Address Unknown by Kressman Taylor

A short story printed as a book, I would suggest that Address Unknown redeems the short story, except that it was written in 1938 when short stories still had form.  Written as an exchange of letters, it follows the rise of Hitler with a twist in the tale.  Most satisfying.

Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada

Also known as Everyone Dies Alone.  Life in wartime Berlin among the ordinary, the minor crooks, the Gestapo and an old couple who resist by leaving messages on postcards throughout the city.  Even tone makes sudden violence the more shocking.  (I read this in French.)

Eleanor of Aquitaine, Alison Weir

We are warned in the preface that much speculation is involved in trying to write a biography of Eleanor of Aquitaine.  Stlll, I think a historian should know that the Langue d'Oc is a language and not a dialect of French (she spent a few paragraphs on this) and that the Langue d'Oeil is French.  Also, I think a historian should have been able to find out that a cythara actually is a lute, not maybe a lute.  And this was only Chapter 1.

Not having a lot of faith in Weir's abilities as an historian or researcher, I gave it up.

The Brass Verdict, Michael Connelly

Excellent story, as all of Connelly's books are, but the presence of both Mickey Haller (The Lincoln Lawyer) and Harry Bosch was contrived and didn't do justice to Bosch.

13 1/2 by Nevada Barr

No Anna Pigeon, no National Parks. Just fine writing, suspense, and twists and turns that always keeps you guessing.

Azincourt, Bernard Cornwell

The story is exciting in spite of Cornwell's repetitiveness, and the battles of Soissons, Harfleur and Azincourt are faithfully told.  This even gets a "history" tag as well as historical fiction.

Prizzi's Honor, Richard Condon

Before the Sopranos and the Corleones, there were the Prizzis.  In this world, Condon treats the Prizzis as normal and reserves his ire for the politicians and other powers that be.  In this one, the Prizzis turn "respectable."  Very funny.