Welcome to the Deep Estate, by Kevin Kane

Title: Welcome to the Deep Estate 

Author: Kevin Kane 

Borrowed from Audible 

Started: 10/25/2026

Finished: 10/27/2026

Rare rec directly from the author who posted to Reddit that the narrator of his book had won an award.  Since the book was free on audible I gave it a shot and am glad I did.   

The first half of this was hilariously enjoyable.   Second half lost the way a bit but by then I was invested enough to continue and overall really liked this one. 

The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, by Edward Gibbon

Title: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire

Author: Edward Gibbon 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: Spring 2026

Finished: 10/26/2026

Been wanting to read this one for decades.  My college had the multi volume set and I used to look at it thinking - I can read and understand that (at the time I definitely could not).  

Well I was able to listen to it and understand it and love it.  But I still don't think I'd have ever committed to physically reading it in print.  Great book.  

Tales from the Gas Station Vol 1, by Jack Townsend

Title: Tales from the Gas Station Vol 1

Author: Jack Townsend 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 10/19/2026

Finished: 10/21/2026

I liked this but not as much as I'd hoped.  Felt more like a blog (I know, I know) or podcast maybe, won't be continuing with the series.  

This House Will Feed, by Maria Tureaud

Title: This House Will Feed 

Author: Maria Tureaud 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 10/17/2026

Finished: 10/20/2026

Great title and great narrator.  Otherwise terrible book for me.  A rare DNF but I gave up 2/3s of the way through.  Loved the setting and would have been up for a novel about the famine but this was a terrible Gothic horror novel.  

Looking for Rachel Wallace, by Robert B Parker

Title: Looking for Rachel Wallace 

Author: Robert B Parker 

Paperback picked up at take one leave one 

Started: 10/15/2026

Finished: 10/16/2026

My favorite Spenser novel.  A masterpiece.  I've read it probably 5 or 6 times now and never tire of it. 

Promised Land, by Robert B Parker

Title: Promised Land 

Author: Robert B Parker 

Paperback picked up at take one leave one

Started: 10/13/2026

Finished: 10/15/2026

Read this one a bunch of times but it's still great.  These earlier Spenser books are so satisfying.   

Vainqueur the Dragon: The Complete Series, by Maxime J Durand

Title: Vainqueur the Dragon: The Complete Series

Author: Maxime J Durand 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 9/17/2026

Finished: 10/9/2026

Four books in one, enjoyed the first two books quite a bit but the final books no so much.  

The Retired Assassin's Guide to Country Gardening, by Naomi Kuttner

Title: The Retired Assassin's Guide to Country Gardening 

Author: Naomi Kuttner 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: August 2026

Finished: August 2026

Forgot to record this one a month or so ago.  Didn't enjoy it.  Trying a bit to hard for the quirky fun thing that you get with Thursday Murder Club.  This one didn't work for me.  

Battle Cry of Freedom, by James M McPherson

Title: Battle Cry of Freedom 

Author: James M McPherson 

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 9/7/2026

Finished: 9/16/2026

This was a thoroughly enjoyable history of the civil war.  

The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, by William L. Shirer

Title: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich 

Author: William L Shirer

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 8/31/2026

Finished: 9/7/2026

Interesting detailed overview of Hitler's rise to power and ultimate downfall. 

Lost in the Dark and other Than excursions, by John Langan

Title: Lost in the Dark and other Excursions 

Author: John Langan 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 8/22/206

Finished: 8/25/2026

Loved this collection of stories.  Pretty sure the last few I had read in other anthologies, but could be mistaken.  The titular story was so great as I love found footage style stories.  Highly recommend this one. 

Blood on the Tracks, by Barbara Nickless

Title: Blood on the Tracks 

Author: Barbara Nickless 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 8/20/2023

Finished: 8/23/2023

Another Reddit recommendation, this one wasn't for me. 

Ark Royal, by Christopher G Nuttall

Title: Ark Royal 

Author: Christopher G Nuttall 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 8/10/2026

Finished: 8/19/2026

Space military war type book.  Enjoyed it enough to finish the book, but not enough to continue the series.  

The North Water, by Ian McGuire

Title: The North Water 

Author: Ian McGuire 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: sometime in 2025

Finished: 8/18/2026

Started this one over a year ago and was really into it before a few depressing scenes just too the wind out of me. Finally picked it back up to finish.  

The Commentaries, by Julius Caesar

Title: The Commentaries 

Author: Julius Caesar 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 7/15/2026

Finished: 8/16/2026

I loved this one.  Now I know where every book or movie on ancient Rome got many of their stories from.  Incredibly approachable and entertaining.  

The Histories, by Herodotus

Title: The Histories

Author: Herodotus 

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 8/1/2026

Finished: 8/16/2026

Enjoyable, ancient read.  

Lonesome Dove, by Larry McMurtry

Title: Lonesome Dove 

Author: Larry McMurtry 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 7/4/2026

Finished: 8/10/2026

It's probably been 15-20 years since I last read Lonesome Dove.  Such a masterpiece, and this time I did it as a audiobook with one of the best narrators around, Will Patton.  Enjoyable beyond words.  

Diary of a Nobody, by Weedon & George Grossmith

Title: Diary of a Nobody 

Author: Weedon & George Grossmith 

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 7/27/2026

Finished: 8/1/2026

Pretty enjoyable and endearing novel.  

My Friends, by Fredrik Backman

Title: My Friends 

Author: Fredrik Backman 

Hardcore gift

Started: 7/28/2026

Finished: 8/2/2026

I like Back man's books a lot and this was good, but it didn't grab me the way the others have.  Still, life affirming so ultimately satisfying.  

The Unworthy, by Augustina Bazterrica

Title: The Unworthy

Author: Augustina Bazterrica

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook

Started: 7/26/2026

Finished: 7/31/2026

Interesting and sometimes enjoyable, but this felt like too much of a young adult novel to me. 

Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen

Title: Pride and Prejudice 

Author: Jane Austen 

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 7/23/2026

Finished: 7/27/2026

Long overdue on reading this one, as entertaining as advertised.  

Stoner, by John Williams

Title: Stoner

Author: John Williams

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook

Started: 7/20/2026

Finished: 7/23/2026

I loved Williams' books Butchers Crossing and Augustus, so I never doubted that I would like Stoner as well, but the synopsis never grabbed me.  So it has taken me a few years to finally read this one and sure enough, it was fantastic.

The Spellman Files, by Lisa Lutz

Title: The Spellman Files

Author: Lisa Lutz

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook

Started: 7/17/2026

Finished: 7/20/2026

This series is often recommended on various Reddit boards and it sounded right up my alley.  Unfortunately, this wasn't for me, but I can see why others love it. 

As I think I've mentioned here before I'm a law librarian and Lutz clearly did work in the people finding business because there are repeated, detailed descriptions of the use of public records databases -- the kinds of details you need to locate your target, how to use details you know about someone to pinpoint the right person, etc.  We use those resources frequently in my profession is this same way so that was interesting but the characters and plot never materialized that I was expecting.

Personal Memoirs of Ulysses S Grant

Title: Person Memoirs of Ulysses S Grant 

Author: US Grant

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 7/10/2026

Finished: 7/17/2026

Wasn't sure how I'd feel about this one but it was fantastic.  Wish it had been twice as long and continued through his presidency.   Captivating.  

The Hunchback of Notre Dame, by Victor Hugo

Title: The Hunchback of Notre Dame 

Author: Victor Hugo 

Borrowed from Audible 

Started: 6/16/2026

Finished:  6/25/2026

Forgot to record this one earlier, extremely enjoyable.  

Let's Pretend This Never Happened, by Jenny Lawson

Title: Let's Pretend This Never Happened

Author: Jenny Lawson

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook

Started: 7/1/2026

Finished: 7/10/2026

Lots of reddit suggestions for this one and it was funny at times, but not for me.  

We Solve Murders, by Richard Osman

Title: We Solve Murders 

Author: Richard Osman 

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 6/29/2026

Finished: 7/7/2026

I liked this one ok, but not enough to keep going with the series.  

Dungeon Crawler Carl, by Matt Dinniman

Title: Dungeon Crawler Carl 

Author: Matt Dinniman 

Paperback picked up at free library 

Started: 6/29/2026

Finished: 7/4/2026

I know, I know, but hear me out. This time I wasn't doing the audio but the print version.  

Space: 1972, by Bill Oakley

Title: Space:1972

Author: Bill Oakley

Borrowed from Audible

Started: 6/22/2026

Finished: 6/24/2026

They must have heard my complaints about the first title (1969) because this one was free.  It wasn't great, but was cute.  Solid voice acting.

The Screwtape Letters, by CS Lewis

Title: The Screwtape Letters 

Author: CS Lewis 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 6/21/2026

Finished: 6/23/2026

I'm a sucker for epistolary novels and this short one was great. The overall Christian theme wasn't heavy handed and the writing was great.  

Space: 1969, by Bill Oakley

Title: Space: 1969

Author: Bill Oakley

Purchased on Audible

Started: 6/18/2026

Finished: 6/22/2026

Not sure I should could this as a book but that's how it was sold.  Turned out to be a radio-drama.  Entertaining if stupid, but that's what I was expecting.  Feels like it should have been an Audible freebee instead of a purchase though.

The Fury, by Alex Michaelides

Title: The Fury

Author: Alex Michaelides

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Audiobook

Started: 6/13/2026

Finished: 6/16/2026

Overall I liked this one but the constant unreliable narrator got a bit old.  

Sugar on the Bones, by Joe R Lansdale

Title: Sugar on the Bones

Author: Joe R. Lansdale

Purchased from Audible

Started: 6/6/2026

FInished:6/8/2026

Mentioned that I read these last two Hap & Leonard novels out of order, glad I did. This one was significantly better than the one I just finished.  Mostly due to the character of Al who Lansdale seemed to really be able to channel (or maybe he was channeling Charlie Portis), either way, the dialog in this one was best in recent memory.  

Roseanna, by Maj Sjowall & Per Wahool

Title: Roseanna

Author: Maj Sjowall & Per Wahool

Borrowed from DC Public Library 

Started: 6/6/2026

Finished: 6/8/2026

Short but taught crime novel, most similar to those Ed McBain 87th Precinct novels.  Pretty enjoyable.  

Hatchet Girls, by Joe R Lansdale

Title: Hatchet Girls 

Author: Joe R Lansdale 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 6/1/2026

Finished: 6/4/2026

The most recent, I think, Hap & Leonard book.  Not great, same as most of these later H&L novels, but the characters are fun and familiar and I'll keep reading as he keeps writing.  

Accidentally skipped the one before this one so working through it now.  

None of This Is True, by Lisa Jewel

Title: None of This is True

Author: Lisa Jewel 

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 5/25/2026

Finished: 5/28/2206

Promising start for one of these plot twist troubled woman novels.  Fell apart for me in the second half.  Multiple big reveals were pretty lame. 

A Parade of Horribles, by Matt Dinniman

Title: A Parade of Horribles 

Author: Matt Dinniman 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 5/12/2026

Finished: 5/16/2026

Didn't post as soon as I finished this latest DCC title because, embarrassingly, I immediately started it again once finished.  Embarrassing because I am so in the take for these books. Series is winding down so these are less fun from a build-up and survive perspective, but since I care about the characters and ultimate resolution they're still very enjoyable.  

This Inevitable Ruin, by Matt Dinniman

Title: This Inevitable Ruin 

Author: Matt Dinniman 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 5/1/2026

Finished: 5/4/2026

Yet another re-read of the most recent DCC book in anticipation of the next book in the series coming out in a week.  Enjoyed it and a good reminder of where things stand in this series.  

To Walk The Night, by Williams Sloane

Title: To Walk The Night

Author: William Sloane

Borrowed from Fairfax County Public Library Kindle Edition

Started: 4/29/2026

Finished: 5/5/2026

I really enjoyed this one, kind of a novel length twilight zone-ish novel.  I was captivated by the story and the interesting way it is told.

The Accursed Huntsman, by Douglas Hoover

Title: The Accursed Huntsman

Author: Douglas Hoover

Borrowed from Audible

Started: 4/29/2026

Finished: 4/30/2026

First of these Hoover books I didn't enjoy.  I wanted to like it, but it was a struggle to finish.

Monumental, by Adam Nevill

Title: Monumental 

Author: Adam Nevill 

Purchased from Amazon Kindle edition 

Started: 4/20/2026

Finished: 4/29/2026

Disturbing folk horror by Nevill, I've enjoyed most of his work and this was no exception.  

The North Woods, by Douglas Hoover

Title: The North Woods

Author: Douglas Hoover

Borrowed from Audible

Started: 4/27/2026

Finished: 4/28/2026

I enjoyed this book immensely.  It's not as ambitious as the other Hoover book I read (The Saravan), but I loved it all the same.  A hard-to-believe happy ending in the epilogue -- impossibly  hard to believe.  But that didn't detract from my overall enjoyment of this one.  Fun to discover an author I wasn't aware of with back-to-back enjoyable reads.

The Tainted Cup, by Robert Jackson Bennett

Title: The Tainted Cup

Author: Robert Jackson Bennett

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook

Started: 4/21/2026

Finished: 4/28/2026

I listened to this one in between other reads because I wasn't really into it.  I kept at it because it was just good enough, but I'm not a big fan of fantasy so that kept me from any real enjoyment.  

The Impossible Fortune, by Richard Osman

Title: The Impossible Fortune 

Author: Richard Osman 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 4/24/2026

Finished: 4/26/2026

Another Thursday Murder Club book.  Charming like the others

The Saravan, by Douglas Hoover

Title: The Saravan

Author: Douglas Hoover 

Borrowed from Audible 

Started: 4/21/2026

Finished: 4/23/2026

A rare Audible plus offering worth reading.  Enjoyed this folk horror novel. 

The Labyrinth House Murders, by Yukito Ayatsuji

Title: The Labyrinth House Murders 

Author: Yukito Ayatsuji 

Borrowed from Queen Anne County Public Library Audiobook 

Started: 4/18/2026

Finished: 4/21/2026

Similar to Decagon house, I didn't love this one.  

Gone by Midnight, by Candice Fox

Title: Gone by Midnight

Author: Candice Fox

Borrowed from DC Public Library Audiobook

Started: 4/19/2026

Finished: 4/21/2026

Third in the Crimson Lake series, noticeable drop in quality.  Keeping Ted & Amanda separate most of the book when their repartee is part of the reason the series is so enjoyable (and when they were separated for most of book 2 already).  Also Ted making the stupidest decisions available for the first time his kid is visiting.  A somewhat frustrating read with the dumb decisions everyone was making.

Redemption Point, by Candice Fox

Title: Redemption Point 

Author: Candice Fox 

Purchased from Audible 

Started: 4/18/2026

Finished: 4/19/2026

Second in the Crimson Lake series and really finishes off the main story.  Very enjoyable. 

World of Trouble, by Ben H Winters

Title: World of Trouble 

Author: Ben H Winters 

Borrowed from DC Public Library Kindle edition 

Started: 4/18/2026

Finished: 4/19/2026

Final entry in The Last Policeman series.  Really enjoyed this trilogy.  

Countdown City, by Ben H Winters

Title: Countdown City 

Author: Ben H Winters 

Borrowed from DC Public Library Kindle edition 

Started: 4/14/2026

Finished: 4/18/2026

Second in the Last Policeman trilogy.  Pretty damn entertaining.