The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly

 Title: The Proving Ground

Author: Michael Connelly
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 2/22/2026
When was the book published:  2025
Main Characters: Michael Haller, Lincoln lawyer, lorna, maggie, cisco, Jack McElroy, opposing lawyers the Mason bros, Victor Wendt - Tidalwaiv CEO.  Judge Ruhlin
What happens? Haller is a civil attorney and takes on the AI company that build a chatbot that coached a 16 year old boy to kill his girlfriend, representing the mother of the dead girl AND the parents of the shooter.  
How long was this? 387 pages
Did I like this?  A really good story, with a solid AI foundation, and plot twists for and against. Well done.
Overall grade: A-

The Grey Wolf by Louise Penny

 Title: The Grey Wolf

Author: Louise Penny
Did I listen or read?: kindle from libby
When did I finish?: 2/12/2026
When was the book published: 2024
Main Characters:  Gamache, Beauvoir, Lacoste.  Jeanne Caron, old enemy.  Yves who became a monk. Charles Langlois
What happens? Gamache is made aware of a plot to poison the water, throwing the world into chaos so a lock-down government can be put into place
How long was this? 421 pages
Did I like this? It's a pretty boring plot, always enjoy the characters and Gamache's deep thinking approach. Hard to remember and keep track of who the good guys are.
Overall grade: B

Bark to the Future by Spencer Quinn

 Title: Bark to the Future

Author: Spencer Quinn
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: 2/11/2026
When was the book published: 2022
Main Characters: Chet the dog, narrator, Bernie Little PI, Rocket, a buncha high school connections from Bernie's past
What happens? Rocket is down on his luck.  Gives Bernie a pocket switchblade, then disappears.  
How long was this? 320 pages 7 hours
Did I like this?  A great idea, but the dog narration was distracting and hard to follow.  I think I will try the first book in the series. Fun and funny in some parts, repetitive and annoying in others.  A decent story under it all.
Overall grade: B

The House at Saltwater Point by Colleen Coble

Title: The House at Saltwater Point
Author: Colleen Coble
Did I listen or read?: libby audio book
When did I finish?: Jan 28, 2026
When was the book published: 2018
Main Characters: Ellie Blackmore, Grayson Bradshaw, Ellie's sister Mack, Mack's ex Jason
What happens? "She was distracted from saving thousands of lives by his broad shoulders and lean muscles."  Romantic fiction christian garbabe
How long was this? 328 pages 8 hours
Did I like this? Laughable at times.  Do not do again

Overall grade: C

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand

Title: Unbroken
Author: Laura Hillenbrand
Did I listen or read?: libby audio 90% libby kindle 10%
When did I finish?: 1/23/2026
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Louie Zamperini, the Bird, Louie's family, brother Peter, mother Louise.
What happens? True story, Louie and his plan are shot down, and he survives horrible ordeals at sea, and then in Japanese prison camps.
How long was this? 426 pages, about 12 hours
Did I like this? A good story, hard to sit through the "repetitive torture" sections, but an amazing story

Overall grade: B+

Crossfire by Dick Francis and Felix Francis

Title: Crossfire
Author: Felix Francis and Dick Francis - Dick's last work
Did I listen or read?: oakmont library
When did I finish?: 1/20/2026
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Tom Forsyth, his mother, Josephine Kauri, Ian the stable lead, bad guys
What happens? Tom comes out of hospital with a new foot, goes home where he is not really welcome, discovers that his mother is being blackmailed and has made some major taxation choice mistakes.  Tom fixes it.
How long was this? 336 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good Francis story.  Unique somewhat unlikeable angry man lead.  

Overall grade: B

Mother of Bourbon by Eric Goodman and Kaveh Zamanian

 Title: Mother of Bourbon

Author: Eric Goodman and Kaveh Zamanian
Did I listen or read?: bought Eric's book at the Oakmont book fair after meeting him in the hot tub w his wife
When did I finish?: 1/16/2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Mary, her kids esp. Will and Emmett, her husband Joe
What happens? True fictionalized story of how Mary Dowling built a great bourbon empire before prohibition, while raising a family of 9 (maybe 8)
How long was this? 291 pages
Did I like this? Well done, interesting story. 
Overall grade: B+

The Murder Stone by Charles Todd

 Title: The Murder Stone

Author: Charles Todd
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook
When did I finish?: Jan 15, 2025
When was the book published: 
Main Characters: Francesca Hatton, Richard Leighton, Francis Hatton, the cousins
What happens? Francis the benevolent grandfather to 6 dies, and Richard Leighton accuses him of murder of Victoria.  Francesca unravels the truth about Francis and her life.
How long was this? 413 pages, 13 hours
Did I like this? It started slow and could be a nice 8 hours, but it got quite good in the 2nd half.
Overall grade: B+

An Inside Job by Daniel Silva

 Title: An Inside Job

Author: Daniel Silva
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: 1/8/2026
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Gabriel Allon, the pope
What happens? Spoiler alert - Someone finds a da Vinci in the vatican archives, painted over with another painting.  Gabriel finds it copies it, sells the copy to some russian billionaire, and returns the original
How long was this? 399 pages
Did I like this? Ok, kinda unbelievable that he can create a copy of any masterpiece and do whatever the hell he wants
Overall grade: B

The Tin Men by Alex Demille

 Title: The Tin Men

Author: Alex DeMille - Nelson DeMille passed away in 2024

Did I listen or read?: library book

When did I finish?: Dec 30, 2025

When was the book published: 2025

Main Characters: Scott Brodie, Maggie Taylor

What happens? Scott and Maggie get sent to investigate a murder at a top secret facility where Lethal Autonomous Weapons are being tested against a squad of rangers. One of the robots has killed a soldier.

How long was this? 368 pages

Did I like this? It was a really good science fiction but could be real story.  Engaging and creepy/scary realistic.

Overall grade: B+

Caught by Harlan Coben

 Title: Caught

Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: libby audiobook xmas car trip to SB 2025
When did I finish?: 12-29-2025
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Wendy Tynes, reporter, Hailey McWaid, missing girl.  Dan Mercer, caught in the act of soliciting a minor - or was he?, Ed the father of one of the kids supposedly abused by Dan
What happens? Wendy latches on to the story as she isn't sure that Dan is guilty, and she wants to help find Hailey.  She gets fired and then gets her job back, and stumbles onto the plot attacking a bunch of Princeton roommates
How long was this?  12 hours
Did I like this? It was a good story, with good twists and turns.  Lots of "You don't really know, do you, Wendy" requiring patience.  but basically a good story
Overall grade: B

Gone Before Goodbye by Reese Witherspoon and Harlan Coben

 Title: Gone Before Goodbye

Author: Reese Witherspoon and  Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Dec 22, 2025
When was the book published: 2025
Main Characters: Maggie McCabe, world class cosmetic surgeon who did wartime work around the world
What happens? Maggie's life is in ruins as her husband was killed and she started doing drugs and screwed up a surgery.  An old friend offers her services to do cosmetic surgery on a russian oligarch and his girlfriend's breasts and things get weird.
How long was this? 340 pages
Did I like this? The beginning was a little tough with the noble, tough, world-class characters, but once the plot got going, it was good.  Twists and turns
Overall grade: B+