Dog Tags by David Rosenfelt - this time around lawyer Andy Carpenter gets involved in a case because he tries to help a German Shepherd being held at the dog shelter that will be put down if his owner is convicted of murder. It turns out the dog has stolen something of importance and deadly people are trying to find it or the dog. This was told in different voices, a change from the norm.
3 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This Fallen Prey by Kelley Armstrong - the 3rd Rockton book, a town hidden in the wilds of Canada, where people pay to disappear for awhile. The sheriff is one of the few born there and Casey Duncan becomes his deputy and his girlfriend. Unexpectedly, they're sent a serial killer and told they must keep him for six months to earn a big fee for the town. But the killer is a very charming young man and begins working to get the townspeople on his side. When he escapes to the woods death soon follows. There was lots of endless searching in the woods and worrying about a dog. Not quite enough plot. And then it ends on a cliffhanger.
3 stars
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charlie Chan:The Untold Story of the Honorable Detective and His Rendezvous With American History by Yunte Huang - the author, a Chinese born naturalized citizen, traces the roots of Asian prejudice in America using Charlie Chan as the prime example. Although the character of Chan was invented by Earl Biggers, Biggers was also influenced by Chang Apana, a detective on the Hawaiian police force. That was the most interesting part of the book, plus the fact that Chan was always portrayed by a white man in the movies. Mr Huang comes to a somewhat surprising conclusion.
3.5 stars
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Measure of a Man:A Spiritual Autobiography by Sidney Poiter - this is not a memoir but a journey of feelings and developing a philosophy of life. Quite rambling and repetitive, I feel I came to know his parents more than him.
1.5 stars
*RHC - an Oprah Book Club book
Sunday, April 29, 2018
Saturday, April 28, 2018
Read Harder Challenge 2018
This challenge made me read quite a few books out of my comfort zone but some were already on my reading list. I took advantage of being able to count a book in more than one category. I was surprised by the books I liked (Anne of Green Gable and A Moveable Feast were pleasant surprises) and the books I hated (The Princess Diarist for one).
The dates following each book are the date I finished and you can find their reviews on this blog if you wish.
1. A book published posthumously - A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, 4 stars, 1/19
2. A book of true crime - The Midnight Assassin by Skip Hollandsworth, 3 stars, 3/3
3. A classic of genre fiction - And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, 5 stars, 3/7
4. A comic written and drawn by the same person - Komomo Confiserie by Maki Minami, 2 stars, 1/2
5. A book set in or about on of the five BRICS countries - The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden, 4 stars, 2/27
6. A book about nature - High, Wide, and Lonesome by Hal Borland, 4 stars, 1.21
7. A western - Silverman, A Western Quartet by Zane Grey, 2 stars, 1/17
8. A comic written by a person of color - see #2
9. A book of colonial or postcolonial literature - The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing, 1 star, 4/14
10. A romance novel by a person of color - When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon, 3 stars, 4/15
11. A children's classic published befoe 1980 - Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, 4 stars, 2/27
12. A celebrity memoir - The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher, 1 stars, 3/11
13. An Oprah Book Club selection - The Measure of a Man:A Spiritual Autobiography by Sidney Poiter, 1 star, 4/28
14. A book of social science - Everybody Lies:Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Reveals About Who We Really Are by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, 4 stars,1/15
15. A one-sitting book - The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, 2 stars, 1/8
16. The first in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series - Winterhouse by Ben Guterson, 5 stars,2/23
17. A sci-fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author - The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey, 2 stars, 2/26
18, A comic that isn't published by Marvel, DC, or Image - see #2
19. A book of genre fiction in translation - The Strangers in the House by Georges Simenon, 3 stars, 1/12
20. A book with a cover you hate - see #19
21. A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ - Down the River Unto the Sea by Walter Mosley, 3 stars, 4/15
22. An essay anthology - Bookworms:Great Writers Celebrate Reading by Laura Furman, 4 stars, 1/20
23. A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 - Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney, 2 stars, 1/6
24. An assigned book you hated (or never finished) - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, 1 star, 2/25
The dates following each book are the date I finished and you can find their reviews on this blog if you wish.
1. A book published posthumously - A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway, 4 stars, 1/19
2. A book of true crime - The Midnight Assassin by Skip Hollandsworth, 3 stars, 3/3
3. A classic of genre fiction - And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, 5 stars, 3/7
4. A comic written and drawn by the same person - Komomo Confiserie by Maki Minami, 2 stars, 1/2
5. A book set in or about on of the five BRICS countries - The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden, 4 stars, 2/27
6. A book about nature - High, Wide, and Lonesome by Hal Borland, 4 stars, 1.21
7. A western - Silverman, A Western Quartet by Zane Grey, 2 stars, 1/17
8. A comic written by a person of color - see #2
9. A book of colonial or postcolonial literature - The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing, 1 star, 4/14
10. A romance novel by a person of color - When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon, 3 stars, 4/15
11. A children's classic published befoe 1980 - Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery, 4 stars, 2/27
12. A celebrity memoir - The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher, 1 stars, 3/11
13. An Oprah Book Club selection - The Measure of a Man:A Spiritual Autobiography by Sidney Poiter, 1 star, 4/28
14. A book of social science - Everybody Lies:Big Data, New Data, and What the Internet Reveals About Who We Really Are by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz, 4 stars,1/15
15. A one-sitting book - The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle, 2 stars, 1/8
16. The first in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series - Winterhouse by Ben Guterson, 5 stars,2/23
17. A sci-fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author - The Ship Who Sang by Anne McCaffrey, 2 stars, 2/26
18, A comic that isn't published by Marvel, DC, or Image - see #2
19. A book of genre fiction in translation - The Strangers in the House by Georges Simenon, 3 stars, 1/12
20. A book with a cover you hate - see #19
21. A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ - Down the River Unto the Sea by Walter Mosley, 3 stars, 4/15
22. An essay anthology - Bookworms:Great Writers Celebrate Reading by Laura Furman, 4 stars, 1/20
23. A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60 - Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney, 2 stars, 1/6
24. An assigned book you hated (or never finished) - The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain, 1 star, 2/25
Sunday, April 22, 2018
April 15 - 21, 2018
Down the River Unto the Sea by Walter Mosley - Joe King Oliver is living a bitter, defeated life 10 years after he was set up and accused of using his position as a policeman to coerce sexual favors from a woman. Then he receives a letter that changes everything. At the same time, he's asked to help a man who killed two policeman in what he says was self defense. Very gritty and dark, with violence and language. I had a little trouble keeping track of the many characters and suspects.
3 stars
*RHC - a mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ author
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon - Dimple is going to Stanford in the fall and determined to thwart her Indian parents attempts at an arranged marriage. She has plans and they don't include the Ideal Indian husband. Rishi wants to please his parents and is excited to meet Dimple at the summer web developer program they're both attending. Except Dimple doesn't know anything about it. Of course they meet cute, get over a few bumps, and fall in love. A YA romance that didn't make me gag. Still, fairly typical, but with Indian characters.
3 stars
*RHC - a romance novel by or about a person of color
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Day the World Came to Town:9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland - when US air space was closed because of 9/11, it left many international planes forced to land. 39 of those planes landed in Gander where they were welcomed with open arms. The story is inspiring, the writing not so much. Choppy and redundant.
2 stars
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Punishment She Deserves by Elizabeth George - when a man commits suicide while in police custody, Sergeant Havers and Detective Chief Superintendent Ardery are sent to make sure the subsequent investigation was conducted properly. Havers thinks it's possible it wasn't a suicide but Ardery insists they are not there to investigate that. After Havers discovers an inconsistency, she and DI Lynley begin to investigate the suicide. There are many subplots including teenage binge drinking and the resulting teen sex, overbearing mothers, and Ardery's alcoholism. When I first saw the length of the book (690 pages), I was convinced the author was padding it. But once I began I was hooked and stayed up all night to finish. If not for the irritating subplot of Ardery trying to get rid of Havers and the crude language (I don't remember that from previous books) this would have been 5 stars.
4.5 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still Waters by Viveca Sten - Detective Thomas Andreasson has a close association with the island of Sandhamm off the coast of Sweden. So when a body is found in it's waters it's only natural for him to take the lead in the investigation. At first it looks like an accident but when the victim's cousin is found dead on the island something is going on. Thomas is aided by his childhood friend Nora, a bank lawyer. This is the first in a series, with two more translated into English. I probably won't continue, I have quite a problem with Nora's jerky husband.
3 stars
Amazon World Book Day - Sweden
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play Dead by David Rosenfelt - lawyer Andy Carpenter saves a golden retriever from death row and then finds that the dog supposedly died 5 years ago in a murder/suicide attempt that left his owner in prison. If that isn't true, what else about the case is false? Andy decides to try for a retrial and immediately his life is threatened. This is the sixth in the series and my favorite so far. Andy's smart-alecness is more tempered and the story flowed well. My suspicions proved correct but not confirmed until the end.
4 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Light of the Fireflies by Paul Pen - an entire family lives in a few rooms below ground. Is it because of a cataclysmic event? Everyone has burn scars except the boy who was born underground and is the narrator. His sister must wear a mask since her burns are especially hideous. But then there is a flashback and a different story is revealed. I was really liking this book and ended up hating it. The whole family was dysfunctional and hateful.
1 stars
Amaon World Book Day - Spain
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Tricks by David Rosenfelt - Andy Carpenter is asked to negotiate the placement of a dog whose owner has been murdered and the family is fighting over ownership. But right after he picks up the dog, the house he has just left blows up, killing one of the people claiming ownership. He decides to defend murdered man's son who is accused of both crimes. Had to read another light book to take away the taste of the previous book.
3 stars
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Devil at My Heels:A World War II Hero's Epic Saga of Torment, Survival, and Forgiveness by Louis Zamperini, David Rensin - Zamperini was a juvenile delinquent with no thought for anyone but himself until he began running. He was in the 1936 Olympics. During the war his plane was shot down and he and two other men drifted for 47 days until they were found by the Japanese. he then endured terrible treatment in several different prison camps until the end of the war. But this book is also about his terrible anger and resentment and the drinking that developed in an effort to forget. When he turned to Christ his life turned around. His story is also told in the book and movie Unbroken.
3 stars
3 stars
*RHC - a mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ author
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When Dimple Met Rishi by Sandhya Menon - Dimple is going to Stanford in the fall and determined to thwart her Indian parents attempts at an arranged marriage. She has plans and they don't include the Ideal Indian husband. Rishi wants to please his parents and is excited to meet Dimple at the summer web developer program they're both attending. Except Dimple doesn't know anything about it. Of course they meet cute, get over a few bumps, and fall in love. A YA romance that didn't make me gag. Still, fairly typical, but with Indian characters.
3 stars
*RHC - a romance novel by or about a person of color
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Day the World Came to Town:9/11 in Gander, Newfoundland - when US air space was closed because of 9/11, it left many international planes forced to land. 39 of those planes landed in Gander where they were welcomed with open arms. The story is inspiring, the writing not so much. Choppy and redundant.
2 stars
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Punishment She Deserves by Elizabeth George - when a man commits suicide while in police custody, Sergeant Havers and Detective Chief Superintendent Ardery are sent to make sure the subsequent investigation was conducted properly. Havers thinks it's possible it wasn't a suicide but Ardery insists they are not there to investigate that. After Havers discovers an inconsistency, she and DI Lynley begin to investigate the suicide. There are many subplots including teenage binge drinking and the resulting teen sex, overbearing mothers, and Ardery's alcoholism. When I first saw the length of the book (690 pages), I was convinced the author was padding it. But once I began I was hooked and stayed up all night to finish. If not for the irritating subplot of Ardery trying to get rid of Havers and the crude language (I don't remember that from previous books) this would have been 5 stars.
4.5 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Still Waters by Viveca Sten - Detective Thomas Andreasson has a close association with the island of Sandhamm off the coast of Sweden. So when a body is found in it's waters it's only natural for him to take the lead in the investigation. At first it looks like an accident but when the victim's cousin is found dead on the island something is going on. Thomas is aided by his childhood friend Nora, a bank lawyer. This is the first in a series, with two more translated into English. I probably won't continue, I have quite a problem with Nora's jerky husband.
3 stars
Amazon World Book Day - Sweden
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Play Dead by David Rosenfelt - lawyer Andy Carpenter saves a golden retriever from death row and then finds that the dog supposedly died 5 years ago in a murder/suicide attempt that left his owner in prison. If that isn't true, what else about the case is false? Andy decides to try for a retrial and immediately his life is threatened. This is the sixth in the series and my favorite so far. Andy's smart-alecness is more tempered and the story flowed well. My suspicions proved correct but not confirmed until the end.
4 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Light of the Fireflies by Paul Pen - an entire family lives in a few rooms below ground. Is it because of a cataclysmic event? Everyone has burn scars except the boy who was born underground and is the narrator. His sister must wear a mask since her burns are especially hideous. But then there is a flashback and a different story is revealed. I was really liking this book and ended up hating it. The whole family was dysfunctional and hateful.
1 stars
Amaon World Book Day - Spain
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New Tricks by David Rosenfelt - Andy Carpenter is asked to negotiate the placement of a dog whose owner has been murdered and the family is fighting over ownership. But right after he picks up the dog, the house he has just left blows up, killing one of the people claiming ownership. He decides to defend murdered man's son who is accused of both crimes. Had to read another light book to take away the taste of the previous book.
3 stars
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Devil at My Heels:A World War II Hero's Epic Saga of Torment, Survival, and Forgiveness by Louis Zamperini, David Rensin - Zamperini was a juvenile delinquent with no thought for anyone but himself until he began running. He was in the 1936 Olympics. During the war his plane was shot down and he and two other men drifted for 47 days until they were found by the Japanese. he then endured terrible treatment in several different prison camps until the end of the war. But this book is also about his terrible anger and resentment and the drinking that developed in an effort to forget. When he turned to Christ his life turned around. His story is also told in the book and movie Unbroken.
3 stars
Sunday, April 15, 2018
April 8 - 14, 2018
Foxglove Summer by Ben Aaronovitch - Peter Grant, the junior member of the magic dept in the London police force is out of London into the countryside in the 5th book. Two girls are missing and there may be some magic involved. Something is stirring in the night and it might be a unicorn. The author is also back to the unnecessary sex scenes.
3 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch - Peter investigates a drug overdose with magic overtones and is caught in a search for revenge by the Faceless Man. Way too many acronyms. It seems to me the author is trying to establish that he knows police procedure while at the same time making fun of it.
2 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murder in Vegas:New Crime Tales of Gambling and Desperation edited by Michael Connelly - I should have known better by the title. Sordid stories of cheating, double crosses, and murder. I only kept reading hoping to find one good story.
1 star
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger - a famous singer is missing and Cork O'Connor is asked by her father to go into the wilderness to find her. There are also other men searching for her but their minds are bent on murder. And winter is coming fast. The second in a long series. I don't think I'll read anymore.
3 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Born a Crime:Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah - born of a white father and black mother, Trevor's very existence was a crime. In between his stories he gives a history of apartheid and the aftermath of freedom. I hope he writes more about how he left South Africa.
4.5 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing - Mary Turner almost accidentally finds herself married to a farmer in Rhodesia. Their poverty, the heat, and her hatred of the natives working for them slowly drive her mad and to a relationship with her houseman, Moses, that will have no good outcome for anyone. The writing is beautiful, hated the story. Especially hard to read after the previous book.
1 star
*RHC - a book of colonial or post-colonial literature
3 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hanging Tree by Ben Aaronovitch - Peter investigates a drug overdose with magic overtones and is caught in a search for revenge by the Faceless Man. Way too many acronyms. It seems to me the author is trying to establish that he knows police procedure while at the same time making fun of it.
2 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Murder in Vegas:New Crime Tales of Gambling and Desperation edited by Michael Connelly - I should have known better by the title. Sordid stories of cheating, double crosses, and murder. I only kept reading hoping to find one good story.
1 star
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger - a famous singer is missing and Cork O'Connor is asked by her father to go into the wilderness to find her. There are also other men searching for her but their minds are bent on murder. And winter is coming fast. The second in a long series. I don't think I'll read anymore.
3 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Born a Crime:Stories From a South African Childhood by Trevor Noah - born of a white father and black mother, Trevor's very existence was a crime. In between his stories he gives a history of apartheid and the aftermath of freedom. I hope he writes more about how he left South Africa.
4.5 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing - Mary Turner almost accidentally finds herself married to a farmer in Rhodesia. Their poverty, the heat, and her hatred of the natives working for them slowly drive her mad and to a relationship with her houseman, Moses, that will have no good outcome for anyone. The writing is beautiful, hated the story. Especially hard to read after the previous book.
1 star
*RHC - a book of colonial or post-colonial literature
Sunday, April 8, 2018
April 1 - 7, 2018
June's Troubles by A.E. Howe - Larry Macklin and his girlfriend are on vacation on the Florida coast along with his dad and his girlfriend when a body is found in the water at the house next door. It's clear the police chief is not up to the job of investigating so Larry invites himself onto the case. This puts him in conflict with the county's sheriff, an overbearing jerk. I found this story confusing, too many suspects and no seeming reason for the subsequent murders and a is it/isn't it suicide. Also, the sheriff is the type of character I find extremely irritating and since I rate books on the irritation factor...
2 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July's Trials by A.E. Howe - it's finally trial time for the Thompson family, a sub-plot that's been woven into the previous books. Larry and DEA agent Matt have been protecting Larry's confidential informant when a car bomb goes off, killing Matt. Larry is determined to get on the case even though he's a witness. Larry seems to do some maturing in this book, hope it sticks. I'm caught up with this series now.
3.5 stars
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Strange Bird:A Borne Story by Jeff VanderMeer - the Strange Bird has been made of many pieces in a lab that is now under siege. When she escapes she is enchanted by the sky and flying. And she feels a strange compulsion to travel in a certain direction. Along the way she meets some bad characters and comes to grief. This is a novella that takes place in the same time frame as Borne. It's not going to mean as much if you haven't read that book. A little too sad for me.
3 stars
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flat Broke with Two Goats: A Memoir of Appalachia by Jennifer McGaha - the author and her husband find themselves losing everything during the recession of 2008. They are forced to live in a fairly primitive cabin in a beautiful setting. They gradually find themselves becoming more self sufficient as they add chickens and goats to their family. I found the author whiny and ready to blame everyone else for her problems. I did enjoy her animal stories
2.5 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday Silence by Nicci French - psychotherapist Freida Klein has been telling the police for years that a serial killer is still alive to no avail. But now a body has been found under her floorboards. The body of a man she hired to track down the killer. The police are taking her seriously now but is it too late? There are several attacks on her family and friends and even a patient. However, these may be the work of a copycat killer hoping to impress Freida and the original killer. I've always found Freida too controlled, making her hard to like. I think the identity of one of the killers was revealed too soon, eliminating some of the suspense.
3 stars
2 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July's Trials by A.E. Howe - it's finally trial time for the Thompson family, a sub-plot that's been woven into the previous books. Larry and DEA agent Matt have been protecting Larry's confidential informant when a car bomb goes off, killing Matt. Larry is determined to get on the case even though he's a witness. Larry seems to do some maturing in this book, hope it sticks. I'm caught up with this series now.
3.5 stars
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Strange Bird:A Borne Story by Jeff VanderMeer - the Strange Bird has been made of many pieces in a lab that is now under siege. When she escapes she is enchanted by the sky and flying. And she feels a strange compulsion to travel in a certain direction. Along the way she meets some bad characters and comes to grief. This is a novella that takes place in the same time frame as Borne. It's not going to mean as much if you haven't read that book. A little too sad for me.
3 stars
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flat Broke with Two Goats: A Memoir of Appalachia by Jennifer McGaha - the author and her husband find themselves losing everything during the recession of 2008. They are forced to live in a fairly primitive cabin in a beautiful setting. They gradually find themselves becoming more self sufficient as they add chickens and goats to their family. I found the author whiny and ready to blame everyone else for her problems. I did enjoy her animal stories
2.5 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday Silence by Nicci French - psychotherapist Freida Klein has been telling the police for years that a serial killer is still alive to no avail. But now a body has been found under her floorboards. The body of a man she hired to track down the killer. The police are taking her seriously now but is it too late? There are several attacks on her family and friends and even a patient. However, these may be the work of a copycat killer hoping to impress Freida and the original killer. I've always found Freida too controlled, making her hard to like. I think the identity of one of the killers was revealed too soon, eliminating some of the suspense.
3 stars
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Mar 25 - 31, 2018
January's Betrayal by A.E. Howe - a sheriff's deputy shoots and kills a suspected rapist but not before his latest victim is also killed. Now Deputy Larry Maklin's father, the sheriff, is in the hot seat because he let the suspect go for lack of evidence. But something doesn't look quite right and Larry thinks it might have something to do with the supposed corruption in the department. This is a good series when I want a quick read with not much thinking involved.
3 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Gate Keeper by Charles Todd - Inspector Ian Rutledge is feeling unsettled after his sister's wedding and so gets in his car and begins driving. He comes on a woman standing on a dark road with a body at her feet. She claims a stranger shot the driver and then fled. Her story seems implausible until there is another murder in similar circumstances. Nothing seems to connect the two well liked victims. In an effort to keep his mind busy, thus avoiding the voice of Hamish in his head, Ian almost forcefully takes the case for Scotland Yard. There's lots of trying to connect the dots. The final solution almost felt like a cheat to me, it kind of came out of left field. I still enjoyed the 20th book in the series.
3.5 stars
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Night Market by Jonathan Moore - Ross Carver and his partner are called to the in which the victim is covered with a strange substance rapidly eating away his body. Suddenly strange men appear, the detectives go through decontamination, and are given a shot. Ross wakes up a few days later with no memory of the event, just a nagging suspicion that things aren't as they appear. Especially when he finds his new neighbor has been watching over him. All this takes place in a San Francisco of the near future that is very dark. Ross and his partner try to find out what is really happening and find themselves suspended and their lives in danger. I was really enjoying this book and then the end left me surprised, dismayed, and sorry I'd put in the effort. One star up from what I would usually give it because I liked the writing. And in spite of the fact I liked the writing I won't read anymore by this author because I don't trust him now.
3 stars
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February's Regrets by A.E. Howe - now that Larry Macklin has resigned from the sheriff's department he's only working part time as a reserve deputy. So when colleague Shantel asks him to help find her niece he's only too willing to help. But this leads to a bigger mystery. It looks like serial killer The Swamp Hacker is back, leading Larry to go back on the payroll to join in the hunt. Another quick read and I suspected the killer right away which made me quite smug at the end.
3 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March's Luck by A,E, Howe - Larry is back as a sheriff's deputy but he has a new partner, a new hire from the town's police force. The deaths of several members of a prominent family are mixed in with a search for gold, led by Larry's ex-girlfriend, who has a few screws loose.
3 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April's Desires by A.E. Howe - this time Larry's former partner is accused of the death of an ex-boyfriend of his daughter. A man he was seen getting into a fight with the day before. Then the neighbor of the town's police chief is murdered and Larry is convinced there is a connection.
3 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May's Danger by A.E. Howe - murder strikes close to home when Larry's girlfriend discovers a body at the vet clinic where she works. Soon there's another body and the clinic's office manager is missing. Is she a victim or a suspect?
3 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo - the events leading up to the disaster, the disaster itself, and the subsequent trial. Way too much filler and I skimmed quite a bit.
2 stars
3 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Gate Keeper by Charles Todd - Inspector Ian Rutledge is feeling unsettled after his sister's wedding and so gets in his car and begins driving. He comes on a woman standing on a dark road with a body at her feet. She claims a stranger shot the driver and then fled. Her story seems implausible until there is another murder in similar circumstances. Nothing seems to connect the two well liked victims. In an effort to keep his mind busy, thus avoiding the voice of Hamish in his head, Ian almost forcefully takes the case for Scotland Yard. There's lots of trying to connect the dots. The final solution almost felt like a cheat to me, it kind of came out of left field. I still enjoyed the 20th book in the series.
3.5 stars
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Night Market by Jonathan Moore - Ross Carver and his partner are called to the in which the victim is covered with a strange substance rapidly eating away his body. Suddenly strange men appear, the detectives go through decontamination, and are given a shot. Ross wakes up a few days later with no memory of the event, just a nagging suspicion that things aren't as they appear. Especially when he finds his new neighbor has been watching over him. All this takes place in a San Francisco of the near future that is very dark. Ross and his partner try to find out what is really happening and find themselves suspended and their lives in danger. I was really enjoying this book and then the end left me surprised, dismayed, and sorry I'd put in the effort. One star up from what I would usually give it because I liked the writing. And in spite of the fact I liked the writing I won't read anymore by this author because I don't trust him now.
3 stars
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February's Regrets by A.E. Howe - now that Larry Macklin has resigned from the sheriff's department he's only working part time as a reserve deputy. So when colleague Shantel asks him to help find her niece he's only too willing to help. But this leads to a bigger mystery. It looks like serial killer The Swamp Hacker is back, leading Larry to go back on the payroll to join in the hunt. Another quick read and I suspected the killer right away which made me quite smug at the end.
3 stars
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
March's Luck by A,E, Howe - Larry is back as a sheriff's deputy but he has a new partner, a new hire from the town's police force. The deaths of several members of a prominent family are mixed in with a search for gold, led by Larry's ex-girlfriend, who has a few screws loose.
3 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April's Desires by A.E. Howe - this time Larry's former partner is accused of the death of an ex-boyfriend of his daughter. A man he was seen getting into a fight with the day before. Then the neighbor of the town's police chief is murdered and Larry is convinced there is a connection.
3 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
May's Danger by A.E. Howe - murder strikes close to home when Larry's girlfriend discovers a body at the vet clinic where she works. Soon there's another body and the clinic's office manager is missing. Is she a victim or a suspect?
3 stars
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dark Tide: The Great Boston Molasses Flood of 1919 by Stephen Puleo - the events leading up to the disaster, the disaster itself, and the subsequent trial. Way too much filler and I skimmed quite a bit.
2 stars
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)