Rick Kohut

I was eager to listen to the audiobook of this the sixth and final novel (for now) in the Dublin Murder squad Series. Once again the reader captured the first-person voice of the story-teller in a way which enhanced and expanded what was happening in the story. I've learned that these books are not electrifying page burners, but rather mysteries which unfold amidst compliated relationships, dark motives and what I imagine is rather authentic dective work. The plot had twists-some of which had much buildup with little payoff. And I have mixed feeling about how satisfied I am with the resolution. Having completed the series - with only hearing the last two as audiobooks, I am going back to the start to listen and gain more from those stories then when can be gained by simply imagining the voices of the characters.

The Secret Place- It's been a while since I spent time with The Dublin Murder Squad. I returned with this title mainly b/c it was St. Patrick's Day and I wanted to hear an audiobook with authentic Irish accents. I was not disappointed as the story telling used two diffent voices and thus a male and female narrator. The male was first person and amazing! The vocalization opened the character up so much. A great plot about friendship, loyality and trust. The plot moved slowly in places as there was much space and time to develop how the characters interacted and the lush setting. A most satisfying ending - even if one not insignificant aspect of the story wasn't resolved.

Children of God. I picked up this 2nd book in the series immediated after I finished "The Sparrow." I loved the characters and the alien world, so wanted to learn more of their stories. Unfortunately this 2nd book held very little of what I most appreciated about "The Sparrow." The story-telling with multiple time lines was hard to follow. I also had a tough time keeping track of what was going on politically w/ the two alien species. While some of the humans were endearing-most were hard to handle. The hardest thing to handle was that the audiobook narrator was different then for The Sparrow" and this was a shame as I really liked the one for "The Sparrow" and I couldn't stand the voice for this one!

For my lenten growth, I've been reading or listening to spiritually nourishing stories. I'd read this book and loved this little work many years ago. Finding the brief audiobook now was a great joy. The reader is what you'd hope for and he does a fair job of speaking the voices of the Pooh family. I love these dear characters and have loved them from when I was just a boy. It was fun to revisit with them while contemplating the ways of The Way. While the audio was fine, I did miss the lovely drawings that are found in the print version of it.

An astounding book which was made more engaging and exciting by the outstanding audiobook narrator. This non-fictional historical tale is written like the best adventure novel imaginable. The author begins by noting that not one, but two different groups of castaways made it back to England after being shipwrecked in South America. This point sets the stage for how the facts are now able to be told-from the journals of the surving seamen. A great adventure and the telling is vivid and exciting. Hard to belief that the main figures were able to survive ridiculous levels of hardship and therefore able to return safely home so their tales could be told. Highly recommended!

I read this novel for the first time more than 20 years ago, but I didn't really get the deep and challenging exploration of the essential theological question of why does God allow suffering? As an older and wiser man, I understand and resonate much more now with this struggle. The novel is structured with a mystery at it's heart-what happened on a distant planet to cause to entire crew to perish and why is the lone survivor physically and spiritually shattered? The answers unfold as the story proceeds to a gripping and gut-wrenching resolution of the mystery. I listened to the expertly read audiobook and it greatly enhanced my experience of the story. Be warned that the narrator of the sequel - "Children of God" isn't the same person - and is one I found so difficult to listen to that I immediately turned it off and picked up the book to read rather then to listen to it.

I picked up this novel as it was featured as part of a Lenten Book Club which concluded with a Zoom conversation with the author. I only had a few days to read it and I was gratefully surprised when it turned out to be a "page turner" for me. I kept reading it not b/c the plot was particularly suspenseful. Instead I found the characters to be real and endearing. I read on and on b/c I cared about them and wanted to know how their stories would resolve. My appriciation of the book was increased by my familiarity with its setting in New Mexico as I travelled there on a "cultural" trip years ago. I highly recommend that you journey with this endearing family through this story.

I read this novel as part of a Kindle challenge as it was on a ""Best of" list they were featuring. So glad I read it as it was an engaging page turner. I particularly appreciated the 1st person narrator as I found her exprince of the challenges of early sobriety to be believable and endearing. The other characters-with the exception of the Dad in the story- were also relatable and ones I wanted to get to know though the plot. I think the best part of the book for me was the inclusion of the drawings that the kid in the story made. seeing these rather than just having them described in the text made it much more engaging and enjoyable.

This was the 1st non-fiction book I've listened to-start to finish in a long time. I was able to stay with the writing in large part because I listened to the audiobook which is read by the author herself. Hearing her story read in her own voice made the telling come alive for me. It starts as an investigation, but the journey the author's takes her into what she calls the "Mirror world." As I don't hang out there myself, I learned from the author as she also discovered the twisted view of reality that lives here. Yet, what made this compelling and challenging for me is how she finds there an acknowledgement of real societal problems-and ones that those of us on the left are ignoring. A thoughtful and chalenging, yet satisfying read for me. Highly recommended.

chose this novel I found it on a list of "great books" in the haunted house genre. I put the e-book on hold at my public library way back during Spooky Season and it finally became available. And it was worth the wait (even if it doesn't fit as well during this "pre-Valentine" season.) The plot covers much ground and fortunately the core characters-the dad and his daughters are likeable and relatable enough to support some pretty wild plot elements. I found the titular house to be more creepy and mysterious rather than terrifying. So, those looking for scares to keep your lights on at night while reading won't really find it here. I liked how the mystery of why the family is on the run takes time to unfold - even though I found the reason (and thus the resolution of the story to be somewhat unsatisfying and confusing.) Regardless, a quick and enjoyable read - during any season.

I chose this novel because I saw it on multiple 2033 "Best of" lists. I wasn't disappointed. It is a rare novel which puts forth big ideas, a compelling setting and a plot which border on being a true "page turner." The novel is set in a world like ours in which 3 mega-tech companies dominate the on-line world. While the names of the companies and their quirky leaders are different than the brands and corporations of our world, it's easy (and fun) to guess who is who. The plot, about which I'll give little away here, is a vehicle for commentary on the damage these- and our tech megaliths are wreaking. The solution presented in the plot is a clever, if fantastical one. Still, it made me think about the state of our word, the damage being done and how to make repairs and even reparations for this. An engaging, thought-provoking read-with even a bit of some key Old Testament stories thrown in!

I like the universe in which these stories reside. The idea of microdemocracy is pretty intesteresting to me. The problem I have with this series-having read two of the three titles is that the novels are mainly concept with little plot to drive the story forward. I was forgiving of this in the first title. Here, in the 2nd one, I am less so. While the concept of "null states," which are countries around the microdemocracies who did not adopt this form of governnance has potential, I found little about the plot or the charaters that made me want to keep reading. I finished the novel, but I don't think I can subject myself to the third and final book-regardless of how much I think the setting is engaging.

This novel is so widely lauded, yet TBH it took me at least a couple hundred pages or so to understand why. The story telling, while rich and colorful (language included,) meanders as the omniscient narrator shares the backstories of the diverse cast of characters. Although the novel starts with a mysterious discovery, it takes a while for the plot to blossom. When it does open up and the connections among the characters and plotlines are realized - the effect is spellbinding and deeply satisfying. Certain vivid characters, especially the beautifully crafted Monkey Pants, belong in the canon of fictional individuals who will forever remain with the reader. Grateful that I stayed through this story as I will not soon forget its journey.

It's a rare second read, and a first listen, for me of this novel. It's wonky and it takes a while for the action to pick up. The world building gets into the weeds with the various governments, plots and motives. Fortunately, there's only a few key characters to follow, so the plot does mostly flow. As we in the U.S. approach a presidential election all about the future of democracy, this future-set world where democracy has an intriguing shape (each geographical block of 100K people votes for its own government,) offers insights into the importance of the freedom to vote and also the constant challenges of doing so. I think I'll continue in this fictional world through the next two books as it will provide a commentary on and a distraction from the mess the U.S. democracy finds itself in 2024.

A vivid, intense, yet soulful story of community, bigotry, the fierce love of kin - all set against a historical moment in the streets of Boston and the wider U.S. On one level it's a mystery and a story of retribution. Yet, there's layers of thoughtful characterization, insightful description of place and time plus a stark reminder that hatred and violence still fester in the tightest knit of communities.

I chose the book only to complete one last "challenge" in a reading series - before 2023 concluded. It was on a "Best of 2023" list and so it fit the bill. I enjoyed the universe of gods - once subdued by humans, but now warring - with human foot soldiers. The main characters were engaging and yet from the start their story arc was pretty clear. I liked the "lite," mostly unexplained magic. And the typewriters and how they made the letters was clever. A quick read and yet not one which is likely to linger for me.

Mixed feelings about this book. I like the titular character as it's great to have leading PI's who are neuro-diverse (see the great "IQ" series of novels for another engaging character.) I like her backstory which I learned from the three Bill Hodges novels. I'd not read the other, more recent, series in which Holly and Barbara Robinson appear. And I don't think I will read it now as there's quite a few references which apparently spoil the climax in at least one of those novels. On the negative side, I don't like mysteries where the identity of the villain(s) is immediately known by the reader. While this gave intense insight in to their heads in this instance, I feel much more suspense could have been built. And then there's the cannibalism - which doesn't remain a mystery for long either. I think it was handled mostly tastefully (pun intended) - except for one scene late in the book which involves lines drawn by a sharpie - which was jaw-dropping for me. Lastly, the "twist" which leads to the climax was telegraphed a mile away. NOTE- I was disappointed in the audio version of this novel. I'd listened to the outstanding reader for the three Bill Hodges novels. Although Holly was a secondary character, he gave her a voice which illuminated her uniqueness. While having a female reader for "Holly" makes sense, I thought she gave Holly a flat, uninteresting and often tough to listen to voice. Overall, a good, mostly engaging story, but lacking in a few key areas.

Wow - what an end to a great trilogy! I've been reading Stephen King for more than three decades now. While I enjoyed his more recent non-supernaturally focused ones ("Fairy Tale," and the first two books in this series,) it was great to be back in a well-spun story with an evil, supernaturally powered plot. I liked how the villain in the first book makes an encore appearance with a far more malicious, fantastical and entertaining plan. The relationship among the core trio of Bill, Holly and Jerome is deepened in surprisingly emotional ways. While the technology which drives the suspense is far-fetched and the origin of the "superpowers" isn't fully explained, overlooking these details in the service of enjoying a fast-moving plot isn't hard to do. The ending was thrilling and satisfying. And once I finished this audio-book (read by the outstanding journeyman actor Will Patton) I was ready and eager to put "Holly" into my ears (although I was disappointed that a far less engaging narrator than Patton reads it.)

As soon as I finished listening to the audio-book of "Mr. Mercedes," I immediately put this audio-book right into my ears. I was eager to hear what these endearing characters - Bill, Holly and Jerome were up to in this 2nd installment. I liked the focus on unpublished journals containing the fourth and fifth novels in one of the greatest character arcs ever published in the world of this book (and reminiscent of the Rabbit books by John Updike in our own world.) And, as a dedicated reader myself, I could relate to the (obsessive) desire multiple characters have to "know what comes next" for a fictional character who has inspired them as much as a real person might. I feel the build up to the conclusion was too slow and I didn't connect much with the two main characters who drove the plot (and weren't in Mr. Mercedes.) While this second novel in a trilogy wasn't a masterpiece like "The Empire Strikes Back" was it it's trilogy, it was still an enjoyable listen. And a valuable one before diving into the amazing third book "End of Watch."

I picked up this audio-book after I learned that it's the first book in the series which serves as a "prequel" to the story and titular character of "Holly." I'm grateful I did this as not only did I experience Holly's backstory, but I also met the endearing character - Kermit "Bill" Hodges. The plot is thrilling as it picks up steam barrelling towards a satisfying conclusion, but it's the characters - especially the deeply disturbed villain Brady Hartsfield - who make this story sing. I'm glad that I picked the audio version of the book as the reader Will Patton (most recently in "Silo" on Apple TV+) is an amazing reader who captured the voices in ways which expanded the written text. As soon as this first audio in the series was out of my ears, I immediately reached for the next one - "Finders Keepers"

I've not read the first in the "Molly the Maid" series, so I was unfamiliar with the main character and her prior adventures. It took me a bit of reading to realize that the main character is neuro-diverse. This discovery added to my enjoyment of the story as I appreciate novels which feature characters with "superpowers" which come from the unique way their minds work. I liked how the mystery in the present connected with Molly's past - and her relationship with her grandmother. It was a quick and enjoyable read with a mostly satisfying conclusion.

I found this novel on a few "recommended reads" lists and I'm glad I picked it up. It's a relatively quick read which kept me engaged throughout. Although I don't watch "reality" shows like "The Bachelor" I easily understood the way the show in the book -- "The Catch" -- worked. I liked how the story was told, chapter by chapter, with the focus on the different characters. The "excerpts" from the on-line discussions, journals and love letters added to the plot development. The mystery of the story wasn't deep, nor was the horror of it too intense. There's a few gory descriptions of carnage, but even these are brief and more for atmosphere than for shock and horror. I smiled when the meaning of the title is revealed near the end - especially since none of the characters (whom the chapters are named after) have the name "Patricia." An enjoyable read which celebrates the beauty of nature and a range of ways to love!

I picked up this audio book because I just finished watching the first season of "Silo" on Apple TV+. No spoilers here, except to say the only similarities are the overall concept/universe and some of the central characters. The show fleshes out character stories and creates numerous characters who aren't in the book at all. The book goes WELL beyond where the first season ends, so perhaps avoid the book if you're into the show and don't want to have a good idea about where the second season may go. I will say that the show helped me imagine what the silo looks like and without this visual, I don't think my reading would have been as rich. The writing is adequate in moving the story, but it isn't great literature as there's too many cliches and frequent over description - which slows the plot to a crawl in places. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series as I do like the concept, the main characters and am curious to see how the author develops this quite believable world.

A wonderful guide to a cycle of prayer which is the other side of the traditional Stations of the Cross. As it is Jesus' life, death, resurrection and ascension which saves creation, I found this highly practical book to be useful - especially during the Easter season. Highly recommended for Catholics and Christians of all denominations!

If you're up for the worthwhile challenge of reading Dante's “The Divine Comedy,” this is absolutely the way to go. Jo's use of modern references in her translation of this 14th century classic makes the tale both engaging and relatable. The annotation is acceptable, but one who wants to go deeper into the meaning of the poem in its time period is advised to use another source as well.??