"Zero Day" by David Baldacci. ***

●  Audiobook
●  1st in John Puller Series
●  Mystery/Suspense
●  US author
●  Originally published in 2011
●  Review:  I enjoyed this thriller.  The pairing of amilitary expert and a small town cop worked well, as did the steadily increasing complexity of the case at hand.  Well done!

"Island BeneathThe Sea" by Isabel Allende. *

●  Audiobook
●  Chilean author
●  Originally published in 2010
●  Slavery in the Antilles
●  Review:   Very disappointed!  It was like sitting through a boring history lesson.  The lack of depth to the characters seemed so unlike what I expect in a novel by Allende, and overall it felt pedantic.

"Doctor Sleep" by Stephen King. *****

●  Audiobook
●  Sequel to "The Shining"
●  Originally published in 2013
●  Review:  A fabulous sequel to "The Shining", picking up with Danny Torrence wbo struggles with demons in his adult life.  The demons take multiple forms, both human and not human.  Stephen King is a master at grabbing the reader from the beginning and holding tightly as the tale unfolds.  Excellent tale!

"High Five" by Janet Evanovich. ***

●  Audiobook
●  US author
●  #5 in the Stephanie Plum series
●  Originally published in 2000
●  Review:  Another fun Stephanie Plum!

"Outer Dark" by Cormac McCarthy. *****

• Audiobook
• Originally published in 1993
• Satanic imagery....goat, figure in fire
• Journey of both characters
• Milk after 8 mo ths.....power of motherhood
• I seen the meanness of humans tili dont know why god aint put out the sun and gone away...the tinker
• Review:    Another darkly evocative novel from Cormac McCarthy! Frankly, a quote by the tinker sums up how one feels after reading about the tortured lives of these characters. I seen the meanness of people 'til I don't know why God don't turn out the sun and walk away." I don't feel that way in general, but McCarthy reminds me of the hardship people live through and keep putting one foot in front of another.US author

"The Devil's Star" by Jo Nesbo. ****

• Audiobook
• #5 in Harry Hole series
• Mystery/Suspense
• Originally published in 2006
• Norwegian author
• Review:  This installment of the Harry Hole detective series was excellent.  The plot was complex and engaging and the denouement was really well done.  As always, the reader reads a mystery and simultaneously a novel about relationships and being human.  Nice!

"Giovanni's Room" by James Baldwin. *****

• Audiobook
• US author
• Originally published in 1956
• Metaphor:  being in a foriegn country...exploring sexuality
• Review:   A powerful, moving story of self exploration.  Two young men discover a frightening truth about their sexuality, and proceed to struggle painfully with their passion and love for one another in the face of societal judgements.  An Italian and an American find themselves in a foriegn country and foriegn emotional territory.  Certainly, progress has occured since the publication of this novel, but really....when will hatred and fear stop reigning supreme?