Finished THE BADASS LIBRARIANS OF TIMBUKTU

 

This moved slowly at first, but, in the long run I appreciated it since it gave me the history I needed to understand what was happening.  About halfway through, it gets pretty exciting, though the front cover pretty well gives away the end.  But the problems encountered and how they were solved (or not solved) was very interesting.

I am now going back to Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell.  This time back I find that the print is not too small for my poor eyes, since I have gotten new glasses and I see better.  Hurray!

Finished THE EYE OF GOD

 

Another fast moving science fiction/ thriller/ adventure by James Rollins.  This one explores possibilities of quantum physics and dark matter that, of course, went right over my head.  I am quite used to Rollins' scientific references doing that, but I understand enough to appreciate the danger hanging over the world's head and how close they came to not solving the mystery.  This book killed more than most of these, I think, or maybe just more people I'd come to care for.  Deaths of villains are often very satisfying.  Part of what I love about these books is their ability to expand my mind to encompass things I'd never thought of, but mostly I just love sitting on the edge of my seat and being unable to sleep until I finish them...please don't ask me why.

So from one fast-moving book to another that promises to be similarly exciting, but this one is the non-fiction recounting of one man's gathering of ancient religious and secular texts from crumbling in storage areas of homes and archives to restore them, but mostly to protect them from Al Qaeda.  A huge heist from under the military's noses.  Needless to say, I am looking forward to starting The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu.

Finished COMING OF THE STORM

You probably do know that the exploration and colonization process in America met with resistance from the native peoples.  This is the story of that process from the native peoples' point of view, set in Florida with the invasion of De Soto.  Exciting and terrifying.  I love this series and every book seems to get better.

I have now started The Eye of God, Sigma Force #9, by James Rollins.  These are technological, scientific, and espionage thrillers that look really long when I start them and always wind up ending way too soon.  I love the permanent characters and most of the peripheral characters including the villains who are definitely proper villains.  I am looking forward to this.

Finished THE LOOK OF LOVE

 

I found this interesting and exciting even though I have never been able to understand the attraction to spas--maybe because they use air scents that interfere with my breathing.  But the murder is only a harbinger of the evil that lies below the surface....  I liked Piper Donovan, an unlikely detective spurred on by her curiosity unafraid of consequences.

I have now started Coming of the Storm, book 1 of Contact: The Battle for America,  by W Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear.  I have loved these books as they explore the lives of native Americans from all over this country before their lives were interrupted by conquerors from another continent.  I therefore begin this series with some trepidation.  Though not the first Europeans to arrive  (earlier ones did themselves in), this starts with De Soto showing up in what is now Tampa Bay (just north of Venice where I have a mobile home, so familiar surroundings.)

 

Finished THE OPERATOR

This 'verse is different from anything I've read before.  It is a matter of time, but short amounts--seconds.  What can be accomplished in seconds?  This is the second Peri Reed novel I have read.  I don't think I like the 'verse very much, but I do like the heroine (Peri) and some of the people around her.  Characters are complicated, and Peri struggles with a time handicap that keeps her from seeing them clearly....sometimes.  This struggle and mind-bending time dilemma are what keep me interested and at times on the edge of my seat.

I have now started The Look of Love by Mary Jane Clark.  This mystery features Piper Donovan, a pastry chef (specifically cupcakes) who is invited to this fabulous spa and resort in California to bake the wedding cake for one of the owners who will be married there.  No sooner does Piper arrive but someone is murdered.  And our pastry chef is very curious.

 

Finished DEATH BY DIDGERIDOO

 

You don't have to know what a didgeridoo is to understand this book, but I just happened to.  There was a band that played at the Scottish music festival that included the bagpipes and a didgeridoo.  It is an Australian horn about 4 feet long that extends in front of its seated player and rests on the ground.  It has a very deep voice and is loud...one of very few instruments that can hold its own against bagpipes.  That band had a great sound and I've not found anything like it anywhere else.

I enjoyed this short mystery because of its interesting protagonist, Jamie Quinn, who I liked immediately as well as other fun characters, the urgency of solving it, the setting that I'm familiar with, and the roadblock to solving it in the form of a young man on the "spectrum" with Asperger's disease.

I have now barely started The Operator by Kim Harrison which has immediately puzzled me.  It says it is the second in the series and when I read Drafter it said it was the first in the series, but the three books are listed in a different order in front of the book.  So, huh? 

Finished SERPENTINE

 

I thought this was one of her best books.  Yes, lots of relationship stuff, and also a pretty great plot.  New creature discovered.  I also enjoyed the description of the Florida Keys since I have been there and have driven the same roads that are described in the book.

The print became much more readable with my new glasses.  My squinting to see it accounts for how long it has taken me to read it.

I have now started Death by Digeridoo, a Jamie Quinn mystery by Barbara Venkataraman.  As I first started it, I was a bit confused since it is set in Hollywood, FL, a small town between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.  A major character is named Adam.  Problem: the book I just finished was set in the Keys and also had a character named Adam.  A man who is hated by everyone who knows him has been murdered...how do you find a murderer when everyone has a motive?