The Unnatural Inquirer

This is book eight of the Nightside series. Private investigator John Taylor is hired by the Unnatural Inquirer to find and bring back a special DVD knows as "The Afterlife Recording". The Inquirer paid a fortune to Pen Donavon for the DVD that is said to show there is life after death but before they can lay hands on it, both Donavon and the disk disappear. The Inquirer has offered Taylor one million pounds to trace and deliver the DVD to their office, but only if he will work with Bettie Divine, a half-demon reporter. There are plenty of other creatures seeking the DVD as well, including the Collector, Kid Cthulhu and the Removal Man. Luckily for John he was able to aquire a divice at the begining of the book that helped out.

I enjoyed this addition to the Nightside series, but I would like to see more of John's powers.

Here is the Nightside series in order:

1. Something from the Nightside

2. Agents of Light and Darkness

3. Nightingale's Lament

4. Hex and the City

5. Paths Not Taken

6. Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth

7. Hell to Pay

3

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Read a plot summary and review I found at Amazon here.

This is said to be one of the greatest novels of all time . I was somewhat hesitant to tackle this book, but am now glad I did if for no other reason than that it is a classic. I found it tedious in places but plowed own through and finished it.

3 (533 pages)

Classic, crime

Dark Watch by Clive Cussler

library book

I really enjoyed listening to this book. It is the first I've read in this series.It was read by Scott Brick, who did a fantastic job.

Juan Cabrillo and the people of his Corporation, accept a job finding and stopping a piracy ring in Asian waters. In their disguised ship, the Oregon, they pretend to be in trouble hoping to lure in the pirates. They sink the pirate ship and manage to save a large container that had been on the deck. It was full of bodies. People destined to a life of slavery. They also find a survivor on a ship that had been attacked by the pirates and was now submerged.

In an action packed adventure that leads to Russia, Juan and his people solve these crimes and others.

4

The House of Sand and Fog By Andre Dubus III

library book
Warning: Spoiler.

Massoud Amir Behrani, a former colonel exiled from Iran after a political uprising is now a trash collector and convenience store clerk. Kathy Nicolo, a former drug addict whose husband left her, has been wrongfully evicted from her home by the county.
Behrani buys the house at auction and plans to renovate and resell it for for a large profit. Kathy moves out and he moves his family in. Kathy meets Deputy Lester Burdon, and they become close while they work to get Kathy's house back. She hires a lawyer but is not successful. In the eyes of the law, the Behranis legally own the house.

Drunk and depressed, Kathy goes to her former home and attempts to kill herself twice, first trying to shoot herself and secondly overdosing on pills. The Behranis manage to stop her both times and they put her in a bedroom to sleep it off. Lester arrives, thinks the family has hurt Kathy, and locks the Behranis in their bathroom at gunpoint until they agree to sell the house back to Kathy. The Behranis finally agree to sell it back and Lester takes them to the county office. Massoud’s son gets a hold of Lester's gun and is shot by the deputies that that arrive on the scene. When Massoud finds out that his son is dead, he is overcome with grief and rage at both Lester and Kathy. He returns to the house, finds Kathy, strangles her and leaves her for dead. He then suffocates his wife, who was asleep in the bedroom. he puts on his old uniform and suffocates himself.

Kathy and Lester are imprisoned and awaiting trial at the end of the book.

How do I feel about this book? Good question. On one level I found it to be a very good read. On another level I was angered by the stupidity of the county and Lester V. Burdon. It was sad.
4

Oprah's Book Club, literature, tragedy

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

Visit here for a plot summary.

I enjoyed this story, but was disappointed that Pheobe, though the center of the story, was not featured much as a character.

3

The Outlaw Demon Wails by Kim Harrison

CC library book

This is the sixth book in the Rachel Morgan series.

This book starts right out with the demon action in the very first chapter. Rachel and her mother are shopping for Halloween costumes and talismans when the demon Al appears, destroys the shop, and nearly kills Rachel. Somebody is summoning him and setting him after Rachel. Suddenly, not only is Rachel in danger, but everyone she loves and cares about are too.

In this story Rachel learns that Ceri is pregnant -- and to keep her baby and the elf race healthy, they need a sample of ancient elf tissue from the ever-after. As a journey to the ever-after might help her defeat Al she agrees to go with Trent. Jenks sneaks a ride with Rachel and is the only one who can get the sample.

This is a story of ongoing revelations: Rachel learns of her true nature, how her father died, who her bio-dad is, the father of Ceri's baby, Keasley's true identity. She did not, however, findout who killed Kisten.

In the end she is forced to make another deal with Al to protect her friends and family.

I enjoyed this book, the humor Harrison slipped in was great. Rachel's character grew and matured. I can't wait for the next installment.

If you like Sci/Fi Fantasy I give it a 4. (464 pages)