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!