Monday, January 17, 2000

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

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