Re: Book Thread number ?
The rest of the regular sized books
The Emperor's Tomb by Steve Berry This Cotton Malone novel finds him drawn away from his bookshop to help save his friend Cassiopeia who is being held captive. Unless Cotton complies she will be killed as they become involved in a battle for the control of China with their lives in the balance.
Jack Johnson, Rebel Sojourner: Boxing in the Shadow of the Global Color Line by Theresa Runstedtler I was disappointed by this book I thought it was a biography of Jack Johnson except there are long periods where the author doesn’t mention his name but goes on about the racial tensions and bigotry of the era. It tells of Johnson battles against prejudice, racial tension rioting getting fights in the various places where Johnson lived and fought, US, Britain, Australia and France.
The Presidents' War: Six American Presidents and the Civil War That Divided Them by Chris DeRose This books tells the tale of the 5 former Presidents still alive when Abraham Lincoln takes office; Van Buren, Tyler, Fillmore, Pierce and Buchhanan. It tells the various things that they did during their Presidency to lead up to the Civil War and then their actions during the War from openly advocating secession Tyler to generally being supportive of the President, Van Buren and Fillmore, to being branded a copperhead Pierce to trying to take care of his legacy Buchanan.
The Jefferson Key by Steve Berry This book follows the e-book Devil’s Gold as former Billet agent the Sphinx lures Cotton to NYC to thwart an attempt on the Presidents life and tries to kill him in the process. In the aftermath Cotton finds himself drawn into an investigation that dates back to Andrew Jackson. Jackson hid a letter of mark for 4 individuals knows as the Commonwealth and their descendants are trying to find it to make themselves legitimate. Cotton teams up with Cassiopeia to try and find the letters before them and rescue a kidnapped Stephanie Nelle.
Embattled Rebel: Jefferson Davis as Commander in Chief by James M. McPherson This McPherson books analyzes Davis’s role as Commander in Chief during the Civil War. His battles with and choices of Commander’s, his overall strategy of the war and his tendency to meddle in strategy along with his playing of favorites.
Full Force and Effect by Mark Greaney The latest Jack Ryan/Jack Ryan Jr novel finds the Campus tracking a former CIA operative. When his is killed right in front of them all signs point to North Korea’s involvement. President Ryan is also investigating North Korea trying to find out how they are getting money to fund their Ballistic missile program. The CIA sends a man into North Korea to investigate and the Campus runs up against a private security outfit working for the North Koreans and the North Koreans target President Ryan himself to stop his meddling in their plans.
Empires Of The Sea: The Final Battle For The Mediterranean, 1521-1580 by Roger Crowley This book follows the battles in the Mediterranean in the 1500’s. It follows the struggles of the Knights of St John on both Rhodes and Malta and the kingdoms of Spain, Venice and the Pope as they try to stave off the Ottoman’s and their allies the Corsairs of North Africa. The book focuses mainly on the reign of Suleiman the Magnificent and his predecessor focusing on the sieges of Malta and Rhodes and the naval battle of Lepano.
The Columbus Affair by Steve Berry The book starts with a disgraced reporter trying to kill himself. Just before he pulls the trigger there is a knock at the door from a man holding his daughter hostage. Unless he exhumes his father and gives what is buried inside to the man his daughter will be killed. This pulls him headlong into a centuries old mystery involving Christopher Columbus and the Treasures of the Second Temple and a chance to clear his name.
Shot All to Hell: Jesse James, the Northfield Raid, and the Wild West's Greatest Escape
by Mark Lee Gardner While giving a brief overview of the history of the James Younger Gang it mainly focuses on the low point of the gangs career their ill-fated robbery in Northfield Minnesota. Ended up with 3 members dead and the 3 Younger brothers captured in jail, this robbery signaled the downfall of the gang. Focusing on the reason they went outside their comfort zone to Minnesota, the planning for the robbery, which included a last minute change of towns, the ferocious fight put up by the locals and the escape of Frank and Jesse and the capture of the others.
Well, it's not really about math - but there is a LOT of math. A housekeeper works for a former math professor whose short term memory only lasts 80 minutes. Interesting concept, and I enjoyed the book.
