Good Reads - Fiction

What We're Reading

2008 Archives

December

FICTION/DE LOS SANTOS
De Los Santos, Marisa - Belong to Me - 2008, 390p.
In this sequel to Love Walked In, former city dweller Cornelia Brown suddenly finds herself wanting to live in suburbia. Cornelia and her husband Teo make the big move with Cornelia envisioning a life full of close friends and neighborhood picnics. Enter the snobbish and perfectly-put-together neighbor Piper, who despite her façade, is dealing with a friend's cancer and caring for both families. Yet, Cornelia finds a kindred spirit in the elusive Lake who at one moment is warm and caring and the next, distant. As these three women learn about each other and interact, first impressions give way to unexpected friendships. Witty humor and fantastic dialogue as told from the perspectives of three characters propel this novel to a very shocking end where the characters come to realize what it really means to belong to another. Nicole Wilhelms

FICTION/KRING
Kring, Sandra - Thank You for All Things - 2008, 430p.
Tess, a single mother and writer of Christian romance novels, struggles raising her precocious, allergy-afflicted and home-schooled twins, Lucy and Milo. Eleven-year old Lucy narrates this contemporary story which ensues when Grandmother Oma persuades daughter Tess to drive her from Chicago to Timber Falls, Wisconsin to help her fulfill a long-standing promise. Oma's pledge that her ex-husband, Tess's father, Sam, would not die alone in a nursing home agitates painful childhood memories for Tess. Since Tess insists the subject of fathers (hers or theirs) is permanently off-limits, Lucy is propelled to surreptitiously read her mother's journal to learn about family history and her father's identity. Readers who enjoy family centered novels like Jane Smiley's A Thousand Acres or Annie Proulx's The Shipping News should find this literary novel memorable. Suzy Miller

YA FICTION/MELDRUM
Meldrum, Christina - Madapple - 2008, 410p.
Raised in virtual isolation in rural Maine, sixteen-year-old Aslaug Hellig is unprepared for the events which follow her mother's sudden death. Knowledgeable about nature, mythology and languages, but not about life in the outside world, Aslaug hesitantly flees the custody of an inexperienced social worker, and manages to drive her mother's car to a nearby town. A fateful meeting soon leads to a long-lost aunt who recalls the missing details of her personal history, including the story of her "miraculous" birth and the (assumed) identity of her Danish biological father. Suspicions about Aslaug's involvement in her mother's death resurface, after both her aunt and cousin are found murdered, and questions arise concerning another "miraculous" event. Frequent references to faith and folklore make this a nice choice for older teen and adult readers who enjoy contemplative novels. Debbie Deady

MYSTERY/MULLER
Muller, Marcia - Burn Out - 2008, 309p.
Severely depressed and burnt out from the stress of owning and running a busy detective agency and a recent brush with death, Sharon McCone retreats to the ranch she shares with her husband in the high California desert. Determined to rest and decide her future, she reluctantly becomes involved when young Amy Perez, the niece of ranch foreman Ramon Perez, disappears, and several people are murdered in the adjacent small town. Digging into the past, Sharon brings closure to the Perez family and ultimately determines the steps she needs to take to bring herself out of the darkness enveloping her. This is another fine entry in the long-running series with its well-developed characters, beautifully descriptive prose, and an intriguing mystery. Sue O'Brien

YA/FICTION/PHILLIPS
Phillips, Suzanne - Burn - 2008, 279p.
Cameron Grady was once oblivious to his unpopularity. His brilliance in math, excellence in Boy Scouts, and lifelong friendship with classmate Steve were always enough to make him happy. High school changed everything. Now Cameron is the primary target for school bullies and is treated like a leper by the rest of his peers. He is enraged at the way everyone seems to turn a blind eye as he is perpetually beaten and tormented. After suffering a particularly gruesome brutalization in the showers, Cameron sets a car on fire, relishing in the intense feeling of aliveness that the arson creates. Soon he is looking for another similar high, and gets it by beating a weaker boy to death. This is a terrifying but powerful look at the effects of bullying. Phillips, a special education English teacher, says, "I believe, as someone in the trenches daily, that America needs a little shaking up." With this novel, she has definitely accomplished that goal. Lynette Pitrak

FICTION/PUPEK
Pupek, Jayne - Tomato Girl - 2008, 298p.
Narrated by eleven-year-old Ellie Sanders this novel dissects the downward spiral of a family unable to cope with mental illness. Ellie has always depended on her father Rupert to handle her mother Julia's bipolar disorder. Things change dramatically after Julia has an accident and Rupert brings in a teenage girl named Tess (the Tomato girl) to help with household chores. Ellie finds herself forced into situations far beyond her capabilities and is searching for a way to escape to a safe place. This southern Gothic novel set in the mid-1900s will appeal to readers who enjoy the writings of Carson McCullers or Kaye Gibbons. Marianne Trautvetter

MYSTERY/TAYLOR
Taylor, Sarah Stewart - Judgment of the Grave - 2005, 320p.
This is the third in a cozy mystery series featuring the appealing protagonist Sweeney St. George. Sweeney, an art historian with a macabre interest in gravestone art, is doing research in the historical town of Concord, Mass. While meandering among the gravestones, she encounters a young man with a special medical problem. Concerned, she follows him home and when he detours through the woods she is shocked to discover he has found a body dressed in a militiaman uniform. Concurrent with this murder, homicide detective Tim Quinn is looking into the disappearance of another Concord resident active in Revolutionary War re-enactments. Do the two cases have a connection? Sweeney aids Quinn in discovering the answer. This is a darker atmospheric cozy with a complex plot and intriguing characters. Sheila Guenzer

November

YA/FICTION/DOWD
Dowd, Siobhan - Bog Child - 2008, 321p.
The year is 1981, and for eighteen-year-old Fergus, the only shot at a better life is earning acceptance to a college away from Southern Ireland. However, with two out-of-work parents, a brother participating in the Long Kesh prison hunger strike, and a former friend pressuring him to run weapon parts for the IRA, school is the last thing on his mind. Life becomes more complicated when Fergus illegally crosses the border into Northern Ireland to cut peat moss from a bog and finds a fully preserved body seeming to belong to a young girl who has been dead for over 2000 years. Fergus christens the girl Mel, and is haunted as her tragic story of fear-induced hatred and sacrifice pieces itself together in his dreams. By the end of the novel, Fergus realizes that prejudiced killing is one of the oldest traditions in the world, and he wants no more part. This is powerful historical fiction from Siobhan Dowd, and was the last novel finished before the award-winning author's death. Lynette Pitrak

FICTION/ DUBUS
Dubus, Andre - The Garden of Last Days - 2008, 535p.
Compelling, coarse, and gritty, this novel explores isolation, connection, and choice. Just a few short days before September 11, 2001, the Puma Club for Men in Tampa Florida is the site where a history of bad decisions will unfold into a series of devastating results. A stripper decides to take her young daughter to work with her. An arrogant down-and-out drunk looks for revenge and exoneration. An Egyptian man, preparing for the ultimate sacrifice, fantasizes about his final days with Allah, while he experiments with sin. Even as each character seeks to rationalize their actions, the consequences become inevitable. Although lengthy, this is a highly discussable book and would be an excellent choice for a book discussion group. Terri W.

FICTION/GRAY
Gray, Alexandra - The Yoga Teacher - 2008, 249p.
Grace, still mourning the death of her boyfriend Ted, and betrayed by her current boyfriend Harry, leaves her well-paid job as a sales representative for a pharmaceutical company to go to California to study yoga so she can become a yoga teacher. On her return to London, she gathers a quirky group of students: a wealthy senior citizen who just wants to talk to Grace during his classes, an American movie star who uses Grace to cover up her affair with a married man, and patients referred to her by a local medical practice. Woven throughout is the possibility of a romantic relationship with a doctor who has gone to Vietnam to study acupuncture. Grace sorts out her past, realizes her dream of becoming a yoga teacher, and begins to see even more exciting possibilities to come. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/LETTS
Letts, Billie - Made in the U.S.A. - 2008, 355p.
Fifteen-year-old Lutie McFee and her eleven-year-old brother, Fate have a pattern of being abandoned by adults who should be taking care of them. First their mother who died when Fate was very young, followed by their alcoholic father who left them behind with his ex-girlfriend, Floy, to seek his fortune in Las Vegas, and lastly Floy who drops dead from a heart attack in the local Wal-Mart. Fearing they would be turned into child services, Lutie and Fate take off with Floy's old car and $112 to look for their father in Las Vegas. Lutie and Fate learn some hard lessons before they find someone who helps them trust adults again. Marianne Trautvetter

SF/F MEANEY
Meaney, John - Bone Song - 2008, 370p.
A gothic tale, this novel tells the dark and suspenseful story of a futuristic world of necropolises (cities of the dead) where bones contain memories and are not only a power source, but also a source of sinister pleasure. Recently, famed artists and musicians have been murdered with their corpses disappearing soon after. Police Lieutenant Donal Riordan is enlisted to protect the opera diva Maria daLivnova during her stay in Tristopolis. Little does he know that he will soon understand the pull of the bone song. After a series of shocking events, Donal becomes part of Commander Laura Steele's underground network and their investigation of the elite and politically influential Black Circle. Multiple twists and turns along the way and a surprise ending hint at the possibility for another book. Nicole Wilhelms

FICTION/ROTH
Roth, Philip - Indignation - 2008, 233p.
The year is 1951. The Korean War is raging, and countless young men are scrambling to avoid enlistment, including Newark, NJ teen Marcus Messner. The son of a hardworking Jewish butcher, Marcus has spent his freshman college year at a local school, but after a year of his father's escalating rages, he leaves home for a small college in Ohio. His focus is clear: study diligently, stay out of trouble, and graduate as class valedictorian. Yet despite his well-intentioned best efforts, a disconcerting sexual encounter with a girl from his history class and an emotional altercation with a school administrator derail his plans entirely. An unexpected plot twist adds depth and impact to this pensive and absorbing short novel. Debbie Deady

305.8924 SAB
Sabar, Ariel - My Father's Paradise - 2008, 325p.
Sabar is a Kurdish Jew raised in Westwood, California, the son of a world-famous Aramaic scholar and Hebrew professor at UCLA. Perennially at odds, Sabar ridicules his immigrant parents by zealously assimilating into Southern California culture and choosing to attend a small, New England college to study journalism. His son's birth ignites Sabar's yearning to better understand his father, Yona, within the context of their family history as Kurdish Jews. Irrespective of political persuasion the historical facts relating to the Kurdish Jews in modern Iraq prove a fascinating backdrop for the reconciliation Sabar fashions with his father. Suzy Miller

MYSTERY/THOMPSON
Thompson, Victoria - Murder on Bank Street - 2008, 324p.
Turn-of-the-century New York is the intriguing backdrop for the latest in this Gaslight mystery series. Sarah Brandt, a midwife whose husband, Dr. Tom Brandt, was murdered four years earlier, and Detective Frank Malloy have collaborated on solving several murders together. Now that their relationship has entered a new phase, Malloy is determined to find out who killed Sarah's husband. A myriad of suspects finds Malloy enlisting the help of the famous Pinkerton Detective Agency, and Maeve, Sarah's nanny also aids in the investigation. As the facts are unveiled Malloy becomes more concerned over the accusations surrounding Sarah's husband. Historical details and fast paced suspense makes this entry a satisfying read, and although this is the 10th entry, it fills in the blanks and explains the backstory. Sheila Guenzer

October

FICTION/DOIG
Doig, Ivan - The Whistling Season - 2006, 345p.
Remembering the year he was 13 and a student in a one room Eastern Montana schoolhouse, Paul Milliron, now an aging state superintendent of the Montana schools, recounts the summer of 1909 when his recently widowed father decides to hire a housekeeper from a newspaper add. Rose Lewellyn and her brother Morris arrive from Minnesota, changing the Millirons' lives forever. Paul remembers events ranging from humorous playground hijinks to serious considerations of life. Prompting this reflection is the decision he now has to make about the fate of the scattered rural schools. With unexpected metaphors and a surprising plot twist, this novel makes for a heartwarming read in the vein of Willa Cather and Garrison Keillor. Nicole Wilhelms

FICTION / FORD
Ford, Jeffrey - The Shadow Year - 2008, 289p.
Just one year in a young boy's life. Growing up in a small town on Long Island in the seemingly idyllic, very early 1960s, where days were filled with bikes, bitter Ice Cream Truck drivers, dust-ups with nasty bullies, even a 6th grade teacher (appropriately) named Mr. Krapp. But under the surface is a much scarier world. A world where dads work three jobs and moms drink just a little too much, where strangers lurk and kids go missing. Where, if a kid were to pay attention, he could see that there is, truly, more than one reality. An eerie coming-of-age story that recalls the magical final days of childhood and a family's transition. Terri W.

FICTION/KENT
Kent, Kathleen - The Heretic's Daughter - 2008, 332p.
This heart-wrenching novel set near Salem, Massachusetts in the early 1690s tells the fictionalized true story of Martha Carrier and her family, as they struggle to survive the horrors of small pox, Indian raids, and most notably, the mass hysteria brought about by the Salem witch trials. The story is narrated by Martha's daughter Sarah, who at the age of ten is sent to live with her aunt and uncle's family after one of her brothers becomes ill. When rumors of supernatural happenings and demonic possessions begin to surface and eventually escalate into widespread paranoia, Sarah's uncle, involved in a dispute with her mother over a plot of land, accuses Martha of witchcraft. Tragically, Sarah is also arrested and given only one unfathomable choice – testify against her mother, or follow her to the gallows. The author, Kathleen Kent, is a descendant of Martha Carrier, and a debut novelist. Debbie Deady

MYSTERY/PETERS
Peters, Elizabeth - The Laughter of Dead Kings - 2008, 324p.
Art historian Vicky Bliss and her lover, former international art thief, John Tregarth, now a respectable antiquities dealer, investigate when one of Egypt's priceless treasures is stolen. Because of his past, John is a suspect, but of equal importance, Vicky and John want to help their friend, Feisal, Inspector of Antiquities for all Upper Egypt, locate the item before the Egyptian government learns of the theft and there are reprisals. Assisted by Vicky's quirky but lovable boss, Schmidt, who is always up for a mystery, they travel through Europe, and then to Egypt looking for clues before finally finding and returning the treasure to its rightful home. Humor, verbal sparring, and its Egyptian frame, past and present, make for an enjoyable addition to Peters' Vicky Bliss series. Sue O'Brien

YA/FICTION/TAYLOR
Taylor, Brooke - Undone - 2008, 308p.
In this poignant and gripping debut novel, Brooke Taylor explores the lives of two teenage girls who are beautiful and talented enough for the high school in-crowd, but who would rather be loners than friends with the BBs and PPs (Blond and Beautifuls and Perfect and Populars.) Thoughtful gaming-addict Serena and her wilder, more irreverent best friend Kori are razor-witted daredevils who are completely unapologetic about turning their high school's hierarchy on its head. As long as they have each other, they are protected. When Kori is suddenly killed in a tragic accident, Serena cannot come to terms with the idea of herself as an independent person. Instead, she adopts Kori's rockstar persona and vows to complete her best friend's unfinished dreams – at the risk of completely forgetting her own. Alternately hilarious and heartbreaking, this novel is one which explores the complex ways in which people make an everlasting impression on each other's lives. Lynette Pitrak

FICTION/YOUNG
Young, William P. - The Shack - 2007, 248p.
While on a family camping trip, Mackenzie Allen Philip's youngest daughter, Missy, is abducted. Although her body is never found, the evidence leads authorities to believe that she was brutally murdered in a shack in a remote area deep in the woods of the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, still feeling responsible for his daughter's death and with his family life and marriage in turmoil, Mack receives a strange note from God summoning him to the "shack." Returning to the shack during a blizzard, Mack meets three individuals representing God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who try to answer some of his questions about his daughter's death and teach him about God's great love for all of mankind. This first novel by the author has gone from being self-published to the New York Times Bestseller list. Marianne Trautvetter

September

MYSTERY/BARNES
Barnes, Linda - Lie Down with the Devil - 2008, 292p.
Boston P.I. Carlotta Carlyle, still dealing with the aftermath of retrieving her kidnapped little sister, Paolina, from Colombia, reluctantly takes on the case of a young woman, Jessica Franklin, who is afraid her fiancé is cheating on her. When Jessica is found dead, Carlotta learns her client lied to her. Jessica was actually a close friend of the young woman Carlotta's fiancé, mob boss Sam Gianelli, is accused of murdering. Framed for Jessica's murder, Carlotta, along with her former boss, unravels the complex case involving murder, the mob, and Native American casinos while discovering what she truly wants out of life. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/BERNE
Berne, Suzanne - The Ghost at the Table - 2006, 292p.
Tension and conflict abound at the Thanksgiving table in this insightful novel about two very different sisters who are trying to remain close despite the fact they have little in common. Cynthia, a writer of historical fiction and single, dreads the summons she must come for Thanksgiving dinner while Frances, her older sister, is excited to have her family and a unique group of guests at her table. Add to the complexity of this event is the fact their ailing father has just been left by his much younger wife and has nowhere to go. Poignant and yet humorous at times, this story explores the often fragile relationships between siblings who, although they grew up in the same house, have very different memories. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/BROWN
Brown, Janelle - All We Ever Wanted Was Everything - 2008, 401p.
This dark satire page-turner chronicles the changes for the three Miller women when their Silicon Valley lifestyle crumbles around them. Instead of celebrating her husband Paul's pharmaceutical company going public (making them millionaires), she receives a registered letter telling her that he is leaving her for her tennis partner. Twenty-something daughter Margaret comes home to lend her mother moral support, but doesn't share that she is up to her eyeballs in debt since her feminist magazine has lost it's money backing. Fourteen-year-old daughter Lizzie, having recently lost a lot of weight, isn't handling the extra attention from the boys and instead is developing a bad reputation as someone to call for a good time. This easy, fun book will remind you to be careful for what you wish for. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/EBERSHOFF
Ebershoff, David - The 19th Wife - 2008, 514p.
A fascinating read comprised of two storylines, one contemporary and one historical, which explore polygamy in America. The contemporary storyline involves a former "lost boy" from a fundamental polygamist community discovering that his mother, the 19th wife, has been arrested and accused of murdering his father. The historical storyline centers on the very beginning of the Latter Day Saints and the 19th wife of Mormon leader Brigham Young, Ann Eliza Young, who lead the crusade against polygamy in 1875. The intertwining tales, murder mystery, and the fictionalized historical accounts make for a compelling read about the impact of the polygamist lifestyle on women and children. Nicole S.

FICTION/GANESHANANTHAN
V.V. Ganeshananthan - Love Marriage - 2008, 284p.
In her densely written debut novel, a first-generation American daughter of Sri Lankan immigrants explores Western ideas of love as contrasted with her parent's deeply rooted beliefs regarding proper and improper Sri Lankan marriage. This family saga is the story of two professionals, Murali – a doctor and Vani – a teacher, who court and wed in New York City far from their country of origin. Little known historical facts about the ethnic infighting which began in Sri Lanka during the early 1980s are revealed against the backdrop of Murali and Vani's courtship and marriage. Details of Sri Lankan culture and Tamil customs fill this novel which often reads like a love letter to the author's parents and their native land. Suzy Miller

FICTION/MOSSE
Mosse, Kate - Sepulchre - 2008, 565p.
Journalist Meredith Martin's work on a biography about the French composer Debussy provides a plausible excuse for a trip to Paris, but in truth, she hopes to find clues about her birth family and their connection to a mysterious estate in the French countryside. A rare Tarot card deck rumored to have occult origins links the past to the present, and unwittingly places Meredith's life in jeopardy. An alternating story line from the 1880s provides the historical detail, as well as a gothic tale of tragedy, romance and restless spirits. Debbie Deady

FICTION/PETIT
Petit, Caroline - The Fat Man's Daughter - 2005, 276p.
Claustrophobic alleys, opium-filled backrooms and exotic antiquities frame this novel of intrigue set in 1937 Hong Kong. The unexpected, unexplained death of 19-year-old Leah's father, the "Fat Man" of Hong Kong, leaves Leah to find her own way in her father's treacherous world of Asian Antiquities. Although her father trained her and allowed her see the fringes of his trade, he kept much of his world secret and out of her reach. Leah's devastating discovery that her deceased father's antiquities trade is in trouble propels her into the sinister world of intrigue and danger in Japanese-occupied China. If you enjoy a classic Film Noir on a Sunday afternoon this is the book for you. Terri W.

YA FICTION/SCOTT
Scott, Michael - The Alchemyst: The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel - 2007, 375p.
Twins Sophie and Josh Newman have little in common besides white blonde hair, blue eyes, and a desire to receive their driver's licenses. Josh describes himself as all action, while Sophie is the "thinking twin." Then, as the twins are suddenly thrown into the middle of an ancient, dangerous feud between humans and the pre-human Dark Elder race, they realize that their powerful relationship with each other is vital for saving the existence of mankind, but, in this world where wizards and deities live unnoticed among ordinary people, no one can be trusted. This action-packed urban fantasy combines classical mythology with magical realism, and the ending will leave readers rushing for the sequel, The Magician. Lynette Pitrak

August

SF/F/HALDEMAN
Haldeman, Joe - The Accidental Time Machine - 2007, 278p.
Matt is a graduate school dropout and likeable loser who just lost his assistantship at an MIT lab and his girlfriend to the same guy. Inadvertently Matt discovers that a calibrator he had been working on in the lab can jump progressively forward into the future. There is just one little catch, each time the calibrator is used it jumps further and further into the future but it cannot go backwards. Figuring he doesn't have much to lose, Matt decides to load up a car with supplies and test it out personally only to find himself arrested when he reappears, for the murder of the car's original owner. Matt's only hope of escaping the charges is to jump again into an unknown future. An enjoyable and fast-paced read that puts a new, imaginative spin on time travel. Nicole S.

MYSTERY/JOHNSON
Johnson, Claire M. - Roux Morgue - 2008, 223p.
This is the second in this cozy mystery series featuring pastry chef extraordinaire Mary Ryan. After multiple murders at her last place of employment, Mary is taking a break from the hectic world of restaurants. She decides to return to her alma mater Ecole d'Epicure to teach and work with old friends. Mary's pleasant expectations are dashed however, when her ex-lover (and her ex-husband's best friend), Detective O'Connor enrolls in her class. Soon, the demise of a prestigious chef at the school, finds Mary once again embroiled in a questionable death. Mary Ryan is a compelling character as chef and sleuth. Foodies and mystery lovers alike will enjoy this delightful culinary adventure. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/LARKIN
Larkin, Alison - The English American - 2008, 336p.
A British woman searches for her roots in the American South in this light-hearted novel of self discovery. Pippa had always felt out of place. Twenty-eight, tall, disorganized, klutzy and a bit outlandish, Pippa, Phillippa Dunn, was never ever quite as zipped up and together as the rest of her practical, organized, grounded, and very British family. When Pippa hits bottom after a particularly disappointing stretch, she decides it is time to look for her roots by contacting her American birth mother. The instant connection and familiarity that Pippa feels with this new quirky family is not without complications however, and Pippa finds there are no easy answers to who she is and where she belongs. This humorous look at self discovery and family would be great for a neighborhood book discussion group! Terri W.

M/MCCRERY
McCrery, Nigel - Still Waters - 2008, 277p.
DCI Mark Lapslie arrives at a fresh crime scene in the Essex countryside outside of London where a recent traffic accident has unearthed a mummified corpse that was previously hidden in the dense woods. DS Emma Bradbury welcomes Lapslie's help with the case, but remains puzzled by his self-imposed medical leave and separation from wife and children. Endeavoring to overcome the ongoing challenges of synaesthesia – a lifelong medical condition which results in Lapslie tasting the sounds he hears – the Detective Chief and Sergeant Bradbury begin the arduous task of identifying the body. Vivid description and a strong sense of place with a character-centered story punctuate this contemporary mystery. Readers, and especially gardeners who read, will savor this new series by Nigel McCrery who also authors the Samantha Ryan mystery series. Suzy Miller

FICTION/POWERS
Powers, Martha - Conspiracy of Silence - 2008, 328p.
After her mother's death, Clare Prentice is stunned when she finds out she was adopted. She heads to Grand Rapids, Minnesota, ostensibly to interview reclusive author Nathan Hanssen, but really to find her birth parents and the story behind her adoption. Instead, bit by bit, she learns of the tragedy that led to her being adopted. As she stirs up secrets from the past, thought long-buried by someone, her cabin is searched and an attempt is made on her life. Fans of Mary Higgins Clark will enjoy the gentle suspense of this story of a woman in jeopardy. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/SALAK
Salak, Kira - The White Mary - 2008, 368p.
This gripping adventure novel set in the jungles of Papua New Guinea, follows one woman's search for the missing and presumed dead, Pulitzer Prize winner Robert Lewis. After journalist Marika Vecera stumbles upon an eyewitness account placing the enigmatic Lewis in a remote tribal village, she is compelled to investigate. Despite a brutal attack by natives which leaves Marika and her guide without food, water and medicine, her obsession with Lewis drives her further into the jungle, and closer to the truth. Flashbacks provide insight into Marika's earlier career, and the relationship she left behind. The author, who grew up in Westmont, IL, is also an award-winning journalist, and National Geographic Adventure magazine contributor. Debbie Deady

FICTION/WHITE
White, Karen - The Memory of Water - 2008, 315p.
After a ten-year absence, Arizona school teacher Marnie Maitland returns to her home in the South Carolina low country when her sister Diana's ex-husband, Quinn, asks for her help. Emotionally unstable Diana and her nine-year-old son, Gil, were involved in a sailing accident leaving the boy traumatized and unwilling to speak. Both Marnie and Diana are haunted by a similar boating accident sixteen years earlier in which their mother drowned after taking her daughters out on a stormy night. After the accident the sisters were never close and Marnie always felt that she lost both her mother and sister that night. In order to help Gil, Marnie and Diana must come to terms with the past, try to rebuild their own relationship in the present, and hope for the future. White uses the narrative voices of the four main characters to keep the plot moving and the continuous flow of the low country tides bind the story together. Marianne Trautvetter

July

MYSTERY/EVANOVICH
Evanovich, Janet - Fearless Fourteen - 2008, 310p.
Bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has her hands full dealing with an aging diva, Brenda, who she is babysitting as a favor to Ranger while she is doing a promotional tour in Trenton. She also has temporary custody of a young teen, Mario (nicknamed Zook), because his mother, Loretta Rizzi, is in jail after Stephanie has picked her up for failing to appear in court. When Loretta disappears after again being released on bond, Stephanie must find her and a missing nine million dollars from an old bank robbery. Complicating matters, Lula begins planning her wedding to Tank, Ranger's right-hand man. Stephanie perseveres in reigning in Zook (and his computer gaming friends), finding Loretta, and managing to continue her romance with the sexy, understanding Joe Morelli. Another laugh-out-loud entry in the popular series. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/CHERIAN
Cherian, Anne - A Good Indian Wife - 2008, 374p.
Flying to India from his home in San Francisco, 35-year old Suneel Sarath (Neel) visits with his beloved Grandfather Tattappa. There, in the remote village where Neel was raised, marriage and the expectations of his extended family target the successful – but still single – anesthesiologist. Neel reluctantly agrees to meet with one of the women to satisfy his family. Thirty-year-old college professor, Leila Krushnan is a suitable match. The meeting necessarily propels the couple towards a traditional Hindi marriage. Leila arrives in the States with her new husband offering the reader an insightful look at the specific challenges encountered by highly educated immigrants. Suzy Miller

MYSTERY/CRAIG
Craig, Philip R. - Vineyard Chill - 2008, 239p.
This last in a series of Martha's Vineyard mysteries features long-time residents J.W. Jackson and his wife Zee. Winter is a quiet time on the vineyard, and the Jackson's enjoy the quiet – that is until J.W.'s old friend Clay Stockton shows up. Clay is in trouble and needs a place to hang out. J.W. soon realizes there is more to his trouble than he has disclosed, as two men soon come looking for Clay in a threatening manner, which also put J.W. and Zee in danger. A secondary plot line includes the disappearance of a young girl and new evidence which is uncovered. Craig passed away in May 2007 but this delightful series has 19 books – start with A Beautiful Place to Die and enjoy all of them. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/SHAFFER
Shaffer, Mary Ann Fiery and Annie Barrows - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - 2008, 288p.
Juliet Ashton is a successful newspaper columnist and biographer in 1946 London when she receives a letter from a Channel Islands resident, who finds her name and address inscribed in a book of essays by Charles Lamb. As subsequent letters are exchanged, Juliet – who is busy socializing and fretting about the subject for her next book – learns details of the island's hardships under German occupation during the war. Before long her curiosity, as well as her circle of correspondents, widens to include other members of the Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society – an eclectic group of citizens initially brought together by their need for an alibi after a curfew violation. This compelling story is told entirely through letters and telegrams, offering a unique view of a World War II occupied territory, as well as a glimpse of the English home front. Debbie Deady

FICTION//THAYER
Thayer, Nancy - Moon Shell Beach - 2008, 299p.
As young girls Lexi Laney and Clare Hart grew up together closer than sisters on Nantucket, often escaping to their own private place: Moon Shell Beach. Through their teenage years choices they made caused them to drift apart, and they lost touch when Lexi left Nantucket to marry a much older man. Ten years later, a recently divorced Lexi returns hoping to rekindle the friendship that she shared with Clare. Readers who enjoyed Judy Blume's Summer Sisters will enjoy this novel of the bond of friendship and island escapism. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/WOODWARD
Woodward, Gerard - A Curious Earth - 2007, 290p.
After waking up in hospital, Aldous Jones, retired art teacher, widower, father of three adult children, decides it is time to pursue his former interests. So rather than continuing to sit alone in Colette's shabby armchair next to the cooker in the kitchen silently watching potatoes sprout in the cupboard while drinking himself to death, Aldous takes steps, faulty though they may be, to reestablish a life. His first step, a visit with his son across the channel, leaves him a bit confused but no less determined to connect with the mysterious worlds of art, women and family. T. Williams

June

FICTION/ALLEN
Allen, Sarah Addison - The Sugar Queen - 2008, 276p.
Josey Cirrini is taken aback when she finds Della Lee Baker sitting in her closet. Josey uses the secret space behind her closet to hide her romance books, magazines, and her extensive collection of comfort food. Della Lee refuses to leave Josey's closet until she's good and ready, so Josey continues her routine of caring for her invalid, widowed mother. However, Josey is ready for something more from life, so with Della Lee's help, she finds new friends and a romance, and asserts her independence, making a new life for herself. Touches of magic enliven this charming story. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/BAILEY
Bailey, Tom - The Grace That Keeps This World - 2005, 276p.
Living a simple life off the land among the dense wooded forests of upstate New York's Adirondack country is the way Gary Hazen's family have lived for generations and how he and his wife Susan have raised their grown sons (Gary David and Kevin). Both young men start to question their father's strict code of discipline, while at the same time they crave their father's trust and non-judgmental love. On the opening day of buck hunting season Gary David and Kevin must decide whether they join their father in the hunt or stand up to him for the first time in their lives. Susan tries to act as a buffer between her husband and sons and waits nervously for their safe return. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/COBEN
Coben, Harlan - Hold Tight - 2008, 416p.
In this compelling and suspenseful thriller with multiple plot lines, Coben asks the question where to draw the line when trying to protect ones' children. Mike and Tina Baye's idyllic family starts to fall apart when their son's best friend Adam commits suicide. They soon notice a difference in Adam's behavior, he quits the hockey team he loved, and his grades drop in school. Worried about what they don't know about Adam they install software on their son's computer to monitor his activities. This eventually backfires when Adam runs away but for different reasons than they assume. Added to this complex plot is a serial killer who is brutally murdering women in the community. Coben deftly ties these seemingly unrelated events into a frightening conclusion the reader will not soon forget. S. Guenzer

MYSTERY/HARRIS
Harris, Charlaine - From Dead to Worse - 2007, 359p.
In the latest Southern Vampire mystery, the supernatural communities of Louisiana are devastated from the combination of the explosive vampire summit a month earlier and the continuing fallout from Hurricane Katrina. Sookie Stackhouse, the telepathic barmaid with tangled ties to those same communities, is also devastated that she has not heard from her boyfriend Quinn since the horrific explosion. Ever hopeful that things will settle down and return to "normal," Sookie finds herself in the center of everything. Yet again she is drawn into the conflicts of not only the vampires, but the Weres, her roommate, and her own family as well. Nicole S.

FICTION/LAMB
Lamb, Cathy - Julia's Chocolates - 2007, 390p.
Just after leaving her abusive fiancé at the altar and her wedding dress hanging from a tree on a country road, Julia Bennett heads to the 100-year-old Colorado farmhouse of her beloved and thoroughly eccentric Aunt Lydia, to mend her broken heart and take stock of her life. Aunt Lydia introduces Julia to a small group of quirky, kindred souls who gather weekly at the farmhouse for "Psychic Nights" (copious amounts of wine and general gab) who promptly take her into their fold. Gifted in the art of chocolate making, Julia is surprised to discover that her talents have the power to heal old wounds and cement new friendships, as well as empower her with the strength she needs to confront her past. Debbie Deady

FICTION/LOGSDON
Logsdon, Gene - The Last of the Husbandmen - 2008, 333p.
Transformation of farming life between the First World War and the late twentieth century is the focus of this issue-driven, literary novel set in northeastern Gowler, Ohio. Ben Bump and Emmet Gowler, close friends since boyhood, have remained at odds well into adulthood over farming. As the largest and richest landholders in the area, Emmet's family wealth stands between the men as distinctly as their differing views on how best to keep farming profitable. Embracing the mechanized approach to farming which emerges between world wars, the Gowler's steadily increase their land holdings. By farming the old way – or the amish Bump way, minus any religion – Ben Bump discovers he can make farming pay as opposed to requiring the government subsidies necessitated by the big agriculture of Gowler Enterprises to generate profitability. This family-centered story overflows with details of the farming life and should resonate with readers seeking a greener approach to daily living wherever they may reside. Suzy Miller

FICTION/PROULX
Proulx, Joanne - Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet - 2008, 356p.
While killing time in his buddy's basement, Luke creeps out his stoned friends by forecasting the death of one of the guys: while skateboarding, Stan will be hit by a van the very next morning. Luke even knows the license plate number. And then it happens. Luke is sickened and further overwhelmed when more visions of death strike him. Stan's girlfriend, Faith, tries to convince Luke that he is not responsible as Luke's premonitions become stranger and focused on a much-publicized missing girl. A surreal run-in with a drug-pushing doctor and a single-minded evangelical preacher drive Luke to the edge as he struggles to make sense of his "gift" and find meaning in the tragedy that surrounds him on a personal and global scale. This edgy post-9/11 coming-of-age story will hit the mark with fans of cult favorites like Donnie Darko and Chuck Palahniuk. Heather Booth

FICTION/ RUSSELL
Russell, Mary Doria - Dreamers of the Day - 2008, 253p.
Events of the first quarter of the 20th century, the Great War, the Influenza Epidemic, the first stock market crash and the partition of the Middle East, are recalled by Agnes Shanklin, as she recounts her experiences during those tumultuous days. In the course of just a few short years, Agnes Shanklin, a spinster nearing forty, found herself the sole surviving member of her family, with the means to fulfill her life-long dream to travel to Egypt. On her arrival, a simple twist of fate placed her in the position to witness an unusually powerful circle of ex-pats, including Lady Gertrude Bell, the Churchills, and her deceased sister's dear friend, Col. T.E. Lawrence, (aka; Lawrence of Arabia), only days before the 1921 Cairo Peace Conference, where this group would finalize the map and the future of the Middle East. This is an eloquent novel which offers an interesting glimpse of the people and events that laid the foundation for many of the issues that have dominated the 20th and 21st centuries. Terri W.

May

FICTION/HARRIS
Harris, Joanne - The Girl with No Shadow - 2008, 444p.
This sequel to the delightful Chocolat features Vianne who now has changed her name to Yanne and moved to Paris to start a new life with her daughters Anouk and Rosette. Seeking a quiet life, she keeps her secrets hidden but, as all too often, secrets are revealed when we least expect. When newcomer Zozie de l'Alba offers to help Yanne with the chocolate shop she now has, she is guarded but hopeful this arrangement will work out. Soon however, it becomes apparent to Yanne that Zozie is not who she thinks she is and she becomes worried about her influence on her teenage daughter. Again, as in Chocolat, this beautifully written novel captures the reader till the very last page. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/HILL
Hill, Joe - Heart-Shaped Box - 2007, 376p.
Judas Coyne, a middle-aged rock star, collects morbidly peculiar items and is particularly interested in an internet auction of a suit which includes the dead owner's ghost. When the suit arrives, Judas discovers that he has been set-up since the suit belonged to Craddock McDermott, the stepfather of his previous girlfriend who committed suicide. McDermott's ghost is out to avenge her death and threatens to kill Judas and anyone who tries to help him. This book is a compelling tale of horror and in the end the characters find redemption. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/MEDWED
Medwed, Mameve - How Elizabeth Barrett Browning Saved My Life - 2006, 255p.
Antiques dealer Abby Randolph makes a living selling antiques at a booth at a Cambridge antiques mart. One day a colleague suggests she take a chamber pot she received after dividing the possessions of her recently deceased mother and her partner on the television show, Antiques Roadshow. To her great surprise, the chamber pot belonged to Elizabeth Barrett Browning, and it is worth a small fortune. Her former best friend Lavinia also lays claim to the chamber pot, as her mother was living with Abby's mother, starting a legal battle. Complicating matters, Abby was in love with Lavinia's brother Ned until he wrote a novel detailing her hopes and fears, causing her to break up with him. Mild-mannered Abby must deal with Lavinia's selfishness and the necessity of seeing Ned again as she fights to claim what is hers and to discover how she wants to change her life. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/MILLET
Millet, Lydia - How the Dead Dream - 2007, 244p.
The only child of emotionally inaccessible parents, the oddly likeable T. is a loner – mildly obsessed with several of the American founding fathers, and curiously adept at various entrepreneurial schemes. As a real estate developer, his sharp intellect and unusually keen insight serve him well on his latest project: a retirement community in the California desert. Despite his successes, T. remains dissatisfied and spiritually adrift – dealing inadequately with the arrival of his mentally unstable mother, and the untimely death of the only girl he ever loved. He responds by finding solace in the company of animals rather than in people, who he generally regards as insensitive ecological pariahs. Overall, this is a poignant and sensitive literary novel, artfully blending social satire and personal melancholy, reminiscent of Kurt Vonnegut. Debbie Deady

SF/F ROTHFUSS
Rothfuss, Patrick - The Name of the Wind: Kingkiller Chronicle: Day One - 2007, 662p.
This first installment in a new fantasy series is traditional fantasy storytelling at its best. When the legendary Kvothe, discovered in a backwater village, is persuaded to tell his life story over three days to a "chronicler," the Kvothe of legend, quickly becomes merely flesh and blood. A gifted child orphaned by the murderous Chandrain, Kvothe survived the wilderness, the streets and the University using his wits and unique talents, while carefully constructing the foundation of his mythic status. A roadhouse, a scribe, a flawed hero, a bit of magic, lots of adventure, a sidekick, and trouble afoot. A sure bet for traditional fantasy readers everywhere! Terri W.

YA/FICTION/VALENTINE
Valentine, Jenny - Me, the Missing, and the Dead - 2008, 208p.
Lucas is surrounded by missing people: his older sister is never around, his mother is absorbed in a midlife crisis, his grandfather has dementia, and his journalist father went missing under fishy circumstances years ago. With so many ghostlike family members, it's not surprising that Lucas finds a connection with the dead. Lucas finds an abandoned funeral urn and immediately feels a connection to the woman inside. After embarking on an investigation into her life, a spine-tingling discovery allows Lucas to finally close the book on his father's disappearance. Readers, especially teens, looking for a coming-of age story with a little supernatural mystery won't want to miss this debut novel.

FICTION/WOLITZER
Wolitzer, Meg - The Ten-Year Nap - 2008, 351p.
This novel of post-9/11 literary fiction illuminates the day-to-day minutiae of a loosely knit group of mothers whose friendship originates from their children attending the same private day school in Manhattan. These women, former career-professionals, have elected to devote their energies to full-time mothering for as-yet indeterminate season of their lives. Breakfasting at the Golden Horn Diner, the women articulate their mutual challenges as well as the unique struggles confronted by each woman in her own little corner of the world. Vivid, well-drawn characters propel the story from multiple points of view, in a candid, often hilarious, snapshot of contemporary culture. Suzy Miller

April

FICTION/ANDREWS
Andrews, Mary Kay - Deep Dish - 2008, 384p.
After Gina Foxton, of the PBS cooking show Fresh Start, loses her job when her producer sleeps with the sponsor's wife, she finds herself in competition with Tate Moody of Vittles, the outdoor cooking/lifestyle show, for her own show on The Cooking Channel. The "Food Fight" will take place on Eutaw Island, and the two contestants will have to prepare their food using only a few staples, plus items they find on the island. Sparks fly between the two, leading to more than just good cooking. Verbal sparring, humor, cooking details, and quirky characters make for a satisfying story. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/BREEN
Breen, Susan - The Fiction Class - 2008, 296p.
Thirty-eight-year-old Arabella Hicks supports herself copyediting annual reports and teaching an adult education fiction class as she struggles to finish her own novel. Each Wednesday after class, Arabella visits with her mother who has Parkinson's disease. Now in a nursing home, Vera Hick's greatest joy is this weekly visit and fast food from Wendy's Arabella inevitably brings. Arabella's lesson plans and writing assignments provide the structure for this contemporary literary novel. Buttressed by the humor and good will of her latest group of students, Arabella learns to rest in the underlying love she has for her mother. Readers with aging loved ones will appreciate this tender portrayal of mother-daughter dynamics, as Arabella endeavors to settle up with her dying mother. Suzy Miller

MYSTERY/ FRANKLIN
Franklin, Ariana - Mistress of the Art of Death - 2007, 384p.
Rich in historical detail, this medieval mystery (1171 A.D.) is the first in a new series featuring Dr. Vesuvia Adelia Rachel Ortese Aguilar, a young woman from Salerno, Italy trained in the medical arts, as well as the mysterious and forbidden art of "reading the dead" (forensic anatomy). In constant need of funds, Henry II finds his treasury suffering when the Jews of Cambridge, an important source of the crown's income, are accused by villagers of the murder of local children. To clear the Jews and restore his coffers, Henry summons help from the King of Sicily who promptly sends three investigators to England: Simon, a Jewish fixer (spy), Mansur, a Saracen eunuch, and Adelia, Mistress of the Art of Death. Given the circumstances the trio struggles to maintain a fictitious cover as they settle into the backwater village while investigating the atrocious murders. This award-winning mystery is a good bet for readers who enjoy historical fiction and investigative details. Terri W.

FICTION/JORDAN
Jordan, Hillary - Mudbound: A Novel - 2008, 328p.
Jordan won the 2006 Bellwether Prize (literature showing social responsibility) for this novel set in 1946 in the Mississippi Delta. Henry McAllan is living his dream of owning and working his own cotton farm. His wife Laura, city bred and college educated, finds it difficult to share her home with her mean-spirited, racist father-in-law while doing without electricity, running water or proper medical attention for her two young children. Laura comes to rely on the companionship of midwife Florence Jackson, the wife of their African American sharecropper. Racism in the South is evident when war heroes Jamie McAllan and Ronsel Jackson return from the war and only one is given the recognition for his efforts while the other is discriminated against. This compelling novel will leave you thinking long after you close the book. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/KINSELLA
Kinsella, Sophie - Remember Me? - 2008, 389p.
Lexi Smart, affectionately known as Snaggletooth, is stuck working a dead end job and has a boyfriend nicknamed "Loser" Dave. When she wakes up in a London hospital after a night out with her friends, she is stunned to discover that she is three years older, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston are divorced, and she is married to a seemingly perfect and gorgeous man, who is also obscenely wealthy. How did Lexi's life change so dramatically and why can't she remember? This standalone title is for chick lit fans that are craving a breezy read, and for Kinsella addicts that cannot wait for the movie version of Confessions of a Shopaholic. Nicole S.

FICTION/LUTZ
Lutz, Lisa - The Curse of the Spellmans - 2008, 409p.
Izzy Spellman and her quirky family of San Francisco private investigators are back. When John Brown (a.k.a. Subject) moves in next door, Izzy is intrigued by his potential as future ex-boyfriend number 11, and also by the multiple bags of shredded paper that leave his house every day, and the mysteriously locked room within his apartment. A bruised rib, a banishment from both her sublet and the family home, and two arrests later (or four if you're really counting), Izzy enlists her teenage sister Rae to help her finish the investigation. Alternately aided and restrained by Rae's odd-couple best friend, police detective Henry Stone, Izzy's second outing is a fun, quick, quirky read for fans of Stephanie Plum as well as those who enjoy the exploits of eccentric families. Heather Booth

YA FICTION/PRESSLER
Pressler, Mirjam - Let Sleeping Dogs Lie - 2007, 207p.
Eighteen-year-old Johanna has an almost too-good-to-be-true boyfriend and all-around comfortable life in Germany, thanks in large part to her family's successful clothing store. During a school trip to Israel however, she meets Meta Levin, a Jewish woman who claims that Johanna's grandfather, a former Nazi, literally stole the store from her family during World War II. This startling accusation turns Johanna's life upside-down as she attempts to learn the truth about her grandfather's life, his recent suicide, and the reasons behind her family's defense of his innocence. A great read for mature teens already familiar with this dark chapter in German history, who also enjoy contemporary young adult fiction. Debbie Deady

March

YA/FICTION/ASHER
Asher, Jay - Thirteen Reasons Why - 2008, 288p.
Clay Jensen comes home from high school one day to discover a package of audiocassettes, narrated by his former crush Hannah Baker, waiting for him. Hannah committed suicide two weeks earlier and Clay is still reeling from the loss. In the cassettes Hannah relates thirteen reasons, many involving mutual classmates, which contributed to her decision to commit suicide. A riveting read that demonstrates how one's actions can affect other people, which many teens will find hard to put down. Nicole S.

MYSTER/BLACK
Black, Benjamin - Christine Falls - 2007, 338p.
This taut complex tale featuring pathologist Quirke Griffin is set in Dublin and Boston in the 1950s. After a party one night, Quirke returns to the morgue and finds his brother Malachy, also a doctor, altering the records of a young woman just brought in. Malachy's explanations for what he is doing don't satisfy Quirke and he begins his own investigation. As he presses for answers to find out who Christine Falls was, and how she died, Quirke opens up a much more widespread investigation into the hierarchy of the Catholic Church and their illegal adoptions. This well-written and atmospheric novel is the first in a series. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/DELINSKY
Delinsky, Barbara - The Secret Between Us - 2008, 343p.
This thought-provoking novel delves into the domino effect of lying and a family's dynamics when Deborah takes responsibility for a car accident, protecting her daughter Grace. Grace is driving home on a rainy night with Deborah, when their car hits something. Deborah, a family doctor, examines the victim (Grace's high school history teacher); determines his injuries to be minor and sends Grace home before the police arrive. When the victim dies unexpectedly Grace is wracked with guilt and withdraws from her friends and family. Deborah finds that the lie she tells about the accident only causes her to face some uncomfortable truths about her past and the way her life is progressing. Book discussion questions are included at the end of the novel for the convenience of reading groups. Marianne Trautvetter

YA/FICTION/FERGUSON
Ferguson, Alane - The Christopher Killer - 2006, 274p.
Her first day on the job as a small-town Colorado coroner's assistant begins much as Cameryn expected. But when called to a fresh crime scene, the reality of her chosen profession lands a heavy blow: the deceased is a friend of Cameryn's. More committed than ever, Cameryn vows to find Rachel's murderer, a serial killer who leaves St. Christopher's medals on each victim. Drawn to by the publicity, celebrity psychic Dr. Jewel claims to commune with Rachel and he soon casts aspersions on locals. Cameryn refuses to believe the hype until one too many of Dr. Jewel's signs appears true. Could he really be speaking with Rachel? The first in a highly suspenseful mystery series for teens, Cameryn's exploits are not to be missed by young CSI fans. A cliffhanger ending will have readers clamoring for the follow up, The Angel of Death. Heather Booth

FICTION/HARDY
Hardy, Edward - Keeper and Kid - 2008, 294p.
Thirty-six-year-old Jimmy Keeper is thriving in both his job and personal life. He manages to circumvent marriage when he and his architect-girlfriend Leah, buy their first place together. Love and Dead, the combination antique store and architectural salvage yard he operates with Tim, his oldest childhood friend, has recently expanded into another location. Then, an urgent message and subsequent hospital visit with his ex-wife Cynthia results in an unexpected surprise which soon challenges Jimmy's present domestic arrangement. Rich humor and a strong sense of place punctuates this detailed look into reconciling a previous relationship with new life-choices, making this contemporary novel one which will resonate soundly with many in our culture. Suzy Miller

FICTION/KAUFMAN
Kaufman, Jennifer and Karen Mack - A Version of the Truth - 2008, 322p.
When her husband dies in a car accident, Cassie Shaw must find a job to support herself. Because of her dyslexia, she had a terrible time in school and dropped out of high school before graduation; so she is finding it difficult to find a job until she lies on an application, saying she graduated from college. She is hired for an entry-level position by the behavioral sciences department of the local university. Cassie loves her new job, and finds working for the two professors stimulates her love of learning, so she begins taking classes and reading the classics, expanding her life and mind, discovering she isn't so dumb after all. A chance remark by a friend brings her new life tumbling down, but the resilient Cassie moves forward in this satisfying first-person account of a woman redefining her vision of herself. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/LAVENDER
Lavender, Will - Obedience - 2008, 289p.
Winchester University college students enrolled in Professor Williams' class, Logic and Reasoning 204, were understandably intrigued when told on the first day that their semester's assignment was to prevent the "hypothetical" murder of a high school student. Polly, the intended victim, had already been kidnapped they were told, and had precisely six weeks to live – coincidentally the length of their term. The mystery soon takes over the lives of three students, however, as they sift through a series of disturbing and often very personal clues, and begin to sense that the missing girl's life indeed depends on their willingness to risk their own. A gripping, psychological page-turner. Debbie Deady

MYSTERY/NESBO
Nesbø, Jo - The Redbreast - 2006, 521p.
Laid out in parallel narratives, this complex police procedural weaves together some of Norway's hidden skeletons, past and present. Detective Harry Hole has earned a special type of promotion, the kind you get only after screwing up an assignment so royally, that the only way for the department to save face is to promote the offender into a "special investigative" area… thus Hole's new title, Inspector Hole of the Norwegian National Security Service. Despite his meteoric rise in pay and cataclysmic descent in responsibility, Hole reluctantly finds himself drawn to an investigation that suggests ties not only to Norway's Neo-Nazi subculture, but to Norway's, all but buried, participation with the German army during WWII. This multi-layered story is a good bet for readers who enjoy a traditional police procedural, a Scandinavian setting or the complexity of a John LeCarré novel. Terri W.

February

FICTION/BECKETT
Beckett, Simon - Written in Bone - 2007, 326p.
Not for the squeamish, this second novel by Beckett, featuring forensic anthropologist Dr. David Hunter, takes place on a small remote island in Scotland, where a burned body has been found. The fact that one foot and one hand remain intact, causes Hunter to eventually determine that this was no accident, but murder. When gale force winds and rain prevent any additional help from coming, Hunter is left to his own instincts to solve this crime. However, additional bodies and more fires occur and with the help of retired policeman John Brody, Hunter is determined to solve these murders before more victims succumb to these gruesome deaths. This fast-paced forensic police procedural is full of complex characters and an ending no reader will ever predict. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/BROOKS
Brooks, Geraldine - People of the Book - 2008, 372p.
This historical novel by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Geraldine Brooks, was inspired by the true story of an ancient Hebrew text known as the Sarajevo Haggadah, and its unlikely discovery in Bosnia in 1996. The manuscript's amazing 500-year journey across Europe is chronicled by Australian book conservator Hannah Heath, hired by the UN to ready the Haggadah for a museum exhibition. Clues found within the pages and binding reveal much about the text's history – from its 1480 origin in Seville, to its narrow escape from German-occupied Yugoslavia in 1940, and the countless people who risked their lives to save this inspirational text from destruction. A good read-alike choice for The Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland. Debbie Deady

FICTION/LIPPMAN
Lippman, Laura - What the Dead Know - 2007, 373p.
A nameless woman is involved in a hit-and run accident in present day Baltimore. Now she is claiming to be one of two young sisters who disappeared from a shopping mall thirty years ago. Intertwining past and present stories give clues to the readers which allow us to try and solve the mystery. Is she or isn't she who she claims to be? Each clue seems to lead to a dead end for the detectives handling the case until all the clues add up in the end to a logical conclusion. Well-rounded characterizations and a good plot make this a satisfying read for mystery lovers. Susan Hanson

FICTION/O'NAN
O'Nan, Stewart - Last Night at the Lobster - 2007, 146p.
It is the last day the Red Lobster restaurant in the parking lot of the Willow Brook Mall in Connecticut will be open. Manager Manny DeLeon is hoping that he can make it through this last shift with minimal problems. It soon turns into a stressful day when most of the staff doesn't show up for work and a sudden blizzard descends upon the area. With just four days left until Christmas, Manny's feelings are torn between his pregnant girlfriend and Jacquie, a waitress at the restaurant. He also finds himself becoming wistful about the last night at his restaurant. In this slim novel, O'Nan delivers a poignant slice of life. Nicole S.

FICTION/RICHMAN
Richman, Jana - The Last Cowgirl - 2008, 292p.
In this contemporary novel, newspaper reporter Dickie Sinfield is summoned home to Clayton, Utah to attend her brother's funeral after a vaguely explained industrial accident occurs on his job at the local army base. Like the Oquirrh Mountains which divide Ganoa County from Salt Lake City, the book is structured into distinct parts: Dickie's adult life in Salt Lake as a columnist at the Beehive Banner and her childhood on the family's cattle ranch in Ganoa County during the turbulent 1960s. Once home, Dickie is uncomfortably reunited with family and friends she hasn't seen in years. Discovering her brother's house and land now belong to her, Dickie is compelled to reexamine the events which precipitated her leaving home decades earlier and to reassess those life-choices. Readers who appreciate the environmental diatribe of writers such as Barbara Kingsolver, Annie Proulx, and Ruth Ozeki will appreciate the well drawn observations posed by this author! Suzy Miller

MYSTERY/SOULE
Soule, Maris - The Crows - 2007, 262p.
During a walk in the woods with her dog, P.J. Benson hears gunshots too close for comfort, so she rushes back to her house and finds a dying man in her dining room. Although she doesn't know the man, the police consider her a suspect. When P.J. claims her house has been broken into several times, but nothing is ever taken, and knowing P.J.'s mother is a schizophrenic, the police are skeptical of her claims and even P.J. begins to question whether she is descending into schizophrenia herself when she can't prove that the strange things that are beginning to happen to her really happened. Luckily, homicide detective Wade Kingsley begins to believe her, and together they solve the crime. Rural Michigan, a mystery, psychological suspense, and a romantic subplot add to the suspenseful story. Sue O'Brien

FICTION/TSUKIYAMA
Tsukiyama, Gail - The Street of a Thousand Blossoms - 2007, 422p.
Hiroshi and Kenji are two orphaned brothers living with their grandparents in Tokyo in 1939. The older brother, Hiroshi has an interest in sumo wrestling and has shown to have some talent with his training in the sport. Kenji is the total opposite of his beloved brother and is interested in the art of making the hand-carved masks used by the actors in the Noh theater. World War II and the bombing of Pearl Harbor put a halt to the brothers' pursuit of their dreams when everyone in Japan must learn to adjust to war time. The novel spans thirty years and tells a compelling story about the effect of war on a Japanese family and their community. People reading Dream When You are Feeling Blue by Elizabeth Berg (Big Read 2008) may be interested in the similarity between the sacrifices made by families in both America and Japan during the war. Marianne Trautvetter

January

Text YA/FICTION/ALEXIE
Alexie, Sherman - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian - 2007, 230p.
In his first novel aimed at young adults, Alexie explores familiar themes of life on a reservation. Junior Spirit, a fourteen-year old Native American, had the misfortune of being born with a variety of health problems. This fact doesn't prevent him from being the most picked on kid on the Spokane "rez." There are a few bright spots in his life: his imperfect family, his talent for drawing, and his best friend Rowdy, the only kid who is tough enough to stick up for him. When a teacher urges Junior to want more than the life he has been given, Junior stuns everyone by switching to a mostly white school off the rez, where the only other Indian is the school mascot. Appealing characters and clever drawings make this a must-read for adults as well as teens. Nicole S.

MYSTERY/ARRUDA
Arruda, Suzanne - Mark of the Lion - 2006, 340p.
World War I ambulance driver Jade del Cameron travels to Africa after the war to fulfill the dying wish of her good friend David – to find his brother. Jade has little to go on – a map and a pair of rings – but she perseveres with the help of old and new friends. Complicating matters, a local witch, or laibon, is on a killing spree; and due to her investigation, Jade is also soon in danger. Jade is a fearless woman, who knows how to handle a gun, and she is determined to keep the promise she made to David, despite the low odds of success. Post World War I Africa is vividly brought to life in this first in a series featuring the intrepid Jade. Sue O'Brien

NONFICTION/KIDD
Kidd, Sue Monk - The Dance of the Dissident Daughter - 2002, 253p.
The best-selling author of The Secret Life of Bees addresses spiritual matters in this intimate, introspective book She begins by recalling an unsettling incident involving her fourteen-year-old daughter who she observes being sexually harassed by two adult males while at work. She writes, "I left the drugstore that day so internally jolted… that everything in me began to shift." She begins to explore, in the coming months and years, what she refers to as a search for the "Divine Feminine;" a notion which dramatically conflicts with her religious upbringing (her father is a Southern Baptist minister). Ironically, a retreat at a Catholic monastery – an annual ritual she feels benefits her work as a novelist – serves as the catalyst for a life-altering spiritual conversion. Debbie Deady

MYSTERY/SLAUGHTER
Slaughter, Karin - Blindsighted - 2001, 311p.
Sara Linton is both a pediatrician and the county coroner in the small town of Heartsdale, Georgia. While having lunch, Sara walks into the ladies' room and finds Sibyl Adams, the victim of a brutal rape and knife attack. When Sara is unable to save Sibyl, police chief, Jeffrey Tolliver (Sara's ex-husband), is brought into the investigation. A second victim, coed Julia Mathews is raped and left crucified on the hood of Sara's car. Something from Sara's past seems to tie the murders together and the race is on to find the answers before another victim is attacked. This thriller will be satisfying for fans of Patricia Cornwall who can stomach the violence of the plot. Marianne Trautvetter

MYSTERY/SUSSMAN
Sussman, Paul - The Last Secret of the Temple - 2005, 555p.
An intriguing novel of conspiracy and conflict rooted in Jerusalem's ancient past. When the investigation of a suspicious death at an archeological site in Egypt compels Detective Yusuf Khalifa to revisit the murder of an Israeli national 15 years earlier, he is forced to contact the police department in Jerusalem for information into the victim's background. When Arieh Ben-Roi, a detective in the Old City division of the Jerusalem police department, grudgingly agrees to a very rudimentary look into the Egyptian's case, he is forced to admit that something just isn't right. Thus, two professionals with deeply rooted prejudices find themselves reluctantly investigating a case together, one with urgent international implications. If you are looking for a fast paced adventure/conspiracy like Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code or a suspenseful novel framed by contemporary issues and religious mysteries with well drawn characters and an insightful setting, this is a good bet for you! (This book follows The Lost Army of Cambyses.) Terri W.

FICTION/SCHWEGEL
Schwegel, Theresa - Person of Interest - 2007, 372p.
This edgy, contemporary police procedural is as much about the drama playing out in the McHugh family as it is about husband Craig's current assignment as a Chicago police detective. Unbeknownst to long-time wife Leslie, forty-something Craig McHugh is in deep undercover striving to gain credibility with the Fuxi Spider gang while searching out the source of "China white" heroin, the most recent killing anathema on city streets. Instead, a lonely and often-alone Leslie mistakenly concludes Craig is having an affair. Daughter Ivy, a surly, angst-ridden teenager, has just dumped her older boyfriend, Niko, in her pursuit of a new, way-cool guy. Leslie is vulnerable to the ministrations of another man, and Craig assumes the worse. These domestic problems threaten to overwhelm Craig's focus undercover with tragic consequences in this engrossing, well drawn novel, rich in Chicago detail and family dynamics. Suzy Miller