What Are We Reading and Reviewing In May?

One thing this group is really good at is reading...so tell us what you plan to read...what you've finished reading and how you liked it or didn't like it. A sentence or two will be fine for those that don't like to write reviews.

Carol's May Reads
✔ 5//18 -★

Group Reads
✔ Black Order by James Rollins - 5/11/18 - 4.5★
✔The Target by David - 5/18/18 -5★

Blind Date With A Book
✔The Red Hunter by Lisa Unger - 5/23/18 - 4.5★

Others
✔Parting Shot by Linwood Barclay - 5/1/18 - 4.5★
✔Sister, Sister by Sue Fortin-5/12/18 - 5★
✔Dead Girl Running by Christina Dodd-5/10/18 - 4★
✔Her Last Tomorrow by Adam Croft-5/13/18 - 4★
✔Redemption Road by John Hart- 5/21/18 - 4★
✔Solitude Creek by Jeffrey Deavers-5/18/18 - 4★
✔The Zero Game by Brad Meltzer-5/15/18 - 3★
✔The Haunting of Gillespie House by Darcy Coates-5/5/18 - 4★
✔Lost Creed by Alex Kava - 5/9/18 -5★
✔Watching The Dark by Peter Robinson - 5//18 -★
✔The Wedding Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke - 5/17/18 - 3★
✔Watching the Dark by Peter Robinson- 5/30/18 - 5★
✔Weeping Walls by Gerri Hill - 5/27/18 - 5★

May 2018
✔ ★ ☞ ☊

Currently Reading May 2018
☞☊The Gunslinger by Stephen King - 253 pgs.
☞As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner - 387 pgs.
☞☊Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell - 340 pgs.

Finished Reading May 2018
✔☊The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon - 226 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/1/2018
✔☊The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton - 192 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/3/2018
✔Here We Lie by Paula Treick DeBoard - 368 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/4/2018
✔☊What Lies Behind by J.T. Ellison - 395 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/10/2018
✔☊Black Order by James Rollins (#3 in the Sigma Force Series) - 510 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/11/2018
✔The Annotated Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler - 480 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/12/2018
✔☊ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - 193 pgs. - ★ - 5/13/2018
✔☊ The Alice Network by Kate Quinn - 503 pgs. ★★★★ - 5/14/2018
✔You by Caroline Kepnes - 448 pgs. - ★ - 5/15/2018
✔Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris - 352 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/17/2018
✔☊The Target by David Baldacci - 420 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/18/2018
✔The Teacher by Katerina Diamond - 400 pgs. - ★★★ - 5/19/2018
✔☊Fleshmarket Alley by Ian Rankin - 576 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/20/2018
✔Red Clocks by Leni Zumas - 357 pgs. - ★★ - 5/21/2018
✔Closer Than You Know by Brad Parks - 416 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/21/2018
✔☊The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - 248 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/21/2018
✔☊Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston - 220 pgs. - ★★★★★ - 5/22/2018
✔☊Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell - 340 pgs. - ★★★ - 5/24/2018
✔☊The Gunslinger by Stephen King - 253 pgs. - ★★★★ - 5/26/2018
✔As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner - 400 pgs. ★★★★★ - 5/28/2018

May 2018 - Group Reads
Mystery and Suspense Group Winner: Why Mermaids Sing by C.S. Harris

The Great American Read
Watchers by Dean R. Koontz - 483 pgs.
Looking For Alaska by John Green - 221 pgs.
☊Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery - 634 pgs.
The Martian by Andy Weir - 369 pgs.
☊The Little Prince by Antonine de Saint-Exupery - 93 pgs.
☊Joy Luck Club by Any Tan - 288 pgs.
☊The Alchemist by Paul Coelho - 197 pgs.
Another Country by James Baldwin - 448 pgs.
☊Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls - 272 pgs

1001 Books to Read Before You Die
The Catcher In The Rye by J.D. Salinger - 214 pgs.
☊The Godfather by Mario Puzo - 433 pgs.
White Teeth by Zadie Smith - 448 pgs.
A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving - 543 pgs.
☊Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison - 581 pgs.
☊Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - 247 pgs.
☊A Separate Peace by John Knowles - 204 pgs.
☊Beloved by Toni Morrison
☊War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
☊Count of Monte Cristo by Alexander Dumas

Library Books
Dead Gone by Luca Veste

Gayle's May Reads

The Escape by David Baldacci - current
Winter of the World by Ken Follett - in progress
Roast Mortem by Cleo Coyle - sub-genre: Culinary mystery
Broken Harbor by Tana French
Why Mermaids Sing by C.S. Harris - group read

May’s Planned Reads

Group Reads
Black Order by James Rollins
The Target by David Baldacci
Why Mermaids Sing by C S Harris

Other Reads
Red Clocks by Leni Zumas
The Gunslinger by Stephen King
The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne
Monsters Of Men by Patrick Ness 🎧
The Library Of Gold by Gayle Lynds
B is for Burglar by Sue Grafton
The Hanged Man by Simon Kernick
Precious and Grace by Alexander McCall Smith 🎧
Bring Me Back by B A Paris
Extreme Measures by Vince Flynn
Death Of a Celebrity by M C Beaton
Dead Gone by Luca Vesta
Hot Blood by Stephen Leather
Treason by James Jackson🎧
The Visitor by Jane Goodall 🎧
A Dance With Dragons by George R R Martin 🎧
The Rose Petal Beach by Dorothy Koomson

>3 EadieB: Loved As Bright As Heaven and The Martian. Enjoy. 😊

>6 Andrew-theQM: Hope you enjoy The Gunslinger. Some of the characters are from his other books.

>7 EadieB: Only ever read 2 Stephen King books, 11.22.63 and Joyland.

>8 Andrew-theQM: That's what so good about The Dark Tower series, all the characters that he brings back and refers to.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father_Callahan

Maybe you should read Salem's Lot and then you will understand the references of Father Callahan. Don't remember but he may come back in one of the later books. But try to check out the characters and see what books they were in before.

Found this:

http://digg.com/2017/how-to-read-the-dark-tower

Lynda and Oliver's Reading Plans for May

Mystery

All the Pretty Girls - J. T. Ellison - 4 Stars - 5/9/18
Black Order - James Rollins - 5 Stars - 5/10/18
Blackbird Fly - Ljse McClendon - 3.5 Stars - 5/2/18
Blood Orchid - Stuart Woods - 3.5 Stars - 5/4/18
City of Lies - Victoria Thompson - 4 Stars - 5/25/18
Concealed in Death - J. D. Robb - 5 Stars - 5/20/18
Death Below Stairs - Jennifer Ashley - 4 Stars - 5/13/18
Desert Noir - Betty Webb - 4 Stars - 5/28/18
Endangered Species - Nevada Barr - 5/21/18
The Fallen - David Baldacci - 4.5 Stars - 5/7/18
Forgive Me - Joshua Corin - 3.5 Stars - 5/15/18
Long Lost - Harlan Coben
Murder Past Due - Miranda James - 5/18/18
Soupcon of Poison - Jennifer Ashley - 4 Stars - 5/29/18
Target - David Badacci - 5/3/18
Thankless in Death - J. D. Robb - 5 Stars - 5/4/18
Thunder Bay - William Kent Krueger - 5 Stars - 5/16/18
Twisted Prey - John Sandford - 4.5 Stars - 5/17/18

Non-Mystery

Duchess - Penny Junor
Game of Kings - Dorothy Dunnett - 4.5 Stars - 5/24/18
Girl from the Savoy - Hazel Gaynor - 3 Stars - 5/19/18
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day - Winifred Watson - 4.5 Stars - 5/12/18
Rising Sun, Falling Shadow - Daniel Kalla - 5 Stars - 5/24/18
Room - Emma Donoghue - 5 Stars - 5/23/18
Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller - 4 Stars - 5/11/18

☊The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon - 226 pgs. - ★★★★★
Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.

This improbable story of Christopher's quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.

I enjoyed this book very much. It was a first person point of view of happenings through the eyes of an autistic teenager. It is a very touching and fascinating portrayal and is a definite classic novel. I found Mark Haddon to be a very clever and observant writer and enjoyed his gentle humor. I look forward to reading another book by Haddon and I would highly recommend this book to those who like unique and different novels.

Parting Shot by Linwood Barclay
4.5★

If you made a mistake that took someone's life, you'd remember it . . . wouldn't you? After a tragedy rocks the community of Promise Falls, Cal Weaver is asked to investigate the threats being made to the accused's family. He's heard all about it on the news: the young man who drank too much, stole a Porsche and killed a girl, and who claimed afterwards not to remember a single thing. The whole town is outraged that he got off lightly, but for reasons Cal can't explain, he accepts the job. Then Cal finds himself caught up in a vicious revenge plot, chasing someone set on delivering retribution. In Cal's experience, it's only ever a matter of time before threats turn into action.

This is supposedly a standalone. It however could be # 4 in the Promise Falls trilogy which would make the trilogy no longer a trilogy. Go figure! Readers of Barclay's "Promise Falls" trilogy/non trilogy will recognize the characters and the small community. As always...in addition to the main storyline there are also some very entertaining secondary characters...some you sympathize with and some you never ever want to meet anyone like them. Things move along nicely and you think you have it all figured out and then about 98% into the book Barclay brings on a surprising twist that you never suspected. Those that love a well done mystery will be certain to like this one.

☊The Outsiders by S. E. Hinton - 192 pgs. - ★★★★★
First published in 1967, S. E. Hinton's novel was an immediate phenomenon. Today, with more than eight million copies sold, The Outsiders continues to resonate with its powerful portrait of the bonds and boundaries of friendship.
In Ponyboy's world there are two types of people. There are the Socs, the rich society kids who get away with anything. Then there are the greasers, like Ponyboy, who aren't so lucky. Ponyboy has a few things he can count on: his older brothers, his friends, and trouble with the Socs, whose idea of a good time is beating up greasers. At least he knows what to expect-until the night things go too far.

Just listened to the audio ofThe Outsiders. It was written by S.J. Hinton when she was 16 years old. She was mad at the social injustices at her school and felt there really wasn't a book about teenage life so she wrote one. I found it to be a very powerful story and it has changes lives of lots of teenagers. Some never read a book before reading The Outsiders. I think you should read this book! I think you would enjoy it!

Scehedule for Group Read Of Black Order by James Rollins, #3 in the Sigma Force Series.

Friday 4th May : 1945 and Chapters 1 and 2
Saturday 5th May : Chapters 3 to 5
Sunday 6th May : Chapters 6 to 8
Monday 7th May : Chapters 9 to 10
Tuesday 8th May : Chapters 11 to 13
Wednesday 9th May : Chapters 14 to 16 and Epilogue

Here We Lie by Paula Treick DeBoard - 368 pgs. - ★★★★★
Just finished Here We Lie about two friends torn apart by the consequences of power and privilege. This would make a great summer read. The characters are well-drawn and the storyline held my interest until the last page. The story is told by switching back and forth from the two girls viewpoints. Very similar to what is happening with the #Metoo movement today. I will definitely read more by this author. Timely and powerful read that you should not miss!

The Haunting of Gillespie House by Darcy Coates
4★

Elle is thrilled to spend a month minding the beautiful Gillespie property. More than an hour's drive from the nearest town and surrounded by forests, the aging mansion is ideal for someone seeking solitude. But things start to go very wrong, very quickly. Elle discovers a crumbling graveyard nestled in the woods. It contains a generation of the house's residents, all with an identical year of death. Scratching in the walls... slamming doors... whispers in the night... a locked room. As Elle explores deeper into the house, she begins to unravel the property's dark and dangerous history. At its center is Jonathan Gillespie, a tyrannical cult leader and the house's original owner. And as Elle soon learns - just because he's dead, doesn't mean he's gone.

It was an interesting ghost story and moved along at a good pace. I didn't think it was as good as The Haunting of Blackwood House by the same author... but it will easily satisfy the "ghost loving enthusiast". The character of Elle did some very unnecessary and foolish things and the expectation of the ghost seemed unrealistic...but then the idea of the ghost being there at all wasn't exactly rocket science. Not everyone will care for this type of book but those that join me in loving a good ghost story will enjoy it.

No reading plans this month. Just trying to finish a pile of 7 partially read books right now. Finishing Striker by Clive Cussler today, I hope.

Striker by Clive Cussler
Isaac Bell Adventure #6
3 ⭐️

1902 Pittsburg and W Virginia coal mines were a hotbed of activity. Isaac Bell was sent in undercover to search for radical union saboteurs causing mayhem in the mines. What he found instead was corporate greed versus the working man. And he found a formidable opponent in a former Van Dorn detective, a man personally trained by Van Dorn himself. The chase leads Isaac up and down the Ohio River and to Chicago and back again to coal mining country. I found the first half of the book tedious. However, by mid book, it picked up the rollicking pace of a typical Cussler novel.

Lost Creed by Alex Kava
Ryder Creed series Book #4
5★

Sixteen years ago, Ryder Creed’s sister, Brodie vanished from an interstate rest stop. She was only eleven and Creed was fourteen. Her disappearance ripped apart his family and has haunted Creed. Now a former Marine with his own scars, Creed has dedicated his life to his K9 business. He takes discarded and abandoned dogs and trains them for scent detection. Together they search for the lost and the missing. And always, Creed has held onto the hope that one day he might find out what happened to his sister. A thousand miles away during a police raid, FBI Agent Maggie O'Dell stumbles upon a clue that may explain what happened to Brodie Creed all those years ago. But to find the answers she’ll need to make a deal with a madman. And the search that follows will be as agonizing for Creed, as are the answers he discovers.

I have enjoyed Alex Kava's Maggie O'Dell series for years and was really anxious to see where she would take the Ryder Creed series. Needless to say I have not been disappointed. Animal lovers will applaud Ryder Creed's wonderful dogs and the work he does with them. As always a beautiful read. You won't be able to resit Ryder's little Grace and her other four-legged companions as they find drugs... people...explosives...and return all the love their little canine hearts can hold. There is great interaction between the characters and Ms. Kava gave us a real surprise in the end.

Dead Girl Running by Christina Dodd
Cape Charade series Book #1
4★

I have three confessions to make:
1. I've got the scar of a gunshot on my forehead.
2. I don't remember an entire year of my life.
3. My name is Kellen Adams...and that's half a lie.

Girl running...from a year she can't remember, from a husband she prays is dead, from homelessness and fear. Tough, capable Kellen Adams takes a job as assistant manager of a remote vacation resort on the North Pacific Coast. There amid the towering storms and the lashing waves, she hopes to find sanctuary. But when she discovers a woman's dead and mutilated body, she's soon trying to keep her own secrets while investigating first one murder...then another. Now every guest and employee is a suspect. Every friendly face a mask. Every kind word a lie. Kellen's driven to defend her job, her friends and the place she's come to call home. Yet she wonders--with the scar of a gunshot on her forehead and amnesia that leaves her unsure of her own past--could the killer be staring her in the face?

There are several subplots within the story and some flashback moments that are necessary to fill in the blanks in the story. In some ways the setting...a storm brewing...characters trapped in a deserted hotel... all remind me of an old fashion "Who-Done It" complete with multiple suspects and possibilities. Cape Charade may not be a town that you want to put on your vacation places to visit. Nothing is exactly as it appears and the people are full of surprises and not all necessarily good ones. Excellent read.

The Escape by David Baldacci
4★

Description
When John Puller's older brother Robert inexplicably escapes from the military's most secure prison, where he's being held for national security crimes, Puller finds himself part of an investigation to hunt down his own brother. As he digs more deeply into the case, Puller discovers troubling details about his brother's conviction and that someone is out there who doesn't want the truth to ever come out.

This was a complex story with many characters and numerous government agencies but it was told in a clear and understandable way. The investigation was interesting and the many surprises throughout the book kept me reading. There were close calls, action and a good relationship between John and his brother. I enjoyed this a lot.

Black Order by James Rollins
Sigma Force series Book #3
4.5 ★

A sinister fire in a Copenhagen bookstore ignites a relentless hunt across four continents. Arson and murder reveal an insidious plot to steal a Bible that once belonged to Charles Darwin. And Commander Gray Pierce dives headlong into a mystery that dates back to Nazi Germany...and to horrific experiments performed in a now-abandoned laboratory in Poland. A continent away, madness ravages a remote monastery in Nepal, as Buddhist monks turn to cannibalism and torture. Lisa Cummings, an American doctor investigating the atrocity, is suddenly a target of a brutal assassin. And Lisa's only ally is Painter Crowe, director of SIGMA Force, who already shows signs of the baffling malady. Now it is up to Gray Pierce to save them both as SIGMA Force races to expose a century-old plot that threatens to destroy the current world order . . . and alter the destiny of humankind forever.

As is the case of most of the Sigma stories, there is a great deal of action which always provides an entertaining story. History buffs will love the background information. I feel that Rollins books are a bit too long but they just keep you reading regardless. The only problem I have with the writing is that at some critical point in a segment of the story....the story shifts to another segment which is a bit confusing. Overall I have to say the characters were fascinating and Rollins has given his readers another top of the line book.

Originally planned to start the Group Read of The Target by David Baldacci, #3 in the Will Robie Series, today, but didn’t post a reminder about this and we were a day behind on the last Group Read, so I suggest we start this from tomorrow. If not convenient, let me know.

Sunday 13th May : 1 - 12
Monday 14th May : 13 - 22
Tuesday 15th May : 23 - 37
Wednesday 16th May : 38 - 51
Thursday 17th May : 52 - 63
Friday 18th May : 64 - 76

The Annotated Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler - 480 pgs. - ★★★★★
I would like to thank NetGalley and Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group for a copy of The Annotated Big Sleep for an honest review.

Raymond Chandler's first novel, The Big Sleep, is a masterpiece of the noir and is on the "1001 Books to Read Before You Die List" and I always wanted to read it. This annotated book gives notes and images alongside the full text of the novel. I was able to gain insight of what Los Angeles was like during the 1920's which included maps and images of famous buildings, notes from Chandler's personal letters, pictures of hairstyles and clothing from the characters and an analysis of class, gender, sexuality and ethnicity mentioned in the book. The main character, Philip Marlowe, was brought to life along with pictures of Humphrey Bogart and Robert Mitchum who played Marlowe on film. Not only was I able to enjoy reading The Big Sleep but I got a lot more than I bargained for by reading The Annotated Big Sleep.

Credit for this version of The Big Sleep should be given to the editors, Owen Hill, Pamela Jackson and Anthony Rizzuto, who did an excellent job putting this book together. I would highly recommend this book as an addition to any crime fiction fan's library and hope that you would enjoy it as much as I have enjoyed reading The Annotated Big Sleep.

☊What Lies Behind by J.T. Ellison - 395 pgs. - ★★★★★
What Lies Behind's story is told by the viewpoint of the Medical Examiner, Samantha Owens, whose character is flawed but she is very intelligent and brave. The plot is complexed and deals with a stalker who may be a serial killer who is hunting a prey. It also involves a bio-terrorist threat and a governmental pyramid scheme. It is a very gripping story with lots of twists and has a cliffhanger ending. This is the last book of the series so far and the series is a spinoff from the Taylor Jackson series. I look forward to the next book in the series in order to find out how everything pans out. I would highly recommend this series to those who love adventurous mystery thrillers.

☊Black Order by James Rollins (#3 in the Sigma Force Series) - 510 pgs. - ★★★★★
It was great to be back with the Sigma Force again. Gray Pierce in is Copenhagen with a suspicious bookstore fire. He is involved is a terrifying mystery surrounding horrific experiments performed in a now-abandoned laboratory in the mountains in Poland. Painter Crowe and Lisa Cummings are in a remote monastery in the mountains of Nepal where Buddhist monks are turning to cannibalism and torture. The Sigma team start to piece together and come to the conclusion about the Nazis' experiments that were going on during the war dealing with evolution and the origin of life. They must now save the world from a new order that is on the rise.

I liked all the information that we were given in regards to what the Nazis were up to. Never heard or read anything as in depth as this book. James Rollins has given us a mixture of science and heart pumping action and adventure where in some place you need to suspend your beliefs. All in all, it is a riveting edge-of-your seat read that will keep the pages turning quickly. I now look forward to the next Sigma Force book and I would highly recommend this book to those who love scientific adventure reads.

Sister, Sister by Sue Fortin
5★

Clare: Intelligent, loyal, paranoid, jealous. Clare thinks Alice is a manipulative liar who is trying to steal her life. Alice thinks Clare is jealous of her long-lost return and place in their family. One of them is telling the truth. The other is a maniac.
Two sisters. One truth.

It’s not a new idea, someone coming into a protagonists life and trying to take it over, but it still reads suspenseful and interesting. It doesn't take but about 70 or so pages for the reader to know that something is amiss...but just how amiss and who all is involved and how much involvement is there? Questions that have answers that are not revealed until nearly the last page. I couldn't read the book fast enough as I just had to see where the plot was going next. It's an excellent read with many twists. I think it's Sue Fortain's best work thus far.

☊ The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams - 193 pgs. - ★
I'm sure glad that this is not the only genre there is to read otherwise, I would have to give up reading. I think I just don't get it! Glad I listened to the audio because if I had to read it I would never get through it. Enough said, I'm moving on!

☊ The Alice Network by Kate Quinn - 528 pgs. ★★★★
Two women—a female spy recruited to the real-life Alice Network in France during World War I and an unconventional American socialite searching for her cousin in 1947—are brought together in a mesmerizing story of courage and redemption.

Story is told in alternating viewpoints of Eve, a spy, and Charlie, American socialite. I found the story to have well-developed characters and an interesting enough to hold my attention until the last page. Both woman showed lots of bravery in their stories which were amazing! I would highly recommend this book to those who like interesting war stories.

>29 EadieB: Waiting for this to come in at the library.

>30 Andrew-theQM: Hope you enjoy it too!

Half Past by Victoria Helen Stone
★ ★ ★ ★ - 254 pages

In this gripping read (I read it one afternoon), Hannah Smith knows she was nothing like her two older sisters - in looks, attitude, and temperament. Moving back to central Iowa to look after her mother's affairs since her dementia-affected mother is in the local nursing home, Hannah discovers that her parents were keeping secrets about the family. Hannah travels to California to try to clear up the mystery and examine her parents' motives.

I love Stone's work (she also writes romances as "Victoria Dahl.") This was a good mystery, and while I had most of it figured out, it was still suspenseful with a good, realistic resolution.

The Alexandria Link by Steve Berry
Cotton Malone mystery
3 1/2 ⭐️

Cotton Malone is a retired US State Departmentagent. He runs a rare book shop in Copenhagen, Denmark. However, things change drastically when his shop is burned to the ground and his teenaged son is kidnapped. The only thing that will save his son is finding the lost Library of Alexandria. Hidden in the library is historic Biblical fact which could threaten Israel and many Arabic nations. Cotton teams up with his ex-wife, Pam. Following a quest to the library is not a simple task. Secret Service, Massad, and another clandestine group are hot on his heels.

I have been reading this book on and off for 2 years. Lots of tiny details and twists and turns, which I wasn’t in the mode to deal with again. But, now that I finished, it was a decent entry into the Cotton Malone series. There are a few references that date the book, but nothing that hurts the storyline.

Her Last Tomorrow by Adam Croft
4★

Nick and Tasha are a couple held together by their five-year-old daughter. Until one ordinary morning, when Ellie vanishes amid the chaos of the school run. Nick knows she can’t have gone far on her own, which can mean only one thing: she’s not on her own. Who would take his daughter, and why? With no motive and no leads, Nick is thrown into a tailspin of suspicion and guilt. Like Tasha, he doesn’t know what to think, or whom to trust. But then someone starts doing the thinking for him. Confronted with an impossible choice, Nick will have to make a decision, and both options will leave him with blood on his hands. But perhaps that’s to be expected. After all, Nick’s not quite as blameless as he seems.

The question that drives the entire storyline is "Would you kill your wife to save your child?" Obviously a situation that no one could... or should... be expected to answer one way or the other...but Nick Connors is seriously considering it. Nick is not a really likable character and he makes some borderline stupid decisions. His wife, Tasha, is almost indifferent to the kidnapping of their 5 year old daughter. The police are next to useless so you don't really have a character that you can feel any empathy for except Elle, the 5 year old daughter. I gave the book 4 stars. it did keep you reading just to see what dumb thing Nick was going to come up with next. It was a very short book and I think the plot could have been developed more but overall an enjoyable read.

Roast Mortem by Cleo Coyle
3★

When the firefighters of Ladder Company 189 pull Clare's friends out of a blazing cafe, she happily comes to their rescue. As a favor to the men, she visits their firehouse kitchen to teach them the finer points of operating their newly donated expresso machine. But more than their coffee turns out to be hot. Somebody's torching cafes around the city, and firefighters are beginning to die in suspicious ways.

The main characters were likable but there were so many characters to keep track of that it wasn’t always clear who was who. There was a lot of explaining the various characters’ possible motives throughout the book too. It just seemed too crowded. There was some interesting information about handling coffee beans and making espresso. Overall, just mildly interesting to me.

The Zero Game by Brad Meltzer
3★

It's the story of an insider's game that turns deadly. Matthew Mercer and Harris Sandler are best friends who have plum jobs as senior staffers to well-respected congressmen. But after a decade in Washington, idealism has faded to disillusionment, and they're bored. Then one of them finds out about the clandestine Zero Game. It starts out as good fun-a simple wager between friends. But when someone close to them ends up dead, Harris and Matthew realize the game is far more sinister than they ever imagined-and that they're about to be the game's next victims. On the run, they turn to the only person they can trust: a 16-year-old Senate page who can move around the Capitol undetected. As a ruthless killer creeps closer, this idealistic page not only holds the key to saving their lives, but is also determined to redeem them in the process. Come play The Zero Game-you can bet your life on it.

I didn't think it was one of Brad Meltzer's best but certainly an entertaining story. The "game" turned out to not really be what the reader was lead to think it was...but it was none the less "deadly". The book does give the reader a very good insight of just what is more than likely happening on "The Hill". I just felt that it lacked that intricate plot that most of his other books have.

The Wedding Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke
Hannah Swanson series Book #3
3★

Everyone in Lake Eden, Minnesota, may have had their doubts, but at long last, Hannah Swensen is getting married! Hannah is thrilled to be marrying Ross Barton, her college crush. And her excitement only grows when she learns he’ll be able to join her on her trip to New York City for the Food Channel’s dessert chef contest. They get a taste of the Big Apple before Hannah wins the Hometown Challenge and the producers bring all the contestants to Lake Eden to tape the remainder of the show. It’s nerve-wracking enough being judged by Alain Duquesne, a celebrity chef with a nasty reputation. But it’s even more chilling to find him stabbed to death in the Lake Eden Inn’s walk-in cooler—before he’s even had a chance to taste Hannah’s Butterscotch Sugar Cookies! Now Hannah has not only lost her advantage, she’ll have to solve a mystery with more layers than a five-tiered wedding cake.

I don't care for cozies but I read the book for a challenge. As far as the mystery goes, it was okay. Those that like this genre will probably eat it up...no pun intended. I just don't understand the amateur sleuth attitude. Do they actually think they are the only ones capable of solving the case and act as if the police don't exist? Mostly they investigate between taking cookies out of the oven...in this case a five tier wedding cake.

Sold on a Monday by Kristina McMorris - 352 pgs. - ★★★★★
I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher, Sourcebooks, for a copy of this book for an honest review.

"Sometimes we have to make sacrifices for the ones we love."

When I read this quote from the book, Sold on a Monday, by Kristina McMorris, it seemed to convey to me the essence of this story which started with a picture of two children sitting on a porch in a rural area of Laurel Township, Pennsylvania with a sign reading, "2 children for Sale." Ellis Reed, a photographer for the Philadelphia Examiner newspaper, took the picture and wrote a story about Geraldine Dillard having to sell her children out of desperation in 1931. The story was a catalyst for promotion to a New York newspaper for Ellis Reed when it made headlines across the nation and changed the lives of the children. Ellis and his friend, Lily, spend the rest of the novel trying to right the irreversible wrongs caused by the article in the paper.

Kristina McMorris has written a book based on an actual newspaper photo that appeared in a Chicago newspaper in 1948 which shook the nation. It is a story of ambition, love, family and the far reaching effects of our actions. The characters are drawn in such a way that you find yourself caring about what happens to them. There is a strong sense of place in the novel and you can feel yourself in the streets of Philadelphia and the surrounding area trying to help find where the children are and who has them. There are lots of historical references to the Italian and Irish mob, prohibition, speakeasies and the affects of corruption on the characters.

I found this book to be a fascinating read and look forward to reading more of McMorris' novels. I would highly recommend this book to those who love historical novels that tug at your heartstrings.

You by Caroline Kepnes - 448 pgs. - ★
Dark, masterful, and timely, debut novelist Caroline Kepnes' You is a perversely romantic thriller that's more dangerously clever than any you've read before. A chilling account of unrelenting passion, this tale of love, sex, and death will stay with you long past the final page.

I saw a lot of people like YOU but this book is not for me. I would not call myself a prude but YOU is full of nothing but explicit sex and language - too much for me! I would not recommend this book to anyone but I would tell them to beware before reading it as it is about an obsessive stalker and is very intense.

No Middle Name by Lee Child, read by Kerry Shale.
5 stars
I obtained this as an audio book, having read a few of the novellas. A very good idea to put them all together in one volume, made all the better by being able to borrow it in digital format from my local library. The stories vary in length, but each displays that Reacher logic, meaning that the resolution of each problem comes about through Reacher's thinking, rather than force, although force may be required at times. There are a total of eleven short stories, all read by Canadian actor Kerry Shales, who characterises all the voices really well, and conveys the stories with great accuracy. His Reacher voice has a wonderful roughness, reflecting the character better than depicted in the films.

Solitude Creek by Jeffrey Deaver
Kathryn Dance series Book #4
4 ★

A tragedy occurs at a small concert venue on the Monterey Peninsula. Cries of "fire" are raised and, panicked, people run for the doors, only to find them blocked. A half dozen people die and others are seriously injured. But it's the panic and the stampede that killed them; there was no fire. Kathryn Dance--a brilliant California Bureau of Investigation agent and body language expert--discovers that the stampede was caused intentionally and that the perpetrator, a man obsessed with turning people's own fears and greed into weapons, has more attacks planned. She and her team must race against the clock to find where he will strike next before more innocents die.

I have been a fan of Jeffrey Deaver's Lincoln Rhyme series for years so when the first Kathryn Dance book cam out I thought I would give it try. I have been hooked on this lady ever since. The one thing you can count on wit this author is that he will describe in detail every aspect of the story. In this case his ingenious description of the unsub and his horrendous acts is brilliant. You are certainly sure that you never want to meet up wit anyone like him. Dance does something in this book that she almost never does...she gets the initial information wrong. If you have never read a Jeffrey Deaver book...you are in for a treat.

>41 Carol420:
Almost halfway through this one, and I would echo everything that you have written.

>42 Alan1946: Hi Alan. I miss "talking" to you as often as I used to. I do check to see what you are reading and have found that we usually are reading the same thing. Hope you enjoy the remainder of the book and I will watch for your review.

>42 Alan1946: >43 Carol420: I need to read this series and get back to Lincoln Rhyme, only read the first one.

>45 Andrew-theQM: The first book in the Lincoln Rhyme series, The Bone Collector is on DVD. It's pretty good and true to the book.

>46 Carol420: Saw that many years ago (Denzel Washington?) and subsequently read the book and loved both!

The Teacher by Katerina Diamond - 400 pgs. - ★★★
The body of the head teacher of an exclusive Devon school is found hanging from the rafters in the assembly hall.
Hours earlier he’d received a package, and only he could understand the silent message it conveyed. It meant the end.
As Exeter suffers a rising count of gruesome deaths, troubled DS Imogen Grey and DS Adrian Miles must solve the case and make their city safe again.
But as they’re drawn into a network of corruption, lies and exploitation, every step brings them closer to grim secrets hidden at the heart of their community.
And once they learn what’s motivating this killer, will they truly want to stop him?

I found this to be a very confusing story. The title is misleading as only the first chapter is about the teacher but then switches from present to past and is not done very smoothly. There are too many characters and too many viewpoints and the story does not flow well. The book seems to need more editing. I don't think I'll be continuing with this series.

The Target by David Baldaci
Will Robie series Book #3
5 ★

The President knows it's a perilous, high-risk assignment. If he gives the order, he has the opportunity to take down a global menace, once and for all. If the mission fails, he would face certain impeachment, and the threats against the nation would multiply. So the president turns to the one team that can pull off the impossible: Will Robie and his partner, Jessica Reel. Together, Robie and Reel's talents as assassins are unmatched. But there are some in power who don't trust the pair. They doubt their willingness to follow orders. And they will do anything to see that the two assassins succeed, but that they do not survive. As they prepare for their mission, Reel faces a personal crisis that could well lead old enemies right to her doorstep, resurrecting the ghosts of her earlier life and bringing stark danger to all those close to her. And all the while, Robie and Reel are stalked by a new adversary: an unknown and unlikely assassin, a woman who has trained her entire life to kill, and who has her own list of targets--a list that includes Will Robie and Jessica Reel.

Love this series. I just hope that David Baldacci breaks his habit of only writing four or five books in a series before moving on to another one. The book has short chapters...non-stop action... and characters that you can care about and root for. Baldacci skillfully tells the story of a North Korean female assassin, Chung-Cha, who has some really tough choices to make. It so mirrors some of the events that are taking place in our world today. I was great to see this tough woman displaying so much human compassion. As far as I'm concerned this was the best of series thus far but I also gave the first two books 5 stars so I guess the tradition goes on.

>48 EadieB: I was in hopes this would be better than it obviously was. The description made it sound very readable. Don't think I'm going to be in a big hurry to add it just yet.

>50 Carol420: I wouldn't bother - it's a flop!

☊The Target by David Baldacci - 420 pgs. - ★★★★★
The President knows it's a perilous, high-risk assignment. If he gives the order, he has the opportunity to take down a global menace, once and for all. If the mission fails, he would face certain impeachment, and the threats against the nation would multiply. So the president turns to the one team that can pull off the impossible: Will Robie and his partner, Jessica Reel.
As they prepare for their mission, Reel faces a personal crisis that could well lead old enemies right to her doorstep, resurrecting the ghosts of her earlier life and bringing stark danger to all those close to her. And all the while, Robie and Reel are stalked by a new adversary: an unknown and unlikely assassin, a woman who has trained her entire life to kill, and who has her own list of targets--a list that includes Will Robie and Jessica Reel.

I found the book to be a fascinating story and similar to what could happen in the world news today. There are lots of interesting characters, some good and some not so good. I enjoyed the short chapters which moved the story quickly from one scene to the next. This book gave more information about Reel's life and past history which was insight into why she behaves the way she does. I look forward to the next book and I would highly recommend this series to those who love intriguing thrillers.

☊Fleshmarket Alley by Ian Rankin - 576 pgs. - ★★★★
On a notorious street where propriety and decadence clash, in the basement of a newly renovated bar, the bones of a woman and child are discovered beneath a cement floor. It's an unusually gruesome find, even for Fleshmarket Alley. When Inspector John Rebus is called to investigate, every fact he finds unleashes a host of new questions. Are the bones those of a mother and child? Are they actual human remains or fakes? Were they planted there - and if so, why?It could be nothing more than a ruthless and enterprising pub owner looking to create a local legend that will help lure trade. Or it could be something far worse - something as grisly as the death of a recent immigrant found brutally murdered at a local housing project, or the murder of Donald Cruikshank, a recently paroled rapist whose body is found just as a young woman goes missing. The missing girl is a friend of Inspector Rebus's colleague Detective Siobhan Clarke, and Siobhan is shocked to find herself in the same intricate web of murderers as Rebus - all somehow tied to that pile of bones under Fleshmarket Alley. In a race to stop the killings before more bodies turn up - even as the possibility of romantic entanglements distracts and entices them - Rebus and Siobhan plumb the darkest corners of their beloved city and confront the lawless, conscienceless men who dwell there.

This was another good read from Ian Rankin. A set of complex plots which finally come together in the end for Rebus and Siobhan. Immigration and racial issues, which a lot of countries deal with, are the meat of the story. Rebus does not seem as depressed in this book as in some of the others. He is still contemplating retirement and hasn't made up his mind yet. I look forward to the next book and would recommend this series to those who love good suspense thrillers.

>51 EadieB: Thanks for the warning. There are too many other books out there just waiting to bother with a flop.

>54 Carol420: >51 EadieB: The poor head teacher!

>55 Andrew-theQM: Don't feel too bad for him. He's/she is probably crawling out of that book and looking for a new and certainly better one:)

>55 Andrew-theQM: >56 Carol420: Don't feel sorry for him because he was a paedophile.

>57 EadieB: Definitely not sorry for him now!

>57 EadieB: Nope. He's lost my sympathy vote!

Redemption Road by John Hart
4 ★

Imagine:
A boy with a gun waits for the man who killed his mother. A troubled detective confronts her past in the aftermath of a brutal shooting. After thirteen years in prison, a good cop walks free as deep in the forest on the altar of an abandoned church, a body cools in pale linen. This is a town on the brink. This is Redemption Road.

The story line was intriguing but the characters were all very badly flawed, frail and tragically human. You had to feel empathy for Adrian Wall especially....thirteen years of his life spent in Hell. This is not a straightforward "whodunit" murder mystery. There are secrets and puzzles for the reader to discover and work out. Some are easily solved while others take the reader around in circles. It's full of twists and surprises and unexpected detours. Of course the author tosses in plenty of red herrings... and to complicate things even further, some turn out to be unexpected truths. The only thing that brought the rating down for the book was that it was just a tad too long. Otherwise an entertaining read.

Red Clocks by Leni Zumas - 357 pgs. - ★★
Red Clocks is a dystopian novel about what would happen if Roe vs. Wade were overturned and a Personhood Amendment was passed. The theme is: Women and the right to choose. I found it very hard to connect to any character as they are are referred to as; the biographer, the daughter, the wife and the mender. The style of short vignettes by each character was very disjointed and made the story very choppy. I also found the premise of the novel unrealistic as 2/3 of the Congress would needed to overturn Roe vs. Wade and I doubt that many votes would be garnered. The one question I ask is: "Who looks out for the rights of the unborn?"

Closer Than You Know by Brad Parks - 416 pgs. - ★★★★★
Disaster, Melanie Barrick was once told, is always closer than you know.

It was a lesson she learned the hard way growing up in the constant upheaval of foster care. But now that she's survived into adulthood--with a loving husband, a steady job, and a beautiful baby boy named Alex--she thought that turmoil was behind her.

Until one Tuesday evening when she goes to pick up Alex from childcare only to discover he's been removed by Social Services. And no one will say why. It's a terrifying scenario for any parent, but doubly so for Melanie, who knows the unintended horrors of what everyone coldly calls "the system."

Another great mystery from one of my favorite authors. I have read all of Brad Parks' Carter Ross series and loved them all. Also have read his first standalone, Say Nothing. This is a standalone too and does not disappoint. His books are fast paced with interesting characters. Lots of twists and turns and hard to guess who did it. In the end, the culprit makes sense but a bit of a surprise. I look forward to his next book and I would recommend this novel to those who love psychological thrillers.

☊The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde - 248 pgs. - ★★★★★
Dorian Gray sold his soul for eternal youth and beauty while his painting of him ages and grows increasingly hideous with the years. This was a fascinating read. A timeless masterpiece, the book shows the struggle and torment of good and evil. I loved the character of Lord Henry Wotton. I would have to say that Oscar Wilde was a genius! I will definitely have to read this one again!

☊Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston - 220 pgs. - ★★★★★
One of the most important and enduring books of the twentieth century, Their Eyes Were Watching God brings to life a Southern love story with the wit and pathos found only in the writing of Zora Neale Hurston. Out of print for almost thirty years—due largely to initial audiences’ rejection of its strong black female protagonist—Hurston’s classic has since its 1978 reissue become perhaps the most widely read and highly acclaimed novel in the canon of African-American literature.

A Southern love story with wit, beauty and heartfelt wisdom. I listened to the audio and Ruby Dee’s reading brought the whole thing to life. It is a very gripping story and a true classic. It's rich metaphors and analogies are priceless. It tells the irony that "owning" a lover is not secure. But giving a lover the freedom to bloom means you will hold them forever, and they will possess your soul. I look forward to reading more by Zora Neale Hurston. She is a very beautiful writer.

The Red Hunter by Lisa Unger
4.5 ★

What is the difference between justice and revenge? Claudia Bishop's perfect life fell apart when the aftermath of a brutal assault left her with a crumbling marriage, a newborn daughter, and a constant sense of anxiety about the world around her. Now, looking for a fresh start with a home restoration project and growing blog, Claudia takes on a crumbling old house--one that unbeknownst to her has an ugly history and may hide long buried secrets. For Zoey Drake the defining moment of her childhood was the horrific murder of her parents. Years later, she has embraced the rage that fuels her. Training in the martial arts has made her strong and ready to face the demons from the past--and within. Strangers to each other, and walking very different paths in the wake of trauma, these two women are on a collision course--because Zoey's past nightmare and Claudia's dreams for her future take place in the same house.

There are several characters intertwined with multiple storylines that makes this, at times, a difficult read to sort out. I've read several Lisa Unger books and have always found her to be very good at writing a story that is suspenseful as well as "spooky" at times. I think the entire essence of the story was the question of "how would you react if something horrible and violent happens to you?".

Broken Harbor by Tana French
3.5 ★

Description
In Broken Harbour, a ghost estate outside Dublin, two children and their father are dead. The mother is on her way to intensive care. Scorcher Kennedy and his rookie partner, Richie, think this is a simple one. But there are too many inexplicable details and the evidence is pointing in two directions at once. Scorcher's personal life is tugging for his attention. Seeing the case on the news has sent his sister Dina off the rails again, and she's resurrecting something that happened to their family at Broken Harbour, back when they were children.

This was a well-written story with very good character development, which French always does well. There was an interesting relationship between experienced cop Kennedy and Richie, the rookie, who admired Kennedy but sometimes questioned him too. I was enjoying this story a lot until the last part. It went on too long and wasn’t convincing as to the who and why. So, mostly an enjoyable read but a disappointing ending.

>66 gaylebutz: Nice review. I have this on hold at the library. I don't like all of Tana French's books but this one sounds good.

Weeping Walls by Gerri Hill
Johnston & Riley series Book #2
5 ★

An abandoned old house in a small town northeast of Houston is the site of a second murder, eerily similar to a supposed cold case of fourteen years earlier. FBI Agents CJ Johnston and Paige Riley are dispatched to find the link between the two homicides. The team, including Ice and Billy, find the case to be anything but cold. For CJ and Paige, juggling the investigation while trying to keep their love affair a secret proves to be as hard as uncovering long-buried clues.

I really like the characters in this series. They are dedicated FBI agents with a sense of humor even though the things they investigate fall short on the humor side. I read this more for the ghost story but found a budding well done romance along with it. I don't usually care for romances but this one didn't overshadow the paranormal story line. The book is rather short...288 pages...wish it had just been a tad longer. I'm looking forward to book 3 in this series.

Just A Note: I should have added this when I originally reviewed the book. While the story and the investigation are really good...Some people may find the romance controversial or even offensive. Just thought you should be warned before spending money for the book.

Unfortunately not able to do the Group Read of Why Mermaids Sing by C S Harris. None of the libraries have it, not available as an e-book and has had to be ordered from the US. Also still not been able to get hold of Walking By Night - people who have the two copies still haven’t returned them to the library! 😡

I suggest we advance the next two Group Reads for June with the following schedule :

1. Piranha by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison, #10 in the Oregon Files Series - start Friday 1st June

2. The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths, #9 in the Ruth Galloway Series - start date Friday 15th June

Then when I can get hold of the two outstanding group reads we will look to schedule them. Apologies for the delay on these!

>69 Andrew-theQM: That's okay with me. See you on Friday:)

>69 Andrew-theQM: Fine with me!

Last Seen by Lucy Clarke
★ ★ ★ ★ - 433 pages

Seven years ago, on Jacob's tenth birthday, he and his best friend Marley are swept out to sea. Only Jacob was rescued, with Marley's body never found. Isla, Marley's mom, goes over the event every day, as does Sarah, Jacob's mom. On Jacob's seventeenth birthday, Jacob disappears. Sarah, distraught and desperate, begins to question everything. And she's right to, because several people on the sandbank have secrets they are hiding.

A very good mystery and psychological suspense. Most of the characters were unlikeable, though. Told by both Sarah and Isla in alternating chapters, their voices weren't always distinct enough (especially as the storyline was being resolved) to separate the two. Also, I never got a clear picture of the setting in my head. I think I need to brush up on some nautical/geographical terms - would have helped in this case. I don't think this book has been published yet in the US. I had to get my copy from a British seller on Abebooks.

Solitude Creek; Fear Kills by Jeffery Deaver. (Kathryn Dance #4)
4 stars.

This is another (almost) intriguing book by an artist of his craft. Kathryn Dance is led a merry waltz by a very clever criminal whose main skill is inducing fear into people, a fear which causes them to panic and in the scramble that ensues, people are killed or badly injured. So much of that is clear from the beginning, even telling us the perpetrator's name, Antioch March, and how he is planning his next event, taunted by his psychological problem which he calls "The Get". What is not revealed until much later is the appalling background to these planned events. Kathryn works her way through what clues there are, becoming quite devious (just how much is not seen until very near the end of the novel) herself in bringing the perpetrator to justice, and also starting a whole train of other convictions to be pursued. Unfortunately, and this where my bracketed (almost) comes in at the start, is that the end becomes rushed. The actual denouement is very well staged, but then everything falls into place too easily thanks to immediate confessions. Kathryn's love life also adds somethingof a distraction, although it does seem to be working out towards the end.
Still a good series, an intriguing plot, a good read, just the drawback of the quick ending.

>73 Alan1946: Nice review. I tried to ignore the rushed ending and gave it an extra half-star...just for the idea of "the get':)

>73 Alan1946: >74 Carol420: This is a Series I am wanting to try. Thanks for the review Alan.

The Venetian Betrayal by Steve Berry
#3 Cotton Malone Adventure
4 ⭐️s

Cotton Malone is a 48 yr. old retired operative of the US government, who owns a rare book store in Copenhagen, Denmark. Doing a favor for his friend Henrik, he is almost killed in a Museum fire. A museum that holds a coin commemorating Alexander the Great. Upon being saved by Cassiopeia Vitt, he finds that this was part of a bizarre string of thefts and fires all over Europe. He agrees to to help Cassiopeia solve this problem. He is drawn into an adventure that reaches into Venice and further into a new Eastern nation run by a woman obsessed by Alexander the Great. Why is she swatching for the resting place of Alexander? Steve Berry does not disappoint with this wild quest centered thriller. Lots of twists, turns and very fast paced.

☊Nineteen Eighty-Four by George Orwell - 340 pgs. - ★★★
I found 1984 interesting in that it takes place around 1950 and told about how our freedom and democracy are fragile and big brother is watching and the dangers of Soviet threat to the world which can still apply today. One quote I did like was: "Who controls the past controls the future: who controls the present controls the past." The book also cautioned against excessive power of mass media which is very prevalent with all the fake news that is coming out of our mass media today. I would recommend reading it as it is remembered as one of the the most important and moving works of fiction to be published in this generation.

☊The Gunslinger by Stephen King - 253 pgs. - ★★★★
This is the 2nd time reading The Gunslinger and I think I enjoyed it more the 2nd time as I had read 5 or 6 of The Dark Tower series and it seemed to make more sense to me having some knowledge of what's to come. I took my time reading it this time. I listened to the audio and read along with the book and took notes in order to be able to refer back as I am reading this as a group read. I am looking forward to reading The Drawing of the Three in June and following with the rest of the series. I would recommend this to those who have read some of King's other works as there are references to some of his other writings and this is considered his masterpiece.

As Bright as Heaven by Susan Meissner - 400 pgs. ★★★★★
This book was a very realistic view of the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918 in Philadelphia. It really hit home with me as my grandfather came from Croatia to Philadelphia in 1914. As he was an undertaker for his church in Croatia, I could imagine him helping with all the dead. The story is told by the perspective of the daughters. The characters were well-developed and you can feel great empathy as they told their side of the story. While reading, you get a good insight into the mortuary business at that time. It's was truly amazing to find out that the flu took more lives than WWI. I would recommend reading this book as it really was very interesting to learn how people coped with so many dying around them. I look forward to reading more books my Susan Meissner as I really liked her writing.

Watching the Dark by Peter Robinson
Alan Banks series Book #20
5 ★

A decorated policeman is murdered on the tranquil grounds of the St. Peter's Police Treatment Centre, shot through the heart with a crossbow arrow, and compromising photographs are discovered in his room. Detective Chief Inspector Alan Banks is well aware that he must handle the highly sensitive and dangerously explosive investigation with the utmost discretion. And as he digs deeper, he discovers that the murder may be linked to an unsolved missing persons case from six years earlier...and the current crime may involve some very bad, crooked cops.

I have never read a bad Peter Robinson book (knock on wood)...and this one was certainly no exception. This author has a way of setting the scene that raises the reader's anticipation page after page. The only thing that I found slightly "off putting" about this one was the times that Inspector Banks showed an unusual and unexpected childish side with very foolish actions that were unusual and unexpected from a man of his character and reputation. Otherwise a really great read.

Ashes to Ashes: A Novel (Sam Kovac and Nikki Liska) Odd serial killer novel. The author seemed very uninterested in the serial killer. Much more time was spent on the relationship between the victim advocate and the FBI profiler's than the killer. The witnesses and the victim's backstory also got a lot of attention. For a big chunk of the middle it was like the killer was completely forgotten.