London Bridges

I probably have read more of James Patterson's YA novels than his novels for adults, but still I was disappointed in this 10th installment in the Alex Cross series. This series of books has provided the foundation for some really compelling movies starring Morgan Freeman--Kiss the Girls and Along Came a Spider. Nevertheless, I found the writing choppy and jarring, the plotting seemed too contrived. Kept me enough engaged on the plane ride back from Las Vegas and only cost me $.50 at the Library Friends book sale so guess I can't complain too much, but I won't be seeking out another of his books when  much better fare is available.
If you want a more detailed summary of the book, it's here on Patterson's own website.

Thunderstruck

I ran across this older work by Erik Larson on the sale table at Oregon State when I stopped by the campus to catch up with friends and former colleagues in July. Having just finished In the Garden of Beasts, I snatched it up and, although it was not as compelling to me as either Garden or Devil in the White City, it was nevertheless a trademark example of Larson's style, wherein he weaves together two lines of history--a murder and the development of wireless communication by Marconi. I would be fascinated to know how he decides exactly which two historical threads to pull on for any particular book, but as always, he has done extensive research and documented the accounts with plenty of primary source material addressed in chapter notes and the bibliography. I would agree with the NYTimes Book Review that this is not Larson's most successful effort, and that the story dragged at times. Marconi emerges as a much more complexly drawn character than does the supposedly mild-mannered homeopath, Dr. Crippen, who murdered his wife in spectacular fashion. I never considered not finishing the book, but it wouldn't be high on my recommended list unless the personalities and politics surrounding the development of wireless intrigue you.

Rain Gods

I don't know why I have stayed away from James Lee Burke for so long. He is a master of character and setting and this book is no exception. Set in the Rio Grande borderlands of Texas, there are bad people out there killing Asian women behind an abandoned church and a few good ones like Sheriff Hack Holland who is bound and determined to bring them to justice. And the nature of justice is certainly a question at play here. Even the bad guy has his own "code"--somewhat reminiscent of the psychopath in No Country for Old Men-- but that doesn't mean you would want him to date your daughter. Hack is a pretty tortured soul after the death of his 2nd wife, trying to find peace in a simple existence that includes creating beautiful gardens in the inhospitable Texas hardpan. He carries a load of guilt for past transgressions both as a husband to his first wife and as a prisoner in a Chinese camp. Nevertheless, the people who work with him see his integrity and compassion and are drawn to him, in spite of his prickly stubborness. Human beings are complicated and so are their relationships; Burke's ability to draw you into knowing his characters is what sets these novels apart from lesser police/detective procedurals, much as with P.D. James' work. I was a big fan of the Dave Robichaux novels (Burke's earliest protagonist) and I think I will get to know some of his newer ones now that I've reconnected. This is a thoughtful book that takes time to read and digest, and it's worth savoring.