7th Heaven

7th HEAVEN by James Patterson (Little, Brown & Co., c2008, ISBN 978-0-316-01770-1) is the seventh book in the Women's Murder Club books with Sgt. Lindsay Boxer, ADA Yuki Castalleno, ME Claire Washburn and reporter Cindy Thomas. This book was one of my favorite books of late by Patterson. Set in San Francisco and surrounding towns like Palo Alto and Colma, this book has some nasty little firebugs setting fires -- to people! And Lindsay and crew are on the case. A side story has Yuki prosecuting a young woman and a writer who becomes obsessed with her.

The book starts:

Tiny lights winked on the Douglas fir standing tall and full in front of the picture window.

Chop Shop

Next up was CHOP SHOP by Tim Downs (Howard Publishing Co., c2004, ISBN 1-58-229-401-1). This book is the second book in the Dr. Nick Polchak Bugman series, which I adore. This book features pathologist Riley McKay and forensic entomologist Nick Polchak searching for some inconsistencies found in some autopsies done in the coroner's office. Set in Pittsburgh and Tarentum, PA, organ donation and the ethical versus unethical beliefs surrounding said donations and harvesting are key issues in this book and make it for a very exciting read.

The book begins:

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, 1973
The young man set his glasses down beside the sink, then bent face down and cupped handfuls of cold water against his face.

I really like this series even though there is little graphic violence and no real swearing that I've found. Dr. Polchak is a "real" person with my kind of sense of humor and very similar to Dr. Gregory House, who I adore, with a capital A. Downs' books have topics that keep me interested and I've learned quite a lot about bugs and forensic entomology.

Naughty Neighbor

Third up in March was NAUGHTY NEIGHBOR by Janet Evanovich (Harper, c1992, 2008, ISBN 978-0-06-059892-1), and I believe it is the last of the reprints if I counted right. Sigh.

Louisa lives next door to Pete with all of his annoying habits in Washington D.C., but of course, once they meet they can't help but fall in love (it is a romance, after all). Political scandals and pigs run amok in this book and although I read it faster than some of her other reprints, I kept getting caught up with one of the main character's name. His name was Pete. Pete Streeter. And all I could here was Peter Streeter. Then I would start thinking Peter Streeter Pumpkin-Eater. Ack!

The book begins:

Pete Streeter came awake on the third ring - just in time to hear the answering machine pick up the call.

Shoofly Pie and Apple Pan Dowdy

Holy smokes, do I like this guy!

A patron of mine recommended SHOOFLY PIE by Tim Downs (Howard Publishing Co., c2003, ISBN 1-58229-308-2) to me. I thought I'd take a look...


The next day as I was closing the book up, I decided I had to find the rest of the books in this series featuring Dr. Nick Polchak aka THE BUGMAN.

Dr. Polchak is a forensic entomologist or one who studies bugs and how they relate to the death of another. He's kind of like Grissom on CSI but with the sense of humor of Dr. House on HOUSE (which I LOVE!)

This book starts with four childhood friends, three boys and one girl. All three boys were in love with her but she only married one. One boy died during the war. Another has just turned up dead and she's hired the Bugman to help her solve the case. There are a lot of interesting facts about bugs - if you're into that kind of thing - and how they effect the dead and how the dead effect them. In the bookstores it's listed as a Christian Fiction book, but I think that may only be because of the lack of strong language. I'm telling everyone I know to try this book. I want Tim Downs to continue with this series for a long time.

It begins:

Holcum County, North Carolina, 1975

Zachary Sloan stepped out of the Rayford ABC Package Store and walked to the bed of his primer-gray Ford pickup.

Naughty Me!

Again, I've been naughty and again, I apologize for the lack of writing. I don't know if I wrote about it, but back in February I fell at work. I managed to tear just about everything holding my knee together and now there is a strong possibility I will be having some type of surgery. I am on light duty at work so you'd think that I'd have more time to keep track of my blog. But actually I am preparing for when I have to go to U of I hospitals, and in the event that my assistant takes over for me.


I have, however, done some reading which I will try to get back on track writing about.


First up in March, was KILLING FEAR by Allison Brennan (Ballantine Books, c2008, ISBN 978-0-345-50271-1). This book is the first in a new series and set mainly in San Diego, CA. However, the Kincaid family, who have been featured in another trilogy by Brennan follow through. Seven years previous, Theodore Glenn was convicted of the brutal murders of four women - strippers and one woman's testimony helped put him away. Now, after an earthquake, he has escaped from prison and is back to exact his revenge.


The book begins:

Seven years earlier

Theodore Glenn sat at the defense table alone, hands loosely folded in front of him, watching the jury foreman hand the bailiff his fate written on a folded white card.

Brennan has become one of my favorite writers and I look for every new book out by her. I look forward to the next installment in this series.