2024 | rnhope

Six and a Half Deadly Sins by Colin Cotteral - another of the wonderful Dr Siri series of stories in the Laos of the '70s. Fun to see socialism at work and always fun to see Siri, Civilai, and the rest.
Deacon King Kong by James McBride - unlike anything I've read before.
1776 by David McCullough - a rare dip into the world of non-fiction. A detailed and interesting coverage of the fight for independence. Keen insight into the heroes and the everyday soldiers.
Thirty Three Teeth by Colin Cotteral - Dr. Siri finds himself deep in a mystery once again. Dr. Siri the charming and unconventional protagonist, falls into twists and turns in Laotian culture and history into the narrative.
Don't Eat Me by Colin Cotteral - Dr. Siri is back at it, sniffing out the culprits in the mystery of a fresh corpse having been eaten by small animals. Such a pleasant storyteller, every time.
Commodore Hornblower by CS Forester - as with other Hornblower tales, Horatio is simply stellar. Appointed Commodore of a small fleet to sail the Baltic in the time of Napoleon's attack on Moscow, our hero is, in all things, inimitable. Great story, great settings, great sea story.
Lord Hornblower by CS Forester - another detailed tale of sea and land adventures that led to his being granted peerage. Quite a fellow.
Disco for the Departed by Colin Cotteral - Dr. Siri again, this time drawn to the north to handle the corpse of a most unusual nature and pose. As always, a lot of fun.
Our Kind of Traitor by John le Carre - story of the unintended involvement of innocents in the world of espionage and Russian money laundering. Good characters in almost believable situation.
Admiral Hornblower in the West Indies by CS Forester - you've got to love Admiral Hornblower, the luckiest man in the world... everything looks like failure until something happens, out of nowhere, to make Horatio the hero once again.
V2 by Robert Harris - an interesting look at the V2 rocket developed by Germany near war end. Seems historically accurate wrapped in a sympathetic story of the individuals involved, in particular the Germans, as their decisive rocket weapon ran out of time.
Zero Hour by Don Bentley - a Tom Clancy sequel with Jack Ryan's son in the lead role... foiling a plot by the N Koreans to invade S Korea. Lots of action, some of it believable.
Among Thieves by John Clarkson - a very enjoyable and engaging book involving NY bad guys dealing with worse guys. I liked the main character and his troupe of men. gritty and fast-paced crime thriller that takes readers into the world of NY's criminal underworld. The novel follows the story of Charlie Doherty, a former cop turned private investigator who is drawn into a web of corruption, betrayal, and violence after being hired to find a missing woman. As Doherty navigates the dangerous world of organized crime, he must confront his own past while uncovering a deeper conspiracy.
The Complete Midshipman Bolitho by Alexander Kent - much like the Hornblower novels, Bolitho has a long list of adventures, battles, relationships, commissions, etc. that are fun to read. Kent has a complete and vivid knowledge about the inner workings of the various sailing vessels as well as the geographic areas he uses as backgrounds. And, like Hornblower, Richard Bolitho is blessed with the most amazing good luck. The book is dry but still very interesting in its detail.
The Shopkeeper by David West - reminiscent of Louis Lamour, a fun and easy read of the adventures of Steve Dancy, a gunsmith from NY making his tour of the old west. Murder, assassination, gun fights, ranching, mining and such.
The Mysterious Flame of Queen Loana by Umberto Eco - I've struggled with this author on a couple attempts but this one read well and easy. An aged rare books seller recovers from amnesia visiting old haunts, peoples, foods, etc.
Zoo Station by David Downing - set in Berlin during the early years of World War II. The story follows John Russell, a British journalist who finds himself caught up in the dangerous world of espionage. Downing's is evocative and immersive, transporting the reader to a time and place that feels both familiar and alien.
Meet the Tiger by Leslie Charteris - the very first of the Simon Templar (the Saint) novels... which is reason enough to like the book. Written in 1928, the novel shows its age in form, flow and character. Much like Pearl Buck, Charteris is slow to action and Templar rivals Hornblower for luckiest man.
The Fourteen Sisters of Emilio Montez O'Brien by Oscar Hijuelos - telling the stories of the girls as they grow in a family of Puerto Rican and Irish parents. Long but very pleasant.
Soldier Spies by WEB Griffin - a different character than in the first series of four novels during reconstruction, here the spies are led by another brash young officer willing/eager to stretch his authority and tactics beyond all allowances.
Impact by Douglas Preston - a solo effort by author best known for his work with Child and the Pendergast series. Still, an enjoyable story of an alien message delivered to earth by way of a 'strangelet', of all silly things. Interesting characters performing amazing feats of bravery and expertise that pushed it beyond mere fiction into fairy tale.
Rule of Nine by Steve Martini - legal thriller that follows attorney Paul Madriani as he becomes embroiled in a high-stakes case involving international intrigue and murder. When a prominent judge is found dead, Madriani is drawn into a conspiracy that spans multiple continents, involving shadowy figures and a powerful secret that could alter the course of history. As Madriani seeks to uncover the truth, he faces not only dangerous adversaries but also his own moral dilemmas.
The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick - just a charming little book about the widow's search of his beloved wife's curious and fascinating past. Just charming.
The Patriot by Pearl S. Buck - from the files of my high school reading... story of I-wan, a Chinese youth sent to Japan to avoid the wrath of Chang Kai-Shek post revolution. In Japan he becomes immersed in the culture, with wife and children, until Japan and China begin war. He's torn between love of family and love of nation... he chooses nation.
Winter in Madrid by CJ Sansom - o a gripping historical novel set in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. The story follows the lives of three young Britons who find themselves caught up in the dangerous and complex political landscape of post-war Spain. Sansom's vivid descriptions of the city of Madrid and its people bring the story to life, while his skillful plotting keeps the reader on the edge of their seat. Overall, Winter in Madrid is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and political thrillers..
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Dayle - a series of short stories, not complex or challenging but I am happy to explore the classics.
The Library of Lost Things by Phaedra Patrick - not as good as the Pepper book and hard to get past the long, slow building of the heroine's overactive need to please.
Doctor Zhivago by Boris Pasternak - d poignant novel set against the backdrop of the Russian Revolution and World War I. It follows Yuri Zhivago, a compassionate and intellectual doctor, as he navigates the tumultuous changes in Russia while grappling with personal conflicts, including his love for two women, Tonya and Lara.
The Day of Attornment by David Liss - all the thrills of the great Inquisition as it was in Portugal.
American Assassin by Vince Flynn - the very heavily flawed editing detracted from the story... the making of an assassin. Somebody should shoot the editor.
Unholy Trinity by Paul Adam - a tale situ Rome, the story of the Catholic church (Vatican), the police, and the press as the couple protagonists work to solve a murder, money laundering, and Nazis, both old and new.
Seven Days to the Sea by Rebecca Kohn - I love a good exodus story and this one was nicely arranged between the women involved.
The Fraud by Zadie Smith - an okay book. Story of a kept spinster of a famous author, mid - 19th Century. Interesting presentation of spinsterhood.
Stettin Station by David Downing - another Germany based journalist working through the horrors to the extermination of Jews. Good insight into the slowness of the realization of the holocaust.
The Ambler Warning by Robert Ludlum - if the author's name is in a larger font than the title, don't bother reading it... just not a very good book. Suspense is fine but ridiculous actions really detract from the novel. Another all-powerful hero, this one with "spidey-senses" and a living lie detector. Just poor, really really poor.
Blasphemy by Douglas Preston - I stayed with it throughout but it was a struggle. Characters and circumstances that defy any hint of reason... no, it was worse than that.
The LIncoln Highway by Amor Towles - I had very high hopes for this one on the heels of A Gentleman of Moscow, which I loved. This one less so. The characters are well-drawn and complex, and their experiences on the road are humorous and poignant. Overall, "Lincoln Highway" is a beautifully written and deeply satisfying read.
Th
The Unlikely Escape of Uriah Heep by CJ Parry - not worth the time.
Surveillance by Jonathon Raban - thought it would be interesting as it is Seattle-based story... but it wasn't. Just a piece of crap.
Blood and Ice by Robert Masello - an intriguing blend of historical fiction and supernatural thriller. The novel follows two parallel storylines: one set in the present day, where a young researcher named Michael Wilde uncovers a mysterious, centuries-old secret tied to an Antarctic expedition, and another in the 19th century, detailing the ill-fated journey of a British expedition led by Sir Ernest Shackleton. As Wilde uncovers chilling clues, the reader is drawn into a story that explores themes of survival, obsession, and the supernatural.