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Alice Isn't Dead
by Joseph Fink
On the road again: Spotting her presumed-dead wife, Alice, in the background of a news report, Keisha takes a job with the mysterious trucking company Alice worked for before her disappearance, hoping to find information about her beloved.
What sets it apart: As she becomes embroiled in an eerie otherworldly conspiracy, fully realized heroine Keisha grapples with chronic anxiety and must battle monsters both real and metaphorical.
Book buzz: This suspenseful Lovecraftian novel is based on the eponymous podcast from Welcome to Night Vale creator Joseph Fink.
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| Little Darlings by Melanie GoldingThe premise: Recovering in the hospital after the birth of her twins, exhausted mom Lauren Tranter is visited by a sinister figure who tells her "I'll take yours and you can have mine." Her doctors blame sleep deprivation for her seeming hallucinations.
What happens next: Lauren's twins mysteriously vanish from a park, but when they're found unharmed, only Lauren knows that something is terribly wrong...these babies aren't hers.
Read it for: a haunting take on changeling folklore; an unflinching depiction of contemporary motherhood. |
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Awakened
by James S. Murray with Darren Wearmouth
What it's about: The first train on New York City's newest subway line arrives at the station blood-soaked and devoid of passengers, prompting speculation of terrorism. With methane filling the tunnels (making defensive gunfire impossible), crowds scramble for safety...but are soon stopped by the subterranean things responsible for the attack.
Who it's for: With a television adaptation in the works, Awakened is a briskly paced, action-packed ride sure to have wide appeal for horror, thriller, and science fiction readers.
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| The Invited by Jennifer McMahonWhat it is: a compelling ghost story with a twist -- a haunted house is built, rather than moved into.
How it happens: Drawn to the traumatic history of her property (hint: it involves witches), Helen Wetherell collects artifacts connected to the grounds, hoping to build them into her new home. Her efforts reveal long-buried secrets...and unleash vengeful ghosts.
Try this next: For another fresh take on a haunted house story, check out Ezekiel Boone's The Mansion, set in a smart home menaced by its own AI. |
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| What Should Be Wild by Julia FineMeet: Maisie Cothay, whose touch can kill the living and resurrect the dead. Raised by her anthropologist father, Maisie grows up in almost total isolation -- as well as total ignorance of her unusual family history.
Is it for you? Although the premise is reminiscent of TV's Pushing Daisies, the tone of this Gothic-tinged modern fairy tale is much darker.
Want a taste? "Still, I killed my father three times before the age of eight, and caused the demise of over a dozen small animals."
Nominee, Superior Achievement in a First Novel |
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| Broken Lands by Jonathan MaberryWhat it is: a gory, action-packed YA zombie novel that will appeal to both teens and adults.
Read it for: the large cast of diverse and well-developed characters; the cliffhanger ending.
Series alert: Set in the world of Jonathan Maberry's bestselling Rot & Ruin novels, Broken Lands is the 1st in a new series that takes place shortly after the events of Fire & Ash.
Nominee, Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel |
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| Baby Teeth by Zoje StageStarring: seven-year-old daddy's girl Hanna and her mother Suzette, who Hanna considers competition for her father's affections.
Who it's for: Readers who love sinister "bad seed" stories will enjoy Hanna's escalating psychopathic antics and her disturbing knack for antagonizing her long-suffering mother.
Reviewers say: "deviously fun" (Publishers Weekly); "deliciously creepy" (New York Post).
Nominee, Superior Achievement in a First Novel |
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| The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein by Kiersten WhiteWhat it is: a twisty YA retelling of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
What sets it apart: Narrated by Elizabeth Lavenza (a passive minor character in the original novel), this Gothic tale offers a new perspective on a classic story by exploring themes of feminism, power, and captivity.
Try this next: For another female-centric spin on a classic horror novel, try Megan Shepherd's The Madman's Daughter, inspired by H.G Wells' The Island of Dr. Moreau.
Winner, Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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Richmond Public Library 101 East Franklin Street Richmond, Virginia 23219 (804) 646-7223rvalibrary.org/ |
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