The Highway by C.J. Box

Title: The Highway
Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: library box
When did I finish?: Sep 20, 2013
When was the book published: 2013
Main Characters: Cody Hoyt, new partner Cassie Dewell, psycho trucker Lizard King, state cop Legerski, Gracie and Danielle Sullivan, who were in the last Hoyt novel about Yellowstone, police chief Tubman
What happens? The Lizard King is regularly abducting torturing and murdering hookers who work the truck stops on the interstate.  Cassie is forced by Tubman to follow Cody and catch him planting evidence.  Danielle is driving Gracie for Thanksgiving at their father's place, but decides to detour to Helena to see Justin, Cody's son.  Hoyt goes to investigate when the girls go missing on the way.
How long was this?  382 pages
Did I like this? Box is a great writer.  This was a bit dark and violent and awful, but I zipped through it in 4 days, very exciting.
Overall grade: A-

Priest by Ken Bruen

Title: Priest

Author: Ken Bruen

Did I listen or read?: read a paperback from Sabine

When did I finish?: Sep 14, 2013

When was the book published:  2006

Main Characters: Jack Taylor, ex-cop, Ridge, lesbian ex-partner, bunch of priests and nuns, his late mother's priest, Malachy, lots of abused children

What happens? Father Joyce is decapitated, Taylor gets out of a mental institution, where he was because his best friends three year old girl fell out a window while he was watching her.  Ridge is threatened by a stalker, so Taylor gets it together and goes back to work, starts working with a young kid, Cody who wants to be a detective.  Malachy asks him to find out what happened to Father Joyce

How long was this? 290 pages

Did I like this? good but tough reading, not a pleasant subject.  Just a depressing Irish style dark novel

Overall grade: B

With No One as Witness by Elizabeth George

Title:  With No One as Witness
Author: Elizabeth George
Did I listen or read?: library book, paperback
When did I finish?: Sep 6, 2013
When was the book published:  2005
Main Characters: Thomas Lynley, Barb Havers, Winston Nkata, Lynley's boss Malcolm Weatherby is injured, so he is acting Supe reporting to Hillier, Lynley's wife, Helen, friend Simon St. James
What happens? A serial killer is killing young men, mixed race, burning their hands.  They don't realize it is the same guy until the 4th or 5th one, bring concerns that the press will blow it up.  They seem to be related to Colussus house, which helps young troubled men in the Elephant and Castle district.  Haves is recently demoted and struggling to get her rank back.  Lynley's wife is pregnant and close to the end.
How long was this? 772 pages
Did I like this? Great story and great sub stories, great plot and characters.  I didn't set the pages on fire turning them, but as it went along, I was hooked.
Overall grade: A-

The Gamal by Ciaran Collins

Title: The Gamal
Author: Ciaran Collins
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Aug 22, 2013
When was the book published: 2013
Main Characters: Charlie McCarthy is the voice of the book, the Gamal, and his friends, James and Sinead are the main players, with Dinky, Snookie and other locals.
What happens? Charlie tells the story in his own voice, recounting the romance of James and Sinead and the treachery of the jealous youth that rob them of a bright future.  He tells it in his own halting style, jumping back and forth and making a mixture of nonsensical and very lucid observations about human nature.
How long was this? 466 pages
Did I like this? This is a sensational story with a totally unique approach.  It requires patience to wade through the side turns and stories, but builds to an unforgettable climax.  Maybe just a little bit too long; I was begging to find out what happened and then how it happened.
Overall grade: A- (a genuine A-)

The Silver Swan by Benjamin Black

Title: The Silver Swan
Author: Benjamin Black
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: 8/16/2013
When was the book published: 2008
Main Characters:Quirke, pathologist, and his friend Billy Hunt, whose wife just committed suicide, Phoebe his long denied daughter who was raised by his surrogate father who is paralyzed
What happens? Quirke is approached by Billy Hunt to ask a favor, to not do an autopsy after his wife's suicide.  He investigates and find sthat she was murdered, and a weird pseudo doctor named Kreutz and a lunatic named Leslie enter the picture.
How long was this? 290 pages
Did I like this? OK, good stuff, nothing great
Overall grade: B

The Broken Shore by Peter Temple

Title: The Broken Shore
Author: Peter Temple
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: Aug 8, 2013
When was the book published: 2005
Main Characters: Joe Cashin, detective, Kendall Rogers, temporary partner, Dove, aboriginal partner on this case, Charles Bourgoyne, Villain, Cashin's old boss
What happens? Cashin is temporarily assigned to a backwater, Cromarty, where Charles Bourgoyne turns up bashed, his watch missing, which leads to some Daunt (local ghetto) natives getting falsely accused and hunted.  Cashin stays with it to find out what really happened.
How long was this? 350 pages
Did I like this? Pretty good, a little hard to follow with the authentic Aussie dialogue, 2nd half much better once the plot picks up.
Overall grade: B

Linchpin by Seth Godin

Title: Linchpin
Author: Seth Godin
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: August 3, 2013
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters:
What happens? Be a linchpin.  Don't be average - we don't work in a factory society anymore.  Be an artist who gives gifts through emotional connections, passion and honesty.  Don't let your "lizard brain" stop your "daemon" from doing its thing.  Become indispenable.
How long was this? 250 pages
Did I like this? really good message, not written the way I would like.  I need more stories, less lecture.  A bit repetitive.  But a critically important message for our times!
Overall grade: B