A Dangerous Man by Robert Crais

 Title: A Dangerous Man

Author: Robert Crais
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: Dec 15 2022
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: Pike, Cole
What happens?  Cole saves a girl who is being kidnapped outside a bank.  Spoiler she is the (unknown to her) daughter of a couple in witness protection with a very angry drug lord after them.
How long was this? 336 pages
Did I like this? Good Pike/Cole story, yeah
Overall grade: A-

Such a Quiet Place by Megan Miranda

 Title: Such a Quiet Place

Author: Megan Miranda
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: December 17, 0222
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Harper Nash narrates, Ruby Fletcher gets out of prison, the Truetts were killed, Charlotte has 2 daughters, Tate and Jackson live next door, etc.
What happens? Hollow's Edge is a quiet neighborhood, everyone works at the local college, until the Truetts are killed by CO, their detector missing, their car running.  Ruby has just gotten out of jail after her conviction was overturned and she comes back to stay with Harper and ....  wreak more havoc?  find out what really happened?
How long was this? 337 ages
Did I like this? Good plot, a page turner through the middle.  Ending was a bit abrupt
Overall grade: A-

Treasure State by C.J. Box

 Title: Tresure State 

Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: December 4, 2022
When was the book published: Sept 2 2022 
Main Characters: Cassie Dewell, guy who posted the treasure poem, woman who lost her life savings to a con artist
What happens?  Cassie works on two cases.  The author of a treasure hunt poem wants to find out if she can find him.  A woman who lost millions to a hustler from Anaconda wants him caught and punished.
How long was this? 275 pages
Did I like this?  Pretty good, yeah
Overall grade: B+

The Maze by Nelson DeMille

 Title: The Maze

Author: Nelson DeMille
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: November 28, 2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: John Corey, a buncha crooked ex cops, Mac, the current chief of police who might not be crooked.  Beth Penrose, detective who he hooks up with again.  He infiltrates the detective agency based on a farm (next to a maze) with the intent to bring them down.
What happens? see above
How long was this? 427 pages
Did I like this? OK, amusing, but kindof a throw back  the self monologues with the dick jokes get old
Overall grade: B

Desert Star by MIchael Connelly

 Title: Desert Star

Author: Michael Connelly
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: November 22, 2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Renee Ballard, Harry Bosch
What happens? Renee resurrects the cold case unit, with the mayor's flunky acting as part of the team.  She recruits Harry who wants to work on the case of family of 4 killed and buried in the desert.  He winds up helping Renee solve the rape and murder of a young woman, and tie it to the rape and murder of the mayor's sister 11 years ago.
How long was this? 401 pages
Did I like this? Good Connelly.   Harry is sick, he might die!!
Overall grade: A-

Racing the Light by Robert Crais

 Title: Racing the Light

Author: Robert Crais
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: November 12, 2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Elvis Cole, Joe Pike.  John Shoe, Ryan Seaborg, the chinaman.  Buncha crooked politicians.  The port actress.
What happens? Elvis is hired by the Shoe's mother to find him as he is missing.  He has been working with a porn star/escort/artist who has stumbled on a big scandal
How long was this? 350 pages
Did I like this? Excellent Pike Novel.  Lucy is back from Baton Rouge!!
Overall grade: A-

Wrong Time, Wrong Place by Gillian McAllister

 Title: Wrong Time, Wrong Place

Author: ?Gillian McAllister
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: November 12, 2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Jen, Kelly, Todd, Joseph Jones, Ryan the new cop
What happens? Jen witnesses her son, Todd, kill Joseph Jones.  The next day she wakes up is yesterday and she keeps going back to fix it.
How long was this? 
Did I like this?  Tremendous plot, great characters, multiple twists
Overall grade: straight A.  Is there an A+?

No Plan B by Lee and Alan Child

 Title: No Plan B

Author: Lee and Alan Child
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: 11/4/2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Reacher, Hannah ex wife of guy who died.  Bunch of dudes running a prison.  Guy looking for revenge for his dead son.
What happens? Reacher sees a woman get thrown under a bus, grabs her purse, figures it's related to the death of a guy she worked with.
How long was this?  350 pages??
Did I like this?  Me-diocre.  Weird plot.  4 stories, no idea where they are going.
Overall grade: B-

Suspect by Scott Turow

Title: Suspect
Author: Scott Turow
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: Oct 25 2022
When was the book published: Sep 20, 2022 2022
Main Characters: Pinky (Clarisse) a bisexual detective who works for a lawyer, Rik, Tong the mysterious guy in the next apt, Lucia Gomez, the police chief accused of sexual harassment, the Ritz, the guy behind it
What happens?  Pinky works days helping Lucia fight off the legal threat, and nights working to figure out what Tong next door is up to.  The plots come together.
How long was this? 448 pages
Did I like this? Yes, another winner from Turow.  Goes down to the wire with "will he get away with it?"
Overall grade: A-

 

The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager

 Title: The Last Time I Lied

Author: Riley Sager
Did I listen or read?:  kindle
When did I finish?: Oct 24, 2022
When was the book published: 2018
Main Characters: Emma Stone the artist.  3 girls from camp, Vivian and 2 others from 15 yrs ago.  Francesca Harris who reopens the camp 15 years later.  Chet and Theo, her sons.  
What happens?  15 years ago, Vivian and two other disappeared from the camp.  Emma was their cabin mate.  Present time, Emma is in a cabin and the three girls with her disappear again!  What!
How long was this? 402 pages
Did I like this?  Ok, a little off, a little bizarre.  Her deepest secrets are kinda "feh"
Overall grade: B

The Mother In Law by Sally Hepworth

 Title: The Mother in Law

Author: Sally Hepworth

Did I listen or read?: kindle 
When did I finish?: Oct 14, 2022
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: Lucy, her mother in law Diane, Diane's husband Tom, Lucy's husband, Diane's son Ollie, and Ollie's sister Nettie
What happens? Diane is dead.  By suicide?  Did Lucy do it, as they hated each other?  The story is told back and forth over time.
How long was this? 329 pages
Did I like this? Yes, a good story with real characters who aren't sterotypes
Overall grade: A-

The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager

 Title: The House Across the Lake

Author: Riley Sager
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: Oct 14, 2022 UK trip
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Casey the actress, Katherine the model across the lake, Tom her husband the tech mogul, Eli the writer in a different house
What happens? Casey is relegated to the house by her mother and manager, saves Katherine's life in the middle of the lake, thinks Tom has killed Katherine, and weird stuff happens
How long was this? 368 pages
Did I like this? So that's how you are going to explain this?   It's weird, Stephen King like.  But well written, good characters.  Just a lot of bad people around the lake.
Overall grade: B+

The Golden Girl by Elin Hilderbrand

 Title: The Golden Girl

Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Did I listen or read?: kindle - library
When did I finish?: Oct 11, 2022 UK trip
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Vivian Howe, chief Ed Kapernash, kids Carson (partyer), Willa (mother), Leo, ex-husband
What happens? Vivian is killed by a hit and run, and gets 75 days in heaven to watch the family progress, and 3 nudges
How long was this? 384 pages
Did I like this? Much better than expected, very enjoyable
Overall grade: A-

The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell

Title: The Family Remains

Author: Lisa Jewell 
Did I listen or read? kindle
When did I finish?: Oct 7, 2022 UK trip
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: The family that was in the Family Upstairs
What happens? picks up their story.
How long was this? 384 pages
Did I like this? very well done, yes
Overall grade: A-

Two Girls Down by Louisa Luna

Title: Two Girls Down

Author: Louisa Luna
Did I listen or read?: kindle - library?
When did I finish?: Oct 3, 2022 UK trip
When was the book published: 2018
Main Characters: Alice Vega, Max Caplan
What happens? Two little girls go missing.  Alice is hired by the family to help in the search.  Max is a local guy, ex cop, she enlists to help.
How long was this? 311 pages
Did I like this? pretty good, good story, really good main character.  Try to find more
Overall grade: A-

A Better Man by Louise Penny (Gamache)

 Title: A Better Man

Author: Louise Penny
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: Sep 24, 2022
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: Gamache, Jean Paul Beauvoir, Isabelle Lacoste, Tracey Carter (potter), Vivienne (abused wife), weird detective account Cloutier, Homer Gibson (Vivienne's father), Clara, Gabri, Olivier, etc.
What happens? Flooding conditions around Three Pines.  Cloutier recruits Armand to search for the lost woman.  Carter denies killing her.  She washes up in the Bella Bella
How long was this? 417 pages
Did I like this? A good Gamache story, as good as they come
Overall grade: A-

Wish You Were Gone by Kieran Scott

 Title: Wish You Were Gone

Author: Kieran Scott
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: 9/22/2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Emma, widow, kids Kelsey and Hunter, friends Lizzie (mother of Willow) and Gray, wife of Darnell who is business partner of the late Mr. Emma
What happens? The husband/father/business partner is dead.  How did it happen?  Well, he appears to have driven his car through the back of the garage.  Why is his necktie in the bushes?  Where's his cell phone and computer?  etc.
How long was this? 352 pages
Did I like this? It was pretty good.  How could the killer who did this not have any aftereffects, not have it enter his / her thoughts that we had to listen to?
Overall grade: B+

Verity by Colleen Hoover

 Title: Verity

Author: Colleen Hoover
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?: Sep 11 2022
When was the book published: 2018
Main Characters: Lowen the writer, Jeremy the husband, Verity the wife/writer
What happens? Lowen reluctantly agrees to finish Verity's books after an accident leaves her paralyzed
How long was this? 336 pages
Did I like this? Pretty predictable, sad, attempt at a twisted ending didn't really work for me.
Overall grade: B

One Step Too Far by Lisa Gardner

 Title: One Step Too Far

Author: Lisa Gardner
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: Sep 5 2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Frankie Elkin
What happens? A bachelor camping party goes bad, the son is missing 5 years later.  Frankie shows up to help search.
How long was this? 416 pages
Did I like this? Frankie is a great lead character, very different.  Great story, page turner.
Overall grade: A

Shadows Reel by C.J. Box

 Title: Shadows Reel

Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: Aug 28 2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Joe, Marybeth, Nate
What happens? Weird Nazi package left at the library for Marybeth.  Nate heads off to fight antifa and get his birds back
How long was this? 384 pages
Did I like this? OK, same great characters, weird plot
Overall grade:  B+

Bye Bye Baby by Ace Atkins

 Title: Bye Bye Baby

Author: Ace Atkins (Robert Parker)
Did I listen or read?: library 
When did I finish?: Auguts 23, 2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Spenser, Hawk, Susan, usual cops.  
What happens? Spenser helps a black congresswoman who is being threatened.  Deals with a bunch of white supremacist nut jobs.
How long was this? 320 pages?
Did I like this? Very good Spenser, yes.
Overall grade: A-

Night Music by JoJo Moyes

 Title: Night Music

Author: JoJo Moyes
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: August 16, 2022
When was the book published: ?
Main Characters: Matt McDonald and wife Laura, Isabelle and kids Kitty and Thierry
What happens? Isabelle's husband dies, and they move into the house inherited by her great uncle.  Laura and evil husband Matt have been waiting for him to die so they could get the house.
How long was this? 363 pages
Did I like this? It was OK, not her best work.  Every section starts with "she ...." and you have to read along to find out who we are with.
Overall grade: B

The IT Girl by Ruth Ware

Title: The IT Girl
Author: Ruth Ware
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: August 10, 2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Hannah Jones, April, Hugh, Will, John Neville
What happens? Before and after.  Before, Hannah goes to Oxford, rooms with April. After, John Neville dies in prison and Hannah isn't sure he did it.
How long was this? 423 pages
Did I like this? Very good thriller, yes, yes, yes
Overall grade: A

The Low Desert by Tod Goldberg

 Title: The Low Desert

Author: Tod Goldberg
Did I listen or read?: free book from Hannah
When did I finish?: July 26, 2022 I think
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: multiple short stories with repeating characters, like a cocktail waitress searching for her mystery adopted daughter from Russia.
What happens?  Lots of hit men, gangsters, in Palm Beach and the low desert in SoCal
How long was this? 290 pages
Did I like this?  really good writing, great stories, will have to find Gangsterland and Gangster Nation
Overall grade: A- cuz it's short stories

The Long Weekend by Gilly Macmillan

 Title: The Long Weekend

Author: Gilly Macmillan
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: August 1, 2022
When was the book published:  2022
Main Characters: 4 couples, first name listed was in the college gang.  Edy and Rob (died recently), Mark and Jayne from the army, Toby and Ruth with a baby, Paul and Emily.  Three couples go away for the weekend (without Edy) and get a message (letter and champagne) from Edy saying "have fun, by the end of the weekend, one of you will be dead.  They stay at the house of John and ???.  John has dementia, Ruth is a blackout drunk, and Jayne has PTSD and blacks out.  Who can remember what?
What happens? Very exciting story of the different characters, and the first person of the killer.
How long was this? 336 pages
Did I like this?  It was a thriller, yes.
Overall grade: B+ because of the multiple blackouts.

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker

 Title: We Begin at the End

Author: Chris Whitaker
Did I listen or read?: free book from Hannah
When did I finish?: July 25
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: 
What happens? Sad story of a small town, the sheriff, his best friend who killed a girl and just came out of prison, the drunk mom with two kids, the little girl who is an outlaw, and her brother
How long was this? 324 pages
Did I like this? really well written and deeply sad, then sadder
Overall grade: A-

L.A. Weather by Maria Amparo Escandon

Title: L.A. Weather
Author: Maria Amparo Escandon
Did I listen or read?: Hannah/s free collection
When did I finish?: June 20, 2022
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Oscar, father, Keila, mother, three sisters, Claudia, Patricia, Olivia
What happens? their life story during LA about 2015.  Oscar's almond trees, Claudia's brain tumor, Patricia and son still living w mom and dad 
How long was this? 293 pages
Did I like this? A story with good characters, a snapshot of their lives.  The bonds of family
Overall grade: B

Six Days in Rome by Francesca Giacco

 Title:  Six Days in Rome

Author: Francesca Giacco 
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: July 8, 2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Emilia, Michael (the ex), John (the new one)
What happens? Not much.  She spends 6 days in Rome and talk endlessly about her relationship and how great it was, and how it ended.
How long was this? 288 pages
Did I like this? Not at all.  Sooooo boring and slow, should have stopped.
Overall grade: C-

The Narrowboat Summer by Anne Youngson

 Title:  The Narrowboat Summer

Author: Anne Youngson
Did I listen or read?: Hannah's pre-release copy
When did I finish?: June 15, 2022
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Three woman, 1 on the boat, 1 just got laid off, 1 just walked from her husband
What happens? A lovely tale of two woman who meet by chance and decide to help the boat-woman who needs cancer treatment, by taking her narrowboat to the repair shop, even though they don't know squat about narrowboats.
How long was this?  336 pages
Did I like this? An enchanting peaceful story, with a bit of action, and the pace of a slow boat trip through the English Countryside
Overall grade: A-

The Searcher by Tana French

 Title: The Searcher

Author: Tana French
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?: June, 2021 I think
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Cal Hopper, a bunch of locals
What happens? Cal is an ex-chicago cop who retires to a small town in Ireland to a house he has to fix up.  There's a missing kid, and his little brother (sister?) comes to Cal for help.
How long was this? 450 pages
Did I like this? Yes, good story
Overall grade: A-

The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell

 Title: The Night She Disappeared

Author: Lisa Jewell
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?: July 10, 2022
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Talullah, mother Kim, Sophie, mystery writer, Zach, father of Talullah's Noah, Scarlett
What happens? Talullah and Zach disappear, leaving Kim (grandmother) in charge of Noah.  Sophie accompanies boyfriend who becomes head of Maypole, where Talullah and Scarlett met.
How long was this? 416 pages
Did I like this? Excellent, page turner, well done.
Overall grade: A-

Just Get Home by Bridget Foley

 Title: Just Get Home

Author: Bridget Foley
Did I listen or read?: hannah collection, paperback
When did I finish?: June 14, 2022
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Beegie, teenage foster kid, Dessa, single mom
What happens? monster LA earthquake, Dessa wants to get home to her kid
How long was this? 340 pages
Did I like this? good story, fast paced, realistic
Overall grade: B+

Credible Threat by J.A. Jance

 Title: Credible Threat (Ali Reynolds Book 15)

Author: J.A. Jance
Did I listen or read?: Libby library book
When did I finish?: Jun 4, 2022
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Ali Reynolds, husband B., archibishop, lady whose son got molested
What happens? The lady flips, decides she has to kill the archbishop, starts leaving threatening notes.  Archbishop reaches out to Ali, lady planning the killing is pretty smart, pinning it on a homeless dude who begs near the archbishop's house
How long was this? 332 pages
Did I like this?  It's OK, better than the last one.  Moved along and easy to follow
Overall grade: B+

Payback by Mike Lupica

Title: Payback

Author: Mike Lupica
Did I listen or read?:  Libby library book
When did I finish?: May 29, 2022
When was the book published:  2021
Main Characters: Sunny Randall, Susan Silverman, Jess Stone, her friend Spike.  Eddie Ross, russian - Lawton, roommate of bad guy. Lee Farrell's niece Emma
What happens? Sunny tries to find out why niece Emma got beat up and won't talk about it.  She gets tangled in a separate plot helping Spike who has lost his business to a cheating hedge fund bad guy.
How long was this? 347 pages
Did I like this? Good Parker Simulation
Overall grade: B+

The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley

 Title: The Paris Apartment

Author: Lucy Foley
Did I listen or read?: Audible
When did I finish?:  5/27/2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters:  Jess, her brother Ben, Sophie (Penthouse), the Concierge, Mimi, the nice guy
What happens?  Jess goes to visit Ben, the writer, who is living in a really expensive Paris apartment that is full of mysteries.  Ben is missing.  What happened?
How long was this? 360 pages
Did I like this? Got better - beginning was too much foreshadowing.  But got better
Overall grade: B

The Truth about Melody Browne by Lisa Jewell

Title: The Truth about Melody Browne

Author: Lisa Jewell
Did I listen or read?:  Kindle
When did I finish?: May 22, 2020
When was the book published: 2009
Main Characters:  Melody Browne,
What happens? Melody's house burns down when she is 9.  She forgets her whole life before that.  When she is on a date, they go to a hypnotist and she is sent back to 5 years old and starts remembering it all.  Her baby brother died, and her mother flipped out, and she lived by Ken, the free love guy, and her father moved to LA.
How long was this?  326 pages
Did I like this?  Really nice story.
Overall grade: B+

Kingdom of the Blind by Louise Penny

 Title: Kingdom of the Blind

Author: Louise Penny
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?: May 12, 2022
When was the book published: 2018
Main Characters: Gamache, usual crew, the Duchess
What happens? Gamache and Myrna get name as executors of a will.  Gamache fights to stop the drugs that came into the country in the last book.
How long was this? 378 pages
Did I like this? top notch gamache book
Overall grade: A-

The Missing Piece by John Lescroart

 Title: The Missing Piece

Author: john Lescroart
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: May 8, 2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Glitzky, Wes Farrell, Paul Riley (exonerated), Doug Rush (father of murdered girl)
What happens? Riley gets out, gets killed, Rush is misidentified as the killer, then....
How long was this? 304 pages
Did I like this? good quick hitting legal, good usual characters
Overall grade: A-

Something to Hide by Elizabeth George

 Title: Something to Hide

Author: Elizabeth George
Did I listen or read?: kindle
When did I finish?: May 3, 2022
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Lynley, Barb Havers, Simisola and Tani
What happens? Female cop working on FGM, killed, and Tani tried to protect Simisola
How long was this? 704 pages
Did I like this? Good story, hard topic, lots going on
Overall grade: B+

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

 Title: The Silent Patient

Author: Alex Michaelides
Did I listen or read?: audible w wendy 
When did I finish?: April 23, 2022 Clayton Art and Wine Festival
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: Theo the therapist, Alicia the silent artist who killed Gabriel
What happens? Alicia shoots Gabriel 5 times in the head and goes silent.  Theo comes to treat her, and also wrestles with his wife's infidelity
How long was this? 325 pages
Did I like this?  Good story, twists and turns, lots of holes in the plot, but definitely entertaining
Overall grade: B+

Fidelity by Thomas Perry

 Title: Fidelity

Author: Thomas Perry
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: April 5, 2022
When was the book published: 2008
Main Characters: Phil Kramer, wife Emily, co workers at the detective agency, Jerry Hobart, contract killer, Ted Forrest who likes girls at 14
What happens? Phil is shot dead. Emily takes over the detective agency and tries to figure out why he was having an affair and had emptied all the company and personal accounts.
How long was this? 352 pages
Did I like this? Really good, probably the best Perry I have read.  Plot moved fast, unpredictable, strong characters
Overall grade: A-

Stone's Throw by Mike Lupica

 Title: Stone's Throw

Author: Mike Lupica
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Apr 1, 2022
When was the book published:  2021
Main Characters: Jesse Stone, Molly, two Vegas guys bidding on 'the throw'
What happens? The 'throw' is up for sale, the most beautiful part of Paradise, MA.  The mayor gets murdered, then the leader of Sons of the Beach, young people opposed to the deal.  Two bad guys are competing, and the new mayor is acting like Trump.
How long was this? 305 pages

Did I like this? Pretty good imitation of Parker, reminds me a lot of Spenser
Overall grade: B+

The Match by Harlan Coben

Title: The Match
Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: audible book for Goleta driving for Jenny's honeymoon
When did I finish?: 3/28/2022
When was the book published:  2022
Main Characters: Wilde returns
What happens? Wilde puts his DNA into a database, and gets matched with a cousin who was star of a reality show, Love is a Battlefield.  The cousin and his wife got famous, and then broke up.  Wilde searches for his family.
How long was this? 352 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good Coben story
Overall grade: A-

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult

 Title: Small Great Things

Author: Jodi Picoult
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: March 27, 2022
When was the book published: 2016
Main Characters: Ruth labor nurse, Turk - white supremacist
What happens? Turk's wife is in labor, and insists that Ruth (no one of color) be involved.  The baby is in trouble, and Ruth gets blamed.  
How long was this? 452 pages
Did I like this? A terrific story with a deep look into the characters, one chapter at a time.  Fascinating viewpoint on race, where the author tries to really get inside black, white and neo-nazi
Overall grade: A

Small Town by Thomas Perry

Title: Small Town
Author: Thomas Perry
Did I listen or read?: Audible
When did I finish?: March 21, 2022
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: 
What happens? a prison break where all guards and many in the town are murdered.  The chief detective goes and hunts down the 12 leaders one by one
How long was this? 320 pages
Did I like this? very little, a very detailed mechanical description of the breakout, and of the hunt for the 12
Overall grade: C+

American Spy by Lauren Wilkinson

Title: American Spy
Author: Lauren Wilkinson
Did I listen or read?: Powell's paperback
When did I finish?: March 16, 2022
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: Marie Mitchell, Thomas Sankara, Ross (FBI), Salter (CIA)
What happens? Marie's sister Helene dies in a car accident, and she pursues FBI work.  The CIA recruits her to go undercover in Burkina Faso, where Sankara has taken control ala Castro.
How long was this? 294 pages
Did I like this? It's a solid idea, and the jumping around in time thing means that you are frustrated trying to figure out what is going on to whom.  It comes together at the end, except she didn't write the ending which really sucked.
Overall grade: B-

 

Resurrection Men by Ian Rankin

 Title: Resurrection Man

Author: Ian Rankin
Did I listen or read?:
When did I finish?:
When was the book published:
Main Characters: John Rebus, Siobhan Clark, their boss Jill Templar, boss of bosses Strathairn, Gerry Cafferty, dirty cops Ward, Gray and McCollough
What happens? Rebus gets sent to Tully Allen intentionally by throwing his teacup at Templar, on Strathairn's orders, to find out if the dirty cops are dirty.  They wind up investigation the Lomax murder and Dicky Diamond's involvement, and Siobhan keeps working on the art dealer Marbler's murder
How long was this? 14 hours 41 minutes
Did I like this? Good story, a bit confusing in the middle, but exciting and well done
Overall grade: A-

The Order by Daniel Silva

 Title: The Order

Author: Daniel Silva
Did I listen or read?: Powell's paperback
When did I finish?: March 4, 2022
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Gabriel Allon and wife, Pope, assistant to pope Luigi Donati.  A bunch of bad guys called the Order
What happens?  Chiara forces Gabriel on vacation, but the Pope dies and he is called in to investigate, by Donati, who was away on that Thursday night.  Allon winds up researching the church's claim that the Jews killed Christ, looking for a mysterious book.
How long was this?  436 pages
Did I like this? really good, action and some education also
Overall grade: A-

User Friendly by Cliff Kuang with Robert Fabricant

Title:  User Friendly
Author: Cliff Kuang with Robert Fabricant
Did I listen or read?: powell's paperback
When did I finish?: February 27, 2022
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: how the hidden rule of design are changing the way we work, live and play
What happens? not about UIs in software specifically.  A good history of design with lots of interesting stories.  wanders a bit, but useful knowledge
How long was this? 330 pages
Did I like this? has some bad guys (tesla) or bad examples (the brilliance of self driving cars) that I don't think hold up, but his main points are generally on target
Overall grade: B+

 

The Boyfriend by Thomas Perry

 Title: The Boyfriend

Author: Thomas Perry
Did I listen or read?: powell's
When did I finish?: 2/13/2022
When was the book published:  2013
Main Characters: Jack Till, Joey Moreland, Catherine, Sharon Long, Jack's daughter Holly
What happens? A young man becomes an escort's boyfriend before killing her and moving on to his next conquest, and Jack tracks him down 
How long was this? 298pages
Did I like this? Very good, good characters, plot moves fast, quick - like a short story. Want to read more Thomas Perry
Overall grade: A-

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

 Title: A Gentleman in Moscow

Author: Amor Towles
Did I listen or read?: powell's paperback
When did I finish?: 2/5/2022
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: the Count, Alexander Rostov, Nina, daughter Sophia, the dudes in the hotel
What happens?  How did this guy take a story about a man being banished to live inside a hotel because of a great poem he wrote, write such an amazing wonderful novel?
How long was this? 460 pages and I could have gone on forever
Did I like this? Characters to root for.  History in the making.  Great deeds and noble people
Overall grade: A

The Perfect Couple by Erin Hildebrand

 Title: The Perfect Couple

Author: Elin Hildrebrand
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: February 2, 2021
When was the book published: 2018
Main Characters: celeste otis, benji winbury, benji's best friend shooter, celeste's mother with cancer, her father the sales guy at Men's Wearhouse, benji's mother the writer and father the old rich dude
What happens? Celeste is gonna marry Benji, but everyone is sleeping with and in love with the wrong people.  The maid of honor turns up dead on the beach on the day of the wedding.  Who did it?
How long was this? 480 pages
Did I like this? pretty good, the time jumping can be a little frustrating, but she keeps it moving
Overall grade: A-

Think Again by Adam Grant

 Title: Think Again

Author: Adam Grant
Did I listen or read?: Powell's
When did I finish?: January 21, 2022
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: individual re-thinking, persuading others.  listen like you are wrong.  don't come on strong.  Interview, ask questions.  Give the other person space to stay disagreed.  Don't ask kids what they will be when they grow up.  Simplicity is good sometimes (like getting a response to an email.)  Complexity is good...people believe arguments when they hear that there is backup to justify.
What happens?
How long was this? 260 pages
Did I like this? top notch, easy to read, timely, fits my style
Overall grade: A-

The Knowledge Machine: How Irrationality Created Modern Science by Michael Strevens

 Title: The Knowledge Machine: How Irrationality Created Modern Science

Author: Michael Strevens
Did I listen or read?: powell's
When did I finish?: January 9, 2022
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: iron rule
What happens? The iron rule says that scientists must only study and report on things that have an empirical explanation, that have a proven impact.  If the finding is disproved, it's wrong.  While philosophy, religion or politics play a part in the thinking and theorizing, ultimately it's the empirical observations that count.  People are always biased.  The continual focus on proving and testing advances science.
How long was this? 280 pages
Did I like this? I wanted to learn, but the reading was slow.
Overall grade: B

A Slow Fire Burning by Paula Hawkins

Title:
Author:
Did I listen or read?:
When did I finish?:
When was the book published:
Main Characters: Irene elderly lady lives next to Angela and Daniel's home, Deidre, Laura with a bad limp, Miriam, Daniel (dead), Carla, Theo married to Carla, Angela (dead)
What happens? Daniel is killed on his houseboat, discovered by Miriam, had spent the night with Laura.  Everyone is interrelated in this story with evil and mistreatment by many against many
How long was this? 307 pages
Did I like this? A little hard to follow due to jumping around in time, and the introduction of a fictional book written by Theo that is based on Miriam's experience
Overall grade: B+

 

Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman

 Title: Mr. Nobody

Author: Catherine Steadman
Did I listen or read?: powell's
When did I finish?: January 1, 2022
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Dr. Emma Stone (aka Marni Beaufort), mystery man Matthew, nurse Rhoda, brother Joe, cop Chris Poole, wife journalist Zara
What happens? Man with amnesia shows up on beach, Emma is recruited to come to the small town on the coast, happens to be the town where horrible tragedy happened to her
How long was this? 410 pages
Did I like this? Really good story, ending/explanation a bit kooky and convoluted
Overall grade: A-

No Second Chance by Harlan Coben

 Title: No Second Chance

Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: powell's
When did I finish?: December 27, 2021
When was the book published: 2003
Main Characters: Dr. Marc Seidman, daughter Tara, wife Tara, best friend lawyer Lenny, addict sister
What happens? Marc is shot in his own home, daughter disappears.
How long was this? 368 pages
Did I like this? Top notch thriller, excellent
Overall grade: A

State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton

 Title: State of Terror

Author: Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton
Did I listen or read?: Kindle
When did I finish?: December 20, 2021
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Secretary of State, terrorist Bashir Shah, president Evan Runn, "
What happens? The secretary of state, former head of a news service, puts her daughter in charge of the news service, her son is a journalist turned muslim, and she drags her best friend the former teacher to Washington.  Her
How long was this? 480 pages
Did I like this? obvious political commentary aside, an entertaining story
Overall grade: B+