2018 Book Reviews

My usual post wherein I record things I have read over the past year and occasionally review them..

1. The Unsung Hero by Suzanne Brockmann

2. The Defiant Hero by Suzanne Brockmann

3. Over the Edge by Suzanne Brockmann

4. Do or Die by Suzanne Brockmann

5. Hit and Run by Allison Brennan and Laura Griffin

6. Frosted by Allison Brennan and Laura Griffin.

7. Out of Control by Suzanne Brockmann

8. Cover Your Eyes by Mary Burton

9. Hot Pursuit by Julie Walker

10. Degrees of Separation by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller

11.  Repressed by Elizabeth Naughton

12.  Gone Gull by Donna Andrews

13. Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker

While I've always known that sleep was important, this book was quite eye-opening (so to speak) as to just how much so.  The downsides of even short intervals of sleep deprivation are quite scary, and the long term effects are horrific.  The book makes a good case for reprioritzing sleep at the top of my to-do list.

14.  Into the Night by Suzanne Brockmann

15.  Gone Too Far by Suzanne Brockmann

16.  Breaking Point by Suzanne Brockmann

17.  Vacations Cab Be Murder by Connie Shelton

18.  Night Watch by Suzanne Brockmann

19.  The Way of the Warrier (anthology)

20.  I Have a Secrety by Cheryl Bradshaw

21.  Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstien

22.  The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

A justly lauded book about the woman from whom the first cell culture line was taken, and the interactions of science, race and medical ethics that surround it.  Highly recommended.

23.  Flashpoint by Suzanne Brockmann

24.  Bodyguard by Suzanne Brockmann

25.  Hot Target by Suzanne Brockmann

26.  Lost and Found by Allison Brennan and Laura Griffin

27.  Wife of the Gods by Kwei Quartey

Notable for the vividly depicted setting in Ghana, the mystery was a bit pedestrian- I spotted the killer well before the ending.  However the novelty of the setting and culture stil made it a fascinating read.

28.  Into the Storm by Suzanne Brockmann

29.  Force of Nature by Suzanne Brockmann

30.  All Through the Night by Suzanne Brockmann

31.  Into the Fire by Suzanne Brockmann

32.  Dark of Night by Suzanne Brockmann

33.  The Chalk Pit by Elly Griffiths

34.  Nowhere to Run by Suzanne Brockmann

35.  Death's Bright Day by David Drake

36.  How the Finch Stole Christmas by Donna Andrews

37.  Edge of Darkness by Karen Rose

38.  Never Say Die by Anthony Horowitz

39.  Every Patient Tells a Story by Lisa Sanders

40.  Hot Pursuit by Suzanne Brockmann

41.  The Kill Sign by Nichole Christoff

42.  Dark in Death by J.D. Robb

43.  Breaking the Rules by Suzanne Brockmann

44.  Dangerous Waters by Toni Anderson

45.  (reread) A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

46.  Some Kind of Hero by Suzanne Brockmann

47.  Free Fall/Ready to Roll by Suzanne Brockmann

48.  Born to Darkness by Suzanne Brockmann

49.  Headed for Trouble by Suzanne Brockmann

50.  In the Event the Flower Girl Explodes by Abby Rosmarin

51.  Ghost Gifts by Laura Spinella

52.  Original Sin by Allison Brennan

53.  Murder in Misdirection by Anne Cleeland

54.  Fatal Affair by Marie Force

55.  Fatal Justice by Marie Force

56.  Fatal Consequences by Marie Force.

57.  Fatal Flaw by Marie Force

58.  Blue Blooded by Emma Jameson

59.  The Tale of the Duelling Neurosurgeons by Sam Kean

60.  Heart of Evil by Heather Graham

61.  Kris Longknife:  Emissary by Mike Shepherd

62.  Fatal Deception by Marie Force

63.  Fatal Mistake by Marie Force

64.  No One Can Know by Lucy Kerr

65,  The Woman Left Behind by Linda Howard

66.  Fatal Jeopardy by Marie Force

67.  An Ancient Peace by Tanya Huff (reread)

68.  The Better Part of Valor by Tanya Huff (reread)

69.  The Heart of Valor by Tanya Huff (reread)

70.  Valor's Trial by Tanya Huff (reread)

71.  Scavengers by Steven F. Havill

72.  The Queen's Pirate:  Sir Francis Drake by Kevin Jackson

An account of the early career of Francis Drake, and his circumnavigation of the globe.  While not an in depth analysis, it gives a clear and lively account of his early piratical exploits and the events that made him rich and famous in England and reviled in Spain, long before the defeat of the Armada.

73.  The Sixth Day by Catherine Coulter and J.T. Ellison

74.  A Peace Divided by Tanya Huff

75.  Night Shift by Charlaine Harris

76.  Heartshot by Steven F. Havill

77.  Head On by John Scalzi

78.  A Discount for Death by Steven F. Havill

79.  No Time for Goodbye by Linwood Barclay

80.  Convenient Disposal by Steven F. Havill

81.  Bitter Recoil by Steven F. Havill

82.  Many Bloody Returns edited by Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner

83.  Twice Buried by Steven F. Havill

84.  Statute of Limitations by Steven F. Havill

85.  Games Wizards Play by Diane Duane

86.  Haunted by James Patterson and James O. Born

The latest entry in the Michael Bennett series, and a considerable disappointment.  The first half of the book wanders around while the character agonizes about personal troubles and investigates a murder in a desultory fashion. The second half of the book is completely unrelated except by the vague similarity of having similarly aged victims both involved in drugs.   The disjointed lack of structure is not what I expect from this series.   I can't entirely blame the new co-writer, since Patterson should know better, but the books with Michael Ledwidge were all better than this.

87.  The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon

The story of the 1917 explosion that devastated Halifax, Nova Scotia.  It's a chapter in history with effects beyond the immediate disaster, and which deserves to be better known than it is.  Bacon's evocative and moving account aims to accomplish this, as well as honoring the many people who in crisis responded with compassion and generosity, and the survivors who persevered through pain, injury and devastating losses.

88.  Tennison by Lynda La Plante

89.  Before She Dies by Steven F. Havill

90.  After Moonrise by P.C. Cast and Gena Showalter

91.  The Right Stuff by Tom Wolfe

92.  Privileged to Killy by Steven F. Havill

93.  Nova by Margaret Fortune

94.  The Wrong Sister by T.E. Woods

95.  Final Payment by Steven F. Havill

96.  Breaking Point by Allison Brennan

97.  Material Witness by Lisa Mondello

98.  Damaged by Patricia Callow

99.  Prince Joe by Suzanne Brockmann

100.  Severed Relations by Rebecca Forster

101.  Prolonged Exposure by Steven F. Havill

102.  Out of Season by Steven F. Havill

103.  Dead Weight by Steven F. Havill

104.  Sacred and Profane by Faye Kellerman

105.  Hounded by Kevin Hearne

106.  The Fourth Time is Murder by Steven F. Havill

107.  The Miracle of Dunkirk by Walter Lord

108.  Secret Sisters by Jayne Ann Krentz

109.  Bag Limit by Steven F. Havill

110.  Quicksilver by Amanda Quick

111.  When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

112.  One Perfect Shot by Steven F. Havill

113.  Closer to the Chest by Mercedes Lackey

114.  Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz

115.  Manical by C.M. Sutter

116.  Berlin 1936 by Oliver Hilmes

During the 16 days of the 1936 Olympic games,  Berlin was the focus of a myriad of social and political currents.  Rather than narrate the games themselves, the Olympic games serve as the focus for a myriad of vignettes featuring people both famous and unknown, rich and poor, important and obscure.   It paints a vivid picture of a cosmopolitan city in the spotlight, while the Games are used to distract the world from the Reich's plans.

117.  Shelter in Place by Nora Roberts

118.  Murder on the Mind by L.L.Bartlett

119.  Dry Bones by Sally Spencer

120. Forever Blue by Suzanne Brockmann

121. Frisco's Kid

122. Average Everyday Jones

123. Harvard's Education

124. Hawken's Heart

125. The Admiral's Bride

126. Identity: Unknown

127. Get Lucky

128. Taylor's Temptation

129. Night Watch

130. Seal Camp

131. In Too Deep by Jayne Ann Krentz

132. Canyons of Night by Jayne Castle

133. With This Ring by Amanda Quick

134. The Paid Companion by Amanda Quick

135. Second SIght by Amanda Quick

136. The Burning Lamp by Amanda Quick

137. The Third Circle by Amanda Quick

138. Wicked Widow by Amanda Quick

139. I Thee Wed by Amanda Quick

140. Ravished by Amanda Quick

141. Rendezvous by Amanda Quick

142. Scandal by Amanda Quick

143. Dangerous by Amanda Quick

144. Kiss and Tell by Suzanne Brockmann

145. Hero Under Cover by Suzanne Brockmann

146. Ladies' Man by Suzanne Brockmann

147. No Ordinary Man by Suzanne Brockmann

148. Deception by Amanda Quick

149. Heroes Are My Weakness by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

150. The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick

151. Garden of Lies by Amanda Quick

152. Total Control by Jackie Ashendon

153. A Rake's Guide to Seduction by Caroline Linden

154. Raw Power by Jackie Ashendon

155. Mistress by Amanda Quick

156. Changing the World edited by Mercedes Lackey

157. The Perfect Poison by Amanda Quick

158. Built to Last by Julie Ann Walker

159. Mystique by Amanda

160. Demon Hunting in Dixie by Lexi George

161. Love with the Proper Stranger by Suzanne Brockmann

162. Do Not Tell Me No by Kathryn Jane

163. Reckless by Maggie Shayne

164. You're Not Safe by Mary Burton

165. Heartthrob by Suzanne Brockmann

166. Snapped by C.M.Sutter

167. Touch Me by Kathryn Jane

168. Trust No One by Jayne Ann Krentz

169. Daring to Love by Kathryn Jane

170. The Indigo Girl by Natasha Boyd

171. Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt

172. Every Little Thing by Marie Force

173. River Road by Jayne Ann Krentz

174. Duke of Pleasure by Elizabeth Hoyt

175. Slightly Shady by Amanda Quick

176. Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt

177. The Hills Have Spies by Mercedes Lackey

178. Don't Look Back by Amanda Quick

179. To Taste Temptation by Elizabeth Hoyt

180. The Last Move by Mary Burton

181. Late for the Wedding by Amanda Quick

182. Abandoned by Allison Brennan

183. To Seduce a Sinner by Elizabeth Hoyt

184. Brief Cases by Jim Butcher

185. To Beguile a Beast by Elizabeth Hoyt

186. Forget Me Not by Marliss Melton

187. To Desire a Devil by Elizabeth Hoyt

188. Time to Run by Marliss Melton

189. Kill Game by Dean Wesley Smith

190. Next to Die by Marliss Melton

191. Three Weeks to Wed by Ella Quinn

192. Desperate Girls by Laura Griffin

193. The Body Reader by Anne Frasier

194. Leverage in Death by J.D. Robb

195. Murder in Spite by Anne Cleeland

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

197. Brotherhood in Death by J.D. Robb (reread)

198. Death Comes to the Village by Catherine Lloyd

199. Death Comes to London by Catherine Lloyd

200. Death Comes to Kurland Hall by Catherine Lloyd

201. Death Comes to the Fair by Catherine Lloyd

202. Death Comes to the School by Catherine Lloyd

203. Copper Beach by Jayne Ann Krentz

204. Death is not Enough by Karen Rose

205. Sworn to Silence by Linda Castillo

206. Double Blind by Iris and Roy Johansen

207. Trouble in High Heels by Christina Dodd

208. Tongue in Chic by Christina Dodd

209. Thigh High by Christina Dodd

210. Danger in a Red Dress by Christina Dodd

211. Dangerous Moves by Karen Rock

212. Demon Hunting in the Deep South by Lexi George

213. Back of Beyond by C.J. Box

214. The First Rule by Robert Crais

215. Trio of Sorcery by Mercedes Lackey

216. Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz

217. Elementary, She Read by Vicky Delaney

218. Body on Baker Street by Vicky Delaney

219. Too Far Gone by Allison Brennan

220. Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

221. White Hot by Ilona Andrews

222. Wildfire by Ilona Andrews

223. Running Hot by Jayne Ann Krent
224. Once a Scoundrel by Mary Jo Putney
225. Eye of the Beholder by Jayne Ann Krentz
226.  Hidden by Rebecca Zanneti
227.  Light in Shadow by Jayne Ann Krentz
228.  Truth or Dare by Jayne Ann Krentz
229.  White Lies by Jayne Ann Krentz
230.  All Night Long by Jayne Ann Krentz
231.  'Til Death Do Us Part by Amanda Quick
232.  The Trouble with Dukes by Grace Burrows
233.  Hidden by Rebecca Zanneti
234.  The Coroner by Jennifer Graeser Dorn
235.  The Labyrinth Index by Charles Stross
236.  Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt

237. Dark Matter by Blake Crouch

238. Smoke in Mirrors by Jayne Ann Krentz

239. Midnight Riot by Ben Aaronovitch

240. Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews

241. Magic Burns by Ilona Andrews

242. Trust Me by Jayne Ann Krentz

243. Written in Red by Anne Bishop

244. Desert Remains by Steven Cooper
245. Magic Strikes by Ilona Andrews

246. Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop