Title: Bad Things Happen
Author: Harry Dolan
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: Jun 14, 2013
When was the book published: 2009
Main Characters: David Loogan, mysterious man, Tom Kristoll, publisher, Eizabeth Waishkey - cop, Laura, Tom's wife, a bunch of authors
What happens? David lives low key in Ann Arbor, starts writing, Tom discovers him, he starts sleeping with Laura, and people start dying. First, Tom calls him to help with a dead body in his house, and David keeps investigating.
How long was this? 338 pages
Did I like this? Very good - first by this author. Plot got a little complicated and hard to follow, but great to read about writers.
Overall grade: B+
Friday, June 21, 2013
Blue Screen by Robert Parker
Title: Blue Screen
Author: Robert Parker
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 20, 2013
When was the book published: 2006
Main Characters: Sunny Randall, Jesse Stone, Erin Flint - warrior movie actress and athlete, Buddy Bollen, LA Cop Crojanger (who fired Jesse)
What happens? Buddy hires Sunny to protect Erin because she is going to become the first female MLB player. Erin's personal assistant Misty turns up dead, and Sunny investigates to find out who Erin and Misty really are. She and Jesse get to know each other.
How long was this? 300 pages approx
Did I like this? Darn good, love Parker, will read more Sunny...
Overall grade: A-
Author: Robert Parker
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 20, 2013
When was the book published: 2006
Main Characters: Sunny Randall, Jesse Stone, Erin Flint - warrior movie actress and athlete, Buddy Bollen, LA Cop Crojanger (who fired Jesse)
What happens? Buddy hires Sunny to protect Erin because she is going to become the first female MLB player. Erin's personal assistant Misty turns up dead, and Sunny investigates to find out who Erin and Misty really are. She and Jesse get to know each other.
How long was this? 300 pages approx
Did I like this? Darn good, love Parker, will read more Sunny...
Overall grade: A-
Saturday, June 1, 2013
Glasgow Kiss by Alex Gray
Title: Glasgow Kiss
Author: Alex Gray
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 1, 2013
When was the book published: 2009
Main Characters: Maggie Lorimer, schoolteacher, DCI Bill Lorimer, Kyle Kerrigan, Julie Donaldson, Eric Chalmers - religious teacher, Mr Manson - school principal
What happens? Julie has a crush on Chalmers, accuses him of rape, and turns up dead. Kyle (ex-boyfriend) is the last one she had contact with, an argument at a coffee shop. Lorimer has to find the real killer while Maggie fights to prove his innocence.
How long was this? 401 pages
Did I like this? Good story, well written, a couple of holes (why go after the killer alone in the tunnel???)
Overall grade: B+
Author: Alex Gray
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 1, 2013
When was the book published: 2009
Main Characters: Maggie Lorimer, schoolteacher, DCI Bill Lorimer, Kyle Kerrigan, Julie Donaldson, Eric Chalmers - religious teacher, Mr Manson - school principal
What happens? Julie has a crush on Chalmers, accuses him of rape, and turns up dead. Kyle (ex-boyfriend) is the last one she had contact with, an argument at a coffee shop. Lorimer has to find the real killer while Maggie fights to prove his innocence.
How long was this? 401 pages
Did I like this? Good story, well written, a couple of holes (why go after the killer alone in the tunnel???)
Overall grade: B+
Saturday, May 25, 2013
A Drop of the Hard Stuff by Lawrence Block
Title: A Drop of the Hard Stuff
Author: Lawrence Block
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 23, 2013
When was the book published: May, 2011
Main Characters: Matthew Scudder, Jim Faber his sponsor, girlfriend Jan, Mick Ballou (present day friend), High Low Jack Ellery, Ellery's sponsor - Greg Stillman
What happens? Scudder tells Mick the story of his encounter years ago with Jack Ellery, childhood acquaintance who became a criminal, then a reformed alcoholic. Jack does the 8th and 9th steps of apologizing for his past errors and gets shot twice in the head. Greg hires Scudder to determine if his death was related to his confessions.
How long was this? 319 pages
Did I like this? More great Block writing. Wish it wasn't a flashback to the past - can't he write a Scudder story in the present? - but other than that it was a page turner.
Overall grade: A-
Author: Lawrence Block
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 23, 2013
When was the book published: May, 2011
Main Characters: Matthew Scudder, Jim Faber his sponsor, girlfriend Jan, Mick Ballou (present day friend), High Low Jack Ellery, Ellery's sponsor - Greg Stillman
What happens? Scudder tells Mick the story of his encounter years ago with Jack Ellery, childhood acquaintance who became a criminal, then a reformed alcoholic. Jack does the 8th and 9th steps of apologizing for his past errors and gets shot twice in the head. Greg hires Scudder to determine if his death was related to his confessions.
How long was this? 319 pages
Did I like this? More great Block writing. Wish it wasn't a flashback to the past - can't he write a Scudder story in the present? - but other than that it was a page turner.
Overall grade: A-
The Racketeer by John Grisham
Title: The Racketeer
Author: John Grisham
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 28, 2013
When was the book published: 2012 I think
How long was this? 352 pages
Did I like this? top notch, loved it. Grisham isn't always great, but he nailed this one.
Overall grade: 352 pages
Author: John Grisham
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: June 28, 2013
When was the book published: 2012 I think
Main Characters: Malcolm Bannister, Judge Raymond Fawcett, Nathan Cooley
What happens? Malcolm is doing 10 years for unknowlingly doing illegal real estate transactions for a mobster. The Feds catch him in a sting. He hatches a plot to get out by helping them find the killer of a federal judge. The plot twists in amazing directions - no spoilers here.How long was this? 352 pages
Did I like this? top notch, loved it. Grisham isn't always great, but he nailed this one.
Overall grade: 352 pages
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Six Years by Harlan Coben
Title: Six Years
Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 21, 2013
When was the book published: 2013
Main Characters: Professor Jacob Fisher, best friend Benedict, lost love Natalie, Todd Sanderson, mentor professor Hume, Mrs. Dinsmore, bad guys Otto and Bob aka Danny Zuker
What happens? Natalie dumps Jacob (six years ago), marries Todd, and says "promise to leave us alone." Todd dies, and Jake sees his obituary, goes to the funeral, and Todd is married to Delia, not Natalie. He can't keep his promise and investigates.
How long was this? 351 pages
Did I like this? read it in 3 days, great story by a great story teller. I might have been able to see what was coming in the plot a bit., but I loved it anyways
Overall grade: A-
Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 21, 2013
When was the book published: 2013
Main Characters: Professor Jacob Fisher, best friend Benedict, lost love Natalie, Todd Sanderson, mentor professor Hume, Mrs. Dinsmore, bad guys Otto and Bob aka Danny Zuker
What happens? Natalie dumps Jacob (six years ago), marries Todd, and says "promise to leave us alone." Todd dies, and Jake sees his obituary, goes to the funeral, and Todd is married to Delia, not Natalie. He can't keep his promise and investigates.
How long was this? 351 pages
Did I like this? read it in 3 days, great story by a great story teller. I might have been able to see what was coming in the plot a bit., but I loved it anyways
Overall grade: A-
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
Title: Plainsong
Author: Kent Haruf
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 18, 2013
When was the book published: 1999
Main Characters: Tom Guthrie, sons Ike and Bobby, the McPheron brothers who have a farm, Victoria Robideaux, teenage girl, the Beckmans, Maggie Jones
What happens? Tom's a high school teacher, his wife has lost her mind and moved to Denver to live with her sister. Victoria gets pregnant and her mother throws her out of the house and she winds up living with the McPherons.
How long was this? 301 pages
Did I like this? Wonderful story, characters, very moving. Not much action or excitement, so why was I riveted to every page? Beautifully written
Overall grade A
Author: Kent Haruf
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 18, 2013
When was the book published: 1999
Main Characters: Tom Guthrie, sons Ike and Bobby, the McPheron brothers who have a farm, Victoria Robideaux, teenage girl, the Beckmans, Maggie Jones
What happens? Tom's a high school teacher, his wife has lost her mind and moved to Denver to live with her sister. Victoria gets pregnant and her mother throws her out of the house and she winds up living with the McPherons.
How long was this? 301 pages
Did I like this? Wonderful story, characters, very moving. Not much action or excitement, so why was I riveted to every page? Beautifully written
Overall grade A
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