WHAT BOOKS HAVE YOU FINISHED? Showing 301-350 of 1,178

[Bill]

JFK Is Missing! by Liz Evans (4 stars)

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Heads of the Colored People by Nafissa Thompson-Spires

In this collection of stories, Thompson-Spires' characters show us how Black people deal with the pressures of being in the public eye, as well as other aspects of black racial identity.

My favorite stories are the funny ones. 4 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Furmidable Foes by Rita Mae Brown

Farmer/amateur sleuth Harry Haristeen investigates two murders, to the chagrin of her 'talking pets' - who fear for her safety.

Entertaining story. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

The Knowledge by Martha Grimes

Scotland Yard Detective Superintendent Richard Jury investigates the murder of a wealthy American professor and his wife.

Enjoyable mystery. 3.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Good Boy: My Life in Seven Dogs by Jennifer Finney Boylan

Jennifer was born James Boylan in 1958, and lived life as a male for 42 years before transitioning to female. Jennifer tells her story in this memoir, which is highlighted by the dogs she's owned over the years.

Good book. 4 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bill]

The Revolt of Gunner Asch by Hans Hellmut Kirst 3.0 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult

With this novel, Picoult wanted to document how the Covid pandemic affected people and changed their lives.

The story takes an interesting approach to the worldwide epidemic. 3.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

The First Rule by Robert Crais

In this addition to the Elvis Cole - Joe Pike series, the private detectives investigate a tragedy that hits close to home.

Exciting action thriller. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

A Private Cathedral by James Lee Burke

Detective Dave Robicheaux tries to help a teenage girl who's about to become a sex slave.

Good mystery. 3.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

The Fast and the Furriest by Andy Behrens

A historically lazy pet beagle becomes galvanized by a dog competition on TV.

Very fun story. 4 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Before She Was Found by Heather Gudenkauf

Three teenager girls have a sleepover that ends in trauma and injury, but everyone keeps secrets from the police.

Good mystery. 3.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Observations by Gaslight: Stories from the World of Sherlock Holmes
by Lyndsay Faye


This addition to the Sherlock Holmes canon is based on the premise that some of Holmes' acquaintances and colleagues wrote stories about the detective in their letters, diaries, journals, and scrapbooks.

Fun Sherlock Holmes pastiche. 4 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

The Operator by Gretchen Berg

A telephone operator hears some gossip about the town's snobby
Queen Bee and decides to get nosy about it.

Slow-moving but humorous. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Towards Thin Air by Vijay Malur

After being badly injured in a fall and having a coronary bypass, Vijay Malur decides to get in shape and climb to Mt. Everest Base Camp.

Inspirational story. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Darkness Falls by Robert Bryndza

In this cold case mystery, former police detective Kate Marshall - who now has a private detective business - searches for a journalist who dsiappeared over a decade ago.

Good thriller. 3.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Ice Cold by Tess Gerritsen

Medical examiner Maura Isles finds a body while she's in Wyoming for a medical conference.

Interesting premise but not great execution. 2 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

The Ex by Alafair Burke

A criminal defense attorney takes the case of an ex-boyfriend accused of murder.

Entertaining mystery. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bill]

The Last Detective by Peter Lovesey (Peter Diamond #1) 4.0 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

A Girl Named Zippy by Haven Kimmel

This memoir by Haven Kimmel - who was nicknamed 'Zippy' by her dad - contains wonderful stories about the author's childhood in Mooreland, Indiana.

Great anecdotes. 4.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Einstein on the Run: How Britain Saved the World’s Greatest Scientist by Andrew Robinson

Einstein did some of his work in Britain during WWII when the Nazis were rampaging across Europe.

Lots of details about Einstein's work. 3.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Unchained: The Eddie Van Halen Story by Paul Brannigan

The author dug deep for this biography of Eddie Van Halen, considered the best guitarist of his generation.

Lots of ups and downs in the musician's life. 4 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Southern Sass and a Crispy Corpse by Kate Young

Baker/amateur sleuth Marygene Brown - who's haunted by
a ghost - discovers two crispy corpses.

Fun cozy. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

A Beautiful, Terrible Thing: A Memoir of Marriage and Betrayal by Jen Waite

In this memoir, Jen Waite tells the story of her failed marriage to a man who she thinks is a psychopath.

Interesting story about a heartbreaking relationship. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

In this story siblings expect repayment after they feel one brother squandered their inheritance.

Warm humorous story. 3.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Reptile Memoirs by Silje O. Ulstein

In this dual timeline story set in Norway, three roommates adopt a python in 2005, and an 11-year-old girl goes missing in 2017.

Good book for thriller fans looking for something different. 3.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bill]

There Is Nothing for You Here: Finding Opportunity in the Twenty-First Century by Fiona Hill (4 stars)

[Barbara]

Murder Outside the Lines by Krista Davis

Bookstore manager/amateur sleuth Florrie Fox is in the midst of a Halloween crime spree in Georgetown.

Fun cozy mystery. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Amnesty by Aravind Adiga

A Sri Lankan illegal immigrant in Australia thinks he can help the police solve a crime, but is afraid to come forward because he could be deported.

Compelling story. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Act of Darkness by Jane Haddam

Private detective Gregor Demarkian investigates problems in a political campaign.

Entertaining characters. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[CCAM&GZM]

I am trapped in the middle in what regards “A Cry in the Moon’s Light” which is a more intense, darker version of Beauty and the Beast with a bit of dust of danger from the Little Red Riding Hood’s cape.

My review https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bill]

Barbara wrote: " Act of Darkness by Jane Haddam

Private detective Gregor Demarkian investigates problems in a political campaign.

Entertaining char..."

A favorite series of mine. excellent review.

[Barbara]

Thank you Bill. 🙂

[Barbara]

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan

An employee in a mysterious bookstore sets out to uncover a secret.

Lots of fancy gadgets in this story. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

The Siberian Dilemma by Martin Cruz Smith

Moscow detective Arkady Renko goes to Siberia to lock up a criminal and to look for his journalist girlfriend.

Good story. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

The Alienist by Caleb Carr

At the turn of the 20th century, a psychiatrist and his team investigate sadistic murders in New York.

Good psychological thriller . 4.5 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bill]

My last read of 2021, Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery (Anne of Green Gables #3) 4 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Of Mutts and Men by Spencer Quinn

Private detective Bernie and his dog Chet investigate the death of a scientist.

A mystery with lots of laughs. 4 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Death of an Outsider by M.C. Beaton

Police constable Hamish Macbeth is temporarily assigned to patrol a new town.

Good cozy mystery. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewell

A dysfunctional family is torn apart by a hoarder mother and other issues.

Interesting look at family dynamics. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[KOMET]

Finished reading today (January 1st, 2022), "Henry 'Chips' Channon: The Diaries (Volume 1): 1918-38" by Henry Channon.



Channon, an American by birth from a family of means (though not fantastically wealthy), graduated from Oxford in the early 1920s (where one of his contemporaries was Anthony Eden, who would later go on to occupy high office in the government and succeed the ailing Winston Churchill as Prime Minister in 1955), became a British citizen a decade later, married into one of Britain's wealthiest families, and won election to Parliament in 1935 as a Conservative M.P.

This volume of Channon's diaries covers wide swathes of the years 1918 to 1938. I say that because there are gaps (e.g. from 1919-22 and between January 6, 1929 and February 18, 1934) in the diaries during which Channon made no entries.

Notwithstanding that, these diaries are very revealing in terms of Channon's life and the people who were a part of his social circle (many of them from the British royal family --- such as the Prince of Wales, who as Edward VIII abdicated the throne in December 1936 to marry the American divorcee Wallis Simpson with whom he was thoroughly besotted --- and the highest strata of British and European society).

[Barbara]

KOMET wrote: "Finished reading today (January 1st, 2022), "Henry 'Chips' Channon: The Diaries (Volume 1): 1918-38" by Henry Channon.

[bookcover:Henry 'Chips' Channon: The Diarie..."

Sounds like an interesting man. 🙂

[Barbara]

The Red Door by Charles Todd

Inspector Rutledge, who brought back a 'ghost' from WWI, investigates a very baffling murder.

Engaging mystery. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Credible Threat by J.A. Jance

Security expert Ali Reynolds protects a Catholic Archbishop whose life has been threatened.

Enjoyable story. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Taking the Fifth by J.A. Jance

Seattle homicide detective J.P. Beaumont investigates two suspicious deaths.

This older book in the series seems to be a bit culturally insensitive. 2 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

The Republican Brain: The Science of Why They Deny Science—and Reality by Chris C. Mooney

The author contends that people who find information threatening (for whatever reason) deny it.

Interesting premise.

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[KOMET]

Today, I finished reading "Money, Blood and Conscience" by David Steinman.



MONEY, BLOOD & CONSCIENCE is a novel in which a successful TV producer in Los Angeles (Buddy Schwartz) is moved to help provide famine relief to Ethiopia during the mid-1980s after watching a late night TV commercial for Ethiopian famine relief. This undertaking comes to be the chief mission of Buddy's life over the next 30 years as Ethiopia shakes off one oppressive government only to see the succeeding government apply its own oppressive measures against Ethiopia's non-Tigrayan tribes whilst presenting a democratic façade to the rest of the world.

This is a novel based on real-life events in Ethiopia since the mid-1980s. Within it, there is also a love story.

[Rick-Founder JM CM BOOK CLUB]

Just finished The Mango Season .. excellent book about an Indian woman returning home after spending seven years in San Francisco to tell her family that she is marrying an American and all the repercussions that that causes… extremely well done

[Barbara]

The Invisible Man by H.G. Wells

A brilliant scientist finds a way to make himself invisible, but (fairly) innocent crimes soon turn into violent behavior.

This story has spawned a whole genre of films. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Barbara]

Hi Five by Joe Ide

Private detective Isaiah Quintabe is coerced to assist an arms dealer, whose multiple personality daughter is under suspicion of murder.

Okay, but not as fun as other books in the series. 3 stars

My review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Bill]

Gideon's Wrath by J.J. Marric 4 stars

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...