Leader of the Pack by David Rosenfelt

I liked this book.  I like this author.  His books are not thriller material but they are good solid mysteries and the fact that no dogs are harmed in his stories is okay by my book.

Leader of the Pack is about a case that Andy Carpenter tried in the past.  New information has come to light which sheds questionable doubt on the guilt of the defendant.  Andy decides to revisit all of the information procured in the past and to delve into some new things that have come to light.  This is all done with the thought in mind that a new trial will have a different outcome for the defendant.

A new plan which is supposed to be perpetrated by a local crime family comes to light and Andy is instrumental in exposing the plan to the authorities.

This story has an interesting and plausible premise.

If you've read this author in the past, you'll like this new addition to his work.  If not- give it a try.

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Gone by Cathi Hanauer

Imagine a husband in the process of taking the babysitter home.  Suddenly he has a change of plans and the two head off into the sunset, destination unknown to the wife.  Eve Adams is left to pick up the pieces and care for their children.

The reader experiences Eric's frustrations as he searches for meaning in his life.  What starts out being an appalling solution to a problem ends up being the catalyst to better communication between the two main characters.

Well-written but definitely not a light and airy novel.

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Spring Fever by Mary Kay Andrews

Annajane Hudgens works for a soft-drink company in the heart of Dixie.  She actually works for her ex-husband and even attends his wedding.  Her life is about to change.  She is engaged to a musician and plans on moving away to a new venue, quitting her job and getting a new one and leaving the old life behind.  However, life changes things and the best-laid plans often don't come to fruition.

This is a light-hearted summer read from one of this genre's best.  Although a bit predictable, it is a nice change from some of the more serious entries for this summer.   If you're not into heavy offerings and  you'd like something to take to the beach--this one's for you.

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One Breath Away by Heather Gudenkauf

Another new author to me, this was a great book.  It had a lot of drama and kept you guessing till the end.

This story begins with a lone gunman entering a small school in Iowa.  We don't know why he is there or whom he is after.  All sorts of scenarios are presented to the reader.  As each one is dismissed, the drama heightens until you literally want to turn the page to find out who the gunman is.

The chapters present each characters point of view as the drama unfolds.  Although I am not a fan of this style of writing, the characters are well-developed and it was not difficult to follow their perspectives.

The author has written two other books entitled, The Weight of Silence and These Things Hidden. If the other two titles are as entertaining as this one was, I'd venture to guess she'll be a force to reckon with.  Right up there with Harlan Coben and James Patterson.

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