Fiction
Dec 15, 2010
Bayard, Louis. The School of Night. Holt. Mar. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780805090697. $25. F
With a healthy slug of history and a dash of romance, Bayard (The Black Tower; Mr. Timothy) introduces us to the world of 16th-century scientist Thomas Harriot, Sir Walter Ralegh (did you know scholars eliminated the i?), and a cadre of intellectuals called The School of Night. Henry Cavendish, a modern-day disgraced Elizabethan scholar, becomes entangled in an emotional and legal imbroglio after the apparent suicide of his friend, noted bibliophile Alonzo Wax. A document purportedly in Wax’s possession may be a treasure map drafted by Harriot. Through flashback narratives, we learn more about Elizabethan England, Harriot and confreres, and The School of Night than most history classes ever cover. Cavendish is an unlikely action hero. His failures in academia and romance pervade his existence, but thrust into adventure, he emerges victorious in both arenas. VERDICT This is a compelling literary thriller featuring an actual yet relatively unknown scholar during an intriguing period of history. Unlike some artifact adventures/thrillers, Bayard’s story seems plausible as we root for successful outcomes in two time periods. A worthy contribution to this genre. [Library marketing; see Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/10.]—Laura A.B. Cifelli, Ft. Myers-Lee Cty. P.L., FL
Braunstein, Sarah. The Sweet Relief of Missing Children. Norton. Feb. 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9780393076592. $24.95. F
In her first novel, Braunstein, a recipient of the Rona Jaffe Writers’ Award, gives us a complex and multifaceted study of children who conquer bad childhoods—and children who cannot. Leonora is a good girl from a good family; she’s cautious, studious, and obedient. Her family had supplied a code word that any stranger must know before she follows him. Nevertheless, she agrees to help the wrong stranger, and soon her picture is appearing on posters with the word missing. As Leonora’s story unfolds slowly but straightforwardly in intermittent chapters, a larger cast of characters is introduced, with the action occurring over decades. Children grow up, and adults flash back to their childhoods. An orphan marries early, hoping to reestablish himself in a nuclear family. A 16-year-old runs away from his mother’s abusive new husband. Parents protect their own children while exploiting others, and the relationships among all these characters are slowly revealed. VERDICT Braunstein paints gorgeous portraits of a wide variety of characters, all fully realized. It’s tough at times to tell who’s who, and how they are related, but the reader’s effort is rewarded. Highly recommended to readers of contemporary fiction. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/10.]—Debbie Bogenschutz, Cincinnati State Technical & Community Coll. Lib.
Crais, Robert. The Sentry: A Joe Pike Novel. Putnam. Jan. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780399157073. $26.95. F
Joe Pike has had his partner’s back in 11 of Crais’s 13 Elvis Cole novels. Yet in 2007’s The Watchman and in 2010’s The First Rule, Crais spotlighted Pike rather than Los Angeles PI Cole. Fans will celebrate as Pike is once again the alpha male. Stuff happens early on as the ex-marine, ex-cop, and ex-mercenary stamps out an armed robbery attempt. Pike’s gallantry impresses Dru Rayne, and her lively eyes chip away at his hardened armor. During a second break-in, Dru is kidnapped, and Pike pushes hard to rescue her. This warrior bent on restoring order is cool in battle, but Crais avoids overloading his yarn with cinematic action. A creepy serial killer, Latino gangbangers, and nasty cops crank up the suspense. Lies and betrayal conceal the real bad guys, prompting Pike to enlist Elvis Cole’s help. Crais’s buddy system is alive and well. VERDICT Steve McQueen in The Magnificent Seven, Jack Reacher, and now Joe Pike: three cheers for testosterone! Stock up with multiple copies. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 8/10.]—Rollie Welch, Cleveland P.L.
Cumming, Charles. The Trinity Six. St. Martin’s. Mar. 2011. c.368p. ISBN 9780312675295. $24.99. F
The premise of Cumming’s (A Spy By Nature; Typhoon) fifth thriller is that the “Cambridge Five”—Maclean, Burgess, Blunt, Philby, and Caincross, who spied for the Soviets during World War II—included a sixth man yet to be identified. Cumming expertly orchestrates his score, beginning slowly with English professor and Russian history scholar Sam Gaddis facing unpaid bills and needing a publication advance. Sam gets a book idea from a friend who has been researching the alleged sixth man. When the friend dies unexpectedly, Cumming’s composition soon picks up tempo with the involvement of a beautiful MI6 agent, evidence of betrayals at all levels of government, and more deaths bearing messy signs of Russian secret service involvement. Lauded as “an upcoming [Len] Deighton,” Cumming may be favorably compared with Charles McCarry and John Le Carré. His plotting and his language are powerfully engaging, VERDICT Spy fiction fans will enjoy the ingenious plot with well-developed characters, a keen sense of time and place, an undercurrent of fear, and plenty of gore. [100,000-copy first printing; see Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/10.]—Jonathan Pearce, California State Univ. at Stanislaus, Stockton
Daniels, Leslie. Cleaning Nabokov’s House. Touchstone: S. & S. Mar. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9781439195024. $24. F
Barb Barrett left her husband because they couldn’t agree on how to load the dishwasher. In the divorce, he got the kids, the house, and the car, and she got her freedom. But she finds that freedom without her children is not all it’s cracked up to be. To begin the process of getting them back, she buys a house once occupied by Vladimir Nabokov. While cleaning the house she finds a baseball/love story written on index cards. Could Nabokov have been the author? Could she turn this find into financial stability? While waiting for the experts to decide, she opens a day spa–cum–brothel under the guise of a research project and falls in love with a local carpenter and her ex-husband’s dog. VERDICT Daniels writes her story with refreshingly eccentric twists, holding readers’ interest despite the time-worn scenario. Her characters live and breathe, and the humor, energy, wit, and edgy look at small-town mores make this a delightful read. It will appeal to fiction readers, especially women.—Joanna Burkhardt, Univ. of Rhode Island Libs., Providence
Davis, Charles. Standing at the Crossroads. Permanent. Feb. 2011. c.160p. ISBN 9781579622138. $26. F
Set in war-ravaged Sudan, this novel depicts three people on the run from the Warriors of God: the narrator, a black African, reader of Western novels, itinerant librarian, and storyteller; Kate, an American outraged about the war; and a young African girl found wandering in the desert. As the novel begins, Ishmael, as the narrator fancies himself, is able to keep the murderous riders who are destroying the countryside from abducting Kate, and the two set off in a car heading for a distant town. When the car is attacked, they escape on foot across the open desert, where they happen upon the lost child. Slow paced, ruminative, and evocative of this starkly beautiful place, the novel delves into the mentality of African survivors in a harsh environment, showing how it clashes with the Western attitude of confrontation and intervention. Some scenes can feel like stereotypical set pieces between the noble savage and the ugly American, but for the most part Davis (Walking the Dog) is convincing in his characterizations and moral stance. VERDICT An exciting and thoughtful adventure story as well as a subtle political and philosophical meditation on Sudan’s long-term tragedy, this book should appeal to readers of varying ages and interests.—Jim Coan, SUNY Coll. at Oneonta
Dean, Louise. The Old Romantic. Riverhead: Penguin Group (USA). Feb. 2011. c.352p. ISBN 9781594487798. $25.95. F
After a long estrangement from his family, Nick, a Hastings solicitor, is invited by his brother to a dinner reunion with their eightysomething father, Ken. Growing up the favored son, whose charm and good grades helped get him into Cambridge, Nick left home at 18 and turned his back on the family. For his part, Ken, a gruff old codger, long divorced from his first wife, Pearl, and recently abandoned by his second wife, is lonely and increasingly preoccupied with his impending death. Their reunion and subsequent encounters with old friends and old wives is a wake-up call to both men that life is short and family matters. Their first meeting is all it takes for Ken to insinuate himself back into Nick’s life, with frequent phone calls and requests for help. A surprise meeting between Ken and Pearl and a holiday to Sicily for Nick and his longtime girlfriend also lead them both to ever-closer family connections. VERDICT This novel’s pitch perfect dialog, sparkling wit, and sharp observations of life, love and mortality make it a winner. Warmly recommended for fans of Mark Haddon and Nick Hornby. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/10.]—Barbara Love, Kingston Frontenac P.L., Ont.
Deutermann, P.T. Pacific Glory. St. Martin’s. Mar. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9780312599447. $25.99. F
Retired Navy captain Deutermann’s latest novel is an epic, eloquent, and stirring tribute to those who served in the Pacific campaign during World War II. Mick is a pilot, and Marsh is an officer on a destroyer. At Annapolis, they were in love with Glory, now a nurse and a widow in Honolulu. As the novel sweeps across the Pacific in bloody confrontations with the increasingly desperate Japanese, the three protagonists are forced to confront their strengths and weaknesses. Mick is becoming a violent drunk, Marsh fears that he is a coward, and Glory is haunted by her husband’s death at Pearl Harbor. VERDICT Deutermann, a superb writer perhaps better known for his Cam Richter series (Nightwalkers), has written a war novel that is both sweeping and intensely personal. It begins with Guadalcanal and Midway and concludes with the largest naval battle in history, Leyte Gulf. Brutal yet poignant, this excellent novel will appeal to fans of David L. Robbins’s World War II novels (Broken Jewel; War of the Rats). [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/10.]—Robert Conroy, Warren, MI
DeWoskin, Rachel. Big Girl Small. Farrar. Apr. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780374112578. $25. F
The transition to high school is fraught with opportunities for confusion and heartbreak. Add in the challenges of transferring to a fancy arts school and of being 16 years old and only 3'9" tall, and coming of age takes on a whole new character. Judy Lohden possesses a great voice, a tiny body, compassionate parents, and a need to strike out on her own. She manages the initial challenges of finding her way around the social politics of Darcy Academy but gets derailed by a handsome senior who thoughtlessly takes advantage of her crush, betraying her on video and pushing their story to the national media. VERDICT It’s worth the read to spend nine days with Judy as she hides out in the Manor Motel and reflects upon her life and events that propelled her into hiding and finds her way back into life, a little older and much wiser. The layering in of what it feels like to be seen as disabled gives an old story line new depth. Sure to appeal to fans of coming-of-age fiction and readers who enjoyed DeWoskin’s acclaimed memoir, Foreign Babes in Beijing, and her debut novel, Repeat After Me. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/10.]—Jan Blodgett, Davidson Coll. Lib., NC
Emmons, Sherri Wood. Prayers and Lies. Kensington. Feb. 2011. c.312p. ISBN 9780758253248. pap. $15. F
This debut coming-of-age novel revolves around two young girls and the secret that entwines their families. Every summer, narrator Bethany and her family travel from Indianapolis to West Virginia, where she develops a friendship with her cousin Reana Mae. The book details Reana Mae’s horrible childhood as well as oddities in Bethany’s sister, Tracy. An inexplicably evil girl with “bad blood,” Tracy emotionally tortures Reana Mae. While the plot is rich, there is a little too much exposition without action, lending a slow start, and some characters, particularly Tracy and Reana Mae’s mother, are so despicable that reading the book becomes difficult. It is impressive that Emmons is able to portray characters with such vitriol that the reader can instantly hate them, but the problem also lies in so many bad things happening to these characters in such a relatively short time. VERDICT It’s a bit like a West Virginia version of the 1998 Todd Solondz film Happiness—technically good, but everyone will need a quick jolt of antidepressants afterward. Readable, but only for those with a penchant for realistic, dark stories.—Shalini Miskelly, Seattle
Fay, Juliette. Deep Down True. Penguin. Feb. 2011. c.432p. ISBN 9780143118510. pap. $15. F
Dana Stellgarten was on top of her suburban game when her husband pulled the rug out from under her, and now the 45-year-old Connecticut mom can’t handle one more thing. Then, her seven-year-old son, Grady, is suddenly moody and belligerent with his friends; the dentist tells Dana that her 12-year-old daughter, Morgan, shows signs of purging; and ex-husband Kenneth backs off on his financial contributions, forcing Dana to accept a temporary part-time job at the dentist’s office. When Dana’s teenage niece arrives on her doorstep, needing a break from Dana’s sister and a change of scene, even romantic overtures from Grady’s football coach and an invitation of friendship from a stylish neighbor may not be enough to get Dana back on solid ground. VERDICT Fay (Shelter Me) imbues Dana with the smarts and insecurities that war within most of us. With her comfort zone obliterated, Dana draws on her inner strengths to reconstruct a new foundation for her children in a world where she gets to be the alpha wolf. Highly recommended for fans of women’s fiction featuring resilient heroines. [Eight-city tour; reading group guide.]—Bette-Lee Fox, Library Journal
Gordon, Howard. Gideon’s War. Touchstone: S. & S. Jan. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9781439175811. $24.99. F
This explosive debut novel by the veteran producer of 24 and The X-Files thrusts you into the world of Gideon Davis, an international peace negotiator. After returning from a successful mission, he is given the most important assignment of his career from his father figure and deputy national security adviser, Earl Parker: within 24 hours, he must bring in his estranged brother, Tillman, a rogue agent who has agreed to surrender only to Gideon. Upon landing in Mohan, an independent state between Malaysia and the Philippines, Gideon begins his hunt. After an ambush, a jungle chase, a river escape, and eventual rescue on top of a mountain, Gideon learns his true destination; the multimillion-dollar oil rig named The Obelisk, which has been seized by terrorists led by Tillman himself. VERDICT This is an essential read for fans of political and action thrillers. Gordon does a superb job of drawing you in and making you care about the characters while forcing you to ask “What will happen next?” at every turn.—Anthony Martinez, Library Journal
Hilton, David E. Kings of Colorado. S. & S. Jan. 2011. c.288p. ISBN 9781439183823. $24. F
Hilton’s first novel begins with old man Will Sheppard remembering traveling in 1963 to a reformatory ranch in remote Colorado after a final bloody encounter with his drunken and abusive father. As he settles in, 13-year-old Will makes friends and enemies and begins to appreciate the outdoors and caring for the ranch’s wild horses. During his first year, Will learns a lot about himself. When he and his friends are fiercely tested on a search for some missing horses in an early winter storm, life at the ranch will never be the same for those who survive. VERDICT Set in the magnificent Colorado mountains, this coming-of-age tale provides scenes of gripping action as well as a sympathetic yet unvarnished look into the lives of troubled teens. It should appeal to thoughtful young adults and to those who still remember being one.—Dan Forrest, Western Kentucky Univ., Bowling Green
Howrey, Meg. Blind Sight. Pantheon. Mar. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780307379160. $24.95. F
Seventeen-year-old Luke Prescott spends a magical summer in Los Angeles getting to know his biological father, a successful and well-known actor, who has materialized out of thin air after being absent since Luke’s birth. Through the portrayal of numerous attempts at college application essays, Luke shares details about his background and the caring mother, grandmother, and older half sisters he’s grown up with in Delaware. The premise sounds rather unbelievable, like a male variation on a pauper-turned-princess tale, but it actually works in a credible and genuine way. Insightful, down-to-earth, and wise beyond his years, Luke tastes the life of a child of a celebrity and learns that fame might not be as rosy as one imagines. Over the course of the summer, he is challenged in his beliefs about his identity and comes to learn unexpected and startling secrets about his family and himself. VERDICT An enjoyable debut novel of general interest for fiction collections. [See Prepub Exploded, BookSmack!, 9/16/10.]—Sarah Conrad Weisman, Corning Community Coll., NY
Kellaway, Lucy. In Office Hours. Grand Central. Feb. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780446565691. $24.99. F
This debut novel by a management columnist at the Financial Times does a very good job capturing the ins and outs of a fictional London megacorporation. However, while creating characters to which readers can relate, Kellaway didn’t manage to construct likable ones. Stella, a senior executive, and Bella, an administrative junior employee, both work for Atomic Energy; both find themselves involved in office romances. The novel uses a framing device to introduce the two women about two years after the main narrative takes place. The story then jumps back to the beginnings of their individual relationships, alternating narrators, with occasional crossover between the two. VERDICT The actions of the main protagonists, the reactions of the other characters, and the unfolding of the plot are utterly predictable; without a sympathetic connection to Stella and Bella, some readers may find it difficult to finish this novel. Perhaps it should be best read for its fleeting, subtle satiric touches skewering modern corporate culture.—Amy Watts, Univ. of Georgia Lib., Athens
Lukas, Michael David. The Oracle of Stamboul. Harper: HarperCollins. Feb. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780062012098. $24.99. F
Eleonora Cohen’s mother dies after giving birth to her in the Romanian city of Constant‚a on the Black Sea in 1877. The child is raised by her doting father, Yakob, a rug merchant, and her cold and calculating aunt. By the time she is four, it is evident that Eleonora is a child prodigy; she reads and speaks several languages. When her father leaves for a trip to Stamboul (as Istanbul was then known in the Ottoman Empire), Eleonora, age eight, stows away on the ship. In Stamboul, Eleonora and her father visit her father’s business partner, Turkish aristocrat Moncef Bey, and then tragedy strikes again. Meanwhile, Eleonora’s extraordinary genius has come to the attention of the sultan himself, who invites her to his palace and seeks her advice. Soon rumors of the child’s powers are flying around the city, and Eleonora has to make a very adult decision. VERDICT This first novel by a promising young writer is both vivid historical fiction and a haunting fable. It will appeal to a wide range of readers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/15/10.]—Leslie Patterson, Rehoboth, MA
Marklund, Liza. Red Wolf. Atria: S. & S. Feb. 2011. c.390p. tr. from Swedish by Neil Smith. ISBN 9781451602067. $25.99. F
As journalist Annika Bengtzon delves into a decades-old terrorist attack, her investigation is thwarted when her prime contact dies in a hit-and-run accident. Not believing in coincidences, Annika finds that the man she was to meet was killed in what is the first of a string of murders believed to be committed by the former leader of an old revolutionary gang that’s back in Sweden after bombing a plane at a military base in 1969. Having given up her job as crime editor of the Evening Star in Stockholm after a life-threatening ordeal (in The Bomber), Annika works for the paper as an independent investigative reporter, butting heads with the editor in chief as she pursues her story at all costs and takes desperate measures when she discovers her husband’s affair. VERDICT In the fifth book of her internationally best-selling series (which is not written chronologically), Marklund blends the sociology and politics of contemporary Sweden with a taut mystery, capturing the Scandinavian chill as she builds suspense to an eminently satisfying conclusion. This excellent addition to the Nordic crime scene will also appeal to readers who enjoyed her outing this summer with James Patterson in The Postcard Killers.—Michele Leber, Arlington, VA
Mosse, Kate. The Winter Ghosts. Putnam. Feb. 2011. c.288p. ISBN 9780399157158. $24.95. F
In this spare, elegant novel, Mosse (Labyrinth; Sepulchre) follows a young man as he comes to terms with a devastating personal loss. Freddie Watson’s life was forever altered in 1916 by the death of his older brother George, a captain in England’s Royal Sussex Regiment. He is still mourning the loss 12 years later when he travels to France, hoping that a change of scenery will offer a reprieve from his crushing sadness. When a freak snowstorm strands him in the unforgiving landscape of the Pyrenees, he finds shelter in Nulle, a small, isolated town that also seems plagued by a deep melancholy. It is there that Freddie meets the beautiful and mysterious Fabrissa, who, for her own personal reasons, understands the depth of Freddie’s grief. As Freddie learns of Fabrissa’s tragic history, he finally finds the courage to let go of the past. VERDICT Although Mosse’s third novel isn’t spooky enough to recommend to die-hard ghost story fans, finely drawn characters and an evocative setting make this a fine choice for lovers of historical and literary fiction. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/10.]—Makiia Lucier, Moscow, ID
Muñoz, Manuel. What You See in the Dark. Algonquin. Mar. 2011. c.272p. ISBN 9781565125339. $23.95. F
Following an award-winning story collection (The Faith Healer of Olive Avenue), Muñoz once again mines the familiar small farm towns of California’s Central Valley. Set in Bakersfield in the Fifties, this solid debut novel is filled with characters with big dreams and equally big disappointments. Teresa Garza, abandoned as a teenager by her mother, longs to be poised, not lonely, not without money. One of the fieldworkers in town for harvest teaches her to play guitar. Despite his kind attentions, she prefers handsome bartender Dan Watson and sings and plays the guitar at his cantina. Dan’s mother, Arlene, doesn’t like Teresa but has her own problems; her husband ran off to Texas, and her brother went to prison. Now Dan has disappeared just as her motel business declines owing to the new interstate. In an overlapping story, a movie crew arrives from Los Angeles to start filming at Arlene’s motel. The director hopes to build his reputation on one riveting shower scene. Sadly, the characters ignore the hard-edged truths of their narrow lives, and no one really escapes. VERDICT Muñoz offers a thoughtful, intelligent drama, while touching on characters’ tragedies in understated ways. An eloquent novel sure to please readers of literary fiction.—Donna Bettencourt, Mesa Cty. P.L., Grand Junction, CO
Parkes, Nii Ayikwei. Tail of the Blue Bird. Flipped Eye. Jan. 2011. 198p. ISBN 9780981858432.pap. $14. F
This is a charming, kindhearted, and profound first novel by Parkes, an acclaimed poet from Ghana. With great depth and intelligence, Parkes brings this story about traditional Ghanaian wisdom and spirituality beautifully to life. Structured like a detective story, the novel begins with the disturbing discovery of what may be human remains in the hut of a man in a remote country village. Set against a traditional world of elders and ancient wisdom is the modern world of forensic science, embodied by an ambitious police chief, P.J. Donkor, who is a fan of American forensic television shows like Law & Order and CSI. Donkor summons a young forensic expert, Kayo, to explain what has been found in the village. The novel turns out to be a modern-day fable about living in a world rich with mystery and spiritual energy. By the end, Kayo begins to believe that “the real truth, like love, was beyond the reach of scientific explication.” VERDICT Enthusiastically recommended for all readers of literary fiction.—Patrick Sullivan, Manchester Community Coll., CT
Pekkanen, Sarah. Skipping a Beat. Washington Square: S. & S. Feb. 2011. c.336p. ISBN 9781451609820. pap. $15. F
In her second novel, Pekkanen (The Opposite of Me) offers a wonderfully compelling, compassionate, and complicated portrait of the marriage of Julie and Michael Dunhill. Meeting in high school, the two were both determined to leave their hometown behind and make something of their lives, contrary to how they were raised. With Michael’s colossal and unpredicted financial success, these once loving sweethearts drift apart and find different foci for their passionate energies—Michael is completely absorbed in his DrinkUp company and Julie in her party-planning business. When Michael collapses on his office floor and dies for four minutes and eight seconds, their whole world changes, and both are left to reevaluate what they thought was important in life. For Julie though, this is a struggle to overcome the disappointment, sense of abandonment, and misunderstandings she’s harbored against her husband for years. VERDICT In this compelling and satisfying read, Pekkanen offers relatable characters that move you and an ending that surprises and pleases. Highly recommended.—Anne M. Miskewitch, Chicago P.L.
Peters, Ralph. The Officers’ Club. Forge: Tor. Jan. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780765326805. $25.99. F
In 1981 at Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona, several young intelligence officers spend their off-duty hours in pursuit of no-strings-attached sex. Why then do these presumably carefree affairs lead to murder? The victim is First Lt. Jessie Lamoureaux, a gorgeous but “reptilian” seductress. Lt. Roy Banks, who narrates the tale and is himself having an affair with a married female officer, had resisted Jessie’s wiles, but other officers were less fortunate. He knows at least four casualties left in her wake. But Jessie, whose past, like Roy’s, is mysterious, also had connections to Mexican drug bosses and plenty of discarded civilian lovers. Anchored by his friendship with a fellow jazz fan, a gay man who owns a music store in nearby Bisbee, and by his respect for the army, Roy lets us see with gripping and convincing detail the “sexual vandalism” that had turned the intelligence school into a “Peyton Place without the moral restraint.” VERDICT Peters, a strategic analyst for Fox News and author of The War After Armageddon and over 20 other books, offers an absorbing and finely crafted portrayal of complex characters whose intertwining relationships come apart under the strain of differing expectations. In the tradition of James Jones, Norman Mailer, and Nelson DeMille.—Ron Terpening, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson
Powning, Beth. The Sea Captain’s Wife. Plume: Penguin Group (USA). Feb. 2011. c.384p. maps. ISBN 9780452296954. pap. $15. F
Since she was a child watching ships set sail from the Bay of Fundy, Azuba has longed for life onboard a ship. Her marriage to Capt. Nathaniel Bradstock appears to fulfill that dream, until her new husband breaks his promise to take her with him and leaves her “safe” at home. But when Azuba’s friendship with the new vicar causes a scandal, Nathaniel brings his family along. Life at sea with a distant husband is not quite what Azuba had envisioned, but she and daughter Carrie quickly adapt to their exciting, sometimes difficult, and always dangerous new life. Powning’s (The Hatbox Letters) latest work is an absorbing novel with evocative descriptions of life at sea in the 1860s. Readers may be left wishing for a bit more character development, as any sense of what makes Nathaniel tick is lost between storms, near starvation, attempted mutiny, pirates, and pregnancy. We see why Azuba loves life at sea but not why she loves her uncommunicative husband. VERDICT This is a compelling historical novel with a strong female protagonist and an exciting plot. Sure to appeal to fans of women’s historical fiction. [Five-city author tour.]—Elizabeth Mellett, Brookline P.L., MA
Rabb, Jonathan. The Second Son. Sarah Crichton: Farrar. Feb. 2011. c.294p. ISBN 9780374299132. $26. F
This is the final novel in a trilogy (Rosa; Shadow and Light) following the life and fortunes of Berlin Chief Insp. Nikolai Hoffner. In 1934, Germany is trying to lure the Olympics to Berlin with a front that papers over the regime’s violence, corruption, and racism. The half-Jewish Hoffner has finally been forced out of the Kriminalpolizei. As the Spanish civil war heats up, he sets off for Barcelona to find his missing son, Georg. Rabb creates a gallery of vivid characters—Spanish nationalists, anarchists, and secret agents of three nations playing games with Spain’s future. The plot becomes convoluted toward the end, but it’s a good ride getting there, in a generally successful novel about doomed people in a doomed time. VERDICT Comparisons with Alan Furst (Spies of the Balkans) and Philip Kerr (If the Dead Rise Not) are inevitable—all write noir novels set in Germany and elsewhere in Europe in the tense period between the world wars. Rabb fares well in the comparison, not better than Furst or Kerr but on par with them. The best-selling success of Furst and Kerr has shown there is an audience for 1930s noir novels, and Rabb’s well-written historical thriller will not disappoint.—David Keymer, Modesto, CA
Rice, Luanne. The Silver Boat. Pamela Dorman: Viking. Apr. 2011. c.304p. ISBN 9780670022502. $25.95. F
Best-selling contemporary women’s fiction author Rice (Last Kiss) returns to publisher Pamela Dorman for her latest family drama, a story about three sisters and their personal struggles, their beloved summer family home, and unanswered questions about their long-departed father. Darrah, Delia, and Rory meet to pack up the Martha’s Vineyard house they cannot afford to keep and decide to set off on a mission to Ireland to try to find out what happened to their father. But when they return home to face the future, they unexpectedly discover they want different things. Rice’s story lines are compelling, and to her credit, she doesn’t sugarcoat the unpleasant things people and families sometimes go through. However, depending on your point of view, her descriptive writing style is either leisurely or meandering. While some readers may savor the poetic imagery, others may grow impatient with it. VERDICT This novel is a satisfying and worthwhile ride if you don’t mind taking the scenic route. [Ten-city author tour.]—Samantha J. Gust, Niagara Univ. Lib., NY
Rodriguez, Deborah. A Cup of Friendship. Ballantine. Jan. 2011. c.289p. ISBN 9780345514752. $25. F
Thirty-eight-year-old Alabama native Sunny Tedder runs the Kabul Coffee House as an oasis for her predominately Western expatriate clientele—just as long as they leave their weapons at the door. She’s busy juggling love affairs with contractors and reinforcing her café’s walls to meet UN safety codes when she meets a young, pregnant widow abandoned by kidnappers in Kabul. Sunny gives Yazmina a home and a job, and the young woman soon settles in with a diverse group: Halajan, a wise woman who curses like a sailor; Halajan’s son, Ahmet, who is torn between the traditional and the modern; and café manager Bashir Hadi. Rodriguez has a deft hand for detail and the accelerated emotion of the expat existence in war-torn Afghanistan. When the author remains inside Sunny’s head, all is well; her forays into Ahmet’s contemplations of violent retaliation against his mother and an old flame tie up a bit too neatly. But this first novel is engrossing. VERDICT Fans of the author’s best-selling memoir, Kabul Beauty School, should be looking for this one, and other readers will quickly discover it, especially those with an interest in current events in the Middle East or for lovers of cross-cultural tales. Recommended for all contemporary fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/10.].—Jennifer Stidham, Houston Community Coll., TX
Roslund, Anders & Börge Hellström. Three Seconds. Silver Oak, dist. by Sterling. Jan. 2011. c.496p. tr. from Swedish by Kari Dickson. ISBN 9781402785924. $24.95. F
The shady dealings between the Swedish police and their deep-cover informants propel the latest thriller from the writing team of Roslund and Hellström (Box 21). Ex-con Piet Hoffman, now a “covert human intelligence source” for Stockholm City Police, is close to breaking up the Polish Mafia’s attempt to control drug distribution in Sweden’s prisons. When the operative is involved in a botched drug deal that leads to murder, investigating detective Ewert Grens inadvertently threatens to derail the mission. Afraid that Hoffman will disclose the government’s illegal involvement in his assignment, his handlers blow his cover while he’s trapped in a maximum-security lockup. With the police, Mafia, and prisoners all wanting him dead, Hoffman makes Grens an unwitting tool in his desperate plan for escape. VERDICT Readers who persevere through the glacial pace of the book’s first third will be rewarded with a terrific, nail-biting climax that demonstrates why it won the prize for Sweden’s best crime novel in 2009. Give this to Stieg Larsson fans and any reader fond of morally complex thrillers. [Silver Oak is the new fiction imprint of Sterling and Quercus.—Ed.]—Annabelle Mortensen, Skokie P.L., IL
Shin, Kyung-sook. Please Look After Mom. Knopf. ng> Apr. 2011. c.256p. tr. from Korean by Chi-Young Kim. ISBN 9780307593917. $24.95. F
The Korean title of this indelible novel, Omma rul put’ak hae, contains a sense of commanding trust that is missing in its English translation: “I entrust Mommy [to you].” That trust is irreparably splintered when Mom disappears after becoming separated from her rushing husband on a busy Seoul Station platform. In four distinct voices, the character of Mom—a rural farmwoman whose “hands could nurture any life”—is reassembled by her eldest daughter, whose books Mom couldn’t read; her eldest son, for whom she could never do enough; her husband, who never slowed down; and finally Mom herself as she wanders through memories both strange and familiar. Shin’s breathtaking novel is an acute reminder of how easily a family can fracture, how little we truly know one another, and how desperate need can sometimes overshadow even the deepest love. VERDICT Already a prominent writer in Korea, Shin finally makes her English-language debut with what will appeal to all readers who appreciate compelling, page-turning prose. Stay tuned: Mom should be one of this year’s most-deserving best sellers. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 11/1/10.]—Terry Hong, Smithsonian BookDragon, Washington, DC
Taylor, Kate. A Man in Uniform. Crown. Jan. 2011. c.384p. ISBN 9780307885197. $25. F
In late 19th-century France, lawyer François Dubon has left behind his youthful radical leanings for a comfortable, well-ordered, if somewhat banal life. Through his wife’s family, he has gained the sort of clientele that allows him to keep his family and his mistress in comfort. Then one day a mysterious widow enters his office and turns his ordered world upside down with her conviction that Alfred Dreyfus, an army captain who was recently convicted of treason, is innocent. Drawn by her magnetic appeal, Dubon begins to live a double life as he strives to find the information that will exonerate the captain. This page-turning historical novel by the author of Madame Proust and the Kosher Kitchen strongly evokes the atmosphere of the time and place. Though some of Dubon’s antics strain credulity a bit, overall this is an intriguing and enjoyable reimagining of a major event in French history. VERDICT Fans of historical fiction, especially of the 1800s and later, will find this a worthwhile read.—Pam O’Sullivan, SUNY at Brockport Lib.
Winslow, Don. Satori. Grand Central. Mar. 2011. c.512p. ISBN 9780446561921. $25.99. F
In his 1979 classic Shibumi, Trevanian introduced assassin Nicholai Hel, fluent in seven languages, a master of a form of martial arts called “naked kill,” and in possession of “proximity sense” that enables him not only to know when someone approaches him but to sense how that person is feeling. That novel was fluff but fun, not so much for its action as for the over-the-top James Bond–like touches and Trevanian’s mordant sense of humor. (The CIA is represented by the Deputy International Liaison Duty Officer, whose acronym is never spelled out.) Now Shamus Award winner Winslow (Savages) continues the story, fleshing out one incident from Hel’s past that was mentioned in the first book but not elaborated: a CIA-sponsored assassination attempt against the Soviet commissioner in China. VERDICT This is a straightforward adventure book: there’s a good deal of killing and sex in it but little of the humor of the original. A so-so thriller that peters out toward the end. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/15/10.]—David Keymer, Modesto, CA
Winter, Kathleen. Annabel. Black Cat: Grove. Jan. 2011. c.480p. ISBN 9780802170828. pap. $14.95. F
Winter’s first novel tells the story of an intersex child born in the late 1960s in a small, rural town in Canada and raised as a boy. His parents try to protect Wayne from harm, each in his or her own way; his father tries to interest him in the wilderness skills that men in their community use to make a living, but his mother refuses to discourage his interest in more feminine pursuits. Wayne doesn’t learn of his intersexuality until a medical emergency reveals his condition to him. Though he tries to be a boy to fit in, he is preoccupied by the girl that he knows lives within him; he has to leave home and quit his hormone therapy to allow his body to be as ambiguous as he feels inside. Winter’s lyrical language contrasts with the characters’ discomfort about Wayne’s secret. VERDICT Readers interested in literary explorations of gender, such as Jeffrey Eugenides’s Middlesex, will appreciate this novel as well. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 9/1/10.]—Amy Ford, St. Mary’s Cty. Lib., Lexington Park, MD
Wyss, Susi. The Civilized World: A Novel in Stories. Holt. Apr. 2011. c.240p. ISBN 9780805093629. pap. $15.F
For many years, Wyss lived and worked in Africa, and she’s used her unique experiences to good effect in her first book, this “novel in stories.” She beautifully and effortlessly captures the essence of human connection, demonstrating that despite the cultural and personal differences that separate individuals, we are often related by common threads. The book begins with Ghanaian Adjoa, who dreams of opening the “cleanest, friendliest, and most welcoming” beauty salon in the city, and eventually weaves together the lives of American aid worker Janice; Ophelia, who has followed her husband to the continent; Comfort, a wise old Ghanaian; and her white American daughter-in-law, Linda. Wyss sets herself apart from other writers in this genre. Each of her stories, while part of a whole, can stand alone; readers simply glimpse the complexities of her intergenerational, multinational characters. Her best stories, “Names” and “Waiting for Solomon,” have strong poetic influences. VERDICT Reminiscent of Jabari Asim’s A Taste of Honey, this book will appeal to lovers of literature with humanistic and cultural influences.—Ashanti White, Univ. of North Carolina, Greensboro
Short stories
Schirach, Ferdinand von. Crime: Stories. Knopf. Jan. 2011. c.208p. tr. from German by Carol Brown Janeway. ISBN 9780307594150. $25. F
The pieces in prominent German defense attorney Schirach’s first book are neither detective stories (for the most part) nor procedurals but rather more like fictionalized case studies. A defense attorney is the narrator and recurring character here, handling the defendants’ cases. The criminals are generally not monsters or even particularly evil but rather victims of circumstance, whether physical—like the apologetic bank robber in “The Ethiopian,” who steals to eat and then leads an exemplary life in Ethiopia before returning to Germany, where he’s arrested—or mental, as with the wealthy young paranoid schizophrenic in “Green,” whose killing of sheep leads to suspicion when a woman he loves suddenly disappears. VERDICT The German and American legal systems are different, but the differences are insignificant (and explained in an afterword); nothing here will baffle an American audience. Much more important is the character of the defendants. These are appealing and well-written, if somewhat low-key, ruminations on guilt filled with a deep compassion for the humanity of the accused.—Lawrence Rungren, Merrimack Valley Lib. Consortium, North Andover, MA
Shepard, Jim. You Think That’s Bad: Stories. Knopf. Mar. 2011. c.268p. ISBN 9780307594822. $24.95. F
Since Shepard’s last short story collection, Like You’d Understand, Anyway, was nominated for a National Book Award, expectations are high for this latest effort, and it does not disappoint. There is no question concerning the breadth of research, ambition, and quality of writing that informs and characterizes this collection of short stories. In each story, Shepard displays a fascination with those moments when one world impinges upon another. Each character is mired in the past while simultaneously exploring bold new worlds and ideas, from the Arabian Desert to CERN (European Organization for Nuclear Research). While the exotic locations and peculiar professions capture the imagination of the reader, they also accentuate the closeness each of the characters feel between the world they wish to transcend and themselves. VERDICT Shepard’s range as a writer is on full display here, with multiple voices heard in various centuries and settings. His stories are as informative as they are entertaining. Readers who enjoy Andrea Barrett or Russell Banks will appreciate this, too. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/10.]—Joshua Finnell, Denison Univ. Lib., Granville, OH
Which Witch?
Brackston, Paula. The Witch’s Daughter. Thomas Dunne Bks: St. Martin’s. Jan. 2011. c.320p. ISBN 9780312621681. $24.99. F
Brackston’s third novel (after Lamp Black, Wolf Grey and Nutters, the latter written under pseudonym P.J. Davy) shows the author is still inexperienced as a writer. Flashing back and forth in time from 2007 to 1639, her historical romance is slow moving and stilted. Borrowing its main conceit from Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, Bess, later known as Elizabeth, spends much of the book telling her life’s story to a young wannabe witch, apparently against her own better judgment. The language is strained, even in the present-day scenes; in the flashbacks it seems almost as if the period-piece dialog is entirely fabricated rather than researched. VERDICT Public libraries should purchase this only if their patron base is extremely loyal to historical fiction/romance and not particular about the quality. [Library marketing.]—Stacey Rottiers Comfort , Dexter District Lib., MI
Harkness, Deborah. A Discovery of Witches. Viking. Feb. 2011. c.592p. ISBN 9780670022410. $28.95. F
Diana Bishop is a history scholar—and a witch in denial of her powers. Researching the early beginnings of scientific study in Oxford’s Bodleian Library, she unwittingly discovers an ancient tome of alchemy and finds herself attracting a great deal of unwanted attention from a startling array of deamons, witches, and other supernatural beings. Among them is the brilliant (and attractive) vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont. Set in our contemporary world with a magical twist, this sparkling debut by a history professor features a large cast of fascinating characters, and readers will find themselves invested in Diana’s success at unlocking the secrets of the manuscript. Although not a nail-biting cliff-hanger, the finale skillfully provides a sense of completion while leaving doors open for the possibility of wonderful sequel adventures. This reviewer, for one, hopes they come soon! VERDICT Destined to be popular with fantasy and paranormal aficionados, this enchanting novel is an essential purchase. Harkness is an author to watch. [Nine-city author tour; the novel will be translated into 32 languages.—Ed.]—Crystal Renfro, Georgia Inst. of Technology Lib., Atlanta
