Title: Maximum Bob
Author: Elmore Leonard
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: July 22, 2012
When was the book published: 1991
Main Characters: judge Bob Gibbs, wife Leanne, Kathy Baker, probation officer, Dale Crowe, Elvin Crowe, Dr. Tommy Vasco and Hector, Dicky Campau, cop Gary Hammond
What happens? Gibbs is sick of his wife and hires Dicky to bring an alligator to their house to scare her off. It's close to a Carl Hiassen novel - a bunch of nut cases in Florida. The alligator goes bananas, and joins the list of potential murderers of the judge.
How long was this? 406 pages
Did I like this? darn tootin. I love the rambling Leonard style, a little bit hard to latch on to the characters except Kathy and Gary. Fast paced story, zipped right through it.
Overall grade: B+
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
Nowhere to Run by C.J. Box
Title: Nowhere to Run
Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: July 17, 2012
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, wife Marybeth, friend Nate Romanowski, 2 daughters and adopted daughter April, governor Rulon, the Grimm Brothers, Terri Wade
What happens? Joe is on the last days of his assignment in isolation in Baggs, Wyoming and stumbles on evil in the form of two brothers living in the wild, and willing to kill to protect their secrecy.
How long was this? 356 pages
Did I like this? He is an excellent writer - the first third of the book was painful. It is unusual to have a leading character who gets his ass kicked as strongly as Joe does here, but it is certainly true who the guy really is.
Overall grade: B+
Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: July 17, 2012
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, wife Marybeth, friend Nate Romanowski, 2 daughters and adopted daughter April, governor Rulon, the Grimm Brothers, Terri Wade
What happens? Joe is on the last days of his assignment in isolation in Baggs, Wyoming and stumbles on evil in the form of two brothers living in the wild, and willing to kill to protect their secrecy.
How long was this? 356 pages
Did I like this? He is an excellent writer - the first third of the book was painful. It is unusual to have a leading character who gets his ass kicked as strongly as Joe does here, but it is certainly true who the guy really is.
Overall grade: B+
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Holiday in Death by Nora Roberts as J.D. Robb
Title: Holiday in Death
Author: Nora Roberts as J.D. Robb
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Jul 5, 2012
When was the book published: 1998
Main Characters: Detective Eve Dallas, husband Roarke
What happens? Set in 2054, a guy dresses as Santa Claus is sweet talking his way in, and then drugging, raping and murdering people.
How long was this? 326 pages
Did I like this? This is abominable. There is the incredibly perfect husband who is completely sympathetic and understanding at all times, in addition to being rich and owning everything in New York, in addition to being an expert computer hacker. The future speak is ridiculous - they call it being "on screen" - isn't that clever? And it's like France, there are a lot of the same things, but with different names. Cars can fly.
Overall grade: C-, only because I sat and read the whole damn thing, really is a D-.
Author: Nora Roberts as J.D. Robb
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Jul 5, 2012
When was the book published: 1998
Main Characters: Detective Eve Dallas, husband Roarke
What happens? Set in 2054, a guy dresses as Santa Claus is sweet talking his way in, and then drugging, raping and murdering people.
How long was this? 326 pages
Did I like this? This is abominable. There is the incredibly perfect husband who is completely sympathetic and understanding at all times, in addition to being rich and owning everything in New York, in addition to being an expert computer hacker. The future speak is ridiculous - they call it being "on screen" - isn't that clever? And it's like France, there are a lot of the same things, but with different names. Cars can fly.
Overall grade: C-, only because I sat and read the whole damn thing, really is a D-.
The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza by Lawrence Block
Title: The Burglar Who Studied Spinoza
Author: Lawrence Block
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: July 11, 2012
When was the book published: 1980
Main Characters: Bernie Rhodenbarr, friend Carolyn, victim Wanda Colcannon and husband Herbert, fence Abel Crowe, Ray Kirschmann - crooked cop, girlfriend Denise
What happens? Carolyn's customer (Wanda) mentions being out of town, and Bernie and Carolyn go and rob him. He has a 1913 v-nickel in his safe, and Bernie takes it to Abel. Abel gets murdered. Wanda gets murdered during mess.
How long was this? 255 pages
Did I like this? Lawrence Block is the best. Wish he had written more. Have to go back and re-read the rest of his collection, although his series with the recovering alcoholic isn't as good.
Overall grade: A
Author: Lawrence Block
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: July 11, 2012
When was the book published: 1980
Main Characters: Bernie Rhodenbarr, friend Carolyn, victim Wanda Colcannon and husband Herbert, fence Abel Crowe, Ray Kirschmann - crooked cop, girlfriend Denise
What happens? Carolyn's customer (Wanda) mentions being out of town, and Bernie and Carolyn go and rob him. He has a 1913 v-nickel in his safe, and Bernie takes it to Abel. Abel gets murdered. Wanda gets murdered during mess.
How long was this? 255 pages
Did I like this? Lawrence Block is the best. Wish he had written more. Have to go back and re-read the rest of his collection, although his series with the recovering alcoholic isn't as good.
Overall grade: A
Saturday, July 7, 2012
CIty of Bones by Michael Connelly
Title: City of Bones
Author: MIchael Connelly
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 30, 2012
When was the book published: 2002
Main Characters: Harry Bosch, older rookie Julia Brasher, neighbor Dr. Guyot, Harry's partner - Jerry Edgar, his boss - Billets (Bullets), medical examiner Teresa Corazon, VIctim Arthur Delacroix, plus his father and sister. Deputy Chief Irving
What happens? Harry gets a case where Dr. Guyot's dog finds a human bone buried in the woods near his house. The boy's skeleton shows lifelong abuse. He gets romantically involved with Brasher. A registered sex offender lives next door to the crime scene; the media descends.
How long was this? 389 pages
Did I like this? Love Connelly, love Harry.
Overall grade: A-
Author: MIchael Connelly
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 30, 2012
When was the book published: 2002
Main Characters: Harry Bosch, older rookie Julia Brasher, neighbor Dr. Guyot, Harry's partner - Jerry Edgar, his boss - Billets (Bullets), medical examiner Teresa Corazon, VIctim Arthur Delacroix, plus his father and sister. Deputy Chief Irving
What happens? Harry gets a case where Dr. Guyot's dog finds a human bone buried in the woods near his house. The boy's skeleton shows lifelong abuse. He gets romantically involved with Brasher. A registered sex offender lives next door to the crime scene; the media descends.
How long was this? 389 pages
Did I like this? Love Connelly, love Harry.
Overall grade: A-
Taken by Robert Crais
Title: Taken
Author: Robert Crais
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: three days after I took it out, July 3, 2012
When was the book published: 2012
Main Characters: Elvis Cole, Joe Pike, Nita Morales, Jack Berman, Krista Morales, a bunch of really bad Mexican dudes, Jon Stone, the Syrian, Nancie Stendahl - aunt of Jack Berman and federal agent
What happens? Jack and Krista are hanging out in the desert, when a delivery of pollos (Mexicans to be sold) are hijacked by the Syrian, to be held for ransom. Nita Morales hires Elvis, and Nancie Stendahl gets the feds to help out. Elvis is eventually taken hostage also, and Jack and Krista have to survive in a hell hole with 40 other hostages.
How long was this? 340 pages
Did I like this? Holy Cow, this was good. Crais at his best, fast moving and emotional.
Overall grade: A
Author: Robert Crais
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: three days after I took it out, July 3, 2012
When was the book published: 2012
Main Characters: Elvis Cole, Joe Pike, Nita Morales, Jack Berman, Krista Morales, a bunch of really bad Mexican dudes, Jon Stone, the Syrian, Nancie Stendahl - aunt of Jack Berman and federal agent
What happens? Jack and Krista are hanging out in the desert, when a delivery of pollos (Mexicans to be sold) are hijacked by the Syrian, to be held for ransom. Nita Morales hires Elvis, and Nancie Stendahl gets the feds to help out. Elvis is eventually taken hostage also, and Jack and Krista have to survive in a hell hole with 40 other hostages.
How long was this? 340 pages
Did I like this? Holy Cow, this was good. Crais at his best, fast moving and emotional.
Overall grade: A
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)