Fiction

Baldacci, David. Divine Justice. Grand Central. Nov. 2008. c.393p. ISBN 978-0-446-19550-8. $27.99. F

Justice is in the eye of the beholder. In Baldacci's fourth novel (after Stone Cold) in his "Camel Club" series, Oliver Stone (aka John Carr, ex-CIA assassin) is wanted dead by his enemies and alive by his friends. Stone is on the run after assassinating the two men responsible for the death of his family and his friend Milton. Now Stone's former superior, Gen. Macklin Hayes, enlists tracker Joe Knox to locate Stone so Hayes can silence Stone forever. During Stone's flight from the law, a random act of kindness by Stone forces him on an unwanted detour to Divine, VA. There, Stone's continued good deeds might end up costing him his life as he quickly gets tangled in the hidden web of deceit to which the town owes its prosperity. Meanwhile, both Stone's friends and enemies are furtively searching for him. Who will reach Stone first? Baldacci fans will welcome this latest tale about the charismatic Stone and his exceedingly loyal friends with its fast-paced action and intriguing plot twists. Highly recommended for all thriller collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/08.]—Susan O. Moritz, Montgomery Cty. P.L.s, MD

On November 2, 1998, Grayson Donald ends his life by hanging himself from a basketball hoop in the upper-middle-class community of Little Rocky Run, VA. As in Joyce's Ulysses, the events of the day leading up to Grayson's decision are explored through many of the members of the community who had some connection to him. Grayson's mother, a teacher and devout Catholic working on her PhD, is busy with her night classes, and his father, a retired Pentagon worker, is busy downloading Internet porn and maintaining email relationships. Grayson's parents are typical of the variety of people who live in Little Rocky Run, including the Tobins: Ellen, who is obsessed with her daily bath, and Tim, who is continually jumping from one hobby to another. The teens in Little Rocky Run are as worried about sex and their future as they are about what schools they will attend and what careers they will find. Then there is a Latino gang, MS-13, that has its own strict bureaucracy. Bryce Gauthier, a retired marine and current security guard longs for a defining moment for his generation, maybe a terrorist attack. Boice (MVP) crafts a well-written portrait of suburban conformity where baked ziti is the meal of choice and social pressures keep people preoccupied in pre-9/11 tedium. The excellent use of language and the insightful plight of the variety of characters make this a good choice for both public and academic libraries.—Josh Cohen, Mid-Hudson Lib. Syst., Poughkeepsie, NY

Sixty-something Mira Braverman, a Serbian immigrant with a successful psychotherapy practice in London, is enduring seismic stresses in the late 1990s as her country descends ever deeper into unspeakable violence under Slobodan Miloševic´.. Mira's patients, mostly women with motherhood issues (thus, the title, which refers to her office), value her professional guidance even as they uneasily tread the topic of the country of her birth. Add to the story Mira's gravely ill beloved husband, Peter, and Peter's son from a casual college liaison, Graham, who is struggling with his own fear of fatherhood with his much younger bride and who has viewed his stepmother with civil distance until Peter's illness shifts family dynamics. Brownrigg's latest is a love story of exquisite language and sensitivity. Losing her husband and her country at the same time, Mira is forced to keep her despair private as she unwaveringly attends to her husband's last journey and helps her patients set themselves free of their own debilitating sorrows. Highly recommended.—Beth E. Andersen, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib., MI

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus asks his disciples the following question: "Who do you say that I am?" Twenty-first-century seekers continue to pursue answers to this identity question. Chopra, the best-selling mogul of Eastern spirituality, offers a portrait of Christ that takes a novel approach (pun intended). This work of fiction concentrates on Jesus's "lost years," showing that his life path and development are a template for transformation as well as union with God. Chopra here recalls the work of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung, who is well known for his theory of archetypes or universal, innate patterns (e.g., the Hero is one such manifestation of the collective unconscious). Likewise, Chopra's narrative is suggestive of Joseph Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces. Evangelical Christians—as well as traditional theists—may have a difficult time processing Chopra's portrayal of Christ, particularly the overtones of pantheism (God is all) and monism (all is one). Though not a work of doctrine, this book is a creative, literary expression. Even those who disagree with Chopra's theology will glean insights about their own faith. Given Chopra's popularity and ubiquity, this book is recommended for all public libraries; we should also expect books to come out in response to it, apologetics and otherwise.—C. Brian Smith, Arlington Heights Memorial Lib., IL

Essence best-selling authors DeBerry and Grant (Gotta Keep on Trying) create a blueprint for restructuring your life in their new novel. Thomasina "Tee" Hodges is a fortysomething single mother who has it all: a career working for an international cosmetic company that she cofounded; an educated, independent, professionally minded daughter; and a comfortable life that can afford her the finer things she deserves. But no sooner does she plan and pay for her daughter's wedding than she get fired from her job. The day after her daughter's wedding, she wakes up with the best man. Then her former employer threatens litigation against her for property that is rightfully hers, and the bill collectors start to call. As if that isn't enough, her job hunting is not turning up any prospects, while her cash flow dwindles day by day. Tee prided herself on keeping it together, but now her life is falling apart. She begins to learn to invest in her life and not the things that she thought made her life important. This is a story that is sure to keep these authors' fans wanting more. Recommended for all public libraries and African American fiction collections.—Carol Johnson, Cleveland P.L.

Teenage sisters Winona, Aurora, and Vivi Ann are shattered when their mother dies, but what comes close to destroying their relationship is the reaction of their father, a hard man who dotes on his youngest daughter, Vivi Ann, disparages Winona, the eldest, and ignores Aurora, who tries hard to keep peace in the family. Flash-forward 13 years, and Winona is still desperate for her father's approval and increasingly jealous of Vivi Ann. When Luke Connelly, the man Winona has always loved, begins dating an oblivious Vivi Ann, events are set in motion that will hurt everyone involved and come close to destroying one sister's life. It is difficult to care for the self-righteous Winona, the novel's central character, but Hannah, a former romance writer (Once in Every Life) and prolific novelist (Firefly Lane), does a lovely job of handling the relationship between Vivi Ann and her husband. An engrossing, fast-paced story that will appeal to readers of Barbara Delinsky and fans of women's fiction. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/08; library marketing.]—Elizabeth Mellett, Brookline P.L., MA

British author Harper (Knights of the Cross; Mosaic of Shadows) takes us back to the 1940s in this action-packed thriller. When the Germans invade Crete and pillage the site of an archaeological dig, the archaeologist passes his notebook to Sam Grant, a former special-ops soldier, for safekeeping. Six years later, Grant is conscripted by his previous employer to find a great treasure that includes Achilles' shield. With assistance from an Oxford professor and an old flame, Grant forms a team to decipher the notebook, translate some ancient tablets found at the dig, and discover the location of the shield. Perhaps to impart a degree of authenticity to the dialog, Harper gives one operative a vocabulary of coarse language that permeates nearly every sentence he speaks, while another uses terms that may have been standard for the period in which the book is set but to modern readers register as offensive ethnic epithets. Nevertheless, the novel seems well researched as it pertains to Greek history, culture, and myth and the true-life Troy discovery. Fans of Homer and the genre should enjoy it. Recommended for popular fiction collections.—Laura A.B. Cifelli, Fort Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., FL

Kraft's protagonist through 12 novels, the memoirist Peter Leroy is both an egoist and an egotist who by all rights should be a crashing bore, but his curious idiosyncrasies, strange perspectives, and satirical wit render him fascinating. His ego is held somewhat in check by his wryly brilliant wife, Albertine, and their pithy, erudite conversations resemble those of a markedly hornier William Powell and Myrna Loy. The account of a mostly fraudulent "aerocycle" voyage to and from Long Island, NY, to a summer institute for potential spies in New Mexico by 15-year-old Peter around 1960 alternates with the tale of Peter and Albertine retracing the voyage in the present day. Both voyages could be described as picaresques, featuring a delightful variety of odd hostelries and characters. Kraft employs actual and altered illustrations and advertisements from popular science magazines from the 1930s through the 1950s to hilarious effect. Likely to appeal primarily to boomers and seniors, this is an essential purchase for public libraries, but it is also recommended for academic libraries.—Jim Dwyer, California State Univ. Lib., Chico

Like two of Márai's other novels published by Knopf, this one concerns a love triangle of sorts. But unlike Embers and Casanova in Bolzano, Esther's Inheritance is told from a woman's point of view. Esther has loved her late sister's husband for years; Lajos, a known con artist, uses this knowledge to manipulate her into giving him the deed to her house, her only possession and source of sustenance. Nearly everyone is prey to his charm, but Esther's submission is absolute and symbolic. On the surface, the novella tells the intimate story of an unhealthy relationship. But Márai, who considered it his responsibility to portray the disintegration of the Hungarian middle class, makes a much broader statement. While he may not have foretold the impact of capitalism on Hungarian society in the late 20th century, Márai isolates a human characteristic that leads the middle class toward its own destruction: the ease with which it is, sometimes even knowingly, manipulated by pretty words and empty promises. Recommended for readers who have enjoyed translations of Márai's other outstanding novels and memoir.—Kurt H. Cumiskey, Duke Univ. Libs., Durham, NC

Through the prisms of the years 1917, 1939, and 1994, Montefiore digs into the tribulations of one family as it strives to survive the upheavals of 20th-century Russia. The pampered darling of a bourgeois Jewish family, Sashenka converts to Bolshevism in her teens. She becomes a highly placed apparatchik, but that does not save her from the 1930s Stalinist purges. By 1994, families separated by war and exile are digging in the archives to find lost connections. Not-so-blind fate intervenes to produce a surprise ending for Sashenka's progeny. Montefiore, already a celebrated historian (Young Stalin), makes his fiction debut chillingly realistic with his close knowledge of Stalin and his circle. Indeed, the telling details of the era redeem the novel's somewhat stilted opening chapters. The Russian voices of Vassily Aksyonov and Boris Pasternak have recounted the personal tragedies of the era in their captivating books The Generations of Winter and Dr. Zhivago, respectively; Montefiore's Sashen ka shows us that the Soviet interlude in Russia's blood-spattered history still makes for a gripping read in the 21st century. Highly recommended. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 7/08.]—Barbara Conaty, Falls Church, VA

Orth's first novel excels in its depiction of the cruelty and oppression that defined the Marcos regime in the Philippines in the 1980s. But it also successfully captures the Southeast Asian country's incredible diversity of people, language, food, and spiritual beliefs. At the center of the story are Rue Caldwell, an American innocent abroad, and Filipino dissident Doming Aquinaldo. Doming, the chauffeur for Rue's husband, Trace, who works for the U.S. National Security Council, provides information about Trace and his Filipino connections to insurgents. As more corruption and brutality are unveiled, Rue can no longer deny the truth about Trace's job. Both she and Doming struggle with whether (and how) to counter the dictatorship's stranglehold. Falling in love with each other complicates the moral dilemma. Meanwhile, Orth engages readers with her vivid description of the lush tropical climate. Her writing also should propel them to anger and compassion with its difficult details about the corruption and violence meted out against Filipino society, especially those who dared to stand up to Ferdinand and Imelda Marcos. Highly recommended.—Faye A. Chadwell, Oregon State Univ. Lib., Corvallis

In this prequel to the Nina Reilly mystery series (e.g., Case of Lies), young Nina tackles her first mystery, as a single mom juggling law school and paralegal work. Former husband Richard reappears, trying to claim joint custody of her son. Then, Nina's mother, Ginny, decides to take legal action against the acupuncturist she believes cost her the use of her hand. Nina naturally advises her mother to talk to one of the attorneys at her firm, the experienced and steely Remy Sorensen, who agrees to take the case. Meanwhile, Nina finds herself interested in both law partner Jack McIntyre and Det. Paul van Wagoner. Romance is the last thing on her mind, though, when Richard and then Ginny are found dead; suddenly, Nina wonders if she's next and decides to begin sleuthing on her own to find justice. O'Shaughnessy treats fans to the backstory of a popular character, which acts as a good starting point for those new to the series, too. Nina's balancing act and independent streak make her an admirable heroine in a solidly plotted book that gets the job done.—Amy Brozio-Andrews, Albany P.L., NY

Terry Laws was, by all accounts, a superb law enforcement officer. But on the night he happened to be riding with fellow LA Sheriff Deputy Charlie Hood, he was gunned down execution-style. It looks like a straightforward case of a gangbanger getting even with Laws, but Hood is assigned to Internal Affairs and finds the tidiness of this line of thinking disturbing. He gradually teases out anomalies indicating that Laws might have been a corrupt cop following a skewed renegade style of justice. Hood's strong moral compass steers the plot through a bleak morass of drug-saturated culture, stretching from the dreary high-desert suburbs above Los Angeles all the way south to no-man's-land between California and Mexico. Allison Murrieta's spirit (L.A. Outlaws) still haunts him and is personified by her teenage son, Bradley, a smart young soul who hasn't figured out which side of the law he most admires. It's quite a showdown, done the Edgar Award-winning Parker way, in this engrossing tale of justice and redemption. Highly recommended for all popular collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/08.]—Teresa L. Jacobsen, Solano Cty. Lib., Fairfield, CA

Patterson pens another compelling legal thriller, reminiscent of Exile. Successful lawyer Damon Pierce had an unrequited love affair with Marissa Brand, but she was in love with a cause in the West African nation of Luandia (think Nigeria) and its leader, Bobby Okari. The divorcing Damon receives a plea for help from Marissa, so he flies off to Africa and learns that the head of the government is tied into PetroGlobal, the American oil company making billions from West African oil. He also finds that the water supply has been repeatedly compromised by oil, there is no infrastructure, and the people are starving and disease-ridden while being brutalized by the government. Bobby had led a demonstration during the night of the eclipse, and then the government slaughtered everyone in his village and tortured and arrested him, accusing him of murder. Damon has his hands full trying to get a fair trial for Bobby, and because Marissa is an American, the world is watching. Patterson once again brings a timely, controversial subject—America's dependence on foreign oil—to the forefront in this troubling yet engrossing read. Highly recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/15/08; this novel draws on the actual case of writer and activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was hanged by the Nigerian military in 1995 despite international protests.—Ed.]—Stacy Alesi, Boca Raton, FL

This is the latest in Poyer's long-running series headlining the exploits of the often dark and conflicted hero, Navy Commander Dan Lenson. Russia has developed a new, superfast torpedo with a nuclear warhead, and now the Iranians have it. Lenson must lead the same near-dysfunctional group from Korea Strait to get it from them. The group first tries to hijack a freighter they erroneously believe carries the weapon and then has to steal an Iranian sub after an attempt to swipe the torpedo goes awry. There is so much bad planning and petty jealousy that the plot becomes illogical to the point where readers will wonder just how the United States won any wars. Although sometimes exciting, the plot moves slowly, and the tech talk can be overwhelming. In the novel, a frustrated Lenson muses that he has served enough time to retire, and readers will agree. Poyer has written numerous other novels about various topics, including the Civil War, and maybe he, too, should consider something fresh. For larger collections.—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI

Violet Parry is unhappily married to LA rock 'n' roll manager David when she falls for Teddy, a man whose circumstances are her polar opposite. Things are bad for Teddy—not only is he a struggling musician but he is also a recovering drug addict infected with hepatitis C, and, as Violet notes, he's the first person she's known who's missing a tooth. Violet endears herself to Teddy by paying to fix his truck and inexplicably pursues him. While Violet struggles with her marriage, David's younger sister, Sally, is hunting for a successful husband, and she has in mind Jeremy, a soon-to-be-famous sportscaster. Sally has problems of her own—she's diabetic and buried under credit card debt. All the players come together at Sally's wedding, where Violet has hired Teddy's band as the entertainment. Teddy becomes the catalyst for change for both Violet and Sally as the author skillfully interweaves two different story lines showing that the choices we make in the name of happiness can affect us and those closest to us in unexpected ways. This debut novel by a former television writer is sure to be a hit with readers who like women's fiction set in upscale LA (e.g., Gigi Levangie Grazer's The Starter Wife). Recommended for all public libraries.—Karen Core, Detroit P.L.

Shelton's third novel (after A Piece of Normal) is an engrossing, charming, and often funny exploration of love and the relationships that result. Artist Jamie McClintock and her son, Arley, are happy where they are. A year ago, Harris Goddard asked them to move in with him and his grandson, Christopher, and share responsibilities. The arrangement works—until Harris drops dead from a heart attack. Suddenly, Jamie and Arley have to find a new place to live, and five-year-old Christopher is going to be uprooted from the only home he's ever known to live with his estranged father. Nate Goddard left his son in the care of his father after his wife was killed in a car accident, and somehow he has never managed to make his way back. Harris's death forces Nate to return home, and while he's eager to get to know Christopher, he hasn't a clue about how to be a father. The presence of earth mother Jamie and asthmatic Arley in the family home isn't making his attempts any easier. Though the slow-building and complicated relationship between Jamie and Nate plays a role in the story, it is the relationships between Nate and his son and Nate and his deceased father that allow the author to explore love in its different incarnations. Recommended for all public libraries.—Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI

Superbly accomplished at both plotting and characterization, Steinhauer, in a change of pace from his series of Eastern European thrillers (e.g., The Bridge of Sights; Victory Square), offers an emotionally damaged protagonist who is an experienced spy or "tourist" but now a family man and desk-bound agent of the post-9/11, scandal-ridden CIA. When Milo Weaver is called back to fieldwork and assigned to capture an international assassin, it sets off an investigation into one of Milo's colleagues. The story is long and complicated but compelling and hard to put down. As is true of the better spy novels, the theme here is betrayal. Forays into blind alleys, puzzling clues, lapses of judgment, narrow escapes, and ingenious attainment of objectives establish Milo as a skilled operative performing difficult tasks while being systematically deceived by compatriots and adversaries. Accepting the contemporary story as potentially realistic, readers are led into hoping that their country's intelligence-gathering leadership is actually in better hands—and performing for less venal reasons—than the novel suggests. Appropriately, this story includes a full measure of cynicism, very little humor, and a tender conclusion. Highly recommended for all public libraries.—Jonathan Pearce, California State Univ., Stanislaus