Eadie's 2016 Reading Log

Read 264 Books and 80,000 Pages in 2015.
2016 Totals - 150 Books - Pages Read - 56,519

1.The Shining by Stephen King - 497 pages - ★★★★★- 1/1/16
Books Read: 1 Pages Read: 497
January Books Read: 1 January Pages Read: 497

Book Description
Jack Torrance’s new job at the Overlook Hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the off-season caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, he’ll have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his writing. But as the harsh winter weather sets in, the idyllic location feels ever more remote . . . and more sinister. And the only one to notice the strange and terrible forces gathering around the Overlook is Danny Torrance, a uniquely gifted five-year-old.

My Review
Stephen King is the master of suspense and this book proves that he is at the top of this genre. You don't want to read this book alone at night as it is truly very scary. The characters are well-drawn for this psychological drama as 6 year-old Danny Torrence has psychic powers. The ghostly hotel is full of spirits and death is in the air for this family's horrific stay. I highly recommend this book to fans of horror as it is one story you will never forget!

2. Complicity by Iain Banks - 313 pages - ★★★★- 1/2/16
Books Read : 2 Pages Read : 810
January Books Read : 2 January Pages Read : 810

Book Description
Local journalist Cameron Colley writes articles that are idealistic, from the viewpoint of the underdog. A twisted serial killer seems to have the same MO -- he commits brutal murders on behalf of the underdog. As the two stories begin to merge, Cameron finds himself inextricably and inexplicably implicated by the killer.
When the arms dealer whom Cameron plans to expose is found literally "disarmed" before Cameron can even put pen to paper and the brewery chief, loathed by Cameron, who sold out at the expense of his workers finds himself permanently unemployable, the police become convinced of Cameron's guilt, as do half his friends and colleagues, forcing Cameron to employ all his investigative skills to find the real killer and his motive.

My Review
This was my first Iain Banks book. I thought his writing was excellent but if this was suppose to be a murder mystery, I would have to say that it is lacking in that department. I would classify this book as a good character study as the characters were well-drawn but the murderer was quite obvious. I also found the descriptions of the murder and sex scenes a bit over the top. Now you may be asking why I gave him 4 stars. Well, it's his memorable language, great one-liners and his ability to go from past to present so effectively. All in all, a very enjoyable book if you like great writing.

3. The Dark Child by Camara Laye - 188 pages - ★★★★ - 1/2/16
Books Read : 3 Pages Read : 998
January Books Read : 3 January Pages Read : 998

Book Description
The Dark Child is a distinct and graceful memoir of Camara Laye's youth in the village of Koroussa, French Guinea. Long regarded Africa's preeminent Francophone novelist, Laye (1928-80) herein marvels over his mother's supernatural powers, his father's distinction as the village goldsmith, and his own passage into manhood, which is marked by animistic beliefs and bloody rituals of primeval origin. Eventually, he must choose between this unique place and the academic success that lures him to distant cities. More than autobiography of one boy, this is the universal story of sacred traditions struggling against the encroachment of a modern world. A passionate and deeply affecting record, The Dark Child is a classic of African literature.

My Review
This was a fascinating memoir of the author's youth growing up in the village of Koroussa, French Guinea. It shows the simple life of a dark child living in the great plain of Guinea. It is a very readable account as his words are rich with sincerity which flows through his language. He wrote this account while attending school in Paris and it is very evident that he was missing his homeland very much. I would recommend this book highly as I found his detailed account of the 'ceremony of the lions' which prepares boys for circumcision extremely worthwhile and a very interesting read.

4. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John LeCarre - 381 pages - ★★★★ - 1/5/16
Books Read: 4 Pages Read: 1,379
January Books Read: 4 January Pages Read: 1,379

Book Description
The man he knew as "Control" is dead, and the young Turks who forced him out now run the Circus. But George Smiley isn't quite ready for retirement--especially when a pretty, would-be defector surfaces with a shocking accusation: a Soviet mole has penetrated the highest level of British Intelligence. Relying only on his wits and a small, loyal cadre, Smiley recognizes the hand of Karla--his Moscow Centre nemesis--and sets a trap to catch the traitor.

My Review
After finishing this novel, I would have to say that John LeCarre is the master of spy thriller mysteries. His writing is superb and a pleasure to read. The plot was very intriguing and the characters were plentiful. LeCarre kept me guessing who the mole was right until the very end. I would highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys spy thrillers and great writing.

5. Career of Evil by Robert Galbraith - 489 pages - ★★★★ - 1/7/16
Books Read: 5 Pages Read: 1,868
January Books Read: 5 January Pages Read: 1,868

Book Description
When a mysterious package is delivered to Robin Ellacott, she is horrified to discover that it contains a woman's severed leg.

Her boss, private detective Cormoran Strike, is less surprised but no less alarmed. There are four people from his past who he thinks could be responsible--and Strike knows that any one of them is capable of sustained and unspeakable brutality.

With the police focusing on the one suspect Strike is increasingly sure is not the perpetrator, he and Robin take matters into their own hands, and delve into the dark and twisted worlds of the other three men. But as more horrendous acts occur, time is running out for the two of them...

Career of Evil is the third in the highly acclaimed series featuring private detective Cormoran Strike and his assistant Robin Ellacott. A fiendishly clever mystery with unexpected twists around every corner, it is also a gripping story of a man and a woman at a crossroads in their personal and professional lives.

My Review
I enjoy this series very much but was a bit disappointed with the gore of the crimes in this one. I also think the book could have been a bit shorter. The bad guys were hard to keep track of because their personalities were too similar. Other than that, I find the Strike/Robin/Matthew storyline very entertaining and I look forward to see where these relationship go in the future books. I would recommend this book as long as you can handle reading about gore (severed limbs, serial murder) and sexual assault.

6. The Ruins by Scott Smith - 509 pages - ★★★★ - 1/9/16
Books Read: 6 Pages Read: 2,377
January Books Read: 6 January Pages Read: 2,377

Book Description
Trapped in the Mexican jungle, a group of friends stumble upon a creeping horror unlike anything they could ever imagine.Two young couples are on a lazy Mexican vacation–sun-drenched days, drunken nights, making friends with fellow tourists. When the brother of one of those friends disappears, they decide to venture into the jungle to look for him. What started out as a fun day-trip slowly spirals into a nightmare when they find an ancient ruins site . . . and the terrifying presence that lurks there.

My Review
This was a very scary book but a bit unbelievable. It was a page turner with a lot of tension and hard to put down. I find Scott Smith's writing very entertaining and I would definitely check out his next book. I would recommend this book to those who like a good adventure story.

7. Thin Air by Ann Cleeves - 400 pages - ★★★★★ - 1/12/16
Books Read: 7 Pages Read: 2,777
January Books Read: 7 January Pages Read: 2,777

Book Description
Ann Cleeves is back with the sixth book in her Shetland series featuring Inspector Jimmy Perez, whom readers will remember from Raven Black, White Nights, Red Bones, Blue Lightning, and Dead Water.

A group of old university friends leave the bright lights of London and travel to Shetland to celebrate the marriage of one of their friends. But, one of them, Eleanor, disappears―apparently into thin air. It's mid-summer, a time of light nights and unexpected mists. And then Eleanor's body is discovered lying in a small loch close to the cliff edge.

Detectives Jimmy Perez and Willow Reeves are dispatched to investigate. Before she went missing, Eleanor claimed to have seen the ghost of a local child who drowned in the 1920s. Her interest in the ghost had seemed unhealthy―obsessive, even―to her friends: an indication of a troubled mind. But Jimmy and Willow are convinced that there is more to Eleanor's death than they first thought.

Is there a secret that lies behind the myth? One so shocking that someone would kill―many years later―to protect?

Ann Cleeves' striking new novel is a quintessential whodunit with surprises at every turn.

My Review:
I enjoyed being back on the Shetland Islands with Jimmy Perez. He is one of my favorite Inspectors from a great series which I enjoy very much. As this is the last book in the series, I hope it won't be a long time until I meet up with these unique characters again. I suggest you read these books in order as the stories build one upon another.

8. The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz - 400 pages - ★★★★- 1/18/16
Books Read: 8 Pages Read: 3,177
January Books Read: 8 January Pages Read: 3,177

Book Description
Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist return

She is the girl with the dragon tattoo—a genius hacker and uncompromising misfit. He is a crusading journalist whose championing of the truth often brings him to the brink of prosecution.

Late one night, Blomkvist receives a phone call from a source claiming to have information vital to the United States. The source has been in contact with a young female superhacker—a hacker resembling someone Blomkvist knows all too well. The implications are staggering. Blomkvist, in desperate need of a scoop for Millennium, turns to Salander for help. She, as usual, has her own agenda. The secret they are both chasing is at the center of a tangled web of spies, cybercriminals, and governments around the world, and someone is prepared to kill to protect it . . .

The duo who captivated millions of readers in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest join forces again in this adrenaline-charged, uniquely of-the-moment thriller.

My Review:
I enjoyed this book very much but I was a little disappointed that Lisbeth Salander was only featured in the novel not until the very end. It is still a worthwhile read but I do still miss Stieg Larsson's writing. It was good to be back with Blomquist and Salander and I do look forward to what is in store for them in the future. I would recommend this book to fans of the original series.

9. The Corners of the Globe by Robert Goddard - 499 pages - ★★★★★- 1/19/16
Books Read: 9 Pages Read: 3,676
January Books Read: 9 January Pages Read: 3,676

Book Description
A thrilling mix of espionage, treachery and murder set in the aftermath of the First World War from the master of the triple-cross
Spring, 1919. James ‘Max’ Maxted, former Great War flying ace, returns to the trail of murder, treachery and half-buried secrets he set out on in The Ways of the World. He left Paris after avenging the murder of his father, Sir Henry Maxted, a senior member of the British delegation to the post-war peace conference. But he was convinced there was more – much more – to be discovered about what Sir Henry had been trying to accomplish. And he suspected elusive German spymaster Fritz Lemmer knew the truth of it.
Now, enlisted under false colours in Lemmer’s service but with his loyalty pledged to the British Secret Service, Max sets out on his first – and possibly last – mission for Lemmer. It takes him to the far north of Scotland – to the Orkney Isles, where the German High Seas Fleet has been impounded in Scapa Flow, its fate to be decided at the conference-table in Paris. Max has been sent to recover a document held aboard one of the German ships. What that document contains forces him to break cover sooner than he would have wished and to embark on a desperate race south, towards London, with information that could destroy Lemmer – if Max, as seems unlikely, lives to deliver it...

My Review
This was an excellent second book to this trilogy. I still don't have a clue what is going on but the writing is great, the plot is intriguing and the twists and turns are many. There are lots of characters to keep track of in this tension-filled adventure of a book that keeps the pages turning to a very surprising ending. Can't wait to read the last book in order to fill in all the blanks of this action-packed novel. I highly recommend reading these books in order as the storyline builds from one book to the next.

10. Cloudsplitter by Russell Banks - 758 pages - ★★★★★- 1/25/16
Book Read: 10 Pages Read: 4,434
January Books Read: 10 January Pages Read: 4,434

Book Description
A triumph of the imagination and a masterpiece of modern storytelling, Cloudsplitter is narrated by the enigmatic Owen Brown, last surviving son of America's most famous and still controversial political terrorist and martyr, John Brown. Deeply researched, brilliantly plotted, and peopled with a cast of unforgettable characters both historical and wholly invented, Cloudsplitter is dazzling in its re-creation of the political and social landscape of our history during the years before the Civil War, when slavery was tearing the country apart. But within this broader scope, Russell Banks has given us a riveting, suspenseful, heartbreaking narrative filled with intimate scenes of domestic life, of violence and action in battle, of romance and familial life and death that make the reader feel in astonishing ways what it is like to be alive in that time.

My Review
I enjoyed Cloudsplitter very much. Russell Banks made the key people of the antislavery movement come to life. The book is narrated by John Brown's son, Owen, and through him we learn the details of his father's passion to free the slaves and help them escape to Canada and the events leading up to his capture at Harper's Ferry and his hanging. I found this novel to be most informative about American life in the early-to-mid part of the 19th century. I would highly recommend this book to those who are interested in the antislavery movement and the events leading up to the Civil War. John Brown is truly a fascinating character and one person that changed the course of history.

11. The Joke by Milan Kundera - 267 pages - ★★★★- 1/27/16
Books Read: 11 Pages Read: 4,701
January Books Read: 11 January Pages Read: 4,701

Book Description
All too often, this brilliant novel of thwarted love and revenge miscarried has been read for its political implications. Now, a quarter century after The Joke was first published and several years after the collapse of the Soviet-imposed Czechoslovak regime, it becomes easier to put such implications into perspective in favor of valuing the book (and all Kundera 's work) as what it truly is: great, stirring literature that sheds new light on the eternal themes of human existence. The present edition provides English-language readers an important further means toward revaluation of The Joke. For reasons he describes in his Author's Note, Milan Kundera devoted much time to creating (with the assistance of his American publisher-editor) a completely revised translation that reflects his original as closely as any translation possibly can: reflects it in its fidelity not only to the words and syntax but also to the characteristic dictions and tonalities of the novel's narrators. The result is nothing less than the restoration of a classic.

My Review
I enjoyed Kundera's writing very much. The story was a good insight into life under Communist Czechoslovakia. Because of a joke, Ludvik is betrayed by his party which leaves him with the feelings of anger, hate and revenge. He has to therefore learn to live his life despite the expectations of his society. By the end of the book, the theme is exposed and we learn that we all have only an illusion of control over our lives--ultimately the joke is on us. I would recommend this book to those who are interested in life under a Communist regime.

12. The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne - 215 pages - ★★★★★ - 1/28/16
Books Read: 12 Pages Read: 4,916
January Books Read: 12 January Pages Read: 4,916

Book Description
“Powerful and unsettling. . . . As memorable an introduction to the subject as The Diary of Anne Frank.” —USA Today

Berlin, 1942: When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move to a new house far, far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people in the distance.

But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different from his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

My Review
I enjoyed this book very much. I like that it was written from the innocent point of view of a nine year old which makes it a very moving story. Any attempt to describe this book would only spoil the powerful effect of the ending. It definitely is a one sitting read and when you've finished, you will be thinking about this one for a while.

13. One False Move by Harlan Coben - ★★★★- 1/28/16
Books Read: 13 Pages Read: 5,299
January Books Read: 13 January Pages Read: 5,299

Book Description
It’s no secret that Harlan Coben’s name is synonymous with unrelenting suspense. In this compelling fifth novel in his acclaimed Myron Bolitar series, the unforgettable sports agent agrees to protect basketball star Brenda Slaughter while trying to unravel the tragic riddle of her life.

As a big-time New York sports agent, Myron has a professional interest in Brenda. Then a personal one. But between them isn’t just the difference in their backgrounds or the color of their skin. Between them is a chasm of corruption and lies, a vicious young mafioso on the make, and one secret that some people are dying to keep–and others are killing to protect.

My Review
This is the 5th Harlan Coben book in the series. It is a book that will really grab you. At this point in the series, it is quite clear that Coben's books are full of witty characters you would love to meet in person and plots that keep you guessing. I definitely look forward to reading the rest of the series.

14. The Crow Trap by Ann Cleeves - 535 pages - ★★★★★ - 1/31/16
Books Read: 14 Pages Read: 5,834
January Books Read: 14 January Pages Read: 5,834

Book Description
The Crow Trap is the first book in Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope series -- which is now a major ITV detective drama starring Brenda Blethyn, VERA. Three very different women come together at isolated Baikie's Cottage on the North Pennines, to complete an environmental survey. Three women who each know the meaning of betrayal ...Rachael, the team leader, is still reeling after a double betrayal by her lover and boss, Peter Kemp. Anne, a botanist, sees the survey as a chance to indulge in a little deception of her own. And then there is Grace, a strange, uncommunicative young woman, hiding plenty of her own secrets. Rachael is the first to arrive at the cottage, where she discovers the body of her friend, Bella Furness. Bella, it appears, has committed suicide -- a verdict Rachael refuses to accept. When another death occurs, a fourth woman enters the picture -- the unconventional Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope ...Also available in the Vera Stanhope series are Telling Tales, Hidden Depths, Silent Voices and The Glass Room. Ann Cleeves' Shetland series (BBC television drama SHETLAND) contains five titles, of which Dead Water is the most recent.

My Review
This was my first Vera Stanhope book and it did not disappoint. Ann Cleeves is a master of great writing, plot and character development. Her books keep the pages turning until the very end. She keeps you guessing and ties everything up neatly in the end. I look forward to reading the next book in the series. I have also read her Shetland series and enjoyed them very much. I highly recommend her books if you are a mystery/suspense connoisseur.

January Totals

Books Read : 14
Pages Read : 5,834

8 - ★★★★
6 - ★★★★★

Favorites: 3 - Thin Air - The Crow Trap - The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Average: 4.43
Average Number of Pages: 417

15. The Silver Pigs by Lindsey Davie - 329 pages - ★★★★- 2/2/16
Books Read: 15 Pages Read: 6,163
February Books Read: 1 February Pages Read: 329

Book Description
The Silver Pigs is the classic novel which introduced readers around the world to Marcus Didius Falco, a private informer with a knack for trouble, a tendency for bad luck, and a frequently inconvenient drive for justice.
When Marcus Didius Falco encounters the young and very pretty Sosia Camillina in the Forum, he senses immediately that there is something amiss. When she confesses that she is fleeing for her life, Falco offers to help her and, in doing so, he gets himself mixed up in a deadly plot involving stolen ingots, dangerous and dark political machinations, and, most hazardous of all, one Helena Justina, a brash, indomitable senator's daughter connected to the very traitors that Falco has sworn to expose.

My Review
This is the first book of the Marcus Didius Falco Mystery series. It is a very different type of a detective series with witty jokes which makes for an enjoyable read. Lindsey Davis brings historical Rome of the Caesars in 70 AD very much alive. Stolen treasure takes Didius Falco into occupied Britain where he meets Helena Justina. The chemistry between Falco and Helena Justina also makes for a very charming love story. I look forward to continue with this series and I would recommend it for readers who enjoy historical mystery novels.

16. Solaris by Stanislaw Lem - 204 pages - ★★★★★- 2/3/16
Books Read: 16 Pages Read: 6,367
February Books Read: 2 February Pages Read: 533

Book Description
When psychologist Kris Kelvin arrives at the planet Solaris to study the ocean that covers its surface, he finds himself confronting a painful memory embodied in the physical likeness of a past lover. Kelvin learns that he is not alone in this and that other crews examining the planet are plagued with their own repressed and newly real memories. Could it be, as Solaris scientists speculate, that the ocean may be a massive neural center creating these memories, for a reason no one can identify?

Long considered a classic, Solaris asks the question: Can we understand the universe around us without first understanding what lies within?

My Review
I am not really a science fiction reader but I really did enjoy this story. The concept and the characters were fascinating. I read it in one sitting as it held my attention and I was curious to see how it would end. The writing has great imagery and is very thought provoking. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy science fiction or those who want to stretch beyond their normal genres.

17. A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian by Marina Lewycka - 294 pages - ★★★★★- 2/4/16
Books Read: 17 Pages Read: 6,661
February Books Read: 3 February Pages Read: 827

Book Description
Winner of the Bollinger Everyman Prize for Comic Fiction "Two years after my mother died, my father fell in love with a glamorous blonde Ukrainian divorcee. He was eighty-four and she was thirty-six. She exploded into our lives like a fluffy pink grenade, churning up the murky water, bringing to the surface a sludge of sloughed off memories, giving the family ghosts a kick in the backside. Sisters Vera and Nadezhda must put aside a lifetime of feuding to save the emigre engineer father from the voluptuous gold-digger Valentina. With her proclivity for green satin underwear and boil-in-the-bag cuisine, she will stop at nothing in her pursuit of Western wealth. But the sisters campaign to oust Valentina unearths family secrets, uncovers fifty years of Europe's darkest history and sends them back to the roots they'd rather forget...." From the back cover. "Thought provoking, uproariously funny, a comic feast. A riotous oil painting of senility, lust and greed." The Economist

My Review
This is a very light, funny and engaging story and also a good way to learn something about the history of Ukraine and what its people went through. The novel covered the subjects of 'old country' thinking, immigration, family dynamics, many aspects of aging. I did learn a lot about the history of tractors as Nikolai, the father, was writing a book and there were excerpts throughout which were very interesting.The characters are very believable and true to life, some make you want to laugh and others make you want to cry. I highly recommend this novel, which should appeal to just about any reader.

18. Midaq Alley by Naguib Mahfouz - 286 pages - ★★★★- 2/5/16
Books Read: 18 Pages Read: 6,947
February Books Read: 4 February Pages Read: 1,113

Book Description
Considered by many to be Mahfouz's best novel, Midaq Alley centers around the residents of one of the hustling, teeming back alleys of Cairo. No other novel so vividly evokes the sights and sounds of the city. The universality and timelessness of this book cannot be denied.

My Review
This book is a wonderful rich cultural insight into the lives of men and women in Egypt. Mahfouz brings together a group of interesting characters and weaves a story of fate, love, marriage, money and Western Imperialism that is a page turner to the very end. I will definitely be checking out some of his other books because I really enjoyed his writing. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in Middle Eastern women's rights and struggles.

19. Quartet in Autumn by Barbara Pym - 218 pages - ★★★★ - 2/6/16
Books Read: 19 Pages Read: 7,165
February Books Read: 5 February Pages Read: 1,331

Book Description
This is the story of four people in late middle-age - Edwin, Norman, Letty and Marcia - whose chief point of contact is that they work in the same office and they suffer the same problem - loneliness. Lovingly, poignantly, satirically and with much humour, Pym conducts us through their small lives and the facade they erect to defend themselves against the outside world. There is nevertheless an obstinate optimism in her characters, allowing them in their different ways to win through to a kind of hope. Barbara Pym's sensitive wit and artistry are at their most sparkling in "Quartet in Autumn".

My Review
This was an interesting story about people who work together in an office and they are getting ready to retire. It was a little sad in some parts but it did end on a good note. The characters are unique and very interesting and I found Pym to be very insightful. I enjoyed her writing very much and I look forward to reading some of her other books. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys classic literature with subtle humor.

20. Clouded Vision by Linwood Barclay - 96 pages - ★★★★★- 2/6/16
Books Read: 20 Pages Read: 7,261
February Books Read: 6 February Pages Read: 1,427

Book Description
A terrific Linwood Barclay novella - written specially for the World Book Day Quick Reads promotion. Keisha Ceylon is a psychic. At least, that's what she passes herself off as. The truth is, Keisha's real powers have more to do with separating troubled families from their money than actually seeing into the netherworld. Keisha watches the news for stories of missing family members. She gives it a few days, then moves in, tells these families she's had a vision, that she may have some clue to where these missing people are. And by the way, she charges for this service, and likes to see the money up front. Keisha's latest mark is a man whose wife disappeared a week ago. She's seen him on TV, pleading for his wife to come home, or, if she's been abducted, pleading with whoever took her to let her go. Keisha knows a payoff when she sees one. So she pays a visit to our troubled husband, tells him her vision. Trouble is, her vision just happens to be close enough to the truth that it leaves this man rattled. And it may very well leave Keisha dead.

My Review
This was a short novella that held my interest until the very end. It had just the perfect surprise twist ending and was very clever. I have read a few other books by Barclay and I look forward to reading more as I like his writing very much. I would recommend this novella to whoever would like a little taste of his writing as it is a very good example of how good his books are.

21. Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis - 256 pages - ★★★★★- 2/7/16
Books Read: 21 Pages Read: 7,517
February Books Read: 7 February Pages Read: 1,683

Book Description
Regarded by many as the finest, and funniest, comic novel of the twentieth century, Lucky Jim remains as trenchant, withering, and eloquently misanthropic as when it first scandalized readers in 1954. This is the story of Jim Dixon, a hapless lecturer in medieval history at a provincial university who knows better than most that "there was no end to the ways in which nice things are nicer than nasty ones." Kingsley Amis's scabrous debut leads the reader through a gallery of emphatically English bores, cranks, frauds, and neurotics with whom Dixon must contend in one way or another in order to hold on to his cushy academic perch and win the girl of his fancy.

More than just a merciless satire of cloistered college life and stuffy postwar manners, Lucky Jim is an attack on the forces of boredom, whatever form they may take, and a work of art that at once distills and extends an entire tradition of English comic writing, from Fielding and Dickens through Wodehouse and Waugh. As Christopher Hitchens has written, "If you can picture Bertie or Jeeves being capable of actual malice, and simultaneously imagine Evelyn Waugh forgetting about original sin, you have the combination of innocence and experience that makes this short romp so imperishable."

My Review
This is a very humorous satire about a young academic, Jim Dixon, who works as a medieval history professor at one of England's provincial universities during the 1950's. It pokes fun at people who take themselves too seriously and the boring dinner parties one must attend. Kingsley's writing is amazing and quite poetic at times. It's filled with wit and lots of wisdom. This book is truly a masterpiece and should be read by everyone.

22. Sparkling Cyanide by Agatha Christie - 268 pages - ★★★★ - 2/8/16
Books Read: 22 Pages Read: 7,785
February Books Read: 8 February Pages Read: 1,951

Book Description
The Queen of Mystery has come to Harper Collins! Agatha Christie, the acknowledged mistress of suspense--creator of indomitable sleuth Miss Marple, meticulous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, and so many other unforgettable characters--brings her entire oeuvre of ingenious whodunits, locked room mysteries, and perplexing puzzles to William Morrow Paperbacks. In Sparkling Cyanide, Christie seats six--including a murderer--around a dining table set for seven , one year to the day that a beautiful heiress was poisoned in that very room.

My Review
This was a light easy read but very enjoyable. It had a good plot with well-drawn characters and kept me guessing until the very end. I liked the fact that everyone had a motive which made guessing the murderer a lot harder. I had not read a Christie book for a couple of years and it was good to read one again. I look forward to reading more of her books which I haven't read yet.

23. Lily's Crossing by Patricia Reilly Giff - 180 pages - ★★★★ - 2/9/16
Books Read: 23 Pages Read: 7,965
February Books Read: 9 February Pages Read: 2,131

Book Description
When Lily meets Albert, a refugee from Hungary, during the summer of 1944, they begin a special friendship. However, Lily and Albert have both told lies, and Lily has told a lie that may cost Albert his life.

My Review
This was a very good young adult historical fiction book which explains what children and adults were feeling during the summer of 1944 at the end of WWII as France was being liberated. Along with those feeling, Lily learns an important lesson of how her lies can lead to a devastating result. By the end of the summer, Lily promises herself she will live by the truth forever. I would recommend this book to adults and children 9-12 because of the lessons it teaches.

24. The Ends of the Earth by Robert Goddard - 379 pages - ★★★★★ - 2/14/16
Books Read: 24 Pages Read: 8,344
February Books Read: 10 February Pages Read: 2,510

Book Description
A thrilling climax to Robert Goddard's bestselling adventure trilogy, The Wide World.
July 1919. Ex-flying ace James 'Max' Maxted's attempt to uncover the secret behind the death of his father, Sir Henry Maxted, murdered while serving as an adviser with the British delegation to the Paris peace conference, has seemingly ended in failure -- and his own death.
The trail uncovered by him leads to Japan and a mysterious prisoner held by Sir Henry Maxted's old enemy, Count Tomura. Unaware of Max's fate, the team he has recruited to finish the job are already there, where their paths cross that of former German spymaster, Fritz Lemmer, now rebuilding his spy network in the service of a new, more sinister cause.
In the days and weeks ahead, the quest Max embarked on in Paris will reach its dizzying end at Tomura's castle in the mountains of Honshu -- and the full truth of what occurred thirty years before will finally be laid bare.

My Review
This was the best trilogy that I have ever read. It was a real page-turner from start to finish with excellent well-drawn characters and plot. Lots of twists and turns kept me on the edge of my seat. Apparently the author is not done with Max and there will be more adventures which I will anxiously await. If you haven't read Robert Goddard, what are you waiting for. He is an amazing author!

25. A Dying Fall by Elly Griffiths - 390 pages - ★★★★★ - 2/15/16
Book Read: 25 Pages Read: 8,734
February Books Read: 11 February Pages Read: 2,900

Book Description
Ruth Galloway is shocked when she learns that her old university friend Dan Golding has died tragically in a house fire. But the death takes on a sinister cast when Ruth receives a letter from Dan written just before he died.

The letter tells of a great archaeological discovery, but Dan also says that he is scared for his life. Was Dan’s death linked to his find? The only clue is his mention of the Raven King, an ancient name for King Arthur.

Then Ruth is invited to examine the bones Dan found. Ruth travels to Lancashire–the hometown of DCI Nelson–with both her eighteen-month-old daughter, Kate, and her druid friend, Cathbad, in tow. She discovers a campus living in fear of a sinister right-wing group called the White Hand. She also finds that the bones revealed a shocking fact about King Arthur–and they’ve mysteriously vanished. When Nelson, visiting his mother in Blackpool, learns about the case, he is drawn into the investigation, especially when Ruth and his beloved Kate seem to be in danger. Who is willing to kill to keep the bones a secret?

My Review
This was the best Ruth Galloway book in the series so far. Griffiths writing pulls you in and keeps you until the very last page. Her characters seem like real people and the plots are very intriguing. This one has a connection to King Arthur and I find that I learn a lot about history from her books. These books have a lot for everyone - mystery, history, romance and adventure.

26. Last Words by Michael Koryta - 420 pages - ★★★★★- 2/19/16
Books Read: 26 Pages Read: 9,154
February Books Read: 12 February Pages Read: 3,320

Book Description
Markus Novak just wants to come home. An investigator for a Florida-based Death Row defense firm, Novak's life derailed when his wife, Lauren, was killed in the midst of a case the two were working together. Two years later, her murderer is still at large, and Novak's attempts to learn the truth about her death through less-than-legal means and jailhouse bargaining have put his job on the line. Now he's been all but banished, sent to Garrison, Indiana to assess a cold case that he's certain his boss has no intention of taking.

As Novak knows all too well, some crimes never do get solved. But it's not often that the man who many believe got away with murder is the one calling for the case to be reopened. Ten years ago, a teenaged girl disappeared inside an elaborate cave system beneath rural farmland. Days later, Ridley Barnes emerged carrying Sarah Martin's lifeless body. Barnes has claimed all along that he has no memory of exactly where -- or how -- he found Sarah. His memory of whether she was dead or alive at the time is equally foggy. Tired of living under a cloud of suspicion, he says he wants answers -- even if they mean he'll end up in the electric chair.

But what's he really up to? And Novak knows why he's so unhappy to be in Garrison - but why are the locals so hostile towards him? The answers lie in the fiendish brain of a dangerous man, the real identity of a mysterious woman, and deep beneath them all, in the network of ancient, stony passages that hold secrets deadlier than he can imagine. Soon Novak is made painfully aware that if he has any chance of returning to the life and career he left behind in Florida, he'll need to find the truth in Garrison first.

My Review
Just finished this 1st book in the Markus Novak series and enjoyed it very much. I've read a couple of his other books and I really do enjoy Koryta's writing. I found the book to be very engaging and not bogged down with lots of descriptions. There was lots of twists and turns that kept the pages turning. I found the subjects of caving and hypnosis to be a very interesting mix in the story and look forward to the reading the 2nd book where he goes after his wife's murderer.

27. Lady of Hay by Barbara Erskine - 592 pages - ★★★★★ - 2/21/16
Books Read: 27 Pages Read: 9,746
February Books Read: 13 February Pages Read: 3,912

Book Description
Two Women, Eight Hundred Years, and the Destiny They Share

"Barbara Erskine can make us feel the cold, smell the filth, and experience some of the fear of the power of evil men...The author's storytelling talent is undeniable."
-Times of London

With a story as mesmerizing as it is chilling, Lady of Hay explores how Jo, a journalist investigating hypnotic regression, plunges into the life of Matilda, Lady of Hay-who lived eight hundred years earlier. As she learns of Matilda's unhappy marriage, her troubled love for Richard de Clare, and the brutal treatment she received from King John, it seems that Jo's past and present are hopelessly entwined. Centuries later, a story of secret passion and unspeakable treachery is about to begin again-and she has no choice but to brave both lives if she wants to shake the iron grip of history.

My Review
This was a fascinating story which switched from the present day to the 12th century. Barbara Erskine's writing is easy to read and brings history to life. The characters were very believable and their emotions were transferred to the reader. The plot was intriguing and allowed for a page-turner which was unputdownable until the last page. I look forward to reading another of Erskine's books and recommend this one to those who love historical fiction mixed with adventure and romance.

28. Amongst Women by John McGahern - 184 pages - ★★★★★ - 2/22/16
Books Read: 28 Pages Read: 9,930
February Books Read: 14 February Pages Read: 4,096

Book Description
This novel tells the story of Michael Moran, a bitter, aging Irish Republican Army (IRA) veteran, and his tyranny over his wife and children, who both love and fear him. It was shortlisted for the 1990 Booker Prize and won The Irish Times/Aer Lingus Literary Award in 1991.

My Review
This was a very powerful read about a former IRA member raising his family of three daughters and two sons under very strict, controlling and violent conditions. Although he professes love for his family, the outcome of the Irish War has caused him frustration and he takes it out on his family. They in turn are very loyal to him, except for his eldest son who has his father's personality. McGahern does a great job conveying the effects of the negativity of Moran on each member of the family and their reaction to it. Although the book is a harsh look at a family, I do highly recommend it as it is a well-worthwhile read.

29. Season of Fear by Brian Freeman - 448 pages - ★★★★- 2/24/16
Books Read: 29 Pages Read: 10,378
February Books Read: 15 February Pages Read: 4,544

Book description
International Thriller Writers award-winner and bestselling author Brian Freeman has established himself as a master of psychological thrillers. In his latest, A Season of Fear, Freeman returns to the sun-drenched beaches of Naples, Florida and the idiosyncratic world of Detective Cab Bolton.

Attractive and popular politician Diane Fairmont is running for the Florida governorship, but a chill is cast over the campaign when she receives an anonymous note announcing the return of the assassin who killed her husband ten years earlier. Because of complicated ties between Fairmont and his mother, movie actress Tarla Bolton, Detective Bolton is assigned to the case.

As Bolton struggles to penetrate the veil of secrecy surrounding the Fairmont campaign, he begins to realize that the death threat is not the only danger faced by the campaign staff. A desperate race against the clock ensues as Bolton tries to unlock the secrets of a poisonous conspiracy before nature provides the perfect cover for a long-dormant killer to strike again.

My Review
I've read The Bone House and enjoyed the character of Cab Bolton so I was glad to see that Freeman had written another book featuring this character and I'm happy to say that this one does not disappoint. The characters are well-developed and the plot had many twists and turns that kept me interested until the very end. There is lots of mystery, political corruption, family issues all happening as a hurricane is approaching. The story was well paced and the ending was very surprising. I now look forward to reading his Jonathan Stride series and I recommend this series to those who enjoy a very engaging mystery read.

30. No Safe House by Linwood Barclay - 512 pages - ★★★★★- 2/26/16
Books Read: 30 Pages Read: 10,890
February Books Read: 16 February Pages Read: 5,056

Book Description
The New York Times bestselling author delivers the follow-up to No Time for Goodbye--an electrifying novel of suspense in which a family's troubled past is about to return in more ways than one. And this time, they may not be able to escape....

Seven years ago, Terry Archer and his family experienced a horrific ordeal that nearly cost them their lives. Today, the echoes of that fateful night are still audible, and Terry is struggling to keep his family together.

But when his daughter Grace foolishly follows her delinquent boyfriend into a strange house, the Archers must do more than stay together. They must survive. Because now they have all been unwillingly drawn into the shadowy depths of their seemingly idyllic hometown. And they will soon learn that there are some things people value much more than money, and will do anything to get.

Caught in a labyrinth between family loyalty and ultimate betrayal, Terry must find a way to extricate his family from a lethal situation he doesn't fully comprehend. All he knows is that in order to stay alive, he may need to do the unthinkable...

My Review
Linwood Barclay is moving up very high on my list of favorite authors. I thoroughly enjoyed this visit back with the main characters from No Time For Goodbye seven years after the last book. Grace, the Archer's daughter, has reached teenage years and is becoming a real handful for her parents. Payback to Vince for saving Cynthia and Grace's lives turns out to be very costly for Terry. The plot makes for a wild ride with lots of twists and turns which makes the book unputdownable. The dialogue flows and enables the reader to fully engage in the story. This is one author and one book not to be missed!

31. The Story of the Stone Volume 1 by Cao Xueqin - 540 pages - ★★★★★- 2/27/16
Books Read: 31 Pages Read: 11,430
February Books Read: 17 February Pages Read: 5,596

Book Description
The Story of the Stone (c. 1760), also known by the title of The Dream of the Red Chamber, is the great novel of manners in Chinese literature.

Divided into five volumes, The Story of the Stone charts the glory and decline of the illustrious Jia family. This novel re-creates the ritualized hurly-burly of Chinese family life that would otherwise be lost and infuses it with affirming Buddhist belief.

My Review
This is just Volume 1 of a 5 part story that is considered to be the greatest Chinese novel ever written. It is an account of 18th century life in China. I thought it would be a complicated read but it is actually a very easy interesting read. The author has a great insight of the day to day life of the characters which are many. It is filled with supernatural mysticism, themes of what is real, what is not real, love and fate. I look forward to reading the next 4 volumes. I would recommend this story to students of history and those who are interested in 18th century Chinese life.

32. The Crooked House by Christobel Kent - ★★★
Books Read: 32 Pages Read: 11,787
February Books Read: 18 February Pages Read: 5,953

Book Description
IN THE CHILLING TRADITION of Daphne du Maurier and with the acuity of Kate Atkinson comes an atmospheric psychological thriller about an isolated British village and the sinister abandoned house that holds the key to its most shameful secrets.

Alison is as close to anonymous as you can get: she has no ties and no home, and her only anchors are her boyfriend and her small backroom job in publishing. Which is exactly how she wants it. Because once, Alison was a teenager named Esme who lived in a remote, dilapidated house by a bleak estuary with her parents and three siblings. One night something terrible happened in the family’s crooked house, leaving Alison the only survivor. In order to escape from the horror she witnessed, she moved away from the village, changed her name, and cut herself off from her past.

But now her boyfriend has invited her to a wedding being held in her old hometown, which means returning there for the first time since that night. She decides that she’s never going to overcome the trauma of what happened to her without confronting it, so she accepts his invitation. But soon Alison realizes that the events of that night left their awful mark not just on her but on the entire village, and she begins to suspect that everyone there might somehow be implicated in her family’s murder.

Christobel Kent’s The Crooked House is a haunting thriller about one woman’s search for the truth about her past through a closed community full of dark secrets.

My Review
I enjoyed this book but it was a slow read and a bit confusing. Kent's writing was awkward and the book should have been edited better. The timeline kept switching and it was hard to figure out if you were in the present or the past. Kent used a lot of pronouns and the reader had to decipher who the author was referring too. I liked the plot and the setting was interesting. I enjoyed reading about the small community that was on the water and the crooked house. The characters were not too likable but that adds to the psychological thriller aspect. I would recommend this book but beware of the pitfalls mentioned above.

33. A Time To Kill by John Grisham - 664 pages - ★★★★★ - 2/29/16
Books Read: 33 Pages Read: 12,451
February Books Read: 19 February Pages Read: 6,617

Book Description
Don’t miss a sneak peek of Sycamore Row, John Grisham’s new novel inspired by A Time to Kill, in the back of the book.
The life of a ten-year-old girl is shattered by two drunken and remorseless young men. The mostly white town of Clanton in Ford County, Mississippi, reacts with shock and horror at the inhuman crime. Until her black father acquires an assault rifle and takes justice into his own outraged hands.
For ten days, as burning crosses and the crack of sniper fire spread through the streets of Clanton, the nation sits spellbound as young defense attorney Jake Brigance struggles to save his client’s life–and then his own.

My Review
This was a very powerful book as the subject matter is very delicate and heart-wrenching. It is Grisham's first novel and an amazing debut for any writer. His characters are well-drawn and very believable. The plot is very emotionally charged and makes for a book which is hard to put down until the last page. It is my first Grisham book but it won't be my last as I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend this book for those who like gripping legal thrillers.

February Totals

Books Read : 19
Pages Read : 6,617

1 - ★★★
6 - ★★★★
12 - ★★★★★

Favorites: Lucky Jim, The End of the Earth, A Dying Fall, Lady of Hay, No Safe House, A Time To Kill

Average: 4.58
Average Number of Pages: 348

34. The Radetzky March by Joseph Rosth - 352 pages - ★★★★- 3/2/16
Books Read: 34 Pages Read: 12,803
March Books Read: 1 March Pages Read: 352

Book Description
The Radetzky March , Joseph Roth's classic saga of the privileged von Trotta family, encompasses the entire social fabric of the Austro-Hungarian Empire just before World War I.
The author's greatest achievement, The Radetzky March is an unparalleled portrait of a civilization in decline, and as such, a universal story for our times.

My Review
I was very interested to read this book as my Croatian grandfather left to come to America in 1914 in order to escape the pending war. The book gave me a good perspective as to what was happening in the area at that time. Joseph Roth's writing is easy to read and very interesting and somewhat poetic. I look forward to reading more by Joseph Roth and I recommend this book to those who are interested in conditions of the Austro-Hungarian Empire prior to WWI.

35. Death In Venice by Thomas Mann - 80 pages - ★★★- 3/2/16
Books Read: 35 Pages Read: 12,883
March Books Read: 2 March Pages Read: 432

Book Description
One of the most famous literary works of the 20th century, the novella "Death in Venice" embodies themes that preoccupied Thomas Mann (18751955) in much of his work; the duality of art and life, the presence of death and disintegration in the midst of existence, the connection between love and suffering, and the conflict between the artist and his inner self. Mann's handling of these concerns in this story of a middle-aged German writer, torn by his passion for a Polish youth met on holiday in Venice, resulted in a work of great psychological intensity and tragic power. It is presented here in an excellent new translation with extensive commentary on many facets of the story.

My Review
I did not really care much for this novella by Thomas Mann which is considered a classical masterpiece. It is a very disturbing short story about Aschenbach, a famous writer, and his fascination for a beautiful 14 year-old young boy. Although he only stalks the boy, his death is a result of his obsession by not leaving Venice during an outbreak of cholera. There is lots of symbolism in the work and for being written in 1911 the subject matter of male heterosexuality was unheard of. I would like to read other books by Thomas Mann because I do believe him to be a talented writer but I think the subject matter turned me off from really liking this one. I would recommend it to those who would like to read about the destruction powers of the mind that could live within us.

36. Dead Irish by John Lescroart - 403 pages - ★★★ - 3/10/16
Books Read: 36 Pages Read: 13,286
March Books Read: 3 March Pages Read: 835

Book Description
The first Dismas Hardy novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Fall, The Keeper, and The Ophelia Cut...

In his new life as a bartender at the Little Shamrock, Dismas Hardy is just hoping for a little peace. He's left both the police force and his law career behind. Unfortunately it's not as easy to leave behind the memory of a shattering personal loss-but for the time being, he can always take the edge off with a stiff drink and round of darts. But when the news of Eddie Cochran's death reaches him, Hardy is propelled back into all the things he was trying to escape. Now he must untangle a web of old secrets and raw passions, for the sake of Eddie's pregnant widow Frannie--and for the others whose lives may still be at risk.

My Review
I like the character of Dismas Hardy and this novel was very entertaining. The only thing wrong about this book was the thin plot and too many subplots that didn't seem necessary. Other than that, I liked the characters and they did seem believable. Since this is the first in the series, I will read the second book and give Lescroart another chance.

37. Golden Buddha by Clive Cussler - 509 pages - ★★★★ - 3/10/16
Books Read: 37 Pages Read: 13,795
March Books Read: 4 March Pages Read: 1,344

Book Description
Juan Cabrillo's first adventure with the Oregon-a state of the art spy ship disguised as a nondescript lumber hauler-takes him and his crew into dangerous waters, as they try to put Tibet back in the hands of the Dalai Lama by striking a deal with the Russians and the Chinese.

Cabrillo's gambling chip is a golden Buddha containing records of vast oil reserves in the disputed land. But first, he'll have to locate-and steal-the all-important artifact. And there are certain people who would do anything in their power to see him fail...

My Review
This was an entertaining adventure read but I would prefer a little mystery mixed with the adventure. The characters were interesting but too many to keep track of. The plot was a little confusing at times but came together in the end. I look forward to check out his Isaac Bell series as I feel I would enjoy that series better.

38. Far From True by Linwood Barclay - 469 pages - ★★★★★ - 3/13/16
Books Read: 38 Pages Read: 14,264
March Books Read: 5 March Pages Read: 1,813

Book Description
After the screen of a run-down drive-in movie theater collapses and kills four people, the daughter of one of the victims asks private investigator Cal Weaver to look into a recent break-in at her father’s house. Cal discovers a hidden basement room where it’s clear that salacious activities have taken place—as well as evidence of missing DVDs. But his investigation soon becomes more complicated when he realizes it may not be discs the thief was actually interested in....

Meanwhile, Detective Barry Duckworth is still trying to solve two murders—one of which is three years old—he believes are connected, since each featured a similar distinctive wound.

As the lies begin to unravel, Cal is headed straight into the heart of a dark secret as his search uncovers more startling truths about Promise Falls. And when yet another murder happens, Cal and Barry are both driven to pursue their investigations, no matter where they lead. Evil deeds long thought buried are about to haunt the residents of this town—as the sins of the past and present collide with terrifying results.

My Review
This Barclay book has it all: over-the-top sex, gory blood, exciting plot, lots of crazy characters and twists and turns you never see coming. It's hard-to-put down once you start reading until the very end. Speaking of ending, it was a surprise, cliff-hanger that waters your mouth for the 3rd book in the series. This book is part of a trilogy, so I suggest that you start with the 1st book, Broken Promise, so you can keep a scorecard for the many characters that are expanded in the 2nd book. I recommend this trilogy as I am a loyal fan of Barclay but if over-the-top sex and gory blood bother you, then don't read this but if you are a fan of Barclay, then you just have to read it and forgive him.

39. Telling Tales by Ann Cleeves - 435 pages - ★★★★★- 3/17/16
Books Read: 39 Pages Read: 14,699
March Books Read: 6 March Pages Read: 2,248

Book Description
Ten years after Jeanie Long was charged with the murder of fifteen-year-old Abigail Mantel, disturbing new evidence proving her innocence emerges in the East Yorkshire village of Elvet. Abigail’s killer is still at large.

For Emma Bennett, the revelation brings back haunting memories of her vibrant best friend – and of the fearful winter’s day when she had discovered her body lying cold in a ditch.

Detective Inspector Vera Stanhope makes fresh inquiries, and the villagers are hauled back to a time they would rather forget. Tensions begin to mount, but are people afraid of the killer, or of their own guilty pasts?

My Review
This was the 2nd installment in the Vera Stanhope series and I enjoy reading Ann Cleeves because I think she is very talented and keeps me guessing all the time. I loved the characters, the plot and the setting. It was a very exciting read. I like Vera and her partner Joe and I think they make a good team. Ann Cleeves is always ambiguous in regards to giving the reader any real clues. She only gives you all the details after the case is solved. I have learned to enjoy the ride and know that I probably will not solve the murder. The murderer always seems to be the least suspected. It's how Ann writes her books so we can have the surprise ending that is common to all her books. I look forward to reading the next book in this series and I recommend this series be read in order as each book builds on the last one.

40. The Widow by Fiona Barton - 324 pages - ★★★★- 3/19/16
Books Read: 40 Pages Read: 15,023
March Books Read: 7 March Pages Read: 2,572

Book Description
When the police started asking questions, Jean Taylor turned into a different woman. One who enabled her and her husband to carry on, when more bad things began to happen...

But that woman's husband died last week. And Jean doesn't have to be her anymore.

There's a lot Jean hasn't said over the years about the crime her husband was suspected of committing. She was too busy being the perfect wife, standing by her man while living with the accusing glares and the anonymous harassment.

Now there's no reason to stay quiet. There are people who want to hear her story. They want to know what it was like living with that man. She can tell them that there were secrets. There always are in a marriage.

The truth--that's all anyone wants. But the one lesson Jean has learned in the last few years is that she can make people believe anything...

My Review
This was a debut novel by Fiona Barton. I enjoyed Barton's writing very much but I don't agree that this book was as intense as Gone Girl or The Girl on the Train. However, the characters were well-developed but it really wasn't a mystery or thriller as the kidnapper/murderer was exposed in the very beginning. It does have a surprise ending which I did not anticipate. The subject matter of a child abduction is not one of my favorites but this book did give some insight into the thought pattern and behavior of the perpetrator which I found very revealing and made for an interesting read. I would recommend this book to those who like to read books that focus on certain behaviors by predators.

41. The Darkest Hour by Tony Schumacher - 415 pages - ★★★★★ - 3/20/16
Books Read: 41 Pages Read: 15,438
March Books Read: 8 March Pages Read: 2,987

Book Description
A crackling, highly imaginative thriller debut in the vein of W.E.B. Griffin and Philip Kerr, set in German-occupied London at the close of World War II, in which a hardened British detective jeopardizes his own life to save an innocent soul and achieve the impossible--redemption.

London, 1946. The Nazis have conquered the British, and now occupy Great Britain, using brutality and fear to control its citizens. John Henry, a decorated British war hero and former police sergeant, has been reassigned to the Office of Jewish Affairs. He now answers to the SS, one of the most powerful and terrifying organizations in the Third Reich.

Rossett is a man accustomed to obeying commands, but he's now assigned a job he did not ask for--and cannot refuse: rounding up Jews for deportation, including men and women he's known his whole life. But they are not the only victims, for the war took Rossett's wife and son, and shattered his own humanity.

Then he finds Jacob, a young Jewish child, hiding in an abandoned building, who touches something in Rossett that he thought was long dead.

Determined to save the innocent boy, Rossett takes him on the run, with the Nazis in pursuit. But they are not the only hunters following his trail. The Royalist Resistance and the Communists want him, too. Each faction has its own agenda, and Rossett will soon learn that none of them can be trusted . . . and all of them are deadly.

My Review
This is a great debut by Tony Schumacher which uses the premise that Germans won the Battle for Britain. His writing makes for an easy read that turns into a thrilling page turner. The ending seems a little abrupt but sets up for the 2nd book which left me wanting to read more of the story. The characters are all well-drawn and the plot revolves around the themes of trust between the characters, redemption of the protagonist and salvation of a young Jewish child. I found it to be a very entertaining read and would recommend it to those who like action-packed WW2 books.

42. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry - 603 pages - ★★★★★ - 3/23/16
Books Read: 42 Pages Read: 16,041
March Books Read: 9 March Pages Read: 3,590

Book Description
With a compassionate realism and narrative sweep that recall the work of Charles Dickens, this magnificent novel captures all the cruelty and corruption, dignity and heroism, of India. The time is 1975. The place is an unnamed city by the sea. The government has just declared a State of Emergency, in whose upheavals four strangers--a spirited widow, a young student uprooted from his idyllic hill station, and two tailors who have fled the caste violence of their native village--will be thrust together, forced to share one cramped apartment and an uncertain future.

As the characters move from distrust to friendship and from friendship to love, A Fine Balance creates an enduring panorama of the human spirit in an inhuman state.

My Review
This is a beautifully written book about life in India during the mid-70's. The characters are well-drawn so much so that you can feel a real connection to them. We get a picture of the awful way of life under Prime Minister Gandhi's The State of Emergency, the 3rd world economics, the political, social and religious conditions of the caste system and the strength it takes for the human spirit to endure. This book is a must read as it is a real piece of art that will stay with you long after you finish the last page.

43. No Second Chance by Harlan Coben - 338 pages - 4-1/2 ★'s - 3/28/16
Books Read: 43 Pages Read: 16,379
March Books Read: 10 March Pages Read: 3,928

Book Description
When the first bullet hit my chest, I thought of my daughter...

Marc Seidman awakens to find himself in an ICU, hooked up to an IV, his head swathed in bandages. Twelve days earlier, he had an enviable life as a successful surgeon, living in a peaceful suburban neighborhood with his beautiful wife and a baby he adored. Now he lies in a hospital bed, shot by an unseen assailant. His wife has been killed, and his six-month-old daughter, Tara, has vanished. But just when his world seems forever shattered, something arrives to give Marc new hope: a ransom note.

We are watching. If you contact the authorities, you will never see your daughter again. There will be no second chance.

The note is chilling, but Marc sees only one thing-he has the chance to save his daughter. He can't talk to the police or the FBI. He doesn't know whom he can trust. And now the authorities are closing in on a new suspect: Marc himself. Mired in a deepening quicksand of deception and deadly secrets-about his wife, about an old love he's never forgotten, and about his own past-he clings to one, unwavering vow: to bring home Tara, at any cost.

Both a white-knuckle thriller and an emotionally powerful tale about the loyalty of old friends and the bond between parent and child, No Second Chance is another masterpiece.

My Review
Harlan Coben's books are always very entertaining and this one was no different. With lots of quirky characters, interesting plot and fine writing, this book was an enjoyable read. I do have one complaint in regards to a character's behavior acting in what I thought was a bit unbelievable but you have to read it for yourself and see what you think. Even with this one flaw, the book twists and turns and keeps you guessing until the end. If you never tried Coben's books, I think you should. I certainly look forward to my next book written by him.

44. The British Lion by Tony Schumacher - ★★★★★ - 3/28/16
Books Read: 44 Pages Read: 16,826
March Books Read: 11 March Pages Read: 4,375

Book Description
In this crackling alternate history thriller set in the years after World War II--the riveting sequel to The Darkest Hour--London detective John Rossett joins forces with his Nazi boss to save the commander's kidnapped daughter as the Germans race to make the first atomic bomb.

With the end of the war, the victorious Germans now occupy a defeated Great Britain. In London, decorated detective John Henry Rossett, now reporting to the Nazi victors, lies in a hospital bed recovering from gunshot wounds. Desperate to avoid blame over the events that led to the shooting, his boss, Ernst Koehler, covers up the incident. But when Koehler's wife and daughter are kidnapped by American spies, the terrified German turns to the only man he trusts to help him--a shrewd cop who will do whatever is necessary to get the job done: John Rossett.

Surviving his brush with death, Rossett agrees to save his friend's daughter. But in a chaotic new world ruled by treachery and betrayal, doing the right thing can get a man killed. Caught between the Nazi SS, the violent British resistance, and Americans with very uncertain loyalties, Rossett must secretly make his way out of London and find Ruth Hartz, a Jewish scientist working in Cambridge. Spared from death because of her intellect and expertise, she is forced to work on developing the atom bomb for Germany. Though she knows it could end any hope of freedom in Europe and maybe even the world, Ruth must finish the project--if she, too, wants to survive.

My Review
This was the sequel to The Darkest Hour which was a riveting adventure of the end of WWII with the idea of the Germans having taken over Britain. I would recommend reading that one first as an introduction to the characters. The adventures of John Rossett continue in this second book and makes for another unputdownable book. I found the characters so well-drawn that you can feel everything they are feeling as the plot twists and turns until the very end. I would recommend this novel to those who like historical fiction. I now look forward to the next book by this talented author and I hope for another John Rossett book in the future.

45. Above Suspicion by Helen MacInnes - 254 pages - ★★★★ - 3/30/16
Books Read: 45 Pages Read: 17,080
March Books Read: 12 March Pages Read: 4,629

Book Description
Richard and Frances Myles are preparing for their annual European summer vacation in 1939 when they are visited at their Oxford college by old friend Peter Galt, who has a seemingly simple job for them. But in the heightened atmosphere of pre-war Europe, nobody is above suspicion, in fact the husband and wife are being carefully monitored by shadowy figures.

Above Suspicion was MacInnes’ breakthrough book, a bestseller published in 1941 and released as a movie in 1943, directed by Richard Thorpe and starring Joan Crawford and Fred MacMurray.

“Hide and seek with death - in the shadow of terror... The hallmarks of a MacInnes novel of suspense are as individual and as clearly stamped as a Hitchcock thriller.” - The New York Times

My Review
This was a very good debut for Helen MacInnes and a very entertaining read. It was written prior to the invasion of Poland during WWII and you can definitely feel the tension of the times while reading. Richard and Frances Myles were very believable characters and it was amazing that in 1939 MacInnes was able to pinpoint the treatment by the Nazi gestapo. I would recommend this book to those interested in WW2 espionage and I look forward to reading more novels by Helen MacInnes.

46. City of Thieves by David Benioff - 258 pages - ★★★★★ - 3/30/16
Books Read: 46 Pages Read: 17,338
March Books Read: 13 March Pages Read: 4,887

Book Description
From the critically acclaimed author of The 25th Hour, a captivating novel about war, courage, survival — and a remarkable friendship that ripples across a lifetime.

During the Nazis’ brutal siege of Leningrad, Lev Beniov is arrested for looting and thrown into the same cell as a handsome deserter named Kolya. Instead of being executed, Lev and Kolya are given a shot at saving their own lives by complying with an outrageous directive: secure a dozen eggs for a powerful Soviet colonel to use in his daughter’s wedding cake. In a city cut off from all supplies and suffering unbelievable deprivation, Lev and Kolya embark on a hunt through the dire lawlessness of Leningrad and behind enemy lines to find the impossible.

By turns insightful and funny, thrilling and terrifying, City of Thieves is a gripping, cinematic World War II adventure and an intimate coming-of-age story with an utterly contemporary feel for how boys become men.

My Review
David Benioff is a very gifted storyteller. This book held my interest from the beginning until the very last page. I read it in one sitting and found it to be a page-turner. The characters are very believable and very well-drawn. The plot is full of tension and I could easily see a movie made from this book. It shows the senselessness of war and the survival of the human spirit. I would recommend it for people interested in WWII and Leningrad. I look forward to reading more from Benioff in the near future.

March Totals

Books Read : 13
Pages Read : 4,887

2 - ★★★
4 - ★★★★
1 - ★★★★.5
6 - ★★★★★

Favorites: City of Thieves, The Darkest Hour, The British Lion, Telling Tales, A Fine Balance, Far From True

Average: 4.35
Average Number of Pages: 376

47. The Pursuit of Love by Nancy Mitford - 240 pages - ★★★★ - 4/1/16
Books Read: 47 Pages Read: 17,578
April Books Read: 1 April Pages Read: 240

Book Description
Nancy Mitford’s most enduringly popular novel, The Pursuit of Love is a classic comedy about growing up and falling in love among the privileged and eccentric.

Mitford modeled her characters on her own famously unconventional family. We are introduced to the Radletts through the eyes of their cousin Fanny, who stays with them at Alconleigh, their Gloucestershire estate. Uncle Matthew is the blustering patriarch, known to hunt his children when foxes are scarce; Aunt Sadie is the vague but doting mother; and the seven Radlett children, despite the delights of their unusual childhood, are recklessly eager to grow up. The first of three novels featuring these characters, The Pursuit of Love follows the travails of Linda, the most beautiful and wayward Radlett daughter, who falls first for a stuffy Tory politician, then an ardent Communist, and finally a French duke named Fabrice.

My Review
This book was a great insight to how woman lived their lives before WWII. It delves into the themes of love, marriage and the guilelessness of a young lady when entering into a love relationship. Nancy Mitford's entertaining wit and sarcastic humor is a reminder of Jane Austen. The characters are very believable and make for a very lighthearted book. I would recommend this to everyone who enjoys a classical read.

48. Love in a Cold Climate by Nancy Mitford - 256 page - ★★★★ - 4/2/16
Books Read: 48 Pages Read: 17,834
April Books Read: 2 April Pages Read: 496

Book Description
One of Nancy Mitford's most beloved novels, Love in a Cold Climate is a sparkling romantic comedy that vividly evokes the lost glamour of aristocratic life in England between the wars.

Polly Hampton has long been groomed for the perfect marriage by her mother, the fearsome and ambitious Lady Montdore. But Polly, with her stunning good looks and impeccable connections, is bored by the monotony of her glittering debut season in London. Having just come from India, where her father served as Viceroy, she claims to have hoped that society in a colder climate would be less obsessed with love affairs. The apparently aloof and indifferent Polly has a long-held secret, however, one that leads to the shattering of her mother's dreams and her own disinheritance. When an elderly duke begins pursuing the disgraced Polly and a callow potential heir curries favor with her parents, nothing goes as expected, but in the end all find happiness in their own unconventional ways.

My Review
This is the 2nd book in Nancy Mitford's trilogy. I read this one after The Pursuit of Love which I prefer to this one. Both these books gives us a great insight into ladies in waiting before WWII. The themes in this book are love, marriage, tradition and snobbery of the British upperclass. Fanny Wincham, serving as narrator in both of these books and she is very believable. Mitford has great wit and humor in portraying her characters which makes the book very entertaining. I would recommend these books to those who enjoy Evelyn Waugh and Jane Austen.

49. No One Knows by J.T. Ellison - 362 pages - ★★★★★- 4/4/16
Books Read: 49 Pages Read: 18,196
April Books Read: 3 April Pages Read: 858

Book Description
In an obsessive mystery as thrilling as The Girl on the Train and The Husband's Secret, New York Times bestselling author J.T. Ellison will make you question every twist in her page-turning novel--and wonder which of her vividly drawn characters you should trust.

The day Aubrey Hamilton's husband is declared dead by the state of Tennessee should bring closure so she can move on with her life. But Aubrey doesn't want to move on; she wants Josh back. It's been five years since he disappeared, since their blissfully happy marriage--they were happy, weren't they?--screeched to a halt and Aubrey became the prime suspect in his disappearance. Five years of emptiness, solitude, loneliness, questions. Why didn't Josh show up at his friend's bachelor party? Was he murdered? Did he run away? And now, all this time later, who is the mysterious yet strangely familiar figure suddenly haunting her new life?

In No One Knows, the New York Times bestselling coauthor of the Nicholas Drummond series expertly peels back the layers of a complex woman who is hiding dark secrets beneath her unassuming exterior. This masterful thriller for fans of Gillian Flynn, Liane Moriarty, and Paula Hawkins will pull readers into a you'll-never-guess merry-go-round of danger and deception. Round and round and round it goes, where it stops...no one knows.

My Review
I've read Gone Girl, The Husband's Secret and The Girl on the Train but I think Ellison's book, No One Knows, definitely tops them all. The characters are well-drawn but as in all complex mystery plots, some of them are not like what they seem like. It is a page turner with lots of twists and turns. Just when you think you have figured things out another twist comes and keeps you spinning until the very last page. This was my first book by Ellison but it won't be my last. I highly recommend this novel to those who enjoy a mystery thriller with a totally surprise ending.

50. The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison - 206 pages - ★★★★★ - 4/6/16
Books Read: 50 Pages Read: 18,402
April Books Read: 4 April Pages Read: 1,064

Book Description
Pecola Breedlove, a young black girl, prays every day for beauty. Mocked by other children for the dark skin, curly hair, and brown eyes that set her apart, she yearns for normalcy, for the blond hair and blue eyes that she believes will allow her to finally fit in.Yet as her dream grows more fervent, her life slowly starts to disintegrate in the face of adversity and strife. A powerful examination of our obsession with beauty and conformity, Toni Morrison's virtuosic first novel asks powerful questions about race, class, and gender with the subtlety and grace that have always characterized her writing.

My Review
This was a very powerful book which shows that the way people are treated has a very big impact on their life. Everyone wants to be beautiful and loved but that is not a reality. Morrison brings out the themes of love and injustice to show how they impact on everyone's life. This book taught me that even though we are all different on the outside, everybody feels and looks the same on the inside. I would recommend this book to everyone as I feel it is a very worthwhile read.

51. A Deeper Darkness by J.T. Ellison - 391 pages - ★★★★- 4/9/16
Books Read: 51 Pages Read: 18,793
April Books Read: 5 April Pages Read: 1,455

Book Description
As a medical examiner, Samantha Owens knows her job is to make a certain sense of death with crisp methodology and precision instruments.

But the day the Tennessee floods took her husband and children, the light vanished from Sam's life. She has been pulled into a suffocating grief no amount of workaholic ardor can penetrate—until she receives a peculiar call from Washington, D.C.

On the other end of the line is an old boyfriend's mother, asking Sam to do a second autopsy on her son. Eddie Donovan is officially the victim of a vicious carjacking, but under Sam's sharp eye the forensics tell a darker story. The ex-Ranger was murdered, though not for his car.

Forced to confront the burning memories and feelings about yet another loved one killed brutally, Sam loses herself in the mystery contained within Donovan's old notes. It leads her to the untouchable Xander, a soldier off-grid since his return from Afghanistan, and then to a series of brutal crimes stretching from that harsh mountainous war zone to this nation's capital. The tale told between the lines makes it clear that nobody's hands are clean, and that making sense of murder sometimes means putting yourself in the crosshairs of death.

My Review
This book has it all - romance, mystery, and a forensic medical examiner who is smart and sexy. Samantha Owens is called by the mother of her ex-boyfriend to help solve his murder. This book kept me turning the pages as I was eager to find out what happened to Eddie Donovan to make someone want him dead. It has a cast of interesting characters and an intriguing plot that keeps you twisting, turning and guessing until the very end. This was my 2nd Ellison book and I look forward to reading the next book in this series as I find her a very talented writer. I recommend this to anyone who enjoys mystery thrillers with a bit of romance.

52. The Outcast Dead by Elly Griffiths - 384 pages - ★★★★★ - 4/11/16
Books Read: 52 Pages Read: 19,177
April Books Read: 6 April Pages Read: 1,839

Book Description
Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway uncovers the bones of a Victorian murderess while a baby snatcher threatens modern-day Norfolk in this exciting new entry in a beloved series.

Every year a ceremony is held at Norwich Castle for the bodies in the paupers’ graves: the Service for the Outcast Dead. Ruth has a particular interest in this year’s proceedings. Her recent dig at Norwich Castle turned up the body of the notorious Mother Hook, who was hanged in 1867 for the murder of five children. Now Ruth is the reluctant star of the TV series Women Who Kill, working alongside the program’s alluring history expert, Professor Frank Barker.

DCI Harry Nelson is immersed in the case of three children found dead in their home. He is sure that the mother is responsible. Then another child is abducted and a kidnapper dubbed the Childminder claims responsibility. Are there two murderers afoot, or is the Childminder behind all the deaths? The team must race to find out—and the stakes couldn’t be any higher when another child goes missing.

My Review
Another great story from Elly Griffiths in the 6th installment of the Ruth Galloway series. Children go missing and it's a rush to find the kidnapper before harm is done to the babies. Great characters and intriguing plots always make Griffiths' books page-turners until the last page. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in order to keep up with the relationships with the characters as they are a intricate part of the stories too. I would recommend starting with the first book in the series and I'm sure you will want to continue as you get to know the Griffith's cast members that keep her books flying off the shelves.

53. The Holder of the World by Bharati Mukherkee - 285 pages - ★★★★ - 4/12/16
Books Read: 53 Pages Read: 19,462
April Books Read: 7 April Pages Read: 2,124

This book was a very interesting look into the life of Hannah Easton. The timeline switches between the 1600's and the 1900's and takes us from Salem, Massachusetts, Europe, and then to the Coromandel coast of India. Beigh Masters, an American anthropologist, searches museums for archives of historical objects and she is searching for a perfect diamond that was in Hannah's possession. Her husband helps her by using a virtual reality program. I learned lots of interesting facts reading this book which did enhance my knowledge of life back in the 1600's. In the end, the book was linked to Nathaniel Hawthorn's novel, The Scarlet Letter. I would recommend the novel to those who like history and learning about other cultures.
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54. Entry Island by Peter May - 534 pages - ★★★★★ - 4/16/16
Books Read: 54 Pages Read: 19,996
April Books Read: 8 April Pages Read: 2,658

Book Description
Marilyn Stasio in The New York Times raved: "Peter May is a writer I'd follow to the ends of the earth." Now Peter May takes us to a small island off the coast of Québec with an emotionally charged new mystery.

When a murder rocks the isolated community of Entry Island, insomniac homicide detective Sime Mackenzie boards a light aircraft at St. Hubert airfield bound for the small, scattered chain of Madeline Islands, in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, as part of an eight-officer investigation team from Montréal.

Only two kilometers wide and three long, Entry Island is home to a population of just more than 100 inhabitants, the wealthiest of whom has just been discovered murdered in his home. Covered in her husband's blood, the dead man's melancholy wife spins a tale for the police about a masked intruder armed with a knife.

The investigation appears to be little more than a formality--the evidence points to a crime of passion, implicating the wife. But Sime is electrified by the widow during his interview, convinced that he has met her before, even though this is clearly impossible.

Haunted by this strange certainty, Sime's insomnia is punctuated by vivid, hallucinatory dreams of a distant past on a Scottish island 3,000 miles away, dreams in which he and the widow play leading roles. Sime's conviction soon becomes an obsession. And despite mounting evidence of the woman's guilt, he finds himself convinced of her innocence, leading to a conflict between the professional duty he must fulfill and the personal destiny he is increasingly sure awaits him.

My Review
Peter May is one of my favorite authors. I have read his Lewis Trilogy and China Thrillers and have enjoyed them very much. Entry Island switches from a present murder investigation on Entry Island to the past historical Highland Clearances of the Scots on Lewis Island. What I most like about Peter May's writing is that he has the ability to draw you into his stories and characters in a way that you can feel like you are experiencing everything he describes. This book has it all, mystery, history and a bit of romance which makes for a very intriguing novel. I would highly recommend this book to those who have read his Lewis Trilogy and those who are interested in the past history of the Highland Clearances. My hope is that Peter May can somehow write some more books about the Hebrides as this is one beautiful part of the world that I can never get tired of reading about.

55. Broken April by Ismail Kadare - 216 pages - ★★★★ - 4/17/16
Books Read: 55 Pages Read: 20,212
April Books Read: 9 April Pages Read: 2,874

Book Description
Two destinies intersect in Broken April. The first is that of Gjorg, a young mountaineer who (much against his will) has just killed a man in order to avenge the death of his older brother, and who expects to be killed himself in keeping with the provisions of the Code that regulates life in the highlands. The second is that of a young couple on their honeymoon who have come to study the age-old customs of the place, including the blood feud.
While the story is set in the early twentieth century, life on the high plateaus of Albania takes life back to the Dark Ages. The bloody shirt of the latest victim is hung up by the bereaved for all to see―until the avenger in turn kills his man with a rifle shot. For the young bride, the shock of this unending cycle of obligatory murder is devastating. The horror becomes personified when she catches a glimpse of Gjorg as he wanders about the countryside, waiting for the truce of thirty days to end, and life with it. That momentary vision of the hapless murderer provokes in her a violent act of revulsion and contrition. Her life will be marked by it always.

My Review
This book is about a lawless blood feud during the 1920's in Albania. It is a dark tale but a very interesting one. There is no organized government, just the sacred code of Kanun which allows families to avenge the murder of one of their family members by murdering a family member of the killer. This blood feud goes back and forth until the families are sometimes extinguished. This is definitely a concept which is very hard for a Westerner to understand. I found most interesting the fact that there was also a blood tax that had to be paid by the murderer. I would recommend this tale of honor, with themes of obedience to one's father and hospitality to those who would like to read about Albanian culture in the highlands in 1920.

56. Smoke and Mirrors by Elly Griffiths - ★★★★★ - 4/20/16
Books Read: 56 Pages Read: 20,564
April Books Read: 10 April Pages Read: 3,226

Book Description
In the sequel to the "captivating"* Zig Zag Girl, DI Edgar Stephens and the magician Max Mephisto hunt for a killer after two children are murdered in a tragic tableau of a very grim fairy tale.
*Wall Street Journal

It’s Christmastime in Brighton, and the city is abuzz about a local production of Aladdin, starring the marvelous Max Mephisto. But the holiday cheer is lost on DI Edgar Stephens. He’s investigating the murder of two children, Annie and Mark, who were strangled to death in the woods, abandoned alongside a trail of candy—a horrifying scene eerily reminiscent of Hansel and Gretel.

Edgar has plenty of leads to investigate. Annie, a surprisingly dark child, used to write gruesome plays based on the Grimms' fairy tales. Does the key to the case lie in her unfinished final script? Or does the macabre staging of Annie and Mark’s deaths point to the theater and the capricious cast of characters performing in Aladdin? Once again Edgar enlists Max's help in penetrating the shadowy world of the theater. But is this all just classic misdirection?

My Review
Elly Griffiths is one of my favorite authors. I've read all of the books in her Ruth Galloway series and have loved them all. Her Stephens and Mephisto series is much different as this series takes place in Brighton, England in the 1950's and deals with mystery, magic and the theatre. I find Griffiths to be a talented writer who draws you into her characters and creates plots that hold your interest until the very end of the book. This 2nd book was a great sequel to the Zig Zag Girl and I look forward to the next book in the series. If you love the Ruth Galloway series then I think you would enjoy this series too.

57. The Blood Gospel by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell - 736 pages - ★★★★★ - 4/28/16
Books Read: 57 Pages Read: 21,300
April Books: 11 April Pages Read: 3,962

Book Description
New York Times bestselling authors James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell combine their talents in a gothic tale about an ancient order and the hunt for a miraculous book known only as . . . The Blood Gospel.

An earthquake in Masada, Israel, kills hundreds and reveals a tomb buried in the heart of the mountain. A trio of investigators--Sergeant Jordan Stone, a military forensic expert; Father Rhun Korza, a Vatican priest; and Dr. Erin Granger, a brilliant but disillusioned archaeologist--are sent to explore the macabre discovery, a subterranean temple holding the crucified body of a mummified girl.

But a brutal attack at the site sets the three on the run, thrusting them into a race to recover what was once preserved in the tomb's sarcophagus: a book rumored to have been written by Christ's own hand, a tome that is said to hold the secrets to His divinity. The enemy who hounds them is like no other, a force of ancient evil directed by a leader of impossible ambitions and incalculable cunning.

From crumbling tombs to splendorous churches, Erin and her two companions must confront a past that traces back thousands of years, to a time when ungodly beasts hunted the dark spaces of the world, to a moment in history when Christ made a miraculous offer, a pact of salvation for those who were damned for eternity.

Here is a novel that is explosive in its revelation of a secret history. Why do Catholic priests wear pectoral crosses? Why are they sworn to celibacy? Why do the monks hide their countenances under hoods? And why does Catholicism insist that the consecration of wine during Mass results in its transformation to Christ's own blood? The answers to all go back to a secret sect within the Vatican, one whispered as rumor but whose very existence was painted for all to see by Rembrandt himself, a shadowy order known simply as the Sanguines.

In the end, be warned: some books should never be found, never opened--until now.

My Review
I have only read one James Rollins book before but I have read all of Rebecca Cantrell's Hannah Vogel series. It seems to me that their writing collaboration is really working well. This first book in The Order of The Sanguines series is a real page-turner. There is something for everyone in this book; historical fiction, mystery, thriller, archaeological digs, romance, vampires, religion and much more. At first, I was a little taken back by the vampire segments but it really works well with the religious aspect and I soon found myself engrossed and fascinated by the story. The characters are well developed and as you approach the end of the book, you are left with a feeling of wanting to follow them around for a little longer. I will definitely continue with this series and I anxiously await the second installment.

58. City of Screams by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell - 69 pages - ★★★★★ - 4/29/16
Books Read: 58 Pages Read: 21,369
April Books Read: 12 April Pages Read: 4,031

Book Description
From New York Times bestselling author James Rollins and award-winning suspense novelist Rebecca Cantrell comes a disturbing story of vengeance, bloodshed, and creatures that prowl the night.

In the haunted, war-torn highlands of Afghanistan, amid the ruins of Shahr-e-Gholghol, an archaeology team is massacred in the night. Sergeant Jordan Stone and his crack forensic team are called in to examine the site, to hunt for the perpetrators of this horrific act. But the discovery of a survivor--a child of ten--will shatter all the team knows about life and death. Among the crumbling bones of dead kings, something hoary and murderous stirs out of the ancient past, lurching forward to claim vengeance on those still living.

Included with this thrilling story is a sneak peek at The Blood Gospel, where the further exploits of Sergeant Stone and his team will be revealed.

My Review
This is a short story which is a prequel to The Blood Gospel which gives an introduction to the character of Jordon. It does a good job of giving you a taste for the new series and holds your interest until the end where the atmosphere is setup to begin their new assignment for The Blood Gospel. I would recommend this short story to those who are interested in reading The Order of The Sanguines series.

59. Edge of Black by J.T. Ellison - 368 pages - ★★★★ - 4/30/16
Books Read: 59 Pages Read: 21,737
April Books Read: 13 April Pages Read: 4,399

Book Description
Dr. Samantha Owens is starting over: new city, new job, new man, new life. She's trying to put some distance between herself and the devastating loss of her husband and children--but old hurts leave scars.

Before she's even unpacked her office at Georgetown University's forensic pathology department, she's called to consult on a case that's rocked the capital and the country. An unknown pathogen released into the Washington Metro has caused nationwide panic. Three people died--just three.

A miracle and a puzzle...

Amid the media frenzy and Homeland Security alarm bells, Sam painstakingly dissects the lives of those three victims and makes an unsettling conclusion. This is no textbook terrorist causing mayhem with broad strokes, but an artist wielding a much finer, more pointed instrument of destruction. An assassin, whose motive is deeply personal and far from understandable.

Xander Whitfield, a former army ranger and Sam's new boyfriend, knows about seeing the world in shades of gray. About feeling compelled to do the wrong thing for the right reasons. Only his disturbing kinship with a killer can lead Sam to the truth...and once more into the line of fire.

My Review
This is the 2nd book in the Dr. Samantha Owens series. In this book we learn the background of Sam's new boyfriend, Xander Whitfield, and how he helps her to solve the murders of those who died when an unknown pathogen was released on a Washington D.C. metro. The plot was very fast-paced and made for a page turner until the very end. The characters were well developed and I look forward to reading the 3rd in the series very soon. I highly recommend this book to those who like chilling tales with realistic events.

April Totals

Books Read : 13
Pages Read : 4,399

6 - ★★★★
7 - ★★★★★

Favorites: No One Knows, The Bluest Eyes, The Outcast Dead, Entry Island, Smoke and Mirrors, The Blood Gospel, City of Screams

Average: 4.5
Average Number of Pages: 338

60. Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith - 433 pages - ★★★ - 5/4/16
Books Read: 60 Pages Read: 22,170
May Books Read: 1 May Pages Read: 433

Book Description
“Brilliant . . . enough enigmas within enigmas within enigmas to reel the mind.”
–The New Yorker

A triple murder in a Moscow amusement center: three corpses found frozen in the snow, faces and fingers missing. Chief homicide investigator Arkady Renko is brilliant, sensitive, honest, and cynical about everything except his profession. To identify the victims and uncover the truth, he must battle the KGB, FBI, and the New York City police as he pursues a rich, ruthless, and well-connected American fur dealer. Meanwhile, Renko is falling in love with a beautiful, headstrong dissident for whom he may risk everything.

“Once one gets going, one doesn’t want to stop. . . . The action is gritty, the plot complicated, and the overriding quality is intelligence.”
–The Washington Post

“Reminds you just how satisfying a smoothly turned thriller can be.” –The New York Times Book Review

“An unbelievable achievement . . . vivid, witty . . . completely fascinating.”
–Boston Herald American

“Gripping, romantic, and dazzlingly original.”
–Cosmopolitan

My Review
This was a very difficult book to read. It started off very slow with long descriptive passages and not too much dialogue. Not until halfway through did I start to get interested in the story because of the bogged down writing of Martin Cruz Smith. I will give the author another chance because I feel like his books can only get better and I know people who have enjoyed his books. The ending was actually the best part of the story and tied things up pretty good. I do want to read more of Smith's books about Arkady Renko as I find him a rather unique investigator. I would recommend this book to those who would like to learn more about living in Russia during this period of the book.

61. So Much Pretty by Cara Hoffman - 304 pages - ★★★★ - 5/9/16
Books Read: 61 Pages Read: 22,474
May Books Read: 2 May Pages Read: 737

Book Description
'A man can only take so much pretty walking back and forth in front of him.' When nineteen-year-old Wendy White disappears, the small town of Haeden, New York, is shaken to its core. The police are unable to trace the missing waitress; everyone assumes that she has run away. But, six months later, Wendy's tortured body is found in the nearby woods. She has only been dead for a matter of days. With no one willing to talk, the investigation slows to a halt. But local reporter Stacy Flynn and high school student Alice Piper have their own reasons for finding out what really happened. The truth behind Wendy's disappearance has a devastating effect on the town: what was once a rural idyll is now the backdrop to murder, violence and revenge.

My Review
This certainly was a different type of murder mystery. It switches from first person to third person as all the different characters give their points of view on what they heard or saw in regards to what happened to Wendy. After the murder has been explained, the book takes off and becomes a real page turner as the murder of Wendy White is avenged. With themes of violence against woman by men who hate women, the book is not an easy read. It is, however, an excellent debut for Cara Hoffman and I do look forward to reading more from her.

62. Sacred Stones by Clive Cussler - 406 pages - ★★★★.25 stars - 5/16/16
Books Read: 62 Pages Read: 22,880
May Books Read: 3 May Pages Read: 1,143

Book Description
Clive Cussler debuted his new series, The Oregon Files, with the incredible adventure of Golden Buddha. Now he follows that triumph with Sacred Stone, a rollicking new tale featuring the enigmatic captain of The Oregon, Juan Cabrillo.

In the remote wastes of Greenland, an ancient artifact possessing catastrophic radioactive power is unearthed. But the astounding find puts the world at risk.

Caught between two militant factions bent on wholesale slaughter, Juan Cabrillo and his network of spies known as The Corporation must fight to protect the stone-and prevent the outbreak of World War III.

My Review
This is the 2nd book in the Oregon Files and was a very enjoyable read. It is easier to follow the plot and more interesting than the first book, The Golden Buddha. The only problem I had with this book was that some of the incidents seemed a bit unrealistic. Even with this problem, I would have to say that the book still is a great adventure read. The characters are unique and the plot is exciting. I will definitely continue with this series and look forward to reading the next installment.

63. The 6 Sacred Stones by Matthew Reilly - 430 pages - ★★★★★ - 5/18/16
Books Read: 63 Pages Read: 23,310
May Books Read: 4 May Pages Read: 1,573

Book Description
THE END OF THE WORLD IS HERE

Unlocking the secret of the Seven Ancient Wonders was only the beginning...

After their thrilling exploits in Matthew Reilly's rampaging New York Times bestseller, 7 Deadly Wonders, super-soldier Jack West Jr. and his loyal team of adventurers are back, and now they face an all-but-impossible challenge.

A mysterious ceremony in an unknown location has unraveled their work and triggered a catastrophic countdown that will climax in no less than the end of all life on Earth.

But there is one last hope.

If Jack and his team can find and rebuild a legendary ancient device known only as the "Machine," they might be able to ward off the coming armageddon. The only clues to locating this Machine, however, are held within the fabled Six Sacred Stones, long lost in the fog of history.

And so the hunt begins for the Six Sacred Stones and the all-important knowledge they possess, but in the course of this wild adventure Jack and his team will discover that they are not the only ones seeking the Stones and that there might just be other players out there who don't want to see the world saved at all.

From Stonehenge in England to the deserts of Egypt to the spectacular Three Gorges region of China, The 6 Sacred Stones will take you on a nonstop roller-coaster ride through ancient history, modern military hardware, and some of the fastest and most mind-blowing action you will ever read.

My Review
This 2nd book in Matthew Reilly's trilogy has everything: ancient history, heroes, bad guys, clever plot twists, well researched locations, great humor and non-stop action. It's a page-turner that is unputdownable which ends with a major cliffhanger. Can't wait to delve into the next book in order to find out how Jack and his team work towards saving the world.

64. Hidden Depths by Ann Cleeves - 371 pages - ★★★★★ - 5/22/16
Books Read: 64 Pages Read: 23,681
May Books Read: 5 May Pages Read: 1,944

Book Description
A hot summer on the Northumberland coast, and Julie Armstrong arrives home from a night out to find her son murdered. Luke has been strangled, laid out in a bath of water and covered with wild flowers.

This stylized murder scene has Inspector Vera Stanhope and her team intrigued. But then a second body - that of beautiful young teacher Lily Marsh - is discovered laid out in a rock pool, the water strewn with flowers. Now Vera must work quickly to find this dramatist, this killer who is making art out of death.

Clues are slow to emerge from those who had known Luke and Lily, but Vera soon finds herself drawn towards the curious group of friends who discovered Lily's body. What unites these four men and one woman? Are they really the close-knit, trustworthy unit they claim to be?

As local residents are forced to share their private lives and those of their loved ones, sinister secrets are slowly unearthed. And all the while the killer remains in their midst, waiting for an opportunity to prepare another beautiful, watery grave . . .

'"Hidden Depths" is another classic, traditional crime novel in a contemporary setting by Ann Cleeves, winner of last year's Duncan Lawrie Dagger... The story follows each of the main characters in turn, but it is fat, lonely Vera, awkward with her staff and unaware that they are frightened of her, who makes the biggest impression in this skilfully crafted mystery' "Sunday Telegraph "

'Ann Cleeves improves with every book. Her previous novel, Raven Black, was a deserved winner of the prestigious Duncan Lawrie Dagger for best crime novel of 2006... Hidden Depths is a subtle, nuanced book and Cleeves draws her characters with care and compassion. The landscape of rural Northumberland is vividly evoked and Inspector Stanhope - overweight, fallible and driven by personal demons - is a terrific central character' "Tribune "

My Review
Another great book by Ann Cleeves. Her books are hard to figure out who has done the murder until the very end. The characters are well-developed and the plots are very tricky to solve. Everyone ends up being on the suspect list and one by one they are eliminated until the murderer is fully exposed in the last chapter. This is the 3rd book in the Vera Stanhope series and my favorite so far. I look forward to reading the next in the series very soon.

65. The 5 Greatest Warriors by Matthew Reilly - 381 pages - ★★★★★
Books Read: 65 Pages Read: 24,062
May Books Read: 6 May Pages Read: 2,325

Book Description
IT BEGAN WITH SIX STONES . . .
From the deserts of Israel to the tsunami-lashed coasts of Japan, from the steppes of Mongolia to the most mysterious island on Earth—this is what we have come to expect from Matthew Reilly: stupendous action, white-knuckle suspense, heroes to cheer for, and an adventure beyond imagination. Strap yourself in and hold on tight as he unleashes his biggest and fastest adventure yet, The 5 Greatest Warriors.

When we last left Jack West Jr., he was plummeting into a fathomless abyss and his quest to save the world from impending Armageddon appeared doomed.

But all hope is not lost.

After an astonishing escape, Jack regroups with his trusty team. Racing to rebuild the final pieces of the fabled “Machine,” they discover an ancient inscription containing a rhyme about five mysterious unnamed warriors—great historical figures whose knowledge will be vital to unlocking the secrets of the Machine and its long-lost “pillars.” But the ancients have hidden their secrets well, and with each pillar bestowing an incredible power upon its holder, their pursuit has attracted the attention of other forces from around the world—some who want to rule it and others who want to see it destroyed.

With enemies coming at him from every side and the countdown to doomsday rapidly approaching, Jack and his team had better move fast. Because they are about to find out what the end of the world looks like . . .

My Review
The challenge continues in this book where the last book ended with a major cliffhanger. In my opinion, this is the best book in the trilogy as it is non-stop action and the ending ties everything up nicely. Some characters are true heroes but the ones that are bad are really evil which makes the book hard to put down and very exciting. Some happenings are totally unbelievable but you have suspend your belief and just enjoy the ride. I now look forward to reading more books by Reilly. I recommend this trilogy to those who love adventure tales.

66. Innocent Blood by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell - 437 pages - ★★★★★- 5/31/16
Books Read: 66 Pages Read: 24,499
May Books Read: 7 May Pages Read: 2,762

Book Description
New York Times bestselling authors James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell combine their talents in a gothic tale about an ancient order and the hunt for a miraculous book known only as . . . The Blood Gospel.

An earthquake in Masada, Israel, kills hundreds and reveals a tomb buried in the heart of the mountain. A trio of investigators--Sergeant Jordan Stone, a military forensic expert; Father Rhun Korza, a Vatican priest; and Dr. Erin Granger, a brilliant but disillusioned archaeologist--are sent to explore the macabre discovery, a subterranean temple holding the crucified body of a mummified girl.

But a brutal attack at the site sets the three on the run, thrusting them into a race to recover what was once preserved in the tomb's sarcophagus: a book rumored to have been written by Christ's own hand, a tome that is said to hold the secrets to His divinity. The enemy who hounds them is like no other, a force of ancient evil directed by a leader of impossible ambitions and incalculable cunning.

From crumbling tombs to splendorous churches, Erin and her two companions must confront a past that traces back thousands of years, to a time when ungodly beasts hunted the dark spaces of the world, to a moment in history when Christ made a miraculous offer, a pact of salvation for those who were damned for eternity.

Here is a novel that is explosive in its revelation of a secret history. Why do Catholic priests wear pectoral crosses? Why are they sworn to celibacy? Why do the monks hide their countenances under hoods? And why does Catholicism insist that the consecration of wine during Mass results in its transformation to Christ's own blood? The answers to all go back to a secret sect within the Vatican, one whispered as rumor but whose very existence was painted for all to see by Rembrandt himself, a shadowy order known simply as the Sanguines.

In the end, be warned: some books should never be found, never opened--until now.

My Review
This is the 2nd book in The Order of the Sanguines Series. First I want to say that this series needs to be read in order. I'm not usually a fan of vampire books but this is different in the sense that it has to do with the Catholic belief that consecrated wine is transformed into Christ's own blood. Since a lot of the Catholic beliefs are based on faith it was really easy to transfer that faith to a book of this type. I loved the Biblical and Historical references which also made for a very exciting plot. The characters were very well drawn and very believable too. I have read other books by these talented authors and their combined effort in this series makes for very creative writing. Can't wait to start the 3rd book and get back to the adventures of Erin Granger, Jordan Stone and the Sanguines.

67. Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta - 388 pages - 5 stars - 5/30/16
Books Read: 67 Pages Read:
May Books Read: 8 May Pages Read:

Book Description
The newest thriller from Michael Koryta, New York Times bestselling author

When fourteen-year-old Jace Wilson witnesses a brutal murder, he's plunged into a new life, issued a false identity and hidden in a wilderness skills program for troubled teens. The plan is to get Jace off the grid while police find the two killers. The result is the start of a nightmare.

The killers, known as the Blackwell Brothers, are slaughtering anyone who gets in their way in a methodical quest to reach him. Now all that remains between them and the boy are Ethan and Allison Serbin, who run the wilderness survival program; Hannah Faber, who occupies a lonely fire lookout tower; and endless miles of desolate Montana mountains.

The clock is ticking, the mountains are burning, and those who wish Jace Wilson dead are no longer far behind.

My Review
This was my 2nd Michael Koryta book and I loved them both. It was very interesting learning about forest fires and how to survive hiking in the forest and mountains. It had great characters and plot! The Blackwell brothers will definitely win my vote for the worst killers that I have read during the month of May.

May Totals

Books Read : 8
Pages Read : 2,762

1 - ★★★
1 - ★★★★
1- ★★★★.25
5 - ★★★★★

Favorites: The 6 Sacred Stones, Hidden Depths, The 5 Greatest Warriors, Innocent Blood, Those Who Wish Me Dead

Average: 4.5
Average Number of Pages: 394

68. Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben - 400 pages - ★★★★★ - 6/5/16
Books Read: 67 Pages Read: 24,899
June Books Read: 1 June Pages Read: 400

Book Description
#1 New York Times bestseller Harlan Coben delivers his next impossible-to-put-down thriller.

You think you know the truth. The truth is you know nothing.

In the course of eight consecutive #1 New York Times bestsellers, millions of readers have discovered Harlan Coben's page-turning thrillers, filled with his trademark edge-of-your-seat suspense and gut-wrenching emotion. In Fool Me Once, Coben once again outdoes himself.

Former special ops pilot Maya, home from the war, sees an unthinkable image captured by her nanny cam while she is at work: her two-year-old daughter playing with Maya's husband, Joe--who was brutally murdered two weeks earlier. The provocative question at the heart of the mystery: Can you believe everything you see with your own eyes, even when you desperately want to? To find the answer, Maya must finally come to terms with deep secrets and deceit in her own past before she can face the unbelievable truth about her husband--and herself.

My Review
I love when a new Coben book comes out and this one did not disappoint. The plot kept me glued until the last pages as I had to find out what was happening and who killed Maya's husband, Joe. Coben's excellent writing forces you to hate these characters and there are some nasty ones. The twists and turns keep coming as Coben shows you that you have no clue what is going on. In the end, you finally realize that all the clues were there and you just failed to put them together. I am now looking forward to the new Myron book which is soon to be released and getting back on that roller coaster which Coben allows us to ride each time we read one of his novels.

69. Only Time Will Tell by Jeffrey Archer - 386 pages - ★★★★★ - 6/9/16
Books Read: 68 Pages Read: 25,285
June Books Read: 2 June Pages Read: 786

Book Description
From the popular author of Kane and Abel and A Prisoner of Birth comes the story of one family across generations, across oceans, from heartbreak to triumph.

The epic tale of Harry Clifton's life begins in 1920, with the words, "I was told that my father was killed in the war." A dock worker in Bristol, Harry never knew his father, but he learns about life on the docks from his uncle who expects Harry to join him at the shipyard once he's left school. But then his unexpected gift wins him a scholarship to an exclusive boys' school, and his life will never be the same again.

As he enters into adulthood, Harry finally learns how his father really died, but the awful truth only leads him to question who was his father? Is he the son of Arthur Clifton, a stevedore who spent his whole life on the docks, or the first-born son of a scion of West Country society, whose family owns a shipping line?

This introductory novel in The Clifton Chronicles includes a cast of colorful characters and takes us from the ravages of the Great War to the outbreak of the Second World War, when Harry must decide whether to take up a place at Oxford or join the navy and go to war with Hitler's Germany. From the docks of working-class England to the bustling streets of 1940 New York City, Only TimeWill Tell takes readers on a journey through to future volumes, which will bring to life one hundred years of recent history to reveal a family story that neither the reader nor Harry Clifton himself could ever have imagined.

My Review
I love family sagas and this one by Jeffrey Archer does not disappoint. His writing is excellent and keeps you interested right up to the last page where a cliffhanger awaits and makes you want to pick up the next book immediately in order to find out what happens next. The cast of characters are very believable and a varied bunch; some are rich, some are poor, some are nice, some are evil, some you love and some you hate. The main characters have chapters dedicated to their side of the story and by the end of the book, we know all about them and what's going on in their life. This is one series that I definitely will read one book after another as it engrosses you and won't let you go. If you haven't started it yet, you don't know what you're missing but if you do, you won't regret it.

69. The Ghost Fields by Elly Griffiths - 384 pages - ***** - 6/13/16
Books Read: 69 Pages Read: 25,669
June Books Read: 3 Junes Pages Read: 1170

Book Description
The chilling discovery of a downed World War II plane with a body inside leads Ruth and DCI Nelson to uncover a wealthy family’s secrets in the seventh Ruth Galloway mystery.

Norfolk is suffering from record summer heat when a construction crew unearths a macabre discovery—a downed World War II plane with the pilot still inside. Forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway quickly realizes that the skeleton couldn’t possibly be the pilot, and DNA tests identify the man as Fred Blackstock, a local aristocrat who had been reported dead at sea. When the remaining members of the Blackstock family learn about the discovery, they seem strangely frightened by the news.

Events are further complicated by a TV company that wants to make a film about Norfolk’s deserted air force bases, the so-called Ghost Fields, which have been partially converted into a pig farm run by one of the younger Blackstocks. As production begins, Ruth notices a mysterious man lurking on the outskirts of Fred Blackstock’s memorial service. Then human bones are found on the family’s pig farm. Can the team outrace a looming flood to find a killer?

Laced with dry humor and anchored by perennial fan favorite Ruth, The Ghost Fields will delight fans new and old.

My Review
This is the 7th installment of Ruth Galloway mystery series and did not disappoint. Elly Griffiths can tell a good story with a great plot and excellent well-developed characters. Always entertaining, her novels keep you hooked until the end. This one also had interesting historical information about WWII in Norfolk. I love following the relationship between Nelson and Ruth and I eagerly look forward to each new book by Griffith and recommend her highly.

70. Library of the Dead by Glenn Cooper - 410 pages - ***** - 6/14/16
Books Read: 70 Pages Read: 26,079
June Books Read: 4 June Pages Read: 1,580

I enjoyed this historical thriller from Glenn Cooper. I loved his voice and humor and found it to be a very clever story and an excellent debut. The characters are fascinating and the plot held my interest until the last page. I love how he tied the past into the present and switched back and forth in time effortlessly. I now look forward to reading the next book in the series. I would highly recommend this series to those who enjoy historical mysteries.

72. The Sins of the Father by Jeffrey Archer - 339 pages - ***** - 6/17/16
Books Read: 71 Pages Read: 26,418
June Books Read: 5 June Pages Read: 1,919

Book Description
It is only days before Britain declares war on Germany. Harry Clifton, hoping to escape the consequences of a family scandal, and realizing he can never marry Emma Barrington, has joined the Merchant Navy. When a German U-boat sinks his ship, Harry and a handful of sailors are rescued by the SS Kansas Star, among them an American named Tom Bradshaw. That night, when Bradshaw dies, Harry seizes a chance to bury his past―by assuming the man's identity.

My Review
This is the 2nd book in the Clifton Chronicles series and in order to understand the story and know the characters it is best to read this series in order. This book was just as good as the first and kept me reading until the last page where once again it ended with a cliff-hanger. As I already own the 3rd book, I was eager to read the prologue in order to see the results of the cliff-hanger. Jeffrey Archer has a wonderful way with words and the lives of the Barringtons and Harry Clifton is all consuming while reading one of his books. I will continue with the next books in the series and hope and pray that Jeffrey Archer keeps writing and I won't have to wait a whole year for one of his cliff-hangers. If you haven't started this series, you should, as you will not be disappointed.

>72 EadieB: You're are on quite a roll of great reads!

>73 Andrew-theQM:
It's easy when you find a great series to read back to back!

73. Best Kept Secret by Jeffrey Archer - 373 pages - ***** - 6/21/17
Books Read: 72 Pages Read: 26,791
June Books Read: 6 June Pages Read: 2,292

Book Description
International bestselling author Jeffrey Archer's mesmerizing saga of the Clifton and Barrington families continues.

London, 1945. Who shall inherit the Barrington family fortune? The vote in the House of Lords has ended in a tie. The Lord Chancellor's deciding vote will cast a long shadow on the lives of Harry Clifton and Giles Barrington. Harry returns to America to promote his latest novel while Emma goes in search of the little girl who was found abandoned in her father's office on the night he was killed. When the general election is called, Giles Barrington has to defend his seat in the House of Commons and is horrified to discover who the Conservatives select to stand against him. But it is Sebastian Clifton, Harry and Emma's son, who ultimately influences his uncle's fate.

"One of the top ten storytellers in the world." Los Angeles Times

In 1957, Sebastian wins a scholarship to Cambridge, and a new generation of the Clifton family marches onto the page. But after Sebastian is expelled from school, he unwittingly becomes caught up in an international art fraud involving a Rodin statue that is worth far more than the sum it raises at auction. Does he become a millionaire? Does he go to Cambridge? Is his life in danger? Best Kept Secret, the third volume in Archer's bestselling series, will answer all these questions but, once again, pose so many more...

"A PAGE-TURNING, HEART-STOPPING SAGA."
Publishers Weekly on Sins of the Father

My Review
This 3rd book in the Clifton Chronicles picks up where the 2nd one left off with a major cliffhanger. It's finally decided who will inherit the Barrington fortune and the family saga continues. Giles Barrington runs for his next term in office and comes up against roadblocks. He needs to deal again with ex-wife, Lady Victoria, and Alex Fisher, two evil people from his past. Harry and Emma locate Jessica and they are raising her as their own. Sebastian's character is expanded upon and a major cliffhanger is once more waiting for us at the end of this book. The story moves quickly and is a real page turner. If you haven't started this series, now is a good time since book 1 thru 5 is readily available and you won't have to wait a whole year to find out what happens after each major cliffhanger. Jeffrey Archer is truly a great storyteller and I look forward to reading more from this series.

74. Blood Infernal by James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell - 561 pages - ***** - 6/22/16
Books Read: 73 Pages Read: 27,352
June Books Read: 7 June Pages Read: 2,853

Book Description
In a masterpiece of supernatural mystery and apocalyptic prophecy, New York Times bestselling authors James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell bring to a thunderous conclusion their epic trilogy of novels set between the worlds of shadow and light, between salvation and damnation, where the very gates of Hell must be shattered to discover the true fate of humankind in...

Blood Infernal

As an escalating scourge of grisly murders sweeps the globe, archaeologist Erin Granger must decipher the truth behind an immortal prophecy foretold in the Blood Gospel, a tome written by Christ and lost for centuries: The shackles of Lucifer have been loosened, and his Chalice remains lost. It will take the light of all three to forge the Chalice anew and banish him again to his eternal darkness. With the Apocalypse looming, Erin must again join forces with Army Sergeant Jordan Stone and Father Rhun Korza to search for a treasure lost for millennia. But the prize has already fallen into the hands of their enemy, a demon named Legion, before whom even the walls of the Vatican will fall.

The search for the key to salvation will take Erin and the others across centuries and around the world, from the dusty shelves of the Vatican's secret archives to lost medieval laboratories, where ancient alchemies were employed to horrific ends. All the while, they are hunted, besieged by creatures of uncanny skill and talent. As clues are dug free from ancient underground chapels and found frozen in icy mountain caverns, Erin will discover that the only hope for victory lies in an impossible act--one that will destroy not only her, but all she loves. To protect the world, Erin must walk through the very gates of Hell and face the darkest of enemies: Lucifer himself.

With The Blood Gospel, the first novel in the Order of the Sanguines series, James Rollins and Rebecca Cantrell combined science, myth, and religion to introduce a breathtaking world where miracles hold new meaning and the fight for good over evil is far more complicated than we ever dreamed. And now, in this epic conclusion to the Sanguines trilogy, Blood Infernal, they take us to the very pit of Hell itself, making us peer into the abyss and face our greatest fears, to answer the ultimate question: What price will we pay for true salvation?

My Review
This is a fantastic trilogy written by two very talented authors. Their combined effort proves to be a success as their great writing allows for your imagination to see and feel what the characters are going through. The plot is very creative and the characters are well-developed. It is filled with lots of action involving mystery, history, science and Biblical references. With this battle between good and evil, the reader must suspend belief in a few areas and just enjoy the ride. I now look forward to reading more from these authors and I highly recommend this trilogy to those who enjoy a story of epic proportions.

75. The Templar Legacy by Steve Berry - 516 pages - ***** - 6/29/16
Books Read - 74 Pages Read - 27,868
June Books Read - 8 June Pages Read - 3,369

Book Description
The ancient order of the Knights Templar possessed untold wealth and absolute power over kings and popes . . . until the Inquisition, when they were wiped from the face of the earth, their hidden riches lost. But now two forces vying for the treasure have learned that it is not at all what they thought it was–and its true nature could change the modern world.

Cotton Malone, one-time top operative for the U.S. Justice Department, is enjoying his quiet new life as an antiquarian book dealer in Copenhagen when an unexpected call to action reawakens his hair-trigger instincts–and plunges him back into the cloak-and-dagger world he thought he’d left behind.

It begins with a violent robbery attempt on Cotton’s former supervisor, Stephanie Nelle, who’s far from home on a mission that has nothing to do with national security. Armed with vital clues to a series of centuries-old puzzles scattered across Europe, she means to crack a mystery that has tantalized scholars and fortune-hunters through the ages by finding the legendary cache of wealth and forbidden knowledge thought to have been lost forever when the order of the Knights Templar was exterminated in the fourteenth century. But she’s not alone. Competing for the historic prize–and desperate for the crucial information Stephanie possesses–is Raymond de Roquefort, a shadowy zealot with an army of assassins at his command.

Welcome or not, Cotton seeks to even the odds in the perilous race. But the more he learns about the ancient conspiracy surrounding the Knights Templar, the more he realizes that even more than lives are at stake. At the end of a lethal game of conquest, rife with intrigue, treachery, and craven lust for power, lies a shattering discovery that could rock the civilized world–and, in the wrong hands, bring it to its knees.

My Review
This was the first installment of the Cotton Malone series. I enjoyed Steve Berry's writing and found the character of Malone to be a very likable and believable character. The plot of finding the Templar treasure made for a very adventurous tale. I learned a lot about the history of the Templars, the Rennes-le-Chateau, Avignon and Pyrenees areas of France which was very fascinating. The religious aspects regarding the crucifixion of Christ challenges a Christian belief so an open mind is necessary. All in all, the book is a real page-turner which leaves you with a feeling of wanting to know more about these various subjects. I anxiously look forward to reading another of Steve Berry's historical novels and highly recommend them to anyone who loves history.

76. Be Careful What You Wish For by Jeffrey Archer - 387 pages - ***** - 6/30/16
Books Read - 75 Pages Read - 28,255
June Books Read - 9 Junes Pages Read - 3,756

Book Description
Bestselling author Jeffrey Archer's Be Careful What You Wish For opens with Harry Clifton and his wife Emma rushing to hospital to learn the fate of their son Sebastian, who has been involved in a fatal car accident. But who died, Sebastian or his best friend Bruno?

When Ross Buchanan is forced to resign as chairman of the Barrington Shipping Company, Emma Clifton wants to replace him. But Don Pedro Martinez intends to install his puppet, the egregious Major Alex Fisher, in order to destroy the Barrington family firm just as the company plans to build its new luxury liner, the MV Buckingham.

Back in London, Harry and Emma's adopted daughter wins a scholarship to the Slade Academy of Art where she falls in love with a fellow student, Clive Bingham, who asks her to marry him. Both families are delighted until Priscilla Bingham, Jessica's future mother-in-law, has a visit from an old friend, Lady Virginia Fenwick, who drops her particular brand of poison into the wedding chalice.

Then, without warning, Cedric Hardcastle, a bluff Yorkshireman who no one has come across before, takes his place on the board of Barringtons. This causes an upheaval that none of them could have anticipated, and will change the lives of every member of the Clifton and Barrington families. Hardcastle's first decision is who to support to become the next chairman of the board: Emma Clifton or Major Alex Fisher? And with that decision, the story takes yet another twist that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

Be Careful What You Wish For showcases the master storyteller's talent as never before when the Clifton and Barrington families march forward into the sixties, in this epic tale of love, revenge, ambition and betrayal.

My Review
This is the 4th installment in the Clifton Chronicles and the story just gets better and better and so do the cliffhangers that send you spiraling into the next book just to see what happens next. The timeline in the book is the 60's and planes are becoming the preferred mode of travel. The Barrington's have just completed their new luxury liner and their enemies are thwarting their every move. The twists and turns in Archer's novel keep you turning the pages and before you know it the novel ends and you're still wanting more. I highly recommend these books to those who love family sagas and I look forward to starting book 5 as soon as possible.

June Totals

Books Read : 9
Pages Read : 3,756

9 - ★★★★★

Favorites: All of the above for June

Average: 5.0
Average Number of Pages: 417

That's a good month - every book 5 stars!

>79 Andrew-theQM:
It was a great month!

77. Mightier Than The Sword Book 5 Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer - 400 pages - ***** - 7/3/16
Books Read - 76 Pages Read - 28,655
July Books Read - 1 July Pages Read - 400

Book Description
With more than 2 million copies in print, the Clifton Chronicles has taken #1 worldwide bestselling author Jeffrey Archer to a whole new level. And the saga continues. . .

Bestselling novelist Harry Clifton's on a mission to free a fellow author who's imprisoned in Siberia-even if doing so puts Harry's own life, and life's work, in danger. Meanwhile, his wife Emma, chairman of Barrington Shipping, is facing the repercussions of an IRA bombing on the Buckingham. Some board members feel she should resign. Others will stop at nothing to ensure the Clifton family's fall from grace. In London, Harry and Emma's son, Sebastian, is quickly making a name for himself at Farthing's Bank. He's also just proposed to a beautiful young American, Samantha. But the despicable Adrian Sloane is only interested in one thing: Sebastian's ruin.

"BEGINS WITH A BANG...ENDS WITH A turbo-charged cliffhanger."-Kirkus Reviews

Sir Giles Barrington, now a minister of the Crown, looks set for even higher office-until a diplomatic failure in Berlin threatens his prospects. Once again it appears that Giles's political career is thrown off balance by none other than his old adversary, Major Alex Fisher. But who will win the election this time? And at what cost?

"ARCHER PLOTS WITH SKILL, AND keeps you turning the pages." -The Boston Globe

My Review
Another excellent read of book 5 of the Clifton Chronicles by Jeffrey Archer. This book was no different from the others as they are all page turners. Another excellent cliffhanger which I now have to wait two days or more to get the next book from the library. After book 6 which I know will have another cliffhanger, I will have to wait until November to find out how it turns out. Don't know how I'm going to wait that long. One saving grace is that I do have lots of good books waiting in the wings. If you haven't started this series yet, what are you waiting for! Come on board and enjoy all the cliffhanging with me!

>81 EadieB: I know, need to know how the series ends! Some poignant moments in book 6.

>82 Andrew-theQM:
Hope it doesn't end soon. I am really enjoying this series. Maybe the dates will go up to the present time and he will continue. Hopefully!

>83 EadieB: I'd read somewhere that the book to be published in November will be the last. :(

>84 Andrew-theQM:
No! Don't tell me that. I will have to contact him somehow and tell him he can't do that to us. He is on FB, so I will send him a message.

>85 EadieB: Will be interested to see what he says back.

>86 Andrew-theQM:
I'll let you know because I am about to write to him. Here's what I wrote to him:

I have just started your Clifton Chronicles and have read 5 of them this month. I love your cliffhangers! They make me want to read the next book immediately and then I can't put the book down and that's how I've read 5 in a row. Hope you can keep going with this series right up to the present day. Don't tell me you are going to end this series soon as I won't be able to handle that. You are an excellent writer and you need to keep writing some more Clifton Chronicles!

>87 EadieB: Lol! I've loved his writing ever since Kane and Abel.

>88 Andrew-theQM:
He has video on his FB and he said the books are running thru a century.

>89 EadieB: Fingers crossed then.

78. Dark Watch by Clive Cussler with Jack Du Brul - 357 pages ****1/2 - 7/14/16
Books Read: 77 Pages Read: 29,012
July Books Read: 2 July Pages Read: 757

Book Description
Juan Cabrillo and his crew aboard the spy ship Oregon have made a very comfortable and dangerous living from working for high-powered Western interests. But their newest clients are a consortium of Japanese shipping magnates, whose fortunes are being threatened by brutal pirates trolling the waters of Southeast Asia. When the Oregon confronts the enemy, Cabrillo learns that the pirates' predations hide a deadly international conspiracy.

My Review
This was the 3rd book in The Oregon Chronicles. I liked the writing of both Clive Cussler and Jack DuBrul which provided for an action-packed read. The character development and all the different plots added much to the reading of the book. I look forward to reading the 4th book of the series and highly recommend this book to those whose love action-packed adventure books.

79. Memory Man by David Baldacci - 422 page - **** - 7/19/16
Books Read: 78 Pages Read: 29,434
July Books Read: 3 July Pages Read: 1,179

Book Description
Amos Decker's life changed forever--twice.

The first time was on the gridiron. A big, towering athlete, he was the only person from his hometown of Burlington ever to go pro. But his career ended before it had a chance to begin. On his very first play, a violent helmet-to-helmet collision knocked him off the field for good, and left him with an improbable side effect--he can never forget anything.

The second time was at home nearly two decades later. Now a police detective, Decker returned from a stakeout one evening and entered a nightmare--his wife, young daughter, and brother-in-law had been murdered.

His family destroyed, their killer's identity as mysterious as the motive behind the crime, and unable to forget a single detail from that horrible night, Decker finds his world collapsing around him. He leaves the police force, loses his home, and winds up on the street, taking piecemeal jobs as a private investigator when he can.

But over a year later, a man turns himself in to the police and confesses to the murders. At the same time a horrific event nearly brings Burlington to its knees, and Decker is called back in to help with this investigation. Decker also seizes his chance to learn what really happened to his family that night. To uncover the stunning truth, he must use his remarkable gifts and confront the burdens that go along with them. He must endure the memories he would much rather forget. And he may have to make the ultimate sacrifice.

MEMORY MAN will stay with you long after the turn of the final page.

My Review
This is the first book in the Amos Decker series. It is a tale of redemption and revenge with a shocking beginning. An exciting plot with well-drawn characters lead to a satisfying climax. I found the main character of Amos Decker to be rather unique and interesting. This book held my interest until the very end. I look forward to reading the next in the series. If you enjoy Baldacci's writing, I'm sure you'll enjoy this new series featuring Amos Decker.

>92 EadieB: I think I gave this the same score.

>93 Andrew-theQM:
It seemed to dragged in some places.

>94 EadieB: Exactly my thoughts. Longer than it needed to be.

80. Silent Voices by Ann Cleeves- 320 pages - 5 stars - 7/22/16
Books Read: 80 Pages Read: 30,142
July Books Read: 4 July Pages Read: 1,499

Book Description
Ann Cleeves has thrilled readers everywhere with her critically acclaimed mystery series set in the Shetland Islands, which began with the award-winning Raven Black. Now, Cleeves is back with another compelling mystery series (set in Northumberland, England). This one features detective Vera Stanhope, the lead character played by Brenda Blethyn on the hit television series "Vera." Destined for the same kind of fame achieved by Colin Dexter's Inspector Morse, the show is a favorite of millions of viewers in the U.K. and is available here on Netflix, PBS, and Amazon.

My Review
This was the 4th book in the Vera Stanhope series and the first book written for the TV series. The characters were well-developed and we got more insight into Vera and Joe's thought process in solving the mystery. The plot was less convoluted and flowed to an ending that was full of surprises. As in all of Ann Cleeves books she holds her cards close to her vest and does not give much away until the very end. I look forward to reading the next book in the series in August and would highly recommend this book to those who love great mystery with lots of twists.

81. Nine Lives by Tom Barber - 382 pages - 5 stars - 7/23/16
Books Read: 81 Pages Read: 30,524
July Books Read: 5 July Pages Read: 1,781

Book Description
It’s New Year’s Eve. A major terrorist cell is planning a series of attacks across London over the next forty-eight hours. The government has surveillance on the group, a man undercover, and prepare to move in, to take out the terrorists before they can strike. But they lose contact with their inside man. And the cell vanishes into thin air, dispersing into the streets, armed and intent on completing their assault on London. The best Counter-Terrorist teams in the country are told to take them down before it's too late.

Nine terrorists. Nine lives.

The Armed Response Unit is one of these teams. Efficient and ruthless, the task force is ordered to locate the leader of the cell. As they hunt him down, they begin to realise that this is far bigger than any of them could ever have imagined. Bombings, rocket attacks, betrayal and a series of unexpected and shocking twists leave the ARU fighting to stay alive.

There's Archer, the youngest member of the team, keen to prove himself and justify his spot on the task force. His best friend, Chalky, who is forced to fight both the terrorists and his own demons. Porter, Deakins and Fox, tough and experienced men who’ve never dealt with anything of this magnitude. And Mac, their sergeant, who must make the quickest of decisions and lead his men against the invisible enemy.

As events unfold, other people are drawn into the danger. The Prime Minister, desperately trying to find a solution and protect the capital. A mysterious female Mossad agent, who appears out of nowhere and joins the fight against the cell. Two Special Agents from the DEA, one of whom was a member of the SEAL team that stormed Osama Bin Laden’s compound and who for some reason is struggling with the memory. And the vicious, powerful leader of a Middle Eastern drug cartel, who operates in the shadows and is somehow connected to the terrorists.

With crowds all over London celebrating the New Year, and with nine terrorists somewhere amongst them, the Armed Response Unit is faced with the most dangerous night of their lives. As the savage, shocking plans of the enemy are fully revealed, the ARU officers are faced with the ultimate question.
How many times can a man cheat Death before Death evens the score?

My Review
This was a great action-packed debut novel and a real unputdownable page-turner until the very end. The characters were well-drawn and the plot was excellent. I look forward to reading the next book and I recommend The Sam Archer series to those who love action-packed thrillers!

82. Cometh The Hour by Jeffrey Archer - 404 pages - 5 stars - 7/24/16
Books Read: 82 Pages Read: 30,928
July Books Read: 6 July Pages Read: 2,185

Book Description
Cometh the Hour opens with the reading of a suicide note, which has devastating consequences for Harry and Emma Clifton, Giles Barrington and Lady Virginia.

Giles must decide if he should withdraw from politics and try to rescue Karin, the woman he loves, from behind the Iron Curtain. But is Karin truly in love with him, or is she a spy?

Lady Virginia is facing bankruptcy, and can see no way out of her financial problems, until she is introduced to the hapless Cyrus T. Grant III from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who's in England to see his horse run at Royal Ascot.

Sebastian Clifton is now the Chief Executive of Farthings Bank and a workaholic, whose personal life is thrown into disarray when he falls for Priya, a beautiful Indian girl. But her parents have already chosen the man she is going to marry. Meanwhile, Sebastian's rivals Adrian Sloane and Desmond Mellor are still plotting to bring him and his chairman Hakim Bishara down, so they can take over Farthings.

Harry Clifton remains determined to get Anatoly Babakov released from a gulag in Siberia, following the international success of his acclaimed book, Uncle Joe. But then something unexpected happens that none of them could have anticipated.

Cometh the Hour is the penultimate book in the Clifton Chronicles and, like the five previous novels - all of which hit the New York Times bestseller list - showcases Jeffrey Archer's extraordinary storytelling with his trademark twists.

My Review
This is the 6th book of The Clifton Chronicles and once more a very enjoyable read. This book follows the Cliftons and the Barringtons, throughout the 1970's and once again ends with another cliffhanger. What I like about Archer's books is that his writing is so easy and interesting that you can breeze through the book in one day. I love the fact that at the end of the book all the baddies seem to get their comeuppance. I look forward to reading the 7th and last book in the series. I will surely miss these books but will be checking out some of his past books. I would highly recommend this series to those who love family sagas.

83. Runaway by Peter May - 327 pages - ***** - 7/31/16
Books Read: 83 Pages Read: 31,255
July Books Read: 7 July Pages Read: 2,512

Book Description
"Five of us had run away that fateful night just over a month before. Only three of us would be going home. And nothing, nothing would ever be the same again."

Glasgow, 1965. Headstrong teenager Jack Mackay cannot allow for even the possibility of a life of predictability and routine. The seventeen-year-old has just one destination on his mind--London--and successfully convinces his four friends, and fellow bandmates, to join him in abandoning their homes to pursue a goal of musical stardom.

Glasgow, 2015. Jack Mackay dares not look back on a life of failure and mediocrity. The heavy-hearted sixty-seven-year-old is still haunted by what might have been. His recollections of the terrible events that befell him and his friends some fifty years earlier, and how he did not act when it mattered most is a memory he has tried to escape his entire adult life.

London, 2015. A man lies dead in a one-room flat. His killer looks on, remorseless. What started with five teenagers following a dream five decades before has been transformed over the intervening decades into a waking nightmare that might just consume them all.

Runaway is a tense crime thriller spanning a half-century of friendships solidified and severed, dreams shared and shattered, passions ignited and extinguished, all set against the backdrop of two unique cities at two unique and transformational periods of recent history.

My Review
Peter May is one of my favorite writers. He is always able to tell a great story. I found this book to be a very adventurous read. The characters were believable as they told their story about their runaway trip to London in the 60's fifty years ago. The plot of solving a murder that happened in the 60's and traveling together once again made for a real page-turner. Add in a little history of Glasgow and London in the 60's and present day differences and you have a very worthwhile read. I would recommend this book to those who love a book with lots of twists and turns.

84. Hour Game by David Baldacci - 448 pages - **** - 7/31/16
Books Read: 84 Pages Read: 31,703
July Books Read: 8 July Pages Read: 2,960

Book Description
A woman is found murdered in the woods. It seems like a simple case but it soon escalates into a terrible nightmare. Someone is replicating the killing styles of the most infamous murderers of all time. No one knows this criminal's motives...or who will die next.

Two ex-Secret Service agents, Sean King and Michelle Maxwell, have been hired to defend a man's innocence in a burglary involving an aristocratic family. Then a series of secrets leads the partners right into the frantic hunt that is confounding even the FBI. Now King and Maxwell are playing the Hour Game, uncovering one horrifying revelation after another and putting their lives in danger. For the closer they get to the truth, the closer they get to the most shocking surprise of all.

My Review
This is the 2nd book in the King and Maxwell series. It was a very interesting read and kept me turning the pages. The book could have been shorter as there were entirely too many characters and the plot had subplots. Each chapter brought more questions without any clues or answers. I do have to admit that Baldacci is very good at keeping us guessing and the killer was quite surprising and unexpected. I now look forward to reading the next in the series as I do enjoy the partnership of King and Maxwell. I would recommend this book to those who like twists and turns and mysteries that are hard to solve.

85. Among The Wicked by Linda Castillo - 306 pages - ***** - 8/3/16
Books Read: 85 Pages Read: 32,009
August Books Read: 1 August Pages Read: 306

Book Description
Chief of Police Kate Burkholder is called upon by the sheriff's department in rural, upstate New York to assist on a developing situation that involves a reclusive Amish settlement and the death of a young girl. Unable to penetrate the wall of silence between the Amish and "English" communities, the sheriff asks Kate to travel to New York, pose as an Amish woman, and infiltrate the community.

Kate's long time love interest, State Agent John Tomasetti, is dead set against her taking on such an unorthodox assignment, knowing she'll have limited communication - and even less in the way of backup. But Kate can't turn her back, especially when the rumor mill boils with disturbing accounts of children in danger. She travels to New York where she's briefed and assumes her new identity as a lone widow seeking a new life.

Kate infiltrates the community and goes deep under cover. In the coming days, she unearths a world built on secrets, a series of shocking crimes, and herself, alone... trapped in a fight for her life.

My Review
Linda Castillo is a very capable writer and does not disappoint. Kate Burkholder, the main character, is a very strong female Chief of Police and keeps the story interesting. The plot is very fast-paced and made the book very hard to put down. I have loved all of the books in this series and this one was a very good addition. I look forward to the next installment and recommend this book to those who like twists and turns with surprise endings.

86. The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner by James Hogg - *** - 8/3/16
Books Read: 86 Pages Read: 32,267
August Books Read: 2 August Pages Read: 564

Book Description
This extraordinarily complex novel from Scottish author James Hogg is notable for being a powerful criticism of the Calvinist doctrine of predetermination. Revolving around the story of Robert Colwan, a young man convinced that he is pre-determined to enjoy heavenly salvation. As Robert's descent into evil, despair, and madness ultimately leads him to murder his own brother, Hogg's novel questions the nature of religious fanaticism and its excesses.

My Review
I listened to this book on audio and I found it to be an ok read. The dialect of the reader was hard to understand at times but I found the Calvinist doctrine of predetermination and the different viewpoints of the story to be very interesting. Whether or not a person is pre-destined no matter what sins he commits is really left for you to decide in the end.

87. Hawkwook by James McGee - 410 Pages - 8/6/16 - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Books Read: 87 Pages Read: 32,677
August Books Read: 3 August Pages Read: 974

Book Description
The first historical thriller in the investigator Matthew Hawkwood series, hunter of thieves, spies, and murderers in the streets of Regency London.

The year is 1811, and Bow Street Runner Matthew Hawkwood is ordered by Chief Magistrate James Read to investigate the double murder of a coachman and a naval courier on the Kent Road.

Hawkwood is initially puzzled as to why Read is so concerned by this relatively mundane case, but as his investigation unfolds, another body is discovered and a higher agenda begins to emerge―an attempt by the Emperor Napoleon to bring about a crushing military and psychological blow to Britain, the means of which would bring terror to the seas for years to come . . .

My Review
I found Hawkwood to be an excellent debut. The novel is an adventure tale that has a lot of romance, Intrigue, well-researched history and action. The plot is well-paced, tension filled with a lot of true historical happenings from London highlife and lowlife in the early 1800's. Hawkwood is a very interesting character who is ruthless, mysterious, sexy and one I would like to learn more about. He is a member of the Bowstreet Runners which makes for a very entertaining read. It has a lot of descriptions about the brutal, dark and violent lifestyle during the Napoleonic Wars with spies and lots of military strategy. This book would make a thrilling movie with lots of dynamic characters. I look forward to the next book in the series and recommend this novel to those who love historical adventure books.

>103 EadieB: Glad you enjoyed it. It is a series I keep meaning to get back to.

>104 Andrew-theQM:
I want to continue too.

>104 Andrew-theQM: >105 EadieB: Me too.

88. The Book of Fate by Brad Meltzer - 450 pages - 8/13/16 - 4 stars
Books Read: 88 Pages Read: 33,127
August Books Read: 4 August Pages Read: 1,424

Book Description
Brad Meltzer's #1 New York Times bestseller featuring a two-hundred-year-old code devised by Thomas Jefferson and a present-day conspiracy at the highest level of power .

"Six minutes from now, one of us would be dead. None of us knew it was coming."

So says Wes Holloway, a young presidential aide, about the day he put Ron Boyle, the chief executive's oldest friend, into the president's limousine. By the trip's end, a crazed assassin would permanently disfigure Wes and kill Boyle. Now, eight years later, Boyle has been spotted alive. Trying to figure out what really happened takes Wes back into disturbing secrets buried in Freemason history, a decade-old presidential crossword puzzle, and a two-hundred-year-old code invented by Thomas Jefferson that conceals secrets worth dying for.

My Review
This was my first Brad Meltzer book. All in all, it was a very good read but I was disappointed as I expected a lot more information about Thomas Jefferson and the Masons. There was some tie-in to the story but not as much as I expected. I did enjoy the characters and the plot was very interesting. I had to read slowly at times because things seemed a little confusing and more concentration was needed. There were quite a few twists and turns and a surprise towards the end but the ending was a little drawn out. These complaints will not deter me, however, from reading another of Meltzer's books because I did enjoy his writing. I would recommend this book if you enjoy reading about presidents, FBI, CIA and the secret service.

89. Direct Hit The Blitz Detective #1 by Mike Hollow - ★★★★★
Books Read: 89 Pages Read: 33,442
August Books Read: 5 August Pages Read: 1,739

Book Description
The jagged blast of high explosives rips through the evening air. In the sky over East London the searchlights criss-cross in search of the enemy.

On the first night of the Blitz, a corpse is discovered in a van in the back streets of West Ham. Detective Inspector John Jago recognizes the dead man as local Justice of the Peace Charles Villiers. But then a German bomb obliterates all evidence.

Villiers, not a popular man, was both powerful and feared. As the sirens wail, the detective must start matching motive to opportunity and it doesn't help when his boss foists an intrusive American journalist on him.

Jago soon discovers the dead man held many secrets, some reaching back to World War I. A lot of people wished Villiers dead and an air raid is a good time to conceal a murder.

My Review
Direct Hit was a very interesting read about the World War II Blitz over East London. The book reminded me of Foyle's War in many ways. The reader can feel the impact on the characters' lives as the raids continue night after night. To solve a murder mystery when the body is destroyed in a bombing is an impossible task for Detective Inspector Jago but in the end he manages to do so. This book is sure to satisfy anyone who likes police procedurals with a captivating plot, realistic characters and setting. There was a surprise at the end of the book which may develop into a romance for Jago and I look forward to reading book 2 in order to see how this develops.

90. This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Fifth Column The Blitz Detective #2 by Mike Hollow - 326 pages - 8/16/16 - ★★★★★
Books Read: 90 Pages Read: 33,768
August Books Read: 6 August Pages Read: 2,065

Book Description
Detective Inspector Jago investigates, uncovering deception and betrayal
At first glance, the young woman found in the early hours of the morning where bombs have landed is just another casualty of the previous night's air raid. But when the post-mortem shows signs of strangulation, Detective Inspector Jago is called on to investigate.

The dead woman is smartly dressed but carries no identification. However, a local engineering company reports a staff member has failed to appear at work that morning and the body is quickly identified as that of Miss Mary Watkins.

DI Jago's initial interviews yield little fruit; no one can think of a reason why Mary would be murdered. But as the investigation continues DI Jago begins to uncover a trail of deception and betrayal.

My Review
This is the 2nd book in Mike Hollow's Blitz Detective series. I read the first book, Direct Hit, right before reading this one. The main characters were expanded upon and a few new characters added to the enjoyment of the book. I love the time period of the 1940's World War II and the author does a great job allowing the reader to feel and experience the blitz and what it's like for Detective Inspector Jago to try to solve a murder mystery in the midst of dead bodies from the bombing. I thought I had solved the mystery but there was an unexpected twist at the end that was a total surprise. I look forward to reading the 3rd book and highly recommend this series to those who love historical mystery page-turners.

91. Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters - 336 pages - 4 stars - 8/18/16
Books Read: 91 Pages Read: 34,104
August Books Read: 7 August Pages Read: 2,401

Book Description
It is the present-day, and the world is as we know it: smartphones, social networking and Happy Meals. Save for one thing: the Civil War never occurred.

A gifted young black man calling himself Victor has struck a bargain with federal law enforcement, working as a bounty hunter for the US Marshall Service. He's got plenty of work. In this version of America, slavery continues in four states called "the Hard Four." On the trail of a runaway known as Jackdaw, Victor arrives in Indianapolis knowing that something isn't right--with the case file, with his work, and with the country itself.

A mystery to himself, Victor suppresses his memories of his childhood on a plantation, and works to infiltrate the local cell of a abolitionist movement called the Underground Airlines. Tracking Jackdaw through the back rooms of churches, empty parking garages, hotels, and medical offices, Victor believes he's hot on the trail. But his strange, increasingly uncanny pursuit is complicated by a boss who won't reveal the extraordinary stakes of Jackdaw's case, as well as by a heartbreaking young woman and her child who may be Victor's salvation. Victor himself may be the biggest obstacle of all--though his true self remains buried, it threatens to surface.

Victor believes himself to be a good man doing bad work, unwilling to give up the freedom he has worked so hard to earn. But in pursuing Jackdaw, Victor discovers secrets at the core of the country's arrangement with the Hard Four, secrets the government will preserve at any cost.

Underground Airlines is a ground-breaking novel, a wickedly imaginative thriller, and a story of an America that is more like our own than we'd like to believe.

My Review
I've read Ben Winters' Last Policeman series and enjoyed it very much. This book was very different and very thought provoking. The premise is that The Civil War never happened and slavery is still in existence. It is very dystopian but very believable as racism and bigotry has not changed much and is not really different than today. I found the characters mostly complex and the unique plot had many unexpected twists. I would recommend this book to those who like alternate historical thrillers.

>109 EadieB: I keep meaning to sign up for the Early Reviewers.

>111 Andrew-theQM:
It is a nice feature of LT. I really shouldn't sign up because I have so many of my own books to read but can't resist. lol

>111 Andrew-theQM: >112 EadieB: Stop twisting my arm! I actually hovered the mouse above it...but a little voice said NO NO NO!

>113 Carol420: >112 EadieB: I have a few times as well!

92. Forever Gentleman by Roland Colton - 480 pages - 4 stars - 8/23/16
Books Read: 92 Pages Read: 34,584
August Books Read: 8 August Pages Read: 2,881

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Book Description
Intrigue, Romantic Rivalries and Mistaken Identities Abound in This Engrossing Victorian Drama.

In a style reminiscent of nineteenth-century authors, "Forever Gentleman" is a sweeping saga of suspense, romance, mystery, and music. Travel back in time and experience Victorian London at its best and worst-a city of beauty and brilliance, and a city steeped in filth and despair. Meet Nathan Sinclair, a struggling young architect and gifted pianist who lives in the two vastly different worlds, mingling in high society while dwelling in suffocating debt and poverty. While performing at a gathering of London's elite, Nathan meets Jocelyn Charlesworth, a breathtakingly beautiful but temperamental celebrity heiress. Although smitten, she publicly humiliates him; their paths will intersect again in a most shocking manner. Meanwhile, Nathan makes the acquaintance of Regina Lancaster, a woman of remarkable inner beauty, despite her pedestrian appearance. He must decide whether to follow his heart and pursue Regina, or flee England altogether to avoid imprisonment from a miserly creditor. In his darkest hour, Nathan is offered a tantalizing proposition that might change everything, but that comes at considerable risk. Nathan must play his role perfectly, or he may lose his reputation, livelihood, and very life to the powerful echelons of Victorian society. Full of unexpected twists and turns, the book races towards a thrilling climax that will determine Nathan's ultimate destiny.

My Review
I love the Victorian period of London history and Forever Gentleman had plenty of details from that era. I especially enjoyed the character of Nathan Sinclair who seemed to be a down-to-earth talented classical pianist. The author allows us to feel everything Nathan is going through as he experiences the life of high society while living in debt and poverty. The book is also very rich in historical detail of architecture and classical musical. The story had many twists and turns and held my interest until the very end where we learn what will become of Nathan. I look forward to reading another book from this very talented author and I would highly recommend this book to those who like historical romance novels mixed with mystery.

93. Caught in the Light by Robert Goddard - 445 pages - ****1/2 - 8/23/16
Books Read: 93 Pages Read: 35,029
August Books Read: 9 August Pages Read: 3,326

Book Description
On assignment in Vienna, photographer Ian Jarrett falls desperately in love with a woman he meets by chance, Marian Esguard. Back in England, he breaks up with his wife and goes to meet Marian at an agreed rendezvous. Marian fails to show.

Searching desperately for her, he stumbles on a Dorset churchyard full of the gravestones of dead Esguards. He also meets a psychotherapist, Daphne Sanger. She too is looking for someone: a former patient who has come to believe she is the reincarnation of Marion Esguard, who lived in Regency times and, it emerges, may have invented photography ten years before Fox Talbot. But if so, why is she unknown to history? And where is the woman he met in Vienna?

Ian sets out to solve a mystery that may be 170 years old. At the end of his search a trap awaits him. There is a twist at the end of Caught in the Light that is Robert Goddard's most cunning to date.

My Review
I love Goddard's writing and found this book to be rather unique. I think this one was very different from his other books because it seemed like a supernatural/ghost-like plot and he doesn't usually tell that type of story. He also kept us guessing until the last page. I read this with a discussion group and I looked forward to reading each and every section as I was very curious what was really going on. I now look forward to my next Goddard book as I can't get enough of his storytelling. I highly recommend this book to those who love historical mystery thrillers.

94. The Sixth Idea by P.J. Tracy - 306 pages - 4 stars - 8/26/16
Books Read: 94 Pages Read: 35,335
August Books Read: 10 August Pages Read: 3,632

Book Description
The Monkeewrench crew returns in a twisty, heart-stopping new thriller.

The peaceful Christmas season in Minneapolis is shattered when two friends, Chuck Spencer and Wally Luntz, scheduled to meet in person for the first time, are murdered on the same night, two hours and several miles apart, dramatically concluding winter vacation for homicide detectives Leo Magozzi and Gino Rolseth.
An hour north of Minneapolis, Lydia Ascher comes home to find two dead men in her basement. When Leo and Gino discover her connection to their current cases, they suspect that she is a target, too. The same day, an elderly, terminally ill man is kidnapped from his home, an Alzheimer’s patient goes missing from his care facility, and a baffling link among all the crimes emerges.
This series of inexplicable events sends the detectives sixty years into the past to search for answers—and straight to Grace MacBride’s Monkeewrench, a group of eccentric computer geniuses who devote their time and resources to helping the cops solve the unsolvable. What they find is an unimaginable horror—a dormant Armageddon that might be activated at any moment unless Grace and her partners Annie, Roadrunner, and Harley Davidson, along with Leo and Gino, can find a way to stop it.

My Review
This is the 7th book in the Monkeewrench series. It's a good idea to start at the beginning of the series as the best thing about these books is the interaction between the characters and you actually can watch their friendships grow. I found the plot which centered around the hydrogen bomb and EMP (electromagnetic pulse) an interesting but frightening subject. The book is suspenseful and kept the pages turning until the end. A surprise ending leaves one hoping for the next book to be published soon. I hope the P.J. Tracy mother/daughter team can pick up the pace of their writing. It was too long between this book and the last. I highly recommend this series to those who love mystery thrillers.

95. The Glass Room by Ann Cleeves - 352 pages - 4 stars - 8/31/16
Books Read: 95 Pages Read: 35,687
August Books Read: 11 August Pages Read: 3,984

Book Description
This is the new novel in Ann Cleeves' Vera Stanhope crime series. DI Vera Stanhope is not one to make friends easily, but her hippy neighbors keep her well-supplied in home brew and conversation so she has more tolerance for them than most. When one of them goes missing she feels duty-bound to find out what happened. But her path leads her to more than a missing friend...It's an easy job to track the young woman down to the Writer's House, a country retreat where aspiring authors gather to workshop and work through their novels. It gets complicated when a body is discovered and Vera's neighbor is found with a knife in her hand. Calling in the team, Vera knows that she should hand the case over to someone else. She's too close to the main suspect. But the investigation is too tempting and she's never been one to follow the rules. There seems to be no motive. No meaning to the crime. Then another body is found, and Vera suspects that someone is playing games with her. Somewhere there is a killer who has taken murder off the page and is making it real...

My Review
This is the 5th book in the Vera Stanhope series. This book was a little off and not as good as the others. I like the fact that Vera delegated in this book, but, I think Ann did that because this book was written for television and the characters had to look like they were all part of solving the mystery. This book was not as suspenseful as some of her others. It almost seemed like Agatha Christie wrote it. One interview after another with a gathering of all the characters at the end for the grand finale of solving the mystery and naming the murderer. I did enjoy the book but her books usually get 5 stars from me but this one was slightly lacking, hence, the 4 stars from me. I do, however, look forward to reading the next in the series and highly recommend reading these books in order.

96. The Light Between Oceans by M. L. Stedman - 343 pages - 5 stars - 9/2/2016
Books Read: 96 Pages Read: 36,030
Books Read September - 1 Pages Read September - 343

Book Description
The years-long New York Times bestseller and Goodreads Best Historical Novel that is "irresistible...seductive...with a high concept plot that keeps you riveted from the first page" (O, The Oprah Magazine)--soon to be a major motion picture from Spielberg's Dreamworks starring Michael Fassbender, Rachel Weisz, and Alicia Vikander, and directed by Derek Cianfrance.

After four harrowing years on the Western Front, Tom Sherbourne returns to Australia and takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day's journey from the coast. To this isolated island, where the supply boat comes once a season, Tom brings a young, bold, and loving wife, Isabel. Years later, after two miscarriages and one stillbirth, the grieving Isabel hears a baby's cries on the wind. A boat has washed up onshore carrying a dead man and a living baby.

Tom, who keeps meticulous records and whose moral principles have withstood a horrific war, wants to report the man and infant immediately. But Isabel insists the baby is a "gift from God," and against Tom's judgment, they claim her as their own and name her Lucy. When she is two, Tom and Isabel return to the mainland and are reminded that there are other people in the world. Their choice has devastated one of them.

"Elegantly rendered...heart-wrenching...beautifully drawn" (USA TODAY), The Light Between Oceans is a gorgeous debut novel, not soon to be forgotten.

My Review
This was a very good read right from the start and was a page-turner all the way through. I enjoyed the author's writing and will definitely read another book written by her. The characters were well-developed and the plot was excellent and kept me riveted to the story. The book had a great moral lesson of right and wrong and was beautifully delivered. I cried at the ending which had very tender moments and I didn't want the book to end. I highly recommend this book to those who love well-written historical stories with a lot of heart.

97. All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr - 544 pages - 5 stars - 9/4/16
Books Read: 97 - Pages Read: 36,574
September Books Read: 2 September Pages Read: 887

Book Description
WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE
From the highly acclaimed, multiple award-winning Anthony Doerr, the beautiful, stunningly ambitious instant New York Times bestseller about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

Marie-Laure lives with her father in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where he works as the master of its thousands of locks. When she is six, Marie-Laure goes blind and her father builds a perfect miniature of their neighborhood so she can memorize it by touch and navigate her way home. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great-uncle lives in a tall house by the sea. With them they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel.

In a mining town in Germany, the orphan Werner grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments, a talent that wins him a place at a brutal academy for Hitler Youth, then a special assignment to track the resistance. More and more aware of the human cost of his intelligence, Werner travels through the heart of the war and, finally, into Saint-Malo, where his story and Marie-Laure’s converge.

Doerr’s “stunning sense of physical detail and gorgeous metaphors” (San Francisco Chronicle) are dazzling. Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, he illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. Ten years in the writing, a National Book Award finalist, All the Light We Cannot See is a magnificent, deeply moving novel from a writer “whose sentences never fail to thrill” (Los Angeles Times).

My Review:
This was a very beautifully written book and one in which you love to savor every word. I found the beginning to be a tad slow but suddenly the book gets very interesting and you quickly find yourself much engrossed. The story switches back and forth between two different perspectives and comes together towards the end. It's a type of book that stays with you long after you finish reading it. The World War II history has been very well researched and this novel proves that there are many stories from that period that still need to be told. If you haven't read this masterpiece, you need to, as the story will leave you awe-inspired.

98. The One Man by Andrew Gross - 416 pages - 5 stars - 9/8/16
Books Read: 98 - Pages Read: 36,990
September Books Read: 3 September Pages Read: 1303

Book Description
“As moving as it is gripping. A winner on all fronts.”―Booklist (starred review)

“Heart-pounding…This is Gross’s best work yet, with his heart and soul imprinted on every page.”―Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Poland. 1944. Alfred Mendl and his family are brought on a crowded train to a Nazi concentration camp after being caught trying to flee Paris with forged papers. His family is torn away from him on arrival, his life’s work burned before his eyes. To the guards, he is just another prisoner, but in fact Mendl―a renowned physicist―holds knowledge that only two people in the world possess. And the other is already at work for the Nazi war machine.

Four thousand miles away, in Washington, DC, Intelligence lieutenant Nathan Blum routinely decodes messages from occupied Poland. Having escaped the Krakow ghetto as a teenager after the Nazis executed his family, Nathan longs to do more for his new country in the war. But never did he expect the proposal he receives from “Wild” Bill Donovan, head of the OSS: to sneak into the most guarded place on earth, a living hell, on a mission to find and escape with one man, the one man the Allies believe can ensure them victory in the war.

Bursting with compelling characters and tense story lines, this historical thriller from New York Times bestseller Andrew Gross is a deeply affecting, unputdownable series of twists and turns through a landscape at times horrifyingly familiar but still completely new and compelling.

My Review
I have always loved Andrew Gross' novels but this one will end up on my favorites list. It was hard to put this book down as the tension builds and builds all the way to the last page. The characters were very believable and the plot was very suspenseful. It's the type of story that will stay with you for a long time. There are a lot of WWII novels and sometimes we can get inundated with too many but this is one that should not be missed if you enjoy a gripping historical read.

99. A Great Reckoning by Louise Penny - 389 pages - 5 stars - 9/11/2016
Books Read: 99 - Pages Read: 37,379
September Books Read: 4 September Pages Read: 1,692

Book Description
When an intricate old map is found stuffed into the walls of the bistro in Three Pines, it at first seems no more than a curiosity. But the closer the villagers look, the stranger it becomes.
Given to Armand Gamache as a gift the first day of his new job, the map eventually leads him to shattering secrets. To an old friend and older adversary. It leads the former Chief of Homicide for the Surete du Quebec to places even he is afraid to go. But must.

And there he finds four young cadets in the Surete academy, and a dead professor. And, with the body, a copy of the old, odd map.

Everywhere Gamache turns, he sees Amelia Choquet, one of the cadets. Tattooed and pierced. Guarded and angry. Amelia is more likely to be found on the other side of a police line-up. And yet she is in the academy. A protegee of the murdered professor.

The focus of the investigation soon turns to Gamache himself and his mysterious relationship with Amelia, and his possible involvement in the crime. The frantic search for answers takes the investigators back to Three Pines and a stained glass window with its own horrific secrets.

For both Amelia Choquet and Armand Gamache, the time has come for a great reckoning.

#1 "New York Times" bestselling author Louise Penny pulls back the layers to reveal a brilliant and emotionally powerful truth in her latest spellbinding novel."

My Review
This is the 12th book in one of my favorite series. You will enjoy this book better if you read the series in order so you can get the background of the characters. In the last book Gamache has retired and is trying to decide what he will do next. In this book we find out that he has decided to rid the Surete academy of the corruption that has been breeding there for years. There are a lot of twists and turns in the plot which keeps the pages turning until the very end which has many surprises. We get another glimpse into the background of Gamache and learn more about his upbringing. If you haven't started this series yet, you need to, as Louise Penny can tell a good story and you don't want to miss this series with it's many quirky characters from Three Pines near Montreal Canada.

100. Skeleton Coast by Clive Cussler - 532 pages - 4 stars - 9/11/2016
Books Read: 100 - Pages Read: 37,911
September Books Read: 5 September Pages Read: 2,224

Book Description
Juan Cabrillo and the crew of the covert combat ship Oregon have barely escaped a mission on the Congo River when they intercept a mayday from a defenseless boat under fire off the African coast. Cabrillo takes action, saving the beautiful Sloane Macintyre-who's looking for a long-submerged ship that may hold a fortune in diamonds. But what surprises Cabrillo is her story about a crazy fisherman who claims to have been attacked on the open sea by giant metal snakes in the same area.

What begins as a snake hunt leads Cabrillo onto the trail of a far more lethal quarry -- a deranged militant and his followers who plan to unleash the devastating power of nature itself against all who oppose them.

My Review
This was the 4th book in the Oregon series. I did enjoy the story lines but some of the technical stuff is way over my head. I like the crew members very much and find the characters very interesting. I will continue reading on as I want to see what else Juan Cabrillo and crew will get involved it. I would recommend these books to those who love adventure stories.

The Last Mile by David Baldacci - 420 pages - 5 stars - 9/15/2016
Books Read: 101 - Pages Read: 38,331
September Books Read: 6 September Pages Read: 2,644

Book Description
In his #1 New York Times bestseller Memory Man, David Baldacci introduced the extraordinary detective Amos Decker-the man who can forget nothing. Now, Decker returns in a spectacular new thriller . . .
THE LAST MILE
Convicted murderer Melvin Mars is counting down the last hours before his execution--for the violent killing of his parents twenty years earlier--when he's granted an unexpected reprieve. Another man has confessed to the crime.
Amos Decker, newly hired on an FBI special task force, takes an interest in Mars's case after discovering the striking similarities to his own life: Both men were talented football players with promising careers cut short by tragedy. Both men's families were brutally murdered. And in both cases, another suspect came forward, years after the killing, to confess to the crime. A suspect who may or may not have been telling the truth.
The confession has the potential to make Melvin Mars--guilty or not--a free man. Who wants Mars out of prison? And why now?
But when a member of Decker's team disappears, it becomes clear that something much larger--and more sinister--than just one convicted criminal's life hangs in the balance. Decker will need all of his extraordinary brainpower to stop an innocent man from being executed.

My Review
Amos Decker is a very unique detective with his memory which cannot forget anything. Baldacci's writing is excellent and the plot does not disappoint. There are a lot of twists and turns which make for a page-turner that doesn't stop until the very last page. The novel is very entertaining and the characters are believable. I listened to the audio and never got bored as I found the story interesting. I look forward to the next installment in this series and recommend this book to those who like suspenseful mystery thrillers.

102. Playing With Fire by Tess Gerritsen - 250 pages - 5 stars - 9/16/2016
Books Read: 102 - Pages Read: 38,581
September Books Read: 7 September Pages Read: 2,894

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
Book Description
A gripping standalone thriller by the New York Times bestselling author of the Rizzoli & Isles series

INTERNATIONAL THRILLER WRITERS AWARD FINALIST NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY LOS ANGELES TIMES AND SUSPENSE MAGAZINE

In a shadowy antiques shop in Rome, violinist Julia Ansdell happens upon a curious piece of music--the Incendio waltz--and is immediately entranced by its unusual composition. Full of passion, torment, and chilling beauty, and seemingly unknown to the world, the waltz, its mournful minor key, its feverish arpeggios, appear to dance with a strange life of their own. Julia is determined to master the complex work and make its melody heard.

Back home in Boston, from the moment Julia's bow moves across the strings, drawing the waltz's fiery notes into the air, something strange is stirred--and Julia's world comes under threat. The music has a terrifying and inexplicable effect on her young daughter, who seems violently transformed. Convinced that the hypnotic strains of Incendio are weaving a malevolent spell, Julia sets out to discover the man and the meaning behind the score.

Her quest beckons Julia to the ancient city of Venice, where she uncovers a dark, decades-old secret involving a dangerously powerful family that will stop at nothing to keep Julia from bringing the truth to light.

My Review
I found this book to be very engaging. A single piece of music and it's connection from the past to the present and it's affect on the characters was a very interesting storyline. Traveling back in time to the city of Venice and what happened to the Jews in Italy at the end of WWII was a history lesson in itself. Learning about Lorenzo who wrote the music and what happens personally to him made the story even more tragic. I enjoyed Tess Gerritsen's writing very much and found her characters to be well-developed. There were lots of twists and turns which kept the pages turning fast. I would highly recommend this book to those who like a good mystery mixed with history from the past. I look forward to reading more of Gerritsen's books in the future.

103. Me Before You by JoJo Moyes - 369 pages - 5 stars - 9/19/2016
Books Read: 103 - Pages Read: 38,950
September Books Read: 8 September Pages Read: 3,263

Book Description
They had nothing in common until love gave them everything to lose . . .

Louisa Clark is an ordinary girl living an exceedingly ordinary life--steady boyfriend, close family--who has barely been farther afield than their tiny village. She takes a badly needed job working for exMaster of the Universe Will Traynor, who is wheelchair bound after an accident. Will has always lived a huge life--big deals, extreme sports, worldwide travel--and now he's pretty sure he cannot live the way he is.

Will is acerbic, moody, bossy--but Lou refuses to treat him with kid gloves, and soon his happiness means more to her than she expected. When she learns that Will has shocking plans of his own, she sets out to show him that life is still worth living.

A Love Story for this generation and perfect for fans of John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, Me Before You brings to life two people who couldn't have less in common--a heartbreakingly romantic novel that asks, What do you do when making the person you love happy also means breaking your own heart?

My Review
This is a very moving story and one that examines the love between two people and how they enrich one another's life in an impossible situation. I found JoJo Moyes to be a very powerful writer as she allows us to feel what the characters are going through and how they cope with their personal attraction to one another and their personal realities. Although the story is a heartbreaker and tear maker, it does have some laugh-out-loud moments that make this incredible tough read one not to be missed. I recommend this book to those who love thought-provoking, powerful but heartbreaking romantic reads.

104. The Woman In Blue by Elly Griffiths - 358 pages - 5 stars - 9/19/2016
Books Read: 104 - Pages Read: 39,308
September Books Read: 9 September Pages Read: 3,621

Book Description
Known as England’s Nazareth, the medieval town of Little Walsingham is famous for religious apparitions. So when Ruth Galloway’s druid friend Cathbad sees a woman in a white dress and a dark blue cloak standing alone in the local cemetery one night, he takes her as a vision of the Virgin Mary. But then a woman wrapped in blue cloth is found dead the next day, and Ruth’s old friend Hilary, an Anglican priest, receives a series of hateful, threatening letters. Could these crimes be connected? When one of Hilary’s fellow female priests is murdered just before Little Walsingham’s annual Good Friday Passion Play, Ruth, Cathbad, and DCI Harry Nelson must team up to find the killer before he strikes again.

My Review
This is the 8th book in the Ruth Galloway series and it does not disappoint. I very much enjoyed learning the of history of Walsingham and the yearly Passion Play that is performed. Elly Griffiths gave many clues to the murderer but they were hidden pretty well. The plot kept the pages turning and the ending was full of surprises. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment in order to check up on the many relationships that are continually changing. I would highly recommend reading this series in order as the stories are built one upon another.

The Autumn Things Went Crazy
By Michael Mboudjeka

Book description:
Rico is a shy fourteen-year-old Christian boy who had lost both of his parents from a thunderstorm and has to live with his roommate and best friend, Sidney. Unbeknownst to Rico, Sidney is a ghoul who eats corpses and the souls of unforgivable sinners. Stubbornly, he constantly teases and pushes Rico to take a school girl named Olivia as his girlfriend, as he knows that Rico loves her. Although Rico is convinced that the moment isn’t right for him to have a girlfriend, he unfortunately feels the same peer pressure that happens to many other kids his age. Throughout the book, we see Rico struggling to approach and talk to Olivia, all while juggling other matters, such as all of his classes and making the most out of his childhood in general. But what really captivates readers in this cartoon-like adventure is Michael’s ability to use humorous characters, some with awesome powers, to describe the interactions taking place between students and teachers during different periods at school. This is the first adventure by a young teenager for young teenagers and children.

>128 mboudjeka:
Just a warning - authors are not allowed to promote their books and if someone reports you, you could be banned from the site.

105. Dark Entries by Ian Rankin - 214 pages - 3 stars - 9/21/2016
Books Read: 105 - Pages Read: 39,522
September Books Read: 10 September Pages Read: 3,835

Dark Entries by Ian Rankin - 3 stars
Book Description
HELLBLAZER's John Constantine must become part of HAUNTED PALACE -- a closed-set reality game-show (think BIG BROTHER or SCI-FI's new reality show, ESTATE OF PANIC) in order to deal with a supernatural murder of one of the contestants. He enters as a 'surprise' contestant and meets the other participants, learning that they all have secrets and that one of them must be 'channeling' poltergeists and/or be the murderer.

However, John soon learns that he is in fact in a game-show which is being broadcast only to the denizens of Hell, who have chosen him to be the next contestant. Now he has to figure out who's the killer but also how to escape with his own soul in one piece.

Book Review
This is a black and white graphic crime/mystery novel and not one of my favorite genres. It was akin to reading a long comic strip. The main character, John Constantine, apparently is a DC Comic character with his own series. This is the first graphic novel by Ian Rankin and was a very quick read but I think I enjoy his Rebus books better. I didn't realize this was a graphic novel when I ordered it but read it anyway in order to check out the genre and the artwork. The plot was unique as Constantine becomes a contestant on a reality TV show called "Haunted Mansion". I did enjoy some of the humor and would recommend this book to those who enjoy graphic novels.

106. Tenth of December by George Saunders - 251 pages - 1 star - 9/22/2016
Books Read: 106 - Pages Read: 39,773
September Books Read: 11 September Pages Read: 4,086

Book Description
One of the most important and blazingly original writers of his generation, George Saunders is an undisputed master of the short story, and Tenth of December is his most honest, accessible, and moving collection yet. In the taut opener, "Victory Lap," a boy witnesses the attempted abduction of the girl next door and is faced with a harrowing choice: Does he ignore what he sees, or override years of smothering advice from his parents and act? In "Home," a combat-damaged soldier moves back in with his mother and struggles to reconcile the world he left with the one to which he has returned. And in the title story, a stunning meditation on imagination, memory, and loss, a middle-aged cancer patient walks into the woods to commit suicide, only to encounter a troubled young boy who, over the course of a fateful morning, gives the dying man a final chance to recall who he really is. A hapless, deluded owner of an antiques store; two mothers struggling to do the right thing; a teenage girl whose idealism is challenged by a brutal brush with reality; a man tormented by a series of pharmaceutical experiments that force him to lust, to love, to kill-the unforgettable characters that populate the pages of Tenth of December are vividly and lovingly infused with Saunders's signature blend of exuberant prose, deep humanity, and stylistic innovation. Writing brilliantly and profoundly about class, sex, love, loss, work, despair, and war, Saunders cuts to the core of the contemporary experience. These stories take on the big questions and explore the fault lines of our own morality, delving into the questions of what makes us good and what makes us human. Unsettling, insightful, and hilarious, the stories in Tenth of December-through their manic energy, their focus on what is redeemable in human beings, and their generosity of spirit-not only entertain and delight; they fulfill Chekhov's dictum that art should "prepare us for tenderness."

My Review
After reading this book, I must say that satirical fiction is not for me. I found this book very difficult to read. The words did not flow and I really was not interested in what the author was trying to relate. There are a lot of good reviews for this book so some people did benefit from reading it. Not sure if I could honestly recommend it as I wouldn't want to put anyone else through the pain it was for me to read.

107. Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd Flavia de Luce by Alan Bradley - 326 pages - 5 stars - 9/24/2016
Books Read: 107 - Pages Read: 40,099
September Books Read: 12 September Pages Read: 4,402

Book Description
Hailed as “a combination of Eloise and Sherlock Holmes” by The Boston Globe, Flavia de Luce returns in a much anticipated new Christmas mystery from award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Alan Bradley.

In spite of being ejected from Miss Bodycote’s Female Academy in Canada, twelve-year-old Flavia de Luce is excited to be sailing home to England. But instead of a joyous homecoming, she is greeted on the docks with unfortunate news: Her father has fallen ill, and a hospital visit will have to wait while he rests. But with Flavia’s blasted sisters and insufferable cousin underfoot, Buckshaw now seems both too empty—and not empty enough. Only too eager to run an errand for the vicar’s wife, Flavia hops on her trusty bicycle, Gladys, to deliver a message to a reclusive wood-carver. Finding the front door ajar, Flavia enters and stumbles upon the poor man’s body hanging upside down on the back of his bedroom door. The only living creature in the house is a feline that shows little interest in the disturbing scene. Curiosity may not kill this cat, but Flavia is energized at the prospect of a new investigation. It’s amazing what the discovery of a corpse can do for one’s spirits. But what awaits Flavia will shake her to the very core.

Acclaim for Alan Bradley’s beloved Flavia de Luce novels, winners of the Crime Writers’ Association Debut Dagger Award, Barry Award, Agatha Award, Macavity Award, Dilys Award, and Arthur Ellis Award

“If ever there were a sleuth who’s bold, brilliant, and, yes, adorable, it’s Flavia de Luce.”—USA Today

“Flavia is as addictive as dark chocolate.”—Daily Mail

“Flavia de Luce is still the world’s greatest adolescent British chemist/busybody/sleuth.”—The Seattle Times

My Review
I always love when a new Flavia book gets released. She is my favorite adolescent sleuth. Alan Bradley writes the most clever plots and keeps us chuckling all the way through the book. The characters are all unique and very believable. I love the way Flavia stumbles over the dead bodies and solves the mysteries before the chief inspector does. If you haven't started reading this series, what are you waiting for? I would highly recommend them to young adults and adults who like entertaining mysteries.

108. The House of Secrets by Brad Meltzer and Tod Goldberg - 352 pages - 3.5 stars - 9/24/2016
Books Read: 108 - Pages Read: 40,451
September Books Read: 13 September Pages Read: 4,754

Book Description
A secret worth killing for.
A woman with no past.
An act of treason that changed America.
#1 bestselling author Brad Meltzer returns with
THE HOUSE OF SECRETS
When Hazel Nash was six years old, her father taught her: mysteries need to be solved. He should know. Hazel's father is Jack Nash, the host of America's favorite conspiracy TV show, The House of Secrets.
Even as a child, she loved hearing her dad's tall tales, especially the one about a leather book belonging to Benedict Arnold that was hidden in a corpse.
Now, years later, Hazel wakes up in the hospital and remembers nothing, not even her own name. She's told she's been in a car accident that killed her father and injured her brother. But she can't remember any of it, because of her own traumatic brain injury. Then a man from the FBI shows up, asking questions about her dad-and about his connection to the corpse of a man found with an object stuffed into his chest: a priceless book that belonged to Benedict Arnold.
Back at her house, Hazel finds guns that she doesn't remember owning. On her forehead, she sees scars from fights she can't recall. Most important, the more Hazel digs, the less she likes the person she seems to have been.
Trying to put together the puzzle pieces of her past and present, Hazel Nash needs to figure out who killed this man-and how the book wound up in his chest. The answer will tell her the truth about her father, what he was really doing for the government-and who Hazel really is. Mysteries need to be solved. Especially the ones about yourself.

My Review
This is a conspiracy mystery with lots of suspense and history. It was a little slow in the beginning and seemed to jump around too much. It had lots of twists and turns that keep you turning the pages once the story picked up. I like Meltzer's writing but felt like the co-writing was not working in this story. The characters were too convoluted at times and not fully developed. I do look forward to reading more of Meltzer's books but found this book somewhat lacking.

>132 EadieB: Love the series. On my list to read. I was not that fond of the last book though. Good to see your rave review of this one.

109. The Kept Woman by Karin Slaughter - 463 pages - 5 stars - 9/28/2016
Books Read: 109 - Pages Read: 40,914
September Books Read: 14 September Pages Read: 5,217

Book Description
It's the most dangerous case of Will Trent's career. He knows this from the moment he sets foot in the abandoned Atlanta warehouse where a body lies on the floor--the body of an ex-cop. Bloody footprints leading away from the scene reveal that another victim, evidently a woman, was carried away ... and has vanished into thin air. And, worst of all, the warehouse belongs to the city's biggest and most high-profile athlete--a local hero protected by the world's most expensive lawyers. A hero married to Will's ex-wife. A hero whom Will's superiors at the Georgia Bureau of Investigation have spent the last six months investigating for rape.But for Will--and also for Sara Linton, the GBI's newest medical examiner--the case is about to get even worse. Because an unexpected discovery at the scene reveals a personal link to Will's troubled past ... and the consequences will wreak havoc on his life and the lives of those he loves, those he works with, and those he pursues.Relentlessly suspenseful and furiously paced, peopled with characters who leap from the page, The Kept Woman marks Karin Slaughter's triumphant return to her most popular series.

My Review
There is no better female thriller writer than Karin Slaughter. Her Will Trent series is the best. You need to read this series in order so that this book will be more enjoyable if you have all of the back story. Angie, Will's wife, is the center figure of the novel. We get more about Angie's past life which is very tragic. The subjects of rape and domestic abuse is also foremost in this novel and Slaughter handles these subjects in a very realistic way. Even though Will is now in a relationship with Sara, Angie is still playing mind games with Will. There are many twists and turns which keep the pages turning until the very end. The only gripe I have with the book is it's length due to the fact that we get to know everything Angie, Will and Sara are thinking and I think some of those thoughts could have been edited better. I would, however, highly recommend this series to those who love thrilling stories with a bit of romance added in.

110. Ice Hunt by James Rollins - 521 pages - 4.5 stars - 9/29/2016
Books Read: 110 - Pages Read: 41,435
September Books Read: 15 September Pages Read: 5,738

Book Description
Carved into a moving island of ice twice the size of the United States, Ice Station Grendel has been abandoned for more than seventy years. The twisted brainchild of the finest minds of the former Soviet Union, it was designed to be inaccessible and virtually invisible. But an American undersea research vessel has inadvertently pulled too close--and something has been sighted moving inside the allegedly deserted facility, something whose survival defies every natural law. And now, as scientists, soldiers, intelligence operatives, and unsuspecting civilians are drawn into Grendel's lethal vortex, the most extreme measures possible will be undertaken to protect its dark mysteries--because the terrible truths locked behind submerged walls of ice and steel could end human life on Earth.

My Review
This book was very action-packed with lots of intense moments. The plot was very interesting and I learned a lot about ice caps, ice stations, grendels, frogs, science and history. What more would you want from a book.?The characters were very unique too. Some were good and some were bad but that makes for a great story. I look forward to reading more adventure books by Rollins and I would highly recommend this book to those who love adventure, history or science novels.

111. Sycamore Row by John Grisham - 656 pages - 4.5 stars - 10/3/2016
Books Read: 111 - Pages Read: 42,091
October Books Read: 1 - October Pages Read: 656

Book Description
John Grisham takes you back to where it all began . . .

John Grisham's A Time to Kill is one of the most popular novels of our time. Now we return to that famous courthouse in Clanton as Jake Brigance once again finds himself embroiled in a fiercely controversial trial-a trial that will expose old racial tensions and force Ford County to confront its tortured history.

Seth Hubbard is a wealthy man dying of lung cancer. He trusts no one. Before he hangs himself from a sycamore tree, Hubbard leaves a new, handwritten, will. It is an act that drags his adult children, his black maid, and Jake into a conflict as riveting and dramatic as the murder trial that made Brigance one of Ford County's most notorious citizens, just three years earlier.

The second will raises far more questions than it answers. Why would Hubbard leave nearly all of his fortune to his maid? Had chemotherapy and painkillers affected his ability to think clearly? And what does it all have to do with a piece of land once known as Sycamore Row?

In Sycamore Row, John Grisham returns to the setting and the compelling characters that first established him as America's favorite storyteller. Here, in his most assured and thrilling novel yet, is a powerful testament to the fact that Grisham remains the master of the legal thriller, nearly twenty-five years after the publication of A Time to Kill.

My Review
I listened to the book on audio and found the reader to be very easy to listen to. This book is a follow-up on Jake Brigance from A Time To Kill. Jake is a very likable lawyer and I was glad to find out how he was doing after his last case. This book is not a continuation of his Carl Lee story but a new case of Seth Hubbard who commits suicide and leaves most of his $24 million dollars to his housemaid and not his direct family. This plot was a real page turner until the very end as they come to understand why Seth Hubbard did this. All the characters are well drawn and quite interesting. If you are a fan of A Time To Kill, I'm sure you will enjoy this one too. I would recommend this book to those who love lawyer mysteries from the old south. I look forward to reading another Grisham book very soon.

112. Contest by Matthew Reilly - 334 pages - 4.5 stars - 10/3/2016
Books Read: 112 - Pages Read: 42,425
October Books Read: 2 - October Pages Read: 990

Book Description
The New York Public Library. A silent sanctuary of knowledge; a 100-year-old labyrinth of towering bookcases, narrow aisles and long marble hallways. For Doctor Stephen Swain and his daughter, Holly, it is the site of a nightmare. Because for one night this historic building is to be the venue for a contest. A contest in which Swain is to compete - whether he likes it or not.

The rules are simple: Seven contestants will enter, only one will leave.

With his daughter in his arms, Stephen Swain is plunged into a terrifying fight for survival. The stakes are high, the odds brutal. He can choose to run, to hide or to fight - but if he wants to live, he has to win. For in this contest, unless you leave as the victor, you do not leave at all.

Readers all over the world have been cheering about Matthew Reilly's lightning fast adventure thrillers. Contest, the action-packed extravaganza that launched this international bestselling career, is vintage Reilly at his explosive best.

My Review
I really enjoyed reading this book as I visited the New York Public Library last December during a charity event I was attending. The building is a wonderful site to set an adventure thriller story in and Matthew Reilly has taken advantage of that. This story has it all - aliens, monsters, adventure, mystery and very unique characters. The plot is an exciting contest and the losers die so that kept the pages turner all the way through. This is an excellent debut novel and makes you want to read more from this talented author. I have read his Jack West Junior trilogy and liked it very much. I do look forward to reading some other novels by Reilly and I would highly recommend this book to those who love adventure thrillers.

113. Book of Souls by Glenn Cooper - 372 pages - 4.5 stars - 10/5/2016
Books Read: 113 - Pages Read: 42,797
October Books Read: 3 - October Pages Read: 1,362

Book Description
The Library: Only a handful know it exists ... It holds the world's most astonishing -- and terrifying -- information . . . But the one book that is the key to the greatest secret of all time ... is missing. — Former FBI Special Agent Will Piper solved -- and survived -- the 'Doomsday Killer' case ... and his reward was a forced early retirement. But the shattering truths he learned about the government's most covert operations won't let him rest -- and now he's on the trail of a mysterious volume that's been lost for six centuries. This is the book that inspired Shakespeare and the prophecies of Nostradamus, and once Will gets his hands on it, his life will be worth nothing -- his death sentence a top priority handed down from the very highest levels of power.

Because there are some truths too dangerous for anyone to know -- those that concern the future, world domination . . . and the end of everything.

My Review
This was an exciting book for me as I loved all the history and theology that is tied into the story. It's the 2nd book in the trilogy so I suggest that you read book 1 first. The characters are well-developed and the plot was very interesting with a twist in the end. The book was hard to put down and kept the pages flying until the very end and I think this book would make a great movie. I'm looking forward to reading the last book in the trilogy and I would recommend these books to those who love adventure thrillers.

114. After You by JoJo Moyes - 368 pages - 4 stars - 10/7/2016
Books Read: 114 - Pages Read: 43,165
October Books Read: 4 - October Pages Read: 1,730

Book Description
The sequel to Me Before You, which is now a major motion picture. Look out for Jojo’s new book, Paris for One and Other Stories, coming October 18, 2016.

“We all lose what we love at some point, but in her poignant, funny way, Moyes reminds us that even if it’s not always happy, there is an ever after.” —Miami Herald

“You’re going to feel uncomfortable in your new world for a bit. But I hope you feel a bit exhilarated too. Live boldly. Push yourself. Don’t settle. Just live well. Just live. Love, Will.”

How do you move on after losing the person you loved? How do you build a life worth living?

Louisa Clark is no longer just an ordinary girl living an ordinary life. After the transformative six months spent with Will Traynor, she is struggling without him. When an extraordinary accident forces Lou to return home to her family, she can’t help but feel she’s right back where she started.

Her body heals, but Lou herself knows that she needs to be kick-started back to life. Which is how she ends up in a church basement with the members of the Moving On support group, who share insights, laughter, frustrations, and terrible cookies. They will also lead her to the strong, capable Sam Fielding—the paramedic, whose business is life and death, and the one man who might be able to understand her. Then a figure from Will’s past appears and hijacks all her plans, propelling her into a very different future. . .

For Lou Clark, life after Will Traynor means learning to fall in love again, with all the risks that brings. But here Jojo Moyes gives us two families, as real as our own, whose joys and sorrows will touch you deeply, and where both changes and surprises await.

My Review
This book was very good but I enjoyed Me Before You more. It was a good sequel to the first book in regards to dealing and grieving for a love one but didn't measure up to the first one which was a very emotional read. It was good to find out how Lou moves on and that she falls in love again. I would recommend this book to those who love fiction mixed in with emotional messages and I now look forward to reading other books by JoJo Moyes.

>139 EadieB: This book is one of a trilogy and it fits with my theory that trilogies must be read n order. Glad you liked the book Eadie.

>141 Andrew-theQM:
Can't wait to read the next book. I may have to sneak it in for October.

>142 EadieB: I would definitely recommend reading book 3 whilst the others are reasonably fresh in your mind.

>143 Andrew-theQM:
That is a great idea and since you said it, I won't feel guilty sneaking it in October.

It certainly rounds off the trilogy quite nicely!

115. Coffin Road by Peter May - 303 pages - 5 stars - 10/11/2016
Books Read: 115 Pages Read: 43,468
October Books Read: 5 October Pages Read: 2,033

Book Description
In his latest mystery set in Scotland and the Outer Hebrides, award-winning author Peter May spins a tale about three disparate cases that may or may not be linked...

On the remote Isle of Harris in Scotland's Outer Hebrides, a man washes up on a deserted beach, hypothermic and completely disoriented. He has no idea who he is or how he got there. The only clue to his condition is a map of the island showing a desolate, ancient path called the Coffin Road. With a sense of dread and no clear idea what lies at the other end, he knows he must follow the trail if he has any hope of discovering his identity.

Meanwhile, homicide detective George Gunn makes the rough ocean crossing to a remote, sea-battered lighthouse on a rock in the northern Atlantic, twenty miles west of the Outer Hebrides, to investigate a brutal murder. Despite its isolation, the tiny island has seen its share of tragedy: more than a century earlier, three lighthouse keepers disappeared, never to be seen or heard from again. And now there is a new tragedy, and Gunn must figure out what happened.

At the same time, a teenage girl lies in her Edinburgh bedroom, desperate to discover the truth about her father's death. Two years after the discovery of the pioneering scientist's suicide note, Karen Fleming still cannot accept that her father would willingly abandon her. And the more she discovers about the nature of his research, the more she suspects that suicide had nothing to do with it.

My Review
Peter May is one of my favorite authors. He is an excellent writer and brings The Hebrides to life for all his readers. In your mind's eye you can see and feel what it's like to live on one of these islands as you read his books. He characters are very realistic and their lifestyle plays a very important part in the intricacy of his plots. The book was a page turner and held my interest to the very end. Learning about the cycle of bees was an added plus to the story. I highly recommend this book to those who love Scottish mysteries and I look forward to reading more from Peter May in the near future.

116. Simple Genius by David Baldacci - 412 pages - 4 stars - 10/12/2016
Books Read: 116 Pages Read: 43,880
October Books Read: 6 October Pages Read: 2,445

Book Description
In a world of secrets, human genius is power.
And sometimes it is simply deadly . . .

Near Washington, D.C., there are two clandestine institutions: the world's most unusual laboratory and a secret CIA training camp. Drawn to these sites by a murder, ex-Secret Service agent Sean King encounters a dark world of mathematicians, codes, and spies. His search for answers soon leads him to more shocking violence-and an autistic girl with an extraordinary genius.

Now, only by working with his embattled partner, Michelle Maxwell, can he catch a killer...and solve a stunning mystery that threatens the entire nation.

My Review
I enjoy reading about Michelle Maxwell and Sean King's relationship and adventures. This book was very good but a little slow in some parts but picked up towards the end. It was a fun read trying to figure out exactly what was going on behind the gates at Camp Peary. Figuring out who was good and who was bad also added to the plot and kept me guessing until the very end. I will definitely continue reading the series and I do look forward to the next installment and what will be happening with Michelle and Sean. I would highly recommend this series to those who love mystery and adventure mixed in with a little romance.

117. The Trespasser by Tana French - 449 pages - 4.5 stars - 10/14/2016
Books Read: 117 Pages Read: 44,329
October Books Read: 7 October Pages Read: 2,894

Book Description
In bestselling Tana French’s newest “tour de force,”* being on the Murder squad is nothing like Detective Antoinette Conway dreamed it would be. Her partner, Stephen Moran, is the only person who seems glad she’s there. The rest of her working life is a stream of thankless cases, vicious pranks, and harassment. Antoinette is savagely tough, but she’s getting close to the breaking point.

Their new case looks like yet another by-the-numbers lovers’ quarrel gone bad. Aislinn Murray is blond, pretty, groomed to a shine, and dead in her catalogue-perfect living room, next to a table set for a romantic dinner. There’s nothing unusual about her—except that Antoinette’s seen her somewhere before.

And that her death won’t stay in its neat by-numbers box. Other detectives are trying to push Antoinette and Steve into arresting Aislinn’s boyfriend, fast. There’s a shadowy figure at the end of Antoinette's road. Aislinn's friend is hinting that she knew Aislinn was in danger. And everything they find out about Aislinn takes her further from the glossy, passive doll she seemed to be.

Antoinette knows the harassment has turned her paranoid, but she can’t tell just how far gone she is. Is this case another step in the campaign to force her off the squad, or are there darker currents flowing beneath its polished surface?

My Review
Tana French has drawn an excellent character in Antoinette Conway. She is a very tough detective on the Dublin murder squad but through harassment from the other male squad members she is becoming very paranoid. Along with her partner, Steve Moran, she struggles to find the solution to the murder of Aislinn Murray. French writes with such detail she gives us an opportunity to see and feel what it's like to be a member of the murder squad. Her writing is excellent and she does get wordy but she takes you on a complex, emotional and suspenseful ride like no other. This is the 6th book in the series and in order to get the full impact of her characters it's best to start with the 1st book, In The Woods, and see how her writing progresses. I'm looking forward to her next book and I would highly recommend this series to those people who like complex murder mysteries.

You're on fire this month!

>149 Andrew-theQM:
I agree and I got more great ones to come this month!

118. The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry - 417 pages - 4.5 stars - 10/21/2016
Books Read: 118 Pages Read: 44,746
October Books Read: 8 October Pages Read: 3,311

Book Description
Cotton Malone retired from the high-risk world of elite operatives for the U.S. Justice Department to lead the low-key life of a rare-book dealer. But his quiet existence is shattered when he receives an anonymous e-mail: "You have something I want. You're the only person on earth who knows where to find it. Go get it. You have 72 hours. If I don't hear from you, you will be childless." His horrified ex-wife confirms that the threat is real: Their teenage son has been kidnapped. When Malone's Copenhagen bookshop is burned to the ground, it becomes brutally clear that those responsible will stop at nothing to get what they want. And what they want is nothing less than the lost Library of Alexandria.

My Review
This is book 2 of The Cotton Malone series and I would have to say that it is my favorite. This book had it all - history mixed with religion and suspense. It was a fast moving plot with great characters and never a dull moment that kept the pages turning fast. I loved the short chapters with lots of cliffhangers that Steve Berry does so masterfully. Lots of twists and turns with surprises in the end make for very adventurous read. I'm now looking forward to the next Cotton Malone read and I would highly recommend this series to those who love fast-paced adventure with history and religion mixed in.

119. The Final Detail by Harlan Coben - 372 pages - 4 stars - 10/22/2016
Books Read: 119 Pages Read: 45,118
October Books Read: 9 October Pages Read: 3,683

Book Description
His heart is broken. His partner is in jail. And someone is trying to kill him.

Then Myron Bolitar gets some really bad news....

For sports agent Myron Bolitar, it seemed like the perfect vacation. A tropical beach. A warm breeze. A little uncomplicated passion with a woman he barely knows. Myron is almost in heaven when his friend Win shows up with a message that blasts him back to reality: Esperanza is in trouble. It's time to come home.

Now Myron is back in New York, determined to help Esperanza, his best friend and partner, who's been accused of killing one of their clients. But Esperanza isn't talking. Neither is her lawyer. And to prove his friend's innocence, Myron must trace the rise and fall of the victim, a pitcher who had been making a comeback with the Yankees. Suddenly the investigation is leading Myron to places he'd rather not go: into a family's agony, through the city's sexual underground, and to a moment buried on the dark side of a brilliant sports career.... Twelve years ago a young agent named Bolitar tried to help an up-and-coming athlete. It was a fatal mistake—and now Myron will have to pay the price....

My Review
This is the 6th book of the Myron Bolitar series and was a quick, entertaining read. With each book, the reader gets more background on the main characters and this was no different. Coben has the ability to make you laugh and cry in the same sentence and this was a very enjoyable book in that respect. The book has lots of dialogue that keeps the story moving and the characters are very-well drawn. I look forward to reading the 7th book in the series and I highly recommend this book to those who love dry wit mixed in with their mystery and suspense.

120. The Keepers of the Library by Glenn Cooper - 377 pages - 4.5 stars - 10/23/2016
Books Read: 120 Pages Read: 45,495
October Books Read: 10 October Pages Read: 4,060

Book Description
Prophecy is prologue

England, 1775. An ambitious American pushes his expedition onward despite dire warnings from the locals. But what Benjamin Franklin discovers on the Isle of Wight isn't just superstition. It's a secret with the power to save the world—or destroy it.

In less than four hundred days, most of the world's population will be dead. Nobody knows why, only when: February 9, 2027.

Retired FBI Special Agent Will Piper is one of the few who will live "Beyond the Horizon." Fifteen years ago, he revealed the prophecy to the world after the hunt for a madman led him to the mystical Library of Vectis, now housed at Area 51, in an unmarked location in the Nevada desert.

Will is determined to live out his days in the Florida sun . . . even as the world sinks into hedonism and despair . . . even as the Doomsday Killer's ominous calling cards resurface . . . until the apocalypse threatens the one thing Will won't compromise on: his own flesh and blood.

My Review
This is the 3rd book and the last book in the Will Piper series. It is best if this series is read in order as each book is a continuation of the last book. The plot was a very interesting read with well-drawn characters. It was fast-paced read that kept the pages turning until a very surprising ending. History from the past and a switch to present was done very skillfully. The concept of the book is a very unusual and interesting premise and Glenn Cooper is very adept at getting us to believe it could be true. I look forward to reading more of his books and I highly recommend this book to those who love mystery thrillers.

>153 EadieB: It is a great trilogy.

>154 Andrew-theQM:
I wish he would write some more Will Piper books as he is a great character.

>154 Andrew-theQM: Such a different and interesting premise for the books too.

121. Watermelon by Marian Keyes - 417 pages - 5 stars - 10/26/2015
Books Read: 121 Pages Read: 45,912
October Books Read: 11 October Pages Read: 4,477

Book Description
February the fifteenth is a very special day for me. It is the day I gave birth to my first child. It is also the day my husband left me...I can only assume the two events weren't entirely unrelated.
Claire has everything she ever wanted: a husband she adores, a great apartment, a good job. Then, on the day she gives birth to their first baby, James informs her that he's leaving her. Claire is left with a newborn daughter, a broken heart, and a postpartum body that she can hardly bear to look at.

She decides to go home to Dublin. And there, sheltered by the love of a quirky family, she gets better. So much so, in fact, that when James slithers back into her life, he's in for a bit of a surprise.

My Review
This book was hard to put down. Marian Keyes writes in a way that is very relatable. She has a way of expressing humor in tragic experiences that makes you feel exactly how her characters are feeling. The plot is very realistic and the characters are well-drawn. I have never read Marian Keyes before but I look forward to reading the 2nd book in this series, Rachel's Holiday, and I would highly recommend Watermelon to those who love to read chick-lit.

122. Darkest Fear by Harlan Coben - 319 pages - 5 stars - 10/27/2016
Books Read: 122 Pages Read: 46,231
October Books Read: 12 October Pages Read: 4,796

Book Description
In his seventh Myron Bolitar thriller, Edgar Award winner Harlan Coben brings us his most astonishing—and deeply personal—novel yet. And it all begins when Myron’s ex tells him he’s a father . . . of a dying thirteen-year-old boy.

A surprise visit from an ex-girlfriend is unsettling enough. But Emily Downing’s news brings Myron to his knees. Her son Jeremy is dying and needs a bone marrow transplant from a donor who has vanished without a trace. Then comes the real shocker: Jeremy is Myron’s son, conceived the night before Emily’s wedding to another man. Myron is determined to help him. But finding the missing donor means cracking open a dark mystery that involves a broken family, a brutal kidnapping spree, and the FBI. And as doubts emerge about Jeremy’s true paternity, a child vanishes, igniting a chain reaction of heartbreaking truth and chilling revelation.

My Review
I would have to say that this book of the Myron Bolitar series is the best so far. Interesting characters, excellent plot with lots of twists and witty dialogue. It grabbed my heart from the beginning and didn't let go until the very end. It's best to read this series from the beginning therefore allowing you to see the growth of the characters. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment, Promise Me, in order to catch up with the characters once again.

123. Piece of My Heart by Peter Robinson - 336 pages - 5 stars - 10/30/2016
Books Read: 123 Pages Read: 46,567
October Books Read: 13 October Pages Read: 5,132

Book Description
The year is 1969. Rock 'n' roll, psychedelic drugs, and peace-loving hippies are thriving in Britain. But in the aftermath of a rock music festival, cold reality strikes when a woman is found murdered in her sleeping bag, callously left among the debris in the concert's wake. Detective Inspector Stanley Chadwick is the hard-headed, straitlaced copper assigned to the case who must reluctantly enter a counterculture world to find a killer. When clues lead him to an up-and-coming rock band, the Mad Hatters, with whom the victim was connected, Chadwick experiences firsthand the dangers of this dark new world of sex, drugs, and rock 'n' roll.

In the present day, Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks is called to the scene of a murder victim who turns out to be a freelance journalist working on a piece for MOJO magazine about the classic rock band the Mad Hatters. Since the sixties, the band has gone through a number of tragedies, losing one member to madness and another to the shallow end of a swimming pool. Putting their checkered past behind them, the Mad Hatters have now revamped their sound and are set to celebrate their forty years in the biz by embarking on their first big concert tour in years.

Banks and Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot discover that the dead journalist was onto something big hidden in the band's past, and had stirred up some very serious trouble. As Banks and Annie dig deeper into the phenomenon of the Mad Hatters, they find more than they bargained for, and soon realize that their generation's former free-love lifestyle often comes with a deadly price.

In the course of twin narratives, Robinson expertly weaves the stories of two interconnected murders that occur decades apart. As only he can, Robinson has created a novel that is as explosive as your favorite rock album and a plot that moves at breakneck speed, traversing through the tumultuous swinging sixties to present day and back again. Piece of My Heart is an extraordinary thrill ride that uncovers the gritty and violent underbelly of the generation of peace, love, and harmony.

My Review
In this book 16 of the Inspector Banks series, Peter Robinson does an excellent job in switching between three separate murder cases, two from 1969 and one from the present day, which seem to be related somehow. This book was also an introduction to a new character, Superintendent Gervaise, who definitely is beginning to conflict with Banks and Annie Cabbot's idea of how to run a police department. Peter Robinson is an excellent story teller and this book was a real page-turner for me. I found the hippies from the 60's to be very believable and the plot was very interesting and entertaining. I'm looking forward to reading the next installment and highly recommend this series to those who love mystery thrillers.

124. Crucifix Killer by Chris Carter - 423 pages - 5 stars - 10/31/2016
Books Read: 124 Pages Read: 46,990
October Books Read: 14 October Pages Read: 5,555

Book Description
When the body of a young woman is discovered in a derelict cottage in the middle of Los Angeles National Forest, Homicide Detective Robert Hunter finds himself entering a horrific and recurring nightmare. Naked, strung from two wooden posts, the victim was sadistically tortured before meeting an excruciatingly painful death. All the skin has been ripped from her face - while she was still alive. On the nape of her neck has been carved a strange double-cross: the signature of a psychopath known as the Crucifix Killer. But that's impossible. Because two years ago, the Crucifix Killer was caught and executed. Could this therefore be a copycat killer? Or could the unthinkable be true? Is the real killer still out there, ready to embark once again on a vicious and violent killing spree, selecting his victims seemingly at random, taunting Robert Hunter with his inability to catch him? Hunter and his rookie partner are about to enter a nightmare beyond imagining.

My Review
If you like gritty thrillers, then you will like The Crucifix Killer. This series is not for the weak of heart, but if you can get through grit and not let it bother you, you will find that this is an excellent read. Garcia is a rookie but Hunter takes him under his wing and their relationship ends up pretty solid. The story was so interesting that the pages kept turning and twists and turns never stopped. The ending had a few surprises which I didn't see coming and I now look forward to reading book 2 very soon. I would highly recommend this series to those who like Karin Slaughter type mystery thrillers.

125. The English Assassin by Daniel Silva - 404 pages - 4.5 stars - 11/3/2016
Books Read: 125 Pages Read: 47,394
November Books Read: 1 November Pages Read: 404

Book Description
The Unlikely Spy, Daniel Silva's extraordinary debut novel, was applauded by critics as it rocketed onto national bestseller lists. Now Silva has outdone himself, with a taut, lightning-paced thriller rooted assuredly in fact: Switzerland's shameful WWII record of profiteering and collaboration with Nazi Germany.
When art restorer and occasional Israeli agent Gabriel Allon is sent to Zurich, Switzerland, to restore the painting of a reclusive millionaire banker, he arrives to find his would-be employer murdered at the foot of his Raphael. A secret collection of priceless, illicitly gained Impressionist masterpieces is missing. Gabriel's handlers step out of the shadows to admit the truth-the collector had been silenced-and Gabriel is put back in the high-stakes spy game, battling wits with the rogue assassin he helped to train.

Tense, taut, expertly crafted, and brimming with unexpected reversals, The English Assassin is Daniel Silva at his storytelling best.

My Review
Daniel Silva is an excellent writer and I found this book to have interesting characters, with a fast-moving plot and lots of twists and turns. I enjoyed traveling through countries with the characters and learning lots of history along the way. The book hooked me from the start and had lots of action all the way through. I look forward to reading the next installment and I highly recommend this series to those who love action-packed spy novels.

126. Friend of the Devil by Peter Robinson - 384 pages - 4.5 stars - 11/5/2016
Books Read: 126 Pages Read: 47,778
November Books Read: 2 November Pages Read: 788

Book Description
Chief Inspector Alan Banks and Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot must work together to solve two chilling crimes in a stunning new novel by New York Times bestselling author Peter Robinson
One morning in March, on the edge of a cliff overlooking the sea, a woman named Karen Drew is found in her wheelchair with her throat slit. Back in Eastvale on that same morning, in a tangle of narrow alleys behind a market square, the body of Hayley Daniels is found raped and strangled.

Two murders . . . two towns . . .

On loan to a sister precinct, Detective Inspector Annie Cabbot draws the first case. Karen Drew seems to have lived a quiet and nearly invisible life for the past seven years. Try as she might, Annie turns up nothing in the woman's past that might have prompted someone to wheel her out to the sea and to her death.

Meanwhile, in the Hayley Daniels murder, Chief Inspector Alan Banks has suspects galore. Everywhere she went, the nineteen-year-old student attracted attention. Anyone could have followed her on the night she was out drinking with friends, making sure she never made it back home.

Then a breakthrough spins Annie's case in a shocking and surprising new direction, straight toward Banks. Coincidence? Not in Eastvale. Banks and Annie are searching for two killers who might strike again at any moment and with bloody fury.

My Review
This novel was about 2 separate murders that in the end came together and were linked to murders from 18 years ago. The plot had lots of twists and turns and kept the pages turning right up to the very surprising ending. I would recommend reading Aftermath and Caedmon's Song before reading this one as some of the characters were connected to the characters in those two books. I now look forward to reading the next installment in the Inspector Banks series and I highly recommend this series to those who like mystery suspense thrillers and suggest that you read them in order.

127. Harbour Street by Ann Cleeves - 375 pages - 4.5 stars - 11/7/2016
Books Read: 127 Pages Read: 48,153
November Books Read: 3 November Pages Read: 1,163

Book Description
Harbour Street is the next spellbinding installment in Ann Cleeves' series of crime novels about Vera Stanhope, played in the TV detective drama VERA by Brenda Blethyn.

As the snow falls thickly on Newcastle, the shouts and laughter of Christmas revelers break the muffled silence. Detective Joe Ashworth and his daughter Jessie are swept along in the jostling crowd onto the Metro.

But when the train is stopped due to the bad weather, and the other passengers fade into the swirling snow, Jessie notices that one lady hasn't left the train: Margaret Krukowski has been fatally stabbed.

Arriving at the scene, DI Vera Stanhope is relieved to have an excuse to escape the holiday festivities. As she stands on the silent, snow-covered station platform, Vera feels a familiar buzz of anticipation, sensing that this will be a complex and unusual case.

Then, just days later, a second woman is murdered. Vera knows that to find the key to this new killing she needs to understand what had been troubling Margaret so deeply before she died - before another life is lost. She can feel in her bones that there's a link. Retracing Margaret's final steps, Vera finds herself searching deep into the hidden past of this seemingly innocent neighborhood, led by clues that keep revolving around one street...

Why are the residents of Harbour Street so reluctant to speak?

Told with piercing prose and a forensic eye, Ann Cleeves' gripping new novel explores what happens when a community closes ranks to protect their own-and at what point silent witnesses become complicit.

My Review
Ann Cleeves is an excellent writer who keeps her clues very close to the vest. Her characters are very well-developed and her plots are quite entertaining with plenty of twists and turns. I enjoyed the fact that Vera Stanhope delegated responsibilities to her crew more than in the earlier books in the series. The storyline kept me engaged and guessing until the very last pages. I now look forward to reading the next book in the series, The Moth Catcher, and highly recommend this series to those who love mystery novels.

128. The Great Zoo of China by Matthew Reilly - 402 pages - 4 stars - 11/7/2016
Books Read: 128 Pages Read: 48,555
November Books Read: 4 November Pages Read: 1,565

Book Description
In the blockbuster and bestselling tradition of Jurassic Park comes the breakneck new adventure from the New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author Matthew Reilly whose imaginative, cinematic thrillers "make you feel like a kid again; they're a blast" (Booklist).

It is a secret the Chinese government has been keeping for forty years. They have proven the existence of dragons--a landmark discovery no one could ever believe is real, and a scientific revelation that will amaze the world. Now the Chinese are ready to unveil their astonishing findings within the greatest zoo ever constructed.

A small group of VIPs and journalists has been brought to the zoo deep within China to see these fabulous creatures for the first time. Among them is Dr. Cassandra Jane "CJ" Cameron, a writer for National Geographic and an expert on reptiles. The visitors are assured by their Chinese hosts that they will be struck with wonder at these beasts, that the dragons are perfectly safe, and that nothing can go wrong.

Of course it can't...

My Review
Matthew Reilly takes us on another non-stop adventure ride but this time with dragons. It is a combination of reality and fantasy and I found myself having to suspend belief in a few areas. As I read this book, I could actually visualize the movie on a big screen with lots of suspenseful twists. I really enjoyed the female hero, Dr. C.J. Cameron, a vet with reptile expertise and writer for National Geographic. I look forward to reading another of Reilly's novels in the near future and I highly recommend this roller coaster ride to those who are adventure addicts.

129. This Was A Man by Jeffrey Archer - 403 pages - 5 stars - 11/13/2016
Books Read: 129 Pages Read: 48,958
November Books Read: 5 November Pages Read: 1,968

Book Description
This Was a Man opens with a shot being fired, but who pulled the trigger, and who lives and who dies?
In Whitehall, Giles Barrington discovers the truth about his wife Karin from the Cabinet Secretary. Is she a spy or a pawn in a larger game?

Harry Clifton sets out to write his magnum opus, while his wife Emma completes her ten years as Chairman of the Bristol Royal Infirmary, and receives an unexpected call from Margaret Thatcher offering her a job.

Sebastian Clifton becomes chairman of Farthings Kaufman bank, but only after Hakim Bishara has to resign for personal reasons. Sebastian and Samantha’s talented daughter, Jessica, is expelled from the Slade School of Fine Art, but her aunt Grace comes to her rescue.

Meanwhile, Lady Virginia is about to flee the country to avoid her creditors when the Duchess of Hertford dies, and she sees another opportunity to clear her debts and finally trump the Cliftons and Barringtons.

In a devastating twist, tragedy engulfs the Clifton family when one of them receives a shocking diagnosis that will throw all their lives into turmoil.

This Was a Man is the captivating final installment of the Clifton Chronicles, a series of seven novels that has topped the bestseller lists around the world, and enhanced Jeffrey Archer’s reputation as a master storyteller.

My Review
This was an excellent finish to the 7 book Clifton Chronicles. Jeffrey Archer is a great story-teller and the last book did not disappoint. All the pieces to the characters lives came together in the end to make this one of the best family sagas that I have ever read. If you haven't read this series, now is the time to do that, as you can finally read from book 1 to book 7 without having to wait a year in between books. I hated to see this series end and I look forward to reading more of Jeffrey Archer's other books. I would highly recommend this series to those who love historical family sagas.

130. Letters From Skye by Jessica Brockmole - 290 pages - 5 stars - 11/13/2016
Books Read: 130 Pages Read: 49,248
November Books Read: 6 November Pages Read: 2,258

Book Description
A sweeping story told in letters, spanning two continents and two world wars, Jessica Brockmole’s atmospheric debut novel captures the indelible ways that people fall in love, and celebrates the power of the written word to stir the heart.

March 1912: Twenty-four-year-old Elspeth Dunn, a published poet, has never seen the world beyond her home on Scotland’s remote Isle of Skye. So she is astonished when her first fan letter arrives, from a college student, David Graham, in far-away America. As the two strike up a correspondence—sharing their favorite books, wildest hopes, and deepest secrets—their exchanges blossom into friendship, and eventually into love. But as World War I engulfs Europe and David volunteers as an ambulance driver on the Western front, Elspeth can only wait for him on Skye, hoping he’ll survive.

June 1940: At the start of World War II, Elspeth’s daughter, Margaret, has fallen for a pilot in the Royal Air Force. Her mother warns her against seeking love in wartime, an admonition Margaret doesn’t understand. Then, after a bomb rocks Elspeth’s house, and letters that were hidden in a wall come raining down, Elspeth disappears. Only a single letter remains as a clue to Elspeth’s whereabouts. As Margaret sets out to discover where her mother has gone, she must also face the truth of what happened to her family long ago.

Sparkling with charm and full of captivating period detail, Letters from Skye is a testament to the power of love to overcome great adversity, and marks Jessica Brockmole as a stunning new literary voice.

My Review
This book was a very quick read as it is written in letter-form with correspondence from one character to another. The plot centered around an emotional tale of love and loss in which we can feel the horrible effects of war on relationships. It is a gripping love story that will definitely tug at your heart. The book is well written and jumps between the two different World Wars from 1912 through 1940. I enjoyed reading and learning about the Island of Skye and the people who lived there. I look forward to reading more from this author and highly recommend this book to those who like love stories during the eras of WWI and WWII.

>166 EadieB: I really enjoyed Brockmole's book.

131. The Never-Open Desert Diner by James Anderson - 295 pages - 5 stars - 11/16/2016
Books Read: 131 Pages Read: 49,543
November Books Read: 7 November Pages Read: 2,453

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.

Book Description
A singularly compelling debut novel, about a desert where people go to escape their past, and a truck driver who finds himself at risk when he falls in love with a mysterious woman.

Ben Jones lives a quiet, hardscrabble life, working as a trucker on Route 117, a little-travelled road in a remote region of the Utah desert which serves as a haven for fugitives and others looking to hide from the world. For many of the desert's inhabitants, Ben's visits are their only contact with the outside world, and the only landmark worth noting is a once-famous roadside diner that hasn't opened in years.

Ben's routine is turned upside down when he stumbles across a beautiful woman named Claire playing a cello in an abandoned housing development. He can tell that she's fleeing something in her past--a dark secret that pushed her to the end of the earth--but despite his better judgment he is inexorably drawn to her.

As Ben and Claire fall in love, specters from her past begin to resurface, with serious and life-threatening consequences not only for them both, but for others who have made this desert their sanctuary. Dangerous men come looking for her, and as they turn Route 117 upside down in their search, the long-buried secrets of those who've laid claim to this desert come to light, bringing Ben and the other locals into deadly conflict with Claire's pursuers. Ultimately, the answers they all seek are connected to the desert's greatest mystery--what really happened all those years ago at the never-open desert diner?

In this unforgettable story of love and loss, Ben learns the enduring truth that some violent crimes renew themselves across generations. At turns funny, heartbreaking and thrilling, The Never-Open Desert Diner powerfully evokes an unforgettable setting and introduces readers to a cast of characters who will linger long after the last page.

My Review
I enjoyed this book very much. All the characters were highly unusual but I liked the main character the best and found him very entertaining. The writing is excellent and very lyrical. The story gets off to a slow start but mid-way really takes off and holds your interest until the very end. The dialogue is humorous and made me chuckle throughout. As I read this novel, I couldn't help but visualize this book as a movie. I look forward to reading more from this author and I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy entertaining books with great dialogue and humor.

132. Beyond Recall by Robert Goddard - 310 pages - 5 stars - 11/21/2016
Books Read: 132 Pages Read: 49,853
November Books Read: 8 November Pages Read: 2,763

Book Description
On a bright autumn afternoon in Truro, the Napier family celebrates one couple's golden wedding anniversary and another's marriage. But for one member of the clan, the day turns dark. Chris Napier, prodigal son, suddenly spots the ragged specter of a former friend, Nicky Lanyon--a man whose own family was ruined by the same twist of fate with which the Napiers were blessed. And the next morning, Chris is horrified to find Nicky dead, hanging from a tree where the boys once played....

For Chris, the suicide opens a floodgate of doubt and suspicion. How did his family's wealth slip out of the hands of a great-uncle, brutally murdered before he could change his will? Were the men convicted of the crime truly guilty? And who is the mysterious, seductive woman who claims to know the Napiers' darkest secrets? As the crimes of two families are exposed, a series of violent acts shadows him and suddenly Chris knows he's in uncharted waters...until a killer drops one last disguise--for the ultimate act of revenge.

My Review
This was another haunting tale of lies and intrigue by Robert Goddard, the master of manipulation. The twists kept me hooked until the very end. It's a well crafted story with a solid plot line and interesting characters. It's a shame that more people don't know about Robert Goddard's books as he his one of the best in suspense thrillers. I highly recommend his books as they are very entertaining. I can't wait to read the next one.

133. The Romanov Prophecy by Steve Berry - 384 pages - 4.5 stars - 11/22/2016
Books Read: 133 Pages Read: 50,237
November Books Read: 9 November Pages Read: 3,147

Book Description
Ekaterinburg, Russia: July 16, 1918. Ten months have passed since Nicholas II's reign was cut short by revolutionaries. Tonight, the White Army advances on the town where the Tsar and his family are being held captive by the Bolsheviks. Nicholas dares to hope for salvation. Instead, the Romanovs are coldly and methodically executed.

Moscow: Present Day. Atlanta lawyer Miles Lord, fluent in Russian and well versed in the country's history, is thrilled to be in Moscow on the eve of such a momentous event. After the fall of Communism and a succession of weak governments, the Russian people have voted to bring back the monarchy. The new tsar will be chosen from the distant relatives of Nicholas II by a specially appointed commission, and Miles' job is to perform a background check on the Tsarist candidate favored by a powerful group of Western businessmen. But research quickly becomes the least of Miles' concerns when he is nearly killed by gunmen on a city plaza.

Suddenly Miles is racing across continents, shadowed by nefarious henchmen. At first, his only question is why people are pursuing him. But after a strange conversation with a mysterious Russian, who steers Miles toward the writings of Rasputin, he becomes desperate to know moremost important, what really happened to the family of Russia's last tsar?

His only companion is Akilina Petrov, a Russian circus performer sympathetic to his struggle, and his only guide is a cryptic message from Rasputin that implies that the bloody night of so long ago is not the last chapter in the Romanovs' story . . . and that someone might even have survived the massacre. The prophecy's implications are earth-shatteringnot only for the future of the tsar and mother Russia, but also for Miles himself.

Steve Berry, national bestselling author of the phenomenal thriller The Amber Room, once again delves into rich historical fact to produce an explosive page-turner. In The Romanov Prophecy, the authentic and the speculative meld into a fascinating and exceptionally suspenseful work of fiction.

My Review
I have always been fascinated by the execution of the Romanovs and was not disappointed in Steve Berry's Romanov Prophecy. He did a great job weaving the historical facts and the prophecy of Rasputin with a bit of his imagination. I found this book to be very captivating as the twists and turns kept me riveted to the story until the very end. The characters were well-developed and the writing was excellent and well researched. I would highly recommend this book to those who love Russian history and I look forward to reading more from this author.

134. The Twenty-Three by Linwood Barclay - 451 pages - 4.5 stars - 11/24/2016
Books Read: 134 Pages Read: 50,688
November Books Read: 10 November Pages Read: 3,598

Book Description
Everything has been leading to this.

It's the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, May 23rd, and the small town of Promise Falls, New York, has found itself in the midst of a full-blown catastrophe. Hundreds of people are going to the hospital with similar flu-like symptoms--and dozens have died. Investigators quickly zero in on the water supply. But the question for many, including private investigator Cal Weaver, remains: Who would benefit from a mass poisoning of this town?

Meanwhile, Detective Barry Duckworth is faced with another problem. A college student has been murdered, and he's seen the killer's handiwork before--in the unsolved homicides of two other women in town. Suddenly, all the strange things that have happened in the last month start to add up...

Bloody mannequins found in car "23" of an abandoned Ferris wheel...a fiery, out-of-control bus with "23" on the back, that same number on the hoodie of a man accused of assault...

The motive for harming the people of Promise Falls points to the number 23--and working out why will bring Duckworth closer to death than he's ever been before...

My Review
I really enjoyed this ending to the Promise Falls Trilogy. What I liked about this trilogy was the very believable characters that seem like people who may live in a small town near you. I also enjoyed the plot which had many twists and turns that keep the pages turning. The ending was such a surprise that I never saw it coming. If you haven't read a Barclay novel, what are you waiting for. His writing is excellent and I love the short chapters that make you want to read on to the next chapter. I look forward to reading my next Barclay book and I highly recommend this trilogy to those who love unique stories with unique characters.

135. Promise Me by Harlan Coben - 370 pages - 5 stars - 11/27/2016
Books Read: 135 Pages Read: 51,058
November Books Read: 11 November Pages Read: 3,968

Book Description
New York Times bestselling author Harlan Coben returns with PROMISE ME--a searing new thriller and a story of how far we will go to protect our own….

It has been six years since entertainment agent Myron Bolitar last played superhero. In six years he hasn’t thrown a punch. He hasn’t held, much less fired, a gun. He hasn’t called his friend Win, still the scariest man he knows, to back him up or get him out of trouble.
All that is about to change...because of a promise.

The school year is almost over. Anxious families await word of college acceptances. In these last pressure-cooker months of high school, some kids will make the all-too- common and all-too-dangerous mistake of drinking and driving. But Myron is determined to help keep his friends’ children safe, and so he makes two neighborhood girls promise him: If they are ever in a bind but are afraid to call their parents, they must call him.

Several nights later, the call comes at 2:00 am, and true to his word, Myron picks up one of the girls in midtown Manhattan and drives her to a quiet cul-de-sac in New Jersey where she says her friend lives.

The next day, the girl’s parents discover that their daughter is missing. And that Myron was the last person to see her. Desperate to fulfill a well-intentioned promise turned nightmarishly wrong, Myron races to find her before she’s gone forever. But his past will not be buried so easily - for trouble has always stalked him, and his loved ones often suffer. Now Myron must decide once and for all who he is and what he will stand up for if he is to have any hope of saving a young girl’s life.

My Review
This book was a bit different from Coben's other Myron Bolitar books because Myron is the main character. The plot was intricate, witty and suspenseful which makes for a great mystery read. From the beginning, I was hooked and the twists and turns kept me guessing right up to the surprise ending. I would have to say that I think this is Coben's best Myron Bolitar book. I would highly recommend this book if you like laugh-out-loud suspense mysteries and I look forward to reading his next Bolitar book.

136. The Critic by Peter May - 290 pages - 4.5 stars - 11/27/2016
Books Read: 136 Pages Read: 51,348
November Books Read: 12 November Pages Read: 4,258

Book Description
Several years ago, Gil Petty, the world's number one wine critic, went missing during a tasting tour of the little-known wine region of Gaillac. Three years ago, his body was discovered, dressed in the ceremonial robes of the Brotherhood of the Order of the Divine Bottle and preserved in red wine before being planted like a scarecrow in a vineyard in southwest France. His murderer was never found. Possible clues to Petty's murder lie in his reviews, but they are locked behind the seemingly unbreakable code he invented to keep them secure from prying eyes prior to publication. A leak to the public would have allowed wine speculators to reap rich rewards. Scots exile and former forensics expert Enzo Macleod reopens this well-chilled case to discover that the genteel world of winemakers hides a business driven by greed, envy, and desperation. Fortified by copious quantities of wine, Enzo hunts an elusive murderer who is quite prepared to kill again. Peter May won the Scottish Young Journalist of the Year Award at 21, and had his first novel published at 26. He then left journalism and became one of Scotland's most successful and prolific television dramatists. A Vintage Corpse is the sequel to Dry Bones and second in the Enzo MacLeod series.

My Review
If you love wine, you will love this book. I learned more about wine than I really needed to know in this 2nd book of the Enzo Files. Peter May is one of my favorite authors and he never has disappointed me. He books are very engaging, realistic and well-developed. They are also filled with lots of twists and turns making his books hard to put down. I now look forward to reading the 3rd book in the series and I highly recommend this novel to those who love mysteries with a bit of humor and romance.

The Hunters by Chris Kuzneski - 332 pages - 4 stars - 11/30/2016
Books Read: 137 Pages Read: 51,680
November Books Read: 13 November Pages Read: 4,590

Book Description
#1 bestselling thriller that will soon be a major motion picture!

THE TEAM:
Financed by a billionaire philanthropist, this elite team--a soldier, an historian, a computer whiz, a weapons expert, and a thief--is tasked with finding the world's most legendary treasures.

THE MISSION:
Fearing a German victory in WWI, the Romanian government signed a deal with Russia to protect the country's treasures. In 1916, two trains full of gold and the most precious possessions of the Romanian state--paintings, jewelry, and ancient artifacts--were sent to the underground vaults of the Kremlin. But in the turmoil of war, the Romanian treasure was scattered and lost.

THE PRIZE:
The collection is now valued at over $3.5 billion. Despite several attempts to find it, its location has remained a mystery...until now.

My Review
This was an action-plot thriller with great characters. Held my interest all the way through to the very end. I would have rated the book higher but Kuzneski kept a lot of information from the reader and thereby the reader felt left out and not a part of the story at times. Also the plot was interesting but some of the scenes were unbelievable and drawn out too much with technological information. I will continue with the series though, as the characters grow and get more cohesive in the future books, hopefully. I would recommend this series to those who love thrilling adventure novels.

Conclave by Robert Harris - 286 pages - 4 stars - 12/2/2016
Books Read: 138 Pages Read: 51,348
December Books Read: 1 December Pages Read: 286

Book Description
The best-selling author of Enigma and Fatherland turns to today's Vatican in a ripped-from-the-headlines novel, and gives us his most ambitious, page-turning thriller yet--where the power of God is nearly equaled by the ambition of men.

The pope is dead. Behind the locked doors of the Sistine Chapel, one hundred and eighteen cardinals from all over the globe will cast their votes in the world's most secretive election. They are holy men. But they have ambition. And they have rivals. Over the next seventy-two hours one of them will become the most powerful spiritual figure on Earth.

My Review
I enjoyed this book very much but I would not consider it to be a thrilling story. I would say more of a power-control type of novel. I enjoyed Harris' writing and the characters were well-developed. His research was amazing and gave much insight on the workings of a conclave behind the scenes. I learned a lot that I didn't know before and found the cardinals' struggle to become the next pope very intriguing. I now need to go back and read some more of Harris' novels and I would highly recommend this book to those who enjoy historical religious novels.

139. Turning Angel by Greg Iles - 501 pages - 4.5 stars - 12/6/2016
Books Read: 139 Pages Read: 52,467
December Books Read: 2 December Pages Read: 787

Book Description
After winning the most dangerous case of his career, prosecutor Penn Cage decides to remain in his Southern hometown to raise his young daughter in a safe haven. But nowhere is truly safe―not from long-buried secrets, or murder.… When the nude body of prep school student Kate Townsend is found near the Mississippi River, Penn’s best friend, Drew Elliott, is desperate for his counsel. An esteemed family physician, Drew makes a shocking confession that could put him on death row. Penn will do all he can to exonerate Drew, but in a town where the gaze of a landmark cemetery statue―the Turning Angel―never looks away, Penn finds himself caught on the jagged edge of blackmail, betrayal, and deadly violence.

My Review
This is a story that will grab your attention right from the start. It was hard to put down and the plot had many twists and turns. The ending was a surprise that I didn't see coming. The subject matter was disturbing but the characters are very realistic. I loved the setting of the book - the South in Natchez Mississippi, a historic civil war city. I now look forward to reading the 3rd book of the Penn Cage series and highly recommend this author to those who love page-turning mystery novels.

140. Long Lost by Harlan Coben - 371 pages - 4 stars - 12/7/2016
Books Read: 140 Pages Read: 52,838
December Books Read: 3 December Pages Read: 1,158

Book Description
Myron Bolitar hasn’t heard from Terese Collins since their torrid affair ended ten years ago, so her desperate phone call from Paris catches him completely off guard. In a shattering admission, Terese reveals the tragic story behind her disappearance―her struggles to get pregnant, the greatest moment of her life when her baby was born…and the fatal accident that robbed her of it all: her marriage, her happiness, and her beloved only daughter.

Now a suspect in the murder of her ex-husband in Paris, Terese has nowhere else to turn for help. Myron heeds the call. But then a startling piece of evidence turns the entire case upside down, laying bare Terese’s long-buried family secrets…and the very real possibility that her daughter may still be alive.

In grave danger from unknown assailants in a country where nothing is as it seems, Myron and Terese race to stay a step ahead of Homeland Security, Interpol, and Mossad. Soon they are working at breakneck pace not only to learn what really happened to Terese’s long-lost little girl―but to uncover a sinister plot with shocking global implications.

My Review
This book was more action-packed than other Myron Bolitar books, and it also took place in Europe. The pacing was fast and furious resulting in a hard-to-put-down read. Coben definitely makes you laugh out loud with Myron and Win's antics and as usual he keeps you wondering how it will end. I now looking forward to reading the next book in the Bolitar series and highly recommend Coben's books to those who love stories that are fast-paced with unexpected twists.

141. Blacklight Blue by Peter May - 314 pages - 5 stars - 12/9/2016
Books Read: 141 Pages Read: 53,152
December Books Read: 4 December Pages Read: 1,472

Book Description
Enzo MacLeod, a Scot teaching on a faculty at Cahors in southwest France, confidently bet that he could use his expertise to crack seven notorious murders described in a book on cold cases by Parisian journalist Roger Raffin. Enzo has in fact solved the first two crimes.

But the third is far from his mind right now: he’s just been diagnosed with a terminal illness, and he’s become the victim of someone who seems intent on destroying his credit and his relationships—and getting him arrested for murder. This is one instance where his Scottish stubbornness might pay off.

Having established a safe house to protect his loved ones, besieged now as it were, he sets to work. Are his personal woes somehow connected to the digging he’s done into the brutal murder of a rent boy in a Paris apartment sixteen years ago, as Raffin has described? What further remnants of evidence can he review—and can he stay alive long enough to catch the long-hidden killer? This is the third installment in the Enzo MacLeod series.

My Review
Peter May's writing is always so descriptive and makes you feel as if you are right there in France or Spain along with his characters. In this book, Enzo is busy trying to solve the unsolved crime of a brutal murder in Paris 16 years ago from Roger Rafin's book. The twists and turns in this novel keep you riveted to the book right to the very surprising ending. The characters are very believable and Peter May excellently switches from the past to the present expertly with great ease. I look forward to the next book in the series and highly recommend this series to those who love mystery books with lots of intrigue.

142. The Moth Catcher by Ann Cleeves - 388 pages - 4.5 stars - 12/12/2016
Books Read: 142 Pages Read: 53,540
December Books Read: 5 December Pages Read: 1,860

Book Description
Life seems perfect in the quiet community of Valley Farm. Then a shocking discovery shatters the silence. The owners of a big country house have employed a house-sitter, a young ecologist, to look after the place while they’re away. But his dead body is found by the side of the lane―a lonely place to die.

When DI Vera Stanhope arrives on the scene, she finds the body of a second man. What the two victims seem to have in common is a fascination with studying moths―and with catching these beautiful, intriguing creatures.

The others who live in Valley Farm have secrets too: Lorraine’s calm demeanor belies a more complex personality; Annie and Sam’s daughter, Lizzie, is due to be released from prison; and Nigel watches, silently, every day, from his window. As Vera is drawn into the claustrophobic world of this increasingly strange community, she realizes that there may be many deadly secrets trapped there . . .

My Review
Another great Ann Cleeves read! I look forward to reading one of her Vera Stanhope mysteries but you already know from the beginning that you will never solve the murder until the reveal at the end. I've read that Ann Cleeves writes her books without knowing who the murderer will be either so that makes me feel better. Practically every character ends up as suspects but Vera has a way of putting things together and she cleverly knows before the reveal. All of Ann's characters are well-developed and the plots have many twists and turns and keeps everyone guessing throughout. I look forward to the next installment which won't be released until 2017 and I highly recommend this series for those who love British mysteries with lots of intrigue.

143. The Fifth Petal by Brunonia Barry - 440 pages - 4.5 stars - 12/16/2016
Books Read: 143 Pages Read: 53,980
December Books Read: 6 December Pages Read: 2,300

Book Description
When a teenage boy dies suspiciously on Halloween night, Salem's chief of police, John Rafferty, now married to gifted lace reader Towner Whitney, wonders if there is a connection between his death and Salem's most notorious cold case, a triple homicide dubbed "The Goddess Murders," in which three young women, all descended from accused Salem witches, were slashed on Halloween night in 1989. He finds unexpected help in Callie Cahill, the daughter of one of the victims newly returned to town. Neither believes that the main suspect, Rose Whelan, respected local historian, is guilty of murder or witchcraft.

But exonerating Rose might mean crossing paths with a dangerous force. Were the women victims of an all-too-human vengeance, or was the devil raised in Salem that night? And if they cannot discover what truly happened, will evil rise again?

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.
I enjoyed reading this novel very much for two reasons: 1. I've read The Lace Reader and 2. I've been to Salem Massachusetts and always liked the area and the rich history of the witch trails that I first learned about by reading Nathanial Hawthorne's novel, The House of Seven Gables. The author, Brunonia Barry, does an excellent job of switching between the three time periods of 1692, the Salem witch trial period, Halloween night 1989, "The Goddess Murders" when three young descendants of accused Salem witches from 1692 were slashed and murdered, and Halloween 2014 in Salem where this story takes place. The book is full with information about mythology, Celtic paganism, sound therapy, visions, intuition, and lots of research which makes for an interesting read if you like those subject matters. The characters were well-developed and the plot was intriguing. I look forward to reading the author's other book, The Map of True Places, and I highly recommend this book to those who like reading about the Salem witch trails.

144. Live Wire by Harlan Coben - 384 pages - 4.5 stars - 12/16/2016
Books Read: 144 Pages Read: 54,364
December Books Read: 7 December Pages Read: 2,684

Book Description
When Myron Bolitar gets involved in the family drama of his former tennis star client and her rock star husband, he discovers secrets about his own family, specifically his brother, who abandoned the Bolitars long ago. As Myron races to locate his missing brother while their father clings to life, he must face the lies that led to their estrangement-including the ones told by Myron himself.

My Review
This book revealed a lot about Myron's past, his brother and sister-in-law and nephew, Mickey, and has a feeling of the series coming to an end. But, we now know that after 4-1/2 years we have another Myron Bolitar novel to look forward to by the name of Home. I would be truly sad if I knew for sure that Live Wire was the last book as I have really enjoyed the ride with Myron and friends. I love the humor in Coben's books and the plot twists keep you turning the pages until the very last page. This one is a definite must read as you learn things about Myron that you never knew before. I am really looking forward to reading the next book in the series and honestly hope it's not the last one for sure!

145. The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry - 540 pages - 12/22/2016
Books Read: 145 Pages Read: 54,904
December Books Read: 8 December Pages Read: 3,188

Book Description
In 323 B.C.E, having conquered Persia, Alexander the Great set his sights on Arabia, then suddenly succumbed to a strange fever. Locating his final resting place–unknown to this day–remains a tantalizing goal for both archaeologists and treasure hunters. Now the quest for this coveted prize is about to heat up. And Cotton Malone–former U.S. Justice Department agent turned rare-book dealer–will be drawn into an intense geopolitical chess game.

After narrowly escaping incineration in a devastating fire that consumes a Danish museum, Cotton learns from his friend, the beguiling adventurer Cassiopeia Vitt, that the blaze was neither an accident nor an isolated incident. As part of campaign of arson intended to mask a far more diabolical design, buildings across Europe are being devoured by infernos of unnatural strength.

And from the ashes of the U.S.S.R., a new nation has arisen: Former Soviet republics have consolidated into the Central Asian Federation. At its helm is Supreme Minister Irina Zovastina, a cunning despot with a talent for politics, a taste for blood sport, and the single-minded desire to surpass Alexander the Great as history’s ultimate conqueror.
Backed by a secret cabal of powerbrokers, the Federation has amassed a harrowing arsenal of biological weapons. Equipped with the hellish power to decimate other nations at will, only one thing keeps Zovastina from setting in motion her death march of domination: a miraculous healing serum, kept secret by an ancient puzzle and buried with the mummified remains of Alexander the Great–in a tomb lost to the ages for more than 1,500 years.

Together, Cotton and Cassiopeia must outrun and outthink the forces allied against them. Their perilous quest will take them to the shores of Denmark, deep into the venerated monuments of Venice, and finally high inside the desolate Pamir mountains of Central Asia to unravel a riddle whose solution could destroy or save millions of people–depending on who finds the lost tomb first.

My Review
I loved learning about Alexander the Great and enjoyed Berry's writing and research. I found Irina Zovastina a fascinating character even though she was so wicked. It helps if you read the first two books of the series so you will be a bit familiar with the major characters but it's not too difficult of a read if you haven't read the other books as character descriptions reveal some of things that happened in the past. There are plenty of riddles to solve and lots of adventure which holds your interest until the very end. I can't wait to read the next book in the series and continue the adventures with Cotton Malone, Stephanie, Thorvaldsen and Cassiopeia. If you love history with your adventure reads, you will definitely enjoy this series.

146. Behind Closed Doors by B.A.Paris - 293 pages - 4 stars - 12/25/2016
Books Read: 146 Pages Read: 55,197
December Books Read: 9 December Pages Read: 3,481

Book Description
Everyone knows a couple like Jack and Grace. He has looks and wealth; she has charm and elegance. He’s a dedicated attorney who has never lost a case; she is a flawless homemaker, a masterful gardener and cook, and dotes on her disabled younger sister. Though they are still newlyweds, they seem to have it all. You might not want to like them, but you do. You’re hopelessly charmed by the ease and comfort of their home, by the graciousness of the dinner parties they throw. You’d like to get to know Grace better.

But it’s difficult, because you realize Jack and Grace are inseparable.

Some might call this true love. Others might wonder why Grace never answers the phone. Or why she can never meet for coffee, even though she doesn’t work. How she can cook such elaborate meals but remain so slim. Or why she never seems to take anything with her when she leaves the house, not even a pen. Or why there are such high-security metal shutters on all the downstairs windows.

Some might wonder what’s really going on once the dinner party is over, and the front door has closed.

My Review
This is a disturbingly horrid book but one you have keep reading in order to find out what happens. I don't want to say that the characters were believable because I hope nobody lives under these conditions. I suppose the author deserves credit for great writing though if she can make you hate the main character so much. The author does a great job switching from the past to the present and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I would highly recommend this twisted psychological thriller to those who love books that grip you from the beginning and does not let go until the very last page.

147. Freeze Frame by Peter May - 286 pages - 4.5 stars - 12/28/2016
Books Read: 147 Pages Read: 55,483
December Books Read: 10 December Pages Read: 3,967

Book Description
A promise made to a dying man leads forensics ace Enzo Macleod, a Scot who's been teaching in France for many years, to the study which the man's heir has preserved for nearly twenty years. The dead man left several clues there designed to reveal the killer's identity to the man's son, but ironically the son died soon after the father. So begins the fourth of seven cold cases written up in a bestselling book by Parisian journalist Roger Raffin that Enzo rashly boasted he could solve (he's been successful with the first three). It takes Enzo to a tiny island off the coast of Brittany in France, where he must confront the hostility of locals who have no desire to see the infamous murder back in the headlines. An attractive widow, a man charged but acquitted of the murder--but still the viable suspect, a crime scene frozen in time, a dangerous hell hole by the cliffs, and a collection of impenetrable messages, make this one of Enzo's most difficult cases.

My Review
This was another great installment in Peter May's Enzo Files. Loved reading about the Ile de Groix off the coast of Brittany, France and Agadir, Morocco. The characters were interesting and the suspects were plenty. Thought I knew who the murderer was only to be surprised with an added twist in the end. The plot was fascinating and with Peter May's descriptive talent you feel like you are right where he is describing. I'm now looking forward to reading the 5th book of the series and highly recommend this series to those who love mystery thrillers.

148. Seeking The Dead by Kate Ellis - 330 pages - 4.5 star - 12/30/2016
Books Read: 148 Pages Read: 55,813
December Books Read: 11 December Pages Read: 4,297

Book Description
When Carmel Hennessy begins a new job in North Yorkshire, she finds the historic city of Eborby gripped by fear. A killer is on the prowl - a killer who binds and asphyxiates his victims before leaving their naked bodies in isolated country churchyards. The press are calling him the Resurrection Man.

Tragic events from the past link Carmel with new-kid-on-the-block DI Joe Plantagenet, who, with his new boss, DCI Emily Thwaite, faces the unenviable task of identifying the killer before he claims another victim. The victims appear to have nothing in common but the manner of their deaths, but as Joe's investigations lead him to a pub with a sinister history, he is forced to consider that the case may have occult connections. Then Carmel becomes aware of a malevolent presence in her new flat and, when she starts to receive mysterious threats, it is Joe she turns to first. And that is when Joe is forced to get into the mind of a cunning - and scarily ruthless - killer.

My Review
This was my first Kate Ellis book but it won't be my last. I found her writing to be very enjoyable and I loved her research about the city of York. Sounds like a very unique place to visit in the future. Her characters were very well-drawn and interesting. The plot was good with unexpected twists that kept the pages flying. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future and highly recommend her books to those who love historical mysteries.

149. Thursday's Children by Nicci French - 336 pages - 4.5 stars - 12/31/2016
Books Read: 149 Pages Read: 56,149
December Books Read: 12 December Pages Read: 4,633

Book Description
Frieda Klein is uninterested in catching up on old times when her former classmate, Maddie Capel, shows up at her door--until she hears about Maddie's troubled daughter, Becky. The teenager claims she was raped in her own bed one night while her mother was downstairs. Her assailant left her with a warning: "Don't think of telling anyone, sweetheart. Nobody will believe you." And no one does--except Frieda.

Becky's story awakens dark memories of an eerily similar incident in Frieda's own past that she's been avoiding for decades. When Becky is found hanging from a beam in her bedroom, Frieda returns home, seeking out her old high school friends to ask what they remember about the night that prompted Frieda to leave town for good. But confronting the ghosts of the past turns out to be more dangerous than she ever expected.

My Review
This is the 4th Frieda Klein book that I have read and it is the best so far. It was a tough subject matter and a very personal one for Frieda in which we learned a lot about her past. I found it to be a very gripping read with lots of twists and turns. I found the characters to be developed in-depth and the plot suspenseful which held my interest to the very end. I look forward to reading the Friday book which was just published recently. I highly recommend this series to those who love psychological thrillers.

150. The Chameleon's Shadow by Minette Walters - 370 pages - 4 stars - 12/31/2016
Books Read: 150 Pages Read: 56,519
December Books Read: 13 December Pages Read: 5,003

Book Description
When British lieutenant Charles Acland returns home from Iraq, his serious head injuries are the outward manifestation of a profound inner change: he may be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, or it may be, as his psychiatrist suggests, “the prolonged destruction of a personality.”

Though previously well adjusted and known as an extrovert, Acland now withdraws into himself. As he begins his recovery in a dismal provincial hospital, crippled by migraines and suspicious of his doctors, he grows uncharacteristically aggressive—particularly against women, and most particularly against his ex-fiancée. Finally, rejecting medical advice to undergo cosmetic surgery—opting, instead, to accept his disfigurement—and cutting all ties to his former life, he moves to London. There, alone and unmonitored, he sinks into a quagmire of guilt and paranoia—until an outburst of irrational, vicious anger brings him to the attention of the local police: they are investigating three recent murders, all of them apparently motivated by the kind of extreme rage that Acland has exhibited.

Now under suspicion, Acland is forced to confront the issues behind his desperate existence before it’s too late: Has he always been the duplicitous chameleon that his ex-fiancée accuses him of being? Can he control this newly apparent sinister side of his personality? And why, if he truly hates women, does he in the end seek help from a woman—someone as straightforward and self-disciplined as he is unsure and seemingly out of control—to repair the damage to his mind?

In its timeliness, its psychological complexity, and its unstoppable suspense, The Chameleon’s Shadow is a thriller of the first order.

My Review
Minette Walters is one of the best psychological criminal writers and this book is a great example of that genre. She has a way of getting in to the heads of very disturbing people and is able to show us their capabilities. Acland is a very complex and fascinating character study and Walters has us riveted to this dark story from start to finish. I look forward to reading another of her books and I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy psychological mysteries.