Last year I read Knots and Crosses, the first Inspector Rebus mystery and really fell in love with the dark side of Edinburgh.  I loved Rebus as well, but was concerned about his health, mental and physical.  Then author Ian Rankin came to town and charmed me into reading the next in the series, Hide and Seek and, well, a fan was born.  I actually thought both of these next in the series were better than the first two.

 Tooth & Nail. Finished 9-2-19, 4.25/5 stars, mystery, 277 pages, pub. 1992

Inspector Rebus #3

Drafted down to the Big Smoke thanks to a supposed expertise in the modus operandi of serial killers, Inspector John Rebus is on a train south from Edinburgh. His Scotland Yard opposite number, George Flight, isn’t too happy at yet more interference. It’s bad enough having several Chief Inspectors on your back without being hounded at every turn by an upstart Jock. Rebus is going to have to deal with racial prejudice as well as the predations of a violent maniac. When he’s offered a serial killer profile of the Wolfman by an attractive lady psychologist, it’s too good an opportunity to turn down. But in finding an ally, he may have given his enemies an easy means of attack.   from Goodreads

It was fun see see Rebus take Edinburgh to London to track down a serial killer.  He also let himself get into a bit of hot water with a beautiful woman who has insinuated her way into the case.  I liked seeing Rebus form a friendship with one of the good guys and a real relationship with his distant daughter.

 Strip Jack. Finished 9-13-19, 4.25/5 stars, mystery, 269 pages, pub. 1992

Inspector Rebus #4

When respected MP Gregor Jack is caught in a police raid on an Edinburgh brothel and his flamboyant wife Elizabeth suddenly disappears, John Rebus smells a set-up. And when Elizabeth’s badly beaten body is found, Rebus is suddenly up against a killer who holds all the cards..    from Goodreads

This one has a lot of connected people and their relationships held the key to figuring out what was behind the raid of a brothel that caused a pristine politician to be caught up in the snare.

A few years ago I signed up for the reading challenge where I thought I was going to read all the Agatha Christie novels.  In order of publication.  Yes, 80 of them including her short story collections.  I didn’t get very far, but I remember reading the first Tommy and Tuppence book, The Secret Adversary, and loving it.  So, my own challenge to myself was to read the rest of those.  After reading two last month I only have one left.

 Partners in Crime. Finished 9/2019, 4.25/5 stars, mystery, 347 pages, pub. 1929

Tommy and Tuppence Beresford were restless for adventure, so when they were asked to take over Blunt’s International Detective Agency, they leapt at the chance. After their triumphant recovery of a pink pearl, intriguing cases kept on coming their way: a stabbing on Sunningdale golf course; cryptic messages in the personal columns of newspapers; and even a box of poisoned chocolates.  from Goodreads

They’ve been married six years and Tuppence is bored.  Tommy still works for the agency, but Tuppence wants more out of her life.  And, out of nowhere, an opportunity to aid their country appears and the two become sleuths, ‘owners’ of their own detective agency.  This was a series of short mysteries they solved, each while taking on the persona of a classic detective.  It was fun.

 N or M. Finished 9/2019, 4.25/5 stars, mystery, 304 pages, pub. 1941

The final words of the dying man…the code names of Hitler’s most dangerous agents…the mysterious clue that sends Tommy and Tuppence to a seaside resort on a mission of wartime intelligence. But not as husband and wife. As strangers, meeting by chance, setting an elaborate trap for an elusive killer.  from Goodreads

Tommy and Tuppence are older, with grown children now.  Tommy is asked to go north to investigate potential wartime spies, solo this time.  Tuppence doesn’t take kindly to this and as Tommy arrived at the inn he finds her already ensconced with a new identity.  I loved the seaside inn setting and loved their kids having no clue as to how their parents serve their country.

 The Path Made Clear. Finished 6-21-19, 4/5 stars, inspirational, pub. 2019

Unabridged audio read by Oprah Winfrey and so many others, including Thich Nhat Hanh, Eckhart Tolle, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Elizabeth Gilbert, Mitch Albom, Joe Biden, Goldie Hahn, John Bon Jovi, Stephen Colbert…  3 hours.

In her latest audiobook, The Path Made Clear, Oprah shares what she sees as a guide for activating your deepest vision of yourself, offering the framework for creating not just a life of success, but one of significance. The audiobook’s ten chapters are organized to help you recognize the important milestones along the road to self-discovery, laying out what you really need in order to achieve personal contentment, and what life’s detours are there to teach us.

Oprah opens each chapter by sharing her own key lessons and the personal stories that helped set the course for her best life. She then brings together wisdom and insights from luminaries in a wide array of fields, inspiring listeners to consider what they’re meant to do in the world and how to pursue it with passion and focus. These renowned figures share the greatest lessons from their own journeys toward a life filled with purpose.   from Goodreads

I loved this audio.  It was inspiring and thought-provoking and just a positive way to spend time in the car.  Oprah is the author, but she calls upon so many people to share their insight, sometimes as quip from a speech, other times in interview form.

Will it change your life?  Probably not.  But any one of the featured players may get you started on a new way of thinking and that can be a very powerful thing.  I loved hearing all the different voices.

If you like Oprah you’ll probably like this audio sampler (it’s only 3 hours after all).

The Red Hunter. Finished 4-17-19, 3.75/5 stars. thriller, pub. 2017

Unabridged audio read by Julia Whelan. 9 cds.

Claudia Bishop’s perfect life fell apart when the aftermath of a brutal assault left her with a crumbling marriage, a newborn daughter, and a constant sense of anxiety about the world around her. Now, looking for a fresh start with a home restoration project and growing blog, Claudia takes on a crumbling old house–one that unbeknownst to her has an ugly history and may hide long buried secrets.

For Zoey Drake the defining moment of her childhood was the horrific murder of her parents. Years later, she has embraced the rage that fuels her. Training in the martial arts has made her strong and ready to face the demons from the past–and within.

Strangers to each other, and walking very different paths in the wake of trauma, these two women are on a collision course–because Zoey’s past nightmare and Claudia’s dreams for her future take place in the same house. As Zoey seeks justice, and Claudia seeks peace, both will confront the terrifying monsters at the door.     from Goodreads

There are two competing storylines that seemed to have little to do with each other for most of the book.  Claudia, a fragile yet hopeful mother, and Zoey, an orphan not afraid to take a life, are as different as night and day whose different journeys will eventually put them in the same place at the same time.  The two storylines were challenging when listening to the audio and as much as I enjoyed the performance it wasn’t easy to differentiate between the two at times.  Aside from that I found the story okay and was happy with the ending which both satisfied the need for answers and warmed the heart.

This is my 5th read by Lisa Unger.

True Love. Finished 3-31-19, rating 4/5, mindfulness/Buddhism, 108 pages, pub. 1997

In this little treasure, Thich Nhat Hanh, the renowned Zen monk, offers timeless insight into the nature of real love. With simplicity, warmth, and directness, he explores the four key aspects of love as described in the Buddhist tradition: lovingkindness, compassion, joy, and freedom—explaining how to experience them in our day-to-day lives. He also emphasizes that in order to love in a real way, we must first learn how to be fully present in our lives, and he offers simple techniques from the Buddhist tradition that anyone can use to establish the conditions of love.

Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk, is an internationally known author, poet, scholar, and peace activist who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr.     from Goodreads

What is it about Thich Nhat Hanh that speaks to me?  So many things.  I love his ability to embrace other religions.  I love that I can immediately take his words and use them.  I love the way he calms my spirit and provides insight.  See?  He’s my guy.

This particular book was about the four elements of true love in Buddhism. The first is maitri (love-kindness or benevolence).  The second is karuna (compassion).  The third is mudita (joy) and the fourth is upeksha (equanimity or freedom).  It’s a focus on learning on how to love well and I’m already using his wisdom.

I think everyone has different authors or spiritual guides that speak to their heart.  I know my love for him won’t be for everyone and that’s okay.  He’s written a lot of books, many, like this one, aren’t long so you can give him a try without investing too much time.  He may speak to you too.

  Summerland. Finished 2-26-19, 4/5 stars, fiction, pub. 2012

Unabridged audio read by Erin Bennett. 13 hours.

A warm June evening, a local tradition: the students of Nantucket High have gathered for a bonfire on the beach. What begins as a graduation night celebration ends in tragedy after a horrible car crash leaves the driver, Penny Alistair, dead, and her twin brother in a coma. The other passengers, Penny’s boyfriend, Jake, and her friend Demeter, are physically unhurt–but the emotional damage is overwhelming. Questions linger about what happened before Penny took the wheel.

As summer unfolds, startling truths are revealed about the survivors and their parents, the secrets kept, promises broken, and hearts betrayed.  from Goodreads

When I posted my first Goodreads Cleanup post on Christmas this was the first book listed, the one that’s been on my Goodreads wish list the longest.  I am proud to say that I listened to it and liked it, thus meaning many more Goodreads Cleanup posts 🙂

It begins with the death of a talented junior and it follows the stories of the three in the car with her when it happened and their parents, all friends.  To say this is a bit sad is an understatement.  The cover and title make it seem a bit more happy than it really is.  It felt a bit like a soap opera, but not in a bad way.  I love that the narrator was someone from the small community of Nantucket.  She was giving us an insider’s look at what went down and it worked.

I liked it, but since I didn’t really feel an affinity for any of the characters I can’t say I loved it.  I did feel sympathy, lots of it actually, but no real connection.  Still a good story, but a bit of a downer for me.  I’m glad I read it.  Any story that takes me to Nantucket is worth reading.

The Earl’s Inconvenient Wife. Finished 2-11-19, 4/5 stars, historical romance, 288 pages, pub. 2019

Temperance Lattimar is too scandalous for a Season, until finally she’s sponsored by Lady Sayleford. The whole charade feels wrong when she doesn’t want a husband, but Temper feels awful when MP and aristocrat Gifford Newell is appointed to “protect” her at society events. With her past, she knows she’s not an ideal wife…but then a marriage of convenience to Giff becomes the only option!   from Goodreads

There was plenty of tension and strong-willed heroine exploits in this romance, but there was more too.  I learned a lot about Parliament.  It was refreshing to see an aristocrat actually working for the social good.  Giff did like the ladies a bit too much, but his devotion to his work was a plus.  Temper wanted only to be left alone to work.  After her dad denies her money, she tries a plan  that will leave her without a suitor after the season so that her dad must release her money and she can be left alone to travel around the world collecting artifacts.  As with any good Harlequin the two found themselves wanting one thing, but then discovering that something else made them happy.

This is part of a series and I thought it was well done. It was exactly what I needed, a bit of fun fluff.

The Accidental Further Adventures of the 100-Year-Old Man.  Finished 2-5-19, rating 4/5 stars, fiction, 448 pages, pub. 2019

The hysterical, clever, and unforgettable sequel to Jonas Jonasson’s international bestseller The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared.

It all begins with a hot air balloon trip and three bottles of champagne. Allan and Julius are ready for some spectacular views, but they’re not expecting to land in the sea and be rescued by a North Korean ship, and they could never have imagined that the captain of the ship would be harboring a suitcase full of contraband uranium, on a nuclear weapons mission for Kim Jong-un. Yikes!

Soon Allan and Julius are at the center of a complex diplomatic crisis involving world figures from the Swedish foreign minister to Angela Merkel and President Trump. Needless to say, things are about to get very, very complicated.     from Goodreads

I didn’t read the first Allan and Julius story, but when Trish suggested I might like this I couldn’t resist.  An international caper with a crotchety old guy?  She knows me so well.

Allan and Julius are one of the most fun pairs I’ve had the chance to read lately.  Allan, who has led a very exciting life and gotten by with his gift of conversational nothingness, and Julius, the asparagus loving charmer always looking for a con, managed to find themselves in the most absurd situations.  I loved the chapters with those two, often laughing out loud at their antics.  They also managed to surround themselves with a somewhat cuckoo cast of characters who were easy to love.

The gift of this book is the humor, the light touch and easy way Jonasson manages to poke fun.  No political figure was too esteemed.  Kim Jong-un, Donald Trump, and Angela Merkel were hilarious in their interactions with Allan.  Allan and Trump golfing together was one of my favorite scenes.  Good stuff.

After a while I did find myself skimming through some of the chapters of secondary to world leaders characters and didn’t feel like I missed much.  At over 400 pages, I really just wanted the action focused on the main characters.

This was a fun book full of absurd situations.  I’d love to read a book about Allan when he turns 102 🙂

Thanks to TLC Book Tours and Harper Collins for sending me a proof for this book tour.

Fear: Trump in the White House.  Finished audio 1-16-19, rating 4/5, truth, pub. 2018\

Unabridged audio read by Robert Petkoff

With authoritative reporting honed through eight presidencies from Nixon to Obama, author Bob Woodward reveals in unprecedented detail the harrowing life inside President Donald Trump’s White House and precisely how he makes decisions on major foreign and domestic policies. Woodward draws from hundreds of hours of interviews with firsthand sources, meeting notes, personal diaries, files and documents. The focus is on the explosive debates and the decision-making in the Oval Office, the Situation Room, Air Force One and the White House residence.  from Goodreads

I’m going to try and be as even-handed as I can be because Woodward went out his way to do so.  If you love Trump and call everything that is negative fake news this is not the book for you.  If you are on the fence about the man, liking some things and trying to ignore the rest, this is the book you need to read.  It is not a hit piece.  It is a methodical retelling of many moments at the White House in Trump’s first year or so.  If you detest Trump, this book will reinforce why, but it will also humanize him a bit.

I’m not spoiling anything for anyone by saying that this book could have just as easily been called Liar.  Every person in his administration that shows up in the book readily agrees.  I’m not exaggerating when I say that the man obviously has a problem with the truth.  Some people questioned whether he even knew he was lying or if it was just that much in his nature.  He also has a real issues with facts and hard data that go against what his gut tells him.  Seriously, he is making nuclear decisions based on nothing but opinions based on something he saw on TV.

I came away with adjusted views of the Ivanka and John Kelly (not in a positive way) and more respect for Cohn, Priebus and even Rob Porter.  Woodward is a well-respected journalist who does a very good job with this one.  My low opinion of Trump has not changed, but it was good to see that some sane people around him were trying to keep the country running (I should point out that all of these people are now gone).