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 not great and his humor is a little outdated, and often copied, but enjoyable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