TREASURE HUNT

A man who is very prominent in San Francisco's philanthropy circle is found dead and The Hunt Club's Mickey Dade is the one who found him. The Hunt Club has been struggling to find clients, so when a friend of Mickey's asks him to figure out who murdered the man and to help his sister who had been his driver, Mickey cooks up a scheme that will allow him to help the girl and to help the Hunt Club get back in the game. A reward fund is set up and people give their clues to the Hunt Club regarding the murder. The Hunt Club investigates and passes along all worthwhile leads to the police. Soon another body is found of another director of a social organization and there seem to be lots of suspects and plenty of danger for The Hunt Club.

John Lescroart is one of my favorite authors and has been for a long time. I thought this book started out a little slow even though the dead body was found in the first few pages. Still, the book picked up and the characters are very interesting people with well-formed relationships. This book didn't include Glitzky or Dismas Hardy but it did include some other favorites. I ended up enjoying this book very much and I'm eager for another Lescroart addition.

Rating - B+

SAY GOODBYE

Kimberly is an FBI agent who is getting mysterious calls about prostitutes that have gone missing. Kimberly can't help but get caught up in the case but it is worrying her husband because Kimberly is nearly six months pregnant. Kimberly and another agent soon realize that they are involved in a very complex case with a murderer who tortures woman and who also has several young boys in his home. The prostitute who is an informant has a twisted past of her own with loyalties that are hard for Kimberly to figure out. With the help of her father and step-mother, Kimberly and Sal finally begin to unravel the case and Kimberly decides what course her career must take.

This is a very intense novel by Lisa Gardner. This is the second book I have read by her. I actually had to skip parts of the CD that told the story of young boys being abused by the monster who had kidnapped them. At times, the story was fascinating but truly, some of the details were too gruesome for me. I'm not sure if I would read this author again or not.

Rating - B-

Yep, I am changing my rating scale. I'll see if I like it but for now, it seems like a good idea!

Wishin' and Hopin'

Felix Funicello is in 5th grade in Catholic grade school in the 1960's. His dad runs the diner at the bus depot and his mom is a finalist in the Pillsbury bake-off. School is pretty crazy, too. Sr. Dymphie is on leave after her breakdown and the substitute is a layperson who is determined to teach the class French. The new girl is from Russia and she isn't like the other girls in the class. Felix wants to know about the birds and the bees but his dad just says to be careful at the drinking fountain. Christmas will be here soon and the class is preparing for a Christmas pagent different than anything that's ever been seen before.

This was a fun and light-hearted read by Wally Lamb. It was a fun and light-hearted view of traditional Catholic school along with mean nuns and a warm and funny family. I enjoyed this quick holiday read.

Rating - 4.5 stars

BAKE SALE MURDER

Lucy Stone's neighborhood has changed considerably since a new addition was added very close to their house. She's especially not fond of Mimi, the neighbor who is threatening to have her lilac hedge cut down. Still, the Hat and Mitten Fund wants to raise money for school supplies for needy kids and it seems that the newcomers may be willing to help out with a community bake sale. When Mimi doesn't show up with her baked goods, Lucy goes to check on her and finds her stabbed in her own kitchen with a butcher knife.

I haven't read any of Leslie Meier's Lucy Stone books for a long time. I really enjoyed this one. Lucy is a very realistic character who seems like a real mom and working woman. I think I'll try to catch up in this series.

Rating - 4.5 stars

PLUM PUDDING MURDER

It's getting close to Christmas and Hannah is busy baking cookies for the entire town of Eden Lake. She has also been selling goodies to the Elf Tree Farm. She and Norman are totally stunned when she picks up her check and finds the owner, Larry, shot dead. By the way, so was his TV. Hannah wants to help solve the murder so that everyone can enjoy Christmas.

As always, it took awhile to get to the part about the dead body in Joanne Fluke's latest mystery. Still, I enjoy Hannah Swenson and the gang. I thought that the triangle between Mike and Norman had been pretty well cleared up in the last book but it was here again in this one. Still, it was a fun read.

Rating - 4.5 stars

ALL MORTAL FLESH

Russ Van Alstyne's marriage is in serious trouble. He has told his wife of 25 years, Linda, that he is in love with Clare. Linda has kicked him out of the house and he is living with his mom. When a woman is found dead and mutilated in his kitchen, he is the prime suspect in his wife's murder. An overeager state police woman is called in on the case. She is eager to pin the murder on Russ or even better, on his lover, Clare. As both fight to find the truth, there are many obstacles, not to mention broken hearts.

Julia Spencer-Fleming has fast become one of my favorite authors. She has managed to write a series about a married man in love with an Episcopalian priest that is poigant and real. Both Clare and Russ are good people trying to do the right thing. They make mistakes and they have their flaws but dealing with a love affair that cannot be is sad and the reader is very sympathetic to all of the parties, including Linda.

Rating - 5 stars