Staying Dead by Laura Anne Gilman

About the book: Manhattan's nightlife just got weirder. . .It starts as a simple job - but simple jobs, when you're dealing with this magical world, often end up anything but. As a Retriever, Wren Valere specializes in finding things gone missing - and then bringing them back, no questions asked. Normally her job is stimulating, challenging and only a little bit dangerous. But every once in a while. . . Case in point - a cornerstone containing a spell is stolen and there's a magical complication. (Isn't there always?) Wren's unique abilities aren't enough to lay this particular case to rest, and so she turns to some friends: a demon (minor), a mage who has lost her mind, and a few others - including Sergei, her business partner (and maybe a bit more?) Sometimes what a woman hasto do to get the job done is enough to give even Wren nightmares.

My thoughts: Staying Dead, the first book in the Retrievers serise, was published in 2004. I was lucky to have found it while browsing at the library. It was a great addition the the whole Urban Fantasy genre with its unique characters. Do yourself a favor and look it up. I'm going to get the next one soon. I'll have to buy it since our library just caved in.

Tomb of the Golden Bird by Elizabeth Peters

About the book: Convinced that the tomb of the little-known king Tutankhamon lies somewhere in the Valley of the Kings, eminent Egyptologist Radcliffe Emerson and his intrepid wife, Amelia Peabody, seem to have hit a wall. Having been banned forever from the East Valley, Emerson, against Amelia's advice, has tried desperately to persuade Lord Carnarvon and Howard Carter to relinquish their digging rights. But Emerson's trickery has backfired, and his insistent interest in the site has made his rivals all the more determined to keep the Emerson clan away.
Powerless to intervene but determined to stay close to the unattainable tomb, the family returns to Luxor and prepares to continue their dig in the less promising West Valley -- and to watch from the sidelines as Carter and Carnarvon "discover" the greatest Egyptian treasure of all time: King Tut's tomb. But before their own excavation can get underway, Emerson and his son, Ramses, find themselves lured into a trap by a strange group of villains ominously demanding "Where is he?" Driven by distress -- and, of course, Amelia's insatiable curiosity -- the Emersons embark on a quest to uncover who "he" is and why "he" must be found, only to discover that the answer is uncomfortably close to home. Now Amelia must find a way to protect her family -- and perhaps even her would-be nemesis -- from the sinister forces that will stop at nothing to succeed in the nefarious plot that threatens the peace of the entire region.

My thoughts: I loved the sense of time and place in this book. The twenties during "The Season" in Egypt when the archaeologists searched for tombs.I found Amelia to be a great character and the interactions between the family members funny at times and touching sometimes. While there was a great deal I liked about this book it seemed to drag a lot.

Relentless by Dean Koontz

ABOUT THIS BOOK:
Bestselling novelist Cullen “Cubby” Greenwich is a lucky man and he knows it. He makes a handsome living doing what he enjoys. His wife, Penny, a children’s book author and illustrator, is the love of his life. Together they have a brilliant six-year-old, Milo, affectionately dubbed “Spooky,” and a non-collie named Lassie, who’s all but part of the family.

So Cubby knows he shouldn’t let one bad review of his otherwise triumphant new book get to him—even if it does appear in the nation’s premier newspaper and is penned by the much-feared, seldom-seen critic, Shearman Waxx. Cubby knows the best thing to do is ignore the gratuitously vicious, insulting, and inaccurate comments. Penny knows it, even little Milo knows it. If Lassie could talk, she’d tell Cubby to ignore them, too.

Ignore Shearman Waxx and his poison pen is just what Cubby intends to do. Until he happens to learn where the great man is taking his lunch. Cubby just wants to get a look at the mysterious recluse whose mere opinion can make or break a career—or a life.

But Shearman Waxx isn’t what Cubby expects; and neither is the escalating terror that follows what seemed to be an innocent encounter. For Waxx gives criticism; he doesn’t take it. He has ways of dealing with those who cross him that Cubby is only beginning to fathom. Soon Cubby finds himself in a desperate struggle with a relentless sociopath, facing an inexorable assault on far more than his life.

Fearless, funny, utterly compelling, Relentless is Dean Koontz at his riveting best, an unforgettable tale of the fragile bonds that hold together all that we most cherish—and of those who would tear those bonds asunder.

My thoughts: I've been a Dean Koontz fan for years and would be hard pressed to name one favorite book of his. So, I really liked this book. Cubby reminded me a little of Odd Thomas with his sweet nature and goodness. I would have liked to have known more about his ability that saved him as a boy and think it could have been put to use. I couldn't get enough of Lassie and the strange episodes she brought to the story. I found it to be witty, riveting, and suspenseful.

The Scarecrow by Michael Connelly

About the book: For Jack McEvoy, the killer named The Poet was the last word in evil. Think again, Jack.
Jack McEvoy is at the end of the line as a crime reporter. Forced to take a buy-out from the Los Angeles Times as the newspaper grapples with dwindling revenues, he's got only a few days left on the job. His last assignment? Training his replacement, a low-cost reporter just out of journalism school. But Jack has other plans for his exit. He is going to go out with a bang — a final story that will win the newspaper journalism's highest honor — a Pulitzer prize.

Jack focuses on Alonzo Winslow, a 16-year-old drug dealer from the projects who has confessed to police that he brutally raped and strangled one of his crack clients. Jack convinces Alonzo's mother to cooperate with his investigation into the possibility of her son's innocence. But she has fallen for the oldest reporter's trick in the book. Jack's real intention is to use his access to report and write a story that explains how societal dysfunction and neglect created a 16-year-old killer.

But as Jack delves into the story he soon realizes that Alonzo's so-called confession is bogus, and Jack is soon off and running on the biggest story he's had since The Poet crossed his path years before. He reunites with FBI Agent Rachel Walling to go after a killer who has worked completely below police and FBI radar—and with perfect knowledge of any move against him.

What Jack doesn't know is that his investigation has inadvertently set off a digital tripwire. The killer knows Jack is coming—and he's ready.

My thoughts: I haven't read The Poet so I didn't know Jack or Rachel but I came to like them quickly. I found this book scary on at least two levels. First of course is The Scarecrow himself, a serial killer who has been at it for years. On another level there is the technology that he uses. You've seen it at the show. The Scarecrow (or whoever) can ruin lives just sitting behind a computer. Even though you know from early on who the killer is, the suspense is still there. There were no big twists, no big surprises but it was a good solid thriller. I'll have to read The Poet next. Out of order of course.

View the trailer with Michael Connelly:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/mpd/permalink/m1H95YIB2KWVAP

thriller, murder, serial killer, computer hacking,FBI

Sail by James Patterson & Howard Roughan

From the jacket: A perfect family vacation turns into a life-or-death nightmare.
SET SAIL Only an hour out of port, the Dunne family's summer getaway to paradise is already turning into the trip from hell. Carrie, the eldest, has thrown herself off the side of the boat in a bid for attention. Sixteen-year-old Mark is getting high belowdecks. And Ernie, their ten-year-old brother, is nearly catatonic. It's shaping up to be the worst vacation ever.
SOAK UP THE SUN Katherine Dunne had hoped this trip would bring back the togetherness they'd lost when her husband died four years earlier. Maybe if her new husband, a high-powered Manhattan attorney, had been able to postpone his trial and join them it would all have been okay....
PREPARE TO DIE-Suddenly, a disaster hits–and it's perfect. Faced with real danger, the Dunnes rediscover the meaning of family and pull together in a way they haven't in a long time. But this catastrophe is just a tiny taste of the danger that lurks ahead: someone wants to make sure that the Dunne family never makes it out of paradise alive.
With whiplash plot twists, speedboat pacing, and an eye for the evil that can lie behind even the most gorgeous setting, James Patterson delivers Sail–the wettest, most explosive ocean adventure since Jaws.

My Thoughts: This was a good quick read, somewhat suspenseful and entertaining. There is not much mystery here as you know who the bad guy is early on. There didn't seem to be much depth to this story, it is what it is. Escapism at its best.

Golden Buddha by Clive Cussler and Craig Dirgo

About the book: Clive Cussler, creator of the bestselling NUMA and Dirk Pitt series, presents his latest and most intriguing high seas action hero: the enigmatic captain of the Oregon, Juan Cabrillo. In his first feature-length adventure, it's up to Cabrillo and his crew of expert intelligence and Naval men to put Tibet back in the hands of the Dalai Lama by striking a deal with the Russians and the Chinese. His 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...

Audio CD
Publisher: Brilliance Audio on CD Unabridged; Unabridged edition (October 7, 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1593552033
ISBN-13: 978-1593552039

My thoughts: As usual I'm reading a series out of order. This is the first of Cussler's Oregon Files books. I've read two or three others and enjoyed them. I've also read two Dirk Pitt novels and a couple of others that aren't in a series and liked them all. While I generally liked this, it didn't flow well for me. There were a LOT of characters to keep track of and a LOT of separate situations needing to be stitched together to follow the story. I couldn't keep track of it all. And every little thing was explained into the ground. It took two paragraphs for some guy to get into a raft. Maybe it would have been better if I had been reading it instead of listening. Oh well. This is the first disappointment I've faced with a Cussler book. It won't stop me from reading more

action adventure, Juan Cabrillo, Oregon Files, suspense,

The Lost City of Z by David Grann

From the jacket: A grand mystery reaching back centuries. A sensational disappearance that made headlines around the world. A quest for truth that leads to death, madness or disappearance for those who seek to solve it. The Lost City of Z is a blockbuster adventure narrative about what lies beneath the impenetrable jungle canopy of the Amazon.

After stumbling upon a hidden trove of diaries, acclaimed New Yorker writer David Grann set out to solve "the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century": What happened to the British explorer Percy Fawcett and his quest for the Lost City of Z?

In 1925 Fawcett ventured into the Amazon to find an ancient civilization, hoping to make one of the most important discoveries in history. For centuries Europeans believed the world’s largest jungle concealed the glittering kingdom of El Dorado. Thousands had died looking for it, leaving many scientists convinced that the Amazon was truly inimical to humankind. But Fawcett, whose daring expeditions helped inspire Conan Doyle’s The Lost World, had spent years building his scientific case. Captivating the imagination of millions around the globe, Fawcett embarked with his twenty-one-year-old son, determined to prove that this ancient civilization—which he dubbed “Z”—existed. Then he and his expedition vanished.

Fawcett’s fate—and the tantalizing clues he left behind about “Z”—became an obsession for hundreds who followed him into the uncharted wilderness. For decades scientists and adventurers have searched for evidence of Fawcett’s party and the lost City of Z. Countless have perished, been captured by tribes, or gone mad. As David Grann delved ever deeper into the mystery surrounding Fawcett’s quest, and the greater mystery of what lies within the Amazon, he found himself, like the generations who preceded him, being irresistibly drawn into the jungle’s “green hell.” His quest for the truth and his stunning discoveries about Fawcett’s fate and “Z” form the heart of this complex, enthralling narrative.

David Grann's site.

Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Doubleday (February 24, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0385513534
ISBN-13: 978-0385513531

My thoughts: This book is totally fascinating. I checked it out of the library thinking it might be interesting and probably dry. I was wrong. It was VERY interesting, well written, compelling, and not in the least bit dry.

The story follows several lines. Fawcett's life and several of his trips into the Amazon are explored. This is the main thrust of the book. Grann's research and his search for Fawcett is written about. Other searches for Fawcett are touched upon, as are the accomplishments of some of Fawcett's contempories. I was glad to learn about the Royal Geographic Society. I had read about it and seen in several books and movies but I hadn't paid much attention to it. Fawcett's wife, Nina, was a tragic figure at the end.The information about ancient civilizations in the Amazon, found at the end of the book, was amazing to me, a person who knows next to nothing about the Amazon. It was like reading an adventure novel, only I actually learned. Read it.

Challenges:
100+ Reading Challenge
5x4 Reading Challenge
Read Around the World Challenge
Support Your Local Library Challenge

Amazon, non-fiction, El Dorado, exploration, Fawcett

The Mephisto Club by Tess Gerritsen

From the jacket: Peccavi.....The Latin word is scrawled in blood at the scene of a young woman’s brutal murder: “I HAVE SINNED”. It’s a chilling Christmas greeting for Boston medical examiner Maura Isles and Detective Jane Rizzoli, who swiftly link the victim to controversial celebrity psychiatrist Joyce O’Donnell – Maura’s professional nemesis and member of a secret society called “The Mephisto Club

On tony Beacon Hill, the club’s acolytes devote themselves to the analysis of evil: Can it be explained by science? Does it have a physical presence? Do demons walk the earth? Drawing on a wealth of dark historical data and mysterious religious symbology, the Mephisto scholars aim to prove a startling theory: that Satan and his demons actually exist among us.

With the grisly appearance of a corpse on the Mephisto Club’s doorstep, it’s clear that someone – or something – is indeed prowling the city. The members begin to fear the very subject of their study. Have they inadvertently summoned an evil entity from the darkness?
Deep into the most baffling and unusual case of their careers, Maura and Jane embark on a terrifying journey to the very heart of evil – where they encounter a malevolent foe more dangerous than any they have ever faced… one whose work is only just beginning. Hardcover: 368 pages

Publisher: Ballantine Books (September 12, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0345476999
ISBN-13: 978-0345476999

My thoughts: Thanks Bookfriends! Tess Gerritsen did indeed provide a great read. I chose this book randomly after a couple of Bookfriends told me they liked this author. I didn't know that this was part of a series, the Isles/Rizzoli series, I just thought the blurb sounded good and checked it out of the library. This was a real page turner. It was dark and a little disturbing. I'm sure the author spent many hours researching devil worship, Satan, and other kinds of evil written about in ancient texts. The demonic/paranormal slant sort of surprised me as I thought these were strictly medical/police thrillers. Isles seems to be going in a different direction than Rizzoli now. The end of the book left it wide open for a new series. Going to go to Amazon and check on it now.

mystery, murder,

Glory In Death by J.D. Robb

Synopsis: In a time when technology can reveal the darkest of secrets, there's only one place to hide a crime of passion - in the heart. . . The first victim was found lying on a sidewalk in the rain. The second was murdered in her own apartment building. Police lieutenant Eve Dallas had no problem finding connections between the two crimes. Both victims were beautiful and highly successful women. Their glamorous lives and loves were the talk of the city. And their intimate relations with men of great power and wealth provided Eve with a long list of suspects - including her own lover, Roarke. As a woman, Eve was compelled to trust the man who shared her bed. But as a cop, it was her job to follow every lead . . .to investigate every scandalous rumor . . to explore every secret passion, no matter how dark. Or how dangerous.

Product Details
Hardcover: 293 pages
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons (October 7, 2004)
ISBN-10: 0399151583
ASIN: B00080W3IY

My Thoughts: I'm reading these books out of order. I read the last one first, this one, the second one, second. Which would be ok if I had already read the first one. But the first one will be next putting it in third place. It hasn't detracted from the two stories already read, so that's good. I enjoyed this with its futuristic touches, bits of romance and mystery all the way. I did figure out "who done it" when the second person was killed. When the third was killed that clenched it. It was wrapped up neatly, which I liked.

Challenges:

100+ Reading Challenge
Support Your Local Library Challenge

mystery, murder, futuristic, sci/fi,

Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck

About the book: Adopting the structure and themes of the Arthurian legend, Steinbeck created a "Camelot" on a shabby hillside above Monterrey on the California coast and peopled it with a colorful band of knights. As Steinbeck chronicles their thoughts and emotions, temptations and lusts, he spins a tale as compelling, and ultimately as touched by sorrow, as the famous legends of the Round Table.

My thoughts: This story is told in a series of short, funny stories each one adding to the whole. It is about a group of poor young men living in Tortilla Flat near Monetary. Danny has returned home from WWI to learn that he has inherited property from his grandfather. One by one, friends come to live with him where their lives revolve around wine, fighting and women. The rationalizations they went through to make stealing OK was so convoluted it defied logic, but it worked for them and it was very entertaining to read. This kind of reasoning was at it's best in the chapter called "How Danny's Friends Threw Themselves To The Aid of a Distressed Lady." My favorite character is The Pirate, a man who is a bit slow but who has a heart of gold. He also has five very special dogs, who are his life. I found this to be funny, touching and outrageous. I love it!

SparkNotes on Tortilla Flat

Challenges:
100+ Reading Challenge
John Steinbeck Mini Challenge
5x4 Reading Challenge
Audiobook Challenge
Support Your Local Library Challenge

classic, Steinbeck, California, wine

Resolution by Robert B. Parker

From the jacket: I had an eight-gauge shotgun that I’d taken with me when I left Wells Fargo. It didn’t take too long for things to develop. I sat in the tall lookout chair in the back of the saloon with the shotgun in my lap for two peaceful nights. On my third night it was different. I could almost smell trouble beginning to cook . . . .”

After the bloody confrontation in Appaloosa, Everett Hitch heads into the afternoon sun and ends up in Resolution, an Old West town so new the dust has yet to settle. It’s the kind of town that doesn’t have much in the way of commerce, except for a handful of saloons and some houses of ill repute. Hitch takes a job as lookout at Amos Wolfson’s Blackfoot Saloon and quickly establishes his position as protector of the ladies who work the backrooms—as well as a man unafraid to stand up to the enforcer sent down from the O’Malley copper mine.

Though Hitch makes short work of hired gun Koy Wickman, tensions continue to mount, so that even the self-assured Hitch is relieved by the arrival in town of his friend Virgil Cole. When greedy mine owner Eamon O’Malley threatens the loose coalition of local ranchers and starts buying up Resolution’s few businesses, Hitch and Cole find themselves in the middle of a makeshift war between O’Malley’s men and the ranchers. In a place where law and order don’t exist, Hitch and Cole must make their own, guided by their sense of duty, honor, and friendship.

Hardcover: 292 pages
Publisher: Putnam Adult (June 3, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 039915504X
ISBN-13: 978-0399155048

My thoughts: Got this sequel to Appaloosa yesterday from the library and finished it off this afternoon. This was another quick, entertaining read. I enjoyed the conversation between the two main characters as much in this one as in the first. It started basically where Appaloosa left off and continued the story line. As in the first book good and bad are in many shades of gray. Good people do not necessarily obey society's laws just because they are there. Good people keep their word and bad people don't. So as you might expect Hitch and Cole are again walking that line between the law and & just being gunmen.

There were many more characters in this story including farmers, miners, men from a lumber mill, native Americans, as well as the town people. Again the story is familiar, bad guy wants to take over the town as well as the outlying homesteads. Good guys stop him. The short lived romantic interest for Cole did not keep him from leaving at the end, with Hitch, to go to Texas to find Allie (Appaloosa.) I'm looking forward to the third in this series, Brimstone. It is not at the library yet so I'll have to wait. :(

I liked the cover picture a lot.

Challenges:
100+ Reading challenge
Support Your Local Library challenge

western, hired guns, ranchers, old west

Challenges Finished So Far This Year

I've had a good reading year so far. With less than half the year gone I've read 56 books and finished these challenges:

The Audiobook Challenge (view list) Finished! :)

Suspense & Thriller 2009 Challenge (view list) Finished! :)

Support Your Local Library Challenge 2009 (view list) Finished :)

Chunkster Challenge (view list) Finished! :)

What's In a name Challenge (view list) Finished :)


The Daniel DeFoe Mini-Challenge (view list) Finished :)

The Mystery of Grace by Charles De Lint

About the book: Three years after his last major adult novel, Charles de Lint returns with a new tale of magic, loss, and redemption, his first book set in the Southwest. Centered on a remarkable female protagonist and entirely self-contained, this is a modern contemporary fantasy as invented band pioneered by de Lint himself. Altagracia—her friends call her Grace—has a tattoo of Nuestra Señora de Altagracia on her shoulder; she's got a Ford Motor Company tattoo running down her leg; and she has grease worked so deep into her hands that'll never wash out.
Grace works at Sanchez Motor Works, customizing hot rods. A few blocks around her small apartment building is all her world—from the grocery store where she buys beans, tamales and cigarettes to the library, the little record shop, and the Solona Music Hall. Which is where she meets John Burns, just two weeks too late.
Grace and John fall for one another, and that would be wonderful, except that they're both haunted by unfinished business. Before their relationship can be resolved, they're both going to have to learn things they don't know about the world of the living and the world beyond. About why it's necessary to let some things go.

My Thoughts: This is the first one of De Lint's books I've read and I liked it. I found the story and the characters intriguing. It was different from most of the UF that I read in that it wasn't a thriller at all. It was about the afterlife, a seemingly doomed love story, all revolving around the power of faith. There was just a touch of spice, nothing too hot, and had very little violence. The end of the story was a little too open ended for me, though. I like to know what happened. I will read more of De Lint's books

Challenges:
100+ Reading Challenge
Support Your Local Library Challenge

urban fantasy, contempory fantasy, fantasy, ghosts, afterlife, witch, magic

The Christmas Day Murders by Sheriff J. B. Smith and D. W. Adams

Synopsis: When the bodies of Carla and Stephen Barron were discovered early one Christmas morning, the search for the killer began. The murder investigation that ensued is full of shocking discoveries and provides keen insight into the world of the Texas sheriff who directed the investigation. Critical evidence led Sheriff J.B. Smith’s team to solve one of the most compelling cases ever seen.

My Thoughts: This is my first foray into this kind of true crime. I've read "The Monster of Florence" by Douglas Preston, "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson and listened to "In Cold Blood" by Truman Capote, and "Jack the Ripper" by Patricia Cornwell and it did not compare well to any of these. But to be fair it wasn't presented as a work of literature but as a chronicle.

I think this book would appeal mostly to a local audience. That's why I chose it. The case was covered with lots of details but there were included a lot of rabbit trails mostly about the sheriff and his friends. I did not think it was appropriate to include the story of his friend who flew in prostitutes in from New York City. It had nothing to do with the story and was kind of just thrown in.

This was a quick read at 219 pages. The local references brought the story close to my heart. I felt grief for this apparently decent couple.

The fact that pictures of the murdered couple, taken at the scene of the murder, were included was beyond bad taste, at least to me. Especially for a book that would certainly have mostly local appeal. I think the description was sufficient. Their dignity was stripped from them in the most callous way. Are these kinds of pictures generally included in true crime books?

I hate to sound so negative about this, The Sheriff is a very popular person in his area, a sought ofter speaker, and a force in the community for good. Go here to read a little more about him. Scroll to the very bottom of this page and click on Video Clips to see several very short clips.

Challenges:
100+ Reading Challenge
Support your Local Library Challenge

true crime, murder, nonfiction

Kiss by Ted Dekker & Erin Healy

Synopsis: After a car accident puts Shauna McAllister in a coma and wipes out six months of her memory, she returns to her childhood home to recover, but her arrival is fraught with confusion. Her estranged father, a senator bidding on the White House, and her abusive stepmother blame Shauna for the tragedy, which has left her beloved brother severely brain damaged.
Leaning on Wayne Spade, a forgotten but hopeful lover who stays by her side, Shauna tries to sort out what happened that night by jarring her memory to life. Instead, she acquires a mysterious mental ability that will either lead her to truth or get her killed by the people trying to hide it. In this blind game of cat and mouse that states even the darkest memories in the face, Shauna is sure of only one thing: if she remembers, she dies.

My Thoughts: This was my kind of thriller. I enjoyed listening to it and sometimes sat in the driveway waiting for a stopping place. There were twists and turns, a little romance and a little paranormal thrown in. All in all this was another good read from Ted Dekker. In fact had it been a book instead of an audio I would call it a page turner. My only complaint would be that I just hate it when characters talk around subjects but never directly address it so don't learn what they need to. This device was used several times and was just a little frustrating. I'm thinking "Just ask him!"

But don't let this deter you, go read it, you'll like it!



Challenges:
100+ Reading Challenge
Audiobook Challenge
Support Your Local Library Challenge

thriller, christian fiction, Ted Dekker

Bone Crossed by Patricia Briggs

Synopsis: Car mechanic and sometime shapeshifter Mercy Thompson has learned, the hard way, why her race was almost exterminated. When European vampires immigrated to North America, they found Mercy's people had a hidden talent - for vampire slaying. Unfortunately for Mercy, the queen of the local vampire seethe has discovered her true identity. She's also furious when she learns Mercy has crossed her and killed one of her vampires. Mercy may be protected from direct reprisals by the werewolf pack (and her interesting relationship with its Alpha), but that just means Marsilia will come after Mercy some other way. So Mercy had better prepare to watch her back.

My Thoughts: This is the 4th Mercy Thompson book and well worth the wait! Among all the paranormal fiction available today this series shines. The characters are engaging, some likable, some not and others you just don't know about. The two main story lines kept it moving right along. I like Adam even better. He is the Alpha but he is kind and sensitive to Mercy's needs. If you have read the other books and liked them I know you will enjoy this one. If you haven't then maybe you should .

Challenges:
100+ Reading Challenge
Support Your Local Library Challenge

paranormal, urban fantasy, mystery, werewolves, vampires

Tea Time for the Traditionally Built by Alexander McCall Smith

From the flap: Mma Ramotswe's ever-ready tiny white van has recently developed a rather disturbing noise. Of course, Mr. J.L.B. Matekoni-her estimable husband and one of Botswana's most talented mechanic--is the man to turn to for help. But Precious suspects he might simply condemn the van and replace it with something more modern. Can she find a way to save her old friend/

In the meantime, Mma Makutsi discovers that her old rival Violet Sephotho, who could not have gotten more than fifty percent on her typing final at the Botswana Secretarial College, has set her sights on non other than Mma Makutsi's fiance, Phuti Radiphuti. Can Mma Ramotswe's intuition save the day? Finally, the proprietor of a local football team has enlisted the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency to help explain its dreadful losing streak. The owner of the team is convinced he has a traitor in his midst. But how is Mma Ramotswe, who has never seen a football match in her life, going to discern who is throwing the game? Help, it turns out, may come from an unexpected quarter.
There are few mysteries that can't be solved and fewer problems that can't be fixed when the irrepressible Precious Ramotswe puts her mind them. A good cup of red bush tea might be the best solution of all.

My thoughts: This is the tenth book in this series and is as good as the first. I read somewhere that people say nothing happens in these books. Well, it may seem so but believe me plenty happens. The pace of life is slow but life has a way of happening all around. I love reading Mma Ramotswe's thoughts on subjects as she goes about her daily business of working at her Detective Agency, spending time with friends, drinking refreshing red bush tea, taking care of her husband and her foster children. In this book we finally learn the younger apprentice's name: Fanwell. We see the friendship of Grace and Precious deepen even though they don't always agree on subjects, like chairs for example. Mma Makutsi thinks that "The trouble with this country is that there are too many people sitting down in other people's chairs," while Mma Ramotswe insists that "There are not enough of us prepared to share our chairs." I usually read the book then listen to the audiobook. This is the only series I do this with.

I'm going to miss the tiny white van. Perhaps she will get it back.

Visit the author's site here. Click on multimedia and you cna view an interview with McCall Smith.

Here is an interesting article on the series.

Challenges:
100+ Reading Challenge
Support Your Local Library Challenge

mystery, humorous, detective, cozy

Power Play by Joseph Finder

It is the perfect retreat for a troubled company. No cell phones. No Blackberrys. No cars. Just luxurious, remote lodge surrounded by miles of wilderness.

All the top officers of Hammond Aerospace Coporation are there. And one last minute substitute - Jake Landry. he's a steady, modest and taciturn guy with a gift for keeping his head down and a past he is trying to forget.

Jake's uncomfortable with all the power players he's been thrown in with, with all the swaggering and posturing. The only person he knows there is the female CEO's assistant, his ex-girlfriend Ali.

When a band of backwoods hunters crash he opening-night dinner, the executives suddenly find themselves held hostage by armed men who will do anything, to anyone, to get their hands on the largest ransom in history. Now, terrified and desperate and cut off from the rest of the world, the captives are at the mercy of hard men with guns who may not e what the seem.

The corporate big shots hadn't wanted Jake there. But now he's the only one who can save them.

My thoughts: This story carried through with thrills and action. It was a quick read and I will definitely read more of Finders work! The characters were filled out and I found myself liking Jake and Ali, disliking the "hunters" and disliking some of the corporate big wigs even more.

The author's web site is here.

Turn Coat by Jim Butcher

About the book: The Warden Morgan has been accused of treason against the Wizards of the White Council--and there's only one, final punishment for that crime. He's on the run, wants his name cleared, and needs someone with a knack for backing the underdog. Someone like Harry Dresden.
Now, Harry must uncover a traitor within the Council, keep a less-than-agreeable Morgan under wraps, and avoid coming under scrutiny himself. And a single mistake may cost someone his head--someone like Harry.

My Thoughts:This was the 11th installment of the Dresden Files and I liked it a lot. Morgan, who until now has made Harry's life miserable, is accused of killing another wizard and comes to Harry for help. As much a Harry dislikes Morgan he knows Morgan couldn't have done this. He sets out to prove Morgan's innocence and runs into a variety of enemies including a skinwalker, The Binder, and the Black Council. The Skinwalker kidnaps Thomas, wanting to exchange him for Morgan.

I think this book is a turning point in the series. A relationship is ended, people (esp. Thomas) are changed, and, Morgan, a character who's been around since the beginning dies. This novel contains a lot of action, what a page turner! It is interesting that characters that have been around since the beginning reveal things about themselves we didn't know before.

There are two story lines in this novel. One is Harry's search for the truth behind the death of the wizard Morgan is accused of killing. The second involves the threat of the Black Council, proving that it is in fact real. But by the end of this novel questions are answered and the stage is set for for the next novel. Harry has found allies in his fight to find the Black Council. Can't wait to read it!

I enjoyed the humor through out this book. I also enjoyed seeing the return of the werewolves, the involvement of the White Court, and the important part played by Toot-Toot. I would love for Mouse to have a bigger part!

Challenges:

100+ Reading Challenge

Support Your Local Library Challenge

Borderline by Nevada Barr

From the Jacket: Drained and haunted by the killings on Isle Royale, diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and on administrative leave by order of her superintendent, the one bright spot in Anna’s life is Paul, her husband of less than a year. Hoping the warmth and the adventure of a raft trip in Big Bend National Park will lift her spirits, Paul takes Anna to southwest Texas, where the sun is hot and the Rio Grande is running high. The sheer beauty of the Chihuahuan Desert and the power of the river work their magic—until the raft is lost in the rapids and a young college student makes a grisly discovery. Hair and arms tangled in the downed branches of a strainer between two boulders, more dead than alive, is a pregnant woman. Nature, it turns out, isn’t the only one who wants to see the woman and her baby dead. Instead of the soul-soothing experience Paul planned for her, Anna and her husband are sucked into a labyrinth of intrigue that leads from the Mexican desert to the steps of the Governor’s Mansion in Austin, Texas.

My Thoughts: I started reading this series because they are set in National Parks all around the states and my husband and I try to visit as many as we can. I'm a long time fan of Nevada Barr and this series staring Anna Piegon. I found this book, # 15, to be a real page turner, well written and lots of action. It was especially appealing because it was set in the Big Bend National Park in my home state. I liked that Paul was with her and we got to see a softer side of Anna as she cared for the baby she rescued. The side story of the stranded cow was interesting, and if you watch the video on the authors site, you'll find that it was based on truth. I liked this book a lot and I think you will too.

Challenges:

100+ Reading Challenge

Support Your Local Library Challenge

See a video with Barr talking about this book.