The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain

 Title: The Last House on the Street

Author: Diane Chamberlain
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 25, 2023
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Ellie in 1965 w friend Brenda and Garner, Kayla and daughter Raine and father Reed in 2010
What happens? Ellie decides to help SCOPE sign up voters and raises trouble in NC.  Kayla is moving into the house next door to where Ellie grew up, which she and her husband planned and where he died, and the past rears its head.
How long was this? 338 pages
Did I like this? Very good.  Hard to read, like a documentary about change and the Klan in the south
Overall grade: A-

Red Warning by Matthew Quirk

Title: Red Warning
Author: Matthew Quirk
Did I listen or read?: audible purchase
When did I finish?: June 23, 2023
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Sam Hudson, Emily, Konstantin
What happens? Sam is on leave from the CIA and gets in the middle of a plot by (spoiler alert) fringe Russians who want to blow up DC, and have been planning this for 37 years
How long was this?  423 pages
Did I like this? not really interesting, predictable, not fast paced
Overall grade: C

 

Swift Vengeance by T. Jefferson Parker

 Title: Swift Vengeance

Author: T. Jefferson Parker
Did I listen or read?: paperback from Bill's Ojai
When did I finish?: June 19, 2023
When was the book published: 2018
Main Characters: Roland Ford, Lindsay Rakes former drone pilot, Joan Taucher FBI, Roland's irregulars Dick and Liz and Burt and Clevenger
What happens? Someone is coming after drone pilots, and also may be plotting a major act of terrorism
How long was this? 399 pages paperback
Did I like this? Good story, Parker is a good fast paced writer
Overall grade: B+

The Last Chairlift by John Irving

 Title: The Last Chairlift

Author: John Irving
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 6/13/2023
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Adam Brewster, writer, Little Ray, his mother, Eliot Barlow, marries his mother, Molly, lives with his mother, Grandma who reads Moby Dick, Grace who he marries, Em who loves his cousin Nora, and on and on, including ghosts
What happens? A very long story about Adam Brewster and the people in his life in NYC, New Hampshire, Toronto
How long was this? 889 pages
Did I like this? Borderline.  Way too long.  Almost gave up several times.
Overall grade: B-

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

 Title: I Will Find You

Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 6/8/2023
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: David Burroughs, son Matthew, ex wife Cheryl, hot sister in law Rachel,  Philip MacKenzie, prison warden, his son Adam, the cop
What happens? David is in jail for 5 years for the brutal murder of his son, Matthew.  Rachel brings him a photo that was taken at an amusement park with an 8 year old boy with the same port wine stain.  Rachel and David decide that he is alive and David has to break out of jail.
How long was this? 325 pages
Did I like this?  Very exciting, finished in 3 days - some parts are a bit unbelievable, but the explanation at the end sort of ties it together.  
Overall grade: A-

Design for How People Learn by Julie Dirksen

 Title: Design for How People Learn

Author: Julie Dirksen
Did I listen or read?: library book Link+
When did I finish?: June 5, 2023
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters:
What happens? excellent entertaining book with the basics of how to do training in a corporate setting.  great examples like the elephant and the rider
How long was this? 259 pages
Did I like this? Very good
Overall grade: A-

Local Woman Missing by Mary Kubica

 Title: Local Woman Missing

Author: Mary Kubica
Did I listen or read?: audible
When did I finish?: May 31, 2023
When was the book published: 2021 
Main Characters: Delilah Dickey, Kate, Kate's wife (Barb???), Meredith (11 years ago, Delilah's mother), Leo (Delilah's brother)
What happens? Starts with two hours of Delilah being held hostage (for 11 years!) by a couple of morons.  Goes back and forth between present day (Leo reporting on Delilah's return) and Shelby Tebow (client of dula Kate) missing two weeks before Delilah goes missing
How long was this? 352 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good after the initial torture, interesting plot twists.  Completely incomprehensible behavior by the kidnapper/prisoner holders
Overall grade: B-