X-Men Clasic #57 By: Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum & Josef Rubinstein

One of my all time favorite issues.  It's Kitty telling a story to Colossus' sister.  And what a delightful, swashbuckling story it is! This is just a sweet and endearing issue!

 

X-Men Classic #55 By: Chris Claremont, Jim Sherman, Bob McLeod & Josef Rubinstein

I know that comic books are like soaps-you have to get the next issue for the continuing story-there's always some sort of cliff hanger but this particular volume is all set up and not a lot of action until the very end. 

Classic X-Men #13 By: Chris Claremont, Dave Cockrum, Bob Layton & John Bolton

After reading a number of large, heavy subject, literary tomes, it was time to revist my comic book collection and just relax!  Phoenix Unleashed was a great trip down memory lane with the X-Men battling Eric the Red and  Firelord!

 

The Starless Sea By: Erin Morgenstern

Holy merde-this was quite a trip! Stories within stories about stories plus a little space time coninuum thrown in for some extra fun!  Morgenstern manages to keep the many plot lines, characters and times clear and moving in this not to be missed storytelling ride!

Tell Me What You Did By: Carter Wilson

Wow-super creepy! This suspenseful thriller is fascinating, not just in the unique plot devices, but the moral implications of this who done it (and why they done it)!  If you're looking for a twist filled thriller to keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat, then this is the book for you!

 

The Bishop's Pawn By: Steve Berry

Even though it's the 13th book in the Cotton Malone series, it contains the origin of Cotton's involvement with Stephanie and the DOJ.  Full of fantastic action sequences and moments of pathos and moving passes, The Bishop's Pawn is vintage Berry.  Full of his trademark history and twists and turns, this one has truly jaw-dropping moment toward the end!

Murderer By: Anthony Shaffer

What a bizarre play!!  The opening scene alone is beyond creepy, but it definitely grabs the audiences attention and doesn't let go until the very end.  This piece is not for the faint of heart, but it is endlessly fascinating, despite the gore!

 

Finders Keepers By: Stephen King

A fantastic follow-up to Mr. Mercedes!  I have to admit, Holly and Jerome are my favorite characters in this series! Another great mystery from the master!  King ramps up the tension in this one running storylines on parallel tracks until the collide near the end and the reader's blood pressure ramps up!  A truly creepy ending to this one! 

Before Dorothy By: Hazel Gaynor

What an absolutely beautiful story!! Part history of the Dust Bowl and the Great Depression; part women's empowerment; part prequel-ish to the Wizard of Oz; all brilliant storytelling! Emily Gale is a loving, lovely, formidable woman in this origin story. Her relationship with Henry is real and a delight to experience. The story of how Dorothy ends up living with her Auntie Em is realistic for the time period and for its emotions. A cast of delightful and some not so delightful  characters surround Em, Henry with love, friendship, and some wickedness.  Lots of easter eggs for the Frank L. Baum devotees! 

American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century By: Maureen Callahan

This look at the Israel Keyes case was oddly moving!!  Callahan's writing style and her use really brought out the feelings of all of the investigators on this deeply disturbing case. Particularly moving were the stories of the dive team in recovering one of Keyes' victims.  There are a lot (and I do mean a lot) of unanswered questions regarding the number so Keyes' victims, to the Prosecutor who insinuated himself into the interrogation process, to the correctional facility's lack of common sense in dealing with a prisoner or Keyes' notoriety  and allowing him to commit suicide to the corruption in the state of Alaska. This case was a mess from the word go, and after reading this well put together book, one has to wonder if it were handled more professionally with someone steering the investigation, how many families might have achieved some sort of closure.