Review: Dance Hall of the Dead

Dance Hall of the Dead by Tony Hillerman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Hillerman never disappoints. Leaphorn is such a good egg. I love those western lawmen.

Joe is investigating another murder, but this time in Zuni territory. He's steady, smart, and reliable, as alwasy. And he lets his moral compass guide him to do the right thing, even if he has to blur the lines of the letter of the law. Such a great series, in a beautiful setting, with interesting cultural details and rich characters. Makes me miss living there.



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Review: Track of the Cat (Anna Pigeon #1)

Track of the Cat by Nevada Barr
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes? I love the desert, I've lived here for years, but Anna sure runs across a lot of snakes in this book. Thankfully, my life doesn't echo hers.

Anna Pigeon is a widowed park ranger. She's kinda awesome. She's independent, and sassy, and reminds of Kinsey Millhone, another favorite character. I like women who kick ass and have sharp edges and a small marshmallow center. Anyway, in this first book Anna is working at Guadalupe National Park. A mystery unfolds, a mysterious death by mountain lion (or was it), and Anna's the only one suspicious enough to stubbornly pursue justice. She puts herself in danger and, in the end, gets her man. As you would expect.

I love this series because I have been fortunate enough to live and work in the National Park System and look forward to hearing her insights about the politics of the NPS (yucky, but sadly true) as well as her character living in amazing places. Can't wait to get to book 3, where I used to live and work. On to the next!

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Review: Train Station Bride

Train Station Bride by Holly Bush
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

A nice historical romance. I expected less, to be honest. Love it when I get pleasantly surprised!

A comedy of errors creates a mix up at the train station, and two strangers end up married. Not the two strangers who thought they would be married. You see, in the days of old, people were so desperate to be married that they answered ads in the paper to get hitched. Thankfully those times have changed. Two perfectly nice people are able to find happiness together despite obstacles and odds. Awwww! You know I'm a sucker for a HEA. Don't judge me.

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Open Season (Joe Pickett #1)

Open Season by C.J. Box

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Dear Sheriff Longmire, please don't be mad at me for cheating on you with another Wyoming lawman. He meant nothing to me, I swear!

I was set up on a blind date with Joe Pickett, Saddleback Game Warden and family man. We had a good time. I mean, Joe is lawful good, to an extreme. He's a good husband, father, and morally in the right. Plus Wyoming is always a good time for an outdoors-lovin' girl like me. The mystery was solid and I will continue the series, but I think Joe and I will remain "just friends". My heart belongs to the more impulsive, mature, and headstrong Walt Longmire. He's the Wyoming lawman for me.

I just didn't get into Joe like I do Walt. Joe is a bit of a sad sack. I need my book boyfriends to be strong and confident. If you have ever read the Hamish Macbeth series, Joe reminded my of him. Likable, but not someone to fall in love with. Anyway, I will continue hanging out with Joe when I have some downtime, because why not?



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Any Other Name (Walt Longmire #10)

Any Other Name by Craig Johnson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Walt, Walt, Walt. You almost get beaten up more than Harry Dresden, but not quite. Harry gets his ass kicked on the regular more than anyone.

This time Walt should be on his way to Philly to welcome his grandbaby into the world. What is he doing instead? Solving a case. With Lucian. And a little assist from Vic and Henry. My favorite everyman's hero does it again, Wyoming-style, and solves the case, which turns out to be two cases. Extra bonus for Henry being the best sidekick ever and I enjoyed the cop / investigator guy who helps them figure it out by the end.



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The Glass Castle

The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Nature vs. nurture. It's a long-standing debate. I personally think nurture has a more to do with how you turn out as a person, but Jeannette Walls might have just proved me wrong.

This is the story of growing up with two parents who, to put it nicely, both have issues. My armchair psychiatrist degree says they both just might be mentally ill. Definitely co-dependent. And really bad parents. Jeannette and her siblings grow up roaming from place to place as her parents run from people of the real and imaginary sort. They are poor, and hungry, and really don't seem to realize how crazy their upbringing truly is. I can't believe no one stepped in and helped these kids, but I'm sure there are families right now who have it just as bad or worse and are under the radar like them.

This book made me mad. And sad. I realize it could have been worse for the Walls children. But what was there was bad enough. Now get off the computer, go hug a loved one, and be grateful for all that you have. It's a miracle Jeannette Walls grew up to make something of herself, so her nature won out over the terrible nurture she received. 4 stars for Jeannette and a virtual high five from me.



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The Bean Trees

The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Have you ever wanted to reinvent yourself? To escape your old life and start over where no one knows you? I know I have. So begins our journey into the desert of Tucson.

Overall, I really enjoyed it. The settings really come to life. The characters were each unique although I wanted more development, especially with Taylor and Lou Ann. She could have gone deeper into each of their stories and extended the book 100 pages without making it drag. I enjoyed reading about Taylor and Turtle's journey together and how they both changed in their new lives. I especially enjoyed the side plot about Esteven and Esperanza and how it all came together at the end.

I enjoy Barbara Kingsolver so I can't imagine why I waited to read this book. This one was her first novel, and it was good. Glad I finally got to it.




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As the Crow Flies (Walt Longmire #8)

As the Crow Flies: A Walt Longmire Mystery by Craig Johnson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


My favorite sheriff Walt Longmire saves the day again. I just love this series!

This time we miss most of the usual cast of characters, as Walt is teamed up with Lolo Long, new tribal police chief as they investigate a potential homicide. The colorful folks Walt works with and investigates over the course of the case make the story fun even as the body count mounts, and we still get enough of a dose of Henry and Dog to make it typical Longmire.

Time marches on, and in the end the greatest legal mind of our time enjoys her nuptials. It remains to be seen what is in Walt's future. On to book #9!




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Hell is Empty (Walt Longmire #7)

Hell Is Empty by Craig Johnson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This series gets better with each book.

This time around, Walt is assisting with a prisoner transfer and investigation with several agencies, including the FBI. Yes, there is cold, ice, and the typical Wyoming winter you have come to expect. Is it ever summer, or even spring, in Absaroka county? Or are all of the criminals so excited to have some warmth that they take some time off from breaking the law so we don't get mysteries set in summer? But I digress.

Walt, protector of everyone, is on the hunt when the prisoner transfer goes south in the middle of a blizzard. He's my favorite version of an everyman hero, and I love the partners he takes in this one to save the day.

If you aren't already reading this series, you should be. But don't start with this one--start at the beginning and enjoy the ride.



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Junkyard Dogs (Walt Longmire #6)

Junkyard Dogs by Craig Johnson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This is one of my favorite series. I love Walt and Henry so much! Both are great characters, complex, loyal, and funny.

This one keeps us close to home, with Walt investigating an accident, family conflicts, and murders. Absaroka County is a tough place to live, for sure. All of our favorites are back in this one: Sancho, Lucien, Vic, and Dog. What starts out as a family feud quickly escalates into a much larger conspiracy, and I had no idea whodunnit until it was spelled out to me, in typical Johnson fashion. He's the master of the plot twist. I never figure it out, but once he tells us who and why, everything makes sense. He seems to be channeling Agatha Christie.

Another really great installment. Read this series!



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Wait For Signs: Twelve Longmire Stories.

Wait for Signs: Twelve Longmire Stories by Craig Johnson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A collection of short stories written around the Christmas holidays. Always fun to visit Absaroka County with Walt, Henry, and the gang. But mainly I visit for Walt and Henry.



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Another Man's Moccasins (Walt Longmire #4)

Another Man's Moccasins by Craig Johnson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Another great installment to the Longmire series. It just keeps getting better and better.

This time we get some flashbacks to Walt and Henry's time in Vietnam, as the current day mystery has ties to their past. The body of a young Vietnamese woman is found in Walt's jurisdiction, and the Crow Indian found near the scene is accused of the murder. As Walt finds himself faced with proving a man's innocence, he is struck by the similarities to a case he had as a Marine investigator in Vietnam. The mystery is smartly woven together and I was guessing until the end.

Read this series. Just read it. You will like it.



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Kindness Goes Unpunished (Walt Longmire #3)

Kindness Goes Unpunished by Craig Johnson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


It's time for a road trip!

Walt and Henry take a road trip from Wyoming to Philadelphia (with Dog, naturally) where Henry will be presenting old Mennonite photographs found on the reservation to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts while Walt visits Cady, the greatest legal mind of our time. But when Cady gets hurt after they arrive, Walt is on the case and working with the cops in Philly to solve a crime. Way outside of his jurisdiction with some serious conflict of interest going on, but we'll let that slide.

Lots of fun in this one. We get to meet Vic's family, and they don't disappoint. I love Vic's mom. Not what I would have expected based on how rough Vic is, but she is great. Vic's dad, however, is exactly what I pictured. We got more insights into Walt's relationship with Cady and the ending sets us up for some interesting potential plot lines in the next books.

Another great installment to the series.



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Death Without Company (Walt Longmire #2)

Death Without Company by Craig Johnson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Sheriff Longmire, I think I have a literary crush on you and Henry Standing Bear.

In book 2, Walt finds himself investigating a death at the Durant Assisted Living facility where former sheriff and current part-time dispatcher Lucian Connelly lives. Lucian knows something's not right about Mari Baroja's death, and calls Walt in to look into it for him. The investigation spans back 50 years, uncovering skeletons in a lot of closets in Absaroka County, Wyoming and giving us more insight into Lucian's past. We also get introduced to new deputy Santiago Saizarbitoria, who I hope is sticking around for the long haul. He adds a much needed balance to Vic Moretti and will be good for Walt, too. We also get to meet Walt's daughter, Cady, and other new characters are introduced to Durant as well. And there is snow. Lots of snow. Way too much snow for me.

Overall, a fun mystery series that makes me glad I don't live in the blizzard climate of Wyoming. Looking forward to starting book 3 soon.





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The Cold Dish (Walt Longmire #1)

The Cold Dish by Craig Johnson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I might have found a new favorite mystery series! So glad I read this.

Close your eyes and picture with me, if you will. Small town in Wyoming. Trucks. Pancake breakfasts. Rifles and shotguns. Mountains. Snow. Log cabins. Politics. And a lot of interesting characters. Welcome to Absaroka County, Wyoming.

Walt Longmire is the sheriff of Absaroka County, and he's been sheriff for 24 years. The book kicks off with Longmire investigating the death of Cody Pritchard, who was found dead in an apparent hunting accident. Pritchard was convicted a few years back in the gang rape of a local Cheyenne girl who, born with fetal alcohol syndrome, had diminished capacity. Many in the community felt the sentence was too light and justice wasn't served. Walt's investigation leads him throughout the local communities and the Cheyenne reservation, uncovering skeletons and a lot of old wounds for everyone.

Craig Johnson does a great job of painting colorful characters and realistic relationships. The friendship between Walt and Henry Standing Bear was one of my favorite parts of the book. He has a unique team assisting him at the sheriff's department, from sassy Ruby, his dispatcher / den mother, to Vic Moretti, his foul-mouthed deputy and hand-picked replacement when he retires. But beyond the characters, who I dearly love, Johnson crafted a good mystery with lots of twists and turns. I had no idea how it would end, but when he got us there I could see how the clues fit together.

If you are looking for a good mystery series with great characters, give this one a try. I can't wait to start the second book.





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History Week

History

This week we each read a history book from one of the subtopics we laid out for Reading University.  Our subtopics needed to fit one of the following criteria:

American History - fiction or non-fiction historical book set in North America
European History - fiction or non-fiction historical book set in Europe
World History - fiction or non-fiction historical book set outside of North America and Europe
Alternate History - books from the alternate history genre

Books Selected:

Zach (European History - Non-fiction)

The Spartans: The World of the Warrior-heroes of Ancient Greece by Paul Anthony Cartledge

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book because it explained the daily life of the Spartans, their values, and a look into the history behind their culture and some of the major battles.  My favorite section was about the Persian Wars.  If you love history, especially military or political history, or reading about ancient cultures, you will like this book.

Michelle (American History - Non-fiction)

Killing Kennedy: The End of Camelot by Bill O'Reilly
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

More like 2 1/2 stars. I didn't enjoy it as much as Killing Lincoln, but it was pretty good. A bit sensationalized in places and very much about the Kennedy administration rather than a focus on the assassination and aftermath. O'Reilly makes a lot of assumptions and embellishes situations--how could he possibly know the content of private conversations or the inner thoughts of the players involved? Pick it up if you want a quick read about Kennedy, his philandering ways, his brother Bobby, and a bit about his daily life in the White House.

Maddie (American History - Non-fiction)

Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book directly follows "Little House in the Big Woods." The Ingalls family is leaving their home in Wisconsin for the West.