BLUE HEAVEN

Annie and her brother William decide to go fishing on an afternoon when then are out early from school. They aren't very happy with their mom and her new boyfriend. On their way to the river, they witness a murder in the woods. The murders, who are four retired policemen, see the two kids and try to catch them. Luckily, Annie and William escape. They get picked up by a man who takes them to his home. Annie overhears a phone conversation and realizes that this man, too, is involved in the killings. She and her brother run away and find themselves in the barn of a ranch owned by Jess Rawlins. At first, Jess doesn't know if the kids story can be true and most importantly, who he can trust to keep them safe. As Jess comes to believe Annie and William, he tries to figure out who the good guys really are these days.

This is the first book I've read by C.J. Box. I had heard lots of good things about this stand-alone. Usually, I love a series but I thought this book was great. It was action-packed with plenty of twist and turns. It was easy to like Jess, Annie, William and the others in the story. The side story with Eduardo Villatorro was also well plotted. All in all, this was a book that I enjoyed from start to finish. I know that some people are pretty critical of some of Box's other books but I'm willing to give them a try!

Rating - 5 stars

REVENGE OF THE SPELLMAN'S

Isabel Spellman is as goofy as ever. She has left the family private investigation business and is working as a bartender. It is her good fortune to have her brother ask her to housesit because she hates her little apartment. Her father continues to come in at least once a week to ask her to return to the family business. Her sister, Rae, is in trouble as usual because she is plotting against Henry's new girlfriend and her PSAT scores are so high that everyone is concerned that she cheated. While Isabel is trying to decide what to do with her life, Milo cuts her hours at the bar and a friend of Milo's asks Isabel to investigate his wife to see if she is cheating on him. If that weren't enough, Isabel is trying to get through her court appointed therapy sessions without really revealing anything about herself and her friend Morty's wife has run off to Florida.

This is the third installment in Lisa Lutz' Spellman series. I think it is hysterically funny. It might not be the right entertainment for everyone but to me it is laugh out loud funny. The whole family is crazy and dysfunctional but oh so much fun. I even thought this book was better than the last one. Can't wait for the next of the Spellman's adventures!!!

Rating - 5 stars

THE MONKEY'S RAINCOAT

Elvis Cole is a private investigator. On a quiet day, a woman and her friend come to his office. The quiet and very meek woman asks Elvis to look for her husband and her son. It seems that the couple has been having marital problems and the husband may have taken the son away with him. The wife is very reluctant to make any troubles for her husband but her pushy friend thinks that she needs help and she insists that the woman hire Elvis. To Elvis, this looks like a pretty easy little case. He expects that the husband has run off with his new girlfriend and taken his son with him. As he begins investigating, things get more and more complicated. The husband's friends are very strange. His girlfriend is missing, too, and she seems to be involved in some illegal things. The wife, Ellen, refuses to call in the police even when her house is ransacked and it is evident that someone thinks her husband is hiding something very important.

This is the first of Robert Crais' books featuring Elvis Cole and Joe Pike. I didn't find the characters to be much different than in later books in the series. That is a good thing, too, because I love both Elvis and Joe Pike. Maybe later in the series, we get a better look at the feelings that Elvis is reluctant to show, but as always, he is both wisecracking and kind. This book was a great start to this series. I'm just hoping for many more to come. The only mystery left - I'm not sure why the book was called "The Monkey's Raincoat".

Rating - 4.5 stars

WAITER RANT

I've always loved to hear about other people's jobs. The Waiter gives an inside tour of what it is like to work in a fancy New York restaurant. He didn't plan to be a waiter, especially in his late 30's. He thought of being a priest but left the seminary after a couple of years in college. He worked in a mental health facility and then in the corporate world. Finally, he began working temporarily as a waiter. He ended up as the manager of the restaurant for six years. He also began a blog about his experiences, his customers and how to be a good customer. His inside glimpses are sad and funny. His boss is a control freak and he frequently feels stuck.

"Waiter Rant" doesn't have an author listed, just "The Waiter". I enjoyed learning about the business but sometimes he became too philisophical and rambled along too long. It is interesting to see how our behavior in restaurants could be very annoying to waiters. He describes the lifestyle of late nights and crazy days off in the middle of the week. Overall, it was a fun peak into someone else's life. Like most readers, I'm sure, I was glad when the waiter finally decided what else he might want to do in life.

Rating - 4 stars

HELL BENT

Brady Coyne is adjusting to life without his longtime girlfriend. She has left him to go and take care of her dying father. She has told Brady to go on with his life but that is easier said than done. Brady is surprised when his old girlfriend, Alex, appears at his office unexpectedly, asking him to represent her brother. Alex's brother, a photojournalist, who returned from Iraq after losing a hand is going through some very rough times. His wife is divorcing him and he doesn't seem to care. Brady agrees to help the man, but shortly after, he is found dead in an apparent suicide. Alex can't accept that her brother would kill himself and Brady agrees to investigate.

This is the first book that I have read by William Tapply. Brady Coyne is a lawyer who loves to fish. I usually love books with lawyers but this one seemed a little slow to me. I may have made a mistake by jumping in with Tapply's latest book, but I the plot seemed intriguing. I liked the book but I didn't exactly love it. I'll have to decide if I want to try another Brady Coyne or not.

Rating - 4 stars

PLUM SPOOKY

Stephanie Plum is up to her usual craziness. She is busy doing her bounty hunter thing when out of nowhere, Diesel reappears. Stephanie knows that is never a good thing. He is searching for a very strange man who seems to be making rockets. Stephanie gets stuck helping Diesel, babysitting a monkey and trying to help Morelli whose lazy brother is living with him. The adventures take them to a desolate portion of the New Jersey countryside.

Some people complain because the Stephanie Plum books are light on plot and just plain zany. I wouldn't want it any other way. They are always a lighthearted and entertaining read. Not enough Ranger or Morelli in this book but as usual, there are car explosions and crazy scenes where Stephanie ends up a mess. As always, I'll be looking forward to Janet Evanovich's next segment in the Stephanie Plum series.

Rating - 3.5 stars

LETHAL LEGACY

Alexandra Cooper gets called to a very strange case. A woman has been attacked by a man who used chloroform to sedate her. The woman refuses all help. When another woman is found dead a few days later, there are many questions to be answered. Everything seems to lead back to the New York Public Libary and the Hunt family who have donated many items to the libary. Bill, Mercer and Alex dig into the world of rare books, old maps and the fascinating history of the New York Public Library.

Linda Fairstein's Alexandra Cooper series is truly one of my favorites. I loved learning about the New York Public Library. It seemed like there was something lacking in the details of Alex's personal life and the interaction with her partners. She is still romantically involved with Luc who seems like a great guy but all of the time, as a reader, you are rooting for her and Bill to get together! Maybe not the best in the series, but as always, Linda Fairstein knows how to keep me entertained.

Rating - 4.5 stars

BURGLAR ON THE PROWL

Bernie Rodenbarr is a burglar. One shouldn't enjoy hearing about his crimes and the life a a burglar but Lawrence Block makes it impossible not to love hearing about Bernie. As usual, Bernie is up to no good, in a good sort of way. He has planned a big caper but two nights before he goes on the prowl. He plans to do a quick little number and then go home. Instead, he finds himself hiding under the bed as the homeowner is being date raped. Bernie's sense of justice is disturbed and he goes about setting things right. Bernie also realizes that some pretty big things are going down when he is accused of a burglary and murder!

Lawrence Block is always entertaining. His dialogue is comical because it is so detailed and so true to life. The ending of this book got a little complicated as Bernie tries to wrap together all of the loose ends of a whole bunch of different things. Still, this was a very enjoyable read. I'll be glad to hear about more of Bernie's adventures! It's kind of fun to root for the bad/good guy!

Rating - 4 stars

VERY VALENTINE

Valentine is a 33-year-old single Italian woman who works with her grandmother making customized wedding shoes. They make shoes the way her grandparents and her great-grandfather did. No one seems to appreciate craftsmanship the way they used to. As Valentine's grandmother turns 80, Valentine's brother wants her to retire and to sell the wonderful building that has housed the business for years. Valentine wants to continue the family traditions and family business. She also falls for a wonderful Italian chef and struggles to balance her career and her love life. On a trip to Italy, Valentine learns some things about her grandmother and her own loves.

This is the first book that I have read by Adriana Trigiani. I loved the wonderful warm and funny characters. Valentine's family seemed very real and very human. The book is a change of pace from my usual fare of mysteries but I loved every minute of reading about making the shoes and Valentine's wonderful life. I will definitely be looking for Trigiani's other books!

Rating - 5 stars