Title: The Professional
Author: Robert Parker
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 14, 2012
When was the book published: 2009
Main Characters: Spenser, Susan, Hawk, a little VInnie. Gary Eisenhower, Abigail Larson, Beth Jackson, Regina Hartley, Nancy Sinclair. Gary's girl at the health club - Estelle. Chet Jackson and his muscle, Zel and Boo.
What happens? 4 woman want to hire Spenser to stop Eisenhower from blackmailing them. He has affairs with young women married to older rich men, then blackmails them.
How long was this? 289 pages
Did I like this? One of Parker's good ones, good story, fast moving. Not as tense as when Spenser or team are under attack, but a real good one.
Overall grade: B+
Saturday, June 16, 2012
In Plain Sight by C.J. Box
Title: In Plain Sight
Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 10, 2012
When was the book published: 2006
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, wife Marybeth, daughters Sheridan and Lucy, brief appearance by Nate Romanowski, the Scarlett family, Opal, sons Hank, Arlen and Wyatt. J.W. Keeley from Joe's past
What happens? Opal disappears and the book starts with Hank and Arlen taking shovels to each other's heads. Keeley becomes part of the ranch mob at Hank's ranch, while terrorizing Joe and family with a dead ferret and beheaded moose.
How long was this? 303 pages
Did I like this? yes, real good story, good characters, Joe is a good hero. He actually gets beat up in the middle...very different.
Overall grade: B+
Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 10, 2012
When was the book published: 2006
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, wife Marybeth, daughters Sheridan and Lucy, brief appearance by Nate Romanowski, the Scarlett family, Opal, sons Hank, Arlen and Wyatt. J.W. Keeley from Joe's past
What happens? Opal disappears and the book starts with Hank and Arlen taking shovels to each other's heads. Keeley becomes part of the ranch mob at Hank's ranch, while terrorizing Joe and family with a dead ferret and beheaded moose.
How long was this? 303 pages
Did I like this? yes, real good story, good characters, Joe is a good hero. He actually gets beat up in the middle...very different.
Overall grade: B+
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Shut Your Eyes Tight by John Verdon
Title: Shut Your Eyes Tight
Author: John Verdon
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 30, 2012
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Dave Gurney, wife Madeline, cop Jack Hardwick, Jillian Perry, Dr. Ashton. the Mexican Gardner Hector Flores
What happens? Gurney is retired in upstate New York. Hardwick wants him to help with the murder of Jillian Perry, beheaded on his wedding day. Gurney gets into the middle of a bizarre and brutal story around the sexual deviants who go to Dr. Ashton's school.
How long was this? 509 pages
Did I like this? A really good story, great characters. I had a sense of what was going on before it was revealed, but even so, pretty brilliant stuff. My first from Verdon, would definitely read more.
The brutality and depravity was a bit over the top.
Overall grade: A-
Author: John Verdon
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 30, 2012
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Dave Gurney, wife Madeline, cop Jack Hardwick, Jillian Perry, Dr. Ashton. the Mexican Gardner Hector Flores
What happens? Gurney is retired in upstate New York. Hardwick wants him to help with the murder of Jillian Perry, beheaded on his wedding day. Gurney gets into the middle of a bizarre and brutal story around the sexual deviants who go to Dr. Ashton's school.
How long was this? 509 pages
Did I like this? A really good story, great characters. I had a sense of what was going on before it was revealed, but even so, pretty brilliant stuff. My first from Verdon, would definitely read more.
The brutality and depravity was a bit over the top.
Overall grade: A-
Iron River by T. Jefferson Parker
Title: Iron River
Author: T. Jefferson Parker
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: June 8, 2012
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Charlie Hood, Brandon Jones/Smith, Ron Pace (in the first person), Uncle Chester, strange Mike Finnegan, daughter Owens, kidnapped Jimmy Holdstock
What happens? Trying to catch gun smugglers running away from ATFE officers, an innocent kid is shot and killed accidentally. He turns out to be the son of a Mexican gangster, and they kidnap and torture Holdstock. Twice. Meanwhile, Ron Pace restarts his gun business building 1000 weapons for a Mexican gangster.
How long was this? 368 pages
Did I like this? Parts I loved, and parts I hated. The brutality and violence and the whole mexican situation is depressing. Hood is brilliant; you have to root for Ron Pace to get the girl, and Mike Finnegan (the devil??) is a really interesting twist.
Overall grade: Some places an A+ and some a B-.
Author: T. Jefferson Parker
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: June 8, 2012
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Charlie Hood, Brandon Jones/Smith, Ron Pace (in the first person), Uncle Chester, strange Mike Finnegan, daughter Owens, kidnapped Jimmy Holdstock
What happens? Trying to catch gun smugglers running away from ATFE officers, an innocent kid is shot and killed accidentally. He turns out to be the son of a Mexican gangster, and they kidnap and torture Holdstock. Twice. Meanwhile, Ron Pace restarts his gun business building 1000 weapons for a Mexican gangster.
How long was this? 368 pages
Did I like this? Parts I loved, and parts I hated. The brutality and violence and the whole mexican situation is depressing. Hood is brilliant; you have to root for Ron Pace to get the girl, and Mike Finnegan (the devil??) is a really interesting twist.
Overall grade: Some places an A+ and some a B-.
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Believing the Lie by Elizabeth George
Title: Believing the Lie
Author: Elizabeth George
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: May 25, 2012
When was the book published: Jan 2012
Main Characters: Bernard and Valerie Fairclough, their childred Manette, divorced from Fred, disabled daughter Mignon, ex-drug addict son Nicholas married to Brazilian beauty Alatea, trash journalist Zed Benjamin, Thomas Lynley, Barbara Havers, Simon St. James and Deborah, Ian Cresswell who left his wife Niamh to be with gay lover Kaveh, and their kids Tim and Gracie, Haver's neighbors Hadiyah Azhar and father, living with her mother Angelina
What happens? Ian Cresswell dies getting out of his kayak in the beachhouse, and Bernard gets Hillier (Scotland Yard) to bring Lynley in on the case to find out if son Nicholas was responsible. A whole series of family secrets are revealed about the Faircloughs. Lynley goes to the Lake District (Cumbria) with St. James and Deborah going undercover to get to the truth.
How long was this? 530 pages
Did I like this? One of the best George's, fast moving with multiple interesting plots.
Overall grade: A-
Author: Elizabeth George
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: May 25, 2012
When was the book published: Jan 2012
Main Characters: Bernard and Valerie Fairclough, their childred Manette, divorced from Fred, disabled daughter Mignon, ex-drug addict son Nicholas married to Brazilian beauty Alatea, trash journalist Zed Benjamin, Thomas Lynley, Barbara Havers, Simon St. James and Deborah, Ian Cresswell who left his wife Niamh to be with gay lover Kaveh, and their kids Tim and Gracie, Haver's neighbors Hadiyah Azhar and father, living with her mother Angelina
What happens? Ian Cresswell dies getting out of his kayak in the beachhouse, and Bernard gets Hillier (Scotland Yard) to bring Lynley in on the case to find out if son Nicholas was responsible. A whole series of family secrets are revealed about the Faircloughs. Lynley goes to the Lake District (Cumbria) with St. James and Deborah going undercover to get to the truth.
How long was this? 530 pages
Did I like this? One of the best George's, fast moving with multiple interesting plots.
Overall grade: A-
Monday, May 14, 2012
Cold Wind by C.J. Box
Title:Cold Wind
Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read? Library book:
When did I finish? May 13, 2012:
When was the book published: 2011:
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, wife Marybeth, Nate Romanowski
What happens? Joe finds his father in law dead on a windmill. His mother in law is accused of murder, with the testimony of her third husband, Nate Longacre.
How long was this? 388 pages
Did I like this?damn good, well written, good plot, good characters. Real feel for the west.
Overall grade: A-
Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read? Library book:
When did I finish? May 13, 2012:
When was the book published: 2011:
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, wife Marybeth, Nate Romanowski
What happens? Joe finds his father in law dead on a windmill. His mother in law is accused of murder, with the testimony of her third husband, Nate Longacre.
How long was this? 388 pages
Did I like this?damn good, well written, good plot, good characters. Real feel for the west.
Overall grade: A-
Friday, May 11, 2012
The Informant by Thomas Perry
Title:
The Informant
Author: Thomas Perry
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 7, 2012
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: The widowed cop with the kids, Elizabeth Waring, and the Butcher's Boy, Michael Schaeffer
What happens? The Butcher's Boy runs around killing mafiaso because they put a hit on him. The Mafia call a convention and decide to kill him.
How long was this? 325 pages
Did I like this? breezy reading, unique story, LOTS of killing, nothing riveting
Overall grade: B
Author: Thomas Perry
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 7, 2012
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: The widowed cop with the kids, Elizabeth Waring, and the Butcher's Boy, Michael Schaeffer
What happens? The Butcher's Boy runs around killing mafiaso because they put a hit on him. The Mafia call a convention and decide to kill him.
How long was this? 325 pages
Did I like this? breezy reading, unique story, LOTS of killing, nothing riveting
Overall grade: B
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