Title: Rampart Street
Author: David Fulmer
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Jan 19, 2012
When was the book published: 2006
Main Characters: Valentin St. Cyr, creole detective, Justine, ex-girlfriend, Frank Mangetta, runs the bar where he lives, Henry Harris, wealthy rich guy, Anne Marie Benedict, daughter of the murdered man, Betsy, her maid
What happens? During New Orleans, 1910, St. Cyr returns after roaming the country haunted by previous episodes. He keeps his head low, but is dragged back into detective work after John Benedict, member of high society, is killed on Rampart Street and Anne Marie wants to know the real reason why it happened.
How long was this? 335 pages
Did I like this? superb, well written, great story, great characters. You feel like you are there in this racially divided vibrant city.
Overall grade: A
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Final Account by Peter Robinson
Title: Final Account
Author: Peter Robinson
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Jan 7, 2012
When was the book published: 1985
Main Characters: Inspector Banks, wife Sandy, cops Susan Gay, boss Gristhorpe, murdered guy Keith Rothwell, missing lawyer Daniel Cleft
What happens? Keith Rothwell is viciously murdered in his own garage, head blown off, and Banks follows a trail to Rockwell's alter ego Daniel Calvert, to beautiful musician Pamela Calvert, and via his buddy Burgess to dictator Martin Churchill of island nation St. Corona.
How long was this? 308 pages
Did I like this? Yes, a really good plot with twists and turns. Set in old fashioned England od the eighties where every meal is a curry and people smoke like chimneys. Good characters like Elizabeth George, but fast moving, short and to the point.
Overall grade: A
Author: Peter Robinson
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Jan 7, 2012
When was the book published: 1985
Main Characters: Inspector Banks, wife Sandy, cops Susan Gay, boss Gristhorpe, murdered guy Keith Rothwell, missing lawyer Daniel Cleft
What happens? Keith Rothwell is viciously murdered in his own garage, head blown off, and Banks follows a trail to Rockwell's alter ego Daniel Calvert, to beautiful musician Pamela Calvert, and via his buddy Burgess to dictator Martin Churchill of island nation St. Corona.
How long was this? 308 pages
Did I like this? Yes, a really good plot with twists and turns. Set in old fashioned England od the eighties where every meal is a curry and people smoke like chimneys. Good characters like Elizabeth George, but fast moving, short and to the point.
Overall grade: A
The First Rule by Robert Crais
Title: The First Rule
Author: Robert Crais
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Jan 4, 2012
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Joe Pike, Elvis Cole, Frank Meyer's family and nanny Ana cops Terrio and Deets, Rina, Ana's sisterand Yanni
What happens? Frank is a former mercenary on Pike's team. He and his family are executed in a home invasion by 3 black gangsters and a Serbian mobster. At first, the cops think it was Frank who was involved with running guns, until they find out what was really going on. Joe and Elvis wind up in the middle ofma war between russian gangs.
How long was this? 305 pages
Did I like this? Sure love Crais, good plot,
Overall grade A minus
Author: Robert Crais
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Jan 4, 2012
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Joe Pike, Elvis Cole, Frank Meyer's family and nanny Ana cops Terrio and Deets, Rina, Ana's sisterand Yanni
What happens? Frank is a former mercenary on Pike's team. He and his family are executed in a home invasion by 3 black gangsters and a Serbian mobster. At first, the cops think it was Frank who was involved with running guns, until they find out what was really going on. Joe and Elvis wind up in the middle ofma war between russian gangs.
How long was this? 305 pages
Did I like this? Sure love Crais, good plot,
Overall grade A minus
Friday, December 30, 2011
Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson
Title: Steve Jobs
Author: Walter Isaacson
Did I listen or read?: Xmas Present, hard cover
When did I finish?: December 29, 2011
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Every one notable from Jobs to Gates to Bill Clinton to Yo Yo Ma
What happens? The real story of who Steve Jobs was.
How long was this? 560 pages
Did I like this? Exceptional - great story. I actually wanted more detail on the product design process, but a great story told well.
Overall grade: A-
Author: Walter Isaacson
Did I listen or read?: Xmas Present, hard cover
When did I finish?: December 29, 2011
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Every one notable from Jobs to Gates to Bill Clinton to Yo Yo Ma
What happens? The real story of who Steve Jobs was.
How long was this? 560 pages
Did I like this? Exceptional - great story. I actually wanted more detail on the product design process, but a great story told well.
Overall grade: A-
Coffin Man by James D. Doss
Title: Coffin Man
Author: James D. Doss
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: December 26, 2011
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Charlie Moon, detective and ranch owner, grandma Daisy Perika, 19 year old Sarah Frank (all Southern Ute indians), white sherrif Scott Parris - then Wanda Naranjo, pregnant daughter Betty, boyfriend Michael (Coffin Man) Kaufman
What happens? convoluted plot about a pregnant teenager who disappears and a cemetery handyman who gets murdered
How long was this? 340 pages
Did I like this? The characters and writing are amazing, the plot is really bad. too confusing, goes on and on. I want to try one more in this series, because I like his breezy, wordy style. Very different
Overall grade: B-
Author: James D. Doss
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: December 26, 2011
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Charlie Moon, detective and ranch owner, grandma Daisy Perika, 19 year old Sarah Frank (all Southern Ute indians), white sherrif Scott Parris - then Wanda Naranjo, pregnant daughter Betty, boyfriend Michael (Coffin Man) Kaufman
What happens? convoluted plot about a pregnant teenager who disappears and a cemetery handyman who gets murdered
How long was this? 340 pages
Did I like this? The characters and writing are amazing, the plot is really bad. too confusing, goes on and on. I want to try one more in this series, because I like his breezy, wordy style. Very different
Overall grade: B-
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Legal Tender by Lisa Scottoline
Title: Legal Tender
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: December 20, 2011
When was the book published: 1996
Main Characters: Bennie Rosato (f), Mark Biscardi, Eve Eberlein, Bill Kleeb and terrorist girlfriend Eileen Jennings
What happens? Bennie's partner Mark dumps her for Eve, then decides to break up the law firm that they founded together. He does corporate law, and she defends the helpless. Tne next day, Mark is dead in his office, and Bennie is set up for it. She follows the trail to Bill Kleeb, and he is murdered, and she is set up for it. Then Eileen Jennings murders the CEO of some big company, and sets her up for that. She has to go underground, and co-worker Grady Wells comes to her rescue.
How long was this? 288 pages
Did I like this? yeah, pretty good, better than the last book I read by her years ago. She has a swarmy humor that I don't love, but this had a fast moving plot.
Overall grade: B+
Author: Lisa Scottoline
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: December 20, 2011
When was the book published: 1996
Main Characters: Bennie Rosato (f), Mark Biscardi, Eve Eberlein, Bill Kleeb and terrorist girlfriend Eileen Jennings
What happens? Bennie's partner Mark dumps her for Eve, then decides to break up the law firm that they founded together. He does corporate law, and she defends the helpless. Tne next day, Mark is dead in his office, and Bennie is set up for it. She follows the trail to Bill Kleeb, and he is murdered, and she is set up for it. Then Eileen Jennings murders the CEO of some big company, and sets her up for that. She has to go underground, and co-worker Grady Wells comes to her rescue.
How long was this? 288 pages
Did I like this? yeah, pretty good, better than the last book I read by her years ago. She has a swarmy humor that I don't love, but this had a fast moving plot.
Overall grade: B+
Treasure Hunt by John Lescroart
Title: Treasure Hunt
Author: John Lescroart
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: Dec 15, 2011
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Mickey Dade, Wyatt Hunt (PI and Mickey's boss,) Alicia Thorpe, Dominic Como, Mickey's sister and Wyatt's receptionist Tamara, and their grandfather Jim Parr
What happens? Dominic Como, the king of SF charity, is found dead. Alicia (former driver and friend/possible lover of Como) is being set up for it. Wyatt and Mickey convince the charitable community to come up with reward money and pay them (as they are nearly out of business) for weeding through anonymous tips. They go to Len Turner, creepy lawyer to the rich and charitable, to set all this up.
How long was this? 350 pages
Did I like this? good story, well done, nothing incredible, but good stuff
Overall grade: B+
Author: John Lescroart
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: Dec 15, 2011
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Mickey Dade, Wyatt Hunt (PI and Mickey's boss,) Alicia Thorpe, Dominic Como, Mickey's sister and Wyatt's receptionist Tamara, and their grandfather Jim Parr
What happens? Dominic Como, the king of SF charity, is found dead. Alicia (former driver and friend/possible lover of Como) is being set up for it. Wyatt and Mickey convince the charitable community to come up with reward money and pay them (as they are nearly out of business) for weeding through anonymous tips. They go to Len Turner, creepy lawyer to the rich and charitable, to set all this up.
How long was this? 350 pages
Did I like this? good story, well done, nothing incredible, but good stuff
Overall grade: B+
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