HIDE

Author: Lisa Gardner

Genre: Mystery, D.D. Warren Series #2

Published:  2007

Personal Rating:  4/5  (very good)
Format:  Audiobook

Yearly Count:  18

Bobby Dodge, currently a police detective, is called to a horrific crime scene where a necklace is found bearing a name.  The name is publicized along with the announcement that the person is dead. Soon a woman who once was given that name comes forward clearly stating that she is not dead.

My mind is whirling with unclear thoughts regarding this book, but I do know that it kept me awake on a very long drive out of state.  That was a very good thing!  I enjoyed the mystery along with the red herrings and am happy to continue with the series.

WIFE OF THE GODS

Author: Kwei Quartey

Genre: Mystery, Darko Dawson Series #1

Published: 2009

Personal Rating: 4.25/5 (very good +)
Format:  Audiobook

Yearly Count:  17

Detective Inspector Darko Dawson working in the capital city of Accra, Ghana, is assigned a case in a small, remote village where a murder has occurred. He was chosen specifically due to his familiarity with the area (relatives live there) and his ability to speak the language.

Oh, I liked this book. A lot. Darko is a wonderful new character to the police procedural/mystery genre. He is a stellar inspector and devoted family man, but he has some anger issues, as well as, a nasty habit. Sounds like a real person, doesn't he? :)

I was intrigued by the plot the whole way through because there was so much more going on around the case. I don't care to read about witchcraft or anything along those lines, and there was some of that.  However, it fit with the old customs of the village and didn't pose a problem for me at all.

I'm so glad that I got to this one now, because the second in this series is being published in July. I want to stay on top of it, so I plan on getting to it as soon as possible.

THE HUMAN BOBBY

Author: Gabe Rotter

Genre: Fiction, Standalone

Published: 2010

Personal Rating: 4.5/5 (excellent)
Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  16

From Goodreads*:

A page-turning story of the unraveling of one man's seemingly perfect life and his struggle to get it back.

I am doing the happy dance!!! Oh yes I am. I love page-turners, and this one was just that. I read it in two sittings, but it could certainly be read in one.  So be careful, you may be reading well past your bedtime, if you pick it up too late in the day.

What else? Well, I really, really liked the main character (love first person narrations) and really liked most of the others, but I loved the twists and turns. There were some predictable parts, but I was never sure if they were going to come to pass, so I'm dismissing that. And . . . the story line was very intriguing. All the makings for my first Best Read of 2011. Woo! The happy dance continues!

*I usually only use a publisher's or author's description of a book when I have read an ARC/eGalley. This book does not fall in that category, but I resorted to the description from Goodreads because I didn't want to give anything away, and I thought it was perfect.

CHAINS

Author: Laurie Halse Anderson

Genre: YA Historical Fiction, Trilogy?

Published: 2010

Personal Rating: 3.75/5 (good +)
Format:  Audiobook

Yearly Count: 15

In 1776, Isabel and her 5-year-old sister were sold to Loyalists in Manhattan after the death of their master in Rhode Island. Isabel does everything in her power to become free.

I was fully engaged in Isabel's story until the last quarter.  It simply no longer captivated my attention. I don't know what happened, but my interest just petered out. It certainly could have been a lack of patience on my part, but it is what it is. Despite my drifting, this was a terrific way to learn about slavery and the politics surrounding it.

THE SENTRY

Author: Robert Crais

Genre: Mystery, Joe Pike Series #3

Published: 2011

Personal Rating:  3/5 (just okay)
Format:  Book

Yearly Count:  14

From Robert Crais' Website:

Dru Rayne and her uncle fled to L.A. after Hurricane Katrina; but now, five years later, they face a different danger. When Joe Pike witnesses Dru's uncle beaten by a protection gang, he offers his help, but neither of them want it-and neither do the federal agents mysteriously watching them.


As the level of violence escalates, and Pike himself becomes a target, he and Elvis Cole learn that Dru and her uncle are not who they seem- and that everything he thought he knew about them has been a lie. A vengeful and murderous force from their past is now catching up to them . . . and only Pike and Cole stand in the way.

It has become very apparent to me that I prefer Pike as the sidekick to Cole instead of visa-versa. Pike's quiet, dark, mysterious nature is spoiled as the frontrunner.  So, part of my disappointment stems from that reality, while the other part concerning Pike was his reaction/attraction to Dru. It was uncharacteristic and not believable.

I did like the beginning in how the mystery evolved and, of course, the relationship between Pike and Cole. Cole went a little over the top in a scene or two, but whatever. I still like them as a team, however, I may just stick to the Cole series and let this one go.







My thanks go to LibraryThing Early Reviewers program and Putnam Adult (Penguin) for sending me this ARC.