The Black Box by Michael Connelly

Harry Bosch #16. Harry is still working for the Open-Unsolved Unit and he still has the same partner as the last book, David Chu. Surprise! He is even seeing the same woman, Hannah, which is even a bigger surprise! Of course he has a new boss, Lieutenant O'Toole, who doesn't like Harry. No surprise there. Harry always seems to get on the bad side of the powers that be. Harry is working on the 20-year old unsolved murder case of a journalist and photographer, Anneke Jespersen, who was found shot to death in an alley during the 1992 riots in South Central California.

Anneke was a freelance Danish journalist from Copenhagen with no assigned newspaper office, so no one seemed to know what she was doing in California. Her brother thought she was following a story in the United States, but wasn't sure what it was. Harry eventually finds out that she was searching for some "war criminals". Harry finds the gun that was used to kill her but O'Toole wants Harry to move on to another case and as soon as Harry refuses, his job is in jeopardy (again). Harry is always racing against the clock.

Harry always seems to find a trail to follow - and always seems to find someone to help him get whatever information he needs to continue along the trail, which is what makes these books so entertaining. You have to admire a man who never gives up; who always speaks for the dead. 

Harry continues to grow as a partner (work and personal), a father, and really as an individual. It's refreshing that he is starting to have some self-awareness that his words and his actions affect other people in his life. I think Harry is finally growing up! As most stories in this series, the leads Harry follows move him forward in unexpected directions. Harry eventually finds the "black box" (think of the black box on an airplane) that exposes the truth about Anneke's murder.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Grace Year by Kim Liggett

This book is considered Teen Fiction, but I think it was beautifully written and an engaging read for adults. First of all, adult women would have a deeper understanding of the story's message than a teenager would. I would guess that most adult women have had personal experiences of living in a male-dominated family/friend-group/work-team/community. I certainly have my share of experiences - along with the guilt I felt when trying to make choices about my own life. Trying to live my life with more autonomy.

Ultimately, this story is about women being held captive in a male-dominated society. The Grace Year refers to the year that a girl turns 16 years old. Each year, all girls who are 16 years old are taken on a two day journey into the woods and left in an encampment to fend for themselves for one year. They are considered "prey" to the poachers that roam the woods trying to capture them and skin them for their "hides" and body parts. The poachers turn in their victims for money, which in turn allows them to care for their families for another year. The poachers believe that the girls will curse them (which will result in the death of their families) if they are not killed, so they believe they are saving their own families. The girls are told they have to release their "magic" during this year so they can return to their community (and some, their new husbands) at the end of the year as purified women, free from their magic. If they don't return alive - or their body isn't returned - then a younger sister of the missing girl is sent to live in the outskirts of the community. Eventually these young girls will work as prostitutes.

Tierney James, preparing for her Grace Year, is already rejecting her role in the community. She never wants to be a wife. When/if she returns from her Grace Year, she plans to work hard labor in the fields rather than be someone's wife. Unfortunately, that option is taken from her when she is given a veil at the veiling ceremony before the girls (33 this Grace Year) are sent into the woods. It's very unexpected since she's not considered "wife material". It's her best childhood friend, Michael, who surprisingly gives her the veil. Tierney is very angry with him, since he knows how desperately she wants to be "free".

The girls in the encampment are their own worst enemy. It's frightening how they turn on each other. This story is frightening, fast-paced, engaging, mysterious, and full of both horror and hope. Yes, the ending is a bit ambiguous, but either way you interpret what happens, Tierney is the spearhead of the revolution, much like Katniss in the Hunger Games. I really loved it!

Wendy's Rating: *****

Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston

Apparently this author has written 8 books, but this is the first I have read of hers. I have to say that I am impressed. This is a well-crafted story that had me second-guessing my first impressions of each character. There are a few different narrators (Camille, Aubrey, Hank, and Ben) and each of them has a story to tell from their perspective. We just never really know the life that someone else is living. I would be sympathetic to one person, and then suddenly understand why that one person felt the way they did because they didn't realize why the other person(s) made the decision(s) they did. People that I was suspicious of ended up being people that were trustworthy. This was written in a natural style that was completely believable - and not in a "gotcha" kind of way. We are each a product of our environment and the decisions we make, and the decisions we make are tied to our history and the decisions made by others.

Camille and Ben are married, but don't have any children. They are wealthy, thanks to Ben's law practice, and honestly, Camille's wealthy parents. It takes money to make money and all that. Camille resents how much time Ben spends working and Ben resents how much money Camille spends. Neither seems to trust the other. Ben tracks Camille's every move. Camille suspects that Ben is having an affair. Camille can't divorce Ben because of an iron-clad prenup, unless she can prove that he is having an affair - or has done something that is illegal.

Aubrey works at a bar and is wanting to reopen an investigation into what really happened the night her parents were tragically killed in a hit-and-run car accident that happened 10 years earlier. The man that was charged with driving the vehicle that night (Paul) has been writing Aubrey from prison, telling her that he is innocent, and wanting her to visit him in prison in light of some proof of his innocence that he recently became aware of. Aubrey lives with four other people, all who operate on a thin line between legal and illegal.

Hank is Ben's partner in his law firm. Hank is incredibly loyal to Ben and Camille. When Ben is found murdered in his home by Camille, he steps in immediately to protect Camille. Each person shares some truth with different people, but no one knows that full truth about anything. Each person makes decisions on what they know, but wondering about what they don't know. Like I said before, it's a well-crafted plot. It was a great read.

Wendy's Rating: *****

A Good Animal by Sara Mauer

In general, I love coming-of-age stories. This book was no exception, especially because I really loved the main character, 17-year old Everett Lindt. Everett lives with his parents, his younger brother, Jay (12) and his younger sister, Katie (7). They live in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan outside Sault Ste. Marie. Everett's family lives on a sheep farm, where the Lindts have lived for generations. They breed "show lambs". They have 60 ewes and one ram and generally end up with roughly 60 surviving lambs each season. They sell the show lambs to other people (to show) and keep some for themselves to show. Everett trains his lamb to stand correctly and feeds it quality food to fatten it up, with the intention of winning the grand champion heavyweight plaque. If your sheep is chosen as grand champion, it will bring the best price (because it has the best cuts of meat). Having a Lindt lamb chosen as grand champion, or even reserve champion (2nd place), is good for the Lindt family and their reputation for sheep breeding as well. Unfortunately, the sheep show doesn't result in a win for Everett. His sheep actually wins 3rd place (which means nothing to him & his dad). The grand champion and reserve champion are two lambs owned by sisters, whose family decided to buy their lambs from a different state instead of from the Lindts. Their lambs are "leaner", meaning they will provide leaner cuts of meat. Everett tries to convince his dad that times are changing and that people want to buy leaner meat, not fatter meat (which presumably has more flavor). They have a stand-off about it and Everett decides he needs to buy his own ram and start breeding his own lambs.

Meanwhile, Everett falls for the new girl in town, Mary, who initially turns him down for even a date. Everett's best friend is Charlie and they have been best friends since they were 5 years old. Charlie's family owns a hog farm. Everett and Charlie do everything together. They fish, they work, they go to school together. This is the summer of change however. Charlie gets a girlfriend, which impacts his relationship with Everett. Everett learns some hard lessons about buying and owning his own sheep. He struggles with feelings he has (insecurities) about his own value in his family. (His parents got married young because they got pregnant with him. His dad makes comments like, "Don't make the same mistakes I did", which results in Everett feeling like a "mistake".) He struggles with supporting his little sister as she learns that the lamb she bottle-fed, raised and loves will be sold for slaughter. He does end up in a relationship with Mary and has to learn how to navigate the complexities of loving a girl who can't wait to leave Sault Ste. Marie while his future is sheep farming, which is deeply embedded in his soul.

Everett makes mistakes, learns to stand up for himself, loves deeply, and always tries to do the right thing, even if it's not what he wants. He warmed my heart.

Wendy's Rating: *****

Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman

I don't often quote the Bible, but this story brings to mind the following verse: 1 Timothy 6:10: For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. (King James Version) This is a story of two people who make one decision after another that leads to their ultimate destruction. In the first few pages of the book, we find out that the narrator, Erin, is burying her husband Mark, shortly after their married life has begun, so I'm not spoiling anything there. After this curious introduction, Erin reverts to the "beginning" of the story - or three months previously (two months before their marriage.)

Erin is a documentary filmmaker and Mark is an investment banker. Mark proposed marriage, and Erin accepted, after they had been together a number of years already. Erin comments that she was surprised when Mark proposed because she hadn't really been thinking about marriage, although she loved him more than anything and they both wanted children. This was curious to me. Some of the things that Erin thinks about, or considers doing, in this book made me wonder if she truly loved Mark or simply liked the idea of loving Mark. Anyway, Mark loses his job suddenly (with no severance package) and this sends him into a tailspin. Their extravagant wedding plans need to be curtailed. Erin is upset initially, but she concedes after they have a talk and Mark explains how much pressure he feels being the "breadwinner" while she does her filmmaking. He is actually quite mean to Erin in this conversation, which is shocking, but she just "accepts it". Oh, and Mark chops off a week of their honeymoon without even talking to her about it! Erin again talks herself out of being upset about this.

When they find "something in the water" on their honeymoon (I won't reveal what it is here), they work together to decide what to do about it. At this point, they really do seem to be a solid couple who genuinely love each other. They are excited to start trying to have a baby and Erin has already gone off the pill. They share a strong intimacy. They enjoy each other's company. But then Erin starts making decisions on her own - and Mark isn't crazy about her impulsiveness. But they always seem to talk it through and develop a new plan. Soon enough however, their love of money rears its ugly head and it becomes the thing that controls their actions. I was intrigued by the story line and read the last 200 pages in one sitting. It's fast paced and I didn't know exactly how it would end, but the end definitely through me for a loop. I started to see where it was all headed, but honestly, I don't really understand why. We only have Erin's perspective, so we don't really know what other people are doing or thinking. But the ending doesn't make sense to me, based on the rest of the story. My opinion. I still enjoyed the book a lot.

Wendy's Rating: ****

Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

I had really high expectations for this book. Maybe too high! The problem for me is that one of my favorite books of all time (and that's saying a lot!) is The Sparrow, written by Mary Doria Russell. The subject is similar: sending people to a newly discovered planet to contact an unknown species. It was such a powerful story to me - as well as the sequel, Children of God, and written so beautifully, that I kept comparing the stories in my mind. To be fair, I read The Sparrow over 20 years ago, and I should probably read it again to see if I still feel the same way. Certain memories get elevated in a person's mind, and maybe that's the case here.

Anyway, Project Hail Mary is certainly interesting and funny. The characters are engaging. Ryan Gosling will be an excellent Ryland Grace in the upcoming movie, which I will definitely see. I loved how the story unfolded. We don't know the full story of how Dr. Ryland Grace ended up on this mission of discovery in space - a mission which has no return - until the end of the book. The story alternates between the initial discovery of the "Petrova line" on earth and Grace's experience in space. The Petrova line appears to be made up of some sort of life form (that Grace names Astrophage) that seems to be eating the sun, or at least eating its energy output. The Astrophage is destroying the sun at an accelerated rate, which will destroy all life on earth in a short amount of time. In a very simplified explanation, the mission is to discover what Astrophage is, why it affects some planets but not others, figure out if it has a predator, and if it does, how can it be captured, contained, and used to save our sun, which in turn will save life on earth. Since this mission has no return, there are four pods on the ship that Grace can send back to earth with his discoveries.

This mission is expected to take four earth years just to arrive at their planetary destination (Tau Ceti). Ironically, the spaceship is fueled using Astrophage, since it's such a powerful energy that is continually multiplying. The scientists on the mission were put into a medical coma for the four years of travel. They were fed, and their muscles exercised, by robots during the four years. Upon arrival at (the atmosphere) of Tau Ceti, the scientists would wake up and investigate why the Astrophage weren't destroying it like they were other planets. One known delay was that when they woke up, they wouldn't have their memories of where they were or what they were supposed to do. Grace's memories came back over time, which is why we don't know what actually happened on earth since Grace wasn't even slated to go on the mission himself. He was just the "expert" on Astrophage on earth. 

Grace eventually discovers an unknown species from another planet that is also investigating the Petrova line in order to try and save its own planet. "Rocky" becomes Grace's friend in space. They end up working together to try to save both of their homes.

As much as I did enjoy this book, I found some of the "science" of it all a tad boring. It's actually quite scientific at times, which really isn't in my wheelhouse, so to speak. Other than that, it's quite entertaining.

Wendy's Rating: ****

The Drop by Michael Connelly

Harry Bosch #15. Harry is back in the Open-Unsolved Unit. Harry's partner is David Chu. Harry & Chu handle the "special cases". They are handed one that the Lieutenant (Gail Duvall) wants investigated quietly. Apparently, the recently-tested DNA on this cold case comes from a "suspect" that was only eight years old at the time of the murder. If the original investigators messed up by submitting the wrong DNA to the lab (or the lab mislabeled or mis-handled it), it would look bad for the department and then all other cases would be suspect. That's why Duvall wants Harry to look into it. 

Then, Harry is suddenly assigned a new case, on the order of his nemesis: Councilman Irvin Irving. Irving's son was found dead after he jumped (or was dropped) off the balcony of the top floor of the Chateau Marmont on the Sunset Strip. The original cause of death was determined to be suicide, but Irving doesn't believe it and that's why he wants Harry to investigate his son's death. He doesn't like Harry (and Harry certainly doesn't like him!), but he knows Harry won't stop until he uncovers the truth. Obviously, this new case has to be Harry's priority, but he keeps working on the cold case in the background, having Chu do some of the legwork.

It would be very difficult to be Harry's partner. Harry is always doing his own thing and keeping details he discovers close to the cuff. Chu, like most of Harry's partners over the years, doesn't like Harry's style and wants a new partner. Harry has a tough time trusting his partners too. But to be fair, his partners have not always turned out to be trustworthy, including Chu. Sometimes people make stupid decisions, not understanding what the potential consequences could be.

On the home front, Harry's daughter, Maddie, is growing up. He actually talks through some of the details of his cases with her. She is observant and always shares her opinions with him. She wants to follow in his footsteps. Harry also becomes instantly infatuated with the psychotherapist (Hannah) of the young sex offender he is investigating on the cold case. He jumps into a relationship - and then of course has regrets. He really doesn't do anything slowly or halfway!

The title of this book has a double meaning. Irving believes his son was "dropped" from his hotel balcony - and Harry finds out they are giving him 39 more months to work for them. He had applied for an extension on his DROP. He had asked for five years, the maximum, and received three and a quarter years. What will Harry do then??

Wendy's Rating: ****