Good Reads - Fiction

What We're Reading

2002 Archives

December

FICTION/CABOT
Cabot, Meg - The Boy Next Door
In this humorous novel told through e-mails, New York gossip columnist Melissa Fuller is stunned to discover her neighbor, Mrs Friedlander, in a coma after an attack in her apartment. Melissa is desperate to find Mrs Friedlander's nephew, Max, to take care of his aunt's pets while she's in the hospital. Max, however, has no desire to help his aunt out in her time of need, although he's eager to get all her money if she dies. He would rather romance supermodel Vivica in Key West. Max enlists his friend, John Trent, to pretend to be him and move into his aunt's apartment. Melissa and John then fall in love, but what will happen when Melissa finds out she's been deceived? For readers who enjoyed Confessions of a Shopaholic and other funny novels about young single women looking for love. Lora Bruggeman

FICTION/CRUSIE
Crusie, Jennifer - Faking It
Reformed con man Davy Dempsey comes to town determined to recover the $3 million his former lover has stolen from him. Muralist Matilda Goodnight must guard the secret hidden in the basement of her family's art gallery while taking care of her eccentric relatives: a mother who spends her time solving Double-Crostics while drinking vodka, a sister with a dual personality, and a precocious teenage niece with her own unique style. When Matilda and Davy collide while hiding in a closet, each in the process of retrieving something of value, sparks fly and they join forces to meet their goals. An amusing romp of a story with appealing, well-drawn characters. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/INMAN
Inman, Robert - Captain Saturday
Nicknamed Captain Saturday by his wife and son for his love of weekend yardwork, local TV weatherman and celebrity Will Baggett truly loves his life. In his Raleigh, North Carolina, community where he is always on call to do volunteer work, he seems loved and respected. All changes for the Baggett family though when the TV station is sold and Will is fired. And as so often happens in real life, other unfortunate incidents also occur, sending Will's marriage and life in general into a tailspin and he is forced to examine his past before he can repair his life and move forward. Lynn McCullagh

FICTION/L'AMOUR
L'Amour, Louis - Ride the River
L'Amour chronicled the adventures of the Sackett family from their arrival in America through their journeys west in more than a dozen novels. Here, young heroine Echo Sackett, an excellent horsewoman and even better than her brothers with a rifle, travels from the hills of Tennessee to Philadelphia to claim an inheritance. Confronted by men who would kill to keep her from her from her gold, she finds she must outwit and outfight them. L'Amour's books are for everyone who likes good stories, historical details, and action in every chapter.

MYSTERY/LIPPMAN
Lippman, Laura - The Last Place
The seventh in the series featuring Baltimore PI Tess Monaghan. Tess is hired by a foundation for domestic abuse to find out if there are any irregularities in some unsolved cases. Although it sounds fairly straightforward, this investigation turns out to be anything but that. While researching, she gets help from a retired Toll Facilities cop who has been obsessed with one case since it occurred. As their investigation progresses, similarities suggest that these are not random murders but the work of a serial killer. Soon, it is apparent that they are right, and Tess becomes his next target. You might want to start this series with the first, Baltimore Blues. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/WHITLOW
Whitlow, Robert - The Trial
Small-town attorney Kent ("Mac") McClain, still despondent over the accidental deaths of his wife and two sons nine years earlier, feels that suicide is his only choice. Fate steps in when Mac can't refuse to defend Peter Thomason, accused of murdering Angela Hightower, daughter of the most influential and powerful family in town. Early in his career, Mac had experience going against the Hightower's high-powered attorneys, making him the best lawyer to defend Thomason. Christian fiction writer Whitlow uses his characters' strong religious beliefs and the intervention of prayer to power the twists and turns in this legal thriller. Marianne Trautvetter

November

FICTION/ANDERSEN
Andersen, Susan - Head over Heels
When her sister is murdered, Veronica Davis returns to her hometown of Fossil, Washington to take care of her six-year-old niece and reluctantly fills in as a waitress at her family's bar, the Honky Tonk. Before she can sell the bar she must work cooperatively with Cooper Blackstone, a sexy ex-Marine bartender who has his own secret agenda for being in town. This contemporary romance has it all with its snappy dialogue, bit of suspense, and lots of humor. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/COOK
Cook, Claire - Must Love Dogs
Recently divorced, 40-year-old preschool teacher Sarah Hurlihy decides to begin dating again. Unfortunately, the first personal ad she answers was placed by her widower father. Her sister Carol insists Sarah place her own ad and efficiently does it for her, even taping the replies to Sarah's ad. Sarah's dates, her trials as a preschool teacher, her large Irish family, and a St. Bernard puppy named Mother Teresa are humorously and affectionately delineated in this novel of a woman adjusting to her new life supported by her loving, but often exasperating, family. Sue O'Brien

MYSTERY/CROMBIE
Crombie, Deborah - And Justice There Is None
In this eighth addition to this excellent mystery series, Scotland Yard's Superintendent Duncan Kincaid and Inspector Gemma James must solve the case of a beautiful young woman named Dawn Arrowood, murdered outside her posh Notting Hill home. That she was pregnant with her lover's baby complicates the case, as do the similarities between this and a homicide which occurred years earlier. Gemma and Duncan's personal relationship is also put to the test, as they work together to quickly bring the killer to justice. If you haven't read this series before, you might want to start with the first in the series, A Shared Death. Sheila Guenzer

MYSTERY/ DAMS
Dams, Jeanne M. - The Body in the Transept
The first book in a cozy British mystery series featuring recently widowed Dorothy Martin, retired teacher from Indiana. If the first Christmas as a widow in a new place wasn't trial enough, stumbling over a body after a lovely Christmas Eve service in the picturesque Sherebury Cathedral, was enough to send Dorothy reeling. This was certainly not an auspicious way for Dorothy Martin to begin the holiday season at her new home in the Village of Sherebury, England. But, instead of "wallowing in self pity," it was quite a shock after all, Dorothy decides the best course is to investigate the murder herself, even if it does annoy the (rather handsome, and quite charming) Chief Constable Alain Nesbitt. Terri Williams

FICTION/DICKEY
Dickey, Eric Jerome - Friends and Lovers
Humor fills this satisfying and perceptive exploration of friendship that will resonate with all fans of realistic romantic fiction. When life-long friends Debra and Shelby meet long-time friends Leonard and Tyrel late one night, romance blossoms—for one couple at least. Alternating chapters told from each character's viewpoint provide a rich portrait of this group of 20-something African Americans in present day Los Angeles. Joyce Saricks

FICTION/HOAG
Hoag, Tami - Dark Horse
Elena Estes, a former undercover sheriff's detective, is quietly living on her friend's horse farm when Molly Seabright, a 12-year-old, wants to hire her to find her missing sister. It's the height of the horse show season and readers get a good look at the dark side of the posh horse set beyond the show ring. A horse dies, Erin Seabright is missing, and a groom is murdered. Elena has to connect all these events together before she becomes the next victim. Marci Hosni

MYSTERY/MCCALL SMITH
McCall Smith, Alexander - The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency
Wayward husbands, a doctor with two personalities, a father concerned about his teenage daughter having a boyfriend—these are the cases of detective Precious Ramotswe. Precious started her agency in Gaborone, Botswana with the money from selling her father's cattle. Knowing nothing about detective work she sends away for a detecting manual and turns to it for guidance in her many cases. This novel, the first in a series, is filled with charming details, such as Precious driving around in her white van and drinking bush tea. Her investigative technique, by turns humorous and wise, is similar to Miss Marple's and other cozy mystery detectives. Lora Bruggeman

October

FICTION/BERG
Berg, Elizabeth - Open House
Short, yet compelling story of a happily married woman, Samantha, whose husband suddenly leaves her and her eleven year old son Travis. How she copes with this devastating announcement, from a shopping trip to Tiffany's to a call to Martha Stewart, is both humorous and poignant. Finally, Sam is forced to confront reality. A series of quirky borders and odd jobs help pay the bills and get her through her loneliness and pain. Change comes slowly but eventually Sam comes to enjoy her newfound freedom and to realize what she truly wants. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/CHABON
Chabon, Michael - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
Samuel Klayman first meets Josef Kavalier when his mother shoves him over in his bed and tells him to make room for his cousin from Nazi-occupied Prague. This is the beginning of their adventures—both in their lives and in the comics. Together, they successfully create a comic book character, the Escapist. The Escapist roams the globe helping the oppressed fight evil. Sam and Josef also have their own adventures that include magic, escapes, Antarctica, love, and WWII. This book has it all, and once you start you can't put it down until the last page is read. Marcia Hosni

FICTION/DALLAS
Dallas, Sandra - Chili Queen
Sandra Dallas tells a colorful story of New Mexico in the 1880s with feisty characters and plot twists that shed new light on what life was like for women in the west. A chance encounter on a train from Kansas to New Mexico starts a friendship between Addie French, madam of the Chili Queen whorehouse, and Emma Roby a mail-order bride. When Emma's husband-to-be leaves her stranded at the station, she seeks refuge at the Chili Queen. Not until a customer of Addie's, bank robber Ned Parker, informs Emma that this is not a boardinghouse but a brothel does Emma realize where she is. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/ENGER
Enger, Leif - Peace Like a River
A rich family tale narrated by 11-year-old Reuben Land. It's the early 60s and Rube, his older brother Davy, and younger sister Swede live cozily with their unusual father Jeremiah in rural Roofing, Minnesota, until a series of events finds 16-year-old Davy on the run, accused of murder. The family's mission to find outlaw Davy leads this quirky family to confront issues of loyalty and faith. Terri Williams

FICTION/FERGUSON
Ferguson, Will - Happiness
Sleazy book editor Edwin de Valu needs to come up with a surefire hit and soon. Fortunately for him the office mail clerk has just delivered a self-help tome, entitled "Live! Love! Learn!" and Edwin hopes this is his ticket to success. However, people find the book's advice so useful that the country's economy goes into a tailspin. For example, smokers are able to quit so the tobacco industry is failing; no one is depressed anymore so pharmaceutical companies and doctors are falling on hard times. This is a wonderful satire of the self-help business offering many laughs and perhaps even insights into the American obsession with happiness. Lynn McCullagh

FICTION/KING
King, Cassandra - The Sunday Wife
Dean (Willodean) Lynch nervously arrives at her husband's new parish in Crystal Springs, Florida, where, once again, she doesn't quite measure up to the church ladies' expectations of a preacher's wife. Saved by her friendship with the rich, beautiful, but irreverent, Augusta Holderfield and her dulcimer music, Dean begins to question her marriage and the choices she has made in her life, further alienating her self-centered husband and his congregation. Then tragedy strikes, turning the world upside down for Dean and those closest to her. Sun, sea, and sky promote healing as Dean examines her life and makes choices that reflect the person she has become. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/LECLAIRE
LeClaire, Anne D. - Leaving Eden
Sixteen-year-old Tallie dreams of a life other than the one she lives in Eden, Virginia—attending high school and doing chores at the Klip-N-Kurl beauty shop. Her mother, Dinah Mae, ran away to Hollywood four years ago but came back unexpectedly and never spoke of her experiences there. However, she planted dreams of stardom in Tallie's head and when Glamour Day is announced at the beauty parlor, Tallie's imagination goes into overdrive and she begins to plan her escape to California. Tallie spends the summer thinking of her mother, writing observations in her "Rulebook of Living," and catching the eye of Spy, the guy she's always loved. Can Tallie make her getaway? And if she does, will she find what she expects at the end of the journey? Lora Bruggeman

SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/MCDEVITT
McDevitt, Jack - Infinity Beach
Nearly 30 years after her clone-sister disappeared on a space mission, Kim Brandywine becomes intrigued with that failed mission. What if they really did succeed in making first contact? As she investigates, she discovers a conspiracy to cover up what really happened, and the more she knows, the greater the danger in which she finds herself in this intriguing Science Fiction adventure set near the end of the third millennium. Joyce Saricks

September

FICTION/BALL
Ball, David - China Run
Allison Turk, her stepson, and the baby she hopes to adopt are on the run. Allison arrived in China to pick up her daughter, but she was informed that she had been given the wrong infant. Allison decides to take matters into her own hands, hoping to get assistance from an American consulate thousands of miles away. Her journey leads her through the waterways and countryside of China, where she does not know the language, laws, or customs. If she is to succeed, it can only be with wits, determination, and the assistance of a few individuals who knowingly or unknowingly put themselves in harm's way. Lora Bruggeman

FICTION/ELLIS
Ellis, Virginia - The Wedding Dress
A heartwarming story of three sisters in Virginia after the Civil War. Their parents have died and left the girls a poor farm. Julia is widowed, Victoria's husband is missing in action presumed dead, and youngest sister Claire fears she'll never marry since all the young men are gone. To focus on something positive and happy, the girls decide to make a wedding dress for Claire. With no male prospects in mind, the girls still plan a wedding. When neighbors hear of the good news they donate lace, pearl buttons and good wishes. As everyone knows weddings bring out the best in everyone and this is no exception! Lynn McCullagh

FICTION/GULLEY
Gulley, Philip - Home to Harmony
Fans of Jan Karon's Mitford Years series should enjoy this first in a series written by Quaker minister Philip Gulley. These heartwarming and faith-inspiring stories are written from the point of view of Sam Gardner and chronicle his first year as pastor of Harmony Friends Meeting. Sam grew up in Harmony, and this gives him insight into the quirky characters. After reading these stories, you will understand why he was happy to return there to raise his own family. Marianne Trautvetter

F/RUSSO
Russo, Richard - Empire Falls
In this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, you come to know the people of Empire Falls, Maine. Miles Roby has been running the Empire Grill for 20 years. What keeps him in this small blue-collar town, long abandoned by the logging and textile industries that provided its citizens with opportunities? Is it Tick, his 16-year-old daughter; Janine, his ex-wife; his brother; or the many townspeople that seem to need him. Along with the townspeople, readers will have their hearts broken, learn to cope with adversity, and find humor in everyday life. Marcia Hosni

FICTION/PARSONS
Parsons, Julie - The Courtship Gift
When Dublin entomologist Anna Neale returns home one evening to discover her husband David dead from a bee sting, her world begins to unravel. First, there are the terrible truths about David's secret life with debts and drugs. Then we readers watch as she unwittingly becomes caught up in a truly dangerous relationship with the killer. This is a slower-paced but gripping story of psychological suspense for fans of Barbara Vine and Ruth Rendell. Joyce Saricks

FICTION/SMITH
Smith, Noble - Stolen From Gypsies
In this delightful tale of whimsy, Godfrey Verranzo, stolen from his gypsy parents, adopted by a kindly gentleman, cursed by fate, in love with a beautiful maiden, pursued by a magician, accompanied by a hapless (but loveable) servant, relies on his true goodness and pure soul to over-come all odds and reach a fairy tale ending. Terri Williams

FICTION/SMOLINSKI
Smolinski, Jill - Flip-Flopped
Volcanologist Keeley Baker-Kekuhi has her hands full. She's divorcing her irresponsible, though charming, husband who has left her for a hula dancer. Kohala, the extinct volcano she is studying, is beginning to show signs of life; and she has met a handsome Brit who promises to introduce her to her teen idol Davy Jones. She is also a single mom to her four-year-old son Dante and guardian of her eccentric divorce lawyer's iguana. Keeley juggles divorce proceedings, parenthood, and her career as her love life heats up along with the volcano in this funny, warm story, related first-person by the charming Keeley. Sue O'Brien

August

FICTION/FREY
Frey, Stephen - The Takeover
Andrew Falcon is on his way to really make it big on Wall Street. He has just become the youngest partner in the prestigious firm of Winthrop, Hawkins & Company. Granville Winthrop himself is his mentor. But Falcon wants more and decides to leave and start an internet company. The company fails due to Winthrop and The Sevens, a secret society of powerful Harvard alumni. Without any other opportunities Falcon jumps at the chance to plan a takeover. Falcon realizes almost too late who's really behind the takeover, what they want, and what they will do to get it. Frey weaves a fast paced novel that will keep you involved until the last page. Marcia Hosni

MYSTERY/HILLERMAN
Hillerman, Tony - The Wailing Wind
Once again Hillerman turns to the vast Navajo Reservation for this, the 15th book in the mystery series featuring Lt. Joe Leaphorn (retired) and Sgt. Jim Chee of the Navajo Tribal Police. The discovery by rookie Bernie (Bernadette) Manuelito of a slumped body in an abandoned pick-up prompts Leaphorn to re-examine an old murder case that revolved around a lost gold mine, while Sgt. Jim Chee and Officer Manuelito wiggle around the FBI, and each other, to solve the current murder. Terri Williams

FICTION/HUNTER
Hunter, Evan - The Moment She Was Gone: A Novel
Andy Gulliver's twin sister Annie has been running away since she was sixteen and had a crush on a boy she had met on an earlier trip to Sweden. Her mother, twin Andy, and older brother Aaron have tried to cope with this behavior, but this new disappearance is driving them to re-examine the past. Over the last twenty years Annie has returned from her adventures with lots of great stories, but her family is finally piecing together bits of information that make them rethink their own actions and reactions. Evan Hunter, who also writes as Ed McBain, has written a powerful story of a family that has possibly allowed one of their members to come to serious harm because of their refusal to face reality and make decisions. Lynn McCullagh

FICTION/JACKSON
Jackson, Mick - Five Boys
Bobby is introduced to a strange new life when he is moved from London to Miss Minter's house in Devon to avoid the bombings of World War II. There he meets a group of five boys, who at first bully and then befriend him. Together, they encounter unique townspeople and engage in adventures that illustrate the otherworldliness of life in the English countryside during the war. Lora Bruggeman

FICTION/MATTHEWS
Matthews, Carole - For Better for Worse
The soon-to-be divorced Josie Flynn meets rock journalist Matt Jarvis on the plane to New York where she is traveling to be a bridesmaid at her cousin Martha's wedding. The two hit it off, but Matt inadvertently stands her up, leaving him frantically trying to find Martha's wedding reception-somewhere in the New York City area. Josie decides Matt is just another jerk and prepares to enjoy her cousin's wedding, even though the groom bears an unfortunate resemblance to a shar-pei. Misunderstandings, coincidences, an ex-husband, an old boyfriend, bridal jitters, and a duck all add complications to this humorous take on life, love, and weddings. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/MONAHAN
Monahan, Brent - The Jekyl Island Club
Off the coast of Georgia lies Jekyl Island and the exclusive Jekyl Island Club. Used as a vacation home for some of the world's wealthiest families, including the Vanderbilts, the Rockefellers, and J.P. Morgan, privacy is of the utmost importance. However, when a suspicious death occurs at the club, Sheriff John LeBrun, and his Deputy Chief Warfield Tidewell begin an investigation, much to the chagrin of Mr. Morgan. In spite of the resistance from club members to ignore the murder ,they aggressively pursue the culprit. Interesting details of the area and the lives of the members plus a complex plot make this a compelling and entertaining mystery. Monahan's second book is the Sceptred Isle Club. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/PACKER
Packer, Ann - The Dive from Clausen's Pier
Twenty-three-year old Carrie Bell is engaged to her high-school sweetheart, Mike Mayer, but their relationship is already rocky, even before a diving accident leaves him paralyzed. Unsure that she still loves him enough, Carrie finds herself smothered in the tragedy and tries hard to be faithful and supportive of Mike. When she can't cope anymore, Carrie leaves Madison, Wisconsin without saying good-bye and drives to New York City where she winds up on the doorstep of a high school friend. In New York , Carrie tries to find herself and discovers who Carrie is without Mike or their old friends. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/RAY
Ray, Jeanne - Step-Ball-Change
An unusually quiet dinner for Caroline and Tom, married for more than 40 years, is interrupted first by their daughter's announcement that she will marry—not the friendly fellow lawyer but the very rich scion of the local nobility—and then by Caroline's sister Taffy's call that her husband has left her and she's coming, along with her dog, for an extended visit. Filled with understated humor and charming sentiment, this is a story about families, marriage, and sisters, and, of course, dancing, that should make even the most cynical smile. Joyce Saricks

July

FICTION/CHESSMAN
Chessman, Harriet Scott - Lydia Cassatt Reading the Morning Paper
This fictional account of the time Mary Cassatt's terminally ill sister Lydia spent posing for five pictures gives insight into their close relationship. The narrative, told through the voice of Lydia, paints as vivid a story as do Mary's paintings on canvas. Glossy reprints of the paintings scattered through the book add to the appeal. Marianne Trautvetter

MYSTERY/FIFFER
Fiffer, Sharon - Killer Stuff
Jane Wheel, laid off from her advertising job and recently separated from her husband, begins to turn her hobby as a "picker" at garage and estate sales into a new career. When returning her neighbor's Suburban after a day of scouting antiques, Jane finds Sandy Balance murdered in her own home. On the short list of suspects because she was seen kissing Sandy's husband, Jane, along with her friend Tim, works to clear her name. Details about antiques and the life of a picker, a suburban Chicago location, and engaging characters make this debut mystery a pleasure to read. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/HITCHCOCK
Hitchcock, Jane Stanton - Social Crimes
Set against the backdrop of New York high society, this fascinating novel of murder and revenge centers around Jo Slater, a New York socialite. After befriending a young French countess Monique and opening her home to her, Jo soon finds she is having an affair with her husband. After Lucius suddenly dies, Jo is shocked to find out he has made a new will leaving everything to Monique. Jo, now penniless, struggles to keep her place in her circle of wealthy friends, but soon realizes she is slowly being sabotaged by the woman who now has her life. Her hatred of Monique grows steadily as does her plan for revenge. A great summer read. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/LASSER
Lasser, Scott - All I Could Get
After living near the poverty level for a number of years, Barry Schwartz has gone back to school for his MBA and has now moved his family from their beloved Colorado to New York and joined the wealthy wannabees He has landed a job on Wall Street as a trader and is settling in for a few years—just long enough to earn some real money for himself and his family. His dream is to move back to Colorado with Gretchen and their son and daughter and resume the good life. But will his new life with all the perks and new money suck him in permanently? A real page-turner. Lynn McCullagh

MYSTERY/LEVINE
Levine, Laura - This Pen for Hire
Lovelorn Howard Murdoch hires Jaine Austen to write a letter to the object of his affection, aerobics instructor Stacy Lawrence. Unfortunately, when Howard shows up at Stacy's apartment for their date, he finds her bludgeoned to death with her thighmaster and he is arrested for murder. Jaine believes Howard is innocent and decides to do some investigating of her own, interviewing everyone who knew Stacy. Soon Jaine finds that being an amateur detective spices up her otherwise boring life. With its comic twists and offbeat characters, this is a great bet for readers of humorous cozy mysteries. Lora Bruggeman

FICTION/PICOULT
Picoult, Jodi - Perfect Match
Nina Frost, an assistant district attorney in Maine, knows all too well that the legal system does not always protect abused children. When she and her husband Caleb find out that their priest had molested their own child, Nina takes matters into her own hands to protect her son and puts both the legal case and her own life in jeopardy. Jodi Picoult leaves you intrigued until the last page. Marcia Hosni

FICTION/SILVA
Silva, Daniel - The English Assassin
In this sequel to The Kill Artist, Silva again pits hero Gabriel Allon, sometimes Israeli agent and accomplished art restorer as well as restorer of people's souls, against Swiss bankers who aided the Nazis and kept many Jewish art treasures for themselves. Allon, sent to Switzerland to restore a Raphael, finds the owner dead and himself under suspicion of murder. He treats this case as he does the pictures he repairs, tracking back clues and information to discover crimes from WWII—and the criminals still unpunished. In exacting retribution Allon finds himself and the young violinist under his protection in mortal jeopardy from the hit man of the title—a man Allon himself trained. Details of art restorations as well as war crimes enhance this cat-and-mouse espionage tale, filled with bleak landscapes and intelligent action reminiscent of Forsyth's classic The Day of the Jackal and LeCarre's spy thrillers. Joyce Saricks

FICTION/SLOVO
Slovo, Gillian - Red Dust: A Novel
The Truth Commission, South Africa's attempt to reconcile its bloody past with its hope for the future is explored in this moving tale. The Sizela family just wants to bury their son Steve who disappeared after his arrest in 1985, during the bloody days of South Africa's civil war. The South African Truth Commission is the family's last, their only, hope. In exchange for amnesty for his killer, they hope to learn the location of their son's remains from the man who tortured and then killed him. But the Truth Commission requires full disclosure of crimes in exchange for amnesty, which means the only witness, Alex Mpondo, must relive the months of his own hell and torture to force the murderer's full confession. Terri Williams

June

FICTION/ANDREW
Andrew, Miles Keaton - Final Arrangements
After waiting patiently for twelve years Casey Knight arrived, dressed in his black suit, to interview for a job at Morton-Albright Mortuary in Angel Sholes, Florida. It was the best day of his life, the day he got his dream job. Not only does he fit right in, the family embraces him right away, but it soon becomes clear to everyone that he has the "gift," and well, that's just icing on the cake. A humorous, touching tale full of quirky characters and unusual situations, but be prepared, there are graphic descriptions of the funeral business. Terri Williams

FICTION/ANDREWS
Andrews, Mary K. - Savannah Blues
Antiques and good food, not to mention the Savannah ambience, combine in this delightful comedy-cum-mystery featuring antiques picker Eloise "Weezie" Foley. Divorced from her social-register husband, she still lives in the carriage house on the property they bought, uneasily co-existing with him and his mistress in the "big house." When Weezie discovers the mistress' dead body, she becomes the chief murder suspect. Assisted by her high school boyfriend, now a famous chef and increasingly interesting, she must try to clear her name and get a new start on her life. Readers of Jennifer Crusie's offbeat romances or Janet Evanovich's mysteries will find much to appreciate here. Joyce Saricks

MYSTERY/BLACK
Black, Cara - Murder in the Sentier
Cafes, creperies, and the ancient streets of Paris are the backdrop of this engaging mystery. Private detective Aimee Leduc takes on an investigation of her own to determine the fate of her long lost mother. However, two murders stand in her way. Can Aimee pull together the pieces of the puzzle and is she prepared to face the truth about her mother's dark past? Lora Bruggeman

FICTION/CHAZIN
Chazin, Suzanne - Flashover
FDNY Fire Marshal Georgia Skeehan investigates the deaths of two former members of the powerful One-B Board, the board of doctors who decide whether or not firefighters receive the coveted line-of-duty pensions. However, their records of rejections have made them unpopular with the rank and file. During her investigation, Georgia's best friend Connie disappears, and Georgia's boyfriend is found in Connie's blood-spattered apartment with no memory of recent events. Realistic details of fire investigation add to this fast-paced pageturner. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/DEAVER
Deaver, Jeffery - Stone Monkey
The newest entry in the Lincoln Rhyme series deals with illegal Chinese immigrants smuggled into the country. When a ship carrying the immigrants is blown up, only two families survive. A man known as the "Ghost," a mysterious smuggler of human cargo, is determined to hunt down and kill the families who can identify him as the person responsible for the bombing. Tension mounts as Rhyme, a paraplegic, and his partner Amelia Sachs race against time to find the two families before this ruthless killer does. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/MOORE
Moore, Christopher - Lamb: The Gospel According To Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
The angel Razel has brought back to life Levi bar Alphaeus, Biff to his friends, to tell the story of Jesus. Biff was Joshua's (Jesus) best friend from the time they were six-years-old. Biff tells us what happened in the missing years, from Jesus' early childhood until age 30, and how, through many adventures, Jesus learned to be the Messiah. Their adventures include magic, healings, good guys and bad, and of course Mary of Magdala. Through the eyes of Biff you see Jesus as a real boy trying to grow and understand his destiny. Marcia Hosni

FICTION/SHIELDS
Shields, Carol - Unless
What do you do when your 17-year-old daughter drops out of college and panhandles on a Toronto street corner with a sign around her neck that reads "goodness?" Successful writer Reta Winter not only questions her daughter's decision to renounce her middle-class life, but also dissects her own past in hopes of finding a reason for her daughter's behavior. Through this process Reta makes changes regarding her literary career and her beliefs as a feminist. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/TRILLIN
Trillin,Calvin - Tepper Isn't Going Out
This is the tale of Murray Tepper and his search for the perfect parking space in Manhattan. This quest hearkens back to the days when he had to move his car on a regular basis, depending on the parking zone he had last found. Nowadays Murray has a garage for his car, but old habits die hard. Now he simply enjoys parking his car and sitting there while reading his newspaper. This, however, causes him problems when drivers are searching for parking spaces, and there sits Murray, just reading. Infuriating! A very humorous look at a contemporary urban phenomenon. Lynn McCullagh

May

FICTION/CONNELLY
Connelly, Michael - City of Bones
When a dog digs up a human bone, LAPD detective Harry Bosch is called in to investigate. The bone turns out to be from a murder more than twenty years ago and Bosch has to try and solve the case despite a cold trail and media sensationalism. To complicate matters even more, Bosch becomes romantically involved with a rookie cop which sparks lots of uncomfortable gossip throughout the police force. This fast-paced mystery is a worthy addition to Connelly's popular Harry Bosch series. Lora Bruggeman

FICTION/EDGHILL
Edghill, India - Queenmaker
Most everyone is familiar with the bible stories of David and Goliath and later the reign of King David, but very little is known about David's queen, Michal. Edghill has woven a fast-moving story about Michal, the daughter of King Saul, who first marries David when she is only thirteen, is deserted by him and married to another, only to be reclaimed by David after ten years have passed. Readers of The Red Tent might especially enjoy the story, told from Michal's viewpoint, of this little known woman of the Bible. Lynn McCullagh

FICTION/GOLDSMITH
Goldsmith, Olivia - Pen Pals
Deceived by her lawyer boyfriend and her boss, Jennifer Spencer is convicted of insider trading. During her incarceration at Jennings Correctional Institution, Jennifer meets many women and through them we learn how they survive with humor and dignity. The institution is facing privatization, and Jennifer uses her experience on Wall Street to help the women of Jennings Correctional Institute turn their facility into a more caring environment. Marcia Hosni

FICTION/JOYCE
Joyce, Graham - Smoking Poppy
In this page turner a middle-aged man's search for his daughter in Thailand is by turns delightfully humorous and horrific. Dan, a middle-aged electrician, leaves London, accompanied by his evangelical son Phil and loud-mouthed pub friend Mick, for Chiang Mai, Thailand, to find Charlie, Dan's daughter, who has been jailed for trafficking in heroin. A less likely trio you might not find traipsing through Thailand's nightlife, but each man becomes a vital link when the search takes on the hellish turns of a nightmare, as the trio attempts to extricate themselves and Charlie from Thailand, and the poppy's, grip. Terri Williams

FICTION/LAWSON
Lawson, Mary - Crow Lake
Set in rural Canada, this elegantly written and compelling story of four children who are orphaned after their parents die in a tragic auto accident is narrated by Kate, the oldest girl and a successful zoologist. Moving between the past and present, Kate recounts their story. Her brothers, Matt and Luke, intent on keeping the family together, give up their dreams as they struggle to take care of their younger siblings. When Kate is invited to a family reunion for Matt's son's 18th birthday, she realizes she must comes to terms with her past before she embarks on a future with the man she loves. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/MICHAELS
Michaels, Fern - Kentucky Rich
Michaels continues the saga of the Coleman family from her popular Texas and Vegas series in this new trilogy. When her father threatens to send her illegitimate daughter to an orphanage, Nealy Coleman leaves the Virginia horse ranch where she grew up and drives until her truck breaks down in Kentucky. Maud, the owner of the Diamond horse ranch, befriends Nealy, recognizes her talent with horses, and later adopts her, leaving her a wealthy woman in her will. Nealy honors Maud's memory by picking and training a Kentucky Derby winner and adding to the ranch's wealth and prestige. Marianne Trautvetter

MYSTERY/PALL
Pall, Ellen - Corpse de Ballet
Terpsichore, the muse of dance, is the first muse to be featured in the projected series of nine mysteries. Regency Romance writer Juliet Bodine is suffering from writer's block and facing a deadline, so when her friend, choreographer Ruth Renswick, begs for help translating Dickens' Great Expectations into ballet, Juliet agrees. However, the few hours turn into weeks, and the mysterious death of one of the dancers leads to an investigation, as well as a renewed acquaintance with an old college friend, now a police detective. This cozy mystery includes humorous dialog, a budding romance, and delightful plot snippets from Juliet's latest manuscript. Joyce Saricks

April

FICTION/DEW
Dew, Robb Forman - The Evidence Against Her
In small town Washburn, Ohio, three babies are born on the same day in 1888—the Ides of March. Robert and Warren grow up together and thanks to Lily's leadership, they are destined to be best friends all through their childhood and beyond. When Lily marries Robert, the entire town is falsely convinced that Warren is heartbroken. What ultimately changes their lives and relationship is Warren's marriage to much younger Agnes. Dew writes a fascinating story of families and lives intertwined. Lynn McCullagh

FICTION/ GOODMAN
Goodman, Carol - The Lake of Dead Languages
In this compelling novel of mystery and intrigue, recently divorced Jane Hudson returns to her alma mater Heart Lake School for Girls to teach Latin. Soon after her arrival she begins receiving pages from her lost senior year journal. The tragic events of that year, the death of three friends, seems to be repeating itself with her present day students. Jane realizes that she needs to truly understand what happened in the past in order to avert further tragedy. The excellent use of mood and atmosphere adds to the appeal of this author's first novel. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/ HOFFMAN
Hoffman, Alice - Blue Diary
To his neighbors in the small New England town of Monroe, Massachusetts, Ethan Ford appears to be a model husband, father and citizen. Everyone is shocked, including his wife, when he is arrested on suspicion for the rape and murder of a teenager 15 years earlier in Maryland. Using lyrically descriptive prose Hoffman provocatively examines the differences between good and evil and how things are not what they appear to be. Marianne Trautvetter

MYSTERY/MANKELL
Mankell, Henning - One Step Behind
Inspector Kurt Wallander returns from vacation to find that three people have gone missing after a Midsummer's Eve celebration and that a fellow policemen has been murdered. Are the two cases connected? Wallander and his co-workers in Ystad, Sweden, investigate who might have committed these crimes. Soon it becomes clear that a serial killer is on the loose. Mankell writes a multi-layered police procedural similar to Ruth Rendell and Peter Robinson. Lora Bruggeman

SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/RUSCH
Rusch, Kristine Kathryn - Stories for an Enchanted Afternoon
An engaging selection of eleven short stories by award-winning author Rusch. From the impact of technology in the future to contemporary mystic phenomena, the author explores relationships (especially women's), within the family as well as society, as human kind reacts or adapts to consequences of the unexpected. Terri Williams

FICTION/SEIDEL
Seidel, Kathleen Gilles - Please Remember This
Tess Lanier's famous writer/mother committed suicide when Tess was only 3-months-old. Raised by her grandparents who had left Kansas for California during the Dust Bowl years, Tess promised her grandfather she would someday visit the area where he and her grandmother were raised. She doesn't really plan to stay, but then somehow this seems the perfect place to pursue her own interest in fabrics and old lace and to reconcile what she knows about her mother with her discoveries there. Meanwhile, her friend Ned Ravenel unearths his own past and hers, as he fulfills his childhood dream of excavating a ship sunk in the 1850s. Domestic details, past and present, strong characters, and sensitive storytelling characterize Seidel's novels. Joyce Saricks

BIOGRAPHY/STEINBACH, A.
Steinbach, Alice - Without Reservations
Baltimore Sun reporter Alice Steinbach takes a leave of absence from her job to try to find the missing parts of herself—"the woman who loved art and jazz and the feeling that an adventure lurked just ahead." She decides to find her adventure through travel. Very descriptive and evocative of the places she visits—Paris, Oxford, Italy—Alice travels on her own, meeting people, experiencing new places, and taking classes and trips. Each chapter begins with a postcard from Alice to herself in this satisfying portrayal of a woman relearning how to experience life. Sue O'Brien

March

MYSTERY/BANNISTER
Bannister, Jo - Echoes of Lies
Brodie Farrell is good at her job. She can find an antique lamp someone desperately wants, or she can find a missing person. When she is approached to help find a man who duped her client out of a large sum of money she is happy to accommodate. Successful in her quest, she soon learns however that she has been part of a horrific plan to torture an unsuspecting victim. Brodie feeling responsible, becomes involved with the victim in order to learn who really hired her and why. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/COLGAN
Colgan, Jenny - Talking to Addison
Twenty-something florist Holly Livingstone moves in with college friends, Josh and Kate, when her clean-freak flatmates drive her over the edge. Soon, Holly is swooning over Addison, the group's fourth roommate. Holly pronounces him totally gorgeous despite the fact that he works on his computer all day, never leaves his room, and is really into Star Trek. Is it possible to have a real relationship with someone like Addison? Holly finds out in this very humorous tale of love and friendship. Lora Bruggeman

FICTION/COOVADIA
Coovadia, Imraan - The Wedding: A Novel
From Bombay, India, to Durban, South Africa, the early days of Ismet and Khateja Nassim's marriage are recounted, with fondness and humor, by their grandson. It may have begun as a straight-forward train ride for Ismet, but when his eyes fell on the beautiful Khateja, he was; head over heels, smitten, off the train, and after some bargaining, married to Khateja in less than 24 hours. Khateja was not so enthralled, furious might be a better description, furious and determined to make him pay, and pay dearly. Ismet's persistence and Khateja's resistance in the early days make this a delightful story. Terri Williams

FICTION/DIAMOND
Diamond, Diana - The Babysitter
When Massachusetts congressional hopeful Gordon Acton and wife Ellie decide they need a nanny to help out with their busy lives, Gordon thinks a minority babysitter would help his image. They hire Hispanic Theresa Santiago who is able to insinuate herself into their lives more than they could have imagined. By the time they realize just what she has accomplished, they suspect she may be blackmailing them. Diamond poses real questions of race and class while telling a fast-paced suspenseful story. Lynn McCullagh

FICTION/KELTON
Kelton, Elmer - Slaughter
Set in Kansas, Oklahoma Territory, and Texas just after the Civil War, this leisurely-paced, elegiac Western recounts the destruction of the great herds of buffalo that filled the plains. Following both the white buffalo riders and the Indians, Kelton writes sympathetically of each culture and its dependence on the buffalo, each the victim of some men's violence and greed. A heartfelt look at a bygone time. Joyce Saricks

FICTION/MICKLE
Mickle, Shelley Fraser - The Turning Hour
Seventeen-year-old Bergin Talbot wakes up in the emergency room after an unsuccessful suicide attempt. Bergin's family had no idea she was so troubled since she appears to be an exemplary teenager. Psychiatrist Dr. Cone helps Bergin return to her normal life, coming to terms with her family and peers. Mickle writes in alternating chapters from the point of view of Bergin and her mother, giving us keen insight into the story and the characters. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/WEINER
Weiner, Jennifer - Good In Bed
Canny is the entertainment reporter for a large newspaper in Philadelphia. "Good In Bed" is the title of the column her ex-boyfriend writes, sharing the intimate details of their former relationship, for Moxie (think Cosmopolitan) magazine. While his columns are a bit racy, this book is not what its title implies. It is about a woman coming to terms with who she is: her childhood (unhappy), her family (dysfunctional/eccentric), her body (overweight), herself. It is a bit of a fairy tale, but it's not the Ugly Duckling or Cinderella. OK, maybe there is a little of Cinderella, but its central theme has more in common with the Wizard of Oz. And, it's sad and funny and, like all good fairy tales, it's about all of us. Carol Yarmolich

FICTION/WOLF
Wolf, Sarah - The Harbinger Effect
Soviet photojournalist Yuri Klebanoff defects at the U.S. Embassy in Bodamwe, West Africa. For political reasons, embassy staff decide to sneak him out of the country as an American citizen, using American aid agency worker Molly Davison as his cover. Once in Rome, things go horribly wrong; and Yuri and Molly are on the run, not knowing whom to trust, as they try to make their way back to the United States with the film Yuri carries that both the Soviets and the Americans want destroyed. Sue O'Brien

February

MYSTERY/BIRMINGHAM
Birmingham, Ruth - Atlanta Graves
Sunny Childs' boss, famous, flamboyant P.I. Gunnar Brushwood, is gone, along with $100,000 from the agency's certificate of deposit, and the bank wants the money back. Sunny can earn that much if she recovers a stolen painting for an insurance company. Of course, it's never that simple. Evanovich and Grafton readers should enjoy this one. Carol Yarmolich

FICTION/CARMICHAEL
Carmichael, Judson Jack - The Scared Stiff
To pay off a life-threatening debt, Barry Lee decides he needs to fake his own death to get the insurance money. Luckily, Barry's wife Lola is from the fictional South American country of Guerrera, a place so corrupt that it's easy to pull off a con. Soon, however, a cast of unsavory characters threatens to make their plans unravel. Lora Bruggeman

FICTION/DUNNING
Dunning, John - Two O'Clock Eastern Wartime
Set primarily in a 1942 New Jersey radio station, this leisurely-paced, layered story recreates the activity of a busy radio station—creating shows, complete with multiple voices and full musical scores—as well as the mood of the time, when spies abounded and German submarines lurked off the coast. Dunning combines murder, secrets from the past, espionage, and the provocative issues of the day to create a fascinating, evocative story of intrigue, revenge, and even romance. Joyce Saricks

FICTION/FLYNN
Flynn, Vince - Separation of Power
A compelling novel of international intrigue featuring CI A special operative Mitch Rapp. Mitch, on a trip to Italy with his girlfriend, uncovers a plot to undermine the CIA and its newly appointed director. The plot reaches to the United States Senate as a corrupt Senator is intent on becoming the next President, and will stop at nothing to attain his goal. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/HEPINSTALL
Hepinstall, Kathy - The Absence of Nectar
Eleven-year-old Alice and her brother Boone live in a remote area of eastern Texas with their now-single mother Meg. Alice has hoped and prayed for a man for her mother, but if Simon Jester is the answer, why do Alice and Boone now live in constant fear? Their weak mother is so happy to have another man in her life that she won't allow herself to suspect anything is wrong. When Alice and Boone discover Simon's past is not what it seems, they attempt to convince their disbelieving mother, until one night, as she comes in to say good night ,she whispers to them to run. An engrossing story of suspense. Lynn McCullagh

FICTION/RUCKA
Rucka, Greg - Critical Space
Atticus Kodiak is a professional bodyguard, and he is very good at what he does. When a client is kidnapped, right under his nose, it becomes clear that someone is trying to get his attention. That someone is Drama, an international assassin. She wants his full attention, because she wants Atticus to keep her alive. It seems that Drama is no longer the hunter, but the hunted. This is the fourth in the series featuring Kodiak. Terri Williams

FICTION/SMITH
Smith, Diane - Letters From Yellowstone
The arrival of amateur botanist A.E. (Alex) Bartram causes great consternation in Howard Merriam's field camp in Yellowstone National Park in 1898 when the other scientists discover she's a young woman. Alex proceeds with her studies while collecting the park's flora, as she earns the respect of the men. Told through letters and telegrams from expedition members to family, friends, and colleagues, we see Alex's dedication and joy in her work, told through lyrical descriptions of a relatively unspoiled Yellowstone. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/TURNER
Turner, Nancy E. - The Water and the Blood
Growing up in 1942 Sabine, Texas, Frosty Summers is influenced by small town religious and racial prejudices. Upon graduation, Frosty convinces her parents to let her go to California and work in a factory to support the war effort. When she meets and falls in love with Gordon, a Navajo Indian serving in the Marines, she gains self-confidence and is willing to stand up to her abusive mother. Marianne Trautvetter

January

FICTION/CHILD
Child, Lee - Echo Burning
Former Army MP Reacher's first surprise that morning was discovering that the guy he roughed up the night before in a bar was a cop who, backed up now by some fellow officers, was coming to get him. The second was getting picked up while hitch-hiking on the run along the hot, dusty, Texas roadside by a beautiful woman. The third was when she asked him to kill her husband. And it was still early in the day. Carol Yarmolich

MYSTERY/HARRISON
Harrison, Janis - Lilies That Fester
Coordinator of the Show-Me Floral Designers' Competition and florist Bretta Solomon's troubles only intensify when friends of her late husband ask her to investigate their daughter's death, and they disappear. While looking into the case, Bretta is targeted by the killer and also becomes attracted to a fellow hotel guest in this third Bretta Solomon gardening mystery. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/MILLER
Miller, Sue - The World Below
Looking for answers after her second divorce, Catherine Hubbard returns to her grandmother Georgia's house in Vermont, where she had spent her youth. As a teenager Catherine had idealized her grandparent's relationship and tried to pattern her own marriages after theirs. Now Catherine discovers her grandmother's journals and learns some family secrets, which give a new perspective to her grandparent's marriage. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/PARKER
Parker, Barbara - Suspicion of Vengeance
The newest in the Gail Connor and Anthony Quintana series of romantic legal thrillers concerns the death penalty. Kenny Ray Clarke, convicted of the murder of a young housewife, is sentenced to die by lethal injection in one month. Gail promises her mother's friend that she'll investigate the crime. Anthony reluctantly agrees to help, and the two immediately uncover secrets and begin a race against time to find the real killer and save their client. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/PEREZ-REVERTE
Perez-Reverte, Arturo - The Nautical Chart
Ancient maps, sunken ships, possible treasure—what's not to like in Perez-Reverte's latest intellectual thriller which pits an out-of-work seaman against assorted dangers ranging from greedy adventurers to the sea itself in this elegantly written noir puzzle. Joyce Saricks

FICTION/PILCHER
Pilcher, Rosamunde - Winter Solstice
Elfrida Phipps has retired from acting and her busy London social life and moved to a small village where she discovers new friends and a different life for herself. When a friend's tragedy requires her help and a move to northern Scotland just before Christmas, Elfrida is unprepared for what awaits her. A lovely, heartwarming story with endearing characters and a perfect book for winter. Lynn McCullagh

FICTION/PRUNTY
Prunty, Morag - Wild Cats and Colleens
American billionaire Xavier Power wants an Irish wife. Lorna, Gloria, and Sandy are three down-on-their-luck Irishwomen who see his personal ad in a Dublin newspaper. This edgy satire shows us a wicked side of the Irish as the women find out if Xavier is the answer to their prayers. Lora Bruggeman

FICTION/TOLKIEN
Tolkien, J.R.R. - The Fellowship of the Ring
The first book in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy introduces readers to the history of the Ring and the company of characters, led by Frodo, pledged to confront the evil seeping out of Mordor. Terri Williams

December, 2001

FICTION/BECKER
Becker, Laney Katz - Dear Stranger, Dearest Friend - 2000, 295p.
Looking for advice when she finds a lump in her breast, Lara connects on the Internet with Susan, a complete stranger. Susan a breast cancer survivor helps Lara seek the treatment she needs and encourages her as she recovers. If you enjoyed Elizabeth Berg's Talk Before Sleep, you'll appreciate this book as well. Marianne Trautvetter

MYSTERY/BOWEN
Bowen, Rhys - Murphy's Law - 2001, 226p.
Molly Murphy must flee Ireland for America in 1901, after she kills a man in self-defense. She travels to New York under a false identity and finds herself working on Ellis Island to solve a murder in which she is the prime suspect. Molly also learns the hardships of life for a single woman in turn-of-the-century New York. Lora Bruggeman

FICTION/BROOKS
Brooks, Geraldine - Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague - 2001, 308p.
In 1666 England bubonic plague is on the rise and when it attacks a remote village, the vicar asks the inhabitants to isolate themselves so as to contain the plague. In this story told by 18 year-old widow Anna Frith, who herself has lost two young sons to the plague, the reader immediately becomes acquainted with the villagers and feels their loss. Lynn McCullagh

FICTION/CUSSET
Cusset, Catherine - The Story of Jane - 2001, 304p.
Jane Cook finds a package left for her in the foyer of her apartment building one rainy day. Opening it, she finds a manuscript of a novel containing the story of her life, and more importantly, her loves from the time she began work as a professor at Devayne University to the present. As she reviews her life, from someone else's perspective, she tries to figure out who knows all the intimate details of her past. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/DAI
Dai Sijie - Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress - 2001, 197p.
Described as a gem of a story, this tale of friendship, and discovery is set in a remote mountain village in China during Mao's Cultural Revolution. Two boys banished to the country for "re-education," discover storytelling, a secret cache of forbidden books, and the seamstress's daughter as diversions from their menial tasks. Terri Williams

FICTION/HENDRICKS
Hendricks, Judith Ryan - Bread Alone - 2001, 356p.
When her husband suddenly announces he's leaving her, Wynter is bereft, but after a period of grief, she pulls herself together and seeks a new life in Seattle, the home of her best friend. Here, in a comfortable neighborhood, she rediscovers her earlier passion for baking and for other domestic pleasures. This comfortable story presents a feast for the senses with the smells of fresh baked bread (recipes included), the rich sounds of jazz and classic rock, and the damp feel of the Seattle fog. Joyce Saricks

FICTION/ISAACS
Isaacs, Susan - Long Time No See - 2001, 358p.
Perhaps as a diversion from the shock of losing her husband Bob so unexpectedly to a heart attack, St. Elizabeth's College's history professor, the recently widowed Judith Singer, is intrigued by the disappearance of local suburban mom, Courtney Logan…or…maybe it's because she is now free to fantasize about her short affair, twenty years ago, with homicide officer, Nelson Sharpe, when they collaborated to solve the murder of a periodontist (in Compromising Positions). Carol Yarmolich