63. The Simeon Chamber, Steve Martini

Not literature, but a good page-turner. Sir Francis Drake's 1579 California landing and a ghost blimp in 1942 lead to murder & mayhem 30 years later.

62. Killer's Choice, Ed McBain

Annie Boone is shot in her employer's liquor store. The early 87th precinct investigation has Rashomon-like overtones and, being 87th precinct, is excellent.

61. Mexican Hat, Michael McGarrity

Secrets, new and old, and poaching generate murder and mayhem in New Mexico's Gila Wilderness. This man can write!

60. The Future of Freedom, Fareed Zakaria (audio)

Potent analysis of why democracy doesn't always work in developping countries and why U.S. government is so often impotent at home.

59. Now & Then, Robert B. Parker (audio)

The case of a missing wife brings back memories of Susan's disappearance years before. (Wish I knew which book that was.)

58. My Stroke of Insight, Jill Bolte Taylor, Ph.D. (audio)

Remarkable story of the experience of a stroke by a neuroanatomist who could follow what was happening to her and describe it later.

57. Agatha Raisin and the Haunted House, M. C. Beaton

Agatha continues to solve crimes and fall in love with the neighbour. And be grumpy and loveable.

56. Promised Land, Robert B. Parker

Spenser aides a hapless couple in their separate troubles. Susan eats and drinks like a normal person. Hawk appears.

55. Free Fall, Robert Crais

Elvis Cole helps a damsel and a cop in distress. Always good and Pike seems less psychopathic in this one.

54. Cancer on $5 a Day (chemo not included), Robert Schimmel, Alan Eisenstock

The title is the funniest bit. Maybe he's funnier if you'd ever heard him. Still, a good account of his life with non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

53. Unimagined: a Muslim boy meets the West, Imran Ahmad

Funny and instructive. Highly recommended.

52. When Will There Be Good News?, Kate Atkinson

Another Jackson Brodie. Each one is more satisfying than the last. I love this writer!

51. Rough Crossings: Britain, the Slaves and the American Revolution, Simon Schama

Little known story of colonial slaves who fought for Britain, told in Schama's usual endless detail. I managed a third of it because it's well-written.