The Other Americans by Laila Lalami

 Title: The Other Americans

Author:  Laila Lalami

Did I listen or read?: book present from Hope

When did I finish?:  10/18/2026

When was the book published: 2019

 Main Characters: Nora, daughter of Driss who is killed, her mother, Jeremy old friend who is a vet and now a cop, Coleman, black lady detective

What happens? Driss is killed in a hit and run, and they suspect the guy who owns the bowling alley next to his cafe, as they have been arguing.

How long was this? 301 pages 

Did I like this?  A good story, well told and paced.  It’s a story about immigrants, but mostly they are “just like us”

Overall grade:  B+

The Code Breaker by Walter Isaacson

 Title: The Code Breaker

Author: Walter Isaacson

Did I listen or read?: bought the book at the Copeland warehouse sale

When did I finish?:  10/9/2026 

When was the book published: 2021

Main Characters: Jennifer Doran’s, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Feng Zhang, George Church

What happens? The process of figuring out how to use CRISPR on humans.  The process of how to use CRISPR to quickly develop mRNA vaccines for COVID.  Clustered Regulrarly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats.

How long was this?  481 pages

Did I like this? Good story, real science 

Overall grade:  B+

You deserve to know By Aggie Blum Thompson

 Title: You Deserve to Know 

Author: Aggie Blum Thompson

Did I listen or read?: Libby audio book, trip to Paso Robles 

When did I finish?: 9/28/2026

When was the book published: 2025

Main Characters: Three couples in the suburbs.  Marcus and Lisa.  Gwen and Anton.  Amy and Scott

What happens? Amy is first.  Gwen befriends her when she moves in.  Lisa moves in and disrupts the setup.  Lots of jealousy. Anton gets killed.  Scott disappears.

How long was this? 323 pages

Did I like this? It was OK.  Lots of twists and turns, but it held OK over multiple listening. 

Overall grade:  B

Best in Snow by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Best in Snow

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 9/29/2026
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Andy Carpenter, Laurie, Tara, Sebastian, Hunter, Ricky, Sam, Marcus, Eddie (replacing the negative guy), Corey, Simon Garfunkel.   Bobby (former journalist for Vince.). Pete Stanton.  Dylan is the DA.  
What happens?  Bobby lost his job as he was setup by Teresa Minardo to falsely present that the mayor received 1 million in checks, which prove to be fake.  When the mayor turns up dead, Bobby is charged with murder as evidence is planted.
How long was this? 310 pages
Did I like this? The usual, always enjoyable.
Overall grade: B

Longshot by Dick Francis

 Title: Longshot

Author: Dick Francis
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 9/15/2026
When was the book published: 1990
Main Characters: John Kendall, survival travel book writer, Tremayne Vickers, trainer and former jockey, Ronnie, agent, Mackie TV daughter in law, Perkin, furniture maker and son of TV.  Gareth, Teenage son.  Harry and Fiona.  Erica Upton successful author and aunt.  Sam, successful jockey and boat shop owner.  Nolan, son of TV and amateur jockey.  
What happens? John’s freezing in his aunt’s house trying to write, Ronnie gets him a gig writing a biography of Tremayne.  He goes to TV’s house and things start going wrong, car crash in the freezing cold.
How long was this? 320 pages
Did I like this? Really good Francis.  Great characters complex plot
Overall grade: A-

Lightning Strikes the Silence by Iona Whishaw

 Title: Lightning Strikes the Silence

Author: Iona Whishaw
Did I listen or read?: kindle libby (iceland)
When did I finish?: 9/10/2026
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Lane Winslow, husband Darling the cop, Ames and Terrell, cops.  Sasaki family, Sara, uncle Aoki.  Ron Harold the jeweler, Humphries the locksmith
What happens? Unexploded Japanese balloon bomb goes off in 1948 in Canada and kills Sara's mother, as they were living in a cabin hiding in the woords
How long was this? 494 pages
Did I like this? I like the characters, pretty good story teller but waaaaaay too long, it was obvious who the likely killer was and dragged out.
Overall grade: B

The Danger

 Title: The Danger

Author: Dick Francis
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 8/18/2026
When was the book published: 1984
Main Characters: Andrew Douglas, Alessia the kidnapped jockey
What happens? Andrew works for Liberty Market, a firm who helps when someone is kidnapped.  There are three stories of kidnappings, first Alessia, then a 3 year old, then the pres of the Jockey Club.
How long was this? 320 pages
Did I like this? His early writing is my favorite.  Great characters, lots of action, well researched.  Probably my 2nd time reading and I loved it.
Overall grade: A-