Rating: 
Summary: Great Follow-Up to Mark Manning Series
Review: ...not by the mystery, but by all these glowing reviews! I thought the writing was tedious to the extreme, and the murderer was obvious before the murder even took place. Some of the characters were interesting, but the book itself was far, far too long.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm baffled...
Review: ...not by the mystery, but by all these glowing reviews! I thought the writing was tedious to the extreme, and the murderer was obvious before the murder even took place. Some of the characters were interesting, but the book itself was far, far too long.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting new series from Mr. Craft
Review: An interesting start of a new series with the main character a theatre director, introduced in his short novel "Rehearsing" Here Claire Gray, a renown Broadway theatre director comes to Palm Springs to build a theatre program at a new college for the arts built buy a billionaire software magnate geek (can you say Bill Gates anyone?) Anyway, Mr. Crofts skills at narration, story development and complexity are improving with every book. I truly enjoyed this new one since the emphasis was not strictly on gay characters but a healthy mix of gay and straight characters. in many ways the only flaw in the characterizations I found was that the lead character, a woman, is written more like a strong assertive gay man rather than a true woman.
Rating:
Summary: An interesting new series from Mr. Craft
Review: An interesting start of a new series with the main character a theatre director, introduced in his short novel "Rehearsing" Here Claire Gray, a renown Broadway theatre director comes to Palm Springs to build a theatre program at a new college for the arts built buy a billionaire software magnate geek (can you say Bill Gates anyone?) Anyway, Mr. Crofts skills at narration, story development and complexity are improving with every book. I truly enjoyed this new one since the emphasis was not strictly on gay characters but a healthy mix of gay and straight characters. in many ways the only flaw in the characterizations I found was that the lead character, a woman, is written more like a strong assertive gay man rather than a true woman.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful new direction
Review: As a devoted reader of Michael Craft's past books in the Mark Manning series, I must admit, I was skeptical of his intentions to go for a mainstream (straight) audience with this new one. Now, having read "Desert Autumn," I'm completely won over. Claire Gray is a delightful heroine, with depth and drive. Her sense of longing and search for self identity provide the perfect counterpoint to Craft's other hero. (And Claire's taste in men will be found appealing by readers on both sides of the fence!) The story itself is as good as any Craft has written, a little long maybe, but the author seems to be feeling his way in new terrain. Highly recommended. Let's hope this one brings Mr. Craft the much larger readership he deserves -- just so long as it doesn't spell the end of Mark Manning!
Rating:
Summary: Much more than pretty scenery
Review: As a resident of the desert southwest, I was first drawn to this book by its title. Although previously unfamiliar with this author, I'm now eager to catch up with his other books. In this new series, his use of the desert is not just a setting. The desert comes across more like a full fledged character in the mystery story. The main character, Claire, is someone I feel I know and care about and want to meet again. In fact, I sense that there's a lot of her in me and this is a feeling that many readers may share. The mystery plot is great, keeps you guessing til the end. That alone would put this book high on my list, but the poetic descriptions of the desert and of living there have made it a special favorite.
Rating:
Summary: This is an Excellent book! I can't wait for more!
Review: Claire is a very well known and respected theater director from New York. After a lot of pressure from a billionaire developer, she agreed to head the theater department at a new theatrical college near Palm Springs. Then, after only two weeks in the desert, a colleague's wife is found murdered. Claire, having directed murder scenes in theater, now has an urge to help solve this murder.Along the way, Claire meets Tanner, who was initially a suspect, and convinces him to enroll in the new college. Tanner, who is less than half her age, is very anxious to do just that. For an audition, Tanner recited a monologue from a play that Claire wrote. She was very moved. Then they took their relationship to a new level, with a little bump and grind. Claire works her way through several suspects, and does indeed finally solve the murders. Yes, there was a second murder. There was one person who could have put the pieces together and nailed the murderer sooner, but the murderer searched him out and killed him as well. I was shocked at who the murderer was. I had some suspicions, but was blinded by other possibilities. This was an excellent first book of a new series. I cannot wait for the next books to come out. I hope to hear more about Tanner, and look forward to hearing about Thad Quatrain as the school opens and classes begin.
Rating:
Summary: This is an Excellent book! I can't wait for more!
Review: Claire is a very well known and respected theater director from New York. After a lot of pressure from a billionaire developer, she agreed to head the theater department at a new theatrical college near Palm Springs. Then, after only two weeks in the desert, a colleague's wife is found murdered. Claire, having directed murder scenes in theater, now has an urge to help solve this murder. Along the way, Claire meets Tanner, who was initially a suspect, and convinces him to enroll in the new college. Tanner, who is less than half her age, is very anxious to do just that. For an audition, Tanner recited a monologue from a play that Claire wrote. She was very moved. Then they took their relationship to a new level, with a little bump and grind. Claire works her way through several suspects, and does indeed finally solve the murders. Yes, there was a second murder. There was one person who could have put the pieces together and nailed the murderer sooner, but the murderer searched him out and killed him as well. I was shocked at who the murderer was. I had some suspicions, but was blinded by other possibilities. This was an excellent first book of a new series. I cannot wait for the next books to come out. I hope to hear more about Tanner, and look forward to hearing about Thad Quatrain as the school opens and classes begin.
Rating:
Summary: Great Follow-Up to Mark Manning Series
Review: I wasn't expected to be drawn into this series, my being a loyal Mark Manning series fan. I was pleasantly suprised. I give credit to Michael Craft's ability to create wonderful characters. If you loved the Mark Manning series, come home to Claire Gray and get immersed in an enthralling cast of characters equally as mesmerizing as those in the Mark Manning series. Mark even guest stars in the 2nd novel in this series.
Rating:
Summary: I just wasn't sure...
Review: I've been a fan of the Mark Manning series for a while now. When it was announced that Mr. Craft's next work was not going to center on Manning, I was heartbroken, skeptical, worried that we'd never hear from him again. Then I read 'Desert Autumn.' Quickly. I had a hard time putting it down. Nancy Drew to Mark and Neil's Hardy Boys? I'm not sure it's even legal to put it that way, but there it is. And I'll say it again if you like. Bottom line: If you enjoy Craft's other works, you WILL enjoy this book.
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