Book 168: The In Crowd

 I liked this book--the second book in the Caius Beauchamp detective series. 

Book 167: The Crossing Place by Elly Griffiths

 I'm re-reading the Ruth Galloway series, in order of course, and this is book 1. It is so good--we meet all the characters who are with us through the whole series, and a lot of Nelson and Cathbad's relationship is established in this book. It's just great.

Note: I skipped 10 places in May, so this number is the correct number. I'm too lazy to go correct them all.

Book 176: The Other Half by Charlotte Vassel

 I liked this book a lot--it features a London detective named Caius Beauchamp who has to investigate a murder among the landed gentry (which he isn't). Lots of good characters. This is the first in a series and I'm glad about that!

Book 175: Mendocino and Other Stories by Ann Packer

 One of my favorite books of all time is "The Dive from Claussen's Pier" by Ann Packer. I've liked her other novels too. This collection of short stories is ok. Like many short stories I read, the stories seem able to go on for many more pages but they just....end.  So this book is fine but not great.

Book 174: Acts of Violet by Margarita Montimore

 Magician Violet has been missing for ten years. Is she dead, or somewhere else? A podcast host and her sister try to find the truth. I liked the format of this book (podcast transcripts, letters, stuff like that) but the story was ridiculous, and not in a good way.

Book 173: There is No Ethan by Anna Akbari

 This is a great book. It's about how three women found the person who was 'catfishing' them on line. It's a true story, and you'll wonder how three theoretically smart women spent two years interacting with Ethan, who they never met in person. It's fascinating and so well written. 

Book 172: Art Heist: 50 Artworks you will never see again by Susie Hodge

 Imagine you were in your Intro to Art History Class and the day's lecture was on artworks that have been stolen. This book is pretty much what that class would be. Photo of a stolen artwork, paragraph on when it was stolen and where the artwork might be now. Spoiler alert: it's either destroyed or being held as collateral in a drug deal. Could have been a fascinating book, it wasn't. 

Book 171: The Confidence Games by Tess Amy

 This was kind of a silly book--two con women get blackmailed into stealing a priceless piece of jewelry from a jewelry show. We'll just call it Oceans 2. 

Book 170: None of this is True by Lisa Jewell

 I've never read a Lisa Jewell book, but I will read more (after I recover from this one, haha). A podcaster meets her 'birthday twin' and interviews her for the podcast--and things go badly from there. Very badly. So twisty. Even the end is a twist on a twist. 

Book 169: Cue The Sun by Emily Nussbaum

 This book is about the history of reality tv, but the author only focused on a few programs and gave most of them short shrift. However, there was more about Alan Funt than I ever want to know. 

Book 168: Greenwich by Kate Bond

 This was a pretty intense family story.. Recent HS grad Rachel goes to visit her Aunt and Uncle for the summer--her Aunt is recovering from something (I don't think it is explicitly named, but it involves her back) and Rachel is to keep her company and help out if necessary with the couple's young daughter Sabine. We know from the start that something bad happens that summer but as we read on there's so much darkness in that house and Rachel has to try to figure out how to deal with it all--with the help of Sabine's nanny, Claudia. I could not stop reading this book. It toucnes on themes of money, power, corruption, race, family loyalty--so interesting.

Book 167: The Favorites by Rosemary Hennigan

 This book was interesting but just way too rushed.A young woman leaves Ireland for Pennsylvania to bring down the Professor who ruined her sister's life. Not too realistic. Three and a half stars.

Book 166: Reunion by Elise Juska

 I give this book 4 stars: it almost went to five stars but the ending was very very rushed. Three friends converge for their 25th reunion and examine their lives. 

Book 165: The Pact by Sharon Bolton

 This book was nuts in the best way! Six high school friends did something horrible, and one of them decides to take the blame for them all---all they have to do is promise her a favor in return when she gets out of prison. NEVER PROMISE THIS! SO TWISTY!