Invisible Girl by Lisa Jewell

 Title: Invisible Girl

Author: Lisa Jewell
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: December 25 2020
When was the book published: 
Main Characters: Cate (housewife to Roan the therapist,) Owen (possible incel,) and Saffyre Maddox, former Roan patient with a dark secret
What happens?  Three stories intertwined as Saffyre disappears and Owen is blamed
How long was this? 357 pages
Did I like this? Really good story, page turner
Overall grade: A-

Unfaithful by Natalie Barelli

 Title: Unfaithful

Author: Natalie Barelli
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: December 21, 2020
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters:Anna college math professor, artist husband, two kids, beautiful art studio owner, Alex phd study
What happens? Anna works with Alex on the pettystone conjecture, realizes her husband is having an affair, and is sexually harasssed by the department head
How long was this? 10 hours?
Did I like this? extremely frustrating lead character at times.  Last 10 percent was pretty good.
Overall grade: B-

A Time for Mercy by John Grisham

 Title: A Time For Mercy

Author: John Grisham
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?: December 12, 2020
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Paul Brigance
What happens? teenage kid shoots abusive cop boyfriend of his mother, also the Smallwood case with a guy driving a truck into the 14th car of a train
How long was this? 350 pages ?
Did I like this? Pretty good, plot moved, characters and outcome believable
Overall grade: A-

The House Guest by Mark Edwards

 Title: The House Guest

Author: Mark Edwards
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: November 29, 2020
When was the book published: 
Main Characters: two brits who are house sitting (Adam and Ruth) for Jack and Mona, and Eden comes to vising
What happens? Eden cons her way into Adam and Ruth's house (staying at Jack and Mona's) and she's evil.  Sort of.
How long was this? 9 hours
Did I like this? pretty good, a little far fetched
Overall grade: B

The Law of Innocence by Michael Connelly

 Title: The Law of Innocence

Author: Michael Connelly
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?: November 25, 2020 in Santa Barbara 209 Natomas by the beach
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Mickey Haller, Chico, Jennifer Aronson, Maggie McPherson, prosecutor Dana, daughter
What happens? Haller is set up for murder and has to solve the case while being held without bail.
How long was this? 400 pages
Did I like this? Great, moved fast from the first page, plenty of relationships and lots of twists and turns
Overall grade: A

The Sentinel by Lee Child with Andrew Child

 Title: The Sentinel

Author: Lee Child with Andrew Child
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: November 23 2020
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Reacher, Rusty Rutherford, nazis and commies
What happens? Spies and nazis in small town midwest.  Ransomware shuts down a town where strange things are happening.  Undercover FBI agents, election tampering, Russian intrusion
How long was this? 370 pages
Did I like this? Good reacher, begins strong, didn't love the "root cause" of the problem
Overall grade: A-

All I Ever Wanted was Everything by Janelle Brown

 Title: All I Ever Wanted was Everything

Author: Janelle Brown
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?:  11/16/2020
When was the book published: few years ago
Main Characters: family of 4, rotates between mother, older daughter, younger daughter
What happens? Husband takes company public, leaves family for mother's doubles partner, wife/mother takes meth she buys from the pool boy, older daughter's magazine Snatch goes bankrupt, ex-boyfriend actor gets famous, younger daughter learns the facts of life
How long was this? 
Did I like this? Very little.  Just read Pretty Things which was great, but this was a boring suburban nonsense tale.   Everything cleans up tidily at the end.  
Overall grade: C-

Troubled Blood by Robert Galbraith

 Title: Trouble Blood

Author: Robert Galbraith aka JK Rowling
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: 11/15/2020
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Cormoran Strike and Robin 
What happens? They investigate a 40 year old murder, while not exploring their growing feelings for each other.
How long was this? 990 pages
Did I like this? Long, but compelling, very good throughout
Overall grade: B+

Machine Learning Book by David Gerrish (?)

 Title: Machine Learning

Author: David Gerrish
Did I listen or read?: bought the book at powell's
When did I finish?: October 5, 2020
When was the book published:
Main Characters:
What happens?
How long was this? 300 pages
Did I like this? OK in parts, but didn't really explain end to end
Overall grade: C

Pretty Things by Janelle Brown

 Title: Pretty Things

Author: Janelle Brown
Did I listen or read?: Kindles
When did I finish?: October 9, 2020
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Nina, Lachlan, Vanessa, Benny
What happens? Nina and Lachlan decided to con Vanessa because they believe there's a million dollars in her safe in her Tahoe estate (Stonehaven) because Nina hung out with Benny there years ago when they were in high school.
How long was this? 450 pages
Did I like this? Great story, lots of plot twists. Lots to root for.
Overall grade: A

The Dream Daughter by Diane Chamberlain

  Title: The Dream Daughter

Author: Diane Chamberlain
Did I listen or read?: paperback from Murphy's bookstore (Wendy's)
When did I finish?: 9/26/2020
When was the book published: 2018
Main Characters:  Carly Reed, Joe Reed, Joanna, Myra (mother of Hunter, the brother in law)
What happens? Fetus in 1970 gets ultrasound, brother-in-law of mother (widow of vietnam vet) knows that the baby can get fixed in 2001
How long was this? 380 pages
Did I like this? Great story, emotional roller coaster, page turner.
Overall grade: A

Squeeze Me by Carl Hiaasen

Title: Squeeze Me

Author: Carl Hiaasen
Did I listen or read?: Audible
When did I finish?: Sep 26, 2020
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Angie the snake hunter, Christian the presidents tanning bed guy, the local police chief, Skink, Jim Tile, Mastodon and the first lady, the Potussies
What happens? 20 foot snakes start attacking Florida high society, 1 Potussy gets killed
How long was this? just right
Did I like this? amusing, fully of humor, oh, and a plot
Overall grade: B+

Winterkill by C.J. Box

  Title: Winterkill

Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: paperback from Murphy's bookstore
When did I finish?:  9/20/20
When was the book published: 2003
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, bunch of anti-goverment types including April's birth mother
What happens? The antis come to town to camp in the forest, and April's mother is snooping around to take her back. A looney federal agent lady builds up to a showdown.
How long was this? 400 pages
Did I like this? 3rd Joe P. , a bit long and torturous 
Overall grade: A-

Savage Run by C.J. Box

  Title: Savage Run

Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: paperback from Murphy's bookstore
When did I finish?: Sep 16, 2020
When was the book published: 2002
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, world famous outlaw conservationist dude
What happens? Conservation dude appears to be killed in cow explosion.  Joe takes on bully rancher.  They are connected.
How long was this? 300 pages
Did I like this? 2nd Joe P, top notch
Overall grade: A

Open Season by C.J. Box

 Title: Open Season

Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: paperback from Murphy's bookstore
When did I finish?:  9/12/2020
When was the book published: 2001
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, Marybeth, April is adopted
What happens? Joe cites a guy for illegal hunting, and he shows up dead at Joe's house a few days later.
How long was this? 290 pages
Did I like this? 1st Joe P, top notch.
Overall grade: A-

The Beautiful Mystery by Louis Penny

 Title: The Beautiful Mystery

Author: Louis Penny
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?: September 5, 2020
When was the book published: ?
Main Characters: Gamache, Beauvior, Franceour, monks
What happens? Monk who leads the choir of Gilbertines is killed
How long was this? ??
Did I like this? Kinda odd
Overall grade: B

Camino Winds

 Title: Camino Winds

Author: John Grisham
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: 8/28/2020
When was the book published: 2020?
Main Characters: Bruce, bookstore owner, Noel, his wife, Bob, friend and author
What happens? Author Nelson is killed in a hurricane.  Bob and Bruce figure out (with help from his bookstore college student worker) that he was killed, and Bob had a weekend fling with the woman who probably did it.  Nelson was writing a book about massive fraud in the nursing home industry.
How long was this?  too
Did I like this? B o R i N g.
Overall grade: C+

Ace and a Pair by Blake Banner

 Title: Ace and a Pair

Author: Blake Banner
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?: August 22, 2020
When was the book published: 2017
Main Characters: John Stone (dinosaur) and Carmen Dehan (outcast cops), 
What happens? Cold case, Nelson Hernandez killed while playing poker with other gang members. Gang war between Mafia, Mexicans and a bent cop named Mick Harragan, and a spanish young lady.
How long was this? 207 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good if too short
Overall grade: B+

The Last Trial by Scott Turow

 Title:  The Last Trial
Author: Scott Turow
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?: August 10, 2020

When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Sandy Stern, Kiril Pafko, Lev Pavko, Innis, daughter Marta, granddaughter Pinky, Olga
What happens? Sandy is 85 and agrees for his last case to defend his philandering friend on murder and stock fraud charges after his Nobel prize winning cancer medicine starts causing allergic reactions, and someone buries the test results.
How long was this? 464 pages
Did I like this? Great plot, reveals how the characters are thinking without being slow or boring.  Wish he would come out with more, more often
Overall grade: A

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

 Title: The Guest List
Author: Lucy Foley
Did I listen or read?: audible

When did I finish?: 8/8/2020
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters:
What happens? A wedding on a remote island off the coast of Ireland where Will, the good looking TV star who is surrounded by schoolmates from Trevs and a bunch of other people who has secretly harmed.  Aoife (Ee-fa) is the wedding planner host. Hannah is married to Charlie who is Julia's (bride to be) best friend. Julia's sister Olivia is a messed up dude...also.
How long was this? 320 pages
Did I like this? A little hard to have the constant shift in time and different characters in 1st person, but ultimately very compelling.
Overall grade: A-

Good Strategy Bad Strategy: The Difference and Why It Matters by Richard P. Rumelt

Title: Good Strategy Bad Strategy 
Author: Richard P.  Rumelt
Did I listen or read?: bought the book from Amazon for work at Alation
When did I finish?: 8/1/2020
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters:
What happens? Three things.  Figure out what's wrong, what you need to fix.  Come up with plan - a strategy.  Figure out what the actions are.   Good strategies are going to make some people unhappy.
How long was this? 320 pages
Did I like this? Good ideas, not a great business book, sometimes good stories, sometimes a bit negative.  Does have a good sense of balance.
Overall grade: B

Blue Moon by Lee Child

Title: Blue Moon
Author: Lee Child
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: January 2020 (maybe)
When was the book published: October 2019
Main Characters: Reacher, Albanians, Ukranians
What happens? Reacher is on a bus and a guy has some money falling out of his pocket, and another guy is looking to steal it.  Reacher gets off with the guy who is in over his head, and Reacher fixes it.
How long was this? 359 pages
Did I like this?good reacher, but extreme carnage, even for reacher
Overall grade: A-

The Lying Game by Ruth Ware

Title: The Lying Game
Author: Ruth Ware
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?: July 22, 2020
When was the book published: 2017
Main Characters: Isa, Thea, Kate, Fatima all went to Salten boarding school
What happens?  Something bad happens while they are at school.  17 years later, a human bone is found near the Reach, the river near the school, where Kate still lives in a house sinking in to the sea.  Kate says "Help" by text and the others come running.  Luc (Kate's half brother) and Ambrose (Kate's father) have important parts.
How long was this? 370 pages
Did I like this? Good story.  Did not agree with the main character's choice to lie when not necessary, complicating things.  A page turner with twists.
Overall grade: B+

The Perfect Husband by Lisa Gardner

Title: The Perfect Husband
Author: Lisa Gardner
Did I listen or read?: Audible
When did I finish?: July 15, 2020
When was the book published: 2004
Main Characters: Tess, TJ, sister Marian, Jim Beckett
What happens? Tess goes to TJ to get his help turning her into a fighting machine, because she married serial killer Jim Beckett.  Beckett used to be a cop so he continually out thinks them and gets away.
How long was this? 430 pages
Did I like this? Really good story.  The overwrought relationship between TJ and Marian is a bit annoying after a while. 
Overall grade: A-

Fair Warning by Michael Connelly

Title: Fair Warning
Author: Michael Connelly
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?:  July 10, 2020
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Jack McEvoy, Rachel Walling
What happens? McEvoy gets visited by cops.  A woman he had a one night stand with at a bar turns up dead, her neck broken.  She was stalked, and had submitted her DNA.  He researches and finds other similar cases.
How long was this? 500+ pages
Did I like this? Top notch page turner.  Part 3 of the McEvoy series
Overall grade: A

The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

Title: The Scarecrow
Author: Michael Connelly
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?:  July 3, 2020
When was the book published: 2007
Main Characters: Jack McEvoy, Rachel Walling
What happens? McEvoy gets visited by cops.  Jack sets out to report on a 16 year old who confessed to a murder, and realizes that the confession is fake, and the evidence is set up by a killer who has a source of knowledge that allows him to continue to torture and kill woman and set up other people.
How long was this? 500+ pages
Did I like this? Top notch page turner.  Part 2 of the McEvoy series
Overall grade: A

The Poet by MIchael Connelly

Title: The Poet
Author: Michael Connelly
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?:  June 26, 2020
When was the book published: 1996
Main Characters: Jack McEvoy, Rachel Walling
What happens? McEvoy's brother, a cop, appears to have committed suicide, but his note happens to be words from Edgar Allen Poe.  He researches and finds other similar cases.
How long was this? 500+ pages
Did I like this? Top notch page turner.
Overall grade: A

A Trick of the Light by Louise Penny

Title: A Trick of the Light
Author: Louise Penny
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: June 13, 2020
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Gamache book number 7, Lacoste, Beauvoir, Clara, Peter Morrow, Olivier and Gabri, Myrna, Lillian Dyson, three art gallery owners, Denis Fortin, Marois, Castonguay
What happens? Clara has her opening show.  At the party afterwards, old friend and enemy, former art critic, alcoholic, talented artist Lillian Dyson is found dead.
How long was this? 345 pages
Did I like this? Really well done.  Nuanced, multiple plots, plenty of action, more character drama for Jean Guy and Peter/Clara
Overall grade: A

Just One Look by Harlan Coben

Title: Just One Look
Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: June 3, 2020
When was the book published: 2012 I think
Main Characters: Grace Lawson, husband Jack
What happens?  Grace was injured and survived a panic stampede years ago.  Met husband Jack in France where they had both run away.  Married and had two kids.  All is good until a picture shows up in her fotomat package with her husband in his Alllaw rock group.  At the same time, the guy who fired the gun at the concert is getting out of prison and the mobbed-up relative of one of the victims wants to get even, while being protective of Grace.
How long was this? 12h 34m
Did I like this? Yes, good story, good Coben, with plot twists and believable characters.
Overall grade: A-

Long Range by C.J. Box

Title: Long Range
Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: 5/24/2020
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, wife, Nate Romanowski and his wife, Judge and wife, Sinaloa cartel bad guys
What happens? Someone is taking long range shots and trying to kill people, and the cartel (from last book) are trying to even the score by taking Nate out.  And a bear has killed someone in the wild.
How long was this? 350 pages
Did I like this? Excellent CJ Box, great story, love the characters.
Overall grade: A

Ransom River by Meg Gardiner

Title: Ransom River
Author: Meg Gardiner
Did I listen or read?: library book during quarantine
When did I finish?: May 17, 2020
When was the book published:
Main Characters: Rory, mother and father Sam and Will, cousins Boone and Riss, Brad Mirkovic, Rory Shelton
What happens? Rory is on jury duty when two men break in and take hostages and the police come and it's a stand off.  Why? Spoiler alert, they are after her.
How long was this? 400 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good, would try this author again
Overall grade: B

Come Home by Lisa Scottoline

Title: Come Home
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: May 10, 2020
When was the book published: 2012?
Main Characters: Pediatrician Jill Farrow and her family, daughter Megan
What happens? Ex-step daughter Abby turns up drunk, ex-husband is dead. Police say suicide by drugs and alcohol but he didn't do drugs.  Ex-step daughter disappears.  Fiance warns not to get involved.  Pediatrician gets involved.
How long was this? 371 pages
Did I like this?  Yes, good story, not too aggravating
Overall grade: B+

Y is for Yesterday by Sue Grafton

Title: Y is for Yesterday
Author: Sue Grafton
Did I listen or read?: Library book during quarantine
When did I finish?: May 5, 2020
When was the book published: 2017
Main Characters: Kinsey Milhone
What happens? 1989 and a 10 year old high school sexual assault that was video taped and murder comes back to life when the tape re-emerges when someone tries to blackmail one of the convicted murderers with the tape when he gets out on parole
How long was this? 496 pages
Did I like this? Yes, good grafton...her last one
Overall grade: B+

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

Title: Talking to Strangers
Author: Malcolm Gladwell
Did I listen or read?: Jenny's book I bought her for her 29th birthday
When did I finish?: April 25, 2020
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: three things
What happens? 1) default to truth (Bernie Madoff)  2) myth of transparency (people think they can read other people and that people consistently show a transparent emotion) 3) connectedness (suicides and gas stokes in UK)
How long was this?
Did I like this? Usual Gladwell excellence
Overall grade: A-

Dark Light by Randy Wayne White

Title: Dark Light
Author: Randy Wayne White
Did I listen or read?: library book during quarantine
When did I finish?: April 5, 2012
When was the book published: 2006
Main Characters: Doc Ford, Bern the crazy german who owns the marina
What happens? Just after a major hurricane, a small Florida community recovers while a killer gradually loses it and goes on a spree, while Doc and his gang search for treasure from with German nazi connections, and Doc meets a mysterious lady with a past that intersects with the sunken boat
How long was this? 330 pages
Did I like this? really great story and characters, Nazi's, Henry Ford, an ex-hippy, a sociopath
Overall grade: A

Alone by Lisa Gardner

Title: Along
Author:Lisa Gardner
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: March 30, 2020
When was the book published:
Main Characters: Jimmy Gagnon, the cop who shoots him when he threatens his wife, His wife, Catherine, son, father James the judge, cop DeDe Walker, Catherine's tormentor Mr. Bozu who locked her in box in the ground when she was 12
What happens? The cop gets called in with the swat team, observes Jimmy G threatening his wife and shoots him.  The son is sick - is she poisoning him?  Did the cop do the right thing?
How long was this?
Did I like this? A really good page turner, didn't know where it was going
Overall grade: A-

Angel Eyes by Ace Atkins

Title: Angel Eyes
Author: Ace Atkins
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 3/14/2020
When was the book published:
Main Characters: Spenser, Z, Susan
What happens? Spenser goes to LA because a friend of Susan has her daughter disappear.  Turns out she's in a cult.
How long was this? 320 pages
Did I like this? Yes, a really good plot, Spenser is spenser, but changing a bit with the times.
Overall grade: A-

Night Fire by Michael Connelly

Title: Night Fire
Author: Michael Connelly
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: March 7. 2020
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: Renee Ballard, Harry Bosch, Ballard's old boss Olivas, Bosch's late mentor John Jack Thompson, Mickey Haller
What happens? Bosch and Ballard work together on two cases that come together, one an old murder of a guy buying drugs in John Jack's case, and the other a guy Haller is defending for killing a judge, both tied in with law firm Michaelson and Miller and lawyer Clayton Manley
How long was this? 407 pages
Did I like this? good but not great Connelly, can't wait for the next one!  Wandered a bit in the middle, very exciting at the end
Overall grade: A-

The Other Daughter by Lisa Gardner

Title: The Other Daughter
Author: Lisa Gardner
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: March 3, 2020
When was the book published: 1999
Main Characters: Melanie Stokes, FBI undercover David Riggs, brother Brian, Irish friend Jamie, parents Harper and Patricia, serial killer Russell Lee Holmes, reporter Larry Digger
What happens? 25 years after Melanie is adopted, all the truth comes out about Megan's death and her family.
How long was this? 417 pages
Did I like this? yeah, exciting, good.
Overall grade: A-

The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

Title: The Last Mrs. Parrish
Author: Liv Constantine
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?:  2/27/2020
When was the book published: 2017
Main Characters: Amber Patterson
What happens?  Amber decides to steal Mr. Parrish.  Good idea...or not?
How long was this? 370 pages
Did I like this? OK, really stretched out the Amber patterson viewpoint
Overall grade: B+

Laguna Heat by T. Jefferson Parker

Title: Laguna Heat
Author: T. Jefferson Parker
Did I listen or read?: dollar tree book
When did I finish?: 2/12/2020
When was the book published: 1985
Main Characters: Det. Tom Shephard, father Wade, Tim Algernon and Hope, murdered and burned, Joe who owns the tennis club resort
What happens? Shephard investigates a murder that leads back to his own mother's death when he was a boy, all centered around the tennis club in Laguna Beach, where his father is a preacher ex-cop, and he has returned after shooting a teenage boy in LA
How long was this? 340 pages
Did I like this? Very good, yes - and only a dollar!
Overall grade: A-

The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell

Title: The Family Upstairs
Author: Lisa Jewell
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: 2/11/2020
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: Libby Jones (the baby), Finn, Henry, Lucy and her two kids, David Thompsen, Birdy, Sally
What happens? Grown up kids remembering when their Chelsea home was destroyed by a megalomaniac
How long was this? 340 pages
Did I like this? very good, suspenseful, great characters, love and evil
Overall grade: A-

The Second Sleep by Robert Harris

Title: The Second Sleep
Author: Robert Harris
Did I listen or read?: kindle from library loan
When did I finish?: Jan 28, 2020
When was the book published: not sure
Main Characters: The father who travels to the small town after the pastor dies, Lady Durston
What happens? The pastor dies in mysterious circumstances in 1486, but it's not really 1486, it's way in the future and the past (our current world) is gone.
How long was this?
Did I like this? Very good.  Disappointed to find out '1486' but then it turns out to be great science fiction about a version of the future.
Overall grade: A-

Guilty Not Guilty by Felix Francis

Title: Guilty Not Guilty
Author: Felix Francis
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: Jan 27, 2020
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: William Gordon Russell, late wife Amelia, angry brother in law, Detective DS Dowdswell, Amelia's mother Mary
What happens? Bill Russell is stewarding at a racetrack when informed his wife has been murdered.  He is the first suspect, but believes his brother-in-law is behind it.
How long was this? long
Did I like this? It was OK, but the story went on and on without too many twists and turns.  There is a lot of mansplaining about the legal system that isn't that interesting.  The plot twist at the end was good, just took forever to get there.
Overall grade: B-

The Bitterroots by C.J. Box

Title: The Bitterroots
Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: January 20, 2020
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: Cassie Dewell, son Ben, Rachel the attorney, Blake Kleinsasser
What happens? Blake is accused of raping his niece.  The Kleinsassers are feudal lords in a poor county in upstate Montana, and Cassie goes there to rattle their cage.
How long was this? 311 pages
Did I like this? almost as good as Joe Pickett.  good story, lots of bad guys
Overall grade: A-

I'd Know You Anywhere by Laura Lippman

Title: I'd Know You Anywhere
Author: Laura Lippman
Did I listen or read?: Audible
When did I finish?: January 16, 2020
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Walter the serial killer, Elizabeth/Eliza - victim
What happens? In 1985, Walter goes on a spree, but doesn't kill Eliza.  22 years after being sentenced to death, he reaches out to her in a desperate attempt to gain more time.
How long was this? 373 pages
Did I like this? good story, goes back and forth to 1985, good characters on all sides
Overall grade: A-

The Fear Index by Robert Harris

Title: The Fear Index
Author: Robert Harris
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?: January 15, 2020
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Alex Hoffman
What happens? Hoffman comes up with a hedge fund with machine learning based on the Fear Index.  Does the computer start making fear?
How long was this? 323 pages
Did I like this? Readable, but not great
Overall grade:  B

Conviction by Denise Mina

Title:  Conviction
Author: Denise Mina
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: 1/4/2020
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: Narrated by Sophie Bukaran / Anna McDonald.  Hamish (soon to be ex husband) Fin Cohen (rock star and podcast creator) Estelle (soon to be Fin's ex-wife) bad guy billionaire Gretchen Teagler
What happens? Spoiler alert: Before the book, Sophie gets raped by 4 footballers, and Gretchen pays for a cover up.  As the book starts, Sophie has become Anna, married to Hamish, who is leaving her as that is his pattern and she is a bit off owing to her experience.  She winds up listening to a podcast where she knows the man killed when a boat blows up, and realizes that Gretchen is behind it somehow.
How long was this? 376 pages
Did I like this? Really good, great story and characters and a very different plot.
Overall grade: A

Thanks for Being Late by Thomas Friedman

Title: Thanks for Being Late: An Optimist's Guide in an Age of Acceleration
Author: Thomas Friedman
Did I listen or read?: paperback
When did I finish?: Dec 28, 2019
When was the book published: 2016
Main Characters: 1) industrial age 2) Moore's Law 3) Now - when man and machine can work together    Three main forces 1) Moore's Law 2) Climate change 3) globalization
What happens?
How long was this? 520 pages with a new afterword
Did I like this? Some amazing ideas, some really overdone detail.  Good 250 page book with important themes.  Didn't necessarily make me optimistic
Overall grade: B+

The Shadow Wife by Diane Chamberlain

Title: The Shadow Wife
Author: Diane Chamberlain
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: Dec 22, 2019
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Joelle, Mara in a coma, Liam the husband, Carlynn Shire the faith healer
What happens? Mara has a stroke while giving birth, becomes a vegetable.  Joelle (best friend) and Liam take care of her, fall in love.  Carylnn (in Big Sur in the mid sixties) saves Joelle's life when she is born to Johnny Angel and wife.
How long was this? 384 pages
Did I like this? Well done, good story, moves fast.  Recognizes the existence of faith healers.
Overall grade: A-