Firebreak: a Parker novel by Richard Stark

In ten words or less: Hit man targets Parker while Parker plans art heist.

Review: While Parker is deciding whether to take on a job at a Montana hunting lodge--stealing valuable paintings from a secret vault with state-of-the-art security--someone has sent a hit man to his home. Parker got to the hit man first, but when news of the failed hit got back to the employers, another hit man was sure to follow.
Parker needed to settle the score with whoever was hiring the shooters, but he was stsill undecided about whether to throw in with the gang planning the art heist. The guy who'd be responsible for disabling the alarms, Lloyd, was an amateur, a white-collar criminal who was hung out to dry by his former partner, and he wanted revenge.
Why bother? Fast faced, page-turning action from Stark, aka Donald Westlake. Parker is always one step ahead of both the other bad guys and the cops.

Comeback: a Parker novel by Richard Stark

In ten words or less: Parker's partner pulls a double cross; Parker settles the score.

Review: It promised to be a big payday for Parker. The target was a Christian Crusade at a local arena--cash only, credit cards and checks not accepted. Parker's friend Ed Mackey had set it up with Liss, who had an inside man. But as they made their way out with the duffel bags full of money, Liss pulled a double cross. The cops are looking for Parker and Mackey, and so is the head of security for the Crhistian Crusade, a tough as nails ex-Marine who takes the robbery personally.

Why bother? Another great mystery from one of the masters of hard boiled crime.

Saturday at the Farmers' Market

Lots of squash available today at the market. How about a pot of soup now that the weather has turned cool?

Squashed Chicken Soup

4 pounds chicken pieces
13 cups water
10 cups of butternut squash, peeled and cubed
1 bunch of kale, chopped
6 carrots, chopped
2 large onions, chopped
2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme

Add chicken and water to stockpot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover and simmer for one hour or until chicken is tender.

Remove chicken from broth and strain broth and skim off the fat. Return the broth to the pot and add the vegetables. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cover and simmer for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.

Remove the chicken from the bones and cut into bite size pieces. Add chicken, salt, pepper, and thyme to soup and heat through.

Makes 5 1/2 quarts of soup or 14 servings.

Love, Lies and Liquor by M.C. Beaton

In ten words or less: Agatha joins James on romantic holiday, complete with body on beach.

Review: Agatha Raisin has convinced herself she is better off without her ex-husband, James Lacey. After all, she has her detective agency to keep her busy, and the meetings of the Carsley Ladies' Society. When James asks her to go on holiday with him, Agatha relents. The destination is a secret, but with visions of tropical beaches and other exotic sights--James is a travel writer--she backs bathing suits and sundresses.

When they arrive in Snoth-on-Sea, Agatha is not amused. The seedy resort town, remembered fondly by James from his childhood holidays, has seen better days. The hotel is barely habitable, and Agatha quarrels with an unpleasant woman in the dining room. When the body of the quarrelsome woman is discovered on the beach, Agatha is considered a prime suspect by the local police.
Why bother? Agatha Raisin is self-centered, outspoken, and vain. If you knew a person like her in real life, you'd run the other way when she heads in your direction. She's the boss from hell. But her ability to interfere in police investigations while alienating those around her make for entertaining reading. There are twenty two books in this series to date.