|
|
|
|
| A Pair of Aces by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher MurrayIn 1930s Manhattan, the city's first Black woman prosecutor, Eunice Carter, interviews Polly Adler, who owns the city's best brothel, and the two women from vastly different worlds realize they can help each other. None of Eunice's male colleagues have been able to touch gangster Lucky Luciano, who's recently put Polly's workers in danger, so the pair utilize a network of women to assemble evidence. Read-alike: Diane Richard's Ella. |
|
| A Chance for Kallie Mae by Ann H. GabhartIn 1911 Kentucky, 19-year-old Kallie Bertram dreams of both an education and a forbidden love. Caring for her siblings after her mother died in childbirth, she's never learned to read or write, but a new school for adults might change that. Meanwhile, she runs into Quinn Spencer, and while their feelings are strong, their feuding families make a match seem impossible. For another faith-filled historical romance set in 1911 Kentucky, read Suzanne Woods Fisher's The Moonlight School. |
|
| Poppy Montgomery Gets Even by Gordon JackIn this biting adult debut, eighty-year-old Poppy Montgomery uncovers a lethal dating scam aimed at seniors. With help from her tech-savvy grandson, the outspoken sleuth dives into a suspicious death and a web of deception, using her sharp instincts and humor to expose a killer in this lively, senior-driven mystery. Try this next: I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home by Fergus Craig, The Alphabet Sleuths by Laura Jensen Walker. |
|
|
|
Seek Immediate Shelter
by Vincent Yu
On an otherwise unremarkable morning, the residents of a small town in Massachusetts all receive the same alert: BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT INBOUND. SEEK IMMEDIATE SHELTER. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. Confronted with the options of fight or flight, planning or panicking, the people of Beckitt are stripped to their basest instincts and revealed as their truest selves. Russ squeezes his family into the bathtub, leaving his own survival in question; Nina sends an unforgivable text to her daughter; Milly confesses her unrequited love; and David hits the gas, speeding away from his wife and child. Then the second message comes in: FALSE ALARM. PLEASE DISREGARD. ALL CLEAR. First comes relief, then comes the reckoning, as each person is forced to face the unforeseen aftermath of decisions they thought might be their last. Vincent Yu's searing debut follows this eclectic cast of characters over a period of many years, suggesting that the conflicts the missile exacerbated were simmering under the surface long before, and proving the ripple effects of the false alarm will be felt for years to come. More like this: Whistler by Ann Patchett, Audition by Katie Kitamura.
|
|
| The Last Contract of Isako by Fonda LeeIsako's long legacy as a legendary samurai for hire is close to an end. When she's offered one last job she can't refuse, she's suddenly thrust into a world of espionage far more complex than she can handle...and secrets that may change all of humanity. Immersive, evocative, and full of unique worldbuilding, this space opera with an older female protagonist will be a treat for readers of Shannon Chakraborty's The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi and Bethany Jacobs' These Burning Stars. |
|
| The Butler by Clare MackintoshSkilled professional butler Baxter agrees to work at a French villa rented by wealthy Alec Prescott for a week and gets mixed up with murder. The guests are: Alec's only child, Carter, who's celebrating his 21st birthday; Carter's girlfriend; Alec's girlfriend; Alec's ex-wife; and a Hollywood couple in town for the Cannes Film Festival. Things heat up, ending with a body in the pool, but with help from a young pickpocket and others, indomitable Baxter sets things to rights in this fun, fast-paced read. For fans of: Sian Gilbert's I Did Warn Her. |
|
|
|
Inkpot Gods
by Seanan McGuire
The gods live and die at our whim. More than a century has passed since Asphodel Baker refined the process allowing her to imbue alchemically created life with power in a way no one else had ever been able to achieve. More than a century since she built the Impossible City on the ruins of Olympus, forging it from nothing more than imagination and spite, and penned it in plain view, enabling it to be read and cherished and believed by children the world over. And now, so long after her exit from the world, the descendants of her dark alchemy--who exist in a reality that inches ever closer to the hellscape of her imagination--step into a place of birth, of discovery, of horror, to make amends for the sins of the past. Can the gods of today defeat the evils of their maker, or will the legacy of the most powerful alchemist the world has ever known prove to be their undoing? Try this next: The City of Stardust by Georgia Summers, Faebound by Saara El-Arifi.
|
|
|
|
The Frenzy: Stories
by Joyce Carol Oates
Frenzy (noun): a temporary madness; a violent mental or emotional agitation; intense usually wild and often disorderly compulsive or agitated activity. In The Frenzy: Stories, Oates plunges us into the lives of her characters at moments of crisis and confusion, when much of what they understand about themselves and those they love comes undone. These new stories blazingly evoke life at its most vivid and perilous, when fate and free will intersect, and one ominous encounter or bad choice can be the difference between an ordinary day and the point of no return. Read-alikes: Good and Evil and Other Stories by Samanta Schweblin; Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado.
|
|
| Heather by Caitlin MullenCallie Hauser moves back to her New Jersey Pine Barrens hometown to be the police chief and help her best friend, who's recovering from a hit-and-run. Soon, she's pulled into a 30-year-old cold case that her estranged mother seemingly has ties to and which also involves missing 16-year-old twin sisters and a deceased baby. For fans of: Liz Moore’s Long Bright River; HBO's Mare of Easttown. |
|
|
|
Villa Coco
by Andrew Sean Greer
Andrew Sean Greer, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Less, showcases his wit, sophistication, and deep knowledge of focaccia in this tale of a young man who takes an unspecified job with a charismatic elderly Baronessa at her crumbling villa in the Tuscan hills. More like this: The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani, One Italian Summer by Rebecca Serle.
|
|
|
|
Road Trip
by Mary Kay Andrews
Pack your bags for a summer journey shaped by family secrets, long-buried history, and charming men with Irish accents. Maeve and Therese Dunigan haven't spoken in years. Raised under the same roof in Savannah, the two sisters could not be more opposite--Maeve the rule follower, Therese the unapologetic rebel. But when their mother's death pulls them back together, they inherit more than just grief: a mysterious painting that may be worth millions...if it's real. Determined to uncover the truth--and desperately in need of the money--the sisters set out on a journey to Ireland, tracing their family's roots and the origins of the portrait. What begins as a search for answers soon becomes something deeper--a reckoning with the past, as they uncover secrets that span generations and reshape everything they thought they knew about their family. With tensions simmering, the two hit the road and find themselves on twisty lanes, in colorful villages, at local pubs, and with handsome men whose gift of the gab is surpassed only by their charm. Can Maeve and Therese actually survive the journey without killing each other? More like this: Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein, The Wandering Season by Aimie K. Runyan.
|
|
| Score by Kennedy RyanTen years after their college romance ended in heartbreak, screenwriter Verity Hill and composer Wright "Monk" Bellamy reunite on the set of a Harlem Renaissance biopic and struggle to keep things strictly professional. This steamy second-chance romance is the 2nd in bestselling author Kennedy Ryan's Hollywood Renaissance series. Try this next: August Lane by Regina Black. |
|
| The Last Human Bear by Greg SarrisMary Hatcher, an elderly Pomo woman, describes her unusual life. Raised by a stepmother in 1930s California, who teaches her about shapeshifting human bears, poisoning, and more, Mary doesn't fit in and isn't trusted. Later, able to pass as white or Native, she successfully makes her own way, but wonders about her past, future, and capacity to harm in this compelling novel inspired by the author's childhood. Try this next: Oyinkan Braithwaite's Cursed Daughters. |
|
|
|
Otherworldly America: Explore the Most Unique Natural Wonders of the United States
by Jake Guzman
Travel across the United States and experience America's fascinating natural wonders. From glacier-covered peaks to windswept red-rock canyons, and moss-draped rainforests to sun-soaked coasts, Otherworldly America reveals the country's most breathtaking landscapes. Join nature photographer Jake Guzman as he explores hidden backcountry spots, iconic national parks, and overlooked state parks waiting to be discovered. Journey from Alaska's icy wilderness to Hawaii's tropical landscapes, through the dense forests of the Pacific Northwest, the towering Rockies, the dramatic Southwest, and the vibrant Northeast and Southeast. Each location comes alive with stunning imagery, hike recommendations, captivating stories, and photography tips, making the adventures to these places as compelling as the landscapes themselves. Locations featured include everything from Kenai Fjords National Park, Kaua'i, Mount Rainier National Park, the Oregon Coast, Death Valley National Park, Custer State Park, Devils Tower, Monument Valley, Coyote Buttes, Ship Rock, Florida Keys, and so much more This is a perfect book for outdoor enthusiasts, armchair travelers, and anyone seeking landscapes so extraordinary they feel otherworldly--no spaceship required.
|
|
|
|
Vengeance: The Last Stands of Custer, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull
by Tom Clavin
On June 25-27, 1876, the Battle of the Little Bighorn, commonly referred to as Custer's Last Stand, was fought in Montana Territory between combined forces of the Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne, and Arapaho tribes and the 7th Cavalry Regiment of the United States Army. It resulted in the devastating defeat of U.S. forces and was the most significant action of the Great Sioux War of 1876. This dramatic look at Little Bighorn illustrates the impact these events had on Native Americans and the shape of the American West. Try this next: The Earth is All That Lasts by Mark Lee Gardner, The Apache Wars by Paul Andrew Hutton.
|
|
|
|
The Hero Next Door: Stories of Patriotism and Purpose
by Martha Raddatz
For twenty-five years Martha Raddatz has witnessed the grit and resilience of the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who have been fighting America's wars since 9/11. What motivates them to do such impossible things? How do they find the courage to put their lives on the line, or the strength to start over when things don't go as planned? The Hero Next Door offers a dozen portraits of servicemen and women who are every bit as inspiring as those of the Greatest Generation. Life can turn on a moment, and who's to say what we'll do? That, we learn, is when you spot the real heroes: when no one is watching. Try this next: I Have Your Back by Tom Sileo, Brotherhood by Martin Pengelly.
|
|
|
|
Stream
by Aida Salazar
Two teens are sent to Mexico for the summer to unplug in this hilarious and heartwarming dual narrative, perfect for fans of Jason Reynolds, Kwame Alexander, Adib Khorram, Erin Entrada Kelly, and Meg Medina. It's finally summer--heck, yeah With eighth grade done, Elio Solis plans to lock in on his gaming and show the fellas what he's got. Celi Rivera and her bestie are headed to Hawaii to sun, skate, and search content for her channel. But those dreams end when a catfishing incident rocks their Oakland community. Suddenly, parents are nosing in posts, taking phones, and laying down lectures about screen-time safety and well-being. Suddenly, Celi and Elio find themselves sent to rural Mexico, without internet, electricity, or even running water save for a dying stream that could wipe out the whole pueblo in the coming summer rains. Helping curanderas in a healing clinic...carting sticks to rehabilitate the arroyo... turn summer dreams to misery. But day by day, in nature, beauty, and community, with crushes blooming, can they find their way to each other--and slowly back to themselves? Read-alikes: Mexikid by Pedro Martin, Picture Perfect by Serena Patel.
|
|
|
|
We Could Be Anyone
by Anna-Marie McLemore
Two teen con-artists must execute an almost impossible scam at an exclusive mansion in this thriller that's White Lotus meets Mexican Gothic - for teens. Lola and I grew up hearing that we could become anything, but our parents hadn't meant it the way gringo parents did. They meant it as a warning. Lola and Lisandro are actors during Hollywood's Golden Age, but you won't see them on any silver screen. Instead, these siblings use their talents to scam the rich and famous out of their ill-begotten cash. They have their act down to a science: Lola plays the tragic ghost who haunts the mansions of the wealthy, and Lisandro plays the brave spiritualist who will help her soul find peace. For a small fee, of course. The siblings have their sights set on their next target: The Coterie, the opulent estate of newspaper tycoon Bixby Fairfax and his famous mistress Blythe Bell. A score this big will allow them to move... well, anywhere but here. But this job requires them to do something they've never done before: switch roles. And as strange things keep happening at The Coterie... things that even Lola and Lisandro can't explain. As they are drawn deeper into The Coterie's gleaming fa ade and tensions rise between brother and sister, one question looms over them. Will they be able to pull off their act? Or will this be their last performance?
|
|
|
|
Everything Is Music
by Miran Park
Whizz, whoosh, whirr - Follow a girl and her dog on a journey along city streets and nature trails as they learn that there's music all around in everyday sounds--a symphony waiting to be heard. When morning comes, the sounds stretch awake. There is music in everything. Raindrops, footsteps, birds, breeze, and trees. Can you hear it? Join a girl and her dog on their day spent collecting sounds. They whirr past the community fountain, whizz up to a vista point, and whoosh through the bustle of city streets to a final forest crescendo. Camouflaged in the artwork are nine instruments and numerous musical notations. Pops of color highlight the unexpected moments, creatures, and places where music hides in plain sight. Here, in this book. There, on the sidewalk. Overhead, in the distance. Look closely . . . Everything is music . . . to inspire your own tune.
|
|
|
|
Wild About Capybaras
by Kevin McCloskey
Capybaras are the world's largest and trendiest rodent and beloved across the world (and the internet/social media)--but there's so much more to know about them! Find out more in this latest title in Kevin McCloskey's Giggle and Learn series, graphic novels for kids ages 4-7 that blend science, art, and comedy. Did you know that capybaras can swim like seals? Or that they have fourteen toes? Young readers can learn more about these fascinating animals in this TOON Level 1 reader chock-full of interesting facts and illustrations.
|
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
|
|
|