Staff Suggestions
Enjoy "browsing" our popular staff recommendations and feel as if you’re in the store talking to one of our knowledgable booksellers. Have fun, they’re addictive!
This gripping novel opens with the mysterious kidnapping of a CDC scientist and doesn’t let up. A violent white supremacist group, hidden deep in the Appalachian Mountains, is planning an attack on American soil. Think The Handmaid’s Tale, Jonestown, and the anthrax attacks all rolled into one suspense-filled story. Disturbing? Yes, but also a contemporary thriller that will pull you in.
— Marilyn
Told in present tense and flashbacks by a law student, her criminal defense attorney husband, and his nemesis, an assistant DA, this legal thriller, murder mystery and story of psychological suspense has it all and then some! A twisty, page-turning novel with an ending that I did not see coming. And I love that in a book!
— Marilyn
I hesitated to try this one, as I am a huge fan of Lisa Lutz’s hilarious Spellman Files series. I was not disappointed in this subversive satire (or is it?) involving social hierarchy and sexual contests at an elite private school. The Swallows is both disturbing and gleefully funny.
— Julie
Books like this not only inform, but like a trail of breadcrumbs through the forest they lead you on to learn more. A small but persistent group of students was encouraged by their mentor, Franz Boas, to look at non-western European and white societies and remove the labels put on them. They went into the field - to Samoa, Haiti, the Sioux country, post-war Japan - and looked, talked, listened, and appreciated that these cultures are not less or lacking - just different. Well written, a pleasure.
— Nancy
If you’re looking for a refreshingly lighthearted read, then look no further! This is a stunning debut from Hazel Prior. Prior’s characters are delightful, human, and, above all, authentic. I fell in love with this absolute gem of a novel and never wanted it to end.
— Nicole
Raney’s debut novel follows a mother and daughter as they endure one of life’s most trying experiences. Despite a grueling battle against cancer, sixteen-year-old Maddy remains as strong-minded and full of life as ever. All the Water in the World demonstrates love in its various forms — a mother-daughter bond, a budding teenage romance, and an intoxicating first love. This is a book that helps put life into perspective.
— Nicole
A clever and amusing memoir, and a tribute to Alexandra's father - a "self-exiled" Brit who moved to Africa. How anyone could thrive, let alone survive, under such incredible hardships (both physically and emotionally) points to the resilience, passion, and respect of one amazing family. I have earmarked so many pages to read again. I love everything she writes!
— Barb
Did I pick up this story collection because of the title and the bird on the cover? Yes. When I was finished was I happy that I did? Also, yes! Some of Maizes’ characters have big hearts and even bigger intentions that don’t always pan out. And with a lot of dark humor and a dash of empathy, she manages to explain why some people behave badly. She rounds out her collection with a little magical realism and a few pet stories that make me wonder - do I really want a dog? The stories are full of warmth, depth, and a good addition of ridiculousness that made it a great find!
— Britt
Perhaps Annette Feldman’s idea to get the family together on a cruise ship for her 70th birthday was ill advised! Oh my goodness - I was laughing out loud as this clan’s secrets start to unfold in a hilarious and touching way. I love the revelation about the supposed “loser” brother. Truly a perfect summer read!
— Julie
I was instantly drawn into this slow burn novel. After a violent assault in London, our heroine scores a teaching job in the “safe” English countryside. Her group of writing students are doing fascinating work, especially the one who is drawing her into his disturbing orbit. Propulsive psychological intrigue at its best.
— Julie
When three 66-year-old men reunite on Martha's Vineyard it's not just about reminiscing. Back in the late 60's there was the Vietnam draft, drugs, partying at a private Connecticut college, many secrets, and believe it or not - an unsolved mystery! Richard Russo is at his best with this new stand-alone novel. Relatable characters and suspenseful twists will having you second guessing till the end!
— Barb
Revenge has been called a dish best served cold. But in this crafty thriller, it’s served in a locked, sweltering, claustrophobic elevator in a deserted part of the city where four rich and greedy investment bankers have been lured, then trapped, in a team-building exercise gone awry. Who is at the controls, giving the group cryptic clues to unravel while they try to escape the room, their pasts, and each other? And why did someone bring a gun?
— Marilyn
When Roux, an alluring and mysterious new neighbor, shows up uninvited at the door of the local book club meeting, all discussions of the book end as the suburban housewives are drawn into her provocative game of “never have I ever.” Joshilyn Jackson’s latest is a page-turning game of cat and mouse that will keep you guessing!
— Marilyn
“You’re invited to the party of the summer!” If you like: summer, Cape Cod, books, parties, and maybe a bit of controversy, then you’ll love this book! I found the characters quirky and the content of classic books within the book fun to learn about. I can still smell the salt water and feel the cool ocean breeze….
— Lori
The brain is the true mystery that envelops and frames this novel. Our reality, memories, personality... even our ghosts, are the byproducts of the enigmatic, unchartered mind. Brain surgeon Jake Baker retells the story of the summer he was 12 filled with new friendships, childhood fears, and ghost hunts. Davidson’s descriptions evoked the rawness of coming of age feelings. If you are a fan of “Stranger Things” or “It,” you will love this novel! A fantastic choice for a summer read!
— Tonya
On Being Human is a breathtakingly honest memoir. Pastiloff effortlessly voices feelings that some of us may suppress, empathize with, or not even recognize until she masterfully puts them into words. As she documents her journey from a self-loathing waitress to an empowering leader in her renowned workshop “On Being Human,” Pastiloff explores what it means to be truly present in the world. This is a book that stays with you long after you’ve read the final page.
— Nicole
This book is about beer - every kind of beer, but especially craft beer. It's also about families, betrayal, finding your best self, and Grammas who make beer. With his signature dry wit and true to life characters that will appeal to everyone, Stradal's second novel is great entertainment. I don't even like beer, but loved this book! Slainte!
— Terri
This is first and foremost a book about history, and how our life narratives parallel those of people born decades earlier. Alternating between the present day and the early twentieth century, Home for Erring and Outcast Girls explores the lives of fallen women who desperately seek refuge from their struggles, and whose only hope is to find a place to call Home. I found myself laughing, smiling, and shedding tears with the characters in this book. This historical fiction novel is a touching tribute to the Berachah Home, and all the women who lived there.
— Nicole
Baltimore in 1966 is a city divided, racially and ethnically. Into this fray jumps Maddie Schwartz, a sheltered wife and mother who leaves her 20 year marriage hoping to make a difference in the world. When her instincts help police find the body of a murdered preteen white girl, Maddie gets a job at the Baltimore Sun and begins her own investigation into the murder of a young black woman, one that has been all but forgotten. But not everyone wants their story told. Unforgettable characters and plenty of twists in this page-turner!
— Marilyn
Wow! Once again, Colson Whitehead writes with brilliance! Based on the true story of a Florida reform school, he takes us inside the stories of the boys sent to live there in a fictionalized tale. At once devastating and thought provoking, The Nickel Boys kept me reading at a fast and furious pace. It takes talent, which Mr. Whitehead has, to expose horrors but not in a horrific way.
— Lori
If you miss singleton Bridget Jones, you will love Tiffy and Leon: flatmates who share a place and a bed, but have never met. Communicating via post-it notes, they begin to form a meaningful friendship. A warm and funny book, full of British humor, but one that tackles serious subjects and does both equally well.
— Marilyn
A fascinating book like nothing I’ve read before. Lisa Taddeo “followed” 3 women for almost a decade. She tells their stories of desire, passion, and sex, and reveals the roles each of those things played in their lives. Although it’s not surprising, getting a raw view of the emotional effect made a lasting impression. This is an important book for sure!
— Lori
I have never stayed up all night reading a book until this one. The building anxiety of this masterpiece of suspense…just woah. Is this mother of two young children crazy? Is she suffering post-partum symptoms? OR is there legit an INTRUDER in her house, threatening the lives of her and her children, while her husband is away? This is a totally thrilling read, and yet, a commentary on the unrelenting anxiety that comes with motherhood. Read The Need now, thank me later.
— Liz
This ingenious and elegantly simple cake book will prove itself useful to you again and again. With a number of delicious and reliable components (and a chart to help you find the best combinations!), you'll have something incredible on the table in no time!
— Kelly
Evvie Drake is a young widow done grieving the death of her husband because, frankly, he wasn’t a nice guy. Dean Tenney, a famous “has been” pro baseball pitcher, has a serous case of the yips (yes, this is a real condition!). When Dean rents the apartment in Evvie’s house they become fast friends and experience several curve balls life throws at them.
NPR’s Linda Holmes has written an intelligent, heartfelt novel about loss, love and starting over. A truly refreshing read!
— Sue
The Bookish Life of Nina Hill will have you laughing out loud from start to finish. Nina Hill is one of the most hysterical, yet undeniably human, characters I have come across in fiction novels. Despite her multiple quirks, anxieties, and often guarded demeanor, Nina learns how to be simultaneously afraid and brave. She overcomes adversity through her self-deprecating humor and, of course, through her love for books. A fun and uplifting read!
— Nicole
Historical fiction with a liberal dash of sexy and snarky. Intrepid young Lulu Randolph is sent to the Bahamas, circa 1941, to write a gossip column, and who does she get involved with? The Duke and Duchess (Wallis Simpson) of Windsor. Stir in British agents, glamour and drama, and the arrival of WWII with a backstory set in 1900 Switzerland. It's all here....grab your beach chair and settle in for an engaging read.
— Barb
And they’re back! In the hilarious sequel to the bestselling Hope Never Dies, Obama and Biden, America’s newest crime-fighting duo, take to Obama’s home turf: the streets of Chicago. While Biden mulls over a run for the presidency, Obama’s Blackberry is stolen. When the thief turns up dead, the two realize there’s more to this than meets the eye!
— Marilyn
The Toll is chock full of flawed, even unlikable characters.... in the best possible way. It's a ghost story, and a mystery, and the tale of a swamp and the thing that lives in it. A page-turner with an uncertain ending that I loved.
— Lindsey
With Atkinson's signature style, and characters with wry, sometimes self-deprecating, humor, this one had me from beginning to end. Though part of a series, this can and should be read alone; but be prepared to want to read more adventures of Jackson Brodie once you've finished this one. From one of my most favorite authors with mesmerizing style, this is a great read for anyone!
— Terri
Imagine receiving a phone call from someone who tells you they’ve kidnapped your child and in order to get him/her back you must kidnap another person’s child ... and once you've done that then your own will be released. If you don’t complete this task in 24 hours “The Chain” will be broken and your child will be murdered. One morning, Rachel O’Neill receives such a call and is forced to do the unthinkable to secure her daughter’s release and continue The Chain.
A nail-biting, page-turning thriller!
— Sue
I like apocalyptic books to show the downfall of society and not just the aftermath; and boy does Chuck Wendig deliver on that. Tackling intelligent AI, disease, climate change, survival, humanity, and faith, Wanderers follows a collection of characters as the world falls apart around them despite everything they do to try and stop it. At times hard to read, Wanderers is a terrifying and epic story that often feels like something that could take place tomorrow. I laughed, I cried, I cringed, I felt hope, despair, all the emotions, while reading this book. A ride I won't soon forget.
— Lindsey
Wanted: young, broke, single men/women to apartment sit in one of Manhattan’s oldest, most exclusive luxury buildings, complete with gargoyles. Pay: $4k a month. Rules: strictly enforced. Atmosphere: gothic and sinister. What could go wrong? Told in present time and flashbacks, this is a tense and creepy thriller, reminiscent of Rosemary’s Baby. If you love edge-of-your-seat suspense, this book is for you!
— Marilyn
Audrey, a young woman from Dallas with a passion for flying, finds herself on the island of Hawaii training pilots when the Pearl Harbor attack shocks the world. As a young woman, I am always looking for characters to admire and Audrey is definitely one of them. A determined, smart and independent woman who knows what she wants, she certainly was ahead of her time. The Flight Girls is filled with friendship and love during a troubling time in history and should be the next book you pick up!
— Bella
This will be your new favorite historical fiction! For fans of Pillars of the Earth, this takes us the 16th century France and the strife between the Catholics and the Huguenots. Finely crafted with a little bit of everything- war, intrigue, revenge, love, and betrayal- I couldn't stop reading! This new series will have you impatient for the next one!
— Terri
A wonderfully detailed familial tale spanning wartime Calabria, Italy, to current day Hartford, CT. I honestly thought this was non-fiction the whole time I was reading it. Grames has carved her characters in such fine detail, I wouldn't be surprised if I bumped into one on the street. A fantastic debut!
— Terri
After a long absence, FBI agent Nell Flynn returns home to Long Island when her father, a retired Homicide Detective, dies in a motorcycle accident. Upon arriving she is asked to help with an investigation into the gruesome murder of two young women; and, as her research in the case progresses, she uncovers a corrupt police force and the stunning revelation that her father may have been involved in some way...but how? A suspenseful read that will keep you guessing until the last page!
— Sue
“We were a perfectly normal family” begins this gripping Swedish noir thriller. Adam, a pastor, and Ulrika, a criminal defense attorney, find their world turned upside down when their 18-year-old daughter Stella is accused of murdering a man 15 years older. Cleverly told from the three perspectives of father, mother and daughter, this is both a murder mystery and legal thriller. One that asks - how far would you go to protect the ones you love?
— Marilyn
The Krakauer of anthropology, Kulick shares an intensely honest and personal account of his years spent in an isolated rainforest village. Told without romanticizing, this is ultimately a respectful view of a disappearing way of life.
— Laura
What a delightful and insightful memoir by the sartorially talented Tan France! I assumed Tan always had his act together, but his youth was of a bit of a messy search to find his passion. Understanding his struggles and hurdles makes me even more of a fan. If you haven’t watched the life affirming Queer Eye you need to read this book and catch up on all episodes!
— Julie
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