Good Reads & Views

What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama
Fiction

What it’s about: This inspirational novel of interlocking short stories stars Sayuri Komachi, the Reference Librarian at a community center in Tokyo. In each story, a person is unsatisfied with their life, but they don’t know what to do to change it. A young clerk in a store feels adrift. An accountant wants to own an antique shop. A woman tries to juggle childcare and work. They all take different paths to the library but all receive help from librarian Ms. Komachi.  She asks them what they are looking for, and then gives them a list of books and a “bonus gift” of a felted object she made. Each person finds deep meaning in the seemingly random gift and finds a way forward to a life with greater meaning.

Reviewers say: “A comforting read filled with serendipity and simple wisdom, this is a celebration of community, connection, and the transformative power of libraries” (Booklist);  “A delightful, gentle unfolding of stories that offer hope and joy to those who find themselves in a pivotal moment in life” (Kirkus Reviews).

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Coronation Year by Jennifer Robson
Fiction

What it’s about: It’s 1953 and England is poised to crown Elizabeth II. Edie Howard, owner of the historic Blue Lion Hotel, is pleased to learn that the royal procession will pass right outside. Two of her guests, artist Jamie Geddes and photographer Stella Donati, are hoping to further their careers by documenting the coronation. But all is not well at the Blue Lion, and Edie feels she has no one to turn to. But as we see through the eyes of each of these sympathetic characters, we are drawn in by the power of friendship, loyalty, and love.

Reviewers say: “[T]his is an uplifting story of a people and place battered by war but coming together to celebrate and work toward a better future” (Library Journal); “[T]his engaging and heartwarming story explores how the way we define ourselves is shaped not only by the legacy we've received but also by surrounding ourselves with a supportive community” (Booklist).

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The President’s Wife by Tracey Enerson Wood
Fiction

What it’s about: Edith Bolling Galt is a widowed socialite in early twentieth-century Washington DC. After the president’s cousin introduces her to Woodrow Wilson, himself a widower, they embark on a whirlwind courtship. Once the president’s wife, Edith becomes his sounding board and confidant. Author Wood paints a vivid picture of the times, including World War I and its aftermath, as Woodrow labors to bring the US into the League of Nations.

Reviewers say: “Wood's book is a stately and dignified account that is beautifully leavened by intimate glimpses of Edith and Woodrow in their happiness, grief, anger, and optimism” (Library Journal); “Fans of revisionist historicals with strong female leads should check this out” (Publisher’s Weekly).

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A Traitor in Whitehall by Julia Kelly
Fiction

What it’s about: Evelyne Redfern is glad to leave her WWII factory job to work in Churchill’s underground Cabinet War Rooms. She’s been recruited to work in the typing pool to uncover who is leaking information to the Germans. On her very first day she discovers the body of one of her fellow typists. An avid mystery-reader, Evelyn is less than impressed by the pair of military police assigned to the case and decides to investigate herself. But David Poole from the Ministry of Information is also investigating, and Evelyne is eager to join forces with him. This feisty heroine will keep you turning the pages of this one.

Reviewers say: “Romance, feminism, and historical detail combine in an exciting new series” (Kirkus);  “Kelly's story, a cross between a Nancy Drew mystery and an Agatha Christie tale, sometimes requires leaps of logic, but its gentle humor, unexpected twists, clever heroine, and wartime setting make it a pleasurable read” (Booklist).

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Mrs. Plansky’s Revenge by Spencer Quinn
Fiction

What it’s about: Newly widowed Loretta Plansky is beset by relatives’ demands for money, so when she receives a phone call in the middle of the night from someone claiming to be her grandson Will, she doesn’t blink. What she does do is give him the password to her checking account. Next morning she wakes up three million dollars poorer, the victim of a scam. The FBI can only tell her the money went to a little town in Romania, and there’s no way to recover it. Not what Mrs. Plansky wants to hear, so she hops a plane to Romania and sets about recovering her lost wealth. This rollicking story is a treat you won’t want to miss! 

Reviewers say: “Readers will root for 71-year-old Loretta as she stumbles onto clues and, despite a less-than-stellar memory, finds the gumption to follow them” (Booklist); “Fans of Richard Osman's "Thursday Murder Club" series will appreciate the latest addition to the ranks of older sleuths” (Library Journal). 

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Mrs. Claus and the Santaland Slayings by Liz Ireland
Fiction

What it’s about: When widowed April met Nick Claus at her Oregon inn, she never dreamed he was part of the Claus family – in fact, holder of the title “Santa” himself. Now Mrs. Claus lives near the North Pole in a land inhabited by elves and snowmen. When one of the elves is murdered, suspicion falls on Nick. When Inspector Jake Frost (not Jack) starts finding clues pointing to Nick, April knows she has to find the truth to clear her husband. But she has only known him for a few months – what if she has married a murderer? 

Reviewers say: “This fun, well-plotted mystery is the perfect holiday entertainment” (Publisher’s Weekly). 

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Dying in the Wool by Frances Brody
Fiction

What it’s about: Kate Shackleton is a widow who lost her husband in World War I. Now, in 1922, she spends her time as an amateur sleuth helping find missing people. An old friend, Tabitha Braithwaite, is about to get married and she wants Kate to locate her father who has been missing since 1916. Kate agrees and starts sniffing around the mill town of Bridgestead where Joshua Braithwaite went missing. With her trusty camera in hand, Kate starts questioning the townspeople, and turning up things that someone wants to keep buried. Did Joshua start a new life he wants to keep secret, or did someone kill him all those years ago?

Reviewers say: Frances Brody “introduces a refreshingly complex heroine and adds a fine feeling for the postwar period" (Kirkus Reviews).

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And There Was Light: Abraham Lincoln and the American Struggle by Jon Meacham
Nonfiction

What it’s about:  It may be hard for people today to realize how much of our country’s history hung on the slavery/antislavery issue, but it consumed the politics and social life of the US the first 60 years of the 19^th century. Meacham shows how Lincoln’s position on slavery grew over the years leading up to and including the Civil War. He also, with quotations from famous and not-so-famous people, lays out how the sides were drawn.

Reviewers say:  “Richly detailed and gracefully written, this is an essential reminder that ‘progress can be made by fallible and fallen presidents and peoples’" (Publisher’s Weekly).

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The Murder of Mr. Wickham by Claudia Gray 
Fiction

What it’s about: Jane Austen fans rejoice! Claudia Gray has brought together beloved characters from across Austen’s novels in a historical mystery. Mr. and Mrs. Knightley are having a house party and have invited characters from other Austen books. From the title, readers already know who gets killed, but will be on pins and needles – is their favorite character the murderer? Readers don’t have to be an Austenite to enjoy this historical mystery. 

Reviewers say: “There's so much fun to be had in this reimagined Austen world--and the mystery is so strong--that one can only hope, dear reader, that more books will follow” (Booklist); “A captivating production that's perfect for readers who enjoy historical mysteries and for those Austen fans who'd love to see Mr. Wickham's ultimate comeuppance” (Library Journal).

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The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
Fiction

What it’s about:  The notorious pirate of the Indian Ocean, Amina al-Sirafi, has retired and wants to raise her daughter in peace. Then someone connected to her piratical past appears and demands Amina rescue her kidnapped granddaughter. Amina reluctantly agrees, and in quick succession is rounding up members of her old crew and gaining a ship. The kidnapper is a sorcerer, so the battles that follow are not your usual sea epic!   

Reviewers say: “If readers are not won over by the playful plot twists and thrilling action sequences, they will fall for the charmingly crooked cast and dry humor” (Publishers Weekly); “Chakraborty creates a world of high stakes and action, enhanced by its excellent representation of Southwest Asian and North African culture, as well as its challenge to gender roles” (Booklist).

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