Start the New Year Off With a Great Book!

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There are lots of great books coming out in January. Here is a sampling of some of the most anticipated titles:

DEAR EDWARD by Ann Napolitano

“Imagine the pain of losing a single family member. Now, imagine getting on a plane with your entire family, both parents and an older brother, and when the plane crashes, you are the only passenger to survive. Such is the fate of 12-year-old Eddie Adler in this penetrating new novel from Napolitano… The painfully vivid story of one boy’s coming of age redirected by tragedy.” ~Library Journal

For more information about this staff favorite, or to place a hold, please click here.

NAKED CAME THE FLORIDA MAN by Tim Dorsey

“As a hurricane wreaks havoc upon Florida, the never-more-aptly-named Serge A. Storms, Florida’s most avid history buff (not to mention its most cheerful serial killer) is determined to finish his latest foray into the state’s past: a tour of Florida’s most notable cemeteries. Along the way, he rights wrongs in his own violently clever fashion and investigates a legendary story of a local bogeyman. Readers who have not yet met Mr. Storms are in for a real treat: he’s one of contemporary fiction’s most entertaining and idiosyncratic creations, a killer who believes he’s only doing what’s right, an amateur historian who gets almost unendurably thrilled about the tiniest historical fact concerning the state he loves. Dorsey, a former newspaperman, writes economically; the dialogue is sparse and frequently hilarious, and the narrative passages are as descriptive as they need to be but not a syllable more. A fine entry in this consistently strong series.” ~Booklist

For more information about this staff favorite, or to place a hold, please click here.

LADY CLEMENTINE by Marie Benedict

“Behind every successful man, they say, stands a strong woman. Lady Clementine Churchill was an example of such, as this self-narrated fictional recounting makes clear…This outstanding story deserves wide readership. Fans of historical fiction, especially set around World War II; readers who appreciate strong, intelligent female leads; or those who just want to read a compelling page-turner will enjoy this gem of a novel.” ~Library Journal

For more information about this staff favorite, or to place a hold, please click here.

SUCH A FUN AGE by Kiley Reid

“Say you’re a white, professional woman in the midst of a late-evening crisis. Would you call your African American babysitter, catching her at a friend’s birthday party, and ask her to come tend to your toddler? Say you’re that African American babysitter. After taking your charge to the local market, wouldn’t you be annoyed, then humiliated, then downright scared and angry when a security guard accuses you of kidnapping? …In her debut novel, Reid illuminates difficult truths about race, society, and power with a fresh, light hand. We’re all familiar with the phrases white privilege and race relations, but rarely has a book vivified these terms in such a lucid, absorbing, graceful, forceful, but unforced way. ~Library Journal

For more information about this staff favorite, or to place a hold, please click here.

Check Out These Mystery Series!

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Scottish Bookshop Mystery Series by Paige Shelton

For fans of contemporary or cozy mysteries, this series features Delaney Nichols, an American who has left home for a job in Edinburgh, Scotland at The Cracked Spine. So much more than just a bookshop, the Cracked Spine has a secret room full of antique treasures that her boss, Edwin, has been collecting for years. Murder and intrigue are never very far from Delaney and the mysterious Cracked Spine.
A great cast of characters and a terrific setting make this a mystery series not to be missed.

  1. THE CRACKED SPINE please click here.
  2. OF BOOKS AND BAGPIPES please click here.
  3. LOST BOOKS AND OLD BONES please click here.
  4. THE LOCH NESS PAPERS please click here.

 

Wrexford & Sloane Mystery Series by Andrea Penrose

For fans of historical mysteries, this series features the Earl of Wrexford, a wealthy lord, and Charlotte Sloane, a political cartoonist who writes under the pseudonym A.J. Quill. Charlotte and Wrexford move in different social circles so each has their own web of informants and spies. This makes them a formidable team when it comes to solving murders. Regency London has never seemed as dark and sinister as in this riveting series.

  1. MURDER ON BLACK SWAN LANE please click here.
  2. MURDER AT HALF MOON GATE please click here.
  3. MURDER AT KENSINGTON PALACE please click here.

Staff Picks for November

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We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast by Jonathan Safran Foer
Foer picks apart, step by step, our planet’s bleak outlook, and how out of control population, human excess, individual and political ignorance, pollution, and consumption of factory-farmed animals have contributed to the problems of climate change. His major focus is on what we as individuals and the world can do to save itself for generations to come. (Foer was selected for One Book One Town in Fairfield in 2011 with his book Eating Animals.) ~KC

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
During the summer of 1932 circumstances force four orphans to flee Minnesota and journey in search of a better life. This is an adventure story wrapped within a novel of historical fiction. As the lead character advises, this narrative contains: killing and kidnapping, courage and cowardice, love and betrayal, but most of all hope. Recommended for fans of Before We Were Yours and Where the Crawdads Sing. ~HM

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Time After Time by Lisa Grunwald
If Grand Central Station is one of your favorite landmarks, you might enjoy this story of romance between a working man and an uncommon society girl. Joe, a worker in Grand Central, meets a beautiful young woman who seems somehow out of place. As he tries to help her, he is pulled into a mystery that is inseparable from the station itself. ~BJS

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

International Mysteries

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MURDER IN AN IRISH PUB
By Carlene O’Connor
“Fourth in the series, this is a delightful combination of Irish village life, family dynamics, and romance.” ~Booklist

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

AUNTIE POLDI AND THE VINEYARDS OF ETNA
By Mario Giordano
“…Munich-born Giordano continues the story of the Prosecco-guzzling Auntie Poldi, who has retired to Sicily from Germany only to find mayhem amid the gaudy melon-flowers. Here, a dog’s poisoning and a neighbor’s disrupted water supply presage trouble from the Mafia, and soon there’s a corpse in the vineyard.” ~Library Journal

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

DEVIL’S FJORD
By David Hewson
“As grim as the bleakest of Nordic noir. If you think the solution to the crime will produce a happy ending, just wait till the chilling final pages.” ~Kirkus

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

THE SATAPUR MOONSTONE
By Sujata Massey
“Perveen Mistry is tasked with planning the education of a young crown prince after the sudden deaths of his father and older brother. Unfortunately, she finds the Satapur palace full of icy-cold intrigue.” ~Library Journal

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Staff picks For October

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The Gifted School by Bruce Holsinger

Four families have been friends since infant swim class. Flash forward 10 years to when a magnet school opens for the gifted. The gloves are off as they try to outmaneuver each other to get their kids in the school. ~CS

For more information, or to  place a hold, please click here.

The Lady from the Black Lagoon by Mallory O’Meara

This is a delightful, entertaining, and at times horrific account of a little known Hollywood actress, animator, and artist named Milicent Patrick. While Patrick endured abuse from men in her industry, she was still hugely successful. She designed the monster outfit worn in the classic horror movie THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON. ~KC

For more information, or to  place a hold, please click here.

The Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sara Bird

Freed slave Cathy Williams is determined to head out west so she joins the Army’s 1st Colored Cavalry Unit, the Buffalo Soldiers, as a man. Cleverness and strength from her warrior queen grandmother’s spirit see her through. Based on a true character. Bahni Turpin’s brilliant reading makes for a compelling audiobook. ~JF

For more information, or to  place a hold, please click here.

For more information about the audio book, or to  place a hold on the audio book, please click here.

Lock Every Door by Riley Sager

Jules’ new dream job as an apartment sitter in the upscale Bartholomew turns into a nightmare when she discovers the building has a history of people disappearing without a trace and several unforeseen deaths. When Jules starts uncovering the dark secret, she realizes she must get out of there fast-but is it too late for her? ~SR

For more information, or to  place a hold, please click here.

Inspection

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INSPECTION
By Josh Malerman
Del Rey, March 2019

Two schools. One starting out with 26 boys, the other with 26 girls. All being raised and educated from infancy with no knowledge or awareness of the opposite sex. J and his brothers are expected to excel in the arts, sciences, and athletics without the distraction that girls would provide. K and her sisters are expected to do the same, without the distraction of boys. As the students approach the “delicate years” of age 12 and 13, can the twisted brains behind this increasingly disastrous experiment really control their wards’ budding sexuality and their increasing desire to find out what lies beyond the wooded boundary of their compound?
Josh Malerman is masterful at building suspense, developing complex characters, and walloping his readers with his heart stopping endings. Hold onto your hat and enjoy this ride. ~SB

Josh Malerman is also the author of BIRD BOX, another staff favorite which was recently made into a Netflix movie starring Sandra Bullock. You can place a hold on the book here.

For more information, or to place a hold on INSPECTION, please click here.

Political and International Thrillers

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THE KILLER COLLECTIVE
By Barry Eisler
“In this crackling-good thriller from bestseller Eisler, Seattle PD sex crimes detective Livia Lone, assassin John Rain, and former Marine sniper Dox form a testy alliance to combat a vile conspiracy involving corrupt and toxic government agencies.” ~PW

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

THE KREMLIN CONSPIRACY
By Joel Rosenberg
“The nonstop action will keep readers turning the pages. Rosenberg is known for basing his novels on tomorrow’s news, and readers will likely recognize some fictionalized characters inspired by public figures.” ~LJ

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

KEEP YOU CLOSE
By Karen Cleveland
“This fast-paced tale makes a great recommendation for fans of high-stakes poltical thrillers. Cleveland is a former CIA analyst whose debut novel, Need to Know (2018), was a New York Times best-seller, with rights sold to Universal Pictures for Charlize Theron.” ~Booklist

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

THEIR LITTLE SECRET
By Mark Billingham
“This is a fantastic thriller, combining a gripping plot and lead characters of remarkable depth. Billingham is a multiple-award winner, and his books have sold more than six million copies. Readers who grab this one but aren’t familiar with its predecessors will be seeking them out. A series to savor.” ~Booklist

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

FINDING KATARINA M.
By Elisabeth Elo
“Fascinating historical details encompass uranium mining, the gulags, and cultural life in the Soviet era. Natalie’s tense and illuminating journey will enthrall readers.” ~PW

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Psychological Thrillers and the Adult Summer Reading Code!

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The Adult Summer Reading Code is: Penny
For more information about our Summer Reading Programs for all ages, please click here.

MY LOVELY WIFE
By Samantha Downing
“Happily married to the love of your life but, yeah, after 15 years getting a little bored? Here’s a solution from the couple at the heart of Downing’s debut: getting away with murder.” ~Library Journal
A Staff Favorite!

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

GONE TOO LONG
By Lori Roy
“Seven years after ten-year-old Beth vanishes from her Georgia home, Imogene Coulter is burying the Klan leader father she has tried to deny. On the day of the funeral, she finds a child locked in the basement of his hideout, a discovery that links her to the long-gone Beth.” ~Library Journal
Another Staff Favorite!

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

BEFORE SHE KNEW HIM
By Peter Swanson
“Her bipolar disorder under control, illustrator Henrietta and her husband enjoy a new house outside Boston with a nice little studio for her out back. But she’s a bit obsessed with unsolved crimes, and she can’t help but notice that a sports trophy perched on a shelf at the neighbors’ house looks just like one that vanished from the home of a young man killed two years earlier…” ~Library Journal

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

IF SHE WAKES
By Michael Koryta
“Slowly emerging from the coma she’s been in since a black cargo van rammed the car she was using to transport a visiting professor, killing him, Maine college senior Tara Beckley is targeted by a ruthless young hit man.” ~Kirkus

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Pop Fiction and the Adult Summer Reading Code!

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The Adult Summer Reading Code is: Penny
For more information about our Summer Reading Programs for all ages, please click here.

DISAPPEARING EARTH
By Julia Phillips
“Phillips’s exquisite descriptions of the desolate landscape and the “empty, rolling earth” are masterful throughout, as is her skill at crafting a complex and genuinely addictive whodunit. This novel signals the arrival of a mighty talent.” PW
A Staff Favorite!

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

MRS. EVERYTHING
By Jennifer Weiner
“Weiner’s talent for characterization, tight pacing, and detail will thrill her fans and easily draw new ones into her orbit. Her expert handling of difficult subjects—abortion, rape, and racism among them—will force readers to examine their own beliefs and consider unexpected nuances. Weiner tugs every heartstring with this vivid tale.” PW

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

THE HOMECOMING
By Andrew Pyper
“Brilliantly constructed and absolutely mesmerizing, this could very well be the best book yet by the author of such acclaimed novels as The Demonologist (2013) and The Damned (2015).”~Booklist
Another Staff favorite!

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

CITY OF GIRLS
By Elizabeth Gilbert
“Gilbert’s beguiling blend of comedy and gravitas brings to mind other smart, funny, nimble, and vital novels about early- or mid-twentieth-century women swimming against the tide.” ~Booklist

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

Beach Reading and the Adult Summer Reading Code!

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The Adult Summer Reading Code is: Penny
For more information about our Summer Reading Programs for all ages, please click here.

SURFSIDE SISTERS
By Nancy Thayer
“Having left Nantucket behind for the life of a successful novelist in New York City, why should Lara return? Because success isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, her mother is now unemployed and depressed, and Lara herself faces writers’ block after a relationship went bust. The problem? She and childhood best friend Isabelle haven’t spoken in years after a big blowup. What’s more, she’s crushing on Isabelle’s brother the moment she hits the island. The New York Times best-selling Thayer lives on that very island and makes its tides and times very real.” ~Library Journal

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

MRS. EVERYTHING
By Jennifer Weiner
“It’s been a while since Weiner explored the complicated terrain of sisterhood, and readers will flock to this ambitious, nearly flawless novel.” ~Booklist

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

THE WONDER OF LOST CAUSES
By Nick Trout
“An artfully crafted story about the connection between a boy and his dog and the deep bond between a son and his mother.” ~Kirkus

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.

SUMMER OF ‘69
By Elin Hilderbrand
“As always, Hilderbrand’s characters are utterly convincing and immediately draw us into their problems, from petty to grave…To use the parlance of the period, a highly relevant retrospective.” ~Kirkus

For more information, or to place a hold, please click here.