The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother), by Rabih Alameddine

Title: The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother)

Author: Rabih Alameddine

Purchased from Audible

Started: 11/4/2025

Finished: 11/6/2025

I live in a pretty cool condo building in the Logan Circle neighborhood in DC.  Cool is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but it's a fairly modern looking loft style condo building, and the neighbors are diverse in every sense of the word (ethnicity, orientation, careers, etc.).  

Not too long ago a new neighbor moved into a unit a few doors down on my floor.  Eccentric, fun, inviting.  I liked him immediately and he charmed all of the neighbors very quickly.  Everyone, it seems, had met and really liked Rabih.

Yes, this Rabih.  So you'll be seeing me reading a lot of his books on this blog.  This was my first, it is short listed for the National Book Award, and my cool condo building just got a lot cooler.

The October Film Haunt, by Michael Wehunt

Title: The October Film Haunt 

Author: Michael Wehunt 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 10/25/2025

Finished: 11/3/2025

Really wanted to like this one, and there were parts I enjoyed.  But overall didn't enjoy it and struggled to finish it. 

And to All a Good Bite, by David Rosenfelt

Title: And to All a Good Bite

Author: David Rosenfelt

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook

Started: 10/23/2025

Finished: 10/24/2025

Another entry in the Andy Carpenter series.  I mean no disrespect to Rosenfelt when I say that these are pretty terrible books, but I mean full disrespect to myself when I say they are comfort reads, stupid and easy.  I'd swear this same plot was in a few previous Carpenter books but who cares.  Enjoyable listen when walking the dog, working out, etc.  Keep them coming.

Red Rabbit, by Alex Grecian

Title: Red Rabbit 

Author: Alex Grecian 

Purchased from Audible 

Started:  10/15/2025

Finished: 10/22/2025

Not a huge fantasy fan but this was a pretty entertaining off to see the wizard type novel.  Fair amount of deus ex machina going on, but again, still enjoyable overall.  

Seven Pillars of Wisdom, by TE Lawrence

Title: Seven Pillars of Wisdom 

Author: TE Lawrence 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library 

Started: 10/7/2025

Finished: 10/15/2025

Well I definitely made the wrong call reading Graves book about Lawrence (see previous post) first.  Reading it at all, really, though it pains me to say that because of how much I admire other works by Graves.  

Buy Lawrence's own book that I'm posting about today is a masterpiece.  Cannot believe I've not read this before.  This was a huge book, both in size and scope, and it far exceeds my expectations.  

Lawrence and the Arabs, by Robert Graves

Title: Lawrence and the Arabs 

Author: Robert Graves 

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 9/25/2025

Finished: 10/6/2025

Traveled to Jordan this year and many of the sites we visited had historical markers for, or shrine to, Lawrence of Arabia.   

I barely recalled the movie having seen it once in college and have never read books by or about Lawrence.  But I recalled when looking for more books by Robert Graves after devouring I, Claudius that he had written a book.  

So this is that book and I realize now I made a mistake in reading this one first, I should have started with Lawrence's own 7 Pillars which I'm reading now.  

Graves book is pretty dry and non-critical.   Not the work I was expecting based off his later writings. 

Johnny Cash Reads The New Testament

Title: Johnny Cash Reads The New Testament 

Author: New King James Version 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 8/20/2025

Finished: 9/14/2025

Grew up in a Catholic family and went to Catholic school through 7th grade (grudgingly). But like most Christians (I suspect) I've never read the Bible cover to cover.  Still haven't, but I have not consumed the entire new testament thanks to Cash.  

Book content was as expected.  A few common English language phrases I didn't realize came from the Bible, but having this read by Cash was a great experience.  When he's reading Revelations it's hard not to get When The Man Comes Around stuck in your head.  

Seriously considering getting the full Bible read by David Suchet (of Poirot fame).  Would like to be able to say I've read the Bible.  Suchet narrates the new international version.  

Hang On St. Christopher, by Adrian McKinty

Title; Hang On St Christopher 

Author: Adrian McKinty 

Borrowed from Audible 

Started: 9/7/2025

Finished: 9/9/2025

The final full Sean Duffy novel.  I noted in the last one I liked my "connection" to the book with the later in life asthma diagnosis.  This one hit even closer to home (literally) as Duffy mentions seeing Kent Island (my home) across the Bay while in DE. 

Enjoyed this book and loved the series.  Sorry it is finished.  

The Detective Up Late, by Adrian McKinty

Title: The Detective Up Late 

Author: Adrian McKinty 

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 9/5/2025

Finished: 9/7/2025

Another Sean Duffy novel, comfy and familiar, hard to beat that. 

Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly, by Adrian McKinty

Title: Police at the Station and They Don't Look Friendly

Author: Adrian McKinty

Borrowed from Audible

Started: 9/3/2025

Finished: 9/5/2025

Another Sean Duffy novel, feels like McKinty was thinking this would be the last.  Book has a natural conclusion.  The fact that there are many more tells me probably some bad stuff will happen...

One thing I found coincidentally surprising in this one is that Duffy is diagnosed with asthma. As someone who also contracted asthma late in life (granted I'm about 15 years older than Duffy is in this novel), I know it's not common.  Had me wondering if McKinty got a similar adult diagnosis.

Anyway, this one is convoluted and as usual Duffy somehow escapes certain death at least two times.  But these books are fantastic, and Gerard Doyle is as good an audiobook narrator as you can find.

Rain Dogs, by Adrian McKinty

Title: Rain Dogs 

Author: Adrian McKinty 

Borrowed from Audible 

Started: 8/31/2025

Finished: 9/3/2025

Another enjoyable Sean Duffy novel.  Little surprised by the hopeful element at the end and I expect to have some misery happen in the next.  

Gun Street Girl, by Adrian McKinty

Title: Gun Street Girl 

Author: Adrian McKinty 

Borrowed from Audible 

Started: 8/27/2025

Finished: 8/30/2025

Another great entry in the Sean Duffy series.  

In the Morning I'll be Gone, by Adrian McKinty

Title: In the Morning I'll be Gone

Author: Adrian McKinty

Borrowed from Audible

Started: 8/26/2025

Finished: 8/27/2025

I blew through this third book in the Sean Duffy series.  The obvious best so far.  Going to be hard to top.

I Hear the Sirens in the Street, by Adrian McKinty

Title: I Hear the Sirens in the Street

Author: Adrian McKinty

Borrowed from Audible

Started: 8/24/2025

Finished: 2/26/2025

Blew through the second book in the Sean Duffy series.  Liked it a lot.  A place in time (Northern Ireland in the 80s) I know next to nothing about.  

The Cold Cold Ground, by Adrian McKinty

Title: The Cold Cold Ground 

Author: Adrian McKinty 

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 8/19/2025

Finished: 8/24/2025

Pretty good, moody, detective novel that takes place in Ireland during the troubles.  Enjoyed it quite a bit, excellent narration.  

Dogged Pursuit, by David Rosenfelt

Title: Dogged Pursuit

Author: David Rosenfelt

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Kindle Edition

Started: 8/1/2025

Finished: 8/9/2025

One of the more interesting late entries in the Andy Carpenter series.  Rosenfelt has decided to reset the series as if this were the first book.  It isn't a bad idea as the characters, plots, and last several entries have become stale (but still enjoyable).

Maybe of more interest for me is this is the rare (first) of these books I've read instead of listened to.  The audiobooks are expertly read by Grover Gardner, and having so many hours of these I read them in that same voice in my head.

Still, I prefer the audiobooks to the written word for these.

The Far Side of the Dollar, by Ross MacDonald

Title: The Far Side of the Dollar

Author: Ross MacDonald

Borrowed from Audible

Started: 8/1/2025

Finished: 8/7/2025

Not my favorite Lew Archer novel but it has some strong points.  Family drama in this one feels too forced.

The Ivory Grin, by Ross MacDonald

Title: The Ivory Grin 

Author: Ross MacDonald 

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library 

Started:7/25/2025

Finished: 7/29/2025

This was never one of my favorite Lew Archer books but I liked it a lot more this time around.  Getting older, I suppose. 

A Short Stay in Hell, by Steven L Peck

Title: A Short Stay in Hell 

Author: Steven L Peck 

Borrowed from DC Public Library Kindle Edition 

Started: 7/27/2025

Finished:7/28/2025

Fantastic very short novella or very long short story.  

Find a Victim, by Ross MacDonald

Title: Find a Victim

Author: Ross MacDonald

Borrowed from Audible

Started: 7/21/2025

Finished: 7/24/2025

I haven't read this one in 16 years.  Looking back at my post, I didn't like it back then.  I liked it better now, but it isn't one of the stronger Archer books.  Internet articles will tell you it's because a new publisher wanted MacDonald to compete with the Mike Hammer series -- much more violence and sex.

Find a Victim has more of that.  I was especially taken aback by the gang rape near the end.  This is also one of the rare Archer novels where he sleeps with someone involved in the case.  

Anyway, I liked it better than I did 16 years ago, but this is definitely a much more tough talking Archer.  But all the psychological drama and intellectual commentary is there that makes these Archer books so enjoyable. 

Blackwater, by Michael McDowell

Title: Blackwater

Author: Michael McDowell

Purchased from Audible

Started: 7/12/2025

Finished: 7/21/2025

I like Michael McDowell's work generally but have held off on reading Blackwater because I wasn't sure how much I'd enjoy it.  Well, I can now say I waited for now reason -- I loved it.  Southern Gothic, multigenerational, family drama.  The fantastic stuff was so secondary that I wouldn't have cared if it had been left out entirely.  The multigenerational family drama was just so damn entertaining.  I would forget about the supernatural stuff because it was so few & far between.  

Death Reports to a Health Resort, by PJ Fitzsimmons

Title: Death Reports to a Health Resort 

Author: PJ Fitzsimmons 

Purchased from Amazon Kindle Edition 

Started: 6/18/2025

Finished: 7/6/2025

Book 9 in the Anty Boisjoly series, this time author Fitzsimmons finally gets some money from me as this one wasn't available as an audiobook from the public library.  

Enjoyed this one as much as the previous and after listening to the prior 8 books ready by Tim Bruce it was impossible not to hear those same voices in my head as I read this one on my kindle.  

What you might notice is how I took almost 3 weeks to finish this one when the audiobooks were consumed in 2 or 3 days.   I'm not a slow reader, but I was really trying to take my time and savor this final book (so far) in the series. 

At the end of the book is a summary of all the previous entries as well as a teaser for book 10, but I can't find any mention of book 10 elsewhere and the title included the phrase "red herring" so now I'm wondering if this is all an elaborate prank.  

Great book, great series, and great fun since discovering Anty Boisjoly thanks to a random Reddit thread.  

Gilded Needles, by Michael McDowell

Title: Gilded Needles 

Author: Michael McDowell 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 6/15/2025

Finished: 6/30/2025

Enjoyed this one quite a bit, maybe my favorite McDowell novel. 

14, by Peter Clines

Title: 14

Author: Peter Clines 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 6/1/2025

Finished: 6/18/2025

I had some audible credits expiring and in my attempt not to lose one I grabbed this book which I had in my wish.list for some reason.  Should have done a bit more homework as this book was not for me.  Thought it was a horror novel, turned out to be more sci-fi or fantasy.   Kept at it and finished it today but mostly feel annoyed thinking back on it.  

Mystery and Malice Aboard RMS Ballast, by PJ Fitzsimmons

Title: Mystery and Malice Aboard RMS Ballast 

Author: PJ Fitzsimmons 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 6/13/2025

Finished: 6/16/2025

Book 8 of the Any Boisjoly series.  Introducing Teddy who I understand has her own spinoff series.  Good stuff as the rest of these.  

The Murder of the Maharaja, by HRE Keating

Title: The Murder of the Maharaja 

Author: HRE Keating 

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 6/1/2025

Finished: 6/15/2025

Decent but wasn't able to really get lost in this one.  

Foreboding Foretelling at Ficklehouse Felling, by PJ Fitzsimmons

Title: Foreboding Foretelling at Ficklehouse Felling

Author: PJ Fitzsimmons

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook

Started: 6/12/2025

Finished: 6/13/2025

Jesus I have a problem.  I've blown through 7 of these Anty Boisjoly mysteries in 14 days.  They are so damn entertaining, finding myself smiling all the time when reading/listening.  Just fantastically fun books.

The Case of the Case of Kilcladdich, by PJ Fitzsimmons

TItle: The Case of the Case of Kilcladdich

Author: PJ Fitzsimmons

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library

Started: 6/10/2025

Finished: 6/11/2025

Sigh -- Anty Boisjoly again.  I know, I know.  I've enjoyed how Anty has gotten progressively more enamoured of ladies as this series has progressed.  I had high hopes in the previous book that the young lady swindler would be the one to perhaps make more appearances as they had a Girl Friday repartee.  

This book focuses on golf (I don't golf) and scotch (I hate scotch, though should Anty take a trip to Kentucky I'd be happy to read about bourbon), and has the latest in lady loves who -- well, no spoilers for a change.  These books are too enjoyable to spoil, and if I haven't said this before, are expertly read by Tim Bruce.

Reckoning at the Riviera Royale, by PJ Fitzsimmons

Title: Reckoning at the Riviera Royale

Author: PJ Fitzsimmons

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook

Started: 6/7/2025

FInished: 6/10/2025

Sigh -- I'm going to hate myself for blowing through this series so quickly but I cannot stop, these books are just so damn charming and entertaining.  

I was a bit disappointed to have Anty's mom turn out not to have murdered her husband, but I guess it was for the best.

The Case of the Carnaby Castle Curse, by PJ Fitzsimmons

Title: The Case of the Carnaby Castle Curse 

Author: PJ Fitzsimmons 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 6/4/2025

Finished: 6/6/2025

As promised I'm blowing through these charming Anty Boisjoly mysteries.  Just too damn entertaining and they have me thinking in alliteration.  

The Tale of the Tenpenny Tontine, by PJ Fitzsimmons

Title: The Tale of the Tenpenny Tontine 

Author: PJ Fitzsimmons 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 6/2/2025

Finished: 6/4/2025

I am enjoying these Anty Boisjoly books so much. Struggling not to race through them (and failing).  

The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning, by PJ Fitzsimmons

Title: The Case of the Ghost of Christmas Morning

Author: PJ Fitzsimmons

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook

Started: 5/30/2025

Finished: 6/2/2025

As predicted I went right on with this Anty Boisjoly series, second was just as enjoyable as the first.  Laughed out loud several times.  

The Case of the Canterfell Codicil, by PJ Fitzsimmons

Title: The Case of the Canterfell Codicil 

Author: PJ Fitzsimmons 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 5/26/2025

Finished: 5/30/2025

A recommendation from a random Reddit thread, I absolutely LOVED this book. It is very short, but when putting the book down at night I found myself going back a chapter or two when picking it up again just knowing id smile at what I'd read before.  

Definitely a Wodehousian novel, enjoyed everything about it.   Going to be a struggle (I'll likely fail) not to blow through this series.  

Nestlings, by Nat Cassidy

Title: Nestlings

Author: Nat Cassidy

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 5/20/2025

Finished: 5/27/2025

I liked this one but not as much as the other two Cassidy books I've read.  

Scaramouche, by Rafael Sabatini

Title: Scaramouche 

Author: Rafael Sabatini 

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 5/1/2025

Finished: 5/22/2025

Enjoyed this one but tooky time with it in-between other books I was reading.  Swashbuckling and witty dialogue.  

The Bull from the Sea, by Mary Renault

Title: The Bull from the Sea

Author: Mary Renault 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 5/15/2025

Finished: 5/21/2025

The second half of the Theseus series, this was great and the combined books were fantastic.   Will probably try more of Renaults works when I have money to burn (not available from my libraries).  

Odyssey, by Stephen Fry

Title: Odyssey 

Author: Stephen Fry 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 5/13/2025

Finished: 5/16/2025

I've read all of Fry's reimagininga of the Greek myths and this one always starting out to be my least favorite.   But after about a third of it was behind me things either picked up or I figured out the rhythm of the book and from then on I was pretty engrossed.  

Hungry Moon, by Ramsey Campbell

Title: Hungry Moon 

Author: Ramsey Campbell 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 5/7/2025

Finished: 5/11/2025

The first third or maybe first half was pretty enjoyable folk horror but then it lost me in the second half.  

When the Wolf Comes Home, by Nat Cassidy

Title: When the Wolf Comes Home

Author: Nat Cassidy

Purchased from Audible

Started: 5/1/2025

Finished: 5/5/2025

After loving Mary I decided to give this newest Cassidy book a shot.  I liked it, a lot at times.  Didn't love it as much as Mary, but this one went in a completely different direction than I anticipated and that was pretty enjoyable.  

Mary: An Awakening of Terror, by Nat Cassidy

Title: Mary: An Awakening of Terror

Author: Nat Cassidy

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook

Started: 4/27/2025

Finished: 5/1/2025

Really enjoyed this one -- a unique horror story that went several different directions I didn't see coming.  I did see one major twist (reminder, this blog has spoilers) -- Nancy being the falsely accursed, but most of the other major plot points I was just along for the ride.

This was also a much more humorous book than I thought it would be -- particularly shining through with the excellent narration by Susan Bennett.

The King Must Die, by Mary Renault

Title: The King Must Die

Author: Mary Renault

Purchased from Audible

Started:4/25/2025

Finished: 4/29/2025

I'm a sucker for these retelling of Greek myths and this one was great.  The reimagining of the tale of Theseus and the Minotaur.

The Horror Stories of Robert E Howard, by Robert E Howard

Title:  The Horror Stories of Robert E Howard

Author: Robert E Howard

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook

Started: 4/18/2025

Finished: 4/25/2025

A couple of really good stories early on, then some not so great or duplicative from other collections.

Fevre Dream, by George RR Martin

Title: Fevre Dream

Author: George RR Martin

Borrowed From Fairfax County Public Library (Audiobook)

Started: 4/22/2025

Finished: 4/23/2025

I've never read anything by George RR Martin but I've sometimes considered starting Game of Thrones.  Not a huge fantasy fan and I feel like I missed the period to watch the HBO series.

But Fevre Dream was a book recommended by several on Reddit and I agree -- this was a great book.  

Whisper Down the Lane, by Clay McLeod Chapman

Title: Whisper Down the Lane

Author: Clay McLeod Chapman

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook

Started: 4/18/2024

Finished: 4/22/2025

Another Reddit recommendation, this was an outstanding book.  Maybe it hits harder if you are GenX like me and lived through this period of satanic-panic in the 80s.  A really enjoyable read.

The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane, by Robert Howard

Title: The Savage Tales of Solomon Kane 

Author: Robert Howard 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 4/1/2025

Finished: 4/17/2025

Been listening to this one off and on.  Did t love it like I do the Conan stories, but not bad.  

All The Fiends of Hell, by Adam Nevill

Title: All The Fiends of Hell 

Author: Adam Nevill 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 4/11/2025

Finished: 4/14/2025

Great apocalyptic novel and a happy-ish ending.  What I needed.  

Gone Tomorrow, by Lee Child

Title: Gone Tomorrow 

Author: Lee Child

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 4/8/2025

Finished: 4/10/2025

Decent Reacher novel.  I've read them all in print but felt like an easy audiobook and gave this a try.  Prefer the print for Reacher, but the audiobook was good too. 

Tell Me What Really Happened, by Chelsea Sedoti

Title: Tell Me What Really Happened 

Author: Chelsea Sedoti 

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started:4/3/2025

Finished: 4/5/2025

This book war *TERRIBLE* but to be fair I'm probably not the target audience.  Guessing this is a YA novel.  Saw the recommendation on Reddit.  Did not like this at all.  

Kill Shot, by Vince Flynn

Title: Kill Shit

Author: Vince Flynn 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 4/1/2025

Finished: 4/3/2025

Second book in the Mitch Rapp series.  Pretty good, but I've either read this before and forgot to add it to this site, or the plot is so common that I've seen similar events in other books.  Still, enjoyed it.  

The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, by Stephen Graham Jones

Title: The Buffalo Hunter Hunter

Author: Stephen Graham Jones

Purchase from Audible 

Started: 3/28/2025

Finished: 4/1/2025

I like SGJ generally, but this was on another level.  A fantastic book that I was hooked into right at the start.  Also really enjoy his acknowledgements (read by the author) as the end.  Maybe ridiculous, but it is very fun to hear your (my) own book and movie preferences validated by someone you like/respect.