A new decade is here, and it’s off to a great start for book lovers! We have lots of exciting new titles arriving at the library today, with literary fiction, mystery, romantic suspense, narrative nonfiction, and even something to help out with a potential New Year’s resolution!
FICTION
Long Bright River by Liz Moore ★
In a Philadelphia neighborhood rocked by the opioid crisis, two once-inseparable sisters find themselves at odds. One, Kacey, lives on the streets in the vise of addiction. The other, Mickey, walks those same blocks on her police beat. They don’t speak anymore, but Mickey never stops worrying about her sibling.
Then Kacey disappears, suddenly, at the same time that a mysterious string of murders begins in Mickey’s district, and Mickey becomes dangerously obsessed with finding the culprit–and her sister–before it’s too late.
Alternating its present-day mystery with the story of the sisters’ childhood and adolescence, Long Bright River is at once heart-pounding and heart-wrenching: a gripping suspense novel that is also a moving story of sisters, addiction, and the formidable ties that persist between place, family, and fate.
Description from Goodreads.
“Impossible to put down, impossible to forget.” – Library Journal, STARRED REVIEW
“One of the pleasures of this deeply moving, absolutely page-turning novel is the way Moore, in both the present and in flashbacks to Mickey and Kacey’s childhood and teen years, slowly peels back layer after layer, revealing the old-boy’s network in the Philadelphia police force, the depths of Mickey’s loneliness, and the way the city of Philadelphia, particularly Kensington, is woven into this story, for good or ill. Give this to readers who like character-driven crime novels with a strong sense of place.” – Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Smartly crafted… Filled with strong characters and a layered plot, this will please fans of both genre and literary fiction.” – Publishers Weekly
“…an exquisite novel that dug its fingers into my heart and has refused to let go… I finished this novel shaken, both by its sheer emotional resonance and also because of how clear and familiar so much of what Moore describes feels to me.” – Medium
Available Formats:
Print Book | eBook | eAudiobook
You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley
Mia Graydon’s life looks picket-fence perfect; she has the house, her loving husband, and dreams of starting a family. But she has other dreams too — unexplained, recurring ones starring the same man. Still, she doesn’t think much of them, until a relocation to small-town Pennsylvania brings her face to face with the stranger she has been dreaming about for years. And this man harbors a jaw-dropping secret of his own—he’s been dreaming of her too.
Determined to understand, Mia and this not-so-stranger search for answers. But when diving into their pasts begins to unravel her life in the present, Mia emerges with a single question—what if?
Description from Goodreads.
“A heartbreaking and thought-provoking exploration of fate, love, and choice sure to bring on a few tears.” – Kirkus Reviews
“There is a splendid blend of humor throughout Oakley’s alternately romantic, idiosyncratic, and foreboding love-conquers-all tale that easily engages new readers and will please the author’s fans.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“Fans of relationship fiction that explores women’s inner lives and choices by Jennifer Weiner or Amy Hatvany will be unable to put this book down.” – Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
Available Formats:
Print Book | eBook
Dear Edward by Ann Napolitano
One summer morning, twelve-year-old Edward Adler, his beloved older brother, his parents, and 183 other passengers board a flight in Newark headed for Los Angeles. Among them is a Wall Street wunderkind, a young woman coming to terms with an unexpected pregnancy, an injured vet returning from Afghanistan, a septuagenarian business tycoon, and a free-spirited woman running away from her controlling husband. And then, tragically, the plane crashes. Edward is the sole survivor.
Edward’s story captures the attention of the nation, but he struggles to find a place for himself in a world without his family. He continues to feel that a piece of him has been left in the sky, forever tied to the plane and all of his fellow passengers. But then he makes an unexpected discovery–one that will lead him to the answers of some of life’s most profound questions: When you’ve lost everything, how do find yourself? How do you discover your purpose? What does it mean not just to survive, but to truly live?
Dear Edward is at once a transcendent coming-of-age story, a multidimensional portrait of an unforgettable cast of characters, and a breathtaking illustration of all the ways a broken heart learns to love again.
Description from Goodreads.
“Stunning… In this life-affirming tale, the downright unbearable blossoms into a testament to the power of love and grace.” – Vogue
“With its expert pacing and picture-perfect final page, Dear Edward is a wondrous read. It is a skillful and satisfying examination of not only what it means to survive, but of what it means to truly live.” – Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Wonderfully detailed characters… The potent prose brings readers close to the complex emotional and psychological fallout after tragedy… By the end, readers will feel a comforting sense of solace. Napolitano’s depiction of the nuances of post-trauma experiences is fearless, compassionate, and insightful.” – Publishers Weekly
Available Formats:
Print Book | eBook
Creatures by Crissy Van Meter
On the eve of Evangeline’s wedding, a dead whale is trapped in the harbor of Winter Island, the groom may be lost at sea, and Evie’s mostly absent mother has shown up out of the blue. From there, in this mesmerizing, provocative debut, Evie remembers and reckons with her complicated upbringing in this lush, wild land off the coast of Southern California.
Evie grew up with her well-meaning but negligent father, surviving on the money he made dealing the island’s world-famous strain of marijuana, Winter Wonderland. Although he raised her with a deep respect for the elements, the sea, and the creatures living within it, he also left her to parent herself. With wit, love, and bracing ashes of anger, Creatures probes the complexities of love and abandonment, guilt and forgiveness, betrayal and grief—and the ways in which our ability to love can be threatened if we are not brave enough to conquer the past.
Lyrical, darkly funny, and ultimately cathartic, Creatures exerts a pull as strong as the tides.
Description from Goodreads.
“Some of the most heartbreaking moments in this novel are the most simply told, and there are scenes of beauty and magic and dry humor amid the chaos… A quietly captivating debut.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
“Van Meter’s wonderfully un-ordinary debut is rather like the ocean itself: layered, deep, and happening all at once… This is a moving, graceful novel of how people change and are changed by natures within and without.” – Booklist
“Crissy Van Meter balances fracture and fusion and navigates Evangeline’s story with exquisite, racking grace… Filled with the ‘pressure of missing things, the leaving of things,’ and ‘the constant foreboding of implosion,’ Crissy Van Meter’s bold debut novel is stamped with a signature, polymetric tension all its own.” – Foreword Reviews, STARRED REVIEW
Available Formats:
Hoopla eBook | Hoopla eAudiobook
The Heap by Sean Adams
Standing nearly five hundred stories tall, Los Verticalés once bustled with life and excitement. Now this marvel of modern architecture and nontraditional urban planning has collapsed into a pile of rubble known as the Heap. In exchange for digging gear, a rehabilitated bicycle, and a small living stipend, a vast community of Dig Hands removes debris, trash, and bodies from the building’s mountainous remains, which span twenty acres of unincorporated desert land.
Orville Anders burrows into the bowels of the Heap to find his brother Bernard, the beloved radio DJ of Los Verticalés, who is alive and miraculously broadcasting somewhere under the massive rubble. For months, Orville has lived in a sea of campers that surrounds the Heap, working tirelessly to free Bernard—the only known survivor of the imploded city—whom he speaks to every evening, calling into his radio show.
The brothers’ conversations are a ratings bonanza, and the station’s parent company, Sundial Media, wants to boost its profits by having Orville slyly drop brand names into his nightly talks with Bernard. When Orville refuses, his access to Bernard is suddenly cut off, but strangely, he continues to hear his own voice over the airwaves, casually shilling products as “he” converses with Bernard.
What follows is an imaginative and darkly hilarious story of conspiracy, revenge, and the strange life and death of Los Verticalés that both captures the wonderful weirdness of community and the bonds that tie us together.
Description from Goodreads.
“An incandescent, melancholy satire… Fans of Borges and other inventive but piercing stories will revel in this offbeat novel.” – Publishers Weekly
“A sharp, evocative look at human arrogance and the sense of community we build after tragedy.” – Library Journal)
“[The Heap] recalls elaborate dystopian scenes found in Terry Gillam films… Irresistibly clever commentary steeped in wit and secrets.” – Booklist
Available Formats:
Print Book
SUSPENSE
Deep State by Chris Hauty
Recently elected President Richard Monroe—populist, controversial, and divisive—is at the center of an increasingly polarized Washington, DC. Never has the partisan drama been so tense or the paranoia so rampant.
In the midst of contentious political turf wars, the White House chief of staff is found dead in his house. A tenacious intern discovers a single, ominous clue that suggests he died from something other than natural causes, and that a wide-ranging conspiracy is running beneath the surface of everyday events: powerful government figures are scheming to undermine the rule of law—and democracy itself.
Allies are exposed as enemies, once-dependable authorities fall under suspicion, and no one seems to be who they say they are. The unthinkable is happening. The Deep State is real. Who will die to keep its secrets and who will kill to uncover the truth?
Description from Goodreads.
“Jarring… intriguing… the ending seems pulled directly from a movie.” – Booklist
“This one will require reading in one sitting.” – Lima Charlie Reviews
“An edge-of-your-seat thriller novel you’ll want to read in 2020.” – Bookriot
Available Formats:
Print Book | eBook | eAudiobook
MYSTERY
Hindsight by Iris Johansen & Roy Johansen
Dr. Kendra Michaels, blind for the first twenty years of her life before gaining her sight via a revolutionary surgical procedure, is a renowned investigator known for her razor-sharp senses–honed during her years in the dark–and keen deductive abilities.
Now her skills are needed uncomfortably close to home. Two staff members have been murdered at a school for the blind where Kendra spent her formative years. But the murders are puzzlingly dissimilar: one victim was brutally stabbed, while the other was killed by a bullet to the head. Are the crimes related? Or is Kendra on the hunt for more than one dangerous killer?
With the killer (or killers) still on the loose, Kendra must put her life on the line to unravel a terrifying conspiracy. But Kendra soon discovers that she herself may hold the key to the deadliest secret of all…
Description from Goodreads.
“…riveting… The authors pepper the twisty plot with plenty of red herrings. Suspense fans are in for a treat.” – Publishers Weekly
“Mystery, danger, and sexual tension abound in an action-packed thriller…” – Kirkus Reviews
“Fans of the Kendra Michaels series will revel in this heightened tale of intrigue and devotion.” – Booklist
Available Formats:
Print Book | Audiobook | eBook | eAudiobook
Treason by Stuart Woods
Upon returning to New York City after a whirlwind British excursion, Stone Barrington is notified of a delicate situation within the country’s administration. A close friend requires his expertise and subtlety to eradicate a destructive presence in a classified agency–only it soon becomes clear that this renegade was sent by a rival Stone has encountered before.
From the City of Light to the rocky Maine coastline, Stone will need to summon all his wit and daring to halt the audacious plots threatening to reveal confidential intel, and catch the evasive traitor at last. This enemy may be equipped with unlimited resources and devious schemes, but if Stone remains vigilant, justice may finally prevail…
Description from Goodreads.
“The witty banter among Stone and friends and his frequent bedding of willing women keep the reader turning the pages…” – Publishers Weekly
“Smooth escapism for voyeurs everywhere.” – Booklist
“Bon appétit to readers who like their international intrigue sweet and weightless as a soufflé.” – Kirkus Reviews
Available Formats:
Print Book | Audiobook | eBook | eAudiobook
HISTORICAL FICTION
Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict
In 1909, Clementine Churchill steps off a train with her new husband, Winston. An angry woman emerges from the crowd to attack, shoving him in the direction of an oncoming train. Just before he stumbles, Clementine grabs him by his suit jacket. This will not be the last time Clementine Churchill saves her husband.
Lady Clementine is the ferocious story of the brilliant and ambitious woman beside Winston Churchill, the story of a partner who did not flinch through the sweeping darkness of war, and who would not surrender either to expectations or to enemies.
Description from Goodreads.
“A rousing tale of ambition and love.” – Kirkus Reviews
“This outstanding story deserves wide readership. Fans of historical fiction, especially set around World War II; readers who appreciate strong, intelligent female leads; or those who just want to read a compelling page-turner will enjoy this gem of a novel.” – Library Journal
“[A] winning fictionalized biography of Clementine Churchill, the wife of Winston Churchill… Accurate era descriptions add to the realism of the story, and Benedict reveals the connection between Clementine’s grounded energy and her thoughtful influence throughout times of war and peace. It’s an intriguing novel, and the focus on the heroic counsel of a woman that has national and international impacts will resonate in the present day.” – Publishers Weekly
Available Formats:
Print Book | eBook | Hoopla eBook
ROMANCE
The Vanishing by Jayne Ann Krentz
Forty years ago in the small town of Fogg Lake, “The Incident” occurred: an explosion in the cave system that released unknown gases, causing peculiar effects on its residents, such as strange visions and ominous voices. Not wanting the government to get involved, they chalked it up to the hallucinogenic effects of mushrooms. Little did they know these effects would linger through the generations…
Residents Catalina Lark and Olivia Dayton have been best friends for years and own an investigation firm together, using what they call the “other sight” to help with their business. When Olivia goes missing, Cat frantically begins the search for her alone when the town does nothing about it. When scientist Slate Trevelyan shows up, she has no choice but to accept his help even though there’s something about him she just can’t trust. The duo discovers someone is hunting the two witnesses of a murder in Fogg Lake fourteen years ago—the very one Cat and Olivia witnessed as teens, one that they couldn’t prove happened. Cat and Slate’s search for Olivia takes them down a rabbit hole that is far more dangerous and mysterious than they ever expected, and with a killer in their midst, neither of them can foresee who will come out alive.
Description from Goodreads.
“Krentz expertly entwines high-stakes suspense, a paranormal-spiked plot, and a generous dollop of sexy romance with delightfully dry wit as she launches a thrilling and chilling new series with roots in Fogg Lake, a small Pacific Northwest town that experienced a strange ‘incident’ during the 1950s involving an underground explosion and an outbreak of eerie visions and voices. Krentz gets extra bonus points for continuing to recognize the coolness factor of librarians as well as inventing an ingenious new use for forks.” – Booklist, STARRED REVIEW
“Smartly written with witty, snappy dialogue and an array of mysterious characters, The Vanishing was fast paced, keeping this reader on edge until the final page.” – Harlequin Junkie
“Krentz shows her wizardry for worldbuilding and once again incorporates paranormal elements, which will thrill fans… A smart, creative series start from a romance master who always entertains.” – Kirkus Reviews
Available Formats:
Print Book | eBook
YOUNG ADULT
One of Us Is Next by Karen M. McManus
Come on, Bayview, you know you’ve missed this.
A ton of copycat gossip apps have popped up since Simon died, but in the year since the Bayview four were cleared of his shocking death, no one’s been able to fill the gossip void quite like he could. The problem is no one has the facts.
Until now.
This time it’s not an app, though—it’s a game.
Truth or Dare.
Phoebe’s the first target. If you choose not to play, it’s a truth. And hers is dark.
Then comes Maeve and she should know better—always choose the dare.
But by the time Knox is about to be tagged, things have gotten dangerous. The dares have become deadly, and if Maeve learned anything from Bronwyn last year, it’s that they can’t count on the police for help. Or protection.
Simon’s gone, but someone’s determined to keep his legacy at Bayview High alive. And this time, there’s a whole new set of rules.
Description from Goodreads.
“Full of exciting and unexpected twists and racing toward a shocking conclusion, McManus’s tale will not disappoint fans, and those unfamiliar with her previous work will inhale this complicated story of friendship and revenge.” – Publishers Weekly, STARRED REVIEW
“A thrilling read… [that] has all the twists and turns that readers love.” – Booklist
Available Formats:
eBook | eAudiobook
NONFICTION
Martha Stewart’s Organizing: The Manual for Bringing Order to Your Life, Home and Routines by Martha Stewart
Trust Martha to help you master all things organizing—sorting, purging, tidying, and simplifying your life—with smart solutions and inspiration. Here, she offers her best guidance, methods, and DIY projects for organizing in and around your home. Topics include room-by-room strategies (how to sort office paperwork, when to purge the garage or attic), seasonal advice (when to swap out bedding and clothing, how to put away holiday decorations), and day-by-day or week-by-week plans for projects such as de-cluttering, house cleaning, creating a filing system, overhauling the closet, and more. Martha’s indispensable expertise walks you through goal-setting, principles of organizing, useful supplies, and creating systems for ongoing success. A look into Martha’s own personal calendars offers a template for scheduling essential tasks. Last, plenty of strategies, how-tos, timelines, and checklists will help you stay organized all year long.
Description from Goodreads.
“Stewart turns her discerning eye to organization in this beautifully photographed and impeccably designed guide to organizing everything… This thoughtful, empowering offering will inspire even the most unorganized.” – Publishers Weekly
“Readers on a budget or establishing a household will find inspiration and customizable ideas here.” – Library Journal
Available Formats:
Print Book | eBook
Wilmington’s Lie: The Murderous Coup of 1898 and the Rise of White Supremacy by David Zucchino
By the 1890s, Wilmington was North Carolina’s largest city and a shining example of a mixed-race community. It was a bustling port city with a burgeoning African American middle class and a Fusionist government of Republicans and Populists that included black aldermen, police officers and magistrates. There were successful black-owned businesses and an African American newspaper, The Record. But across the state–and the South–white supremacist Democrats were working to reverse the advances made by former slaves and their progeny.
In 1898, in response to a speech calling for white men to rise to the defense of Southern womanhood against the supposed threat of black predators, Alexander Manly, the outspoken young Record editor, wrote that some relationships between black men and white women were consensual. His editorial ignited outrage across the South, with calls to lynch Manly.
But North Carolina’s white supremacist Democrats had a different strategy. They were plotting to take back the state legislature in November “by the ballot or bullet or both,” and then use the Manly editorial to trigger a “race riot” to overthrow Wilmington’s multi-racial government. Led by prominent citizens including Josephus Daniels, publisher of the state’s largest newspaper, and former Confederate Colonel Alfred Moore Waddell, white supremacists rolled out a carefully orchestrated campaign that included raucous rallies, race-baiting editorials and newspaper cartoons, and sensational, fabricated news stories.
With intimidation and violence, the Democrats suppressed the black vote and stuffed ballot boxes (or threw them out), to win control of the state legislature on November eighth. Two days later, more than 2,000 heavily armed Red Shirts swarmed through Wilmington, torching the Record office, terrorizing women and children, and shooting at least sixty black men dead in the streets. The rioters forced city officials to resign at gunpoint and replaced them with mob leaders. Prominent blacks–and sympathetic whites–were banished. Hundreds of terrified black families took refuge in surrounding swamps and forests.
This brutal insurrection is a rare instance of a violent overthrow of an elected government in the U.S. It halted gains made by blacks and restored racism as official government policy, cementing white rule for another half century. It was not a “race riot,” as the events of November 1898 came to be known, but rather a racially motivated rebellion launched by white supremacists.
In Wilmington’s Lie, Pulitzer Prize-winner David Zucchino uses contemporary newspaper accounts, diaries, letters and official communications to create a gripping and compelling narrative that weaves together individual stories of hate and fear and brutality. This is a dramatic and definitive account of a remarkable but forgotten chapter of American history.
Description from Goodreads.
“Extremely compelling and convincing… Even astute readers of history and civil rights will be alarmed by this story, which is why it should be read. For fans of American history, politics, and civil rights.” – Library Journal
“Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Zucchino shines his reporter’s spotlight on what he aptly calls a murderous coup as well as exploring its background and longterm consequences… The result is both a page-turner and a sobering reminder of democracy’s fragility.” – Booklist
“A searing and still-relevant tale of racial injustice at the turn of the 20th century… A book that does history a service by uncovering a shameful episode, one that resonates strongly today.” – Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW