Fiction

Bostwick, Marie. A Thread of Truth. Kensington. Jun. 2009. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-7582-3215-1. pap. $15. F

Bostwick brings back familiar characters in the second Cobbled Court novel (after A Single Thread), with the focus switching to Ivy Peterman. In fleeing an abusive husband, Ivy ends up in New Bern, CT, where she and her children find refuge at an apartment complex for victims of domestic abuse. When the town benefactor takes an interest in them, Ivy finds a job—and friends—at Cobbled Court Quilts. The companionship of these women proves vital when Ivy's husband shows up, demanding that she return and, when that fails, accusing her of kidnapping their children. VERDICT A Single Thread focused on breast cancer; here, Bostwick highlights domestic abuse in a story that emphasizes the importance of friendship. Given those themes, as well as the details about quilting, this novel should appeal to fans of women's fiction, especially those who enjoy needlecrafts. A similar title is Kate Jacobs's The Friday Night Knitting Club. Highly recommended.—Lesa Holstine, Glendale P.L., AZ

Paul Sturgis is another solitary Brookner protagonist who bears his loneliness with a patient stoicism while also puzzling over how his life has come to such a desultory pass. A retired banker, Paul fills his quiet days rereading Henry James, walking through his London neighborhood, and paying semi-regular visits to his only relative, the widow of a cousin. His past associations with women, who considered him "too nice," were short-lived and unsuccessful. So it comes as a welcome surprise when two women enter his uneventful life. First, Vicki Gardner sits beside him on a Christmas trip to Venice, where both are planning to escape the lonely holiday; thus they launch a quasi-friendship. Upon his return home, Paul runs into Sarah, a former girlfriend, who is lately widowed and suffering from poor health. VERDICT What tension this novel possesses revolves around whether Paul will take up with either Vicki or Sarah, both unsuitable for him. Strictly for those readers who still appreciate the simple gentility of Brookner's novels. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/1/09.]—Barbara Love, Kingston Frontenac P.L., Kingston, Ont.

As in his wonderful Five Skies, Carlson again offers readers a broken man endeavoring to heal himself through nature. Following his dad's sudden death, Mack, who comes from a long line of Wyoming ranchers, takes to muling drugs to raise fast cash to save the family homestead. Add months of constant drinking and a fling with an even more damaged woman, and Mack finds himself despondent, divorced, and jailed. Free again, he convinces ex-wife Vonnie to come on one final fishing trip high in the mountains they both love. For him, it's both an attempt to win her back and a secret, high-paying job to locate a classified government object that fell from a military plane. Vonnie simply wants closure and a last good-bye. Their plans evaporate when they encounter something more nefarious in the deep, silent, engulfing forest than anything they'd faced before. VERDICT This character-driven story unfurls slowly through dialog, exposition, and flashbacks. Simple, taut, and elegant, it's a beautifully told tale of love and redemption that all readers will appreciate.—Mike Rogers, LJX/LJ

When Daria is hired by an international shipping firm with a branch in Odessa, she is immediately informed by her boss, Mr. Harmon, that she is expected to sleep with him. Daria finds a variety of ways to put him off while proving herself highly competent as a translator and clerk, but eventually she hooks up her friend Olga with Harmon. This works a little too well; not only does Harmon not bother her anymore but now he is not sure he needs her in his employ. Desperate, Daria finds a second job working for Valentina's mail-order bride service, where she's expected to translate for the American men who use the service. But Daria also dreams of finding a husband in America and begins emailing Tristan, who lives outside San Francisco. Alas, what Daria finds in the end is not what she expected. VERDICT Charles's first novel vividly contrasts life in Odessa, a city whose citizes are impoverished and sometimes prejudiced but nevertheless proud, with the materialism and isolation of life in America. Good for ambitious readers.—Josh Cohen Mid-Hudson Lib. Syst., Poughkeepsie, NY

In his 11th novel, acclaimed author Crowley (Daemonomania) presents a work of historical fiction about several people working at an Oklahoma aviation factory during World War II. The company, run by two farsighted brothers, is attempting to produce a bomber plane extraordinaire. With the majority of able-bodied men away fighting, it is a disabled man, Prosper Olander, and several women working at the plant whose intimate lives become the story's focus. Prosper's various liaisons give readers a glimpse into all the characters' backgrounds and experiences and show what led them to employment at the plant. Crowley interweaves scenes showing how the workers as a whole bond together in their plant-constructed housing and dance halls. VERDICT While the novel's backdrop is a 1940s wartime plant, described in some detail, the book doesn't seem to hit its stride until it begins examining specific characters in depth. The author's strength is in making their situations and their dialog come alive. Recommended for all readers of historical fiction.—M. Neville, Trenton P.L., NJ

Currie's first book, God Is Dead, was a collection of linked short stories in which God returns to Earth as a poor Sudanese woman and is devoured by wild dogs. Everything Matters! is a novel, but thematically and stylistically it is quite similar to the earlier work. Junior Thibodeau of Waterville, ME—the fourth-smartest person in human history—is born with the certain knowledge that an asteroid will destroy Earth in 36 years. In that case, what is the point of living? In this radical reimagining of Frank Capra's It's a Wonderful Life, Junior tells his own story, while in alternating chapters his wildly dysfunctional family and friends provide commentary. VERDICT The basic premise is preposterous, and the subsequent events are incredible, but it is all presented in a matter-of-fact tone. This book is difficult to categorize. It's a comedy, but it's not particularly funny. It's a novel of ideas, but it mocks intellectualism. It's a fantasy, but it includes a cameo appearance by Sen. Olympia Snowe. This won't be everyone's cup of tea, but fans of God Is Dead will love it. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/09.]—Edward B. St. John, Loyola Law Sch. Lib., Los Angeles

In the latest in the long line of popular adventure novels by Cussler, whose first major success, Raise the Titanic, now seems eons ago, an influenza pandemic in China threatens to explode and kill countless millions. While a joint U.S. and Chinese team makes strides on a vaccine, bad guys working on their own vaccine to gain great wealth and power kidnap the scientists. Enter Cussler hero Kurt Austin (The Navigator) and his NUMA® buddies to take on the villains, and who do you think will win? Cussler loves to combine history with current action, so the key to a vaccine lies in the log of an 1847 whaling ship owned by the descendants of a crewman. VERDICT Cussler's thrillers are predictable and over the top, attributes relished by his legions of fans, and this one is filled with action, heroics, and apparently plausible science, which makes for great summer escape reading. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/1/09.]—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI

Set in the Roaring Twenties, like Davis's The Shoe Queen, this novel moves from Paris to London. Diamond Sharp puts her chosen wild lifestyle to good use writing a flapper-around-town column for a London newspaper, while at home she is Grace Rutherford, financially supporting her mother and sister. As the consequences of leading a dual life begin to pile up like unpaid bills, she's presented with two gorgeous American men at odds with each other, who also pull her in different directions. VERDICT Historical novels set in the 1920s are popular as genre fiction (see, for example, Kerry Greenwood's Phryne Fisher mystery series), and fascination with the period continues to grow. This literary chick-lit stand-alone could give book clubs (questions are included) or beach readers diversion and discussion aplenty.—Mary K. Bird-Guilliams, Wichita P.L., KS

Let the rusty (or is it bloody?) razor on the jacket cover, next to a cherubic Cupid, be fair warning to the reader. This is a lacerating account of middle-aged people looking for love in the worst possible ways. All the characters in Dean's latest novel (after This Human Season) are paralyzingly miserable in their collective failure to find love. Richard, a philandering traveling salesman who is English, lives in Provence with his high-maintenance wife, Valérie, and their son, Maxence, who may or may not be "right in the head." Nearby are American Jeff and his British wife, Rachel, who are so ill matched that it's a wonder they were able to produce little Maud. When Jeff and Valérie think they have falled in love, the two marriages end up colliding. Out of the wreckage of Richard's life—he loses his job, his family, and, for awhile, his mind—comes improbable salvation for him and Rachel and, possibly, the children. VERDICT Readers who devoured Elizabeth Strout's Pulitzer Prize-winning Olive Kitteridge will feel right at home with Dean's blindingly honest portrayal of characters so deeply flawed they practically need surgery.—Beth E. Andersen, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib., MI

DeLeeuw's debut novel is a riveting exploration of the dark side of self. Six-year-old Luke is playing in a park when he discovers a new friend, whom he names Daniel. Although no one else can see Daniel, he is not imaginary. He lives with Luke and his unstable mother, Claire, in a luxury apartment in New York. Daniel's existence waxes and wanes, depending on whether Luke needs a companion or is the recipient of his mother's sporadic attention. But after Claire attempts suicide when Luke is a teenager, he allows Daniel to be a stronger presence in his life. Through the end of high school and on into college, Daniel pushes Luke to experiment with drugs and alcohol, to have sex before he's ready, to frighten people, and to cheat and steal. Luke struggles to retain control over his own life while also trying to keep Claire from succumbing to her own doppelgänger. VERDICT Suspenseful and terrifying, this tale about one's shadow self running rampant is highly recommended.—Joy Humphrey, Pepperdine Univ. Law Lib., Malibu, CA

In March 1916, Hillevi Klarin, a young midwife from Uppsala, takes a post in the forbidding wilderness of northern Sweden. Hopeful and naive, Hillevi is unprepared for the life she finds there: the ignorance, poverty, and superstition, the unforgiving elements, and the wide expanses of white. After struggling through disappointment and bewilderment, she settles down and finds a place in the community. One unspeakable thing, however, keeps her from feeling completely at home. This is primarily Hillevi's story. But it's narrated by her foster daughter, the enigmatic Risten, who is part Sámi and known as the girl who was stolen by an eagle. VERDICT As Risten interweaves Hillevi's story with her own and that of teenage runaway Elis, a broader narrative emerges, concerned with both the far-reaching consequences of a single event and the us-them dichotomy in all its forms. The result is an atmospheric first novel, set in the same area as Eckman's successful thriller Blackwater and the first in the Wolfskin trilogy. Best for readers of literary fiction.—Karen Walton Morse, Univ. at Buffalo Libs., NY

Gardner's (Say Goodbye) new suspense novel intertwines several "ripped from the headline" themes. Sandra Jones is a pretty, blonde, 23-year-old schoolteacher who's gone missing. Her husband, Jason, claims to have returned home late at night to find their four-year-old daughter asleep in her bed and his wife nowhere to be found. When Boston detective sergeant D.D. Warren arrives on the scene, she finds a house that is almost a fortress and a husband who seems to be more concerned with protecting his secrets than with finding his wife. As the case explodes in the press, the police race against time. Was Jason responsible for Sandra's disappearance? Or was it the convicted sex offender down the street? Or someone else altogether? VERDICT Gardner's compelling narrative keeps her readers guessing, and her latest is sure to appeal to fans of Linwood Barclay's domestic thrillers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/1/09.]—Jane Jorgenson, Madison P.L., WI

William Weightman's arrival in Haworth to serve as curate in Patrick Brontë's parish thrusts him into the life of the Brontë family as well as the broader community. Charlotte considers Weightman a potential husband whose clerical advancement could take them away from the district's poverty. However, his determination to work with the poor springs from both spiritual and political commitment. Slowly, he draws close to another sister, Emily, who shuns drawing-room flirtations in favor of tramping the moors and caring for animals. Yet she can't deny her growing attraction to Weightman. Giardina masterfully weaves biographical facts into the plot, including brother Bramwell's addictions and dissipation, Anne's work as a governess, and Charlotte's flirtations with a married professor. In the end, what engages readers are not these details but the imagined conversations and encounters, the developing romance, and the hope that somehow history might change. VERDICT Giardina's Emily lives with the unconventionality and passion that infuses her own Wuthering Heights. Fans of historical romance definitely will want to meet her. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/09; also coming in July from Avon is Syrie James's The Secret Diaries of Charlotte Brontë.—Ed.]—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State Univ. Lib., Mankato

Shortly after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the brilliant young Alex Kanevich has become a mega-millionaire, but he's made a host of enemies along the way. As a result, he is kidnapped, tortured, and forced to sign over his wealth to ex-KGB thugs. The resourceful Alex and his wife escape and flee to the United States, where they find that the long arm of the old KGB stretches far, as Alex is framed for a host of crimes. VERDICT Based on a true story, this is a fast-paced and well-executed thriller. If there are flaws, it's that the Russian bad guys are so stupid and the American FBI director so venal. Whatever, it's great fun, and the many fans of Haig's Sean Drummond series will find this an exciting, entertaining, and well-written stand-alone diversion. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 4/15/09.]—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI

This debut novel (originally published in India as The Blind Pilgrim) sneaks up on readers and pulls them in. We first meet Lucky Boyce when she is being driven into a prison, where she volunteers to teach yoga to male inmates. Her life had been turned upside down by divorce and the loss of her job, but Lucky is determined to survive. Forced to leave Bombay, she finds herself living with friends of her parents in New York and wanting to move on. Initially, Lucky volunteers at the prison in order to escape her own pain. But she finds the inmates teaching her about life as much, if not more, as she teaches them. Is it a coincidence that odd things start to happen as Lucky becomes more confident? Odd things like murder and people disappearing? Readers will identify with Lucky as she looks within herself for strength. VERDICT How lucky to review a book that is so refreshing and thought-provoking! This novel took ten years to write, and readers will appreciate Jain's sticking with it. Highly recommended for those who enjoy first novels and contemporary Indian fiction.—Marika Zemke, Commerce Twp. Community Lib., MI

Philomena "Pip" Ash's natural element is water. The moment her feet hit the pool in an aqua baby class, she knows joy and security. As her family careens from loss to loss—her older sister dies of cancer, her father is killed in a plane crash, and her mother succumbs to a series of nervous breakdowns—swimming becomes Pip's haven, allowing her to shut out pain and emotions. But no escape works perfectly; throughout all the training for competitions, making the Olympic team, and winning medals, she is accompanied by the ghosts of her father and sister. It will take leaving the water and moving away from family and friends to break Pip's shell of grief. VERDICT As narrator, Pip is an acute observer of human foibles and believably blind to her resistance to confront her losses. Still, though this highly touted first novel is a well-crafted exploration of grief, Pip's resilience and self-absorption may wear down some readers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/09; 100,000-copy first printing.]—Jan Blodgett, Davidson Coll. Lib., NC

Lescroart does not disappoint with his latest novel, the 20th he's penned and the 13th to feature lawyer Dismas Hardy, again paired with head of San Francisco homicide Abe Glitsky. When the police arrest politically connected small-business owner Maya Townshend for the murder of one of her employees, Dismas must beat the clock to find the real killer. With Maya less than forthcoming about aspects of her past and her connection to the victim, investigator Wyatt Hunt and his Hunt Club must work to uncover things that are buried deep in the past. The novel, part setup of the crime and part courtroom thriller, maintains a steady pace with tight writing and characters that ring true. While affable Dismas carries the lead, Glitsky deals with his son's near-fatal injury, for which he blames himself—a subplot that could have been further explored. But this is a quibble about a terrific read. VERDICT John Grisham fans will love the courtroom drama and straight-to-the-facts style. The publisher is rightly committed to making this best-selling author a household name. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/09.]—Amanda Scott, Cambridge Springs P.L., PA

Liss's sixth novel marks the return of Benjamin Weaver, last seen in A Spectacle of Corruption. Weaver is probably Liss's most popular and enduring character; perhaps, as the ultimate outsider caught up in a struggle against the most powerful forces of 18th-century English society, he seems to embody the spirit of the author's historical thrillers. Here the renowned thief-taker agrees to an assignment that promises quick money, but when things go awry he ends up deeply in debt, ensnared by the mysterious figure Jerome Cobb into stealing documents from the notorious East India Company. The theft is just the first turn in an increasingly intricate plot, involving shadowy figures, the English government, and foreign spies. VERDICT This fast-paced and entertaining look at 1790s London will appeal to Liss's fans as well those readers who enjoy the historical thrillers of Matthew Pearl. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/09.]—Douglas Southard, CRA International, Boston

Verdita is a typical preteen girl with all the emotional turmoil and naive questions that come with her young age. Alas, a small Puerto Rican mountain barrio in the 1960s is her whole world. All she knows of the elusive America that she craves to be a part of she has learned from her limited access to the media and her visiting American cousin. Verdita believes that everything is better in America than in her sleepy, sheltered town. Things begin to change as she grows into womanhood, experiences her first crush, and realizes that her mother's pregnancy will alter her long-standing only-child status. Though she still longs to go to America, she realizes that life may not be so bad in her Puerto Rican home after all. VERDICT This touching coming-of-age debut novel transcends borders and times. Readers will laugh and cry along with Verdita as she navigates a tumultuous adolescence, easily identifying with her problems and struggles. As a result, the novel will appeal to a wide range of readers, and the addition of discussion questions is a plus for book groups. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/09.]—Leann Restaino, Girard, OH

Charlie Marsh was a former prison inmate who reinvented himself as the Guru Gabriel Sun when he saved the warden's life during a prison riot. His newfound wealth and fame soon dissipate when he is suspected of murdering a U.S. senator, whose wife was having an affair with him. To avoid trial, Charlie flees to the People's Republic of Batanga, a small African country with no extradition treaty with the United States. Unfortunately, its ruler happens to be a cannibal dictator, and Charlie makes the mistake of sleeping with his favorite wife. His days numbered, Charlie seeks help from an American tabloid, which smuggles him back to the States, where he will have to stand trial for the senator's murder. His lawyer is Amanda Jaffe (Wild Justice, Proof Positive), whose father successfully defended the senator's wife. Amanda will now defend Charlie—if Batanga's secret police don't get him first. VERDICT The pages fly in this violent, twisty tale of one man's journey through the legal system, and legal thriller fans will snap up Margolin's latest for their summer beach reads.—Stacy Alesi, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., Boca Raton, FL

Miranda and David Claybourne purchase a house in the English countryside after their son is kicked out of his London school, hoping that a new environment will solve his aggression problem. David rather fancies being lord of the manor, commuting from the City on weekends, while freelance writer Miranda turns her struggle to adapt to country life into a witty column that hides how much she misses her old life. Both parents are too self-absorbed to notice that their son and daughter are terribly lonely. It takes a mysterious Frenchman, hired to work in their neglected garden, to see just how unhappy this family is and to work to change that. VERDICT With its realistic characters and vividly described world, which readers will be reluctant to leave, Montefiore's (Last Voyage of the Valentina) charming, moving novel will appeal to fans of Like Water for Chocolate. A perfect book for a lazy summer day.—Elizabeth Mellett, Brookline P.L., MA

The Rostov Lights in Texas have been around for hundreds of years. People are drawn to the site to look—some see them, others don't—but all are affected in some way. New Mexican police officer Dan Page follows his wife, Tori, to the site, determined to discover the cause of her fascination with the lights. Multiple points of view, minute-by-minute current events, and historical flashbacks detailing previous encounters with the lights converge, as Page finds himself at the center of a disaster. Some observers become unaccountably violent, and there is a mass shooting at a tourist observation platform. What exactly are the Rostov Lights, and where do they come from? VERDICT Morrell (Scavenger), known as the father of the modern action novel, fleshes out his usual action-packed style with a surprisingly delicate love story in this tale inspired in part by the true-life phenomenon of the Marfa Lights in Texas. His fast-moving plot recalls conspiracy theories à la Roswell and The X-Files and will appeal to both fans of that paranormal show and to Morrell's readers.—Charli Osborne, Oxford P.L, MI

Beautifully humane and sometimes nightmarish, this incredible debut novel by a noted music and culture editor, journalist, and critic recounts the life and times of John Devine, a 15-year-old boy who lives in Kilcody, a village in southeastern Ireland, with his Bible-quoting, nicotine-addicted mother. He whiles away his days obsessing about worms, crows, and sin until he meets Jamey Corboy, a "posh boy" who reads the French decadents, swills booze, and indulges in petty graft with local thugs. After a heinous bender during which the boys vandalize a church, John sells out Jamey to save his own skin, only to struggle with the guilt borne of his betrayal even as he tends to his terminally ill mother. Repeated run-ins with an insidious neighbor, Mrs. Nagle, and the vicious pub-rat Gunter Prunty complicate John's caretaking. VERDICT This work establishes Murphy as an author of tremendous imaginative and linguistic power who has mastered Flann O'Brien's supernatural whimsy, Beckett's grim irony, and McCabe's unsparing brutality. Essential reading.—J. Greg Matthews, Washington State Univ. Libs., Pullman

Dreamed up and opened in Nelson's Essence best seller, Sexual Healing, A Sister's Spa is an unconventional business where professional women clients can get a relaxing facial, a massage, reflexology, and a multiorgasmic sexual experience from men trained to please women. Located in Reno, this outrageously successful spa is the brainchild of a group of shrewd friends: Lydia Beaucoup, Acey Allen, and LaShaWanda P. Marshall. After winning a three-million-dollar settlement, LaShaWanda and her friends open a franchise on a yacht off the shores of Martha's Vineyard. But the new franchise comes with new challenges. The federal government is trying to ban sex between unmarried people, the mob wants a cut of the spa's profits, and the yacht becomes the setting for a potential political coup. VERDICT Nelson takes her fans on a sexual fantasy showing that women can be in control and mix business with pleasure. Readers of Zane, Mary B. Morrison, and Eric Jerome Dickey will enjoy Nelson's funny, voluptuous, and erotic tale.—Carol Johnson, Cleveland P.L.

Sheriff Walt Fleming returns in this enjoyable third tale (after Killer View and Killer Weekend) of rich people at play in the affluent resort town of Sun Valley. At an exclusive wine festival, the star attractions are three old bottles allegedly presented to John Adams by Thomas Jefferson. Fleming is a good guy, but he has problems; a messy divorce is on the agenda, his kids and nephew need help, and he has a love-hate relationship with his domineering father. He's attracted to his crime photographer, who has problems of her own, and, oh yes, somebody wants to steal the rare wine, which may or may not be worth millions. Also, the wine may be counterfeit. Or is the wine theft a decoy for something more sinister and far-reaching? Fleming has to resolve all this as well as rescue his nephew and his maybe-girlfriend from kidnappers. VERDICT Despite enormous plot holes, this latest in the best-selling series is entertaining and great fun for anyone who likes a well-written thriller. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/09.]—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI

A more common name for the "crying tree" is the willow, and one grows near Steven (Shep) Stanley's grave in Blaine, OR. This 15-year-old was killed in his home, and his best friend, Daniel, has been found guilty of the crime and waits a lethal injection on death row. Gifted musician Shep was definitely the center of the world for his mother, Irene, and the intensity of her grief is exquisitely portrayed in this moving, unsentimental tale of loss. After years of severe depression, withdrawal from her family, and alcoholism, Irene comes to realize that if she does not forgive her son's killer she will be destroyed. She secretly writes to Daniel in prison, and they begin corresponding. Then Irene receives written notice of the execution date and knows she must act. VERDICT Gifted storyteller Rakha has crafted a beautiful and passionate novel that never becomes maudlin or unbelievable. All of the characters are genuinely human, and the author even manages to save a few surprising plot details to the end. Highly recommended, especially for readers interested in the subject of loss and coping.—Lisa Rohrbaugh, New Middletown, OH

Rollins's (The Last Oracle) prose explodes off the page in a twisty and compelling thriller that explores the issues of human overpopulation and genetically modified food. The Sigma Force must unravel the mysterious deaths of a geneticist, a senator's son working for the Red Cross in Africa, and someone with close ties to the Vatican. Gray Pierce and his team follow the clues starting from Rome, while Sigma leader Painter Crowe takes his group to meet with the head of a corporation that appears to be genetically modifying food. VERDICT Swashbuckling adventure, elite team effort, and religious symbology all add up to another gripping and terrifying read. Rollins somehow juggles all of these elements and incorporates them into an amazing and brilliant technothriller that might be his best to date. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/09.]—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.

Just home from a trip, Massachusetts-based Anna must pick up her 16-year-old nephew, Joseph, from a New Jersey jail. As Anna tussles with Joseph over a package in her luggage, the two are hurled back to 1844 Ireland. Anna falls in with Glenis and her blacksmith husband, Tom, and Joseph becomes a prodigy fawned on by the area's wealthy British landowner. Here in the land of their ancestors, Joseph, always at odds with his widower father, and recently divorced Anna manage to find the love and respect missing from their 21st-century lives. Will they ever get back home? Do they truly want to? VERDICT Sheehan (Lost & Found) basically transforms a contemporary novel into a historical one, with all the period detail and sense of place for which such works are judged and appreciated. She reminds us that those who came before were no less savvy in their time than we like to think of ourselves today and that by accepting the past, we might just change the future. For readers looking for a well-written story with just a touch of blarney.—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal

Set in verdant Trinidad-Tabago as the islands emerge from colonialism, this debut by Irish-Trinidadian Smyth (published as Black Rock in the U.K.) presents the tragic story of a girl's exploitation and dashed hopes. Smyth's lyrical prose captures the fresh, young voice of teenaged Celia, whose observant eye registers both the beauty and the poverty of her surroundings. Celia is unlucky: her mother died when Celia was born, and her father, she has been told, was an errant seaman who has returned to Southampton, England. She is raised by her mother's sister Tassi, who eventually marries the abusive Roman. After Roman beats and rapes her, Celia flees to the capital city, Port of Spain, on the neighboring island, and secures employment as a maid for a prominent doctor and his family—a move that proves to be her downfall. VERDICT This is a classic story of seduction and abandonment, but Celia's persona is so strong and sympathetic that the reader is convinced she will escape her fate. Eventually, she learns that her heritage is more complex than she imagined. A great beach read; highly recommended for all readers of popular fiction.—Reba Leiding, James Madison Univ. Libs., Harrisonburg, VA

Former attorney Terrell (The Map Thief) returns with an ambitious third novel about historical art and intrigue. Though the Roman Empire is on the verge of collapse, the Church is determined to survive. To that end, Brother Decius is sent to Gael to accuse Brigid, an unconventional abbess, of heresy. Instead, he finds himself entranced by Brigid's unwavering faith and undertakes a special scrivener's task for her. Fast-forward to modern-day Ireland, where art appraiser Alex Patterson is tasked with selling priceless Brigidine artifacts. What she uncovers may be the Book of Kildare, a legendary illuminated manuscript (think the Book of Kells) that could throw not only Christianity but history on its ear. VERDICT The author is a fan of multiple narratives, past and present, but Alex is too thinly developed and doesn't hold the same sway as the historical characters. The portrayal of Brigid, her mission to convert the pagan tribes of Gael, and her relationship with Decius are the novel's strong points. Readers who enjoyed Terrell's other novels and historical adventure novels like Kate Mosse's Labyrinth may want to check this one out. [Library marketing.]—Jamie Kallio, Thomas Ford Memorial Lib., Western Springs, IL

According to Genesis, the earth was created in six days. In the newest work from Tropper (How To Talk to a Widower), the Foxman family spend a week together and the world practically implodes. Recently separated Judd, his two brothers, his sister, and their mother sit shiva for Foxman patriarch Mort. This seven-day Jewish ritual allows family members to mourn together while friends and relatives come to pay their respects—and have a little nosh. But the Foxman siblings don't get along, despite the best efforts of their celebrity child-care expert mother. As narrator Judd says, "Some families…become toxic to each other after prolonged exposure." VERDICT With its frat-house language and sexual obsessions, this hilarious, testosterone-driven thrill-ride comes with all the weaponry at the Foxmans' disposal: physical blows, verbal darts, psychological barbs, friendly jousts, and loving punches to the solar plexus. And the women have their say as well; there are no neutral corners in this melee. Highly recommended for Tropper fans, who will rejoice at the opportunity to indulge; others will wonder where he's been all their lives.—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal

Vincenzi (An Absolute Scandal) never ceases to entertain. Her latest novel engages readers in the lives of the drivers, passengers, and onlookers who become entangled after surviving a major collision on a London highway. We are briefly introduced to each character and then zoomed to the crash; the rest of the story details how each person is changed by the crash, the friendships made through surviving, and, of course, the love lives of each individual. The characters are from all different walks of life, from a doctor to a farmer and a young actress to a matriarch, and we see them try to make up for wicked mistakes they made in the past and "fix" their lives. Vincenzi even throws in a twist, using a mysterious hitchhiker as the only person who actually saw what really happened at the crash. VERDICT Vincenzi introduces so many characters that sometimes it is hard to keep track of who is who, but, overall, this is an exciting, intriguing, saucy novel. A perfect summer vacation read. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/09.]—Marianne Fitzgerald, Annapolis, MD

What if a decision you made in your youth came back to haunt you on the eve of your wedding? Milly Havill was a free-spirited Oxford student when she consented to marry her American friend Allan so that he could stay in England with his boyfriend, Rupert. Soon after their staged wedding, Milly parted company with Allan and Rupert and then lost touch. Ten years later, Milly is engaged to marry Simon, son of a prominent English businessman, in a most elaborate affair. Suddenly, as details of her first marriage surface, conflicts arise between Milly and Simon, Simon and his estranged father, and Milly's parents. These conflicts feel real and poignant without ever tipping the scale toward melodrama. VERDICT Wickham (Sleeping Arrangements), the pen name of Sophie Kinsella ("Shopaholic" series), explores how each character views marriage and commitment to spouse and family in a way that is highly entertaining but never glosses over the real issues. This novel will please Kinsella fans but will also likely expand her audience to readers who enjoy thoughtful chick lit. [175,000-copy first printing; library marketing campaign.]—Anastasia Diamond-Ortiz, Cleveland P.L.

Fatima Abdullah is 85 and expects to depart this life soon. In fact, she thinks it will be after she has her last nightly visit from Scheherazade, the legendary storyteller from The Arabian Nights. Fatima has been telling her stories to her nightly visitor for 992 nights now, so there's just a few more to go. Fatima herself is not at a loss for stories since she immigrated to Detroit from a village in Lebanon when she was 15, married twice and raised ten children, all but one of whom have left Detroit. Her children and grandchildren live all over the place, and the stories bounce from Los Angeles to Houston to Minneapolis to Beirut and back to Detroit again. VERDICT This first novel by a journalist and filmmaker with Middle Eastern roots is a warm, feel-good story of complicated family ties, long-buried secrets, and last-minute surprises. It gives insight into the lives of Lebanese immigrants in America and would be a good selection for book clubs. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/15/09.]—Leslie Patterson, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence, RI

From the author of The White Tiger, which won the 2008 Man Booker Prize, comes this collection of stories set in Kittur, India, between the assassinations of Indira Gandhi in 1984 and Rajiv Ghandi in 1991. Adiga captures the lives of the poor and powerless, doomed to hopelessness and sometimes rage. In "Market and Maidan," for example, an orphan comes to the city, where he works his way up to become a bus conductor but then loses everything when he falls off a bus and suffers a head injury. In some of the tales, the bleakness is relieved by the power of human connections. Thus, in "St. Alfonso Boys' High School and Junior College," Shankara's wealth can't compensate for the humiliations of his mixed-caste status, so he explodes a bomb in a classroom in retaliation for a teacher's mistreatment. But during the ensuing investigation, he recognizes that the teacher, who stutters, is a kindred spirit. VERDICT A stunning work; highly recommended.—Evelyn Beck, Piedmont Tech. Coll., Greenwood, SC

In this collection of short stories mostly about broken marriages and extramarital affairs, children are only peripheral characters, but the sensibility and emotional honesty they show in two stories leave such an indelible mark that one wishes they appeared more often. Unfortunately, Canty (Winslow in Love) focuses on adults, and, with the notable exception of his title story, a study of egocentricity, his treatment of them is less successful. All too often, Canty uses sex as a metaphor for a corrupt adult world full of betrayal, deception, and the shunning of personal responsibility and commitment. For example, in "Sleeping Beauty," the protagonist is sympathetic to his friend's wife, who has descended into alcoholism because of her husband's long-term affair with her best friend, yet he allows himself to be seduced by the wife. VERDICT While Canty sometimes seems to want us to believe that changing sexual partners will make life better, the moments of rebirth are so unconvincing that the stories often read like male fantasy. Only in the final tale does lust actually lead to a catharsis, as if the author suddenly had an epiphany. Optional.—Victor Or, Surrey P.L. & North Vancouver City Lib., B.C.

Readers drawn to the short story are sometimes disappointed upon reading a collection by a single author, even one they favor. The collection might seem padded, or the voice that struck us as original and engaging becomes boringly familiar halfway through. No such hazard awaits the readers of this new collection. The award-winning Meloy (Half in Love) continues to deliver stories that please and surprise as each narrative's small world unfolds. As one would expect from its cunning title, taken from a poem by A.R. Ammons, this collection features desire in its many, often contradictory elements, encounters that take a character by surprise but hardly make a ripple in anybody else's world. For example, the young Montana ranch hand in "Travis, B," finds himself smitten by the harried young teacher of an adult education class he happens upon just by following people into the classroom building. It's the act of entering the building that frees him, not the unlikely possibility of romance, and the reader comes to know him just as he begins to know himself. VERDICT Readers who have waited impatiently for Meloy's return to this genre, perhaps the one in which Meloy herself seems most at home, have a treat in store.—Sue Russell, Bryn Mawr, PA

Thompson (Who Do You Love) takes us to a disturbing place in this darkly beautiful collection of short stories—her fifth. We see lives falling apart, relationships soured and occasionally violent, and hope distant and elusive. The characters, youngish suburbanites who are all well depicted, are often drawn to each other by a terrible loneliness, but even their most basic attempts at human connection usually fail. Some fail for predictable reasons (pettiness, jealousy, meanness), others for reasons that are more complex and perhaps ultimately unexplainable. VERDICT There is a tragic sensibility at work here (a Thompson hallmark) and a keen sense of how precarious and fragile love and friendship are. Thompson notes in the ironically titled "How We Brought the Good News" that the world is "flawed in unexpected ways," and she helps us understand the pathos and heartbreak of that discovery. Enthusiastically recommended.—Patrick Sullivan, Manchester Community Coll., CT

In this eclectic collection of a dozen short stories set in China, Tel (Freud's Alphabet Book) describes a wide range of personalities, hardships, and triumphs. In the title piece, a 29-year-old single woman from a village arranges to be a foster mother to a Beijing couple's newborn for compensation, but her charge dies only hours after the arrangement is made. A year later, she is surprised to be granted coveted residency status in Beijing, but her move to the city is disillusioning. In another story, "The Three Lives of Little Yu," a childless couple try for 30 years to acquire a daughter. Whether describing the mishaps of a singing courier in "Year of the Gorilla," online relationships in "Unofficial History of the Embroidered Couch," or the experiences of a maid in "Rise Upward to the Blue Clouds," Tel manages to write surrealistically and concisely. VERDICT Although academics will more likely gravitate to this title, anyone who can appreciate quirky and offbeat storytelling will enjoy Tel's interpretive look at life in modern China.—Shirley N. Quan, Orange Cty. P.L., Santa Ana, CA

Updike's latest collection explores thematic territory mapped out in previous work (e.g., Out on the Marsh). As the title suggests, the pieces here examine lost love, nostalgia, and heartbreak, ultimately affirming the potential joys of risking love again. In the title story, for example, a young academic in therapy after a breakup falls in love with a fellow graduate student and is grateful that his former romances have failed. Likewise, in what is arguably this collection's strongest contribution, "In the Age of Convertibles," an exemplary adolescent reaches the limits of his own excellence by fumbling a budding romance. VERDICT Updike's protagonists tend to be variations on a certain middle-class archetype: well educated, emotionally vulnerable, and romantically unfulfilled. They're also tolerant of or at least curious about people from different cultures, and many of the couples are biracial, inviting compelling consideration of identity issues and difference. This work encourages comparison with that of Updike's influential father, John Updike, and of John Irving and will appeal to readers of their works.—J. Greg Matthews, Washington State Univ. Libs., Pullman

Wicomb followed up her critically acclaimed collection of apartheid-era short stories, You Can't Get Lost in Cape Town, with two novels. Here she returns to the short story, a genre that seems to suit her writing style, which combines economy with depth and eschews cleverness for its own sake. Wicomb is adept at telling a compelling story and having something worthwhile to say at the same time. Set mainly in either Cape Town or Glasgow, these intersecting stories reveal the subtleties of the relationships between people—best friends who have grown apart, husbands who do not quite understand their wives, servants and the people they serve—as well as exploring the relationship of art to reality. VERDICT The dual settings allow for insights into racial stratification, gender, identity, and the colonial past, which makes for fascinating reading. Recommended for anyone who enjoys good fiction.—Gwen Vredevoogd, Marymount Univ., Arlington, VA