Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley

 

  Iona Iverson's Rules for Commuting: A Novel by Clare Pooley. Pamela Dorman Books, Viking, 2022. Adult fiction. 

On the commuter train between Hampton Court and London's Waterloo Station, Iona Iverson and her little dog Lulu are unique. The others who board daily include Martha, a teenager who is bullied at school; Piers, a snazzy dresser with his briefcase; and Sanjay, a nurse, who has a secret crush on the beautiful Emmie. These characters are brought together by chance and become intertwined thanks to the spirited Iona who has written an advice column for years, but now finds that career endangered. The characters' friends and families all become secondary characters, too. Readers may find themselves, like the characters, advising themselves to "Be more like Iona!" and to reach out to others in their lives. 

The book is entertaining and well written. It is easy to keep the names straight. The author definitely has a sense of humor and deftly paces the story to a satisfying end. Watch for other titles like The Authenticity Project by this author.

The Old Place: A Novel by Bobby Finger

 

 The Old Place: A Novel by Bobby Finger. G.P.Putnam's Sons, 2022. Adult fiction.

A complicated story of friendship and family ties, this debut novel tells of Mary Alice Roth's teaching career ending, her sister Katherine returning home after years of estrangement, and her years' long friendship with neighbor Ellie. The small community of Billington, Texas is full of secrets, lies, and tragic losses. Ultimately, this is a tale of change, opening hearts to accept others, and forgiving even yourself.

Gilded Mountain: A Novel by Kate Manning

 

 Gilded Mountain: A Novel by Kate Manning. 447 pages. Scribner, 2022. Historical fiction.

At the turn of the last century, Sylvie Pelletier and her family arrive in Moonstone, Colorado. Her father came before them to work in the deep mines that harvest pure marble. Sylvie is spunky, smart, and graduates in Quarrytown, a small town down the mountain. She get a summer job with the wealthy Padgett family as a social secretary. Her exposure to luxury and its contrast with her life of poverty is drastic. Sylvie thinks she is in love with the bookish young Jasper Padgett, but enjoys the attention of George Lonahan, a union organizer at the mine. She takes a job as a printer's helper at the local newspaper and admires the single single woman owner's independence. In 1908, a strike at the mine changes everyone's lives. Sylvie persevers hopefully throughout the novel.  She learns about slavery from the formerly enslaved cook at Elkhorne Manor and about mine conditions and union organizing from Mother Jones herself.

Based on true accounts of early Colorado history, the novel is eye opening as it recounts incidences of early settlers, discrimination, and civil rights struggles. 

Rules of Civility: A Novel by Amor Towles

 

Rules of Civility: A Novel  by Amor Towles. Penguin Books, 2011. Historical fiction.

The book begins with a flashback to 1937 and a young Katey Kontent and her flashy roommate, Eve Ross. Tinker Grey wows them with his grace, rich friends, and access to a world that Katey has never seen. By day, she types in the Quiggin and Hale secretarial pool; by night she explores the clubs of New York City. Of course, Mr. Parish recognizes her talents and Katey switches jobs. She makes friends with Wallace Wolcott and despairs at his talk of the war in Spain.

This is a coming of age story. By 1941, Eve is long gone. Tinker has revealed his early life. And, Katey ultimately makes a life with Val by the 1960's. Near the end, on page 323, the author put in two paragraphs that, for me, sum up the whole book: Life is less a rambling journey than filled with a few brief options. The decisions we make influence our lives forever. Just ask Katey Kontent.

While Towles has written several other novels, too, this early work is a classic. See A Man  in Moscow and The Lincoln Highway for more of his work.

The Sweeney Sisters: A Novel by Lian Dolan

 

  The Sweeney Sisters: A Novel by Lian Dolan.William Morrow, 2020.  Adult Fiction

I enjoyed every moment of this look into the lives of the Sweeney sisters: Liza, the oldest  "good girl" who marries a local guy; Mad Maggie, the wild child who is a talented artist; and Tricia, a high powered lawyer. Their mother died of cancer fifteen years before the story begins. Their father is the famous writer Bill Sweeney. When Bill dies suddenly, the girls come together for a wake in the true Irish sense and at their longtime home. They soon learn the beautiful journalist, Serena Tucker, is their half sister. Serena's mother and their neighbor in childhood, knew Bill Sweeney a little too well. The adults kept the secret all those years. DNA testing plays a big role in the discovery.

The Sweeney sisters are fun, smart, and must now find ways to make a new family. It's encouraging and realistic and hopeful, too. 

Metropolis: A Novel by B.A. Shapiro

 

  Metropolis: A Novel by B. A. Shapiro. Algonuin Books of Chapel Hill, 2022. Adult mystery.

Set in and around the Boston area, this clever mystery centers around a huge old building that has been transformed into storage units. Owned by Zac and run by Rose, Metropolis as it is known has many tenants, some of whom actually illegally live in their units. Liddy, the wealthy woman who is trapped in an abusive marriage; Marta, the brilliant graduate student whose work can change the world; Serge, the insightful photographer and homeless man; and Jason, a lawyer who operates an office here: all are connected with the Metropolis. When someone falls into the elevator shaft of the building, the police become involved and all of their lives are changed. 

Intriguing and like nothing else you probably have read, Metropolis will stay with readers a long time and make you think differently about storage buildings, the homeless, and several other modern issues. Shapiro has written other novels that are excellent, but she is certainly at the top of her game with Metropolis.

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell

 

 The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell. Alfred A. Knopf, 2022. Adult historical fiction.

This fascinating fictional book is based on the story of Lucrezia de Medici, the child bride of the Duke of Ferrara in the mid 1500's. Although her sister Maria has been promised to the duke, Lucrezia ends up his wife. She is moved from the only family and home in Florence that she has ever known to Tuscany with her much older husband. Her duty, of course, is to provide an heir. But, Lucrezia must dance among the politics, the family, and her growing suspicion that her husband may want to do away with her. The many descriptions and details make this a real treat of a book. (It may even soon have readers tuning in to the Netflix series on the de Medicis themselves!) Do you know the poem by Robert Browning entitled "My Last Duchess"? This novel may also have readers looking it up, too!

Home Work: A Memoir of my Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews

 

Home Work: A Memoir of my Hollywood Years by Julie Andrews with Emma Walton Hamilton. Hachette, 2019. Adult memoir.

Beginning with her arrival in Hollywood, Julie Andrews continued her career that led her to such successes on Broadway in America. But, the movies she made were not the plays she knew so well such as Camelot and My Fair Lady. Her starring role in Mary Poppins is classic. Her role of Maria in The Sound of Music is, too.  Her role as tap dancing and singing Millie brought more fame. And, so it continued professionally to television, movie, and book successes. This memoir includes personal details and stories about her daughter, Emma, as well as her divorce and then finding love and marriage with Blake Edwards, also quite successful in Hollywood, and the adoption of two more children. (She and Blake Edwards were married 25 years before he died at age 88.) Readers will enjoy the honesty about some famous Hollywood personalities, the difficulties of being a mother and an international film star, and the realities of how Julie Andrews balanced it all. She comes across as humble and blessed. 

Check out Home, Julie Andrew's memoir about her upbringing and early years. Her early years were difficult and her family was dependent on her success and paychecks. That novel takes readers through her successes on Broadway and marriage to Tony Hamilton. This book goes through her major years in Hollywood and points toward the future. But, who knows that future holds?  Surely, the author will continue with another book about later life and the loss of her spectacular singing voice and her successes as a children's and adult author.  Readers know there is more yet to come like the Eloise television specials and the Princess films, too. 

Back to the Garden : A Novel by Laurie R. King

 

  Back to the Garden: A Novel by Laurie R. King. Bantam Books, 2022. Adult mystery.

The 1970's Vietnam vet Rob Gardener is back in present day California. With his brother, Fort, the two are heirs to the fabulous Gardener estate and mansion. Police Inspector Raquel Laing comes to find answers to a cold case involving "The Highwayman" killer. She hopes to connect a man who may have lived on the commune there in the 1970's to a series of murders of young women over the years. Soon Raquel is drawn into a new murder on the estate. Who is this new victim?  Are they all connected? Can Raquel find the killer before someone else is murdered? 

Known best for her series of Mary Russell novels, King scores a homerun with this stand along mystery. Readers can only hope that more Raquel Laing novels will follow. King's killer descriptions (pardon the pun) of the estate bring to mind San Simeon. Details about life in a 1960's and 70's commune are fascinating. Even "The Highwayman" will remind readers of Charles Manson. Such a treat to read such unusual bits of historical fiction tied into a great mystery! 

The Many Daughters of Afong Moy: A Novel by Jamie Ford

 

  The Many Daughters of Afong Moy: A Novel by Jamie Ford. Atria Books, 2022. Adult fiction. Historic fiction.

Ford used the real story of Afong Moy or "The Chinese Lady" who arrived in the United States from China in 1834 and became quite the featured "performer" at what seems like circus sideshows for his impetus in this novel. From that kernel of truth, Ford's imagination leads to Lai King in 1892, Zoe in 1927, Faye in 1942, Greta in 2014, Dorothy in 2045 and ultimately to Dorothy's daughter, Annabel. The timelines and chapters are fluid and tie together the stories of the women. They are not in chronological order. The character of Dorothy has a difficult marriage (AND mother-in-law) and tries an experimental treatment for epigenetic inheritances. Memories that she has are not her own. Can trauma and pain be passed along through generations? If so, can the patterns be changed? Fascinating are the author's  notes and research recommendations at the end of the book. 

No Strangers Here by Carlene O'Connor

 

 No Strangers Here by Carlene O'Connor. Kensington Publishing, 2022. Adult mystery.

Need a quick trip to Ireland to get away from your daily life? Pick up this copy of Carlene O'Connor's new County Kerry novel. 

Dimpna Wilde, a vet, grew up in Dingle. Now she finds herself back after almost thirty years. Her father, also a vet, and her mother have their own problems. Her father's dementia seems to be a bigger problem than Dimpna knew. Her mother has been out dancing with handsome cad, Jimmy O'Reilly. When Jimmy's dead body is found, the suspect list is long and includes Dimpna's mom. Not to mention that Dimpna's own son and the real reason she left Dingle long ago is Jimmy's grandson. And, when Detective Inspector Cormac O'Brien arrives on the scene, there is even hope for some romance for Dimpna at long last! 

There are various threads to this story and each is given its due. Clearly drawn and appealing characters, fast paced action, and the incredible details that will take readers to Ireland make Connor an author to enjoy.  (I especially enjoyed the phonetic pronunciations for some of the proper names.) 

In the Shadow of a Queen by Heather B. Moore

 

 in the Shadow of a Queen by Heather B. Moore. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2022. Young adult historical fiction. (Based on a true story). 

Queen Victoria's life is well documented, but not so the lives of some of her children. This is a tale of the family, the death of Prince Albert, and the aftermath. It focuses on Princess Louise who is a talented sculptor in the days when most women, and especially royal women, were severely limited in what they could and could not do. Beautiful and talented also as a painter, Louise works to attend classes and to ultimately find a husband who would allow her to be herself. Well told, interesting, and based on history, the novel also shows aspects of Queen Victoria that readers might not know. Readers may want to do a little research on the other royal children, too. 

The Retreat by Sarah Pearse

 

The Retreat by Sarah Pearse. Wheeler Publishing, a part of Gale, a Cengage Company (Large Print edition), 2022. Original from Viking, an imprint of Penguin, 2022.

Another of the creepy mystery novels from youngish British female pandemic writers! A beautiful, lush retreat off the English coast is supposed to be cursed. That has not stopped people from coming to visit! Three sisters and their significant others are to reunite there. Detective Elin Warner is called in when a body is discovered. Soon there are more bodies! Are these people cursed? Is the killer a native islander or one of the guests or staff? Make yourself a little chart of the characters. Between Thea, Jo, Bea, Han, Maya, Farrah, Anna, Rachel, and Elin, you'll need to keep these names straight. Not to mention Isaac, Steed, Caleb, Hayler, Will, Seth, Edd, Liam, Michael, Tom, Leon, Christopher, Porter, Ronan, Jared, and Rob.

If you like this type of novel, try THE GUEST LIST, a 2021 title by Lucy Foley. Guests go to a remote Irish coastal hotel for a wedding. Murder happens. 

Jackie and Me: A Novel by Louis Bayard

 

 Jackie and Me: A Novel by Louis Bayard. Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2022. Historical fiction. Alternative fiction. Adult fiction.

In this fictional tale, Lem Billings takes a look back at his friendship with JFK and Jackie before they were a famous couple. Lem knows JFK from prep school and has been accepted by the Kennedy family even though he is gay. As JFK mounts a political run for office, he asks Lem to befriend Jackie. The result is that if Lem tells Jackie all about JFK, she probably will not marry him. If Lem tells JFK all about Jackie, he well may not marry her. This is a fascinating look at "What might have been" in all of their lives. 

Louis Bayard is a master craftsman at manipulating history. If you're interested in the Lincolns, don't miss his Courting Mr. Lincoln. 

Hooked: How Crafting Saved my Life by Sutton Foster

 

 Hooked: How Crafting Saved my Life by Sutton Foster. Grand Central Publishing, 2021. Adult memoir.

Broadway and television star Sutton Foster tells her life story and describes her close relationship with crafting. She took up cross stitch to escape the "mean girls" in the chorus when she was young and because her mom also did cross stitch. She learned to crochet and began making blankets for her grandfather and others. She used wood and paper to craft items for her walls. While she really does not give many patterns or directions and no photographs at all, it is easy reading and moves along the timeline of shows, marriage, divorce, marriage, and motherhood. Interestingly, her parents were hugely supportive of her career and her brother is also an actor who has starred on Broadway. The family has its ups and downs, but therapy has helped Foster deal with the death of her mother and many other situations and feelings. 

Search: A Novel by Michelle Huneven

 

 Search: A Novel by Michelle Huneven. Penguin Press, 2022. Adult fiction.

Dana is a fictional food critic and member of the Arroyo Unitarian Universalist Community Church in Altadena, California. When Tom Fox plans to retire as their preacher, a search committee is formed for the nine-month process of finding a replacement. Dana is one of eight diverse people on the committee. 

In the course of the novel, readers will get to know these people, their congregation, their beloved and former minister Sparlo Plessant, and others who will influence the committee's choices. By the end, we know the leader and are updated three years later about the other main characters. 

Humorous and witty, this novel will be interesting even to those readers not of this denomination. Happenings seem realistic and the timeline aspect moves along briskly as time passes and the committee works and argues and eats. Since food is such an integral part of the story, recipes are helpfully provided at the end. Dana even writes a novel called "Seach: A Memoir with Recipes" by Dana Potowski which may make finding the real book difficult in library catalogs! 

A Trace of Poison by Colleen Cambridge

 

 A Trace of Poison (a Phyllida Bright Mystery) by Colleen Cambridge. Kensington Books, 2022. Adult mystery.

Perhaps you know Murder at Mallowan Hall, Colleen Cambridge's first book about Agatha Christie's fictional housekeeperand friend, sleuth Phyllida Bright? This second title is just as enticing!

Several famous mystery writers come together to host a Murder Fete to benefit the local orphanage and raise money for a new roof. There is a contest for wanna-be mystery writers. Of course, there is a murder! Famous or not, all the participants become suspects. Phyllida again has to put the clues together and solve the murder before anyone else is harmed. 

How to Stitch an American Dream by Jenny Doan

  How to Stitch an American Dream: A Story of Family, Faith & the Power of Giving by Jenny Doan with Mark Dagostino. Harper Horizon, 2022. Adult memoir.

Have you been looking for an inspiring, true story lately? Then, this is the book for you! Quilters around the world know Jenny Doan as the mom of the family who have all transformed sleepy little Hamilton, Missouri into the Disneyland of fabric. But, her story is an unexpected one. This is NOT how to make a quilt. It is an account of the Doan family, its ups and downs all included. Impulsive youthful decisions, finding love, staying true to a faith, raising kids and working with adults and community members in a highly successful business: all here and told with humor. Pick it up and read it through...you will not be disappointed even if you know nothing about quilting, Missouri, or the Doans! 

Three Things About Elsie: A Novel by Jo Anna Cannon.

 

Three Things About Elsie: A Novel by Jo Anna Cannon. Scribner, 2018. 370 pages, 49 chapters.

   Life at the Cherry Tree Home for the Elderly is not as simple as one might imagine. Florence Claybourne, 84, has fallen and relives her past as she waits to be rescued. So many things Florence can't remember clearly, but when Ronnie Butler has shown up recently, Florence recognizes him at once. But, Ronnie Butler drowned in 1953.

   Florence does well with three things at a time. Like Elsie is her best friend. And, Elsie knows what to say to make Florence feel better. And, the third thing, well, that's complicated.

   The book moves slowly, but surely...sort of like Florence's mind. The changing of the season, the unexpected kindnesses of others, even a trip to an ocean front holiday town, provide clues to Florence's life. A music store remembered, an ammonite fossil found, and new friends made all contribute to an extraordinary life indeed. 

The Maid: A Novel by Nita Prose.

 

 The Maid: A Novel by Nita Prose. Ballantine Books, an imprint orf Random House, 2022. Adult fiction. Mystery. 

Told by first person Molly Gray, this tale of her life is quirky and full of life. Until she finds Mr. Black dead in his hotel room, that is! Molly has always been a bit different, but her newly deceased Gran has taught her cleanliness, organization, and excellent manners. It's just that Molly is not great at people skills and evaluating friends. Working at the posh Regency Grand Hotel, she just wants to have a beau, make friends, and to represent the hotel hive as an efficient worker bee. But, who can Molly trust with information that may just lead to a killer?

The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick.

 

 The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick. Park Row Books, 2022. Adult fiction.

   Olivia Green, married mother of two teenagers, works three jobs as a cleaner. Her deceased father was an English professor and Liv loves to read. When famous (and her favorite!) author Essie Starling offered her a cleaning job three years ago, Liv jumped at the chance to know Essie better and learn from her. But, Essie is private and prickly. When Essie checks into a hospital and dies, only Liv and Essie's lawyer are to know about her death and are charged to keep that secret for six months. Essie also wrote instructions for Liv to complete Essie's 20th novel featuring Georgia Rory, a heroine worthy of Romancing the Stone. 

    Can Liv do it? Who knows Georgia better? But, Liv will find out things about Essie's life and learn new things about her own self before this adventure is done! 

The Florence Legacy: A Novel by Lauraine Snelling

 

 The Florence Legacy: A Novel by Lauraine Snelling. Faith Words, 2022. Adult fiction. Christian fiction. 

Bree and her friends have talked for years about their dreams of going to Italy. When Jade dies and leaves them each a gift that will enable them to travel and make those dreams come true, it seems just too good to be true. Bree's adult daughter has had problems and her son's family is expecting a new baby. Even Bree's romantic interest, Pierre Rene, is opening up a new coffee shop. But Bree seizes the day and leaves for Italy. The chapters in Italy read like a travelogue, but even there, things are not totally smooth. But, with God's help, love, friendships, and family come together for a memorable trip and life. 

Flying Solo: A Novel

 

 Flying Solo: A Novel by Linda Holmes. Ballantine Books (an imprint of Random House), 2022.  Adult Fiction. 

Linda Holmes revisits the small town of Calcasset, Maine in this tale about journalist Laurie Sassalyn who returns to her hometown to clean out the house of now deceased Great Aunt Dot. Laurie's best friend, June, and her former boyfriend, Nick, provide instant familiarity with the town again. Laurie grew up there, but moved to Seattle to escape complications of life. She has just called off her own wedding in Seattle and is facing being forty and alone. Laurie finds a hand carved wood duck and thus ensues a quest to learn if it's valuable, who made it, and why it is partially hidden at Dot's house. As town librarian, Nick is helpful in finding information, but readers can tell that it's Laurie he is interested in! A fun follow-up to Evvie Drake Starts Over, this book does stand alone. 

Ashton Hall by Lauren Belfer

  Ashton Hall by Lauren Belfer. Ballantine Books (an imprint of Random House), 2022 Adult fiction.

I admit I picked this book up at the library thinking it looked like the Phyllis Whitney and Victoria Holt titles I read in high school summers. What a surprise! Belfer takes the old stereotypes and stands them on their heads in this contemporary tale.

Hannah Larson and her nine-year-old son Nicky travel to Ashton Hall to visit her elderly family friend, Christopher. Her husband, Kevin, is a lawyer in New York. Their marriage has struggled, somewhat due to Nicky's health problems. Nicky acts out, curses, and can be violent. At other times, he is the darling child of everyone's dreams. Elderly Christopher Eckersley soon finds that better treatments are in America rather than Cambridge and he leaves them in the capable hands of the hall's other staff and occupants.

Things take a mysterious turn when Nicky finds the bones of an Elizabethan woman in an unoccupied wing of the vast mansion. When Hannah uses her research skills to learn more about the former occupants of the hall, she goes into a rabbit hole that provides more questions than answers. Religious and political matters greatly influenced the times and the occupants of great houses across England including Ashton Hall.

Belfer is certainly masterful in the red herrings she provides and the details about neurodiverse children, differences between very British terms and American ones, and the conclusions her characters surmise about the past and the present for women. There's feminism, history, romance, and mystery all wrapped up in one book...a great summer read! 

The Mayfair Bookshop: A Novel of Anacy Mitford and The Pursuit of Happiness

 

 The Mayfair Bookshop: A Novel of Anacy Mitford and The Pursuit of Happiness by Eliza Knight. William Morrow, an imprint of HarperCollins, 2022.

Historical fiction.

Lucy St. Clair is an American working temporarily in present day London in a historic, prestigious bookshop. She has lost her mother and is struggling with her grief. She also has a first edition of one of the real Nancy Mitford's works. In her quest to find out more about Mitford and the book's mysterious inscription, Lucy finds connections between the author and herself. The novel is told in alternating chapters from Lucy's perspective and the fictional letters of Mitford and details about the whole Mitford family. If you know nothing about the famous Mitford sisters, this title will have you scrambling to learn more. You'll also root for the likeable, smart, and very American Lucy St. Clair. 

Evvie Drake Starts Over: A Novel by Linda Holmes

 

 

 Evvie Drake Starts Over: A Novel by Linda Holmes. Ballantine Books (an imprint of Random House), 2019. Adult fiction.

Evvie Drake lives in Maine. She is not entirely happy, but her life changes drastically when her friend Andy suggests that she rent some space to down and out professional pitcher Dean Tenney. Evvie's doctor husband had died about a year ago and she could use the money. The tale takes off from there.

This is a family story. It's a friendship story. It's funny, romantic at times, a little sad at times, and ultimately realistic. Watching Evvie Drake start over is a great occupation for the summer. The Maine scenes will make readers long for lobster and water. Make friends with Evvie and watch for more by Linda Holmes.

The Fifth Petal: A Novel of Salem by Brunonia Barry.

 

The Fifth Petal: A Novel of Salem by Brunonia Barry. Crown Publishing, 2017. Adult Mystery.

In 1989, three young women were killed in Salem. Now, one of their daughters, Callie Cahill,  has returned to the town to help police discover what really happened. Of course, since it IS Salem, rumors of witchcraft swirl. Policeman Rafferty and his wife who runs the local tearoom hope to clear former historian and now homeless person, Rose Whelan. Callie, now a music therapist,  was like a daughter to Rose and wants to help her, too.  Callie seems vulnerable to love from a wealthy young local man and readers want to root for her, but is he for real? It all stirs into the cauldron of mystery and suspense created by Barry. 

The It Girl: A Novel by Ruth Ware.

 

 The It Girl: A Novel by Ruth Ware. Scout Press (an imprint of Simon and Schuster, Inc.), 2022. Mystery, suspense. 

While it sounds impudent to say that Ruth Ware, the author of six New York Times bestsellers in six years, has gotten better, I must say it.  I have read all of her books, hoping that she will find her own voice and not just copy Agatha Christie like themes and plots. I have not been a fan. 

But, in this story set in Edinburgh, Ware has come into her own. During Hannah Jones' freshman year at Oxford ten years ago, her roommate, the beautiful and dazzling April Clarke-Cliveden was found dead in their rooms. Now, Hannah and her husband, Will, are looking forward to their first child. But, when the man who was sent to prison for the killing dies and a journalist raises new questions about April's death, a who-done-it is born. 

And, what a tale! The handful of students that Hannah and Will knew at Oxford could all be suspects. And what did no one know about April herself? Ware manages to put enough red herrings into the story to keep readers on the edge of our seats. It moves quickly and makes us long for more of Ware's own characters and voice. 

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart.

 

Family of Liars by E. Lockhart. Delacorte Press, 2022. Young Adult.

If you read We Were Liars by E. Lockhart and liked it, try this prequel. The wealthy Sinclair family owns an island off the coast of Massachusetts and summers there. While the first book focuses on a more current generation, this new book features a previous generation of Sinclairs: sisters Carrie, Penny, Bess, and Rosemary. Teenagers have many of the same feelings and questions, no matter the time period, it seems. Part twisty mystery, part teen angst, part tragedy, part multigenerational family, the book will please fans of the first novel. It is a great diversion for a hot summer! 

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post: A Novel by Allison Pataki.

 

The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post: A Novel by Allison Pataki. Ballantine Books (a division of Penguin Random House), 2022. Historical fiction; Biographical fiction.

Most of us in the current age do not know much about Marjorie Post or her father, C.W. Post, who invented Grape Nuts cereal and changed the way Americans eat breakfast. She grew up poor in Battle Creek, Michigan, but came to be one of the richest women ever. This fictional tale follows her childhood, her four marriages, her children (including Dina Merrill, Hollywood actress), and her fame as a hostess in Washington, D.C. Marjorie made history because she was not willing to be merely a wife and mother but involved in the General Foods business as well as giving to many charities and noble causes. Pataki does a good job of telling her story in a straightforward and seemingly well researched manner and it will appeal to those who like to learn more of interesting women of the past. 

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis

 

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis. Dutton, an imprint of Penguin Random House LLC, 2022. Historical fiction.

Although the Magnolia Palace is the home of Henry Clay Frick and the book uses him and his family as main characters, it is definitely a work of fiction. Not until the author's note in the back will readers know what is real and what is made up.

A beautiful model whose face and body are on sculpture and buildings all around New York City comes to be a private secretary to Helen Frick in 1919. Another model in 1966 takes a job that will be shot at the home, now a museum. Their stories collide as a magnificent pink diamond is the center of a mystery that even involves murder.

Readers who are interested in history will want to search for more information on the Fricks and to find photographs of the treasures of the very real collection. 

Seed by Maggie Li

 

 Seed by Maggie Li. Little Life Cycles series. Templar Books, an imprint of Candlewick Press. Board book. 2022.

School librarians are often asked for books on life cycles. From corn to frogs to apples, children need nonfiction titles to help them understand life itself. This smallish board book takes explanation to a minimum with the story of Pip, one of the tiny seeds inside an apple. A bird spreads the seeds when it eats the apple. Some seeds get too cold, others land in too salty water. When a little girl finds Pip, she plants him. Colorful pictures show the growth of the seed into a tree that produces its own apples. A center cut-out in the shape of a seed shows the little smiling face of Pip and will intrigue the youngest readers. This book would also be useful in talking about the seasons. 

The Four Winds: A Novel by Kristin Hannah

 

 The Four Winds: A Novel by Kristin Hannah. St. Martin's Press, 2021. Adult historical fiction.

In the Panhandle of Texas in 1921, Elsa Wolcott is determined to be an Old Maid by her family. Elsa is determined to make a life for herself. She hooks up with handsome Rafe Martinelli. Then comes the Great Depression. Rafe hates that his plans for college and a better life were made impossible. He abandons the family. Elsa becomes a hard worker, desperate to improve life for her daughter Loreda and son Ant. She earns the love and respect of Rafe's parents but leaves them because of Ant's health.

When the little family of three head to California, it is no silver lining. Picking cotton, doing field work, trying to survive in worker camps, and just existing is no easy life. Communist sympathizers try to organize the workers. Loreda resents her mother and longs for the never present Rafe. Tony and Rose, Rafe's parents, stay on the farm in Texas and letters between them all give even more realities of hard living. 

The book continues until 1940 when the family is updated and readers learn what happens to them all.  A depressing look ala Steinbeck's GRAPES OF WRATH era, this novel portrays events and people that might have existed in America during the past.  The women are strong. The times are tough. 

The Seamstress of New Orleans by Diane C. McPhail

 

 The Seamstress of New Orleans by Diane C. McPhail. John Scognamiglio Books, Kensington Books, 2022. Adult Historical fiction.

In about 1900, Alice has led an uninteresting life until she marries Howard. Life after marriage does not improve much.  He is a traveling salesman and abandons her. Alice soon discovers she is pregnant and, with few choices, heads south to find Howard. 

Constance is a young mother in New Orleans. She suspects her husband is up to no-good and soon finds her suspicions are correct. 

Their lives collide when, of course, their husbands are really the same man, but they don't realize it. As "widows" in New Orleans, the women come together to create their own futures. In the Mardi Gras tradition, Alice is hired to make a spectacular gown for Constance to be in a crewe of all women.

With the help of servant Analee, kind Dr. Birdsong, and a social leader encouraging them both, the women show grace, strength, and courage. Will they share their secrets with each other? 

The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont

 

 The Christie Affair by Nina de Gramont. St. Martin's Press, 2022. Adult fiction.

When Agatha Christie disappeared for almost two weeks in 1926, she left behind her husband Archie and her young daughter. She never answered questions about where she was, what she did, or why she was gone. Nina de Gramont has written a fascinating exploration with her own ideas about it all. The book's main character, other than Agatha, is Nan O'Dea, Archie's mistress. Nan's background and time spent in Ireland are crucial to this tale as is Nan's great love, the handsome Irishman named Finbarr. Even policeman Chilton who investigates gets more than just a minor role! 

Those familiar with the real details of Mrs. Christie's disappearance and the "Great Hunt" for her will revel in this imaginative tale. It is never clear why Nan O' Dea is used rather than Nancy Neele. Rosalind Christie is referred to by her nickname, Teddy.  The Harrogate Hydro, the real hotel, is renamed the Bellefort. The real policeman in charge was Kenward. One suspects all this is connected to copyright regulations since so much is fictionalized. The novel winds its way back and forth in time and supplies tidbits of life after the Christies' divorce. Chapters about the disappearance are cleared labelled chronologically. The chapters from Nan's view of point are called "Here Lies Sister Mary" and that title is explained.  The writing is clear and, at times, simply stunningly lyrical. Even the ending takes the reader to new heights of imagination. 

Readers of this blog will be aware that I love going down the rabbit's hole with biographies and fictions about Agatha Christie, but this title is, by far, my favorite peek at the disappearance. Over a hundred years has gone by, but Mrs. Christie is still thrilling us with her work and her life. This is my favorite book of 2022 so far. 

* If you are interested in historical accounting, read Agatha Christie: A Mysterious Life by Laura Thompson (Pegasus Books, 2018). Its 534 pages covers the life of Agatha Christie and gives a quite credible surmise about the disappearance. It also provides details about Agatha's marriage to Max Mallowan as well as Mr. Christie and Rosalind's later lives and includes photographs of relevant people. 

John's Turn by Mac Barnett

 

 John's Turn by Mac Barnett. Illustrated by Kate Berube. Candlewick Press, 2022. Children's picture book.

John's school has a traditional that on Fridays in the cafeteria, one student is able to perform for the whole school. One student played a tuba. One student did a card trick. One student told jokes. Now, it's John's turn. 

After breakfast, John puts on his costume: a leotard, pants, and slippers. John is going to do a dance. When Mr. Ross presses PLAY, John begins. Multiple pages show the dance steps as John glides and sways and jumps. He bows, the audience claps. The performance is a success!

In simple words, Barnett tells this story. He tells of John's nerves, but readers will also feel John's confidence. Barnett lets readers know what is expected at a performance. Illustrator Berube does a grand job of adding more to the story with subtle colors and emotions. The dance pages are filled with detail and sequence. The audience members are so typical of an elementary school that many adults will feel they recognize some children! John's smile and the excited clapping of the audience signal John's success. 

Chloe Cates is Missing by Mandy McHugh

 

 Chloe Cates is Missing by Mandy McHugh. Scarlet (an imprint of Penzler Publishers), 2022. Adult fiction. Mystery.

Chloe Cates is the fictional persona of young teen Abby Scarborough. Abby's mom, Jennifer, is the mastermind of a web series that features her daughter and that pays many of the family's bills. On the verge of real stardom, the whole family seems covered in glittery sparkles. Father Jackson and older brother JJ seem impossibly wonderful, and, of course, Mom Jennifer is Mother of the Year online.

But, Jennifer had her own problems as a teen and thinks she has left it all behind her until "Chloe Cates" goes missing. Has Abby just tired of the charade and run away? Or has something more sinister happened to her? When the detective Emilina Stone arrives on the scene, she and Jennifer realize that they were best friends as middle schoolers and share a secret. Will their past influence this case? 

Debut novelist McHugh hits a home run with this twisty modern tale. Told in multiple viewpoints, the fast paced story moves to find the missing girl, dead or alive! McHugh is definitely a talent to watch. 

Watch Her by Edwin Hill

 

 Watch Her by Edwin Hill. Kensington Publishing, 2021. Adult fiction, mystery.

Third in his series about Harvard librarian Hester Thursby, this novel joins Little Comfort and The Missing Ones in fast paced adventure. Hester meets a wealthy couple, Jennifer and Tucker Matson, at a party to show off their for-profit Prescott University. The couple has one adult daughter, Vanessa, but lost a toddler who drowned many years ago. Hester is hired to follow up on some students who seem to have disappeared under the guise of a financial audit. Central to the story is Maxine, a middle-aged woman, who has known the family for years and works at the university. Maxine also has connections to the police department through her brother Stan. Add a student street artist, Barret, Boston policewoman, Angela White, and Hester herself to the narrative for a compelling mystery with duplicity, murder, and secrets aplenty.

Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall

 Love in the Library by Maggie Tokuda-Hall. Illustrated by Yas Imamura. Candlewick Press, 2022. Children's picture book.

During World War II, many Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes and live in camps as prisoners. The author's grandparents met and married and had their first child while living in the Minidoka camp in Idaho. This lovely picture book does not dwell on the politics. It is the love story of Tama, a young woman who works in the library, and George, a young man who loves Tama more than he loves to read. Told in simple words, the story describes their situation: "Constant questions. Constant worries. Constant fear." Yet, there are miracles, too. Love is a miracle. Hope is a miracle. Being human brings oneness. "The miracle is in all of us." wrote Maggie's grandmother.

With all the the divisions in our world today, this is a reminder of the wonders that can happen, the loves we can find, the resilience we can nurture in ourselves and others. It is based on a true story about love and family. It was Maggie Todkuda-Hall's to tell and she has done it well. 

The Secrets We Share by Edwin Hill

 

The Secrets We Share by Edwin Hill. Kensington Publishing, 2022. Adult fiction. Mystery.

Publication due in March, 2022.

Although this is a stand alone novel, readers who enjoy it will certainly want to read all the others in the Hester Thursby series by Edwin Hill. (See more reviews in this blog.) Hester, the Harvard librarian, does make a small appearance in this new mystery, but the main character is Boston policewoman Natalie Cavanaugh.  Fans of Hill may also recognize Angela White, Natalie's boss.

Natalie's sister, Glenn, is a food blogger and is about to publish her first cookbook. Glenn is set to become a real celebrity, but when a body is discovered in an old building, Glenn and her daughter Mavis are drawn into a mystery. And, of course, Natalie is pulled in, too.

Glenn and Natalie's father had been murdered in the woods near their home many years ago. Their old next-door neighbor who also had two children was convicted of his killing. Now someone is posting strange messages on Glenn's blog. Are the two murders somehow connected?

Natalie has long had questions about her father's death. Now it seems that she really doesn't know the truth about the past or the current situation.  What can she do to stay safe and keep those she loves safe? 

Hill uses details about Boston to make an interesting setting. His characters are so well defined that readers will think they know them. This may herald a whole new series for his writing. Stay tuned! 

The Missing Ones by Edwin Hill

 

 The Missing Ones by Edwin Hill. Kensington Publishing, 2019. Adult fiction, mystery.

Second in the series about Harvard librarian Hester Thursby, this tale takes place mainly off the coast on Finisterre Island. (The island in the book is fictional. Author's note says it was based on Monhegan Island.) 

The missing sister and friend of the first novel (Little Comfort), Daphne, seems to have sent an urgent message to Hester. That's what brings Hester to the island. The characters on the island range from an inn keeper to the local police to seafarers. The details are delicious and reflect true Maine. Two missing boys figure into the story as well as an old Victorian house now empty and possibly used by druggies and homeless people. Hester's investigations ultimately bring Morgan, Kate, and Angela to Finisterre also. Can Hester solve the mysteries before another person is murdered and/or another child goes missing? 

If you are not familiar with Edwin Hill, please do read his mysteries. I am on a tear with his novels and greatly enjoying the series. I would recommend that you read the books in order. Kate ages one year in each of the first three books so it's fun to follow along and see her progress. 

Little Comfort by Edwin Hill

  Little Comfort by Edwin Hill. Kensington Publishing, 2018. Mystery. Adult fiction.

  Hester Thursby works as a librarian at Harvard's Widener Library, but she also runs a side business helping to find missing persons. With her knowledge of databases and resources, she is quite successful. Hester is an appealing character with her significant other, Morgan, a vet. Hester's best friend, Daphne, is Morgan's sister. Unfortunately, Daphne left the duo and also left her small daughter, Kate, with them. While Hester has not been prepared for the role of mother, she works hard at it, even taking maternity leave to care for Kate. 

  When Lila Blaine contacts Hester and asks her to find Lila's brother, Sam Blaine, Hester becomes intwined with both the handsome Sam and his lifelong friend, Gabe. The men have travelled America, using different names and are now in Boston. Wendy Richards, a very wealthy young woman thinks Sam is someone he is not. The story turns deadly and Hester and Kate are caught in the twisty tales the men tell.

  This is adult mystery fiction at its best. Hill's descriptions of little Kate ring as true as his dramatic pacing and character development. 

A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler

 A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts by Therese Anne Fowler. St. Martin's Press, 2018. Biographical fiction.

Alva Smith grew up in a wealthy family of sisters who lived in both the United States and abroad. After the Civil War, though, the family is quite poor and adrift after the death of their mother. With a sick father, Alva is well aware that in order to save the family, she must marry well. Championing her good family name, Alva finds William Vanderbilt whose family has money, but is considered "new money" and is shut out of society in New York City. 

This novel tells Alva's story rather sympathetically. It tells how Alva apparently met William. After they married, Alva designs Vanderbilt mansions and stands up to the notorious Mrs. Astor. Her great friend, Consuelo Yznaga, though, in this novel ultimately betrays Alva. Yes, Alva masterminds the wedding of her own daughter, Consuelo, to British nobility, but is not the pushy mother who is described in other books.  She loves her family and wants only the best for them. Alva here well remembers how it felt to be poor.

Later in life, Alva becomes quite the supporter of the rights of women to vote and be independent of their husbands. She has a successful second marriage, here described as a love match. 

Fowler has created a glimpse of life during the Gilded Age with tiny details as well as a sweeping brushstroke. From New York City to Newport to Paris, readers will travel the era and enjoy every moment!

Baby Bookworm by Dr. John Hutton and Dr. V.G. Jain

 

 Baby Bookworm by Dr. John Hutton and Dr. V.G. Jain. Illustrated by Leah Busch Rocket. Blue Manatee Press, 2022. Board book.

The reason I am so in love with this small book is that years ago I worked with young families who had babies in the neonatal intensive care unit. They were often scared. Many were single teenage mothers who totally unfamiliar with hospitals and at-risk babies. How I wish we had had this comforting little book back then!

The soft watercolor illustrations are lovely. The words are simple and rhyming. The real asset to the board book, is the hospital setting. The little book is small enough to fit into a purse and take anywhere. It is designed to read to babies in isolettes and elsewhere. Its words are calm, reassuring, and hopeful. Telling about what tiny babies need and encouraging parents to talk and read to them is more than helpful, it is essential.

The authors are pediatric and neonatal specialists. Blue Manatee Press is to be commended for such a publication and should be encouraged to do more like it!

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

 

 The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. Celadon Books, 2019. Adult thriller/mystery.

Famous artist Alicia Berenson apparently has shot her husband Gabriel five times in the face. She then is mute. That much is known fairly early on in this twisty tale of betrayal and dramatic happenings. After she is placed at The Grove, a psychological care facility in London, no one seems to be able to help her. Enter criminal psychologist Theo Farber (Yes, the same Theo Farber mentioned in Michaelides second thriller The Maidens!) who wants to help Alicia recover her voice.

Twisty, creepy, mysterious? Definitely! I had read the second book first and was interested to see how the characters in both books overlap after I remembered a mention of Theo Farber in it. My one "criticism" of The Maidens might have been that there were so many male secondary characters introduced and that I didn't think really had a place in the narrative. NOW, one of them turns up as the main character Theo Farber in this book. I only wonder who else may roll over into any other books that Michaelides has planned in the future? My advice? Keep a journal. Be careful who you trust. Let your art speak for you. Keep reading!