Til Death Do Us Part by Kate White

Title: Til Death Do Us Part
Author: Kate White
Did I listen or read?: Read the library book
When did I finish?: December 2010
When was the book published: 2004
Main Characters: Gloss magazine contract writer Bailey Weggins, her college friend Peyton Cross.
What happens? The bridesmaids from Peyton's wedding are dying in accidents that the police investigate and decide are accidents, but Bailey thinks there is no way that this could be a coincidence. Bailey has to bounce between Manhattan and Greenwich CT investigating the murder. Peyton married an older rich dude, and is building herself to be the next Martha Stewart.
How long was this? 300 pages
Did I like this? It was not as bad as I thought it would be, considering that this is full of cooking and catering, but the author doesn't waste too much time giving recipes.
Overall grade: B

The Rule of Nine by Steve Martini

Title: The Rule of Nine
Author: Steve Martini
Did I listen or read?: Read the library book
When did I finish?: December 2010
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Paul Madriani, daughter Sarah, Harry Hinds, Herman Diggs, the Mexecutioner (Liquida)
What happens? This story carries on from the last Madriani novel "Guardian of Lies" (I think) which involved a failed terrorist attempt to detonate a nuclear device at a nuclear power plant's waste facility. Madriani has been under protective custody as the government has tried to protect him and simultaneously keep the nuclear nature of the recent attach private. Liquida is biding his time to get even with him, and is at the same time working with a nice Australian lunatic named Mr. Thorpe who has a terrorist assignment to blow up some kind of "fat boy" device on a Washington DC location. "The Weatherman" is behind it all, his identity is revealed at the end.
How long was this? 390 pages
Did I like this? I was disappointed to have a continuation of the government conspiracy, terrorist thing from the last book. Madriani and Hinds have practically shuttered the law practice to deal with the threat, so it is not really a legal thriller. But it is a thriller and a page turner. I don't think it would have been as good if I hadn't read the last one.
Overall grade: B+

Split Image by Robert Parker

Title: Split Image - w/ Jesse Stone and Sunny Randall
Author: Robert Parker in 2010, one of his last books
Did I listen or read?: Read the library book
When did I finish?: December 2010
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Jesse Stone, Sunny Randall, 2 gangsters who live in Paradise and are married to twins, a girl who lives in a weird religious cult
What happens? The henchmen of the gangsters start turning up dead, and Jesse has to figure it out. Sunny takes a case where the parents want their daughter extracted from a cult. Jesse and Sunny compare relationships, divorce and shrinks. Parker spends a lot of time exploring Jesse Stone's struggle with moving on from his divorce, his drinking, etc. "Suits" and the other department members join in. Tom Selleck plays Jesse, but I don't know who plays Sunny.
How long was this? Usual Robert Parker, 300 pages double spaced
Did I like this? Yes, Parker writes a good mystery with some twists and turns. The book has the entire Parker bibliography in the front by main character, and I scanned it because I have t go back and read them all.
Overall grade: B+ - not a great book, but enjoyable, well done.

Taste of Death by P.D. James

Title: Taste of Death by P.D. James

Author: P.D. James

Did I listen or read?: Listen

When did I finish?: Late December, 2010

When was the book published: Approx 1985

Main Characters: Adam Dalgleish, Lady Urstula, Kate Mishkin

What happens? A woman and her young friend come upon a murder scene in a church vestry. Murdered are Paul Barone, a minister in the government and a baronet, and Harry Mack, a local homeless dude. Their throats are slit with Paul's razor. Did Paul kill Harry and then himself? What happened with his recent religious vision and decision to quit his government post? Was his wife, who is sleeping (openly) with a leading ob/gyn involved? What role did the recent related deaths play - of Diana Travers, who drowned in the Thames near the Black Swan, or of Theresa Nolan, who killed herself in guilt over her recent abortion?

How long was this? This was a free audio book from the library and is 18 hours long.

Did I like this? This story is stretched out as long as it possibly could be. The story is a good solid one, and Adam Dalgleish is a character to read about again, but EVERY character gets an "interior monologue" and EVERY interview with a related person goes for 45 minutes.

Overall grade: I am going to go with a B. Good story, but way too long. Good writing, so I was able to follow the plot despite daydreaming through lengthy descriptions of some third level character's home.