100+ Books in 2025 discussion

1 :After You've Gone|4439793]
2 :All the Colours of Darkness|3160464] 3 :Angel's Tip|2777577]
4:The Calling|3238644]
5 A Cure for Night |3039740]
6 Curse of the Spellmans|1590979]
7 Darkness Peering|423616]
8 The Dawn Patrol|2868920]
9 Dead or Alive|4027891]
10 Easy Innocence|2932916]

11 Envy the Night|2467322]
12 Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere|3042655]
13 Extreme Measures|3313418]
14 Father and Son|256109]
15 The Foreigner A Novel|2311150]
16 Friend of the Devil|989584]

17 "Haunted Ground A Novel"|905451]
18 "In The Dark" Billingham
19 "His Family"|543095]
20 "In the Moon of Red Ponies"|218730]
21 "Incredible Victory The Battle of Midway|934407]
22 "The Kind One"|2414581] This novel was recently nominated for an Edgar Award and is reminiscent of Raymond Chandler in the Los Angeles setting and dialogue driven style that Chandler was noted for.

23 "King of Swords"|1838552]
John Connolly fans will enjoy this author. In this book Nick Stone has a mix of drugs, murders, superstition and voodoo.
Murders are committed and the deceased victims are found with a tarot card in their stomach, The King of Hearts in Tarot Cards can mean a man of great power and influence but can also mean a fearsome enemy depending on where it comes up. Put this dandy in your "To Be Read List" you won't be sorry.

24 :Known Dead A Novel|785405]by Donald Harstadt. Nice story I gave it 3 starrs. Check my review.

25 La vampa d'Agosto|1552447] Better known as "August Heat" by Andrea Camilleri.
A quaint mystery set in Sisily with excellent characterization and humorous situations.
Inspector Montalbano's girlfriend asks him to find a home by the water for her friend and family. He finds a place in the beachtown of Pizzo. Once the family moves in, cockroach infestations, mice, spiders and a dead body are found. What a vacation!
Recommended.

26 "Monkey in the Middle"|3954275] Stephen Solomita.
In this plot driven novel, Solomita has written a dark story of greed and betrayal. If the reader would like something a little different that looks at a level of society full of corruption this meets that requirement.

27:The Night Following|1929332] by Morag Joss.
Edgar Award nominee best novel. Highly rated by "Deadly Pleasures" Mystery Magazine.

28 :Three Weeks to Say Goodbye|3585061]C.J. Box.
I gave this a 4 star rating. The story of an adoption that went wrong. The child is fine but the birth father and his family are real snakes and do whatever they can to bring this child into their family. Their intentions are purely evil.

29:Until It's Over|1933897]
Gave this three starrs. The wacky world of
Astrid Bell, a bike messenger in London who is injured outside of her home. Then people get beat up, murdered, misunderstood and so on.
A fun read.

30 :The Bodies Left Behind|6453120]
Jeffrey Deaver keeping the reader entertained once again.

31:Pyres|1203871] By Derek Nikitas.
Reading this will give a new meaning of taking your daughter to the mall.
Nikitas is a short story writer who knows how to consolidate good literature and action in a richly plotted book.

32 "The Choice" |531350] Nicholas Sparks.
A young Vetrenarian thinks his life is just about perfect until a woman moves in next door and in anger storms into his back yard and accuses his dog of getting her collie pregnant. Only problem, his dog was nutered 2 years ago. The beginning of a great love?

33 "China Lake" |105735]by Meg Gardiner.
Started off well but got bogged down. Gardiner knows how to create drama and when you see her "Dirty Secrets Club" you can see the wonderful development of this author.

34 "Hold Tight" |2177236] Harlan Coben. Parents attempt to protect their 16 year old son who is acting strangely. They put a security device on his computer. What comes next is one heck of a story. Nominated as best thriller of 2008. A good choice.

35 Drawing Dead|216471] by Pete Hautman.
A humerous novel in the style of Elmore Leonard or possibly Mark Twain.
A number of con men are attempting to swindle people in Minnesota but Joe Crow and Laura Debrowski change the tables on them. Well done, good characterization and dialogue.

36 :The Killer's Wife A Novel|1923221] Bill Floyd

What happens to the family when a killer is sentenced to death row?
This highly praised debut novel answers that question for the family of Leigh Wren.
After her testimony sent her husband to death row, she relocated across the country with her son and tried to begin her life again.
However, the father of one of the victims of her husband persues her and once finding her, decides to destroy her life.
New murders are committed and these bear a resemblance to those her husband committed. Could he be communicating with someone from prision who is continuing his murderous activity?
Read this novel and find out.

37:Harvest|30005] Tess Gerritsen
Dr Abby Di Matteo is caring for a brain dead accident victim. She has the family sign the consent to transport vital organs of which, the heart is to be for a 17 year old boy.
Another doctor switched the receipient and Abby resorts to drastic action. She moves the boy to another hopsital, steals the heart and has the transplant performed there.
Something or someone is behind people getting vital organs at Bayside Hospital where Abby works and her boyfriend, Dr. Mark Hodell might be one of them.
In another part of the story, children are being taken from families in Eastern Europe and brought to America. They are kept in a ship in the Boston Harbor. Are they awaiting adoptive families or is it something much more sinister.
Then Abby finds that other doctors of the transplant team have died mysteriously in the last few years and she wants to know the reason why.

38:At the City's Edge|1868031] One more story of politicians attempting to gain land in a poor section of a city, Chicago. Doing things to force residents to sell their homes and buy the land cheep for the next urban expansion. No new ground covered. Wouldn't recommend this one.

39 James Webb has given us a novel that describes one of the darkest times in United States history.
This is the story of a platoon of men in Vietnam and how they relate to each other and deal with the constant mayhem and killing in Vietnam.
Robert Lee Hodges, Jr. whose Southern family has such a strong military history that they say if there was no Vietnam, he'd invent one.
Snake, named for his tattoo, who brings bravery and loyalty to the group. His steadfast attitude during battle saves lives in his unit.
Will Goodrich, the college man, left Harvard and joined up. He is the sensitive one who feels the savagery of action and we see what it can do to a young man, through his eyes.
These men and others must deal with the enemies who surround them and constantly threaten their lives.
Webb has done a masterful job letting us see action and havoc in the battlefield in all it's terror.

40
Jonathan Quinn is back with another episode in this well written novel.
Terrorists are kidnapping children with special needs and when they attempt to kidnap a child named Iris from an oprhanage in Africa, Marion Dupuis takes the child and goes into hiding.
The trail goes from Africa, to New York to Montreal and finally the terrorists achieve their goal.
However, Jonathan Quinn, his protege, Nate and girlfriend are there just when needed. How they foil the terrorists plot is something you will have to read but will certainly enjoy.
Battles tells us in his Birgraphy that he is influenced by Alistair MacLean and Jack Higgins and it is easily seen when you read the crispy dialogue and live with the book's drama.
Try this one, you'll be glad you did.

41 Written in 1982. Story of a man who goes to France to visit his father's wartime grave and finds he isn't burried there. Lots of mystery and action. What happened to the father? Is he really dead?
A good example of Morrell's early writing and it can be used to see his development as a writer. By itself, contrived and the main character is self centered and not likable.

42:The Gate House|3216451] by Nelson DeMille.
John Sutter returns from London where he moved after his wife killed her Mafia don lover, Frank Bellarosa.
Sutter is back to attend the funeral of an old family servant.
Anthony Bellarosa shows up at his house and starts hounding Sutter for answers to why his father lost his house to taxes, and his desire to do something about the way his father was killed.
Sutter tries to warn his former wife, Susan, about Bellarosa but she doesn't take Bellarosa seriously. However she and Sutter become intimate and decide to remarry. When Bellarosa lears this he goes crazy and makes more threats.
Not one of DeMille's better novels. I hope another "Charm School" is hidden somewhere in DeMille's creative mind and we get to enjoy it soon.
Skip this one.

43 bookcover:Missing Witness|1369148] by Gordon Campbell. If you liked Gisham's "The Firm" and "Pelican Brief" this is the book for you.
Young Doug McKenzie joins a firm where Dan Morgan works so he can learn from the best. A major client of the firm hires Dan to defend his daughter-in-law even though she's accused of killing the man's only son.
Dan accepts and Doug assists. Doug has knowledge of the family in the trial since he spent many hours of his time at their ranch.
The woman's 12 year old daughter was at the scene and she becomes catonic.

The trial is well done. The proseccutor is a stereotypical bumbler and good things happen.
The writing style is precise and effective.
Pick this one up at the library and settle in for a fun read.Missing Witness

44
Dr. Kay Scarpetta has some competition. Forensic scientist Theresa MacLean is called to the scene of a homicide of a bank officer. Her fiance, Det. Paul Cleary accompanies her and then goes to the victim's bank to ask officials about the victim.
At the bank, Paul becomes one of the hostages when robbers hold up the bank. Paul sees one of the hostages aboout to be harmed by the robbers, identifies himself and tries to save the hostage but is badly wounded.
Theresa offers herself in place of Paul and drives the robbers get away car to the door of the bank.
Black has the talent to keep the reader interested in this tightly knit story. MacLean is an interesting character, very believable and her knowledge of forensics helps her solve the case without the boring details of how she comes to her conclusions.
Recommended.

45
Here's a story with a number of plot twists. A country sheriff thinks he's investigating a home burgulry but finds two robbers shot dead. Was it the homeowner? Was in a third robber? Who did it?
The FBI is involved and some military rights group.
Nicely told and different. I picture John Goodman in the leading role and it made the book a fun read.

46
Kimberly Raiser has given us a novel that is pure enjoyment. She tells me that she is a big fan of Douglas Adams and learned much from Steven King's writing. I see the Steven King influence and think it would be fun if the character of this novel, Steven Weaver and Andy McGee of King's "Firestarter" were to meet and compare abilities.
This story combines mystery and science fiction very nicely and if the reader can allow their imaginations a bit of leeway, this will be an enjoyable read.

47
Jonathan Maberry's superb action thriller where terrorists have devised a drug that can turn someone into a zombie type character that wants to kill and whose bite will turn the victim into another killer.
Joe Ledger is a Baltimore cop who is a hero in waiting. He kills one terrorist and meets that dead terrorist shortly thereafer where the terrorist turned zombie esq tries to bite and infect him.
Joe's put in charge of a unit set to deal with this threat. The terrorists are planning to let loose a new generation of zombie type people at a July 4th celebration were many dignitaries will attend.
This is a real page turner. If you take heart meds don't read it.
Anyone else, run to the store and get a copy.

48 What are the odds of reading two books in a row with Zero in the title?
First, "Patient Zero" a page turner and now "Below Zero" almost a family mystery.
Joe Pickett is away and there is a message left at his home from April. April is his adopted daughter who died in a gas explosion 5 years ago, or did she?

49 Almost half way to the 100 book goal. This gem of a book was nominated for the best thriller of the year for books written in 2008 and was my favorite nove.
Charles Freeman runs a hedge fund and has done some illegal things to gain his fortune. (Sound familiar, Bernie Matoff?). There is a bomb on a train and he sees the opportunity to disappear. What happens to his family and how do they deal with the people who Charles' swindled? Excellent novel.

50 YES, half way to the 100 books read goal.
This is the 9th time Myron Bolitar has been the main character in a Harlan Coban novel.
Wonderfully done. Myron helps an old friend whose former husband is missing. The police find the body and tell Myron and the friend Terese that the DNA shows that the daughter of Terese and her former husband was found at the scene. A problem, Terese's only daughter was killed in an auto accident years ago.
How is this possible?

Ready this excellent story and find out.

51 Well done best seller with some interesting developments.
A U.S. Congressman is shot, his wife and her boyfriend are charged but he escapes and goes to Africa. When he has an affair with the dictator's wife, he has to leav and return to U.S.
Amanda Jaffe is hired to represent him.
Nicely done and well worth the effort.
4 Stars.

52 by Anthony Burgess
A slow moving book that takes place in the time after the Crucifiction.
The apostles set out to spread the Gospel. Jesus makes an appearance and seems like a normal person. The apostles argue amongst themselves what is and what isn't permitted while facing the opposition of rabbinical court in Jerusalem, a number of mad emperors in Rome and pagan beliefs throughout the land.

53 Be careful, this is one scarey baby. Charlie Parker lost his P.I. license due to his last case. Now with time on his hands he decides to investigate the suicide of his father.
His dad was a New York policeman and he and his partner found a young woman in disress. She said a young man and woman were after her ane they had Satanic powers. Not fully believing but wanting to help, Charlie's dad puts her in a safe home and takes care of her but they become involved and she becomes preganat. At the same time Charlie's dad, Will and his wife are expecting their own child.
Just as the woman Will is about to give birth the evil people get to her but the baby lives. Will's own child dies and he raises the child as his own.
Now the evil people move into new bodies and come after Charlie.
There's a lot more to the story but read and find out for yourself. Well written and a good trip into the land of Stephen King and Dean Koontz.

54
"The Talisman" by Stephen King and Peter Straub.
Jack Sawyer moves to New Hampshire with his mother.
He is age 12 and sees how his mother is getting sicker and sicker.
He is told that if he sets of on a walk from New Hampshire to California he can find the Talisman and save his dying mother's life.
He goes to the Territories, a universe were most people from his world have twinners, i.e. people like themselves. His mother's twinner is the Queen of the Territories and she is also dying.

I didn't care for the supernatural elements of this book and Jack never became an appealing character.
Do not recommend.

55 The master makes the list.
In Michael Connelly's "The Brass Verdict" Mickey Hatcher returns. He was leading character in "The Lincoln Lawyer"
Mickey is recovering from a gunshot wound when the judge tells him that his friend and courtroom opponent has been murdered and that he's to take over the cases of the murdered man.
The most significant case is that of Walter Elliot.
Mickey must put together a defense team, read the documents and figure a way to defend this wealthy and dislikable character who is going on trial for killing his wife and her lover.
The courtroom scenes are well done. It makes you feel like you're in the jury box.
It's nice to be reacquainted with Det. Harry Bosh who is in charge of the murder investigation and thinks that the killer will now go after Hatcher because of the information he knows.
The characters are well drawn and having Hatcher's young daughter witness her father's achievements adds a warmth to the plot.
Highly Recommended.

56
Kyle McAvoy is about to grad from law school. The FBI approach him and introduce him to Det. Benny Wright who has a film of Kyle and some fraternity brothers that may implicate Kyle of a rape when he was an undergrad.
Benny wants Kyle to accept the job offer from Scully and Pershing. A major law firm in New York City that has just won the case where the Pentagon contract that could be worth 800 billion to design and build the next jet. Two companies claim they own the design.
One of Kyle's fraternity brothers comes out of rehab and wants to apologize to the girl in the tape and something happens to him.
Scully and Pershing has a split and with all the new people coming and going, Kyle is one of the attorneys assigned to the case.
Will he go along with Benny?
As usual, there is something beneath the surface that comes out and makes the story fun.

57
This Hauptman work is the prequil to "Drawing Dead."
Hauptman is at his best in this dialogue driven story.
Joe Crow becomes involved with a number of hunters who visit the Talking Lake Ranch.
Joe is a former cop who is now a bodyguard to Nellie Bell, a plastic surgeon who the Murphy brothers are looking for because they believe he did something to take the family honor away.
The writing has influence of Elmore Leonard and is well written and very humorous.

58Just Take My Heart A Novel
Not one of Clark's best.
Broadway actress Natalie Raines is murdered. She thinks she saw the man she suspects of killing her roommate, Jamie, when they were aspiring actresses years before.
However, when she arrives home, she's met by the killer and her estranged husband, Greg is arrested.
Emily Wallace is asked to prosecute the case and is so involved that she fails to notice her neighbor, Zach Lanning taking an unusual interest in her. In actuallity, Zach is a wanted killer now stalking Emily.
The suspense doesn't carry. Greg is portrayed as a sympathetic character but Emily comes across more naive than you would think for a bright assistant prosecutor.
Felt like it could be an episode of "Law and Order." [image error]

59
Excellent book by Barry Eisler.
Alex Treven has made contact with Richard Hilzoy who has an excellent technological invention. Alex gets his law firm to back the project.
Then the inventor is killed, the patent examiner dies and Alex has a close call at his house.
He didn't think of his brother Ben until he needed him and does he ever need him. Ben is a Jack Reacher type character who does his thing.

Nice escapism. Give it a shot.

60
Archer's first novel.
Some say it could be a bit autobiographical since Archer was close to bankruptcy himself and left public office to write this novel to pay off his creditors.
It's a character driven novel of revenge where swindler (could you think Bernie Madoff?) Harvey Metcalfe swindles four men and how they get together to get their money back and more.
Fun.

61 Linwood Barclay
Harlan Coban fans will love this book.
Tim Blake's daughter never returned from her job at a local hotel. When Tim goes there to ask what time she was there, they tell him that she never worked there and they have never heard of her.
What would a parent do?
Tim puts everything else aside in his efforts to find his daughter. He may only be a used car salesman but nothing is going to stop him.

Well done, suspenseful, dramatic and good action.
Don't miss this novel.

62 by Theresa Schwegel.
Det. Sloan Pearson has to put up with the sexual inuendos of her fellow Chicago police officers in the Sex Crimes Unit.
At the same time, her father has been taken to the hospital with a weak heart that should be operated on but is to weak to do so.
There is a rapist at work attacking beautiful women and Sloan makes it a personal vendetta to catch the rapist.

63 [image error] by Darcia Helle.
The author gives us a situation where the main character's mother has had a bad fright and goes into a world of her own. Dealing with a parent with possible dementia is well handled.
When nothing else works, Ian McCormack hires a private invesitgator to find out what happened to his mother in the days prior to her fright.
Interesting crime story with elements of romance added.

Nicely done and recommended.

64 by Linwood Barclay. One of the top thriller writers in England.
This novel takes place in Milford, CT. A teenage girl wakes up and finds her family vanished.

Raised by an aunt, she marries and returns to the home with her husband and a TV crew to ask for help in finding her family.

The story goes from there. Well told with nice characters are some plot twists. Good suspense throughout.

Recommended.

65 Walter Lord's "The Miracle of Dunkirk tells the story of one of the great military achievements and a milestone in WWII.
In May of 1940, 400,000 allied troops were stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk and Hitler's army was closing in. This story tells of their rescue.

66 by Lee Child.
Disappointing to say the least.
Reacher comes upon the crossroad of Hope and Despair, Colorado. For no special reason, he goes to Despair, a town full of angry, unfriendly people.

When he's told to leave town and that they don't like strangers, he makes it a point to come back again and again.
The plot is slow moving, the characters are not sympathetic and Despair could have been left to its own fate without us reading about it.

67 Sandra Brown rarely misses and this is another well written story that will capture the reader.
Britt Shelley is a TV reporter who thought she was going to get a tip on a case from Jay Burgess, a hero cop. Instead, she wakes up in his bed with Jay's corpse next to her.
How did she get there?
Is she being set up?
Sandra Brown not only offers us a good thriller but throws in some romance for an end of summer treat.

Don't miss this one.

68 by Robert Heilbrun.
A nice courtroom mystery. A woman, Charlotte King, is robbed and murdered.
A black man is running in a nearby street and is taken to the woman she seems to identify him before she dies.
Arch Gold, a modern Atticus Finch, of "To Kill a Mockingbird" gets the case. He's a veteran defense attorney and wants to do what is right.

Well done and a nice story.

69 [image error] by John Hart.
A nice story, well written and literate.
Johnny Merrimon's sister goes missing. A year passes and he is the only one who hasn't given up. He faces non believers, skeptics and pedophiles and comes out with his faith undeminished.
The boy's persistency is interesting to watch. He is a compassionate character, easily to like and to root for.