ADULT FICTION
“All Systems Red” by Martha Wells — “Wells gives depth to a rousing but basically familiar action plot by turning it into the vehicle by which SecUnit engages with its own rigorously denied humanity. ―Publishers Weekly starred review
“Arnold Falls” by Charles Suisman — “An often delightful and engaging tale that will make readers want to move to the author’s heartwarming fictional town…incredibly funny.” –Kirkus Reviews.
“Artificial Condition” by Martha Wells — “…. (with) the series’ titular character seeking answers to its origin by traveling back to where it first went rogue to learn what really happened. Along the way, it makes friends with an intelligent research transport ship and agrees to protect a group of naive researchers whose discoveries make them a target for murder. Murderbot is … a killing machine who chooses to be a good person, a robot who suffers from crippling social anxiety, a sarcastic misanthrope who really just wants to be left alone to watch TV. The relationship between Murderbot and ART (the intelligent ship) adds an entertaining The Odd Couple element to the story. …. a fast, fun, exciting read, and the series keeps getting funnier. Perfect entertainment for a quiet evening.” — Keogh, John. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2018.
“Dragonfly” by Leila Meacham — “Meacham’s impeccable pacing and razor-wire tension evoke the daily drama of life under a Reich whose French reign might have lasted little more than four years but felt like the thousand years that it threatened to endure.”― Bookpage
“Exit Strategy” by Martha Wells — “After finding evidence proving that the GrayCris Corporation engaged in illegal activities, Murderbot heads out to hand the case over to Dr. Mensah, its former owner. But Dr. Mensah has disappeared, and Murderbot must track her down–straight into the heart of enemy territory. Saving its mentor and taking down GrayCris are just the beginning of its challenges–Murderbot also has to figure out who it is, where it fits in society, and just how it is supposed to relate to all these people. …Wells gives us a worthy conclusion to one of the best series in recent memory.” — John Keogh. AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION, c2018.
“Queenie Malone’s Paradise Hotel” by Ruth Hogan — “From the wildly popular bestselling author of The Keeper of Lost Things comes a surprising and uplifting story about the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters, and the magic of chosen family.” — Amazon.com
“Rogue Protocol” by Martha Wells — “Rogue Protocol is the third entry in Martha Wells’s … bestselling series, The Murderbot Diaries.
Starring a human-like android who keeps getting sucked back into adventure after adventure, though it just wants to be left alone, away from humanity and small talk.” — Amazon.com
“The Exiles” by Christina Baker Kline — “Both uplifting and heartbreaking, this beautifully written novel doesn’t flinch from the ugliness of the penal system but celebrates the courage and resilience of both the first peoples and the settlers who came after, voluntarily or not, to create a new home for themselves and their children.” — (Library Journal (starred review))
“The Kingdom” by Jo Nesbo — “Captivating . . . Guaranteed to be in high demand. As the story unfolds, it builds in dread and depravity. The small-town atmosphere resembles a Peyton Place as envisioned in an unlikely collaboration between Raymond Chandler and Henrik Ibsen. The complex characters and twisting plot will keep readers turning the pages and eager to discuss.” —Library Journal
“The Silent Patient” by Alex Michaelides — “Unputdownable, emotionally chilling, and intense, with a twist that will make even the most seasoned suspense reader break out in a cold sweat.” ―Booklist
“The Wisdom of Sally Red Shoes” by Ruth Hogan — “A novel that looks at how to live life to the full, even if you have suffered tragedy.” —Daily Mail
“The Wizard of Odd: A Vermont Tale of Community Devotion” by Gary K. Meffe — “…”Odd” epitomizes the traditional and independent ways of a small New England village. …the town unites around the solid and historic structure that defines life here: the Odderton Country store, …. But Kate Langford, the new, 6th-generation owner, is facing a serious and impending problem that threatens to shut down the store―and village life as they know it―in less than a year. With support from retired and widowed professor Jim Watson and a devoted citizenry, Kate struggles to save the epicenter and lifeblood of Oddertown, despite major obstacles thrown in her path. Through comedy, tragedy, resilience, despair, surprises, and love of place, and inspired by real challenges that face real Vermont towns, The Wizard of Odd captures the essence of what comprises a good and authentic community truly worth fighting for.” — Amazon.com
ADULT MYSTERY
“A Silent Death” by Peter May — “As always, May has created some indelible characters. Mackenzie, who has a startling lack of tact and other basic social skills, makes a fascinating foil for Pradell, who has troubles of her own: money worries, a fraying marriage and a beloved, vulnerable aunt who is deaf and blind.” ―Adam Woog, The Seattle Times
“A Stranger in the House” by Shari Lapena — “Lapena keeps the well-developed twists churning, with each a surprise notch in this ever-evolving plot, and she continues this skillful storytelling until the stunning twist at the end. . . memorable.” –Associated Press
“One Fatal Flaw” by Anne Perry — “One Fatal Flaw is at once a courtroom thriller, a psychological-suspense tale, and a novel of manners (with Ms. Perry being especially sharp on class distinctions).”—The Wall Street Journal
“Revenge” by James Patterson — “From the world’s #1 bestselling author comes a story of revenge as a former SAS soldier is ready to settle into civilian life when he’s hired to solve the mysterious death of a daughter, diving into a seedy world that a parent never expects to see their child in.” — Amazon.com
“Riviera Gold” by Laurie R. King — “Erudite, fascinating . . . by all odds the most successful re-creation of the famous inhabitant of 221B Baker Street ever attempted.”—Houston Chronicle
“Someone We Know” by Shari Lapena — “A masterful whodunnit, perfectly paced and expertly plotted, that had me guessing all the way through. I loved it and couldn’t put it down.” — C L Taylor
“The Lantern Men” by Elly Griffiths — “In Griffiths’s The Lantern Men, forensic archaeologist Ruth Galloway tries to locate a serial killer’s victims, supposedly buried near the fens, where ghostly figures with lanterns are said to lure people to their deaths.” — Barbara Hoffert. LJ Prepub Alert Online Review. LIBRARY JOURNAL, c2019.
“The Right Sort of Man” by Allison Montclair — “Stellar…Both leads are complex, well-developed characters, whose penchant for humorous byplay never comes at the expense of the plot…Fans of Maisie Dobbs and Bess Crawford will be delighted.” ―Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“The Widows of Malabar Hill” by Sujata Massey — “[Massey] does a wonderful job of taking life in India at the beginning of the 20th century. She gives enough cultural details without overwhelming readers with facts. The two plotlines wonderfully depict the development of the main character and the mystery as it unfolds . . . Fresh and original.”
—Library Journal, Starred Review
“Trinity and the Short-Timer” by Trevor Holliday — “…It’s a snowy night and CID Agent Frank Trinity is on the clock. From his office, he sees an old American man fall down in the street. By the time Trinity gets outside, the man has vanished…. He’s got two problems, and either one could land him in Leavenworth… or worse.In a case from his days before Tucson…Cold night, Cold War — Trinity’s kind of trouble.” — Amazon.com
“Trinity Thinks Twice” by Trevor Holliday — “It’s a week before Christmas and Page Day figures a year of sobriety will land her a job in her husband’s art gallery. But it’s not up to Walker. His society maven mother Tallie calls the shots.
Only ex-CID agent Frank Trinity can sort through this tangle of misfits, misogynists,and misunderstandings to make things right before Christmas.
But he’ll need to hurry…” — Goodreads.com
“Twisted Twenty-Six” by Janet Evanovich — “Grandma Mazur has decided to get married again – this time to a local gangster named Jimmy Rosolli. If Stephanie has her doubts about this marriage, she doesn’t have to worry for long, because the groom drops dead of a heart attack 45 minutes after saying, “I do.” A sad day for Grandma Mazur turns into something far more dangerous when Jimmy’s former “business partners” are convinced that his new widow is keeping the keys to a financial windfall all to herself. But the one thing these wise guys didn’t count on was the widow’s bounty hunter granddaughter, who’ll do anything to save her. Stephanie Plum novel series” — Publisher Annotation
“Vera Kelly is not a Mystery” by Rosalie Knecht — “Knecht’s writing is evocative and spare, stylish and brooding, making this mystery series compulsively readable and offering a refreshing spin on atmospheric noir with a compelling queer historical frame.” – Booklist
“Who is Vera Kelly” by Rosalie Knecht — “A refreshing and idiosyncratic Cold War spy novel.” – BBC Culture
ADULT BIOGRAPHY
“A Promised Land” by Barack Obama — “Barack Obama is as fine a writer as they come. . . . [A Promised Land] is nearly always pleasurable to read, sentence by sentence, the prose gorgeous in places, the detail granular and vivid. . . . The story will continue in the second volume, but Barack Obama has already illuminated a pivotal moment in American history, and how America changed while also remaining unchanged.”—Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, The New York Times Book Review
ADULT NON-FICTION
” A Visit with Chief Grey Lock and Other Abenaki Stories” by E. George “Peskunck” Larrabee — “The history and culture of the Abenaki people comes to life in these stories, which are imbued with as much historical authenticity as possible, including the author’s rendering of dialogue, of language. Abenaki words and phrases (with translations) are dispersed throughout the stories to familiarize the reader with the Abenaki language.” — Amazon.com
“Modern Comfort Food: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook” by Ina Garten — “In Modern Comfort Food, Ina Garten shares 85 new recipes that will feed your deepest cravings. Many of these dishes are inspired by childhood favorites–but with the volume turned way up, such as Cheddar and Chutney Grilled Cheese sandwiches (the perfect match for Ina’s Creamy Tomato Bisque), Smashed Hamburgers with Caramelized Onions, and the crispiest hash browns that are actually made in a waffle iron! From cocktails to dessert, from special weekend breakfasts to quick weeknight dinners, you’ll find yourself making these cozy and delicious recipes over and over again.” — Publisher’s Annotation
Seeds of Resistance: The Fight to Save our Food Supply by Mark Schapiro — “At the bottom of it all lies the seed: who controls it, who ‘owns’ it, who develops it, who plants and nourishes it. As Mark Schapiro so vividly and compellingly writes: Save the seed, and you save the planet. Let others control it, and they control everything. For real.” —Mark Bittman, author of How to Grill Everything and A Bone to Pick: The Good and Bad News About Food
The Daily Ukulele: 365 Songs for Better Living by Liz and Jim Beloff — Strum a different song every day with easy arrangements of 365 of your favorite songs in one big songbook! The Daily Ukulele features ukulele arrangements with melody, lyrics and uke chord grids and are in ukulele-friendly keys …. Also features a Tips & Techniques section, chord chart, and vintage ukulele-themed photos and art throughout. The Daily Ukulele offers ukulele fun all year long! — Amazon.com
The Escape Artists by Neal Bascomb — “Based on extensive research, including documents written by the escapees themselves, the book (The Escape Artists) is intensely detailed and written with a prose style that puts readers right there in the camp with the prisoners: when the prisoners hold their breath, terrified of being discovered in a secret activity, the reader will hold his or her breath, too. In the ever-expanding genre of prison-escape sagas, this one joins the top ranks.” —Booklist
Ukulele Method Book 1 by Lil’ Rev –“The Hal Leonard Ukulele Method is designed for anyone just learning to play ukulele. This comprehensive and easy-to-use beginner’s guide by acclaimed performer and uke master Lil’ Rev includes many fun songs of different styles to learn and play.” — Amazon.com
“Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything” by Viktor E. Frankl — “This slim, powerful collection from Austrian neurologist and psychiatrist Frankl (Man’s Search for Meaning) attests to life’s meaning, even in desperate circumstances…This lovely work transcends its original context, offering wisdom and guidance.” —Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
PICTURE BOOK
“Crab Cakes” by Andrea Tsurumi
“Maybe Something Beautiful” by F. Isabel Campoy
JUVENILE FICTION
“Master of the Phantom Isle” by Brandon Mull — “Cursed by the Key of Forgetting, Seth has lost all memory of his past—his relationships, his experiences, and who he really is. For now he will align with his new mentor, Ronodin, the dark unicorn, who takes him to the Phantom Isle, the secret gateway to the Under Realm. Though Seth is not formally a prisoner, Ronodin wants to use him and his shadow charmer powers for his own dark ends.” — Goodreads.com
“The Penderwicks at Last” by Jeanne Birdsall — “Beautifully crafted, both in descriptions and characterizations, this makes for a fitting end to a much-praised series.”—Booklist, starred review
YOUNG ADULT
“Crier’s War” by Nina Varela — “Rife with mystery, romantic tension, and political intrigue, Varela’s debut novel is perfect for readers craving queer fantasy with dense world building.” — (Booklist)