The Secret Servant by Daniel Silva

Title: The Secret Servant
Author: Daniel Silva
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Dec 5, 2011
When was the book published: 2007
Main Characters: Gabriel Allon, israeli spy. Elizabeth Halton, daughter to the us ambassador gets kidnapped.
What happens? Allon goes to clean up after an asset in Amsterdam is murdered. He stumbles into the islamic takeover of Europe and the world, and single handedly has to stop them. Good exciting story.
How long was this? 380 pages
Did I like this? I like the way he writes. I didn't like the whole Islamic, doomsday, post 9-11 thing.
Overall grade: B+

Damage by John Lescroart

Title: Damage
Author: John Lescroart
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: November 18, 2011
When was the book published: January 2011
Main Characters: Abe Glitsky, serial rapist Ro Curtlee, newspaper publisher parents, jury foreman Michael Durbin
What happens? Serial rapist / murderer Ro Curtlee gets a re-trial because people in the audience wore pins with pictures of the victim, gets out, starts eliminating witnesses. The jury foreman's wife dies in the a similar manner - is she a victim or a copycat? Glitzky nearly loses his job from political pressure.
How long was this? 399 pages
Did I like this? good story, twists and turns. The resolution with the Curtlees is surprising. Not sure if I liked it, but it resolved it without a long trial!
Overall grade: A-

The Rembrandt Affair by Daniel Silva

Title: The Rembrandt Affair
Author: Daniel Silva
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Nov 4, 2011
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Gabriel Allon, Israeli spy and master art forger, Zoe Reed, journalist recruited by the spies, Julian Isherwood, art dealer, Lena Herzfeld, holocaust survivor saved in exchange for the Rembrandt Martin Landesman, great businessman and philanthropist in Israel whose fortune was founded from ill gotten war gains.
What happens? Gabriel and Chiara are recuperating from their last mission when he gets recruited because a Rembrandt has been stolen. It turns out that the painting has evidence of how the nazis stole money from the jews including lena herzfeld's family. The spy agencies recruit Zoe Reed to bug Martin (as she is in love with him) and then later to bring one of their agents into a monster party at his estate.
How long was this? 484 pages
Did I like this? yes, this is a good spy story with good guys, bad guys, characters, and Nazis. He writes well, and keeps it moving. You don't get too deep into the characters, but enough to make it work.
Overall grade: A-

Our Kind of Traitor by John Lecarre

Title: Our Kind of Traitor
Author: John LeCarre
Did I listen or read?: Read library book
When did I finish?: Oct 21, 2011
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Perry Makepeace and his girl Gail. Dima the russian banker for the mob. spies Luke, Ollie, Hector and Billy Boy their boss, and Aubrey Longrigg, super spy.
What happens? Perry and Gail take holiday in Antigua and get lured into Dima's life and family. Perry beats him at tennis and Dima decides that Perry will help him run away to England and become a whistleblower on the new russian mafia boss the Prince. Dima's family (crazy wife Tamara, two twin older boys, daughter Natasha from a previous wife, two little girls orphaned by the murder of their parents by the Prince.
How long was this? about 300 pages.
Did I like this? It was the author's usual slow spy writing but the action picked up in the 2nd half of the book - it was pretty exciting and he did a good job with letting you get to know the characters. I have never read a quality book with a worse ending. The ending was completely unacceptable - no explanation for what happened, it just ends.
Overall grade: C+

Gamble by Felix Francis

Title: Gamble
Author: Keith Francis
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Oct 13, 2011
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Nick Foxton, financial advisor and former jockey, his artist girlfriend, Claudia, the advisory firm of Lyall and Black, the DI, rich guy Jolyon Roberts.
What happens? Nick is standing next to co-worker Herb Kovak who is assasinated in a crowd at Cheltenham. Nick's girlfriend gets cancer. Jolyon Roberts approaches Nick to discreetly investigate a Bulgarian investment made which appears fraudulent. People try to kill Nick.
How long was this? 352 pages
Did I like this? Very good. Just like Dick Francis, except Felix is quite a bit more modern in his cultural references. Otherwise, it fit the mold and was wonderful, delightful reading, finished in 5 days or less.
Overall grade: A-

Seal Team Six by Howard Wasdin

Title: Seal Team Six
Author: Howard Wasdin
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Sep 30, 2011
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Howard Wasdin
What happens? The true story of Howard's life and adventures in the military. Starts with an exciting preview, but then goes into an extensive life history of growing up, being abused by his father. Some stories of the brutal training were interesting.
How long was this? 313 pages
Did I like this? Interesting in parts. Overall, boring. Wanted to read about exciting military successes and failures, not how he came in first in every training exercise.
Overall grade: C

Reimagining the California Lawn

Title: Remimagining the California Lawn
Author: Bornstein, Fross, O'Brien
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: did not read, did not finish
When was the book published:
Main Characters:
What happens? reacquire this if we want to re-do the front lawn
How long was this?
Did I like this?
Overall grade: