The Last One: A Novel by Will Dean

 

  The Last One: A Novel by Will Dean. Emily Bestler Books, Atria, Simon & Schuster 2023. Adult mystery/thriller.

   When Caroline Ripley and her partner board the HMS Atlantica in Southampton, England for a week's cruise to New York, she has no idea that her adventure will take a deadly turn. After a delicious dinner the first night, Caroline (Caz) wakes up to find that she is alone. As she searches the ship, three other people do turn up: Frannie, a younger woman; Danny, a Korean American whose handyman knowledge becomes helpful; and Smith, an older gentleman who can be rather critical and snide. 

   Not to give away too much, let's just say that the adventure takes off as the group find they should cooperate in order to contact land and get themselves off the ship. Nothing is as it seems. Even in the very last chapter, the author has tricks up his sleeve! 

What in the World? by Leanne Morgan

 

 What in the World? A Southern Woman's Guide to Laughing at Life's Unexpected Curveballs and Beautiful Blessings.  Convergent Books, 2024. Adult memoir.

  Those readers who are unfamiliar with Leanne Morgan's hilarious Netflix comedy show may not recognize her name. Those who know and love the show will find this memoir fun, too.

Telling all about her family, growing up, dating poor choices, marrying "The Rifleman", having children, and growing old are all fair game for laughter. In her fifties, Morgan achieved comedy club fame and lifelong goals of entertaining people. 

The Fairy Tale Fan Club by Richard Ayoade

 

 The Fairy Tale Fan Club by Richard Ayoade. Illustrated by David Roberts. Candlewick, 2024. Children's, Young Adult.

      Under the guise of "Legendary Letters collected by C.C. Cecily", this imaginative book has a collection of questions that children ask famous fairy and folk tale characters. The answers provide unusual insights into the tales and their characters. What a fun read! This would be an excellent choice for teachers of gifted students, too! The reading level does not cater to early readers, but it would work as a read-aloud for younger children. Young adults may hoot with laughter.

     Coming up with email addresses for fairy tale characters and matching their illustrations to their names at the end are fun additions to the postcards and letters. Students will soon be writing their own letters to the Fairy Tale Fan Club! 

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust by Alan Bradley

 

 

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust  (A Flavia de Luce novel) by Alan Bradley. Bantam Books, 2024. Adult/YA mystery.

This is number eleven in the Flavia series. I really thought as I waited TWO months and was even the first one on the library's hold list...will this be worth it? I mean, those of us who have followed the English girl sleuth through thick and thin know a lot. Her mother is dead and was acknowledged by Churchill himself. Now Father is dead. The war is over. Feely is married and away on honeymoon. Daffy has her head  in a book. And, little precocious Cousin Undine has moved in to cause trouble. Only Dogger is around for wit and conversation. What else can possibly happen?

And, then, move over Nancy Drew. Step aside, Sherlock. NOTHING is as it seems. Dear Mrs. Mullet is accused of murder! What? The very woman who makes the family's meals and runs a tight ship! Let's just say, I polished this off in a couple of days. The wait was worth it all. Dear Readers, the game is afoot! Bring on Number 12!

The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore

 

 

The Medicine Woman of Galveston by Amanda Skenandore. Kensington Books, 2024. Historical fiction.

Dr. Tucia Hatherley had a traumatic incident during an operation and has given up surgery and medicine. She scrapes by, working in a corset factory, and trying to raise her son who has special needs. When she is faced with an opportunity to travel with a rather unreliable "medicine" show, she takes a chance. Unexpected friendships develop with the other outcast show people including a female "giant" and a Native American man who both defy stereotypes. As the show moves from St. Louis and approaches a stay in Galveston, Texas, the Great Storm of 1900 also approaches. Can Tucia survive? Can she ever find love? 

Well developed characters make this novel a pleasure to read.  It is unusual for Down syndrome to pop up in a historical setting and this little boy Toby adds much to the story. Readers will find hope and much to admire in the story of a valiant mother and woman alone in the world at the turn of that century. 

What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena

 

 What Have You Done? by Shari Lapena. Pamela Dorman Books, Viking, 2024. Adult fiction. Mystery.

Set in Fairhill, Vermont, this thriller involves a small community and its school. When a teen is found dead in a field, everyone is a suspect. Students, parents, teachers, administration, neighbors, the people at the local Home Depot, and just about everyone are suspicious and suspect. Many help narrate the story, even the dead teen. 

Lapena has become a prolific author of "surburban paranoia" as Ruth Ware describes the writing style. She looks under the rocks of happy family life, picture perfect suburban neighbors, and award winning schools to find mystery and intrigue. Names of characters are right out of current baby naming books. Texts, phone calls, journal entries, and good old fashioned hearsay push the narrative. But, who is trust worthy and who is the culprit? It's hard to put down a Lapena novel as she weaves all the elements into her work and ties it up at the end. 

Murder on the Page by Daryl Wood Gerber

 

 Murder on the Page by Daryl Wood Gerber. Kensington Books, 2024. Mystery. Fiction.

In this first in the Literary Dining Mystery series, caterer Allie Catt bakes and reads and loves her cat, Darcy. Her friend's aunt who is owner of the local bookstore is found dead. Allie becomes involved in the investigation by the handsome local law enforcement. The dead woman's favorite book was Pride and Prejudice and each chapter begins with a Jane Austen quote. As Allie bakes her way through the book, the goodies sound delicious and the recipes are helpfully included at the end. The beautiful little fictional town near Asheville, North Carolina is its own character as the shops and citizens are set up amidst the plot's red herrings. Gerber paces things so that readers don't really guess the ending and will enjoy the virtual trip away from home.