Lessons by Ian McEwan

 Title: Lessons

Author: Ian McEwen
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 5/25/2024
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Roland Baines, Miriam Cornell, Alissa, Daphne, Peter Mount
What happens? Roland has a sexual relationship with his piano teacher at 14.  Then, the rest of his life in detail, set in the political backdrop of the days from post WWII to COVID.
How long was this? 420 pages
Did I like this? long, rambling, esoteric, full of references I don't get
Overall grade: B-

high stakes by Dick Francis

 Title: High Stakes

Author: Dick Francis
Did I listen or read?: libby audio
When did I finish?: 5/24/2024
When was the book published: 1975
Main Characters: Steven Scott, Jody Leeds, Owen (helper), Charles (banker), Alexandra Ward
What happens? Steven realizes that Jody (his trainer) has been cheating him in his billing, and also running some kind of scheme to make money by getting the horse to lose when Steven places his first large bet on the horse.
How long was this? 6 hours, 272 pages
Did I like this? classic Francis, loved it
Overall grade: A-

Play Dead by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Play Dead

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 5/17/2024
When was the book published: 2007
Main Characters: Andy Carpenter, Kevin, Marcus.  Bit of Laurie, still in Wisconsin.  Tara of course.  Reggie the swimming dog. Richard Evans, sister Karen
What happens?  Reggie appears.  Richard Evans is in jail for murdering Sharon (wife) on a boat.  Reggie was on the boat but was assumed dead (at trial) but is clearly alive.  Mysterious how it all ties together.
How long was this? 308 pages
Did I like this? Yeah, fast paced, fun.  Not obvious.  The recurring characters (Vince the newspaper guy and Pete the cop having beers and watching the game at Charlie's) could get old, but not yet!
Overall grade: A-

In the Frame by Dick Francis

Title: In the Frame
Author: Dick Francis
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: May 16, 2024
When was the book published:  1976
Main Characters: Charles Todd, brother Donald, old school chum Jik, his wife
What happens?  Donald's wife is killed in a robbery.  Charles stumbles on a woman whose house has burned down destroying her antiques and paintings.  Both Donald and the woman had been to australia and bought a munnings
How long was this? 304 pages, 6 hours
Did I like this? Always good.  
Overall grade: A-

 

Enquiry by Dick Francis

 Title: Enquiry

Author: Dick Francis
Did I listen or read?: libby audio
When did I finish?: May 12, 2024
When was the book published: 1969
Main Characters:  kelly Hughes, jockey, Dexter Cranfield, owner, Rebecca Cranfield, daughter
What happens? Jockey and owner get warned during an enquiry filled with false testimony.  Jockey fights like hell to find out what happened and why to get his name restored
How long was this? 272 pages, 6 hours
Did I like this?  Well done, yes, typical Francis plot w mystery, great characters and violence
Overall grade: A-

Three-Inch Teeth by C.J. Box

 Title: Three-Inch Teeth

Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 13, 2024
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, Marybeth, Sheridan, Nate and Liv and Kestrel. Dallas Cates.
What happens? A bear kills Sheridan's soon-to-not-be fiance, and then attacks a LEO.  Dallas Cates gets out of prison and gets together with Alex Soledad to get revenge on those who got him, by making their deaths look like bear attacks
How long was this? 450 large print
Did I like this? Good, but sad, and not particularly heroic
Overall grade: B+

Still See You Everywhere by Lisa Gardner

 Title: Still See You Everywhere

Author: Lisa Gardner
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 8, 2024
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Frankie Elkin, Kaylee Pierson, sister Leilani, cooks Ann and Trudy, PM Vaughn, engineer Charlie, lawyer Victoria Twanow
What happens? Kaylee the Beautiful Butcher asks for Frankie to find sister Leilani who is "ward" of McManus billionaire who is building a resort on a desert island hours from Hawaii.
How long was this? 404 pages
Did I like this? Really good exciting story.  Lots of plot twists.  Giant crabs. Too much serial killing
Overall grade: A-

The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman

 Title: The Thursday Murder Club

Author: J.A. Jance
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 4, 2024
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim, Ron.  Elizabeth's husband Stephen.  Bogdan plays chess with Stephen.  Tony Curran, Ian Wrexham. Ron's son, Jason, the boxer and celeb.  
What happens? Tony turns up dead.  Ian is going to dig up the cemetery to build more retirement community. 
How long was this? 351 pages
Did I like this? the first Thursday murder club.  Plot's a bit convoluted and goes all over the place, but the characters and the descriptions and the dialogue and the people are priceless.
Overall grade: B+

Missing and Endangered by J.A. Jance

 Title: Missing and Endangered

Author: J.A. Jance
Did I listen or read?: libby audio
When did I finish?: May 1, 2024
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Joanne Brady, husband author Butch, daughter college student Jennifer, roommate Beth Rankin, officer Armando Ruiz, Leon Hogan and bad mother-wife
What happens? Jennifer's roommate has a fake boyfriend on line.  Ruiz gets shot and kills Leon Hogan serving a no-contact order
How long was this? 365 pages
Did I like this? Meandering plot, hundreds of characters and back stories
Overall grade: B