Remain by Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shamyalan

 Title: Remain

Author: Nicholas Sparks and M. Night Shamyalan
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 12/5/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: The architect missing his dead wife.  The dead woman in the house.  The two caretakers.  The architect's best friend from college
What happens? Dude moves into a house, renting it while working on the project for his best friend's house.  The woman comes to hang out with him.  Is the a ghose?  They fall in love.
How long was this? 
Did I like this? A really good story with great characters and some twists and turns.  Easy to see where it was going, but well done, a pleasure to read.
Overall grade: B+

Don't Let Him In by Lisa Jewell

 Title: Don't Let Him In

Author: Lisa Jewell
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 12/12/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Nina, Ash, Martha, Nick or Alistair or whatever
What happens? Dude is a major con artist, swindler, with a skill for seducing woman and an evil side.
How long was this? 330 pages
Did I like this? Not much.  Predictable, hard to root for the characters.  Ash was the main character on to him and tracking him down.  Everyone else in his path is miserable, generally because of him.
Overall grade: C+

The Hallmarked Man by Robert Galbraith

 Title: The Hallmarked Man

Author: Robert Galbraith
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 12/1/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Strike, Robin Ellacott, Decima Mullins, Johny Rokeby, a ton of others from the Charlotte story
What happens? Strike and Robin are hired because a man is mutilated in a silver store vault (to make him unidentifiable) by Decima, who wants them to prove that it is her husband, Rupert Fleetwood, because otherwise he just abandoned her and their baby.  There are 5 different possible people who are the actual victim who posed as William White to work in the silver store.  
How long was this? 897 pages
Did I like this? It was nearly impossible to follow the different stories being investigated, combined with the other cases, the investigators and their problems.  JK Rowling is a good writer, so it's fun to read, but no way I understood what happened.
Overall grade: B

The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel

 Title: The Case for Christ

Author: Lee Strobel
Did I listen or read?: gift on my 70th from Jenny, paperback
When did I finish?: 11/25/2205
When was the book published: 2016
Main Characters: He interviews about 12 experts (all true believers) about different elements that have been pointed out as doubtful or contradictory in the story of Jesus.
What happens? Each expert expertly contradicts the arguments presented
How long was this? 306 pages
Did I like this? I learned a lot about Jesus's life that I did not know.  I did not appreciate the bias of every person who is interviewed.
Overall grade: B

Muzzled by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Muzzled

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 11/15/2025
When was the book published: 2020 
Main Characters: Usual crew, one new guy from a book that I missed
What happens? Dude who was supposedly killed in a boat accident comes back to get his dog.  Andy of course takes him on as a client when he is accussed of murder of the two dudes in the boat.  Pharma company bad guys
How long was this? 304 pages
Did I like this? Usual.  Always pleasant.  Read out of order.  Missed two books
Bark of Night 2018

Dachsund through the Snow 2019
Overall grade: B

Spook Street by Mick Herron

 Title: Spook Street

Author: Mick Herron
Did I listen or read?: kindle libby
When did I finish?: 11/8/2025
When was the book published: 2017
Main Characters: River, Slow Horses, Lamb, Marcus gets killed, Louisa
What happens? This is the 4th season where River's grandfather uses his shotgun to kill someone pretending to be River.  
How long was this? 317 pages
Did I like this? Even though I rememer a lot of the TV show, his writing style is very good, worth reading.
Overall grade: B+

Summit Lake by Charlie Donlea

 Title: Summit Lake

Author: Charlie Donlea 
Did I listen or read?: libby kindle
When did I finish?: 11/4/2025
When was the book published: 2016 
Main Characters: Becca Eckersley, Jack+Gail+Brad, Kelsey Castle, Rea, the coffee shop gal
What happens? Becca goes through school w J+G+B and then, 14 months later, is killed.  Kelsey is a writer for Events magazine and goes to investigate, trying to get back to work after her own problem happened.
How long was this? 339 pages
Did I like this? It was decent.  I liked the main characters.  The author tried some tricks and they were OK.
Overall grade: B

Drop Shot by Harlan Coben

 Title: Drop Shot

Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: libby kindle
When did I finish?: October 29, 2025 Viking Cruise book 3
When was the book published: 1996
Main Characters: Myron Bolitar, Win, tennis players, coach Pavel Manasi, Frank Ache who runs an IMG like agency but is also dirty
What happens? Former tennis great reaches out to Myron.  Before he meets with her, she is shot dead.  Myron and Win get to the bottom of it in the sordid world of big time tennis
How long was this?  341 pages
Did I like this? not great and his humor is a little outdated, and often copied, but enjoyable
Overall grade: B

Hidden Creed by Alex Kava

 Title: Hidden Creed

Author: Alex Kava
Did I listen or read?: libby kindle
When did I finish?: Oct 25, 2025 on trip
When was the book published:  2020
Main Characters: Ryder Creed, sister who was held captive for 16 years.  FBI on/off girlfriend. Weird dude who (sort of) buries bodies in the Florida swamp.  Jason, PTSD soldier now a dog handler
What happens? Creed's dog grace stumbles upon all the dead bodies.  Weird dude tries to "scare them off."
How long was this? 325 pages
Did I like this? Not much.  Held captive for 16 years???
Overall grade: B-

The Husband's Secret by Liane Moriarty

 Title: The Husband's Secret

Author: Liane Moriarty
Did I listen or read?: libby kindle
When did I finish?: Oct 20, 2025 on Viking ocean cruise
When was the book published: 2013
Main Characters: Cecilia, Rachel, Tess
What happens? Cecilia's husband has the secret.  They have 3 girls.  Rachel is the grandmother whose son is moving to NYC (from Melbourne.)  Her daughter was killed in high school.  Tess's husband has fallen in love with her cousin who recently lost hundreds of pounds
How long was this? 396 pages
Did I like this? ok - lots and lots of coincidences
Overall grade: B

Hands Down by Felix Francis

 Title: Hands Down

Author: Felix Francis
Did I listen or read?:
When did I finish?:
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters:
What happens?
How long was this?
Did I like this? I am pretty sure I read this!   Sid Halley, friend whose stable burns, they think it's suicie
Overall grade:

Buzzkill by Alison Gaylin for Robert Parker

 Title: Buzzkill

Author: Alison Gaylin for Robert Parker
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 10/12/2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Sunny Randall, Spike, Bill and Lydia and son Dylan Welch.  Sky, Dylan's best friend.
What happens? Lydia hires Sunny to find out what happened to Dylan.  He's a partier/drug addict, but has started a successful company that makes Buzz an energy drink that is addictive
How long was this? 309 pages
Did I like this? pretty good stuff, Sunny is cool, good writing
Overall grade: B+

The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware

 Title: The Woman in Suite 11

Author: Ruth Ware
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 10/7/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Lo Blacklock, Carrie, Marcus Friedman, husband Judah
What happens? Lo gets invited (as she decides to go back to travel writing after two kids) to a fancy hotel opening in Switzerland.  Marcus and son Pieter are the creepy rich people who own the place.  A bunch of travel journalists from Cabin 10 (10 years ago) are there, and Carrie (from cabin 10) reappears.
How long was this? 384 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good, but I predicted the big twists.  
Overall grade: B+

The Life We Bury by Alan Eskens

 Title: The Life We Bury

Author: Alan Eskens
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 10/1/2025
When was the book published: 2014
Main Characters: Joe Talbert, college student, Max Rupert, detective, his autistic bro Jeremy, Carl Iverson convicted murderer
What happens? Joe gets to write a college assignment, a bio, picks Carl at random in a nursing home.  Investigates what really happened, finds the real killer, lots of danger
How long was this? 304 pages
Did I like this? It was really good.  Liked Joe especially.  First person writing style.  Want more.
Overall grade: A-

Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill

 Title: Five Found Dead

Author: Sulari Gentill
Did I listen or read?: sonoma co. library book
When did I finish?: Sep 24, 2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Joe Penvale, twin sister Meredith, Napoleon Duplantier (French Detective), a buncha other detectives, two old ladies trying to recover their lost church money
What happens? Joe is on the mend from cancer, he and Meri take the Orient Express to celebrate, and give him writing ideas. A mysterious man is killed (or there is a cabin full of blood, but no body) and everyone on the train seems to be looking for him.
How long was this? 304 pages
Did I like this? Characters are creative, the plot moves fast, it just stretches so far, that this (spoiler) con man did all this and has all these people after him.  But I would try this author again.
Overall grade: B

Nightshade by Michael Connelly

 Title: Nightshade

Author: Michael Connelly
Did I listen or read?: kindle via libby
When did I finish?: 9/21/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Stillwell, Tash his girlfriend.  Rich dudes with boats at the fancy club.  Girl with purple streak found dead.  Ahearn -  cop back on the mainland who calls him Stillborn, and
What happens? Girl found dead.  Stillwell told to back off.  He investigates anyways.  They take his girlfriend captive.  The local hood denies involvement in the evil stuff (kidnap, murder.)
How long was this? 400 pages
Did I like this? Solid new entry to the Connelly library
Overall grade: B+

Good Bad Girl by Alice Feeney

 Title:  Good Bad Gril

Author: Alice Feeney
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 9/17/25
When was the book published:  2023
Main Characters: Frankie, Edith in the rest home, Patience, Cleo, Cleo's brother who runs the art gallery
What happens? A twisted tale of these women who are all interconnected someone how in ways that are too secret to reveal except after hinting at them 27 times.
How long was this? 306 pages
Did I like this? On and off.  Just really annoying the have so many secrtes.
Overall grade: B-

Kiss Her Goodby by Lisa Gardner

 Title: Kiss Her Goodby

Author: Lisa Gardner
Did I listen or read?: library book, Santa Rosa library
When did I finish?: 9/16/2025
When was the book published:  2025
Main Characters: Frankie Elkin.  Folks from Afghanistan
What happens? Frankie looks for a woman who has emigrated from Afghanistan with her daughter.
How long was this? 398 pages
Did I like this? ok, not great.  nice idea mixed with a lot of other stuff
Overall grade: B

The Late Lord Thorpe by Peter Grainger

 Title: The Late Lord Thorpe

Author: Peter Grainger
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 9/10/2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: DC Smith, Caroline Thorpe, Diver and Diver, Freddie the late lord, Polly Coverdale - another investigator w D+D, 3 friends of Freddie's who ghosted Caroline
What happens? Caroline wants D+D to look into her brother's death, which the coroner has ruled "misadventure" but seems to be murder
How long was this? 455 pages
Did I like this? It's waaaaay too long but enjoyable writing and diversions in 12 or 23 hours
Overall grade: B

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

 Title: Tom Lake

Author: Ann Patchett
Did I listen or read?: libby kindle
When did I finish?: 9/5/2025
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: Lara, husband Joe, 3 daughters - Emily (like in "Our Town"), Peter Duke the famous actor, Duke's brother Saint Sebastian
What happens? Lara tells the story of how she acted in summer theatre and Peter Duke was her boyfriend and lead in Our Town. She is telling her grown up daughters the story as they pick cherries in Michigan at the beginning of the pandemic
How long was this? 320 pages
Did I like this? A wonderful book, a joy to read, with a lovely story, a nice family, beautiful Michigan, plot twists, great characters
Overall grade: A and almost an A+

Death in a Strange Country by Donna Leon

Title: Death in a Strange Country
Author: Donna Leon
Did I listen or read?: libby audio book
When did I finish?: Aug 31 2025 moving time
When was the book published: 1993
Main Characters: Commissario Guido Brunetti, Americans on a nearby military base
What happens?  Brunetti finds the body of an American soldier in the canal.  He wants to find out what happened, while the Americans cover it up.  
How long was this? 391 pages
Did I like this? Good enough. Long and drawn out.

Overall grade: B

Spider Woman's Daughter by Anne Hillerman

 Title: Spider Woman's Daughter

Author: Anne Hillerman
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: Aug 25 - moving time
When was the book published: 2013
Main Characters: Leaphorn, Chee, Manuelito, a bunch of people involved with pottery
What happens? Leaphorn gets shot and Bernie witnesses, but can't prevent.  She goes to solve the mystery.  Chee holds a healing ceremony
How long was this? 301 pages
Did I like this? Good Chee story.
Overall grade: B

None of This is True by Lisa Jewell

 Title: None of This is True

Author: Lisa Jewell
Did I listen or read?: libby kindle
When did I finish?: 8/9/2025
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: :Alix Summers, husband Nathan, Josie Fair, husband Walter, kids Erin and Roxy
What happens? Alix and Josie are birthday twins.  Alix has a podcast that is moderately successful, but she is looking for more.  Josie approaches her about her weird life (met Walter when she was 16) and decides to do a podcast interviewing Josie.  Josie might be a big fat liar.
How long was this? 390 pages
Did I like this? It was OK but not great.  Predictable that Josie might be lying.  Pretty good, but Josie is so unlikeable, hard to read.
Overall grade: B

A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King

 Title:  A Monstrous Regiment of Women

Author: Laurie R. King
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 8/4/2025
When was the book published:  1995
Main Characters: Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes, Marjory Child
What happens?  Mary's friend Veronica from Oxford is caught up either in a great progressive movement or a cult led by Child.  People start dying.  Mary gets kidnapped and shot up w dope.
How long was this? 336 pagrd
Did I like this? The stories are long and involved with side plots, but I enjoy the Mary's character and Sherlock's mystery.  For some unknown reason, she has Mary get married to Sherlock.  Might end my interest in this series
Overall grade: B

Careless People by Sarah Wynn-WIlliams

 Title: Careless People

Author: Sarah Wynn-Williams
Did I listen or read?: library book, last book from EDC!
When did I finish?: 8/3/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Zuckerberg, Sheryl Sandberg, Joel, Eliot
What happens? Sarah creates a job at Facebook in public policy, joining on a mission to make the world better.  The greed and stupidity of the execs leads the company into legal murky waters, while pumping out money at all costs.
How long was this? 386 pages
Did I like this? good book, yeah.  Jaw dropping
Overall grade: B+

Speak to Me of Home by Jeanine Cummins

 Title: Speak to Me of Home

Author: Jeanine Cummins
Did I listen or read?: library book, one of the last from EDC
When did I finish?: 8/2/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Daisy, the daughter, Ruth the mother, Ruth's brother Benny, Rafaela the grandmother, had a sister Lola. Pappamio and Mammamio. Rafaela and Lola grew up with Candido, son of the housekeeper Priti
What happens? Daisy is taking care of Benny's properties and gets injured in a hurricane.  We go back and forth in time to hear the story of the family in Puerto Rico, in St. Louis (where Rafaela moves with husband Peter before they divorce, after they have Daisy, Vic and Carlos.)
How long was this? 363 pages
Did I like this? Great characters and learning about PR.  Not much for a plot, but I would try this author again.
Overall grade: B

The beekeeper’s apprentice by laurie r. king

 Title: The Beekeeper's Apprentice 

Author: Laurie R. King
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: July 21, 2025
When was the book published: 2015
Main Characters: Mary Russell, Sherlock Holmes, John Watson
What happens? Mary and Sherlock meet, and help find a kidnapped girl, but not the kidnapper.  Then, a plot (and bombs) to destroy Sherlock, Mary and Sherlock go into hiding and pretend to feud.
How long was this? 12 hours
Did I like this? good story, good writing, way too long.  Will try number 2.
Overall grade: B

Texas Ranger by James Patterson

 Title: Texas Ranger

Author: James Patterson 
Did I listen or read?: Libby audiobook
When did I finish?: July 19, 2025 Santa Barbara 2 week trip
When was the book published: 2018
Main Characters: Rory the ranger
What happens? Rory comes home to investigate the brutalmirder of his ex wife
How long was this? 9 hours
Did I like this? The worst.  Holes in the plot.  They never explain how the bad guy got a threatening phone call. A mess say no to James Patterson. 
Overall grade: C-

Come to Grief by Dick Francis

 Title: Come to Grief

Author: Dick Francis
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 7/16/2025
When was the book published: 1995
Main Characters: Sid Halley, Ellis Quint, Gordon and Ginnie, Rachel Ferns and mother Linda, ex-father-in-law Charles Roland
What happens? Sid figures out that Ellis is committing a bizarre set of violent acts against horses, and accuses him (and has evidence.)  Sid is vilified by the media for accusing the popular media star and former jockey.  He has to investigate to get the whole story.  The first victim of this was Rachel's pony - Rachel has cancer and Sid becomes part of her life, very moving.
How long was this? 308 pages
Did I like this? Dick Francis is a great story teller and his characters are always interesting, believable, and multi-dimensioned.  Like most of his books, I loved this story.
Overall grade: A-

Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner

 Title: Creation Lake

Author: Rachel Kushner
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: July 12, 2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Sadie Smith, fake name of spy, Bruno Lacombe, thought leader of ecoterrorists
What happens? Sadie is assigned to infiltrate a group of people trying to slow growth in agricultural France.  She hacks into Bruno's email and reads and reads and reads about his thoughts about the difference between Neanderthal and Homo Sapiens.  A plot sort of develops on whether this people are going to do something illegal, or just spill milk.
How long was this? 404 pages
Did I like this? Bizarre and not a spy story.  Kind of historical fiction about neanderthal's, and also about Cagot people who were ostracized.  But does a spy plot emerge?  Just barely enough to get me to finish, and then regret the whole thing.
Overall grade: C-

The Camera Man by Peter Grainger

 Title: The Camera Man

Author: Peter Grainger
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 7/5/2025
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: DC Smith, wife Jo, Diver and Diver assoc., Gerald Fitch, estranged wife Amanda
What happens? Smith is recently retired and DDA wants him to do work for the insurance company to verify that Gerald Fitch is actually dead.  He disappeared five years ago as his business (and maybe his marriage) was failing.  The trail is a dead end....almosst.
How long was this? 348 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good, yeah, want to go back to the first DC Smith
Overall grade: B+

Dead Heat by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

 Title: Dead Heat

Author: Dick Francis and Felix Francis
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 7/2/2025
When was the book published:
Main Characters: Max Moreton, chef, Caroline w the viola, 
What happens? Everyone gets sick at Max's special meal before 2,000 Guineas.  Is the Hay Net in trouble? Well that's nothing as the next day, the lunch he is serving in a box at the track is BLOWN UP.  Max goes and figures out what is going on with the polo ponies and the evil people.
How long was this? 342 pages
Did I like this? Yeah, good Francis stuff
Overall grade: B+

Nobody's Fool by Harlan Coben

 Title: Nobody's Fool

Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 6/27/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Sami Kierce, former partner Marty, girl from 22 yrs ago Anna, wife Molly, son Henry.  Missing girl Victoria Belmond, Archie Belmond
What happens? Sami is an ex-cop who lost his cool, runs a criminology adult class, Anna died in his hotel room 22 yrs ago, reappears in his classroom. He follows her to the Belmond estate.  Is she the missing (and now returned) Victoria Belmond? 
How long was this? 340 pages
Did I like this? Good story, complex plot if a bit unbelievable.  Certainly a good read and a page turner.
Overall grade: B+

Tahoe Death Fall by Todd Borg

Title: Tahoe Death Fall
Author: Todd Borg
Did I listen or read?: library paperback
When did I finish?: 6/24/2025
When was the book published: 2001
Main Characters: Owen McKenna, Spot the Great Dane,  gf Street, Jennifer the 14 year old, Gramma, Melissa, Jennifer's twin. Helga the housekeeper
What happens?  Melissa dies in a fall when she and Jennifer and Gramma are hiking, age 6.  Jennifer hires Owen to find out what happened, was it an accident? Tons of family 
How long was this? 254 pages
Did I like this? Very overblown.  He kidnaps the Allison the mother from a mental institution in LV and takes her through a raging stream and loses her, then steals a plane and flies it in a snowstorm following the highways back to Tahoe.  Decent story and characters, but laughably unbelievable.  Since it's Tahoe, will keep trying

Overall grade: B-

Bark of Night by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Bark of Night

Author: David Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 6/21/2025
When was the book published: 2019 next is Dachshund Through the Snow 

jump to Muzzled 11/10/2025 #21 skipped Dachsund and The K Team

Main Characters: Usual, Andy, Laurie, Sam, Marcus, Edna, Hike plus french bulldog Truman
What happens? Truman is dropped off by a thug with signed orders to kill.  Truman was the dog of Jason who was a documentarian who was killed.  There are people sponge diving for tourists and the boat workers are being killed, and some homeless people who have a drug chemical in their system.
How long was this? 7 hours 304 pages
Did I like this? decent
Overall grade: B

Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George

 Title: Believing the Lie

Author: Elizabeth George
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 6/17/2025
When was the book published: 2012
Main Characters: Lynley, Havers, boss / drunk Isabelle, Fairclough family
What happens? Ian dies in a boating accident and drowns.  The father, a rich Duke-like dude, asks Lynley to see if it was really an accident.  The whole family is a mess as Lynley tries to find the truth.  He asks Tommy and Deborah St. James to help research "undercover" and Deborah goes conception - crazy.
How long was this? 610 pages
Did I like this? decent, always good characters.
Overall grade: B

Wild Horses by Dick Francis

Title: Wild Horses
Author: Dick Francis
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 6/8/2025
When was the book published: 1994
Main Characters: Thomas Lyon, film director, O'Hara, producer, Montcreef, camera man, Howard Deely, writer, Nash Rourke, tom hanks, doctor Robbie Gill, Valentine, ex-blacksmith, sister Dorothea. The Visborough family.
What happens? Thomas is filming Howard's book about the mysterious death of Jackson Well's wife 26 years ago, and wants to jazz it up.  He is with Valentine as he is dying and confesses to killing someone. And giving a knife to someone. Someone wants to stop the movie from happening.
How long was this? 319 pages
Did I like this? Very good - great example of a Francis classic with an interesting young male lead and the horse biz.

Overall grade: A-

Dead Mountain by Douglas Preston and LIncoln Child

 Title: Dead Mountain

Author: Douglas Preston and LIncoln Child
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 6/5/2025
When was the book published: 2023
Main Characters: Corrie Swanson, FBI, Nora Kelly, univ prof and archaelogy expert.  Rotten sheriff. Nora's brother Skip.
What happens? In 2008, 9 mountaineer scientists disappear.  Two bodies are found in a cave with some ancient remains. The mystery was never solved - why did these people go out of their mind and cut their way out of a tent (not using the door) and go off into a deadly winter storm in their underwear.
How long was this?  388 pages.  12 hours
Did I like this? Decent story.  At first, why should I care?  But a compelling story is told with a big reveal.
Overall grade: B+

Presumed Guilty by Scott Turow

 Title: Presumed Guilty

Author: Scott Turow
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 5/25/2025
When was the book published: 2025 
Main Characters: Rusty Sabich, Bea, Bea's son Aaron, Aaron's gf Mae.  Bea's estranged father Joe. 
What happens? Aaron is on probation but is off drugs, goes away with Mae (bad influence), comes back without her.  She turns up dead.  Rusty has to defend Aaron.  
How long was this? 544 pages
Did I like this? This was an excellent book.  Great plot.  Believable.  Realistic characters.
Overall grade: A

A Very Bad Thing by J.T. Ellison

 Title: A Very Bad Thing

Author: J.T. Ellison
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 6/1/2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Columbia Jones, author, daughter Darian, journalist Riley
What happens? Columbia is on tour promoting her wildly popular book, hires Riley to write about her,  secretly asks her to do her biography, invites Luke's wife Kira to meet her at a signing.  She gets killed and all the truth slowly comes out.
How long was this? 470 pages
Did I like this? It was an enjoyable read but I still don't know what happened or why she was killed.
Overall grade: B

The Rider of Lost Creek by Louis L'amour

 Title: The Rider of Lost Creek

Author: Louis L'Amour
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook, home from SB on 5/18/2025
When did I finish?: 5/18/2025
When was the book published: 1976
Main Characters: Lance Kilkenny, the 3 feuding families, including Lance's friend Mort (?) - Dusty Graves is his sidekick
What happens? Lance's friend needs help.  He has settled in Lost Creek and there is a range war brewing as the west is being bound by barbed wire.  Lance has to figure out who's behind it all.
How long was this? 224 pages
Did I like this? Action parts were OK, but calling the characters "the man" or the "stranger" just gets old
Overall grade: B-

The Big Empty by Robert Crais

 Title: The Big Empty

Author: Robert Crais
Did I listen or read?: kindle libby 
When did I finish?: 5/19/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Elvis Cole, Joe Pike, Traci Beller, missing father Tommy, Sadie (mother) and Anya (daughter) Givens
What happens? Elvis agrees to help successful internet baker Traci find out what happened to her father 10 years ago.  He works the case countering two forces - Anya and protectors, and mystery criminals who want to keep it secret
How long was this? 373 pages
Did I like this? Crais is a great writer, love Elvis and Joe.
Overall grade: A-

The Princess of Las Vegas by Chris Bohjalian

 Title: The Princess of Las Vegas

Author: Chris Bohjalian
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 5/16/2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters: Crissy Morley (Diana), sister Betsy Morley
What happens? Crissy is playing Lady Di at the Buckingham Palace casino.  Betsy is moving to LV with her boyfriend who is a former banker and now crypto exec.  The crypto people happen to be buying the BP after the supposed-suicide deathes of the two owners within a week of each other.
How long was this? 400 pages
Did I like this? A pretty good story - entertaining
Overall grade: B+

The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks

 Title: The Longest Ride

Author: Nicholas Sparks
Did I listen or read?: libby audio book to SB 5/13/2025
When did I finish?: 5/16/2025
When was the book published: 2012
Main Characters: Ira Levinson, Ruth - late wife, Luke the cowboy. Sophia Danko

What happens? 2 love stories that come together at the end.  Ira is dying and remembering his life with Ruth who passed 8 years ago.  Sophia is at Wake Forest and meets cowboy Luke and they fall in love.
How long was this? 398 pages about 8 hours
Did I like this? It was OK.  
Overall grade: B

No Fixed Line by Dana Stabenow

 Title: No Fixed Line

Author: Dana Stabenow
Did I listen or read?: Libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 5/9/2025
When was the book published: 2020
Main Characters: Kate Shugak, PI, Jim Chopin, a whole lotta other people
What happens? Kate is named executor for a guy who tried to kill her, and Jim investigates the airplane crash that leaves a couple of sex-abused kids alive while the bad man is killed
How long was this? 400 pages
Did I like this? not too much, have to try something earlier in the series
Overall grade: B-

Mary Called Magdalene by Margaret George

 Title: Mary Called Magdalene

Author: Margaret George
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 5/7/2025
When was the book published: 2002
Main Characters: Mary, Joel (husband), Elisheba (daughter), Jesus, Mother Mary, John, Paul, Peter, Simon, Joanna, Judas, Pontius Pilate, Jesus
What happens? Mary is born a middle class Jew.  Has demons.  Marries Joel.  Demons take over.  Jesus cures her.  Jesus starts preaching, taking over for John the Baptist. etc.
How long was this? 632 pages
Did I like this? Really boring and painfully detailed about the whole demon thing.  But what a story
Overall grade: B

A Place to Bury Strangers by Mark Dawson

 Title: A Place to Bury Strangers

Author: Mark Dawson
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 5/2/2025
When was the book published:  2021
Main Characters: Atticus Finch - on the spectrum PI, Mackenzie Jones still a copy
What happens? Atticus is now a PI after being tossed off the force.  Mac is his former partner who he had an affair with and is getting a divorce because of it.  He has a private client who wants to find his runaway daughter, and she works a case where a human bone is found from a cemetery that hasn't been active since the 1940s.
How long was this? 432 pages
Did I like this? Decent, worth trying an earlier one.
Overall grade: B

The Five Year Lie by Sarina Bowen

 Title: The Five Year Lie

Author: Sarina Bowen
Did I listen or read?: kindle purchased
When did I finish?: 4/23/2025
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters:  Ariel Cafferty, son Buzz, missing father of Buzz, Drew, her family, nasty father who passed, good guy uncle (or is he?)
What happens? Five years after Buzz leaves, Ariel gets a text.  It turns out that the text was held up due to a system glitch (that impacted others) but Ariel starts down the path to find out what happened to Drew, and unravels the mystery of the family business, and who the bad guys reallya re.
How long was this? 421 pages
Did I like this? It was actually pretty well done.  Would try this author again
Overall grade: B+

Deck the Hounds by David Rosenfelt

 Title: Deck the Hounds

Author: Daavid Rosenfelt
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook    Bark of Night 2019 next
When did I finish?: 4/21/2025
When was the book published: 2018
Main Characters: Andy Carpenter book 18, Laurie, Rickie, Marcus, Sam,  Don Carrigan
What happens? Carrigan is  homeless w/ dog, and gets arrested for murder in an elaborate frame up by the bad guys, while some deranged divorcee is shooting everyone associated w the divorce.
How long was this? 368 pages, about 7 hours
Did I like this? Decent
Overall grade: B

28 Summers by Elle Hilderbrand

 Title: 28 Summers

Author: Elle Hilderbrand
Did I listen or read?: kindle libby
When did I finish?: 4/15/2025
When was the book published:  2020
Main Characters: Mallory, son Linc, Jake McCloud, brother Cooper, best friend Leland, Jack's wife Ursula
What happens? Mallory and Jake get together on labor day, and start a same time next year tradition cuz they know they can't be together.  They see each other every year on Labor Day, for .... 28 summers.
How long was this? 432 pages
Did I like this? A really enjoyable story about real people caught in a difficult situation.  Very well done, very moving.  Take for example that Fray (Cooper's friend) gets Mal pregnant in a one time thing, and they handle it very humanly, and continue to be Linc's parents.
Overall grade: A-

The Deep Dark Descending by Allan Eskens

 Title: The Deep Dark Descending

Author:  Allan Eskens
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 4/9/2025
When was the book published: 2017
Main Characters: Max Rupert, a detective whose wife was killed 4 years ago. 
What happens? He finds out who did it, and that it was not because she was a cop's wife, and tracks down the parties involved, and gets Deep and Dark.  The book alternates between current time, as he has captured the killer on an icy lake, and three days ago, when a defense attorney brings him a CD with a recording about the contract to kill his wife.
How long was this? 8 hours i think
Did I like this? It was overall pretty good.  The main character is someone you root for, and the plot moves along.  The "you're lying to me, admit that you killed her" confession goes on and on and on.  
Overall grade: B+

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