Shattered Silk

Rating:
Summary: It truly is one of her best!
Review: After reading the reviews here on Amazon, I was intrigued. I found many similarities between myself and with the author and her characters in the book and outside: The character is a small business owner in the vast DC-Land area. Looking for any area to settle and profit in, mentioning locations and suggestions was amazing. So was the story, by the way! I could so relate to the main character--Ms Michaels sounds like she put a lot of herself and her feelings and interests in this book. The story is about a woman who is dumped by her husband. What to do after being the dutiful wife for so many years? And why was she dumped? She explores the meaning of it all, and rather busily are explorations of friendship and respect, love and deliciously descriptive tales of old clothing. My grammar is horrible, but I hope you get the picture. Its good. Its great! I was very impressed. For those of you exploring similar "quality" Michaels, I suggest Vanish with the Rose, the Wizards Daughter, Buried in the Rain, the Dancing Floor. DO NOT trouble yourself with that new-ish one, the Other Worlds or whatever it is.

Rating:
Summary: This is my favorite Barbara Michaels.
Review: Barbara Michaels books are like peanuts, you can't stop once you start, but Shattered Silk is still the best. Michaels attention to detail when dealing with antique clothing just adds to the delightful story. However, the best element of this book is her character development. I was delighted to become reacquainted with some characters from previous books. It was like getting a letter from a friend I haven't heard from in a long time.

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Summary: always keeps you guessing...not very easy to do these days
Review: Barbara Michaels has the unique ability to inject humor and suspense into a story. The suspense keeps you reading and the humor helps you get there.

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Summary: Sheer silken delight
Review: Barbara Michaels is at her best in this enjoyable mystery, weaving together all the elements that have made her novels in both pseudonyms so very popular.

The book opens as Karen Nevitt arrives at her Georgetown uncle and aunt's house, as they are leaving on vacation. Karen has just been dumped by her husband of ten years, who is marrying his svelte, efficient, pretty teenage secretary. Karen, who is twenty nine, somewhat overweight, and has been stuck in a doormat routine for many years, feels ashamed to meet the friends (and former boyfriends) who are still in Georgetown. She tries to avoid her old boyfriend Mark (who warned her against marrying her husband), but ends up befriending his sister Cheryl.

She takes a small job looking after a friend's antique shop, but soon becomes sucked into the world of vintage clothing. A distant relative allows her to purchase an assortment of old valuable dresses, and soon old ladies are selling their dresses, veils, and slips to Karen. Soon she and Cheryl are starting their own business, with some very rare items. Additionally, Mark and a handsome cop are both becoming quite attentive.

But someone is after an item among Karen's newly-bought things. One of the crumpled old dresses hides more than mold and dust, a secret that someone is willing to kill to keep hidden.

This book is enjoyable on levels other than just a ripping good murder mystery. It also shows Karen's evolution from a dull housewife with low self-esteem and a stagnant marriage, to an independent woman with newly-found courage and a rising business. Her relationship with her husband starkly contrasts with Mark's, as one is mindless and unemotional and the other is smart and respectful. It can also be seen as Karen's evolution into a more assured person, as she learns to "fight back."

Karen and Cheryl are excellent foils for each other, with enough similarities to make then sisters in all but blood, but different enough that they are not redundant. Mark is vintage Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels: Funny, sweet, sexy, attractive, with just enough crabbiness to make him real. There are also the two socialites, snotty Shreve and dead-eyed Miriam. A couple of creepy widows. And, of course, the rotten little dog Alexander who takes a bite out of any available legs.

This is an immensely enjoyable book, one of my favorite mysteries. I strongly urge anyone to read it.

Rating:
Summary: I've read it four times.
Review: I am always reading at least two books at one time, because I don't want a book I really love to end unless I'm in the middle of another book I like just as much. My OTHER book just sat there. I couldn't stop reading Shattered Silk.

Rating:
Summary: Nothing But Fun
Review: I am always reading at least two books at one time, because I don't want a book I really love to end unless I'm in the middle of another book I like just as much. My OTHER book just sat there. I couldn't stop reading Shattered Silk.

Rating:
Summary: One of my All time favorites
Review: I have listened to the unabridged audio version read by Pat Starr at least 20 times. I love the way each time I get sucked into the world of vintage clothing, the characters and their problems and just in general the air of excitement and intrigue. This is one of the best books that I have ever "read" Storytelling at its best.

Rating:
Summary: One of the best and Pat Starr reading is a dream
Review: I have read several of Michael's books but this is my favorite I can read or listen to it again and again. Pat Starr's voice has a way of transporting the reader.

Rating:
Summary: Simply Stupid
Review: I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with the rest of the reviewers.
I found this book ridiculous drivel, forced myself to finish. I really can't find one good thing to say about it, it was just too dumb. I am a great fan of mysteries and romance, this tried to be both and failed in both cases. I'm glad the library is close and I didn't waste money on this.

Rating:
Summary: Romantic Suspense by the Master
Review: Perhaps my favorite thing about Barbara Michaels (aka Elizabeth Peters) is her ability to teach as she entertains. She's so sly about this, readers barely realize they are getting mini-lessons with each book. In the instance of "Shattered Silk" we learn about vintage clothing. And the lesson is so entertaining and interesting, we're more likely to soak up the info than if someone handed us a text reference. While Karen Nevitt is house-sitting for her aunt and uncle in Georgetown (and recooping from her broken marriage) she goes to work for an old not-quite-so- friendly friend at an antique shop. Her imagination comes to life in this setting, and knowing her aunt and her aunt's friends have a wealth of vintage clothing, begins to toss around the idea of establishing a shop of her own. And in the midst of acquiring merchandise, she also acquires something of unimaginable importance to someone, and this person will stop at nothing to get it back. The suspense keeps building to an unexpected ending, and with this cast of characters, you're never short on suspects. (On another note: if you've read Michael's "Ammie, Come Home" or "Stitches in Time" you'll recognize some familiar characters. Read "Ammie" the "Shattered" then "Stitches". And could it be that the young man from "Shattered" who goes with Mrs. Mac to Borneo be one of the main characters in "Stitches"?)