And Then You Die by Iris Johansen

Not a bad little story.  Better when you realize it came out three years *before* 9/11.  The characterization was a little weak, and the sex was a throwaway add-on, but the intrigue at the center of the story was all too possible, in 1998 and most likely today as well.

Deadly Housewives edited by Christine Matthews

A little slow, and a couple of definite duds, but Nevada Barr’s “GDMFSOB” makes up for the failings of other stories with a deliciously clever (pun intended) little murder.  “Trailer Trashed”,  while thoroughly predictable was nonetheless enjoyable for its glimpse of the possible future of one of the blights of modern society, reality tv.

Where Truth Lies by Christiane Heggan

“She would have looked terrific in any hairstyle, but the short layers of her ash-blond hair worn in that sexy, tousled do suited her particularly well.”

Need I say more?  I mean, really, is there anything ~not~ trite and lazy about that sentence?

The Methuselah Enzyme by Fred Mustard Stewart

Not bad, though very, very dated since this is an OOP sci-fi paperback from 1970.

Deep Storm by Lincoln Child

Not a bad premise, and much better than the last stand-alone I read from a half of the “Douglas Preston-Lincoln Child” team. Maybe I will read “Deathmatch” after all…

Brother Odd by Dean Koontz

(an Odd Thomas book)

Better than the last one, still nowhere near as good as the first one.

The Reading Group by Elizabeth Noble

My book club made me do it. 

I didn’t think it was a bad book, it was just a bit shallow for me.  It touched on a lot of HUGE issues of import to women, but just touched, nothing much more, which left me feeling a bit unsatisfied at the end (and at the pat ending).

~~~

The book was unsatisfying, but the book club discussion it led to with friends was, quite literally, priceless.  We had what still stands out in my mind (editing this a year and a half after I read it) as one of our best book group meetings ever that night.  You should read it with a group of gal pals just so you can talk about it!

Plum Lovin’ by Janet Evanovich

(a Stephanie Plum novel)

I enjoyed this, though I have to admit I dunno who the heck the character she had playing male lead was–I simply do not remember him.  I also found the blending of mystic and Plum a little off putting.  Where’s book 13 already?  I don’t like her other series, wish she’d get back to more Stephanie.

Hundred-Dollar Baby by Robert B. Parker

(a Spenser novel)

Thought this was better than the last couple Spensers, but they aren’t what they used to be–less intellectual, less fulfilling to read.