So far this month, I have finished two books. The first one was Dark Sky the second book in the Keiko series from Mike Brooks. The second was I’ll Keep You Safe from one of my favorite authors Peter May. By finishing those two books I have upped my total books read to 19 books. I am also slightly over halfway through Building the Great Society:Inside Lyndon Johnson’s White House by Joshua Zeitz.
18. Dark Sky – Mike Brooks ( Keiko #2)
This is the second book in the series featuring Captain Ichabod Drift and the crew of the Keiko And after reading the first Keiko book I knew that the easy data extraction from the mining planet of Unagan would not be easy.So I was not surprised when the Captain and crew ended up in the middle of a revolution on the planet. Now the fact that they ended of on opposite sides was surprising!!
I don’t know if I liked the story as much as the plot of the first book Dark Run but I did like the development of the characters including both Captain Drift and his crew. In addition, Brooks introduced a rival captain and crew, which Drift and Company may encountered again in the future!
Bottom line is that I am looking forward to another adventure from these guys. Hopefully in Dark Deeds I will find a great story and more character development of characters, who are starting to grow on me!!
19. I’ll Keep You Safe – Peter May
Over the last several years, the books of Peter May have been some of my favorite books. Particularly the one’s set in the Outer Hebrides i.e. the Lewis trilogy. May’s descriptions both the tough land and its people are amazing.
Typically after finishing one of his books and especially one set in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, I am ready to write a post telling everyone they have to read this book! And while I enjoyed 95 % of this book, that last five percent was enough to put a big damper on the book!!
About I’ll Keep You Safe
Niamh and Ruairidh MacFarlane are owners of a small company located on an island in the Outer Hebrides Island in Scotland. The company though small has created a name for itself in the fashion world because the weave a fabric called Ranish Tweed. It is their special version of Harris Tweed.
While in Paris Premier Vision Fabric Fair , Niamh receives an email intimating that her husband is having an affair with Russian fashion designer Irina with whom they work. After accusing him of the affair an angry Ruaridh leaves their hotel with said Irina. Niamh feeling guilty chases after them before she catches them see watches as the car explodes killing both passengers.
Initially Niamh is a suspect. However, she is quickly cleared and allowed to go home and pick up the pieces of her shattered life. Through the remainder of the book we learn the story of Naimh and Ruaridh’s life. From the time Ruaridh saved Naimh’s life when as a little girl she jumped in a bog puddle that was too deep and she almost drowned, through their early years when Seonag try her best to drive a wedge between the two . We learn about the early years of Ranish Tweed and the volatile fashion designer Lee Blunt, whose life was altered negatively by Ruaridh. And the reason that Niamh’s family hated Ruaridh.
The back story provides motives for several people to want to see Ruaridh dead. However, the main suspect remains Irina’s missing husband. Until the closing pages, when a local detective and French detective came to the islands to try to find the killer!
My Thoughts
And then when the final solution to the crime was discovered, and finally resolved I was incredibly disappointed. I just didn’t think it was right. But that’s just me I am sure that there were others who were thrilled by the resolution. I do hope Peter May will continue to write novels set in the Outer Hebrides. And if he does, I know that I will be reading them. And I may not be disappointed next time so I CAN write – You have to read this book!!
2018 Reading Challenges
|
| 2018 Reading Challenges |
Total
Proposed |
Total
Read |
| Contemporary Literature – New Authors |
6 |
1 |
| Nonfiction Challenge |
7 |
4 |
| Science Fiction Challenge |
| Classic SCI-Fi Authors I have not read |
5 |
0 |
| General Sci Fi |
5 |
1 |
| 2018 Bookshelf Challenge |
| Old Thrillers on Bookshelves |
8 |
0 |
| Old Mysteries on Shelves |
| Authors I from 1990-2005 |
6 |
3 |
| Authors I read from 2005-2015 |
4 |
0 |
| Nonfiction on Bookshelves |
8 |
0 |
| Science Fiction on my Bookshelves |
2 |
0 |
| Total Reading Challenges Books |
51 |
9 |
| Current Authors – Mysteries & Thrillers |
7 |
7 |
| New Authors – Mysteries or Thrillers |
7 |
3 |
| Total Reading Challenge |
65 |
19 |
Final Thoughts
So the above table shows where I stand on my various Reading Challenges. Hmm, looks like I have to start reading more books that are not current mysteries and thrillers!! Ok so I have checked out several books from the library I plan to read in April and May. Additionally, I have some books that I have set aside that are on my bookshelves to read. So I think I will combine the two groups of books. Then I’ll create a list of books to read over the next four weeks or so. I will share what I come up with in the next post!!
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