S and T

S is for Silence, T is for Trespass - novels by Sue Grafton about her private investigator protagonist, Kinsey Millhone, began with A is for Alibi. The two newest entries in the series are fair and good, respectively.

S is for Silence involves Kinsey's investigation of a disappearance that happened back in 1953. She is hired by the woman's daughter, who has suffered for years because she was a young child when her mother "abandoned" her. Now Daisy wants closure - if her mom left voluntarily, or if she didn't. Since mom was a bit of a tramp, some people are sure she ran off with a man - even though no men in the small town vanished when she did. Others think she is dead - and she certainly had plenty of people who had a motive. As a mystery, this book is pretty straightforward and is resolved with a conclusion that is basically satisfying but doesn't "wow".

T is for Trespass is better, only because Kinsey's opponent is so deft, sneaky, and remorseless. When Kinsey's grumpy neighbor Gus has a fall, and his only living relative is on the other coast, arrangements are made for Gus to have in-home care. His nurse/companion, however, is in the business of working for elderly people without a support system only to bleed them financially and then kill them off once she has collected what she can. Kinsey is put in danger, and goes through a couple of grotesque experiences before the woman and her hulking son end up getting what they so richly deserve. (Note - if you are bug-phobic, don't read the last chapter right before bed.)

2008 Summary

This was a year for reading deeply into a few authors new to me. George RR Martin's series, mentioned earlier; Diana Gabaldon's series, also previously noted; Jim Butcher's wizard detective series; and now I am working my way through all of the backstock of Susan Howach, some of which are related to each other, and some which are not.

One benefit of working one's way through the books of an established author is that it comes with little cost - I have been affected by the economy as most people have, and have now returned to my local library as a source of reading material rather than spending a lot to buy new books.

In sum, I have read 69 books this year - well above the goal of 52 annually.

Other authors read this year: Jeffery Deaver, David Edding, Jonathan Kellerman, Robert Hughes, and Robert Ludlum.