General Fiction on My June Reading List

June is one of the big publishing months of the year. What follows are general fiction titles that caught my attention. Some of these books are perfect for light reading on a hot day by the pool; some are heavier and will make you think.

The blurbs are taken from the publishers' summaries. I've also provided the names of the audiobook narrators.

The Angel of Rome by Jess Walter (Harper): A stunning [short story] collection about those moments when everything changes—for the better, for the worse, for the outrageous—as a diverse cast of characters . . . [question] their roles in life and [find] inspiration in the unlikeliest places. First line:

Mother was a stunner.

Audiobook: Read by Edoardo Ballerini and Julia Whelan

The Beach Trap by Ali Brady (Berkley): Two best friends torn apart by a life-altering secret. One Summer to set the record straight. First line:

There’s something unique about friendships forged between girls at summer camp.

Audiobook: Read by Brittany Pressley and Imani Jade Powers

The Catch by Alison Fairbrother (Random House): A story of the gifts we’re given over the course of a lifetime—the ones we want and the ones we don’t yet understand that we need. First line:

My father, a minor poet, celebrated holidays out of season.

Audiobook: Read by Julia Knippen

Dele Weds Destiny by Tomi Obaro (Knopf): The story of three once-inseparable college friends in Nigeria who reunite in Lagos for the first time in thirty years . . . about mothers and daughters, culture and class, sex and love, and the extraordinary resilience of female friendship. First line:

In the photo they are eating something out of frame, pounded yam, perhaps, or maybe eba.

Audiobook: Read by Tarlye Peterside

Gilt by Jamie Brenner (Putnam): A luxurious and richly compelling . . . novel . . . about a famous family jewelry dynasty and the hidden past that could topple it all. First line:

She reached for her mother's hand, excited and just a little bit afraid.

Audiobook: Read by January LaVoy

Girls They Write Songs About by Carlene Bauer (Farrar, Straus & Giroux): A thrumming, searching novel about the friendships that shape us more than any love affair. First line:

Rose and I moved to New York to be motherless.

Audiobook: Read by Cady Zuckerman

The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand (Little, Brown): An immensely satisfying page-turner . . . about a summer of scandal at a storied Nantucket hotel. First line:

Nantucket Island is known for its cobblestone streets and redbrick sidewalks, cedar-shingled cottages and rose-covered arches, long stretches of golden beach and refreshing Atlantic breezes—and it's also known for residents who adore a juicy piece of gossip (which hot landscaper has been romancing which local real estate mogul's wife—that kind of thing.

Audiobook: Read by Erin Bennett

The Measure by Nikki Erlick (William Morrow): Both heartbreaking and profoundly uplifting, [this] is a sweeping, ambitious meditation on life, family, and society that challenges us to consider the best way to live life to the fullest. First line:

It was difficult to imagine a time before them, a world in which they hadn't come.

Audiobook: Read by Julia Whelan

Nora Goes off Script by Annabel Monaghan (Putnam): Filled with warmth, wit, and wisdom, [this] is the best kind of love story—the real kind where love is complicated by work, kids, and the emotional baggage that comes with life. First line:

Hollywood is coming today.

Audiobook: Read by Hillary Huber

Out of the Clear Blue Sky by Kristan Higgins (Berkley): A funny and surprising new novel about losing it all—and getting back more than you ever expected. First line:

Six months ago, if you had asked me what I thought I’d be doing today, the answer would not have been transporting a drugged skunk to the house where my soon-to-be ex-husband lived with his much-younger fiancée.

Audiobook: Read by Xe Sands and CJ Bloom

These Impossible Things by Salma El-Wardany (Grand Central): A paean to youth and female friendship—and to all the joy and messiness love holds. First line:

"Do you think Eid sex is a thing? Like birthday sex, but just the Muslim equivalent?"

Audiobook: Read by Shazia Nicholls

Tracy Flick Can't Win by Tom Perrotta (Scribner): A pitch-perfect new satirical novel about ambition, coming-of-age in adulthood, and never really leaving high school politics behind. First line:

There was another front-page story in the paper.

Audiobook: Read by a full cast

Truth about Ben and June by Alex Kiester (Park Row): This . . . novel explores the complexity of a modern-day marriage and motherhood, when a new mother vanishes one morning, and her husband must retrace events of their recent past to bring her home. First line:

On the day everything fell apart, Ben awoke to the sound of the baby crying.

Audiobook: Read by Brittany Pressley and Pete Cross

Vacationland by Meg Mitchell Moore (William Morrow): A delicious summer read set in midcoast Maine, tackling family secrets, marriage, motherhood, and privilege. First line:

The Greyhound from Altoona, Pennsylvania, to Rockland, Maine, takes twelve hours and thirty-three minutes with three stops, all of them in the places where you don't necessarily want to use the bathroom but may find you have no choice.

Audiobook: Read by Stacey Glemboski

Who You Might Be by Leigh N. Gallagher (Henry Holt): A fiercely original debut that takes readers from 1990s Southern California to a UFOlogist holdout in Nevada, the graffiti playground of Detroit, and a self-important New York art scene in an unflinching examination of how life’s most unexpected turns—and the people we meet along the way—shape who we become. First line:

Two fourteen-year-old girls, one beautiful and one just okay, are running away from home on a northbound Amtrak.

Audiobook: Read by Aven Shore

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What I Read in November

November turned out to be an okay reading month for me. Most of the nine books I read were winners or at least fun or entertaining.

Note that the following thoughts are also available on Goodreads. Thanks to the publishers and to Libro.fm for the print, digital, and/or audiobook review copies.

As the Wicked Watch by Tamron Hall (William Morrow; Oct.): This mystery is set in Chicago, where a bright teenager is reported missing. Police dismiss the case, saying the Black girl likely just ran away, and there's nothing they can do. Meanwhile, up-and-coming Black TV journalist Jordan Manning takes an interest in the case and begins to investigate. She has training in crime scene analysis and other investigative techniques, which helps her finally figure out what happened to the teen and who was responsible. The novel examines many complex themes such as the difference in press coverage between missing Black and White teens; issues faced by professional women who try to advance their careers; and how race, socioeconomic class, politics, and more affect criminal justice. Jordan is portrayed with all her flaws and insecurities.

Not a bad debut from Hall, though there is quite a lot going on not related to the case. On the other hand, if this is the start of a series, then perhaps the information was needed to set the stage for future adventures.

Cokie: A Life Well Lived by Steven V. Roberts (Harper; Nov.): A very well done tribute / biography written by Steven Roberts, the husband of NPR star, journalist, and historian Cokie Roberts. The book is set up not in chronological order but by topic, and thus we see many sides of Cokie--as a mentor, a friend, a mother, a reporter, a wife. We learn about her spiritual and ethical/moral beliefs and about her great sense of humor and kindness. Rather than a series of facts and figures, Steven talks about Cokie through stories. The book is (as I wrote for my AudioFile magazine review) the perfect balance between well-written biography and loving tribute.

Cokie led an honorable life, demonstrating that personal success is enhanced not only by working hard and standing up for oneself but also by maintaining a sense of humor and always helping others.

A Side of Murder by Amy Pershing (Berkley; Feb.): This fun cozy mystery is first in a series with a lot of potential. I listened to this because book 2 in the series just came out and I wanted to start from the beginning. Samantha Barnes left her hometown on Cape Cod to pursue her dream of becoming a chef. She was on her way to a promising career in New York, when some personal issues sent her back the Cape to regroup. Her parents owned the local newspaper, but they recently sold their business to one of Sam's old friends and retired to Florida. So instead of moving back into her childhood home, she decided to clean out her late-aunt's house and prepare it for sale. Looking for work, she takes a job as the newspaper's new restaurant critic. On her first night on the job, she almost literally stumbles across a dead body in the alley behind the restaurant she wanted to review. From there, the book has all the fun cozy mystery action one expects--plus a lot of good foodie scenes.

My only complaints are (1) that Pershing does quite a lot of telling instead of showing and (2) that she apparently thinks anyone over about age 55 has no clue how to use a smartphone, take a photo, send email, or send a text. I found the ageisms to be kind of annoying. Still, this promises to be a fun series for escape reading. Audiobook: The unabridged audiobook was read by Patti Murin who did a fine job with characterizations; her expressive reading kept me engaged.

The Month of Borrowed Dreams by Felicity Hayes-McCoy (Harper Perennial; Nov.): I stopped listening to this audiobook at about the 25 percent mark. My issues with the novel were twofold. I started the book not realizing that it was fourth in a series. The plot assumed you knew what happened in the other books, so I felt somewhat lost and had trouble getting in to the story. In addition, narrator Marcella Riordan didn't draw me in. I had trouble telling the characters apart (even men from women), and her delivery style wasn't engaging enough to make me hang in there to see if things improved.

O Beautiful by Jung Yun (St. Martin's Press; Nov.): The novel is set in contemporary North Dakota, where a budding journalist takes an assignment from a major magazine to write about how the Bakken oil boom has affected local people and communities. Elinor grew up close to the Bakken, so her college mentor and the magazine's editor think she'll be able to provide an insider's look. The truth, though, is that Elinor is half Korean and has never felt like a insider, and not just because she's biracial. She left home as soon as possible and had a successful modeling career before studying journalism. Now, she's tired of being objectified and of dealing with #MeToo moments.

Yun's evocative, sparse style matches the beauty of the land and the bleak outlook for many of the local women and families. So many dilemmas, including weighing self-worth with the chance to make money; weighing the environment and the family farm against the pressures from big business. Well worth your time. Audiobook: Narrator Catherine Ho shines here. She captures the moods, the personalities, the feelings.

Everything We Didn't Say by Nicole Baart (Atria; Nov.): This mystery is set in two time periods. Juniper and her half-brother, Jonathan, grew up in small-town Iowa. While Jonathan stayed in the area, June left town for bigger dreams, especially because her last months at home were complicated by two events: she found herself pregnant and the couple living on neighboring farm was murdered. June left her baby in the care of her parents, and saw her only on annual visits. The murder case was never solved, but June never stopped trying to ID the killer.

Returning home 13 years later to help her childhood friend deal with cancer and to attempt to reconnect with her daughter, June has some trouble fitting back in. Meanwhile, as a result of her continued investigation into the murder, she and her family come under danger. The plot was slightly convoluted, though the story kept my interest. Audiobook: Narrator Emily Tremaine's performance of the audiobook is expressive and clear, though her delivery is somewhat deliberate.

A Blizzard of Polar Bears by Alice Henderson (William Morrow; Nov.): This is the second in the series starring field wildlife biologist Alex Carter. In this outing, Alex travels to the shores of Hudson Bay to study the health of the local polar bear population, especially in light of climate change and the melting ice cap. Besides the thriller aspect of the novel, involving several crimes, which I won't spoil, there is good information about Arctic wildlife and other sorts of field research that takes place in the area. The thriller itself was well done and action packed. I figured out one bit of the mystery part, but not all of it. I really hope Henderson continues this series.

Audiobook: The audiobook was read by Eva Kaminsky, who read the first book as well. She adds drama without going overboard and keeps the characters distinct. Note that the audiobook comes with a PDF of the map that's included in the book as well as the list of resources for learning more about polar bears and Arctic conservation.

Miss Moriarty, I Presume? by Sherry Thomas (Berkley; Nov.): This re-imagining of the Sherlock Holmes character as an independent woman was only okay for me. I think the main issues I had were (1) I haven't read the first five books in the series so I didn't fully understand the overarching premise or the characters' relationship to each other and (2) I'm not a Sherlock Holmes aficionado. In this outing, Charlotte Holmes and her partner the widow Mrs. Watson are pitted against the evil Mr. Moriarty, who is attempting to control the life and money of his adult single daughter. The story started very slowly, and honestly, I would have given up except I was listening to the audiobook for a freelance review (see AudioFile magazine for my thoughts). I found much of the drama surrounding the ending of the book to be unbelievable. Your mileage may vary.

The Unseen Body: A Doctor's Journey through the Hidden Wonders of Human Anatomy by Jonathan Reisman (Flatiron; Nov.): I alternated reading and listening to this terrific book. Reisman introduces readers to, as the subtitle says, the hidden mysteries of what goes on in our bodies beneath the skin. He is both a doctor and an avid traveler and outdoorsman, and I loved the way he drew on his other interests to enliven his descriptions of human anatomy and physiology.

Whether you hardly remember your high school biology class or you (like me) have studied or practiced in a medically related field, you will find this book to be fascinating. I did. Audiobook: The audiobook was brilliantly read by Robert Petkoff. He perfectly captured the author's enthusiasm and deep interest. Note that the print book does not include illustrations, so you won't miss any visuals if you decide to listen instead of read.

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What I Read in October: Part 2

Happy Monday -- long time, no linking up. I know. In any case, here's part 2 of what I read in October. If you're interested, I posted part 1 on Friday (click through to see my thoughts).

As on Friday, the books here are presented in no particular order. Note that my brief thoughts are also available on Goodreads. Thanks to the publishers and to Libro.fm for the print, digital, and/or audiobook review copies.

The Taking of Jemima Boone: The True Story of the Kidnap and Rescue That Shaped America by Matthew Pearl (Harper; Sept.): This is an interesting examination of the far-reaching effects of the capture of Daniel Boone's daughter and her friends by Native Americans. The book starts with the kidnapping of the girls by a group of Shawnee and Cherokee men. Boone and other men from the Boonesboro settlement tracked the girls (who tried to leave clues) and eventually rescued them, but not before one of the White men killed the son of a Shawnee chief. The remainder of the book ties this event into the general settlement of Kentucky, the Revolutionary War, and indigenous-settler conflicts. Though I knew of Jemima's capture and rescue, I didn't know the many later events surrounding Boonesboro, the Boone family, and other prominent settlers. This is a very readable account, though it is less about Jemima's capture than it is about the aftermath.

Audiobook: I partially read and partially listened to this book (as I often do with nonfiction). The audiobook comes with a PDF of the footnotes and a chart showing the major players. Jeremy Arthur performed the text in an engaging style.

Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky (Orbit; Aug.): This is a complex and very well-received space opera. Unfortunately, this is my only DNF of the month. I need to point out that I do not think it was the fault of the book or the narrator. I think I had trouble getting into the story because I started the audiobook on vacation and then had to put it down for a almost a week. By the time I picked it back up, I needed to start from the beginning again. By then, I realized I should have waited because my mind wandered during the re-listen. SO this was totally a me issue and not a reflection on the story or on narrator Sophie Aldred's performance. I do plan on listening again sometime this coming winter.

Nanny Needed by Georgina Cross (Bantam; Oct.): This thriller is set in New York. A deeply in debt young woman accepts a job with an uber-rich, uber-private family to be the nanny for their toddler. The penthouse apartment is everything Sarah has ever imagined, and at first she's in awe of how the one-percenters live. All, however, is not normal in her employer's household, but once Sarah starts to get really uncomfortable, it's way too late. She has signed a contract, a NDA, and other papers that lock her into her job for at least three months. And if that weren't enough, she's been not-so-subtly threatened with lawsuits (or worse) if she tries to leave early. There are some twists and turns, but the novel fell short in building the tension and making me root for Sarah. I found a few plot points beyond my ability to suspend disbelief.

Audiobook: The audiobook was read by Emma Ashton, who did an okay job, though her delivery was a little too earnest during tense moments.

The Woman All Spies Fear: Code Breaker Elizebeth Smith Friedman and Her Hidden Life by Amy Butler Greenfield (Random House; Oct.): I'm not quite sure why this biography is tagged for a young adult audience. The biography is well documented and solidly written. In any case, this is the story of Elizebeth Smith Friedman who spent decades in the cypher business. As a young woman in the early 1900s, she worked for a man who wanted to know if it was true that Shakespeare's original folios included cyphers. Later she broke codes for the government during both World Wars, helped break a ring of rum runners during Prohibition, and figured out how to read encrypted messages from enemy countries and spies. She was called as an expert witness in court and was a formidable force when it came to deciphering codes.

Greenfield also talks about Friedman's struggles with being a working woman, especially after she got married and then after she had children. Her husband was also a well-respected code breaker, and the public often gave him credit for her work, even when the couple worked for completely different government agencies and were under strict nondisclosure and security orders (which they both obeyed).

The book is amply illustrated with examples of codes, photographs, and even a page from Friedman's diary. A bibliography and footnotes round out the biography. Don't let the YA rating put you off. This account of Elizebeth Smith Friedman's life is readable, serious, and in no way simplified for a teen audience.

Audiobook:The unabridged audiobook is read by Samantha Desz, who did a great job keeping my attention and subtly distinguishing between quoted material and running text. Note that I both listened to and read this book. The audiobook comes with a PDF, though I haven't seen it.

A Spindle Splintered by Alix E. Harrow (Tordotcom; Oct.): I really enjoyed this short retelling of the fairy tale "Sleeping Beauty," especially with its feminist and LGBTQ+ aspects. The good news is that this is the first in Harrow's new Fractured Fables series.

Ohioan Zin Gray celebrates her 21st birthday a little differently from most because she was born with a rare disease that, statistically speaking, should kill her before the year is out. Still, her BFF Charm hosts a small Disney-inspired Sleeping Beauty party. When Zin pricks her finger on the spinning wheel meant for decoration, she is transported to an alternate world where she meets Prim, another Sleeping Beauty, also cursed at birth. The story is full of pop culture references and tongue-in-cheek fairy tale dialogue and shows how Zin, Prim, Charm, and other surprise feminist heroes find a way to give everyone their happy ending. Fun!

The 500 Years of Indigenous Resistance Comic Book: Revised and Expanded by Gord Hill (Arsenal Pulp; Oct.): Just in time for the 400th anniversary of the Pilgrims' original Thanksgiving feast (I'll leave it you to research Indigenous peoples' view on that day and the contemporary federal holiday). This revised and expanded graphic look at Indigenous history after contact with Europeans focuses on resistance and activism and provides a perspective that most of us throughout the Western Hemisphere aren't taught in school or in popular culture. From Columbus's several voyages and settlements through to very current protests against development of Native lands and the destruction of the environment, the stories are heartbreaking and introduce readers to Indigenous groups throughout the Americas.

Highly recommended for anyone interested in learning a different view of history and perfect for homeschooling or the classroom.

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What I Read in April: Part 1

Time for another quick round-up of the books I've read and listened to lately. I finished 16 books in April, most of them audiobooks. Why so many books? I spent the month doing some major paper shredding and cleaning out a storage room. All that gave me hours of good listening time!

Here is part 1 of what I read last month, in the order I finished each book (part 2 will go live on Thursday). Note that the following thoughts are also available on Goodreads. Thanks to the publishers and to Libro.fm for the print, digital, and audiobook review copies. "AFM" means you can find my thoughts about the audiobook production over on the AudioFile Magazine website.

The Babysitter: My Summers with a Serial Killer by Liza Rodman (Atria, March): In the 1960s, author Liza Rodman spent the summers in Provincetown, MA, so her schoolteacher mother could take on seasonal work and party with her friends. Liza and her little sister were left in the care of whomever their mother could find. One of their favorites was Tony Costa, a charming local handyman who would buy the girls ice cream and take them on drives to the nearby woods. When Liza was 10, Tony disappeared from her life, and it wasn't until years later that she learned he had been sent to prison for the gruesome murder and dismemberment of several young women.

The story alternates between Liza's memories of the two or three summers she knew Tony, including her interactions with her neglectful, heavy-drinking mother, and sections based on investigations into Tony's life and crimes. I love true crime, but this book seemed to lack a gripping element. The murders were, of course, horrific, but Liza herself didn't seem to be in any danger. In addition, Tony is described as being well liked, despite the fact that he was into drugs and had a checkered work life. You may have better luck.

The audiobook was read by Andi Arndt and Aida Reluzco, who alternated between the chapters based on Liza's memories and the chapters based on Tony. Their performances were fine; nothing particularly outstanding or problematic.

Lightseekers by Femi Kayode (Mulholland, March): I like a good mystery and was drawn to this book because it takes place in contemporary Nigeria. The general set up is this: Philip Taiwo and his family return from a long residency in the United States to their native Nigeria. Philip is a criminal psychologist with an interest in hate crimes. He's picked to investigate a brutal murder that took place in a small university town.

The narrative is full of interesting details about life in modern Nigeria, from university life to the courts, the law, and the power of the wealthy. The characters were well wrought and multidimensional. Despite these strengths, the novel, as a mystery, didn't hold up for me. By the middle of the book, I felt lost--partly because the book itself lost focus and partly because I'm not familiar with Nigerian university culture and politics, which played large roles in the story.

Narrator Cary Hite did a fine job with the audiobook. His expressive delivery; varied tempo, cadence, and volume; and good accents strengthened the setting and enlivened the characters.

Anna K: A Love Story by Jenny Lee (Flatiron, 2020): I'm not sure how I missed this contemporary retelling of Anna Karenina when it first came out. Set in Manhattan, this novel includes the familiar characters (like Count Vronsky) of the original but adds in pop and social media references and places most of the upper-class diverse cast in high school. The story follows Anna K and her brother and friends over the course of a party- and drama-filled school year and veers from Anna Karenina in a couple of significant ways.

Despite the multiple brand name references (it got a little tiring), it was easy to get drawn into the YA story, and you don't need to be familiar with Tolstoy to like Anna K. The author's note at the end explains Lee's choices for her version of the classic. I'm looking forward to reading the just-released follow-up novel, Anna K Away. (library book)

All Girls by Emily Layden (St. Martin's, Feb.): Set in 2015 over the course of a school year in a prestigious private all-girls high school in Connecticut, this story is told from a variety of perspectives. From the opening pages we learn about a 20-year-old rape accusation, which the school has buried and for which the male teacher has suffered no consequences. The over-arching thread of the novel is the mystery of the rape: Did it happen? Who did it? Was it a one-time event?

Each female voice has something to say about the case and its affect on the school. The students also reveal their inner life and the personal issues they face, from their own #MeToo moments to bullying, eating disorders, family pressures, and feminism. The chapters flow well with each other, and the story gives us lots to think about. A complaint is that it's easy to lose track of who is who among the students and staff (AFM).

Dust Off the Bones by Paul Howarth (Harper, June 8): One of the best books of the year. Note that this is a sequel to Only Killers and Thieves (2018), which you should read first. (Click the link for my thoughts on book 1.)

Brothers Billy and Tommy McBride were forced into estrangement after their unwitting and complicated involvement in crimes against an Aboriginal community in the 1880s, when the boys were young teenagers. Now adults, Billy has become a wealthy landowner and seemingly has moved on from the tragedies of his youth. Tommy has changed his name, has rarely settled in one place, and has struggled all his life to come to terms with the events of his childhood.

Now almost 20 years later, a two-bit lawyer is hired to prosecute Noone, the brutal Native Police Inspector who was responsible for the crimes and for involving the boys. Noone, now a powerful and still cruel-man who is able to control a wide network of evil men, sets out to murder all witnesses to his earlier offenses. The McBride brothers are principal targets.

As in the first book, Howarth pulls no punches: there are no fairy tales in real life, and cold, calculating men don't soften with old age. Billy, Tommy, Noone, and others are vividly drawn and evoke strong and true emotions. The pace and tension are so tightly constructed it's almost impossible to put the book (or in my case, audiobook) down. Australia itself--the land, the people--plays a central role. This duology should be on your must-read list. Please try to avoid spoilers.

The unabridged audiobook was brilliantly read by David Linski, who also performed book 1. Linski portrays the characters perfectly and matches his tempo and volume with Howarth's style.

One Two Three by Laurie Frankel (Henry Holt, Feb.): This is the story of triplets, born in a town that has been scarred after a chemical plant contaminated their drinking water. Nearly everyone in the community has been affected, especially the children, most of whom are disabled in some way. Everyone who had any kind of money long since left the area; the ones who remain suffer in some way.

The Mitchell girls refer to themselves as One, Two, and Three (based on birth order). Mab, seems to be a typical teen, and Monday, the middle triplet, is on the autism spectrum. Mirabel is severely physically disabled, unable to speak or control her body, except one arm and hand. She is, however, intellectually brilliant and communicates through an app, which vocalizes what she types. Their father died from the poisoning and their mother has spent 16 years trying to get a class-action suit off the ground.

The story takes place over the course of a few months when the son of the original factory owner returns to town with his family to try to reopen the factory. Reminiscent of Love Canal or the PG&E case in California, this story is about the battle between big business profits and real people with real lives. The girls and other characters are sensitively and realistically portrayed. Very worth your while.

The unabridged audiobook was read by Emma Galvin, Jesse Vilinsky, and Rebecca Soler, who alternated the chapters told from the perspectives of the sisters. They conveyed the personalities of the girls nicely.

Pride and Premeditation by Tirzah Price (Harper Teen, April): This was fun. Using the characters from and general time period of Austen's Pride & Prejudice, this first in a cozy mystery series works on a number of levels. While the characters are recognizable from their personalities, this book places them in a completely different context from the original. Longbourn and Pemberley are family law firms, and Bingley's family is in shipping. When Bingley is accused of murdering his brother-in-law, Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy are both determined to solve the case.

Readers familiar with P&P will smile at the reconfigurations of Mr. Collins, Charlotte, Wickham, and others. The mystery itself was less engaging for me than Price's take on Austen. I enjoyed the book, though, and am looking forward to the next in the series.

The audiobook was nicely read by Morag Sims. Some listeners may have trouble with her accent and tone, so I advise giving the audio sample a try before buying.

Lost in Paris by Elizabeth Thompson (Gallery, April): I picked this one up because the summary indicated a Jane Austen tie-in. That link turned out to be a very minor piece of the story, though Thompson includes a number of literary and and art references. The story is set in two time periods. In modern times, Hannah, an American woman living in London is surprised by a visit from her unreliable, alcoholic mother (Marla) who has been settling her own mother's estate back in their native Florida. Marla's showing up unannounced is only part of the surprise: Hannah's grandmother has willed the two women a paid-for apartment in the heart of Paris. In the past, we hear from the grandmother's mother, who lived in Paris in the 1930s, where she met many of the great writers and artists of the time.

This was only okay for me. The story was completely predictable and at the same time fairly unbelievable. I didn't connect enough to the women to root for any of them. Others will likely enjoy the details of Paris, the light romance, and the various mother-daughter themes.

The audiobook was read by Emily Tremaine and Imogen Church, who alternately took on the sections that were set in the present and past. I like both these narrators, but I don't think these were their best performances.

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A Dozen Books; Or What I Read in Late January

Happy February! As I mentioned on Saturday, I know I've been little seen on social media as of late, but that suits my current needs. Still, I wanted to share what I've read and listened to since my last summary. If you follow me on Goodreads, then you've already seen my thoughts on these books. Thanks to the publishers, audiobook publishers, and/or Libro.fm for the review copies.

Marion Lane and the Midnight Murder by T. A. Willberg (Park Lane; Dec. 29): Fun mystery/fantasy set in a secret, underground investigation agency in 1950s London. Unsolved crimes, mysterious letters, leftover and unused technology from World War II, and a closed-room-type murder. Can Marion Lane solve the crime, keep her job, and save her innocent colleagues before it's too late? This was good escape reading, with a clever concept and unique gadgets, though the plotting could have been tighter. The audiobook was adequately read by Karen Cass. Her pace was little quick, but she was nicely expressive.

Nick by Michael Farris Smith (Little, Brown; Jan 5): I enjoy books that reimagine classics or are set in the same universe as a well-known novel. In this case, Smith creates the backstory for Nick Carraway (of The Great Gatsby fame) from his Midwest childhood, through World War I, and back to the States, where he eventually ends up in Long Island in the cottage next to Jay Gatsby. The story itself, especially of the war in France and in the trenches, is well done. The section that takes place in New Orleans is perhaps less successful. What's more, I'm not quite sure the book informs or expands on Fitzgerald's original. The good news is that Robert Petkoff did an amazing job as narrator (see my thoughts at AudioFile Magazine).

Grounds for Murder by Tara Lush (Crooked Lane, Dec. 8). This first in a new series is set on a small island off the coast of Florida. When Lana Lewis, an award winning newspaper reporter, needs a fresh start, she returns to her home town to take over the coffee shop opened by her late mother. When her best barista quits and then is found murdered near the cafe's back door, Lana finds herself on the short list of suspects. Lush sets up a fun a cozy mystery, complete with a cute dog, an even cuter police chief, a rival coffee shop, and variety of local characters. Lana, of course, can't help but get involved with hunting down clues and with getting to know Chief Noah. Recommended for coffee lovers and light mystery fans.

People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd (Harper; Jan. 12). A contemporary thriller that focuses on a mommy blogger/Instagrammer who has hit it big. Emmy is a master at creating the illusion of being perfectly imperfect, so her millions of followers can believe she is just like them. Between sponsored content and photos that show her "messy" house or "unkempt" hair, Emmy gives off-the-cuff advice online and at live events. She and her husband, Dan (a one-trick novelist), live off her income and pride themselves on maintaining their privacy. What happens when that privacy is breached and personal photos begin to appear online and they acquire a stalker out to teach Emmy a lesson for perceived offenses? Though the plot was a bit draggy in places, the book does make you wonder about the safety of real-life mega influencers. The thriller part was creepy and there was at least one twist I didn't see coming. (For my thoughts on the audiobook, see AudioFile Magazine).

Shiver by Allie Reynolds (Putnam; Jan. 19). For her debut novel, Allie Reynolds draws on what she knows--competitive snowboarding--to set the scene for this closed-room-type thriller set in the French Alps. Ten years after a tragic competitive snowboarding season left one woman dead and other paralyzed, Milla receives an invitation to meet at the remote ski resort during the preseason to reunite with her ex-teammates. Right from the start, Reynolds paints the scene of cold, isolation, and danger, though the five friends are focused on each other more than their surroundings. Within hours, however, the group begins to suspect that there is more to this reunion than just finding closure, especially after their cell phones are stolen. Mysterious sights, sounds, and smells put them on edge, until they begin to fear for their lives. Who really invited them to the chalet and will any of them survive the weekend? The mystery is nicely set up, with a few good red herrings and revealed secrets. The story is told by Milla and alternates between then and now. I particularly liked the sections dealing with snowboarding. Good escape reading. (For my thoughts on the audiobook, see AudioFile Magazine).

Tales from the Hinterland by Melissa Albert (Flatiron; Jan. 12). These dark tales are perfect for winter reading. Although the stories in this collection are set in the same universe as The Hazel Wood, you don't have to have read the novel to enjoy these creepy fairy-tale-like stories. I don't often read collections straight through, but I was totally caught up in these stories -- they have just right about of darkness. The stories with a moral (for example, be careful of what you wish for) don't hit you over the head with their lessons, and the illustrations (mostly black and red) are gorgeous.

Icebound by Andrea Pitzer (Scribner; Jan. 12). I love these kinds of books! In this well-researched book we learn all about the expeditions led by William Barents, a Dutch explorer who attempted find a northern route to Asia in the late 1500s. He sailed farther north than any other Westerner at the time, fending off the fabled (for the crew) white bears, getting trapped in ice, and facing bitter cold. On the last trip, Barents and his team were forced to spend a winter with dwindling supplies in a hut, they built from wood "borrowed" from their ship. Staying warm, finding food, staving off scurvy, and keeping sane over the long sunless months was amazing in itself. In the spring, however, the men realized they had to abandon their iced-in ship and try to make it home in a couple of small boats. Fascinating details about mutiny, early thoughts on polar ecology, issues with nutrition, confrontations with polar bears, and more. As I often do with nonfiction, I both read and listened to this gripping real-life story. Fred Sanders did an excellent job with the narration, keeping my total attention. Note that my listening experience was much enhanced by being able to follow the voyages on the maps included with the print/digital book.

The Fortunate Ones by Ed Tarkington (Algonquin; Jan. 5). I really liked this coming-of-age story set mostly in Nashville about Charlie, a poor, fatherless boy living on the wrong side of town with his pretty mother and wannabe singer aunt. Charlie's prospects change when his mother gets a job being the "helper" of a rich woman. The job comes with definite perks: Charlie and his mother now live in the pool house of the wealthy family and Charlie attends a prestigious private school on scholarship. Charlie also befriends Vanessa and Jamie, the twins who live in the big house. Charlie's most significant new relationship, though, is with Archer, a fellow student who is tapped to guide Charlie through the intricacies of school life. Archer ends up teaching Charlie much more than the school fight song, helping him learn to live among the rich and privileged. This is an engrossing read that examines boyhood friendship, first love, the choice between following what's expected and following one's own dreams, truths and secrets, rich and poor, white and black. Excellent story and highly recommended. (For my thoughts on the audiobook, see AudioFile Magazine).

The Age of Wood by Roland Ennos (Scribner; Dec. 1). I really enjoyed this fascinating retelling of human evolution that puts trees and wood at the hub of our physical and cultural and technological changes over the last 3 million years or so. As a student of human evolution (I have a PhD), I was interested in Ennos's tweaking of the focus from fire, stone, iron, and bronze through to silicone to our dependence on wood throughout our history, even unto today. His well-though-out arguments include everything from politics (the role of trees in starting the US Revolutionary War) to biology (the development of typical primate traits, such as nails instead of claws) to migration and travel (boats, wheels) and to shelter (even today's houses are still framed in wood or wood products). If you're a student of human evolution, this book will give you much to think about. But in any case, it will make you appreciate the trees and wood products that are part of your everyday life. As is often the case with nonfiction, I both read and listened to this book. (For my thoughts on the audiobook, see AudioFile Magazine).

The Heiress by Molly Greeley (William Morrow; Jan. 5). I generally like books that retell classics or reimagine a fuller life for minor characters. In this book, Molly Greeley turns the spotlight on Anne de Bourgh, the daughter of Lady de Bourgh and the "promised from birth" bride to Mr. Darcy, introduced in Austen's Pride & Prejudice. While the general concept of the novel was good and it was fun to get glimpses of Anne's male cousins and Elizabeth Bennett through her eyes, the novel didn't work for me on a number of levels. Note that the next few sentences hint at some minor spoilers. Here are my negative thoughts in short form: There was not a strong enough driving force to keep me invested in Anne's ultimate fate, which was foreshadowed fairly early on. I would have liked to have seen more direct confrontations between Anne and her mother. Anne's "cure" from her lifelong affliction was in and of itself believable, but the fact that she was so easily able to move on from it did not seem so believable. I questioned some of Anne's choices, especially since she made a major one without consulting her solicitor. Though she reconnected with the Darcys, I think there was a missed opportunity for Anne to have a relationship with Lizzy, especially given Anne's newfound thoughts about feminism. Finally, the ending was a little hokey for me, though it did serve as a means to let us know what happened to various characters. The audiobook was very well read by Ell Potter, whose expressive performance highlighted Anne's transformation and picked up on the various characters' personalities.

The Narrowboat Summer by Anne Youngson (Flatiron; Jan. 26). What a charming and fun story. When Eve and Sally cross paths along the canal and, though strangers, decide to rescue a howling dog who's locked in a narrowboat, they had no idea their lives were about to change forever. After meeting the boat's (and the dog's) owner, the two women, for a number of reasons, agree to take the boat through the canals of England to get it serviced. Meanwhile the owner must undergo some medical treatment. The slow trip through England, the people the women meet, their growing confidence with controlling the boat and going through the locks, and their own personal growth won me over. It made me wish for just such a summer.

The Divines by Ellie Eaton (William Morrow; Jan. 19) This dual-time period coming-of-age story worked on some levels and didn't on others. In the 1990s Jo was a student at an elite private girl's school in England, where she was sometimes one of the cool girls and sometimes not. Even among friends, all the girls experienced at least some level of bullying, but for those who were at all different, bullying was the norm and done out in the open. On her honeymoon decades later, Jo impulsively visits the now-defunct school's campus, and from there, unresolved issues, relationships, regrets, and memories bubble up, haunting her and her marriage for years. Much of this story had a feeling of truth. Girls can be so mean to each other. But do school authorities, even those who work in a private school for the very rich, really allow this much blatant meanness and disregard for their teachers and the rules? What do I know as an American who went to (albeit a small one) public school in more innocent time? Jo's relationship with her husband was also equally believable and not. He seemed a little too perfect, and she seemed to have hidden way more than she needed to. I get why she didn't want to confess all her childhood sins, but she seemed to share very little with him of what happened that final year at the school and the tragedy that occurred. I'm not sorry I listened to this, especially because Imogen Church did such a great job with the narration -- getting the accents, the voices, the attitudes just right.

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