Fiction

Can Xue. Five Spice Street. Yale Univ.. Mar. 2009. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-300-12227-5. $25. F

This erudite work, Chinese writer Can Xue's first novel to be completely translated into English, takes supposition as its premise. Readers are introduced to the mysterious Madam X, a married woman in her midthirties with a young son. The townsfolk living on Five Spice Street, who include a widow, a writer, and a young coal worker, all contribute their theories as to who Madam X is and what she represents. As the work progresses, it is discovered that she and her husband are former government workers who now run a snack shop. More interesting is the buzz surrounding Madam X's affair with Mr. Q. Every aspect of the lives of Madam X, her husband, and her lover are brought into question, and, like many Chinese writers, Can Xue focuses on the sexual aspect. Not for the average reader, this novel comprises nearly a dozen different chapters that appear more like a hodgepodge of lengthy observations and commentaries, written in a convoluted stream-of-consciousness style that recalls the work of Gao Xingjian (Soul Mountain). Requiring great patience, study, and discussion, this work is best suited to academic libraries with strong Asian or world literature collections.—Shirley N. Quan, Orange Cty. P.L., Santa Ana, CA

After three years, Coben (Hold Tight) returns to basketball star-turned-sports agent-turned-sleuth Myron Bolitar, while retaining a good deal of the twists and turns found in his stand-alone thrillers. An unexpected phone call from an old flame, Terese, brings Myron to Paris to help her unravel a mystery involving her ex-husband. Turns out that the CIA, Terese's long-dead daughter, an antiabortion group, a stem cell clinic, and—oh, yeah—al-Qaeda are also involved. In a lesser writer's hands, this could have been ridiculous, but Coben is the master of taking impossible, even outlandish situations and somehow making them realistic. This is sure to please both Bolitar fans and those who have only read Coben's roller coaster-ride thrillers. Bolitar and his quirky series cohorts are fully introduced, allowing newcomers a seamless entry. Highly recommended for all popular fiction collections.—Rebecca Vnuk, Glen Ellyn P.L., IL

Russian telecommunications tycoon Igor will do anything to get his ex-wife, Eva, back—even committing serial murder. Eva's new husband, a fashion couturier interested in branching into film production, has brought her to the Cannes Film Festival, where the killings begin to gain her attention. In his 12th novel, internationally best-selling author Coelho (The Alchemist) offers a timely critique of the degeneration of the world's societal mores. Through his complex characters, Coelho illustrates the absurdity of the false dreams we are fed through the strong influences of the fashion and moviemaking industries. He also touches on the intricate connections of major global crises like the Rwandan genocide and money laundering by drug cartels to show how greed can manipulate and destroy. Recommended for popular fiction collections.—Joy St. John, Henderson Dist. P.L., NV

The Lacuna Cabal Montreal Women's Book Club has been meeting regularly since its members' McGill student days when a couple of them attended a reading of Michael Ondaatje's In the Skin of the Lion. Since that time, although their selections have been the standard literary book club fare, their discussions have been anything but. They don't so much read the books as reenact them, going so far as to find appropriate settings for each. Their latest discovery is a book written in cuneiform on clay tablets, which turns out to be The Epic of Gilgamesh. The narrative begin to go off the rails with the introduction of a fitzbot, a directional device that eventually leads the characters to Iraq, the original setting of the epic, where one of the members is eager to locate the "Baghdad blogger," whose postings she has been avidly following. Despite having many of the ingredients of a good book club read—the atmospheric Montreal setting, the casual name-dropping of popular Canadian books and authors, and the unusual cast of book club members—this imaginative novel comes up a little short. For libraries catering to serious-minded book clubs.—Barbara Love, Kingston Frontenac P.L., Ont.

Grant's debut thriller introduces British naval intelligence officer David Trevellyan, who's just finished a job in New York when he's framed for the murder of an undercover FBI agent. To clear himself, Trevellyan burrows into the multimillion-dollar operation headed by Lesley, surely one of the most diabolical women in fiction, who takes pleasure in removing the testicles of men whose performance displeases her. With her capture in midbook, the plot sags a bit until one crime morphs into another, from the murders of a team of skilled ex-military contractors just back from Iraq to organ harvesting to terrorism. Military-trained Trevellyan is big, strong, resourceful, independent, and thinks outside the box; if he's reminiscent of Jack Reacher, note that Grant is Lee Child's younger brother, and the two authors will do some joint promotional appearances. An overly complicated plot notwithstanding, this is a stylish, suspenseful, and overall stunning debut, essential for all thriller collections. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 2/1/09; library marketing.]—Michele Leber, Arlington, VA

When 12-year-old Alyssa Merrimon disappeared a year ago, her family fell apart. Her twin brother, Johnny, became obsessed with trying to find her, their father took off, not to be heard from again, and their mother sank into a world of drugs and booze, helped along by an abusive, wealthy boyfriend. Det. Clive Hunt is also obsessed, both with finding Alyssa and with her mother, and his preoccupation costs him his marriage and jeopardizes his job. But this is Johnny's story and his quest to find the sister he lost. Taking his mother's car while she's passed out and occasionally taking along his best friend, Jack, Johnny spies and keeps meticulous records on the townsfolk of small Raven County, NC. The world is a dark place when seen through his eyes, and Johnny is an unforgettable character in this finely drawn yet disturbing thriller. With his best novel yet, the Edgar Award-winning Hart (Down River) firmly cements his place alongside the greats of the genre. Highly recommended for all public libraries. [175,000-copy first printing; library marketing.]—Stacy Alesi, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., Boca Raton, FL

Set in 14th-century England, Higginbotham's originally self-published debut follows the life of young noblewoman Eleanor le Dispenser. As favored niece to King Edward II and lady-in-waiting to Queen Isabella, Eleanor enjoys a privileged and leisurely existence in the English royal court. Additionally, her marriage to Hugh le Dispenser the Younger is a happy and fruitful one, and life seems, well, perfect. When startling truths come to light regarding her uncle, her husband, and her queen, Eleanor is forced to pay a terrible price in the name of family loyalty. Although Higginbotham's prose runs dry at times and her cast of characters is daunting, her talent for genealogical research is undeniable. Readers will find the tumultuous power struggles surrounding medieval marriage, remarriage, childbirth, and inheritance to be particularly intriguing. Overall, a worthy debut, but fans of English historical fiction may prefer Brenda Rickman Vantrease's The Illuminator or Ken Follett's The Pillars of the Earth). For larger public libraries.—Makiia Lucier, Moscow, ID

After the thinly veiled autobiography of Little Pink Slips, Koslow's latest novel treads on sure, fictional ground. The story is told from the perspective of Molly Marx—looking down on her loved ones from the Duration. The 35-year-old mother and decorator watches from the afterlife as a dashing detective investigates her mysterious death. The wide cast of characters includes a cheating husband and his latest girlfriend, a charming three-year-old daughter, a jealous twin sister, a scorned lover, a hovering mother-in-law, and a lesbian best friend. Which one of them is responsible for her demise? As the people in her life move on without her, Molly must reckon with the choices she made—like the ongoing affair. Ultimately, the crime is never solved—although readers find out whodunit—leaving you to wonder what the point was. Part mommy lit, part murder mystery, this novel will attract attention from Koslow's fans. Recommended for public libraries where her first novel was popular. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/09.]—Anika Fajardo, Coll. of St. Catherine, St. Paul, MN

After barely surviving an ambush, Texas Ranger Caitlin Strong begins to question whether the law enforcement life is for her. But when her renewed investigation into the incident uncovers a sinister plot, she quickly realizes that the only person who can help her is outlaw Cort Wesley Masters, the man who blames her for his false imprisonment and now wants her dead. Like a skillful painter, Land mixes a contemporary conspiracy thriller with the Wild West legends of the Texas Rangers. Though the ending is a bit too contrived and clearly paves the way for the next Caitlin Strong novel, this is still an amazing and worthwhile endeavor. Land (The Seven Sins; The Last Prophecy) is one of the best thriller writers out there, and his latest deserves a wide audience. Don't miss this one. For all fiction collections.—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.

Appearing in English for the first time, Lapid's classic 1982 novel centers on Gai Oni, a Jewish settlement in Galilee in the late 19th century. Brought to Gai Oni as a young bride by one of the few remaining settlers, Fania—a victim of the pogroms in Russia—becomes determined to create a life for herself. While her story is compelling, the writing tends to focus too much on politics and not enough on character development. The translation, too, feels clumsy and overly literal. Students of women's history and Israeli history will find much to dissect in this story of a modern woman and her struggle to support a family, but general readers may be put off by the sometimes unrealistic actions. Recommended for academic libraries and libraries with strong Jewish fiction collections.—Alicia Korenman, Florida State Univ., Tallahassee

Road dogs are prison buddies who watch each other's backs. Jack Foley and Cundo Rey are trying to maintain that loyalty after they get out and start anew in Venice, CA, where Rey's girl Dawn Navarro awaits. Leonard (Up in Honey's Room) brings back old favorites Foley and Rey, Dawn, and Karen Sisco—smart, sexy women and clever con artists, a mix the author knows well. Foley is being dogged by a rogue FBI agent who's convinced the infamous gentleman bank robber will strike again, and Rey's financial partner, Little Jimmy, is secretly in love with Dawn. The grifters' game of moving parts is quietly intriguing, but it never generates enough steam. This is Foley's story, and one can envision the movie already—his character was irresistible in Out of Sight. But there aren't enough capers or plot twists to make this one of the author's best. Leonard fans will be content, but steer newbies to Out of Sight or Tishomingo Blues. Expect high demand and buy accordingly, but be moderate in your enthusiasm. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/09.]—Teresa L. Jacobsen, Solano Cty. Lib., Fairfield, CA

An exemplary police officer and former soldier is about to join the FBI when he's contacted by a shadowy government agency that makes him an offer he can't refuse. He accepts and learns that hidden forces are bent on destroying the American way of life, and only he and his elite force of handpicked combat specialists can defeat them. It's the plot of any number of B-list spy thrillers, but two things save Bram Stoker Award winner Maberry's (Ghost Road Blues) novel from being a hackneyed cliché. First, the threat isn't bombs or hijackers but a manufactured plague that turns its victims into zombies. Second, readers get a view into the minds and motivations of protagonist Joe Ledger via his best friend and psychotherapist, lending the story extra depth. The villains, by contrast, are one-dimensional stereotypes of greed, lust, and zealotry. Maberry's web site (www.jonathanmaberry.com) shows release dates for two other Joe Ledger novels in 2010 and 2011. Recommended for medium-sized to large public libraries.—Karl G. Siewert, Tulsa City-Cty. Lib.

This second entry in McGowan's "Magdalene Line" series is sure to please fans of The Expected One and entice new readers enthralled with conspiracy theories. Following her discovery of the Mary Magdalene gospel and the subsequent publication of her fictional account of that discovery, journalist Maureen Paschal and Madgalene scholar Berenger Sinclair receive a mysterious package holding an ancient document written in Latin and in code. Research determines that the diary belonged to a little-known woman from history, Matilda of Tuscany. Her diary reveals Matilda's participation in a secret Cather society, her marriage to a pope, and her mission to protect what may just be the most important book in history—the teachings of Jesus, written in his own hand. From Rome to France, from the Inquisition to the present, Maureen and Berenger search for clues that will lead them to the brink of danger while they fulfill their own destiny. McGowan is a master storyteller, and her latest will appeal to Da Vinci Code fans still awaiting Dan Brown's next thriller. Highly recommended for all public libraries and academic libraries with conspiracy collections.—Nanci Milone Hill, Nevins Memorial Lib., Methuen, MA

Is love complicated or a complication? McMahon (The Alchemist's Daughter) explores this issue in this historical novel set during the Crimean War. Mariella Lingwood is a proper Victorian young lady. She is in love with a distant cousin and well-respected surgeon, Henry Thewell. But the relationship changes when Mariella's dear first cousin Rosa enters the picture. Henry and Rosa are in the Crimea as a surgeon and a nurse, respectively, and Henry falls ill and is sent to Italy to recover. When Mariella rushes to his side, it is Rosa's name he raves in his delirium. And when Rosa is reported missing, Mariella does something unexpected. She travels to the front lines of battle to search for her cousin and learn the truth. But in the midst of war, she finds chaos, which rattles the foundations of her existence, and Mariella must discover her strength and fight for what is truly important. McMahon's complex plot makes for an atypical but satisfying read, even if the ending feels a tad abrupt. Recommended for all fiction collections.—Anna M. Nelson, Naples Regional Lib., FL

Marsot's debut novel is a delectable treat for any Francophile. Anna, a Hollywood copywriter, takes advantage of her dual citizenship and runs away to Paris after breaking up with her celebrity boyfriend. Enviably, she is able to live in her aunt's empty apartment, reacquaint with old friends, and find work as a translator for a noncommunicative editor. Anna's assignment, given to her in chapters, is a tell-all novel by an anonymous intellectual of French society. The book, often titillating and intriguing, allows Anna to contemplate theories of translation and her own understandings of the two languages. Anna finds love again with an actor and slowly learns that, with her work and her heart, she might be too literal for a world that is invariably complicated. Marsot succeeds in immersing the reader in French culture and mode de vie, and her ruminations on language in French and English are intelligent and engrossing. Recommended for all fiction collections and for fans of sophisticated chick lit.—Anne M. Miskewitch, Chicago P.L.

Jazz-reared Julian Donahue might love Music more than he loves People—and understandably so. People, like his dead infant son and ex-wife, tap deep and tangled emotions. Music, on the other hand, can be selected, the bad filtered out to build an ideal realm. It is in one of these worlds where our middle-aged ad man chances upon a performance by beautiful Irish twenty-something Cait O'Dwyer, a talented post-rock singer on the rise in New York's club circuit. What happens next is thankfully far from predictable: Julian does not have steamy, soul-redeeming sex with this younger woman—in fact, they never meet, instead carrying on an intellectual affair via the Internet and especially the iPod. In his fourth novel, Phillips attempts an antinovel wherein we are to be carried away by Music's power to disconnect us from and connect us to our most honest selves. This comes, unfortunately, at the expense of story and dramatic tension. Although Phillips writes with the precision and silkiness of Truman Capote, all we are left with is an Idea that begs to be animated somehow. Music nerds who also happen to read fiction will be his most sympathetic audience, yet the author's many fans will also be curious about this noble experiment. For larger fiction collections.—Heather McCormack, Library Journal

Prieto's Russian-speaking Spanish narrator is hired to tutor Petya, the 11-year-old son of émigré Russian Vasily, an ex-physicist-turned-gemologist, and his attractive but flashy wife, Nelly. Following a scheme concocted by the butler, Vasily swindles two Russian mobsters out of $6.5 million in fake diamonds; on the lam to avoid the mobsters' revenge, he moves to a Marbella villa. An even more harebrained scheme involves trying to pass Vasily off as heir to the Russian throne (hence the title). The narrative moves forward primarily via the one-sided conversation the narrator conducts with Petya. In keeping with the tutor's use of Proust's Remembrance of Things Past as the sole instrument of pedagogy, Prieto relies on the gimmick of referring from Proust to his own narrative throughout and also quotes other writers, so that the text becomes a guessing game as to textual origins. More than a gangster thriller (and it won't appeal much to traditional readers of that genre), this work comments on the nature of narrative art and of writing, conveying its idea in a somewhat stuffy, cerebral style. Cuban-born Prieto, who dealt with a similar theme in National Butterflies of the Russian Empire, has written a desultory, occasionally obscure text that will appeal to discerning readers, especially those familiar with Proust.—Lawrence Olszewski, OCLC Lib., Dublin, OH

Sellers's elegant first novel imagines life in Britain's Bloomsbury circle from the point of view of Vanessa Bell, Virginia Woolf's older sister. Although Vanessa was an accomplished and highly respected artist, her life was overshadowed by that of her more famous sibling. As she gives Vanessa voice, Sellers examines a relationship between sisters in which love and jealousy are constants; a relationship in which relatives, friends, and lovers are sources of support, inspiration, joy, betrayal, and ultimately devastating sorrow. The amazing aspect of this novel is its painterly quality. As Vanessa recalls her life, layer upon layer of memory is applied to create a portrait of color and shadow, a process that is mirrored in the narrator's descriptions of her methods of painting. While this novel may stand on its own as an exploration of sisterly relationships, it will be more appealing and more accessible to readers already familiar with the lives of Bell and Woolf and knowledgeable about the Bloomsbury milieu. Highly recommended for collections of literary fiction—particularly where Woolf is popular. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/09.]—Andrea Kempf, Johnson Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Overland Park, KS

Lacey, a newspaper reporter in her late twenties, meets stand-up comic/TV writer Toby and moves from New York to Los Angeles to be with him. Things go downhill quickly after the two get married and Toby loses his job. Toby, who can't find work, becomes a perpetual couch potato and starts to question their marriage. Soon, Lacey is divorced and left to wonder what she is doing in L.A. She decides to stay and, in the process, has some success as a screenwriter and dates anyone and everyone in an attempt to forget Toby. She also examines how her relationships with her parents and brother may have contributed to the hasty demise of her marriage. It's not until Lacey decides to move back to New York that she meets someone in Los Angeles who gives her a chance at a more mature love than she had with Toby. This debut novel reads at times like connected short stories. The strong main character and vivid depictions of Hollywood life combine to create a worthwhile reading experience. Recommended for all public libraries. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/08.]—Karen Core, Detroit P.L.

What really happened to the Princes in the Tower? Were they murdered by Richard III? One of England's—and history's—greatest mysteries is the focus of Smith's (Daughter of York) latest historical novel. Grace Plantagenet, one of Edward IV's bastard daughters and half-sister to the boys, serves as our eyes and ears for the reign of Henry VII, the first Tudor king, leading us through the thrilling climax of the Wars of the Roses, a period ensconced in mystery, lies, romance, and danger. Smith's style of extensive research and meticulous attention to detail lends itself perfectly to this era, one that truly proves that "truth is stranger than fiction." Indeed, in choosing Grace as narrator, a figure about whom so little is known to history, Smith gives herself a unique opportunity to explore the many intrigues that surrounded the English monarchy at this time, while also giving readers an original and endearing character with her own engrossing tale to savor. Highly recommended for all historical fiction collections.—Leigh Wright, Bridgewater, NJ

The main characters introduced in Smith's debut, Child 44, continue their ferocious saga to find love and consolation against a backdrop of the totalitarian Soviet state. In 1956, copies of Khrushchev's anti-Stalin speech are delivered to officials responsible for the purges and repressions, thus releasing a new round of murders and suicides. At the same time, a second plot twines with the first as ex-lovers from Child 44 grapple in a macabre contest of vengeance and hate. Smith has proven his brutal touch when describing human conflict. With this thriller, he offers a fierce account of fighting onboard a storm-wracked prison ship on the Sea of Okhotsk—a hair-raising scene, alone worth the cost of the book. For all popular collections; be ready for short-term demand owing to heavy promotion. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/09.]—Barbara Conaty, Falls Church, VA

These stories about newly successful (read nouveaux riches) women in their thirties describe lives of insecurity and self-generated stress. The female characters, immature and uncomfortable in their skins, find themselves in a variety of situations for which they are inadequately prepared, and their inner dialogs express anxiety, guilt, instability, and insecurity. This contrasts dramatically with the male characters, who appear smooth, sophisticated, and worldly. From the new mother looking for a nanny to the new film star revisiting her roots to the writer at the funeral of her mentor, the women struggle to maintain a facade that covers an underlying teenage angst. O'Henry Prize winner Macy (The Fundamentals of Play) captures the struggle to attain maturity, but it is unfortunate that all the women here have the same underlying flaw, making the stories somewhat repetitive despite their varied scenarios. Recommended for general fiction collections.—Joanna M. Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Libs., Providence