What I've Been Reading: September 2018

It's that time again!

Sweet Little Lies, by Caz Frear. D.C. Cat Kinsella is hesitant as she investigates the murder of a young Islington housewife. The woman's body was found not far from the pub run by Cat's estranged father. When the woman turns out to be a girl the Kinsellas had met on holiday years earlier, Cat finds herself torn between loyalty to her dysfunctional family and dedication to her job. Full of twists and turns, this was a riveting procedural.

The Moth Presents: All These Wonders, edited by Catherine Burns. I am hopelessly in love with The Moth podcast. For those of you who are unfamiliar, The Moth is a non-profit group based out of New York City that is dedicated to the art and craft of storytelling. The group presents a wide range of themed storytelling events across the country--many of which have been recorded for the long-running podcast, which was my introduction. Celebrating their 20th anniversary (The Moth was founded in 1997), this collection of 45 stories culled from their events focuses on stories about risk, courage, and facing the unknown. I read this collection over two days, so enthralled was I in these people's stories. I very highly recommend both the book and the podcast--they are honest, wise, insightful, life-changing.

On Call in the Arctic, by Thomas J. Sims. As Sims was finishing his residency and on the cusp of beginning his career as a pediatric surgeon, he was alerted to the impending change in his life: he was going to be drafted as a M.A.S.H. surgeon and sent to Vietnam. His alternative was accepting a commission in the U.S. Public Health Service for an assignment in Anchorage, Alaska--he took it, and brought along his very pregnant wife and young daughter when the moved days later. His life changed again when he was reassigned: instead of being Chief of Pediatrics in Anchorage, he would now be serving as the sole physician in Nome, providing medical care to not only Nome's residents, but also those of thirteen surrounding Eskimo villages, with very little support and in archaic conditions. The stories he relates in this memoir are truly amazing, by turns spine-tingling, jaw-dropping, and heart-warming. I'm recommending this to readers who also liked The Stranger in the Woods by Michael Finkel.

Leverage in Death, by J.D. Robb. When a marketing executive walks into a board meeting wearing a suicide vest and takes out friends and coworkers on the day his company was set to sign a significant merger, NYPSD Lieutenant Eve Dallas is puzzled. She soon finds that the man's family was held hostage as collateral, forcing the man to commit this unthinkable act. But who would do such a thing? And why? The motive seems murky, only slowly clearing as the case progresses. I have to say, this was not one of my favorites in this long-running series--the pacing was off, there was a huge amount of stock market information that I personally found tedious. Your mileage may vary.

Today Will Be Different, by Maria Semple. This morning, Eleanor will take small actions to get her life in order. She will follow through. She will be a responsible adult, a good wife, an attentive mother, a patient friend. This ordinary, responsible day begins a slow-but-sure nosedive after her son finagles his way out of school for the day and then she finds that her husband, Joe, has told his office (but not her) that he's on vacation for the week. Eleanor abandons all of her best intentions in favor of unraveling the mysteries before her, because how is a person supposed to be a responsible adult when everything you counted on being true may not be? This second novel by Semple, author of the best-selling Where'd You Go, Bernadette?, was everything I needed it to be: introspective, funny, irreverent, and deeply relatable.

The Stranger Beside Me, by Ann Rule. Ann Rule, former policewoman, crime journalist, was volunteering at a crisis call center in Seattle as a series of murders occurred in the area. Then the crimes stopped as quickly as they started. Several years later, a man in Florida was arrested after a horrific multiple murder in a sorority house. The man was Ted Bundy, and man who was eventually linked to more than thirty murders across the country, and a man who had once been a fellow volunteer in the same crisis center as Ann Rule. This is her story, both of the crimes and of the man who committed them. I'm a true crime buff, and this really is the ultimate true crime story.

Meg's Picks: October 2018, part 2

Suspense in a variety of flavors is in ready supply next month. What will you choose?

Go To My Grave, by Catriona McPherson. MacPherson, whose 2016 novel Quiet Neighbors was short-listed for an Agatha award, is back to thrill readers with a chilling Gothic stand-alone. The Breakers is an old bed and breakfast that stands along a remote stretch of beach in Galloway. Donna Weaver has put everything into restoring it and now it will house its first guests since the renovation. The group of estranged cousins soon realize that they've stayed here before, decades earlier, and that the pact they made about what happened that holiday, that they would take the secret of it to their graves, appears to have been broken. Amid the cozy surroundings, someone may end this vacation in their grave... If you like your psychological thrillers haunting and twisted, this is for you.

The Spite Game, by Anna Snoekstra. Snoekstra (Little Secrets, Only Daughter) brings readers the ultimate tale of revenge. Ava was bullied in high school, her trust turned against her most cruelly by the meanest of girls. She knows she needs to move on, and she will...just as soon as she's had her revenge. Bringing them down one by one is deeply satisfying and she saves the ringleader, Mel, for last. But Mel knows Ava's game, and she's willing to play it to the very bitter end. For fans of The Last Mrs. Parrish, I think this would be most enjoyable.

Family Trust, by Kathy Wang. Wang's debut has critics making some obvious connections to Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians, which makes sense, but Family Trust is less about the Huang family's obvious wealth and more about the family relationships. Family patriarch Stanley Huang is terminally ill. He's claimed for years that he's worth a small fortune, but as the end nears and the dysfunctional family gathers, tensions are running high. Where do loyalties lie? What will life look like after Stanley passes? And is any one of them telling the others the truth about their lives and motives? Expect your friends and neighbors to be talking about this one.

The Fallen Architect, by Charles Belfoure. Architect and author Belfoure, author of facinating historical novels like The Paris Architect and House of Thieves, takes us to London in 1900, where at the newly opened Britannia Empire Theater, a balcony collapses during a performance, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more. The theater's architect, Douglas Layton, takes the blame, labeled The Butcher of the West End, and is sentenced to prison time. Upon his release five years later, he finds work under an assumed name, but his past dogs him at every step. Can he ever be free? Belfoure's eye for detail is uncanny. 

Meg's Picks: October 2018, part 1

Historical fiction is on tap next month, and I am so excited!

In the House in the Dark of the Woods, by Laird Hunt. I am a huge fan of Laird Hunt's work--his 2014 novel Neverhome remains one of my favorite historical novels to date. His latest, a horror tale set in colonial New England, should make for perfect reading on a chilly October night. A law-abiding Puritan woman goes missing. Has she fled her family? Been kidnapped? A story of a bewitching, a betrayal, anger and redemption, will the evil she fears turn out to be within her all along? Hunt's prose is lyrical and evocative, so this should be prime atmospheric reading.

A Well-Behaved Woman, by Therese Fowler. Fowler's last novel, 2013's Z, focused on the turbulent life of Zelda Fitzgerald to excellent effect. Her second is the fascinating story of iron-willed Alva Vanderbilt and her family as they rule in New York during the Golden Age. Alva Smith, from a Southern family left destitute by the Civil War, married into the newly wealthy but socially ostracized Vanderbilt clan. Defying convention, Alma was not only a suffragette, but also went on to build 9 mansions, hosted grand balls, and arranged for her daughter to marry a duke. Those with an interest in The Golden Age should make it a point to pick this up.

The Kennedy Debutante, by Kerri Maher. Kathleen "Kick" Kennedy seems to be the Kennedy that history forgot, but not any longer, thanks to Maher's debut. Kick Kennedy moves in swank circles in 1938 London, thanks to her father's appointment as ambassador. Eager to slip away from the drama and responsibilities of her high-powered clan, Kick is ready for a life of her own and falls for Billy Harrington, the future Duke of Devonshire. But romance is rarely easy, and their families, hers Catholic and his Protestant, would never approve the match. When war breaks out and the Kennedys retreat to America, Kick begins to hunt for a way to return to England and her love. For fans of Adriana Trigiani and Beatriz Williams, this is a natural choice.

Reading Ahead: October 2018, part 4

The bookshelves are beginning to get the holiday spirit, but if you're not ready for that just yet (I'm not!!), there are still plenty of other options!

Winter in Paradise, by Elin Hilderbrand. This kickoff to Hilderbrand's new winter series takes readers to the warm beaches of St. John. A late-night phone call shatters everything Irene Steele holds dear--her husband has been found dead, but even more perplexing, he was found on the island of St. John in the Caribbean. Leaving the cold of home behind, Irene ventures into paradise, only to be hit with further devastation: her husband had a second family. In her search for truth, Irene will be pulled into a web of secrets and lies she would never have dreamed existed. Suspenseful stuff from bestselling Hilderbrand. Also available in Large Print.

Alaskan Holiday, by Debbie Macomber. Josie accepts a summer position in the remote town of Ponder, Alaska cooking in a lakeside lodge and quickly falls in love with the close-knit, rustic charm of the community. Also of chief interest is the quiet and intense Palmer Saxon, a swordsmith, of all things. Come fall, Josie knows she must return to reality: her dream job in Seattle, her mother, and all of the responsibilities await her. No matter that she and Palmer are falling in love, she has to return to the lower 48. But fate may have other plans for the star-crossed lovers. Also available in Large Print. 

Christmas on the Island, by Jenny Colgan. On the remote Scottish isle of Mure, the holiday season is one of cold and ice, but the inhabitants are good at making it bright and cheerful, complete with cozy fires and a dram. Unless, of course, you've gotten pregnant by your ex-boss and don't quite know how to tell him, which is the position Flora has found herself in. In the season of glad tidings and good cheer, how will Joel take the news? And for another family, can they find the season's spirit with one of their own missing? Colgan is a favorite of mine, and I hope she'll be yours as well. Also available in Large Print.

The Next Person You Meet in Heaven, by Mitch Albom. In Albom's sequel to his best-selling The Five People You Meet in Heaven (2003), Eddie gets his heavenly reunion with Annie, the little girl he saved on Earth. The accident, during which Eddie gave his life to save Annie, took Annie's left hand. Injured, scarred and confused, Annie finds herself whisked away from all she's known by her guilt-stricken mother. Bullied by her peers and haunted by memories that stay just out of her grasp, Annie's life is difficult, until she is reconnected with childhood friend, Paulo. But you know that if Annie is reunited with Eddie, something else is on the horizon. Also available in Large Print.

The Collector's Apprentice, by B.A. Shapiro. Shapiro (The Art Forger, etc.) delivers another breath-taking historical thriller. When she's assumed to have stolen millions in an elaborate con for which her former fiance was responsible, 19-year-old Belgian Paulien Martens finds herself disowned, homeless and single in short order. Intent on proving her innocence, and also on getting even with George, Paulien recreates herself in Paris, styling herself as Vivienne Gregsby. Vivienne finds the perfect job, which lets her delve into the world of museums and artists. All's going according to plan, until her boss is found dead and Vivienne is arrested for his murder... Culture and intrigue, who could ask for more?

Reading Ahead: October 2018, part 3

Suspense is the name of the game as we head into cooler weather. Which will you choose to cozy up with?

Elevation, by Stephen King. In the small town of Castle Rock, Scott Carey is rapidly losing weight, though his clothes still fit and he doesn't look any different. He's also rapidly losing patience with the lesbian couple next door, their dog who does its business regularly on Scott's front lawn, and their new restaurant venture in town, which is financial trouble due to a town boycott. When Scott can finally get past his own prejudice, he sees the dire predicament the couple is in, and tries to help, even as he attempts to get a handle on his mystery ailment. A story of unity and alliance in difficult times, this is high on my to-read list this fall. 

The Forbidden Door, by Dean Koontz. Fourth in Koontz's mile-a-minute Jane Hawk series finds Jane, once a star agent with the FBI, now fugitive on a mission, heading into the endgame against a secret society that wants to eradicate free thought in favor of wide-spread technological mind control. While she has struck hard blows against the shadowy cabal, they are about to hit back, and the outcome becomes even more uncertain. Fans won't want to miss out! PS--this went to press a little earlier than originally slated, so place your hold now, it's here already! Also available in Large Print.

Vendetta, by Iris Johansen. With his dying breath, the head of the CIA task force on terrorism, Carl Venable, gives Jude Brandon a final instruction: keep his daughter, Rachel safe, at all costs. But Rachel has a twisted past of her own, and one that comes rushing back after the clinic she works in is attacked by a terrorist ringleader. The same ringleader is Brandon's ultimate nemesis, throwing Rachel and Brandon together in an all-or-nothing race to bring the man down before he can orchestrate more chaos. Everyone has a vendetta, but not everyone will get their revenge.

The Three Beths, by Jeff Abbott. Abbott (Blame, 2017, etc.) is becoming quite the reader favorite these days, so I'm expecting his latest to be quite popular. When Mariah Dunning's mother, Beth, disappeared over a year ago, Mariah was certain that her mother would never leave her. And despite the lack of evidence, or a body, suspicion for Beth's murder fell on her husband. Mariah is sure she's spotted her mother across a crowded food court, and begins to search for answers with renewed vigor--she must find her mother and clear her father's name. But when she discovers that two other women, both also named Beth, have disappeared from the area, Mariah may have to face a devastating truth. If you're looking for a gripping thriller this fall, this would be a great choice. Also available in Large Print. 

Desperate Measures, by Stuart Woods. Stone Barrington hits the city that never sleeps in Woods's latest. Upon returning from a jaunt to Europe, Stone makes the acquaintance of a captivating woman, only to quickly discover that a series of crimes may continue...with her as the next target. Fans cannot get enough.

Reading Ahead: October 2018, part 2

It is staggering the sheer quantity of excellent new fiction being published next month. Get your reading muscles ready!

Every Breath, by Nicholas Sparks. A chance encounter becomes a touchstone for two very different individuals in Sparks's latest. Hope is at a personal crossroads. At thirty-six, her six year relationship with a successful surgeon shows no signs of moving toward the altar, and when her father is diagnosed with ALS, she returns to North Carolina to care for him and to reassess the direction of her life. Tru Walls, a safari guide born and raised in Zimbabwe, finds himself summoned to North Carolina by a man claiming to be his father. He chooses to go primarily in hopes of resolving some of the mysteries about his mother's past, mysteries that seemed hopelessly unsolvable following her death. When Tru and Hope meet, it will mean a personal battle for each of them, that of family duty versus personal happiness. Also available in Large Print. 

Unsheltered, by Barbara Kingsolver. Present day, out-of-work journalist Willa is trying to keep her household together, four generations living together in their falling-down house. She delves into the old home's history in hopes that recognition from the historical register will mean money for much-needed repairs and restoration. In her research, though, she finds the story of a previous owner, 1870s science teacher Thatcher, who ran into major pushback for teaching Darwinism. Kingsolver fans should put their requests in now. Also available in Large Print. 

A Spark of Light, by Jodi Picoult. When a lone gunman, seeking vengeance for his daughter's abortion, starts taking hostages at the women's reproductive clinic, police hostage-negotiator has more on the line than normal in such a high-stakes encounter: his own daughter, Wren, is inside the facility. I'm expecting demand for this to be huge.

The Fox, by Frederick Forsyth. After a brilliant English teen hacker orchestrates brutal cyberattacks on the CIA, the Pentagon, and the NSA--just for fun--it's decided that rather than prosecute him, they'll recruit him in order to undermine American enemies. This new thriller from Forsyth (The Kill List, etc.) is chillingly bleeding-edge.

The Clockmaker's Daughter, by Kate Morton. Morton (The Lake House, etc.) takes us back across the decades in her latest. In contemporary London, archivist Elodie Winslow is intrigued when she comes across the following items in her employer's collection: a satchel, an antique photograph of a woman in Victorian garb, and a sketch of a country house. The sketch in particular catches her interest: it reminds her of the magical house her late mother used to tell her stories about. When she discovers the house itself, it is only natural to start digging into its secrets, some of which have been buried for over a century. Morton is an excellent storyteller, and historical fiction fans will want to add this to their lists.

Reading Ahead: October 2018, part 1

New titles from some of our favorite best-selling authors? Yes, please!

The Reckoning, by John Grisham. Peter Banning was Clanton, Mississippi's favorite son--a decorated World War II hero, a farmer, father, and neighbor. The patriarch of a prominent family. And then one cool October morning, he walked into the church and shot his best friend and pastor, Reverend Dexter Bell. As shocking as the crime is Peter's refusal to comment--all he will say to anyone, from sheriff to lawyer to judge is "I have nothing to say." A Southern gothic unlike anything Grisham has brought readers previously, this may yet increase Grisham's legion of fans exponentially.  Also available in Large Print. 

Dark Sacred Night, by Michael Connelly. Harry Bosch just cannot stay retired. Night beat Det. Renee Ballard (The Late Show, 2017) returns to the Hollywood Station to find Bosch rifling through old files, obsessed with a cold case involving the murder of a 15-year-old runaway. After a rocky first encounter, the two team up--both are outsiders with complicated pasts and something to prove. Should make for some interesting reading! Also available in Large Print. 

The Witch Elm, by Tana French. In this stand-alone novel from extraordinary thriller writer French, Toby, happy-go-lucky and charming, is out for a night of celebrating with friends, then comes home to a burglary in progress. The burglars beat him and leave him for dead, and during Toby's long, painful recovery, he must come to terms with the possibility that he may never be the man he was. Retreating to his ancestral home for his own recovery and to spend time with an ailing uncle seems like a good idea...until a skull is found in a tree on the estate grounds. French may be the best writer you're not reading, yet. Also available in Large Print. 

Holy Ghost, by John Sandford. In the small town of Pinion, MN, the mayor and his sidekick manufacture an appearance of the Virgin Mary, expecting it to become a draw for pilgrims and a new stream of revenue for the floundering little town. Instead, a sniper turns his sites on the resulting adoring masses, and that brings Virgil Flowers in to investigate. Fans won't want to miss it. Also available in Large Print.

Ambush, by James Patterson and James O. Born. Latest in Patterson's Michael Bennett series (following 2017's Haunted) finds two cartels battling it out for New York City's opiod trade. Too bad for them: Detective Michael Bennett is on the case, and they'll only win over his dead body. Too bad for Bennett--the cartels accept his terms. Also available in Large Print.

What I've Been Reading: August 2018

It has been a busy reading month for me! I'm glad I use Goodreads.com to track what I read, though, because when it comes time to write up one of these posts, my memory is NOT what it used to be!

The Wife, by Meg Wolitzer. World-famous novelist Joe Castleman and his wife, Joan, have kept a secret from the world for decades. The novel opens as the couple travels to Helsinki for Joe to receive a prestigious award. Joan, who has spent their entire relationship stifling her own career to fan the flames of Joe's writing, and his ego, has finally had enough. A story of the choices we make and the repercussions far down the road, this was a compelling and captivating read. I love readers who can surprise me, and Wolitzer had surprises aplenty in store for me here. Very highly recommended.

How to Keep a Secret, by Sarah Morgan. Three generations of women brought together by crisis finally have to deal with the secrets they've kept from one another. Matriarch Nancy has been holding onto the family home despite dire financial straits, and that's just the beginning of what she hasn't told either of her daughters. Lauren's perfect life turns out to be more facade than fact, and when she must head back to her roots for both herself and her daughter Mack, the stark reality of their plight hits home. Lauren's sister Jenna keeps a trademark smile plastered on her face, but look a little deeper and she's hiding something from those she loves most. A fast, intriguing read--I very much enjoyed it.

The Bookshop of Yesterdays, by Amy Meyerson. Miranda Brooks spent her childhood exploring the stacks of her Uncle Billy's bookstore, following clues in his ubiquitous scavenger hunts through the shelves and volumes. Until she's twelve, and mysterious falling out between her mother and Billy causes her uncle to disappear from her life. She doesn't hear from him again until sixteen years later, when he dies and leaves one final scavenger hunt for Miranda to follow. The journey toward solving his final puzzle leads Miranda to speak to people from Billy's past, and in the process, uncover the secret that tore her family apart years ago. Part mystery, part bibliophile's delight, this was excellent.

The Sun Does Shine, by Anthony Ray Hinton. In 1985, Anthony Ray Hinton was arrested and charged with two counts of capital murder in Alabama. Hinton knew this was a case of mistaken identity and had an alibi, but a combination of a lack of funds to pay for his defense and a different system of justice for a poor black man in rural Alabama lost Hinton everything--he received a death sentence. Full of despair and refusing to speak for his first three years of incarceration, Hinton eventually came to the decision to not only live on Death Row, but thrive. A story of a man who fought for his life and for his freedom, fiercely believing that the truth would ultimately set him free, which did indeed happen in 2015, with the help of civil rights attorney Bryan Stevenson. Intense and deeply thought-provoking.

Whistle in the Dark, by Emma Healey. While on holiday together, Jen's teenage daughter Lana goes missing. When she's finally found four days later, she's bruised, bloodied, exhausted, and all but mute. She cannot, or will not, tell her parents, doctors, or police where she was or what happened while she was missing. In the weeks that follow, Jen becomes increasingly worried about her daughter, the child who has always been plagued by dark demons. Without telling her daughter, or the rest of her family, where she is going, Jen sets out to retrace Lana's steps during her disappearance, with a result she hadn't imagined.

The Other Mother, by Carol Goodman. In the months following the birth of little Chloe, her mother Daphne has suffered from dark moods and intrusive thoughts. It seems natural for her to bond immediately with another mother, Laurel, from their new moms group. After all, Laurel also has a daughter named Chloe. And Daphne and Laurel even look a little bit alike. Outwardly, Laurel is sarcastic and confident, but it turns out that she's also suffering from postpartum symptoms. But becoming friends with Laurel will come at a shocking price, and everyone's secrets will out. Don't blink while you read this--it is packed full of so many twists!

The Lost For Words Bookshop, by Stephanie Butland. Loveday Cardew prefers books to most people. While she has tattooed her favorite opening lines on her skin, there are so many things she refuses to share with others. And then the secondhand bookstore where she works, her second home, begins to funnel things to her she'd never thought to see: a poet, a lover, and three donations of books which may expose her secret past once and for all. I am a sucker for fiction written with bibliophiles in mind, and this has to be one of my favorites to date. Fans of books like The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry or Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore should check this one out.

Pieces of Her, by Karin Slaughter. Andrea isn't sure of a lot of things. Like what she wants to do with her life. But she is certain she knows her mother, Laura. At least, she thinks she does until violence erupts in the mall while she's out to lunch with her mom and her mother turns out to be someone very different from the mild-mannered speech therapist Andrea has always known. And as Laura's past as someone other than Laura resurfaces, Andrea must flee, both to stay safe, but also to uncover Laura's past and make sense of the sudden shift in her reality. Meticulously plotted and fast-paced, this was a great stand-alone title from Slaughter.

A Noise Downstairs, by Linwood Barclay. When an ordinary evening drive nearly kills college professor Paul Davis, it's devastating. Months later, he's still struggling with recovery. There's the depression, the PTSD, the occasional memory lapses. In an attempt to cheer him, his wife Charlotte brings home a present: an antique typewriter. This present, however, seems possessed, haunting Paul with phantom typing noises only he can here. Is it communicating a message meant for him? Is he cracking up completely? Or is there something eminently more sinister at work here? Full of plot twists and red herrings aplenty, I have to say I think that this is one of Barclay's best in recent years. Highly recommended.

Not a Poster Child, by Francine Falk-Allen. You're not dreaming. I really did read two memoirs in one month. Weird, right? While polio is back in the news due to the anti-vaccination movement after over a half-century fading into near-obscurity in this country, it has never been forgotten by those who still experience its effects. Francine Falk-Allen was only three when she contracted polio and temporarily lost the ability to stand or walk. Here she recounts her experiences with hospitals, treatments, braces, and her determination to be a "normie". And later, as an adult, how she found balance and fulfillment in multiple ways. An eye-opening account of living with a physical disability, both funny and thoughtful.