The Old Gray Wolf, by James D. Doss

I've really come to enjoy these books, which are really good stories (mysteries) while also being full of silliness and general amusement at the ridiculousness of people. This is supposedly the "final novel in the series," and that makes me very sad. I'm fairly happy for Sarah, though.... :-)

The Secret Life of Cowboys, by Tom Groneberg

Really good book about what it takes to ranch ahe life, and work with animals in the west, what depending on the land really means, now. The author takes care not to overly mythologize the subject, and is very honest about his failings, and discoveries of strengths. Nicely written, very evocative.

I miss the West.

Coffin Man, by James D. Doss

Good. Not quite as good as the last one, but fun primarily because Daisy loses her ability to see 'beyond', though she can still hear the ghosts and the Little Man. I just wish Charlie would get a grip and figure out how much Sarah likes him.

Below Zero, C.J. Box (on CD)

I really like Joe Pickett. This is about a teenage girl, his former foster-daughter, whom was presumed dead in a horrible accident 6 years ago. At least, until she--or someone claiming to be her--starts texting one of his daughters. While the main plot is quite far-fetched (no mob hit-man is this much of a sucker, really, is he??), once you buy in it's quite a ride. Great book. Not a huge fan of the guy doing the reading though.

Dead on the Fourth of July, by R.E. Derouin

OK, so these are self-published, but really-and-truly, every book is better in terms of writing, and the description of the city of Ouray and the scenery and history are well-done, I'm totally enjoying the series. In this one, David and Cynthia's pseudo-foster daughter is reunited with her recently-released-from-prison mother and removed to Denver, and the rest of the crew are in the midst of David's campaign for sheriff and a search for a missing skeleton while dealing with four very unpleasant b&b guests.

Mountain Ice, by R. E. Derouin

One of the books I bought last summer while we were in Ouray, and another in the series starring David Dean as the owner of a B&B in Ouray. This one is about a 19th century diary and a guest who appears to be trying to escape from an abusive husband. When the husband dies, there's no shortage of suspects.

A Dead Man's Tale, by James D. Doss

One of the things I have become more aware of in this series is the use of humor and sarcasm. Generally, the further one is from the "action" in the book, the more loosey-goosey and relaxed--and even downright silly--is the writing. There is some choice goofiness going on in the description of Samuel Reed, the Dead Man of the title, whose Charlie and Scott are hired to prevent. They do, only to find they've been snookered by a pro. Fun(ny) book. Aunt Daisy is particularly devilish in it.

The Last Lie, by Stephen White

I love these books and not only because they take place in Boulder. The characters are complicated and real and current and sometimes frustrating and unlikeable. This was all about a drug-rape that occurs in the house next to Alan's in which he becomes involved via two routes other than only the neighbor one. All tied together at the end, though far from neatly.

Ouray, by Gail Zanett Saunders, Maria Jones and the Ouray County Historical Society

Found this in Ouray and read it quickly. There wasn't a whole lot here that was really news, but I did enjoy the photos, many of which were new to me. Made me rather homesick.

Creating Colorado, by William Wyckoff

This took forever to read, but it was worthwhile in that I now have a much better sense of how the state became Colorado. It's a bit old, but the early years are all that matter (to me) anyway.

The Widow's Revenge, by James D. Doss

What a weird book! I love this series, but this one was terribly odd: the style is rather jokey, almost silly, vernacular while the story itself is about cannibals and serial murders. And ghosts, of course. After all, Aunt Daisy sees spirits everywhere.

Nothing to Lose, by Lee Child

Columbine, by Dave Cullen

Much to consider in this book. Much that was reported at the beginning is inaccurate.

The Last Synapsid, by Timothy Mason

This is a kids' book that is set in a mountain area VERY similar to Ouray, Colorado: one of my favorite places on Earth. It's a time-travel, historic fiction, "green" fantasy that somehow works. Basically, a fore-runner of all mammals has gotten lost in time and decided he likes our time better than his own. If he doesn't go back to his own, all mammalian life on Earth will never happen. Another 'synapsid' (these dinosaur-like critters) has also started to time-travel in order to make the other one come back and do its job to evolve into humans.

Not a bad story, for the average 10-year-old. ;-)

Breath and Bones, by Susann Cokal

Would make a good discussion novel.

Light Raid, by Connie Willis and Cynthia Felice

This was published in 1989, so it's a little dated in its view of the future. Having said that, it's always wonderful to read about an area of the world you know and this takes place in "Denver Springs" (i.e. the mega-city spanning the entire front range of the Rockies in Colorado). The political entities of North America have rearranged themselves so that Quebec has declared war on what used to be the U.S., while "Victoria" (British Columbia) has been neutral in the war and the rest of what used to be Canada is, I think, allied with the former states.

ANYway, the light raids are laser attacks that Quebec has launched against Denver Springs. And the rest of the story is pretty much boilerplate romantic suspense, but with computers and so forth. Oh, and also...the main characters in Denver Springs are Greek-ish. They all have Hellenic names (Ariadne, Gaea, etc.) and wear chitons and robes.

It sounds bizarre, and it is (I've left out the subplot about the water biots, which is primary to the story, but difficult to explain briefly), but it works. Generally. I like Connie Willis's imagination.

The Sign of the Book, by John Dunning

Cliff Janeway is asked by his bookstore partner to look into a case on the western side of Colorado. It seems Erin's childhood best friend is in jail, having confessed to murdering her husband. She has called Erin to hire her to represent her at her trial.

Cliff finds all kinds of evidence that the case against Erin's client is rigged, but ultimately finds there is more afoot than the obvious small-town idiocy. There is something really evil in Paradise.

Good book. I never expected the ending; it came out of left field--in a good way.