Ahhh-Fall

Well, the first day of Fall was yesterday and it sure didn't feel like it. After all my hard work cleaning off the deck, I couldn't enjoy it. Oh well, there will be time later. One thing I did notice though--my hummingbirds have flown the coop! I had five of the little critters dive bombing my feeder all summer and they sure were aggressive! I even had some of them nearly fly into me. I did enjoy watching them and I hope they will return next year.

Anyway--I did get some reading done and have a couple of reviews for you.

Critical by Robin Cook--New York City medical examiner Laurie Montgomery investigates a rise in infection deaths that can be traced to three Manhattan hospitals owned by Angels Healthcare. Angels, which specializes in high-profit surgeries of well insured patients, is on the verge of going public and can't risk any bad publicity. She's also unaware that Angels' main financial backer is a local Mafia don, who's prepared to kill anyone standing in the way of his investment. Suspense builds as Laurie's husband, Jack is scheduled for knee surgery at one of the hospitals and is determined to go through with it despite the deaths. Gripping, right to the very end!!!

The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen--Something a little different this time.
Julia discovers a skeleton buried in the garden of the Boston house she's just moved into and the fractured bones suggest murder. Flashbacks to 1830 tell the story of medical student Norris, an outcast among his wealthier classmates, who meets Rose in a Boston maternity ward, where her sister recently died of childbirth fever. When several gutted bodies turn up in deserted alleyways, Rose and Norris are the only ones to catch a glimpse of the West End Reaper. Norris, Rose and Norris's fellow student, Oliver Wendell Holmes, race to uncover the truth behind the murders. In the present, Julia is able to trace their progress with the help of a relative of the house's former owner. An interesting look into the medical practice and training of the 1800's adds to this suspense/love story.

Have just started reading The First Commandment by Brad Thor. For those of you who like Tom Clancy and Clive Cussler, this one seems like it is going to turn out to be an intense thriller. I'll let you know.

I fought the vine....and I won?

I had a productive but tiring weekend. Now that the weather has decided to behave, I decided it was time to take over my deck. I'm not sure if the drought had anything to do with it but this weird vine took over almost one third of the deck space. Who knows what might have happened if it had rained more. Covered the whole house!?!??!

Anyway, with my neighbors loaning me various implements of destruction, I started out to tackle the monster. I got in the mood by trying to cut down the hummingbird vine on the side. That thing grows faster than kudzu! After I managed to win that battle, I started in on the monster. I have no idea what kind of vine it is but by the time I got through it to the main stem, I was worn out, scratched and itchy. The stem of the monster was about four inches around. No wonder it took so long. I guess I won--at least I can sit on the deck and read now. I still have to clean the furniture. That vine had wrapped itself around the table, umbrella and chairs.

I did finish Strip Search when I took breaks from my battle. Talk about a hair-raising ending! Yep--it's a good one.

Also read Bones to Ashes by Kathy Reichs. For those familiar with the TV show, BONES, this series was inspired by the lead character of her books. For Temperance Brennan the discovery of a young girl's skeleton in Acadia, Canada, is more than just another assignment. Évangéline, Tempe's childhood best friend, was also from Acadia. When Évangéline disappeared, Tempe was warned not to search for her, that the girl was "dangerous."

Thirty years later, flooded with memories, Tempe cannot help wondering if this skeleton could be the friend she lost so many years ago. Follow Tempe and her sister Harry as they delve into a mystery that gets more and more involved and dangerous as they search deeper and deeper into the past.

More suspense plus something different

The Fourth Order by Stephen Frey---Michael Rose, CFO of Trafalgar Industries want to take over CIS, a computer company with ties to a secret government operation called the Fourth Order. Since 9/11, the Order has been given instructions to detain and torture anyone who they suspect may have connections to terrorism. Of course, innocent people are detained and a plot is uncovered to have a repeat of the 9/11 attacks but.....is it really terrorists or our own people? Follow Michael and find out.

Currently reading Strip Search by William Bernhardt. A serial killer of the worst kind is striking seemingly random victims in Las Vegas. Susan Pulaski, a behaviorist working for LVPD and an unusual assistant, Darcy work together to profile this unusual killer. Darcy is an autistic savant who is gifted in math and obscure mathematical formulas left at the crime scenes are a challenging puzzle for him to solve. Will they be able to solve the case before the killer strikes again? I am ready to find out but I won't spoil the ending for you. Readers won't be disappointed by this one.


Something different!!! I was a big fan of the TV series M.A.S.H. and especially loved Hawkeye played by Alan Alda. I am waiting to read his new book Things I Overheard While Talking To Myself. Eddie brought me a copy of his first book Never Have Your Dog Stuffed. Alda is a gifted writer as well as actor and this memoir of his youth will leave you laughing, crying and admiring how he was able to deal with being the son of a famous actor and a mother with a serious mental problem. I really do respect him more now that I know what he went through. There are also photographs included that depict him growing from a cute little boy to a grandfather with his grandchildren. I am eagerly awaiting his newest!!!