This illustrated guide compiles over 2,000 collective nouns and brings them to life in stunningly colorful, graphic artwork from the design dynamos at Woop Studios. Chock-full of treasures of the English language, the diversity of terms collected here covers topics from plants and animals (a parade of elephants, an embarrassment of pandas) to people and things (a pomposity of professors, an exultation of fireworks) and range from the familiar (a pride of lions) to the downright obscure (an ooze of amoebas). Pronunciations, definitions, etymologies, and historical anecdotes make this beautiful book an entertaining read, a standout reference, and a visual treat.
Frank and Joe Hardy can't resist an invitation to volunteer with the crew for a soccer match in Paris. They will be working at the same stadium where the World Cup was held a few years ago! From the moment the Hardys arrive, though, strange things start happening. Bleachers collapse during practice, fireworks are tampered with, and the stadium lighting system is sabotaged. The stadium -- and soon most of Paris -- is under attack.
Using her mobile phone-camera, Meaghan Wallace records the death scene of an underage Asian girl at the home of a wealthy Australian businessman. Before she's caught, she sends the digital video to a friend. When Meg is murdered, her boss hires P. I. Makedde Vanderwall to investigate. Mak seeks answers from the seedier sides of Sydney and Melbourne, including strippers, junkies, and a dominatrix named Serena. Moss reads the book herself, and while her reading is not flash and fireworks, it's intelligent storytelling delivered in a straightforward manner. Her voice is rich and pleasant, and she avoids overdoing characterizations. The fourth in Tara Moss's series about the gorgeous ex-model-forensic psychologist-private investigator is fast paced and fun.