A nice little mystery featuring some of my favorite magical cats. I wish, however, that there was more of the cats, including Marcus' Mica. I figured A nice little mystery featuring some of my favorite magical cats. I wish, however, that there was more of the cats, including Marcus' Mica. I figured out whodunnit at the same time as Kathleen (maybe earlier, I figured it out when she saw the event the first time; she had to think about it a little). This was one where it was easy to feel bad for the murderer. Next time, I hope there is more Owen & Hercules....more
Woah. Probably more like 4.5 stars. This book was so much faster overall than the last book but. Woah. That's really all I can say. SOOOO much happeneWoah. Probably more like 4.5 stars. This book was so much faster overall than the last book but. Woah. That's really all I can say. SOOOO much happened/was revealed. I'm putting some notes here in spoiler but it's mostly to remind myself what happened. I CANNOT WAIT FOR BOOK 5 BUT I REALIZE IT WILL BE LIKE 3 YEARS. In the meantime, I'll probably get to Dawnshard in the near future.
(view spoiler)[Shallan remembers her past. Her current spren (Pattern) is her second bonded spren. She banished and thus "killed" her first one, the one she used to kill her parents. Adolin has "bonded" Maya, his dead-eye. The spren and radiants AGREED to sacrifice themselves to preserve things back in the day. Taravangian is now Odium. Taravangian as Odium is so much worse than Rayse as Odium. Dailnar is SO screwed. He has agreed with Odium to have a battle of champions in 10 days. He made the agreement with Rayse as Odium but now it's Taravangian. Wit...what happened there? Did Odium (the Taravangian version) find a way to take or kill his spren? Kal is Kal. But now he's 4th ideal. RIP Teft. Rlain has a bond now. That's pretty cool. Cultivation wants to work with Odium?????? Navani found "anti-light" for stormlight and for void light and bonded the Sibling. So much to unpack. El has the dagger for anti-voidlight and it appears has killed the Pursuer. For real killed (hide spoiler)]...more
I'm not crying, you're crying. Ok, there was only crying at the end of the book. I started the book on Kindle, where it was a quick pick up and read aI'm not crying, you're crying. Ok, there was only crying at the end of the book. I started the book on Kindle, where it was a quick pick up and read a little bit book, but in order to be able to read more, I bought the audiobook because it has WhisperSync for Voice and I ended up listening to the last half or so. Ken Jennings does most of the narration (at least for what I listened to), except for a few chapters. I finished the book while on the elliptical and the last chapter (narrated by Alex) is where he discusses his decision to stop further treatments.
This book was really enjoyable, especially if you're a fan of Jeopardy. Each chapter is a little vignette about his life or Jeopardy or a contestant on Jeopardy. It's also deeper, touching on topics of depression and illness and pain. I found it hard to keep back tears at times. RIP, Alex Trebek. ...more
I went into this book with no expectations. I have somehow never seen the movie, and knew nothing about the story. I would have naturally assumed thatI went into this book with no expectations. I have somehow never seen the movie, and knew nothing about the story. I would have naturally assumed that Howl was the main character. Who knew he wouldn't be? This is a cute fairy tale of a story really about a woman named Sophie who meets Howl somewhat accidentally and then finds herself in his moving castle with a cast of characters, some who she unknowingly drew to the scene. I look forward to reading the other books in the trilogy at some point in the future....more
This one was tough. It was like listening to a horror story and knowing the protagonist is making some big errors that could cost her job and life.
DonThis one was tough. It was like listening to a horror story and knowing the protagonist is making some big errors that could cost her job and life.
Don't get me wrong, I love Hawk and Webb and McCorde. And I guess Meg and Cara. ;) But I just don't see that the FBI would be quite so forgiving about taking anybody from the outside and bringing them in on a case on the down low. I also don't see someone sending an email from an fbi.gov account to a non-FBI account going well.
Women that look like Meg are kidnapped and put into situations where they will die slowly and painfully. And it was obvious that Meg was the final intended target. And as much fun as the SAR and SAR dog stuff was the rest was excruciating and kind of unbelievable....more
More of a mystery than a thriller, I actually enjoyed this book. It was cute, basically giving back story for how Hannah's mother's shop came to be. BMore of a mystery than a thriller, I actually enjoyed this book. It was cute, basically giving back story for how Hannah's mother's shop came to be. But also it involved somebody with amnesia who was helped by Hannah and the rest of the Eden Lake crew. ...more
Not the best ever Andy Carpenter book but far from the worst. I had a hunch who the real killer was from a very early point but I definitely didn't prNot the best ever Andy Carpenter book but far from the worst. I had a hunch who the real killer was from a very early point but I definitely didn't predict the twist of why. Regardless I enjoyed this quick read (I listened to it, as I do with all of the unabridged Andy Carpenter books). ...more
Probably a 3.5-star book but as GR doesn't do half-stars, I'm rounding down. I enjoyed this book well enough when I was reading it, but I didn't find Probably a 3.5-star book but as GR doesn't do half-stars, I'm rounding down. I enjoyed this book well enough when I was reading it, but I didn't find myself yearning to see what would happen next when I wasn't reading it. Though it was the first in a series, I think I'm ok stopping after the first book. I was happy that it ended in a logical place without leaving too much open/hanging. I liked Fergus Ferguson and the Vonns. I saw a picture (via The Sword and Laser book club group) of what the world was...it wasn't really what I expected. But that's ok because it didn't actually matter much. But if i had to get out of a space predicament, I think I'd want Fergus by my side....more
I have no idea what the author was trying to convey. Every time she made a point, she made a counterpoint. I am pretty confident that there are ways tI have no idea what the author was trying to convey. Every time she made a point, she made a counterpoint. I am pretty confident that there are ways that male and female brains are different. My mom has actually given clear examples. Does that mean that women are inferior and can't do hard science? Probably not, given who I am and what I do for a living. But this book had interesting references to studies but no point....more
I think this was an Amazon daily deal that I ended up picking up the Audible narration to go with. It...wasn't very good, even by my relatively low stI think this was an Amazon daily deal that I ended up picking up the Audible narration to go with. It...wasn't very good, even by my relatively low standards for this kind of thing. The premise was interesting enough I guess (a food columnist apparently murdered by a rival columnist from across town) but man it was a snooze. Literally. I kept falling asleep while listening. Maybe this is because I listened while recovering from surgery, but I don't think that was the entirety of the reason....more
That was fun. An ode to book lovers in many ways, I definitely foresaw most of the "twists" that came up but I still enjoyed getting to them. I was alThat was fun. An ode to book lovers in many ways, I definitely foresaw most of the "twists" that came up but I still enjoyed getting to them. I was also glad that some of the characters made return visits, when I feared they were to be gone for good. I like how the worlds connect but also that clearly some people can make new connections. I felt like some of the scenes got too long/repetitive but overall I enjoyed it....more
I think I was (am?) a federal criminal. But it was a probation before judgement so maybe not? I really don't know and this book didn't make it clearerI think I was (am?) a federal criminal. But it was a probation before judgement so maybe not? I really don't know and this book didn't make it clearer. But it was interesting and funny and I learned some things. I will definitely have to avoid getting onto a ship before it's docked. Apparently. Who knew?
This was ok. Of all the mysteries I read with dogs, this one arguably had the most dogs. But also had the most harm done to dogs. It also had more vioThis was ok. Of all the mysteries I read with dogs, this one arguably had the most dogs. But also had the most harm done to dogs. It also had more violence against the main character and others than other books of this type that I read. I think I could handle that if I liked the main character. But I was pretty ambivalent on him. I don't think I'll continue with this series....more
Some people here know that in my younger/less broken years, I used to be a part of multiple search and rescue groups, most often supporting wildernessSome people here know that in my younger/less broken years, I used to be a part of multiple search and rescue groups, most often supporting wilderness SAR with the Appalachian Search & Rescue Conference. In that time, I worked with dog teams a fair few times. So this book felt like something I was very used to, albeit from an FBI/law enforcement perspective. It was a little jarring to hear the subjects called "vick" and the the bad guys "perps". That feels very Hollywood, but for all I know law enforcement really does use those terms. But in my training, we were always told to use "subject" (and never refer to an abductor or criminal, especially on the radio).
That said, the beginning of the book was tough, because it brought back memories of 9/11 and SAR for the Pentagon. Most of the other books I've read that have had "terror" attacks have happened not in Washington, DC. It turns out when I read about things closer to home, it gets much more nerve-inducing for me. Who knew?
I enjoyed the book though and the characters. Once things moved farther from home, even when they're places that I am very familiar with and spent a lot of time in, I was able to handle it. I believe the author (who is really 2 authors) does dog SAR work, possibly with law enforcement. I was surprised about their knowledge of SAR in the MD/DC/WV/VA area. I wonder if they ever worked out this way, or if they've worked with some of the handlers in this area.
I think I definitely want to continue this series. Thanks, Steve, for introducing me to it!...more
I know that some people loved this book. I was not in that group. The best I can say is that it was short. I've been unlucky enough to run a really higI know that some people loved this book. I was not in that group. The best I can say is that it was short. I've been unlucky enough to run a really high fever as an adult. What I remember from that day was, generally, pain, and a series of dreams/scenes that seemed loosely related. That's what this book felt like. It didn't work for me.
David Rosenfelt is probably best known for the Andy Carpenter books that I love so much. This book is a spinoff to that series, where he's a side charDavid Rosenfelt is probably best known for the Andy Carpenter books that I love so much. This book is a spinoff to that series, where he's a side character and his wife is one of the main characters. It's a PI team that they formed (two retired cops and a strongman, along with some very good doggos).
It was good enough. Not as good, I don't think, as Andy Carpenter, but I'm definitely biased. I wish Grover Gardner was the narrator for these. When Andy speaks with this narrator, it just sounds wrong (through no fault of the narrator).
My only real complaint is not enough doggos....more
The best book in the series so far, this was...a ride. I gagged at times. I cried. I laughed. The main character was so relatable for me. I have so maThe best book in the series so far, this was...a ride. I gagged at times. I cried. I laughed. The main character was so relatable for me. I have so many emotions with having finished this. I'll try to remember to write more later but truthfully: just go read it....more
Wow 21 Andy Carpenter books. I don't know if it's the audiobook narrator or if it's just the subject, but I really fly through these books. I started Wow 21 Andy Carpenter books. I don't know if it's the audiobook narrator or if it's just the subject, but I really fly through these books. I started yesterday and listened as much as possible, even past my bedtime. And then I finished this morning.
The mystery wrapped up REALLY quickly, even more quickly than "normal" but I still enjoyed every minute with Andy, Tara, Sebastian, Laurie, and the rest of the team....more
I enjoyed this book, though I think I enjoyed it less once the "mystery" part was solved and I could see where the end was going to be. I think I relaI enjoyed this book, though I think I enjoyed it less once the "mystery" part was solved and I could see where the end was going to be. I think I related to the main characters because they reminded me of my work group right when I started at my job (more years ago than I want to admit). I liked this one well enough but I don't know that I feel a need to see what happens in the next book....more
I think I first picked up this book when it was an Audible or Kindle daily deal. At some point, I ended up trying to buy it again, which reminded me tI think I first picked up this book when it was an Audible or Kindle daily deal. At some point, I ended up trying to buy it again, which reminded me that I hadn't read it to begin with.
A story where an unemployed girl is hired to find a weapon that has gone missing in an MMORPG. You know, typical story of girl gets into MMORPG then gets hired to plan a funeral and ends up solving a murder. Isn't that how they all go?
It was cute enough. A lot of references to MMORPG type things. I'd honestly rather a magical cat story....more