For those of you who thrive on quirky library-related details, July at the library means the start of a new fiscal year, and, thus, the arrival of lots and lots of new books arriving at our doors. They will be making their debut on our shelves soon (and a few lucky tomes will be featured here, as well!). So, without further ado, here is our first Five Book Friday of July….
Invasion of Privacy: Christopher Reich’s new big-brother thriller begins with the death of federal agent Joe Grant in a shoot-out near Austin, Texas. But when his wife, Mary, hears the details about the event, she begins to realize that things just don’t add up. Joining forces with a recently-fired investigative reporter, Mary soon uncovers a conspiracy that deals with the richest and most powerful Americans, and the most advanced surveillance system known to mankind. This is a stand-alone thriller from an author whose work has received glowing attributes from fans and reviewers alike.
Second Life: S.J. Watson’s first book, Before I Go To Sleep had readers riveted, anxious, and guessing to the very last scene. Now he has turned his talents to another psychological thriller that Library Journal calls “an exciting mix of sex, murder, and mystery to please adrenaline junkies”. Julia’s quiet, idealistic world is shattered by the brutal murder of her sister, and when she learns that Kate had been using a website to indulge in various fantasies with strangers, Julia begins searching there for clues. But as she slips deeper into the virtual world she has discovered, and the intense relationships she forms there, Julia finds herself in very real danger of losing herself, and everyone she thought she loved.
Sidekicked: John David Anderson’s new release puts the spotlight on the superhero’s most invaluable companions in this wonderfully fast-paced, action-packed, and clever adventure. Just because thirteen-year-old Andrew Bean is a member of H.E.R.O., a secret organization that trains superhero sidekicks, doesn’t mean life is easy. His super-senses make him the most sensitive kid in school, and he is having a terrible time trying to keep his secret identity a secret. But when a fearsome and powerful supervillain begins wreaking havoc, Andrew’s world collide as he resolves to restore order and justice all by himself.
The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey: Perhaps you have to be of a certain age to think this is the greatest book ever, but for those of us who grew up playing the Oregon Trail, wiping the western plains of all animal life, breaking axles, and dying of cholera, Rinker Buck’s new non-fiction release might be the highlight of our summer. Buck traveled the route of the Oregon Trail in an honest-to-goodness covered wagon, and his book is part history, part memoir, and part utterly-unique travel memoir detailing the hardships, joys, revelations, and tribulations of this epic journey that hasn’t been attempted in over a century.
The Border: Robert McCammon’s books are some of the most unconventional, appealing, and well-told around, and this new book, though somewhat bewildering in its premise, sounds like just the kind of wildly imaginative, epic adventure at which he excels. On a planet Earth that has been ravaged by warring alien civilizations, the hideout on Panther Ridge is the last bastion of humanity. But the humans who hide there are threatened day and night by shock-troops, mutants, and pollution. Out of this futuristic hell, one boy, an amnesiac who has named himself Ethan, determines to learn the powers that will save humanity–if he can survive long enough to try.
We hope you find something here to tickle your fancy, and wish you a bright and adventurous weekend!