Burn for Me (2014) Ilona Andrews I STILL DESPISE THIS COVER. Avon? THIS COVER IS HORRIBLE. No, really. It’s been what, three years, and I STILL HATE THIS COVER. Especially considering the proposed cover. But this review is not for me to rant. Well, not completely anyway. Nevada Baylor is owned by MII, the investigative […]
Sanibel Flats (1990/2010) Randy Wayne White narrated by Dick Hill This is another series I started right after I broke my ankle, so I have almost no memory of reading this. Which is nice because it was like I was listening to it for the first time! Also, there is no kindle version of this […]
Threads of Malice (2005) Tamara Siler Jones Holy crap. I had completely forgotten how dark this book is. I mean, extremely dark. Descriptions of torture and rape and then the murder of the victim. And by this we see the torture from the victim’s POV, not just Dubric seeing the results of the torture and […]
Legion: Skin Deep, Audio Version (2014) Brandon Sanderson narrated by Oliver Wyman I really like this series, but I fear with all his other writing commitments, further books may be few and far between. Since Michael listened to the first book, we listened to the second as well, on another car trip. Just as good […]
The Shape of Water, Audible Version (1994/2006) Andrea Camilleri narrated by Grover Gardner I’ve been trying for years to convince Michael to read Andrea Camilleri’s Inspector Montalbano series. Finally, on a long drive, he agreed to listen to the audio book. He liked it. Just as I knew he would. At first, it felt weird […]
Early Autumn, Audio Edition (1981/1992) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard I remembered that I really liked this book, but I’d forgotten was that really, I’d loved it. All the complexity of Spenser, and all the things I love are here in this story. “You have this at a restaurant?” “No. I made this […]
A Savage Place, Audio Version (1981/1987) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard This is another fascinating look at Spenser, his ethics, and how he changes even over the course of the first few book. He’s still admitting to having served in Korea. “Do you remember the first time?” “The time, not the person. It […]
The First Rule (2010) Robert Crais I really thought I hadn’t read this book–aside from the very beginning (the murder) none of it seemed familiar. It seems like I read it in the months before Grandmom died, so that explains that distraction. Apparently re-reading this series is just like reading it for the first time, […]
Chasing Darkness (2008) Robert Crais This story switches back to Elvis, who seems to be recovered from almost dying. And his cat is still old and a jerk who doesn’t like anyone except Cole and Pike. He was sitting by his dish where he waits for breakfast, only this time he brought his own. The […]
The Watchman (2007) Robert Crais To help Elvis Cole find Ben Chenier, the son of his girlfriend, Joe Pike agreed to do one last job for Jon Stone. That job has come: Defend a wealthy, spoiled heiress from the men who want to kill her, for what she saw during an accident. “Why don’t I […]
Looking for Rachel Wallace, Audio Version (1980/1987) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard I’d somehow forgotten how good this story is. I’d forgotten that at the start of the series Spenser said he had fought in Korea, which would of course make him even older than I remembered. “And you were in combat in […]
The Forgotten Man (2005) Robert Crais The 10th Elvis Cole book. The story opens with the discovery of a brutal murder–the bodies of mother, father, and son are found, along with the bloody footprints of their unharmed four-year-old daughter. The girl is physically unharmed, but no one involved leaves that home unchanged. Padilla was relieved […]
The Judas Goat, Audible Version (1978) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard Spenser has been hired by Hugh Dixon, a millionaire whose family was killed in a bombing in London. Hugh Dixon wants the terrorists caught or killed, and he’ll pay Spenser a bounty for each kill or capture. First, it’s odd for Spenser […]
The Last Detective (2003) Robert Crais This is the 9th Elvis Cole book, and we learn a LOT here, from some of Cole’s family history His name was Philip James Cole until he was six years old. Then his mother announced, smiling at him as if she were giving him the most wonderful gift in […]
The Last Watch (2009) Sergei Lukyanenko translated by Andrew Bromfield This text is acceptable to the forces of Light. THE NIGHT WATCH This text is acceptable to the forces of Darkness. THE DAY WATCH This is the 4th book in the Night Watch series. As with the previous books, it is broken up into three […]
Twilight Watch (2006/2007) Sergei Lukyanenko translated by Andrew Bromfield The third book in the Night Watch series is one of my favorites. There are, of course, three stories: Nobody’s Time, Nobody’s Space, Nobody’s Power. “Nobody’s Time” is the first story, and finds Anton searching for an other who has promised to turn a human being […]
Day Watch (2000/2006) Sergei Lukyanenko translated by Andrew Bromfield This text has been banned for distribution as injurious to the cause of Light. —THE NIGHT WATCH This text has been banned for distribution as injurious to the cause of Darkness. —THE DAY WATCH As with the first book, there are three stories within the book, […]
Night Watch (2006) Sergei Lukyanenko translated by Andrew Bromfield This text has been approved for distribution as conducive to the cause of Light. —THE NIGHT WATCH This text has been approved for distribution as conducive to the cause of Darkness. —THE DAY WATCH I’ve got the final two Night Watch books just waiting to be […]
Promised Land, Audible Edition (1976/1987) Robert B. Parker narrated by Michael Prichard I’ve discovered that I exercise best with exciting mysteries I’ve previously read. If the book is good, then I want to keep walking just a little bit longer, to hear just a little more. But it can’t be something I’ve never read, because […]
L.A. Requiem (1999) Robert Crais Lucy Chenier and her son Ben have moved to LA, and they soon learn that there is a great difference between a long distance relationship and being together in the same town. Would you please move the couch again?” I stared at the couch. I had moved it maybe eight […]
Indigo Slam (1997) Robert Crais The book opens three years previously, with a father and three children being evacuated by US Marshals. This is actually important, because then the reactions make far more sense to the reader (even if they don’t make sense to Elvis). Lucy Chenier is working out a deal to move to […]
Sunset Express (1996) Robert Crais Book six of the Elvis Cole series. A high profile murder of the wife of a very rich businessman brings in a high-profile lawyer. When they hire Elvis Cole to look into the arresting officer, everything seems to be going normally, until suddenly it all gets strange. In the middle […]
Voodoo River (1995) Robert Crais Famous actress Jodi Taylor has come to Elvis Cole for help in finding her birth parents. Jodi Taylor was thirty-six years old, and beautiful in the way that only women with a measure of maturity can be beautiful. Not like in a fashion magazine. Not like a model. There was […]
Free Fall (1993) Robert Crais Book four of the Elvis Cole series. This is another one I don’t much remember reading. I do like this bit at the beginning. This edition contains the complete text of the original hardcover edition. NOT ONE WORD HAS BEEN OMITTED. Considering that I found some odd typos, I’m wondering […]
Lullaby Town (1992) Robert Crais The third Elvis Cole book finds Elvis searching for the ex-wife of a big-shot movie producer, because after ten years he’d decided he wants to see his son. “Everybody in his life is there because they want to screw him. Any time there’s a woman, he’s thinking it’s because she […]
Stalking the Angel (1989) Robert Crais Elvis Cole is hired to find an ancient Japanese manuscript stolen from the home of a prominent businessman. Unfortunately for Cole, the husband is an asshole and the wife makes it clear she doesn’t like her husband and what he does. And caught in the middle of all that […]
The Monkey’s Raincoat (1987) Robert Crais I read this series while I was recovering from my broken ankle, so I had very little memory of this book. In fact, I was 87% through the book before I came across a scene and thought “I remember that!” Those were definitely some very good drugs I was […]
Shores of Desire (1997) Tracy Grant Set in Scotland and Europe in 1815 There are actually three primary characters in this story: Robert, Emma, and the War with Napoleon. Emma was used to dealing with everyday injuries, wounds from fights and falls and accidents. Save when Allan had been invalided home, his wounds already neatly […]
Dark Angel (1994) Tracy Grant Set in Spain and England in 1813 Still out of sorts and not sure what I’m in the mood for, I went for something completely different: historical mystery/romance. I think one of the things I particularly like about Tracy Grant’s stories is that the children are an integral part of […]
Salsa Nocturna: A Bone Street Rumba Collection (2012) Daniel José Older I was feeling out of sorts and unsure what I was in the mood to read, so I decided to re-read Salsa Nocturna since I knew I’d enjoy it. “Tenderfoot” published in The Innsmouth Free Press (2011) “Salsa Nocturna” published in Strange Horizons (2010) […]
Magic Rises (2013) Ilona Andrews This is book six of the Kate Daniels series. If you have not read the previous books, you are almost certainly going to be confused. Andrea is now beta of the Bouda clan, Curran knows about Kate’s background (as do more and more people), Hugh makes an appearance, and Aunt […]
Gunmetal Magic (2012) Ilona Andrews This is Andrea’s story–a continuation of “Magic Mourns” and Magic Slays and occurs parallel to events in “Magic Gifts“. It’s really book 5 1/2 of the Kate Daniels’ series. Andrea is working with Kate at Cutting Edge Investigations, and trying to avoid Raphael–the bouda who was her mate and who […]
Magic Gifts (2011) Ilona Andrews This story takes place at the same time as Gunmetal Magic and are Kate’s events (and the same events as seen through Kate’s eyes). Andrea is working for Cutting Edge Investigations–Kate’s company. They also have two interns: Ascanio–the troublesome teen bouda, and Derek, the werewolf who is moving on from […]
Magic Mourns (2009) originally published in Must Love Hellhounds This is Andrea and Raphael’s story–well, the first part of it anyway. (The second part is the book Gunmetal Magic) Andrea is attempting to cover for Kate while she is recovering from events in Magic Strikes. Unfortunately, the people who call Kate don’t trust anyone else, […]
Magic Slays (2011) Ilona Andrews Book five. Kate is no longer a member of the order, but is now running her own investigative agency. Not that she has any cases, but it’s her agency. After having disappeared for two months, Andrea returns–a very different woman now that she has been kicked out of the order […]
Magic Bleeds (2010) Ilona Andrews Book four finds Kate waiting for Curran, having made him dinner as he specified–except he doesn’t show up. While she’s tending to her broken heart, she gets called to deal with what sounds like a bar fight that got out of hand. Who the hell would attack the Steel Horse […]
Magic Strikes (2009) Ilona Andrews This book opens with one of my favorite scenes. An old woman is atop a telephone pole, and the Order is called to get her down. I trotted into the dark entrance to the apartment, where five members of the McSweeney family crouched in the gloom. “Tell me again why […]
Magic Burns (2008) Ilona Andrews A magic flare is coming, and everyone from the lowliest witch to gods is looking to take advantage of the increased magic. Kate, as an associate of The Order, is being run ragged, but when she comes upon a lost girl in search of her mother, she takes the young […]
Magic Bites (2007) Ilona Andrews This is another series that I’ve fallen behind reading. Unlike Carrie Vaughn’s Kitty series, these books are still coming, but I’m two books behind on my reading, and I’ve forgotten some major points, so I figure it’s time to re-read. Magic returned to the world, destroying much technology as it […]
The Phoenix Guards (1991) Steven Brust I admit that you have to be in the mood for Phoenix Guards and this branch of Steven Brust’s writing. It would seem, therefore, that if we were to allow our readers, by virtue of being in the company of the historian, to eavesdrop on this interchange, we will […]
Low Midnight (2014) Carrie Vaughn Book thirteen and all that’s left is the finale. This is NOT a Kitty book, this is a Cormac and Amelia book. Amelia had insisted on putting magical protections on the laptop, a protective rune here and an arcane mark there. Cormac wasn’t sure electronics worked that way, that magic […]
Kitty in the Underworld (2013) Carrie Vaughn I still don’t like this story. Rick is gone and Angelo is acting Master of Denver. Roman has taken out one of the master vampires who was on their side, and everyone is worried that war is coming. Meanwhile, Kitty gets kidnapped by a group led by an […]
Kitty Rocks the House (2013) Carrie Vaughn Kitty is back in Denver, slowly rebuilding her show after the fall-out of her keynote speech in London. She and Rick are also working to build forces against Roman, a slow and very daunting prospect. Having recently re-read Rick’s origin story, his actions in this book are far […]
Kitty Steals the Show (2012) Carrie Vaughn Kitty, Ben, and Cormac are all headed to London. Kitty and Ben to attend the First International Conference on Paranatural Studies, Cormac to look for Amelia’s family. Luckily, Kitty has friends across the ocean, including Emma, Allete’s great(s)-granddaughter, and Tyler and Schumacher representing the US government’s interests. We […]
Kitty’s Big Trouble (2011) Carrie Vaughn After finding an old interview with a Civil War soldier claiming that General Sherman was a werewolf, Kitty goes looking for a way to prove it one way or another. She’s also get some other historical figures who may or may not have been supernatural as well. When a […]
Kitty Goes to War (2010) Carrie Vaughn Book 8–since I was starting to lose track. The story opens with the radio show. After hearing about it more times than might be coincidence, Kitty asks about strange and/or supernatural events that happened at or around Speedy Marts. And gets more information than she expected. She also […]
Kitty’s House of Horrors (2010) Carrie Vaughn Kitty–and several others–agree to be on a supernatural reality show, but all have suspicious as to what the producers are really planning. “Okay. Fine. You know why horror-movie characters always get killed? Because they’ve never seen horror movies. They don’t know how it works. Right? But we do. […]
Kitty Raises Hell (2009) Carrie Vaughn This is, essentially, the sequel to Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand, but it’s reached the point in the series where more questions are being asked than answered (which is fine, as long as they’re not cliffhanger answers). Tiamat is after Kitty, and something has followed her home from […]
Kitty and the Dead Man’s Hand (2009) Carrie Vaughn Kitty and Ben are getting married, but to make things simpler, they decided to run off to Vegas to do so, and KNOB manages to make it a work trip for Kitty, with a live televised show in Vegas. Which resolves some of the issues Kitty […]
Kitty and the Silver Bullet (2008) Carrie Vaughn Cormac is in the clink. Kitty and Ben are trying to settle into the new pack of two. Then everything comes crashing down when Rick shows up asking Kitty to help him overthrow the supernatural power structure in Denver, followed by a call from Kitty’s father that […]