Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present by Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Ruth Ben-Ghiat’s Strongmen: Mussolini to the Present could not be more relevant. Authoritarian rule has wreaked destruction around the world. I picked up this book to read a historical analysis of Trump, among other autocrats and dictators, but found myself educated on much more than my corner of … [Read more]
Dragon’s Claw by Peter O’Donnell
In almost every Modesty Blaise pulp fiction novel, there’s a simple thriller formula. Usually, a nefarious and colorful megalomaniac is trying to take over the world/kill everyone/overturn countries and needs some hapless schmo to accomplish a key task in their plan. Modesty and her hunky partner, … [Read more]
Good Bones by Maggie Smith
Even if you are not a poetry person, there is a strong chance you have read the title poem in Maggie Smith's Good Bones. Why? Because, I regret to say, it gets passed around every time there's a notable school shooting. And that is often. It's the one that goes: Life is short, though I keep this … [Read more]
The Black Book by Ian Rankin
Inspector John Rebus is having a tough time. His girlfriend, with whom he has recently moved in, has thrown him out, leaving him stranded in his own flat which is now full of students as well as his brother, who has recently been released from prison. To make matters worse, his underling is found in … [Read more]
River of the Gods by Candice Millard
River of the Gods is Candice Millard's fourth book. The first three, covering James Garfield's assassination, Theodore Roosevelt's Amazon exploration, and Winston Churchill's activities during the Boer War, are all fantastic. With impeccable research and delightful prose, Millard makes these … [Read more]
Magic Rises (Kate Daniels, #6) by Ilona Andrews
This is my favorite of these books so far. I loved the getting-the-team-together atmosphere, the fish-out-of-water aspect of Kate, Curran, Andrea, et al. faffing around in Europe. It was interesting to see a different setting in this world, and I liked how being far away from home changed the … [Read more]
