Good Reads - Fiction

What We're Reading

2007 Archives

December

MYSTERY/BALZO
Balzo, Sandra - Grounds for Murder - 2007, 217p.
In this second in a series, Maggy Thosen reluctantly agrees to be in charge of the barista competition at Java Ho, the specialty coffee convention. Unfortunately, the head judge of the competition, the disagreeable Marvin LaRoche, is murdered at the convention center, leaving Maggy to find his killer, as she seems to be a suspect, although there are many others who disliked him. Complicating matters, Maggy would like her relationship to the local sheriff, Pavlik, to begin to heat up, but does he really consider her a suspect? Details of coffeehouses and the specialty coffee world are nicely integrated into the story which includes a likable main character and well-developed secondary characters. Sue O'Brien

MYSTERY/HARVEY
Harvey, John - Darkness & Light - 2006, 350p.
Retired investigator Frank Elder is somewhat content with his solitary life in the isolated city of Cornwall. He rarely sees his ex-wife Joanne and his daughter Katherine, so he is surprised when he receives a call from Joanne pleading with him to help with the disappearance of an old friends' sister. He reluctantly agrees, but soon after he arrives in London, Claire Meecham is found dead in her own bed. The similarities between this murder and an unsolved homicide keep Frank actively involved as a civilian consultant on the case. Eventually, old fashioned police work enables Frank to solve the crime. This well written police procedural combines complex character development and high tension and a satisfying, albeit unexpected, ending. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/FRANK
Frank, Dorothea Benton - The Christmas Pearl - 2007, 139p.
Ninety-three-year-old Theodora is the matriarch of a family who has lost the true meaning of Christmas and has shunned the idea of celebrating Christmas in the grand Southern traditional way that Theodora remembers from her childhood. With her family acting especially mean-spirited to each other Theodora gets unexpected help from Pearl, her grandmother's long deceased housekeeper. Pearl has been sent from Heaven to teach this family to treat each other with respect and love and what Southern holiday traditions are all about. Using her Gullah magic and some Christmas miracles Pearl shows Theodora's family what a love-filled Christmas holiday is all about. Frank adds some traditional Southern holiday recipes at the end as a bonus. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/JOHNSON
Johnson, Dedra - Sandrine's Letter to Tomorrow - 2007, 212p.
Anticipating another summer vacation with her beloved paternal grandmother, Mamalita, ten-year old Sandrine Miller endures a confusing, extended visit with her physician father, his current girlfriend, and her eight-year old daughter in a boxy town home in Meridian, Mississippi. Expecting Mamalita any day, the neglected and unsupervised girls are instead particularly vulnerable to the untrustworthy adults in their world. Sandrine determines to return home to New Orleans and the other refuge in her young life: the Sisters at St. John of God School. When word comes that Mamalita has died, Sandrine despairs. Stalked by a man from the neighborhood, Sandrine asserts herself despite the mistreatment, ridicule, and disbelief of her mother, Shirleen. Details pertaining to the African American community, family diatribe, and rural Mississippi health care abound in this aptly-told, coming-of-age novel set in the 1970s. Suzy Miller

FICTON/MERULLO
Merullo, Roland - Breakfast with Buddha - 2007, 323p.
Soon after receiving the news that his parents have been killed in a car accident, middle-aged New York editor Otto Ringling reluctantly embarks on a cross-country journey to settle their sizeable estate (one thousand acres of North Dakota farmland). Otto's only sibling, free-spirited sister Cecilia, has agreed to accompany him. Unbeknownst to Otto however, Cecilia has decided to bequeath her portion of the estate to her guru, a Skovorodinian monk, who due to her insistence becomes their traveling companion. Their scenic, laid-back road trip (which includes a tour of the Hershey chocolate factory) ultimately becomes a journey of profound spiritual awakening for Otto, who rediscovers life's abundant joys along the way. A delightful ride! Debbie Deady

November

MYSTERY/ASHFORD
Ashford, Lindsay Jayne - Frozen - 2006, 222p.
At the request of the local police department, profiler Megan Rhys, of Heartland University's Department of Investigative Psychology, develops a profile to help identify a serial killer who murders prostitutes and is operating in the Birmingham-Wolverhampton part of Britain. The police soon believe they have identified a suspect, but Megan doesn't agree; so she must convince them that the killer is still out there before more people die. A likable main character and the fast-paced mystery draw the reader into the story. Watch for the second in the series, Strange Blood, to be published in the United States in December. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/GIMINEZ
Gimenez, Mark - The Abduction - 2007, 503p.
Gracie Brice is a precocious ten-year old and star of her soccer team. Her father, a Bill Gates type, is just about to take his company public, and Gracie's mother is a high priced attorney, busy with a successful legal practice. Then the unthinkable happens – Gracie is abducted from her soccer game. While everyone waits for the ransom call which never comes, Gracie's grandfather, Ben Brice, a Viet Nam and Black Ops war hero, becomes actively involved in the investigation. Although estranged from his son and wife, he has always had a special relationship with Gracie and is determined to find her. Along with his son, they pursue a lead which puts them in the middle of a group of sinister revolutionaries. The twists and turns in this fast paced thriller just keep coming, and as the story unfolds, the reader becomes obsessed with the question why was Gracie kidnapped. Dark family secrets which are revealed only make Gracie's situation more precarious. This is a hard to put down book which keeps the reader in suspense till the very end. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/HORAN
Horan, Nancy - Loving Frank - 2007, 362p.
Set in the early 1900s Mamah Brothwick Cheney and architect Frank Lloyd Wright fall in love and leave their families. They live in Europe and in Wisconsin, where she, her two children and some of Wright's apprentices are killed by a servant. The sad ending is balanced however, by the fact that Wright continues to create world class architectural marvels like Fallingwater in Pennsylvania, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York. The author also includes many rich details about the Oak Park area, as well as the lives of Wright and Cheney and their families. Margaret D., C.O.D. intern

FICTION/ JACOBS
Jacobs, Rayda - Confessions of a Gambler - 2003, 2007, 240p.
Women's lives are as complex in the suburbs of Cape Town, South Africa as they are in the Western Suburbs of Chicago. For Abeeda, a divorced, Muslim woman with four adult sons, modern life is complicated; she continuously struggles with her faith, her sisters, her ex-husband and her sons. As a woman of faith, who has been to Mecca, wears two head scarves, has four grown sons, all raised with the Word of God, Abeeda finds herself seeking relief from life's mounting tensions in a surprising place, at the local casino, playing the slots. Abeeda's struggle to craft a life where modern realities and her religion are balanced, drive this interesting novel of a modern Muslim woman, in suburban South Africa, dealing with her personal demons. Terri W.

FICTION/KIMMEL
Kimmel, Haven - The Used World - 2007, 306p.
The two weeks preceding Christmas in Jonah, Indiana is the Midwestern setting for this contemporary literary novel. Owner Hazel Hunnicutt operates the Used World Emporium with the help of two long-time employees: Claudia Modjeski and Rebekah Shook. The Emporium—a combination resale and antique store housed in a former tire warehouse—is the repository for all manner of objects which, once purchased, are repurposed into new lives. With steady pacing, Kimmel establishes a story with multiple plot lines told from different points of view. The characters lives are intertwined with a measured grace; though, a carefully guarded secret threatens to undermine the devoted friendship these three women have forged. Culminating in June of the following year, the story underscores the importance of cultivating and responding to a kind of spiritual intuition with those we cherish most. Suzy Miller

FICTION/WOOD
Wood, Patricia - Lottery - 2007, 310p.
Thirty-two-year-old Perry L. Crandall is not retarded, to be retarded your IQ must be 75 or lower and Perry's IQ is 76. Perry's grandmother always tells him that the "L" stands for lucky. His grandmother, who has raised him since he was a baby, is always teaching him things. She instructs him on bettering himself by making him work through the dictionary, learning to cook, and explaining to him the types of people he can't trust. Perry is very happy with his life and his routines: learning from his grandmother, working at the marine supply store, and hanging out with his friends Keith and Cherry. When the moment that his grandmother has prepared him for finally happens, Perry knows that his life has changed forever. Perry continues the weekly routine he had with his grandmother and his life changes even more dramatically when he wins twelve million dollars in the lottery. Told in first person from Perry's point of view, this is a touching and uplifting story. Nicole S.

October

FICTION/ALLEN
Allen, Sarah Addison - Garden Spells - 2007, 290p.
Fans of Alice Hoffman will enjoy this magical story of two sisters: successful caterer Claire Waverley and Sydney, the sister who left home immediately after high school. Claire is living in the family home when Sydney, along with her daughter, comes back to Bascom, North Carolina to escape an abusive relationship. The sisters, never close, begin to forge a bond as Claire opens herself up to care for others and risk possible loss while Sydney reclaims her heritage as a Waverley. Romance, small town life, quirky characters, and touches of magic make this a truly warm, satisfying story. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/CROSBY
Crosby, Ellen - The Merlot Murders - 2007, 286p.
When Lucie Montgomery is summoned back from France to Virginia for her father's funeral, she has no idea what she will find. The beautiful family estate and winery has fallen into disrepair, and her brother is intent on selling to keep his self-indulgent wife happy. Lucie, however, has other ideas and when her godfather also ends up dead she is sure that her father's death was no accident. This intricately plotted novel and cast of intriguing characters along with the details of wine industry make this an impressive debut novel. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/HARVEY
Harvey, Michael - The Chicago Way - 2007, 303p.
A first novel by a Chicago author known for his work on A&E's Cold Case Files. Michael Kelly, an ex-cop and private investigator, gets sucked back into the game after a visit from a former colleague. Soon, the colleague ends up dead, and the case gets personal as Kelly finds himself in peril while trying to solve an old rape case before more crimes occur. Could a serial killer who shocked the area with his despicable crimes somehow be active from behind bars? This fast paced crime novel will please fans of gritty urban thrillers. Set in Chicago and steeped in the details of the city, readers will enjoy Kelly's view of familiar streets, neighborhoods, and haunts. Heather Booth

FICTION/IRONSIDE
Ironside, Virginia - No! I Don't Want to Join a Book Club - 2006, 231p.
As her 60th birthday approaches, London columnist and confirmed curmudgeon Marie Sharp, begins a diary in which she writes about the "perks" of senior citizenship (i.e. free rides on the metro) and her new found freedom from the pressure of having to learn, or begin anything new (what's the point?). When Marie is informed that she is going to be a grandma, she is thrilled, but soon after baby Gene's arrival, she notices that she can't quell her sudden irrational fears about harm coming to the baby. To make matters worse, Marie realizes that she has become oddly attracted to her (gay and committed) friend Hughie, who has been recently diagnosed with a terminal illness. What's a liberated, senior cynic to do? This is a laugh-out-loud novel, no matter what your age or philosophy. Debbie Deady

FICTION/KLINE
Kline, Christina Baker - The Way Life Should Be - 2007, 271p.
Goaded by her best friend, Lindsay, 31-year-old museum event planner Angela Russo (aka: NewYorkGirl) reluctantly decides to dabble with online dating herself. Spicy emails and a steamy weekend with MaineCatch (aka: Richard Saunders) allow for an unexpected fiasco at work putting Angela out of a job. Despite the misgivings of her family and friends, Angela impulsively agrees to an extended visit at his home in picturesque Mount Desert Isle, Maine. There, some startling discoveries cause her to reassess MaineCatch while taking tentative steps to realign her priorities with a new job and living arrangements. Briskly paced and engrossing, this delightful contemporary novel offers an insightful look into online dating as well as the benefits ensuing from a candid reappraisal of life choices. Readers who enjoy cooking will especially enjoy the numerous details about preparing authentic Italian food. Suzy Miller

FICTION/LOURIE
Lourie, Richard - A Hatred for Tulips - 2007, 182p.
In this slim novel, the author takes a fictional look at the boy who gave away the hiding place of Anne Frank and the others taking refuge in the secret annex. Narrating his story to the younger brother who was able to unknowingly escape the horror of living in wartime Holland, Joop shares the shame that has lived with him for decades. An absorbing read that you will not soon forget. Nicole S.

FICTION/SHAPIRO
Shapiro, Dani - Family History - 2003. 269p.
Narrator Rachel Jensen, the mother of teenage daughter Kate and toddler son Joshua, gives a poignant look into the life of a family in peril. A devastated Rachel lies in her darkened bedroom watching old home movies of what was once a happy family. The problems in the family seem to have started when Kate goes through extreme emotional and behavioral changes as she becomes a teenager. Rachel and her husband Ned at first think the changes are Kate's reaction to the birth of her brother. In flashbacks the author gives insight into what the family was like in the past, parallels what they are going through in the present and shows hope for their future. Marianne Trautvetter

September

BIOGRAPHY/WARD
Ward, Logan - See You in a Hundred Years - 2007, 245p.
Tired of working long hours, take-out dinners and ambivalent daycare providers, Logan and Heather Ward decide to exchange city life in Manhattan, circa 2000, for an earlier time altogether. Moving with their young son to forty acres of farmland outside Swoope, Virginia, Ward documents the myriad of adjustments and challenges they encounter living as small-scale farmers did at the turn of the last century. Season by season, Ward describes the effort needed to sustain their small family by growing crops, maintaining livestock and keeping house while facing the same limitations as farmers in 1900. Their year culminates with celebrating the community of friends and connectedness to place that is the real crowning achievement of the project. Brisk pacing and vivid descriptions offer readers a contemplative examination of a bygone era with these modern time-travelers. Suzy Miller

FICTION/FOLLETT
Follett, Ken - Pillars of the Earth - 1989, 2002, 973p.
A departure from his popular thrillers, Follett paints a broad and gripping picture of life in twelfth century England, focusing on the lives of those drawn together by the construction of a great cathedral. From the master builder who lays out the original plan, to the pious young prior struggling to understand the political machinations of both the clergy and the crown, to the dispossessed daughter of an earl who strives to restore her family to their previous nobility, the characters are vividly drawn and multifaceted. Interesting period detail is woven into the action of the story, illuminating both day to day reality and broad cultural and political changes. Pillars of the Earth is considered by many to be Follett's most enduring work. Read it in anticipation of the much awaited sequel featuring descendents of the original characters, World Without End, to be released this October. Heather Booth

FICTION/MORIARTY
Moriarty, Laura - The Rest of Her Life - 2007, 303p.
High school senior and model student Kara Churchill is the driver in a reckless driving accident that kills a fellow student and changes Kara's life dramatically. This novel is told from the point of view of Kara's mother, Leigh, whose relationship with her daughter is now even more strained than before the accident. Leigh finds she feels jealous and left out when Kara looks to her father, Gary, for comfort and support. Acting protectively of her daughter, Leigh tries to shield Kara from the public outcry of the community while at the same time she feels sympathetic towards the family whose daughter died in the accident. Moriarty's characters are well-developed and she does a realistic job of telling the story from all points of view. Marianne Trautvetter

YA/FICTION/NELSON
Nelson, Blake - Paranoid Park - 2006, 180p.
The unnamed narrator of this story is a sixteen-year old skater whose life isn't so great lately. His parents are headed towards divorce and a girl he's not even sure he likes is aggressively pursuing him. The one consistent thing in his life is skating; he is never without his board. Paranoid Park in downtown Portland is a skater's dream but the regulars are pretty tough. When his friend ditches him to go visit a "sure thing" at Oregon State University, the narrator decides to go to Paranoid Park alone. Everything changes when he gets entangled in a fight and someone ends up dead. An engrossing and fast-paced read. Nicole S.

FICTION/PERRY
Perry, Thomas - Silence - 2007, 439p.
Jack Till, once a LAPD detective, now turned private investigator, helps people disappear. He coached Wendy Harper so well six years ago, that now even he can't find her, and her ex-boyfriend will soon be tried for her murder. Things are even more complicated by the fact that the people Wendy was running away from six years ago now want her dead, and have hired a ruthless pair of killers who are happy to eliminate everyone and everything in their way. Reminiscent of Perry's Jane Whitfield series, this engrossing intelligent thriller keep the reader in suspense till the unpredictable and satisfying conclusion. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/ VANCE
Vance, Lee - Restitution - 2007, 322p.
In this suspenseful debut a high flying Wall Street player loses everything as the only suspect in his wife's brutal murder. Peter Tyler, the only suspect in Jenna's murder, has nothing to live for until Detective Tiling shows up on his doorstep with the first and only tangible lead. A package, delivered the morning of the murder to Jenna from Andrei, a long time friend living in Russia, is missing. The police want to talk to Andrei, but Andrei's vanished. With nothing left but a desire for revenge, Peter flees to Russia to find Andrei and answers, but instead uncovers questions that lead him straight back to Wall Street. This is a complex financial thriller that twists and turns to the very last page. Terri W.

FICTION/WALLACE
Wallace, Daniel - Mr. Sebastian and the Negro Magician - 2007, 257p.
As the only son of a down-on-his-luck, hotel employee (a casualty of the Great Depression), Henry Walker becomes the young protégé of the mysterious resident of room 702, Mr. Sebastian – a magician whose illusions are so incredible, and his skin so luminously-white, that one might wonder if he isn't the Devil incarnate. Heartbroken, after the suspicious disappearance of his sister, and desperate for work after his father loses his job, Henry is talked into masquerading as a black man, and booked as a novelty act, aka the "Negro Magician." Years later, after joining a traveling circus, Henry's own mysterious disappearance and the detailed story of his life, is narrated by a few of the quirky characters whose lives intersected with his. A good choice for Pablo Coelho fans and those who liked Water for Elephants. Debbie Deady

August

F/BAKER
Baker, Ellen - Keeping the House - 2007, 528p.
Set in Pine Rapids, Wisconsin, the novel begins with arrivals; native son, John Mickelson, returning home with a new bride, circa 1896, to assume his place in the family business and shifts to a present-day 1950 when the Magnusons, another young couple, arrive in town for husband Byron to partner in a new Chrysler dealership. Dolly, Byron's wife, fastidiously cares for him in their modest home tutored by leading women's magazines of the day. Disillusioned when her efforts do not reproduce the same happy results seen on the glossy pages, Dolly becomes fascinated with the grand, but neglected Mickelson house down the block and manages to slowly learn the history of the abandoned home at weekly Ladies Aid meetings. Told from multiple points of view, this densely written historical novel shifts from Dolly's perspective as a lonely housewife to the story of the Mickelson clan; once-dominating scions of Pine Rapids business and society. Offering a vivid portrait of life in Wisconsin's northwoods during the first half of the twentieth century, the novel is rich with details of family sacrifice, wartime service, and women's lives in conjunction with societal expectations of that time. Suzy Miller

MYSTERY/HARRIS
Harris, Charlaine - Dead Until Dark - 2001, 260p.
Sookie Stackhouse isn't your average barmaid in Louisiana, she has a "disability" that most others try to ignore. Most people don't consider being telepathic a disability, but try being around people when you can hear their every thought. When a stranger shows up at the bar where she works, Sookie finds herself drawn to him because of the silence around him, she can't hear his thoughts or sense any feelings. The stranger happens to be a vampire, which isn't too odd, considering that vampires "came out" on television a few years earlier and proclaimed their existence to the world. When Sookie saves Bill the vampire from two shady human customers in the bar, she has no idea that her life is about to change. This is the first title in an addictive, funny, and fast-paced series that blends mystery and romance with the supernatural. Look for it to be adapted soon into an HBO television series called True Blood. Nicole S.

MYSTERY/HARRIS
Harris, Charlaine - Ice Cold Grave - 2007
After being struck by lightning as a teenager, Harper Connelly has developed the unique ability to find the dead and see how they died. She and her stepbrother, Tolliver Lang, now travel the country and assist law enforcement personnel and the family members of the dead. In her third case, due to be published in late September, Harper is hired to find a woman's missing grandson in Doraville, North Carolina. Harper finds his body, along with the bodies of several other missing teenagers, long thought to be runaways. After Harper locates the teens, she is injured by an unknown attacker, so she stays in Doraville to recover and continue to assist the police. Well-developed characters, the supernatural, and a unique premise distinguish this mystery series by the author who also writes the Sookie Stackhouse series. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/JUNGERSEN
Jungersen, Christian - The Exception - 2007, 502p.
This international bestselling novel centers around the lives of four female co-workers employed at the Danish Centre for Genocide Studies, a small office charged with researching and archiving global war atrocities. When two of the women receive anonymous email death threats, they immediately suspect a well-known international terrorist, who had been the recent subject of their office news articles. However, when evidence surfaces that implicates one of their own, suspicions arise and finger-pointing escalates – resulting in the estrangement and bullying of targeted co-workers (not unlike the behavior of the war criminals they research). A shocking murder makes it clear that the threats are real, and all are suspect. The page-turning action that follows, adds a riveting conclusion to this unique psychological novel. Debbie Deady

FICTION/STROHMEYER
Strohmeyer, Sarah - The Sleeping Beauty Proposal - 2007, 312p.
Genie Michaels is overwhelmed with happiness when Hugh, her boyfriend of four years, proposes on national television while being interviewed by Barbara Walters. Hugh doesn't specifically name the woman he asks to marry him, but a shocked Genie soon realizes the proposal wasn't to her. Later when she finally reaches Hugh, he tells her on the phone that he is in love with another woman and that he just isn't sexually attracted to her. Genie's best friend Patty takes over and suggests that Genie fake the engagement and plan her wedding taking advantage of the royal treatment from family and friends since Hugh will be away in Europe all summer on a book tour. Even though she feels guilty about lying to her family and friends, Genie finds as an engaged woman people see her in a new light and especially enjoys the attention she receives from Nick, a hunky carpenter friend of her brother. Fans of Sophie Kinsella or Jennifer Weiner should enjoy the humor in this novel. Marianne Trautvetter

813.09 EVE
Everything I Needed to Know About Being a Girl I Learned from Judy Blume - 2007, 275p.
Judy Blume's funny, heartfelt, cringe-worthy tales of growing up have been entrancing girls since the 1970s. Books like Are You There God, it's Me, Margaret and Forever… were the dog-eared novels passed around on the playground and the girls' locker room. Here, twenty one authors of chick-lit and YA novels recall the moments in their lives when the lessons learned, relationships explained, and feelings of validation gained through reading Blume's work echoed in their lives. Brief essays offer a blend of humor and reflection as the authors delve into their girlhood and point out that, as the title suggests, Judy Blume's characters went through it all: friendship, loneliness, puberty, first love, bullying, and much more. A treat for those for whom Judy Blume was an essential part of childhood. Heather Booth

July

FICTION/ABRAHAMS
Abrahams, Peter - Nerve Damage - 2007, 304p.
Still mourning the accidental death of his wife fifteen years earlier in a helicopter crash, Roy Valois, a quasi-famous junk art sculptor, receives two bits of shocking news: first that he is suffering from a rare form of asbestos-related cancer and has only months to live; and secondly that his wife Delia may still be alive. To make matters worse, it appears that she had been secretly working as a high-level political operative during their marriage, and as Roy digs closer to the truth, he unwittingly sets in motion a sequence of deadly events and conspiratorial cover-ups. A nice choice for fans of Harlan Coben's psychological thrillers. Debbie Deady

F/BERG
Berg, Elizabeth - Dream When You're Feeling Blue - 2007, 276p.
Set in Chicago during World War II, this novel is an intimate portrayal of a large Irish Catholic family and the many sacrifices they are forced to make during the war. The oldest girls, Kitty and Louise, say good-bye to their boyfriends at the train station when they ship off to go overseas. Kitty is disappointed when her younger sister becomes engaged to Michael and her own relationship with Julian is cooling down now that he is overseas. Youngest sister Tish convinces her sisters to attend USO dances with her to cheer up the boys. None of the Heaney's three sons are old enough to serve in the war, but the oldest son runs off with a fake birth certificate to try and enlist. Berg adds just enough humor to lighten the hardships the family endures, but in the end it is the families' strong love for each other that gets them through this difficult time. Marianne Trautvetter

F/CONNOLLY
Connolly, John - The Book of Lost Things - 2006, 339p.
Soon after young David's mother dies, he hears her much-loved books talking to him. Then, David sees a sinister, crooked man appears in his window one night, though no one believes him. David is soon thrust into a strange land reminiscent of his fairy tale books, but much more brutal than he remembers. Here, the crooked man alternately taunts and aids him in his search for the king of the land, whose Book of Lost Things supposedly holds the key to David's return home. But at what price? This is a suspenseful, fantastical journey through faintly familiar tales, at the core of which is a child's love for his late mother and his search to reacquaint himself with his forever altered family. H. Booth

FICTION / JAMES
James, P.D. - The Children of Men - 1993, 241p.
It has been 25 years since the last human was born. Universal male infertility, an inexplicable event, has altered the world. In Britain the crisis spawned a general malaise, mass suicides, eroding civil society and a dictatorial centralized government. Like many in Britain, Theo Feron, professor of Victorian history, struggles daily to maintain a routine; to follow the government's guides "to seek comforts and remain engaged." When first approached to use his influence to assist a small group of civil activists Theo reluctantly agreed, if only to avoid a disagreeable situation, but, his involvement with the group changes abruptly when he finds himself intimately and desperately involved with the group's survival. An interesting examination of a dystopic future. Although used as the basis for the 2006 film of the same name, there are few similarities. Terri W.

FICTION/LEE
Lee, Min Jin - Free Food for Millionaires - 2007, 562p.
An unemployed economics graduate, twenty-two-year-old Casey Han wrestles to balance her expensive tastes cultivated among wealthier Princeton classmates, and retail work at an upscale clothier during school breaks, with the values of her hard-working immigrant Korean parents. A violent argument with her parents, and betrayal by her clandestine Caucasian boyfriend, leave Casey without a home in Queens or place of refuge in Manhattan. Coerced by dire straits, Casey accepts help and ultimately friendship, from a long-time acquaintance and member of her family's Korean church who she formerly ridiculed. Told from multiple points of view, the densely written novel moves at a clipped pace mirroring contemporary American life while detailing the unique perspective of assimilated immigrant offspring who must somehow reconcile the old homeland with the new. Rich with family drama and details of the Korean-American experience, Lee's novel is the quintessential summer-time read! Suzy Miller

FICTION/
McLaughlin, Emma - Dedication - 2007, 279p.
Jake Sharpe is one of the most recognizable musicians in the world, with six albums under his belt. His songs can be heard everywhere… on the radio, in the gym, even in grocery stores. Kate Hollis, her life being his inspiration since he stood her up right before prom, has been planning her revenge since his first song about her was played on the radio. When Kate finds out from her best friend that Jake will be back in their hometown for an exclusive MTV special, she heads home to finally confront him. Told partially through flashbacks, the 80s references and likeable main character make this newest chick lit title from the authors of The Nanny Diaries a worthwhile read. Nicole S.

MYSTERY/PRINGLE
Pringle, Peter - Day of the Dandelion - 2007, 306p.
Arthur Hemmings, a Kew Gardens researcher and an agent for the Office of Food Security, investigates when British Professor Alastair Scott and Russian researcher Tanya Petrovskaya can't be found after seeds that could revolutionize the food industry are stolen from a safe in the Oxford Museum. Governments and agriculture conglomerates all want to patent the genetics of the seeds, giving them control of the worlds' food supply, while the researchers want the technology to be freely available for all. When Scott turns up dead, Hemmings must find Tanya. Did she return to Russia with the valuable seeds, or is she on the run? A fast-paced adventure with details of genetics, botany and food science woven throughout. Sue O'Brien

June

FICTION/ESTILL
Estill, Katie - Dahlia's Gone - 2007, 239p.
The murder of 18-year-old Dahlia Everston in a tiny Ozark riverfront town is the focus of this taut psychological drama which alternately examines the lives and relationships of the three women most affected by the unsolved crime: Sandra (Sand) Williams, the Everston's closest neighbor who was asked to check on Dahlia and her 17-year-old stepbrother while their parents were vacationing in Myrtle Beach; Deputy Sheriff Patti Callahan, the lead investigator on the case; and Dahlia's stepmother Norah, who refuses to accept the growing suspicion that her son knows more about his sister's murder than he is willing to admit. Brisk pacing, memorable characters, and rich, sense-of-place detail. Debbie Deady

FICTION/JANOWITZ
Janowitz, Brenda - Scot on the Rocks - 2007, 293p.
Attorney Brooke Miller's plan to attend her ex-boyfriend's wedding in California with her handsome, successful Scottish boyfriend Douglas derails when he breaks up with her mere days before the wedding, leaving her homeless as well as boyfriendless. After moving in with her best friend, she convinces a colleague to pretend to be Douglas, so she can still attend the wedding, her dignity intact. Her scheme leads to hilarious complications as the likable Brooke completely fails to see what's right under her nose. Sue O'Brien

YA/F/JOHNSON
Johnson, Maureen - Girl at Sea - 2007, 336p.
Who wouldn't want to spend the summer cruising around the Mediterranean? Seventeen-year-old Clio certainly doesn't. It will ruin her plans for summer romance! When she arrives, things head downhill. She has to share a cabin with her dad's new girlfriend's daughter Elsa, she has to cook for the crew, she can't use the phone or Internet, and no one will tell her what they are doing or why. But Clio and spunky British Elsa quickly become friends, and eventually, Clio digs up some dirt on the mission: a secret undersea archeological search. Then, Clio "rocks the boat" when she finds herself attracted to Aiden, the cute research assistant that Elsa is pursuing. A whirlwind of mystery and action hit (jellyfish! kidnapping! undersea shipwreck!), and Clio rises to the occasion. The friendship, romance, and adventure make this is a perfect summer read for fans of the The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Heather Booth

817/ NOTARO
Notaro, Laurie - Autobiography of a Fat Bride: True Tales of Pretend Adulthood - 2003, 257p.
As a new wedding season approaches, another comical collection of relatable essays from the author of The Idiot Girls Action-Adventure Club can lighten your mood. After describing all of the losers that she has managed to scare away or date, Laurie somehow finds a Good Guy, so good that she knows she needs to find a way to keep him. After deciding that she can't possibly keep the Good Guy inebriated at all times, she unveils her secret weapon, homemade succulent cutlets. Irreverent true tales of wedding horrors and domestic "bliss" keeps the reader laughing throughout the book. Not to be missed is the actual picture the awful wedding photographer took of the plump bride sucking on her teeth without sucking in her stomach. Nicole S.

BIOGRAPHY/PERRY
Perry, Michael - Truck: A Love Story - 2006, 281p.
This month-by-month collection of essays chronicles two of the author's ardent passions: planting the annual backyard garden at his home in New Auburn, Wisconsin and restoring a 1951 L-120 International Harvester pick-up truck purchased nearly twenty years earlier. Humorous, insightful observations pepper these essays detailing Perry and brother-in-law Mark's progress on the truck, Perry's travels on book tour for an earlier work, Population 485, and how the garden is faring during the 2003–2004 season. Car aficionados as well as gardeners will especially enjoy this peek into the country life which is best likened to a leisurely meander inner tubing on a river. Referring to himself as a "quirky single," this forty-something confirmed bachelor finds an unexpected surprise as the growing year unfolds! Suzy Miller

FICTION/RICHMOND
Richmond, Michelle - The Year of Fog - 2007, 369p.
Photographer Abby Mason finds her life turned upside down in just a moment when her fiancé's six-year-old daughter, Emma, disappears on a fog-bound beach in San Francisco. Abby had been distracted briefly to photograph a dead baby seal and when she looked up again Emma was gone. Abby and Emma's Dad, Jake, devote all their time and energy into finding the girl and helping with the police investigation, but there is not trace of the missing child. Abby continues to relive those minutes in her mind searching for clues that will help find Emma. As the months go by Abby and Jake's once blissful relationship changes dramatically and Jake cannot look at Abby without blaming her for Emma's disappearance. This page-turner will remind readers a lot of Jacquelyn Mitchard's The Deep End of the Ocean. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/SHREVE
Shreve, Anita - Body Surfing - 2007, 295p.
Sydney Sklar is 29 and once divorced and once widowed. While trying to get her life back together, she takes a job as a tutor for the wealthy Edwards' family as they spend the summer in their New Hampshire oceanfront cottage. Sydney becomes close with her young charge, Julie and the summer is going well until the Edwards' two sons, Jeff and Ben arrive for a weekend. The competitive nature of the brothers is soon apparent, and intensifies as they turn their attentions toward Sydney. She is quickly attracted to one of the brothers – but is it for the right reason? This story of the complex relationships within one family and an unexpected ending is a compelling and thought-provoking read. Sheila Guenzer

MYSTERY / STARK
Stark, Richard - Ask the Parrot - 2006, 278p.
The most recent in this unusual mystery series catches up with Parker, on the run, in upstate New York. A botched bank robbery has left Parker, a professional cold-blooded thief, trapped. He needs clean money and he needs ID. Enter Parker's rescuer, Tom Lindahl, a small town recluse with a sweet plan of revenge for his former employer. Tom figures he could use some help from a professional thief like Parker, especially a professional who is beholding to Tom for his freedom. But Parker isn't exactly the beholdin' type, and when he gets involved, Tom's simple scheme becomes deadly serious. Although this is the newest is a long running series, it works well as a stand-alone. (Richard Stark is Donald Westlake's darker side.) Terri W.

May

FICTION/COBEN
Coben, Harlan - The Woods - 2007, 404p.
Four teens at summer camp take a walk in the woods and two don't come back. One of those who did not come back was Paul Copeland's sister Camille. Twenty years later he is a county prosecutor in Essex, New Jersey, and the body of an adult male who may have been one of the missing teens is found. Could his sister also be alive? As Paul struggles with this, he is also trying one of the biggest cases of his career, a high profile rape case involving wealthy college students as defendants. This exciting, complex, and well written thriller with multiple plot lines and powerful characters ends with a surprising and satisfying conclusion. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/DALLAS
Dallas, Sandra - Tallgrass - 2007, 305p.
Life in the small town of Ellis, Colorado is changed when the government opens a Japanese internment camp in their town during World War II. Thirteen year-old Rennie Stroud experiences discrimination first hand, when she sees how the rights of these Japanese Americans have been violated after they have been forced to leave their homes on the West coast. When a young handicapped girl from Ellis is murdered, the strangers from the camp become prime suspects causing the townspeople to behave more cruelly towards the Japanese Americans. The Stroud family is one of the few families that show any compassion towards the Japanese Americans when Rennie's father hires workers from the camp to help with his sugar beet harvest. Dallas's characters ring true to life and her depiction of a small town facing large issues during World War II is compelling. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/FFORDE
Fforde, Katie - Bidding for Love - 2007, 390p.
When Flora Stanza inherits 51% of the family antiques business, an auction house, she moves from London to the country wondering if she'll like country life and be able to fit in. She quickly becomes enamored of the business, coming up with new ideas and learning about valuing the antiques. However, her very distant cousin Charles and his fiancée are not at all happy about her eagerness to become a part of the business. Flora perseveres, finding a job she loves and several new romantic possibilities in this charming tale of a young woman finding her passion and a new man in her life. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/FOX
Fox, Lauren - Still Life with Husband - 2007, 258p.
Is it wrong not to want to do what everyone expects? To the world, thirty-year old Emily Ross seems to be happily married to Kevin, a sensitive guy, for nearly nine years. She knows that she should be yearning to get to the next stage in her life, a house in the suburbs and a baby in the near future, at least that's what Kevin and her mother tell her. Lately, a strangling sense of suffocation in a marriage that seems to be getting tedious is all Emily feels. A chance meeting at a coffee shop with David, a writer for the local newspaper, spins Emily's life in an unexpected direction. A genuine and sometimes humorous look at expectations and relationships. Nicole S.

YA FICTION/MITCHARD
Mitchard, Jacquelyn - Now You See Her - 2007, 200p.
Soon after Hope Shay, a beautiful and talented high school sophomore meets senior acting legend Logan Rose, she is chosen to play the part of Juliet in Starwood Academy's production of the Shakespearean tragedy, opposite Logan's role as Romeo. Hope is understandably smitten, but before long their relationship (which they decide to keep secret) takes a dangerous turn – beginning with Hope's "staged" abduction, following the opening night performance. As the details of that event are revealed, we become increasingly aware of Hope's fragile mental state, and begin to question the reliability of her emotional narration. A poignant psychological novel with plenty of teen drama. Debbie Deady

FICTION/MITCHELL
Mitchell, David - Black Swan Green - 2006, 294p.
Jason's stammer severely limits his ability to communicate comfortably with his peers. But as he tells the story of his thirteenth year, the reader is treated to an eloquent narration from this earnest and likable character who contemplates the world swirling around him. It is 1982; Margaret Thatcher and the Falklands War are becoming everyday topics in Jason's quiet British village. Something is brewing at home that begins with an odd phone call in his father's private study. And the conflicts, brutalities, and triumphs that make up the daily life of a sensitive teen loner loom large. More accessible than Mitchell's award-winning The Cloud Atlas, this is a poetic novel of chronological vignettes that are as achingly poignant as the teen years themselves. Heather Booth

FICTION/OLMSTEAD
Olmstead, Robert - Coal Black Horse - 2007, 218p.
In this sparsely written work, fourteen-year old Robey Childs is charged by his mother Hettie with the task of bringing his father home from the Civil War battlefield. Clad in a jacket crafted by his mother (grey on one side; blue on the other) allowing him the ability to move freely between opposite sides, Robey receives weapons, provisions, and the loan of a coal black horse from Old Morphew owners of the local mercantile. Succinct language and evocative Civil War details enhance the well-drawn characters Robey encounters locating his father in this historical literary novel which is as much a coming-of-age story as it is an epic journey. Suzy Miller

MYSTERY/VAN PATTEN
Van Patten, Vince and Robert J. Randisi - The Picasso Flop: A Texas Hold'em Mystery - 2007, 292p.
When Jimmy Spain walked out of the Bellagio elevator for the first day of the World Poker Tour Five Diamond World Classic, more than ten years had passed since the last time he'd been in Vegas. Most of that time wasted behind bars in Marion, Illinois. Much had changed but, not everything. The lights, the characters, the tension, were all still there. This trip he only had two goals, keep his young protégé Kat focused and keep them both in the game long enough to finish in the money. But when a couple of obnoxious dot-com poker boys turn up dead, Jimmy finds himself forced to divide his time between keeping his seat at the table and using his background to seek out a killer. This series debut is an interesting peak into the glitz, grit and characters of the world of professional poker. Terri W.

April

FICTION/ABRAMS
Abrams, Douglas Carlton - The Lost Diary of Don Juan - 2007
(An Account of the True Arts of Passion and the Perilous Adventure of Love)
In 1593 the sole ambition of Don Juan Tenorio, Seville's infamous libertine & galanteadore, was to cultivate, celebrate and satisfy the desires of women (many, many women) while remaining out of the grasp of the despised Holy Office of the Inquisitor. But, much to the dismay of his faithful coachman Cristóbal, as Don Juan purses his latest passion, the unattainable Doña Ana, his favor with King Phillip II and the protection of his patron, Marquis de la Mota, are slipping away leaving Don Juan vulnerable to the whims of the Inquisitor. Orphan, thief, spy, Juan Tenorio's charmed life has been one adventure after another. Will pursuit of this forbidden fruit be his final adventure? This is a novel of daring escapes, sword fights and seductions, truly a swashbuckling adventure! (to be published in May 2007) Terri W.

YA/FICTION/ANDERSON
Anderson, M.T. - Feed - 2002, 237p.
Teenagers Violet and Titus star in a dystopia that explores human relationships in a meg computerized world. It's a love story. Or is it? What would love be like in a time in the near future when almost everyone is connected to the feed and communication is mind-to-mind, like Instant Messaging without the external computer? What if it were a time when advertisements/information for anything and everything popped up inside your head? Feed extrapolates from today's people and technology into a tomorrow where written communication is rare, schools are run by corporations and the environment has gone totally mal. This (sort of) satire is intended for teens, but if their 'rents appreciated Aldous Huxley and Kurt Vonnegut, they will also want to catch the Feed. Christine Ricker, COD LTA Intern

FICTION/CROOK
Crook, Elizabeth - The Night Journal - 2006, 454p.
This detailed and fascinating novel traces the lives of four generations of women, beginning with 37-year-old Meg, the granddaughter of renowned historian Claudia Bass who raised her. Their relationship is precarious, and the two headstrong women clash while on a trip to Claudia's childhood home in Pecos, New Mexico where they uncover disconcerting details about the life of Claudia's mother, a frontierswoman around the turn-of-the-nineteenth-century. This multi-layered, historical novel weaves elements of mystery and romance throughout this intricate portrait of life in the American southwest. Debbie Deady

F/DELINSKY
Delinsky, Barbara - Family Tree - 2007, 358p.
Dana and Hugh Clarke excitedly welcome their first child in this briskly paced contemporary novel. When baby Lizzie is born with decidedly African-American features, Hugh's upper class family insinuates that Dana has been unfaithful. Insisting on a DNA test and on revisiting efforts to identify and locate Dana's birth father, Hugh's misguided attempts to placate his family result in alienating him from Dana, the orphaned only child of a single mother who was raised by her maternal grandmother. Test results expose a surprising secret and propel all of the Clarke's to reexamine their ideas of family, race, and identity. Readers who enjoy knitting will appreciate the sub-plot featuring skilled fiber artists at the yarn shop owned by Dana's grandmother. Suzy Miller

YA/FICTION/PFEFFER
Pfeffer, Susan Beth - Life as We Knew It - 2006, 337p.
Astronomers predict a meteor is on a collision course with the moon. Sixteen-year-old Miranda and her friends at school think it will be a cool event to watch, along with the rest of the country. Getting out the telescopes and binoculars with her younger brother and her mom seems normal, and with most of the neighbors outside, it almost seems like a block party. What scientists did not predict was the moon would be knocked out of its orbit, or the natural disasters that would occur around the world as a result. Told in diary format, Miranda records the devastation that occurs, and the daily struggles that ensue because of the meteor's impact on the moon. An engrossing testament to survival that might appeal to fans of the television show Jericho. Nicole S.

YA/FICTION/RABB
Rabb, Margo - Cures for Heartbreak - 2007, 235p.
Days after being admitted to the hospital with a stomachache, Mia's mother – her best friend, and inspiration – dies from cancer. Fifteen-year-old Mia hasn't experienced death in any meaningful way, but now, it seems to be all around her. The Holocaust section of her history textbook, the dire warnings about cholesterol in her Health Now magazine, or an oddly shaped mole on her arm all tie Mia to her mother and make her acutely aware of her own mortality. In time, she finds others to whom she can relate, like "cancer guy," who turns out to be a philosophical world traveler (and cute!) and finds that though grief never ends, neither does love. Older teens looking for touching realistic fiction with the right splashes of humor and romance will enjoy this tender story. Heather Booth

FICTION/SIMON
Simon, Scott - Pretty Birds - 2005, 351p.
It's 1991 and Irena is a high school basketball star in Sarajevo. She has doting parents, great friends, and hope for the future. Then the civil war that will consume the next four years and over 200,000 lives begins. Irena and her family are forced into hiding. Irena, however, is no passive victim; she becomes a sniper, a way for an agile, assertive, Muslim girl to hit back at Bosnian Serbs. Anyone familiar with Scott Simon's work on National Public Radio will be impressed that he is as talented a novelist as he is a correspondent. In this debut novel, he creates extraordinary characters, dialogue, and setting. He uses humor often and to excellent effect, including the sound effects of Pretty Bird, the family's parrot. Simon makes us understand what civil war is about, and he makes us care. Christine Ricker, COD LTA Intern

F/WEIR
Weir, Alison - Innocent Traitor - 2007, 402p.
Historical biographer Alison Weir makes her fiction debut in this novel about Lady Jane Grey and, at fifteen years of age, her nine-day reign as Queen of England. Weir uses multiple narrators which proves effective in moving the story along and clearly shows the conspiratorial web which surrounded Jane. Her parents, the Marques and Marchioness of Dorset, groomed her from birth as a possible match for Prince Edward, but when he died at such a young age they schemed with the Duke of Northumberland to subvert the line of succession making Jane the heir to the throne. Fans of Philippa Gregory and Carolly Erickson might enjoy this novel. Marianne Trautvetter

March

MYSTERY/CRAWFORD
Crawford, Isis - A Catered Valentine's Day - 2007, 275p.
In their fourth adventure, sisters Libby and Bernie Simmons, owners of A Little Taste of Heaven, join forces with Just Chocolate, provider of hand-dipped chocolates, for a Valentine's Day fundraiser. While planning the menu for the fundraiser and dealing with a troublesome new oven, the sisters get involved in sorting out a mystery when Ted Gorman, who supposedly died unrecognizable in a fiery car crash, is found in the wrong grave and is easily identified by Bernie and Libby. The two investigate, along with their former police chief father and Libby's mortician boyfriend Marvin, untangling multiple motives and suspects. The relationship between the two very different sisters, quirky characters, humor, and recipes add to this culinary mystery that will appeal to fans of Joanne Fluke's Hannah Swensen series. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/GROSSMAN
Grossman, Lev - Codex - 2004, 348p.
It was supposed to be a brief stop—one last piece of business in New York before a vacation, followed by a new job in London. Instead, investment banker Edward Wozny finds himself cataloging a quirky Duchess's massive collection of antiquarian books, and surprising himself by getting completely wrapped up in the hunt for a fabled 14th century illuminated text. When Edward realizes that he is in over his head, he enlists the help of a beguilingly cold medievalist whose passion ignites at the prospect of uncovering one of literature's biggest secrets. When events surrounding the search for the text begin to eerily mirror scenes from a computer game, Edward starts to wonder if he is playing the game, or if the game is actually playing him. Heather Booth

FICTION/DOYLE
Doyle, Roddy - Paula Spencer - 2006, 281p.
Doyle's unforgettable character from The Woman Who Walked into Doors returns in this sequel. It has been nearly ten years since her abusive husband Charlo was shot and killed by the Dublin police, but Paula has been sober for just over four months. Each new day brings the mental and physical struggle not to return to her former drinking habits. Paula's four children are a constant reminder of her past failed battles with sobriety and give her strength to wait another day before taking a drink. With a newfound clarity, she sees her own tendencies in some of her children, as well as those of their father. Each day she doesn't succumb to alcohol provides her with insight into the simple pleasures of life, from opening a bank account, learning about Google from her youngest son, to meeting her grandchildren for the first time. Doyle succeeds in continuing the powerfully realistic portrayal of a flawed heroine. Nicole S.

FICTION/LOWENTHAL
Lowenthal, Michael - Charity Girl - 2007, 321p.
With America poised on the brink of WWI, more than 15,000 women suspected of venereal disease are quarantined in "detention" centers and held against their will—a true chapter in U.S. history. Seventeen-year-old Frieda Mintz, a department store clerk becomes one of the unfortunates, after an impulsive night with an infected soldier leads to her arrest and confinement. Her (fictionalized) story details the physical and emotional humiliation she endures in the camp, while concurrently portraying her intrepid spirit and personal resilience. A great book discussion choice. Debbie Deady

FICTION / LUTZ
Lutz, Lisa - The Spellman Files - 2007
The first in a humorous new series features Izzy Spellman, the eldest daughter of an eccentric family of private detectives. The Spellman children were drafted into the family business at an early age (mostly to keep Izzy out of trouble). At the age of 12 the children began with examining trash, quickly progressing to shadowing, ease-dropping, stake-outs, and generally all around snooping. When 27-year-old Izzy declares her independence and tries to move out of the Spellman house and break with the family business (really a girl needs some privacy!), life becomes complicated. Keeping Daniel, "future ex-boyfriend #9," happy, investigating a missing child, plus dealing with the Spellman family ties that bind, is just a bit this side of impossible to juggle. The result is a laugh-out-loud peek into a loving, but wacky, family of snoops! A good bet for Janet Evanovich or Sarah Strohmeyer readers. Terri W.

FICTION/POWERS
Powers, Richard - The Echo Maker - 2006, 451p.
Every year over half a million sandhill cranes migrate along the Platt River in Nebraska. This year they are the only witnesses to the mysterious and near fatal accident of Mark Schulter. His sister Karin receives a distressing phone call that her brother's truck has rolled over and his injuries are serious. She immediately returns home and is at her brothers' bedside when he awakes from a fourteen-day coma. Her joy is short-lived however, as Mark accuses Karin of being an imposter. Eventually diagnosed with Capgras syndrome, a condition where people cannot recall previous emotional connections, Karin eventually enlists the help a famous neurologist Gerald Weber. As they all struggle to make Mark well, they learn not only about the science of the illness but the human aspect as well. This is a literary and gripping novel with an unexpected ending. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/WINSTON
Winston, Lolly - Happiness Sold Separately - 2006, 294p.
Lawyer Elinor Mackey and her husband Ted, a podiatrist, seem to have an ideal marriage until after two years of failed fertility treatments, they find themselves growing apart. Elinor overhears Ted talking on the phone with Gina, his fitness trainer at the gym who he is having an affair with. Ted promises to break-off the affair and convinces a devastated Elinor to give him another chance. Winston deals with difficult issues—infidelity, infertility, a troubled kid—in a realistic insightful manner adding just enough humor while at the same time her characters are so multi-dimensional that readers may find themselves sympathetic to all three protagonists. Fans of Elizabeth Berg and Jennifer Weiner might enjoy this book. Marianne Trautvetter

February

FICTION/DEKKER
Dekker, Ted - Thr3e - 2003, 352p.
This riveting page-turner plunges readers into the life of Kevin Parson, a 28-year-old seminary student who becomes the target of an unknown stalker (identified only as "Slater") who baits him into an unavoidable game of cat and mouse, using cryptic riddles that Kevin must either solve – or die trying. Events in Kevin's past may offer clues as to the identity and motives of Slater, while several provocative plot twists keep readers guessing until the very last page. Debbie Deady

MYSTERY/GREENWOOD
Greenwood, Kerry - Murder on the Ballarat Train - 2006, 151p.
The is the third book in this series featuring gutsy and glamorous amateur sleuth Phryne Fisher. The setting is 1920s Australia, and Phryne and her companion Dot are traveling by rail to visit relatives in Ballarat. However, they never make their destination as Phryne, dozing on the train, wakes up to the smell of chloroform. She immediately opens the windows, stops the train and helps get all the passengers off and into fresh air – all but one, however. A young girl wakes up to find her mother missing who eventually is found dead, while another young woman is suffering from amnesia. Phryne takes them both under her wing and is determined to find answers to the mysteries surrounding both women. There are sixteen books in this series, and following the adventures of this endearing character is a satisfying and enjoyable read. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/KUNZMANN
Kunzmann, Richard - Bloody Harvests - 2006, 455p.
This compelling debut thriller reaches into the depths of Johannesburg's slums in search of answers to a series of brutal murders. The discovery that a murdered child is the result of a ritualistic muti-killing, propels Detectives Mason and Tshabalala into the slums of Johannesburg, South Africa, where traditional tribal culture co-exists uneasily with modern life. While the detectives struggle to piece together evidence, the investigation turns ever more urgent as it becomes clear that they are hunting pure evil. This is a complex thriller for readers who enjoy multifaceted characters and a powerful sense of place. Terri W.

FICTION/NASLUND
Naslund, Sena Jeter - Abundance: A Novel of Marie Antoinette - 2006, 545p.
A fascinating, first-person look at a much maligned historical figure. The story begins as Maria Antonia, a young, eager girl of fourteen, prepares to leave her life in Austria and become Marie Antoinette of France. As she becomes a queen and a mother, she remains the same vivacious, inquisitive, sensitive character, yet grows detached from the reality of her times as she is isolated by the lavish opulence of Versailles. Detailed writing that flows smoothly and brief chapters make the lengthy work very accessible. Abundance is a good choice for book groups that typically read women's fiction, but want to branch out to historical fiction with a focus on the life and internal conflicts of an individual. Heather Booth

FICTION/SAKEY
Sakey, Marcus - The Blade Itself - 2007, 307p.
Small-time burglar Danny Carter leaves the crime business for good after his partner, Evan McGann, shoots a shop owner and goes to prison for the crime. While Evan is in prison, Danny becomes a respected construction manager in Chicago with a great girlfriend who knows of his past, but will leave him if he goes back to a life of crime. When Evan is released from prison, he wants to resume their partnership and kidnap Danny's boss' son and hold him for ransom. Unable to dissuade Evan from his plan, Danny agrees to help him, so no one gets hurt. Fast pacing, well-developed characters, and surprising plot twists add to this suspenseful story. Sue O'Brien

SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/STAR TREK
Martin, Michael A. - Star Trek Titan: Taking Wing - 2005, 370p.
William T. Riker, former First Officer of the U.S.S. Enterprise, has just assumed his first command of the newly built Luna-class starship U.S.S Titan. Eager to begin the mission of exploration with an extremely diverse crew and his wife, Deanna Troi, as the ship's diplomatic officer, Captain Riker is dismayed when the Titan is diverted to prevent a civil war from breaking out in the Romulan Empire. Attempting to control the situation and guaranteeing that every faction is represented is a daunting first mission for Captain Riker. A satisfying new addition for fans of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Nicole S.

FICTION/WALKER
Walker, Mildred - Fireweed - 1934, 314p.
A contemporary novel when first published in 1934, Mildred Walker's Fireweed still resonates with readers of a new century. Celie Henderson and Joe Linsen, children of immigrant loggers and childhood sweethearts, marry despite Celie's longing to escape the dreary, dead-end mill town of Flat Point, Michigan they have known all their lives. Told mainly from Celie's point of view, Walker's vivid descriptions of Upper Peninsula life demonstrate the universality of life choices and the challenges in living with them. While the story depicts a less-complicated world, its message of making the most we can of our little corner of the world and of cherishing those we love remains timeless. Suzy Miller

January

FICTION/BEARD
Beard, Philip - Dear Zoe - 2005, 196p.
The hit-and-run death of three-year-old Zoe, on the same morning of the 9/11 attacks, is close to unbearable for Tess, who nearly a year later, has yet to forgive herself for her role in her half-sister's death. Written in journal format, Dear Zoe is Tess' soulful account of her life since the accident. Not that this novel is overly grim – Tess shares lighter moments with her caring (yet clueless) stepfather; finds solace while spending the summer with her biological dad (a kind-hearted petty criminal); and experiences first love with the (complicated) boy next door. Alternately both poignant and hopeful, this is an emotionally charged coming-of-age novel with appeal for both adults and teens. Debbie Deady

SCIENCE FICTION/FANTASY/FLYNN
Flynn, Michael - Eifelheim - 2006, 320p.
When mathematical historian Tom Schwoerin discovers that the village of Eifelheim was abandoned during a plague outbreak in the Black Forest in 1349, it is not surprising to him. What fascinates him is the village was never resettled, despite its prime location. Digging deeper, Tom discovers that local legend had proclaimed the area cursed, with flying demons inhabiting the area. With the assistance of his longtime girlfriend Sharon Nagy, a physicist, Tom sets upon a course to discover what truly happened to Eifelheim and its residents. Alternating between present day and the German village in the past, this hard science fiction novel delivers on its intriguing premise. Nicole S.

FICTION / FRAZIER
Frazier, Charles - Thirteen Moons - 2006, 420p.
This evocative story spans 19th century America, from the 1820s to the end of the century. A time and place meticulously painted with vivid prose, bringing each mountainside and trail to life. Recounted at the pace of a time long past, through the eyes of a man who watched the better part of a century pass and try to take the Eastern Cherokee's way of life with it. At the age of 12, Will Cooper was sold into servitude. Alone and terrified, running an Indian Trading Post at the edge of Cherokee Lands in the Appalachian wilderness, Will is befriended by Bear and adopted into the Cherokee Nation. Will's story is one of adventure and fortune guided primarily by his drive to protect a vanishing way of life. For those who enjoy historical fiction set in America, this is a story to be savored. Terri W.

FICTION/MCDERMOTT
McDermott, Alice - After This - 2006, 279p.
The private moments in the life of Mary and John Keane an Irish Catholic family of Long Island are depicted in vignette-like chapters starting when the couple first met in the 1940s and continuing on through the 60s and 70s. McDermott creates a clear picture of the couple and their neighbors as they raise two sons and two daughters dealing with such issues as the Vietnam War, sex, drugs, and abortion while at the same time staying true to their Irish heritage and Catholic faith. As the children grow older they find a way to interpret their strong faith and heritage in a way that will translate to their own generation and values. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/O'HEHIR
O'hehir, Diana - Erased from Memory - 2006, 283p.
Amateur sleuth Carla Day and her 86-year-old Egyptologist father, who suffers from Alzheimer's, visit Northern California's Egypt Regained Museum where her fathers' discovery is housed. Carla's father, once famous for his expertise in Egyptian artifacts, is delighted to be at the museum. However, when a man is murdered at the museum, her father becomes a suspect. Cleared quickly from this accusation, Carla agrees to stay on for a short time. When a second murder occurs, Carla suspects a link with the present day murders and the museum crypt. Not sure who she can trust, Carla investigates and unwittingly puts herself and her father in danger. A well written novel, with quirky characters and an explosive and surprising ending. Sheila Guenzer

MYSTERY/PAGE
Page, Katherine Hall - The Body in the Ivy - 2006, 246p.
Novelist Barbara Bailey Bishop invites a group of her former Pelham College classmates to a reunion on her private island. However, none of the guests know the others are coming. It seems that Bishop suspects one of the women killed her twin sister in 1970, right before graduation—a death that was ruled a suicide. Faith Fairchild, hired to cater the event, finds herself stranded with the others on the isolated island, with no means of communication to the outside world, during a major storm. Then the guests begin to die… Faith struggles to find the killer and keep herself alive in this sixteenth in a series—a homage to Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None. Sue O'Brien

F/SHARFEDDIN
Sharfeddin, Heather - Mineral Spirits - 2006, 250p.
In Mineral County Montana, Sheriff Kipp Edleson is at a loss to identify the badly decomposed body found alongside the Clark Fork River by ten year old Gray Dausman. Oblivious to his unraveling marriage, Edleson works the case making some startling discoveries about himself. The real story of this novel unfolds in the way these tightly drawn characters display their humanity as they interact with one another. Readers who savor this story won't want to miss Sharfeddin's earlier book, Blackberry, another thought provoking novel of the west. Suzy Miller

YA/FICTION/WESTERFELD
Westerfeld, Scott - So Yesterday - 2004, 225p.
At seventeen, Hunter may look like a regular teenager—a very cool looking teenager, but regular nonetheless. In fact, he is one of the most sought after consultants in New York City. Hunter is a "cool hunter," the kind of person that can make or break a multimillion dollar advertising campaign with as little as a slight nod of his head. When he and Jen, an even more sought-after "Innovator" of style, find out that their boss has gone missing and stumble upon the most amazing shoes ever, shoes that might be a sign of the end of consumer culture as we know it, the world of cool hunting and hot shoes gets a lot more complicated. A fast paced contemporary teen mystery with a clever sense of humor. Heather Booth