The Crossing by Michael Connelly

(Posted for Paul Mathews)

Detective Harry Bosch helps defense attorney Mickey Haller catch crooked policemen and save an innocent they are accusing of murder.

Audio:  9 hrs. 26 min.
Print:  400 pages

"Cop Out" by KC Burn

This was an unusual story of Kurt, a Toronto cop, who is injured and his partner killed in a shooting.  Even though he'd been partnered with Ben for several years, it turns out that Kurt really didn't know much about him outside of work.  For one thing, Ben was gay, and for another, he had a longtime boyfriend, Davy, with whom he'd been living.  When Kurt meets the inconsolable man at Ben's funeral, he knows he has to do something to help as he would if Ben had been with a woman.  But as Kurt gets to know Davy, he comes to realize that Davy has been the victim of Ben's verbal and mental abuse.  That's all I can say to prevent spoiling this emotional story about two men connected by tragedy and second chances.  I'd definitely read a sequel.  200 pages (Kindle edition).

"Chasing Smoke" by K.A. Mitchell

Trey Eriksson and Daniel Gardner grew up together in Easton, PA.  Their fathers even fought in Vietnam together.  So when Trey's father was convicted of killing his mother in a botched murder/suicide during Trey's senior year of high school, he moved in with Danny's family and the young men became even closer.  But Trey couldn't deal with those feelings and joined the Army right after graduation leaving Danny hurt and confused.  Fifteen years later, Danny is an agent for Homeland Security in DC, and Trey is back in Easton working as a cop.  He's always believed that someone else murdered his mother and set up his father, who died in prison.  Now Danny is back in town for Christmas and to help his mother close on her recently sold house.  When someone breaks into the house but takes no valuables, Trey is assigned the case and old feelings flair up.  But when Danny discovers that Trey is still trying to find his mother's murderer and clear his father's name, he takes it upon himself to help whether or not Trey wants it.

This was an excellent story with just enough suspense and mystery but not too much to take away from the main theme - unrequited love.  Trey and Danny are very hard-headed men who struggle to deal with their feelings, both past and present.  They are loners and don't always work well together; Danny tends to joke and Trey gets defensive whenever they feel vulnerable. The author did a great job conveying their angst and longing; I would love to see a sequel!  259 pages.

Run Man Run by Chester Himes

Posted for Paul Mathews

Drunken white detective kills two black porters in a restaurant and wounds a third one. He pursues this man in order to remove all witnesses to what he has done.  

Audio:  6 hrs. 45 min.
Print:  192 pages

52 Steps to Murder by Steve Demaree

This is the first book in the Dekker Cozy Mystery series. I mainly chose it because I have read books 2 and 3 and wanted to see how the series started. The summary reads: "An elderly woman is found poisoned in the upstairs bedroom of her home whose from door stands 52 steps above the street in an old-fashioned whodunit that blends clues, red herrings, suspects, and humor." The mystery is pretty good, but I quickly got tired of the mean-spirited humor and  of the main character as well as the all-to-frequent references to food. 221 pages.

Protector by Laurel Dewey

Jane Perry is a hardened homicide detective assigned to protect Emily Lawrence. Emily has memories locked inside of her that could lead to the capture of the person who killed her parents. Can Jane keep Emily safe until she remembers what happened or will the killer return and successfully wipe out the lone witness to his crime? The language was on the rough side, but not surprisingly so. I found the psychology behind Jane's character interesting enough that it kept me reading even when the plot turned plodding. Book one in the Jane Perry series. 512 pages.

Salvation in Death by J.D. Robb

The congregation looks on horrified as their priest dies during the middle of a funeral service. To make it worse, the cause of death is murder by poison - and the victim wasn't really a priest. While investigating the crime, Eve Dallas must confront some difficult events of her past. This was the first book I read in the In Death series. I'm intrigued enough to try another. I suspect it is best if the books are read in order. 355 pages.