An Available Man

Hilda Wolitzer - nice story of older age, loss of a spouse, the grieving and attempts to move on. Focus on efforts to find a new partner and the trials of dating at an older age - in this case 64.

Walking into the Ocean

David Whellams - English police procedural. Retired yard Inspector investigates murder/suicide in Dorset along with serial rape/murders in Devon. Slow, tedious.

Bailed after 130 pages or so.

Safe House

Chris Ewan - Spy thriller on Isle of Man. Plumber, motorcycle accident, abduction from safe house hiding place. Then lots of gore, violence, abandoned dead people. Many over the top situations. Almost stopped early but had nothing else to read.

The Detour

Andromeda Romano-Lax - Saga of Germany, 1938, buying up art masterpieces for Hitler from around Europe. This is the trip of the Discus Thrower from Rome and the dire misadventures that occur before delivery. German art person plus two Italian police start but have disastrous side trips trying to avoid pursuers. Are late for delivery and German authorities get involved.

The Travels of a T-Shirt in the Global Economy

Piers Rivoli - examines process from cotton fields in Texas to spinning, weaving and sewing in China and finally to the recycle trade in Africa. All the front side is tightly controlled by US trade regs - tariffs, quantities per country - all to protect the dying US textile industry. It all costs us a ton. The only free market aspect is the used short recycle business. And the restrictions hurt the local economies of the producing nations though the restrictions spread the industry further afield than China. Eliminating them would just bring all back to China.

The Namesake: A Commissario Alec Blume

Conor Fitzgerald - Italian police investigation of mafia in S Italy. Really drags and not sure what point is. Gave up in middle.

Toast to Bargain Wines

George Taber - says wines are over priced and over rated. Reviews processes and how all levels of wine  world wide have improved. So many very good wines available at low prices - though not in CT! Nice summary of regions, types in back.

Jar City

Arnaldur Indridason - earlier read of Iceland series. Erlendur pursues crime which leads to jars of brains of victims kept by local uni.

Outrage

Arnaldur Indridason - Iceland series, w/o Erlendur. Elindor steps in for date rape drug case. Solves going thru many sessions of interrogations, shows how pursisten they are at wearing done subjects, guilty or not. Eventually they will say anything to stop it.

The Great Aridity

 - - water shortage implications for US southwest.

Or the Bull Gets You

 Jason Webster- Max Camera mystery - Valencia, Spain, murders in bull-fighting. Explores culture of the bull/Spain, Fallas festival in Mar.

A Death in Valencia

Jason Webster - Ch Insp Max Camera crime novel. Paela chef murdered, abortion Dr kidnapped. Major effort by city govt to tear down and redevelop old seaside community. Lots of intrigue, counter intrigue.

Havana Requiem

Paul Goldstein - legal thriller. Down and out lawyer, trying to make come back with old firm. Takes on task of getting copyrights back for Cuban musicians that were taken away by Govt in 50's. Ties up with Cuban security, US State Dept, old Mafia ties. Nice read.

Prague Fatale

Philip Kerr - Historical novel set in 1941 Berlin and Prague. Well written, enjoyable. Gruesome references to Jewish relocations/exterminations in E Europe. Focus on policeman, Bernie Gunther, and efforts with crime in depressed environment of Berlin and then as protector of  Reinhard Gunther, top nazi in Prague, against various plots to assassinate him including by his top staff.Good read.

All Cry Choas

Leonard Rosen - good read. Tightly woven story of  French Interpol agent, chaos theory, attack on family by Serb bad guy, The Rapture - second coming, explosives. Good tale.

Fire Season

Provincetown - series of arson fires. Police Chief chases. Really screwy natives

Death's Door

Jim Kelly Series of murders along north Norfolk coast, UK. Follows policemen Shaw and Valentine investigation of, first - a 17 yr old murder, and then new ones linked to a DNA test of visitors to an island site of the first one. Much detail. Well written?

Death of the Mantis

Michael Stanley - Botswana, Kalahari Desert. Bushman murders outsiders getting too close to sacred rock features. Kubu unravels tale.

Woman Chased by Crows

Marc Strange - Russian ballerina in small Canadian town near Toronto, involved with stolen crown jewels, murders. Two women detectives pursue and solve. Mellow, light-hearted story.

Beastly Things

Donna Leon - Another Venice tale with Commisario Brunetti, this one focussing on the meat processing industry and trying to make a story of it. A long, very slow slog. Dumping much more philosophy or just heading to the local coffee shop than story. Pretty tired story line.

The Keeper of Lost Causes - A Good Read

The Keeper of Lost Causes - Jussi Adler-Olsen Danish chief detective trying to recover from an attack that killed one partner, paralyzed another and left him emotionally shattered. Returns to work to find a promotion to a new Dept Q charged with chasing cold cases. With one Syrian assistant in their office deep in the basement, they gradually pick up a case of a missing senior legislator who was thought to have jumped off a ferry to commit suicide. Actually, she'd been abducted and locked in a sealed chamber for five years. Q gradually unwinds sparse leads to solve and find her. Slow, but a good read.

The Moonhawker

The Moonhawker - set on island in Lake Michigan north of Green Bay. Former Nazi hunter takes job as school administrator/island cop. Many strange doings on island with drugs, arms whatever. Hero goes through unscathed plus picks up beautiful young woman who daughters love. Bit too, too...

A History of Pi

A History of Pi - Petr Beckmann - traces concept of Pi. Didn't get far as got stuck into biography of Eisenhower. Ok if you can plow through lots of numbers. P29.

Dark Dreams

Dark Dreams - Michael Genelin. - Slovak police commander Jana takes on smuggling operation gone bad, murders, corrupt politicians. Good read.

Others in series have read - Requiem of a Gypsy; one other.

Eisenhower: in War and Peace

Eisenhower: in War and Peace - Jean Edward Smith

Fascinating biography dispelling the myth of bumbling leader. Ike was completely in control, but mostly using very understated methods. A great commander and dominant president through major crises in both jobs. Long dry read but worth it.

Hunting Sweetie Rose

Hunting Sweetie Rose - Jack Fredrickson - mystery set in corrupt Chicago suburb. Occasional sleuth Dek Elstrom tries to solve mystery of clown jumping from roof. Lives in turret in middle of town. Read another of series before. So-so.

Computer Reads

The Information - James Gleick: An attempt to trace the history of info from forever. Wandering, wordy, draggy story. Lost track and gave up half way.

Google+, the Missing Manual - Kevin Purdy: couldn't quite get into it. Not really sure about social media stuff besides AP.

Lifehacker - Adam Pash and Gina Trapani: Lots of schemes to improve computer performance, organize data. Unfortunately many wouldn't work with my systems, like trying to print from PC thru iMac. Others take getting new software.

No Mark Upon Her

Reading - currently working on Deborah Crombie's "No Mark Upon Her" I don't usually like the flowery stuff of women authors which is present here I have read a previous one of this series and found it interesting. This is more so as it centers on a murder (the main characters are Scotland Yard types), but at Henley and in the rowing community there. Much details and background about the sport and that center of the sport. Bring back old familiar names like Leander, Temple Island, Isis, London Rowing Club, members enclosure. All good stuff, not that I rowed there but my club did and we had some very fine afternoons after their heats in the champagne bar. Hmmm - good memories. And had the privilege of riding in the referees boat behind our four one heat; unfortunately the missed, but great fun.

Might be fun to get back to a scull.

Black Diamond

 Mark Walker - Dordogne region of France - St Denis and police ch Bruno take on bad dealings in truffle market. Chinese v Viet immigrant conflicts.