2005

December

MYSTERY/ GOLDBERG
Goldberg, LeeThe Man with the Iron-on Badge2005, 223p.
Watch out Monk, Magnum, Mannix and Spenser… Harvey Mapes is looking to be the new kid on the block, in this laugh out loud, pulp-style, P.I novel. When Harvey, the lowly night-shift security guard for a southern California gated neighborhood, is plucked from his dreary life and tossed into the glamorous $150.00 per day, P.I. life, he sees nothing but a dream-come-true, action–packed, chick magnet, adventurous (just like on T.V.) life ahead. Unfortunately for Harvey there are problems with his ideal life, getting beat up actually hurts, having a best friend in the police department doesn’t come with the assignment and some secrets are too dark and too tragic to live with. If you enjoy a flawed P.I. with a humorous outlook, and very little luck, check this out. Terri W.

FICTION/GRISHAM
Grisham, JohnSkipping Christmas2001, 177p.
This satirical look at Christmas is not your typical Grisham novel, but it might be the perfect read while taking a break from the holiday hustle and bustle. With their only child leaving after Thanksgiving to join the Peace Corps in Peru, Luther Krank and his wife, Nora, decide that this year they should forgo their normal holiday festivities and spend the money on a 10-day Caribbean cruise. The Krank’s neighbors are horrified when they find out that the Kranks are not following the community traditions and put the pressure on Luther and Nora to conform to the norm. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/MCMILLEN
McMillen, Georgia Ka’apuniSchool for Hawaiian Girls2005, 199p.
The 1922 unsolved murder of Lydie Kahuli, a 16-year-old unwed mother, lies at the heart of this contemporary novel set in the Hawaiian islands. The year is now 1985, and Lydie’s grand-niece Moani unwittingly dredges up the past, when she attempts to purchase the long-abandoned Hawaiian School for Girls, and re-open it as a hotel. Alternating narrators provide the tragic details of the decades-old murder, and expand the list of suspects, as well as offer a unique view of a darker side of paradise. Reminiscent of The Poisonwood Bible (in a much smaller package). Debbie Deady

MYSTERY/MEIER
Meier, LeslieNew Year’s Eve Murder2005, 250p.
Lucy Stone and her daughter Elizabeth leave Tinker’s Cove, Maine, and travel to New York City as winners of a mother/daughter makeover from Jolie magazine. The excitement of being in the city and the makeover pale when a Jolie employee dies and Elizabeth becomes seriously ill. Lucy decides she must solve the murder because it is tied to Elizabeth’s illness, and she wants to avenge Elizabeth. A new setting, tidbits about the magazine world, and the mother/daughter relationship add to this twelfth in a series. Sue O’Brien

FICTION/RENDELL
Rendell, RuthThirteen Steps Down2004, 340p.
Obsession drives the lives of Gwendolyn, a bitter spinster, her volatile and delusional boarder, “Mix,” and top-model Nerissa Nash, in this dark psychological thriller with brief flickers of humor and a satisfying conclusion. Mix is fascinated by and eventually copies a notorious local serial killer, while Gwendolyn and Nerissa both pine over loves they never acted on. The narration shifts between the characters, developing each one evenly, with a pace creating anticipation for the three to finally collide. As the story builds, the characters’ personal realities— and the preoccupations and misconceptions upon which they are based— create a house of cards ready to crumble tragically, and soon. Heather Booth

FICTION/SAMPSON
Sampson, CatherineFalling Off Air2004, 311p.
The unlikely heroine of this engaging debut mystery is Robin Ballantyne, single mother of twins, who is on maternity leave from her job as a journalist with the BBC. One stormy evening as she contemplates her return to the work force, a mysterious tragedy right outside her window makes the decision for her. A neighbor, whom she hardly knew, plunges to her death as Robin watches helplessly. Curious as to how and why her neighbor died, Robin goes too far in her investigation and soon becomes a suspect herself. She quickly realizes she must uncover the truth before she loses her children, her freedom and her life. Sheila Guenzer


November

FICTION/ALEXANDER
Alexander, TashaAnd Only to Deceive2005, 310p.
In this appealing historical romance, Emily marries Philip (Viscount Ashton) only to get away from her mother and her constant harping. Philip dies soon after their wedding, and Emily tries to avoid his family and friends because she cannot mourn him as they do. Bit by bit Emily discovers Philip, the big-game hunter, had another side; he was a compassionate, intellectual man who was deeply in love with his wife. Emily explores his interests in Greek art and literature, expanding her horizons and taking charge of her life. Details of Greek poetry and art and an element of mystery add to this tale of a woman who comes to know and love her deceased husband, but is ready to face her future, perhaps with another man. Sue O’Brien

FICTION/GABALDON
Gabaldon, DianaA Breath of Snow and Ashes2005, 979p.
Fans of the Outlander series, need not wait a minute longer for the long anticipated sixth novel by Gabaldon. As the American Revolution draws closer, Jamie Fraser finds himself walking a fine line between staying loyal to the Crown and getting swept along with the revolutionary mood in North Carolina. Thanks to his wife Claire’s knowledge of the upcoming war, decisive actions are not easy, and allegiances are constantly doubted. The author again delivers meticulous historical details, strong characters who now seem like friends, steamy romance, and her signature time-travel twist. Long-awaited questions are answered in this installment with room for at least one or two more novels. Nicole S.

FICTION / PETIT
Petit, CarolineThe Fat Man’s Daughter2005, 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.

FICTION/RAY
Ray, JeanneJulie and Romeo Get Lucky2005, 277p.
This sequel to Julie and Romeo finds Julie and Romeo still blissfully happy. They don’t get much time together, because each one has a house full of family members. An injury puts Romeo flat on his back, and Julie’s other daughter, Nora, comes to live with her. Julie finds herself managing two flower shops, nursing Romeo back to health, tackling her granddaughter’s fixation on the lottery, and keeping her daughters from constant bickering. Wonderfully witty and wise, this book is a smart, heartwarming story of love and family loyalty. It is a funny story based on great respect for the uniqueness of each member of the family. Nana Oakey-Campana

FICTION/SIDDONS
Siddons, Anne RiversSweetwater Creek2005, 356p.
Once again, Siddons brings her readers a novel set in the Low Country of South Carolina with its evocative sense of place and lyrical prose. This coming of age novel tells how twelve-year-old Emily Parmenter tries to fit in on her families’ plantation now that her mother has run off and her beloved brother has committed suicide. While her father and older twin brothers are busy raising hunting dogs, they hardly notice Emily and the special relationship she has with the puppies. That summer when a well-to-do family from Charleston society sends their troubled twenty-year-old college daughter Lulu to spend time on the plantation, Emily is reluctant to get close to Lulu until the girls realize that they can help each other. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/THOMAS
Thomas, ScarlettPopCo2005, 503p.
Cleverness abounds at the London-based toy conglomerate PopCo – a highly successful company with a rather sinister hidden agenda: to subliminally impact impressionable young children, thereby creating a greater demand for PopCo products. Twenty-nine-year-old employee, math wiz and urban non-conformist Alice Butler, is currently attending a company retreat held on the grounds of a secluded country estate, and has been selected to take part in a series of secret team-building activities, culminating in the development of a new product line. But someone has been slipping coded messages under her door – a secret admirer perhaps? Some kind of corporate “game” designed to test her personal integrity? Or could this mean that someone within the organization has learned something about her past secrets? A fresh, innovative mix of puzzles, mind-games, and storyline. Debbie Deady

FICTION/WARD
Ward, Amanda EyreHow to Be Lost2005, 320p.
This beautifully written and compelling story revolves around one family and its struggle to deal with the past. The three Winter sisters plan to run away from home – escaping an alcoholic father and inadequate mother. The day they are to go, 5-year-old Ellie disappears. The family never recovers, and years later estranged sisters Madeline and Caroline are thrust into a situation which forces them to confront the past in order to move forward in their own lives. This novel is a combination of mystery, romance drama, and most of all a sense of hope for all families that have suffered tragedies. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/WOLITZER
Wolitzer, MegThe Position2005, 307p.
In a typical suburban home in the mid 1970s, Paul and Roz Mellow’s four children, ranging in age from six to fifteen, discover the couple’s bestselling book on sex. Illustrated with artistic but graphic paintings of their parents, the book makes a deep and lasting impression on the children. They realize that in some way, nothing will ever be the same. Thirty years later, the siblings have grown up and apart, the once loving and passionate couple has divorced, and the book’s publisher is interested in reissuing an anniversary edition. What follows is an unflinchingly intimate and caring examination of a family that has grown apart, yet is tied together by their past, and forever changed by all of the good – and bad – that came from a book. Heather Booth


October

FICTION/BAUER
Bauer, AnneA Wild Ride Up the Cupboards2005, 279p.
Edward is the delight of Rachel and Jack’s life. This outgoing and loving child is a happy addition to their family. Soon, however, Edward begins to show signs of something Rachel and Jack do not understand. Slowly, he seems to be living in his own isolated world unconscious of things and people around him. Told from Rachel’s point of view as she struggles to help her son, and the challenges he faces, it soon becomes apparent that this family is out of control. How Rachel summons the strength to do what she needs to do to help herself, and her children, is a heartwarming and inspirational novel. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/CLARK
Clark, RobertLove Among the Ruins2001, 333p.
Minneapolis teenagers Bill and Emily’s romance begins with a letter written (Bill to Emily) on the night of the Robert Kennedy assassination. They have met albeit briefly, through friends-of-friends and Bill, the only son of a single politically active mother, can’t get her out of his head. After a few casual dates, they become inseparable and Bill begins to worry about the likelihood that he will be drafted and sent to Vietnam. What follows is a bittersweet story that examines the turbulent 1960s and its profound effect on decisions made by the two teens and their families. December Fiction Book Discussion selection. Debbie Deady

FICTION/FFORDE
Fforde, JasperThe Eyre Affair2002, 374p.
A playful adventure for book lovers. In an alternate, literature-loving London circa 1985, time travel is commonplace, the Crimean War rages on, and great authors are more famous than actors. Thursday Next, a literary crime-fighting “LiteraTech,” is assigned to investigate the disappearance of Dickens’ Martin Chuzzlewit manuscript. When a fictional character from the novel disappears from the story, and his very real body is found, Thursday realizes that this is more than just a robbery. Her investigation soon brings her back in touch with her eccentric inventor uncle, an old love, and the Jane Eyre—live and in the flesh. Part literary homage, part time-travel adventure, part anti-war treatise, The Eyre Affair begins a delightful series that will appeal to fans of Douglas Adams’ Hitchhiker series as well as anyone willing to suspend disbelief long enough to imagine dodos as the perfect household pet. Heather Booth

MYSTERY/JENKINS
Jenkins, EmylStealing With Style2005, 321p.
The author, a well-known antiques appraiser, puts her knowledge to excellent use in this intriguing mystery. The heroine, Sterling Glass, is also an appraiser who spends her time examining heirlooms in the vicinity of her Virginia home. When a number of rare and valuable antiques turn up mysteriously in the local Goodwill store, she becomes involved in a complex plot involving a treasure of antique pieces, the oldest families of Leemont, some sophisticated scammers, and shifty people at the best New York auction houses. This novel is the first in a series and introduces a heroine of a certain age who has a grand sense of the meaning and mystery in antiques and our most treasured possessions. Nana Oakey-Campana

MYSTERY/ LOVESEY
Lovesey, PeterThe Circle2005, 358p.
The latest Inspector Henrietta Mallin mystery is a classic puzzle in the truest Christie tradition! The members of the Chichester Writer’s Circle are a quirky bunch, they include writers of family history, romance, fantasy, limericks and of course a mystery writer! But it seems that this cozy group is in a bit of trouble, as one of them is most likely a murderer. But who done it? Never fear after a few twists and turns Inspector Mallin will ferret out the culprit! A great read for Agatha Christie lovers!! Terri W.

FICTION/RATH
Rath, SaraStar Lake Saloon and Housekeeping Cottages2005, 315p.
Hannah Swann travels to northern Wisconsin to attend her Uncle Hal’s memorial service and see her inheritance—a bar and tumbledown resort consisting of fishing cottages for rent. Determined to quickly sell Star Lake, she soon finds the resort is heavily mortgaged; and she opens for the summer because she can’t afford to refund the deposits. Her financial situation gets worse when an international mining corporation begins operations near Star Lake. Local residents and family help Hannah run the resort over the summer, and Star Lake and the peaceful Northwoods begins to cast a spell over Hannah as she helps the townspeople fight the incoming mine to save the fragile ecosystem. Ecological issues, a romantic interest, and family relationships frame the satisfying story of Hannah’s transformation from city girl to environmental protector. Sue O’Brien

FICTION/PERROTTA
Perrotta, TomLittle Children2004, 355p.
In this smart and perceptive novel about the darker side of suburbia, readers meet a variety of characters wondering how their lives could have possibly turned out like they have. Sarah, an unhappily married stay-at-home mom, recalls her passionate relationship with pre-med student Amelia, when she was an undergraduate. Todd, the only stay-at-home dad at the playground, wonders how he can sidestep his wife’s ambition for him to pass the bar exam. When Sarah and Todd meet, an unlikely and immediate attraction quickly turns into an intense affair. Other flaws in the neighborhood facade are soon revealed with the arrival of a registered sex offender living with his mother. Perrotta delivers a surprisingly quick read with just a hint of trepidation about how the book will end. Nicole S.

September

FICTION/DOMINGUE
Domingue, RoblynThe Mercy of Thin Air: A Novel2005, 320p.
This unusual and haunting love story is narrated by Louisiana belle, Raziela Nolan—a medical student who died tragically in 1929, but has remained suspended “between life and whatever comes next” ever since. From this unique vantage point, Razi enters the lives of a troubled, modern-day couple to whom she is oddly attracted following their purchase of an heirloom bookcase. The bookcase is somehow connected with the fate of Andrew O’Connell—the love of Razi’s life— revealing secrets that have remained hidden for decades. Fans of the Time Traveler’s Wife may wish to try this interesting debut novel. Debbie Deady

MYSTERY/MCBAIN
McBain, EdAlice in Jeopardy2005, 292p.
The late Ed McBain departs from his 87th precinct series with this stand-alone novel. Floridian Alice Glendenning, a feisty 34-year-old widow, has fallen on hard times. Grieving over her husband’s drowning accident eight months earlier, she and her two children wait for the desperately needed insurance money. Things get worse when two women kidnap the children on their way home from school. Alice must get the ransom money to save her children’s lives while dealing with bumbling local police, the FBI, and many other meddlers. With a shocking ending, this clever story will appeal to crime fiction readers and those who enjoy a good novel with plenty of suspense. Nana Oakey-Campana

FICTION/MARTIN
Martin, LeeThe Bright Forever2005, 269p.
When nine-year-old Katie Mackey leaves on her bike to return library books and does not return home that night no one in her small Indiana town is prepared for the tragedy that unfolds. Now thirty years after the event, the mystery of Katie’s death is still unsolved, but the narrator, teacher Henry Dees, knows what happened and is prepared to tell the reader the story. The story unfolds on the day of Katie’s death, and for the next four days the story is told from different points of view by those involved, including Katie’s family members. Piece by piece the puzzle is put together in an emotionally gripping way. People who liked The Lovely Bones will enjoy this novel. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/ PEREZ-REVERTE
Perez-Reverte, ArturoQueen of the South2002, 2004, 434p.
Teresa Mendoza came from the streets of Sinaloa, Mexico, a prostitute’s daughter, a money changer, a narco pilot’s girlfriend. When her cell phone rang, Teresa knew she had to run, Güero was dead, and in their world, Teresa would be next. That she survived to land in Spain, instead of an unmarked grave, was miraculous, but just the beginning of Teresa’s, (La Mexicana’s) tale. This engrossing story narrates, in alternate points of view, “La Mexicana’s” navigation and survival of the treacherous waters of international drug running. Terri W.

YA/FICTION/RENNISON
Rennison, LouiseThen He Ate My Boy Entrancers2005, 312p.
The sixth book in the popular Georgia Nicolson series sees the main character and her family visiting America, albeit for a clown car convention in Memphis. Georgia is in fine form as she obsesses over the new lead singer of the Stiff Dylans, hunky Masimo, and tries to sort out feelings for her last boyfriend Robbie, who is still in New Zealand. There are several laugh-out-loud moments in this fictional diary that make this an entertaining read for teens and adults. As always, the glossary in the back of the book comes in handy to decipher the meanings of Georgia’s hip British slang (boy entrancers are actually fake eyelashes). Nicole S.

MYSTERY/SPEART
Speart, JessicaRestless Waters2005, 293p.
Outspoken U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agent Rachel Porter has been banished to Hawaii where she is expected to while away her days doing paperwork for an indifferent boss. But when Rachel learns unscrupulous people are endangering Hawaii’s wildlife by breeding exotic species in the jungle for later sale to the pet trade, she jumps into an investigation of the practice and finds an even more disturbing abuse of wildlife, pitting her against a sister agency (National Marine Fisheries Service) and people in the highest echelon of Hawaiian politics. Rachel perseveres in spite of the dangers to her career and even her life. Fans of Nevada Barr will enjoy this mystery series with its wildlife frame and an evocative sense of place. Sue O’Brien

FICTION/SEE
See, LisaSnow Flower and the Secret Fan2005,258p.
This beautifully written and compelling novel tells the story of two women who met as young girls in 19th century China. It is a story told by Lily now in her eighties, and retraces the lifetime of friendship between herself and Snow Flower her “laotong” or lifelong friend. Lily recalls the joys and heartaches of their lives—foot binding, nu shu (secret women’s writing) and many other life experiences. The rich historical detail and descriptions make this poignant story a fascinating portrait of women’s lives so different from anything we can imagine. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/SWARUP
Swarup, VikasQ&A2005, 318p.
When Ram Mohammad Thomas is arrested at his home in India, he thinks almost nothing of it. His life has followed so many twists and turns that this last experience is almost expected. The crime? Winning the brand new game-show, “Who Will Win a Billion.” In an attempt to escape the responsibility of the one billion rupee payout, officials intend to prove that Thomas, an uneducated orphan has cheated. Through an extensive interview the story emerges of how he came to know the answer to each of the increasingly difficult questions. Swarup uses this interesting structure to great effect. Rich with characters and curious scenarios, Q&A submerges the reader into the story of Thomas’s life with equal doses of triumph and heartbreak. Heather Booth


August

YA/FICTION/CABOT
Cabot, MegPrincess in Training2005, 269p.
In this new addition to the Princess Diaries series, Mia Thermopolis is just starting her sophomore year of high school, and already she is overloaded with problems from sophomore geometry to her best friend’s nominating her for student council president against her mortal enemy, the popular Lana. Also, the ten thousand snails she released in the Bay of Genovia to eat the killer algae aren’t doing anything but causing an international ecological incident. Finally, she is told college boys (of whom her boyfriend is one) want to “do it,” and Mia isn’t ready. How Mia works through her teenage angst by writing in her diary and triumphs over her varied problems makes for a hilarious, heartwarming read. Sue O’Brien

FICTION/HORNBY
Hornby, NickA Long Way Down2005, 333p.
What happens when four strangers meet on New Year’s Eve, on a rooftop in London (infamously noted for “jumpers”), each intending to end their lives? They are hardly what one would call a homogenous group—Martin, a TV celebrity caught in a sex scandal; Maureen, single and middle-aged who cares for her profoundly disabled son; JJ, an American rocker upset about the break-up of his band; and Jess, a punky twenty-something, looking for love. Yet, bonded by their common unhappiness, they agree to postpone their suicide plans—at least for one night—as they each begin to understand and humorously demonstrate the fact that “misery (really does) love company.” Debbie Deady

MYSTERY/JENKINS
Jenkins, EmylStealing with Style2005, 321p.
The author, a well-known antiques appraiser, puts her knowledge to excellent use in this intriguing mystery. The heroine, Sterling Glass, is an appraiser who spends her time examining heirlooms in the vicinity of her Virginia home. When a number of rare and valuable antiques turn up in the local Goodwill store, she becomes involved in a complex plot involving a treasure of antique pieces, the oldest families of Leemont, some sophisticated scammers, and shifty people at the best New York auction houses. This novel is the first in a series and introduces a heroine of a certain age who has a grand sense of the meaning and mystery in antiques and our most treasured possessions. Nana Oakey-Campana

MYSTERY/KOZAK
Kozak, Harley JaneDating Is Murder2005, 342p.
The second in this series brings back the quirky heroine Wollie Shelly (Dating Dead Men). Wollie’s dating life is in serious trouble, so she decides to try something outrageous and becomes a participant on a reality TV show called Biological Clock. The exposure should help her greeting card business and financially help with the care of her brother P.B. However, the show takes a back seat when Wollie becomes involved in the disappearance of her German au pair friend, Annika. In no time, Wollie finds herself in the middle of an F.B.I. investigation. Wollie sorts things out in this delightful, light-hearted mystery. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/OYEYEMI
Oyeyemi, HelenIcarus Girl2005, 335p.
Jessamy is a precocious yet troubled child who seems caught in the cultural divide between her Nigerian mother and British father. On a trip to Nigeria to connect Jess with her roots and settle her, she makes her first real friend, TillyTilly, a strange girl who reveals dark family secrets. Upon returning home, Jess has not settled and is more prone to tantrums than ever, until TillyTilly reappears. In time, TillyTilly becomes less of a comfort and more of a disturbing and powerfully destructive presence in Jessamy’s life, since no one else can see her, but no one will believe what Jess insists—that TillyTilly is real. With beautifully crafted language, Oyeyemi weaves a horrific tale from strands of Nigerian folklore and the darkest places in the mind. Heather Booth

FICTION/PATTERSON
Patterson, James and Howard RoughanHoneymoon2005, 393p.
Black Widow killer Nora Sinclair isn’t satisfied with just a generous, handsome fiancé in New York, but has an equally rich and sexy husband in Boston. Her biggest dilemma is which man she should dispose of first. John O’Hara, an F.B.I. agent, is posing as insurance investigator Craig Reynolds in order to catch Nora in the act. John becomes as enthralled with Nora as her previous victims as he tries to solve the serial murders. This fast-paced thriller with lots of plot twists is the perfect beach read or will help to pass the time waiting at the airport. Marianne Trautvetter

FICTION/ PEREZ-REVERTE
Perez-Reverte, ArturoCaptain Alatriste2005, 253p.
A swashbuckling tale, set in Spain in the 1620s, when connections meant power and justice was often delivered at the end of a sword! Captain Diego Alatriste y Tenorio has built a rich resume with his sword. He is retired from the wars in Flanders, always broke, and friend to poets, whores, Jesuits and constables; and if the right person asked, to make ends meet, he is a sword for hire. This tale, “The adventure of the masked man and the two Englishmen,” is recounted by the Captain’s faithful servant, Inigo, the 13-year-old son of a fellow soldier who did not make it back from the wars. This adventure follows the Captain as he rescues two Englishmen, and in the process creates some very powerful enemies. This rich story is the first in a projected serial featuring Alatriste. Terri Williams

817/SED
Sedaris, DavidDress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim2004, 257p.
Sedaris has put together another collection of humorous essays that will have you alternately laughing and wincing. His absurdly wacky family is the basis for many of his stories. From his youngest sister who pulls a frozen turkey out of a stranger’s garbage and insists it is perfectly fine to cook, to his brother, Rooster, who defies all odds and gets married, these stories will affirm that your family is normal. Other seemingly mundane topics like a sleepover in the sixth grade, getting his blood sugar tested, and moving into his first apartment all have the signature Sedaris twist. For fans of black humor, this book is an enjoyable, quick read for summer. Nicole S.


July

FICTION/BELFER
Belfer, LaurenCity of Light1999, 518 p.
Louisa Barrett is the articulate and attractive headmistress of the Macaulay School for Girls in Buffalo, NY, circa 190l—a time when the city was thriving as the busiest inland port in the U.S. The burgeoning hydroelectric industry, made possible by Niagara Falls, created scores of new millionaires, and won Buffalo the right to host the prestigious Pan-American Exposition—the unfortunate site of President McKinley’s assassination. Two other suspicious deaths reveal a conspiracy to which Miss Barrett, and those that she loves, are forcibly involved. City of Light is engaging historical fiction likely to appeal to fans of The Devil in the White City. Debbie Deady

MYSTERY/EVANOVICH
Evanovich, JanetEleven on Top2005, 310p.
The eleventh installment of this long-running series will not disappoint Evanovich fans. Stephanie Plum, the Burg-renowned bounty hunter, has decided to pack it in, move on to a new job, and grow up. Apprehending fugitives for her cousin Vinnie, the bail bondsman, doesn’t seem worth it anymore. Unfortunately, between helping her former protégé, finding a new career, and dodging a psychotic enemy she made in the past, Stephanie does not get a peaceful break. Fortunately for readers, there are plenty of laughs and outrageous events that make this an enjoyable read, perfect for summer. Nicole S.

FICTION/HOFFMAN
Hoffman, AliceThe Ice Queen2005, 211p.
The author’s fascination with fairy tales and the concept of cause and effect blend together in this story of magic, romance, and redemption. As an eight-year-old, the narrator makes a terrible wish that comes true. Overcome with remorse, for the next 30 years she shuts down emotionally to become the ice queen. After settling near her brother in Florida, the narrator is struck by lightning. As her damaged narrator joins a lightning-strike-survivor group, Hoffman describes the bizarre effects experienced by real-life lightning strike survivors, and she sets up a risky romance between the ice queen and a fellow survivor known as Lazarus. Gradually the ice queen begins to see what she has missed in life. This literary novel explores the meaning of trust, the chemistry of healing, and the power of love. Nana Oakey-Campana

FICTION / KANON
Kanon, JosephAlibi2005, 405p.
Atmospheric and tense, this historical novel explores moral ambiguity with intrigue among the scenic canals and elegant palazzos of 1946 Venice. Grace Miller returns to Venice after the war in search of her youth, and her son Adam follows with the hope of leaving the horrors of war behind. But, where Grace finds the longed for elegance and “society” of the past, Adam finds a different, shrouded Venice, scarred by lingering secrets and lies from the war. This eloquent novel is a sure bet for fans of John LeCarre or Martin Cruz Smith. Terri Williams

FICTION/QUICK
Quick, AmandaLie By Moonlight2005, 385p.
Teacher Concordia Glade and her four teenage, orphaned students flee Aldwick Castle in the confusion of the fire they set themselves to aid in their escape. Private inquiry agent Ambrose Wells finds himself helping the five women escape, and he then hides them in his London lodgings. Concordia hires Ambrose to find the reason the four orphans were taken from their orphanages and brought to the castle. Of course, Concordia is determined to assist Ambrose in the investigation, and sparks fly as the two become personally, as well as professionally, involved. The two ultimately expose a nefarious plot involving the girls in this spicy, Victorian romance by the ever-popular Quick. Sue O’Brien

FICTION/SWAIN
Swain, HeatherLuscious Lemon2004, 303p.
After a tragic childhood, Lemon feels her luck has finally turned. She’s the head chef of her own hot New York restaurant and is getting rave reviews all over town. Her boyfriend, Eddie, practically worships the ground she walks on. Her best friend cooks next to her everyday, and her large family of aunts is always there when she needs them. But suddenly everything is up in the air when Lemon finds herself pregnant. Eddie is thrilled and immediately proposes marriage and an easy family life. But Lemon is hesitant to accept Eddie’s proposal or the upcoming but inevitable changes—especially since at last her life is just the way she hoped it would be. The first person narration pulls the reader along with Lemon’s emotional ups and downs and also tenderly examines bigger themes of fate, luck, and true friendship. Heather Booth

FICTION/TURNER
Turner, Nancy E.Sarah’s Quilt: A Novel of Sarah Agnes Prine and the Arizona Territories, 19062005, 402p.
In this sequel to These Is My Words (1998), the author continues the fictionalized diary of her great-grandmother, Sarah Agnes Prine, a frontierswoman living in the Arizona Territory, running a cattle ranch. Now widowed with two grown sons, Sarah faces the hardships of a severe drought, a prairie fire, and a stampede. Even while dealing with her own problems, Sarah goes to San Francisco when she receives word that her brother and his family have lost everything in the 1906 earthquake. Plot twists and turns create a story that is a page turner, while the priority-of-family theme makes this historical novel a satisfying read. Marianne Trautvetter


June

YA FICTION/ANDERSON
Anderson, Laurie HalseProm2005, 215p.
Ashley knows that the senior prom at her Philadelphia high school is a big deal to her close friends, but she thinks the whole prom scene is stupid. So it is a huge surprise that Ashley is the most likely person to save the prom after the math teacher steals the prom money. The author, Laurie Halse Anderson, switches from a very serious and powerful novel, Speak, to a funny, light-hearted story about a teenager coming into her own. Ashley’s wild Irish family and friends are funny and supportive, and teens will love Ashley’s clear view of high-school life, dating, and the strong bonds of friendship. In this delightful novel, prom fever makes Ashley re-evaluate her future, and she shines with a new attitude and a new life. Nana Oakey-Campana

FICTION/COBEN
Coben, HarlanThe Innocent2005, 388p.
In an instant your life can change. That’s what happened to Matt Hunter when he accidentally kills a young man in college. After serving four years in prison, he is released; and he is determined to start a new life. He meets Olivia, and they get married and begin to have a family. However, bliss is short lived, as Matt receives compromising photos on his cell phone of Olivia and another man. Then evidence links Matt to the death of a nun, and Matt is soon a suspect in her murder. Soon Olivia and Matt are confronted with revelations that threaten to tear their marriage apart. Lots of twists and turns keep the reader from guessing the final outcome until the very end. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/HARDING
Harding, RobynThe Journal of Mortifying Moments2004, 308p.
Kerry Spence is a single thirtysomething with an unsatisfying job, a confusing love life, and a mother who has embraced her inner Demi Moore by dating a much younger man. At her therapist’s urging, Kerry begins recording her painful experiences with the men from her past to better understand her relationship behavior. A quick read reminiscent of Bridget Jones’s Diary, this book is a humorous addition to the chick-lit genre. Nicole S.

FICTION/KABAK
Kabak, CarrieCover the Butter2005, 368p.
English mum Kate Cadogan is at her absolute wit’s end when she surveys the damage done to their charming home by her teenage son’s out-of-control party. Her sports-fanatic hubby, whose job it was to supervise the home front, is oblivious and unconcerned (as usual), while Kate begins to seriously reconsider her settled, suburban life altogether. Perhaps growing up with an overbearing, guilt-inducing mother has something to do with the life choices she’s made. Joanna Trollope and Jane Green fans may well enjoy this new author’s splashes of humor and thoughtful introspection. Debbie Deady

FICTION/MCLEAN
McLean, StuartHome from the Vinyl Café: A Year of Stories2005, 262p.
Amusing vignettes chronicle the current lives and pasts of record store owner Dave, his wife Morley, and their two children. From Dave’s frantic efforts to prepare the Christmas turkey, which involves a trip to the Plaza Hotel, to the family vacation from hell that inadvertently includes the family’s cat, this collection of interconnected short stories is witty, warm, and satisfying. Sue O’Brien

FICTION/MILLER
Miller, SueLost in the Forest2005, 247p.
When her second husband dies suddenly in a car accident, Eve’s seemingly calm life is thrown into a swirl of emotions. To help the family cope with the tragedy, Eve’s first husband, Mark, becomes more involved with his two adolescent daughters and tries to befriend Eve’s young son, Theo. The younger daughter, Daisy, was especially close to her stepfather and instead of looking for comfort from her father begins an inappropriate affair with a married man. Miller dissects the family members’ relationships and slowly allows them to heal and grow in this insightfully written novel. Marianne Trautvetter


May

FICTION/BERG
Berg, ElizabethThe Year of Pleasures2005, 206p.
Before 55-year-old Betta Nolan’s husband John died of liver cancer, she promised him she would sell their home in Boston and move to the Midwest, just as they had planned to do together. Childless, they had had a wonderful life together, not needing outside friends because their relationship was enough for both of them. Betta stumbles upon and buys an old Victorian house in Stewart, IL, 49 miles from Chicago. Lonely, she meets some of her neighbors and tries to find her niche in the community. Impulsively, she tracks down three former college roommates and finds solace in reviving the friendships. Marianne Trautvetter

MYSTERY/CHURCHILL
Churchill, JillA Groom with a View1999, 218p.
Jane Jeffry, a single suburban mom, is asked by her friend Livvy Thatcher to help with her wedding. Jane reluctantly agrees, and things go smoothly until the seamstress making the bridesmaids’ dresses is found murdered. Since all the guests are staying at the lodge, everyone is a suspect. It takes all Jane’s wits and wiles to uncover the murderer and makes sure the wedding goes as planned. This is a fast paced, light mystery with a sense of humor and quirky characters. Perfect for a beach read this summer. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/HAIG
Haig, BrianThe President’s Assassin2005, 404p.
Sean Drummond is the quintessential outsider, stuck on the inside. Recently shuttled from the Army to the CIA’s Office of Special Projects, Sean finds himself involved in an investigation so critical that the FBI, CIA and White House must join forces. The White House Chief of Staff, his family, and his security detail have been slaughtered. The President may be next. Sean is teamed with Jennifer Margold, special agent from the D.C. office of the FBI. They know it’s an insider. They think they know why. They think they know who. Now they have to find him, before it’s too late. Recommended for DeMille readers. Terri Williams

FICTION/HENDRICKS
Hendricks, Judith RyanThe Baker’s Apprentice2005, 372p.
In this sequel to Bread Alone, Seattle bread baker Wynter Morrison and her boyfriend Mac deal with the issues surrounding their developing relationship, mainly Mac’s inability to share his life and past with Wynter. When Mac leaves Seattle to head to Alaska after a disappointment with his unpublished novel, Wynter has to deal not only with his absence, but with the legal details of her pending divorce, the lack of money to keep up her share of the payments on the bakery she co-owns, her mother’s remarriage, and mothering a young woman who needs her help. Told from both Wynter and Mac’s points of view, the two finally resolve their relationship in this satisfying story framed by baking and friendship. Sue O’Brien

MYSTERY/HOLMES
Holmes, RupertSwing: A Mystery2005, 372p.
The opening of the 1940 Golden Gate Exposition in San Francisco makes headlines after a troubled, young Frenchwoman plunges to her death from the top of the Tower of the Sun exhibit. Ray Sherwood, a big band jazz musician, arrives on the scene just prior to the demise of the mysterious mademoiselle, in order to meet with a gifted college coed who has begged his assistance orchestrating a music composition. Of course there’s more to the charming coed than meets the eye, as Ray discovers soon after meeting her unusual family and learning that his own troubled past has actually led to his involvement in a plot of deception and murder with international consequences. A CD of related Swing music (with clues to the mystery) is included with the novel. Debbie Deady

FICTION/LONG
Long, KateThe Bad Mother’s Handbook2005, 351p.
Don’t let the cover fool you—this is no Bridget Jones clone. Years after her divorce at age 21 drove her home, Karen and her teenage daughter Charlotte are still living with Karen’s mother Nan. The trio is not what you would call close-knit. Charlotte and Karen barely tolerate one another, while Nan, now greatly affected by dementia, lives mainly in her own past and totters around stuffing envelopes into the toaster. But when Karen discovers that Charlotte is three months pregnant, around the same time she uncovers a guarded family secret, the three enter new phases of motherhood and life together. Told in alternating voices, Charlotte’s confusion and fear, Karen’s confusion and anger, and Nan’s confusion and remembrance of past times create a cohesive and touching story about motherhood, family, and what really happens when the worst thing happens. Heather Booth


April

FICTION/BEAZELY
Beazely, Jan and Thom LemmonsKings’s Ransom2004, 371p
King Boris III is the Czar of Bulgaria in September of 1940—a time when each European nation is forced to make a difficult choice—align with Hitler, or face German occupation. In this fictionalized true story of heroes and villains, we learn about the men who refused to turn their backs on the nearly 50,000 Bulgarian Jews targeted by the Third Reich for elimination. King Boris is one such man, who cleverly succeeds in circumventing the exportation orders dictated by their German “allies.” Debbie Deady

MYSTERY/ COTTERILL
Cotterill, ColinThe Coroner’s Lunch2004, 257p
Dr. Siri Paiboun is a little put out. After twenty years of fighting in the jungles of Laos, you’d think a 70-year-old man could retire. Unfortunately, Siri managed to ruffle the wrong feathers, and now the French-trained doctor finds himself honored with the official title of Coroner—the only coroner in Laos. So Dr. Siri, who’s never performed an autopsy, and his quirky friends and colleagues find themselves solving cases with few resources and lots of intuition. This delightful, first in a series, story is full of charming characters, and it is just right for those readers who enjoyed The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall-Smith. Terri Williams

YA FICTION/DONNELLY
Donnelly, JenniferA Northern Light2003, 396p
This young adult novel is based on the true story of the murder of Grace Brown in New York in 1906. Sixteen-year-old Mattie Gokey is a waitress at the Glenmore Hotel when Brown is murdered. As she learns Brown’s story, she tells her own story about living at the hotel and her previous year at home on the farm. Mattie wants an education and dreams of being a writer, but many things prevent her from fulfilling her dream. Mattie details people’s lives as well as the issues of race, class, and gender as she strains against her family and the limitations of society. The author adds many intriguing secondary characters that help Mattie define her sense of self. Both teens and adults will connect with Mattie’s fierce need for independence and with her love of leaning. Nana Oakey-Campana

FICTION/GUILFOILE
Guilfoile, KevinCast of Shadows2005, 319p
Devastated by the rape and murder of his only daughter, Davis Moore, a renowned Chicago fertility doctor specializing in new cloning technology, embarks on an unthinkable experiment in the not so distant future. From crime scene DNA, the doctor creates a clone, Justin, for an unsuspecting North Shore couple to raise in hopes of one day being able to identify the elusive killer. The repercussions of Moore’s desperate action rock his family, the life and psyche of young Justin, and many others who are swept into the elaborate web of deception. This psychological thriller imagines a future in which cloned children must question what makes them who they are, and a society that may or may not forgive people for lives they never lived. Heather Booth

FICTION/PICOULT
Picoult, JodiThe Pact: A Love Story1998, 389p
The author of My Sister’s Keeper explores another controversial and timely issue in this engrossing novel. The Gold and Harte families have been inseparable since they became neighbors eighteen years ago. After being friends since birth, it seemed only natural when Emily Gold and Chris Harte start dating, and they were certainly encouraged by their parents. Lives are drastically changed when both families are notified that their children have been taken to the hospital. The tangled history of Chris and Emily’s lifelong relationship is revealed in chapters alternating between the past and the present. The unfolding story of a suicide pact between two teens that seem to have everything, resulting in shattered relationships that are irreparable, makes for a riveting read. Nicole S.

FICTION/SIEGEL
Siegel, JamesDetour2005, 341p
Paul and Joanna Breidbart only want one thing—to be parents. After years of trying to have a family, they finally decide to adopt. Not wanting to wait years, they decide to adopt a baby girl from Colombia. Things go according to plan, and they pick up Joelle. That’s when their nightmare begins. They are all kidnapped, and Paul is forced into acting as a drug mule, transporting two million dollars worth of cocaine. His attempt to do this is sabotaged, and the fate of all three seems doomed. Now Paul must rely on his own instincts to keep them alive. This page-turner leaves readers on the edges of their seats until the very end. Sheila Guenzer


March

FICTION/BAKOPOULOS
Bakopoulos, DeanPlease Don’t Come Back From the Moon2005, 273p.
Reminiscent of the 1982 movie Diner, this is a bittersweet coming-of-age novel, set in an economically depressed Detroit suburb in the mid-1980s. Following in the footsteps of the many other recently unemployed men in town, sixteen-year-old Michael Smolij’s father leaves home one morning—permanently, and without explanation. Michael believes that his father’s disappearance is somehow connected to a note left by the shoe store owner that reads, “… going to the moon. I took the cash.” This story follows the meanderings and musings of the sons (and wives) left behind—those forced to navigate life on their own. Debbie Deady

YA/FICTION/BRASHARES
Brashares, AnnGirls in Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood2005, 338p
The third installment in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series revisits Tibby, Carmen, Lena, and Bridget at another important crossroads in their lives—the last summer before all four attend college. The friends have sworn to attend colleges that are within a four hour radius of one another, but even that condition is small comfort as the girls realize that they are really growing up. Each girl rediscovers her inherent inner strength in order to face new obstacles in their last summer together, with the help of the magic jeans. Lena struggles for her greatest desire. Carmen deals with an unexpected situation. Bridget faces a ghost from the past, and Tibby learns to accept love and forgiveness. The characters are unique, but the issues they deal with are universal. This book is a wonderful addition to the series that emphasizes the magic of friendship. Nicole S.

FICTION/GOLDSTEIN
Goldstein, JanAll That Matters2004, 198p.
After her mother is killed in a car accident, Jennifer Stempler, at 23, feels that all the people who have been important to her have abandoned her. When she wakes up in the hospital after an unsuccessful suicide attempt, her grandmother, Gabby Zuckerman, convinces Jennifer and her Hollywood producer father that taking Jennifer to New York City will be better than committing her to a hospital in California. Gabby is a Holocaust survivor and will not let her granddaughter give up on herself. Though she is reluctant at first, Jennifer learns that it wasn’t her mother’s choice to leave her and that she must appreciate life. Marianne Trautvetter

MYSTERY/HILLERMAN
Hillerman, TonySkeleton Man2004, 241p.
In the latest Chee/Leaphorn novel, a 1956 collision between passenger planes high above the Grand Canyon leaves a courier’s arm and the attached diamond-filled security case unaccounted for after almost half a century. The retired Joe Leaphorn joins Jim Chee and Bernie Manuelito, Chee’s fiancée, to connect the tragedy with recent diamond robberies. Hillerman manages to create an exciting adventure tale, partially set in the treacherous downward slopes of the Grand Canyon, and a character-driven mystery in which Leaphorn’s melancholy over retirement and Bernie Manuelito’s uncertainty over her engagement to Jim Chee are both believable and appealing. Native American culture and the likeable characters make this book exciting and personal. Nana Oakey-Campana

FICTION/ KHAN
Khan, Uzma AslamTrespassing2004, 433p.
Two young Pakistanis embody the challenge of ever shifting boundaries in this debut novel set in Karachi, Pakistan. Pakistan in the 1990s is a country of contrasts—poverty, privilege, violence, beauty, modernity and tradition. Daanish is not prepared for the reality of Pakistan when he returns home after more than three years at University in the U.S. Dia is certain that as a modern woman her destiny is to be determined by her own hand. Daanish and Dia experience the chaos and confusion of modern and traditional forces when they find themselves drawn to each other in a non-traditional relationship. A snapshot of the price of growing pains and competing forces in contemporary Pakistan. Terri Williams

MYSTERY/MCBAIN
McBain, EdThe Frumious Bandersnatch2004, 287p.
Tamar Valparaiso, thought to be on the verge of stardom, is kidnapped from the launch party for her new album, while she is recreating her provocative new music video for the guests. Steve Carella from the 87th Precinct catches the call, and when a Joint Task Force is formed with the FBI to find Tamar and catch the kidnappers, the CEO of Tamar’s record company, Barney Loomis, insists Carella become a part of the group. Interesting details of the recording industry frame the investigation in this long-running police procedural series. Sue O’Brien

MYSTERY/ROBOTHAM
Robotham, MichaelSuspect2005, 360p.
Joseph O’Loughlin is a clinical psychologist who seems to have it all—a great career and perfect family. Then devastation hits when he is diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease; and at the same time, he becomes involved in helping the police with the murder investigation of a young woman and former colleague. The police then uncover disturbing evidence linking Joe to the victim. When he refuses to reveal where he really was the night of the murder, the police become obsessed with proving Joe is the perpetrator of this heinous crime. Joe soon suspects one of his patients is the actual murderer; and he must prove it, before he loses his career, his family, and maybe even his life. This debut novel is a riveting psychological thriller with an explosive ending. Sheila Guenzer


February

FICTION/ CAUWELAERT
Cauwelaert, Didier vanOut of My Head2004, 164p.
Shortly after arriving in Paris to begin a new job, American botanist Martin Harris is involved in a serious car accident and winds up in the hospital. When he is released several days later, he receives the shock of his life—another man has taken over his identity and is living in his apartment. No one (including his wife) believes that he is the real Martin—leading him to question everyone and everything he thought he knew. Could he be the target of some high-level conspiracy, or has he truly lost his mind? For those who enjoy psychological suspense in a small package. Debbie Deady

FICTION/DEMILLE
DeMille, NelsonNight Fall2004, 488p.
Federal Anti-Terrorist Task Force detective John Corey accompanies his FBI agent wife, Kate Mayfield, to the memorial commemorating the fifth anniversary of the July 1996 crash of TWA Flight 800 over Long Island. Kate was on the team that investigated Flight 800, but she was never fully convinced of the official finding that mechanical failure caused the 747 to explode. After attending the memorial, John decides to look into some details of the case on his own. When his superiors warn him to stay out of the investigation, their warnings only cause him to work more diligently. The true to life facts of Flight 800 make this fictional thriller even more compelling and give the reader a reason to think “what if.” Marianne Trautvetter

817/FEI
Feig, PaulKick Me: Adventures in Adolescence2002, 278p.
Looking for a groan-inducing trip down memory lane? This laugh-out-loud collection of vignettes, by the creator of the cult hit TV show Freaks and Geeks, deserves your time. Imagine an elf costume created almost entirely from army surplus goods, a school bus route that renders each new driver mentally unbalanced, or the author dressing up as a girl for Halloween—at age ten. Feig’s vivid accounts of his blunders through adolescence make the reader wish there were photographs included with each chapter. Nicole S.

FICTION/FFORDE
Fforde, KatieParadise Fields2004, 357p.
Nel Innes is horrified when she learns of a plan to build houses on Paradise Fields. Currently, the town uses this grassy area near the local children’s hospice for an informal farmers’ market Nel has organized. The hospice uses the land for recreation and access to the river for the children as well as fundraising events. As a hospice board member, Nel fights to save the land while dealing with the infuriating lawyer Jake Demerand, who works for the heirs planning the development. Jake is the enemy, or is he? Nel finds out the answer in this humorous tale of a widowed mom finding love after many years alone. Sue O’Brien

MYSTERY/MCBAIN
McBain, EdAlice in Jeopardy2005, 292p.
This stand alone novel is a departure from Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series. Six months previously, Alice Glendenning’s husband drowned in a boating accident, and the body was never recovered. Alice is barely hanging on while waiting for the insurance check when the unthinkable happens—her two children are kidnapped, and the ransom they are demanding is the exact amount of the insurance check that Alice does not yet have. The police and F.B.I. are involved, but no one seems to be any closer to finding her children. Finally, after a series of bungled attempts to recover the children, Alice realizes if her children are to be saved, she is the one to do it. Sheila Guenzer

FICTION/WILSON
Wilson, CintraColors Insulting to Nature2004, 350p.
A first novel by the observant Salon.com entertainment columnist. Part coming-of-age novel, part pop-culture satire, we follow fame obsessed Liza Normal and an outlandish supporting cast of family and friends as she struggles to grasp the love and achieve the greatness she knows is her destiny. Readers will be rewarded by the story of this misfit despite her absurd behavior, delusions of grandeur, and drug-induced escapades, because everything about Liza comes straight from her odd little heart. For fans of David Sedaris’ darkly comic take on family life, edgy contemporary authors, and those who aspired to attend the High School for the Performing Arts after watching Fame. Heather Booth


January

FICTION / CASTILLO
Castillo, AnaPeel My Love Like an Onion1999, 213p
Carmen Santos is a complex woman who faces life with unflinching bravado and verve. The smoky world of flamenco dance, cognac and coffee, gypsies, late nights and stolen affairs was Carmen’s world. But, the door to that world closed when her lovers, Augustin and Manolo walked out and her old companion, polio, walked back in. So, at forty, Carmen la Coja (the cripple), queen of flamenco dance, finds herself back in Chicago, unable to dance, broke, and living with her unusually challenging mother. Floating from doctor to doctor and job to job, coping with losses and new realities, the world can look pretty bleak, but Carmen is a survivor, not one to be kept down for long. Terri Williams

FICTION/DASWANI
Daswani, KavitaThe Village Bride of Beverly Hills2004, 271p.
After her arranged marriage, Priya departs her native Delhi for the U.S. with her new husband and the advice from her aunt to, “be obedient and homely and everything will be fine.” Priya soon finds that marriage and Los Angeles are both more difficult to navigate than she anticipated. Having married into a traditional Indian family, as the daughter-in-law of the house, she is expected to cook and clean for her husband and in-laws. Yet, as a new American, she is also expected to work outside of the home. From her place behind the reception desk at a celebrity news magazine, Priya rubs shoulders with people who know famous people, admires the young women around her with high-powered journalism jobs, and yearns to stretch beyond the confines of what tradition dictates is expected of her. Heather Booth

FICTION/FLAGG
Flagg, FannieA Redbird Christmas2004, 229p.
After taking in stride the news that his emphysema will probably take his life before Christmas, Oswald T. Campbell leaves snowy Chicago for Lost River, Alabama in this feel-good holiday story. Having no family, Oswald follows his doctor’s advice to spend his final months in a warmer climate. Oswald is welcomed into this tiny community with open arms and discovers not only his health but also love, acceptance, and a whole new life. Without noticing how it happens, Oswald comes to love Lost River. He visits the town store, begins a new hobby, and gets to know the many quirky townspeople and the feisty redbird that lives there. A Christmas miracle and selected recipes are included. Nana Oakey-Campana

FICTION / GREGORY
Gregory, PhilippaThe Virgin’s Lover2004, 441p.
In her latest novel, Gregory does another masterful job recreating the lives of outsiders, schemers, and pawns in a royal court. Historical figures from the early reign of Queen Elizabeth I are brought to life, including Amy Dudley, the wife of the Queen’s lover, Robert. As Robert falls in love with Elizabeth and is captivated by the power of the throne, Amy must endure the humiliation of nationwide gossip. This novel has it all: romance, deception, and royal conspiracy, as well as carefully researched facts of the uncertain beginning of the Elizabethan era. Nicole S.

FICTION/HOSSEINI
Hosseini, KhaledThe Kite Runner2003, 324p.
This poignant and often sensitive novel opens in 1975 Afghanistan, with an introduction to two motherless, 12-year-old boys, Amir, the son of a wealthy businessman, and Hassan, the son of Amir’s father’s servant and a member of a shunned ethnic minority. Their fathers have raised them together, and yet their class distinction is ever-present, transcending their friendship and eventually leading to a tragic confrontation that changes both of their lives forever. Debbie Deady

FICTION/RENDELL
Rendell, RuthThe Rottweiler2004, 339p.
This well-written psychological thriller takes place in the London neighborhood where Inez owns an antique shop and rents rooms to a unique group of tenants. The story line centers around murders in the area, and the serial killer dubbed “The Rottweiler” due to a bite mark on one of the victims. The reader is immediately thrown into the lives of the various renters and Inez’s employee, the beautiful Zeinab. As more grisly murders occur, it becomes obvious that the murderer removes something from each victim. When these trinkets are identified and then show up in Inez’s antique shop, the murderer becomes even more real. How Rendell ties up all the story lines is remarkable and the ending truly satisfying. Sheila Guenzer

MYSTERY/SMILEY
Smiley, PatriciaFalse Profits2004, 292p.
Tucker Sinclair, a senior management consultant at Aames & Associates, is poised to become a partner in the firm when she’s accused of falsifying a business plan that costs investors millions. Suspended from work, Tucker tries to find the missing original report that was signed by the client, so she can refute the charges, saving herself from prison. Unfortunately, the client is murdered before she finds the package containing the report, and she must identify the murderer and find the document to save her job and her freedom. A fast-paced adventure with a feisty, likable heroine. Sue O’Brien

FICTION/STEEL
Steel, DanielleSecond Chance2004, 230p.
Fiona Monaghan, 42, has a full, glamorous life as editor-in-chief of Chic, a high fashion magazine. Marriage has never been a priority for Fiona since she has misgivings about the lasting commitment of marriage. When she meets widowed, advertising executive John Anderson, she is swept off her feet; and there is an instant attraction for both of them. John convinces Fiona to marry him, even though their lifestyles are very different, and John’s college-aged daughters don’t approve. Their marriage is off to a rocky start from the beginning; and after a short time, John caves in to pressure from his daughters. Steel shows us much of the glitz and glamour of the fashion world. Marianne Trautvetter