Mounting Fears by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another exciting page turner but alas, written in 2009 this series seems to be at its end. This is a great book with a lot of complicated things going on. There is not resolution to all the plot lines but some of them continue in other Wood's series.
I love these books partly because I seem to get totally immersed in his characters. I just can't put them down.

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Capital Crimes by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great story with great characters. I love the twists and turns and could not put this book down. In fact I read it in a day. I'm beginning to be sad that there is onlly one more book in the series. These are great books but.... I have read the Stone Barrington series and that has tipped me off as to some of the action... still great stories.

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The Run by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just loved this book. I'm a sucker for Stuart Woods. These stories are just real enough to be believable and just fanciful enough to be fun. I like stories with twists and turns and this is one of them. Bravo, I'm sorry there are only a couple left in the series.

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Grass Roots by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Kept me on the edge until the last few pages. In fairness I knew this was not the last in the series so I knew Will would make it out alive. Stuart Woods is quite an author, several times this book took turns I just wasn't ready for. I loved reading it.

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The Nest by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a book club selection. An interesting story that seemed to stray a bit at times. After finishing it I begin to see how it all fit together but I was a bit disappointed in the way some of the characters fleshed out. Some seemed full and rich and others, though important to the story, were flat and colorless.
I guess books about dysfunctional people are not my thing. I'll bet after the book club is done discussing it I'll feel differently about he book.

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Deep Lie by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love this book. A great story. It is a little plagued by coincidence but the author does such a great job of weaving the story that it is actually believable. The story is complex and exciting, I could not put it down, just like all Stuart Woods books.

This was a great story and helped us to get to know Will and the other continuing characters better. Having read all the Stone Barrington books, I pretty well know what happens to them.

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Run Before the Wind by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow! Strong interesting characters, a suspenseful story and great twists of plot. Interesting reading a book written in the 80's. No cell phones, email or other modern tech. The story might even be a coming of age story of sorts. Will Lee learns a lot and we learn a lot about him. I think I'll read another.

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Chiefs by Stuart Woods
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've always thought of Stuart Woods as the writer of light, fun and clever stories. This book is genuine historical fiction with a hint of murder mystery. I know it is cliche but I could not stop reading this. It unrolled before my eyes and was interesting and kept me wondering what would happen next.
A period of time that I have not understood well. The post-civil war south up to the civil rights era is a period in which out country changed and the south changed even more.
I'm ready for the rest of this series. What a great author.

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Deep Freeze by John Sandford
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Not a murder mystery, more a how to find a killer. John Sandford stories are filled with memorable characters doing interesting things. Even the crime is interesting. I love the fact that the same old character can give me new and interesting plot lines and stories. This book is a real page turner and hard to put down.

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Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Not a favorite of mine, a bit disjointed and repetitious. It does illuminate the mores of a large segment of our population. A whole group of Americans who do not really share in the American dream. Although not surprising, this book does shine a bright life on the hillbilly ethics and lifestyle.
Incredible that this group has found a voice in the white house.

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Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is right in my wheelhouse. The subject, style and plot were totally what I like. Enjoyed the read and even looked at maps and researched some of the locations because I felt like I was there. Wonder how people lived in NYC during the war, this is a book for you.
This story unfolds beautifully. Egan is a master storyteller. Characters come alive and you can imagine their breath and smell. I love her style. No friends of mine are saying, why only 4 stars? I hated the ending. I wish she would continue the story. The characters are too interesting to drop. Please, write a sequel, and then four more...... when the little gent becomes nightclub owner?

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The Widow by Fiona Barton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Quite a book, great story, well told. Ms Barton is a master story teller bringing all the pieces together in a smart well constructed story. I must say I had figured it out but the end was well done. Hard to put down. The characters were well developed and kept the reader in the story 'til the end. No spoilers here because this is a book club book that I get to discuss with friends next week.

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