Fiction

As the Nazis move in to liquidate the ghetto where his family lives, 11-year-old Hugo and his mother flee. She leaves him with her childhood friend Marianna, now a prostitute, who has promised to hide the boy. During his days at the brothel, Hugo must stay mostly in a closet, where he listens to the conversations among the prostitutes or the sometimes harsh words of Marianna's customers as they rebuke her for not complying with their demands. When Marianna's self-pity is not fueled with alcohol, she treats Hugo affectionately, vowing to protect him at all costs. Slowly, Hugo forgets his family and friends and falls in love with Marianna; she cunningly abandons herself to him, introducing him to the pleasures of sex. When the Red Army begins its approach, the two flee the brothel, and through a heartbreaking series of events, Hugo finds himself bereft of love and truly alone in a world where the only hope for understanding and redemption is in a community cobbled from the remnants of his old life. VERDICT This latest from Israeli novelist Appelfeld joins classics such as Elie Wiesel's Nightin depicting the struggles of a young man to come to terms with the loneliness and despair of a world falling apart.—Henry L. Carrigan Jr., Evanston, IL

When Isolde "Izzy" Brilliant loses her financial sector job, she's delighted—now she can be a stay-at-home mom to her toddler son. That is, if your idea of a SAHM means having a full-time nanny while you cavort around Manhattan. Her marriage is failing, she can't decide whether she would rather be working, so she throws herself into helping to get her new Caribbean nanny pregnant (to the tune of thousands of dollars, all paid for without Izzy's husband's knowledge) and tiptoes around the possibility of an affair with a jet-setting businessman who wins her financial services at a silent auction. VERDICT While there are some funny moments, the self-centered characters and unpleasant situations make this an uncomfortable read for anyone looking for lighthearted motherhood fiction, and it's simply not fun enough for chick lit or Sex in the City fans. Purchase only if there is demand for the author's works (Going Down, the best seller High Maintenance, and Little Stalker).—Rebecca Vnuk, Forest Park, IL

Both veterans of the Iraq War, 26-year-old Ellie McEnroe and her husband, Trey Cooper, find themselves living in China, where Trey works as a security consultant for a large corporation. After moving and adjusting to a new country, what Ellie doesn't expect is to come home and find her husband in bed with a Chinese woman he immediately declares himself to be in love with. They separate, and Ellie, now known as Yili, is living a new life with a new set of friends, including Chinese artist Lao Zhang, aka Zhang Jianli. Yili's life takes yet another turn when she finds herself on the run in China from both American and Chinese security intelligence after a single brief and accidental meeting with Zhang's friend Hashim, an alleged Uighur terrorist. This debut novel is a snapshot of a very modern China filled with coffee shops, Internet cafés, and gamers. Brackmann's experience in the motion picture industry is evident, as Ellie's military backstory is cleverly interwoven and revealed throughout. VERDICT A gritty and intriguing tale of terror that draws in the reader with each page; Brackmann is a new writer to watch.—Shirley N. Quan, Orange Cty. P.L., Santa Ana, CA

Fiona Yu is a Chinese American attorney who refuses to be any man's "Hello Kitty"—the stereotypically well-groomed, well-behaved Asian wife. When Fiona is reunited with Sean Killroy, a childhood friend with a penchant for punishing the people who wrong him, she finds herself on an adventure with a serial killer who is only too happy to teach her how to get rid of unwanted fiancés and bosses. Choi, herself a former attorney, writes her first novel with a stiletto for a pen. The pace is fast. Sympathy for the victims is absent. And, as the body count rises, Sean's taste for blood grows. VERDICT Fiona's experiences are light-years from the young women in Amy Tan's The Joy Luck Club and only somewhat closer to the twins in Marilyn Chin's Revenge of the Mooncake Vixen. Now that serial killers have become the new 21st-century heroes, fans of Jeff Lindsay's "Dexter" series and Chuck Palahniuk's hard-core novels are the readers most likely to enjoy this book. [Tyrus Books is the new publishing venture of former Bleak House founding editor Benjamin LeRoy.—Ed.]—Andrea Kempf, Johnson Cty. Community Coll. Lib., Overland Park, KS

Clegg's name is less known in libraries than it is among an eclectic group of horror and dark fantasy readers for whom his "Vampyricon" series and, most recently, the novel Isis, are already classics. Clegg began his career with Goat Dance (1989); since then, along with pioneering epublishing ventures, he finds his way to readers through an array of niche publishing houses. This early work, originally published by Pocket Books in 1991 but long out of print, is a coming-of-age horror tale set on mysterious Gull Island, where four children try to survive the terrors the island serves up. VERDICT Fans' desire for this title has given it collectible status, fetching three-digit prices for mint-condition copies. Although there is an awkwardness in the plotting and storytelling that Clegg has long since grown out of, the book does well as an introduction to the author for new readers, particularly YAs. Libraries with a growing number of horror and fantasy readers may find that this new, partially illustrated edition will give patrons yet another author to add to their list of favorites.—Nancy McNicol, Hamden P.L., CT

A human-created virus has infected humankind, mutating most into superstrong, near-immortal vampiric creatures. The "virals"—also called "jumpers" and "dracs" (after Dracula, of course)—can leap 20 feet through the air at a bound and split a human (or a horse, or a cow) in half with their bare hands. A small band of men and women embark on a cross-country trek, looking for a way to protect the few remaining uninfected humans from extinction. With them travels an enigmatic prepubescent girl who talks to the virals with her mind and seems to have been born 100 years before. VERDICT The monsters in this compulsive nail biter are the scariest in fiction since Stephen King's vampires in Salem's Lot. Although the novel runs 700 pages, Cronin is a master at building tension, and he never wastes words. Shout it from the hills! This exceptional thriller should be one of the most popular novels this year and will draw in readers everywhere. [See a profile of Cronin in "Editors' Spring Picks," LJ 2/15/10; see also Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/10; 15-city author tour.]—David Keymer, Modesto, CA

New York Times best-selling author Dekker (Thr3e; Boneman's Daughters) returns with another piece of dark fiction in which a serial killer takes center stage. At each of the Denver crime scenes where four beautiful women are found murdered, the killer has left his chilling calling card, a bridal veil. FBI special agent Brad Raines seeks help from an unusual source, the Center for Well-Being and Intelligence, a mental institution that houses patients who are eerily intelligent and psychically gifted. Raines soon meets Paradise, a schizophrenic young woman with the ability to see the last moments of a person's life upon touching his or her dead body. Dekker is well known for incorporating spiritual elements (without sermonizing) into his suspense thrillers, and his latest is no exception. VERDICT Best suited for avid thriller, suspense, and crime fiction fans, it will also satisfy adventurous readers of Christian fiction.—Carolann Lee Curry, Mercer Univ. Medical Lib., Macon, GA

It's 1868, and the natives of North Carolina's Outer Banks think the Sinclairs' summer residence on the beach at Nags Head is right peculiar. Seventeen-year-old Abigail Sinclair is enlisted by her parents to teach Ben Whimble, her father's fishing guide, to read. Abby is being courted by medical student Hector Newman and is appalled at the dirty and perpetually barefoot Ben. But Abby is also restless and slowly sees in Ben more than just a willing pupil. Ben might be getting sweet on his teacher as well, but her father has involved Ben in a matter that doesn't sit right with "the Banker," knowing that freedmen and runaway slaves have long lived contentedly out on Roanoke Island. It's just three years since the end of the Civil War, and for some, that isn't long enough. VERDICT First novelist Ducharme has laced her novel with the sounds and the smells of the North Carolina shoreline. Racism and Southern tradition run along parallel paths in this affecting debut, where gentlemen can be less than honorable and enslavement doesn't always involve chains. Highly recommended for fans of Southern fiction. [Library marketing; ebook available.]—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal

Readers hoping for the zany, over-the-top suburban humor of Galant's previous novels Rattled and Fear and Yoga in New Jersey will be disappointed with her latest effort, which unsuccessfully aims for profundity. The premise: a couple chronicles the progression of their marriage in relation to the cars they drive at each stage of their lives together. Ivy, daughter of a Buick salesman, fears driving. Ellis, her media executive husband, loves the freedom of the open road. In alternating chapters, Ivy whines about one bad car experience after another (will she brave the Garden State Parkway?), while Ellis reveals his growing contempt for his spouse. Can this marriage be saved? Ivy never rings true as a character, and Ellis is portrayed as selfish and distant. In one scene, they fight while driving to chop down a Christmas tree. It ends with Ellis parking the car on the shoulder of the highway, refusing to drive until she begs him. The episode, like the rest of the book, is not ridiculous enough to be funny, nor is it poignant. VERDICT Not an essential purchase; readers of Galant's first two books might enjoy Tom Perrotta's take on suburbia instead.—Christine Perkins, Bellingham P.L., WA

Primatologist Jenny Lowe barely escapes warfare in the heart of the Congo, but she manages to save the teenage daughter of a murdered fellow researcher. The orphaned Lucy is a revelation to Jenny: Lucy's mother was a bonobo, or pygmy chimpanzee. The idealistic Jenny essentially adopts her well-educated, tree-swinging young charge, and they settle in Chicago. The remarkably articulate and resilient Lucy adapts to high school, sometimes exhibiting unique skill sets. But a DNA test betrays her and when the unbelievable truth comes out, Lucy's survivalist instincts kick in. Is there a place in our world for a hybrid girl? The story alternates between adventure and scientific treatise, and is a good choice for those missing Michael Crichton's speculative fiction. Sometimes poignant, sometimes corny, Lucy still manages to examine cultural standards with fresh eyes. VERDICT Those intrigued by what-if scenarios will find Lucy's search for a quality life—is she human or ape?—compelling. It is totally appropriate for the YA audience and will appeal to those who like to debate bioethical issues. [100,000-copy first printing.]—Teresa L. Jacobsen, Solano Cty. Lib, Fairfield, CA

A large passenger plane crashes outside of Portland, OR, with very few survivors, and the investigation begins almost immediately. Former National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) pathologist Dr. Leonard Tomzak happens to be close by the crash site and takes command at once of "The Crashers" team as the search for the truth begins. Simultaneously, the FBI starts to suspect that the plane was brought down by terrorists. All too soon, they realize that the terrorists will strike again…in three days. As Tomzak takes control of his team, he has to fight jealousies, turf wars, and his own feelings of inadequacy. VERDICT The plane crash scenes are extremely graphic but absolutely essential to the reader's understanding of the aftermath of a plane downed by a terrorist strike. Although the ending is just a little over the top, this thriller debut is filled with excitement and knowledge of NTSB procedures and problems. Highly recommended—just don't eat during the crash-scene investigation. [Library marketing; 100,000-copy first printing.]—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI

When Parris McKay travels from New York City to her hometown of Ruddell, MS, to see her dying grandmother, she is ambushed by the bitter truth that her grandmother had hidden from her for years—Parris's mother, whom Parris thought was dead, is very much alive and has been living in France all along. After traveling to Paris to find her mother, she uncovers more family secrets, lies, and betrayals that turn her life upside-down. Meanwhile, Parris forges sisterlike friendships with real estate agent Celeste and Celeste's friend Leslie, both of whom also have complex and difficult relationships with their mothers. VERDICT Hill, an Essence best-selling author of over 50 titles, offers readers hope through each character's journey to heal her broken and difficult relationships. But while the book is touching, the plot is extremely slow, and the characters lack originality. Recommended for die-hard Hill fans.—Lisa Jones, Birmingham P.L.

Emma Cunningham stands accused of the brutal murder of dentist Harvey Burdell in 1857 New York City. As his housekeeper at 31 Bond Street, she had ample opportunity to break into his private study and stab him; as his discarded mistress and a victim of his financial shenanigans, she had compelling reasons for revenge. Emma was in trouble, with two teenage daughters to marry off and rapidly disappearing funds. But would killing Burdell save her and her family from ruin? Criminal lawyer Henry Clinton takes on the case and quickly finds himself in over his head. VERDICT Inspired by true events, Horan's solid effort is more suited to readers of historical novels than to mystery fans. Although the period detail and descriptions of New York City are carefully drawn, her slow pace and unsympathetic characters fail to transform this debut into the gripping tale of suspense that such a true crime deserves, and comparisons to Caleb Carr are unwarranted. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 12/09; ebook edition ISBN 978-0-06-196937-9; 60,000-copy first printing.]—Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib.

Imagine being the smart and adored wife of a marvelous and successful man as well as the proud, if harried, mother of his darling four-year-old triplet boys in New York City. Then, one seemingly ordinary day, your thoroughly reliable husband does not return home from work. Isaacs vividly conveys the initial panic and gut-wrenching fear that Susie Gersten feels in those first hours as she contacts family members, his colleagues, and the police. Days go by with no word, and Susie fears the worst. Nothing, however, could have prepared her for the news that her beloved husband, Dr. Jonah Gersten, was found murdered in a call girl's apartment. Susie can't accept it, and by asking questions and challenging assumptions, she fights for the memory of her good marriage. VERDICT Issacs's (Past Perfect) latest novel depicts the hardship of a sudden death and the capacities of a clever and spirited woman to stay engaged in the world while struggling with grief. For all of its serious aspects, there are good measures of wit and fun here. All of Isaacs's novels have been New York Times best sellers—this one will be no exception. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 2/15/10.]—Sheila Riley, Smithsonian Inst. Libs., Washington, D.C.

Trying to help her 17-year-old sister, Shaylee, who has been sent by court order to an exclusive academy for troubled teens, Jules Farentino gets a job at the school. There she encounters ex-lover Cooper Trent, who has been hired to find a student who disappeared six months ago. Then another student is found hanged, and as the deaths continue, Jules and Cooper have only each other to trust as they seek to discover who's behind the horrible crime spree at the school. VERDICT This best-selling and prolific author (Malice) is a master at mixing a hair-raising thriller with sensual romantic suspense. Her latest whodunit hits all the marks, taking readers on a nail-biting roller-coaster ride. It's sure to appeal to all lovers of serious mystery, thrillers, and dark romantic suspense.—Debbie Haupt, St. Charles City/Cty. P.L., MO

Land brings back Texas Ranger Strong in another slam-bang thriller that exceeds her first appearance in Strong Enough To Die. Strong uncovers evidence of a white slave operation when someone close to her saves a young woman from certain death, but the head of the ring refuses to let his target escape. At the same time, the denizens of a small town descend into random acts of violence that cannot be rationally explained. All of these elements escalate, and to survive, Caitlin must face her own OK Corral. VERDICT Land is in top form, mixing elements of a modern action thriller with the fine tradition of Western novels. He skillfully blends historical facts about the Texas Rangers into his gripping tale, which he fleshes out with fully developed characters. Fans of both thrillers and classic Westerns in the tradition of Louis L'Amour should get their hands on this one right away. [Author appearances at BEA; ThrillerFest promotion.]—Jeff Ayers, Seattle P.L.

A sailboat piloted by Charley Powell, ace seaman, aspiring novelist, and sometime smuggler, goes down in the Caribbean with unusual cargo—a bit of presidential DNA hidden inside a kilo of cocaine. The sinking attracts an extraordinary amount of attention, including that of Charley's employer, smuggler and sea dog Red Means, who has contracted to deliver the DNA and wants to get it back before his contractors find him; Charley's sister, Tipsy, who wants to know why Charley's severed head is in the freezer of Red's boat; and Vassily Novgorodovich, an elderly Russian gentleman, who is to receive the cargo for a mysterious right-wing group seeking to clone the perfect leader and who will stop at nothing, including murder, to obtain it. VERDICT Nisbet mixes noir mystery, dystopian sf, and a great deal of humor into a bubbling, complex stew. With his scruffy characters, political and philosophical bent, and ability to turn a striking simile, he resembles no one so much as a somewhat more subdued (no talking inanimate objects) Tom Robbins. Highly recommended.—Lawrence Rungren, Merrimack Valley Lib. Consortium, North Andover, MA

One night, as writer Kogito Choko is listening to a tape his brother-in-law, Goro, has given him, he hears Goro say that he is heading over to the Other Side. Just after these words, Kogito hears a loud thud, and then the words continue with Goro's promise that he will not stop communicating with Kogito. After a few moments, Kogito's wife, Chikashi, informs him that Goro has committed suicide. Left with a trunk full of cassette tapes from Goro, Kogito sets off on a quest to recover his own and his brother-in-law's past—a journey that carries him from Japan to Berlin. It is Kogito's wife, however, who discovers Goro's real secrets and that life's meaning is not to be found among the living or the dead but among the unborn, those who can change (a changeling) from a child into a cunning trickster. VERDICT Nobel Prize winner Oe's sometimes turgid, sometimes lyrical novel offers haunting perspectives on the nature of life and death. While Oe's fans comprise the main audience for this new novel, fans of Milan Kundera and Günter Grass will also appreciate the magical way in which Oe weaves inquiries into the haunting nature of the past with questions about the nature of human identity and memory. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/15/09.]—Henry L. Carrigan Jr., Evanston, IL

Despite her skill as a midwife, Mary Sutter cannot overcome the obstacle that bars her from further medical training: her gender. The Civil War changes everything. After her brother enlists in the Union Army, Mary follows him from Albany to Washington, DC, to volunteer as a nurse. She ends up at the ramshackle Union Hotel, crowded with recruits dying of disease, where Dr. William Stipp reluctantly agrees to hire her. As Union losses mount, her work becomes essential. But she relents to her mother's pleas to return home to help her twin sister through childbirth. After failing to save her sister, Mary returns to the front, where she eventually performs surgery in partnership with Stipp, whose admiration for her skill deepens to love before new family concerns carry her home again. VERDICT Oliveira deftly depicts the chaotic aftermath of battles and develops her own characters while incorporating military and political leaders of the time. The historic details enrich the narrative without overshadowing Mary's struggles. This well-written and compelling debut will engage all readers of historical fiction, especially those interested in the Civil War. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/10; eight-city tour.]—Kathy Piehl, Minnestoa State Univ. Lib., Mankato

A reader wouldn't expect to find an Amish protagonist in an artifact adventure/thriller, but Parrish gives us exactly that in his debut novel. Cartographer John Graf, shunned by his Amish community for pursuing higher education, becomes embroiled in a mystery when the remains of 17th-century mapmaker Cellarius, the subject of centuries-old conjecture, emerge from a German bog. The discovery of his corpse and a ruby clutched in his death grip gives credence to the existence of the fabled Tavernier Stones, a cache of the world's most prized missing jewels. Graf joins forces with a gemologist-turned-grifter to solve a puzzle Cellarius encoded into his final and most famous map. As Graf approaches the solution, his life seems to unravel. Of course, Team Graf is not alone in its pursuit, and each treasure hunter has a story. VERDICT Parrish offers enough detail concerning cartography, cryptography, gemology, and Amish culture to satisfy the most rapacious fact junkie, and the puzzle is clever and the action plausible. If his subsequent novels are researched to the same degree, he could claim a legitimate position among the notables of this genre.—Laura A.B. Cifelli, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., FL

A single, penniless woman must be in want of a rich husband. Or maybe not. Pitkeathley's second Austen novel based on historical facts (after Cassandra and Jane) traces the life of Austen's vivacious and audacious older first cousin, Eliza. The story of Eliza's life begins with her supposed conception in India during a love affair between her married mother and Warren Hastings, later governor-general of India. Years later, Eliza marries a French count and gains the title of Countess Eliza de Feuillide. But during the French Revolution, while Eliza is visiting relatives in England with her young son, her husband is arrested and summarily executed. Two of Austen's brothers vie for her hand in marriage and ultimately Henry, Austen's favorite, wins. Eliza's captivating life is traced through distinct first-person narratives and letters by Eliza, various Austen family members, and, of course, Jane herself. VERDICT Highly recommended for Jane Austen aficionados, who are afforded an entertaining and enlightening look into the people and events that influenced Austen's life and her timeless novels. [Ebook edition: ISBN 978-0-06-198617-8. ]—Susan O. Moritz, Montgomery Cty. P.L.s, MD

First-time novelist Skyhorse offers a poignant yet unsentimental homage to Echo Park, a working-class neighborhood in east Los Angeles where everyone struggles to blend in with American society but remains tied to the traditions of Mexico. Twenty-five years ago, a teenage Skyhorse tells Aurora Esperanza at a high school dance, "I can't dance with you…you're Mexican." Before he can apologize, she disappears. These eight linked stories—real voices, with details changed—are his apology. Hector, Aurora's father, is 40 years old with no job because the Hollywood restaurant where he worked closed. He picks up a construction job, but it isn't what he bargained for. Felicia, Hector's ex-wife and Aurora's mother, works for wealthy Mrs. Calhoun, to whom she is invisible. Efren Mendoza, a by-the-rules bus driver, is proud that he has escaped his family's gang associations, but after a terrible accident he breaks all the rules. Finally, Aurora's story is a lament to Echo Park. She is the last to move out, carried by force by the L.A. Sheriff's Department so Dodger Stadium can be built. VERDICT Essential for fans of Sherman Alexie or Sandra Cisneros but with universal appeal for readers who favor in-depth character-centered stories, this is enthusiastically recommended.—Donna Bettencourt, Mesa County P.L., Grand Junction, CO

This fourth work in Stone's espionage thriller series (after The Echelon Vendetta, The Orpheus Deception, and The Venetian Judgment) begins comparatively slowly—CIA "cleaner" Micah Dalton is, once again, in bad odor with agency higher-ups. But a hideously disfigured enemy is out to destroy Micah for no immediately discernible reason, and the Company also seems complicit in Micah's destruction, so he must outwit and outfight a variety of enemies, foreign and domestic. Fortunately, he is superendowed with martial talents and has contacts in a variety of well-described locations all over the world who have just the right expertise to help. The storyline is extraordinarily complex; there is no shortage of characters; the plenteous bloodshed is described in graphic detail, some of which is literally gut-wrenching; the sex is casual; and the unexpected plot twists are typical of a Stone thriller. Micah's final victory offers a splendid release of tension and the hint of more sequels. VERDICT Enjoyable by faithful Stone spy fans who are able to maintain their suspension of disbelief. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 1/10.]—Jonathan Pearce, California State Univ. at Stanislaus, Stockton

Popular social-networking sites take center stage in Tracy's fifth technological thriller (after Snow Blind) as murderous videos are posted online. FBI agent John Smith is on the case and invites the Monkeewrench gang, that group of software geniuses, to determine who is posting the videos and to find a way to differentiate between what turns out to be real murders and staged ones. As one of the killings takes place in Minnesota, Minneapolis detectives Magozzi and Rolseth join the investigation. This odd group of crime fighters makes for a very effective team, even though both Magozzi and Smith are interested in Grace MacBride, the gang's beautiful, superparanoid leader. VERDICT Shifting from murder to terrorism leaves holes in this convoluted story. It will appeal mainly to fans of the Monkeewrench series, who have been waiting four years since Snow Blind, and to those who appreciate high-tech hijinks. [See Prepub Mystery, LJ 1/10.]—Stacy Alesi, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., Boca Raton, FL

No one would expect the Olsons to be involved in a bloody crime dubbed the Thanksgiving Day Massacre. But as the events of that day slowly unfold, we learn how the choices of each family member contribute to the tragedies that follow. There is Gavin, the Olson patriarch whose long-ago decision to fight in Vietnam results in present-day strained relationships and a dead-end insurance job; Eleanor, his wife, whose persistent show of false cheer causes her to snap; their two grown children, Douglas, an overconfident real estate investor whose risky decisions destroy all he holds dear, and Ginny, an academic who impulsively and illegally adopts a mute Indian girl. We also encounter Kijo, a young man from the projects whose intention to send a strong message to the man responsible for razing his home goes horribly wrong. VERDICT Vanderbes (Easter Island) has written an absorbing and suspenseful story about the dynamics of family, generational misunderstandings, and the desperate ways one copes with both the arbitrariness of fate and the consequences of one's choices. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 3/1/10.]—Joy Humphrey, Pepperdine Univ. Law Lib., Malibu, CA

As a girl, Ruby Thomas faces torment over her unusually long arms. After losing most of her family to the 1918 flu epidemic, a 13-year-old Ruby is determined to protect her two nieces. With little help from her older brother, now a broken man, Ruby uses those long arms, first to kill squirrels to feed the family and then to become part of a carny show throwing fast balls as 17-year-old Diamond Ruby. It's a hard life, and it gets harder when rum runners and gamblers take over. Even as she makes a career for herself on a minor league team, Ruby is dogged by greed and corruption. Her determined love for her family, help from some unlikely friends, and a critical throw finally give her the break she has earned. VERDICT Ruby is a keeper—a believable heroine living in a fully re-created New York world of baseball and Prohibition. There are echoes of Betty Smith's A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, but this story holds its own, allowing Diamond Ruby her place as a literary gem. This debut novel by a baseball historian may also appeal to YA readers.—Jan Blodgett, Davidson, NC

John Wayne Cleaver is an extremely self-aware young man who has spent most of his adolescence fighting a predilection for violence toward others. Like Dexter Morgan, Jeff Lindsay's serial killer protagonist (e.g., Dexter by Design), to whom he'll at least initially be compared, John knows what he is, or at least what he could become, which is why he lives by strict self-imposed rules. When mutilated bodies start to turn up around town, however, John realizes that he may be able to use his tendencies to solve the crime himself. What starts out as a typical serial-killer scenario, though, takes a much darker turn with Wells, one that makes this debut stand out. John not only works to track down the killer but to take matters into his own hands to protect those close to him. VERDICT Though it will appeal to Dexter fans, Wells's story stands well on its own. Great pacing, a likable character, and a combination of horror and supernatural elements make this title in a new trilogy appealing.—Craig Shufelt, Fort McMurray P.L., Alta.