So we sat in the starry darkness with each other and the whiskey.

13.

Blue-Eyed Devil by Robert B. Parker - I am going to miss Robert Parker. I never thought I would have written those words, but there is something so entertaining about about his sparse prose and tight plotting. Blue-Eyed Devil is his last western starring Virgil Cole and Everett Hitch and it was as good as the first. Adios Mr. Parker.

The most ingenious library scientist of modern times...

14.

The Icelander by Dustin Long - Bookclub Book! And boy was it too cute by half. A twee literary pastiche of a whodunit, it just doesn't really work. Some funny and/or good ideas, but nothing taken far enough to be good.

Ther are working up the steep slope of Cathedral Street...

15.

Barnacle Love by Anthony De Sa - A first novel about the Portugese immigrant experience in Canada, it has sat on my shelf for quite some time. A lot of references to Newfoundland which I didn't know about. Heartbreaking, but well written.

Are you just being recalcitrant?

16.

Split Image by Robert B. Parker - I came to Robert Parker very late in his career. The man had written over 60 books upon his death and was known as one of the kings of American crime fiction. This is one of the Jesse Stone novels. I got into Jesse Stone simply because of the Tom Selleck TV movies filmed in Halifax. Yup, Tom Selleck. Anyway, all the books are a little formulaic and more dialogue than anything, but they are fun.

Don't leave off the mayonnaise as it's a favorite topping in Maine for good reason.

17.

The Great American Hot Dog Book by Becky Mercuri - Boy oh boy, do I love a good hot dog. Saw this book and had to buy it 'cause it was cheap. 150 pages of history, recipes and notes on various hot dog stands all over the US. All I want is a chili dog now that I think about it.