Saturday, January 8, 2000

2013 Book Reviews

241.  Accidentally Yours by Susan Mallery

240.  A House to Die For by Vicki Doudera

239.  Ashes, Ashes, They All Fall Dead by Lena Diaz

238. Argo: How the CIA and Hollywood Pulled Off the Most Audacious Rescue in History
 by Antonio Mendez and Matt Baglio (audiobook)

237.  The Bride Wore Size 12 by Meg Cabot

236.  Howling at the Moon by Karen MacInerney

235.  Succubus Revealed by Richelle Mead

234.  Succubus Shadows by Richelle Mead

233.  Succubus Dreams by Richelle Mead

232.  I Am Number Four by Pitticus Lore

231.  Barefoot Season by Susan Mallery

230.  All the Colors of Darkness by Lloyd Biggle, Jr. (reread)

229.  The Third Victim by Lisa Gardner

228.  Keeper of the Bride by Tess Gerritsen

227.  The Daedalus Incident by Michael J. Martinez
A romp through assorted genres that reads rather like an RPG- albeit a really fun RPG.   Highly amusing.

226.  Imposter  by Jill Hathaway

225.   Bad Monkey by Carl Hiaasen

224.  Betrayal in Death by J. D. Robb (reread)

223.  Raising Steam by Terry Pratchett

222.  Slide by Jill Hathaway

221.  Bullard of the Space Patrol by Malcolm Jameson (reread)

220.  David Starr, Space Ranger by Isaac Asimov (reread)

219.  Kris Longknife: Defender by Mike Shepherd

218.  Thankless in Death by J.D. Robb

217.  Blue Skies by Robyn Carr

216.  Purity in Death by J.D.Robb (reread)

215.  Northern Lights by Nora Roberts

213.  The Postcard Killers by James Patterson and Liza Marklund (audiobook)

212.  Blood Country by Mary Logue

211.  Silent Thunder by Iris and Roy Johansen

210.  Hidden Riches by Nora Roberts

209.  Divided in Death by J.D.Robb (reread )

208.  Shiver by Karen Robards

207.  Angels Fall by Nora Roberts

206.  The Pagan Stone by Nora Roberts

205.  The Hollow by Nora Roberts

204.  NYPD Red by James Patterson and Marshall Karp (audiobook)

203.  Mistletoe and Holly by Susan Mallery

202.  Charming by Elliot James
First in a new urban fantasy series, this will definitely appeal to fans of Jim Butcher's Harry Dresden. 

201.  The Final Cut by Catherine Coulter

200.  Dead Ever After by Charlaine Harris

199.  Red Lily by Nora Roberts

198.  City of Glass by Cassandra Clare

197.  2nd Chance by James Patterson and Andrew Gross (audiobook)

196. Bombshell by Catherine Coulter

195. In Close by Brenda Novak

194. Key of Valor by Nora Roberts

193.  Key of Knowledge by Nora Roberts

192.  Chosen by Benedict Jacka

191.  When Snow Falls by Brenda Novak

190.  Killer Dreams by Iris Johansen

189.  Tribute by Nora Roberts

188.  Portrait in Death by J.D.Robb (reread )

187.  Key of Light by Nora Roberts

186.  Vortex by S.J. Kincaid

185.  The Search by Nora Roberts

184.  Confessions of a Murder Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (audiobook)

183.  Daybreak Zero by John Barnes

182.  Only His by Susan Mallery

181.  Reunion in Death by J.D.Robb (reread )

180.  By Royal Command by Charlie Higson (audiobook)
I've been enormously enjoying Higson's Young James Bond- they're a charming set of period adventures set between the wars.  This was the fifth and sadly final entry in the series, and it provided a bang-up finish- a plot worthy of a Bond of any age. 

179.  Happy Ever After by Nora Roberts

178.  Firestorm by Iris Johansen

177.  Whirlpool by Elizabeth Lowell

176.  Birthright by Nora Roberts

175.  Bed of Roses by Nora Roberts

174.  Fatal Tide by Iris Johansen

173.  Vision in White by Nora Roberts

172.  Obsession by Karen Robards

171.  Shattered by Karen Robards

170.  Midnight in Death by J.D.Robb (reread )

169.  Private Games by James Patterson and Mark Sullivan (audiobook)

168.  Directive 51 by John Barnes

167.  City of Ashes by Cassandra Clare

166.  The Norman Conquest by Marc Morris

165.  Deadly Decisions by Kathy Reichs

164.  The Wanderer by Robyn Carr

163.  Transcendental by James Gunn

162.  Hurricane Gold by Charlie Higson (audiobook)

161.  Judgment in Death by J.D.Robb (reread)

160.  Survivor in Death by J.D.Robb (reread)

159.  Born in Death by J.D.Robb (reread)

158.  Death du Jour by Kathy Reichs

157.   Dead Aim by Iris Johansen

156.   Indulgence in Death by J.D.Robb (reread)

155.  Empire of the Summer Moon: Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History by S.C. Gwynne
Beautifully written and unflinching in its portrayal of everyone involved, the author shows us the clash of primitives and settlers in a way that is just to both and flatters neither.  More than that, we see in the people who changed cultures and assimilated into a new way of life, as well as those who came to understand their enemies, compared with the modern reader, just how much of our culture is due to education and indoctrination, and just how foreign are the values of not only the Comanche, but our own ancestors. 

154.  Innocent in Death by J.D.Robb (reread)

153.  Vengeance in Death by J.D.Robb (reread)

152.  Hidden Summit by Robyn Carr

151.  Kindred in Death by J.D.Robb (reread)

150.  Double or Die by Charlie Higson (audiobook)

149.  Paradise Valley by Robyn Carr

148.  Insignia by S.J. Kincaid

147.  Blood Fever by Charlie Higson (audiobook)

146.  Moonlight Road by Robyn Carr

145.  Wild Man Creek by Robyn Carr

144.  Private London by James Patterson and Mark Pearson (audiobook)

143.  The Human Division by John Scalzi

142.  Blackout: An Inspector Espinosa Mystery by Luiz Alfredo Garcia-Roza
Reading books in translation is always a crap shoot, but I don't think I can blame the translation for all the flaws in this.  A group of disagreeable and occasionally mentally unstable people lie, have sex, and act irrationally while the self-absorbed detective wanders around largely making no progress.   The first murder has no motive, the second has nothing to do with the first, and it was generally an unsatisfying read.

141.  Private #1 Suspect by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (audiobook)

140.  Faro's Daughter by Georgette Heyer (reread)

139.  Second Chance Pass by Robyn Carr

138.  Sunrise Point by Robyn Carr

137.  Shelter Mountain by Robyn Carr

136.  A Virgin River Christmas by Robyn Carr

135.  Punish the Sinners by John Saul*

134.  Virgin River by Robyn Carr

133.  The Wanderer by Robyn Carr

132.  Grounds to Kill by Wendy Roberts

131.  The Edge by Dick Francis (reread)

130.  Private by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro (audiobook)

129.  The Mad Scientist's Guide to World Domination by John Joseph Adams

128.  The Quiet Gentleman by Georgette Heyer (reread)

127. 1st to Die by James Patterson (audiobook)

126.  The Decider by Dick Francis (reread)

125.  Triggers by Robert J. Sawyer
This book starts with an interesting what-if idea and a promising setup- and then utterly fails to deliver.  There's no story.  There's no antagonist. What passes for a climax would be a deus ex machina if there was any conflict to resolve.  Extremely disappointing.

124.  Sharp by Alex Hughes
Second in the Mindspace Investigations series, this was a fast and entertaining SF/mystery read.  I look forward to the next one. 

123.  The Perfect Hope by Nora Roberts
121.  The Last Boyfriend by Nora Roberts
120.  The Next Always by Nora Roberts

119.  Decider by Dick Francis (reread)

118.  Notes from a Small Island by Bill Bryson
A dated but charming account of  the author's rambles through England, as he prepared to move back to the US after living there for many years.

117.  Redwood Canyon by Robyn Carr
116.  Down by the River by Robyn Carr

115.  Silverfin by Charlie Higson (audiobook)
First in the Young James Bond series, this is a delightful period piece set between the wars.  It is filled with adventures worthy of Bond, yet scaled to his schoolboy's prowess.   Very nicely done.  I listened to the audiobook version and Nathaniel Parker did an excellent job of bringing the young characters to life. 

114.  It's Not Luck by by  Eliyahu M. Goldratt

113.  Time Warped: Unlocking the Mysteries of Time Perception by Claudia Hammond

112. Forbidden Falls by Robyn Carr 
111.  Angel's Peak by Robyn Carr
110.  Just Over the Mountain by Robyn Carr
109.  Deep in the Valley by Robyn Carr
108.  Harvest Moon by Robyn Carr
107,  My Kind of Christmas by Robyn Carr
106.  Never Too Late by Robyn Carr
105.  Temptation Ridge by Robyn Carr
104.  Promise Canyon by Robyn Carr
103.  Runaway Mistress by Robyn Carr

102.  I, Michael Bennett by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge (audiobook)

101.  Red Planet Blues by Robert Sawyer

100.  The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey (reread)

99.   The Merchant's House by Kate Ellis

98.  Critical Chain by  Eliyahu M. Goldratt
This is written as a 'business novel' with the explanation of the technique put into fictional form to make it more palatable.  Personally, I found it annoying to have to read through a lot of irrelevant and badly written fictional detail to get to the actual point of the book.  Too much fluff for too little explanation for my taste. 

97.  The Cleaner by Brett Battles

96.  Becoming Quinn by Brett Battles

95.  Tick Tock by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge (audiobook)

94.  Dark Summer by Iris Johansen

93.  Deadlock by Iris Johansen

92. Worst Case by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge (audiobook)

91.  Prior Bad Acts by Tami Hoag

90.  Run for Your Life by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge (audiobook)

89.  Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts

88.  Dark Horse by Tami Hoag

87.  Quicksand by Iris Johansen

86.  Dangerous Refuge by Elizabeth Lowell

85.  Black Rose by Nora Roberts

84.  Step on a Crack by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge  (audiobook)

83.  Dust to Dust by Tami Hoag

82.  Storm Cycle by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen

81.  Public Secrets by Nora Roberts

80.  Ashes to Ashes by Tami Hoag

79.  Down the Darkest Road by Tami Hoag (audiobook)

78.  Close Your Eyes by Iris Johansen and Roy Johansen

77.  Stalemate by Iris Johansen

76.  Blue Dahlia by Nora Roberts

75.  Silent Run by Barbara Freethy

74.  The Trouble with J.J. by Tami Hoag

73.  Countdown by Iris Johansen

72.  No One to Trust by Iris Johansen

71.  Secrets to the Grave by Tami Hoag.

70.  Deeper than the Dead by Tami Hoag (audiobook)

69.  Balance of Trade by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller  (reread)

68.  Blind Alley by Iris Johansen

67.  Kill the Messenger by Tami Hoag

66.  Haven by Kay Hooper

65.  Hiding in the Shadows by Kay Hooper

64.  Body of Lies by Iris Johansen

63.  The Goal:  A Process of Ongoing Improvement by  Eliyahu M. Goldratt and Jeff Cox

62.  A Crack in Everything by Angela Gerst (audiobook)

61.  The Killing Game by Iris Johansen
60.  The Face of Deception by Iris Johansen

59.  Impulse by Steven Gould
An enjoyable follower to the prior books Jumper and Reflex.  It has an engaging main character and continues the interesting exploration of the implications of teleportation.  It has less of the character development that made the two prior books so compelling, but was still a fun read. 

58.  Out of the Shadows by Kay Hooper

57.  Rafferty's Wife by Kay Hooper

56.  Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino

55.  Shadow Woman by Linda Howard

54.  Ugly Duckling by Iris Johansen

53.  Punish the Deed by Diane Fanning
I often like police procedurals and as a reader accept that routine police work will generate some of the clues.  But when the bad guy is identified only because he leaves a signed note at the scene of the crime?   Weak.

52.  Killing Time by Linda Howard
Yet another example of why mainstream authors need to do a lot of reading before they tackle genre plots.   The one thing done right was that the future science and time travel were done consistently;  but the exposition of 'what the future world is like' overpowered the story, a key point about the main character was not alluded to even obliquely before p. 120, the bad guys' plot was incoherent, and the actions of a key secondary character were unconvincing.   Also an important restriction on the time-travel technology was hurled into the narrative two thirds of the way through the book.  Not recommended.

51.  Pandora's Daughter by Iris Johansen (audiobook)

50.  Sword of Orion by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

49.  Calculated in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts

48.  Working Stiff by Annalise Ryan
47.  Scared Stiff by Annalise Ryan

46.  Pearl Cove by Elizabeth Lowell (reread)
45. Jade Beach by Elizabeth Lowell (reread)
44. Innocent as Sin by Elizabeth Lowell
43. To the Ends of the Earth by Elizabeth Lowell
42.  Always Time to Die by Elizabeth Lowell

41.  A Wicked Slice by Charlotte and Aaron Elkins

40.  Scarecrow Returns by Matthew Reilly ('reread'- previously listened to audiobook)

39.  False Pretenses by Catherine Coulter

38.  The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown*
Lacks the virtues of his prior books and magnifies the faults.  Not recommended. 

37.  Delusion in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
36.  Missing in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts (audiobook)
35.  Brazen Virtue by Nora Roberts
34.  Eternity in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts (audiobook)
33.  Sacred Sins by Nora Roberts
32.  Suite 606 by J. D. Robb , Mary Blayney, R.C. Ryan, Mary Kay McComas

31. Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies by Ben Macintyre

30. Celebrity in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
29. Haunted in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
28. Hot Rocks by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
27. New York to Dallas by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts*
26. Treachery in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts

25.  The Tomorrow Log by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller*

24.  Loyalty in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
23.  Indulgence in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
22.  Fantasy in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
21.  Salvation in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
20.  Kindred in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
19.  Promises in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts

18.  Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin*
A fascinating look into what it is like to live with autism.  And the thing that struck me most, was not how different Temple is, but how human- how much the feelings and behaviors she identifies with autism are part of the range of human abilities.  And how she has used her intelligence and will to work around her weaknesses and take advantage of her strengths. 

17.  Strangers in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
16.  Creation in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
15.  Innocent in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
14.  Big Jack by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
13.  The Unquiet J. D. Robb, Mary Blayney, Patricia Gaffney, R.C. Ryan, Mary Kay McComas
12.  Born in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts*
11.  Memory in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
10.  Origin in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
9.  Survivor in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts

8.  Cold Days by Jim Butcher

7.  The Invention of Air by Steven Johnson

6.  Divided in Death by  J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
5.  Visions in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
4.  Naked in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts (reread)
3.  Imitation in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
2.  Seduction in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts
1.  Portrait in Death by J.D.Robb/ Nora Roberts

*from the Eternal To Be Read Pile

No comments:

Post a Comment