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2020 What are you reading and/or reviewing?
I finished The Time in Between by Maria Duenas. A historical fiction set in Spain and Morocco during the time before WWII. Interesting story about a young girl who becomes an accomplished seamstress out of need and then becomes a spy. A little bit of history that I did not know about. 5/5 stars for me.
Finished RED FLAG: A MODERN AIR COMBAT NOVEL, by Mike Solyom. This is a Top Gun type story set at Nellis AFB in the near future. It is part fiction and part science fiction with the appearance of a "space ship" with vastly superior technology. Follow Lee (Tiger) and Danny (Caboose) and their fighter pilot buddies as they work thru combat scenarios over the Nevada desert, using the latest technology available to them. The appearance of the "space ship" is a game changer, and causes everyone to rethink their mission and priorities. Good story, with a few loose ends. Could have spent a little more time at the proofreader's desk. Four stars for this one.Next in line is HEIR OF RA (Heir of Ra) by M. Sasinowski.
John
A new favourite, the terrific Mystic River by Dennis Lehane. A 20-year-old classic that's lost none of its punch. Great story, great characters, first-rate writing.
5★ Link to my Mystic River review
Finished HEIR OF RA (Heir of Ra) by M. Sasinowski. A relic over ten thousand years old is discovered under the Sphinx in Egypt. Can Alyssa Morgan, with help from her father Kade, and WHO intern Paul, get control of the relic before a pandemic is released on the world? What is the origin of the relic, and what secrets does it hold? Virtual reality plays a pivotal role as modern technology tries to decipher ancient technology. There are some loose ends, to be expected in the first of a multi-book series. This one is four stars for me because I like archaeological mysteries.MESSINANTS (Messinants) by S. H. Jucha is next. This is a side story related to Jucha's SILVER SHIPS books.
John
Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI is a must read for anyone interested in non-fiction history and/or true crime. Not surprisingly, I’d never heard of this murder spree against the Osage Tribe in Oklahoma which ended up proving to be a far reaching conspiracy. It’s extremely well-researched and doesn’t delve into the murky world of conjecture. I guess after going back to read In Cold Blood, it got me started on this genre.
Simon the Fiddler by Paulette Jiles takes place in Texas as the Civil War has ended. Simon who plays fiddle is on a quest to find and marry his true love Doris. But there is so much more than just a love story! I thoroughly enjoyed the writing. This was a 4.5 star for me.
Finished MESSINANTS (Messinants) by S. H. Jucha. This is a side story related to Jucha's THE SILVER SHIPS books, introducing some of the characters. The interaction between humans and other sentient life forms is highlighted. The Messinants are a long gone life form that was very technologically advanced. They traveled the vast reaches of deep space by teleportation (ala Star Trek's transporter), moving both personnel and material. Their program was to nurture fledgling societies of sentient beings in their development of language and the social skills needed to co-exist with other life forms. This story involves the Pyreans, human descendants of Earth's early ventures into space, and the Jatouche, a sentient life form helped by the Messinants several hundred years previously. For each, it is the first known contact with another species. Many of the reactions and interactions are predictable, but there are also questions. This is a five star read.Next is an archaeological story, ROMAN ICE (Roman Ice: An Archeological Thriller) by Dave Bartell.
John
Finished Dave Bartell's ROMAN ICE (Roman Ice: An Archeological Thriller). This is a different archaeological mystery. Thousand kilometer (~650 miles) long lava tubes under the ocean from Iceland to Scotland is an interesting concept. However, this same lava tube with breathable air for the entire length is a bit of a stretch. Add in eight people, two gasoline powered ATV's, and assorted support hardware (stoves, lights, etc.) makes it a bit questionable that the three week trip from Iceland to Scotland can be made without separate air supplies. The intrepid explorers also have different agendas (not necessarily compatible) that must be factored into the final outcome. When all is said and done, Darwin Lacroix and his comrades leave several loose ends. Two stars for this one.Ken Follett's JACKDAWS is next.
John
Recently finished Memoirs of a Geisha by Author Golden. I wish I hadn't waited so long to read it! The story of a young girl sold into the geisha life in Japan. 5 stars for me.I also finished Valentine. The story about a young hispanic girl lured into a truck by an older white man is told from the perspective of different people affected by the incident. The story evolves as each life is changed by the attack. 4 stars.
I finished Gilead by Marilynne Robinson. Wonderful book! It’s a character-driven novel, told in the first person by an elderly preacher in a small town in Iowa in the 1950’s. He married late in life and has a young son. The story is told as a long letter for his son to read when he’s older, telling his life story. It won the Pulitzer Prize in 2014. It’s a balm for soul in these troubled times. I highly recommend it. 
I'm reading Sword's Choice. Just started it.
I recently finished Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. It is my second time to read it and I enjoyed it just as much the second time. The author tells the story of a troubled girl who finds herself.I also finished Boundary Waters by William Kent Krueger is a Cork O'Conner series.
Finished JACKDAWS (Jackdaws) by Ken Follett. Flick and a team of female agents parachute into France in early June, 1944. This story is about their efforts to destroy a Nazi communications center. Flick and her team have to match wits with a German intelligence agent, Deiter Franck in order to accomplish their mission. A successful mission will greatly enhance the Allies chances for victory in the D-Day invasion. Failure could have disastrous consequences. Four stars for this one.Next in line is JATOUCHE (Jatouche) another of the side stories related to S. H. Jucha's SILVER SHIPS.
John
Finished JATOUCHE (Jatouche). This is a side story (#3) to S. H. Jucha's SILVER SHIPS saga. A group of humans, the Pyreans, makes contact with a sentient, technologically advanced alien race, the Jatouche. How they interact will determine if they have a progressive or bloody future relationship. Jucha is skillfully blending the side stories, four in all, into the SILVER SHIPS saga, now at book 16. Fascinating five star read.Next up is Wilbur Smith's GHOST FIRE (Ghost Fire), part of his Courtney Family series.
John
I finished The Lager Queen of Minnesota by J. Ryan Stradal. It’s a big hearted family drama set in Minnesota, featuring a family of women and the business of brewing beer. It was well-written and I enjoyed it. I recommend it if you are looking for an escapist read during these troubled times. 4 1/2 out of 5 stars. 
Finished a couple of books--GHOST FIRE (Ghost Fire) by Wilbur Smith, the continuing adventures of members of the Courtney family. Constance and Theo Courtney are caught up in political upheaval in Calcutta, India. Fate sends them on separate routes thru England and France, and ultimately to northern New York in the days before the American Revolution. Typical of Wilbur Smith novels, there is a lot of action, and the body count is high. There are also several villains always in pursuit of one or both of the Courtneys. Three stare for this one. Also finished TERRADOX REBORN (Terradox Reborn) by Craig Falconer. This is the third book in the TERRADOX QUADRILOGY, a story centered around a group of people from earth living on a man-made settlement in orbit around Venus. Three stars for this one.
John
Kari wrote: "Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI is a must read for anyone interested in non-fiction history and/or true crime. Not surprisingly, I’d never heard of this murde..."I loved Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI, Kari! What a surprising story. It should be required reading in school so that people learn the real history of America's "development". I did review it, too.
Link to my review of "Killers of the Flower Moon"
Silver, by Aussie author Chris Hammer, follows investigative journalist Martin Scarsden from Hammer's popular mystery, Scrublands. He's perfectly captured my part of the beautiful NSW North Coast, with drugs, backpackers, developers, politics and murders. A good read.
4★ Link to my review of 'Silver'
What's not to like about a selection of chapters from upcoming books? Publishers Lunch puts out a series of previews which I always look forward to, and Buzz Books 2020: Fall/Winter is as good as ever. Something for everyone, including non-fiction. 
5★ Link to my review of BuzzBooks Fall/Winter 2020 including a link where you can download the BuzzBooks for free.
Finished a couple of books over the weekend--THE ALBORAN CODEX (The Alboran Codex) by J. C. Ryan. Carter Devereux is an archaeologist who has found collection of inscribed plates dating back 50,000 years, far before what is considered the dawn of civilization. Information on the plates describes technological advances that leave him and his team awestruck. They also reveal the existence of nuclear weapons. Security leaks mean that the bad guys are quick to find out the same information, and now it is a case of who gets there first. Interesting sidelight is the interaction of Mackenzie, Devereux's wife, with dolphins and even wolves. Three stars for this one.Also finished THE HOUSE OF LONG AGO (The House of Long Ago) by Steve Berry and M. J. Rose. Some background information on Cassiopeia Vitt, who often teams with Cotton Malone to wreak havoc on bad guys. This time, she is pretty much on her own, dealing with some strange moves that her father made before he died. Some times the art world is not what it seems to be. Three stars for this one.
DESCENT INTO DARKNESS (Descent into Darkness), the latest in Jay Allan's BLOOD ON THE STARS saga is next.
John
Finished DESCENT INTO DARKNESS (Descent into Darkness). This is the penultimate book in Jay Allan's "Blood on the Stars" saga. Tyler Barron and his allies in the Confederation are slowly being driven back by the Highborn and their leaders, the Firstborn. The Highborn feel that it is their destiny to control and subjugate any and all sentient races across space. Their superior numbers and technology seem poised to make this happen after they eliminate two of the Confederation's primary defense installations. Can an ancient and unproven technology save the Confederacy and it's allies. Stay tuned! This one gets three stars, primarily because of the long stretches of "gloom and doom" discussions by Barron and his people.Haven't decided what is next, but I need a break from the rigors of deep space. Carl Hiaasen, maybe?
John
Finished The Book of Lost Friends by Lisa Wingate. Two story lines that intertwine. One in the late 1800s after the Civil War and the other during late 1980s. Both compelling stories about the effect of slavery. 4.5 stars for me.Next was James Patterson's The 20th Victim. The latest in the Women's Murder Club.
I finished Stamped from the Beginning: The Definitive History of Racist Ideas in America by Ibram X. Kendi. I’ve had it in my TBR collection for a while. Current events prompted me to read it now. It was a eye-opening, thought provoking, and heartbreaking read. It forced me to look at things from a different perspective. 5/5 stars.
Finished VECKLOCKS (Veklocks), by S. H. Jucha. This is another in the Jucha's sideline series to the on-going SILVER SHIPS saga. The Pyreans (Harbour, Jesse, Aurelia, and their compatriots) continue to explore the extent of the Colony's incursion into Alliance civilizations. Working closely with the Jatouche (Tactictok and Jaktook) and the Crosians (Mangoth the magnificent and Hangor) they develop information to present to the Tsargit, the Alliance ruling council which shows multiple incursions by the Colony, a race of sentient insectoids. This ties in with Book 14 of the SILVER SHIPS, THE ALLIANCE, to introduce new races of sentient beings, and develop the common aims and interactions they have with the Pyreans. Five stars for this one.I will probably finish TERRADOX BEYOND (Terradox Beyond) by Craig Falconer. Then I am looking forward to a couple of Clive Cussler books as my local library reopens from the COVID19 pandemic.
John
Finished TERRADOX BEYOND (Terradox Beyond), the fourth book in Craig Falconer's TERRADOX QUADRILOGY. The continuing adventures of Holly, Chase, and the rest of the Terradox station as they prepare to launch the Arkadia space habitat on a journey to the far reaches of the universe. TERRADOX BEYOND is really your early afternoon soap opera relocated to a research station orbiting the planet Venus. There are a lot of different characters and viewpoints involved, and how they sort out and deal with problems makes an interesting three star read.THE LOST TREASURE OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar), by Preston Child is next in line.
John
Finished THE LOST TREASURE OF THE KNIGHTS TEMPLAR (The Lost Treasure of the Knights Templar) by Preston Child. John Henry "Doc" Holliday is in the mold of Aloysius Pendergast, everyone's favorite FBI agent. "Doc" received his MD degree at age 20, and then went to the U. S. Naval Academy. After being wounded as a member of Seal Team Warrior, he reluctantly left the military. When he is tasked as a civilian contractor to locate and secure a vast treasure, he embarks on a new career as an archaeological treasure hunter. There are some ups and downs in this story, and, typical of Preston Child, some very unexpected twists and turns. It will be interesting to see what "Doc" and his friends are up to next. Four stars for this one. Next in line is Dale Brown's EAGLE STATION (Eagle Station).
John
My new favourite book! Becoming Duchess Goldblatt: A Memoir is funny, poignant, witty, unique. The anonymous author shares her real, broken life and the wise tweets of her 81-year-old Twitter alter-ego. "People often come to me seeking the true meaning of life, but I find they’re usually satisfied with half a sandwich." DG
5★ Link to my Duchess Goldblatt review with some of her many observations on life
The Pardoner's Crime: A historical crime thriller featuring Robin Hood is the first in a new series by Keith Moray, who writes under a couple of other names. Light, easy read.
3★ Link to my Pardoner's Crime review
I finished The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. It’s a novel about a pair of African-American twin sisters, one of whom decides to pass for white. The story spans several decades, from the ‘50’s to the ‘90’s. The story is beautifully written. 5/5 stars.
I just finished the audiobook version of Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre, and if you enjoyed World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War at all, I would highly recommend this story. The ensemble cast was great (I had only the most minor nitpicks on the performances of Terry Gross and Kai Ryssdal, mostly because I am so familiar with what their interview cadence is and it seemed off here) and Brooks has only improved his particular style over the years.I had trouble turning off the recording, even though this was the type of story you do not want to be listening to at night, in the countryside, with no one else awake in the house. On the one hand, maybe horror is not the best choice for day 129 of the pandemic lockdown, but then again, it was kind of refreshing to hear this story and think to myself "at least I don't have these types of problems; I am doing pretty damn well."
In a completely different vein, I also went on a bit of a short story binge, including The Hundredth House Had No Walls (free on tor.com), and it was short, sweet, and delightful. My favorite passage was:
The King of Myth and Shadow was no different from the rest of us in that he preferred stories to real life, which was messy and full of plot holes and disappointing protagonist. You couldn't count on real life to deliver a satisfying twist, just more complications and the random violence of everyday heartbreak.
The whole thing was fantastical, witty, and deliciously self-aware. I do not know if I could have handled a novel-length treatment in this style, but as presented it was perfect.
I am quite stingy with my 5-star ratings, but both of these earned them.
My local library is slowly reopening from the COVID19 pandemic, and I managed to get a copy of the late Clive Cussler's JOURNEY OF THE PHAROAHS. Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala are at it again. From the rocky coast of Scotland to Cambridge University in England to Washington, DC to the Grand Canyon, they are in pursuit of a treasure trove of antiquities looted from the pharaoh's tombs several thousand years ago. There is a lot of mayhem, a very high body count, but, typical of Clive Cussler novels, there is no, repeat NO, vulgar or profane language. It's always nice to read a story without having to deal with a lot of four letter words. This one gets four stars.Now it's back to Dale Brown's EAGLE STATION.
John
Finished Dale Brown's EAGLE STATION (Eagle Station). Brad McLanahan and Nadia Rozek are picking up where Brad's father, Patrick, left off. With help from their colleagues at Sky Masters, Inc., and Scion International, they try to deal with a Sino-Russian attempt to colonize the moon. There is a lot of intrigue as Brad and Nadia are constantly playing catch-up as the Sino-Russian venture surprises the intelligence services in the US and other friendly nations. Three stars for this one.TALUS (Talus), book 16 in S. H. Jucha's SILVER SHIPS series is next.
John
I just finished Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. I thoroughly enjoyed this picture of the old West. I wish I had read it sooner!
Jan wrote: "I just finished Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. I thoroughly enjoyed this picture of the old West. I wish I had read it sooner!"there are sequels - the second one is quite good:
McMurtry went on to write a sequel, Streets of Laredo (1993), and two prequels, Dead Man's Walk (1995) and Comanche Moon (1997), all of which were also adapted as TV series. Dead Man's walk was a tad bit gruesome
CBRetriever wrote: "Jan wrote: "I just finished Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. I thoroughly enjoyed this picture of the old West. I wish I had read it sooner!"there are sequels - the second one is qu..."
Thanks for the info! I thought several things were left undone so i plan to look into Streets of Laredo. I watched the mini series years ago and may try it again!
Jan wrote: "CBRetriever wrote: "Jan wrote: "I just finished Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. I thoroughly enjoyed this picture of the old West. I wish I had read it sooner!"there are sequels - ..."
there was also a stand alone Canadian TV series focused on Newt:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonesom...
I really enjoyed it
Robert Pobi is new to me, but I enjoyed City of Windows - (think skyscrapers/sniper) - so much that I've already started the second in the series. I appreciate a good guy who IS a good guy. 
5★Link to my City of Windows review
Finished TALUS (Talus) by S. H. Jucha. TALUS is focused on the efforts of a group of Omnians to arbitrate a dispute between the Talusian world and other worlds who have been preyed upon by Artifice. Artifice is an artificial intelligence created by Talusians many millennia in the past that subjugated and destroyed many worlds in its reign of terror. The survivors of this reign of terror now want reparations from the Talusians, but cannot agree on what, when, where, or how this should happen. Add in a couple of races that are hell-bent on revenge and the destruction of Artifice, and you have a real powder keg, with a short fuse. The story is good, as have been all of the Silver Ships stories, but only gets three stars because it is missing something--Alex Racine, Renee de Guirnon, and Julian. They are involved, but only by reference. Without their physical presence, the story becomes almost mechanical, with none of the warm interaction that has been present in the previous stories.Next up is Douglas Preston's MOUNT DRAGON (Mount Dragon).
John
I finished The Bride by Julie Garwood. I like historical romance, but this one wasn’t for me. It was sillier than I expected. 3/5 stars
Under Pressure is the second in the Lucas Page thriller series by Robert Pobi. Chemistry, physics, and brain-power vs money and thugs. Good read!
4.5★ Link to my Under Pressure review
Finished MOUNT DRAGON (Mount Dragon) by Douglas Preston. Interesting story, involving several technological areas--computer science, chemistry, and genetic engineering. Guy Carson is selected by the president of GeneDyne, Brent Scopes, to head up a program to modify the human genome to make people immune to all strains of the flu. A failed test reveals the worst: something is basically wrong, and no one knows what is is. Add in an attractive lab assistant with an attitude, a paranoid security director searching for hidden treasure in the Arizona desert around the research facility and a crusading former classmate of Scopes, and you have all of the elements for a good story. However, Guy Carson and Susana deVaca do not have the chrisma of Aloysius Pendergast and Constance Greene, the stars of one of Preston's other series. Three stars for this one. Next up is OLD GLORY (Old Glory) by Christopher Nicole, a KOLL selection.
John
I finished Between the World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates. It’s a beautifully written meditation on being a Black man in America, written for his son. A sobering read. 5/5 stars
CBRetriever wrote: "Jan wrote: "I just finished Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry. I thoroughly enjoyed this picture of the old West. I wish I had read it sooner!"there are sequels - the second one is qu..."
I just finished
. Thanks for the recomendation! I enjoyed this sequel.
Finished OLD GLORY (Old Glory) by Christopher Nicole. Harry McGann is a big, 6 foot-4inch, Irishman with a nose for trouble. When he saves the local squire's daughter and her friend from possible drowning, he incurs the wrath of the squire's son. Things go downhill from there, and Harry ends up in America just as the American Revolution is starting to heat up. He teams up with none other than John Paul Jones for series of adventures that play a pivotal role in the future of the United States. Interesting story, as Harry is written off as dead more than once, only to reappear and head off for more trouble. Three stars for this one. Daniel Silva's THE ORDER (The Order: A Novel), the latest Gabriel Allon story is next.
John
Finished Daniel Silva's THE ORDER (The Order: A Novel). Gabriel Allon's wife Chiara has taken him to Venice for a break from work, and to start developing a retirement plan. Suddenly, he gets a call, Pope Paul VII is dead, under questionable circumstances. Gabriel had saved the Pope's live several years ago, and the two had become very good friends. A letter the Pope was writing at the time of his death finds it's way to Gabriel, and he swings into action. Can he, with the help of the Israeli Intelligence group find out what happened to the Pope, and at the same time uncover and disable a threat by a radical Roman Catholic group to take over the leadership of the Church? Can he do this in less than a week before the College of Cardinals convenes to elect a new Pope? Four stars for this one. It would be five stars if Gabriel spent three or four pages meticulously working on a Caravaggio or Tintoretto painting like he has in several of the earlier books. This being said, I absolutely hate these Daniel Silva books. As soon as I pick one up, I know that I will be up well into the night to read "just one more" chapter to find out how things work out. Ah, well!I think that Jack Higgins A MIDNIGHT BELL (The Midnight Bell), another Sean Dillon story will be next.
John
Sea Wife by Amity Gaige was one I'm not sure how I feel about! Juliet and Michael take their two young children on a year long sea trip by boat. Their story unravels from each view point.
I finished The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, an Australian author. Cassandra inherits a cottage in Cornwall from her grandmother Nell. She learns that her grandmother had been adopted at age four after she had been found alone on a wharf, having arrived unaccompanied on a ship from England. Cassandra travels to England to uncover the secrets of her grandmother’s birth. This book kept jumping around in time, revealing the lives of multiple generations in the family. Just when I got invested in one part of the story, it jumped to another time. It made for a very disjointed and overly long read. By the time the mystery was revealed, I was tired of the whole thing. On the plus side, the writing was lovely. 3/5 stars
Finished THE MIDNIGHT BELL (The Midnight Bell), the latest Sean Dillon adventure by Jack Higgins. Known only as the 'Master', an al Qaeda leader starts a reign of terror, primarily in the UK, but extending even to members of the White House staff. His efforts to intimidate anti-terrorist groupsmeet with some success until he makes the mistake of threatening Sean Dillon's niece. Everyone knows what happens when you get crossways with Sean Dillon, and you only do it once. There are lots of bodies, mostly in Europe and North Africa, as Dillon and his cohorts close in on the 'Master'. The ending is a bit understated and there are some unanswered questions, but this is vintage Jack Higgins. Four stars for this one.
Eric Van Lustbader's THE NEMESIS MANIFESTO (The Nemesis Manifesto) is next.
John
Finished THE NEMESIS MANIFESTO by Eric Van Lustbader. This is vintage Van Lustbader. Evan Ryder is a covert agent with a memory gap in her past. Benjamin Butler is trying to uncover a high level mole in Washington, DC. Peter Limas is looking for Evan Ryder to find out what happened to his "aunt" Ludymilla. And then there is the bitter feud between two Russian intelligence agencies over who controls the mole in Washington. These seemingly unrelated events are skillfully woven together in the NEMESIS MANIFESTO. Three stars for this one. J. Robert Kennedy's THE CYLON CURSE (The Cylon Curse) is next in line. This is a James Acton and Laura Palmer archaeological mystery.
John
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Books mentioned in this topic
Home (other topics)Gilead (other topics)
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue (other topics)
Skin Tight (other topics)
The Shadow Box (other topics)
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Sara Paretsky (other topics)Stuart Neville (other topics)
Sara Paretsky (other topics)
Martin Walker (other topics)
Hilary Mantel (other topics)
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Next in line is RED FLAG: A MODERN AIR COMBAT NOVEL.
John