God's Country by William Kent Krueger 5

 

"You are who you always were. You have never been one thing. No human ever is. We are the lion and we are the lamb. We are the rock and we are the wind. We are the creator and we are the destroyer. You are no different."

    -Henry Meloux's advice to Cork

God's Country is the 22nd novel in the Cork O'Connor series and I have read, and enjoyed, them all! I had anticipated this one so long, I actually bought it for Kindle because I would have been on a longggg waitlist for a library copy. Maybe the first eBook I've ever paid full price for.

In this installment of the series, Cork sets out on a family trip (just the men and boys) into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. After a short time, signs of violence are noted, and Cork sends the family members home to summon law enforcement. Knowing his long-time friend, Cordell Bishop, is leading this suspicious group, Cork feels he must be in danger and so sets out to find and hopefully rescue him.

He finds the Kennedy brothers have basically kidnapped Cordell and are trying to force him to help them find their late father's stash of something apparently quite valuable. It is a dangerous choice Cork makes when he decides he must help his friend. As he gets to know the brothers, he faces not just his own survival instinct but also inner turmoil about how to treat the captors. He can't help but think of something Henry has mentioned before, an Indigenous saying: "There are two wolves constantly battling in the human heart. One is love, the other hate. Which one wins the battle? The one you feed. Always the one you feed."      

There are so many quotable passages in this book, it was hard to choose one, but I think I have started almost every Cork O'Connor blog post with wisdom from Henry Meloux. This time I included two. I am always in awe at Krueger's powers of description, making me wish I could see "God's country" in Minnesota, although not in the canoe trip he depicts in this novel!

Another thriller from this author, I rated it a 5 even though it wouldn't be among my favorites. This is the first in the series where I thought the end was a cliffhanger. Now we have to wait for book 23 to know how Cork handles his angst!

London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe 3

 

"For five years, the Brettlers had spent an inordinate amount of time poring over the mystery of Zac's death, and their diligence had exposed, at least partially, a matrix of power and secrecy and corruption in contemporary London, a dimension of their own city that they had never recognized before now."

I recognized this author's name when I began to see this title on the Bestseller List. I had read 2 of Keefe's nonfictions---Say Nothing and Empire of Pain. Both were captivating and I gave them high ratings. I am giving this one a 3---it made me want to finish but I didn't enjoy it nearly as much as the other two. There were so many characters to keep track of and so many were evil. Much discussion of the financial world and corruption left me cold, not to mention an unsatisfying ending.

I think between the subtitle: A Mysterious Death in a Gilded City and a Family's Search for Truth and the quote above, you have a short summary of this true crime.story. Zac Brettler is the 19-year-old son of Rachelle and Matthew Brettler who has been leading a double life and getting mixed up with some dangerous characters. Zac is caught on camera pacing the patio of a luxury apartment some time before his body is found in the Thames. Keefe writes "A lot of people in London have a story like this---about a body in the Thames. Every year, thirty or so bodies are retrieved from its waters." Guess that explains the title.

Zac's death was thought to be suicide but the people who knew him best did not believe it. The investigation was far from thorough leading the Brettlers and this author to keep searching for clues.

A Heartbeat at My Feet by Kristin Judd 5

 

"Listen: I've mentioned that, as a dog, human relationships often befuddle me---they're overly complicated ridiculously intricate. Consider, dogs, for example. Consider, if you will, me: I either love someone, or hate them, or am indifferent altogether....

But when you get right down to it, when I love someone, I love them without ambiguity. That's how it is with dogs. But human relationships? Dio Mio...love between humans can be as clear as a muddy pond."

       -Cicero, from the novel

Unexpectedly this was one of the most enjoyable books I've read in a while. I generally do not read romances, and this one contains that element but much more. I am rating it a 5---well-written and so light and entertaining.

Josie Ballard is a young woman hurt by a philandering husband who takes off on a long-dreamed-of trip to Italy. Meanwhile, a "snobbish terrier of indeterminate breeding" named Cicero is wandering Pompeii, mourning the loss of his precious owner, Giorgio. When the two meet up, it seems a match made in heaven, especially when they are led to Hugo, Giorgio's estranged son. Can you say serendipity?

The chapters alternate between Josie's perspective and Cicero's narratives, which are very humorous. Made me laugh out loud at times.

I recommend this endearing story.

The Good Neighbor The Life and Work of Fred Rogers by Maxwell King 4

 

"His signature value was human kindness; he lived it and he preached it, to children, to their parents, to all of us everywhere who could take the time to listen."   -from the Epilogue

I am quite a fan of Fred Rogers. I have seen the film "A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" twice. My husband and I visited the Rollins College campus near our Winter Park home where we saw the wonderful statue of Mr. Rogers, a famous alumnus of the school. (see picture) I had enjoyed some of his telecasts of Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood back in the day. He visited our Presbyterian church 20+ years ago and was so kind and friendly to our granddaughter who was with us.

Fred Rogers was so much more than a TV personality. He was a talented musician and composer, a puppeteer, an ongoing student of child development, an ordained Presbyterian minister, a writer and the founder and host of "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" for over 30 years. He won numerous awards including the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Above all, by all accounts of coworkers, employees, friends, family and acquaintances, he was a wonderful man---one in a million! I have often said that people today should do more channeling of their inner Mr. Rogers!

I have rated the biography a 4, not exactly a page-turner but very informative. It was inspiring to read of Fred Rogers' effect on people he met, both children and adults, and even Koko the gorilla.