Whisper Man by Alex North

Found: new psychological thriller author to love! The Whisper Man is a creepy, thrilling story with serial killers and child abductors, but also a tender story about fathers and sons, love and loss, loyalty and new beginnings. Sound weird? It is!

The killer known as the Whisper Man is safely in jail where detective Pete Kennedy put him, even though one of the boys he abducted was never found. This fact still haunts Pete even years later as he works at solving other crimes and winning his war against alcohol, the war that cost him his relationship with his own son. Then another boy is abducted 20 years later, and children are talking about the Whisper Man again. Enter Tom Kennedy and his son Jake who move to Featherbank after the loss of their wife/mother. They are struggling with their new relationship to one another but decide a fresh start would help. So father and son move to Featherbank where Jake continues to talk to his imaginary friend, a girl in a blue dress who always seems to know what to do and who to be afraid of.  Strange things start to happen in their new house with the dark history, and the Whisper Man likes to hang around.

But during all this heart-pounding, creepy, mystery story, there is also a tender one about how families endure loss and come together. Tom's feelings of inadequacy as a parent will resonate deeply with anyone who cares for children, and Jake's innocent, all-encompassing love for his dad may even give parents a unique view inside a child's mind. I will remember Tom's words, "When we argue, we still love each other very much," for a long time. And I am glad that Jake is always able to remember them.

Give this unique and poignant thriller a try! But make sure you have a large block of time to keep turning the pages. And don't turn out the light! :)

Conjure Women by Afia Atakora

Midwife stories have always fascinated me, and so, on another recommendation from my sister, I picked up Conjure Women. The title also intrigued me because it speaks to me of mysticism and voodoo - other topics that I love! But this book is so much more than just another midwife tale.

The book is told from three perspectives: Miss May Belle, healer and slave woman who is asked not only to cure all manor of ailments, birth babies, and provide "other duties" to the master, she is also frequently called on to make or lift curses or cast spells for the slave workers. Another point of view comes from her daughter, Rue. Rue grows up as the "pet" of the master's daughter, and as she grows, she learns her mother's healing skills. These are both a blessing and a curse to her in her life, which becomes glaringly evident when she helps the birth of a child they call "black-eyed bean" because of the strange color of his eyes. The village sees Bean as a cursed thing, but Rue has a special love for him that others find difficult to understand. Then we have the master's daughter, Varina, the other point of view, the one of privilege in many ways but of poverty when it comes to love and companionship. Varina and Rue grow close, but as the war ends and the slaves are freed, loyalties and bonds become precarious and unpredictable.

The weaving together of these three stories during this time period is beautiful and involving. The writing is rich and transporting, and I look forward to many other books by Atakora.

Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

It's here! The book Hunger Games fans have been waiting for! If you think that prequels and sequels are never as good as the originals, you may change your mind after reading this one!

This book takes us back to the time of the 10th Hunger Games, when Coriolanus Snow is a teen. The Snow family that used to be considered among the royalty of the Capital has come on very hard times, and Coriolanus and his family struggle to make ends meet. So, when an opportunity arises for Coriolanus to mentor a tribute in the Games in order to secure a place and scholarship at college, he can't pass it up. But he is given Lucy Gray, the tiny, female tribute from District 12 to mentor. The odds are not ever in his favor. And the Games are quite different from those in the first three books. Things are old school in #10 so that everything looks more like a waiting game with starvation than it does a battle of wits and skill. However, Lucy Gray, with Coriolanus rooting for her, is determined to use her flair and appeal to help her take control. Will Snow land on top?

There isn't much left to say about The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes except - GO READ IT! And make sure you have time to finish it in one reading bite! It's a fascinating and thrilling addition to the series that will not disappoint loyal fans.

Mrs. Everything by Jennifer Weiner

I had never read anything by wildly popular Jennifer Weiner before. Her books fly off the shelves at the library and are brought back with rave reviews. I always thought they were a little too "romancy" for me, but when my own sister recommended Mrs. Everything, I had to try it, since she is always right about books I would like. And she was right again!

Jo and Bethie are sisters in the book, but they could not be more different. Growing up in 1950's, Jo was the girl with the radical ideas who wanted to change the world. Bethie was the pretty princess type who had no trouble being a good girl, modeling after her mother. But when they are all grown up, it is the '60's, and circumstances, like the turbulent times they lived in, changed everything for both of them. Jo is the one who becomes the reliable wife and mother, although she always wishes for something very different. Bethie dives into the '60's scene and has a hard time swimming out of it.

What happens is that you can't stop reading about these two women because you can see yourself in both of them, and you really want to know what happens to them. That's the sign of great characters in a believable book that makes you sad when you are done. Mrs. Everything is. . .well, everything! Enjoy!

One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus

I spent many a pleasant hour at my house watching "Pretty Little Liars" with my daughters, so I have been wanting to read this little gem of a YA for a long time. One of Us is Lying by Karen M. McManus is a fast and furious mix of thriller, love story, and gossip saga all rolled into a mystery.

The set-up for the story is that five Bayview High students get detention and are about to serve it in one classroom. There is a distraction at the window, and then boom. One is dead. How does Simon die? Well, that is one of the many curious things: a nut allergy. How does someone die of a nut allergy in a classroom where the students can only drink water? No one seems to know, but the other four students are all suspects because they are the focus, for various reasons, of Simon's brutal, tell-all blog. As their secrets come out one by one and the story is big news everywhere, we get to know these characters better and better. Yet it seems impossible that any of them is capable of murder. But anything is possible, right?

If you like a fast read full of intrigue and interesting characters, this one's for you. And oh, yeah! There is a sequel! Come check them out at the library!

Women Talking by Miriam Toews

It has been a long time since I read a book in one day! Women Talking is that book. I cannot really explain fully why it was so fascinating and engrossing to me, but I will try to tell you a little about it.

The book is based on true events that happened and is the fictionalized retelling of the minutes that were taken during a secret meeting of women in a Mennonite colony in Bolivia. The eight women in the meeting, as well as most of their "sisters" in the colony were drugged and raped and assaulted by men in the colony. The men drugged them, assaulted them, and the women woke up with the bruises and damage and cannot remember what happened. The elders of the colony first blame the attacks on demons and sin, leaving the women (and young, young girls) to believe that it is somehow their fault that this has happened, so they stay quiet. But they finally find it out about the group of men and the drug, and the men are taken to jail "for their own protection." But the leader has declared that the men will be released and the women must decide what happens next. They are given three choices to "solve" the problem. The women can choose to: 1. Do nothing. 2. Stay and fight. 3. Leave. None of these choices will be easy and each opens up so many possibilities for more hurt, separation, and indignities. But it is the humor and strength of these women, the doggedness with which they debate the choices, and the intensity of the conflict that kept me reading and reading. The lives and doctrines of the Mennonites has to be discussed at length, but the danger that the women have endured and could experience again fills the discussion with desperation. Yet the women are so intelligent and caring that they truly just want to protect each other and their children without going against God or their way of life.

If you like books about strong women and those who, in their own ways, must overcome, then I think you should give Women Talking a try. For me, it was engrossing and empowering. I hope it will be for you as well.

All the Water in the World by Karen Raney

I don't usually read books where the main character has cancer. Like so many of us, that disease has touched so many important people in my life and the thought of it makes me afraid and sad. However, I am so glad that I picked up All the Water in the World. While it did have its very sad and difficult to read moments, it also gave me so many great characters to meet and so many things to think about that it was well worth the read.

The book's main character is Maddy, a sixteen-year-old who is battling cancer and trying to have a normal teenage life in between her devastating chemo treatments. In her corner at all times are her strong and supportive mother, Eve, and her grandparents. Oh, yes, and her cat Cloud. While Maddy struggles through her illness and feeling very apart from her friends, they are there supporting her all the way. But when Maddy decides it might be time to know who her father is, her search and correspondence with him become a secret that is difficult to keep and threatens to break the bonds that hold them. 

The books is also poignant because it shows that even in crisis and struggle, love and adventure can exist. Maddy falls in love with a wonderful boy named Jack, and together they embark on a labor of love and independence that helps Maddy to leave her mark in the world and helps her see her place in it. 

All the Water in the World is about young love, coming of age in crisis, the devotion of parents and grandparents, and how each of us can make a difference in the world. Give it a read, and let me know what you think!

The Other Mrs. by Mary Kubica

Mary Kubica is becoming one of my favorite authors in the suspense genre. Her new one, The Other Mrs., is a twisty tale will a fascinating conclusion.

Sadie and Will Faust have just inherited a house in Maine after Will's sister commits suicide. With the house comes guardianship of Will's niece, Imogene. They decide they need a change from Chicago, so the Fausts, including their two young sons, move into the old house. Sadie has many misgivings about the move and taking care of Imogene, but she wants to start again while trying to forgive Will his indiscretions in Chicago. So, she dives into her new job at a medical clinic, but soon their lives begin to unravel when a neighbor on their street is murdered. Will claims to not know the victim well, but is he lying? Sadie claims to have never met her at all, and yet an elderly neighbor swears he saw the two women fighting. Could creepy Imogene have something to do with it? But why? Why is their teenage son drawing such gruesome pictures? So many questions!

If you like a good page-turning, psychological suspense novel, The Other Mrs. will not disappoint. I liked it a lot, but I did manage to guess some of what was going on. However, (spoiler alert if you remember this movie) when I was young, I was obsessed with a little film called Sybil with Sally Field. Enjoy!

City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert is a favorite of mine, and her newest novel did not disappoint. It is the racy yet charming story of a college drop-out in 1940 who moves to New York City to live with her aunt and find herself. It's full of decadence, history, and impossibly great characters.

Vivian Morris tells her life story as the narrator to her granddaughter, and what a story it is! Vivian cannot seem to go to classes at Vassar on any kind of regular basis, and she can't really get into finding a husband, so the poor little semi-rich girl moves in with her aunt in NYC. There she finds that she is to live in the apartment above an aging playhouse where her aunt and a colorful cast write, produce, and perform in plays that don't make much money. She loves this new, wild lifestyle full of booze and sex and sewing costumes for showgirls. Until a long-lost friend of her aunt's, Edna Parker Watson, and her playboy husband show up. Edna is an actress extraordinaire, and she agrees to do a play for them which ends up being titled City of Girls.  It becomes a smash hit. While this is wonderful news in terms of money, it changes everything in the dynamic of the people who live above the Lily Playhouse. Vivian becomes attached to Edna, and soon life is so grand that she believes nothing bad can happen. Until it does.

The book not only gives a look into the lives of those in the playhouse, but it also tells of Vivian's fight for independence, employment, and love. It spans the years from her teens through her eighties, giving a memorable depiction of New York City during the 40's. If you need a little bad girl in your life, give a try!

The House We Grew Up In by Lisa Jewel

This was a recent Valley Book Club pick by Lisa Jewell, who is fast becoming a favorite of a lot of people. The House We Grew Up In is a family tale with interesting characters, some family secrets, some weird Easter mania, and a super-hoarder. What could be better?

This is the story of the Bird family. Lorelei and Colin had four children: Meg, Beth, and twins Rory and Rhys. As the book opens, they seem like a happy family full of personality and a few little quirks. They are active, Lorelei is especially free-spirited, and they love their traditional Easter celebration of a hunt of foiled eggs outside and the dinner where there are always too many carrots. But as the children grow up, it is apparent that they are all affected by what happened one terrible Easter weekend when Rhys commits suicide. This event changes all their lives in ways that they don't even understand and starts Lorelei on a life-long problem of hoarding. She hoards everything from baby diapers to craft supplies, filling up their little brick house until it is unlivable. Who will take care of the mess and discover all the secrets? Will it be sensible Meg, impractical Beth, or Rhys who loves to stir up trouble and take off to places unknown? And what of Colin? Will he survive the hoarding, the rambunctious children, and the yearly egg hunt?

I cannot reveal all these wonderful answers to you now, but I guarantee a story that moves along quickly, is both funny and poignant, and that you will not soon forget. Give it a try!