Books read, 2019

[peppermintesse]

Well, a tiny improvement over last year, probably because some of these are audiobooks. I'll take whatever progress I can get.

I also need to finish up Strangers in Paradise XXV (the last two issues), but I don't want it to END.

Books, 2019

January (1)

Vengeance (Confluence Book 5) by Jennifer Foehner Wells: The latest in the Confluence series has Darcy still in search of Adam, and learning that the foe she thought she'd defeated was still alive… and how these two separate things come together. Once I started reading, it was hard to stop. We get some answers… and even more questions.

I have to say, I love the diversity of these characters so much, and love even more the obvious scientific research that the author puts into developing them into more than cardboard cutouts. (Off topic, but: I couldn't help picturing of G'Kar and Na'Toth from Babylon 5 for Raub and Raub's sister, respectively.)

(I already counted this in 2018's count, since I was so close to done.)

Evil Has a Name by Jim Clemente, Paul Holes, et al (audiobook): An Audible original that documents the final days of the investigation and search for the Golden State Killer. It talks about the forensic genealogy that was pioneered for this case, and presents information by the victims as well as those who knew/know the suspect, in their own voices. I thought it was a fantastic, informative listen and I recommend it as a companion piece to Michelle McNamara's I'll Be Gone in the Dark.

March (2)

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman (BBC Radio 4 adaptation): I loved the premise of this: a little boy in hospital visited by a mysterious old woman who tells him stories of the nine worlds. Plus: Diana Rigg!

Zodiac by Robert Greysmith (audiobook): Probably the first true crime paperback I ever bought, narrated by a man with the perfect voice for narrating this kind of content (Stefan Rudnicki). However, it looks like Audible discontinued Channels (it was previously available through "Truly Criminal"), so I wasn't able to finish it with about 2 hours and 10 minutes to go.

May (3)

Ink and Bone by Lisa Unger: It's the story of a pair of women with the ability to communicate with the dead helping to figure out who kidnapped some young girls from their area. I think I started it at the end of last year, but it's taking me forever to get through this because I am just not that gripped by it. But I am tenacious, and I don't give up on a book unless I hate it. Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Later: I finished it this month and… meh. There was a bit of a twist at the ending, though it wasn't one of those 'rock you back on your heels' twists. I could have been spending my time reading something much more interesting.

Shifter Woods: Roar and Shifter Woods: Snarl by Nicola M. Cameron: A nice palate cleanser after that last book. I don't know what it is that I like so much about this universe in which humans shapeshift into different animal forms, but I do. There's an actual plot involved, and some dang good pr0n. (I'm not usually into m/m (Roar), but I'm willing to read it for this author, 'cause I know she'll deliver.)

June (2)

To My Muse by Nicola M. Cameron: A charming tale of a writer, Lily, who bases the hero of her romance novel on one of her favorite actors, Tom… and then realizes that, while absolutely hammered, she mailed him the book. She tries to retrieve it, and hijinks ensue. I really enjoyed this fun and frothy rom-com. I loved Lily and Theresa.

Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey: 'A murder mystery set in a Hogwarts-like high school for young mages' is a premise that caught my attention immediately… coupled with that, the author is the same one that penned the amazing American Hippo saga. TAKE MY MONEY!

July (1)

Stay Sexy and Don't Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark (audiobook): The dual memoir of the hosts of My Favorite Murder, which is my favorite podcast. Very interesting to learn a little bit more about these women and their lives. I really felt inspired and touched.

August (1)

Behind the Iron Cross by Nicola Cameron: I am not sure I knew a thing about this book's plot before I started reading it (see: previous comment about reading this author), and I'm almost grateful for that, because it turned out to be both hot (M/F, M/M, and M/M/F) and have a plot that is grounded in history and is interesting/exciting to boot. I'll just leave it at that.

November (1.5)

Chase Darkness With Me by Billy Jensen (audiobook): Partly a memoir, partly a recounting of true crime cases, Billy Jensen explains his technique for deploying on-line campaigns to investigate and bring attention to cold cases. A really good read that makes you want to go out and pound the pavement for justice, virtually or literally.

Emergency Skin by N. K. Jemisin (short story): Nothing I've ever read by her has disappointed me, and this was no exception. You think you know what's going on, but she's great at subverting your expectations. Bonus: the audio version is read by Jason Isaacs.

Total number: 11.5