The Burning Room by Michael Connelly

Title: The Burning Room
Author: Michael Connely
Did I listen or read?: Library book
When did I finish?: Feb 21, 2015
When was the book published: 2014
Main Characters: Harry Bosch, Det. Soto (Lucky Lucy,)
What happens?  Two cases.  Harry is working the Merced case where a guy shot 10 years ago playing with a mariachi band got shot, and just died recently.  Lucy admits that she joined the police because of an arson fire that killed several in her day care many years ago, the Bonnie Brae fire.  Bosch discovers that the fire was set as a distraction for a robbery committed nearby.
How long was this? 388 pages
Did I like this? Excellent Connelly work, great plots, great characters, Harry in trouble as always.
Overall grade: A-

Outlander by Diana Gabaldon

Title:  Outlander
Author: Diana Gabaldon
Did I listen or read?: listen, audible.com download
When did I finish?: Feb 26, 2015
When was the book published: 1991?
Main Characters: Claire Beecham Randall, Frank Randall, James Fraser, Dougall and Calum McKenzie, Gilas, Mrs Finch, James sister Jenny and husband Ian, Black Jack Randall
What happens? Claire reunites with Frank after the war, visits the circle of stones, and winds up in 1742, lives with Calum and Dougall, and gets married to Jamey.
How long was this? 33 hours
Did I like this? Loved every minute.  I read this after watching the first season (maybe 6 episodes?) of the story on Starz.
Overall grade: A+

The Sudoku Murder by Shelley Freydont

Title: The Sudoku Murder
Author: Shelley Freydont
Did I listen or read?: library book
When did I finish?: February 13, 2015
When was the book published: 2007
Main Characters: Katie McDonald, Aunt Pru, the Professor, Harry, Chief Brandon Mitchell
What happens? Katie gets called back to her New Hampshire hometown by her old mentor, the Professor (PT) who is in trouble.  The town's puzzle museum is under assault; they are looking to close it down to open a mall.
How long was this?  342 pages
Did I like this? mediocre plot, lumpy repetitive character development, nonsensical foundation
Overall grade: C-

The Last Letter from Your Lover by JoJo Moyes

Title: The Last Letter from Your Lover
Author: JoJo Moyes
Did I listen or read?: nook book on android tablet
When did I finish?: Jan 31, 2015
When was the book published: 2011
Main Characters: Jennifer Stirling in the 60's, Ellie Haworth in 2003
What happens? Jennifer wakes up from a coma to find an angry and distant husband, friends who won't tell her what happened, and a mystery:  Who wrote the love letters she finds stashed in her house?  In 2003, Ellie Haworth finds the letters in some about-to-be-discarded newspaper file boxes.
How long was this? 390 pages
Did I like this? I really like JoJo's writing and storytelling.  Very compelling and absorbing.
Overall grade: A-

Gray Mountain by John Grisham

Title: Gray Mountain
Author: John Grisham
Did I listen or read?: nook on android tablet
When did I finish?: Jan 25, 2014
When was the book published: 2014
Main Characters: Samantha Kofer, the Gray brothers, Mattie who runs the legal aid clinic
What happens? Samantha loses her job as a lawyer in the 2008 crash, gets a job at an Appalachia legal aid clinic, gets involved with strip mining, big coal, and the Gray brothers
How long was this? 368 pages
Did I like this? Very good story, good Grisham.
Overall grade: B+

The Book of Spies by Gayle Lynds

Title: The Book of Spies
Author: Gayle Lynds
Did I listen or read?: library audio book
When did I finish?: December 10, 2014
When was the book published: 2010
Main Characters: Eva Blake, Judd Ryder
What happens?  Eva gets thrown in jail for the death of her husband in a bizarre car accident, and Judd's father is assassinated while talking to someone about the Library of Gold.  Judd and Eva get thrown together chasing around Europe to find the mysterious cabal of influential and powerful men who have been part of a vast world wide conspiracy to protect the Library of Gold while having their own careers flourish through manipulated events.
How long was this? 12 hours
Did I like this? Barely.  Far fetched.  Like a Nicholas Cage novel, with mysterious powerful men spinning their web of influence and power without reasonable explanation.  Good exciting spy mystery at some points.
Overall grade: C+

SIlkworm by Robert Galbraith

Title: Silkworm
Author: Robert Galbraith
Did I listen or read?: Nook book
When did I finish?: Jan 9, 2015
When was the book published: June, 2014
Main Characters: Cormoran Strike for the 2nd time, his girl Robin and her fiance Matthew, author Owen Quine, wife Leonora and mentally handicapped daughter Orlando, plus a cast of writers, agents and publishers
What happens?  Leonora hires Strike to find Owen, who has gone missing after making a stink about his book called Bombyx Mori (aka Silkworm.)  Owen turns up dead (found by Strike murdered in brutal fashion), and the evidence points to Leonora, and Strike makes it his mission to clear her name.  How long was this? 454 pages
Did I like this?  Pretty good.  Plot and the multiple characters swirling around Quine was a bit hard to follow, but I am very interested in the continued adventures of Strike and Robin.
Overall grade: B+