Compulsion - Jonathan Kellerman

This is another Alex Delaware novel. It has the same cast of supporting characters as usual and the bad guys are particularly bad this time. Alex and Milo make an interesting pair. I really enjoyed this book if it just wasn't so hard to put down. Read or sleep? Life is full of choices :) Highly recommended.

Term Limits - Vince Flynn

This is a political action thriller that I found most satisfying. Mainly because some fat cat politicians had their terms limited -- permanently. The premise of the novel is intriguing and the suspense is tight. More than once I couldn't figure out what Flynn was going to do with all those pages still to be turned, but he always found a way to keep me turning them. Highly recommended.

Fearless Fourteen - Janet Evanovich

This is the 14th full length Stephanie Plum novel. There aren't too many books that have an interesting plot and can also make me laugh out loud while eating lunch in a restaurant. Evanovich can do it with consistency. I always look forward to a new story from her, especially if it involves Stephanie the reluctant bounty hunter. Very highly recommended.

Nothing to Lose - Lee Child

Jack Reacher again. You have to admire this guy's ability to avoid society. Fortunately, for those of us who read, he can't seem to avoid trouble. This is another amazing story and the end will blow you away. Highly recommended.

The Scientists - John Gribbin

This is a great book. You're not going to learn all there is to know about physics or chemistry or quantum theory, but this book presents a broad look at how science evolved from the 16th through the 20th centuries in a very entertaining way. It provides interesting insights into how science as we know it works and the important men and women who helped make it what it is today. It's a long story, and jumps around sometimes because it's written from the perspective of the scientists involved, but it's a very satisfying read. Highly recommended.

Seduction in Death - J.D. Robb

Every time I finish an "In Death" novel I'm ready for another. Seduction in Death is no exception. Eve Dallas and the standard cast of characters contribute to an interesting story and a satisfying conclusion. The future seems to have its share of creepy villains and Lt. Dallas is there to put them away. Very highly recommended.

7th Heaven - James Patterson & Maxine Paetro

This is the seventh book in the Women's Murder Club series. It's as good or better than the others. I stayed up late two nights trying to finish this one but finally killed it off during lunch today. The ending was a real surprise. Very highly recommended.

I don't have TV so I have no idea what the TV series is like. My recommendation is read the books and give your imagination some good exercise. There are no commercials!

Purity in Death - J.D. Robb

Purity in Death is another Eve Dallas book. This is a fantastic series for those that like cop novels and a little science fiction at the same time. Lt. Eve Dallas is a homicide cop in New York City, but it's the New York City of the year 2059. This is book 15 of the In Death series. I recommend reading them in order but I haven't done that so you can jump in anywhere and enjoy the story. For background the right order would be better. Nora Roberts web site has all the information you need. Nora Roberts and J.D. Robb are the same person. Very highly recommended.

Note: do not listen to this book in the car while your grandchildren are present. The cop language and the steamy scenes (there are several) will have to be explained if you do. I learned this the hard way :(

Without Fail - Lee Child

Another Jack Reacher novel that kept me glued to my chair. Reacher had a brother. His brother had a girl friend. The girl friend manages to find Reacher and hires him to assassinate the vice president. That's the beginning of an very interesting story. Highly recommended.

Broken Angels - Richard Morgan

This is a story about war and politics in the distant future when Martian artifacts provide all the motivation needed for human nature to assert its lowest common denominator. The technology is impressive and the action and plot twists kept me interested all the way through. Resleeving make for lots of possible sequels :)   This is my first Takeshi Kovacs novel. I intend to read more. Highly recommended.

Odd Hours - Dean Koontz

This is Koontz's fourth Odd Thomas novel. This is such an interesting character you find yourself anticipating the next book in the series as soon as you finish. This time you're left with more questions than answers so there has to be a fifth. Highly recommended.

Phantom Prey - John Sandford

Phantom Prey is the latest installment in the Lucas Davenport Prey series. There are a few authors and series I try to keep track of. Sandford and his Prey series is one of them. All the novels in this series are well worth reading. Highly recommended.

Echo Burning - Lee Child

Echo Burning is a Jack Reacher novel. Jack's saving another damsel in distress and doing it well. There are some twists in this one that'll catch you by surprise. This is my second time reading this book. Getting old has it's benefits. Every time you read a good novel it's like the first time :)   Highly recommended.

Quicksilver - Neal Stephenson

This is the first book in the Baroque Cycle series. If you like historical novels this story will definitely pull you in. It takes place in the 17th and 18th centuries. It covers so much ground I can't summarize and do it justice. Science, politics, finance, and religion are all mixed into a fascinating tale that has a fictional Waterhouse tying it all together. If you read Stephenson's Cryptonomicon that name will be familiar, as will others in this novel. It's a long but satisfying read. Highly recommended.

Maximum Ride: The Final Warning - James Patterson

This is another flying kid book in the Maximum Ride series. The target age level seems to be dropping with the series. I still enjoyed the story and will continue to read this series, but it's villains and protagonists are becoming juvenile and predictable. Patterson has joined the rank of some of my other favorite authors (Koontz and Grisham) and started preaching. At least when he gets on his soap box about global warming it's in the right venue -- a work of fiction. All that aside, I recommend this book to Maximum Ride followers and others.

The Dark Portal - Robin Jarvis

This is my first Jarvis book and I really enjoyed it. I have 10 grandkids and I like to read some books I can recommend to the older grandkids from time to time. This one will be on my Christmas buy list this year. It's the story of a brave band of mice who take on the sewer rats and their dark lord. This book is only the first in a series of books in the The Deptford Mice series. Highly recommended.

Curse of the Spellmans - Lisa Lutz

This is an excellent book for those who think their families are dysfunctional. You'll quickly discover just how normal you are. Lutz managed to top her first Spellman novel with this one. I look forward to many more. Highly recommended.

Hollywood Station - Joseph Wambaugh

This is an excellent cop story about policing in Hollywood. There are lots of characters, some cops and some crooks. The plot thread is salted with interesting short stories along the way to a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended.

Plum Lucky - Janet Evanovich

This is another Stephanie Plum story. It's short but sweet. The question becomes how many hot men can Stephanie juggle at once? I almost got a friend of mine, who only reads T.V. Guide and stamp and coin collector magazines, to read this one by quoting the last line in the book, "Diesel was gone...and so was my bra." He's waiting for the movie :) Highly recommended.

Creation in Death - J.D. Robb

A novel featuring Lt. Eve Dallas is always worth the read. This time it's personal and comes right down to the wire. I enjoy reading Nora Roberts in any guise. Very highly recommended.