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Must-Read Books October 2024 |
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| Entitlement by Rumaan AlamWorking at an elderly billionaire's charitable foundation, former teacher Brooke Orr gets drawn into the opulent world of big money. The tension ratchets up as she makes questionable moves in this thought-provoking novel that examines desire, class, and race. For fans of: the TV show Succession; The Coin by Yasmin Zaher. |
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A Grim Reaper's Guide to Catching a Killer by Maxie DaraA pregnant, divorced, middle-aged grim reaper must unravel the mystery of a missing soul and a potential murder within 45 days, or a recently deceased teen will be doomed to roam the earth as a ghost forever.
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Off the Books : a novel by Soma Mei Sheng FrazierAfter dropping out of Dartmouth, Mei, with a knack for discretion, becomes a routine chauffeur for sex workers and is led on a life-changing trip from San Francisco to Syracuse with a new client who turns this transactional journey into one of moral stakes and dangerous consequences.
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| House of Bone and Rain by Gabino IglesiasIn Bram Stoker Award winner Gabino Iglesias' gritty blend of horror and crime fiction, vengeful Puerto Rican teen Bimbo and his friends vow justice for his murdered mother, but find their plans complicated by Hurricane Maria, whose catastrophic storms bring spirits who are seeking some vengeance of their own. For fans of: S.A. Crosby and Stephen Graham Jones. |
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| The Unicorn Woman by Gayl JonesIn the early 1950s, Black World War II veteran Buddy Ray Guy has trouble readjusting to life in the Jim Crow South and ponders his past, including his time in France. While traveling around, he also meets a fascinating array of people and looks for the carnival performer known as the Unicorn Woman, whom he saw once and has never forgotten. Read-alike: Mudbound by Hillary Jordan; Home by Toni Morrison. |
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| Guide Me Home by Attica LockeIn this atmospheric finale to the Highway 59 trilogy, Texas Ranger Darren Mathews faces a possible indictment and quits his job. Then his estranged mom wants him to investigate after the only Black member of the sorority she cleans for disappears and no one cares, not even the girl's parents. Read-alikes: Walter Mosley's mysteries; James Lee Burke's Holland family novels; S.A. Cosby's All the Sinners Bleed. |
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Liars : a novel by Sarah MangusoAfter marrying filmmaker John Bridges, who wants the same things she does—to be in love and live a successful, creative life, writer Jane becomes subsumed by his ambitions, whims and ego until her career flourishes, causing him to leave her, giving her a much-needed opportunity to live life her way.
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| Magical Meet Cute by Jean MeltzerShaken by the sudden appearance of antisemitic flyers in her Woodstock, New York neighborhood, Jewish witch Faye Kaplan creates a clay golem of her dream guy. The next morning, she accidentally hits a man while riding her bike -- a man who looks suspiciously like her golem. Jean Meltzer's page-turning blend of romance and magical realism tackles real-world issues with humor and heart. For fans of: Dream On by Angie Hockman. |
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| A Talent for Murder by Peter SwansonNewlywed librarian Martha Ratliff begins to suspect her travelling salesman husband Alan is keeping secrets. Suspicious of a bloodstain on his shirt, she investigates his travels and finds a pattern of unsolved murders. Unsure if Alan is a serial killer, she seeks help from a friend, Lily, who discovers something even more disturbing. |
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| The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society by C.M. WaggonerThough she's only lived in small Winesap, New York for a bit, 60-something librarian Sherry Pinkwhistle has solved several killings. After yet another murder, she suspects supernatural goings-on and with help from friends (and a priest), she investigates. This series launch "melds lush imagery, humor, and a surprise twist" (Booklist). For fans of: the Josie Way novels by Angela M. Sanders; the Haunted Library Mysteries by Allison Brook. |
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| Survival Is A Promise: The Eternal Life of Audre Lorde by Alexis Pauline GumbsAward-winning poet Alexis Pauline Gumbs lyrically examines the life and legacy of lesbian feminist poet Audre Lorde in this "scintillating tour de force" that unfolds in "a free-ranging style as distinctive as its subject" (Publishers Weekly). Further reading: The Selected Works of Audre Lorde by Audre Lorde and edited by Roxane Gay. |
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| Rethinking Rescue: Dog Lady and the Story of America's Forgotten People and Pets by Carol MithersIn her thought-provoking look at the intersection between animal welfare and social justice movements, journalist Carol Mithers profiles animal welfare advocate Lori "Dog Lady" Weise, whose dog rescue in Los Angeles, California offers resources to empower impoverished and unhoused pet owners. For fans of: Pit Bull: The Battle Over an American Icon by Bronwen Dickey. |
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| By the Fire We Carry: The Generations-Long Fight for Justice on Native Land by Rebecca NagleIn this "valuable corrective to our national ignorance" (Kirkus Reviews), Cherokee journalist Rebecca Nagle surveys the history of Indigenous removal and resistance in the United States, culminating in the landmark 2020 Supreme Court decision that upheld tribal sovereignty for the Muscogee Nation in eastern Oklahoma. Further reading: Jacksonland: President Andrew Jackson, the Cherokee Chief John Ross, and a Great American Land Grab by Steve Inskeep. |
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| Drawn Testimony: My Four Decades As A Courtroom Sketch Artist by Jane RosenbergJane Rosenberg debuts with a conversational, you-are-there memoir detailing her career spent working as a courtroom sketch artist for high-profile criminal cases involving Harvey Weinstein, John Gotti, Donald Trump, and many more. Try this next: Clay and Bones: My Life as an FBI Forensic Artist by Lisa G. Bailey. |
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| No More Señora Mimí by Meg Medina; illustrated by Brittany CiccheseAna is thrilled that Abuela is moving in and will be staying with her while Mami’s at work. Only…does that mean that Ana won’t get see her beloved babysitter señora Mimí every day? This cozy, compassionate picture book offers a child’s perspective on dealing with change. |
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| The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry by Ransom RiggsLeopold experiences visions of Sunder, the setting for a 1990s fantasy TV show. Turns out, Sunder is real. There, Leopold and his best friend Emmett are drawn into a mystery connected to Leopold’s late mother. Fans of urban fantasy will enjoy this action-packed series opener. |
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| Impossible Creatures by Katherine RundellAfter rescuing a wounded baby griffin, Christopher meets Mal, a girl from the magical Archipelago, and is drawn into an island-hopping, world-saving quest filled with mythical creatures. With an intense plot, brave characters, and a fascinating bestiary, this trilogy opener will grab fans of modern fantasy classics like Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series. |
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Contact your librarian for more great books!
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