Prom Mom by Laura Lippman

 Title: Prom Mom

Author: Laura Lippman
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: April 29, 2024
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: Amber Glass, Joe Simpson, wife Meredith
What happens? In 1997, Amber goes to the prom with Joe (but as friends) and has a miscarriage in the hotel bathroom, baby dies, she becomes Prom Mom and he is Cad Dad.  Present day, Joe is married to Meredith and Amber moves back from New Orleans to Baltimore, opens an art gallery, and they reconnect.
How long was this? 302 pages
Did I like this? OK, medium.  Interesting characters and story, ending whipped together in the last few pages
Overall grade: B

The Little Liar by Mitch Albom

 Title: The Little Liar

Author: Mitch Albom
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: April 23, 2024
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: Nico, Sebastian, brothers, Fannie, friend, Udo, Nazi bad guy
What happens? Very realistic portrayal of the Nazis taking 50,000 Jews from Salonika in Greece and sending them to concentration camps.  Nico is the boy who tells no lies, until Udo tricks him into telling the people that they should board the train, that all would be well.
How long was this? 328 pages
Did I like this? Very well done.  Very hard to read.
Overall grade: A-

Dead Center by David Rosenfelt

Title: Dead Center
Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: libby audio
When did I finish?: April 16, 2024
When was the book published: 2006
Main Characters: Andy, Tara the dog, Kevin the assistant, Mack the scary body guard.  Laurie, now in Wisconsin on a police force.  Richard Davidson.  people of Center City
What happens? Laurie convinces Andy to come to Wisconsin because a young man is wrongly accused of the murder of 2 young ladies from the Centurions of Center City, a devout religious town
How long was this? 360 pages, 7 hours
Did I like this? Another solid story.  Lots of chuckles
Overall grade: B+

 

Blood Lines by Nelson Demille and Alex Demille

 Title: Blood Lines

Author: Nelson DeMille and Alex DeMille
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: April 20, 2024
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: Scott Brodie and Maggie Taylor (from The Deserter), Harry Vance, Anna Albrecht, Trent Chilcott, Col. Dombrowski, Odin
What happens? Scott and Maggie are sent to the minor leagues after the Deserter, and are called in to find out what really happened when Harry Vance died in Berlin.  The CIA and FBI and German police/spies get involved.  Scott pisses everyone off....
How long was this? 495 pages
Did I like this? Yes, a good story, very mysterious to figure out what is going on for the reader and the characters
Overall grade: B+

Sudden Death by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Sudden Death

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: libby audio
When did I finish?: April 11, 2024 while building a wood shed downstairs
When was the book published: 2005
Main Characters:  Andy Carpenter, Laurie the investigator, Tara the dog, Kevin the laundromat guy.  Tony Preston, dead NFL guy, Kenny Schilling innocent set up w body in closet
What happens? Andy is wrestling with Laurie's possible move to Wisconsin, gets a call from Kenny (doesn't know him) to help him as the dead guy is in his closet.
How long was this? 330 pages 7 hours
Did I like this? Quality Carpenter story and wit.  
Overall grade: B+

Broken Trust (Spenser) by Mike Lupica

 Title: Broken Trust

Author: Mikc Lupica
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 4/10/2024
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: Spenser, Susan, Hawk, Belson, Quirk, Andrew Crain battery inventor, Ethan Crain 40% owner, Laura Crain, wife, Claire Megli, Whitson the bad attorney
What happens? Laura Crain comes to Spenser because Andrew is acting weird and won't say why.  Ethan is leading the merger with another big battery company.  Corporate intrigue.  Abused women. Hawk.
How long was this? 382 pages
Did I like this? A really good Spenser story, comfortable as an old pair of shoes
Overall grade: B+

Bury the Lead by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Bury the Lead

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 4/8/2024
When was the book published: 2005
Main Characters: Andy Carpenter #3, Laurie, Kevin the assistant and laundromat owner - 
What happens? Andy's friend Vince the news paper guy hires him to help journalist Daniel Cummings who is the mouthpiece for a serial killer who cuts off the victims hands.  Andy unravels a plot with a lot of nasty characters with bad histories.
How long was this? 320 pages, 7 hours
Did I like this? Always fun to be with Andy and Willie and Tara the golden retriever
Overall grade: B+

A Heart Full Of Headstones by Ian Rankin

 Title: A Heart Full of Headstones

Author: Ian Rankin
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: April 5, 2024
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Rebus, Siobhan Clarke, Ger Cafferty, Jack Oram father of Tommy, cop Christine Esson, Alec Fleck, Malcolm Fox, Tynesdale gang like Haggard or Driscoll or Agnew
What happens? Cafferty asks Rebus to find Jack Oram, and Siobhan participates in the Haggerty case (attacked his wife and then killed).  Their paths cross as the Tynesdale corrupt cop investigation unfolds.
How long was this? 331 pages
Did I like this? good rebus story with a cliffhanger at the end
Overall grade: B+

The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner

 Title: The Neighbor

Author: Lisa Gardner
Did I listen or read?: audio book libby
When did I finish?: April 3, 2024
When was the book published:  2009
Main Characters: Detective D.D. Warren the Jones, Jack and wife Sandra and daughter Ree, neighbor Andrew registered sex offender, 
What happens? Jack and Sandra have a weird marriage with tons of secrets but love their cute 4 year old Ree.  Sandra finds something on Jack's computer, researches, and then disappears into thin air.
How long was this? 384 pages 12 hours
Did I like this? The big secret with the reveal at the end sucks, but this has two of them.  Not great, but well written and moves reasonably well
Overall grade: B