A Death in Door County by Annelise Ryan
Title: A Death in Door County
Author: Annelise Ryan
Review: This is a great summer read about a bookstore owner that is also a crypto-zoologist! Owner of Odds and ends bookstore Morgan Carter has seen her share of things that go bump in the night, but when the local Police chief ask for her help with a death in lake Michigan, the victim looks like he got bit by some huge creature… Could it be Nessie?? Or a creature like her? This is a great read! Fun and full of history.
Review by: Julie
Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward
Title: Looking Glass Sound
Author: Catriona Ward
Review: On the picturesque coast of Maine, an author embarks on the task of finishing his final novel, delving into the horrors he experienced in the caves beneath the town as a teenager. This novel is absolutely full of twists and turns; unpredictable in the best way possible. If you’ve ever enjoyed titles like House of Leaves, Looking Glass Sound is a perfect novel to follow up with!
Review by: Jo
The Priory of the Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon
Title: The Priory of the Orange Tree
Author: Samantha Shannon
Review: This epic reimagining of the tale of St. George and the dragon has it all: a beautiful slow-burn romance, political intrigue, ancient prophecies, and some absolutely fantastically-written dragons. The Priory of the Orange Tree is one of those books that’s truly worth your time!
Review by: Jo
Green River Running Red by Ann Rule
Title: Green River Running Red
Author: Ann Rule
Review: Ann Rule brings humanity and empathy to the harrowing case of the Green River killings that occurred here in Washington, focusing on thorough research, yet highlighting the victims, their lives, and their families. Not an easy read, but a staple in the true crime genre.
Review by: Layne
Murder by Cheesecake by Rachel Ekstrom Courage
Title: Murder by Cheesecake
Author: Rachel Ekstrom Courage
Review: I was pleasantly surprised , this book mixes in nostalgia, golden girls, a little bit of death and a little bit of cheesecake. It centers round one of Roses plans for putting on a wedding . A fun summer read.
Review by: Julie
Midnight in Soap Lake Matthew Sullivan
Title: Midnight in Soap Lake
Author: Matthew Sullivan
Review: I loved this book by Washington Author Matthew Sullivan! When Abigail agreed to move with her researcher husband to Soap Lake, WA, she couldn't have anticipated that he would soon fly off to Poland for another work opportunity leaving her alone in the tiny town. On one of her many walks to pass the tedious hours, she discovers a young boy and his dead mother in the desert which leads her into the dark shadowy world of TreeTop, the town's local Urban Legend.
Review by: Jannelle
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
Title: Wild Dark Shore
Author: Charlotte McConaghy
Review: Yet another stunning novel by Ms McConaghy. Incredible characters on a stunning tiny island somewhere near Antarctica. Gorgeous, mysterious, heartbreaking, beautiful.
Review by: Jan
Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh
Title: Cursed Bread
Author: Sophie Mackintosh
Review: A bizarre twist on a true life historical event (the 1951 mass poisoning of a French village), this post WW2 story is filled with suspense, desire, and small town power dynamics. I loved how out of this world the story felt, whilst maintaining its historical fiction roots.
Review by: Layne
What Art Does: Unfinished Theory by Brian Eno
Title: What Art Does: Unfinished Theory
Author: Brian Eno
Review: Known for his music, Brian Eno takes a look at art more generally. A small book in size, but working with some big ideas.
Review by: Ben
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Title: My Friends
Author: Fredrik Backman
Review: Oh, Mr. Backman. You’ve really done it this time! This is a story of the deepest friendships beginning in childhood.
It touches every heartstring. Do not skip one line. Absolutely fabulous!
Review by: Jan
A Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry by C.M. Waggoner
Title: A Ruthless Lady’s Guide to Wizardry
Author: C.M. Waggoner
This work is a lovely little adventure story settled into a richly-built world with a set of fascinating characters! It follows Delly, a street thief, who picks up a job as a bodyguard for a soon-to-be-married young woman of considerable means. What initially seems like an easy job, though, is quickly foiled when the assassination attempts against her employer begin—as Delly and her companions realize that there are other, much darker forces at play in this job.
Review by: Jo
Slewfoot by Brom
Title: Slewfoot
Author: Brom
Review: This chilling tale set in New England follows a recently-widowed young woman, Abitha, as she struggles to come to terms with her husband’s strange and eerie death. Nearby, an ancient spirit awakens in the woods— provoking rumors in the nearby town about witches and darker forces at play in Abitha’s life…This is folk horror at its finest, and Brom’s illustrations throughout this work are a gripping addition! Review by: Jo
The Wicked King by Holly Black
Title: The Wicked King
Author: Holly Black
Review: I could not put this book down. Holly Black is an amazing author that always keeps the reader engaged and on the edge of their seat. If you like stories of fairies that are true to actual fairy mythology, this series is a must read!
Review by: River
Tilt by Emma Pattee
Title: Tilt
Author: Emma Pattee
Review: Heart wrenching, funny, disastrous . An experience we all hope to never have…but could it? Maybe not pregnant, but still! Set in Portland, Oregon. Written in great detail. I loved this book!
Review by: Jan
Dear Bookstore by Emily Arrow
Title: Dear Bookstore
Author: Emily Arrow
Review: As a fan of books about books (and bookstores), I think this one captures the joy of books from a young age.
I'm really glad my parents got me started reading as a child. I think everyone should.
Review by: Ben
Swamplandia! - Karen Russell
Title: Swamplandia!
Author: Karen Russell
Review: This debut novel from Karen Russell is ripe with a murky, surreal Florida atmosphere as it chronicles the trials of the Bigtree family who own a declining alligator-wrestling theme park. At times darkly funny and disturbing, this is a truly unique read which began as a 2006 short story, "Ava Wrestles the Alligator."
Review by: Layne
Tree Story by Valerie Trouet
Title: Tree Story
Author: Valerie Trouet
Review: More than just counting tree rings to see a tree's age, this book expanded my understanding of dendrochronology to show how scientists are gaining insights into all kinds things like the age of old buildings and even shipwrecks.
Review by: Ben
The God of the Woods by Liz Moore
Title: The God of the Woods
Author: Liz Moore
Review: Deep in the woods of the Adirondack Mountains, a teenage girl has gone missing from her wealthy family’s summer camp. After her brother’s unsolved disappearance from the same camp over a decade before, and with a convicted killer on the loose, a desperate search for the truth ensues. Bouncing between both past and present cases, Moore’s book is a must-read for mystery lovers!
Review by: Bethany
The Ship Beneath the Ice by Mensun Bound
Title: The Ship Beneath the Ice
Author: Mensun Bound
Review: In terms of maritime historical narratives, I think you’d be hard-pressed to find anything more compelling than the story of Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition and his lost ship, the Endurance. This narrative covers both the details of Shackleton’s 1914 expedition and two modern attempts to locate the Endurance in the Weddell Sea. It tells a story of survival, courage, and perseverance in the face of seemingly impossible odds, and I can’t recommend it enough!
Review by: Jo
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawton
Title: The Frozen River
Author: Ariel Lawton
Review: Historical fiction at its finest. Set in 1789, Maine. The main character is a mid-wife with a large family, a wonderful husband and a sassy horse. The struggles are real. The writing is fabulous. The perspective is different and incredibly fascinating. Highly recommend.
Review by: Jan