Mark of the Hunter by Charles G. West

 Title: Mark of the Hunter

Author: Charles G. West
Did I listen or read?: libby audio book
When did I finish?: July 30 2024
When was the book published: 2013
Main Characters: Cord Malone, Levi Creed, Bill Dooley
What happens? Levi kills Cord's mother and father, and he vows vengeance.  When he gets old enough, he heads out to find him.  He takes a job as a cowboy at the Triple T, then heads off to Ogalala to find Creed.  A bad guy creates the Roman 3 (III) to steal the cattle from the TTT, and Cord has to make it right.
How long was this? 306 pages, about 8 hours
Did I like this? Purty good western, yeah
Overall grade: B

Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand

 Title: Swan Song

Author: Elin Hilderbrand
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: July 27, 2024
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: CoCo, bartender/personal assistant to the Leslee and Bull Richardson, Nantucket interlopers, Ed Kapenash, wife Andrea, daughter Kacy
What happens? CoCo talks her way from Virgin Islands bartender to Richardson's Nantucket personal assistant.  Kacy runs from her SF NICU nurse job as her girlfriend Isla refuses to give up her marriage plans to Rondo.  Leslee Richardson turns life upside down in Nantucket, and then...
How long was this? 375 pages
Did I like this? Great story, plot, suspense.  A bit too many characters to track, but easy to ride along
Overall grade: A-

10 LB. Penalty by Dick Francis

 Title: 10 lb. Penalty

Author: Dick Francis
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 7/25/2024
When was the book published: 1997
Main Characters:Benedict Juliard, father George, Dear Polly, A.L. Wyvern, Orinda, Dennis Nagle's widow
What happens? Ben is a 17 year old who loves riding, but his career ends, and his father drafts him to help with his campaign for election in HoopWestern
How long was this? 273 pages
Did I like this? usual great characters and story, but this one meandered a bit
Overall grade: B

Demolition Angel by Robert Crais

 Title: Demolition Angel

Author: Robert Crais
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: July 22, 2024
When was the book published: 2000
Main Characters: Carol Starkey, Mr. Red, Tennant the prisoner with no thumb, Charlie Riggio, John Pell from the fed ATC
What happens? Riggio gets blown up, Mr. Red is the suspect, Tennant the link to RDX to make Modex.  Starkey struggles with her near-death experience working a bomb 3 years ago.  Lots of gin.
How long was this? 388 pages
Did I like this? Good story, tense, hard to read with the alcoholism and anger.
Overall grade: B+

The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian by Lawrence Block

 Title: The Burglar Who Painted Like Mondrian

Author: Lawrence Block
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: July 16, 2024
When was the book published: 1998
Main Characters: Bernie Rhodenbarr, bookstore owner/thief, Ray the crooked cop, bestie Carolyn who owns the pet washing biz, Gordon Onderdonk
What happens? Gordon invites Bernie to his house to price his books.  He has a Mondrian.  Carolyn's cat is magically stolen.  The thief wants the Mondrian as ransom.
How long was this? 234 pages
Did I like this? He's always easy to read, but the plot was so convoluted.  Many painting copies, many tricks.
Overall grade: B

The Price You Pay by Nick Petrie

 Title: The Price You Pay

Author: Nick Petrie
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: July 16, 2024
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Peter Ash, wife June, Lewis, wife Dinah, Lewis's crew - Teddy, Nino, Ray
What happens? Teddy wrote a diary of the gang-drug dealing robberies that Lewis and the Ghost Killers took on.  It falls into the wrong hands, and someone wants revenge.
How long was this? 420 pages
Did I like this? It was OK.  Reacher like, but with a lot of improbabilities in the story. Might have been a lot better of I started with Peter Ash number 1.  this is number 8
Overall grade: B

The Consequences of Fear by Jacqueline Winspear

 Title: The Consequences of Fear

Author: Jacqueline Winspear

Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: July 15 2024
When was the book published: 2021
Main Characters: Maisie Dobbs, Freddie Hatchett, his mother, his father, Colonel Shapoo, her boss McFarland, American Mark Scott
What happens? Maisie tries to solve the case of the murder that Freddie the 12 year old messenger witnessed, that ties together with some spy stuff and guys with scars on their faces
How long was this? 352 pages - 10 hours
Did I like this? It was reasonable, a little slow
Overall grade: B

Smokescreen by Dick Francis

 Title: Smokescreen

Author: Dick Francis
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: July 7, 2024
When was the book published:     1972
Main Characters: Edward Lincoln, wife Charlie, cameraman Conrad
What happens? Edward is a Tom Hanks level actor who helps a dying friend by going to South Africa to find out why her horses are running so poorly.  Starts with Edward being filmed locked in a car in the desert for a movie directed by Evan
How long was this? 6 hours
Did I like this? Real good story, usual great characters
Overall grade: B+

The Women by Kristin Hannah

 Title: The Women

Author: Kristin Hannah
Did I listen or read?: kindle purchase
When did I finish?: 7/5/2024
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Frances Frankie McGrath, Barb and Ethel, Rye, Jamie
What happens? Frankie's brother is killed in Vietnam.  She finishes nurse training and enlists in the army and does 2 years in Vietnam.  
How long was this? 480 pages
Did I like this? A very realistic portrayal of the idiocy of war, and specifically the Vietnam war.  And how women were/are treated
Overall grade: A-

Leader of the Pack by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Leader of the Pack

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 29, 2024
When was the book published: 2012
Main Characters: Andy, Laurie, Hike, Marcus, Tara, Joey Desimone
What happens? Joey gets Andy to visit his demented Uncle, who mumbles about Joey being set up for the murder conviction by the mob family.  Andy takes on his case.
How long was this? 360 pages
Did I like this? good story, usual humor, plot twists
Overall grade: B+