by Jennifer Sturman

A mystery for anyone who has ever hated a friend's boyfriend. . . Rachel Benjamin and her friends aren't looking forward to Emma's wedding. The groom is a rat, and nobody can understand what Emma sees in him. So when he turns up dead in the morning of the ceremony, no one in the wedding party is all that upset. Not even Emma. Rachel, who had the good fortune to find Richard floating facedown in the pool, is feeling as if she's woken up in an Agatha Christie novel. It doesn't help that everyone around her seems to have a motive for murder. So, while the cops detain Emma's family and friends at her isolated Adirondacks compound for the weekend, Rachel, an investment banker by trade, makes like Miss Marple (minus the gray hair and sensible shoes) and does some digging of her own. Her investigation gets especially tricky when Peter Forrest, the too-good-to-be-true best man, turns out to be the number-one love interest and her number-one suspect. And Rachel can't help remembering the solemn pact she and her friends made back in college--a promise to rescue each other from bad relationships, using any means required. Has someone taken the pact too far?

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by Marianne Sturman

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into critical elements and ideas within classic works of literature. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. CliffsNotes on Don Quixote looks into the story of a man who seeks truth and justice with an internal vision so strong as to see through the illusion of external appearances. Following the journey of a gentle (and mad) knight, this study guide provides summaries and commentaries for each chapter within this popular — and long — novel. Other features that help you figure out this important work include Biographical sketch and background of the author, Cervantes Essays that explore the author's technique, style, and characterization Explanation and examples of the novel's themes of quixotism, truth and justice, and reality and fantasy Suggested discussion questions Bibliography and list of other works by Cervantes Classic literature or modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

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by Jennifer Sturman

Meeting the in-laws was the least of her problems...There's nothing like being the guest of honor at an engagement party to remind a person she has commitment issues, but Rachel Benjamin has finally put her neuroses behind her. A weekend with her fiance, Peter, and his parents will put her skills to the test, but she's confident they'll never guess how new she is to normal relationships.Then Rachel receives a cryptic message: her friend Hilary is missing. Hilary was last seen in the company of Igor "Iggie" Behrenz, a budding internet tycoon with strange fashion sense and even stranger secrets. Someone is orchestrating an elaborate scavenger hunt across San Francisco, dangling Hilary as the prize.Now Rachel has to track down her friend, which would be enough of a challenge if she weren't already busy proving how normal she is to her future in-laws. And when Rachel stumbles upon secrets all Peter's own, she wonders if maybe she declared victory over her neuroses too soon.

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by Marianne Sturman

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. CliffsNotes on Anna Karenina delves into the complex web of relationships in Tolstoy’s epic novel. As the characters unfold, this novel draws you into the lives of Karenin, Anna, and others as they struggle through the seemingly hopeless marriage patterns of urban society. Do romantic relationships make us stronger or weaker as individuals? With insights into the characters of Anna Karenina, as well as information about Tolstoy’s own life and background, this study guide will help you get the most out of this classic novel. Other features that help you study include A character list that reveals names, traits, and key relationships Summaries and commentaries on each chapter Critical essays In-depth character analyses Analysis of major themes Review questions and suggested writing topics Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

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by Marianne Sturman

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer a look into critical elements and ideas within classic works of literature. CliffsNotes on A Doll's House & Hedda Gabler takes you into Henrick Ibsen's dramatic plays, controversial theater productions that inflamed audience reactions in the nineteenth century. A Doll's House follows the story of a housewife who emerges from the confinement of her married life to confront the conditions of the outside world. Typical of Ibsen's dramas, Hedda Gabler portrays a depraved world in which women in particular submit to unsatisfying socially imposed roles. Summaries and expert commentaries cover each act within both plays; other features that help you figure out these important works include Life and background of the playwright Summary of Ibsen's most famous plays Analysis of the plays' structure, themes, and characters A complete list of Ibsen's drama Sample exam questions and essay topics Classic literature or modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

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by Marianne Sturman

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format. In CliffsNotes on War and Peace, you discover Leo Tolstoy's masterpiece -- an epic novel of Russian society in the early 19th century. The novel combines the personal stories of members of three prominent Russian families with the historical backdrop of Russia's war with France. Summaries and commentaries guide you through each chapter of the novel, and critical essays help you understand the structure, themes, and technical devices used in writing the novel. Other features that help you study include A section on the life and background of Leo Tolstoy Analyses of the major characters Review questions and essay topics Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure — you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

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by Jennifer Sturman

When everything's going right, it's a sure sign that things are about to go very, very wrong. Rachel Benjamin's life might look glamorous but she has worked into the early morning on more nights, canceled more weekend plans and slept in more Holiday Inns in small industrial towns than she cares to count. (Standard practice in the business of mergers and acquisitions.) And that picture of her on the recent cover of Fortune? It inspired a reprise of her grandmother's favorite lecture, the one titled "You don't want to be one of those career gals, do you?" (Other popular hits include "Have you met anyone nice?" and "I just want to go to a wedding before I die.") But this week Rachel's job is taking her to Boston, where in between work obligations she plans to squeeze in quality time with her promising new boyfriend. They've just hit the six-month mark and things are going so well, Rachel's not even worried anymore that she'll jinx it. There are just a few little problems: Her friend's been attacked and a serial killer is on the loose -- and the two might actually be related. Oh, and her promising new boyfriend? He seems to be squeezing in quality time with his new gazelle-like, model-material colleague . . . Now Rachel's making like Miss Marple again, trying to track down her friend's assailant -- not to mention get a clue about her relationship. When she stopped worrying about jinxing things, did she jinx everything?

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by Jennifer Sturman

Ever wished your boss would drop dead? Of course not. Well, not really. And neither had Rachel Benjamin--until she finds herself working for Wall Street terror Glenn Gallagher on his latest pet project. Rachel thinks the deal--and Glenn--are more than a little shady, but she has a promotion at stake. It's either keep her lips sealed or kiss her partnership goodbye. Or kill Glenn. (Just kidding!) At least she has Peter. Rachel's too-good-to-be-true fiancé has moved in, and while his stuff is everywhere and he's strangely jealous of her friendly new coworker, she's confident they'll figure things out. It would help if Glenn's killer schedule didn't have Rachel working around the clock. Really, the man must be stopped. Rachel's jokes about killing her boss don't seem so funny when Glenn is murdered. And it's even less laughable when she becomes the prime suspect. With the police hot on her very stylish heels, and the threat of an unflattering orange jumpsuit in her future, Rachel's learning the hard way to be careful what you wish for. She needs to catch the true killer quickly, before the killer catches her.

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