A Skeleton in God's Closet

Fiction by Paul Maier.


https://www.barnesandnoble.com/

This was kind of like a Dan Brown novel, but not really as good.

I don't want to give anything away on this one, because the best part is the surprise, but there is an exciting archaeological find that could really mess with Christian tradition. The plot was good, but I could not get interested in the characters at all.

Unidentified

Fiction by Matthew Costello


https://www.barnesandnoble.com

In this story, there is creepy, unknown thing threatening the world, and specifically threatening certain people who seem unconnected. It's all very vague and I got a little bored with the non-explanations, but I was somewhat interested in the characters and wanted to find out the ending, when I figured all would be revealed.

Well, let's just say that only some was revealed and it still seemed rather vague. I didn't get it, but true fans of horror-type fiction might feel differently.

Live Wire

Fiction by Harlan Coben.


https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This is number ten in a series. The last Myron Bolitar mystery I read was One False Move, which was number five. So I'm really out of order here, which is usually against my series-reading rules.

But this series is a bit odd, because the later novels seem to be way better than the earlier novels, so I decided to jump ahead a bit. Call me a rebel.

This was a better story than the ones in books number 1-5, so the queue-jumping might have been a good move. In this story, Myron uncovers some secrets from his own past while trying to help a pregnant client find her husband.

The Book of Tomorrow

Fiction by Cecelia Ahern.


https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This was a fun little book, about a girl who finds a diary than can tell her what she would have written tomorrow. But the weird thing is, she never actually writes anything. She just reads and then has to decide if she wants to change what happened or not. She of course also finds out that changing events doesn't always work out....

As terrible as I am about keeping journals, I think this bit of magic would be extremely helpful to me. Then I wouldn't have to write anything at all! But I digress; obviously that isn't the point of the story.

I am always interested in the concept of fate and how the choices we make direct our paths, so I enjoyed this book a lot.


Although the copy I read had a better cover, plus it had a little ribbon bookmark, which was awesome.

(image from amazon.com)--->>

Until We Reach Home

Fiction by Lynn Austin.


https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Three sisters in the late nineteenth- century leave Sweden for a new life in America in this interesting book. I enjoyed the story, although I thought it wrapped up a bit too quickly at the end.

I also read recently by this author: All Things New, A Woman's Place, and  Wonderland Creek

The Wife Between Us

Fiction by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen


https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Vanessa is obsessed with the woman who has stolen her husband Richard and seems to be stalking the new couple, hoping to win him back.

Nellie is excited about her new fiance Richard, but seems frightened at times because she thinks someone is constantly following her.

But maybe all is not as it seems....

This was a good and exciting thriller!

Little Fires Everywhere

Fiction by Celeste Ng


https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This was a very good story about a "perfect" suburb where real people can mess things up.



I also read by this author: Everything I Never Told You

The Big Four

Fiction by Agatha Christie.


https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Continuing in my perusal of Agatha Christie's novel in order, I found this book to be up next. This is not one of my favorites, although it is still pretty good.

In this story, Poirot and Hastings are reunited, although Cpt. Hastings has married and moved all the way to South America. I suppose this means Mrs. Christie caved to pressure to bring the pair back, after she tried to retire Poirot in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd.

Anyways, as long as you manage to willingly suspend disbelief with some of the more fantastic elements, this is a fun mystery of the "master detective versus master criminals" variety.

A House to Die For

Fiction by Vicki Doudera.


https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Since I am currently selling my house and buying a new one, it seemed like a good time to read a real-estate murder mystery!

Maybe not the best call?

No, seriously, this book was all right but I had some trouble getting into the story. It's first in a series about a real-state agent who solves murder mysteries, but I'm not sure about reading any future volumes. It does seem like people being murdered would put a damper on home sales, after all.

Winter of the World

Fiction by Ken Follett.


https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This is the sequel to Fall of Giants, which I read and loved recently.

As you can see, it is clearly marked on the cover "BOOK TWO OF THE CENTURY TRILOGY," so that everyone knows it is part of a series. This is how it is supposed to be done, folks. Publishers, PLEASE take note.

But I digress.

This story centers on World War Two, which is probably the best setting in history for a novel. The Nazis represent such a quintessential evil force; it just makes for great literature.

Still, this story manages to humanize everyone, showing all sides pretty equally. It's really a wonderful story, especially the audio version!

A Northern Light

Fiction by Jennifer Donnelly.


https://www.barnesandnoble.com

This is a historical novel centered around a real event: a suspicious drowning in the Adirondacks in 1906. The book jacket says it is supposed to be for teens but it seemed a little depressing and slow-moving for that age group. But then, what do I know about teens?

It was pretty good but not great.

Keep Your Friends Close

Fiction by Paula Daly.


https://www.barnesandnoble.com

Okay, I believe I have just run through Paula Daly's entire body of work in the past week or two. Theses are some great thrillers!!

Like the book Saving Grace  by Jane Green, which caused me great anxiety a  few years ago, this story involves a trusted friend who turns into an evil husband-stealing witch. So it also inspires a bit of the "Oh-No-I-Can't-Look-Syndrome," but it does a better job of countering my need to anxiously fling away the book with my stronger need to FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENS NEXT!!

It's a great book!


I also read recently by this author: The Trophy Child