"Janet Buck gives us a hilarious pastiche of a mystery novel, with romance and coming-of-age thrown in for extra body, the whole bound up with heart''s blood-the suffering of the young heroine-and with Buck''s own love of words and faith in words. Her faith in love above all." ISABEL NIRENBERG, EDITOR OF OFFCOURSE.ORG "Janet Buck handles the realities, emotions, and stigmas of living with a disability with authentic detail and description. First-hand knowledge is the key. Jack O''Connor, Samantha''s therapist, moves ever so gently into being the man in her life. Their dialogue is real, positive, and life affirming. Their relationship stands in sharp contrast, as a portrait in black and white, to a piercing, gruesome photo of Candace Stone, Samantha''s stepmother-evil itself personified. That picture is shot in shocking colour. With the world pressing on her shoulders, Samantha leads the ''good guys'' through the who, why and how of murder in the family. Janet Buck''s debut novel, Samantha Stone, is a fast-paced, steady, engaging read-you''ll have a hard time putting it down." JOHN HORVATH, EDITOR OF POETRYREPAIRS.COM "Janet Buck''s novel Samantha Stone is a romance, a murder mystery, an exploration of how a young woman learns to find a way of living past loneliness and disability into a promising future. Buck''s prose is luminous, and the well-plotted action of the book draws the reader on and on toward its compelling conclusion." SUSAN TERRIS, AUTHOR OF GHOST OF YESTERDAY "Family strife''s the theme. Survival is the game. Samantha is a young woman, disabled and enabled by physical tragedy and a home life that makes Mommie Dearest look like cute cartoons. Janet Buck''s debut novel is personal, poetic, and packed with both humour and suspense. Her witty and edgy dialogue is woven in like threads of perfect needlepoints. A strong-armed wresting match between good & evil, Samantha Stone is a must-read book for every generation." ALAN CATLIN, EDITOR OF MISFIT MAGAZINE