Weekly Column for September 20, 2024

@ Your Library

September continues to march along at a rather brisk pace, but the weather has been gorgeous and it is delightful to sit on my nice warm porch in the sunshine and read. I hope each and every one of you has a place to enjoy reading. Reading needs to be an important part of your life as it keeps the brain active, can reduce stress, improve empathy and make falling asleep easier.

Northwoods by Amy Pease definitely brings to mind William Kent Krueger’s Cork O’Connor series with its mysteries set in northern Minnesota. This mystery is set in northern Wisconsin, but the setting and situations ring true for life across the border as well. The novel begins with a the body of a teenage boy found dead in the lake and sprints from there to opioids, wealthy enclaves, a pharmaceutical salesman and a missing girl.

North Woods by Daniel Mason follows the inhabitants of a house in the woods of Massachusetts through many centuries. It is more a novel of place than thriller or mystery. Both were published in the last year, so make sure you know which novel you’d prefer to read when asking us for either of these books. Or be an eclectic reader and read them both.

Last week I focused on popular authors with new titles and here are more new titles by popular authors. Nicci French’s latest is Has Anyone Seen Charlotte Salter? The book is described as a ‘nerve-tingling, atmospheric thriller about two families shattered by tragedy and the secrets waiting decades to be revealed.’ Clive Cussler’s newest Isaac Bell novel is The Heist and Dale Brown’s latest Nick Flynn novel is The Devil’s Fortress. Iris Johansen and her son Roy Johansen continue to collaborate on novels with Flashback their latest.

Nora Roberts’ latest is Mind Games, a suspenseful novel of tragedy, trauma, love, family and evil. The Fox children look forward to two weeks with their grandmother Lucy every summer in Kentucky. But this year they won’t be returning to their life in suburban Virginia after their parents are murdered. Thus begins a riveting story of connections and consequences.

Two authors new to our collection at least that are getting some real buzz are Assassins Anonymous by Rob Hart in which a lethal assassin gives up the violent life only to find himself under siege by mysterious assailants. It reads as a kill or be-killed situation but he is determined to keep the first option off the table, so what does he do now?

Zero Stars Do Not Recommend by MJ Wassmer is billed as ‘the end of the world has never been so fun!’ Dan Foster views himself as a professional underachiever, but he is taking a vacation with his new girlfriend and things are looking up until the sun explodes and the resort is plunged into darkness.

Denison Avenue is a 2024 Canada Reads selection by Christina Wong illustrated by Daniel Innes. Denison Avenue is a street in Toronto and the novel explores both its past and its future.

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