The Devil’s Star   Jo Nesbø
Inspector Hole investigates a serial killer who uses a pentagram, chases the head of a smuggling ring, tracks the killer of his former partner, loses the woman he loves, and gets kicked off the police force. Well-accomplished, and very interesting and entertaining. Enjoyed it so much, I wish it hadn’t ended.

History of a Pleasure Seeker   Richard Mason
Interesting, well written historical novel about a young tutor trying to improve his station in early 20^th-century Holland. He is irresistible to both women and men and that causes his greatest advancements and failings. Not nearly as erotic as it sounds, and a little light on characterization. Though it says “to be continued” at the end, I think I’m done.

Nemesis   Jo Nesbo
Excellent police mystery about Nesbo’s detective Hole investigating murder and bank robberies in early 21^st Century Oslo. Cleanly written with gypsies, infidelities, corruption, and several believable narrative twists toward the end. Well, maybe one twist too many, but a very enjoyable read. Plan to read more in the series.

Betraying Spinoza: the Renegade Jew Who Gave Us Modernity   Rebecca Goldstein
Disappointing “philosophy” book that begins by stating that there is no sense in which Spinoza id a Jewish thinker and then proceeds to discuss him as just that. Some good intellectual history about Jewish philosophy in the 17^th century, but valueless about Spinoza. A bit of a waste of time.

Lehrter Station   David Downing
Latest in Downing’s fascinating thriller series with John Russell. Now the war has just ended and Russell and Effie go back to the Berlin they barely escaped from to work for the Soviets and the Americans, and combat murderous smugglers. Excellent historical narrative very well written. Really enjoyed it.

The Courtier and the Heretic: Leibniz, Spinoza, and the Fate of God in the Modern World   Matthew Stewart
Excellent, very well written historical philosophy book. Perhaps the best, most lucid description of Spinoza’s Ethics I have ever read. Made me appreciate Spinoza’s achievement even more, and also dislike Leibniz personally and as a philosopher. Outstanding.

Flight from Berlin   David John
Long, marginally interesting thriller and historical novel about the lead-up to the Hindenburg disaster in 1937. While the history about the disaster, the 1936 Olympics, and Hitler’s growing power is accurate, the characters were, for the most part, not very likable, interesting, or believable. Not a total waste though.

The Iliad   Homer (Fagles translation)
Finally filled this giant hole in my education. Really enjoyed the beauty of Homer’s language and the power of an epic so ancient. Fagles’ translation made it easy and enjoyable to read. Deeply rewarding narrative and language. I wish everything I read was this important. Have to work on that.

An American Spy   Olen Steinhauer
Complex, superbly written spy novel that continues the Tourist saga. Even though Milo is trying to be retired, he is pulled into an operation ostensibly to revenge the murder of the entire department at the hands of the Chinese. Perfectly constructed, plotted, and executed. Steinhauer gets better with each novel. Excellent.

The Medusa Amulet   Robert Masello
Overwritten, overlong mystery/fantasy about a renaissance amulet that grants eternal life when a person looks at it during a full moon. Unbelievable and not very well written, so it was mostly tiring.

The Dead Do Not Improve   Jay Caspian Kang
Odd “mystery” about a down on his luck content provider and a surfer detective investigating the death of a hippie porn star in San Francisco. Yeah. Prose was convoluted. Didn’t really enjoy it. Too bad because the title was fantastic.