This Month's Staff Picks
Eileen
Bury Your Dead by Louise Penny
Chief Inspector Gamache, on leave after a tragic incident, cannot leave violent death behind, even in the sanctuary of a private library in Quebec. An obsessive historian, looking for the remains of Samuel Champlain, legendary founder of Quebec, ends up dead. Meanwhile, Gamache reflects on two decisions he recently made and their implications for the future.
The depiction of Winter Carnival in Quebec City makes me feel the Canadian winter, and the Lit and His is a great setting for a murder.
Platforms: book, Libby (ebook/audio)
Joe
Blood Grove by Walter Mosley
It is 1969, and flames can be seen on the horizon, protest wafts like smoke though the thick air, and Easy Rawlins, the Black private detective whose small agency finally has its own office, gets a visit from a white Vietnam veteran. The young man comes to Easy with a story that makes little sense. He and his lover, a beautiful young woman, were attacked in a citrus grove at the city’s outskirts. He may have killed a man, and the woman and his dog are now missing. Inclined to turn down what sounds like nothing but trouble, Easy takes the case when he realizes how damaged the young vet is from his war experiences—the bond between veterans superseding all other considerations.
Walter Mosley has a distinctive style of story telling. He captures moods in a way that makes you feel the emotions his characters feel, and the settings are vividly described, putting you right in the middle of the action.
Platforms: book
Kelly
Hell and Back by Craig Johnson
Well, I'm still in the cozy nesting mindset for the winter but maybe the word cozy should be removed and replaced with settled in and totally absorbed by this very interesting difference from my usual read. This one has mystery, great characters and unresolved feelings all tucked into the winter landscape of the west - Montana to be exact. Oh, did I mention possibly a dreamlike state/being in limbo & not quite dead yet with a bit of native spiritualism thrown in for good measure? This Walt Longmire read has all of the above with good old Walt at the very center of it. There's even a visit by his long dead wife, Martha. Anyone who has read Longmire books and/or watched the long running TV show will understand why such a different lawman mystery series would make sense for the main character. Unexpected adventure is how I would characterize any Longmire book. There are always things around the corner that when you turn a page you stop for a split second and think, "did that really happen?" and then forge on anxious to find out what happens next. I love Craig Johnson's writing along with the chance to learn more about the vast western part of this country and the great characters in this series. Nothing like settling in with a good mystery with a cup of something hot to drink during the chilly month of January.
Platforms: book, Libby audio
Linda
The Oysterville Sewing Circle by Susan Wiggs
Authors write best about what they know.
Susan Wiggs lives in close proximity to Oysterville and conveys her knowledge and fondness for this town situated on Willapa Bay. The setting and characters are authentic as is the story she weaves.
The protagonist, Candice Shelby, loves to design and sew clothing and makes her way to New York City where she becomes part of the world of couture where her exclusive workmanship is in demand. Mick Taylor is a prominent, powerful figure in this close-knit community. He hires Candice for her talent and abilities and then it turns into her biggest nightmare.
Suddenly and dramatically Candice’ life changes and she seeks refuge and safety by returning to her family home in Oysterville. She wants to put as much distance as possible between herself and New York City. And she is not alone. Candice travels with two young children for whom she is a guardian.
Readers will enjoy a multi-faceted conclusion: A long-simmering interest between Candice and Will develops into a meaningful romance providing a loving, stable home for the two children. Elements of the #MeToo Movement are evident in the downfall of the deceitful and evil Mick Taylor.
No knowledge of sewing is required. The title of the book is its own story, which readers will discover has nothing to do with the art of sewing.
Platforms: book, Libby audio
Rebecca
The Soulmate by Sally Hepworth
A thrilling, addictive novel about marriage, betrayal, and the secrets that push us to the edge… Picture a lovely cottage on a cliff, with sloping lawns, walking paths, and beautiful flowers. It’s Gabe and Pippa Gerard’s dream home in a sleepy coastal town. But their perfect house hides something sinister. The tall cliffs have become a popular spot for people to end their lives. Over the past several months, Gabe comes to their rescue, literally talking them off the ledge. (Goodreads, 2022)
What is one day Gabe doesn’t talk someone away from the ledge? Would Pippa’s loving husband, her soulmate, lie to her? From the beginning this book had me hooked. Sally Hepworth tangles a web that thriller readers will enjoy!
Rating: 4/5 stars.
Platforms: Library, Libby (ebook/audio)
Samantha
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
“The culmination of nearly 10 years’ work and conclusion to Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy based on the timeless J.R.R. Tolkien classic, ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’ presents the final confrontation between the forces of good and evil fighting for control of the future of Middle-Earth. Hobbits Frodo and Sam reach Mordor in their quest to destroy the One Ring, while Aragorn leads the forces of good against Sauron’s evil army at the stone city of Minas Tirith”. Visually breathtaking and emotionally powerful, “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” is an epic and satisfying conclusion to a legendary series.
Rating: 4.9/5 stars.
Platforms: DVD
Tricia
Iceberg by Jennifer Nielsen
This suspenseful account of the Titanic disaster is both exciting and educational. Hazel, an aspiring author from Poland, finds out that the huge amount of money her family saved to send her to America is insufficient for a ticket to America. Desperate, she stows away. As she makes friends, avoids the authorities, and uncovers a mystery, she also takes notes on everything she observes and learns in hopes of writing a news article to pay for her passage. I loved the plot and also learned some new facts about types of icebergs and the extremely rare situation the Titanic ran into.
Rating: 5/5 stars.
Past Staff Picks
Staff picks December 2024
Staff picks November 2024
Staff picks October 2024
Staff picks September 2024
Staff picks August 2024
Staff picks July 2024