Between our UK trip and time dedicated to recovery from surgery, I galloped through books. So these get tumbled into one post and we begin the new year with a clean slate and even more good books.

A Share in Death by Deborah Crombie (Scribner, 1993) - first of a long series written by a Texan in the British crime genre.  Nothing to write home about, but I will probably read a few more as this series was recommended by a friend.

Turn of the Screw by Henry James, (originally appeared serialized in Collier's Weekly in 1898) - a golden oldie I'd not read.  Listened to it on Librivox.  Traditional gothic horror tale.  Well written; unkind to hysterical women.

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (Viking, 2016) - How do these innocuous books make it to the Best Seller lists?  This is a combination of Heloise, The Grand Budapest Hotel and The Third Man -- and not as original as any of them.  A good book for your grandmother, assuming she is not looking for sex and violence in her recreational reading.  

The Last Painting of Sara de Vos by Dominic Smith (Crichton Books, 2016) A slow, quiet book -- similar to lots of 17th century Dutch landscapes.  Interesting historical insights into painting, forgery, and the role of women in the arts.

Safe from War by Chris Hernandez (Tactical 16 LLC, 2016) - So many of our returned military men and women turn to careers in the police and border patrol.  Their active tours of duty do affect how they perform their current jobs.  Chris Hernandez served his country in Iraq and Afghanistan and now is a senior law enforcement officer.  So, you can trust that this novel is grounded in truth. Eye opening and sad.