Come to Grief by Dick Francis

 Title: Come to Grief

Author: Dick Francis
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 7/16/2025
When was the book published: 1995
Main Characters: Sid Halley, Ellis Quint, Gordon and Ginnie, Rachel Ferns and mother Linda, ex-father-in-law Charles Roland
What happens? Sid figures out that Ellis is committing a bizarre set of violent acts against horses, and accuses him (and has evidence.)  Sid is vilified by the media for accusing the popular media star and former jockey.  He has to investigate to get the whole story.  The first victim of this was Rachel's pony - Rachel has cancer and Sid becomes part of her life, very moving.
How long was this? 308 pages
Did I like this? Dick Francis is a great story teller and his characters are always interesting, believable, and multi-dimensioned.  Like most of his books, I loved this story.
Overall grade: A-

Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

 Title: Creation Lake

Author: Rachel Kushner
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: July 12, 2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Sadie Smith, fake name of spy, Bruno Lacombe, thought leader of ecoterrorists
What happens? Sadie is assigned to infiltrate a group of people trying to slow growth in agricultural France.  She hacks into Bruno's email and reads and reads and reads about his thoughts about the difference between Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens.  A plot sort of develops on whether this people are going to do something illegal, or just spill milk.
How long was this? 404 pages
Did I like this? Bizarre and not a spy story.  Kind of historical fiction about neanderthal's, and also about Cagot people who were ostracized.  But does a spy plot emerge?  Just barely enough to get me to finish, and then regret the whole thing.
Overall grade: C-

The Camera Man by Peter Grainger

 Title: The Camera Man

Author: Peter Grainger
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 7/5/2025
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: DC Smith, wife Jo, Diver and Diver assoc., Gerald Fitch, estranged wife Amanda
What happens? Smith is recently retired and DDA wants him to do work for the insurance company to verify that Gerald Fitch is actually dead.  He disappeared five years ago as his business (and maybe his marriage) was failing.  The trail is a dead end....almosst.
How long was this? 348 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good, yeah, want to go back to the first DC Smith
Overall grade: B+

Dead Heat by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

 Title: Dead Heat

Author: Dick Francis and Felix Francis
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 7/2/2025
When was the book published:
Main Characters: Max Moreton, chef, Caroline w the viola, 
What happens? Everyone gets sick at Max's special meal before 2,000 Guineas.  Is the Hay Net in trouble? Well that's nothing as the next day, the lunch he is serving in a box at the track is BLOWN UP.  Max goes and figures out what is going on with the polo ponies and the evil people.
How long was this? 342 pages
Did I like this? Yeah, good Francis stuff
Overall grade: B+

Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben

 Title: Nobody's Fool

Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 6/27/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Sami Kierce, former partner Marty, girl from 22 yrs ago Anna, wife Molly, son Henry.  Missing girl Victoria Belmond, Archie Belmond
What happens? Sami is an ex-cop who lost his cool, runs a criminology adult class, Anna died in his hotel room 22 yrs ago, reappears in his classroom. He follows her to the Belmond estate.  Is she the missing (and now returned) Victoria Belmond? 
How long was this? 340 pages
Did I like this? Good story, complex plot if a bit unbelievable.  Certainly a good read and a page turner.
Overall grade: B+

Tahoe Death Fall by Todd Borg

Title: Tahoe Death Fall
Author: Todd Borg
Did I listen or read?: library paperback
When did I finish?: 6/24/2025
When was the book published: 2001
Main Characters: Owen McKenna, Spot the Great Dane,  gf Street, Jennifer the 14 year old, Gramma, Melissa, Jennifer's twin. Helga the housekeeper
What happens?  Melissa dies in a fall when she and Jennifer and Gramma are hiking, age 6.  Jennifer hires Owen to find out what happened, was it an accident? Tons of family 
How long was this? 254 pages
Did I like this? Very overblown.  He kidnaps the Allison the mother from a mental institution in LV and takes her through a raging stream and loses her, then steals a plane and flies it in a snowstorm following the highways back to Tahoe.  Decent story and characters, but laughably unbelievable.  Since it's Tahoe, will keep trying

Overall grade: B-

Bark of Night by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Bark of Night

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 6/21/2025
When was the book published: 2019 next is Dachshund Through the Snow
Main Characters: Usual, Andy, Laurie, Sam, Marcus, Edna, Hike plus french bulldog Truman
What happens? Truman is dropped off by a thug with signed orders to kill.  Truman was the dog of Jason who was a documentarian who was killed.  There are people sponge diving for tourists and the boat workers are being killed, and some homeless people who have a drug chemical in their system.
How long was this? 7 hours 304 pages
Did I like this? decent
Overall grade: B