I’m happy to share all of the books and other entertainment I’ve been enjoying lately.
Books:
Robert B. Parker’s Broken Trust by Mike Lupica
It makes me so happy that we can still read Spenser novels! It feels like the ghost of Parker himself is writing them, thanks to Mike Lupica. I have never missed an installment and Broken Trust is as good as any of the originals. Spenser is hired to investigate why a tech billionaire is acting even more eccentric than usual. And then…his wife is murdered. There’s all sorts of twists in this one as well as all the Susan, Hawk and Pearl us fans could want. Highly recommended!
Tessa Bailey used to be one of my favorite romance authors, but lately her books have kind of let me down. I was contemplating skipping this one, but a quick peek at the reviews told me a lot of fans were claiming Bailey redeemed herself with this one. I’m glad I listened. It stars a Tiger Woods type professional golfer with only one fan left. When said fan is down on her luck, he asks her to be his caddy. If she helps him turn his game around, they can split the prize money. I thought it was a lot of fun and I hope the author herself is also back in the game!
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
This was my book club’s last pick. If you’re a book person - and I assume you are! - then you’ll adore this charming tale of a grieving bookstore owner and the mysterious package that changes his life. There are people falling in love, but there are also so many people falling in love with reading. A perfect reminder of how books (including this one!) can change your life.
Screen:
Thank You, Goodnight: The Bon Jovi Story
I love a good rock documentary! This one is no exception. There’s so much about Bon Jovi I didn’t know, especially just how hard working he is and how he almost singlehandedly made all his dreams come true. The documentary starts as the band is about to embark on a 40-year anniversary tour, but Bon Jovi himself sounds completely different and nothing like the rocker we all once knew. Watching him try almost everything to get his voice back as well as lots of never before heard insights on his feud with Richie Sambora make this a must watch!
It has been absolutely magical to watch the worlds of so many crime fiction authors - Lee Child, Michael Connelly, Craig Johnson to name a few - captured faithfully and respectfully on the screen. We can now add Jeffrey Deaver to the list. I can’t even remember if I ever pictured Colter Shaw as anyone besides Justin Hartley. He has slipped seamlessly into the role and I’m loving every minute. I am sad shows like NCIS: Hawaii and So Help Me Todd weren’t renewed for next year, but I am glad we’ll still have Tracker to curl up to. Or, as I’m usually doing, watch from the edge of my seat!
I have to thank Hallmark Mystery, one of my favorite channels, for introducing me to this gem. It stars Jerry O’Connell as Carter, a Hollywood actor who returns home after a very public meltdown to reunite with his childhood best friends, one of whom is a police detective. Since he played a detective on TV, Carter jumps right in to assist. It reminds me of a grown up version of The Hardy Boys. There are two seasons of episodes that are well worth tracking down and catching up on.
What have you discovered lately? Please share your recommendations in the comments.
Inside an Editor’s Brain is written by Kristen Weber, a freelance book editor who has worked with thousands of authors over the course of her career. She aims to be a kind and trustworthy voice during the crazy-making writing and publishing business. You can read most articles for free, but if you’d like to support Kristen and her efforts and get access to a few bonus issues consider upgrading below.
Kristen,
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin is a fantactic book and readers will not be disappoin ted. Joel
Kristen, I concur. While I haven't read the books, Tracker is a great show. It's cerebral in a way that engages you to look at the all the little threads that connect everything together and tell the story of a life, and many lives. With heart and compassion. Plus, I appreciate that, for the most part, it avoids some of the extreme violence that seems to dominate so much storytelling at the moment.