The Late Lord Thorpe by Peter Grainger

 Title: The Late Lord Thorpe

Author: Peter Grainger
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 9/10/2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: DC Smith, Caroline Thorpe, Diver and Diver, Freddie the late lord, Polly Coverdale - another investigator w D+D, 3 friends of Freddie's who ghosted Caroline
What happens? Caroline wants D+D to look into her brother's death, which the coroner has ruled "misadventure" but seems to be murder
How long was this? 455 pages
Did I like this? It's waaaaay too long but enjoyable writing and diversions in 12 or 23 hours
Overall grade: B

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

 Title: Tom Lake

Author: Ann Patchett
Did I listen or read?: libby kindle
When did I finish?: 9/5/2025
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: Lara, husband Joe, 3 daughters - Emily (like in "Our Town"), Peter Duke the famous actor, Duke's brother Saint Sebastian
What happens? Lara tells the story of how she acted in summer theatre and Peter Duke was her boyfriend and lead in Our Town. She is telling her grown up daughters the story as they pick cherries in Michigan at the beginning of the pandemic
How long was this? 320 pages
Did I like this? A wonderful book, a joy to read, with a lovely story, a nice family, beautiful Michigan, plot twists, great characters
Overall grade: A and almost an A+

Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon

Title: Death in a Strange Country
Author: Donna Leon
Did I listen or read?: libby audio book
When did I finish?: Aug 31 2025 moving time
When was the book published: 1993
Main Characters: Commissario Guido Brunetti, Americans on a nearby military base
What happens?  Brunetti finds the body of an American soldier in the canal.  He wants to find out what happened, while the Americans cover it up.  
How long was this? 391 pages
Did I like this? Good enough. Long and drawn out.

Overall grade: B

Spider Woman's Daughter by Anne Hillerman

 Title: Spider Woman's Daughter

Author: Anne Hillerman
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: Aug 25 - moving time
When was the book published: 2013
Main Characters: Leaphorn, Chee, Manuelito, a bunch of people involved with pottery
What happens? Leaphorn gets shot and Bernie witnesses, but can't prevent.  She goes to solve the mystery.  Chee holds a healing ceremony
How long was this? 301 pages
Did I like this? Good Chee story.
Overall grade: B

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

 Title: None of This is True

Author: Lisa Jewell
Did I listen or read?: libby kindle
When did I finish?: 8/9/2025
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: :Alix Summers, husband Nathan, Josie Fair, husband Walter, kids Erin and Roxy
What happens? Alix and Josie are birthday twins.  Alix has a podcast that is moderately successful, but she is looking for more.  Josie approaches her about her weird life (met Walter when she was 16) and decides to do a podcast interviewing Josie.  Josie might be a big fat liar.
How long was this? 390 pages
Did I like this? It was OK but not great.  Predictable that Josie might be lying.  Pretty good, but Josie is so unlikeable, hard to read.
Overall grade: B

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King

 Title:  A Monstrous Regiment of Women

Author: Laurie R. King
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 8/4/2025
When was the book published:  1995
Main Characters: Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes, Marjory Child
What happens?  Mary's friend Veronica from Oxford is caught up either in a great progressive movement or a cult led by Child.  People start dying.  Mary gets kidnapped and shot up w dope.
How long was this? 336 pagrd
Did I like this? The stories are long and involved with side plots, but I enjoy the Mary's character and Sherlock's mystery.  For some unknown reason, she has Mary get married to Sherlock.  Might end my interest in this series
Overall grade: B

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-WIlliams

 Title: Careless People

Author: Sarah Wynn-Williams
Did I listen or read?: library book, last book from EDC!
When did I finish?: 8/3/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, Joel, Eliot
What happens? Sarah creates a job at Facebook in public policy, joining on a mission to make the world better.  The greed and stupidity of the execs leads the company into legal murky waters, while pumping out money at all costs.
How long was this? 386 pages
Did I like this? good book, yeah.  Jaw dropping
Overall grade: B+