Toward the end of May, we went on a family vacation to Baltimore and Wildwood, New Jersey. Among its many other delights, Wildwood has a fantastic used bookstore and there was a ten-book special. So June was all about reading books from some favorite authors.
Rage by Jonathan Kellerman
Dark, dark read about the murder of a toddler, a sociopathic child, and more sordid things I can’t write about for fear of spoiling the soliution to this extremely complicated story. What does it say about me that I love to read books like this?
Over the Edge by Jonathan Kellerman
Alex comes the aid of a former patient, a genius who is suspected of being a serial killer.
What Matters Most by Luanne Rice
This was a sequel to another book by this author. It is set partly in Ireland and partly at Star-of-the-Sea convent and school. I love the Catholic themes and the ending that manages to stay true to the main character’s call.
The Proving Ground by Michael Connelly
This is a Lincoln Lawyer novel and it is so topical! An AI company is accused of convincing a teen boy to kill his girlfriend.
Fatal by John Lescroart
I first discovered John Lescroart years ago and I don’t know why I have not sought out more of his novels, which are exactly the kind I like. A one-night stand eventually leads to murder–or DID IT? And it’s set in San Francisco!
Nothing but the Truth by John Lescroart
This is part of a series about Dismas Hardy, an attorney in San Francisco. His wife takes center stage in this novel, as her refusal to betray a confidence lands her in jail for contempt.
Hard Evidence by John Lescroart
Dismas Hardy investigates a suicide that is not what it seems, and uncovers some big secrets in the process.
Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb
I didn’t like Slocumb’s thrid novel as much as the first two, partly because the main character’s life was so dire most of the time, and partly because I feel like he did more telling than showing in several sections. However, I still enjoyed it. Imagine for a moment that you are the most famous Black cello player in the world, and now you are in the witness protection program.
The Maiden’s Grave by Jeffrey Deaver
This is another author I had forgotten about until I snagged this at the church Book Swap. This is a great suspense novel about a hostage situation. The characters are memorable.
False Friend by Myla Goldberg
I am not sure where I picked up this used book but it made me angry. It’s the story of a young woman coming home to confess to telling lies about the abduction of her friend who went missing at 11, only to discover that her lies may have been true after all. The ending was quite inconclusive. And I did not understand what was going on with most of the characters.
Look for Me by Lisa Gardner
In this Prime read, which appears to me part of a series, a detective teams up with a former abductee to find a missing girl who is either a murderer or a potential victim.
Five by Ilona Bannister
This month’s book club read was a very cool experimental novel which took place (except for flashbacks) in the space of five or so minutes on a train platform. We are told at the outset that of the five main characters, one will die when the train arrives, and we spend the rest of the time learning about who they are, why they are there, and what is going on that day. The author frequently breaks the fourth wall. It made for a great discussion.
The Fatal Unpleasantness at Netherfield by Claudia Gray
I have been waiting for this for SO LONG. It’s the 5th and I guess last in the series of Miss Juliet Tlney/Mr. Jonathan Darcy mysteries. I laughed out loud multiple times while reading this. One big highlight is watching perfect and always kind Jane Bennett Bingley finally losing her shit! And we finally get the happy ending we’ve been waiting for, although not exactly in the way I had hoped. If you like Jane Austen and you have not read this series, do yourself a favor and READ THEM NOW.
And that makes 13 books read in June. I’m tackling some nonfiction in July, so it should be a slower month.
