories.

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K De Kinsey / K Is for Killer
Sue Grafton
Manufacturer: Tusquets
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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