ColinMichaelReads

So this is new to me since I have never kept a record of my reading which is unfortunate since I do a lot of reading. Since we are well into 2019 I am a little behind but I do recall all the books I have read so far so I will be mapping those out an going from there. But at this point it will be in no particular order, just what I have completed so far in 2019

>1 ColinMichaelFelix: Hi there,welcome to the group. I see you are a major fan of Reacher,Bosch,Davenport,and a lot of other tough detective types! lol.Lots of people like those here too.
How you arrange your tracking is up to you,whatever suits you best.
Happy reading

>1 ColinMichaelFelix: Hi, Are you going to join us for the Oregon File group read? We've missed you at our reads.

Been a little out of sorts and out of commission. I lost my mom at the end of July so heading into August was nacho good. But I was still able to finish The Cabal by David Hagberg. I'm moving on to Field of Valor by Matthew Betley and The Promise by Robert Crais. On the ebook front I'm still reading albeit slowly The devil Colony by James Rollins.

>2 dustydigger: Yes I dig the tough detectives but even more the tough International action types like John Wells, Scot Harvath, Logan West, Pike Logan, Mitch Rapp, etc

>3 Carol420: I missed being with you guys as well and wouldn't you know I missed this one too. I will really try for the next one.

>4 ColinMichaelFelix: I'm so sorry for the loss of your mother. I lost mine a year ago so I know how hard it is. Thinking about you.

>4 ColinMichaelFelix: Deepest Sympathy, Colin.

>6 Carol420: >7 Sergeirocks: Thanks so much friendos. Reallly appreciate your kind words.

>4 ColinMichaelFelix: Very sorry to hear that Colin, sending my deepest sympathies. Like Carol I lost my mother a few years ago, and know how hard this time is.

>4 ColinMichaelFelix: Sorry to hear about your mom. Moms are special and always hard when they are gone. My mom died in 1998 but I still miss her daily.

So about my completed reads so far, I'll start with the most recent reads.
Promise Me by Harlan Coben 4 stars Classic Myron Bolitar very enjoyable and well written and leaves that tainted feel that all good Bolitars seem to have on them.
Robert B Parker's Lullaby by Ace Atkins 4 stars. Atkins has tried to pick up the mantle of Spenser and I think not unsuccessfully. He does especially well when it comes to the dialogue between Hawk and Spenser
The Cabal by David Hagberg 4.5 stars.So much better than I thought simply because I didn't know this author, but he's right up there with the Brads, Vince Flynn and Ben Coes
The Secret Soldier by Alex Berenson 4 stars. Started out a bit slower than these international thriller usually but once it picked up was quite adequate for the genre. But I still need another book to get inside John Wells. Hopefully by the next one I will have a solid feel for where this character falls among his peers.

>11 ColinMichaelFelix: Sounds like the David Hagburg series might be something we should add to our group reads. I don't believe I've ever read anything by him but he sounds interesting. Kinda like Baldacci's Camel Club or some of his early standalones.

>12 Carol420: Most definitely Carol and yes very astute comparisons. This was not even the first in the series because of course me being me I just jumped in any whole place, but as I said really stacked up well with some of the better known names in the genre.

>10 EadieB: >9 Andrew-theQM: By the way thanks so much Eadie and Andrew for your kind thoughts really appreciate them.

>13 ColinMichaelFelix: I'm also a ROO reader. I know there are some that would rather wrestle alligators than read out of order.

Like I said previously I have not been diligent in tracking my reads but I do know what I have read for the year so far so here are some more in no particular order:

The Tombs by Clive Cussler 2.5 stars. It pains me to say this because he is usually so good but it took me the better part of a year to complete because it never got going. It was sat up and planning almost the whole book long. Quite honestly I finished the book out of stubbornness. I just refused to quit, but wow. And sadly enough I felt a real payoff never came.

Unnatural Acts by Stuart Woods 4 stars. Stuart is one of the those authors where I always hesitate to read his novels and when I do I wonder why I did. He is definitely an acquired taste as his style doesn't necessarily follow the mold of others in his genre. But 1) he keeps it moving. At the end of every chapter you have got closer to the final goal. 2) it's fun even though sometimes of the perverse kind, it always brings a smile to your face.

Orphan X by Gregg Hurwitz 5 stars. What a joy when your are there for the beginning of a new series and it's everything you thought it would be and then some. For a book so filled with action it was pleasantly surprising to see so much depth and personality coming out of the story. Coming so late in the game in a field packed with the likes of Reacher, Mitch Rapp, Andreas, Harvath, all the Baldacci characters et al, it was so good to see a new character with something new to offer. Evan Smoak has indelibly been added to that list.

Reaper Threat Zero by Nicholas Irving and A. J. Tata 4 stars. This book had a special distinction for me. I started reading it at the bookstore, before having paid for it, and it jumped in front of other books I was reading so much so that I finished it a week later. Irving is a relatively new author and he newness comes out in the dialogue and relationship elements of the books. But being that the he has the expertise of his main character he comes alive when writing those parts. The action is in your face and real without being gratuitous. I look for his writhing to deepen in terms of character development but he will be a voice in this genre.

The Vanished Man by Jeffery Deaver 4 stars. What can you say about Deaver that haven't been said before? If you think Coben is the master of twists, I suggest you grab a couple Deavers starting with this one. A magician as your serial killer. Start with that idea and then watch as Jeffery pulls one sleight of hand after another and leave you head spinning and you rereading to make sure you didn't miss something. So why 4 stars you say? Maybe one Conjurer's (that's the moniker of the killer by the way)trick too many took some of joy out of the twists and turns. But definitely recommended.

I feel a little like Carol here I don't think I have ever written so much about my reads but yeah. Andrew would definitely enjoy Reaper Threat Zero

>16 ColinMichaelFelix: I just read what may well be my last Stuart Woods book. I used to really like his books but he has turned Stone Barrington into a sex manic. He hardly gives the woman time to get in the door:)

>17 Carol420: I think that's part of my hesitation with him. He is definitely not on my regular rotation but every now and then I pick up one and I seem to get lucky.

>16 ColinMichaelFelix: Thanks for the recommendation Colin 😊 I need to get back to reading some Jeffrey Deaver again too. As well as obviously reading Orphan X.

>18 ColinMichaelFelix: Have you read any of his Orchid Beach series? I really liked them...although there was only 6 of them and then she joined Stone Barrington. The Will Lee series was also good. Will lasted for 7 before he became President... and also joined Stone. One that I always though had real promise was the Ed Eagle series...4 of them. He moved all but Ed Eagle...and sometimes he mentions him...into this Stone Barrington series. Almost like he's creating a family. The new series...Teddy Faye also has a lot of promise. Teddy is quite a talented guy.

>20 Carol420: I obviously haven't delved into him as you have. I'm more of a fringe fan. I have heard of Will Lee but not the others. I have been again skeptical of the Teddy Faye series because as a whole I find Stuart could be so hit and miss but due to your recommendation I will try an entry in that series and see how it goes.

>21 ColinMichaelFelix: If you have ever watched any of the John Wick movies you will see a lot of John Wick in Teddy Fay. Teddy is just a little more choosy about who he kills:) I just like to imagine him in action. It's entertaining. My husband says I'm just weird.)

>17 Carol420: Lol!

So Episode 3 in the books I have read so far for 2019:

16th Seduction by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro 4 stars.
The Women's Murder Club series is not one I thought I would get into but everyone I read is so satisfying. The stories are filled with more intrigue and character than you would think. Like all of them I've read so far I would definitely recommend this one. And even in this series it's one of the better entries.

Die Again by Tess Gerritsen 4.5 stars.
The Rizzoli and Isles book series is much better than the TV series would lead you to believe. For one this story is quite international in scope and a very smart whodunit. I don't speak of details in a book as I think part of the joy is in your discovery of the story as it unfolds but suffice to say it continually moves in directions you don't always see coming but are truly satisfying.

The Beautiful Mystery by Louise Penny 3.5 stars.
It was hard to rate this one as I am a huge fan of Penny and the Armand Gamache series. For one it was not set the Three Pines, her usual setting and so robbed us of her bit players that usually add so much color and flavor the stories. It started out pretty slow and seemed to drag in bits even though it held your interest throughout. I even found some story-lines broached were not necessarily resolved which may have been by design but still felt uneven. If you're fan you would definitely enjoy it by the end but for novices I wouldn't recommend you start with this one.

Desperate by Daniel Palmer 4 stars.
The son of the late great Michael Palmer is definitely an author in his own right. While you might be able to see some of the twists coming the journey is well worth it. He has elements of Coben, Deaver and Koontz in there which along his own obvious spin makes one good read.

>24 ColinMichaelFelix: I remember looking forward for months to the Rizzoli and Isles TV series since I had read and loved all the books. Should have known better. I was so disappointed in the TV series. I found the same thing when I watched the first season of the Women's Murder Club.

Rounding out the novels I've finished so far for 2019 we come to:

Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben 4.5 stars
One of my favorite authors, he of the plentiful twists. Definitely a solid entry from Mr. Coben. His ability to stay one step ahead of the reader even when you 'know' what going to happen next is on full display in this one.

Guilty Minds by Joseph Finder 4 stars
In the pantheon of tough guy protagonist comes a truly unique character in Nick Heller. For as skilled as he is he is always looking for an alternative to violence and taking a life. Even when that might result in him taking a few lumps. I look forward to going along in some other ventures with this guy.

Heartbreak Hotel by Jonathan Kellerman 4 stars
An Alex Delaware novel is deliberate and methodical as he is supposedly even often with detours that may or may not have direct bearing on the outcome. So it starts out slow and yet your are always advancing at the end of every chapter. So while not the most action packed it is definitely one of my favorite reads and this one has plenty to hold on to.

The Midnight Line by Lee Child is the oddest entry in the Reacher series that I have read so far. It is far slower that a Reacher usually is but the story and characters are compelling and it holds your attention right to the end. 4.5 stars

So I've been slacking in keeping up with this log but here's where I am for 2020 so far.

Completed :
Lethal Pursuit by Will Thomas featuring a most interesting duo of Cyrus Barker and Thomas Llewellyn. I don't usually do historical fiction but the compelling style of Mr. Thomas and his brilliant and so alive characterizations kept me riveted. If you do historical fiction like Anne Perry and others of that ilk you do well to add Will Thomas to your list. Even my 15 year old has been reading and enjoying this author and she is all about YA.

Dark of the Moon by John Sandford It is no secret that I'm not bound by reading series in order. So no surprise that I finally get around to the first Virgil Flowers novel. And it does not disappoint, not that I thought it would. While I still consider Lucas Davenport to be slightly more compelling a character there is no question the amount of enjoyment derived from a Flowers novel. Having read quite a few I was surprised to find that the initial outing did not suffer from the growing pains that some first novels tend to endure. Flowers comes out the gate a well fleshed out character a magnetism and charm all his own.

The Devil Colony by James Rollins proved to be a bit of a challenging read for me though ultimately satisfying. Because of his style of mixing real events and science with his fiction, Rollins' prose could become so involved that it takes some deliberation to stay with him. But when he settles into the groove with his action sequences of just moving the story along with good old fashion storytelling he can hang with the best of them, which he is actually among.

And finally for now:
The Sixth Man by David Baldacci The penultimate entry in the King & Maxwell series. I will truly miss the character of Sean King and Michelle Maxwell. It's one of David Baldacci's series I think could have gone on way past 6 novels. But this a solid entry in this series with some of the best secondary cast so far.

Coming up next we have The Terminal List by Jack Carr, No Exit by Taylor Adams, Obsession In Death by J. D. Robb, Act Of War by Brad Thor and more to be announced.

Completed You Can Go Home Now by Michael Elias. What a book! For such a small book it packs quite wallop and leaves a mark. I enjoyed it yet it left me with dubious feelings regarding the ending. It's ostensibly an already strange mix of an undercover prose and a revenge piece. The author's style is definitely engaging but I was left wondering exactly what he was trying to say. It's definitely not a forgettable book and leaves a lot to discuss even or maybe especially within yourself. For me it fulfilled what I look for in a book even though I may take some issue with its morality.
My rating 3.8/5 *

Read for 2020 so far:
Chosen Prey by John Sandford 5/5
Black Order by James Rollins 4.5/5
The Watchman by Robert Crais 4/5
Dark of the Moon by John Sandford 4.5/5
Black Friday by Alex Kava 4/5
Bryant & May Off the Rails by Christopher Fowler 4/5
The Sixth Man by David Baldacci 4.5/5
Deep Storm by Lincoln Child 4/5
The Devil Colony by James Rollins 4/5

More read books for 2020:
Memory Man by David Baldacci 5/5
Obsession In Death by J D Robb 4.5/5
Act Of War by Brad Thor 4.5/5
Home by Harlan Coben 5/5
The Nowhere Man by Gregg Hurwitz 5/5
Ghosts of War by Brad Taylor 4.5/5
No Exit by Taylor Adams 5/5 (Favorite read for the year so far)
The Seventh Plague by James Rollins 4.5/5
The Terminal List by Jack Carr 4/5

Last entrants; read so far for 2020:
Holy Ghost by John Sandford 5/5
A Dangerous Man by Robert Crais 4.5/5
Tear It Down by Nick Petrie 4/5
Neon Prey by John Sandford 4.5/5
Lethal Pursuit by Will Thomas 4/5
No Bad Deed by Heather Chavez 4.5/5
You Can Go Home Now by Michael Elias 4/5
The End of Her by Shari Lapena 4.5/5
The Secret Weapon by Bradley Wright 4/5

Binging us to a grand total of 27 up to this point. Giving the year it's been my reading is exceeding expectations.

I loved No Exit.

Have since completed The Museum of Desire by Jonathan Kellerman' I forget just how much I enjoy Delaware until I read another and then it all comes rushing back. Kellerman the king of slow burn for me is in fine form in this one. Kept me guessing until close to the end.

Also completed Chosen Prey by John Sandford. Fantastic entry in the Davenport series. A bit earlier in his career but still so engrossing.

Then there was The Perfect Assassin by Ward Larsen. The first in the David Slaton series and it has the awkwardness of many firsts in series. The editing left a lot to be desired but the story was definitely captivating and I look forward to seeing the evolution of both character and author.

>33 ColinMichaelFelix: I am/was a big fan of Kellerman's books but got off track with my reading challenge. I am reading one of his books now and am glad to get back to the series.

November reads so far have been fantastic. They consist of:
The Drifter by Nick Petrie
The Fallen by David Baldacci
1st Case by James Patterson
Split Image by Robert B Parker
Hand of Evil by J. A. Jance
All great reads, all very nearly 5 star reads

>33 ColinMichaelFelix: I just finished a Kellerman last week, A Cold Heart. It was a re-read for me but it still held up just fine the second time around. I like how he combines psychology, police work, and the arts with a special emphasis on music.

>36 threadnsong: A Cold Heart was actually my introduction to Kellerman and Delaware

>35 ColinMichaelFelix: Isn't it great to have almost... if not all... your reads deserve 4 or 5 stars. Win Win. November was a really good month for me also.

>38 Carol420: It's always my goal to never dip below 4 stars which is why I often stay with tried and true authors rather than going after every popular at the moment novel. Which is not to say I don't try new authors but I'm very picky.

It's been so long since I have been on here because I have been soooo busy but I have read some really good ones in that time . So here goes some highlights;
Top of the list are these three which I highly recommend: Gunmetal Gray by Mark Greaney, All Out War by Sean Parnell and Scorpion Strike by John Gilstrap. If you're into Brad Taylor, Brad Thor or Vince Flynn and you're not reading these guys, you need to start. The genre is similar but the authors and characters are quite different. Sean is relatively new but he definitely stands head and shoulders with the rest of the genre's best. Mark Greaney and Gilstrap are most definitely masters.
I also read The Last Flight by Julie Clark. Very well written and captivating to the final word.
Very honorable mentions go to The Evil Men Do by John McMahon and the Samaritan by Mason Cross. Cross is a new author to me but what he does with what could've been a by the numbers serial killer story makes me curious as to what else he and protagonist Carter Blake could come up with. McMahon must be considered an emerging voice. He has crafted such an intriguing and lifelike character in P. T. Marsh that you know there is so much more story to be told. And yes it is a new series.
All come highly recommended.
Well, who knows when I'll be back here again but that's it for now, beautiful readers.

As I am wont to do I'm currently reading multiple:
1)The Gray Man by Mark Greaney
2)Down Among The Dead Men by Peter Lovesey
3)Extreme Prey by John Sandford
4)Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka

Completed for 2022 so far (Jan - June):
Let The Devil Sleep by John Verdon 4.5/5
Fallen by Linda Castillo 4/5
Agent In Place by Mark Greaney 4.5/5
Oath of Honor by Mathew Betley 4/5
Dark Men by Derek Haas 4.5/5
Dark In Death by J. D. Robb 4.5/5
Bloody Sunday by Ben Coes 4.5/5
Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly 4.5/5
Hellbent by Gregg Hurwitz 5/5
Trust No One by Debra Webb 5/5
Burning Bright by Nick Petrie 4.5/5
Hell Fire by John Gilstrap 4.5/5
Those Who Wish Me Dead by Michael Koryta 5/5
The Broken Places by Ace Atkins 4/5
End Game by David Baldacci 4/5
Don't Look For Me by Wendy Walker 4.5/5

Just finished Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka and all I can say is wow!! What a thrill ride and an eclectic cast of characters? The book is fun from beginning to end. And it goes through so many ebbs and flows and keeps you engaged and engrossed. It's like what they say about a trainwreck: you just can't look away. But this is no train wreck it is truly an entertaining ride. In my humble opinion a definite 5 *****. Unfortunately I am now scared to go see the movie because there is no way they don't mess this up. But the book is highly recommended.