January 2017 LibraryReads

The Girl Before:
A Novel                           

by JP Delaney

Published:1/24/2017 by Ballantine Books
ISBN: 9780425285046

“A page turner that is sure to be a hit. Each chapter alternates between two time periods. Back “then,” there is Emma, looking for the perfect flat. Her agent suggests One Folgate Street, built by architect Edward Monkford. In present day, Jane, a single thirty-something also ends up on Folgate Street. Both women learn the sinister history of the property and readers won’t know who to trust as Delaney’s debut clutches you by the throat and won’t let you go.

Kara Kohn, Plainfield Public Library District, Plainfield, IL

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The Bear and Nightingale: A Novel

by Katherine Arden

Published: 1/10/2017 by Del Rey
ISBN: 9781101885932

“We journey to 14th century Russia where the old ways still hold sway in the outlying villages and spirits and magical creatures are real. When Vasya’s stepmother and the new village priest try to end the pagan offerings, it us up to Vasya to stop the Bear from awakening. Can she find the strength to accept who she really is and protect her family and village? This magical story captivated me and pulled me fully into that world. The last third and the pulse-pounding finish had me on the edge of my seat.”

Joseph Jones, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Cuyahoga, OH

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The Dry: A Novel

by Jane Harper

Published: 1/10/2017 by Flatiron Books
ISBN: 9781250105608

“’Luke lied. You lied. Be at the funeral.’ These eight words will change everything for Agent Aaron Falk, summoned by the father or his former best friend. It appears Luke went on a rampage, murdering his wife, son, and then himself.  At Luke’s father’s request, Aaron agrees to look into the murders/suicide and learns that the small town has long held grudges and secrets that may be best kept hidden in this atmospheric, chilling complex tale of anger and revenge.”

Jennifer Winberry, Hunterdon County Library, Flemington, NJ

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Behind Her Eyes: A Novel

by Sarah Pinborough

Published: 1/31/2017 by Flatiron Books
ISBN: 9781250111173

“Louise meets a charming man in a bar and is smitten. The attraction is mutual, but David confesses he is married. They go their separate ways…until the next morning when Louise goes to work and realizes that the new psychiatrist who has been hired by the practice is David. Adele, David’s wife, is struggling to keep their marriage alive, but David has tired of her lies. A friendship begins between Adele and Louise. David and Louise are still attracted to each other and the triangle is complete. This is not your average thriller. It is absolutely riveting!”

Mary Vernau, Tyler Public Library, Tyler, TX

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Books For Living

by Will Schwalbe

Published: 12/27/2016 by Knopf
ISBN: 9780385353540

“‘Every book changes your life. So I like to ask: How is this book changing mine?’ Schwalbe, author of The End of Your Life Book Club, focuses on a personal collection of books that changed his life. Each book he selects provides a lesson, a reminder as to how to live his life. Readers will remember favorite books, find new books to try, and lessons to think about. Schwalbe’s book is warm, charming, and very personal. It’s a book for all avid readers.”

Lesa Holstine, Evansville Vanderburgh Public Library, Evansville, IN

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The Second Mrs. Hockaday: A Novel

by Susan Rivers

Published: 1/10/2017 by Algonquin
ISBN: 9781616205812

“Placidia is seventeen when she marries Major Hockaday, an older man and recent widower with a child. After he is recalled to service in the Civil War, she must manage his farm and take care of his son and all with little help. When he returns, it is to find that she has given birth, and said to have murdered the child. Told in journal entries, letters, and court documents, we learn about her life and the answers to this puzzling and horrifically charged event. A dark book that highlights the amazing strength so many of these women had to develop.”

Diane Scholl, Batavia Public Library, Batavia, IL

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The Fifth Petal: A Novel

by Brunonia Barry

Published: 1/24/2017 by Crown
ISBN: 9781101905609

“Barry takes her readers back to Salem with a mesmerizing tale filled with familiar characters from her previous works and new ones as well. Towner Whitney and John Rafferty come to the aid of Callie Cahill as they attempt to piece together the circumstances surrounding the brutal murder of her mother while trying to keep herself from becoming a victim as well.  This is a beautifully written story, full of twists and turns. Fans of The Lace Reader will love The Fifth Petal, though the book stands on its own and can be recommended to all readers.”

Marianne Colton, Lockport Public Library, Lockport, NY

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The Most Dangerous Place on Earth: A Novel

by Lindsey Lee Johnson
Published: 1/10/2017 by Random House
ISBN: 9780812997279

“Not for the faint of heart, Johnson’s first book is a beautifully crafted work that delves into the perils of teen-dom in a wealthy, insulated California neighborhood. The story opens with the suicide of an outcast middle-school boy. Fast forward to high school, where seemingly minor struggles of both teens and adults expose themselves to be deeply ominous, leaving few untouched by the ensuing tragedies. As the plot slowly builds, the intricate web of relationships that intertwine the lives of characters and the events that they experience become apparent, ultimately returning full circle.”

Amy Christiansen, Jefferson County Public Library, Wheat Ridge, CO

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Her Every Fear: A Novel

by Peter Swanson

Published: 1/10/2017 by William Morrow
ISBN: 9780062427021

“Kate Priddy is moving to Boston to swap apartments with her cousin. Haunted by an abusive ex, she wants to leave behind her previous life. But when her neighbor, Audrey Marshall, is murdered, Kate is drawn into a web of fear even darker than her past. Varying points of view add new perspectives to the narrative as the book goes on; the mystery of what really happened to Audrey is just a part of the intrigue as we delve into the minds of imperfect, broken people. As a fan of Swanson’s previous work, I was not disappointed.”

Cari Dubiel, Twinsburg Public Library, Twinsburgh, OH

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Heartstone

by Elle Katharine White

Published: 1/17/2017 by Harper Voyager
ISBN: 9780062451941

“A fun take on Pride and Prejudice in a fantasy setting. Merrybourne Manor has a gryphon infestation and has contracted with a band of Riders to kill them.  As you can imagine, the main Rider is a little haughty and our heroine has a long memory. Familiar trials and tribulations occur with some detailed world-building, laying the groundwork for a sequel. Good for readers who don’t mind literary re-imaginings, love P&P, and Anne McCaffery’s Pern novels.”

Jenna Persick, Chester County Library, Exton, PA

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Staff Picks: I Let You Go

Lisa believes, “Psychological suspense fans will love I Let You Go.  This debut novel by Clare Mackintosh contains a very surprising twist that you’ll never see coming!”

Staff Picks: Gump&Co.

Linda says, “If you enjoyed the book and/or the movie Forrest Gump, you might

want to read Gump&Co. to find out the further adventures of Mr. Gump

and his son, Forrest Jr. Once again, Forrest interacts with historical

characters and events, and perhaps changes history. There are many

surprises in this book; Forrest happens to meet both of the recent

presidential candidates in the course of his adventures! A quick and

fun read.

Staff Picks: Appetites

Shane at Frostburg Library says, “Bourdain’s cookbook, Appetites, is filled with nastiness, pretension and irreverence. Highly recommended.”

Staff Picks: Lady of Ashes

Nora at LaVale Library believes, “Fans of Victorian murder mysteries with heroines will enjoy Lady of Ashes by Christine Trent.  The book is the first in a series and features a woman undertaker who solves murder mysteries based on the deaths of her deceased clients.  The book also provides fascinating information about the undertaking methods and cultural attitudes of death during Victorian times.”

Staff Picks: Meet Your Baker

Maureen thinks, “Fans of cozy mysteries will enjoy Meet Your Baker, the first in a series by Ellie Alexander.  Pastry chef, Jules Capshaw, returns to her hometown to help run the family bakery and mend a broken heart.  But when she discovers a murdered customer in the bakery’s kitchen she is pulled into helping solve the case.  Can Jules solve the murder and save the family bakery?”

Check this out! The 37th Parallel: The Secret Truth Behind America’s UFO Highway by Ben Mezrich

Most people have hobbies, and Chuck Zukowski, part-time microchip engineer and volunteer sheriff’s deputy, is no different. His hobby–turned near obsession–consists of collecting data and evidence on the possibility that aliens visit and inhabit the earth on a regular basis, earning him the nickname “the Mulder of El Paso.”

For more than 20 years, Zukowski has collected information and conducted onsite investigations into mysterious sightings of lights in the night sky; hundreds of exsanguinated and bizarrely mutilated cattle and horses; natural geological disturbances; and pranks, hoaxes and mistaken identities. Ben Mezrich, author of The Accidental Billionaires, brings Zukoswki’s story of UFOs and dead livestock into the mainstream, allowing readers a look at the incredible amount of evidence that exists to substantiate the idea that we are not alone in the universe.

Case by case–Roswell, Area 51, cattle ranches across the Southwest–Mezrich puts readers in Zukowski’s shoes, sharing his excitement and adrenaline rushes, and the fears, frustration and anger that have accompanied the task of investigating events that most people don’t believe happened. He includes Zukowski’s dealings with the Mutual UFO Network, the Bigelow Aerospace company and its founder, a fellow UFO believer, and Zukowski and his sister’s nerve-wracking encounters with government officials in black SUVs. Whether you believe in UFOs or not, Mezrich’s professional and entertaining approach to a semi-taboo subject will have readers shaking their heads and checking the night sky for any unusual sights or sounds. —Lee E. Cart, freelance writer and book reviewer.

Thanks to Shelf Awareness for this review

 

New York Times Best Sellers at ACLS for July 3, 2016

Get the latest NYT Best Sellers at the Allegany County Library System.

FICTION (Combined Print & E-Book)

ME BEFORE YOU, by Jojo Moyes. (Penguin.) A young woman who has barely been farther afield than her English village finds herself while caring for a wealthy, embittered quadriplegic. Originally published in 2012.

END OF WATCH by Stephen King.  The conclusion of the Bill Hodges trilogy.

THE PURSUIT by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg. The F.B.I. agent Kate O’Hare and her con man partner, Nick Fox, face off against a dangerous ex-Serbian military officer.

BAY OF SIGHS by Nora Roberts.  In this second installment of the Guardians trilogy, Sawyer brings the group to the island of Capri, where he’s drawn to the mermaid Annika.

HERE’S TO US by Elin Hilderbrand.  Sparks fly as a celebrity chef’s ex-wives pile into a small cabin in Nantucket to join his widow for the reading of his will.

FOREIGN AGENT by Brad Thor.  The counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath searches for an informant who has compromised an American mission in Syria.

THE GIRLS by Emma Cline. In the summer of 1969, a California teenager is drawn to a Manson-like cult.

GO SET A WATCHMAN by Harper Lee. In the mid 1950s, a grown up Jean Louise Finch retruns to Maycomb and realizes that her adored father is a racsist.

BEFORE THE FALL by Noah Hawley.  After a private jet crashes, a firestorm of media madness ensues.

CROSS KILL by James Patterson.  Alex Cross thinks he’s seeing things when a killer thought long dead returns to action.

NONFICTION (Combined Print & E-Book)

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, by Ron Chernow.  A biography of the first Treasury secretary, a major author of the Federalist Papers and an advocate of strong central government. Originally published in 2004 and the basis of the Broadway play.

BILL O’REILLY’S LEGENDS AND LIES: THE PATRIOTS by David Fisher Stories of the American Revolution; a companion volume to the Fox News series.

WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR, by Paul Kalanithi.  A memoir by a physician who received a diagnosis of Stage IV lung cancer at the age of 36.

HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION, by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter. (Grand Central /Melcher Media.) The libretto of the Grammy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, annotated by its creator, along with backstage photos, a production history and interviews with the cast.

GRIT, by Angela Duckworth. A psychologist argues that passion and perseverance are the keys to success.

GEORGE WASHINGTON’S SECRET SIX by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger. The story of the Culper spy ring, which aided the American cause during the Revolution.

THE POWER OF HABIT by Charles Duhigg.  A Times reporter’s account of the science behind how we form, and break, habits.

THE EIGHTY-DOLLAR CHAMPION by Elizabeth Letts.  The story of Snowman the horse, the jumper and national celebrity.

JUST MERCY by Bryan Stevenson.  A law professor and MacArthur grant recipient’s memoir of his decades of work to free innocent people condemned to death.

BELLE by Paula Byrne.  The story of a mixed-race girl raised as a lady in 18th-century England; the inspiration for the 2014 movie.

New York Times Best Sellers at ACLS for June 26, 2016

Get the latest NYT Best Sellers at the Allegany County Library System.

FICTION (Combined Print & E-Book)

BAY OF SIGHS by Nora Roberts.  In this second installment of the Guardians trilogy, Sawyer brings the group to the island of Capri, where he’s drawn to the mermaid Annika.

ME BEFORE YOU, by Jojo Moyes. (Penguin.) A young woman who has barely been farther afield than her English village finds herself while caring for a wealthy, embittered quadriplegic. Originally published in 2012.

FOREIGN AGENT by Brad Thor.  The counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath searches for an informant who has compromised an American mission in Syria.

END OF WATCH by Stephen King.  The conclusion of the Bill Hodges trilogy.

THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah. Two sisters are separated in World War II France: one in the countryside, the other in Paris.

HERE’S TO US by Elin Hilderbrand.  Sparks fly as a celebrity chef’s ex-wives pile into a small cabin in Nantucket to join his widow for the reading of his will.

TOM CLANCY: DUTY AND HONOR  by Grant Blackwood.  A secretive German organization is trying to kill Tom Clancy’s character Jack Ryan Jr. (Clancy died in 2013.)

THE GIRLS by Emma Cline. In the summer of 1969, a California teenager is drawn to a Manson-like cult.

CROSS KILL by James Patterson.  Alex Cross thinks he’s seeing things when a killer thought long dead returns to action.

AFTER YOU, by Jojo Moyes.  (Pamela Dorman/Viking). After the death of Will Traynor, Louisa Clark joins a grief support group that may lead her to new love.

NONFICTION (Combined Print & E-Book)

BILL O’REILLY’S LEGENDS AND LIES: THE PATRIOTS by David Fisher Stories of the American Revolution; a companion volume to the Fox News series.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, by Ron Chernow.  A biography of the first Treasury secretary, a major author of the Federalist Papers and an advocate of strong central government. Originally published in 2004 and the basis of the Broadway play.

FURIOUSLY HAPPY, by Jenny Lawson.  A humorous treatment of the author’s experience of depression and anxiety disorder.

HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION, by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter. (Grand Central /Melcher Media.) The libretto of the Grammy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, annotated by its creator, along with backstage photos, a production history and interviews with the cast.

WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR, by Paul Kalanithi.  A memoir by a physician who received a diagnosis of Stage IV lung cancer at the age of 36.

CLAPTON, by Eric Clapton.  The renowned rock guitarist looks back on his life and his music; first published in 2007.

GRIT, by Angela Duckworth. A psychologist argues that passion and perseverance are the keys to success.

EVERY LITTLE STEP, by Bobby Brown with Nick Chiles. The performer looks back at his career, his tumultuous marriage to Whitney Houston and his relationship with their daughter, Bobbi Kristina.

THE BOYS IN THE BOAT  by Daniel James Brown.  The University of Washington’s eight-oar crew and their quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

FIVE PRESIDENTS,  by Clint Hill with Lisa McCubbin.  A retired Secret Service agent discusses his experience with presidents from Eisenhower to Ford.

 

New York Times Best Sellers at ACLS for June 19, 2016

Get the latest NYT Best Sellers at the Allegany County Library System.

FICTION (Combined Print & E-Book)

END OF WATCH by Stephen King.  The conclusion of the Bill Hodges trilogy.

ME BEFORE YOU, by Jojo Moyes. (Penguin.) A young woman who has barely been farther afield than her English village finds herself while caring for a wealthy, embittered quadriplegic. Originally published in 2012.

CROSS KILL by James Patterson.  Alex Cross thinks he’s seeing things when a killer thought long dead returns to action.

DISHONORABLE INTENTIONS by Stuart Woods.  The New York lawyer Stone Barrington and his latest girlfriend are pursued by her ex-husband, who has connections with the Russian mob.

AFTER YOU, by Jojo Moyes.  (Pamela Dorman/Viking). After the death of Will Traynor, Louisa Clark joins a grief support group that may lead her to new love.

THE HOUSE OF SECRETS  by Brad Meltzer and Tod Goldberg  The host of a conspiracy TV show is dead, his daughter injured and in the grip of amnesia.

BEFORE THE FALL by Noah Hawley. After a private jet crashes, a firestorm of media madness ensues.

THE GIRLS ON THE TRAIN by Paula Hawkins.  A psychological thriller set in the environs of London is full of complications and betrayals.

THE EMPEROR’S REVENGE by Clive Cussler and Boyd Morrison Juan Cabrillo teams up with a former C.I.A. colleague to thwart a plan involving the death of millions and international economic meltdown.

ZOO 2 by James Patterson and Max DiLallo Human mutation proves a curse and a blessing after another siege of beasts.

NONFICTION (Combined Print & E-Book)

BILL O’REILLY’S LEGENDS AND LIES: THE PATRIOTS by David Fisher (Holt) Stories of the American Revolution; a companion volume to the Fox News series.

ALEXANDER HAMILTON, by Ron Chernow. (Penguin.) A biography of the first Treasury secretary, a major author of the Federalist Papers and an advocate of strong central government. Originally published in 2004 and the basis of the Broadway play.

WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR, by Paul Kalanithi. (Random House.) A memoir by a physician who received a diagnosis of Stage IV lung cancer at the age of 36.

GRUNT by Mary Roach The science that attempts to overcome the challenges soldiers face.

GRIT, by Angela Duckworth. (Scribner.) A psychologist argues that passion and perseverance are the keys to success.

HAMILTON: THE REVOLUTION, by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jeremy McCarter. (Grand Central /Melcher Media.) The libretto of the Grammy- and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, annotated by its creator, along with backstage photos, a production history and interviews with the cast.

BUT WHAT IF WE’RE WRONG? by Chuck Klosterman.  Imagining the contemporary world as it will appear to those for whom it will be the distant past.

THE BOYS IN THE BOAT  by Daniel James Brown.  The University of Washington’s eight-oar crew and their quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

THE GENE by Siddhartha Mukherjee (Scribner)  This overview of the history and science of genetics also considers moral questions and prospects for future advances in treating disease. By the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “The Emperor of All Maladies.”

SHOE DOG, by Phil Knight. (Scribner.) A memoir by the founder of Nike.