Talk about throwing a bunch of conspiracy theories all into one book!

Bedside book: Still working on "Creole Belle" by James Lee Burke

I like Keeper of Lost Causes very much, but then I'm into Scandinavian mysteries.

I think Creole Belle is a bit overwritten and rambling, and the character of Clete is beginning to get on my nerves. But I'm still reading it.

due in May 2013. I read The Absent One, the next in the series, and you'll be happy to know that that Morck has a new female secretary whom he despises. You will enjoy....

The parallel stories in Keeper of Lost Causes really keep you turning pages.

But you turned me on to the more difficult foreign authors, whose stories are more complicated, the characters more alive, their names and places impossible to pronounce, they're mostly available at bookstores and libraries, and I generally like them better now (except for Doss) than the new book shelf at the grocery store.


PS When you get a chance, make another list of your favorite foreign authors. Some are now my favorites, but can't remember all you've mentioned.

so I hope you can find them.

I found this one in the bottom of a box of books. I read it 40 years ago. His thesis is, we're animals; we behave like animals. Ardrey is smart, highly literate and reasons well. He's better known for The Territorial Imperative. Highly recommended.

Listening to the last full Aubrey/Maturin book, _Blue at the Mizzen_.

James Doss died in May, 2012, and this is the last of his Charlie Moon series.

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/D_Authors/Doss_James.html

I am so sad. Doss' books are so special to me. Almost every sentence is a gem, and I relish the characters, plots and humor. He's the only American author I would rank with Cotterill, Adler-Olsen, or some of the many foreign authors I've come to enjoy.

I've bought almost all the books in the series, except for the last two, and will get them soon...

He wrote in the preface of his book about an old lady who had just gave up the ghost, "..Where a particular given-up ghost goes and what it does when it gets there remains an open question...." I hope Mr. Doss' ghost has found a cozy and interesting spot somewhere up there or over there, an open question...

Start reading his series anywhere in the series - just start...

Book 117 of 2012

He knew he was dying and it would be the last one.

The very first book in the series has almost no comments.

This one is about even - half remarks, observations, opinions, and half story.

The more I read, the better the book got, and the worse I felt because this is the last one.

I'll order it, of course, and will have a complete set.

The characters are more real to me than folks I've known...

I feel so bad. I know how much you loved his work and how his characters have touched your heart.

Just want to give you a hug

by Jack McDevitt and Mike Resnick. I'll finish it later today.

The Cassandra Project. In the end it was a big let-down for me, but it was entertaining enough a journey.

Now I'm reading The Twelve Clues of Christmas by Rhys Bowen.

Oh, and how are you liking Gone Girl?

My wife finished "Live by Night" a couple of weeks ago and her take was similar to yours. But she just loved "The Given Day" and thinks that's the best of his. Still, she'd read a shopping list if he wrote it.