The Maidens: A Novel by Alex Michaelides

 

  The Maidens: A Novel by Alex Michaelides. Celadon Books(Macmillan), 2021. Adult fiction, suspense.

Mariana's niece, Zoe, is a student at Cambridge. One of her friends is murdered. Mariana is a group therapist still grieving for her husband who drowned in her homeland, Greece. When Mariana goes back to her own campus to comfort Zoe, she becomes entangled in the mystery. Is the dazzling American professor involved? What about the troubled patients Mariana is treating? And, then, can the handful of beautiful young women be connected? Just as the plot thickens, another young student is killed. Can Mariana help find the killer before she is a victim herself?

The tale is fast paced with relatively short chapters. There are lots of characters, but the author keeps them all delineated well. While there is some Greek mythology central to the plot, readers do not have to be experts to figure out the allusions. This is Michaelides' second novel following his highly successful The Silent Patient.

Murder on an Irish Farm by Carlene O'Connor

 

Murder on an Irish Farm by Carlene O'Connor. Book 8 in An Irish Village Mystery series. Kensington Books, 2022. Adult fiction.

Thanks to a prepublication copy, I was able to totally enjoy this story! The long engaged policewoman, Siobhan O'Sullivan is finally to marry fellow garda Macdara Flannery in Kilbane, County Cork, Ireland. Ah, but true love does not run smoothly as the ceremony itself is paused and postphoned after a skeleton is found nearby. Apparently, the skeleton is that of a groom whose own ceremony many years before was also interrupted on the very same day! 

The large family of the O'Sullivans are an appealing lot. With a definite Irish setting and interesting characters, readers may feel they have been transported to the Emerald Isle itself! They certainly will be rushing to find the other mysteries in this warm and welcoming series. 

The Au Pair by Emma Rous

The Au Pair by Emma Rous. Berkley (an imprint of Penguin Random House), 2019. Adult fiction.

The tale is told in alternating voices by Laura, the au pair, and Seraphine, one of a set of twins born at Summerbourne, an estate on the coast of Norfolk, England. Laura comes to work for the family in 1991.  In 2017, after their father dies, Seraphine finds a photo taken on the day she was born that shows her mother holding only one baby. In the hours after the twins' births, Seraphine's mother had killed herself. Now their father has died. Who can answer the many questions Seraphine has now? 

Well plotted and with enough action to keep readers guessing, this mystery is a winner. Who's who and what's what keeps shifting as we root for Seraphine to find out the truth about her heritage and to plan her future.

Forever Young: A Memoir by Hayley Mills

  Forever Young: A Memoir by Hayley Mills. Grand Central Publishing (Hachette), 2021. Adult autobiography.

     Those of us of a certain age remember child actor Hayley Mills fondly. We wanted to be her best friend! Now, she is grown and has written her own account of the magical years with her acting family including her famous father, John Mills, and her actor sister, Juliet Mills. Always a sweet and hopeful person, Hayley does not dwell on the unpleasant aspects of her schooling (or lack of it), the difficult financial arrangements made for her (and that cheated her out of much of what she earned as a child through British taxation rules), and the lack of time and consistency needed to make true friends as an adolescent. It is fascinating to read of Old Hollywood and Walt Disney. Apparently, Disney opened the archives for her to use files on her time with the studio. The ending seems rushed as Hayley never really talks about the father of her son, Ace. She does not update readers on her father, mother, or second son either. While she is still acting, this book is proof that she can write, too! 

     

My First Pop-Up Mythological Monsters by Owen Davey

 

  My First Pop-Up Mythological Monsters. By Owen Davey. 2020.  Candlewick Press, First US edition, 2021. 

   Certainly millennial parents who are great fans of mythology will want this simple pop-up book for their little ones! Fifteen monsters from all over the world are portrayed in the beautifully colored pop-up pages. The illustrations have been created digitally and really fill the square pages disgned to fit inside a child's hands.  A dragon, a unicorn, and a jackalope may be recognizable to some readers, but griffin, chimera, shachihoko, and fenrir may be new to many. The kraken, Medusa, and cylclops are also included as are others. Certainly, younger children need help navigating the delicate pages of pop-up books. The one or two sentences about each creature will make it easy for an adult to share with a child. Use this as a resource when one of the creatures is mentioned in another storybook. What a fun addition to the library of mythology fans! 

Scribbles, Sorrows, and Russet Leather Boots: The Life of Louisa May Alcott by Liz Rosenberg.

 

 Scribbles, Sorrows, and Russet Leather Boots: The Life of Louisa May Alcott. By Liz Rosenberg. Illustrated by Diana Sudyka. Candlewick Press, 2021. Biography for older children, tweens, teens, and adults. 

     This 410 page biography of Louisa May Alcott covers her whole life. The author cites her sources in the back. Each chapter is preceded by a full page, white and black illustration. While many readers already know some of the detail presented here, others will find Alcott's  very short nursing career in the Civil War a surprise. The poverty of the family and Alcott's poor health during most of her life are described with sympathy and honesty. It is Louisa's courage and determination to succeed and to care for her family that thread throughout the narrative. Rosenberg's book will be a good addition to especially middle school and high school libraries. 

Palace of the Drowned: A Novel by Christine Mangan

 

 Palace of the Drowned: A Novel by Christine Mangan. Flatiron Books, 2021. Adult fiction, mystery

Frankie Croy can't seem to get past her writer's block long after an early successful novel. She has a very public mental breakdown after a negative review is published and goes to 1966 Venice to rest and write. When she is approached by a young woman who claims to have met her before, Frankie can't quite remember. Gilly becomes a strong presence in Frankie's solitary life. Can Gilly be trusted? Will the relationship destroy Frankie's decades long friendship with Jack? What about the swirling images and memories in Frankie's mind?  The suspense and atmospheric, moody setting of the great flood in Venice in 1966 make great reading. Readers will find themselves fascinated by it all! 

There must have been something in the water during the pandemic when writers seem to have concentrated on writing about writers! See review of The Plot: A Novel also.

If you enjoyed the creepy first novel, Tangerine, by this author, you'll love this new one! Mangan writes complicated characters and no one is better at time and place descriptions.

The Plot: A Novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz

 

  The Plot: A Novel by Jean Hanff Korelitz. Celadon Books, 2021.

                                             Adult fiction, suspense and mystery.

Jake Finch Bonner is a not very talented or motivated writer who is teaching writing at a small college. When a bright student, Evan Parker, shares the brilliant plot he has planned for a novel, Jake waits for its publication. Nothing happens. Jake learns of Parker's death and decides the plot was just too good not to be published. Of course, he writes the novel under his own name and it is a success. But, when Jake is accused of being a thief, this tale really takes off. Does someone out there know his secrets? Is Evan Parker alive? Who is Jake's biggest fan?  There are twists and turns everywhere and readers will enjoy every one! 

Lauded by everyone from Stephen King to a Book of the Month selection choice by amazon.com, this tale is truly gripping. Just set aside some reading time when you start it! Jake's college is Ripley which brings to mind The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith. His middle name makes readers think of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. Such inclusions are all part of the fun.

When We Were Vikings: A Novel by Andrew David MacDonald

 

 When We Were Vikings: A Novel  by Andrew David MacDonald. Scout Press, an imprint of Simon and Schuster, 2020. Adult fiction.

Zelda, 21, lives with her older brother, Gert. Zelda is not "normal" by any means yet she is courageous, smart, and clever. She sees a doctor weekly, goes to be with peers at the community center, makes lists of things, uses a computer, gets a job at the local library, and loves anything and everything Viking. Gert, on the other hand, is quite brilliant, but not really motivated. When Gert gets involved with some creeps, it is Zelda who must summon strength to go on a quest to save them. MacDonald never talks down about Zelda and readers find out more about the background of the siblings. Zelda will probably spur readers to reach within themselves and be legendary, too. 

Run, Brother, Run: A Memoir of a Murder in My Family by David Berg

 Run, Brother, Run: A Memoir of a Murder in My Family by David Berg. Scribner, 2013. Nonfiction (memoir). 

For years, David Berg has been a successful lawyer in Houston. Those of us who do not know him would never suspect that his own family has been the victim of betrayal, tragedy, and murder. This is the true crime story of the death of his older brother, Alan. It is a family story about a father who made a blunder as a young man and how that changed the entire family's dynamics. It is also a Houston story with fascinating tidbits about Racehorse Haynes and Percy Foreman, both legendary lawyers in the city. Berg tells the details about his own growing up and interactions with his brother, his father, and others in a clear no-nonsense narrative that involves Charles Harrelson, father of actor Woody Harrelson, and the one who killed Alan Berg. It is storytelling at its best and definitely a look back at an older Houston. Like Blood and Money by Tommy Thompson, the book is a must read for local nonfiction readers.

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo

The Beatryce Prophecy by Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Sophie Blackall. Candlewick Press, 2021. Children's chapter book.

Is this a fable? Maybe. Is it a fairy tale without fairies? Perhaps. Is it my new favorite book? Absolutely! Beatryce is a small girl who is found in the pen with a goat by Brother Edik, a monk with a wandering eye and a wish to hear a tale about a mermaid. The girl, the goat, the monk, a boy named Jack Dory, and Cannoc, a weird man with a long, gray beard, go on a quest like no other. Beatryce, at first, knows only her name. But, the girl can READ in a medieval time when girls cannot. And Brother Edik knows a prophecy about her. And, soon, the king himself is after her. As Beatryce begins to remember her past, the tale really takes off for Beatryce is about to discover her future. 

I cannot fathom DiCamillo's imagination as she creates unique and memorable characters like these. I can only envy her smooth writing as it pulls readers in and gives more clues. I admire the way she gives characters love, light, and an appreciation for books and reading. Sophie Blackall's black and white illustrations really beg for full color; they are sparse and few, but add to the story. The gorgeous endpapers of gold and ivory make me wish for wallpaper like it. The combination is stunning, comforting, and truly a tale for our times.

"We shall all, in the end. be led to where we belong. We shall all, in the end, find our way home."   ---p. 185 

Mrs. March: A Novel by Virginia Feito

 Mrs. March: A Novel by Virginia Feito. Liveright Publishing Corporation, An Imprint of W.W. Norton and Company, 2021. Adult fiction.

George March looks like a man who has it all. His latest novel is very successful. His wife throws the perfect family dinners. And, he has a son, Jonathan. Their family lives in a high rise on the Upper East Side.

But, Mrs. March notes every detail of everything and when the baker says that her husband must have based the female character in that latest book on Mrs. March herself, she is indignant since she has not read the book, but knows that character is not a quality person like she is. She soon begins to find fault with George as she did with his first wife and his grown daughter. Her own sister and mother live far enough away that she doesn't have to visit. She has time and money to eat take-out well and go to museums. She allows Jonathan to play with a boy upstairs and seems rather distant with them all.

Readers will be interested in the little snippets that tell of Mrs. March's background. As the plot really gets going, there are clues that George and his editor may have been involved in a murder in Maine. What has George really been doing on those "hunting weekends"? Who is the trustable one in this marriage? Not a thriller, but gradually and steadily building to an unpredictable conclusion, this is one great exploration of the little things that make a life. 

At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier

 

 At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier. Viking, 2016. Adult historical fiction. 

The Goodenough family has settled in Ohio in 1838. They have several children and work hard to farm the soil. James plants apple trees lovingly and tenderly. It takes fifty apple trees to stake a claim to the land. Sadie unfortunately sees the trees and competition for James' time and love. She drinks too much of the applejack and becomes a harsh and bitter woman.. Their relationship is difficult and makes up the first part of this tale. 

The youngest son, Robert, can be found in California in 1856 and his story makes up the latter part of the book. Readers find out what happened to the Goodenough family. Robert works with William Lobb who is cataloging and sending seeds and seedlings of redwood and giant sequoia trees back to England. His insights on the Gold Rush, people he meets, and the country itself are intriguing.

While hard work and trials take up a lot of the pages, there is hope and heart, too. John Chapman (Johnny Appleseed) is a character. And, the book itself is so well put together with even the end pages showing cross cut apples. Readers will be longing to taste a Golden Pippin apple! 

Who is Maud Dixon? by Alexandra Andrews

   Who is Maud Dixon? A Novel by Alexandra Andrews. Little, Brown and Company, 2021 Adult fiction/mystery.

 Florence Darrow escaped growing up in Florida and now has a job in New York City as an editorial assistant. Florence really wants to write. Everyone at work is intrigued by a bestseller by Maud Dixon, the name which hides its author's identity. When Florence makes some missteps at work, she finds herself looking for a new job and amazingly starts work as an assistant to Maud Dixon, a woman who is really Helen Wilcox. Maud wants to learn from Helen, but ends up trying to imitate her. When Helen invites Florence to go to Morocco with her, Florence jumps at the chance. But, from there, this twisty tale takes all sorts of unexpected turns. Who is Helen really? Will Florence ever be able to write her own book? Alexandra Andrews has written a whale of a debut novel herself and readers will find themselves enjoying every minute of this roller coaster ride! 

The Royal Secret: A Novel by Lucinda Riley

 

 The Royal Secret: A Novel by Lucinda Riley. Atria paperback, 2018. Adult mystery.

    Interesting youngish  adults propel this story of English romances, mystery, and scandal. Journalist Joanna Haslam and her friend Simon grew up in Yorkshire. Both have high powered jobs in London now. When acting legend, James Harrison, dies, they are both caught up in fast paced action and intrigue about his past. Harrison's grown grandchildren, Zoe and Marcus, provide touches of aristocracy and family secrets. The setting moves from London to Ireland to Yorkshire in cinematic ways. All of their jobs and connections twist and turn to ramp up and move forward the plot. An author's note at the beginning only adds further drama to this multi-layered novel. 

Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge

 

 Murder at  Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge. Kensington Books, 2021. Adult historical mystery.

Fans of Agatha Christie will want to pick up a copy of this first in a new series about housekeeper turned detective, Phyllida Bright. She works at Mallowan Hall, home of Agatha Christie and her second husband, Max Mallowan. A house party is taking place and a body is found in the library. Sound familiar? This fast paced mystery pays homage to Christie as it involved her in the search for the murderer, but Phyllida is the central character who follows in Poirot's footsteps. Phyllida had been a nurse and made friends with Agatha. Certainly there is more to their backgrounds that perhaps will be revealed in other books.  The characters are interesting, the plot is unpredictable, and we can only hope that Phyllida as many more mysteries in her future! 

In the Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce

 

In the Garden of Spite: A Novel of The Black Widow of La Porte by Camilla Bruce. Berkley (an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC), 2021. Adult historical fiction. Biographical fiction.

After a traumatic situation in Norway, Litte Brynhild Storset moves to America to live with her older sister, Nellie. She changes her name to Bella and wants to start a new life. The entire novel tells what happens to Belle Gunness in Indiana. From city streets of Chicago to farms in the countryside, Bella focuses on herself. Murder, arson, greed, and anger fill this well written novel which is actually based on a real person. While the neighbors and even Nellie have their own suspicions about Bella, she seems to be able to avoid any convictions or firm evidence against her. Obviously, the happy life she dreamed about eludes her...or does it?

An author's note tells what is true and what has been added to make the novel move more smoothly. Details about life in Norway in the 1870's is fascinating and makes it easy to see why moving to America was a popular option. Readers who enjoy this novel may be interested in doing their own research to see photographs and read accounts of the real Belle Gunness.

The Evening and the Morning by Ken Follett

 

 The Evening and the Morning (The Prequel of The Pillars of the Earth) by Ken Follett. Viking, 2020. Adult historical fiction. 913 pages.

       Many people say that The Pillars of the Earth is their very favorite book. At last, Ken Follett has published a prequel to that book. No one will be disappointed. Barnes and Noble listed this novel as one of the best of 2020.  While it is not necessary to read the Kingsbridge trilogy first, read them in order if you have not read any of them. The Pillars of the Earth, World Without End, and A Column of Fire will smoothly follow this medieval adventure. 

      The story begins in 997 and ends in 1007 in England. Three interwoven tales feature Edgar, a smart young man who is good with building things; Ragna, a beautiful aristocrat from Normandy, and Aldred, a religious cleric who longs to build a great library and center of learning and worship. Follett is a master at writing and certainly has done his research about the times, but it is the realistic and appealing characters who make his stories shine. 

The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore

 

The Second Life of Mirielle West by Amanda Skenandore. Kensington Books, 2021. Adult historical fiction. 

    Young socialite Mirielle West is living the dream in the 1920's California of early movie making until a doctor finds a small lesion on her neck. She is sent to Carville, Louisiana to the nation's only leper colony as it is known at that time. The transition is swift as Mirielle assumes a new name and new life. The climate is different. The people are different. The disease makes everything different.  Will she ever be able to return to life in California?

    Told with sympathy and understanding, the novel describes patients with Hansen's Disease and the horrible prejudices against them. They were forced to relocate to Carville, stay there, and often were shunned by their own families. They underwent sometimes experimental treatments in efforts to "find a cure" for leprosy.  In modern times, patients take modern medicines and live basically normal lives anywhere.  It is now known that the disease is not spread by touching others. 

    Mirielle indeed has a second life. She is smart and determined and open to love. She learns new skills and makes her own way in helping others. The novel is well written and tells a fictional story about a truly fascinating time and place. Its fictional heroine is based on fact, but deserves a wide reading of her fictional exploits. This is one book that readers will not soon forget.

Castle Shade by Laurie R. King

 

 Castle Shade: A  Novel of Suspense Featuring Mary Russell and Sherlock Holmes by Laurie R. King. Bantam Books (Random House), 2021. Adult fiction, mystery.

    Queen Marie of Roumania is worried about her teenaged daughter Princess Ileana. The granddaughter of Queen Victoria herself and also of the Russian Czar Alexander II, Marie knows just the discreet and smart investigator to call...Sherlock Holmes. Of course, his wife, Mary Russell, is on the case with him. Off they go to Castle Bran. It appears someone is trying to scare the locals and that young women are in danger even from perhaps the dreaded local danger: vampires! 

    Readers unfamiliar with King's excellent series of novels of Holmes and Russell should start with the first, The Beekeeper's Apprentice. King is true to the original stories, but gives the tales an update to the 1920's era and makes each her own. A note in the back tells readers about the real Queen Marie. Well researched and full of opportunities for Mary  Russell to show that women can also be action heroes, the writing propels readers through adventures of the dynamic duo. 

Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss by Margaret Renkl

  Late Migrations: A Natural History of Love and Loss by Margaret Renkl. With art by Billy Renkl. Milkweed Editions, 2019. Biography.

 Written with love and great detail, the author describes growing up in Alabama and her life as an adult in Nashville. Chapters are short and beautifully tell her family's history, her own reactions to life and loss over the years, and will inspire readers to see details in their own lives. The chapters are easy to read and dip into over and over if readers prefer to pick and choose among them. This will be a book to keep and cherish as Life changes. 

The Mystery of Mrs. Christie: A Novel by Marie Benedict

 

 The Mystery of Mrs. Christie: A Novel by Marie Benedict. Sourcebooks Landmark, 2021. Adult historical fiction and mystery.

In December, 1926, Agatha Christie disappeared for eleven days. That is true. But, the world's most famous mystery writer never spoke or wrote about that time. Marie Benedict has come up with her own theory about what happened to Mrs. Christie and it is quite plausible. The novel is divided between  "manuscript" chapters that tell about Agatha's life and chapters that tell of Day 1 After the Disappearance, etc. up to the time she is found safe at a spa hotel in the country. The writing is smooth. The appeal of the story is obvious. A very short author's note and conversation with the author in the back share some resources, but there is no comprehensive bibliography as this is a fiction book after all. Readers may be inspired to do some additional research on newspaper articles and photos of the time. The cover is appealing, but the pages in both front and back of the book that advertise Benedict's other novels do little to advance the reader's enjoyment. 

The Guest List: A Novel by Lucy Foley

 

  The Guest List:  A Novel by Lucy Foley. William Morrow, 2020. Adult fiction, mystery.

Set on a tiny island off the coast of Ireland, this wedding is to be THE event of the year. The bride, Jules Keegan, publishes her own life style magazine and is sure to post photos that will influence others for years to come. The groom, Will, stars in a wilderness survival television show. It appears to be the perfect power couple pairing.

Oh, but everyone has secrets. The bride's sister Olivia is her bridesmaid. The best man, Johnno, does not share the apparent wealthy background of many of the guests. Charley, longtime friend of the bride and his wife Hannah have escaped their children and work-a-day lives for a weekend of fun. The bride's father and his newest young wife are there. And, the whole event is catered by Aoife, a local, and her husband, Freddy. They all alternate chapters and propel the narrative.

Everyone is there. The weather changes. A storm comes in. The lights go out...and, you guessed it, there's a murder. The game is afoot.

The Second Mrs. Astor: A Novel of the Titanic by Shana Abe

 

 The  Second Mrs. Astor: A Novel of the Titanic by Shana Abe. Kensington Books, 2021. Adult historical fiction.

Madeleine Force is eighteen when she marries wealthy John Jacob Astor.  They were real people whose lives are documented in newspaper accounts of the times. They were among the First Class passengers on the HMS Titanic.  And, their Gilded Age story is fascinating. 

The author writes this fictional account largely as a series of letters to their son. The writing is smooth and wraps the reader up in the love story of the Astors. Mr. Astor's previous divorce and quick remarriage still rank as major scandals. But, this is really Madeleine's story as she tells it. Their age difference, their chemistry, and their devotion to each other all blend into an interesting and charming tale. 

The research list is quite short. One hopes that all of the book is based on truth and is well researched. A more complete bibliography would have been helpful and given more heft to the narrative, but it is a book of fiction however.   Readers will have to do their own research to see photographs of the real second Mrs. Astor. 

The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig

 The Midnight Library: A Novel by Matt Haig. Viking, 2020. Contemporary adult fiction.

     Nora Seed doesn't really like herself or her life. When she gets the chance to explore other lives, she takes the chance to see what could have been if she had made different choices. She finds that kindness matters, that small things can change people in big ways, and that you don't have to understand life, you just have to live it.

 

     The concept of the library and the librarian, Mrs. Elm, are key to Nora's explorations and a tribute to real librarians everywhere. Imaginative and full of small human details, the story is one that everyone will identify with in different ways. The character of Nora is an EveryWoman and readers will root for her to find safe landings in her jumps into the unknown. 

Where's The Queen?

 

This bright board book by Nosy Crow, an imprint of Candlewick Press (first U.S. edition, 2021),  is designed for very young children. The one layer felt "lift-the-flaps" are too flimsy for much library use, but individual (and careful) young readers will enjoy it greatly. The classic red English telephone booth, black taxi, double decker bus, guard, and the queen in her carriage all are portrayed. At the end, a mirrorish panel gleefully shows where the reader is! 

The Last Flight: A Novel by Julie Clark

 The Last Flight: A Novel by Julie Clark. Sourcebooks, 2020. Adult fiction, mystery.

   Claire Cook, the wife of a wealthy, well known philanthropist looks like she has the perfect life. Few know she is an abused wife. She makes a plan to escape and start a new life. Unfortunately, she is foiled at the airport. But, a woman named Eva overhears her distress and offers to exchange identities and plane tickets with Claire. Eva says her husband has died in California and that she needs a new start, too. Claire boards the plane to California and notices airport monitors showing that the other plane has crashed. Did Eva die in the crash? Will people really think that Claire is dead?  Eva's story of life in California does not ring true as Claire goes to the apartment on Eva's license. It is the only place Claire knows where her husband  may not link to her and find her.  But, what about secrets Eva may have been keeping?

This is a grand thriller of a tale! There are enough red herrings to keep readers guessing and enough details to make both women very real indeed. Clark's debut novel, The Ones We Choose, in 2018, has been optioned for television, and there is little doubt that this novel will also make its way to film as well. 

Hanging Mary : A Novel by Susan Higginbotham

  Hanging Mary: A Novel by Susan Higginbotham. Sourcebooks Landmark, 2016. Adult historical fiction.

It's interesting to imagine what life must have been like for women in 1864 Washington, D.C. As a widow in Maryland, Mary Surratt moved her family to a house they already owned and took in boarders. Her own grown daughter Anna lived with her and a young woman named Nora Fitzpatrick. Mrs. Surratt's son, Isaac, was away in the Confederate Army and  her son, Johnny, helped out in running finding boarders like Louis Weichmann. 

This novel alternates chapters with the voices of Mary and Nora. It is organized chronologically with clear dates given at the beginning of chapters. The author does a good job of delineating between the older woman and the younger. She does a creditable job of showing how handsome John Wilkes Booth appeals to the younger women when he visits her house. Tragically, Mrs. Surratt tries to help her son and his friends and becomes wound up in what she imagines to be a plot to kidnap President Lincoln. Too late, she learns the President has been killed and is not only implicated, but actually tried and hanged for participating in the plot to assassinate Mr. Lincoln.

One of the most interesting parts of the part of the book is at the end when the author tells what happened to the characters in the novel. Of course, readers know what happened to Booth and the other conspirators. But, Anna and Nora and the Surratt sons are less well known. Some resources are shown in a bibliography. Things like the fact that the boardinghouse survives and has been renumbered at 604 H Street NW and houses a Chinese restaurant are fascinating. Certainly conspiracy followers may want to eat there and imagine themselves in Mrs. Surratt's dining room! But, readers will have to make up their own minds about whether Mary Surratt was truly just gullible or involved in history's most complicated murder. 

All the Little Hopes: A Novel by Leah Weiss

  All the Little Hopes: A Novel by Leah Weiss. Sourcebooks Landmark, 2021. Adult historical fiction.

North Carolina, WWII, and the Brown family is missing two of their local boys who shipped off to help America win the war. Lucy Brown, one of the narrators of alternating chapters, is thirteen, smart, and aching to be like Nancy Drew and have her own adventures. Enter Allie Bert Tucker on a bus from the eastern part of the state and with her own back story. Bert finds her way into the Brown family and into everyone's heart and is the other narrator. 

The girls find adventure in totally unexpected places. A community dance teaches lessons about making decisions. A Nazi prisoner-of-war camp teaches about human kindness. Working bee hives teaches about patience and determination. A crazy lady turns out to maybe be not so crazy, but brilliant. Aunt Fanniebelle teaches about manners, Ouija boards, and standing up for yourself when it's most important. Oh, yes, and three men go missing. Can the girls figure out why? 

The pacing is great. The dialog is pitch perfect. The girls are unforgettable. Read this book.

PS    I admit that I looked at this ARC several times and thought, "Oh, it's another WWII book about two girls."  When I finally picked it up and started it, I was enchanted. This is probably my favorite historical fiction of 2021! These are MY people! Just don't miss this one.

Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz

  Amber and Clay by Laura Amy Schlitz. Illustrations by Julia Iredale. Candlewick Press, 2021. Historical fiction. Children's/YA.

     With a handful of fictional characters tossed in with actual historical figures of ancient Greece, Laura Amy Schlitz has created a captivating multilayered story. An enslaved boy, Rhaskos, works in the stables and dreams of drawing horses and making fine things out of clay. Melisto, a wealthy girl, knows him. Their futures are linked in unexpected ways that could well be called a Greek tragedy. 

     The careful research of the author forms the basis of the story and expands it from a mere tale to an epic. Rhaskos becomes friends with philosopher Sokrates. It may take a minute for younger readers to get comfortable with the Greek spellings used in the book, but it IS the famous Socrates. Gods and goddesses speak and are also characters, but not in the Rick Riordan style. Most of the narrative is in free verse, but Melisto's story is prose. Interesting black-and-white illustrations make divisions in the print and bring related information into more of what modern readers might see in a museum.

     Schlitz has provided a meaty and unexpected story. Readers with any interest in Greek mythology will welcome this thoughtful addition to their libraries. 

The Last Mona Lisa: A Novel by Jonathan Santlofer

  The Last Mona Lisa: A Novel by Jonathan Santlofer. Sourcebooks Landmark, 2021. Adult fiction. Mystery. 

     Based on the true 1911 theft of the Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre, this thriller tells the fictional contemporary story of a man whose great grandfather was the thief. Luke Perrone, an Italian-American art professor, goes to Florence to see if he can find and read a memoir by his ancestor. Luke wonders if the painting returned to the Louvre was the real one or a clever replacement. Readers will learn about Luke, his family, his past, and cheer him on as he searches for answers. The "bad guys" abound and no one is safe from the poisonous happenings and gunfire. Is the beautiful blonde in the library trustworthy? Will Luke be tempted to break his no alcohol pledge? What prompted his great grandfather to risk his job at the Louvre and steal a painting? And, is the painting now in the museum the real one or a fake?  

     If you pick only one thriller to read this summer, make it this one! Santlofer's pacing is a rollercoaster, his characters compelling, and the action never stops. Hopefully, this title will soon be a motion picture, too. 

We Are All the Same in the Dark: A Novel by Julia Heaberlin

  We Are All the Same in the Dark: A Novel by Julia Heaberlin. Ballantine Books, 2020. Adult fiction. Mystery. Thriller.

When Heaberlin writes of Texas, she knows her people and places. No one puts together the details of life and death in the Lone Star State better. In this dark and twisty mystery, young policewoman Odette Tucker has never really recovered from losing her best friend Trumanell Branson ten years ago. Equally hard to deal with is the loss of Odette's leg. Now, with a world class prothesis, she is strong and brave even when a new documentary opens all the old wounds for their community. But, when Trumanell's brother and Odette's maybe lost love finds a teen with only one eye, Odette is challenged to help her. Was Wyatt involved in Trumanell's disappearance after all? Who was? Who is this girl? How can life in the small town ever be the same again? 

The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian

  The Girls in the Stilt House by Kelly Mustian. Sourcebooks Landmark, 2021.  Adult fiction. Debut novel.

        This deeply atmospheric tale of two young women in the swampy Natchez Trace in the early 1920's has nothing to do with the typical Great Gatsby glamor of that era. Instead, Mustian provides a rich story of poverty and scrappy characters who must help each other in order to ensure their very survival. There are villains, Virgil and Frank, but it is the main characters of Ada and Matilda who carry the story and win readers' hearts. Ada finds herself pregnant and without her love, Jesse. Matilda has had her own share of sadness and knows a lot about babies. They make an unlikely pair as they share secrets and dream of better lives. Congratulations to Mustian on her debut novel as she truly expresses the despair, hopes, and struggles and makes the location almost a character, too. Readers will hope against hope that nothing tragic will happen, but rest assured, these girls are in capable hands with Kelly Mustian. 

Malibu Rising: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

  Malibu Rising: A Novel by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Ballantine Books, Penguin Random House LLC, 2021. Adult fiction.

     Looking for a great beach book for summer reading? Check out this family saga of four siblings and their rock star father and California mother. Nina, Jay, Hud, and Kit have grown up surfing and living in the gorgeous Malibu, California area. The book features one day, Saturday, August, 27,1983 when the annual Riva party is to be held. From movie stars to local celebrities and wannas bes, everyone wants to be at a famous Riva party. Alternately, portions go back to 1956 when Mick and June Riva first met and then forward in the lives of their family members. Nina, the oldest, whose tennis champ husband has just left her,  has always been the "grown up". Jay is a champion surfer with a secret. Hud is a famous photographer with his own guilty conscience. And, young Kit is just becoming independent and finding herself.  Reid's writing is smooth and readers may have a hard time putting down this tale once it begins to unwind. The setting is, of course, beautiful and will return those of us fortunate enough to have been there and make new fans of others. But, it is the characters who drive the plot and find their ways into your mind and heart. 

The Titanic Sisters: A Novel by Patricia Falvey

  The Titanic Sisters: A Novel by Patricia Falvey. Kensingon Books, 2021. Adult historical fiction. 

Sisters Nora and Delia Sweeney have grown up in Donegal, Ireland. Delia is her mother's favorite while Nora works hard with their father. When the opportunity of a lifetime comes as a first class ticket to America and a chance to be a governess for a widower's young daughter, Ma, of course, chooses Delia to go. But, Da trades the ticket in for TWO steerage tickets so that both girls can go and arranges for faithful Nora to become a maid. And, of course, it is on a huge new ship, The HMS Titanic.

Titanic fanatics will find that only a very short part of the novel is about the ship's sailing and disaster. The sisters lose each other in the hectic rush. Nora thinks Delia has died and seizes the opportunity to take the governess position. Delia has lost her memory, but is very much alive.

From there, it's a story of will they/won't they find each other. Texas is a major setting and its character Mayflower provides a whole new perspective. Neiman Marcus shopping is involved! The movement to get women the vote receives mention. Drilling for oil is an important component to the later story. The chapters switch back and forth, identified by the name of the sister whose story is being told at that point. Finding love, reuniting family and smoothing out differences, and young women finding independence all are themes. If you enjoy romance and historical novels, check out other titles by the author.

The Grandmother Plot by Caroline B. Cooney

  The Grandmother Plot: A Novel by Caroline B. Cooney. Sourcebooks: Poisoned Pen Press, 2021. Adult fiction, mystery.

Middletown Memory Care facility is the typical facility for aging seniors who have mental health problems. Freddy's grandmother is a white haired  little old lady and he loves her. His sisters live many miles away and his mother has died so Freddy is in charge. Freddy has questionable friends who may be drug dealers, he makes an iffy living from blowing glass beads and pipes, and he survives illegally claiming his dead mother's Social Security in his grandparents' aging home. Let's just say that Freddy is not your average hero.

But, when one of the little old ladies at MMC dies, things take a complex turn. Caroline Cooney has again constructed a tightly woven plot with realistic details and fascinating characters. Reading about the intricacies of the care center is hard, but readers who have experienced first hand those centers will appreciate the care that the author has taken to get the details right. Sometimes, the details about glass blowing are enough to make you think the author must have her own art studio at some time! The mystery will carry readers along with Freddy and make an unforgettable journey. Prepare to lose some sleep because you will not want to put this book down!

Over the Shop by JonArno Lawson

 

Over the Shop by JonArno Lawson. Ilustrated by Qin Leng. Candlewick Press, 2021. Children's picture book. 

  This wordless (except for signs) picture book is full of visual details in ink and watercolor that paint pictures and tell a complicated story. A small girl and her grandparent run a neighborhood store in a city. They post a sign "Apartment for Rent" for the over-the-store space, but it has broken tile and cabinets, a bare, hanging light bulb, and is very shabby looking. Two pages of people walk by and look at the sign, but some even haughtily turn up their noses. When an enterprising young couple move in, they scrub and work and wave at the neighbor! Soon they have involved the little girl, helped spruce up the store itself, and the apartment even has flower boxes. The little girl, her grandparent, and the neighborhood cat have soon become a family that inspires the whole area.  

The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon

 

The Great Halifax Explosion: A World War I Story of Treachery, Tragedy, and Extraordinary Heroism by John U. Bacon. William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2017. Adult nonfiction.

  This is my very favorite nonfiction book of 2020. It is filled with adventure, history, true bravery, and stories of real people. On Thursday, December 6, 1917, two ships collided in Halifax harbor. One was filled with explosives destined for WWI efforts. The result was the most destructive man-made disaster until Hiroshima. Windows for fifty miles were blown out. Over 2,000 people were killed and thousands more were wounded. A huge portion of the population instantly became homeless. The lessons learned included how to better deal with the blind, how to rebuild quickly, and are told through the stories of several families. Ironically, the HMS Titanic's rescue and recovery missions had taught locals how to label, store, and bury large numbers of dead bodies. While that disaster is well known, the "Blizzard of Glass" in Halifax is less well remembered. Bacon's book will ensure that readers will long remember it. 

Before She Was Helen: A Novel by Caroline B. Cooney

 

Before She Was Helen: A Novel by Caroline B. Cooney. Sourcebooks, Poisoned Pen Press, 2020. Adult fiction, mystery.

      If you think that life in a South Carolina retirement village is all golf, cocktails, and relaxing, check out this fictional Sun City tale! Clemmie is living as Helen and has become quite adept at hiding secrets even from her family. But, some of her neighbors are hiding things, too. When she goes next door to Dom's place, she goes through the connecting door to the Coglands'. Clemmie sees a stunning piece of art and snaps a photo with her cell phone. She never suspects that forwarding it will reveal it's stolen and bring the owner, a drug ring, and adventure to her own life. Cooney is a master at YA fiction, but this adult book will bring her new fans. At times, it is funny and the characters are true to life. If you read Nancy Drew as a teen, Carpool by Mary Cahill as a parent, and long for senior fun, this is the perfect novel!   Cooney does not disappoint with the intricate plotting here.