Sue Grafton (April 24, 1940 – December 28, 2017) was an American author of detective novels. She is best known as the author of the “alphabet series” (“A” Is for Alibi, etc.) featuring private investigator Kinsey Millhone in the fictional city of Santa Teresa, California.  …

Grafton described Kinsey Millhone as her alter ego, “the person I might have been had I not married young and had children.” …

The first book in the series is easy reading.

Her style has been described as “laconic, breezy, wise-cracking”. It reminds me a bit of the Harlan Coben books featuring crime solver / sports agent Myron Bolitar.

Not literature.

In “A” Is for Alibi (1982) Kinsey, age-32, investigates the death of prominent divorce lawyer eight years earlier. His wife was convicted of murder.

When the wife is released on parole, she hires Kinsey to find the real killer.

Good stuff. I recommend it.

A Song for the Dark Times (2020) is the 23rd Rebus book by Ian Rankin.

I’ve read them all.

This one is as good as ever. Despite Rebus being long retired. I said goodbye (the first time) in 2007 with Exit Music.

Rebus had to move to ground floor residence as he can no longer do stairs. And he keeps his inhaler at the ready.

Brexit looms. But there’s no talk of COVID-19.

When his daughter Samantha calls in the dead of night, John Rebus knows it’s not good news. Her husband has been missing for two days.

Rebus fears the worst – and knows from his lifetime in the police that his daughter will be the prime suspect.

He wasn’t the best father – the job always came first – but now his daughter needs him more than ever. But is he going as a father or a detective?

ianrankin.net

My brother Randy linked to this video of a recent discussion of aging characters: Rebus v Harry Bosch.

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

Code to Zero (2000) … follows Luke, an amnesic who spends the duration of the book learning of his life, and slowly uncovering secrets of a conspiracy to hold America back in the space race.

It’s set in 1958.

Luke wakes up in a men’s room with no recollection of his past.

His clothing, associates and surroundings suggest to him that he is an alcoholic derelict, however his behaviour, intelligence, morals and instinct lead him to investigate and research his past. 

As always with Follett, the plot is intriguing. The love story passionate.

There was talk of a TV adaptation, but I’m not sure that happened.

I was keen to get my hands on this book.

The author won the 2020 Hugo Award for her debut novel A Memory Called Empire (2019).

Arkady Martine is the pen name of AnnaLinden Weller, a historian and city planner in New Mexico.

AnnaLinden was a SciFi geek from a young age. A big reader too.

The book starts well.

A young female ambassador is sent from tiny Lsel Station to the home planet of the Teixcalaanli Empire.

She’s a fish-out-of-water. Unsophisticated. But with a secret technology.

I was hooked.

But about half way through I was tempted to give up. The palace intrigue not intriguing enough for me.

Not enough action.

Most people love this book. I made it through. But I won’t continue with the inevitable sequel.

related – The Verge – A Memory Called Empire is a brilliant blend of cyberpunk, space opera, and political thriller

Excellent. 

Based on a true story. 

Tom Holland will play the lead in the Hollywood movie adaptation.

For some reason I’d never thought about Italy during WW II — before reading this book.

Pino Lella wants nothing to do with the war or the Nazis. He’s a normal Italian teenager—obsessed with music, food, and girls—but his days of innocence are numbered. When his family home in Milan is destroyed by Allied bombs, Pino joins an underground railroad helping Jews escape over the Alps, and falls for Anna, a beautiful widow six years his senior.

In an attempt to protect him, Pino’s parents force him to enlist as a German soldier—a move they think will keep him out of combat. But after Pino is injured, he is recruited at the tender age of eighteen to become the personal driver for Adolf Hitler’s left hand in Italy, General Hans Leyers, one of the Third Reich’s most mysterious and powerful commanders.

Amazon

 

Tana French is widely considered one of the best murder mystery writers. No surprise, she lives in Dublin.

The Searcher (2020) — her 8th book — did surprise me in many ways.

Released immediately before COVID-19 lockdowns, it has an upbeat ending. Twists and turns. Kept me focused right to the last page.

French said it was a traditional Western updated for modern rural Ireland.

I’d recommend the audio version so you can enjoy the many Irish dialects.

After twenty-five years in the Chicago police force and a bruising divorce, Cal Hooper just wants to build a new life in a pretty spot with a good pub where nothing much happens.

But when a local kid whose brother has gone missing arm-twists him into investigating, Cal uncovers layers of darkness beneath his picturesque retreat, and starts to realize that even small towns shelter dangerous secrets.

The 3rd book in the Odd series is not quite as compelling as the first two. But I’ll continue on to #4.

I’m no fan of horror. But like the humour. The banter. The philosophy.

Easy reading.

Odd Thomas has been a guest at St. Bartholomew’s Abbey, where he hopes to seek peace and understanding. …

Rodion Romanovich, the abbey’s other guest, is an excellent character. He steals every scene.

Brother Knuckles, former mafia goomba is somehow now a monk. Also entertaining.