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1. The
Lady and the Unicorn
By Tracy Chevalier
"Imagining the creation of the famous tapestries now hanging in Paris'
Cluny Museum, Chevalier creates a wonderful tapestry of narrative voices;
each one provides a slightly different perspective on the artistic process
and the relationships among the characters. If you loved Girl With
a Pearl Earring (and who didn't?), you will want to line up for this
one." -- Robert Sheard, Bookshop by the Lakes, West End, NC
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2. The
True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters
By Elisabeth Robinson
"This is a gem of a book. Through hysterically funny, sometimes terribly
sad letters from older sister Olivia, we learn all about the Hunt sisters,
their family, their trials, their triumphs, and their dreams. Buy one
for yourself, your sister, your best friend, or anyone who likes a terrific
story." -- Elaine Petrocelli, Book Passage, Corte Madera, CA
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3. Retribution
By Jilliane Hoffman
"This first novel is a fantastic legal suspense tale from a former Florida
states attorney. I hope Hoffman follows up with more books featuring C.J.
Townsend!" -- Joseph Biernat, Hudson Valley Book Stop, Kingston, NY
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4. Oracle
Night
By Paul Auster
"Oracle Night is an intricate web of stories within stories, an
intriguing tale of love and intuition, fiction and reality. Auster's tale
of a novelist and a mysterious notebook questions the depth of subconscious
knowledge, and allows the reader room to believe…or not." -- Dana Barrett,
Coffee Buy the Book, Roswell, GA
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5. Bet
Me
By Jennifer Crusie
"Crusie has another hit on her hands with this romantic comedy, a novel
in the madcap vein of the films of George Cukor and Billy Wilder -- updated
with plenty of modern-day spice. Witty, sharp, and wickedly funny, Bet
Me is eminently satisfying." -- Karen Keyte, Books Etc., Falmouth,
ME
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6. The
Floating Book: A Novel of Venice
By Michelle Lovric
"Take a mental gondola ride with the lush prose of this tale set in Venice
in 1468, wherein three men who dare to publish the poems of Catullus are
linked together by a mysterious beauty named Sosia. A dazzling debut."
-- Tara O'Donnell, Paperbacks Plus, Bronx, NY
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7. Any
Human Heart
By William Boyd
"Using fictional diary entries, Boyd has created a magnificent portrait
of a man whose life touches on many of the high and low points of the
20th century. Real historical figures are deftly woven into a narrative
so real it's hard to believe the diarist, Logan Montstuart, isn't truly
the writer. After following Logan's life -- with its humor, adventure,
and pathos -- you'll be saddened when it must come to an end." -- Kathi
Kirby, Powell's City of Books, Portland, OR
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8. Something
Rising (Light and Swift)
By Haven Kimmel
"Cassie Claiborne hustles pool from the time she's 11 (as taught by her
Uncle Bud), while her mother smokes and writes poetry and her sister writes
about everything, including their ne'er-do-well father. As she did in
The Solace of Leaving Early, Kimmel finds the heart of the matter
in the hearts of her characters and manages to tweak the reader's heartstrings
as well." -- Kathy Ashton, The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT
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9. Reading
Lolita In Tehran: A Memoir in Books
By Azar Nafisi
"Nafisi tells of her life in Iran, her experiences teaching literature
at a university, and her secret meetings with a group of women who come
together to read and discuss books forbidden by Iran's Islamic government.
With Iran and Iraq in the news every day, I was excited to find a book
that put a human face on this region." -- Terrell Aldredge, Wide World
Books & Maps, Seattle, WA
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10. Playing
With Fire
By Peter Robinson
"Looking for a tautly woven story with interesting characters and a surprising
yet believable plot? Want a tightly constructed thriller with an edge-of-your-seat
ending? Either way, Playing With Fire won't disappoint you." --
Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI
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As
Cool As I Am
By Pete Fromm
"I am stunned by Fromm's writing, how he gets into the heads of young
women and tells their stories so beautifully. His work is sharp, poignant,
and full of humor. I could not put this book down -- I had to find out
what happened next to the teenage narrator, Lucy Diamond, as she comes
of age in Great Falls, Montana." -- Margie Morgan, Books By The Way,
Vashon, WA
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The
Amateur Marriage
By Anne Tyler
"Tyler's latest is a family saga that reveals the joys and terrible heartbreaks
that come with forming a family, as well as the shared memories each family
member holds. This book held me captivated until the wonderful final pages."
-- Lesley Kleiser, Montgomery Book Co, Cincinnati, OH
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Apprentice
to the Flower Poet Z.
By Debra Weinstein
"When aspiring young poet Annabelle Goldsmith meets up with her idol,
the 'Flower Poet' known only as Z., she's thrilled at the prospect of
an apprenticeship that will help her learn the true meaning of poetry.
The last thing she expects to be doing is sewing buttons on her mentor's
jacket -- or learning the ins and outs of Z.'s dysfunctional family. In
this hilarious journey through academia, author Weinstein is the playful
Toto who pulls the curtain aside to reveal the desperation, jealousy,
and lust behind the world of prize-winning poets." -- Gina Webb, Tall
Tales Book Shop, Atlanta, GA
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Beulah
Land
By Krista McGruder
"McGruder's collection of literary short stories may be among the best
I have ever read. The author's way with words is of a high quality rarely
seen in today's writers. Each story is excellent." -- Deal Safrit,
Literary Book Post, Salisbury, NC
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Crofton's
Fire
By Keith Coplin
"It was a pleasure to meet a character like soldier Michael Crofton in
such beautifully written prose, and to cheer him on through his adventures,
from Little Big Horn to the Zulu war in East Africa. The pleasure of being
captivated by the narrator's love of the land, and his family and fellow
soldiers, made this the most enjoyable book I have read in months." --
Teri Ciacchi, Mother Kali's Books, Eugene, OR
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Double
Vision
By Pat Barker
"In Double Vision, we meet Kate, a newly widowed sculptor working
to hold her life together after a terrible accident, and Stephen, a former
war journalist and colleague of Kate's late husband, who moves to Kate's
village after his marriage dissolves. Barker's unflinching descriptions
of brutal realities are neatly balanced by depictions of the beauty and
joy of everyday life. No one brings characters to life quite like Pat
Barker." -- Carol Schneck, Schuler Books & Music, Okemos, MI
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Girls
In Trouble
By Caroline Leavitt
"This interesting book explores the ups and downs, joys and sorrows, and
pitfalls of open adoption. When 16-year-old, pregnant Sara decides on
an open adoption with George and Eva, the situation is a painful one,
and the reader will empathize with each point of view. The characters
are well developed and likable, and the story is compelling." -- Linda
Vinstra, Great Northern Bookstore, Oscoda, MI
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Jonah
and Sarah: Jewish Stories of Russia and America
By David Shrayer-Petrov, Edited by Maxim D. Shrayer
"This collection of short stories -- some based in refusenik-era Russia,
others reflecting the emigrant experience -- are elegantly written and
quite well translated." -- Sarah Zacks, Books on the Square, Providence,
RI
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The
Last Crossing
By Guy Vanderhaeghe
"The American frontier comes to life, as does the Civil War...and any
other events that affect the lives of Charles and Addington Gaunt. When
the two brothers are ordered to find their missing brother, an unlikely
search party is formed to cover the vast 'medicine line' frontier of Montana
and Canada. Storytelling at its best." -- Barbara Theroux, Fact & Fiction,
Missoula, MT
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Lone
Star Rising: The Texas Rangers Trilogy
By Elmer Kelton
"Three of Kelton's novels are collected in one volume. The trilogy tells
the story of Rusty Shannon, a boy who is rescued from the Comanche and
eventually joins the Texas Rangers. Kelton is one of the best writers
of Westerns going. He fuses plot, character, and historical detail into
a seamless, eminently readable whole." -- Peggy Hailey, Book People,
Austin, TX
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Mother
Country
By Peggy Leon
"Mother Country is nearly as perfect a novel as any I've read this
year. Mala's last summer among her family in 1950s Taylor, Nevada, is
so rich in word and deed that she'll always have the past to cushion the
present and help her steer toward the future." -- Marian Fleischman,
Sedalia Book & Toy, Sedalia, MO
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The
Movies of My Life
By Alberto Fuguet
"Seismologist Beltran Soler finds himself recalling 50 of the most important
movies of his life, and author Fuguet shows us what it's like to belong
to two nations. (Do you really fit into either?) Movie buffs will love
this book, as will anyone who has ever been transported in time by re-experiencing
a movie, song, or book." -- Jim Harris, Prairie Lights Books, Iowa
City, IA
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Not
the End of the World
By Kate Atkinson
"In Atkinson's new collection of short stories, Charlene and Trudi shop
for clothes in a city on the brink of economic destruction, Heidi's cat
takes over her life in unprecedented ways, and Marianne continues to live
amongst her family -- even after her death. Welcome to the wacky world
of Whitbread Award-winning author Atkinson: strange, magnetic, and completely
believable." -- Nicole Albright, Village Books, Bellingham, WA
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Paranoia
By Joseph Finder
"This story of high-tech corporate espionage is an exciting read filled
with interesting characters and situations -- and it delivers one heck
of a plot twist!" -- Janet Caldwell, Great Northern Bookstore, Oscoda,
MI
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The
Sapphire Sea
By John B. Robinson
"This debut taps into legend, the appeal of Africa (Madagascar, what a
place!), gemology, and the international market for great stones. This
book is good humored, quick paced, and insightful -- don't write it off
as another Indiana Jones adventure. It is more a belated coming-of-age
story with juicy stuff from an author who worked as a guide on Kilimanjaro,
traded in rare gems, and taught English in exotic locales." -- Barbara
Peters, The Poisoned Pen, Scottsdale, AZ
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The
Turtle Warrior
By Mary Relindes Ellis
"After his older brother leaves for Vietnam, Bill Lucas must find ways
to survive his alcoholic father's abuse and his mother's slow descent
into mental illness. A mix of characters narrate Ellis' amazing first
novel, including Ernie and Rosemary Morriseau -- the very people who eventually
pull Bill back from the depths of his sorrow. An unforgettable novel."
-- Katrina Denza, The Country Bookshop, Southern Pines, NC
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Ada
Blackjack: A True Story of Survival in the Arctic
By Jennifer Niven
"This is a well-researched story of an amazing Inuit woman and an Arctic
exploration that was doomed from the beginning." -- Gary Mundinger,
The Corner Shelf, Omak, WA
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The
Beggar King and the Secret of Happiness
By Joel Ben Izzy
"Sandwiched between professional storyteller Joel Ben Izzy's real-life
story are tales from other lands, old and new, each one giving the reader
a new way to think about someone or something. This is a book that begs
to sit on one's nightstand and be read again and again." -- Anne Holman,
The King's English, Salt Lake City, UT
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Beluga
Days: Tracking a White Whale's Truths
By Nancy Lord
"A McPhee-like journey into the politics, decisions, nondecisions, and
biological research regarding the beluga whale. The author fairly and
accurately explores issues surrounding the management of a population
of Cook Inlet Alaskan whales that may be on a downward slide -- in part,
because of pressure from Alaskan natives who are hunters." -- Lee Post,
The Homer Bookstore, Homer, AK
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The
Book of Probes
By Marshall McLuhan and David Carson
"Like Kafka and Freud, McLuhan is a writer who is often referred to or
quoted without being understood, resulting in a shorthand for cultural
conditions that everyone recognizes but few can articulate. This title
provides a refreshing representation of the philosopher's work, artfully
arraying his ideas as brief statements in the space of the page and setting
them against stunning imagery and design work by David Carson." -- Michael
F. Russo, St. Mark's Bookshop, New York, NY
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Cork
Boat
By John D. Pollack
"If you've ever had an outlandish idea and did not pursue it, read this
book and you'll be energized to try it. John Pollack actually built a
boat out of wine corks and sailed it twice -- the last time down a river
in Portugal. A hilarious and touching story about friendships." -- Hester
Jeswald, Sarasota News & Books, Sarasota, FL
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Crazy
in the Kitchen: Food, Feuds, and Forgiveness in an Italian American Family
By Louise DeSalvo
"This passionate, often painful memoir of growing up Italian in 1950s
New Jersey is brimming with joys, sorrows, and, most of all, food: as
a unifying force, a sign of love, and a weapon in the battle between generations.
Never mind the Sopranos; this is a real Italian-American family, complete
with butcher knives (but no bloodshed)." -- Barb Bassett, The Red Balloon
Bookshop, Saint Paul, MN
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Crowded
with Genius: The Scottish Enlightenment: Edinburgh's Moment of the Mind
By James Buchan
"From squalor to sophistication, Crowded With Genius showcases
the some 50 years that Edinburgh shone as the star of 18th-century intellectual
Europe, and helped shape the future." -- Becky Milner, Vintage Books,
Vancouver, WA
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Doga:
Yoga for Dogs
By Jennifer Brilliant and William Berloni
"One of the funniest books out. Haven't you ever noticed that all dogs
practice yoga? The proof is right here! The authors are kind enough to
include diagrams for the human equivalents so pet-lovers can join their
dogs in these ancient postures." -- Lisa Wright, Oblong Books & Music,
Millerton, NY
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Enslaved
by Ducks
By Bob Tarte
"Lester Bangs meets James Herriot in Tarte's very funny memoir. In an
attempt to please his new wife, Tarte opens his home not only to ducks
but to turkeys, geese, parrots, canaries, parakeets, baby starlings, doves,
pigeons, and an occasional rabbit. Readers not usually enamored of animal
stories will find themselves captivated by Tarte's ironic wit and engaging
storytelling." -- Dianne Pohrt, Shaman Drum Bookshop, Ann Arbor, MI
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Fat
Girls and Lawn Chairs
By Cheryl Peck
"It took me about three pages to fall in love with Peck's voice: self-deprecating
yet confident, and funny beyond imagining. Ten pages later, I realized
she was willing to drive this voice into country few comic writers are
willing to explore. If Bailey White were a fat, lazy lesbian from Michigan
who didn't care who knew it, she still wouldn't be this funny. She wouldn't
make me cry either. Peck's personal essays are the real thing, the work
of a woman who has come to terms with herself in a way that few of us
do." -- Paul Ingram, Prairie Lights Books, Iowa City, IA
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Hiding
the Elephant: How Magicians Invented the Impossible and Learned to Disappear
By Jim Steinmeyer
"Jim Steinmeyer is a renaissance man: historian, writer, Disney Imagineer,
television producer, and one of the foremost designers of illusion in
the past century. Here, he reveals tightly kept magical secrets while
spinning a wonderful and compulsively readable tale about how Houdini
made an elephant vanish, and how magicians learned to disappear." -- Erik
Hemming, University Book Store, Madison, WI
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Idyll
Banter: Weekly Excursions to a Very Small Town
By Chris Bohjalian
"Bohjalian and his wife traded their bulletproof apartment in Brooklyn
for a yellow house in Lincoln, Vermont. His essays paint Keillor-esque
images of small-town life, where the ladies' auxiliary still holds a bake
sale at the polling station each Election Day. What a delight!" -- Jean
Sycle Martin, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cleveland, OH
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An
Imperfect God: George Washington, His Slaves, and the Creation of America
by Henry Wiencek
"Wiencek focuses on Washington's relationships with his slaves, and his
thoughts about slavery. Washington lived in a society and economy that
supported slavery. However, after witnessing the bravery of the black
troops during the American Revolution, he made a new will, freeing all
his slaves -- the only Founding Father to do so." -- Pat Kehde, The
Raven Bookstore, Lawrence, KS
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Jeffrey
Bilhuber's Basics: Expert Solutions for Designing The House of Your Dreams
By Jeffrey Bilhuber
"The subtitle promises, and Jeffrey Bilhuber delivers. This is the first
book I've seen that clearly outlines steps toward an enjoyable process
of decorating your home -- without breaking the bank." -- Marcus Rector,
Builders Booksource SF, San Francisco, CA
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The
Land that Never Was
By David Sinclair
"This account of the great land swindle of the nation of Poyais -- 'the
land that never was' -- is a compelling look at how easily people take
things at face value, and shows how gullible people can be when they want
to believe in something." -- Tricia Holtz, The Golden Notebook, Woodstock,
NY
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The
Last Time Around Cape Horn: The Historic 1949 Voyage of the Windjammer
Pamir
By William F. Stark
"In 1949, a young man abandons his semester abroad in Europe and travels
to Australia to fulfill his dream of sailing aboard a 300-foot commercial
ship on the last sail-powered passage of Cape Horn. This book succeeds
as both an autobiography and a terrific adventure tale." -- Doug Wolfe,
Dee Gee's Gifts & Books, Morehead City, NC
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Limbo:
Blue-Collar Roots, White-Collar Dreams
By Alfred Lubrano
"If you attended college but your parents didn't, this book will resonate
with you. Lubano uses lots of colorful anecdotes and interviews with 'Straddlers'
(those raised in blue-collar families, living white-collar lives) to illuminate
the class differences between blue- and white-collar America. A thought-provoking
read." -- Susan M. Taylor, Wellesley Booksmith, Wellesley, MA
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1968:
The Year That Rocked the World
By Mark Kurlansky
"As a veteran of the year 1968, I really enjoyed this book. It brought
back memories of a time I hadn't realized was pivotal in so many ways.
I was in Paris in May 1968, wandering around among my fellow students,
watching the police in riot gear -- 1968 brought it all back, and put
it into perspective." -- Steve Bercu, BookPeople, Austin, TX
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Slave:
My True Story
By Mende Nazer and Damien Lewis
"Slave retells the story of Mende Nazer, captured in 1993 at age 12 in
southern Sudan and taken to Khartoum to work as a house slave. As you
read about Nazer's enslavement and her eventual run to freedom in September
2000, you will weep, rage, and shout for justice. I couldn't put it down."
-- Libby Manthey, Riverwalk Books Limited, Chelan, WA
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The
Snowflake: Winter's Secret Beauty
Text by Kenneth Libbrecht, Photography by Patricia Rasmussen
"Spectacular illustrations by micro-photographer Rasmussen are literally
the stars of this ode to the beauty of one of nature's smallest miracles.
Physics professor Libbrecht explains how a snowflake is born and how its
symmetry and complexity develop. The snowflakes are coming, ready or not,
so be prepared to be awed by the endless diversity of this tiny phenomenon!"
-- Sue Roos, The Concord Bookshop, Concord, MA
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A
Splendor of Letters: The Permanence of Books in an Impermanent World
By Nicholas A. Basbanes
"A book to chew, ruminate, and peruse at length. Does it matter if we
preserve original material, or only the substance? Basbanes questions,
offers multiple perspectives and historic references, and discusses the
use of technology in the world of books and documents." -- Becky Milner,
Vintage Books, Vancouver, WA
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Tidying
Up Art
By Ursus Wehrli
"Frivolity is good for the soul! The author takes a variety of famous
pictures and attempts to tidy them up with wonderful, thought-provoking
results. A great book for all ages and levels of art appreciation." --
Laura Ziock, Altamont Books, Livermore, CA
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Twisty
Little Passages: An Approach to Interactive Fiction
By Nick Montfort
"The first book about the history and theory of interactive fiction, also
known as text adventures. Lots of great examples." -- Caleb Wilson,
Davis-Kidd Booksellers, Nashville, TN
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When
Smoke Ran Like Water: Tales of Environmental Deception and the Battle
Against Pollution
By Devra Lee Davis
"For years, Davis and others have performed the difficult and exacting
work of proving the connection between industrial pollution and unnecessary
death. The power of this book comes from the very personal way that epidemiologist
Davis is able to take dry statistics and use them to tell stories in human
terms. It deserves a place in the hands of everyone concerned with public
health, the environment, and social justice." -- Will Peters, Annie
Bloom's Books, Portland, OR
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Zingerman's
Guide to Good Eating: How to Choose the Best Bread, Cheeses, Olive Oil,
Pasta, Chocolate, and Much More
By Ari Weinzweig
"Weinzweig's knowledge of edibles leads the reader to a fuller enjoyment
of good food and gourmet dining. A must for cooks and diners." -- Harold
Hicks, Books on the Bluff, Townsend, GA
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The
Cave
By Jose Saramago
"This is a story of the clash between craftsmanship and the consumer society
-- and much more -- told with a rare combination of human richness and
philosophical depth, by a master storyteller." -- Tom Campbell, The
Regulator Bookshop, Durham, NC
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Hell
at the Breech
By Tom Franklin
"Franklin is one of America's finest writers. Based on historical events
in late 1800s rural Alabama, Hell at the Breech tells the story of a mysterious
murder and how it leads a group of poor farmers to form a secret society
to punish those they believe responsible. In beautiful prose, Franklin
weaves history and fiction to reveal larger truths about human nature
and our capacity for good and evil, revenge, and redemption." -- Tim
Huggins, Newtonville Books, Newton, MA
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| |
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He's
the One
By Timothy J. Beck
"An extremely engaging book, in which Beck brings us back to the odd-couple
gay worlds of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Manhattan -- and introduces new
characters, who mingle with ones brought back from his first book, It
Had to Be You. Beck has made this book even more enjoyable." -- John
Murphy, Sisters And Brothers, Albuquerque, NM
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| |
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Mrs.
Kimble
By Jennifer Haigh
"I love to begin a book without first reading the jacket copy...especially
one like this, where I managed to get well into the book before realizing
exactly what was going on. The character of each of the three Mrs. Kimbles
was beautifully developed -- and through these women, we learn about Mr.
Kimble. What a great book-club book!" -- Liz Murphy, Learned Owl Book
Shop, Hudson, OH
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Paradise
Alley
By Kevin Baker
"An extraordinary tapestry of the events surrounding New York City's Civil
War draft riots. The novel follows the lives of six characters, using
flashbacks that illuminate the experience of Irish immigrants and African
Americans. Baker's book is carefully researched and beautifully written."
-- Rita Moran, Apple Valley Books, Winthrop, ME
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| |
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The
Seduction of Water
By Carol Goodman
"Goodman's sophisticated and well-written novel is a tale of the secrets
mothers keep and the daughters who must live with the consequences. When
Iris Greenfelder decides to write a biography of her famous science-fiction-writing
mother, who died mysteriously in a hotel fire in Coney Island, she sets
off a complex chain of events. A great read." -- Kate Cerino, Paulina
Springs Book Company, Sisters, OR
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| |
|
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Waiting
for an Angel
By Helon Habila
"Habila's voice streams brilliantly from the page in this story of a young
journalist who faces conditions both horrific and life-affirming under
military rule in Lagos, Nigeria. In a time of confusion, loss, and devastation,
we still recognize the story as our own -- finding oneself at the juncture
of childhood and adulthood." -- Jean Westcott, Olsson's Books & Records,
Arlington, VA
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| |
|
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When
the Messenger is Hot: Stories
By Elizabeth Crane
"These stories, each with fully realized characters, are fresh, fresh,
fresh. Crane has wrapped the reality of life up in the beautiful package
of humor." -- Helen Zimmermann, Ariel Booksellers, New Paltz, NY
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The
Woman Who Knew Ghandi
By Keith Heller
"The Woman Who Knew Gandhi examines the bumps to which even a long-term
marriage is subject, and is a meditation on growing old. Martha Houghton,
whose friendship with Gandhi only becomes public years after his death,
is a believable, many-layered 74-year-old. This is a thought-provoking
read." -- Janet Rhodes, HearthFire Books of Evergreen, Evergreen, CO
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A New Series to Showcase Great Writing
|
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Vintage
Murakami
By Haruki Murakami
"This collection of excerpts showcases some of Murakami's best work and
serves as a wonderful introduction to (or reaffirmation of) his talent.
Murakami's skill in telling of relationships shoots straight to the heart,
and you will only nod as you read, because perhaps you have been there,
too." -- Carolyn Valtos, Bookworks, Albuquerque, NM
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Vintage
Didion
By Joan Didion
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| |
|
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The
Breathtaker
By Alice Blanchard
"Were the mutilated corpses the result of a countryside ravaged by a tornado,
or something more sinister? Blanchard presents a whirlwind of danger,
a vortex of clues, and a funnel cloud of mystery in this fascinating and
frighteningly believable thriller." -- Twyla Peace, Chapter 11, Lawrenceville,
GA
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| |
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The
Codex
By Douglas Preston
"A billionaire father disappears with his fortune, leaving a note for
his three sons that says if they want their inheritance they must find
his tomb. This makes for a rollicking good adventure story set in the
jungles of Honduras. The three adventurers couldn't be more different,
and how they cope with each other, the elements, and other treasure seekers
keeps the reader cheering them on." -- Diane Cowan, Village Bookstore,
Menomonee Falls, WI
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| |
|
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Dynamite
Road
By Andrew Klavan
"What a fun read! Klavan has created convincing, believably flawed characters,
plus a complicated plot featuring a twisted mastermind criminal -- and
a story that's told in an almost sweet way." -- Lise Friedman, Dutton's
Brentwood Books, Los Angeles, CA
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|
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The
Killing of the Tinkers
By Ken Bruen
"A masterpiece of mean, spare prose that brings to mind Raymond Chandler.
While attempting to find the murderer of several young gypsies, Jack Taylor
comes up against all sorts of major stumbling blocks, many of his own
making. This is one you'll go back to and reread for the language itself."
-- Anne Whalen, Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA
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Kiss
Them Goodbye
By Stella Cameron
"Stella Cameron's vivid characters come to life in this 'twisted' murder
mystery that's rife with deep, dark secrets -- and where everyone has
a motive for murder. If you enjoy murder mysteries with a romantic twist,
you'll truly enjoy this book." -- Stephanie Geyer, Village Bookstore,
Menomonee Falls, WI
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Life,
Liberty, and the Pursuit of Murder: A Revolutionary War Mystery
By Karen Swee
"An outstanding debut Revolutionary War cozy. Widowed innkeeper Abigail
Lawrence must appear neutral as her New Brunswick, New Jersey, inn is
forced to house British troops -- although she herself favors independence.
Then, one of her paying guests is murdered, and Abigail must expose the
murderer while not upsetting the British. This is a well done, edgy wartime
story set in New Jersey before the turnpike and "The Sopranos"!"
-- Mary Jane Weber, The Town Book Store, Westfield, NJ
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Murder
of a Barbie and Ken
By Denise Swanson
"The fun continues in this witty cozy series featuring a school psychologist
continually faced with batty relatives, bureaucratic nonsense, and the
occasional body or two. In this case, the victims are so 'perfect' almost
anyone might have wanted to kill them, and Skye Dennison is right in the
thick of the investigation." -- Lelia Taylor, Creatures 'n Crooks Bookshoppe,
Richmond, VA
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The
37th Hour
By Jodi Compton
"This first novel features Minneapolis Detective Sarah Pribek, who must
find her missing husband. I quickly got caught up in Compton's characters
and was disappointed when I turned to the final page. I can't wait for
the next book featuring Pribek." -- Sue Richardson, Maine Coast Book
Shop, Damariscotta, ME
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Twilight
at Mac's Place
By Ross Thomas
"A deliciously complex comedy of intrigue and murder set against the backdrop
of the Iran-Contra hearings in Washington. This new edition of an overlooked
1990 novel is part of an ambitious program to bring Ross Thomas' work
back into print. He was America's greatest crime novelist, and his sophistication
and wit are timeless." -- Jim Huang, The Mystery Company, Carmel, IN
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