Good Reads - Fiction

What We're Reading

2004 Archives

December

FICTION/FAUNCE
Faunce, John - Lucrezia Borgia - 2003, 277p.
A fictional, first-person account of the life of Lucrezia Borgia (1480–1519), an illegitimate daughter of Pope Alexander VI, who is raised in the Vatican after a forced separation from her mother. Lucrezia is portrayed sympathetically, seen primarily as a pawn in her father's schemes for wealth and power. As a young girl, she is coerced to poison an adversary at the dinner table, and is twice forced to marry against her will. Intrigue and treachery abound in this historical novel of lust and betrayal. Debbie Deady

FICTION/JIN
Jin, Ha - War Trash - 2004, 352p.
Yu Yuan, a young Chinese soldier trained as an English-speaking clerk, is sent by Mao as part of an army of "volunteers" to support the Communists in the Korean War conflict. When his poorly equipped division is overcome by superior American forces, gravely wounded Yu Yuan rejects revolutionary martyrdom and is captured by U.N. forces. In the POW camp, when both sides realize his potential as an English interpreter, Yu is caught between two factions of Chinese prisoners (one pro-Communist and the other pro-Nationalists). When the war is over, Yu must decide whether to return to China and be reunited with his fiancée and mother or to go to Taiwan for a fresh start. Not only is the reader given a realistic historic perspective from another side of the Korean War, but Ha Jin writes a powerful story of the struggle within the soldier. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/LANSDOWNE
Lansdowne, Judith A. - Lord Nightingale's Debut - 2000, 256p.
Nicholas Chastain, the Earl of Wickenshire, has just inherited several crumbling estates and no money for the necessary repairs. However, if he can teach his ward Lord Nightingale to sing, he will inherit the cash he needs. Serendipity Bedford needs a job quickly as she and her young sister Delight lost their home when their father died. Teaching Lord Nightingale to sing seems the perfect job—until she finds out Lord Nightingale is a parrot. Likable characters and humor add to this Regency Romance, the first in a series of four connected novels. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/RYLANDS
Rylands, Jane Turner - Venetian Stories - 2003, 292p.
Contemporary Venetian life is explored through the eyes of her citizens and visitors in this collection of twelve lovely sketches. The architect whose career is guided by his mother's uncanny intuition, the postman who is enthralled by the people on his route, the gondolier ever the romantic, the contessa fighting to keep her family's place in society, the newcomers, the outsiders, the workers and the socialites, each plays to the center character, Venice the Grand Dame, who—though slightly tattered at the edges—continues to entertain as well as flourish. Terri Williams

FICTION/ROBARDS
Robards, Karen - Bait - 2004, 372p.
Maddie Fitzgerald is anxious to arrive in New Orleans to try and land an account that could keep her company from going under. However, once there, she is brutally attacked in her hotel room and narrowly escapes death. Maddie doesn't know if this was just a random act or if there is a hit out on her from her deceased father's involvement with the mob. The next thing Maddie knows, the F.B.I. is involved, and Sam McCabe never lets Maddie out of his sight. The trouble is Maddie is beginning to like his company. This is a fast-paced romantic suspense novel that keeps the reader guessing until the exciting conclusion. Sheila Guenzer

SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/SAWYER
Sawyer, Robert J. - Hominids - 2002, 444p.
What if a parallel universe exists in which Neanderthals never became extinct, but Homo sapiens died out? That is the question Sawyer poses in his 2003 Hugo Award winning novel. Neanderthal quantum physician Ponter Boddit is performing an experiment when he unwittingly opens a portal to a similar experiment being conducted in present day Canada. With the help of geneticist Mary Vaughan and other scientists, Ponter must try to convince humans that society has evolved equally in his world, but with very different priorities. The ensuing struggle to reopen the portal and the imaginative descriptions of a Neanderthal society make this an engaging, speculative read. Nicole S.

811/YOU
Young, Kevin - Jelly Roll: A Blues - 2003, 190p.
This National Book Award Finalist wasn't just written; it was composed. Kevin Young's poetry is greatly informed by the rhythm and subjects of the blues (Lady, you are my Mobile, / Alabama – Lowdown & too hot / for human habitat –). In fact, the blues are so present, you can almost hear the music as you read. From its rollicking beginning to its somber end, the sparse lines and simple phrases ring of love and loss, passion, work, creativity, and—of course—the music that ties the stuff of life together. Heather Booth

November

FICTION/ GORE
Gore, Kristen - Sammy's Hill
In this debut novel by Kristen Gore (daughter of Al and Tipper) chick-lit comes to Capitol Hill. Samantha Joyce is a 26-year-old health policy advisor to Robert Gary, a senator from her home state of Ohio. While Sammy is researching the facts to support a health care bill that Senator Gary is sponsoring, she meets Aaron Driver, a handsome, eligible bachelor who is a speechwriter for Democratic presidential front-runner John Bramen. It seems to be a match made in heaven for Sammy, even though she doesn't like the backstabbing tactics of John Bramen. As the romance heats up so does the political scene when Senator Gary accepts the vice-presidential spot for Bramen's rival's ticket. This novel will keep you laughing and puts a new spin on politics. Marianne Trautvetter

MYSTERY/GRIMES
Grimes, Martha - The Winds of Change
The shooting death of an unidentified little girl found on a shabby London street, as well as the discovery of the body of an unknown woman in the gardens on the estate of Declan Scott, convinces a melancholy Superintendent Richard Jury to join forces with Brian Macalvie, commander of the Devon and Cornwall police. They investigate a complex case of murder and a London pedophile ring. Joined by the intrepid Melrose Plant, who goes undercover as a gardener to gather information, Jury and Macalvie go over the present and the past in a pub called the Winds of Change. In this mystery the victim is as hard to identify as the murderer, and no one is exactly who he seems. Nana Oakey-Campana

MYSTERY/HIRAHARA
Hirahara, Naomi - Summer of the Big Bachi
Japanese-American gardener Mas Arai is forced to confront a secret from his past when investigator Shuji Nakane travels from Japan to California to locate Joji Haneda, a former friend of Arai's. Suspicious of Nakane's motives, and protective of the events that occurred after the 1945 atomic bomb attack on Hiroshima that he survived, Arai launches his own low key investigation, finding bribery, theft, and murder. Evocative of Japan during World War II and the experiences of the generation of Japanese immigrants who came to the U.S. after the war, this is the first book in a projected series. Sue O'Brien

YA / FICTION / HORVATH
Horvath, Polly - The Canning Season
Don't be put off by the cover and the fact that this novel won the National Book Award for Young People's Literature—this is a delightful story for all ages. Ratchet, whose mother sends her to Maine for the summer to live with her great aunts Tilly and Pen Pen, is quite unprepared for the ladies who have never left their town. Then Harper arrives, a teenager dropped off by her guardian, who mistakes the ladies' mansion for an orphanage. The eccentric characters and their situations are humorous and poignant. The ending leaves the reader with the satisfying feeling that life is full of hope, and everyone can attain their dreams. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION / LA PLANTE
La Plante, Lynda - Royal Heist: A Novel
A novel of crime and deceit set amid the glittering world of the British elite. Edward de Jersey had it all, and he is desperate to get it back. Having left a murky past behind him, Edward de Jersey was at the pinnacle of the good life, wealthy, handsome and fit, his prize horse poised to sweep the Derby. His wife, a lovely former model and the love of his life, is the perfect mother for his two beautiful daughters. But just as Edward's ultimate dream is within his grasp, he discovers his money is gone and his investments have gone sour. He needs money, a lot of it and fast. He'll just have to get it the old fashioned way…steal it. Terri Williams

FICTION/PYWELL
Pywell, Sharon L. - What Happened to Henry
When the loss of their infant daughter unhinges their parents, the three Cooper children band together, with Henry, the eldest, acting as leader and protector of Lauren and Winston. But after an electrical shock sends Henry to the hospital, he comes home just as bright and loving, but changed. He hears not voices, but a singular voice— that of a Japanese man who survived the Hiroshima blast and is overcome by the loss of his wife. As the siblings grow into adulthood, Lauren narrates their story as she and Winston simultaneously try to protect and learn from Henry as his connection to the reality that they know becomes continually more tenuous. Heather Booth

FICTION/SCOTT
Scott, Joanna C. - Cassandra, Lost
On a stormy July night in 1790, Cassandra Cockey Owings, the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, elopes with her French lover, Lieutenant Benedict van Pradelles, trading her comfortable life in Baltimore for a dangerous life of seclusion in war-ravaged, Revolutionary France. While in Paris, she befriends a young man by the name of Jean LaFitte—who will become the infamous (and charming) French pirate. The van Pradelles escape the guillotine and return to America, settling in New Orleans; but they have hardly seen the last of Lafitte, whose obsessive love for Cassandra yields tragic consequences for all. Debbie Deady

FICTION / SHREVE
Shreve, Anita - Light on Snow
The popular author's latest novel explores the various ways an unexpected discovery can change lives. Twelve-year-old Nicky and her father are coping with their own private tragedy in an exile he has imposed on them both. While hiking through the snowy woods near their New Hampshire farmhouse, they stumble upon a newborn left to die in the elements. Nicky and her father are suddenly thrust back into life, and they both must deal with someone else's personal heartbreak. Told in flashbacks, this novel is a quick read with thoughtful characters and an ultimately hopeful ending. Nicole S.

October

FICTION/ BLOCK
Block, Brett Ellen - The Grave of God's Daughter
In 1941, Hyde Bend is a small town along a sharp turn in the Allegheny River in Pennsylvania, whose inhabitants are poor Polish Catholic immigrants. A young girl tries to shield her younger brother from the bitter fighting of their parents and looks for ways to win the approval of her distant mother. While secretly working as a delivery boy for the town's butcher, the girl discovers a dark secret that changes her life. An evocative insight into the life of the unnamed 12-year-old narrator, the daughter of a mill worker and a cleaning lady. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/BOZAI
Bozai, Agota - To Err Is Divine
Anna Levay is a widow approaching the end of middle age in her native Hungary, when she discovers what appears to be a halo shining above her head one evening after finishing her bath. Anna, a confirmed atheist, can't begin to understand what this means, or why her presence causes fish to leap ashore and the infirm to be healed. The greedy town physician wants to use Anna's gifts for his own financial advantage. She, on the other hand, just wants her normal life back, unaware of the consequences her wish will bring her. Debbie Deady

MYSTERY/BUCKLEY
Buckley, Fiona - To Shield the Queen
Ursula Blanchard, a young widow who is recruited to the service of Queen Elizabeth I, must protect the Queen from malicious schemers by personally watching over Amy Dudley, the wife of Robert Dudley, Elizabeth's Master of Horse. Court gossips claim that Dudley is becoming too intimate with the Queen and that Amy's untimely death would be most accommodating. When Amy dies mysteriously, Ursula is forced to unravel the web of deceit and intrigue surrounding the event. Descriptions of court life, coupled with a likeable and steadfast heroine, make this mystery an enjoyable read. This novel is the first in the series featuring Ursula Blanchard. Nicole S.

FICTION/LAHIRI
Lahiri, Jhumpa - The Namesake
Ashoke and Ashima Ganguli's immigration to the United States from India in the 1960s is followed by the birth of their son, Gogol, named for the Russian author Nikolai Gogol. His non-Indian name affects his entire life as he struggles to find his place in the world—Indian or American. Details of Indian culture are woven throughout this literary novel of a family adapting to new ways while also trying to hold on to the old ones. Sue O'Brien

MYSTERY / LEON
Leon, Donna - Death at La Fenice: A Novel of Suspense
The first book in a satisfyingly engrossing mystery series set among the alleyways and canals of modern day Venice. For Guido Brunetti, commissario of police for the city of Venice, the distinct air of bitter almonds that permeated the dressing room backstage at the Teatro La Fenice, and the contorted body, left little doubt that Maestro Wellauer was dead, a result of cyanide poisoning. The question for Brunetti is, of course, why would anyone poison Wellauer, arguably the best conductor of his generation, during the intermission of La Traviata? To understand the crime, Brunetti first must understand the victim, a complex genius with his own dark past. Terri Williams

FICTION/LINDSAY
Lindsay, Jeffry P. - Darkly Dreaming Dexter: A Novel
To meet Dexter Morgan you would think he's just an ordinary guy with a rather unusual job. He's a technician specializing in blood for the Miami Dade Police Department. However, there's more to Dexter than meets the eye. He's also a serial killer who picks his victims very carefully and methodically kills them. Dexter has a foster sister Deb, also on the force, and when another serial killer begins to kill his prey in a similar but more vicious manner, Dexter and Deb work together to solve the case. Is the second killer just a copycat, or is he reaching out to Dexter is some morbid way? The reader is left guessing till the gripping conclusion. Sheila Guenzer

YA/FICTION/MCNAMEE
McNamee, Graham - Acceleration
Teenager Duncan investigates a shocking journal that turns up in the Toronto subway lost-and-found where he works. When the police don't take the journal seriously, Duncan and two friends try to find out the identity of the diary's author. The previous summer Duncan had been unable to save a drowning girl, and finding the potential killer in the journal might help him deal with his own guilt. Even though the subject of the book is a serious one, the interaction among his friends is very funny. Nevertheless, this book is a chilling page-turner, and the author manipulates the reader's sense of disbelief by eliminating the possibility of police or parental help. This story is a fast-paced journey into the mind of a cold-blooded killer, and it will keep teens (and adults) on the edges of their seats. Nana Oakey-Campana

FICTION/WEINER
Weiner, Jennifer - Little Earthquakes: A Novel
Weiner's third novel is another tender look into the changing lives of younger women. From the mundane (like when to find time to shower) to the earthquakes of the title, brand new moms from very different walks of life share in the trials and joys of motherhood. Becky, an earthy chef, beautiful Ayinde, wife of an NBA star, and Kelly, a perky event planner, all meet and immediately bond after Ayinde unexpectedly goes into labor following their prenatal yoga class. The reader gets the back story of each woman as she deals with upsets in her own life and envies what she views as the easier, happier, or more perfect situations of her friends—only to find that the grass is not always greener. Heather Booth

September

MYSTERY/AKUNIN
Akunin, Boris - The Winter Queen: A Novel
In 1876, the suicide of a dilettante fop in the middle of a Moscow square spurs young Erast Fandorin to question the suspicious nature of the wealthy, well-connected young man's death. When Fandorin, the newest (and lowest) member of Moscow's new Criminal Investigation Unit, is tapped by the higher-ups to investigate the dilettante's death, he finds himself following a very unlikely trail that points to international intrigue and possibly, conspiracy. A historical mystery with eccentric characters and an unusual setting, this is the first translation in the series by this popular Russian author. Terri Williams

FICTION/BERRY
Berry, Steve - The Romanov Prophecy
On the eve of Russia's return to Tsarist control, an American becomes embroiled in a conspiracy threatening both his life and the future of Russia. Well-versed in Russian language and history, Miles Lord is commissioned to authenticate the American-backed claimant to the throne, but instead finds reason to believe a much more direct descendant of Nicholas II is alive. He also discovers a mysterious letter, detailing Rasputin's prophecy that "twelve will die" before the true heir to the Romanov throne is restored to power. Tracking clues across Russia and the U.S., Lord races to escape mafiya hit men and find the true heir before the commission's deadline. Rich with historical detail, this fast-paced conspiracy novel will satisfy readers looking for a well-crafted thriller you can really sink your teeth into. Heather Booth

FICTION/DUNN
Dunn, Sarah - The Big Love
In this debut novel, we meet Alison Hopkins, a Philadelphia columnist whose live-in boyfriend has broken up with her from a pay phone when he is supposed to be buying Dijon mustard for their impending dinner party. Alison is left to decipher what really happened in their relationship using her off-the-wall (or are they?) relationship theories, the input of various friends and co-workers, and her own inescapable neuroses. Alison has to question if their love was ever "The Big Love," and asks herself the real meaning of happily ever after. A quick and sometimes humorous read for the last days of summer. Nicole S.

FICTION/HOAG
Hoag, Tami - Kill the Messenger
Nineteen-year-old Jace (J.C.) Damon has been trying to take care of his younger brother Tyler for the six years since their mother died, and he keeps to himself to avoid Children's Services. Working as a bike messenger in Los Angeles, J.C. gets more than he bargained for after picking up a package from sleazy attorney Lenny Lowell, who is subsequently murdered. If he isn't killed by the person who wants the package, the police are out to pin Lenny's murder on him since he was the last person to see Lenny alive. Fans of James Patterson's crime thrillers will enjoy this page-turner. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/KELLOGG
Kellogg, Marne Davis - Priceless
Kick Keswick has retired to Provence following a career stealing expensive jewelry as the Shamrock Burglar, making her a very wealthy woman. When the Empresse emerald is stolen, presumably by the Shamrock Burglar, Kick goes undercover to find the imposter and bring him to justice, to protect herself and her comfortable life. Complicating matters, Kick believes her husband, a former Scotland Yard commander, is going to turn her in, so Kick travels from Paris to Italy to foil the imposter's next burglary—the theft of the fabulous diamond, the Millennium Star. Fast pacing, humor, details of gems, good food and wine, and a likable heroine make this follow-up to Brilliant an absorbing read. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/SHEA
Shea, Suzanne Strempek - Becoming Finola
Within two weeks of her forty-third birthday, Gina Stebbins is suddenly jobless, widowed, and desperate for a change of scenery. Best friend Sophie agrees to accompany Gina on a three-month vacation in Ireland, but within 24 hours Gina abruptly returns to the U.S. Sophie settles into a picturesque cottage-by-the-sea and takes a job in a local craft shop (run by a rather nice looking man called Liam). Sophie's new "life," however, had previously belonged to the charismatic Finola O'Flynn, who ran-off with a German lover several years before. So what will become of Sophie when Finola unexpectedly returns to Booley and wants her life back? A charming story, with a whimsical touch of romance. Debbie Deady

FICTION/TROLLOPE
Trollope, Joanna - Brother and Sister
The subject of adoption is at the heart of this novel of families and their relationships with each other. Nathalie and Daniel were raised by the same parents, but both were adopted from different birth mothers. Nathalie persuades Daniel to search for their real mothers—a journey which disrupts the lives of all involved. Nathalie's husband and David's wife feel estranged from their spouses as they delve into their pasts. The cast of characters in this emotionally charged quest changes as each birth mother is discovered and Nathalie and Daniel meet them, and in one case their children. This story focuses, as many others of Joanna Trollope's novels, on the complexities of issues within families. Sheila Guenzer

MYSTERY/MCBAIN
McBain, Ed - Hark!
The Deaf Man is not dead. He is back to making life miserable for the detectives of the 87th Precinct. The cops' frustration begins with the murder of the Deaf Man's former accomplice. Then a series of hand-delivered notes arrive containing combinations of Shakespearean quotes, anagrams, and palindromes. These are the clues to the crime the Deaf Man is going to commit with the assistance of Melissa Summers, who is smarter than he thinks. As usual there are also many interesting personal things going on with Carrella, Hawes, and Weeks. After reading this series for a while, these characters are just like good friends, and this book is another great addition to the 87th Precinct series. Nana Oakey-Campana

August

FICTION/CALDWELL
Caldwell, Ian and Dustin Thomason - The Rule of Four
This NY Times bestseller may sound like a DaVinci Code "me-too" thriller at first glance (especially given the familiar story line about the deciphering of an Italian Renaissance manuscript). However, here the action takes place at Princeton University, and the inquisitive minds belong to two brighter-than-average undergraduates who become dangerously obsessed with the puzzling secrets of a rare Renaissance text. When a fellow student helping in their quest is killed soon after locating an important diary, the boys begin to understand that they are involved in a life-and-death race for answers. Debbie Deady

FICTIONDALLAS
Dallas, Sandra - The Diary of Mattie Spenser
A long forgotten personal history is discovered inside the lid of an old handmade trunk in an attic. The diary contains the dreams, desires, and disappointments of Mattie Spenser, as she carves out a life with the new husband she barely knows on the harsh Colorado frontier. Mattie faces the disappointing realities of homesteading and the pain of leaving loved ones behind. However, she also learns that forging new friendships and the building of even the smallest communities are utterly necessary to surviving on the frontier. Sandra Dallas creates unforgettable characters that readers will genuinely care for, as well as providing vivid details of pioneer life. Nicole S.

FICTION/FESPERMAN
Fesperman, Dan - The Small Boat of Great Sorrows
This is the second novel featuring former Sarajevo homicide detective, Vlado Petric. Now an expatriate scraping by in Berlin, Petric is mildly suspicious when invited to help the War Crimes Tribunal capture a man in Bosnia because of atrocities he committed during WWII. As the mission nears, Petric's instincts have him on edge; clearly there are hidden agendas. Petric is not sure why he has been chosen, or who to trust. Gradually Petric is lured into a drama that reaches from rural Bosnia to Rome and finally, his own backyard. Terri Williams

MYSTERY/GRAFTON
Grafton, Sue - R Is for Ricochet
At the request of her father Nord Lafferty, Santa Teresa, CA, P.I. Kinsey Millhone picks up felon Reba Lafferty from prison the day she is paroled. Lafferty wants Kinsey to make sure Reba meets her parole officer as scheduled and to keep an eye on her while she reestablishes herself after her prison stint. However, the willful Reba has plans for revenge on a lying former boyfriend, and she draws Kinsey into the dark underworld of gambling and money laundering. Torn between protecting Reba or herself, Kinsey must resolve the case to keep the two of them from being killed by men willing to do anything to protect their operation and keep them out of trouble with myriad government agencies also involved in the case. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/GRISHAM
Grisham, John - The Last Juror
Convicted of the murder of a young mother in a 1970 trial that ended with his threat to seek revenge against the jurors, Danny Padgitt is paroled after nine years in prison and returns to the scene of the trial in Ford County, Mississippi. This gripping novel deals with the fear of Danny Padgitt's revenge as jurors begin to die. All this is revealed through the life of the local newspaper editor, Willie Traynor. Willie becomes an important part of the small southern town of Clanton, Mississippi, and he tells the wonderful heroic and moving stories of its eccentric residents. This novel is wise, suspenseful, and funny, and it shows an inherent sense of dignity in its characters. Nana Oakey-Campana

YA/FICTION/HAUTMAN
Hautman, Pete - Godless
One afternoon, while sitting in his Catholic teen group, Jason decides to create his own religion. Why not worship a water tower? After all, in Biology they say that water is the basis of life. Naming himself Head Kahuna, Jason assigns his snail loving friend Shin First Keeper of the Sacred Text, and together they recruit friends, an enemy, and a pretty girl to become worshipers of the "Ten Legged One." What begins as a joke and Jason's personal rebellion against his devout father quickly takes on a life of its own. After their first midnight mass ends in injury and punishment, the mini-cult comes to realize the power that religion—even if it's a joke religion—can have over people. Heather Booth

FICTION/MACOMBER
Macomber, Debbie - The Shop on Blossom Street
A knitting shop in Seattle brings four women from different backgrounds together; and while learning to knit, they gain acceptance, friendship, and a new understanding of themselves. Owner Lydia Hoffman, a two-time cancer survivor, offers a weekly knitting class with hopes of improving business as well as a way to meet new people. With her final attempt at an in vitro fertilization coming soon, Carol Girard decides to learn to knit as a way to relax. The only reason socialite Jacqueline Donovan takes the class is to convince her husband and son that she wants to do something nice for her pregnant daughter-in-law. Alix Townsend is taking the class to fulfill a court-ordered service project she was given after a drug conviction. The author includes interesting details about operating a yarn store and even a pattern for the baby blanket the women are knitting. Marianne Trautvetter

July

FICTION / BYATT
Byatt, A.S. - Little Black Book of Stories
These richly haunting tales of longing and memory are masterfully told by award-winning author Byatt. Her characters are drawn out of their normal existence by brushes with the unknown that impact their lives in a variety of far-reaching ways. A woman mourns her mother and begins turning to stone in a very literal sense. Two long estranged childhood playmates are reunited by the mystical horror they both witnessed. An evening class of novice writers, struggling with the edict "write what you know," is introduced to that other truism: truth is stranger than fiction. This is literary fiction to be read on a stormy night, waiting for an ominous knock at the door. Heather Booth

FICTION/ COHEN
Cohen, Paula Marantz - Much Ado About Jessie Kaplan
The Goodman household of Cherry Hill, New Jersey, is a very, very, busy place. Carla (wife, mom, daughter, and sister) is doing her very best to steer it in a sensible direction, but it just doesn't seem to be working. Her list is daunting: plan a bat mitzvah (extraordinaire) for twelve-year-old daughter, find suitable dress for said daughter, keep youngest son off of the ceiling (without resorting to drugs), encourage husband in his (less than stellar) medical practice, continue to be supportive through sister's (many) lousy relationships, and last but not least, accommodate (recently widowed) mother's previous life as Shakespeare's mistress, the Dark Lady. What is a woman to do? This is a delightful comedy with richly drawn, quirky characters and a happy ending. Terri Williams

FICTION/HARUF
Haruf, Kent - Eventide
After his success with Plainsong, Haruf returns to the small town of Holt, Colorado, and continues the stories of some of the same characters, along with some new ones. The McPheron brothers help single mother Victoria and her young daughter prepare for a move to Ft. Collins where Victoria will enroll in college. Social worker Rose Tyler counsels a disabled couple learning to gain independence while caring for their two small children. When Mary Wells learns that her husband, off working in Alaska, will not be returning, she falls into a depression, leaving her two daughters to fend for themselves. The lives of the people of this small town intermingle and become a compassionate story of people helping each other. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/HORNBY
Hornby, Nick - How to Be Good
Katie and David Carr appear to be living the "good life" in London: she, a successful M.D., and he, a newspaper columnist. Things are nonetheless a bit gloomy, as their 24-year marriage has hit the skids, and Katie begins a regretful affair with a man she hardly knows. Enter D.J. GoodNews, a homeless eccentric, who mystically cures David's back pain with just the touch of his hands. David's usual surly personality has also undergone a sudden, radical change, prompting David's invitation to GoodNews to move into the Carr's spare bedroom while they hatch plans for making the world a better place. This humorous, yet thoughtful, novel is told entirely from Katie's perspective. This is also a wonderfully narrated audio book. Debbie Deady

BIOGRAPHY/STEINBACH
Steinbach, Alice - Educating Alice: Adventures of a Curious Woman
Freelance writer and former Baltimore Sun columnist Alice Steinbach combines her love for travel, learning, and writing in this lyrical, fascinating glimpse of her life as she takes courses and lessons in subjects of interest to her. She attends cooking school at the Hotel Ritz, arranges guided, private tours of the gardens of Provence, and learns sheepherding with border collies in Scotland. She writes of the interesting facts and history of the many places she visits, as well as beautifully describing the ambience, so the reader feels he is there, too. She also shares her thoughts about what she's learned and the many people she meets and befriends. Readers who enjoy this satisfying book should also read Steinbach's book Without Reservations: The Travels of an Independent Woman. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/SILVA
Silva, Daniel - A Death in Vienna
Silva completes his cycle of three interconnected novels dealing with "the unfinished business of the Holocaust" with this narrative of espionage and foreign intrigue. Sent to Vienna to authenticate a painting, art restorer and occasional spy Gabriel Allon sets out to uncover the truth about a photograph of an unnamed man who had brutalized his mother during the final days of World War II. His descriptions of his mother's ordeal are very personal and unforgettable. The author raises serious questions about the Holocaust and reminds readers that there is vital history to be remembered here. This is an exciting and complex novel with many moral issues involved. Nana Oakey-Campana

June

FICTION/CONNELLY
Connelly, Michael - The Narrows
Harry Bosch is back in Connelly's sixth novel, the sequel to The Poet. Harry has retired from the L.A. Police Department and is doing freelance investigating. When Harry's former partner Gerry collapses aboard his fishing boat, at first it seems that his artificial heart just gave out. However, Gerry's wife Graciela asks Harry to investigate his death. The first thing Harry finds is that Gerry's pills were tampered with. He also discovers that Gerry was looking into old, unsolved cases. After a series of events, it turns out Gerry's death has something to do with the Poet, a psychological killer who has resurfaced. Rachel Walling, an FBI agent, joins forces with Harry to try and track down the Poet. This is a compelling thriller that keeps you reading until its dramatic finale. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/COSPER
Cosper, Darcy - Wedding Season: A Comedy of Marriage, Matrimony, and Seventeen Marriages in Six Months
Happily unmarried, Joy and her boyfriend Gabe are at the age where everyone around them is getting married. Everyone. Though Joy is in the thick of planning and partying with her loved ones, she finds herself the odd-girl-out in a number of ways. Not only is she the only one of her friends who won't be a blushing bride this season, she's the only one who swears she will never walk down the aisle. Vocally anti-marriage, Joy sees friend after friend become part of an institution she does not believe in. Why change a good thing, right? Seventeen weddings, along with humorous and infuriating run-ins with past loves and current enemies, give Joy pause as she reconsiders beliefs she thought were stronger than any marriage vow could ever be. Heather Booth

FICTION/LE CARRE
Le Carré, John - Absolute Friends
Ted Mundy, army brat, graduate of public school, sixties radical, divorced father, and former British spy, is living a quiet life in Germany, molding a family with his lover and her son. While making a living as a guide for English speaking tourists, his past arrives in the form of Sasha. Sasha, the idealist, Sasha, his best friend, Sasha, who drew him into the great spy-game, Sasha, who disappeared with the Berlin Wall. Now Sasha has resurfaced with a newly-sparked idealism and a silent backer inviting Mundy to help create the world of their youthful dreams. Once again Mundy finds himself drawn into his friend's world, but this time he is not so young, his footing is not so sure. This is a story of loyalty and betrayal, of truth and fiction, and of the ties of absolute friendship. Terri Williams

FICTION/PICOULT
Picoult, Jodi - My Sister's Keeper
To what lengths would a parent go to save the life of a child? Sara and Brian Fitzgerald conceive Anna with the help of genetic engineering in order to have a donor for their elder daughter Kate who has a rare and deadly form of leukemia. After enduring numerous medical procedures for the sole purpose of helping Kate, at age thirteen Anna seeks the help of lawyer Campbell Alexander to stop her parents from forcing her to donate a kidney when Kate is in renal failure. Told in alternating chapters from the perspectives of several characters, this thought-provoking portrayal of a family in crisis is a page turner that will tug on your heart long after the book is closed. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/QUICK
Quick, Amanda - The Paid Companion
Elenora Lodge becomes a paid companion when her stepfather loses everything in a bad investment. Luckily for Elenora, Arthur Lancaster, the Earl of St. Merryn, hires her to play his fiancée, to protect him from the many eligible young women seeking husbands during the London Season, as he quietly searches for his uncle's murderer. The earl takes Elenora into his confidence as he and she begin to have real feelings for one another. But how can a paid companion wed an earl? A feisty heroine, a worthy hero, a mystery, and verbal sparring add to this fast-paced, spicy, Regency-era romance. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/RUIZ ZAFON
Ruiz Zafon, Carlos - The Shadow of the Wind
Daniel Sempre has no idea that the novel he discovers in the eerie Cemetery of Forgotten Books will alter the course of his life, entangling him in a mystery that is as dangerous as it is alluring. Someone is bent on destroying every book that has been written by the obscure Spanish author, Julian Carax; and Daniel, the son of a local bookseller, is determined to know why. What he ultimately finds is a tragic story of lost love and betrayal, set against the backdrop of political unrest in the streets of 1940s Barcelona. This compelling and beautifully translated novel has spent more than twelve months on the bestseller list in Spain. Debbie Deady

May

MYSTERY/CONWELL
Conwell, Kent - Skeletons of the Atchafalaya
P.I. Tony Boudreaux and his large extended family have gathered at the family mansion in Atchafalaya Swamp in Louisiana for a Cajun family reunion or fais do do—three days of laughter, dancing, and food. Just after the festivities begin, Tony's unscrupulous uncle A.D., who has cheated many of his own relatives, is found dead at the poker table. Due to hurricane conditions, no one is able to leave the island, and authorities can't respond to the call; so Tony begins his own investigation into the murder. Tempers flare and other murders follow, leaving everyone wondering which one of them is a killer. Howling winds, ferocious rains, and dangerous animals seeking shelter from the storm add atmosphere to a fast-paced tale with a likable hero and eccentric characters, laced with Cajun customs and speech. Sue O'Brien

MYSTERY/DUNNING
Dunning, John - The Bookman's Promise
This is the third in a series featuring former cop turned bookseller Cliff Janeway. Janeway has just purchased a rare signed first edition by the famous nineteenth century explorer Richard Francis Burton. His euphoria is short lived, however, when a little old lady, Josephine Gallant, shows up and claims the book is hers. Her grandfather, a friend of Burton's, traveled with him in the summer of 1860. Burton subsequently sent Josephine's grandfather signed copies of all his books which mysteriously disappeared after his death. Josephine realizes she has little time left and asks Janeway to find her grandfather's books. Then a murder occurs which may have to do with the stolen books, so Janeway is more determined than ever to find the culprit. Lots of interesting details about books and bookselling. The first book in the series is Booked to Die. Sheila Guenzer

SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/HANCOCK
Hancock, Karen - Arena
Callie Hayes volunteers for what she believes to be a harmless psychology experiment, but she is unwittingly thrust instead into a dangerous alien world called the Arena, where she must fight for her very survival, armed only with a few mysterious supplies and an undecipherable guide book. The only way out of the Arena is through an exit called The Gate, which is intentionally blocked by unimaginable dangers—and Callie is threatened at every turn. She is aided by a mysterious stranger (as well as an unknown benefactor known only as Elhanu), and she soon realizes that her only hope is to trust them with her life. This suspenseful and fast-paced novel, which is part fantasy and part Christian allegory, is not for the squeamish. Debbie Deady

YA FICTION/JOH
Johnson, Angela - The First Part Last
On Bobby's 16th birthday he gets some news from his girlfriend, Nia, that changes his life forever. She's pregnant. Bobby‘s going to be a father. Normal teenage activities aren't important anymore as they are replaced with doctor's visits and social workers. With spare language and great compassion, Johnson looks at the male side of teen pregnancy as Bobby struggles to do the right thing. This wonderful and award-winning book is for all teens and all adults who know the value and power of love. Nana Oakey-Campana

FICTION/MARGOLIN
Margolin, Phillip - Sleeping Beauty
An innocent sleepover in her home with Tanya, her best friend from high school, turns into a nightmare for Ashley Spencer. First, her father is attacked and left to die by an intruder. Then Ashley is assaulted, restrained, and forced to listen as Tanya is raped and murdered. Miraculously, Ashley is able to escape with the help of her father when the attacker stops in the kitchen for a snack before coming back to kill her. Deciding to transfer to a prestigious new school for a fresh start, Ashley and her mother Terri ( who was out of town that night) begin to recover and move on with their lives until the killer strikes again. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/NGUYEN
Nguyen, Kien - The Tapestries
A story of fierce loyalty and sacrifice unfolds against the backdrop of Vietnam's cultural transformation to a French colony in the early 1900s. Twenty-four-year-old Ven arrives at the village of Cam Le on a traditional sampan, veiled and dressed in a red wedding gown, to await the approval of her husband's prominent family, and begin her life as First Wife to seven-year-old Dan Nguyen. As wife and daughter-in-law, Ven faces a life of no rights, only duties, duties which become all consuming when her husband's family is brutally slaughtered by the village mayor. As sole protector, Ven sacrifices herself in order to hide young Dan until they can avenge the murder of his family. Terri Williams

FICTION/WARD
Ward, Amanda Eyre - Sleep Toward Heaven
Quietly gripping, this first novel draws the reader through three women's lives, intersecting and changing as they mourn the effects of a Texas murder. Celia, a young librarian, is the widow left behind at the end of death row inmate Karen's killing streak. Franny, already mourning the death of a young patient, leaves her New York life and becomes the prison doctor, caring for Karen, who has AIDS, as she nears the end of her life. Though the subject matter is admittedly dark, the author's great talent in evoking compassion for the characters and their similar reactions to a tragic situation elevates the story far above its coarse setting. An intimate look at the ways we cope with loss. Heather Booth

April

FICTION/LEAVITT
Leavitt, Caroline - Girls in Trouble
Sixteen -year-old Sara Rothman has a promising future ahead of her until she finds out that she is pregnant and that her once-devoted boyfriend Danny has disappeared. Sara's parents convince her that she must give the baby up for adoption. Wanting to maintain a relationship with her baby, Sara decides on an "open" adoption which will let her choose the adoptive parents. Eva and George Rivers are desperate to adopt Sara's baby and welcome Sara into their hearts and home before the baby is born. After she gives birth, Sara turns Anne over to Eva and George and begins to feel less comfortable with the adoptive parents. The novel spans 18 years during which Leavitt reveals the interactions between Sara, her parents, the adoptive parents, Anne, and Danny, who is unaware of Anne's birth. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/LEON
Leon, Donna - Doctored Evidence
Exotic Venice is the backdrop for this latest police procedural featuring Italian police detective, Commissario Guido Brunetti. When a miserable old woman is found brutally murdered, the police suspect her caregiver, Florinda, who, among many others, was treated rudely by her employer. The police track Florinda to a train traveling south and find her with seven hundred Euro notes in her possession. They now have a motive, but Brunetti is not convinced, and when a woman comes forward saying she gave Florinda a train ticket and the money, Brunetti must attempt to find the real murderer, despite the efforts of those in his own department who work against him. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/MCCRACKEN
McCracken, Elizabeth - The Giant's House
When acerbic librarian Peggy Cort is in her mid-twenties, she meets eleven-year-old James Sweatt, destined to become the world's tallest man. Their lives intertwine as these two lonely souls develop a nine-year-long relationship during the 1950s in a small Cape Cod town. Sympathetic, though eccentric, characters and beautiful language add to this finalist for the 1996 National Book Award. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/PHILLIPS
Phillips, Susan Elizabeth - Ain't She Sweet
Naperville's Susan Elizabeth Phillips' newest contemporary romance tells the heartwarming story of Sugar Beth Carey, who left town a princess and returns a beggar, looking for a painting which is her sole inheritance and the only way she can support the handicapped daughter of her late husband. Unfortunately, all those she offended earlier are prepared to exact revenge, and Sugar Beth must redeem herself before she can claim her inheritance and her future happiness in this romantic romp. Humorous situations and sparkling dialog make this, like Phillips' other books, a comic delight. Chapter headings, lines from Georgette Heyer's amusing Regency Romances, pay homage to Heyer, whose influence can be seen in both characters and language. Joyce Saricks
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FICTION/TROBAUGH
Trobaugh, Augusta - Swan Place
This southern novel, set in rural Kentucky, traces a year in the life of a poor but resilient 14-year-old girl named Dove, who endures a series of family tragedies, only to find herself on-the-run with a 17-year-old stepmother and two younger siblings. They are assisted by a kindly neighbor woman, who helps them relocate to the home of a wealthy widow, known as Swan Place. The maid – the affectionate and charitable Buzzard – has agreed to care for them. Together, with a little help from her friends in the Circle of Jesus, Buzzard provides the children with the love and support they need. This is a gentle, satisfying story with a Christian bent and rich, descriptive detail, similar to The Secret Life of Bees. Debbie Deady

March

FICTION/CHEVALIER
Chevalier, Tracy - The Virgin Blue
Blending the stories of 16th century Huguenot Isabelle du Moulin with her 20th century descendant Ella Turner, Chevalier tells a fascinating story which mixes the magical with reality and historical fact with fictional re-imagining. Ella comes to France with her architect husband and, unable to practice her profession as a midwife, becomes involved in an investigation into her family's history. In the process she discovers herself as well as her roots. Joyce Saricks

FICTION/GREGORY
Gregory, Philippa - The Other Boleyn Girl
Told from the viewpoint of Anne Boleyn's sister Mary, this novel explores their experiences in the court of King Henry VIII. Henry is initially attracted to Mary, and, although she is married, she becomes his mistress and bears him two children. However, his attention soon wanders to Mary's older sister Anne, and he begins an affair with her, eventually ending his marriage to Catherine to marry her. A fascinating story of driving ambition and its consequences. Sheila Guenzer

MYSTERY/JAMES
James, P.D. - A Certain Justice
The distinguished criminal lawyer, Venetia Aldridge, is defending Garry Ashe on charges that he murdered his aunt. The next victim is Venetia Aldridge herself, found stabbed to death at her desk. Many characters in the book have a motive for this murder, and Commander Adam Dalgliesh and his team delve into the closed world of the Law Courts and the London legal community to find the killer. This is an exciting classic detective story with a complex plot that holds your attention to the last page. Nana Oakey-Campana

YA/FICTION/JOH
Johnson, Angela - The First Part Last
This year's Printz Award winner for teen fiction tells the story of Bobby, who at sixteen becomes a single parent to his daughter, Feather. Bobby is overwhelmed—by exhaustion, by his sudden entry into adulthood, and perhaps most powerfully, by love for his daughter. With chapters bouncing between "now" and "then," the story moves quickly, pulling you in from the first time Feather falls asleep on Bobby's chest to the tense scene in which Bobby and his girlfriend. Nia must face their parents with the life changing news, to the shocking revelation of why Bobby is raising Feather alone. More than a "problem novel," this is an emotional story that will leave a lasting impression. Heather Booth

FICTION/KIRSHENBAUM
Kirshenbaum, Binnie - An Almost Perfect Moment
This coming-of-age novel set in 1970s Brooklyn, filled with both tenderness and laugh-out-loud fun, tells the story of Valentine Kessler, arguably the prettiest girl in her high school class. A Jewish teen, with an uncanny and puzzling resemblance to the blessed Virgin Mary, Valerie shuns the popular crowd; choosing instead to pine away for her pathetically geeky math teacher and secretly obsess over a book about the Catholic martyrs. Her single-mother Miriam and "The Girls" (her Mah-jongg partners and colorful best friends) surround Valentine with unconditional love and support—even after an "immaculate" event that affects them all. Debbie Deady

814/TAN
Tan, Amy - The Opposite of Fate
Author Amy Tan reflects on her life, past, extended family, and fate in this series of satisfying essays. She also shares what it's like to see your work critiqued in Cliffs Notes, the making of the movie The Joy Luck Club, and the fun she has singing with the literary rock bank, The Rock Bottom Remainders. A warm, down-to-earth, personal examination of a literary life that's a true pleasure to read. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/VICKERS
Vickers, Salley - Mr. Golightly's Holiday
When Mr. Golightly left the office for a holiday, the first in ages, he simply wanted a quiet place to ponder solitude and give a best-selling book he'd written back in the old days a long overdue update. His assistant found him a quiet cottage in a quiet village, where the distractions should have been minimal. Mr. Golightly planned to get to the rewrites right away, but the village—its inhabitants and the dramas of modern life—offered the perfect opportunity to procrastinate. He just couldn't help but become involved. An unusual twist on a very old story. Terri Williams

February

YA/FICTION/ANDERSON
Anderson, Laurie Halse - Speak
From her first moment in high school Melinda knows she is an outcast. She called the police at a secret end-of-the-school year party, and now no one will talk to her, not even her best friends. She withdraws into herself and becomes silent. However, when Melinda is finally forced to confront the reason for her silence, she finds she must speak the truth. Even though the subject matter of the book is a serious one, there are some hilarious descriptions of high school life. But this book is about victimization and healing. Melinda discovers that even though it may be hard to speak up for herself, being silent is worse. This story about wounding and recovery will appeal to teens, parents, teachers, and other adults. Melinda's story leaves the reader touched and inspired by her courage. Nana Oakey-Campana

FICTION/DEE
Dee, Ed - The Con Man's Daughter
Despite the title, the focus of this dark and satisfying crime novel is the con man himself, ex-boxer and ex-policeman Eddie Dunn, who walks his granddaughter to school one morning and returns home to find his daughter kidnapped. Eddie calls in all his favors and uses his investigative skills to try to find her, at the same time revealing, layer by layer, the secrets from his past, including his involvement with the Russian mafia, that have put him in this situation. A compelling and gritty thriller, filled with strong characters, elegant prose, and an unblinking look at the criminal underworld. Joyce Saricks

F/HIAASEN
Hiaasen, Carl - Stormy Weather
Natural disasters tend to bring people together. In the case of this catastrophic South Florida hurricane, the people brought together include an ex-con, a scam artist, a disenchanted newlywed and her ad-exec husband, dirty trailer home contractors, a skull juggler, various hookers, and the mysterious former governor who has reverted to primitive subsistence—among others. Through a sequence of humorous and often illegal twists and turns, this disparate group crosses paths with one another amongst the wreckage and the various schemes that unfold as the aftermath and insurance checks begin to settle in. Fans of the twisted plots and colorful characters in movies such as Snatch or the Coen Brothers films (The Big Lebowski, Raising Arizona) are sure to enjoy this look at the seedy side of hurricane recovery. Heather Booth

MYSTERY/KOZAK
Kozak, Harley Jane - Dating Dead Men
Wollie Shelley is a Los Angeles greeting card designer and manager of a Welcome! Greetings franchise, which she hopes to own someday—if she can win approval from pesky Mr. Bundt, the corporate liaison sent to keep an eye on her. Short of funds, she agrees to participate in a paid research project which requires that she date 40 men in 60 days. And, of course, she realizes that she must somehow manage to keep her personal escapades a secret from corporate headquarters. Her already hectic life shifts into high-gear when she stumbles across a dead body; is abducted by an armed (albeit handsome) stranger; and discovers that she's being stalked by mob hit-men. Who's a girl to trust? Fans of Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series may enjoy this witty debut, which begins a new "dating mysteries" series. Debbie Deady

FICTION/MARTIN
Martin, William - Harvard Yard
Once again Martin brings early New England history to life, this time by way of a controversial document protected through the generations by one of Harvard's founding families. Antiquarian and sleuth Peter Fallon's dual status as a dealer in rare books and documents, as well as Harvard Alum, makes him the ideal candidate to help his old college mate Ridley find an elusive family treasure, possibly a piece by Shakespeare himself. But when Ridley's body is found floating in the harbor, what began as an exercise in intellectual curiosity becomes an urgent search, as Fallon digs through Ridley's family closets, past and present, to find not only a rare document but a murderer. Terri Williams

F/SENATE
Senate, Melissa - The Solomon Sisters Wise Up
Sisters Sarah and Ally Solomon and their half-sister Zoe, due to various circumstances, all end up staying at their father's New York penthouse apartment as he prepares to remarry once again. Sarah is homeless and pregnant by a man she's been dating for only two months, and Ally is reeling from a profound betrayal by her husband. Zoe has come to New York after breaking up with her boyfriend to find her mother and stop her from "destroying her dad and his child bride." The three sisters cope as they become friends and learn to support one another, and each comes to terms with her problems and looks to a hopeful future in this amusing, satisfying tale, related first person in alternating chapters by the three sisters. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/ THAYER
Thayer, Nancy - The Hot Flash Club
Four women all in their 50s and 60s meet unexpectedly at a retirement party and over cocktails find that they are all feeling old and that life is passing them by. Faye is a widow and artist whose creativity is dried up now that her husband has died. Shirley is a masseuse who has just been dropped by her last lover and is feeling depressed over her lack of financial security. Marilyn is a brainy paleontologist who has devoted her energy into her work, allowing herself become dowdy. Alice, an executive, worked hard to get up the corporate ladder only to find herself in jeopardy of losing her position to a younger woman. Together they realize that they can help each other to make this the best time of their lives. This is chick lit for the over 50s crowd. Marianne Trautvetter

January

FICTION/CHILD
Child, Lincoln - Utopia
Sabotage in a high tech theme park provides the backdrop for this suspenseful scientific thriller by Lincoln Child, who first gained prominence with Douglas J. Preston and titles such as Relic. Called in to pursue more advanced projects—or so he believes—Dr. Andrew Warne, the computer genius behind the Metanet that links all aspects of the park, quickly discovers that he is really there to diagnose the dangerous computer glitches that have recently appeared. What he finds is that someone on the inside has made the park vulnerable to terrorist attack, and now he, along with his teenage daughter and thousands of visitors, are in mortal danger—unless he can unravel the complex treachery and disarm the terrorists. Joyce Saricks

FICTION / HOFFMAN
Hoffman, Alice - The Probable Future
Upon turning thirteen, each woman of the Sparrow family develops a unique gift—or curse, depending on her perspective. Eleanor can tell a liar when she sees one. Her estranged and recently divorced daughter Jenny dreams the dreams of others. And Jenny's daughter, the willful thirteen-year-old Stella, is shocked when she wakes up on her birthday and is able to see the manner in which those around her will die. An unfortunate chain of events relating to Stella's gift leads Jenny and Stella to take refuge with Eleanor in the small town of Unity, Massachusetts. There, in a house and town steeped in history and folklore, three strong women at very different stages in life begin to face their common past, their gifts, and their shared future. A story of love and family, regret and redemption, Hoffman's latest will appeal to those who enjoy careful prose with eerie, magical undertones. Heather Booth

FICTION/LEBRECHT
Lebrecht, Norman - The Song of Names
Against the backdrop of a war-torn WWII London, this story features two boys—Martin, the son of a well-connected music publisher; and Dovidl, a Jewish violin prodigy, who has traveled to England from Warsaw to study under a celebrated virtuoso. Dovidl (whose name is changed to Eli, in order to disguise his ethnicity) is taken in by Martin's family, and the two boys spend the war years together, becoming more like brothers than friends. Tragically, on the eve of his highly-touted debut performance, Eli disappears without a trace—which sparks Martin's obsessive search for the truth of what happened that night. Forty years later, an unexpected clue leads Martin to the answers he seeks—as well as an emotional reunion with his past. The Song of Names is the winner of the Whitbread First Novel Award for 2003. Debbie Deady

FICTION/PÉREZ-REVERTE
Pérez-Reverte, Arturo - The Flanders Panel
While readying a painting for auction, Julia, a young art restorer in Madrid, discovers, by X-ray photography, a hidden inscription "Who killed the knight?" at the bottom of the painting The Game of Chess by Van Huys. The discovery leads Julia, her longtime friend César, and chess expert Muñoz into unraveling the chess game in the painting to identify the murderer of the knight Roger de Arras, one of the chess players portrayed in the painting. Past becomes entwined with present as two people close to Julia lose their lives and Julia herself is threatened. A literary thriller, framed by the game of chess, which keeps the reader guessing until the final checkmate. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/ROBERTS
Roberts, Nora - Key of Light
Art gallery manager Malory Price, librarian Dana Steele, and hairdresser Zoe McCourt are all strangers until they find themselves to be the only guests at a reception held at a mysterious mansion. Their eccentric hosts, Rowena and Pitte, challenge them to participate in an unusual quest. According to a Celtic legend the souls of three demigoddesses are imprisoned in a mystical box. The box can only be opened when each of three mortal women finds and turns a separate key. All three are offered $25,000 to start and a promise of a million dollars if they are successful. Malory's search for the key is told in this first book of the trilogy. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/ SMITH
Smith, Haywood - The Red Hat Club
A charming tale of friendship and revenge, served southern style. The five members of the Red Hat Club meet monthly at the Swan Coach House, wearing outfits (purple) and hats (red) to drink tea (iced and sweetened) and dish gossip (spicy). They've known each other forever, since high school, and live strictly by a friendship code that includes M.Y.O.B. and Do-Overs. Needless to say when a cheating husband is uncovered (not a pretty picture) the ladies of the club focus their considerable talents on a mission which culminates in a quite satisfying meeting in the lawyers office. A nice story about loyalty and friendship. Group discussion questions are included. Terri Williams