Battle Mountain by C.J. Box

 Title: Battle Mountain

Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 4/8/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, Nate Romanowsi, Axel Soledad, Geronimo
What happens? Nate is after Axel who killed his wife, Liz, and has been living in the woods for months.  Geronimo (Axel burned down his house) finds Nate to go after him. Joe is brought in by Gov Rulon to find his son-in-law, a techie who the Gov convinced to take a job helping an expert hunt guide. This intersects with a plot by Axel to murder a bunch of Centurions, rich folks who gather in the woods near Battle Mountain 1x / year.  Axel has enlisted a buncha ex-military disgruntled, and a bunch of hippies.  Damn that Antifa and that Federal Government!
How long was this? 358 pages
Did I like this? Good story, great plot.
Overall grade: A-

We All LIve Here by JoJo Moyes

 Title: We All Live Here

Author: JoJo Moyes
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 4/3/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Lila Kennedy, stepfather Bill, daughters Celie and Violet, bio father Gene the actor, Elanoar the best friend, Jensen fixing the garden, Dan the ex-husband who left for Marja
What happens? Lila's life is turned upside down when Dan leaves her, her mother is killed in an accident, and she struggles to get on with life with Bill at her side, and Gene showing up broke and moving in.  They all live there.
How long was this?  448 pages
Did I like this? Why can't every book be this good?  Why can't the story go on?  I don't want it to end.
Overall grade: A

By Any Other Name by Jodi Piccoult

 Title: By Any Other Name

Author: Jodi Piccoult
Did I listen or read?:  library book
When did I finish?: 3/26/2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Two sets.  Emilia Bassano in the Shakespeare era.  Melina in the modern era.  
What happens? Elimia writes shakespeares plays.  Melina writes a play about her, but her black gay best friend submits it as "Mel" and has to pretend to be "Mel Green."
How long was this? 480 pages
Did I like this? A really good authentic story with plenty of action and plenty of MISERY that goes on for 180 pages too long.  No happy ending here.
Overall grade: B+

Rescued by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Rescued

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 3/24/2025
When was the book published: 2018 Deck the Hounds is next 2018
Main Characters: Andyt, Hike, Laurie, Tara, Marcus
What happens? A truck with 60 dogs being rescued is the site of a murder, by a guy who is Laurie's ex and now a PI.  Claims self defense.  Knife mysteriously missing from the truck.
How long was this? 
Did I like this? Good not great. 
Overall grade: B

The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths

 Title: The Stranger Diaries

Author: Elly Griffiths

Did I listen or read?: kindle from library
When did I finish?: 3/19/2025
When was the book published: 2018
Main Characters: Harbinder Kaur. Clare Cassidy, single mom school teacher, Georgia, Cathy's daughter, Rick the boss at Tagarth's school, Elly, best friend, Herbert the dog
What happens? Elly gets killed.  Someone is writing in Clare's diary the Hell is Here (all the devils are on earth) as quoted in The Stranger by RM Holland (invented gothic fiction short story).  More deaths, and Harbinder has to figure out what is going on.
How long was this? 338 pages
Did I like this? A good story.  3 viewpoints and short chapters kept it moving.
Overall grade: B+

A Sunlit Weapon by Jacqueline Winspear

 Title: A Sunlit Weapon

Author: Jacqueline Winspear
Did I listen or read?: libby audio during Palm Desert drive w Wendy March 2025
When did I finish?: 3/17/2025
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Maisie Dobbs, Jo Hardy, ferry pilot
What happens? Jo almost gets shot down over 1942 England.  Her husband and another ferry pilot were killed in unexplainable crashes, so she asks Maisie to investigate.  Maisie's adopted daughter struggles at school and a plot against Eleanor Roosevelt is revealed.
How long was this? 358 pages, 11 hours
Did I like this? Decent story, nothing great.  Interesting to learn about the role of race in the American army during WWII
Overall grade: B

Kill for Me, Kill for You by Steve Cavanaugh

 Title: Kill for Me, Kill for You

Author: Steve Cavanaugh
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 3/11/2025
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: Ruth and Scott, Amanda, Wendy
What happens? Ruth gets stabbed in her home by a blue eyed man.  Amanda is trying to kill the man who abducted her 6 year old daughter and killed her, after which her husband killed himself.  Wendy meets Amanda at a grief group with her own story, and they agree to kill each other's target.  Lots of plot twists and turns.
How long was this? 340 page
Did I like this? a really good story, shocking plot twists
Overall grade: A-

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

 Title: The Midnight Feast

Author: Lucy Foley
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 3/5/2012
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Francesca Frankie Meadows, Owen Dacre, Bella, Eddie
What happens? Francesca opens this amazing resort for rich people.  Bella is attending, the only single person, and has some agenda.  Eddie is one of the locals staffing the event.  We go back and forth in time to the "after" as the place is burnt and people are dead, and the before, as the event builds, and the before/before, as every single person (spoiler alert) has some connection to the town (Tome pronounced tomb) from the old days.
How long was this? 350 pages
Did I like this? Barely passable.  Rich people's resort turns into nightmare?  Been done.
Overall grade: B-

Judge & Jury by James Patterson and Andrew Gross

 Title: Judge & Jury

Author: James Patterson and Andrew Gross
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 3/6/2025
When was the book published: 2006
Main Characters: Nick Pelissante, Dominic Cavello, Abby the juror
What happens? Nick tries to get Cavello tried and convicted.  Cavello resorts to extraordinary violence to get out of multiple trials.  Bombs.  Buses.
How long was this? 8 hours
Did I like this? Wasn't too bad.  Decent
Overall grade: B

The Last Word by Elly Griffiths

 Title: The Last Word

Author: Elly Griffiths
Did I listen or read?: kindle libby
When did I finish?: 2/28/2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Benedict and Natalya and Edwin, crime solvers, Harbinder Kaur - copy but only tangentially involved, Liv Brennan, cop.  Battle House - a buncha writers and a lot of the older ones dying. 
What happens?  Melody dead, daughters Harmony and Minim hire the detectives to pin it on the 2nd husband, Arthur.  Benedict and Edwin to go to a writer's workshop at Battle House.
How long was this? 338 pages
Did I like this? Nice old - people - solve - crime set up.  This was number 4 of the Harbinder Kaur series.  Gotta do more.

The Stranger Diaries

The Postscript Murders

Bleeding Heart Yard
Overall grade: B+

Collared by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Collared

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: Libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 2/24/2025
When was the book published: 2017
Main Characters: Andy, Laurie, Ricky, Tara, Sebastian, Edna, Sam, Hike and Pod Hike.  Jill the dna entrepreneur. Frank whose in jail for kidnapping 
What happens? Woman returns dog who disappeared in kidnapping attempt.  
How long was this?7 hours 
Did I like this? Usual good stuff. 
Overall grade: B

The English Assassin by Daniel Silva

 Title: The English Assassin

Author: Daniel Silva
Did I listen or read?: libby audio
When did I finish?: 2/18/2025
When was the book published: 2006
Main Characters: Gabriel Allon, Ishmayer, Shamron.  World famous violinist (female)
What happens? Gabriel goes to see a Swiss guy about a restoration.  Swiss guy is dead.  Used to be a Nazi collaborator.  
How long was this? 10 hours
Did I like this? Decent story.  Nothing special. 
Overall grade: B

Only if You're Lucky by Stacy Willingham

 Title: Only if You're Lucky

Author: Stacy Willingham
Did I listen or read?:  library book
When did I finish?: 2/17/2025
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: Margot, high school friend Ericka, boy h/s and college, Levi, Lucy, new bestie college, Nicole, Sloane
What happens? Margot goes to Rutledge, hoped to be w Ericka, who died tragically while dating mysterious year younger Levi, who shows up at Rutledge, pledging the fraternity whose next-door house is rented by Lucy, Margo, Nicole, Sloane after Margot's first year dud roomie Maggie gets rejected.
How long was this? 370 pages
Did I like this? It wasn't great, but not too bad.  Coincidences that are a bit hard to accept.
Overall grade: B+

Comeback by Dick Francis

 Title: Comeback

Author: Dick Francis
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 2/12/2025
When was the book published: 1991
Main Characters: Diplomat Peter Darwin, Vicki and Glen get attacked, he helps and meets Ken, horse vet, about to marry Belinda, Vicki's daughter
What happens? Peter meets the old couple, helps them home, and finds out that Ken is in trouble as someone is killing horses he has worked on.  
How long was this? 320 pages
Did I like this? Good Dick Francis, as usual
Overall grade: B

The Waiting by Michael Connelly

 Title: The Waiting

Author: Michael Connelly
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 2/10/2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Renee Ballard, Harry Bosch, Maddie Bosch, the OSU crew.
What happens? Three different stories, starting with Renee getting robbed while surfing.  Her gun and badge are taken and the trail to them unveils a major terrorist action in the plans.  Harry helps. Also, the Black Dahlia mystery is opened by a discovery by Maddie. The pillowcase rapist is the main story that the whole OSU (open, unsolved) crew gets into.
How long was this? 403 pages
Did I like this? Great writing, great characters.  More!
Overall grade: A-

The Twelve Dogs of Christmas by David Rosenfelt

 Title: The Twelve Dogs of Christmas

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 2/5/2025
When was the book published: 2016 (December)
Main Characters: Andy Carpenter and the usual gang.  Pups the woman known to take care of puppies. 
What happens? Pups' neighbor complains about all the puppies, and Andy defends her in court.  The neighbor is killed and the gun is found in her basement.
How long was this? 6 hours
Did I like this? Usual great Carpenter world.
Overall grade: B+

In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child

 Title: In Too Deep

Author: Lee Child and Andrew Child
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 2/2/2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Reacher, Fletcher-Kane-Vidic-Paris, ex-cop female Knight
What happens? Reacher wakes up after an accident with a broken wrist and a concussion. He gets into it with the people who are planning some major havoc.  Don't ask me how.
How long was this? 324 pages
Did I like this? Not much.  Action packed, moves right along, but you have no idea what is happening, why Reacher is involved. If it wasn't Reacher, I might have stopped. 
Overall grade: B-

Killer Thriller by Lee Goldberg

 Title: Killer Thriller

Author: Lee Goldberg
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 1/29/2025
When was the book published:  2019
Main Characters: Ian Ludlow, author of Clint Straker novels, Margo French.  Same is in True Fiction, 2nd in series.  Chinese Spys.  Dumb American president.
What happens? Chinese funding for a movie about Straker.  To be filmed, in HK, and Margo shows up and talks her way into joining Ian.  Secret Chinese plot to take over USA.
How long was this? 271 pages
Did I like this? Enjoyable and fun and an easy read.
Overall grade: B+

A Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva

 Title: A Death in Cornwall

Author: Daniel Silva
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 1/24/25
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Gabriel Allon, wife Chiarra, Timothy Peel young police officer in Cornwall. Hugh Graves - next PM, and wife Louisa.  Christopher Fox his friend the ex-SIS. Isabelle who does online and in-person work for him.  
What happens? A woman is killed in Cornwall.  She is researching an untitled Picasso that was stolen by the Nazis.  It seems to be in a vault in the Geneva Freeport.  It is tied to money laundering, which seems to be London's biggest secret.
How long was this? 417 pages
Did I like this? good story, nothing incredibly engaging.  Money at as scale that it is hard to get a picture of it.
Overall grade: B

Revelation by Robert Knott

 Title: Revelation

Author: Robert Knott
Did I listen or read?: libby audio
When did I finish?: 1/23/25
When was the book published: 2017
Main Characters: Driggs, Ed McGraw, Everett Hitch and Virgil Cole, Virgil's wife Alice.  Robert Parker characters #9
What happens? Driggs and McGraw are part of a large prison breakout.  Driggs reads the bible and is hell bent on revenge.  Everett and Virgil track McGraw, who is a serial killer.
How long was this? 336 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good western.  A little bit too violent
Overall grade: B

Outfoxed by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Outfoxed

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 1/14/2025
When was the book published: 2016
Main Characters: Brian Atkins, his dog, Boomer
What happens? Brian is in jail for fraud, claims he didn't do it.  He breaks out and his ex-wife and business partner are killed.  Mob involvement.  Computers taken over.
How long was this? 326 pages
Did I like this? usual, love em all
Overall grade: B+

Songbird by Peter Grainger

 Title: Songbird

Author: Peter Grainger
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 1/13/2025
When was the book published: 2019
Main Characters: Waters, new Det Sergeant, Rebecca, on his team, Smith, the retired injured master, Ford, junior team member, Freeman, woman who comes in for Reeves and is starting her own murder squad
What happens? A woman is found murdered at a caravan park.  A downs syndrome young man of 18 is suspected due to DNA on the corpse
How long was this? 370 pages (16 hours)
Did I like this? Good story, not incredible, but now that I know the characters - trying book 2
Overall grade: B

What Came Before He Shot Her by Elizabeth George

 Title: What Came Before He Shot Her

Author: Elizabeth George
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: 1/10/25
When was the book published: 2006
Main Characters: Joel Campbell, 12 yr old, Toby troubled brother, Ness, sister, Kendra aunt, Glory, grandma, Dix D'Court, 23 yr old boyfriend of 40 year old Kendra
What happens? Glory dumps the 3 kids on Kendra and they live with her, and struggle with surviving.  The Blade is a threat, Cal is his stoned assistant.  Ivan is a gentleman who helps Joel with poetry.  Things get worse until....
How long was this? 547 pages long
Did I like this? Great story and compelling characters, very realistic.  It doesn't really reveal WHY she was shot, although it hints at it.
Overall grade: B+

Every Fifteen Minutes by Lisa Scottoline

 Title: Every Fifteen Minutes

Author: Lisa Scottoline
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 1/1/2025
When was the book published: 2015
Main Characters: Dr. Eric.  Max the tapper. jogging partner Laurie.  staff at the hospital.  Amack, Sam, Jack. Estranged wife Caitlyn, daughter Hannah.
What happens? Laurie calls Eric in for a consult with a grandma who is dying from cancer, and is worried about Max's mental health.
How long was this? 426 pages12 hours
Did I like this? It took a really long time to get to the action.  Could make a great tv series with the last 6 hours and the twists and turns.
Overall grade: B