Author: Harlan Coben

This is one of the books included in Kathryn’s 2025 birthday bag. I saw the idea on Facebook and decided to pass it along. On her birthday Kathryn received a bag of books (second hand that for the most part 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.

I was first made aware of this author through a series on Netflix. I read one of his books and knew I’d be reading more of them.

The Baye’s are a successful family; Tia is a lawyer and Mike is a transplant surgeon. They have a son, Adam, and a daughter, Jill, and from the outside they seem to be a perfect family. After the suicide of his best friend Adam changes and his parents are worried. But will they really spy on him and what will they do with the information they glean? In the meantime murders are being committed and connections between the murders and the Baye family are revealed.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Bonnie Grams

This title was from the Crossmount Book Club that both Stacia and Deloise belong to. It really wasn’t on my list but I needed a book to read and, again, I was able to download the book and didn’t need to bring the physical copy home with me.

When Elizabeth Zott falls in love with Calvin Evans it is a match made in heaven. Both are scientists but Calvin is famous and Elizabeth is treated very poorly in a field dominated by men. When Calvin dies unexpectedly Elizabeth is devastated and, as she awaits the birth of their child, she sets up her own lab in the kitchen. She eventually earns a spot on a cooking show but frustrates the producer by continually teaching the chemistry behind each of her recipes.

I saw this listed as a series on Apple TV+ but I never paid it any attention. I’ll be watching the series now that I’ve read and enjoyed the book.

Goodreads Rating: * * * *

Author: Louise Penny

When you’re on the road and needing a book to download You can’t go wrong with an Armand Gamache story. I didn’t enjoy this as much as others I’ve read but I think it was because it wasn’t set in Three Pines so, although the usual characters are there they didn’t play as big a role. There were a lot of other characters but several, whom you assumed were good guys. turned out not to be so. And vice versa. It was a surprise to come to a somewhat unsatisfying ending only to see that the story carries on into the next book.

Goodreads Rating: * * *

Author: Vincent Lam

Pat gifted this book to Kathryn and then she gave it back to us to read. Pat read it in a timely manner but I procrastinated. When I was preparing the spare bedroom for guests I added it to my stack of books and, before my fall trip, I started it because I was able to also download a copy so I didn’t have to take the physical book with me.

I’m not a fan of short stories but several of the characters are connected in some way which made the transitions smoother. All are training to be doctors and by the end of the stories they are all practicing medicine in one way or another. One of the stories deals with the SARS outbreak and after Covid I found it very interesting.

Goodreads Rating: * * *