End of Summer Reads

I haven’t read nearly as many books as I as hoping to this summer…but am thankful for the ones I did manage to read! Here are my latest finds…

Six Years by Harlan Coben

I love Coben. This was a non-Mickey Bolitar book but I still loved it. Jake Fisher is the main character. He is a professor who, six years later, is still nursing a broken heart after the love of his life, Natalie, suddenly dumped him and married an old boyfriend. One day at work, Jake is perusing the front page of his college’s website and sees an obituary for the man Natalie married. He decides to attend the funeral which raises more questions rather than provide closure. Six years ago, when Natalie told him to leave her alone, he should have listened. This book was fast-paced with plenty of intrigue to keep you reading.

Close Your Eyes by Amanda Eyre Ward

This book has been on my list for years. I don’t even remember where I heard about it. I would give this three stars: not the best book ever, but a good, easy read. Lauren, the main character, was 8 when her mother was murdered. The killer? Her father. Almost 30 years later, Lauren begins to wonder if maybe they’d had it wrong all along. It’s not terribly exciting but it is a quick, fun read.

Unseend by Karin Slaughter

I wish Slaughter could write a book once a week. That’s how much I love her books. In this book, Will Trent is on the job again. He is deeply in love with Sarah and deeply undercover. Lena is involved too and, of course, causing trouble. I really enjoy how Slaughter develops her characters so that you are rooting for Will and Sarah and despising Lena. The plot is exciting with major twists. Will is undercover with what appears to be a major drug ring. What they uncover is much, much worse than that. If you haven’t read her books yet, start at the beginning and read them all! She is sooooo good.

When Will There Be Good News? By Kate Atkinson

The main character in this book, Joanna is the sole survivor of a random and brutal attack that left her mother, sister and baby brother dead. Thirty years later, the murderer is being released. Suddenly, Joanna disappears. There are many subplots including characters such as the teenage babysitter, Joanna’s husband, the police officer investigating her disappearance and the officer’s former lover. This book was another quick, easy exciting read that I enjoyed. It’s also set in England which I love in a book!!

12th of Never by James Patterson

This is the latest in Patterso’s women’s murder club series. It was very good. I always enjoy reading this series with these strong women for main characters. Lindsay has a baby now and is struggling to balance work and motherhood. Yuki is trying a major murder case. Cindy and Richie are n the rocks. Clare is fighting to keep her job due to a missing corpse. It’s typical Patterson which I truly enjoy.

I also read The Poisonwood Bible but, don’t hate me, I didn’t like it at all. Sorry!!

What have you read lately?