Hands Down by Felix Francis

 Title: Hands Down

Author: Felix Francis
Did I listen or read?:
When did I finish?:
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters:
What happens?
How long was this?
Did I like this? I am pretty sure I read this!   Sid Halley, friend whose stable burns, they think it's suicie
Overall grade:

Buzzkill by Alison Gaylin for Robert Parker

 Title: Buzzkill

Author: Alison Gaylin for Robert Parker
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 10/12/2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Sunny Randall, Spike, Bill and Lydia and son Dylan Welch.  Sky, Dylan's best friend.
What happens? Lydia hires Sunny to find out what happened to Dylan.  He's a partier/drug addict, but has started a successful company that makes Buzz an energy drink that is addictive
How long was this? 309 pages
Did I like this? pretty good stuff, Sunny is cool, good writing
Overall grade: B+

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware

 Title: The Woman in Suite 11

Author: Ruth Ware
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 10/7/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Lo Blacklock, Carrie, Marcus Friedman, husband Judah
What happens? Lo gets invited (as she decides to go back to travel writing after two kids) to a fancy hotel opening in Switzerland.  Marcus and son Pieter are the creepy rich people who own the place.  A bunch of travel journalists from Cabin 10 (10 years ago) are there, and Carrie (from cabin 10) reappears.
How long was this? 384 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good, but I predicted the big twists.  
Overall grade: B+

The Life We Bury by Alan Eskens

 Title: The Life We Bury

Author: Alan Eskens
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 10/1/2025
When was the book published: 2014
Main Characters: Joe Talbert, college student, Max Rupert, detective, his autistic bro Jeremy, Carl Iverson convicted murderer
What happens? Joe gets to write a college assignment, a bio, picks Carl at random in a nursing home.  Investigates what really happened, finds the real killer, lots of danger
How long was this? 304 pages
Did I like this? It was really good.  Liked Joe especially.  First person writing style.  Want more.
Overall grade: A-

Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill

 Title: Five Found Dead

Author: Sulari Gentill
Did I listen or read?: sonoma co. library book
When did I finish?: Sep 24, 2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Joe Penvale, twin sister Meredith, Napoleon Duplantier (French Detective), a buncha other detectives, two old ladies trying to recover their lost church money
What happens? Joe is on the mend from cancer, he and Meri take the Orient Express to celebrate, and give him writing ideas. A mysterious man is killed (or there is a cabin full of blood, but no body) and everyone on the train seems to be looking for him.
How long was this? 304 pages
Did I like this? Characters are creative, the plot moves fast, it just stretches so far, that this (spoiler) con man did all this and has all these people after him.  But I would try this author again.
Overall grade: B

Nightshade by Michael Connelly

 Title: Nightshade

Author: Michael Connelly
Did I listen or read?: kindle via libby
When did I finish?: 9/21/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Stillwell, Tash his girlfriend.  Rich dudes with boats at the fancy club.  Girl with purple streak found dead.  Ahearn -  cop back on the mainland who calls him Stillborn, and
What happens? Girl found dead.  Stillwell told to back off.  He investigates anyways.  They take his girlfriend captive.  The local hood denies involvement in the evil stuff (kidnap, murder.)
How long was this? 400 pages
Did I like this? Solid new entry to the Connelly library
Overall grade: B+

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney

 Title:  Good Bad Gril

Author: Alice Feeney
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 9/17/25
When was the book published:  2023
Main Characters: Frankie, Edith in the rest home, Patience, Cleo, Cleo's brother who runs the art gallery
What happens? A twisted tale of these women who are all interconnected someone how in ways that are too secret to reveal except after hinting at them 27 times.
How long was this? 306 pages
Did I like this? On and off.  Just really annoying the have so many secrtes.
Overall grade: B-