Small Vices, by Robert B Parker

Title: Small Vices

Author: Robert B Parker

Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition

Started: 3/1/2020

Finished: 3/12/2020

Decent Spenser novel, took me a while as I haven't had much time to read. 

Big Sky, by Kate Atkinson

• Title:  Big Sky
• Author:  Kate Atkinson
• Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook
• Started: 2/25/2020
• Finished: 3/1/2020

A new Jackson Brodie book -- been years since the last one.  I liked this series a lot and this new book just continued that feeling.  This felt like the last book in the series, but you never know.

Chance, by Robert B Parker

Title: Chance

Author: Robert B Parker

Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition

Started: 2/24/2020

Finished: 2/28/2020

So so Spencer novel. 

Thin Air, by Robert B Parker

Title: Thin Air

Author: Robert B Parker

Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition

Started: 2/22/2020

Finished: 2/23/2020

One of the better later Spenser novels. 

Walking Shadow, by Robert B Parker

Title: Walking Shadow

Author: Robert B Parker

Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition

Started: 2/21/2020

Finished: 2/22/2020

Pretty sure I read this one before, not a great Spenser novel. 

Double Deuce, by Robert B Parker

Title: Double Deuce

Author: Robert B Parker

Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition

Started: 2/11/2020

Finished: 2/14/2020

Decent Spenser novel

Paper Doll, by Robert B Parker

Title: Paper Doll

Author: Robert B Parker

Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition

Started 2/16/2020

Finished: 2/21/2020

So so Spenser novel

A Better Man, by Louise Penny

• Title:  A Better Man
• Author:  Louise Penny
• Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
• Started: 2/7/2020
• Finished: 2/14/2020

I generally don't like my first read of a mystery series to be a late entry, but that's just what I did here.  Even not knowing the characters from previous novels, this was an entertaining read.

Pastime, by Robert B. Parker

Title: Pastime

Author: Robert B. Parker

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Kindle Edition

Started: 2/6/2020

Finished: 2/8/2020

One of the better Spenser novels. 

Stardust, by Robert B. Parker

• Title:  Stardust
• Author:  Robert B. Parker
• Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
• Started: 2/5/2020
• Finished: 2/6/2020

Guessing this one was written after Parker's experience with the TV show Spenser for Hire.  Decent Spenser book but ending was pretty abrupt.  

Crimson Joy, by Robert B. Parker

• Title: Crimson Joy
• Author: Robert B. Parker
• Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook
• Started: 2/2/2020
• Finished: 2/4/2020

Another so-so Spenser novel, but these do pass the time.

School Days, by Robert B. Parker

Title: School Days

Author: Robert B. Parker

Paperback from little free library in DC 

Started: 2/1/2020

Finished: 2/2/2020

So so Spenser novel

Taming a Sea-Horse, by Robert B. Parker

Title: Taming a Sea-Horse

Author: Robert B. Parker

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook

Started; 1/29/2020

Finished 2/1/2020

So so Spenser novel. 

Legion, by William Peter Blatty

Title: Legion

Author: William Peter Blatty

Purchased hardback from Amazon.com

Started: 1/27/2020

Finished: 2/1/2020

Sequel to The Exorcist, very enjoyable. 

The Outsider, by Stephen King

• Title:  The Outsider
• Author:  Stephen King
• Borrowed from Fairfax County, VA Public Library (Audiobook)
• Started: 1/26/2020
• Finished: 1/30/2020

Listened to this one more for Will Patton's narration than Stephen King's writing.  Entertaining but not particularly scary.  

Rumpole's Return, by John Mortimer

Title: Rumpole's Return

Author: John Mortimer

Purchased hardback used from Amazon.com

Started: fall 2019

Finished: 1/26/2020

I'd been nursing this one for a while but finally really started reading it this weekend. Enjoyable Rumpole novel. 

A Catskill Eagle, by Robert B. Parker

Title: A Catskill Eagle

Author: Robert B. Parker

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook

Started: 1/24/2020

Finished: 1/26/2020

Enjoyable but a bit off Spenser novel. 

Ceremony, by Robert B. Parker

Title: Ceremony

Author: Robert B. Parker

Started: 1/20/2020

Finished: 1/24/2020

My least favorite of these early Spenser novels. 

Valediction, by Robert B. Parker

Title: Valediction

Author: Robert B. Parker

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook

Started: 1/21/2020

Finished: 1/23/2020

A so-so Spenser. 

The Widening Gyre, by Robert B. Parker

• Title:  The Widening Gyre
• Author:  Robert B. Parker
• Borrowed from Fairfax County, VA Public Library Audiobook
• Started: 1/19/2020
• Finished: 1/22/2020

Finally Spenser visits DC, but I wasn't thrilled with the book.  The blackmail scheme was bizarre, and the final resolution contrived and seems unsatisfactory.  Still, DC...

Early Autumn, by Robert B. Parker

• Title:  Early Autumn
• Author:  Robert B. Parker
• Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library Kindle Edition
• Started: 1/19/2020
• Finished: 1/20/2020

Pretty good Spenser book.

Looking for Rachel Wallace, by Robert B. Parker

• Title:  Looking for Rachel Wallace
• Author:  Robert B. Parker
• Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition
• Started: 1/12/2020
• Finished: 1/14/2020

I liked this one more now than when I read it originally years ago.  Solid Spenser novel.

The Judas Goat, by Robert B. Parker

• Title:  The Judas Goat
• Author:  Robert B. Parker
• Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Kindle Edition
• Started: 1/12/2019
• Finished: 1/12/2019

These Spenser novels are not taxing, and sometimes they're not even very good, but they are comfortable, fun, and easy to read.  And there is kind of great feeling of accomplishment that comes with reading a book cover to cover in one day.

A Savage Place, by Robert B. Parker

Title: A Savage Place

Author: Robert B. Parker

Borrowed from Worcester MD Public Library Kindle Edition

Started: 1/6/2020

Finished: 1/12/2020

A not very good Spenser book. 

The Godwulf Manuscript, by Robert B. Parker

• Title:  The Godwulf Manuscript
• Author:  Robert B. Parker
• Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library (Audiobook)
• Started: 1/4/2019
• Finished: 1/9/2020

I read this one before, back in May of 2009 (I've been keeping track of books here for a long time!) in paperback.  Decided to give it a listen since I wanted something easy and fun.  This fit the bill, Narrated by the same guy who did all of the Rex Stout Nero Wolfe books (Michael Prichard).  Good narrator for Spenser too.

Blood Relatives, by Ed McBain

Title: Blood Relatives

Author: Ed McBain

Hardback from little free library in Ocean City MD

Started: October 2019

Finished: 1/3/2020

Started this 87th precinct novel last fall but left it at the beach. Went back after the new year and finished today.  Pretty obvious mystery. 

The Good Earth, by Pearl S. Buck

• Title:  The Good Earth
• Author:  Pearl S. Buck
• Borrowed from DC Public Library (Audiobook)
• Started:  12/10/2010
• Finished: 12/30/2019

Coming in just under the wire, my final read for 2019.  This was my book club selection, really liked it.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, by Gail Honeyman

• Title:  Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine
• Author:  Gail Honeyman
• Purchased from Kramer Books in DC (paperback)
• Started:  11/8/2019
• Finished: 11/17/2019

Book club book, I enjoyed it.

Morse's Greatest Mystery And Other Stories, by Colin Dexter

• Title: Morse's Greatest Mystery And Other Stories
• Author: Colin Dexter
• Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library Audiobook
• Started: 11/9/2019
• Finished: 11/12/2019

Collection of short stories, some better than others.  So-so overall.

Flashman at the Charge, by George MacDonald Fraser

• Title:  Flashman at the Charge
• Author:  George MacDonald Fraser
• Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library (Audiobook)
• Started:  11/2/2019
• Finished: 11/7/2019

Enjoyable as ever.

The Exorcist, by William Peter Blatty

• Title:  The Exorcist
• Author:  William Peter Blatty
• Borrowed from Amazon.com (Kindle Edition)
• Started: 10/22/2019
• Finished: 11/6/2019

Around Halloween my wife & I decided to read this one to each other.  Kind of sweet and bizarre, I suppose, but it mad for several fun weeks of after-dinner reading.  I had read this once before in college, 20+ years ago.  I remembered two things strongly:

1. The Columbo-like detective in the book
2. That the book (unlike the movie) made it seem less like a possession and more likely insanity

Well, this reading changed my mind on #2 (Columbo-like detective still stands).  Anyway, we had a fun time with this one.

Flashman and the Tiger, by George MacDonald Fraser

Title: Flashman and the Tiger

Author: George MacDonald Fraser

Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Audiobook

Started: 10/25/2019

Finished: 11/2/2019

Not my favorite Flashman novel, but the knock on Sherlock Holmes at the end is pretty good. 

There There, by Tommy Orange

Title: There There

Author: Tommy Orange

Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Audiobook

Started: 10/20/2019

Finished: 10/24/2019

This was an interesting read that got pretty intense in the final part.  Book club members recommendation. 

Give-a-Damn Jones, by Bill Pronzini

• Title:  Give-a-Damn Jones
• Author:  Bill Pronzini
• Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library Audiobook
• Started: 10/16/2019
• Finished: 10/20/2019

A so-so novel about a newspaper typesetter in the old west.  But credit where do, I was curious and kept at it.

Flashman and the Redskins, by George MacDonald Fraser

• Title:  Flashman and the Redskins
• Author:  George MacDonald Fraser
• Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library (Audiobook)
• Started:  10/10/2019
• Finished:  10/15/2019

By far the best of this fantastic series.  My review from 2016 stands, I love this book.

Rumpole and the Primrose Path, by John Mortimer

Title: Rumpole and the Primrose Path

Author: John Mortimer

Purchased used from Amazon hardback

Started: 10/1/2019

Finished: 10/13/2019

First story was very entertaining, the rest less so but still enjoyable. 

The Jewel That Was Ours, by Colin Dexter

• Title:  The Jewel that was Ours
• Author:  Colin Dexter
• Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library Audiobook
• Started: 10/3/2019
• Finished: 10/8/2019

My first Inspector Morse book (9th in the series).  Not bad, not amazing.

All Cry Chaos, by Leonard Rosen

• Title:  All Cry Chaos
• Author:  Leonard Rosen
• Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook
• Started: 9/28/2019
• Finished: 10/2/2019

I didn't really like this one, but there was just enough in the story to keep me going.  Really it was Grover Gardner's narration that kept me going.  

Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown

Title: Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee

Author: Dee Brown

Borrowed from Fairfax County VA Public Library Audiobook

Started: 9/24/2019

Finished: 9/27/2019

Whew, this was a tough, emotional read. Glad I read it. 

Rumpole and the Reign of Terror, by John Mortimer

• Title:  Rumpole and the Reign of Terror
• Author: John Mortimer
• Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library (Kindle Edition)
• Started: 9/24/2019
• Finished: 9/26/2019

While there is a lot of repetition in these later Rumpole books, I do enjoy that they are a bit more current day. This one follows the 9/11 attacks and is pretty interesting for that alone.

Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders, by John Mortimer

• Title:  Rumpole and the Penge Bungalow Murders
• Author:  John Mortimer
• Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library Kindle Edition
• Started: 9/22/2019
• Finished: 9/24/2019

Pretty good, but after hearing so much about the Penge Bungalow Murders I expected something a bit more.

Trent's Last Case, by E. C. Bentley

• Title:  Trent's Last Case
• Author:  E. C. Bentley
• Borrowed from Worcester, MD Public Library Audiobook
• Started: 9/18/2019
• Finished: 9/23/2019

Didn't enjoy this one much.

A Rumpole Christmas, by John Mortimer

Title: A Rumpole Christmas

Author: John Mortimer

Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library Kindle edition

Started: 9/22/2019

Finished: 9/22/2019

My first Rumpole in print. Still good stuff. 

The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood

Title: The Testaments

Author: Margaret Atwood

Purchased from Kramer Books, hardback

Started: 9/13/2019

Finished: 9/22/2019

Book club selection. Good page Turner, disappointment when compared to The Handmaid's Tale. 

The Perfect Murder, by H. R. F. Keating

• Title:  The Perfect Murder
• Author: H. R. F. Keating
• Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library (audiobook)
• Started: 9/15/2019
• Finished: 9/17/2019

Very enjoyable mystery.

Rumpole and the Angel of Death, by John Mortimer

Title: Rumpole and the Angel of Death

Author: John Mortimer

Borrowed from Worcester County MD Public Library audiobook

Started: 9/10/2019

Finished: 9/15/2019

Another great Rumpole novel. 

Rumpole for the Defense, by John Mortimer

• Title:  Rumpole for the Defense
• Author:  John Mortimer
• Borrowed from Worcester County Public Library (Audiobook)
• Started: 9/7/2019
• Finished: 9/9/2019

Another great Rumpole book.

King Solomon's Mines, by H. Rider Haggard

• Title:  King Solomon's Mines
• Author:  H. Rider Haggard
• Borrowed from Worcester County Public Library (Audiobook)
• Started: 9/4/2019
• Finished: 9/6/2019

Fun, easy, classic adventure story.

She, by H. Rider Haggard

Title: She

Author: H. Rider Haggard

Borrowed from Worcester County, MD Public Library audiobook

Started: 8/30/2019

Finished: 9/3/2019

Entertaining adventure story. 

Dear Mr M, by Herman Koch

• Title:  Dear Mr. M
• Author:  Herman Koch
• Purchased from Ocean City, MD Public Library (hardback, book sale)
• Started:  8/27/2019
• Finished: 9/2/2019

Didn't love this one, but I have to admit I did not see the twist coming.