***Your favourite Scottish returns in brand new mystery in the Sunday Times bestselling series*** PRAISE FOR ALEX GRAY warm-hearted, atmospheric . . . with a very interesting twist' ANN CLEEVES 'An exciting procedural' SUNDAY TIMES 'Convincing Glaswegian atmosphere and superior writing' THE TIMES 'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH 'Move over Rebus' DAILY MAIL 'Relentless and intriguing' PETER MAY

***Discover your next reading obsession with Alex Gray's bestselling Scottish detective series*** Don't miss the latest from Alex Gray. ECHO OF THE DEAD is out in paperback in November 2022 and a new mystery, QUESTIONS FOR A DEAD MAN, is out in March 2023. Whether you've read them all or whether this is your first Lorimer novel, PITCH BLACK is perfect if you love Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE LORIMER SERIES: 'Warm-hearted, atmospheric' ANN CLEEVES 'Relentless and intriguing' PETER MAY 'Move over Rebus' DAILY MAIL 'Exciting, pacey, authentic' ANGELA MARSONS 'Superior writing' THE TIMES 'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH ___________________ When Chief Inspector Lorimer returns from his holiday on the island of Mull, he feels a welcome sense of calm. But it doesn't last long. Kelvin FC's new star midfielder is found brutally stabbed to death in his own home and, with his wife apprehended trying to leave the country, a seemingly straightforward new case begins. But the grisly murder of a referee after a Kelvin match throws light on some dark secrets at the ground. As lies emerge and tensions build, Lorimer knows there's a serial killer on the loose - one that's only beginning to show his true colours.

Your favourite Scottish detective returns in 2023 in an enthralling new mystery 'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH 'Move over Rebus' Daily Mail 'Exciting, pacy, authentic' ANGELA MARSONS HOW DO YOU SOLVE A MURDER, WHEN ALL YOU HAVE ARE QUESTIONS? ___________ When a prominent MSP goes missing, DSI William Lorimer wastes no time in investigating. Robert Truesdale was fronting the controversial campaign to legalise drugs in Scotland, and his enemies were numerous. With every passing day, the chances of finding him alive grow slimmer. Then the worst happens. A car bomb explodes in a nearby village, and the blackened body pulled from the wreckage appears to be Truesdale's. Yet there are details that don't add up and soon Lorimer is questioning whether the victim was all he claimed to be. Lorimer calls on the assistance of his friend, PC Daniel Kohi, who has infiltrated a local gang as part of a police initiative to crack down on drug-related crime in Glasgow. As their investigation draws them into the dark heart of Glasgow's criminal underworld, Lorimer and Kohi discover that danger is everywhere and nobody is as they seem. ___________ WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT ALEX GRAY "I have read every book in the Lorimer series and each one has been a pleasure" ***** "Alex Gray is a master storyteller" ***** "She never disappoints" ***** "I cannot wait for the next book" ***** "Her writing always keeps me engrossed" *****

***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES*** Whether you've read them all or whether you're discovering Alex Gray's bestselling series for the first time, BEFORE THE STORM will have you gripped until the final page. 'BEFORE THE STORM is classic Alex Gray - warm-hearted, atmospheric . . . with a very interesting twist' ANN CLEEVES 'An exciting procedural'SUNDAY TIMES 'Another brilliant Lorimer adventure' ***** Reader Review 'Exciting and unexpected, I hope it's not too long till the next one' ***** Reader Review 'Lorimer is up there with the best' ***** Reader Review 'Alex Gray returns with another belter' THE HERALD __________________ Your favourite Scottish detective is back with a brand new case, one that threatens to destroy everything. Inspector Daniel Kohi of the Zimbabwean police force returns home one night to find his worst nightmare has been realised. His family dead, his house destroyed, and in fear for his life, he is forced to flee the country he loves. Far away in Glasgow, DSI William Lorimer has his hands full. Christmas is approaching, the city is bustling, and whilst the homicide rate has been relatively low, something much darker is brewing. Counter-Terrorism have got wind of a plot, here in Lorimer's native city, to carry out an unspeakable atrocity on Christmas Eve. They need someone with local knowledge to help them root it out and who better than the head of the Scottish Major Incidents Team. But the investigation is complicated by a spate of local murders, and by the rumours that someone is passing information to criminal organisations from inside the police force. Soon Lorimer finds himself in desperate need of assistance. Then he meets an extraordinary man - a refugee from Zimbabwe whose investigative skills are a match for Lorimer's own . . . __________________ Readers love Alex Gray 'Relentless and intriguing' PETER MAY 'Move over Rebus' DAILY MAIL 'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH 'Alex Gray's great crime fiction series is one you can pick up at any stage and not feel lost . . complex, intriguing, tense' Reader review 'A fast-paced thriller with lots of twists and turns' Reader review 'Exciting, pacy, authentic' ANGELA MARSONS 'Convincing Glaswegian atmosphere and superior writing'THE TIMES 'This series just gets better and better and everything still feels fresh. Highly recommended' Reader review 'Lorimer is without doubt my favourite detective' Reader review 'I have read every book in the series and each one has been a pleasure.' Reader review 'Alex Gray is a master storyteller' Reader review

***Discover your next reading obsession with Alex Gray's Sunday Times bestselling Scottish detective series*** Don't miss the latest from Alex Gray. ECHO OF THE DEAD is out in paperback in November 2022 and a new mystery, QUESTIONS FOR A DEAD MAN, is out in March 2023. Whether you've read them all or whether this is your first Lorimer novel, Before the Storm is perfect if you love Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves 'Before the Storm is classic Alex Gray - warm-hearted, atmospheric . . . with a very interesting twist' ANN CLEEVES 'An exciting procedural' SUNDAY TIMES 'Another brilliant Lorimer adventure' ***** Reader Review 'Exciting and unexpected, I hope it's not too long till the next one' ***** Reader Review 'Lorimer is up there with the best' ***** Reader Review 'Alex Gray returns with another belter' THE HERALD _______________ Your favourite Scottish detective is back with a brand new case, one that threatens to destroy everything. Inspector Daniel Kohi of the Zimbabwean police force returns home one night to find his worst nightmare has been realised. His family dead, his house destroyed, and in fear for his life, he is forced to flee the country he loves. Far away in Glasgow, DSI William Lorimer has his hands full. Christmas is approaching, the city is bustling, and whilst the homicide rate has been relatively low, something much darker is brewing. Counter-Terrorism have got wind of a plot, here in Lorimer's native city, to carry out an unspeakable atrocity on Christmas Eve. They need someone with local knowledge to help them root it out and who better than the head of the Scottish Major Incidents Team. But the investigation is complicated by a spate of local murders, and by the rumours that someone is passing information to criminal organisations from inside the police force. Soon Lorimer finds himself in desperate need of assistance. Then he meets an extraordinary man - a refugee from Zimbabwe whose investigative skills are a match for Lorimer's own . . . __________________ PRAISE FOR THE WILLIAM LORIMER SERIES 'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH 'Move over Rebus' DAILY MAIL 'Relentless and intriguing' PETER MAY 'Convincing Glaswegian atmosphere and superior writing' THE TIMES

Your favourite Scottish detective returns in 2023 in an enthralling new mystery 'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH 'Move over Rebus' Daily Mail 'Exciting, pacy, authentic' ANGELA MARSONS HOW DO YOU SOLVE A MURDER, WHEN ALL YOU HAVE ARE QUESTIONS? ___________ When a prominent MSP goes missing, DSI William Lorimer wastes no time in investigating. Robert Truesdale was fronting the controversial campaign to legalise drugs in Scotland, and his enemies were numerous. With every passing day, the chances of finding him alive grow slimmer. Then the worst happens. A car bomb explodes in a nearby village, and the blackened body pulled from the wreckage appears to be Truesdale's. Yet there are details that don't add up and soon Lorimer is questioning whether the victim was all he claimed to be. Lorimer calls on the assistance of his friend, PC Daniel Kohi, who has infiltrated a local gang as part of a police initiative to crack down on drug-related crime in Glasgow. As their investigation draws them into the dark heart of Glasgow's criminal underworld, Lorimer and Kohi discover that danger is everywhere and nobody is as they seem. ___________ WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT ALEX GRAY "I have read every book in the Lorimer series and each one has been a pleasure" ***** "Alex Gray is a master storyteller" ***** "She never disappoints" ***** "I cannot wait for the next book" ***** "Her writing always keeps me engrossed" *****

***Discover your next reading obsession with Alex Gray's bestselling Scottish detective series*** Don't miss the latest from Alex Gray. ECHO OF THE DEAD is out in paperback in November 2022 and a new mystery, QUESTIONS FOR A DEAD MAN, is out in March 2023. Whether you've read them all or whether this is your first Lorimer novel, THE RIVERMAN is perfect if you love Ian Rankin, Val McDermid and Ann Cleeves WHAT THEY'RE SAYING ABOUT THE LORIMER SERIES: 'Warm-hearted, atmospheric' ANN CLEEVES 'Relentless and intriguing' PETER MAY 'Move over Rebus' DAILY MAIL 'Exciting, pacey, authentic' ANGELA MARSONS 'Superior writing' THE TIMES 'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' ALEXANDER MCCALL SMITH _______________ When the dead body of a man is fished out of Glasgow's River Clyde the morning after an office celebration, it looks like a case of accidental death. An anonymous telephone call and a forensic toxicology test, however, give DCI Lorimer reason to think otherwise. Probing deeper into the life and business of the deceased accountant, Duncan Forbes, a seemingly upright member of the community, Lorimer find only yet more unanswered questions. And when the firm's human resources manager is found dead in her riverside flat these questions become only more complex -- not to mention more disturbing. And Lorimer is having to cope not only with deceptions devised to hide the facts, but also with suspicions from those far closer to home . . .

***THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES*** ***Don't miss the latest from Alex Gray. Book 20 in the Lorimer series, QUESTIONS FOR A DEAD MAN, is out now and Book 21, OUT OF DARKNESS, is available to pre-order.*** Whether you've read them all or whether you're discovering Alex Gray's bestselling series for the first time, ECHO OF THE DEAD will have you gripped until the final page. 'Echo of the Dead will keep you guessing LIN ANDERSON 'Echo of the Dead is Alex Gray at her finest DOULGAS SKELTON 'An exciting procedural' SUNDAY TIMES 'Effortlessly charming, wholly engaging and cleverly plotted' IRISH INDEPENDENT 'A consistent delight, wonderful' ALEXANDER McCALL SMITH After a stressful winter, DSI William Lorimer is enjoying some time away from Glasgow. He and his new friend, Daniel Kohi, have retreated to the wilds of the Scottish Highlands to unwind. But what awaits them is far from a holiday. Despite its troubled history, the mountain village of Glencoe is now a popular resort, famed for its close-knit community, its breath-taking scenery and the warm welcome it offers weary travellers. So it's particularly shocking when two bodies are discovered in quick succession on the nearby peaks . . . With a potential serial killer on the loose, Lorimer's Major Incidents Team are drafted in from Glasgow. It's clear that a dark secret lurks beneath the wild beauty of this place. But will Lorimer manage to root it out before the killer strikes again? ____________ WHAT READERS SAY ABOUT ALEX GRAY "I have read every book in the Lorimer series and each one has been a pleasure" ***** "Alex Gray is a master storyteller" ***** "She never disappoints" ***** "I cannot wait for the next book" ***** "Her writing always keeps me engrossed" *****

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 16th British National Conference on Databases, BNCOD 16, held in Cardiff, Wales, UK, In July 1998.
The 11 revised full papers presented together with seven posters were carefully selected for inclusion in the book. The papers are organized in topical sections on middleware, life cycles, images, heterogenity, and languages.

When the body of a red-haired young man is washed up on the shore of the beautiful Isle of Mull, Detective Superintendent Lorimer's tranquil holiday away from the gritty streets of Glasgow is rudely interrupted. The body has been bound with twine in a ghoulishly unnatural position and strongly reminds Lorimer of another murder: a twenty year old Glasgow case that he failed to solve as a newly fledged detective constable and which has haunted him ever since. As local cop DI Stevie Crozier takes charge of the island murder investigation, Lorimer tries to avoid stepping on her toes. But as the similarities between the young man's death and his cold case grow more obvious, Lorimer realises that there could be a serial killer on the loose after all these years. As the action switches dramatically between the Mull murder and the Glasgow cold case twenty years earlier, Lorimer tries desperately to catch a cold-hearted killer. Has someone got away with murder for decades?

In the depths of a freezing winter, Glasgow finds itself at the mercy of not one, but two serial killers. This is Detective Inspector Lorimer's worst nightmare and beyond anything he's faced in his years on the force. Can he find a link between the brutal slaying of prostitutes in the back streets of the city and the methodical killing of several unconnected businessmen? When the latest victim turns out to be a prominent Scottish politician, the media's spotlight is shone on Lorimer's investigation. Psychologist and criminal profiler Solly Brightman is called in to help solve the cases, but his help may be futile as they realise that someone on the inside is leaking confidential police information. Meanwhile two killers haunt the snowy streets and Lorimer must act fast, before they strike again...Evoking the gritty truth of Glasgow like no other writer, Alex Gray has created in Lorimer the most dynamic Scottish detective since Rebus.

***THE MILLION-COPY BESTSELLING DETECTIVE SERIES*** Don't miss the thrilling new Lorimer novel from Alex Gray. WHEN SHADOWS FALL is available to pre-order now 'Immensely exciting and atmospheric' Alexander McCall Smith A murder on their doorstep A case that's too close to home . . . _________________________ The body of a young woman has been discovered in Bellahouston park, the second in a matter of months. It's clear to Detective Superintendent William Lorimer of Police Scotland that they have a repeat killer on their hands, who is sure to strike again. Lucky for DSI Lorimer that his wife, Maggie, is miles away from potential danger, touring Scotland to promote her first book. Faced with strangers at every event, Maggie doesn't notice the quiet, non-descript man sitting in the back row. But he has noticed Maggie Lorimer. And soon his will be a face she never forgets. Whether you've read them all, or whether you're coming to Alex Gray's much-loved Lorimer series for the very first time, this is the perfect, page-turning winter read if you love Ann Cleeves, Val McDermid or Ian Rankin. _________________________ ***PRAISE FOR ALEX GRAY*** 'Convincing Glaswegian atmosphere and superior writing' The Times 'One of the best is Alex Gray . . . highly recommended' Literary Review 'Brings Glasgow to life in the same way Rankin evokes Edinburgh' Daily Mail 'Move over Rebus' Daily Mirror 'Eerie, psychological and easy to delve into' Woman 'Exciting, pacy, authentic' Angela Marsons 'DSI Lorimer's a cop to rival Rankin's Rebus' Peterborough Telegraph

**THIS EDITION INCLUDES A BONUS SHORT STORY** 'Exciting, pacy, authentic with outstanding characterisation' ANGELA MARSONS When Dorothy Guildford is found stabbed to death in her home, all signs point to her husband, Peter. The forensic psychologist is convinced there's more to the case that meets the eye but Police Scotland are certain they have their man. While DC Kirsty Wilson searches for evidence that will put Peter away for good, she is shocked to discover a link with a vast human-trafficking operation that Detective Superintendent William Lorimer has been investigating for months. But before they can interrogate him, Peter is brutally attacked. With one person dead and another barely hanging on, the clock is ticking for DC Wilson and DSI Lorimer. And the stakes grow higher still when one of their own is kidnapped . . .

This unique series of paintings takes the viewer on a graphic, visionary journey through the physical, metaphysical, and spiritual anatomy of the self. From anatomically correct rendering of the body systems, Grey moves to the spiritual/energetic systems with such images as "Universal Mind Lattice," envisioning the sacred and esoteric symbolism of the body and the forces that define its living field of energy.

Includes essays on the significance of Grey's work by Ken Wilber, the eminent transpersonal psychologist, and by the noted New York art critic, Carlo McCormick.

When Kirsty Wilson lands a room in a luxury Glasgow flat owned by Swedish fellow student Eva Magnusson she can't believe her luck. But Kirsty's delight turns to terror when she finds the beautiful Swedish girl lying dead in their home and their male flatmate accused of her murder. Kirsty refuses to accept that he is guilty and, inspired by family friend Detective Superintendent Lorimer, sets out to clear his name. Meanwhile, Lorimer calls on trusted psychologist Solly Brightman to help unravel the truth behind the enigmatic Eva's life and death. But it is not long until another woman, bearing a marked resemblance to Eva, is brutally murdered. Horrified, Lorimer realises that Kirsty could be right. Is it possible that Glasgow's finest detective has put the wrong man behind bars? And is there a cold-blooded killer out there orchestrating the death of the next innocent victim? In this gripping read, Alex Gray sends her dynamic Scottish detective from the gritty heart of Glasgow to the snowy streets of Stockholm in his toughest case yet.

ART"Grey's vision of a flawed but perfectible mankind stands as an antidote to the cynicism and spiritual malaise prevalent in much contemporary art." The New York Times "Alex Grey's art will bring you face to face with your soul and move you to a new level of enlightenment." Deepak Chopra, author of The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success "Alex Grey is making some of the most beautifully refined imagist work in the country today." Walter Hopps, senior curator, Guggenheim Museum and Menil Collection"Grey's work, like all great transcendental art, is not merely symbolic or imaginary: it is a direct invitation to recognize and realize a deeper dimension of our very own being." Ken Wilber, author of The Simple Feeling of Being Every once in a great while an artist emerges who does more than simply reflect the social trends of the time. Such an artist is able to transcend established thinking and help us redefine ourselves and our world. Today, a growing number of art critics, philosophers, and spiritual seekers believe that they have found that vision in the art of Alex Grey. Grey's art leads us on a transformative journey through the opacity and darkness of the material world to the recovery of our divinely illumined core. Images of becoming, of existential pain, search and confusion, love, death, and transcendence are icons in the long corridors of Grey's creative odyssey. From his earliest self-portraits and paintings of skeletons, to his most recent universal beings gridded with fire and eyes, Grey brings us an ever-deepening visual contemplation on the nature of personal and transpersonal identity.Transfigurations is a continuation of the dialogue between body and soul begun in Grey'sfirst book Sacred Mirrors--one of the most successful art books of the 1990s. Transfigurations includes all of Grey's major works completed in the following decade, presented here in 202 color reproductions and 93 black-and-white images. These works include the masterful seven-paneled Buddhist altarpiece Nature of Mind; World Soul, a bronze sculpture of a divine being that symbolically encompasses all realms of consciousness; and Cosmic Christ, a vision of Christ that embraces all religions and the countless dimensions of the universe. An essay by renowned author and transpersonal psychologist Stephen Larsen provides a biographical sketch of the artist's creative process, struggling with his demons and glimpsing the light of the beyond within. Grey's early forays into dark, transgressive performance art and his later theophanic installations are all documented in a special twenty-page performance section. Art critic Donald Kuspit elucidates Grey's primary subject, mystical light, as it manifests through his unique approach to the human figure. A conversation between noted philosopher Ken Wilber and the artist explores the exciting possibilities of art serving as a vehicle for transformation. Albert Hofmann, the chemist who discovered LSD, writes the foreword that places Grey's work at the conjunction of science and mysticism. Grey's paintings offer the viewer unforgettable glimpses of transfiguration, as bodies become translucent to the light of Spirit, transparent to the ground of being. The occurrence of beholding and becoming "the light" is a phenomenon that is described in all religions and wisdom paths. Grey's "X-ray" visions show the complex interplay of the anatomical body andthe glowing subtle energies of the soul, unveiling the relationship between our finite self and infinite spirit. Grey's quest is toward an integrative art that visually unites body, mind, soul, and spirit and helps heal the alienation and fragmentation felt between the individual and the world. ALEX GREY is the author of Sacred Mirrors: The Visionary Art of Alex Grey and The Mission of Art. His work has been exhibited around the world, including at the New Museum and Stux Gallery in New York City, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, the Grand Palais in Paris, the Sao Paulo Biennial, and the ARK exhibition space in Tokyo. His art has also been featured in venues as diverse as album covers for the Beastie Boys, Nirvana, and Tool; Newsweek magazine; and the Discovery Channel. He lives in New York with his wife, artist Allyson Grey, and their daughter, actress Zena Grey.

ESPEJOS SAGRADOS

EL ARTE VIONARIO DE ALEX GREY

CON KEN WILBER Y CARLO MCCORMICK

"Los cuadros del Sr. Grey, tan detallados y anatomicamente precisos como un ilustracion medica, presentan al hombre como un ser arquetipico luchando por conseguir la unidad cosmica...La vision de Grey de la humanidad imperfecta pero perfeccionable es como un antidoto contra el cinismo y el malestar espiritual prevealente en mucho del arte contemporaneo."New York Times.,."es solo la curiosidad de Grey, su deseo de comprender la metaestructura cosmica de la humanidad, lo que le conduce al recuento rigurosamente detallado de lo tipicamente oculto."Artforum

"Su trabajo [el de Alex Grey] lo coloca dentro de un grupo muy pequeno de importantes artistas contemporaneos; a traves de su arte aspira alcanzar los tres reinos--desde el de la materia hasta el de la mente y el espiritu--dentro de un raro ideal."Ken Wilber

Esta serie unica de pinturas lleva al espectador a un viaje grafico y vionario a traves de la anatomia fisica y metafisica del ser. En su exploracion dentro de la naturaleza del hombre/mujer, Alex Grey retrata el sistema nervioso, el vascular, el esqueleto y demas sistemas corporales con un realismo desmenuzador y anatomicamente exacto. Despues pasa a los sistemas espirituales/energeticos con imagenes como el Entramado de la Mente Universal, visualizando el simbolismo esoterico y sagrado del cuerpo y las fuerzas que definen su campo de energia viviente. Los Espejos Sagrados, presentados aqui en su totalidad, han sido exhibidos por todo el mundo. Las figuras son de tamano natural y se enfrentan difectamente al espectador para conseguir, precisamente, el efecto de espejo: permaneciendo frente aellos el espectador puede "ver dentro" de si mismo. Ademas, Grey ha pintado los diferentes sistemas en un estado ideal y saludable para que puedan funcionar como ayuda en la curacion mediante visulizaciones o meditacion. Al retratar los diferentes sexos y razas, Espejos Sagrados tambien nos cuestiona sobre como nos vemos reflejados en dos demas.Los ensayos de Ken Wilber, eminente psicologo transpersonal, y del destacado critico de arte de Nueva York, Carlo McCormick, exploran el elemento espiritual del arte desde el punto de vista de la Filosofia Eterna y trazan el desarorollo del trabajo de Grey--incluyendo sus representaciones de arte--junto con el sendero del artista/chaman. Por su parte, el propio Grey explica la concepcion, construccion y simbolismo de Espejos Sagrados y otros cuadros (reproducidos en este libro) de su rico y variado trabajo, incluyendo Gaia: El Alma del Mundo, interpretado como el arbol o la membrana de la vida que toma parte en el continuo ciclo de nacimiento, susteno y muerte; y el Viaje del Sanador Herido, que describe el descenso chamanico, la desintegracion y tansmutacion del Ser.Fascinado desde la adolescencia con los temas de la mortalidad y la polaridad, Alex Grey ve en la anatomia humana un microcosmos de los muchos sistemas y niveles de orden en la naturaleza. El pintor paso vaiors anos en una escuela de medicina estudiando la anatomia humana con un interes especial en la interconexion del cuerpo con la mente y el espiritu. Su trabajo se ha exhibido en las Galerias Stux de Nueva York y Boston; en el New Museum de Nueva York; en el Museo de Arte de la Universidad de California en Santa Barbara; en la Exposicion de Arte Internacional de Chicago; en laGaleria Regional de Arte de Londres en Canada; en el Gran Palacio de Paris; en la Bienal de Sao Paulo, Brasil, y en numerosas otras exposiciones.

When three young women are discovered strangled and mutilated in a Glasgow park, it is up to DCI Lorimer to find their killer.

Frustrated by a lack of progress in the investigation, Lorimer is forced to enlist the services of Dr Solomon Brightman, psychologist and criminal profiler. Together they form an uneasy alliance. But when a homeless man is brought in for questioning the investigation takes a bizarre turn.

Soon Lorimer has to scratch the surface of the polished Glasgow art world and reveal the dark layers hidden beneath...

Ten years of visionary artwork from a rare artist embraced by critics, spiritual leaders, and the general public during his lifetime.
* Includes essays on Grey's work by the renowned art critic Donald Kuspit and by Stephen Larsen, author of "Fire in the Mind: The Authorized Biography of Joseph Campbell."
* The long-awaited follow-up to "Sacred Mirrors."
Every once in a great while an artist emerges who does more than simply reflect the social trends of the time. These artists are able to transcend established thinking and help us redefine ourselves and our world. Today, a growing number of art critics, philosophers, and spiritual seekers believe they have found that vision in the art of Alex Grey.
"Transfigurations" is the eagerly awaited follow-up to "Sacred Mirrors," one of the most successful art books of the 1990s. It includes all of Grey's major works completed in the past decade, including the masterful seven-paneled altarpiece "Nature of Mind," called "the grand climax of Grey's art" by Donald Kuspit. Grey's portrayals of human beings blend scientific exactitude with visionary depictions of universal life energy, leading us on the soul's journey from material world encasement to recovery of our divinely illuminated core.

This unique series of paintings takes the viewer on a graphic, visionary journey through the physical, metaphysical, and spiritual anatomy of the self. From anatomically correct rendering of the body systems, Grey moves to the spiritual/energetic systems with such images as "Universal Mind Lattice," envisioning the sacred and esoteric symbolism of the body and the forces that define its living field of energy.

Includes essays on the significance of Grey's work by Ken Wilber, the eminent transpersonal psychologist, and by the noted New York art critic, Carlo McCormick.

Eric Chalmers is one of the most popular teachers at Muirpark Secondary School in Glasgow. Gentle and kind, he is the person the students come to when they want to confide in someone. So when precocious teenager Julie Donaldson accuses Chalmers of rape, the school goes into shock.

How could a deeply religious family man like Chalmers do anything like that? With some students and teachers supporting Julie, and others standing by Chalmers, life at Muirpark is far from harmonious. And then things get much worse - Julie Donaldson goes missing, and the police are called in.

For DCI William Lorimer, this is the second missing persons case in a week. He's been having sleepless nights about a toddler who has been missing for several days - with each day, the likelihood of her being found alive diminishes.

Julie's disappearance adds a further burden to Lorimer's already overstretched workload. With hope fading, it becomes a breakneck race against time to find both missing girls.