Among Thieves by David Hosp

OK book about a lawyer who takes on a client who turns out to be involved in trouble between Boston gangs and the IRA.

Dracula by Bram Stoker

The plot is interesting, the characters are interesting, and the 1897 details about daily life are fascinating. There appear to be lots of metaphor and underlying themes, but even without them this books is a lot of fun.

Strip by Thomas Perry

I think this was the best book of the year. I really enjoy Perry's style and the narration was spot on. Perry sometimes misses because he stretches his characters and plots, but he's on the money for Strip.

Star Island by Carl Hiaasen

Hiassen can write as funny a book as anyone and my all time favorite character, Clinton Tyree, shows up - this had a recipe for success. But the ending was a dud, like the author just decided to wrap it up and close shop. You could see the characters and the plot converging for a fun ending, with characters that you were interested to have meet and interact - but it never happens. The ending is uneventful and unfulfilling. But if we're lucky enough to have another Hiassen book, I'll get it in a heart beat.

The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson

This classic was written in 1886 and still is a fun read. The plot is serious but somehow Stevenson is whimsical. Like the Sherlock Holmes stories, I got this from Lit2Go and have really enjoyed them.

Rules Of Prey by John Sandford

This is the first in the Lucas Davenport series and it's entertaining. There are at least 15 books in this series and you can see how Davenport became so popular with readers. This story pits a smart serial killer against a clever cop.

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

I can't enough of these stories. I wish they were infinite. Lit2Go provides free audio versions of all of Conan Doyle's work. 11 stories, including The Final Problem.

The God of the Hive by Laurie R. King

King is a fabulous writer who often goes into too much detail and stalls. The God of the Hive maintains a good pace and continues on where The Language of Bees left off. This book is much more enjoyable, I think because of the way she tells the story from Microft, Sherlock and Mary's point of view. This is the 10th book in the Mary Russell series and King's craftsmanship and care of Conan Doyal's previous work make these tales little treasures. One of the strongest in the series.