The Unfortunate Decisions of Dahlia Moss/ Max Wirestone/ 370 pgs/ audiobook

Once again I had a long weekend drive so I snagged another audiobook from Hoopla. I had heard this book was fresh and funny and I must say that I agree. It's a delightful modern mystery with a funny, quirky cast headed by the titular Dahlia Moss. She's an unemployed twenty-something down on her luck when her roommate introduces her to a mysterious man named Jonah. He offers her $2000 to find a stolen digital bejeweled sword. Yes, digital. The sword exists in an online game and was stolen from Jonah's account. It's obvious from the beginning that there is something off about this setup but then Jonah is murdered and things take off from there. Even though I'm not an online game player, the book explains that world well without being tedious. The narrator for this book (Lauren Fortgang) was awesome. I was amused throughout and laughed out loud a number of times. The solution to the murder mystery itself was nothing revolutionary but for this one, it's all about the journey. Bonus #1: this book, to my surprise, is set in St. Louis. The setting is a little superficial but it was nice to hear about familiar landmarks. Bonus #2: there are two more books in the series. I can't wait to read or listen to them!

The Hanging/Lotte & Soren Hammer/298 pgs.

Two school children make the gruesome discovery of five naked, mutilated bodies hanging from the ceiling in the school gymnasium. Homicide detective Konrad Simonsen is called in to lead the investigation into these disturbing murders. As the victims' identities and pasts are revealed, public opinion sides with the person/persons responsible for the hangings. It is up to Simonsen and his team to make sure that justice is upheld. The Danish authors, a brother and sister team, keep the reader engrossed from the very beginning; this is the first in the Konrad Simonsen series. Highly recommended--if you can get past the graphic descriptions and the subject matter!

Down a Dark Road/Linda Castillo/292 pgs.

This is the latest title in the Chief of Police Kate Burkholder series. Kate, a former member of the Amish community, is Chief of Police in Painters Mill--an Amish community. She is notified that Joseph King, convicted of murdering his Amish wife, has escaped from prison after only serving two years of his sentence. Their five children have been under the care of his wife's sister and brother-in-law, and the police are concerned that Joseph will come back for the children. Kate is heavily involved because Joseph was a childhood friend of hers, who she hasn't seen in years, but who has insisted all along that he didn't murder his wife. It's a very good mystery, and series, and one that I highly recommend!

The Girl Who Knew Too Much/Amanda Quick/355 pgs.

I almost didn't read this book because I'm not a big fan of fiction based in the 1930's--especially in Hollywood, California. I am, however, a big Amanda Quick fan, so I thought I would give it a try, and I'm glad I did. Anna Harris stumbles onto a murder scene--and it happens to be her boss, Helen Spencer, who is dead. Helen has left her a message, in blood, to run, and not to trust anyone. Helen left Anna a substantial amount of money, and a notebook that could get Anna killed. Anna heads west to California, takes on a new name (Irene Glasson), and becomes a reporter for a Hollywood gossip newspaper. Other murders occur, and Irene comes to partner with ex-magician Oliver Ward to get to the bottom of the murders, and the mystery of the notebook. It's a fast read, well developed characters, and one that I can recommend!

The Kept Woman/Karin Slaughter/461 pgs.

In order to fully appreciate this latest in the Will Trent series, one needs to read the previous titles. However, reading it as a stand-alone still provides an excellent read. Will Trent of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and his lover, Dr. Sara Linton, medical examiner for the GBI, have been called in when a murder takes place in a prospective night club. The body is that of an ex-cop, but it becomes apparent that another crime had been committed at the time of the victim's death. It appears that Will's "wife" Angie-- who is in and out of his life--is somehow involved. There is so much going on in this novel, that I stayed up half of the night in order to finish it. I can't recommend this title and series highly enough!

Night Watch/Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen/342 pgs.

Kendra Michaels was born blind, and as a result, spent the first twenty years of her life in darkness. It wasn't until she was accepted into a trial study program with Dr. Charles Waldridge that her life changed drastically. His experimental operation on Kendra was a success--she was able to see for the first time in her life. Fast forward around ten years later, when Dr. Waldridge unexpectedly shows up at a conference in which Kendra is the speaker. They have dinner, but during the evening Kendra gets the feeling Dr. Waldridge is withholding something from her. The next day, Kendra is called in by the police--Dr. Waldridge is missing. Kendra has astute investigative skills, and calls in Adam Lynch, an agent-for hire, to help her unravel the mystery of Dr. Waldridge's disappearance. There is more going on under the surface than a random missing person case, and the Johansens take the reader on a wild ride throughout the story. Highly recommended.