Books for cold days and long trips.

The Fort Bragg Cartel- Seth Harp

This book was astonishing. First, Harp outlines the US involvement in the Middle East in a stripped down timeline. But the main story is the massive amount of drug use and trafficking in the military, and in particular, the elite forces. The coverup by law enforcement is deplorable. I consider this to be a must-read.

The Predicament - William Boyd

This is the second book featuring Gabriel Dax- travel writer /reluctant spy. He is a John Smiley type- unassuming, cerebral, not an action figure, though there are dead bodies.

Great plotting and characters.

Venetian Vespers-John Banville

1899. A wealthy British socialite quickly marries a midling author and off they go for a stay in Venice. Fueled by too much alcohol and disoriented by mysterious people and places, the newly married writer becomes entangled in a spider's web of deceit. Delicious, dark, and creepy. Enjoy!

 The Botanist's Assistant-Peggy Townsend

A cozy murder mystery if the sleuth were an over-qualified lab assistant; think- Eleanor Oliphant. This is a fun read with sharp characterizations and

observations.

Lit- Tim Sandlin

Starting with a book burning and ending with murder, this is a funny takedown of our current state of cancellation. A little wacky in spots, but a fast and entertaining story set in a small town in Wyoming.