The Missing by Harlan Coben

Title: The Missing
Author: Harlan Coben
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 30, 2014
When was the book published: 2014
Main Characters: Kat Donovan, NYPD cop, Stacy, her best friend, Chaz, her partner, Titus, the bad guy, Brandon Phelps, teen whose mother is missing, transvestite Angel, ex-fiancee Jack
What happens? Kat works on Brandon's mother's disappearance, the death of her father, and the mystery of why Jack left her 18 years ago without explanation.
How long was this? 399 pages
Did I like this? Very good, not great Coben.  Liked the characters, plot was a bit hard to follow/believe. The tie-in between the two major threads was a bit of a stretch.
Overall grade: B+

Stone Cold by C.J. Box

Title: Stone Cold
Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: May 24, 2014
When was the book published: 2014
Main Characters: Joe Pickett, Nate Romanowski, April, Missy, Wolfgang Templeton, Critchfield and Smith, Game Warden Latta, Governor Rulon, Sheridan at school at the U of Wy, FBI agent Coon
What happens? Nate is doing assassination work for Wolfgang Templeton, who has holed up in the northwest corner of the state, the Black Hills of Wyoming.  Rulon asks Joe to go up there undercover to find out if Templeton is a bad guy (as an FBI guy got burned to death in a motel room.)  Joe works under FBI agent Coon's guidance to go figure it out.  The action happens quickly as Joe figures out the extent of the evil and corruption.
How long was this? 370 pages
Did I like this? Up to C.J. Box standard, fast paced, fun, witty, believable.
Overall grade: A

The Unwinding: An Inner History ot the new America by George Packer

Title: The Unwinding
Author: George Packer
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 15, 2014
When was the book published: 2013
Main Characters: Jeff Connaughton, Sam Walton, Tracy Moore, the energy guy from the South
What happens? A story of how America has changed for the worse told from the perspective of multiple individuals, with the viewpoint of liberal and libertarian views widely represented.  The failure of the financial system and the deregulation of key stabilizing mechanisms leads the country to a significant decline in the quality of living for the middle class.
How long was this? 430 pages
Did I like this? A bit slow, but once you get hooked, an interesting tale.  I actually wish he would have drawn more conclusions to disagree with.
Overall grade: B+

Blue Heaven by C.J. Box

Title: Blue Heaven
Author: C.J. Box
Did I listen or read?: listened (library)
When did I finish?: May 10, 2014
When was the book published: 2007
Main Characters: Jess Rawlins, Annie and William Taylor, Monica Taylor, ex cops Singer, Newkirk, Gonzales, Tom the UPS guy, the banker, retired cop from Santa Anita
What happens? Annie and William go fishing and witness a murder. They get away and hide in Jess's barn, and Jess helps figure out what happened and why. The retired cop from Santa Anita comes in pursuit of money stolen during a big heist at the race track.
How long was this? 10 hours (about 350 pages)
Did I like this? top notch, C.J. Box is great.  Great characters, fast moving story.  The plot was a bit obvious.
Overall grade: A-

South of Broad by Pat Conroy

Title: South of Broad
Author: Pat Conroy
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: May 3, 2014
When was the book published: 2009
Main Characters: Leo Bloom, Dr. King (mother,) Trevor and Sheba Poe, Chad Rutledge and Molly Huger, Niles and Starla Whitehead (orphans) Ike and Betty Jefferson, Coach Jefferson, Monsignor Max, Leo's brother Steve and father
What happens? A tale of friends and life and change and tragedy and fate in Charleston South Carolina.  Leo (the Toad) experiences his brother's suicide, his mother's love, his father's death, and catalyzes friendship, love and marriage with his group of friends, moving between 1969 (his senior year in high school) and 1989 (when hurricane Hugo hits.)
How long was this? 512 pages
Did I like this? Sensational, a great story, wonderful characters, unpredictable plot, conflict, love.  I hated to finish the book and hated saying goodbye to these people.
Overall grade:  A++

Sycamore Row by John Grisham

Title: Sycamore Row
Author: John Grisham
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: April 20, 2014 in Santa Barbara (Jenny's graduation)
When was the book published: 2013
Main Characters: rich guy Seth Hubbard, lawyer Jake Brigance, his helper Letti
What happens? Seth is dying from cancer, mails Jake a handwritten will and instructions to cut his kids out of his 20+ million estate, and leave 90% to Letti.  Seth then hangs himself, and the legal battle ensues.  Jake's team of local alcoholic lawyers and defrocked ex-lawyers team up to find Seth's brother Ancil and find out the mystery of why he did this.
How long was this? 464 pages
Did I like this? great story, very different, very deep south, top notch, lots of great history and culture, good characters
Overall grade: A

Black Water by T. Jefferson Parker

Title: Black Water
Author: T. Jefferson Parker
Did I listen or read?: audio book from the library
When did I finish?: April 12, 2014
When was the book published: 2002
Main Characters: cop Merci Rayborn, victim Gwen Rayburn, bullet in the head to cop Archie Rayburn, partner Paul Zamorra, son Tim, father Carl
What happens? Archie and Gwen are celebrating her 26th birthday in their million dollar house.  Someone wakes them with a rock through the window, shoots Archie in the head, murders Gwen, sets up Archie for the murder suicide.  Merci has a complicated past where she uncovered ages old police corruption, some still resent her.  She believes Archie is innocent.
How long was this? 416 pages (10 hours)
Did I like this? Good stuff, not his best, interesting story, great characters, some odd twists
Overall grade: B+