THE 5TH HORSEMAN—James Patterson & Maxine Paetro—Another good one of the Women's Murder Club series. A hospital with way above average medicine errors causing deaths being sued by distraught families. Yuki's mother dying in the same hospital, under the care of the same Doctor being blamed, seemingly unrelated murders taking place, wide margins, large fonts, short chapters, fast read, fun and quick—despite the number of pages.

THE THREAT—David Poyer—Current and ongoing political questions are posed as Commander Dan Lenson, a military patriot (in the best sense of the word) moved from one position to another, each closer the President. Almost written in three or four acts, with an overriding storyline, governmental power struggles, inabilities of agencies to cooperate with each other, etc., are highlighted leading to a remark of how things had changed; “From protest to conformity, From openness to secrecy. From confidence to carefully inculcated fear.” Highly interesting and written from a professional soldier's point of view.

STRANGERS' GATE—Tom Casey—An unusual novel, with usual plot but unusually presented and concluded. Norman Mailer said, “From the brilliance of the opening chapter,one is aware of a writer with an exceptional point of view.” Perhaps he used this format to bring his views to the widest possible audience. In addition, his love of airplanes and flying bring a fascinating portrait of flying and the pilots who love to fly. With enough money to do what he chooses, Jason Walker becomes a pilot of an airboat in the Carribean, involved with a woman whose husband is deeply evil, etc. Jason's character is multidimensional....the others, perhaps less so. An unusual and good book.

HONEYMOON—James Patterson & Howard Roughman—It's been said you can't judge a book by it's cover—and recently with James Patterson seemingly 'renting' his name to others, a series of, in my opinion, so-so books have emerged. This one is one of the best of the lot—good story, good storyteller, fun, fast and quick. Nora Sinclair has a thing for money, and dead husbands (or to be husbands) and John O'Hara, FBI agent, has the quick tongue which interests her, which is good since she is his 'mark'. Thick book, big print, narrow margins, 2 or 3 page chapters, it moves right along.

THE SINNER—Tess Gerritsen—A fast paced who-done-it, medical style with Coroner Maura and police Jane Rizzoli working together to solve the mysteries surrounding, initially, the deaths of two nuns, the murders having taken place in a cloistered convent. Element after element intrudes each potential solution, as past loves come into each woman's life. Quick paced, well written, good fun.

MURDER AT THE OPERA—Margaret Truman—Using the death of a young opera student as a springboard, Margaret Truman weaves a highly unlikely set of circumstances to provide multiple murders as well as a terrorist situation in this latest in her Capital Crimes Series. Ms. Truman also uses this springboard to educate her readers about the Washington National Opera...and a beginning tutorial on Opera and operas. The plot seemed light, characters two dimensional, story weak and name and place and dropping were highly evident. The book would appeal, also, to those into high society, foods, galas, women's planning committees, etc. There is also some question as to whether Ms. Truman writes these books or whether they are written by another. In any event, not my favorite of her mysteries.

IN A SUNBURNT COUNTRY—Bill Bryson—In which Bill provides a superlative wide-ranging introduction to the Continent and Country of Australia, its people, places, flora and fauna, much of the latter two being dangerous and lethal, as well as all the reasons he's enchanted with the place. It's written in his typical 'chatty' style, humor, chock full of facts, odd tid-bits and his own reflections and views; delightfully readable and enjoyable throughout. Bryson would be someone to fear as an opposing contestant on Jeopardy with the information he doles out so easily. For Bryson fans, travel fans, and fact fans....a superior reading adventure.

GRANT AND SHERMAN: The Friendship That Won the Civil War—Charles Bracelen Flood—For U.S. Civil War buffs, or those with an interest, at all, in U.S. History, or just pleasure reading, Flood gives a keen new insight into how the North won the Civil War. Grant and Sherman, both failures in civilian life, teamed together in War maintained both a professional relationship a personal friendship built on mutual trust and understanding of each other's strengths and weaknesses. The book, also, is a remarkable review of the Civil War period, politics involved, tactics used throughout as well as the remarkable trust Lincoln placed in these two men. The rear cover states, “Poignant, riveting and elegantly written, Grant and Sherman is a remarkable portrait of two extraordinary men and a singular friendship, forged on the battlefield, that would change the course of history.” Believe it! Real history which reads as easily as a novel.

THE JUDGMENT OF PARIS:The Revolutionary Decade that Gave the World Impressionism—Ross King—A gift for Christmas which I'd not considered posting until I read it. A wonderful book for those interested in art...and in the movement that became known as 'impressionism' ("they render not the landscape itself, but the sensation produced by the landscape-p.357) . Hugely researched, the book intertwines French history and politics (European and a touch of U.S, too) the relationships of the artists among themselves and the political figures of the time, and a host of other entertaining detail. Throughout the growth and development of Paris, it's environs, and the rest of France, change of cultural outlook is highlighted. A hugely interesting and entertaining read---believe it or not.

We Shall Not Sleep by Anne Perry

This is the final book in a five book series that began the day the archduke and duchess were shot and world war began. The series is about siblings Joseph, Matthew, Hannah, and Judith Reavley, whose parents are killed the same day as the archduke. They were murdered to keep John Reavley from telling what he knew of a diabolical plot. As the war progresses, Joseph and Judith end up at the front--Judith as an ambulance driver and Joseph as an army chaplain in the trenches, Matthew stays in London in the Secret Service looking for the mastermind of the plot--a man they call the Peacemaker, and Hannah moves back home, bringing her children while her husband commands a navy ship.

Perry is a wonderful storyteller, making the reader feel as though they are there. In addition to the war background, each book has a mystery that must be solved. The books, in order, are: No Graves As Yet, Shoulder the Sky, Angels in the Gloom, At Some Disputed Barricade, and We Shall Not Sleep. I highly recommend this series--in fact, I plan on re-reading it in the near future. While Perry does a good job with back story, I want to read them all in order to keep characters and events all in my head.