I read less than I did in January, but what I did read were mostly great books, so I’m glad for that. (There was one book that threatened to ruin that trend, but I chucked it.) Here’s what I read last month:
The Bone Collector, by Jeffery Deaver
4 stars
This is a fairly straightforward crime thriller, but one that’s intensely thrilling. The two main characters, Lincoln Rhyme and Amelia Sachs, are both fascinating in their own way, but their personal stories never overshadow the main plot… which just never lets up. This is one of those books that can suck me in and make me forget I’m reading a book. I’m eager to read more in this series.
(read my ITW review here: The Bone Collector)
Fangirl, by Rainbow Rowell
4 stars
I’m officially hooked on Rainbow Rowell. She writes characters that are just so easy to relate to. Reading this, it was like I was a college freshman all over again. While the story of Simon Snow wasn’t quite as engrossing (how could it be, when we only get glimpses into that world?), I was completely lost in Cath’s… her relationships, her awkwardness, all of it. I felt like the ending was a little abrupt… or maybe I just wasn’t ready for it to end.
Sycamore Row, by John Grisham
4 stars
Legal thrillers have always been one of my least favorite subgenres, so I really wasn’t expecting to enjoy this one as much as I did. Especially in the early parts of the novel, I kept thinking that nothing much was happening, and yet it didn’t feel like a chore to get through. I credit Grisham for keeping it interesting. Once the trial actually begins (about three-quarters of the way through the book), I had to finish it in one sitting.
Suspect, by Robert Crais
4 stars
James Rollins (a former veterinarian and one of my favorite authors) created a great dog and handler duo in Tucker and Kane. When I heard Robert Crais’s latest featured a similar pair, I was eager to see how he’d handle it. I loved the relationship between Scott and Maggie. Their growing bond was absolutely the highlight of this novel, nearly overshadowing the investigation. A great read, especially for animal lovers.
The Husband’s Secret, by Liane Moriarty
3 stars
I had mixed feelings about this book as I was reading it. While I sympathized with all three women at one point or another, I spent far more of the story disliking them for various reasons. And I couldn’t help but be put off by the treatment (or not?) of social anxiety in one character’s story arc… specifically how it’s resolved. But despite my misgivings, I couldn’t stop turning the pages, especially the closer I got to the end. The whole thing just came together very well.
Daimones, by Massimo Marino
DNF
The summary sounded intriguing, but the writing style did nothing for me. I may have given up on this one quicker than I otherwise would – about 10% in – but since this is the first in an incomplete trilogy, I’d had reservations about picking it up in the first place. I’ll assume it improves once it gets into the actual story, but at least for the moment, I’m not interested enough to find out.
Runner, by Patrick Lee
3 stars
There were parts of this I really liked, and other parts I thought were just okay. Put it all together and it’s a good-but-not-great book that can be highly entertaining. In the beginning, there was too much generic action and not enough connection to the story. Once we learn more about the situation there are some interesting turns and the book as a whole gets much better. It’s really compelling, and I thought the ending was great. It just bums me out that I couldn’t feel that way about the whole book.
(read my full review here: Runner)
City of Devils, by Justin Robinson
3 stars
This was an interesting book. I don’t typically enjoy noir, but City of Devils is anything but typical. It has an incredible cast of characters, some of which are rather quirky and endearing. I liked this, despite its being a bit out of my comfort zone… but I can definitely see how other readers could love it.
What was your favorite book last month?
Cheap Thrills 