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