Do Not Seek HIDE

What do you follow a really good novel with? A pretty mediocre mystery, of course. I understand Lisa Gardner is a writer of good mysteries, but this series doesn't appear to be up to her best work. Please don't read this if the thought of harm to children upsets you. You don't actually read about the dark deeds, but if you have a good imagination, you don't need to read the details.

The story is about a father who appears to have protected his daughter against an unknown evil when she was a child. Now the father is dead and the daughter is caught up in the results of this protection. The plot line is a little shaky, the characters are sort of interesting (faint praise if I ever heard it,) the resolution is hurried and jumbled. It's understandable, but hurried.

What this book is particularly good for is keeping you entertained while starting a new jigsaw puzzle. This puzzle is not as hard as the last one. There is lots of color and activity. I'm actually very good at this, seeing where the pieces go. This is a comfort as Alzheimer worries lessen every time I see where a piece goes.

I had dinner with Dan and Karen on Friday. Okay, dinner and beer. Dan left the Helpdesk a couple of years ago. He just got a job with the Unemployment Office as one of their Veteran helpers. He helps veterans find work. He was full of good job hunting information. This would have been very helpful to me if I was looking really hard for a job. I've been out of work for two months. I have ten more months of pay before I have to start bringing in some extra money. My friend Tom, from the Book Awards, is now the "oldest temp in New York." He just finished with a part in a play. It sounded like fun. Tom's even older than I am, as amazing as that seems. He's started a whole new life in New York after leaving The Times last year. Way to go Dan and Tom. You give hope for this old lady.