Sunday Summary, 21 June 2015

Happy Father's Day!

Our kids have planned something for Sunday, but I'm not sure what—other than gathering at our house at mid-morning. Guess we'll take pictures since four generations are expected to be present with Hubby's parents, our kids, and the grandkids. And, given the time of day, we'll probably have lunch all together. I don't know if they are bringing it with them or we will go out to eat—I'm not cooking for the crowd!

Where I've been reading

I was able to schedule another week at home—well, almost. I dashed off to New York for a meeting with a customer, but that was just an overnight trip. It did, however, put me into the car alone for a couple of hours driving from airport to hotel and then hotel to customer location and back to airport. That meant I made a LOT of progress in my current audiobook, The Target by David Baldacci.

 

What I've been reading: Completed this week

Format: eBook
Source: borrowed from library via Freading
Completed: 14 June

★★★☆☆

I continue to enjoy this series of historical mysteries. The Pilgrim of Hate is the tenth book in the chronicles of Brother Cadfael. Cadfael is a Bendictine monk, a herbalist. Born in Wales, he had a career as a soldier before joining the monastery. Now, he joins with his brothers in prayer and assists the local sheriff with investigations.

In June of 1141, a flood of pilgrims arrive at the Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul to celebrate the feast day of Saint Winifred, whose remains are kept at the Abbey. Among them may be a murderer who slew a knight in Winchester—one whose death struck Brother Cadfael particularly hard. As Cadfael gets to know the pilgrims and their stories, he must also try to determine who is the murderer and why the knight was slain.

Format: eBook
Source: borrowed from library via Overdrive
Completed: 20 June

★★★★☆

One of the best books I've read this year is The Black Lung Captain, second book in Chris Wooding's Tales of the Ketty Jay. The Ketty Jay is a derelict cargo airship, captained by Darian Frey and crewed by a daemonist, a Murthian engineer, an alcoholic doctor, a mysterious female navigator, and two outflier pilots. This motley crew live by their wits: a little hauling cargo, a bit of thieving, and some smuggling.

In The Black Lung Captain Captain Frey and the rest of the crew of the Ketty Jay are back for another great adventure. Approached by Captain Grist to assist him in scavenging a crashed ship, Frey and his company dream of great wealth—instead finding great danger.

Back in December, I submitted a request that the library add the rest of the Ketty Jay series to their Overdrive subscription. I was thrilled when they did so and now I'm reading my way through the series.

Format: Audio
Source: borrowed from library via Overdrive
Completed: 20 June

★★★★☆

I'm relishing David Baldacci's thrillers. Right now I'm busy reading my way through his Will Robie novels. Will is a crack assassin for the CIA, sent out on clandestine missions to make sure that dangerous individuls hostile to the United States cannot gain influence and power.

I borrowed The Target in audiobook format from the library, downloading it via the Overdrive application. It's the first time I've borrowed an audiobook, since I know how long it usually takes me to listen to an audiobook. Although the library has a generous lending period of three weeks, it usually takes me six or more to complete an audiobook.

Will Robie and Jessica Reel are paired for another high risk mission. Unfortunately, there are those in the CIA who don't trust the partners and they're willing to do anything to make sure that the assassins don't survive this mission. Missions to Paris and Korea keep them in the spotlight and at the climax, they come face-to-face with their North Korean counterpart.

Highly recommended in any format, the audiobook is read by the team of Ron McLarty and Orlagh Cassidy. I'll be checking out the next one in the series very soon.

What I've been reading: In progress

If you haven't experienced J D Robb's In Death mystery series, you've missed some good reading. Eve Dallas is a lieutenant in the NYC police department in the 2050s. So the books are set just a little way into the future, which allows Robb to have cars that fly as well as roll on roads, space stations, and Pepsi supplied in tubes. But otherwise, the series doesn't have too much of a science fiction-y feel to it.

Book number 26, Strangers in Death has the New York City homicide cop investigating the murder of business tycoon Thomas Anders. Anders is found strangled and tied to his bed, apparently the victim of a kinky sex encounter. Of course, her husband, Roarke, and assistant, Det. Delia Peabody, assist Eve as she questions Anders's widow, Ava, and his nephew, Benedict Forrest—searching for the identity of the murderer.

As the title reveals, it's Christmas time in St. Germaine, North Carolina, and Hayden Konig, police chief and organist/choir master, is putting on a cantata for the Christmas Eve service. Found in the archives of the city hall, from the pen of an unknown composer and long forgotten, this cantata had been debuted on Christmas Eve of 1942. Konig figures that's a good reason to give it a re-run this year. But even more interesting: who was the composer?

This Week on the Blog

I did a little bit better this week. In addition to the two weekly memes, I posted a review for Forgotten Suns and wrote about joining in the summer COYER challenge.

1. Review: Forgotten Suns
2. COYER, Summer 2015
3. Book Blogger Hop: 19-25 June 2015
4. Stacking the Shelves (37)

 

I'm pleased to be linking up with The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

 

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on the blog, showcase books and things received. Share news about what is coming up on the blog for the week ahead.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which the BookObsessed online community will receive a few cents if you make purchases.