PositiveLibrary JournalLock captures the strong personalities of Whitman and Alcott without glossing over their flaws in this fascinating snapshot of history.
Dolen Perkins-Valdez
RaveLibrary JournalWith prose that steeps readers in this heart-wrenching story, Perkins-Valdez confronts with the atrocities that have been inflicted on those living in poverty while giving nuance and dignity to her characters along with glimmers of hope. This is an exceptional read.
Elissa Sussman
RaveLibrary JournalSussman makes her adult fiction debut with a smart and sexy tale of second-chance love. The story thoroughly satisfies on a romantic level and packs an emotional punch with genuine characters.
Marie Benedict
PositiveLibrary JournalAs she does so well, Benedict...again illuminates an overlooked female historical figure, accessibly highlighting Franklin’s scientific achievements and also depicting some of her personal life.
Beatrice Hitchman
PositiveLibrary JournalHitchman...has written an absorbing novel of love and lust and found family that spans 1910 to 1946, a period when Vienna was a haven for queer couples, then turned dangerous when the Nazi Party ascended to power.
Arnaldur Indridason, Tr. Victoria Cribb
PanLibrary JournalLast seen in The Shadow District, detective Konrád is back for the launch of his own series. The award-winning Indridason has a long track record of writing grimly compelling Nordic crime thrillers, but this latest title moves at the pace of its retired protagonist. Konrád is often mired in his past, and there’s little suspense as he slowly pursues suspects in a decades-old murder.
Tove Alsterdal, Tr. Alice Menzies
PositiveLibrary JournalWhile still full of very grim crimes, this mystery’s setting in the countryside during the summer makes for a less bleak setting than usual for the genre. Alsterdal plots enough twists to keep the police procedural interesting and writes a great woman protagonist; fans of international mystery will be happy to discover her.
Helene Tursten tr. Marlaine Delargy
PositiveLibrary JournalIn spite of her penchant for using murder to solve her problems, elderly Maud is incredibly clever and oddly charming. Readers may find themselves rooting for her to get away with it all and will also appreciate the bonus gingerbread recipe.
Paula Hawkins
PositiveLibrary JournalHawkins deftly spools out [her characters\'] stories, expertly maneuvering suspenseful twists and turns as the characters\' flaws and motives are exposed ... Hawkins...takes seemingly ordinary characters and peers deeply into their complicated lives, skillfully building tension and keeping readers guessing.
Elinor Lipman
PositiveLibrary JournalTaking place before the 2020 election and ending during the pandemic, this political satire, with a millennial protagonist and endearing supporting cast, is funny and entertaining, with a happily-ever-after.
Allie Reynolds
RaveLibrary JournalThe story alternates between the present and 10 years prior, ratcheting up the suspense and spooling out a cast of intriguing characters drawn together atop a picturesque yet deadly mountain. Reynolds, a former international snowboarder, delivers the thrills in her must-read debut.
M J Rose
PositiveLibrary JournalThis nuanced collection serves as an evocative reminder of the hard-fought right for women to vote and commemorates the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Curtis Sittenfeld
PositiveLibrary JournalSuccessfully interspersing fact with fiction, Sittenfeld imagines Rodham’s personal and professional life without marriage in aching detail in this captivating novel.
Marisa De Los Santos
PositiveLibrary JournalAlternating viewpoints, from the journal entries to Ginny and Avery in the present, give the story more perspective and slowly build the tension as the truth of what really happened 20 years ago is revealed. Smart prose and sharply drawn characters set this domestic drama apart in best-selling de los Santos’s latest...
Lars Kepler
PositiveLibrary JournalWith a captivating detective, a hideous serial killer, and nonstop suspense, this confirms Kepler as a master of disturbing psychological crime novels, showing the darker side of humanity.
Therese Anne Fowler
RaveLibrary JournalIn a departure from her best-selling historical fiction...Fowler writes a searing story of a neighborhood in present-day America, shining a spotlight on the effects of class and race as two families collide in a small, gentrifying community ... Fowler skillfully renders her characters and their experiences into an unforgettable, heartbreaking story. Great for book clubs and fans of Tayari Jones and Jodi Picoult.
