Fiction
-- Library Journal, 02/01/2010
Atkins, Ace. Infamous. Putnam. Apr. 2010. c.416p. ISBN 978-0-399-15630-4. $25.95. F
A premier writer of historical thrillers, Atkins (Devil's Garden; Wicked City) takes his readers back to the 1930s in this mad romp through the South and Midwest following George "Machine Gun" Kelly (1900–54) as he plans and executes his ultimate caper. A moonshine runner-turned-bank robber, Kelly plans a final job: the kidnapping and ransom of Oklahoma oil magnate Charles Urshel. Neither the meanest nor the cleverest of gangsters, Kelly nevertheless pulls off the perfect abduction, only to see it fall apart at the seams as his gangster friends manipulate to cut themselves into the action, his wife undercuts him for her own ends, and a persistent FBI agent stalks him relentlessly, closing the net ever tighter. It is a precocious 12-year-old who ultimately provides the key to Kelly's capture and conviction. VERDICT This tough, boisterous, lustful tale of a would-be playboy miscast as villain compares to the best of Max Allan Collins or Elmore Leonard and will appeal to adult readers who like their gangster stories based on fact.—Thomas L. Kilpatrick, formerly with Southern Illinois Univ. Libs., Carbondale
Beutner, Katharine. Alcestis. Soho, dist. by Consortium. Feb. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-1-56947-617-8. $23. F
This debut novel reworks the story of the mythological Greek princess Alcestis, a devoted wife who sacrificed her life to save her husband, Admetus. Here, Alcestis's young life is marked by loss: her mother dies while giving birth to her, and when she is eight, her beloved older sister dies, leaving Alcestis feeling alone and bereft. At age 15, she eagerly marries the young king of Pherae but discovers that her new husband also loves another, a god with whom Alcestis believes she cannot compete. So, when her husband's life is at stake, she offers her life and is taken to the underworld to roam among the dead. When she meets the underworld's King Hades and his queen, Persephone, she learns for the first time what it is be loved as a desirable being. How Alcestis copes with her newfound knowledge makes for a thought-provoking story. VERDICT While some of the narrative transitions seem abrupt, and the underworld presented here is hard to envision, the intriguing character of Alcestis is fresh and forthright. Best for more academic readers.—M. Neville, Trenton P.L., NJ
Bishop, George. Letter to My Daughter. Ballantine. Feb. 2010. 160p. ISBN 978-0-345-51598-8. $20. F
Middle-aged Louisiana mother Laura Jenkins slaps her teenage daughter, Liz, on the eve of her 15th birthday during an argument. Liz runs away in the family car while her parents stew anxiously at home, waiting for news of her whereabouts. Laura uses this time to write a long letter to Liz about her own troubled adolescence growing up rebellious in a strict, bigoted Southern home. At the heart of Laura's own 1969 coming-of-age story is her forbidden love for high school senior Tim Prejean. Laura's parents ship her off to a Catholic boarding school after catching the young lovers, and Tim enlists in the army and heads to Vietnam, keeping the romance alive through clandestine letters. Bishop wonderfully captures the impossibility of being 15, romantic, and eager to embrace adventure. VERDICT Readers who don't scratch too deeply, accepting the somewhat improbable premise that a mother would write a book-length letter while frantically awaiting word of her missing daughter, will find much to enjoy as Bishop brings alive an independent, fearless young Laura. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/09.]—Beth E. Anderson, Ann Arbor Dist. Lib., MI
Burke, Alafair. 212. Harper: HarperCollins. Apr. 2010. c.368p. ISBN 978-0-06-156122-1. $24.99. F
When NYPD detective Ellie Hatcher (Angel's Tip) and her partner, J.J. Rogan, suspect a connection between the murder of a college co-ed who'd recently complained about an online stalking incident and the murder of a bodyguard employed by a wealthy and well-known real estate developer, the clues lead them into the darker side of the Internet—a world of anonymous online gossip and call-girl ads. Ellie soon finds herself juggling two active cases while sitting in the crosshairs of both office politics and high-powered persons of interest who don't like the police looking into their business. VERDICT The latest installment of former district attorney and current criminal law professor Burke's Ellie Hatcher series is a fast-paced thriller featuring an appealingly current angle, dynamic characters, and a spiderweb of possibilities she manages to leave tied up neatly. Strongly recommended for public libraries, especially where thrillers are popular. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/09.]—Amy Brozio-Andrews, Albany P.L., NY
Charyn, Jerome. The Secret Life of Emily Dickinson. Norton. Feb. 2010. c.352p. illus. ISBN 978-0-393-06856-6. $24.95. F
PEN/Faulkner award winner Charyn (Johnny One-Eye) returns with a fictional speculation of the life of Emily Dickinson. The author sets the theme by quoting Dickinson's line, "To shut our eyes is to travel." The narrative spans Dickinson's life from her time as a student at Mt. Holyoke Female Seminary to the end at her family's homestead. As the story unfolds, Charyn displays Dickinson's closeness with and affection for her doting father, caring brother, loyal sister, and tempestuous sister-in-law. Though Dickinson was reclusive, Charyn paints her passionate inner life, which involves imaginative romances with many unconventional suitors. One fictional suitor, Tom, whom she first encounters at Mt. Holyoke, haunts her throughout the novel. A former classmate, Zilpah Marsh—who, it would seem, is named after a character in Edgar Lee Masters's Spoon River Anthology—is also a fixture for Dickinson and in fact seems to symbolize an extreme version of the poet. VERDICT The novel doesn't focus much on Dickinson's writing, which will disappoint some readers. Its strength is in the way Charyn immerses himself in Dickinson's voice, using it to create a beguiling narrative. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/09.]—Cristella Bond, Anderson P.L., IN
Esterházy, Péter. Not Art. Ecco: HarperCollins. Mar. 2010. c.240p. ISBN 978-0-06-179296-0. pap. $14.99. F
Esterházy is an uncommon writer. In Helping Verbs of the Heart, which should be considered a companion to Not Art because it also deals with the death of the narrator's mother, he liberally uses other writers' work to express the narrator's feelings about his mother's death and has the deceased mother narrate the second half of the novel. Not Art concerns a son's relationship with his mother, a relationship oddly built around a mutual love of soccer. The characters include members of the Mighty Magyars, arguably the greatest national team in soccer history. The novel possesses many of the attributes readers come to expect from Esterházy's fiction: it is self-referential and filled with interesting and humorous digressions and makes known the presence of the author, busy creating the work of fiction. VERDICT By his own admission, Esterházy might have a limited audience; elements that make his fiction challenging and rewarding for some readers will confound others. Too appreciate Not Art fully, the reader will need a knowledge of Hungarian history and familiarity with the author's earlier work.—K.H. Cumiskey, Duke Univ. Libs., Durham, NC
Fagerholm, Monika. The American Girl. Other. Feb. 2010. c.528p. tr. from Swedish by Katarina E. Tucker. ISBN 978-1-59051-304-0. pap. $15.95. F
This latest work by Fagerholm (Wonderful Women by the Sea), set in the Swedish-speaking community of Finland, was a best seller in Sweden and won several literary prizes. While Scandinavian mysteries are now popular in the U.S. market, this is not a conventional mystery, though it does center on the drowning of a young American, Eddie de Wire, on the coast of Finland in 1969. The novel explores, from many directions, the effect of the American girl's death on the local youth at the time, particularly two troubled girls named Sandra and Doris. A reader in search of a straightforward, linear story might feel like someone lost in the woods who soon discovers that he or she has been going around in circles. VERDICT Fagerholm's use of words to conceal more than to reveal might appeal to those who are up for the challenge of interpreting this effusive yet oblique style of storytelling. Other readers can pass.—Leslie Patterson, Brown Univ. Lib., Providence
Fairstein, Linda. Hell Gate. Dutton. Mar. 2010. c.416p. ISBN 978-0-525-95161-2. $26.95. F
Assistant D.A. Alexandra Cooper and colleagues Mike Chapman and Mercer Wallace are called to a disaster scene: the shipwreck of a cargo ship transporting more than 300 Ukrainian immigrants. The task force works to identify the dead, secure translators, and make sense of the tragedy. Their investigation uncovers human trafficking/prostitution with possible ties to New York. Alex and her associates are then pulled away to check into scandalous allegations regarding a popular New York congressman. When unearthed clues link the two cases, things get dangerous. Does Alex know too much? Is this the case that leads to her demise? VERDICT The 12th entry in Fairstein's Alexandra Cooper series grabs readers at page one and doesn't let go until the breathtaking climax. Fairstein mixes intrigue, political corruption, and international exploitation with just the right amount of New York history: a perfect recipe for a winning thriller. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/09.]—Mary Todd Chesnut, Northern Kentucky Univ. Lib., Highland Heights
Falvey, Patricia. The Yellow House. Center Street. Feb. 2010. c.352p. ISBN 978-1-59995-201-7. pap. $21.99. F
For eight-year-old Eileen O'Neill, the gatherings of her father's friends to make music in the family's yellow house in Northern Ireland seem an idyllic time. But even in 1905, politics tinge their conversations, revealing distrust between Protestant and Catholic. Illness, betrayal, and violent death soon tear the family apart, but Eileen perseveres with the goal of reclaiming her heritage. Working in a textile mill owned by the wealthy Sheridans, she realizes that few opportunities exist for Catholics to advance. Yet she senses the sympathy of Owen Sheridan, whose unconventional actions dismay his Quaker family, especially after he enlists in the British army. When Eileen joins the underground fight for Irish independence, she is drawn to charismatic leader James Conlon and marries him, a decision that leads to further heartache. VERDICT Although most readers will surmise that religious, class, and political differences will ultimately be overcome to bring Eileen and Owen together, Falvey tells a good story along the way. A host of interesting characters, surprising but plausible plot developments, and deftly incorporated details of the Irish struggle for independence add up to a debut novel sure to please fans of historical romance.—Kathy Piehl, Minnesota State Univ., Mankato
Fernández, Macedonio. The Museum of Eterna's Novel (The First Good Novel). Open Letter. Feb. 2010. c.239p. tr. from Spanish by Margaret Schwartz. ISBN 978-1-934824-06-1. pap. $14.95. F
Fernández (1874–1952) is legendary in his native Argentina, where he is referred to strictly by his first name. Known chiefly for his association with and influence on Jorge Luis Borges, his own work has been neglected. Only a small fraction of his writing received publication in his lifetime, and this novel, his most important work, is making its first appearance in English. Composed over a period of 30 years, it is one of the most fascinating and inventive novels ever written, suffused with the ideas of metaphysics. Macedonio intentionally confounds all expectations, promising in an early prolog that his book "will annoy the reader like no other." This is followed by more than 50 additional prologs, in which he explores concepts of reality, introduces characters that do not appear in the novel, and attacks his nemesis, the "skip-around reader." The novel itself, when it finally begins, is nearly as bewildering but also reveals itself to be a heartfelt investigation of love and death. VERDICT Decades ahead of his time and overlooking nothing, Macedonio supplied his novel with its own reviews, blurbs, and the following verdict: "If you think there's a probability that a novel like the one thus synthesized might be agreeable to you, read it."—Forest Turner, Suffolk Cty. House of Correction Lib., Boston
Grushin, Olga. The Line. Marian Wood Book: Putnam. Apr. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-399-15616-8. $25.95. F
Grushin's first novel, The Dream Life of Sukhanov, blazed upon the literary firmament four years ago. It is now followed by a work of equal merit. The eponymous line is a conceit that showcases the hopes and dreams of a slice of Soviet society after "the Change," the repressive period following the Revolution of 1917. In Grushin's line, one of many thousands that stretched across the Soviet Union over the decades, citizens stand and wait for some initially unspecified goods to be put up for sale by the state. It finally turns out that the kiosk will be selling tickets for a concert to be conducted by a supposedly returning expatriate composer (in real life, a line like this actually formed for a concert by Igor Stravinsky). With only one ticket allowed per person, three members of a family of four take turns waiting for an entire year. Their motives are mixed and shifting, and in the end astonishing secrets are revealed. The miracle of this book is that its young author, who was born in Moscow but writes in English, has managed to transform the drab and dreary lives of beleaguered Soviet citizens into a tale of consummate beauty. Like a diamond with countless facets—utterly brilliant. VERDICT Recommended ecstatically, especially for readers with an interest in cultures other than their own. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/09.]—Edward Cone, New York
Hill, Joe. Horns. Morrow. Mar. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-06-114795-1. $25.99. F
Ignatius Perrish led a charmed life as the popular son of a wealthy and talented family and the storybook lover of the perfect Merrin Williams. Then, after high school, it all went wrong. Merrin was raped and murdered, her head bashed in, and everyone assumed Ig was the killer, even after he was exonerated. A year after Merrin's death, following a barely remembered night of debauchery, Ig awakens with a pair of three-inch horns growing from his forehead. Along with these come abilities that shock and disgust him but also bring him closer to finding Merrin's real killer. As the plot builds through flashbacks and clever exposition, Ig's true nature reveals itself, and the reader is left questioning the traditional border between good and evil. VERDICT The promising short-story writer of 20th Century Ghosts didn't quite reach the mark with his debut novel, Heart-Shaped Box, but with his sophomore effort, Hill has written a novel that is all his. Highly recommended, particularly for fans of Clive Barker and Christopher Moore. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/09; also available in ebook and HarperLuxe large-print editions.]—Karl G. Siewert, MLIS, Tulsa City-Cty. Lib.
Jolley, Elizabeth. The Vera Wright Trilogy: My Father's Moon, Cabin Fever, The Georges' Wife. Braziller: Persea. Feb. 2010. c.560p. ISBN 978-0-89255-352-3. pap. $19.95. F
This book brings together three novels by the late Australian writer Jolley. My Father's Moon (1989), Cabin Fever (1990), and The Georges' Wife (published in the United States for the first time) tell the story of Vera Wright from her time as a 17-year-old nurse in training in Britain during World War II to her life as a middle-aged physician in Australia. Vera is a bright but naive and at times shockingly passive young woman. She bears children by two unmarriageable men: one already married, the other devoted to his sister. Neither pregnancy is ever discussed with these men even though Vera lives in the same household as one of them for decades. The first novel is the best; the details about wartime rations and blackouts and how the hospital runs and nurses' duties are fascinating. The second novel is sad but affecting as Vera, an unwed mother, becomes desperate for a place to live and a way to make a living. As a heroine, she is reminiscent of the similarly desperate protagonists of Jane Austen and Edith Wharton. Less interesting is the third book, which reveals little of Vera's work as a doctor or her new life in Australia. VERDICT Recommended for fans of historical fiction.—Evelyn Beck, Piedmont Technical Coll., Greenwood, SC
Kavenna, Joanna. The Birth of Love. Metropolitan: Holt. Apr. 2010. c.304p. ISBN 978-0-8050-9154-0. pap. $14. F
Kavenna (Inglorious) writes about the power and pain of childbirth in four interconnected stories. "The Moon" takes place in 1865 Vienna, where a certain Professor Semmelweis is in an insane asylum crazed by the belief that he and his colleagues are responsible for hundreds of women dying of childbed fever. "The Empress" is set in present-day London, where Brigid struggles to withstand the excruciating labor of her second child in order to experience natural childbirth. "The Hermit," also set in present-day London, features Michael Stone, a troubled, isolated writer of many unpublished books who has finally found success with his novel, The Moon, about the 19th-century doctor Ignaz Philipp Semmelweis, who fought for sanitary birthing conditions to combat puerperal fever. And, last, in "The Tower," where the year is 2025, the human species has almost been destroyed and is now controlled by the Protectors, who use soul-crushing, overly sanitized methods in an attempt to promulgate the species once more. VERDICT Highly symbolic and wonderfully suspenseful, Kavenna's distinctive voices from the past, present, and future join to proclaim the wonder of birth.—Joy Humphrey, Pepperdine Univ. Law Lib., Malibu, CA
Kerr, Philip. If the Dead Rise Not: A Bernie Gunther Novel. Marian Wood: Putnam. Mar. 2010. c.448p. ISBN 978-0-399-15615-1. $26.95. F
As in A Quiet Flame, British author Kerr sets the action of his sixth Bernie Gunther series in two distinct epochs—prewar Berlin (1934) and Havana 20 years later. Forced off the Berlin police force because of his allegiance to the old Weimar Republic, Bernie is now the Adlon Hotel's house detective. As the Nazis consolidate power, the survival of the city's Jews grows more precarious. Bernie, one-fourth Jewish himself, gets embroiled in a conflict between corrupt businessmen who aim to profit from the 1936 Olympiad and a beautiful American (and Jewish) journalist, Noreen Charalambides, who hopes to derail U.S. participation. By the time the dust settles, Bernie is locked in a stalemate with American mobster Max Reles. In 1954, Bernie is living in Havana and runs across Noreen, now a successful author living in Hemingway's Finca Vigía, where she consorts with Communists. To Bernie's surprise, Noreen's daughter is palling around with Max Reles, now in cahoots with Meyer Lansky and other mobsters. Soon, Bernie will have one more murder to solve if he hopes to survive and save those dear to him. VERDICT As rich in historical atmosphere as any Alan Furst thriller and leavened by the cutting wit of Bernie's cynicism, this outstanding roman noir will delight readers of detective fiction and historical thrillers alike. [See "Prepub Exploded," BookSmack!, 10/1/09.]—Ron Terpening, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson
LeCraw, Holly. The Swimming Pool. Doubleday. Apr. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-385-53193-1. $24.95. F
LeCraw's thoughtful debut novel tells of two families whose lives are entwined by tragedy, secrecy, and scandal. Marcella Atkinson's heart was broken the night her affair with Cecil McClatchey ended and his wife was murdered. Never entirely cleared as a suspect in her killing, Cecil himself died soon after. Years later, her own marriage destroyed by the affair, Marcella is again thrown into contact with the McClatchey family when her daughter Toni (ignorant of her mother's adultery) is employed by Cecil's daughter, Callie, who for her own reasons must seek solace with her brother Jed in their family's summer home on Cape Cod. Jed's discovery of Marcella's old swimsuit in a closet leads him to her and to an entirely new relationship. VERDICT This exceptionally complex and accomplished novel does not read like the work of a beginning writer. With a strong underlying theme of longing woven throughout, LeCraw's work skillfully takes these characters through varying emotional journeys. An insightful piece, not just for beach or airplane reading. An author to watch.—Julie Kane, Sweet Briar Coll. Lib., VA
Lichtenstein, Alice. Lost. Scribner. Mar. 2010. c.256p. ISBN 978-1-4391-5982-8. $24. F
Lichtenstein (The Genius of the World) offers a resonant meditation on caution and carelessness that will appeal to readers who appreciate complex characters. Three troubled lives intersect when a man suffering from dementia disappears. Susan, the missing man's wife, blames herself for past and present transgressions, while Jeff, the coordinator of the rescue effort, struggles with demons of his own. Corey, a troubled child abandoned by his family and now in Jeff's care, holds the key to many mysteries, but will he recover his voice and clear his name? Lichtenstein's omniscient narrator offers the readers knowledge the characters don't have, a choice that adds both tension and dramatic irony to the reading experience. Backstory is skillfully executed as well, allowing readers to sympathize with the characters' woes while recognizing how their flawed natures brought them to their current situations. While the ending might seem too tidy for some readers, it is still within the realm of plausibility and offers both hope to the hopeless and healing to the broken. VERDICT Welcome spring, welcome back Lichtenstein. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/09.]—Leigh Anne Vrabel, Carnegie Lib. of Pittsburgh
Lynds, Gayle. The Book of Spies. St. Martin's. Mar. 2010. c.400p. ISBN 978-0-312-38089-2. $25.99. F
Lynds (The Coil: The Last Spymaster) is a master of the espionage thriller. In her latest, she deftly adopts the conventions of treasure-hunting novels to craft a thrilling, spy-laden, history-rich page-turner. Eva Blake, a rare-book conservator, is convicted of vehicular manslaughter in her husband's death, though she wasn't responsible. Meanwhile, the long-lost and historically significant Library of Gold appears on the radar of the CIA, somehow tied to dubious finances in the Middle East. Armed with The Book of Spies from the library's collection, the CIA springs Blake from prison to find the library. When Blake glimpses her husband alive, her world is shaken. What is the truth? The reach of the library is far and its director, powerful. Blake has backup, but the CIA has been infiltrated. Whom can she trust? Is her husband really alive? Is he the librarian? Do they find the library? What happens in the Middle East? This reviewer knows but is not revealing anything. VERDICT Two great tastes that taste great together. Readers of both espionage and artifact novels should be well sated but will crave subsequent escapades with these characters.—Laura A.B. Cifelli, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., FL
McPhee, Martha. Dear Money. Houghton Harcourt. Jun. 2010. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-15-101165-0. $25. F
In this latest from McPhee (L'America), India Palmer and her husband are artists—she's a writer, he's a sculptor—living in Manhattan. They are both successful, but they live beyond their means. Each month, as India worries about paying the bills, juggling private school tuition, nanny and house cleaner salaries, theater tickets, etc., she longs to own an apartment and spend money without concern. On a visit to their wealthy banker friend's vacation home in Maine, India meets "Win" Johns, a high-powered trader of mortgage-backed securities. Win bets that he can transform India into a world-class bond trader within 18 months. The lure of financial security proves irresistible, and we follow India on her journey to reinvent herself, as McPhee plays with the notion of "keeping up with the Joneses" in an entertaining and ironic way. VERDICT The characters are lively, and the narrative is engaging and fun to read, although the bond trader "talk" gets more technical and lengthy than necessary. Still, while readers familiar with New York City may be more sympathetic to the heroine's plight, others may not have a frame of reference and could be annoyed by her privilege.—Sarah Conrad Weisman, Corning Community Coll., NY
Malae, Peter Nathaniel. What We Are. Grove. Mar. 2010. c.400p. ISBN 978-0-8021-1907-0. $24. F
Twenty-eight and a self-described half-breed Samoan American, Paul Tusifale is full of contradictions. Though intelligent and well read, he's an underachiever disinterested in most people's definition of success. He has a strong sense of injustice and wants to help those down on their luck, especially immigrants, or paisas, around San José. But a violent encounter leaves him charged with a hate crime and behind bars. He is a poet and supposed lover of women, but he can't maintain a romantic or familial relationship. Paul decides to emerge from life on the fringes, get a job, and try to reconnect, but this is a challenge for someone who can't seem to learn how to walk away and accept that not every meeting will end in confrontation. VERDICT In this decidedly masculine novel by the author of the story collection Teach the Free Man, the language is often explicit and the protagonist young, disaffected, and easily provoked. Readers who enjoy other contemporary fiction authors popular with men, such as Chuck Palahniuk and Bret Easton Ellis, should definitely try Malae. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/09: this novel won the San Francisco Foundation/Intersection for the Arts Joseph Henry Jackson Award for best novel in progress.—Ed.]—Shaunna Hunter, Hampden-Sydney Coll., VA
Manfredi, Valerio Massimo. The Ides of March. Europa, dist. by Penguin USA. Mar. 2010. c.288p. tr. from Italian by Christine Fedderson. ISBN 978-1-933372-99-0. pap. $16. F
Manfredi's (The Last Legion) ninth novel reimagines the events leading up to the assassination of Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.E. The story opens with a series of troubling portents: rumblings from a nearby volcano, a priest unable to locate the heart of a sacrificial calf during a religious ceremony, and, most dramatic, a seer warning Caesar to "beware the ides of March." These omens are soon borne out; while in Modena Publius Sextus, Caesar's most trusted lieutenant, learns of a plot to kill Caesar and sets out, pursued by enemies, to warn him. This plot element helps to provide some suspense to a story whose ending, after all, the reader knows in advance. Manfredi's portrayal of Caesar as ill, victimized by seizures, and haunted by visions of the men he has killed over the years adds depth to the story. VERDICT Primarily concerned with the nature of political power, most effectively in its depiction of the aftermath of Caesar's death, this novel will appeal to fans of fiction about ancient Rome and readers who enjoy Robert Harris's novels about Cicero.—Douglas Southard, CRA International, Inc., Boston
Marlantes, Karl. Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War. Atlantic Monthly. Apr. 2010. c.592p. ISBN 978-0-8021-1928-5. $24.95. F
Even as the Vietnam War recedes into the past, the despair, confusion, and mythology it generated retains a grip on our culture. Debut novelist Marlantes offers a realistic, in-the-trenches look at that war. Matterhorn is a remote jungle base of operations held by the marines. We follow a young reserve lieutenant, Waino Mellas, as he nervously begins command of a squad ordered to take out a North Vietnamese machine gun nest; afterward, the squad is sent into the jungle for obscure reasons. This is the beginning of a long and murderous journey, with little food or water, constant rain, impassable terrain, and enemy ambushes. The soldiers bond with one another, but their faults and divisions are magnified, as racial tensions mount and cultural differences are revealed. The battle scenes, at which the author excels, are frequent, brutal, and viscerally energetic, and the skillfully rendered dialog reveals a bunch of strangers attempting to communicate in life-defeating circumstances. In the end, there are no real victors. VERDICT Obviously not a brief, cheery read, this is a major work that will be a valuable addition to any permanent collection. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/09.]—Jim Coan, SUNY Coll. at Oneonta
Möring, Marcel. In a Dark Wood. Harper: HarperCollins. Mar. 2010. c.464p. tr. from Dutch by Shaun Whiteside. illus. ISBN 978-0-06-621241-8. $24.99. F
In this fifth novel by acclaimed Dutch author Möring (The Great Longing), the reminiscences of dying Dutch Jewish businessman Jacob Noah alternate with the yearnings of Jewish intellectual Marcus Kolpa, who loves Noah's youngest daughter, Chaja. The novel takes place in June 1980, on the night before the annual international motorcycling race known as the Dutch TT, held in Assen and accompanied by much partying. Noah, the sole survivor of his family after the Holocaust, looks back on how he, one of the town's only remaining Jews, built a successful department store and raised a family. When his vision for the growth/development of Assen was rejected, Noah exacted revenge and now acknowledges his bitterness and guilt. Meanwhile, the rebellious Kolpa is back in town, eager to reignite a relationship with Chaja. VERDICT While the author has strategically placed his soul-searching central characters on a hellish stage strewn with the relentless drinking and rioting of the reckless biker race attendees, at times the incessant roaming and rambling of these two men can be hard to read and follow. Readers interested in contemporary European literature may find the narrative thought-provoking.—M. Neville, Trenton P.L., NJ
O'Dell, Tawni. Fragile Beasts. Shaye Areheart: Harmony. Mar. 2010. c.416p. ISBN 978-0-307-35168-5. $25. F
Their father's sudden, violent death leaves two teenaged brothers devastated. Troubled Klint, a gifted athlete especially close to his dad, shared a love of baseball with him; artistic Kyle also shared this bond. When their mother, who had abandoned the boys, appears at the funeral, she demands they move to Arizona with her, leaving their Pennsylvania coal country roots; the boys voice strong protests. In steps reclusive septuagenarian coal heiress Candace Jack, who decides, somewhat on a dare, to raise the brothers. Her mysterious, vague background includes a love of Spain and ownership of a fighting bull wandering over her vast property. Rocky roads are ahead for the newly created "family," but, overall, so are great rewards. VERDICT O'Dell's love for the fallen-on-hard-times coal country shines through in her fourth novel (after Sister Mine, Coal Run, and Back Roads). A unique blend of such disparate elements as baseball, bullfighting, and fine art along with O'Dell's multifaceted major and minor characters combine for intriguing vision. Her hard-hitting, well-crafted story packs a wallop. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/09; ebook edition ISBN 978-0-307-46257-2.]—Andrea Tarr, Corona P.L., CA
O'Farrell, Maggie. The Hand That First Held Mine. Houghton Harcourt. Apr. 2010. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-547-33079-2. $25. F
Lexie Sinclair moves from the Cornwall area to post-World War II London and begins a thrilling new life under the tutelage of her lover, Innes Kent, an editor and art collector. Even the eventual knowledge that he is legally married doesn't alter her allegiance to him, and she becomes the mother of his son, as well as a respected art critic. In between chapters about Lexie and Innes, readers meet contemporary London artist Elina, who lives with her boyfriend Ted. They have just had a son together, and Elina, who almost died in childbirth, is housebound during her recovery. Growing into his new role as a father, Ted suffers confusing flashbacks about his own childhood. Gradually, a trail of connection between these two nontraditional families is revealed. Devious acts have been committed, darkly affecting these innocent, decent, and well-developed characters. VERDICT O'Farrell brings to mind Sue Miller but with a British and darker flavor; her sure hand for psychological suspense (The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox) continues to be most impressive. [ALA Midwinter promotion.]—Keddy Ann Outlaw, formerly with Harris Cty. P.L., Houston
Palmer, Michael. The Last Surgeon. St. Martin's. Feb. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-312-58749-9. $26.99. F
The death of nurse Jillian Coates's sister and the disappearance of a fellow soldier from the Gulf War front drive Palmer's latest medical-themed novel. Jillian doesn't accept the police's conclusion that her sister was a suicide and quickly becomes obsessed with proving otherwise. Her efforts bring her in contact with Dr. Nick Garrity, a veteran and former surgeon now helping the homeless from a mobile health van. Nick is dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder and his guilt over Umberto Vasquez, who saved his life in Iraq and then disappeared into a civilian life of alcoholism and homelessness. As their investigations converge, Jillian and Nick are led to the Singh Center, a mysterious and very profitable plastic surgery facility. To solve what becomes a series of murders, Nick and Jillian must deal with ruthless government officials and a very talented paid assassin. VERDICT Palmer's latest has an appealing couple at its center, plus good pacing and gritty action to keep the pages turning. Some scenes include descriptions of graphic violence but are appropriate for the story. This latest should please Palmer's fans and all those who enjoy their suspense mixed with medical characters and settings. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/09.]—A.J. Wright, Univ. of Alabama at Birmingham
Parris, S.J. Heresy: A Historical Thriller. Doubleday. Feb. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-385-53128-3. $24.95. F
Readers first meet Dominican monk Giordano Bruno as he examines a prohibited text in the monastery privy. Discontented with the Church's teachings, Bruno is a believer of Copernicus's heliocentric theory of the universe. After escaping the Inquisition, he spends years on the run, offering his services as a teacher and ever on the lookout for Hermes Trismegistus's divine Egyptian text. To be Catholic in 1583 England is synonymous with sedition, and an odd twist of fate sees Bruno employed by Queen Elizabeth. His cover: to participate in a debate at Oxford; his purpose: to ferret out heresy at the university. What Bruno finds is a lovely young woman, a group of secretive Fellows, and a series of brutal murders. VERDICT Parris's debut historical thriller shines a light on the religious turmoil of 16th-century England, when men swore an oath to one faith but practiced another. Narrator Bruno (based on the real-life philosopher) is lively and sympathetic, and dedicated readers will be wholly satisfied in the end. Recommended for fans of historical thrillers along the lines of Katherine Neville's The Eight and Matthew Pearl's The Dante Club. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/09; also available as an abridged audio CD, abridged audiobook download, unabridged audiobook download, and an ebook.—Ed.]—Jamie Kallio, Thomas Ford Memorial Lib., Western Springs, IL
Purdy, Brandy. The Boleyn Wife. Kensington. Feb. 2010. c.320p. ISBN 978-0-7582-3844-3. pap. $15. F
Lady Jane Parker is overjoyed when she marries dashing courtier George Boleyn, but her hopes for a loving union are destroyed when she realizes that her husband is forever tied emotionally to his charismatic sister Anne. While riding the wave of the Boleyns' popularity, embittered Jane is privy to every secret and scandal in Henry VIII's court. When Anne wins the English throne, Jane's hatred explodes, and she testifies to George's "unnatural" love for his sister. This rash act signs not only Anne's death warrant but also George's, with lasting repercussions for Jane. VERDICT Though newcomer Purdy's lush writing has promise, her fascination with the Boleyn saga overpowers the plot and provides nothing new. Jane tells the story mostly from behind shrubbery or curtains, which reduces her character to an inactive role and fosters no empathy. Recommended for readers who can't get enough of the Tudors and have devoured all of Philippa Gregory's books.—Jamie Kallio, Thomas Ford Memorial Lib., Western Springs, IL
Salvayre, Lydie. Portrait of the Writer as a Domesticated Animal. Dalkey Archive. Feb. 2010. c.208p. tr. from French by William Pedersen. ISBN 978-1-56478-557-2. pap. $13.95. F
Big-headed corporate titans and the women who support them come under dual attack in the latest by satirist Salvayre (The Power of Flies). The narrator, a French novelist, is hired to ghostwrite the memoir of Tobold, founder of the fast-food chain King Size and self-described most powerful man in the universe. As she follows him to parties frequented by Hollywood stars and chronicles his barbarous philosophies and rapacious behavior, the narrator finds herself both repelled by the man and completely subservient to him. "I who considered myself a revolutionary writer," she writes, "didn't say a thing that would upset a damn hamburger peddler." VERDICT Though the setting is New York City despite the nationalities of the author and her protagonist, it soon becomes clear that the true target for the novel's considerable indignation is America. The exploration of the uneasy relationship between art and commerce and the responsibilities of each drive the book, sometimes to the point of repetition and usually at the expense of plot. Few novelists working today, however, can command attention the way Salvayre does; she is worth a look, particularly for readers with philosophical leanings.—Forest Turner, Suffolk Cty. House of Correction Lib., Boston
Scottoline, Lisa. Think Twice. St. Martin's. Mar. 2010. c.384p. ISBN 978-0-312-38075-5. $26.99. F
Scottoline (Look Again) takes us back to Bennie Rosato's all-female law firm and the warm, witty women who work there. Bennie's twin sister, Alice, shows up, and if we weren't sure she was evil before, now we know: Alice drugs Bennie, buries her alive, then impersonates her sister in a scheme to steal her money. She almost gets away with it, running the show at the law firm while the wheels turn to make Bennie's money offshore. In the interim, Mary is house-hunting with Anthony, creating additional stress for their relationship, and Mary's parents are having their own relationship troubles. Bennie finds herself in a nightmare that brings out a side of her she never knew she had, and the tension keeps ratcheting up until the very end. VERDICT Readers who enjoy warm, believable characters, a touch of romance with their suspense, and a bit of humor will be delighted with the gang at Rosato's. Scottoline's intricate plot will keep thriller fans turning those pages.—Stacy Alesi, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., Boca Raton, FL
Tolkien, Simon. The Inheritance. Minotaur: St. Martin's. Apr. 2010. c.336p. ISBN 978-0-312-53907-8. $24.99. F
This second novel (after The Final Witness) by J.R.R. Tolkien's grandson is a legal thriller, World War II historical novel, and Da Vinci Code treasure hunt all rolled into one. Stephen Cade, son of a famed historian and war hero, is quickly convicted and sentenced to death for his father's murder, based on circumstantial evidence. Detective Bill Tave's instincts tell him there is more to the story, and right he is. There were five others in the Cade mansion that night, some of whom had a clear interest in whether the old professor lived or died. VERDICT This intricate story, which includes a distant father, the hunt for a religious artifact, and much detail about British society and its justice system, is a bit overambitious. However, it moves quickly, and the motives of the characters provide energy and drive to what turns out to be an absorbing 1950s-era mystery. Should appeal to fans of legal thrillers and British procedurals and such authors as Charles Todd.—Nancy Fontaine, Dartmouth Coll., Hanover, NH
Vantrease, Brenda Rickman. The Heretic's Wife. St. Martin's. Mar. 2010. c.416p. ISBN 978-0-312-38699-3. $25.99. F
Set in Tudor England just as the momentous break with Rome is developing, Vantrease's third historical novel (after The Illuminator and The Mercy Seller) explores the religious and political consequences of the Bible's translation into English. The sale of the family Bible, translated by John Wycliffe, provides booksellers Kate Gough and her brother John cash to continue their printing business, which leads Kate to a meeting and marriage with John Frith, an Oxford scholar associated with Reformation leader and Bible translator William Tyndale. Meanwhile, Thomas More, who is fast approaching his own martyrdom in refusing to accept Henry VIII's establishment of a separate church, is fervently suppressing heretical writings and translations. The issues debated form the dramatic background to the central plot—a woman's story of love and faith. Glimpses of Anne Boleyn add extra interest for fans of that ever-fascinating story. VERDICT A bit quicker-paced than the author's earlier books and full of discussion potential for book clubs, this solid historical will appeal to Vantrease's fans and attract new readers intrigued by the Tudors. For another angle on the More family, try Vanora Bennett's Portrait of an Unknown Woman.—Mary K. Bird-Guilliams, Wichita P.L., KS
Vivian, Robert. Lamb Bright Saviors. Univ. of Nebraska. (Tall Grass Trilogy). Mar. 2010. c.152p. ISBN 978-0-8032-1380-7. pap. $22.95. F
Crazy itinerant preacher Mr. Gene is trekking on foot across rural Nebraska with a barefooted girl named Mady in tow as his assistant when he is laid low and put to bed in a blind lady's house. Soon, a wildly disparate crowd from the surrounding area comes to watch as he dies, and Mr. Gene rewards them with his rambling and sometimes hallucinatory observations. With alternating chapters told in the voices of Mady; interesting characters named Oly, Munoz, Yarborough, and Marian; and the preacher himself, the story reveals the dark secrets and hidden dreams of a rough underbelly of rural residents in mid-America. Redemption is sought by all and offered to all in a dark, otherworldly vision of the end of life. VERDICT This spare and powerful work by the author of The Mover of Bones will find a select audience with literary fiction fans.—Ann H. Fisher, Radford P.L., VA
White, Michael J. Weeping Underwater Looks a Lot Like Laughter. Putnam. Feb. 2010. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-399-15590-1. $24.95. F
Set in mid-1990s Des Moines, White's debut novel focuses on teenager George Flynn and his complex relationship with Emily Schell. George first gains Emily's friendship by winning over her younger sister, Katie, who has a rare early-onset version of MS. The friendship eventually blossoms into love, but a tragic event impacts their relationship and the direction of their lives following high school. White's smart, ironic prose style is reminiscent of the work of Dave Eggers, though at times the self-conscious cleverness and metafictional touches threaten to overwhelm the flow of the narrative. While some characters are fully drawn, others, such as George's parents, barely register. Though the story takes a while to gel, at its heart is a romantic and ultimately sad love story featuring an extremely likable narrator. VERDICT A funny and affecting account of first love by a new author worth watching.—Christine DeZelar-Tiedman, Univ. of Minnesota Libs., Minneapolis
Woodruff, Nancy. My Wife's Affair. Amy Einhorn: Putnam. Apr. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 978-0-399-15629-8. $24.95. F
Business writer Peter recounts his relationship with his wife, Georgie, an actress whose several-year stint as stifled stay-at-home mother ends abruptly when the family moves to London. Georgie gets the chance of a lifetime to star in a one-woman play, and she grabs it, despite conflicting emotions about leaving her children. She soon loses herself in the role of Dora Jordan, a famous 18th-century actress who, after a wildly successful career, 13 children, and a decades-long love affair with the Duke of Clarence, died penniless and alone. Caught up in the heady excitement of acting again, Georgie falls for Piers, the charismatic playwright, and in days her mostly happy marriage is in ruins. VERDICT Woodruff offers some thoughtful insight into modern marriage and draws many parallels between women's circumstances in the 18th century and today. However, melodramatic foreshadowing seems too strong for the story. It's not until the final page that Woodruff drops a bombshell, creating an abrupt, unsatisfying ending. Readers interested in the real Dora Jordan would be better served with a biography.—Christine Perkins, Bellingham P.L., WA
Asim, Jabari. A Taste of Honey: Stories. Broadway. Mar. 2010. c.224p. ISBN 978-0-7679-1978-4. pap. $13. F
Asim established himself as a scholar of black culture with his nonfiction titles, What Obama Means…for Our Culture, Our Politics, Our Future and The N Word. With his debut work of fiction, the Guggenheim Fellow proves himself to be a promising storyteller. Weaving together a collection of stories told from various perspectives, he eloquently captures the angst, upheaval, and confusion that defined 1968 black America. Although some characters are more appealing than others, Asim creates multifaceted and realistic personalities throughout. For instance, Big Mama provides a discriminate amount of love to her dark-skinned grandchildren during the "Black Is Beautiful" period, while a revolutionary who swears to protect the community ignorantly contributes to its destruction. Domestic violence, indissoluble bonds, and the pursuit of upward mobility saturate this collection. Exceptionally notable is his nostalgic recall of black culture, as Asim interweaves doo-wop and gospel music into his pages and has one character comment, "Everybody had nicknames where we live." VERDICT This work captures the blistering experiences of Gloria Naylor's Women of Brewster Place and will appeal to African American literature and cultural connoisseurs.—Ashanti L. White, Univ. of North Carolina at Greensboro
Matarazzo, Marisa. Drenched: Stories of Love and Other Deliriums. Soft Skull. Feb. 2010. c.288p. ISBN 978-1-59376-271-1. pap. $14.95. F
In her debut story collection, Matarazzo has created a world in which water is the key element and sex is an action verb. Although these connected pieces are in many ways fantastical, the "deliriums" of their characters are not so different from our own. In one of the strongest stories, called "Fisty Pinions," 17-year-old Ashlyn Ashenbecher, whose parents have died suddenly in a tragic accident, takes two round glass ashtrays and mounts each one over "her very small, very flat breasts." She wears her ashtrays to bed every night but takes them off to bathe. Years later, a girl named Ronnie Scartoon, who has long loved Ashlyn from afar, will "hold her right fist in front of Ashlyn's left ashtray," and we know the two have mated for life. These ashtrays are among the many artifacts that have their own peculiar logic made credible by Matarazzo's belief in her characters and their watery world. VERDICT It's a world worth entering, and one you won't soon forget.—Sue Russell, Thomas Jefferson Univ., Philadelphia
Palmer, Dexter. The Dream of Perpetual Motion. St. Martin's. Mar. 2010. c.352p. ISBN 978-0-312-55815-4. $24.99. FANTASY
Palmer's debut drops elements from Shakespeare's The Tempest into a steampunk setting. The engines and mechanical men of inventor and industrialist Prospero Taligent have driven miracles from the world with the brute logic of technology. Young Harold Winslow's chance wandering at an amusement park brings him into Prospero's orbit. Invited to the birthday party of Taligent's beloved but objectified daughter Miranda, Harold begins a lifetime connection to a family plunging ever deeper into operatic madness. Palmer conjures unforgettable images—boys and girls carried to a skyscraper party by mechanical demons and angels, a "unicorn" created by pounding an ivory horn into the skull of a horse, for instance. VERDICT This clever, creative debut will appeal to readers who like literary and unusual fantasy. The emotional core of the story, metaphysical philosophy, visual splendor, and quirky humor are all strong, but, unfortunately, these elements aren't always blended gracefully. When Palmer learns to meld his strengths and avoid distracting asides, he'll be an exciting author indeed. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/09; library marketing.]—Neil Hollands, Williamsburg Regional. Lib., VA
