Kat's Cradle - Karen Kijewski

My fun, silly, book club book. This is one of those books that are part of a series with the attendant silly caste of characters. We needed something fun for book club after the stuff we had been reading, so I suggested this one. It has an interesting twist that is something to discuss at the end. Did the mother know - and did that change how she reacted? I look forward to discussing that on Thursday.

I might even go back and reread the entire series.

So many books so little time (6)

After reading In a Dark House, I wanted to read more - more brain candy, so I went to my local independent bookstore and picked up what he had for Deborah Crombie (including 2 of one by accident). And then I went on a binge of junk reading the first 5 books in the series. I don't think I read any of these over more than 1 day:

All Shall be Well
A Share in Death
Leave the Grave Green
Mourn Not Your Dead
Dreaming of the Bones

These are not as good as In a Dark House, but I feel I know the characters more.

And for book club, I read Kim Stanley Robinson's The Years of Rice and Salt. That one took a week of dedicated reading every night. It was interesting, but if the author hadn't been coming to book club, I would have stopped after 100 pages. I don't feel like it was a waste of time and after talking to Stan, I would have to say I think more favorably on it now than I did before.

But I've just been too busy to think about what I read and then write - sorry.

In fact, I keep think I read something else since I last wrote. For the life of me, I can't think of what it would be? I know I started Your Money or Your Life - maybe that's what's nagging at me?

In a Dark House - Deborah Crombie

Set in London, this detective story must be part of a series. Rarely do I pick up a book in the middle of a series, but this time I did without even knowing it. I don't even know how this book ended up on my "To Read" pile - probably the friend I currently work for... I enjoyed the obviously recurring characters along with the mystery itself. While many mystery books rely on coincidences to make things happen, this one turned them around a little bit.

I find myself wanting to read the books that precede this one and the ones that come after; a good sign. I may keep it and re-read it when I get to it's spot on the chronological order of the series. But I'll definitely pass it around to other readers.

The Edge - Catherine Coulter

Brad, owner of Book Lovers, recommend I read the Catherine Coulter's FBI series. She will be signing her next book at his store in the summer. Since I am generally looking for a new series of brain candy reading, I picked up The Edge.

It was good as brain candy of the mystery, detective goes, but it wasn't spectacular. I enjoyed the story when it was in Edgerton, Oregon. But once they were assaulted and whisked to South America, I lost all ability to suspend belief.

I will try another book in the series, but at this point, I would only pick these up used and when I am running low on my "To Read" pile.

All Fall Down - Erica Spindler

Another in the long line of brain candy. But this one has some interesting side things to think about. Spousal abuse - why do people stay and if someone kills the abuser, is it worth looking for the killer? There are also interesting dynamics of family - guilt, loyalty, and blind faith. I found this book moved quickly - satisfying my need for something easy to read, but I also thought about some of the aspects of the book once I was done.

I'll be loaning this one out and then it will probably go back to the used bookstore.

Books with baby (3 books or was it 4)

Echo Park by Micheal Connelly - next in the Harry Bosch series I enjoy. I nice read - quick and fun. Finished it at the doctor appointment before going to the hospital.

Forbidden Fruit by Erica Spindler - started this one in the hospital and after 156 pages I still didn't care. It reminded me of a Danielle Steele novel. At 156 pages in, I was just getting the overview of main character number 3 and so I put it down to return to the used book store.

Legal Tender by Lisa Scottoline - Related to the characters in Killer Smile which I wrote about last month - although this one came first. This was a nice, quick read - as is everything I have tried to tackle lately. I look forward to more of these, although I doubt I would re-read them.

See Jane Die by Erica Spindler - leery after the last one, I picked this one up and got sucked in. I even read it in the car - which I haven't been doing because it makes me sick. Of course, it was the part about who the killer was and I only had 3 pages to go. Fun, it kept me guessing as to who the killer was until the end (although I had narrowed it down to 2).

The Killing Game - Iris Johansen

I haven't read Johansen in ages (at least 10 years) - she's one of the author's Grandma reads. I think reading a book by her every once in a while is ok, but I tend to find them repetitive and easy to figure out. This one was an exception - more than likely she has increased her skill or decreased her output over the years. It was fun and while I had an inkling that one of two options was the killer, it was interesting to see how they got there.

A fun book, but nothing spectacular, and I'll probably offer it to anyone who wants it and then send it back to the used book store it came from.

Dead Certain - Mariah Stewart

Higgy went off to the used book store and picked me up some light reading for my one day travel extravaganza. This is the follow up to Dead Wrong which I read in Hawaii. I was flying to and from Salt Lake City on the same day - I needed something light to keep me entertained even while my mind was working off less than 6 hours sleep. Getting up at 4a is hard, especially, when it feels like 1a because you are still jet lagged from your last trip!

This book fit the bill. It's the continuation of the Strangers on a Train / Throw Momma from the Train storyline from Dead Wrong. Now the second killer is out of jail and out to get his assigned victims. This, of course, has all the fun storylines as the first book. One intended victim finds out they are the target and the rest of the book is spent having them evade the killer and then the predictable love interest aspect. But it was fun and quick - and just enough for my poor tired brain to comprehend.

I'll keep it while I get through the rest of the series - 2 more I think.

Dead Wrong - Mariah Stewart

On the recommendation of the guy at my current favorite used book store, I tried a new author - Mariah Stewart. He said they fit with other authors I read and I would definitely have to agree. While it was a fairly typical detective / serial killer story, it went quickly and I wanted to know what would happen next. The characters, while not extremely complex, were believable and apparently will be returning in Dead Certain. I don't know if Dead Wrong is in the middle of the series or beginning.

A fun book - but I'm not sure if it made it back from Hawaii or not. If it did, I would probably keep it to re-read once I have the other ones with the same characters.

The 6th Target - James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

A quick fun read - took less than 3 hours from start to finish. I like these books because they don't focus solely on one long chase. They actually cover several cases and a variety of characters come in and out of the book. Just one one case is wrapping up, another case might get started or they might go simultaneously for a while. The Women's Murder Club series has moved more and more toward this format over the course of the series and I have enjoyed it more as they have moved away from one large case.

I heard there is going to be a Women's Murder Club TV series in the fall, I hope it doesn't ruin this series.

It'll be on the shelf along with the rest of them - let me know if you want to borrow it.

Lost Light / The Narrows / The Closers - Michael Connelly

Since I enjoyed City of Bones for the fast paced story and easy reading, I decided to make a Bosch marathon of it. After a quick trip to the used book store, I replaced City of Bones and purchased the other holes in my collection - Lost Light and The Narrows. Then, to finish the marathon, I re-read The Closers. A mere three days later, I finished them all.

Nothing spectacular, but good to see the character develop. And it was good to know most of what I was missing. I don't know if I'll re-read them again. But I know my sister wants to borrow them, so they will stay for a while.

City of Bones - Michael Connelly

Having finished Zorro before my flight home from NYC, I was not in the mood to start the only other book I brought (a Nick Hornsby). Browsing in the airport bookstore I found a few Connelly books I had missed. Hoping to fill in whatever happened before "The Closers" I picked up City of Bones. It was a tough call, I almost picked up a slew of magazines instead. But I am glad I did. The book filled in a large part of what I wondered about when I read "The Closers". It was a classic Harry Bosch - convoluted crime, personal drama, and of course a clean ending. I read it quickly - finishing it well before the flight was over. I guess I should have picked up "The Narrows" as well.

I would have put it on the shelf, but it got left in the seat back pocket. I really need to do a better job of taking my personal items with me.