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The first in a series, Roman Blood, introduces Gordianus the Finder, private investigator of ancient Rome. Cicero is about to defend Sextus Rocious against a charge of patricide and needs Gordianus’s help. As he looks for the facts in the case Gordianus must wind his way through a miasma of greed, deceit, and murder. From the decadence of the ruling elite to the hopelessness of the poor, Saylor brings the ancient world to life with all its sights, sounds, and smells. A fictional telling of an actual case, Roman Blood is a fascinating mix of scholarship and storytelling, and a mighty fun read to boot.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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Excellent series for historical mystery book lovers. I have enjoyed all of these and the many non-fiction books they have lead me to read.
-Kim, Charlotte, NC

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Oskar Matzerath beats a toy drum to express his frustration and anger at the corruption and hypocrisy of his German-Polish family during the rise of the Third Reich and its occupation of Danzig. The drum was a present for his third birthday. In protest against the world in which he finds himself trapped, Oskar wills himself never to grow beyond the age of three. Oskar is the living human reaction to Nazism. Labeled mad by the rigid police state surrounding him, he is actually the isolated voice of sanity in a world inverted by madness. When the attempt is made to separate him from his drum, Oskar discovers another talent: a scream that shatters both glass and sanity. With this first novel, Grass, the 1999 winer of the Nobel Prize, brings the greatest traditions of German literature kicking and screaming into the present. Fantasy and reality, hilarity and tragedy combine and intertwine in vivid nightmare vision to make a shattering statement about state-sponsored evil.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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One of America's most promising authors, Paul Watkins gives us a look at the troubled history of Ireland. When Ben Sheridan learns that the father he grew up with is not his true father, he goes looking for the one who might still be alive in Ireland. He goes in search of his roots and his identity. Believing that his father is fighting with the rebels, Ben gets caught up in the Irish rebellion. This engrossing exploration of one man's identity and vulnerabilities also gives us a vivid glimpse of the Irish struggle for independence in the 1920's.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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Here is an exquisitely crafted, painfully honest tale of the Salvadoran people during the bloody 1980s. Framed between the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero and the massacre by the armies of El Salvador and Honduras of refugees trying to cross the river separating the two countries, 9 year-old Nicolas tells us the horrors of war. This child’s perspective neutralizes all politics – for Nicolas it doesn’t matter which side the bullets come from, his mother is still dead and he and his grandfather are in danger. Nicolas and his grandfather are characters that will claim a special place in your heart, where they will live long after the last page. Unapologetic, tender and powerful in its simplicity, this novel should mark Benitez as one of the best contemporary writers.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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Sad, sweet and violent is this mountain morality play in which a Confederate soldier deserts his nearly-defeated army and walks all the way back home--to his sweetheart, and to what he believes to be a saner and more meaningful life--deep in the Blue Ridge of North Carolina. Lovingly and intricately detailed, Appalachia lives and breathes through Frazier's excellent craftsmanship. Its sober and haunting depiction of a significant time and place, as well as its brilliant characterization, makes this novel an American classic.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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Ned Kelly was a 19th century Australian outlaw whose family was exiled from Ireland and sent to Australia. His father died when he was 12. His mother relied on graft and crime to support the family. Kelly, a killer, thief, and gang leader, was hanged when he was 25. The fictional account is written as a letter to Kelly’s daughter. He is a folk hero to Australians because he rebelled against the corrupt English landlords and used injustice to create his own brand of justice. The novel reads like an old-fashioned American western with one showdown after another. Carey has you cheering Ned on to victory, even though you know his fate. He does an impeccable job of capturing the voice of an Australian legend.

Reviewed by Megan M., Main Library

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This moving nineteenth century novel tells the story of Minnie and Louis, two priviledged mixed race young people, born under slavery and raised as white. They marry after learning of their true heritage, and subsequently dedicate their lives and fortune to the betterment of their beleaguered race in the hostile, post-war South. This idyllic, heroic couple mirror the struggle for emancipation fought through war, faith, education and voting rights. Through sadness and challenge the two consecrate themselves to self-sacrifice and to "the fiery crown of martyrdom" in order to encourage and ennoble their people.

Reviewed by Deborah O., Main Library

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Laura Diaz is the most fully realized, and memorable character Fuentes has created since Artemio Cruz in the 1960s. Through her Fuentes tells the tale of Mexico’s cultural, social and political history with all the drama intact. Born into an upper class family during the rule of the dictator Porfiro Diaz, Laura, and through her the reader, watches the world as it is turned upside down by revolution. Once in power the Revolution becomes, as usually happens when the "r" is capitalized, the thing it most despised – entrenched wealth and power. Showing the virtuosity of his talents and imagination, Fuentes has written a history, only nominally fictionalized, of Mexico in the Twentieth Century from the point of view of one very strong woman.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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The inhumanity of slavery has never before been depicted as it is in this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Toni Morrison. The story revolves around Seth Suggs, a woman who murders her young child in a desperate attempt to save her from the degradations of slavery. Forced back into servitude, even Seth’s black community rejects her in light of the violent murder. Escaping in order to live free and raise her remaining children, Seth finds her new home haunted, which becomes the vortex around which the events of the novel unfold. Beloved is a vivid depiction of slavery’s horrors on the lives and psyches of its victims. Morrison peoples her novel with fully developed characters, not relying on storytelling conventions or stock characterizations. It is a unique portrayal of the suffering and devastation that is slavery’s legacy.

Reviewed by David S., University City Regional

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Beautiful prose and vivid detail combine to tell a remarkable story (based on fact) about a late (1666) outbreak of bubonic plague in a remote English village. Seen through the eyes and heart of an 18-year-old widow who is the village vicar’s maid, the tale documents the misery, fear, and hopelessness of the dread disease – its devastating effect upon the village and its people. Major themes embrace the duality of humanity – the best and the ignorant superstitious worst – as well as the timeless conflict between nature and religion. Is the plague God’s punishment or will; or is it a random event in nature? This book is hard to put down – a major accomplishment and, surely, a classic.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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The book is beautifully read on tape and CD by Josephine Bailey. The library has both. Her rendition of the story will keep you sitting in a parking lot or your driveway, not wanting to get out of the car.
-Susan, Matthews, NC

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When Faith's husband is transferred from Texas to Minnesota, a "stupid godforsaken frozen tundra," as Faith describes her new home, she feels overwhelmed by her twin toddlers and lonely for friendship. All that changes when she meets four unique friends and they begin the Freesia Court Book Club, soon to be renamed Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. This fast paced novel spans four decades and touches on everything from the everyday issues of raising children and recipe swapping to the more serious issues of spousal abuse and family secrets. A wonderful story of five friends that will make you laugh out loud in one chapter and want to cry in the next. Landvik captures the essence of female friendship in this heartwarming novel.

Reviewed by Jessica B., Mint Hill Branch

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A family is left destitute after their father, a Chinese provincial governor, passes away. Orchid, the oldest of two children, applies to be one of the young emperor’s concubines. Because of her background and beauty she is chosen as one of his seven wives and her family’s problems are over. After bearing the emperor his only son she must then learn the ruthless strategies of court life in order to keep her son and herself alive. Although the book is episodic in nature it has a nice flow and it is full of vibrant characters and many nice details about the dress and traditions that composed life in the China’s Forbidden City in the late 19th century.

Reviewed by Ed M., Morrison Regional

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What would compel a man, who was himself a former slave, to become a slaveholder? Are the attributes needed to become a slaveholder a learned behavior or are they innate? These are only a few paramount questions readers would most likely want to ask of Henry Townsend. Townsend is the main character in Edward P Jones’s debut novel The Known World. Set in ante-bellum Virginia, Jones’s many, many characters breathe life into the taboo topic of black people who become slaveholders. Jones is a brilliant storyteller who just recently received the Pulitzer for The Known World.

Reviewed by Vickie C., West Boulevard Branch

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In the draught plagued summer of 79 AD Marcus Attilius has just been appointed the new Aquarius (head engineer) of the Aqua Augusta. His first job is to find out why Rome’s mightiest aqueduct has left some cities dry and poisoned the fishponds of Herculaneum. Of course other problems lurk as well, like what happened to his predecessor and does Pliny the Elder have any information that may be of use? Marcus soon finds himself climbing along Mt. Vesuvius trying to isolate and fix the problem. Along the way he meets many, few that want to help the new Aquarius in his endeavors. Harris weaves facts and fiction seamlessly in this gripping tale of love, loss and water.

Reviewed by Gina D., Myers Park Branch

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Reading this book in the summer of 2008 made me really want to go to the exhibit of artifacts from Pompeii currently in Charlotte!
-Tom, Charlotte

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Diane Glancy, a novelist of Cherokee and English-German descent, gives Sacajawea a voice to tell her own tale. Presented as Sacajawea’s journal alongside which are excerpts from the journals of both Lewis and Clark. This juxtaposition allows the reader to see the many differences, and similarities, of the cultures represented. Glancy is careful here not to judge either Native or Euro-American cultures, they speak for themselves. In each there is good and bad. It is, indeed, this very honesty and fairness to all that gives the small book its power. In following Sacajawea from the Mandan Village in North Dakota to the Pacific and back, the reader sees to the very human heart of the woman who has become something of an American myth.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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Wisdom and beauty are admirable assets for any woman no matter what era she comes. In The Gilded Chamber, A Novel of Queen Esther by Rebecca Kohn, the Old Testament story of Esther speaks across the ages to a modern audience. When Esther’s parents die, she is sent to live with her betrothed cousin Mordecai who has a high court position. Her planned future changes dramatically when King Xerxes orders new virgins seized to replenish his harem. Ultimately, Esther becomes the King’s favorite and the Queen who will save her people from annihilation. Kohn manages to make ancient times come alive with her retelling of a passionate story of political intrigue and danger. If you enjoyed The Red Tent, The Gilded Chamber is for you.

Reviewed by Susan C., Independence Regional

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These wonderful books have a little bit of everything. In this one, a violent form of feminism rears its semi-lovely head when a crew of Pacific Island cannibal women rescue/capture Aubrey and Maturin after the surgeon has once again fallen overboard. Maturin, who has no sea legs and never will, often falls overboard, and it is usually Aubrey who dives in to rescue him. The plot is one of the simplest in the series. The War of 1812 continues, and the USS Norfolk is taking a grievous toll on the British whaling fleet in the Pacific. It is up to Aubrey to stop it. Rounding Cape Horn and entering the still largely uncharted waters of the South Pacific, he proceeds to do his heroic best. The task, however, is one of his greatest challenges yet.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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To the Last Man: A Novel of the First World War is another shining volume in Jeff Shaara’s long list of stellar historical novels. Shaara puts his own unique mark on every American era he chooses to highlight. He expertly documents the historical record of events and some of the real people who struggled through these conflicts, then weaves the story through that individual’s point of view. In To the Last Man, Shaara employs such familiar World War I names as Pershing, Richtofen (the Red Baron), Rickenbacker, and Von Hindenburg. The unfamiliar heroes Shaara uses, Raoul Lufbery and Roscoe Temple, describe dramas of human courage and survival against all odds. Jeff Shaara enhances our American experience with passion created by man’s experience. In short, he brings history to life!

Reviewed by Susan C., Independence Regional

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The true American classic everyone should read. A pampered southern belle witnesses her world being torn apart by war while the man she loves marries another woman. However, Scarlett is not one to sit back and watch things happen, she does everthing in her power to get what she wants. But in the end...does she really know what she wants? Is it Ashley she loves or is it the cunning Rhett Butler? And can she get back what she has tossed away with both hands? Set during the Civil War this book is all excitement, love and heartache and will mesmerize readers.

Reviewed by Lauren B.

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The novel was outstanding. A good story, well told.
-belle, huntersville, n. c.

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The Queen's Fool, by Phillippa Gregory, captures the danger and intrigue of 16th century England with page-turning urgency. Hannah Green is a young Jewish girl on the run from the Spanish Inquisition. She and her bookseller father are never safe, depending on their skill as liars to survive. Fortunately, Hannah has the gift of "sight" and this ability to forsee the future makes her a valued person in the turbulent Tudor court. She becomes a "holy fool" employed by King Edward, Queen Mary and ultimately, the Protestant Princess Elizabeth. She and her gift are used by the rich and powerful who hope to remain the rich and powerful. Gregory spins a superb story with complex, engaging characters woven into rich period detail.

Reviewed by Susan C., Independence Regional

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Like many Italian authors, Eco shows a joy in experimenting with form and meaning. Ostensibly a murder mystery, this book is really a story about stories, a book about puzzles and truth and conspiracies. Also, our narrator, arrives at an abbey with his master, William of Baskerville, to find that a monk has been killed, seemingly falling from the upper windows of the library. As the newcomers investigate the death, the secrets of the abbey are slowly revealed to them. As more deaths occur, they stand on the edge of a great conspiracy. Or do they? A lyrical, intelligent reinvention of the detective novel.

Reviewed by Ian R., North County Regional

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This historical novel takes place in Barcelona in 1945. The suspenseful story starts with Daniel and his father going to a library called the Cemetery of Forgotten Books. Daniel’s father tells him to pick out one book that he can keep. Daniel selects a book by an author named Julian Carax. Daniel finds this book so intriguing that he sets out to find more by Corax, but Daniel isn’t the only one looking. To his astonishment someone has been destroying all of Corax’s books and now he wants Daniel’s copy. Daniel is determined to find out the mystery that surrounds this book. This novel is beautifully written and Carlos Ruiz Zafon does a wonderful job of combining mystery, suspense, and romance to make this novel extremely satisfying.

Reviewed by Effie K., Scaleybark Branch

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One of the best books I have ever read! It is a brilliant coming of age story that contains it all: mystery, romance, suspense and shockers!!
-Jessica D., Charlotte, NC

An outstanding book!
-Karen, Charlotte, NC

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In the dark period leading up to WWII, Polish-born Jew Andre Szara, a respected foreign correspondent for Pravda, is forced by the NKVD to execute minor espionage missions. Minor missions quickly escalate to major operations as the strange courtship between Josef Stalin and Adolf Hitler begin to shape the infamous Nazi-Soviet alliance. Szara, of course, has little choice but to do as he is "requested," and becomes most proficient at spying, obtaining vital industrial intelligence as a chief of section. Complications arise when a Jewish Frenchman appeals to him to help fellow Jews by selling his intelligence to the British for precious immigration certificates to Palestine. Once again, Furst demonstrates his command of the people, politics and the times of which he writes. In an age in which more is forgotten of those times than remembered, Furst captures moments of that era - anywhere in the world - and brings them to life.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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In 1613 three low-level emissaries set sail from Japan bound for Nueva Espana – Mexico. These men and their servants, led by an ambitious Franciscan priest who serves as guide and interpreter, were sent to attempt to open up trade with Spain and her colonies. The group travels to Mexico, from there to Spain, and then to Rome seeking an audience with the Pope. Once in Rome they learn that the authorities in Japan have outlawed Christianity and moved to isolate Japan from outside influences. Their journey was futile from the beginning. Based on a little-known episode in Japanese history, this novel is also a spiritual autobiography of the author’s search for meaning. The story offers a fascinating glimpse into a feudal world attempting to avoid inevitable change.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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In her first novel Glancy shares the painful tale of the forced removal of her people, the Cherokee, from their homes in North Carolina to the “Indian Territory” of what is now Oklahoma. While the story focuses on Maritole and her family, the author uses many voices, both Indian and white, to create a mosaic of this tragic event. The many characters tell of the shock of being jerked from homes that had been theirs for generations, of the trek over 900 miles during the winter of 1838-1839, and of the many deaths along the trail. While the novel sometimes moves as slowly as does Maritole in her struggle to “push the bear” of her pain and anger, it is worth the effort. This is a story that needs telling and one that rewards the reader with a narrative, ultimately, of survival.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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In researching his genealogy, Terrell Garren unearthed some long hidden family secrets. Intrigued by his findings, he turned them into a fictionalized account of life during the Civil War. Set in the rural NC mountains, this novel delves into a dark side of war that often goes undiscussed, crime. What starts as a love story between young Delia Russell and Joseph Youngblood, the author’s grandparents, turns into a battle of survival. Joseph goes off to war while Delia stays home and fights to sustain her family and way of life. Garren’s detail to historical accuracy is meticulous and leans toward a non-fiction account of war and life. He expertly tells a story of love and war and the triumph of the human spirit.

Reviewed by Amy H., South County Regional

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Yasmina Khadra paints a disturbingly realistic portrait of life in Kabul, Afghanistan under the rule of the Taliban. In a tale that weaves together the lives of two couples – one trying hard to steer clear of the religious madness, the other in which the husband works as a jailer – life in the midst of chaos and decay, the result of endless warfare and zealotry is made painfully real. The plight of women – the swallows of the titles – who are ghostly images hidden underneath their burkhas, the starving children roaming the streets, the violence of forced religious orthodoxy, the barbarity of public executions are all made plain for a purpose. This short novel, written by an Algerian in language beautiful in its poetry, packs a very powerful punch.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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The documentary novel finds the stories in history rather than making a story out of history, and thus feels more exciting than a history text and more true than a historical novel. Thomas Keneally is the undisputed master of this field. Schindler’s List is the true story of the enamelware factory run by Oskar Schindler during World War II. The factory began as just a way of making money, but became a crusade, a way for Schindler to save as many Jews as he could from the concentration camps. A lesser writer would make his lead character purely heroic, but it is Schindler’s flaws – his womanizing and his temper – that make Schindler a real person rather than a character, and make the book great.

Reviewed by Ian R., North County Regional

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Marrying Mozart is the story of four sisters who all befriend the young Mozart. He is not the Mozart of Amadeus. This is a serious young man who is finding his way in a difficult world. The tale of the Webber sisters has never been fully explored. Mozart lived with them, and finally chose one for his bride. Cowell's tale sings with the joy of young love and the music that it inspired in one of the greatest composers of classical music. It also examines the dynamics of family through these four sisters who loved Mozart-each in her own way.

Reviewed by Christine E.

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E.L. Doctorow’s masterful storytelling brings to life the famous Civil War march of General William T. Sherman’s “march to the sea.” Through vivid characterization, readers follow both real and fictional soldiers and civilians across Georgia to Savannah, then north through the Carolinas. The effect of the war on the individual characters is told with pathos and sometimes humor. Yet the central character is the Union Army itself, growing from a motley assortment of men into a destructive force of nature, devouring all in its path and changing lives and history forever. Bold and compelling, this re-creation will appeal to Civil War aficionados as well as fans of great stories well told.

Reviewed by Susan G., Myers Park Branch

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Enter a mysterious and riveting world -- the world of Chinese women in the late ninteenth century, complete with foot bindings and the upstairs rooms where women spent their lives. During these times, some women used secret writings to communicate with their "old sames", life-long friends chosen in a contract arranged between families. Lily is now an old woman, relegated to a corner of the “women's room” where she reminisces about her life and dear old same, Snow Flower. Throughout childhood, marriage, motherhood and old age, the women share messages of love and support on a secret fan. Lisa See's straightforward writing style is so realistic that the characters seem lifelike to the reader and the story remains vivid long after the book is finished.

Reviewed by Susan G., Myers Park Branch

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Leonardo's Swans by Karen Essex reveals the complicated relationship between two sisters at the end of the 15th century. This was an age when lust for the possession of art was matched only by the political intrigues of the Italian courts. The older sister, Isabella - blonde, beautiful, and well educated, is married to the Marquis of Mantua. Beatrice, her younger sister who is more comfortable on a horse than in court, is to marry the Duke of Milan. The Duke is the richest, most powerful ruler in Italy. He employs Leonardo da Vinci, il Magistro, heralded for his extraordinary genius in every area of human creation. Isabella and Beatrice find themselves in dangerous struggles for power, favor, and finally for survival. Essex tells a spellbinding passionate tale of Renaissance Italy in Leonardo's Swans.

Reviewed by Susan C., Independence Regional

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“Let them eat cake,” is a phrase that is not found in this faux autobiography of Marie Antoinette. Instead, it draws a portrait of a young, shy, but dutiful daughter who has led a sheltered life and now must step into the role of Queen of France. This Marie is very comfortable with her status as royalty and though she is sympathetic to the harsh lives of the peasants she assumes that they bear their misfortune and gladly serve the crown. This is probably why she is beheaded at the conclusion of the book as she was in history. However oblivious this fictional Marie is to her fate, her voice is still as interesting as the historical figure. An engrossing read for historical fiction fans.

Reviewed by Angela C., ImaginOn

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Like all his books, Dark Voyage is drawn in the sepia tones so familiar from scenes of the early days of the Second World War. His characters are many, many-sided and intensely interesting – from British intelligence agents to young and deadly ambitious German naval officers to a beautiful Russian journalist. His plot is one of his most exciting, revolving around a quiet and unassuming Dutch sea captain who sails his tramp steamer under neutral Spanish colors on relatively unimportant Allied missions into waters that are anything but neutral. And, for background music, there is Mozart from the captain’s record collection. Fast-paced action, breathless suspense, and unforgettably sophisticated romance make this Furst’s best yet – until the next one.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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Despite being the self-reputed Virgin Queen, the love life of Elizabeth I has been speculated upon since her ascension to the throne in 1558. The Virgin’s Lover takes place at the beginning of Elizabeth’s reign. Elizabeth has inherited a bankrupt and religiously divided kingdom from her deceased sister, Mary. Many lords vie for her hand, but the infamous Sir Robert Dudley plots to divorce his wife and marry the queen. The ensuing mad love affair threatens to destroy the kingdom and dethrone the queen. Told from several historical figures’ perspectives, including Dudley’s jilted wife, the book is an interesting narrative about lust, intrigue and power.

Reviewed by Angela C., ImaginOn

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In 1906, Grace Brown was murdered at an Adirondacks resort. Jennifer Donnelly takes this incident and tells the tale of Mattie Gokey, a teenager with a talent for writing and a love of books. Unfortunately, life in the Adirondacks doesn’t place those things in high esteem, and with her mother dead, Mattie is preoccupied with the care of her family and their farm. The novel alternates between the months leading up to the murder and the present day when Mattie is working at the resort where Grace’s body was found. Only Mattie knows the truth, and her attempt to find her place in the world, while holding onto a deathbed promise, makes for compelling reading and is an example of YA fiction at its finest.

Reviewed by Lesley W., South County Regional

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I remember getting this book because my mother said I had to get something to read over the holiday. What I read was so amazing and powerful, that I finished that big book in one night. The story made me ride an emotional roller coaster and taught me important lessons in life. I recommend this book to all.
-Erica, Texas

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It is rare to find a work of historical fiction that’s so meticulously researched, such a true vision into a long ago past, and even rarer to find one that focuses on the Norse culture, as Judith Lindbergh’s debut novel. She offers a glimpse into the fringes – both in geography and gender – of Norse society in Greenland, circa 1000 CE. Focusing on the lives of three women: the wisewoman Thorbjorg, her slave Katla, and Katla’s daughter, Bibrau, as they are caught up in the tumult of settling a new land and dealing with the insurgent Christian faith. The story weaves through the intertwined lives and destinies of each woman, producing a supremely satisfying epic of a brutal, isolated landscape and the people who live there.

Reviewed by Lesley W., South County Regional

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Long before Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII was married to one of the most dynamic and compelling Queens, Katherine of Aragon. However, long before Henry, Katherine was originally married to Henry's brother, Arthur, who died when he was fifteen. In The Constant Princess, Arthur extracts a death bed promise from his young bride to marry his brother and rule England. It is not an easy task. Katherine must avoid her father-in-law's advances and prove to a skeptical England that her marriage to Arthur was never consummated. Through poverty, humiliation and betrayal Katherine remains constant and eventually becomes Queen. This is another excellent historical fiction novel from Philippa Gregory. Gregory's subjects and characters are well researched and the reader feels transported back into another time.

Reviewed by Angela C., ImaginOn

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Philippa Gregory writes historical fiction with all the suspense and excitement of a thriller. The Boleyn Inheritance keeps you on the edge with one finger hooked around the next page. Three women share the Boleyn inheritance and the intrigue of Henry VIII’s court. Anne of Cleves is King Henry’s fourth wife and she will be lucky to weather the storm of court politics. Katherine Howard is the beautiful, flirtatious fifteen-year-old cousin of Anne Boleyn, who catches Henry’s lecherous eye. Jane Rochford was a lady-in-waiting for her sister-in-law Anne Boleyn and she has stayed alive so far by spying. Three women caught up in the growing insanity of terror in King Henry’s paranoid later years. Who will survive The Boleyn Inheritance?

Reviewed by Susan C., Independence Regional

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Sixteenth century Venice is a churning city of vice and virtue, lust and license, with money flowing everywhere and sin following fast. Into this city steps Fiammetta Bianchini, a courtesan, and her companion, the dwarf Bucino. They have little but the clothes on their backs and the hair on their heads (in some cases not even that) but they will make their fortune however they can. This is a sumptuous novel, with thick, rich language adding wonderfully to the flavor of the location and times. It does not shrink from the door of the bedroom or the charnel house. The book depicts Venice as it was, in every gorgeous, grotesque detail, and is all the better for its lack of restraint. A compelling read.

Reviewed by Ian R., North County Regional

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Two young Jewish girls escape the clutches of the Nazis with only a suitcase and their mother’s diary. Six decades later they find the suspected diary is really a manuscript penned by their mother, writer Irene Nemirovsky, in the years before her death at Auschwitz. Detailing the fall and occupation of France during WWII, the work provides realistic, objective and human glimpses into the lives of civilians, prisoners of war and the German enemy. Somehow Nemirovsky manages to see beyond the horrors of war and the regularity of life to find humanity. Sadly in its incompleteness, the work also represents the unfinished life of its creator, a writer with the talent and forgiveness to record with honesty the events that lead to her tragic end.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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The overwhelming tragedy of this modern masterpiece is that it must forever remain unfinished. Its author, a Jew, was arrested and sent to Auschwitz, where she died in 1942. Her recently discovered manuscript consists of two completed novellas and plans for three more. They follow a cross-section of French civilians – from the spoiled rich to the common – as they flee Paris before the advancing Germans, and then endure the occupation of a farm community. The story is one of often surprising contrasts between love and hatred, friend and enemy. Both humor and tragedy – and the vast territory between – are tenderly and closely examined.
-Jim, Charlotte, NC

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Catharine Parr watched as the first five wives of Henry VIII met with horrendous ends, from beheadings to exile each have made speedy exits. Now she finds herself the object of his royal affection while she is in love with another. While many works of both fiction and non-fiction have been written on the famous wives of Henry VIII, Catherine Parr is often left behind since she was his last and did not die tragically by his orders. However Erickson provides an in-depth and riveting look into the life of Queen Catharine including her many marriages before her royal union and her service under Queen Catharine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn. This novel presents an intriguing glimpse into the history of England and the heart of a Queen.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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In 1811, Napoleon calls on soldiers from all over Europe to join his Grande Armée on a campaign to conquer the Russian Empire. In Wurttemburg, Germany a young farmhand named Adam is tricked by his master to serve in the army in place of the farmer’s son. Adam’s sadistic sergeant is determined to make his life miserable, but luck is on Adam’s side when a wealthy young lieutenant chooses him to be his personal servant. Forging a powerful friendship, the two young men endure the cold and hunger of the march to Russia and the brutality of war that awaits them there. Winner of the 2006 Batchelder Award for the best work of fiction for young people translated into English from another language.

Reviewed by Erin N., Independence Regional

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The burdens of black women during the time of slavery was doubled, not only were the considered property because of their race, but also dominated because of their gender. Cane River reflects this duality in its portrayal of four generations of strong women destined to survive that thrive against all odds. Down the line from Elizabeth and Suzette to Philomene and Emily, each women exemplifies the personification of strength, determination and survival instinct. Beautifully told with sincerity and love, Tademy chronicles the steps of her ancestors with pride and awe. Including family photos and documents into the work, she weaves a story that is destined to become a modern classic. Her characters are so life-like they become not only old friends but also family.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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This sequel to Through a Glass Darkly completes the story of English beauty Barbara Devane. A widow at 20, Barbara leaves England and her shattered life behind her as she rebuilds at a Virginia tobacco plantation. Although Barbara loves her new life, she is called back to England and must face her demons. Her failed marriage to her deceased husband, Roger Devane torments her, as well as the enormous debt that he left in his wake. Barbara steers herself through the treacherous waters of the English court. Through the treachery and political intrigue of court, she finds love with a handsome spy. This is a wonderful book to get lost in on a lazy weekend and is a thrilling conclusion of Karleen Koen’s trilogy.

Reviewed by Angela C., ImaginOn

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Eighteenth century England is not an easy time for a young woman. Fifteen-year-old Barbara Aderly has achieved the impossible and will marry the man that she loves, the rich and handsome Roger Devane. Roger is kind to his young wife yet dismissive of Barbara because of her youth. Determined to show her husband her passion for him, she takes command of their life together, causing her husband to genuinely love her. However Barbara is swept into an opulent world where every desire is hers and betrayal is expected in a marriage. Roger has secrets of his own and he would rather his new bride never know and the truth about his past devastates Barbara. This is a brilliant historical novel and a lovely romance.

Reviewed by Angela C., ImaginOn

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“Like everyone, I am born naked,” Marie Antoinette confides to the reader in Abundance. Author Sena Jeter Naslund allows Marie Antoinette to tell her story firsthand in this sprawling novel. Marie confesses everything to the reader, from her love of indulgent baths to extravagant dresses and the oddness of pairing with her husband in the bedroom. This Marie is naïve and almost innocent. She is sympathetic with the life and death struggles of her French peasant subjects, but she does not comprehend their disappointment in the monarchy. Though the outcome of her life is known, this representation is an intimate look into Marie Antoinette’s opulent life and enjoyable to read.

Reviewed by Angela C., ImaginOn

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What should be the price for committing adultery? For Kitty Fane after having an affair with politician Charles Townsend, the price her bacteriologist husband Walter decides upon is traveling by his side into a remote area of China affected with cholera. Poor, vain Kitty finds that when confronted with the horrors of death and suffering, suddenly the superficialities of society don’t seem to matter as much. A classic about the ability to change, the importance of life and the struggles of both. With the mystic peace of China and the rigorous demands of London society, Maugham created a masterpiece that has proven its ability to endure.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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In the mid-1990’s, while bookstore browsing, Anita Diamant discovered a pamphlet about a little Cape Ann coastal village named “Dogtown”. Though largely a collection of gossip and memories of a former resident, it, nonetheless, was germane to Diamant’s writing The Last Days of Dogtown. The novel, though low on plot, is a magnificent study of a dying community in 19th century Massachusetts illustrated through the lives of the residents – who are in a period of transition themselves. At the center of the story are an unmarried woman, Judy Rhines, who hides an interracial love affair, and Easter Carter, a female tavern keeper – both of whom offer kindness and comfort to the town’s inhabitants. Diamant’s story of an isolated village heading toward extinction tugs at the heartstrings.

Reviewed by Susanne W., South County Regional

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The name of Pontius Pilate will forever be known but that of his wife Claudia is seldom mentioned. Born of noble birth during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, she was a woman of rank, passion and unbelievable ability. From a young age she dreamt premonitions and found unconventional ways to seek out her desires in life through the Goddess of Isis. However nothing could have prepared her for the events that would change the world when the lives of her husband, Jesus and her friend Miriam of Magdala collide. Written with the opulence and violence of ancient Rome, Pilate’s Wife is a journey into a world of the past and story often told through the eyes of an unknown woman.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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Sarah Waters, author of Fingersmith and Tipping the Velvet, lures the reader into a shadowy montage of London. Beginning with 1947, flashing back to 1944, and then 1941, the plot unwinds a complex web between lovers. Kay is an ambulance driver racing through urban destruction. Ingénue Helen loves her, but indulges her own curiosity in Julia, a flame from Kay’s past. Meanwhile, glamorous Vivian divides her time between her secretarial position, her married lover, and visiting her young brother, Duncan, in prison. Although he survives in the shadows of his transgression, the basis for Duncan’s incarceration remains vague and curious until the end. Set in a war-torn metropolitan maze, characters struggle with not only the terror of living under siege but with the consequences of their own choices.

Reviewed by Lydia T., Main Library

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Dan Simmons’ profoundly disturbing novel opens as the crews of the HMS ships Terror and Erebus embark on their historical journey to find the elusive Northwest Passage. Captain Francis Crozier takes on the ill-fated expedition after famed Sir John Franklin dies under mysterious circumstances on the pack ice and seracs found in the treacherous Canadian Arctic waters. Simmons also creates another terror -- an unknown creature that methodically stalks the crew, adding an additional level of horror and suspense. The Terror delivers a powerful testament to the courage and determination of history’s sea-faring explorers in this novel filled with the intricacies and hardships of survival for ship and crew in 1847, in an ultimate fight against the brutal elements of the northern latitudes.

Reviewed by Rosanne L., Matthews Branch

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The army is the army is the army, and war has always been hell. Simon Scarrow succeeds in bringing the army of ancient Rome to life and still displays the timelessness of military matters. Macro has always been a good soldier and he is rewarded with a promotion to centurion in Rome’s Second Legion just in time to take part in the invasion of the land of the Britons. Along with his optio, Cato, Macro also has to discover who is selling out the Romans to the Britons. This tale of war and political intrigue is bound to please those with a taste for history and excitement.

Reviewed by Mark B., Main Library

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Everyone knows the struggles the March girls undertook when their father left for war in the classic Little Women. Beth was stricken with scarlet fever and Jo chopped off all her hair while the other girls sacrificed and tried to get along as best as they could. But what about the story of their brave father who marched off to war? Finally Mr. March tells of what really happened while he was away from his family fighting the evils of slavery and searching for truth in a world of death. Complete with the horrors of war and miracles of love, March fills in the gaps of a classic tale.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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A brilliant addition to the historical fiction genre, this fast paced book takes us through the life of Lady Jane Grey from birth to her unfortunate end. Weir does an excellent job of reflecting familial dynamics in 16th century England. The reader becomes involved in the politics ruling the life of one young girl torn between family, her religion, and her dreams. The story flows gracefully from the points of view of every major character in Lady Jane’s life and gives a new perspective on this short reign in the English royal house. Highly recommended for anyone interested in 16th century Europe or historical fiction in general.

Reviewed by Sally W., Beatties Ford Road Branch

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This novel, the latest in the Circle of Quilters series, transports us back in time as we learn about the ancestors of the current Elm Creek Quilters. This story takes us on a journey to California during the roaring twenties with bride and groom, Elizabeth and Henry Nelson. They leave the comfort of their family homestead in Pennsylvania to strike out on their own, only to find loneliness and hardship. Swindled out of their life savings they are forced to begin working for others on the land they thought was theirs. We are transported back even further to the 1800s as we get to know Rosa Diaz and her ancestors. How Rosa, Elizabeth, Henry and the Jorgensen’s learn to live with each other is a moving tribute to the pioneer’s persevering spirit.

Reviewed by Sherry J., Sugar Creek

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Set in the days surrounding the Battle of Gettysburg, this novel takes us on a journey with young Robey Childs to find his father on the battlefield. His mother, who sends him on this gruesome errand, has seen her husband’s death in a premonition. He experiences cruelty, death, and dishonor towards others in order to survive. But Robey does survive, partly because of his survival instincts and partly because of his coal black horse. This strong steed teaches Robey how to be a man by standing strong and never backing down. Through traumatic experiences Robey becomes a hardened adult which shatter his childhood innocence. Let this moving novel stir your emotions as it takes you on a journey with Robey and his coal black horse.

Reviewed by Sherry J., Sugar Creek Branch

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In 1665, Edmund Merrick is a pirate who sails for the King of England. But he is also a Christian and these two identities often conflict with each other. When he encounters a lady in distress on a deserted island, his life gets more complicated. Lady Charlisse Bristol is looking for her long-lost father when she becomes shipwrecked. She begrudgingly accepts Captain Merrick’s help and he both frustrates and fascinates her. Merrick, in turn, is drawn to Charlisse, but when he learns the identity of her father, he refuses to her help her find him. And not just to spare her pain, for he himself has unpleasant, unfinished business with him. A fast read with enough romance and adventure to make it thoroughly satisfying until the end.

Reviewed by Jeanenne R., Steele Creek Branch

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Any woman in possession of fortune must also be in possession of a husband or so most men would have you believe. So begin the trials of Octavia Darcy after becoming a widow and inheriting a vast fortune from an unknown relative, she is thrust into London Society as an eligible heiress. A strong and unconventional woman, she must fight her way through suitors while trying to keep both herself and her fortune intact. While not a true Austen creation, the work still provides a glimpse into the world made famous so long ago. In continuing the family line, Aston once again provides a brief respite into the world of the Darcys.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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Set in 16th century Istanbul, this novel follows the illumination of a manuscript commissioned by the Sultan. While the manuscript takes shape, people involved in the process continue to be murdered by a nameless narrator, who has discovered blasphemy within the illustrations. There are several characters involved in the process of illumination, including the four illustrators, the head illuminator and his household, and figures within the illustrations and all narrate parts of the story. As the disparate pieces of the murder mystery begin to form a coherent portrait, so too do the richly detailed setting and the controversial manuscript. Like the illuminated manuscripts Pamuk describes, this novel is truly a work of art.

Reviewed by Meri H., Main Library

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This massive epic of courage, love and sacrifice, is set in one of the most exotic places on earth: the British Raj. Ashton Pelham-Martyn is adopted by his Indian nurse when his mother and father die shortly after his birth. His life from then on is high adventure, from his service to a prince whose life he saved, to his unwelcome discovery of his British parentage and heroic army service. He, of course, finds romance, too – with a woman forbidden to him by ancient and deadly tradition. Kaye is at her best here: weaving the reader into the ornate tapestry of a time long past.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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Amid the fear and uncertainty of World War II, the Heaney sisters of Chicago do their best to help with the war effort forgoing new clothes, making the most of food rations and diligently writing letters to those off fighting. Kitty, Louise and Trish have no idea what each day will bring as they watch their friends, neighbors and boyfriends leave for war. Each questions the world around her as well as her own feelings within. Kitty fights guilt as she realizes her romance with Julian is not what it seems while Louise anxiously awaits each letter from her fiancé, praying for his safe return. In the end all anyone can do is wait. Wait for the next letter hoping it is not the last.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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When people are alive, they love. When they die, they keep loving. These are the words of Peony, the only daughter of the Chen family, a clan clinging to life after the fall of the Ming Dynasty in seventeenth century China. Longing for a glimpse of the world outside her family villa, she dreams of love of poetic proportions. After a chance meeting she suffers through an overwhelming love for not only her lover but also for the beauty of poetry itself. Pining for what could be, Peony begins a journey of faith, love and sacrifice. In the tradition of Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, See once again creates a scene of old world beauty designed to embrace the reader and ensnare the imagination.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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The cathedral is the center of life for the burgeoning 14th century town of Kingsbridge, England. It is ambiguously a symbol of charity and greed, purity and lust, salvation and sin. Struggles for power, lifelong love affairs and treasonous murder have all graced and defiled its walls. Within its realm also hides a dark secret kept for decades between a knight and a child, a secret so powerful its very existence protects those who live with its knowledge. However the everyday common struggles of life abound as well for a multitude of fascinatingly real descendants of the critically acclaimed Pillars of the Earth. World Without End emerges as colossal work of historical fiction whose attention to detail and research prove worthy of praise and attention.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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Compelling in historical detail, Ken Follett follows up his mega-seller Pillars of the Earth with World Without End. Follett quickly engages us in the intertwined lives of Caris, the wealthy, witty, merchant’s daughter; Merthin, whose architectural brilliance in masonry is the key that unlocks his dreams of prosperity; Gwenda, the love-torn impoverished girl struggling against the brutality of the times; and Ralph, Merthin’s brother, who wields his corrupt power to fulfill his innate greed. With the Black Death looming over all, Follett brings back the gritty reality of feudal times in this engrossing adaptation of history and fiction.
-Rosanne L, Charlotte, NC

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In late 1943, Italy made a separate peace with the Allied forces and pulled away from Germany. What ensued was a Nazi invasion of Italy with their first order of business being the extraction of Italian Jews for transport to "work camps". The Christian population of Italy showed great compassion for both Italian Jews needing shelter and for Jews fleeing from neighboring countries. Russell’s extensively researched novel celebrates the heroics of the Italian resistance which included members of the clergy as well as the peasantry. Some memorable characters are Italian rabbi Iacopo Soncini, priest Don Osvaldo Tomitz, and Nazi Werner Schramm, on the run from his past and his conscience. A Thread of Grace is a stunning addition to the Holocaust fiction genre.

Reviewed by Susanne W., South County Regional

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An imagined account of the boyhood of Adolf Hitler, this is, perhaps, the ultimate study of the permanent earthly struggle between good and evil. The tale is told by an SS officer detailed to find proof that will discredit the rumor of Jewish blood in the Führer’s family background. It isn’t long, however, before the narrator reveals his true identity as a mid-level executive in the service of Satan, assigned to cultivate a relatively nondescript Austrian boy into the world’s most evil dictator. Quietly tragic and darkly humorous, this book is a fitting climax to the career of a great writer -- a towering monument to rare creative genius.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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Once again Furst takes us to the wonderfully evocative Paris that existed before the German occupation -- a place made up of many separate overlapping worlds of Italians, Balkans, and Slavs on the run from, or in active opposition to, fascism. The Foreign Correspondent tells of a few Italians who produce an anti-fascist journal – yet another small group of heroes who have no idea what, if any, consequence their efforts may have upon the greater struggle. Readers of Furst will feel right at home here. They will probably recognize a character or two from the earlier books. And they will certainly experience yet again that familiar appreciation for a master story-teller.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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Princess Gabrielle is on her way to Scotland to be married. As she and her guards are crossing Finney’s Flat they discover a murder about to occur. Gabrielle makes the decision to take a life in order to save a life. Upon arriving at the Abbey where she is to be married, her life begins to spiral out of control. Once her intended is murdered and her purity is challenged she is banished from England. With no home she is taken into the protection of Laird Colm MacHugh. What Colm doesn’t know is that Gabrielle is the one who saved his brothers life. This is another wonderful historical romance from Julie Garwood.

Reviewed by Angela A., Cornelius Branch

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Australian, Hanna Heath, rare book conservator, goes to war-torn Sarajevo after the Sarajevo Haggadah, a beautifully illustrated book of painted miniatures thought to have been destroyed, dramatically turns up during a seder . Hanna documents, stabilizes the rare text, and discovers clues in the binding that she hopes will illuminate the book’s history. As the artifacts are tested through Hanna’s professional network, the book’s remarkable survival and the reason for its unusual illustrations unfolds through vignettes. The book’s history, vividly painted like the miniatures, overpowers the character of Hanna, until an emergency recalls Hanna to her estranged mother and she discovers what has been hidden in her own life. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks is a marvelous and provocative mystery for both bibliophiles and casual readers alike.

Reviewed by Vera B., North County Regional

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Gossip and suspicion are as infectious as disease in this historical novel by Andrea Barrett. Set in a rest home for tuberculosis sufferers in 1917, we follow the arrival of new inmates as they undergo a crisis and its aftermath that nearly destroys the whole community. Barrett is gifted in creating thumbnail sketches of her characters, making them realistic and believable in a few lines, without glossing over the failings of her heroes or the redeeming qualities of her villains. She weaves together science, love, the first world war, and race into a moving account of a community tearing itself apart.

Reviewed by Ian R., North County Regional

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Cyrla is a Polish-born, half-Jewish young woman, sent to live with her Dutch relatives as the Nuremberg Laws take hold in Poland. Her blonde Dutch looks – inherited from her mother – allow her to move about German-occupied Schiedam without incident. Then, cousin Anneke, pregnant and seemingly abandoned by her German soldier, commits suicide after her father arranges for her to stay in a maternity home. Driven by fear, Cyrla and her aunt devise a scheme whereby Cyrla assumes Anneke’s identity and takes her place in the lebensborn (Have one baby for the Fuhrer) maternity home. But Cyrla must complete the deception by becoming pregnant herself. The plot unexpectedly shifts when Cyrla gains an unlikely ally during her confinement. A fine story of survival amid the darkness.

Reviewed by Susanne W., South County Regional

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Countless authors have written of Arthur and Guinevere, Merlin and Mordred, Lancelot and Galahad, but few have made a story as real as that told by Bernard Cornwell in this remarkable book. This tells the story of Arthur, warlord of Britain and defender of its true king Mordred. It is a Celtic saga, stripping away the trappings of the Arthurian legend to reveal a story of war and passion, religion and magic, told through the eyes of one of Arthur’s lieutenants. The characters are believable, fallible, and eminently readable throughout. Cornwell, who has previously described the Napoleonic wars with such scope and vision, does a remarkable job of bringing early Britain to life.

Reviewed by Ian R., North County Regional

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Lieutenant Richard Sharpe of the 95th Rifles is not a gentleman. Raised from the ranks by acts of bravery, all he knows is how to fight. Faced by officers like Henry Simmerson who know nothing of battle but everything of politics, he must fight on a very different front. To defeat the political chicanery around him, he must prove himself a hero by claiming a prize: the eagle standard of one of Napoleon’s legions. This is the first Sharpe novel from Bernard Cornwell, and sets the tone for those that follow, managing the tricky balancing act of historical accuracy and daring adventure with deftness and skill.

Reviewed by Ian R., North County Regional

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Set in pre-Civil War Maryland, the story is centered on a runaway slave named Liz, who’s wounded during an attempt to capture her. Her wounds enable her to see into the future. These visions, along with the "code" used by slaves, allow her to escape. But she becomes the target of competing slave catchers who all have different motives for wanting to capture her. Other characters include Amber, a slave who falls in love with Liz while aiding her and a wild forest inhabitant known as Woolman. The story intricately connects the characters and historical events of the time to weave an adventurous story of love and greed. It also provides a fascinating look at a region seldom examined when discussing slavery.

Reviewed by LaJuan P., University City Regional

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When the sound of jackboots on darkened stairs heralding that dreaded knock at the door ceases to be a tired cliché and once again becomes a spine-tingling reality, welcome back to the world of Alan Furst. Like every novel he has written, this is the best one yet. Its very believable hero, the French Military Attaché to Warsaw has risked his life to secure vital intelligence about German invasion plans for Poland. That information leads to even more vital intelligence gained at even greater risk. This new information means that somehow he must convince his own countrymen that they are perilously mistaken in their complaisant dependence upon the Maginot Line.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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This is the fourth book in the Elm Creek Quilting series, and so far the most interesting historically. Sylvia Compson decides she wants to find her family's quilts made during the Civil War. She finds the quilts in an old trunk in her attic, but wrapped in the quilts she discovers a memoir written by her great great aunt Gerda. In the memoir, Sylvia discovers shocking new clues about her family's mysterious history, including evidence that their quilts were used as signals to runaway slaves on the Underground Railroad. This is a great book to read if you're a historical fiction fan!

Reviewed by Amy H., Steele Creek Branch

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Samson hides out in Berlin, accused by the Secret Intelligence Service of being, like his wife, a traitor. Something doesn't smell right, of course. Having proved his loyalty beyond doubt, he suspects that the Service knows only too well where he is. It is no surprise, then, when he is suddenly reinstated and sent to Vienna on a costly mission to obtain a forged passport necessary in effecting his wife’s escape from East Germany. By now, it is also no surprise that she is, in fact, a double agent. All that remains to be discovered is just how flawed her mission was.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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Barbara Jefferson, an American teaching college in Japan, receives a handmade chest bequeathed from her friend and mentor Michi. Inside she discovers bottles of plum wine, each wrapped in pages of carefully hand written Japanese characters. She is convinced that her friend’s history is contained on these pages. Her acquaintance, Seiji, offers to help her translate the writings. What she discovers is a painful web of the consequences of the bombing of Hiroshima. The atomic blast changes the course of Michi's life and the lives of generations of her family. The bombing's legacy eventually undermines even Barbara's relationship with Seiji. The novel Plum Wine gently unfolds providing a lens through which one can begin to perceive the Japanese experience of Hiroshima.

Reviewed by Catie R., Main Library

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Beautifully written, Plum Wine is a very informative book about the long term after-effects of Hiroshima. I sent a copy to a friend in Japan and he verified that this is a sad but true story. I found it to be a page-turner and one of my all time favorite cross cultural books.
-SueDee, Davis, CA

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Michael Cox broke out on the literary scene with his enchanting Victorian mystery The Meaning of Night, ensnaring readers and leading many of us to believe it could not be topped. However Cox has once again shown his amazing talent for gothic inspired elegance and page turning plots in his sequel The Glass of Time. The intricately woven saga revolves around a “Great Task” presented to the young Esperanza Gorst as she is sent to enter the service of the great Lady Tansor. Wrapped in mystery and intrigue even the young lady herself knows not her purpose but only that it shall soon unfold. Reminding readers of Wilkie Collins, Cox is a rare modern treat for the gothic literary lover who has exhausted the classics.

Reviewed by Courtney A., South County Regional

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A murdered servant. A house full of suspects. A national secret. All of these are the makings of a great "Whodunit" and include a brilliant detective by the name of Charles Lenox. Lenox leads a double life. He is part "man of leisure" in Victorian England and part amateur detective. Lenox begins investigating the death of a maid at her place of employment. When Lenox learns she was poisoned, he begins to look for the truth despite many obstacles. Lenox travels from prominent places in society to working class areas to the ravaged places of London to find clues. Finch's debut novel (an Agatha Award nominee) is ideal for historical mystery lovers and many readers will not sift out the complete truth until the end.

Reviewed by Jeanenne R., Steele Creek Branch

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When Frankie, Linda, Kath, Brett and Ally meet in Palo Alto, California in the late 1960’s, they are all housewives taking their children to the park. Over the next few years they begin writing and critiquing each other’s work – some even getting published. As the country changes radically over the next few years, dealing with Vietnam, the women’s movement and putting a man on the moon, The Wednesday Sisters, as they began calling themselves, deal with life changes as well. Each woman is changed by their friendship and each finds themselves somewhere in their life they never expected to be. This is a wonderful story that celebrates the power of friendship.

Reviewed by Jessica B., Mint Hill Branch

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Set amongst the Salem Witch Trials, this book captivates the reader with the insight, and yet immaturity, of a young girl. Sarah, our main character, fights with her mother as any pre-teen girl would, but when her mother is denounced as a witch Sarah must grow up quickly. Before imprisonment, Sarah’s mother makes Sarah promise to do whatever is necessary to stay alive for the family. Does she tell the truth at the trial? Does she follow her mother’s wishes? This is an amazing novel that forces us to reconsider our history and the people who endured unbelievable atrocities. This is highly recommended for anyone interested in the Salem Witch Trials or American history.

Reviewed by Sally W., Beatties Ford Road Branch

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Dave Boling's debut novel Guernica is the story of the town made famous in Picasso's painting of the same name. The book follows the Ansotegui family and their neighbors in the years before, during, and after the horrific bombing which decimated the city. The colorful cast of characters (including Picasso himself as he creates his masterpiece) and the descriptions of daily life provide a vivid portrait of 1930's Spain. The book's focus is a social history rather than as a textbook of military and political issues of the Spanish Civil War, although background information is interspersed throughout in an appealing way. After such strife, the book ends on an uplifting note and is a fascinating chronicle of a little studied period of history.

Reviewed by Sandra S., North County Regional

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North and South is the first novel in the epic trilogy by John Jakes. The friendship between the Mains from South Carolina and the Hazards from Pennsylvania begins in 1842 when Orry and George meet at West Point and become best friends. The path of friendship is not always easy as the two families become more intertwined. Cultural and political differences and the undercurrents of discord in the nation in the years leading up to the Civil War bring the characters many triumphs and tragedies. North and South ends with the firing on Fort Sumter, but the saga continues in Love and War (the war years) and concludes in Heaven and Hell (the post-war years).

Reviewed by Sandra S., North County Regional

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Imagining life under siege is hardly possible. Yet Steven Galloway, author of The Cellist of Sarajevo, not only effectively renders the landscape of the longest siege of a major European city in the history of modern warfare, but reveals the idiosyncratic mental disposition of its citizens, whose courage and endurance are truly unique. Told through the eyes of four Sarajevans, the Cellist, Arrow, Kenan, and Dragan, war demands that simple motions of daily existence become critical decisions. Though the timeline of the events Galloway describes are not historically precise and his characters are essentially fictitious, only loosely based on real individuals, the story is absorbing, capturing the resilience of Sarajevo.

Reviewed by Lydia T., Main Library

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Samson is determined to find out the truth of Tessa's murder, even if he must forever discredit himself with the service, as well as place himself in yet more deadly peril. He also hopes to settle the many doubts and fears that still haunt him about his wife's loyalty -not to mention his own loyalty and love for her. Count on Samson and his creator to get to the bottom of most of the unanswered mysteries. As for those that remain unresolved - well, that's life. That's realism, and realism is the darkest beauty of this epic series,truly -as often advertised - a masterpiece of British Literature.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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Lydia (Lyddie) Berry, a whaling man’s wife in 18th century Cape Cod, finds herself on the brink of losing her autonomy when her husband fails to return from the hunt. Her son-in-law steps in and takes charge of her property and sustenance. But, spunky widow Lyddie befriends a lawyer and refuses to sign the papers that will relinquish her property and rights. In a move that shatters her relationship with her daughter, Lyddie risks all by leaving her son-in-law’s house and takes up residence in a portion of her former home. She defies convention by roaming unchaperoned, missing religious services, and cultivating a forbidden relationship with a Native American neighbor. Readers will be captivated by this gutsy colonial woman.

Reviewed by Susanne W., South County Regional

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For fans of The Widow’s War, Gunning returns to colonial New England in the tumultuous pre-Revolutionary era to present Alice Cole, a former Londoner, who loses most of her family at the age of seven during a voyage to America. Alice’s father surrenders her to indentured servitude to help pay his debts. This unfortunately sets off a chain of events that later finds an abused, pregnant, fifteen-year-old Alice on the run from a cruel master and the indenture law. Her flight leads her to Cape Cod where widow Lyddie Berry (The Widow’s War) and her lawyer friend shelter the frightened girl. Then, a hidden pregnancy becomes known, and Alice’s past threatens her new-found security in Lyddie’s home. An eye-opener about indentured servitude!

Reviewed by Susanne W., South County Regional

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This is book two in Tyndall's second series of sails, passion, and faith. The beginning of the novel finds beautiful Hope Westcott being sold to the highest bidder at a sea port. How did she get into this situation and how will she get out? Captain Nathaniel Mason has a love-hate relationship with Hope. He can't help being attracted to her, but he hates being attracted to her! With reluctance he bids on her freedom, losing his best merchant ship. As Nathaniel and Hope find their way home, they experience shipwreck, pirates, and love. How the selfish and flirty Hope and the steadfast, level-headed Nathaniel form a bond is at times amusing with very serious moments intertwined. A Christian-faith must-read for romantic adventure lovers.

Reviewed by Jeanenne R., Steele Creek Branch

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With keen wit and spectacular insight into human nature, George Eliot chronicles the lives of some key characters in a small town in 19th century England. Over a backdrop of marriages, deaths, births, and fortunes gained and lost, the people of Middlemarch thrive and falter, depending on the strength of their characters and the wisdom of their choices. The characters depicted range from the saint to the self-serving criminal, though every character has dual aspects. A classic of Victorian Literature, the book is also an early feminist novel, with several strong female characters and a mocking tone towards the myth of female ignorance. Eliot flavors the entire tale with her grounding wit, which gives us nothing less than a brilliant depiction of human nature.

Reviewed by Meri H., University City Regional

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This poignant story of the South in the 50s and 60s is told in the voice of three women in Jackson, Mississippi. It portrays the distant but symbiotic relationships between blacks and whites; “the line” that must not be crossed. These women resolve to defy the convention. One lacks the socially requisite “ring on her finger”. One mourns the terrible loss of her son. One speaks too honestly “outside her place” and loses jobs for this temerity. These women grow to trust each other and achieve a goal “unthinkable”. Along the way, they deal with fear, reprisals, lies, vindictiveness, and the indignities of double standards. This brave first novel is beautifully written about a time many people still recall.

Reviewed by Sheila C., Morrison Regional

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While looking through some of her grandmother’s books Connie finds an old key with a scroll in it. The name Deliverance Dane is written on the scroll. Using her researching skills Connie finds out that Deliverance Dane was involved in the Salem Witch Trials and also had a book of “healing recipes” that Connie is trying to find. Along the way Connie meets Sam, a steeplejack, who helps her on her search. When he gets into an accident Connie becomes desperate to find the book because she knows it can help. Connie isn’t the only one looking for the book; someone else wants it for himself. Will Connie be able to find the book in time to save Sam?

Reviewed by Effie S., Scaleybark Branch

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Kate Morton’s novel The Forgotten Garden begins with a 4-year-old girl found alone on the docks in Australia in 1914, having arrived on a ship from England. A loving couple decides to keep Nell, but reveal on her 21st birthday that she is adopted. From there progress several individual stories interwoven with each other: Nell’s search for the truth about her family in 1975, her granddaughter Cassandra’s discovery and investigation of Nell’s background after her death in 2005, and the story of those integral to Nell’s history, Eliza Makepeace and the Mountrachet family, from 1900-1914. From start to finish, this book weaves a riveting tale of suspense, family secrets, betrayal, and even fairy tales.

Reviewed by Sandra S., North County Regional

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The Society was born one night in German-occupied Guernsey as a ruse created on the spot to escape punishment for breaking curfew. Its history is told in an exchange of letters between its members and a writer who finds the topic a promising one for her next book. The resulting tale is one of the most charming this reviewer has read in a long time. Through the unique vehicle of personal correspondence, the writers present an amazing mix of eccentric and heroic characters in a story ranging from hilarious to tragic. No book lover should miss this one.

Reviewed by Jim B., Main Library

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The Pea Island Life Saving Station on the Outer Banks of North Carolina was special. In the 1890s, the team of surfmen on guard was all African-American. When Nathan moves to the island with his father and grandfather, he quickly becomes enthralled with the team of men and their task to save sailors, even during the worst storms. Nathan befriends the surfmen, reading their books, learning some of their techniques, and dreaming that one day he will join the men on their life-saving missions. This touching coming of age story has something for everyone: history, adventure, and a cast of likable characters.

Reviewed by Christine B., South County Regional

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The Swiss Courier is set in World War II Switzerland and is the story of Gabi Mueller, a young Swiss woman working as a translator for the American Office of Strategic Services. Gabi hopes to make a difference in the war and is always to willing to go above and beyond to help others. Gabi is offered a chance to do more than translate when she is asked to enter Germany and escort a German scientist working on the atomic bomb to safety in Switzerland. If she is caught, it could mean death for her, but if she is successful, it could help turn the tide of the war.

Reviewed by Erin J., Cornelius Branch

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Eugenia “Gennie” Cooper is a New York socialite in the 1880s who secretly longs for a Wild West adventure. When an opportunity to travel west arises, Gennie jumps at the chance to go. Gennie takes a position in Denver, Colorado as the governess for the daughter of a widowed silver baron named Daniel Beck. Gennie is only supposed to be in Colorado for a month but slowly begins to care deeply for her young charge as well as the girl’s father. Gennie and Daniel must overcome Daniel’s past and disgruntled miners, as well as Gennie’s would-be husband if they are to have a future together.

Reviewed by Erin J., Cornelius Branch

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Elizabeth Westbrook is determined to become a successful newspaper photographer. She travels to Timber Ridge, Colorado, to photograph the mountains in the area in hopes it will help her career. She also hopes the air and the town’s hot springs will cure the mysterious illness she has suffered for years. Elizabeth’s life is threatened when she inadvertently captures an image that may help solve a murder. Daniel Ranslett, a former Confederate sharpshooter who prefers solitude, becomes Elizabeth’s unwilling guide as she photographs the area and its inhabitants and must also protect her from danger. At first Elizabeth and Daniel are at odds, but over the course of their journey their feelings begin to change.

Reviewed by Erin J., Cornelius Branch

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In 1897, three orphaned sisters decide to emigrate from Sweden to America in hopes of a new beginning. As the oldest, Elin feels responsible for her younger sisters so she writes to her uncle in America for help. Believing their uncle and his family will take them in, the girls make the trip to Chicago. After learning the money for their tickets did not come from their uncle as they expected, but from three men expecting the girls to become their wives, the sisters decide to strike out on their own. Faced with difficult circumstances, Elin, Kirsten, and Sofia wonder if they made the right decision. With courage and determination the sisters work to make their dreams come true.

Reviewed by Erin J., Cornelius Branch

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A Vote of Confidence is set in a small town in Idaho in 1915. After being raised by her mother back East, Gwen Arlington has returned to Bethlehem Springs to be closer to her father and sister. Frustrated by local politicians, Gwen decides to run for mayor so she can bring necessary changes to the town. As a single woman in the early 1900's, her decision causes many problems among the residents of the town. Her biggest opponent for mayor is Morgan McKinley, a newcomer building a health spa in town. Sparks fly between Gwen and Morgan as each seeks to prove to the town that they will make the better mayor.

Reviewed by Erin J., Cornelius Branch

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In her debut novel, Loving Frank, author Nancy Horan presents a fictionalized account of the life of Mamah Borthwick Cheney and her relationship with the celebrated architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Utilizing a variety of resources in her extensive research, Horan has successfully integrated fact with fiction. Written from Mamah’s perspective, the reader is immersed in the thoughts and emotions of a woman in the time period 1907 to 1914. Set in the United States and Europe, Horan effectively weaves themes of early twentieth century feminism, romantic passion, artistic expression, and devotion to family together in this captivating read.

Reviewed by Linda O., University City Regional,

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Sarajevans traditionally have identified themselves with multiculturalism, enjoying fashion, popular culture, music, cafés, and the like. The Bosnian conflict of the 1990s turned this international metropolis on its ear, resulting in brutality between religions that Sarajevo’s citizens could hardly fathom, considering how cross-cultural and watered-down many families ideologies had become over time. Author Scott Simon, host of NPR's Weekend Edition Saturday and war correspondent in Sarajevo, skillfully uses the fiction character of a high school athlete Irena Zaric, to drive his novel through the city’s ravaged alleys and buildings, where Irena has been recruited as an ace sniper. Her assignments punctuate the complexity of the Bosnia conflict, and include episodes with Osama bin Laden, Kenneth Branagh, and Radovan Karadzic. All, though, are her footprints in a path of ultimate betrayal.

Reviewed by Lydia T., Main Library

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The setting is Madrid, post-Spanish Civil War, 1939. The best friend of Carlos Tejada Alonso y León, a Guardia Civil sergeant, is found shot to death on a side street. When Tejada investigates, he surprises and executes the person he believes responsible. However, further events cause him to doubt the case’s resolution as he looks into a notebook left beside the body and the possibility of his friend’s involvement in the black market trade. Tejada’s character is a complex mixture of honor and pragmatism. His persistence in the search for justice and redemption in a war-torn city of bombed buildings and a populace beset with fear and starvation make this a uniquely compelling historical mystery. It won the 2004 Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best First Novel.

Reviewed by Vera B., North County Regional

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