Penny's picks for 2010

I think I can meet this challenge. My current book is Fresh-Air Fiend : Travel Writings, 1985-2000 by Paul Theroux. I will read bits of it in between other books I expect. I am now reading the section on his travels in China.

#1 - Dead and Gone. Dorothy Simpson is a British author I really enjoy. In her Inspector Luke Thanet I like the character development as well as the development of Thanet's family life. Her plots are interesting with some strange twists at the end. This is certainly true of "Dead and Gone."

Now back to Fresh-Air Fiend : Travel Writings, 1985-2000 and the African section.

#2 Fresh-Air Fiend : Travel Writings, 1985-2000 by Paul Theroux After China I picked my way through reading the countries I wanted and leaving others. A little Theroux can go a long way.

#3 The Second Objective by Mark Frost. An excellent World War II book based on the German Operation Autumn Mist in which German soldiers dressed as American G.I.'s moved to take Antwerp during the Battle of the Bulge in December, 1944. That was the first objective, the second involved twenty Germans...

#4. A Day for Dying by Dorothy Simpson. A man dies in a swimming pool the night of his engagement party. Why?

#5. Once too Often by Dorothy Simpson. A woman falls down the stairs and breaks her neck, is it an accident or murder? Thanet prepares himself for his only daughter's wedding.

#6. The Creation of Eve by Lynn Cullen, an Early Reviewers book. Historical fiction in Spain in the mid-1660's focusing on the court of Phillip II and the Italian artist Sofonisba Anguissola who attended his wife, Elizabeth of France. See review at http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=pmarshall

#7. The World at Night by Alan Furst. A French film producer, Jean Casson, is caught between the Germans and the English in Paris where he is involved in the resistance.

#8. Burn Out by Marcia Muller.
McCone has reached a point where she is questioning what to do with her professional life. She goes to their ranch to try and work things out and becomes involved in the murder investigation of her ranch manager's niece and all that follows. Working through the investigation leads her to a solution for her business.

#9. Locked In by Marcia Muller. McCone interrupts a break-in at her office and is shot in the head causing paralysis and loss of speech. She can hear and understand but her only method of response is to blink her eyes. Her investigators review current and past cases in their search for her attacker.

#10. Play Of Lords by Margaret Frazer. Joliffe and his fellow players are in London with Lord Lovell for the opening of parliament. He is requested by Cardinal Beauford to write a play on the current political situation among France, Burgandy and England. Repercussions follow.

#11. Deep Waters by Kate Charles Number three in the Callie Anson series, it is about star crossed lovers and reality T.V. show contestants. Crib death and murder.

#12. A Play of Treachery by Margaret Frazer. At the request/order of Cardinal Beaufort Joliffe leaves the players and goes to Rouen, France to learn to be a spy.

#13. Where Memories Lie by Deborah Crombie. Erika Rosenthal and her long-dead husband, David, came to London as refugees from Nazi Germany. Now a unique piece of jewelry stolen from her when she was fleeing Germany has mysteriously turned up at a prestigious London auction house. Gemma's and Duncan's investigations lead to murders past and present.

#14. Necessary as Blood by Deborah Crombie. Gemma and Duncan are engaged but can't find time to get married. A missing mother and murdered father brings a three year old girl to them. Missing girls and slave trade in the East End.

# 15. Wake the Dead by Dorothy Simpson. An elderly woman dies while a fete is taking place at her home. With many suspects Thanet still focuses on the family. This murder is connected to one from years earlier.

# 16. No laughing matter by Dorothy Simpson. A winemaker dies a violent death and there are suspects but no clues. Thanet receives a surprise confession.

# 17. Doomed to Die by Dorothy Simpson. A woman hiding from an jealous husband is murdered.

# 18. Red Gold by Alan Furst continues the story of Jean Casson from The World at Night. Casson gets involved in acquiring guns for the French Communist Party.

# 19. The Blood of Flowers by Anita Amirrezvani.
I have hooked rugs so I have some understanding of the work that making one takes. It is most interesting to learn more of the history of knotted rugs. This novel is set in the city of Isfahan, Iran in the 1620's.

Feb. 2010

# 20 A Dedicated Man by Peter Robinson
A man everyone speaks well of is murdered. If the reason for his death is not in the present it must be in the past.

# 21. Friend of the Devil by Peter Robinson. Banks is trying to solve a rape/murder case and Cabbot, on assignment in Whitby, the murder of a quadriplegic woman. In the course of their investigations an 18 and a 6 year old murder cases become active again.

# 22. The Concubine's Children, the story of a family living on two sides of the globe, China and Canada, by Denise Chong.

My homage to Dick Francis.

# 23. Dead Cert. His best friend is murdered when he goes over a sabotaged steeplechase jump. Alan York wants to know why? How do the taxis fit in? What is Uncle George's role?

# 24. Nerve. A young jockey is struggling to make his name but it looks as though he has lost his nerve - or has he?

# 25. For Kicks. An Australian, Daniel Roke, goes undercover as a stable hand to solve a racehorse doping scandal.

So sad that he died. Though he had a good long run.

Nerve is one of my favorites.

Sid Halley series

# 26. Odds Against. A bullet to the stomach brings Sid Halley kick starts the second phase of his professional life, that of a private investigator. His first case is to save a race track from being turned into 'ticky-tacky little boxes.'

# 27. Whip Hand. Sid Halley outwits a sadistic bookie and chain-wielding goons during the investigation of a doping scandal.

# 28. Come to Grief. Sid Halley becomes convinced that one of his close friends, and a well known television personality is behind a series of violent acts against horses.

#29. Under Orders. Sid Halley is drawn into investigation of three deaths, race fixing and internet gambling…

# 30. Flying Finish. A young aristocrat, Henry Grey, throws up a respectable job to join a firm which transports race horses all over the world. When men start making one way trips he wonders what happened to them.

# 31. Blood Sport. An encounter with a couple in punt on the Thames leads investigator Gene Hawkins on a chase for lost horses across the United States.

# 32. Forfeit. A racing correspondent for a newspaper dedicated to exposing scandals in the noisiest way becomes involved in exposing a racing fraud while dealing with the problems of his marriage to a woman housebound by polio.

#33. Enquiry We learn through flashbacks that narrator/jockey Kelly Hughes and trainer Dexter Cranfield have just lost their licenses; an enquiry panel was of the opinion that Kelly had held back his odds-on favorite and let another Cranfield-trained horse win. However, there was enough inconsistent behavior exhibited by the panel that Kelly believes he was set up.

# 34. Rat Race. There's no shortage of suspects when Matt Shore and his four race going, air taxi passengers narrowly avoid death when the plane blows up. It's up to Matt to determine who wants whom dead and why.

# 35. Slay Ride. An official of the English jockey club is sent to Norway to investigate the disappearance of a steeplechase jockey who is also accused of stealing the day's take at the race track.

The Olympics slowed me down! Go Canada Go!!!!!!

March 2010

# 36. Bonecrack. When a ruthless Italian crime lord decides he wants his son Alessandro to ride on the Derby winner, the best way to achieve such an end is to kidnap Neil Griffon, who is temporarily in charge of his father's stables & threaten him with the destruction of the stables unless Sonny is given the ride.

# 37. Smokescreen. An actor goes to South Africa to solve a racing mystery for a friend and the result is villainy and intrigue more deadly than any of his films.

# 38 Knockdown. Some bloodstock agents are using their power to inflate sale prices, forcng other agents to join in defrauding clients and owners or get put out of business. Jonah Dereham takes a stand against them and violence, fire and murder follow.

# 39 High Stakes. A crooked trainer in cahoots with a bookie are out to take a toy inventor, Steven Scott, for all he is worth.

# 40. In the Frame. Jockey turned portrait artist for horses becomes involved in solving the murder of his cousin's wife. Takes place in Australia.

# 41. Trial Run. A retired jockey is sent to Moscow on a delicate investigation involving royalty and the Moscow Olympics.

# 42. Reflex. A jockey turns to photography as a career and becomes embroiled in the aftermath of the strange death of a racetrack photographer.

# 43. Twice Shy. A computer program containing a bookie-breaking wagering system is unintentionally given to a sharp-shooting physics teacher. He avoids giving it to the gangsters who want it but 14 years later his actions cause problems for his brother.

# 44. Banker. Merchant banker, Tim Ekaterin, invest in a prime stallion. This brings him into contact with Calder Jackson who claims he can cure horses by laying his hands on them.

# 45. The Danger. Finding kidnappers is the company's business. A girl jockey disappears, followed by the young child of a Derby winner, and the senior steward of the Jockey Club.

# 46. Proof. An unexplained accident during a Sunday morning party at a racing stable leads the wine merchant into solving the mystery of the stolen whisky

Kit Fielding series

# 47. Break In. Kit's twin sister is married to the son of Maynard Allardeck, who maintains a feud against the Fieldings, and their stables are the target of a smear campaign.

# 48. Bolt. A princess is blackmailed, and Kit's feud with Maynard Allardeck has once again intensified.

# 49. Hot Money. A millionaire's estranged, fifth wife is murdered and someone is trying to kill him. He turns to his son, Ian Pembroke, by one of his previous wives for help. In the process Malcolm becomes a racing fan and horse owner.

I took a short break from Dick Francis to read Quintin Jardine's latest. When I have a new title in a series I like to re-read the last one before I read the new one.

# 50. Aftershock continues the investigation into Stevie Steele's murder Death's Door. The murders of young women artists continues and a connection could be made between them and Bob Skinner. Why and who?

# 51. Fatal Last Words. Some one is killing off the top crime writers of Edinburgh, using killing methods from their own books to do them in. Sir James Proud announces his immediate retirement from the Chief Constable's position. Will Skinner follow in his footsteps.

Back to Dick Francis

# 52. The Edge. Horses, owners and riders go by train from Toronto to Vancouver. The entertainment is a murder mystery that becomes real.

# 53. Straight. Jockey Derek Franklin's brother, Greville, dies mysteriously, and he inherits his business, gemstones, gadgets, enemies, horses and even his mistress.

# 54. Longshot. An author who has written six books on survival skills is commissioned to write the biography of a famous racehorse trainer.

# 55. Comeback. Diplomat, Peter Darwin, returns to England and becomes embroiled in a racing mystery involving a veterinary surgeon with serious troubles.

# 56. Driving Force. Retired jockey, Freddie Croft, runs a fleet of transporters for race horses. One of his drivers picks up a hitch hiker and the firm becomes embroiled in a complicated conspiracy.

Next my favourite Dick Francis Decider.

#57. Decider. Architect/contractor Lee Morris and his six sons get sucked into the intra-family warfare concerning a race course. Navigating the turbulent family waters is complicated by the fact that he is connected by marriage to the combatants. One of them is willing to kill to close the race course to sell the land to a developer.

# 58. Wild Horses. While making a film about racing in Newmarket, the director, Thomas Lyon, finds himself facing a dilemma of whether to reveal the truth about a 26 year-old murder which he learned from a deathbed confession of an old friend.

#59. To the Hilt. Artist, Alexander Kinlock leads a quiet life in Scotland until he returns home one day to find a group of thugs waiting for him asking "Where is it?"

# 60. 10-lb Penalty. In practice, a 10-lb penalty is the maximum extra weight a winning thoroughbread is normally set to carry in a horse race. Ben Juliard discovers a 10-lb penalty can be a killer when he finds himself the target of his politician father's enemies.

# 61. Second Wind. This time hurricanes and the men who chart and follow them are the theme of the book. The hero is Perry Stuart, a BBC weatherman who, while chasing a hurricane, becomes embroiled in a storm of a very different sort.

# 62. Shattered. When a jockey dies following a fall in a steeplechase, he accidentally embroils his friend Gerard Logan, an artisan glassblower, in a perilous search for a stolen videotape. Glass shatters. Logan doesn’t – but it’s a close thing.

# 63. Dead Heat. Restaurant owner, Max Moreton, gets into hot water when guests at a gala race course dinner become very ill with food poisoning. This is closely followed by a bombing at the next event he caters. Who arranged the bombing and why do they want to kill Max?

April 2010

# 64. Silks. Geoffrey Mason, barrister cum amateur jockey, is defending a fellow jockey of a murder charge. He is also being threatened by a former client to ensure that the jockey is found guilty. Like other Dick Francis books the focus is less on horses and racing and more on the murder and in this case the law.

# 65. Eye of Jade. Mei Wang is asked to search for a Han Dynasty jade seal believed to have been stolen from a museum rather than destroyed during China's Cultural Revolution. How does this connect to her mother?
I reread this before reading the next in the Mei Wand series.

# 66. Paper Butterfly. There appear to be two separate story lines developing in "Paper Butterfly." Mei Wang is hired to find a missing singer and Lin is released from a prison camp 8 years after the events of June 4, 1989 in Tiananmen Square and he makes his way back to Beijing.

# 67 Field of 13. Thirteen short stories by Dick Francis.

# 68. Mrs. Malory and Any Man's Death by Hazel Holt. Annie Roberts has a had in everything that happens in the village of Mere Barton. When she dies the whole village appears to take a deep breath and relax. Why?

# 69. She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell. Set in the high society of 1890's New York Clara Carter makes her debut with the goal being a wedding with the De Vries heir. An Early Reviewers book. See review at http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=pmarshall

# 70. The Sport of Queens. I end my reading homage to Dick Francis with his autobiography.

I look forward to reading Even Money and Cross Fire when they are available in paperback.

# 71. The Last Juror by John Grisham. In 1970 William 'Willie' Traynor; 23 years old; purchases the bankrupt, weekly newspaper "The Ford County (Mississippi) Times." A rape/murder and the court case helps him turn the paper around. Making a success of the paper and establishing himself in the community changes his life.

I have new respect for Dick Francis and his craft. Reading his novels one at a time as they were published provided entertainment, reading them as a body of work provided new insights, knowledge, and appreciation of his work.

His objective was always to entertain the reader and to have horses somewhere in the story but you can also learn from his work. His research is meticulous, for example for “Flying Finish” which is about the air transporting of horses he and his wife Mary went on a run to Milan. He helped care for the horses, she took pictures and notes.

For the research for “Rat Race,” which involves an air taxi service for jockeys, Mary Francis started taking flying lessons. She continued them when the research was complete and got her license and for eleven years was part owner of a similar air taxi service.

Many of Francis’ titles just touch on horses and focus on other occupations. In “Straight” jockey Derek Franklin suddenly inherits his brother’s semiprecious stone importing business and must keep the business running and find one hundred missing diamonds. The information on how diamonds are bought and sold is most interesting.

He also deals with social problems like alcoholism. In “Knockdown” Jonah Dereham’s brother is an alcoholic. The understanding of alcoholism as a disease and the necessary strength to overcome it is part of the background of this mystery about bloodstock agents.

It is interesting to note how many of his characters are loners e.g., Gene Hawkins in"Blood Sport," Sid Halley, Matt Shore in "Rat Race," without families. Another theme, which runs through his books, is that children are good observers ("Shattered," "Decider," "Blood Sport") and more should be made of asking them what they saw. Francis is also a romantic and although in his autobiography “The Sport of Queens” he says he doesn’t believe in love at first sight it happened to him when he was introduced to Mary. “Mary and I smiled at each other and to my astonishment, before we had even spoken, I found myself thinking, ‘This is my wife.’”

At one time Francis wanted to have Mary’s name added to his as author of the books but she demurred at the suggestion. However there is no doubt that the work was a partnership. His last three titles were written with his son Felix.

All in all Dick Francis provides a good read, interesting characters against a variety of backgrounds and a problem to be solved and, in many cases. something for the reader to learn.

# 72. The Orion Book of Murder edited by Peter Haining. An interesting collection of short stories written by some of the twentieth century masters of the mystery genre. It is divided into three catagories crime, detection and punishment

# 73. The Mao Case by Qui Xiaolong. Through the characters you learn of both the individual and social impact of Mao Zedong on China and the Chinese people. Each step forward was actually many back.

# 74. Fatal Last Words by Quintin Jardine. An enjoyable re-read.

have you read any of Qiu's earlier mysteries? I still haven't read the first two in the series but I've read the rest. I was wondering, if you had read them, what you think about the progression of the series.

# 75. The Betrayal by Helen Dunmore. Anna and her husband, Andrei are betrayed on many levels. By their country which made promises of support after they defended Leningrad for 900 days against the Germans. By colleagues who deceive others to protect themselves and by individuals who either stare or look away knowing they could be next. It took me time to read this book because I knew what would happen and I didn’t want to face it. That was a particularly bloody period in the history of the USSR. Dunmore does end with giving the reader a bit of hope; the birth of the baby and the death of Stalin. (Early Reviewers review)

May 2010

# 76. Mistress of the Art of Death by Ariana Franklin. Adelia Aguilar travels from Sicily to Cambridge to determine who is killing the children. The Jews have been accused and Henry II wants the case settled because it is interfering with his tax revenue.

# 77. The Serpent's Tale by Ariana Franklin. When King Henry II's mistress is found poisoned, suspicion falls on his estranged queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine. The king orders Adelia Aguilar, expert in the science of death, to investigate-and hopefully stave off civil war.

# 78. Grave Goods by Ariana Franklin. Henry II wants Adelia Aguilar to look into the discovery of two skeletons at Glastonbury. Is it King Arthur and his queen?

# 79. A Murderous Procession by Ariana Franklin. Adelia Aguilar travels to Sicily with Henry II's daughter, Princess Joanna, for her marriage to King William.

# 80. Dead Man's Footsteps by Peter James. Deaths in three different cities, New York (Sept. 11, 2001), and in Brighton, England and Melbourne, Australia corpses are discovered in October, 2007. It is Roy Grace's job to figure out how they are related and the truth from many lies.

# 81. Frozen Tracks by Swedish author Ake Edwardson. Young men are being attacked at night in Gothenburg and there seems to be no connection among them. At the same time young children are being stalked, taken for a drive by 'Mister' and returned to the playground minus a toy. I found this book confusing, I kept getting the police detectives mixed up, and slow.

# 82. The War Memoir of (HRH) Wallis Duchess of Windsor by auspitzkate::Kate Auspitz. An Early Reviewers book. See review at http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=pmarshall

# 83. Hockey Dreams Memories of a Man Who Couldn't Play by David Adams Richards. Richards alternates between memories of his childhood playing hockey on the Miramichi River and in the street, and hockey as a representation of the heart and soul of Canada. It is 'our' game, our nationalism. Highly recommended.

# 84. Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin. Presidents who have problems keeping their fly zipped is a not uncommon problem, but when the young women are also killed this adds a new twist to executive privilege.

June, 2010

# 85. Lines on the Water: A Fisherman's Life on the Miramichi by David Adams Richards. Part memoir and part an expression of his love of fishing - fly-fishing. Like Hockey Dreams this book provides insight on his novels and his beliefs.

# 86. Red to Black by Alex Dryden. Is Russia continuing the Cold War by taking control of all of Europe's defense companies purchased with money acquired from such things as selling drugs and black-market arms? It could do with a good edit to improve the flow.

# 87. Outside Chance by Lyndon Stacey. Ben Copperfield, a freelance journalist, is following two stories that eventually become one. The first is of the Hungarian Csikos, a troupe of show horsemen. The second is the kidnapping of one of the favourites for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

# 88 Murder in Mind by Lyndon Stacey. Sophie Bradford was pretty, blonde, and an accomplished flirt. When she is found murdered her latest boyfriend, jockey Jamie Mullin, is the prime suspect. As Jamie spirals into a breakdown friend and fellow jockey Matt Shepherd tries to help him and runs into his own problems.

# 89. Cut Throat by Lyndon Stacey. Ross Wakelin, an American horseman, has moved to England to work at Oakley Manor Stables. A series of threatening events puts his career and life at stake.

# 90. A Plague of Secrets by John Lescroart. Maya Townshend is accused of murdering the manager of her coffee shop. Hardy takes on the case which involves another murder, blackmail and secrets of past bad deeds.

# 91. Blindfold by Lyndon Stacey. Gideon Blake, an artist and animal behaviourist, is kidnapped, blindfolded and taken to a large barn to catch a stallion. His sister and her mate are being harassed and their property burned. Are these events connected? Why and who are behind them?

# 92. Six to One Against by Lyndon Stacey. Gideon Blake is riding with a friend when he, Damien Daniels, is shot to death. Why? How is Damien's young brother Marcus involved?

# 93. Deadfall by Lyndon Stacey. Horses' tack is being stolen by an organized ring. One incident leaves Abby Hathaway in a coma. The violence spreads as Lincoln Tremayne hunts for the attachers.

# 94. Love You to Death by Gail Bowen. An Early Reviewers book, see review at http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=pmarshall

# 95 Murder for Christ's Mass by Maureen Ash, a Templar Knight mystery. A 50 year old silver coin from the reign of King Stephen is found near the body of a murdered man. This first murder leads to another as Bascot de Marins slowly works his way through the twists and turns of the plot. Good historical detail on coinage. A slow read.

# 96. Late Nights on Air by Elizabeth Hay is set against the history of the early exploration of the Canadian north and the 1975 Berger Commission on the oil and gas pipeline. The main characters are employees of the local CBC radio station who struggle with the changing culture of the north, the changing relationships within the group and how this will impact the future. This novel won the Giller Prize in 2007. A good read.

Before reading the two new Mary Russell books The Language of Bees and The God of the Hive I am re-reading the earlier books.

# 97. The Beekeeper's Apprentice by Laurie R. King. Mary Russell a 15 year old orphan meets 54 year old Sherlock Holmes while walking on the Sussex downs. Holmes tutors Mary in the art of detection and they move from solving a robbery in the local village to a case that threatens their lives.

# 98. A Monstrous Regiment of Women by Laurie R. King. Through an old friend from Oxford Mary Russell becomes involved with the New Temple of God. It does much good work for women and children in the slums of London, but it is not all that it seems.

July, 2010.

# 99. A Letter of Mary by Laurie R. King. Dorothy Ruskin, an amateur archeologist in Palestine, returns to England for a visit with family and friends including Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes. Ruskin is killed in a hit and run accident in London. Russell wants to know by whom and why. Does it have anything to do with papyrus she left with Mary?

# 100. O Jerusalem by Laurie R. King. Russell and Holmes flee to Palestine to escape a deadly situation in England. They join up with two 'Arabs' who are spies for the British.

# 101. The Moor by Laurie R. King. Strange things are happening on Dartmoor, echos of "The Hounds of the Baskerville's." Holmes is asked by Rev. Baring-Gould to investigate.

# 102. Justice Hall by Laurie R. King. Russell and Holmes are called upon by Ali ("O Jerusalem") to find the true heir to Justice Hall and thus free Mahmoud to return to Palestine.

I finally made it over 100. Unless I read faster or read shorter books I won't reach 250!

# 103. 206 Bones by Kathy Reichs. Someone is killing old ladies and working to destroy Tempe Brennan's reputation as she works on these cases. A return to form for Reichs' after the unsatisfactory (for me) Devil Bones.

# 104. The Game by Laurie R. King. Mycroft Holmes send Russell and Holmes to India to search for a missing spy, Kimball O'Hara. In the process they meet a suspect American Bolshevik, a homeless urchin and a mad mararaja.

# 105. Locked Rooms by Laurie R. King. Mary's father will stipulated that the family home in San Francisco could only be entered by family members and could not be sold for twenty years after his death. Why? The trip to California opens Mary's childhood memories to her, ones she had suppressed since the car accident when she was fourteen.

# 106. A Man in Uniform by Kate Taylor. An Earlier Reviewer book, see review at http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=pmarshall

# 107. God Is. My Search for Faith in a Secular World by David Adams Richards. An intellectual discourse on the existence of God and faith.

August, 2010

# 108. Shadow of Power by Steve Martini. A writer of a highly racial book involving the U.S, constitution is murdered and the room service waiter is quickly arrested and charged. End of investigation? By the police yes but not by his lawyers. His writing reminds me of John Lescroart, does anyone else think so?

I love Lescroart but I have never been able to get into Martini. I tried years ago and then again when a friend suggested him again (can't remember which titles though). Is there one that is awesomely good?

# 109. The Twelfth Card by Jeffrey Deaver. 140 years ago a freed slave owned la farm in New York. Today his 16 year old great-something grand daughter is having attempts made on her life. Why?

# 110. Alarm Call by Quintin Jardine. Oz Blackstone's ex-wife, Prim, has been swindled of all her money and her son. She and Oz trip across the United States to solve this case.

# 111. Sleeping Beauty by Phillip Margolin. A home invasion results in the death of two people and injuries to a third. No arrests are made. Five years later a novel telling the story of this and other similar crimes becomes a best seller. But how does the author know certain details never released?

# 112. Skinner's Rules by Quintin Jardine. The first in the Bob Skinner series. Five brutal murders on Edinburgh's Royal Mile leads to international intrigue.

# 113. Skinner's Festival by Quintin Jardine. On the first day of the Edinburgh Featival an explosion rocks Princes Street and one man is killed. A threatening letter is delivered to the Secretary of State demanding political separation from England. Bob Skinner is Security Advisor to the minister.

# 114. Skinner's Trail by Quintin Jardine. A man has been found knifed in a luxury villa in Edinburgh. The victim had run a chain of laundrettes, saunas and pubs throughout the city, but police suspect these to be the front for a drug-distribution network. Another man, a property developer, is found hanging in a garage in Spain. Is there a link?

# 115. Skinner's Round by Quintin Jardine. A golf tournament is being staged for the opening of Witches' Hill Country Club. A legendary witches' curse calls upon the death of anyone who desecrates their place of worship.

# 116. Skinner's Ordeal by Quintin Jardine. A mid-air explosion, and a plane plunges to disaster from the Scottish skies, with the British and American Defence Secretaries among the victims.

# 117. Skinner's Mission by Quintin Jardine. When an Edinburgh car showroom is torched, leaving a charred body among the burnt-out luxury cars, Skinner wonders if a life of crime has finally caught up with one of the city's most elusive villains.

# 118. Skinner's Ghosts by Quintin Jardine. Skinner faces the greatest, and most personal, tests of his career. Unless he can clear his name, and uncover the secret behind the series of brutal crimes, he stands to lose all: his family, his career, and even his life and liberty.

# 119. Murmuring the Judges by Quintin Jardine, An armed robbery trial is about to take a macabre turn. While the lawyers tussle over the evidence, the judge suddenly collapses in mortal agony – the victim of an apparant heart attack.

# 120. Gallery Whispers by Quintin Jardine. One of the world’s most ruthless terrorists is on his way to Edinburgh - and he can have only one thing on his mind: the forthcoming conference of World Heads of Government. An investigation is also on-going into two suspected cases of mercy killing.

# 121. Thursday Legends by Quintin Jardine. Former Head of Special Branch Alec Smith made plenty of enemies during a long career – and there would appear to be no shortage of suspects in his death. But as Skinner’s investigation gathers pace, everything keeps pointing to the Legends themselves.

# 122. Autographs in the Rain by Quintin Jardine. As Bob Skinner takes an evening stroll in London a shot-gun attack sends him and Louise Banks diving for cover. Back at Headquarters, an ambitious new colleague is scheming to enlarge his territory at Skinner’s expense and in the Boarders someone is stealing trout by the thousands from fish farms.

# 123. Head Shot by Quintin Jardine. Skinner's legendary cool is shaken when he's faced with the brutally murdered bodies of his wife's parents. Maggie Rose' past comes back to haunt her and her husband Mario McGuire. The plot gets somewhat convoluted and there are too many corpses with the same name, but still a good read.

# 124. Fallen Gods by Quintin Jardine. Skinner's recent illness gives his enemies a weapon to use against him. The body of his unknown brother appears, his wife is charged with murder in America and a painting is distroyed at the Royal Scottish Academy.

Halfway there!

# 125. Stay of Execution by Quintin Jardine. Edinburgh prepares for a huge rally to celebrate the return of Pope John the 25th to his home town. With the whole world watching, the security has to be bullet proof.

# 126. Lethal Intent by Quintin Jardine. Four ruthless Albanian gangsters have infiltrated Edinburgh’s underworld and MI5 are all over it. They believe they are trying to move into the city's drug scene. But do they have a bigger, more audacious objective?

# 127. Dead and Buried by Quintin Jardine. Four crimes, four crises: can Skinner and his people solve them? A stalker, a bookmaker, a bigamist and spooks threaten the peace.

# 128. Death's Door by Quintin Jardine. Skinner is on sabbatical. Stevie and Mario lead the investigation into the deaths of 3 young women that results in more death and the escape of the killer.

# 129. Aftershock by Quintin Jardine. "Aftershock'' continues the investigation into Stevie Steele's murder Death's Door. The murders of young women artists continues and a connection could be made between them and Bob Skinner. Why and who? Sir James Proud announces his immediate retirement from the Chief Constable's position. Will Skinner apply?

# 130. Fatal Last Words by Quintin Jardine. Some one is killing off the top crime writers of Edinburgh, using killing methods from their own books to do them in. Sir James Proud announced his immediate retirement from the Chief Constable's position and his successor is named. Is it Skinner?

September 2010

# 131. The Language of Bees by Laurie R. King. Russell and Holmes return from their global adventure to meet Damian Adler, Holmes' son. Yolanda, Damian's wife, is involved with a questionable religious group and has disappeared. The three seek her out and in the process lose Damian. Fortunately when I ordered this book I also got The God of the Hive. because "The Language of Bees" ends with "... to be continued."

# 132. The God of the Hive by Laurie R. King is the continuation of "The Language of Bees." The search for Damien and his daughter Estelle seperates Russell and Holmes. Mycroft, Holmes' brother, is questioned by Scotland Yard on their where abouts and then he too disappears.

# 133. The Hanging Valley by Peter Robinson. Banks is called to a rural village to investigate the murder of an unidentified man. He connects this murder to an unsolved case five years previous but is no closer to a suspect.

# 134. Lord Beaverbrook by David Adams Richards. Max Aitken, Lord Beaverbrook, was not an easy man to like, he was ambitious to the point of being ruthless, he demanded attention, he wanted to be the king-pin. Regardless of what he accomplished he was a colonial, and dismissed by much of British society. He was also generous to his home province, New Brunswick, and build rinks and other community buildings, a world class art gallery and added much to the University of New Brunswick. He is an interesting man who made his own way from rags to riches.

# 135. A Rush of Blood by Quintin Jardine. The Lithuanians have moved into Edinburgh and the massage parlour business. Too many deaths are made to look like suicides.

# 136. Even Money by Dick and Felix Francis. Ned Talbot has some problems. His wife suffers from bipolar disorder and has been hospitalize for the past five months. A man appears claiming to be his father, but Ned had grown up being told his parents had died in a car crash when he was a baby, then this man is murdered within an hour of their meeting. And just to make life interesting a large bookmaker is out to buy Ned's company regardless of the fact it is not for sale.

# 137. Hardball by Sara Paretsky. Warshawski hits a nerve or two when she takes on the search for a man missing for forty years.

# 138. Piece of My Heart by Peter Robinson. Are murders committed in 1969, 1970 and in 2006 connected through the rock band The Mad Hatters? Banks thinks so but can he prove it?

# 139. Three Stations by Martin Cruz Smith. Arkady Renko defies his boss, who is trying to fire him, and turns a suicide investigation into a murder investigation. He also becomes involved in the search for a missing baby and her mother who are separated from each other.

# 140. Her Mother's Daughter by Lesley Crewe. An Earlier Reviewer book, see review at http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=pmarshall

# 141. The Vows of Silence by Susan Hill. Someone is shooting brides and newly weds. S/he is very good at it and leaves no clues for the investigation led by Simon Serrailler. Family crisis are worked out against this background. This is the first Susan Hill I have read and it leaves me wanting more.

October 2010

# 142. Edwin of the Iron Shoes by Marcia Muller. I started and stopped a number of titles in the past week and finally resorted to my old friend Sharon McCone. She investigates a land deal in a good location in San Francisco, a murdered antiques/second hand dealer and the selling of stolen Italian paintings.

# 143. Ask the Cards a Question by Marcia Muller. Sharon investigates murder in her own apartment building. Sleuthing out the small-time secrets of her quirky neighbors leads Sharon in and around the neighborhood, and to a shocking string of big-time deals and blackmail.

# 144. The Cheshire Cat's Eye by Marcia Muller. Ambitious developers are pushing for restoration of old Victorian mansions and residents are fighting for their homes...until a controversial restorationist is found dead on the job, awash in garish housepaint.

# 145. Games to Keep the Dark Away by Marcia Muller. McCone discovers that no one—not her client, a reclusive photographer, nor Jane's mother, nor her hospice employers—wants to find out why Jane died. Then the killer strikes again.

# 146. Leave a Message for Willie by Marcia Muller. When private investigator Sharon McCone helps flea market kingpin, Willie Whelan, fend off a stalker, she's drawn into the netherworld of deal-making and thievery.

# 147. Double by Marcia Muller and Bill Pronzini. Sharon and the detective she calls Wolf meet in San Diego at a convention for private investigators. When Sharon's friend falls over a balcony, she and Wolf decide that it is no accident and they set about to prove that there has been foul play.

#148. Dead Like You by Peter James. Women, in Brighton, who love high priced high heels are being watched, stalked and raped. Has the Shoe Man who has been in hiding for twelve years returned or is this a new pert. or is there more than one? All questions Roy Grace is pondering over.

# 149. There's Nothing To Be Afraid Of by Marcia Muller. The seedy former hotel, once a haven for the city's down and out, now houses Vietnamese families striving to improve their lives. But McCone believes that someone from the Tenderloin's shadowy underworld is determined to drive the newcomers out.

# 150. Just 100 to go... Eye of the Storm by Marcia Muller. Sharon McCone investigates mysterious acts of vandalism at an old mansion but when they escalates to savage murder, she finds herself trapped on the island with a desperate killer.

# 151. There's Something in a Sunday by Marcia Muller. Unraveling the threads that link a homeless man, a pair of prominent activists, a wayward rancher, and a mysterious missing beauty, Sharon is plunged into the depths of domestic mayhem...entering a realm where dreams shatter and marriage leads to bloody murder.

# 152. The Shape of Dread by Marcia Muller. Bobby Foster, car-hop at the chic Cafe Comedie, is going to the gas chamber. He's already confessed to the murder of Tracy Kostakos, the club's rising star. But did he do it?

# 153. Trophies and Dead Things by Marcia Muller. When a former sixties radical is murdered during a string of random sniper attacks, the All Souls Legal Cooperative must settle his surprisingly large estate.

# 154. Where Echoes Live by Marcia Muller. A massive mining operation seems to be behind a series of break-ins, disappearances, and shady land deals at Tufa Lake. Sharon McCone searches for a local eccentric missing after a suspicious land deal. McCone meets Hy Ripinsky.

# 155. T'was the night before Christmas by Clement Moore. This year, 2010, my brother and his wife became grandparents (finally!) and that makes me a great aunt (again). Eloise Anne Elizabeth was born June 21 and Liam Timothy on Sept. 6. I haven't met Liam yet as he is in Scotland but Eloise is a treat!!!

So for Christmas I bought them each a book, an important book, a famous book, a book with historical ties to Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada, which is where the babies' fathers grew up. Published anonymously in 1823 it is now attributed to Clement Clarke Moore. There are only two hand written copies known to exist, one in the New York Public Library and one in the museum in Fredericton.

Jonathan Odell, godfather of Clement Moore, was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1737. During the American Revolution he worked actively for the British cause and in 1884 he emigrated to Fredericton. His godson, Clement Moore, sent a handwritten copy of the poem, dated 1825, to Odell's grandchildren.

Now Eloise and Liam have a piece of history that they can read for years to come on Christmas Eve! A beautiful edition of the wonderful old tale with the first line being, "Twas the night before Christmas when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse."

# 156. Pennies on a Dead Woman's Eyes by Marcia Muller. Sharon is following a fresh trail of death that leads back to a wild debutante, a prestigious think tank, and the power politics of the '50s...all in search of a killer who has engineered a fatal cover-up and built a brilliant career on murder.

# 157. Wolf in the Shadows by Marcia Muller. Hy Ripinsky, Sharon's lover and an environmental activist, suddenly vanishes. Determined to find him, Sharon discovers Hy's abandoned plane, wrecked rental car, and the intrigues of a shady international security firm.

#158. Till the Butchers Cut Him Down by Marcia Muller. McCone leaves All Souls and opens her own office. Suitcase Gordon, was a self-styled itinerant purveyor of prefab scams, schemes, and dreams when Sharon knew him at UCB. Now he's a "turnaround man," a corporate troubleshooter. McCone finds herself in a case far more frightening than she imagined, ending in a confrontation on San Francisco's waterfront.

# 159. A Wild and Lonely Place by Marcia Muller. It's worth a $1 Million reward to Sharon McCone if she catches the man called the Diplo-bomber, who has set off bombs at consulates all over the U.S.

# 160. The Broken Promise Land by Marcia Muller. Ricky Savage, McCone's brother-in-law, is the hottest country singer in the business. He's on top professionally, but hitting rock bottom in his personal life. Ricky has been getting anonymous letters threatening not only himself, but also his family.

# 161. Both Ends of the Night by Marcia Muller. A missing person's case becomes a personal vendetta. Together with Hy Ripinsky, McCone bypasses the authorities to hunt down the man responsible for her flight instructor's death.

November 2010

# 162. While Other People Sleep by Marcia Muller. A mysterious woman is handing out McCone's business cards, advising clients, and picking up men for intimate encounters. The woman's physical resemblance to McCone is uncanny. Her knowledge of McCone's life is chilling.

# 163. The Network by Jason Elliot, a 2010 Earlier Reviewers book. My review can be found at http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=pmarshall

# 164. Shanghai Girls by Lisa See. Sisters Pearl and May are forced into arranged marriages to Chinese Americans by their father as payment for his gambling debts. They flee from the Japanese in 1937 and are haunted by China and its history in their live in Los Angeles.

# 165. A Walk Through Fire by Marcia Muller. Accidents are plaguing a documentary film crew on beautiful Kauai. Sharon and Hy are asked to provide security and they have their own personal fire to walk through.

# 166. Listen to the Silence by Marcia Muller. While going through her father's personal effects following his death, McCone comes upon a shocking document, one that raises questions about her birth.

# 167. Dead Midnight by Marcia Muller. Following the suicide of her brother Joey Sharon becomes involved another case involving a suicide. The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is a popular spot...for jumpers.

# 168. The Dangerous Hour by Marcia Muller. The future’s looking bright for Sharon McCone and her staff until one of the firm’s operatives, Julia Rafael, is arrested for major credit card fraud. Sharon says yes to Hy!

# 169. Vanishing Point by Marcia Muller. McCone investigates the disappearance, 22 years before, of Laurel Greenwood, an artist, housewife and mother.

# 170. The Ever-Running Man by Marcia Muller. Hy's company, Renshaw and Kessell International, is under attack and Sharon is called in to investigate.

# 171. Burn Out by Marcia Muller. McCone has reached a point where she is questioning what to do with her professional life. She goes to their ranch to try and work things out and becomes involved in the murder investigation of the ranch manager's niece and all that follows. Working through the investigation leads her to a solution for her business.

# 172. Locked In by Marcia Muller. McCone interrupts a break-in at her office and is shot in the head causing paralysis and loss of speech. She can hear and understand but her only method of response is to blink her eyes. Her investigators review current and past cases in their search for her attacker.

# 173. Looking Good Dead by Peter James. A young woman is brutally murdered, her headless remains found in a field of rape (canola) and for a subscription price it can be viewed on the internet. A CD of it is left on a train and the life of the person who picks it up is changed forever.

# 174. Not Dead Enough by Peter James. Brian Bishop claimed to be asleep in London when his wife was murdered in Brighton. If he was who did it? A twist unraveled at the end of the book provides the answer.

# 175. The Girl Who Played With Fire by Stieg Larsson. Salander is charged with a triple homicide and a nation-wide search is under way. Two of the three murdered were cpmpleting an investigation of sex trafficking in Sweden. How does this connect to Salanders?

# 176. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson. This continues the life events of Lisbeth Salander from The Girl Who Played With Fire, she is arrested and hospitalized because of her injuries. In preparing for her trial secrets are uncovered that the government has hidden for fifteen years and explain why Salander was originally institutionalised. It is the last in the series and I want more!

# 177. Cat's Eyewitness by Rita Mae Brown and Sneaky Pie Brown. There was a time I read all of Brown's books but not any more - too light and frivolous. In this one a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary starts crying tears of blood.

December 2010 and only 73 to go!!!

# 178. Dead Connection by Alafair Burke. NYPD Detective Ellie Hatcher is placed on a special assignment to the homicide team. Women registered with an on-line dating service are being murdered. Why?

# 179. Angel's Tip by Alafair Burke. A serial killer in New York is murdering young, blonde women and cutting their hair off.

# 180. Judgment Day by Wanda L. Dyson. I received this as an Early Reviewers book, you can read my review at http://www.librarything.com/profile_reviews.php?view=pmarshall

# 181. Dead Tomorrow by Peter James. Trafficking in human body parts, take them from poor Romanians and sell then to the wealth sick. A sad tale in part, a heroine and lots of bad folk.

# 182. Show No Fear by Perri O'Shaughnessy. This is a prequel to the Nina Reilly series. In it she meets policeman Paul van Wagoner as they investigate two murders, a lawyer claiming custody of her son and the death of a client in a medical malpractice lawsuit.

# 183. A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton. When Laurence Fife was murdered, few mourned his passing. Eight years later and out on parole, Nikki Fife hires Kinsey Millhone to find out who really killed her late husband.

# 184. Wolves Eat Dogs by Martin Cruz Smith. Renko investigation of a death in Moscow leads him to Chernobyl the Zone of Exclusion. I did not finish this book, it didn't hold my attention. I found the characters confusing and the plot overly slow.

# 185. The Shack by William P. Young is a a novel about Mack Philip's and how he is dealing, or not dealing, with the abduction and murder of his six year old daughter four years earlier. It is also a theological discussion between Mack and the Holy Trinity - Papa (God the Father), Jesus and Sarayu (the Holy Spirit) on Mach's personal relationship with God.

# 186. Tessa and Scott: Our Journey from Childhood Dream to Gold by Tessa Virtue, Scott Moir and Steve Milton. 2010 Olympic Gold medalists, 2010 World Champions in Ice Dancing Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir share their lives, their journeys to their goal with us.

# 187. Pavlova's Gift by Maxine Trottier. Long after her retirement Anna Pavlova is asked to dance before the czar's son. In her place she sends a young gypsy.

# 188. Old Turtle by Douglas Wood. Old Turtle helps the animals and the people and all that makes us the earth to "see God in one another and in the beauty of all the Earth."

# 189. The Voyage of Wood Duck by Maxine Trottier. Wood Duck dreams of what is across the big water and he is determined to go see. In English and Mi'lmaq.

# 190. Loon Rock by Maxine Trottier.A young Indian boy paints a loon high up on a rock. In English and Mi'lmaq.

# 191. The Polar Bear Son by Lydia Dabcovich. A young polar bear cub comes to the aid of an elderly Inuit woman and saves her life by helping her find food.

# 192. Heartsong by Maxine Trottier. In English and Gaelic the story is told of the making of a violin by a father for his son.

# 193. The Tiny Kite of Eddie Wing by Maxine Trottier. Eddie Wing comes from a very poor family and can only fly a tiny kite, an invisible kite, a kite he can see in his mind's eye.

#194. Red is Best by Kathy Stinson. Kelly likes red, her snowballs go further when she throws them wearing her red mittens, red barrettes make her hair laugh. Kelly's mother doesn't understand about red!

# 195. Something Good by Robert Munsch. Tyya''s dad won''t buy anything good at the store - no ice cream, no candy, no cookies. But when the saleslady puts a price sticker on Tyya''s nose, Daddy is finally forced to buy something good.

Think you can cram 5 books in before tomorrow? :)

Congrats on your impressive almost total!

# 196. Stalin's Ghost by Martin Cruz Smith. War crimes in Chechnya, policemen for hire, a Russian election and World War II mass graves appear to be linked by sightings of Stalin's ghost and Renko's determination to find the real link.

# 197. Faces of Fredericton by Keith Minchin. Photographs and brief biographical notes of some of Fredericton's prominent citizens from the 1980's.