Odd Hours by Dean Koontz

Odd Thomas is meandering around in California, fighting evil and darkness with his dog Boo. Too much meandering for me. Koontz needs to move on. Sandy P

Chasing Darkness by Robert Crais

New! Elvis Cole and his partner Joe Pike are drawn into an old investigation when a suicide is discovered while firefighters and police are evacuating homeowners in the path of a forest fire. Evidence seems to say that Lionel Byrd was indeed guilty of the murder that Elvis cleared him of and Elvis can't help but wonder if he cost two more young women their lives. Exciting, with twists and turns that leave the reader wondering who the real murderer is. Couldn't put this one down. Sandy P

MIss Julia Hits the Road by Ann B Ross

This book is a hoot! After finding out that her dear friend Lillian is going to lose her home along with some others, Julia decides she is going to raise the money to buy the property and does she ever. Prim, proper and very straight, Julia has to give herself permission to do some things she wouldn't ordinarily do. Laugh out loud! A must read. Sandy P

Many a River by Elmer Kelton

Western in the best tradition. Written with authority, Kelton spins a tale of a young family headed west, the parents killed by Indians, and the two young boys separated, each thinking the other had been killed. I found this very interesting and believable. Sandy P

Miss Julia Takes Over by Ann B Ross

Feisty Julia Springer has some pretty set ideas and isn't bashful about expressing them. When Little Lloyd's mother doesn't return home after a date with Wilson T Hodge, fund raiser for the local Presbyterian Church, Julia doesn't waste any time trying to find her. Local authorities are familiar with Julia's actions and don't always look favorably on them. This is an amusing little mystery that keeps one entertained. Looking forward to reading the rest of her books. Sandy P

The Random Passage by Jacques Lamarche

George Mills is trying to rebuild his life after losing his wife and his job. He is taking a cross country trip by jeep and thinking, thinking, thinking. He is experiencing life as a single man again and is not sure that he likes it at all. Lamarche makes me think this is an autobiographical novel to a certain degree, visiting the past and digging up old memories. Not too bad for a first novel. I hate spell check though.. need I say more? Sandy P

Crosshairs by Harry Hunsicker

Third in a series, Lee Henry Oswald just wants to be left alone, to live a normal life away from assorted creeps and lowlifes, which all go with his former life as a private investigator. Alas, Lee is too stubborn to fit into the square holes of "normal" life and gets fired from his job as a barkeep. Enter medical researcher Anita Nazari who begs Lee to find the person threatening her daughter's life and softy Lee takes on yet another job investigating and protecting leading to being drawn into a mysterious complex murder. The two previous novels I have yet to read, but am looking forward to it. Hunsicker writes a witty, gritty tale. Sandy P

Sucker Bet by James Swain

An Elmore Leonard-like mystery. Very good. Hardened ex-cop, Tony Valentine, likes to catch those who cheat the casinos and is good at it. Casino bosses keep him so busy he may have to give up his second job as a wrestler. His neighbor, Mable, acts as his secretary and second in command and really doesn't like his 20 some years younger girl friend, a lady wrestler. Tony gets involved in a really big scam with some pretty shady characters and is wondering if his luck is going to run out. Not available in Villisca library, but worth ordering from another. Sandy P

The Woods by Harlan Coben

Widower Paul Copeland, county prosecutor of Essex, New Jersey, is raising his six-year-old daughter with the help of his wife's sister and husband. His mother abandoned him as a youngster, his father recently deceased, and he still mourns the loss of his sister twenty years ago when two teenagers were found murdered at a summer camp and his sister and another youth were missing, presumed dead. Cope feels his life is moving ahead, until a homicide victim is found with evidence linking him to the past murders. Secrets are exposed and threatened to be exposed. I found this an exciting read, not knowing the out come until just a few chapters from the end. Sandy P

The Final Detail by Harlan Coben

Sports agent Myron Bolitar is experiencing the perfect vacation when on the horizon a yacht appears and his friend Win brings him back to reality with the news that his friend and partner Esperanza is in trouble. In New York, he finds that Esperanza is accused of murdering one of their clients. Determined to clear her of the charges, Myron is caught up in a twisted, tangled web of white lies, deception that began twelve years ago and now threatens to harm them all. A really great read. Could hardly put it down. Sandy P (not in the library here, but we can order it for you...)

Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich

Stephanie Plum fans will get a kick out of this one. Everybody seems to be related to everybody in the burg and when Dom Rizzi is released from prison (bank robbery) bad things begin to happen; a body here and a body there; Stephanie and Joe Morelli (the hunk) get to babysit "Zook" while his mother meets bond; and Lulu wants Tank to walk down the aisle. This is just part of the mayhem. If you are ready, Evanovich has added more chaos and racy talk to yet another winner. Sandy P

Beautiful Lies by Lisa Unger

Published in 2006, Unger writes a sad, compelling tale of Ridley Jones, who discovers that her safe, insulated life is anything but. When she dashes in front of a truck to rescue a toddler, the publicity results in unwanted attention. Then she receives a note enclosed with a faded newspaper article that suggests she is not who she thinks she is. I had read this before, but when I picked it up again, I couldn't recall what it was about. An intense read, written in the first person. Certainly not boring. Sandy P

There Will Be No Second Chance by Harlan Coben

Dr Marc Seidman is standing over the sink eating a granola bar for breakfast. Twelve days later he then awakens to find himself in ICU, hooked up to an IV and his head swathed in bandages; his wife dead, his six month old daughter, Tara, missing. Marc suffers the angst of not knowing the why or the where when the FBI and local police can find no leads. Then a ransom note is received, and Marc has hope. This is a suspense thriller in the best vein, a good read. Sandy P

The Stone Monkey by Jeffery Deaver

Published in 2002, this Lincoln Rhyme mystery is probably one of his best, in my opinion. Lincoln and his protegee, Amelia Sachs have been recruited by the FBI to capture "the Ghost" - a homicidal immigrant smuggler. A boatload of refugees from eastern China have traveled half-way around the world to America, the Beautiful Country, hoping for amnesty, hoping to live in freedom. With the Coast Guard closing in directed by Lincoln, a raging storm, and the Ghost with his own agenda, the boat is blown up, with some survivors escaping. What follows is a glimpse into the Chinese culture(s), excellent crime scene investigations, and a fast paced thriller. I really liked it. Sandy P

Executive Privilege by Phillip Margolin

Private detective Dana Cutler is hired by an attorney with powerful political connections to follow a college student named Charlotte Walsh, to report on who she sees and where she goes. At the same time across the country, Brad Miller, a junior associate in a huge law firm is given a pro bono appeal of a convicted serial killer, Clarence Little. Little admits to some of the murders, but claims innocence of one that will bring Dana and Brad together on a search for a murderer that appears to be a member of the White House. They need to stay alive to do it. A fairly good read, seems like it could happen. Sandy P

The Senator and the Priest by Andrew M Greeley

Tommy Moran is the man we would all like to see run for office - any office. Irish Catholic from west Chicago, he vows to never attack his opponent, that he won't ask for political contributions and he will do the best he can. He is fully supported by his wife and three red-headed daughters as well as close friends and his family with the exception of his brother, Father Tony Moran.

This is a very uplifting story of politics in today's world, where temptations abound and enemies lurk. Tommy is hurt the most by his brother, Father Tony, who criticizes him and his family to their faces and to the media. I really liked this novel of political intrigue. Sandy P

Lady Killer by Lisa Scottoline

Scottoline's readers welcome back heroine Mary DiNunzio in a story of friendship, threats of murder and murder, and Mary takes a giant step forward as she trusts her own instincts risking her beloved job with Rosato & Associates. Mary's high school rival, Trish Gambone, asks for help with her abusive and violent live-in. Trish is afraid to follow through on Mary's suggestions because of Bobby's connection with the mob, but she is equally afraid of Bobby's physical violence and his threats to kill her. This is a great read. Liked it a lot. Sandy P

Nothing to Lose by Lee Child

Number twelve in a series, Jack Reacher finds trouble while walking, hitch-hiking diagonally across the United States. Never one to cause trouble, Jack doesn't take kindly to being told he can't do something. Wanting a cup of coffee in Despair, Colorado, Jack gets four hostile locals, a vagrancy charge, and an order to move on. Jack Reacher wants to know why. Lee Child has yet another great Jack Reacher adventure. Sandy P

Knitting Bones by Monica Ferris

Betsy Devonshire, full-time owner of Crewel World needlework shop and part-time sleuth, has to create a group effort to solve the latest puzzle when Bob Germaine is found murdered and a twenty-four thousand dollar check is missing, and Betsy has a broken leg. This is a delightful little piece of fluff, murder not withstanding. Not too bad. Sandy P

Walking After Midnight by Karen Robards

Of all of Robards' books, I think I like this one the best, so far. Her heroine, Summer McAfee, has her own cleaning business and the story begins with her cleaning the floor of the men's room at the town's funeral home at 2 AM when she hears noises. She quickly finishes up and upon closing up, turning out the lights, she discovers an extra body in the embalming room. Freak out! I don't want to tell you any more as I chuckled and sympathized with Summer through several chapters and I don't want to spoil it for you. There is murder and mystery as well as humor. I enjoyed this book greatly. Sandy P

Ghost Moon by Karen Robards

Olivia Morrison returns to her childhood home with her daughter, eight-year-old Sara and begins experiencing nightmares of her mother who had drowned in a lake when Olivia was six. Not only that, but the step-family (Olivia's mother had re-married) are not all pleased to have her return. In between chapters, someone is stealing little girls to have them never seen again. The reader is left to wonder who this dangerous person is and why is he doing this. Will Olivia and her step-family be able to heal old wounds? Robards writes a chilling mystery of mother love and compassion. A good read. Sandy P