The Defense

 Fiction by Steve Cavanaugh

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

I read a novel by this author recently that I discovered was #3 in a series (see below), so I went and got this book-- it's #1.

In this story, Eddie Flynn is a New York City man who has been a con artist, an alcoholic, and a defense lawyer; however, he's not currently any of those things. Then he is contacted by the Russian mob with the news that they have kidnapped his daughter in order to force him back into defense law, and maybe into the con game as well...

This was an exciting story with lots of plot twists and several surprises.

I also read recently by this author: Thirteen

Constituent Service

 Audible Original Fiction by John Scalzi

https://www.audible.com

This was a hysterically funny little story about an office full of aliens.

I also read recently by this author: When the Moon Hits Your Eye

I also listened to recently by Audible Originals: The Authorities

Still Beating

 Fiction by Jennifer Hartmann

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Cora and her sister's fiancé Dean have a cute banter-y relationship that makes people think they might be into each other, but they insist they aren't. After all, he's her sister's fiancé! But then they get kidnapped together, and there's no doubt they will fall in LURVE immediately. But what about the sister?!

The author categorizes her writing style as angsty romance, and that's very accurate. So this book is definitely a straight romance with quite a bit of heterosexual S-E-X. That's not really my style in general, but it wasn't a bad novel, I guess...

The Authorities

 Audible Original Fiction by Scott Meyer

https://www.audible.com

Sinclair Rutherford is new to the Seattle police force, but he's sharp. He hopes to become a homicide detective, but for now, as a rookie, he has to settle for being needled and hazed by the current detectives. But then he gets a lucky break and is noticed by someone important... or is it so lucky after all? Time will tell.

This was a hilarious and exciting story with great characters. I highly recommend it!

I also listened to recently from Audible Originals: When the Moon Hits Your Eye

I also read recently by this author: That's Not Right

Necessary People

 Fiction by Anna Pitoniak

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Violet and Stella have been best friends since the first day of college. Stella is the "fun" friend, a free spirited rich girl that everyone likes, and Violet is the responsible one who makes sure that Stella's antics don't get them into any real trouble. It's a great partnership, but after graduation, the cracks between them begin to show. Although they still need each other in many ways, they are starting to resent it. Neither is ready to break away from the other just yet, but the reader can sense a crisis coming...

This was an exciting story with well-written, if not always likeable, characters.

Whalefall

 Fiction by Daniel Kraus

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Seventeen-year-old Jay Gardiner's father Mick recently drowned himself in the Monastery Bay, and Jay can't seem to get over it. Mick was actually a terrible person, but he was also something of a beloved local legend, known for his diving prowess and colorful personality. Since he and Jay had been estranged for over a year when he died, everyone in town knows that Mick died alone, and that it's all Jay's fault. (Or at least that's how Jay perceives things.)

Jay gets it into his head that the only way to honor his father's memory, and win back the respect of the town, is to recover Mick's remains from the dangerous depths of the bay. This is a truly bad idea, especially as Jay plans to go alone. But he's a seventeen-year-old kid, so he does it anyway.

This story is about Jay making that dive, and about all the disturbing memories of Mick that drive him there. It's unpleasant, and then it veers into unbelievable. I did not like this book.

Girls Like Us

 Fiction by Cristina Alger

https://www.barnesandnoble.com

FBI agent Nell Flynn comes back to her hometown when her father Martin dies; she's already on an administrative leave after shooting a suspect, so she has time. When she arrives, she gets interested in the last case her father, a homicide detective, was investigating: a murdered girl whose death might be related to another similar case the year before. As she learns more, however, Nell begins to suspect that her father may have been involved in the case as more than an investigator...

This book had an okay plot but I didn't really like it. It was hard to get interested in and the characters weren't very compelling.