Now & Then – Robert B. Parker – December 22

For a quick and fun read I can always depend on a "Spenser" semi-mystery. I say "semi" because there's not too much mystery they're more of a crime novel. This time Spenser is hired to by a guy to check up on his wife who he suspects of, shalll we say, infidelity. What Spenser uncovers is a lot more than "fooling around."

The Whitechapel Conspiracy – Anne Perry – December 19

I enjoyed the previous book so thought I'd try another. Same locale (London) and time (late 1800's). This one has to do with a plot to overthrow the monarchy.

A Dangerous Mourning – Anne Perry – December 11

One of my fellow tourers in Ireland introduced me to this author and I'm glad she did. Anne Perry writes mysteries in Victorian England. They're tougher to solve without "CSI-type" techniques so detectives rely much more on understanding people and their motives. This one has to do with power and reputation.

Walkin' the Dog – Walter Moseley – November 27

I read a review of his latest effort recently and he sounded like an interresting writer so I took this one out of the library. It's about an ex-con trying to get along in the Watts section of L.A. It's difficult because his prison experience has made him bitter and mean. He'd like to be left alone but every time a crime is committed in his area (which is often) the cops suspect him first. I'll have to get another one of his books.

Sailing Three Oceans – Herbert and Doris Smith – November 16

This is a true documentary of the author's experience building and sailing three boats. Two of them he and his wife (and family on the third) siled around the world. I've cruised for a week in various locales but to spend more than a year on aboat sailing through all kinds of weather is not my idea of a good time. How he built the boats was kind of interesting.

The Novel – James A. Michener – October 23

Michener's subject is something he knows a lot about, the novel and the stages it goes through from concept to the reader. This book is divideed into four sections; the author, the editor, the critic, and the reader. It's an enjoyable experience to read of his concept of the four.

In Plain Sight – C. J. Box – October 16

This is another case for Joe Pickett, Wyoming Game Warden. Some mysterious deaths in his territory which he'd love to investigate but his idiot boss won't let him. Then everything goes wrong for Joe. Finally, he's had it and gets mad. More people die, his family is endangered, but he perseveres. A page-turner.

Legacies – F. Paul Wilson – October 12

This is the latest in a series where the hero is Repairman Jack. He goes without a last name, has no Social Security number and accepts cash only for his services. He fixes "situations" for people. This situation involves a pediatrician who inherits a house from her father who dies under suspicious circumstances. She doesn't want the house because it holds too many bad memories but her brother is willing to pay millions for it. He is unemployed so one wonders where the money is comming from. Lots of twists and turns make it a fun read.

People Die – Kevin Wignall – September 27

This is a story about a contract killer for MI5 and the CIA. He's really good because he doesn't care who his targets are and he makes his kills look like the Russians did it. Then he discovers his boss at the CIA has put a contract on his head. It's a fun, quick (220 pgs) read, just right for a tour with blank spots.

Hurricane Punch – Tim Conroy – September 17

There are some laughs here but basically it's a pretty silly story about a serial killer in Florida during hurricane season.

Fingersmith – Sarah Waters – September 10

The term, fingersmith, is slang for pickpocket. This story involves some ne're-do-wells in 19th century England who are after a clueless heiress and her money. There are some good twists in the story but it's tough slogging through. It took me a long time to finish.

No god but God – Reza Aslan – August 3

I thought I should know something about Islam since it is a major part of the news. This is a very readable account of Islam's beginning with the Prophet Mohammad and his establishment of a religion that accepted religious pluralism and social egalitarianism. How it's changed! After Mohammad's death his successors attempted to innteerpret his message but through the years the succeeding interpretations were influenced by political events that fractured the Muslim community into competing factions. The most visible today being the radical element. It seems that the biggest problem is reconciling traditional Islamic values with the realities of the modern world particularly with the Western influences.

A Case of Need – Michael Crichton – July 17

I think I'll give Crichton a rest. This was a little light and it used footnotes to show how smart he is. It's about a botched abortion and Crichton uses a to of medical terms which do nothing for the story but get in the way.

The Lighthouse – P.D. James – July 8

A favorite author has written another enjoyable mystery crime novel.Adam Dalgliesh is dispatched to Coombe Island to investigate the suicide/murder of an author who everyone on the island (seven) are delighted to see him dead. One on the island comes down with SARS and infects Dalgliesh. His assistant, Kate Miskin takes over and soon another murder occurs, not a good start.

Darkness and Light – John Harvey – June 18

A favorite theme amidst crime novelists is to bring back a retired detective to solve the crime. They are usually reluctant to come back and they put up with the usual people who don't want them back but their old partner (usually female) is glad to see them. This time he is invited in on a case that has similarities to his first murder case eight years ago which is still open. The cases involve the murder of a fiftyish woman who is then cleaned up and laid out to rest. This time he is successful.

Firebreak – Richard Stark – June 7

A typical Parker novel where he does in the bad guys and steals the ill begotten money from other crooks. This time before he can pull an art heist he has to "take care" of a contract killer hired by some underworld types who he crossed previously. It doesn't pay to get on Parker's wrong side.

Hotel Pastis – Peter Mayle – June 3

Peter Mayle treats the reader to an entertaining novel of escape, romance and adventure all lightly and humourously delivered. Many of the supporting characters are really caricatures of typical English, French, German and American tourists and are fairly accurate.

4th of July – James Patterson – May 28

This is the fourth in a series involving many of the same characters. This time the serial killer may have the heroine, Lindsey Boxer, in his sights.

The Narrows – Michael Connolly – May 23

This is another Harry Boche crime mystery and it doesn't disappoint. The story involves an ex-FBI agent who turns serial killer. Some of his targets are other agents and it's up to Boche to find him despite the Bureau's efforts to screw it up.

Lamb – Christopher Moore – May 20

I took this on vacation and still couldn't finish it until I got home. It's the imagined story of Jesus' youth before the crucifiction. His best friend, Biff, relates the story with all the usual characters, deciples, Mary, Joseph, Mary "Maggie" of Magdalene, etc. What Moore does do these characters is hilarious.

Fever – Sean Rowe – March 17

The hero of this story is an ex-FBI agent turned cruiseline security chief turned hijacker, murderer and druggie. He kind of went downhill in a hurry. I think Sean Rowe is a fan of Dan Brown, at the end of each chapter our hero is in an impossible situation. His means of escape might be a stretch. I still finished it.

The PsychoEx Game – Merrill Markoe and Andy Prieboy – March 15

This would have made at great short story but as a novel it was much too repetitious. I found myself skipping some of the psychoex's descriptions. I can't imagine a supposedly sane person staying with either one of the "ex's" let alone loving them.

Wish You Well – David Baldacci – March 6

This is a little different from his usual crime novels. It's a story of a family touched by tragedy living and surviving in the mountains of Virginia. I thought it was well written and enjoyed it.

Comeback – Richard Stark – March 3

Richard Stark writes these "Parker" books where Parker is a bad guy. That is, if the definition of "bad guy" is "murderer, thief, high-jacker, etc." In all the books in the series that I have read he only kills other bad guys and steals money from other nefarious people. This time he is stealing from a TV evangelist who is running a scam. Double-crosses make it interesting, too.

Armadillo – William Boyd – March 2

This is one of those books where everything goes wrong for the "hero." He's just a regular guy trying to do his job as a claims adjuster as best he can. When he denies a claim because of arson he gets death threats and his boss uses some flimsy excuse not to pay him his commission. These are just a couple of things, there's a whole mess of other nuisances. I stopped reading after about three quarters of the way through. Wierd writing style, too.

3rd Degree – James Patterson – February 27

This time the Women's Murder Club has to solve the mystery of the terrorist killings. The target of the terrorists are corporate executives who take advantage of the poor (as they see it). Lindsay Boxer, the SFPD lieutenant, developes a thing for the assistant director of home secuity. A quick read.

A Dirty Job – Christopher Moore – February 25

Christopher Moore is crazy or just has a wild imagination. The protagonist, Charlie Asher, is a beta male, the kind who picks up the pieces after the girl has been dumped by the alpha male, who leads a somewhat normal life until he gets chosen to pass on the souls of the recently departed. He has the uncomfortable feeling that he and his newly born daughter might be involved in some of the deaths. He has to compete with some evil spirits for the souls which turn up in some of the artifacts in his second-hand property store. See what I mean? Wierd, but funny.

Naked at the Window – Bill James – February 20

This is one in James' Harpur-Iles series. Iles is the Assistant Chief Constable and Harpur is his Chief Detective. In the past, Harpur has shagged Iles' wife and Iles knows it so there is a little friction between the two. There is an instance in this story where they are investigating a murder and about to enter a building where the murderers might be. Iles wants Harpur to go in while he waits outside.
Iles said, ‘Any noise of trouble - gunplay, violence, calls for aid, anything like that, I’ll abandon secrecy and probably come in somehow to help you.'
(Harpur) 'Probably? Somehow?’

Riding the Rap – Elmore Leonard – February 18

It's hard to beat a Leonard crime novel. Why is Southern Florida such a popular place to situation a crime novel? Carl Hiaason, Randy Wayne Wright, Tim Dorsey and Nelson DeMille are some that prefer the locale. This is another one that has a cool federal marshall and dumber than dumb bad guys. One out-of-luck gambler decides that the best way to get some money is to take some hostages I mean, they did it in Lebanon and got away with it. His plan was to take a hostage who would pay his own way out. His mistake was getting two stupid ex-cons to help him. In the end crime didn't pay.

Anything Considered – Peter Mayle – February 16

This is another fun romp in the south of France, the usual locale for his novels. This involves the purloined formula for growing truffles. the formula is worth millions because, heretofore, they could only be grown naturally and, consquently, were very expensive and considered a French treasure. Mayle's sense of humour provides for a fun read.

Hush Money – Robert B. Parker – February 13

This isn't really a mystery, more like a story with the usual amounts of murder and assorted other bits of mayhem. A Harvard professor is denied tenure by his peers (they are a typical bunch of "peers" for Harvard) and when Spenser is hired to find out why he uncovers all sorts of crimes and misdemeaners. A fast and fun read during a raging blizzard outside.

.Three Cups of Tea – Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin – February 9

Greg Mortenson, as a mountain climber, failed in his attempt on K2. On his way off the mountain he stumbled into an impoverished village in Pakistan's Himalayas. The villagers took care of him and nursed him back to better health and it opened his eyes to the goodness of people who have had no education at all. When he returned to America he vowed to build a school for the town. His first hurdle was the fact that he was a "climbing bum" and had no money (he slept in his car). The book is about how he raised money to build the school and went on to build 55 schools and other types of infrastructure in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The first two-thirds of the book explaining how he accomplished this were pretty good and then it turned political. The Bush-bashing seemed a little out of place (most of the funds he raised came from corporate donors) and the left-leaning liberal rantings of David Relin, a journalist, became too much.

Eats, Shoots & Leaves – Lynne Truss – February 1

This is a terrific book about the correct use of punctuation. Her wonderful sense of humor combined with her "Britishisms" make for an enjoyable reading experience. The jacket says she's written other books but doesn't list them so I'll have to find them.

Wild Fire – Nelson DeMille – January 30

DeMille has come up with another terrific idea for a novel; create a nuclear attack on the US so we will retaliate with an automatic response. Unfortunately, he has littered the book with inanities, stupid remarks, and repetitions of them all meant to be funny or clever and in the end just made the protagonist appear like a jerk or worse. It really detracted from the enjoyment of the story. Too bad, I love his earlier work.

Sacred – Dennis Lehane – January 24

Dennis writes fast-reading, bloody novels that are real page-turners. Richard Kenzie and his partner, Angela Gennaro are private detectives who have been hired by a billionaire to find his daughter. It turns out he wants to find her so he can kill her. You might say it is a dysfunctional family. After a few twists it turns out she wants to kill him. Naturally it's all Kenzie and Angie can do to stay alive but, hey, it's a living.

Metro Girl – Janet Evanovich – January 18

Janet writes fast-reading, light novels that are entertaining but not filling.

A Good Year – Peter Mayle – January 15

When I was at Tracy's in December '05 I read one of her books by Peter Mayle and enjoyed it so I tried this one and enjoyed it too. He has a way of writing that is easy, comfortable, not taxing at all, and just lets you enjoy the story. and the story always has equal amounts of humor, mystery, romance, and good and bad guys. This is a story about a guy who gets screwed out of a job by his boss but then inherits a down and out vineyard in Provence which is better than nothing. Others have their eye on the vineyard and it gets interesting.

2nd Chance – James Patterson – January 12

I read the first one in this series and enjoyed it so decided to read the second before I forgot what the first was about (which usually takes about a half hour). Again it invloves the same four women who make up the Women's Murder Club. They are critical to solving murders in that they are a homicide detective, the assistant district attorney, the medical examiner, and a reorter for the locl San Fransisco paper. This case is about a serial killer and the link between the killings is leading to the homicide detective.

Field of Blood – Denise Mina – January 9

I read a review of her latest book in the WSJ and it sounded pretty good, it also mentioned that her first book was Field of Blood so I went to the library and checked it out. A slow start but it picked up speed and ended quite good. It takes place in Glasgow in 1981 and, judging from her descriptions of the city, I would not want to be poor in that city. The story involves an eighteen-year-old girl who aspires to be a journalist. She starts as a "gofer" at the local paper and gets involved in a murder case where she earns respect.

Whiteout – Ken Follett – January 2

I received this book from Santa for being a good boy in 2006. Typical of Follett, the book is entertaining and difficult to put down. The premise is a little far-fetched, a deadly virus with no known antidote is stolen by terrorists, but it's fun to see how the good guys prevail.
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