Happy Friday, Dear Blog Readers and Beloved Patrons!
Today, we present you with five new books on our shelves for your consideration. Hopefully you will find something to whet your reading appetite!
Scarlett Undercover: Jennifer Latham’s first young adult novel is a blend of some fantastic tropes: Scarlett is a 15-year-old Muslim American private detective in Las Almas, whose newest case involved a church-turned-tattoo parlor, genies, ancient curses and, most surprisingly, the secrets that lurk in her own family. The School Library Journal calls Scarlett the “heir apparent to Veronica Mars” (high praise indeed!), and Kirkus gave this debut a starred review for its smart blend of noir and paranormal.
The Well: This book is another mysterious mash-up of genres that is garnering a good deal of attention. Set on a farm in modern-day Britain that is rapidly running out of water, Catherine Chanter tells the story of a farm that has never suffered the effects of the drought, becoming an oasis in the modern-day desert. The Guardian says that this book is an odd blend of science-fiction and fairytale, but Publisher’s Weekly is heralding Chanter’s first novel as “Extraordinary”. Safe to say, this is a book guaranteed to keep you on your toes…
The Burglar Who Counted the Spoons: After a painfully-long hiatus, Lawrence Block’s much-adored, charming and sticky-fingered hero, Bernie Rhodenbarr, is back in his eleventh adventure. This time around, Bernie and his sidekick Carolyn find themselves wandering from manor house to museum on the hunt for an F. Scott Fitzgerald manuscript, and tracking down a killer in their spare time. Block’s decision to publish this unexpected series’ addition under his own imprint has led industry insiders to speculate whether we can expect more of Bernie’s adventures in the future….One can only hope!
The Rocks: Peter Nichols’ family saga opens with a single question–what happened in 1948 to drive two devoted honeymooners irrevocably apart, despite their living on the same island together for more than half a century? Though the question is a heavy one, Nichols’ keeps the tone of this book light and thoroughly engaging, even as he peels back the layers of this mystery and probes at the secrets that have remained hidden for years. The seaside resort where his tale is sounds like the perfect setting for a weekend-esacpe read– even Travel and Leisure gave this book a positive review!
Stalingrad: The City That Defeated the Third Reich: Professor Jochen Hellbeck’s history of the pivotal and devastating Battle of Stalingrad is so much more than a work of military history. By incorporating eye witness accounts from both Russia soldiers and civilians (including women and children, who are so often overlooked in wartime histories), as well as German soldiers and prisoners of war, Hellbeck brings the city, and the cataclysmic battle that took place there between August 1942-February 1943, to vivid life. Originally published to rave reviews in Germany, this book has finally been translated for the English-speaking market, and the Boston Globe has already declared this work a “stunning history” that reads like literature.
What will you be reading this weekend, beloved patrons? Let us know in the comments section!