50.) Powers of the Sword by Wilbur Smith – Centaine Courtney and her son, Shasa Courtney, are intertwined with Lothar de la Rey, and son, Manfred de la Rey, between the World Wars in South Africa. Good. (Dec. 30/00)

49.) O Jerusalem by Laurie R. King – Sherlock Holmes and Mary Russell travel around Palestine in 1919, in disguise, as part of an operation to unmask an intrigue under way in the Holy Land. Much better than the last one. Paperback buy. (Dec. 26/00)

48.) Tricks by Ed McBain – Another 87^th Precinct procedural set on Hallowe’en. Excellent as usual. Paperback buy. (Dec. 21/00)

47.) The Marching Season by Daniel Silva – Michael Osbourne returns to the CIA to help track down rogue Northern Ireland Protestant terrorists trying to break the Easter Peace Agreement. Fast paced / more character development than most thrillers / certainly paperback buy. (Dec. 19/00)

46.) The Lion’s Game by Nelson DeMille – A lone Libyan assassin bent on revenge for the 1986 bombing of Libya is pursued by John Corey – great plot. Hardcover/Paperback buy. (Dec. 8/00)