I read 22 books this year!  Not my best year, not my worst, but, overall, not bad for a slow reader. 🙂

21 of the books were “real” books (made with paper) and 1 was electronic (made with bits).

Obviously, I prefer the smell and feel of a real honest-to-goodness book, and I am glad the electronic versions did not take over the world of books like it looked like might happen a few years ago.  I am also glad that small bookstores seem to be making a comeback in 2018.

I am definitely looking forward to 2019 as I already have a full bookshelf of books to be read. Oh, in case you are wondering…….Blaze will be 4 years old in January. He sure is a good boy and a great helper.

Enough talk…..here are the Thrillers / Mysteries I read this year…..in order.

“Forced to Kill” by Andrew Peterson

Andrew and I are friends on Facebook and for some strange reason I am going VERY slowly catching up on Nate McBride. Only 10 years between the first book and this one, the second. I will catch up quicker in 2019 as they are terrific thrillers…I promise.

“The Romanov Ransom” by Clive Cussler and Robin Burcell

Again, Robin and I are Facebook friends and fellow Northern CA residents (hmmmm, Andrew too). Robin is now writing the Fargo Series by Clive so I have caught up (well….I read the first book, then skipped to Robin’s). Great fun! Can’t wait for the next one.

“Black Powder War” by Naomi Novic

I LOVE the Temeraire and Laurence series. Temeraire, in case you don’t know, is a very intelligent, powerful, yet kind….dragon.

“City of Sharks” by Kelli Stanley

If you have read this blog you know that Kelli is a special special friend. Kelli was there for us when Carol died (ForCarol.com) and then I tried to be there for her when her parents died. We have gotten together several times since and, well, we have a special bond. This year Kelli will be a judge for the 2019 Carol Phan Memorial Scholarship applications. I love Private Detective Miranda Corbie, but, alas, all good books come to an end. 😦 I am definitely looking forward to the next series…..

“Firestorm” by Solange Ritchie

The publishers sent me this book as an ARC. I loved the the story (brutal!!!) and hope to pick up the next book in the FBI Forensic Pathologist Dr. Catherine “Cat” Powers series soon. Writing this reminds me…..:-)

“Origin” by Dan Brown

What can I say other than this is another fantastic book in the Robert Langdon series by a true master.

“The Rooster Bar” by John Grisham

Another instant classic in this stand-alone novel about law students, debt, deception, and…..death.

“The Escape Artist” by Brad Meltzer

Brad Meltzer, who is one of my original favorite authors, way before I started this blog, (thus the lack of book reviews), kills it again. Must read.

“President’s Shadow” by Brad Meltzer

I was in Brad Meltzer mode! 🙂 I learn soooo much about history from Brad. Love it.

“The Gray Ghost” by Clive Cussler and Robin Burcell

Robin whipped out another Fargo book in short order! Fun adventure. 🙂 Is Robin a man or woman? Find out here….:-)

“Edinburgh Dusk” by Carole Lawrence

Carole and I first became friends when she was writing the Lee Campbell series as C.E. Lawrence. With this new series (kinda based on the exploits of a VERY famous detective) about Edinburgh Detective Ian Hamilton I am waiting anxiously for the next book. This was an ARC sent to me by Carole….electronically. 🙂 NOTE: I photo-shopped the book to be with Blaze.

“Vicious Circle” by C.J. Box

The next book in the Joe Pickett / Nate Romanowski series. Freakin awesome. Someday I hope to meet C.J. Box….if anyone knows him…..:-)

“Nemesis” by Jo Nesbo

Norwegian Detective Harry Hole is a drunken, damaged, person who also happens to be a great detective. This is book #4 in the Harry Hole series. Unputdownable.

“Everywhere That Mary Went” by Lisa Scottoline

After trying to figure out the first book in the “Rosato & DiNunzio” series, I finally asked on Facebook. 🙂 Loved it, and already have book #2 in the series on the bookshelf in the queue for 2019. I know who Mary DiNunzio is but still have NO CLUE who Rosato is…..guess I will find out soon. 😉

“Red War” by Vince Flynn and Kyle Mills

The saga of Mitch Rapp continues. Vince Flynn was (with Brad Meltzer and Baldacci / Grisham and, yes, Mills) among the authors who introduced me to thrillers. But….Vince was first. And Mitch Rapp was my first experience with a series character. There is a special place in my heart for Vince Flynn / Mitch Rapp and as such, I am an official “Mitch Rapp Ambassador”. This was an ARC sent to me as a Mitch Rapp Ambassador, and as usual for Kyle Mills….it is fantastic.

“Bonfire” Krysten Ritter

I picked this book up after I read the summary, and because, well, hey, it was written by Jessica Jones. So shallow of me. But…..what a great book! I hope Krysten writes more. And if anyone knows her, I’d love to meet her too….right after C.J. Box. 🙂

“U is for Undertow” by Sue Grafton

Crying……I will be reading the next few Kinsey Millhone books with tears in my eyes. The alphabet ends with “Y”. :-(((((((((

“Orphan X” by Greg Hurwitz

Again, I took a very long time between my first Hurwitz book and this one (9 years!). Evan Smoak is a complex character with two lives. One, a kindly man living in an apartment, one a killer who helps those who call this number: 1-855-2NOWHERE (try it….very cool, just leave off the last E).

“The Nowhere Man” by Greg Hurwitz

I was in the mood for more Evan Smoak (and also determined not to let another 9 years go by between Hurwitz books…haha). I gotta ask the boss (Lori) for #3, becasue there will be Smoak in 2019 🙂

“The Fix” by David Baldacci

David Baldacci is one of my original favorites….and still is. I am pretty much caught up. If he would slow down a bit, I might have a chance to totally catch up. 🙂 Except for the Camel Club, Amos Decker is my favorite Baldacci character.

“Congo” by Michael Crichton

Decided to read a classic. Crichton rocked our, Jurassic, World. Next!

“The Last Assassin” by Barry Eisler

Barry and I have emailed, he has sent me a few ARC’s, and we are Facebook friends. He is another author I would love to meet, but, that is totally on me since I know when he has things going on in the Bay Area. I decided it was time to catch up on john Rain. This book was signed by Barry when he stopped at the Tracy, CA Barnes & Noble a few years ago…..

First book in 2019….sticking with John Rain: “Requiem for an Assassin”

Happy Reading!