Code to Zero

Fiction by Ken Follett.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com

A cool spy thriller set in 1958, this story kept me guessing and really brought the Cold War /Space Race era to life.

I've enjoyed all the audiobooks I've listened to by Ken Follett. He's a rare writer who doesn't make me want to skim certain parts and get to the good stuff; every word in the story is important.


I also read recently by this author: Hornet Flight

My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She's Sorry

Fiction by Fredrick Backman.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Now this was an unusual book. It's told from the point of view of a seven-year-old girl, who has a very special relationship with her --um... how shall I put this? oh yeah!-- wacko grandmother. Stories told from a child's point of view can be challenging, but the author did a great job with this one. I loved the characters, and it was really interesting!

Also this novel was originally written in Swedish, and although I don't usually care for translated works, the translation was amazingly good. I actually believed it was a British story.

Really good!

Drop Shot

Fiction by Harlan Coben.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com

I've been reading a lot of Harlan Coben recently, since I just discovered this thriller writer who's apparently been around like twenty years.

I wanted to read the first book in the Myron Bolitar series since I loved number eleven so much (see Home). Unfortunately, I messed up and read this one, which is number TWO in the series. I'm very annoyed with myself.

This book, first published in 1996, was pretty good. It was a little slow in the middle, but it had a good ending. Still, compared to Coben's more recent novels it pales. I guess he's been improving his skills. That's how it's supposed to work, right?

In 1996 I also started a novel. (Plus I had my first baby; but I digress.) That story, and many others since, has remained unfinished, although I have actually completed a few. So in the past twenty years, while I was dabbling in writing (and motherhood), our pal Harlan Coben was churning out books at the rate of more than one a year. That's probably why my writing still kind of stinks and his is awesome.

Yeah, I turned this book review into a story about myself. So sue me.

The Whistler

Fiction by John Grisham.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com

This was a legal thriller with more legality than thrills. It was still a good book, but it was not as exciting a plot as many of John Grisham's best stories.


I also read recently by this author: Rogue Lawyer

Stay Close

Fiction by Harlan Coben.


http://www.barnesandnoble.com

An exciting thriller about a suburban mom who used to be a stripper. (Sounds pretty thrilling, right?)


I also read recently by this author: Home

Shiloh Autumn

Fiction by Bodie Thoene and Brock Thoene.


image from amazon.com
http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Set in the Depression era, this was an interesting story based on the author's own family history. The characters were good and I enjoyed it.

Home

Fiction by Harlan Coben.



http://www.barnesandnoble.com

Now THIS was a great thriller.

Premise: Two six-year-old boys are kidnapped. Then one of the boys is suddenly found alive after ten years. Where is the other boy? And is the rescued boy really the missing boy he appears to be; can one really tell after ten years?

I had no idea how they were going to resolve this thing. The ending was a true surprise.

And then, after reading this whole book, I discover it is actually number ELEVEN in a series?! Whoa.

I have mentioned previously how I don't like jumping into a series late in the game, because you get a feeling throughout the story that you are missing something. I never got that feeling in this book. That's some masterful writing right there.

Well played, Mr. Coben.


I also read recently by this author: The Stranger.