Nov 6 - 12, 2016

Butcher's Hill by Laura Lippman - the 3rd Tess Monaghan book. She's made it official and has opened her own office as a private investigator. Her first client is the notorious vigilante, Luther Beale, just out of prison for killing a young boy. He wants her to find the witnesses to the crime so that he can make retribution to them. But when they start turning up dead Tess wonders if she's helping him find them for another reason. Published in 1998, there are some interesting conversations about race that are relevant to today. Tess is starting to grow on me as she continues to become more mature.

3.5 stars
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Downfall by J.A. Jance - Sheriff Joanna Brady is planning the funeral of her mother and stepfather when she receives word there has been a murder/suicide or double homicide. Two women have been found at the bottom of a cliff. When it becomes apparent there was no connection between the two women, Joanna finds herself in the middle of a complex investigation while also grieving. And oh yes, she's also expecting a baby girl and in the middle of a reelection campaign.

4.5 stars
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Blind Sight by Carol O'Connell - the 12th Kathleen Mallory book. A nun and a blind boy disappear from a busy street and no one sees it happen. Mallory becomes involved because of the nun and the clues lead to the mayor of New York. This book is written in a (to me) disjointed style that makes it almost necessary to have read at least some of the previous books. The books are dark, Mallory is not likeable, and this book is no exception. I find them strangely compelling.

4 stars
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A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny - the 12th Armand Gamache book and the author is still going strong. The books starts with little tidbits of hints of what's to come and just keeps building. Gamache has come out of retirement to become head of the Surete police academy. The corruption he's been fighting has settled even here and he plans to dig it out. But a murder may lay those plans to rest. There's also an old found map, sullen cadets and a mysterious girl woven in.

5 stars
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An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir of Moods and Madness by Kay Redfield Jamison - the author's story of her struggle with manic depression beginning in her teen years. She has gone on to become a leading authority on the disease.

4 stars
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Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris - Jack and Grace are the perfect couple. He's handsome and oh so attentive to her every thought.  She pulls off dinner parties with ease. But what happens when everyone leaves? It's not a spoiler to say not everything is as it seems. It's the why that's horrifying.

3 stars