Lightning Strike by William Kent Krueger

 Title: Lightning Strike

Author: William Kent Krueger
Did I listen or read?: libby audio book
When did I finish?: 11/22/2023
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Liam O'connor, sheriff, Cork O'Connor, 12 year old son.  
What happens?  Johnny Big Deeds is found hanging from a tree near Moose Lake.  A young lady is reported missing.  Cork investigates with his friends, while Dad targets a local not-nice business dude.
How long was this? 385 pages
Did I like this? Very well done.  Want to pick up the Cork O series with book 1 (this was book zero.)
Overall grade: B+

The Collector by Daniel Silva

 Title: The Collector

Author: Daniel Silva
Did I listen or read?: library Kindle Libby
When did I finish?: 11/22/2023
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: Gabriel Allon, lady thief, Marcus the Danish bank CEO, Ferrari (Italian cop), Petrov (russian right hand to Putin)
What happens? Allon is asked to find a missing painting after a theft, then murder.  He winds up in a plot by Russia to fake a nuclear attack by the Ukraine, and then initiate one on Kyiv.
How long was this? 414 pages
Did I like this? Very good Gabriel Allon
Overall grade: B+

The Winners by Fredrik Backman

 Title: The Winners

Author: Fredrik Backman
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: November 14, 2023
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Maya, her parents Kira the lawyer and Peter the former head of Beartown hockey, Benji, who left town after coming out of the closet, Hed fireman Johnny and wife Hannah and daughter Tess, and sons Tobias, Ted and Ture.  Lev, head criminal.  Taume who leads the "pack" of leather coated young man
What happens? Lots of violence, death, and hatred as Beartown and Hed, neighboring hockey towns in the Swedish forest, go about life.
How long was this? 675 pages
Did I like this? Waaaaay too long, the stories engaging but the time it takes to tell and the depressing foreshadowing....
Overall grade: B=

The Good Son by Jacquelyn Mitchard

 Title: The Good Son

Author: Jacquelyn Mitchard
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: November 2, 2023
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Thea, mother of Stefan, wife of Step.  Jill, mother of Belinda. Esme
What happens?  Thea is in jail for killing Belinda in a drug stupor, with a golf club.  The first part of the story is the family and his leaving prison.  The second part is "what really happened that night?"
How long was this? 342 pages
Did I like this? It was quite good.  Very human, challenging.  Plot twists and action.  Passing to Wendy....will she be bored?
Overall grade: A-

The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz

 Title: The Word is Murder

Author: Anthony Horowitz
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: October 31, 2023
When was the book published: 2017
Main Characters: Anthony Horowitz, Hawthorne, Diana Cowper, actor son, family of the boys killed and injured by Diana 10 yrs ago
What happens? Diana goes to a mortician and plans her funeral.  6 hours later, she is dead.  Hawthorne convinces Horowitz to accompany him and write a real-crime story.
How long was this? 400 pages
Did I like this?  It was actually quite good.  Lots of plot twists and side roads, but easy to follow and believable
Overall grade: B+