New: Updated to list my books at the top!

1. Without Warning by John Birmingham
2. The Chopin Manuscript by Jeffery Deaver
3. A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane
4. Stone Cold by David Baldacci
5. Blown Coverage by Jason Elam
6. Joker One by Donovan Campbell
7. Divine Justice by David Baldacci
8. Slipknot by Linda Greenlaw
9. Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb
10. On the Wrong Track by Steve Hockensmith
11. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon
12. Just After Sunset by Stephen King
13. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
14. The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver
15. Savage Kingdom by Benjamin Woolley
16. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
17. Turn Coat by Jim Butcher
18. Shimmer by Eric Barnes
19. Gray Apocalypse by James Murdoch
20. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
21. Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa
22. The Simple Truth by David Baldacci
23. Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke
24. Stone's Fall by Iain Pears
25. One for the Money by Janet Evanovich
26. The Lost Throne by Chris Kuzneski
27. Mean Streets by Jim Butcher
28. The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
29. Roadside Crosses by Jeffery Deaver
30. Common Sense by Glenn Beck
31. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris
32. Something from the Nightside by Simon R. Green
33. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke
34. The Prophecy's Child: the unseen by W. E. D. Wilson
35. The Strain by Guillermo del Toro
36. The Rapture by Liz Jensen
37. The Shimmer by David Morrell
38. Spook Country by William Gibson
39. Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell
40. The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner
41. The Atlantis Revelation by Thomas Greanias
42. Fault Line by Barry Eisler
43. Swimsuit by James Patterson
44. South of Broad by Pat Conroy
45. Jack and Mr. Grin by Andersen Prunty
46. Hide by Lisa Gardner
47. The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan
48. The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott
49. Rules of Vengeance by Christopher Reich
50. The Caliphate by Jack Stewart
51. The Lie by Fredrica Wagman
52. Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell
53. Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb
54. Role of a Lifetime by James Brown
55. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown
56. Blogger for Dummies by Susan Gunelius
57. 13 Bullets by David Wellington
58. 9 Dragons by Michael Connelly
59. Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
60. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett
61. The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo
62. Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist
63. The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly
64. The Secret Sentry by Matthew Aid
65. Spellbinder by Helen Stringer
66. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz
67. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs
68. The Sugarless Plum by Zippora Karz
69. Across the Endless River by Thad Carhart
70. Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

Message edited by its author, Nov 23, 2009, 10:19pm.

Welcome to the group!

1. Without Warning by John Birmingham

I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers program. I was a little skeptical about a world disaster story at first. But this turned out to be a very well written book and an interesting look at world politics, at least from an imagined point of view.

Without Warning looks like an interesting read. I will have to look for it when it comes out. Thanks for the review.

2. The Chopin Manuscript by 16 of the greatest thriller writers of our time.

This is a very unique work. One of my favorite authors, Jeffery Deaver, started the book off by providing the first chapter. Then the other authors developed the story by providing one chapter each. Then at the end, Jeffery Deaver brought the story to conclusion.

I highly recommend this to everyone.

I read a book several years ago, Naked Came the Phoenix, that was a serial novel such as you describe, but more of a mystery than a thriller. It was interesting to see the plot twists each author brought to the book. I think I will give The Chopin Manuscript a try!

3. A Drink Before the War by Dennis Lehane

Last year I read and reviewed The Given Day for the Early Reviewer's group and absolutely loved it. I thought I would give this a try and I was not disappointed. Dennis Lehane is one of my new favorite authors.

Well, the series only gets better from there! Kenzie and Gennaro are some of my favorite PIs, as folks from last years challenge can attest after all my Lehane gushing!

>5

I've had The Chopin Manuscript sitting here on my computer for ages, but I'm not a big audiobook fan, so I've never gotten around to listening to it. I'll have to give it a try!

4. Stone Cold by David Baldacci

I'm really enjoying this series. I know quite a few people were put off by the whole Jerry Bagger side plot, but I thought it was a nice addition. I look forward to starting the next one on the commute in the morning.

5. Blown Coverage by Jason Elam and Steve Yohn

I received this book as part of the Early Reviewers Group. It really surprised me. Riley Covington is a linebacker who was formerly special ops. I found it very interesting that he is also a very religious person. It was refreshing to have a hero who is genuinely a good person and not the usual drunkard or bravado type portrayed in most books of this genre.
Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of action for fans of military thrillers. The ending was very intense and I found myself actually shaking as I read the last few chapters. I will definitely go out and purchase the prequel to this book, Monday Night Jihad.

6. Joker One by Donovan Campbell

I really enjoyed this book. It was an interesting insight into the daily lives of our marines that were stationed in Iraq. I also think it is great that the author did not turn the book into a political campaign either for or against the war.

#12: I have seen several reviews of Joker One now and I guess I am just going to have to check it out for myself. My stepson was stationed in Iraq up until mid-December when he came back stateside. It will be interesting to read some of what he encountered while he was there.

7. Divine Justice by David Baldacci

Once again, I love this series. I hope there is a fifth somewhere inside the mind of David Baldacci.

8. Slipknot by Linda Greenlaw

This wasn't near as good as I had hoped. The beginning was horrible, but it did get a little better as it went along. I'm not a fan of a book that tells you the story rather than shows you the story.

Message edited by its author, Feb 7, 2009, 11:21am.

9. Strangers in Death by J.D. Robb

This series is one of those guilty pleasure reads for me. The mysteries aren't anything all that spectacular, but I do love the characters she has created. I just can't seem to get enough.

#16: The mysteries aren't anything all that spectacular, but I do love the characters she has created. I just can't seem to get enough.

I am with you there, mniday! This is one of my favorite series.

10. On the Wrong Track by Steve Hockensmith

I read Holmes on the Range last year and was blown away. This second book in the series is even better. I can't recommend this enough.

Heh. I liked 'em too. The Black Dove is in my next batch from the library!

11. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time by Mark Haddon

I picked this book because it was ranked in the top twenty books here on Library Thing. I had no idea it would blow me away like it did. This book pulls at your emotions while entertaining you with a nifty little detective story. Very, very good book.

The Curious Incident was one of my top reads last year, glad you liked it too!

>20, 21: just started it myself so it's nice to read such glowing reviews of it :)

12. Just After Sunset by Stephen King

This is a collection of short stories from a master story teller. I really enjoyed reading these stories and hope that he plans to publish more of his short fiction.

I bought Just After Sunset for my mom for Christmas, but surprisingly, haven't gotten around to borrowing it yet. Will have to do so very soon.

13. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer

I admit a friend of mine has been urging me to finish this series. I'll have to say that the second book is much better than the first. That give me some encouragement to read the last two books.

14. The Bodies Left Behind by Jeffery Deaver

This book was amazing. If you like suspense stories with lots of plot twists and turns, this is the book for you. Deaver is one of my favorite authors and this book is a shining example as to why.

15. Savage Kingdom by Benjamin Woolley

I love US history. This book is a fascinating look at the events surrounding the settlement at Jamestown. As with all history, the correlation with current events is astonishing.

#27: I will look for that one. Thanks for the recommendation!

16. Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer

Work has gotten in the way of my reading lately. But I should be back on track now for a bit.

I really enjoyed the third book in the series, lots of action.

17. Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

This is the eleventh novel in the Dresden Files series. I loved this book. The action starts at the beginning of the book and doesn't let up until the very end. This story features a "who done it" style murder mystery told in a way that only Jim Butcher can pull off. I love the twists at the end and the foretelling tidbits that have left me craving the next book already.

18. Shimmer by Eric Barnes

This is the debut novel from Eric Barnes. The book tells the story of the success of Core Communications and it's CEO, Robbie Case. The only problem is that their number one product doesn't work. The whole company is based on a lie.

19. Gray Apocalypse by James Murdoch

I received this from the Early Reviewer Member Giveaway program, from the author actually. I greatly enjoyed reading this. Gray Apocalypse is a fast paced, science fiction thriller. Don't miss this one; you must find out if the pick up group of heroes can find the weapon that will save all of mankind.

Thanks for the review of Gray Apocalypse. I was unsure of the book based on cover alone but now that I started reading it, I am enjoying it.

>32: I got a copy too, but I let my husband read it first. He told me that it wasn't bad, though there were far too many cliches and you could definitely tell it was a first novel. However, the entertainment factor will probably be enough to get me reading it!

20. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer

I finally finished this series. I'll say that I enjoyed it, especially this last book. But, it seemed to really drag in places. I think the whole story could have been told as a trilogy. But, extra words and all, I'm glad I finished it.

21. Dirty Little Angels by Chris Tusa

I received this from the Member Giveaway program. The author emailed me the book in pdf format. It is a very fast read, the story is told mostly via dialogue. The story is captivating. Chris Tusa has a good grasp of human nature. I couldn't help but feel quite depressed after finishing this.

22. The Simple Truth by David Baldacci

I really enjoyed the Camel Club series so I though I would try another one of his books. I wasn't disappointed. This is a great political / military thriller.

I have only read the first book in Baldacci's Camel Club series, but I enjoyed it. Good to know he has other books out there worth reading as well.

23. Blueberry Muffin Murder by Joanne Fluke

This series has become our passtime while on long car trips. The stories are fun and the narrator makes them even more enjoyable.

#39: I enjoy Fluke's books - they are just fun cozy mysteries, nothing more.

24. Stone's Fall by Ian Pears

This is a very good historical fiction/mystery novel. In fact, it is divided into three sections that can almost stand as individual stories themselves. Each takes the overall story backwards in time. The author wraps it all together nicely at the end. I have to admit that I did not see the ending coming at all. Great read.

I was looking at Stone's Fall the other day and almost got it as I really liked his An instance of the fingerpost. I ended up with Jasper Jones instead.

#41: I received an ARC of Stone's Fall a couple of months ago. Looks like I better get around to reading it.

25. One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

I had heard a lot about this series and decided to try it out. It was ok, not great. I may give it another go later on, we'll see.

26. The Lost Throne by Chris Kuzneski

This book was a very fast paced thriller. It is very well written and held my attention straight to the end. The hunt for ancient treasure will take you to St. Petersburg, Russia and various locations in Greece. The book is scheduled to be published on July 23, 2009. This one is well worth it.

27. Mean Streets by Jim Butcher

Even though this book is listed as being written by Jim Butcher, it is actually a collection of short stories by Kat Richardson, Simon Green, and Tom Sniegoski as well as Jim Butcher.
I enjoyed each of these stories and will especially check out more works by Tom Sniegoski.

thank you for your thoughts on the Twilight set I might have to pick up New Moon!

Bryonyx

28. The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon

I'm still not sure of my opinion on this book. Overall I think I liked it, but there is a part of me that just doesn't go for the "intellectual" humor and metaphors used throughout this book. I can't help but feel the author thinks too much of himself. I may be completely wrong with this feeling, but it's what is in my head after reading this.

#48: I was disappointed in Union, too. I thought I would like it a lot more than I did. That being said, it did not stop me from reading several of Chabon's other books which I much preferred to Union: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay, Gentlemen of the Road, and The Final Solution. Kavalier and Clay especially is excellent, IMHO.

I guess I'm the oddity. I loved Union.

Well, we'll be oddities together. I really liked it, too.

I'm joining the oddity club too, I thought it was great.

Alcottacre, I appreciate the information on his other books. I'm willing to give him another try with a different book.

I don't think anyone is odd for liking or not liking a book. If we all liked the same thing, it would be a pretty boring world.

#50-53: I liked Union, I just did not like it as much as I thought I would which is why I was disappointed in the book.

29. Roadside Crosses by Jeffrey Deaver

This is the second novel featuring Kathryn Dance. I'm a huge fan of Deaver's work and this one did not disappoint in any way. Once again, Deaver proves that he is the master of deception with the endings of his novels.

#55: I am a fan of Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series, but have not tried the Kathryn Dance series yet. I will put them on the Planet. Thanks for the recommendation!

I must try the Katherine Dance series. I enjoy Deaver's work but have not read enough of them.

30. Glenn Beck's Common Sense by Glenn Beck

This book points out a lot of problems with our government, not one side or the other, but the government in general. This book probably will not appeal to anyone strongly to the left or strongly to the right.

31. Dead Until Dark by Charlaine Harris

I really enjoy dark fantasy / paranormal novels. This one had been on my to be read pile since way before HBO's True Blood came out. I finally got around to reading it and I really enjoyed it. I look forward to moving through this series.

32. Something From the Nightside by Simon R. Green

I was first exposed to Simon R. Green via a short story in Mean Streets. I really enjoyed that so I decided to give this series a try. I like the mix of dark fantasy and horror. The atmosphere is so out there that it dazzles the imagination.

33. Lemon Meringue Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke

This was another great listen for me. I love this series.

#60: The only book of Green's that I have read is the first book in his Deathstalker series. I will look for Something from the Nightside. Thanks for the recommendation.

34. The Prophecy's Child: the unseen by W. E. D. Wilson

I received this book from the author as part of the Member Giveaway Program with the Early Reviewers group. I was pleasantly surprised at how good this book was. It's a fast paced religious type thriller with some nice Biblical research presented as well. Well worth the read.

35. The Strain by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Hogan

It was so refreshing to read a book where the vampires are truly evil. I have nothing against the popular books of today, just a nice change of pace.

That one's on my queue next, I think. I'm also a fan of vampires that are monsters, so The Strain sounds like it's right up my alley.

Have you read David Wellington's vampire books? The series starts with 13 Bullets, if I remember correctly.

I'm about half way through with The Strain. It's got scary, horrific vampires, not glittery, supernatural sex gods. I'm not sure what I think of it yet.

drneutron, I have not read 13 Bullets but I appreciate the recommendation. I will look for that next time I'm at a bookstore, which I'm sure will be soon.
I hope you enjoy The Strain, I sure did.

36. The Rapture by Liz Jensen

I very much enjoyed the style of writing in this book. The author has a vivid grasp of language. The story was very interesting, although I do not agree with her stance on global climate change. The ending, however, was a big disappointment for me. The suspense kept building and building and then the ending just wasted it. Still a good read, not a great read.

37. The Shimmer by David Morrell

This is a very fast paced thriller revolving around mysterious lights that some people can see while others can not. It has lots of action, a few flashbacks to World War II, and some super secret military research. This was a fun read.

I saw this one the other day. Way back when he did The Brotherhood of the Rose and related books, I was a Morrell fan, but lately I'e felt he's been drifting off in the weeds. This one sounds like he's back to his older, better (IMHO) days. On the TBR pile it goes...

38. Spook Country by William Gibson

Gibson has a very unique style that I found intriguing. His knowledge of technology and ultra modern society made the book an interesting read.

39. Under This Unbroken Sky by Shandi Mitchell

This is a powerful novel. Don't expect cookie cutter plots or characters. The family in this book experiences life at its best and worst.

I received this book as part of the First Look Book Club over at Barnes and Noble.

#72: That one looks very good. Thanks for the recommendation!

40. The Neighbor by Lisa Gardner

This is a great mystery novel. There are lots of twists and turns and the story is told from several different points of view. This was my first Lisa Gardner novel but I will be reading more if they are like this one.

#73: I really cannot recommend that book enough. I was blown away.

41. The Atlantis Revelation by Thomas Greanias

The was a pretty good thriller. There is a little bit of religious mystery mixed in with some good old spy thriller. The book will be released on August 11, 2009.

42. Fault Line by Barry Eisler

This was a very good novel. It is mostly a spy type thriller, but explores the relationship between two brothers as well.

43. Swimsuit by James Patterson

The concept for this story is pretty awesome. However, I thought the actual implementation was quite lacking. This could have been a blockbuster thriller if someone else had written it.

44. South of Broad by Pat Conroy

I thought I had read my favorite book of the year with Under this Unbroken Sky but I was wrong. This book may very well compete for one of my favorite books ever. This is a must read.

#79: OK, I will look for that one. I have not read anything by Pat Conroy.

45. Jack and Mr. Grin by Andersen Prunty

This was the August book for the Horror Aificionados group over at Good Reads. It was an ok book. I expected something a little more out there since this is part of Bizzaro Books.

46. Hide by Lisa Gardner

I decided to read this after having read The Neighbor previously. This was a good book, not as good as The Neighbor, but still a good book.

47. The Day the Falls Stood Still by Cathy Marie Buchanan

This is a love story centered around the scenery of the Canadian Niagara Falls. It explores the theme of wealthy vs. love. A good read for me, though not my typical sort of story.

48. The Coral Thief by Rebecca Stott

This was a wonderful historical mystery novel. As you may have guessed from the title, this is more about theft than murder. The story takes place as Napoleon has been removed from power and exiled to the island of St. Helena.

#84: I will give that one a look if I can locate a copy. Thanks for the recommendation.

49. Rules of Vengeance by Christopher Reich

This is the second book to feature Dr. Jonathan Ransom. It is a great spy novel and quite unique in that Jonathan's wife, Emma, is the actual spy. It is a nice twist to see Jonathan trying to learn the ropes of his wife's profession.

#86: Looks like a series I would enjoy - and my local library actually has both books!

50. The Caliphate by Jack Stewart

This is an interesting book. It is an international action story that also delves deep into international finance. The action is good and I learned a lot about money matters along the way. I did find it hard to care for the "hero" of the book, even though he redeemed himself at the end of the book, I still found it hard to care what happened to him.

51. The Lie by Fredrica Wagman

This book does not have anything special going for it regarding the plot. It does, however, have great insight into how people think and a deeper insight into the damaged mind of one woman.

52. Beat the Reaper by Josh Bazell

This was a fun read. The main character is very rough around the edges and quite a bit cynical. Mix in some "House like" medical drama and some mafia action and you have this book.

#90: I have heard that the book is gory and so it put me off. Did you find it so?

#91: I did not find the book gory at all.

Message edited by its author, Sep 19, 2009, 8:29am.

OK, thanks.

53. Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb

Another great Eve Dallas novel. I think I may cry when she decides to end the series.

54. Role of a Lifetime by James Brown

This is a great book, not only about James Brown's life, but also about how to live a successful life.

55. The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

This is a fast paced thriller that is addicting like a drug. I had trouble putting the book down. However, all of the suspense does not pay off in the end. I found the ending to be, for lack of a better word, stupid!

#94: I know I am going to cry when she ends the series! Every time I read it, I feel like I am visiting old friends.

56. Blogger for Dummies by Susan Gunelius

Read in an attempt to find something useful for my blog. As expected, it was not very helpful.

57. 13 Bullets by David Wellington

This was recommended by drneutron in this thread. I appreciate the recommendation because I really enjoyed this book. I am a fan of vampire stories and this one is quite unique. I believe there are 3 more books in the series. Now I will have to go out and get those as well.

58. 9 Dragons by Michael Connelly

This was a good detective novel. Connelly's Harry Bosch is a hard boiled police detective, and Connelly writes this character perfectly. If you enjoy detective novels, then check this one out.

#100: Already on my list to read - I love the Harry Bosch series!

59. Hush Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

This was an interesting read. It is kind of like Twilight but with Angels instead of vampires. Most of the book is nothing more than lead up to the last few chapters. It is mostly dialogue, so it is a quick read. Overall, pretty good.

60. Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett

This was recommended to me by a friend and I have to say it fits my friend's style perfectly. I thought it was a good book, but the humor seemed a little forced to me at times. I loved the overall plot of the book, it was a nice spin on an old story.

Message edited by its author, Oct 18, 2009, 8:22pm.

61. The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs by Carmine Gallo

This is a pretty good book that can provide tons of help and advice if you have to speak in public or give presentations. Steve Jobs is the best and this book offers some of the tips and tools that Steve uses in his own presentations.

62. Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist

It was really interesting to read a Swedish author's take on vampires. This one was really interesting and a great read. The cover praises the author as the Swedish Stephen King. I do have to admit that there are some comparisons to be made.

63. The Brass Verdict by Michael Connelly

This is the second novel to feature defense attorney Mickey Haller. I believe this is one of my favorite detective/legal thriller novels of all time.

#106: I tried The Lincoln Lawyer and did not much care for it although I love Connelly's Harry Bosch series. Maybe I need to give the Haller series another go.

64. The Secret Sentry by Matthew Aid

A lot of information, but heavily slanted to the left.

65. Spellbinder by Helen Stringer

This is a book aimed at the 9-12 year old group. The story is pretty good, but the beginning of the book is slow. I'm not sure a lot of kids that age will stick it out. It is worth it once the story gets going. The story revolves around ghosts that interact with their world and ours.

Hmm... I've heard mixed reviews about Spellbinder... it's next on my stack of ARCs, but I'm wondering if I might just slip it down a few notches... :)

66. Odd Thomas by Dean Koontz

I remember Koontz' books being much better than this. This was pretty darn terrible.

67. Moon Called by Patricia Briggs

I'm not sure if the fact I had low expectations for this book is in play here or not, but I really loved this book. One of the better werewolf stories I have read in quite some time.

#111: Sorry you did not enjoy Odd more. I have really enjoyed the series.

68. The Sugarless Plum by Zippora Karz

This is an inspiring story of one woman's battle with diabetes. Very much worth the read.

#114: Adding that one to the BlackHole. Thanks for the recommendation!

69. Across the Endless River by Thad Carhart

This is a great work of historical fiction. The story follows Sacagawea's son, Jean Baptiste, on his adventure to Paris. It is a great comparison of frontier life in the USA with life in Europe.

#116: I read Thad Carhart's nonfiction book The Piano Shop on the Left Bank last year and loved it, so I am definitely going to be looking for that one. Thanks for the recommendation.

70. Glass Houses by Rachel Caine

I listened to this one on my drive to and from work. I was pleasantly surprised. This was a very good book. I think this series could be better than Twilight. The first book was in my opinion.