RLB Staff Picks

Still Life: A Chief Inspector Gamache Novel

From Sue:

Attention Maisie Dobbs lovers! 

Northwest Angle

By  William Kent Krueger 

From Jean:

One of my favorite summer-read writers is William Krueger.  He writes mysteries/thrillers set in the Minnesota Boundary Waters.  His latest is The Northwest Angle in which Cork O'Connor, retired sherriff, and his family are blown to a deserted island in Lake of the Woods.  They discover the thousands of islands in Lake of the Woods aren't as deserted as they thought

The Litigators

By  John Grisham 

John Grisham doesn’t disappoint in his latest fictional expose of America’s legal system, The Litigators. When young attorney David Zinc walks out of the high powered Chicago law firm where he’s spent the past five years losing his love of the law, he isn’t sure where he’s headed, and neither is the reader. He lands as an associate in a “boutique” firm (a real misnomer if there ever was one), and the complications begin. The storyline is an amalgam of previous Grisham plots, but this latest is a fast-paced and entertaining read.

The Lady of the Rivers

The queen of historical fiction and New York Times bestselling author, Philippa Gregory, is known for her extensive research into the lives of women of history.  The Lady of Rivers (October 11 release date) is no exception.  The novel, based on the life of Jacquetta, Duchess of Bedford, explores life at the court of the young King Henry VI.  Gregory weaves together historical fact, alchemy, witchcraft, and passion to tell the story of a woman who navigated a treacherous path to lead her family through the Wars of Roses.  As Lady in Waiting to Margaret of Anjou, she was privy to the secret life at court.  According to Gregory, little has been written about this player in great historical events.  Gregory has filled a gap by writing about the extraordinary life of this powerful woman.  Lovers of historical fiction will not want to miss this novel.

The Marriage Plot

“No one’s more adept at channeling teenage angst than Jeffrey Eugenides. Not even J. D. Salinger . . . It’s in mapping Mitchell’s search for some sort of belief that might fill the spiritual hole in his heart and Madeleine’s search for a way to turn her passion for literature into a vocation that this novel is at its most affecting, reminding us with uncommon understanding what it is to be young and idealistic, in pursuit of true love and in love with books and ideas.” —Michiko Kakutani, The New York Times

Salvage the Bones

"A pitch-perfect account of struggle and community in the rural South… Though the characters in Salvage the Bones face down Hurricane Katrina, the story isn’t really about the storm. It’s about people facing challenges, and how they band together to overcome adversity."— BookPage

The Art of Racing in the Rain

Set in Seattle area, this family drama novel is told through the voice of a dog. I found it gripping and informative. I learned a lot about the art and skill of auto racing - a whole new area for me.

The Prince

Rejecting the traditional values of political theory, Machiavelli drew upon his own experiences of office in the turbulent Florentine republic to write his celebrated treatise on statecraft. While Machiavelli was only one of the many Florentine "prophets of force," he differed from the ruling elite in recognizing the complexity and fluidity of political life.

Faithful Place

From Lisa:

The third in a series of mysteries from Irish author Tana French.  Frank Mackey, a detective in Dublin, is forced to relive the worst memory of his life when the suitcase belonging to his missing fiance surfaces more than 20 years after her disappearance.  French's ability to create suspense and unrest in her stories while developing dynamic characters makes this book hard to put down.  Though it can be enjoyed alone, I highly recommend In the Woods and The Likeness, her first two novels that feature many of the same characters.

When an infected bolt of cloth carries plague from London to an isolated village, a housemaid named Anna Frith emerges as an unlikely heroine and healer. Through Anna's eyes we follow the story of the fateful year of 1666, as she and her fellow villagers confront the spread of disease and superstition. As death reaches into every household and villagers turn from prayers to murderous witch-hunting, Anna must find the strength to confront the disintegration of her community and the lure of illicit love. As she struggles to survive and grow, a year of catastrophe becomes instead annus mirabilis, a "year of wonders."

The Garden of Eden

From Sarah:

In Hemingway’s final novel, American writer David and his new wife Catherine travel the French Riviera, exploring the darker sides of marriage and sexuality. Embracing the spirit of the 1920’s,  seductive Catherine pushes the boundaries of femininity and masculinity, encouraging David to play with her.   When both of them fall in love with the beautiful young Marita, the three lovers engage in a compelling and sensual game that is sure to end tragically