What I'm Reading: April 2009

I'm a few days behind this month, due to having to read final papers and enter grades in a 48 hour window. But grades are in and here is my report on three of the books I read this month. Interestingly, each book is part of a series.

Early in the month I finished listening to the third book in Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series, When Will There Be Good News? What I love about Atkinson is that she assumes the reader is smart. She weaves a story that has many layers and complications, but always bring together every loose end. The pay off is always there in all of her novels, series or standalone.

In this newest book, Atkinson again has Jackson Brodie in Scotland and crossing paths with Louise, a Chief Inspector. (Check the bottom of this post for a report on the second installment in the series, One Good Turn.) However, for the first time in the series, Jackson is not the main focus. The story still turns on girl in trouble, as it always seems to for Jackson. In this case a grown woman, Jo, whose entire family had been slaughtered when she was 6, and her 16 year-old plucky nanny, Reggie. Louise and Jackson get caught up in Reggie's search for Jo, who has vanished. As usual, Jackson ends up in a lot of trouble along the way-- he almost dies in a train crash and is twice mistaken for a serial killer.

As usual, Atkinson's writing captures the true nature of people. Her characters are fully rounded, flawed, and just plain real. Also, this is the third book in the series, and the best so far. That's not just my opinion either, check the reviews. Atkinson has set up more sexual tension (without even a kiss ever being shared) between Jackson and Louise, and has set up Reggie as a character who deserves an entire book of her own.

I have explored readalikes for Atkinson (at the bottom of this post) before. To that list I want to add the Maisie Dobbs mysteries by Jacqueline Winspear. Like Atkinson, Winspear is great at creating full realized characters and her British settings, although historical (between the World Wars) vividly capture the varied landscapes of Great Britain much like Atkinson does in her writing.

Like Atkinson, the genre bending, award-winning suspense series by Stieg Larsson beginning with The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, pairs a reluctant male investigator with a female investigator. Here there are also decades old crimes to solve and wonderfully drawn characters. The setting, Sweden, is even darker and more foreboding than Atkinson's Scotland.

I also read the third book in another series I enjoy, but here humor was the main appeal. Lisa Lutz's Revenge of the Spellmans continues the story of Izzy Spellman, her family of PIs in San Francisco, and her misadventures in life and love. (See this post from 10/07 for more background on the series). As in the 2 previous mysteries, Izzy is surrounded by her eccentric friends and family as she ends up in compromising situations, working on cases she should probably leave alone. The plot details are not too important here but there is court ordered therapy, parked cars moving themselves, PSAT cheating accusations, unwanted house guests, and switched identities just to name a few of the issues that pop-up here (use this link to read about it). Don't try to keep it straight, just pick up any of the books in this series and know that you are in for more humor than mystery, more character than plot, tons of wit and irony, and lots of laughs.

Previously I have said that Lutz is a readalike for Janet Evanovich, but now that she is coming into her own, you may see readers looking for readalikes for Lutz herself. I would suggest Donna Andrews' funny Meg Langslow Mysteries (The first is Murder with Peacocks). Meg is a young, amateur detective, not a PI, but her family is almost as crazy. Like Lutz' Spellman books, Andrews' series has also won many awards and fans.

Finally I read Jonathan Maberry's brand new thriller Patient Zero. I posted about it in detail here, and look to the end for Maberry's own comments on my post and the book. In Patient Zero, we are introduced to Joe Ledger who is, dare I say it, just a hero. I wrote about the plot specifics in the other post, but let me tell you, this is a fast paced, pure terrorism techno-thriller, with shifting points of view (hero and villains), and a happy, resolved ending. Joe Ledger will become a force to be reckoned with as the series continues.

Maberry is better known as a horror writer, but although Patient Zero has zombies, the novel is ultimately an adventure-thriller. The zombies all get killed, and there is no lingering virus to continue the zombie threat into another book. Ledger saved the day and will move on to a new crisis in his next book. I dare say it is farwell to Maberry in the horror world. Do check-out his award-winning Pine Deep horror trilogy though. (I wrote about the first book here).

If Joe Ledger and his exploits with the Department of Military Service are appealing to you, try the Shane Schofield series by Matthew Reilly or anything by James Rollins. Maberry also gives a shout-out to David Morrell in this novel (a charcater is reading a Morrell novel). Morrell is a great readalike option here since both authors sneak a bit of more traditional horror appeal into their thrillers. Fans of Patient Zero should start with Morrell's Creepers.

What I'm Reading: Started Early, Took My Dog

Kate Atkinson is one of my personal sure bet authors.  No matter what she writes, I know I will enjoy it.  What I love about her is that she writes complex, layered stories, but always manages to bring every last thread back together in a smart, interesting, and satisfactory way.  I can sit back and relax when I read an Atkinson book because I trust that she will lead me in the right direction.

Started Early, Took My Dog (herein SETMD) is the latest Atkinson book featuring Jackson Brodie.  Like the first 4, SETMD can be loosely described as a crime novel, but it is more nuanced than that.  Looking back, SETMD also has the same set-up and style as all the Brodie novels:  missing girls, multiple storylines, with one told as flashbacks, with a slow convergence of these plot threads over the course of the book.  And then there is Jackson.  If you don't love Jackson in all of his confused, grumpy, depressed, but clearly trying to be a better person and a better father to his now 2 kids, glory, you will not enjoy these books.

Our fearless leader, Kathy, and I were discussing whether or not you need to read the series in order.  We decided that you could easily enjoy this book for its own merits, but if you really liked it, you would want to go back and re-read the others in order.  For the record, I think When Will There Be Good News? is the best of the 4, but SETMD is very good.

I should also mention that the titles refers to this Emily Dickinson poem. Parts of the poem are reproduced at the novel's end, but the tone and subject of the poem are echoed in Atkinson's book.  Reading the poem first, will put you in the right frame of mind for the novel.

The plot is dependent on the characters here.  At the book's beginning we are introduced to our 3 main windows into the story, overweight, middle aged spinster/retired police officer Tracy, aging actress Tilly, and Jackson.  Atkinson spends time describing the same scene at a British shopping mall from all three of their perspectives.  All three have a connection to "lost" children, but their deeper connection, beyond being in the same place at the same time in the novel's opening, is slowly revealed over the course of the novel.  In the end, they all converge into an extremely climatic scene, but you have to trust Atkinson to get you there.

The pace is standard Atkinson, it starts scattered and slow, but steadily builds.  She gets you wrapped up in the characters and their choices.  We grimace at some choices and cheer for others.  These are real, flawed people who you might not always agree with, but who you always root for.  As the book progresses and the story lines converge (and especially as the plot twists are revealed) the story gains momentum, shifting into a higher gear for the last third.  So as expected, if you allow Atkinson to set the stage and trust her, she will reward you with a great book.

The tone is decidedly darker than the others in the series.  All of these books are based on Jackson's obsession with finding lost girls due to the still unsolved murder of her sister when she was a teenager.  He has just come out of a marriage in which his second wife swindled him of everything and is using the "freedom" this act has allowed him to travel the British countryside.  He is still a PI, but is only working one case for a client in New Zealand.  While at first, it seems like a "happy case" for Jackson, since the lost girl is his client, not the family of a child thought long dead as he usually is working on, he quickly unravels a very dark and disturbing story of stolen children, deception, and murder.

Jackson spends much of the novel brooding about his own loss.  Tracy is caught up in a macabre tale herself, and Tilly is slowly loosing her mind to dementia.  Jackson's skills as a PI are definitely fading with age, but his love for family is growing.  In the end, some good people get away with some morally questionable things, some bad people get what they deserve, and some not as bad people get punished more harshly than they deserve.  Overall, I was satisfied at the book's end, but I would warn readers that it is not a traditionally "happy" ending.  Atkinson has some scathing things to say about human nature.

ON a lighter note, Julia is here a lot more than the last book.  While her and Jackson are no longer romantically involved, she is still is go-to voice of reason.  And now that they have Nathan together, I hope to see a lot more of Julia; that is, if there are more books in the series.

I should also note that Atkinson spends a lot more time than usual on the setting here.  There are wonderful descriptions of the Yorkshire landscape, the abbeys Jackosn finds piece in visiting, the sea, and the woods.  Also the horror maven in me loved the cute references to the vampire loving visitors to Whitby, which is a key town in Dracula.  But in general, there is much more time devoted to landscape here than I remember in past novels in the series.  It was a nice addition.  Turns out Atkinson herself longs for her home of Yorkshire, much like Jackson, now that she lives in Scotland.

Three Words That Describe This Book: character-centered, multiple-story lines, steadily building pace

Readalikes:  Another author who uses a complex, multiple story line plot to great effect is Dan Chaon.  Try Await Your Reply which I described in detail here and here.  The similarity between SETMD and AYR is striking, despite the fact that they share nothing in terms of plot.  It is all about the feel here.

Michael Chabon and Ian McEwan also share Atkinson's complexly layered plot lines, character centered storytelling, and darker themes all leveled a bit by subtle, dark humor.

If you want to read a more traditional mystery series which is similar to Atkinson, I would suggest either Walter Mosely's Easy Rawlins' series (darker, brooding, on the fringes investigator, great sense of place) or Louise Penny (sense of place, character centered, middle aged investigator).  Mosely is much darker than Penny, but both have similar pacing and complexity to Atkinson.  Also, your enjoyment of all three series will hinge on whether or not you want to follow the investigator.

Monday Discussion: Spring Preview

Despite the temperature refusing to budge over the 40 degree mark here in Illinois, Spring is coming this week.  I thought this would be a good time to look ahead to the books that are coming out soon.

So for today's Monday Discussion, I want to know the spring titles you are most excited about.

Don't know what's on the horizon?  Click here for RA Online's archive of Hot Prospects for 2013.  Or click here for all things tagged Winter/Spring 2013 on Early Word.

I'll go first. Without question the book I am most excited for this spring is NOS4A2 the new horror novel by Joe Hill. I have to wait until 4/30, but I am sure it will be worth it.  You can click here to go over to the horror blog where I posted an exclusive excerpt.

There are other books I am eagerly awaiting too, just not as intensely.  I am very interested in reading Kate Atkinson's new novel, Life After Life (out 4/2).  This is NOT a Jackson Brodie novel, but I have enjoyed both the Brodie and non-Brodie novels by Atkinson in the past.

What about you?  Use the above links to help you see what is coming out soon and leave a comment with your top anticipated titles.

Click here for past Monday Discussions.

What I'm Reading November 2007

Another month is over and here is a write up of three of the books I read this month. I actually hit three different genres in this list too.

This month I listened to Finn by Jon Clinch. This is a first novel, retelling of Huckleberry Finn from his Dad's point of view. Clinch's story draws heavily upon the text of Twain's work and he fills in the gaps between the few scenes where father and son have encounters and then builds around them leading to Finn's death. The story does include the frequent use of flashbacks. The story is told in almost a "back and forth" motion. The narration slips between the story of Finn and his black common-law wife's life and his present situation. This was slightly confusing in audio format, but I did catch on after a bit.

Overall, I loved the idea of Clinch taking a well known classic and giving us his take on a different side of the story. I do need to say though that there area a few shocking scenes of brutality, murder, and violence against children in this novel, which should not be surprising since Finn is not the most upstanding citizen. And although Finn gets his say in this novel, the reader is not expected to sympathize completely with him. Finally, in this novel (and I am not giving much away since this is revealed early on), Clinch imagines Huck as a mulatto. But please make no mistake, this is a dark and violent book that would be shocking to many Twain lovers.

When listening to the audio, there is a fairly long conversation between the narrator and the author at the end. Clinch answers a lot of questions about the research he has done and why he made some of the decisions he did. Even if you read this novel, the last disc of the audio is worth a listen. Finn is also beginning to turn up on many of this year's "Best" lists.

Obviously, after completing Finn, many readers are going to turn to the source material The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. But other "Classics Revisited" novels might appeal to those who enjoyed Finn. A good match would be Geraldine Brooks' March which is a retelling of Little Women from the absent father's point of view.

On a completely different note, I also read AJ Jacobs' new bestseller, The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible. In his previous memoir, Jacobs, the Editor-at-Large for Esquire spent a year reading the entire Encyclopedia Brittanica. Here Jacobs attempts to do as the title states. He spends 9 of the 12 months on the Old Testament and makes trips to Israel, Amish Country, Evangelical Churches, and Hassidic rituals. Jacobs grows a beard, tries not to covet anything, never lie, and wear biblical clothing. Throughout his experiment, Jacobs is also commenting on modern, secular life, his own feelings about religion, and his family life, including his wife's pregnancy.

I thoroughly enjoyed both Jacobs' experiment and his prose. This book definitely has a leftist lean (which Jacobs owns up to) which I would make sure people knew ahead of time. Also, Jacobs is neurotic with bad OCD (again he owns up to it), but some readers of his books are put off by it. I would suggest this book to anyone interested in the relevance of biblical laws in modern America.

For those who enjoyed Jacobs' experiment, try reading his other memoir, The Know-it-All: One Man's Humble Quest to Become the Smartest Person in the World. However, if you are a reader who enjoyed the biblical aspect specifically, there is Bruce Feiler's Walking the Bible: A Journey by Land Through the Five Books of Moses.

Finally, this month I also read Kate Atkinson's One Good Turn which is the suspense sequel to Case Histories. In One Good Turn we again follow former police inspector and PI Jackson Brodie, but this time he is a bit more of a supporting player. Jackson is in Scotland for a theater festival with his girlfriend and gets himself tangled into a nasty conspiracy involving a corrupt builder, foreign maids, road rage, and murder. Like Case Histories the story is told from multiple points of view: Jackson's, the wife of a home builder, a female police inspector, and a mystery writer. It was a very satisfying suspense story with a tidy resolution.

Readers who like Atkinson's character heavy/literary suspense novels may also enjoy the Russian suspense writer Boris Akunin and his novel The Winter Queen. Here a seemingly routine suicide investigation leads to deeper secrets. Peter Hoeg also writes literary suspense. Try Smilla's Sense of Snow. My co-worked Kathy helped with these readalikes. Thanks Kathy.

What I'm Reading: Gone Girl

Unless you are living under a rock, you know that Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn comes out today!  I was lucky enough to read it back in March as I was planning Flynn's visit here to the BPL.  

I knew right away that this book had something special. As I have mentioned in my past reviews of Flynn's first 2 novels (here and here) she is one of the current masters of psychological suspense in the tradition of such greats as Alfred Hitchcock, Patricia Highsmith, and Shirley Jackson.  For those unsure of what I mean by psychological suspense, here is how I  it for the forthcoming ARRT Popular Fiction Workbook (available in early 2013 on NoveList):

Psychological suspense refers to books which put an uneasy atmosphere at the forefront, producing a chill in the reader; however, as opposed to horror, the fear and anxiety comes from very real sources because the monsters in psychological suspense are flesh and blood individuals who are frighteningly real, not speculative. These are books filled with serial killers, stalkers, and evil masterminds. They play with the psyches of their victims and the reader. Tension in these novels builds, the atmosphere is nightmarish, the chills do not let up, and the plot resolutions are disturbing and unclear. These are fairly literary novels filled with darkness, plot twists, and obsession.

Flynn's new book stands as the perfect illustration of this definition.  Let me be clear here.  This book is suspenseful, but not in the traditional fast paced sense.  It is still highly literary, with a lot details that are necessary for the first 150 pages, but boy when that twist comes (and it is a big one) those details pay off.

I can't give you more than the set up though because it will ruin everything.

Nick and Amy are married.  They are going through a difficult time.  They both lost their jobs, and moved from NYC to rural Missouri, Nick's hometown, to help care for his ailing mother. But as the book opens it is their 5th anniversary.  Except, that day, Amy goes missing and Nick is the prime suspect.

The book is in three parts.  In part 1, the pov alternates between Nick in the present and Amy's diary.  After this first part, there is a huge twist.  The alternating povs continues throughout the novel.  It creates a great he said-she said banter as the suspense builds relentlessly in parts 2 and 3. 

The twists keep coming.  They are believable, but shocking.  This is an important point to make about the book.  There is no hero here.  Nick is an admittedly flawed narrator who does himself no favors.  Amy is...well I won't say...but she is not someone you would want to be friends with.   But for a book that is going to be mainstream, I was surprised by how dark and twisted it was.  Don't get me wrong, personally, I love that about it, but I have patrons who might be unnerved by it.  Again though, being unnerved is the entire point.

If you want to read a smart, thought provoking, dark look at a marriage gone terribly wrong, read Gone Girl.  It begins with a slow build, that pays off with a second half that left me up late turning the pages and gasping with surprise.

This is one of the best books I have read in a long time.

Three Words That Describe This Book: twisted, shifting points of view, uneasy atmosphere

Readalikes:  First, go to my review of Dark Places to see a lengthy discussion of Flynn readalike options.

But specifically, as I mentioned above, this book really reminded me of a Hitchcock movie.  Also Amy is the closest character I have seen to the creepy, planned evil of Highsmith's Ripley character.

I also think Gone Girl is similar to Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie suspense stories.  Both are slower paced than their genre mates, filled with details that pay off in the end, and have a literary style.  Click here to bring up my posts which mention Atkison.

Congrats to Flynn on an amazing book. And don't forget to sign up to meet her at the BPL on 7/11.

What I'm Reading: Stieg Larsson

When The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (herein TGWTDT) first came out and everyone was telling me how much they loved it, I got my name on the hold list. When the book came and I started reading, I realized that the names of the characters and places, being Swedish words, were too distracting to me, but I also was pretty sure I would love it. I just couldn't love it while struggling to pronounce things. So, I solved the problem by ordering the audio. While I was at it, I placed a hold on the (as of then) yet to be released The Girl Who Played With Fire (herein TGWPWF).

Since I take the discs and upload them into iTunes (where I delete them after 1 listen, thus breaking no copyright laws), I waited to listen to TGWTDT until TGWPWF came out. Now I have just listened to them back-to-back. Although I loved them both, these are dark, violent, and twisted books. Listening to them (or even reading them) back-to-back takes a strong constitution. Even I, queen of dark books, thought I might need a break halfway through TGWPWF. But I continued and now I am desperately awaiting the third book. I have to know what happens next!!!

I don't want to give away too much of the plots, but here are the key details. Our two main protagonists are Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative journalist and Lisbeth Salander, a loner outcast, who may have Asperger syndrome, and is one of the world's best computer hackers. TGWTDT tells their stories in tandem until the two meet up to solve a decades old mystery involving a missing relative of a famous and rich industrialist. TGWTDT focuses much more on Blomkvist which TGWPWF is focused on Lisbeth. The first book leaves some plot threads up in the air (although the mystery itself is resolved), but they are picked up and resolved satisfactorily by the end of TGWPWF.

In both books there are very dangerous and evil people, doing very bad things, sometimes to our heroes. I cannot stress enough how dark and graphically violent these books are. But the plotting is so original and the characters so compelling that I could not put them down.

BTW, Lisbeth is the girl referred to in each book, so now I am wondering about her kicking a hornet's nest...

Appeal: These books are intricately and cunningly plotted, with extremely sympathetic series characters. The two main characters are very flawed individuals, but we, the reader, love them despite their quirks and issues. Readers will love following a subplot into the next book. This series must be read in order. Intriguing and detailed secondary characters are introduced and given a chance to tell the story from their point of view. Like all good suspense novels, we get the villain's point of view, so we know more than the protagonists. This adds to the suspense. We know how bad the danger is before they do. Both books resolve the main mystery but leave other secondary story lines and issues totally open. This is not a problem because there is another book; however, Larsson conceived this as a 10 book series and he died only completing 3. After The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest comes out next year, we may all be left up in the air. The thought already worries me.

Red Flags: Lots of violence against women, hero and heroine in grave peril, and graphic depictions of sex and rape. Violence and gore throughout.

Readalikes: Larsson's series is a wonderful example of the extremely popular category of Scandinavian suspense and mysteries. All are marked by a dark atmosphere and graphic violence. So why do people like them so much? I think it is because the most successful of these titles have compelling stories with satisfying twists AND great characters. Lisbeth and Mikael are not stereotypical in any way. They feel real; they have depth which one does not often find in suspense and mystery.

Other Scandiavian authors I would suggest if you like Larsson's books are Asa Larsson, Henning Mankell, and Yrsa Sigurdardottir (I am cheating, this is Iceland), all of whom are well represented on American library shelves.

As I was reading both books, I kept thinking about Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie suspense books too. Atkinson's books are not anywhere near as graphic, but they are on the darker side and Jackson is often described as the champion of lost and voiceless girls, which reminded me of Lisbeth and Mikael. Atkinson is also great at carefully and cunningly plotting her books so that details from earlier come out to mean quite a bit later on; just like in Larsson's books. Specifically, When Will There Be Good News would be a great readalike here. It is the third in the series, but the best and most like Stieg Larsson. You can easily pick up the series there.

Finally, Irish author Tana French's In the Woods and The Likeness are dark and original suspense stories with a man/woman team. And like Larsson and Atkinson, French's novels have won lots of awards.

Nonfiction options, obviously books about Sweden and Stockholm. But also books about Asperger syndrome, computer hacking, and investigative journalism may also be of interest.

Monday Discussion: Which Fictional Character Do You Have the Hots For?

This is slightly more risque than the average Monday Discussion post, but I saved this link from back in May and I thought with the impending release of the next Twilight movie this was a great question.

The article from January Magazine, Inappropriate Thoughts About Fictional Characters, is hilarious, but also thought provoking.  Think about all the women out there in love with Edward from Twilight, or those a bit older in love with Darcy from Pride and Prejudice.

So today, since I have mixed company of regular Monday Discussion contributors, I thought it would be fun for us all to share the fictional characters we have had a crush on.  I would like to keep it to books, but feel free to move into other media if you feel strongly (see below)

I will go first to break the ice.  As a kid, I loved Nancy Drew mysteries and definitely had a crush on Ned Nickerson, her boyfriend.

These days, I get crushes on the hapless male characters who just need a good woman to help them set themselves right.  It must be the mother in me.  A great example of this is Israel Armstrong in the Bookmobile Mysteries, click here to read about him.  Jackson Brodie from Kate Atkinson's suspense novels also fits this bill for me.  Use this link to read more.

Moving off of the crush category and more into the "hots for," it is hard to deny that Vampire Eric in the Sookie Stackhouse books is pretty sexy. Add in Alexander Skarsgard's portrayal of him on True Blood, and it is hard to deny his appeal.

So, now it is your turn.  Share you fictional crushes.

Remember you can follow past Monday Discussions here.

What I'm Reading: Faithful Place

I am very far behind in my reviews of what I have read, so unless something BIG breaks in the RA world (hey, that's a funny thought) over the next week or so, you can expect lots of reviews for the time being here on RA for All.

Back in June I listened to Faithful Place by Tana French.  What I love about French is that she writes dark, literary crime novels that share a lot of the appeal of the popular Nordic Noir, but with more subtle psychological suspense and less in your face violence.  The other thing I enjoy with her books is that they are NOT a series.  Both as a reader and as a librarian, I can have someone pick up any of her three books.  There is no worry about the order here.

Here the plot involves Frank Mackey, the head of the Dublin Undercover unit, who 22 years ago left his family and old life behind, but is forced to return home when the suitcase of Rosie, the girl he had planned to run away with 22 years ago is discovered.  Did she stand Frank up back then as he has thought all this time, or did some harm come to her?  Frank must help solve the case and confront his family; a family he has ignored for two decades. Can he survive, both physically and emotionally, being drawn back into the drama of Faithful Place?

Last year  I read French's debut novel In the Woods, and looking back, I was surprised by how much of what I said about the appeal of that novel applies here too:

In the Woods can best be described as: police procedural meets psychological suspense.  This is a dark book, with an extremely flawed narrator.  Bad things are happening here and even when the crime is "solved," no one is satisfied; in fact, just about everyone involved with the case has been ruined as a result of the investigation.   And the kicker is, you know that it will not end well from the start, but you are so compelled by the complex plot, the interesting, 3-dimensional characters and their interactions that you cannot look away.  I found myself cleaning out a closet, just so I could have 1 hour to myself to listen to this novel. I was completely absorbed by the story, the atmosphere, and the characters.  Even when not much was happening, I needed to keep listening.  It was a bit scary, like an addiction.

That's the thing about French, it is how her books make you feel that is way more important than what happens.  Her books are well plotted police procedurals, but the mysteries are not always solved, and if they are, the bad guy does not always get brought to justice.  You are not quite sure what to expect.  With the number of suspense books I read, this is a huge compliment.  It is no wonder that her books end up on every award and best books list each time she writes a new one.

I also especially enjoy how she includes the politics behind the scenes at police headquarters, class issues (which are huge in these books), violence, especially between family and loved ones, the deep characterizations, and the emotion she brings out in her characters and the reader.

For example, there is an amazing extended scene at a wake in Faithful Place in the middle of the novel that reveals so much about the characters and the story without much happening, as well as an emotionally raw conversation between Frank and his ex-wife toward the end of the book. All of this detail could easily bog down the pacing, but it does not. This novel may be dark, atmospheric, and unsettling, but it is also steadily paced.

In the two books I have read by French, she also uses a case from the past to draw ties to the present.  In both cases, the past case was also connected to the lead investigator.  I found this a compelling plot device in both cases.  The sense of place is also huge.  I could see, smell, and hear the neighborhood of Faithful Place.  I was there with Frank, even though I nave never been to Dublin.

Three Words That Describe This Book: unsettling, psychological suspense, family

Where This Book Took Me (Summer Reading Feature): Working-Class Dublin


Readalikes: Kate Atkinson also has the past intrude upon her literary, atmospheric, crime novels featuring Jackson Brodie.  Fans of French or Atkinson would enjoy the other. Click here to see what I have had to say about Atkinson in the past.

Also, click here for my report, with tons of readalikes from when I read French's first novel, In the Woods.

I also think people who like the unsettling psychological suspense of Peter Abrahams (try, Oblivion) or Ruth Rendell (try, 13 Steps Down) would find enjoyment in French.  But if you like the atmosphere of French but want a little more meat to the police procedural part of the plot, I suggest Tess Gerritsen (try, The Keepsake), C. J. Box (try, Blue Heaven) or John  Lescroart (try, Dead Irish).

What I'm Reading: Goldbraith Mysteries

Recently, I listened to the first two books in the Cormoran Strike PI series by Robert Galbraith, aka J K Rowling.  In this review I am not going to talk about the specific plots in detail, but rather I will paint a general sense of what readers can expect from this exceptional PI series.

Regulars of this blog know I like to have a soundbite comment about a book or a series that I can get out quickly and then let the patron let me know of I should go into more detail, or if I should get the next sound bite queued up.

So here is the line I have been using for the first book in the series, Cuckoo’s Calling: "This reads like classic, Noir PI mystery ala Raymond Chandler, but it is set in London, now."

Notice I did not mention the whole J K Rowling wrote it issue right up front. That is because it is not the main reason someone would enjoy this book or not. In fact, if you do mention it [and I usually do it as an aside at the end], make sure you let the reader know that there is NO magic in this series. Trust me. I explained the book to a patron as a Noir mystery and mentioned that the real author is Rowling, and she came back upset there was no magic.

Here is why someone would like the series though.  While the mysteries are interesting and satisfying, it is Strike himself who is the reason you will enjoy these books.  He is in the well worn style of the troubled PI. In this case, he is an Afghan War Vet, former MP, who has lost a leg.  He is also semi-famous as the recognized illegitimate child of a Mick Jagger-esque rock star and his [now dead] groupie mom.

Strike is good hearted, but does not always make the best choices in his personal and professional life.  He is driven by a sense of justice though, and will do anything to find a killer.

The character driven nature of this series is also enhanced by Strike’s assistant Robin.  I don’t want to say much about her because her character really blooms in the second book, but I will say their work relationship is amusing and interesting to follow. And it is not sexual in anyway, which I really appreciated.  I would read a story about Strike and Robin even if they weren’t solving a mystery together.  In fact, the second book actually has a scene when the two of them go on a small road trip which is a great example of their relationship and why people love watching them interact.

London is also a character in the book. In the first novel, the victim is a famous it girl supermodel so we are taken in and out of glamour locales, while The Silkworm is all about the shady world of publishing.  How much fun Rowling must have had writing about the price of fame and the dark underbelly of publishing too.

As I mentioned above, this book has an old-fashioned Noir feel.  So it is atmospheric. There are meetings in dark corners, shady characters, and heaps moral ambiguity surrounding it all. But even with all of this atmosphere, the stories move well.  They are not fast-paced due to the complexity of each case and the character driven nature of the narrative, but these are compelling novels that hook you early and keep you on the line, enjoying the ride as you are reeled in.

The writing here is also amazing, as one would expect. This is only a small example, but one of my favorite lines in the second book is [and I might be paraphrasing because I heard it while driving and had to wait until I parked to write it down]-- "A murder cannot be planned like a novel. Real life has too many loose ends.”

Finally, a note on the violence. These are gritty stories, but the murders are off stage. The dead bodies are described, and in The Silkworm, the method of death is pretty grotesque, but we are not there when any violence happens.

On a personal note, I loved these books. They were not perfect and both dragged a bit in the middle, but they were satisfying and interesting.  There were lots of little details that were revealed throughout and came to be quite important in the end too.  As a reader who loves a complex protagonist above all else, I couldn't get enough of Strike or Robin. Too bad it looks like 2016 until the next one though.

Narration Notes: I was not familiar with the narrator, Robert Glenister, but not only is he a frequent audiobook narrator, he is quite a well known British television star. But without knowing any of this, I was completely taken by his narration from the opening moments of the first book.  Glenister inhabits Strike and is able to portray his complexity in a realistic manner, without sacrificing the story during the few times when he must narrate Robin’s thoughts too.  Quite impressive.

Three Words That Describe These Books: atmospheric, character driven, compelling

Readalikes: The series that this reminds me most of, both for the complexity of the PI and the style of writing are the Kate Atkinson penned Jackson Brodie mysteries, all of which I have reviewed and discussed on the blog before.  But quickly, both are a bit more literary in style, with a lovable but extremely flawed detective who appreciate the smart women who assist them.

As I mentioned above, the series has the old fashioned noir detective feel of a Raymond Chandler Marlowe story, but with a modern setting.  So some readers may want to go back to the source and try some classic authors.

But that leaves out the modern part.  So another character driven, atmospheric option is the crime and suspense novels of Denis Lehane, especially one like Mystic River or anything from his PI series.  Like the Strike novels, Lehane’s stories are compelling and intricate crime stories with a strong sense of place [Boston for Lehane] with the underlying issue of emotional scars and fantastic charcaterization. I often give out any Lehane book to a crime fiction fan looking for a “new, good read,” and the Strike novels are starting to fill that niche too.

LibraryReads: September 2024

Note: As a LR Ambassador, I advocated for the NF bonus pick to be included. As a result, when it was officially decided by those in charge, I got to write the annotation. I am excited to get to highlight Horror for Weenies by Emily Hughes in this way. Since I wrote the annotation, I have added it below as well.

          It's LibraryReads day and that means four things here on RA for All

1. I post the list and tag it “Library Reads” so that you can easily pull up every single list with one click.
2. I can remind you that even though the newest list is always fun to see, it is the older lists where you can find AWESOME, sure bet suggestions for patrons that will be on your shelf to actually hand to them right now. The best thing about LibraryReads is the compound interest it is earning. We now have hundreds and hundreds of titles worth suggesting right at our fingertips through this archive OR the sortable master list allowing you to mix and match however you want.
3. You have no excuse not to hand sell any LibraryReads titles because there is a book talk right there in the list in the form of the annotation one of your colleagues wrote for you. All you have to say to your patron is, “such and such library worker in blank state thought this was a great read,” and then you read what he or she said.
4. Every upcoming book now has at least 1 readalike that is available to hand out RIGHT NOW. Book talk the upcoming book, place a hold for it, and then hand out that readalike title for while they wait. If they need more titles before their hold comes in, use the readalike title to identify more readalike titles. And then keep repeating. Seriously, it is that easy to have happy, satisfied readers.

So get out there and suggest a good read to someone today. I don’t care what list or resource you use to find the suggestion, just start suggesting books.

Please remember to click here for everything you need to know about how to participate. Click here to see a database of eligible diverse titles sorted by month.

And finally, here is LibraryReads' extremely helpful Resources page.

Now let's get to the September 2024 list.... 

The Night Guest

Hildur Knútsdóttir

(Tor Nightfire)

If you’re in the mood for a wonderfully disturbing book, this should be on your radar. A woman who can’t explain her constant exhaustion and inexplicably weary body discovers that she has been walking for miles overnight—but it’s what’s been happening during these excursions that will shock her and the reader alike. Delightfully chilling

—Sharon Layburn, South Huntington Public Library, NY

NoveList read-alike: The Grip of It by Jac Jemc

Now for the rest of the September 2024 list!

The Book Swap
Tessa Bickers
(Graydon House/HTP)

English majors, librarians, and romance readers will love this book. Watching the relationship unfold between Erin and her Mystery Man over the pages of beloved books is delightful, plus they are each on their own individual journeys of self-discovery. This novel is a must read for book lovers everywhere!

—Jennifer Sullivan, Sno-Isle Libraries, WA
NoveList read-alike: The Reading List by Sarah Nisha Adams

A Kid from Marlboro Road: A Novel
Edward Burns
(Seven Stories Press)

This coming-of-age adventure/family story by director and actor Edward Burns features relatable Irish American characters and summer experiences. It's a well-written, sweet read about a family full of life while dealing with death.

—Katharine Phenix, Boulder Public Library, CO
NoveList read-alike: Another Brooklyn by Jaqueline Woodson

Sky Full of Elephants
Cebo Campbell
(Simon & Schuster)

After all the white people have died in the U.S., Charlie reunites with his biracial daughter, Sydney. This debut is both a dystopian tale and a beautiful story of a daughter coming of age, learning more about herself and her relationship with her father.

—Michelle Morris, Fort Worth Public Library, TX

NoveList read-alike: The Last White Man by Mohsin Hamid

An Academy for Liars
Alexis Henderson 
(Ace)

This dark academia fantasy is an immersive, glittering jewel shot through with tendrils of true horror. In Savannah, GA,a young woman gets recruited to a mysterious academy of magic teeming with secrets. Fans of Lev Grossman and Olivie Blake will enjoy this book, yet Henderson is a wholly unique voice in the genre.

—Gregg Winsor, Johnson County Library, KS
NoveList read-alike: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

The Borrowed Life of Frederick Fife: A Novel
Anna Johnston
(William Morrow)

Frederick Fife lost his home, but he finds much-needed shelter and loving care in a nursing home when he is mistaken for one of the residents, Bernard, while out on a walk. Assuming another person’s identity is not something Frederick set out to do, and how this story unfolds is anybody's guess in this sweet, funny, and heartwarming novel.

—Andrienne Cruz, Azusa City Library, CA
NoveList read-alike: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Playground: A Novel
Richard Powers
(W.W. Norton & Co.)

Residents of the island of Makatea must decide on a seasteading proposal that would forever change their way of life in this epic tale of activism, ambition, relationships, and the wonders of the oceans. For readers who love National Geographic documentaries, happily look for life on every watery horizon, and enjoy a variety of well- developed characters.

—Kimberly McGee, Lake Travis Community Library, TX
NoveList read-alike: North Woods by Daniel Mason

A Dark and Drowning Tide: A Novel
Allison Saft
(Del Rey)

On an expedition to find an enchanted spring, Lorelei and Sylvia must work together to solve the murder of their leader. Exploring themes of magic, romance, adventure, political intrigue, academic rivalry, racism and classism, grief, and healing make for a really good read. The strange unpredictability of the magic makes the plot engaging.
—Shannon Carney, Baltimore County Public Library, MD
NoveList read-alike: A Letter to the Luminous Deep by Sylvie Cathrall

Colored Television: A Novel
Danzy Senna
(Riverhead Books)

Jane has been working on her second novel for a decade, but the finished product is met with a not very enthusiastic response by her agent. Stymied by her circumstances, Jane pins her hopes on a collaboration with a TV producer and makes some questionable choices. Readers will root for Jane to get out of the hole she’s dug for herself in this sharp dark comedy.

—Angela Strathman, Mid-Continent Public Library, MO
NoveList read-alike: Erasure by Percival Everett

The Village Library Demon-Hunting Society
C. M. Waggoner
(Ace)

Small-town librarian Sherry Pinkwhistle doesn't find it strange that she is always on hand to solve local murders. But when a loved one is targeted, she realizes that a demon may be possessing the town. This cozy paranormal mystery is full of likable, quirky characters.
—Kristin Skinner, Flat River Community Library, MI
NoveList read-alike: Emily Wilde series by Heather M. Fawcett

Board Bonus picks:

Entitlement : A Novel  

Rumaan Alam      

Riverhead Books

Notable Nonfiction:

Horror for Weenies: Everything You Need to Know About the Films You're Too Scared to Watch 

Emily C. Hughes

Quirk Books

In the first in a new series of “Outsider’s Guides” from Quirk, Hughes, well-known for her work in the horror community, presents an accessible, entertaining, and informative book that will prove indispensable in helping all readers participate in the pop culture conversation surrounding horror—no matter how much of a fraidy-cat they may be. Whether they want to read only a chapter, the fascinating lists peppered throughout, or the book in its entirety, readers will realize just how these films become an obsession of millions of viewers without scaring those who cannot watch them. Hughes reveals her purpose in an effortless conversational style, explaining why these movies are terrifying, important, and influential.

--Becky Spratford, LibraryReads Ambassador

See our social media for annotations of the bonus picks

Click here to see the entire Hall of Fame

The LibraryReads Hall of Fame designation honors authors who have had multiple titles appear on the monthly LibraryReads list since 2013. When their third title places on the list via library staff votes, the author moves into the Hall of Fame. Click here to see the Hall of Fame authors organized in alpha order.

Death at the Sign of the Rook: A Jackson Brodie Book
Kate Atkinson
(Doubleday)

What Time the Sexton's Spade Doth Rust: A Flavia de Luce Novel
Alan Bradley
(Bantam)

The Night We Lost Him
Laura Dave
(S&S/Marysue Rucci Books)

The Life Impossible: A Novel
Matt Haig
(Viking)

So Thirsty
Rachel Harrison
(Berkley)

Somewhere Beyond the Sea
TJ Klune
(Tor Books)

Here One Moment
Liane Moriarty
(Crown)

Buried Deep and Other Stories
Naomi Novik
(Del Rey)

We Solve Murders: A Novel
Richard Osman
(Pamela Dorman Books)

Tell Me Everything: A Novel
Elizabeth Strout
(Random House)