OK-enough with the Bio-hazards. Two authors I like and a topic that I'm usually ok with. But for some reason, right now, I just have no desire to read any more bio-hazard terrorism. The first was Red Tide by GM Ford, the second was Invasion Procedures by Orson Scott Card and Aaron Johnston. I don't even have anything to say about them. Moving on........

I was at the library and found the Dick Francis shelf so I picked up a couple. The first is Slay Ride which I realized I had already read-but it had been several years and Francis is a good enough writer to reread. This one is set in Norway so that's a bit of a twist for Francis. The second one is Silks-just as good as expected. This one was co-written by his son whose name I cannot remember right now.

I also picked up a few by G.M. Ford. He writes the Leo WAterman series and the Frank Corso series. The first one is called Nameless Night. The copywrite is 2008 and it's his first stand alone protagonist without a coming sequel. Paul Hardy has was a John Doe found almost dead, mentally disabled, and sent to an adult group home. After a car accident he awakens with a new face and no sign of being disabled other than no memory of his life before the group home. It then becomes a story of his search for who he used to be and Homeland Security gone awry.

One more really short-Stonefather by Orson Scott Card. I'm not usually a fantasy buff but I like Card's sci-fi so I thought I'd give it a shot-yep, I'm not really a fantasy buff. That said, if you are it's not too bad-and very short!

The last of the Haddams I picked up at my used book store is Stillness in Bethlehem. Obviously a Christmas holiday set in Bethlehem, Vermont which puts on a Nativity play similar to the Passion Play in Germany's Oberammergau. Gregor and his friend Bennis have brought their friend Father Tiber Kasparian for a much needed rest. There have been two deaths which everyone is trying to convince themselves are hunting accidents but it becomes more and more obvious to Gregor that they were murders.

I will definitely be looking for the rest of the Demarkian series.

The second Haddam I found at the used book store is Quoth the Raven-set at a small liberal arts college where Gregor has been scheduled to give a lecture on murder on Hallowen night. The lecture, obviously turns into a description of the murder of one of their own professors and a secretary which Gregor solves.

I don't think I have listed this author on this site, yet, although she is not new to me. Jane Haddam-her protagonist is Gregor Demarkian who gets labeled "the Armenian-American Hercule Poirot" which he hates. He's a former FBI Behavioural Science Agent. Not officially working for anybody, but because of who he is everbody knows him and asks him for help, which means he gets involved in all sorts of fascinating situations. A wonderful character. The cover calls it "a Gregor Demarkian Holiday Mystery." I thought I had read a couple that were not set during a holiday but it may have been that the characters are so well drawn and the mysteries so well crafted that the holiday is just a setting and not the most important part. The one I just finished was Precious Blood, taking place during Easter in the overwhelmingly Catholic city of Colchester, NY

Another by Ian Rankin-Hide and Seek. This one is set earlier than the previous one I read, however, I don't know if it's the first-the copyright sets it at 1990. The detective John Rebus is pretty much the same as the other one-maybe not yet quite as hard-bitten or depressive. Still on the streets of Edinburgh. This book contrasts the seamy side of the city with new businesses, new homes, prosperity. Rebus senses something wrong with a seeming overdose but has difficulty coming up with hard proof to even turn it into a "case". Again, well-written. Is it too gloomy to continue?

I've just finished a book that I think was captivating-Additions by Toni Jordan. The book jacket calls it an engaging romantic comedy-I would never have used those words. Certainly engaging, some romance, a witty heroine-but not in any sense what I would think of as a romantic comedy. Grace is an obsessive-compulsive counter. She has to count everything in her life. It's her way of examining, making sense of, and valuing her life. It sets bounderies and connections for her. She is well-educated, bright, witty, and a delight to get to know but without doubt the disorder interferes with her life. Unfortunately, the "cure" turns out to be worse than the "disease" and she comes to decisions about illness and health, what it means to be broken and what parts make her unique and fully herself. Here's hoping that Toni Jordan follows us this first novel with a second.