Finished THE SPIRIT WOMAN

Another satisfying mystery by Margaret Coel.  The Sacajawea tie-in gave it an interesting extra aspect.  Of course I knew who the perpetrator was early (not many suspects) and was almost more on edge because of Father John's impending departure.  Now that was scary--I want more books.

I have now started The Judas Strain, #4 in the Sigma Force series by James Rollins.  These international thrillers center around of group of people with strike force military training and experience who also have achieved doctoral level knowledge in various scientific, technological, or mathmatical specialities.  They solve terrorist and terrifying problems everywhere.  Now they have a plague in the Indian Ocean, an intriguing code showing up at the Vatican, and an old enemy asking for help.

Finished ALL DRESSED IN WHITE

This is another book in the authors' Under Suspicion series.  Cold cases are brought up again in a documentary format allowing each player to explain what happened from their point of view.  In this case a bride disappeared one day before her wedding from the wedding venue.  The show hopes to discover what happened to her.

I have now moved on to The Spirit Woman, another Wind River Reservation Mystery.  Set on an Arapaho and Shoshone reservation, the main mystery solvers in these books is the priest of the reservation church, Father O'Malley, and an Arapaho lawyer, Vicki Holden.  Twenty years ago, a woman researching the tie between the reservation and Sacajawea disappeared while out walking.  Now a friend of Vicki's wants to complete her research.  I enjoy this series.

Finished NIGHT SHIFT

This was the third and last book in the Midnight, Texas series and I am very sorry to see it go.  A new character was introduced in this and we learned more about Teacher and Madonna.  All ongoing plots have been tied up, but I want more.  I want to see how Sylvester and Manfred's relationship continue.  I want to see more about Quinn's relationship with the rest of the town.  And I really like all the characters.  I just want more!

I have now just barely started All Dressed in White, #3 in the Under Suspicion by Mary Higgins Clark and Alafair Burke.  Under Suspicion is a television news show in which all players/ suspects in a murder are gathered together and act out all of the events leading up to the event in hopes of uncovering the guilty.  At this point, there is not murder yet, just a disappearance.

Finished THE CASTLEMAINE MURDERS

Another packed mystery by Kerry Greenwood.  This had two mysteries, both impossibly cold cases with a modern element for action, artfully fit into 235 pages which even included a festive, satisfying ending.  Love these books.

I am now about to start Nightshift, #3 in the Midnight trilogy by Charlaine Harris.  This is the last book of the trilogy, so I'll be feeling bereft of a favorite series when I finish...but now, on to reading.

Finished A DENSITY OF SOULS

This story of bullying, homophobia, lust, power, and love greatly effected me.  It is certainly true that if you seek to oppress and hurt someone just because they are different from you or because you are unwilling to face the truth about yourself, the monster you create will be you.

I have now started The Castlemaine Murders, a Phryne Fisher Mystery (#13).  Going on a ride at Luna Park, a nearby amusement park, Phryne finds a mummy encased to look like the fake remnants of a cowboy.  It turns out to be 70 years old, murdered and deliberately mummified.  Once our heroine decides to look into where it came from, someone starts threatening her to stop.  Of course, when did that ever stop Phryne?

Finished LIE DOWN WITH LIONS

My first assessment of this book, that it was set in the late 1990's or at the turn of the century (prior to 9/11) was a conclusion jumped to when I had just barely started.  No, it was set in the early 80's in Afghanistan during the Russian invasion.  It involves a tale of two spies, one for the CIA and one for Russia, with a good caring nurse stuck in the middle.  It is a tale of romance and betrayal.  But more than that, it is a thriller which begins rapidly and moves up from there.  I really enjoyed it.

I am now reading A Density of Souls by Christopher Rice.  Since I had read a novel by Chris and his mother, which had seemed pretty much a continuing with her themes, I expected this to be about supernatural creatures as well.  But, in the prologue of the book, Chris tells the reader that "if that is what you think, you've got the wrong Rice."  💪  Though also set in New Orleans, this centers on bullying, especially of gays.  It is chronicling the effects of such bullying on the gays, but also on the bully.  I once told my students that if you seek to abuse others, the monster you will create is you!  Chris seems to agree with me...