I’m becoming more and more addicted to YouTube shorts, which leaves me less and less time to read books. Here are the ones I managed to get through last year.
1493 – Charles C. Mann
A successor to his 1491 book, showing the massive socio-territorial changes wrought by European colonization of the Western Hemisphere, from Santa’s workshop, down to Patagonia.
Burner – Mark Greaney
Men’s action/adventure novel, good for passing some of the reduced spare time I have.
Dead Letter – Warren Murphy
I dug this book out of a storage box to reread. Murphy is half of the writing team that produced the very successful Destroyer series. This is #3 of a short series of three books about a smart, observant, laid-back investigator, based in Las Vegas. It could have been the archetype for The Rockford Files. I purchased numbers 1 and 2 on Kindle.
False Positive – Andrew Grant
When Andrew Grant is not busy, doing most of the writing for his brother, Lee Grant (Child), about Jack Reacher, he publishes the occasional book about a similar character.
Flash Point – Don Bentley
The actual, full title is TOM CLANCY Flash Point. Bentley is one of several writers keeping the series – and the cash flow – alive. The story arc has moved on to the next generation.
In Too Deep – Lee Child
Credited as Andrew Child, Lee’s brother presents another tale of Jack Reacher out-thinking, out-meaning, and out-punching a bunch of bad guys – predictable, but still mesmerizing.
Magic Claims – Ilona Andrews
Twenty years ago, I’d have had a hard time believing that I’d get hooked on a series with shape=shifters, vampires, magic, and Russian witches. She includes so much personal, social, and interpersonal details, the stories are surprisingly believable. She claims that this is the last book in her “Magic” series. I still have three books in a similar, magic, “Innkeeper” series to go through.
Midnight Black – Mark Greaney
Another author who feeds the Tom Clancy franchise, Greaney also sometimes publishes the odd diverting, generic Action/Adventure novel – lots of brains, lots of high-quality weapons – saving America, or the world, from…. (Take your pick – Russians, Muslims, terrorists, Lex Luthor???)
Moa Lisa Overdrive – William Gibson
Book review post is here.
Red Winter – Mark Cameron
Another “Tom Clancy” action novel. The man has published more books since he died, than he did while he was alive. These books are not just (all) mindless, time-killing babble, as I accuse the wife’s ‘Nurse Jane’ romances. They often include interesting and educational, social, historical, and geographical details.
The 6:20 Man – David Baldacci
An established author, who is new to me. His special-ops-trained protagonist, studying to be an accountant, opens lots of story-arc possibilities.
The Antitheist’s Dictionary – Opher Goodwin
One of only two books I read last year to improve my mind – and I shouldn’t say that too loud. It’s a list of (mostly Christian) religious words and phrases, what they seem to mean to believers and debaters vs. what they mean to skeptics.
The Atlas Maneuver – Steve Berry
Murder, terrorism, covert world-wide social and political power, and unimaginable wealth, all through the manipulation of Bitcoin.
The Chaos Agent – Mark Greaney
Same Old – Same New. In all literature, there are only 7 basic stories. Writers like this keep them fresh and interesting by twisting and adding details.
The Cradle Of Ice – James Rollins
Rollins used to write men’s action books, like the above. Possibly because of saturation in the genre, he has branched off into Sci-Fi/Fantasy about a non-rotating world, where the sun-facing side roasts, the back side freezes, and all life exists on the narrow, central band.
The Devil’s Elixir – Raymond Khoury
The distilled sap of an Amazon plant can produce extended/eternal life??! I’d enlist a bunch of friends, strap on some guns, and go looking – wouldn’t you?
The Last Kingdom – Steve Berry
The Kingdom of Bavaria might wind up owning Hawaii??! That’s enough alternate history to cause a lot of international intrigue.
The Omega Factor – Steve Berry
I don’t know how these writers are blessed –or cursed – with such deep and broad imaginations. My longest short story was only 1500 words.
The Survivor – Gregg Hurwitz
Somebody is after the wrong guy – and he has to get smart, fast, and lucky – or die.
The Tower – Gregg Hurwitz
The maximum security wing of a seaside prison is an 8-story tower, composed only of round, stainless steel bars. Of course, the insane serial killer escapes the escape-proof facility, and it takes the almost-as-insane tracker to find and stop him. There’s a lot of deep Freudian psychology dished out.
To Die For – David Baldacci
The agent-turned-Accountant has graduated, and is back with the CIA. He’s using his gun and his brain more than his bookkeeping skills. Perhaps next book.
Till The End Of Time – Allen Appel
Time travel into the past by mental effort, with no guarantee of duration of visit, or return time. Doesn’t sound like a good idea to me. Still, it gives the author a chance to describe history. Try as hard as he might, the protagonist finds that he cannot change the outcome of the Battle of Little Bighorn.
Weapons Grade – Don Bentley
In yet another ‘Tom Clancy’-estate inspired novel, the author has the next generation foil a plot to produce H-bomb fuel.
Zero Hour – Don Bentley
Bentley has Tom Clancy’s ‘kids’ – even though they’re well into their 30s – foil a plot where a Chinese faction is aiding North Korea to develop a missile capable of reaching America’s Pacific coast. How “Today’s Headlines!” Having a heroine in an action team, with no left hand, is an interesting twist.
That’s all the books I carried on the Reading Railroad. CU again soon.
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