Ooh! This is my 200th post! I can’t quite believe I have got this far with the blog 😄😄😄!

The Visitor by Lee Child

I have enjoyed my reading this last week, which is just as well because I have spent a lot of time in bed. First of all, I finished The Visitor by Lee Child. I think I only have a couple more books left to read in the Jack Reacher series and this one is #4. Here is the blurb for the book:

Sergeant Amy Callan and Lieutenant Caroline Cook have a lot in common. High-flying army career women, both are victims of sexual harassment from their superiors; both are force to resign from the service.

And now they’re both dead.

Their unmarked bodies are discovered in their homes, naked, in baths filled with army-issue camouflage paint. Expert FBI psychological profilers start to hunt for a serial murderer, a smart guy with a score to settle, a loner, an army man, a ruthless vigilante known to them both.

Jack Reacher, a former US military cop, is a smart guy, a loner and a drifter, as tough as they come. He knew both victims. For Agent-in-Charge Nelson Blake and his team, he’s the perfect match. They’re sure only Reacher has the answers to their burning questions: how did these women die? And why?

This is my review on Goodreads (I gave the book three stars):

I think that you have to go with the flow with this series and not take it too seriously. Yes, some of the stories are pretty preposterous and full of holes. Yes, I was dizzy trying to follow all of the travelling around the USA, by a variety of cars and planes. I also guessed who was the murderer really early on. But I still love reading about Reacher as I just get sucked into the excitement.

I have just checked and I only have two more books left in the series, apart from the short stories. One is waiting for me on the library’s reserved shelf, and I will pick that up on Friday. I had better reserve the last one as soon as I can. It is the latest, I think – The Midnight Line #22 – due out in November. Goodreads have offered this as a “Giveaway” if you are interested.

The Apostle by Jack Kerley

My next read was The Apostle by Jack Kerley, #12 in his Carson Ryder series. Some of you may remember that I read my first Jack Kerley, The Killing Game, last week and really enjoyed it. Here is the blurb for The Apostle:

The Reverend Honus Schrum, a nationally renowned minister and owner of a broadcasting empire, tells the media he has come home to Key West to die. Meanwhile, Detective Carson Ryder is investigating the ritualistic murders of young women with chequered pasts, discovering the killings have religious overtones.

Simultaneously, a newly retired Harry Nautilus takes a job as a driver/bodyguard for Richard Owsley, an ambitious pastor in Mobile. They come to Florida, where Owsley meets with Schrum and is enlisted to complete a special and mysterious ‘project’ Schrum has promised a billionaire benefactor.

As Carson digs deeper into the murders, Harry, interest piqued by all the hush-hush goings-on of his new employer, begins to covertly investigate the strange project. Their independent investigations begin to converge, and Carson and Harry uncover a horrifying connection between the cases…

I gave this book three stars and wrote this short review:

I enjoyed the last book I read by this author and this one was OK, but it was not quite as good. I am getting a bit sick of reading about gruesomely murdered women. Also, the religious side of the plot became rather boring. I do like the two main characters, however, so will probably read more in the series at a later date.

Deadline by Sandra Brown

The final book book of the week was a very fast read for me: Sandra Brown’s Deadline. I think this is another author to add to my list for searching out at the library:

Dawson Scott is a well-respected journalist recently returned from Afghanistan. Haunted by everything he experienced, he’s privately suffering from battle fatigue which is a threat to every aspect of his life. But then he gets a call from a source within the FBI. A new development has come to light in a story that began 40 years ago. It could be the BIG story of Dawson’s career–one in which he has a vested interest.

Soon, Dawson is covering the disappearance and presumed murder of former Marine Jeremy Wesson, the biological son of the pair of terrorists who remain on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. As Dawson delves into the story, he finds himself developing feelings for Wesson’s ex-wife, Amelia, and her two young sons. But when Amelia’s nanny turns up dead, the case takes a stunning new turn, with Dawson himself becoming a suspect. Haunted by his own demons, Dawson takes up the chase for the notorious outlaws. . .and the secret, startling truth about himself.

Here is my Goodreads review for this four star book:

A thriller with a romantic aspect. This was a very gripping and exciting read, including many plot twists, although I had already worked out the biggest one. I read the book pretty quickly, so I expect that I will look for more by this author. Some of the sex scenes were perhaps unnecessary, but I suppose this is a developing genre: romantic thriller or thrilling romance? Oh, I have just seen that it is called romantic suspense! 😄

Well, it is nice to read about 💕 occasionally! Let’s have a few more of those: 💝💖💖💝

Conclave by Robert Harris

I am about to pick up a weighty hardback for my next read: Robert Harris’ Conclave. I will write about it in next week’s Reading Roundup and also review it on Goodreads, which feeds into this blog in a widget on the right-hand side, if you cannot wait to see my verdict!

Best wishes and enjoy your reading,

💜💙💚💛❤️