Hero by Thomas Perry

 Title: Hero

Author: Thomas Perry
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 2/25/2024
When was the book published:  2024
Main Characters: Justine Poole, bodyguard to the stars, Leo Sealy and Mr. Conger.  Joe Alston, random stranger
What happens? Justine's boss, Ben Spengler, calls her out to help as the Pinskys are about to be robbed by 5 guys in a follow from a fancy restaurant robbery.  Justine kills two guys.  Mr. Conger wants to avenge them, and hires Leo Sealy to kill her.  Leo is a pro.  Justine is a pro.
How long was this? 293 pages
Did I like this? Ok, not riveting.  Well thought out, detailed - two adversaries who are very smart and don't make mistakes.
Overall grade: B

Anna O by Matthew Blake

 Title:  Anna O

Author:  Matthew Blake
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Feb 19, 2024
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: Anna O, Ben Prince - forensic psychologist, wife Clara, daughter KitKat, boss Virginia Bloom, Harriet, Anna's full time nurse
What happens?  Anna O has been asleep for 4 years since she slept walked and killed her business partners in a magazine startup.  Ben has a protocol to wake her up.  Is she guilty?  Is it related to her research on Sally the stepson killer from 20 years ago (who committed murder 20 years to the day earlier.)
How long was this? 424 pages
Did I like this? It was pretty good, basically - convoluted, with a plot twist inside a plot twist inside a plot twist.  Ending with an explanation of all of it, I guess.  Who was PatientX?
Overall grade: B

Open and Shut by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Open and Shut

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: Feb 10, 2014
When was the book published: 2002
Main Characters: Andy Carpenter, dog, ex wife Nicole, Laurie (detective/girlfriend), his father, Miller who is waiting for execution.  
What happens? His father asks Andy to help a convicted murderer overturn the conviction.  His father dies.  He inherits 21 million.  People start threatening him.
How long was this? 290 pages 7 hours
Did I like this? Very enjoyable, wiseass writing style, fast moving plot.
Overall grade: A-

The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

 Title: The Man Who Died Twice

Author: Richard Osman
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: February 9, 2024
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Joyce, Ron, Elizabeth, Ibrahim.  the Thursday Murder club.  Elizabeth's current husband Stephen and prior husband, cops Chris and Donna, spies Sue and Lance, reluctant spy Poppy and mother Siobhan, crooks Connie Johnston, Frank the mafia guy and local money holder who has diamonds
What happens? 20 million dollars of Diamonds are stolen.  Ex-husband is accused.  Ibrahim gets beat up by a moron punk.  
How long was this?  352 pages
Did I like this? Excellent, funny, complex plot
Overall grade: A-

The Exchange by John Grisham

 Title:  The Exchange

Author: John Grisham
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 2/5/2024
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: Mitch and Abby McDeere, Sully law firm, head Jack Ruch, Cory - security, Stephen - associate.  Luca - Italian aging patriarch.  granddaughter Giovanna.  
What happens? Mitch gets called in to collect $400 million for Turkish company Lannak from Libya for a bridge in the middle of the desert.  Giovanna gets kidnapped
How long was this? 336 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good, not a classic.  Story starts with a death row representation that's completely discarded.  Moves along, no wasted time at the end.
Overall grade: B

Breakdown by Sara Paretsky

 Title: Breakdown

Author: Sara Paretsky
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: February 1, 2024
When was the book published:  2012
Main Characters: V.I. Warshawski, Tommy Glover, Chaim Salanter, Sophy Durango, Miles Wuchnik, Lawlor (Rush Limbaugh), Xavier Jurgens
What happens? V.I.'s niece is in a cemetery doing a tween vampire thing, and a dead body appears, killed vampire style.  Nazi war crimes, mentally incompetent criminals (Ruhetal) and far-right nonsense.
How long was this?  431 pages
Did I like this? Decent story.  Definitely like VI character
Overall grade: B