I read 14 books in May.

And they were all via audio...

First month of the year wherein I didn’t finish a single print book. This was a busy month at work and when I was home, I was with the family or being creative. I did read a few more short stories in L’Amour’s Lost Treasures so I’m still progressing there.

Here’s the list for May with a quick insight into each:

SOME DANGER INVOLVED—Thomas. An off-brand Sherlock Holmes told through the eyes of a Watson with the serial numbers filed off. This procedural murder mystery set in Victorian London does a good job of showcasing interesting research and working it into the story, with good characters.

HISTORY DECODED—Meltzer. A list of ten conspiracy theories and the evidence that does/doesn’t support them. I got some good story ideas out of here.

INESCAPABLE ARSENAL—Haskell. Third in the series, first one that was just kind of there. The bigger developments were with the character of Arsenal than with the overall story.

REDEMPTION—Critical Drinker. Covered this one here.

WAGER—Grann. New release from a guy who wrote one of my best reads of 2022. Not as good as that one, but still very good and worth a read.

WRAITHBOUND—Akers. First entry in a new epic fantasy series, should have a review going live on Upstream soon.

THE SKIN MAP—Lawhead. Re-read this one so I could read the others in the series. Dude with hereditary time travel ability starts hopping across ley lines in search of a map that allows him to change history.

THE BLACK PRISM—Weeks. A well-developed magic system with a plot that feels like a twist on A TALE OF TWO CITIES, meant in a good way. Could be persuaded to read a sequel.

THE TURQUOISE SERPENT—Palacio. I will have to read this one again because I was very distracted.

DRIVE—Sallis. Five stars for this literary story that I liked way more than I expected to. Source material for the 2011 movie.

GRIMM’S WAR 2 and 3—Haskell. Review coming soon on Upstream.

SHOOT THE DEVIL—Antho. Gonna write a review for this on Upstream. A bunch of Christian authors wrote short stories where Christian characters get piously violent with demons, and it is very very good.

GOLDEN SON—Brown. Fourth time reading this gem in the last ten years. Holds up incredibly well and teaches me things I can use as a writer.