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High Life, Low Life Level 4
Award-winning original fiction for learners of English. At seven levels, from Starter to Advanced, this impressive selection of carefully graded readers offers exciting reading for every student's capabilities. A story of jealousy, estrangement and murder. Private Investigator Nathan Marley is hired by a homeless woman to find her missing son. At the same time Marley embarks on a strange relationship with a rich eccentric widow. The poorest and richest of New York are brought together in this thriller from the American detective series. Paperback-only version. Also available with Audio CDs including complete text recordings from the book.
79 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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558 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
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November 23, 2009I read High Life Low Life by Alan Battersby. This book is about a private investigator,Nat Marley, and his tries to solve all problems that he had encountered. He knows the woman, an homeless and old, since he worked New York Police Department. The woman has an heart attack while they are talking. He saves her life but she is no good. She has a last desire from Nat regarding she hadn't seen her son for twenty years. He finds her son before her mother died. Also, this life saves publishes inside page of the Daily News. So a very old and rich woman, Mrs. Wittaker, sends him a letter for seeing her. Her demand is left all of her wealth to Nat. Because when she saw him in the Daily news, she assimilates Nat to his dead husband Tom. She makes a will about that by help of a lawyer. She has a son and a daughter, but they rarely visit her. She suddenly dies and Nat suspects from her maid Martha because she left home with Mrs. Wittaker's credit cards, check book and the other valuable stuffs.
When my friend suggested me to read Cambrigde or Oxford books, I read them. They have really good stories as this book has. It is a readable book. I liked the book's main character's stubborn to reach a result. He evaluates all clues to solve the events.it is really affective.as long as i read this book i imagined myself as a policewomen to try to solve allthings.it really influenced me.in addition that this book is logical.all events could have been true.there is nothing absurd. It is also important that he worked at the police department before his new job.
When my friend suggested me to read Cambrigde or Oxford books, I read them. They have really good stories as this book has. It is a readable book. I liked the book's main character's stubborn to reach a result. He evaluates all clues to solve the events.it is really affective.as long as i read this book i imagined myself as a policewomen to try to solve allthings.it really influenced me.in addition that this book is logical.all events could have been true.there is nothing absurd. It is also important that he worked at the police department before his new job.
September 11, 2009
#1- 1->51 pages.
When I read the book, Annie Clayton reminded me about the man i met when i was a child. He was a homeless, but he had family, only he didn't like to live with them. My grandma told me about his life. He was a businessman, but his business was not good, he was broke and became got mad. He went everywhere and begged people food ad clothes. After few years, i didn't see him anymore. so I though he was died.
#14
I think the author wrote this story to makes the reader understanding about the life of poor people and rich people. She got the ideas for this story at New York, where you can see clearly the life of both. The author wants to tell us that the life has many angle, so never compare your life with someone.
# 10-p.80 (Sep 10th, 2009)
The truth of the story for a long time. I had thought that why does the author write the story about two woman who don't know each other. However, i read whole the story and i understand why. They got married with a man, but their life are so different. One of them lives in the street, and the other lives in the department. However, their children had same problem about their father. After that, the know each other after their mother die and create a house for homeless. This is a happy ending for everyone.
#9 (Sep 10th, 2009)
If I could ask the character, i would ask Martha. I would ask that does she kill this woman. Her action makes the reader have to thinking about that. I can understand the story, but I can't understand Martha. Maybe, this is the reason that makes he story appealing. About the author, i would ask she/he that why did you write a good story like that. Actually, I don't like to read book. I just read some books that like mystery or about the Ghost, and detective. The first time i saw this book, I didn't impress about it, i just though that " Try it" and now, I like it so much.
When I read the book, Annie Clayton reminded me about the man i met when i was a child. He was a homeless, but he had family, only he didn't like to live with them. My grandma told me about his life. He was a businessman, but his business was not good, he was broke and became got mad. He went everywhere and begged people food ad clothes. After few years, i didn't see him anymore. so I though he was died.
#14
I think the author wrote this story to makes the reader understanding about the life of poor people and rich people. She got the ideas for this story at New York, where you can see clearly the life of both. The author wants to tell us that the life has many angle, so never compare your life with someone.
# 10-p.80 (Sep 10th, 2009)
The truth of the story for a long time. I had thought that why does the author write the story about two woman who don't know each other. However, i read whole the story and i understand why. They got married with a man, but their life are so different. One of them lives in the street, and the other lives in the department. However, their children had same problem about their father. After that, the know each other after their mother die and create a house for homeless. This is a happy ending for everyone.
#9 (Sep 10th, 2009)
If I could ask the character, i would ask Martha. I would ask that does she kill this woman. Her action makes the reader have to thinking about that. I can understand the story, but I can't understand Martha. Maybe, this is the reason that makes he story appealing. About the author, i would ask she/he that why did you write a good story like that. Actually, I don't like to read book. I just read some books that like mystery or about the Ghost, and detective. The first time i saw this book, I didn't impress about it, i just though that " Try it" and now, I like it so much.
April 30, 2019
Not as good as the other Nat Marley I read, but still pretty good.
December 24, 2021
Leído para el 4to año de ingles.
La historia cuenta una nueva misión para el detective privado Nat Marley, ex paticipe del NYPD. En esta ocasión, cuando un día común y corriente se dirige a su trabajo, se encuentra con Annie, una vieja conocida que es indigente en las calles de Nueva York, y ésta sufre un ataque de miocardio en el camino.
Al llamar a la ambulancia, es trasladada al hospital, y una vez allí, ella sabe que no tiene demasiado tiempo de vida, por lo que tiene un último deseo: que Nat encuentre a su hijo Jackie con quien no ha tenido contacto en años luego de que hubiese sido enviado a la carcel. Él promete hacerlo, pero la búsqueda resulta ser más costosa de lo que parecía cuando al día siguiente recibe una llamada teléfonica por parte de Joanne Wittaker, una viuda rica que luego de ver en el diario que Nat le ha salvado la vida a Annie decide invitarle a su casa.
Al conocerse, ella le pide que busque una abogada para organizar la herencia y a quién será dirigida.
El verdadero problema surge cuando la viuda se empecina en dejarle a él todo su dinero sin importarle nada más y al poco tiempo es hallada muerta.
Es así que la vida de dos mujeres se ve conectada por el detective, una perteneciente a una vida buena y alta, mientras la otra a una mala y baja.
Aunque la novela es entretenida, me esperaba más suspenso y no que fuera tan predecible. No me quejo de los personajes ni parecido siendo que tiene apenas 79 páginas, sus relaciones son frescas y siento que está bien representada la cotidianeidad en la novela. Pero el caso en sí creo que podría haber sido un poco mejor o se le podría haber dedicado un poco más de duración y desarrollo.
La historia cuenta una nueva misión para el detective privado Nat Marley, ex paticipe del NYPD. En esta ocasión, cuando un día común y corriente se dirige a su trabajo, se encuentra con Annie, una vieja conocida que es indigente en las calles de Nueva York, y ésta sufre un ataque de miocardio en el camino.
Al llamar a la ambulancia, es trasladada al hospital, y una vez allí, ella sabe que no tiene demasiado tiempo de vida, por lo que tiene un último deseo: que Nat encuentre a su hijo Jackie con quien no ha tenido contacto en años luego de que hubiese sido enviado a la carcel. Él promete hacerlo, pero la búsqueda resulta ser más costosa de lo que parecía cuando al día siguiente recibe una llamada teléfonica por parte de Joanne Wittaker, una viuda rica que luego de ver en el diario que Nat le ha salvado la vida a Annie decide invitarle a su casa.
Al conocerse, ella le pide que busque una abogada para organizar la herencia y a quién será dirigida.
El verdadero problema surge cuando la viuda se empecina en dejarle a él todo su dinero sin importarle nada más y al poco tiempo es hallada muerta.
Es así que la vida de dos mujeres se ve conectada por el detective, una perteneciente a una vida buena y alta, mientras la otra a una mala y baja.
Aunque la novela es entretenida, me esperaba más suspenso y no que fuera tan predecible. No me quejo de los personajes ni parecido siendo que tiene apenas 79 páginas, sus relaciones son frescas y siento que está bien representada la cotidianeidad en la novela. Pero el caso en sí creo que podría haber sido un poco mejor o se le podría haber dedicado un poco más de duración y desarrollo.
July 23, 2021
A decent short story with a fast storyline and good foreshadow and details. Definitely a good material for the intermediate-level reader. the characters and plot is interesting enough to make me actively thinking throughout reading the book. finished in just one day one sitting since its only 79 pages and uses simple sentences so it was easy to process the story. two things i learn, detective/private investigator got a damn lot of informers and valuable networks and if ur secret got leaked out, u might want to find ur nearest bartender. hahahaha i had a good time reading this.
January 19, 2020
Today, I recently finished this short story. I felt very pleased. It's not so difficult but some words are not easily understandable. I thought that when I get free time I can read more and more. Surely, one day I will be goodreader in my life. I will try my best. I never stop reading practice.
January 16, 2018
Das Buch war ganz okay.
Ich fand es an mancher Stelle echt verwirrend und es war auch nicht unbedingt was besonderes.
*gelesen für Lesepreis*
Ich fand es an mancher Stelle echt verwirrend und es war auch nicht unbedingt was besonderes.
*gelesen für Lesepreis*
January 23, 2018
This story take place in New York. Private investigator Nathan Marley have two different case but have surprising endings. One about homeless and old woman and other is rich woman.
February 8, 2018
This story is about a Private Investigator he live in New York, and solve the two different but had
a same ending.
a same ending.
October 30, 2021
Lo suficientemente interesante como para mantener mi atención. Not bad. Good for grammar I guess.
Tw// Spoiler
Vacila tus ñañas de pierna. Un clásico la casa grande y la casa chica.
Tw// Spoiler
Vacila tus ñañas de pierna. Un clásico la casa grande y la casa chica.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 17, 2021
meh, bastante predecible
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April 19, 2022Es un libro que sigo la historia
January 1, 2025
Book for a Intermediate learners of English.
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November 7, 2011Discussion Questions for Fiction
the following general questions can be applied to any novel, and they provide a good starting point for creating your own discussion questions for a given work.
What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?
This book is fiction that is an exciting series of original. Because of this book describe a women is murdered when story begin.
What specific themes did the author emphasize t throughout the novel? What do you think he or she is trying to get across to the reader?
I think because of it is fiction. So, author wrote a few roles. Fiction background is New York. Author want emphasize between people and people have envy. Rich people and poor people have inequality.
Do the characters seem real and believable? Can you relate to their predicaments? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?
I think that just fiction, I cannot believe that. Maybe someone have same experience. They make me remind a movie that is describing a man who is a prívate investigador. He can find out every criminal.
How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? What events trigger such changes?
New York in mid-July, a crowd of people in subway station, everyone is heat. At that time, a woman was died Because of someone kill her.
In what ways do the events in the books reveal evidence of the author's world view?
Net Marley can find a lot of evidence to find out criminal, according to his viewpoint I can know what is author’s world view.
Jingguo Shi
the following general questions can be applied to any novel, and they provide a good starting point for creating your own discussion questions for a given work.
What was unique about the setting of the book and how did it enhance or take away from the story?
This book is fiction that is an exciting series of original. Because of this book describe a women is murdered when story begin.
What specific themes did the author emphasize t throughout the novel? What do you think he or she is trying to get across to the reader?
I think because of it is fiction. So, author wrote a few roles. Fiction background is New York. Author want emphasize between people and people have envy. Rich people and poor people have inequality.
Do the characters seem real and believable? Can you relate to their predicaments? To what extent do they remind you of yourself or someone you know?
I think that just fiction, I cannot believe that. Maybe someone have same experience. They make me remind a movie that is describing a man who is a prívate investigador. He can find out every criminal.
How do characters change or evolve throughout the course of the story? What events trigger such changes?
New York in mid-July, a crowd of people in subway station, everyone is heat. At that time, a woman was died Because of someone kill her.
In what ways do the events in the books reveal evidence of the author's world view?
Net Marley can find a lot of evidence to find out criminal, according to his viewpoint I can know what is author’s world view.
Jingguo Shi
December 18, 2012
-Cambridge University, level4
-Time: 12/16=60minutes, 12/17=60minutes
-7 words summary: Marley, Stella, Annie, murder, homeless, Casino,
money
-Discussion questions
1. The murder Martha did casino by using stealing money. Have you ever done casino?
-No, I have not. But, I have played ocero by wagering some money.
2.The main character Marley is a private investigator, not public investigator. Do you want to be a self-employed person ?
-No, I don't. Because it's very hard for me to bring people together.
-Time: 12/16=60minutes, 12/17=60minutes
-7 words summary: Marley, Stella, Annie, murder, homeless, Casino,
money
-Discussion questions
1. The murder Martha did casino by using stealing money. Have you ever done casino?
-No, I have not. But, I have played ocero by wagering some money.
2.The main character Marley is a private investigator, not public investigator. Do you want to be a self-employed person ?
-No, I don't. Because it's very hard for me to bring people together.
April 24, 2008
It was a cute story. Very simple to understand. It is about a private investigator in NYC who comes in contact with a homeless woman who is dying and a very wealthy woman and how their lives intertwined. I enjoyed it. It is short and easy to read.
July 5, 2016
Good clean, simple detective story set in New York City. Two cases converge in a surprise ending: one of a homeless woman looking for a lost son, another of a rich woman willing her fortune to a stranger.
February 15, 2008
It's a nice, heart-warming detective story!
November 4, 2013
i found it very boaring and it is not very attractive
January 17, 2014
how to read it? I really need to read it for my class
February 26, 2014
2013.5.22 18273words
May 12, 2014
It's make us confident more . I can understand about homeless people and their difficult life ! We can change the current life to have good life.
December 22, 2023
leído para inglés medio aburrido e igual a todos los demás.
November 20, 2021
read this for my book report this btch is a half star.
nat is the worst the detective ever
marta is the worst murderer ever
nat is the worst the detective ever
marta is the worst murderer ever
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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December 5, 2013lihyftdftfjk .knjkvg
January 24, 2014
reading
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews