Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Title: Unbroken
Author: Laura Hillenbrand
Did I listen or read?: libby audio 90% libby kindle 10%
When did I finish?: 1/23/2026
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Louie Zamperini, the Bird, Louie's family, brother Peter, mother Louise.
What happens? True story, Louie and his plan are shot down, and he survives horrible ordeals at sea, and then in Japanese prison camps.
How long was this? 426 pages, about 12 hours
Did I like this? A good story, hard to sit through the "repetitive torture" sections, but an amazing story

Overall grade: B+

Crossfire by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

Title: Crossfire
Author: Felix Francis and Dick Francis - Dick's last work
Did I listen or read?: oakmont library
When did I finish?: 1/20/2026
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Tom Forsyth, his mother, Josephine Kauri, Ian the stable lead, bad guys
What happens? Tom comes out of hospital with a new foot, goes home where he is not really welcome, discovers that his mother is being blackmailed and has made some major taxation choice mistakes.  Tom fixes it.
How long was this? 336 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good Francis story.  Unique somewhat unlikeable angry man lead.  

Overall grade: B

Mother of Bourbon by Eric Goodman and Kaveh Zamanian

 Title: Mother of Bourbon

Author: Eric Goodman and Kaveh Zamanian
Did I listen or read?: bought Eric's book at the Oakmont book fair after meeting him in the hot tub w his wife
When did I finish?: 1/16/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Mary, her kids esp. Will and Emmett, her husband Joe
What happens? True fictionalized story of how Mary Dowling built a great bourbon empire before prohibition, while raising a family of 9 (maybe 8)
How long was this? 291 pages
Did I like this? Well done, interesting story. 
Overall grade: B+

The Murder Stone by Charles Todd

 Title: The Murder Stone

Author: Charles Todd
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: Jan 15, 2025
When was the book published: 
Main Characters: Francesca Hatton, Richard Leighton, Francis Hatton, the cousins
What happens? Francis the benevolent grandfather to 6 dies, and Richard Leighton accuses him of murder of Victoria.  Francesca unravels the truth about Francis and her life.
How long was this? 413 pages, 13 hours
Did I like this? It started slow and could be a nice 8 hours, but it got quite good in the 2nd half.
Overall grade: B+

An Inside Job by Daniel Silva

 Title: An Inside Job

Author: Daniel Silva
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: 1/8/2026
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Gabriel Allon, the pope
What happens? Spoiler alert - Someone finds a da Vinci in the vatican archives, painted over with another painting.  Gabriel finds it copies it, sells the copy to some russian billionaire, and returns the original
How long was this? 399 pages
Did I like this? Ok, kinda unbelievable that he can create a copy of any masterpiece and do whatever the hell he wants
Overall grade: B

The Tin Men by Alex Demille

 Title: The Tin Men

Author: Alex DeMille - Nelson DeMille passed away in 2024

Did I listen or read?: library book

When did I finish?: Dec 30, 2025

When was the book published: 2025

Main Characters: Scott Brodie, Maggie Taylor

What happens? Scott and Maggie get sent to investigate a murder at a top secret facility where Lethal Autonomous Weapons are being tested against a squad of rangers. One of the robots has killed a soldier.

How long was this? 368 pages

Did I like this? It was a really good science fiction but could be real story.  Engaging and creepy/scary realistic.

Overall grade: B+

Caught by Harlan Coben

 Title: Caught

Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook xmas car trip to SB 2025
When did I finish?: 12-29-2025
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Wendy Tynes, reporter, Hailey McWaid, missing girl.  Dan Mercer, caught in the act of soliciting a minor - or was he?, Ed the father of one of the kids supposedly abused by Dan
What happens? Wendy latches on to the story as she isn't sure that Dan is guilty, and she wants to help find Hailey.  She gets fired and then gets her job back, and stumbles onto the plot attacking a bunch of Princeton roommates
How long was this?  12 hours
Did I like this? It was a good story, with good twists and turns.  Lots of "You don't really know, do you, Wendy" requiring patience.  but basically a good story
Overall grade: B