In the Moon of Red Ponies

Fourth in the "Billy Bob Holland" series by James Lee Burke, we find Billy Bob and new wife Temple living on their ranch outside Missoula, Montana. Billy Bob is working as an attorney after leaving the Texas Rangers and trying a stint as an assistant U.S. Attorney. Psychopath Wyatt Dixon has been released from jail on a technicality after burying Temple alive and being caught by Billy Bob. And he now seems intent on being a part of their lives, claiming he has found God and is a changed man. Meanwhile, decorated ex-soldier and now activist in Native American causes Johnny American Horse is calling on Billy Bob to help him out of a frame-up for murder. Johnny is in love with the daughter of a U.S. senator and she with him, but the senator will do anything he can to put a stop to their impending marriage. When people start threatening Temple and Billy Bob's son Luke, he struggles to find a path through that will leave his integrity intact. This is a very intricate plot about the abuse of political and monetary power. Sometimes it's hard to tell who the good guys are, because nobody is just one thing. And even when they're trying to do good, they don't often prevail. As Billy Bob puts it, "you're on your own." Richly detailed and colored with a love of the Montana country where he now lives, this will draw you in and not let go until you come up for air at the end. All the other books I've read by Burke are also excellent. He's a great writer with very well-developed characters, sense of place and plotting.

The Last Detective

This is the 9th entry in the “Elvis Cole” series from Robert Crais--fairly far along in the development of the main character; nevertheless, we gain additional insight into what drives Elvis. His partner, Lucy, and her 9 year old son Ben have moved to LA to be near Elvis.  Ben is kidnapped and the phone calls from the kidnappers make it seem that Elvis is actually the target for revenge;  but the charges leveled against Cole about murdering villagers and his fellow soldiers in Viet Nam just didn’t happen.  Elvis enlists long-time compatriot and also former soldier Pike to help him and they quickly realize that the kidnappers are no ordinary men; rather they are highly trained and extremely dangerous ex-special forces who have been working as mercenaries.  The whole kidnapping has been set up by Ben’s father in an attempt to convince his ex-wife to leave Cole and move back to Louisiana. But the plan backfires when the kidnappers decide to double cross him and demand more money. Now it’s a race against the most brutal and deadly kind of enemy to find Ben before they no longer need him. Even if you’ve never read another book in this series, the plot is gripping and the pace fast-moving so you will fall right into the sense of urgency and fear that compel Cole and Pike relentlessly forward.

Killing Floor

This is the first Jack Reacher novel by Lee Child, which I had never read although I've read several of his subsequent ones (e.g., 61 Hours, and Gone Tomorrow) and really liked them. Provides insight into Reacher's childhood and family and, therefore, into his decision to become a modern day "hobo" after he leaves the service. I agree with my husband that casting Tom Cruise as this character in the new movie just seems so wrong, since Reacher is about 6'3"....but all the interviews I have seen/read with Lee Child report him to be totally fine with this decision. Reacher has a fascination with old blues musicians and so he asks the bus driver to drop him off near a town where one particular blues player, Blind Blake, was rumored to have been murdered 60 years ago. He walks 14 miles from the highway into town and is arrested for murder while eating breakfast. It gets weirdly personal when it turns out that the murdered man was none other than Reacher's older brother Joe. Now, even though he's been cleared of the charges because witnesses place him 400 miles away at the time of the murder, Reacher is determined to find out who killed Joe. The books in this series are always fast moving and compelling reads for anyone who likes these type of tough guy books.

The Game of Kings

The first book in the "Lymond Chronicles" by historical novelist Dorothy Dunnett, this book was originally published in 1961 with several re-issues. There appear to be five additional books in the series. Set in the time after the death of Henry VIII, but told from the Scottish perspective, there is now a child on the throne of England and a child on the throne of Scotland. War and politics and treachery are the coin of all realms as Scotland struggles to maintain its independence. The protagonist, Francis Lymond, is an enigmatic character. His first appearance is as a rogue--thief, drunk, womanizer. He emerges--eventually--as a person of high moral character who is working according to his own agenda to help preserve Scotland from an avaricious England. But through much of the book, you are never really sure if he is a traitor or someone wrongly accused. I love reading about this period in history, but felt like I was talked to death at times by elaborate speeches full of literary and cultural references that left me clueless. It is complex in much the same way that Hilary Mantel's books about a slightly earlier period are--it was a complex time, admittedly, but this feels like a book for people who are much better versed in the history and politics than I apparently am.  Maybe though, as with Mantel, the second installment will be easier. I appreciate the encouragement of erudite friend Anne Zald for telling me about this book. I will pass it along to those who also enjoy this genre and time period and may even look for the next installment, Queen's Play.

Garment of Shadows

I really like this series by Laurie King, featuring the semi-retired Sherlock Holmes and his young wife, Mary Russell. Mary is a formidable character in her own right and the story is told from her perspective. She wakes up with no memory of who she is or how she came to be in a small room in what she eventually determines is the town of Fez, Morocco. But soldiers are pounding on the downstairs door and she realizes, to her horror, that she has dried blood on her hands. Making her escape, she vanishes into the souk and discovers she has talents that no ordinary woman should have--for picking pockets and locks, for disguise as a man, for Arabic language... Holmes meanwhile has just found out that Mary is missing and is searching frantically for her when he gets embroiled in political intrigues that could cause Morocco, currently administered by the French in the south and the Spanish in the north, to explode in civil war. As always, King delivers up well-drawn characters, well-researched history, fascinating period details, and a great plot. Excerpts are available on Laurie King's web site.

Vulture Peak

Jon Burdett's novels about Thailand and southeast Asia in general are always fascinating, often gruesome, and yet thought provoking. This fifth in a series that features Buddhist detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep focuses on the exploding trade in human organs and all the vices that you can imagine--and some you probably would not--in connection with the attaining and selling of same. His common law marriage to former prostitute Chanya is somewhat on the rocks; there are rumors she has a lover and Sonchai himself finds his attentions wandering. He is sorely tempted by one particular woman who seems to be at the heart of two overlapping cases, one involving a serial rapist and the other the organ trafficking empire of some very beautiful and very powerful Chinese twins. I devoured the first three in this series (Bangkok 8, Bangkok Tatoo, and Bangkok Haunts) and when I started this, realized I had missed the fourth (The Godfather of Kathmandu) which I will certainly go back and fill in. I also really like The Last Six Million Seconds--another book outside the series about the handover of Hong Kong. These books are gritting and compelling perspectives of the sex trade and corruption of the police in Thailand, but certainly don't entice me to want to visit. This is definitely armchair travel that will stay in the armchair. Kirkus offers more details of the plot.

The End of Your Life Book Club

Although it sounds a bit grim, this is really a fascinating book about the "book club" formed by author Will Schwalbe and his mother Mary Anne in the last couple years of her life. Both were already avid readers. This is ostensibly about the power of books to change lives--no argument from me there--but is really more an homage to a remarkable woman. There were some things that really struck me about books in general, such as how physical books demand attention, whereas electronic books are essentially invisible; that is, a stack of books on your bedside or living room side table perpetually reminds you of what you intend to read. An electronic book disappears when you turn off the reader. I haven't made the leap to e-books although I gave my husband a Kindle Touch. I just added this to my reasons not to change ;-) Schwalbe also talks about the etiquette of dealing with someone who is dying--how you need to remember the past, celebrate the present and mourn the future all at the same time. How not to be intrusive or dismissive. There is, in fact, some discussion about books and what they took from their shared reading and discussion of them. The book includes a list of all the books discussed, although indexing this to the pages where the book was discussed would have been even better. A longer review from the NYT is here.

The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean my Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally have more Fun

So what's not to like in a book about happiness? Even better, Gretchen Rubin has done her homework, researching the idea of, philosophies about,  and scientific findings regarding happiness from a variety of disciplines across the ages. And she makes lists! Lists of Commandments (to be determined by each individual), lists of "Secrets of Adulthood," lists of resolutions for each month of her year long project, and summary lists of "Tips" at the end. She deals with relationships, money, health/exercise, play, work, goals, and attitude. She is personal in her take on everything but offers plenty for the reader to take away and make his/her own. She started a blog, offers an online Toolbox (www.happinessprojecttoolbox.com), and offers additional resources (discussion guide, starter kits, etc). I liked it a lot and may even undertake to re-read it and start my own project.

Bring Up the Bodies

Apparently Hilary Mantel is only the 3rd author to ever win two Man Booker prizes and the 1st to win with a sequel, as she has done with her first two books of a projected trilogy about Thomas Cromwell. Apparently she took the criticism about her difficult to follow use of pronouns in Wolf Hall to heart, and has endeavored in the sequel to more clearly indicate when Cromwell is the "he" in question. Maybe for this reason, or maybe it's just greater familiarity with the huge cast of characters, but this book, focused on the downfall of Anne Boleyn, was easier to follow. Given Boleyn's scheming and cold-hearted treatment of those who opposed her rise to power, it's hard to be sympathetic, and yet, Henry is so fickle and so able to rationalize his wandering libido, that one does feel a twinge for her. Cromwell--never at the top of Anne's list of favorite people--is quick to recognize the shifting winds of Henry's affections, and to begin crafting the case that will free Henry to marry Jane Seymour. Cromwell must ally himself with old enemies, and thereby place himself at greater risk to bring down the current queen.  Cromwell emerged as a very complex character in Wolf Hall, capable of tremendous compassion and loyalty as well as ruthlessness. Here, the ruthlessness--admittedly in the service of old loyalties--drives the plot, as he focuses on those who wronged Cardinal Wolsey in determining who shall die and who shall live. The title refers to the call used to retrieve the prisoners for trial in the Tower of London, where the Queen and a selected few of her ostensible lovers are housed. There is a slightly longer Author's Note that alludes to the historical record drawn upon, but it still left me feeling like I wanted to know a lot more about her sources. Cromwell continues to develop as a man you can both admire and view with caution; certainly you would never want to get on his bad side.

Deadlocked

In this most recent of the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris, the focus is definitely shifting towards the fairies. There are still of course plenty of vampires, various were-creatures and assorted other supernatural beings, but the really complex plot has to do with someone making concerted efforts to get at Sookie. The Cluvial Dor, given to her grandmother by her fairy lover, Fintan, plays a key role. Eric is being visited by the King of Louisiana & Nevada, who is pressuring him to honor the marriage arranged for Eric by his creator. Sookie finds Eric feeding on another woman who has been dosed with fairy blood; she later turns up dead on Eric's front lawn. Needless to say, all of this is stressing the "marriage" between Sookie and Eric. Meanwhile, fairy great-grandfather Niall has surfaced again and taken cousin Claude back to Faery with him; Dermot is left in charge of the strip club where all the left-behind fairy types have taken refuge, and they are starting to get restless. Sookie has learned that Sam's girlfriend and Alcide's enforcer, Janalynn, definitely has it in for her, so she is wondering if she might be behind all the things that are going wrong. But the real culprit will surprise you as will Sookie's decision about how to use the magic gift bequeathed to her by her grandmother.  These new twists will fuel the series for a while longer. I personally do NOT like what HBO has done with this series, but I know some friends really like "True Blood." I just felt after watching a couple of episodes that the focus on blood and sex and the changes to some significant characters and relationships diminished the story line. I continue to find the books great fun, though.