Total Books: 5 Total Pages: 1280 Longest: 382 Shortest: 70
Genres: 2 (Adventure Fiction – 2, Thriller – 3)
December’s reading found me falling back on tried-and-true authors, along with one newcomer.
The Saint’s Covenant by Ernest Dempsey
The 24th book in the Sean Wyatt Archaeological Mystery series finds Sean and Tommy on the track of Joan of Arc’s lost ring of power. Of course, they are the good guys, but there is also someone after the ring who will stop at nothing to get it.
Although the books are fairly formulaic, Dempsey’s attention to the historical background of each pursuit and his descriptive writing style are what keeps me coming back to this series and other books he has written.
The Kill Clause by Lisa Unger
As a quick interlude, I chose this short story from Amazon’s November First Reads options. The intro hooked me as the protagonist, a killer for hire, compares herself to Santa Clause.
Complications arise when her next target is supposed to be home alone, but she discovers his young daughter is there that night. Assassins shouldn’t have a conscience, but Paige does, and it’s Christmas time.
This plot and characters reminded me a little bit of Lawrence Block’s Keller series about a hit man. I might need to read those again – it’s been about 15 years! I’ll also be checking out some of Unger’s longer works.
The Florentine Pursuit by Ernest Dempsey
Back to another Dempsey novel, this time a Sean Wyatt stand-alone mystery. Sean is approached by an Italian archaeologist looking for a diamond that disappeared in 1921 and there may be a clue connected to an exhibit where Tommy is speaking.
The search is on, but of course, this time there is an Italian “gang” of unknown origin following their path as they chase after the clues. Some usual and unusual twists and turns in this shorter than normal adventure with Sean.
The Secret by Lee Child and Andrew Child
I’ve fallen behind a couple of years on reading the Jack Reacher series which is now co-authored by Lee Child with his son, Andrew. The Secret is #28 and is set back in Reacher’s days as an MP in 1992.
He is assigned to an interagency team, authorized by the Secretary of Defense, to investigate a string of suspicious deaths across the country. Reacher suspects they’ve all been assigned to the team to be the scapegoats if they don’t get results. Who can he trust?
In typical Reacher fashion, you can be sure more casualties are coming!
In Too Deep by Lee Child and Andrew Child
In this 29th Reacher book, we are back to “present-day” nomadic Reacher who hitches a ride and that’s the last he remembers other than a vague recollection of the car being run off the road.
He wakes up handcuffed and his arm hurting from the crash. Who are his captors? What do they want with him? He’ll have to play along until he can figure out what is going on and how to make his escape.
Until next time, read what pleases you!
Notes By Nancy 
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