with a run of mystery/thrillers :)

The Pub Challenge (see sidebar to the right) rules were to read 8 books published in 2008.  Duma Key and Sizzle and Burn were my first two and I read the last six this month :)  The first 4 of them were the new entries into great series,  the 5th is an author I've read a lot, and the 6th was an ARC I got from LibraryThing.

Stranger in Paradise by Robert B. Parker - Jesse Stone finds himself helping an old foe save a young girl from her gangster father and a gangbanger boyfriend. Reminds you of April Kyle & Paul Giacomin in the Spenser series. Not his best, but a nice familiar kind of read.

Nightshade by Susan Wittig Albert - Albert shakes up the usual China Bayles storyline by alternating characters this time between China and her PI husband as they delve into the recent murder of her newfound half-brother and the decades old death of her father. Finishes up a story arc began a couple of books ago. A cozy, with lots of interesting tidbits about herbs.

Small Favor by Jim Butcher - the new Dresden File! Weee!  The Winter Queen, Mab, is calling in one of her favors - she wants Harry to rescue someone. And that someone is Gentleman Johnny Marcone, who's been taken by unknown magical forces. But the Summer Queen is opposed and sends opponents after Harry.  Thoroughly enjoyable.

Winter Study by Nevada Barr - Park Ranger Anna Pigeon returns to an old post for a winter wolf study, as her current Rocky Mountain post may get its own pack of wolves soon. But soon after her arrival, the packs start acting strangely - as do several of the study group members. After one woman is killed - apparently by a pack - Anna's investigation places her directly in the line of fire and the question nearly becomes which one will kill her - the wolves, the cold, or one of the group.  Kind of a 'locked door' mystery. Excellent entry into an excellent series.

Where Are You Now? by Mary Higgins Clark - 10 years ago, Carolyn's older brother Mack left his college dorm - and was never seen again. But he called every year on Mother's Day just to say he was okay. This year Carolyn's anger gets the best of her and she decides to find Mack. But someone close to her doesn't want Mack found. Good premise, kinda dull presentation. Clark's last couple of books have felt tedious to me - it's still readable, but ultimately I didn't really care.

The Last Oracle by James Rollins -  not really any info at the amazon.com page - the book doesn't come out until July. I snagged an Early Reviewer's copy from LibraryThing :)  A think tank of world scientists have been experimenting for years on ways to manipulate and enhance the abilities of autistic children with savant talents.  But a rogue group within have different experiments going - with the plan of  creating a world prophet for the new millennium, which will rise out of a manufactured disaster. SIGMA Force commander Gray Pierce races to stop the disaster and save the children, but to do that he must first solve a mystery that dates back centuries to the Greek Oracle of Delphi. I hadn't read any of the other SIGMA Force books, but will look them up.  Reads in the manner of Clive Cussler, Matthew Reilly, and Dan Brown. Nonstop action. The afterword where Rollins points out his research is very interesting. (A to Z)

All books: 100 books

Duma Key by Stephen King - Oh, man, this was good. Starts off  with a slightly supernatural bent and heads out into horror land. King writes great characters and tells an excellent story. It's large, but not bloated - it pulls you along at warp speed (except when your hands get too tired)
I wouldn't call it his 'best', but it's definitely one of his better ones.  (The Pub challenge)

The Darkest Evening of the Year by Dean Koontz - A golden retriever is rescued from an abusive owner by Amy Redwing and her architect boyfriend Brian McCarthy. Nickie becomes a key figure in a twisted duo's plan of sadistic revenge. I enjoyed it, but didn't think it was his best (actually one of his bests includes a dog too - Watchers).

A Wicked Snow by Gregg Olsen - Nice and twisty procedural thriller. Hannah's present as a crime scene investigator comes into conflict with her past as a survivor of a female/male serial killer team - the female leader was her mother. Now it looks like her mother may not be dead, so Hannah reopens the case. I can't believe such a thing would be allowed, but, hey, it's fiction - and good. (A to Z)

The Intruders by Michael Marshall - Go read the summary at Amazon - it's too complicated :)  Kinda X-Files, kinda twisty thriller - requires a fair suspension of disbelief, but good writing and characters. (A to Z)

all books: 100 books

Pretties by Scott Westerfeld - Second in the Uglies trilogy. Tally has become a pretty and has forgotten much of her time in the Smoke. But a party crasher leads her to a hidden stash: 2 pills and a letter from herself, written while still ugly. She and new boyfriend Zane each take a pill and then try to get the other pretties in their group to remember and to challenge the status quo. Definitely have to read in order, but a very good follow-up - now I have to get Specials and Extras. (challenge: YAC)

Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz - Paranormal romantic thriller. Raine is settling her late aunt Vella's estate when psychic sensibilites lead her to find a bound, kidnapped young woman in a padlocked room in the basement. Entering her life immediately after is P.I. Zack Jones, also a sensitive, who asks for her assistance. They have an immediate connection, but there is a huge complication - he works for the Arcane Society, the group she blames for her father's death. And his offer of letting her have copies of her father's case file are enhanced by the idea of working with someone who understands and shares her abilities. I love Krentz (and her alter ego Amanda Quick) - zippy dialogue, quick action, speedy plots - she'd fall into the guilty pleasures category, except that I don't feel guilty about reading :)   (challenge: Pub)

Heartsick by Chelsea Cain - With shades of Silence of the Lambs, Cain's detective Archie Sheridan is in charge of a regrouped task force charged with finding the killer of several local teen girls. His investigation is complicated by the addition of a reporter and  his weekly visits to Gretchen Lowell, an incarcerated serial killer with whom he has an intense personal connection - he was to be one of her victims, but instead she let him live and torments him with the prospect of more bodies. Cool :)  Archie is a great protagonist and Lowell is one serious deranged individual.

The 47th Samurai by Stephen Hunter - Bob Lee Swagger finds himself in Japan, delivering a sword taken as a prize of war during WWII, to the son of the man his father fought during battle. Bob Lee really likes Philip Yano and his family and is stunned to find out that they've all (except the youngest girl) been slaughtered soon after he left. Bob Lee immerses himself into the world of the samurai, determined to  avenge the Yano family. I agree with reviews that Bob Lee's swordsmanship requires total destruction of believeability, but I thought the passion of the man believeable and the samurai and sword lore was excellent.

(challenges all books: 100 books, A to Z)