Everything to Lose by Andrew Gross

Audio.  9.75 hours.
Read by Tavia Gilbert

When Hilary finds a bag of money, it is not the answer to her prayers she thinks it is.

4 stars.

A Stranger in the House by Shari Lapena

After being disappointed by the last book I read by this author, I'm a fan again.

Suburban housewife Karen is found in a one-car crash in a bad part of the city.  What was she doing there?  A bad concussion has left her with amnesia and even she wonders what happened.  Twist at the end that I didn't see coming.

4.5 stars.

The Accident Linwood Barclay

Two women die in unrelated accidents, or were they?  There is something deeper going on and Glen isn't going to accept the easy answers.

The ending was a big surprise; didn't see that coming.  It felt like there were two many separate antagonists.

4 stars.

The Inn by James Patterson and Candice Fox

Disgraced Boston cop takes on the drug pusher that's moved into his town.

4 stars.

An Unwanted Guest by Shari Lapena

This was such a disappointment after reading another of her novels in one sitting.

Guests stuck at a hotel in an ice storm are being murdered.  I never cared about any of the characters.

2 stars.

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

Audio.  15.5 hours.
Read by Fanella Woolgar

Unlike anything I've ever read before.  All the different ways one small action can change a life.  Fabulous narrator.

5 stars.

Killer Instinct by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

The beginning started out great with a bombing in Times Square, but the story got kind of convoluted after that.

3 stars.

Someone We Know by Shari Lapena

A local woman is found murdered.  Many of the neighbors have much to hide.

Read in one sitting.  It's been a long time since that's happened.

5 stars.

Cross Justice by James Patterson

I must have missed this 2015 release when I was boycotting JP. 

Alex Cross heads to North Carolina to help with his cousin's legal case.  He gets more than he bargained for, in more ways than one.

3 stars.

The Christmas Boutique by Jennifer Chiaverini

Author brings back the Elm Creek Quilters.  Nice enough story, but the first 25% of the book was rehashing the old books to remind everyone about the characters' back stories.

3.5 stars.

I Know Everything by Matthew Farrell

A car accident kills a rich woman, but it turns out to be murder.

Kind of a convoluted story line about mental illness and revenge.  Good lead character though.

3.5 stars.

The 19th Christmas by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Latest in the women's murder club series.  I didn't like it.  Also, the cover art has absolutely nothing to do with the story.  I barely finished reading it.

2 stars.

Girl, Wash your Face by Rachel Hollis

Audio.  7 hours, 5 minutes.
Read by the author.

Good self-helpy read, but geared toward younger women than I.  I found the religious stuff annoying, but not so much that I didn't continue reading.  I'd recommend this to a young mom.

4 stars.

The Elephant in the Room by Tommy Tomlinson

From the cover "One fat man's quest to get smaller in a growing America" really sums up the whole book.  I wouldn't say I enjoyed reading it, but I did connect with the author on many levels.  I sincerely hope he is able to successfully continue his journey

4.5 stars.

Unsolved by James Patterson and David Ellis

FBI analyst Emily Dockery chases serial killers with her team by day and alone by night.

4 stars.

The Chain by Adrian McKinty

When Rachel's daughter is kidnapped, what is she willing to do to get her back?

First half of the book was 5+ stars, second half more like 4 stars.

4.5 stars.

The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth

What happened to Lucy's mother-in-law? 

Great story told in flashbacks, which I usually dislike, but it works in this novel.

5 stars.

11/22/63 by Stephen King

Audio.  31 hours.
Read by Craig Wasson.

If you could travel back in time and change history, would you?

5 stars.

The 18th Abduction by James Patterson and Maxine Paetro

Latest in the Women's Murder Club series.  This one is mainly set 5 years earlier, so before Lindsay and Joe had to keep making arrangements for their child, which was a welcome relief.

Can a convicted war criminal really be living in San Francisco?  Lindsay and Joe search for the answer.

4 stars.

Every Other Weekend by Zulema Renee Summerfield

Nenny's parents divorce in 1988 and this tells the tale of the following year from her point of view.  More a series of short stories than a novel proper, this is a heartbreaking account of how divorce affects children.  Every parent should have to read it.

5 stars.

Educated, a Memoir by Tara Westover

Horrifying look into the world of crazy religious preppers.  I'm so happy that the author got away from this clusterfuck.

4 stars.

Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner

The story of Jo and Bethie, Jewish women born in the mid-1900s.  Great characterization and interesting story.

4 stars.

Under the Dome by Stephen King

Audio (mostly).  Forgot to get the  name.
36 hours of audio, and a few chapters reading. 

This audio book was 30 disks long.  It played mostly fine until the final disk which wouldn't play on any device I tried, so I checked out the book and read the last few chapters.

Compelling story about a town trapped under an invisible dome and how quickly things become chaotic under the authoritarian rule of the town's selectman.

4.5 stars.

The Family Next Door by Sally Hepworth

A suburban cul-de-sac may hold the key to a stolen baby.

I loved everything about this story.

5 stars.

Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Stout

More a series of short stories than a true novel, in my opinion, it was a great human interest read. 

4.5 stars

Someone Knows by Lisa Scottoline

When a "prank" goes horribly wrong, four teens are left to deal with the aftermath, for the rest of their lives, which may be shorter than they would have been.  Ending was a bit far fetched, otherwise a good read.

4 stars.

The Rosie Result by Graeme Simsion

Third book in the Rosie series.  Don develops a plan to help his possibly autistic son fit in at school.

4 stars.

Girls of Glass by Brianna Labuskes

Ruby, the granddaughter of a powerful, Florida judge is murdered and cops Gardner and Nakamura investigate.

I didn't like the format, which switched back and forth from before to after the kidnapping.  I didn't connect with any of the characters.  I was surprised by the twist at the end, but I'm not sure it was worth the first 7/8s of the book.

3 stars.

The Reckoning by John Grisham

In 1940's Mississippi, Pete Banning walks into a local church and shoots the pastor dead.  Pete refuses to explain his motive and it's only years later that his children, Joel and Stella, learn the why behind their entire lives changed.

I didn't love the story and I was disappointed by the big reveal at the end.  The entire middle about the war seemed like filler.

3 stars.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Compelling story of a woman who desperately tries to avoid her past.

4 stars.

Sweet Salt Air by Barbara Delinsky

Audio.  13.5 hours
Read by Marguerite Gavin

Best friends, Nicole and Charlotte, find their relationship strained when Charlotte admits to a secret from long ago.

It was interesting enough to listen to while doing something else, but if I were reading it, I probably wouldn't have finished it.

3 stars.

I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney

Did film star Aimee Sinclair kill her husband?  Is she even Aimee Sinclair?  Who is trying to frame her for murder?

Story was just okay.  Ending wasn't a giant surprise or anything.  I kind of had an idea who the antagonist was going to be.

3 stars.

Her Last Word by Mary Burton

Fourteen years ago Gina was abducted.  Now, Kaitlin (Gina's cousin) plans a podcast to revive interest in Gina's case, and people start dying.

4 stars.

Gwendy's Button Box by Stephen King and Richard Chizmar

Audio.  No info on length of recording, but only 3 disks.
Read by Maggie Siff.

This was a great story that just kind of wandered through Gwendy's life.   Novella.

There was also a short story called The Music Room, that was enjoyable.

4.5 stars.

Silver Linings Playbook by Matthew Quick

Audio.  7.5 hours.
Read by Ray Porter

Pat returns home from a long stay in a "neural health facility".  He must learn to live with all the changes that have happened in his absence.

4 stars

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

I'm not a fan of heaven stories, but this was okay.  Descriptive language outlining how the most random of actions can alter a person's life.

4 stars.

What Remains True by Janis Thomas

How the death of 5 year-old Jonah affects each member of his family.  Told from multiple points of view.   Great characterization.

5 stars.

Button Man by Andrew Gross

Audio.   8 CDs.  No info on length.
Read by Edoardo Ballerini

Brother growing up in the 1920s on Manhattans lower east side take very different paths in life.  Gangsters.

4 stars.

Target Alex Cross by James Patterson

A coup on the US government.  Too many characters with virtually no development.  All action.  Convoluted ending.

2.5 stars.

The Reason You're Alive by Matthew Quick

Audio.  5.75 hours.
Read by R.C. Bray

David Granger tells the story of his life as a young soldier in Vietnam, as a husband and father, friend and businessman.

Language not for the feint of heart.  Despite the racist bullshit, I couldn't stop listening.

5 stars.

Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg

Continues the stories of some of the characters from The Story of Arthur Truluv, while adding more locals into the mix.  

A beautiful tale of friendship and love and hope.

5 stars.

Never Tell by Lisa Gardner

Flora Dane is back, this time as Sgt. D.D. Warren's confidential informant.

I didn't like Flora in the first book and this one didn't change my opinion.

3 stars.

The Outsider by Stephen King

Audio.  18.5 hours.
Read by Will Patton.

Can someone be in two places at one time?  When a boy's accused murderer is a pillar of the community, Flint City is shocked and quick to judge.  But there is proof the suspect was out of town.  Holly Gibney helps a local police detective find out what happened.

4 stars.

Liar, Liar by James Patterson and Candice Fox

Australian police officer, Harriet Blue, searches for a serial killer, while the police search for her.

Better than a lot of the stuff Patterson is churning out these days.

4 stars.

Before and Again by Barbara Delinsky

Audio.  12 CDs.  (No length of time given.)
Read by Mary Stuart Masterson

A car crash ruins a Bostonian woman's life, but she eventually finds peace in Vermont.

4 stars.

Murder Games by James Patterson and Howard Roughan

Serial killer toys with the police and the author who wrote the book on criminal behavior. 

Better than a lot of the books being churned out by Patterson & Co.

4 stars.

Paradox by Catherine Coulter

New to me author.

Local police and the FBI team up to find a killer.  Or is it killers?  Bones found at the bottom of the lake confuse the situation.

4 stars

Finders Keepers by Stephen King

Audio. 
13.5 hours.
Read by Will Patton.

Pete Saubers finds a trunk filled with money and old notebooks.  When he tries to sell some to a shady book dealer, his life unravels.  Luckily, Bill Hodges and company are there to help when things heat up.

4.5 stars

All is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker

Great premise about a drug treatment to help people forget a traumatic event, but the ending part was too convoluted and coincidental.

3 stars.

Juror #3 by James Patterson and Nancy Allen

Like a John Grisham book, but without all that complicated plotting and character development.

2 stars.

Two Days Gone by Randall Silvis

Audio.  10.75 hours.
Read by Graham Winston

Did esteemed professor and author Tom Houston lose it and kill his family?  Or were other forces at work?  Detective Ryan DeMarco wants to find out.

4 stars.

Lie to me by J.T. Ellison

Audio.  11.75 hours.
Read by Matthew Waterson, Saskia Maarleveld, Sarah Naughton, and Julia Whelan.

A couple's beautiful, successful life is not as rosy as it appears. 

I think the written version might be better.  I didn't care for the male reader at all, and the female readers were just okay.  Unlikable characters.

2.5 stars.

The Noel Diary by Richard Paul Evans

Successful writer returns home after his estranged mother's death.  Finds love along the way.

Better than I expected.

3.5 stars

Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline

An accident kills Mike's wife while he's stationed in Afghanistan.  What will happen to his baby daughter?  And was there more to his wife's life than he knew?

3.5 stars.

Revival by Stephen King

Audio 13 hours.
Read by David Morse.

Preacher suffers a tragedy, loses his religion, goes on to become a mad scientist.  Good story, weird ending.

4 stars

Facing the Storm by Jennifer Brooks

Part 2 of the trilogy.  Still no electricity, but the government is getting a hand on the devastation.  The preppers in the cabin are still okay, and a small community begins creating a civilization again.

4 stars.

Braving the Storm by Jennifer Brooks

This is the second time I read this.  It is part 1 of a trilogy and I saw part 2 on Amazon, so I figured I should refresh my memory. 

Superstorm Nicole wipes out the east coast and the power grid for the eastern half of the country.  Panic and devastation for most, but not the preppers who bug out to the cabin they've been maintaining, just in case.

This book could have done with another round of edits re: misspellings, words missing or extra words in sentences.


4 stars.