The Darkest Evening of the Year - Dean Koontz

The first Koontz novel I ever read was Watchers. Golden retrievers are a focus in this story too. Once again Koontz has written a fascinating tale of people, both good and evil, that will keep you reading way past bed time. If you haven't read Watchers I highly recommend it too. You can read them in any order. They're both well worth the time. Highly recommended.

One caveat. Some authors are starting to get preachy on their favorite causes. Koontz is just a little distracting in this novel with his crusade for dogs. Not nearly as annoying as Grisham has been lately, but it does detract from the story.

Duma Key - Stephen King

King never fails to engage the reader. This story is interesting from beginning to end, and not a bad ending either -- for King. I didn't get much sleep while reading it, but I'll be able to sleep having finished it. I can't say that about all the King novels I've read :)   Highly recommended.

The Appeal - John Grisham

The Appeal is a good book. You keep wanting to turn the page and read the next section. It kept me up past 2:00 AM. However, Grisham is becoming a lot like Stephen King. His stories keep pulling you in but the endings almost make you wish you hadn't read the book. I warned you. Highly recommended.

The Complete Hammer's Slammers Volume One - David Drake

I really enjoyed this book. Drake writes stories that make you think and doesn't waste time or words doing it. This is a compilation of short to medium length stories on the topic of future tank warfare. This is an excellent book to read if you don't have big chunks of time, since the stories can be read and enjoyed in quickly. You can finish one before bed or knock off a story at lunch while you eat a sandwich and some chips. I'll be reading more Drake. Highly recommended.

Obsession - Jonathan Kellerman

This is another Alex Delaware novel with the usual cast of characters. Alex got his old girl friend back and a new dog and has plenty of dead bodies to sleuth over. Highly recommended.

Black House - Stephen King & Peter Straub

This is the follow up to The Talisman. I really think Straub might be a positive influence on King. I'm a happy ending kind of guy and that's one thing you could not count on with King. He could leave you feeling pretty wiped at the end of a book. Cujo and Pet Cemetery come to mine :)   This is an excellent story. Highly recommended.

The Hunters - W.E.B. Griffin

I'm reading these out of order because I grabbed the wrong book from the stack at some point and it's what I had on a long business trip. This is the third novel in the Presidential Agent series. Castillo is a great protagonist, and the rest of the characters do an excellent job of backing him up. Another can't put it down book. Highly recommended.

The Talisman - Stephen King & Peter Straub

The Talisman reminds me of The Stand and The Dark Tower series. I liked it. It was too bogged down in detail at times, but it kept my interest and the ending was unlike many King novels. You'll have to figure that one out. I've never read a novel by Straub, that I remember, so I can't gauge the influence he had on the final story. I'll have to give him a try. I read this book because I'm about to read The Black House and it's the sequel to The Talisman. Everything in order :)   Highly recommended.

Iron Kissed - Patricia Briggs

This is the latest Mercy Thompson novel. I really like the way Briggs writes. Before this book I read a science fiction that was very good but not a grabber. I could put that book down and pick it up later with no problem. Iron Kissed is a grabber. I missed sleep for this book because it grabs you from start to finish. Very highly recommended.

Heaven's Reach - David Brin

This is the final book in the uplift trilogy centering on the planet Jijo. It's a great finish and leaves plenty of this series' universe to explore in future novels. I recommend starting with book one and two before reading three. Highly recommended.

Traveling with computers

I'm working in North Carolina for a while. I've been here two weeks and will probably be here for three more. It's a pretty part of the country. This picture of the building where I'm working was taken in the fall. It's considerably more bare now.

The building is very nice. If I have to work in an office (cubicle) at least it's in a nice environment. Of course tearing down and installing new labs doesn't give me a chance to enjoy it much.

I'm working in Cary, a suburb of Raleigh. I brought my bike, my dogs, and three computers. I'm actually getting more exercise here than in frigid Illinois. I pedal to work and back from the hotel each day and take the dogs for a ride mornings.

My reading time is suffering though. What I'd give for a comfortable chair to sink into with a book in the evenings. I miss my La-Z-Boy :( On the other hand every restaurant I've been to serves sweet tea. Yahoo!

Infinity's Shore - David Brin

This is book two in the uplift trilogy based on the planet Jijo. The first is Brightness Reef. This is another fascinating story. More questions are answered and more raised. I look forward to book three. We're up to nine sooner races on Jijo now and things are really getting interesting. Highly recommended.

By Order of the President - W. E. B. Griffin

This is the first in a new Griffin series dealing with today's issues of terrorism and homeland security. It is Griffin, so the story is still centered on the military and the role it plays and could play. The terrorist plot is certainly different from most books I've read along this line. The solution is also unique but effective. I hope our president, and future presidents, can be as effective as the fictional president in this novel. I can't see a democrat having that much courage or sense. Vote Republican! Very highly recommended.

If Democrats Had Any Brains, They'd Be Republicans - Ann Coulter

I have to admit I bought the book for the cover. Ann Coulter is Hot. Just kidding! About why I bought the book I mean. Coulter is just as smart and on the money as ever. I wish some of the conservatives in government had half the balls she does. I'd vote for her for just about any office. I'm not sure she'd make a good ambassador though. I don't think diplomatic is in her repertoire :) However, I don't want her to change. She's pretty close to perfect as is. Highly recommended.

Carrie Vaughn - Kitty and the Silver Bullet

This is the next installment in the Kitty of the Midnight Hour series. There are plenty of vampires and werewolves to go around. Too many actually. At least the supernaturals are out now so the cops are slowly learning to deal with the really bad guys. Highly recommended.

New Moon - Stephenie Meyer

This is the sequel to Twilight. The story continues with some unpredictable twists. There are more supernatural characters and there is way more teenage angst :)

This novel is PG at worst. I really like Meyer's willingness to avoid the easy clichés of bad language and sex. The book does have some violence, but it's about monsters so you have to expect a little. However, this is still a teen friendly book. Highly recommended.

An Ice Cold Grave - Charlaine Harris

This is the third book in the Harper Connelly series. Harper and her non-brother Tolliver find more than they bargained for this time when they're called in to find some missing boys. This story has its share of close calls and close contact. It keeps you guessing right up to the end. Very highly recommended.

The Wheel of Darkness - Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child

This is another Agent Pendergast novel, and as always a good one. From the mountains of Tibet to the deck of an ocean liner, the adventure never stops. In this story Constance Greene moves out of the shadows again and contributes much to the tale. The twist at the very end comes from way out in left field. Highly recommended.

The Society - Michael Palmer

This book explores the US health care industry in the context of a very good murder mystery. The story grabbed my interest and I found myself following it when I should have been doing other things. Sleeping mainly. Highly recommended with the caveats below.

There are always some things that drive me nuts. One is authors trying to make themselves sound more knowledgeable than they are. For the record Glocks don't have cylinders, hammers you can cock, or safeties you can check to make sure they're off.

I really enjoyed this story right up to the end when the author got on his political soap box and began to daydream about universal health care in this country. When he actually indicated that someday our country may enjoy universal heath care as good as Canada I was tempted to burn the book. Idiots can be authors too.

T is for Trespass - Sue Grafton

Kinsey Millhone is one of my favorite characters. This is another Millhone tale that weaves multiple threads into a very compelling story. Kinsey survives but it's a close at times. Grafton can't kill her off yet. We have U through Z to go! T was well worth the read. Highly recommended.