Author: C.J. Box

I know when I finished the first book in the Joe Pickett series I said that I wouldn’t read any others. We watched a Joe Pickett series on Netflix and I enjoyed it so I decided to read another one. This one is #16 in the series so a lot had happened since the first book and where the Netflix series ended.

All the characters I remembered from the book appeared in the television series, although I didn’t remember the Nate character. He returns in this book along with Joe’s eldest daughter who is now in her early twenties. The story is much more violent than I would have expected and deals with terrorists planning an attack in America.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Kent Haruf

UPDATE: August, 2025

This is one of the books included in Kathryn’s 2025 birthday bag. On her birthday Kathryn received a bag of books (second hand that I’ve pre-read) each wrapped in brown paper. The idea is that once a month (on her birthdate) she can pick a book to read. Each book includes a bookmark of some sort.

Pat found this book on a shelf at the Lodge when we were staying in Vancouver; he hadn’t finished it so he brought it home. When he was finished he said I might like it so I added it to my pile of books.

It is a simple story, well-written, about the lives of several characters in a small town in Colorado. The characters include co-workers at the school, one of the teacher’s children, a student and two bachelors.

This is the first novel in a set of three and I’ll definitely read more of them.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Emma Donoghue

Some time ago Pat and I watched a travel documentary on Ireland. One of the places that was talked about was Skellig Michael. This is a fictional account of the very first monks to settle on the island.

Three priests set out by boat from a well established monastery in search of a spot where they would be way from all of the worldly temptations. The island they came ashore on was remote and rugged – there was only one tree and the island was inhabited only by birds. The zealousness of the leader meant it was a very hard life for his two followers.

This is quite unlike any of the other books I’ve read by Donoghue. I didn’t know of the connection between the story and Skellig Michael until I read the author’s notes.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *