| The Vanishing Point by Elizabeth BrundageThe setup: Failed photographer and ad executive Julian Ladd learns that his former friend and rival Rye Adler is presumed to have jumped off a bridge to his death, though the search continues for his body -- and for the true circumstances of his demise.
The problem: Julian's obsession with (and envy of) his friend's celebrated photography career has simmered under the surface for decades, but in the shadow of lingering questions about how (or if) Rye really died, things threaten to boil over.
For fans of: literary fiction, lyrical writing, and stories told multiple (and often conflicting) perspectives. |
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| Scorpion by Christian CantrellWhat it's about: In the near future, CIA analyst Quinn Mitchell's job gets much easier thanks to the Epoch Index, which compiles enough information to accurately predict people's actions.
What could go wrong? The more Quinn uses the Epoch Index, the darker the predictions become. And it's not long before she begins to raise dangerous questions about how such a powerful tool could be used for evil ends.
Who it's for: fans of Philip K. Dick's speculative fiction and the Steven Spielberg film Minority Report, based on a Dick short story by the same name. |
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| The Anatomy of Desire by L.R. DornWhat it is: an intricately plotted modern reinterpretation of Theodore Dreiser's classic crime novel An American Tragedy, originally published in 1925.
The setup: Two women rent a canoe to spend a day at the lake, rowing into a secluded cove. Later, the empty boat is found near one of the women's dead bodies, while the other woman has vanished completely.
Did you know? An American Tragedy was inspired by the 1906 disappearance of Grace Mae Brown in upstate New York. |
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| Girl in the Walls by A.J. GnuseWhat it's about: After her parents die in a car crash, 11-year-old Elise runs away from her foster home, sneaks into her old house, and decides to live in the walls and crawlspaces, hiding from the family who just moved in.
The new neighbors: the Mason family, including 13-year-old Eddie and 16-year-old Marshall, who both begin to suspect something is wrong with their new home and, dismissed by their parents, turn to a much more dubious source to "exorcise" the house.
Reviewers say: Girl in the Walls is "haunting and, like the characters, unforgettable" (Booklist). |
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| House Standoff by Michael LawsonSeries alert: House Standoff is the 15th entry in the series of fast-paced thrillers starring political fixer Joe DeMarco.
When last we left our hero: Joe was investigating a plane crash in the Adirondacks. Now he's in Wyoming to discover the truth about the death of someone from his past and what, if anything, it has to do with a Cliven Bundy-inspired rancher's ongoing standoff with the federal government. |
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| The Disappearing Act by Catherine SteadmanWhat it's about: BAFTA-nominated British star Mia Eliot comes to Los Angeles during pilot season for a change of scenery after dealing with a stalker. She meets and hits it off with Emily Bryant, another actor auditioning for the same part, but Emily vanishes, only for another woman to turn up at Mia's door claiming to be Emily.
Read it for: the well-developed characters, high-drama tone, and gritty portrayal of the dark side of Hollywood.
Want a taste? "Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you just can't disappear." |
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