2009 # 55

Robert B. Parker - Hugger Mugger - Finished - 4/22/2009

PB Spenser is hired to go to Georgia to find out who has been shooting horses on a thoroughbred farm. Before he has a chance to get very far, the owner who hired him is killed and his youngest daughter who was running the farm fires him. Later back in Boston he is hired by the dead owner's friend or as she puts it his concubine, to look into the will which was supposed to include her son. Spenser is Spencer and Hawk is off in Europe. A light and quick read.

ISBN - 0-425-17955-9, Suspense, Pages - 321, Print Size - R, Rating - 4.25

2009 # 54

John B. Robinson - The Sapphire Sea - Finished - 4/20/2009

PB - Lonny is the son of gem merchant and is in Madagascar trading for sapphires. While out in the country and illegally in the kinds reserve her come upon a very large and perfect sapphire which he buys from a local farmer. The rest of the books deals with his attempts to get the sapphire out of the country. A so so read, a bit simplistic perhaps with a somewhat hanging ending.

ISBN - 0-06-052726-9, Suspense, Pages - 317, Print Size - R, Rating - 3.75

2009 # 53

Harlan Coben - Long Lost - Finished - 4/20/2009

This one has Myron in Paris answering a call for help from an old flame after he and his current girl friend split when she moves to the southwest. He soon finds himself mixed up with international terrorists. The plot paints an interesting scenario and not too far fetched either. A quick and enjoyable read.

ISBN - 978-1-60751-255-4, Suspense, Pages - 518, Print Size - L, Rating - 4.5

2009 # 52

David Liss - The Whiskey Rebels - Finished - 4/17/2009

Set post American Revolution it features 2 main characters, Ethan Saunders, a spy during the war but near the end of the war accused of being a traitor and Joan Maycott, a daughter of a farmer who marries a soldier and when he is convinced to give up his promissory note for pay for his service in return for a section of land on the western Pennsylvania frontier moves out with him.

Ethan has become a drunk and womanizer but when his old finance contacts him he becomes involved in trying to help her. Joan and her husband meanwhile have found that they made a very bad deal and when her husband is killed she plans to get evan. The underlying story is the differences between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson and their parties and the formation of the national bank by Secretary of the Treasury Hamilton. There is plenty more going on as well which made this an interesting read

ISBN - 978-1-4000-6420-5, Historical Fiction, Pages - 525, Print Size - R, Rating - 4.75