Recent Books — Breathless, Cloud Atlas, ReacherX3, Bad Things Happen
- Breathless by Dean Koontz. A pleasant little romp about the arrival/evolution of a new species on Earth. Some intrigue, some danger, more questions than answers. Goodreads gives it a 3.15, Amazon says just 2.5 stars, but I think it is more pleasant than that, I’d say 3.
- Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell. An intricately interwoven set of adventures across hundreds of years, all shining a light on unchecked greed and ambition and injustice. Very nicely done, the structure is unusual and engaging. Amazon says 4.5 stars, Goodreads says 4.2, I give it 5 stars.
- Running Blind by Lee Child. An early tale in the Reacher series. Ok tho not great, the central mystery was telegraphed. Amazon says 3.5 stars, GoodReads says 4.0, I am stuck at about 3 stars.
- Die Trying by Lee Child. Another early Reacher. Solid but that is all. Goodreads says 3.96, Amazon says 4 stars, I’d just say 3.
- Persuader by Lee Child. 3 Reacher tales in a month might be a bit much, the misogyny is a little overwhelming. Actually maybe just misanthropy. Whatever. Amazon says 4 stars, Goodreads says nearly 4, again I’d just say 3 stars. I am obviously Reacher’d out.
- Bad Things Happen by Harry Dolan. Very very very nicely written tale of authors and ambition and murder. The protagonist is an editor of murder tales, and the parallel between his own work process and the evolution of the story is a nice effect. Best read of the summer, amazon says 4.5 stars, it is better than that — 5 stars.
