Good Reads - Fiction

Sure Bets

F/BANIS
Banis, V.J. - This Splendid Earth - 1978, 439p.
It's 1830 France and Anne has just wed the older Jean, Baron de Brussac in an arranged marriage. Anne prefers the handsome guardsman, Emile, and knowing this, Jean drags her from Paris (and Emile) to his wine country estate. As the years pass, the couple learns to become vintners as well as lovers. When tragedy strikes, Anne and her son flee to California with little money hoping the cuttings from their vines will renew their future. Romance and danger flow through this saga and on to its two sequels, The Earth and All It Holds and San Antone.

F/BINCHY
Binchy, Maeve - Light a Penny Candle - 1982, 542p.
It is wartime in London; ten-year-old Elizabeth is sent to her mother's school chum in Ireland. Eileen and Sean O'Connor have a ten-year-old girl as well as three other children. The two girls become close friends even though their backgrounds and upbringings are wildly different. Their lives over the decades, their passions, marriages, tragedies, and triumphs...evoke magically and poignantly the ever-wondrous process of human growth and change. Ireland and London, from the forties to the sixties, are lived by the reader as well as by the characters as they celebrate ordinary life. These are sharply drawn, memorable characters one can care about. Absorbing, entertaining read.

F/BUSHNELL
Bushnell, O.A. - Molokai - 1963, 539p.
The novel takes place on the island of Molokai in the late 1800's. Beginning in 1866, boatloads of leprosy patients were taken there; a place with no doctor, no hospital, no hope. In 1873 Fr. Damien de Veuster volunteered to work with the people at the leper settlement. From these events, O.A. Bushnell has fashioned a work of fiction designed to bring this sad event in the history of Hawaii to life. Historically correct, fast-moving and emotionally involving, this is a good read for anyone interested in history, drama, and a measure of suspense, all rolled into one excellent and very readable novel.

SF/F/CARD
Card, Orson Scott - Ender's Game - 1985, 357p.
Ender Wiggin enters Battle School at age six, the best hope the Earth has to stop the Third Invasion of the buggers, an alien species that almost destroyed the Earth during their last attack. Through simulated battle and video games, Ender and the other carefully chosen child geniuses train to become the future commanders of Earth's armies. Will they graduate in time? A thoughtful, exciting tale of a boy's coming of age in an adult world he doesn't fully understand, but is prepared to endure.

F/CHAMBERLAIN
Chamberlain, Diane - Secret Lives - 1991, 406p.
Eden Swift Riley, divorced actress, mother of a young daughter, returns home to her archaeologist Uncle Kyle, to research the life of her mother, a children's author and archaeologist, who lived and died in a cave when Eden was a small child. When Kyle gives her the first of her mother's journals to help her understand the troubled woman, Eden is drawn into the drama of a woman consumed by demons. The journal is one of a dozen notebooks which covers her life from 13 to 31. From the first page of Kate's diary, Eden and the reader are gripped by her life—with a mother who forbids reading and is considered crazy by the neighbors who whisper that she should be locked up, a father who stands back while this is happening but sneaks books to her, and her brilliant brother Kyle who helps her write her journal. Kate retreats to the sanctuary of her cave at the age of thirteen, and this refuge is the object of Eden's intense scrutiny in her attempt to understand her mother. Ben Alexander has been hired by Kyle to help Eden in her archaeological excavation of the cave. Ben is fresh from a year-and-a-half in prison, shunned by all of his friends except Kyle who asks him to show Eden how to catalog what she finds when she excavates her mother's cave. The mystery of Ben's imprisonment holds the reader's interest as much as the content of Kate's journals. This novel of secrets is a wonderful read which will lead the reader to other novels by Diane Chamberlain, an award-winning novelist.

F/CHILDRESS
Childress, Mark - Crazy in Alabama - 1993, 383p.
Peejoe, a successful screenwriter living in San Francisco, gets a call from his Aunt Lucille who wants a part in the movie he's writing. Her request launches Peejoe into remembering the series of incredible events in both his and his aunt's lives in the summer of 1965 "when everybody went crazy in Alabama," and Peejoe was 12. Peejoe and his brother were orphans being raised by their grandmother when, one day, Aunt Lucille dropped over to announce that she'd murdered her husband (she poisoned Chester with D-Con, then sawed off his head with an electric knife) and that she was off to California to be the actress she always wanted to be. She intends to take along with her, in a Tupperware bowl, the severed head of her husband; but she doesn't intend to take her six children with her. She's leaving them with her mother. As the law pursues her across the country (Lucille is reminiscent of a one-woman Thelma and Louise), Peejoe and his brother back home are taken by their overburdened grandmother to stay with an undertaker uncle. Peejoe inadvertently gets involved in the local civil rights movement which has erupted that summer and drawn national media attention. As Lucille eludes capture and makes it to Hollywood, Peejoe ends up on the cover of Life magazine. The adventures of Lucille are the outrageous side of this novel; the trials and tribulations of young Peejoe are its poignant side. This is a novel of social consciousness and coming of age filled with plenty of quirky Southern characters.

M/COOK
Cook, Thomas H. - Flesh and Blood - 1989, 302p.
Frank Clemons, ex-police officer turned P.I., is hired by a clothing designer to find a relative of her brutally murdered elderly assistant, Hannah Karlsberg. Frank discovers that very little is known about Hannah's younger years, but eventually puts together the pieces of the life of the young sweatshop worker turned union leader, her move to South America, and her re-emergence in an elite company in NYC. Intrigued by Hannah's character, Frank does not stop when he has found a relative, but continues on to find her murderer and discovers a secret that could destroy his client. He is aided by Farouk, a man of mystery, whom he meets at a bar he frequents. Some surprising twists and turns in Frank's investigation end up putting his life in danger. This is a good mystery whose solution spans many years and two continents. Clemons' meticulous collection of the details of Hannah's past builds suspense and creates a surprising ending.

F/COOKSON
Cookson, Catherine - A Grand Man - 1954, 152p.
Set in the tenement section along the Tyne River docks in England, this is the first in the "Mary Ann" series, which chronicles the life of Mary Ann and her family from the time she is eight years old until she is married and has children of her own. Here we meet Mary Ann, her father (a grand man), her mother and the rest of the family, as well as the multitude of people who reside in the Tyneside area. In turn funny, touching, sad, and above all optimistic, this is the story of a little girl who never gave up on her hard-drinking father, who always knew that someday he would pull himself together and show everyone what a Grand Man he was. A good read for those who enjoy novels of family life without a dark side. If readers like the first one, they will ask for the series.

F/CUSSLER
Cussler, Clive - Inca Gold - 1994, 537p.
Dirk Pitt and his buddy Al Giordino are caught up in a battle against an international ancient artifact smuggling ring when they are called in to rescue two archaeologists in a sacrificial pool in the Andes. Guided by the inscription on an artifact, the smugglers are intent upon finding a huge treasure hidden by the Incas. But Pitt discovers another artifact that leads to the treasure as well, and the race begins to see who will find the treasure first. When Pitt's girlfriend, a Congresswoman, is abducted by the smugglers, more than the treasure is at stake. Lots of action, suspense, plot twists, and historical information on the Incas create a page-turning adventure story spiced with good-humored ribbing between Pitt and his buddy Al.

F/DAVIDSON
Davidson, Lionel - Kolymsky Heights - 1994, 361p.
Intricate plotting, strong characterizations, elegant writing, and a detailed setting intertwine in this satisfying novel of scientific espionage. A Soviet scientist sends coded pleas for assistance to a British colleague and asks that former Rhodes scholar Johnny Porter be sent to northern Siberia to bring out an extraordinary secret. As the novel unfolds, layer by layer, revealing Porter's elaborate preparations for this espionage coup, tension mounts until that final, inevitable chase across the frozen Bering Strait.

F/DEMILLE
DeMille, Nelson - The Charm School - 1988, 533p.
What happened to Greg Fisher? He was traveling through Russia and just disappeared! While looking for the missing tourist, Colonel Hollis, an Air Force Officer, Lisa Rhodes, an embassy liaison, and the chief of the CIA's Moscow station discover a shocking KGB secret—The Charm School. Situated outside of Moscow, this school trains Russian agents to dress, speak, and even think like Americans. When they graduate, they infiltrate every facet of the U.S. with the KGB calling the shots. With heart-stopping suspense, the three Americans try to expose this horror before they are gunned down.

M/DUNNING
Dunning, John - The Bookman's Wake - 1995, 352p.
Ex-cop Cliff Janeway now runs a bookstore for rare and used books in Denver. His peaceful life is disturbed when an old friend finagles him into going after a young woman who has jumped bail and flown to Seattle. When Janeway meets Elinor Rigby, a young and very talented book scout, he is drawn to her love of old books and her fear of a "darkman" who is stalking her. As he becomes involved in her life and with her family, he becomes entangled in the mysterious deaths of the Grayson brothers who owned a publishing company known for its limited editions, and especially for the last book Darryl Grayson did of Poe's The Raven. The five book collectors who may have owned that book have all met violent deaths. Is the mysterious darkman killing people to find this rare book? The twists and turns of the plot keep Janeway and the reader guessing right to the last page. Any reader who loves books will be drawn into this mystery with its original plot, interesting publishing arcana, and rare book information. Dunning makes bookbinding spellbinding.

F/EDGERTON
Edgerton, Clyde - Walking Across Egypt - 1987, 216p.
Mattie Rigsbee is a 78-year-old widow living in Listre, North Carolina. She takes Wesley Benfield, an illegitimate adolescent and juvenile delinquent, under her wing. Good food can cure anything, so Mattie thinks. Her relationship with Wesley will change them both. This novel is filled with humorous descriptions which may make the reader laugh out loud. It is easy to read, very entertaining, and has a message if one cares to find it.

M/EVANOVICH
Evanovich, Janet - One for the Money - 1994, 280p.
Stephanie Plum, an out of work discount lingerie buyer, is out of money, with her car being repossessed. Desperate for money, she becomes an apprehension agent for those who jump bail. Cousin Vinnie, bail bondsman, gives her some easy ones, then she is assigned to Joe Morelli, a cop accused of murder. Stephanie knows Joe from the old neighborhood and figures to settle some old personal scores with him as well. Evanovich has a wonderful eye for detail, a tangible sense of place, and hilariously funny characters. This is a fast-paced, gritty mystery. It has a raunchy, gutsy dialogue that leaves you waiting for her next book.

F/FAST
Fast, Howard - The Immigrants - 1977, 389p.
This is the first book in a captivating series of the Lavette family and the lives they touch. Beginning in 1888 with the birth of Daniel Lavette on a ship from Italy to America, it is the story of an immigrant family who endures hardships to grow into one of the most powerful clans of 20th century America. After the San Francisco earthquake kills his parents, Daniel takes his father's fishing boat and builds a shipping empire. Fast draws the reader in with fascinating characters against a backdrop of actual historical events. The next book in the series is The Second Generation.

F/GARBER
Garber, Joseph R. - Vertical Run - 1995, 307p.
This fast-paced thriller is the story of 47-year-old executive Dave Elliot. He's a Vietnam veteran who, on a typical morning, jogs to work through the streets of Manhattan after kissing his wife goodbye. On the 45th floor of the fifty-story ultramodern skyscraper where he works, he showers in his office suite, dresses for work, and settles in with a cup of coffee to begin his day. But today is far from typical. Today everyone Dave meets will try to kill him. Why does his friend, the company president, enter Dave's office with a gun in his hand? To his horror and confusion, Dave finds that his coworkers, friends, and family members want him dead. He can't imagine why. Armed gunmen guard every exit of his building, and a team of professional mercenaries are searching floor by floor. The suspense and terror mount as Dave finds his skills as a soldier coming back to him. He has to outwit and elude his pursuers and try to discover why everyone is out to get him. Intrigue and non-stop action are the mark of this novel up to its breathtaking conclusion and surprising ending.

F/GUTERSON
Guterson, David - Snow Falling on Cedars - 1994, 480p.
When Kabuo Miyamoto is accused of killing local fisherman Carl Heine, the residents of San Piedro Island are forced to face their prejudices. The trial, set in 1954 in the Puget Sound area, brings back the bitter memories and the past sins of when the islanders watched their Japanese neighbors being carted off to internment camps during World War II. Ishmael Chambers, war veteran and owner of the local newspaper, chronicles this seamless blend of murder trial, love story, morality play, and regional history.

F/HELLENGA
Hellenga, Robert R. - The Sixteen Pleasures - 1994, 327p.
In this stylish, literate first novel, 29-year-old book conservator Margot Harrington travels to Florence in the wake of devastating floods and is assigned to help salvage the book collection of a Carmelite convent that is also under siege from the male-dominated Church hierarchy. While there, she discovers a way to help the convent stay afloat, embarks upon several love affairs, and gains some insight into the choices which lie open for her future. A "feminist" book without rancor, it is funny, poignant, erotic, thought-provoking, and full of pleasurable surprises.

M/HESS
Hess, Joan - Malice in Maggody - 1987, 178p.
First in a series. Introduces Ariel (Arly) Hanks, the first woman sheriff in Maggody, Arkansas, pop. 852. Arly has left New York City and a disastrous marriage to return to her home town and recuperate. However, small town politics and the constant (friendly) sniping and interference of her mother and her mother's best friend give her cause to wonder if she has made a mistake. Then a missing EPA investigator, an escaped convict, and the murder of the convict's wife make Arly's "quiet" job a little riskier than she had expected. Mixed with these important cases are the little matters of the local bootlegger and the constant wrangling of the town's favorite lovebirds. Could the whole town be involved in the possible kidnapping of the EPA man? With the mayor and city council probably involved, Arly has reason to wonder if finding the missing man will cost her her new job. This series of humorous mysteries is usually a hit with those who like their violence offstage, their language relatively mild, and a little humor mixed in with the murder investigation. It also offers a continuing supply of books for those who find they enjoy the citizens of Maggody.

F/HIAASEN
Hiaasen, Carl - Native Tongue - 1991, 325p.
Public relations consultant Joe Winder finds himself in the sorry role of spin doctor for an environmental public relations gimmick gone wildly amok when he takes a job at a theme park owned by a former mob snitch. This is an irreverent, bawdy romp through steamy Southern Florida that takes equally wicked pot shots at theme parks, tourists, phone sex, the Mob, greedy developers, activists of any sort, and contemporary culture in general. Not for the easily offended, but especially great fun to listen to as a recorded book on an automobile trip from here to Florida.

F/HOFFMAN
Hoffman, Alice - Turtle Moon - 1992, 255p.
After her divorce, Lucy Rosen and her incorrigible 12-year-old son Keith move from Long Island to Verity, Florida. When Karen Wright is murdered, Keith runs away with her baby daughter. After Julian Cash, Verity-born and fierce enough to paralyze bees with fright, joins the search for Keith and the baby, all their lives change. This sure bet is a quick read; the story develops at a rapid pace. Hoffman is a quality author, who is being assigned in high school and college classes, and she is an able storyteller. Turtle Moon is part mystery, part suspense, and part romance.

F/HUNTER
Hunter, Stephen - Dirty White Boys - 1994, 436p.
This is a compelling story of three deadly convicts who escape from a maximum security prison. These "dirty white boys" go on a relentless killing spree through Oklahoma and North Texas until they encounter Sgt. Bud Pewtie of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol. Sgt. Pewtie confronts the criminals time and again until a final bloody face-off threatens to tear his personal life apart. Throughout the novel, Hunter cleverly humanizes the convicts in small ways that also display the horror of their actions. As terrifying as In Cold Blood and harrowing as The Fugitive, this book should especially appeal to readers who enjoyed The Silence of the Lambs by Thomas Harris and Along Came a Spider by James Patterson.

F/HURSTON
Hurston, Zora Neale - Their Eyes Were Watching God - 1937, 207p.
For the first forty years of her life, Janie did what everyone told her to do. She married Logan Killicks when her grandmother told her to. When Jodie Starks passed by, he was going to the first town founded by Blacks. He intended to make a big man of himself there. He told Janie to go along, and she did. After she found herself widowed, she met Tea Cake, the sweetest man on earth, a man who asked Janie what she wanted, a man who wanted Janie to show her beauty, not hide it from everyone except himself. This is a modern classic beyond the obvious authors and titles. The southern Black dialect may be difficult for some readers.

F/ISHIGURO
Ishiguro, Kazuo - The Remains of the Day - 1989, 245p.
A poetically told, moving and thought-provoking story of mistaken loyalty, self-sacrifice and loneliness, which was the winner of England's Booker Prize in 1989. As he reaches retirement, Stevens, a very proper English butler, in service to the selfish Lord Darlington, reflects on all that he has given up in his life, including a chance at marriage and a family, through his mistaken loyalty to his employer. This is a good read for someone who appreciates excellence in writing as well as a good story. Not a light read, but ultimately a fulfilling and satisfying one.

F/JOHNSON
Johnson, Greg - Pagan Babies - 1993, 312p.
Clifford and Janice, both on the fringe of their 3rd grade Catholic school class, instantly become soulmates. Little did they know at that time, but they would share a tender, and at times tumultuous, lifelong relationship. Each rebelling against religious and familial restraints, they venture off on their separate paths, only to reconnect many times throughout the years. Finally, after many years, the two reach a beautiful and compassionate understanding of each other and also of their bond. This book always disappears off the "Books too good to miss" cart and was one of the nicest reads I've had in a long time. It will appeal to baby boomers who were born in the sixties or slightly earlier, especially those raised Catholic. Also, those looking for good contemporary fiction will more than likely enjoy this work.

F/KINGSOLVER
Kingsolver, Barbara - Animal Dreams - 1990, 342p.
Set in the contemporary Southwest, Animal Dreams is a wonderful story of family relationships, Native American issues, as well as the struggle many women face while trying to balance familial, societal and career roles against those of a more personal nature. Codi, the narrator, returns home to her village after abandoning a promising career in medicine. She then assumes the role of caretaker for her stubborn father while also rekindling a romance with a former lover. Feeling as though the world is moving on without her, Codi eventually learns to value her current contributions while at the same time reconciling her various emotional commitments. While Animal Dreams will appeal mainly to women, anyone who enjoys good literate fiction or those looking for a novel set in the southwest will certainly thank you for recommending this remarkable piece of fiction!

F/KINGSOLVER
Kingsolver, Barbara - Pigs in Heaven - 1993, 343p.
The sequel to The Bean Trees and set three years later. Taylor, a twenty-something-year-old woman from Kentucky, has adopted Turtle, the Native American child who was abandoned outside a roadside bar in Oklahoma. When Annawake Foukiller, an attorney for the Cherokee Nation, finds out about the adoption, she tries to reverse it on the grounds that it violates the Indian Child Welfare Act. This is a moving and heartfelt story that forces a child to choose between a mother's love and the Cherokee culture in which she was born.

F/LADEW
Ladew, Donald P. - Stradivarius - 1995, 291p.
An American soldier finds a Stradivarius in a farmhouse wall in Korea. Emotionally destroyed by the war, he returns home to a small town in West Virginia with the violin but virtually abandons society except for his friendship with his young orphaned nephew Ailey. Ailey has a gift for playing the violin and is eventually offered a scholarship to study in New York City. But Ailey and the adults who care about him in West Virginia and New York must bridge cultural, geographic, and religious differences if he is to achieve his rightful place in the music world. A counterpoint to Ailey's story is that of the Stradivarius' three-century journey from Italy to Korea. The story comes to a climax when Ailey is given the Stradivarius, but the rightful owners claim it is theirs. This is a gentle read of relationships, growing up, accepting differences between people and cultures, facing difficult moral choices, and the binding power of music.

F/LOFTS
Lofts, Norah - A Wayside Tavern - 1980, 376p.
In 384 A.D. it was known as the One Bull wineshop, serving Romans and Icene, and facing invasion from Vikings. Here Paulus, Gilda and Sweyn became the first of the Gilderson family, a family that was to see the One Bull and the nearby church of St. Cerdic through many changes over the decades to come. By 1348, the One Bull had grown to become an Inn, and the church had added an abbey. Although the two structures stood side by side, a space between them was carefully preserved. In 1540, the abbey was dismantled. The Inn was enlarged but also fell on hard times in the early 1600s as the growth of the village encouraged the building of competing Inns. Over the next 300 years the fortunes of the Inn and its owners saw many ups and downs until the 1970s when the Inn seemed well on its way to becoming a high-class restaurant. In this delightful historical novel, the One Bull Inn is as much a character as its various owners. Norah Lofts has written many historical novels, a number of which feature a building as one of the characters.

F/MACAULAY
Macaulay, David - Motel of the Mysteries - 1979, 95p.
The ancient kingdom Usa was destroyed and civilization buried following a catastrophe in 1985. In 4022 amateur archaeologist Howard Carson and his assistant discover the Motel of the Mysteries (aka Motel Toot "n" C'mon), complete with a dazzling array of "treasures" ranging from the Great Altar (a television set) to the Ceremonial Burial Cap (a shower cap). After reading this illustrated parody of the excavation of the tomb of Tutankhamen, neither archaeology nor hotel rooms of the late 20th century will ever seem the same.

F/MAHFUZ
Mahfuz, Najib - Palace Walk - 1990, 512p.
Nobel Prize winner Mahfouz follows the struggles of a middle class Egyptian family at the end of World War I. Al-Sayyid Ahmad is a merchant who runs his family strictly by the Koran, but he roams Cairo's entertainment district at night seeking his own pleasures. His wife and daughters are cloistered at home, while his sons live in fear of their father. Yasin, the oldest son, lusts after the female servants. Fahmy becomes an activist in the nationalist movement, while the youngest son Kamal befriends British soldiers. The girls bicker and dream of husbands, while their submissive mother runs the house. When wife Amina tries to venture outside for a walk, Ahmed throws her out of the house. As the British proclaim the protectorate, all of the families' lives are changed. The everyday life of these people is richly portrayed in the first volume of a trilogy which follows three generations of Ahmad's family. This beautifully written and very accessible novel reveals a society that was very different from Western society, but it is the compelling characters and the vivid portrait of Egyptian society that will attract readers to this sweeping family saga.

F/MARTIN
Martin, David - Back Bay - 1979, 437p.
Revolving around the fate of a tea set created by Paul Revere for President Washington, this story features adventure, intrigue, romance, history, and the lure of lost treasure. The set disappeared in 1814, and evidence unearthed by scholars suggests the prestigious Pratt family may have been responsible. Now, eight generations later, members of the Pratt family race against time to recover the tea set before the old landmarks in Boston's Back Bay fall prey to urban renewal.

F/MAUPIN
Maupin, Armistead - Tales of the City - 1978, 373p.
Tales of the City is one of a humorous six-volume series chronicling life in America during the late seventies and early eighties. Focusing on the eccentric residents of 28 Barbary Lane in San Francisco, Tales of the City explores many of the moral and social issues that were confronting Americans through humorous vignettes. Originally written as daily newspaper columns, this book is a quick, delightful read that will appeal to most readers, especially women, gay male readers, and baby boomers who came of age during that period. If your readers are like me, they will race through the first five volumes only to come to the horrific realization that after reading the sixth and final volume, there is no more! Withdrawal syndrome at its finest. Tales of the City is truly a sure bet for most readers.

F/MCBAIN
McBain, Ed - Downtown - 1989, 302p.
While in New York City, orange grower Michael Barnes' identification and money are stolen by a phony cop and his rental car by the good Samaritan who is driving him to the police station. From there his evening gets worse—a body is found with his ID nearby. With his picture shown on the news as a murderer, Barnes, along with beautiful limousine driver Connie Kee, races around New York just ahead of the police, trying to make sense of the fiasco his life has become.

F/MCCAMMON
McCammon, Robert - Boy's Life - 1991, 440p.
The year Cory Mackenson was eleven, things were changing in his small Alabama town. His father lost his job at the local dairy and witnessed what he believed to have been a murder, but no one believed him. As Cory's father struggled to make a living, Cory was full of the excitement of his new, very special, bike, his new friends from the African-American side of town, and his triumphant encounter with the town bully. Ultimately, Mr. Mackenson's worries and Cory's adventures come together to reveal an evil presence in their town. This is a novel rich in interesting characters, strong emotion, adventure, and suspense, with a hint of the supernatural drifting around the edges. It appeals to men and women of all ages.

F/MICHENER
Michener, James - The Source - 1965, 909p.
This multigenerational saga begins in the cave dwellings of Makor, a watering place known as the Source, and continues to modern Palestine, as Michener layers many periods of history relating the story of a family of Ur, their gods and wars as well as their loves.

F/MORGAN
Morgan, Marlo - Mutant Message Down Under - 1994, 187p.
When an American woman agrees to accept an award from a group of Australian Aborigines, little does she know that she is about to embark on a three-month walkabout with the tribe. She begins a journey which is spiritually enlightening, as well as physically daunting. Within the tribal hierarchy, she finds that each member contributes his or her talents, forming a group which meshes in perfect harmony—an example for all mankind. The reader who wants inspirational fiction may find this the perfect novel. Many of the qualities found in Native American literature are duplicated in Mutant Message Down Under. This is a novel which many readers find has a message for humanity.

M/MOSLEY
Mosley, Walter - Devil in a Blue Dress - 1990, 219p.
In Los Angeles of 1948, Ezekial "Easy" Rawlins is a young, tough African-American veteran who has just been fired from his factory job for talking back to a foreman. Because he needs money to pay his mortgage, he reluctantly agrees to locate a beautiful French woman named Daphne Manet for a white businessman. Daphne likes to frequent the jazz clubs of Watts, and she likes taking other people's money. As Easy searches for her and the money she took, he discovers murder, brutish white cops, racism, and black "brothers" who are none too friendly when Easy asks about the mysterious woman in the blue dress. He soon finds himself uncovering murder, cover-up, and corruption of government officials. The gritty atmosphere of segregated Los Angeles and the ugly face of racism are realistically portrayed in this original hard-boiled mystery. Lovers of the hard-boiled detective novel will be drawn into this unusual and well-written book. The violence and plot twists will keep fans turning pages, but the compelling characters and the portrayal of a different side of L.A. make this a refreshing and original spin on the usual hard-boiled mystery that will fascinate all fans.

F/NEVILLE
Neville, Katherine - A Calculated Risk - 1992, 403p.
When Verity Banks' boss nixes her proposal to beef up the bank's computer security system, she decides to prove its vulnerability by moving money from the wire transfer system around inside the bank where it can't be found. Her mentor, Dr. Zoltan Zorr, discovers her scheme and offers a bet. She will steal from the wire transfer system, and he will steal from the New York and American stock exchanges. Whoever can make thirty million dollars from investing the stolen funds is the winner. But unsuspected by Verity, someone else scheming at the bank could cause all their plans to come crashing down.

F/NEVILLE
Neville, Katherine - The Eight - 1988, 550p.
An ancient formula of unimagined power lies hidden in a fabulous, jeweled gold and silver chess service. The service, a gift to the Emperor Charlemagne, is hidden for centuries at Montglane Abbey in France, and sought, in a vast and secret game, by men and women who desire its power. The Eight follows the parallel stories of Mireille de Remy, a young novice at the Abbey, as she seeks to guard the Service from those who would abuse its power and of Catherine Velis, a modern young woman who suddenly finds she too must play the game, or die. Mireille's tale begins with the dawn of the French Revolution and touches many of the great statesmen, mathematicians, and musicians of the century, including Talleyrand, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Catherine the Great. Catherine Velis finds herself drawn into the world of competitive chess and into wild adventures across deserts and seas as she seeks the secret of the Montglane Service and control of the game. Filled with historical detail, chess lore, suspense, action, and mystery enough to please anyone, The Eight is a big and immensely satisfying book.

M/PETERS
Peters, Elizabeth - Crocodile on the Sandbank - 1975, 273p.
When Amelia Peabody's father dies, the only appropriate status for a Victorian lady is married. Even at the over-ripe age of 32, this is possible, if one possesses a substantial enough fortune. But Amelia Peabody isn't interested in being appropriate, or in taking care of any more men. She wants to travel. In Rome, when her hired companion becomes ill and must return to England, she befriends young Evelyn Barton-Forbes who has been abandoned, if not seduced, to the streets of Rome by a fortune-hunting cad. Traveling on to Egypt, Amelia and Evelyn meet the rude and impossible archaeologist Radcliffe Emerson and his younger brother, Walter, travel up the Nile, explore a tomb—and find themselves pursued by its inhabitant! Any romance reader knows that when a woman as indomitable as Amelia meets a man as intractable as Emerson, sparks will fly. But humor, more than romance, is the center of this book. Amelia tells her story in an extremely arch and Victorian style, and Amelia herself is almost a caricature of the Indomitable English (person) Abroad. Crocodile on the Sandbank has the additional advantage of being first in a series. In audiobook format, this and other titles in this series are excellent material for family vacation listening.

F/PLAIN
Plain, Belva - Random Winds - 1980, 496p.
Martin Farrell was born the day of the flood, the day his brother and two sisters died when the wall of water outran them. They had been so well-loved by their parents who had such high hopes for their futures. Enoch, his father, was a country doctor, visiting patients in his horse and buggy. Sometimes Martin accompanied him on his visits, and it was on one such visit that he met the two Meig girls: Jessie Meig, sweet-faced and petite, with dark curly hair—and curvature of the spine; and her sister, Mary Fern, with curls like those on a Greek statue, and extraordinary pure blue eyes—something dreaming in her expression. This is a love story: of Jessie's love for Martin, of Mary Fern's love for art and herself, of Martin's love for Mary Fern and his medical profession. Random Winds is an unforgettable story of choices, of love and loss over three generations of a family. This is Belva Plain's second novel.

F/PROULX
Proulx, E. Annie - The Shipping News - 1993, 337p.
A recently widowed newspaperman relocates to his ancestral Newfoundland with his two young daughters and elderly aunt in this National Book Award/Pulitzer Prize-winning novel. Quoyle must try to overcome his lack of social skills and come to terms with building his life from the ground up while coping with an amazing assortment of oddball characters who work and live in Killik-Claw. At times hilarious, at times heart-wrenching, most serious readers will find the story of Quoyle's growth from hapless to happy a thoroughly satisfying read.

F/SAVAGE
Savage, Tom - Precipice - 1994, 290p.
The house is named Cliffhanger, a bit of heaven perched high on a hill in a Caribbean paradise. It is the home of a perfect family—Kay, a lovely rich widow; Adam, her handsome second husband; and Lisa, her teenage daughter. To the outside world, they appear to have it all until Diana arrives, a beautiful secretary-au pair. Suddenly everyone in the house is on the edge of a place where nothing is as it seems, and no one is what they pretend to be. This gripping suspense novel is reminiscent of Mary Higgins Clark and the early books of Sidney Sheldon.

F/SHELDON
Sheldon, Sidney - The Other Side of Midnight - 1973, 440p.
A beautiful movie star, a naive young woman, and a handsome RAF pilot are caught in a web of passion and revenge. Packed with memorable characters, this novel gives us glamorous settings, an exotic atmosphere, a heart-stopping suspense-packed courtroom scene, and an aura of credibility. The Other Side of Midnight is the hour when the pendulum moves from love to revenge, from passion to terror. Sheldon does know how to spin an engrossing tale, one you won't want to put down.

F/STEWART
Stewart, Mary - The Gabriel Hounds - 1967, 320p.
When Cristabel (Christy) Mansel sets out on a tour of Syria and Damascus, her only plans are to enjoy herself and do some sightseeing. Then in the street called Straight in Damascus she runs into her cousin Charles and learns that her Great-aunt "H" (Harriet) is still living in her crumbling palace, Dar Ibrahim, in the High Lebanon. As she waits for Charles to arrive in Beirut, Christy decides to see a little of the countryside. On the return trip, the road passes Dar Ibrahim, and Christy gives in to her curiosity and decides to try to see Aunt H. Little does she realize that this impulse will place both her and Charles' lives in danger as they realize that things may not be what they seem in the palace. Is the person Christy has seen really her great-aunt, and what is the true relationship between "The Lady's" retainers? As they fight for their lives, Christy and Charles realize that their feelings for each other have changed and deepened. Perhaps their parents were right in assuming they would one day marry—that is, if they survive. This book is satisfying to historical, suspense, and romance readers and, although not part of a series, Stewart has written numerous others in a similar style.

F/TEVIS
Tevis, Walter - The Queen's Gambit - 1983, 243p.
What if a young American girl had the talent to compete with the greatest chess masters in the world? A shy and frightened eight-year-old orphan, Beth Harmon survives on the tranquilizers the orphanage uses to keep its students tractable. Then, she discovers the janitor, in his room in the basement, puzzling over a strange game. Drawn to the game in a way she doesn't understand, she doggedly insists that he teach her...and her life is changed forever. No knowledge of chess is needed to be drawn to the suspense of competition, the bliss of victory, and the power and joy of Beth's obsession. Readers who enjoy triumph over adversity will love Beth. Anyone who loved Rocky should love Beth. But no one who reads The Queen's Gambit will ever forget her. The unabridged audiobook recording of this title is especially haunting.

F/WALKER
Walker, Mildred - Winter Wheat - 1944, 306p.
Ellen Webb lives in Montana on her parents' farm. The farm, the small towns, her father, and her Russian immigrant mother are all Ellen knows and loves until she spends a year at the university in Minneapolis. There, Ellen meets a boy from a sophisticated, urban family. Seen through his eyes, Ellen's life begins to look rough and barren. This is Ellen's story of how she grows from seeing with the eyes of a child to seeing with the eyes of a strong, mature woman. This novel appeals to adolescents through to senior citizens in its depiction of a loving but troubled young woman struggling to grow up.

F/WATSON
Watson, Larry - Montana - 1948, 1993, 175p.
David Heyden is twelve-years-old in the summer of 1948. He is the only son of a small-town sheriff. His mother works as a secretary in the Register of Deeds office, leaving David in the care of the young housekeeper, Mary Little Soldier, an Hienkpapa Sioux woman. When Mary becomes very ill with a cold and fever, Uncle Frank, war hero and the town doctor, is called against Mary's wishes. From this incident unfolds a deeply moving tale about the abuse of power, coming of age in rural Montana, betrayal of trust, and choice between family and justice. This beautifully written novel will continue to haunt you for a long time. It is eminently rereadable.

F/WELDON
Weldon, Faye - The President's Child - 1982, 231p.
A dashing senator is running on a platform of family values. Imagine the surprise and horror of his aides when they discover that there is a six-year-old boy living in England that is the spitting image of the senator and who is the product of a brief affair. How far will these aides go to win the election and cover up the "love child"... threats? ... kidnapping? ... murder? This short thriller starts slowly and builds to goosebump tension.

F/WOODS
Woods, Stuart - Imperfect Strangers - 1995, 271p.
Sandy Kingsolving is a wealthy, attractive man on his way from London back to his home in New York. His father-in-law and boss has just had a massive stroke and his death may lead to serious financial consequences for Sandy. At this vulnerable moment in his life, he strikes up a conversation with Peter Martindale, a friendly stranger sitting next to him. Peter proposes they murder each other's wives. Sandy agrees, but soon changes his mind. Sandy tries in vain to stop the plans, but Peter has no intention of letting him leave his side of the bargain unfulfilled. An excellent takeoff on the book by Patricia Highsmith and the classic Hitchcock film, Strangers on a Train.

F/WOUK
Wouk, Herman - The Winds of War - 1971, 885p.
Thrown together on the vortex of World War II are the Henrys, an American naval family; the Jastrows, including beautiful Natalie and her Jewish expatriate uncle; and Alistair Tudsbury, a British correspondent and his WAAF daughter, Pamela. Filled with memorable characters and heart-stopping suspense, this novel begins in Hitler's Germany of the late '30s and winds up with Hiroshima in the sequel, War and Remembrance.

F/WYND
Wynd, Oswald - The Ginger Tree - 1977, 294p.
In 1903, 20-year-old Mary MacKenzie sets sail for China from Scotland to marry a British officer stationed in Peking. An unhappy marriage leads her to an adulterous affair with a Japanese count. Ostracized by her husband, Mary is separated from her children and ultimately travels to Japan where she not only learns to survive but is able to establish herself as an independent businesswoman.

Prepared by members of the Adult Reading Round Table, a group of librarians from various library systems in Illinois.